Good Bloggie!

You’ve sat in history class and heard facts and dates about the people who lived before you. Have you ever wondered if there is a canine equivalent? There actually is! It’s called the Oregon State University (OSU) Canine Research Collection and is located in Corvallis, Oregon in the Valley Library.

It started in 2000 with the donation of a personal collection of rare and antique dog books. The collection is now expanding as more dog fanciers donate their collections of books, magazines, pedigrees, photos, correspondence, medallions, and more.

If you have items you’d like to donate, or want to learn more, visit the Oregon State University site or contact them.

Canine Reseach Collection
Oregon State Libraries, Special Collections

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Phone: (541) 737-2075
Fax: (541) 737-8674
Email: special.collections@oregonstate.edu
Address: 121 The Valley Library, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331-3411

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

This header caught our eye this morning in the local paper, The Austin American-Statesman. Not only is the article about how to take great photos of pets, it HAS a great photo of a Frenchie laying on top of a cement pig, and (of course) it made the front page!

The article was written by Sandra Eckstein and originally published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 01/06/08.

Good photos of pet require patient hand

Lots of really good info and tips on how to capture your pet’s personality with a camera. Don’t be surprised if after reading the article, you’ll want to whip out that camera and start snapping away.

You may have already gotten your paws on this book. (It came out a couple of months ago.) But if you have been contemplating whether to get it, by all means, do!

The book is The French Bulldog by Muriel P. Lee and will serve as one of those “go to” tomes about French Bulldogs. This hardbound book is obviously a labor of love, written and edited by someone who has done their research and knows their breed. Sections of the book are written by recognized specialists, and it’s filled with wonderful photos of all sorts of Frenchies, past and present.

The author covers in-depth how the breed first developed in Europe, then made it’s way to America and how American breeders put a definite stamp on the look of the breed. It goes on to cover: national club history and explores past European and American lines and their continued influence on the breed today.

A whole section is devoted to humorous and heartwarming stories of Frenchie antics and their impact on people’s lives. If you’ve ever thought of adding a Therapy Dog title to your pal, you should read this book for inspiration and an outline of how it is done. There is a quick, but through, chapter on medical issues. For the collector of Frenchie memorabilia, there are pages of photos and discussion of vintage postcards, porcelain figures, and art objects.

One chapter explains judging the breed, then the next chapter list influential Frenchies and current dogs making a splash in the show ring. The book wraps up with an appendix listing top dogs, winners, and more places for Frenchie information.

Without a doubt there is something for every Frenchie lover in this book. Whether you are a pet owner, show or breed your dogs, or just interested in getting a Frenchie, this book is a fine addition to your library.

The book is available through Amazon (and qualifies for free shipping!)

“The French Bulldog” by Muriel P. Lee