Everywhere you look there’s another article about President-Elect Obama’s search for a hypoallergenic dog.  So,  is there any dog that truly fits the criteria?

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) tried Wednesday to correct misconceptions about the matter, with the announcement Wednesday that there is “no truly hypoallergenic dog.”

“It is a common misconception that people are allergic to a dog’s hair, and it is falsely believed that dogs that shed less will not cause a reaction,” the AAAAI said

“However, allergies to pets are caused by protein found in the animal’s saliva and skin glands which gets deposited on the hair. These proteins are carried on microscopic particles through the air as an invisible aerosol. When inhaled, they trigger reactions in allergic people. As all dogs secrete these proteins, there is no allergy-free dog.”

There are some dogs that are less likely to aggravate allergies than others, those that are low or no shedding.  On Dogster we’re  having our own poll to see what type of dog you would choose as the new first dog.

The choice is out of the following dogs; Tibetan Terrier, Bichon Frise, Standard Poodle, Portuguese Water Dog,  and Schnauzer.  Run on over to the poll and select your choice, make your bark heard.

For those out there with allergies here are a few tips from the AAAAI:

*Keep pets out of the allergic person’s bedroom. Animal dander collects on pillows which can worsen symptoms during the night.

* Bathe animals weekly to reduce the amount of dander.

* Replace carpeting with hardwood or other solid surfaces for easier cleanups.

* Air filters (HEPA) may help clean the air.

* It may also be helpful to wash bedding and clothing in hot water.

Definitely good advice to keep in mind.

*  So far the Schnauzer is first in the poll, so I chose Samson’s picture to post.  That is one cute face!

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Halloween is a week away,  busy doggy parents everywhere are scrambling to get ready.

According to a survey done by Dogster, 65% of dog owners will be including their pooches in Halloween festivities this year.

Fun doesn’t just mean staying home to answer the door and pawing out candy. Local pet supermarkets and boutiques host activities ranging from costume competitions to parades.  For a small fee, donated to charity, many of the sites offer a souvenir picture to take home.

This Sun., Oct. 26 the world’s largest Halloween pet event will once again be hosted by the Haute Dog. The Howl’oween Parade, as seen on TV, had more than 600 costumed dogs in the 2007 parade and expects an even bigger turnout this year.

You still have time to join in all the Haute Dog events so be sure to stop by and visit their site for all the fun filled details.

So..will these pups be showing up dressed to the nines or au natural?  Dogster’s survey showed 40% of dog owners have definite plans to dress up their pets, and 72% of those plan to buy their costumes rather than make them at home.

For dogs entering contests, Haute Dog founder Justin Rudd suggests tried-and-true ways to beat the competition. “You’ve got to do something to stand out. It could be a motorized float or a grouping of dogs. In last year’s parade, we had five pugs in jail suits, riding in a wagon called the Pugitentiary.” Other winners included a choo-choo train, gnome, grim reaper, aviator, geisha and lobster.

Casey Whitcher, owner of the high-volume web retailer GlamourDog, says newly available costumes are always the most popular, and October brings in huge sales-second only to the December holiday rush.  They have great costumes, new styles for 2008 as well as the perennial favorites.  Check it out soon, there’s not much time left to order for  arrival before Halloween.

While dressing your dog up may be fun for you, it isn’t always fun for your furry pal. According to Dogster’s survey 43% of the respondents admitted their costumed pooches resent having to wear holiday garb, though many end up in it nonetheless. The majority of dogs, though, can’t wait to embrace the eerie events-according to their human companions anyway.

Survey Highlights

* 65% of dog owners will be including their pooches in Halloween festivities this year.

* 40% have definite plans to dress up their dogs.

* 72% of those dressing up their dogs will be buying their outfits rather than making them at home.

* 46% percent think the coolest costume last year was Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.

* 43% say their pets resent wearing costumes.

* 19% of dog owners say their pets love getting gussied up for Halloween-the more outrageous the outfit, the better.

Remember,  Halloween night is often accompanied by noises your dog isn’t used to, which can be scary.  There are some safety tips to keep in mind to make this a fun and safe day for all.

Boo!

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I think it’s safe to say we all wish we could understand exactly what our dogs are saying, don’t we? Sure reading body language works wonders, and sometimes a well timed whimper or bark will get a point across, but I still prefer the spoken word.

I remember one year for Christmas Lisa gave me the Bow-Lingual dog bark translator.  I’m sure many of you have heard of the device, but if you haven’t here’s a little snippet of marketing material for you.

The device is billed as a “translator” but it might more precisely be called an emotion analyzer. It is said to use technology to categorize dog barks into one of six standardized emotional categories.

Then, for fun, Bowlingual also provides an often humorous phrase representative of that emotion. But the product package clearly notes that the phrases “are for entertainment purposes only” and it seems that they are not meant to be true translations of each bark.

I’m sure you’re wondering, how well does it work? Well, while it may be an amusing toy for a child, for adults it’s one of those gifts, after a few hours use,  that you want to re-gift.  In fact, ours ended up on eBay. If I remember correctly, most of Bo’s barks translated into “I want treats”, something we already knew.

The Bow-Lingual does lead to a few interesting questions.  Just what words are in a dogs vocabulary and which command words do they respond to best?

So, in the name of scientific research, Dogster decided to create a poll on its homepage to determine what command dogs respond to the most.  The final statistics, results based on  3101 pollsters, are: Come! (31.57%),  Stay! (26.67%),  Shake (23.12%), None of the above (14.80%), and Heel! (3.84%).

Oddly, my suggestion of “Gotta Go Pee Pee?” didn’t make the list.  In retrospect, it is more of a question than command so I’ll let it slide.

Regardless,  you can still vote if you want, or head on over to check out the new poll.   As a dog owner which presidential candidate are you most likely to vote for?

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