Good Bloggie!

Here’s an item destined to be on every Frenchie owner’s wish list: a crate with climate control built in. Keeps you pup cool and warm depending on the setting, runs on a 12V outlet which plugs into the car or home AC outlet, AND has a back-up battery (up to three hours). How’s that for piece of mind on a travel day with temps over 100°?

All this coolness comes with a price tag though. About $150-$300 depending on the size.

You can read more about them at the manufacturer’s website:
Komfort Pets

Online stores selling them, and in the larger sizes:
In the Company of Dogs
Amazon.com

Or do a search for “Komfort Pet Carrier.”

We haven’t gotten our paws on one yet, so if you have used this crate, let us know if the crate is as cool as it sounds.

(reposted with permission)

Announcing a Joint $35,000 Matching Gift to the Rabies Challenge Fund

Jan Rasmusen, author of the national-award winning book, Scared Poopless: The Straight Scoop on Dog Care, and two anonymous dog lovers announce a combined $35,000 matching gift to The Rabies Challenge Fund. Jan’s gift is being made on behalf of her dog, Chiclet, in honor of Chiclet’s companion, Jiggy, who developed autoimmune liver disease after a rabies shot.

Jan Rasmusen says,

“By helping to fund the Rabies Challenge studies, we have the chance to help better the lives of, not just hundreds of dogs, or even thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dogs. We can potentially help to improve the health of every pet dog in America. How exciting is that!”

The anonymous donors add:

“We are totally dedicated to the Rabies Challenge Fund and its mission and are so pleased to be able to support it with this matching gift of $25,000.”

From May 1st to August 31st, for donations of $100 or more, Jan and the anonymous donors will match $1 of every $2 donated up to $35,000, and Jan will send an autographed copy of her book for donations above $500 as well.

Also, Chiclet has enlisted the support of canine movie star, Benji, who says,

“This important study is long overdue. I give the Rabies Challenge study four BIG paws up!”

“Donations from our team of dedicated supporters, like Jan and the anonymous dog lovers, along with steady grass-roots public contributions have launched our second year of fund-raising with a bang!” responds Fund Co-Trustee, Dr. W. Jean Dodds.

Funded by grass-roots donations, the rabies challenge studies began in November 2007 with the goal of extending the required interval for rabies boosters to five, and then seven years. Dr. Ronald Schultz, Chair of the Department of Pathobiology of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, is conducting the studies according to USDA vaccine-licensing standards. Previous French research on the rabies vaccine demonstrated a minimum of five years duration of immunity by challenge. American serological studies showed a minimum duration of immunity of seven years.

“It is so exciting and important to get support for the Rabies Challenge Fund from as many dog owners as possible. The very generous combined $35,000 matching gift from Jan Rasmusen and the anonymous donors will go a long way to provide the funding required for these critically important rabies vaccine studies,” comments Dr. Schultz.

Fund founder, Kris L. Christine, says,

“We’re thrilled about these generous gifts and Benji’s endorsement, which will make a huge difference in helping us meet our second year’s budget for the studies!”

Find more information on the matching $35,000 gift to The Rabies Challenge Fund at our website designed by Andrea Brin www.RabiesChallengeFund.org and on Jan Rasmusen’s Truth 4 Dogs website at www.Truth4Dogs.org.

Did you know that humans and other animals are hard-wired to respond to baby faces and features? It’s true! Researchers at Oxford University have documented it. The sight of an infant or baby animal cues your brain and causes good emotions within seconds. Call it the “warm fuzzies” syndrome, if you will.

So when you go looking for that Frenchie puppy (or any breed) you need to have your facts together so you don’t automatically fall for a cute puppy face. This face will be with you for many years to come. Start with one attached to good health, good breeding, and to someone who will be there to answer questions later.

Visit the parent club, The French Bull Dog Club of America, for tips on finding your French Bulldog:
French Bulldog Club: Do’s and Don’ts

Visit The Wrong Puppy to make sure you are armed with the skills to find the right puppy.
The Wrong Puppy

And if you want to read more about your brain’s reaction to puppies and babies, here’s some links:

The Wall Street Journal

Washington Post

Daily Herald

Interested in French Bulldogs and want “Just the facts, ma’am”?

Surf over to the Wikipedia listing. You can get the basics on Frenchies, Frenchie health, and visuals of the various coat colors. There are links to all sorts of info sites and the international French Bulldog clubs.
Frenchies on Wikipedia

This one page can keep the Frenchie fan busy for quite awhile.

If you have a (gasp!) second breed, try searching for it and see what comes up. Or have non-Frenchie interest? Give it a search.

If you don’t know about Wikipedia, it is a living information source, so new things are always being added, edited, and challenged. Their tag line: “the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.”

Wikipedia Home Page

Spring has snuck in earlier this year, and we have already seen a spring flea or two. Last year, we gave nematodes a try, and even with a damp, cool summer, we nary saw a flea. (Cool that is for Central Texas, only made it over 100° a few times all summer.) Last year’s blog entry: Finding Nemo-todes

So last week, we did a early application of our little flea-eating friends and haven’t seen one since. May skip the chemical deterrent if the nematodes can keep do the job alone. Safer for dogs, for us, and environment.

If you live in Central Texas, you can get nematodes from:
• Bark ‘n Purr
• Natural Gardener

Last year, we got them from Bark ‘n Purr. They even carried the spray bottle attachment to mix the nematodes and water. This year, we went looking for them so early they didn’t have them in stock yet. (First shipment is due in March.) They recommended trying Natural Gardener and we did find them there.

Nematodes aren’t very expensive. Around $20-25 to spray an average-sized yard.

You’ll need a clean hose-end sprayer to mix nematodes and water to spray the yard with. If it’s one you’ve had around and used with fertilizer or other chemicals, it will hurt the nematodes and they won’t have a chance to do their job. So be sure to use a clean one.

If you aren’t in the Central Texas area, ask your local nursery or pet shop if they carry them. (A locally-owned or independent shop is your best bet.) Or try an internet search. Because nematodes are kept cool or refrigerated to maintain hibernation, have them shipped as quickly as possible.

Wishing you a flea-free spring and summer!