February 7, 2008No dog left behindOne of the editors here at the newspaper forwarded this press release to me last week: 
“Beverly Hills, CA- Everyone thinks their dog is bright. Now there's a way to test whether your pooch is really a genius. The PoochIQ.com Dog Intelligence Kit is a first-of-it's-kind testing system that quantifies a dog's intelligence with proven accuracy. Using the latest techniques for evaluating dog intelligence, the PoochIQ.com Kit tests a dog's memory, persistence, problem solving and reasoning skills. After completing 15 fun-to-perform exercises, dogs are given an intelligence score between 55-150 on the PoochIQ scale, which is similar to the human IQ scale. Across the world, people are finding out if their dog is a "K9 Einstein" or "Doggy Dunce". Once they take the test, they can upload pictures of their dogs on PoochIQ.com's sister site BrightPup.com (http://www.BrightPup.com) and brag about their doggie genius. Oh sure, like any parent, you will brag if your little darling gets high marks. But what if your poodle's performance leaves a little to be desired? What if your terrier has test anxiety? What if your dog is, well, dumb? You love the big sweetie anyway, right? The quiz, by the way, costs $79.99 and according to the Web site, more than 5,300 pet parents have put their dogs to the test. I am not sure I want to know how well my happy hounds would do on a standardized test. Dexter actually flunked out of greyhound racing school, and so he's now a pet. I think that was a pretty smart move on his part. What do you think? If cost were not an object, would you test your pooch’s IQ or would you rather not know? January 7, 2008Super Bowl party poochesRound one of the NFL playoffs may be over, but there is still plenty of football to watch between now and Feb.3, the date of Super Bowl XLII. But if you want your pup to wear your team colors for the big game, you may need to rush. 
The Humane Society of the United States is selling team jerseys for dogs. The mesh jerseys bear the name of your favorite NFL city and can be personalized with your pooch's name and the number of your favorite player. So our Coral can cheer for Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in her #18 royal blue jersey, and Dexter can memorialize the great late Walter Payton in his navy blue Chicago Bears #34 jersey. I really suspect if they could choose, they would both prefer a Green Bay Packers jersey. They really love cheese. The Web site said to allow two weeks to have the jerseys customized. You will also need to allow time for shipping. So if you want your dog dressed for the big game, you may want to order this week. December 21, 2007Got you coveredThere are two universal truths I have learned about greyhounds: they run fast and they cannot resist soft furniture. So two things happen every day at our house; our two dogs will do hot laps around the backyard and when they come in from the backyard, they will head straight for the love seats, couches or our bed. While they are not prolific shedders, they are still dogs, so they do deposit hair on the upholstery and on our dry-clean-only comforter. I may have found a solution to satisfy the two- and four-leggers in my home. 
The Three Dog Night Duvet Cover from from pet-friendly vendor Orvis promises "to protect your valuable down comforter from liquids (slobber, drool or worse, I guess) dirt, hair, and sharp claws with a waterproof, breathable cover." My only concerns about this product are the limited color choices (only green or blue) and the mixed reviews on the Web site. One reviewer raved about it; one said it was not so great. They are not cheap, prices ranging from $139 for a twin size up to $179 for a king, but if they extend the life of a comforter, it may be worth the investment. I am usually satisfied with Orvis products and with their return policy, so I am considering it. This item is not available in the Roanoke Orvis stores, so you have to order it online. If anyone has tried this or a similar product, post a comment and let us know what you think. December 20, 2007Oh you sexy beast!With only a few days left until the big gift exchange, I was trolling the Internet for something new and different for the pet stockings. And what to my wandering mouse clicks did appear? Perfume for dogs. With a quick spritz, I can turn my sweet little pups into "sexy beasts." 
Sexy Beast is a fragrance created especially for dogs. The product description on Amazon says it is a blend of "bergamot and vanilla-infused musk combined with natural patchouli, mandarin and nutmeg oils." Sounds delicious, except for the patchouli, which always reminds me of Grateful Dead concerts and lava lamps. The fragrance comes in a distinctive black, bone-shaped bottle, and it is touted as hypo-allergenic with a low-alcohol formula made specifically for a dog's sensitive skin and sophisticated sense of smell. My dogs sniff butts. Not really sophisticated
When our pooches get a little smelly, we usually just give them a bath. Then they have the aroma of a fresh-cut fruit salad with undertones of vanilla ice cream and wet dog. What will Santa slide into your pets' stocking this year? December 13, 2007For the pooch on the goAccording to dogcars.com, a Web site dedicated to people who seldom leave home without their favorite canine, the best car for dog owners is....drum roll please...the 2007 Honda Element. 
The Web site has awarded its first ever "DogCar" of the Year award to the boxy SUV, giving it five out of five paws for it’s usefulness to pet families. Dr. Marty Becker and PetConnection.com blogger Gina Spadafori are the creators of the site, which is filled with content relevant to pooches and the people who chauffeur them. "Love or hate the look, no matter: The Element is as good a DogCar as could possibly be imagined." the authors posted. "From its versatile interior to its anti-nose print windows, everything about the Honda Element has dog-lovers howling with happiness. The easy-to-clean Element is a near-perfect DogCar with just the right canine chemistry." Other vehicles that got puppy props include Suzuki Forenza, the Dodge Caravan, and the Land Rover Range Rover (insert dog name joke here.) For those who want to reduce their carbon paw-print, the Ford Escape Hybrid is listed as a good choice. According to Becker and Spadafori, the essential features in pup-friendly vehicles include seats that fold flat or are easily removable, lots of usable cargo space, and locks that prevent dogs from unlocking a door or rolling down a window. We considered cargo room and the ease of loading an unloading our dogs when we choose my husband's Pontiac Torrent this summer. I drive a compact car, and we needed at least one vehicle that could tote our pups. Anti-nose print windows? Had we known that, we may have looked more closely at the Element. Did you use the Fido factor when you chose your vehicle? What canine-related features did you consider when you finally bought your doggy taxi? November 29, 2007Paw-tisian dog collars?For the politically active dog on your Christmas list, may we suggest a collar that shows your pooch's party loyalty? 
The New Hampshire Historical Society is selling needlepoint dog collars with your choice of a Democratic donkey or a Republican elephant and the state motto "Live Free or Die." For all you independent voters, or Teddy Roosevelt fans, they also offer one with a moose that simply celebrates New Hampshire, a state that has shown dogged determination to preserve it's first-in-the-nation presidential primary tradition. The collars come in four sizes and, according the Web site, were hand stitched by an Armenian women's co-op with leather work from a long-standing New Hampshire company. I noticed they do not come in the traditional blue-for-Democrats, red-for-Republicans color scheme.
Now, if my dogs could chose the next chief executive, they would want a president who could promise them unlimited ear rubbings and tummy scratchings. In that case, my husband would be the next leader of the free world. What do you think? Would you want your pooch to make a political statement? October 18, 2007A night in the parkLast night we took Dexter out for his first visit to Six Wags Dog Park in Salem. Five acres of open area to run and dozens of new friends to meet; he was in heaven. The park is located on Apperson Drive in Salem in what appears to be an old driving range behind the Pancake House. The park is fenced, so you can take your pooch off the leash and let him or her explore, run, bark, roll in the grass and just be a dog. 
First-time park visitors are asked to attend a Yappy Hour, a social test for newcomers to make sure your dog will play well with others. Yappy Hours are Wednesday nights from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 10 a.m. You will need to fill out some paperwork when you arrive. The dogs seem to have a blast running and playing, while the pet parents can meet and socialize. Dexter is a Greyhound, and even though he was clearly having fun, he tires out pretty quickly. If you have a high-energy, high-stamina dog, Six Wags is a great venue for working off that excess energy. I think this park is ideal for people and dogs that live a home without a fenced yard. I will keep you posted on upcoming events, including an off-the-leash wine tasting and doggie nutrition seminars.
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