The Labrador Retriever has held the spot of America’s most popular breed for 21 years straight. But in a surprise this year, the Rottweiler has moved into the top 10 displacing the Shih Tzu. Check out the complete AKC Dog Registration Statistics for 2011 and see where your favorite breed lands.

http://www.akc.org/reg/dogreg_stats.cfm

Finally–scientific answers to why most dogs can go bare-pawed in freezing cold temperatures and even snow (and an explanation of why some breeds now can’t).

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0227/breaking17.html

Despite rumors that Uggie was not invited to the Oscars, the thespian terrier was on hand to join the human cast of The Artist. He was dressed for the occasion in a black bow tie and enjoyed center stage attention as the film took top honors for Best Director, Best Actor and Best Film of the year.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/oscars-2012-uggie-attends-the-show-after-all/2012/02/27/gIQA8WurdR_blog.html

With so many people willing to spend more on their pets, a cottage industry of gourmet dog and cat foods is rising up with entrées that feature organic meats, exotic fishes and more. The New York Times had some of their staff cats and dogs try the pricey meals and most were barking and meowing their compliments to the chefs after inhaling the food.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/16/garden/pet-foods-go-gourmet.html?src=me&ref=general

The blogosphere has been buzzing about photographer Seth Casteel’s shots of dogs diving underwater in pursuit of balls or simply just to swim. Check them out on his blog:

http://littlefriendsphoto.blogspot.com/

Seemingly more fur than dog, Malachy the Pekingese took top honors at Westminster yesterday. According to some reports, the Twitterverse is alive with people who beg to differ with the judges’ call and have some pretty funny labels for the little pooch. Thankfully Malachy can’t hear the naysayers through all of his tresses!

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2012/0215/2012-Westminster-dog-show-some-viewers-barking-over-Best-in-Show-choice

It’s a good thing the doyenne of all things domestic was on hand at the Westminster Show yesterday, because her chow chow Ghengis Kahn took top honors. It appears that Martha might have stolen his spotlight though as hordes of press and her own camera crews stayed focused on her.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/where-dogs-are-typically-the-stars-a-human-retains-her-celebrity/?hpw

Brazil’s legendary festival includes a pet parade too. Though there’s more sniffing than Samba, the festive costumes still capture the celebratory spirit of Carnival.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2100244/Brazil-goes-dogs-pre-carnival-celebration–pets.html

In 1925, several brave teams of dogs and their sled-driving owners did a relay traverse of nearly 700 miles in the thick of an Alaskan winter to deliver life-saving diphtheria serum to Nome. One dog led two legs over treacherous ice, but it was the leader of the last leg who came away as the hero. Read the true story of the Siberian huskies named Togo and Balto and how their race across the arctic inspired Americans to breed Siberian huskies, which now not only compete in races but at the Westminster Dog Show too.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/sports/spirit-of-a-racer-in-a-siberian-huskys-blood.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp

The Westminster Dog Show kicks-off on Monday with six new breeds on the roster – the Finnish Lapphund, the American English coonhound, the Entlebucher mountain dog (pictured above), the Norwegian Lundehund, the Cesky terrier, and the Xoloitzcuintli (show-low-its-KWEENT-lee), national dog of Mexico. That makes the total breed count 185.

http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2012/show/news/newbreed_091211.html