Dogs Who Rule The Literary World

In celebration of its 125 Anniversary, the American Kennel Club and AOL’s PawNation.com ask America to weigh in on their favorite dog stories. The nominees for most famous dogs of literature are:

• Clifford The Big Red Dog – The tiny Vizsla puppy who grew to 25 feet in the children’s book series written by Norman Bridwell.
• Spot – The black and white Cocker Spaniel pet featured in the Fun with Dick and Jane book series created to teach children how to read.
• Old Yeller – The fictional story, based on the novel by Fred Gipson, of a Mountain Cur dog. The book was adapted in 1957 into a Disney movie.
• Marley & Me – The New York Times bestselling autobiographical book by journalist John Grogan that portrays Grogan and his family's life during the 13 years that they lived with their rambunctious Labrador Retriever Marley, and the relationships and lessons from this period.
• My Dog Skip - An autobiographical book by Willie Morris that tells the tale of a boy and his Parson Russell Terrier dog in a small southern town that teaches about family, friendship, love, devotion and bravery.
• Big Red – The story, based on the novel by Jim Kjelgaard, of an Irish Setter who would rather run through the woods than be the perfectly-trained and groomed show dog his sportsman owner wants and the ten-year-old orphan boy who cares for and helps Big Red rebel against his owner's strict discipline.
• Argos – The faithful dog of Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey.
• Cujo – The Saint Bernard in the horror novel by Stephen King.
• White Fang – The main character in Jack London’s book of the same name. White Fang is the story of a wild Wolfdog's journey toward becoming civilized in Yukon Territory, Canada, during the Klondike Gold Rush at the end of the 19th century.

Which dog in literature will be victorious? Visit
http://www.pawnation.com/category/akc-top-125-dogs to cast your vote and make your “bark” heard.

Cost-Effective Solutions to Medicating Your Pet

One of the great things about Twitter is the variety of people you can "meet" to help you solve your problems. I am very excited that Wedgewood Pharmacy reached out to me to enlight me about their compounding services. Wedgewood Pharmacy located Swedesboro, NJ makes it easier for pet owners to give their pets medication, all while helping them save money.

The Company offers compound prescriptions in standard dosage forms ranging from capsules, oral powders and pastes, but they also offer innovative medication solutions. Some of their helpful solutions are listed below:

Gourmeds: For dogs and cats that love to chew, try their tasty chewable tablets available in natural chicken and fish flavors. Gourmeds are available for the most commonly prescribed compounded preparations.

Twist-A-Dose. This application available in 20 compounded preparations minimizes your physical contact with the preparation and can be applied directly to the pet's ear.

Tiny Tabs: These compressed, pillable tablets (smaller than Tic-Tacs), are for pets, like cats and toy dogs, that are difficult to pill. They are also great for especially bitter-tasting medication.

Granuales: Compounded granules help to reduce the risk of chemical exposure by inhaling powdered solutions

Biodegradable Beads and Pellets: This is the Company's latest innovations that is available for for antibiotic and chemotherapeutic compounded preparations.

Additionally, Wedgewood Pharmacy ships 95 percent of prescription orders the same day(Monday through Friday)they are placed. Pet owners must have valid prescriptions for compounded medication. Either send an original prescription or a fax of the original, patient and shipping information as well as a payment in advance. Wedgewood accepts major credit cards, including Master Card, Visa, Discover and American Express.

If you need additional infomration, call 888-678-1967.

My Dogs Are So Smart and You Probably Say the Same Thing Too.

My mother used to say that her children were brillanteens. I really don't know where she got that expression from but it obviously started when we were in our teens. I guess it was her way of telling us and her friends that we were smart, smart asses. Even now, I say tell my dogs, "Mommy, knows you are just brillant." Moreover, my dogs are not only brillant, they are beautiful, and of course, can do no wrong. I am secretly adore the fact that they are snobby. Although I do feel bad that they are snooby to their friend Little Z who barks for them to play with her but they just ignore her and pretend that she is invisible. Poor Little Z. She is Westie and can't help barking herself to death.

But I read this story today. After reading it, I realized the dog belonged to the reporter's wife. Tell me what you think? Just curious if I read it right.

Waiting for My Blue Book

Today, The Blue Book, was shipped to New York City for distribution. The magazine named for the Metropolitan Dog club’s colors, celebrates the Big Apple as the home of about 1.5 million dogs. The Blue Book was my brain child and I am the Editor and Chief.

My inspiration for the magazine came from my varied experiences in the dog world. Moreover, it was in the 1990s that I started to seriously contemplate the animal-human bond. My observations began as a student at the New York School of Dog Grooming. Night after night, dog owners would come from the five boroughs with their mixed, purebred, exotic and guide dogs for the students to groom. Concerned dog owners would drop off their dogs for a dose of beauty and good health. Upon their return, worry would instantly fade into a smile as they saw their dogs emerge from the grooming area. At the moment each dog and owner physically greeted each other, I saw the special relationship that existed between the two of them.

After all these years, I still appreciate observing the relationship between dogs and their owners. As I walk around my Little Italy neighborhood with my four English Toy Spaniels, I hope that some dog-loving tourists and area residents see the unique bond I share with my dogs and just don’t assume at that I am their kindly dog walker.

In this issue, Metropolitan Dog Club members continue share their love and knowledge of dogs with you. Be inspired as you learn how dogs promote human healing. Understand how to better care for senior dogs. Be prepared for common emergencies, whether you are indoors or out. And, with the arrival of Bo in the White House, many dog lovers have a renewed interest in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the canines who lived there—we have a story about that, too.

If you like to preview the Blue Book, click HERE.

Cat Focus Group: Home Alone and Having Fun

Friskies, the leading cat food brand, conducted a study to reveal the magical world of cats. In this cat “focus group,” 50 cat owners and their cats participate in an experiment to examine the feline, sensory experiences in cats' home environments when their owners are not around. Cats from around the nation wore tiny digital cat-cams that took pictures of their surroundings every 15 minutes. The resulting photographs uncovered where cats go and what they do, specifically, when they are left home alone.

It seems that average cat is home alone nearly five hours per day which is a lot of time for cats to play and explore their home environment. Furthermore, the study revealed not only what cats do, but also how they view and experience the world around them when they’re home alone.

Purina® animal behavior scientist Jill Villarreal, Ph.D., analyzed the photos from the Friskies® cats. She noted that the photgraphs shed light from a cat’s point-of-view and, for the first time, we can better understand what gets our cats’ attention and provides them with opportunities for play and adventure when they are alone.

According to the Friskies survey of cat owners, almost half of all owners say they wonder what their cat is doing when they are not home. The survey also revealed that 71 percent of owners suspect their cat is sleeping; 52 percent think they are eating; and 47 percent think they looking out the window. More, interesting details include:

· Several cats took pictures of computer and television screens. This is likely due to the cat’s natural prey instinct to focus in on moving objects.

· The cats’ photos revealed that screened-in porches are a rich oasis filled with sensory stimulation. This includes sights, sounds, textures, and smells with grassy patches and non-toxic plants that provide tactile (touch) and olfactory (smell) stimulation for the cats.

· The photos also showed that cats were greatly interested in water, be it in the sink, bathtub, or swimming pool. This may seem counterintuitive, as it is commonly believed that cats dislike water. However, these photos reveal that cats like water, but on their own terms. For example, the coolness of the sink and tub provide a fun thermal contrast for cats.

The results of this first-of-its-kind Friskies focus group are highlighted in the Scratchington Post, an online report showcasing the daily lives of America’s cats. The report includes findings from the Cat Sense survey of cat owners; photos from the cat “repurrters’ with analysis from Dr. Villarreal; background on each repurrter; and tips on how to help cats live life to the fullest by providing them with rich sensory experiences.

To view the full report in the Scratchington Post, visit www.friskies.com\scratchingtonpost.com

Peoplepets.com Petiquette Columnist

I recently started writing the Peoplepets.com petiquette column. Each week, I tackle a pet lifestyle issue for dog and cat owners. In the last three weeks, I have written about cats eating from the table, how to ask to bring a pet to a holiday celebration, and leaving your dog tied outside a store. My column is posted on Tuesday afternoon, check it out or write to me if you need my advice.

Submit your Best in Travel Pet Photos

AAA and Best Western want your pet's most memorable travel photos!

Enter your ‘best-in-travel’ pets photographs before November 30, 2009 and you and your pet can be a winner.

Entries are judged on such artistic qualities as photographic composition and ability to convey the joy of safely traveling with a pet. Candid compositions are preferred over posed, studio photographic submissions.

Two winning pet photos, chosen in January 2010, will be featured on the cover and spine of the next edition of the AAA PetBook, published in May 2010. The first place winner, featured on the back cover, will receive $350, a $150 Best Western® Travel Card and five complimentary copies of the book. The second place winner will appear on the book’s spine and will receive $200, along with two complimentary copies of the book.

For information on how to submit your photo, click on The AAA PetBook® Photo Contest Official Rules link Here.

Pet Travel Survey Reveals How Pet Owners and Non-Pet Owners Feel

As many of you know, I have travelled all over the country with my dogs, cats and birds. And when lecturing, I always tell folks that not every pet is right for travel and not every trip is right for pets. But, if you take the time to plan accordingly, you and your family can have great times whether you fly or take a road trip.

When planning a trip, I always encourage pet owners to take advantage of their AAA membership because AAA is a valuable resource for pet owners who want to travel with their pets. Moreover, Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook is a valuable resource than be purchased from AAA for $12.98 for members; $21.67 for non-members.

Recently, AAA and Best Western, the world’s largest hotel chain, recently conducted a survey on traveling with your pet. The survey revealed that more than three-quarters of traveling pet owners would take Fido or Fifi on every vacation if they could, although more than half report difficulty finding pet-friendly accommodations. According to the recent survey some othger interesting information was discovered.

-Nearly one-third (28 percent) of those who travel with pets indicate they would rather travel with their pet than with their significant other
-More than half of traveling pet owners report difficulty finding pet-friendly accommodations
-Thirty-five percent of pet-owning respondents admitted to sneaking their pet into a hotel or motel in the past
-The top five frustrations respondents have with others who travel with pets are those who do not clean up after them (77 percent); those whose dogs constantly bark (53 percent); those who do not notify others their dog is aggressive (45 percent); not walking pets on a leash (42 percent); and owners whose pets are not trained to relieve themselves outside (30 percent).
-The most popular pet-inclusive vacations are visiting friends/family (73 percent) and road trips (56 percent)