Blog Posts by Mother Nature Network (mnn.com)

By Matt Hickman, Mother Nature Network

Ewan McGregor and Cosmo in "Beginners" "Slumdog Millionaire." "Dog Day Afternoon." "Children of a Lesser Dog." Over the years, more than a couple of films with "dog" in the title (OK, maybe not that last one) have emerged as Oscar heavyweights, but none, alas, has actually featured pooches in prominent roles. For shame! 2011 was a bit different for cinematic canines, however, as a handful of (non-dog-titled) films in the running for different awards including Best Picture do indeed co-star adorable and talented four-legged thesps. And as you've probably heard, there's been a campaign for one of these fine performers, Uggie the Jack Russell terrier, to receive an honorary statuette on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' big night on Feb. 26. Just a hunch but unless Björk or Cher circa 1986 show up, we think we know who's going to garner all the attention on the red carpet.

Scroll down to learn more about the top dogs appearing in three of 2011's most celebrated

by Matt Hickman, Mother Nature Network



After taking a good look at the competition showing at the 2011 Barkitecture doghouse design-off in Austin, Texas, we got around to thinking: What other doggy domiciles out there give new meaning to the phrase "creature comforts?"

Turns out, there are plenty. From tricked-out canine crash pads costing a quarter of a million dollars to eco-friendly backyard kennels with presidential pedigrees to celebrity-owned menagerie manses, the designer doghouse trend is apparently here to "stay" despite the trying economic climate. Sure, a couple of these featured doghouses cost more than the average American home (!) while others were built for significantly less using reclaimed/recycled materials and plenty of architectural flair.

Whatever you do, don't let your own pooch get a glimpse of this article. Otherwise, you'll have Princess Fluffybutt begging you not for a bacon-flavored treat but for a bespoke English cottage complete with central air and a

By Morieka Johnson, Mother Nature Network

German Shepherd

Known for their courage and loyalty, German shepherds consistently rank among the most popular breeds in the United States. A dog named Rin Tin Tin also helped solidify German shepherds as a household favorite. Before prized pooches hit the show ring for Westminster Kennel Club's annual dog show on Feb. 13, we offer a little primer on German shepherds.

Background
Originally bred as farm dogs, German shepherds gained popularity in the late 1800s due to their intelligence and striking features. Captain Max von Stephanitz of Germany is credited with registering the first German shepherd in 1899, and breed standards maintained an emphasis on intelligence. As Germany transitioned from farming to manufacturing, von Stephanitz found that the dogs served as capable police dogs. German shepherds also were recruited to serve as guards, messengers and trackers during the war.

U.S. soldiers returned to the states with stories of the

By Stephanie Rogers, Mother Nature Network

Healthy skin

Cold, whipping winds and dry indoor heat join forces in the winter to deprive your skin of its moisture, leaving you with scales, flakes, more visible wrinkles, itching and discomfort. Severe cases can even cause painful cracking and eruptions of skin rashes like eczema. Heavy moisturizing creams can help, but there are plenty of other ways in which you can keep your skin soft and supple during the coldest months of the year. Learn how to fix dry winter skin with these eight simple tips.

Moisture doesn't just make your skin look younger and healthier, it provides a protective barrier. When this barrier is stripped, you're more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections as well as friction that can cause irritation and further drying. Aside from environmental changes, factors like age, genetics, smoking, health conditions and hot showers can contribute to dryness. Areas of the body with the fewest oil glands, like the lower

zBy Morieka Johnson, Mother Nature Network

Cat eating grass

Cat-proofing your home can be a challenge, especially when frisky felines get access to every nook and cranny of the house. Start by limiting access to stringy items such as dental floss, shoelaces or yarn that can get caught in a cat's intestinal system. It also pays to remove toxic items from your home, particularly plants. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA.org) operates a poison control hotline (1-888-426-4435) that handles more than 160,000 calls each year for accidental poisoning. Many of the calls involve consuming potentially toxic plants. According to the ASPCA, these are the most toxic plants to cats. (You can find a full list with photos at ASPCA.org).

[ Related: What would happen if all the world's cats vanished? ]

Lilies (Lilium sp.): Easter lilies, stargazers and Oriental varieties can cause vomiting, severe kidney failure and death. If your cat ingests any part of a plant from the

By Chanie Kirschner, Mother Nature Network

Public restroom

Q: I was recently at a concert with my husband and had to take a potty break at intermission. The crowd at the arena was, shall we say, a bit grungy (it wasn't exactly a James Taylor concert, if you know what I mean). I've thought about this before, of course, but the thought crossed my mind again that night while I was hovering over the toilet seat. What diseases can you catch from public restrooms, and more specifically, public toilets?

A: Like many people, I get the heebie-jeebies from public bathrooms. When I'm roadtripping, I'll hold it in for miles to avoid having to go at some nondescript gas station bathroom that requires a key to unlock (What exactly do they think we're stealing from there anyway? Toilet paper? Do they think we're going to rip the air dryer off the wall?). And don't even get me started on what might be lurking on the key itself (shudder).

So what exactly can you catch from a public bathroom? Well, a

By Laura Moss, Mother Nature Network

Harry Potter

Harry Potter's headaches have finally been diagnosed - not by a healer at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, but by a regular old muggle doctor.

It seems the world's favorite boy wizard doesn't suffer from migraines as leading headache specialist Dr. Fred Sheftell suggested in 2007, but from nummular headaches. In the article "Harry Potter and the Curse of Headache," Sheftell diagnosed Harry with migraines, noting that the boy wizard didn't have headaches prior to the age of 11, a common age of onset for primary headache disorders. However, Sheftell acknowledged that Harry's attacks didn't quite meet all the criteria for migraines.

[Related: What exactly is a headache?]

Now, Dr. Matthew Robbins, an assistant professor of neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, says that Harry's intermittent stabbing head pains are nummular headaches. This type of headache has only recently been identified, and

By John Platt, Mother Nature Network

Labrador retriever

When this year's Westminster Kennel Club dog show convenes at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 13, a record 186 breeds will be competing for the coveted "best in show" award.

But while somewhat obscure breeds like the Scottish deerhound and Kerry blue terrier have taken home recent trophies, many popular breeds have never earned the top prize, according to Pets Adviser.

Take the Labrador retriever, for example. The most popular breed in America for more than a decade, the lab has never won "best in show" in the more than 90 years since the breed was first recognized. It has come close though, most recently placing fourth in 2009 and 2010. Last year's top lab, Kaltrav Caribbean Cruise, won "best of breed" and is currently out to stud. Maybe one of his progeny will be a future winner.

[Related: Meet 6 breeds making their debut at Westminster]

Another popular breed, the golden retriever, has done even worse than the lab, with only three near-misses