Monday, 29 August 2022

Wounded Soldier And Military Dog Reunite After Receiving Purple Hearts

Six months into his deployment to Afghanistan, Spc. Alec Alcoser grabbed his dog’s leash and left the barracks. It was a mission day, and Alcoser and his partner, a German Shepherd named Alex, were reporting to duty. They’d been working together for months and already had a close bond. They slept in the same bed, enjoyed their free time together, and always had each other’s backs. On that day their friendship was put to the ultimate test.

 

 

 

 

Rounding a street corner, Alcoser and Alex saw a local Afghan walking toward them. The next thing they knew, there was nothing but pain and confusion. Alcoser and Alex were hit by the suicide bomber’s blast at close range. The explosion initiated a firefight, and the soldier and his dog were caught in the middle. Seriously injured, Alcoser could do nothing but wait for it to end. Through it all, his dog never left his side.

 

 

The attack killed Afghan and Czech soldiers and left both Alcoser and Alex with traumatic injuries. Alcoser had multiple broken bones, including his arms and legs, and was hit by shrapnel on 30 percent of his body. Doctors also reported he suffered from a mild brain injury. Recovering was his new priority, but there was someone else he couldn’t stop thinking about.

 

 

 

 

During the explosion, Alex was injured alongside his partner and fellow soldier. The dog needed to have his left rear leg amputated and was retired from service. While Alcoser was recovering at a veteran’s rehabilitation center, Alex was at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland learning how to walk with three legs. Partway through their recovery, Alex was finally reunited with Alcoser in the nation’s capital. Both Alcoser and Alex received Purple Hearts for their heroism in the line of duty. They relished the time they had together, but that time soon came to an end.

 

 

Their separation, however, was only temporary. The soldier and his dog recently had another heartfelt reunion at a rehabilitation center in Texas. Alcoser wiped tears from his eyes as Alex got in close to greet his best friend. Despite everything that happened overseas, the two Purple Heart recipients remained steadfast friends.

 

 

 

 

Alcoser still has months of rehabilitation in front of him, but doctors are confident he’ll make a full recovery. He’s already walking, and he’s looking forward to getting back to serving his country. In the meantime, Alcoser is focusing on getting better for his wife and infant son. There’s also something else motivating him—he wants to make Alex an official part of his family. The duo made it out of Afghanistan by working as a team, and now they’re ready to be together on a permanent basis.

 

 

Update:

iHeartDogs recently got in touch with Alec to see if he was able to make Alex a permanent member of his family. We’re happy to report that he was able to give Alex a home with him! Both have recovered wonderfully and are living happily together!

 

Photo provided by Alec Alcoser

 

h/t: Fox News

Featured image via Facebook/Mike Roda

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Friday, 26 August 2022

Rescue Dog Goes from Living On The Streets To Starring In New Movie, ‘Prey’

Prey Featured

Two months before filming a new sci-fi action film, a family working in the entertainment industry adopted a dog from an animal shelter, hoping to cast her for a part. 

Despite her high energy and lack of formal training, they saw potential in Coco. The former stray was about to become a film star and a fan favorite!

Beautiful Coco
Facebook

When Coco was first found wandering the streets, she was taken in by a local community member who did everything they could to find her original owner. But despite their efforts, no one ever came forward to claim her. So after they could no longer keep her, Coco was taken to Fulton County Animal Services in Atlanta to find a forever home. 

After she was overlooked for a while, Coco got to take some time away from the shelter and was able to experience life living with a foster family. But because no one had decided to adopt her just yet, she was returned to Fulton County Animal Services. 

It was after that when Coco finally found a forever family who happened to be involved in show-biz. They intended to adopt Coco and cast her as “Sarii,” a canine companion in Prey, the newest installment in the Predator franchise. 

Prey is set centuries in the past and is a prequel to the other four films. The science fiction action flick stars Amber Midthunder as “Naru,” a skilled Comanche warrior who, along with her canine companion, fights to protect their tribe from one of the first highly-evolved Predators to land on Earth.

“I love that dog with my whole heart and soul. They got her like two months before this movie, and she had so much energy,” says Amber. 

Amber and Coco
Facebook

Not only did Coco charm her co-star, but she also enchanted the entire cast, crew, and audience. Fans even refer to her as “the Meryl Streep of dogs” on Twitter.

Originally, Coco was intended to have a much smaller role and was going to appear fewer times in the film. But after test audiences enthusiastically asked for “more dog scenes,” director Dan Trachtenburg did his best to add Coco in more often.

Because of her high energy and lack of training, she required a little extra guidance on set. Their patience paid off big time, as both Coco and the latest addition to the franchise were both such successes. 

Kisses From Coco
Facebook

Prey premiered at the San Diego Comic-Con at the end of July. It is now available as a Hulu original film and for streaming on Disney+.

Featured Photo: Facebook

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Thursday, 25 August 2022

Sources Claim That A Dispute Over Sylvester Stallone’s New Dog Caused His Divorce

Sylvester Stallone Divorce

Fans were heartbroken after hearing that Jennifer Flavin filed for divorce from Sylvester Stallone after 25 years of marriage. Of course, people grew curious as to what caused this split. According to TMZ, sources close to the couple stated that Stallone’s new dog was the last straw that led to the breakup.

Apparently, the couple got into a heated fight when Stallone wanted a dog for protection, and Flavin didn’t. Instagram posts show that Stallone bought the dog anyway, and rumors claim that caused Flavin to want a divorce. However, Stallone denies that their problems have anything to do with his furry friend.

Sylvester Stallone with new dog
Instagram

Disagreements About New Dog

Sources stated that the Rocky star wanted to buy a Rottweiler to protect the family, but Flavin didn’t want another dog. It led to a heated argument that caused other relationship issues to resurface. At the time, none of the problems seemed like reasons to end a marriage.

But then, Stallone posted on Instagram that he bought a Rottweiler named Dwight after the character from his new show, Tulsa King. In photos, Stallone seems satisfied with his new canine companion.

Sly Stallone's Rottweiler up close
Instagram

“‘DWIGHT’ Definitely a true friend! Keep Punching And Keep Barking!” Stallone wrote.

Fans also noticed something unusual was up when Stallone covered his shoulder tattoo of his wife with a dog’s face. The dog looks like a Rottweiler, but sources state that it’s a portrait of Butkus, the Bullmastiff from the Rocky films.

Once all this information went public, Stallone reached out to TMZ to clear up some discrepancies.

Sylvester Stallone petting Rottweiler
Instagram

Stallone’s Perspective

Stallone states that Dwight is not the reason for the couple’s divorce. He said Flavin did have issues with him getting the dog because they both travel a lot, making it difficult to care for the dog. Yet, he described it as a “trivial argument,” even though getting a dog is a huge decision in any relationship.

“We did not end the relationship on such a trivial argument,” Stallone said. “We just went in different directions. I have the highest respect for Jennifer. I will always love her. She’s an amazing woman. She’s the nicest human being I’ve ever met.”

Sly Stallone and Jennifer Flavin
Instagram

RELATED: Sly Stallone Posts Tribute To His Beloved Dog 41 Years After “Rocky”

As for the tattoo, Stallone said he has had it for 14 years, so he wanted to touch it up. However, it got messed up in the process, so he had the artist fix it by changing the tattoo completely. Stallone says he still has a tattoo of Flavin on his back.

Disagreements about dog ownership are valid reasons to end relationships, but it seems there were a lot of other things going on in this case. It’s normal to be curious about what happened, but ultimately, only Stallone and Flavin need to know every detail. So, if this is the only information they wish to share, then it’s important to respect that.

Featured Image: Instagram

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Tuesday, 23 August 2022

23 Things to Consider Before Adopting a Pit Bull

What Should I Know Before Adopting a Pit Bull? We Asked Hundreds of Real Pit Bull Owners, and Here’s What They Said:

Special thanks to the members of our I Love My Pitbull Facebook community for providing these great responses!

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Obedience training for your dog your puppy. It’s worth every minute you put into it. Also no matter what breed anybody is considering adopting please research that breed so you pick a breed that will fit your lifestyle that way you don’t end up taking them to the shelter because you can’t handle a dog that is super super high energy and you’re working 8-9 hours a day and the dog is home alone being destructive.

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Either create a large pet emergency savings account, or invest in pet insurance. It can literally save your dog’s life! iHeartDogs has a pet insurance comparison tool that shops all the companies at once and compares prices.

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They need to exercise, socialization and vet visits. If you give them those things, you will have the best most loyal friend you have ever had.

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Treat them like they’re your child. We crate trained at first, eventually he’s good being out all day and never has accidents. Also trained to not be aggressive with his food or towards people but to protect. Never reprimand with your hand, rolled up newspaper or fly swatter, don’t need to be fearful of us…Our boy is spoiled but, if he acts up we just merely hold fly swatter or paper and he immediately gets still…it’s his house but we are the alpha’s

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Patience and understanding. Had our boy for 12+ years, just lost him last week. If you can’t afford insurance Care Credit has been a literal life saver for our pups, 6 months interest free and many vets accept it, worth checking out.

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Forget about what people say About them being evil dogs it depends on the way you raised them they are the most precious Loyal loving kind dog I’ve ever owned we had ours for over 13 to 15 years and he never did get viscous with anybody And they are highly intelligent dogs you can say they are a man’s best friend we still miss ours terribly today

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Get lots of stuffed babies! All my bullies love their stuffed babies. They carry them all over the place! Pitties are such amazing and loving dogs with the right owners. The crap that media and the uneducated social media jerks spew out about them shows how little they really know about the actual breed! They judge the many because of the few! I’ve worked in Animal Control for over 16 years and we get more bite reports from German Shepherds and small breed dogs under 30 lbs than any other breed! Every time some uneducated person calls in saying there’s a vicious pitbull running loose in my neighborhood the dogs just walking down the street doing nothing and we just walk up with a leash and grab them while they’re wagging their tails and trying to give us kisses!

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Raise them to be lovable. All 3 of my children were raised with a pit bull. They’re 28, 23 and 14 now. 3 different dogs. Not once did any of them hurt my children or anybody that came to our house. We are now on our 4th Pitty! He’s the most lovable dog I have ever encountered. I will always be there voice. It’s how you raise them!

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They are more like human beings than any other dog breed! If you disrespect them, they’ll disrespect you! If you respect them and love them? You’ll get it back 10 fold!!!!

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LOVE, patience, but stern confidence and respect. They are a reflection of their family. NEVER reinforce aggression. They will happily protect you without the training to do so. Positive reinforcement is key! They are the Absolute best dogs! Like EVER!

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Teach your children to respect the dog (and any animal.) Do not allow them to ride on the dog, pull his ears or tail, or otherwise poke and prod the dog, no matter how tolerant the dog may seem. Teach them to give the dog space and become aware of its limits—and they do have limits. Always treat the dog with kindness and never hit the dog. Same advice for adults.

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Be aware that you will be judged and sadly, your dog will always be the one to be blamed, so put them environments where you can make sure they stay safe.

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Spay and neuter…and on the same note…adopt dont shop! Flop dont crop! Be ready to be judged. Advocate for them…work to end BSL, dog fighting, high euthanasia. Most of all love them.

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Be ready for other dog walkers to cross the street and other patients at the vets off to move to the other side, or go outside when you walk in with your pitty.

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Training, especially if you are new to this particular ownership, and training done proper, makes for a much better dog, and a far less stressful life for both of you. I have known some mighty fine Pitbulls.

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Amazing dogs but need to be properly socialized from a young age and taught obedience training from a young age. Socialize them with your friends and family also. They can be a stubborn breed. Not all but some. Don’t be aggressive with them. They are amazing dogs if treated right. We had ours for 13 years and he was the biggest baby ever. Loved all animals, kids and people. He was protective of his kids but never aggressive.

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Beware the happy tail, get the insurance, spay & neuter, socialize, did I mention Beware of the happy tail. Love them like they’ll love you unconditionally .

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Best dogs I’ve ever had have been pitbulls. They are easy to train and so full of love. People will be biased, but my pitbull has literally changed so many minds about the breed. They expect him to be mean and are shocked with how friendly he and calm he is. He’s lived with two yorkies before as well, one of which would chase him out of his own food dish and he’d run away scared.

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Love them with positive and socializing training, positive reinforcement and start young if possible you need to let them know you run the show. Love them and they will love you back. 7 years old

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Spay and neuter we need to help this breed out! Too many are stuck in rescues and shelters. Many are neglected and abused but yet still love humans unconditionally. Everyone here said perfect things! They are very loyal and they provide a bond beyond imagine!

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My Pitty is the best dog I’ve ever owned! Friendly, lovable, smart. They are given a bad reputation but it’s how you raise them.. I rescued him when he was about 2 and brought him into my home with 3 young grandchildren and he was awesome with them and still is..We all fight who he’s going to sleep with. He has the run of my house and I trust him with everyone! He’s my boy and wouldn’t trade him for the world

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Dog Reaches Her “Peak” And Gets Carried Down Mountain On A Stretcher

Typically when you see a rescue team carrying someone on a stretcher down the mountain, it means something pretty bad has gone down. When the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team climbed back down carrying a hiker on a stretcher on August 15th, 2022, the reason was fortunately just sore paws.

While on the Ben path on Lochaber Mountain in Scotland, a 77-pound (35 kg) dog named Maggie suddenly reached her limit and refused to continue. It took two men and a stretcher to help get her back down again.

Facebook

Maggie’s Rescue

It was a hot August day, so the rescue teams had their hands full assisting travelers. This call was something a little different for them.

“With everyone out enjoying the scorching weather across Lochaber yesterday, the team were out attending to five call-outs. The first four shouts ranged from fractures to heat related illness, with the fifth casualty of the day being a little furrier than usual,” the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team posted on Facebook.

Facebook

The three women hiking with Maggie tried to get her to continue downwards, but the Turkish Akbash wouldn’t budge. They attempted to carry her, but it’s tough with a dog that size who’s not exactly helping you out.

Fortunately, since they knew who they were coming to save prior to arriving, the rescue team showed up fully prepared.

“A stretcher party, complete with a casualty carer and chicken stick treats, were dispatched to assist. Once Maggie was secured into the stretcher she was able to be transported down the hill for a well-earned rest.”

Don’t Worry – She’s Fine!

Maggie couldn’t (and wouldn’t) take another step, but luckily she wasn’t unconscious, fearful, or severely injured, so transporting her was more of a courtesy call than an emergency call. Team leader Donald Paterson later told BBC:

“[Maggie] had a few cuts to [her] paws, but I think with the heat and soreness [she] decided [she] wasn’t going any further.”

Facebook

Still, who knows how long Maggie and her human companions would have been stuck up there if the rescue team hadn’t come to their aid?

“The owners were struggling and would certainly have been up there all night if they didn’t get any assistance,” Paterson noted.

Facebook

The Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team works hard saving lives, and though they didn’t have to trek out to help a dog on such a busy day, they really wanted to. That’s pretty incredible.

RELATED: Dogs Who Collapsed From Exhaustion On Hot Hikes Rescued

All that said, it’s still best for dog parents to know what activities their dogs can handle (weather dependent) and to recognize the signs of exhaustion. Learn more about how to hike safely with your dog here.

Featured Image: Facebook

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The 14 Best Durable Toys for Pit Bulls

Pit bulls love their toys. And they love destroying them too! So when we asked our I Love My Pit Bull Facebook community which toys, we got hundreds of responses. Below we’ll share a handful of the most popular suggestions on best toys for pit bulls.

 

The 14 Top Toys for Pit Bulls, According to Real Pit Bull Owners

Fluff N Tuff! Only stuffy that takes her more then 2 minutes to destroy! They usually last about 2-3 months!

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Jolly ball he has had this thing most of his life. He is almost 10

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West Paw makes some great toys for pits. Typically a ball in our house last maybe five minutes. The ball I got my blue nose pit from west paw lasted a year. And there was only one tooth hole when I took it away and got her a new one. They also replace it one time with the receipt if you baby is able to destroy the toy. Great company great products for pits.

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Chuck it ball, his security ball!

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She s her Chuck it ball more than anything

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I use antlers, they are so tough and my pit bull can’t break pieces of it off awsome for cleaning their teeth too

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This ball from Jolly Pet–Cali it. She plays soccer with it!

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Kong hands down. Have had this one for 9 years now and all my pibbles chew on it.

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Hands down a Jolly Ball (good luck getting it away from them though)

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Cyrus does really well with the Bark toys. He very rarely destroys them. This is his new fav Pop Tart

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Sooo many squeakers .

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This on Amazon very good so far

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If your baby fetches…this is the best toy.

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Nap time with his toy

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Kong Bone. It’s the only one he hasn’t destroyed yet

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These Five States Have The Country’s Most Spoiled Dogs!

Spoiled dog

Most dog parents in the United States spoil their dogs to some degree. Dogs are so cute that we can’t resist buying them extra treats and toys just to see their eyes light up with excitement. According to a recent study, location might have an impact on how spoiled dogs are.

Forbes surveyed 5,002 US dog owners to find out which states have the most and least spoiled dogs. The categories to judge this “spoiled level” are quirky, and some of the results might surprise you. So, let’s look at how different states ranked on this survey.

Dog tucked into bed

How Were the Results Determined?

Each dog lover who took the survey answered a series of questions about how much time and money they spend on their furry friends. Here are a few topics that the survey covered:

  • If they make homemade food for their dogs
  • How often their dogs get special treats
  • If their dogs get to come on vacation with them
  • If they throw birthday parties for their dogs
  • How much money they spend on their dogs in comparison to their significant others
  • If they buy accessories for their dogs

Then, by taking the average of the results, Forbes ranked each state on a number between 1 and 100 based on how spoiled the dogs are.

Dog in Snow White dress
Flickr

States with the Most Spoiled Dogs

The following five states got the highest numbers on the survey. While all of them are under 50, they’re significantly higher than the rest of the states.

New York – 44.95

New York has the most spoiled dogs, which is influenced by these statistics:

  • 40% of New York dog parents spend more money spoiling their pup than their significant other.
  • 55% of New Yorkers surveyed spend more money on their dog’s health and grooming than their own.
  • 59% buy their dogs outfits and accessories.
  • 51% have ordered their dog a special treat while at a restaurant.
  • 42% regularly throw birthday parties for their dogs.
  • 25% have pushed their dogs in strollers.

Apartments in New York City might not have a ton of space for dogs to run around in, but pet parents make up for that by spoiling their dogs in other ways. Plus, there’s no shortage of exciting places for dogs and their humans to walk to!

California – 41.25

California is a large state with lots of dog parents, so there’s lots of room for canine spoiling. Here are the results for California dog parents:

  • 56% of dog lovers in California are likely to order their pets a special treat, such as a puppuccino from Starbucks.
  • 53% spend more money on their dog’s well-being than their own.
  • 51% will carry their dogs when they don’t want to walk.
  • 38% regularly host dog birthday parties.
  • 19% push their dogs in a stroller.

Some people might argue that dogs in California are just as spoiled as dogs in New York but in different ways.

Pomeranian in stroller
Flickr

Washington – 40.05

Washington isn’t far behind with these incredible stats:

  • 52% of Washington dog parents have brought their dogs on a vacation.
  • 54% are likely to order special treats for their dogs at restaurants.
  • 38% regularly prepare homemade meals for their pups.

Seattle is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the US, so it makes sense that dogs would be spoiled there. Plus, it even has a one-of-a-kind dog food truck!

Pennsylvania – 39.4

Pennsylvania dog lovers are proud to show off their pampered pooches, and here are some areas they excel in:

  • 64% of pet parents in Pennsylvania buy outfits and accessories for their dogs.
  • 35% spend more money spoiling their dogs than their significant others.

So, you can expect to see lots of stylish canines patrolling Pennsylvania.

Yorkie begging at picnic

New Jersey – 39.2

New Jersey is right behind Pennsylvania, but they excel in different ways, such as:

  • 40% of New Jersey dog lovers regularly give their dogs birthday parties.
  • 22% push their dogs around in strollers.

Even though New Jersey is one of the smallest states, they go big when it comes to making sure their dogs are loved.

States with the Least Spoiled Dogs

Every state has some spoiled dogs, but dog parents from certain states aren’t as likely to go above and beyond to pamper their pups. It doesn’t mean they’re bad dog parents, but instead, they just care for their dogs differently. Here are the three states that ranked the lowest.

South Dakota – 24.75

South Dakota had the lowest number of spoiled dogs, and here’s how the number was determined:

  • Only 10% of dog parents in South Dakota throw dog birthday parties, making them the state with the least dog parties.
  • Only 17% spend more on their dogs than their significant other, also ranking them the lowest in that category.
  • 13% make homemade meals for their dogs while everyone else prefers more convenient options.
  • 33% buy accessories for their dogs.

So, there are still some people in South Dakota that buy special things for their dogs, but they’re far from the majority.

Dog wearing fleece coat
Flickr

Arkansas – 24.95

Arkansas is the second lowest state for dog-spoiling. Here are a few of their stats:

  • 25% of Arkansas pet parents ordered their dog a special treat at a restaurant.
  • 30% have taken their dog on vacation with them.

The other percentages were even lower, showing that Arkansas dog lovers occasionally bring their pups on adventures, but they might not spend money on luxury pet items.

Wyoming – 26.05

Wyoming ranked a bit higher, but it still doesn’t excel in dog spoiling. Here’s why:

  • Only 4% of dog parents in Wyoming are willing to push their dog in a stroller.
  • 16% throw birthday parties for their dogs.
  • 26% order special treats for their dogs at restaurants.
  • 31% have bought accessories and outfits for their dogs.

It’s not unheard of for people in Wyoming to spoil their furry friends, but only a small percentage of the population does so.

Are These Results Accurate?

While this survey can give us a general idea of which states spoil dogs the most, it’s only based on a few specific questions. It focuses a lot on the money we spend on our dogs, which isn’t the only way we can spoil them. For some dogs, spending quality time with them is better than any of the fancy things.

Dog birthday cake

Plus, the survey doesn’t seem to consider that not all dogs like to be pampered in the same ways. Some dogs might be too anxious to go on vacations while others might get annoyed if they have to wear accessories. Thus, those actions wouldn’t be spoiling them if they’re not enjoying it.

Even though there are some flaws in the survey, it’s still interesting to see how different some states are when it comes to pet care. Every person spoils their dogs differently, so don’t be ashamed if your state is ranked as one of the lowest.

See the full list of state rankings here.

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20 Best Foods for a Picky Eater Rottweiler

We hear it all the time: “Why won’t my finicky rottweiler eat the expensive food I buy them?!” Dealing with a picky rottweiler can be frust...