Kids Club E-newsletter

Happy Holidays everyone! Wow, it's hard to believe that Christmas is already here again - I mean, it feels like last year's silly season was only just yesterday!

     Although we're loving that Christmas is just around the corner (after all, who doesn't love chilling out at home and, of course, awesome presents!), there's one thing that's making the DL Kids Club feel a bit down. What is it, you ask? The fact that this is our last e-newsletter for 2009, of course!

     So what do we have in store for you this issue? We take a look at the mutt movies that cleaned up at this year's Fido Awards, a super cute bunny who thinks he's a dog and also suss out what doggy gifts are sure to be a hit this Christmas. 

 

Catch ya soon and have a safe and pawsome Christmas! Oh and see you in 2010...

Natasha – Kids Club Coordinator

Want to chat with other dog lovers and share happy snaps of your furry friends? Then jump onto the new Dogs Life social network! Check it out at www.dogslifemag.ning.com

Crazy canine tails from around the world...

Best in show

 

Remember our story about the 2009 Fido Awards in the last issue of the DL Kids Club e-newsletter? Well, grab your pooch and get ready, because we finally have the list of the top furry flicks and canine characters for the year gone by!

     The winners of the 2009 Fido Awards in the following categories are (drum roll please!):

 

HISTORICAL HOUND (for period drama excellence) - The Young Victoria
ROM-COM ROVER (for romantic-comedy companionship) - Marley and Me
COMEDY CANINE (for outstanding comedic contribution) - Beverly Hills Chihuahua
BLOCKBUSTER BOWSER (for event-movie performance) - Up
MUTT MOMENT (for stand-out cinematic canine moment) - Fish Tank
BEST IN WORLD (for best of the best) - The Young Victoria
DOGS TRUST STAR OF TOMORROW - Paddy

 

     “It has been an incredible year, and it has been great to see dogs in central roles,” Toby Rose, founder of the Fido Awards, said on the awards night.

     “Not only do pets win prizes, but our beloved four-legged friends make an invaluable contribution to the entertainment which we all enjoy, and they deserve the recognition which we’ve given them today.”

 

'Dug' from Disney's Up. Courtesy of Disney.

 

Mutt mistaken identity

He’s big, fluffy and loves snacking on tasty doggy food — we’re talking about a pooch right? Wrong! The main little guy in this next story is a Giant Poobah rabbit, named Poobah, who thinks he’s one of our favourite four-legged friends!

     Owned by Keiran Kent, a 12-year-old boy from the UK, Poobah seems to be having a little identity crisis after bonding with Scout, an adorable Cocker Spaniel who was introduced into the Kent household several months ago.

     “Poobah and Scout hit it off immediately,” Keiran says. “Their friendship blossomed and Poobah began emulating Scout eating his dog biscuits.”

     After adopting heaps of Scout’s doggy habits, Poobah now think he’s a dog and not only tries to play fetch with Keiran and Scout, but also chows down on the pooch’s food and gets up on his hind legs to beg for doggy treats!

Is that crazy or what?! 

 

 

A canine Christmas

Have you bought your pooch a pawtastic Christmas present this year? Well, according to a survey in the US, that’s exactly what 52 per cent of pet owners have done in the lead up to the big day!

     Conducted by Associated Press-Petside.com, the study found that this figure is up from 43 per cent last year, showing that pet owners love pampering their furry friends even when times are tough.

     So what’s hot in the pooch present department this Christmas? Treats and fun toys are always sure to be popular with our furry friends, according to Norm Authier, a pet owner from Long Beach, US.

     “We don’t have any kids so we spoil our dogs,” Norm says of his two German Shepherds Gus and Molly.

According to Jessica Douglas, a spokesperson for PetSmart, a large pet supply store chain in the US, holiday-themed toys are also a hit with dogs and their owners alike. And, of course, don’t forget to add candy-cane shaped treats, Christmas costumes (have you ever seen a doggy Santa or Mrs Claus? Too cute, we say!) and sparkling leads, collars and tags, to that list as well!

Three cool things to do this month...

#1 BAROSSA COUNCIL’S DOG’S DAY OUT

Wednesday 13 January

Are you bored these school holidays? Then head over to Tolley Reserve, Nuriootpa for a day of doggy fun! There’ll be a group obedience training session, giveaways and a free sausage sizzle! Visit www.barossa.sa.gov.au to find out more.

#2 AUSTRALIA DAY AT PARRAMATTA PARK

Tuesday 26 January

#3 DOGGY TREASURE HUNT

Saturday 30 January

Up for an adventure with your four-legged friend? Then you should spend the day together on a doggy treasure hunt at Brisbane’s Nudgee Beach Dog Off Leash Area. Visit www.mustlovedogs.com.au for more details.

 

Tell us about your dog…                                                     

Doggy delight

“We love Missy because she is a loyal, smart and an intelligent dog,” Rebecca of Moonbi, NSW, tells us. “We also love her because she always has a smile on her face.”

Do you think your precious pooch is the best pet in the world? Or have a barking mad story to tell us? Then we want to know about it!
     Tell us all about your furry friend by flicking an email to dogslife@universalmagazines.com.au with the subject heading “Kids Club: Tell us about your dog…”. And don’t forget to send a happy snap too!

PAW-TASTIC PRIZES

 

What are we giving away this month? Thanks to our sponsor The Show’em How Much Your Love’em Company, we’re giving away 10 paw-tastic Love’em prize packs that your pooch is sure to love!
     Flick to page 95 of Dogs Life #99 January/February 2010 (OUT NOW!) to find out how you can be a winner!