Wow, you guys are really chatting it up this week. I love it, especially all the new names and new topics. Keep it up.

I like to create a new anything-goes topic when the old ones spill over to a second page, so have at it.

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Here's a new anything-goes topic for your dog-chatting pleasure.

Click on Star's picture: to find out more about our current Adoption Dog of the Week
Most dog owners do activities with their pups that require them to be especially focused and well-behaved. It could be the formality of an obedience class or a visit to a friend's home. You need them to have a higher level of attention than, say, sitting around the house or a casual walk by yourself.

Chip: Jenifer and Chip work on attention skills at the dog show

Here's a belated congratulations to Jenifer (jarnold) and Chip for their Best of Breed title at the dog show Saturday.

Photographer Bob Hallinen was nice enough to dig through his unpublished pictures to provide a shot of one of our faithful dog-blog posters and her super Samoyed.

I love Chip's attention in this picture. He looks like a champ to me.

Be sure to read Craig Medred's story on a dog dying in a trap near Indian. Maybe this tragedy will lead to some changes in the laws.

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The last anything-goes topic has already spilled to a second page. Here's another blank one to continue talking about our dogs.

Dogblog note: This story appeared in Sunday's paper, but I thought I'd republish here for anyone who missed it.

From Vick's fight ring to 'love time' in foster home, an unlikely rescue for pit bulls

By CHERYL WITTENAUER
The Associated Press
His back resting comfortably against her chest, Hector nestles his massive canine head into Leslie Nuccio's shoulder, high-fiving pit bull paws against human hands.

The big dog - 52 pounds - is social, people-focused, happy now, it seems, wearing a rhinestone collar in his new home in sunny California.

But as Hector sits up, deep scars stand out on his chest, and his eyes are imploring.

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Do your dogs hover around you at home until you provide them with some stimulation? Is it a sign that they are not getting enough exercise? Not enough brain work? Is there an off button on our pets?

Here's another blank slate for your dog-chatting pleasure. Between sick dogs and show dogs and trick dogs, we've been filling them up quickly lately. I love it.

Wow, dog bloggers have been chatty this week. We've already spilled over to a second page on the last anything-goes topic. Here's another one to make the conversations easier to follow.

Here's another blank slate to discuss anything you'd like, be it dog related or drinking and e-baying. Quick, somebody post the first reply so sondrals doesn't do what she did to the last one!

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This week's topic is tricks: Do you think they are important to your dog's education? Or are you better served teaching the standard "sit," "heel," "stay," etc.?

Eddie knows a bunch of silly tricks (spin, shake, play dead, etc.), and I don't think that makes him any smarter than other dogs. But I feel it has made us closer. It's sort of like increasing our mutual vocabulary. He knows more of what I want. And I know how to teach him new skills.

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Baby Face Nelson: : Gail Painter's bullmastiff won last year's inaugural Alaska Pet Idol competition.
The search for the 2008 Alaska Pet Idol is officially under way, and Alaska Mill & Feed is now accepting pictures and applications.

Don't forget the Paw Prince bash Saturday. You never want to miss a chance to get a pet oracle card reading!

SATURDAY, JAN. 19
WHAT: Paw Prince Grand Opening party
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
WHERE: Paw Prince, 4240 Old Seward Highway
THE SCOOP: The Grand Opening event for the pet boutique will feature prizes, contests, pet oracle card readings and giveaways. Local designer Rebecca Cruz of Heidi & Co. will be on hand to embroider her fleece coats. Customers can enter their favorite photo in the contest to find the next cover model for the store.
FUNDRAISER: Proceeds from this special event will benefit local, non-profit Friends of Pets and the national nonprofit Noah's Wish, whose mission is to save animals during disasters with rescue and recovery services and to mitigate the impact of disasters on animals through educational outreach.

I thought the below story was especially topical here considering the ongoing problems with my pack and the discussion we've had on the anything-goes topic.

I've got to give Christina (chris_goff) major props on her pro-biotic recommendation. There's a footnote at the bottom of this story saying that topic is one of the areas the institute is researching.

By Howard Witt
Chicago Tribune
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — At long last, veterinary researchers are setting out to tackle one of the least pleasant aspects of pet ownership: digestive disorders.

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The last one, thanks to your kind words and expert advice for my sick pups, spilled over to a second page quickly and is getting hard to follow.

Here's another one to discuss new topics.

The last anything goes topic didn't spill over to a second page, but it's getting pushed lower on the home page. Here's another blank page to discuss whatever you'd like.

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This week, let's discuss booties. Do you use them? Why or why not? Do they work? Where do you get them? What type do you prefer?

For little dogs that exercise outdoors, I'm convinced, they are absolutely essential when the temperature drops below 5 or so. I know this because my Yorkies come back limping from their 30-second morning pee breaks. I bootie them religiously on walks. I don't bootie them to go outside for a minute, but I would if it didn't take so long.

Animal Rescue Blog
A couple local animal advocates have started a rescue blog right here at the ADN. Check out the above link to read more from Carol Hawn-Miller and Cindy Liggett.

I see akvalleygirl74 has already discovered it. Probably lobbying for bonus points already!

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There's no right answer for this week's topic, but I'm curious to find out if dog owners set limits on how long they leave their pets alone.

It would seem an 8-hour workday is a pretty natural limit, but, then again, I know many pet owners who use their lunch break to go home and let their dogs out.