In these dog days of summer, let’s consider the most important decision facing Barack Obama. Cousin Franklin’s dog Fala had a press secretary, starred in a movie and was named an honorary private in the Army. So the American Kennel Club (AKC), hoping to help usher the 23rd purebred dog into the White House, is conducting a survey (you can vote at presidentialpup. It suggests that the bichon frise’s history as companion to French noblemen would qualify the breed for the White House, but I’m not sure that’s the image Obama’s looking for. An AP–Yahoo News poll in June found that pet owners favor John McCain over Obama, 42% to 37%, with an even bigger edge among dog owners. A dog was never an option in the Manhattan apartment where I grew up, and my daughters knew that training the dog they so desperately wanted was nothing compared with training me to accept one.

Just as diabetes, epilepsy, cancer and arthritis can run in certain human families, these conditions can pass down through dog families, too, even if your pet is a mutt with multiple breeds on its family tree. Hip dysplasia is abnormal development and growth of the hip joint — common in larger dogs — that can cause painful arthritis and movement problems. Fred, King Sigfred and other dogs prove daily that a hereditary disease doesnât automatically mean that you and your dog must suffer. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an “as is” basis without any representations or warranties.

Soothing music - including Lionel Ritchie tunes - is fed softly throughout the rooms. Some will roll their eyes at the thought of dogs - or any other animals - being treated in such grand style . That pet is something they treasure and - just as someone would do for a child - they do things that make the dog happy and feel special. Boss’ ears still perk or he’ll run to the door every time he hears the word ‘mom’ - because he was used to me calling her that. The new PetsHotel, taking up 11,000 square feet of the 25,000-foot PetSmart in Jackson, provides overnight accommodations for both dog and cats, including suites.

Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club (AKC) is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. Along with its nearly 5,000 member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog. Poodle and Wheaten Terrier Neck-In-Neck in Race for White House - MarketWatch Intraday data provided by Interactive Data Real Time Services , a division of Interactive Data Corp.