Smart Doggie!

I've always thought that many people underestimated the intelligence of dogs, mistaking obstinance or the dog's viewpoint for stupidity. Here's some support for the idea that they're smarter than some think.


Dogs Can Classify Complex Photos In Categories Like Humans Do
ScienceDaily (Nov. 29, 2007) — Like us, our canine friends are able to form abstract concepts. Friederike Range and colleagues from the University of Vienna in Austria have shown for the first time that dogs can classify complex color photographs and place them into categories in the same way that humans do. And the dogs successfully demonstrate their learning through the use of computer automated touch-screens, eliminating potential human influence.

Here's another take on the study.

Set to Music

Dog Magazine has an article on videos featuring dogs, including the one above. Yes, Who Let the Dogs Out is there, too.

And In Other Bizarre Dog News..

Plotting a dog's death: PETA goes to police

MUMBAI: Drop them from building tops, run them over with your car - are just some of the ways dog-hating members of Orkut say they want to kill them while socialising online. Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has now complained to the police.

PETA accused Orkut, the social networking site, of promoting cruelty to animals and has demanded action against it by cyber cells of the government.

PETA has written to the Mumbai police and complained that among topics discussed on Orkut community sites was "I hate dogs".

Communicators on the site took part in discussions such as "How 2 kill a dog".

One member of the community suggested killing of puppies "by dropping them from a building" and also admitted to throwing three puppies.

Another admitted, "I have killed two by my car after 10-12 hard tries near my place. One was a small puppy on which I dragged my bike."

In the letter addressed to Mumbai's joint commissioner of police, copied to the secretary, Department of Information and Technology, Government of India and COO, Google, PETA has urged the police to immediately direct the website to block such illegal content.

Yes, This Would Be My Cause

Is this anything like the attempt to save drunken elephants, which turned out not to be true?

Richie backs campaign for 'dog urinals'

Nicole Richie is lending her name to a bizarre campaign to save street lights - from the dangers of dog urine.

The socialite, who has two dogs - Foxxy Brown and Honeychild - has signed up to promote Swedish inventor Lennart Jarrelbro's latest creation, dog urinals, to stop the metal on the posts being eroded by the chemicals found in canine waste products.

Yorkie Wins

Newsday's Huntington blog shows a contest-winning Yorkie from Centerport.

'Chewy Vuiton' Wins

How do these cases get to the courtroom?

Louis Vuitton loses dog chew-toy case — again
A federal appeals court unanimously affirmed on appeal a trial court ruling throwing out Louis Vuitton Malletier’s trademark infringement suit against a “Chewy Vuiton” plush toy manufactured by Haute Diggity Dog.

Louis Vuitton, which is a unit of LVMH (LVM), brought the case to enjoin sale of a small polyester chew-toy, shaped roughly like a handbag, that bears a monogram that parodies the French luxury goods retailer’s famous “monogram canvas mark.” The Chewy Vuiton toys are decorated with geometric doo-dads that mimic Louis Vuitton’s four-pointed-star designs, and feature an interlocking CV logo in place of the famous interlocking LV logo. Nevertheless, the court found that consumers were unlikely to think that the inexpensive dog toys, which are sold in pet shops or online, were made by the French luxury house, which sells its monogrammed handbags (for between $995 and $4,500) only from licensed Louis Vuitton stores or toney department stores boutiques.

“The furry little ‘Chewy Vuiton’ imitation, as something to be chewed by a dog, pokes fun at the elegance and expensiveness of a LOUIS VUITTON handbag, which must not be chewed by a dog,” wrote Circuit Judge Paul V. Niemeyer. His 24-page ruling is available here.

The court cited as authority a 2002 precedent in which a Manhattan federal judge rebuffed Tommy Hilfiger’s trademark suit against a novelty “pet perfume” called “Timmy Holedigger.”

The court also rejected Louis Vuitton’s claim that the toy might constitute “trademark dilution,” blurring, or tarnishment — slightly murkier legal concepts. The luxury house had based these challenges in part on alleged concerns that the toy might cause certain dogs to choke, leading distraught owners to think less of Louis Vuitton as a result. “There is no record support, however, that any dog has choked on a pet chew toy, such as a ‘Chewy Vuiton’ toy,” wrote Judge Niemeyer, “or that there is any basis from which to conclude that a dog would likely choke on such a toy.”

Haute Diggity Dog, which is based in Las Vegas, Nevada, also makes parody chew toys called Chewnel No. 5 (Chanel No. 5), Furcedes (Mercedes), Jimmy Chew (Jimmy Choo), Dog Perignonn (Dom Perignon), Sniffany & Co. (Tiffany & Co.), and Dogior (Dior).

Dog Show After the Parade

Dogs, Dancing and Feuding
National Dog Show Airs Thanksgiving Day on NBC
John O'Hurley
TV Host, Author, Actor, Dancer
Monday, November 19, 2007; 12:00 PM

John O'Hurley, known for his "Peterman" role on Seinfeld and his elegant form on the first Dancing with the Stars, is back for a sixth year as host of the Thanksgiving Day broadcast of the National Dog Show. He, along with dog show analyst David Frei, will serve as guides to the action in the show ring where 2,000 dogs are vying for glory at the Philadelphia event.

Airing right after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, the dog show broadcast is becoming a Thanksgiving tradition that lets families --including the four-footed members -- enjoy something besides football while waiting for their holiday feast.

Spiff Up Fido

For that best friend sometimes known as Stinky:

Dog perfume - the new must-have for stylish pets
By Emma Henry
London Telegraph
A new perfume made especially for dogs is likely to become an immediate must-have for stylish pets.

London 'cat and dog outfitters' Mungo & Maud have introduced the ‘Petite Amande’ dog fragrance,which they claim is the world’s first premium Eau de Toilette designed exclusively for dogs.

The company hired well-known perfumer Lyn Harris to come up with the scent, which is inspired by nature with notes of French blackcurrant, Tunisian neroli, mimosa and violet leaf on a base of sweet vanilla bourbon with a little almond.

There is even a matching dog shampoo, for the pet who likes to co-ordinate its fragrances.

About Animal Behavior

She is talking mostly about apes but much of this applies to dogs, too. From the TED conference. When I see our Lab imitating us, I'm ready to believe what this expert is saying.

Support the Louisiana SPCA

This sounds like fun.

A HOLIDAY GIFT TO TRULY “BARK” ABOUT AND IT SUPPORTS THE LOUISIANA SPCA

New Orleans, LA – Celebrating life with dogs and a love of great wine is what Dog Lovers Wine Club is all about! Supporting non-profit animal shelters and rescues all over the country is the winery’s sole mission. That’s why they’re partnering with the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LA/SPCA).

The LA/SPCA has served the New Orleans area for almost 20 years and is the oldest animal welfare organization in the state. They provide services to more than 11,000 homeless and abandoned animals every year. To do this, they rely heavily on community fund-raising.

Dog Lovers Wine Club wants to help support the LA/SPCA and with a wine club membership, supporting your local shelter is now more beneficial than ever! It truly is a unique holiday gift that keeps on giving.

Each month, the boutique California winery selects a special dog from stories and photos submitted by wine and dog enthusiasts across the United States. The bottles feature real dogs illustrated on the wine labels, a personal story of triumph and family bonding with every bottle of carefully crafted premium wine shipped out to Dog Lovers Wine Club members all over the country.


Now through January 15th, anyone who signs up for a wine club membership at www.dogloverswineclub.com will receive their first wine shipment FOR JUST $2. So, treat yourself, your family and friends to a “toast” with man’s best friend and help the LA/SPCA at the same time!


Here’s how the wine club works:

Go online at www.dogloverswineclub.com to receive your “2 Buck Mutt” discount. You can choose to receive wine shipments monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly. Each month, the wine is accompanied by inspirational stories of families and their lives with dogs. The wine labels are illustrated from selected photos (and stories) received from dog lovers across the country. The wine shipments also include tips about dogs, tasting notes about the featured wine, the source of the grapes and recommended food pairings.

How it helps the Louisiana SPCA:

The LA/SPCA will receive a portion of the proceeds from your purchase. Before you make you purchase at www.dogloverswineclub.com go to the affiliates tab at the top of the Dog Lovers Wine Club home page. From there, click on the left where it says “Bark Partners Listings.” Then, you can set “Louisiana SPCA” as your group. Then, every time you make a purchase, it will help support the LA/SPCA.



Media Opportunities: Video and additional images are available upon request. Interviews with the co-creators of Dog Lovers Wine Club and/or interviews with a Louisiana SPCA spokesperson are also available upon request.

ABOUT DOG LOVERS WINE CLUB:

Dog Lovers Wine Club is a boutique winery, based in California, which offers carefully crafted premium wine and illustrated labels to support animal shelters and rescue organizations around the country. Every shipment includes a new and inspirational pet story and photo, chosen from people who submit their stories to www.dogloverswineclub.com . Along with the personal story, the shipments include tips about dogs, tasting notes about the wine, the source of the grapes and recommended food parings. It’s a unique way to celebrate life with dogs! Wine club memberships are available in monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly shipments.

Shipping States:

Due to individual state alcohol laws, wine shipments are legally limited to AK, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, LA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY.

Dogs on the Trail

If only their sense of smell would keep them out of the garbage!



How come dogs have better sense of smell than us?
BY KATHY WOLLARD
Special to Newsday
How do dogs smell things we can't? asks Olivia Minogue, a student in Sayville.

Sniff sniff sniff.

You can actually see a dog's nose hard at work, picking up a scent wafting through the air, following the invisible trail a rabbit left in the yard, or investigating your pants leg for evidence of a secret meeting with a cat.

No one knows for sure how much more scent-sensitive dogs are than humans: a thousand times? Ten thousand?

But what is known is that a dog's nose has many more odor receptors, and an olfactory (smell) center that takes up much more room in the brain.

To Each His Own

Man marries dog to ward off curse
SIVAGANGA, India--A 33-year-old man in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu has married a dog in a bid to ward off the "curse" of a canine couple he had killed 15 years ago.

Selva Kumar tied a 'mangal sutra' on the animal, petnamed Selvi, at a Ganesh temple in Manamadurai on Sunday. The 10-year-old saree-clad "bride" was brought to the temple in a grand procession. Kumar, who vowed to protect Selvi all through its life, said he married the animal as per the advice of an astrologer.

Auto Pet Insurance

Innovative Auto Insurance For Pets

Cleveland-area company provides extra coverage at no cost.

(Mayfield Heights) - An auto insurance company headquartered in Greater Cleveland is now offering their owners a benefit for Ohio pets.

Progressive Insurance is providing collision coverage for customers' dogs or cats at no additional premium cost. It will pay up to $500 if a customer's dog or cat is hurt or dies in a car accident.

Jean Salvatore, of the New York-based insurance information institute, says it's an unusual and interesting benefit. She's never heard of any other company offering a collision benefit for pets.

A recent insurance information institute study found that there are over 150 million pets in the U.S., and Americans spend over 40 billion dollars on their pets annually.

The Progressive benefit has been in place since September 6th.

One Snarl and They're Out

This doesn't leave much room for even normal behavior. I'm not in the "it's not the breed, it's the people camp" all that much but this seems pretty unforgiving.

Humane Society dogs face life-or-death audition
Safety fears doom many potential pets

John Faherty
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 9, 2007 12:00 AM
Baby, a pit bull, walked into a room with cinder-block walls and a concrete floor for her behavior evaluation at the Arizona Humane Society shelter.

The dog let the handler open her mouth and tug on her ears. She didn't bark, growl or snip when her paws were pulled and her tail was tugged.

This was a good dog but not good enough.

"With pit bulls, she would have to be perfect. And she's not," said Marilyn Gooding-Stueland, supervisor of behavior programs. "She will be humanely euthanized."

Five minutes later, Baby was dead.

There is a heightened interest in these evaluations after a 4-year-old girl was killed by her pet dog Monday afternoon in the north Valley.

More than 4.7 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are on average 16 fatal dog attacks annually.

The Humane Society screens dogs put up for adoption to try to ensure safety, but sometimes, even those evaluations cannot predict an animal's behavior.

Off the Farm in Virginia

Massive Dog Breeding Farm Rescue in Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A dog breeding operation that was home to more than 600 breeding females is now the site of a huge rescue operation, with the owner agreeing to relinquish nearly 1,000 dogs for treatment and possible adoption.

Hundreds of puppies, mostly small, purebred varieties such as pugs, corgis and King Charles spaniels were taken to an emergency operations center staffed by volunteer veterinarians, Carroll County Administrator Gary Larrowe said Thursday.

He estimated that as many as 120 people are involved at any given time, and said the pet store chain PetSmart sent a tractor-trailer load of supplies.

"I'm not sure what we would have done with 1,000 dogs otherwise," he said.

The dog breeding operation was uncovered by the Humane Society of the United States during a five-month investigation into so-called "puppy mills" in Virginia. Local animal rights groups made sure the county was aware of the report, and the county then asked for state help.

Many of the dogs were discovered in cages made of wire fencing and wood framing, said the Humane Society's John Snyder. The animals largely appeared to be in good shape, Larrowe said, although many were denied the socialization that produces good pets.

Junior Horton, the owner of the breeding operation, has been breeding dogs for more than 20 years, he told authorities, and had a license to have as many as 500 dogs.

Earlier this week, Horton called the effort to remove dogs from his farm "dognapping." He said, "They just come in on me out of the blue."

"I've got the best kennel in southwest Virginia," he said.

In negotiations with county officials, Horton will keep 200 dogs and will secure the proper licensing and comply with federal laws for dog breeders, Larrowe said.

He could eventually face charges that include animal cruelty, but he has cooperated as authorities work to remove the dogs from his farm, treat them and send them on to shelters.

Animal shelters up and down the East Coast are preparing for arrivals.

The dogs, once cleared for release, will be sent to shelters from as far away as Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to upstate New York, Snyder said.

End Petlessness

Wieners All Around

I suppose there's a reason for this posting but I'm not sure what it is. Oh, well.

Hazards From the Air

Have you ever noticed? There's always some sort of weird story out of Florida.

Florida Dog Owners Fear Flying Menace

GULF BREEZE, Fla. (AP) — Move over coyotes. Some northwest Florida residents are worried because they believe hawks are swooping down from the sky and attacking their small dogs.

Gulf Breeze residents have seen their pets fall victim to coyotes before, and the city even sets traps to control their population.

Martha Powers said she began yelling after seeing a large bird flying down toward her dog. The bird turned away. And Caren Gardner believes that her 3-pound Pomeranian was taken by a hawk last year 'within minutes' after she let her out to play

Fido Gets Clean

This probably beats trying to clean out the bathtub after the dog has been bathed but this poor pooch sure doesn't look happy.
Sudsing Up the Dog
A dog washing machine is the latest craze for canines in Poitiers, France.

The machine, which costs more than $30,000 (French poodle not included), washes and dries the pets in four minutes. An operator stands by to watch and to make sure the dog is comfortable.

Puppies and Cons

"Puppies Behind Bars" gives new life to both dogs and prison inmates. The prisoners train the dogs to become guide dogs for the blind or police bomb sniffers.

The dogs get weekend furloughs in New York City to get used to the streets.

Drugs and Dog Poop

Feds want you to mix meds with kitty litter, dog waste
Instead of flushing leftover medicine down the toilet, the federal government is urging consumers to mix unused drugs with kitty litter, dog feces or sawdust before they toss it in the trash.

Sled Dogs Attacked

Village Reacts to Rabid Wolf AttackANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Children in the village of Marshall do not go out alone without an adult. They have been told to stay inside after dark. When night falls, three sentries are posted along the village periphery to keep the wolves out.

Precautions have been taken in the Eskimo village in western Alaska after a pack of wolves last week attacked sled dogs, killing three adults and three puppies. A wolf killed by villagers turned out to be rabid.

"There is a concern about the pack that is left remaining that is wandering out there," he said. "That pack is still out there and might have the rabies."

On Friday morning, fresh wolf tracks were spotted a quarter-mile from town, said Ray Alstrom, mayor of Marshall.

Cleaning Up Behind the Dog

Read some tips on environmental awareness while cleaning up behind your dog. Here's a thought--I'll bet some enterprising type could make a few bucks selling biodegrable dog poop bags at LI dog runs.

Heroic Dog (and Cat)

This morning's news brings us a life-affirming story that comes as a nice break from death and destruction that has been dominating current events of late.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has recognized its "Humane Heroes of 2007." In addition to a small group of humans, the honorees include a cat and dog who share heroic attributes.

New Law in Texas Town

I have really mixed feelings about this--tethering my dog outside while I drive down to the school 2.5 miles away to pick up the kid and then immediately return seems sensible--she gets outside, does her business, can roam the entire front yard and yet is calm. She's not inclined to try to dig under any fences, as she is when left in the back yard for more than 10 seconds. It drives me crazy when these laws are driven by one or two people because of what their kid did. I'm open to a different viewpoint, however.

Irving council OKs ban on unattended, tethered dogs

Owners of unattended, chained pets to receive Class C misdemeanors


12:00 AM CDT on Friday, November 2, 2007
By BRANDON FORMBY
The Dallas Morning News

The Irving City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Thursday night that bans tethering unattended dogs any time, any place. The new city law is believed to be the first of its kind in North Texas.

Irving's ordinance goes beyond a state law that went into effect in September that limits the time dog owners can tether their pets to between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

"We've chosen as a community to make ours a little stricter," said Fred Sanderson, Irving's animal services manager.

Mr. Sanderson said the law is aligned with a growing national movement of dog lovers and lawmakers who believe tethering dogs can make them more aggressive.

Dale and Kristi McKenzie, whose 8-year-old son, Shane, was attacked by a tethered dog in March, were among a dozen residents who supported the ordinance. Shane has undergone eight surgeries to repair his carotid artery after a tethered Akita mix jumped him when he went into its yard to retrieve a basketball.

Colorizing the Dog

Scientists Spot Dog Fur Color Gene

THURSDAY, Nov. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Dogged research has identified a gene that determines canine coat color, and the discovery could have implications for human health, too

A team from Stanford University School of Medicine says the finding may help lead to a better understanding of why humans come in different weights and have varying abilities to cope with stress.


They analyzed DNA samples from hundreds of dogs and pinpointed a gene that makes the beta defensin protein. One version of the gene produces yellow dogs, while a mutant version produces black dogs, the researchers found.

The gene belongs to the large family of defensin genes, which may play a role in fighting infections, although that's not certain.

What is clear is that this newly-identified beta-defensin gene engages a pathway that determines skin and hair color as well as stress adaptation and weight regulation, the Stanford researchers said. The identification of a new gene in this pathway creates new possibilities for drug research.

Microchips in New Zealand

Dog laws get a bit more bite
The Marlborough Express

When associate Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta's dog microchipping law was passed last year it was seen by some as more of a nuisance than a solution to a serious problem, writes The Marlborough Express in an editorial.


Dog owners complained and even local governments labelled the changes to the Dog Control Act "inappropriate and unnecessary". The law was seen as a knee-jerk reaction to the vicious dog attack on seven-year-old Carolina Anderson four years ago.

Since its inception there have been several serious dog attacks, with one of the most horrifying being the mauling to death of Murupara woman Virginia Ohlson and the attack on Christchurch toddler Aotea Coxon. The young girl suffered severe injuries and underwent seven hours of facial surgery, which included having a plate inserted in her jaw and 290 stitches.

After the death of Mrs Ohlson, Prime Minister Helen Clark ordered a review into the dog control laws. Miss Clark said she wanted the review to focus on

designating more dogs as dangerous and menacing, focusing on cross-breeds such as the two that killed Mrs Ohlson as she walked to catch a bus. She also instructed Ms Mahuta and officials to examine ways to make local councils take a more active approach to designating individual dogs, regardless of their breed, as dangerous.

Now a government review has been released Ms Mahuta yesterday unveiled plans to strengthen the dog control laws. Theses include legislation requiring menacing dogs to be neutered.

The law will also simplify the process of adding more breeds to the import ban. The presa canario breed, not yet in New Zealand, would be banned from importation. Ms Mahuta says many councils already require the neutering of menacing breeds or types of dog but the legislation will make this

consistent nationwide. In addition to the breed-based classification, individual dogs can also be classified as menacing by councils.

Government will issue a

discussion document on the issue for consultation before the end of the year. Ideas being considered included: the addition of breeds of dog to dog control legislation; the mandatory destruction of dogs

classified as dangerous; and compulsory round-ups and/or faster destruction of unregistered dogs.

The New Zealand Veterinary Association disagrees with the new plans. The association believes that focusing on dog breeds and types is not the right approach to preventing dog attacks on people. It says that branding dogs as dangerous by breed or type ignores the fact that all dogs are potentially dangerous and aggressive behaviour in dogs is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

The new proposals will not eliminate attacks by dogs but will certainly give the current laws a bit more bite. Any law change needs to be accompanied by a drive to educate dog owners. A well-trained dog owner - regardless of what breed the dog is - is less of a menace to society than an untrained one.