luvmutt

Lab Mix Inspires Mute Boy to Speak

There is a heartwarming story in the Journal News this week about a lab mix named Boo who changed the life of a 6-year-old boy.

Boo is a therapy dog who has been specially trained to provide comfort and affection to people in hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. His owner recently brought him to a special needs classroom in Mahopac, NY to work with the children.

One little boy named Marc, who is a selective mute, was so excited about Boo's visit that he jumped off the school bus that afternoon talking excitedly about his new friend.

Therapy dogs touch so many lives. If you are interested in learning more about training your dog become a therapy dog, visit the AKC's Canine Good Citizen page.

Happy News for Michael Vick's Dogs

Some very happy news this week! 47 of the dogs rescued from Michael Vick's infamous Virginia dog fighting kennel have arrived at shelters around the U.S. to be adopted by loving families.

The Best Friends Animal Society in Utah took in nearly half the group, 22 dogs! Another 10 dogs were placed with the BAD RAP group of Oakland, CA. Many of the dogs have been placed in foster homes, and they're thriving!

MSNBC did a story about Hector, one of the Vick dogs who has already been placed in a permanent home. He now sports a fancy rhinestone collar, takes AKC Good Citizen classes, and is going to become a therapy dog!

You can learn more about the rescued Vick dogs here.
 

Puppy Bowl IV This Weekend on Animal Planet

Gearing up for the big game this weekend? That's right! It's time for the annual PUPPY BOWL!! Who cares about a stupid football game when you can watch adorable puppies for 3 hours? Bust out the chips and dip!

In case you're not familiar with the Puppy Bowl, Animal Planet airs 3 hours of puppies playing on a scaled-down football field to coincide with the Super Bowl. (There's also a half-time show with kittens.)

The best part about the Puppy Bowl is that all of the puppy participants come from animal shelters. Here are a few of our faves from the starting lineup:

Mrs. Roper the Lab Mix, Bingo the Pit Mix, and Tucker the Yorkie Mix

(We're rooting for Mrs. Roper.)

So set your DVR for PUPPY BOWL IV on Sunday, February 3, from 3-6 PM (ET/PT). So much cuter than real football!!

Mutts find their heritage with DNA test

We would love to know our luvmutts' lineage. Have you had your dog genetically tested?

From the Knoxville News Sentinel:

Brody Retinger barely even flinched as the foam swab ran along the inside of his mouth, collecting the building blocks of his genetic makeup.

The "grand-dog" of Meg Retinger, chief administrative officer of EDP Biotech Corp., was at the Knoxville company's headquarters to try out the company's new DNA test that would reveal his heritage.

With a few wipes from a foam swab and some lab tests, the mystery was solved in a matter of days: Brody is primarily German shepherd and chow, with some Labrador and collie thrown in for good measure.

Mutts like Brody may be mysteries no longer with the new at-home test from BioPet Vet Lab, a division of EDP.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

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Bath Time Bedlam

Ever chased your wet, soapy mutt through the house after they've escaped the bath tub?

Or showered with your mutt to get her to actually stay in the bath?

We have... and it sucks. That's why we now take advantage of our neighborhood do-it-yourself dog wash. One of the greatest inventions ever. For just a couple of bucks, you can lead your dog into a huge sink and hook up her leash so she can't run away. Then you can scrub her, rinse her, and dry her with barely any effort. Bath time has never been so easy, or so quick!

And it seems that we're not the only ones who are taking advantage of self-service dog washes, either.

How do you feel about self-serve dog washes? Got a bath time horror story? We wanna hear it!

Southern mutts find loving homes up north

We love stories about dogs finding their forever homes! How could you not?

From the Associated Press:

With excited barking filling the chilly morning air, about 30 dogs frolicked in outdoor pens — blissfully unaware they were escaping almost certain death, thanks to newfound friends in New Hampshire.
 
The homeless mutts at the Shelby Humane Society in central Alabama were set to travel by van on a 20-hour journey to a new life in the care of New Englanders seeking a furry, four-legged companion.
 
It’s a trip being taken by thousands of other dogs around the country — from areas such as the Southeast, where there is an overpopulation of dogs, to communities like those in New Hampshire, where homeless dogs are scarce and some residents are on waiting lists to adopt.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

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CBS announces doggie reality competition show

Some people may roll their eyes at this announcement, but we are psyched!

From realitytv.about.com:

Is CBS barking up the wrong tree by looking for its next big reality stars among the canine population?  The network is going forward with a reality show tentatively titled America's Top Dog.

According to CBS, "America's Top Dog is a new one hour-long series where 'man's best friend' can help its owner win big money! Owners and their pets - from 'pageant dogs' to those dogs simply trained at home - will live together and battle it out in a dog competition that puts the dog's relationship with the person who has raised and trained it to the test. In the end, only one team of loving owner and faithful dog will emerge the winner in this dog-eat-dog competition!"

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