“A really companionable and indispensable dog is an accident of nature. You can’t get it by breeding for it, and you can’t buy it with money. It just happens along.”
— E.B. White
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Friday post coming a day early today, as I’m having a slightly longer weekend, traveling and such tomorrow. Looking forward to the arrival of spring!
Just a few dog-related links for you this week! Some thoughtful pieces, though.
America’s Pet Frenzy. An entertaining and informative infographic that presents a thoughtful look at how much we spend on our pets. The numbers are pretty insane. Americans spent $48.3 billion on pets last year! Most interesting to me: Only 15% of Americans get pets from shelters. If 100% did, they’d save $2.4 billion. (Frugal Dad)
Dogs & Frostbite: Everything You Need to Know. If you live in a very cold area, this is a great article about how to prevent and treat frostbite in your dogs. (The Hydrant)
Blogger’s Stakes, Or How I Blew My First Competition. Veterinarian Dr. V. participates as a handler in her first dog show. A fun and really enjoyable post. (Pawcurious)
Dog Painting. No, I totally want this book, too! It would be the best coffee table book. (Ulicam)
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)
Doggerel 