little_bites woofpatrol

Photo: “James” at 8 weeks old © www.felicityenglishspringers.com

Teresa Patton – Proud Breeder/Owner of Ch Felicity’s Diamond Jim, CD – “James”: My advice to this year’s Best In Show winner at The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is to enjoy every minute of it. I still remember hearing them announcing ‘English Springer Spaniel’. There was only one of those in the ring and that was James. The moment then and now is unreal – it’s like being awake in the middle of a dream.

Photo: James winning 2007 Best In Show
© Westminster Kennel Club.

Ch Felicity’s Diamond Jim will take to the floor of another arena at exactly 9:30 a.m. on February 8th. “James” will unleash his canine charm at the New York Stock Exchange at the opening bell. Then he’s off on a whirlwind tour of morning talk shows and fundraising for Westminster’s Angel on a Leash Therapy Dog Program - www.angelonaleash.org as the official and true Angel ‘spokes-dog’.

When Debbie Parkhurst of Calvert, MD choked on an apple, she began to pound her chest. That’s when Toby, her 2 year old, 75 pound golden retriever started jumping on her. When the apple came out, he licked her face. “I have paw-print bruises on my chest, said Parkhurst.

Georgina Chapman, who just married Harvey Weinstein, was asked by New York Magazine, “Who wins the debates at your house?” “The dog, actually,” she replied.

A border collie bitch and her pup can move as many as 10,000 sheep.

Self-service dog washes are popping up across the country. Washing a dog, especially a big one, is a messy job. So it makes sense to go to a place that features waist-high tubs, combs, shampoos, conditioner, perfumes, towels and hair dryers. And at $8. to $16., it’s much cheaper than a groomer.

At top speeds during takeoff, aircraft engines sometimes suck in birds which are obviously a serious problem. But Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Meyers has a solution: A 9 year old border collie named Radar. Within seconds of spotting a bird on the runway, Radar takes off and chases it away.

A Sign of the Times: During the holidays, Ralph Lauren ran full page ads of a Yorkie in a “Lauren 1967” sweater in the New York Times.

Designer Isaac Mizrahi had a Thanksgiving dinner party at his house. When his new puppy made a mess and was jumping all over, the guests got very upset. “I know it’s terrible, but I liked the dog better than the guests,” said Mizrahi.

Photo: “Radar” - Courtesy Southwest Florida Intl. Airport

Teresa has never put her canine champion on a pedestal.

T.P.: First and foremost all my dogs are companions. They must be well behaved and interact appropriately with other dogs and people. Socializing them to public settings and teaching them good manners is a priority. Obedience training and a focus on instilling strong attention skills is a priority for me. Training is the foundation of building a strong and lasting bond between you and your dog.

Iris Love, this month’s WPE, and Teresa Patton lead by example when it comes to their dedication to therapy dogs. Ch Felicity’s Diamond Jim is a certified Alzheimer’s therapy dog. Currently Teresa and James are getting the necessary certification to become an Intensive Care Unit therapy dog team. In the Iris Love WPE profile she shares her experiences and thoughts on the importance of therapy dogs.

You touch far more people doing therapy dog sessions than you ever could by showing dogs.

T.P.: Therapy dog sessions offer a unique reward. James is clear about his role. He starts every visit by entering a room and sitting. Based on the greeting, he can tell if he should come closer for the ‘head pat’ which often leads to ‘paws up’ either on the bed or the patient’s walker. Sometimes he will even get in the bed but at all times James is aware of IV ports and other equipment. It’s important to emphasize the training necessary to become a certified therapy dog because you are in an environment that dictates absolute care and understanding of both the patient as well as the health care facility.

Jonathan Paplebon’s bulldog, Boss, has been asked by Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to cough up the ball. However that isn’t going to happen. His dog caught - or rather snatched – the souvenir ball from the final out of the Boston’s sweep last year. It ended up as a chew toy. Boss, using puppy dog eyes, claims that he thought it was just another piece of rawhide.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month. Dogs over 3 years old run the risk of dental disease, such as plaque, tartar, and inflamed gums. Symptoms of oral disease include bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at face or mouth, and depression. Check your pet’s mouth … it’s a good habit to get into.

Bulldogs have moved up the AKC ranking. Bulldogs replaced the Miniature Schnauzer as the tenth most popular dog.