Pup links!

Actress Donna Drake and her cocker spaniel. Source: LIFE Magazine Archives.

Dog-related links from around the Web this past week:

The Furry Ties That Bind. A beautiful post that reflects on what it is that makes us dog people, tracing the deep connection that children often feel with dogs. (City Dog/Country Dog)

You Don’t Have To… This post by trainer Tena is a great reminder that there are multiple alternatives to any given technique or method. It’s relieving to read. I’ve had lots of people tell me that I HAVE to use a prong/choke collar if I get a German shepherd, that I have to use physical punishments, etc. As Tena would say, “You don’t have to.” There are other alternatives. Don’t do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or uneasy when it comes to training your dog. (Success Just Clicks)

Hierarchy: These Are a Few of Her Favorite Things. A ranked list of Elli’s favorite toys! This was fun to read, and a nice place to start for good ideas among the overwhelming cornucopia of dog toys. (Identity: V+E)

Conflicting Gestures of Affection. Why declaring a “National Hug Your Dog Day” might not be the best idea. (The Bark blog)

DIY: Liver and Potato Grain-Free Dog Treats. This sounds like a (fairly) easy recipe to make homemade treats. (The Hydrant)

AKC’s Top 11 Dog Breeds by City. This is an interesting report: Do certain cities prefer different breeds? It seems so! What breeds do you think are most popular in your city? And what does that say about your city? I think Charlottesville probably has a higher proportion of setters and spaniels than most cities; they seem to complement the landed gentry image that is somewhat prevalent around here. Here’s the more complete 2011 AKC breed report by city. (Woof Report)

Run, Doggy, Run. Laura Benn shares some great pointers on how to prepare yourself and your dog to run together. (iRun)

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Pup links!

Bring on the big dogs. Source: LIFE Magazine.

A lot of interesting, dog-centric links from around the Web this past week:

Getting the Most from Dog Training Classes. These are really helpful and insightful pointers about how to get more bang for your buck in a training class. I wouldn’t have thought of many of these things, and I’m glad I read this before signing up for a training class. (Oh Behave!)

Surprise! These (pretty adorable) photos of a border collie pup are proof positive that breeds have strong, inborn instincts. (Alta-Pete Farm Tails)

Wrapping Up the 2011 Budgeting Project–Onward to 2012! If you ever wanted a seriously comprehensive glimpse of pet finances, look no further than M.C. and her Bows. This is a really helpful year overview and it’s inspired me to keep track of my own purchases for my future dog. (The House of Two Bows)

Love ’em and Leash ’em Challenge. Take Paws reviews their favorite leashes, many with flexible uses and purposes. (Take Paws)

Finding a Purpose for a Pup. A success story of a sheep-killing German shepherd turned drug-busting police dog. Just proof that every dog has his proper place, if only we’ll give them a chance to find it. (The Bark Blog)

Happy Birthday, Edith Wharton! A collection of photos of one of my favorite American novelists, Edith Wharton, and her beloved dogs. (Dog Art Today)

A Lovely Being: Heavy Petting. Classic starlets in black-and-white with their pooches. (Honey Kennedy)

The Cookie Look. We’ve all seen this intense gaze before. I love these photos; their bated breath and intensely focused desire comes across so clearly. (Paws on the Run)

DIY No-Bake Healthy Treats for You & Your Pooch. These look like pretty gourmet snacks, but I’ll probably try them at some point, because I’m addicted to oatmeal. (Pretty Fluffy)

Bull City Pet Sitting: A Day on the Job. My favorite wedding videographers (one, sister to our much-beloved wedding photographer) created a video to promote a pet sitting business in Durham, North Carolina. It’s such a fun video and they did a wonderful job with it. What a fun promotional tool! (Inkspot Crow Films)

Intermission: A Dog’s View of Dogs Playing. Another great video! Ever wondered what the dog park looks like to your pooch? Here’s an idea, in high-def, artistically rendered glory. (GOOD)

Pup links!

It's a German shepherd Christmas. Click for source.

Christmas edition! Dog-related links from around the Web this week:

Downloadable Gift Tags from Modern Dog. Cute, colorful gift tags for the dogs or the dog-loving among us! (Miles to Style)

Anger and Anger Management. The great Patricia McConnell reflects on whether dogs can get angry. Fascinating! (The Other End of the Leash)

TIME Magazine Person of the Year. Shio the shiba does his part in participating in TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year 2011: The Protester. (Shio the Shiba)

Dear Prudence! Why even consider dating someone who doesn’t love animals? (Lazy Self-Indulgent Book Reviews)

Top 7 Reasons I Recommend Adopting an Adult Dog. Yeah! Preach it! Anyone else have any good reasons why? (Dog Training Secret)

Mismark Case Study: German Shepherd Dog. Our favorite dog-loving biologist reflects on the colors that occur when GSD genes cross. (Musings of a Biologist and Dog Lover)

Dog Portraits. Sweet and simple dog profiles by artist Itsuko Suzuki. (Miss Moss)

Giant-Headed Baby Attacked by Tiniest Yorkie Ever. So. Adorable. A huge baby plays with a tiny Yorkie puppy… Watch the delight and utter glee on the baby’s face swiftly change to distress when he realizes that the pup is actually trying to knock him over… But only in the cutest form of jest! (Best Week Ever)

Spent-Grain Dog Treats. My husband the poet is also a homebrewer, so he was really excited when I found this link to DIY spent-grain treats. Will be trying this come summer! (Pawesome)

Pup links!

Click for source.

Dog-related links from around the Web this week…

Holiday Hazards for Pets. An instructive list of things to watch out for over the holiday season. (The Bark)

DIY Dog Biscuits: Puppy’s First Christmas. A simple recipe for bake-it-yourself dog biscuits. (Pretty Fluffy)

Oh, hello! Why, yes, that’s my crotch: Part 1. A canine behaviorist shares some research on why dogs always go for the crotch when meeting new people. Some interesting findings here! (Dog Spies)

The Problem with Packs. Why the “pack mentality” for dogs is increasingly out of vogue. If we’re not pack leaders, then, what do we call ourselves? Pet parents? I like this blogger’s suggestion of being a “camp counselor” for her dogs. (Fearful Dogs’ Blog)

Should Dogs Eat the Same Food Every Day? Answer: Probably not! (Dog Behavior Blog)

Most Popular Dog Names in the English-Speaking World. Anyone have a dog with one of these names? Anybody got a Molly, Max, Bella, or Jake? (Psychology Today)

Global Community of Running Dogs (Photo Spread, 1933). M.C. provides a funny and insightful exegesis on these pages from a Shanghai magazine from 1933. Even dogs, apparently, can betray our deepest national biases. (House of Two Bows)

Barkour. That is one agile pup. (Animals Being Di*ks)

Dear Three-Legged Dogs. A simple and sweet thank-you note. (THXTHXTHX)

Horse and Dog Play Together Beautifully. This is so sweet and heartwarming. Inter-species friends are probably my all-time favorite phenomenon, and these two look like they may be Best Friends Forever. (Pawesome)

Pup links!

Sometimes life is very serious when you have a poodle in a yellow sweater. Source: Honey Kennedy

Canine-centric links from around the WWW this week:

Considering Pet Ownership? Here’s How Much to Budget. Mint.com is making infographics just for me these days! This was really helpful to see across the board and it’ll be useful as we plan our finances for the future dog. Do you think these numbers are accurate? Do you spend more or less than the average American on your dog? (Mint)

Blind Dog Has Her Own Seeing-Eye Dog. This is the cutest thing I’ve EVER seen. My eyes might be misting up. If we ever needed proof that dogs are the greatest animals alive… (The Hydrant)

Molly’s Sketchbook: A Dog Leash. Another fun DIY tutorial on how to make a classy leash for your pooch. (Purl Bee)

The Top 5 Most Important Dog Training Mistakes to Avoid. They sound simple, but it so easy to miss one of these commandments. (Dog Training Blog)

A Dog Walks Into the Room: Therapy Reading Dogs and the Canine-Human Connection. The more I learn about these reading programs, the more I really want to get involved! Sigh. If only I didn’t have this full-time job… (Paw Nation)

Neighborhood Watch Movie. Our brilliant wedding photographer made this adorable short film of her beautiful black lab, Orvis, standing guard over the neighborhood. I love watching his nose twitch. (Meredith Perdue)

Pup links!

Grace Kelly and an equally glamorous poodle. Source: B for Bonnie

Dog-related things that have interested me on the Web this week…

Can Virginia Be a No-Kill State? My local SPCA, where I volunteer, was featured in the Virginia Dog magazine for its inspiring work in establishing a no-kill shelter. (SPCA Community Blog)

Safe Harbor Prison Dogs. I think programs like this one are just incredible. Safe Harbor sends 100 dogs from high-kill shelters to the inmates at Lansing Correctional Facility, where the inmates train and care for the dogs. What a wonderful idea for rehabilitation for man and dog. These photo portraits of the pairs are very moving. (Dog Milk)

Find and a Dog Who Looks Just Like You! Doggelganger. I haven’t tried this yet, but this sounds hilarious. (Pawesome)

Look Alikes! In a similar vein, do you think these people look like their dogs? Or are they just skilled at imitating canine body language? (Pawsh Magazine)

DIY $5 Rope Dog Leash. Remember that really expensive rope leash I fell in love with? Ammo’s mama shows you how to make one for $5. Sweet! Will be trying this. (Ammo the Dachshund)

A Skill that Could Save Your Dog’s Life: Leave It. A dog trainer explains how to teach this important command. (Dog Training Secret)

Jonathan Adler Dog Collars and Leashes. Posh! (A.G. Out Loud)

Going Camping. My dad loved bringing Emma on our family camping trips, and I think Emma loved coming along, too. This post certainly made me antsy to go camping with my own future pooch. (Miles to Style)

Morning on the Hill. These are such deep, lovely photographs of a quiet morning with a Great Pyrenees. S/he looks so loving and gentle. (La Porte Rouge)

Also, I’m officially a member of the Pet Blog Directory!

Pup links!

Two classy broads. Source: Miss Moss

Interesting pup-related links from around the web…

A retriever in the lake. These photos are so gorgeous and peaceful. I love Shirley Bittner’s work. (My Everyday Life, Shirley Bittner)

Farnham Park Flyball. I always love a good series of photos of herding dogs in action. (An English Shepherd)

Honoring Animal Heroes. Every year, Purina nominates some dogs and cats to go in their Animal Hall of Fame. These pets are pretty awesome and, I admit, their heroic stories made me tear up a little. (Rescuing Insanity)

Causes of Death Vary by Breed. This shouldn’t be too surprising to anyone who’s read about the dangerous genetics of purebred dogs, but it is an interesting and helpful study to be aware of. (The Bark)

Top 5 Myths about Dog Behavior and Children. A helpful overview of the myths that people perpetuate about the interactions between dogs and children. (The Dog Training Secret)

Artist Anna Dibble and Her Unforgettable Dogs. Anna Dibble makes lovely–and un-tacky!–paintings of pooches. (City Dog/Country Dog)

Peonies and Rain Don’t Mix. Martha Stewart’s team writes a blog from the perspective of her French bulldogs, Francesca and Sharky, and, I have to admit, it’s pretty adorable. (The Daily Wag)

DIY Pet ID Tags. Speaking of Martha Stewart, check out this great template for making pet ID tags at home! She’s the best. (Martha Stewart)

Puppy’s First Year: Time-Lapse Video. OK, this is a cool idea. Watch this German shepherd puppy grow up! (Paw Nation)

How to Run with a Dog. Tips from a pro about running with your dog. (That Mutt)