Wag Reflex

Riverdance Dog

Mini is very talented. Sure, her owners probably spend a fortune on floor refinishing, but it's too cute to make her stop.

Via Buzzfeed.

--Spanno

Kung Fu Corgi

Cricket the Kung Fu Corgi is definitely ready for Halloween. If this isn't a cheap Disney cartoon yet, it soon will be.

Get your pup ready for Halloween with these dog costumes.

--Spanno

Dog Whisperer Magazine Launching Next Week

A new cult-of-personality magazine will launch next week featuring the affable Cesar Millan, called Cesar's Way. If you love Cesar Millan, you'll probably love this magazine. If you hate Cesar Millan, you can go back to reading O, Every Day with Rachael Ray, or back issues of Rosie and George.

Articles in the first spectacular issue will include "Can Your Dog Fix Your Marriage?" by dog and relationship expert Jada Pinkett Smith and "7-Day Doggie Detox", which will create a spike in veterinarian visits. You'll also find out what Sandra Lee is "cooking" for her dog. My guess? Something from a can.

Read more about the magazine at WSJ.com.

--Spanno

Kitten Mittens

Does your cat make too much noise? Try Kitten Mittens!

Ok, it's not a real product--it's a really funny promo for the upcoming season of one of my favorite shows, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

--Spanno

The Ultimate Tailgating Dog

If you love football tailgates and want your dog to participate with dignity you can find some cool college-theme gear here. If you love football and want to completely embarrass your dog, you can do this:

Photo courtesy of jessicaemily01's photostream.

--Spanno

Keyboard Dog Ups the Ante for Keyboard Animals

Words cannot express the level of talent this dog possesses. Mad keyboard skills? Check. Singing skills? In aces. Eat your heart out, keyboard cat.

--Spanno

To Boldly Wear What No Dog Wants to Wear

This has to be the most awkward costume I've ever seen on a dog. And I've seen a lot of crazy costumes. The Bud Light can nacelles are a nice touch.

Photo from popurls.com.

Sadly, Amazon.com doesn't have this particular costume but they do have a very broad selection of canine Halloween costumes.

--Spanno

Wag Reflex Going on Hiatus

After one year of news, photos, and veterinary information, this is Wag Reflex's final regular post. We hope to get back to a daily schedule in the near future, but, for now, we're going to focus our efforts on making Amazon.com's Pet Supplies Store (http://www.amazon.com/pets) the best online shopping spot for pet lovers.

I'd like to thank all of our readers, from the daily waggers to those who only stopped by every now and again. I'd also like to thank our content contributors, without whom this blog would have been pretty sparse.

On the bright side, Wag Reflex will still be available as a valuable reference tool. We have accumulated hundreds of informative posts from our knowledgeable vets.

Keep on wagging.

--Spanno

Space Games Make Dogs Safer

In My Smart Puppy we teach Space Games. These are games you play with your dog that teach him or her what to do in certain situations. In "Mine!" you teach your dog that when a human being gets near something, you back off, sit and something wonderful will happen. Here is a perfect example of why this is such a darn good game to play:

"My husband and I had a moment of miscommunication-I thought he was keeping our son upstairs. He thought I wanted him downstairs. He brought him down and set him in the LR by his toys. I was making coffee and got Lily's food ready not realizing he was there.

I set her bowl down and released her to eat. I never saw my boy come scooting into the kitchen from the DR door behind me. I turned around and saw him lunge toward Lily's bowl. Before I could even move he grabbed a large chunk of her food.

And what did Lily do you might ask? Why she immediately backed away from her food bowl and sat down. Her tail beat gently on the floor and her ears and face were soft and relaxed. I was so proud of her."

YEAH Lily!

This points out why we don't say, "Leave it" during "Mine!" "Leave It" is great, we teach that too, but guests and children won't always say the word at all, never mind correctly. Exactly the case here.

Luckily, dogs don't need words. Dogs need practice, praise and clarity. This wonderful mother and dog-woman took the time to teach Lily that backing away from anything was always well worth doing. It wasn’t optional, but Lily clearly understands by her wagging tail and relaxed face that this is a task she is more than happy to do.

And the only place these games exist is My Smart Puppy. Good news, each book comes with a DVD in the back, so you'll get lots of help learning just what to do. Or, you can come find us at MySmartPuppy.com - we have a free, moderated message board – and we will help you with all your dog (and cat) questions.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
---------------------
Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Good Owners, Great Dogs", all available now.

'Get Your Licks on Route 66' Tour

Summer is in full swing, the sun is shining and the weather is hotter than ever -- calling for one thing, a road trip. Most dogs would agree that summer is the perfect time to crack the windows and go for a drive!

The pet lovers at The North Shore Animal League America and FIDO Friendly Magazine hit the open road earlier this summer, but this wasn’t any old vacation. A national pet adoption tour, Get Your Licks on Route 66, traveled the entire length of Route 66, from California to Illinois. The tour focused on raising awareness of the plight of homeless pets, promoting and increasing pet adoption, as well as raising funds for animal shelters. Like any other road trip, there were many rest stops, food breaks, and cat naps!

The tour hit the open road and visited the following stops:

Date        Local Shelter Partner                                          City                                
6/6           City of LA Dept. of Animal Services              Los Angeles, CA
6/10        Second Chance Center for Animals                 Flagstaff, AZ
6/13         Animal Humane Assoc. of New Mexico                Albuquerque, NM
6/14          Santa Fe Animal Shelter& Humane Society      Santa Fe, NM
6/17          Amarillo Panhandle Humane Society                 Amarillo, TX
6/20          Best friends of Pets                                      Oklahoma City, OK
6/21          Animal Rescue Foundation                                  Tulsa, OK
6/24          Joplin Humane Society                                     Joplin, MO
6/27          APA of Missouri                                               St. Louis, MO
6/28          Illinois Humane                                               Springfield, IL
6/30          Kent County Humane Society                    Grand Rapids, MI
7/1           South Suburban Humane Society                    Chicago Heights, IL

Most importantly, the Get Your Licks on Route 66 focused on placing lovable pets into stable households. BISSELL, a Get Your Licks sponsor, understood that for many dogs and cats, this was a trip of a lifetime. A pet life was saved with each adoption into a permanent, loving home. We were glad to see many stop by and fall in love with a new furry friend!

--BISSELL Clean Team
---------------------
BISSELL supports pet charities across the country and regularly contributes to Wag Reflex.