Something About Barbaro and Other Animals

The Race is On!

2012-01-31T07:00:00.006-05:00

This is the link to the Holy Bull Stakes run on Sunday and won very decisively by Algorithims, son of Bernardini, who overcame Hansen mid-stretch. Hansen, the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby (before this race), led for most of the race until the Todd Pletcher trained Algorithims caught and easily passed him down the stretch. The victory handed Pletcher his third win of the day.

This was the third start for Algorithims and the first stakes appearance and he looked impressive even on a sloppy track.

So the race to the starting gate for the Derby officially is under way. One of Pletcher's other winners on Sunday is El Padrino of whom there are rumored to be Triple Crown hopes.

Of course it is very early to start placing your bets. Union Rags is slated for the Fountain of Youth on Feb 26 so we'll get to see the other horse surrounded by buzz.

Let the games begin!

The Best Thing Ever!

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

What could be better than to be covered in golden retriever puppies?? Maybe taking one home......

Are You My Mother?

2012-01-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

Dare someone tell this foal the dog with a towel is not a pony or maybe the other way around. . . dare someone tell the dog the foal is not a Great Dane?

Luck Series on HBO

2012-01-28T07:00:00.001-05:00

Combine Jaime Gordon's book The Lords of Misrule with Boardwalk Empire and the television show Las Vegas and you probably have the components of the HBO series, Luck, starring Dustin Hoffman and others. It premiers January 29 at 9:00 PM on HBO and from the trailer above, it certainly is portraying the underbelly of the industry, which, I suppose, is where all the action is.

Camel Race

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

This gives new meaning to man versus beast. Apparently these races between the camel Nessie and her owner have been going on sine the camel was a baby. Watch the way the camel runs and you'll have a pretty good idea of who wins!

Gene Therapy That Works in Dogs May Help Cure a Form of Blindness in People

2012-01-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

it appears that comparative oncology is not the only field in which medical researchers are discovering that therapies that work on dogs, may also work on humans. Specifically, two Penn researchers demonstrated four years ago, that gene therapy could help restore vision in both dogs and humans for those with a very rare form of blindness.

Now it seems that a similar approach may also work for a much more common form of blindness--retinitis pigmentosa, which affects many thousands. This week, scientists Gustavo Aguirre and William Beltran reported success in treating dogs with the disease by using gene therapy. They are hoping the approach will also work for humans.

The same approach that they used before--injecting healthy genes into the retina to compensate for the malfunctioning ones--was used and stopped the disease in four dogs from progressing. The mutation occurred spontaneously in the dogs--they were born with it, meaning that researchers did not have to destroy a dogs sight in order to test the protocol.

While human trials are not yet underway, hope is high for the success of the vaccine in people as well as pets.

Darling Companion

2012-01-25T07:00:00.002-05:00

So in this week when War Horse and The Artist (which feats an adorable dog, Uggie) were both nominated for Best Movie of the Year, comes another film trailer, Darling Companion, for a story about a woman who love her dog more than her husband. And then her husband loses the dog.

We only hope it has a happy ending because the dog is spectacular!

The point, however, is that animals have taken over Hollywood--and it's about time.

IT'S A BOY FOR RACHEL!

2012-01-24T07:00:00.002-05:00

IT'S A BOY!!
PRESS RELEASE COURTESY OF THE PAULICK REPORT

Lexington, Kentucky -- January 22, 2012 --

RACHEL ALEXANDRA, 2009 Horse of the Year, gave birth today to a 125 pound colt by 2007 and 2008 Horse of the Year, CURLIN who stands at Lane's End Farm.

The bay colt was born at 2:40 pm on Stonestreet Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. He took his first steps an hour and an half later. Emblazoned with a white star, the alert colt bears a striking resemblance to his mother. Stonestreet Farm manager Gary Megibben reports all is well with both mare and foal and that, "Rachel is a natural mother, and took to the colt immediately."

Owner Barbara Banke was told of the breaking news while preparing to cheer on her San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game at Candlestick Park. "I am thrilled with the good news of Rachel's safe delivery and health of the handsome colt that resembles her. For me and my children, this colt represents Jess’ dream – to raise and race the best,” says Banke. “Co-owner Hal McCormick and I look forward to watching him develop and are excited to see him carry the Stonestreet silks as his Mom and Dad did before him.”

Curlin, the 2007 Breeder's Cup Classic Winner and 2008 Dubai World Cup winner and Rachel Alexandra, who redefined gender at the racetrack by becoming the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness and the first filly to ever win the Woodward Stakes, took the Jackson family, Stonestreet and racing fans on two incredible fairy-tale journeys.

Rachel Alexandra will be bred to Bernardini in 2012.

Gabrielle Giffords Lives Barbaro's Lessons

2012-01-23T07:00:00.004-05:00

I know it does not have to do with animals but it does have to do with Barbaro and what he taught us--courage, bravery, extreme grace under pressure and to never, ever give up. Gabrielle Giffords is an example of everything Barbaro stood for and has come to represent. I have no doubt she will be back.

Godspeed to her on her continued recovery. The steps she has taken so far are inspirational. Perhaps all those in Congress who continue to argue just to make themselves heard, can follow her example. Get out of the way of your egos and learn to work together.

Snowbird

2012-01-22T07:00:00.001-05:00

We finally got snow although it is supposed to be 60 degrees on Monday so I suspect it will be short lived.

In any event, this crow seems to be enjoying his snow antics up on the rooftop, sledding down on a jar cap. Note that he picks it up when he gets to the bottom and does it again!

Siku

2012-01-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is Siku a polar bear cub being raised by a rotating team of three handlers in Denmark, after his mother was discovered to not be producing enough milk. Tough job...you might want it after you see how cute this little guy is! Click here for the video.

Polar Bear Cub Being Hand Raised in China

2012-01-20T07:00:00.002-05:00

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9022606/Rejected-polar-bear-cub-hand-reared-in-China.html

And how adorable is this little guy--a baby polar bear who is being hand raised and bottle fed in China and the Penglai Ocean and Polar Region World, an aquarium in China's eastern Shandong province. Clink on the Telegraph link above to see the wonderful care he is getting.

The cub's condition has been upgraded to stable and despite respiratory and digestive issues is expected to make a full recovery and a public debut in about 6 months.

Snow Dog!

2012-01-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

No snow here but this dog in Colorado (actually taken a few years ago when there were 54 inches!) certainly has figured out how to get around even when it wasn't plowed!

2012 Eclipse Awards

2012-01-18T07:00:00.002-05:00

With his Eclipse award Monday night as Champion Male Two Year Old, now three year old, Hansen has established himself as the official favorite for the Kentucky Derby. which may in fact be good news for the Michael Matz-trained Union Rags. We all know that the odds of a favorite winning the Derby are slim.

In other categories, Animal Kingdom won for Three Year old male, edging out Caleb's Posse by 3 votes. Congrats to trainer Graham Motion. Animal Kingdom is working toward returning to the track in the near future, which should make for an exciting racing season.

Horse of the Year honors went to Havre de Grace, based in nearby Wilmington, Delaware. Following in the hoof prints of both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, Havre de Grace continued the tradition of a female taking top honors having beaten the boys at their own game as her dominating 1 1/4 length Woodward win demonstrated.

My spies tell me it was a long evening--2 1/2 hours of awards before dinner--so it may be time to rethink the format. Then again it is racing's one big night to shine so maybe they like to enjoy the spotlight for as long as possible.

Hollywood Goes to the Dog!

2012-01-17T07:00:00.001-05:00

Uggie, the dog in the wonderful film, The Artist, stole the show at The Golden Globes on Sunday night. In the video, he takes the stage at about 2 minutes in if you want to fast forward the above.

In fact, Uggie is so beloved, that Dog News Daily plans to honor animal actors at their own awards show, The Golden Collars, on February 13, held at the Hotel Palomar in Westwood, part of the dog-friendly (as we know from experience) Kimpton chain!

Dogtime Lullaby

2012-01-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Get me the name of that babysitter! Note the baby stops crying when the dog "sings!"

Fox & Friends Segment

2012-01-15T07:00:00.003-05:00

http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/fox-friends-weekend/index.html#/v/1391303815001/gourmet-goes-to-the-dogs/?playlist_id=163197

In case you missed the GREAT segment on Fox & Friends Weekend, here is the link.

Thanks to the chefs, their dogs and Fox News.

When You Gotta Nap, You Gotta Nap.....

2012-01-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's the story that seems to have everyone smiling. In New Zealand, a seal pup wandered into a home in Welcome Bay and curled up on the couch for a nap. Imagine Annette's Swoffer's surprise when she returned home to find this little critter making himself right at home in her home!

According to the Department of Conservation, the pup wandered in from the bay across the street, through a cat door, and right up onto the comfy sofa!

Ms. Swoffer did not touch the adorable fellow--just called the authorities who returned it to the bay and hopefully its waiting mother, who was probably off foraging for food.

Full Circle

2012-01-13T07:00:00.002-05:00

Way back in December 2009, Luke Robinson walked through Philadelphia on his journey to walk from Austin to Boston to bring awareness to canine cancer. While in Philadelphia, I introduced him to the doctors at the Penn Vet oncology program and he met with Dr. Karin Sorenmo, head of the department. At that time, she was just beginning her research on the canine cancer mammary tumor project in which she was removing mammary tumors from shelter dogs and analyzing their progression with the help of her colleague at Princeton Olga Troyanskaya.

Flash forward 3 years and on Wednesday, the anniversary of his dog Malcom's passing six years ago, Luke presented a check for $50,000 to this collaborative effort to continue funding this research.

Giant strides by man for beast and one day, women. Bravo!

Homecoming for Oreo

2012-01-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

How's this for pretty amazing? After five years, Oreo the cat, who was left behind with friends when his owners moved to NYC, finds his way back to them. What I love the most about this story is his owners' devotion to their cat--as caretakers of another living being.

Commuting Dog

2012-01-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

So how was your commute today? This one from China looks pretty amazing!

Better Late Than Never

2012-01-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

A little behind the times, I know but absolutely too good to file away for next year! Reminiscent of those dogs who eat with human hands......

Margano Finishes Seventh

2012-01-09T07:00:00.003-05:00

A disappointing finish (7th out of 10) for Margano in Sunday's 8th race at Gulfstream. He broke well, moved nicely along the rail to settle in around 6th, about four lengths off the leaders, made a nice move around the turn to get in perfect position--middle of the pack with open space in front of him--but never kicked into another gear. No excuses, other than the horses he lost to were of high caliber and it just wasn't his day.

These things happen--he is still learning and for the record, I think Edgar rode him perfectly. He hit him once coming down the backstretch to get him to "fire" but when there was nothing there, he eased up and let the others pass him.

I am pretty sure Margano came out of the race OK. Look for him back in another Allowance race in about a month and my guess is that he will stay on the turf.

But you never know.

In other racing news, Martita Sangrita finished third by four lengths in the fourth race at Tampa Bay Downs on Sunday so at least one Jackson horse came home with a little purse money!

An Introduction to the Introduction

2012-01-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

So a lot of people have asked how we found a veterinarian to test and approve our recipes? It was actually easy if you know the right vets! In this case, Dr. Patty Khuly, veterinarian extraordinaire, was so perfect for the job--on so many levels.

I knew Patty through her original blog, Dolittler, which I read religiously. She is, aside from being a very good vet, a very good writer. When I was in the throes of trying to sell my Barbaro manuscript, I wrote her and she graciously connected me to a team of very talented pet writers who used to write the Pet Connection blog, which I also read regularly. Both of these blogs are now defunct.

But all these writers have since migrated over to a new site,VetStreet, which is where you will find some very good pet writing these days, including this recent post that Patty wrote about her introduction to The Culinary Canine.

Bu back to Patty. Not only is she a VMD (vet), she is also an MBA (Wharton) and she went to pastry school!! A dedicated foodie and amazing cook, there was no other choice to write the Intro. She also is quite a pet keeper: dogs, cats and even goats--from which she makes goat cheese.

Need I say more? I hope you read her blog and more importantly, her introduction to The Culinary Canine.

Do NOT Buy a Puppy on the Internet

2012-01-07T07:00:00.001-05:00

Here's why: those internet puppies probably come from a puppy mill even if they claim to be from Purebred Breeders. Watch and learn.

Margano Runs on Sunday

2012-01-06T07:00:00.003-05:00

These are the entries for Gulfstream park on Sunday January 8 and if you are able to decipher the cramped print, you will recognize Margano in the three spot with Edgar Prado aboard! As I predicted, it is an allowance/optional claiming race for three year olds who have only won their maiden; in other words, never won two races. And it is on the turf even though Margano has been posting some speedy workouts on the dirt.

Yes, it is interesting that Prado is aboard but it is also interesting that Pletcher has two horses in the race, one with Castellano up. Margano is top weight with Prado in the irons and is most certainly not eligible to be claimed. On paper, I would watch out for the 5 horse and the 10 horse, but Margano, along the rail in the three spot, should be sitting pretty. This will be a good test of his abilities.

Safe trip for all.

Gulfstream Park - January 8, 2012

Race 8 - 3:49 PM

ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING $75,000

Purse $53,500. (Includes $11,000 – FOA - Florida Owners Awards). For Three Year Olds Which Have Never Won A Race Other Than Maiden, Claiming Or Starter Or Which Have Never Won Two Races Or Claiming Price $75,000. Weight, 122 Lbs. Non-winners of a race at a mile or over since December 8, 2011 Allowed 2 Lbs. Such a race since November 8, 2011 Allowed 4 Lbs. Claiming Price $75,000 (Races Where Entered For $50,000 Or Less Not Considered) (Condition Eligibility). (If deemed inadvisable to run this race over the turf course, it will be run on the main track at One Mile andOne Sixteenth) . One And One Sixteenth Miles. (Turf) (Rail at 12 Feet)

1 Mucho Mas Macho (KY) 3/C L $75,000 L Jurado 118 H Collazo
2 Jackwagon (FL) 3/C L $75,000 D Centeno 118 B N Croft
3 Margano (KY) 3/C L $0 E S Prado 122 B Tagg
4 All for the Trip (FL) 3/G L $0 J Bravo 118 K C Dickey
5 Heiko (KY) 3/C L $0 J R Velazquez 120 D Miller
6 Argentine Tango (FL) 3/C L $0 R Maragh 118 S I Gold
7 Star Channel (FL) 3/C L $0 J Castellano 120 T A Pletcher
8 Patrioticandproud (PA) 3/C L $0 L Contreras 118 M E Casse
9 Africanist (KY) 3/C L $0 J R Leparoux 118 E Kenneally
10 Angel's Tune (FL) (MTO) 3/C L $0 J Castellano 118 T A Pletcher

Carrot for Two

2012-01-05T07:00:00.002-05:00

Considering my history of dogs and rabbits (guess which species does not survive long in my backyard but persists in making nests front and center?), I find this video completely amazing.

Surfing Safari

2012-01-04T07:00:00.001-05:00

Did you watch the Rose Bowl Parade on Monday? And if you did, did you catch the Natural Balance Pet Food float, complete with surfing dogs?

The float, which featured a beach and pond (with waves) all decorated with natural landscaping materials, was 19 feet long and weighed in at 110,000 pounds and set a new Guinness record for its sheer size. The surfing dogs wore specially created wet suits for the occasion and practiced their routines in the real ocean.

The body of the float was actually constructed from an old shipping container and was constructed by Fiesta Parade Floats, a company that has been building parade floats for decades. Everyone made it home safely, no sloshed water or seasick dogs and by all accounts, the surfing dogs were crowd favorites.

No word yet on what they plan to do for an encore next year!

2012-01-03T07:00:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was Amos' 9th birthday--he was born 1/2/03--and this is what 9 looks like from his perspective, which is pretty good as far as I can tell. He had a great day with a nice long hike in the dog park, lots of extra attention and a few extra treats (which he shared with the rest of the pack). He loves the cooler weather so he should be even happier today when the forecast high is for 32--our first real taste of winter.

Happy Birthday Thoroughbreds!

2012-01-02T07:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday to all race horses!

January 1 is the official birthday for all thoroughbreds, regardless of their actual birthdays. Which means that Margano is now three and eligible to hit the Triple Crown Trail--along with all other three year olds, like Union Rags, trained by Michael Matz. As we all know it's a long and winding road at best but here are some of the stakes races that may help determine those starters on the first Saturday in May.

I think I would look for Margano to enter and win an allowance race before you see him in stakes race because Barclay Tagg is a very traditional trainer, and should he win that allowance, look for him in a February stakes like the Fountain of Youth. But that is putting the cart way before the horse.

In the meantime, here are some stakes races to whet your appetite for what is yet to come.

J A N U A R Y
1 Gulfstream Park Derby Gulfstream 1 1/16 M
7 Count Fleet Stakes Aqueduct 1 M 70 yards
7 Turfway Prevue Stakes Turfway 6 1/2 F
7 Sham Stakes Santa Anita 1 M
14 Triple Sec Stakes Delta Downs 7 1/2 F
14 Holy Bull Stakes Gulfstream 1 M
14 California Derby Golden Gate 1 1/16 M
14 Pasco Stakes Tampa Bay Downs 7 F
16 Smarty Jones Stakes Oaklawn 1 M
16 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes Aqueduct 6 F
21 Lecomte Stakes Fair Grounds 1 M 70 yards
21 Pepsi Cola Stakes Sunland Park 6 F
21 Kitten's Joy Stakes Gulfstream Park 1/16 M Turf
28 Dancing Count Stakes Laurel 6 F

F E B R U A R Y
4 WEBN Stakes Turfway 1 M
4 Louisiana Premier Night Prince Delta Downs 7 F
4 Needles Stakes Gulfstream 5 F Turf
4 Robert B. Lewis Stakes Santa Anita 1 1/8 M
4 Sam F. Davis Stakes Tampa Bay Downs 1 1/16 M
5 Whirlaway Stakes Aqueduct 1 1/16 M
9 UAE 2000 Guineas Meydan 1 M
11 Hutcheson Stakes Gulfstream 7 F
18 El Camino Real Derby Golden Gate 1 1/8 M
19 San Vicente Stakes Santa Anita 7 F
20 Southwest Stakes Oaklawn Park 1 M
25 Risen Star Stakes Fair Grounds 1 1/16 M
25 Gentilly Stakes Fair Grounds 1 1/16 M Turf
25 Miracle Wood Stakes Laurel 7 F
25 Borderland Derby Sunland Park 1 1/16 M
26 Turf Paradise Derby Turf Paradise 1 1/16 M
26 Fountain of Youth Gulfstream 1 1/8 M

M A R C H
3 Gazebo Stakes Oaklawn Park 6 F
3 Pelican Stakes Delta Downs 5 F
3 John Battaglia Memorial Turfway 1 1/16 M
3 The Gotham Aqueduct 1 1/16 M
10 Swale Stakes Gulfstream 7 F
10 Tampa Bay Derby Tampa Bay Downs 1 1/16 M
10 Al Bastakiya Meydan 1 3/16 M
10 Fred Capossela Aqueduct 6 F
10 Black Gold Stakes Fair Grounds 7 1/2 F Turf
10 San Felipe Stakes Santa Anita 1 1/16 M
11 Palm Beach Stakes Gulfstream 1 1/8 M Turf
17 The Rebel Oaklawn Park 1 1/16 M
17 Private Terms Laurel 1 M
24 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes Turfway 1 1/8 M
24 Rushaway Stakes Turfway 1 1/16 M
24 Hansel Stakes Turfway 6 F
25 Sunland Derby Sunland 1 1/8 M
25 New Mexico Breeders' Derby Sunland 1 M
31 Florida Derby Gulfstream 1 1/8 M
31 UAE Derby Meydan 1 3/16 M
31 Echo Eddie Stakes Santa Anita 6 1/2 F

A P R I L
1 Louisiana Derby Fair Grounds 1 1/16 M
1 Crescent City Derby Fair Grounds 1 1/16 M
6 Transylvania Stakes Keeneland 1 1/16 M Turf
7 Wood Memorial Aqueduct 1 1/8 M
7 The Bay Shore Aqueduct 7 F
7 Illinois Derby Hawthorne 1 1/8 M
7 Santa Anita Derby Santa Anita 1 1/8 M
7 Dayton Andrews Dodge Sophomore Turf Tampa Bay Downs 1 1/16 M Turf
7 Ocala Breeder's Sales Sophomore OBS 7 F
7 Bachelor Stakes Oaklawn Park 6 F
9 Lafayette Stakes Keeneland 7 F
14 Blue Grass Keeneland 1 1/8 M
14 Arkansas Derby Oaklawn Park 1 1/8 M
14 Northern Spur Oaklawn Park 1 M
17 KHEY Country Sprint Sunland Park 6 F
21 Lexington Stakes Keeneland 1 1/16 M
21 The Jerome Aqueduct 1 M
28 Derby Trial Churchill Downs 1 M
28 Land of Lincoln Stakes Hawthorne 6 F

M A Y
5 Kentucky Derby Churchill Downs 1 1/4 M
12 The Peter Pan Belmont 1 1/8 M
12 Lone Star Derby Lone Star Park 1 1/16 M
12 Alcatraz Stakes Golden Gate 1 1/16 M Turf
19 Preakness Stakes Pimlico 1 3/16 M

J U N E
9 Belmont Stakes Belmont 1 1/2 M

Sit, Stay and Set a Record

2012-01-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Recently a large gathering of dogs in Hong Kong set a new record for obedience training! There's hope for all pups when you watch and see what they learned to do in 40 minutes! Always a good way to start a new year with a new record!

Perfect Way to Ring Out the Old....

2011-12-31T07:00:00.001-05:00

Clucking along and ringing out the old. I just love these chicks!

Sabina's Recipe

2011-12-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

Here's Sabina's recipe from Vetstreet. Sounds yummy!

Today's treat was provided by Sabina Louise Pierce, co-author and photographer behind The Culinary Canine. "Since it's just me and my two Fox Terriers, Maddie and Izzie, I bake a batch of mini muffins for them and muffin tops for me," she says. "I love when I can make food that we can all share — and so do they."

Sometimes Louise Pierce doubles the recipe, so she can also treat her rescue horse, Toby. "She really likes them, and they are good for her, too," the photographer says. "You can substitute cinnamon for the cardamom, but we like the taste of cardamom because it's a little different."

Apple-Cardamom Oatmeal Muffins
Ingredients

1½ cups organic whole-wheat flour
½ cup rolled oats
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup sugar (do not substitute artificial sweeteners, especially those containing xylitol)
Cardamom to taste
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup milk or water
1/2 cup canola oil
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1½-2 cups chopped organic apples (make sure there are no apple seeds, stems or leaves included)

1. Preheat oven to 400° and grease a muffin pan.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, oats, sugar, cardamom, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, stir together the milk/water, eggs, oil and vanilla until blended. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients, stirring just to combine. Then stir in the apple.

3. Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups and bake 15-20 minutes.

4. Allow muffins to cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes before removing them from the pan to continue cooling. (Muffins can be frozen.)

Note: Keep in mind that if you feed your pet anything that strays from his regular diet — especially in large quantities — it may cause gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting and diarrhea. If your pet has a pre-existing medical condition or if he's on a hypoallergenic diet, you should not feed him any treats or new foods until you have discussed it with your veterinarian.

World Dog Population

2011-12-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

Dog Population Management from FAOcast on Vimeo.

I know the video above is a bit long, but the topic of controlling dog population for public health is a world wide concern, especially in developing countries. My former Penn advisor, Dr. James Serpell recently participated in a world wide meeting of multi-disciplinary experts to discuss this issue and formulate a plan for different cultures, and I found this video fascinating.

Certainly the topic remains relevant in the US where overcrowded shelters bear witness to all sorts of diseases that have the potential to impact public health.

The True Life Inspiration for War Horse, the Story

2011-12-28T07:00:00.001-05:00

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/word-up-festival/8844230/Michael-Morpurgo-Our-problem-is-that-we-feel-superior-to-animals.html

This is a link to the author of War Horse, Michael Morpugo, speaking at the Telegraph Wordup! Festival about how he found the inspiration to write the story from the point of view of the horse. It is a mesmerizing tale that illustrates what he feels is a natural connection that children have with animals. Morpugo is a former primary school teacher and his empathy with both children and animals comes through in this great clip.

Unconditional Love

2011-12-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

"There was not a single soldier who did not cry when they saw their dog." Watch this great video and see why.

Lenny Wins!

2011-12-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

A nice holiday gift for Fans of Barbaro and his brother. Lentenor charged down the stretch and WON at Tampa Bay Downs setting a new turf record! He really looked spectacular making his move at the top of the stretch and rumor has it he will stay on the turf for the foresable future.

l would guess that the object is to get some stakes wins under his belt before the Jacksons breed him. And I would also guess that as long as he stays healthy they are not in a rush to do so.

But let's hope this trend for the bothers continues!

Bo is Everywhere!

2011-12-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

For your Christmas viewing pleasure, here are some of the White House Christmas decorations featuring buttons and bows, which, as you will see, are used to create a family of first dogs! How adorable!

'Twas the Night Before...

2011-12-24T07:00:00.002-05:00

May you and yours get everything you wished for including The Culinary Canine!

Reindeer Given Clean Bill of Health

2011-12-23T07:00:00.003-05:00

In case you were worried, Santa's reindeer have been cleared for their long night of work, according to Dr. Rene Carlson, president of the American Veterinary Association! Check out her report!

Lentenor Runs on Friday

2011-12-22T07:00:00.002-05:00

Lenny is entered in Race 7 at Tampa Bay Downs on Friday. The race is an Allowance optional claiming race (he is not entered to be claim), and at first glance, Lenny is clearly the class of the field. He needs win under his belt so let's hope the Jackson's luck, which helped Margano break his maiden, holds for Lenny!
Tampa Bay Downs - December 23, 2011

Race 7 - 3:12 PM Daily Double / Exacta / Trifecta ($.50 minimum) / Superfecta ($.10 minimum) Pick 4 ($.50 minimum) (Races 7-8-9-10)

ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING $32,000

Purse $21,400. (Includes $4,000 – FOA - Florida Owners Awards). For Three Year Olds And Upward Which Have Never Won Two Races Other Than Maiden, Claiming, Or Starter Or Which Have Never Won Three Races Or Optional Claiming Price Of $32,000. Three Year Olds, 120 Lbs.; Older, 122 Lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Since November 23 Allowed 2 Lbs. A Race Since October 23 Allowed 4 Lbs. Claiming Price $32,000 (Races where entered for $25,000 or less not considered in weight allowances) (Condition Eligibility). . One And One Sixteenth Miles. (Turf) (Rail at 22 Feet)
P# PP Horse A/S Med Claim $ Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1 Presumptive (FL) 4/G $0 A Serpa 118 R S Lerman 20/1
2 2 Cat Park (PA) 4/G L $32,000 P Morales 118 J Cibelli 8/1
3 3 Red All Over (KY) 3/G L $0 M Guidry 118 W M Catalano 12/1
4 4 Lentenor (KY) 4/C L $0 L Garcia 118 L Delacour 7/2
5 5 Bridging (KY) 5/G L $0 R D Allen, Jr. 118 W R Helmbrecht 20/1
6 6 Feels All Right (IRE) 5/H L $32,000 I J Rosendo 118 Y Belsoeur 6/1
7 7 Riversrunrylee (FL) 7/G L $32,000 L A Gonzalez 118 J Camilo 5/1
8 8 Beckham Bend (FL) 6/H L $0 R B Homeister, Jr. 118 J K Chapman 5/2
9 9 Striking Hight (IL) 4/G L $32,000 H Villa-Gomez 118 D H Hinsley 20/1
10 10 Blazen (FL) 5/G L $32,000 L R Goncalves 118 A Pecoraro 6/1
Also Eligibles:
11 11 Terriffico (PA) 6/H L $32,000 W Martinez 118 A J Exposito 12/1
12 12 Arrow's Conquest (ON) 4/G L $32,000 L R Goncalves 118 T Zwiesler 8/1
13 13 The Best Glacier (FL) 3/G L $0 R B Homeister, Jr. 116 A Sano 12/1
14 14 Royal Hill (FL) 4/C L $0 R Feliciano 120 C Rountree 20/1

Owners: 1 - Lambholm Stable; 2 - Richard Abrams; 3 - Russell L. Reineman Stable, Inc.; 4 - Lael Stables; 5 - Lynda G. Lail; 6 - Bruno Schickedanz; 7 - L and D Farm; 8 - Mansour Albaroudy; 9 - Russel C. Lawson and Robert Richards, Jr.; 10 - Roman Hill Farm LLC; 11 - City Whisper Stables; 12 - Sam-Son Farms; 13 - Platinum Equestrian Corporation; 14 - Seven Gables

Breeders: 1 - Roy S. Lerman; 2 - George Strawbridge Jr.; 3 - Russell L. Reineman Stables Inc.; 4 - Mr. & Mrs. M. Roy Jackson; 5 - Lynda G. Lail; 6 - J. Mulligan; 7 - L & D Farms, Inc. & Anise Pendleton; 8 - Needmore Thoroughbreds, Inc.; 9 - Team Block; 10 - Thomas L. Croley; 11 - Michael W. Jester; 12 - Sam-Son Farm; 13 - Ric Deg Farm; 14 - Cathy Rountree

Equipment Changes: 6 - Feels All Right (IRE) - Blinkers On

War Horse--Spielberg Version

2011-12-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

You know I saw the stage version of this amazing story and found it to be magical, mystical and absolutely inspiring. I think that it will be hard to top that and the previous movie trailers that I had seen for the Spielberg version seemed hokey. This one however, seems pretty true to the story and I will probably see it. Be forewarned--it is an emotional story. And that is all I am going to say.

Canine Nutcracker

2011-12-20T07:00:00.001-05:00

The Pawstive Therapy Troupe in Western Chicago staged the canine version of the Nutcracker for the second year in a row to sold out performances. Watch this and you will see why!

The Equine Movie Star in War Horse

2011-12-19T07:00:00.002-05:00

This is an image from the movie War Horse that opens christmas Day. While I truly do not believe that anything can compare to the stage version, which was magical and mystical, the movie does seem to do the story justice, from what I have seen. But there is actually an even bigger story about War Horse, as the Daily Mail reports. The horse that plays Joey, the main character in the movie (if you consider a horse to be a main character) is actually the same horse who played Seabiscuit and appeared in the Legend of Zorro, among other notable films.

What is even more amazing is that this horse named Finder is a retired racehorse, who never made much of a career on the track. Bu he hit it big in the movies and has been adopted and trained by a real life horse whisperer, Bobby Lovgrem who comes from South Africa. The rear up on hind legs in the photo above is one of Finder's trademark moves, all of which are done with sometimes just a nod from his trainer.

Finder endured makeup sessions to make him look undernourished (dark shading) and was covered in shaving cream to make his look war ravaged and bedraggled. He endured it all like the pro he is and the American Humane Society supervised the entire production, on which all animals were treated just as well as their human counterparts.

A Visit to The Pet Village of Wayne

2011-12-18T07:00:00.002-05:00

Our local news station put together a great holiday gift guide that includes The Culinary Canine! Check out the video about 2 minutes and 40 seconds in (the second segment) and see their visit to The Bark Avenue Boutique!

Dog in Manger

2011-12-17T07:00:00.001-05:00

I was in New York a week ago to tape the Sirius radio program and made the usual holiday stops at Rockefeller Center to see the tree and the ice skaters. I didn't get a chance to stop in St. Patrick's Cathedral, but if I had I would have seen the nativity scene shown above, featuring a recent addition, the Golden Retriever.

"Didn't the shepherds have dogs to help herd sheep?" Msgr. Robert Ritchie, rector of St. Patrick's Cathedral told the New York Daily News. Ritchie was in Rome last January and visited two churches where they had dogs in their anger scenes.

So Ritchie, a dog lover, decided to install one in the venerable New York City Cathedral. It seems to have made a favorable impression with visitors, but don't look for a cat to be added anytime soon. Ritchie is a devoted dog person!

War Dogs

2011-12-16T07:00:00.002-05:00

I heard Susan Orlean interviewed last week on the NPR. She was talking about her new book, Rin Tin tin, and while I am not currently in the business of promoting other people's books (!), I will tell you that I am going to order hers because it sounds fascinating and I think I should have it in my library. Think of it as a Seabiscuit for dog lovers--she spent eight years researching Rin Tin Tin and in the process uncovered some fascinating facts about dogs that caught me by surprise.

For starters, I did not realize that Rin Tin Tin was literally born on a World War I battlefield or for that matter, that dogs were used so intensively during World War I. Horses, I knew because of War Horse, but dogs...I confess my ignorance. In addition, she mentions that during World War II, when America decided to start a canine corps, people literally sent their own dogs to war, to form the first US Canine Corps. They wrote their dogs letters, sent them Christmas cards and often never heard or saw them again once they "enlisted" them in the war effort.

Today, of course, the military trains its own canine corps--as we saw in the Osama Bin Laden raid--and they continue to serve in active duty. On the heels of this comes a story in a recent New York Times about the toll that war takes on these devoted companions. Dogs, just like people, can develop post traumatic stress disorder. In fact, according to the piece, more than 5 percent of the approximately 650 military dogs deployed in combat, do develop symptoms of this disorder and are retired.

There are some questions about treatment--which often amounts to R & R, and sometimes medication--as well as to whether or not these dogs ever truly "get over" their experiences. According to Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman, director of the animal behavior clinic at the cummings School of Vet Medicien at Tufts, "It is more management. Dogs never forget."

We should never forget them.

A Fish Story That's Hard to Top!

2011-12-15T07:00:00.003-05:00

Too good not to pass on!

Some fishing stories are a little hard to believe, But this guy has pictures to prove his story... Tom Satre told the Sitka Gazette that he was out with a charter group on his 62-foot fishing vessel when four juvenile black-tailed deer swam directly toward his boat. "Once the deer reached the boat, the four began to circle the boat, looking directly at us. We could tell right away that the young bucks were distressed. I opened up my back gate and we helped the typically skittish and absolutely wild animals onto the boat. In all my years fishing, I've never seen anything quite like it! “Once on-board, they collapsed with exhaustion, shivering. We headed for Taku Harbour. Once we reached the dock, the first buck that we had been pulled from the water hopped onto the dock, looked back as if to say 'thank you' and disappeared into the forest.” After a bit of prodding and assistance, two more followed, but the smallest deer needed a little more help (that’s him in the wheelbarrow). My daughter, Anna, and son, Tim, helped the last buck to its feet. We didn't know how long they had been in the icy waters or if there had been others who did not survive. My daughter later told me that the experience was something that she would never forget, and I suspect the deer felt the same way as well!"
By: Second Chance Ranch (Elma, WA)

A Good Listener

2011-12-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

Bo Obama accompanied the First Lady to the Children's National Medical Center on Wednesday and sat patiently at her feet while she read them The Night Before Christmas. Bo, who was decked out in a jaunty red collar for the occasion, was then petted and admired by the kids.

No word yet on whether or not he is getting a gift under the tree from his owners!

National Day of the Horse

2011-12-13T07:00:00.001-05:00

Happy National Day of the Horse! Didn't know that it was? Well in 2004, Congress recognized the first of these days with the following resolution:

Whereas the horse is a living link to the history of the United States;

Whereas, without horses, the economy, history, and character of the United States would be profoundly different;

Whereas horses continue to permeate the society of the United States, as witnessed on movie screens, on open land, and in our own backyards;

Whereas horses are a vital part of the collective experience of the United States and deserve protection and compassion;

Whereas, because of increasing pressure from modern society, wild and domestic horses rely on humans for adequate food, water, and shelter; and

Whereas the Congressional Horse Caucus estimates that the horse industry contributes well over $100,000,000,000 each year to the economy of the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress--

(1) encourages all citizens to be mindful of the contribution of horses to the economy, history, and character of the United States;

(2) expresses its sense that a National Day of the Horse should be established in recognition of the importance of horses to the Nation's security, economy, recreation, and heritage; and

(3) urges the President to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States and interested organizations to observe National Day of the Horse with appropriate programs and activities.

So be sure to thank a horse for their contributions to our world!

Holiday Gifts

2011-12-12T07:00:00.002-05:00

The countdown to Christmas has started and here is some interesting news from our local WPVI television station:

Man's best friend is apparently becoming a bigger part of the family. Eight in 10 pet owners say they are going to get their four legged friends Christmas presents. One quarter say they will spend $50 bucks, according to a survey by Pet Plan, which sells pet insurance. Get this: 71% say they sign their pet's name in the family greeting card. A majority even have a special stocking for their pet.

What about you? Planning to give your pooch a holiday treat? Of course, you know my number one pick would be The Culinary Canine, the gift that keeps on giving as you prepare thirty different recipes to share with your best friend--yes, most of the recipes are people and pet friendly. It might not fit in the stocking but it sure would look nice under the tree!

Magano Breaks Maiden

2011-12-11T07:00:00.004-05:00

Wow!

This is a link to Margano's very impressive race yesterday in which he broke his maiden in a TOUGH field, coming from behind and making an impressive stretch drive. In fact, he opened up in the stretch with those long strides very reminiscent of you know who.

What is even better about this accomplishment is that he broke his maiden as a two year old which sets him up nicely for a three year old campaign. Look for him to run back in an allowance race at Gulfstream in about five weeks.

Disturbing News

2011-12-10T07:00:00.003-05:00

Some very disturbing news indeed. According to Bloodhorse, on November 18, President Obama quietly signed into a law a bill that restores funding for the inspection of horse meat for human consumption. Although it is not certain, it is believed that this bill could end the moratorium on horse slaughter in the United States. Five years ago, the federal funding for inspection was eliminated and horse slaughter ceased.

The recent legislation is tied to a report from the General Accountability Office that concluded that the ban on horse slaughter has led to more cases of horse abuse.

According to the report: "Comprehensive, national data are lacking, but state, local government and animal welfare organizations report a rise in investigations for horse neglect and more abandoned horses since 2007. These changes have strained resources, according to state data and officials that GAO interviewed. State, local, tribal, and horse industry officially generally attributed these increase in neglect and abandonments to cessation of domestic slaughter and the economic downturn."

Lest you wonder about the powerful pro-slaughter lobby, wonder no more. In a report that states "comprehensive, national data is lacking," these hired guns have managed to enact a law based on conjecture.

Time to call your congressperson and protest.

Give This Kitty Some Sneakers!

2011-12-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Forget the walkout--sign up this kitty. What moves!

Now This is a Useful Dog!!!

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Please, please can someone teach one of my dogs just one of these tricks??!!

And They're Off!

2011-12-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

No word on when (or if) this film is going to be released but it actually looks cute. On one level it may just be what racing needs--to laugh at itself.

Grateful Kitty

2011-12-06T07:00:00.001-05:00

This kitten truly had something to be thankful for! Pulled from an electrical pipe, it was eventually adopted on Thanksgiving Day by one of the firefighters that saved her!

On the Air

2011-12-05T07:00:00.001-05:00

In case you missed it, Sabina and I were interviewed on the Focus Group radio show on Sirius radio. It was a wonderful experience and a great interview, which I, hope you will be able to hear if you click on this link.

If not, you can go to the Focus Group radio show and download the replay after registering. It is worth the effort, if I do say so myself!

Deer Hunting at Sea

2011-12-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

A great story. No word on whether or not there were any deer ticks involved in this wonderful save but it did change the father's mind about deer hunting. I wonder how that fawn got that far from shore to begin with?

Pumpkin Treats

2011-12-03T07:00:00.001-05:00

Our friends at Vetstreet are posting a series of recipes from The Culinary Canine starting with yours truly! I actually contributed Roberta Deen's recipe for pumpkin paw treats, which is actually great for canine tummies! For those of you feeling adventurous, the recipe is below. For those feeling less adventurous, you can substitute canned pumpkin for the real one and forego the seeds.

Paw Print Pumpkin Biscuits
Ingredients
1 cup plain, canned pumpkin puree
1 cup peeled, 1/4-inch diced and lightly blanched fresh pumpkin
1/2 cup roasted pumpkin seeds, coarsely chopped
1 cup quick-cooking oats
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup canola oil

1. Preheat oven to 325°.

2. Mix ingredients in a large bowl, while slowly adding water to achieve a chocolate chip cookie-like consistency.

3. Drop teaspoonfuls (for petite puppies) or tablespoonfuls (for big guys) of dough onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Using a fork, flatten the dough into rounds and make a crosshatch pattern on the surface.

4. Bake 10 minutes. Rotate the cookie sheet and bake another 5-10 minutes (less time is needed for the teaspoon drops), until the cookies are golden and firm.

5. Turn the oven off, open the door and allow the treats to cool completely.

Chicago Chefs Whip Up Culinary Creations!

2011-12-02T07:00:00.002-05:00

While Harry was wowing Martha, two of our Chicago chefs were whipping up their own culinary canine creations on WGN-TV Lunchbreak! Click here to catch their appearance and here to find their recipes on The Culinary Canine blog!

Sam's Birthday Cupcakes

2011-12-01T07:00:00.002-05:00

Sunday was Sam's birthday (he turned 4!) and in his honor I prepared his favorite birthday cupcakes! Since today is the Martha Stewart Show airing--10:00 AM EST on the Hallmark Channel--on which Chef Harry is going to make a delightful dish for his dog Blitz (it's in the cookbook!), I thought I would share the recipe for Sam's Birthday Cupcakes with you.

Ingredients
1 lb. ground turkey
2 eggs or the equivalent in Egg Beaters
about 2 cups uncooked Quaker Oats

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease a muffin or cupcake pan. I use Pam to spray the sections
Combine raw turkey, eggs and oatmeal until it is a consistency that holds together when formed. You may have to use more or less oatmeal.
Press the turkey mixture into the cupcake tins almost all the way to the top. This doesn't rise so you don't have to worry about it cooking over.
Cook in the oven for about 30-40 minutes until browned and when a toothpick inserted in the center of each cupcake comes out clean. You want to make sure they're cooked through.
Allow to cool and serve to the birthday pup and his/her friends!

And if any of you are in the vicinity of the Penn campus tonight, Chef Eileen Watkin is doing a cooking demo at the Inn at Penn, complete with doggie bags. We will be signing books so stop by!

Chef Harry Wows Martha!

2011-11-30T07:00:00.005-05:00

This is Chef Harry, his wonderful wife Laurie and their fabulous dog, Blitz all of whom wowed Martha Stewart on her show! Be sure to watch tomorrow, Dec. 1 at 10:00 AM, EST on The Hallmark Channel and see if you agree that their appearance was a very good thing indeed!

Martha Stewart Show

2011-11-29T07:00:00.001-05:00

http://www.marthastewart.com/868197/wild-animal-show#ooid=Nod2MxMzpWHSJn3x8IFrJavPRl78xEPF,puZzIxMzr_AEF48BvzAF1Fwtj2Y8AdmZ

Click on the above link and you will see some behind the scenes footage of The Martha Stewart Wild Animal Show--a recent episode. While The Culinary Canine was not part of the Noah's Ark that invaded Martha's television studio, it was featured on the Pet Show, which airs December 1 on the Hallmark Channel at 10:00 AM on the East Coast. That is in two days--plenty of time for you to check your cable guide and set your DVR.

And yes, every member of the audience went home with a book!

Poetry in Motion

2011-11-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is truly amazing. The music is haunting and the bird formations look like art.

Dog and Horse Play Together

2011-11-27T07:00:00.002-05:00

Truly remarkable. A dog named Lucy runs circles around and with her best friend a quarter horse named Whiskey Brown. Watch to the end and see Lucy take a dip in the water trough!

Geese on Parade

2011-11-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade may have come and gone, but these geese are marching to their own drummer!

Comparative Oncology Lung Cancer Breakthrough

2011-11-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

A subject near and dear to my heart--comparative oncology--is now providing breakthroughs in lung cancer treatment, thanks to research being done at Penn Vet and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Watch and learn!

National Dog Show

2011-11-24T07:00:00.001-05:00

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Before the turkey, catch some of the National Dog Show on NBC. Here's host John O'Hurley hoping to get his dog into the show. About as much success as my crew would have!

Too Close for Comfort

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

This humpback whale certainly gives this surfer and kayaker pause. The whale surfaced while feeding, gulping large amounts of food and water. What has happened, according to officials is that the whale's food has moved closer to shore causing these close encounters.

This is amazing footage which gives new meaning to "Thar She Blows!"

Officer To the Rescue

2011-11-22T07:00:00.002-05:00

Here's a great video. This officer in Tempe Arizona rescues a little Yorkie who escaped unharmed from an overturned car and was running for his life on the busy freeway. Happy ending for all and kudos to that officer!

The Real Dogs of New York Approve!

2011-11-21T07:00:00.004-05:00

A nice piece in Sunday's New York Post in which the intrepid reporter Amanda Kelly, tested three recipes from The Culinary Canine on three "real dogs of new York!" The results were all good.

Sammy, above, lapped up Eli Zabar's Bread Soup, Cosme Anguilar's Organic Chicken Soup and Anita Lo's Bluefish, Yams, Peas and Bacon.

You can read all about it here!

Baby Elephant Walk!

2011-11-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

Now you know why that song is called Baby Elephant Walk--it sounds just like this adorable guy's first tentative steps. And how cute is it that he steps on his trunk!!!

Dog Stops Temper Tantrum

2011-11-19T07:00:00.001-05:00

Oh yes, you families with young children, you do need a dog! Watch and see why!

Penguin Patrol

2011-11-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

I just love this--reminds me of Amos steeling Sam's stash of hoarded bones--when he wasn't looking. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer!

Baltimore Athletes Show Softer Side

2011-11-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Gotta love this story from the Baltimore. Local athletes in the Charm City are making the point known that only a punk would hurt a dog. The general idea is that tough, strong athletes are not afraid to show their softer side, especially when it comes to protecting animals.

"I think if kids see these very macho guys in these photographs, it will perhaps change their thinkings," says Caroline Griffin, who leads Baltimore's Anti-Animal Cruelty Commission. "Hurting an animal is not a rite of passage to show your manhood."

The brainchild behind this wonderful campaign is advertising executive Sande Riesett, who is tired of hearing about abused animals. "I want to get enough people together to say this is not tolerated," she says. "And whatever resources we have to put against it, we put against it."

Hmmmm..maybe that campaign should spill over to Philadelphia, just up route 95 a bit. I know a particular quarterback who should be a poster child for this message.

On or Off the Leash?

2011-11-16T07:00:00.003-05:00

So I am back after a whirlwind three city four day book launch extravaganza and discovered, upon my return, that my dog walker fell while walking two of my dogs and broke her ankle! It seems that Sam, the largest Golden Retriever known to mankind, was pulling her very hard and started barking at some dogs in a neighbor's driveway. She did not see a pothole in the street that was covered with leaves and she fell and twisted her ankle, which turned out to be a hairline fracture.

She is fine--never mind that I told her Sam was a handful and that she should take him to the park and let him walk off leash as I do--and I am lucky that she said it was all her fault, but the point here is that most dogs, who might be excitable around other dogs, are much better off the leash than on. Which is what I told her in the first place, but I already told you that.

It turns out that I am right not only with regard to my dog but with regard to other dogs. A recent study, soon to be published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science, has demonstrated that leashed dogs were twice as like to act aggressively as off-leash dogs. This is based on nearly 2,000 dog-to-dog interactions in 30 popular dog walking areas in the city of Brno in the Czech Republic.

Lisa Peterson, spokesperson for the American Kennel Club, agreed with the findings. Most dogs, she points out, like to run around each other when they first meet. "They can't do this run-around behavior when on a leash and they likely feel more threatened." she explained. "They are also more inclined to resource guard, with the owner being the resource. It's as though they re communicating, 'He is my owner. I don't want you to have him because he feeds and cares for me.'"

While it is true that Sam has a few dogs at the park that seem to get his nose out of joint, we have learned to avoid them or at least walk quickly past and he will stay put, off leash, if I see them coming in the other direction, until I tell him it is OK to go. If I have him on the leash, all he does is bark and pull me. I end up dropping the leash if he happens to be leashed in these instances and he just stands there.

The only way I can walk Sam on a leash is by himself (she had Amos with him and the two just rile each other up) or let him run off leash in the park, which I can do with everybody in tow.

All of which the dog walker knows, but sometimes people can be as stubborn as those leashed dogs.

FOR MORE DETAILS, INCLUDING PHOTOS, ABOUT THE COMPLETE LAUNCH TOUR CHECK OUT THE CULINARY CANINE BLOG AT: http://theculinarycanine.blogspot.com/ I post every other day.

Banter with Friends

2011-11-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

A new campaign launched by the American Pet Products Association to suggest that everyone deserves a friend. Banter is better with a buddy is too adorable! See for yourself in the video above.

Might Macs

2011-11-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

I kno the topic is basketball and it really has nothing to do with animals but sometimes stories just have to be shared. Immaculata College is down the road a bit and Cathy Rush, the coach in the film is pretty much a local hero. Plus the director is a Penn alum who played for their football team. A lot of local kids make good.

Looks like a great film and a fun night out for a team in case any of you coach on the side!

Book Tour Recap

2011-11-13T07:00:00.001-05:00

What a coincidence! Martha Stewart is on the same California book tour as Sabina and I are! She started in LA, however, which is where I am headed today, and then hit San Francisco, which is where I was Friday and Saturday. Our paths crossed mid air....

So here's how it is being on a book tour: exhausting but exhilarating. Things started in Chicago, without me, as it turns out, since my flight was canceled and then delayed due to fog in Philly. I spent the entire day at the airport on Thursday--from 10:00 in the morning until I got on a plane at 6:50 that evening--dragging my luggage back and forth from airline to airline, as plane after plane was canceled, delayed due to mechanical failure, and then delayed. I ultimately got on a 6:50 PM Southwest flight, standby and made it to Chicago at 8:00 pm CST, which was just as the event was winding down. By the time I got to the hotel, it was 9:00 PM and all that was left was a copy of The Culinary Canine on the front desk, which almost made it worthwhile!

The good news is that the turnout was good, everyone who came had a fabulous time and the chefs turned out in full force. Kimpton's Hotel Monaco, by the way is a fabulous hotel the next time you are in Chicago.

Up bright and early the next day to catch a 8:35 flight to San Francisco, which was remarkably on time. I did land in San Fran a little late due to weather--it was raining--but made it to the event in plenty of time. Sabina, however, was still on her flight and never got to the event since she landed two hours late.

The San Francisco event was held in the Noe Vally Pet Supply store, which is connected to Omnivore Books, a great shop that only sells cookbooks. We got a good crowd, lots of dogs, great food provided by Chef Tanya and Boulettes Larder and wine supplied by Vinum Cellars. It was a fun event, despite the steady downpour.

Saturday I spent with dear friends in San Francisco and we visited Chef Schwertner at Boulettes Larder in the Ferry Terminal Building and had a fabulous meal at Frances, owned by Chef Melissa Perello.

Off to LA Sunday AM for an event that afternoon at Upper West, for which I taped a radio interview the day before I left. My sister, who lives in Pacific Palisades, actually heard it on the air on Friday!

A whirlwind--even Martha admits it can be grueling--but fun, and great to see different parts of the country. I have never seen so many dogs as I did in San Francisco!

I'll be home late Monday to my own hounds, who I understand have missed me. I missed them too but have been delighted to take the show on the road.

Humane Society in Philadelphia

2011-11-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago the National Humane Society sponsored a free rabies vaccination program in the Huntington Park neighborhood of North Philadelphia and hundreds turned up! Also available were free spay/neuter vouchers, dog treats and some good old fashioned interaction with other pet owners.

From the looks of it, the event was a huge success! Kudos to the National Humane society for their leadership in bringing affordable veterinary care to the people who need it, making life better for people and pets.

A Subject Near and Dear

2011-11-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Sabina will be the first one to tell you it is harder than it looks, as Betty White finds out in this cute video.
Shouldn't deter you however, from entering your dog in the cover contest and help put an end to canine cancer.

Chug a Lug Pug?

2011-11-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

Not sure if this off beat accomplishment is worthy of a world record, but Bowser Beer has earned it as the first beer for dogs by World Record Academy. The product has no alcohol, no hops, no carbonation, comes in chicken and beef flavors and seems to be a favorite of the pooches in this video.

In fact, a lot of the recipes in The Culinary Canine might go perfectly with a doggie brew!

Uncle Mos Retired

2011-11-08T07:00:00.002-05:00

While we will never know if his disappointing showing in the Breeder's Cup Classic was due to the elevated liver enzyme, or the elevated liver enzyme was due to running in the Breeder's Cup Classic, this elevated enzyme is the reason that Uncle Mo is being retired from racing, according to Bloodhorse.

"It was really bad in March and April," said Mike Repole, his owner. "What he has now is just a high GGT. We knew this could be brought on by stress, such as running and racing."

Uncle Mo will stand at Ashford Stud and no stud fees have been announced. The bigger question, in my opinion, is why would you want to pass on this liver enzyme condition, assuming it is gene related? Maybe they should figure that out before they breed more Uncle Mo's.

Chicago Launch

2011-11-08T07:00:00.001-05:00

Going to be in Chicago November 10th?
Stop by the Hotel Monaco from 6-8 for a tasty evening featuring the four Chicago chefs in The Culinary Canine!

A $10 donation at the door supports the Anti-Cruelty Society and gets you free food and wine!

Buy a book, have us sign it and don't forget to bring yur dogs!!

Hope to see you there!

Jock

2011-11-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

And yet another film in development. This one is about three generations of female athletes who become jockeys. Quite a good premise--it's hard to believe that women have been jockeys long enough for there to be three generations.

Kickstarter is a great site that helps promising film makers find backers for their projects.

Breeder's Cup Classic 2011

2011-11-06T07:00:00.002-05:00

You knew it was going to be that kind of a day. The heavily hyped favorites, from Union Rags in the Juvenile to Goldikova in the Mile Turf, missed the mark. So when it came time for the Classic, I kept looking for a horse no one seemed to be looking at.

To be honest, I looked right past Drosselmeyer. I was concentrating on the New Zealand horse, So You Think, who was coming off the turf and wearing blinkers for the first time. Sentimentally, I wanted Havre de Grace to win one for Rick Porter, even as I thought she was not quite as good as the boys in this instance. And how could you not love the Scooter story? 70 year old trainer with his first Grade 1 winner in Flat Out.

Anyway, Chantal Sutherland, trying to make history as the first female to win the Breeder's cup Classic, almost did that on Game On Dude. She almost took that horse, who broke out of the gate like a jack rabbit, wire to wire.

But there, in the middle of the track, about half way down the stretch, came somebody thundering on the outside. Even as as I asked "who's on the outside?" I knew that horse would win. But not until he crossed the wire did I realize it was Drosselmeyer!

Much will be made of the exes, Mike Smith and Chantal, battling it out with Smith winning. And much will be made of Smith getting redemption for losing last year's classic on Zenyatta, but I think the moral of the story just may be that the heavily hyped favorites don't seem to win.

So don't rule out Union Rags in the Derby just yet. It is probably a blessing not to be the favorite and in all honesty, that horse may need blinkers to keep him from lugging out down the stretch. And certainly don't rule out Hansen who beat him by a nostril. It just will probably be won by a horse we have yet to had from!

Not All Heroes are Human

2011-11-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

I received the following story in an email and thought it was too good not to pass along. . . And then the analysis followed--be sure to read al the way through

James Crane worked on the 101st floor of Tower 1 of the World Trade Center.
He is blind so he has a golden retriever named Daisy.

After the plane hit 20 stories below, James knew that he was doomed, so
he let Daisy go, out of an act of love. She darted away into the darkened
hallway.

Choking on the fumes of the jet fuel and the smoke James was just waiting to
die. About 30 minutes later, Daisy comes back along with James' boss, who
Daisy just happened to pick up on floor 112

On her first run of the building, she leads James, James' boss, and about
300 more people out of the doomed building. But she wasn't through yet, she
knew there were others who were trapped. So, highly against James' wishes
she ran back in the building.

On her second run, she saved 392 lives. Again she went back in. During this
run, the building collapses. James hears about this and falls on his knees
into tears.

Against all known odds, Daisy makes it out alive, but this time she is
carried by a firefighter. "She led us right to the people, before she got
injured" the fireman explained.

Her final run saved another 273 lives. She suffered acute smoke inhalation,
severe burns on all four paws, and a broken leg, but she saved 967 lives.
Daisy is the first civilian Canine to win the Medal of Honor of New York
City.

Analysis: Try as I might, I have not been able to locate a single published news story mentioning a World Trade Center survivor named James Crane. And though there were indeed many canine heroes who participated in rescue operations at Ground Zero after the September 11 terrorist attack, there is no golden retriever named Daisy listed among them. In the five years since the twin towers collapsed, no evidence has emerged to corroborate this inspiring but apocryphal tale.
For that matter, the text contains glaring factual inaccuracies. We are told, for example, that Daisy found James Crane's boss on the 112th floor of Tower One. But neither of the WTC towers exceeded 110 stories. An early variant purports to have been "copied from the New York Times, 9-19-01," but no such article appeared in the Times on that or any other date. We are also told that Mayor Rudy Giuliani awarded Daisy a "Canine Medal of Honor of New York," but there is no record of any such medal being given out.

It's ironic that someone felt it necessary to invent such a story when there were at least two real-life examples of guide dogs escorting their blind owners out of the burning twin towers to safety. Roselle, a Labrador retriever, led Michael Hingson down from the 78th floor of the north tower and to the home of a friend several blocks away. Dorado, also a Labrador, guided Omar Rivera down 70 flights of stairs, an ordeal that lasted over an hour but ended with both man and dog a safe distance from the towers when they collapsed.

Salmonella Warning!

2011-11-04T07:00:00.003-04:00

Could there ever be a more perfect time to publish a book with recipes for dogs? Not when the FDA warns against humans contracting salmonella from handling pet food!!

Here's what you need to know; wash your hands well after touching your dog's food and wash their dog dishes well with warm soapy water.

Here's what else you need to know: no dogs contracted salmonella from the food--only people!!

And yes, we do give our dogs dog food--there are things in it that dogs do need--augmented by people food, so be sure to keep hands and dishes and surfaces where dog food might touch your kitchen, clean.

La Russa, the Clydesdale

2011-11-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

Talk about the ultimate honor! Budweiser has named a Clydesdale after Tony La Russa, manager of the World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals. That's him on the left. La Russa rode on top of the Budweiser beer wagon in the parade last Sunday.

Tony La Russa, the person, also recently announced his retirement from managing. Chances are that he will be spending even more time at The Animal Rescue Foundation. Maybe he'll even stop by our launch in San Francisco on Nov. 11 since it benefits his Foundation!

Breeders Cup is Coming!

2011-11-02T07:00:00.001-04:00

ESPN and ABC-TV are going to televise more than nine hours of LIVE Breeder's Cup Coverage over the two days of the event, November 4-5. If you can't be at Churchill Downs, at least you can check out all the action on TV!

On Friday, the first day of the event, coverage will begin at 4 on ESPN 2 and ESPN 3 concluding with the Breeeders Cup Ladies' Classic at 7:30 PM.

And then on Saturday coverage will begin at 2 PM on ABC and continue on ESPN and ESPN 3 from 3:30-7:15. Post time for the Classic will be 7:00 PM.

Let's hope for a beautiful day and lots of great racing with safe trips for all.

Field Trip

2011-11-01T07:00:00.004-04:00

People are always asking me where they can buy The Culinary Canine so today I decided to take a little field trip and see for myself. I started at Target, because the book is up on their web site. Perhaps it is in the Target near you, but no Culinary Canine is in the Target near me. By the way, I wasn't too impressed with their book section which seemed very small.

The next stop was Pet Smart, which I know carries other Kennel Club Books, published by my publisher. Sure enough there were lots of Meet the Breed books (all published by Kennel Club) but no Culinary Canine. At least not in the Pet Smart near me.

I was getting a little discouraged but trudged off to Barnes and Noble. I started in the cookbook section--which is huge--and could not find The Culinary Canine. But then I searched through the Pet Section and Bingo!! There it was, not prominently displayed with the cover facing out, but I remedied that situation. Very noticeable and sure to catch someones eye!

So there you have my very non-scientific study. The book is on the shelf in the Pet Section at Barnes & Noble so please go to your local one and turn it so the cover faces out!! And if it is not there, please ask for it!

The Original Chia Pet

2011-10-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

My all time favorite Halloween costume for a dog!!! Except of course for Phoebe, who is going as herself because she is so famous these days!

May all your tricks be treats!

Of Snow and Polar Bears

2011-10-30T07:00:00.003-04:00

You may have heard that it is snowing here along the Eastern seaboard--a very rare event in these parts, especially before Halloween. In any event, it looks like January out there, actually February, with that heavy, slushy, wet, heavy snow that is pretty miserable. We have about an inch accumulation and the trees still have leaves on them so the limbs are very heavy and breaking off al lover the roads.

All in all, pretty yucky and put me in the mood to watch the live streaming video of the annual polar bear migration through Churchill, Manitoba. Thanks to a grant from the Annenberg Foundatin, the migration is being streamed live at www.explore.org.

The problem is so many people logged on to watch the polar bears, the site crashed. So this video is highlights from October 28. You are welcome to try the site but I can't get it to stay up with any reliability. I am told they are working on it!

In the meantime, I am hoping our snow will be a distant memory by the time you read this.

Dog Day Afternoon with Martha

2011-10-29T07:00:00.001-04:00

We signed a copy of The Culinary Canine to Martha's dogs, Francesca, Sharkey and G. K. (not shown in this video). Let's just say, the dogs have it right! It's not quite as easy or glamorous as it looks!

Lentenor Entered October 29

2011-10-28T07:00:00.003-04:00

There you have it: Lenny is entered on Saturday at Laurel Park in an Allowane (optional claiming) race. A mile and a sixteenth on the turf. Not a great race as I see it but it is probably where he beings and it would be nice for him to get a win and move out of this class of race.

The weather forecast is crummy on Saturday with the possibility of wet snow by evening so let's hope the race goes off as planned and that everyone comes home safely.

ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000 – $20,000

Purse $31,000. For Three Year Olds And Upward Which Have Never Won Two Races Other Than Maiden, Claiming Or Starter Or Claiming Price $25,000-$20,000. Three Year Olds, 121 Lbs.; Older, 124 Lbs. Non-winners of a race at a mile or over since August 29 Allowed 2 Lbs. Sucha race since July 29 Allowed 4 Lbs. Claiming Price $25,000, For Each $2,500 To $20,000 2 Lbs. (Races where entered for $18,500 or less not considered in allowances) (Winners Preferred). (If deemed inadvisable by management to run this race on the Turf course, it will be run on the main track at One Mile) . One And One Sixteenth Miles. (Turf) (Rail at 17 Feet)
P# PP Horse Virtual
Stable A/S Med Claim $ Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1 Cristobal (KY) 7/H LA $20,000 V H Molina 116 J R Cartagena 20/1
2 2 Silver Tie Affair (VA) 5/G L $0 R Monterrey 122 H Elamri 12/1
3 3 Lentenor (KY) 4/C LA $0 L Garcia 122 L Delacour 9/2
4 4 Manchurian High (FL) 3/R LA $0 V Diaz 121 J B Secor 10/1
5 5 Ram (NY) 3/C LA $0 H Vega 117 H M Parker 20/1
6 6 Sky Maggy (KY) 3/G LA $0 J Rose 117 R Jenkins 15/1
7 7 Court Band (MD) 6/G LA $20,000 H Karamanos 116 S H Pradenas 30/1
8 8 Trapezium Star (KY) 3/G LA $0 A Castellano, Jr. 121 G Capuano 4/1
9 9 Lonely Whistle (NY) 5/G L $20,000 F Boyce 116 E Maher 5/1
10 10 Glass Art (KY) 3/C L $0 M G Pino 121 G D Sacco 7/2
11 11 Safety Valve (KY) 5/H LA $20,000 T L Dunkelberger 116 R Jenkins 6/1
12 12 Achilles Quest (PA) 4/C LA $0 F Garcia 124 D R White 20/1

Owners: 1 - Gavin-Ty Racing LLC; 2 - Leslie Osborne & Hassan Elamri; 3 - Lael Stables; 4 - No Palla Stables; 5 - Double K Stable; 6 - Magalen O. Bryant; 7 - Sergio H. Pradenas; 8 - Richard A. Lewis; 9 - TM Racing Stables LLC; 10 - Red Oak Stable; 11 - Hillwood Stable LLC; 12 - Double Deuce Stables LLC

Breeders: 1 - Abbott Properties; 2 - Mr. & Mrs. Samuel H. Rogers Jr.; 3 - Mr. & Mrs. M. Roy Jackson; 4 - Greg Norman; 5 - Sarah S. Farish; 6 - John C. Oxley; 7 - Sondra Bender & Howard M. Bender; 8 - Mr. & Mrs. F. Gill Aulick; 9 - Harry L. Landry; 10 - Glencrest Farm, LLC; 11 - Dearborn Stable, R. Shapiro & WinstarFarm; 12 - Maui Meadow Farm & Peter Anthony Berardi

Early Scratches: Cat Park

The Martha Stewart Show

2011-10-27T07:00:00.006-04:00

Scenes from the Martha Stewart Show taping on Wednesday. It was the Pet Show and featured birds, dogs, cats and our own Chef Harry cooking his recipe from The Culinary Canine! No cameos of Sabina and me in the audience (front row!) but plenty of face time for the book cover--which is all you can ask for!

Martha was doing Pilates in her office when we arrived and there were dogs everywhere. Watch the show on Dec. 1 on The Hallmark Channel and you'll see why!

This is a scene from the dog fashion show featuring Martha made dog outfits!

The first segment was about birds. Some of these flew free and were jumping around the studio. Martha did the segment with a bird on her shoulder!

And here we are: me, Chef Harry, his wife Laurie and Sabina outside after the taping.

You're just going to have to watch on Dec. 1 to see the rest!

Of Martha Stewart and Halloween

2011-10-26T07:00:00.002-04:00

Today. October 26, Sabina and I are in New York City to be in the audience for The Martha Stewart Show. Can you guess why? Because Chef Harry Schwartz and Blitz his dog will be featured on the show along with our book. There is also the possibility that, as we were told, Martha might turn the camera on us since she knows you are in the audience and ask a few questions.

We are prepared and excited. The show will air December 1 on the Hallmark Channel.

In honor of all things Martha, I have been following her blog and know that up until today the vibe was pretty much all things Halloween, including lots of plugs for her Halloween special which will air on Monday October 31 on The Hallmark Channel at 10:00 AM and also requests for photos of dogs and people in Halloween costumes.

Which is what the video above is all about. Truly, can you top this for a pet costume, especially on a pint size pet?

More about our adventures to come!

Poof! It's Gone!

2011-10-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

This is nothing short of revolutionary-- a new product that transforms dog waste into ash in a minute. As the video demonstrates, you simply put the wand over the pile, press a button to have it scooped up and drawn into the tube, press another button and poof, it disappears.

I wonder if there are extra large sizes for extra large dogs and I wonder how much those vaporizing cartridges cost. Still in all, a brilliant idea that promises to make scooping poop a memory--maybe.

Political Animal

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

This came via email and was too good not to pass on:

It's just dawned on me!!

My dog sleeps about 20 hours a day.

He has his food prepared for him. He can eat whenever he wants.
His meals are provided at no cost to him.
He visits the Dr. once a year for his checkup, and again during the year if any medical
needs arise.
For this he pays nothing and nothing is required of him.
He lives in a nice neighborhood in a house that is much larger than he needs, but he is
not required to do any upkeep.
If he makes a mess, someone else cleans it up.
He has his choice of luxurious places to sleep.
He receives these accommodations absolutely free.
He is living like a King, and has absolutely no expenses whatsoever.
All of his costs are picked up by others who go out and earn a living every day.
I was just thinking about all this, and suddenly it hit me like a brick ........
I think my dog is a member of Congress!