Animal Planet - Pet Trends blog

Puppy Games 2008!

We've been waiting for this event all year!  No, not the Summer Olympics ... Puppy Games 2008!  If you love Puppy Bowl, you're going to love Puppy Games!  From goalie Westies to swimming Labs, puppies from across the globe have gathered in our Nation's capital to ruff and wag their way to victory.  Will the Boston Terrier or Chesapeake Bay Retriever have the home field advantage or will those breeds from across the pond shake up the competition?  There's only one way to find out and that's to watch Puppy Games '08 tonight beginning at 6PM e/p! 

Check out these cool features while you wait for the puppy action to start:

Meet the Puppy Players

Play in your own Puppy Game

Top 5 Gold Medal Dogs

Watch a sneak peek

Loved Dogs

So you heard the news.  I'm one of the judges on the pet talent search on Fox's The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet.  One of my fellow judges is Doggie Life Coach (as she prefers to be called) Tamar Geller.  She trains the pooches of Hollywood's glitterati including Nicollette Sheridan and Orlando Bloom. 

We had such a blast gabbing backstage and she said something interesting that I wanted to share with you.  She said "People think dogs will do whatever pleases their owners.  But, that's not true.  They will do whatever pleases themselves." This means that dogs will do what feels good to them, so keep that in mind when trying to get your pooch to fetch, sit or stay.  Make them want to do it. 

She also told me about her Loved World Foundation.  She brings shelter dogs into prisons and they live one-on-one with the prisoners.  She teaches using her "Loved Dog" non-aggressive method. 

The dogs then become certified as "Loved Dogs" and are available for adoption.  When the prisoners have served their time, they have the opportunity to continue their work training dogs at her foundation.  I always knew dogs had the power to change people's lives! 

This is one cool chick!

Tune In

One of my favorite morning shows, The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet has asked me to be on a panel of judges for their Pet talent show which will air throughout the month of May!  It's going to be like American Idol for the pet set.  People all across the country are sending in videos of their pets performing talents ranging from skateboarding to playing poker.  Tune in or set your DVRs and Tivos.  The fun begins tomorrow at 9 AM in New York or check your local Fox listings to see when the show airs in your area!

Perez Hilton ... Queen of All Media and Dog Lover!

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know all about Perez Hilton.  His blog gets millions of hits a day from folks eager to hear the latest celebrity gossip and his show on Vh-1, What Perez Sez features Perez hanging out with - and dishing on - his favorite Hollywood friends.  He's now my new friend and I couldn't wait to ask him all about celebrity pet lovers and his new dog, Teddy. 

How did Teddy come into your life?
Teddy came into my life thanks to the internet.  I typed into Google three keywords: small, cute and smart. Mini-Goldendoodles (a mix of a Golden Retriever and Poodle) were the first to come up. 

I had never heard of that type of dog before so I was a bit confused. My family has a dog named Coquito, who I love.  He's an older Maltese, but I really wanted a smart dog.   So I did a little more research on Goldendoodles and then I found a breeder that specializes in them.  So I drove really far to pick him up and when I picked him up, I was instantly drawn to him.  On the drive back, he barfed on my lap and it was love at first site.

Does Teddy look like a celebrity? 
Teddy has so many fans, that I think he looks a little like Benji, that famous dog from back in the day, but much cuter.  He's like a little teddy bear, that's why I named him Teddy.

Have you always been a pet lover?
I have always loved animals, though I'm really allergic to cats.  I start crying and sneezing and sniffling.  It's just not pretty.  Thankfully, Teddy doesn't shed and it's a perfect match.

Do you have celebrity playdates with other dog lovin' celebs? 
Yes, Teddy has had a playdate with Emmy Rossum's doggies.  My friend Ross Matthews (from The Tonight Show) has a doggie and we are setting up a playdate soon. 

What do you think about Paris' recent troubles with having all those dogs?
I think it's a little excessive to have more dogs than you can take care of yourself.  If you can't take care of 6 or 10 dogs alone, you shouldn't have that many.

Who is your favorite celebrity dog lover? Ellen Degeneres

If Teddy could talk, what would he say? "I love my daddy."

What is your favorite Pet Trend?
My favorite pet trend is getting dogs neutered.  My vet says it's healthy for them and it helps keep the animal population in control.

Do you travel with Teddy?  If so, what are your tips for traveling in style?
I haven't yet traveled with Teddy, because he's not 100% trained yet, so as soon as he's done with that, he'll be able to travel with me.

What are your favorite doggie grooming products and stores?
Well, Teddy is really spoiled and he gets so many things from different locations.  He loves his toys and outfits.  Some of the recent places he's gotten great goodies from include House of Dog which is located in California.  Also from My Sassy Dog in Canada and organic treats from Kaylee Kakes. 

How do you pamper Teddy?
I love giving Teddy massages and I love giving him new toys. He loves his toys.  He's got so many toys!

What is your favorite thing to do with Teddy?
My favorite thing to do with Teddy is just to cuddle with him.

What would Teddy say about you?
Teddy would say that I'm a very loving parent and that he's really lucky to have me as a father.

After our interview, I wanted to thank Perez for chatting with me, so I sent Teddy this Hollywood Stretch Limo Pet Bed from Trixie + Peanut.  How perfect for a dog like Teddy!

Photo Credit: Ryan Born/Contributor/Getty Images

Tune-In Tonight!

Curious about the yoga trend, DOGA??  Yes, that's yoga for you and your dog!  Well, join me tonight at 11:35 pm on ABC Nightline News tonight to learn all about it! 

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make me a Match!

While at the expo, I got to spend some time with Jarod and Dina -- hosts of Animal Planet's new matchmaker pet series, Petfinder.  You should totally check out the show!  These two know what they are talking about and are total Yentas of the pet world!  Petfinder airs on Saturdays at 9 PM e/p.  And if you're interested in adopting your own pet, take this fantastic Pet Picker quiz and then visit Petfinder.com to search for pets in your area.

P.S.  Special thanks to the San Diego County Animal Services for bringing the adorable Julep and handsome Hollywood to visit with us!

Tune In!

Dixie and I headed to Times Square yesterday to the Good Morning America studios to reveal our favorite finds from the Pet Expo.  You can see us getting interviewed by clicking here! 

We got gussied up and Dixie had fun sporting her new gold lame and pearl hat from Monkey Daze canine couture.  Special thanks to our friend and Executive Producer Jessica Guff, a.k.a. the proud mom of her Chihuahua, "Snoop", as in "Doggy Dog."

Behind the scenes, Dixie was barking up a storm at Oliver, the dog of Anchor Heidi Jones.  Guess she wasn't used to sharing the spotlight.

Celebrity Pets Score at the Oscars

The days leading up to the Oscars are filled with swag parties for Hollywood's favorite celebrities and I got the dish on some of the pet swag that was scooped up by pet-loving stars.  Check it out!

Goodies for pampered celebrity pooches and kitties included:

Products from John Paul Pet:
Everyone who has ever been to a salon has surely used or seen Paul Mitchell hair products by John Paul DeJoria.  Now, John Paul has combined his love for hair and pets to create these salon-quality grooming products.   With products like Tea Tree Treatment and Oatmeal Shampoo, your pooch will be primped, polished and ready for her close-up.

T-shirts from Happy Go Lucky Dogs:
You'll be seeing all of the pet stars in these duds pretty soon.  T-shirts with personality!  My favorites include the "I *heart* Bitches" hoodie and of course, this Low-Rider tee made especially for Doxies!

Clothing from K9 Duds:
Finally, some pet wear with attitude!  K9Duds is what all the hip pups are wearing.  As described on their website, "With a powerful mixture of rock-infused fashion, and an attitude of the London street punk scene, K9 DUDS is reinventing dog clothing from the underground up."  Celebrities from Vanessa Hudgens to Gossip Girl's Chase Crawford are getting in on this street trend. 

And now, for the Oscar Doggie ... er, Goodie Bags!

Last night, the nominees who didn't pick up their own golden statue, were comforted by jaw-dropping goodie bags.  Inside those bags were solid Swarovski crystal dog collars with matching crystal bracelets for the celebs from Pick of the Glitter Pet Jewelry®.  Sound pricey?  It is! I’m talking a $600 value!

The lucky A-listers taking home this bling-bling for themselves and their dogs include Cate Blanchette, Laura Linney, George Clooney, Ellen Page and more.  Glitter Pet Jewelry also generated major buzz by making a cameo at the Grammy Awards.

Finally, you know my favorite tabloid pictures are of celebrities with their pets.  Now your own dog can dress like a celeb and rock the latest red-carpet fashions with pet designs by Little Lily.  This canine couture label is a favorite of Tori Spelling and they design pet dresses inspired by the latest styles seen on the red-carpet.  For example, this little white number was inspired by doggie lover Katherine Heigl's white Zac Posen gown from this year's Emmy awards.

Edited to Add: Little Lily has just updated their site with doggie fashions from the Oscars!  I knew Jessica Alba's dress was a Do ... and now your pampered pooch can be a Do too! 

Oscar Fashion

Some of my favorite animal-loving celebrities were on the red carpet last night at the 80th annual Academy Awards and as always, Dixie and I have our own opinions about the fashions.

Fashion Do's:

Jessica Alba is going to have another baby, but this time of the human variety -- she already has two pugs named Sid and Nancy.  Her purple frock was regal and dramatic.  Perfect for Oscar night.

Kristen Chenoweth, who performed her heart out, walked the red carpet in a tulle black strapless gown that hugged her curves, making that black dress anything but basic.  Her small white dog, Maddie (named for Madeline Kahn), was no doubt watching her loyally from home.  Maddie has even walked the runway during fashion week with Chenoweth.  That’s a fashionable dog for a fashionable star!

And we can't forget the Master of Ceremonies, Jon Stewart, who looked dashing in a classic tux.  Stewart is a well-known animal lover with a cat named Stan, two dogs: Shamsky and Monkey (both pitbulls), plus a variety of "aquatic animals".

Finally, Dixie's Fashion Faux Paw Award goes to Tilda Swinton.  Her bizarre one-armed dress had both Dixie and I shaking our heads.  It's a good thing she had a humorous acceptance speech!

Up next, I've done some digging and found out exactly what's in those Oscar goodie bags for pets!  We all know it’s good to be a celebrity, but it's awesome to be a celebrity's pet too!

Photo Credit:  Kevin Mazur/WireImage, Vince Bucci/Getty Images, Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images