Human Animal Bond in Tennessee (H.A.B.I.T.) is an organization in Knox County, Tennessee using dogs in an interesting way. They are is using dogs to help increase the reading ability of children. Pet owners in the program bring in therapy dogs that are specially trained to sit on the floor and children as young as four read to the dogs out loud. The children even compete to get close to the dog so that they can get the most attention. The dog also works to create a bond that help the students feel more comfortable with dogs.

The program was stared in the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in the city of Knoxville. The dogs in this program are trained for this kind of work. The dogs are considered therapy dogs and the company is a non-profit. The children get to learn and interact with safe dogs that are trained to behave around humans. These canines do this by sitting quietly and listening. Either in the middle of a group of screaming kids or in a one-on-one setting.

H.A.B.I.T. got a lot of attention recently when Jennifer Wright and “Vegas” were covered in a television news story. Together they started the Ruff Reading Program, a program run by H.A.B.I.T., for the afterschool classes at the Pond Gap School helping small children with their reading.

http://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2013/02/04/dogs-used-to-help-kids-learn-to-read/1890195/

http://www.wbir.com/news/article/252271/2/Dogs-help-teach-Knox-County-students-to-read

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Bugsy – The Skydiving Pug over Hawaii. Better editing and quality than original YouTube skydiving clip. Extreme fun over Dillingham airport. Mahalo to SkyDive Hawaii and Animal Planet & Dogs 101. Here is the clip for Extreme Pug Skydiving: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kmpHalYj60

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detection dog

Taken from an article by Mark Rockwell. http://www.gsnmagazine.com/author/21449/mark_rockwell

Discoveries of ingeniously-hidden drugs in shipments of fabric and hats at Chicago O’Hare airport has Customs and Border Protection officials calling a five-year-old Belgian Malinois named Rogue a “wonder dog.”

The Detection Dog Rogue sniffed out two shipments of opium-soaked clothing at the Customs and Border Protection Mail Facility at Chicago’s OP’Hare International Airport the week of Sept. 10, adding to an already prodigious smuggled drug discovery record.

Nearly $500,000 worth of disguised opium was seized by Customs and Border Protection officers at an O’Hare Airport mail facility Monday, officials said.

Rogue sniffed out about 15 pounds of opium shipped from Laos and destined for Wisconsin labeled as “Hmong Dresses.” He also found nearly five pounds of opium-saturated cloth being shipped from Laos to Minnesota, the statement said.

Two shipments labeled “Traditional Medicines” and destined for Minnesota and Wisconsin from Laos contained about 11 pounds total of opium-saturated twigs and wood shavings, the statement said.

Rogue, an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois, is the most successful detection dog at the agency, and his “nose definitely know how to ferret out hidden drugs in imported cargo and mail,” said William Ferrara, director of field operations.

He “works tirelessly keeping our country and communities safe from harmful drugs,” Ferrara said in the statement.

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Halloween dog costumes

Folks who make and sell Halloween dog costumes have a most unlikely target customer this year: Fido.

More precisely, dog owners. Spending on Halloween costumes for pets — mostly dogs, but occasionally cats — will hit a record $370 million this year, up nearly 20% from last year’s $310 million, reports the National Retail Federation.

Sales of pet costumes, though still relatively small, are the industry’s fastest-growing area. They’re up double-digits the past three years in a row at Rubie’s Costume, says Howard Beige, executive vice president.

“Dogs are getting as many popular-character licenses as kids,” he says.

Costume makers say the Spot-on trend for dogs this year is the wave of new, licensed costumes for pets — such as dogs dressed as giant Tootsie Rolls, Heinz ketchup bottles or, for the more heroic canines, Bat Dog. Many of these costumes fetch close to $20 each.

“People just don’t skimp on their pets,” says Michael Gatti, executive director of the National Retail Federation’s marketing arm. “They’ll cut corners on themselves, but not on their pets.”

Joseph Morales is one of them. The medical research photographer from Houston just spent $40 on Underdog costumes for his two Chinese Shar-Pei pooches. That’s $10 more than the $30 he spent on his own Superman costume.

“My dogs are my best friends,” he says. “I don’t have children, so they’re kind of my children. I spoil them.”

The Party City chain is greatly expanding sales of pet costumes this year, says Melissa Sprich, vice president of Halloween merchandizing, after its ad agency told the chain that consumers last year did more Google searches for pet costumes than for pirate costumes.

But not everyone’s fond of the trend. Pet owners should steer clear of costumes that constrict movement or that have tight rubber bands that can cut off circulation, says Jane Dollinger, a spokeswoman at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
“Most dogs are probably irritated by it,” concedes Brad Butler, chief operating officer at HalloweenExpress.com. “I personally think it’s silly, but we’re making money from it.”
So, why do folks really dress their pets in Halloween garb?

“People are dying to get dressed up themselves, but many lack the confidence,” says consumer anthropologist Robbie Blinkoff. “We dress up our pets, who are a symbolic extension of ourselves.”

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wearable sound system for dogs

Wearable Sound System For Dogs

Martha wanted some dog clothes that she could use year round. She wanted The Woofer by Holloween so she could use it as a dog costume that would beat all other dog costumes. She is a music fan and this guy in the pucture is obviously into musical dog apparel. I hope they like their new jacket and wearable sound system for dogs. I so badly want to hear Gloria Estefan and The Miami Sound Machine on a dog walking on the Miami Beach. It may be corny but I would be laughing very hard.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/11/26/3114403/the-woofer-wearable-sound-system.html

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