Video of dogs barking the Star Wars theme is too cool for Jedi school!

The Force is strong is with this choir of crooning canines...

 

...and may the Force be with you too!

Bo remembers the hero dogs of 9/11

 
2753 lives lost. I've watched many of the television specials showing the events of September 11, 2001 as they unfolded. I cannot fathom what it was like for those people working in the Twin Towers and the Pentagon that day or those innocents trapped on the hijacked planes.

I salute those men, women and canines who lept into action trying to free anyone trapped in the rubble and then searching for remains that could be tested for DNA and bring some much needed closure to the victim's families.

Many of my cousins assisted in the search, rescue and recovery efforts, able to manuever in, around and under the rubble where no human could go.

Watch this wonderful video tribute to the canine heros of 9/11 produced by DogFiles

 

My kin, along with their human co-workers, did their very best in the aftermath of the devastating tragedy and in the midst of so much sorrow, brought what comfort they could to their human counterparts. 

We are called "man's best friend" for a reason. We truly care about you and will continue to do all that we can and all that you ask of us in return for your love and loving care.

Video of the world's smartest dog and dog IQ quizzes for your pup!

 
Personally, I have never doubted the superior intelligence of myself or my canine cousins, as a matter of fact I think our brilliance is quite obvious.

Take me for example, Bo Obama - The First Dog of the United States of America, who wields the power to influence our leader on important world issues like creating a worldwide "Give Your Dog a Bone and All the Treats He Can Eat Day." Granted, humans are not always quick to pick-up on the golden bones of wisdom we so generously toss their way but given enough time, they usually come around.

I present Exhibit A: NOVA's "How Smart Are Dogs" video. Sit back and prepare to be amazed by Chaser, a six-year-old female Border Collie, who understands more than 1,000 words! Still not convinced canines are wicked smart? Then check-out the deductive reasoning acumen she demonstrates during the "Darwin test."

And what about those chimps?! ROTFLOL! Cheetah's got nothin' on me and my dawgs! Boo-ya!

 

In case the video has you wondering how smart your faithful fur-ball is, try a couple of these dog intelligence tests:

Dog Under Towel Test

How to do the test

1. Your dog should be awake and reasonably active
2. Let the dog sniff the towel
3. With a quick smooth motion throw the towel over the dogs head, so it's head and shoulders are completely covered (you may want to practice this without the dog first). Start timing and watch silently.

Scoring

If the dog frees itself in 5 seconds or less ..................................................................................	5 points
In 5 to 15 seconds .........................................................	4 points
In 15 to 30 seconds .......................................................	3 points
In 30 to 60 seconds .......................................................	2 points
If the dog hasn't freed itself after 60 seconds ..........................................................................	1 point

Retrieving from Under a Barrier Test

For this test you will need to create a table low enough to stop your dogs head from getting under it, but high enough off the ground to get it's paw under. You can make it out of some bricks or large books and a board.

How to do the test

1. Make sure your dog is watching you from nearby.
2. Show your dog the tidbit of food and even let it sniff it.
3. With the dogs full attention slowly place the tidbit just far enough under the table, that the dog can use its paws to retrieve it
4. Start timing and encourage your dog to get the food.

Scoring

If your dog uses its paws to retrieve the food in 60 seconds or less......................................	5 points
If your dog uses its paws to retrieve the food in 1 to 3 minutes............................................................................	4 points
If your dog uses it's muzzle only and fails to get the bait, or if it uses it's paws and hasn't retrieved the food after 3 minutes ...............................................................	3 points
If your dog doesn't use it's paws, simply sniffs and gives one or two tries with it's muzzle ..........................	2 points
If your dog has made no attempt to retrieve the bait after 3 minutes ...............................................................	1 point

Does Your Dog Know Its Name Test

How to do the test

1. Your dog should be settled comfortably around two meters in front of you.
2. In the voice tone you use to call your dog call "refrigerator"

Scoring

If the dog shows some response to come....................	3 points
If the dog does not come, call "movies" in the same tone. If the dog comes......................................................	2 points
If the dog still has not responded call it's name. If the dog comes or shows any tendency to move to you .....	5 points
If the dog has not moved, call it's name a second time. If the dog comes ..............................................................	4 points
If the dog still doesn't come ............................................	1 point

For more dog intelligence tests and final score results visit Dog IQ Tests.

^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABCNews.com, NOVA Science Now}

Bo salutes U.S. Navy Seals Team 6 and Cairo, their Belgian Malinois teammate!

 

 
This is one of those occasions where it is perfectly acceptable to hate both the player and the game. Bin Laden had to go and I'm proud that one of my canine cousins was a member of the elite Navy Seals team who completed the mission.

The 4-legged team member was a Belgian Malinois named Cairo, the only team member to be identified by name. German Shepherd, Dutch Shepherd and Belgian Malinois breeds are favored by the military because they possess the best overall combination of keen sense of smell, endurance, speed, strength, courage, intelligence and adaptability to climatic conditions, essential traits for Military Working Dogs (MWD's). 

Last year a company by the name of K9 Storm Incorporated was awarded an $86,000 contract by the U.S. Navy to supply protective gear for their war dogs. The K9 Storm Intruder Vest is bullet proof, stab proof and shrapnel proof. It includes an infrared and night-vision-enabled camera as well as a transmitter and receiver.

United States Navy Seals dogs complete a rigorous training program to become the best of the best at detecting explosives and enemy troops. They are also expert trackers, scouts and sentries. We look forward to learning details of Cairo's role in the Bin Laden mission.

I'm so proud of my dad, President Obama, and all the men, women and canines in uniform who worked tirelessly to bring Bin Laden to justice, many of them making the ultimate sacrifice for their country. 

If you'd like to learn more about the role of dogs in our nation's military, visit War Dog Heroes.

^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: K9 History Pages, Wikipedia, Foreign Policy, HuffPost Green, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, Discovery News, K9 Storm Incorporated, Dog Files, DogTime.com} 

Betty White will match donations to GDB | Watch Betty's GDB video

 
What a gal! I love watching reruns of Golden Girls, Mary Tyler Moore and even Password where Betty played brilliantly under the supervision of game show host and husband, Allen Ludden. And did you see her host SNL? What a hoot!

But my favorite Betty White role is the part she plays as an advocate for animals all over the world. Her heart knows no boundaries when it comes to the welfare of animals and, if you donate to Guide Dogs for the Blind through May 2nd, Betty will match your donation (up to $60,000)! 

Guide Dogs for the Blind trains dogs and matches them with people who are blind or visually impaired, free of charge. So give what you can, you're contribution will go a long way in helping to change lives.

 

This month Betty White will be honored by Actors and Others for Animals who will present her with the first "Betty White Inspirational Award," which honors "individuals who have inspired public awareness and appreciation of animals and their need for protection and care." Hurray for Betty!

Play Bo's Academy Award Animals Quiz!

There's a lot of truth to that old actor's adage that warns against sharing the screen with children or animals; we're so darn cute that movie-goers just can't take their eyes off of us!

Who can forget adorable little Asta, the Wire-Haired Terrier, in The Thin Man series? And what about Ben and Socrates, those loyal and super smart rats in Willard? Or Flipper, the chattering dolphin who always managed to save the day?

Let's see how much you know about the scene-stealing critters who've appeared on the big screen, in Oscar winning films!

>

Fur, feathers, or flippers, makes no difference, you remember these hard-working animal actors who paid their Hollywood dues. I'll bet many of them make you wax nostalgic for those golden days of childhood when life was simpler, and much, much slower.

Just the other day, I too was bitten by the acting bug (at least I hope it was the acting bug and not a flea). I believe I could play a very convincing leading dog, though I think I'll pass on any doctor roles since holding a scalpel would be quite challenging without a thumb (wouldn't want to maim anyone). 

Maybe the offers will start pouring in once my family and I leave this big White House! Ya never know!

More Academy Award Animals Trivia:

11. In the song "If I Could Talk to the Animals" from 1967's "Doctor Doolittle," which animal's language could you fluently curse in?

A. Kangaroo                                               C. Cat

B. Cockatoo                                               D. Koala

12. Norma Desmond has a funeral for what pet in "Sunset Boulevard?" 

A. Her dog                                                 C. Her leopard

B. Her iguana                                             D. Her chimp

13. What plagued the cast of "The African Queen" while shooting in the Congo?

A. Wild boars                                             C. Tsetse Flies

B. Alligators                                               D. Snakes

14. What does the movie title, "Dog Day Afternoon," refer to?

A. The hottest days of summer                  C. The saying, "Let sleeping dogs lie"

B. The idiom, "Every dog has its day"       D. The lazy days of summer

15. How much did the producers of "The Greatest Show on Earth" pay Barnum & Bailey to use their motto, facilities and performances in 1952?

A. $250,000                         C. 100,000

B. $750,000                         D. Nothing since it was free advertising for the circus

 
^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: Wikipedia, funtrivia.com, TCM.com, YouTube, IMDB,}

 

Bo digs "OK Go" music video starring a troupe of remarkable rescues!

 

 

Wow! This group is awesome! And the dogs, OMG! What timing, what form, what rhythm! 

White Knuckles has a slew of amazing videos on their okgo.net site, all shot in one long, continuous take. Who needs high-tech special effects when you have imaginations like this group? Don't miss the treadmill video, "Here It Goes Again," that shot them to fame or the über creative, "This Too Shall Pass" video, with a mind-blowing chain reaction contraption.

If you purchase the above video, "OK Go" on the ok.net/dogs page, the net proceeds will go to the ASPCA "specifically earmarked to support rural, volunteer-run animal shelters in America."

I'm loading my iPawed with all of the White Knuckles videos so I can share them with my crew!

^{Bo Obama Dog Blog sources: okgo.net}

Bo mourns the loss of his trainer, Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz

It is a sad time for me indeed. My beloved trainer, Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz, passed away on Wednesday. I don't know why yet, all I know is that I will never see her smiling face or hear her encouraging words again. She was only 52 human years young.

I learned so much from her and know that I would not be half the dog I am today if it weren't for Dawn. She was kind, fun and most of all, loving. She never spoke harshly to me and was always quick to praise me and tell me what a smart dog I was.

My heart goes out to her family and friends both furry and furless, as they mourn the loss of this shining star.

I leave you with these words that are posted on her company's website, meritpuppy.com:

"Loving Mother, Loyal Friend. She left the earth too suddenly and too soon, but she lives on in our memories and her legacy of Positive Reinforcement Dog Training lives on through the book she penned..."

Dawn's latest book is titled, "The Love That Dog Training Program."

^{Bo Obama Dog Blog sources: fwix.com, Merit Puppy Training website}

Bo shares doggy yoga tips and a "how to" video. Let's Boga!

 

 
You may not realize it but many of your pets are just as concerned about their health and well-being as are their human parents. We, like many of you, make New Year's resolutions every year that we somehow never manage to keep.

This year I've promised myself that I will follow through with at least one of my resolutions, perhaps not the "sniff more butts" resolution, but definitely the "bond with my human family by doing doggy yoga together" resolution.

And, in my ongoing efforts to use my celebrity status to spread peace, happiness and health to my cousins around the globe, I am renaming the activity formerly known as "Doga," to "Boga." Man, that sounds good!

CAUTION: If your dog is temporarily MIA, do not substitute your cat.

Happy Boga-ing!

Happy Puppy Pose

Lying on your back with knees bent and legs in the air, grab the outside of your feet and put your heals together. Place your dog on the bottom of your feet on his or her belly. Then, move your legs over your face like the dog is flying, and end with your knees bent and your dog on your chest.

The happy puppy pose benefits you by opening up the legs and massaging the spine against the floor. This pose benefits your dog by helping with digestion and blood flow -- plus, the dog gets to fly!

You can find instructions for more Boga poses at Martha Stewart Television

   

^{Bo Obama Dog Blog sources: WonderHowTo.com,  MarthaStewart.com}

Warning from Bo! Children's toys + Dogs = Deadly combination

Bo Obama here with a warning to all my fans about those cute, stuffed toys that may show up under the tree on Christmas morning. We all know how kids love stuffed toys, but so do we dogs. We find it an irresistible challenge to see how quickly we can rip them open, pull the stuffing out, and chow down!

Did you know that the stuffing used in your kid's plush toys contains dangerous, flame retardant chemicals? Well, they do! These chemicals are toxic to dogs and kids so keep the cuddly critters away from your pets and, for your children's sake, check them daily for rips and tears!

Check the info below for the steps to take should you ever suspect that your pet has been poisoned.

Gotta run! Playing some rainy-day, inside games with the girls!

If you suspect your pet has been poisoned, do the following:

Take samples of the poison

If possible, take 30 to 60 seconds to collect a sample of the poisonous material and the poison product container if you have it. If your dog vomits, also collect a sample of the vomit in a sealable plastic bag.

Go to the vet or call poison control

If your dog's having seizures, is unconscious or losing consciousness, or is having difficulty breathing, take her to your local vet or emergency clinic right away. If possible, phone ahead to let them know you're coming.

If your dog doesn't need immediate medical attention, you can call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for a $60 consultation fee. The telephone number is (888) 426-4435. Be ready with the following info:

• the breed, age, sex, and weight of your dog
• your dog's symptoms
• what the poison is (if known), how much your dog ingested, and how long ago

^{Bo Obama Dog blog sources: bestfitpetsit.com, DogTime.com}