The List Revised . . .

So, a few weeks ago I posted a list of my favorite breeds. That list now has to be revised. Ready? Here we go!

1. Alaskan Malamute
2. Siberian Husky
3. Akita
4. German Shepherd
5. Shiba Inu
6. Dalmatian
7. Labrador Retriever
8. Golden Retriever
9. Australian Shepherd
10. Great Dane

There are only a couple of changes, but they're important ones. Also, this list is actually in order, so as can see my number one breed at the moment is the Alaskan Malamute. Don't worry, I will be posting a breed spotlight on the Malamute next, I case you have no flippin' idea what I'm talking about.

Love your dog? Then you need to know . . .

Need to know what? You need to know about raw feeding, that's what. What the heck is raw feeding? Well, its exactly what it sounds like. Feeding your dog (or cat or ferret for that matter) raw food, specifically raw meat. I first encountered the term 'raw feeding' when researching ferrets, but I didn't look into it further at the time because it just seemed like an option for overzealous ferret owners. I ran into the term again after joining a dog-specific forum, and this time my curiosity was piqued. As I read, I became very interested in raw feeding, and began to do a lot of research. This research I will pass on to you, because I love you and I'm awesome.

I'm sure a lot of you are wondering why you would want to feed raw in the first place. Well, there are a bunch of reasons, and all of them are really important.

1. Dogs are carnivores. Don't believe me? Well, just take a look at a dog's teeth. Also keep in mind that even if they don't look like wolves on the outside, on the inside they are pretty much the same. Need more proof? Check out this lovely and well researched article: Dogs are Carnivores
2. Kibble is garbage. I mean that in the most literal sense. If you have a weak stomach, take my word for it and continue to number 3. For the rest of you, here are a few of the things that go into kibble: 4D livestock (the livestock that dies of illness or injury before it reaches the slaughterhouse), spoiled grocery store meat (including the styrofoam packaging it came in), used and spoiled restaurant deep-frying grease and sometimes even euthanized companion animals. That is just a fraction of what goes into pet food (not just dog food). Go here to see exactly what else is in your furry friend's food.
3. An all meat diet improves your dog's health. Because your dog is carnivore, he will get all the nutrition he needs from a raw diet, and none of the stuff he doesn't need. Raw feeders report that their dogs are better tempered, more lively, have clean, white teeth, fresh breath, shinier coats, brighter eyes, shed less, poop a lot less (yes, less poop!), don't smell, go to the vet a lot less and even live longer. Sounds good, doesn't it?
   
4. It's not as expensive as you might think. I admit, my first concern about raw feeding was price, but after doing a lot of research, I have learned that raw feeding is much cheaper overall than feeding kibble. Why? Well, for starters, meat appropriate for feeding a dog can easily be obtained from a butcher, a hunter, or even a wholesale meat distributor at excellent prices. Dogs don't need to be eating steaks. Also, a kibble fed dog is going to present more health problems, therefore more vet visits. Raw fed dogs don't even need to have their teeth brushed! Eating the way nature intended cleans their teeth.

When I get my dog, he is definitely going to be fed raw. As for the rest of you, I encourage you to look into it and at least consider it. You will change your dog's life! The following websites will help you on your journey. Check them out! They have specific information on what to feed when feeding raw, how much to feed, where to find meat, etc.

The Many Myths of Raw Feeding
This site is excellent and answers most of questions that people new to raw feeding have. It is extremely informative and helpful.

Raw Learning
Another excellent site! The FAQ page is especially informative.

Raw Meaty Bones
The original site about feeding raw meaty bones to dogs.

If you're really interested in starting your dog on raw, I really encourage you to join the Yahoo group, Raw Feeding. There are tons of members who all feed their dogs raw and there is always someone around to answer questions. I have learned TONS from this group, so please join!
Raw Feeding Group

Look who's talking now/again/this time . . .

Why does my childhood involve such a ridiculous amount of talking dogs? Not that I'm complaining, but I'm noticing a pattern here. Anyway, this installment of Nostalgic Pups involves live action talking dogs (the kind that don't move their mouth) in a movie that starts out pretty good and then quickly turns into an improbable cheese-fest worthy of the most spectacular face-palm.

What else could I be talking about than the final (was it?) chapter of the Look Who's Talking movies? I have to say that I loved this movie when I was kid, so much so that I rented it repeatedly from the video store. Look Who's Talking Now features those talking babies as fully functional children that actually speak out loud. Mikey is now 8 or something and he really wants a dog, but his parents don't want to get one (I so relate!).Mikey sees a many giving away puppies in the street, and is attracted to the last one left, a particularly charming mutt. The mutt puppy also feels a connection to Mikey, but Mikey can't take him home. That mutt ends up being adopted by two bikers (lol). Is that the last we'll see of him? Well stay tuned.

James (John Travolta) gets a new job flying some sexy temptress business lady around, and Molly (Kirstie Alley) on the other hand, gets fired. The temptress boss lady takes a very personal interest in James, which results in a lot of tension in the family (though James is not really sure why!) At some point Mikey discovers that Santa isn't real, and this blow to Mikey's psyche (ha! I rhymed!) causes James to soften and take Mikey to a shelter to get a dog.

At the same time, James' new boss decides to give the family her dog after hearing about Mikey's desire for one. Dilemma! Now they have two dogs! A mutt named Rocks (voiced by Danny DeVito) and a prissy Standard Poodle named Daphne (voiced by Diane Keaton). Of course, Rocks and Daphne hate each other. Rocks is impossible to train and a disaster, while Daphne is perfect. Hilarious antics ensue.





















Of course, they can't keep both dogs! So Molly and James make a deal to get rid of the dog that causes the most trouble (guess who that ends up being?). Well, its not as simple as that. After an incident where Rocks destroys Daphne's fairy princess dog house thing, Daphne decides to chew up one of Molly's shoes, in the hopes that it will be blamed on Rocks and he will be thrown out.
Well the shoe goes unnoticed for quite some time, and during this time Daphne and Rocks overcome their differences and become an item (shocking, I know).

They go on a nice doggie date, which involves eating out of a trash can and rolling around in mud. It all seems very familiar. Isn't there a an animated Disney movie with prissy girl dog and a street wise mutt that learn from each other and fall in love? The name isn't coming to me at the moment.

Daphne has let go of her inhibitions! She is truly happy!
But later that day . . .
THE SHOE! Yes, the shoe is found and Rocks is banished to the tiny balcony outside the apartment. Now Daphne is regretting being such a heinous witch, but too late for any of that. The humans are too caught up in their problems, which include James having to fly sexy temptress somewhere on Christmas where they conviently end up stranded in a cabin. This is also the part of the movie where everything goes downhill.

In summary, James finally wises up while at the same time his family goes to find him. They all find each other and realize "Hey we're a family and we love each other and that's awesome!!1!". Somewhere in there Rocks protects James from a pack of wolves. He lives. Mikey hears sleigh bells and Santa on a radio. Christmas Spirit lives! The end.

To be fair, this movie isn't that terrible. It is leaps and bounds ahead of the travesty that is Rover Dangerfield, and considering what they had to work with, Travolta and Alley were very funny and very good in this movie. I personally loved Diane Keaton in this, and Danny DeVito isn't too shabby either. This movie will always be a nostalgic favorite of mine, but if I ever watch it again, I will skip the ending. You should do the same!
Stay tuned for the next installment of . . . NOSTALGIC PUPS!

More news for you . . .

So, my foray into the internet dog world continues. I have created an online store, specifically for puppies! Yes, puppies people, puppies. My store is targeted toward people that are about to get a new puppy or just got one. It has all those essential supplies that everyone needs for a new puppy, and they're all in one place.

My store also has a very large selection of puppy-specific premium dog food. Yes, it can be pricey, but unless you're willing to go raw (more on that in a later post!) this is the best thing you can do for your puppy.

Wanna guess what the store is called? Puppydog Dreamshop! Yup, Puppydog Dreamshop is Puppydog Dreams' sister site.

Wanna visit? Click here! Also note, you don't have to buy anything (I mean if you want to please do!) but I would appreciate it if you looked around and clicked on the google ads that are on the store. My store also has competitive pricing on certain items, so if something is cheaper somewhere else, you can buy it there! Its very easy and convenient for everyone invovled, so if you know anyone that would be interested, please let them know about my store! I will love you forever! Here's the link again: http://puppydogdreams.zlio.net/

Thanks for the support!!

The Good News . . .

Yea, I haven't been updating in awhile. That's because I wanted to give you a whole mess of news in one day! That's just me being awesome, no need to thank me.

SO!

I presented my case to my parents. I prepared a speech, with an accompanying power point presentation that would expand on certain points of my speech. It was very professional (except for the fact that I was wearing pajamas) and I managed to impress my somewhat confused parents. The verdict?

Wait for it . . .
Wait for it . . .
WAIT FOR IT!

I'm getting a dog! Yes, my parents were so impressed by what I had to say that I was granted permission to get a dog. HOWEVER! I will not be able to get this dog until sometime next year because of several things that include money, home renovations and time. I think that's really reasonable. After all, it really doesn't make sense to get a puppy when you're getting new flooring installed.

But my battles are not over yet. There were no decisions made as to what breed of dog I'm getting or if this dog will be allowed to be inside (that is a HUGE issue for my mom). I didn't push these issues on purpose though. I feel like it would have been too much at once for my parents, and they would've ended up saying no to everything :P.

So for now I'm biding my time, doing research on breeds (remember that top ten list I posted a while ago?) and of course trying to make enough money to actually purchase this dog. This is where you come in. PLEASE click on my Google Ads. I promise your computer won't explode and you don't have to buy anything; in fact, you don't have to do much. Just click. Pleeeeease click them. Secondly, if you know anyone that loves dogs as much as I do, please point them in the direction of my blog. I really enjoy this blog, but it kind of sucks not having anyone to read it. So spread the word! Think of it this way: if my blog gets very popular, I can always return the favor and advertise things for you. In the end we are all winners!

So, I won the first big battle, but the war isn't over yet! Stay tuned for the breed battle AND the inside/outside battle (it will be bloody)!

Scary and intimidating . . .

Being the responsible and awesome person that I am, I want to get my non-existent dog from either a. a shelter or b. a reputable breeder.

However! Option b is proving to be a daunting task. First of all, I don't recommend searching for breeders on the internet. It is difficult to find the legit ones, and even when you do, they're usually located in like, Tibet. Ok so not really Tibet, but you know, REALLY far away from me. There is also the fact that most of these people only breed show-quality or field-quality dogs. There's nothing wrong with that, mind you, but it makes finding a responsible breeder that only breeds companion dogs kind of difficult. It also makes finding something I might be able to afford really difficult. They are also scary. Scary and intimidating. Some of these people make me feel like they would put Cesar Millan on a waiting list for a puppy, and then proceed to not give him the puppy.Seriously, this world of dog breeding seems so exclusive. It feels like a club they're not gonna let me join. It also doesn't help that like 95% of them have hideous websites that are impossible to navigate. Do you think if I offered to redesign them they would give me a chance? Maybe a discount? A recommendation letter?

Anyway, if anyone can help me find some good breeders in the area, leave a comment! I will love you forever!

Still obsessing . . .

Yes I'm still obsessing! I am obsessing about dog breeds and dog names. I said before that the dog I picture in my head for me is a German Shepherd, but there are some other breeds that I love. Here are the top ten breeds I'm interested in owning. They will be in no particular order, because I don't feel like it.

1. Australian Shepherd
2. Golden Retriever
3. Shiba Inu
4. German Shepherd
5. Labrador Retriever
6. Siberian Husky
7. Border Collie
8. Weimaraner
9. Great Dane
10. Dalmatian

And now, dog names. I sincerely believe that dog names should not be overcomplicated or people names. Why? Well, I have a true story to illustrate this for you. So I was at a party with friends a while back, and one friend (we will call her LaToya for confidentiality purposes) had brought her new boyfriend (who shall be called Billy). When LaToya introduced Sancho to us, another friend simply said "I used to have a dog named Billy." Awkwardness ensued, and that is why I don't agree with giving dogs people names, especially names like "Jennifer" and "George". Anyway, here is my list of top ten names for my non-existent dog.

1. Sherlock (technically its a people name, but it doesn't count because its a very famous literary reference)
2. Merlin (see above)
3. Dodger
4. Dusty
5. Zero
6. Strider
7. Loki

Ok so there's only 7, so what? Those are the only names I really like. Thoughts? I may just do a poll on this, but I'm not sure . . . anyway, now I try to sleep. Try being the key word there, of course.

The puppies won't let me sleep . . .

So I'm obsessing about my non-existent dog. Badly. In my head, my dog is a German Shepherd. He is loved by all and my best friend. Boyfriend and I walk Buddy and my dog together. Everything is wonderful. Why am I obsessing? I realized today that there is a large amount of unused space in my yard that would be perfect for a dog run. Oh, can you imagine the possibilities?
I can imagine them, but to tell the truth it depresses me a bit, because I am not so sure I can pull this off. At this point, I am wishing with all my might that I can convince my parents to let me get a dog, but I just don't know if they will listen or not. Sorry, just feeling a bit pessimistic.
I believe I am going to officially start my dog campaign a couple of weeks from now. The reason is that in two weeks, my dad will have just returned from a tropical vacation where he visited his parents. I am assuming he will be in a good mood because of this. I am also assuming that my mom will be in a good mood because he came home. I hope everyone will be in such a wonderful mood that they will at least think about a dog. *crossing fingers* Wish me luck peeps!

Breed Spotlight: Goldens!

There's a reason that Golden Retrievers have been in the top 5 of AKC registrations for years. These dogs are beautiful, athletic, intelligent and loyal. Practically the perfect dog right? Yea remember when I talked about Shadow from Homeward Bound? Yea he basically sums up Goldens perfectly, just maybe a little less uptight.So about them Goldens . . . Goldens are very versatile. They can be field dogs, show dogs and companion dogs. Heck, they can be those things all at the same time. They are loving and eager to please, making them very trainable dogs and naturals for obedience. Like any sporting dog, Goldens are energetic and need a good amount of exercise. Goldens love to (guess!) retrieve! Because they were bred for that purpose, they love playing fetch. I believe a Golden would fetch all day if it could. They also like to swim because, like I mentioned before, that's one of the things they were bred for. The thing about Goldens is that if they don't enough exericse (physical AND mental) they will get destructive. Very destructive. So yea, make sure you know what you're getting yourself into if you get one of these dogs. Because of their tractable nature, Goldens can often be seen in the roles of service and therapy dogs. They're naturals at this, and this fulfills the Golden's love of working.
So Goldens are great dogs. They combine brains and good looks, as well as a sweet disposition to boot. To tell the truth, I would really like to have a Golden. Either a Golden or a Labrador Retriever. I know they're incredibly popular, but they're popular for a reason. They really are awesome dogs. *sigh* Do you think if I just smuggle a Golden puppy into my house, my parents will allow me to keep it because its so cute? I mean, look!
Can YOU resist that face? Huh? HUH? I didn't think so! Now if you'll excuse me, I have a bad talking dog movie to watch.

Images from Flickr. 1 2 3

Give Love, Get Love

Here at Puppydog Dreams, we love all dogs. That's why I want to discuss the beauty of adopting rescue dogs! Every year, the Humane Society of the United States estimates that about 6-8 million pets enter shelters, and about 3-4 million are euthanized. That is a lot of dogs and cats. There are several things you can do to help.

First of all, if you are considering getting a dog (or any pet) make sure you do plenty of research! Many dogs end up in shelters because the owners did not do research, and couldn't handle the energy levels or attention needs of the breed they chose.

Second, if you already have a dog, spay/neuter! Unwanted puppies often end up either on the street or in shelters.

Third, if you are considering getting a dog, go to a shelter before you go to a breeder. You never know what you will find at a shelter, and they often have purebred dogs too. Some cities even have rescue groups specifically for certain breeds.

And now, some true rescue stories to inspire you.

Meet Sharie. I'm guessing she is a poodle/terrier mix but to be honest, God only knows.Sharie is a little ray of neurotic sunshine. This dog never stops moving, and she crashes into walls a lot. She is also something of an attention hog. Despite all this, she brings a lot of joy and love to her owner, who wouldn't trade her for anything. She may not be the type of dog for you, but that's the beauty of it. The shelter where she came from has plenty of dogs with a huge variety of personalities and temperments.Now let's meet Clemencia! Clemencia is a mutt that belongs to my grandfather. He rescued her directly off of the streets, and she is one of the sweetest dogs I know. The mix of breeds present in Clemencia is so muddled that I'm not really sure what she is. I just know she's cute.She also brings a lot of happiness to my grandfather. He loves this dog very much, and she is a big source of comfort to him.I don't know how he did it, but he somehow trained her to "Shake Hands", no verbal command required. You just hold out your hand and she puts her paw in it (as demonstrated in the picture). Needless to say, that's CUTE!

Interested in a adopting a rescue pooch? In my area (El Paso, Tx)? Here's a list of local shelters and rescues.

The Humane Society of El Paso
4991 Fred Wilson
El Paso, TX 79906

Phone: (915) 532-6971
Fax: (915) 566-0723

Offices are open Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Sunday from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Monday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm


The Animal Rescue League of El Paso
(915)877-5002
7256 La Junta (Canutillo)
11:30 - 5:30 Tuesday - Sunday

Adoptable animals also available at the Westside Petsmart
Saturday 10 am - 4pm
Sunday 12 pm - 4pm


Pet Guardian Angel Welfare Association
Phone: (915) 598-0411
Fax: (915) 592-7160

13300 Round Dance (At Square Dance and Montana)
El Paso, TX 79938

10:00 am - 4:00 pm Tuesday - Friday
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Saturday
10:00 am - 4:00 pm Sunday


This website has a listing of all the breed-specific rescues in Texas: Adopt a Rescue Pet

Hope you're inspired to make a difference!

Rover Dangerfield!?

As you can tell from the title, today's Nostalgic Pups is having a WTF moment. Yes today, we will be looking at the barely remembered, painfully unfunny and just plain awful crapfest that is Rover Dangerfield!
Yup. This is one of those movies that was a lot better when you were a kid. Okay, its one of those movies that was decent when you were a kid. Watching it now? Painful to say the least. Besides the flimsy plot, unfunny jokes and annoying voice actors the worst part is definitely Rover himself, which is just a creepy dog-like caricature of Rodney Dangerfield. I say dog-like because the animators retained way too many of Rodney's real life mannerisms, resulting in pure unadulterated weirdness. Exhibit A:
Charlie in All Dogs Go to Heaven was based on his voice actor (Burt Reynolds!) too, but it wasn't to the point where he no longer looked like a dog and was creepy.
So about that plot . . . yea, the plot. Rover lives in Las Vegas and loves it. He shows it during a terrible musical number:Things change because of Rover's showgirl owner.
She is dating this guy, who apparently is a methhead.
He decides Rover is an obstacle to something-or-other and tries to kill him. Instead, Rover is rescued and ends up on a farm. (A city dog on a farm!? That's preposterous!) On the farm are a group of dogs that the movie should have been about, but wasn't. Despite the fact that they are a billion times more likeable than Rover, they hardly get any screen time, to the point where I can't even remember their names. There is also another dog, Raffles (a Border Collie I think) who could have easily been the star of this movie, but is instead relegated to the role of simple country boy (dog?) who teaches the city slicker the ropes on the farm. Yawn. I really liked Raffles and the other farm dogs. They were the only thing worthwhile about this movie. Everything else felt so contrived. Oh well. Moving on! At this point there is only one thing missing from this movie. Can you guess? That's right! No movie about a fat and 'lovable' guy is complete without the superhot love interest! In this film, the love interest is Daisy, a beautiful Rough Collie whose job is to scare away crows, I think. After about five excruciating minutes of interaction (which include another terrible song), Daisy decides she loves Rover. Yeah, I don't have an explanation for that either. Anyway, after this Rover proves himself on the farm by saving the farmer's life and doing various other things. Blah blah blah. His showgirl owner finds him. Blah. All this nonsense culminates in one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen in animation.

These puppies (cue dramatic music):Why? Why are there like 30 of the Rover puppies and one of the pretty Daisy puppies? Why was this movie ever made? If you're feeling masochistic today, this gem is available somewhere on Youtube. Just don't say I didn't warn you. Because I did. Many times.

Because all the other dogs are jealous . . .

Yes, I am a little fixated on Buddy. So. What.

Buddy is the dog that I have the most contact with (other than my non-existent one of course!) But I do know other doggies. These two are ridiculously cute. They belong to a really good friend of mine, and I really want to squish them. Like really. Okay.


Meet Max.
He has a glorious mustache.
But sometimes, he has a hard time seeing through it.

Meet Meaty.
Meaty wears a glorious monocle on special occasions.
True story. However! Max does get a little jelly.
Max wants to wear the derby, but Meaty won't share. Its ok Max. We all want to wear the derby.

When you don't walk your dog . . .

He will walk himself. At least, that's what Buddy did this morning. Oh yes, after my lovely boyfriend left the gate to the yard unlocked, Buddy decided to open it and go for a walk. He didn't run away, or get lost or anything like that. He just calmly strolled up and down the street introducing himself to all the other dogs in the neighborhood.

No one realized Buddy was gone until a neighbor knocked on the door and asked if they owned a Siberian Husky. After boyfriend answered yes, the neighbor proceeded to tell him that the dog had been walking about for some time now. Boyfriend was flabbergasted, Buddy was exhausted and I was mad because no photos were taken. Boyfriend's response was: "I was in my pajamas!" My response was: "Honey its not like you were gonna be in the picture!"

Anyway, for the sake of posting some kind of picture of Buddy, I give you this:
I am aware this is not a very good picture. You be aware that Buddy is a fidgety-gibbet and he is very difficult to photograph. I promise you more photos and better ones. It's a big sacrifice on my part, but I think I can manage.

On today's episode . . .

For today's Nostalgic Pups, we are looking to Walt Disney! But wait! There's more! Today's pups are NOT animated. That's right. Not animated. They are none other than Chance and Shadow, the canine protagonists of Disney's Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. Homeward Bound was one of those talking animal movies that didn't have animals that moved their mouths. I personally think it works out better that way, as the movies with the mouth-moving in sync with what the animal saying usually suck.

Doing the narration (and getting some of the best one-liners) is Chance. Chance is a young, mischievous rescue dog who still hasn't learned the concept of family (duh, that's at the end!). Chance is an American Bulldog, and probably the number one reason to see this movie. I love Chance. He's such a dog! He is always thinking about food, chasing things and interesting smells. That pretty much sums up a big chunk of a dog's personality, and why they are so charming. Also, like I mentioned before, Chance has some of the best lines in the movie. I will include some of my favorites below:



"Ta-da! Batdog!"
(after seeing the chicken coop) "Hallelujah, I've died and gone to Kentucky!"
(while chasing a goose) "I'm not gonna hurt you, I just want to chew on your neck!"
"This is like Arnold Schwarzen-kitty!"
(after an encounter with a porcupine) "Ah! He bit me with his butt!"

Next we have everybody's dream dog: he's loyal, well-behaved, and very handsome. He is Shadow, the beautiful Golden Retriever. Shadow is like an old gentleman, serious and old-fashioned. He is basically the perfect dog, and the initiator of the films titular journey. I have to admit that at first I didn't like Shadow, being so stodgy and perfect, but as the movie goes on he becomes much more likable.


Of course there is also the cat, Sassy, but since this is a blog about dogs, we aren't going to discuss her much. Sassy also had some great lines, such as:

"Oh, is that any way to speak to a petite dewdrop... you big flat-faced butt-sniffer?"
(as her owner hugs her) "Hope, sweetheart, Sassy can't breathe"
"Oh, Chance. When will you grow up? That bear could've eaten you. Don't you realize how painful that would've been... for the bear?"


One of my favorite moments was this Sassy/Chance exchange:
Chance - "Well fine, just sit here and diet."
Sassy -"Are you calling me fat?"
Chance - "'Course not, for a hippopotamus!"
(Chance runs into a tree)
Chance - "I meant to do that!"


So in the end, everyone comes out of this adventure alive (barely), are reunited with their humans, and learn valuable life lessons like (ready for it?) the meaning of family! AWW!



Stay tuned for the next Nostalgic Pups!

The Spotlight Presents . . .

Introducing the latest of the regular features: Breed Spotlight! In honor of one of today's Nostalgic Pups being a German Shepherd Mix, I've decided to spotlight, what else? German Shepherds!

Let me start by saying that I think GSDs are incredibly gorgeous dogs. I love that noble look they have. (note: I am aware that looks alone are not a good basis for getting a particular breed of dog.)

But, let's get to the good stuff!
German Shepherds are probably most famous for their protective and loyal natures. They are wary of strangers and extremely loyal to their owners, which is why they make excellent guard dogs. However, I have also heard of a GSD rescue who could not be placed in a home because he was so loyal to his former owner. That's an extreme case, but needless to say, GSDs need a lot of socialization. They are also very intelligent and strong, which is why there are the breed we so often see as police dogs and other service animal jobs.

As far as looks go, GSDs are very distinctive. Most recognizable are their long muzzles and giant 'bat ears' (I love those ears!). I would spend the rest of this post describing them some more, but pictures and the AKC are better at that than I am.

PUPPIES!

BIG PUPPY!

(images from akc.org)

Is the German Shepherd the right breed for me? I don't know. It could be! I would like to actually spend some time with a GSD as part of making an informed decision. Of course I won't be ready to choose a breed for awhile yet, but I do think the German Shepherd is an excellent option!

Fatty fatty two by four . . .

I have met my share of really fat dogs in my life, and while they retain their cuteness by the simple fact that they're dogs, its kind of sad. They can't really jump, you can't really walk them and the myriad of health issues goes without saying. So, the message here is:

STOP FEEDING YOUR DOGS CRAP THEY SHOULDN'T BE EATING. Thank you. Oh, and: WALK YOUR DOG.

Here is a little video just for driving the point home.

Addiction is a terrible thing . . .

I joined the forums over at dogforum.org today. I'm not gonna lie, I've spent like 9 billion hours on it. I don't know if this is healthy.

I think I will just chalk it up to research. Yeah . . . research.

They need love too

I'm all about showing love for all the dogs in the world, and that includes fictional ones. Oh yea, I'm going to take you back, back to the 90s. Back to the best film Fido's of my childhood, in a feature I'm gonna call Nostalgic Pups.

Today, it's all about Charlie and Itchy, the trouble making duo from Don Bluth's All Dogs Go to Heaven.

Charlie Barkin is a German Shepherd mix of sorts with questionable morals and lacking a conscience. He does whatever it takes to get what he wants, and that usually means he doesn't think things through ever. Despite this, I think he is cute and I would totally adopt him. My only fears would be that a. Charlie would escape. Many times or b. he would build an underground casino in my yard.



Itchy Itchiford is an adorably neurotic and paranoid Dachshund, or, the perfect foil for the reckless Charlie. Also he is itchy, hence the name. Supposedly he itches the most when he's nervous, but he's nervous most of the time so basically Itchy is always well, itchy. Would I adopt Itchy? Probably not. Neurotic dogs annoy the crap out of me. He is sweet, so maybe I'd consider it.




There are plenty of other dogs in this movie, but they are all scary/strange/unlikable, so, I'm not really going to discuss them. Except Killer. Killer the nerdy homicidal maniac. Seriously, what kind of dog is Killer? He's the only one whose breed is completely ambiguous. Maybe he's such a huge mutt that's he's become unidentifiable? Perhaps that's the source of his rage? I mean, I know I'd be pissed if I looked like a near-sighted, malformed sausage link. Would I adopt Killer? HAHA. No. I forgot to mention I don't like homicidal dogs. Especially when they kind of look like malformed sausage links.


In the end, it turns out Charlie has a heart of gold (movies, stop trying to tell us that men change. They don't!), and he gets to go to Heaven! YAY!

Seriously though, I really love this movie. How can I not? It has dogs, its funny, and there are no princesses (I like them, but they get old fast). Heck, there is even a musical number with a vaguely homosexual crocodile (alligator? wut?). That's all I need in life.

Hope you enjoyed this trip down Repressed Memories Lane, and stay tuned for the next Nostalgic Pups!

Crates, puppies, rainbows. Heck yes.

So.

Crate training is very appealing to me. Let me proceed to tell you why: it works. There, I'm done.

No really, it does. Buddy is crate-trained and he is a very well behaved, happy dog. Heck, even the Humane Society of the United States recommends it. Now, some of you may just be thinking, exactly what is crate training, exactly? Here's the scoop!

Crate training is basically teaching a puppy to treat a crate as his own safe place. This in turn will help you show the puppy where he can and can't go in your house, as well as where he can and can't do his business. In a nutshell, crate training minimizes accidents, destructive behavior and any other trouble a puppy can get into.

My favorite page detailing the process of crate training is the Humane Society of the United States'. Check it out here.

However! Let it be known that you can't just stick a puppy in a crate for a million hours while you go run around doing whatever. A crate is not a replacement for YOU. A crate is a tool, and that only. I understand this, I just want others to understand too. I am not advocating keeping your dog locked up in a box. Dogs do not appreciate it!

Anyway, I'd like to hear from you! Did you crate train? How did it go? Was it magical? Uplifting?

Buddy

It's time for you to meet Buddy. He is a Siberian Husky with a serious cute problem. He knows it, too. He uses his cuteness to manipulate you into loving him and eventually giving him your soul. True story.



On this particular evening, there was a party going on at my boyfriend's house. We had gone out to buy refreshments, and when we came back one of the party guests came outside to help us carry stuff. That guest left the door open, and Buddy took it upon himself to rush outside and jump into the car as we were unloading it. He was in the mood for a ride, I guess. I spent five minutes taking pictures of him as he excitedly bounced and paced all over the car. Time well spent. Cuteness must never go undocumented.
True story.

Yes well, that was expected

So today is my birthday. Yup, let's just say I'm the perfect age to get a puppy of my very own. Don't you agree? I totally agree, like, a million times. Anyway, I think this is going to be my angle for convincing the parentals that I should totally be allowed to get a dog.
"Hey, its my birthday, you didn't get me a gift, and I'm awesome."
Well, not exactly like that . . . but you know, I am awesome. My plan is a little more complicated. It involves an approach like a business proposal, and it will show how much research I've done, and how prepared I am to take on the responsibility. It will also involve many pictures of puppies. Many puppies. I figure if one is exposed to freakin' adorable puppies long enough, one is easier to influence. That's just a theory I have. I'm not speaking from personal experience or anything.

A girl and her non-existent dog . . .

Hello, my name is Damaris, and I love puppies. In fact, I think I might have something of a problem. I squeal with delight every time I see a dog, even if its a mile away, or on TV. Sometimes I go to my boyfriend's house just to walk his dog, a sweet Siberian named Buddy. If I go to a friend's house and they have a dog, I spend more time with the dog than the person. Yeah, I have a problem. I love dogs. I love puppies. I love them all, and they love me back (usually).

Even bigger than my puppy-love problem? My I-can't-have-a-puppy problem. I know what you're thinking. "You can't have a puppy? Why? It's a free country." Well, not when you still live with your parents its not. That's right. My parents won't let me get a puppy. The one thing that would make me insanely and sublimely happy, and I can't have it.

Out of my frustration, I have created this blog, in the hopes that all of you in internet-land can help me out. I want suggestions on persuasion. I want to know your experiences with dogs and certain dog breeds. Whatever, together, let's make my puppy dog dreams come true, and maybe in the process we can help any other unfortunate souls in the same boat.