On Monday February 15th, the 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will add to its legacy as America's greatest dog show. It's the second-longest continuously held sporting event in our nation, just a year behind the Kentucky Derby. The Best-in-Show has become the most coveted prize of purebred dog owners and trainers. Tune in at 8:00PM on the USA Network.

The Mystic Krewe of Barkus Parade is a popular 15-block parade of costumed dogs (and a few cats) that takes place 2 weeks before Ash Wednesday in New Orleans. The Krewe of Barkus is the dog equivalent of The Krewe of Bacchus, best-known for its celebrity kings and massive Mardi Gras floats. All proceeds from the Barkus Parade benefit local animal rescues and organizations. And check out one of the newest books in the pet collection, Rescue Tails: Portraits of Dogs and their Celebrities.

In today's Detroit Free Press was an article about Rudolph. But he isn't a reindeer. He's a blind and deaf Dachshund helping kids understand that despite his disabilities, he leads a productive and playful life. Rudolph's owner, Marcia Fishman, adopted him when other families couldn't or wouldn't. She's written a children's book, Rudolph's Nose Knows. To learn more about the breed, check out this book, Dachshund.

Dogtown, is a companion to the hit show by the same name and celebrates the bond between dogs and their caregivers at the Best Friends Animal Society. It shares the inspiring rehabilitation stories of dogs from an array of disadvantaged backgrounds who responded to intervention after being dismissed as unadoptable by other shelters.

Cesar Millan, star of the National Geographic Channel's Dog Whisperer and professional dog trainer extraordinaire, has written a new book for raising the perfect dog, from puppyhood into your own best friend. How to Raise the Perfect Dog is packed with information from preventing bad behaviors before they start to exercises to keep your dog healthy and fit.

Novelist Dean Koontz thought he achieved contentment in his life; happily married to his high-school sweetheart and a very successful writing career with more than 20 New York Times bestsellers so far. Then along came Trixie, a retired service dog from the Canine Companions for Independence. Koontz, who often features dogs in his books, never had owned one. In his memoir, A Big Little Life, he tells the story of falling in love at middle age with lovable Golden Retriever.

We love our dogs. But researchers are delving deeper into the psyche of the dog. In a recent Time magazine article, scientists who study dogs will be comparing different breeds to search for genes that are involved in social intelligence. Sound intriguing? Read more in a recently published new book, Inside of a Dog.

After Cat 4 Hurricane Ike roared into Texas during 2008, the Bauer family moved their dogs to a nearby kennel while their yard fence was being repaired. Both dogs escaped. Hank was found but not Daizy. 10 months after the storm, the family was reunited.

The adorable pop-culture icon famously known for the phrase, "Yo Quiero Taco Bell," passed away at 15 from a stroke. Gidget, a 12 lb chihuahua, appeared in advertisements for the fast-food chain during the 1990s and also starred with Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde 2.

Did you know that Friday, June 26, is the 10th Annual Take Your Dog to Work Day? This holiday is all about celebrating man's best friend and encouraging folks to look into pet adoption. Even if you don't have a dog and can't get one anytime soon, why not celebrate the day with a fun dog story? My favorites are John Grogan's Marley books. He's written everything from children's easy readers to memoirs for adults, so there's something for the whole family!

Now that Bo, the Obama family's new puppy has settled in at the White House, the time is right to look back at some of the former residents of the presidential home. White House Pets takes a look at the more than 400 pets that have lived there over the course of 200 years. Produced by Animal Planet,  the DVD is  a fascinating look at the bears, parrots, dogs, and cats that have roamed the halls of one of the most famous homes in history.

Are you a puppy lover? Then you will love Biscuit!  Biscuit is a little yellow pup who just loves to have fun.  Meet him in the first of many books in the Biscuit series for beginning readers.  He's also the star of several picture books and board books! Want to learn more about the world of Biscuit? Visit the website of the author behind the series, Alyssa Satin Capucilli. 

Bolt, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Hotel for Dogs.  There have been a lot of family films released with dogs in them lately.  But they've always been a surefire Hollywood hit all the way back to the days of Lassie and Rin Tin Tin.

Are you a dog person who loves to spoil your furry friend? The Three Dog Bakery is a fantastic gourmet treat shop for dogs! They use all-natural ingredients to make their adorable cookies and cakes, not to mention being very reasonably priced. With their added selection of toys, clothing, and just about every dog-related item you can imagine, they have something for everyone. I was just there over the weekend buying a personalized birthday cake for my dog.

Marley, the lovable Labrador who inspired a best-selling book and a hit movie, now comes to us in a format for beginning readers.  Marley & Me: Meet Marley and Marley & Me: Marley to the Rescue follow the escapades of Marley, who just can’t seem to stay out of trouble. If you love dogs, you'll definitely love reading about Marley's crazy adventures.