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Could This Dog Save Cambodia's Tigers?

PetSugar — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:00:38 -0800

Meet Maggie, a d-o-g with a j-o-b. The German Wirehaired Pointer is on duty in Cambodia sniffing out tiger poo. That's right, this pooch is sniffing out droppings in one of the country's largest nature reserves starting this week. Six-year-old Maggie was trained in Russia and joins the Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area to track down the big cats – the last sign of one (a paw print) was in 2007 so scientists are turning to this dog's powerful nose to hopefully find evidence, and help save the diminishing tiger population.
As part of a $10 million, 10-year initiative called "Tigers Forever," New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society joins big cat group, Panthera, in spending about $30,000 to bring this pooch (and another later this year) to Asia for this search. Wildlife monitoring adviser, Hannah O'Kelly explains that the dung's data would help other researchers establish a baseline population of tigers before developing a conservation plan based on the numbers and the potential threats for the reserve.

If we cover the whole area and we don't find any tiger scat, then we can be reasonably confident there are no tigers. That would be very disappointing and I hope that doesn't happen.

I hope it doesn't happen either and I'll be following in hopes that proof of tigers' poo comes soon!
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The 2008 National Dog Show Champion Is . . .

PetSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:00:31 -0800

Oh, by golly, it's a holly jolly dog show this year! That's right, I'm not just caught up in Holiday mania, but the winner of the 2008 National Dog Show was this pretty Pointer, Holly. Her official show name: Champion Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry!

The three-year-old pup hails from Marstons Mills, Mass. and took home the big title on the event which aired on Thanksgiving Day, adding to 95 Best In Show awards won since Sept. 2007. I'm thinking she's one to watch once Westminster rolls around in February . . . especially with that second place group finish in 2008.

Find out which breeds came out on top of all six groups and see more piccys of Holly when you read more.

Sporting: Pointer
Terrier: Sealyham Terrier
Hound: Basset Hound
Working: Samoyed
Toy: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Non-sporting: Lhasa Apso
Herding: Australian Shepherd

View 5 Photos ›

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What Do You Know About Pointers?

PetSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:30:49 -0700

If you watched Greatest American Dog you're probably familiar with runner up J.D and his daredevil English Pointer and Border Collie mix, Galaxy (sometimes called “G-Money”). Galaxy is known for being athletic and adventurous, and like many Pointers has great power and agile grace. I have already tested you on Border Collies, but what do you know about Pointers? Take my quiz and find out!
Photo courtesy of CBS

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Cool or Cruel: Cat vs. Laser Pointer?

PetSugar — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 03:00:44 -0700

While laser pointers seem innocent enough (albeit stressful), there are people who believe they're totally inappropriate play toys. The argument for - "my cat loves it" - is contradicted by kitty behaviorists who say that prey capture is any feline's natural goal. The problem with a laser pointer: kitty never ever comes away with the prey (aka the light) in her grasp.

After hearing that, and watching an example, what do you think?

Pet Pic of the Day: Feeding Time, Part 2

PetSugar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:30:03 -0700

I'm not sure how feeding time works in grammiel's house, but first, we saw Sallie and Mocha patiently waiting for their dinner, and now we catch Charlie, Freckles, and Benson all lined up to eat. I wonder if grammiel's pups just tend to stick together by the patterns on their coats, or if this was a total coincidence. Either way, it's pretty darn cute.

Congrats to Benson, Freckles, Charlie, and grammiel for being chosen as our Pet Pic of the Day! Don't forget to submit your favorite photos to our Pet Pics group for a chance to see your furry pals on the pages of PetSugar!

The Scoop: All Dog Coat Types Come From Just Three Genes

PetSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:30:06 -0700

Doggie coats range from sleek and straight to coarse and wiry with a lil bit of everything in between. However, a recent study reveals that nearly all types of dog coats come from just three genes!

Combinations and variations of RSPO2, FGF5, and KRT71 create the different types and some breeds, like Bo, the Portuguese water dog, have alterations of all three. I'll leave the more sciencey facts to the experts, but here's some noteworthy trivia tidbits:

Short-haired dogs (like Beagles) have only the ancestral forms of the genes, no variations.
Wire-haired dogs (like the German Wirehaired Pointer) come from a variation of RSPO2.
Regular long-haired dogs (like Golden Retrievers) come from a change in the FGF5 gene while long-haired dogs with beards (like Bearded Collies) have variations of the RSPO2 gene as well.
Curly-haired dogs (like this Irish Water Spaniel) come from a combination of both the FGF5 and KRT71 genes.

What kind of coat does your pooch have?

The Scoop: Bertie Bites the Bullet and Swallows Nine Balls, Too

PetSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:50:22 -0700

Well, balls are up there on the list of naughty things pups try to eat, but nine of them?! When Bertie's owners spotted his ill-advised snack, they rushed him to a vet where X-rays showed he had nine balls (and a shotgun bullet!) lodged in his tummy.

His stomach could have easily ruptured from the pressure but all's well that ends well as, after two hours of delicate surgery at Clarendon House Veterinary Centre in Maldon, Essex, he's healing up just fine. I'm betting everyone will keep a closer eye on this Pointer pooch, next time they stroll near any golf course! Check out the X-ray, the loot, and his happy family at the vet in the gallery below.

View 4 Photos ›

The AKC/Eukanuba National Champion Is...

PetSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 02:30:46 -0800

Even though it was filmed in Long Beach, CA back in December, the 2008 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship premiered on TV Saturday night. Of course, this was a must-watch for North and I as we once again curled up with friends and food to see the pups.

North was pretty sad when Elmer the Boston Terrier didn't place in his group (and went in the bedroom to sulk), but the rest of us tuned in for all the results and seven finalists to come into the ring. There were several familiar faces atop the groups, too, including this pretty pointer, Ch. Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry.

To see which other dogs topped their groups and why this pup looks so familiar, read more.

Sporting: Pointer (Holly)
Terrier: Sealyham Terrier (Merci)
Hound: Scottish Deerhound (Ouija)
Working: Alaskan Malamute (Black Bear)
Toy: Brussels Griffon (Lincoln)
Non-sporting: Standard Poodle (Yes)
Herding: Pembroke Welsh Corgi (Carly)

Champion of the 2008 National Dog Show (as well as a second place group finish at last year's Westminster), the pointer called "Holly" was the big winner this time, too. Even though she's a pretty pup, I was secretly pulling for Merci, brother of the 2007 AKC/Eukanuba National Champion, Charmin. We'll see more furry faces – even some of the same ones, too – at the 133rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show less than two weeks away!

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2009 Westminster Winners: Sporting Group

PetSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:00:24 -0800

Welcome to Day Two of Westminster kicking off with the Sporting group. Made up of dogs that point the game with their noses (i.e., the pointers), flush the game out (i.e., the spaniels), and then retrieve the game (i.e., the retrievers), these pooches are bred to be busy bees. Bonus points for getting my movie joke there. But I digress. There are some stunners in this group with two of the country's most popular breeds making the final cut. Who came out on top? Find out and read more.

The super-cute Sussex Spaniel was the big winner! I have to say the cute fella won me over with his name – I dare you to look at this pup or try to say "Stump" without smiling. Impossible.

Rounding out the group placement:

Sussex Spaniel: Ch Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee. Male born Dec. 1, 1998.
Golden Retriever: Ch Toasty's Treasure Island. Female born June 12, 2004.
English Setter: Ch Chebaco Blames It On Trabeiz. Male born Aug. 14, 2002.
Labrador Retriever: Ch Beechcroft Study's Top Secret. Male born July 11, 2005.

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Pet Peeves: Does My Dog Really Need to Pee That Often?!

PetSugar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:15:28 -0700

Q: I love walking and jogging with my Pointer, Rosco – when he's ready to run, he totally keeps me in shape! But, unfortunately he wants to stop all the time, like a couple times each block, to pee. Eventually if I start jogging, he'll run as well, but if I'm just walking him on a potty break or slow the pace even a little, he takes it as his cue to go. Umm, and after the first five minutes, nothing's even coming out anymore! What's up with this?

A: I can definitely relate as my male dog looooves marking things and does the leg-lift-no-liquid thing, too. When walking, start out at a slow pace letting the pup stop to go. After a while, you'll notice a routine and be able to calculate how many breaks he needs to finish. Once you notice that there's nothing left inside, simply give your "finish" command (whatever that word is for your pet) and gently move him along. You should soon be able to limit the subsequent stops and have a dog down to three to five "pee/mark breaks" per short walk. Good luck!

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