#poodle-room

#poodle-room

Franklin D. Roosevelt's German shepherd, Major, allegedly bit the United Kingdom's prime minister and tore his pants. (Major Roosevelt was sent away from the White House grounds shortly thereafter.) Theodore Roosevelt's bull terrier, Pete, chased a French ambassador up a tree. (Pete was also removed from the White House.) And Calvin Coolidge's fox terrier, Peter Pan, ripped the skirt off of a woman, and was eventually given away to Coolidge's secretary.

If a dog could compete in the Winter Olympics, which disciplines would it be best at? This age-old question took on new relevance Wednesday, when a Czechoslovakian wolfdog dashed onto the cross-country skiing course during the women's team sprint qualifiers. "So I'm going to say that it's domesticated. Wants to enjoy the finish as well," said commentator Duane Dell'Oca as the canine interloper, a local pooch named Nazgul, raced Croatia's Tena Hadzic and Australia's Phoebe Cridland across the finish line.

A Doberman pinscher named Penny won best in show Tuesday night at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, netting U.S. show dogs' most coveted prize and giving veteran handler Andy Linton another win after nearly four decades. Linton got best in show in 1989 with another Doberman, named Indy. Penny "is as great a Doberman as I have ever seen," Linton told a supportive crowd. Despite health problems, he guided the 4-year-old dog through an impeccably crisp performance.

Picture this: Your new puppy is pressed against the corner of the room, trembling slightly as you call their name. Their tail, which should be wagging with excitement, is tucked firmly between their legs. You've done everything the books told you, bought all the right toys, followed the feeding schedule perfectly, yet somehow your furry friend seems more nervous with each passing day.