This post today is a slight departure for all of us here at Doggi Bling.  Usually we post dog tips, dog toys, treats, crates, houses, dog food, or just about anything else relating to ways you can make your pet happier, healthier, safer or more comfortable.  Today, we’re posting about some news that we found, and the reason is…we couldn’t be happier at the outcome, or more upset about the facts behind it.

A dogfighting ring was just busted and broken in Texas.  For this, we are overjoyed.  According to the article I just read,

“State officials said late Friday that they had begun dismantling one of the largest dogfighting rings in the country that night, arresting eight people and seizing 187 dogs used by a sophisticated network of bettors throughout eastern Texas. Investigators continued to search for suspects Saturday….In all, 55 people were indicted after an undercover investigation that lasted 17 months. Officials said the network’s matches drew crowds of up to 100 people, who placed tens of thousands of dollars in wagers on a single fight.”

The simple fact that this goes on makes me angrier, sadder, and more frustrated than words can adequately describe.  How can anyone, anywhere, partake in such disgusting, despicible and atrocious acts?  As our friends on Dogster mentioned, the laws need to be changed to make punishments for such crimes MUCH, MUCH more strict and harsh.  It is insane that people convicted of these disgusting acts are only facing a maximum sentence of 2 years.  Ridiculous.  Dog and animal cruelty is a huge problem in this country and around the world, we all need to do whatever we can to help put an end to it.

Join the ASPCA, get educated, do research…if we all do a little, maybe we can do a lot.  For starters, could work Houston investigators to put an end to one ring.  Lets stop many more!

I can confidently say I will most likely NEVER be able to afford this dog toy.  Ever.  Basically, I’ll let the video do most of the talking, but what it is, is a “Virtual Soccer Game” that your pet can play and not cause any damage whatsoever.

In the video, you’ll see a little Jack Russell Terrier playing soccer on a miniature soccer field, pushing around a little soccer ball without ever touching or chewing anything! Impressive, no?  Could this be the future of dog toys?  Perhaps, but then again, the inability for the dog to chew up, taste, smell or well, destroy, the toy might take away a little bit of the fun.

Check out the video, check out the technology that makes it possible, and then check out your wallet and weep openly as you realize your pets will most likely have to settle for yet another $8 chew toy.  Ahh, life.

Hello and hopefully this finds you not TOO miserable being back among the working this fine Monday morning!  Just remember, we’re only days away from Thanksgiving and the sleepy, belly-filled weekend that will be sure to follow!  This Monday, we here at DoggiBling just wanted to impart some very important warnings to you:  NEVER give your dog an electric blanket!

That’s right, according to an article I just read, a chihuahua named Bubba in Bakersfield, California, is extremely lucky to be alive after chewing through an electric blanket and getting severely electrocuted.  Apparently, whilst snuggling into his electric blanket, Bubba chewed through and into the power cord and got shocked.  He immediately was unconscious and not breathing so his owners gave him CPR.  Luckily, they revived him and he was rushed to an animal hospital to recover with some severe burns.

Nevertheless, this is just a reminder for all you, like me, in colder climates:  Never attempt to warm your dog up with an electric blanket.  The electrical current running through it can be fatal, as Bubba almost proved.  Dogs chew, and if they chew the wrong things, they might not be chewing long, so please, please heed this warning!  Now, go snuggle up with your pets, keep each other warm and enjoy the rest of your Monday morning!

The elections are over, the results are in, and come January we will have a new President of this great country for the first time in 8 years!  I don’t know if you caught it or not, but during the election, President-Elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle promised their two children, Malia and Sasha, that win or lose, when the election was over they would be rewarded with a puppy.  On Election Night, Obama publically announced that when they moved into the White House, a brand new puppy would be coming with them!

Now that we have all the facts, all that’s left is to decide for them, is What kind of puppy?!  There will be as many different answers as there will be dog breeds and dog breed enthusiasts, but I really think we need to look a bit closer.  As mentioned in an article I just read, there are some things to take into consderation; Malia, the oldest Obama sister, has allergies, and so as such, the girls have mentioned interest in a Golden Doodle.  Golden Doodles are a new hybrid breed of dog, not yet recognized by the AKC that combines a Golden Retriever (my personal favorite breed and Great family dog) with a Standard Poodle.  This gives you the looks of a curly-headed Golden Retriever, but with hypo-allergenic properties.

President-Elect Obama has also mentioned in the press that he’s interested in Labradoodles, which, similar to Golden Doodles, are a combination of a standard Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poodle, also sharing the same hypo-allergenic properties.  The article also mentioned that the American Kennel Club also has a list of dogs that are great for people with allergies.  The breeds range from Bedlington Terriers, to Poodles, to Schnauzers to the prim and proper Maltese.  Basically, they have a wealth of options if allergies are their concern.

Whatever they choose, a lot of people are hoping, suggesting, and urging the Obama’s to choose a shelter dog to take into the White House with them.  Here is where we’re asking for YOUR help:  What kind of dog do YOU think should be the new First Puppy of the White House?  Sound off, we’ll post the results later!

Fear not friends, the weekend is almost here!  For this chilly Thursday morning, I thought I’d share with you an extremely cool idea I just found whilst browsing around the web.  Got an old used suitcase lying around your house and just don’t know what to do with it?  I suppose you have a few choices, you can recycle it, take it to goodwill, throw it away, sell it on eBay, put it in storage, OR…you COULD turn it into an extremely awesome, perfectly fashionable dog bed for your puppy!

As a fan of all things vintage, all things recycled, and all things creative, this idea certainly got me excited.  The process looks extraordinarily easy, just gut it out a bit, add a soft blanket or dog bed material, throw in their favorite toys and bam, you’ve got yourself a cushy, comfy, and hip dog bed for your pup.  The bigger the suitcase, the larger the bed it will make for larger breed dogs.  Have a miniature toy poodle?  Simple, use a day suitcase or small luggage and they’ll stay cozy and warm!  The best part, if you leave the lid on, you can simply pack it up and take it with you when you travel with your pets!

What a great idea!  If any of you have any similar creative projects, feel free to send them in!  If we like what we’ll see, we’ll feature you on the blog!  The ability to make something from nothing is so awesome, and I know your pets will appreciate them.  Not the creative or constructionist type?  You can always buy a dog bed, there are so many unique styles, materials and types out there, your dog could be sitting on a plush throne, or lying on a simple circular bed.  Whatever the case may be, get that dog some padding!

Each and every dog breed is born with a coat of fur.  That much we know to be true.  What we don’t often realize is, not all coats are created equal and there are a great deal of dogs out there that just can not handle the cold or rainy conditions that Winter brings all over this country.  While a Husky might be perfectly pleased to sit outside on a freezing cold day, a little Yorkie or Bichon Frise might freeze it’s little paws off.  That said, this Winter you might just have to start investing in some Winter clothes not only for you, but for your furry friends!

Bottom line, regardless of what breed you have, make sure they are warm enough this Winter, and stay dry on the chilly days.  There are plenty of ways to do this, and all are important.  An article I just read mentioned that Winter can be some of the most challenging times for dogs as their bodies struggle to regular their body temperatures by burning more calories than usual.  Here are some things to keep in mind if Winter where you live often gets nasty:

• If it is rainy where you are, you might want to invest in an easy to put on rain jacket for dogs, they make them in a wide variety of colors and sizes, so finding one to fit should be no problem at all.
• If the snow can get deep and accumulate, think about buying some booties that strap onto your dogs paws.  Ice chunks can develop between dog paws that become very painful.
• Sweaters and Dog Jackets can actually do wonders on keeping heat in for a smaller dog.  If you take your dog out on long walks during Winter months, try one.
• If your dog stays out long periods during colder weather, make sure to increase their daily caloric intake to compensate for the amount they will lose keeping themselves warm.  More food.
• Remember to keep their exercise up if they stay indoors during the cold spells.  They still need their fitness!

So, start investing in some dog Winter clothes.  Trust me, they will thank you!!

Hello and welcome back to the work week!  Hopefully this finds you well rested and hopefully over the diabetic shock that can be Halloween!  Here’s to hoping your dogs made it through the Halloween humiliation that can be pet costumes unscathed!  To kick things off this Monday morning, I decided that in light of Halloween’s passing, we should be very aware of our dog’s health.  We can’t always be scheduling vet visits, we can’t always take our pets in for checkups, but we should always be aware of their health.

So what do we do?  How about administer a DIY Doggy Exam!?  That’s right, you don’t need a medical degree, veterinary license or extensive knowledge to give your dog a daily, weekly or monthly check-up to make sure they are in tip-top shape without the bills of a vet visit, or hassle of meeting the appointments.  While regular check-ups and real vet visits are irreplaceable, this can be an amazingly helpful way to supplement those visits.  Here we go, DIY Doggy Exam:

“• Run your hands over your dog’s head and body. Any new lumps or bumps? Observe the eyes, and check inside the ears and under the tail. Give the pet a good belly rub as you check the abdomen for hardness, swelling, lumps or bumps.

Other things to check:

• Shiny coat?

• Fur coming out other than normal shedding?

• Visible discharges from eyes, nose, ears or glands?

• Lift up the side of the mouth to check whether teeth are clean and gums are pink. Bad breath and discoloration of gums are not healthy.

• The nose should be wet without a discharge.

• Ear flaps should be pink.

• A few minutes every month is all it takes. You probably will notice when something is not right. Be sure to tell the vet anything out of the ordinary to help avoid serious health problems.“

There you have it.  That should provide you with the very basics on how to make sure that your dog doesn’t have anything that requires help on a more serious level.

(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Hello and HAPPY HALLOWEEN from all of us here at DoggiBling.com!   We hope you and all your pets have a healthy, happy, safe and most importantly FUN Halloween!!!

Get out, take your pooch Trick-or-Treating, and see how many people come ready to give not only your kids, but your dogs some treats as well!!  We’ll be back, bright and early Monday morning with all your dog needs, wants, tips, tricks and ideas!

Happy Halloween!

Hello, Happy Monday and welcome back to DoggiBling!  Hopefully you had a great weekend, full of rest, relaxation and plenty of 1 on 1 time with your furry friends!  Speaking of our 4-legged counterparts, raise your hand if you don’t always give your pooch the right amount of exercise???

I have to admit, my hand was one of the first to shoot up.  We’re human, we make mistakes!  It doesn’t matter what happens, when it happens, or why, we all get sidetracked, busy and too involved to give our pets the proper exercise they deserve 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.  When you have a pet that demands large amounts of exercise and you just can’t give it to them on a regular basis, health problems, psychological problems and behavioral problems are often the result.  If you are NEW to the dog world, or not yet a dog owner, and you know you’re goign to have a tough time providing exercise, one of the most responsible and intelligent things you can do is invest in a dog that has a relatively low exercise need.

So what breeds are best?  The good news is, you have a wide variety of choices.  According to an article I just read, here are the BEST breeds for you, if providing a lot of exercise is just not in the cards: [Read more →]