Talking points

Discuss the ideas presented in the story with your family—at home or over video conferencing. Find ways to involve as many people as possible, especially those who you know are isolated by the lock-down.

• What do you think of the dogs in these photos? Have you got a favourite? Are there any that you think look like they could win Best in Show?
• In one photo, a woman is applying hairspray to her poodle. This poodle's name is Rainbow which is quite a simple name for a show dog: owners often use very fancy names. (Archimedes, Aristotle and OMG Girlfriend were all mentioned in this article.) If you were going to re-name Rainbow with something longer or more fancy, what would you call her? If you have a dog, can you think of a fancy showname for him or her?
• Grooming products are a big deal for these owners. One owner is described as considering using shine spray but the day is not sunny, so he uses a hairspray called Thick N Thicker as well. Are you surprised to learn that there are special dog grooming products? Do you like the look of the dogs highly-groomed or do you think dogs look better without grooming?
• One three year old dog, a Staffordshire named Eddie, has his own facebook page. Who do you think might enjoy following a facebook page by a dog? What sort of things do you think Eddie posts on "his" page? If your dog or pet had its own facebook page, what might be on today's post?
• One owner interviewed in the article describes how affectionate Staffordshire bull terriers are. He says he sits in his chair and all three of them sit on him or lean on him; they even follow him to the loo and to the shower. Did you know that some dog breeds are particularly affectionate and devoted like this? How would you feel about having a dog that needed this much physical contact and attention - would it be great or a bit much for you?
  

Task—Bake dog treats

Homemade dog treats have become very popular—did you know that you can even design your own recipe?

The SPCA recommends you add any of the following ingredients to normal baking ingredients: kumara, banana, pumpkin, carrot, cabbage, brown rice, quinoa, parsley, peas, broccoli and potatoes. (They suggest you avoid chocolate, garlic, onions, grapes and raisins, avocado, coffee, salt, spices and dairy.)

You can design your own recipe or try this one:

1. 1. Combine 1/4 cup peanut butter, 1 cup flour and 1 egg in a bowl.
   2. Add a little water to make a dough.
   3. Divide the dough into 8 pieces.
   4. Shape each piece into a bone.
   5. Bake in a warm oven for 15-20 minutes at 160 degrees Celsius.
   6. Send us a picture of your bake dog treats!

When the treats have cooled, find a canine friend and tell them they're "best in show!"

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