January 2011
30 posts
3 tags
Dog is Cause of Freak Gun Accident →
A man in North Carolina was shot when his dog knocked a gun off a counter, as explained in this story from wbtv.com:
The man from Knightdale told police that he was shot on Jan. 15 when his dog jumped onto a kitchen bar, knocking his loaded gun onto the floor, WRAL reported. The gun fired when it hit the floor and a bullet hit John Sidney Daniels in the right knee, police told WRAL.
Nothing...
Dogs Having an Impact at Middle School →
At the New Glarus Middle School in Wisconsin, dogs who were brought in as part of a program for special needs students are having a big impact on the whole school, as this article from Madison.com explains:
Students who struggle with communication skills can form bonds with a dog. In addition, dogs can provide a real life reason to work on academic skills when they are used for a reading program...
Remote Control Dogs →
Scientists have developed equipment which would allow humans to give orders to dogs from a distance. This article from Escapistmagazine.com explains:
The technology is actually built into a custom harness that is worn by a dog. Within this harness, there is a GPS unit, sensors, and a radio system that’s controlled wirelessly from a computer. Vibrations on the left and right side of the...
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Homemade Dog Food →
What do you feed your dog? This Seattle Times article discusses how some owners opt for homemade food instead of store-bought kibble. The theory is that homemade food is healthier and may prolong your dog’s life:
According to many veterinarians and pet food producers, it can, in fact, be quite hard to formulate an animal’s diet at home. But Laino, the students in her workshop and...
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Oldest Dog in the World
Scientists have discovered the remains of a 9,400 year-old dog, who appears to have been eaten at some point by some humans. This news article from Discovery.com explains:
“This is an important scientific discovery that can tell us not only a lot about the genetic history of dogs but of the interactions between humans and dogs in the past,” Samuel Belknap III, who made the discovery, was...
Coat Saves Chihuahua from Owl Attack →
Well, the title says it all. A chihuahua survived a scary attack by an owl while on a walk. According to the Chicago Sun-Times story:
Kalomiris was walking Chico early last Wednesday when the dog stopped about five feet behind him and began to whimper. He turned and tugged on the leash. But Chico wouldn’t move.
Then, without a sound, the owl swooped down and tried to take Chico, Kalomiris...
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Bionic Dog →
They have the technology. A dog who lost one of her paws in an accident has been fitted with an artificial paw.
Dr Fitzpatrick operated on Mitzi to insert a titanium rod into her leg leaving her with a peg to which a prosthesis could be attached.
Her new titanium foot screws onto the peg and allows her to walk and run once again - something her owner never thought possible.
Mitzi’s...
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Dog Helps Fight Against Robber →
In Mississippi, a dog named Cinnamon helped a woman fight off a robber who had entered a house. This is a short and simple story, but if you see the video of the small dog (who appears to be wearing a sweater), you’ll see that all dogs - both large and small - will spring into action when someone threatens their loved ones! The story at wapt.com says:
Sheriff’s Department officials...
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Stem-cell Therapy for Dogs →
Dogs who suffer ailments which affect their mobility are receiving stem-cell therapy at a clinic in Michigan, as this article from the Detroit News explains:
”...Woodside is the first clinic in Michigan to perform the in-house adult stem cell therapy, which involves harvesting and injecting an animal’s stem cells the same day.”
Looks like advanced medical treatments are...
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Petside.com's Top 25 Pet People of 2010
Petside.com posted their “Top 25 Pet People of 2010.” Check out their site for a full description: “Every day, an avalanche of articles vies for our attention, both in print and online, so if you missed the headlines about our picks for this year’s news-worthiest pet people, you’re not alone. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We based our rankings...
Do Dogs Have a Sixth Sense? →
This LA Times article discusses the possibility that our dogs may be able to forewarn us of the weather and other major events:
“Scientists have suggested animals sense bad weather because of changes in barometric pressure or other factors, LaFarge said, and dogs anticipate seizures, low blood sugar or other medical problems because of hormonal changes. But they haven’t figured out...
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Peanut-sniffing Dog →
Allergic to peanuts? Then maybe this is the dog for you. A pitbull mix named Layla has been trained to sniff out peanuts and fragments of peanuts. This is an extremely valuable skill as it will help people with peanut allergies from accidentally ingesting peanut products. This dog is literally a potential life-saver.
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Dog Podcast
Check out this weekly podcast (called the “Dog Cast Radio”) about our favorite topic, dogs. Click here for a link to the podcast page, including an episode in which the author of “Merle’s Door” is interviewed (it was my Dog Book of the Week a few weeks ago). Dog Cast Radio covers a variety of topics and the host, Julie Hill, has a very calm, intelligent demeanor.
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"My Dog Tulip" →
Here’s a review of the new animated film, “My Dog Tulip,” which is based on a 1956 memoir by J.R. Ackerley. It’s been getting pretty good reviews across the board. I used to see an older gentleman in my neighborhood slowly walking around with his German Shepherd. This movie kind of brings back those memories. Check out the trailer here.
Inmates Caring for Dogs →
Inmates at the El Dorado Correctional Facility are helping to care for dogs as part of a foster home agreement with a group called Alex’s House, as stated in the article: “They now have five dogs at a time from Alex’s House, with two inmates providing care for each dog. One of those inmates provides the 24-hour care of feeding, watering, bathing and playing with the dog.”
...
Overweight Dogs →
This article from the Calgary Herald discusses the need for dogs and other pets to stay in shape. According to the article, 44% of dogs in the U.S. are overweight as of 2008. Yikes.
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"Prescription Dogs" →
Dogs are increasingly being used to treat stress-related afflictions. This article from Canada also mentions how petting a dog can help lower blood pressure!
Oops! There’s a typo in the book title below. Instead of “Bong” it should read “Bond”. Bong would be a different kind of book altogether!
Dog Book of the Week →
“101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog” by Kyra Sundance. I’m currently trying to teach my dog some of the tricks in this book. It’s has many illustrative photos and is easy to follow. There are many great tricks to keep your dog’s mind healthy and happy! Check it out.
