Good Bloggie!

Feb 7, 2008 is the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Rat.

We have a couple of canine birthdays this week, and with the start of the Chinese New Year, wondered what our guys were in the Chinese Zodiac. Appears we live with a Metal Dragon and a Water Lamb (or Sheep).

And as proof of “If you look for it hard enough, you can find almost anything on the Internet,” below are links to pet horoscopes, both Chinese and Western. You can even see if your pet’s sign and yours mesh.
Petroscopes
Pet horoscopes

Here are a couple of Chinese Zodiac specific sites. You’ll have to make your own interpretation for your pet.
Chinese Zodiac
Chinese Horoscope

And have you ever thought about all the movement the stars and planets have done since the zodiac was first established? Some people have, and if you go by modern day placement your sign may not be what you thought it was!

Sidereal Astrology

Happy New Year!

The question often comes up “Why a badger fur/ruff collar for Frenchies in those early photos?”

Apparently, it was to tickle their ears and keep those ears up! Guess in the early days, when there was a mix of rose and bat ears, Frenchies needed “training wheels” for their ears.

Read more about a dog collar auction coming up February 12.

Historical Dog Collar Collection Auction

Better yet, view the collars going up for auction. And much more than just collars are in the collection! (Takes a few moments to load.)

Bonhams Online Catalog: The Dog Sale

Don’t know about your Frenchie, but ours seem to do a good job keeping their ears up with no collars. Especially if you whisper “Treat!”

This weekend Vivian earned an International title from IABCA (International All Breed Canine Association). She got a UCICB – International Champion title from the Open Class (Offeneklasse). Thank you to all her judges!

The IABCA is sanctioned by the UCI (Union Cynologie International) which is based in Germany.

Vivian attended these shows last year, bringing home three Reserve Best in Show Puppy awards (two in Bred-by and one in Open). Read about it here and more on the IABCA.
Link to last year

Well this year, not only did she bring home another Reserve Best in Show Bred-by Exhibitor rosette from the Adult class, she topped it off with a Best in Show Bred-by Exhibitor rosette!

But more than the ribbons, she had a great time. She loves the attention and especially the kids who come to pet her. Think she was looking forward to another day of it this morning. She looked a bit sad when we didn’t load up the car.

Pictures were taken and will be posted once they arrive.

The Austin French Bulldog Meetup group is having a fund raiser and you get a discount!

All this week just take your soiled dog and the certificate below to one of three locations of the Dirty Dog Self-Serve Dog Wash in Austin. You’ll get a couple bucks off the usual price, a clean dog, and the Meetup will receive funds to defray the cost of maintaining the Meetup page and forum. (We’ve talked about doing nice things for rescue or research with any surplus funds, but that’s never happened. So for now, we are trying to make it easier on our organizers’ pockets for keeping the Meetup site in place and active.)

Dirty Dog Wash Flyer

You can also help out the Austin Meetup by adding some style to your wardrobe.
Austin French Bulldog Play Group CafePress store

A couple of Valentine things. One very Frenchie related, and one just plain cute!

Give kisses, hugs, and help Frenchies.
French Bulldog Village Valentine Fund Raiser