fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
AWS Proton
By: Florian Clanet
Tags: Infrastructure As Code, AWS, DevOps, Serverless, Reinvent2020

AWS recently announced a new service: AWS Proton.

As I love to have a look at the new features provided by the AWS re:Invent, I wrote this article summarizing my findings.

AWS Proton is a tool to help with infrastructure automation and code deployments.

But it is not another CodePipeline because the tool is more designed for organizational purposes.

This service makes it easy for infrastructure teams to centralize and standardize classic infrastructure patterns so that they can be available for developers to deploy their code.

And this why it should be seen as an organizational tool.

It support the technical design of your organization by providing a way to explicitly expose it to all teams building applications and products on top of this layer.

If you know AWS CI/CD environments, you will be happy to hear that Proton is for instance integrated with Code Pipeline and Cloudwatch.

Let’s see how we can quickly use AWS Proton to set up a lambda serverless environment.
Simple Google Cloud function tests
By: Beer Van Der Drift
Tags: Testing, JavaScript, Promises, Serverless, Google Cloud Functions

Get it? Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

This post was original published on my blog here.

Ever started a new project quickly realizing you would love to re-use some code from another project? This happened to me during the development of functional tests for Google Cloud functions. Maybe it can be of help to you too.

The problem

Unreadable code can feel like untying your earplug wires after getting them out of your pocket. Take a look at how a test might’ve looked for a cloud function (feel free to skip it, I’m just trying to show this is a callback mess):

Don’t even start about if your function runs async 🤢 (which most do). Promise + callback hell it’ll be for you.

Solution

With some abstraction magic, this test became much more simple:

Let yourFunction go wild! It can .send , .write , .end and much more!

Now you go!

I’ve created a little npm package out of this; for you (and myself) to re-use! The Google Cloud Function handlers are actually just Express handlers. Did you know this is the same in Firebase Functions? So to test Firebase Functions locally works with this too!

npm install pify-express-handler --save-dev

Let me know your thoughts! I hope it helps you out :).

Alternatives

If you’re using Serverless Framework you might be better off using their testing infrastructure. But don’t use it for just testing, it’s very heavy.
Azure Functions Nedir? Trigger ve Bindings Nedir? Nasıl kullanılır? Serverless Platform.
By: Ufuk Aytaş
Tags: Serverless Architecture, Functions As A Service, Serverless, Cloud Computing, Azure Functions

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What is Serverless
By: Prad Poddar
Tags: Serverless, Technology, Cloud, Software Development, Cloud Computing

Serverless: Image by pradpoddar

Back in the days if anyone want to run an application, they first would need to contact their company’s IT team. The IT team and the App team would go through multiple meetings, emails and come up with a list of things like servers, storage that would be required to host the application. Budget will be allocated. Work will be designated. Things will be bought or borrowed, then things will be done, then some more things will be done and then one fine day an email will come saying your server is ready. By that time, World has changed and people has moved on.

Everyone wanted a better and faster Infrastructure experience — what if I no longer have to rely on our scantly stuffed IT department to provision servers. Clients ask, someone provides. Enter Cloud. Companies started investing in Cloud, now they no longer worry about where the servers will come from. Just click, pay and you get the server from cloud. If you don’t need a server anymore — just click again and no need to worry on how to recycle or decommission the servers. It’s all being taken care by Cloud providers in exchange of rents. Data center got outsourced.

But wait, I want more. Today’s World changes at a faster pace than mouse clicks. So, how about no Infrastructure at all. I mean, I am a Product company, why do I worry about servers, clusters, patching. I want to do what I am best at doing i.e. Design and Development. Clients ask, someone provides — it was 2014. Enter Serverless. From now on, no one need to worry about infrastructure at all. No one need to know how many servers, how many storage arrays, what is the patching cycle. You don’t need to click for provision or decommission. Just code and deploy. It runs when it needs to run, it doesn’t run when it doesn’t need to run. It exists, but no one sees it. Developers run their code and they don’t see where it is running. Cloud providers run the infrastructure behind Serverless offerings, and they don’t see what is running there.

A Serverless compute service lets developers run their code

Without provisioning or managing servers

Managing runtime

Creating workload aware scaling logic

Maintaining event integration

Providing CICD capabilities

Providing monitoring and security tools
How to clean dog ears at home.
By: Dog Groom Fit
Tags: Dog Training, Clean Dog Ears, Dog Lover, Dog Grooming, Dogs

Maintaining the hygiene of your dog is usually an important part of their care. Some dogs have clean ears while others require regular care. Although all dogs can have ear infections, dogs with long ears are susceptible to ear infections. Checking your dog’s ear hygiene is as important as other routine hygiene tests.

Regular cleaning of your dog’s ears is necessary.

Your fury baby’s ear is likely to contain flea, parasites, dirt and ear wax. This will cause infection, permanent deafness or chronic diseases.

How to keep your dog’s ear clean regularly?

In your routine cleaning devote a while for your dog’s ear cleaning after bathing or swimming. Make it fun rather than monotonous cleaning as aggressive cleaning may cause serious damage to your dog’s ear.

Inspecting your dog’s ear before and while cleaning

You need to be calmed and relaxed to assist your friend, playfully hold your friend, pat, or gently stroke them to release anxiety. you’ll also allow them to be comfortable with the equipment then inspect the ear. twiddling my thumbs enough to let the dog be calm and do not be during a hurry. you’ll invite help to handle the pet.

Read More…..
Killing road machines
By: Vishnu Sandhi
Tags: Accident, Dogs

How often I see a bundle of meat on Indian road now a days ? Dogs and snakes are reduced to a pile of meat on the road killed by cars, buses and lorries.

Dogs survived this accidents looses limbs and body parts which cause their life to be miserable. Young born run into more trouble than elder dogs. Out of all the young born dogs only few survive. These dogs are killed by the road machines.

These dogs lie down exactly in the middle of road sleeping waiting to be overrun by vehicles. It feels they think dying is more better than the street dog life.

Many villages I see the speed bunkers that are constructed to reduce the speed of vehicles passing by. These help to solve this problem a rbit.

May be the flying cars would solve this or hyper loop vehicles.
Puppy Love
By: Gaston King
Tags: Responsibility, Coming Of Age, Love, Dogs, Poetry

Whether it be love, companionship, or just someone to appreciate your touch;

These animals grow to love and trust us as lifelong parents and guardians.

A child lacking in wholesome understanding, finds its way into a store full of squawks, purrs, and whimpers, gazing upon such creatures of loyalty and faith.

Majestic creations embodied with the sole wish to give and receive a life of love.

The child leans up against a glass wall, uncaring and unaware of the multiple trials of life that could be walked upon at that very moment.

There is one cage that seems to have captured the child’s eye.

Inside bares a scared and nervous pup awaiting the chance to escape such turmoil.

The child awaits in the play area for the lonely employer to deliver the hound to a more open environment.

The child witnesses the meager canine slowly approach, the child is nervous but also eager to meet a new friend.

Once the child sees the soul inside this animal’s beautiful eyes,

An everlasting desire is born, one to claim a permanent vacancy by each other’s side.

The child and puppy play, continuously petting and kissing one another with the memorable scent of puppy breath.

A curious case of chasing an undying sense of happiness leads to hearts that were destined to meet.

A promise is made to remain present and continue to linger amongst the side of the loving child.

This promise ages back far-off before the two were thought of.

A truly timeless bond in which ancient beings safely secured the hearts of wild wolves and redirected the rusty chains of the mystifying past.

© Gaston King, all rights reserved.
You’ve Heard of Dog People…
By: David Milgrim
Tags: Humor, Dogs, Pets, Comics

Top Writer in Satire & Humor; Trying to Feel Okay, One Comic at a Time; IG: https://www.instagram.com/davidmilgrim; Contact me at sitemail1000@gmail.com
Dog Walks in Birmingham
By: Amy Trumpeter
Tags: Dog Training, Animals, Pets And Animals, Pets, Dogs

Dog Walks in Birmingham

Birmingham was my closest home city and I spent a great deal of time there shopping and going out! But did you know that there are some amazing Dog Walks in Birmingham? Here are some of our favourites.

Cannon Hill Park

This park was described by the council as the city’s “premier park”. Cannon Hill Park is situated less than two miles from the city centre and is a very popular place for families to go. There are both 2km and 5km routes that you can choose to follow. It is up to you how far you want to walk. However, there is a huge green area for your dog to run around if you wish to sit on a bench and allow your dog to venture off and sniff around .This park is a great day out especially for a family.

Sutton Park

This park is excellent if you want to escape the city. It is known by the Birmingham City Council as “a sense of wilderness within an urban environment.” This huge park covers over 2,000 acres and is one of the largest urban parks in Europe. It is very popular with families and there are many lakes where you can see ducks and even geese during certain seasons.

The park has seven lakes within it and is considered an important wildlife and conservation site. There are many paths to choose from on this walk and although it is popular there are times you will be alone just because the park really is that big.

Lickey Hills Country Park

Lickey Hills Country Park is one of Birmingham’s well-known parks. It covers around 524 acres and is a great place to bring your dog. You are likely to spot a lot of wildlife here and Lickey Hills has a complex and interesting geology that has created a variety of habitats. These include woodlands, heathland, and grassland, which are home to an incredible diversity of wildlife. There is plenty to explore here.

Barr Beacon

If you want an amazing view when walking your dog, then take your dog here! Barr Beacon is one of the highest points in the Midlands and many people come here at sunset because of the view of the city. You park your car at the top of the hill, so the walk is relatively flat once you get out of your car. There are a few paths, but it is mostly fields for your dog to have a run about in.

Waseley Hills Country Park

This is another great walk if your dog needs to have some open space to sprint around and release some energy. Your dog can enjoy the open space and the walk does have a few hilly areas. There is also a dog-friendly cafe to stop off mid-walk if want to grab a snack.

As well as these parks there are some beautiful canal Dog Walks in Birmingham. However, some of the areas (such as Smethwick) can be a bit dodgy and so ask advice from the locals on areas and take someone with you. Near the city centre in Brindley place, it’s safe and nice to walk your dog, but may get a little busy especially in school holidays due to the Sealife Centre!

You might also like to read about dog walks in Leicestershire.
A Simple Thing Every Dog Owners Neglect
By: Erika Becerra
Tags: Pets, Pet Care, Dog Love, Dog Grooming, Dogs

Photo by Egor Lyfar on Unsplash

Starting to assess a dog’s physical well-being

What the owner and what a groomer experience with a dog is different

I worked for several years as a dog groomer. Many dogs got on my table the first time afraid and uncertain of how they gonna be treated.

The way their owner interacts with them and how I would interact is different. I will have to cut their hair, protect them from the scissors or blade, check body parts that may be the owner never touch (dog's private parts also need to be taken care of and need to be clean).

My main focus was to get them to accustom to my touch. I know the most thorough inspection of their body is not a normal occurrence. Having every single part of their body being touch is weird, so for many, it was a bit intrusive.

Right away I could detect a scale of negatives or positives: which dogs had no contact with a person at all, and which had all positive experiences with people.

Patience and safe maneuvers are needed in both cases, 1) to give the service needed for an aggressive dog, and 2) on the other positive side, tell the dog that is not time to play.

Talking with the owners of the dogs could give a glimpse if they had already a healthy interaction or not. I would give small assignments to help their dog lower their anxiety around being handled or touched in certain areas. Some agreed and never returned, but the best experiences were when they came back and saw an improvement.
KofC at 125 — “Corky”. This is the latest in an occasional…
By: Maury Thompson
Tags: Mascots, Basketball, Sports, History, Dogs

This is the latest in an occasional series of posts leading up to the 125th anniversary of the founding in December 1896 of the Glens Falls Knights of Columbus and the centennial of the start of construction in 1922 of the former Knights of Columbus hall at the corner of Warren and Center streets. The building is now the offices of the FitzGerald Morris Baker Firth law firm and Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“‘Corky,’ it might be added, barks with a pronounced brogue” and reportedly prefers corned beef and cabbage or spaghetti, the two favorite meals on the city’s East End, for supper, The Post-Star reported.

“Corky,” a dog, was the new mascot of St. Mary’s Academy, which had just selected “Kerry Blues” as the new name for its sports teams.

The five-month-old Kerry Blue terrier had not yet changed from chocolate-brown to the gray-blue fur of an older pup when Corky made his debut on the sidelines of the Saint Mary’s Academy vs Hudson Falls high school basketball game on Feb. 18, 1946 at the Knights of Columbus hall at the corner Warren and Center streets in Glens Falls.

St. Mary’s won a close game 35–33.

“A near-capacity crowd attended the encounter and saw the Warren Street five gain revenge for the 35–34 setback handed them by Coach Heidorf’s charges on the Hudson Falls floor, and also to witness ‘Corky’s’ debut as team mascot,” The Post-Star reported on Feb. 19, 1946. “The Kerry Blue terrier seemed pleased with the performance put on by the Saints (the former St. Mary’s team name,) and his appearance may prove to be a good omen for future tilts.”

Corky was a gift to St. Mary’s Coach Johnny Beale and senior class President Al Fiore from Ed Wachter. a St. Mary’s alumni standout athlete who later coached at Harvard, The Post-Star reported on Feb. 18, 1946.

The school selected Kerry Blues because the breed’s kind, yet determined, characteristics, epitomized the typical St. Mary’s Academy student, and its color coincided with the blue and white school colors.

Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series.
The Night I Almost Died Because the Dogs Were Barking
By: K Ann
Tags: Pets, Dog Mom, Barking Dogs, Dogs, Dogslife

The Night I Almost Died Because the Dogs Were Barking

The culprits: Sunny (left) and Charlie (right). Don’t let their cuteness fool you. Photo provided by the author.

This story takes place in mid-October. My husband was out of town in Las Vegas for work and I was home alone with the dogs. I had worked all day and was watching TV with a glass of wine (my first glass of the night). My husband usually watches his shows on the TV in the living room, so I was enjoying a rare show on the big TV — I normally watch YouTube or Netflix in the office when he’s home.

The dogs, Charlie and Sunny, had been stuck inside all day while I was at work and they had been playing outside most of the evening after dinner. The dogs had their training collars on because they like to bark at the neighbor dogs through the fence.

Charlie and Sunny had been good most of the night, so I wasn’t really worried about them barking while I was watching TV. This was my Friday night (really on a Wednesday) so I stayed up later than normal watching my show — “The Magicians” on Netflix.

Sometime after 9 p.m., the dogs started barking like crazy at the neighbor’s dogs. I had misplaced the remote for their training collars, so I searched like mad through the living room and the kitchen. I realized I had probably left it in the bathroom, so I took off running barefoot through the house.

As I turned the corner to go inside the bathroom, I hit the slippery spot on the floor. I knew it was there, but in my rush to stop the barking, I forgot. Down I went.

I hit the floor with my face.

My right cheekbone hit first, then my right elbow, hip, and foot. I didn’t actually know what hit me at first. I just layed there on the floor with my head spinning for a minute, then I got mad.

I used the remote (which was sitting on the bathroom sink) to call the dogs inside. I yelled at them, locked them in the house for the night, then sat on the couch and texted my husband.

I told him what happened. He texted back, “LOL.” I told him how much my face hurt and that I was worried I might have a concussion. Five minutes later he texted back. “I’m still laughing.”

He actually cracks up every time I remind him of this story. I’m not there yet.

That night I made myself stay up watching TV and scrolling through Facebook to make sure I didn’t have a concussion. (I did have more wine though.)

I checked my eyes in the mirror and kept asking myself if I felt alert and if I was actually okay. (Not that I would know how to tell if I’ve had a concussion, but it felt right at the time — this is not medical advice.)
Can We Keep Them?
Tags: Family, Narrative, Dogs

Can We Keep Them?

The day was January 20th, 2009, Obama’s inauguration day. Like all days, I wait for what seems like years for daycare to end. I looked through the window, watching the snowflakes gracefully float through the air and wait for my dad to come get me and my sister. Just as I was about to get up, I see his big Durango rolling through the snow. I think I could physically feel my heart fill up with joy as I jump up as fast as humanly possible. I yell for my sister, basically flying through the air. Before I even know what’s happening we’re out the door. The second I saw my Dads face I knew something was up. Unlike my sister, I was forced to sit in the backseat, nevertheless, I hesitantly climbed into the car. My Dad looked, smiling, as though he had a secret. He looked back at me and said,

“Don’t get too excited but there may be a surprise at home.” My sister looks back at me, eyes as wide as saucers. Thoughts sped through my mind, a thousand miles per minute. Did they finally get me a pony? Maybe two ponies?, I wondered. I immediately thought this was the only possible reason for all of his secrecy. The car ride was excruciatingly long, not just for me and my sister, but for my Dad too,

“What is it?”, “How much longer?”, “ Can you tell us yet?”, The questions were endless. I. was sure I could see the veins on his head ready to burst. Just when he seemed like he was about. to explode, we pulled into the long, narrow driveway. I never knew how agonizingly long a couple of seconds could feel. Before my dad could even stop, nonetheless park the car, my sister and I were sprinting into the house looking around everywhere for the surprise. The living room! No, the kitchen! Maybe the fridge?, high and low we searched. After what felt like hours we were finally forced to hang our heads and give up. We looked at our Dad for help, and just as he was about to open his mouth, from the back of the house we heard the tiniest sound, a tiny bark. I take one last look at my sister before sprinting towards the sound. Inside the bathroom, we see our dog, surrounded by eight tiny bundles of black and golden fur. Even though their little eyes weren’t even open yet, they knew we were there. As soon as we walked into the room, their little whines filled the room. However, unlike the two older dogs I already had, these weren’t loud, obnoxious whines, they were the tiniest sounds I think I’ve ever heard. I thought I could listen to them for years on end.

“Can we keep them?”, my sister blurts out. We turn and stare, showing him our very own puppy dog eyes, waiting very patiently for a reply. For a split second, he looked at us, ready to crack. Wow, I didn’t really think he would say yes! He continued to look around, searching for help to say no, luckily for us, mom doesn’t come home for another hour. With one last attempt to say no, he finally gave up before breaking with a laugh and shaking his head disappointed. After what seemed like years, he hesitantly said, “Maybe just one.”.
Why do dogs have whiskers?
By: Anush Pv
Tags: Animals, Pets And Animals, Dogs, Pets

Whiskers function as sensory organs. Touch, air currents and vibrations can stimulate the whiskers. They also can function as communication in that dogs that are emotionally aroused can move their whiskers forward or backward to signal to another dog either fear or confidence during encounters.

Whiskers are highly sensitive and help inform the dog about surrounding objects, air movements and more. You can also tell a dog is nervous or scared if the whiskers are pointing forward at a potential threat.
Thunderstorm*
By: Terry Trueman
Tags: Nature, Weather, Beauty, Dogs, Poetry

Thunderstorm*

As we prep for a cold winter up north, I think back to a huge storm we once had in Tucson . . . Terry Trueman Follow Dec 26, 2020 · 2 min read

Image courtesy of Deborah Cole, photographer

Living in the shadows of the

Catalina Mountains;

nature here is tall and powerful,

yet generally

rather quiet,

peaceful.

But early this morning,

4:44 a.m. ,

it begins.

Thunder so loud

that the greatest

surround-sound

couldn’t touch it and

right over our heads,

lightning flashing

through our

open Tucson windows

bright enough to

read small print.

No words can do the shock,

the power of

these explosions, justice.

Rusty, our bold,

brave, tough as nails dog,

comes cowering through the darkness,

tries to climb into bed

with us on my side;

after all,

I’m the alpha

in our pack

and he arrives quivering

ready to be

protected

from the terrible night sky

and from

BOOMS,

and flashes

BRIGHTER

than words (even words in

capital letters)

can capture.

And this goes on for half an hour,

heavy rain at times

but mostly these

explosions

of dark night air

accompanied

by pulsating electric shocks.

Our great dog Rusty, from pers. pics

When our fearless dog turns

cowardly

and my wife and I,

who usually sleep back to back,

turn to hold one another,

nature has ceased to be

this friendly, benign

neutral thing.

Image courtesy of Unsplash

Atheists and foxholes

and the ant on the ant hill

all come to mind.

And the Catalina’s

lean over us,

staring down

as they have

for the last

100 million years or so —

unimpressed by

thunderstorms

and the fears

of man or beast.

******************************

Wikipedia & Encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Trueman

This poem Thunderstorm from this book:
DOES THE SOG KNOW
By: Muhammad Shahzaib
Tags: Cats, Friendship, Storytelling, Comics, Dogs

DOES THE SOG KNOW

Once there were two classmates Pat and Tom. One day, Pat went to Toms's house to borrow a book.

Fluffy white dog in the grass

On entrance, he found a dog standing. Seeing Pat, it started barking. Pat got frightened. tom came running and held his dog. Pat was still breathing heavily.

Tom and Jerry vector for design

At this, om said, ‘‘Pat, dogs who bark never bite.’’

Pat said, ‘‘you and I know this proverb, but this dog doesn't know.’’

Both the friends laughed heartily.

The End...
Why do dogs chase their tails?
By: Anush Pv
Tags: Animals, Pets And Animals, Pet Behavior, Animal Behavior, Dogs

Other than for grooming or injury reasons, it is abnormal for dogs to consistently chase their tails.

It can occur as an attention-getting activity or can escalate to a compulsive behavior that interferes with normal activities.

Compulsive behaviors are similar to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in people and one theory is that it results in an increase in endorphins in the brain thus acting to reinforce pleasure for the behavior
A Short History of Man and Dog
By: Matthew Peck
Tags: Origins, History, Dogs

The Beginnings

It’s hard to tell exactly when we started domesticating dogs, but the best guesses are in East Asia around 30,000 years or so ago at the most, and 14,220 years ago at the least. Until more archeological evidence is found, it is hard to tell when exactly when wolves started to become dogs. The more realistic theories on why wolves became dogs include: wolves lingering around human hunter-gatherers’ camps to eat their scraps and “terminating” wolves that were found to be aggressive until the mellower ones remained. Some evidence points to us giving dogs names and proper burials as far back as about 12,000 years ago! While they were often used for various purposes such as hunting and dog-sledding, many ancient cultures such as Rome placed dogs on a high pedestal. Dogs were seen as protectors of the home from supernatural and non-supernatural threats.

Designer Dogs and Luxury Lifestyles

You may think that luxury dogs have only been around for a short period of time, but surprisingly this is not the case at all. The Romans actually kept small toy dogs for no apparent utilitarian purpose, and European royalty started making pockets on their clothes to hold small dogs. They also commissioned portraits for them and bred the animals for aesthetical desires.

Designer dogs became popular within the last few decades with the birth of the endless amount of poodle mixes (there’s one for what seems like every single dog breed) for the sake of a non-shedding coat and a smart dog. The most prominent ones are of course the Labradoodle and the Goldendoodle. Both are terrific dogs, especially with the kindness the Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers bring.

Conclusion

Dogs have come a long way from where they used to be. You can find one in every shape and size and most temperments you can think of. Dogs are simply wonderful, and their history is really cool to learn about. If your dog ever annoys you, remember that they are probably a lot less annoying than their ancestors.

If you are interested in reading some more in-depth articles, my sources below have great information regarding the history of dogs.

Sources:

Ault, Alicia. “Ask Smithsonian: When Did People Start Keeping Pets?” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 28 Sept. 2016, www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ask-smithsonian-when-did-people-start-keeping-pets-180960616/.

Contribution, Guest. “History of Dogs: The Journey of Man’s Best Friend.” History Cooperative, 20 June 2020, historycooperative.org/the-history-of-dogs/.

Gross, Terry. “How Dogs Evolved Into ‘Our Best Friends’.” NPR, NPR, 8 Nov. 2011, www.npr.org/2011/11/08/142100653/how-dogs-evolved-into-our-best-friends.

Pruitt, Sarah. “Man’s Best (and Oldest) Friend.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 22 May 2013, www.history.com/news/mans-best-and-oldest-friend.
100% Free Dog Training Guide!
By: Pet Trainer
Tags: Dog Training, Pets And Animals, Pets, Dog Behaviour Training, Dogs

Are you ready to learn?

This Nifty eBook contains simple game you can play with your dog right away, as well as special “smarking sound” you can use to get your dogs attention when needed!
【認養｜台北｜狗】BUBU找尋溫暖主人的家
Tags: 台北, Adoption, 認養, Dog, 柯基

in Up Close and Personal
If old dogs could talk,
By: Caroline Wittenberg
Tags: Pets, Old Dog, Old Age, Dogs, Rainbow Bridge

If old dogs could talk,

What would they say

I am old and my bones hurt

I am tired and I ache

I love you

I cherish you

And yet,

I am at peace with it

Please let me go

I will always be your best friend.
The dog is a domesticated form of the wolf, a member of the the Canidae family of the order…
Tags: Dogs, Breeds Of Dogs

The dog is a domesticated form of the wolf, a member of the the Canidae family of the order carnivora. The domestic dog has been one of the most widely kept working and companion animals in human history.

The dog quickly became ubiquitous across culture across the world, and was extremely valuable to early human settlements. Dogs perform many roles for people, such as hunting, herding, protection, assisting police and military, companionship, and, more recently, adding handicapped individuals. Currently, there are estimated to be 471 million dogs in the world.

Over the 15,000 year span that the dog had been domesticated. It diverged into only a handful of landraces, groups of similar animals whose morphology and behaviour have been shaped by environmental factors and functional roles. As the modern understanding of genetics developed, humans began to intentionally breed dogs for a wide range of specific traits. Through this process, the dog has developed into hundreds of varied breeds, and shows more behavioral and morphological variation than any other land mammals. For example, height measured to the withers ranges from a few inches in the Chihuahua a few feet in the Irish wolfhound; color varies from white through greys to black, and browns from light to dark in a wide variation of patterns; coats can be short or long, course-haired to wool-like, straight, curly, or smooth. It is common for most breeds to shed this coat, but non-shedding braids are also popular.

Different popular Breeds of Dogs

Labrador.

The labrador is one of the several kind of retrievers, a type of gun dog. They have webbed paws for swimming, useful when they retrieve their prey, hence why they a are called retrievers. The labrador is the most popular breed of dog in the world. It is also the most popular breed of assistance dog and is being widely used by police and other official bodies for their detection and working abilities. Labrador are very athletic: they love to swim, play catch/frisbee, and are great with young children.

Great Dane

Great Dane is a breed of domestic dog known for its giant size. The breed is commonly referred to as the "Apollo of all breeds". The Great Dane is one of the world's tallest dog breeds, with only the Irish wolfhound being taller on average. The last Great Dane to hold the world record as tallest living dog was Gibson, who was 3.5 feet tall at the withers and 7 feet 1 inch on his hind legs.

For more :- https://factknoww.wordpress.com/
Walking the dog — what it did for me and the bond with my family.
By: Alexbuck Toogrizzlytobear
Tags: Wellness, Relationships, Love, Wellbeing, Dogs

Walking and running is something Simba(pictured) really enjoys. It wasn’t until recently that I started to really enjoy it as well. My fiancée and I have been together almost a year now and her amazing personal habits have rubbed off on me immensely, however, we won’t focus on any other thing now except for walking the dog. I’ll do my best to narrow it down to five ways that it has strengthened me, my bond with our dog Simba, and the positive benefits it has had on our relationship.
About me —
By: Sandra Reesbowen
Tags: About Me, Loyalty, Love, Stories, Dogs

From a small child I learned the wisdom of dogs from our two Dachshunds, Ronny and Zeus. From wee slender red furred Ronny, I learned that persistence is the key when hunting bright flashes of light reflected on the lower part of the car door. The intermittent lights must have triggered the wolf dog ancestors within her soul. Obviously, Ronny never caught the flashing lights, but she did leave some mighty impressive scratches on the inside door.

From Zeus, with his strong burly black and tan doxie body, I learned about loyalty and love. I will be writing more about him later as his was a more dramatic life.

Besides my family’s and my own dogs, along the road of life I have met some remarkable people and the dogs who love them. What I have learned from observing their relationships, sometimes from afar sometimes not, is a master class in love, loyalty, misunderstandings and more — All of which you will read in my postings on “The Dogger Mom.”
6 Of The Best Pet Blogs
Tags: Dog Training, Pets, Dog Food, Pet Dog, Dogs

As a nation we are obsessed with our pets (in a good way of course) which explains why we love to talk about them. The number of pet bloggers is rising every year which presents an opportunity to share information, chat and even meet up for dog walks, social events and competitions. But which blog is the most helpful and which can you trust?

Here at The Pet Express we have put together a list of 6 of the best pet blogs out there making sure that you get the right information.

Blog Paws

With the tagline “Shaping social media excellence, influence and education one amazing pet parent at a time” it is clear to see that the community behind this pet blog is full of passion for pets. Bringing together pet enthusiasts through social media, this blog is best for communicating ideas and tips.

THE BEST SOLUTION TO MAKE YOUR DOG HEALTHY AND SHARP INSTANTLY

Oh My Dog

This site is written by a pet blogger that just loves dogs. The articles are fun to read and the site includes some reviews as well, making it a one stop blog for dog owners around the country.

Pawsitively Pets

A great fun site discussing everything you need to know about pets, including some exotic ones. Curated by a Veterinary Technician, the blog posts some informative articles even about pet health.

Pressplay Pets

This blog has a great design that helps you to navigate around the site easily. Packed full of helpful information and real life stories about some amazing pets, this blog is the perfect sharing platform.

THE BEST SOLUTION TO MAKE YOUR DOG HEALTHY AND SHARP INSTANTLY

The Conscious Cat

Winner of the The Petties Dogtime’s Pet Blog Award 2013 for Best Overall Pet Blog, the site focuses completely on cats, really understanding their needs and helping owners to locate the correct advice for their feline friends.

The Dogington Post

A fantastic blog that is “the internet newspaper: all about dogs”. An excellent pet blog bringing up anything dog related in the news, including some features about health and lifestyle. Perfect for the dog lover and famous on social media.

And there they all are, please click on the links to discover more. Happy posting!

THE BEST SOLUTION TO MAKE YOUR DOG HEALTHY AND SHARP INSTANTLY

Originally published at https://www.thepetexpress.co.uk/blog/general-interest/6-of-the-best-pet-blogs/
The Big Kahuna: My Worst Dog Related Startup Idea
By: Jimmy Cerone
Tags: Shark Stank, Startup, Ideas, Shark Tank, Dogs

Today’s idea comes from my deep frustration over the unequal distribution of poop related tracking apps.

My dog Blue has ZERO options for tracking his poops, which I’m sure help him mark his territory or something.

Me, his poop aloof owner, is spoiled for choice on both Apple AND android.

Why is that there isn’t a poop tracking app for dogs, who use poop to mark their territory, but there IS one for humans who could give a shit where they drop their logs?

Though it’s pretty clear I think already, I’ll dive into the problem and solution explicitly now.

The Quick Version

Problem: Dogs can’t track their poop location via an app on their phones.

Solution: The Doggy Poop Tracker App (DPT-A).

Ask: $15 to make sure I never speak of this app again.

The Long Version

Problem

Once again, I feel like the problem is well defined. Dogs have no way (other than their tremendous sense of smell and well evolved instincts) to track their poop location, which is critical for marking their territory.

Humans, who could care less about where they poop, have multiple options when it comes to poop tracking apps.

I think it’s time someone rectified this injustice and created a poop tracking app tailored to dogs so they can keep track of their poops on their phone in a convenient way.

Now, some might say this is ridiculous. How can a dog use a phone? Those people probably don’t own dogs.

When Blue (my dog) gets pissed off that I’m on my phone for too long, he will wreak havoc on my screen with his nose. Now I’m not talking his slobber (which does make me want to stop using my phone), I’m saying that he will press random buttons with that wet honker of his.

Dogs can use phones, I have no doubt in my mind.

Solution

So here’s what I’m thinking: an app with a single giant button.

As your dog is pooping, you put the phone in front of their face and they tap the button with their multitalented noses, dropping a marker at your current location.

Then, when you get back from the walk, your dog can peruse the geolocation data from the comfort of home, pondering their giant territory and plotting expansions with future poops.

Not only will this help your dogs confidence (Fido can boost his cred with more territory), it will make walks more enjoyable because you are both now on a mission to expand fido’s influence.

The Ask

My ask is simple. I think this idea is so terrible it should never see the light of day.

All that I ask is that you pay me $15 to never speak of this again to save my families brain cells from this Stanky idea.

Please pay me.

My family can’t take much more of DPT-A.
Does a dog pull on its leash when excited?
By: Jacob Vandersluys
Tags: Dog Training, Animals, Pets, Facts, Dogs

Does a dog pull on its leash when excited? This one is for the dog owners — what do you think? Is a dog excited when pulling the leash? Well, the answer is no. When a dog pulls on a leash, it is not a sign of happiness or enthusiasm; it is a sign of confusion. Most people tend to speed up their walk when a dog pulls on its leash, but this is not an effective way to train it. When you find your dog tugging on the leash, do this instead. Maintain your pace so the dog learns to understand how the leash works. Also, be sure to never yank the leash as the dog can easily damage its windpipe.
Generating Leads for your Pet Industry Business
By: Claudia Cesarotti
Tags: Pets, Marketing, Marketing Strategies, Email Marketing, Dogs

Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash

Do you think Generating Leads for your B2B Pet Industry Business is Difficult?

Then the Sales Funnel is your best friend! What is a Sales Funnel, you ask? Let’s talk about that…

A Sales Funnel is the process a company, especially a B2B company, goes through to:

· Generate leads

· Collect email addresses of potential customers

· Follows up with those customers to turn them into buyers

· Use content to push the sales process forward

· And, lastly, makes the sale with the new customer

These steps seem pretty simple, broken down into bullet points, but there is a bit more of an involved process to each step.

First, generating leads. One big way of generating leads is through a social media ad. Facebook (or Instagram) ads have exploded in popularity in the last several years.

An invitation to join a webinar or download a report or white paper sparks a potential customer's interest, and they tap on the ‘Click here’ button in the Facebook ad.

This brings the customer to the company’s landing page, where they can ‘opt-in’ with their email address. This is a fantastic way for your B2B company to collect email addresses to build their email list.

After the customer ‘opts-in’, they can download the report/white paper or schedule a time to view the webinar they were interested in.

Other types of content to help generate leads can be:

· Online ads (other than social media)

· Printed material from a trade show

· Blog posts

· Articles placed in trade magazines or journals

· E-books

· Explainer videos

And the list goes on… Generating leads is tremendously important to any B2B company!

Once a B2B company has a potential customer’s email address, how do they follow up?

Using email campaigns, e-newsletters, training videos, and sell sheets are a few ways to nurture a relationship with interested new buyers.

Case studies are another effective way… a case study is used to show new customers all the different ways your B2B company’s product has helped and served customers that have already benefited from the product (or service).

All of this type of content is a powerful way is to push the sales process forward.

If new buyers can imagine improving themselves (or those around them) from using your B2B company’s product or service by reading a case study of how other people benefited or by viewing a webinar on how best to use the product or service, then that new buyer is already thinking about how the product or service can fit into their lives and how their lives can be bigger, fuller, and richer by having your product.
He Played Snots in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and It Ruined His Life
By: Ed Ergenzinger
Tags: Christmas, Comedy Writing, Humor, Comedy, Dogs

Humor | Comedy

He Played Snots in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and It Ruined His Life

The role of a lifetime was a ticket to typecasting hell and a struggle for respect in Hollywood.

Photo by Pope Moysuh on Unsplash

It’s been over 30 years since Alonzo Contreras played Snots in the hit 1989 movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

While Contreras said he’s honored “people love something that I was a part of,” the actor wants people to stop asking him to “do the snotting thing” for them.

“I get asked that every day I leave the house,” Contreras shared with Access Entertainment. “What am I supposed to say? They don’t understand that it was all special effects. I’m like, ‘I don’t have a sinus condition, I don’t know what to tell you.’ ”

“I never want to take away their enjoyment of the moment,” he said. “But … I’m not a performing monkey. I’m more than that one character.”

The Role of a Lifetime

According to Contreras, portraying Snots in the movie, about the Griswold family’s plans for a big family Christmas that turns into a disaster, was a “blessing and curse.” The role shot Contreras to stardom while simultaneously typecasting the actor for decades.

“I got into acting after I saw the Bumpus’ hounds in A Christmas Story,” Contreras shared. “When I saw them demolish that kitchen I was transported. I knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life.”

Photo by Sapan Patel on Unsplash

“Before Christmas Vacation, all I’d done was some regional theater and a few commercials,” Contreras recounted. “I was living by myself in a one-bedroom on the beach in Malibu. I had just missed out on Turner and Hooch and was really bummed. So I get the script and I sit down, and I start reading it,” Contreras said. “I was blown away. I knew I could play the hell out of Snots. I just understood the character on a visceral level. I’d grown up with guys like him, so I really connected with him, you know?”

“When I got the part I was ecstatic,” Contreras remembers. “I thought I’d been handed the key to Hollywood. But then that’s all they want you to be.”

Escaping Snots’ Shadow

“After Christmas Vacation, the only scripts that came my way were for the same tired derivative version of Snots,” recalls Contreras. “Years later when I auditioned for Air Bud, the casting director said they were going to pass on me because they didn’t really see Bud as a phlegmy character. Can you believe that shit?”

Because of his difficulties landing big screen roles after Christmas Vacation, Contreras has pivoted to a career as a voice actor. And he’s grateful for the opportunities — his celebrated turn on Clifford the Big Red Dog as Clifford’s friend Ruffles won him an Emmy nod last year.

But when it comes to fans, Contreras suggested, “Ask me for my autograph. Ask me to take a picture. Let’s cover your Instagram feed. But I ain’t gonna ‘snot’ for you. That’s not who I am.”
The Feeling of (this) Christmas
By: Chrissy Shelton
Tags: Broken, Last Christmas, Christmas, Companion Animals, Dogs

I keep his blanket folded up next to me in bed. I find myself smelling it. I snuggle with it, gripping his stuffed animals, petting them. I’m desperate to feel close to him and afraid of the day when I can’t smell him anymore.

The memories are piercing.

I try to use past tense, but that seems wrong. Foreign.

“He is right there … he’s right …” I trail off in my emotions.

The emotions. So raw.

A scent of him lingers in the air.

I cling to the memories like a kid holding her most prized Christmas treasures. Oh the memories.Grateful.

Then I think of all the memories we will never make. Oh the memories. Not grateful.

After his passing I spent the first week mostly in bed; numb to the reality and gripping in agony. Then I went (and stayed) into manic action, desperate to keep myself busy.

“If I just keeping going, it’s not real.” I fight through the tears, until I can’t and let myself drop to my knees.

The sounds that escape my throat were, are, terrifying. The ebb and flow of emotions. Discordant tumultuous emotions.

I climb into bed, exhausted and drained, mentally and physically. And yet, sleep still alludes me without the help of the prescription meds. Given to me through a very teary-eyed, very honest telehealth conversation.

I go through the emotions, and feel the gravity of every. single. one.

Anger. Sadness. Confusion. Denial. Broken. Irrevocably broken.

I want, and hope, to get to a place of gratitude. But, that day seems like a unicorn. Instead, I sit here motionless, tears run my face as I stare at the spot where he used to sit next to me. Surrounded by the glitz and chaos of Christmas and drowning in the feeling of a unbreakable, broken bond.

We never saw the redwood trees together, nor did we walk the paths of Colorado, but the moments we shared were just as glorious.

A Sunday afternoon hike in the forest.

A summertime stroll along the oceanline.

A backyard splash session in his baby pool.

An afternoon playing in the snow.

A roaring fire to warm our paws and toes.

Sitting on the riverside bank, or anywhere, just being with one another.

A Christmas morning snuggled in bed, nestled with one another.

Rememberance is both a Christmas gift and a gut punch. I’m feeling the weight and gravity of every single memory, and emotion.

I lack the ability to filter or censor this grief. I feel his presence so strongly right next to me.

Again, I reach for him.

And, once again, I am forced to remember he’s not here.

And now it is Christmas Eve (Eve) and I underestimated the depth of how this holiday would feel without him. Just when I had hoped I was out of the acute phase of this grief like a backhand of holiday cheer I am fully immersed in the misery.

On the floor.

Knees to the chest.

Rocking in agony and confusion.

During the waking hours, I can manage (slightly more) the pain. The emotion. But once darkness hits and it’s time for the sandman to visit, I give in to all I’ve been holding from the day.
Merry Christmas!
By: Alesha Peterson
Tags: 2020, People, Christmas, Merry Christmas

I wanted to make a quick note to say Merry Christmas! Hope you had a great day!

Since it’s 2020, a new decade 🔥🙌 I’ve decided to slightly change how I sign off.

If you like what you’ve read, please recommend it so others can read it as well. Please tell me what you want me to write about here!

Interested in having my Medium stories sent to your inbox? Sign up here!

Interested in what I done? Check out my LinkedIn profile I barely use lol. I’ll update it to add the new current businesses I’m working on one of these days.