Scratchings-and-Sniffings

2008 National Dog Show presented by Purina: Results, Videos, and more from NBC

Check out the Best in Show video from the 2008 National Dog Show presented by Purina (Thanksgiving Day - we watched a bit of it but then had to get off to an American Legion Hall cause there were 60 of us at dinner!).

There are dozens more videos of the dogs from this year's show (2008), as well as side stories about show dogs, handlers, and much more on the National Dog Show page at NBC Sports/MSNBC.

Last year, almost 20 million viewers tuned in to the show, but if you missed it this year — or just want to see your favorite again — just click on over!

Leftover Turkey

We had about fourteen friends over for Thanksgiving dinner last night. We demolished a 14 pound turkey, one cheesecake, three pies and more bottles of wine than I can mention. Add in the dressing, taters, green chile corn casserole and spinach and you can imagine no one went hungry. 

Darcie did an admirable job of keeping the floor clean. She didn't get into the cheesecake this year but she made out like a bandit with all the spills that happened in the kitchen. 

True to form, we had at least one incident that I warned against on my Wednesday post.

Turkey Day Precautions For Dogs and Cats

I'm sure you'll be watching the National Dog Show with your family (furry ones too) tomorrow. You may also be entertaining friends and family and stuffing your pie hole. Sounds a little like what we'll be doing around here too. May sneak in a little football while they do the toy breeds but tomorrow promises to be lots of fun.

One thing I won't be doing is the annual Thanksgiving mountain bike ride. You may remember what happened to me last year. The beginning of the winter of my discontent. There are a few things we need to keep in mind to make sure our dogs and cats have as much fun as we do over the holidays.

Scratchings and Sniffings Out Loud Hiking With Your Dog - Safety Issues

Welcome to a new segment of Scratchings and Sniffings Out Loud. S&S Out Loud Podcasts are where Dr. Larry and I muse on the love of pets, on nutrition, on play, and many, many other topics related to the health and welfare of cats and dogs - the furry family members.

In this segment, Dr. Larry helps us understand the safety issues we need to be aware of when we take our dog hiking - whether that be in the mountains of CO (where my daughter lives) or in a National Park such as theAdirondacks of NY. We all like to think our dogs are weather-proof, and that an afternoon hike is a fun event, but we want everyone to remember that dogs have many of the same needs humans do, when traipsing about in the great outdoors. Listen up...

Maybe you should have married your cat.

The human animal bond is a strong emotional connection. We understand it at a level those odd non-pet owner's just don't get. And, of course, there is a gender discrepancy at work, too, with the emotionally weaker sex (men) not getting it as much as women. For instance:

In a recent study involving 900 pet owners almost all the women (99%) talk to their pets. Only 95% of men will admit to having conversations with their pets. I would imagine the tone and content of those conversations varies greatly too.  

"Hey, get out of the garbage" VS "How do you think I look in these jeans"? would be my guess as to the typical discourse that takes place, depending on your gender. One thing is for certain, though. Darcie and I have the same answer to the jeans question. "You look great honey, those jeans enhance your natural beauty if that's even possible."

The Divine Pet Known as Cat

Cat lovers alive! That sounds a bit scary...as if some cat lovers, somewhere, weren't alive. But, that's now what I mean, nor what this post is about. It's about a history of cats. And how they're as much a part of the family as...the dog.

I have a friend who loves animals but thinks cats are too uppity. She dotes on her dog as if the dog is a treasured famiy member (and the dog is, of course, treasured) but when it comes to cats, she shrugs and says, "They're not cuddly."

I have to roll my eyes and say, "Oh, my dear friend, I beg to differ. SOME cats are not cuddly (and even those cats have favs they will curl up with) but not ALL cats fit into that category."

PawsWay Pet Discovery Centre

Our Canadian friends just north of the border (from me) offered this fun note about a new pet centre that opened in Tornot, last June. I thought it was worth a whole post of its own. Enjoy.

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Hi, bloggers, I thought you might interested in this new unique venue in Toronto -yes up North in Canada! Anyway here it is:

Toronto goes to the dogs - and cats! - at PawsWay: Canada's first Pet Discovery Centre opened  its doors last summer in Toronto, ON -

"Be polite and keep sniffing to a minimum. Promise not to bark to the point of being rude. Be friendly, but not too friendly." Unusual guidelines perhaps when entering most buildings; but then PawsWay, a first of its kind centre devoted completely to pets, is not your average building. Having opened its doors on June 21st, PawsWay Pet Discovery Centre offers a unique, pet-friendly destination where everyone can learn, play and celebrate their favourite four-legged friends.

Update on Alice

Alice is doing much better as of my last conversation with Phil and Martha. As of our last visit Alice was still in the hospital. She has been home now for a couple of weeks, she's eating (an expensive vet diet) and gaining weight.

She's been on antibiotics and corticosteroids since she got home and she'll start tapering off the corticosteroids this week.

 

The results of the intestinal biopsies are in and as we expected she has some of the histological signs of inflammatory bowel disease. What we don't know yet is what set up the inflammatory process in the first place. Her veterinarian thinks she may have a food allergy.

National Dog Show Presented by Purina on Thanksgiving Day

One of the perks of being a blogger connected to Purina, is being able to also connect with other great dog and cat lovers. Just last week I was able to be part of a conference call about the National Dog Show presented by Purina, and hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. This cutie is from Best in Show of '07.

The hosts of the show, David Frei, an AKC-licensed judge, and John O'Hurley (yep, that would be Peterman from Seinfeld) talked about their participation and shared some stories with us. Also on the call were Carol Janson and Sharon Penosa, of NBC, the station that will broadcast the entire Dog Show on Thanksgiving Day at noon.  

The discussion last a good long time so I can only share a small amount with you, but...I wanted to be able to share their thoughts on the first puppy, so to speak.

Meow! The Cats in the UK Speak Up

Thanks to Vikki Clarke I discovered this neat new site on How to Start a Cattery. I've always wondered about brave folks who keep cats in herds, so to speak. (I know, the cat people are going to write and yell at me; I apologize in advance...but that's what comes to mind when I think of a cattery) The purpose here is to board cats, not raise them.

I've only ever had two cats at a time. Maggie, my delightful daughter from Buffalo, has 3 cats (this is Booger and don't ask...I do not know how they came up with that name for him!) and I think she'd have more but they are at their limit with space and finances. Back in the day, I worked at the Cat Hospital here in Rochester and we helped a delightful woman who rescued cats. She had... dozens of the funny little furballs. I do not even remember how many she had. She was a saint! (btw, the Cat Doctor, herself, had 5!)

Wabby is pretty solitary and I wonder what she'd do if I brought a kitten, or a full-grown cat, home to keep her company. She'd likely be annoyed. When Maggie visits with her brood, Wabby sits on our bed and surveys their antics but refuses to have anything to do with them.

I'm not ready for a new Carmie - Carmie was so much a fixture here, and I still see her everywhere in the house and feel her presence here (like right now, I could swear she just sat up in her bed to look at me, as if she knows I'm writing about her), so...no new dogs, yet.