18 minute read
Fido 411
Who's top dog?
It's that time of year again folks! The annual American Kennel Club findings for which dogs reign supreme for both the U.S. as a whole, and for its various metro areas, have been released.
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Nationally — and in both Dallas and San Antonio — the Labrador Retriever remains No. 1, extending its winning streak to 28 years.
But let's compare the national results with those of Dallas and Houston, shall we?
Top breeds nationwide for 2018: Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, French Bulldog, Bulldog
Dallas' top 10 breeds for 2018: Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Bulldog French, Bulldog, German Shepherd, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Rottweiler, Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer, German Shorthaired Pointer
Houston's top 10 breeds for 2018: French Bulldog, Bulldog, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Yorkshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Poodle, Doberman Pinscher, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
In all three top five's we've got the same breeds. Whereas Golden comes in second for Dallas, it's third nationally and fourth for Houston; meanwhile Dallas' fifth place German Shepherd comes second across the country and fifth for Houston; and our Frenchie and Bulldogs have swapped spots for Dallas and nationally, but completely overtaken the board for Houston.
One surprise addition to Dallas' top 10 is the German Shorthaired Pointer, which previously ranked 15th in 2017.
"The German Shorthaired Pointer is a breed that is gaining in popularity across the country and it's easy to see why," said Gina DiNardo, AKC Executive Secretary. "It is a breed that thrives on plenty of exercise and stimulation. They are great for active owners."
For Houston we've seen a grow in popularity for both the Frenchie — which rose from third in 2017 to No. 1 this year — and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel — which broke the top 10 after placing 12th in 2017.
Are you prepared?
June is national pet preparedness First-aid items month. From extreme cold and heat, to vaccine and medical records flooding, earthquakes and more there are a lot of scenarios that could leave you and your pet vulnerable. It's crucial to have some key items ready and a plan in place for the most likely disasters to afflict your area.
Here's a general checklist of essentials to have on hand to keep your pets safe during emergencies, courtesy of PetSmart:
IDENTIFICATION — Pet tags, vet contact info, current pet photo
HEALTH — Pet medications, first-aid items, vaccine and medical records
FOOD — 1-week supply of food, bottled water and portable bowls, manual can opener, written feeding routine, list of behavioral needs
TRANSPORT — Carrier or crate, blanket, collar with tag, non-retractable leash, sturdy harness
PetSmart also has a handful of articles on their website available by searching pet preparedness on petsmart.com including;
Fire Safety Tips for Pets: When a wildfire threatens, be ready
Protect your pet from the extreme cold
Pet Flood Safety & Preparedness: When floods threaten, be ready
Natural Disaster Safety Tips for Pets: When natural disasters strike, be ready
and Heat Safety Tips for Pets: When a heat wave rolls in, be ready
-TXDM staff
Breaking the bank
If there's one industry millennials aren't "killing," it'd be pet products because the American Pet Products Association (APPA) has released its annual spending study finding that Americans are spending more on their pets than ever before — $72 billion.
According to the study, 2018 pet care spending reached a record-breaking $72.56 billion, a more than 4 percent increase on 2017?s $69.51 billion. That jaw-dropping number is comprised of pet spending on food, supplies/over-the-counter (OTC) medications, veterinary care, live animal purchases and other services.
At $29.07 billion, APPA's study found that food continues to make up the majority of pet spending, with premium dog food being the most popular, followed by generic and natural food. However, APPA found, it's not that more food is being sold, but rather price increases and higher-priced food being bought that?s keeping this category top dog. APPA found that interest in natural, locally-sourced treats and chews is at an all-time high in the U.S.
Veterinary care follows in second place at $18.11 billion and experienced the highest annual growth at 6.1%. APPA estimates that vet visits have increased thanks to lower prices and owners purchasing pet insurance.
The supplies and OTC medications category comes in third and represents purchases of beds, collars, leashes, toys, travel items, clothing, food and water bowls, pet tech products and more. In at fourth comes "other services" such as grooming, boarding, walking, training, pet sitting and yard services.
Finally, in last place is live animal purchases — adoptions — which makes up the smallest piece of the pie. Dog adoption method tends to vary by generation, APPA found, with more millennials heading to shelters and rescues, and baby boomers and Gen Xers heading more often to breeders.
Overall, the study found that owners are interested in paying more and more often for quality food, services, supplies, vet visits and more in order to ensure longer, healthier lives for pets.
-TXDM staff
Puppy training in 7 easy steps
If you've got a new furbaby in your life, or are planning to get one, Zoom Room CEO Mark Van Wye's new book Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps might be just what you need.
The definitive guide to raising a pup was officially released April 2 on Amazon and is available for $10.49.
Zoom Room is an indoor dog gym concept that aims to train obedient and agile pups across the country. Wye's step-by-step guide draws on the collective experience of Zoom Room trainers across the country and covers everything from puppy-proofing your home to mastering basic commands.
Book cover
Photo courtesy of Amazon
-TXDM staff
Human OTC meds a top toxin for pets
Each year the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) releases a list of the top 10 toxins for pets, and human over-the-counter (OTC) medications topped the list for 2019.
The APCC call center operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year across 50 states and countries worldwide. The ASPCA's data showed a significant rise in cases in 2018 for a total of 213,773 — about 17,000 more than the 2017 case total, a news release detailed.
The top ten items on the Top Toxins of 2018 list included:
OTC MEDS such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and cold and flu medicines can cause life-threatening medical issues including gastrointestinal ulcers and kidney failure in pets. PRESCRIPTION MEDS of which ADHD medication, antidepressants and heart medications make up the majority of calls.
FOOD PRODUCTS such as grapes, raisins, onions, and xylitol — a sugar substitute — which can cause severe symptoms in pets and can be potentially fatal.
CHOCOLATE of all kinds can become toxic depending on the amount a pet ingests, with dark and baker's chocolate the most potent. According to the release, the APCC receives an average of 60 cases per day of chocolate toxicity.
VETERINARY PRODUCTS when in the form of chews can be mistaken by pets as a tasty treat. HOUSEHOLD ITEMS including cleaning products, fire logs, paint and spackle are extremely toxic for pets.
RODENTICIDES AND INSECTICIDES can be deadly for our furry friends, and while insecticide exposure was down, rodenticide exposure increased in the last year to make up 6.3% of the APCC's calls.
PLANTS AND GARDEN PRODUCTS can be potentially irresistible for our four legged friends. The APCC received 11,857 cases of household plant poisoning last year, the release detailed.
For more information, visit aspca.org; and if you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435 or contact your local veterinarian as soon as possible.
-TXDM staff
Houston SPCA Receives Purple Heart Honors
In April, the Houston ASPCA became the first animal rescue and protection organization in the U.S. to receive Purple Heart entity status, a news release announced.
The honor was bestowed on the organization by the national Military Order of the Purple Heart during a special ceremony on April 27.
The Houston SPCA was nominated by Ernie Rivera, a Purple Heart recipient himself, who works with Valor Medical Service Dogs. The release detailed that Rivera previously selected Houston SPCA rescue dogs Emily, Chester, Bear and Rex as the first canines to be trained and serve as medical service dogs through the Wins For Warriors Adopt. Rescue. Heal. program.
The rescue pups, provided at no charge, were formally presented to Houston veterans with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) in March. The dogs are provided to the veteran at no charge. The Houston SPCA's Purple Heart honor is a first in the country for any animal welfare organization, according to Michael Matthews, Commander for the Military Order of the Purple Heart Houston chapter.
According to the release, the status of the Houston ASPCA as a Purple Heart entity shows that the nonprofit is seen as an industry leader in supporting combat-wounded veterans and their families.
Photo courtesy of Houston SPCA
-TXDM staff
Stubby salutes
Did you know there was a dog named Sgt. Stubby who served 18 months and in 17 battles in France in WWI? The official statue commemorating this military working dog and his service is moving to become a permanent exhibition at the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog in New York City. The sculpture was unveiled May 23, 2019, and was created by Susan Bahary. If you would like to learn more about Sgt.
Stubby and his service please visit museumofthedog.org or check out the film about this heroic pup — Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero. Sgt. Stubby is still recognized as the most decorated dog in American history.
Photo by Jay Daniel and courtesy of the National Service Animals Monument
Get your paws on these stamps
Starting Aug. 1, the USPS will be selling a booklet of Forever Stamps honoring four different breeds of common military working dogs — German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherd. They will be on sale in person in Omaha, Nebraska, but feel free to visit USPS.com and order a booklet of 20 for all your upcoming mail!
Photo courtesy of USPS.com
Furever weddings
Pop culture tells us that every little girl dreams of planning her fairytale wedding — but it might surprise you to find out more and more people are planning their fairyTAIL weddings!
If you're like us and you're head-over-heels for your pet, you've no doubt heard of pet parents who have their furbabies tie the knot when they do.
Furever weddings are increasing in popularity, with some celebrities and organizations having their pets "wed" in grand ceremonies for charity (proceeds usually going to charity)! For example, the Humane Society in New York has held dog "weddings" in the past to raise funds for their organization — one such event in 2012 broke the Guinness World Record for the most expensive pet wedding at $270,000 (and raised a whopping $50,000 for the Humane Society). Additionally, in 2015 John Legend recorded his dogs? wedding, where he was the entertainment, in an 'All of Me' parody for charity. Even just this year Whoopi Goldberg's granddog was hitched back in January in the Big Apple.
But don't despair — pet weddings aren't just for the rich and famous!
In fact, they're becoming so popular that as an April Fools joke, PetCo launched a brand new service — Furever Weddings by PetCo.
The service was said to include pet-i-cures to ensure perfect paws; edible decor; formal wear fittings; custom wedding invitation design; petiquette training for the walk down the aisle; as well as fur facials and makeup sessions.
Were you hoping this little prank was a reality? Well, if nothing else the website can give some ideas and inspiration for your own furry ceremony — and Pinterest, we're sure, can help you figure out the rest! Also, don't forget other people have been in your shoes and are here to help because if you Google "how to throw a pet wedding" one of the first results is "How to Host a Dog Wedding: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow." What more could you need?
However, if you're going to be trying the knot soon, and simply want your four-legged friend to be a part of the festivities, there's an industry — Wedding Pet Attendants — committed to helping make that happen as well; just head on over to thepetgal.com and under services you'll see "wedding pet attendant."
See PetCo's joke Furever weddings page and accompanying video at petco.com.
Home sweet home
June is National Microchip Month. According to the SPCA of Texas, each year more than 10 million pets are lost and more than half are not wearing collars or ID tags by the time they reach a shelter. This makes getting pets back to their home vastly more difficult if not impossible depending on how far they?ve ventured.
We at TXDM would like to ask our readers to consider microchipping their pets to make sure that if they ever get out, they get back to you safe and sound.
Microchipping is a fast, non-surgical process where a microchip about the size of a grain of rice is injected between your pet?s shoulder blades.
Each chip has a unique ID and can be scanned by animal shelters if a pet is turned in. The ID number is then relayed to a national database which can provide the shelter with the name, address and more information on the pet in question. This information can help lost pets be reunited with their families, just like Jasper the 12-year-old Australian Shepherd mix was this January.
You see, Jasper went missing from his home in Monroe, Louisiana, eight years ago before ultimately ending up 400 miles away at an SPCA in Houston, and thanks to his microchip he has finally been reunited with his family.
After being lost, Jasper had been taken in by another family that eventually moved to Houston, the Houston SPCA explains. Ultimately, the family he was with turned him over to their organization, at which time as a part of their admissions process he was scanned for a potential microchip. When the information from eight years ago was found, the SPCA contacted Jaspers long-lost family.
"We thought he was dead until we got a phone call from the Houston SPCA saying they had Jasper in their care," said Tiffany Hendry, Jasper?s mom. "It's so great there is a place where animals can be taken in and have their microchipped scanned."
So in light of this amazing tale of loss, reunion, and love, we would like to remind all pet owners to not only microchip their furbabies but to keep collars with updated tags on them as well.
The Hendry family is celebrating after the Houston SPCA reunited them with their dog, Jasper, after eight long years! The Houston SPCA contacted the family from Monroe, Louisiana after checking his microchip. The contact information contained the family's correct information.
Photo courtesy of the Houston SPCA
-TXDM staff
Savings account to help pet parents
Scratchpay and Green Dot Bank have partnered to create a new kind of bank account in aims to help pet parents save for expensive veterinary care, a news release announced.
Scratch Financial, Inc. (also known as Scratchpay) is a financial tech company known for offering payment plans to help pet parents pay off costly vet bills. But through the Green Dot Bank partnership the companies are launching a savings bank account called Scratchpay Savings.
Benefits of the program are detailed online and include:
— Every dollar you save for your pet earns interest
— Earn cash back at Scratchpay partner locations
— Pay your pet?s Scratchpay payment plan with AutoPay and earn 1%
— No minimum balance required
— No monthly fee or usage restrictions
— Customized debit card allows you to easily access your funds, even in an emergencyCurrently there is a waitlist for the accounts as the companies work to finalize the program. For more information visit https://www.scratchpay.info/savings.
-TXDM staff
Dog and puppy tales
Photo courtesy Cameron's website
If you're an avid reader of TXDM or you just love movies and books about dogs (or both!) you no doubt remember that earlier this year the film "A Dog's Way Home" made its way to theaters and we here at TXDM reviewed it and gave it "two paws up." Well, that movie was based on a book of the same title by Bruce Cameron.
Cameron is a New York Times bestselling author and is well-known for his book, and 2017 film of the same title, "A Dog's Purpose." Another of Cameron's books "A Dog's Journey" has been made into a feature film that is lighting up theaters this summer following its May 17 release. The story is a sequel to "A Dog's Purpose" and follows the elderly St. Bernard and Australian shepherd mix Bailey as he (according to IMDB) finds meaning in his life through the lives of the humans he meets.
If you enjoy stories like these be sure to check out Cameron's other novels "The Dogs of Christmas" and "The Dog Master." And if you've got some young readers in your life they may enjoy one of Cameron's six "Puppy Tales" — the most recent of which was released last month and follows Toby, a beagle pup, as he "comforts the residents of a nursing home, discover[ing] that his purpose may be the most important of all" according to Cameron's website.
Other Puppy Tales include:
— "Molly's Story," which sees the poodle mix work hard to taking care of her girl, C.J.
— "Shelby's Story, the fictionalized story of real life stray Shelby who was rescued from the streets before becoming the star of the film "A Dog's Way Home."
— "Ellie's Story," which chronicles the German Shepherd pup's journey to become a search-and-rescue dog.
— "Max's Story," the tale of a little Yorkie pup who "takes on the big city to help the girl he loves," according to Cameron's website.
— "Bailey's Story," where a Golden Retriever puppy learns that his greatest purpose is protecting his boy.
All "Puppy Tale" novels are recommended for readers age 8-11 (though any dog lover would enjoy) and come with free kid-friendly activity kits courtesy of Cameron's website — brucecameronbooks.com.
Photo courtesy of Amazon.
A note from TXDM
The dog community is so special and we love that there is constantly space for more (and even more) brands who love and support the dogs of Texas (and beyond)!
We are so excited to announce Texas Dog Magazine's initiative to share the stories of Texas rescues, nonprofits and other dog-related organizations, as well as the businesses that support them.
I would also like to thank my team for collaborating on this initiative and ultimately putting the dogs at the forefront of our media company.
On behalf of myself, Ruekah and my team thank you to our readers for your endless support, because of all of you we get to do what we love for the furry companions that we love.
