Pet Bucket Blog

Image credit We are used to seeing poodles sport unusual hairstyles beside their fellow dogs – but the poodles at the annual Groom Expo take canine coiffuring to a whole new level.    Every year, extreme pet stylists converge on Hershey, Pennsylvania to create elaborate and, often mind-bogglingly bizarre, living works of art from the canvas of their dog’s fur.   Image credit Image credit Image credit   After months of preparation, groomers have two hours on site to put their masterwork together. An intense bout of colouring and mad shearing ensues before the poodles are paraded before the judges.    Competition is fierce. A winner can easily take home $30,000 USD for a top entry.    The results are nothing if not imaginative. Poodles are transformed into camels and horses, linebackers and dragons.  Photographer Ren Netherland, a former Navy officer, is fascinated by the culture that has developed around the event. He travels every year from his home in Florida to capture the unusual world of competitive grooming and the designs the poodle lovers produce. His photographs have opened up an otherwise closed circle to the public eye.    He says whilst the, the competition can seem a little strange to outsiders, it is far from cruel. The poodles are pampered and seem to quite enjoy the spotlight.    Image credit Image credit      

1. The hardest thing about preparing sushi is not eating all the fish before the guests arrive. Don’t be tempted by that tasty, rich, fresh, juicy, tender fish.   Image credit   2. Oh come on, just a little taste. You’ll love it I promise. Just one incy-wincy kitten sized taste.   Image credit   3. Only the tiniest of paw-pinches should do the trick for this recipe.    Image credit   4. Remember to have fun with your baking and add a little of your own personality. Isn’t this cake simply adorable! And cute and intelligent and talented… oooooh and so pretty…     5. One invaluable tip my nonna from Bologna taught me was to always warm the pasta before cooking. It gives it the most amazing texture.    Image credit   6. Once the pastry feels firm to the paw and looks shiny, then the pie is ready to be enjoyed.    Image credit   7. It’s really important to make sure there are no lumps. Any lumpy bits can be stored on your chin and whiskers for later.   Image credit   8. Excuse me but this roast DOES NOT need more seasoning!     9. Oh hi, umm, you’re right there. So, you’re meant to put your paws right in the cake mix. I’ve seen Nigella do it I swear to you.     10. Job well done indeed. Happy kitties means a happy chef.        

“I buried my best bone but my girlfriend stole it and gave it to the Beagle next door” A compilation of the best canine country covers. Image credit   1. Rawhide “Rollin,’ rollin,’ rollin’ – keep them corgis rollin’. Taking a leaf out of The Blues Brothers’ performance book, The Paw Brothers surprised critics with their showmanship when they released this classic.   Image credit   2. Pawhide  Every success spurns a parody and none is better than ‘Pawhide’ by Weird Al Barkovic whose chants of “Bowlin’, bowlin’, bowlin’ and the hilarious video became a viral sensation.    Image credit   3. King of the Road This ode, embracing the freedom that being poor can provide, has never sounded better than from the furiously smacking cheeks of Hank Furry.   Image credit   4. Boys from the Bush And they’re definitely back in town! Ladies watch out for members of the Outback Club – unless of course you want an unforgettable Saturday.   Image credit   5. Where have all the Cowdogs Gone? Dusty Springerfield’s forlorn tale of failing love tugged at the heartstrings of many music fans.    Image credit   6. Duncan As Spot and Dot sang, “I love to have a beer with Duncan, ‘cos Duncan’s me mate,” Australian dogs rejoiced at the updated version of Slim Dusty’s iconic ‘tail’ of friendship.    Image credit   7. Jolene The stunning lady featured in the video for Daisy Doggone’s cover of ‘Jolene’ encapsulates perfectly Dolly Parton’s vision of an incomparable beauty, whose flaming auburn hair and eyes of emerald green sets men’s hearts wagging.    Image credit          

Most owners and cats alike, dread the thought of a visit to the vet. Not only will the cat have to be placed in a carrier, it may also have to travel by car and encounter unfamiliar places, people and animals. Here are some simple tips to make the experience less stressful for both you and your feline friend. Image credit   Socialise your cat Being familiar with only you or other members of your household may make your cat fearful of strangers. Introduce your young kitten to as many people as possible. Also try to get your cat used to being handled as they would during a vet examination. Gently touch your cat’s paws, look into its ears, open its mouth, and run your hands over its legs and body similar to what they may encounter during a vet visit.   The cat carrier Cats generally do not like cat carriers but they tend to be the easiest way to transport them. Choose a carrier that is sturdy and secure but also easy for you to carry. Keep a carrier out and open in your home so your cat can investigate it or even play in it, allowing them to develop a positive association with the cage. Put some food and treats, their favourite toys, or blankets inside to entice them into the carrier.    Image credit   The car Take your cat on short trips in the car to get it used to travelling and make sure the destination is not always the vet clinic. Drive slowly without braking hard and seat-belt the carrier into the car to reduce the bumpiness of the ride. If possible, do not feed your cat for several hours prior to travel to decrease the chance that your cat will get carsick.   The waiting room The vet’s waiting room can be a pretty scary place for a cat, so cover the carrier with a towel or blanket to help reduce visual stimulation. Try to sit away from dogs and if your cat is showing signs of stress, ask if there is another room that you and your cat can wait in. Cats can sense our anxiety and frustrations so try to keep calm despite any stress or delay.    Image credit   Mobile vets If your cat is extremely unwell or stressed, another option is to find a mobile vet. Ask your vet if they offer or can recommend a mobile vet that can come to your location.         

If you are looking for a new four-legged family member, there are many reasons to head to the local animal shelter instead of the local breeder. Owning a shelter dog can be very rewarding for you and the animal. Animal shelters and pet rescue organizations do great work and they rely on the support of the community to continue doing what they do best. Image credit   Some would-be dog owners are concerned about adopting a dog from the shelter. Both government-run shelters and private non-profit animal rescue organizations have made great strides, but some myths about shelter animals still persists. Some people fear that shelter dogs are poorly socialized, and that they will not readily adapt to life at home. Others worry that shelter dogs were surrendered by their former owners for temperament or behavioural issues, and that those problems will re-emerge once the dog is in their home.   Image credit   While it is important to evaluate each animal carefully, the above concerns are largely myths. Responsible animal rescue organizations and animal shelters take great pains to evaluate the temperament of every incoming animal, and they strive to match dogs and families carefully. The best organizations will take a number of factors into account to make the right match, from the size of your home to the makeup of your family.   If you are dealing with a reputable animal rescue organization, for instance, the staff may not allow you to adopt a large dog if you live in a tiny apartment. Instead, they may direct you to a smaller animal that will be comfortable laying on your lap and playing in the local dog park. By taking these steps, a good animal rescue organization helps ensure that every pet they adopt will have a long and happy life and a permanent loving home.      Adopting a pet from an shelter or animal rescue organization obviously has benefits for the animal, but it has many benefits for owners as well. When you adopt your next dog from a shelter, you get the satisfaction of saving a life and giving a pet a loving home. Even if you adopt from a no-kill shelter, you are freeing up space for the next dog to be rescued from a bad situation.    You also get a dog that has been carefully evaluated for both health and temperament issues. The staff members of these organizations develop a real feel for the animals they care for, and they learn to spot potential behaviour problems early, when they are easiest to work with. Many animal rescue organizations work with a wide network of pet professionals, from training facilities to veterinary clinics. This network allows them to find underlying health problems and make it easier for the new owners to keep their pets healthy and happy.     Image credit   If you do decide that a shelter dog is the right choice for you, it is important to evaluate the organization carefully. Animal rescue organizations run the gamut in terms of quality and responsibility, from professionally-run groups to places that barely meet the minimum standards. Talking to other pet owners, veterinary clinics and dog trainers can give you a real feel for which organizations deserve your support and which ones are best ignored.    You can expect to complete a thorough application and pay an adoption fee before bringing your new family member home. Many animal rescue organizations also conduct interviews and home visits to make sure you can provide a safe and loving home. While this may seem over the top at first, it is done for the welfare of the pet and the adoptive family. The best organizations work very hard to match pets and people, and their goal is to secure permanent loving homes for every animal they receive.     

The days of buying a simple carpeted scratching post for your cat are long gone. On the market today there is an array of innovative – and sometimes funny – furniture designed to transform your home into the perfect kitty playground.    Katris    Perfected your Tetris skills as a kid? They’ll come in handy with the new Katris product for cat lovers by Papercut Lab. Made from cardboard, the sturdy shapes fit together to create endlessly variable world for your cat to explore.    Your imagination is the only limit to what you can create from the Katris pieces. Once you’ve created the perfect cat post and hideaway, special clips are used to hold your design together. What’s more, the pieces can be purchased separately, so you can add more of whatever shapes take your fancy.    Image credit   The Katris product need not only be for your cat. It is designed so you can create functional furniture for yourself, such as a bookshelf or a coffee table complete with nooks and crannies for your pet.     Lumpi    Lumpi looks like kitsch sculptural art but is actually a ingenious scratching post for your cat to get revenge on dog kind for all the times they’ve chased them up trees. Cast from polyester resin and wrapped in sisal cord, Lumpi keeps you and your cat happy by keeping your furniture safe and giving kitty something great to sink their claws into.     Image credit   Goldtatze   German company Goldtatze (Translation: Gold Paw) has created cat heaven in the sky. Hanging from the ceiling and walls, these amazing designs make a simple room kitty wonderland.    Designer Stephan Hofmann, who has a background in carpentry, was inspired to create the product after adopting his first cat, Tiggi, from a shelter. Struggling to find attractive and interesting cat furniture he decided to make some himself. Hofmann now has two more cats, Püppi and Pepita, and ships his designs worldwide.      Skiitch Modern Cat Scratching Post What looks like super cool modern sculpture is actually cleverly designed cat scratching post from Kassen design. Fashioned from heavy-duty corrugated cardboard mounted on a sturdy cement base, the posts are influenced by Brutalist architecture. The Skiitch Modern Cat Scratching Post is an item of décor for the truly cultured cat.    Image credit   Indiana Jones Cat Bridge   Is your place home to an intrepid feline adventurer? If so, the Indiana Jones Cat Bridge may just be the perfect addition to your home. Made from solid pine by CatastrophiCreations, the bridge can be slung across the tops of doorways to create a fun perch for your cat to explore that doesn’t crowd the room. A railing of hand-woven twine allows cats to comfortably lounge on the bridge and watch from on high.    Image credit   pEI Pod    Cats love to hide and pEI pods are one of the most stylish hidey-holes available. Made from the same high-density polyethylene used to make baby products, the elliptical pet cave is as safe as it is sleek. It is also fully recyclable, so great for the planet too. The pod and accompanying pet pillow varieties are customisable so you can get exactly the right look to match you and your cat’s tastes.     Image credit          

Anthrozoologist Dr. John Bradshaw has spent years studying the domestic house cat to discover more about their habits and psychology. According to the University of Bristol cat behaviour expert, our furry feline friends view us as versions of themselves – we are just large, clumsy cats that walk on our back paws.  Image credit   Dr. Bradshaw recently penned the book Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science can Make you a Better Friend to Your Pet, sharing his insights into the cat mind. One of his more interesting conclusions is that cats just don’t ‘get us’ like dogs do.    Extensive research over the years has revealed man’s best friend views us as very different animals to themselves. Their behaviour noticeably shifts when a human enters the room. The way two dogs play together is very different to how they play with one of us.    Image credit   This distinction just isn’t evident when it comes to cats. No sign has been observed which indicates cats see us as anything other than cats much larger than themselves. They socialise with people in exactly the same manner they engage with others of their own kind. The attention they show us, such as rubbing against our legs and sitting beside us is indistinguishable from cat-on-cat affection.     Image credit   The belief cats are haughty creatures that see themselves as better than their human servants is very likely false according to Dr. Bradshaw’s studies. Cats don’t desire to rub up against cats that they believe are of inferior status. If your cat nuzzles against your leg, chances are it views you as an equal, or even as a superior.     Image credit   Dr. Bradshaw used a variety of methods to produce his results. He spent a lot of time watching groups of cats interact in all sorts of environments, including in feral colonies and shelters. He also examined how cats play with toys and designed tests administered at different times of day to see if there were varying results. He further extensively interviewed owners to discover how they perceived their cats and the relationship they shared with them.    Surprisingly little research has been done into cats and Dr. Bradshaw insists a lot more is required. He believes it is important we take the time to consider how our cat’s minds work, rather than projecting human emotions onto them. Unravelling the mysteries of cat world, in his opinion, will only lead to happier pets.    Image credit   You can read more about Bradshaw’s work and his new book here.   

1. "It's you're, not your"   Image credit   2. "Well of course cats are superior to dogs."   Image credit   3. "This is my thinking cap."   Image credit   4. "Just studying for my exam."   Image credit   5. "Do you mind if I read the paper in peace?"   Image credit   6. "I'm the total package: brains and beauty."   Image credit   7. "Hmmmph!"   Image credit   8. "What is it like in your funny little brains?"   Image credit   9. "Silence human! I'm reading about the String theory."   Image credit   10. "Please, leave me be with my thoughts."   Image credit  

  1. There's a new king of the jungle in town.   Image credit   2. Inspired by Rio perhaps?   Image credit   3. Cowabunga!   Image credit     4. If giraffes had short necks:   Image credit   5. That is a purrfect tiger disguise!    Image credit   6. "Stop! Hammer time!"   Image credit   7. This is pandamonium!    Image credit     8. The "camel"flage look.    Image credit   9. Stinks to be this pup...   Image credit   10. Move over Seabiscuit!    Image credit   11. Is he black with white stripes or white with black stripes?   Image credit   12. Even more rare than the American Buffalo is the Buffalo Poodle.   Image credit   13. Elephant + Tiger = Elepher?    Image credit   14. All eyes were definitely on this poodle...   Image credit  

Otherwise known as the Mexican Hairless or Xolo, the Xoloitzcuintle has existed in South America for over 3000 years but is now one of the rarest breeds in the world. The breed’s unusual hairlessness is thought to have originated due to a mutation of dogs in the region. These dogs may have had a survival advantage in the hot, tropical environment causing the mutation to spread.    Image credit   Xolos were considered sacred by the Aztecs and other indigenous cultures and many artefacts survive depicting the breed. In Aztec mythology, the Xolo was created by the god Xolotl. He instructed that man guard the dog with his life. In return, the dogs would guard their master’s souls through the dangers of the underworld to the heavens.    Skin colours in the Xolo range from black, to blue, to red. Occasionally, Xolos with a coat are born amongst a litter of hairless siblings.    Image courtesy of Jacqi Dinis   For many years, the Xolo remained largely ignored by dog breed authorities, only sporadically making appearances in Mexican dog shows of the 1940s. By the 1950s interest had increased at it was realised, unless drastic action was taken, the breed would go instinct.   In 1954 the FCI (the World Canine Association) began the ‘Xolo Expedition’. Mexican and British dog enthusiasts set off to the remote regions of Mexico to discover and preserve purebred members of the breed. Ten were found and formed the foundation of Mexico’s program targeted at a Xolo revival.    Image courtesy of Diana Andersen - AnimalImages   Interestingly, Xolos were one of the very first dogs recognised by the American Kennel Club. In 1887, ‘Mee Too’ was registered and in 1940, ‘Chinito Junior’ owned by a Mrs Radtke of New York became the breeds first, and only, American Kennel Club champion. As of 2012, the Xolo has been included in the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.    Image courtesy of Jacqi Dinis   Xolos tend to be healthy dogs and are well-known for their intelligence. As an ancient breed largely unchanged from its early roots, it has many ‘primitive’ characteristics that have been lost in many more popular dog varieties. They are inquisitive, high energy and have keen hunting and guarding instincts.    The Xolo is the national dog of Mexico and the symbol of the popular Mexican football club Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente. Feature image courtesy of Jacqi Dinis