Help Your Pet Adjust to a New Home: Moving Tips for Dog and Cat Parents

NOTE: The following is a guest post submitted to us by a reader at hireahelper.com. If you are a blog writer or content marketer and would like to contribute your expertise to our website, please email connie[at]dogshowconfidential.com so I can discuss with you further. To see the original post visit https://blog.hireahelper.com/moving-with-pets/. Thanks, Connie. If you’ve ever moved with a dog or a cat, you know that it can be a stressful time … [Read more...]

Labrador Retriever is the AKC’s most popular dog breed once again

America's most popular dog once again is the Labrador Retriever according to the American Kennel Club. The rankings reflect popularity of different breeds among the 589,868 purebred dogs, mostly puppies, that joined the nation’s oldest dog registry last year. "The list includes the 193 breeds that the AKC recognizes — no Labradoodles, puggles, Yorkipoos or other “designer” hybrids, at least for now. Breeds sometimes get added over time. The chart also … [Read more...]

2020 Westminster Dog Show Wrap-Up

The 144th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show concluded last week with Siba a black standard poodle winning Best in Show. Siba was absolutely stunning as she glided around the ring to cheering crowds. One of the changes with the 2020 edition of the contest is that the finals were held on a Tuesday. The other Best in Show contenders were Daniel, a golden retriever, the clear crowd favorite, Conrad, the Shetland sheep dog, Vinny the wire fox terrier, … [Read more...]

Westminster Dog Show Facts and Trivia

The 144th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is about a week away. In my last post, I went over some of the basics for this year's contest. Previously, I have covered other aspects of the competition (see past posts) including a look at past winners (2019 Westminster Kennel Club & Dog Show Primer).  Today we will go over some facts and trivia to get you prepped for the big event.   DOGS DOGS EVERYWHERE The number of canines roaming the … [Read more...]

2020 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Preview

Westminster 2020 will be a little different this year. The breed judging will be spread out over three days instead of two, beginning Sunday, February 9th from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Sunday judging will include the Hound and Herding group breeds. Monday judging will include Terrier, Toy and Non-sporting. On Tuesday the Sporting and Working group breeds will be judged, followed by Best in Show. All breed judging will be done at Pier 94 this year. (Pier 92 is … [Read more...]

Favorite Dog Characters in Christmas Movies and TV

If you are like me, you will adore just about any movie or TV show that features a dog. Any scene in which a cute pup makes an entrance will immediately raise a show's enjoyability factor. And at Christmastime, there are plenty of furry friends that that tug at my heartstrings. Here are just a few of my favorite characters from XMAS-themed movies and TV shows (in no particular order)... Max: "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" … [Read more...]

Were Dogs at the First Thanksgiving?

So I was asked recently if there were dogs present at the "First Thanksgiving" in 1621 or thereabouts during the times of the Pilgrims - and it threw me for a loop. Then I sort of remembered seeing a dog in a famous painting of the harvest celebration so I had to do a little digging. Mourt's Relation Much of what we know about the Pilgrims' earliest days comes from a publication called "Mourt's Relation" written by Edward Winslow and William Bradford … [Read more...]

Halloween Costumes for Your Dog in 2019

With Halloween less than a week away, it's once again time to look at how we will be dressing up our pets for this fall holiday. According to the Halloween Spending Survey, an annual report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF), shoppers are expected to spend $8.8 billion total for Halloween in 2019 - down slightly from $9 billion last year. That's an average of $86.27. "Online search remains the top source of Halloween inspiration, cited … [Read more...]

How Owning a Dog Makes You Healthier

You might want to file this under the category of 'things every one already knows' but now there's scientific proof that sharing your life with a dog can help make you healthier. The Mayo Clinic just published a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing research that "active people generally live longer and are at less risk for serious health problems like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some cancers." [source] … [Read more...]

Emergency Preparedness For Pets

With Hurricane Dorian advancing upon Puerto Rico and heading toward Florida, now is a good time to make sure that you are prepared for a weather emergency. By the way, this year the Atlantic hurricane season began on May 20 and extends through November 30. Even if you are not currently in the storm's path or imminent danger, it is always sage advice to go through a checklist of safety tips and have a disaster plan in mind.   IMMEDIATE … [Read more...]

Why Do Dogs Love Playing Fetch?

If you have ever spent any time with a dog, you know that some of them absolutely love to play fetch! Like their two-footed counterparts, as they get on middle to senior years, the mind may say "go" but the body often says "nah, not so fast." But when their energy is high and their muscles are full of vigor, some dogs will cajole you into playing this game endlessly until either they, or most likely you, tire out. Retrievers and spaniels are especially … [Read more...]

Puppy Dog Eyes

According to newly-published research, dogs have perfected the eye brow raise by using facial muscles that are stronger than their cousins, the wolves. Over thousands of years of dog domestication, people preferred pups that could pull off that sad sack, take-care-of-me look. And that, in turn, encouraged the development of the facial muscle that creates it. "The researchers believe dogs, over their relatively short 33,000 years of domestication, used … [Read more...]

Keeping Your Dog Safe in Hot Weather

As we enjoy the last few days of spring and the torrid summer heats begins in earnest, now is the time to take extra precaution when venturing outside with your dog. While heat stroke, or hyperthermia, are always a risk for pets when left in confined area (like your car) without proper ventilation, risks abound even for the causal daily walk. Dogs who are exposed to high temperatures for long periods of time are at risk of dehydration and overheating, … [Read more...]

Basic Commands for your Dog

Having a core set of commands that your dog understands and follows is a good idea when establishing the relationship. Canines are pack animals and also look for rules to the power hierarchy. Remembering that you are always the alpha dog will help keep them both happy and safe. It is innate for the canine to want to serve or please their master. This dynamic will help keep them safe while they are young and vulnerable. And it will help keep them content … [Read more...]

Is it safe to walk your dog off leash?

I have never let my dogs off leash in a public area regardless of how safe it is. Now, that being said I have small dogs and perhaps if I had bigger dogs I would feel differently. But lately I have heard of, and experienced some troubling incidents regarding dogs allowed off leash. My nephew’s dog was recently viciously attacked by an off leash dog. He lost an ear and was terribly traumatized. A friend who occasionally lets her dog off leash in a rural … [Read more...]

Labrador Retriever Most Popular Breed Once Again

For the 28th consecutive year, the Labrador Retriever is once again the most popular breed according to the American Kennel Club registry list for 2018. Statistics were released on March 20, 2019 as AKC registration continues to expand for the sixth year in a row. Rankings were determined by tracking a year's worth of national registrations for purebred dogs. You can find out more about AKC’s dog and litter registration here. * * * * * * * Also of … [Read more...]

2019 Westminster Wrap-up; King the wire fox terrier named Best in Show

What began with over 2,800 dogs competing in the 2019 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City, culminated last Tuesday with the crowning of the Best in Show. Fittingly, a wire fox terrier named "King" (GCHB CH Kingarthur Van Foliny Home) took home the crown. It was the 15th time in the show's history that the breed had been named top dog. It also continued the dominance for terriers overall as they have won Best in Show … [Read more...]

Slugger Ready to Take a Swing at Westminster

The 143rd annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show begins next weekend. Breed judging will be held on Monday and Tuesday, February 11th and 12th. There are 2879 dogs entered and 203 different breeds represented this year. In last week's post (2019 Westminster Dog Show - A Closer Look), I wrote about how the competition works and the list of breeds participating. And before that, I presented a Dog Show Primer with a look back at past winners and a … [Read more...]

2019 Westminster Dog Show – A Closer Look

The 143rd Annual Westminster Dog Show is just two weeks away. And if you have ever wondered what goes on during the event, which dogs participate or how they determine the winners, I am about to give you a closer look. In fact, if you have Netflix, there is a wonderful series entitled "7 Days Out" and their first episode focuses on the days leading up to last year's contest. It gives an up close look at several of the furry competitors as well as their … [Read more...]

2019 Westminster Kennel Club & Dog Show Primer

The 143rd edition of the most famous dog show in the world is coming up in three weeks. The Meet & Compete Featuring the Masters Agility Championship will be held February 9th. The Masters Obedience Championship as well as the main event will begin on Monday February 11th. Here's a quick overview of the schedule, past winners and some basic facts to get you primed. We will have more information in the coming days leading up to the show. I will talk … [Read more...]

Two New Breeds to Debut at 2019 Westminster Kennel Club and Dog Show

The 143rd annual edition of the Westminster Kennel Club and Dog Show is a little over a month away. The 2019 show will be held once again in New York City on Monday & Tuesday, February 11-12. This year, two new breeds will be making their official debut in the competition. Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen (also know as "GBGV” or “Grand"), an active and never high-strung scent hound out of France known as a poor man's hunting dog, will compete in the Hound … [Read more...]

Should We Sleep With Our Dogs?

Many pet owners may secretly wonder whether they should let their dogs sleep with them at night. For some fur parents that question may never enter their mind as the resounding answer would be "Of course! Why would anyone ask such a foolish question?" Personally, I can’t imagine NOT sleeping with my dogs. When I am at home, my dogs are always with me, morning, noon and night. When I first got married, my husband worked long hours, often nights and … [Read more...]

Can Dogs Eat Turkey and Other Thanksgiving Safety Questions

The fall holiday season is well underway. Halloween with all its sugary delights is in the books. But now the real festive eating begins with Thanksgiving. So with so much food sure to be around your house during the big meal times as well as for snacks, which foods are safe and more importantly, which ones pose special dangerous to your pets? Can Dogs Eat Turkey? According to the experts with the AKC, the answer here is a resounding 'Yes' and 'No.' … [Read more...]

Top Halloween Pet Costumes for 2018

Pet lovers are going all in this Halloween with millenials, especially, taking part. “Out of the 31.3 million Americans planning to dress their pets in costumes, millennials (25-34) are most likely to dress up their pets, the highest we have seen in the history of our surveys,” according to Prosper Insights Executive Vice President of Strategy Phil Rist. 11% of all pet lovers will dress their animal in a pumpkin costume, while 7 percent will dress their … [Read more...]

What Should You Name Your Dog?

What are the rules or guidelines for naming your dog? I have always felt that dogs should have people names as opposed to “thing” names. They are, after all, members of your family, not possessions. Personally, giving them a human name makes me feel like I am showing them more respect as a living, breathing, loving creature on this Earth. My dogs all have people names. We name the stray dogs in the shelter, everyone has different ideas. I don’t know why … [Read more...]

Dogs and their Powerful Sense of Smell

With over 300 million receptors in their noses, dogs have a sense of smell one thousand times keener than humans.  This does not put them at the top of the heap. Bears, sharks, kiwi, snakes, and moths also posses superior senses of smell.  However, it is the mighty elephant which tops the sniff charts with the strongest sense of smell identified in a single species so far, a new study has found. "Published in the journal Genome Research, new data has … [Read more...]

Is Your Dog Happy?

I think my dogs are happy. They are healthy, comfortable and well fed (ok, maybe too well fed) and certainly loved! I’ve always tried to pay attention to their body language for real clues as to how they feel. Clearly they are sometimes stressed if there are guests or workers in the house. And I know they are very happy to play outside with each other and have a treat. Many times I just know they are happy and content but can't quite put into words a … [Read more...]

Do Dogs Grieve When They Lose A Companion?

A few months ago one of our older Chihuahuas passed away. She was very bonded to our other Chihuahua named Carl. They had spent their lives together from puppyhood. I always fed them together and Carl would never eat until Leeloo ate. In fact she would eat his food, picking out the good bits while he watched. Then he would eat what was left of his food and she would eat her food. They would switch back and forth until their bowls were cleaned. When she … [Read more...]

Kids and Dogs: A Parent’s Guide to Canine Body Language & Safety

One of our readers wrote in to share this thoughts after reading the post "Understanding Your Dog’s Body Language" from our archives. In that post, I discussed some of the warning signs that your dog is distressed and how to deal with displacement behaviors. Richard Cross is the editor at The Dog Clinic, and I am pleased to share his thoughts... "This is a really important topic for anyone who spends time with dogs - but it's vital for parents. I've … [Read more...]

Do Dogs Dream Like Humans?

It is generally believed that dogs dream about their everyday experiences, just like humans. Sleep allows animals to consolidate and encode memories to learn things. Dogs probably dream about their owners or about playing with other dogs. This notion is not new. More than two thousand years ago, in "The History of Animals," Aristotle wrote “It would appear that not only do men dream, but horses also, and dogs, and oxen; aye, and sheep, and goats, and … [Read more...]

How Much Do Dogs Sleep?

My dogs love a good nap.  They can also sleep all night and often keep to a schedule, which, as I do my research, is not often the case for many canines. … [Read more...]

Why ‘Dog-Speak’ Is Important in Communicating With Your Pet

Do you speak "baby-talk" with your pet?   It's that high-pitched voice with exaggerated emotion you might also have done with a human baby. Well, now researchers at York University have found that such speech interaction with your dogs improves attention and may actually help with the bonding process. I had heard about this idea before and always believed there was some truth to it, based on my own personal experiences. We use “baby voice" in the … [Read more...]

AKC’s Most Popular Dog Breeds

For the 27th year in a row, the most popular dog breed in America is once again the Labrador Retriever according to the American Kennel Club. German Shepherd Dogs still remain in second place and Golden Retrievers hang on to third place like previous years. The French Bulldog continues to increase in popularity - up two spots since the last rankings and seven rungs since 2013. Meanwhile, the German Shorthaired Pointer made its first appearance in the top … [Read more...]

Is Being An Animal Lover in Your Genes?

One of the long-asked questions regarding people and their pets is "Are animal people born that way or are they made?" My family is full of dog lovers. And I have told my kids to choose partners that love dogs. It says a lot about a person. I don’t trust people who don’t love dogs! As I detailed in my book DOG STORIES WITH HAPPY ENDINGS, I grew up around animals, so a world full of pets is the very definition of normal for me. Realizing that there … [Read more...]

Westminster 2018 Wrap-up; Flynn with the Win!

The 142nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show concluded Tuesday night with Best in Show. The lineup of Champions was really impressive, the best we have seen in years in my opinion! All the dogs really played to the crowd, bringing lots of cheers from the audience. The Sussex Spaniel, “Bean" was adorable posing for the judge and getting loud applause from the crowd. You can see his personality on display here. The winner was Flynn (GCHP CH Belle Creek's … [Read more...]

2018 Westminster Dog Show Primer

The 2018 Westiminster Kennel club and Dog show is fast approaching. My dog, GCHS Hallmark’s Sandbox Slugger at Markenhaus will be there. He is professionally handled by Jessy Sutton. “Slugger” is a smooth-coat Chihuahua. He's ranked #9 Breed and #5 All breed in the country right now. At age two, Slugger has won a best in show, reserve best in show and has multiple group placements. We are excited to see him compete, but the Chihuahua ring is super strong … [Read more...]

142nd Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

The 142nd Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is coming up in two weeks. The main event will be held Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 12-13, 2018 at Pier 92/94 in Madison Square Garden. FS1 will broadcast the Groups and Best in Show live on Monday and Tuesday evenings from 8 pm to 11 pm EST. Hounds, Toys, Non-Sporting, and Herding groups compete on Monday night. Working, Sporting, and Terrier groups as well as Best in Show will occur on Tuesday night. Other … [Read more...]

Kennel Cough in Dogs

Kennel Cough is an extremely contagious upper respiratory infection, also known as Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC) and Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis. It affects the dog’s lungs, windpipe and voice box. While it may cause many uncomfortable symptoms for most dogs, usually only young puppies, geriatric dogs, and those with comprised immune systems are at risk of its life-threatening consequences. If not treated properly, pneumonia … [Read more...]

Holiday Safety Tips for your Pet

With the holidays in full swing, there's lots of fun and excitement all around. As Andy Williams once crooned, "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!" However, in order to make sure that this festive season is both a happy and a safe one, take a few moments to view it from the perspective of your four-legged family members. What is merely a change of pace or a holiday tradition, can be a bit overwhelming for someone who stands only a foot or two off … [Read more...]

2017’s Most Popular Dog Names

The top dog names for 2017 are once again Max for boy dogs and Bella for girl dogs. Those two names have topped Rover.com's annual popularity list for each of the past five years it's been released. Rover.com Ownership Trends Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research. In addition to Max, the top names for males were Charlie, Cooper, Buddy, Jack, Rocky, Bear, Tucker, Oliver and Duke. After Bella, rounding out the top 10 for female names were Lucy, Daisy, … [Read more...]