Who Has a Portuguese Water Dog?

It looks as if the Portuguese water dog is the favorite to find a new home at the White House.

First lady Michelle Obama told People magazine that's how the family is leaning. She said they plan to adopt a rescue, probably in April. President Obama has mentioned that the Labradoodle is another contender.

Someone who the Obamas know - Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts - has two Portuguese water dogs, Splash and Shannon (a gift from the president of Ireland).

Michelle Obama said she had rejected two dog names - "Frank" and "Moose" - that daugters Malia and Sasha had proposed and told the girls to do a little better.

Portuguese water dogs require a lot of attention, grooming and outdoor exercise - and like their name implies - they love to swim.

So, does anyone have a Portuguese water dog? And if you do, can you e-mail me a photo and a note about why you like the breed to pets@delawareonline.com

And for those who don't have a Portuguese water dog, suggest some names for the first-dog-to-be.

Why Michael Vick Should Never Again Play in the NFL

Michael Vick, who will be released from federal custody on July 20, doesn't deserve a chance to play in the NFL again.

He executed dogs and ordered others executed. He bankrolled a dog-fighting operation. He provided money for bets on the fights. And he lied to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about all of it. Then, when his dogfighting associates turned on him and agreed to testify against him, he pleaded guilty to federal and state conspiracy charges.

On the day of his sentencing in December 2007, the former Atlanta Falcon All-Pro quarterback apologized for his bad judgment and his bad decisions, saying, "Dogfighting is a terrible thing, and I did reject it."

Yet, only eight months earlier, he and two associates in Bad Newz Kennels had executed about eight pit bulls that had not performed well in "testing" sessions, according to the federal indictment. The dogs were hanged and drowned, and at least one other dog's body was slammed to the ground to kill it.

This is a man we are supposed to cheer as he throws a touchdown pass?

Just to listen to the talking heads on ESPN talk about Vick's possible return to the NFL and which team might sign him, is demeaning to those poor dogs and others that were rescued from his 15-acre property in rural Virginia. In December 2008, a Sports Illustrated story reported what happened to the 51 dogs confiscated from Vick's property. Forty-seven were saved (two died in shelters, one was destroyed because it was too violent and another was euthanized for medical reasons). According to Sports Illustrated, some still have extraordinary fears, but other have thrived and one is certified for a reading program in San Francisco called Paws for Tales in which kids practice their skills by reading to dogs.

After that unfathomable cruelty, could you even imagine Vick playing for the Eagles or the Ravens? Couldn't you see the protesters outside of Lincoln Financial Field with photos of the scarred dogs or dead ones on their picket signs? Couldn't you hear the boos as he was introduced or the catcalls aimed at him on the sidelines?

The talk of his return to the NFL is premature.

Vick's future rests in the hands of Goodell, the commissioner who has taken a hard line toward players who get into trouble with the police and especially with repeat offenders.

Vick has to answer for the lies he told Goodell just days before he decided to plead guilty and apologize.

He has to answer for the connection to gambling. The NFL's anti-gambling policy calls for a player to be suspended or have his contract terminated if he "knowingly associates with gamblers or gambling activity."

He has to explain his positive pre-sentencing test for marijuana in 2007, another NFL no-no.

He has to show true remorse - another Goodell requirement - and a sentencing day apology isn't nearly enough.

He has to look Goodell in the face and explain why he killed pit bulls and ordered others hanged, electrocuted, drowned and one even shot with a pistol after losing a match.

For his part, Goodell has said that playing in the NFL is a privilege, not a right. He expects players to behave at a high standard on the field, and maybe an even higher one off the field.

He holds the only vote that matters when it comes to the future of Michael Vick. For those who love dogs and all creatures, Goodell's answer for this season and for any season should be an unequivocal no.

Meet Mr. Puggle

A while back I asked people to send in photos and stories of their designer breeds. I received this great e-mail from Jennifer, who describes herself as "the lady that feeds Mr. Puggle."

Of course, a puggle is part pug (one of my favorites!) and part beagle.

Here's Jennifer's note: "Meet Mr. Puggle, the cutest puggle ever! He is a wild and crazy south side Chicago dog. He has his own blog at www.mrpuggle.blogspot.com Thanks for the offer to feature our designer dogs."

He also offers plenty of items through Cafe Press with his image on it, including this portrait throw pillow ($18.99) and a St. Patrick's Day Classic Thong ($10.99). Now, that's love.

Runaway Horse in Crowded Paris

Garilbaldi, a 15-year-old military horse, threw his rider this week while on duty in Paris and ran through the icy streets, slipping at least once.

It played like a scene from a movie, but with real danger for the horse, for motorists and for those trying to corral it. The police officer in the video eventually was able to hang out of the squad car and bring Garilbaldi to a halt.

"There was no way of stopping him - he wanted to get to his stables," a military official told a reporter.

So he galloped along the Seine and past the Louvre before police could catch up to him and load him into a van. A military officer reported Garilbaldi suffered only minor cuts.

When a Printer and a Cat Do Battle

This cat has some serious paw speed and a fixation with this one particular printer. (An absolutely beautiful cat, by the way.)

Do your cats get into things that just leave you transfixed? They just seem to have an insatiable curiosity.

And for the record, it's good to see that the paper won this fight.

Half Jack Russell, Half German Shepherd, All Great Dog

UPDATE: Jen Banning e-mailed me with this update:

"Her name is Quixote. She saved me from an evil park bench the evening of the day we met. It made me think of the windmills."

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When I blogged the other day about the Lab and Great Dane designer dog that my husband and I saw at the park, I asked readers to send in photos or descriptions of other great combos.

I received this photo and note from Jen and Grant Banning of Newark:

"Here's a unique dog breed for you ... half Jack Russell, half German shepherd.

"Life with her has been a blast! Imagine being herded by a dog with the energy of a terrier. She's as smart as the shepherd, aiming to please, and has TONS of energy."

The Bannings' dog - they forgot to include her name - turned 10 last week. Smart and energetic. That is a great combo.

Westminster Prediction Was Oh-So-Close

You have to give Martha Doerner credit.

She was right about Lincoln, the Brussels griffon (below) who survived the competitive Toy Group at Westminster, to advance to Best of Show. She was right that the Brussels would have to beat a gorgeous pug. The pug finished second.

She just didn't account for Stump, the 10-year-old Sussex springer - the Brett Favre of the dog show world who came out of retirement -- to win the title of America's Top Dog.

Best of Show judge Sari Tietjen picked Stump from a field of seven that included a giant schnauzer that was the nation's top show dog, the Brussels griffon, a Scottish deerhound named Tiger Woods, a standard poodle with 94 best in show wins, a Scottish terrier and a puli.

"He showed his heart out," Tietjen said. "He was everything you want."

So, congratulations to Martha on being quite the dog fancier. And we'll cut her a little slack: Stump didn't come out of retirement until just last week.

A Westminster Prediction: Watch the Brussels Griffon

The competition to succeed Uno, the popular beagle who was last year's Westminster Best in Show champion (above), appears to be more open than usual this year, says a local breeder and dog show enthusiast.

Martha Doerner, who has picked the Westminster winner the last three years, initially chose a pointer named Holly. But Holly, who won the big Eukanuba and National shows - and the Wilmington Kennel Club show last spring - is out because she is now owned by a Westminster Kennel Club member, making her ineligible.

"I love her," said Doerner, treasurer of the Wilmington Kennel Club. "I've always loved her."

Next on Doerner's list, she said to watch Lincoln, a smooth-coated Brussels griffon originally from England. But Doerner says that dog needs to get by a "gorgeous pug" and Taser, the monkey-faced affenpinscher, in the uber-competitive toy group.

Spirit, a giant schnauzer, is ranked No. 1 over the last year, but the Best in Show judge, Sari Tietjen, has spent a half-century working with Japanese chins and likes toy dogs, which seems to give the winner of that group the inside edge during Tuesday night's Best in Show finale (8-11 p.m. on USA).

Dog intrigue. It's the best.

Doerner, who breeds and shows wire-haired dachshunds, won a Best of Opposite on Monday morning for her 2 1/2-year-old champion Barmaud Joshua, which she owns with Midge Martin of Chicago. A female won the breed, so Barmaud was judged the best male. The dog is handled by Brian Martin, Midge's husband.

"It's a nice win," Doerner said.

Dog Day Afternoon at Glasgow Park

My husband and I walked this afternoon at Glasgow Park - along with hundreds of others - and we've never seen so many people and dogs at the park at one time. (News Journal photographer Fred Comegys grabbed the photo above this afternoon.)

"It's a bunch of people," one little girl told her mom. "And a bunch of dogs."

She was so right. Among the dogs we saw were a feisty Boston terrier, a gorgeous German shepherd, two stunning Alaskan malamutes (who we overheard the owner say had hauled a sled during the recent snow), a cute puggle, too many beagles to count, a Labradoodle (on the Obama family's short list), golden retrievers, a too-tough Pomeranian, plenty of friendly and energetic Bichon Frises, and an intriguing dog, which looked to be a cross between a Labrador and a Great Dane.

I just checked online and there is a Labradane. The one we saw was a gloriously big dog with that great, smooth Labrador coat.

Which leads me to this: What's the most intriguing or mystifying designer breed you've seen? If you have a designer dog you want others to see, e-mail a photo to me at pets@delawareonline.com, and I'll feature it here.

The Two Talking Cats

So, watch this video and tell me that animals don't communicate with each other.

How do your pets "talk" with each other?

Do you think they have a "language"? Or is more of a tone or a constant sound?

Leave your posts about what you think these two cats were "talking" about.

Save the Date: Delaware Dog Fest Is April 19

One of my favorite pet-related events each year is the Delaware Dog Fest at St. Anthony in the Hills near Avondale, Pa. It's something about the setting - tranquil (except when the dogs start barking) and a little isolated - and being surrounded by all types and sizes of dogs, and also knowing that spring is on its way.

This year's Delaware Dog Fest is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 19. Admission is free to the event hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League. There are vendors, rescue groups, a DJ and very cool raffles.

Bring your well-behaved dogs (on a leash - no retractables past 6 feet), and be prepared to have a good time.

You can buy a goodie bag and Delaware Dog Fest T-shirt when you order by March 27. The goodie bag fee is $20 per person and your order can be picked up at the entrance to the fest on April 19. Proceeds go to help orphaned great Danes - and they need a lot of care. Have you seen how big they are?

For more information, call 368-5890 or go to http://www.padanerescue.com/.

What Life Is About

This is a great little video that a colleague told me about. She told me to search for "Bonnie Hunt," "baby" and "dog." So, I did.

And this is what I found: A little world in which everyone sees each other's differences and chooses love just the same.

I think the video is even more fun with the live studio audience's reactions.

Enjoy!

An All-American Dog

Prudence Brown e-mailed this photo of Solomon Daniel Brown who, she wrote, was celebrating Inauguration Day.

It is the land of the free and the home of the brave, indeed.