A Pet Treadmill?

I recently saw this dog treadmill by PetZen, and I just had to post the photo. OMFJesus.

According to the site: “A dog exercise treadmill can give a dog a great workout regardless of weather or environment, allowing owners to maintain a consistent exercise regimen. Dog treadmills provide increased muscle definition, toning, improves vitality, increases life span and can help curb destructive behavior or excess energy often associated with the lack of regular exercise.”

I laughed when I read the company’s tag line: “Elevate your pet connection.” I’m pretty sure my dog would not be psyched to be forced onto a treadmill to run a quick 10K. In fact, I think she’d be terrified. I mean, I get it. I’m all for exercising your pet and walking as many miles a day as possible with them. But shouldn’t dogs get to see the outside world—you know, sniff a tree, pee on a hydrant, and chase a squirrel or two?

Getting Your Dog DNA Tested

If you’re not sure of your dog’s breed and are interested in finding out more, there are lots of dog DNA tests out there today. Here’s how most work: You purchase a dog DNA kit online or at your veterinary office, take two cheek swabs from your pet’s mouth, send in the swabs and a small information form in a prepaid mailer, and within a few weeks you receive a certificate of breed analysis. The cost is approximately $80-$120.

Some testing options include:

BioPet Vet Lab
The Canine Heritage XL Breed Test
The Dog Breed DNA Test
The Wisdom Panel™ MX Mixed-Breed Dog DNA Test

There are, however, a few limitations. Only certain breeds are identifiable at this point (more are to come), and you will only be told a general percentage of a match (for example, the service may determine that about 20-40% of your dog’s DNA matches a certain breed or 40-70% matches another breed).

When I got Riley tested with the BioPet Vet Lab test, I was told she was part Saluki, Poodle, German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Great Dane. These were all pretty low matches (about 20-40 percent or so of those breeds matched with Riley’s DNA), but if you look at her picture on the “About” page, you’ll realize it sounds pretty ludicrous. Either way, I felt it was worth finding out a little more information about her.

Have you DNA tested your dog? What was your experience?

Indestructible Dog Toys

Every time I invest in a new dog toy or stuffed animal for Riley, it's the same story: Within minutes, it has been ripped to pieces; stuffing or plastic bits litter my apartment; and Riley looks just as bored as she did a few moments beforehand. I used to get a kick out of how fired up she'd get when I'd give her a new toy. Until, that is, I realized that just 5 minutes of pure joy for her was costing me $10-$15 a pop.

So, I went on a quest to find a toy she wouldn't be able to murder. I eventually found Tuffy Dog Toys, which are about as indestructible as a dog toy can get. They also come in hilarious shapes, sizes, and patterns.Tuffy's Polly PiggyTuffy's Mega Ring

Riley still has the Mega Ring, and it's the only toy in her arsenal that she hasn't mutilated. But not for lack of trying.

Black Dogs Get the Shaft

I was recently reading Jill Rosen’s blog in the Baltimore Sun, and she cited a story in the Post and Courier about how large black dogs have a harder time getting adopted than their lighter-coated counterparts. It broke my heart.

Five-year-old Rowdy is a black lab available for adoption from Pet Helpers on James Island. Tyrone Walker/Post and Courier

According to the Post and Courier: “That's definitely ‘the shelter worker's perception,’ throughout the country, said Jacque Schultz, the senior director of community outreach for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. ‘If you see a row of 20 black dogs, they fade from your memory. There's very little in the way of research’ on whether black dogs are euthanized at higher rates, she said, but it's likely. ‘The longer you're at a shelter, the greater the risk.'"

To help black dogs get noticed, shelters are trying to market them better. Says the story: “Sometimes, all it takes is better lighting, a brightly colored collar, or even a unique squeaky toy in its cage for an animal to be noticed, shelter workers say. Black dogs just need a little help standing out.”

To read the full story, click here.

(Thanks to Lindsay B. for passing this along!)

Want to Drop Some Lbs? Partner Up With Your Dog.

It’s easier to be physically active and stick to an exercise schedule when you have a dog, says one Northwestern University scientist in the new issue of Forbes. According to Dr. Robert Kushner, dogs are “natural exercise machines” and they’re hugely motivating. How come? They don’t make lame excuses and they tend to be eager to go out at all times.

In the story, Kushner cited a previous study he’d conducted to find out if pets could help overweight people lose weight. It found that “people with dogs were slightly more active than those without dogs and that, after a year, they had lost an average of 11 pounds, or 4.7 percent of their body weight.”

Honestly, haven’t you ever felt stricken with guilt when your dog wants to go on a long walk and you’d rather sloth around and watch a movie OnDemand?