In a Super Bowl packed with animal spots, and in particular dog ones, this was the ad that won a USA Today consumer panel nod as the best of the pack. Made by a musician as part of a Dorito’s drive to run consumer-created advertisements, this spot cost $20 to make.

Yes, it’s true. Puppies take to a mini gridiron and start battling over a football pull toy. The ruff and tumble game airs on Discovery this Sunday. Go, puppies!

http://animal.discovery.com/tv/puppy-bowl/

Everyone is used to reading short news stories about heroic dogs aiding individuals with disabilities. But this longer portrait really highlights how intuitive dogs are at sensing emotional distress as well as physical danger. The featured dog, Chancer, has made a huge difference for a boy with severe neurological challenges.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/magazine/wonder-dog.html?pagewanted=1

Rumor has it we’ll have to wait until the Super Bowl ad blitz to undertand why Volkswagen has dogs barking the Star Wars theme. We don’t care why–we simply love this video.

One of Europe’s toughest dog sled races is underway in the Czech Republic. The four-day event has dogs and drivers hurtling through thick snow drifts and sleeping under the stars to complete the 149-mile course.

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Tough-dog-sled-race-under-way-in-Czech-Republic-2719488.php#photo-2175286

Uggie, the Jack Russell that just about steals the show in the acclaimed film, The Artist, was not among those nominated for Actor in a Supporting Role. We are disappointed and urge the Academy to reconsider or create a new category focused on animal performances. We’re fairly certain the winners in this category would give shorter acceptance speeches.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/24/us-oscars-uggie-idUSTRE80N27A20120124

With winter well underway in some parts of the country, it’s a good time to review the best ways to keep your pet warm, healthy and happy.

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/parenting-family/pets/story/2012-01-18/What-cures-your-cold-can-also-kill-your-pet/52631928/1

According to Association of Pet Obesity Prevention, roughly 35% of all American dogs are over-weight. If your dog is among them, you might want to check out Project: Pet Slimdown. It’s a website sponsored by Purina, but in between the food sell, there are some great tips on getting your pup the right amount of exercise as well as social networking tools to help connect you to owners in the same boat.

http://www.projectpetslimdown.com/Home

photo credit: http://dogsarethecoolest.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/fat-dogs/

File under strange but true: A New York woman paid more than $50,000 to have her beloved pet dog named Trouble cloned. The clone is named, not surprisingly, Double Trouble.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2085702/Danielle-Tarantola-spends-32k-dog-cloned-beloved-pet-died.html

There’s a bar in the U.K. that’s not only dog-friendly, but also includes a canine beer and snack menu. The meat-flavored dog beer is non-alcoholic, so no worries about drunken dogs. Though if owners over-indulge, we’re guessing the pub proprietor would propose a “hair of the dog” cure.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2083958/Pub-sells-special-beer-dogs-Newcastles-Brandling-Villa-offers-mans-best-friend-pint.html?ito=feeds-newsxml