Tag Archives: wag that tail

Flashback: Head of the Class

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I realized this week that it’s almost the one year anniversary of I Still Want More Puppies.  With that in mind, I thought I’d spend the week sharing some of my favorite posts from the past year.  This post originally appeared on September 17, 2010 (one of the many No Frown Friday installments).  An interesting update related to item #2 below – Yale now has a therapy pup on staff after all.  Guess I was just ahead of the curve.  Hope you enjoy!

Speed Bump
(via Speed Bump)

It’s September… which means school is back in session.  I haven’t been a student in quite some time.  Neither has Ms. Bella.  She did take one obedience course… seven years later, she does sit when asked (most of the time). 

We’ve been lucky – Bella’s a fairly low-maintenance gal who doesn’t get into much trouble.  When we eventually adopt dog number two, we’ll have to be much more diligent! 

If you haven’t already guessed, the topic of today’s No Frown Friday is… school!  Let’s hit the books:

  1. This week’s punny pet names are based on some famous names that chose the School of Life instead of a college degree: Drew Hairymore, Nose-Anne Barr, Roarin’ Beatty, and J.K. Howling.
  2. During college, I often found myself suffering from doggie withdrawal.  Earlier this week, I read that Yale Law School had recognized this epidemic, and offered a solution: if you needed a boost, you could check out Monty the pup for a 30 minute play date.  The circulation listing quoted in that post is so cute it’s out of control.  (A sample… “Subjects: Dogs in libraries; Stress reliever for law students.”)  It turns out that Monty might not have been available, but that’s okay.  A girl can dream.  I would have owed so much in overdue dog fees.
  3. Who needs obedience school? This “” has a college degree!
  4. You may (or may not) remember those great literary punny pet names I shared back in June.  In any event, there’s a second installment – quite a treat!  (Be sure to take the pun-filled quiz… I’m still giggling about Captain A. Lab.)
I’ve pulled today’s video out of the Internet archives, and dusted it off for your amusement.  I remember when I first saw this video last year. It quickly earned a place on my list of favorite things:


Reactions: (1) I would have been so much better at science if it was taught by puppies.  (2) I would like to open a school where all lessons are taught with the help of puppies.  (3)  I’ve already got a foolproof plan for the drama program.

Speaking of smarty pants pups, sometimes well-educated service dogs school others in the Americans with Disabilities Act.  If you want to learn more about the valedictorians of the doggie world – those amazingly smart service dogs – check out Canine Companions for Independence.  CCI spoke at Blog Paws West last weekend, and by all accounts it was amazing!

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April Drools Day

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It’s been one of those weeks… so glad it’s Friday!

  1. This week’s punny pet name: Teri Scratcher.
  2. Okay, you guys know I love the hipster puppies site.  This week, a friend introduced me to a hipster dog with a site all his own.  Cutest hipster ever?  It’s possible.
  3. So, it’s April Fools’ Day.  Are you into it?  Honestly, I’ve never been that excited by this holiday.  I propose we follow Grouchy Puppy’s advice, and change the name.  Who’s in?  
  4. I will say, if all pranks were as cute as this one, perhaps I’d be a bigger fan.  (Also… Frogster. Nice.)
  5. Moving on from this silly day… I really want one of these cool sculptures featured at under the blanket.

Finally, check out this great new product from IKEA:



(via Best Week Ever)

I was forewarned that it was an April Fools’ Day joke… however, still pretty cute and puppy-themed, so I had to share.  Have a wonderful weekend!

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Spring fever

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I had a taste of spring this week.  It’s kind of chilly again now, but at least I know it’s around the corner! 

  1. First up, your punny animal name: Moose Springsteen. (Or Goose Springsteen, if you prefer.)
  2. It’s almost spring – time to spruce up the outside of your home with some new flowers. (Whatever you choose, do your homework to make sure it’s safe for your pets!)  Park Avenue Chihuahua recently posted about an interesting option – a Chihuahua topiary!  Apparently if you’d like to decorate your yard with botanical canines, there are a lot of options out there.  Check out these Bowzai shrubs, for example.
  3. After a little more digging (wordplay!), I found some other puppy plants out there.  At least one site, GI Designs, seems to offer a variety of pet topiaries.  (You can find the selection here.) These things look a bit like Chia pets on steroids.  Honestly though, I do think this little terrier topiary is a bit charming.  Okay, okay… I’m rethinking my stance here, and may now really want one.
  4. In any event, these topiaries pale in comparison to the giant Puppy created by artist Jeff Koons.  For more information on Puppy and his world travels, check out this slideshow.
  5. You’ve probably already guessed that I have springtime on the brain.  Accordingly, I really enjoyed this list of the best places to see millions of spring flowers.
  6. On an unrelated note, you know how much I love the cone of shame.  So I have to advise you to enjoy these photos of 20 dogs wearing the cone of shame.  (Maybe we could say that the cones remind me of flowers?  Sure, let’s go with that.)

Finally, today’s video offering showcases a puppy discovering the wonders of spring:

Oops… wrong kind of spring.

Anyway, before I go, I’d also like to send a big thank you to All Things Dog Blog for honoring us with the Stylish Blogger Award.  Go visit and say hi!

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Best post ever?

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I have so much for you today that I won’t waste your time with an intro… on to the cute!

  1. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, this week’s punny pet names:  Peter O’Drool and Conan O’ Grrrrr-ien.
  2. So how did you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day yesterday?  Was it as cute as this celebration at the zoo?
  3. I love March Madness. (Go George Mason!)  What better way to celebrate its arrival than by combining basketball and adorable animals? 
  4. Not into basketball?  That’s okay – Jezebel is running a Cats vs. Dogs bracket!  Yesterday, the Cheshire Cat triumphed over the Cat in the Hat, while the Pit Bull pulled off an upset over the Chihuahua.  Go check it out, and then keep an eye out for the next voting period!
  5. I don’t want to overplay my hand here, but I seriously think that this collection of 50 photos of Basset Hounds running might be one of the best things ever.  (Bonus installment: Basset Hounds having a Chariots of Fire moment on the beach.  Bonus bonus installment:  After I wrote that sentence, I searched and discovered that someone made a video of a Basset Hound running with a Chariots of Fire soundtrack.  It’s a good day.)

In conclusion, I want to croon the lyrics to Eternal Flame to the following video so that it knows how much I love it. Video, you complete me.

(via Jezebel)

This post is filled with so many best things ever that I don’t even know how to process it all.  So I’m going to go look at puppies and puppy products instead.  Happy Friday!

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Happy happy joy joy!

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I’m so happy it’s Friday – life has just been too busy lately!  I plan to spend some time this weekend catching on the blogging world.  Right now, however, it’s time for your weekly dose of Friday randomness (extra random this week, in fact):

  1. This week’s punny pet names are inspired by the deep thoughts Bella plagiarized from an old Saved by the Bell episode (by now, you may have realized that I’m a tad obsessed):  Zack Roarris and Kelly Ka-meowski.  I’ll leave it to you, dear reader, to come up with a good pun for A.C. Slater and Jessie Spano.  No changes needed to Lisa Turtle or Screech Powers!
  2. Ah, the television of my youth.  I’m sure by now you’ve figured out I’m quite nostalgic on that front.  So you can imagine my excitement when I read that TeenNick has dusted off some classic shows from the 90s and will be re-airing them.  Life was always so much better when Clarissa explained it all.  However, one complaint – where’s Hey Dude?
  3. Putting nostalgia aside for a moment, let’s enjoy some cute!  Check out these adorable maned wolf pups at the Houston Zoo.
  4. Feel like doing some baking this weekend?  Try to do better than the decorators who created these animal-themed cake wrecks.  If you need to cleanse your palate after the wreckage, I recommend checking out these amazing Dr. Seuss-themed cakes.  I want.
  5. Does your dog wish he was a fashion plate?  If so, these photos of 20 dogs (plus one kitten) wearing bow ties will help your dog navigate the tricky world of canine couture.  (I adore these photo collections from Doggie Stylish – Bella even made a cameo in one of them!)

Okay, apparently I had more linkage for you today than I realized.  It’s not over yet.  I hope you can handle one more dose of Nickelodeon randomness from the 90s…

I am amazed that I was able to easily find a video combining puppies and the scattered nostalgia of today’s post.  The Internet really does have everything.  Happy weekend!

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And the award goes to…

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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…

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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…

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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

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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

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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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