Neville Update

This Wednesday will mark Neville's 6th week as our foster dog and this past week and weekend have been big for him. 

It started last Sunday when he was in Nosework with me and he started doing his bucking bronco play run during an off leash search.  He only does that when he is comfortable, so to see him do it in front of several people was a big deal.  Then on Tuesday night in class with Adam, he started to come out of his shell with the other people in class and the helpers by approaching them and sniffing.  That is such a big step for him.  He also got fitted with a K-9 Bridal (a head halter, very similar to the Gentle Leader, but the leash attachment is behind the head instead of under the chin), over the past few days I have gotten him walking in that and it has really improved things for him.  It is much easier to walk him and he seems to relax a bit more with it.

Then came Wednesday.  This is the day that Adam left for New York for a week.  I could see that Neville was anxious when Adam did not get back into the car at the airport and every morning since he goes on his search for him.  When we get up, I let him out of his crate and the first thing he does is run to the bedroom and look on the bed, when he doesn't see Adam there, he runs to the bathroom and then back out to me.  Normally, I will let him out in the morning and he will run to the bedroom or bathroom to say hello to Adam, so seeing him search for him is very cute but a little sad.  It will be interesting to see how Neville reacts to Adam when he returns this Wednesday.

Thursday was another big night for Neville, he made me so proud.  I volunteer with Penny Scott-Fox on Thursday's for both puppy class and CGC/TDI, so I brought Neville with me to class since Adam wasn't at home.  We are preparing the class for the CGC test and part of that is meeting a strange dog and since Neville is great with other dogs, we thought he would be the perfect subject to prepare the class.  He was so good!  He listened to me with every command and was perfect with the other dogs.  But the surprise was him approaching and saying hello to a few of the people in class.  There was one woman that he walked right up to and rubbed against like he had known forever, it was really amazing.

Saturday was a fun night, I had people over to my house for a dinner party.  There were 6 of us total and Neville had met everyone except two people.  Since Neville does better with other dogs, I had them bring their dog with them.  It took Neville about an hour before he ventured out of the crate, but he did and then he played with the other dog a bit.  However, he really wanted to say hi to the people.  He sniffed everyone under the table, he needed to still have some shelter, but he was being so brave!  I couldn't have been more proud.

Finally, Sunday was here and it was time for the DOG BEACH!  I went with a couple of friends and their dogs to the dog beach in Long Beach.  It was a blast!  I started out with Neville on a long line and it was very clear this was going to be a hazard, so I let him off leash entirely.  I think my heart stopped for a moment because he took off in a dead run away from me.  I took a few steps in his direction and called him and there was no response, I thought for sure he would just keep running, but when he got to a certain point he came back.  He continued to run and get it out, but he never let me get out of his sight.  Before long he got into the groove with the other dogs we came with and attached himself to his new chocolate lab friend Zoe.  Everywhere she went Neville followed, even into the water!  We had lots of balls we were throwing, but Neville didn't want to pick them up, though he loved running after them.  We ended up throwing a frisbee and that is what Neville liked.  He ran after it, picked it up (after some encouragement) and then did the most amazing victory lap (or three).  He was so proud of himself.  By the end, he was exhausted and so was I!

Neville, Rocco, Zoe

It was such a fun weekend and the steps Neville took just continued to inspire me.  He is becoming more and more brave with each day.  

For more on Bark & Clark, bark on the link: 

Happy Fun Friday

It is Friday!  I feel like this has been a long week, not bad, just long.  I am happy the weekend is here, I have some really fun plans for me and Neville, this will be his first trip to the doggie beach.  I will make sure to get lots of pictures and tell you all about it next week.

For today, I had to share this video with you.  It is actually an infomercial for a doggie snuggie that someone sent to me and I found it rather amusing.  I love infomercials and all the dramatic re-enactments of regular tasks, watch the putting on of "traditional dog sweaters" compared to putting on the snuggie.  It really made me laugh.  The older woman knitting wearing her snuggie with her dog in a doggie snuggie was a pretty funny image as well.

I hope you all enjoy your Friday, you weekend and of course this amusing video.

PetSmart Settles Dog Poop Slip-and-Injure Case

It was about a year ago when we first heard of this case against PetSmart.  Robert W. Holloway slipped on a pile of dog feces that he claims was "not visible" on his way to the treats isle in a VA store.  The lawsuit was claiming that the employees of the store were negligent because they failed to scoop the poop.  Holloway states "Upon slipping in the feces, I grabbed a hold of my daughter forcefully and wrenched my back.  The dog feces in question was not open and obvious."

Yesterday PetSmart finally settled this suit, the details are not disclosed but the suit was for $1 million.  PetSmart denied any wrongdoing and said Holloway did not fall down and was not injured as a result of slipping.  The store's attorney also said in a court filing that an employee was on her way to clean up the mess.

I guess what we can all take away from this is yet another lesson on what to do when our pooches have to go... CLEAN IT UP!  I feel for PetSmart because even though the store allows animals into the store (why wouldn't they?) that does not mean that we as owners get a free pass on our duties.  Of course, there is a possibility that the person didn't have a bag on them and they notified the store asap and did all they could.  But there is that cynical side of me that really doubts that.  I see it all the time when I am in stores that allow animals or even in my obedience classes.  The dog goes pee or poop and the owners act as if it is not their responsibility to do anything about it.  If it is in my class, I honestly don't mind cleaning it up, but it is at least a nice gesture to offer to clean it yourself.  I know that in times I've been in that situation, I have always cleaned up after my dog.  Now I will for certain, when the companies stop paying, I believe the owners will be the next in line to be sued for such incidents. The best practice is to just clean it yourself or stick around until someone gets there and keep everyone else out of it.

For more information about the PetSmart suit, bark on the link:  Bark!

2011 Downtowners Of Distinction Awards

Yesterday evening I had the pleasure and honor of attending the 2011 Downtowners of Distinction Awards.  This was my first year to attend and I had no idea as to what to expect.  To be perfectly honest, in anticipation of going I was most looking forward to seeing the inside of the Los Angeles Athletic Club.  I am happy to say that though it was an amazing building to see, it was not the highlight of the evening.  

This event was packed with all the who's who in Downtown LA.  The people that build our city, the ones that inspire our spirit and a lot of people that show their support day in and day out.  The whole thing was put on by the Downtown News and I must take my hat off to them, they know how to throw an awards reception!  The food was fantastic, the drinks flowed and the mingling was perfect.  I was so pleased to get to catch up with the people I know but so rarely see and very happy to meet some new fantastic people.

After just the right amount of social time it was onto the awards.  I have to say, I was inspired and proud of everyone accepting their honors.  It is nice to be reminded that Downtown is young and this growing and developing city has so much potential and there are some amazing people bringing innovative ideas to the table to continue it's growth and development.  Last night really opened my eyes to all the work that is going into the rebuilding of this city.  It also opened my eyes to what a special community we have and how supportive we all can be of one another.

I would like to say congratulations to all the winners, you represent us well and we appreciate your commitment and hard work!

Following, in alphabetical order by district, are this year’s Downtowners of Distinction winners and a brief explanation of why they were selected.

Arts District

Winner: Factory Place Arts Complex

When developer Howard Klein opened the $10 million Factory Place Arts Complex, he was mixing the new with the very old. The collection of 51 apartments at 1291-1333 E. Sixth St. activated an off-the-beaten track portion of the Arts District, and gave new life to a batch of buildings whose history dates to the early 20th century. Factory Place was one of the few housing projects to debut in the Arts District during 2010, and its open space and communal aspects provide a comfortable feel in a community still known more for creative life behind closed doors. The project provides a new opportunity in city living, and creates a new batch of patrons for area businesses and restaurants.

Central City East

Winner: Central City Recovery Zone

In April, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich announced the Central City Recovery Zone, a groundbreaking effort to crack down on drug dealers in Skid Row. In this new approach to a troubling and complicated issue, Trutanich sought to put into effect an injunction that would prevent known dealers from coming into the community, reasoning that people on the list — most of whom hail from outside Downtown — are preying on and exploiting addicts by selling crack, heroin and other drugs. The effort required months of prep work, but it paid off: In November, a judge approved the first part of the injunction. In fact, the widely praised move had an impact long before the judge’s OK: Shortly after Trutanich’s announcement, many of the dealers felt the heat and fled the area.

Chinatown

Winner: Chinatown Summer Nights

Chinatown stakeholders have long sought to raise the community’s profile and lure new customers and restaurant patrons. During August, they did just that. Every Saturday night for a month, the Summer Nights Program filled Central and West plazas with DJs, food trucks, art programs, cooking lessons and more. The streets were alive until midnight and crowds came, everyone from swing dancing couples to families pushing strollers. Though limited in terms of time, the effort, launched with the help of the Community Redevelopment Agency, reminded people of all that Chinatown has to offer, and laid the groundwork for visitors to return throughout the year.

Figueroa Corridor (Tie)

Winners: California Science Center Expansion/

University Gateway

The March opening of Ecosystems, an exhibit that is part of the California Science Center’s $165 million expansion, did exactly what it was supposed to do: It made science cool. But it had a greater effect: It injected new life into the Exposition Park museum. The institution’s 170,000-square-foot expansion is expected to boost attendance by about 25%. The upgrades are first class, with eight zones exploring different parts of the planet, including a 188,000-gallon aquarium that thrills kids. Bringing more field trips and families to the museum also increases attention on the other cultural resources in Exposition Park.

The housing complex University Gateway reaches a different kind of student — those in college. Developer Urban Partners opened the long-awaited project in August, providing 400 units and 1,600 beds to an area that is vastly underserved in terms of student housing. The $200 million development, which includes more than 80,000 square feet of retail space, instantly changed the northern entryway to USC. It also adds another anchor to the southern tip of the Figueroa Corridor, and increases the connectivity with the heart of Downtown. This project was complicated from the beginning, but Urban Partners never backed down, even when legal hurdles pushed construction back several years.

Financial District

Winner: Three Charity/Community Events:

Stair Climb to the Top

Hope for Firefighters

Public Safety Appreciation BBQ

Downtown’s concentration of businesses has long made the area a hub for philanthropy and community events. Three especially stand out by engaging the neighborhood and aiding worthy causes. Every September, the Ketchum Downtown YMCA stages the Stair Climb to the Top. It brings thousands of people to U.S. Bank Tower, where they try to climb the 1,500 steps in the tallest building west of the Mississippi. It’s exhausting (the slogan is “Elevators Are for Wimps”), but all that stepping pays off: The 2010 event, the 17th in the series, raised $340,000 for local youth and teen programs.

Also drawing crowds is June’s Hope for Firefighters, which raises money for the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association’s Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firemen’s Fund. The gathering — 2010 marked the 13th installment — annually generates about $125,000. It does so in a fun way, as area businesses take part in traditional firefighter muster games — picture attorneys trying to handle a fire hose — while others among the crowd of 15,000 sample the chili, tri-tip and other culinary offerings prepared by participating fire houses.

Also paying heed to firefighters, and many others who take risks to help Angelenos, is the L.A. County Public Safety Officers Annual Appreciation Barbecue. The 11-year-old event organized by the Downtown Center Business Improvement District takes place in October and gives firefighters, LAPD and Sheriff’s Department employees (and other county public safety workers) something everyone wants: a free, hearty lunch. The rest of the population pays, with funds going to the Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation, which supports families who experience financial difficulty due to death, injury or illness.

Historic Core

Winner: Medallion

Many gasped a few years ago when developer Saeed Farkhondepour halted construction on the Medall­ion. Fortunately, that was only a blip, and in August Farkhondepour introduced the complex that has changed the look and feel of the northern part of the Historic Core. With 96 apartments and more than 200 retail spaces, the project extends the residential momentum of the Old Bank District while also connecting to the Toy District and the Civic Center. The $125 million development on Fourth Street between Main and Los Angeles streets not only has homes and businesses, but also offers a plaza for community events and something rarely seen in the Historic Core: green grass.

Little Tokyo

Winner: Lazy Ox Canteen

Many restaurants have opened in Downtown in recent years, with mixed results. One unquestioned hit is the Lazy Ox Canteen. The restaurant at 241 S. San Pedro St., on the ground floor of the Sakura Crossing apartment complex, has been praised by, well, almost everyone. Chef Josef Centeno’s small plates menu features unusual, inventive and downright delicious offerings such as pig’s ear, caramelized cauliflower and even lamb’s neck hash. The crowds swarm — the casual joint with oversized light bulbs and plenty of wines by the glass was packed at 6:15 on a recent Sunday evening. The establishment from owner Michael Cardenas brings foodies to Little Tokyo, and once they finish a meal (or while waiting for it), they have a chance to take in the charms of the neighborhood.

Seventh Street Corridor

Winner: Emergence of Restaurant Row

Call it the Bottega Louie effect: The debut two years ago of the loud, cavernous restaurant has opened the culinary floodgates on Seventh Street, helping the corridor reach its long-desired potential of becoming Downtown’s “restaurant row.” The idea was proffered several years ago by the Downtown Center Business Improvement District, but only came into its own in the past year or so. New additions include the heralded sushi establishment Sugarfish, up-market Thai emporium Soi 7, and the instantly popular Mexican eatery Mas Malo (shown here). The action creates jobs, generates tax revenue and, more than anything else, makes this stretch come alive seven nights a week.

South Park

Winner: Ritz-Carlton/J.W. Marriott Hotel

It is difficult to overestimate the impact that the $900 million project developed by Anschutz Entertainment Group has had on Downtown. The 54-story edifice has changed the community’s skyline, and the 1,001 hotel rooms have kick-started the city’s stalled convention business, luring lucrative business gatherings that L.A. was previously incapable of securing. It is actually two hotels in one: An 878-room J.W. Marriott opened in February, and the 123-room Ritz-Carlton debuted a few weeks later. The project at L.A. Live provides customers for the theaters and restaurants at that complex, but also funnels people to businesses all across Downtown.

For more information on the Awards, bark on the link:  Bark!

Dog Rescued From Icy Pond

Only a few short years ago I got a call from my parents telling me that they and a neighbor and a few firemen rescued two of their horses from their icy pond.  I thought that story was quite amazing and ever since I always pay special attention during the winter months because there is sure to be a few animal rescues out of frozen ponds and lakes.  This story is even more amazing because it is dealing with rescuing a 13-year-old dog.

His name is Boo and he was going to spend the weekend at "grandma's" house, in Delaware, while his owners went on a trip.  Boo ventured out around the community lake that he likes to walk around leash free.  For whatever reason on this day Boo did not stick to the solid land, he decided to go out on the thin ice. Grandma heard his barks for help and a neighbor called 911.  In no time the firemen were there and making their way through the icy lake on a rowboat and armed with axes to bust through the ice.  Boo was plucked out of the ice with no injuries.  Once he warmed up, Boo was a happy guy.  

For the full story, watch the video below.

For the original story, bark on the link:  Bark!

All-Star Weekend

If you plan on going near L.A. Live or the Staples Center this weekend you should be warned it is All-Star Weekend and the crowds that come with it have already started.  It will be a big weekend for Downtown businesses, especially the ones in the South Park District.  

If you are interested in joining the fun, here are a few of the events that will be going on starting today and going through Monday.

NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas –
February 18-21 • Get tickets at Ticketmaster.com
BBVA NBA All-Star Celebrity Game –
February 18 @ 4:15pm
T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam –
February 18 @ 6pm
NBA All-Star FIT Run, Walk and Dribble –
February 19 @ 8am • Register at NBAAllStar5k.com
NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm – February 19 @ 5pm
NBA All-Star Game – February 20 @ 5pm 

For more information or a list of more activities, bark on the link:  Bark!

Not So Helpful Dog...

Dobrin's Dog

Thank you Dogster for bringing us this funny but real story!  I am always going on and on about how amazing our dogs are and the brilliant ways they help us and even save us.  So when I read this I couldn't help but laugh, though it is not that funny, at least not for the dog's owner... the sheriff on the other hand I am sure had a good time with it.

In Oregon a man, Joe Dobrin, and his Pit Bull were driving down the road when the flashing lights of a sheriff car appeared in the review mirror.  Feeling a panic Dobrin stuffed his marijuana and hasish stash in a stock.  This looked like a fun game to Dobrin's dog and so he engaged his owner in a game of tug.  Unfortunately for Dobrin, the dog won and flung the stock out the window right in front of the sheriff.

Dobrin was charged with possession of the drugs, and his dog got high praises from law enforcement. “I wish everyone traveled with their own personal drug dog. It sure would make our job easier,” said Sherman County Sheriff Brad Lohrey.

For more on this story, bark on the link:  Bark!

Neville Update

Sweet Neville has been very busy and working very hard on getting better.  Each day that passes he comes out of his shell little by little.  His walking on a loose leash is getting much better, he really only pulls when there is someone right behind him or he will swing out if a cart or rolling trash can passes by.  These are his two biggest issues, so I am very pleased with this progress.  He is able to sit and let the people or things on wheels pass, which again is great progress. 

His bonding with Adam has highs and lows, there are days he really doesn't want to go to him when he calls or he won't want to go on a walk with Adam without me.  He does always do it in the end, but there is a hesitance that I am trying to get him over.  He is able to eat from Adam's hand, I have removed myself from this pleasure to help the bonding process between them.  Last night they started their class together, this picture below is of the two of them about to head out the door together for class.  Neville of course did great.  He hid under the chair for a little bit, but found his brave heart and sat right beside Adam for the rest of the class and by the end he even found enough courage to sniff the male neighbor in class sitting beside him. 

This past weekend was a big one for Neville!  In addition to tagging along for my class on Saturday, he accompanied us with my friend and her dog to a Splash Dog's event at Bass Pro.  The event was a lot of fun and since Neville doesn't have any dog issues, he did great.  Since we were at Bass Pro, I thought why not take him in the store.  He did SO well.  I was distracted by all there was to see, so I can only imagine how mind blowing it was for Neville, but he walked beside me and really only pulled when we went up the stairs.  We then went back to my friend's house where he ran around and around and around the back yard.  He was bucking and kicking in the air and just had a blast.  Needless to say, he slept the whole way home and then the rest of the night.

Sunday Neville and I started our Nosework class, it was amazing.  I have been on the instruction end of Nosework for over 2 years and I have seen it's healing power with fearful dogs, but to be on this end is truly amazing.  I thought that Neville would have a hard time with so many strangers in the room, but he was a natural!  He had no problem putting his nose in the box to get his food and he had no issues working in front of all those strangers, even when they clapped their hands and cheered for him.

After class I took him to my two male friends' house who has a dog that Neville has met before.  This was a big deal because one of my friend's he had not met before and since he is male I knew this would be hard.  But having the dog there really helped!  I was so proud of the progress that day, within a few minutes he was investigating my friend and by an hour in he was feeding him treats.  It was a terrific day!

Finally, I get so many questions about this, how is the relationship between my cat, Cowboy and Neville going?  Great!  They don't hang out, but sometimes they sun themselves together and they do engage in the chase game.  Every so often you will catch one sniffing the other and the other day I even caught Neville licking Cowboy and no one lost an eye.

Overall, it is going as well as I could expect and I think it will only get better from here.  Stay tuned for more updates to come.

If you have a shy or fearful dog and need help, give us a bark!

Hungry?

I am such a huge fan of food trucks!  When they are near I always want to know because that becomes my lunch or dinner.  I know that is a great way to put back on the pounds I have worked so hard to loose, but, everything in moderation right?  Well,  I am very happy about the Ernst & Young Plaza at 7th & Fig continuing to host the Tuesday lunch Food Trucks!  They will be in the plaza today from 11am - 2pm.  Some of the options there include Canter’s, which is known for their sandwiches, Greasy Wiener, which will be serving hot dogs and curly fries and White Rabbit Truck, a Filipino fusion food option.
 

No Jodas, a Cuban food truck will be at L.A. Mart (1933 S. Broadway Ave.) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Food trucks change daily so check socalmfva.com for details.

Happy eating everyone!

Need training for your dog... give us a bark!  Bark!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  I published all the cool things to do Downtown last week, so I hope you got your reservations in or at least were able to plan out your perfect evening no matter if you have a date or doing it up single style.  There is a lot to do and many ways to have fun, but today I want to focus on giving you ideas on how to really feel the love.  

I have quite a few single friends and this day seems to bring the worst feelings out about love or being in love.  For myself and other friends in a relationship we see it as a made up holiday.  Then I have a small group of friends that think today is the greatest and can't wait to do the whole thing flowers, dinner, romance... the works.  But no matter what your view of Valentine's Day, there is one universal way to feel like you are giving love and you will certainly feel that love returned.  Help a shelter, rescue or pet in need.

That is right, if you want to really celebrate today, take on a Valentine that will always appreciate and love you, a special pet in your life.  There are so many pets that need our help, and between us all, we can.  Adopt or foster a pet from a local shelter or rescue, give a donation to a worthy pet cause, or volunteer at a rescue or shelter.  You could even just go visit a shelter to give some special love to the pets that so need it.

If you need some help on figuring out where to go or how to help, I have put together some ideas below:

1.  Contact my pals at the Mutt Scouts', they always need help and the work they do is amazing!  The Mutt Scouts'

2.  Donate to help the needy pets in Egypt, this article will tell you everything you need to know. Egypt's Pets

3.  Send a virtual Valentine's card that will help pets in need.  Best Friends

4.  Contact your local shelter to help in any way you can.  Volunteer

If you have a pet at home, don't forget to give them a kiss and hug today.  Spend some extra time loving them and if you can swing it, check out Pussy & Pooch (213-438-0900) for their Valentine Spa Treatment.

Happy Valentine's Day, make it a good one.

Weekend Fun

Happy Friday everyone!  If your week has been as long as mine has, I'm sure you are happy the weekend is here.  Even for those of us that have to work, I always feel that the weekend holds a different vibe than the normal Monday - Friday grind we get into.
Since this is the weekend before Valentine's Day, I'm sure there are lots of dates happening.  If you haven't figured out what to do, maybe this will help you.

Looking for something for you and doggie?  I would head over to Pussy & Pooch and hit up the Bathhouse special they have.  It is a full spa treatment for your pooch!  Get that doggie clean and pretty and then treat them to a dish from the paw bar.  Contact Pussy & Pooch for the details... 213.438.0900

Okay, onto the human dates...

There are all sorts of restaurants with great deals for the weekend.  No matter what cuisine you are in the mood for, there is a restaurant for you.  Check out this list of fabulous Downtown restaurants and find the perfect dining place for you and your Valentine.

Still not sure you found what you are looking for?  Well, don't forget about DowntownLA.com's 5 Ways to Fall in Love.  There are great ideas here, everything from gifts to proposal spots.  If you are looking for a romance Downtown, this list will have it. 

Whatever you choose to do or whether you choose to celebrate this occasion or not, have an amazing weekend!  If you have a pet, make sure you give them a little extra love and do forget to enjoy the fun they bring to your lives.

Pooch Parade Fun!

Last night was the Love Your Dog Pooch Parade and I could not have asked for it to go any better.  We ended up with a great group of dogs and a lot of fun people. 

Pussy & Pooch really made our night with their helpfulness and yummy treats! 

The streets of Downtown were alive and full of people making our distractions that much more of a challenge.  But all of the owners really worked through it commanding their dog's attention and showing them amazing amounts of love. 

Finally it all ended at Portofino's, where Diego took care of us once again.  The appetizers were great, but nothing could top the cheesecake!
All in all we had a great time, the dogs all did great and there was lots of laughs and conversation at the end.

Thank you all that attended, I can't wait for our next one on April 6th!  Keep your eye on this blog for all the details to come.

Chinese New Year

I know I am little late with this as the actual Chinese New Year was February 3rd, but I thought it would be a fun bit for this hump day.   As I prepare for the Pooch Parade tonight, I need a little fun to inspire me.
So this is the year of the Rabbit!  According to Petside.com "the year of the rabbit, along with the people born in it, tends to be lucky and peaceful.  People born during this year are said to be sensitive, conservative, compassionate, intelligent, and enjoy being around family and friends however, they can also be moody, detached, and self-indulgent."
"Also considered serene and diplomatic, rabbits prefer to avoid conflict and stay far from aggressive and competitive situations. Rather shy and soft-spoken, rabbits are sometimes considered pushovers, but still, are good friends, gracious, and have lady luck on their side."
I always had rabbits as a child, they were one of my favorite animals on the farm!  They were all very good friends, but not all were that shy.   I had a couple of rather assertive rabbits and quite frankly a little dog like in their behavior. What fun they all were!

To get back to the Chinese New Year, below is the list of all the Chinese Zodiac Signs from Petside.com, find yours...


Find out which animal you are and check out it's character attributes, below. What do you think? Does your dog, rabbit, or pet rat fit these characteristics? Do you think you share the personality traits of your sign?
Rat: Forthright, intense, meticulous, charismatic, quick-witted, intellectual, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, artistic, and shrewd. Can be manipulative, vindictive, self-destructive, envious, tenacious, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, and scheming.
Ox: Dependable, steadfast, hardworking, good-natured, conventional, patient, calm, a leader. Can be stubborn, dogmatic, hot-tempered, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.
Tiger: Brave, adventurous, affectionate, ferocious, authoritative, unpredictable, passionate, warm-hearted. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish, aggressive, moody.
Rabbit: see above.
Dragon: Energetic, warm-hearted, charismatic, visionary leader, decisive, noble, passionate, generous, and lucky at love. Can be egotistical, tactless, demanding, violent, tyrannical, and brash.
Snake: Seductive, introverted, generous, charming, good with money, analytical, smart, rely on gut feelings, hardworking, and graceful. Can be cold, insecure, jealous, and slightly dangerous
Horse: Energetic, self-reliant, talkative, popular, intelligent, astute, seductive, changeable, and open-minded. Can be impatient, a drifter, childish, anxious, gullible and rude.
Ram: Gentle-hearted, loving, sincere, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, maternal, and generous. Can be unorganized, high-strung, insecure, and anxiety-ridden, needing a lot of love, support, and reassurance.
Monkey: Fun, versatile, energetic, upbeat, inquisitive, inventive, sociable, artistic, and clever. Can be unpredictable, egotistical, selfish, arrogant, and lack self-control.
Rooster: Frank, clever, wryly humorous, neat, meticulous, practical, honest and conservative. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, proud, opinionated, given to empty bravado.
Dog: Loyal, strong sense of justice and fair play, intelligent, open-minded, idealistic, practical, sensitive, temperamental, and sociable. Can be cynical, pessimistic, stubborn, and a worrier.
Pig: Honest, good-hearted, genuine, friendly, well mannered, intelligent, passionate, and perfectionist. Can be materialistic, self-indulgent, and exclusive.

To read more about the Chinese New Year, bark on the link:  Bark!

Want to know more about the Pooch Parade, bark on the link:  Bark!

Disturbing Video Of Dog Being Adandoned At Shelter

I saw this on Dogster this morning and decided I would share it with all of you.  I will not lie, this is really disturbing video.  I think for me the most disturbing part is that the owner could let their dog get to this point.  You never want an owner to surrender a animal to a shelter, in a perfect world everyone that owned animals would be able to care for them properly and all would be happy.  But the fact is, that is not the world we live in, so the next best hope would be that if an owner must surrender their animal, they do so in a way that is the least stressful for the animal and most helpful to the shelter.  Meaning surrendering the animal to a staff member and giving the full history (or what they have) of the animal.  But once again, that is not the case most of the time. 

This video was captured in by CCTV at the Wood Green Animal Shelter in Great Britain.  What you will see if you choose to watch is a man walking in the gates of the shelter with a very emaciated and scared dog.  The assumed owner then tethers the dog to a drain pipe and then leaves with a glance back over his shoulder.  You then see the dog try to follow and then try to free herself.

A staff member who arrived for work found this 4-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix and took her inside.  The staff gave her the name Honey and say she is very sweet, but very scared.  In addition to the emaciation (she was 10kg, half of her ideal weight) she also had very painful sores on her back legs.  These are thought to be caused from her being kept outside.

Honey was transferred to Godmanchester Shelter and given a warm kennel with lots of blankets and a special diet to help her gain weight.

In January alone the Green Animal Shelter Charity took in 354 animals.  Not all animals get the chance to find a loving home, but we wish Honey the best, I hope she finds a home that will love and care for her.  Our fingers are crossed.

If you wish to watch the video, you can view it below:

To read more on the story, bark on the link:  Bark!

Dogs In Super Bowl Commercials

Of course my favorite commercials from the big game yesterday had dogs as their stars.  To be honest I didn't see the whole game, so I guess I should say these are my favorites of what I saw.  But based on all the Facebook and Twitter updates, I don't think I missed too much.

I loved the Bud Light party with the dogs as the "staff".  I think anytime you see dogs put in human situations it is very amusing.  It also helped that all of the dogs were just adorable!

But my absolute favorite was the Pug attack from the Doritos commercial.  It is just silly and the fact that they used a pug make it even that much more funny.  Since this got a laugh out of me yesterday, I thought I would share it with you this morning.  I hope you find it entertaining and it gets your week started off on a good note.

To find out more about Bark & Clark, bark on the link:  Bark!

And The Winner Is...

At the beginning of the week we opened up a free raffle for a spot in our Love Your Dog Valentine Pooch Parade.  I would like to first thank all of the people that took their time to send in your dogs picture and reason why they are so lovable for the raffle.  It was so much fun seeing all of those pictures everyone has such beautiful dogs!

Without further ado, the winner of the free spot in the Love Your Dog Pooch Parade, February 9th @ 7pm is:

Kelly Ann Thuet with her pooch Kouga! 

Congratulations!

All the details will be sent to you directly by Monday evening, February 7th.

Again I would like to thank everyone who entered.  Even though there can only be one winner of this raffle, there are still a couple of spots left if you wish to RSVP for the Pooch Parade.

Have a fun and safe weekend, don't forget to love your dog.

For more information on the Pooch Parade, bark on the link:  Bark!

What's Up Downtown - February

WOW!  That was January, we are now into February and going strong.  There is a lot happening this month, lots of fun to be had.  What's Up Downtown - February has a lot to offer this month, great ideas on how to say "I love you", sporting events you don't want to miss, performances that are one of a kind and of course our very own Valentine Pooch Parade.  Don't forget to try out the new restaurants and market in town.

Whatever you are looking to do, I'm sure you will find it Downtown. 

To view the What's Up Downtown-February, bark on the link:  Bark!

To RSVP for the Pooch Parade, bark on the link:  Bark!

Help For Dogs In Detroit

When I think of Detroit, I knew it was a city in trouble, a city becoming a shell of what it was.  But I had no idea how bad it was.  A good friend forwarded me the video below last night and it really got to me.  The situation is dire with 70,000 abandoned buildings and people obviously fleeing the city... but apparently they are leaving their dogs behind.  There are an estimated 50,000 stray dogs and only 23 animal control officers.  There is no place for the dogs to go, no food, no shelter and the ones that are being picked usually end up just being euthanized.

This video is a plea for help.  If you have a few dollars you can spare for the dogs in Detroit, they need our help.

Please be warned, this video has graphic images that are hard to watch.

To donate to the Detroit Dog Rescue, bark on the link:  Bark!

Foster Dog Update

The last time I blogged about the foster dog I took in was right after I got him.  Then, his name was Trapper... well that has been changed, his new name is Neville.  It was a name that just seemed to fit and he has been responding to as if it had always been his.  Harry Potter fans, if you are wondering if I named him after the character in the books, you are correct.  Shy but brave, loyal and a heart of gold... it describes him perfectly.

His name is far from the only changes that have occurred for him.  Everyday he improves on something just a little more.  While on the elevator, he now stretches his nose to sniff anyone else that might be in there with us and if there is someone on the elevator when we enter, he actually will walk on.  This is a huge improvement from having to be encouraged to walk on and then hiding in the corner.

His walking is getting so much better, he walks on a loose leash about 50% of the time.  I did just start using an Easy Walk harness on him, my hands needed a break from the leash constantly pulling.  This is just an additional tool for me, but I am still doing the traditional training rather than just relying on this to do the work for me.

While we are on walks, he is becoming more curious of people and will sniff almost everyone we pass.  He is still scared of people and especially men, but it is great to see him assert himself when he feels safe.

His relationship with Adam (my boyfriend) is really starting to improve.  Adam goes on a lot of walks with him and feeds him half of the time (we hand feed him all his meals).  But Neville still is a little frightened when he opens his crate or comes home from work, though the reactions are getting less and less.

Otherwise, his personality is really starting to come out.  He likes to initiate play with both Adam by jumping into our laps and licking our faces and loves to chew on his bones.  My cat, Cowboy, is starting to enjoy playing with him, I see him initiate these little chase games all the time.  I have yet to snap a picture because the interactions are either too quick or they are moving too fast.

All in all, Neville is doing so good.  I can't believe that tomorrow marks 2 weeks that I have had him in my life.  With every progress I celebrate it like it is the most amazing thing in the world, but to me it is.  He is working so hard and the work has only began.  It is almost as if he knows I was brought into his life to help him, he just trusts me.  

As Neville continues to improve, I will keep you all updated on his progress.

To contact B&C for training, bark on the link:  Bark!

Don't forget to sign up for the Free Raffle for the Pooch Parade!  Learn more HERE.