Do You Look Like Your Dog? (The New York Times)

Tara Parker-Pope blogs about a New York Times piece titled "The Claim: Some Dogs Look Like Their Owners," and invites readers to submit photos of themselves and their dogs.

This could be interesting. It also seems vulnerable to digital photo manipulation in the extreme!

Pet Tails will check back to this blog in the days ahead to see what's submitted. In the meantime, let us know in the comments below if you submit a photo of you and your dog.

Invest In Guinea Pigs

Apparently, animal welfare authorities are worried about the new Disney movie, G-Force, encouraging children to buy guinea pigs. The part they are really worried about is when people find out how much work they actually are and decide to "release them into the wild". I'm just going to say it right now: Do not ever dump your pet! So guinea pig purchases are on the rise. Hey Michigan: Forget cars! Try the pet industry!

Is Your Dog Really Smarter Than My Honor Student?

According to this Yahoo News article, some dogs are as smart as two year old kids. Which begs the question: Is your dog really smarter than my honor student? Well, with this new evidence, there may be a scrap of truth to that statement. As long as your honor student is a two year old that is.

Dog flights move puppy passengers to safer places (St. Petersburg Times)

I liked this story in Sunday's St. Pete Times so much that I read it aloud to Mitch/Lanie/Madeleine's great grandmother, Merle, who is rehabbing from a bad fall. Merle is 90 years old and has been a dog person all her life. She loved the story, and I hope you will, too.

People Food and Your Dog

Although your pet may love peanut butter and adore popcorn, it's not a good idea to feed your pet people food. At first, it's cute how your pet gobbles up the little morsels but later it will beg for more. Your pet may begin to beg at your mealtimes or when you're sitting on the couch with some popcorn. Begging can get extremely annoying when you are trying to have a conversation or any other time. To avoid bad habits, you and your family should "refrain from feeding the animals".

Shedding

Many animals shed, which means some of their hair falls off. If you're anything like my family, you want to allow your pet to roam the house without having your house be covered in hair. Well, unfortunately, there is no way to entirely stop shedding. But you can slow it down by brushing your pet daily. For dogs you can use a shedding blade or a wire brush, but for smaller animals you may want to use a soft bristle brush. Brushing your pet also provides a good opportunity for you to bond with your pet. (See Bonding, August 8)

Socialization

Pets love to meet others of their kind. Guinea Pigs love to have a cagemate. Dogs enjoy playing with eachother. When pets are with another animal that does not live in your home, it is important to keep an eye on them at all times. You don't know if something could go wrong, or playful wrestling could turn into a fight.

Fangs and Foosball

Last night I was playing foosball with my sisters. I passed the ball to the middle and fired. Clunk! Perfect shot. I took a quick glance at Murphy who was chomping on an unseen object. I pulled open his mouth and pulled out a foosball. He was waiting where the ball comes out with his mouth wide open. When I scored, it went out of the table directly into Murphy's mouth.

Animal Of The Week-The Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are well known for their beautiful coat and even temperament. Their coat is smooth and golden, and they are average shedders. Most Golden Retrievers are fairly large, although size can vary. Goldens are loyal, easy to train, and highly intelligent. They need plenty of exercise to be healthy. A Retriever's average lifespan is 10-12 years. Golden Retrievers are really good around kids and will flourish in a family that will give them lots of love and attention. In a nutshell, Goldens are very loving and good with kids, but are very energetic and require lots of exercise.

Don't Let Treats Break The Bank

With the economy in bad shape, everyone is a little tight for money. Instead of buying dog treats at the store, try giving your dog ice cubes. They love 'em and as an added bonus they help soothe teething puppies jaws. Another way to avoid buying treats is baking them in your own oven. Recipes are relatively easy to find on the internet or you can even find pet cookbooks.

Bonding With Your Pet

Bonding with your pet is very important. Establishing a relationship helps your pet respect you and understand that you are the boss. Some ways to bond with your pet are brushing them daily, throwing a frisbee or playing any sort of game with them.

Coming Soon-Animal of the Week

Dog and The Good Doctor

One afternoon, I sat down on the couch with my sisters to enjoy a movie. I had just poured myself a cold glass of Dr. Pepper, when my sister asked me how to pause the movie. I set down my drink and proceeded to pause the movie. All of sudden I heard a slurping noise and did a quick 360 of the room. Murphy had taken the liberty of drinking my soda!