National Dog Show – Behind the Scenes with Curry the Champion Glen of Imaal Terrier

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs

You may remember Curry, the celebrity Glen of Imaal terrier who has occasionally toiled as Paw Nation's canine advice columnist. Unfortunately, with her go-go show-dog life, she's been too busy to write for us lately, so her co-owner (and PopEater columnist) Rob Shuter, stepped in to give us the scoop on Curry's winning day at the National Dog Show presented by Purina.

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Since her triumphant Best of Breed win at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show last February, Curry, our beloved Glen of Imaal terrier, has been a busy little showgirl. She's competed at American Kennel Club shows from Maine to Indiana and won Best of Breed 35 out of 36 times.

Along the way, Curry racked up an amazing 18 terrier-group placements, including three times in first place, a new record for the breed, making her the No. 1 Glen of Imaal terrier in the land. With this brisk wind at her back, she arrived in Philadelphia for the National Dog Show,

Like Westminster, the National Dog Show is one of the few remaining benched shows, i.e. the dogs are each assigned their own holding/grooming area and must remain on display all day so the public may have the opportunity to meet all the breeds. Curry spent the morning greeting her public, answering their probing questions, kissing many a face, and posing for photos and video shoots. A bit past noon, it was time to make her apologies to her adoring fans and get to the serious job of grooming in order to prepare herself for the Best of Breed competition.

Continue reading National Dog Show - Behind the Scenes with Curry the Champion Glen of Imaal Terrier

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New Breeds at the National Dog Show

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs

It was a big year for new breeds at the 2010 National Dog Show presented by Purina! Doubling last year's introduction of three breeds, this year a whopping six breeds entered the ring for the first time: Boykin spaniel, Leonberger, Cane Corso, Icelandic sheepdog, bluetick coonhound and Redbone coonhound.

Want to know more about these new-to-the-show competitors? Here's a cheat sheet.

Boykin Spaniel: The official state dog of South Carolina, where it was originally bred as an amphibious hunting dog and named after L. Whitaker Boykin, one of the original developers of the breed. You'll be able to identify a Boykin by its relatively compact size compared to other breeds of spaniel. But like all spaniels (save the non-sporting Tibetan), it competed at the NDS in the sporting group. With its flowing, shiny, chocolate-brown coat and its agreeable demeanor, the Boykin proved a crowd-pleaser at the show.
Leonberger: The German city of Hamburg gave America the hamburger; now Leonberg, Germany gives us the Leonberger, a large-breed, Working Group dog. The AKC praises the Leonberger for being equal parts "multipurpose working dog" and "reliable family companion." We think it looks equal parts St. Bernard and German shepherd.

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National Dog Show Group Winners

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs

The National Dog Show presented by Purina has become as big a part of Thanksgiving as sweet potatoes and drumsticks in many homes. But, between the cooking and the eating and the visiting, it can be easy to miss a dog or two during NBC's Thanksgiving Day coverage from noon to 2 p.m.

Fortunately, missing some of the television coverage doesn't mean you have to miss out! You can watch video of all dogs in each group in the ring online with NBC Sports. Check out the Hound Group, Toy Group, Sporting Group, Non-Sporting Group, Herding Group, Terrier Group, or Working Group, or hand dish washing duty off to somebody else tonight and watch them all!

Below, check out our gallery of the group winners! Also, be sure to read Paw Nation's interview with the Best in Show winning trainer.

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And the Winner of the National Dog Show is…. Clooney, the Irish Setter

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs, Celebrity Pets

Putting the "dog" in underdog, this year's winner of the National Dog Show presented by Purina -- a 3-year-old Irish setter named Clooney -- wowed the crowd with his Cinderella-story win. We talked to Clooney's handler (and roommate), Peter Kubacz, to find out how this dark horse became top dog.

Tell us what makes Clooney (a.k.a. GCH. Windntide Mr. Sandman) such a surprise win at the NDS?
He's really on the young side, winning at 3 years old. Clooney looks older than what he is as far as conditioning is concerned. When he retires -- probably when he's 5 -- he'll likely look his best.

Just what is it that you think makes Clooney so special?
He loves to show. He loves the attention; he loves people; he loves being in the ring and being around all the people and everyone fussing over him. He is a great show dog in that regard.

As far as an Irish setter goes, he is very well balanced and proportioned. He has a wonderful front and rear angulation and he is a lot of dog in the sense that he has a lot of presence to him. There's a lot of him when you put your hands on him and when judges go over him and examine him. He has a lot of substance to him, but he is not an overbearing dog.

How long have you been handling Clooney?
Only about two-and-a-half months.

How did you come to work with him?
Owners Carol and Patrick McGary bred him and showed him from time to time on their own, and they also hired a handler out West where they live [in Washington]. The first time I met him and showed him was for the Irish Setter Club of America's national specialty competition in Wisconsin in June. The dog came to me and we just kind of clicked right away. He was not the only dog I was showing or paying attention to, but you would have thought he was my dog all along. We won Best of Opposite Sex out there which is a pretty big deal. Then in August the McGarys and I started talking about bringing him to show him out East.

Continue reading And the Winner of the National Dog Show is.... Clooney, the Irish Setter

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Cute Pet of the Day – November 25, 2010

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs, Cute Pet of the Day

Name: Winfred

Location: Memphis, Tenn.

Age: 11

Breed: Dachshund

Favorite Toy: Squeaky toys.

Favorite Treat: Cheese, Milk-Bone dog biscuits, and raw chicken wings.

Likes: Being a diva, her owner, and beauty sleep.

Dislikes: Not getting her way and taking a baths.

Fun Fact: Winnie was adopted in January 2010 from All American Dachshund Rescue.

Weird Quirk: Her bark sounds like a beeping noise.

Congratulations to our submitter, myathesiebendackels. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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Zootoo Review – 5 Types of Cat Litter

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Cats, Pet Product Reviews

The wide variety of cat litters on the market can confuse any pet owner. To clump or not to clump? Silica, corn, or pine? The choices for cat lovers seem endless. To help you decide the best litter option for you and your kitties, our friends at Zootoo rounded up their favorite products in a range of litter categories.

A solid entry in the non-clumping, crystal category, Clear Choice Low-Track Silica Cat Litter by Pestell keeps litter boxes so tidy, our tester was able to stop using a liner. Like other crystal products, Pestell's litter is not entirely dust-free, but the crystals do a superior job controlling odor and absorbing waste.


Completely free of chemicals and additives, Naturals Corn Cat Litter is made from natural waste and can also double as a fertilizer - a bonus for pet owners who want to keep their litter boxes eco-friendly. The litter's sand-like, non-clumping texture appeals to cats, and the potent absorbency rivals that of non-natural products.

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Norfolk Terrier Puppy Party!

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Filed under: Dogs, Funny Animal Videos

With so many puppy videos and so little time, we've gone the extra mile and begun cataloging some of the finest YouTube offerings, separating each collection by breed in a feature called Puppy Party!

Today's round-up features the nutty Norfolk terrier!

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10 Holiday Season Pet Dangers

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Cats, Pet Health

Despite our best merry-making intentions, the holidays can be stressful for the whole family, pets included.

"The holidays are a dangerous time for pets," says Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM, at The Animal Medical Center in New York City, who specializes in oncology and small animal internal medicine.

So what can you do to ensure this really is the most wonderful time of the year for your cat or dog? We spoke with Dr. Hohenhaus to find out about the most common reasons pet owners visit her emergency clinic during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

Top Holiday Dangers

1. Trash. Sure, you probably know whether your cat or dog is a garbage forager by now, and are normally very vigilant about keeping it out of your pet's reach, but during this busy time of year when unaware company can throw off family routines, a "pet is more likely to get in the trash," says Dr. Hohenhaus. There they'll find foods and other objects they shouldn't -- but will want to -- eat.

2. Unusual foods. Overindulging your pet with fatty treats, like gravy or too much turkey or ham, can cause upset stomach and even pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Onions, garlic and scallions can damage dogs' red blood cells. Symptoms you can expect include lethargy and red discoloration in the dog's urine. And as you probably know, chocolates are a no-no.

3. Decorations. The worst combinations are cats and tinsel, and cats and wrapping-paper ribbon, says Dr. Hohenhaus. Curious cats are likely to swallow these enticements, "which causes their intestines to bunch up, and cuts into intestinal wall, so cats can't pass food through the intestinal wall normally," says Dr. Hohenhaus. "It requires surgery to cut these out surgically." "Don't have icicle tinsel on tree at all," she cautions.

Holiday lights are also risky temptation to pets, according to the Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine website, which recommends humans, "check cords for any signs of bite marks, loose or frayed wires, proximity to the tree's water supply, or evidence of short circuits." Electrical shock that could result can cause burns, difficulty breathing, abnormal heart rhythm, loss of consciousness, and death, the website warns.

Continue reading 10 Holiday Season Pet Dangers

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Ask the AKC Animal Behaviorist - Are Nightmares Hurting My Dog?

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs, Pet Health, Ask the AKC

Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Director and Paw Nation's expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior. Dr. Burch has over 25 years of experience working with dogs, and she is one of fewer than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of 10 books, including the new official book on the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program, "Citizen Canine: 10 Essential Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Know."

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My dog, Duke, sometimes seems to have terrible nightmares. He moans and jerks around violently in his sleep and it is really distressing. I've read that owners should just let their dogs rest, but I don't want Duke to be scared or upset. Should I wake him up?

When your dog is thrashing around in his sleep, twitching, moving his back legs and yelping, you can't help but wonder what he's dreaming about. Is he chasing a bunny, fighting another dog, or giving a speech to an audience full of naked poodles?

Scientists tell us that dogs dream in a similar fashion to humans. And like us, they have critical periods of deep sleep. Dreams occur during the deep sleep phase, and even though Duke may not appear to be resting peacefully, he needs uninterrupted sleep. I would suggest not waking him unless the nightmares go on for long periods of time and he seems more tired than usual.

If you wake a dog who is in deep sleep, he could startle and bite you, or he may just look at you as though he's completely confused about why you're waking him. It's not clear that dogs remember dreams when they wake up.

If there is any question in your mind about Duke having a seizure, or nightmares of an intensity that can affect his well-being, videotape one of his dream sequences and show it to your veterinarian. But assuming that you've just got an active and vocal dreamer on your hands, make sure Duke is getting a healthy diet and exercise every day. And then let your sleeping dog catch some Z's.

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Do you have an animal behavior question for Dr. Burch? E-mail your questions to mary@pawnation.com. If you have questions or concerns about your pet's health, you should consult your veterinarian as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Paw Nation is not staffed to address individual questions about pet health, and we want your pet to stay healthy!

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Cute Pet of the Day – November 24, 2010

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs, Cute Pet of the Day

Name: Skyler

Location: Riverside, Calif.

Age: 2 (3 months in the photo)

Dog Breed : Australian Shepherd

Favorite Toy: Anything with a good squeaker.

Favorite Treat: Skyler isn't very motivated by food. She'd much rather play a game of Frisbee as a reward for behaving.

Likes: Agility class and cuddling on the couch.

Dislikes: Thunder.

Weird Quirks: Skyler is very talkative, constantly whining, growling and barking to make herself known. She also smiles when she is really excited or scared.

Fun Fact: Skyler is bred by a family friend, and many of our friends own her littermates. They still get together for play dates and birthday parties.

Congratulations to our submitter, LaurenCummings. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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