Top 5 Magazines for Dog Lovers

By Langley Cornwell

There are many dog magazines available today, and the mix is interesting. Some are just traditional ink and paper publications with no online presence, some have traditional and online offerings and some are simply online magazines/blogs. So whichever way you like to receive your information, there’s a dog magazine for you.

In this lineup I’ve only included general dog magazines. If you’re looking for a breed-specific magazine, there are plenty to choose from. Here are five dog magazines that I think are worth reading.

Best Friends Magazine 

A publication from the respected Best Friend’s Animal Society —the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary— this general-interest animal magazine is as impressive as the organization itself. The bi-monthly publication is filled with important information, tips and advice, heartwarming stories and beautiful photographs. This is a subscription-based magazine that you’ll receive for making a nominal donation to Best Friends. What I love about this magazine and this organization is that all of the proceeds from the publication support the animals at the Sanctuary. Further, it helps Best Friends’ mission to reach a time when there are no more homeless pets. That’s a mission I can stand behind.

Modern Dog Magazine

With a strong online presence as well as a thriving traditional publication, Modern Dog magazine reaches the masses. They tout themselves as the best dog magazine ever and I know people who say the same thing. This truly is a lifestyle magazine with charming features, health and wellness articles and advice from veterinarians, dog trainers and behaviorists. There are DIY craft projects as well as reviews of the myriad dog-targeted products. They get a lot of celebrities and their dogs as cover models. The blog-style online magazine is a go-to for many animal lovers.    

The Bark

Another online and traditional offering, Bark magazine is written for people whose motto is “Dog is my co-pilot.” Topics in each issue include dog culture and community, wellness, behavior, recreation and travel, and art and literature. What strikes me about this magazine is its modern, hip attitude. It seems as if they are talking to a new generation of dog lovers, and I like that. The archives are deep and the information extensive. This is a good general dog magazine that covers the gambit.

Dog Fancy Magazine

It seems to me that Dog Fancy Magazine is primarily focused on pedigreed dogs, and covers some dog show type issues. The Dog Writers Association of America named this traditional publication the Best All-Breed Magazine. With monthly distribution, Dog Fancy is known as a dependable and informational publication that features in-depth breed profiles, a Best Behavior section, and important tips and how-to instructions on dog training and behavior. A reader’s favorite is the Checkup section, where readers can send in their questions, which will be answered by top veterinarians. Each issue also has a centerfold poster of a featured breed, and the images are stunning.

Dogster

I have to include the online magazine/blog called Dogster in this lineup. The voice of this site is warm and interactive, with plenty of space devoted to Q & A’s as well as an entire community section. They also have the ever popular lifestyle, product review, health and wellness, and behavior and training sections. One of the things I like about Dogster is their friendly and humorous presentation; the information is delivered in an upbeat, heartfelt manner. As an online magazine, they also have the opportunity to include videos and reader photos.

It’s easy to satisfy your craving for cute dog photos and interesting anecdotes, tips and suggestions and all things dog-related. Did I miss any of the good ones? What is your favorite dog magazine?

Top photo by Vivian Chen
Middle photo courtesy of Modern Dog 
Bottom photo by Spacecat

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DOG LOVERS SHOW GIVEAWAY

Weve got 5 double passes to giveaway to the 

Dog Lovers Show in Melbourne! 

Just comment below to let us know what youd like most to see at the show and well nominate our favourite responses by the end of Sunday 27 April 2014. 

This giveaway is also open to responses received via our Facebook and Twitter community.

THE BIGGEST DOG EVENT IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE RETURNS TO MELBOURNE

Australia’s largest and most comprehensive event dedicated to educating, informing and entertaining dog lovers will take centre stage from Friday 2nd

Over three huge days, over 250 exhibitors, more than 600 dogs and a pack of pooch experts, personalities and performers will descend on the venue to provide 20,000+ visitors with everything and anything dog related on a scale never before seen in the Southern Hemisphere!

The Dog Lovers Show is a family friendly event which celebrates the unconditional love we share for our dogs with expert seminars, dog shows from the country’s most talented canines, information on all the off-leash parks in Victoria and literally thousands of the latest doggy products and services to reward your dog.

From dog adoption to hot dogs, there’s talks on diet, training and exercise to the fun of watching Chester the famous skateboarding dog on Centre stage - the Dog Lovers Show offers something for all ages.

LOCATION: Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton, Melbourne

DATES: Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th  May at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton.

TIMES: 10am - 5pm Daily

Detailed info and for tickets visit: dogloversshow.com.au or
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dogloversshow
__________________________________________________________

The give away has now ended! We had such great responses here on the blog, on our Facebook page and at our Twitter feed, that we ended up using a random number generator to decide who won - it seemed the most fair way! Winners have been contacted - thank you all so much for participating - hope to see you at the DLS - please come say hello if our paths cross!  :)  Mia

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Fun Places for Dog Lovers to Visit

By Julia Williams

If you love to take your dog along when you travel or just get out for a day of fun, there’s no shortage of Fido-friendly places you can go. Here are some ideas to consider.

Dog Days Baseball Games

Yes, you can take your four-legged BFF with you to the ball park, on specific dog-allowed days. This year, 18 major league baseball teams hosted Dog Days (some stadiums call them Bark in the Parks), with many holding multiple events. This dog-friendly event began in 1996 when the White Sox offered the first Dog Day which was a huge success. Some even have festivities such as parades, competitions, dog-related vendors and fundraisers for animal charities. Each stadium has its own requirements for vaccinations, weight limits and such, so be sure to visit their website or call before you go to get all the details.

National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C.

This historical site in the heart of our nation’s capital includes a host of iconic monuments including the Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt Memorials as well as the World War II, Korean War Veteran’s and Vietnam Veteran’s Memorials. The National Mall also includes Constitution Gardens, Washington Monument, Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site and Park, Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site, and a clock tower built in 1899. According to the National Park Service, dogs are permitted up to the monuments except in indoor or covered areas. In-between monument viewing, there are lots of places to walk, picnic, sight-see, enjoy the views and play a game of Frisbee with your dog.

BonBon-Land Amusement Park in Denmark

This quirky amusement park is near Copenhagen and as the name suggests, its theme is inspired by a line of sweets. But what makes this a fun place for dog lovers to visit is the park’s famous (infamous? lol) roller coaster, the Hundprutt-berg-och-dalbanan. Loosely translated, the name means Dog Fart Switchback, and they carried the theme throughout – the ride features dog sculptures, fake dog doo, and speakers that make loud farting noises as you soar under a giant dog – while he’s lifting his leg, naturally!

Carmel, California 

Nicknamed “Dog Town West” because of its reputation for being so dog friendly, this charming seaside city has dozens of quaint inns, hotels and bed-and-breakfasts that welcome pooches of every size, as well as a plethora of restaurants, bars and coffeehouses that offer seating where dogs are permitted. Carmel also has a leash-free beach, and many of the city’s shops and galleries provide tasty dog biscuits and fresh water for their four-legged visitors.

San Diego, California

Pleasantly warm temperatures year-round, dog-themed events, plenty of pet-friendly hotels and shopping opportunities – these are just a few of the things that make San Diego a great place for dogs and dog lovers. Add beautiful white-sand beaches that allow your canine friend to accompany you as you worship the sun or enjoy spectacular ocean views (a few beaches are even leash-free), and it’s a must-see destination!

New York City

If you love the hustle-and-bustle of a big city, New York is a great place for you to visit with your dog. Aside from a looooong list of dog parks, New York offers dog-friendly walking tours, group tours, dog beaches, and lots of other fun and interesting attractions where your canine friend is welcome to join you.  When you’re all tuckered out from seeing the sights, there are plenty of dog-friendly hotels, so you’re sure to find a place where you and your pooch can get some shuteye, even if the city itself never sleeps.

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Dont miss out! Dogs Science from November

Catch up! Participate! Plan your conferences for 2015! Check out all the latest in canine science from November here, thanks to the magic of Storify (if you dont see a beautiful array of handy snippets below, please click this link to view)

Further reading:

Cobb M., Paul McGreevy, Alan Lill & Pauleen Bennett (2014). The advent of canine performance science: Offering a sustainable future for working dogs, Behavioural Processes, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2014.10.012

Hecht J. (2014). Citizen science: A new direction in canine behavior research, Behavioural Processes, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2014.10.014

Bradshaw J.W.S. & Rachel A. Casey (2009). Dominance in domestic dogs—useful construct or bad habit?, Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 4 (3) 135-144. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2008.08.004

Gosling S.D. & Oliver P. John (2003). A Dogs Got Personality: A Cross-Species Comparative Approach to Personality Judgments in Dogs and Humans., Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85 (6) 1161-1169. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.85.6.1161

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