Dogs have been a huge psrt of my life. They've been with me through some rough times and some happy times. I've been involved with many parts of the dog world. Showing dogs in conformation and obedience was one of my passions for seversl years. Most importantly, I've owned many different breeds over the past 35 years. All of them have taught me something. My hope is to share some of my experiences with the dogs in my life. ... http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/KarenC Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:38:56 -0600 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.squidoo.com/DesignerDogBreeds   Designer Dogs have become increasingly popular the past couple of years. Is it a passing fad or here to stay? What is a Designer Dog? How did they get started? All this and more will be in this lens. There is more to a Designer Dog than being a mixed breed. Many considerations have been involved. Even well known breeders and judges of Purebred dogs are becoming fans of the Designer Dog.  There are so many different mixed breeds that have become known as a Designer Dog, it would take more than this lens to list all of them. The difference between a Designer Dog and a Mutt is the breeding. That's kind of funny, because that's the difference between a Purebred and a Mutt. Did you know all Purebreds were at one time a mixture of breeds? The most important thing to remember about these new crosses is that they are dogs and all dogs need love and care. They are a long term commitment. So whatever you decide, be sure to commit to your new dog for life.  Designer Dogs: Portraits and Profiles of Popular New Crossbreeds Let's get back to the difference between Mutts and Designer Dogs. Most Mutts are of unknown origin. Mutts can have more than 2 breeds in their heritage. Whereas to create Designer Dogs, two  Purebred dogs are bred together on purpose in order to produce certain desirable qualities from both parents.  Did you know that all purebred dogs were once designer dogs? They all began as a mixture of other breeds to achieve a certain type.  Be sure to dress your Designer Dog in Designer Clothes at Small Dog Couture - Designer Duds for Your Little Doggie  animals Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:17:30 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/dancingdogs In the early 1990's the sport of Dog Dancing began. Since then it has only gotten more popular. Women play the primary role in the sport. Some men are catching onto the fun and beginning to really strut their stuff. The sport of Dog Dancing practically screams out the necessity of wearing costumes. The pair do their dancing to music performing intricate moves. It is a fun sport for the performers and the spectators. The dog handler chooses their music and choreographs their movements based on basic obedience. The training is excellent for the dog and fun for the owner, bringing the dog and owner into a closer relationship. There are competitions and clubs all over the world. Enjoy your visit here at the Dancing Dogs lens. Be sure to leave a comment at the bottom and add this lens to your favorites or social network. We love to share. Start learning with some groovy books about Dancing With Dogs.   animals Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:19:24 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/4theluvofdogs Do you order your life around a furry creature called 'man's best friend'? Is there a dog in your bed at night or at least close by somewhere? Are you a dog lover at heart? Dogs fill our lives with so much fun and joy. Not only are they our close companions, but we can dance with them, play with them, and snuggle with them. We even talk to them and they seem to understand. Let's talk dog, shall we? On this lens,you will see why the world of dogs is so special. Dogs fill so many places in our lives. They are our pets, best friends, and helpers. They can amuse us as well as keep us company. Some dogs are heroes, saving the lives of many people. Whether a mutt, rescue dog or purebred, dogs are special. Here you will see a bit of each of these roles that dogs fill. Welcome to The Special World of Dogs.  Be sure to rate this lens. Leave a comment in the Guestbook at the bottom. My blog: 4theLuvofDogs.com. animals Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:15:16 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/dog-clothes Your dog is your best friend and companion whose become a special part of your life. You think of him or her as being more like a child than just your pet dog. In today’s world, small dogs have become accessories in their own right – and you want your little pet to be pretty when she’s seen in public! Dressing up your dog isn’t an easy thing to do when they aren’t used to having an extra layer placed on top of their skin and fur. Dog Clothes come in a wide variety for both big and small dogs.  You can buy formal dresses, causal wear, costumes, and even dog motorcycle apparel! If you want to get them started in fashion, there are a few tips to help ease them into this process. Start with a one-piece outfit that’s easy to get on and off. Take your time and slowly get them into the clothes, talking to them in a soothing voice to let them know it’s okay. It’s important to make dressing a calm and relaxing process.  Trying to hurry and rush through it will only make it a bad experience for your dog and they won’t welcome the opportunity to wear dog clothes next time.  Make it a daily routine for awhile until they start to get used to it.  Then you can ease them into a 2-piece outfit, giving them lots of praises to show how proud of them you are that they’re being so good about it. Offer treats when they’ve worn an outfit for half an hour and not tried to scratch or bite it off.  Make this process a fun time for them. When they realize the attention they’ll get, not only from you, but from others in public, they’ll be more than willing to don the designer dog apparel that will turn heads and generate a bunch of “Awwww - how cute!” comments. animals Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:17:50 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/rescue4theluvofdogs   There are unwanted dogs that end up in shelters. They most likely will be euthanized because there just aren't enough homes. It's sad that these dogs are tossed aside, they are given up , thrown away, sometimes abused. Why are so many dogs without homes? There are 3 common reasons dogs are placed in shelters: moving, allergies and not enough time. Sometimes, dogs are given up due to changes in the family situation such as a new baby. Most of the time the real reason is they just don't feel like taking care of the dog anymore. For whatever reason dogs lose their home and family, they suffer because of it.  Many Dog Rescue Groups & Shelters work hard to place unwanted and abandoned dogs.  Why should you adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue group? Simple, to save a life. Which dogs are most likely to get adopted? Usually the first dogs to be adopted from shelters are the smaller dogs and puppies. But, even many small dogs and pups have to be put to sleep because there aren't enough homes. The dogs least likely to get adopted are American Staffordshire Terriers or Pit Bulls. People are afraid of them because of what they've heard. Even whole cities ban them though they have qualities such as strength and loyalty. These dogs are victims of poor owners and illegal dog fighting. They're known to make wonderful pets that love and protect their families. Let's work together to make a difference. Join the Humane Society of the United States and their program Pets for Life. Help your local Animal Shelter. Spay and neuter your pets. Become a foster home so a dog want be put to sleep because of no more room at the shelter. There is something each one of us can do. Just look for opportunities to help or donate your time or money. To help increase the exposure of this lens, please rate it and leave comments in the Guestbook at the bottom of this lens. Helping this lens helps rescue dogs. If you have a rescue group or breed that you'd like to see showcased on this lens, contact me. You can reach me through the Contact Me button under my picture.  Karen animals Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:12:53 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/funnydogtrainingvideosvideoshowcase We can all enjoy a good laugh. It's healthy. Laughing has always shown itself to be the best medicine for our health. That includes physical as well as mental health. Laughter is good for the soul.   Whether you are combating depression, crave some stress relief or just need to escape reality for a few minutes, laughing is a great way to do all of the above.   So go ahead, laugh! Go get your favorite drink, I don't mean alcohol, though I'm not against it. Settle your self into a comfy chair and start watching the videos on this lens.   Warning! Watching may be hazardous to your health. Keep all food and drink away from your mouth and hands while actually watching any funny videos. Choking, sputtering, spilling and stained clothes may result. moviesandtv Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:20:45 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/dogchristmasgifts ...Some Pampered Pooch Beauty Products! We all know that true pet lovers treat their dogs just like one of the family.  We splurge on them and we dote on their every need.  Here, you’ll find ideas to fill your doggie’s stocking with everything their little hearts desire – or items Santa can put under the Christmas tree this year to deliver a big surprise to your pet pooch! One idea is to pamper your dog with beauty products they have just for pets these days - like toenail paint to give her the perfect pooch pedicure or a day at a doggie spa in your community.   You’ll find dog Christmas gift ideas that fit every budget – from pet owners who can’t afford to splurge to those who spare no expense in buying top  of the line doggie gifts each year. Visit PETS SHOWCASE to create a beautiful piece of art out of the image of your beloved dog! shopping Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:21:22 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/groups..realdogloverswhisper Real Dog Lovers Whisper We love all kinds of dogs and welcome all dog lovers. If you have a lens about dogs or love dogs enough to want to show them how much you care, then join our group. Let us know how you communicate with your dog. It's all about appreciating our companions and best friends, the dogs in our lives.   animals Mon, 06 Aug 2007 11:06:50 -0600