Dogs and Puppies

Barbara J. Feldman

Dogs and kids just seem to go together. That's assuming, of course, you have the right dog with the right training. How do you choose the right dog? Or how do you turn your nearly-perfect dog into just-the-right dog? These are the questions (along with many others) you'll find answered at these five dog and puppy sites.

Dog of the Day

4 stars

Dog of the Day is the Internet equivalent of opening up your wallet to show off your pooch pix to a few million of your closest friends! Share your favorite doggie snapshot by submitting via email, and your pet could be Dog of the Day. Sister sites include Cat of the Day and Pet of the Day. "Some people visit this site for the first time, and are immediately filled with delight. They enjoy learning about the pets shown, and the special bond pets and their owners share. Others ask, 'Why?'"

NHM: Dogs: Wolf, Myth, Hero, Friend

5 stars

"All dogs -- wild and domestic, extinct and living -- belong to the canid family (family Canid'). Canids have been around a long time and are the earliest known carnivores (order Carnivora.) In fact, dogs first appeared in the fossil record about 40 million years ago, well before other carnivore families like cats or bears." Explore this virtual exhibit from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County to discover how dogs have evolved from the gray wolf, how dogs communicate, and how dogs help people.

How to Love Your Dog

5 stars

Start your visit with Bailey's tour of the site's most popular pages. Look for the "Tour this Site" link in the upper left-hand corner. A few of my favorite clicks are When I Grow Up (animal careers), Tricks (teach your dog a few new ones with these video lessons ), and Ready for a Dog? The Dog Breeds section features nine popular breeds, but is looking to expand and is seeking dog photos (with or without kids) of Yorkshire Terriers, Boxers, Black Labs, Chocolate Labs, Poodles, Shih Tzus, Shetland Sheepdogs, Border Collies, Chihuahuas, and Dachshunds.

NOVA: Dogs and More Dogs

5 stars

This companion website to the PBS television special Dogs and More Dogs abounds in educational science fun for middle school, high school and grownups as it examines the diversity of dog species, and how humans have affected their development. Three best clicks are the Working Dogs slide show, Dogs Around the World game, and the printable classroom handouts (look under Teacher's Guide / Classroom Activities.)

PBS: Woof! It's a Dog's Life

5 stars

"For dog lovers and owners alike, questions abound, often with few simple answers ... how to select a dog that suits your lifestyle, how to train and feed your dog, what to do if your dog seems aggressive, shy, or anxious?" Uncle Matty is a dog-training expert who appears on PBS and in many newspapers. There are lots of great clicks here including Tips from Matty (some with video) and Uncle Matty's Q & A. Fetch is ten-question quiz testing you on dog behavior and training practices.