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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Is Your Dog Obese?

Pet obesity is a growing epidemic. A survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention and Mars Inc.'s Banfield Pet Hospital found that more than 50% of dogs and cats in the US are overweight or obese. An article in The Wall Street Journal explored the causes and treatments of pet obesity.
The main culprit: owners who routinely overfeed pets, don't exercise them enough and are unaware of the severe, and costly, health problems caused by excess weight. Common woes include diabetes, arthritis, kidney failure, high blood pressure and cancer. Research also suggests that pets fed less over their lifetime can live significantly longer.”
 
To encourage weight discussions, Banfield is rolling out software into its 770 hospitals that will require vets to give pets a Body Condition Score on a scale of 1 (too thin) to 5 (obese) during routine office visits.”

Following feeding directions on packages can still result in overfeeding. Larger breeds need significantly more exercise than smaller breeds. Dog resorts, camps, and treadmills may be appealing, but the cheapest treatment is smaller healthier meals and more exercise for both dogs and owners!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Video: Three Girl Scouts Fighting Puppy Mills

Watch this heartwarming and informative plea from three Girl Scouts trying to stop puppy mills in Texas. They are encouraging people to contact their state legislators. Thanks to the ASPCA for tweeting the video. For more information about fighting puppy mills, read these tips from the ASPCA.
 

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Westminster 2011 Best in Show: Video and Photos

For the first time, a Scottish Deerhound won best in show at Westminster. The winner, Hickory, lives on a farm in Virginia and is five-years-old. Here is a quote from a Yahoo News article about the win.
"By dog world standards, it was an upset. OK, maybe not quite as big as the Hickory Huskers winning the Indiana high school state basketball championship in the film 'Hoosiers,' but quite a surprise nonetheless."
You can watch a replay of Hickory's winning moment on TV Squad. Hickory's handler, Angela Lloyd, won the Junior Showmanship in 1998. Don't miss these fantastic photos of Hickory and Angela.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Westminster 2011: Preview Video and Television Schedule

Watch this video of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Press Conference on February 10, 2011. See the six new breeds that will compete in the show, and hear facts from the show co-host on USA Network, David Frei. The Icelandic Sheepdog is the first breed from Iceland to compete.




Below is the television viewing schedule. For more information and interesting facts about the show, read our earlier blog post.

NIGHT 1:
Monday, February 14
Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups
8-9 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network
9-11 p.m. (ET) live on CNBC

NIGHT 2:
Tuesday, February 15
Sporting, Working and Terrier Groups, Best In Show
8-11 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network

Breed judging highlight videos are available throughout the day on Monday and Tuesday on the Westminster Web site. These highlights will be available after the show, as well.

To our West Coast viewers: Please note that the West Coast telecast is delayed for your time zone. Since results are posted to our Web site as they occur live, if you want to enjoy the drama of the moment, please avoid the Westminster Web site after 5 p.m. Pacific Time on each evening.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Videos: Two Super Bowl Commercials with Dogs Tied for Best Ad in USA Today's Ad Meter

Watch these two funny 2011 Super Bowl commercials from Doritos and Bud Light, which topped USA Today's Ad Meter. Doritos featured a pug, and Bud Light's dog sitter had dogs acting like humans. Read the entire USA Today article for more great Super Bowl commercials.



Friday, February 4, 2011

Video: Behind the Scenes of the Puppy Bowl

The seventh annual Puppy Bowl will air on February 6 at 3 pm E/P on Animal Planet. Watch this brief video to learn about the making of the great event. Catch some adorable puppy action before the Super Bowl.

For more videos, visit the Puppy Bowl website. Imagine how easy clean up would be if they had the Doody Digger pooper scooper!