Dog Clothing-Is It Right Or Wrong?

Now, this is just WRONG!

Clothing for dogs has become a very lucrative business for many canine lovers. You can now buy dog clothing with ease, both online and in boutiques; especially in larger cities. Owning smaller dogs is very popular these days, partly due to the fact that they are easy to take along with you, and also because so many people live in smaller living spaces and can accommodate a smaller pet.
I must admit that I do own a few dog jackets for my small Yorkillon mixed breed. When it's raining heavy, I put a lightweight raincoat on her as she absolutely hates to go outside in the rain. When it becomes really cold outside (below zero Fahrenheit) I slip a fleece-lined red jacket on her, which keeps her belly warm and prevents the snow from 'balling up' and tangling her fur. This is as far as I go with dressing my dog.
I have seen numerous websites that sell all kinds of clothing for dogs. Everything ranging from t shirts, hooded sweatshirts, boots and even pajamas! I know that the media shows many celebrity women carrying around their small dogs dressed in outfits, and it somehow became 'hip' or 'posh' to dress dogs up in all kinds of hideous outfits. To me, I get the impression that they look at their dogs as toys or dolls in some respect. Fun little things to play with and make fashion statements to the world!
I cannot even imagine putting a pair of pajamas on my dog at night! Talk about un-natural! I know there are many people out there who totally disagree with me. They think that they have the right to dress their dogs if they please to do so, with which I agree, but I honestly do not think that the dogs who must endure the changing of clothing several times daily are the happiest creatures on earth.
Now I also know that there are those people out there that do not think that a dog should ever wear any type of clothing-not even a rain or winter jacket. I can say that I think dog outerwear has become quite acceptable for some of the practical reasons I stated earlier. I have never spoken to a dog owner who has closets full of clothing for their four-legged friends, so I really cannot say what their justifications are for this behavior. All I can say is that I personally find it a bit disturbing and totally ridiculous. What do you think?
Written by Cin Rupp. Come and visit my blog and see some really cute photos of Maggie!
http://mycutemutt.blogspot.com/ Best Top-Quality Pet Sypplies!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cindy_Rupp

Dog Clothing-Is It Right Or Wrong?

White House Puppy?

Well, there are only two days left until the Obamas move into the White House and we all have heard that he promised his daughters a dog when they moved into their new home. When asked what kind of dog he was going to get he replied 'Probably a mutt like me!'. So of course, everyone is wondering and waiting to see what kind of pooch gets to occupy the big house on Pennsylvania Avenue! Offers poured in from all across the US and around the world, offering puppies, making suggestions and on and on! I personally don't care if he gets a mixed breed or a pure bred. It's the family's choice. No one can make the choice for them, but it will be interesting to see what kind of dog they get, as it will be an instant celebrity! What do you think? Will it be a pure bred or a mutt?
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White House Puppy?

Dogs and Fireworks-Not a Friendly Combination

We humans love fireworks. They are a part of many culture's celebrations across the globe. In the United States, most towns and cities put on an incredible fireworks display on Independence Day. In Europe, fireworks are used to celebrate holidays the year round. As an American living in Sweden, I was not aware that Swedes shoot off fireworks on New Year's Eve with total abandon gusto! There are no restrictions regarding the sales of these air-born rockets to the average citizen, believe it or not.
I am the owner of a dog. She is now three years old. She is a wonderful, small female mixed breed between a Papillion (her mother) and an Yorkshire Terrier (her father). She is a very well-balanced dog. She loves and trusts everyone and loves to go along with me whenever she can.
The sale of fireworks begins here in earnest in early December. You can hear the occasional one here or there being fired at any time in December, as it seems some people are too anxious to save them until New Year's Eve. My dog hates fireworks. If we are out for a walk and one goes off, she will immediately turn toward home and pull on the leash in that direction and nothing I say or do will convince her that 'it's ok'. As you can imagine, the closer to the big holiday, the more often we encounter this when going out for a walk.
This past New Year's Eve I was home alone with the dog. I took her out at around 8 pm because I knew it would be pointless to try and take her out much after that time. She was hesitant to leave the front step, but I convinced her to at least take a few steps away from the building so she could relieve herself.
When midnight came, our neighbors from downstairs came out the door with their party guests and were carrying four full cases of fireworks! They did not even have the consideration to go several dozen feet or yards away from the apartment building; rather they set up their makeshift 'launching pad' only fifteen feet from the building!
They proceeded to fire off some pretty impressive rockets, complete with the 'whooshing' noise and the smoke. My poor dog was frantic! She saw the bright flashes in the front windows and tried to leave the apartment. I closed the blinds, turned up my music a bit, but nothing could damper the incredible noise coming from just outside the windows. I talked calmly to her, held and reassured her, but to no avail. She was shaking with fear! She finally took refuge in the shoe rack at the front door. She literally crawled onto the shoe rack and cowered there in the corner until the celebrating was over an hour later.
Next year, sadly, I will have to make a visit to my vet to get her a tranquilizer so she can endure the long night. I know that there are countless pet owners out there that feel, as I do, that there should be restrictions on the sale and use of fireworks.
Written by Cin Rupp. Come and visit my blog and see some really cute photos of Maggie! http://mycutemutt.blogspot.com/ Best Top-Quality Pet Supplies!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cindy_Rupp

Dogs and Fireworks-Not a Friendly Combination

Just some thoughts....

The weather remains cold here in Sweden and I see on the news that most of Europe is in the deep freeze too. This cold weather sure makes you appreciate having a roof over your head and a warm bed to sleep in. I see that Russia has stopped the supply of natural gas to it's neighbors during this cold snap. Very bad indeed. And for the conflict in Gaza--now Lebanon has fired rockets into Israel. I sure wish somehow this could be resolved, but it seems that it is just an ugly, endless cycle of violence. I wish Obama all the best when he takes office! He will have his hands full and will be the first US president elect to have such a full plate of messes to handle! I am going to be sure to be around the tv on inauguration day to watch history in the making! I never dreamed that I would live long enough to see a black man be elected to the higest office in the US! I know the amount of bigotry and racism that runs across the land, and have experienced it first hand personally on several ocassions in my lifetime. I am proud to be an American. Always have been, but now so more than ever.
Keep the comments coming and I promise to reciprocate! Cin

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Just some thoughts....

Brrrr....baby it's cold outside!

Hi! It's Sunday morning. I just checked the outside thermometer and it reads -17 celcius, which is 0 degrees farenheit! Brrr! Had to bundle up good to take the dog out-no long walks this morning; it's just too darn cold! :( Now that the holidays are over, what I look forward to is to get through the dark, cold winters of Sweden! I have planned an ice fishing trip with some friends in February. We plan on going to Sweden's Höga Kusta (High Coast), which is an hour's drive north to fish. That means I have to buy a couple of ice fishing poles, as I only have regular casting poles. It should be fun!I went ice fishing a couple of years ago. We had borrowed a hand drill for the ice. The standard variety that you use while standing and cranking the thing. It was useless; old and dull and wouldn't even make more than a dent in the two foot thick ice, so we were forced to use old fishing holes in the ice that had frozen over a few inches, but we were able to break through that ice and fish. This time we plan on taking a small, one-time grill and eat our lunch out on the ice. Hopefully it will be a nice sunny day!How's the weather where you are? I love comments, so please feel free to make one here! Thanks and bye for now, Cin

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Brrrr....baby it's cold outside!

Happy New Year!

Today is new year's eve. I have to take Maggie out to exercise her extra well today because people go absolutely crazy shooting off fireworks on new year's eve here in Sweden. It gets dark here at this time of year at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, so they start the insanity early! Maggie is scared to death of fireworks so it's not a nice time of year for pets! There has been some talk here in Sweden about outlawing people from shooting off rockets, but so far nothing has happened. People here can buy any type of rockets or fireworks they please and they are sold everywhere! It is bad for pets, and the fact is that the majority of people who shoot off these things are highly intoxicated, resulting in lots of injuries! I plan on playing my music high later towards midnight, in hopes that it will distract Maggie from the constant banging outside.New Years dinner tomorrow will be whole lobsters, pepper steak and baked potatoes. I am looking forward to the lobster especially! Have a happy and safe new year's eve! Update...now it's only 65 minutes left till we ring in another new year here in Scandanavia! The firework activity is really 'picking up'. Again, Have a happy, healthy and prosperous 2009 everyone!

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Happy New Year!