Blisstree » Pet lists

The Best of the Food Bowl 2008

Heather R. — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:00:22 +0000

It’s the end of 2008 which means it’s time for a look back on the last year!

Below I’ve listed a few of the most popular posts for the Food Bowl – did I include yours?

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

The Best of the Food Bowl 2008

Smartest and Dumbest Dog Breeds

Heather R. — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:28:09 +0000

The Early Show on CBS did a segment last week on the smartest and dumbest dog breeds. I’ve heard of some breeds not being as bright as others, I’m not sure what their criteria was.

Anyway, they say the dumbest breeds are:

1. Afghan Hound
2. Basenji
3. Bulldog
4. Chow Chow
5. Borzois
6. Bloodhound
7. Pekingese
8. Mastiff
9. Beagle
10. Basset hound

and the smartest are:

1. Border Collie
2. Poodle
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Doberman Pinscher
6. Shetland Sheepdog
7. Labrador Retriever
8. Papillon
9. Rottweiler
10. Australian Cattle Dog

Like I said, I’m not sure what they’re basing their rankings on exactly. I’ve known a pretty smart beagle and a dumb-as-a-box-of-rocks poodle so it’s a safe bet that it’s all relative anyway!

What do you think of the lists?

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Smartest and Dumbest Dog Breeds

Top 10 Animal Dads

Heather R. — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:39:12 +0000

MSN Encarta recently did a series of the top ten dads in the animal kingdom (did anyone else just remember Father’s Day is only five days away??).

Some of them are surprising and some aren’t (we’ve all seen ‘March of the Penguins’), but it’s neat to find out that caring about offspring isn’t limited to just human dads!

1. Sea Horse
2. Emperor Penguin
3. Giant African Bullfrog
4. Jacana
5. Stickleback
6. Rhea
7. Giant Water Bug
8. Golden Jackal
9. Antechinus
10. Lion

[image: sxc]

Post from: Blisstree

Top 10 Animal Dads

How To Give A Cat A Pill

Heather R. — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:00:12 +0000

Image details: Thinkstock Single Image Set served by picapp.com

This has been around the internet for many years but it’s still as funny now as it’s always been!

How To Give A Cat A Pill:

1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.

6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth Drop pill down ruler and rub cat’s throat vigorously.

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse’s forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10 . Retrieve cat from neighbor’s shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard, and close door on to neck, to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw Tee shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12. Call fire department to retrieve the damn cat from across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.

13. Tie the little bastard’s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.

14. Consume remainder of scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.

15 . Arrange for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.

How To Give A Dog A Pill

1. Wrap it in bacon.

2. Toss it in the air

Post from: Blisstree

How To Give A Cat A Pill

Cat Haikus

Heather R. — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:10:09 +0000

These haikus “written by” cats have been floating around online for years and I finally came across them again last night:

The food in my bowl
Is old, and more to the point
Contains no tuna.

So you want to play.
Will I claw at dancing string?
Your ankle’s closer.

There’s no dignity
In being sick – which is why
I don’t tell you where.

Seeking solitude
I am locked in the closet.
For once I need you.

Tiny can, dumped in
Plastic bowl. Presentation,
One star; service: none.

Am I in your way?
You seem to have it backwards:
This pillow’s taken.

Your mouth is moving
Up and down, emitting noise.
I’ve lost interest.

My brain: walnut-sized.
Yours: largest among primates.
Yet, who leaves for work?

Most problems can be
Ignored. The more difficult
Ones can be slept through.

Cats can’t steal the breath
Of children. But if my tail’s
Pulled again, I’ll learn.

I don’t mind being
Teased, any more than you mind
A skin graft or two.

So you call this thing
Your “cat carrier.” I call
These my “blades of death.”

Toy mice, dancing yarn
Meowing sounds. I’m convinced:
You’re an idiot.

Post from: Blisstree

Cat Haikus

Patterns for Pets

Heather R. — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:19:47 +0000

I’ll admit it: I’ve dressed my dogs. Not fru-fru dresses or shirts and ties, but little knitted sweaters or wearable fleece blankets I’ve whipped together from scraps. They’re both short hairs and while we don’t get snow it does get cold here, so they seem to appreciate the extra warmth. If they go out front or walk with me to pick the kids up from school, though, they go bare!

Over the years I’ve kept a folder of bookmarks with patterns and ideas. Making such small things are a good shot of instant gratification and (I like to tell myself) the dogs are staying warm. The picture above was taken about a week after we acquired Honey. She didn’t mind the sweater too much but I didn’t make it long enough over her back. I used the pattern at redlipstick.net which I’ve used several times before and since (not just for my dogs!) and have found to be the easiest to follow.

Dog Patterns:
~ Custom dog sweater generator
~ Pattern books
~ Custom fit dog sweater
~ Pup sweater
~ Fleece dog sweater
~ Chihuahua sweater
~ Button-up dog sweater
~ Puppy blanket
~ Tug toy
~ Jingle bell dog collar

Cat Patterns:
~ Feline dim sum (catnip toy)
~ Poppy cat sweater
~ Bumble cat toy
~ Cushy kitten blanket
~ Cat muumuu (I would never dare!)
~ Catnip mice
~ Cozy cat crescent
~ Long-sleeve turtleneck cat sweater
~ Felted kitty bed
~ Fortune cat doll

Misc:
~ Bunny Santa hat
~ Pampered pet pillow
~ Simplicity sewing patterns
~ Baby goat sweater

(Make sure you check out Hankering For Yarn for more fantastic knitting ideas!)

Post from: Blisstree

Patterns for Pets

Fuzziest Pet Posts of 2007

Heather R. — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:01:15 +0000

2007 was a big year for pets and pet news!

Arguably the biggest and most popular issue was the pet food recalls that started in March and still seems to be ongoing (although on a much smaller scale) and affected thousands of pets and their families. Were you affected by the pet food recalls?

…

Celebrities had their fair share of pet drama:

~ Michael Vick was tried for and convicted of funding illegal dog fighting and participating in the killing of some of the dogs, and sentenced to 23 months in prison.

~ Iggygate and Ellen Degeneres. Ugh.

~ Leona Helmsley leaves $12M to her dog.

…

Three pets you don’t want to see at your bedside:

~ Oscar the cat predicts death at a nursing home.

~ Scamp the dog gives Oscar a run for his money.

~ Libby the poodle gets in on the action as well. I’m surprised that more of these stories didn’t come out of the woodwork as these three gained attention.

…

Scientists can’t leave well enough alone:

~ Glow in the dark cats.

~ Fluorescent fish.

~ Cat DNA is decoded.

…

Pet videos are always a hit and draw a lot of attention:

~ The Mean Kitty Song

~ The two talking cats

~ Good morning

~ Playing dead

~ Falcor the Urinator

~ Crazy cats

…

What were your favorite Food Bowl posts of 2007? What would you like to see in 2008?

Post from: Blisstree

Fuzziest Pet Posts of 2007

Doggy Halloween Costumes

Heather R. — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 16:09:03 +0000

Do you dress your dog(s) up for Halloween? Do they tolerate it for longer than it takes to snap a picture? We bought a little hat type costume for Chip several years ago and couldn’t even get him to hold still long enough for that, but he looked cute for the 2.2 seconds he had it on.

What’s your dog dressing up as?

Post from: Blisstree

Doggy Halloween Costumes

Pink Pets for Breast Cancer Awareness

Heather R. — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:02:50 +0000

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Home & Dining channel has put together some lists to help you show your support. And of course, we can’t leave the pets out!

~ Pink Pet Accessories:

~ Pink Pet Homes:

~ Pink Pet Transportation:

~ Pink Pet Food & Treat Accessories:

~ Misc Pink Pets:

…..

Also check out:
~ Chocolate Bytes: Pet Chocolate for Breast Cancer Awareness
~ Declutter It: 10 Ideas for your Pink Party
~ Baking Delights: Baking for Breast Cancer Awareness
~ Keeping the Castle: The Pink Room
~ Offbeat Homes: Ten Breast Self-Exam Reminders
~ Simply Thrifty: In Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month: 10 Pink Money Saving Gadgets

Post from: Blisstree

Pink Pets for Breast Cancer Awareness

Ahoy! Thar they howl!

Heather R. — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:53:45 +0000

To celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day, here are a few links for pirates and their pets:

Post from: Blisstree

Ahoy! Thar they howl!