Bark Blog

Greatest American Dog

No doubt all of us think we have the greatest American dog. I certainly do! If you'd like to watch other people and their pooches publicly vie for the official title, check out CBS's new reality game show, "Greatest American Dog." It debuts this Thursday, July 10, at 8/7pm central. Tillman the English Bulldog looks like a seriously awesome contender!

The first time I saw a Bulldog skateboard on Animal Planet's "Pet Star," I thought it was truly unique. Since then, I've seen several more skateboarding Bulldogs. What is it about this breed that makes them so good at it? As Tillman's owner says, he's "like a Lab in the shape of a pot roast." Does it have more to do with their easygoing nature and their willingness to people please? I'd love to hear your theories!

Julia Kamysz Lane

Dog Power!

Bored with the same old walks? Then you and your pup might like to try the Dog Powered Scooter and the Dog Powered Trike. They're similar to mushing, except the dogs are harnessed from behind the human driver so he can steer without worry. Architect Mark Schuette of Bend, Oregon, invented the dog scooter and trike as a way to spend more time with his dog and give him enough exercise. For a cool video demo with a Husky and a Rottie, click here.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Most Vick Dogs Get Second Chance

A team of ASPCA animal behaviorists have completed their assessments of suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick's 49 seized dogs. Of the group, only one had a history of biting people and was found to exhibit intense human aggression during the assessment, thus requiring euthanasia. The remaining 48 dogs will either go to adoptive families, a sanctuary or receive training as police dogs. As much as I believe in second chances, I truly hope that Vick does not receive the same reprieve. When will the NFL outright fire him?

Julia Kamysz Lane

Is Vick Apology Acceptable?

This past Monday, Michael Vick finally did something right off the football field. He pleaded guilty to federal charges regarding his role in a large dogfighting operation. He also offered a meandering, informal apology directed at NFL employees and children who had looked up to him as a role model.

What about the dogs whose lives he took so cruelly? And the dogs who suffered from their physical and psychological wounds? Vick categorizes what he did wrong as "immature acts." Excuse me? An immature act is a teenager shoplifting a CD, not an adult professional football player drowning, strangling and fighting dogs he deliberately bred and trained to kill each other. Does Vick honestly not know the difference? Or does he think we, the public, don't know or care about the difference?

So many questions remain: What will be the fate of Vick's dogs? Will the NFL's indefinite suspension lead to an outright firing? How much jail time will he serve? Newport News (Va.) reporter Alicia P.Q. Wittmeyer does her best to answer those questions and more.

If you're still outraged by the whole tragic situation, as am I, then please voice your concerns to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Atlanta Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino. You can also support nonprofit organizations like HSUS, the ASPCA and your local shelter, all of which strive to end dogfighting and care for its many voiceless victims.

      

Julia Kamysz Lane

What's a Pibble Doing on the Radio?

If you read my article, "Disc Drive," in the July/August 2007 issue of The Bark, you're already familiar with  bully-breed advocate Andrew "Roo" Yori and his disc-dog world champion, Wallace the Pit Bull. Roo now hosts a monthly radio show, "Pibble Talk," and his next show is at 9 p.m. central time this Sunday, August 26, 2007. Tomorrow's guests include Jon Bosak, author of a graphic novel for young readers, Demo: The Story of a Junkyard Dog, and Diane Jessup of Law Dogs USA, a non-profit group that provides trained narcotics- and explosives-detection Pit Bulls to law enforcement for free. Listeners are welcome to call in with questions and comments. 

Julia Kamysz Lane

Will NFL, Nike Do Right By Dogs?

Popular Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has been federally indicted for his alleged involvement in a dog-fighting ring on his Virginia property. According to the Washington Post, “Vick, one of the NFL's most exciting players, was charged with competitive dogfighting and conducting the venture across state lines. The 19-page indictment alleged Vick was highly involved in the operation, alleging that he attended fights and paid off bets when his dogs lost. It said he also was involved in the executions of dogs that did not perform well.”

And “executions” is not a euphemism for humane euthanasia, either. The indictment details how dogs who failed to fight were drowned, hung and in one case, electrocuted. In this light, it's shocking to think that fans admired Vick and young kids looked up to him as a role model. How could a young man with such talent and promise prove to be so cruel and heartless toward animals? It wasn't like Vick needed the money. What causes someone to do such horrific things?

ASPCA President/CEO Ed Sayres said, "Federal charges in dog fighting are extremely rare, and we applaud the authorities for giving this crime the attention it deserves.”  As dog lovers, we must demand that the NFL and Nike – which had planned to debut its latest Michael Vick-brand shoe this August – take this case just as seriously.

So what can you do? For starters, contact the NFL and Nike. Tell these highly profitable businesses why Vick deserves the boot. You can also sign a petition via the Humane Society of the United States by clicking on: NFL Petition. Lastly, consider donating money to the HSUS, which is caring for the 52 seized dogs seized from Vick's property while he awaits trial.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Walk that Dog

A recent study by the American College of Sports Medicine found that dogs owners are fitter than their dog-free counterparts and that people who walk their dogs are fitter than those who don’t. Not exactly shocking. But what I found surprising is that the study’s dog owners (in Baltimore and Seattle) spent an average of only 25 minutes per week walking their dogs and that 30 percent spent no time walking their dogs. These are the sort of results that make big pharma salivate.

Lisa Wogan

Trash = Toys?

If you obsess over the environment as much as your pup obsesses over balls, combine both of your passions with the Orbee-Tuff RecycleBALL from Planet Dog. The toy company uses leftover quality materials to create this non-toxic, 100% recycled ball. It's durable enough to outlast tough or persistent chewers. And you can bet it'll be an excellent conversation starter at the dog park!    - Julia Kamysz Lane

Camp Gone to the Dogs!

Over Memorial Day weekend, my dogs and I had the pleasure of attending Camp Dogwood about an hour northwest of Chicago. The experience was both invigorating and exhausting! We arrived Friday afternoon to find an honest-to-goodness camp setting, complete with woods, cabins, campfire circle, beach, dining hall, and plenty of bugs for the dogs to chase. I felt like a kid again!

The first night was a little rough as I was in charge of three large dogs without my husband to help. (We had signed up together but he took a new job within weeks of camp and could only get away on Sunday.) I settled in as best I could and met my roommates – seven humans and eight more dogs. That’s right, we had 11 dogs under one roof! There was little privacy or space, but I couldn’t have asked for nicer roomies, both human and canine.

They were especially accommodating of my oldest Dalmatian Darby’s wariness of new people. I asked them to please allow her to come to them rather than approach her directly and they all helped her feel at ease. The camp provides orange bandannas for anyone whose dog needs extra space or a proper introduction to people and/or other dogs. I worried that fellow campers might give Darby a wide berth or assume she was aggressive, but for the most part, people were very considerate and gave her attention on her terms.

The dogs and I didn’t sleep well that night due to a thunderstorm and an annoying emergency exit sign that kept the tiny room well lit. Plus, my dogs or my roommates' dogs barked at every little sound. For the remaining nights, I opted to commute from my house every day, which was only a 45-minute drive. I hated having spent so much money on a room I didn’t use, but getting a good night’s rest for both me and my dogs was priceless. 

Saturday and Sunday offered a full schedule of activities from which to choose. Camp instructors led seminars on aromatherapy, canine nutrition, photography, thunderstorm/firework phobia, treat-making and more. My pups enjoyed agility, beach games, dock diving, lure coursing, rally obedience, swimming, tracking, you name it! I was especially excited when Darby grew so confident during dock diving that she jumped off the pier repeatedly and whined when she had to wait for her turn.

If I had to pick my favorite activity, it was the herding clinic on Sunday morning, in part for the sheer novelty of it. (Having lived in the city or the ‘burbs, I had never seen it in person.) Any dog with a herding-breed background (purebred or mixed) was eligible for the Herding Instinct Certification (HIC) test. As far as we knew, our rescue 10-year-old Catahoula Leopard Dog, Desoto, had never even seen a sheep before, but we thought it’d at least be fun to try.

So bright and early, we joined a caravan of cars traveling to Magic's Legacy, a stockdog training farm just over the border in Genoa City, WI. Instructor Shannon Wolfe (gotta love the name!) first demonstrated herding with her amazingly quick Border Collie, Minnie. To help us fully appreciate Minnie’s talent, she then asked us humans to attempt to herd the same flock. What a mess! We had sheep running all over the place or standing stubbornly in a corner of the field. It was jaw dropping to see that 12 people couldn’t even come close to accomplishing the work of one little dog.

When it was time for the HIC tests, I felt a little nervous. Would Desoto completely ignore the sheep or would he try to eat them? The moment he entered the pen, he went into a kind of trance, crouched down and started moving the sheep. It was amazing to see him instinctively know what to do. He easily passed the HIC test and did such a marvelous job that my husband excitedly yelled out, “Good job, buddy!” which earned him a glare from the tester. (The owner is supposed to be completely silent and let the dog focus on the task at hand.) We always thought Desoto was special, but as we drove back to camp, we were simply in awe of him.

Unfortunately, my youngest Dal, Jolie, swam a little too much and sprained her tail, known to many a Lab owner as “swimmer’s tail” or “dead tail”  (Sporting Dog Health). The injury limited her activities for the remainder of camp, which was disappointing. Of course, I was relieved it wasn’t something more serious. I decided not to bring her back on Monday so she would take it easy. Knowing your dog’s physical limits was key to making the most of camp. Despite thorough safety precautions on the part of camp instructors and participants alike, dogs will be dogs; there were at least two bite incidents of which I am aware. Also, a greyhound required several stitches to his leg after taking a tumble during lure coursing, a high-speed sport.

Considering how many dogs were at camp and the number of athletic activities, I think everyone did a remarkable job of putting health and safety first.      

If you have any questions or comments about attending dog camp, please post in the “Comments” section. I'd love to hear from you! – Julia Kamysz Lane

NFL Quarterback Got Game (Dogs)

The Atlanta Falcons’ young star quarterback, Michael Vick, claims he had no knowledge of the nearly 70 pit bulls found on his property in Smithfield, Va., in connection with a drug raid last week (Sports Illustrated). Vick says the dogs -- some of whom were injured and malnourished -- and dogfighting paraphernalia belong to a cousin who lives at the home. Virginia authorities have not yet charged Vick, but the NFL is investigating his possible involvement in the dogfighting ring. Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell imploring him to ban all players who engage in this illegal bloodsport (Nashua Telegraph). Coincidentally, President Bush recently signed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, which gives law enforcement greater authority to combat animal fighting. To read Pacelle’s letter or learn more about the new law, go to HSUS. - Julia Kamysz Lane

AMERICA'S FASTEST ... CHIHUAHUA?

You read that right! Petco will hold its third annual “National Chihuahua Races” in search of the country’s fastest Chihuahua over Labor Day weekend in San Diego. Regional qualifiers kick off in Chicago on May 5, 2007, followed by races in Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and other major cities throughout the month of May. Competitors will be split into heats of 10 dogs. Each heat consists of a 35-foot dash. Regional winners will then go paw-to-paw for the national championship. To register, go to PETCO. - Julia Kamysz Lane

SPEED GENE

Scientists at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) discovered a genetic mutation that explains why some racing dogs are faster than others. According to the study, published online May 1, 2007 in PloS Genetics, one copy of the mutated myostatin gene increases muscle mass and enhances racing performance in Whippets. However, a Whippet that carries two copies of the mutated gene – known as a “bully” Whippet -- will be too bulky to race and likely euthanized by the breeder. Researchers tested 14 other breeds, including Greyhounds, Rottweilers, Bulldogs and Bull Terriers, and believe that this mutation might be limited to Whippets. Nevertheless, research team leader Elaine O. Ostrander, Ph.D., said, “Our work is the first to link athletic performance to a mutation in the myostatin gene and could have implications for competitive sports in dogs, horses and possibly even humans.” For more info, go to NHGRI. - Julia Kamysz Lane