One of the highlights of our visit to Artist’s grooming salon was his three year old son, Ariel.

It may have been published two decades ago, but The Culture Clash, written by Jean Donaldson, is still considered by many the last word on the topic of positive reinforcement. Indeed, with the subtitle, “A Revolutionary New Way to Understanding the Relationship Between Humans and Domestic Dogs,” it better be.  Depicting dogs the way they really are, “stripped of their Hollywood fluff, with their livable ‘can I eat it, chew it, urinate on it, what’s in it for me’ philosophy,” Donaldson’s book, which is more a series of essays than practical hints along the line of traditional self-help books, continues to earn high marks with new readers. She is a relentless champion for the dog’s point of view, a need for a good education and concern for their overall well-being. As of this writing, movie rights are still up for grabs.

*First published in 1996.

*Winner, the Maxwell Award, Best Training Book of the Year.

*8.3 x 5.4 x .06 inches; 12.8 ounces.

Bumpy the Shih Tzu has been shampooed and rinsed. Now its time to get dry!

Neads.org is one of the charities Josh Abrams, Dogasaur Founder, chose to be included in the Dogasaur 2009 Chanrity Program. Dogasaur recently interviewed the CEO of Nead.org, Sheila O’Brien to learn more about what a fantastic work NEADS does for those in need.

Sometimes diversity comes with a price. Pretend all you like, but if you’re harboring both cats and dogs under the same roof, certain realities must be faced. By virtue of their size and personality, for instance, cats usually require unbridled freedom, while dogs, those lovable klutzes, need to be kept in or out of certain areas.   And so the Easy Step High-Guard Pet Gate was born. This tall, 41” gate can be installed to swing in or out. Its locking lever-style handle, rounded corners, and tough, all-steel construction guarantee safety and dependability; and its wall-mounted design results in easy installation.   Once it’s up, the 7” x 10” door-within-a-door allows your cats in or out without any trouble whatsoever. It’s sort of the point of the whole thing. Just don’t expect your dog to buy into the whole “separate but equal” justification.

*Wall cups screw into wall for maximum stability.

*Comes in white, platinum or black.

*Gate is 29.5 -35” wide x 41” tall but can expand to 41” wide with extension (included).

Crate training can be a confusing issue for some dog owners, especially those adopting a rescue or shelter dog. The idea of confining a dog to a cage seems a little bit cruel – maybe even inhumane – but many dog trainers and behaviorists seem to recommend it. What’s the real deal?

Now that Bumpy’s fur is wet he is now ready for a shampoo and rinse.

Natural Balance is not afraid of commitment. They want you to get your puppies nibbling on moistened Natural Balance Ultra Premium Formula for Dogs as soon as they are weaned, and want you to continue feeding them the same thing until the day they cross over the rainbow bridge..  This comes not from some deep-seeded need for control, but from the belief that the quality of their formula is all you need to provide your dog with a lifetime of nutritional nirvana. Made with three meats (no by-products), fresh chicken, duck and lamb meal plus oatmeal (for carbs, there’s fiber, thiamin and Vitamin E), it contains everything a dog needs to remain healthy throughout his life. What it does not contain are corn, soy, wheat, eggs, white rice, dairy or sunflower oil. They swear your dog won’t miss them one bit.

*To make the dry food more palatable for puppies and older dogs, mix in Natural Balance Canned Dog Food or Dog Food Rolls.

*Available in 5 and 15 lb. bags.

*Contains 23% crude protein, 13% crude fat, 10% moisture, 3% crude fiber, 3% omega-6 and 0.5% omega-3 fatty acids.

There is an Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee for elephants who are old, sick or just need a home. It is a vast natural habitat with fields, ponds and forests. Some stray dogs also live here as well. It is typical for dogs to stay away from elephants. But Bella the dog and Tarra the elephant are best friends.

So now that Bumpy the Shih Tzu has been brushed, he is now ready for the bathtub! Bumpy is a good boy and really seems to enjoy the water.