Saturday, February 16, 2008

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.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

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.