Canine Hero Stories

Everyone has a canine hero. If it is not Rin-Tin-Tin, Lassie, Benji, or another Hollywood canine star, it is a pet of their own, or one they have read about in the newspaper.

A Rottweiler named “Bear” became the canine hero of owner/handler Officer Edward Ernstberger after the dog caught 3 bullets in the line of duty, saving his life. Bear jumped out of a police cruiser to attack a prison escapee who had just shot her owner, preventing him from getting shot again. Both recovered their wounds. Today they enjoy a leisurely life of retirement together, best friends to the end.

Cindy Davis’ canine hero was a tiny stray she took into her heart and named “Spook.” The loyal pup showed its appreciation on June 24, 2002. The incident happened when Davis was stung multiple times by a swarm of angry yellow jacket hornets while working in the garden. Davis, who was seriously allergic to hornet stings, collapsed and hit her head before she could make it back inside the house for her medicine. Spook roused Davis into consciousness by repeatedly licking her face and refusing to leave her side.

On March 17, 2004 firefighters praised an Australian terrier named “Eddie,” who sacrificed his life for that of his mistress. Instead of fleeing the burning building, the valiant dog ran deeper into the house. Barking, scratching, and whining at the closed door to the bedroom where his mistress lay sleeping, Eddie was finally able to rouse her in time. He was officially awarded a hero’s burial for his bravery and loyalty.

What Makes a Canine Hero?

Pets who are heroes don’t always have such dramatic stories. Many canine heroes are every day dogs who simply love their caregivers, and give unconditional love; dogs who prove loyal and true.

A canine hero can be any size or breed of dog. Canine heroes are dogs who have been good companions over the years; dogs that have stayed faithfully by their caregiver’s side, in sickness and in health.

A canine hero is a dog just like your dog…a loveable, furry bundle of joy that adds quality of life to the days of their human caregivers.

Nearly everyone has a canine hero story to tell! Tell us your story.

Popularity: 29% [?]

The season of giving and gifting (and hopefully getting some in return) is on us. Make this year special for your best friend, your pet dog. Surprise him with a gift he’ll cherish. The look of love in his big brown eyes and that joyful wag of his tail will surely tell you how much he appreciates your gesture. Lest this sound like a sales pitch let me tell you I am serious. Our pets deserve something special every once in a while and what better time to get something nice for Rover than now.

Here are 10 great gift ideas for your dog

1. Booda velvet bones – Dogs love to chew bones and Booda velvet bones are just perfect for your dog. These are an excellent alternative to rawhide, rubber, plastic bones and bones that have animal byproducts in them. Booda bones are made from corn starch, they have a velvet texture. Dogs love to chew on these. It helps dogs fight plaque and maintain healthy gums. They are available in a range of flavors like Bacon, Chicken, Roast Beef, and Carrot.

2. Designer dog collars – If you’re looking for a useful yet different gift for your dog, you could consider giving him a customized, made-to-order collar. A personalized collar with metal buckles, it can be embroidered with information you desire. It effectively eliminates the need for metal dog tags and looks way cooler too. You can choose from eleven color combinations including camouflage. A great dog gift, these personalized dog collars are crafted from sturdy, washable, nylon webbing.

3. Dog dresses – A gift for those special occasions when your canine friend has to look his best. The latest designer duds for your pet. Let him strut in style in a coat when you take him for a walk or lounge at home in a cool t-shirt. Pamper your pooch with threads to suit every mood. Custom-made sleepwear, walking harnesses, dog sweaters, and even hair accessories can be gifted to your pet.

4. Dog beds – Gift your dog a comfortable night’s sleep i.e. if he is not a guard dog. Designer dog beds, wooden dog beds, and pet tents offer your dog a spacious sleeping area that is very much his own. These beds are excellent complements to your room’s décor and your fur kid is going to love your for it.

5. Grooming Fido – Choose from a range of dog grooming products; herbal ear care, herbal dog shampoos, nail clippers, paw cleaners, shedding blades, de-shedding combs, flea combs and much more. The assortment of grooming devices and cleaning liquids has something for every dog lover who wishes to keep his dog’s fur clean and nails trimmed.

6. A tipple for your dog – This might sound like it’s straight out of Ripley’s but Happy Tail Ale is actually beer for dogs. Marketed as the ultimate liquid refreshment for your canine, this product is non-alcoholic and made with artesian water and malted barley. The ingredients used in this beverage are human grade and include beef drippings, glucosamine, and vitamin E.

7. Footwear – Yes, let’s take “crazy pampering” a little further. There is a range of footwear out there that you can choose for your dog. Footwear to suit the size, personality, and temperament of your pet. Wild West boots, slippers, cozy boots, Mary Janes, Gingham boots and much more.

8. Let his attitude show – If your dog feels that a tee or a coat does not go well with his species; we suggest you gift him a bandana. He’ll love it. And you’ll love it too coz’ dogs with bandanas do look cool. Choose from a range of sizes and designs such as paisley, patriotic prints, holiday bandanas, seasonal bandanas, and many more.

9. Glares for your dog – Protective eyewear for your dog. Doggles are doggie goggles designed to protect your dog from foreign objects and wind. Ideal for your pet when he’s riding pillion on your bike. Doggles offer protection from UV rays and the lenses are shatterproof. A useful accessory at all times for your dog and even more so if your pet happens to suffer from Pannus.

10. A gift basket – A little bit of everything for your dog. Gift baskets are always in fashion and well received by humans; there’s every reason to believe that our canine companions will also appreciate a gift basket created specifically for them. Each wicker basket is unique and contains items such as a spa towel, soap on a rope, conditioner, a bag of treats and much more.

Popularity: 28% [?]

Pro Plan Selects Natural Turkey Formula Puppy Food (17.5 lbs.) Give your puppy a Thanksgiving treat. Pro Plan Selects brand Puppy Food begins with real turkey as the #1 ingredient, with no added turkey by-products, ground corn or artificial colors or flavors. Real turkey provides high-quality protein, which helps support muscle mass for strength and provides energy. Real Turkey is the #1 Ingredient.

Popularity: 19% [?]

How to Socialize your Dog to other Family Pets

by Paul P. Duxbury

Socializing your dog to accept new animals into the household is not always an easy task. We all read the biblical account of Noah and his Ark and wondered just how he got the animals to survive in the ark together for five minutes let alone 40 days and nights of rain.

The dog usually has its own ideas of its territory and home and is generally not a generous creature when it come to sharing but would much rather chase the intruders away. We have to reprogram the dogs thinking to make it understand that chasing the cat or iguana or whatever other pet you may have, is not acceptable. So how about some instruction on just how it is done?

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Popularity: 25% [?]

These dogs or at least their ancestors have been around as man’s best friend for over a millenia and still attract interest because of the characteristics that they have acquired over the ages.

1. Xoloitzcuintli or Mexican hairless

When a breed’s named Xoloitzcuintli, it has to be rare and exotic and this particular breed certainly is. It is also the official dog of Mexico, of which country it is a native. Xolos are gaining in popularity and can command a price of around $2500.

The dog is one of the world’s oldest and rarest breeds. The Aztecs prized these animals. Their ancestors brought the Xoloitzcuintli with them when they came over from Asia. They were called Biche by the Aztecs, which meant “naked”; this was a reference to their hairless bodies. Statues, clay figures and remains of Xolos have been found at 3000 year old Maya burial sites. The Xolos experienced a population crisis in the 1940s and were in danger of extinction. The species was kept alive by remote Indian tribes and later on through the efforts of Mexican breeders.

Xolos comes in three sizes, Toy, Miniature, Standard, and two varieties: The coated and the hairless. Xolos have upright bat-like ears and bright almond-shaped eyes. The dogs are tough and exceptionally hardy and can live up to twenty years. Xolos make excellent companion dogs; they bond well with the family and prefer to be aloof with strangers. Loyalty, intelligence, and alertness are their hallmarks.

A Xolo is a low-maintenance pet although pups require a lot of exercise and attention to keep them out of mischief. Xolos also require protection from severe heat and cold.

2. Neapolitan Mastiff or Italian Mastiff

Another ancient breed of dog, now used as a guard dog. However during Roman times, it was used in war campaigns and also in the arenas against leopards. Neapolitan mastiffs have loose skin on their bodies; they are shorter than English mastiffs. These mastiffs can weigh up to 68 kg.

A large broad forehead, a rolling gait, large flews and a dewlap are distinctive features of the mastiff. Temperament-wise it is relaxed with its owners but can be a little stubborn. They can get over-protective of their owners and are very considerate with children.

The Neapolitan mastiff traces its ancestry to the ancient Greek Molossus that originated with the Molossis people in the mountainous regions of northwest Greece. The Molossus is thought to be the common ancestor of all mastiff breeds in Europe. The mastiff was thought to have become extinct but was rediscovered in Naples in the 1940s.

Italian mastiffs are not keen joggers and rightly so. Their weight makes the effort stressful on their joints. These dogs have a lifespan of 8-10 years. They are prone to ailments such as hip dysphasia, eye disease and eyelid problems, such as a cherry eye, and cancers.

These dogs do not require a lot of exercise but because of their excessive wrinkles they need special care while bathing. Also, the drool should be cleaned periodically to prevent smell and infection.

3. Norwegian Puffin Dog or Lundehund

The lundehund traces its origins to the 1500s. The breed was developed specifically to hunt puffins, which were an important source of winter food for the Norwegians. The Norwegian Puffin Dog was exceptionally flexible; it can bend its head entirely backwards, touching the top of its head to its back. It has at least six toes on each foot, and has the ability to close its ears to keep water out. And hey!! These dogs also look cute.

The dog is a polydactyl; unlike other dogs that have extra vestigial toes, the toes on the lundehund are fully functional and help it to grasp the slippery sides of the cliffs on which the puffins reside. Along with the reindeer, the lundehund is the most flexible quadruped around. These dogs are finely adapted to their job – flexible backs, the ability to stretch out their forelegs to the maximum, extra digits, the ability to close ears and prick each ear open separately mean that this breed is the champion as far as dog spelunking goes.

The Lundehund has been classified as “vanishingly rare”. In 1942, canine distemper wiped out all but one lundehund in Norway. Today, there are around a thousand remaining all over the world.

The lundehund has an ancient ancestry, traceable to the 5000-year old Varranger dog that was found in Lapland. Lundehunds are known to suffer from Lundehund syndrome in which the animal is unable to absorb nutrients from what it eats, this happens due to an overgrowth of digestive bacteria in the stomach of the dog.

4. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling retriever is a gundog and a very unusual one at that!! It helps its master by prancing and frolicking at the water’s edge and thereby piquing the waterfowl’s interest which then come close to investigate and is hunted down by the hunter. The toller then goes to retrieve the fowl. The dogs are called tollers because of the act of “tolling” that they perform – enticing and luring game to come within range.

This breed came into being in the early 20^th century in Nova Scotia. The dog shows characteristics of cocker spaniel and Irish Setter; it is possible that these breeds have contributed to defining this retriever breed. Tollers have a strong compact muscular body, a thick coat that is water-repellant.

Tollers make intelligent pets, are loyal companions, and they have the energy required to make efficient decoys and retrievers. They weigh between 17-23 kg; they require a cold climate and a lot of physical exercise.

5. Chinese Sharpei

Once named the rarest dog breed by Time magazine and the Guinness Book of World Records, as late as 1973 the dog was in danger of disappearing completely, the dog is doing reasonably well now. It is also known as the Chinese Fighting Dog.

Images of Shar pei can be found on Han dynasty pottery dating back to 200 BC. Back then, the dog was bred as a companion dog and a guard dog.

Sharpei are considered to be amongst the most ancient dog breeds still going around. They are originally from the Guangdong province of China and in the olden days, they were used by the royal family as guard dogs. Their small ears and deep-set eyes coupled with their folds of skin made them ideal for combat. These days they can be seen as family pets. Shar pei have a loving and devoted nature, though they may tend to be a little reserved and aloof.

The dog has a life expectancy of up to 10 years; the dog has a padded head and therefore is sensitive to heat. It needs access to shade and water.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Pets are susceptible to heat-related problems much like humans. It is our responsibility as pet owners to ensure that the summer season does not lead to discomfort or worse for them.

* On hot days, do not leave your dog in the car. Dogs dying of heat exhaustion in cars are a fairly common occurrence. Cars can get heated up fast.

* Take your dog out for a walk when it’s cool, either in the morning or evening. Pavements get hot during the day and can burn the animal’s paws.

* A wet bandana around your dog’s neck when you take him for a walk will make him look and feel cool. Sunscreen on the dog’s nose is a must as that is one part of the animal’s body not protected by fur.

* Ensure that your dog has access to plenty of cool and fresh water; do not shave the animal’s coat.

Popularity: 14% [?]

The internet has led to the mushrooming of large-scale dog breeding operations or puppy mills that are fast becoming a concern for animal welfare activists.

The reason for this is that online pet sellers do not classify as wholesalers and can therefore skirt federal licensing and inspection issues. This leaves the prospective owners with no-one to turn to should their new acquisition have a health problem. The absence of puppy lemon laws in many states does not help pet owners either.

Poor breeding practices and unhealthy kennel conditions lead to sick pups that buyers get suckered into buying. When buying pets, it is important that buyers go and check out the operations on-site; this is however not easily done when conducting online purchases. The most we can do is look at pictures, read testimonials, and get in touch with those who have made an online pet purchase.

Popularity: 43% [?]