DOG OWNERSHIP

In a Variety article this past winter that mined her thoughts on the #MeToo Movement, Barbra Streisand mentioned in passing that she cloned her beloved Coton de Tulear, Samantha, and had two of the three knockoffs at home with her - Miss Violet and Miss Scarlet. The article focused on Ms. Streisands having broken a lot of glass ceilings in Hollywood both as a director and a producer, but what went viral was the dog cloning, with articles popping up on the online sites of People Magazine, Time, Vanity Fair, National Geographic, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and too many other media outlets to mention. Just type Barbra in the Google search bar, and Barbara Streisand dog appears as one of the choices to click on, with 14 straight pages of listings on this particular story.

It was after the mayhem in Charlottesville last summer that journalist Jen Reeder thought of examining the concept that some dogs act racist - or can be trained to seem racist, even if unintentionally. It wasnt that dogs were involved in any of the violence - simply the notion that in so many ways the country divides along racial lines, with dogs often in the mix. (Who hasnt seen those photos of attack dogs used to intimidate, and harm people, in racially fraught situations?)

Fitness experts say we should each try to take about 10,000 steps a day, which amounts to walking five miles - or about 1,800 miles a year. Well, guess what? If you have a dog, youre covering 1,000 of those miles by walking him. Thats the latest from British pet food manufacturer Harringtons, which surveyed 2,000 dog owners. Their dog walking lasted 34 minutes, on average, and covered just under 2 miles.

A Massachusetts man who abused his dog so viciously that the animal had to be put down will serve eight to 10 years in prison for his offense, followed by a two-year probation upon his release. He also is never allowed to own a dog again.

We are big fans of choosing an adult dog in need of a home from a shelter or pound. Its not just good for the dog; there are a lot of advantages for the person, too. Puppies can be exhausting. Their boundless energy combined with the need to take them out to piddle in the middle of night and teach them not to chew the furniture and everything else in sight takes a lot of energy - and sleeplessness.

Guys in search of a relationship, forget spending grueling hours at the gym in an attempt to make your body more buff and therefore more attractive to women. Just get a dog. Research published in the journal Anthrozoos: a multidisciplinary journal of the interactions of people and animals, found that men with a dog have an easier time getting a womans phone number.

As a dog owner, youve no doubt observed that people who are nervous around dogs are the ones who often bring out their aggressive tendencies. It makes sense: nervous people beget nervous canines who act out by trying to work through their jitters via aggression. Now research makes the point empirically.

May 2018 - Full Issue PDF

Chances are there are a lot of changes you can make to tamp down the allergy symptoms.

April 2018 - Full Issue PDF

Raise your hand if your dog speaks to you in English.

Most cruise lines do not allow dogs unless they are service animals, and for good reason. Theres no good place for them to play on the ships, no place to relieve themselves, strict health codes that would be hard to stick to with dogs aboard, and laws about quarantining depending on the ports of call visited by the ocean liners. One exception, and only one, is Cunard Cruise Lines Queen Mary II, which sails between New York and Southampton, England. The dogs on that boat are treated in style - with fleece blankets, a complimentary portrait with you, and a kennel master who takes care of walks, indoor play time, and clean-up.