LOOKING FOR A SMALLER DOG-HAULER? THESE MAY FIT THE BILL

Big sports-utility vehicles have been the dog-haulers of choice for years, along with minivans. But with gas prices so high, SUV sales are stalled as people look for smaller vehicles. If you can't fit your St. Bernard comfortably into a Smart Car, are there still choices for you? You bet.
Vehicles with an eye toward how they function for people who don't like leaving their dogs behind. The vehicles that driven and tested that came up with "Five and 25" -- five (actually six with a tie) models with a base price of less than $25,000 and a fuel-economy rating of close to or exceeding 25 mpg on the highway.

These models all have rear-hatch entries, fold-flat seats and relatively roomy cargo areas. Fuel economy ratings, cargo capacity and base price are noted, as well as alternative vehicles that almost made the list and should be considered as well.

Subaru Forester (20/26 mpg, 68.3 cubic feet, $19,995): All new and better than ever, with lots of room for dogs. The Forester has long been a favorite among dog lovers who want a surefooted ride but don't want a large SUV. The redesign should assure the Forester's continued popularity. (Also check out: Suzuki Forenza wagon and Volkswagen Passat wagon.)

Pontiac Vibe (26/32 mpg, 49.4 cubic feet, $15,895) and Honda Fit (28/34 mpg, 41.9 cubic feet, $13,950): We just couldn't pick a winner when comparing these two small hatchbacks, we liked them so much. The Vibe (which is also sold as the Toyota Matrix) is amazingly capacious -- so much so, it's almost like a magic act to see how much you can fit into it. The Fit is a winner on price and fuel economy, but not as roomy. (Also check out: Kia Rondo.)

Scion xB (22/28 mpg, 69.9 cubic feet, $16,600): No one's on the fence about the Scion xB. You either love the look or hate it, and the same was true of the earlier incarnation of the quirky Toyota-made box with wheels. We like it -- lots -- and so did the pile of dogs we put in it. Some people think the recent redesign made the vehicle less distinctive, but it also made it bigger, a plus when you have big dogs. (Also check out: Honda Element, perennial DogCars.com favorite edged out by a thin whisker here.)

Saturn Vue crossover (19/26 mpg, 56.4 cubic feet, $24,370): Most expensive of our choices, but such a comfortable ride for man and beast we just couldn't leave it out, especially since some of our best dog-friends love theirs so much. Great if you have both kids and dogs. (Also check out: The Saturn Vue hybrid. We liked the hybrid version a great deal and liked the 26/32 mpg even more. But the base price, $26,270, was beyond our set limit.)

Dodge Grand Caravan (17/24 mpg, 140.6 cubic feet, $22,470): The recently remodeled Dodge Grand Caravan falls just a little short of the 25 mpg fuel economy standard we were shooting for. But if you have a lot of dogs and a lot of gear, you're going to need the space. The Caravan has tons of room and a comfortable ride, with decent fuel economy. The company that created the minivan still does it right. (Also check out: The "mini vans" Mazda 5 crossover.)

Don't forget to crate or harness your dog for safety before you hit the road, no matter what you're driving.

Dog Knowledge

Dachshunds come in many varieties

Love dachshunds? Veterinarians like to say these popular short-legged dogs are "half a dog high and two dogs long." While most people think of a brownish-red, shorthaired dog when they think "dachshunds," the American Kennel Club in fact recognizes two sizes (standard and miniature) and two additional coat types, wirehaired and longhaired. As for colors, some long-coated dachshunds have fur as red as an Irish setter's, and other combinations are acceptable, too.
"Biomimicry" borrows nature's design ideas and applies them to solve human challenges. Reader's Digest reports that consulting biologists looked to the African reed frog, a champion in keeping cool in hot temperatures, to design Nike apparel to keep Olympic athletes cool this month. Other researchers looked at how woodpeckers can hammer away at trees without harming themselves, in order to create impact-resistant cars. And what about the humpback whale? The whale's flipper has scalloped edges to calm turbulence, a design mimicked by a new kind of wind turbine that can rotate in very low wind.

The show must go on, and Sandy sure knew it. The canine star of the long-running Broadway hit "Annie!" saw a lot of tomorrows, playing the entire run from 1977 to 1983 -- more than 2,000 performances. The friendly fuzzbutt (probably an Airedale-setter mix) came from a shelter in Connecticut. After all those curtain calls, the dog retired to the comfortable life befitting such a star, and died in 1990 at the grand old age of 16.

Looking to astound others with your knowledge of trivia? Here are a few fast facts: A crocodile can't stick his tongue out. A shrimp's heart is in his head. It's physically impossible for pigs to look up. Horses can't vomit. --

ON GOOD BEHAVIOR

Make learning fun with 'pingpong'

Play games with your pet to keep good behavior interesting and fun, and to practice what your dog already knows.
For example, play "pet pingpong" in a closed hallway, with one person at each end, when your dog is hungry. Start the game with each person taking turns calling the dog for a treat. As the game progresses, ask your dog to "sit," "shake" or "lie down" for the treat.

As you raise the bar, increase your praise. Keep your dog guessing. Give a treat quickly for coming one time, and then randomly ask for two or three behaviors before the treat at other times. Keep the game brief and end on a high note.

COPYRIGHT 2008 UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE