» Big Dog Blog

Our Newfy is always getting dirty, particularly when it rains. So we were doing some research and found they actually have umbrellas specifically made for dogs. It’s actually pretty clever as it is attached to the leash. I’m not certain how practical it is however as it appears as though one would have to litterally hold the leash over the dogs head for maximum effect. This is essentially no different then holding a real umbrella, but I guess this frees up one hand. So on the topic, we’ve ran into some other silly inventions as you’ll see below:

From the HandsnPaws Website
” The fabric of the dog umbrella is waterproof. An ergonomic angled handle with padded comfort grip allows you to walk with the umbrella attached to your dog’s leash in comfort. In fact, the handle is specifically designed for your comfort as well as your pets. The umbrella leash has a hook that attaches easily and quickly to your pet’s collar. A clear umbrella body allows full view of your pet.”

Here is a schematic for a different pet umbrella

Here is a dog watch complete with doggy time.

And finally a doggy bumper; you don’t want any fender benders!

That’s the idea behind Flex Petz, a new business venture rolling out in Los Angeles and the greater Southern California area. Flex Petz allows you, with your monthly membership, to rent a dog for a few hours up to a few days. The dog you rent can be different every time, as the dogs circulate through different homes. It’s certainly a unique idea and actually good for the dogs as they are all rescues whom likely had miserable lives before the community adoption.

From the Flex Petz Website
“FLEXPETZ is a unique concept for dog lovers who are unable to own a full-time doggy pal, but miss spending time with a canine friend. Enjoy our website to learn more about FLEXPETZ, and we look forward to welcoming you as a FLEXPETZ member.”

Tom just posted a comment on our post about Skidboot. I thought since we’ve all been touched by the wonderful Skidboot, we all should see his note:

“We were not ready to start our blog just yet but this needed to be mentioned. Skidboot, an amazing dog, has left us. This was an outstanding example of the relationship between owner and dog that faced many an issue and overcame them through effort.
We have put together a brief tribute to Skidboot and David named “Skidboot Has Left Us” on YouTube along with a link to the Texas Country Reporter segment.

Skidboot was neither a Briard (a herding dog of French origin) nor a Gordon setter (a birddog) that we will be writing about in our blog. He and David are an excellent example of that wide and diverse world of partnerships between man and dog that we will also explore.

I first met Skidboot and David at the State Fair of Texas in the late 90’s. It was amazing even then to see the close partnership between them even then. I remember last fall when their story seemed to be everywhere on the internet as well as TV. One of the best segments was the Texas Country Reporter piece by Bob Phillips .They appeared with Leno, Letterman, Oprah and many others. Internet hits were over four million.

The segment points out how Skidboot was not an easy dog to handle in the beginning (a trait that can also be found in both Briards and Gordons). It took work on David’s part to bring out the best in Skidboot. The segment also pointed out that the dog was going blind and the future was uncertain. Monday (3/26/07) David was talking to one of the Dallas radio folks with his “bittersweet news” – Skidboot was dead but now he could see and frolic with the likes of Lassie and Rin Tin Tin.

David will not be alone in missing his partner, Skidboot - millions of others will also!

Tom
BriardsTexas”

The Motion Picture Association of America MPAA has trained two black Labradors, Lucky and Flo, to be counterfeit DVD-sniffing dogs. The MPAA, related to the RIAA and known for their heavy handed tactics to protect an already archaic business model, uses Lucky and Flo to detect polycarbonate and other chemicals used in DVD disks. The dogs have been credited for uncovering $3 million in counterfeit movies and games in Malaysia. . The MPAA has getting a lot of press lately for their bootleg sniffing dog world tour, a road show of sorts meant to drum up publicity however at this point, they’re putting two innocent dogs in danger by putting them in a war that they themselves keep perpetuating. Now a contract has been put out by syndicate bosses offering an undisclosed bounty for the dog’s heads. This isn’t because of their talent necessarily, as they can’t distinguish between legal and illegal DVD’s, but because of the taunting the MPAA is doing around the world.

From NBC News
“The Motion Picture Association of America showed off the dogs in Burbank in September. The stop in Burbank was the second leg in a world tour aimed at spreading an anti-piracy message and encouraging the use of more dogs to detect illegal DVDs.”

Your dog may be your best friend, your family member, and mean the world to you. However, he is the one family member you can’t sue for pain and suffering as dog’s are considered property, and only worth the value paid for him. That’s about to change thanks to the outrage of family members suffering as a result the contaminated pet food crisis.

“Lawsuits filed in the last week by owners of dogs and cats felled by contaminated pet food could press lawmakers and courts to upgrade pets’ legal status. The food, produced by Menu Foods of Canada, is believed to be responsible for the deaths of dozens of dogs and cats nationwide.” With a change in the legal status of pets, they’ll be seen not as property, but as “entities like humans.”

See the LA Times, A Dog’s Life: What’s it Worth? for the full story.