And the award goes to…

As you may know, I love awards shows.  Therefore, there could only be one theme to this week’s No Frown Friday: the Academy Awards!

  1. Your punny pet names are based on some of this year’s nominees:  Jesse Eisenbark, Colin Furth, Bark Ruffalo, Catalie Portman, and Helena Bone-ham Carter.
  2. Not sure the Oscars are for you?  There’s always the Dogscars instead.  What do you think are the best dog movies of all time? (You know I like to be inclusive, so here’s a quiz about movie cats and a movie filmed by cats.  Yup, you read that right.)
  3. Speaking of favorite dog movies and favorite dogs in movies, here are a few lists of dog movies to get you started.  Some of my favorites?  Best in Show, Lady and the Tramp, and The Fox and the Hound.  That’s by no means an exhaustive list of my favorites, however.  Put your thinking cap on and  tell me yours in the comments – I’ll meet you there!
  4. There have been some great movies featuring animals over the years.  How much do you know about them?  Take this quiz, and then learn more about animal stars, including shelter animals who ended up in show business.
  5. The American Humane Association makes sure that onscreen animals are kept safe and treated well.  AHA publishes some interesting behind the scenes stories on its website, like this one about the horses on the set of one of this year’s Best Picture nominees, True Grit.  AHA also publishes reviews regarding how each movie performs on AHA’s rating scale.  I looked up two more of this year’s Best Picture nominees, both of which received an outstanding rating: The Fighter and The Social Network.

So, which film do you think should win Best Picture?  I’m pulling for The King’s Speech – I promise it’s not just because there were Corgi cameos throughout.

Interesting note: apparently the AHA was very unhappy that The King’s Speech used its trademarked phrase, “No Animals Were Harmed” because the AHA was not involved in monitoring or rating this British production.  However, the issue was resolved – sounds like the real problem was use of the trademarked phrase, and all animals were treated humanely.

Serious interlude over… let the debate about the best dog movies ever begin!

 

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And now, for something completely different…

In honor of Presidents’ Day, I considered doing a punny version of all 43 Presidents. (Even though Barack Obama is the 44th President, Grover Cleveland made us forever confused by serving non-consecutive terms.)  I’m sure you will be pleased to hear that I rejected that idea.  Anyway, it’s time for this week’s No Frown Friday:

  1. Your non-exhaustive list of presidential punny pet names:  Chester A. Arfur, Rover Cleveland and Dwight D. Eisenbow-wower.
  2. Enjoy a few photos of Bo, the undeniably adorable First Dog.
  3. Did you know that some members of Congress treat every day like it’s Take Your Dog to Work Day?
  4. Apparently pups get involved in politics at the local level too.  Check out this story of a rescue dog who hangs out with his City Council.
  5. Have you heard about Larry the Cat?  He’s moved in as the Prime Minister’s new mouser.

I warn you, I’m about to depart from the theme of today’s post.  The following clip has nothing to do with Presidents.  Or politics.  Or anything, really.



(via Paw Nation)

I have no idea why I decided that you needed that video today.  It just felt right.

Happy Friday!  If you’re one of the lucky folks who have Monday off, enjoy the long weekend.  If you aren’t, just watch the cat above react dramatically to this revelation, and you’ll feel better.  I promise.

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And they called it puppy love…

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.  So, today’s No Frown Friday is dedicated to love – both puppy love and the other kind.  I know some people aren’t fans of this holiday, but I’ve always kind of liked it.  I think it stems back to my mom – every year she’d dig out the heart-shaped cake mold and make us yummy cakes.  It was our annual tradition.  Nothing better than eating those heart cakes with my family. 

My hub’s managed to create some fun memories, too.  However, I haven’t had much luck with the plants he’s sent me over the years!  (I don’t think I inhereited the family green thumb, but I’m working on it.)  In any event, it’s always fun.  This year, we’re going to cook a nice dinner, drink some wine, and have a nice evening at home – though I’m sure Bella will try to squeeze her way in between us on the couch!

  1. Today’s punny pet names are based on some famous lovers: Elizardbeth Bennett and Bark Darcy. 
  2. Check out these funny Valentines – my favorite manages to make reference to both Bill Cosby and Pudding Pops.  How can that not be a winner?  The one with the cat (you’ll see) was my personal runner up.
  3. No time to buy a paper card?  Choose one of these awesome ecards instead.
  4. Some pets just wear their hearts on their sleeves (er, paws).  If not, they might want to emulate Cooper of Cooper & Lola this Valentine’s Day.
  5. Has your dog always dreamed of playing Cupid?  Sew DoggyStyle makes it possible.
  6. Speaking of dogs in love, I really enjoyed this post over at Gardening with Wyatt – it includes a perfect video clip for the holiday!

I had a hard time deciding what video to share today, but I decided to go with some Snoopy:

If you want to watch the classic Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, it’s on tonight!  I can’t wait.

Whatever you’ve got planned this weekend… check out these great tips at Cat Chat for keeping your pets (both feline and canine) safe during the days of wine, roses and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate.

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Coming soon… Magical Mystery Mutt Tour

Photo courtesy of dogtipper.com

Have you ever looked at your pup and wondered what breeds all mixed together to create that furry face?  I know I have… I’d imagine it’s a question many ponder, especially with regard to rescue pups.

Last week, Edie (from Will My Dog Hate Me?) invited her readers to engage in a game of Name That Breed and guess the genetic makeup of the adorable Wilson.  Peggy Frezon (of Peggy’s Pet Place) thought it would be fun to invite reader guesses about the breed of her pup, Kelly.  I loved the idea and thought I’d do the same for Bella.  Then Edie had a brilliant plan – why not make it a blog hop?

Without further ado, it’s my pleasure to announce the Magical Mystery Mutt Tour!  Join Edie, Peggy and me for a blog hop on Friday, February 4 – it’ll be a name-that-breed-a-thon!

Want to play?  It’s simple: write a post about your pup.  Include at least two pictures, provide the pup’s height/weight, and describe any personality characteristics you think might be relevant.  Post it on Friday, February 4, and wait for the guesses to roll in.  (While you’re waiting, you can join the hop and offer your best guess as to the breeds of the other pooches participating!)

There will be a Linky tool available at Will My Dog Hate Me? and Peggy’s Pet Place beginning at 12:01am EST on February 4.  I can’t promise I’ll have the link in my post that early, but I’ll add it once I’m able.

Today’s regularly scheduled No Frown Friday has been canceled due to the fact that I was without power for over 24 hours beginning on Wednesday night.  I’ll make it up to you with some extra posts next week… promise. Until then, here’s a M*A*S*H-inspired punny pet name to tide you over: B. J. Hunnimutt.

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Appreciate a squirrel today

My friends, today is Squirrel Appreciation Day.  Seriously… you can’t make this stuff up.  I’m not one to discriminate, so today we’ll take a moment to observe the holiday.

  1. This week’s punny pet names come to us from the music world: Clay Acorn and Squirrel Haggard.  (Bonus name: James Squirrel Jones.)
  2. Wondering how one celebrates Squirrel Appreciation Day? Lucky for you, I found some suggested activities.  For those who’d like to spend the day increasing their Squirrel IQ, check out these interesting facts.
  3. I’d like to nominate this outstanding squirrel for the Best Squirrel Ever award.
  4. Probably the wrong day to laugh at Dug’s joke, huh?
  5. They do say a picture is worth a thousand acorns.  Therefore, I hope you enjoy these pretty cool squirrel photos.

I’m indulging my nostalgic side with today’s video selection.  I remember this video from my childhood, and it always made me laugh…

I almost looked for a cute squirrel video instead, but then I figured I’d probably never think of another reason to post this particular song.  (Want more squirrels?  Check out these Squirrels… in… Cyberspace!)

Happy Friday!

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Snow big deal

Winter is here… and with it, the possibility of snow.  I’m not a snow lover – especially after last year’s Snowmaggedon – but even I have to admit that animals in snow are pretty darn cute.

  1. Your punny pet names for the week:  Husky Springfield.
  2. The name of this Tumblr says it all: Pets Looking Out the Window at Snow.
  3. Cute Contest, championship round: cats and dogs in snow.
  4. Speaking of cute, this collection of photos is called “40 Photos of Dogs Freaking Out In Snow.”  Could it get any better?
  5. Looking for a way to enjoy the winter with your pooch? If you’re really ambitious, you could create a snow dog like this one.  Or maybe your dog wants to go sledding?

Bella’s never been sledding, but she does like running around in the snow.  The snow was too deep to run in during last year’s Snowmaggedon, but Bella’s not one to give up that easily.  Although she’s not technically a snow dog (like our pals at FiveSibes or the Thundering Herd), she does like to engage in what I think of as snow swimming:



 
Want to see more pups frolicking in the snow?  Happy to oblige.

The one thing I do enjoy about snow is taking photos of Bella playing in it.  It’s my first winter with my new toy, so we’ll see how they turn out.  In the meantime, if you want to see some cool snow photos (easy pun intended), go check out Romping and Rolling in the Rockies.  (Seriously, KB posts some amazing stuff.)

Does your pup like the snow?  Tell me all about it in the comments!  (And remember, winter’s not always easy on puppy paws – make sure you check out these tips for winterizing your wagging friend.)

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Hug two puppies & call me in the morning

It’s the first No Frown Friday of 2011… time for some fun links to send you into the weekend:

  1. The first punny pet name of the year: Janu-hairy Jones.
  2. Did you attend any New Year’s Eve parties? I doubt anyone was wearing a party hat quite like this dog.
  3. Going back to work after a long weekend sure was tough.  At least I managed to use my computer correctly… unlike these puppies.
  4. “Walking is so overrated,” says puppy in a stroller.

So… the new year is here.  For any issues that arise in the coming months, I think we should consider the following solution:


(NATALIE PORTMAN & RASHIDA JONES Speak Out)

I know… it’s an old one, but it just seemed right today.  After all, this blog’s motto is “Puppies = Serenity Now.”  When all else fails, think of puppies and you’ll be okay.  (If you’re more of a cat person, I’ve got you covered too – check it out.)

Join this week’s Pet Blogger Hop, after the jump…






Have a great weekend!

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So long, farewell…

… to 2010!  It’s the last No Frown Friday of the year.  I’ll make it short and sweet:

  1. I love The Soup, and recently watched this year’s Clipdown.  Thus, I dedicate the final punny pet name of the year to its host.  Joel McHowl, this one’s for you.
  2. Speaking of counting down… check out the 30 most important dogs of 2010.  Genius.
  3. Next up: dogs in kimonos.  No reason.

Finally, I leave you with the final Bella photo of 2010:

Note: streamers were unavailable.  Thank goodness their understudy, ribbon, was willing to step in for this photo shoot.

Happy New Year!

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These are a few of my favorite posts…

and doggies in spacesuits, rescuing puppies and cats that are so cute… the cone of shame and the amusement it brings… these are a few of my favorite things. (I adore The Sound of Music, and it just seemed like a perfect fit today.)  When I saw that Dr. V did a post highlighting her top 10 posts from 2010, I really liked the idea.  Even better, she’s hosting a blog hop for those who want to join the fun.  Time for a blast to the (fairly recent) past!

Dogs eating ice cream and punny pet names, attempting to test my pup’s IQ with a brain game, having a party for Bella to host… these are a few of my favorite posts (in no particular order):

She’s cute, but…
I administered an IQ test to dear Bella… the results were not promising.

Celebrating the cone of shame
The name says it all.  (It was one of my favorite No Frown Friday posts.)

To all the dogs (and cats) I’ve loved before
For my 100th post, I took a stroll down memory lane.

Corgi, P.I.
The very first breed spotlight.

Protecting people and their pets
A post about the Pets and Women’s Shelter Program (and my contribution to October’s Blog the Change).

My favorite flavor? Neopawlitan
The epic battle of Bella vs. ice cream.

Head of the class
Dogs… in… school!

When he jumps high he flies like a wild eagle
One word: Flashbeagle.

Horrible woman does terrible thing, and now I’m angry
In which I got very, very angry at people who leave their dogs in hot cars.

Case of the Mondays?
Try my guaranteed cure.

I tried not to pick any that were too recent… I figured it would be more fun to dig around in the archives.  Did I miss any of your favorites?

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May your days be terrier & bright

Christmas is fast approaching.  As a result, today’s No Frown Friday theme was an easy choice… enjoy some seasonal linkage:

  1. Instead of punny pet names, I’m just going to recommend you name your pet after one of Santa’s reindeer this week.  Why not?
  2. You know I love the Grinch’s dog, so I’m sure you’ll understand how much I love this quartet of real-life Maxes. (The antlers make me smile – Bella better watch out or she’s going to find herself in a reindog photo shoot.)
  3. Interested in doggie decorations? Check out some photos of the First Dog’s decorations.
  4. I’ve also got another Cute Math lesson for you: Santa suits + cute animals =  guaranteed holiday cheer.  These pets prove my point.  Still not convinced?  Your skepticism will melt away after you take a gander at these penguins.  (For bonus points, remember that elves are pretty cute too.)   
  5. Bella sure has been slacking off – apparently other dogs help out by wrapping Christmas presents.

Speaking of helpful dogs, Jesse the Jack Russell takes the cake:



(via The Dog Files)

Have a wonderful weekend – and if you decide to get your pet’s photo taken with Santa, here are some handy tips.  As you know, Bella doesn’t travel well, so no photos with Santa unless he makes a house call.  We’ll just have to live vicariously through you.

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