Tag Archives: YouTube

Beer for dogs?

Posted on January 12, 2013 | Leave a comment

I seem to be developing a theme of late…it started with my posts about dogs in the world of wine.  Closer to home, those who have joined Canine Catering on Facebook know that we are having a bit of a argument in the local media about  dogs being allowed in outdoor cafes and bars.  Yes – believe it or not – that’s the state of play here when it comes to dog-friendly establishments – so many just haven’t tapped the market for the dog owner.

And now…this post is about beer for dogs.  Dawg Grog.  It’s made in Bend Oregon by a beer lover named Daniel Keeton who is also passionate about his pooch, Lola Jane.  Since Daniel works in a brew house named the Boneyard Brewery, he wanted Lola Jane to be able to share in his work.

Dawg Grog is a brew using the Boneyard Brewery’s malted barley water, glucosamine and organic vegetable broth.  It can be served as a treat or over food.  It’s available in all 50 US states.  A six-pack is $36.
I’m really impressed by the ingredients used in this product and it’s encouraging to see dog owners continuing to find ways of caring for their dogs and involving them in their everyday work.

Here’s a good YouTube video about Daniel’s invention:

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Posted in dog-friendly shops, Dogs

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DOGTV for the home alone dog

Posted on December 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

I wish we lived in San Diego, California where DOGTV is currently aired on cable television. There are plans for rolling it out to other cable providers but who knows if it will ever make it to New Zealand?

Since I use relaxation music in my massage practice, I know that dogs respond to certain cadences of music and it makes sense that they are visually stimulated by certain movements and shapes, too.

DOGTV offers special content for a dog’s sense of vision and hearing and aims to support a confident, happy dog, who’s less likely to develop stress, separation anxiety or other related problems.  It seems a must for the home-alone dog, particularly the younger dogs who have energy to spare when you are not able to be home with them.

DOGTV has been recognised by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

If you are not in San Diego, you can subscribe to a streaming online service with prices that start at US$9.99 per month.  Make sure you understand the impact of this on any data caps you have with your internet provider.

Here’s a sample of DOGTV.  Bring your dog over to the screen to watch!

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Posted in dog care

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What’s the diff, Cliff?

Posted on December 20, 2012 | Leave a comment

Cliff, a Beagle, is a specially trained detector dog working in two Dutch teaching hospitals.  He’s been the centre of a major study into detection of Clostridium difficile (‘C diff’ for those who are professionals in the field), an infectious bacteria that can run rampant through hospitals, rest homes and other healthcare facilities.

Detector dog on hospital ward

Symptoms range from mild diarrhoea to more severe conditions like colitis. The bacterium can be transmitted through either personal contact or the environment and the testing for the bacteria is time consuming.

The research involved 300 patients, 30 which had C diff infection.  Cliff was guided along the wards by his trainer and the trainer had no idea if the person was infected or not.  Cliff was trained to sit or lie down when C diff was detected.

The Results?  Cliff was an expert at identifying infections of C diff – with around 90% accuracy –  regardless of whether he was sniffing out stool samples or identifying infected patients in the hospital.  Cliff is only one dog, but with these results, the concept of using dogs to identify C diff infections has been proved.

This comprehensive video explains Cliff’s training and the research:

Source:  British Medical Journal

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Posted in dog breeds, research

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Remembering Katrina – 7 years later

Posted on September 2, 2012 | Leave a comment

Last week, on the 28th of August, we marked the 7th anniversary since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and other Gulf communities.

In marking this sad anniversary, I share with you the Hurricane Katrina memorial at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.  The Best Friends staff and volunteers saved over 6,000 animals in the aftermath of Katrina and the relief efforts will be remembered by all of those involved for many years.

The Hurricane Katrina memorial at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.

In addition, here is the video compiled by Best Friends to mark the 5th anniversary of the Katrina relief efforts:

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Posted in animal welfare, Dogs

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William Wegman – The Hardly Boys

Posted on July 29, 2012 | 1 comment

Photographer William Wegman is well known for the photos of his Weimaraners.  A show called William Wegman:  Hello Nature at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art in Brunswick, Maine which runs until October 21, 2012  shows the side of Wegman that isn’t so focused on his dogs but rather his attachment to Maine.

The exhibit will include an airing of Wegman’s documentary The Hardly Boys, which features his dogs but was also filmed in Maine.  The film is a spoof of the detective novels featuring The Hardy Boys.  Courtesy of YouTube, here’s an excerpt from that documentary (complete with subtitles).

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Posted in Dogs

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One Nation Under Dog

Posted on July 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

I’ve just finished watching the HBO documentary One Nation Under Dog.  I hope many of you were able to see it and, if not, to catch it when it repeats.

This documentary is segregated into three themes:  Fear, Loss and Betrayal.  Fear covers the experience of some people caught up in legal fights over dangerous dogs and the fate of vicious dogs (euthanasia); Loss shows owners who tell their stories of grief over the loss of their beloved dogs; Betrayal shows the ugly side of the homeless dogs problems in the United States.  Be prepared for actual footage of a gas chamber and meet people who are involved in dog rescue including liberating dogs from a Tennessee puppy mill.

Highly recommended, here are a couple of clips from the documentary thanks to YouTube:

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Posted in dog adoption, Dogs

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If a pug can do it, so can you

Posted on April 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

Puglet the Pug features in this video to encourage us to do the right thing on Earth Day and every day.    Have a wonderful (and sustainable) week!

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Posted in dog breeds, Dogs

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Piano anyone?

Posted on April 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

Our 4-day Easter weekend is coming to a close (sigh); here’s something to make you smile as you return to work tomorrow:

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Posted in Humor/humour, Uncategorized

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Border collie does his bit for Guinness

Posted on March 31, 2012 | Leave a comment

I’m a bit late with this one for St Patrick’s Day, but it is still worth watching.  Watch this Border Collie ’round up his mates for a Guinness.’

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Posted in Dogs, dogs in advertising

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Furry friends with benefits

Posted on February 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

Research conducted at Case Western Reserve University has revealed the positive impact that pet ownership has on women who are managing HIV/AIDS.

Dr Allison Webel set out to understand how women manage their HIV/AIDS and stay on track to take their medications, follow doctors’ orders and live healthy lifestyles.  She found that “Pets—primarily dogs—gave these women a sense of support and pleasure.”

The human and animal bond in healing and therapy is being recognized, Webel said, as more animals are visiting nursing homes to connect to people with dementia or hospitals to visit children with long hospital stays.

Dr Webel talks about her research in this YouTube video:

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Posted in research

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