iDog

One more Halloween picture that we couldn't resist posting.

(Thanks for the tip, Pat).

See any tell-tale photoshop marks? Looks real to us...
It's even all shiny...and check out the leash where the headphones go! Nicely done.

From our friends at Dogster.com...

A survey of dogster members has found the following about pet participation in Halloween:

Survey Highlights

» 65% of dog owners will be including their pooches in Halloween festivities this year.
» 40% have definite plans to dress up their dogs.
» 72% of those dressing up their dogs will be buying their outfits rather than making them at home.
» 46% percent think the coolest costume of the year is Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.
» 43% say their pets resent wearing costumes.
» 19% of dog owners say their pets love getting gussied up for Halloween—the more outrageous the outfit, the better.

Top-Selling Dog Costumes of 2007

» Shark
» Elephant

Top-Selling Dog Costumes of 2006

» Hot Dog
» Skunk

Read More...

See more funny costumes on the Dolce Vita Flickr page...

From the Summit News, in Breckenridge Colorado:

Cold weather probably means more pain and joint stiffness for dogs who are arthritic or have some degree of hip dysplasia. Arthritis medication and exercise, therefore, is very important.

But exercise does not mean running your dog behind the snowmobile at 40 mph or following you on a four-hour cross-country trail.

Dogs, especially Labs, are willing to follow you anywhere and for as long as you want. Running in the snow, especially if it’s deep, is more strenuous on the dogs.

They can’t rationalize — they don’t understand they may be too sore to get out of bed the following morning.

If you have a long-haired dog or one that tends to have hair in between the toes, try to keep that hair trimmed or shaved down. This will prevent snow from getting caught there and causing the toes to spread out and the skin to split and bleed.

If you have a dog with short hair and sensitive skin, then you might need to put booties on its paws and not keep it in the cold too long.

Dogs can be left outdoors during the day. Most dogs — goldens, Labs, Aussies, malamutes, huskies — can tolerate the cold well.

But some dogs have been kept in our warm homes and may not be able to spend a full winter day in the yard if the temperature drops too low. Use common sense, and make sure there is a doggy house with a blanket, maybe a heated one, and plenty of water.

Read More...

See a lot of typing like this on your computer: tttfflllllllssswwkewqsssss?

Now you can fight back with the PawSense cat typing blocker!

How it works:

Every time your computer boots up, PawSense will automatically start up in the background to watch over your computer system.

Even while you use your other software, PawSense constantly monitors keyboard activity. PawSense analyzes keypress timings and combinations to distinguish cat typing from human typing. PawSense normally recognizes a cat on the keyboard within one or two pawsteps.

If a cat gets on the keyboard, PawSense makes a sound that annoys cats.
This teaches your cat that getting on the keyboard is bad even if humans aren't watching.

Once a cat has been recognized, PawSense blocks the cat's keyboard input. This keeps the cat from entering lots of commands to your programs or operating system.

From the Indianapolis Star...

If you think late arrivals and lost luggage are headache-inducing, try flying with your pet. But airline passengers traveling with pets can get some guidance from Petfinder .com, an online database for adoptable pets.

The Web site rates Continental as the airline that seems to care the most about jet-setting pets. Other recommendations:

• JetBlue for the best fare: $50 each way.

• Delta for those with unique pets: Dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs are allowed in the cabin.

• American Trans Air, America West, US Airways, JetBlue and Spirit for traveling with young pets: While some airlines only allow pets 8 weeks or older, there is no age requirement on these airlines.

• Spirit, American and Northwest for bringing more than one: Two pets per carrier are allowed.

• AirTran and Delta for traveling with heavy animals: No weight restrictions, as long as pets fit comfortably inside their carriers.

Read more...

A mashup of 300 and, well, cats. Give it a minute, it gets stronger as it goes along.

From a reporter for the Korea Times living in Canada. On the worldwide "affluenza" epidemic and it's benefits to pets.

I have not seen in Korea the vast array and varieties of pet shops, training schools, and beauty spas that I see in Canada. While the idea of sending the family pet to a pet spa may have been considered a gimmick a decade ago, such animal beauty outlets are now a growing trend across the world.

The keyword here is "family.'' Canadians now refer to the pets as companions and family members. Many pet owners call themselves "pet parents.'' There were a few crazy people in the feudal world a few decades ago who prized their pets and lavished them with luxuries.

In our childhood we saw some period movies from Bollywood that showed feudal lords marrying-off their pets with great pomp and show. But today it is fair to say that domestic dogs and cats have gone through an evolution of status, from animal to pet and family member.

Today's pet shop is part high-end boutique, part learning center, and part community hangout. When you go away on holiday, business or perhaps into hospital ― you need not worry about your pets. While you're away pet shops provide pet sitters who take care of your pets.

A few decades back, when traveling, it used to be a hard proposition to find hotels that allowed pets. Now, pets are not just allowed in some hotels, they get royal treatment. Some hotels welcome pets with special pet pillows, toys, even a licensed doggie masseuse.

Psychologists and fortunetellers for pets are no longer bizarre thoughts. There are schools exams, which the pets have to undergo. My friend's smiling dog was disqualified for one year as he answered the question too eagerly without waiting for his turn.

For those who wish to keep their pets at home, there are even toys designed to keep them occupied and special DVDs for their entertainment.

Many owners like my friend take their pets to a doggie daycare for play and exercise and socializing. Cats are less social and hence they stay home. It is said that a dog boosts the ego of the pet owner while a cat deflates it.

There are pools to cool off when it is hot outside. You even have Reiki therapy for curing the aches and pains of pets. Burial and memorial services are available for them and for pet owners who do not like the burial of their loved pets; taxidermy is available as an alternative.

There is an explosion of luxury and designer pet products today. Staple products, such as bowls, collars, leashes, toys, beds and crates have gone through design transformations to make them more stylish, comfortable, safer or smarter. And they come with high price tags.

In today's world of affluenza, pets are having their best time.

Read more...

Sometimes sites are so good they deserve their own post.

Cute Overload, is a pet site as the name implies, about all things cute. Even too cute, thus the overload. Find pictures and videos in clever categories such as "Cute or Sad?", "Matchingks", as well as irreverent categories like "Interspecies Snorgling".

These people have written the book on cute. Literally, here are some of the rules of cuteness:

Rule of Cuteness #36: If your eyebrows go up in the center, it's cute

Rule of Cuteness #25: Dangle your paw

Rule of Cuteness #9: Piles of a cute thing jack up a cuteness rating exponentially

Rule of Cuteness #6: Mimic Humans

This image covers many cuteness factors; multiple animals, looking helpless (it would be fun to turn the water on) and mimicking humans. Humans love it! I mean, half of America's Funniest Home videos is based on animals mimicking humans (the only two things better is suddenly scared people falling down or a surprise hit to the groin).

Find more cuteness, and rules about cuteness, on Cute Overload.

Sorry about the music, but you can turn it down without missing much!

From the local paper...

If you want to get a cat in Seattle, you have a lot of options. You can go check the yellow pages for breeders. You can look online on countless Web sites, from personal pet breeder pages to classified directories like nwsource.com or Craigslist. You can peruse your neighborhood pet shop.

Or you can adopt.

From Jan. 1 through Oct. 21 of 2006, residents adopted 1,459 cats from the Seattle Animal Shelter. In the same time period this year, 1,392 cats have found home and shelter officials say they're on track to find homes for 1,700 cats by January.

The number of cats in the shelter hasn't changed much this year from last year. But on a longer timeline, it's a different story.

There could be several causes for what shelter director Don Jordan says is a steady increase in the number of homeless cats in Seattle -- from the fact that there is no cat leash law to an observed tendency not to spay or neuter cats as diligently as dogs.

But there's another possibility, and it might surprise you -- global warming.

"A decade ago or two decades ago, when there were cold spells in the winter, a certain part of the cat population died off. But if we're not having those real cold spells, a lot more animals stay alive through the breeding season," Jordan said. He hasn't seen any data to back that up, but it's "certainly been discussed" among directors of other shelters, he said.

Read More...

Hey...vote for us! Click to give us two paws up. Woof!

Of the approximately one million videos of cats talking on the web, this one might be the best (well, of the 10 I've seen at least, it is the best).

IAMI - Claire Laurence was incredulous when her veterinarian told her that her 16-pound DSH -- that's domestic short hair cat, for you motley mortals -- needed to lose some weight because he was in danger of diabetes and high blood pressure.

"Cats get diabetes?" she gasped.

Yes, ma'am. Dogs can too.

Our beloved animals also can get cataracts and brain tumors. Spinal-cord abnormalities, heart disease and hepatitis too.

Vets today can offer treatments for all of these ailments and many more, using diagnostic tools such as MRIs and CAT scans, thus bringing animal care up to a level once reserved for humans.

Read more...

May we also suggest, that some cats and dogs can benefit from the low-level heat provided by Dolce Vita Pet beds, available on this website.

Interesting! "Fluffy" may have long lost Dilmun relatives in Bahrain...

New scientific findings are leading international researchers to believe that the early domestication of cats may have begun in the Middle East and more specifically Bahrain.

Following the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sampling of Dilmun cats from Bahrain, UK and US scientists concluded that a good proportion had ancient DNA profiles.

New DNA techniques also showed that the domestication process started more than 131,000 years ago rather than 9,000 years ago (evidence from ancient burial sites in Cyprus).

Read more...

With great power (claws and sharp teeth), comes great responsibility. Use it wisely, kitties...

GROTON, Conn. - When her son Kyle was born, Sharlene Tupas noticed he wouldn't study her face, the way most babies do.

Instead, he would almost look through her, or around her. As he got older he babbled, but at his two-year checkup, he still wasn't talking.

She thought boys simply start talking later, but the doctor told her and her husband, Randy, not necessarily.

By the time she was pregnant with a second child, Kyle was diagnosed as autistic. His brother Austin would follow the same path.

After seven years of struggling with the boys' development _ and several years of splitting up the family so the children could live where the best treatment was available _ the Groton family is putting faith in a dog named Maggie.

Maggie, a mix of a Labrador retriever and poodle called a labradoodle, is being trained as a nontraditional type of service dog. Kyle, 7, has trouble speaking clearly.

He is on par academically and loves to play, but other children can be hesitant to play with him. Austin, 6, makes one-word requests, like "eat" or "drink" and mostly lives in his own little world, his mother said.

Unlike an assistance dog for the blind, dogs trained to work with autistic children serve as a bridge between the children and the world around them, said Patty Dobbs of the Storrs-based North Star Foundation.

Read more...

How Do I Help My Dog Lose Weight?
by: Russell Richer

Much like their owners, more and more dogs worldwide are showing signs of obesity. Besides limiting their enjoyment of life as a dog, extra body weight can lead to to joint and heart problems, shorter lives, and sometimes behavioral issues.

The easiest way to tell whether or not your dog is obese is to examine his body. Try the following:

Have him stand up, then stand above him. Does his body slope inward at the waist?
Run your hands over his sides from front to back legs. Can you feel his ribs fairly easily?

Feel the base of his tail. Are the bones easily detectable?

Look at him from the side. Does his tummy slope upward as it gets closer to his tail?

If you answered no to any of the questions, your pup is probably overweight. If you answered “What waist/ribs/tail bones?” and “Upward? Really?,” your pup is probably obese.

The methods for treating obesity in dogs is fairly simple: eat less, exercise more.

Eat less

If your dog has a constant supply of food, remove it.

Buy a food scoop with measuring lines and portion his food based on the charts on your food labels.

Create a feeding schedule and stick to it. Whether you split the amount among two feedings or one larger meal, stay with the routine and he’ll adjust to it.

Be forewarned, though. Dogs are survival eaters and don’t react well when their food supply is threatened. She may suddenly, start raiding the trash or taking food off of the counter.

Exercise more

It won’t take any convincing to get your dog to exercise more, just get the leash and head out for a walk.

Plan to spend an hour total every day walking. I realize that it’s hard these days to find the time. If you have kids, drag them away from the TV and go for a family walk after dinner. If you work out yourself, figure out a way to incorporate your dog into your routine.

On the weekends, head to the park with a tennis ball or a Frisbee.

Think of it this way:
Would you rather see your dog running, tongue out, tail wagging for 10 years, or that he lay around the house for five?

How many people get to have a to-do list that includes “Play with Dog”?

The right diet and exercise can make your dog more social, more obedient, and more dedicated to you due to the extra time you spend together.

Wasn’t that the whole reason you decided to get a dog in the first place?
- Some great ideas there for keeping your dog health and trim. I love the idea of keeping fit and healthy ourselves while at the same time benefiting our dogs. - Not to mention spending quality time with them as well!

But if your dog has serious obesity problems and you're finding that reducing the quantity of food is not working adequately, you may want to look at a dog obesity food that's ready made and will help your dog lose that unhealthy additional weight.

Naturally, if you're at all worried about your dog's weight, you should always consult your vet for advice. An overweight dog is not a healthy dog, and there may be reasons other than overeating, that your dog has become overweight.

Read more...

I suppose it was inevitable. One of the most popular kids books of the past year or so is the cheeky Dangerous Book for Boys (highly recommend, and my daughter also loves it, btw). Well, not wanting to be left out, your mutt now has his or her own version!

From the Amazon product description:

The Dangerous Book for Dogs asks a simple question: isn't there more to being a dog than wearing a mini cashmere sweater and riding around in a $400 evening clutch? What about the simple pleasures of life -- feeling the wind in your fur, digging up the grass beneath your paws, smelling another dog's butt? Isn't that part of the great joy of being a dog?

Written (with help) by dogs and for dogs, The Dangerous Book For Dogs provides insight on everything from the tastiest styles of shoes to chew to the proper method for terrorizing squirrels. It also contains portraits of noble dogs throughout history, the mysteries of cats and humans, and everything else your dog ever wanted to know but was afraid to ask–like how to make toys out of human's household items, or how to escape from a humiliating reindeer costume.

Buy your copy today....

(KSDK, Missouri) - The Humane Society of Missouri rescued 25 pit bulls and one beagle Saturday night from a home in rural Stoddard County, just outside of Dexter. All of them, they say, were being raised for illegal dog fighting.

The Stoddard County Sheriff's Department says three men have been charged; Jamie Sifford, 29, of rural Stoddard County Mo., Jessey Short, 30, of Cape Girardeau Mo. and Curtis Pickering 28, of South Fulton, Tennessee.

Many of the dogs have injuries to their front legs, chest and face. Investigators say the dog fights took place for up to a year in a horse stall behind the home.

Investigators seized paraphenalia associated with fighting, including a blood-soaked rug the dogs used for traction during the fights and treadmills used to build endurance in dogs.

Tim Rickey is the Director of Rescues and Investigations for the Humane Society of Missouri. "Animal fighting is one of the most horrific types of animal abuse because these animals are tortured from just a couple months old up until the time they're killed in a fight or shot by their owner for not performing."

Kyle Held is a statewide investigator with the Humane Society of Missouri. "You couldn't adopt these dogs out and take them out to the local dog park or even take the chance of walking them on the street and meeting another dog because they are bred to do one thing and that's to kill another animal."

The three men arrested are being held in the Stoddard County Jail. Further charges of animal abuse and related dog fighting charges are pending. Dog fighting is a felony in Missouri. Watching a dog fight is a misdemeanor.

Top 5 comments on this story:

5. Is this suddenly becoming more common or just being reported more?
4. It's 2007 people, this story should not even exist.
3. If you know these people, do NOT post bail.
2. I say felonies for watching, too.
1. "One beagle." Snoopy vs pit bulls? Are you kidding,....?

My guess is this would make sense to a lot of people on this side of the pond as well...

It is quite natural that people want to get buried next to the grave of their loved ones after death, Now, a new poll has found that the most bizarre wish from Brits planning heir funeral is to be cremated with their pets’ ashes.

Read more!

On a night quite unenchanting,
when the rain was downward slanting,
I awakened to the ranting of the man I catch mice for.
Tipsy and a bit unshaven,
in a tone I found quite craven,
Poe was talking to a Raven perched above the chamber door.

"Raven's very tasty," thought I, as I tiptoed o'er the floor,
"There is nothing I like more"
Soft upon the rug I treaded,
calm and careful as I headed
Towards his roost atop that dreaded bust of Pallas I deplore.

While the bard and birdie chattered,
I made sure that nothing clattered,
Creaked, or snapped, or fell, or shattered, as I crossed the corridor;
For his house is crammed with trinkets, curios and wierd decor -
Bric-a-brac and junk galore.

Still the Raven never fluttered, standing stock-still as he uttered,
In a voice that shrieked and sputtered, his two cents' worth -
"Nevermore."

While this dirge the birdbrain kept up, oh, so silently I crept up,
Then I crouched and quickly lept up, pouncing on the feathered bore.
Soon he was a heap of plumage, and a little blood and gore -
Only this and not much more.

"Oooo!" my pickled poet cried out,
"Pussycat, it's time I dried out!
Never sat I in my hideout talking to a bird before;
How I've wallowed in self-pity,
while my gallant, valiant kitty
Put and end to that damned ditty" - then I heard him start to snore.
Back atop the door I clambered, eyed that statue I abhor,
Jumped - and smashed it on the floor.

This poem was copywrited by Henry Beard in 1994 and appears in his book "Poetry for Cats," published by Villard Books (part of Random House).

Click the link to find a slideshow of funny pet Halloween costumes.

Have a funny photo you'd like us to see? Email it to us! comments@dolcevitapets.com

Which is better, cats or dogs? It's an age-old question that we can't hope to solve--how about loving them both?? But for those of you that can't resist the urge to "compare and contrast", here is some ammunition!

11. Dogs come when you call them. Cats take a message and get back to you.

10. Dogs look much better at the end of a leash.

9. Dogs will let you give them a bath without taking out a contract on your life.

8. Dogs will bark to wake you up if the house is on fire. Cats will quietly sneak out the back door.

7. Dogs will bring you your slippers or the evening newspaper. Cats might bring you a dead mouse.

6. Dogs will play Frisbee with you all afternoon. Cats will take a three-hour nap.

5. Dogs will sit on the car seat next to you. Cats have to have their own private box or they will not go at all.

4. Dogs will greet you and lick your face when you come home from work. Cats will be mad that you went to work at all.

3. Dogs will sit, lie down, and heel on command. Cats will smirk and walk away.

2. Dogs will tilt their heads and listen whenever you talk. Cats will yawn and close their eyes.

1. Dogs will give you unconditional love forever. Cats will make you pay for every mistake you've ever made since the day you were born.

From a great article on ScamperingPaws.com:

Pet owners often first notice dog joint problems when their dog is slow to get up, moves slowly or stiffly, or refuses or is reluctant to climb stairs. Sometimes it's the result of age-related degeneration, sometimes the dog is born with it, and sometimes it's the result of a number of other factors. Whatever the cause, it's important to get your vet to positively identify any dog joint problems & discuss treatment options. You, too, can help your pet continue to lead a happy life by making a few adjustments to the household.

In addition to the great tips here, we recommend a heated pet bed as well. Our Dolce Vita Pet Beds are specifically designed to help soothe inflamed joints in your pet.

Read more:

Personally we'll stick to dogs and cats for the most part, to each their own...miniature pigs!

This article is about a decade old, but my guess is the trend has continued...

It seems Max and Molly have gone to the dogs.

In the past, people have tended to name their pets after a physical or personality trait - hence Spot or Rover. But an Examiner computer analysis has uncovered a new trend: Human names are all the rage for canines.

Of 12,706 dogs registered in San Francisco, 137 are named Max; there is only one Fido. Max is also top dog in Marin.

And of the 10 most popular dog names in San Francisco, seven are suitable for humans; in Marin, all but one are. Molly, Jake, Lucy and Sam are big in both counties.

Mary Fishman, of Oakland, doesn't need a database to tell her that dogs are people, too. Her 11-year-old daughter, Liana Berliner, named their Old English sheep dogs Maggie and Alice.

"She thinks of her dogs more like people," Fishman said. "They're her friends."

The study of names has a name as well - onomastics.

"It may seem silly to get into discussing pet names, but it tells you a lot," said onomastician Leonard Ashley, an English professor at Brooklyn College. "It's not trivia. It's human behavior. Mankind names things - and names show the psychology behind it all."

Julie Chao
OF THE SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER
Sunday, October 12, 1997

You are now booked on October 29.

A special Buddhist conversion ceremony is to be held for a spaniel and two puppies that were abandoned outside a Buddhist monastery at Stanley on Hong Kong island, the head of a dog rescue group said on Tuesday.

Sally Anderson, founder of Hong Kong Dog Rescue, said the event is intended to ensure the animals are spiritually cared for and "they will not have to come back in another life as dogs".

She said the spaniel, who is named appropriately enough, Stanley, has already landed on his feet after the nine-year-old dog was found a loving foster home.

Anderson added that the event, on October 29, will take place during a visit to Hong Kong by dog trainer Victoria Stilwell, who hosts a television programme, It's Me or the Dog, which helps tame disobedient and noisy dogs. - Sapa-DPA

Rules for Non-Pet Owners Who Visit and Like to Complain About Our Pets:

They live here. You don't.

If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it "fur"-niture)

I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.

To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Cats are better than kids. They eat less, don't ask for money all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive your car, don't hang out with drug-using friends, don't smoke or drink, don't worry about buying the latest fashions, don't wear your clothes, don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and won't get pregnant because they've been "fixed."

Visit Ann and Geoff Riefe at their West Annapolis home and Theo, half Doberman, half chocolate lab, doesn't so much greet you as turn himself inside out for you.

His paws leave the ground, and he does this twisting, squirming, figure-eight thing with his body. He is physically happy to see you.

Clearly, Theo is off duty.

You can tell because he isn't wearing the red, capelike harness that warns, "Assistance Dog. Do Not Pet."

When Theo is in uniform, he resembles the RCA dog, stonily attentive to his master. Out of uniform, he resembles a kid out of school.

Theo is a service dog, matched with Geoff Riefe by the nonprofit Fidos for Freedom of Laurel.

Read more about Fidos for Freedom on the Baltimore Sun...

An oldie but a goodie:

Afghan:
Light bulb? What light bulb?

Australian Shepherd
Put all the bulbs in a little circle ...

Beagle:
Light bulb? Light bulb? That thing I ate was a light bulb?

Border Collie:
Just one? And I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.

Chihuahua
Yo quiero Taco Bulb.

Cocker Spaniel:
Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.

Dachshund:
I can't reach the stupid lamp!

Doberman Pinscher:
While it's dark, I'm going to sleep on the couch.

Greyhound
It isn't moving. Who cares?

Golden Retriever:
The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're worrying about a stupid burned-out light bulb?

Hound Dog
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Irish Wolfhound
Can somebody else do it? I've got a hangover.

Labrador:
Oh, me, me!!!! Pleeeeeeze let me change the light bulb!!! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Can I?

Mastiff:
Mastiffs are NOT afraid of the dark.

Malamute:
Let the Border Collie do it. You can feed me while he's busy.

Pointer
I see it! There it is! Right there!

Rottweiller:
Go Ahead! Make me!

Shitzu:
Puh-leeez, dahling. I have servants for that kind of thing.

Toy Poodle:
I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

Cat:
You need light to see?

Dolce Vita Pets is pleased to announce today that we were selected by Dog Fancy Magazine for the prestigious Editors Choice award for 2007. The awards are featured in the December issue of the magazine, on newsstands this week.

Have serious health questions about your pet?

Vets now have good tools to get answers.

A recent website customer sent this to me today. It is a picture of her dog, Lucky, anxiously awaiting the UPS truck to come with his new Dolce Vita heated pet bed!

Hang on, Lucky, I looked up your order and it is en route!!!

Ok, this one is a must see:

Click the link below and then type in commands: Sit, roll over, down, stand, sing, dance, shake, fetch, play dead etc. Also try something he doesn't recognize like "do calculus."
 
Finally, try "kiss".

Ah, tis the season...!

Check out these super cute and super well-trained dogs, err, ghosts.

Have some great pictures of dogs in Halloween garb? Send them to us!