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TV PREVIEW!

It’s not your average buddy series. Sure, it’s plot-heavy with good looking guys having adventures in the woods; but not a muscle car, or a sheriff, and from what I saw, not a hot babe in sight.

These guys live a dog lover’s dream, spending 24/7 with puppies on 500 acres of in Upstate New York. They are, of course, the Brothers of New Skete, and Animal Planet debuts their weekly show “Divine Canine” April 16. Famous for their training methods which rely on building a bond with the German Shepherd puppies they raise, the monks, led by Brother Ambrose will showcase the pups along with outside dogs brought to their training facility.

At this time the network hasn’t detailed the storyline of each episode, but the ensemble cast includes:

	Brother Ambrose Brother Ambrose has had many different jobs including photographer, dishwasher, vocations director and kennel assistant!   Brother Christopher Brother Christopher runs the dog training program and has helped author several of the monastery’s dog books.   Brother David in addition to working with the dogs, Brother David has worked in New Skete Farms since his arrival at New Skete in 1977.   Brother John In addition to many other duties, Brother John is responsible for the breeding program at New Skete.   Brother Luke As an allergy sufferer, Brother Luke did not come to New Skete as a dog-lover. His opinion of dogs has definitely changed.   Brother Marc Meet one of the founders of New Skete who also designed the monastery buildings.   Brother Stavros Brother Stavros oversees the liturgy and general order of things pertaining to New Skete’s churches, including ringing the bells.

SIX DEGREES OF KEVIN BACON’S DOG AND OTHER E-DOG NETWORKING TALES

Toronto Cockapoo Annabelle took social networking to a new species with the introduction of Facebook add-on Dogbook last June. Designed by her assistants Alexandre and Geoffrey Roche, more than 91,000 dogs have personal listings which allow them, with a little help from their humans, to send meet, greet, and pet one another.

Facebook, as you may know, is a place to meet and greet. Surpassing My Space as the college and high school internet networking spot of the moment, Facebook is the sticky cyber black hole that sucked this house into its vortex about eighteen months ago . Lured into building a profile by my son Gavin and his brother-for -a-year, our wild Siberian exchange student, Edik, I found Facebook an easy way to send and receive photos from relatives and keep up with the travels of our foreign student friends, as well as check out the latest postings from LOL Cats. After a year on Facebook, my list of friends is a big fat twenty-two.

Last summer, shortly after Dogbook went live, I posted five profiles for our pups and within a week, they were getting friend requests from every continent. Searchable by geographic area, breed, and name, our Malamute -cross, Cootie Bug was in contact with Rocky Balboa (Rottmann, Norway), Hagrid (Husky-Wolf, Canada), Face ( Rottie, Turkey) and twenty other dogs in a few weeks

Invited to be a friend of British Border Collie Pippin, our recent addition, Boo Radley ( Border Collie-Great Dane) was a conduit for me to the British short coated Border Collie subgroup where I learned helpful breed-specific health information.

One particularly appealing feature of Dogbook is the instant notification feature which allows lost dog information to be circulated instantly to everyone registered on Dogbook. Whether this would be very useful, I don’t know, but a quick check of the “dogs nearby” feature, showed fifty-four Dogbook registered dogs within a 2.5 km distance. Who knows how many people would pay attention to the posting, but I would certainly take take advantage of the service.

Dogbook crested the 1 million member mark only nine months after signing on. Scrolling through online albums posted by their ardent caretakers, it’s evident that this puppy networking spot has touched a warm spot .

If you’d like to learn more about Facebook and its Dogbook application, go to: http://www.facebook.com/home

You can add the Dogbook application after you register for Facebook. For help setting up Dogbook, EHow.com has a helpful article : http://www.ehow.com/how_2154793_use-dogbook-application-facebook.html

When your dogpack is registered come over and say Hi! Just browse for Cootie-Bug, Boo Radley, or Pansy. They like to get mail.

(That’s Pansy)

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Nearly 75 years since appearing among the top ten, Bulldogs have replaced Miniature Schnauzers on the American Kennel Club’s annual list of the most popular breeds in America based on 2007 registration figures. The Bulldog’s climb into the AKC’s top echelon has been steady. From a 26 ranking in 1997 to the 18 in 2002, 12 in 2006 it’s clear that something about that face makes the Bulldog a 21st century darling. The Labrador Retriever continues to hang on to the top spot where it has been since 1991.

Most Popular Dogs in the US - 2007
1. Labrador Retriever
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. German Shepherd Dog
4. Golden Retriever
5. Beagle
6. Boxer
7. Dachshund
8. Poodle
9. Shih Tzu
10. Bulldog

While 16 years is a long time at top, Poodles hold the record for longest consecutive term as America’s dog, with Cocker Spaniels leading the list as the top breed for 25 years, though not consecutively. Historically leading the number one list, Boston Terriers, German Shepherd Dogs and Beagles.

The list reflects registrations from across the country, but a look at the city by city listing of leading dogs is often counterintuitive. Dobies and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels make the list in Atlanta, while Bulldogs, the ubiquitous mascot of the University of Georgia remain out of the top group.

In Austin, Dogstuff Central territory, Golden Retrievers are second rather than fourth place (are we surprised)? Pugs and Chihuahuas edge out less portable breeds.

In Seattle, Bulldogs show up at eighth here, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are fourth. Nationally, this breed has increased in popularity more than any other of AKC’s 159 breeds in the past decade (up 406%) but is twentyh-fifth overall.

Orlando is one of the few cities where the Labrador is not numero uno. Holding that position is the Yorkie, with Labs at number two. For some reason German Shepherds are enjoying tremendous popularity - rocketing from ninth position in 2006 to third place in this year’s ranking.

Here at Dogstuff East, the list holds a few surprises. Bulldogs don’t make the Washington DC Top Ten despite being Georgetown University’s mascot. I can attest to the popularity of Boston Terriers, number eight on the local list. They seem to show up everywhere with their Pug buddies (number nine locally). And, while Rotties slide in the rankings nationally, here they hold down the tenth spot.

See listings for America’s 50 largest cities here http://www.akc.org/reg/topdogsbycity.cfm

Like many dogs, mine enjoy a bit of telly. The Sunday talking heads, C-Span: I’m told they’re attracted to howling, shreiking and growling.But, they also seem to enjoy shows on nature channels.

For a while, National Geographic Channel’s “The Dog Whisperer” interested them, but they’re completely over Cesar. They’ve got a crush on Victoria. The stiletto-booted, motorcycle- jacketed strict -nanny host of Animal Planet’s British import “It’s Me or the Dog” has my boys sitting up. Most episodes feature multiple varieties of lurching, yapping, peeing dogs, British dogs. Good TV. And I think it’s good for them.

Victoria Stillwell, actress turned dog trainer, uses positive training techniques with attention to diet and behavior modification. She’s not committed to one size fits all solutions. And there’s something special about British pet fanciers.

Victoria has a page on Animal Planet’s website with episode outlines, schedules, and links to Victoria Stillwell books and merchandise: It’s Me or the Dog

Here’s a sample of Victoria’s training philosphy.

Victoria’s Top Ten Training Tips

• 1. Keep training. Owners often think that once a dog is trained, there is no need to carry on. But your dog never stops learning, and training should be reinforced throughout your pet’s life.
• 2. Think dog. Take time to think about how your dog perceives the world, and use this knowledge to make training easier.
• 3. Exercise your dog. A tired dog is a happy dog. Ensure, however, that the exercise is appropriate for your dog’s age and breed.
• 4. To feel secure, all dogs need a calm, confident leader. Effective leadership isn’t about dominating your dog and making him submissive toward you. It’s about being a teacher and building his confidence. You can achieve that by encouraging and rewarding good behavior.
• 5. Look at your dog’s diet, and see how you can improve it. You are what you eat, and the same is true for your dog. Many behavior and medical problems can be attributed to poor diet, so make sure your dog is eating the very best.
• 6. Sign up for an activity that you both enjoy, such as an agility class, flyball, heel to music, etc. Dogs get bored easily, so get yours out and moving.
• 7. Get your dog microchipped, if you haven’t already. Also, don’t forget his yearly checkup with the veterinarian.
• 8. Keep playing. One of the best ways to bond with your dog is to play games that you both enjoy. Play is a great stress reliever for both dog and human.
• 9. Keep your dog safe. Don’t leave your dog alone in a car or tied up outside a shop. Dog theft is on the rise, so be careful.
• 10. Have fun and enjoy your dog. A dog should never be a burden. If you take the time to train your dog, you’ll give him the tools he needs to live successfully in a human world.

The quilt was assembled from blocks made by talented quilters across the country. This quilt is a true act of love through the donations and talents of Golden Retriever lovers. The quilt depicts the many aspects in the life and work of Golden Retrievers and their owners.

The quilt top is constructed using hand dyed batik fabrics of high quality cotton. The quilt measures 106″ x 106″ and will be a wonderful art display or bed quilt for the lucky winner. The quilt will have a pocket for a hanging rod should the winner choose to hang this work of art.

Detailed views of the quilting squares and raffle ticket information are here.

Proceeds will benefit the April Fund and the many rescued Golden Retrievers needing medical care. To learn more about the April Fund go to: http://goldenretrieverfoundation.org Thanks so much for your support..

Tripping over the family dog is not an uncommon cause of accidents, according to emergency room statistics. I accrue multiple hematomas monthly from collisions with furniture and cabinetry as I lurch over sleeping dogs to answer the phone.

Tripping over a guide dog, however, may be serendipity.

The British publication Dog Biz chronicles the fall of John Lawrence, blind for four years, who stumbled over his guide dog on the stairs, hitting his head as he fell, immediately regaining sight in both eyes. Presumably he jarred the optic nerve according to the book.

A similarly amazing recovery was reported in 2001. According to the New York Times, Lisa Reid, totally blind from the age of 14 due to a brain tumor, was cooking supper at the age of 24 when she bent over to kiss Ami, her guide dog, hitting her head on a coffee table in the process. According to Reid, “it wasn’t unusual. When you are blind, you hit yourself all the time. I got up, continued making dinner, and went to bed. When I woke up, I could see.”

According to the British newspaper the Telegraph, tripping over guide dogs and being injured were cited in reports of restored sight in 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1988.

Dog park administrators take note: A cheap and easy dog poop bag dispenser can be cobbled together in about an hour with PVC pipe with the aid of a saw and some sandpaper.

Build your own poop-bag tube

Talk about wide open spaces. With 43,000 acres and 143 miles of trails through stupendous scenery and a municipal government with a canine-friendly worldview, Boulder, Colorado remains a dog lover’s Nirvana. For the past eight years, Boulder area residents have been able to buy a special tag allowing their dogs to run off-leash in all areas administered by the department of Open Spaces and Mountain Parks (OSMP).

Dogs sporting the tags were considered “legally free” by park rangers and assumed to be under “voice and sight control” which means that when called, the dog is expected to respond immediately, despite any temptation. While this program had been applauded by dogowners and generally considered successful, rising complaints about behavior of dogs and owners on the trails caused the dog community to partner with the OSMP to try to come up with a plan that would address the concerns of all trail users

The Voice and Sight Dog Tag Program (TAG) , the educational outreach program introduced by local lawmakers in 2006, resulted from negotiations between the parks department and the local dog lobby, Friends Interested in Dogs and Open Space (FIDOS). In an update of the original regulations, registered dogs wear special tags which indicate their human has watched a ten minute video explaining the Boulder “voice and sight” ordinance and has reviewed basic dog/human etiquitte. What seems to be the most difficult part of the regulation, the “come immediately” command, has been part of this progressive dog community’s sweeping off-leash ordinance since it was first enacted in 1996. 94 percent of OSMP trails remain open to off-leash dogs as detailed in the department’s website osmp.org