Whisker Therapy

Just like people before they get tattoos, dogs don’t get to pick the coloring of their coats. Some pups just happen to win the visual lottery thanks to their genetics. For example, there’s a Chow Chow in California with the gorgeous coat coloring of a McFlurry ice cream treat.

This is Chief, aka “Oreo Cloud.” Look at him. See why he’s got the nickname? That characteristic Chow Chow poofiness sprinkled with cookies and cream coloring makes him quite the Oreo cloud indeed!

Chief’s mom, Sara Hamilton, shared photos of the poof ball online. The post got over 22,000 likes in Dogspotting Society. Just like you and me, no one can handle how much this dog looks like a delicious Oreo-based dessert.

“The first thing we noticed about him besides his cute spots is that he loves to cuddle and he will nap on you. He has the loudest snore out of everyone in the household.”

Well, if Chief is a dessert he’s at least the kind you don’t want to eat because it looks too pretty.

He even looks good melted!

Hamilton told Bored Panda this angel entered their lives just before the pandemic kept everyone at home.

“He came to us from Omaha, Nebraska, which is about a 1,700 mile journey to Northern California! We are a recently married couple and we felt this was a great time to add to our little family. He also has a chameleon brother.”

Even though Oreo Cloud is a fitting nickname, Hamilton explained why this dog is clearly a Chief.

“We named him Chief because he will grow to be around 85 pounds and also because he is most definitely a leader, not a follower. He came to us fully potty-trained at 8 weeks and is very well-behaved, he learns quickly!”

Since he was one of the largest in his litter, they expect him to grow a lot. More Oreo Cloud to squeeze!

Chief’s DNA Results

Obviously Chief is a Chow. But his unique look gets a lot of inquiries into his background. The test results confirmed it: Chief is 100% Chow Chow. You can watch a video of Hamilton and Chief exploring his results below.

The coloring on Chief’s coat is due to the merle gene. The dominant merle gene creates mottled patches of color in a solid coat, as well as blue or odd-colored eyes.

Therapy Dog In Training

I can hardly think of a better therapy tool than petting a dog this sweet and floofy. Hamilton confirmed that Chief will train as a therapy dog for children.

“I have a background volunteering with sick kids in hospitals, so I knew that he would be the most amazing therapy dog that would help bring a little joy to those in their darkest moments.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has stalled that process a bit, but classes are on this dog’s horizon. Soon enough he’ll be bringing smiles to sick children!

“Once the world heals and we can resume normal life, we will be taking him to attend a series of basic dog training and therapy classes. Once he is one year old and has taken the essential classes, he can officially take his final test to be certified. Then he will be working weekly visits in children’s hospitals.”

Until then, follow Chief on Instagram for a daily sweet treat on your feed.

H/T: Dog Dispatch
Featured Image: @theoreocloud/Instagram

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United States special operations are composed of the most highly-skilled and expertly-trained soldiers that walk the planet. Many of those soldiers trudge through challenging terrain and engage with enemies of all kinds around the globe. They rely on their training, instinct, and two feet to see them through even the most harrowing of battles. Some soldiers do the same but rely on four feet, a supersonic nose, and a crushing bite that can make a terrorist beg for mercy. That’s exactly what Bass did.

Piercing Eyes And The Heart Of A Hero

Bass is a Belgian Malinois who works alongside his brothers and sisters in the United States military. He has piercing eyes and an unimaginable amount of bravery. Bass goes everywhere that his fellow human soldiers go. And yes, that means he is there in the heat of battle as grenades and machine guns echo all around him. None of this bothers him. In fact, he thrives on it.

“One of the first things I noticed is his golden eyes,” retired Marine Staff Sergeant Alex Schnell told Fox Nation. “He’s got very piercing predator eyes. I could just tell with that look — this is a pretty special canine and I was very happy to get the chance to be assigned with him.”

Bass endured extensive training that ultimately enabled him to save countless lives. Staff Sergeant Schnell was alongside Bass through it all. Bass was able to use the power of his nose to sniff out explosives and patrol areas for bad guys, the latter of which he was glad to take down when necessary.

Bass Was A Highly Sought After Soldier

Staff Sergeant Schnell and Bass worked together for more than six years in the Marine Corps special operations. They served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia where they successfully executed missions that ultimately saved countless lives around the world. Bass was so popular that teams would request Staff Sgt. Schnell just so they could work with Bass!

“When I went to the company that was going to Afghanistan, the team that had worked with me in the past — they requested me not necessarily because of me, but because they wanted Bass,” Staff Sgt. Schnell said.

The Most Memorable Night Of Them All

Of all of the missions that Staff Sgt. Schnell and Bass went on together, there is one that stands out. They were in Afghanistan on a mission to capture or kill high-value targets. That night started out as normal. Their helicopter landed and they started making their way towards their targets when the enemy began engaging them in gunfire. It was the middle of the night so visibility was hard to come by.

The fight lasted for hours with Bass diligently following around Staff Sgt. Schnell the entire night. No gunfire or explosions could distract him from the mission. Eventually, Bass was put to work.

Bass entered a building before the rest of his unit. He successfully neutralized the enemy, enabling his fellow soldiers to safely enter the building and complete the mission unscathed.

 

In addition to tracking dozens of enemies, Bass conducted over 350 explosive detections. Miraculously during all of those missions with Bass, not one single American soldier lost their life.

In November of 2019, Bass was rightfully awarded the Medal of Bravery. This honor is given by the non-profit called Angels Without Wings which recognizes the work of military working dogs in combat. It was an award that Bass deserved without a shred of doubt. His bravery and selflessness meant that his fellow soldiers could live to watch their children grow up and innocent civilians could have a great chance of living in peace.

Bass is a true American hero.

h/t: FoxNews.com

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There have been many stories of dogs saving their humans from danger. Some dogs have alerted people of a fire or fought off a dangerous animal. Most dog lovers would agree that it’s because our dogs love us so much. But how can they rescue us without being properly trained?

Joshua Van Bourg, a graduate student at Arizona State University’s Department of Psychology, and Clive Wynne, an ASU professor of psychology and director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at ASU, decided to conduct a study to answer this question.

Conducting the Main Test

The two men have observed dogs rescuing people in the past. However, they wanted to find out why dogs do it and how they know what to do without being told. So, they conducted three tests to analyze the behaviors of 60 different dogs.

In the main test, each dog’s parent sat inside a large box. The box had a light-weight door that the dog could easily move aside. While inside the box, the person would call for help repeatedly. They were not allowed to say the dog’s name because they wanted to see if the dogs would react out of concern rather than obedience. Additionally, the people were coached on how to sound distressed to make it feel more real for the dogs.

“About one-third of the dogs rescued their distressed owner, which doesn’t sound too impressive on its own, but really is impressive when you take a closer look,” said Van Bourg.

So, they conducted two more tests to further understand the dogs’ motivations. They wanted to know if the dogs rescued their parents because they wanted to be with them or because they sensed that something was wrong. They also wanted to understand whether or not the dogs could figure out how to open the door if it wasn’t an emergency.

The Control Tests

In the first control test, the dogs watched someone drop food into the box that the person had been in. This was a test to see if the dogs could figure out how to open the box on their own. Surprisingly, only 19 of the 60 dogs opened the box to get the food. That was less than the number of dogs that rescued their humans.

Then, they conducted another test where the person was inside the box again. This time, the person remained calm. They read a magazine out loud so the dog could recognize that they were in the box. This test was to see if the dogs would open the box just to be near the person.

This time, only 16 out of the 60 dogs opened the box, which was the lowest number yet. That discovery went against the idea that dogs might rescue humans just to be close to them.

In all three scenarios, the researchers also took notes on the dogs’ behaviors. Specifically, they kept an eye out for behaviors that signaled stress such as whining, pacing, barking, or yawning. As expected, when their parent acted distressed, they responded in a worried manner. In the control tests, only one dog whined in total.

This proved that the dogs could sense when their parents were in danger. When the distress portion of the test was repeated two more times, the dogs seemed equally concerned, even though they had already been through the situation before.

What Do the Results Tell Us?

After considering the behaviors from all three tests, it was concluded that the dogs reacted emotionally above everything else. When given the option of getting food or being near their humans, dogs were less likely to do those than they were to save their humans. While some dogs didn’t know how to open the box, they still seemed worried about their humans.

“The results from the control tests indicate that dogs who fail to rescue their people are unable to understand what to do. It’s not that they don’t care about their people,” said Wynne.

So, if you needed any more proof that your furry friend loves you, this is the perfect example. Not every dog is capable of saving you under pressure, but most of them will try their best.

Watch a Clip From the Study Here:

H/T: devdiscourse.com
Featured Image: @caninesciencecollaboratory/Facebook

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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused commercial airline travel to be unpredictable. Puppies taking the first step towards becoming service dogs for Canine Companions for Independence are relying on the generosity of volunteer pilots with private planes to travel to their temporary training homes. These special puppies have been flying high as they start the journey to becoming a service dog.

Canine Companions for Independence

Canine Companions for Independence is a nonprofit organization that places service dogs with disabled people completely free of charge. Their website says, “The assistance dogs we breed, raise and train aren’t just the ears, hands and legs of their human partners. They’re also goodwill ambassadors and often, their best friends. They open up new opportunities and new possibilities and spread incredible joy. We unite people with dogs in a powerful program that leads to greater independence and confidence.” 

Pilots Bring Puppies to their Temporary Training Homes

In just the few months that we have been experiencing the pandemic, volunteer pilots have flown 108 puppies to southern California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Texas. The puppies are being transferred to temporary homes. “Not only are they giving their plane, but their time, their fuel,” Canine Companions public relations and marketing coordinator Michelle Williams, told Business Insider. “They’re going out for full days … it’s just incredible.”

Families volunteer to help raise and train the puppies from about the age of 8 weeks to about 18 months old. The goal during this time is to socialize the puppies and train them a predetermined set of 30 commands. Afterward, the puppies go back to headquarters to receive their specialized skills training for the line of service they will provide. 

The Pilots Love Time in the Air with the Puppies

The pilots are having a blast flying these little cuties across the country. How could they not? Pilot and owner of Sonoma Jet Center Josh Hochberg told Business Insider that he takes his daughters on the puppy flights. The girls play with the puppies for about an hour before the flight begins. This tires out the puppies so they sleep during the whole flight. He said, ““It’s more fulfilling than I could have possibly imagined,” he said. “So fulfilling that I actually got a puppy of my own.” The family brought home an American Brittany name Charlie. He credits his work with Canine Companions entirely.

If you are interested in learning more about supporting Canine Companions for Independence, check out their website. 

H/T businessinsider.my
Featured Image Canine Companions for Independence/Facebook

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We have all heard stories about couples who are so closely bonded that when one passes away, the other shortly follows. “Dying of a broken heart” happens with dogs and human companions, too. In this beautiful story of devotion and loyalty, we realize the connectedness between those who love each other, in life and in death.

A Life of Service

Daniel Hove spent his entire life in the service of others. He served for many years in the Air Force. After retiring from the military he became a firefighter. He eventually served as the community fire department’s chief.

A Devastating Diagnosis and a Loyal Dog

In 2012, Hove was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a devastating diagnosis. Greater than 90% of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer die from the disease. Hove bravely fought the illness with chemotherapy. His fellow firefighters, family members, and loyal Labrador Gunner supported him every step of the way.

Gunner’s support of Hove was no surprise. Gunner and Hove were always together. They hunted together. They hung out together. They were inseparable. When Hove underwent treatments that left him drained of energy, Gunner stayed right there by his side.

Gunner’s Health Seemed to Mirror Hove’s Health

Hove’s cancer progressed despite chemotherapy treatments. Gunner slept in a bed right next to Hove. Gunner’s health declined in line with Hove’s health. It seemed that the two were connected on a cosmic level. Hove’s daughter Heather Nicoletti told KARE11 News, “Gunner could not be without my dad. I think he chose to go with him.”

Best Friends Until the End

Dying is a process very unlike what is portrayed in movies and television. Typically, a person declines over the course of weeks or months. Eventually, most people become unresponsive in the last days or hours of life. They are still breathing and alive but are unable to speak or respond. Hove and Gunner entered this unresponsive stage together. “My dad was unresponsive, the dog was unresponsive. So once we saw how the dog was doing–he wasn’t moving much anymore, not doing well– we knew, it was coming,” Nicoletti told KARE11 News. 

Nicoletti made the difficult decision to help Gunner peacefully pass at the vet office where she once worked. She returned home to join her father at his side. Hove died just an hour and a half later. Nicoletti said, “I called the vet clinic I used to work at, they got me in right away and I rushed him up there, put him to sleep. And about an hour and a half later, my dad was gone too.”

Our hearts go out to the family as they grieve both the loss of a father and a four-legged family member. Their bond is a shining example of the power of love between beings of all kinds.

H/T goanimals.com 
Featured Image Heather Nicoletti/Facebook

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Hello my fuzzy friends! It’s your boy Barnaby. I’ve been on a bit of a sabbatical for the last couple weeks but I’m back and ready for action. Speaking of action, how about those squirrels? You know what I’m talking about, you hound dog.

I’m going to give you some highly classified information about squirrel warfare. They come in our yards and try to steal any treats we leave lying around. And, if I’m being honest, they’re just plain annoying. Now for what I’m about to share with you, I normally charge my clients three easy payments of $19.99 and a bucket of Milk Bones but for you, it’s free. Just because I like ya. Buckle up, Bichons. It’s time to defend your honor.

Step 1: Treat All Squirrels As If They’re A Threat.

Here’s the scenario:

Your human let you into the backyard to do your dirty work and enjoy a bit of sunshine. You step one paw into the grass and there it is. A squirrel staring at you while it bounces its bushy tail. What would you do?

A) Run back inside and send out the cat.
B) Ignore it like your mom ignores her Tinder matches.
C) Attack it with the same intensity that you attack a compromised slice of cheese.
D) Play dead.

The answer is of course C. It doesn’t matter how small, cute, or fluffy of a squirrel it is. Your one and only job is to run at it full force with the fury of every flea you’ve ever known. The squirrel will inevitably run onto your fence or nearby telephone lines. If you really want to give ’em the ol’ razzle-dazzle, throw your body against the fence as hard as you possibly can. The closer you come to knocking the entire fence down, the better.

Step 2: Run Fast And Look Mean.

Follow that squirrel the length of the yard back and forth as many times as you need to. Once the squirrel is out of sight, keep doing it just for good measure. You’ll know you’re done when you’ve successfully worn the grass down to a muddy strip.

Bark, growl, and show them your chompers. I don’t care if you’re a cuddly puppy that cries when you watch The Notebook. To this squirrel, you’re a highly trained fighting machine that rips the stuffing out of squeaky toys and isn’t afraid to poop in a Louboutin!

Step 3: Go For Their Nuts.

Squirrels love nuts and acorns. Take away their food and you take away their survival. If you see some nuts laying around your yard, scoop them up and gently gnaw on them. DO NOT SWALLOW. Wait until your mom or dad notices that you’re chewing on something. When they inevitably come over and try to take it out of your mouth, then swallow it. I don’t know why. This is just what we do. Don’t question the process, just let it happen.

 

What To Do If You Successfully Capture A Squirrel

Alright, kids. I’m going to level with you. You’re probably never going to actually capture a squirrel but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. If you ever get a squirrel within your reach, DON’T TOUCH IT. It may be rabid and if you get bit, it’s the cone of shame and lots of shots for you. Trust me. Been there, done that, got the cone to prove it.

Good luck and happy squirrel hunting! This is Barnaby, over and out!

Remember, always be decisive. The road is paved with flat squirrels who couldn’t make a decision!

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