NAT'L: This week belongs to Cesar

NAT'L: This week belongs to Cesar
By Ellen Gray
Philadelphia Daily News
Daily News TV Critic
DOG WHISPERER: CESAR GOES DOWN UNDER. 8 tonight, National Geographic Channel.

NEVER GOT around to sending out holiday cards?  There's still time if you want to mark "Dog Whisperer Week," which kicks off tonight on National Geographic Channel with "Cesar Goes Down Under," the first of two episodes in which celebrity trainer Cesar Millan travels to Australia to work his pack-leader magic in a whole new hemisphere.

Cable television's been going to the dogs for a while now, and between "Dog Whisperer" and "DogTown," the National Geographic Channel might be vying with Animal Planet to become Canine Central.  Certainly it is this week, as "Dog Whisperer" reruns dominate National Geo's prime-time schedule and may even point up some distinctions between American and Australian dog-lovers.

Turns out the Aussies are pretty submissive, at least when it comes to Millan, whose show airs Down Under, too.

Where many of the show's U.S.-based episodes follow what I like to think of as the "Supernanny" model - unruly children, parents in denial, smug outsider who has to force parents to confront their own shortcomings - both "Cesar Goes Down Under" and next week's "Cesar in Oz" feature dog owners who already assume it's their fault.

"Absolutely, I know, it's me," agrees the owner of Jack, a 150-pound French mastiff that seems likely to swallow one of her friends whole, as Millan assures her that whatever's going on with Jack, she's the one causing it.

And then there's Astro, an Australian red cattle dog in next week's episode, whose owner describes him as "enthusiastic."  Which is a nice way of saying that the dog pretty much never stops barking (and has even encouraged her placid other dog, George, a border collie mix, to kick up a fuss, too). 

"I'd like to know what I'm doing wrong to promote this behavior," she tells us at one point. "I know it has to be me, but I do believe Astro's special."

Not, of course, too special for Millan.

Millan's preaching to the converted when he meets with Paul, a fitness trainer with four dogs, one of them an excitable Great Dane named Willow. 

Though Paul's clearly a devoted student of the "Dog Whisperer's" techniques, he is, of course, doing them all wrong, as Millan quickly demonstrates.

But then every episode of the show does warn viewers not to "attempt these techniques yourself without consulting a professional."

For those who might occasionally tire of the "Dog Whisperer's" unending smugness, there's a nice scene in which Paul runs him up and down a steep sand dune that for some reason has been dubbed "The Mexican," briefly rendering him too exhausted to say much of anything.

Some dogs, though, suffer with owners much, much worse than those who tend to seek Millan's counsel.

Starting Friday, a new season of "DogTown" (10 p.m., National Geographic Channel) revisits some of the dogs rescued from now-Eagle Michael Vick's notorious Bad Newz Kennels and other survivors of the underworld of dog fighting.

The sad-eyed Cherry, thought to have possibly been used as a "bait dog" in Vick's operation, can't be adopted until he overcomes his fear of people, while Georgia, a former dogfighting champion, has a chance to become a "spokesdog" for rehabilitated fight dogs, but only if she can overcome a tendency to go into attack mode whenever another dog enters her sight line.

It turns out to be a hopeful way to begin the new year. *

Send e-mail to graye@phillynews.com.

Source: http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20091228_Ellen_Gray__This_week_belongs_to_Cesar.html

New section at the TLC website

One of our goals to achieve in the upcoming new year of 2010 was to continue educating people about the cruelty and barbaric treatment animals receive at the hands of humans... To this end, we've added a new section at the TLC website - "Wall of Shame"... A 'secret society' mindset of not talking about cruelty or abuse does nothing more but show acceptance of the acts... The Internet is a wonderful tool for spreading the message that cruelty, abuse and neglect are NOT acceptable for our children, animals, senior citizens or those that need our protection and care...

Owners offer $2,000 reward for stolen bulldog, Bubba

Owners offer $2,000 reward for stolen bulldog, Bubba
BY ANNIE BURRIS
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Bubba was stolen near North Sullivan Street and West 1st Street in Santa Ana after he wandered away from owner’s workplace.

HUNTINGTON BEACH – The owners of an award-winning bulldog named Bubba are offering a $2,000 reward to get their white-and-red dog returned after he was stolen last week.

Bubba was last seen about 2:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at MK Printing at North Sullivan Street and West 1st Street in Santa Ana, where the dog's owner, Richard Truong, works.


"I bring him out every day to work because he is kind of like my little kid," Truong said. "He's not only a show dog, but he's like my little baby."

An employee accidentally left a door open and the bulldog wandered out of the building, Truong said. Witnesses told Truong that two men about 20 years old cut across three lanes of traffic in their car to lure the dog inside.

Bubba, an 18-month-old dog, recently won second place in the Eukanuba dog show in Long Beach. Bubba has been microchipped and is worth more than $10,000, Truong said.

Truong and his girlfriend, Suzanne Stephens, both of Huntington Beach, have canvassed the neighborhood around the printing company, leaving 2,000 flyers and 3,000 cards, but have not found Bubba. The couple has also hired people to look for the dog and hand out flyers.

"The first minute he was born I had him in my hand reviving him and getting him to breathe," Truong said. "I'm still kind of in shock."

Information: Truong at 714-390-4350.
Surf City Bulldogs

A Christmas Tale: For the Love of a Dog

Here’s a heartwarming story I came across and thought would be special to share. It’s a tale we wish for all shelter dogs 365 days of the year. Not just at Christmas. Merry Christmas, and may all your wishes come true.

…
A Christmas Tale – http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com

Is Your Dog Smarter Than a 2-Year-Old?

Is Your Dog Smarter Than a 2-Year-Old?

December 24, 2009

Think your doggy spends all day dreaming of Milk-Bones or wondering when you're going to walk through the door? Well, there may actually be a bit more running through his head. When it comes to the number of words (or commands) they can learn, experts suggest dogs have roughly the same learning abilities as the average 2-year-old child.

In his book The Intelligence of Dogs, researcher and psychologist Stanley Coren asked numerous canine-obedience judges to rank the intelligence of more than 100 dog breeds. When he compiled the results, border collies, poodles, German shepherds, golden retrievers, and Doberman pinschers topped the list. Shetland sheepdogs and Labrador retrievers were just behind them.

Book:
The Intelligence of Dogs: A Guide to the Thoughts, Emotions, and Inner Lives of Our Canine Companions


Source and article at http://www.dogage.com/care/tipoftheweek.aspx

Dog Etiquette for the Holidays

Dog Etiquette for the Holidays
By: Joan Paylo

Planning to take your pet along when you go to see friends or relatives this season? Think again. Not every hostess – or pet, for that matter – can deal with a holiday visit.

Reasons to Leave Them Home

1) First off, many animals don't enjoy being away from a familiar home, and they really don't look forward to playing with your cousin's pet. In fact, your cat, your dog and your budgie don't know or care that it's one holiday or another.

2) Some of the things we humans look forward to all year are nothing but a nuisance for many animals. A crush of family and friends may annoy them, and they can turn snappy. Rich holiday foods can make them sick. Decorations can pose health threats. Dogs may chew at electrical wires and ribbons can get caught in an animal's throat. And certain plants, like mistletoe, are dangerous to dogs.

3) Another reason to leave the dog home is the sensibility of your host or hostess.

...... read the rest of the article here

400 pet stores sign the pledge

More than 400 pet stores across the nation have signed The Humane Society of the United States’ puppy friendly pet store pledge.  By signing the pledge, the store reinforces its promise not to sell puppies, but instead to support local animal adoption programs.   More details

Can I puke yet? Vick wins courage award...

Philadelphia Eagles have chosen Michael Vick to win a prestigious award given to the player with the best "commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage."   Vick was recently released from jail where he served time for his role in a dog-fighting ring.

Nation steps in to ease the Chi crisis here in California

Chihuahuas have been flying out of California since other states learned about the glut of little dogs in the Golden State.

A group of 25 dogs has already arrived at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua in New Hampshire, thanks to Grey's Anatomy actress Katherine Heigl, Kinder4Rescue in Studio City and American Airlines.

A group of 43 was set to leave for New Hampshire this week but bad weather in the east caused a delay, said Kathy Davis, interim general manager of Los Angeles Animal Services. The Nashua shelter found homes for the first 25 and had a waiting list of 100 people.  More details

NY Dog first to come down with swine flu

A 13-year-old mixed-breed dog in New York has tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (more commonly known as the swine flu), IDEXX Laboratories confirmed yesterday. This is the first time a dog has been diagnosed with this strain of influenza in the United States.  Details