The #1 Smartest Dog Breed in the World is...

The Border Collie comes in at number one in top the smartest #dogs in the world. Because of their extraordinary intelligence and high energy, it is essential to give Border Collies an occupation or purpose, or you may well find your home wrecked upon your return from a long day at work. 

They have an intense connection with humans, making them ideal work and home companions. However, keep this in mind: Border Collies invariably will not do well unless they are with people who are as high energy as they are; they do best with humans who can participate in dog sports with them.

 Also, because of their background as herding #dogs, they may be frustrated by small children, as their inability to herd the children as they deem fit is confounded. For the right human, the Border Collie is well behaved, exceptionally good at learning, and a true-blue companion.

Fastest skateboard ride !

Tillman, an English #bulldog, traveled a 100-meter stretch of parking lot in just 19.68 seconds, winning him a world record and making him the Tony Hawk of the #canine world.

And this extreme sports #dog has also mastered skimboarding, surfing and snowboarding. With over 3,000 Facebook fans, the talented Tillman’s is one popular #pup. – Global Animal

He’s a bulldog, a very famous #bulldog, having amassed more than 40 million hits on YouTube, starred in an iPhone commercial and become the darling of the Rose Parade, among other appearances. His latest gig, sponsored by Natural Balance pet foods, is to tour the country to promote baseball’s Bark in the Park days.

South Derbyshire council refuses Midland Pig Producers permission to build a farm to house up to 25,000 animals.

Controversial plans to build a US-style mega #pig-farm in South Derbyshire suffered a setback after the local council refused to back the scheme.

Its failure to be approved at local level is a blow to the proposed development as it moves on to its most important and critical final hurdle – consideration by Derbyshire county council – at a meeting likely before the end of the year.

Midland Pig Producers (MPP) has applied for permission to build the #farm – which could house up to 25,000 #animals – on a greenfield site west of the historic village of Foston and adjoining a women's prison.

But at a public meeting , members of the planning committee of South Derbyshire district council – in its role as a consultee – voted by a majority not to back the scheme.

"Miss Germany"...

German cow Loh Nastygirl has been crowned the country's most beautiful bovine after charming judges in the northern city of Oldenburg.

Nastygirl beat around 250 other candidates from Germany, Luxembourg and Austria to win the title of "Miss Germany" presented every two years by the German Holstein Association (DHV), an umbrella group representing 14 organisations dedicated to breeding the Holstein breed of cow.

"She's a super cow from head to toe," Egbert Feddersen, the manager of the DHV, told the Guardian of Loh Nastygirl. "Nothing was missing."

"The farmer earns his money with it, so it is important that it is particularly well-developed and that it's big enough," said Feddersen.

"The next point is the legs and hooves. The cow has to walk around on its legs every day, therefore, they have to be healthy and the joints have to be healthy. The third criterion is the body, which has to have a large frame, as we call it, because it has to be able to eat enough to produce enough milk."

Feddersen said the three criteria had to "paint a nice picture" and, just as with people, "fit together in harmony", something, he said, Loh Nastygirl achieved.