Into the Box: It's Ruff in NYC

Hi all!

I was recently tipped off to a great NYC real estate Web site called Into the Box. This week's video in on a dog's life in New York City, which is right up Roxie's alley!

Watch this video and if you like it, please do consider subscribing to Into the Box. Enjoy!

Pooches at Planting Fields

From Newsday.com

Everyone loves a puppy, but it takes more than love to be a responsible dog owner. You can see purebred dogs, learn which pooches are the best fit for your family and how to best care for your longtime companion at the Long Island Cluster AKC All-Breed Dog Shows, Friday and through Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay. On Saturday and Sunday, the event hosts Suffolk and Nassau dog obedience trials; agility, lure-coursing and dog carting demonstrations; seeing-eye puppies in training and more.

Admission is $7 per carload Friday; Saturday and Sunday it's $6, $4 seniors and kids 11-16 and kids under 10 attend free. Bring chairs, but please leave your pet at home. 631-724-0871.

Dogs, Handlers Learn to Boogie and Disco

EAST TROY, Wis. - Ricky the Dalmatian spun across the floor with his 68-year-old handler, the high-stepping Mary Ann Coutley. The two were one of 23 pairs of handlers and pets participating in a three-day dog dancing class that ended Sunday at the Army Lake Camp and Retreat Center.

The handlers paid $275 each for a room, meals and lessons on everything from costumes to music and training tactics.

They learned twists, passes, cha-cha steps and other movements, slinking across the floor with their furry friends.

While "Dancers with Woofs K9 Freestyle Dance Camp" purported to be the first in the region, enthusiasts have been dancing with dogs since the 1980s. They formed the World Canine Freestyle Organization in 1999.

In freestyle dancing, the handlers and dogs work to be artistic and creative. Many also do Heelwork-to-Music, which combines obedience and dance.

"There's Olympic-style scoring up to 10," said instructor Linda Blanchard, 59, of Pontiac, Mich. "The goal for this sport is to become an Olympic sport."

The dogs are trained to follow verbal or hand commands. In freestyle, pretty much anything goes.

"You have to pick out music that goes with your dog," Blanchard says. "The dogs can do figure eights around your legs. They spin, and we spin. Sometimes they're on their hind legs. They can wave, do marching things, jump over things."

Coutley used to dance with a 12-year-old Dalmatian named Wynona, who died in April. She is grooming Ricky to be her new partner with daily workouts that include six miles on a treadmill.

"He's a chow hound," Coutley said, feeding 1-year-old Ricky some turkey hot dogs. "He'll work for anything."

---

Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com

SchnauzerTube: Dog Days of Summer

Our Schnauzers are simply amazing! Look at little Jade swimming. There are lots of Schnauzers that need a good home, please consider adopting one today!

Adoption Resources:

NJ Schnauzer Rescue

Animal Haven Soho

Petfinder.org

Surf's Pup!

The NYC Schnauzer Playgroup proudly presents Cha Cha the Surfing Schnauzer! Check her out catching some waves on our online TV station dedicated to all Schnauzer videos all the time. It's free to watch and share!


Wanna take your dog to the beach? Check out Newsday's list of dog-friendly beaches and parks.

Enjoy the final dog days of summer!

Tell the AKC: Did you choose your dog or did he choose you?

There are plenty of tales about people looking like or acting like their dogs, but are certain personality types really attracted to certain breeds? The American Kennel Club wants to find out.

We hope to be able to offer more insight into what types of lifestyles and personalities are most compatible with the 157 breeds that AKC registers with the compiled findings of this survey.

We look forward to sharing the fascinating results with you, but first, we need your help. Click here to take the survey and feel free pass this along to your family and friends. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes and individual responses will be kept strictly confidential.

Take the survey!

Event: Because Your Dog Is Worth It Too Day!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18th

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

35 Broadway Road (off Route 130), in Cranbury, NJ

Please be sure to bone up on all of the details on our web site at:

www.yourdogisworthittoo.com

The website has been updated with pictures of the 2006 event as well as registration forms for 2007.

2007 T-shirts now available for purchase on the site

Special Patron registration also available.

Don't paws send it in quick!

PASS THE WORD! IT'S GOING TO BE A DOG-GONE GREAT DAY!

This years event promises to be our best one yet. New events include:

Dog Diving competition(professional and novice) www.ultimateairdog.com

Annual beauty and costume contest sponsored by Modern Dog Magazine

Large breed tractor pull competition

Doggie drivers licenses photos

A top secret new contest guaranteed to be a lot of fun!

All proceeds to benefit The Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Vick is Vicious!

Tell NIKE to cancel Michael Vick's endorsement contract. Act now!

Hi there!

Sorry I've been away from the Rex in tha City blog. I took a much needed vacation to Mystic, CT and it was lovely. I highly recommend our fave B&B, The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina. The innkeepers Sue & Dave Labrie are wonderful people and their cute little inn sits right on the water. Doggone it! I'm back to reality!

Which brings me to this e-mail I received today from my pal Rece, organizer of the upcoming Canine Cruise, she's definitely got her paw on the pulse of the dog world. Please read the following and help out a worthy cause....


Hey Pooch Pals,

In the world of New Media (that's the world wide web), advertisers want you to see the products and services they have to offer. They pay out to web site companies based on the number of views which are measured by the click of YOUR mouse.

We can make a difference!!

Please click on over to The Animal Rescue Site and then click on the purple button that looks like this:



(make sure you click the purple button located on the web page!)


This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising.

Who knows? You might even find products that interest you! Choosing to linger and peruse is up to you... but let us at least give up 20 seconds and 2 clicks to make a difference!

2 clicks and you've done your good deed for the day! 20 seconds per day and you're filling the pantry of canines less fortunate than yours!

READY? GO...I'm ready to make a difference with 2 clicks & 20 seconds!!

pass it on...

Regards & Wags,
Rece & Maximus

Barking Beauty Pageant

Does your dog like to strut its stuff on the dogwalk? Or does your precious pup take naps on a fluffy Chewnel No. 5 dog bed? If so, maybe you and your furry friend should enter the Barking Beauty Pageant this month!

Stone Soup Theatre is holding their second annual Barking Beauty
Pageant on May 13th, at 4 p.m. Don't miss this event! It will surely be the talk of the town.

Here is the link to register: http://www.stonesoupkitchen.org/thebarkingbeauty/

Event: Small dogs unite!

My good pal Rece is throwing a playdate for the small dog set. She organizes the NYC Small Dogs Playgroup.

You don't want to miss her puppy pawties. Last year, she organized a lovely event on the water called the Canine Cruise. Need I say more?

Here's more from Rece about her shorty shindig this Saturday:

It's about time we re-visit our old haunt, HAPPY PAWS!! Come hang with our playgroup regulars and meet some newbies. Great people, great pooches, good music and yummy snacks! Our pooches sniff and play, while we munch and chat! Then of course, there's also the Happy Paws boutique for pooch necessities, cutie outfits or we can snag some treats for our deserving little angels.

Spend 2 hours of your Saturday socializing your dog with his playgroup buddies. Your pooch will smooch you for it!

Cost: $5 per dog

To RSVP, join her playgroup: http://smallbreeddogs.meetup.com/3/

Freakin' out over food

I first learned of the pet food recall 3 weeks ago and now, it seems the panic is setting in among my close friends and fellow dog lovers.

Just recently, Del Monte pulled many of its pet snacks off the shelves. There is so much to know and the stories are coming fast and furious.

Here's where I go to keep abreast of what's going on with the pet food recall.


1. Newsday -- They have a neat package of local and national news, videos, and a poll dedicated to the tainted food frenzy. It's being updated frequently.

2. Poop City -- A great pet blog that is closely watching every morsel of good and bad news in the pet food recall.

3. New York Tails -- This local publication is great resource for those who want to actually do something about the problem of poor quality pet food. NYT is encouraging pet owners to send photos and letters to make sure the FDA takes this seriously.

With all these resources, there's no reason to freak out over food. Please don't panic, just do your best to stay informed of the situation and do what you can to monitor your pet's health.

My heart goes out to those families who have lost a pet due to the harmful ingredients in these foods.

Photo comes from 4 Legs Pet Food. The founders started their own pet food company after being disatisfied with the nutritional content of commercial products.

Om & Woof!

Every morning, my pup Roxie wakes up and faithfully does her downward facing dog pose. It makes me giggle everytime.

It's interesting how dogs are so limber and can stretch into poses humans can only wish to achieve. Being a yoga lover -- i've done poses in a room warmed to 105 degrees -- I was pleased to see this story about doggie yoga at the Humane Society in Washington. Truly inspiring!

Wanna strike a pose with your pooch? Here are your local options:

Uptown Hound - Upper Manhattan
East Yoga - Downtown Manhattan

Westbury is for dog lovers

Old Westbury Gardens will be holding its spring "Dog Days" April 7 & 8.

There will be a walk around the gardens, and other dog related
activites and demonstrations. For more information visit the events
page of our site. http://www.lidog.org/events.htm

Pawty with a Purpose!

Calling all Pug fans! Lin Randolph and her pugnacious Pug named Lenny are throwing a pawty you won't want to miss!

It's called Lenny the Pug's Annual Birthday Benefit for Animal Haven. AH is a wonderful no-kill animal shelter and pet sanctuary in New York City. Please help support this worthy cause by attending with your furry one and having lots of fun. All dog breeds are welcome.

At Lenny's pawty, you'll enjoy food provided by Chipotle Mexican Grill, canine snacks, fun raffles for doggy products and services, games of chance, and a goody bag prize station.

Tickets are being sold in advance for $25. Go to Lenny's Web site for more details: www.lennythepug.com

Sporty Pups

In honor of the Super Bowl, I got my pup Roxie her first football jersey. Aww! It's really cute. My father-in-law is a Jets fan, so I purchased the Jets jersey to make him laugh. It worked!

Well, those adorable jerseys are on sale at Affordable Petable and they are now offering some spiffy baseball jerseys just in time for spring training. Be sure to check out their Yankee and Mets collection for dogs. LOL

If you make a purchase during the month of March, you'll get a free portable CD player (yes, they still make 'em) with your purchase of $100 or more at AffordablePetable.com. Enter the code CD01 to claim your "vintage" musical device. Righteous dude!

Watch Roxie sport her Jets jersey at the Super Dog Bowl.

You Sexy Beast!

Sexy Beast, a unique doggie cologne and pet care line, is having a trunk show at Henri Bendel in late March!

Here's more details on the event:

Henri Bendel, the trend-setting Fifth Avenue specialty store, famous for it's stunning makeovers on people and innovative retailing, is raising the bar once again by presenting The SEXY BEAST Picture Perfect Pooch Event on Friday, March 23rd - Sunday, March 25th, 2007.

For the first time ever, canines (and their owners) are invited into the store, to book a styling session with brand founder, Renée Ryan, and the fabulous SEXY BEAST™ glamour team. Sessions will include customized styling tips for your dog's grooming needs, a complete SEXY BEAST™ finishing lesson and a dry fluffing/styling.

Professional photographs of guests and their picture perfect pooch will be taken and can be retrieved free of charge from the Sexy Beast™ website

Don't miss the fun as Henri Bendel hosts this one of a kind, landmark event!

712 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
between 55th and 56th Streets

To reserve an appointment for your styling session call: 1.800.887.5950

All reservations will require a $25 holding fee which is completely redeemable towards your purchase of any Sexy Beast styling product.

All attendees with pre-booked appointments will receive complimentary stainless steel dog tag and chain ($25.00 value)

Cocktails Anyone?

When I get home from work, there's nothing I like better than a glass of Sprite and a shot of Appleton Rum to take my cares away. Ahhh joy!!

The other day, I wasn't paying attention and my pup Roxie managed to stick her nose in my drink and she sneaked at least one slurp before I grabbed it from her! Yuck!

While I don't ever want to share a cocktail with my dog again, I was recently invited to a unique party that allows you to mingle and drink with your canine in tow.

It's called the Canine Cocktail Pawty and will be hosted by Jenna & Snickers of The NYC Shiba Inus. Please join them for an evening of people socializing and canine off-leash carousing! What a charming idea!

Proceeds from this event go to benefit Animal Haven, a no-kill animal shelter and pet sanctuary in New York City. Everyone is invited regardless of pedigree.

To RSVP, kindly e-mail Jenna: dogs@nycgadgetgirl.com by March 12th. Tickets must be purchased in advance. For more details, visit: http://shibainu.meetup.com/101/

Cheers!

Martha, Martha, Martha!

I looove Martha Stewart. My friend once told me, "You pray at the altar of all things Martha." And, I do!

I was devastated when she got into trouble for using a "stock tip" and had to go to Camp Cupcake. My friends and family called me all day to ask how I'm handling the news. I know that seems very weird...

Yes! Yes! Yes! I adore Martha! My family calls me Black Martha whenever I get the urge to be crafty and make homemade beauty products or when I take something that's bland and do it up fancy -- "marthastyle." LOL

Well, I adore Martha Stewart because she is a shrewd businesswoman and creative force to be reckoned with. Plus, she's a dog lover and has three beautiful dogs named Paw Paw, Sharky and Francesca. Sooo adorable! I love when she dedicates space in her magazines or show to dogs.

A few weeks ago, Martha invited a fellow crafty lady named Laurie Marie on her show Martha to demonstrate how to make a handmade picture of Martha's dog Sharky, a French bulldog. Laurie Marie's company is called Pretty Little Things and her crafts are awesome! Check out her Web site.

Pssst! I know the Secret ...

The other day, before my long commute to my job in Long Island, I sat down to watch Oprah. I was very excited to watch this episode because it was about this movie I’ve been meaning to watch called 'The Secret.'

Quite a few people have told me how life changing this book/movie is and now I must have it!!

'The Secret' is yet another self-help book that Oprah has the tendency to get all preachy about and I am not really a believer in most of those types of books. However, I do agree we have great control over our destiny and that we can make decisions that will put our lives on a greater path of fulfillment. I soaked up the entire hour of Oprah feeling all pumped up to have a positive outlook and I think my thoughts and actions also will have positive affect on those around me, including my relatives, friends, and even my pup Roxie.

You do know that dogs can sense your emotions right? I have read many times that dogs can pick up on a stressful situation, especially if you're tightening the leash at the same time and they will act out. Just food for thought ...

So go out and buy that book or watch the movie with your friends. I am seriously considering throwing a movie screening party, so I can watch it with my gal pals and see what they think. If you don't have time, check out this tiny, tiny book that I love called 'It Works' by R.H. Jarrett. It truly does work! I have used it to help me focus on achieving certain goals and the results are amazing.

If you've used 'The Secret' in your daily life, please drop me a line and tell me about it. I'd love to know how it's working for everyone.

Peace