The Prince of Cambridge Needs a Puppy


We’ve all heard the news of the birth of William and Kate’s new baby boy.  The world is waiting for its first glimpse of the new family and many are wondering what his name will be?  Well, we’re wondering what kind of puppy the brand new Prince of  Cambridge will have!  I’ve done a little research and these are the breeds that stand out as being extremely family-friendly.  
(We know the Queen is fond of her Corgis, but they didn’t make the list)
Bulldog

Beagle

Bull Terrier

Collie

Newfoundland

Vizsla

Irish Setter

Poodle

Labrador Retriever

Golden Retriever

We are also very fond of the mutt; a nice addition to any family.  If the Royals do acquire a furry family member, we’ll keep you updated.

Cat People

People have lived with cats for hundreds…thousands of years.  These artifacts attest to human interest in cats in Ancient Egypt.
Some scientists speculate that cats  were first domesticated about 12,000 years ago and were descended from a Middle Eastern wildcat, Felis Sylvestris, which means “cat of the woods”.  

(This is what I think of when I see the word Sylvestris)


 Of course, we use the word “domesticated” loosely, because as every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat.


Maybe cat and human relationships began when humans settled down to farm and store their produce.  Cats were drawn by the easy abundance of mice and other critters and humans were delighted by free pest control.  
In the United States today, cats are popular house pet with 30.4% of households gladly owning (serving?) around 36 million cats–that’s an average of 2 per household.

Tell us about your cats!




Did the Founding Fathers Have Dogs? Yes! (Cats, too!)

George Washington was the Father of our nation and also the father of the American Foxhound.  According to his diary, he named three of them Drunkard, Tipsy and Tipler.  

It is thought that John and Abigail Adams had mixed breed dogs.  Like George, they also had a sense of humor when naming their canine companions.  One was named Juno and the other, Satan.  (Maybe he could have benefitted from some obedience classes?)
Benjamin Franklin and his son William were partial to Newfoundlands.  Who could resist that sweet face?
Thomas Jefferson became enamored with Briards when he was serving as Minister to France.  He brought home a female he named Buzzy, who had two puppies on the ship home.
Abraham Lincoln’s dog Fido was a “floppy-eared, rough-coated, yellowish dog of uncertain ancestry”.  (Picture below)  He looks like a retriever mix to me.  He followed Mr. Lincoln wherever he went when Abe and family lived in Illinois.  

Lincoln also loved kitty cats.  Abraham Lincoln had the first White House cat, Tabby.  When his wife Mary was asked about Lincoln’s hobbies, her answer was “Cats.”  
‘Nuff said.

Happy 4th of July!!


Friday Funny: U.S. Pet Poll reveals 18% Want a Pet Dinosaur…Really?


I received a newsletter from PSI (Pet Sitters International) this week and one of the headlines stated that a recent U.S. Pet Poll (see here) revealed that 18% really would like to have a dinosaur.   Really?

This is probably what they have in mind:





Have none of them seen Jurassic Park?  Or the sequels?  We’ve all seen them. 

Everyone is all  “Awwww…..” and “Aren’t they cuddly?”  in the beginning.

















And then there’s a lot of screaming and running at the end.








                                                                          
 Another interesting result of the poll was that 26% of those polled wanted a tiger, 20% a giraffe and 16% wanted an elephant. 
















We at Barks and Blooms really love what we do, but I think we’re probably sticking to dogs, cats, birds, bunnies…….maybe the occasional snake………..

Here Comes the Bride….and the dog?

by Sandy Kempton


One of our Fantastically Fabulous Pet Professionals here at Barks and Blooms sent me this picture the other day.



Dogs at weddings is becoming more and more popular.  There are websites dedicated to designing a wedding with humans and canines in mind.    Pinterest is overflowing with boards on the subject.


What do you imagine with you think about a wedding that includes furry friends?  


Or this?




Have you included a fur-kid in your wedding?  Know someone who has?  Tell us about it!


Baby, It’s Hot Outside! (or How to Help Your Dog Avoid Heat Stroke)

By Sandy Kempton


We all know that dogs don’t sweat–except for a teeny bit through their feet.  They depend on panting to exchange hot air for cool, but when the outside air is the same as their inside air, that form of air conditioning isn’t so efficient.  




Being left in a car during hot weather, confined on concrete or asphalt surfaces, and being without shade or fresh water on hot days can lead to heat stroke.  Did you know that Pugs, Pekinese and Bulldogs are more prone to heat stroke because of their cute little noses?


What does heat stroke in dogs look like?  It starts with heavy breathing, the tongue looks bright red, saliva thickens and the dog may vomit.  (The body temperature also rises to over 104 degrees, but most of us don’t have a rectal thermometer handy to check that.)  If shock sets in, the lips turn gray and the dog may become unsteady and collapse.  



So what do you do now?  First, you must cool the dog at once.  Usually moving him to an air-conditioned area is sufficient, but sometimes it is necessary to place the dog in a cool bath or spray him gently with a garden hose for a few minutes.  Be careful not to cool too much or too rapidly,  because that causes another problem:  hypothermia and shock.



Always, always follow up with your veterinarian if you believe your dog has suffered heat stroke to avoid other complications.

Wednesday Adoptables–Feeling Lucky?

By Sandy Kempton

Lucky is a very sweet, friendly and playful sable boy about 5 – 6 years old.  He is great with other dogs and would love a friendly dog to play with.  Lucky likes people and enjoys other pets. He loves rides in the car and walks well on a leash.  He has a beautiful white face markings and reddish coat, this is a beautiful, special boy!  Fenced yard required.

If you are interested in finding out more about Lucky, please contact Northern Chesapeake Sheltie Rescue at 410-515-7029 
Or email them at [email protected]


Friday Funny–Sad Cat Diaries

An accurate compilation of the thoughts of sad cats everywhere:  

“Dear Diary,  My food dish is now only half full.  It is obvious I will now starve to death.  I have repeatedly tried to draw the attention of the authorities, but they are either stupid, deaf, or just cruel.  This may be my last entry…”

“The squirrel is back today…it is mocking me.   I will try to relieve myself from this torment by grooming myself…for 4 hours.”

Watch this video for more and have a great weekend, people! 

Take Your Dog to Work Day

Wednesdays around here are typically reserved for “Adoptables”.   But, when I realized that Take Your Dog to Work Day celebrated dogs AND adoption…well. 

Pet Sitters Internationalthe world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, (Barks and Blooms is a member) started Take Your Dog to Work Day in 2007 to celebrate dogs, to encourage adoption from humane societies, shelters, and rescue clubs.

This year, the 15th annual TYDTWD is Friday, June 21.  If your business is participating, let us know about it!

  PSI sponsors a photo contest that you can enter HERE.  
Check out last year’s winner!


This sweet rescue named Beverly and her owner won a $500 cash prize and $500 to her favorite shelter or rescue.  Woot!

Here’s the 2009 winner Holly, napping at the department of motor vehicles.  Can’t blame her; I get sleepy waiting for my number to come up, too.  

Enter your dog in the contest–and if you do–let us know!  It’s open until July 31, winners to be announced at the end of August.
te, but it has to be on a Wednesday–we’ve got you covered. Celebrate Take Your Pet To Work Week™ any day during June 17-21.