Pet of the Week
These are two kitties that were saved, brought to a cat shelter, and adopted out to fine homes!
It's easy to get your pet into the Pet of the Week feature - here is what you need to do!
Pet Health – We All Have Questions
Sometimes taking a pet to the vet is a tough call. You might not be sure the visit is necessary and in today’s economy it is important to spend our money wisely. But if Fido or Fluffy need medical attention, then of course, bundling them up and going to the vet is important and what you should do.
Other times, you may have gone to the vet but it isn’t improving like you had expected. A second opinion might be a good idea. Perhaps just getting additional information to discuss with your current vet is what is in order.
A Web site is now available for these kinds of questions. “Ask a Pro,” is a site that will help you give your pet the best possible care and help you with your budget as well.
When you visit the site you will notice a lot of questions and answers. These are answers from veterinarians to give you food for thought with definitive facts and possible solutions. I found myself exploring the list of topics (indexed on the right) and touring the entire site.
Take a look if you have a concern or question about pet health. And be sure to bookmark this valuable resource!
Snoopy Takes Best-In-Show at Westminster
Well okay, it wasn’t exactly Snoopy, but it might as well have been. The Best In Show at the Westminster Dog Show 2008 was a 15 inch Beagle, known to his friends affectionately as “Uno.” Uno is a tri-colored Beagle and he was one enthusiastic participant at the dog show. Beagles are hounds and their distinctive howl can be heard over quite some distance when they give it a little effort. Uno gave repeated votes for himself with his “ah-roo” during the evening. And apparently the judges agreed!
Uno was not without his competition however. Uno took his victory over some beautiful dogs in various categories. The finalists were:
- Sealyham Terrier
- Standard Poodle
- Australian Shepherd
- Weimaraner
- Akita
- Toy Poodle
If you were unable to see the show on television, you can watch it online. It really is a fun moment to see a dog win Best In Show. Uno was obviously proud and thrilled and joined in with all the festivities. And according to the announcers, this is the first time a standing ovation occurred for the winner. Madison Square Garden was indeed the place to be that night!
The player at the Westminster site has some wonderful videos. You can watch in the category “Breed Judging” each breed shown at Westminster. I had a great time watching the Pembroke Welsh Corgis and the Collies. I also enjoyed the German Shepherds. Whatever your favorite may be, there will be a video of the most beautiful dogs of that breed.
PawPads and Whiskers would like to congratulate Uno, his owners and trainers. It was a great victory and certainly will be a great step in Uno’s career!
Best of Breed List – Westminster 2008
Video of Westminster Dog Show 2008
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
The biggest event for dog lovers is on television February 12th and 13th on the USA network. This is a really big deal for dog lovers and it influences greatly the price of purebred puppies for the upcoming year. It is also just a lot of fun to watch. I have watched this dog show that takes place in New York City at Madison Square Garden for years; the only thing better would be attending in person.
But if you can’t be there, face to muzzle, you do have the televised show to watch and a great Web site to visit. There are some interesting things on the site this year including:
- The four new breeds recognized for show.
- The latest news about the show.
- How to buy tickets (which of course you would have already done but there is always next year!)
- Historical information about shows in the past.
- Videos of the highlights of past shows.
- Shopping for this year’s poster and the DVD from last year.
- … and a lot more really interesting information!
There is also a link to USA Network who will be televising the event. It does not appear at this time that the show will be rebroadcast in its entirety on the Internet. However, most cable subscriptions do have USA as part of their package, so you will be able to watch. The DVD will be available at a future date. Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
The USA Network also has some entertaining items such as a quiz to determine which dog personality you are (I am a Golden Retriever I now know, because I am laid back and loyal, brainy yet sporty.) Take the quiz and see what dog 
personality you are!
USA Network also has wallpapers and screensavers for your computer. I picked up the German Shepherd desktop since I have always wanted one and they didn’t have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi anyway!
There is also a community of Westminster Dog Show lovers at the USA Network site and their forum is sure to become quite active soon. It is a lot of fun to meet people who are as interested in this event as you are, and friendships are sure to be made. Just keep in mind Internet Safety when you join a community and you will have no problems and really enjoy the socialization.
Have fun watching the show! I’ll be checking out the winners and of course watching closely for the coveted “Best in Show.” And of course, I’d love to hear your comments!
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
USA Network Coverage of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
The Top Ten Dog Breeds
Do you have a dog? Is he or she in the top ten? According to the AKC (American Kennel Club) these dogs ranked in the top ten in popularity in the year 2007. Unfortunately, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, my personal favorite didn’t make the cut
- Labrador Retriever
- Yorkshire Terrier
- German Shepherd Dog
- Golden Retriever
- Beagle
- Boxer
- Dachshund
- Poodle
- Shih Tzu
- Bulldog
Some interesting facts:
Lassie was number three in popularity (no doubt because of the films) until the late 40’s when the collie began a decline ending up in the current spot of #38. My theory is that they have fallen out of favor due to the intense grooming needs and the busy society we now live in. That is unfortunate; collies are wonderful!
Toy dogs (meaning size – not Mattel) have increased in popularity dramatically coincidentally with the aging of the Baby Boomer population. Perhaps the Boomers are now content to sit at home with a good movie and a lap dog!
The fancy French Poodle, once a commodity in and of itself in New York City (complete with frufru cut) has been ousted by the Labrador Retriever. Considering the activity level of Labs, the space they require, and their predilection for jumping into water, they would be the last dog I would consider were I living in the Big Apple.
Whatever dog we choose, to each of us that dog is the best. The list is interesting and a lot of fun to read, but we all know our own dog is #1 regardless of any statistics that anyone has recorded. Certainly overlooking the Pembroke Welsh Corgi proves that fact!
