The Cats In Bahrain

There was this one feral cat that I came upon the other day. I got within a couple of feet of it and it did not budge. It just stood there meowing at me and I just sat there and looked at it. I poured out some of my water that I was carrying and it drank right from the bottle and then it just kind of sauntered away.

It really was a little strange and I think the cat got what it was after and went on its way.

dog toys

Living In Bahrain

I do not have a lot to blog about today.

I am on an extended business trip and currently living in Bahrain. I just moved into new apartment. It is pretty neat and it overlooks the Arabian Gulf. There is construction all around but it does not get in the way of the views.

I miss my dogs quite a bit. In Bahrain they do not have a lot of dogs, just ones that all of the Americans and Brits brought here. There are a lot of stray cats around which are actually pretty friendly especially if you have a little bit of tuna for them. They are pretty used to getting fed by people.



Stop by Lucy’s Dog House today!! We have a great selection of dog collars, dog beds and dog toys.

Mid Atlantic Great Sane Rescue League

I was wandering around the internet today and came upon this site http://magdrl.org/. It is one of my favorite sites to go to as it has tons of great pictures of Great Danes that are up for adoption. They are doing a lot of great things and are actively placing dogs all of the time. If you are a Great Dane lover and want your virtual critter fix this is a great place to go. Now I warn you, you might fall in love with one of these great dogs and feel the need to adopt one.

Full disclosure: Ever six months I donate a percentage of the sales from Lucy's Dog House to this organization.

Why We Love Our Dogs

Wow, it has been a long time since I blogged. I have been on travel for a while and really busy without a lot of internet access. I know a lot of excuses.

Having said that I have been away from Lucy and Kona (not to mention all of my human family) for two months. I have always known this and it is not going to come as a huge surprise to anyone but dogs just like you to be around. They get excited when you come home and want ver little from you. Some food, a little of attention and a comfy place to sleep. Plus they give a lot back in return. You know, that unconditional love that most of us dog lovers just kind of come to expect and in some cases just take for granted.

Forgot to Mention

The sale ends on the 15th of May. So hurry in and do not miss out on some really great savings and the chance to help a really great rescue.

www.lucysdoghouse.net

Storewide Sale - Save 10-50 Percent

HI everyone,

Lucy's Dog House is currently running a storewide sale. Everything is as least 10 percent off with some items as much as 50 percent off. So stop by today and buy something great for your dog at a wonderful price.

This month we are proud to announce we are sponsoring http://www.pawsofaustin.org/ a Great Dane rescue out of Austin, TX. Everytime you purchase something 5-15% of your purchase goes to support their efforts.

Stop by today at www.lucysdoghouse.net

Kona and her toys

So Kona is using the new tile floors to her advantage with ongoing struggle to steal all of her toys back from Lucy. On the carpeted floors Lucy used to chase down Kona and take whatever toy she had, play tug of war for a while and then run off with the toy. Well the tables have turned now as Kona takes the toy and scampers onto the tile floors. She is a little more mobile on the tile floors than Lucy is so she is one step ahead of her usually. She runs off and has that mischeavious look as she gets to a point and then kind of taunts Lucy with the toy in her mouth. Silly I tell ya.

Lucy's New Thing

So Lucy is definately getting used to her new house. We just moved from Massachusetts to Texas back in January.

She has claimed the guest bedroom as her own. There is a big queen bed that is pretty much her's now. She spends a lot of time just in her bed. It is right behind where I sit when I am working on the computer.

So her new thing is plop one of her big paws on my head as I am working. Of course she has the big, let's play look on her face when she does it. I probably should break of it but she seems to enjoy it and I do not get too many marks on my head from it yet.

She usually gets a good case of the zoomies every day, runs around the house, up on to each one of the beds which she sends flying in one direct or another. She has not quite mastered the tile floors yet though.

Here is funny Great Dane video. A guy playing in the morning playing with his Great Dane.

Another great dog video

Lucy's Dog House Sale

We are currently offering a coupon for Lucy's Dog House or http://www.lucysdoghouse.net . Stop by today, use the coupon code: rescue and whatever you buy we will donate 15% of the purchase price to the rescue of the month. This month's rescue is a private rescue that takes in dozens of dogs a year, many of them in need of significant medical care. Oh, Plus you get 5% off just as a way of saying thank you. So stop by today, get something great for your dog and lend a helping hand all at the same time.

800 Rescued Dogs find Homes

Accordingto the Baltimore Sun, the rescue that took in all of those 800 dogs rescued from the mobile home in Arizona has said that nearly all 800 have been placed in new homes. wow, 800 dogs all placed into new homes. That is quite an accomplishment.

Could you imagine 800 dogs all kind of hanging out in your home, especially small dogs. I would worry about stepping on them all.

Mastiff Drinking From the Fridge

Here is a hilarious video of a mastiff drinking from the fridge.

At Lucy's Dog House we just added a bunch of new products, to view check out dog grooming

White Tile Floor and a Dark Haired Dog

Okay, some of might know that I recently moved. We live in Corpus Christi now. Great little beach town in south Texas. Well the house that we are in has off white tile. Having said that Kona is a chocolate lab and she is shedding like crazy as she gets adjusted to the new climate. The amount of hair is somewhat staggering. We sweep every day and the amount of hari every day is significant but it just kind of stads out and you just want to clean it. You know what I mean.

Well this got me thinking. We didn't clean the floor every day in our last place....Then I imagined all of this hair in my last place. And I thought about it some more and kind of grossed myself out.

I do not think I am ever going to live in a house with wall to wall carpeting again.

Puppy Attacks Mirror

Here is a little video that rocks

Basic Dog Care

Here is an article I wrote on Basic Dog Care. It only scratches the surface but if you would like to comment on it, that would be great.

Whether your dog is a hunting dog, show dog, working companion, or just your best friend, the kindest and most responsible thing you can do for him is to provide proper health care. Knowing about common dog ailments and being aware of appropriate prevention and treatment can better help you provide care.

Your canine friend's ailments
Many Diseases are commonly found in every dog breeds. Your puppy may suffer from those as well. So, it's always useful to know about them; you can then anticipate the disease rightly if your puppy is in danger.

Canine Distemper, Hepatitis (Adenovirus), Leptospirosis, Kennel Cough, Parvo, Corona, Rabies, and Ear infections are all somewhat common dog issues. While some merely make your dog uncomfortable, others are potentially fatal.

Signs of Illness in your Dog

Many diseases are commonly found in every dog breed. So, it's always useful to know about them; you can then anticipate the disease rightly if your puppy is in danger.

Top Ten Signs That Your Dog Might Be Sick

Drinking or Urinating More
Weight Loss/Change of Appetite
Weight Gain
Decreased Exercise
Stiffness, Difficulty Rising
Sleeping More or Other Behavior Changes
Lumps or Sores
Dry or Itchy Skin
Dry, Red or Cloudy Eyes
Digestive Problems

Regular visits to the veterinarian are important to prevent or correct serious health problems. To provide proper care and comfort for your dog, be aware of potentially serious situations and take preventative measures.

Vaccines: Through mother's milk, puppies receive disease-fighting antibodies, which last 6-16 weeks. Vaccinations then take over. Puppies may be vaccinated as early as 4-6 weeks, depending on each situation and the veterinarian's advice. Boosters should be given throughout your dog's life, including the later years when your dog may become more susceptible to some diseases. States vary as to what and how often boosters for various vaccines should be given, so check with your states board of health.

Many dogs suffer from ear infections or otherwise itchy ears. To prevent ear problems:

Examine your doggie's ears at least weekly.
Try to prevent water from getting in your dog's ears when bathing the dog.
Try not to stick anything in your dog's ears to clean them. It is better to fill your dog's ear canal with cleaning solution then agitate the ear canal area by gently squeezing the outside of the ear for a few seconds. You should not close off the ear as you might create a hydraulic pressure on your dog's ear drum. Then let your dog shake their head to get rid of the cleaning solution and debris in the ear. Use a cotton swab on the outer ear to clean off the dirt and wax.

Regular veterinary advice and maintenance programs are necessary to prevent health disorders.

Diet

Always know what your puppy loves to eat but what you feed your dog will make a major difference in your dogs quality and length of life. Dog lovers always want to give their pets the best treats to reward good behavior. Always combine flavor with nutrition and her tail will tell the rest!! With so many dog treats and foods available in the market today, it can become quite hard to choose. It is usually best to shop for food and treats in a smaller pet store as they will usually have a wider choice of high quality food. Generally the staff will be a little more knowledgeable about the right food for your dog. Give your puppy the best treats made from the best stuff!! Always take a look at the ingredients of any food or treat you give your dog. If you do not know what it is, you probably should not be giving it to your dog. If you see by-products of any type, wheat, corn, beet pulp, you might want to consider whether you should give that to your dog. Same goes for yourself, but that is a different article.

Dog Fix

If you are reading this blog you are probably a pretty serious dog person like me. I am actually on travel right now and it always amazes me how much energy I get from my dogs.

A couple of days ago I was having a sub optimal day. On my walk back to my hotel, I noticed that the grassy area just in front of my hotel has been turned into an unofficial dog park. It was great, I just went over to the onwers and the dogs and pet them for a while, the dogs I mean and everything seemed a little bit better.

Great Dane Puppies

This video is from www.pawsofaustin.org. They are an awesome rescue in austin, tx. While not solely a great dane rescue, they do have a bunch of them. Twice a year we sponsor these guys with a percentage of our sales. The woman that runs Paws of Austin is fantastic.

Who's Having A Bad Day Now!!

A Very Silly Great Dane

A Little Bit About Labradors

Here is another article I wrote. I had to do one about Labradors, Kona kind of insisted.

The Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever. Although somewhat boisterous if untrained, they are exceptionally affable, gentle, intelligent, energetic and good natured, both as companion and working dog. With training, the Lab is one of the most dependable, obedient and multi-talented breeds in the world.

American or English

Labrador Retrievers are usually described as being either “English” or “American”, they can also be described a show or field Labradors, with the show Labradors being the English and the field being the American. English or show labs tend to be smaller and stockier than the American or field labs. Having said that, it is not uncommon for an American lab to be short and stocky and an English Labrador to be larger and thin many due to the tremendous amount of small scale or backyard breeders that actively breed Labradors.

High Energy

Labradors often have high energy and are smarter than the average dog. This means if they are not given sufficient amounts of exercise and training they can be handful, especially as younger dogs. A good brisk walk in the morning and the evening is a good idea for younger to middle aged Labradors. They are a very pack oriented, social dog so these walks have tremendous benefits to keeping order around the home as well as giving both of you much needed exercise.
Not only are Labradors high energy most have a food drive that is really second to none and I have often heard people say, “A Labrador will eat anything that is not getting ready to eat them”. Maybe a little bit of an exaggeration but not by too much.

Labrador Colors

In addition to coming in different body types, labs come in a variety of colors as well. The Black Labradors are the oldest of the Labrador colors followed by the Yellow Labradors. Next are the Chocolate Labradors which are most recent addition to the Labrador family. Do not be surprised if your black lab has a sibling that is yellow or brown though. Yellow and black often are found in the same litter and when chocolates and black labs are bred together, which they often are, you will have a mix of chocolate and black labs.
Fox Red Labradors are making a comeback in recent years. The fox red coloration was the original color that was associated with yellow labs until it was almost entirely bred out to achieve the more desirable yellow cream color. If you go for the fox red color make sure you go to a reputable breeder as some folks are taking short cuts just to achieve the fox red color. Another recent development in the Labrador world are Silver Labradors. Some breeders have been producing them but there is significant controversy surrounding these dogs as other breeders believe these dogs are actually a mix of a Labrador and something else.

Canine Info

Birth place: Newfoundland
Nicknames: Commonly called Lab/Labrador
Types: usually two types: English Labrador (heavier, thicker, and blockier) and the American Lab (tall, lanky)
Appearance: Solid, muscular, slightly longer than tall.
Stature: 22-24 inches in height (56-61cm.)
Weight: 60-75 lbs in weight (27-34 kg.)
Coat: Short, hard, easy-care, water-resistant double coat
Color: Solid black, chocolate, yellow, fox red (Silver or gray is controversial)
Head: Broad, with thick nose, pronounced stop, fairly wide muzzle, powerful neck
Eyes: Chestnut or hazel
Ears: Medium in size and decorated
Teeth: like scissors-bite
Limbs: bone structure is very good
Feet: Webbed for swimming
Tail: Otter tail, strong, thick near the body then tapering, completely covered with hair
Life span: 10-12 years

Canine Facts

The Labrador is considered the most popular breed of dog (by registered ownership) in the world, and is by a large margin the most popular breed by registration in the United States (since 1991), the United Kingdom and several other countries.

It is also the most popular breed of assistance dog in the United States, Australia, and many other countries, as well as being widely used by police and other official bodies for their detection and working abilities.

Labrador Retrievers respond well to praise and positive attention, and are considerably "food and fun" oriented.


Health

Labrador pups should not be bought before they are 7–10 weeks old. They can carry some disorders like:

 Prone hip
 Elbow dysplasia
 Luxating patella in knee
 Eye problems like progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, corneal dystrophy and retinal dysplasia.
 Hereditary myopathy causing deficiency in type II muscle fiber


Famous Labrador retrievers

Endal: he was a service dog in England as well as the most decorated dog in the world. He is the first dog to ride on the London Eye and the first dog known to work a 'chip and pin' ATM card. As of 2007 some three hundred camera crews from several countries have interviewed Endal and his owner Allen Parton, and a film of a year in his life is in production.

Jake: a black Labrador who became a national canine hero after burrowing through white-hot, smoking debris in search of survivors in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. Also helped search for Hurricane Katrina victims in 2005.

Lucky and Flo: twin Black Labrador counterfeit detection dogs who became famous in 2007 for "sniffing out nearly 2 million pirated counterfeit DVDs" on a six-month secondment to Malaysia in 2007. Following the multi-million dollar, 6-arrest Malaysian detection, they became the first dogs to be awarded Malaysia's, "outstanding service award" and software pirates were stated to have put a 60,000 dollar contract out for their lives.

Clinton and his Buddy: Former U.S. President Bill Clinton's Labradors Buddy and Seamus, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's Labrador 'Koni' are the famous pet labs.

Great Danes

Here is an article I wrote about Great Danes. Let me know what you think.

Great Dane is a member of the domestic dog (canis lupus familiaris) family. This specific breed, the “Apollo of all breeds”, is famous for its monster size and gentle temperament. The "Gentle giant" is among the tallest dog breeds, along with the Irish Wolfhound. The Great Dane was originally used for boar hunting in the woods of Germany. Their use as boar hunting dogs was one of the primary reasons that their ears were traditionally cropped. For modern Great Danes, who are mostly pets the only use is create the traditional Great Dane appearance. Many Great Dane owners choose not to have their dog’s ears cropped and in fact it is now outlawed in some western European countries.

Great Dane History

The modern Great Dane is a mix of an older style of Great Dane which can trace its ancestry to dogs the Romans used in combat and for hunting. These dogs were combined with Irish Greyhounds to give Great Danes a more sleek body while retaining most of the massive size. Some people say that Irish Wolfhounds were also used to create the modern Great Dane. While Great Danes remain a member of the Working Breed family of dogs they are mostly employed as family pets today.

Is a Great Dane the Right Dog For You

There are some very important things to consider when making the decision to own a Great Dane as a pet. They are large even giant size dogs. Their size will have a tremendous impact in many facets of your life. While they do not need a tremendous amount of room or exercise, they do require some. As puppies they can be very boisterous and due to their size can be a hazard to things around the house and even people. Not because they are naturally aggressive but rather because they just do not have a firm grasp of how large they are. When they are puppies use some care when introducing them to older dogs. The Great Dane at this point could be large in size for its age but it very much still sees itself as a puppy. As they grow older their size will have a serious impact. Their toys, their beds, their treats and food consumption, well, it is just larger and more expensive. If you plan to travel with you new Great Dane you will need a vehicle that can support the dog’s huge size. They do not require a tremendous amount of exercise but a daily walk will do them and you some good.

Great Danes as Pets

Great Danes are very much family dogs. They can not be left outside for long periods of time by themselves, especially when the family is home. They love their families and want to be with them and long periods of being “banished” to the backyard while the family is home will cause behavioral and emotional problems in your Great Dane. Mistreating or simply ignoring your Great Dane combined with a lack of socialization can create an unsafe environment as Great Danes are sometimes prone to defensive biting.
Great Danes are of average intelligence in the dog world but they are usually very responsive to verbal commands due to their emotional makeup. They respond well to firm commands but not to overly stern commands. If you give an overly forceful correction you might have a giant sulking dog on your hands. As with all dogs, never strike your Great Dane to give corrections. They will not respond well to this treatment and it will eventually cause behavioral problems with your Great Dane. If you imagine your Great Dane as a big hearted teenage boy you will be pretty close as to their emotional make up.

Canine Info

Alternative names: Deutsche Dogge ("German Mastiff"); Grand Danois (in French)
Birth Country: the country of its origin is ascribed to Germany
Appearance: Giant and powerful, yet elegant and noble
Stature: the usual height is 30-40 inches (76-86 cm.)
Power: the usual weight is for male: 54-90 kg (120-200 lbs.) and for female: 45-68 kg. (100-150 lbs.)
Coat: polished, bulky and close-fitting hair
Color: Fawn, brindle, black, blue, mantle and harlequin (merle not recognized by the various kennel clubs)
Head: Long and narrow, with a highlighted front end and a relatively hefty nasal channel; distinguished, expressive, finely chiseled and rectangular in shape
Eyes: dark, round, deeply set medium size eyes with an energetic and bright look
Ears: pointed, long and straight or left natural cropped legs
Teeth: Well-developed, strong with scissor like bites
Limbs: perfectly straight Front legs
Feet: solid and circle-shaped
Tail: medium in length, reaching to the point of the hock
Life span: Median ~8-10 years


Great Facts about Danes

 Dogs like Great Danes were also found in Ancient Rome, Greece and even Ancient Egypt according to ancient sources.
 Sources confirm that the age of this breed is over 500 years and they are the direct successor of Bullenbeisser composing about the 40% of its make-up.
 Danír tribe used Great Dane as hunting-dog with which it shares the taxonomical semblance.
 Pennsylvania’s state dog is Great Dane.
 In August 2004, a Great Dane named "Gibson" from Grass Valley, California was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's tallest dog, measuring 42.2 inches at the withers.

Health

Danes usually have some great health problems like:

 Bloat
 Hip Dysplasia
 Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Back check the ancestral history of your loving Dane. If its relatives ever had any of these diseases refraining your doggy from exercise immediately before and after meal can help to reduce the risk. Back checking also helps to prevent your doggy from several genetic disorders. If a Great Dane is white (lacks color) near its eyes or ears then that organ doesn’t develop properly and as a rule the dog will possibly be either blind or deaf. Many pure white Danes are deaf.

Here is the other picture

She looks like she is saying, What are you looking at?

Here are the my cow neighbors

In a previous post a while ago I mentioned that I have a small herd of cattle that graze in the field behind my house. Now before you start to get this image that I live in the middle of no where, stop. Because I don't. I live in the suburbs of Corpus Christi. Not exactly New York City but not exactly the great plains either.

Well my girlfriend has decided that feeding them the grass from our lawn is a good idea. She likes it and they like it too. They come by from time to time looking for her. No, really.

Here are a couple of pictures. One is of the calf and the other is one checking me out as I take her picture. Too funny.

Why I Like Most Dogs More Than I like Most People

I came home yesterday after being away for three weeks for business. My girls, Lucy and Kona were really excited to see me. Tails a wagging everytime they saw me and it has not stopped. As I write this Lucy is on the couch next to me and Kona is at my feet, on the cool tile. It is a little warm here in South Texas.

After a long and difficult day of flying, it was such a moral boost to see the dogs so happy. Happiness that is unfiltered and emotions that have no memory of the time that I did whatever. Just happiness. On the subject of flying, I was one of the lucky ones. Appartently over a thousand flight experienced significant fight delays or were cancelled outright yesterday. Wow!!

Twenty Reasons Why dogs do not Use Computers

TwaLIHJSKLN;lkspfdfrO{gO DsA[M,bN HyAqR4tDc TgROo TgYPmE WeIjTyH P;AzWqS, … (Too Darn Hard to Type With Paws)
Butt-sniffing is more direct and less deceiving than online chat rooms.
Annoyed by the lack of a Newsgroups entitled "alt.pictures.master's.leg"
Saliva-coated mouse gets mighty difficult to maneuver.
SIT and STAY were hard enough, GREP and AWK are out of the question.
SmellU-SmellME communications software is still in beta testing.
The barking keeps activating voice recognition software.
'Cause dogs ain't GEEKS! Now, cats on the other hand...
Three words: Carpal Paw Syndrome.
They are awaiting the introduction of the Microsoft Opposable Thumb.
Still trying to come up with an "emoticon" that signifies tail-wagging.
Not at all fooled by the Chuckwagon screen saver.
Keep bruising their noses trying to fetch that MPEG Frisbee.
Involuntary tail wagging is a dead giveaway that they're browsing www.pethouse.com instead of working.
Fire hydrant icon is simply frustrating.
Can't help attacking the screen when they hear "You've Got Mail".
Too difficult to "mark" every Web site they visit.
Hard to read the monitor with their heads cocked to one side.
FETCH command not available on all platforms.
Can't Stick their heads out of Windows '98.

The Sweetheart of the Hounds – The Beagle

There’s no doubt that a Beagle is coveted because of his hunting ability, but the sweet disposition of these dogs also makes them a favorite when hunting isn’t a top priority.

The Beagle is probably a cross between several English dogs. Some say the Harrier is probably the biggest gene contributor to the current day Beagle. While most breeds tend to have a hunting preference and will want to hunt either alone or in packs, the Beagle will adapt to either situation. If turned loose in a pack, this breed will work with other dogs, fanning out to search for scent of game and joining the chase when any dog in the pack strikes a trail. But a hunter can also take a single Beagle out to the woods and this dog will also happily start working on his own.

Their ability to scent added to their good nature has made them a popular narcotics dog with some law enforcement forces. They are often easily trained to do various tasks and are agreeable toward learning new things.

Beagles tend to be some combination of white, brown and black, most with all three colors appearing at random across the body. They appear almost “square” with wide foreheads and a compact body. Most Beagles reach an adult weight of no more than 20 to 25 pounds. The standard approves two different sizes, those that are less than 13 inches tall and those that grow to a height of 13 to 15 inches.

Some Beagles have heart problems. Just as this disease runs in family lines, you’ll see that some Beagle lines are more prone to this problem. They typically live to an average age of 10 to 12 years, though some who have extremely healthy lives with no real health problems may live longer.

In many ways, the Beagle is a rather plain looking dog. They don’t attract the attention of those who love the furry breeds and they aren’t either large or small. But anyone who is ready to look a little closer will find an incredibly expressive face with eyes that can almost communicate their intelligence and their questioning nature.

The Beagle’s tail is long and slightly curved, and he’ll often carry it over his back when he’s happy, excited or on the trail of something that has captured his interest – which is often. These dogs tend to be cheerful, always ready to greet family and friends with a smile, a bark and an extra wag of that busy tail.

Beagles can be trained to be indoor pets, but remember that they need exercise. If they are kept indoors, they’ll tend to play and romp anyway. They are highly trainable, though the nose sometimes overrides the commands. Even if told to stay, they seem simply unable to resist following an interesting trail. If left to their own devices, they’ll gladly follow a trail for long distances making them prone to be lost, picked up by animal control or stolen.

Article Source: http://www.bestdogarticles.com

For more information on Beagles and other Popular, and not-so-popular breeds of dogs, visit The Hound Dog Directory

Top Ten Things Dogs Think About

Here is a pretty cool top ten list about dogs

Other dogs. Whether it's the same or the opposite sex, dogs always seem interested in what other dogs are doing.

The Great Outdoors. Dogs are true nature lovers. I don't think I've ever seen a dog who didn't absulutely relish being outside, in good weather or bad.

Food. The overwhelming majority of dogs are domesticated, so they don't have to hunt for their food. Nevertheless, their primal urge and primary function seems to be to eat. And when they're not actually eating, I'm quite certain that they're thinking about it.

Humans. Dogs aren't called man's best friend for no reason. They crave the companionship and approval of homo sapiens. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that humans feed them, give them shelter, etc. Maybe they just like people. Go figure.

Running. While some dogs are born pointers, swimmers, retrievers, or setters, and most of them spend a lot of time just lying around, they're probably thinking about running while they're lazing about, eating, looking cute, getting groomed. I can easily imagine a dog chowing down and thinking, "when I'm done with this, maybe a little nap and then a nice run."

Adventure. Dogs are born thrill-seekers. To them, just about anything is a reason to get excited, be it as simple as a ride in the car to the store or somebody new at the front door. Always on the lookout for new highlights in life, dogs have an uncanny knack to make everything and every day seem exciting and new. Many dogs, if left to their own devices will also simply wander off, to God-knows-where and for no good reason.

Language. Being around humans so much, dogs hear quite a bit of conversation. They're also bombarded by our TVs, radios, and various other communications devices. Most of the time, they seem to not be paying attention, but say something like "walk in the park" and more than a few dog ears perk up. Researchers say that dogs can understand and comprehend a human vocabulary of up to 2000 words, which is more than some people. Dogs are especially sensitive to tonality, as they are able to discern the moods of people from the tone in their voices. They're probably picking up a few of the words as well. With all the language going on around them, they're potentially pondering the meanings of espressions, like "rock on", "piece of cake", "meat market" and other collolquial expressions that are somehow outside their usual context.

Personal Grooming. Dogs are experts at getting dirty, but they also are usually pretty good about getting themselves clean. They lick, scratch, roll around in grass and do all kinds of little things to keep up their appearance. And while many dogs are skittish about taking baths, they really don't put up too much of a struggle. Usually, all you have to do is turn on a hose and they'll be happy to take a shower.

Can I bite that? The primary means of protection, agression, communication, conveyance and nutrition is a dog's mouth. No doubt they have to learn what is acceptable biting behavior. Puppies will chew on just about anything, even people's hands, until they learn the object lesson of "the hand that feeds." Many dogs will chew on sticks, carry just about anything in their mouths, and will bite if need be to protect a human or themselves. Proper use of the mouth is something they must think about, probably more than we're aware.

Heroism. All dogs seek to do good and being a hero is part of their nature. Stories about dogs saving people are everywhere. It's simply part of being a dog, and while dogs probably don't think about it much, there's something running through them all that gives all of them the potential to be the next Lassie or Rin Tin Tin.

This was originally posted http://www.dtmagazine.com/toptendogthoughts.html. I just thought it was pretty cool.

More Golden Retrievers

Here is another good one. They look like a bunch of happy silly billys.

More Golden Retriever Pictures - Just Because

Who does not like puppies. I ran across a saying a while ago, here is a paraphrase, whoever said you can not buy happiness never bought a puppy.

Anyway, I am not sure if that is exactly it but it definately gets the message across.

Golden Retrievers

I have met quite a few golden retrievers at the dog park before, but I have never really spent a lot of time with one inside.

Well last night I met Daisy, she is a 13 month old golden retriever. Wow, I need to find a way to harness that energy and sell it. You could power a small car with all of the energy she had last night and appartently that is her normal mode of operation. I played with her for easily an hour and she showed no signs of letting up. Great dog, tons of energy.

I love all dogs and she was great but I am really glad that neither Lucy or Kona has that type of energy level. Plus I have a new found respect of golden retriever owners. LOL.

Chocolate Lab Puppy

Kona has been complaining that I have not been putting any chocolate lab videos on the site. So here goes. Pretty cute, I say.

Great New Blog

Well it is not new, it has been around. But I just found it. It is http://www.btoellner.typepad.com/kcdogblog and it has a lot of great information about a lot of different things.

It has a lot of great information about dog legislation and breed specific bans.

If candidates were dogs: Mitt Romney - Smooth Fox Terrier

Description: A lively and active mid-sized terrier with deep-set eyes, long sloping shoulders and a narrow head. Their coats are dense and abundant. They are known for their longevity and were originally used for fox hunting and vermin-killing.

Behavior: Highly intelligent, but can be stubborn; likes to bark and dig. They tend to want to be dominant over other dogs. They are affectionate, and devoted to the extent that they can be protective if they feel a member of the family is being threatened.

Tendency to bark: Medium

Level of aggression: Medium

Suitability as guard dog: Medium

If candidates were dogs: Mike Huckabee - Beagle

Description: Large-eyed and long-eared, with a pure, kindly and sometimes conniving expression best captured in cartoon version by Charlie Brown’s Snoopy.

Beagles have a keen sense of smell, a desire to hunt and track down strange odors and a tendency to bay unceasingly when something seems amiss.

Behavior: Beagles like to please their masters. Training must begin early or the beagle can get out of hand and indulge in its favorite habits -- overeating and making a mess. They are also excellent escapologists and will attempt to dig their way out of any jam.

This breed, for all its apparent innocence, can be stubborn, hard to housebreak and bark to an annoying degree. Yet they are gentle and good natured and get along well with other dogs. Even inside, beagles are prone to cruising around the house with their noses down, sniffing away as they make an olfactory map of the territory, then checking the area periodically to make sure everything is as it should be.

Tendency to bark: High

Level of aggression: Low

Suitability as guard dog: Medium

This articles originally appeared in the Baltimore Sun

Movies are going to the dogs

An Austrian cinema is letting movie-goers take their pet dogs to films with them in a bid to lure more customers.

The Admiral cinema in Vienna has been struggling against competition from new multiplex cinemas which have been built nearby.

So cinema bosses have started a monthly Doggy Day in a bid to offer something different from their brash modern rivals.

Visitors pay £4 for a ticket while their pet pooch can go in for free and are given a blanket to snuggle up on in their seats, as well as water and popcorn.

A spokesman said: "The only thing different from a normal movie showing is that, on the insistence of local veterinary authorities, the volume levels for the films are turned down a bit so as not to hurt the animals' ears."

Thomas Feldinger, 24, who has already attended one of the doggy days with his pet Labrador Hanjo, said: "It's a great idea. Hanjo loved it in there and so did all the other dogs.

"I thought they might all make a noise and bark through the films but once the film started going they all settled down in their blankets and watched quietly."

Shark Attack Dog - Wow

Here is an oldie but a goodie. This is the wildest thing. That is a big shark!!!

Tommy the Great Dane

Here is an awesome Great Dane video from You Tube. Great Danes are hard to not like. Tommy is a lot like Lucy, they both love their creature comforts. Lucy has a big blue couch that she loves and only leaves to eat, go outside, go on walks and play with me. Oh wait she does leave the couch in the mornings after I get out of bed so she can get into my spot. A little nutty but she is like one of my kids.

We recently moved and Lucy had a little seperation anxiety because she did not have her couch.

Dogs Could Be a Diabetic's Best Friend

I found this articles and though it was pretty inteesting.


SUNDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Irish researchers hope to prove that a dog's keen sense of smell gives it the ability to watch over the blood sugar levels of diabetics.

Canines have already shown themselves capable of leading the blind, alerting the deaf, and helping the physically disabled with daily tasks.

But researchers at Queen's University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, are taking the "helpful companion" idea one step further by gathering scientific evidence that could verify dogs can reliably detect dangerous blood sugar level drops in diabetics.

"Anecdotal reports suggest that some dogs can perform early warning of hypoglycemia by using their sense of smell to 'sniff out' if their owner's blood sugar levels are dropping," said lead researcher and psychology professor Deborah Wells.

More than 20 million U.S. children and adults have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Those with the disease do not produce enough insulin, a hormone the body needs to convert sugars, starches and other food into energy.

Diabetics must test their blood glucose level regularly, even sometimes in the middle of the night to avoid the peaks and valleys that can cause organ failure, say experts.

Wells hopes to find out what cues dogs pick up on so they can officially be recognized and trained as early-warning systems for diabetics.

At least two organizations in the United States already train dogs to detect low glucose levels. But exactly what the canines notice when a person experiences a blood sugar low is still a mystery, said Mark Ruefenacht, founder of Dogs for Diabetics, in Concord, Calif.

The organization is working with a forensic laboratory to identify a possible odor.

"We just haven't come up with the right answers," he said. "Every time we think we have the answer, we find that we don't."

Ruefenacht, a diabetic, started the organization three years ago, inspired after a puppy he was raising for Guide Dogs for the Blind woke him one night. Ruefenacht forgot to check his blood sugar before going to sleep, and he thinks he had a seizure that alarmed the pup.

Since then, the all-volunteer group has placed 30 trained canines in the homes of Northern California residents with type 1 diabetes.

Demand for the dogs is high; more than 100 people are on the waiting list.

Dogs for Diabetics uses Labrador retrievers that don't graduate from guide dog school. These dogs usually flunk for reasons such as refusing to walk in the rain or step onto an escalator -- all skills important for being a working dog, but not a general assistance one.

Ruefenacht said his dogs undergo three to four months of training similar to what is used to prepare dog to detect narcotics or explosives. The 2-year-old canines are first taught to detect scent samples of low blood sugar. Then they learn to find that scent on people, and alert others by holding in their mouth a soft tube that hangs from around their neck.

Dogs that successfully complete training are 90 percent accurate, Ruefenacht said.

These clever canines aren't the only ones that must learn new tricks.

Mary Simon has battled diabetes for more than three decades, and she now drives four hours each week from her home in Fresno to attend the required class.

"I need this dog desperately," said Simon, a diabetic who is also medical director for the Diabetic Youth Foundation in Concord, Calif.

Medication she takes hampers her ability to feel nighttime lows, she said, and the special glucose sensor she wears doesn't always work.

When Simon first learned of the hypoglycemic detection dogs a few years ago, she didn't think their talent was needed because glucose sensors were about to hit the market. Since then, she's changed her mind.

"My own personal experience is we need [the dogs] right now," she said.

Not everyone is so quick to put their trust in the canines' ability.

Larry Myers, a veterinarian and professor at Auburn University in Alabama, has trained dogs to detect everything from drugs to agricultural pests for 25 years. He said the jury is still out on whether dogs can truly detect low blood sugar levels, but he believes it's a possibility worth exploring.

Even though dogs have amazing olfactory abilities, he said they are not universally sensitive to all chemicals.

"Do hypoglycemic individuals, in fact, emit an odor that is characteristic? I don't know, and I don't think anybody does know right now," he said.

A possibility other than scent is the dogs are picking up on visual cues, which is thought to be the case with seizure detection dogs. Such dogs allegedly can pick up on extremely subtle physiological changes in their human companion that may begin five to 45 minutes before an actual attack. The dogs then warn the humans so they can find a safe environment or take precautionary measures.

"It turns out what the dogs are really sensitive to is subtle changes in behavior of the individuals just prior to seizing," Myers said. "It's more of a fact that dogs are very, very, very observant of human behavior."

Lucy's Dog House Affiliate Program

Hi everyone,

Lucy's Dog House has just launched its very own affiliate program. Now you can help rescue dogs as we still give 5% of all of our sales to a variety of rescues throughout the year. Plus you can earn a little money for yourself or an organization you work with. Below is the link that will take you where you can sign up for the program.


http://www.shareasale.com/shareasale.cfm?merchantID=15637

All the best,

Hans

Lucy Caused a Stampede

In an earlier post I wrote about the herd of cattle that hangs out in the land behind our house. We have a six foot fence that seperates us from that field. You can see through the fence somewhat and you can see when the small herd of cattle walks by.

Well for some reason, the cattle walking by really gets Lucy and to a lesser degree Kona going. It is times like this that I get a very strong visual reminder that while they are furry, cuddly family pets somewhere deep down they really are predators.

Well yesterday Lucy saw the cattle and she boltd for the fence barking up a storm. I have never seen a Great Dane try to crawl through a two inch gap under a fence before but I can check that off my list. Boy, she wanted those cattle and the cattle new it. Whew that was a lot of beef that took off all at the same time, in a hurry.

Lucy was pretty proud of herself after that. Her tail was straight up, ears up and that smug look that she gets. Can dogs have a smug look? Well, I say yes but I do not have any scientfic evidence to bake it up.

Dog Videos

I have been adding a bunch to www.lucysdoghouse.net. I have been scouring You Tube and other sites for dog videos. Here is one of the really good ones.



If you would like to see more videos, please go to http://www.lucysdoghouse.net/videos.html . Some are for educational purposes. Others are just because the dogs are silly or just fun to watch.

The Beach in South Texas

Well, we took Kona and Lucy to the beach yesterday. The beaches down here in Corpus Christi are a little different than the other places we have been. The beach is so long that they drive on the beaches on a pretty regular basis and not just for a few feet but even a few miles. The place we went there were a ton of beach fishermen with their fishing poles set up in the surf.

They drive so much that they have speed limit signs on the beach. I thought that was pretty interesting when I saw it.


Lucy and Kona love the beach and got really excited the whole time. Then they slept a good portion of the day when we got home because they were so tired.



dog beds, dog collars, dog toys

Lola's Story...

Okay, this is going to be a story, a little bit on the longer side so stay with me. So, on our trip down from Massachusetts we drove about 14 hours and through 10 states. We stopped in Tennesse, Sieverville was the name of the town. Interesting place if you like in your face amusement. The Smokey Mountains look like a lot of fun though as there is a ton of beautiful scenery in the area. Michelle, Lucy, Kona and I all stayed at a great little mountain cabin resort. A little hard to find but other than that it was great. The cabins are all over the mountain with plenty of room between the cabins. You really do not feel like you are at a resort at all.

So we arrived pretty late at night after a long drive. In the middle of the night we heard a dog barking for while but did not think anything of it. The next day we stopped by the front office to go check in. They had left us the key to get into our cabin but we had to go take care of all of the paperwork.

When we were up there we met Lola. Now Lola is a beautiful mix breed. I think she is a brindle boxer mixed with lab or another field breed. What really stands out about her though is she is super friendly and intelligent dog. You pick that right up, first thing. She Lola was rescued by one of the folks that work at the resort and she stays there, at the resort. She was left for dead by her previous owners after she had a liter of puppies. The woman at the resort found her by a river under a bridge. She was malnourished and in really bad shape. Since she was rescued she has gained a bit of very healthy weight. It was amazing hearing the story and seeing the dog in front of me. She was a happy and super friendly dog and had no signs of physical or emotional abuse.

Later that day we brought Lucy and Kona to meet her. All three got along really well with Lola really defering to Lucy and wanting to play a lot with Kona. So we walked back to our cabin and Lola tagged along. We let Kona and Lucy off their leads to let them play and all three had a great time. We walked Loal back to the front office and we had her put inside but sure enough we were a few hundred feet away and we see Lola escape from her office home and run after us. You could tell she was really excited and was showing off on the way back, running up these really high hills. You could tell she wanted Kona and Lucy to follow her but we didn't let them because well ..., they probably could not have followed Lola.

Well Lola followed us all the way back and we had to go inside. She looked positively crest fallen when we went inside without her. So was I. After a while she left.

Later that night we heard the same barking we had heard the night before and again did not think anything of it. We thought it was another guests dog, but then at quarter till five the next morning when I let Lucy and Kona out I knew I was completely wrong. Who was there to greet me??? It was Lola waiting right there and she jumped all over me, Lucy and Kona. I brought her inside and fed her a nice breakfast and after playing with Kona for a little while went to sleep on our floor.

The folks at the front office were not there yet for the day. I wanted to talk to them about the possibility of me taking Lola. As we getting to leave I had the strongest urge to take her with me but I didn't.

Well anyway that is my story about Lola. I am not sure if I did it justice as the whole experience made a big impact on me.

50% Clearance Sale at Lucy's Dog House

Hi everyone,

In case you did not already know I just set up a clearance section for http://www.lucysdoghouse.net/. There are a lot of great collars and other things that we need to move to make room for all of the new things I just bought for the store. Many of the items in the clearance section are 50% off.


Lucy's Dog House is a great place to purchase dog collars, dog toys and dog beds. At Lucy's Dog House we donate a percentage of our sales every month to a different Great Dane Rescue Organization. So stop by today, buy something great for your dog and lend a helping hand all at the same time.

You Know You are In Texas When...

So, you might have read that we moved to Corpus Christi, TX in another post somewhere. Well, Lucy and Kona were outside in the backyard and they werelosing their minds, barking a lot and pretty loud. So of course I went outside to see what was going on. I thought it was a cat or another dog but what I saw was a little unexpected. It was a herd of cattle moving from one grazing spot to another. What made that even more odd is that they are dozers working in back of me getting the land ready for a new housing complex.

I turned to Lucy and Kona and told them, "Well, we really are in Texas, huh?"

Having lived in New York, Indiana, and California most of my life I really was not expecting a herd of cattle to walk by my backyard but hey, whatever. The dogs do not evenbark anymore when they walk by.

Loews In New Orleans

Lucy, Kona, Michelle and I all recently moved from the Souteast Coast of Massachusetts to Corpus Christi, TX. I am in fact taking a break from unpacking boxes, not a big fan of unpacking.....

Anyway, on our way down we stopped at the Loews in New Orleans. They are very pet friendly. In fact they have a whole floor just for their guests that have pets. The rooms are very large and spacious and the hotel is in a great location, right in the heart of downtown, New Orleans and a quick walk to the French Quarter. Now, I do not know if all of the Loews offer the same level of service but it was a great stay.

We Have Our Winner

Well all of the votes are in, we had almost 1900 votes cast and the winner is Chloe. Chloe is a beautiful blue eyed Great Dane who loves flyball and going to the beach. Here is a link to read her story, www.lucysthegreatdane.blogspot.com/2007/12/chloe.html. Following close on her heals is Georgia a beautiful black and white Great Dane.

Thank you to everyone that voted and entered their dogs into the contest. If anyone is interested we will be having another contest in the spring. Just email your dogs picture and adoption story into hans@lucysdoghouse.net

dog beds, dog collars, dog toys