Pet Bucket Blog

This resourceful little squirrel is getting ready to bunker down for winter and has found a rather interesting but not altogether effective place to hide nuts. You are bound to have a chuckle or two watching this!    

Grover the pug really is having a BALL in his playpen which has been filled up by his owners. His reaction is priceless! Would your dog react in the same way?    

The ultimate battle has commenced among two fierce competitors but who will come out of this war victorious? In one corner we have the shark - a true warrior of the sea and not an animal you would want to mess with. In the other corner we have Maymo, the lovable pooch who's also a steely combatant. In an unlikely meeting, these two are ready to fight at all costs and only one will be left standing - but who will it be? You'll just have to watch to find out how this ends!    

Teaching your dog tricks such as 'sit' and 'stay' are not only fun to teach (and fun for them to learn) but are beneficial to your dog's temperament and overall obediance, keeping them alert and energetic - plus it's a great way for you to bond. Jesse, the adorable Jack Russell really takes his repetoire of tricks to the next level which have all been taught with positive reinforcement. It's evident he's having a great time - just look at his happy smile! You'll certainly feel inspired to try and get your pooch to learn a few of these everyday chores...  

Did you know, 48 new puppies and kittens are born every minute? Or 634 lbs of dog poo is generated every second? (That's a lot of scooping!)   We've got all the amazing facts and figures behind our pets in real-time. Click here to see the full-sized graphic.

  Watch these hilarious kittens getting down to the beat! Turn Down for What?! I'd love to take them out for a night on the town. Brighten up someone's day by sharing this video. 

The world’s tallest dog stands the same height as a donkey. Named appropriately after the Greek King of the Gods, Zeus is a three year old Great Dane that is the Guinness World Record Holder for Tallest Dog Ever. Image credit He stands an astonishing 111.8cm (44 inches) from foot to withers – and has no difficulty taking snacks from the kitchen bench top! When standing up on his back legs he measures 7 ft 4 in. an enormous height even for a human. He weighs 70.3 kg (155 pounds and 11 stone).   Image credit   A native of Otsego, Michigan, USA, Zeus draws attention when he goes for a walk in his local neighborhood. The most common question his owner Denise Doorlag is asked is, “Where’s his saddle?” Image credit   Owning a record-breaking dog like Zeus presents unusual challenges. Everything needs to be bigger. Denise had to buy a van in order to transport him, as he wouldn’t fit in a conventional car. He also eats an enormous amount of food and leaves bruises when he accidentally bumps into his master. He also needs larger volumes of medicine than a regular-sized pooch for them to have any effect.   Image credit Zeus just beats out fellow Great Dane Giant George for the title of Tallest Dog Ever, standing over him by one inch. Giant George was so large he was given a row of three airline seats to himself when he travelled to Chicago to make an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey show.    Feature image credit

English artist Louis Wain was utterly obsessed with cats.   He became popular in the Victorian period for his adorable anthropomorphised cats and kittens, with large-eyes and sweet expressions. However, in the tradition of many great artists, Wain became rather mad in his later years, and his cat artworks became increasingly bizarre and abstract - but no less captivating.   Wain was born in Clerkenwell, London, in 1860, to a French mother and an English textile trader and embroiderer. He was the first of six children and the only boy – and out of all of them was the only one to marry. His chosen bride, much to the scandal of the neighborhood, was his sisters’ governess Emily. Such women were viewed as little more than glorified servants at the time and not only that, Emily was ten years older than the 23-year-old Wain.   Image credit It was thanks to Emily that Wain began to create cat art in earnest. Sadly she suffered from breast cancer only three years after they were married. It was a stray black and white kitten they named Peter, rescued after they heard him mewing outside one rainy night, who gave her joy in her illness.   Wain began to produce sketches of the cat to further lift her spirits and Emily enjoyed them so much she encouraged him to have them published. She did not live to see her husband’s work unveiled to the public, but as she had imagined, they were well received. He continued to create paintings and drawings of cats as he promised her.   Wain later said of Peter: "To him, properly, belongs the foundation of my career, the developments of my initial efforts, and the establishing of my work."    Image credit Wain's cats had a human-like range of expressions and did human-like things such as play musical instruments, serve tea, play cards, fish, smoke, enjoy nights at the opera and wear sophisticated clothing.   They became enormously popular and appeared in popular newspapers of the day such as The Illustrated London News, magazines, journals, greeting cards and postcards. Wain also illustrated a series of children’s books.   Image credit Such was his passion for cats, he became the chairman of the National Cat Club in 1898 and 1911 and was involved with animal charities such as the Governing Council of Our Dumb Friends League, the Society for the Protection of Cats, and the Anti-Vivisection Society. It was his hope to help improve the welfare and standing of cats in English society.   Despite his great celebrity, Wain suffered from poor finances throughout his life. He was responsible for supporting his five sisters and mother after his father’s death and possessing a naïve personality, often made poor business choices such as selling his pictures outright without retaining rights over their reproduction, and he invested unwisely in hair-brained inventions.   As he aged, Wain’s mental health began to deteriorate and his works became increasingly abstract, though he continued to depict cats.   Image credit   It has been speculated he suffered from schizophrenia, whilst other experts believe he had Asperger’s Syndrome.   Whatever the case, by 1924, his sisters felt they could no longer cope with his erratic and sometimes violent behaviour and Wain was committed to the pauper ward of the Springfield Mental Hospital. A year later, the public discovered his whereabouts and there were calls he be rescued from his situation by prominent celebrities of the day such as writer H. G. Wells. The Prince Minister Ramsey MacDonald personally intervened and Wain was transferred to the Bethlem Royal Hospital and later the Napsbury hospital. These were comparatively pleasant places to stay and he was given access to a garden and a colony of cats.     Image credit Wain continued to manifest erratic behaviour throughout the rest of his life, but never ceased painting his favourite felines. His once whimsical cats were now kaleidoscopic, fearsome creatures rendered in bright colours and intricate patterns.  Wain passed away in 1939. H. G. Wells commented,  "He has made the cat his own. He invented a cat style, a cat society, a whole cat world. English cats that do not look and live like Louis Wain cats are ashamed of themselves."     Wain faded from memory until the late 60s, when his works returned to fashion and suddenly became collectable again. Musicians Nick Cave, David Tibet and artist Tracy Emin are notable collectors of Wain’s cats.   Cave, who has been a fan since the 1970s, organised an Australian showing of his pieces in 2009 – the first showing of Wain’s work outside of England.     Feature image credit

Love cats? Love clothes? Channel your inner cat lady with these chic fashion finds!   Charlotte Olympia Kitty Kicks    Image credit   Charlotte Olympia is famous amongst the fashion world’s elite for her quirky and innovative shoe designs – and she has a weakness for cats.   Her kitty shoes come in all shapes and sizes, from flats to sky-high wedges. Pick from an assortment of shades - emerald, red and cream to name a few – and fabrics such as velvet and satin. She also makes matching clutches!   Image credit     Jacqi Chew 'CatWalk' Jewellery   Image credit   Inspired by her cat Haruki, jewellery designer Jacqi Chew has created a series of necklaces and earrings using the feline form in innovative ways.   Image credit  At first glance many of her pieces don’t seem to include cats at all - but upon closer inspection geometrical patterns are revealed to be combinations of cats arching and slinking in complex arrangements.   Image credit  Her pieces are created from wood, finished with black paint and varnish or mirror polystyrene surfacing.      Obscura Outfitters Nail Decals     Image credit  Nail decals are big at the moment. What could be cuter than wide-eyed kittens at your fingertips? Obscura Outfitters produces tiny kitty-face transfer decals  which blend perfectly with clear or pale nail polish. They come with an instruction kit and are simple to use.    Image credit    Modcloth Look What The Cat Bagged In Tote   Image credit   Image credit  Functional and adorable, the Look What the Cat Bagged In Tote is made of durable cotton so it is perfect for lugging around books and work notes – and best of all it features a little grey cat peeking out into the world. Its head is a small pocket, so you can slip your sunglasses inside.     Nach Bijoux Porcelain Cat Rings   Image credit   Nach Bijoux’s delicate porcelain cat rings are works of art. Each piece is handmade in the brand’s workshops from start to finish using unique manufacturing techniques. Each piece is signed and registered and quality standards are strictly observed.   Image credit   The company is headed up by sisters Nadia and Nancy Koch, who are the daughters of porcelain great Christian Koch who worked in the industry for thirty years.   Image credit     La Carioca Red Cats Scarf   Image credit Using Alice in Wonderland as her inspiration, Ange Marie has created a series of accessories for the modern woman. Her patterns come from artworks hand-drawn and coloured with ink and watercolours. Only small quantities of each design are produced, in Como, Italy, and are hand rolled and finished in London.     Modcloth Hooked on a Feline Dress   Image credit     Cats everywhere! Modcloth’s sugary sweet cat dress is made of 100% cotton so it is cool as well as prim perfection.     Feature Image Credit  

There’s not much better than curling up with a good book - except maybe if it's also with a cuddly dog and it's a great book about a lovable or heroic dog. Here’s a list of some feel-good, exciting, triumphant or funny reads to share with your dog.  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum Toto has to be one of the most well-known and beloved dogs in the world of literature and film. Dorothy’s trusty and brave terrier sidekick also appears in other books in the Oz series as well as some offshoot books, Toto in Oz by Chris Dulabone and Toto of Oz by Gina Wickwar.   Image credit Lassie Come-Home by Eric Knight Few realise that this heroic Collie was first brought to life by Eric Knight in a 1938 newspaper story, then a novel in 1940. Knight, who himself had a rough Collie was reported to have based the story on a 1924 true event where a dog travelled vast distances to be reunited with family. The first novel, Lassie Come-Home tells of Lassie’s long and miraculous journey home to the boy she loves. There are many subsequent books in the series detailing Lassie's bravery that you and your dog will love to sink your teeth/fangs into.    Image credit The Hundred and One Dalmations by Dodie Smith This book has it all - the strength of the family bond, pupnapping, danger, revenge, good versus evil and reunited loves. In this novel Smith introduces us to Pongo, Missis, Perdita, Prince and Colonel. The Starlight Barking is the sequel.   Image credit Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up or Peter and Wendy by J. M. Barrie A novel of adventure and fairytale. Although not a main character, Nana, the Newfoundland, is the nanny and friend of Wendy, John, and Michael Darling. Nana was based on Barrie and his wife’s own Newfoundland named Luath but in screen adaptations the character became a Saint Bernard.  The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton This much loved series tells of the school holiday escapades of Julian, Dick, Anne and Georgina and her dog Timmy. Timmy is loyal, brave, smart and protective. There are 21 books written by Blyton in the series so you may want to get cracking! Image credit And for some more light-hearted and shorter readings don’t forget these wonderful comic based works.  Peanuts and of course the witticisms and observations of Snoopy. The Adventures of Tin Tin which feature the irrepressible Snowy. Garfield and his unlikely friend, the loveable dog Odie. Fred Basset, yes he’s a Basset Hound, and is joined by various canine characters. Marmaduke the Great Dane and his life with the Winslow family. Footrat Flats and its main character the Border Collie who prefers to be known as ‘Dog’ rather than his real name.  Image credit Feature image credit