Pets Cute and Docile

Dog Breed Profile: Dogue de Bordeaux

By Lisa Mason

The Dogue de Bordeaux, also called the Bordeaux Bulldog and French Mastiff, is a very amazing dog. It’s not known exactly how this breed first originated, but some speculate they were linked to breeds like the Bulldog, Tibetan Mastiff and Bullmastiff. What is known for sure is that the Dogue de Bordeaux is a smart breed that has protected his “master” for many years. This Dogue de Bordeaux profile will help you understand the breed better so you can determine if he’s suited for your family. Responsible pet ownership means learning all you can about your pet so that you can provide the best care possible.

Stature

The Bordeaux Bulldog is a muscular dog with a gigantic, wrinkled head and a short, stocky body. These features make this French breed a very powerful and intimating dog. They have a medium to short but wide muzzle that averages about a third the length of their head. The nose is big and the upper lip hangs down in thick wrinkles over their lower jaws.

The dog has a loose fold of skin that hangs from his neck, and light or dark brown eyes that are set far apart. He has small ears compared to the rest of his body. The base of his tail is broad but tapers off at the end. He has muscular legs, a broad chest and loose skin.

The adult Dogue de Bordeaux usually weighs between 120 to 150 pounds and stands up to 30 inches high. Their coat varies from light to dark shades of brown and sometimes they’ll have a reddish color mixed in. Around the eyes, nose and lips are usually a darker shade of brown or red, and some dogs will have white marks on the toes and chest area.

Temperament

The Bordeaux Bulldog is a wonderful breed for any type of family. He’s gentle, calm and one of the most loyal dogs you’ll ever encounter. He’s patient but fearless, so he makes an excellent guard dog that will watch over your family and protect you with his life. Don’t let his size and intimidating looks fool you, he’s a gentle creature that would do great with children. However, it is important that you understand the nature of a dog and establish yourself as pack leader before bringing this breed into your home.

Training

This breed of dog needs proper training because he is both fearless and confrontational. You must establish yourself as the leader of the pack or he will assume this role and your life will be chaotic. He needs direction and a leader so he can be the gentle creature he is by nature. When the pack leader is established, order will follow, which is why you need to be calm but firm at all times with your Dogue de Bordeaux.

If possible, he needs to be socialized with people and other animals when he’s a pup. Without socialization, he could become very aggressive when he meets other dogs. Show confidence, be consistent and respect your dog, and he will respect and follow you.

Health Concerns

Unlike many other breeds, the Bordeaux Bulldog doesn’t have a lot of health issues but they do have a habit of snoring and drooling. Their life expectancy is between 10 to 12 years. In some cases, this breed will develop heart problems, hyperkeratosis, epilepsy and they sometimes suffer from hip dysplasia. Female dogs are also prone to having cesareans even though they usually have very small litters.

Grooming and Caring for Your Dog

The Dogue de Bordeaux require very little grooming with the occasional bath to keep his skin clean and coat shiny. They’re an average shedder, but brushing his coat can help to keep it soft and in good shape. It is very important that this breed get plenty of exercise so take him for long walks every day, even when it’s raining or cold.

When outdoors, they are very active but when indoors they tend to be more relaxed and lay around. For this reason, they can live in apartment buildings, condos and other homes that don’t have a backyard, provided they get the proper amount of exercise. If these dogs don’t get enough exercise, they can easily develop behavior problems.

Adult dog photos by Maja Dumat
Puppy photo by heathcliff31416

Read more articles by Lisa Mason

By Bear, Canine Guest Blogger

Howdy! Well, it’s been a while since I’ve been allowed to write a post here, you know my mommy always wants to say things her way. Besides I’ve been a little busy lately… I’ve become a couch potato!

When Mom has to leave the house she always leaves the TV on for me so I don’t, as she says, destroy things. I really don’t, but when I hear things outside and want to see, I sometimes have to climb up on her desk or on the table near the window. Okay, sometimes I might put my paws on the windowsill and maybe the curtains get pulled down if there’s a cat or another dog in my yard. Hey, I’m just letting them know they are trespassing!

Oh yeah, back to the story… so, she leaves the TV on and turns it up to drown out other sounds, then she leaves. I don’t know why this woman thinks an intelligent dog like me is going to be interested in children’s cartoons; it’s obvious she hasn’t a clue about a doggie brain. I have figured out how to find the shows I want to watch, and let me tell you there is much better programming on for pets than cartoons!

Did you know there are entire channels dedicated to food shows? That’s right; I can curl up on the sofa and watch people cook all sorts of yummy foods. My favorite is Diners, Drive-in’s and Dives with that spiky haired Guy Fieri – boy, he finds all the best food!

When I’ve drooled a nice puddle and am tired of wishing I could eat what’s on the television, I move to the other end of the sofa and choose another show. There are lots of shows on Animal Planet that are great fun for a dog to watch.

My favorites are the Puppy Bowl, agility training and competitions, and the Westminster Dog Shows. I’ve even seen dogs playing flyball there! I don’t like the Animal Cops shows because they make me sad. I’m so well taken care of I can’t imagine having an owner treat me badly like some of the poor cats and dogs on that show. I always change the channel when that comes on.

Mom doesn’t like me watching the show called Bad Dog because she says it will give me ideas and I am bad enough without inspiration. Again, y’all can clearly see that I’m not a bad dog. I’m a smart dog who gets bored. Maybe if she would spend less time on the computer and more time playing with me, I wouldn’t do bad things! How hard is it to close the laptop and take a break to play fetch for a while? But I digress.

Anyway, I found the Bad Dog show and a few others while Mom wasn’t home. Hoooboy, I picked up some great tricks. Did you know you can easily trick your owner using a simple diversion and get out without a leash on? Yup, I saw it happen. Now if only there was another dog here to create the diversion so I could get out and go visiting. Mom always tugs my leash to make me walk past this house down the road; I really want to stop and smell and get acquainted with the 2 big dogs that live there, because they look like a lot of fun! I also learned some nifty ways to sneak CANIDAE treats and get Mommy to play when she doesn’t want to.

The best show for dogs and doggie moms to watch is My Cat from Hell, boy oh boy if you thought you liked cats you should watch this and change your mind. No wonder dogs are man’s best friend – those felines are flat out crazy!

It’s a dog’s life for me these days. I’ve got a full bowl of water, plenty of yummy CANIDAE food and a comfy couch in front of the television. Care to join me?

Photo by Suzanne Alicie

Read more articles by Bear’s Mom

By Linda Cole

No one looks forward to the flu. The chills, aches and pains can send even the hardiest person to bed for a few days. We try to do what we can to avoid the flu, but when symptoms appear, we know people around us are at risk of catching what we have. It was thought at one time that pets in the home couldn't be infected, but new research is raising a red flag that says it is possible to pass the flu bug to our pets.

So how do you know if you're dealing with a cold or the flu? After all, they have common symptoms. Colds enter the body via the nose and primarily affect us above the neck with runny nose, sneezing, congestion and sore throat. Some people might have an achy feeling, with a low grade temperature. You know you're coming down with a cold because symptoms develop over a period of a couple of days. The flu hits you like a brick. One minute you're fine and the next you're wrestling with muscle aches, chills, fever, fatigue and tightness in your chest, all of which are likely to send you to bed. Other symptoms can include a running nose or cough, but not as severe as with a cold.

The common belief for years was that our pets couldn't catch the flu from their owner, but new research has challenged this with studies that show it is possible. When an infectious disease moves from animals to humans, it's called zoonosis. Reverse zoonosis happens when humans infect animals. In 2009, the H1N1 flu virus, also known as the swine flu, had the first ever recorded case of a human transmitting the flu to her two cats. The woman recovered, but her cats died. Since then, 11 cats, one dog and a handful of ferrets have been infected with the flu after having contact with a sick human.

Veterinarians at Iowa State and Oregon State Universities have been doing research to determine how common cases of reverse zoonosis are, and it's not fully understood how the process works. However, recent studies have turned up surprising results showing it's more common than once thought for us to infect our pets with the flu. In a study unrelated to the Iowa/Oregon State research, after analyzing blood samples from cats and dogs, scientists found 30 percent of cats had evidence of being infected with the seasonal flu, and 20 percent had traces of H1N1 virus.

There are 1,415 known pathogens that affect humans and 61 percent of them are zoonotic, which means the infectious disease was transmitted to us from animals. Researchers have good evidence to support the belief that measles, HIV and smallpox originated in animals first. But there hasn't been as much research into humans infecting animals.

So yes, you can give your pet the flu. Symptoms in pets are similar to ours: fatigue, congestion, runny nose and sneezing. If you have the flu, snuggling with your pet probably isn't a good idea; also, avoid sneezing or coughing in your pet's face.

A new strain of dog flu, A H3N8, was uncovered in 2004 in racing Greyhounds in a Florida kennel. Dogs were infected with a virus originally found in horses. There have been no reports of this strain crossing over to humans, but it's a serious illness dog owners should be aware of. When it was first reported, the new flu strain had already made dogs extremely ill, and some of them died. Since then, a vaccine has been developed for dog owners who want to give their pet some protection, and for dogs that are high risk because of age or medical conditions. However, the vaccine doesn't prevent the virus, it only lessens the effects of this highly contagious disease. There have been sporadic outbreaks in different areas of the country, so it wouldn't hurt to check with your vet to see if a flu shot is recommended for your dog.

When an infectious disease crosses over to other species, there's always a concern for mutations that can make the virus more dangerous and harder to control. The best advice is to refuse your pet's desire to keep you company while you're sick and keep them at a distance. If you suspect your pet has caught your flu, as a precaution you should have your cat or dog checked out by your vet. The flu can be serious for at-risk pets, just like it is for at-risk humans, and they can die from complications of the flu. Protect your pet by not snuggling up with him when you're sick. He may not understand, but you will be doing him a favor and hopefully keeping him healthy.

Dog photo by sfbox
Cat photo by Takashi Hososhima

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Funny White Tiger

By Julia Williams

Bow wow WOW! It’s been four years since CANIDAE began the Responsible Pet Ownership blog, and what a ride it’s been. Let’s pop a cork and have a PAWTY!

I’ve been Editor of the RPO blog for nearly all of that time, and I’ve watched it grow and evolve to become something better than I ever imagined. Blogging has been around for awhile now, but in many ways is still in its infancy, and there’s so much yet to discover.

I can’t wait to see what the next four years has in store for this blog, as well as for all of the other pet blogs and bloggers I’ve come to know and love. Social media is a unique sign of the times; unless you have a fairly new dictionary, you won’t find the terms “blog” and “blogging” in there. And yet, blogs have become a part of daily life for many of us. Whether we read blogs, write blogs or do some of both, it’s hard to imagine them not being there.

CANIDAE began this blog with a few simple but heartfelt goals – to connect with customers, make new friends, share interesting and fun stories, and impart knowledge to help people be the best “pet parents” they can be.

Four years and nearly 2,000 posts later, I’m happy to say these goals have all been met, and so much more. Responsible pet ownership is at the heart of everything this blog stands for and strives to accomplish. It’s the cornerstone of the CANIDAE brand as well as the philosophy of all who work for the company.

The writers of this blog also understand how important responsible pet ownership is, and we seek to share what we’ve learned as lifelong pet lovers. What we write here is all about two things: the pets and the people who love them. Some days we just want to entertain you, while other times we hope to enlighten. But it’s really all the same – coming together with other pet lovers in this unique social media venue.

I’m proud to be associated with this blog and the quality brand behind it. I look forward to each day’s post, and I hope you do as well. We are always open to suggestions for improvements, so feel free to suggest them at any time.

To celebrate the RPO blog’s four year anniversary, we decided to have a giveaway! Four readers will each win a 15 pound bag of CANIDAE dog food or FELIDAE cat food (your choice).

To enter the giveaway, just leave us a nice comment and some way to reach you – email address, a link back to your blog, etc. Deadline for entering is February 25, 2013 and winners will be contacted shortly thereafter. Good luck!

Dog photo by alexeyklyukin
Cat photo by Craig Howell

Read more articles by Julia Williams

Funny Gorilla

Funny Shar Pei Dog

Shar Pei Dog Sleeping

Shar Pei Dog Funny Pic

Cute Shar Pei Dog

Cute Baby Shar Pei Dog

Shar Pei Dog Funny

Funniest Shar Pei Dog

By Langley Cornwell

There are plenty of famous animated cats in cartoons, on television and in the movies. We’re probably all familiar with the likes of Sylvester, Felix, Tigger, Oscar, Tom and Garfield, but what about live cat actors? It seems like the live dog actors get all the press. Even here, I recently wrote about Eddie, the dog from Frasier, and Toto but I’ve never given any space to live cat actors.

Granted, anybody that has ever shared their life with a cat knows it’s not easy to teach a cat to perform a task on command. For that reason, there are not as many famous cat actors to write about. Still, our feline thespians should get the recognition they deserve, so here is a little background on some famous cat actors.

Vito Vincent

A congenial orange tabby named Vito Vincent has achieved a level of fame and a reputation for being incredibly calm, even amidst the hustle and bustle of film and television sets. So far, Vito has gained recognition by being on high profile TV shows that film in New York, like 30 Rock and The Colbert Report. His owner and manager believes that Vito will get even bigger and better gigs in Hollywood, so they recently moved from the Big Apple to the West Coast so Vito could let his star shine bright.

Milo

In The Adventures of Milo & Otis, the cat actor and the dog actor got equal screen time. Oh well, at least the cat got top billing. In fact, The Adventures of Milo & Otis is a remake of a Japanese movie called Koneko Monogatari, which means A Kitten's Story. Milo is an orange tabby kitten and her canine companion is a pug named Otis. Dudley Moore provides the voices of both characters and all of the actors are animals; no humans show up in this film. The movie reportedly took four years to complete due to the complexities of working strictly with animal actors – I wonder how many truckloads of training treats like CANIDAE TidNips and Snap-Bits were used to get the animals to do what they were supposed to?

Morris

This orange tabby tomcat is one of the most familiar cats of all time. Television commercials starring the sardonic cat ran during the 1970’s and 1980’s and “catapulted” the one-time shelter cat into stardom. Morris was rescued in 1968 by animal trainer Bob Martwick. Bob was visiting the Humane Society in Hinsdale, Illinois when he spotted Lucky (the original Morris’s real name) just before he was scheduled for euthanasia. The cat left the shelter and went on to become the world’s most finicky cat. But Morris did more than just commercials. He also made an appearance in the Burt Reynolds and Dyan Cannon movie Shamu. Additionally, this famous feline has written three books. The original Morris has crossed over the rainbow bridge but now, according to No Animals Were Harmed, any cat that plays the role of Morris has to be rescued from an animal shelter. The current Morris lives in Los Angeles with his owner, Rose Ordile.

DC

The cat(s) from the 1965 film That Darn Cat!, a Disney classic starring Dean Jones and Haley Mills, is one of the most famous cat actors. The movie is about two sisters and their Siamese tomcat named DC. It may not be entirely fair to include DC in this lineup, however, because there were actually several Seal Point Siamese cats that collectively play the starring role. Still, because this entire live action film is about a cat, and the cat(s) steal the show so thoroughly, I felt compelled to include DC.

Have I left out any of your favorite live cat actors?

Read more articles by Langley Cornwell

Funny Cat and Mouse Pictures

Cat and Mouse are very Funny and cute animals. Mostly people like them. The Cat and the Mouse, made famous by Tom and Jerry have made us laugh for many years but some cats and mice get along together just fine. Check out these cat and mouse pictures and judge for yourself.

Funny Cat and Mouse

Mishka meets an abandoned bear cub

By Linda Cole

Humans have raised, bred and trained dogs to perform specific jobs for centuries. Canines have been used to guard flocks, homes and families, and to perform tricks to amuse us. There are even wildlife detection dogs. When we use the talents of dogs, it not only makes a job we have to do easier, it can also be the most effective way of taking care of a problem. A biologist working for the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife decided to combat a bear problem by utilizing one of the most efficient solutions to wandering bears – the Karelian Bear Dog. With the help of this brave dog breed, wildlife is being saved, and people are better protected.

The Karelian Bear Dog (KBD) is a rare and ancient breed native to Finland. They were bred to hunt elk, lynx, cougar, deer, moose, boar and bear. This fearless dog is ready to fiercely fight to the death to protect his owner, if necessary. This isn't a breed that likes to share his human with other dogs, and is dog aggressive. Nor is this a breed for someone who doesn't know how to properly train and control a powerful dog.

Mishka is ready to go to work!

The Karelian Bear Dog is a natural hunter with a high prey drive, picking up both air and ground scents. A medium sized dog, standing 19 to 23 inches and weighing 40 to 65 pounds, the KBD is independent, extremely loyal, tough and an intelligent guard dog. The Karelian Bear Dog has no problem standing up to large prey, and he will not back down.

Anytime wildlife officials can find nonlethal methods to deal with problem predators getting too close to where humans live, it's a good thing for the environment, the animals and people. The KBD is capable of dealing with a Grizzly bear, but Washington State primary uses the dogs to control black bear. A pilot program in 2007 was set up with one dog, Mishka, and his handler, WDFW Officer Bruce Richards. It didn't take long for both of them to prove their worth by effectively dealing with complaints about problem bears.

The dogs are used to shepherd bear, an effective way of teaching predators to avoid humans. Three other dogs, Cash, Colter and Savute, have joined Mishka, and all four work to reduce human-bear encounters. After a bear has been captured, it's released in a remote area in a “hard release.” The dogs approach a bear still in a cage, barking constantly. If the bear charges the door of the cage, the dogs stand their ground. Upon release, wildlife officers shoot beanbags at the bear's behind, and fire blanks into the air to scare the predator as the dogs run after the animal as a warning to never return. The dogs are called back with whistles, otherwise they would continue chasing until the bear was treed.

Mishka on a "hard release"

The KBD’s talents go beyond helping to manage wildlife; they are also trained to locate evidence in poaching cases, find animal carcasses and spent bullet casings, and protect the wildlife officers from predators that may be drawn to a carcass. Shortly after Mishka and Richards began working as a team, Mishka was able to find enough evidence to prosecute a suspect accused of poaching elk. The poacher almost got off, because even after spending more than 600 hours searching for evidence, investigators couldn't find anything. Mishka was able to find it in 15 minutes.

Officer Richards, with the help of Mishka and the other dogs in the program, has a success rate of around 80 percent in hard releases, which are designed to reintroduce a natural fear of humans in the bear. Through the Karelian Bear Dog program, Richards and other wildlife officers have also initiated a public education program to help people living in bear country understand how to prevent bears from coming into populated areas.

Cash trees a bear

Because of budget cuts, the enforcement program is funded completely with private money. The Karelian Bear Dog is a one-person dog, for the most part, and will protect the person he's bonded with. The dogs live with their handlers to make sure their bond is strong, because the wildlife officers depend on their dog to protect them in the field if a bear or cougar should attack. Since the program only gets money from private donations, the officers take care of the dog food and vet bills out of their own pockets.

There's no reason why humans and wildlife can't co-exist on the land. The Karelian Bear Dogs, and wildlife officials have found a way to deal with problem bears without using lethal force. The grizzly and black bear are an important part of the environment, keeping habitats healthy and strong. Using a dog born to stand up to a bear keeps the predator in his own backyard, and out of the backyards of residents.

Photos courtesy of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Read more articles by Linda Cole

Funny Chipmunk

By Tamara McRill

I'm a dog person who likes to make special things for every holiday. So of course I had to make some Valentine's Day crafts inspired by my canine loves! The three doggie Valentine’s Day crafts featured here offer a little something for everyone and are fairly easy to make. They even make excellent gifts for the dog lovers in your life.

Sweetheart Dog Book Page Art

Have you ever seen those framed book pages with an ink drawing or sketch of a dog on them and wished you could have one of your pet? I have and finally figured out just how simple it was to make. Especially after using some of the same techniques used in making a dog portrait pumpkin.

Supplies: Ruler, scissors, tape, pencil, black ink pen or fine point marker, red marker, book or newspaper page, frame, computer and photo of your dog.

1. Measure the opening of your photo frame.

2. Cut your book or newspaper page 1/2 inch wider than that measurement. (Bonus points if you can find a page about dogs.)

3. Bring up your dog’s photograph on your computer screen. Blow it up just big enough to fit in the center of your book page.

4. Tape your book page to your monitor and lightly trace the photograph. You don’t have to get too detailed, just get the general impression, but don’t forget to give the idea of your pet’s general markings.

5. Untape your book page and go over what you have traced with a black pen or marker.

6. Color the dog’s tongue and collar with red marker.

7. Draw a red heart in the upper right or wherever you like best.

8. Frame your book page art.

Of course, feel free to take any artistic license! Dusty was quite fascinated with his portrait.

Heart Paw Print Ornament

What I love about this craft is that it’s adaptable, i.e., you can make many variations. I’m thinking it would make a great addition to my dog themed Christmas tree. One word of caution though: If your dog doesn’t like his paws messed with, please form the paw print with your thumbs.

Supplies: Exacto knife or heart cookie cutter, black permanent marker, food coloring, red crystal cookie sprinkles, cookie sheet, rolling pin, oven, bakable “clay” dough, toothpick, ribbon and your dog. (The bakable “clay” dough recipe is after the steps, and makes about four ornaments.)

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

2. Roll out the clay dough until it is ¼ inch thick.

3. Use the exacto knife or heart cookie cutter to cut out your hearts. Be sure these are big enough for your dog’s print to go in the center.

4. Gently press your dog’s paw into the clay. If your dog has long hair between her pads, you may have to gently spread the paw to get a good print.

5. Give your pet a CANIDAE dog treat for indulging your shenanigans.

6. Use the toothpick to make a hole near the top of the disk above the print, big enough to thread your ribbon through.

7. Use the toothpick or marker to write your pet’s name on the ornament.

8. Place the dough on the cookie sheet. Add the red sprinkles where the paw print is.

9. Place the cookie sheet in the oven and bake for approximately 10 minutes. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn. The color of the dough will lighten as it bakes.

10. Let your ornaments cool and string with your ribbon.

As you can see from the picture, I tried to make a “love” sign with my dough, but the “V” was too puny when I assembled it.

Bakable “Clay” Dough:

1 cup flour
¼ cup salt
½ cup water
10-15 drops food coloring

Directions

1. Mix the flour and salt together.

2. With your hands, gradually mix in water until the dough becomes all the way moist, but doesn’t stick to your hands.

3. Add food coloring and knead until you like the color. Don’t forget the color will fade as the ornament bakes.

Valentine Dog Hand Puppet

This puppet craft makes a fun toy to play with your dog, as long as you make sure he doesn’t eat any of it. Or maybe he’ll just cuddle with it, like Cody did.

Supplies: Scissors, tape or glue, brown paper lunch sack, black marker and colored paper (enough for four hearts).

1. Cut out four hearts from your colored paper: two for the ears, one for the nose and one for the tongue.

2. The face of your dog puppet will be the bottom of the sack. With your tape or glue, fasten one ear each to each top corner, heart points facing outward.

3. Draw the eyes on with the marker.

4. With the heart point facing up, fasten on the nose.

5. Taking the rounded edges of your last heart, fasten it underneath the folded flap of your bag. Make sure a portion sticks out for the tongue.

6. Draw on a smile.

7. Play!

Do you have any other ideas for pet-themed ornaments, or perhaps you’ve made some yourself? Feel free to share in the comments!

Photos by Tamara McRill

Read more articles by Tamara McRill

Pets Cute and Docile

Dog Breed Profile: Dogue de Bordeaux

Good TV Shows for Dogs

Can You Give Your Pet the Flu?

Funny White Tiger

4 Year Blogiversary Bash and a Giveaway!

Funny Gorillas Photos

Funniest & Cutest Shar Pei Dog New Images

Famous Cat Actors

Funny Cat and Mouse Pictures

How the Karelian Bear Dog is Saving Wildlife

Funny Chipmunk

Dog Inspired Valentine's Day Crafts