Lucy The Great Dane's Blog

Lucy and Kona in The Snow

2011-01-09T18:44:00.000-08:00

So for New Year's we all went back home to visit with my Grandmother. Who at nearly 90 years old lives by herself in a house in the woods. It is on a couple of acres of wooded land and is just beautiful.

Well upstate New York had had a few inches of snow right before we showed up.

Lucy and Kona have seen snow before but t had been a while. I do not know what it is about snow and dogs(kids and I guess, well just about everyone) but they went a little nutty. Lucy, who is 7 was running around like a puppy. Kona at home is this lazy, lazy dog who just lays around most of the day. We have a decent sized yard but she does not show a lot of interest. But at my Grandmother's house, Kona's inner true dog just comes out. She runs around like a wild dog. We have to watch her because she just loves to go running in the woods. It is almost like something very deep within Kona, something instinctual comes out and she turns into a very different dog.

She was fetching sticks, which she has never done before. All sorts of things.

She would pester us like a spoiled little child to go outside and play. We got there pretty late and she just sat by the door whimpering because she wanted to go and play. It was really amazing to see the transformation.

I have a few photos and videos to post. As soon as I get a hold of them I will.

Receive a $15 Gift Certificate for every $75 you spend

2010-11-25T10:40:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

We are offering a $15 gift certificate for every $75 you spend from now until Monday.

The gift certificates will be sent out on 01 Dec. Does not include the cost of shipping, since we ship all orders to the US and Canada over $50 for free, that should not be a major factor.

We also have 5% off most everything in the store.

STOP BY TODAY! http://www.lucysdoghouse.net/

Last but not Least, Rex

2010-10-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

To check out Rex and read about how he was adopted, visit our Facebook page.

Magi The Great Dane and Beaumont and Dustane the Bassets

2010-10-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a beautiful picture of Magi, Beaumont and Dustane. Vote for them here Magi, Beaumont and Dustane

2010-10-11T08:26:00.000-07:00

Here is Revy, another one of our October Dog of The Month contestants. Revy is a pretty amazing dog, wicked smart and quite the escape artist. To read more about Revy check out our Facebook page.

October Dog Of The Month Contest

2010-10-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

At Lucy's Dog House we are running our first ever Dog of The Month Contest. We have four contestants with great pictures and/or stories about their dogs. Stop by the Lucy's Dog House facebook page to check them out.
We are also looking for contestants for November, so if you have a great pictures of your dog and a great story about your dog send them to us at mailto:hans@lucysdoghouse.net.

Here is a great picture of Jasper one of our contestants.

Lucy is a Cougar

2010-10-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

So every time we take Lucy and Kona to the dog park, Lucy always gets a lot of male dog attention. She is a beautiful Great Dane but she was fixed years ago so I am not 100 percent sure why that is.

This last time was no difference. This time it was a big burly Blue Great Dane that thought Lucy was pretty awesome. Well Lucy was not having it, not even a little bit. She tried to put him in his place pretty quick. She never actually bit him but she can get pretty aggressive when she wants. She up leaping around, body slamming him like I haven't seen her in years. Pretty tough girl for being a senior Great Dane. Needless to say I am not sure that big knucklehead got the drift. I had to break it up before she bit him, which I think she was about to do. But, you know he kind of deserved it....

Lazy Lucy and Jealous Kona

2010-09-24T03:10:00.000-07:00

Guess who got a video camera? That's right, this guy did. Here is my very first video starring Lucy with a cameo from Kona. Watch the whole video as it is funny right at the end.

Every Dog Has It's Month Contest

2010-09-22T03:39:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

At Lucy's Dog House we are running a contest, Every Dog Has Its Month. It's a great contest where you simply submit a picture and a story about your dog. You get a 20 percent off coupon just for sending in your entry. The picture and story that get the most votes wins a 50 dollar gift certificate to Lucy's Dog House.

We are currently accepting entries for October's contest. Please submit your entries to cs@lucysdoghouse.net

All the best,

Hans

Kona and a Boston Terrier Play Fighting

2010-09-19T13:25:00.001-07:00

Actually it is the Bsoton Terrier Playing with Kona. She is such a good sport about smaller dogs playing with her. She does not tolerate aggressive dogs and neither does Lucy.

Lucy The Farting Dog

2010-09-15T02:14:00.000-07:00

Well we had to take Lucy into the vet to get her teeth cleaned, she really needed it and we did not want to put it off, but they had to knock her out to do it.

We got her home and she was pretty groggy even the next day and she quickly got back to normal but one thing was that it messed up her digestive system for a couple of days. The night after we got her back from the vet, she was snoring away and simply just laying the most noxiou gas I have ever smelt. I had to get up a couple of times because I could not stand it. Pretty much, could have bottled it up and sold it as tear gas, it was that bad.

She is back to normal know but whew!!, it was a stinky couple of days.

Big Dog Great Dane Head Massage by Pug

2010-08-24T02:34:00.000-07:00

I was looking for Great Dane videos and look what I found. A video of Honey. She is a Great Dane about Lucy's age. Her owner stops by our blog from time to time.

Isn't Honey beautiful? She is looks like a pretty happy and silly girl too.

Lucy Got Her Nails Trimmed Today

2010-08-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

Well today we got Lucy's nails trimmed. They are too long and thick for us to do it at home so we go to the local Petsmart and they do it in their grooming section.

Lucy is not a big fan of doing it and makes every attempt to escape everytime we do. She is much better when I am right there.

I remember one time I dropped her off at the vet and the two youngish women very confidently told me that they had it all under control. On my way out I glanced back and the two young ladies are being dragged across the floor by Lucy. Lucy of course was really scared and when she is like that she drops little presents along the way. So needless to say I went aback to help out to get her where she needed to be. A roll of paper towels later everything was back to normal.

Okay back to the present, well the young ladies there at Petsmart also said confidently that they had her all under control. LOL. It was like history repeating itself. Lucy to say the least was not very cooperative and she was able to evade capture for alittle while. I let it go on for a bit, just because. LOL.

Well we eventually agreed that we would do it in the waiting area with me having a firm grip on Lucy. It calms her down and I am a pretty big fellow and able to keep her pretty much still. It was quite a workout though and by the end we had a small crowd of spectators, comprised of both humans and dogs. This little dachshund was especially interested and came up to Lucy and sniffed at her quite a bit. I think he was checking to make sure she was okay.

We really like dachshunds. Really brave and loyal dogs.

We are off to the dog park to work off some energy and say hey to all of the other dogs in the area.

All the best,

Hans

Lucy is Dreamng Right Now

2010-08-08T12:05:00.001-07:00

So, here I am working on the store and Lucy is asleep right next to me on her dog bed. She is so funny, she must be dreaming of something that she likes because she is wagging her tail in her sleep.

I have seen dogs twitch their feet before but never wag their tail.

She does it from time to time and it always makes me happy because I am thinking that she is happily dreaming about something.

Adopt A Ball Dog Toy

2010-08-08T11:59:00.000-07:00

So we have been really working on the store lately, adding lots of products to the store, working on marketing, etc... It has been a lot of work but it will be worth it in the end.

Here is one of the great new products that we recently bought for the store. It is pretty cool and a great way to spread a really valuable message.

Adopt A Ball

Lucy is a rescue, so we are big fans of rescues, humane societies and the like that work the majority of the adoptions out there.

If you do stop by the store and decide to buy remember to use the coupon code: friend. It will give you 15% off your entire purchase.

Bullvie The Great Dane

2010-08-04T18:06:00.000-07:00

This is Bullvie the Great Dane. Isn't she a beautiful Great Dane. We love Great Danes.

Her owner just ordered her some saddle bags from our store www.lucysdoghouse.net. He uses them so that Bullvie can carry her own food and water to their camp site. She likes to have them as they do not chaff or rub and she feels good about helping out. Dogs need a job, they like having a job and Great Danes really enjoy making their humans happy.

Well anyway, I hope you enjoy the picture.

Check out our dog saddle bags

Big Shrimpy Dog Beds

2010-07-25T16:26:00.001-07:00

Here are the girls on Lucy's Big Shrimpy Original Dog Bed. She loves it and spends a lot of time on it. We really like Big Shrimpy because they offer some really large sizes and they are very well made. Lucy has been doing a test of this bed for the last six months and everything is working out great. We think she likes it because the Big Shrimpy Dog Beds are really thick and have a lot of padding.

We decided to start selling the Big Shrimpy Dog Beds in www.lucysdoghouse.net because we are a big fan of the product. Big Shrimpy Dog Beds

, they are a great dog beds. As with all orders it is free shipping for all orders above $100 and just $4.99 for orders under $100.

It Is Hot Outside

2010-07-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

It is really hot outside. We were in the low hundreds today.

We stayed inside most of the day but went to the dog park early on. Here is a good picture of Lucy and Kona taking a quick swim in the river at the dog park in Shirleyton, VA. Well Lucy is watching Kona take a swim. Most of the time Kona forgets she is a Labrador Retriever and thinks she is human being, but not today. It is good to see the dog in her come out.

Chipmunk

2010-07-24T20:51:00.000-07:00

Here is another picture from the vacation. This is from Crater Lake in Central Oregon. They have chipmunks there that are very used to being feed by humans. They are not very afraid at all of coming right up to you. We even saw some chipmunks eat right out of people's hands.

We are on the a dock on an island in the middle of Crater Lake. It is the purest water I have ver seen. If you ever get a chance to go, do it, you will not regret it.

Back From Vacation

2010-07-23T18:27:00.001-07:00

Michelle and I just recently got back from our vacation to Central Oregon. Michelle and I are both avid hikers and this one of the great water falls we happened upon while we were gone.

Michelle is really getting into nature photography and getting pretty good at it.

Lucy and Kona stayed in a dog boarding facility while were gone. They seemed to really enjoy it and actually acted a little wierd when they came home. It took them a couple of days getting used to being back home.

I think it was partly because of the great care they got at http://www.royalpetkennel.com/Royal_Pet_Kennel_Home.html. The employees there are awesome and you could really tell that they love dogs. If you live in the greater DC area, specifically in the Arlington or Alexandria, check them out.

2010-06-24T17:42:00.000-07:00

This is an older picture of Koan and Lucy in their old backyard down in Houston. Lucy is getting on the older side for a dane, she is 6 but you would never know it by the way she runs around our new backyard.

2010-06-24T17:32:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of the Cherry Blossoms in Washington D.C. We moved here a few months ago and have finally gotten settled in. Lucy and Kona love it here. We have a dog park within walking distance from us. It is pretty cool because a river runs right by the dog park and you can take your dogs down there. Kona, our lab, loves going so she can go for a swim. Lucy loves to go because she finds all sorts of unsuspecting people to pet her. She literally pinned a dude down last time we went and would not let him stop petting her. She is such a nut.

We went to the Taste of Arlington and thoguht it would be a good idea to walk around with the dogs. It was not because there were so many people. So we sat on the sidelines with the dogs and Lucy and Kona made all sorts of new friends. My wife Michelle would go out and get the food and beer from the big block party that was the Taste of Arlington and the girls and I sat waiting for her to come back. Man I should have charged admission, we had so many people come by and want to pet Lucy and Kona. Mostly Lucy, which I think has given poor little Kona a complex. She is like that little kid, going me too, me too. (Kona gets so much attention at home) Having Lucy there was good for publicity for the breed though. Everyone loved her and she got almost as much attention as she can handle, which is saying a lot.

2010-06-17T18:42:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, Lucy was the inspiration for me to open my own business and she has her very own store. When you get a chance stop by and check it out.

We are having an inventory clearance sale at Lucy's Dog House. Save up to 50% on a wide variety of dog collars and dog toys. $4.99 Flat Rate Shipping on all order inside the United States and Canada. Any order over $100 the shipping is free.

Sale ends on Saturday. Do not miss the savings!!

All the best,

Hans
www.lucysdoghouse.net

Lucy's Back

2010-06-12T15:15:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

It ihas been a while since we have posted. We just got finished with a move to Arlington, VA and everyone is getting settled in to their new digs.

Lucy and Kona really love this place. They have a dog park, The Shirleyton Dog Park within walking distance of our house and they love it. A stream runs by the dog park so you can go down to the dog park and hang out in the stream on hot days. Both Lucy and Kona love hanging out in the water. Lucy usually can be seen soliciting other dog owners for affection. You would think she gets no love at home. Kona on the other hand can be seen swimming around trying to get everyone else's toys.

Traveling To Washington DC

2010-02-08T07:59:00.001-08:00

Okay, this might not be the samrtest thing I have ever done, but I am headed to DC today only a couple of days after the most massive snowstorm to hit the area in decades.

what makes it extra special is there is another snowstorm coming in later this week which is likely to drop another foot of snow. Pretty sweet. I am hoping that I get in and then I am hoping the Metro is working as that is my way to where I am staying. I am keeping my fingers crossed. We shall see.

Lucy and Kona always know when I am headed out for a business trip. It might be my inagination but they seem like they get sad. I think they get sad and they go to their beds and sulk. I play with them a bit more than my girlfriend, I mean wife(still hard to stop calling her my girlfriend, we have been married for three days).

Dane Day At the Dog Park

2010-02-06T20:29:00.001-08:00

We took Lucy and Kona to the dog park today. It was still pretty muddy and of course Lucy and Kona decided they wanted to splash around in almost every mud puddle there. Kona makes it especially fun because she likes to jump on me after. She is not really a jumpy dog, I think she just likes to share the mud. LOL.

What made today unusaul at the dog park was the amount of Great Danes there. There was at least eight which is the most I have seen at one time any time we have gone to the dog park. They were all different colors and all beautiful. Lucy had a good time interecting with all of of the danes. She really likes being around other danes, I am not sure why, but she does. She was a rescue so she spent a lot of time at the rescue with other danes. Maybe that is it? Kona on the other hand has no affection what so ever for other labs. They are just another dog for her.

Lucy always manages to attract male dogs. I am not sure why since she was spade for years. Today was kond of funny because it was a young english bulldog. He would not leave her alone. He was trying as hard as he could to get high enough but physics really got in the way. He certainly had a lot of heart though.

Kona and the Doberman.

2010-01-04T12:09:00.001-08:00

Kona, my little 55 lb english lab is a real sweet little dog. She is very affectionate and definately a girly dog. Does not like to go outside too much and really likes to lounge around.

There are some exceptions. We took her and Lucy to the dog park a couple of days ago. One of the things I do when at the dog park is take them on laps around this huge dog park. It is good exercise for them and good exercise for me. Well on our first trip around I saw these two dobermans. They were about medium size for a dobbie so they were quite a bit taller than Kona. One of the dobermans went after Kona with bared teeth and a growl, which is kond of unusual as we very rarely see a lot of aggression from any of the dogs at the dog park. Well everyone got a surprise from Kona. Instead of backing down like I thought she would she went after the dobbie with a lot more aggression than I have seen from Kona ever before. No one got bit but the dobbie tucked it's tail between it's legs and ran off with Kona in pursuit. I called her off pretty quick.

The next time around the park Kona went after the dobbie again but i called her off before she got more than a foot or two.

It was pretty interesting to see her go after a bigger dog like that. Maybe she was feeling pretty confident because Lucy and I were right there. In the past when Kona has gotten into trouble with another dog Lucy comes right over and gives a growl and that pretty much ends the trouble. I have been known to growl too. LOL.

Sneaky Lucy

2010-01-04T12:04:00.000-08:00

So today started out pretty well. That was until we left Lucy outside for a little too long. You would think she was some sort of scent hound by the way she acts. She found another pile of something smelly and decided that she wanted to roll around in it for a while. I thought it was just on her back and stomach so that is the only placed I washed. Oh no, it was all over her neck and paws and lots of other places. As a result Lucy and I have both had four partial baths today.

You should have seen the look on her face as I was washing her. She does not like taking baths outside. I should have gotten a picture but I had my hands full with a stinky great dane.

She is six now. She still seems like a child to me but with all of the grey hair on her muzzle it seems like she is pretty old.

A Dog Is For Life Not For Christmas

2009-12-13T10:56:00.000-08:00

Here is another great article. Xmas time is a time when a lot of dogs are given as gifts, so... here you go.

A very good neighbor dropped in yesterday for a coffee. Or at least I thought that was it. In fact she was so upset that she was in tears before the coffee had even brewed. Thinking that her husband must have run off with the particularly buxom waitress at our local diner, he and his buddies endlessly discuss this lady's virtues, and I am always amazed at their tendency to confuse ambition with ability, but I digress. I gave her my full attention. I sat down and comforted her, expecting all to be revealed. The tears dried up instantly and I got a complete mouthful of the angriest language that I have ever heard this mild lady use. Fortunately it wasn't directed at me, but I am now very impressed by her, shall we say 'streetwise' vocabulary. What had made her so mad was a very sad case of the utmost cruelty to a dog. At this point I was firmly on the bandwagon too, and the air was blue around us.

This brings me round to something I have a real bee in my bonnet about. And that's the lack of thought that many people give to choosing a dog.

My neighbor works for the local RSPCA (Royal Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals in the UK). She works principally with the dogs that they rescue and take in. I probably shouldn't be, me being rather more senior in years than junior now, but I am always astonished at the reasons why people abandon their dogs or decide that they just can't keep them anymore. Now I'm not talking about the genuine reasons, such as an old person falling too ill to care for a pet. I mean the blatantly selfish reasons that some people find acceptable and which I, on my high horse, clearly DO NOT. My poor friend has to rehome as many of these poor friendless dogs as she can. I am very happy to say that Stalin's interrogation techniques couldn't be more impressive than hers when it comes to making sure that these unfortunates do not end up being discarded again. I am pleased to say that getting a dog away from her tender care is not for the faint hearted.

A dog can be a wonderful addition to your family, as long as everyone is prepared to put in the time and effort required. So many people think a puppy would make a wonderful present for their children, only to forget about them once the novelty has worn off. A very popular excuse for being unable to keep a dog is 'I didn't realize he was going to get that big' well Der. He was born with those big paws, and he is a GSD, didn't that give you a bit of a clue. Honestly, I know I don't have a lot of patience with some people but they really do take the biscuit when they have checked out the breed, seen how big they grow and it STILL comes as a surprise. Ok, I'm going to calm down now.

Before you make the leap and introduce a new pet to your family make sure you know what to expect and that you're prepared for all the consequences of bringing a new family member into your home. Let's look at some of the things you should consider before you take the step of picking your puppy or dog.

Who is going to be responsible. It's all well and good to tell your children that the new puppy is theirs to care for, but remember, the first time they have to choose between picking up after it and hangin' out with their friends you know there's going to be a problem. So if there is no one prepared to step in and look after the animal on a regular basis perhaps rethinking the gift would be a good idea.

Do you have room for it. The type of home you live in and what type of backyard you have, will be a major factor in both deciding on what type of dog you should get. Add to this whether or not you're prepared to exercise the dog, if you don't have the room to let it run free in the backyard. If you can't supply the room for a dog to run or are not willing to exercise them on a regular basis then a dog is not right for you.

Are you a neat freak. No matter how well prepared you are, or how well you train your dog is, there will be accidents. These can range from the normal potty training problems to digging up your prize garden, chewing your new shoes, or shedding their hair on your sofa. If you're not ready to put up with any of the above at some stage of the dog's life then perhaps a dog is not right for you.

Can you afford it. Caring for a dog means more than just paying for its meals. While dinner time scraps are a common food source, they need more than that. A well balanced diet is essential throughout their life, but particularly when they are young and still growing. Food is not the only cost though. There are also the worm tablets, vet bills, registration fees and other costs associated with caring for your pet. If you are struggling to pay your bills now you shouldn't add to those costs. All too often it's the animal that misses out on what it needs.

What about it's training. Funnily enough, dogs don't come 'pre trained' unless you are very lucky, that is. An untrained dog will be a nuisance, a hazard to himself and to humans and other dogs. If you haven't got the patience to train a dog then either get an older one who already has some manners, or don't get one at all. Not knowing how to train a dog will be no barrier to a keen dog lover because they will either take the dog to classes or learn how to train the dog themselves.

And finally, Time, do you have enough. Please don't get a dog if you don't plan to spend anytime with it. Ignoring it and leaving it alone for long periods of time will bring problems as it feels bored and is unable to develop a loving relationship with you. A dog is a sociable animal that needs company preferably human, and if you can't give a dog any time then please don't get one.

These are just a few things to bear in mind when you're thinking about getting a new dog, or any new pet, come to that. If you now understand some of what is expected when you get a new dog, and you decide you still do want a dog, then yes go ahead. Provided of course you can fulfill one other key requirement. Being prepared to offer lots of love, caring and patience. The undivided loyalty, love and affection you will get back from your dog are the greatest gifts you can ever have.

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

Debbie Boffa is a fully trained dog lover, and with a dog like Arnie, a stunningly beautiful Briard from a dog rescue, her training skills have really been put to the test. For her 'Top 10 Free Training Tips' that will create peace in your household, sign up at www.trainingdogsrus.com

keywords: dog beds, dog collars, dog toys

Grumpy Lucy

2009-12-09T18:40:00.000-08:00

Here is a good picture of Lucy. She just got done sunning herself and we had her sit for the picture. I am as guilty as anyone in assigning human emotions to my dogs but in this case I think Lucy is a little grumpy.

8 Simple Visual Indicators Your Dog Is Fat

2009-12-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

Here is a great article. We all put on a little weight on during the holidays and our pets are no exception. Many dog owners do not even realize their dogs are fat or a just a little chunky and continue to feed them way too much food. Here are 8 simple indicators that your dog needs to get a little more exercise or not eating so much.

Your dog is fat. OK, possibly not.But there's a very good chance he or she is, and you don't even know it.Statistics vary, but veterinarians report that as many as 25 - 44% of all dogs are overweight, and that obesity is the number-one canine health disorder. Obesity is defined as weighing over 15% more than the standard accepted weight for the dog's height.With nearly half of our dogs weighing in on the heavy side, it's no surprise, then, that obesity-related conditions are on the rise within the pet population. These conditions include diabetes mellitus and orthopedic, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine, respiratory, immune and reproductive disorders. These can be devastating conditions for your dog to live with.Doctors ascribe the rise in obesity to a combination of the general lack of fussiness of dogs, their natural gorging behavior, and insufficient exercise.And since dogs don't do their own grocery shopping or prepare their own meals, we must add to this a prevailing ignorance among their owners in providing a nutritious, well-balanced, calorie-controlled diet.Do you know if your dog is fat or fit? Do you know her daily caloric requirements? Do you know what factors may mitigate those daily caloric requirements?Did you know regular dog food is packed with sugar and fat to make the toxic crap they put in it palatable?A healthy dog is ready to eat at any time. Some dogs quite literally can eat while flat on their side and more or less asleep. Therefore, it is pointless to use your dog's begging behavior as any indicator of how much to feed him.Knowing how many calories he needs and how that translates into food will help keep him trim and healthy. Energy needs for the dog change throughout his life, increasing the more active he becomes, and, as you might surmise, decreasing as the dog reaches his senior years.Your vet will help you determine if your dog's weight is on target, or if she is headed for fat city, and all diet-related considerations should definitely be discussed with your vet before introducing any major changes into your dog's nutritional sphere. But, before your next office visit, you can do an assessment to determine (albeit imprecisely) your dog's general body condition and weight.Can the ribs be easily felt with slight fat cover, or are they difficult to feel under moderate or thick fat cover?From the side view, do you see an abdominal tuck?Is there thickening at the tail base?From the overhead view, is there a well-proportioned waist?Or, from the overhead view, does she have a marked hourglass shape? (an indicator of being underweight)Or, from the overhead view, is the back slightly or markedly broadened at the waist? (indicators of being moderately to severely overweight)Is your dog slow to rise or move around?Is she reluctant to exercise, or does she tire easily with activity?Individual metabolism, exercise, age, environment and overall health will determine what your dog really needs to remain lean and healthy. Since your dog can only have so many calories every day, it is important to pack lots of nutrition, bulk and appeal into those calories.Our wildly popular Dog Food SECRETS™ information products can help you step-by-step overcome your nutritional naivete.Embracing this information doesn't mean you have to prepare every meal with a set of scales on the counter, no. Do it a few times and you can do it forever.After you determine your dog's caloric needs, the ideal solution to meet those needs is to prepare your dog's food at home, where you can have total control over the caloric and nutritional content.Our books can help you there, too -- as it includes a collection of easy, healthful, natural and delicious recipes created with your dog's palate and welfare in mind. In fact the Silver and Gold packages include over 200 easy-to-make healthy recipes.About The Author Andrew LewisDiscover everything you need to know about http://www.thedogfoodconspiracy.com/dog-food-secrets.php , the #1 element in dog health. Subscribe to http://www.thedogfoodconspiracy.com newsletter to learn more.keywords: dog beds, dog health, dog carriers, dog collars, dog toys

Therapy dog helps Iowa students learn

2009-12-05T22:50:00.000-08:00

By MELISSA REGENITTER Muscatine Journal

LETTS, Iowa - Scooter is always excited to go to school. The 5-year-old waits by the window for his ride to show up and is eager to see all of his new friends at Louisa-Muscatine schools. "He's such a good dog," Valerie Vineyard-Gipple said of Scooter, her yellow Labrador, which recently became a certified therapy dog. Scooter was introduced as L-M's school dog about three weeks ago and he visits three or four days a week. Much of his time is spent in the classroom of Diane Vineyard, Valeries mother. Vineyard teaches students with learning and behavior challenges and Scooter is there to bring a smile to the students. "When someone is having a challenging day he picks them right out of the classroom," Vineyard said. "There was a student that didn't want to learn and he kept taking his nose and nudging his arm." Just having Scooter around comforts students and they respect him and are nice to him, she added. Scooter will be 6 on Christmas Day. He was chosen as a family pet as a puppy by Valerie and her husband, Seth, of Wapello. He is loving and docile, which inspired Valerie to train him for certification through Therapy Dogs International. Therapy Dogs International is a volunteer, nonprofit group with many handlers and testing facilities across the United States, Canada and some other countries. Through training, Valerie learned of the Tail Waggin Tutors reading program and took on the initiative to bring it to L-M. She volunteers by taking Scooter to L-M Elementary School twice a week, allowing students to read aloud to him in a one-on-one setting. The sessions are helpful to students who need encouragement or practice reading and as a reward for good behavior. "I thought being a therapy dog would be a good way for him to share his unconditional love," Valerie said. The love he gets back is evident in the halls of L-M schools. It seems that anyone who passes Scooter cant help but smile, call his name or reach down to pat his head. Studies have shown that therapy dogs promote healing, increase well being and improve the quality of life for those they serve, according to Therapy Dogs International. Aiden "A.J." Sears, 5, has a special bond with Scooter. When he saw the dog in the library Thursday he ran to Scooter, squealed his name, and gave him a big hug. Sears told the story of how he was upset one day, which sometimes happens in kindergarten, and Scooter was there at just the right time. "I was crying and I was walking down from the library. I was having a bad day," Sears said. "I pet him and it made me feel better." Another student who cant get enough of Scooter is second-grader Gabe Hayes. He reads aloud with the dog once a week. Gabe brings books about dogs and Scooter lies nearby providing company. "It's fun to read to him and he's really calm," Hayes said, adding that reading with Scooter has encouraged him to keep trying to become a better reader.

Kona is Not an Outside Dog

2009-12-01T22:27:00.000-08:00

Kona is not an outside dog by any means. She goes outside only if everyone else goes outside or to take of business, but then she wants right back in the house. She is one spoiled little puppy.

Here is Kona Sneezing

2009-11-29T11:24:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of Kona. She was caught in mid sneeze. She is not, I repeat not an outdoor dog and could be one of the most loungy dogs I have ever met. I do not think that she likes the feel of grass under her feet.

Lucy Loves Her New Backyard

2009-11-29T10:41:00.000-08:00

Lucy is a pretty loungy dog. she loves to go outside and take some time to sun herself. She likes to patrol the backyard looking for any new scents, etc... Where Kona will come right back in after doing what she needs to do outside Lucy more often than not just wanders off into a remote part of the backyard and camps out.

Here is a picture of Lucy in her new backyard.

http://www.ellaslead.com/

2009-11-28T16:09:00.000-08:00

We are always on the search for new products for Lucy's Dog House or for Lucy and Kona. So we spend a bit of time checking out a lot of wholesale and retail sites. We can not bring everything that we find that we like. That said there are some sites that are really cool and we like to share them with the folks that follow our blog. One such site is http://www.ellaslead.com/. It seems like it is a small company making hand made leather dog collars. They look like they use some of the same conchos that are found on the custom leather dog collars that are in our store, but in a different way. Pretty cool. Check them out when you get a chance.

8 Simple Visual Indicators Your Dog Is Fat

2009-11-28T15:39:00.000-08:00

Here is a great article as I sit here thinking about all of the food we have had over the past few days. I thought this might be a good article to share with everyone.

Your dog is fat. OK, possibly not.But there's a very good chance he or she is, and you don't even know it.Statistics vary, but veterinarians report that as many as 25 - 44% of all dogs are overweight, and that obesity is the number-one canine health disorder. Obesity is defined as weighing over 15% more than the standard accepted weight for the dog's height.

With nearly half of our dogs weighing in on the heavy side, it's no surprise, then, that obesity-related conditions are on the rise within the pet population. These conditions include diabetes mellitus and orthopedic, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine, respiratory, immune and reproductive disorders. These can be devastating conditions for your dog to live with.Doctors ascribe the rise in obesity to a combination of the general lack of fussiness of dogs, their natural gorging behavior, and insufficient exercise.

And since dogs don't do their own grocery shopping or prepare their own meals, we must add to this a prevailing ignorance among their owners in providing a nutritious, well-balanced, calorie-controlled diet.Do you know if your dog is fat or fit? Do you know her daily caloric requirements? Do you know what factors may mitigate those daily caloric requirements?Did you know regular dog food is packed with sugar and fat to make the toxic crap they put in it palatable?A healthy dog is ready to eat at any time. Some dogs quite literally can eat while flat on their side and more or less asleep. Therefore, it is pointless to use your dog's begging behavior as any indicator of how much to feed him.

Knowing how many calories he needs and how that translates into food will help keep him trim and healthy. Energy needs for the dog change throughout his life, increasing the more active he becomes, and, as you might surmise, decreasing as the dog reaches his senior years.Your vet will help you determine if your dog's weight is on target, or if she is headed for fat city, and all diet-related considerations should definitely be discussed with your vet before introducing any major changes into your dog's nutritional sphere. But, before your next office visit, you can do an assessment to determine (albeit imprecisely) your dog's general body condition and weight.Can the ribs be easily felt with slight fat cover, or are they difficult to feel under moderate or thick fat cover?From the side view, do you see an abdominal tuck?Is there thickening at the tail base?From the overhead view, is there a well-proportioned waist?Or, from the overhead view, does she have a marked hourglass shape? (an indicator of being underweight)Or, from the overhead view, is the back slightly or markedly broadened at the waist? (indicators of being moderately to severely overweight)Is your dog slow to rise or move around?

Is she reluctant to exercise, or does she tire easily with activity?Individual metabolism, exercise, age, environment and overall health will determine what your dog really needs to remain lean and healthy. Since your dog can only have so many calories every day, it is important to pack lots of nutrition, bulk and appeal into those calories.Our wildly popular Dog Food SECRETS™ information products can help you step-by-step overcome your nutritional naivete.Embracing this information doesn't mean you have to prepare every meal with a set of scales on the counter, no. Do it a few times and you can do it forever.After you determine your dog's caloric needs, the ideal solution to meet those needs is to prepare your dog's food at home, where you can have total control over the caloric and nutritional content.Our books can help you there, too -- as it includes a collection of easy, healthful, natural and delicious recipes created with your dog's palate and welfare in mind. In fact the Silver and Gold packages include over 200 easy-to-make healthy recipes.

About The Author Andrew LewisDiscover everything you need to know about http://www.thedogfoodconspiracy.com/ #1 element in dog health. Subscribe to http://www.thedogfoodconspiracy.com newsletter to learn more.keywords:

dog beds, dog health, dog carriers, dog collars, dog toys

Linking to www.lucysdoghouse.net

2009-11-27T12:01:00.000-08:00

Links into a website are like water to a plant. At www.lucysdoghouse.net we can always use more links into our website. If you have a website, forum or blog that you own we would greatly appreciate it if you link to us. If you do shoot me an email at admin@lucysdoghouse.net , let us know where the links are located and we will send you a coupon code that will give you 30% off everytime you shop at Lucy's Dog House.

All My Best,

Hans

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T11:42:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you have a great day with family, turkey and football.

German Shepherd Origin and History

2009-11-26T10:15:00.000-08:00

Here is a great article about another one of our favorite dog breeds, The German shepherd Dog.

The German Shepherd dog breed has its origin in the late 1800s when Max von Stephanitz from Germany began developing a breed that would later become the dog we know today as the German Shepherd.Von Stephanitz desired to produce a dog breed that could be utilized as an all-around working dog.
Developed from various farm and herding dogs of his time, von Stephanitz's original German Shepherd was derived from a herding dog he acquired in 1899, and he and his friend Artur Meyer formed the Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde which was the first club in the German Shepherd dog breed history. This club and von Stephanitz kept tight control over the breed until his death in 1936.
He determined which dogs would be used to breed based on how well they did in various shows and trials that were the precursor to the Schutzhund tests still performed today. His main criteria for judging a dog's success were both its usefulness coupled with its intelligence. Von Stephanitz also promoted the utility of the breed to the German government for work in both the police and the military as well as other all-purpose uses as a working dog breed.German Shepherd Breed History
Following the creation of the German Shepherd breed by von Stephanitz in the early 1900s, the breed's popularity soon soared and became one of Germany's most popular dogs. Serving in both World War I and II, the German Shepherd was a favorite military dog, primarily in Germany, but American and British soldiers were also impressed by the breed and brought the dog home following both wars.
In fact, one of the most popular German Shepherds dogs was Rin Tin Tin, originally from France, and brought to America by an American GI following the first world war. Rin Tin Tin went on to make 26 movies until his death in 1932 and contributed to the breed's enormous popularity.
In addition to its use in the police and military arenas, German Shepherds have a history of usefulness in other areas, is known as a successful show dog and has been a popular family pet. German Shepherds were the first dogs used as seeing eye dogs in the late 1920s and Helen Keller, an avid dog lover, owned a couple of German Shepherds.
The first German Shepherd Club in America was formed in 1913 and the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908. Instantly recognizable, the German Shepherd continues to be a popular dog breed, and the German Shepherd is continually in the top five most popular registered breeds as determined by the AKC.
Article Source: http://www.bestdogarticles.com
German Shepard Breedinformation, history, origins, pictures and demographics.

New Dog Collars at Lucy's Dog House

2009-11-25T17:16:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

We just added a bunch of new dog collars to our custom leather dog collars section, http://www.lucysdoghouse.net/cuhacrledogc.html They are all great hand made collars made from the finest Latigo Leather. Pictured here is the Alabama Dog Collar. Pretty awesome.

If you decide to buy do not forget to use the coupon code: friend, as it gives you 15% off your entire purchase. The best part is that the coupon code never expires so you can use it over and over again or pass on to your dog owner friends.

Lucy was a Bad Girl

2009-11-20T18:50:00.000-08:00

Well Lucy is up to her old tricks. I swear as she gets older she gets funnier and craftier ad we have to struggle to stay one step ahead of her. Early this week she got a hold of some hamburger buns and ran off with them into the bedroom and proceeded to eat them all. We are not sure if Kona got into them as well but we strongly suspect since Lucy takes care of Kona like she is her daughter.

The funny part is that Lucy did not even look the least little but guilty when we found the empty bag. No more food on the counters, again.

Ok I am back

2009-11-20T18:37:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since we posted. Well it is definately time to get back to posting. Look forward to more stuff coming soon.

Kona and the Bull

2009-03-24T20:00:00.001-07:00

Our neighborhood herd of cattle stopped by the other day. The dogs used to go a little nuts when they would come around. Not so much anymore though. Everyone, kind of takes it in stride. I think my neighbors think I am a little crazy as I hang over my fence and pet the cows. The bull came over this time and he stayed for a while while I fed him some of my overgrown grass. The second picture is Kona just kind of checking out the bull on the other side of the fence.

I mean seriously, I am originally from the middle of NYC, this kind of stuff just doesn't happen in the Big Apple.

2009-03-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

I have never, ever seen someone work so hard at their job. Here goes Lucy, off again doing a little product testing. Any of these big, floppy toy sare an instant hit with her. She loves them and loves to play tug of war with them. I do not pull too hard, I do not want to hurt her. She, on the other hand does not have that same limitation.

Things I will never do again

2009-03-22T17:09:00.000-07:00

Today, I added to my list of things I will never do again. Well, not on purpose. That is I will never try to play keep away with a Great Dane using a piece of chicken. Nuf Said. That was really, really dumb.

Iconic Dog - Original Pet Potraits

2009-03-21T18:55:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I was cruising around the web today and I found this really awesome website. It is called Iconic Dog and it is really neat. The owner/artist paints these really great pet potraits in oil. The colors are very vivid and the overall effect is something else.

Check it out when you get a chance.

By the way, I am not being paid or otherwise compensated in any way for making this post. It is just a cool website. I am also going to put a link to thesite at Lucy's Dog House in case you ever needed to find the link again.

If you notice below is a Add This widget. It lets you bookmark something with whatever book marking service you use. I found it a while ago and I think it is pretty cool.

2009-03-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

The last picture was a picture of the hotel. This is apicture of the River Walk. It is pretty nice like I said.

San Antonio's River Walk

2009-03-15T10:21:00.001-07:00

Well yesterday's fund raiser for ccdog.com did not work out so well due to the rain.

So we dropped Lucy and Kona off at a really great kennel for the night and went up to San Antonio. They were so jazzed about going back into the kennel when we dropped them off. Lucy was all excited. Her tail was wagging a mile a minute and Kona could barely contain herself.

We stayed at the Omni right on the River Walk and it was a really great experience. We were able to walk right onto the River Walk from our hotel.

If you have never been to San Antonio the River Walk is a must see thing. It is right by the Alamo and it has lots of great shops and places to eat. Go to Casa Rios, the food is great and inexpensive. Above is a picture of the River Walk.

Corpus Christi Dogs

2009-03-14T19:38:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Today we went to a fundraiser for Corpus Christi dogs. They are a group that is dedicated to getting a dog park started in Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi is a city of over a quarter of a million people and it does not have a dog park. Kind of a bummer.

The city has allocated the land but the funding for the fencing, the water and lights have to come from private funding. The total cost is going to be about 75K.

The fundraiser hit a little snag today because of the rain. It usually never rains here in Corpus but today it did. Wierd.

At Lucy's Dog House we are big fans of a dog park in Corpus Christi so whenever you use the coupon code: ccdogs we will donate 10 percent of the purchase price to CCDogs. Stop by at www.lucysdoghouse.net see if there is anything that you or you dog would like and use the coupon code.

I Bite My Dog

2009-03-13T20:08:00.000-07:00

Nah, just kidding. Actually I do bite my dog Kona when we are playing. She started it thouhg. Apparently it is what chocolate labs do. Check out the video.

All the best,

Hans

Lucy and Kona go to the Vet

2009-03-12T17:51:00.000-07:00

Today Lucy and Kona had to go to the vet for their annual rabies shot. we went to the local PetsSmart which had a Banfield Animal Hospital in it. You would thought we were going to a dog park or something. By the way, Petsmart is pretty cool. They have been doing a good job in increasing the variety of dry foods that they offer. some of them are normally brands I would expect to find in a small, high end pet store. Kudos to Pet Smart.

Rarely have I seen my dogs so excited to go into a store. Today they were just a little bit nutty when they went into the store and were quite a handful. Normally they are pretty good dogs but today they had all sorts of things, and people and other dogs to look at and want to go sniff or whatever.

Overall it was a good visit and they got their shots and had their nail trimmed.

Great Dane with a Baby

2009-03-11T06:11:00.000-07:00

Cruising around the internet today and found this video. Thought it was a good representation of Great Danes and their devotion to their families.

To the simpler things in life

2009-03-10T18:48:00.001-07:00

A few days ago I read that one of the better thins about a recession is that many people return to the simpler things in life that make them happy. Here at Lucy's dog House we have been impacted just like everyone else. Instead of getting down about it again today, I looked at Lucy and asked her, "Do you want to go for a walk?". She replied like se usually does, she pretty much started jumping around like a big hairy porpoise, she was so excited. So we took a quick spin around the neighborhood and everything seemed better. For both of us. As I write this Lucy is happily snoring away and I am happily blogging.

I think the author of the article I read the other day was a genius. Here is to the simpler things in life.

New Stuff At Lucy's Dog House

2009-03-10T12:49:00.001-07:00

Lucy wanted me to let all of you knwo that we added a bunch of new products at www.lucysdoghouse.net. Above is a picture of our new British themed collars. They are pretty awesome and are both affordable starting at $9.00 and cool all at the same time.

We have a bunch of new collars and you can check out our whole selection at new dog collars

Blogging

2009-03-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

I do not know what it is, I need to put a sign up or something or tattoo it on the back of my hand. I tell myself everyday that I have to blog that day and then all of a sudden the day is over and I have not managed to blog for the day. Okay well, that stops today. Well at least for today. LOL. We shall see how it all turns out.

Wow, Lucy has had a pretty wonderful day. Like most Great Danes she is a huge lounge lizard. She especially likes to lay out back in the grass. She especially likes it when the sun is nice and warm and she can spend hours out there. Luckily the bug situation here in Texas is not too bad right now, so I just leave the screen door open and she just comes and goes as she pleases.

I swear she stays out there until she can stand it anymore, comes in for a while, gets a drink and goes right back out there. Talk about a sun worshipper.

Oh, by the way, before any of you send me an email to remind me that I need to put suntan lotion on her, got you covered.

Lucy - The Stinky Dog

2009-02-20T18:57:00.000-08:00

I love Lucy like she is one of my children and sometimes she does stuff that I as a "parent" can only sit back and laugh about. Like last night, Lucy goes outside for her evening trip to the backyard and she decides that someone else's poop is the greatest thing in the world. So of course what does she do, she proceeds to role around in it, so the rest of her "pack" can smell it too. Well needless to say I was only so impressed, so Lucy got a bonus bath last night.

Which by the way, I am probably one of the luckiest dog owners in the world. When she knows she has done something like this, she knows exactly where she is headed. Like last night, all I had to do was tell her "bath" and she headed off to the bathroom where she gets her baths. I snaped my fingers and told her to get in and she got in. Lucky me, since Lucy is not a lot of fun to wrestle with when it is not play time. Lucy is weighing in a 130lbs these days, so if she is not inclined to do something, she can be pretty difficult to manhandle someplace.

Cutting Lucy's Toe Nails

2009-02-20T18:51:00.000-08:00

Well, you would think that since I am work in the pet industry, i should be a pro at cutting my own dog's nails. It is not really all that hard, just got to get the nail in the clippers and cut with a deliberate motion. If you don't, it is kind of like taking off a band aid too slowly, you know what I mean.

Well, I messed it up. I went too far back on one of Lucy's nail and she bled all over the place. Luckily I had some styptic powder which was able to help stop the bleeding. She was such a trooper during the whole thing as I was trying to get the bleeding to stop.

That said, she did not let me cut the nails on her front feet.

Why I Love My Dogs

2009-02-05T17:32:00.000-08:00

So being away from my dogs for eight months has taught me a lot of things. The most imporant is that they are a major part of my life. Well, of course, you say. I always knew it but it is one thing to know something and quite another to truly internalize it. I look forward to coming home every day because I know that I will be greated by non-stop tail wagging and it is just because I walked through the door. I mean come on what else is in life is that consistently happy and a source of joy?

Wow, it has been a long time

2009-02-04T18:04:00.000-08:00

Sorry, that I have not been posting all that mcuh lately. I guess I could come up with all sorts of good and not so good excuses but nah, not going to do it.

Life gets busy but whatever.....

I did just get back from a long business trip overseas. It is good to be back with Lucy and Kona. They both looked like hairy dolphins they were jumping around so much. I had this big fear that they would forget who I was after not being around them for eight months.

The Cats In Bahrain

2008-09-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-05T12:28:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-06T03:09:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-06T03:01:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-13T09:33:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-04-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

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

Another great dog video

2008-04-05T07:10:00.000-07:00

Lucy's Dog House Sale

2008-03-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-20T04:39:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-17T03:58:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Here is a little video that rocks

Basic Dog Care

2008-03-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-08T08:11:00.000-08:00

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

2008-03-08T08:06:00.000-08:00

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!!

2008-03-04T18:43:00.000-08:00

A Very Silly Great Dane

2008-03-04T18:42:00.000-08:00

A Little Bit About Labradors

2008-03-03T18:02:00.000-08:00

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

2008-03-02T14:59:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-24T21:23:00.000-08:00

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

Here are the my cow neighbors

2008-02-24T21:18:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-23T21:12:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-16T14:58:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-14T18:59:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-14T18:46:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-09T10:54:00.000-08:00

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

More Golden Retriever Pictures - Just Because

2008-02-09T10:49:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-09T10:28:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-08T08:34:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-08T08:28:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-06T10:21:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-06T10:14:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-06T10:11:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-06T03:34:00.001-08:00

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

Tommy the Great Dane

2008-02-03T13:09:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-03T13:04:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-01T20:16:00.000-08:00

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