Malu does his darndest to scratch an itch that he can't reach. He is a 1 1/2 year old French Bulldog who loves his mommy, people, and dogs! He plays in the surf and sand but his absolute favorite place to be is at the dog park where he can play with all his other doggie friends!

Thank you Kandy for sharing Malu's beautiful picture and his over-achieving scratching tendencies with us! :-)

Oh dear.

Leona Helmsley's dog Trouble is charged with biting a woman's hand.

Leona insists! that Trouble did no such thing...and she never evaded taxes either :-)

The cutest site is officially here.

You can also find a ton of fun things for sale such as THE DOG CLUB bedding:

Modern Pooch dares you to buy it! If so, please let us know how it works out with your pooch who now has to share the bed with a gazillion other pooches!

If a puppy recently entered your life, you're probably feeling like the luckiest person in the world and the unluckiest person in the world because your puppy is chewing everything to pieces!

You're not alone and this good resource will help you get through the tough teething times!

Good luck!

LexViola dog bowls reach new heights...literally.

Ever think it doesn't quite seem right for your pooch to lean down so far to drink water? I mean, we don't...so why should the pooches we love so?

Here's the remedy...and a stylish one at that!

Pooch will have to bend over no longer! Good for senior pooches, I'd imagine.

A small but delightful gallery of a Bichon Frise named Qster.

Hey QT Qster! Sparky's winking at you!!

If you're in the 'my dog can't just have one collar!' camp, well then, this site is for you.

Very cute dogs modeling cool collars in...

polka dots:

stripes:

and camo:

...and more!

Modern Pooch loves stories like this!!

9 months after dognapping, owner is reunited with her beloved dog...identified through the microchip implanted in the pooch!

Persistently cute and funny pics of pooches...one after the other!!

Such as:

Would you let yourself go to any old doctor?

Would you not take the time to ask for referrals or to interview the doc?

Well people often treat their dogs better than they do themselves so those questions might not serve my purpose but the point is...

that it's very important to choose a good vet for your pooch!!

Her "grandmother" did this to her. She is an amazing dog that we adopted at age 6 (older dog adoptions ROCK!) She is an important part of the team renovating This Old Crappy House. You can read some of our many stories about Coco starting here.

Thanks to Jeanne Marie for the cute and funny pic!

Do you have a pooch who's a little on the chubby side?

Have a pooch that you think would enjoy a challenge?

How about trying the Buster Cube? Make your pooch work his brain and body for treats!

This might even be a good thing for senior dogs to help ward off the old Alzheimers!

...the female black Labrador has chewed through a couch, a window sill, two cell phones and two carpets...."So she's cost me about a grand," Anderson said as he stroked Midnight, who answers to Middy. "She's a goat. She'll eat anything."

Well this goat-dog couch-chewer should be commended!

Couch-chewing and life-saving...it's a tough jobby being a doggy.

Update: Wetley was found, safe and sound and returned to his happy owner!!!

From a message board: "Yolanda said right after they finished plastering flyers everywhere, they got a tip. The sheriff followed it up and Wetley was there safe and sound! I don't have any details yet. I think Yolanda is probably too busy kissing and hugging Wetley!"

:-) :-) :-)

We adopted Ginger from Save a Dog and she was scared of pretty much everything the first few weeks (cars, noises, the cat, even us sometimes) but she has come a long way and is barely recognizable as the petrified dog she was. She's still not a fan of car rides and timid around new people, but she's great once she feels comfortable and her personality comes out.

Thanks to Tom and Sharon for giving Ginger a chance and for sharing her story and beautiful photos!

A slain German fashion designer has in fact left his luxurious home to his beloved Daisy, a Yorkshire Terrier...the designer's former chauffeur will move in with Daisy...

Always wanted that Yorkie necklace? Here ya go!

Always wanted those Cocker Spaniel cufflinks (that look more like Basset hound cuffflinks)? Here they are!

Always wanted Bichon Frise earrings? Why, take these!

Get your paws on these pieces of jewelry as well as more at Dog Jewelry by Erwin Pearl, The Adorable Pooches Collection of Dog Jewelry.

Pooch may not be so clever after all?

Modern Pooch believes experiments and ruminations on this topic are interesting and worth thinking about however we already know where we stand on this debate - Pooches are the best and can do no wrong :-)

Try not to lose sight of your pooch even for a second when hanging out on the roof of a Manhattan apartment building!!!

Modern Pooch gives a warm welcome to Goggle Dog a new and irresistably cute blogger on the scene!

We hope you keep these cute pics coming!

Goggle Dog:

Art world Dog:

Goggle PI:

What do you know...the iPod has been reborn as a dog!

Sega's iDog "does the usual stuff we’ve come to expect from robot pets, like responding “emotionally” to touches to its various sensors. Its main claim to fame is its musical ability, though: it’ll improvise tunes based on 720 internal musical phrases, changing the mood of the music as you wave your hand over the phototransistor on its head..."

Modern Pooch wonders what an iDog vs Dog video would look like...we already know what the AIBO vs Dog video looks like!!

Check out this funny video clip from Mazda starring one cute pooch looking for the perfect squirting place!

* No dogs were harmed in the making of this clip except one dog that was sprayed in the eye.

A true rags to riches story about Argyle and Fred, two formerly homeless dogs who will soon be making their Broadway debuts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!

"This is the ultimate dream for a rescue dog," said Deborah Miller, who saved Argyle, a 10-month old collie, from a life spent locked in a Bronx basement. "To go from somebody's trash to a Broadway star."

Fred, an eight-month old foxhound mix, was brought to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals after his owner gave him up.

Little Fred's lookin' a little fiesty, there! Stage fright, no doubt!

Wetley is missing :-( and his owners miss him terribly...for more information and pictures, click here.

Modern Pooch really really really hopes to help find Wetley!

We found Elsa Von Facebiter on a stormy night in the 'hood as we were coming home from a bit of a night out partying. She was standing in the intersection, attempting to get into moving vehicles and clearly in a panic. I hopped out and checked her collar for tags, with no luck. Long story short: we ended up keeping her. She came trained. She fetches. She gets the paper. She stays. The only command she doesn't understand is "don't eat the fence," which she does with tenacity and class. The name is noble. She is a Hapsburg. I wanted something equally regal and menacing, and I've always wanted to name a dog "Facebiter" just to see the reaction people would have when they were petting her in a public space, their faces a little too close to hers. In all actuality, she is super sweet. But in the 'hood, when I walk her, people cross the street to avoid her. That's a good feature.

Thanks to Scott for the pic, the story and the laugh...Modern Pooch loves Ms. Von Facebiter!

A stink was raised during halftime of the Detroit Pistons-Orlando Magic NBA game on Tuesday night when the start of the second half was delayed by three minutes after a guide dog relieved itself on the court.

For more stinky news, read further!

Are the Jones' coming over with their perfectly groomed pooch?

Or does it just look like your pooch has something living in his coat?

Either way, here are tips on how to get that burr or piece of gum out of your pooch's otherwise meticulous coat!

Grandma Adina does everything with her dogs Laurel & Hardy...even eats with them too! Check out the video!

This was the funnest (Modern Pooch wishes this were really a word) feeding time ever witnessed!

A very funnily written article about San Francisco's 'anti-humping law'.

Excerpt:

"Dogs will hump your leg. I would not consider that a violation of Section 41.12 of the city Health Code," noted Friedman, a man of wealth, taste, and sophistication who would only allow me to quote him if I promised to say something nice about the Department of Animal Care and Control. "I should turn you over to the City Attorney's Office. But I think that, to be in violation of the law, the animals should be in the process of copulation."

There just aren't as many hot bitches in San Francisco as there once were.

Even old dogs can get tricky!...with a daily dose of exercise and a diet packed with vitamins, fruits and vegetables.

This doggy might need that dose right about now!

There once was a skateboarding bulldog named Tyson...who was loved and admired near and far...

Check out his most recent video that will have you incredulous. Be sure to watch Tyson 'pick up the skateboard' after wipeouts.

It's no wonder he's going to be in a movie coming out in the spring...Hollywood (and Modern Pooch) love this stuff!!

I guess it was only a matter of time until this popped up on the web:

Date My Pet: Online Dating For Pet Lovers Or Their Pets

Let's hope there's no 'pimping out' of pets!!

Thanks to Jane for the link!

This JOG A DOG dog treadmill has not been tested by Sparky nor any other pooches I know but could work...maybe?

If Jog a Dog were able to double as a Jog a Person...may be worth it...maybe?

Painfully cute photos of a Weimaraner.

Here's an irresistable sampling:

A nice, thorough and well-designed site to help you find breed information, breeders, etc.!

Thank you to Modern Pooch designer, Peter Green for this pic of Annie Starr and her New Year greetings!

Midwest Airlines "decided that it was high time to throw a bone to our frequent customers — and their best friends."

And so as pioneers in the pet-airline industry they are rewarding pooches with one free round-trip ticket for every three round-trip flights that they take with their owners!

One of Animal Planet's Case Studies examines and explains Maxx's drinking problem.

Yogi is a fun loving dog that never meets a stranger. She is always ready to give a big grin! She is not just a dog, she's a best friend.

Thanks to Joni for the cute photo and for bear hugging Yogi Bear!

Oh those crazy Brits...they've got a Doggy Slimmer of the Year Contest and the prize went to...Max, a collie mix who weighed what a healthy 15 year old weighs!

He was a slim dog in a fat body.

Among his prizes is a year's supply of dog food...let's make sure that lasts a full year, alright?!!

A very interesting article by Jon Katz about the failure of dog training...the most recent article in Slate.com's highly enjoyable Heavy Petting - Pets and People series.

Neurotic and compulsive dog behaviors like barking, biting, chasing cars, and chewing furniture—sometimes severe enough to warrant antidepressants—are growing. Lesser training problems—an inability to sit, stop begging, come, or stay—are epidemic.

Pack theory, for example, asks us to behave like dogs in order to communicate with them. This works better if you have a tail.

Oh boy. An image editing service that allows you to put your pooch in a uniform...but thankfully without really having to do so!

Too funny.

Obsessed with Staffordshire Bull Terriers and looking for desktop wallpapers?

You're in luck!

Here's an adorable example:

Max was a blind pooch with a supposedly good sense of direction but lost his way one day...find out how Max and owner were reunited!

What a great service Animal Planet and the Humane Society of the United States have teamed up to provide: Yelpline for all your animal care and behavior questions.

Dog owners! I really hope that your pooches never make it onto these Dangerous Dog Lists that are starting to spring up in some counties!

Jake is 10 and has been with me since 1995. Charlie Bone (his full name is Charles Foster Bone) is a rescued Lab who has been with me since April 04. They are best pals from the get go! We go Up North as much as we can in the summer. The boys swim and hike with me!

Thanks to Michael Stephens for sharing these sweet sweet pooches with us!

A funny story about a man catching a pooch that fell from a balcony..

[It was] like the 'Funniest Home Videos' on TV," Gallien said. "I wish we had been filming it, so I could have sent it in. It would have won first place."

Beware: An overall really depressing article containing an amazing story about a dog saving a life during the tsunami disaster.

A hilarious video entitled Dogwatcher...could be edited shorter but worth it nonetheless:

Thanks for the link Chelsea!

Well ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration but police dog trading cards do seem to be very popular in Macomb COunty, Michigan! I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for doggy trading cards to reach the popularity of baseball cards though...we'll just have to wait anxiously and see!

Check out this video...unless you have a weak heart!

Can you guess what happens?

Oh, how we love San Francisco...

SF just passed a law to protect our best friends:

A new "backyard dog" law says canines are entitled to a change of water once a day, palatable and nutritious food in a non-tipping bowl, and a dog house with a top, bottom and three sides. Tying up the dog is highly discouraged.

If you and your dog both start to look like this, there's reason to worry:

This is our 3 year old dog Lola. She's a schnoodle. At least that's what we think. We got her from the pound and she's done a great job as family lap dog and keeping our 10 year old lab Bean on her toes.

Schnoodle, schnoodle, schnoodle...it's too much fun to say!

Thanks to Bob for the photo and the schnoodle adoption!

Please do NOT keep 47 dogs plus cats and other animals! Not good for the animals, it smells terrible and they'll get taken away from you for sure!

Although very expensive, dog owners are now turning to MRIs for help in curing their sick pooches.

"Our caseload is growing," said Rodney Page, professor of oncology at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine. "We probably do three to five a week at this point."

Hobbes was rescued from a local shelter the day before he was scheduled to be euthanized. His hip was shattered. Through generous donations, the rescue group, PetsConnect, raised enough money for Hobbes' surgery. We found him at Petsmart and fell in love immediately. One of his biggest talents is holding up his left ear, or his right ear, or both!

Taken shortly after we adopted Hobbes so you can see where he was shaved for his surgery.

Thank you to Nancy for the pictures, amazing story and most importantly for rescueing Hobbes!

The recent discovery of a faulty gene that causes epilepsy in dogs is a great find because it allows scientists to study, manage and hopefully cure this disease. Within this discovery is another good find about managing a poor pooch's epilepsy: One of the simplest managements is doggy sunglasses, which means they can be walked and enjoy life!

New York City put fewer dogs and cats to death this year than in any year on record since the 1890's.

Here is Ms. Adina Cherkin, a remarkable lady and loving owner of two dachshunds named Laurel & Hardy, sharing with me her views on short legged dogs versus long legged dogs.

Click for a video you will love. It's a Modern Pooch guarantee!

Winner of the I Look Like My Dog Contest can delight in the fact that they really really really look like their dog!

Here are two teasers for you:

Dogs are great sniffers and have been known to sniff out health problems...will they be able to sniff out various types of cancer?

Scientists are encouraged and believe that dog nose best...

Feed an animal in need...everyday!...with just a click!

It doesn't get easier or better than that - try it!

What a great site and service. Modern Pooch loves you!

Thank you Jodi for the link!

When pooches show loyalty and solidarity by burning the midnight oil with their owners, they should be commended. Here's Bo working late into the night with Joi:

It's true. Dog litter exists but what's the verdict, people? Please tell Modern Pooch how you feel about this.

Even if you've seen this before, it's impossible not to drool over these cuties again and again. Click for more!

Just before the New Year, Army Reserve Capt. Gabriella Cook sent an urgent e-mail from Iraq requesting food shipments. Not for her or her unit — for Iraqi police dogs.

The response has been overwhelming and as the veterinarian looking after Cook's pets said, "If one dog smells one bomb and saves a platoon's life, it's worth it."

Sparky and I have finally gotten it together and created her Dogster page! Dogster is the best online dog park ever! So many pooch friends (and possibly even more than friends!) to check out for dogs and dog owners alike!

Sparky's already developed a crush. His name is Bruiser. She's always had a thing for German Shepherds.

Sparky:

+ Bruiser:

= A match made in heaven, no?!

A court in Italy has ordered a man to pay maintenance to his divorced wife for their pet dog.

She said: "He has to pay maintenance for our two children, so why shouldn't he pay for the care of our dog Pepi, which we bought together. With food and vet bills a dog can cost almost as much as a child to raise."

Oh, divorce is messy and so are two children and a pooch! Hope it works out!

Are you a Corgi lover and an arts and crafts lover? Well now you have the perfect combination of the two!

Check it out:

Best of all, Most items can be custom painted to match your CORGI or the area you want to put the item in!!

Thanks to Michelle for the link!

Just in from Nicole in CA...Byron, featured yesterday (3 posts below) just graduated from guide dog training and is now a full-fledged guide dog!

Graduation photo of the smart, handsome fellow:

Byron will go on to do great things! Modern Pooch congratulates both of you!

Freddie, a 13 year-old Pekingnese mix survives snatch by eagle!

He was chilled, but he seemed to be able to walk. He seemed remarkably chipper for what he'd gone through. He's our miracle.

Now this is the kind of story Modern Pooch likes!!

Now that dog obesity has become a concern, dog owners are encouraged to weigh your puppy and make sure to walk your pooch enough. Guidlines for different sized pooches provided.

Byron in a guide dog puppy in training. In this picture he is about 5 months old. Now he is about a year and a half and in the final stages of his guide dog training. He will be graduating in January. He is the best dog in the world.

Thanks to Nicole Peretti for the photo and for training the soon to be graduated Byron!

Let's take the good lead of actrees Isabella Rossellini and train a guide dog! She's been training her current guide dog for 10 months and explains, "it allows me to combine my love of dogs with work for my community."

Go Izzy and all guide dog trainers!

Don't be fooled by all the cute puppies! If you're in the market for a pup, make sure to do your research so that you don't wind up with a sick puppy from the infamous puppy mills!

As you know, Modern Pooch came to an unfortunate standstill over the holidays because of technical difficulties (which should not happen again!)...but fortunately the Modern Pooch editor was able to be reunited with this little pooch.

For more Sparky cuteness click here

Uuumm, if your pooch is having a pee-ew type of problem, perhaps you want to consider one of these?

I'll bet the poor pooches will not be having fun nor singing the thong song...

Who doesn't love labradors? No one, it seems! And for plenty of good reasons...here's a whole lotta love for Labs.

This is Nimo. Well, Nimo Joseph Brown to be exact. But you can call him Booey, Moomie, Joe, Joey, Boodgie, Jugie, Booby, Baby Boo, Mama's baby, Papa's baby, boogielicious or, if he is bad,(hardly EVER) Nimo Joseph Brown! Can you tell we don't have kids?!

Thanks to Karen for this beautiful pic of Nimo and for having all of Nimo's nicknames instead of kids :-)

Putting dog hair to use! Clearly, one allergic person's nightmare is another's delight!

"Miller, an elementary school principal who brings his golden retriever, Kimball, to school each day, collected enough of his dog's hair to create a blanket, two couch pillows, a small teddy bear, a scarf and a picture frame."

Here are some good tips for traveling with your pooch by plane or car but be warned before your travels...

Your pooch may have caught wind of these pampering opportunities:

• The Ritz-Carlton on Central Park has a "Doggy and Me" weekend package with a gift photograph, use of an ultra-chic pet carrier, 22-karat-gold-plated identification tags, aromatherapy coat spritz treatments, home-cooked dog treats and use of a doggie trench coat, leather jacket or cashmere sweater if the weather is bad.

• The two upscale Muttropolis outlets in Southern California have "pooch parties" at which dogs can relax on dog furniture and watch "movies geared to dogs."

Be strong! Pooches need love and attention, not over the top luxury...although it couldn't hurt anything!...well, maybe just your bank account!

Don't we all know that dogs love getting their teeth cleaned!

One dog owner's foray into the wonderful world (not from your dog's perspective) of electric toohbrushes and teethbrushing for your pooch.

Look at all the fun that can be had!

Thanks for the link, Chelsea!

Have a poor pooch with debilatating arthritis? Ever thought of trying acupuncture? Check out one dog owner's happy story.

An interesting article by an author, breeder and trainer:

How your dog learns: Pictures, pitch, tone, pleasure and repetition are the keys to retention

Toby is the best dog in the whole wide world and I love love LOVE HIM!!! Isn't he CUTE?!?!

Modern Pooch answer = YES, most definitely.

Thanks for the cute picture and the easy question, Ingrid!

For all the Postmodern pooches out there...finally there's furniture and other goodies for you!

According to a recent UK survey on dog names, these are the top 5 celebrity names people have named their pooches:

1. Rambo or Rocky

2. Ozzy

3. Elvis

4. Posh

5. Britney

What?! No Snoop?!?!!

Some pooches have discovered the joys of podcasting!

Thanks Joi!

Dog, best friend...life saver!!!

This heroic pooch saved the life of his 7 year-old companion by dragging him by his shirt out of tsunami danger.

Saving lives is hard work. The life saver is taking a well deserved breather below:

Remember us asking you to cast your vote for a certain pooch (name begins with a T) for the 2004 Great American Mutt Contest?

Well, maybe Modern Pooch readers tipped the scales because the winner has been announced...and it's Toby, the blind pooch with a sad history but a happy present!

Look at Toby flanked by his proud parents! :-)