Originally scheduled for January, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has been rescheduled for June 18-22, 2022. Over the course of the event, competitions will include:
Masters Agility Championship
Masters Obedience Championship
Breed Judging for Hounds, Herding, Toy, Terrier, Sporting, Working, and Non-Sporting breeds
Junior Showmanship
Best in Show
Westminster by the Numbers
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has seen dogs compete for 146 years.
This year, there are two new breeds recognized by the AKC who are participating in the Westminster show. They are Mudi and Russian Toy:
“A medium-sized, versatile farm dog from Hungary, the Mudi is a loyal protector of property and family. Originally bred to herd the most stubborn sheep and cattle, the breed is courageous, alert, and intelligent. The are a true working dog with a wavy-to-curly, self-cleaning coat and a gait that covers a lot of ground. The Mudi is joining the Herding Group.
“The Russian Toy is a small, squarely built toy dog that is elegant, athletic, and cheerful. A favorite breed of the Russian aristocracy, the Russian Toy can have a smooth or long coat. Their large round eyes and high-set ears contribute to their bright, attentive expression. The Russian Toy is joining the Toy Group.”
The total number of breeds entering Westminster this year are 211, wow!
How to Watch the 2022 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Starting June 18, watch free live streaming on westminsterkennelclub.org or the WKC App. FOX Sports is also covering various events of the show.
This 1960 WKC show features a booming announcer describing English Springer Spaniels, Weimaraners, Boston Terriers and more. (and a Cincinnati dog takes home Breed Honors!)
Service Dogs Open a New World of Possibilities for Students and Graduates of The Seeing Eye
For over 90 years, The Seeing Eye has trained guide dogs and advocated for the rights of people with disabilities. The oldest guide dog school in the world celebrates its anniversary January 29. Here’s some history of this important organization:
“When The Seeing Eye was founded in 1929, people who are blind were treated much differently than they are today,” said Seeing Eye President & CEO Jim Kutsch. “When Dorothy Harrison Eustis trained Buddy, the first Seeing Eye dog, she was ahead of her time. She told our co-founder Morris Frank that Buddy was not going to be much help to him if businesses wouldn’t allow him to enter with his dog. As a result, Morris Frank and Buddy became traveling spokespeople for the guide dog movement.”
Today, The Seeing Eye breeds, raises and trains Seeing Eye dogs, along with instructing people in the proper use, handling and care of them. The organization states that more than 17,700 partnerships have been made between people and Seeing Eye dogs. Today, about 1,500 Seeing Eye dogs are on active duty in the US and Canada.
Jamie and Jessica: Walking the Halls of High School Together
Jessica has been blind since birth, and her Seeing Eye dog Jamie has been with her two years.
How to Help The Seeing Eye, Seeing Eye Dogs and Students
The fee to a blind person for a Seeing Eye dog has remained unchanged since 1934– up to $150, which includes:
The Seeing Eye dog
The dog’s equipment
The student’s 18-25 day instruction at the school, along with room and board
Round-trip transportation to and from the school
Lifetime follow-up services
Since The Seeing Eye receives no government funding, it relies on private donations. Click here to donate to The Seeing Eye and help them in their important mission.
The chill of January keeps many of us inside. Stay busy and have some fun with your dog by helping them learn some training basics.
The Association of Professional Dog Trainers has wonderful videos and resources to help you train your dog. Here are some of our favorite videos from their YouTube channel.
It’s Never Too Early to Start with Positive Training
When you see a turtle crossing the road, it’s natural to want to help. By following a few simple tips, you can be a turtle hero! The Toronto Zoo posted a very helpful video on how to help a turtle across a road.
Important Tips for Helping a Turtle
Never pick up a turtle by its tail. You could dislocate the turtle’s spine.
Always help the turtle cross the road in the direction it’s already heading. Otherwise, it might turn around and cross again.
Don’t pick a snapping turtle up by the sides of its shell. It might turn around and bite you.
Watch the video to see how to pick up a turtle by the back of its shell.
Everyone wants to include their furry family in Thanksgiving celebrations– and your dog salivates over that turkey carcass. Should you share turkey bones with your dog?
No! Poultry bones are very dangerous for dogs, especially when cooked. Watch this video from Food Science Daily to learn why.
Turkey, chicken and other bird bones have a hollow structure inside, to help the bones be light enough for flight (even though turkeys and chickens don’t fly far).
Also, the heat from cooking degrades the bone’s strength and makes it brittle.
Because of these factors, poultry bones are liable to splinter when chewed by powerful jaws. These bone shards are very dangerous for a dog’s digestive tract.
Instead, Try These Treats
If you’re getting the puppy-dog eyes from under the Thanksgiving table, here are a few things you can share with your pet. Remember, a bite or two is plenty for your cat or dog!
Turkey breast – as long as your pet doesn’t have any allergies, a small amount of cooked turkey breast from your plate is okay.
Vegetables – Uncooked carrots, green beans, celery, broccoli or cauliflower are also good treats in small quantities.
Salmon – Share a little of your smoked salmon for a healthy treat.
Cheese – Animals enjoy appetizers, too. A small cheese cube from the tray is okay.
We think one day a year is hardly enough to celebrate our canine companions, so let’s make this August all about dogs! The fun starts now!
Watch this Beautiful Tribute to Dogs
NationalDogDay.com released an amazing, touching video that you just have to see! And after you watch it, you’ll want to find your pooch pal for snuggles!
Which celebrities are celebrating National Dog Day? See more at NationalDogDay.com.
Donate to a Shelter
There are hundreds of dogs across Cincinnati living in shelters and needing a home. Even if you can’t adopt right now, show rescue dogs some love by donating to a no-kill shelter. Two of our favorites are Animal Friends Humane Society and Animal Adoption Foundation.
It takes a lot of resources to manage a shelter and keep animals healthy and happy. Staffed by volunteers, shelters depend on donations for basic supplies. Your donation will help rescue animals with:
This month, we recognize service dogs for all they they do. There are many kinds of service animals, and they provide support, companionship and help to millions of people. Here are some of the different types of service dogs:
Guide dogs for the blind
Hearing dogs
Medical assistance dogs
Mobility dogs
Medical alert dogs
Psychiatric service dogs
Watch these three stories to learn more about different kinds of service dogs and the amazing things they do.
“Yori is a service dog from Canine Companions for Independence that is making a world of difference in the lives of non verbal autistic students at Hope Elementary in Carlsbad, CA.”
“My Diabetic Alert Dog alerting to a low blood sugar scent. Duncan is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. He is alerting to the chemical scent that is released in our bodies when our blood glucose levels are low / high. He was trained by taking samples of this scent.”
Microchipping your dog, cat, rabbit, ferret or other pet is a great safety measure, especially in the summer. With outdoor parties, opening doors, vacations and fun day trips, there’s an increased likelihood of your pet escaping your supervision. Even if your pet loses its collar and tags, the microchip will still be there.
A microchip uses RFID technology to store a unique ID number that can be scanned at veterinarian offices and animal shelters around the world. Once scanned, the pet’s profile is displayed, along with contact information for returning the pet home.
If your pet doesn’t yet have a microchip, call us to make an appointment. Learn more about microchipping and watch the easy procedure in this video with Steve Dale’s Pet World:
Hyperthermia, known as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, is a dangerous condition for pets. Cats and dogs are not equipped to disperse heat by sweating, so their body temperatures can rise quickly.
If your pet is going to be outside on a warm day, provide plenty of shade and fresh water. Some animals are more susceptible to heat exhaustion, like senior or overweight pets, along with those who have flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats. Take special care to keep these pets in an air-conditioned environment during the summer heat.
Don’t Leave Your Pet in the Car!
Watch this time-lapse video where in just 15 minutes, the interior of a car heats up to 110 degrees.
Even on a mild day, car temperatures can soar. It only takes 10 minutes for a car to reach 100 degrees on a pleasant, 75-degree day. And opening the windows doesn’t help. Please, don’t leave your pet in a car alone!
Signs Your Pet May Suffer from Heat Exhaustion
If you witness any of these symptoms in your pet, call your veterinarian immediately.
Excessive panting
Difficulty breathing
Increased heart and respiratory rate
Drooling
Mild weakness
Stupor
Collapse
If you suspect your pet of suffering from hyperthermia, move them to an air-conditioned space, run them a cool (not cold) bath, provide plenty of water and call your veterinarian right away.
Turkey, chicken and other bird bones have a hollow structure inside, to help the bones be light enough for flight (even though turkeys and chickens don’t fly far).
If you’re getting the puppy-dog eyes from under the Thanksgiving table, here are a few things you can share with your pet. Remember, a bite or two is plenty for your cat or dog!
A microchip uses RFID technology to store a unique ID number that can be scanned at veterinarian offices and animal shelters around the world. Once scanned, the pet’s profile is displayed, along with contact information for returning the pet home.
Hyperthermia, known as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, is a dangerous condition for pets. Cats and dogs are not equipped to disperse heat by sweating, so their body temperatures can rise quickly.