U.S. Army Spc. Kory Wiels and his military working canine Cooper (photo from The U.S. Army), Sergeant Stubby and Nemo

5 Inspiring Stories of War Dogs

Every November 11, our nation honors the brave men and women who went to war to defend our country. The DogWatch team joins in this salute, and thanks all veterans for their courageous service. With so many heroes to praise, we turn our attention to the subject we know best: dogs. Here are the stories of five of these heroic military working dogs, whose bravery, dedication and strength are an inspiration to us all. Read post »

Secret Service book cover and Hurricane posing in front of the White House

Interview with Maria Goodavage, Author of Secret Service Dogs: The Heroes Who Protect the President of the United States

Maria Goodavage author photo credit Laura Altair Hanson

Maria Goodavage (Photo Credit: Laura Altair Hanson)

On the eve of the 2016 Presidential election, DogWatch got the opportunity to speak with best-selling author Maria Goodavage about her new book Secret Service Dogs: The Heroes Who Protect the President of the United States. After chronicling the world of military working dogs in Soldier Dogs and Top Dog: The Story of Marine Hero Lucca, Goodavage focuses her new book on the relatively unknown lives of the dogs and handlers who spend the days patrolling the White House lawn, searching for explosives at campaign events and sniffing passersby along Pennsylvania Avenue. Regardless of who wins today’s Presidential election, these dogs will be there, protecting and serving our nation with pride and dedication. We asked Goodavage about her research, some of the remarkable dogs she profiles in her book, and her own new puppy with a touching connection to one of the many working dogs and handlers she’s met along the way. Read post »

Announcing the Winners of the 2016 DogWatch Halloween Photo Contest!

DogWatch asked for the best Halloween photos of your dog in costume, and you delivered! We received over 400 entries, featuring some of the spookiest, funniest, cutest and most creative dog costumes we’ve every seen! The DogWatch team had a blast going through all of the amazing entries and voting for our favorites. With so many fantastic candidates to choose from, it was VERY difficult to pick the winners. The votes are in, and we are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2016 DogWatch Halloween Photo Contest! Read post »

Dog Halloween Costume Ideas 2016, featuring photos from Ellen Mingo Schreier, Donna Sellers, Walter F. Aparicio, Laurie Gallo Felber (Facebook), and oliverthegoldendoodle and shelterpets_az (Instagram).

Howl-O-Ween 2016: 5 Creative Halloween Dog Costume Ideas

Didn’t find your pet’s perfect costume in our “10 Homemade Halloween Dog Costume Ideas for Beginners to Experts” post? Never fear, DogWatch is here to help! We’ve found 5 more fantastic, trendy options to highlight your dog’s unique looks, personality and attitude. Try one out this Halloween, and don’t forget to snap a photo and enter our 3rd Annual DogWatch Halloween Photo Contest! Read post »