Nov. 27/2019

Feature:

New Dogs, New Tricks

   “NEW YORK…The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen & the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje make their debuts at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show… each getting a nationally televised turn among the more than 190 breeds on the green carpet at the nation’s premier canine contest.

   But Buzz Lightyear, for one, seems to be taking his breed’s big moment in stride. The 4 year old Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen…glanced out at the cameras at a recent Westminster preview news conference, looked up at owner Brielly Cipriotti & then lay down on the rostrum to do a couple of things his breed does best: sniff around & induce smiles.

   ‘They’re extremely sweet, & they have a big, goofy attitude,’ Cipriotti, of Bealeton, Va., said later. She’s excited about the exposure that the breed- a low-slung, long- eared, hardy hound developed in France to hunt rabbits & hare- stands to gain from Westminster.

 About 3,200 dogs, ranging from wee Malteses to strapping Mastiffs, are entered to compete at this month’s show, which includes agility & obedience competitions along with the breed judging that leads to the signature Best in Show trophy…

   The relatively new agility & obedience contests are open to mixed- breed dogs…

   New breeds appear at Westminster after getting recognized by the American Kennel Club. The process takes years & includes setting standards & having hundreds of dogs spread around the country.

   The merry, clever Nederlandse Kooikerhondje…was initially trained to help Dutch duck hunters by attracting the bird’s interest & then luring them into net-covered canals.

   ‘It’s the Pied Piper of the dog world,’ said owner Rod Beckstead of Jim Thorpe, Pa., as she showed off 2 year old Bandit.

   The breed remains versatile & easy to teach to do dog sports & other things; some even serve as cadaver dogs, he said…”

Jennifer Peltz

The Associated Press

The Gazette, Montreal

Feb. 5/2019

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Nov. 20/2019

Feature:
Get Your Good Boy a La-Z-Boy

   “You’ve probably heard that you spend a third of your life in bed, so a good mattress is

something worth splurging on. The same can probably be said for our favorite furry friends.

   La-Z-Boy, known for making comfortable seats to lounge in, recently launched a range of high-

quality dog beds.

   The Pet Collection uses Comfort Signature memory foam & Comfort Select fibrefill, which the company boasts has ‘never flat properties’. Each is designed to support your pooch’s sleep style, whether they curl up in a doughnut or sprawl out on their back. They’re also upholstered with durable fabric that uses iClean Technology to repel dirt & doo-doo, so they’re easy to keep clean. The beds & loungers come in a variety of sizes to suit your dog, & a variety of colors to suit your style.

   Prices start at $135 at wayfair.ca"

Maggie Parkhill

The Gazette, Montreal

June 15/2019

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Nov. 13/2019

Feature:

Living Long & Prospering

   “The new picture book Crusoe The Worldly Wiener Dog contains the following dedication:

   ‘This book is dedicated to, well, me. Because my awesomeness is inconceivable, & because I’m probably the only wiener that looks good in a Speedo.’

   …As for the dashing dachshund’s bravado, it’s no wonder really. As one of the world’s top animal influencers…he has more than 3 million online followers & his first book (written by his human, Ryan Beauchesne & titled Crusoe, the Celebrity Dachshund: Adventures of the Wiener Dog Extraordinaire) landed on the New York Times bestsellers list just a week after being released in 2015…

   ‘Our fans have really grown over the past couple of years, so it is looking pretty good.’ Said Beauchesne…’I would have never guessed it would be like this. It’s quite remarkable.’

   ‘When I first started, I didn’t have any intention of making him famous or making it my job or anything like that. I’ve just always needed a little creative outlet,’ added Beauchesne, who shares his Gatineau home with his girlfriend Lauren Dionne, Crusoe, & Crusoe’s younger & also popular half brother Oakley…

   ‘My girlfriend bugged me for about a year to get a wiener dog. I finally gave in,’ said Beauchesne. ‘At first I was embarrassed to walk down the street as a guy with this little wiener dog, but now it has come full circle where she’s the one that is embarrassed as I am dressing him up & taking pictures & all that stuff.’

   Those pictures are what made this dog a social media superstar, so it’s those pictures that Beauchesne has returned to with the new book. This time Crusoe is travelling around the globe in many bespoke outfits carefully created & curated for each outing by Beauchesne.

   …For his trip to Switzerland, he is high in the Alps…posing hard as a wee avalanche dog. In California, he laps up the L.A. movie star lifestyle…He eats hot dogs in Chicago, wails on a sax in New Orleans, &, of course, sports some lederhosen for a visit to his ancestral homeland of Germany.

   As for Canada, Crusoe carries the flag proudly. He gets bundled up in Quebec City & digs the dinosaurs in Drumheller. For his trip to Banff he…has a howl of a time in a wolf costume. In Vancouver, it’s the classic tourist shot by the totem polls in Stanley Park then a trip over to North Vancouver & the Capilano Suspension Bridge…

   Crusoe is small, so he fits comfortably in a soft-sided carrier that can be slipped under an airplane seat. Beauchesne says the tiny traveller is always game for a getaway.

   ‘He travels very well,’ said Beauchesne. ‘He loves to come with us when we go places. You should see his little face when we arrive at a new hotel room. He’s excited. He loves it…’

   …’Everything we do is based on how he actually is in real life, of course a little bit exaggerated,’ added Beauchesne. ‘I think people relate & see humor in what Crusoe sees as a dog, & they relate that to their own dog & how their own dog might see the world…’

   …Right now Crusoe is getting ready for a North American book tour…”

Dana Gee

The Gazette, Montreal

Nov. 6/2018

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Memorial

Nov. 6/2019

Feature:

A Whole New Ball Game

   “Something wicked this way comes…& goes…& comes again. The Wicked Ball is a smart ball that lets your dog play fetch with themselves while you’re away from home, or just too pooped to play.

   Activated by the push of a paw, the ball vibrates, lights up, & bounces around for hours. It has 3 settings: gentle, normal, or active. But lest you imagine Fido doggedly chasing the thing all day, know that the ball has an intelligent companion mode that can tell when he needs a break.

 

   A collision sensor ensures that it won’t get stuck behind furniture, & it can even bounce over small obstacles like cords & chargers.

   The Wicked Ball is available through Indiegogo.com for US $49. (There are also balls that your cats will enjoy, but they’re unlikely to admit it.)”

 

Melissa Hank

The Gazette, Montreal

June 22/2019 
https://www.cheerble.com/wicked-ball

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