The Muttropolis Blog

Stories Wanted: Share Your Most Embarrassing Pet Stories

Inappropriate sniffing. Impromptu leg-lifting. Hump-a-thons. 

A recent poll conducted by our friends over at Petside.com indicates that one in ten pet owners is often embarrassed by their pet’s somewhat unsavory, unbecoming behavior. These findings are in no way surprising to me as my dogs are big fans of making a mockery of mommy dearest as often as possible. Based on their study, some common themes seem to run through this misbehavior, which include, not surprisingly, the frequent humping of inanimate objects, dog farts and a lot of leg-lifting.

My top six most embarrassing pet moments involving my Daily Treat lab assistants, Lulu & Zazou, include:

1. A wide-eyed Lulu pooping directly on her veterinarian’s lap during an office visit

2. Zazou randomly lifting his leg on some nice little family’s beach picnic

3. Lulu stealing a freshly made burrito off of some random persons beach towel while they'd stepped away

4. Zazou diving into a neighbor’s prized Koi fish pond to fetch out a finned friend (no Koi were harmed)

5. Lulu unapologetically conducting an impromptu ‘butt itch scoot’ on the carpet in the main lobby of a fancy office building

6. Zazou stealthily firing well-timed canine air biscuits from under the table at a dinner party 

What crazy, bizarre or downright funny things has your pet done to embarrass you?  We want to hear about them! Share your stories in the comments below or join the discussion on our Animal Planet Facebook Fan Page.

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

CatRoulette: Cat Video Chat

Chatroulette is a social website that pairs users with random Webcam partners. Attracting nearly 20,000 curious visitors a night, it draws mostly teenagers, inebriated twenty-somethings, college kids packed into dorm rooms and a whole lot of pathetic, half-naked dudes with nothing better to do.

In other words, Chatroulette is quickly becoming the go to site if you want to chat with the most socially depraved people you will ever interact with.....and cats, yes, lots of cats. 

Enter CatRoulette

In fact, so many cats have been spotted on Chatroulette that a new site, CatRoulette highlights (via screenshots) some of the best Cat chats spotted on the site. By Cat chats, we mean: cats scratching away on a scratcher, riding Roombas, playing with catnip toys and....well, doing what cats do!

source: Urlesque

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

Warts and All: Rascal Reigns at the Annual Ugly Dog Contest

Who're you calling ugly?

Rascal proved he's still got it at the 15th Annual Del Mar Ugly Dog Contest held here in San Diego, CA last weekend, as he reigned supreme at the annual contest attended by hundreds - all to benefit the Helen Woodward Animal Center.

A pure bred Chinese Crested pooch who is naturally hairless and born without a lot of his teeth, Rascal has scored a superfecta of Ugly Dog contests, as he is the only living Ugly dog to hold the coveted "Ring of Champions" title which makes him the current "World's Ugliest Dog." 

Fugly runs in the family

The butterface gene has apparently always run in Rascal's family, as he is a descendent of Chi Chi, who is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for winning the most ugly dog contests, according to his owner Dane Andrew of Sunnyvale.

“At first they think he’s ugly and then they think he’s cute,” Andrew said about Rascal's fans. “He grows on them in just seconds.” 

In fact, Rascal has amassed some famous fans along the way - as Andrew and Rascal have been interviewed by Jay Leno, Barbara Walters, Jane Pauley, Carson Daly and Kathy Griffin, according to his IMDB site.

Personally, I think he's darling in a "face-only-a-mother-could-love" kind of way! What do you think?

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

Rodent of an Unusual Size: Caplin the Pet Capybara

Last week I posted a photo I received of a woman posing with her outrageous looking pet -  named Caplin - which was a fuzzy creature resembling a combination of a gargantuan Guinea Pig and humongous Hamster. Outfitted in a royal purple harness that's normally reserved for big dogs and larger animals, the fantastical creature looked like something out of the latest Tim Burton movie and almost certainly photoshopped. 

However, some cursory Googling confirmed otherwise! This enormous rodent was not a fake at all but something called a Capybara - the largest of all living rodents. Entering the world at less than 3lbs, the Capybara is a close relative of the Guinea Pig and grows to nearly 100lbs in their adulthood! Excellent swimmers and divers, Capybara's can stay underwater for five minutes and can even sleep underwater with only their noses poking out. They also communicate   with a variety of sounds including soft whimpers, clicking noises, purring and barking. 

Caplin the Capybara turns out to be somewhat of a celebrity Capybara, as he not only resides in a lovely ranch-style home in Austin complete with his own personal swimming pool, but he also has a website and more than 3180 Twitter followers.

Learn more about this fascinating rodent of an unusual size in the video below:

 

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

Funny Dog Video: Law & Order Theme Song Bums Out Dogs Across America

Dogs. DOINK! DOINK! Howling Dogs. DOINK! DOINK! These are their stories.

It all started when Knuckles the Jack Russell's parents noticed that each time he overheard the theme song of "Law & Order" on the television, he would begin to whimper and then forcefully howl his way through the opening credits while the theme song played on.

Finding his behavior nothing short of hysterically funny, Knuckle's parents did what any upstanding citizen would and should do.... they posted a video of him howling along to the song on Youtube. Since posting said video of Knuckles one year ago, and racking up more than 10,000 views, dozens of videos have since been posted of dogs with a similar aversion to the unmistakeable DOINK DOINK of the L&O theme song! 

Why they're howling: A thin plot-line? Volume too loud? An involuntary reaction?

According to ABC news and veterinary neurologist Susan Wagner, dogs are probably involuntarily howling at this song due to its higher-register notes in the iconic DOINK DOINK theme song. (I personally believe that it is the darkly criminal and somewhat upsetting story lines of the show that is totally bumming out these dogs.)

Dozens of videos reside on Youtube that showcase this hysterical howling...but my all time favorite is of the Doberman who is casually chilling in his Bark-o-lounger, complete with his cozy macrame blankie (and possibly a lap tray?) - it's awesome. Really. The second video is a mash up of a bunch of different dogs singing along, each one funnier than the next. ENJOY!

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

Celeb's swoop in to help two-legged Scooby-Roo

Two Legs + Big Hearts = Inspiring Story

A special needs pup born without front legs, Scooby-roo was found dumped in south-central Los Angeles last October. He and his sister pup Sophie were found living in an abandoned car near a freeway and poor little Roo was covered in blood from scooting around on the asphalt. 

A pair of good Samaritans caught the injured and malnourished dogs and took them to Sheila Choi, who runs Fuzzy Dog and Cat Rescue, Inc., in Santa Monica, CA.  While some shelters might have euthanized the dogs, Choi sent out a mass email looking for donations and other support.

Actors in Action

Demi Moore spotted the email and tweeted about Roo and animal activist Shannon Elizabeth sent money and tweeted for more dollars. Alyssa Milano, a bonafide animal lover, saw a YouTube video (....get out the tissues) of the dog and fell in love. Milano called Choi, and promised to help any way she could and became the dog's godmother. Even the Jackson kids, Paris, Blanket and Prince, got in on the canine crusade to helped raise funds for Roo.

With all the extra celebrity help, Choi was able to collect $2,000 for a set of custom wheels for Roo as well as for a rehabilitation therapist! Awesome! 

Rolling with Roo

According to Fuzzy Rescue's website, Roo is now adjusting well to his new set of wheels custom-built for him by Eddie’s Wheels.  He receives two hours of “cart” practice daily, eats like a champ, plays like a cheerful puppy and is affectionate to all.  One of his favorite activities includes extracting the squeaker from any and all squeaky toys, romping around the great outdoors and sleeping on the bed underneath the bedcovers. Ok - all together now - Awwwwwwww.

To learn more about Scooby-roo or how you can help other special needs animals like him, visit FuzzyRescue.com

Source. Photos Courtesy of Alyssa Milano and Kim Rodgers/Bark Pet Photography

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

Olympians and Their Furry 'Chomp'-ians

All eyes are on Vancouver B.C. this week as athletes from all around the world compete for medals in a wide variety of winter sporting events at the 2010 Winter Olympics. 

These winter Olympics are also called the Winter Ouch-lympics, since a high percentage of participants wear helmets and nearly every event has a perilous aspect, whether it's a hard surface, sharp blades, mortifying speeds or dizzying airborne maneuvers. As fun as it is to watch these incredible athletes, let's face it, it's akin to watching a train wreck.

One of my favorite parts about the Olympics is hearing the interesting and occasionally odd back stories behind each of the amazing athletes that provide answers to such pressing questions as:

1) How they actually discovered the thrill of curling 

2) How it is that they came to be called "Picabo" or "Apollo;"  

3) Where one can buy the bedazzled, feather embellished pantaloons sported by male figure skaters?

4) And, naturally -  do they indeed have any wittle-bitty-snuggly-wuggly-fuzzy-wuzzy creatures at home that help them train for their big event?

Behind every great athlete is a great pet

While expert teams of coaches, trainers and physical therapists may keep this year's Olympians in top shape, our friends over at Petside.com share this week that these world-class athletes indeed count on their beloved pets to provide companionship and support for the biggest competition of their lives. 

From figure skater Mirai Nagasu's (at right) Chihuahua, Kousuke and Cat, Gigi to Snowboarding sensation Lindsey Jacobellis' (pictured above) dogs Gidget and Bear, check out Petside.com to see the all the cool pets wagging their tails wildly for this year's Olympians! 

photos courtesy of petside.com

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

The Bu-who? Westminster Dog Show Welcomes 3 New Dog Breeds

The 134th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show kicked off yesterday with all the fluffy and furry fanfare we’ve come to expect each year, as nearly 2500 dogs compete for best in breed at Madison Square Garden in New York City this week.

With competitors of every shape and size competing for glory (….and that’s just the handlers), the show is truly a visual delight as viewers are treated to the spectacle of, say, a gang of dread-headed Komondors swiffing around a show ring to a small army of prancing poufy Pomeranians scurrying round the ring in perfect formation.  

Red rover, red rover, send a Buhund right over.

At almost every Westminster, new breeds are added after their human lobbyists fulfill the A.K.C.’s rules. This year, three new breeds were added to the lineup. Check out their photos and learn more about these unique, newly-inducted breeds below.

1) The Pyrenean Shepherd: (Pictured at top) Also known as a "Pyr Shep", this breed is native to France and has herded sheep in the Pyrenees Mountains of Southern France for centuries

2) The Norweigan Buhund: (Pictured at right) An energetic herding dog that hails from Viking times, this breed belongs to a large class of dogs called the Spitz type. They are also trained to aid the hearing impaired and to perform some types of police work.

3) The Irish Red and White Setter: (Pictured at bottom) Known in Ireland since the 17th century, the Red and White is bred primarily for the field.

As I write this, Schmoo and Zazou are barking at the Westminster Dog Show on the TV as a posse of super teased and sprayed toy dogs flaunt their fluff in the ring. To translate, I believe their barking either means  A) "Those dogs have too much product in their hair!" or B) they secretly hope that their dream of a Mutt-minster Dog Show will one day become a reality.

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

Sweetheart Snoozer: Cuddle Up in a Cuddle Cup

Super Snuggling for your Furry Valentine

Does your dog or cat love to burrow into their bed? 

Is it not enough for your pet to lay atop your bed, but they instead must burrow under the covers of your bed?

Is your pet's idea of bliss settling into a warm basket of clean laundry?

Would your pet consider the interior of an Ugg Boot to be a suitable place to snooze?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the super plush Faux Fur Trundle Dog Bed has your pet's name all over it.  Created to mimic the luxurious softness of real fur, this versatile three way bed is made with faux mink fur and is embellished with darling pink hearts - perfect for your furry valentine!

Depending on pet`s mood, this bed can easily be transformed a teacup bed, a sleeping bag or an oval mat. My "niece" Lola the Chiweenie (Chihuahua mixed with a Dachsund) absolutely LOVES her trundle bed and truly tries to merge and become one with her cushy cuddle cup.

Snuggle up in a cuddle cup and your pet will thank you for it! Find the super snoozer Cuddle Cup burrow bed at at Muttropolis.com

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley

Puppy Tweets Dog Tag: A Twitter Transmitter for Dogs

The New Face Social Net-woofing

Online social networking for pets has gained in popularity in recent years, with sites like Dogster, DoggySpace.com, Dogbook and the Muttropolis Pet Park growing their membership exponentially over the last few years. However, given our pets lack of opposable thumbs, they do require our assistance to properly update their status and alert their online network that they are "Enjoying the sunset" or "Having dinner with the in-laws."

Thanks to Mattel's soon-to-launch Puppy Tweets Dog Tag, your dog will now be able to tweet into the Twitter-verse all by themselves. Pre-programmed tweets will allow your pooch to broadcast profound observations such as "YAHOOOOOOOOO! Somedays you just gotta get your bark on." or "I finally caught that tail I've been chasing and ... OOUUUCHH!"

How to Bark & Whine in 140 Characters or Less

To get started, you first have to make a Twitter account for your pooch. You then clip the Puppy Tweets tag onto your dogs collar, which packs in both motion and sound sensing technology. The device then reads and categorizes what your pet is up to, and sends it to the dog's Twitter account. So for instance, if pup is sleeping, the tag may automatically send the tweet, "Somedays it feels like my paw is permanently on the snooze button!"  

While I love the idea of this tag, the pre-programmed/canned tweets appear to eliminate the possibility of injecting your dog's unique personality into their tweets ... and it might get a bit old to follow the same types of tweets day after day. At the same time, depending upon the accuracy of the device's motion and sound-sensing capability, it could give you a good idea of what your dog is really doing when you're not at home!

What do you think about this new product?

Article reprint courtesy of Animal Planet's The Daily Treat with Janet McCulley