Show Me The Paws

November 4th is less than a week away, and this endorsement couldn't have come at a better time. The Humane Society Legislative Fund has just endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President, their first ever presidential endorsement! Obama has backed or co-sponsored legislation protecting animal rights at the state and national level and Michelle Obama recently announced that the Obama family would be adopting a shelter dog once the election is over. This is the cherry on top of my Barack Obama-Split Sunday!

And for you Obama dog lovers out there, check out Muzzle-Tov and their Obama Dog Collars! Deck your pup out in election gear this Tuesday and don't forget to vote.

Couch Potato

I called my mom in the States last night to find out how the dogs are doing (have I mentioned I miss them?), and to my suprise she had some big news for us... no, Charly's not pregnant, he's a boy, duh!... Gus chewed through her living room sofa, and there's nothing left of the cushions but a huge pile of sofa guts!

It's true. The boys are living with grandma while we're away in Bonn, and they absolutely adore her. Who doesn't love a grandma who spoils you rotten? Anyway, she and my brothers went out of town for five days and couldn't bring the dogs with them, so Gus and Charly stayed with their dog-sitter and one of their best friends Cathy, from Urban Dog. Cathy takes great care of them, and they always have a blast hanging out with her.

Even so, when my mom came back from her trip, Gus and Charly went ape-crazy with excitement. Like most grandma's who haven't seen there grandbabies in a while, she made the big mistake of giving them both a treat, which Charly promptly ate no problem. On the other hand, Gus had the brilliant idea of hiding the treat in the crevices of the living room couch, where he could eat it later. He returned to the scene of the crime that evening, and without warning, proceeded to ravage the couch looking for his precious treat.

By the time my mom found out what he was doing, the sofa was basically ruined and Gus was standing there with his mouth open, full of sofa foam, fabric, and treat crumbs. Silly dog. You're lucky grandma loves you so much!

I think what Gus needs is his own sofa like this one from an Italian company called dogsofa. It comes in several different color combinations and is super fly. Just love it! 

A Dog Is A Dog Is A Dog

In his fascinating article "The Truth About Dogs", Stephen Budiansky explores canine genetics and uses science to explain dog behavior. Budiansky half jokingly calls dogs the greatest con artists, the best pickpockets, and some of the most manipulative animals on earth! Somehow dogs have convinced humans that they're loyal, trustworthy, selfless, loving, courageous, noble, and obedient...  Which of course they are, but Budiansky asserts that it's genetics, not the usual conventional explanations, that make them our best friends. 

The article is long, and can be a bit difficult to understand for those of us who are scientifically challenged, but if you can, I highly recommend reading the first page and the last paragraph of the piece. Those of you who own a mutt won't be able to hide your pride. I know I couldn't. 

And just to show Charly I'm proud of him too, regardless of Budiansky's pretty persuasive arguments, I'm featuring this poster from Obey The Pure Breed.

Home Sweet Home

Hurray for Ratchet and Operation Baghdad Pups! On Sunday the rescue group flew into Baghdad and picked up the Iraqi  dog, who was adopted by Army Spc. Gwen Beberg during her 13 month deployment in Iraq. After three separate tries to get the pup out of Iraq, he's finally on a plane and on his way to joining Beberg in Minneapolis, Minnesota!

The U.S. Army bars U.S. soldiers from caring for pets while on duty or from taking the animals home with them when they leave their posts, but 65,000 people from Illinois to Italy have signed a petition demanding clemency for Ratchet, and with help from Washington, it looks like the dog will be in the U.S. by the end of this week. 

But the Army's policy has yet to change regarding pets, even with the current outcry from people all over the world regarding Ratchet's case. Pets are amazing friends, confidants, and even therapists for soldiers in the middle of a war (for all of us)... The least the Army can do is let them bring their animals home. Please sign the petition for Ratchet, and get in touch with your congressman or congresswoman: Let them know No Buddy Gets Left Behind!

Who Let The Dogs Out?

There's been a lot written about Jeff Koons' sculpture exhibition at Versailles. In fact, the opening of the show was so wrought with controversy that it sparked artistic debate all over the world. 

There's not much I can add to the commentary, other than to say that I for one loved the exhibition, especially and to no surprise, the Balloon Dog sculpture.

It's one thing to see a photo ( I took this one!) of this work of art, and another thing to be in the same room with it. I really enjoyed the contrast between the modernist dog sculpture and the historic art and architecture that is Versailles. I was also able to see many similarities between the two: both extravagant, intense, and over the top works. 

I honestly think Louis the XIV would have enjoyed this exhibit, if only for the giant pink balloon dog. I know I did. 

Lost

Yesterday I took the subway from downtown Paris to the outskirts, to visit a cousin of mine who lives in an area called Montreuil. On my way back into the city we had a bit of a delay at one of the metro stops and I couldn't figure out why, until I noticed several men on their hands and knees... and when I moved closer to investigate, I saw that they were trying to coax a small dog out from under the seats!

Apparently somebody had either forgotten their dog or abandoned it on the train, and the poor thing was absolutely terrified. I tried to get close but it just growled and shook with fear. After about 10 minutes they managed to run the dog out of the train, and we started moving again, while I watched the little dog run free on the platform with three men and a woman running after it.

I hope they were able to catch the little thing. I worry that it was too frightened to let itself be caught, and may have ended up lost in the metro or worse, under a train...

Daniel and I have rescued several lost dogs at home, and maybe if I'd had a leash and some of these very delicious looking dog treats made right there in Paris at Mon Bon Chien, I could have helped the little guy out...

Haute Dog Design

I'm dog tired after having spent most of the day walking around Paris, scouting out design shops and dog inspired french style. It's true that there's no where like Paris for fashion and haute couture. And the runway doesn't stop for the dogs.

Dog and Design is the place for dog owners with a taste for luxury. Here you can find a replica of Marie Antoinette's dog house for sale at 14,500 Euros. The replica is gorgeous, handcrafted here in France, and covered in a beautiful teal fabric and gold trim.

If that price tag is out of your budget, don't worry, there are plenty of other high end dog inspired home accessories and pet products here at lower price points. But the quality and craftmanship won't let you down.

And if you're in Paris and missing your dogs like I am, don't forget to spend a bit of time with Archibald, Dog and Design's labrador retriever. He's friendly, gorgeous, and does plenty of tricks to keep you entertained!

Rien

I walked several hours today through a couple different neighborhoods in Paris, and saw at least three different dog inspired design items that I'm very excited to share with you. Only problem is that I'm an idiot and forgot to take my camera along today.

So tomorrow I'm going to retrace some of my steps, with my camera in tow, and hopefully come back with some good Frenchy stuff for House&Hound.

See you tomorrow. A bien tot!

Bon Jour

Yesterday, as we walked down the Poppelsdorfer Allee in Bonn, I had the great privilege of watching a city dog run down the sidewalk, several feet ahead of his owner (in fact I actually didn't see the owner anywhere in sight), stop at the cross walk, wait for the traffic to stop, and cross the street, all by himself.

I just couldn't believe it! I mean, Gus and Charly would have been chopped liver!!! Sometimes I'm so taken a back by how human dogs can be. And other times, like when they sniff each other's butts to say hello, they're just so unbelievably dog.

We're traveling to Paris today, via one of these European High Speed Trains. We'll be in Gay Paris in about four hours... Check out this very hip and Frenchy travel bag from Bagira. I want one, now!

P.S. What a coincidence: on our way to Paris I saw a woman in the Koln Train Station wearing a Bagira Bag! She was very impressed that I knew the brand...

Are You Crazy?

My German is pretty bad, although I have managed to master the most important phrases I will need to know here: "where are the bathrooms?" and "may I pet the dog."

And as if my limited German, American accent, and strong extroversion didn't single me out enough as an outsider, I'm also faced with the fact that only small children ask to pet dogs in Germany!

But I just can't help myself... and so I keep getting very surprised looks from dog owners and everybody around me when I ask if I can pet the dog! I think most of the people I've met are flattered that somebody as old as I am would want to pet their dog, and they just smile and laugh as I get down on my knees to play with their friend.

The only thing that could possibly make me stand out more than I already do is this adorable sweater from Anthropologie! Or maybe it would help me out, since people would be able to tell right off the bat that I'm not crazy, and that I really just love dogs? 

It's also possible I'd get the opposite reaction, and people would think I'm a looney for wearing a dog on my sweater! At this point, it's hopeless I think, and I'm just going to continue being who I am, and make as many doggy friends as possible. 

Gus Look!

I've been in Germany now for 5 days, and the truth of it all is that I'm missing those dogs. Yeah, the ones at home with Grandma... those dogs. I'm comforted knowing that they're having a good time at least. This would would have been impossible if we'd had to find a dog sitter for three months. We just wouldn't have been able to leave. 

So despite the acute sense that two of my best friends are so far away from me, I'm relieved that they're in loving hands. Just yesterday I received  a hilarious email from my mom that went on and on about how she has recently discovered how to trick Gus into going out for walks even when he's not up for it. She writes: 

With Gus, he is usually pretty easy going, and will follow Charly on most of our walks. But lately, he has started to put his foot down, and especially in the evening, when he sometimes doesn't want to go anywhere at all, and just simply refuses to go anywhere but back home. It is very disconcerting because this delays the walk, makes it slow, and sometimes prevents it all together. 

What did I find out? I found out that the rascal understands : Look! So, when I can't get him to move, I will say: Gus! Looook!!!! And I will point towards the direction I want him to go! He perks his ears, he wags his tail, and he starts running as fast as he possibly can, towards that rabbit he thought I was pointing at! 

I don't know how many times I will be able to cry wolf before he takes the hint that I am tricking him, but so far it has been the solution to our walking problems.

The funny thing about my mom's newfound insight is that Daniel has been working this trick for years now, and Gus is still falling for it. Ha!

And our product today is this incredibly cute and apropros piece of wall art from Ballard Designs called The Inconsolable Print. Well,  I'm not quite inconsolable, but I do miss my boys. 

Hallo!

First off, my very sincere apologies to all of you readers out there who've been checking in to a very dull and rather aged House&Hound blog. I've been so incredibly busy this week with planning for my Germany trip, that I haven't had the time, and most of all the mental energy, to post. 

But oh, I have missed you, and I'm actually writing to you from Germany, where Dan and I will be spending the next three months. I'm hoping that now I'll be less distracted with travel and wedding planning, so as to be able to post every day again, or at least several times a week.

Writing is a lot like running or swimming, once you fall out of the habit it's hard to pick it right back up. But with practice and devotion, it becomes a routine that is sorely missed if you happen to lack the time or energy to do it. 

So now I'm here in our new apartment, and I must admit I miss those dogs terribly, already. It's pretty plain to see the Germans love them a dog too, because there are pups everywhere. In fact, I saw several dogs in the airport and on the train we took from Amsterdam to Bonn yesterday. I'm glad to know that if I need some puppy love I can walk down to the nearest cafe and there will probably be a dog waiting for me there. Or I can find one in the Poppelsdorfer Allee. Or in the train station. Or market. Of course none of them will be Charly or the Gusser, but we'll have to make do until December. 

These cards from The Greeting Place are hilarious. I like the card on the top right the best, because it perfectly describes how I felt yesterday, travel tired and ragged, and my improvement today.