Christmas with the Canines

Asian Style

Canine culture continues to flourish internationally with public displays of puppy love. December 23, 2006 this elf sized pooch was spotted sporting Santa Claus attire and nuzzling into his owners coat in Shanghai, China. Despite recent ordinances restricting canine culture, Chinese dog enthusiasts proudly express their devotion to their furry friends.

Puppy love is popping up throughout the region; Christmas Day brought about numerous pooch parties in Singapore. Four legged guests were treated to gourmet human style dog chow, costume attire and festivities. This season proved rather profitable for the dog industry in Asia, with sales on the rise for novelty items such as reindeer suits, doggy antlers and aroma therapy products for puppy.

How did Fido fit into your holiday celebrations? Drop us a line and tell us about it!

Photo thanks to the Associated Press

Holiday Hound Friendly Tips

The holidays can be a stressful time for even the happiest homemaker, and may prove extremely confusing for the hounds in our lives. With the introduction of new colorful items, plants and decorations into the home, your pooch may have the inclination to investigate. Think ahead of the canine mind and pet proof your party gear to avoid any broken paws or upset stomachs. Here are some tips from Butcher's Dog Food to keep the holidays fun and safe for all members of the family.

1. "If you have a real tree, make sure the needles are cleaned up regularly to prevent them getting stuck in paws and throats.

2. Avoid having flashing lights on your tree, or your dog may go in for the attack or get frightened off!

3. Decorate with unbreakable baubles and keep any tinsel and ribbon high up on the tree. DON’T put white Angel hair on the tree - this is spun glass and can shred your dogs insides if digested.

4. When putting up decorative lights, make sure the electric cords are not dangling and if possible tack them down to stop them being chewed or tripped over by a curious dog.

5. Anchor the tree in place so no inquisitive pooches end up knocking it over when they are nosing around underneath it.

6. Alcohol may make you merry but if drunk your four legged friend will be as sick as a dog. After Xmas parties tip away dregs so your dog doesn’t help clear up and end up with a hangover himself

7. Make sure any burning candles are well out of the way - a wagging tail can knock things over or catch fire!

8. Festive blooms can be poisonous - don’t let your dog chew on any Poinsettias, Holly or Mistletoe or they could get a very uncomfortable stomach.

9. No-one expects Christmas to be a Silent Night, but all that festive cheer, balloons, poppers, crackers can drive your dog potty. Make sure they have a safe haven to escape to for an undisturbed relax.

10.Try not to over-indulge your dog with human food treats. Avoid giving them chocolate, which can potentially be poisonous or meat with bones as these can splinter and get lodged in small throats."

For more holiday doggy do's and don'ts click here
Photo found on Flickr

Santa Claws is Coming to Town

Time to Get the Wish List Ready

This year when you take your Schnauzer to sit on Santa's lap, what will he whisper into the big guys ear? While we still don't have a formula for translating puppy, we can help by offering up some insight on the holiday season with this year's hottest wish list selections.

American pet owners spend 38.4 Billion annually to pamper their furry friends, a figure constantly growing in light of new canine fashion trends. This year, more than half of pup parents will be including their pet in the gift giving tradition. We know it's hard to decide what to get for the dog who has everything so we've compiled a few seasonal samplings.

Signafur's suggested wish list includes: Scrumptious Puppy Perfume, a soft Red Quilted Coat, and of course a few toys. Try a set of Planet Dog Tennis Balls for hours of fun and to promote good dental health.

Photo thanks to the Orange County Register

Dog Ruffles Feathers, Turkey Goes Free

The Story of a Presidential Pardon

Flyer and Fryer, the Whitehouse Thanksgiving turkeys received a presidential pardon this year after W's dog ruffled a few feathers. President Bush's Scottish terrier, Barney, got his exercise chasing the two birds around the Rose Garden this morning. President Bush remarked, "Instead of chasing the soccer ball, he chased the bird. And it kind of made the turkey nervous. See, the turkey was nervous to begin with. Nobody's told him yet about the pardon I'm about to give him."

In a ceremony that dates back to 1947, the president pardoned Flyer and Fryer, and sent them to Disneyland in California to be the honorary marshals of the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Signafur crew!

Photo found on flickr

Give Thanks for Good Manners

This Thursday, among the list of reasons to be thankful, we've decided to throw in "bowzer being a good boy." With so much activity taking place in the home, between the guests and the turkey and the festivities, your four-legged friends might find cause to cause a scene. Prepare you pup a few days in advance for Thursdays feast to ensure an uninterrupted meal. Sarah Hodgeson, a NY dog trainer, offers up a few relevant etiquette tips from her new book:

* "Establish proper etiquette by creating a special place by your (front) door where your dog can wait ... when company arrives."
* "If you allow your dog to loiter nearby while you are eating, you will almost certainly experience interruptions. ... Politely ask guests to help civilize your dog by ignoring him until the meal has ended."
* Teach your dog "to lie on a floor mat while you dine. To prevent hunger tension, feed your dog his own meal before you sit down to enjoy yours. Then send him to his special mat, instructing him to "Settle."'
* "Table manners for dogs can be reduced to one basic maxim: Eat and drink only from your bowl."
* "If you want to share leftovers (with your dog), then do so in a manner unlikely to disturb your human guests. Wait until you have finished your meal, and then place a sensible portion in his bowl."

Find more tips, and check out the new book here.

Photo found on flickr