Merry Christmas 2011!

No matter which holiday you celebrate (or don't celebrate), we at DogBreedz.net wish you and your family a blessed and joyous Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!

From Peggy, Indie and Bennett of DogBreedz.net

12/14/2011 - Specials of the Week!

CURRENT SPECIALS

Shop and Save!
Have you been wanting to get a DogBreedz calendar, greeting card or other fun goodies? Now is the time with these current specials!

***** DogBreedz 2012 Wall Calendars at Lulu: 25% off any order! Save up to $150 on your next order through TODAY. The fine print from Lulu: Use coupon code COUNTDOWN305 at checkout, for 25% off your order. Maximum savings with this promotion is $150. You can only use the code once per account, and you can't use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes. This great offer ends TONIGHT at 11:59 PM so try not to procrastinate! While very unlikely we do reserve the right to change or revoke this offer at anytime, and of course we cannot offer this coupon where it is against the law to do so.

***** DogBreedz Greeting Cards at Greeting Card Universe: Special Offer: Order 10 or more cards and save 35%. Use code 2011DECSAVE35. Ends December 18, 2011.

***** DogBreedz Spoiled Rotten Stickers and Gift Items from Cafepress: Save 20% off your order from CafePress.com, excluding shipping charges, gift wrap charges and applicable sales tax. Fine Print from Cafepress: Excludes specially priced or discounted items, Gift Certificates, Flip products, SIGG bottles and bulk orders. Coupon code NOEL20 must be entered at check out. Promotion starts on December 12, 2011, at 12:00 a.m. (PST) and ends on December 14, 2011 (TONIGHT!), at 11:59 p.m. (PST). All orders must be from the CafePress Marketplace (go to Cafepress.com and enter "DogBreedz" as a search term). Offer valid online at CafePress.com only, cannot be combined with any other coupons or promotions and may change, be modified or cancelled at anytime without notice. This promotion cannot be applied to past orders.

***** DogBreedz Gift Items from Zazzle Including "My Best Friend" iPhone covers and Holiday Breed Ornaments: 15% off all products AND free shipping on orders $50 or more! The fine print from Zazzle: Enter code: WISHCAMETRUE at checkout in the "Zazzle Coupons/Gift Certificates" box To qualify for this free shipping offer, one or more Zazzle products must be purchased with a net sale price equal to or greater than 50.00 dollars. The free shipping offer is for standard shipping to U.S. addresses only. Offer does not apply to shoes, custom framed prints, or screen printed apparel. Shipping charges will apply to oversized orders and orders being shipped on an expedited basis or outside the U.S.15% of the Zazzle product net sale price will be deducted when one or more qualifying products are purchased and the coupon code WISHCAMETRUE is applied at checkout. For most products, the net sale price is the price of the product (excluding shipping and taxes). For Zazzle Custom Stamps, the net sale price is the difference between the price of the Zazzle Custom Stamps (excluding shipping and taxes) and the face value of the postage. Offer is valid through December 16, 2011 at 11:59 PM PT. This promotional offer may not be combined with any other Zazzle promotional or volume discount offers. If a volume discount applies to your order, you will receive either the discount set forth in this offer or the standard volume discount, whichever is greater. Offer valid on Zazzle.com only.

***** DogBreedz Photo Galleries: 10% off orders of $25 or more (tax and shipping excluded). Use coupon code Blog12142011 at checkout (enter it on the same screen you enter your payment information). This offer is good for prints and gift items at DogBreedz.SmugMug.com ... order the 2012 breed wall-print calendars ... the breed Holiday Gift Tags or Greeting Cards - or prints of your dogs or your favorite breeds and more! Coupon expires 12/19/2011.

(Top photo: Holiday Gift Tags featuring Itty Bitty the Toy Poodle; Bottom photo: Clarence the Yorkshire Terrier)

Fidose Of Reality Holiday Photo Contest

"It’s that time of year. Turkeys and Christmas trees, silver and gold, falling snow and presents galore.

And time for the first annual Fidose of Reality holiday photo contest for prizes and blog fame!!!"

Okay, I love this Fidose blog and the people behind it, so I'll ignore my pet peeve of "first annual" (grrr ...) and get right into the good stuff ... a Holiday Pet Photo contest!

I've helped a number of pet parents get super Holiday images of their dogs and cats and I want to help you enter the contest this year. If you have a favorite image from the DogBreedz.net files from ANY YEAR that you would like entered, just let me know. I'll get you the proper resolution digital (no charge) and include a copyright release allowing you to enter the contest. Deadline to submit entries is 12/21/11 at 11:59 p.m. EST so get those requests into me NOW!

Happy Howlidays!

(photos in this post: TOP - Henry the Vizsla; BOTTOM - Holly the Border Collie)

Breedz Wanted to Photograph: 12/12/11

BREEDZ WANTED

If you have one of the following breeds and would like a complimentary session at my Santee studio this coming Wednesday, December 14, 2011, please do contact me. Your dog might appear in a national magazine or a calendar! I'm currently looking for:

Pug

Irish Setter

Alaskan Klee Kai

New Guinea Singing Dog

Welsh Springer Spaniel

Anatolian Shepherd

Puppies, adults and seniors - I need them all! They must conform to breed standards, but they don't have to be show dogs - purebred pets and rescues are available for this offer as well. Contact me at DogBreedz (at) yahoo (dot) com to arrange your private sitting. If you are in the San Diego area and have a great house/yard to photograph in, then I may be able to come to you for the shoot. I would also love to do "lifestyle" shots and include the owner, if you are up to it. Does your dog do a job or fun activity? That is a possible shoot, as well. I look forward to hearing from you!

12/9/2011: DogBreedz week in review and the weekend ahead

It's been a busy week, editing the projects that are in my queue for wonderful clients! The Free Wednesday Sittings have been a hit at Su-Et's Kennel in Santee - it has been a great way to introduce their clients to my pet photography services. This last week I've finished photos from Free Wednesdays thru November 16, and paid shoots through part of November 17. The Del Sur Kennel Club asked me to be their official show photographer for their Fall Puppy Match (thank you!) and those photos are up now too. This weekend I'll be finishing and posting photos from the Santee Studio shoots and from a fundraiser at Camp Bow Wow El Cajon, benefiting their foundation Bow Wow Buddies. No dog shows on the books for me this month. I'm catching up on editing and getting ready for the dog show 2012 circuit kickoff at Palm Springs. This weekend however is my annual time to put aside my camera and don the role of the photographer's assistant for Don Osborne (Scoundrel Photography) as we shoot Santa Photos at the PetSmart in Santa Ana, California to raise money for English Springer Rescue America. It's always a hit and we have the BEST Santa around! Add to that the professional studio lighting, and you can't miss!

What are YOU doing this weekend?

(photos in this post: Top photo - Bosco the Staffordshire Terrier; Bottom photo - Black Russian Terrier puppy)

Meet The Breed: Dalmatian

The true origin of the Dalmatian is unknown, although it is believed to have originated in India. Paintings and figures of spotted dogs have been found in ruins as old as 5,000 years - and the Dalmatian is the only spotted breed of dog. Numerous written references to spotted dogs occur throughout history. The modern Dalmatian was developed in Great Britain. While some Dalmatians were used for hunting, the breed’s primary purpose was as a coach dog. Coach dogs were there to guard the passengers and property in the coach. Because of their affinity for horses, it was natural for the Dalmatian to follow horse-drawn fire engines. Many fire departments are still graced by a Dalmatian mascot who guards the firehouse and helps educate children about fire safety. Dalmatians have been in this country since its founding, with George Washington being the most well known early breeder.

The Dal is a highly energetic, fun-loving breed, requiring regular interaction to work both the body and the brain. Devoted family dogs, they are well-suited for active homes with children. Although short, their coat sheds almost year-round, but regular brushing will help lessen the shedding around the home. Dalmations are recognized in two varieties: black and liver and Dal puppies are born without their spots. And for a little trivia ... the Dalmatian is also known as the English Coach Dog, the Carriage Dog, the Plum Pudding Dog, and the Spotted Dick.

The Dalmatian is AKC recognized (since 1888) and is a member of the Non-Sporting group.
The Dalmatian is UKC recognized (since 1914) and is a member of the Companion Dog group.
Dalmatian Club of America, Inc. is the official Parent Breed Club for the Dalmatian in the USA.

Shop for Dalmatian gifts at Zazzle: click here!

Shop for Spoiled Rotten Dalmatian on Board stickers: click here!

Shop for Dalmatian greeting cards at GCU: click here!