Are you a Furparent?

Ever taken your pooch on a "playdate" or referred to housebreaking as "potty training?" If you have, you're among a growing demographic of "furparents."

Sometimes I find myself confusing pet ownership and parenthood. And I think this pets-as-children mindset is so pervasive because of the rapidly growing pet industry (dog masseuse, anyone?) that constantly manipulates child-rearing terms and re-appropriates them to enforce the idea that dogs aren't just pets; they're our babies.

Click here to read an interesting and funny take on the new words of the dog world. And next time you find yourself at a "bark mitzvah," you'll have a little perspective.

Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle

In October 2007, Major Brian Dennis of the United States Marine Corps met a wild stray dog while patrolling the Syrian border in Iraq. The dog's ears had been docked by an Iraqi while he was still a puppy, earning him the name "Nubs" from the American soldier. But this first brief encounter quickly turned into an inseparable relationship. Every few weeks, Major Dennis returned to the border fort from his regular station to patrol for a few days. And every time he arrived, Nubs was there to greet him. When Dennis and his team departed the fort in their Humvee for their home base, Nubs would run behind the vehicle for miles, only to fall away in exhaustion. Now, imagine the major's surprise when he saw a bloody and beaten Nubs stumble onto his home base...nearly 70 miles away from the border fort. Major Dennis documented the dog's amazing journey--from the barren Iraqi desert and eventually to the United States--in the children's book, Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle.



For more details on this incredible story, click here.

Celeb-puppy Buzz at Teddys Friends

A Hollywood starlet walks among us, along with her bodyguard and entourage. Ally has movie star good looks, with her flowing white coat and dewey, fresh face. But don't expect any diva behavior; she just loves to prance in front of her adoring fans. Her manly and well-groomed bodyguard, Tucker, is the only thing keeping her from becoming too overexposed. The other day, Ally's dog-walking entourage (me) was taking her on a stroll though the neighborhood and she was hamming it up on the lookout for human attention. But Tucker kept stepping in between her and everyone else as if you say, "Back off! No more pictures!" to the paparazzi. Ally and Tucker are both gorgeous dogs with glamourous lifestyles. Their owners just love them. And we do, too.



Halloween Costumes For Your Haunted Hounds

Halloween is going to the dogs. That's right; one of the fastest-growing Halloween fashion markets is pet costumes. And that market is moving beyond the standard “Wiener Dog” outfits and “Li'l Devil” headbands, and into pop culture reflections and costume couture.

Teddys Friends prides itself on being ahead of the curve, and that holds true for doggy dress-up too. Here, we've compiled a list of the funniest, funkiest and most downright adorable costumes for your own bark-or-treaters.

Something Fishy

When does a puppy bite transform into a full-on shark attack? When you dress your dogs as denizens of the deep! From Killer Whales to Great White Sharks, these costumes can be, well, an ocean of fun.



It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a dachshund!

Underdog they ain't. While they may not be faster than a speeding bullet or stronger than a locomotive, you know your pup can easily leap the coffee table in a single bound when treats are at stake. Conventional character costumes, like Spiderman and Superman, are easy to find. And if your dog has a villainous streak, the Joker is available too.



On the Red Carpet

While Spot may claim that Homeward Bound is his all-time favorite movie, we caught him looking twice as Scarlett O'Hara fashioned that green velvet gown out of curtains. Throw Spot a bone and let him play Rhett Butler. Or, let FiFi play the iconic Marilyn Monroe in the 7-Year Itch. (All the glamour and none of the fleas).



Canine Cuisine

The "Hot Dog in a Bun" costume is so last year. Pet owners and their dogs alike are refining their palette one foodie-themed costume at a time. For the nigiri connoisseur, feast your eyes on a little sushi. Or maybe you've got a craving for mom's Sunday dinner: pot roast. And if all those savory snacks start weighing you down, have a little fruit instead.



DIY

No need to drain your bank account to ensure a happy holiday for you and your best friend. Just gather some household objects and let your creative juices flow. Here are the quick and easy, step-by-step directions for making a classic ghost costume for your pup.

1. You will need a white bed sheet, scissors, a black marker, an elasticized material band and a needle and white thread.

2. This costume covers the dog’s face. It has cut openings for the nose, mouth, eyes and ears. The white sheet lies freely on the dog’s back, hanging down to the ground. Elastic bands attach the sheet to the dog at the neck and chest.

3. Have your dog stand upright. Put the bed sheet over your dog, covering his head. Mark the spots for the nose, eyes and ears. ( Just mark the center of the spot and note how large each hole needs to be.)

4. Attach the sheet to your dog at his neck and chest. Mark the spots on opposite sides of your dog’s neck and chest and estimate the length of the elastic band pieces required. Allow the sheet to hang to the ground.

5. After measuring, take the sheet off your dog. From the inside, sew the elastic band to the relevant spots on the sheet. Cut openings for the nose, mouth, eyes and ears.

6. Put the costume on first through the front paws, then over the dog’s head.



Introducing a Costume

Introduce a costume slowly, especially if your dog has never worn one before. Use these tried-and-true training tips to get him to vamp it up on Halloween.

1. Put a small piece of the costume on him.
2. Praise him as soon as the material touches him.
3. Pop a treat in his mouth.
4. Immediately take the costume off and tell him what a good boy he is.
5. Repeat five times and take a break.

Safety First

1. The costume should be easy to put on your dog. You don't want to have to force him into contortions to get it on.
2. The costume should be even easier to take off. If he gets tangled or panics, it should come off quickly.
3. The costume should allow for free movement of his head, all four legs and tail.
4. The costume should not block his vision.
5. Your dog needs to be able to breathe easily through his mouth and nose.

Also factor in whether he can relieve himself while in costume. If not, you may need to make some adjustments. And don't forget to make room for a leash and collar!

Now go have yourself a doggone spooky Halloween!

Pilots N Paws

Here's a really nice story for you Sunday. It's Pilots N Paws, a group of pilots who rescue animals from high-kill shelters and fly them to new homes. It's so cute, but a tearjerker so be warned:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Weekend/volunteer-pilots-airlift-unwanted-shelter-animals-homes/story?id=8554880

Teddys 1st Birthday!

Teddy, my dog, is celebrating his 1st birthday this month. He has too many toys already, so we asked our friends to donate to the "Teddys Friends Donation Station." The donation station collected all sorts of items for the Alexandria animal shelter.

Thank you all for your donations! The animals will really appreciate the wonderful things you gave! The shelter appreciates help very much as they rely on our generous community of pet lovers to fund their cause. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Here is what we, as a group, donated:

22 leashes
6 collars
Over 100 pounds of food!
56 toys
6 bowls
2 beds
28 bags of treats
12 bones
8 blankets
10 towels
2 crates

Thats a lot of stuff!

It's a POOL PARTY and you're dog is invited!

This Saturday, from 12-4, dogs all over Northern Virginia will be getting their swim on at human pools! Before the pools close for the season, bring your best friend with fur to swim his or her little heart out. Here is the invitation:

http://www.nvrpa.org/documents/events/824_doc.pdf


Hope to see you there! Teddy will be in the baby pool, he won't go in further than 1 foot. He's more of a socialite than a swimmer.