Frequently Asked Questions

A: As several "scoop the poop" campaigns around the US have pointed out, it's a bad idea to leave dog poop on the ground. Despite scented poop bags, poop vacuum cleaners and poop-scooping services, there's still an abundance of dog droppings in yards, parks, and along city streets.  This byproduct of dog owning spreads germs, pollutes water supplies, and releases unwanted substances into the ground. In the small Spanish time Colmenar Viejo, the mayor's office has tired of residents ignoring signs and information campaigns. They're hiring professional Canine Detectives. The detectives will film culprits and hand the evidence over to the police along with a report. Fines are up to 150 euros ($200) with higher penalties for repeat offenders. Before the detectives start working full time on filming dog walkers, hired actors will imitate the detective behavior in order to inform citizens of the campaign. The campaign is initiated because of health concerns. The city says most of the dog owners are responsible, but a minority destroy the environment for everyone, leaving piles of poop not just along the street but at schools and children's playgrounds.

A: Doga is Yoga, with dogs. It combines massage and meditation with stretching, and is good for both dogs and humans. There are video classes allowing people to learn at home, and many places now offer classes where dogs and people can Doga together. In Doga, dogs and humans work together as one unit. The humans help their dogs get into different poses, and in some cases the pets are used as instruments or weights as the humans perfect their poses. The dogs usually take to this quickly. Watch a dog stretch; it looks like a Yoga position. Opponents of the idea claim that Doga trivializes sacred and ancient practices, and that the dogs interfere with participants' concentration. Proponents claim that the practice is perfect, because it emphasizes unity and connection, strengthens the bond between person and pet, and might get some people to move who ordinarily wouldn't. Whether Doga should be considered "real" Yoga or not probably depends on the participants. Either way, it gives an excuse to do something together, to bond, stretch, and hopefully find harmony.  

A: A therapy dog is trained to provide affection and comfort to people in need. These are often pets who have undergone special training to accompany their owners to hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, and many other areas. Some live in a facility, and some are specially trained to work as comfort dogs at disaster areas.  A great example of comfort dogs is the 9-11 disaster where 318 dogs and their handlers worked around the clock. There are three basic kinds of therapy dogs: Therapeutic visitation dogs visit hospitals, nursing homes, and other places where a visiting dog can comfort and motivate people. These are often volunteers. Animal assisted therapy dogs assist therapists with physical and occupational therapy. They often work in rehabilitation facilities. Facility therapy dogs live in a facility, often a nursing home, and are trained to help patients with Alzheimer's and similar. In many areas therapy dogs must pass the Canine Good Citizen Test. There is also a therapy dog certification test. Therapy dogs and their handlers are not covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. There is an important difference between therapy dogs and assistance dogs: while assistance dogs should be left alone to perform their job, people are encouraged to approach and pet therapy dogs.

A: France has the biggest pet dog population in Europe with nearly 9 million dogs. Up until now, the country's legal system has shared the view on pets held by many other countries including the USA; they are considered furniture that moves. Most pet lovers would disagree with the description. It is apparent that pets have feelings, and they're not furniture. Now a petition with 700,000 signatures has inspired a change in the French legal system, giving cats and dogs better legal protection from animal cruelty. The new ruling is also expected to help courts decide custody battles with pets involved. The new legal status describes pets as "living beings capable of feelings." This new stance might also have an impact on the treatment of other types of animals. Taken to the next level, it might affect animal testing and other areas.

A: The Awards for Canine Excellence - or ACE - are currently accepting nominations. The ACE awards are handed out by the AKC Humane Fund, and accepts nominations in five categories spanning over everything from family dogs to uniformed K-9. Every entrant receives an AKC Humane Fund certificate of recognition. Some dogs will get an honorable mention, and this is awarded an engraved bronze medallion. The winner of each category receives a trip to the AKC/Eukanuba national championship in Orlando Florida, all expenses paid, $1,000 to a pet-charity of their choice, and a medal presented at an award ceremony. To nominate a dog, follow this link and fill out the form. The categories are: Uniformed Service K-9 Dogs certified for law enforcement, military, and helping fire fighters. Search and Rescue Dogs certified to assist in tracking, locating missing people, natural disasters, etc. Therapy Dogs Dogs certified to provide comfort and affection to those in need. Service Dogs Dogs certified to help those with disabilities. Exemplary companions Dogs that are non-certified household pets.  

A: Hypoallergenic means that something is less likely to cause allergic reactions. It doesn't mean that the food, pet, or rug never causes allergies. The word hypo means lower than normal. So, are there hypoallergenic dog breeds? Not really. There are hairless dogs and dogs that shed very little, but allergies aren't necessarily connected to the pet's coat. Most allergies are caused by proteins in a pet's saliva and dander. A study at the Henry Ford Hospital has analyzed dust samples collected from almost 200 homes. Sixty dog breeds were involved in the study, and eleven of the breeds are considered hypoallergenic. The conclusion? There is no significant difference between breeds in how much allergens are produced. There can, however, be a difference between individuals of the same breed. Thus, a person with allergies can be able to have one specific pet, even if they're allergic to other individuals of the same breed. Most dog lovers will argue that pets are good for children. This is true when it comes to allergies as well; exposure to a dog early in life will provide a certain protection against developing dog allergies. Some tips to battle allergies: Bathe the pet often. This reduces the amounts of allergen related proteins on both the dog itself and in the air. If a person in the household is allergic, bathing the pet at least twice a week can minimize the allergic reaction. Clean and vacuum often. Use air filters, and consider constricting the pet to certain rooms, so the allergic person can have a safe haven. Smaller dogs might produce less allergens than larger dogs. To read more about this subject, check out these links: Hypoallergenic dogs at sciencedaily.com Hypoallergenic dog breeds at Wikipedia Hypoallergenic or Hype at health.com Myth of the allergy-free dog at nytimes.com

A: The American Pet Products Association has kept records of US pet spending since 1996. Ever since then the industry has seen a steady growth of 4 to 6 percent per year. In 2013, Americans spent $55.7 billion on their pets, and the number is expected to rise to $60 billion in 2014. If the trend stays as strong as during the past 18 years, we will see some 92 million American pet owners by 2018 that will spend at least $70 billion on pets, pet card, and pet products. The biggest chunk of money in 2013 went to food. $21.6 billion fed our animal friends, and a large amount of it paid for healthier and more expensive food than in previous years. Other highlights include $14.4 billion for veterinary care and $13.1 billion for supplies and over-the-counter medicines.  

A: There are many stories of rescue dogs repaying their families in unexpected ways. Duke was adopted six years ago, and his family says he is a perfect dog, meant to be theirs. They didn't anticipate him becoming their hero in more ways than providing love and company. Duke is normally calm and obedient, and looks like a cautious boy on the news video. No wonder his family was alarmed when he rushed into the bedroom and jumped up on the bed, shaking. His behavior was so uncharacteristic that the family went to investigate, and found their baby not breathing. Thanks to Duke the child was discovered in time and could be saved. The family hopes many will see the video and decide to adopt. You never know when the life you save may return the favor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQvzKk9Tn0s

A: Some types of doggie behavior can be puzzling to us humans. Like, what's up with the tummy rub? And why are dogs so fascinated with sniffing each other's butts?  The belly scratch Not all dogs like to have their bellies rubbed, but many of those who do really cherish it. There are several theories to why. Dogs generally don't show their stomach to other dogs - unless in a sign of submission - and assuming they don't do it of fear, showing their tummies to us shows trust. The tummy rub becomes a way of bonding. On top of this, the stomach can be difficult to reach with the paws, and the skin there is sensitive. A good tummy rub with human fingers probably feels better than their own nails. The butt smelling If a human was to approach from behind and smell another person's butt we'd find it peculiar to say the least. In the doggie world, this approach avoids challenging someone by facing them head-on. The tail-end of the dog also gives off pheromones that can be read by other dogs. By sniffing the behind, a dog can learn about sex, reproductive, and social status.  

A: Bucky is an adventurous poodle mix who recently spent an afternoon on the roof. He climbed out through an upstairs window with town screen, and walked back and forth on the edge of the roof for at least half an hour, dangerously far above the ground. Getting back into the house wasn't as easy as getting out; every time he went back to the window his friend Bear - a mastiff - stuck his head out to see what was going on. Bucky's family was away, and the neighbors ended up calling 911. Firefighters brought a ladder-truck to rescue the daring poodle, but he didn't want to go with them. Eventually, the treats became too tempting, and he got close enough for one of the firefighters to grab him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-72NJqjmZuQ