Dog Log Cafe-Most Popular Breeds

According to the AKC the 10 most popular dogs in the US are:
1. Labrador Retriever
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Beagle
6. Boxer
7. Dachshund
8. Bulldog
9. Poodle
10. Shih Tzu

Popularity is measured by the number of registered dogs. This is the 18th consecutive year for the lab.

Dog Log Cafe-Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to the American Kennel Club for reaching its 125th anniversary. For more information on the AKC visit www.akc.org.

Dog Log Cafe- K9 Hero

In December 2008, in Santiago Chile, highway cameras captured an incredible event as one dog risked his life to save another dog that had been hit by a car. The injured dog died. The hero dog ran off and was not seen again. Click here to see this incredible video on YouTube.

Dog Log Cafe Book Review- Broadway Tails

Book Review: Broadway Tails
by Bill Berloni

This is a unique look at animals used in Broadway productions. This book chronicles the life of a young aspiring actor, Berloni as he transitions to his lifelong job as Broadway animal trainer. The tail begins with the production Annie based on the long running comic strip, Little Orphan Annie, that included Sandy the dog. With this very first story Berloni begins to reveal little known or remembered facts about Broadway, the actors and the plays. He also sheds light into the conditions and circumstances surrounding shelters in the late 70's.

He also discusses the real methods, simple, common sense methods he used to train a variety of animals including dogs, cats and a pig to work, on cue, on Broadway. He makes it clear from the beginning that his style of training is non-threatening and non-aggressive- yet highly effective. Berloni is clear on his stand on shelter adoption and how these animals are not disposable, throw away items. The stories are engaging, amusing and sometimes a little sad. The only requirement to enjoy this book is to like animals and to enjoy being entertained.

So if you are interested in reading more about pig CPR, Richard Burton, Hameltta and Ophelia and Vito the deaf Bull Terrier, I highly recommend this book.

Dog Log Cafe- Beagle Facts

What do President Lyndon Johnson and Charles Darwin have in common with termites and Underdog? In some way they all reference the beloved Beagle. President Johnson was a supporter of the breed and had several while in the White House. He was sometimes pictured picking them up by their ears. (Please don't do this) The ship that Darwin sailed on while conducting his research and writing his "Origin Of The Species" was the HMS Beagle.

The Beagle is an ancient breed and has been traced as far back as the fifth century B.C in ancient Greece. The modern Beagle was bred to be a hunter- specifically to hunt rabbits and most often they hunted as part of a pack. In fact, in England packs could be as large as 50 to 70 Beagles. Today Beagles are employed by the US Department of Agriculture as part of the Beagle Brigade. These dogs are employed in airports and are used to sniff out contraband foods being smuggled into the country. They are also used to detect termites and to locate bed bug infestations.

Beagles are scent hounds and their ability is almost as high as the Bloodhounds. Beagles are able to make three distinct sounds. The first is a regular bark like most breeds. Then there is the baying sound produced when they are on the hunt. This sound is used to alert the other dogs as well as the humans taking part in the hunt. The third noise is best described as a howl.

Beagles are highly food motivated and they gain weight easily. Care should be taken in managing their food intake. Overweight
or obese dogs may suffer the same health problems as humans.

In addition to Underdog, both Snoopy from the Peanuts Comic strip and Odie from Garfield are Beagles.

Dog Log Cafe Volume 3 Ryuu (Part 1)

Ryuu is our Beagle, the fourth in the pack. One evening I came home from work, said hello to the dogs, plopped down on the couch and was immediately pounced on by a strange dog. A puppy- a beagle puppy. A real cute little guy. My son had 'his own place' along with several roommates and one of them had bought this little guy. They were going on a long day trip and wanted to know if they could drop Ryuu off to stay and play. Of course we said yes. Later that night he was picked up and that was the end of dog number four- for a while.

Several months later the roommates broke up- many moving back home. The young man who owned Ryuu though had no real stable place to return to and after a couple weeks living in a hotel he asked if he could leave Ryuu with us until his situation got better. No way we could say no so we took him in- for a short time or so we thought. Before he left we got the spelling of the dogs name (It's pronounced like Re-You) and it means (supposedly) dragon in Japanese.

Within 24 hours I was desparate to find this kid who left his beagle on my door step and in my house. No way- again I say there was no way I was prepared for the noise, the sound, the volume, this little dog was able to generate. We finally tracked this kid down and gave one command, come pick up your damn dog. He showed up a little while later asking, "What's up"?
(to be continued)

Volume 2- Hobo

As much as we did not set out to have six dogs after we had two, Nikki and Xena, we did not set out to have three. Hobo was a bit of a fluke. We had gone to the Humane Society to look at the dogs and saw Hobo and with little discussion or hesitation we took him. It's not just because he is a big collie shepherd mix. He is. It was not because he had been given up for adoption at the age of ten, though he was. It's not because he is the most gentle of dogs, though he is this as well. Hobo was a dog from my youth. When I was about ten years old we were living in Florida in a new sub-division partially on the water. I had a collie shepherd mix- the most loyal and best companion dog a boy could have, his name was Hobo.

My Mom named him-naming pets was always her job.

One day Hobo went missing and I was devastated. I went about calling out to him - he had never failed to answer. I knew, just knew I would find him. Where we were bordered on a lot of undeveloped area and in Florida undeveloped land meant rattlesnakes. His being bit was my greatest fear. For days I searched and called out. At night I cried.

On about the third day I was walking the seawall around the development. The tide was low and I spotted something I knew immediately to be Hobo, my lost dog. I knew immediately that he was dead. Without thinking how I would get back up I jumped from the seawall into the water and cradled Hobo's head. And cried. I noticed a rope tied around his neck. We never tied him up- we never had to. I pulled on the rope and it barely budged. I pulled harder and eventually found the other end tied to a concrete block. Someone had tied a rope to his neck and threw him and a concrete block into the water to drown.

Though as I grew old I did not think of him often, I never forgot him. And one day, at a Humane Society kennel, now himself ten years old, Hobo and I were reunited. He is thirteen now. I sometimes feel as though he has been with me my whole life. I did not know why we had gone that day to the Humane Society but today I believe that I was meant to go- to reunite with my lost friend.

Dog Log Cafe K9 Trivia

1. Which breed is sometimes referred to as the Grey Ghost?
2. Which breed is the smallest purebreed dog?
3. The corgi is part of which group?
4. Most breeds are believed to have the wolf as part of the genetic makeup. One breed though is thought to have been bred from the dingo. Name the breed.
5. Which breed was designed to walk under carriages and to frighten away robbers and wild animals?
6. Can dogs get poison ivy?
7. This breed name means 'little lion'?

Answers

1. Weimaraner
2. Chihuahua
3. Herding
4. Australian Cattle Dog
5. Dalmation
6. No but the oil can get in their fur and can be passed along to humans.
7. Low chen

Volume 1 The Six Pack Begins

I've had dogs my whole life, as long as I remember. When I got married we got a dog a purebred American Eskimo. He lived a very long life but eventually he ended up with arthritis and cataracts and few teeth. It was too much suffering and eventually he was put down. It still amazes me the things we do for our pets that we can't do for our human loved ones. I know putting a dog down is never easy and can now even see it from the vet's side after reading "Tell Me Where It Hurts", by veterinarian Dr. Nick Trout, a very worthwhile read.


We never set out to have six dogs. We had a dog and two cats and two human children. Our dog is the mother (not natural of course) to one of the cats and to this day they are mother and daughter- not dog and cat. But one day we went to the local Humane Society and we ended up with Xena, warrior dog, warrior princess. We got her as a playmate to our first dog Nikki. We also got her for her personality- for her cuteness and for herself. Having two dogs was a little harder than just one- but not twice as hard. This was probably the reason this trend continued. Next posting will be Hobo- dog three. Please come back.