Funny Dog Toys

Today I discovered a couple of rather funny dog toys that serve as a fun play thing and a photo opportunity.

1. Humunga Tongue

A rubber ball with a large rubber tongue attached, this toy is available in multiple sizes for small to large breeds (by weight). You can buy it on Amazon.com from 6.99 – 8.99.

Here is what the toy looks like by itself:

 

2. Humunga Stache

Here is what they toy itself looks like, again a rubber ball with a rubber mustache shape attached to it:

This toy is also available at Amazon.com for around $10, and available for different sized dogs.

The company also has a different version – the Humunga Stache and Beard.

 

 

These are great to have around as a funny alternative to a dog Halloween costume, or just for the laughs and picture opportunities.

Puppies VS Babies

Animal Planet is having an online photo contest featuring your photos of puppies and babies with a chance to win $5,000!  The contest is currently open for picture submissions, and online voting will begin Saturday October 22.

The rules for the contest are at animal.discovery.com.

Here are the steps they list to enter the contest:

1. Find (or take) a picture to submit of a puppy or baby no more than 18 months old at the time the picture is taken. This means you can submit pictures take a number of years ago. The complete rules for what pictures are eligible for entry can be found here.

2. Submit the photo with your information (and a bit about the subject in the picture) on the contests main page.

3. Vote on October 22 – the votes will determine a top baby and a top puppy to compete in the championship round.

The baby and puppy that make it that far will get $5000!

I wish that I had pictures of one of the two to enter, but I have only ever had one puppy and he hated having his picture taken. I look forward to seeing all the pictures – and to see which make it to the final round.

Hero Dog Awards

Today I discovered the Hero Dog Awards sponsored by the American Human Association.

The contest celebrates the dogs who “enrich, enhance, and even save our lives.” Categories include therapy, guide, law enforcement/arson, hearing, search and rescue, military, emerging hero, and service dogs. 453 dogs were nominated and you can now vote for one of the 8 dogs which are competing for the title 2011 American Hero Dog.

To vote visit herodogawards.org. You can click on the pictures of each dog to read about them to help you decide which dog to vote for. The contest will end September 30.

Here are pictures of the finalists – To read their stories, decide who to vote for, and to vote click here:

Sadie the Arson K9 – Law Enforcement

Harley – Hearing Dog

K9 Sage – Search and Rescue

MWD Cino C152 – Military Dog

Roselle – Guide Dog

Stacey Mae – Therapy Dog

SURFice dog Ricochet – Emerging Hero Dog

Zurich – Service Dog

$10,000 Dog

My dogs have eaten a lot of things they should not have, but nothing ever worth thousands of dollars:

In Albany, GA, a dog ate $10,000 worth of diamonds!

The Pomeranian named Honey Bun goes with his owner to work at John Ross jewelers. When the store’s co-owner got up to meet a customer  he left a chair open in a location allowing Honey access to a desk where 4 packs of loose diamonds were laying open. Honey only left one pouch untouched.

With the diamonds missing it was apparent that the dog must have eaten them and was immediately taken for x-rays. The check up cannot show carbon, but it did show a couple spots that were likely the diamonds. A day later, after nature took its course, the two one carat diamonds were recovered.

I am not sure that I would want diamonds that had taken such a strange journey!

Read the whole story at wsmv.com.

Royal Dog

Prince Charles and Camilla have adopted a puppy named Beth!

The puppy, a Jack Russel Terrier, was adopted from the Battersea Dogs and Cat Home animal rescue in London.  Camilla’s choice of dog was no surprise, she helped the rescue open a cattery last fall and mentioned that she was interested in a Jack Russel. Once the staff recieved one, they emailed photos to the Duchess.

The rescue’s website describes Beth as “…a charming, confident little puppy and we know she will be very happy in her new home.”

Beth will join the two Jack Russels that Charles and Camilla already have, Tosca and Rosie.

You can read the shelters story at battersea.org  and CNN’s story here.

The 101st Senator

Today I found out about Dakota, the Bichon Frisee owned by Senator Kent Conrad – the chairmen of the Senate Budget Committee. With all of the budget talks going on in Washington Dakota has been around for the proceedings to keep his master company. Given his ongoing presence and cute nature Dakota has been given the honorary title of 101st Senator.

You can see the news story here, with video.

BarkNetwork

I learned about BarkNetwork.com today while watching the Show Dog Championship, sponsored by ProPlan.

The BarkNetwork is the worldwide home for Athletic Dogs, where you can find out about dog sports, teach your dog tricks, find local dog organizations to join, events, and more. It is a social network as well, so you can talk with other dog lovers and get tips or advice. You can also see pictures and watch videos.

So if you have any interest in dog athletics, I would suggest joining this network to learn more and find events and organizations in your area.

Shiba Inu Puppy Cam is Back Online!

Do you guys remember the adorable Shiba Inu Puppy Cam?

The Puppy Cam is online at Ustream.tv, and is a live feed of Shiba Inu puppies so you can watch all their cute antics as they grow! This is the third litter featured on the Puppy Cam, this round featuring 6 pups. There have been a total of 26,620,672 views on the feed as of the writing of this post.

To watch the puppies please go to ustream.tv/SFShiba

The Today Show talking about the Puppy Cam back in 2008:

I love watching the Puppy Cam because the puppies are so cute! Enjoy!

World’s Most Expensive Dogs

I recently saw articles online about the world’s most expensive dog, and then I saw this article about the most exensive dogs on the Times.

So here they are, the Most Expensive Dogs:

10. The world’s most expensive dog recently sold for $1.5 million.  The dog’s name is Big Splash (Hong Dong):

He is a red Tibetan mastiff, 11 months old, bred at a private breeding facility in Qingdao City. The Tibetan Mastiff is a status symbol in China, and some puppies can be worth more than a house. Puppies usually go for $2000 to $3000.

9. Lowchen

$4000-7000

The name Lowchen means little lion in German, and with the correct linage these pups are worth a lot. The traditional way to cut the dogs hair keeps it long in front and hairless in the back. The breed is agile and quick – making it good in agility courses.

8. Canadian Eskimo

Around $6000

This is one of the 5 native breeds of Canada, and considered the oldest breed in North America. Originally bred to be a sled dog, the breed is strong and still perfect for that job.

7. Samoyed

$3500 – 6000

The Samoyed is an excellent family dog because it is loyal, smart, and gentile. This is an active dog that enjoys being active. The breed has a thick white coat which is not that easy to maintain.

6. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

$800 to around 12,000

The price for this pup depends on ancestry, with more well bred individuals being very expensive. This toy breed is energetic but very gentile. It easily adapts to city or country life, and even makes a great therapy dog. These dogs were bred for royal, and are featured in many paintings of aristocratic families. This is truly a companion dog.

5. Rottweiler

$2000 – 7000

These are powerful dogs that are known to be loving, loyal family members that are good guard dogs. This breed is intelligent and willing, they make the best pets when they are given certain “jobs” or tasks. These dogs are very popular family pets even given their expensive cost.

4. English Bulldog

Around $2000

These dogs are very popular for their overall look with square body and short, wrinkled face. These dogs would like to consider themselves lap dogs, but many tend to be squirmy and heavy. They have a lovable and gentile disposition. They make excellent family pets – loving, gentile, and protective.

3. Egyptian Pharaoh Hound

$2100 to 2800

The Pharoah Hound is the national dog of Malta, and is rare outside the country. It has no actual link with Egypt. It is intelligent, trainable, and active. However, it can be stubborn. It is not a very aggressive dog, so it does not make the best guard dog.

2. Bearded Collie

$700 – 840

The Bearded Collie was bred to be the best sheep dog. It is active and loving, but the long coat requires a lot of care.  These collies still make excellent family pets.

1. Akita

$400 – 700

This dog symbolizes health, happiness and longevity in Japan. The breed is large and powerful. However, it does not always make the best family pet when you have small children because the dog can have a rapidly changing temperament – one moment loving and the next aggressive.  To make the most successful pets they should have obedience training and be monitored around young children and other animals.

 

I am not sure about you, but I have seen even common and probably poorly bred puppies in my area going for the range of $400 – $1000 dollars. I have been looking at German Shepherd puppies in my area and they often are listed at $600 – $900.  So I am not so sure, but I assume that this list is based on averages of some sort.