Search Results for: AKC

AKC Canine Ambassadors

The American Kennel Club doesn’t just put on dog shows — they also work to educate people about responsible dog ownership, canine safety, and more. A part of that educational effort comes in the form of Canine Ambassadors. Canine Ambassadors are teams of dogs and owners who are members of AKC affiliated clubs. They visit schools and youth organizations — like Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups, local libraries, or the Boys and Girls Club — to make presentations. The Canine Ambassadors work closely with the club’s appointed Public Education Coordinator. Often, the PEC will help the Canine Ambassadors make … Continue reading →

About the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship

If you had your eye on Animal Planet over the weekend, you probably saw the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship broadcast. I only managed to catch the “tail” end of the show, but I did get to see the lovely German shepherd win the working dog group and the Best in Show awarded to a Sealyham terrier with lots of personality. Here are some things you might not know about the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship: The AKC (American Kennel Club) is the oldest and only not-for-profit purebred dog registry in the United States. The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship is by invitation only. The top … Continue reading →

Finding and Eradicating Pet Odors

I’ll leave scents in both obvious and hidden places Spring cleaning season might be over, but it’s never too late for some tips on how to keep your house fresh and free of pet odors. Today I have some tips on what to do if you notice unpleasant pet smells around your house. Advice for how to deal with a smelly pet is simple: if you have a pet that regularly stinks, bathe it as often as needed. If you continue to have trouble there might be a health issue, so take your pet to the veterinarian, or at least … Continue reading →

Pet Fire Safety

You may have already thought of how to integrate your pet into your fire escape plan, but what about fire safety and prevention? This summer the American Kennel Club and ADT Security Services teamed up for the third annual National Pet Fire Safety Day, releasing information and tips for putting together a pet fire safety plan. According to the National Fire Protection Association, pets cause approximately 1,000 home fires a year. Nearly all of these incidents occurred when the pet was left unattended at home. So while you might have your house as puppy-proofed as you think you need to … Continue reading →

Celebrating Mother’s Day

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This weekend is Mother’s Day, an extra special holiday for expectant mothers, many of whom are celebrating for the first time. For a little over a hundred years, families in the US have honored moms on the second Sunday of May. When you think of Mother’s Day, you automatically think of Carnations and brunch, right? Have you ever thought about alternatives to the usual festivities? Here are some ways to honor the moms in your life, with a twist. Instead of buying flowers, walk among them. Check out the botanical gardens nearest you. Bring your camera so you can take … Continue reading →

The Gap Year

Instead of going straight from school to college or opting not to go to college but into a trade, a gap year can also be a good choice. This is where the young person goes to another country and works. It not only gives them a chance to travel and see another culture but it helps give them some idea of what they want to do before they go to college or university. It helps broaden their outlook and helps them grow up. Some young people I know have gone to schools where they have become a teacher’s aide, or … Continue reading →

Dog Breed: Xoloitzcuintli

One of the most unique breeds of dogs I’ve ever seen is the Xoloitzcuintli. I wouldn’t even know how to pronounce the name… if it weren’t for catching an Animal Planet special on the breed. For the record: sho-lo-eats-quint-lee is how you pronounce it, though most folks just call them “Xolos” (sho-los). The breed is also known as the Mexican Hairless, which eliminates the pronunciation issue entirely. Like the poodle, the Xolo comes in three sizes: toy (between ten and fourteen inches at the shoulder), miniature (between fourteen and eighteen inches at the shoulder), and standard (between eighteen and twenty-three … Continue reading →

Society’s Obsession

One of the other ways we see this obsession with being forever young is people’s refusal to deal with death. For many it is the taboo topic. They don’t even want to think about their own mortality. It’s reflected in the way people try and skirt around the topic of death, by using expressions like ‘passed over,’ or ‘lost their loved one,’ etc. Once when I mentioned ‘a friend who died’ the person I was talking to, looked at me in horror as though I had said something wrong. Mick and I both tend to ‘call a spade a spade.’ … Continue reading →

What’s This about the Obamas Getting a Puppy?

Barack Obama’s win was, naturally, the talk of all the news yesterday. But of course the thing that caught my ear was the focus on how the Obamas were considering getting a puppy. The Puppy Speech I’d tried to stay awake for Obama’s victory speech Tuesday night, but instead I ended up falling asleep. I guess if I would have watched it I would have heard for myself the part where he said he was going to reward his daughters’ support and patience during the campaign with a puppy. I was surprised to hear they were considering a puppy. I … Continue reading →

Pet Kidnapping on the Rise

According to statistics from the American Kennel Club, pet kidnapping is on the rise. It’s a statistic that’s difficult to track, to be sure. Pet theft is categorized with other property theft in official police reports, so the AKC and other groups have to rely on anecdotal evidence. But law enforcement agencies agree that pet theft — especially dog theft — is higher in 2008 than in the past. In the first half of the year, the AKC caught wind of three times as many dog thefts as there were in the first half of 2007. Why steal a pet? … Continue reading →