dogs

Area Pup Has Seen ‘Star Wars’ 72 Times

A local miniature dachshund puppy named Winston has now seen Star Wars a record 72 times. Because the original Episode IV: A New Hope has not been in theaters during his lifetime, Winston’s viewing has mainly been via Blu-Ray and television.

“72 times doesn’t really seem like a lot when you own it on disc,” said friend Stephanie Bowman. “But it’s a dachshund record by a wide margin. That’s over 6 days of Star Wars watching, which in human time is almost 44 days. That’s insane.”

According to Bowman, the dog is a Star Wars nut.

“He has it all – Luke Skywalker bed sheets, Darth Vader pajamas, his water dish is shaped like Yoda and he carries a stuffed Wookie everywhere he goes,” she said.

Still, even as huge a fan as Winston is, he remains skeptical of the upcoming sequels. 

“He just could never get into Lost,” said Bowman. “So he’s worried.”

Via winstonthemini.

Puppy Finds 16th Century Spanish Gold in Couch Cushions

Put down your petty pocket change. A beagle pup from Somerville, MA just pulled up 15 gold doubloons from the cushions of a leather sofa, and leading numismatists estimate the coins could be worth up to $4,500.

“The gold dates back to the late 1580s,” says Dr. Phillip Coning, curator of the rare coin exhibit at the Commonwealth Museum in Boston. “This was at the height of the Spanish armada’s dominance in Europe and foray into the New World. They were likely carried on warships en route to South America.”

How they ended up in a Raymour & Flanigan couch is still a mystery, but Buster the puppy is excited nonetheless.

“He’s still not sure if he’ll hang onto them or head to eBay,” says Todd Childress, a friend. “But calls and emails from collectors have been non-stop.”

Via stacykunzel.

PHOTO OP: Don’t Toy With Me

Via laurasignorelli.

Corgi-Rottweiler Mix Is Key to Discovering ‘Cuteness Gene’

A group of researchers at the Newcastle University in England made significant strides in their groundbreaking research into puppy cuteness. They’ve been attempting for years to quantify cuteness by searching for an elusive genetic marker nicknamed the “aww gene.”

“You know how the Large Hadron Collider at CERN smashed particles together at 99% the speed of light in order to glimpse the Higgs-Boson?” said lead research Benedict Reed. “This is really nothing like that.”

According to Reed, the group has been focused on mapping the genome of a specific puppy named Rufus. The dog, a Corgi-Rottweiler mix, measures “off the charts” on every cuteness scale known to science.

“We think, because of his extreme cuteness, Rufus represents our best hope of cracking the cuteness code,” said Reed. 

The group has already made significant progress and plans to release a preliminary report in June.

Via yessircapntightpants.

Nikon Introduces Puppy Nose Camera Lens

Camera maker Nikon has introduced a new lens made specifically for taking photos of puppy noses. Officially called the “AF Puppy-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8D,” the lens is a modified fisheye that is specially calibrated for nose shots.

“We found that puppy nose photos are much funnier when shot with a fisheye lens,” said Nikon product manager Ashley Ortega. In fact, Nikon’s internal research indicates that fisheye puppy nose shots are 10x funnier than those shot with a macro lens, and 35x funnier than those taken with a standard 50mm lens.

“But fisheye lenses on the market weren’t designed with dog noses in mind,” said Ortega. 

Nikon has spent the past year developing the technology that goes into puppy nose lens – mainly a better autofocus sensor able to deal with the rapid, frenetic movements of puppies.

The lens goes on sale today and retails for $199.99. 

Via jillbui.