Edie is a 16-month old white boxer/labrador retriever who began training in the assistant dog program at Circle Tail, Inc. as a puppy. After completing her year of training, Edie’s friendly and outgoing personality was much better suited to the hospitality industry, where she meets new people every day.

In her position as Canine Ambassador at the Fairmont Pittsburgh, Edie accompanies guests on walks throughout the city, greets guests, visits meeting breaks upon request and attends community events. She welcomes guests in the lobby and helps those who miss canine companionship when traveling feel more at home.

Edie is at work five days a week near the concierge desk in the main lobby, where she relaxes on her cozy bed when not working with guests. The concierge maintains an appointment book where guests can schedule walks with her. When guests take Edie for a walk around the city, they receive a walking brochure that highlights her favorite walks, as well as a list of her commands and a homemade biscuit for a walk well done upon her return.

Edie even has her own e-mail address, and guests are encouraged write to her.

Fun Facts About Edie

• Edie was born in March 2010, the same month that Fairmont Pittsburgh opened its doors!
• Edie's name was inspired by Pittsburgh native Andy Warhol and his “superstar” Edie Sedgwick.
• Edie has a bent tail. When she was a puppy, Edie was hit by a car and was very sick before being rescued by the nice people at Circle Tail. Her tail healed like that, but it doesn't hurt and certainly can wag a lot!
• Fairmont Pittsburgh is a pet-friendly hotel. Edie would love to meet your four-legged friends!

Would your dog make a good canine ambassador?

Read more about Pet Friendly Hotels on our blog.

Every pet owner gets worried about their dog's health - that's par for the course. But how do you know when your dog needs to be rushed to the emergency veterinarian right away, regardless of the time of day or night, and when seeing the vet can wait?

Here are the top 10 most common doggie emergencies in an animal ER. If your dog is exhibiting these symptoms, you should immediately bring him or her into the vet.

1. Your dog has difficulty breathing and is wheezing, chocking, breathing weakly or is in respiratory arrest.

2. Your dog suffers a seizure, including uncontrollable shaking, loss of consciousness, paddling with his or her legs and loss of bowel control.

3. Your dog has a neurological problem, often manifested in disorientation, unresponsiveness, severe leathery or a coma.

4. Your dog sustains a form of trauma, such as a fall, gunshot wound, is hit by a car or is in a fight with another dog.

5. Your dog is exposed to a poison, suspected poison or an unknown toxic exposure.

6. Your dog experiences problems or pain while urinating, has blood in their urine or is not producing urine.

7. Your dog experiences vision problems (including squinting, redness, swelling, or is pawing at their eye in discomfort) or has a foreign object caught in their eye.

8. Your dog has a distended abdomen or is experiencing abdominal pain.

9. Your dog is vomiting or experiences diarrhea for more than 24 hours.

10. Your dog goes into labor and more than 4 hours have passed without puppies, or more than two hours elapse between puppies. If you are inexperienced at delivering puppies, you should call your veterinarian regardless.

Be sure you have your vet's as well as your local emergency vet clinic's contact information readily accessible in your home or cell phone, as emergencies happen when you least expect them.

Ever wonder why you might see so many of one type of dog in your city? Well, the numbers are in and here are the most popular dog breeds in eight major American cities:

Atlanta - Labrador Retriever
Chicago - German Shepard
St. Louis - Labrador Retriever
Honolulu - Chihuahua
Los Angeles - Bulldog
Miami - German Shepard
New York City - Yorkshire Terrier
Seattle - Labrador Retriever

According to the American Kennel Club, the most popular breed in America is the Labrador Retriever, with the German Shepard claiming the number two spot.

(Results taken from the "New York Times Magazine" on May 6, 2012.)

Billy the Bassett is a 12 year old hound who lives with his owner John S. in New York City. Billy's favourite past time is sleeping on the sunny steps of John's apartment and watching the people go by. His favourite treat is anything with peanut butter.

John was given Billy when he was 6 years old and Billy's own could no longer take care of him. At first John wasn't sure about having a dog in the city, but with a walk around the neighbourhood every day, Billy adjusted just fine. Now, he knows everyone on his daily stroll, and they know to save a peanut butter treat just for him!

The Puli is a unique ancient breed originating from Hungary. These dogs originally worked as sheepherders in their homeland.  Sheppard’s took a liking to this breed due to their light and agile movements, and found it easy to spot their black coat among the light colored flock. These wild haired Hungarian hounds, were once in danger of extinction. During the Second World War, the breed’s population dropped to two figures.  Dedicated breeders from around the world took the situation into their own hands, and began a controlled breeding program in order to help save the breed.

The Puli is a loyal, cheerful and lively companion. They have no problem adapting to new surroundings or circumstances and rarely ever show aggression. However, if they feel their owner’s safety is being threatened, they will let out a vocal warning. Pulis are not ideal for families with small children; they don’t like rough play or being teased. 

This breed is highly intelligent and tends to learn quickly. They excel in obedience and agility, tending to do fairly well in the show dog ring. These dogs need a pack leader, or someone to guide the way. If they feel their owner is not strong minded, they will begin to follow their own rules. Pulis enjoy having a playmate, whether it’s with their owner or another pooch. They love having a companion to play ball or roam around with.

This breed requires a daily walk and, if provided, they can live comfortably in an apartment.  They’re one of the few breeds that can easily adapt from living in a studio apartment to wide-open farmland.  Climate is also not an issue for these pups; they can live in the hot Californian heat or cold Alaskan winters.

The breed’s unique corded coat doesn’t begin to form until the age of six months. During this stage, it’s crucial to regularly separate the dog’s matted fur.  The clumps should be evenly separated by hand, starting from the tip and ending at the skin. Each section should be thicker than the width of a pencil.  This process provides great bonding time between dog and owner, and is relaxing for the pet as well.

If the coat is separated regularly, grooming is fairly easy and requires little up keep.  Bathing the Puli is no different than your average dog, however drying their fur requires more time. The best way to dry the fur is with a blow dryer, which can take up to several hours. If no dryer is available you can let it air dry, but it may take up to two days before the coat is completely dry.  Since the Puli’s coat doesn’t shed, many who are typically allergic to animals show no problems.

Although there are no major health problems associated with these dogs, many Puli breeders check their litters for hip dysplasia.  The average life expectancy of a Puli is 12 years.

Male Puli

Height: 16 to 17½ inches (41-46 cm.)   Weight: 25-35 pounds (11-16 kg.)

Female Puli

Height: 14½ to 16 inches (36-41 cm)   Weight: 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg.)

If you’d like to add one of these wild haired Hungarian pups to your home, the Puli American Club of America is the perfect place to start your search.

Photo credit: puppypunny.blogspot.ca

There are more than 2,000 kinds of fleas and at least 850 different types of ticks, but it only takes one of these pests to create serious health problems. Although it’s common for pets to get fleas and ticks, many owners are unaware of how their pets contracted them and what problems they can cause.

How Pets Get Fleas and Ticks

The most common way household pets contract fleas is by being in contact or traveling in the same area as another flea-infested animal. When a female flea lays eggs they usually fall off the animal and onto the ground. The egg later develops into an adult flea, which will then have the ability to jump onto your pet.

Generally dogs get ticks from travelling through the woods or high grass areas. Ticks crawl into low shrubs and tall grass waiting for a warm body to travel by. Once the tick finds its ideal travel mate, it will leave its hiding place and attach-itself to the dog’s fur.

Illnesses

When fleas feed off dogs they inject salvia into their skin. This salvia often contains allergenic, which is what causes dogs to scratch and itch. The most common problems associated with fleas is dermatitis.

If the flea infestation is heavy, dogs, especially puppies can become anemic.  This can cause further complications and in some cases death. Fleas have also been linked to transmitting tapeworms to pets.

They are at least a dozen tick –transmitted diseases that can affect dogs, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tularemia. If not properly treated they can result in death. 

Protecting Your Yard Against Fleas and Ticks

Since fleas and ticks are sensitive to sunlight and humidity, they like to live under shrubs, bushes, porches and other shady protected areas. By keeping grass short, and trimming bushes and shrubs in your yard you can help eliminate the insects nesting area.

Although protecting your lawn against fleas and ticks can help decrease the chances of your pet coming into contact with these pests, It’s best to visit your vet for a once a month flea and tick medication.

Earlier this week, three furry heroes with extraordinary stories were inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame. 

No Sleep for Bree

Bree, a two-year-old dachshund had a strange and somewhat annoying habit of waking up her owner, Michele Gilks, in the middle of the night. Last September, just three days before her 50th birthday Michele learned the real reason behind Bree’s rude awakenings.

That night Bree tried desperately to wake up her owner. She licked her owner’s face, stood on her chest and even stuck her snout into her mouth.  When Michele finally awoke she realized she hadn’t been breathing. After visiting the hospital she learned that she suffers from a sever case of sleep apnea. If Bree hadn’t have woken her up that night, she could have died in her sleep. 

Titian, The Veteran Police Dog 

This summer veteran police dog Titian will be retiring on a high note. When police services in Halton, Ontario, Canada were unable to find a suicidal victim, they let Titian lead the way.  The German Sheppard discovered the body of the girl drifting down the river, and than helped rescue her body from the river. 

Nanook, the Serbian Alarm Clock

Last May Colleen Kilby, thought it was a little strange that her Siberian husky cross, Nanook was following her around all day.  At 3 am the next morning Collen was woken by Nanook, and realized that she was having a heart attack. Nanook’s intuition that something was wrong that day were right on- if it weren’t for her, Colleen would have experience the heart attack in her sleep.

Photo credit: torontosun.com

The Akita is native to the island of Honshu in the region of Akita, Japan.  The breed is among one of the seven dogs Japan designated as a national treasure and is considered the national dog of Japan. They are hard working dogs, and have served in the police force, military and as a guard dog for the Japanese government. The Akita is a determined hunter and can hunt in a variety of environments, including water.  Bears and dears are their main prey.

There are two different breeds of Akitas. Although they have fairly similar origins the Japanese Akita and American Akita are considered two different breeds. It is actually quite rare to see a Japanese Akita out of its native country. Deaf and blind American author, Hellen Keller, was the first to bring an Akita into the United States. When the dog was given to her as a gift during her trip to the Akita Prefecture in Japan.

Akitas are fearless, courageous and intelligent animals. They’re extremely loyal to their families and play well with children. In fact, Japanese mothers would often leave their children in the dog’s care.  However, due to the breed’s known tendency to not accept children and pets from outside the family it’s best to keep an eye on them while playing with others.

These dogs thrive from firm leadership, they must be trained as a puppy that humans rank higher in the pack than they do. If the dog begins to think they’re pack leader they can become possessive of food and objects. Obedience training can take time with these pups, as they have a short attention span.

To stay in shape, the Akita must be taken on long daily walks or be provided with a large yard to run in. If properly exercised, they can even live happily in a fair sized apartment.

The Akita’s coat is short, coarse, and stiff, and requires grooming with a firm bristle brush once a week. The coat should only be washed when necessary, as bathing removes the dog’s natural waterproof coating.  They shed heavily twice a year.

A few health problems these dogs are prone to include hip dysplasia, thyroid problems, and immune diseases such like Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome (VKH) and skin problems including Sebaceous Adenitis (SA). This breed also has many knee complications. Akitas have an average life expectancy of 10 -12 years.

Male Akita

Height: 26-28 inches (66-71 cm)    Weight: 75-120 pounds (34-54 kg)

Female Akita

Height: 24-26 inches (61-66 cm)     Weight:  75-110 pounds (34-50 kg)

If an Akita seems like the perfect pet for you, the Akita Club of America is the perfect place to start your search.

Having a healthy coat starts with a healthy pet. Developing a regular grooming schedule is a great step towards maintaining your pet’s skin and coat health. To ensure your dog is fit as a fiddle, you need to be able to spot the differences between a healthy and unhealthy coat.

A Healthy Coat

A healthy coat is soft, smooth, even and shiny but not greasy. Although there will be some odor, it shouldn’t be overpowering.

An Unhealthy Coat

The hair of an unhealthy coat will be dry, brittle and loose. The coat may have a greasy or dusty appearance, and in extreme cases bald spots. The fur may also have an unpleasant oily odor.  To properly take care of your dog’s coat you need to ensure you are keeping up with his/her care.

Brushing

Brushing your dog regularly is extremely important to maintaining a healthy coat. Using the proper style of brush for your dog’s coat will help make the process a little easier. As the texture of the coat differs between each area, two different styles of brushes are required: one with wide spaced teeth for the coats outer layer and another with fine spaces for combing and brushing the face.

Longhaired breeds such as Collies, Pomeranians and Irish setters need to be brushed at least twice a week. Breeds, which have a thicker undercoat or are prone to shedding, should be brushed once a week. Even though shorthaired dogs don’t shed regularly, a regular brushing can help remove loose hair. 

Bathing

Although bathing helps to remove build up of bacteria and oil on your dog’s fur, you need to be careful not wash your pet too often. Over bathing can lead to dry skin and irritation. On average, a dog’s coat should only be washed once a month.

When bathing your dog, use products which have been specifically designed for canines.  Human hair products are harsh and will leave your dog’s skin and hair dry and damaged.

Nutrition

As the hair particle is mostly constructed from protein, nutrition plays a big role in the coat’s development. Foods, which are high in essential fatty acids help contribute to a healthy shiny coat. Most commercial dog foods are enriched with nutrience and fatty acids to maintain a healthy coat. Omega-6 is another vitamin essential to keeping the dog’s coat nice and shiny. Adding one teaspoon of sunflower or safflower oil to a small dog’s meal can help give your dog an extra dose of Omega-6. For larger dogs add one tablespoon.

As each dog is different, we recommend speaking with your veterinarian about your dog’s specific grooming and dietary needs.

The pampered pooches from our weekly contest draw in May 2012. Tell us about your dog and you could win a $50 gift card to spend on your favorite dog books and movies through Amazon.com. Two winners will be selected each week. Be sure to enter our contest and you could be our next winner!

Sophi, Angela C’s Great Dane from North Fort Myers, FL. Sophie loves to eat Beefeaters Chicken Fillets while watching her favorite movie “The Ugly Dachshund.”

Ajax, Ashley H’s German Shepherd from Charleston, SC. Ajax’s favorite movie is “The Adventures of Tin Tin.”

 Roxie, Laurie S’s Chihuahua mix from Sportswood, NJ.  Roxie’s favorite movie is “Lady and The Tramp.”

Buddy, Darren L’s Black Lab from The Woodlands, TX. Buddy loves to chew on rawhide while watching the movie “White Fang.”

Tina H  from Sarasota, FL, and her Teacup Chihuahua, Buckeye, who loves to eat Chicken Jerky while watching his favourite movie "Hop."    

Stephanie R from Eatonville, FL, and her Black Mouth Cur, Lola Bear. Lola's favourite movie is "Old Yeller" and she loves her Rawhide Chews!
 

When Basil was born, he was your average German Sheppard pup. It wasn’t until Basil’s owner, Brent, switched him to solid food that he became to see a problem and noticed that the puppy wasn’t able to keep it down.

Brent soon learned that his dog had megasohogus, a birth defect, which blocks food from reaching the stomach. In this case, one of Basil’s blood vessels were pinching his esophagus. Due to the small opening, Basil could only be fed a liquid diet, and even then he still posed a risk of choking.

The local vets provided Brent with two options: one, put Basil under risky open-heart surgery, and the other, euthanasia. After hearing the undesirable odds, Brent continued to search for more options.

That’s when he came across the University of Pennsylvania Ryan Veterinary Hospital and their new surgical suite. After examination, Jeffery Runge a lecturer of surgery at Penn Sate University, thought that Basil would be a good candidate to be one of the suites’ first patients.

By opening the dog’s aortic arch, and reattaching it to its proper place, the surgeons were able to reverse Basil’s fatal genetic condition. Now just six months after the surgery, Basil is healthy, eating well and gradually gaining weight and Brent is thrilled to have his new best friend back.

For more information on Basil’s surgery please visit the University of Pennsylvania’s website.

Photo credit: upenn.edu

Our May Promotion starts tomorrow! Use the exclusive facebook code to save 15% off your treats from beefeaters.com until May 15th - that's on top of our free shipping with orders over $60! Be sure to spread the woof and tell all your canine loving friends.

April showers bring May flowers! Expect to see a lot of great new talent competing in this month's shows. Here is our list of the top ten dog shows to see in May.

Utah Valley Kennel Club
South Jordan, UT
May 4, 2012
Salt Lake County Equestrian Park

Gavilan Kennel Club
Tres Pinos, CA
May 6, 2012
Bolado Park

Columbus Kennel Club
Perry, GA
May 10, 2012
Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter

Indianhead Kennel Club
Eau Claire, WI
May 13, 2012
Eau Claire County Fair Grounds
 

Jackson Tennessee Dog Fanciers Association
Jackson, TN
May 17, 2012
Jackson Fairgrounds Park

Durango Kennel Club
Cortez, CO
May 18, 2012
Montezuma County Fairgrounds

Kokomo Kennel Club
Greentown, IN
May 19, 2012
Howard County Greentown 4-H Fairgrounds

Mt.Baker Kennel Club, Inc
Lynden, WA
May 20, 2012
Northwest Washington Fairgrounds

Classic Toy Dog Club of Western Massachusetts
Fitchburg, MA
May 25, 2012
Wallace Civic Center

Tanana Valley Kennel Club
Fairbanks, AK
May 28, 2012
Tanana Valley Fairgrounds

The pampered pooches from our weekly contest draw in April 2012. Tell us about your dog and you could win a $50 gift card to spend on your favorite dog books and movies through Amazon.com. Two winners will be selected each week. Be sure to enter our contest and you could be our next winner!


Patricia B’s Shih Tsu, Annie, from Inverness, FL. Her favorite movie is “Old Yeller”

Juno, Theresa's, Husky from Holly. Juno’s favorite movie is “The Lorax”.

Luca, Albert I’s Poodle from Jupiter, FL. Luca’s favorite movie is “Turner & Hooch”

Karen, Crystal’s Border Collie mix from Veneta, OR. Their favorite movie is “ The Dogs of Bedlam Farm".

Jazzmyne, Shannon C’s, Akita, from Helena, AL. Jazzmyne’s favorite movie is “Homeward Bound”.

Daisy, Celeste D’s Golden Retriever, from Camillus, NY. Daisy’s favorite movie is “Air Bud”.

Chewy, Dayna T’s Chihuahua/ Toy Fox Terrier from Cleveland, OH. Chewy’s favorite movie is “Homeward Bound”.

Yoshi, Brigitte W’s Shih Tzu from Saint Louise, MO. Yoshi loves to chew on Beefeaters Beef Stix while watching “Marley and Me”.

For centuries, the Bichon Frise has been the loyal companion of many different owners. While traveling from one continent to another, Spanish Sailors would use the Bichon as a way to greet and barter with the people they would meet. The breed was the ideal travel companion as it’s small, eats relatively little and poses no threat of jumping overboard.  During the 16th century the Bichon became a favorite of the French royal courts. By the 19th century the breed became a popular pet of shop owners. Due to their competitive and obedient nature, Bichons would also work as circus performers.

These white fluffy dogs have an independent, happy and affectionate personality. Their sociable attitude allows them to get along well with other animals and people. Bichons often struggle with being left alone for long periods at a time and are happiest when in the company of a family.

Bichons are naturally competitive and obedient however, like most small breeds they can be difficult to housebreak. Due to their independent personality, Bichons need an owner who is a pack leader: one that shows dominance, self-assurance and sets rules. If the dog begins to think that they are pack leader, behavioral problems can arise.  These behaviors include guarding, separation anxiety, barking, snapping and biting.

This breed is highly energetic and requires a daily walk. Much of the dog’s energy can be released through indoor or outdoor play.  These dogs love to roam off leash through open areas. Despite being very active, they can live in an apartment comfortably. 

These dogs require more grooming than the average canine. Bichons must be groomed frequently and bathed once a month. Only the body should be groomed with electric clippers, and the rest of the dog must be done with scissors. Due to the breed’s specific grooming requirements, it’s best to visit a professional groomer once a month. As they shed little to no hair, Bichons are ideal for those who suffer from allergies.

Bichons are prone to watery eyes, cataracts, skin and ear ailments, as well as epilepsy and dislocated kneecaps. They are also highly sensitive to fleabites.  The average life expectancy of a Bichon Frise is 15 or more years.

Male and Female Bichon Frise

Height: 9- 12 inches  (23 -30 cm)
Weight: 7-12 pounds (3-5 kg.)

If you’re thinking of adding a Bichon Frise to your family, The Bichon Club of America is the perfect place to start your search.