All Dog . . . All the Time.

It has been quite a while since I have posted. I apologize as I have been busy tearing up the carpeting and playing with that little human puppy.

Anyway, I am breaking the silence to announce the Thai All Dog Radio Station. While I am not a real big fan of Thai pop music, I am happy that humans realize the importance of keeping their canine companions content.

Funny thing is that there was already a similar project in the US, found at DogCatRadio.com.

Be it from America or Thailand, anything that can help me get through my day of sniffing butts, crotches and other malodorous things is always welcome.

Drink up the fun

As it is common for humans to want to socialize over a few drinks, a new source of nightlife for canines and humans together is opening in Los Angeles.

Skybark is a spot to relax, have cocktails, talk with friends, mingle, and truly just get the best out of life, not only with your friends, but man’s best friends, dogs, as well. The location is phenomenal with a large rooftop deck with beautiful views of the L.A. skyline, a large rooftop doggy night-care area, art gallery, and showroom for doggie fashions. You can either spend the evening with your humans, or have some time to yourself, while your human spends a boring night alone.

I give the place a few months. A good park is better place to mingle.

Little Dog, Big Job

Foxxy needs to get off her little butt, take that "Lil Cupid" shirt off and get down to business like Midge in Ohio.

Like Foxxy, Midge is a miniature Chihuahua (also known as a tea cup), who is presently employed with the Geauga County Sheriff's Department. She is the newest drug-sniffing dog on the force. At least she is training to be.

Under the watchful gaze of Brutus, the more senior German shepherd drug dog, Midge is on her way to a long and distinguished carrer in law enforcement.

I suspect that the pair will be a great team. Midge will sniff everything low to the ground and Brutus the high stuff. Myself, I would prefer to sniff a dead bug or friend.

Ticks Be Gone!

We all know how annoying little biting criters can be. While I have lucked out and have never had ticks, I know others that got them on walks. Well, the future may hold the answer to this blight . . . The Tick-Bot!



This little bot (an experiment at the Virginia Military Institute) follows a wire attached to a tube that releases carbon dioxide to attract the ticks. The Bot tows a collection cloth which is soaked in an insecticide. In tests the little wonder managed to pull in 87% - 96% of the ticks placed in the testing field.

With a little work this guy could be a boon to walking trails everywhere.

A show for the rest of us.

We all know one pure-bred snob dog. You know the type. Too good to stop and give your butt a sniff; Too good to roll in the mud with you; There is one in every community. Well these types are always the ones that get into dog shows. Well not anymore.

There is a new dog show for the rest of us. In Detroit, MI, the Detroit Kennel Club Dog Show is including a "Free Press Dog Show" where anyone can compete. There are several categories to compete in. These are:

(1) Best resemblance between human and canine (do you and your human look alike, then sign up);
(2) The Best Mutt (You who would not be allowed to even look through the door of a "regular" dog show must enter);
(3) Best Friend (What have you done that brought you recognition or praise? Tell your story);
(4) Most talented trickster (think unique);
(5) Best accessory (do you look good in a purse?);
(6) Best Dressed (Don't sign up for this one, no self respecting dog should wear clothes);
(7) Celebrity Look-alike (Do you look like a celebrity?).

If you win, you should go to Detroit to get your award. To sign up, you can email freepdogshow@freepress.com by March 6, 2006. I think I will sign up for the trickster category. I mean, how many dogs out there have their own website?

Good luck to you all.

Sniff Away

From a story on smelly dog stuff to a story on smart smelling dogs.

California wine makers are using the more superior sniffing powers of us quadrapeds to battle against a new menace in vineyards.

"The dog squad" seeks out the "vine mealybug", a little insect that hides under roots and bark (where human senses cannot detect them), eat the vines and create a sweet excretion that attracts mold to the vines that hasten the demise of the vines.

The squad sniffs out the lady bugs and the beginning so the rot itself. That way the humans can take select efforts to stop the spread of the pest.

One more for our more talented brethren.

The power of poop

You can always rely on Californians (of which I am one) to come up with new and interesting uses for the resources around you. . . . or from you as it happens.

In San Francisco, nearly 4 percent of all residential waste is in the form of animal poop. That is about 6,500 tons of poop per year.

Well thanks to a wonderful device caled a "methane digester," the City plans to turn that poop into power. Yep, your poop today can be the source of your cooking heat next month. While they are starting off small (collecting from one park), they are converting our finest into methane gas.

They should come by my house, as my sister and I could power a small city from our production (at least that is what our human says).