Yesterday we blogged about our lazy weekend. Today we want to show you what our cousins (the Pit Bull mix and the Bassett Hound) did. They went to this beautiful area called the Cleveland Metroparks. It surrounds the cities of Cleveland like a green necklace (it’s really neat and beautiful). There is hiking, biking, creek-walking, dog-walking (or running), swimming and all kinds of other grrr-eat activities to do there.

Here are some pictures of our cousins Henry and Tux in the water.

Creekwalking Dogs!

Tux with a Big Stick

The Bassett Hound Swims

We are a little jealous of all the fun they had creek-walking, swimming and chewing and chasing sticks in the water. Our parents promised us we can go this weekend though so we are really looking forward to it!

Do you have a favorite swimming spot? Share it with us!

Benson and Gibson

Here is a look back at some of my favorite dog pictures from the last few months (of my own family’s dogs of course):

Henry the Bassett Hound

Gibson the White Golden Retriever

Benson the Amazing Froggy Doggy

Golden Dishwashers

Henry was famous here at work last Friday on Take Your Dog to Work Day. He lived the life of a Copywriter for the day and loved it. We had a fun-filled day of getting lots of pets, eating lots of treats, perusing around the silent auction, entering the cutest pet photo contest, taking a big group photo, and oh yeah - actually working.

Here are some of the pictures I got of him. In this one he is sitting in the hallway with me:

In this one he is laying under my desk, all worn out from running around outside with other dogs…

And after a long day of fun and being spoiled, he lied down under my desk to take a nap. (This picture really shows his extra wide Bassett body. Yes, we are aware that he needs to go on a diet.)

And here he is by his water bowl, patiently waiting for another dog to walk down the hallway so he can sniff him up and down…

Here he is making some new friends outside:

Tomorrow, Friday, June 20 is National Take Your Dog to Work Day! Hooray! Can’t wait to participate in this one.

I’m bringing along Henry (aka Peanut) the sassy Bassett Hound I have referred to in previous posts. Hopefully he will refrain from his vocal antics for the day. He loves to moan, whine, bay and howl at things - especially other dogs. We’ll see how it goes…

For those of you taking part in the festivities (or not I guess), send this cute pet eCard to other revelers:

The ASPCA recently put up some helpful information on their site. Click to read Top 10 Office Etiquette Tips for Dogs.

Here is a picture of Henry - I entered him in a pet photo contest for my work so I hope he wins! All day tomorrow Henry will see what its like to be a professional Interactive Copywriter for the day!

This video is hilarious. It’s of two of the dearest Bassett Hounds (well one is a Pit Bull/Bassett/Lab mix) having a jolly old time on the school playground. Enjoy!

Every year the American Kennel Club comes out with a list of the Most Popular Purebred Dogs (based on 50 major U.S. cities).  It’s funny to me how the breeds in here run the gamut, but I wonder why so many of the breeds that I know and love get left out.

The big headline this year was that, bringing up the rear end at Number 10, the Bulldog once again made the Top Ten list (after a 75-year abscence). As usual the Labrador Retriever topped the list followed by the Yorkshire Terrier, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Beagle and Boxer.

The Dachshund comes in at Number 7; easy to see why so many people prefer these precious pooches if you check out the funny photos at Dogster’s Dog Blog.

The rest of the list holds Poodles and Shih Tzus coming in before the English Bulldog.

The AKC’s list is based on registrations trends, so who knows how many pups from those purebred litters actually get sold directly to families (whimper).  Plus, they don’t count really popular mixed breeds like the Golden-Doodle and Puggle.

Personally, I think rescue dogs and strays make a pretty darn good sweetie, too. (Check out Dogs’ Aye View for some fresh rescue perspective.)

 I would also like to see Bassett Hounds, Blood Hounds and Pit Bulls make a comeback (numbers 31, 43 and 58, respectively) !

Share with me; give your perspective on what your favorite breeds are.

Henry is a wayward Basset Hound.                                               
His nose is always to the ground.                                                               
He feels the need to announce himself,                                                                 
to other dogs on a walk, to people, and himself.
Henry prefers to spend his days lounging around.                                                       

Henry’s nose is long and stout.                                                           
It frequently steers him about.
He loses all control
When chasing smells is his goal.
His nose directs his whereabouts.

Henry likes to run away.
He gets caught up in a world of smells day-to-day.
He sneaks out the back,
His owner has a mild heart attack.
He then saunters home in his nonchalant way.

Henry’s ears hang down to his toes.
They’re almost as long as his banana nose.
They take quick dips in the water bowl
They get ice-covered on walks in the snow
Amazing how he can’t hear a thing when his owner scolds.

Henry has three-inch-long legs.
He uses them to look pitiful when he begs.
He whines and he squawks,
‘Til he gets what he wants
He makes visitors think he’s underfed.
 

Sometimes Henry’s too lazy to go potty.
He hates moving his hovercraft Bassett body.
He’ll just go in the driveway
Making his owner deal with the fray
He doesn’t care when he’s being naughty.

We call him a Perpendicular Peanut
We call him the Tubular Dog
Henry is genuinely one-of-a-kind
with his stubborn little Bassett mind.
He’s the sweetest little hound one could ever hope to find.