Trends for July 23, 2001

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, July 23, 2001 | 8:24 a.m.

It's raining dogs

In the middle of the dog days of summer, we at Trends thought it was an appropriate time to pay homage to our four-legged friends real and electronic (more on that later).

Ever wonder why dogs freak out during thunderstorms? The folks at the Journal of American Animal Hospital Associations think they've got it figured out. A study in the July/August issue explains that a dog's breed and previous experiences may be factors in determining its fear factors.

Veterinarians studied 69 "storm-phobic" dogs over the Internet and learned that some dogs are predisposed to a fear of storms, including such herding dogs as German shepherds, hounds and beagles, which historically have been bred to"react quickly to stimuli, such as a calf wandering away from the herd."

Rescued dogs those adopted from shelters and other rescue organizations are also likely to develop storm phobias as they're more likely to have suffered "traumatic experiences prior to adoption."

So don't be so hard on Fido the next time you pull the cowering canine from under the bed.

On speaking terms

Wonder what your dog does when you're not home?

He's not thinking about the sound of your voice, that's for sure.

But now he can hear it.

Play-N-Speak is an interactive dog toy that looks like an ordinary plush toy and comes in fun shapes and colors. But a voice module in its center allows you to record a 10-second message for Spot to activate every time he plays with the toy.

How cool is that? You could be sunning on a beach in Bermuda and still direct the pooch, "Hey, get your nose out of the garbage," or "Don't even think about climbing on the couch."

The Play-N-Speak retails for $13.95-$19.95. For more information, visit our-pets.com or call (800) 565-2695.

Electronic buddy

OK, so maybe you and dogs have never quite seen eye to puppy-dog eye. That doesn't mean you're not cut out to have a pet. You just need one that does exactly what you want it to and can also live in the closet.

Enter Dog.com. No, its not a website, but another of those virtual dogs that were a must-have item a couple of holiday seasons ago.

But this one, its maker, Tomy, contends, is different. Dog.com will experience three growth phases (from puppy to adulthood) and has 16 "distinct" personalities that shine through in the no less than 780 phrases including the humdinger"If you had brains, you'd be dangerous" that it speaks.

The digital dog, apparently, also reacts to humans through built-in sensors on its nose, throat, chest, head, ears, back and tail, responding to touch and sight. Knock it over and you may hear,"Don't push me, man."

But this type of companionship comes with a hefty price tag $149.99. Still interested? Visit tomy.com or call (949) 955-1030.