by Rene Knapp

Many people believe crating a dog for any length of time is cruel and they refuse to consider it. Thousands of dollars are spent by families every year because of the damage done by a new puppy who is given the run of the house while their owners are at work or out for an evening. The crate is a proven way to train dogs who act like ... well, dogs.

Not punishment

The first and hardest thing to get into your mindset is that a crate is not for punishment. Crates need to be a positive place where your dog can find security and pleasure. An attractive crate makes for a welcoming den — a nice blanket, yummy treats, a favorite toy and a chew stick help to make the pup comfortable. The crate needs to be in a place where your dog will not feel isolated (our dog’s crate is in our bedroom), so the pup feels like part of the family.

Using a crate properly establishes limits for your dog when you are away from the house and unable to monitor your dog’s behavior. A crate is also a safe area for your dog to be if you’re having a party and have a less-than-social canine. Dogs who are afraid of thunderstorms and fireworks often find refuge in their familiar crate.

The best way to get your dog to live happily with his crate is to introduce it when he is a puppy. Rather than have to punish him when he messes or chews your favorite pair of shoes, you can crate him before the trouble actually happens. While crates certainly don’t train your pup for you, they are a useful tool in housebreaking. You need to make sure the crate is the proper size for the animal. If the crate is too big, the puppy will use part of it as the bathroom, and that won’t help in the long run. You also have to be around to hear him. If the puppy is whining, chances are he needs to go to the bathroom and should be taken out. After meals and naps and before going into the crate, there should first be a trip outside.

The crate should be big enough to allow the dog to stand up and lie down comfortably. If you know your dog is going to grow into a big dog, then consider getting a divider so you will have the proper size crate in the beginning and the crate can grow with the dog. It should be put in a room where there is activity. Starting the puppy or dog in the crate for a few minutes at a time and working your way up in time is the best way for the dog to learn he is not being abandoned or “caged.”

Your dog will get accustomed to his crate and will enjoy the security of having his own space, but do not leave a puppy crated for longer than three or four hours at a time, or an adult dog for longer than eight hours. If left too long, your dog will start feeling trapped and frustrated. There are also many types of crates available: Aluminum, plastic, foldable tents, mesh or fabric, fiberglass, plastic, wicker and wire. All have pros and cons, including cost, ventilation, cleaning, etc. You will need to see which crate will work best for you.


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A University of Cincinnati researcher thinks he is getting close to developing a canine hearing aid that could hit the market by the end of the year.

Pete Scheifele started his research after his own 17-year-old dog lost his hearing. The highly trained miniature pinscher/beagle mix has appeared on television and performed for schools and didn't seem to mind wearing the prototype. In fact, he would seek it out and nudge it when he wasn't wearing it, according to Scheifele.

Researchers are now working on modifications to make the prototype version smaller and more comfortable. The hearing aid would only work on dogs with acquired hearing loss, says Scheifele, director of the University of Cincinnati's Facility for Education and Testing of Canine Hearing Laboratory for Animal Acoustics.

Scheifele says he is in discussions for commercialization of the prototype now and hopes is might be available for sale sometime later this year.



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by Kimberly L. Jackson

With the exception of drinking from the toilet and that peanut butter on the nose thing, your dog is a pretty smart puppy.

But just how smart? David Taylor's new book "Your Dog's I.Q.: How Clever is Your Canine" explores a dog's brain and abilities. With the book's 50 tests, Taylor offers ways to measure three aspects of your dog's intelligence: problem solving, obedience and instinct. Sample test: See if you can increase your dog's vocabulary by asking him to fetch specific toys (or tools!) by name.

Other tests include treasure hunts, hide-and-seek games, and an obstacle course. Low test scores are no cause for concern, says Taylor; your dog is still your best bud. The book ends with a chapter called Canine Crammer College which allows you to sharpen your dog's mind through training - be he a "Caneinstein" or a mutt of lesser powers.


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by Emily Akin

What would we do without our pets? They work for us; they love us unconditionally, and in return, we take care of them. Sometimes, that means paying huge medical bills to save their lives. When when Laura and Steve Clayton's Yorkie began to vomit blood, doctor's had to operate. They found a pecan in her intestines.

The dog is fine now, but the Claytons are still reeling from the $3,500 medical bill. Steve then began looking into pet health insurance. "You just don't want to have those kind of surprises pop up again" he said.

After an animal has emergency surgery or suffers unexpected injury, they can come to the Canine Health Institute for rehabilitation. While many insurance plans won't cover hereditary conditions, illnesses or yearly vaccines, they will cover emergencies.

"The thing that pet insurance helps with is catastrophic problems-- your dog is hit by a car, needs surgery, hospitalization, " Veterinarian Dr. Adrianne Brode said. "A lot of those costs are unexpected; you can't predict those." There are dozens of pet insurance plans available, with monthly rates ranging from $6 to $76.

Remember, pet insurance doesn't work like human human health insurance. You must pay your pet's bill out of pocket, then file the claim to the insurance company for reimbursement.

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Beanie Babies modeled after Bo the Portuguese water dog are selling like hotcakes Last month, toy company Ty announced its plans to market a Beanie Baby in the image of the new Obama family dog, Bo. And the Bo dolls appear to be popular enough that they're hard to keep in stock.

Less than a dozen "Bo" Beanie Babies were sent to the educational toy shop Learning Express in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles, and they sold out quickly.

Capitalizing on the first family's popularity seems to come naturally to Ty, which came under fire early this year when it introduced two dolls, "Marvelous Malia" and "Sweet Sasha," apparently modeled after the president's daughters.  (A Ty spokesperson said the company had chosen the names simply because "they are beautiful names," but the dolls were quickly rebranded.  You can see "Marvelous Mariah" and "Sweet Sydney" above - and clearly they bear no resemblance to the Obama girls. Cough, cough.)

Beanie Bo's suggested retail price is $4.99, although the dolls are often selling for considerably more on eBay.  One online auctioner even offers the holy trinity of Obama-themed Ty memoribilia: original TyGirlz Malia and Sasha dolls (authenticated!) and Beanie Bo.  Asking price?  $2,299.95.


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