Take Norman, for example. Norman is a Briard dog from South Carolina who is no stranger to YouTube fame – his video, where he rides one of his owner’s children’s scooters successfully, racked up over two million hits and opened doors for him to appear on the David Letterman Show in New York. He has even featured on an Animal Planet special, called “Who let the dogs out?”, where he rode his scooter into the hearts of the nation.

Not content with simply standing on a scooter, however, Norman has now learned a task which can take children months to perfect. He has mastered the art of riding a bike, although the training wheels are still attached to ensure he doesn’t get hurt. Not only that, but he manages to cycle the streets where he lived after only ten weeks of training!

Owner Karen Cobb says “The most difficult part of training him to do this was building up the muscles in his back legs.

“It was the ‘hump’, or the rotation over the pedals, that was causing him to tire out quickly and now he knows to build the momentum because otherwise if the pedals are straight it can be too hard for him to turn them over.”

He is also an incredibly self-sufficient house guest, as he can close doors after himself and wiping his own face after eating. While he may be no Pudsey, he is certainly a very talented dog!

Following his success on Britain’s Got Talent, Pudsey is rumoured to be worth a staggering £10 million due to his worldwide acclaim. In fact, he even has his own agent who is currently in talks about bringing Pudsey to Hollywood, to follow in the paw prints of doggie screen icons such as Lassie and Uggy from “The Artist.”

Simon Cowell, who has become the capering canine’s biggest fan, has already trademarked his name with his company, Syco, and there are even talks of a book deal in the pipeline. And in case he worries travelling to America with the common canines in the hold, arrangements have been made for the pampered pooch to fly on Simon’s private jet, with his very own pet passport to hand over to immigration checks at the other end.

Not bad for walking on your hind legs, really!

Although Norman may not have achieved the dizzying heights of his own private plane, he could be well on his way. Who knows, if he keeps on going the way he is, maybe one day he will be able to fly one himself!

To watch Norman’s adorable antics, take a look at the video below.

Chocolate Labrador doing a Geri Halliwell impression

However, it appears that Uggie may have some competition in the cute stakes, with a new prima-donna pup splashed across the nation’s screens. Pudsey, a Border Collie/Bichon Frise/Chinese Crested crossbreed, has danced his way into the headlines for his performance on Britain’s Got Talent with owner and trainer Ashley.

Pudsey won over head judge Simon Cowell in a routine based on the hit children’s TV show the Flintstones, where he danced on his back legs, weaved in and out of Ashley’s legs and jumped through her arms. His antics, and faultless partnership with his handler, even brought a wide smile to the famously stony-faced judge.

Ashley upped the ante for their semi-final performance on Sunday night, where a 1920s flapper-based routine earned them a standing ovation from the judging panel. The performance also resonated with the audience at home, who placed the duo first of the evening. Again, Simon Cowell proved to be the pair’s most staunch supporter, saying “This is what I’ve been waiting for all my life.

“I would love a dog like that, I really would. Can’t we breed him and I can have the puppies?”

However, Ashley says that two great shows do not necessarily mean that their performance in the final will run smoothly.

“Pudsey has got his own mind – if he doesn’t want to do it he could easily just walk off the stage and say ‘I don’t feel like doing it today’.

“I don’t think people realise it is quite hard with a dog.”

The 17 year old and her six year old dog train daily to prepare for the highly competitive discipline of Heelwork to Music. As well as Britain’s Got Talent, they have performed at Crufts, one of the biggest dog shows in the world. However, Ashley claims that Pudsey is not fazed by the pressure of putting on a good performance.

She says “We have done Crufts, and Britain’s Got Talent – he has been phenomenal through the whole experience.

“I find the bigger the audience then the better he performs.”

Should they win the final of Britain’s Got Talent, they will go home with a cheque for £500,000 and a prized slot on the Royal Variety Performance. Ashley already has plans for this eventuality, as she hopes to buy a commercial property that will allow her to open a training school for film animals.

As for Pudsey? A “bling” collar and new bed are high on the wish list for the prima-donna pooch!

Win or lose, Ashley says that simply appearing on Britain’s Got Talent has been fantastic for both of them.

“Pudsey is loving it and we are both really enjoying the experience.”

DogDogs are certainly rooting for Ashley and Pudsey to prove who the top dog is on Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday Night. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to teach my Border Collie and Jack Russell how to tango – Britain’s Got Talent 2013 here we come!

Related Post: Pupstars – Dog Talent has Never Been so Popular

MatchPuppy has been launched in New York City, which allows dog owners to find matches to breed their dog, find playmates or just to meet up and go for a walk with fellow dog owners in their local area.

A similar service has been launched in San Francisco, called Spotwag, which allows users to find a pet sitting service in their area. Users can be thanked for their service with payment, a gift or simply by returning the favour. However people who do not own a pet can also register and offer their services to look after or walk a dog.

Of the service, the website states: “Spotwag turns your social network into a support network, making it as easy to coordinate pet sitting from friends as it is to call a professional.

“Never again feel pressure to leave your pet with a stranger. Spotwag makes asking for help or offering it easy for everyone.”

Both websites are free of charge and although the idea may seem ludicrous that your dog joins a social networking website, the service can really help. If you need to go away on short notice and don’t want to put your dog in a kennel, then these websites can really help you out in a sticky situation.

Going for walks with other dogs is also good for socialisation, both for the dog and yourself to meet new friends.

And, this week, it appears as if the Government have come to the same conclusion.

Public demand for a review of the Dangerous Dogs Act has been growing in recent months, with highly publicised attacks by “banned” dogs appearing in the national press on an almost weekly basis. For example, the London police officers attacked by a “pit-bull type” dog, and five days later, the attack on five year old Abbie Varrow by an Alsatian as she played in her friend’s garden in Essex.

Yet, the above example provides a glaring example of exactly why the Dangerous Dog Act simply does not work – the policemen were attacked by a dog resembling a Pit Bull Terrier, one of the four breeds that are banned in the UK. Alsatians, however, are not.

Ministers have reacted to this demand by proposing a radical change in dog ownership laws. Should the change in law be passed, every dog owner in the UK will be expected to have their dog microchipped, with the database storing information on the chip being made available to the police and RSPCA. This, they believe, would make tracking and prosecuting owners of dogs which have attacked people much easier.

However, concerns have been raised about the proposed amendments to the law already, with animal welfare groups claiming that responsible owners will comply but irresponsible owners will simply ignore these regulations.

Chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on animal welfare, Neil Parish MP, says “If we’re not careful we’re going to make things more difficult for legitimate dog owners, and not solve the real problem of dangerous dogs.

“We have got to find the dogs who are being bred illegally by people who mix breeds to create potentially vicious dogs.

“It’s not so much the dogs that should be targeted, but the owners who train them to be vicious.”

Similar proposals were put forward by the Labour government in 2010 – however, they were not implemented following an outcry by members of parliament opposed to the bill.

Chief executive of the RSPCA, Gavin Grant, claims that throwing the bill out of parliament was a mistake, however, and that previous governments had not done enough to protect the British public, and indeed the dogs themselves, from dangerous or abusive situations.

He says “Irresponsible ownership is dire for dogs and the community. Inaction by successive governments has seen it worsen.

“RSPCA inspectors, our animal rescue centres and veterinary clinics are left to pick up the pieces.

“The coalition has had eighteen months to reintroduce dog registration and microchipping that ties owners to their dogs. Previous governments have failed dogs and owners.

“The time for talking is past. We need effective action now.”

Microchipping is quick, easy and painless for dogs. A chip, around the same size as a grain of rice, is inserted into the “scruff”, or loose skin on the back of their neck. The microchip has a unique serial number that allows a scanner to bring up owner information on a central database, allowing the owner to be tracked if their dog is picked up by the police or taken to a rescue centre or vet.

Microchipping is not just a method of tracking “dangerous” dogs, but a way of tracing your dog should it become lost or stolen. DogDogs, for example, shared a story about a Staffordshire Bull Terrier from Bath who turned up in Kensington, London. It was only his microchip that allowed staff at Battersea Dogs Home to trace his owner, and facilitate an emotional reunion.

My two dogs were both microchipped at a year old, as if the chip is inserted when they are younger, the chip may migrate as they grow up. It is a sign of a responsible owner, and the cost – between £20 and £30 in most veterinary clinics – is negligible when considering the horrible possibility of your best friend going missing.

Do you agree that all dogs should be microchipped, or do you think this is a sign of a meddling government? How do you think we, as a society, could crack down on the growing problem of “dangerous dogs”?

Just like humans, dogs can become severely ill and require life saving surgery, or pick up an injury that can be fatal without swift treatment. In these situations, veterinary surgeons require blood donations in case the need for a transfusion arises. This is where your dog can help.

The Orwell Veterinary Group Hospital in Kesgrave, Suffolk, is urgently appealing for dog owners in the area to sign their furry friends up to their blood donor list, as they currently have only two pets registered to give blood in the case of an emergency situation. The group does not store blood, and although supplies can be sent from London, with an estimated delivery time of four hours it can often prove to be too late for some unfortunate dogs.

Nurse manager Alison Devonshire says “There have been cases where dogs have died when we just haven’t had the time to get the blood in from a distance.

“The quickest guarantee for delivery is four hours, so having donors that live fairly close to our hospital is the best for us.”

One dog that has benefited from life saving treatment at the Orwell Group Hospital is Ben, a springer spaniel who suffers from a form of anaemia. His owner, Sue Smedley, revealed how essential the blood donations from other dogs were in saving his life.

She says “Overnight he became very poorly and we thought we were going to lose him, so please could more people join as it’s a wonderful thing.

“He’s not doing too badly and hopefully he will come through it and be the little dog we used to know.”

To be accepted to the Orwell Group’s donor list, your dog must weigh at least 25kg, and be fully up to date with vaccinations. Due to health reasons, puppies under 1 year old and dogs older than 8 years cannot become donors.

As a dog owner, the thought of something happening to my beloved pets horrifies me – but imagining the vets being unable to save them due to a lack of blood supplies is even worse. If you live too far away from Kesgrave, there are plenty of veterinary hospitals across the country that could use your dog’s help.

After all, who knows when their dog could use a helping paw?

This spring, fashion is all about bright colours and edgy looks and, foolishly, here at DogDogs we assumed this was only applicable to humans. Yet celebrities such as Amber Heard have recently been spotted sporting dip-dyed dogs, causing a flurry of excitement in the more eccentric pet owners among us.

An owner of one such multicoloured mutt, who recently appeared on the Anderson show in the USA, explained to host Anderson Cooper that her dog, Swinger, was used to having his coat dyed, and that he had been having it done “since he was very young.”

She continued “I don’t think he cares, I don’t think it matters, he aims to please me. He loves his mama so much.”

Another guest interjected that she “wanted her beagle painted like a zebra before he got married.” However, I have decided to declare that point moot, in the belief that it raises far more questions than I can possibly begin to answer in this blog.

Swinger currently sports a grass green crop with red spotted ears. Brushing over the obvious clashing issue, I’m afraid to tell you it gets worse – when questioned about the preparation for Swinger’s, erm, head turning look, the owner admitted to using “Regular hair dye”, although she later pointed out that it was a vegan and non-toxic brand.

The dangers of using hair dyes on your dog are many and varied, with the most obvious (or so one would think) being the high risk of internal burns and organ failure, especially the liver and kidneys, should your pet ingest any toxic materials during the colouring process. As dogs tend to groom themselves when any unnatural substances come into contact with their fur, it’s safe to assume that using standard human hair dye will end up with an expensive, and potentially fatal, trip to the vet.

Food colouring or Kool-Aid, a powdered drink mix produced by Kraft Foods, is generally the most advisable method for turning your beloved pet into a panda, zebra or circus act, but considering that chocolate can potentially poison dogs, applying a thin coating of e-numbers is probably not going to be tremendously beneficial to their health either.

All of this excludes the less serious side effects of itching, skin irritations, and the fact that your dog may hold a grudge. So if you’re considering dyeing your Dalmatian or blue rinsing your Bichon Frise, take DogDogs’ advice – simply, don’t!

Are you a dog owner wishing to dye your dog? Or, alternatively, are you a dog who has become a victim of fashion and wishes to name and shame your owner on the internet? Join the debate on DogDogs’ Facebook page today!

Related Post: Are Britain’s most pampered pets just taking the biscuit?

The officers were mauled by the “pit bull-type” dog on Albert Square, in Newham, London. According to Scotland Yard, it was part of an operation, known as Operation Big Wing, which is an initiative designed to crack down on crime nationwide. The owner of the dog, Pierre Robinson, was a target for local police, with them keen to question him for charges related to GBH and violent kidnap. However, when the officers broke down the door to his home, the dog then began to savagely attack them. Armed officers then arrived on the scene, and were forced to shoot the animal four times in order to stop the mauling.

Robinson is now to appear in court charged under the Dangerous Dogs Act, as well as having to answer to the charges previously brought against him. The dog died at the scene.

A police statement released on the day of the attack said “Police attended an address in Albert Square to execute an arrest warrant at approximately 9am. While officers from Newham attempted to arrest a male suspect, they were attacked by a pit bull-type dog.

“A dog unit was called to the scene and CO19 Specialist Firearms Command also attended. The dog was contained and subsequently shot dead.”

The incident has, perhaps unfairly, led to calls for Dog Licenses to be reintroduced to Britain, as well as many suggestions for Staffordshire Bull Terriers to be added to the Banned Dogs List. As discussed in a previous blog on this site, certain breeds of dogs are being stereotyped as “violent”, primarily due to their prevalence in the illegal blood sport of dog fighting.

However, in this case no Staffordshire Bull Terriers were involved in the attack, which raises the question why they are being targeted with comments comparing them to dogs not allowed to be owned in this country, such as Pit Bulls and Japanese Tosas. Would Cocker Spaniels, for example, be vilified nationwide if one attacked someone in the street?

The reason for the widespread distrust of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed appears to be due to the heavy presence of violent imagery in the media, and also their unfortunate position of having become “status dogs” in many of the poorer areas of cities across the country. However, owners and breeders of the dogs argue vehemently that their pets are “loving, loyal and wouldn’t hurt a fly” – a clear demonstration that not all Staffies can be tarred with the same brush.

So to return to my initial question – should we judge the breed before the deed? It appears, like with any dog, that if the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is treated with love and respect, and receives the correct training and socialisation as a puppy, they will grow to become beloved family pets, much like your average Labrador or West Highland Terrier. But society must first protect them from those who covet them as a legal form of weapon, before it’s too late and this beautiful breed is tarnished forever.

What is your opinion of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier? Do you own a Staffie and have an opinion on this topic? Like DogDogs’ facebook page and get involved in the debate.

However, it is not only people cursing the greenery bursting into life around us – pollen can affect your pet, too.

Across the pond in the USA, vets are struggling with the rising number of pet owners dragging their coughing Chihuahuas and sneezing Saint Bernards into clinics up and down the country; all of whom have been struck down with “mystery ailments”. Symptoms include everything from discolouration of hair between their toes to vomiting, diarrhoea and open sores developing under fur, as well as hair loss from excessive scratching. This is usually in a pet that appeared to be completely healthy until – you guessed it – spring had sprung.

Unfortunately, like humans, all dogs can be susceptible to an allergy of some kind, as it is not a genetic trait that can be bred out of a breed type. Four types of allergy exist: airborne, which includes irritants such as pollen and dust mites; flea, resulting in bites from the miniscule pests; food, commonly poultry; and contact, similar to detergent allergies in humans. Flea allergies are by far the most common.

If you suspect your pet may be suffering from an allergy of any type, the first thing to look for is excessive scratching, according to internal medicine specialist veterinarian Donna Spector, from Illinois. However, a word of warning – diagnosis is neither quick nor cheap.

She says “Allergies are a real head-banger. They are frustrating for vets, they’re frustrating for clients and the dogs itch like crazy so we know it is frustrating for them. Allergies are very challenging to diagnose accurately because it’s a diagnosis of exclusion.

“It takes a lot of money and a lot of time. It takes a very dedicated owner.”

An example of one owner who went the extra mile to scratch her pet’s itch is Angela Duyao, from California. Her two year old Shih Tzu, Harley, was diagnosed with poultry and pollen allergies – a full 18 months and over $1,000 after the initial visit to the vet! Harley was sneezing excessively, vomiting after some meals and developing small bald patches on his legs and belly for two years before vets could diagnose his allergies and prescribe the medication necessary to solve the problem.

Other symptoms to look out for are rashes, watery eyes, ear infections and an unusually wet or dripping nose. If you suspect your dog has any type of allergy, it is advisable to start a diary recording the time frame and situation the symptoms appear in, for example when walking though a certain park or after eating a certain type of food.

And, while it may be hilarious to watch a Labrador exploding into a sneezing fit, your pet will feel much better for a visit to the vet. Just remember to take along a copy of your pet insurance agreement!

Libby, a five year old cross breed, was competing in the agility event on the second day of the four day event when she was caught short in front of the weave poles, around 30 seconds into the run. As a crowd of 6,000 dog owners and enthusiasts looked on, her mortified owner was left with no option but to “scoop the poop” and leave the arena with a red face – and her tail firmly between her legs. Unfortunately, a dog answering the call of nature in the ring is a big no-no at the international dog show, so Libby was automatically disqualified.

However, the commentators saw the funny side of the unfortunate incident, laughing and joking as the disgraced dog trotted out of the arena after her embarrassed owner. One quipped “A dog’s got to do what a dog’s got to do.”

In fact, Libby’s antics have earned her YouTube glory, with a video of her Crufts appearance (entitled “HILARIOUS – Dog takes a dump on TV”) gaining over a million hits in less than a week from viewers all over the world.

And it’s not only on the internet the cross breed has gained fans – PETA has named the defecating doggie their “Dog of the Year”. While it may not be “Crufts Agility Champion”, it is certainly a title not to be pooh-poohed at!

Yvonne Taylor, spokesperson for PETA, praised Libby, saying “Libby is a true role model who showed independence, self-assurance and the ability to triumph over conformity. She is a dog who bows to no-one, and we commend her for that.”

After Libby’s “foul-up”, the rest of the competition ran smoothly, with Slovakian Egorray, owned by Helena Potfojova, eventually being crowned winner of the Large Dog Agility Group. Meanwhile, the winner of the Medium Dog contest was Reannes Flipping Heck, owned by Natasha Wise; and O’Bay Itz Got Pizazz, owned by Bernadette Bay of O’Bay Shetland Sheepdogs in West Sussex, won the Small Dogs competition.

Crufts ran from the 8^th – 11^th March at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham.

For example, the video entitled “Ultimate Dog Tease”, which shows a “talking” German Shepherd begging for a treat, has notched up over 98 million views in only 10 months. Or, slightly more worryingly, there are more than 3 million hits for a video entitled “Dog farts and makes a super funny face.”

I’m sure no explanation of the contents of the latter video is required.

However, some videos seem to demonstrate genuine doggy talent. For example, one dog from Finland has enchanted viewers worldwide with his singing and piano-playing antics. Petu was captured on camera by her owner while “playing” the piano while standing on her back legs and howling in various tunes, giving the impression that she was singing along. And, just to add some variety to the act, the talented pooch even uses her nose to reach keys on the lower end of the scale while her front paws tinkle the high ivories.

While her tone may be slightly off key and playing somewhat erratic, more than 900,000 YouTube followers have admired her recital since the video was uploaded at the beginning of this month. Perhaps Englebert Humperdink and Jedward should be concerned about the Finnish competition at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest!

However, for more “traditional” dog talent, television plays its canine trump card with the annual Crufts dog show, beginning tonight at half past 6 on Channel 4. As well as dogs competing for the highly regarded “Best in Show” ribbon, owners can put their pets through their paces – or sometimes the other way round! – with agility and flyball competitions running throughout the three day event.

Crufts pioneered the agility discipline in the late 1970s as a form of entertainment for the audience during intermissions from the main showing events. However, the light entertainment sport soon became hugely popular, and is now seen as an event in its own right, with major worldwide competitions held annually. As classes are determined by the size of the dog, as opposed to the breed, a wide variety of dogs can compete, from the traditional Border Collie and Australian Shepherd, to smaller breeds such as Jack Russells and Welsh Corgis – even Toy Poodles and Chihuahuas have been known to do well!

Flyball, on the other hand, comes from across the pond, in Southern California, and began as a dog hurdling sport in the 1960s. It involves a team of four dogs competing in relay to hurdle four jumps and catch a tennis ball launched by a trigger pad. The sport has become so popular that annual European Championships are held for hundreds of competing teams, with the 2012 event due to be held in the UK later on this year.

Of course, an eagerly anticipated feature every year is Mary Ray’s heelwork to music routine, although whether she will be performing with her troop of choreographed canines this year remains to be confirmed.

So, for dog lovers looking for their television fix, Crufts will surely provide a great deal of excitement, being the biggest date in the canine calendar. As for the rest of the year, Youtube will be there for the remaining 352 days to showcase piano playing pooches, singing Salukis and waltzing Whippets.