Pets On The Tube - Greatest American Dog

Barking mad could be the description for some of the cast on the new reality pet show Greatest American Dog. I caught my first glimpse of the pup friendly show that features dog and owner teams living and competing together in the chance to win a $250,000 cash prize and the title of GREATEST AMERICAN DOG.

The competitions maybe a little wacky (does passing an agility test really make your pet the Greatest American Dog and having an actual dog house the owners have to stay in?) but the full of personality pets leave you wanting more. A few personal favorites right off the bat, Tillman the Bulldog from Oxnard CA and Elvis the Russell Terrier from New York City.

To check out Greatest American Dog, tune into CBS on Thursdays, 8pm et/pt or visit their website at CBS.com. You can also meet the dogs at Dogster.com.

Do you love the show, have a team you are pulling for? We would love to hear about it! Send us your feedback at polkadotpupblog@aol.com.

Pups and Their Celeb Look-a-Likes

Every think your pet reminds you of someone or have you ever heard the phrase "pets look like their owners"? The pet loving people at petside.com put together a compelling list of pups and their celeb look-a-likes. The really cool thing is the pup pics are all from fans of the site. So, if you think your pet is the dog version of Britney Spears you can send in a picture and have it added to their slide show.

What do you think?
Here at Polka Dot Pup, our puppy correspondent Vixen has been linked with a number of look-a-like celebs. Tell us who you think her celeb look-a-like is and we will post the best match!



To check out the full list of Pet Celebrity Look-a-Likes, visit petside.com

SUMMER ESSENTIALS - Pet Travel Gear

Summer is finally here, the kids are out of school and it's time to hit the road!

The Polka Dot Pup crew is packed and ready to head up to Tahoe for a pet filled camping adventure but before shoving off we pulled together some of our pets favorite camping essentials. Who knew pet travel could be so easy!

See more of my Pet Travel Gear list at ThisNext.

POLKA DOT PRODUCT PICK - The Pooch IQ Test

Product Review:
The Pooch IQ Test

What you Get:

• 1 Pooch IQ Testing Booklet with 15 Exercises, Scoring Key, and Detailed IQ Explanations
• 1 Extra Tuff Rubber Cone Toy
• 1 5-Piece Plush Dog Puzzle
• 1 Big & Furry Squeaky Bone
• 1 Super-Bouncy Ball
• 1 Hide-a-Treat Testing Toy
• 1 Midnight Black Face Mask
• 3 Colorful Plastic Pup-Cups

Is your dog the head of the pack or the dunce of the litter? The Pooch IQ Test puts your pets intelligence level to the test with some hair raising exercises. Did someone say pup quiz?

When Vixen and I received our Pooch IQ Test in the mail, we were presently surprised to find a carry bag filled with goodies! We eagerly pulled out the Testing Booklet and began our 15 exercises that tested Vixen on her Learning for experience, Short-term memory, Persistence, Ability to see similarities, Problem-Solving skills, Reasoning skills, Instinctive intelligence and Obedience intelligence. Each exercise includes easy to follow descriptions, steps to follow, materials and scoring instructions. After you've made it through all 15 quizzes and all the scoring is complete, you tally up your pups points and check out their IQ description. Although it was a few days process, Vixen made it through with flying colors! So what was Vixen's final score? It looks like we have our very own Polka Dot Pup "Top of the Class" on our hands. She scored a 141 out of 150!

I love the fact that this kit came with so many cool toys that Vixen can use over and over, she particular loves the purple bone plush squeaker toy! Do be aware though that you may not make it through all of the quizzes in one sitting, some of the exercises are quicker to test than others and a few require extra materials than what is provided. The one reason I really "dig" this product is you really get a chance to play with your dog and learn more about them. No matter what their score, each pup deserves an A+ in my book.


To learn more about Pooch IQ, visit http://www.poochiq.com/

PET EVENTS - June 2008

Summer is almost here and with the warm weather come a ton of amazingly entertaining dog friendly events. So grab the leash and go have some fun with your pup!

Sunday June 1, 2008

NEW LEASH ON LIFE PRESENTS: NUTS FOR MUTTS
TIME: 8:30am-5:30pm
LOCATION: Pierce College - Shepard Stadium, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91371
TICKET PRICE: Adults $10, Kids 12 - 3 are $5, Kids under 3 are free and Dogs are $5
INFO: Nuts for Mutts is an annual dog show and pet fair celebrating the best of the mutt. Hosted by Kim Basinger, Nuts for Mutts is a series of competitions showcasing common but incredible dogs. These mixed breed dogs strut their stuff in front of a panel of celebrity judges in categories such as “Fastest Mutt,” “Most Ear-resistible Ears,” and “Most Toy/Ball Crazy” in order to compete for the prestigious “Best in Show.” All friendly dogs welcome even if they are not competing!

* This event is right in Polka Dot Pups neck of the woods so come and watch our corespondent Vixen strut her stuff! To learn more about Nuts for Mutts, visit www.nutsformutts.org/

Saturday June 28, 2008

3RD ANNUAL LOEWS CORONADO BAY RESORT SURF DOG COMPETITION
LOCATION: 4000 Coronado Bay Road, Coronado, California 92118
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Optional surfing lessons by the Coronado Surfing Academy for less experienced canines
11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Heat One: Small Surf Dogs (40 pounds and under)11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Heat Two: Large Surf Dogs (41 pounds and over)
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Heat Three: Tandem Surfing for Surf Dogs & Owners
1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Furry fashion show with doggie couture by Lucky Dog Boutique
1:45 p.m. to 2 p.m. Awards ceremony
COMPETITION FEES: $45 for Heats One & Two, $50 for Heat Three (if registered by June 27). Attendance is free. All proceeds will be donated.
To register for the event, fill out the registration form

* You can't beat this surf side event! Enjoy the sun and surf, puppy portraits, mutt massages, goody bags and a variety of burgers, dogs and snacks prepared by the talented Chefs of Loews. All proceeds will benefit Loews Coronado Bay Resort’s Good Neighbor Council. To learn more about Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition, go to Loews Surf Dog.


Do you have a pet friendly event in your area? We would love to hear about it! Please send the event info to polkadotpupblog@aol.com

Pet Inspired Father's Day Guide

On June 15th, pets everywhere will be wagging their tails double time to celebrate Father's Day! Doggie dads sure deserve it because who is more dedicated to playing hard, sneaking treats and going for long drives with the windows down?

That's why Polka Dot Pup has compiled an assortment of pet inspired gifts that pups can give to their pa's to let them know their the best darn buddies around!

See more of my Feline and Fido Father's Day Guide list at ThisNext.

PET EVENTS - Paws in Motion

If you are in the LA area this weekend why not stop by the Paws in Motion event for a FREE dog mobility screening?

Bring your pet down and for FREE you can participate in activities such as the "One Paw After The Other" Exam, "Pawsitive Stretching" Technique Classes and "Watch Our Paws Go" Rehabilitation Demonstrations.

Whether your pet is a young pup or a senior that thinks their a pup, this is a great way to spend quality time with your dog and learn important ways to keep your pet healthy inside and out. Oh and did I mention this event is FREE to attend and you get a FREE mini-evaluation and CARE-package? Just thought I would throw it out there.

EVENT: "PAWS IN MOTION"
DATE: Saturday, May 17th, 2008
TIME: 8am-1pm
LOCATION: California Animal Rehabilitation
3200 Olympic Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 998-2273
Onsite parking is free!

To learn more about the event and the CARE organization, visit -

KTLA 5 Morning News - Paws in Motion Event
Cal Animal Rehab



Do you have an exciting and educational pet event coming up in your area? We would love to hear about it and post a link for our Polka Dot Pup readers! Please send your pup friendly events to polkadotpupblog@aol.com