An "animal communicator" has teamed with a Highland Park, Ill., record label to create a musical CD geared toward dogs.

Dr. Kim Ogden, whose dog communicating skills have led to appearances on ABC World News, CNN, CBS and NBC, guided Skip Haynes of the Laurel Canyon Animal Company record label in creating "Songs to Make Dogs Happy," the label said in a release.The label said the CD is the first to be created and tested using a canine focus group.

The Laurel Canyon Animal Company said its CDs, which are all geared toward an animal audience, are used to raise funds for animal rescue and rights groups across the country, including the Best Friends Animal Society and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Imagine your dog sailing through the air, ears flopping and tongue dangling. Then — splash! — as he catches the yellow tennis ball and simultaneously plunges into a pond. Cheers erupt from onlookers.

Your dog is a star. That’s the point of the 2008 Spook Splash and Dog Olympics. Spectators and owners of any dog breed are welcome to the three-day event on Buckingham Road in Fort Myers this week.

Coco is a golden retriever with soft, silky honey-colored fur and bright black eyes who wags her tail when you call her name. Coco is a dog that any dog lover would be happy to call his or her own — and for $1,000 a year, they can, one weekend at a time.

Coco’s owner is Jack Zhu, a dog trainer who has run the Golden Retriever Club in Taipei for six years. The club’s 1,023 members can join Zhu and his dogs for group trips to the park, or they can take the dogs home for three days to a week at a time.

The rent-a-pet concept has grown in popularity worldwide, even as many animal advocates voice their disapproval. Some canine lovers who long for a faithful companion but are short on time or space say that renting dogs is a good solution until they can raise a pet of their own. Zhu is also adamant that letting members borrow his golden retrievers helps them better understand dogs and, in turn, learn how to treat them properly.

Jiang says his family had adopted a dog from a wild dog rescue organization, but once home they found that the dog had not been properly housebroken and had a difficult time adjusting to living inside a city apartment.

Zhu himself complains that many people are inspired to adopt a dog without considering the amount of work that goes into caring for and training one. He hopes that his members, who he teaches how to treat dogs, learn from their experience with his rental dogs. Potential members are screened by Zhu, who estimates that over the past six years he has accepted just one out of every 10 applications he’s received. As part of the process, Zhu interviews applicants about their household, income and general knowledge of dogs, visits their homes and calls personal and professional references.

While the idea of borrowing a pet was alien to the police officers Zhu dealt with, the rent-a-pet concept is quickly gaining traction all over the world. Within Taiwan, there are pet stores in Taoyuan and Taitung that lend dogs, cats and other pets. Globally, stores have opened in cities like Toyko and New York that market similar services to busy professionals who are squeezed for space and time but still want to spend an afternoon or a weekend romping with a dog. Some animal rescue organizations have also adopted the concept. Stray Rescue of St Louis, for instance, started its Rent-A-Pet program, which allows families to take home a dog or cat from its shelter for the weekend, in a bid to increase pet adoptions.

Many animal lovers, however, deride the practice as cruel. Flexpetz, a pet-rental company that has opened branches in San Diego, Los Angeles and New York City, had a wrench thrown into their expansion plans this summer when news that they were planning to open in Boston prompted the city council to vote in favor of banning pet rentals.

But many animal advocates say that being treated like rental DVDs has a negative psychological effect on pets. Amy Zhang, the head of Dog CHD, a Taipei-based advocacy group for dogs with genetic disabilities, says that the stress of living with new households all the time hurts dogs in the long term. “Dogs are loyal animals and they grow attached to their families. Renting them out has a negative effect on their personalities,” says Zhang.

“Instead of renting, we would advise people to volunteer at a shelter or rescue organization and help them take care of their animals or take their dogs out for walks. Those dogs could really benefit from receiving some warmth and affection from people,” says Zhang.

They might be tiny, but when it comes to destroying things in the home, the pint-size chihuahuas can be monsters, that's what a new of list of the world's most destructive dog breeds claims. The peewee pooches are ranked just behind great danes in the list conducted by pet insurer Esure, reports the Daily Telegraph.

According to the survey, chihuahuas and great danes clock up repair bills averaging $1,376 and $1,420 respectively during their lifetime. Bulldogs, dachshunds and beagles also made the top 10, with pugs, saint bernards and pointers among the least ruinous.

The survey of more than 3,000 dog owners found the items most often damaged were soft furnishings and electrical goods - used as makeshift chew-toys - and vases and lights, knocked over by wagging tails. Almost two-thirds of owners had paid to repair or replace damaged items, with most breakages caused by puppies.

The results showed a dog's size did not indicate its wrecking capability.

Beggy, Pepper and Shaggy walked the red carpet attired in coats, t-shirts and ties, while Daisy, Honey and Mishri looked cute in frocks with bows and ponytails. This is the scene from the capital's first ever mass dog wedding during which canine couples were united in wedlock as a band played in the background and affectionate owners showered rose petals. We guarantee that each one of those happy dog couples absolutely would have loved a special wedding gift from Best Friend NYC!

Over 100 canines participated in the wedding ceremony organised at the Ansal Plaza business centre on Saturday, August 30th. Full story...

If your dog suffers from separation anxiety you'll notice their destructive, obsessive and/or anxious behavior which may start after their human left home and may included:

1. Excessive barking or howling
   
2. Crying continually
   
3. Digging and scratching at doors or windows
   
4. Urinating or defecating on themselves in inappropriate places due to stress
   
5. General hysterical behavior
   

These behaviors typically surface when a traumatic change has occurred such as moving to a new home, the loss or addition of a family member, after a vacation when you and your dog have spent a lot of time together, after a stay at a boarding facility or shelter or if their human is working long hours and is absent for extended periods of time.

Even though it's not fully understood why some dogs suffer from separation anxiety and others do not, it's clear your dog is having some sort of severe panic response to your absence. Punishing your dog for having a panic response/separation anxiety will only exacerbate an already difficult issue. You need to show your dog through training that being alone is not a threat to their safety. Full story and tips...

Lifestyle Pets - is quite a unique company connecting pets and people with different lifestyles. Their unique "line of scientifically proven hypoallergenic pets" is available for purchase on  line. Check out the worlds first hypoallergenic cats and dogs. The low-end “Allegra GD Kitten” starts at $5,950 and the low-end “Jabari GD Puppy” starts at $15,000. But, if you’re serious, get a hypoallergenic pseudo-leopard called the “Ashera Kitten” for $22,000 - $130,000 or the “Titan Family Protector” dog for $85,000 - $135,000. Financing is available, in case you have been wondering.

Dogs bring years of joy and companionship, but they are also a big responsibility. That's why it's critical to know what to expect before you get a dog. Deciding what breed to get is as important as deciding whether to get a dog in the first place. Being a responsible pet owner requires some serious and careful research to determine which of the 158 dog breeds registered by the American Kennel Club is right for you and your family.

Temperament
A dog may be with you as long as 15 years, depending on the breed, so make sure he has a personality you can live with. Is he active, or subdued? Is he easily trained, or strong-willed? Is he friendly to everyone he meets, or aloof toward strangers?

Exercise needs
All dogs need exercise, but some are more active than others. Some dogs need a lot of attention from family members, and regular activity to prevent them from becoming bored and destructive. Others are happy to spend the day sleeping on the couch.

Size
All puppies are adorable, but they grow quickly. Ask the breeder how large your puppy will become before you bring him home. Keep in mind that large dogs require more food and space, and even some small dogs need lots of room to run around.

Grooming Needs
All dogs need grooming and most will shed to some degree. Long-coated dogs are beautiful, but require a lot of effort to stay that way. Short-coated dogs are easier to groom, but may still shed, and may require protection in cold weather.

Cost
According to a recent AKC survey, the average pet owner spends up to $1,700 annually on food, vet care, grooming, toys/treats and training. In addition, pet owners spend up to $1,800 on one-time expenses such as acquiring the dog, spaying/neutering, and start up supplies, including a crate, a dog bed, and leashes and bowls.

Human's inclination to invest dogs with human-like states of mind isn't as unscientific as it might appear for scientists are now suggesting that canines are becoming more intelligent and are even learning morals.

Studies presented at the first Canine Science Forum in Budapest, Hungary, backs the idea that the descendants of grey wolves have become more intelligent, and even learnt a sense of right and wrong, the New Scientist journal reported.

"Dogs show a strong aversion to inequity. I would prefer not to call it a sense of fairness, but others might," said Dr Friederike Range, of the University of Vienna, who led the study. Full story...

Treating your mutt with the choicest of treats, available in pet food is passé. These days, it’s the elaborate grooming sessions, pedicure and a trendy haircut that can turn him from an average guard dog into a rock star. But when this rock star poochie wants to rest where shall he go? Magniflexh as the solution to this dilemma with its Gold Pet Mattress for your spoiled brat. Originally introduced for humans at a shrieking prize of $24,000, this cover woven with 22-karat gold thread didn’t hit it off well. So the company is mending ways and is out to woo luxurious pet owner with its line of Gold Pet Mattresses. Ranging from $1,000 - $3,000, it is a must for those who want to settle for nothing but the best.

Inspired by a request by some wealthy Russian client, Marco Magni, global sales director for Magniflex decided to market this gilded mattress in a big way as he also believes that Gold will also help keep mites away. Heavy price to keep your pet free of parasites. Full story...