I am very happy to announce a really great Dog Files Contest with some really great prizes!

The Contest

We’ve been busy trying to raise money to turn our Pit Proud Episode of the Dog Files into a feature length film. We want to get the word out there the Pit Pulls are awesome and Breed Specific Legislation does not work.

But we need your help, because making this film costs money.

To enter the contest, we just ask that you make a $10 or more contribution to help us get this film made.

To contribute and be entered into the contest, please click this link, indiegogo.com/pitproud.

Read below to see all the great prizes you can win that are being donated by our awesome sponsors who care about the welfare of pit bulls.

GRAND PRIZE
Bissell Lift-Off® Deep Cleaning System: Retails for $259.99
The Lift-Off® Deep Cleaning System features a portable spot cleaner that easily lifts off from the deep cleaner and can be carried away for cleaning hard-to-reach areas. Much like the BISSELL Little Green® or SpotBot® portable deep cleaners, this machine is perfect for deep cleaning stairs and upholstery. It is also convenient to have on hand for unexpected messes, like spills and pet accidents, and for cleaning auto interiors.

SECOND PRIZE
Rasnik Jewelry Silver Bone Ring: Retails for $60.00
Hand-Crafted Silver Jewelry

MORE PRIZES

Aroostudio Dog Collar: Retails for $30.00
Your choice of any $30.00 collar

Sirius Republic “Peace Love Pit Bulls” Dog Collar Retails for $36.00 – $39.00

So PLEASE go to http://indiegogo.com/pitproud, donate $10 or more to help us get the word out that Pit Bulls rock and BSL doesn’t work! Plus, you’ll get a chance to win a great prize!!!

The Dog Files would like to thank Bissell, Rasnik Jewelry, Aroostudio, Sirius Republic for their generous gifts! They rock and they deserve your business.

Any other doggie business that would like to give something away to help us make Pit Proud: The Movie please email us right here!

This contest ends December 6, 2011.

The winners will be hoisted as permanent banners on the ad industry’s version of Hollywood & Vine: New York’s Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame, and above all else will have the ultimate seal of approval from consumers.

“With it being Sparky’s 60th anniversary, we are thrilled that he is getting this kind of recognition and was chosen to be part of the parade,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of communications.

“We hope that all the public educators, families, firefighters and friends of Sparky will cast their votes so that he can have the extra special honor of being the top icon for 2011.”

Sparky was created in 1951 as part of an Advertising Council campaign for the National Fire Protection Association and has been the organization’s official mascot and spokesdog ever since .

In 1953, Sparky’s fire prevention campaign reached more than 68 million people through radio public service announcements and another three million through television. As an influential figure in fire prevention, his success can be attributed to collaboration with firefighters and others to educate the public on important prevention and safety messages.

Sparky frequently visits schools and participates in community events to spread fire safety messages, often accompanied by his firefighter friends.

In addition to connecting with the public through public service announcements and his featured role in Fire Prevention Week campaigns each October, he has a very active website and a Facebook page that was launched in 2011 as part of his 60th anniversary celebration.

If pooping out rocks was a skill, a Pug from Rhode Island would be the most talented dog in the country.

Instead, Harley the Pug will have to settle for a potential “Hambone Award,’’ given out annually by Veterinary Pet Insurance. Each year since 2009, the company has nominated the 12 most unusual and outrageous pet insurance claims that it receives out of tens of thousands. The award is named after a dog that was stuck in a refrigerator and chowed through an entire Thanksgiving ham before being found.

The good news is all nominees made full recoveries and received their insurance money.

The clubhouse leader this year is Harley, who ate more than 100 rocks and then pooped them out to the horror and astonishment of his owner, Lori Laverdiere of Manville, Rhode Island.

Harley’s competition includes a Terrier that bit a chainsaw while it was running, a Chihuahua that was snatched by a great horned owl in the middle of the night, and an English Mastiff that was kicked by a mule.

But even among that distinguished company, Harley’s story has captivated Hambone Award voters on VPI’s website. While on a walk with his owner one day, Harley started pooping out rocks like he was Hansel and Gretel leaving a trail of bread crumbs. Harley soon became ill, unable to eat or drink without vomiting. So Laverdiere rushed him to an emergency animal hospital, where X-rays revealed his stomach and intestines were jammed with more than 100 rocks. After taking some medication, Harley passed the small stones without needing surgery.

Also nipping at Harley’s heels in the race is Chico, a 3-year-old Chihuahua from Crystal Lake, Illinois, who became ensnared in the talons of a great horned owl when owner George Kalomiris took him for a walk at 1:30 a.m.

Chico was secured to a leash when the owl snatched him, so it soon became a tug of war between Kalomiris and the large bird — with Chico in the middle. Eye-to-eye with the owl, Kalomiris fought it off as it dragged Chico through the snow. Chico suffered a small puncture wound on his right foreleg in the battle with the bird, which had a five-foot wingspan.

Other nominees from this year include a Golden Retriever that was bit on the nose by a snapping turtle, a Dachshund that was attacked by a seagull, and another Golden Retriever that had a 25-pound otter clamp down on its nose.

Previous winners include Ellie, a Labrador that ate a beehive, and Lulu, an English Bulldog that scarfed down 15 baby pacifiers.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog FIles

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

And that definitely seems to be the case with Yoda who was kissed and cuddled by her owner as the pooch bagged the title of the World’s Ugliest Dog.

The contest, held at Friday’s Sonoma-Marin Fair in Northern California, featured an array of “ruff” looking canines including last year’s winner, a one-eyed Chihuahua named Princess Abby and Handsome Hector who even has his own Facebook page and blog.

But in this year’s dog-eat-dog contest, Yoda, who was a first time entrant, managed to wow the judges with her short tufts of hair, protruding tongue and long hairless legs.

The 14-year-old Chinese-Crested Chihuahua mix has come a long way since she was found behind a row of houses by owner Nicole Schumacher.

Originally frightened out of her wits and under the impression the mangy-looking mutt was a rat, Schumacher almost ran a mile out of fear

But on closer inspection she soon discovered it was an abandoned dog in need of a good home and quickly took her in.

The Chihuahua breed appears to be firm favorite for the title of the ugliest dog as a pedigree.

A Chinese Crested won in 2008 and another Chinese Crested and Chihuahua mix was named the ugliest in 2007.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

Brian is going. So is Jonah. And don’t forget Big and Page.

These aren’t Hollywood stars ready to attend a grand premiere. They are stars of a different sort.

Brian is a Shetland sheepdog. Jonah is a Chihuahua, and Big and Page are Pyrenean

These local dogs, with about 4,000 others, will be competing at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship dog show this weekend in Long Beach.

“Other than Westminster, Eukanuba is the biggest and most important dog show of the year,” said Deb Franklin, a Le Grand Chihuahua exhibitor and the owner of Jonah.

Franklin said dogs must be invited to participate at the Long Beach event, and only the top 25 dogs in each breed, figured by points accrued throughout the year, are invited.

There will be more than 4,000 dogs at the show Saturday and Sunday, competing for a total of more than $225,000 in prize money.

The American Kennel Club breeder of the year will be named at the show.

“It’s the only show you can go to in the United States and see the top dogs in every breed,” Franklin said. Along with Jonah, she’s taking Wasabi, another Chihuahua.

To read the rest of this story, click here.

By Linda Cole

In Thursday’s National Dog Show competition, a Boxer named Scarlett had impressive credentials, but it was Clooney, an Irish Setter, who won Best in Show.
Clooney and his handler, Peter Kubacz, summed up the day’s events with an interview at the end of the dog show.

When Kubacz was asked if Clooney knew he was the top dog, Clooney nodded yes with the enthusiasm of a true winner.

Clooney was one of more than 2,000 dogs representing 179 different breeds that took to the ring on Thanksgiving Day to compete in The National Dog Show presented by Purina.

Hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, the show is one of the oldest benched conformation dog shows in the country and has been held annually since 1933.

A conformation dog show shows off breeding stock and a benched show allows those attending to mingle with the dogs behind the scenes.

To pick the winning dog, the judge has to know the breed standard of each dog.

Six new dog breeds were among the breeds showcased in this year’s National Dog Show.

New breeds are recognized by the American Kennel Club when the breed has a good following spread across the country with a parent club to oversee them.

The six new breeds introduced this year were the Boykin Spaniel in the sporting group, the Cane Corso and the

Leonberger in the working group, the Bluetick Coonhound and Redbone Coonhound in the hound group and the Icelandic Sheepdog in the herding group.

To read the full story, click here.

By Rebecca Wallwork

Once the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is over on Thursday, the TV options are simple: football or dogs.

While the New England Patriots take on the Detroit Lions on CBS, dogdom’s best athletes will be battling it out in the show ring on NBC — competing in the National Dog Show Presented by Purina.

In the world of dog shows, this is akin to the playoffs (with the Westminster Kennel Club show in February being the Super Bowl). The dogs have competed in regional shows all year, and now come head-to-head, breed-to-breed
in the race to Best in Show.

While the show’s on-air analyst David Frei likes the look of certain breeds in this year’s lineup — the smooth fox terrier, Irish setter, boxer and Pekingese, in particular — he says, “The beauty of our sport is that dogs are judged on the day.

Peyton Manning doesn’t throw five touchdown passes every time out, and the dogs may not always have their best day, either.”

As you watch this year’s National Dog Show, keep your eyes peeled for these six new breeds.

Frei, who used to work for the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers, compares the dogs to the other stars of Thanksgiving TV — football players.

New Breeds: Boykin Spaniel-Sporting Group; Leonberger-Working Group; Can Corso-Working Group; Icelandic Sheepdog- Herding Group; Bluetick Coonhound.

To read the full story, click here.

From prnewswire.com

Online Contest Honors ‘Best Of Show’ Grand Prize Winner In Five Categories

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — After years of living in the shadows of his blue blood brothers who strut on the blue carpet at the National Dog Show Presented by Purina, the everyday dog finally has his day.

Nestle Purina PetCare is conducting the first online “Petcentric Dog Show Photo Contest” to honor everyday dogs, their unique looks and their special talents. Throughout November and December, dog lovers can log into www.petcentric.com to upload a photo of their favorite pooch in one of five categories:

“Best Expression”
“Best Athlete”
“Best Troublemaker”
“Most Loveable”
“Best John O’Hurley Lookalike”

Dog show fans know O’Hurley as the co-host of the National Dog Show Presented by Purina that airs on NBC on Thanksgiving Day.

“It’s time for the everyday dog to get the recognition he deserves,” said O’Hurley, the award-winning actor who is best known as J. Peterman from “Seinfeld,” one of the top syndicated TV shows in the world. “The Petcentric Dog Show is a fun way for dog owners to pay tribute to their four-legged friends who live in virtual anonymity compared to show dogs. And I must say I’m intrigued to see the entries we receive in the ‘Best John O’Hurley Lookalike’ category.”

To read the rest click here.

The best city in America for dogs? According to Dog Fancy Magazine it’s Provincetown, Massachusetts!

The winning city had to include plenty of dog parks and events, top notch veterinary care and laws that support and protect pets.

Rounding out the top 10:
Carmel, Calif.
Madison, Wis.
Benicia, Calif.
Fort Bragg, Calif.
Lincoln City, Ore.
San Diego, Calif.
Virginia Beach, Va.
Sioux Falls, S.D.
Salem, Ore.

Photo by Ixiana Hernandez of Petographs.com

Fear Of Fireworks In Dogs By Andrea Arden

Most people respond to a fireworks display with delighted “Oohs” and “Ahhs.” Unfortunately, what most Americans consider the ultimate way of celebrating the Fourth of July may cause their dog to wish they could hide under the covers until it is all over. The dog’s highly sensitive hearing paired with the over the top stimulus of the low-frequency, thundering, prolonged, booming sounds of fireworks, and the fact that it is an experience that happens only once a year for most dogs (which means it is unfamiliar) can result in an extremely jarring and stressful experience for your canine companion. As a result, the dog may shake, drool excessively, whine, and even the most normally well-behaved and friendly dog may become unpredictable and destructive.

Helping your dog cope with fireworks is a process that should ideally begin in puppyhood. Many dogs will startle at loud noises (just like people), but can bounce back quickly, especially if they have been raised in a home that focuses on early and ongoing habituation to a variety of sounds and other stimuli. If you are raising a young puppy, consider that while fireworks have some unique sound qualities (i.e. the volume, duration, frequency) you can help a young, impressionable puppy to develop the ability to better cope with loud sounds in general which may help them cope with the specific sounds of fireworks. If your dog is currently suffering from stress due to fireworks, consider that helping them to develop the skills to better cope during this experience can be a lengthy process which needs to also be paired with management techniques on the day of. Some of the following tips should help your dog make it through the day with as little stress as possible.

Minimize Exposure: You may able to at least partially drown out the noise of the fireworks display by turning on the radio or TV and a fan or air conditioner. You can also minimize your dog’s exposure by setting them up in an area of the home where they are least likely to hear the display of fireworks. If your dog has learned to enjoy spending time resting in a crate where they are fed some of their meals and offered safe chew toys to play with this might be a suitable, safe resting spot during fireworks. Be sure to close and secure doors and windows and consider closing drapes or blinds. Also be sure to reduce any additional stimulus (such as visitors) which may further excite or stress your dog. If you live near the site of a fireworks display, consider having your dog stay at a friend’s home that your dog is familiar with who is farther away. Just be sure they have made visits there previously and that being in that environment will be more conducive to a peaceful experience.

Provide Exercise: Plan for a vigorous walk (appropriate for your dog’s age, health and the temperature) earlier in the day prior to the fireworks display. Burning off mental and physical energy may aid the dog in being better able to cope later in the day.

Offer Potential Distractions: Be sure to provide your dog with safe chew toys so they have something to occupy them. Those which can be stuffed with food are usually most likely to effectively act as a behavioral pacifier.

Do Not Leave Your Dog Unsupervised in the Yard: There are always risks associated with leaving a dog unsupervised in a yard (they can get stolen, agitated by passerbys, or escape). However, you should be especially careful not to leave a dog unsupervised outdoors on the day of a fireworks display. The stress of the experience may cause even an otherwise calm dog to go to extreme measures to escape.

Consider the Use of Calming Aids: Over the counter calmatives such as DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) which mimics the natural pheromone a mother dog releases when nursing to calm herself and her pups, or rescue remedy may help. The Anxiety Wrap, a vest that wraps snugly around the dog’s chest may also help to soothe them. If you are considering the use of sedatives be sure to have a detailed conversation with your veterinarian about the specifics of the use of a prescribed medication.

Provide Gradual Exposure to Loud Noises: Integrating loud sounds into the dog’s daily routine, especially during those times when they are engaged in a pleasurable activity such as eating or playing games, should be part of a plan to help them become familiar and less sensitive to these stimuli. Keep in mind that careful observation of your dog is required in order to keep the set-up stimulus below the threshold that triggers a potentially high stress response. Working with a qualified trainer is advisable as they can help you set up a plan for gradual exposure which may include: Playing tapes of fireworks sounds; Exposing your dog to sparklers, bright lights, and toy roll caps which produce a popping sound and the smell of gunpowder (similar to fireworks); Loud popping sounds from a balloon or blown up paper or plastic bag.

Avoid Inadvertently Reinforcing Fear: In most cases it is advisable to avoid hugging or petting a dog in a state of fear as this may inadvertently reinforce the response rather than help to alleviate it

Many cases of firework phobias cannot be completely resolved. But, with careful management and a focus on behavior modification your dog should be able to cope with the experience in a more peaceful and stress free manner.

Andrea is currently on Animal Planet’s shows Underdog to Wonderdog, Dogs101, and Cats101. She was the trainer for The Pet Department, FX’s Emmy award winning daily show, and appears regularly on The Today Show. Her appearances also include 20/20, Dateline NBC, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Live with Regis & Kelly, The View, CBS News, CNN, Fox, PBS, Fox News, and Lifetime, as well as numerous radio shows.

Andrea Arden has written five books including Dog Friendly Dog Training (Wiley, 2007), Train Your Dog the Lazy Way (Macmillan, 1999), and The Little Book of Dog Tricks (IDG, 2002). She has been the behavior columnist for Dog Fancy and The New York Dog magazines as well as a contributing writer for the AKC Gazette, Modern Dog and numerous other publications.

Andrea has served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Animal Haven Shelter and Sanctuary.

Andrea is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer through the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers and a Certified Pet Partners Team evaluator for the Delta Society and the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. She is the director of Andrea Arden Dog Training, and was named the best dog trainer in New York by New York, W, Time Out and Quest magazines and the Daily News.

Check out Andrea’s Website right here!