Never alone

A recent survey done by the American Kennel Club revealed that many people allow their dogs to sleep in bed with them (see previous posting on this blog). Derel Schrock responded:
"Absolutely, my small Yorkiepoo littermate sisters sleep w/ me every night -- that's almost their purpose in life, and mine is providing the very best life and love and care for them that I'm capable of. If I have to be away from home, I hire the best live-in support available, for them and for my elderly parrot. In the past, there have been cat bedmates, and now there are my special pups (my term for all dogs), and if I had a golden retriever, she would sleep with me also. Sleeping with my pups makes me sleep very well and restfully and probably lowers my blood pressure, and they certainly enhance my life in general, symbiotically. If I should lose one, I would immediately call the breeder for a replacement, not that I wouldn't mourn the departed - it would be my way of coping with the loss. I tell my elderly friends who lose pets just to get another right away - just be sure to have a reliable and willing person to leave it to. Mine are in my will along with a serious stipend for their lifetime care.
It's like the old saying, 'the more I know about people, the more I love my pet.' Nothing compares."
- Pet-lover, long before it became fashionable, Derel Schrock

Hold the grapes, hide the avocado

Things my puppy will eat, if given half a chance: rocks, paper, marbles, and the most disgusting thing, his own (or any other dog's or cat's) poop.
I know he shouldn't eat this stuff. But other foods? Which ones can harm our furry friends? The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals gives us this list:
1. Alcoholic beverages
2. Avocado
3. Chocolate
4. Coffee
5. Fatty foods
6. Macadamia nuts
7. Moldy or spoiled foods
8. Onions and onion powder
9. Raisins and grapes
10. Salt
11. Yeast dough
12. Garlic
13. Products sweetened with xylitol

Popularity of the portable pooch

It's a good day to be a Yorkshire terrier. That diminutive dog has moved into the number 2 spot on the list of most popular dog breeds in the United States, according to the American Kennel Club's 2006 registration numbers. Labrador retrievers held onto their number one spot. Others in the top five: German shepherds, third place; golden retrievers, fourth, and beagles, fifth. Dog breeders say the Yorkie's rise in favor is due to its portability. Other small breeds gaining popularity include the Cavalier King Charles spaniel.

Dogs stepping out

Mark these dates on your calendar: March 10 and 11. You'll want to go to Denver for the World Canine Freestyle Organization's Mile High Canine Dancers Cabaret. It's part of the Colorado Family Pet Expo at the Colorado Convention Center. Not up on your doggie dancing? It's a hot new sport where dogs and people perform choreographed, costumed dances together. (For info, go to the source - the World Canine Freestyle Organization.)

Just a question: Do you think we have too much free time?

Notes from the Westminster Dog Show

We don't have to tell dog lovers it's a big deal. But did you know how big and elaborate it really is?
Random observations from a USA Today reporter attending the show:
+ Dog-fanciers throw lavish parties every year in toney locations like Tavern on the Green.
+ There's a doggie concierge at the Hotel Pennsylvania, where many of the dogs and their people stay. The hotel also has a dog spa with a his-and-hers bathroom area decorated with red fire hydrants. There are also dog treadmills, a canine masseuse and pet psychic.
+ At a dog fashion show for charity, canine supermodels wear ball gowns and tuxedos.

A hairy situation

Love your pet, hate the pet hair? Consumer Reports, for the first time, has included scores for removing pet hair in its vacuum rankings. “The uprights and canisters that did best at regular cleaning also tended to do the best at removing pet hair from carpets in our latest tests,” an article in the March issue concludes.

Think twice before shelling out $570 for Dyson’s DC14 Animal upright. Though Dyson calls it “the most powerful upright for pet hair,” Consumer Reports rated it only fair in that category.

The final chapter for Waldo

Here's what I know: People love their dogs. In Sunday's Gazette, I wrote about my family's last days with our dog Waldo, the namesake of this blog and a member of our family for nearly 16 years. The response was emotional and uplifting. Dozens of readers sent me stories of their own beloved pets, shared their own uncertainties about parting with a pet, and offered to listen if I wanted to talk. My family was especially anxious about the story; worried that it would make them feel sad all over again, and worried that people might not be so nice about how we handled Waldo's last days. Their anxiety was unfounded. In what I hoped were the universal themes of Waldo's life story, I found a way to do something we strive for every day at the Gazette - connect to readers on a personal level. To all those who responded with kindness, thank you.

A farewell to Zach

The end, when it finally came, was sudden.

Zach, our 30-plus-year-old Appaloosa, seemed fine at the noon hour yesterday. But a couple of hours later he was found on the ground. He had clearly been struggling and couldn’t get up. With help, he got back on his feet once, but immediately crumpled back to the ground. Before long, the vet put him out of his misery.

At his age, death wasn’t a surprise. But after a few winters of struggling to put on weight, this year he had put on the pounds and had a nice, heavy winter coat, and everything had been looking good.

He leaves behind Bo, his equine companion of many years. Rumor has it that Bo and Zach used to be Park Service horses. They were rescued several years ago from a dude ranch where they had been allowed to waste away to almost nothing.

He was a good old boy.