Wanna see some wacky dog costumes? Need to get yourself in the Halloween spirit this year? Fret no more… Here is a gallery of the wackiest, most insane, stupidest dog costumes we’ve seen.

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There are 30 pictures in this gallery.

Photo #1 >>

Here we have the butt of everyone's joke. Ol' Butt Face. Yep, this dog's tater hole has been highlighted with makeup to accentuate the features of this rear view. It's a DIY dog costume that has gone way, way too far.

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Source: 30 Wackiest Dog Costumes – Funny Photos!

Written by Dan Frontworth Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

You might be surprised to learn that most pet owners treat their dogs not as dogs but as humans.

They expect them to behave the way they do, and this confuses the dog. This is where a few dog whisperer tips can help.

Dog Whisperer Tips

Cesar Millan, known as the dog whisperer, preaches that we can communicate with our dog at a level that the dog understands. It’s not complicated.

Here are 5 dog whisperer tips you can try right now:

1. Show your dog who’s the boss. When leaving the house, walk out the door before your dog. No folks, it is not cruel to do this. You need to establish a consistent pack leadership role here — according to Millan.

2. Master the walk. You should be taking at least two 30- to 45-minute walks every day. This will benefit your dog’s body and mind, and it is extremely important for your pet’s well-being. When you are outside on your walk, never let your dog pull ahead of you. The pet should stay at your side or behind you.

3. Channel your inner Oprah. “Project a calm-assertive energy,” Millan says. “Think about Oprah Winfrey.” Dogs feed off energy, so pay attention to how you act around your dog, and how your dog perceives your actions. Anger will never work; you want to be quietly in control.

4. Don’t be an affection slut. In other words, reward your dog at the right time. Your pet thrives on affection, toys and treats, but don’t just give this stuff away for free! Remember, any time you dole out affection, you’re reinforcing the behavior just before that, so don’t show affection if your dog is whining, aggressive or fearful. Do show affection when your pup is calm and submissive — after exercise, after a meal, after performing a command like “Sit” or “Stay.”

5. Don’t be weird. Finally, forget the fancy dog clothes, the bumblebee dog costumes, luxury dog foods, “birthday cakes” and pet mansions. None of that will necessarily make for a happy dog. Instead, try to see the world through your pet’s eyes.

So there ya go… 5 dog whisperer tips you can try right now. What do you think about this list? Do you agree with Cesar Millan’s methods?

Source: 5 Dog Whisperer Tips You Can Try Now

Written by Dan Frontworth Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

It collects in the corners of your apartment, on your favorite clothing and all over your furniture. Small tumbleweeds roll across the floor if left unchecked. Pet hair.

How to Knit a Sweater from Dog Hair

But it doesn’t have to be like this. There’s a way to put dog hair to good use: You can make a sweater out of it. Chiengora is yarn made from dog hair or a blend. “Chien” is the French word for dog, and “gora” is taken from angora, the fiber to which dog hair is the most similar.

There are reports of dog hair fibers being found in the clothing and blankets of prehistoric Scandinavia and the North American Navajo Indians. DNA analysis on blankets used by the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia have found that canine hairs seem to have been a common fiber in their crafts.

We can’t imagine, however, that anyone back then called it something as pretentious as chiengora.

Dog Hair = Money

The material is gaining in popularity. A quick search reveals that the going rate for chiengora produced from the hair of two champion German shepherd is $4.95 for 3 ounces. That could add up to a tidy sum if you kept all the trimmings from your own favorite canine.

And just in case it’s not abundantly clear: No, the dog isn’t harmed to make chiengora. Harvesting dog hair is just like harvesting wool from a sheep — albeit a house-broken, spoiled, garbage-eating sheep that sleeps on your sofa when you aren’t looking.

COLLECT IT: To make your very own garment or pot holder, start by collecting the fur that comes off when you brush your dog, and keep any floor sweepings. Store it in a cloth sack such as a pillowcase, in a well-lit and ventilated area. This will keep it free from moths.

SPIN IT: When you have collected enough, the hair must be spun into yarn before you can make anything out of it. You can do this yourself if you know how to spin or you can send it to an outside organization that will do it for you. Woofspun by Detta’s Spindle is one location that will happily spin yarn so you can knit a sweater from dog hair. You’ll need about 4 ounces for socks, hats and mittens; 10 ounces for a scarf; or 42 ounces for a large sweater.

KNIT IT: Once you have your yarn, it’s time to knit! Follow any pattern as if you were knitting with traditional sheep or goat’s wool. For you experienced knitters, this means use a size 5 or 6 knitting needle. Blooming will occur with use, making it very easy to work with but difficult to undo — so no mistakes. It measures about six stitches to the inch and works well with two-ply sport weight yarn.

Here is an interesting video about knitting with dog hair. Watch this, then we’ll briefly discuss how to care for your new garment…

How to Care for Chiengora

To care for your dog-hair garment, hand-wash it in warm water with pet shampoo (no kidding!) or with mild liquid detergent.

And just in case you’re in no mood to do your own knitting, particularly with dog hair of all things, then consider buying a sweater made especially for your pup. Good compromise, right?

Additional Resources

• Bella Online: Making a Sweater From Dog Hair
• Amazon.com: Knitting With Dog Hair (112 pages), a definitive guide
• Seabreeze Spinners: Chiengora archive with a treasure trove of information

Source: How to Knit a Sweater from Dog Hair

Written by Sarah Blakemore Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.