Come join us on November 27th, Black Friday, from 11-1 pm at the Books-A-Million in Acworth, GA.

This time we even have a special treat for people purchasing a pawtographed copy of Bad to the Bone. We will be giving away a free Dogtronics toy to the first fifty people that purchase a book.

These toys rock, and Bo won’t play with anything of lesser quality or fun factor.

The store is located in Acworth, GA on Saturday. The store is located at 3372 Cobb Parkway in the Super Target plaza.

Grab a couple of copies, it makes a great stocking stuffer.

Stop by Bo’s new author page BAD TO THE BONE MEMOIR to keep up on all the latest events and media.

*One toy per customer

Here are the details from the study on the SF Chronicle.

Dr. Stanley Coren, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia and an author of several books on dogs suggests that dogs do more than simply by mimicking the body language of their owners (as suggested by the enduring example of the horse Clever Hans from the early 1900s). He believes that dog brains process information similarly to the way people do.

Dr. Coren has devised an intelligence ranking of 100 breeds, with border collies at No. 1. He says the most intelligent breeds (poodles, retrievers, Labradors and shepherds) can learn as many as 250 words, signs and signals, while the others can learn 165. This means the average dog is about as intellectually advanced as a two-year-old child with an ability to understand some abstract concepts.

The article goes on to list the top 10 smartest breeds and the 10 not -so- smart breeds.  See if you agree…

Here’s a list of the top 10 smartest (e.g. most obedient) dog breeds:

* 1. Border Collie

* 2. Poodle

* 3. German Shepherd

* 4. Golden Retriever

* 5. Doberman Pinscher

* 6. Shetland Sheepdog

* 7. Labrador Retriever

* 8. Papillon

* 9. Rottweiler

* 10. Australian Cattle Dog

And a list of the top 10 not-so-smart:

* 1. Afghan Hound

* 2. Basenji

* 3. Bulldog

* 4. Chow Chow

* 5. Borzoi

* 6. Bloodhound

* 7. Pekingese

* 8. Mastiff

* 9. Beagle

* 10. Basset Hound

I’m not sure how mixed breeds fit into this, but if you want to test your dog’s intelligence go check out the six IQ questions from Dr. Coren. Give me a bark, how does your best friend make out?

*Dogster member Baxter looks like he’s a studious fella.

They need to fill their quota for reservations at the KOA campground in order to get the use of the Rec Hall and the large picnic areas for the meet and greet. The deadline is December 1st, so we’re trying to get the word out.

The following is from the Group’s creator, Bonzer:

Always wanted to meet your friends and visit HQ to meet the folks behind this great web site at the same time? You’re invited to the Dogster/Catster Meet And Greet In California and picnic in San Francisco/Petaluma area Saturday, April 24th 2010! Join the group fur more information, pawticipate in the planning, and prepare yourself fur the Meet and Greet of the Year! Don’t furget to book your reservations early at the KOA campsite if you’re planning to stay overnight and be sure to mention it’s for the D/C MAGIC Group when you do.

We have reserved a few sites at the KOA Campground in Petaluma for our event, click here for site map.

The reservations are for April 23 and 24 for those of us who will be arriving the night before.

For those of you just coming for the day of the picnic and will not be staying the night at the campground, there is a KOA guest fee of $10 (sorry, I know it was $7 but KOA went up on all their prices for 2010) for adults, $5 kids 4-17. Kids 3 and under are free.

This is what we have reserved right now. We can add to or subtract from this list as needed before September ‘09;

17 cabins in block “G”. Each sleeps up to 4 (dogs are allowed) and is $59 per night. The cabins do not have a bathroom but there are some nearby. If you were to share the cabin with a friend that would just be $28.50 (killer deal!)

The cabins have a dbl bed and bunk beds but do not come with bedding (blankets etc)

2 lodges- sleeps 4-6 each has a bathroom but does not allow pets- $160 each

8 full hook up RV sites- $42

10 tent sites- $30 (personally, mom would rather pay twice as much and sleep in a cabin! laugh out loud )

We also will have exclusive use of the Rec Hall and large tent as well as the areas called the “Grove” and “Orchard” for our contests and games.

To reserve a cabin, lodge or other site please call KOA @ (800) 562-1233 and be sure to mention it is for the D/C MAGIC group April 23 and 24.

Please post here which accommodation you will be choosing.

If we get fewer than 10 reservations we will lose the use of the Rec Hall and possibly the tent also.

You could hold off calling KOA and putting the charge on your credit card for a few months but please post here asap so we can tell them how many we expect to reserve.

We have until September before they will stop holding all of these reserved sites for us and all reservations must be paid for by December 1 2009

We hope many of you will be staying a night and help us to turn the KOA Campground into “Dogster/Catster town” for a few days!

Interested in finding out more about the event, visit the Dogster Get Together or DC/Magic forums. You can also check out the DC/Magic Group .

* Bo’s buddies Biscotte & Tippy, camping in style. When I was pulling up Tippy’s pic had no idea this was their photo, thanks guys! Want your own copy of BAD TO THE BONE, click here.

This Saturday, October 24th you can join in the fight against cancer by participating in the K9K Pet Cancer Awareness Walk.  Registration is only open through Oct. 22, so don’t delay!

The New York VPI

K9K Pet Cancer Awareness Walk

SATURDAY, OCT. 24, 2009

Check-in at 9:00 AM at Cadman Plaza Park, Brooklyn (adjacent to the base of the Brooklyn Bridge)

Walk begins at 10:00 AM

Help VPI fight pet cancer! In honor of our National Pet Cancer Awareness Month, we’re welcoming all pet lovers and their dogs to join us in a walk to benefit the Animal Cancer Foundation and its efforts in cancer prevention and treatment research.

This 4K walk is open to anyone who wants to support the cause, so be sure to forward this e-mail to any of your pet-loving friends who’d like to join us

Your entire registration fee will be donated to the Animal Cancer Foundation and includes a commemorative event T-shirt, a bandana for your pet(s) and post-event refreshments.

If you have any additional questions- please contact us  via email.

Thank you for supporting Pet Cancer Awareness. We hope to see you at the K9K!

* Thanks Annabelle for barking to me about this event.

1. October 10th & 11th SPCA Adoption Extravaganza of Westchester, NY:  Featuring over 200 Puppies & Family Dogs rescued from high-kill shelters. Many adorable Kittens & Cats are looking for new homes too! This special event will be held at the SPCA of Westchester, located at 590 North State Road in Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510.

2. October 11th Bark In The Park in NJ: The Liberty Humane Society will host its sixth annual Bark in the Park Dog Walk and Event Fair on Sunday, Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. The event organizers anticipate more than 500 attendees this year and hope to raise $100,000 for Hudson County animals in need. The event will feature a two-mile dog walk with views of the Statue of Liberty, the New York skyline, and Ellis Island; the Pit Bull Parade for Pets and People Too; all-day entertainment; and many more canine contests and games. Cost for the walk is $15 per dog and $20 for two dogs. For more information, visit LibertyHumane.org.

3.  October 11th Surf City Surf Dog in Huntington Beach, CA: On Sunday, Oct. 11, the inaugural Surf City Surf Dog is bound to attract attention as “man’s best friend” takes on the challenge of surfing! So grab your surfboard and pup and join us! Or, if surfing isn’t your pup’s thing, enter one of our MANY contests! Benefiting various Southern California dog charities. Huntington Beach, CA 8 am – 2 pm www.SurfCitySurfDog.com

4. October 10th  S.T.A.R.S. 4th Annual Dog Walk & Festival in Stratford, CT: Stroll 1 mile to benefit homeless animals then join in on fun for the whole family where Stratford’s 4th celebration of the “Family Pet” will offer music, food, games, vendors, crafters, face painting, microchip clinic, pet psychic,Touch A Truck and much more. Visit WhoLetTheDogsOutFestival.com for more info.

5. October 10th Animal Rescue Fund Walk-A-Thon in Three Rivers, MI:  The Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) of St. Joseph County, Michigan will hold its 12th annual Walk-A-Thon to raise funds to assist in animal welfare throughout the county. This year’s event will be held at Meyer-Broadway Park in Three Rivers on Sat., Oct. 10, 2009. Walkers may participate with or without a dog.

Check out more fun events at one of Bo’s favorite magazines, Modern Dog.

The radio show is on 980 WCAP Wednesday, October 7th at 2 pm (EST) and can be listened to live or later via podcast .

Dog Lady was kind enough to preview Bo’s book before it came out and gave him 5 paws up.

“Bo’s rebel adventures in naps and squirrels will stir the heart and stoke human understanding of how dogs must think. His ‘voice’ is utterly original, sharp, and kind.”- Monica Collis, “Ask Dog Lady”

I want to thank all the Dogsters that have already ordered a copy of BAD TO THE BONE, we really appreciate the support. If you liked joining Bo on his adventures please leave a comment in Customer Reviews, Create Your Own Review on Amazon. Bo could really use the feedback and will send treats to the Dogsters who leave a nice message.

We need to get the word out about BAD TO THE BONE and would be extremely grateful if you would tell all your doggie loving pals about the book and ask them to do the same. It took three years to get this published, breaking into the literary would when you’re a writer in a fur suit is not easy,  we need to show the publishers out there that the dog lovers of America are ready and willing to buy a memoir written through a dog.

Order your copy now and give your pups something to bark about.

THANK YOU!

Thanks to the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals orange vests that say ‘Adopt Me’ are given to the animals, making the pups hard to miss. The vests are distributed to rescue groups free of charge. What a great idea.

Here are the details from the NY Daily  News.

“Walking a dog from a shelter is easy to do and doesn’t require any long-term commitment,” said animal lover Lisa Alexander, whose recent volunteer stroll with Batman, a Pomeranian from the Sean Casey Animal Rescue group, resulted in a match made in heaven.

Batman was adopted by Becca Goebel, a model who spotted the orange vest-wearing mutt walking in SoHo and is now spoiling him silly.

Shelter workers say the orange adoption vests – which fit right in with fall festivities – add an extra layer of visibility to an adoptable pet.

“It not only signals the dog is available for adoption, but is a great conversation starter,” said Michael Sanchez of animal rescue group Bideawee.

Let’s recap, shall we?  Walking a dog daily  is terrific exercise so this relieves you from having to join a gym, you don’t need to make a long-term commitment, it costs you nothing but a little time, and if you’re single it’s a great way to meet someone. If you ask me, it’s a win-win.

*Photo courtesy NY Daily News

I just want to remind everyone that the official kickoff of American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog Month has begun. It’s a great time to adopt a rescue dog or help out by volunteering your time at a shelter.

Send me in your dog’s rescue story, using the ‘Bark Back‘ form, and if I feature it on the blog you will win 50 zealies.

You can become a hero to a dog this October by observing and celebrating the American Humane Association’s Adopt-A-Dog Month® event. Millions of dogs in shelters are facing an uncertain fate, and many more are joining them each day due to the effects of the recession on pet owners. But there are simple steps each of us can take to make a difference in these dogs’ lives.

Save the day for a homeless dog — and find a faithful companion who will be at your side for all of life’s adventures — by adopting a dog from a shelter or breed-rescue group during October. It’s the perfect time to visit the shelter, meet potential sidekicks and discover how much fun and happiness a dog can add to your life.

Companionship, improved physical and emotional health, social interaction and devoted love are just a few of the super-size benefits of having a dog. Dogs also encourage people to exercise, enhance family and social relationships, promote laughter and act as a nonjudgmental audience and sounding board.

Bringing a dog into your home is a lifetime commitment (the dog’s lifetime, that is) and can require immense lifestyle adjustments for everyone in the family. If you aren’t ready to adopt, but still want to make a difference for homeless dogs, here are some other ways to celebrate Adopt-A-Dog Month:

Volunteer: Shelters and rescue groups are always looking for dependable people who can help in almost any way. Are you good at taking pictures or working on websites? Offer to take appealing photos of adoptable dogs and post them on the organization’s website. Do you have a way with words? Volunteer your time to help edit the organization’s newsletter or website. We all have something to offer; we just need to ask how we can help!

Support: While financial support is always welcome, your donation of blankets, toys, dog food and volunteer time are just a few of the things you can offer homeless dogs in your community. You can also make contributions to help fund grants that are available to community shelters and rescue groups through American Humane’s Second Chance Fund and its Foreclosure Pets Grant. These grants help abused, neglected, abandoned or relinquished pets and are funded entirely by donations, so your support goes directly to help these animals get the care they need to survive.

“Right now there is a greater need than ever for people to go to a shelter and find their new best friend,” said Marie Belew Wheatley, American Humane president and CEO. “The nation’s economy is negatively impacting community shelters and rescue organizations, filling them to capacity many times over. This October, we hope people will renew their commitment to help these animals that are so in need of forever homes.”

TINY PAWS AND FURIENDS CRUISE LINE II IS JOINING FORCES WITH THE BEST LIL’ DOGHOUSE IN DOGSTER AND MISS DIXIE MONROE’S “DIXIE”LAND IN AN ALL DAY CELEBRATION!!! YES THAT’S RIGHT!! WE ARE JOINING TOGETHER FOR THE VERY FIRST EVER DOGSTER BLOCK PAWTY!!

THE FUN WILL BEGIN AT 11:00 A.M. DOGSTER TIME, AND WILL RUN THROUGH 4:00 P.M. DOGSTER TIME, AT WHICH TIME WINNERS OF GAMES AND RAFFLE WILL BE ANNOUNCED!!

EVERY KITTY AND PUP WELCOME………BRING A FRIEND!!

WE PROMISE A FUN DAY FOR ALL……LOTS OF FOOD, MUSIC, GAMES AND FRIENDS!!

***TINY PAWS** WILL BE HAVING A KISSING BOOTH…..WHO KNOWS WHO YOU WILL GET TO KISS! ) WE WILL ALSO BE HAVING A MYSTERY GUEST VISITING OUR SHIP AND MANY MORE ACTIVITIES!

WHERE WE WILL VISIT DURING THE DAY, WILL BE HAVING A BULL RIDING CONTESTS! WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY GEORGE AT THE END OF THE DAY! PRIZE TO BE SENT BY SNAIL MAIL! THEY WILL ALSO HAVE A DUNKING TANK WHERE YOU GET TO TRY TO DUNK THE ADMIN!!

AT MISS DIXIE’S, WHERE WE WILL BE VISITING, THERE WILL BE A SCAVENGER HUNT, AND A DANCE CONTEST WITH AGAIN A PRIZE GIVEN AT THE END OF THE DAY SENT TO THE WINNER VIA SNAIL MAIL!

THERE WILL BE AN ONGOING TRIVIA GAME CONCERNING ALL THREE GROUPS!! ROSETTES GIVEN FOR EVERY RIGHT ANSWER FIRST ONE BACK!!

ALL THREE GROUPS PITCHED IN AND WILL BE RAFFLING OFF A BEAUTIFUL GIFT BASKET!!!

AT THE END OF THE DAY, LUCY OUR H.Q. PRINCESS WILL CHOOSE THE RAFFLE WINNER!!!

THIS WILL BE A DAY YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS!! WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!!

What a great idea, thanks to all the Dogsters who put in the time and effort to pull this event together. It’s pups like you that make Dogster such a fun and enjoyable place to be.

It would be a good week to donate some time to a shelter, or maybe drop off something on their wish list.  Take your dog to the park to play. What about baking cookies for your pup?  Check out some yummy recipes. Feeling adventurous? Host a dog party, invite some of your pup’s friends over for a bash. It’s also a great time to adopt a dog, especially since next week starts American Humane’s Adopt-A-Dog month.

I think a fun way to celebrate would be to go out to dinner with your fuzzy buddy. Enjoy a meal, bark things over while sharing a bottle of Bowser Beer. How do you find a pet-friendly restaurant? It just so happens the Open Table blog has an article on The Best Restaurants To Feast With Your Furry Friend.  They compiled a list of ten restaurants from around the U.S. where dog lovers and their best friend can enjoy a night out in style.

1. FARM at the Carneros Inn, Napa, California

2. Tabla, New York, New York

3. Log Haven, Salt Lake City, Utah

4. Besito, Huntington, New York

5. The Farm of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California

6. Old Homestead Steakhouse, New York, New York

7. Solbar at Solage Calistoga, Calistoga, California

8. Savore, New York, New York

9. Paggi House, Austin, Texas

10. Café Milano, Washington, D.C.

All the restaurants have outdoor patios for you and your furry friend to share a meal. The similarities end there;  one provides water for your pup served in a champagne bucket, another gives out packaged cookie treats, and the Log Haven serves  an actual dog meal prepared by the chef. Read all about the top ten on the Open Table blog.

None of these restaurants are near me, but if any Dogsters visit one give me a bark and share your experience.