Filed under: Dogs, Giveaways

We love giving our dogs yummy treats, though we’re sure our dogs would argue that they love it just a little more! Pet Brands knows this. So as sponsors of Meet the Breeds, and in honor of the upcoming event, Pet Brands is giving away $100 worth of American Kennel Club dog treats and rawhide (products may vary).

Just imagine the look on your dog’s face when he sees all those goodies! Or at least think about how hard his tail will wag!

To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling us what kind of tricks your pet will do for a treat.

The comment must be left before 5 p.m. ET on Friday, October 15, 2010.

You may enter only once.

One winner will be selected in a random drawing.

One winner will receive $100 worth of American Kennel Club dog treats and rawhide (valued at $100).

Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.

Click here for complete official rules. Winner will be notified by e-mail, so be sure to provide a valid address!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Dogs, Pet Training

Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Director and Paw Nation’s expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior. Dr. Burch has over 25 years of experience working with dogs, and she is one of fewer than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of 10 books, including the new official book on the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program, “Citizen Canine: 10 Essential Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Know.”

It was a good idea to have Charlie and Kathy meet on neutral ground. Now the goal is to get Kathy to allow Charlie in her house (and, as you say, vice versa). Kathy and Charlie could both benefit from learning some basic skills that can be used to manage their behavior when they are together. The reason being that if you can have Charlie and Kathy respond to specific commands — even when they are distracted by having the other dog near — you’ll be better able to control their interaction.

Start by teaching Kathy and Charlie to sit on command at home in their respective houses when the other dog is not present. A great way to do this is to make sitting a game. As soon as Charlie’s rear touches the floor, give him a treat. Move around to different parts of the home or yard to ensure he will sit anywhere, anytime you give the sit command. Practice this when other dogs (not necessarily Kathy) are present so that you know he really has the behavior down. Have your boyfriend do the same thing with Kathy.

Continue reading Ask the AKC Animal Behaviorist – What To Do When Dogs Don’t Get Along

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Dogs, Pets News

The Humane Society of the United States rescued over 200 poodles last weekend from unsanitary and inhumane conditions in a Tennessee puppy mill. The fact that those animals were saved is enough to put pep in any dog lover’s step. And while we’re sure all of the pooches were thrilled to be delivered from their hard knock lives, one puppy in particular just couldn’t seem to rein in his happy feet. This video — shot by the HSUS while unloading the rescued dogs to a facility in Chicago — shows that, just like us people, sometimes a dog gets so excited that there ain’t nuthin else he can do but dance.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Cats, Funny Animal Videos

To celebrate Paw Nation’s first birthday, we’re bringing back some of our favorite posts from the past year. Well, you can’t talk about favorite posts without mentioning “Surprised Kitty!” Not only was this video an enormous hit with our readers, but it swept the entire nation (as in the United States, not just the Paw Nation). When we first ran the story, the video had accumulated more than eight million views. And now? Over 23 million. And we still love watching it!

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Pets News

Forced to decide whether their country of Switzerland should create a national system to provide state-funded lawyers to represent animals in court, the Swiss people voted, and the outcome was a resounding no. “The measure was rejected by around 70 percent of voters,” reports BBC News.

Currently, Zurich is the only Swiss canton (an administrative district similar to a county in the United States) to have a government-subsidized animal lawyer. Antoine Goetschel represents dogs, cats, guinea pigs, farm animals, and even fish who have been abused, reports the (U.K.) Telegraph.

“People accused of animal cruelty very often hire lawyers to defend themselves,” Goetschel tells the Telegraph. “Why shouldn’t someone speak for the animal as well? It’s about fairness and defending a minority.”

The referendum was required to be held after “activists from the Swiss Animal Protection (SAP) collected more than the 100,000 signatures required to force a national ballot,” reports the Telegraph. But the animal activists were in the minority. The majority of voters in 26 cantons in Switzerland voted against the measure. Goetschel wasn’t surprised. “Animal welfare has been a big topic in Switzerland in the last few years and perhaps this has been too much for some Swiss,” the Zurich animal lawyer told the Telegraph.

Switzerland has some of the world’s strictest animal protection laws, reports the Telegraph. “It recently changed its constitution to protect the ‘dignity’ of plant life and made a law last year establishing rights for creatures such as goldfish and canaries,” states the Telegraph. “Pigs, budgies and other social creatures cannot be kept alone; horses and cows must be regularly exercised outside their stalls and dog owners are required to take a training course to learn how to properly care for their pets.”

What do you think? Is the notion of state-funded lawyers for animals just too bizarre? Or is it a great idea?

Permalink | Email this | Comments