Cosby and the Canine

A celebrity canine stole the show yesterday at the 131st Westminster Dog Show in NYC. Harry, the furry companion of comedian Bill Cosby, performed like a true champ in the final day of competitions. Harry, named after Prince Harry, remains true to his namesake -- "playful and a bit of a mischief maker," wnbc.com remarks. But there was no funny business at the show, Harry's performance was brilliant and left room for no competition, literally. As the only Dandie Dinmont enrolled in the show, the best of breed award was handed over to him with no grovels or barks about it.

But don't be fooled, this pup does not need hand outs; his impeccable training and dashing looks has afforded him the honor of No. 1 show dog in America, winning 57 competitions last year alone. Cosby's superstitions kept him away from the arena at showtime, but his daughter was there to cheer the Harry on.

Photo thanks to Fox News

Mutts Make a Come Back

Popularity of pedigrees waining

"Mutts are like real couture. There are no two alike," fashion icon, Isaac Mizrahi, commented to USA Today gloating about his true love, Harry, an adopted mixed breed.

While the picture in the upper left features a pure blooded beagle sporting a Mizrahi Polo, Isaac's heart is with half breed hounds, and he's not the only one. Mutts are moving up in the dog world and are adopted at nearly the same rate as purebreds nowadays.

Michael Mountain of Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah agrees, commenting, "It's more fashionable to have a standard, old-fashioned mutt...The 'in' thing is not to have a very well-bred, very expensive dog." Mountain says the growing fascination with mixed breeds dates back to the mid 1990's when public awareness was heightened to the millions of mutts in shelters who would be euthanized. A new wave of social consciousness coupled with purebred health concerns has made mongrels the new popular pup choice.

That's right, say goodbye to the days of pedigrees ruling Park Avenue. Now a mix can mingle with the big dogs.

A Pup with Presidential Standards

Help this terrier get a date with the first dog

A three year old Scottish terrier from Kent, Washington has her sights on Barney Bush, the president's pooch. Kenzie, the starstruck youngster, has a huge crush on the presidential canine. Owner, Shelby Dobbs, says it's not hard to see why. "Barney is like the Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise of dogs, so he's high up on the celebrity dog scale," she said.

This pooch has even professed her love in a personalized video addressed to the first dog. In the video, with the help of doggy translations, Kenzie pleads with Barney for a date or at least an email. The lovesick terrier concludes that the two are perfect for one another; both lovers of sports, travel and recreation. The video premiered on YouTube earlier this week and has already racked up over 750,000 views.

Kenzie's parents are planning an East Coast trip this fall and hope to arrange a play date between their love struck terrier and the presidential pup.

Want to help? Click here to email Barney and watch Kenzie's video.

Photo thanks to Mydatewithbarney.com
Tags: YouTube, Barney, White House

Talk with the Animals

Do you converse with your canine? Do you think your pet is psychic? Don't worry, you're in good company. Our fascination with four legged family members spans far and wide. Even celebrities can't resist the temptation to talk to their furry friends. It seems normal enough, but how about when the dogs talk back?

Pete Townshend, guitarist of The Who, parles with his pooch and claims that his dog has the ability to predict the future. Townshend was quoted as saying, "I believe my dogs talk to me. One of the dogs told me it was going to snow this week."

Earlier this year we heard of Barbara Walters, who claimed her Havanese dog, Cha-Cha, spoke directly to her to say, "I love you." Co-hosts on "The View" had a field day with the idea that a pup professed his love, but how strange is it?

Thousands of Americans believe their pets have the ability to communicate and even act as clairvoyants. Check out this website devoted to documenting people's paranormal experiences with domestic animals. While you're cruising the site, scroll down to test your pet's psychic abilities and read their horoscope.

Photo found on flickr
Technorati tags: The Who, Barbara Walters, Psychic, "the view"

Pet Fashion Meets Paris Hilton

Miss Hilton: Socialite. Fashionista. Designer?

The heiress to the Hilton fortune is constantly making waves with her lavish lifestyle. But we will resist talking about cocktail party mishaps, DUI's, or celebrity quarrels... the topic of the day is doggy design. A front runner in the fashion scene, Paris Hilton now tries her hand at canine couture. The 25 year old heiress has long since been spotted with Tinkerbell, the world's richest Teacup Chihuahua, slung under one arm and dripping in designer doggy gear.

Hilton has put pet fashion in the forefront of our pop culture's subconscious, opening the gates for a slew of celebrities and big name labels to follow. It only makes sense that the Simple Life star would get directly involved in the trends she helped create. Little Lily launched on Monday and will be available in stores in the next coming months. Thanks Paris, for bringing attention to our furry friends!

Photo found on Flickr

Technorati tag: "Paris Hilton"

Celebrity Dish

Jennifer Love Hewitt, a shrink, and a spaniel

Jennifer Love Hewitt, star of the hit show 'Ghost Whisperer', put her pooch on anti-depressants this week upon the recommendation of a pet therapist. Charlie, a King Charles spaniel, was taken to the doggy doctor after strange behavior surfaced.
Love Hewitt remarks that Charlie was licking "intensely." Charlie's veterinarian determined the behavior to be signs of an anxiety disorder and prescribed Prozac for the pooch.

Hewitt recalls, "She started doing this weird, like, intense licking thing, where she would, like, lick the air... and she's got an anxiety disorder, so they put her on Prozac…now she's as happy as ever."

Photo thanks to Celebrity Dog Blog

Canine Celebrity Art Project

The Grammy's Go to the Dogs

Artist David Hevel uses dog sculptures to represent his latest creative project, "Diva Hound Smack Down at the Grammy's," scheduled to open at the end of the month at the Byron C. Cohen Gallery of Kansas City. The piece uses model replicas of several breed types to make playful caricatures of the stars. Speaking of the picture in the upper left, Hevel offers, "I’m making a hairless Chinese dog that’s supposed to be Barry Manilow."

Hevel's inspiration for this show is a culmination of sheer interest in exotic animals and slight mockery of this year's Grammy Awards ceremony. Among his other celebrity muses in past shows are Tyra Banks as a giraffe, Brittney Spears as a baboon and Mariah Carey portrayed as a goat.

Click here for all the details

Photo thanks to the Kansas City Star

Technorati Tags: art, celebrity news

Britney in the Dog House

A recent pop culture poll crowned Britney Spears with the title of "worst celebrity dog owner" as voted by the readers of New York Dog and Hollywood Dog magazines. The editors commented saying, "Britney was the overwhelming choice... She once had three Chihuahuas and never left home without at least one of them on her arm. As soon as she met K-Fed and had kids, they disappeared."

Last years worst dog owner winner, Paris Hilton finished in second place this year for treating Tinkerbell like an accessory. In contrast, the people elected 5 time pooch parent Oprah Winfrey as the "best dog owner" of 2006.

Let's give Brit the benefit of the doubt, it's just too hard to stay upset at America's pop princess.

Photo thanks to Yahoo! News