Cute Pups! Cute Dog Photo of the Week!

Hi Lil Dog Whisperer Readers ~

I have a new column where every week I will post a cute dog photo and this week I have some really cute ones to share with you to kick off the new column!

Here they are!

Which one is your favorite?  I love the one with the Golden and Westie!

If you have any beautiful or cute dog photos you'd like to share, please e-mail me at lildogwhisperer@gmail.com.  I would love to share them here on Lil Dog Whisperer. 

Hope you enjoyed the photos and look forward to seeing some of yours soon!! 

You Dog Lovin’ Pal, 

Araya

Military Reunions with Man's Best Friend ~ So Sweet!

Hi Lil Dog Whisperer Readers!  I found this video and had to share it with you!  It is so beautiful! 
Enjoy.

Your Dog Lovin' Friend,
Araya

The Wire Fox Terrier ~ Show Stopping Pooch

One of my favorite terriers is the Wire Fox Terrier.  With the fun, friendly personality and great show stopping looks, they are amazing to see!  This was the breed that won the 2011 National Dog Show dog’s name was GCH CH Steele Your Heart.  I think that he is one of the most fun to watch show dogs I have ever seen!

Ch. Matford Vic, a Wire Fox Terrier, is one of only five dogs to have won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on more than one occasion. He won the competition twice, in 1915 and 1916. The only dog to win it on more occasions was Ch. Warren Remedy, a Smooth Fox Terrier, who won it on three occasions between 1907 and 1909.

Although it bears a resemblance to the Smooth Fox Terrier, they are believed to have been developed separately.

Two of the Wire Fox Terriers' most distinctive traits are their enormous amount of energy and intelligence. They have a low threshold for boredom and require stimulation, exercise and attention. Indeed, once absorbed into the family, they are an inquisitive pet with a nose for everybody's business. 


They particularly enjoy comfort time on the couch or in bed in the evening. The wire fox is a true companion animal. Most of them love water and are always up for a swim. A life jacket is recommended for them.

  
The Wire Fox Terrier should be alert, quick and ready to respond swiftly with enthusiasm. However, they should also be friendly, communicative and exceedingly playful if they receive the proper care and exercise. Bred to be independent thinkers, they are capable of tactical maneuvering for vermin and other sport. Their stamina, energy and level of intelligence are unusually high. But before being seduced by these clever antics and independent ways, prospective owners should attempt to understand the breed's willful nature. 

Often, Wire Fox Terriers are abandoned or surrendered for reasons that may include running away instead of coming on command, chasing cars, bicycles, etc., taunting and then attacking other animals, including a household's cats and other dogs -- and they are sufficiently strong with more than enough bite pressure to do serious damage.
 
But these are actually normal behaviors for a breed designed to hunt not only foxes but also badgers and boars, with no more fear of cows or buses than they have for small prey. With a firm owner to control and redirect these prey instincts and provide them with enough exercise and diversion, Fox Terriers are amusing, exciting, long-lived companion animals -- but they are not for everyone.

Although it is said Queen Victoria owned one, and her son and heir, King Edward VII of Great Britain did own the wire fox terrier, Caesar.  At the foot of the tomb of Edward VII in St George’s Chapel can be seen the curled up figure of Caesar, a wire-haired fox terrier and the King’s favourite dog.  Caesar was Edward VII’s constant companion, following him everywhere and travelling the world with him. His collar read “I am Caesar. I belong to the King”. Such was Edward’s love of his scruffy sidekick that he had Faberge make a trinket of Caesar, which was given to Queen Alexandra. Caesar might not have been popular with everyone, but Edward loved him.

  
The wire fox terrier was not popular as a family pet until the 1930s, when The Thin Mans series of feature films was created. Asta, the canine member of the Charles family, was a Wire-Haired Fox Terrier, and the popularity of the breed soared. Milou (Snowy) from The Adventures of Tintin comic strip is also a Wire Fox Terrier. 
Here are some noteworthy Wire Fox Terriers!

• Archie, owned by Gill Raddings Stunt Dogs starred in ITV's Catwalk Dogs.
• Asta, from The Thin Man films adaptation (the novel's breed was a Schnauzer)
• Bob, from the Hercules Poi rot episode Dumb Witness
• Bunny, from Hudson Hawk
• Caesar, the companion of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom
• Charles, brought to Ceylon by Leonard Woolf in 1905
• Chester, in the film Jack Frost
• Dášeňka, the dog of Czechoslovak writer and journalist Karel Čapek - also featured as main hero of "Dášeňka čili život štěněte" book.
• George, from Bringing Up Baby
• Ike Larue, from the Ike Larue series, written and illustrated by Mark Teague
• Moll, from the book "Memoirs of a Fox Hunting Man"
• Montmorency, from the book Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
• Mr. Atlas, from Topper Takes a Trip (played by Skippy)
• Mr. Smith, from The Awful Truth
• Nellie, inspiration for Nellie the Lighthouse Dog (Nellie was formerly known as Hockney) by Jane Scarpino; Nellie's owner, Robert Ensor, illustrated
• Pan, the companion of A.L. Westgard, AAA pathfinder. Pan was the mascot of the dedication tour for the National Park to Park Highway in 1920.
• Polly, a white rough terrier companion to Charles Darwin
• Scruffy, the Muirs' Wire Fox Terrier on The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
• Skippy, starred as Asta in The Thin Man, and other movies
• Snowy (French: Milou), companion of Tintin
• "The dog," from the Selchow and Righter board game "Mr. Doodle's Dog"
• Van Gogh, Paul Meltsner's dog featured in his famous painting Paul, Marcella and Van Gogh
• Wessex, the wire of British novelist ("Tess of the d'Ubervilles") Thomas Hardy
• Willy, from Ask the Dust
• Wuffles, the Patrician's dog in the Discworld Series

Asta, George, Mr. Smith and Skippy were all played by the canine actor, Skippy.

Great Dane ~ The Gentle Giant

This week I am going to highlight the Great Dane.  They are Avery's favorite dog and I have to say, I love them too!

They are also know as the woulds biggest lap dog!  They love to love!

Great Danes are people dogs. They don't do well if left outside or if they aren't an integral part of their human's lives. They are among the most loyal of dog breeds and absolutely adore their humans. And all they want -need- in return, is to be loved back.

The Great Dane is not the heaviest of dogs -mastiffs are generally heavier.

Gibson, a Harlequin Great Dane, is certified by Guinness World Records as the tallest living dog at 42.2 inches. Standing on his hind legs, the 170-pound dog is over 7 feet tall.

But Danes have a very distinctive anatomy and it is a wonderful blend of size, muscle and bearing that make the Great Dane the "dog of dogs".

The smooth short-haired coat is easy to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush and dry shampoo when necessary. Bathing this giant is a major chore, so it pays to avoid the need by daily grooming. The nails must be kept trimmed. This breed is an average shedder.

Known as the "gentle giant" and the "king of dogs," the Great Dane was originally bred as a hunting dog but is now bred as an exceptionally large companion dog. And he makes a good one. He is a gentle, friendly, docile, peaceful, and a really, really big dog.

He is exceptionally devoted to his owners, especially children. However, a six-month-old Great Dane puppy will outweigh a six-year-old child, so parents must be cautious that no one gets accidentally squashed. But the Great Dane is people-oriented and committed to pleasing them. They are playful, and will need to be walked daily, but their exercise needs are only moderate. They also love to nap with you, and will take over your couch.

They might also go steal some food off the countertop before you wake up. They make good watchdogs, and are often reserved towards strangers, but in general, they don't bark much.
They get along well with other animals. They are trainable and do well in the competition ring. They are also quick to housetrain. 

So, if you are looking for a dog that honestly believes he is a part of the family ... if you are looking for a gentle giant to have in your home ... who will be able to sit and look you in the eye at the dinner table ... if you are looking for a peaceful, devoted companion who loves his family and home, then the Great Dane might be for you.

Here are some well-known people who have owned Great Danes:

Brad Anderson, author, comic strip ‘Marmaduke’
Mario Andretti, Indianapolis 500-winning race car driver
Otto von Bismarck, German chancellor: Odin and several others
Sid Caesar, TV comedian: Julius (obviously)
Roger Caras, author of animal books
Wilt Chamberlain, basketball star: had several
Mike Douglas, TV talk show host: (also) Duke
Faisal, king of Saudi Arabia
Kelsey Grammer, actor
Maxwell Knight, author: Lorna
Olivia Newton-John, singer: Zargon
Greg Louganis, Olympic gold medalist in diving: Freeway and several others
Alexander Pope, English Poet: Bounce
Franklin D. Roosevelt, US prez: President (what a suitable name)
Willaim Shatner, actor

Funny Fotos... What's Happening Here?!

                              What‘s Happening Here?  We want to hear from you!

Hi Lil’ Dog Whisperer Readers!  I have recently decided to start a new column called "What's Happening Here?!"

I would love to hear from you what you think happned before, during or after this photo.  Just leave a comment with your thoughts.  Here is my first picture:

I think the dogs wanted to get the burgers before the cat!

I hope that you like this post and I can’t wait to hear from you in the comments!