A puppy cut is a dog’s haircut that is one, consistent, typically short length all over the dog’s body.
While the dog’s parents and the groomer determine the actual length of hair for their dog, depending on activity levels and outside temperatures, hair length typically ranges from a shave to several inches of hair.
The history of the puppy cut
The term puppy cut comes from the dog show world to describe how to care for and maintain a Poodle puppy’s coat to prepare her for competing in dog shows.
Anyone who has seen a striking Standard Poodle in a dog show can guess that much work goes into developing and nurturing the coat.
Maintaining a Poodle puppy’s coat during her first year is essential because it determines what kind of coat she will end up with — this can make or break her career in the show ring.
Now, the term puppy cut is used universally as a general description of a low-maintenance, simple, single-length cut.
Are puppy cuts just for puppies?
No! Any dog can get a puppy cut style; it simply refers to a consistent, shorter haircut. This versatile cut can be adjusted to your dog’s age and activity level.
A longer version of this grooming style in the cold winter months can keep an older, less active dog cozy, while a shorter version of the puppy cut in the warmer summer months gives a young, energetic pup the freedom to enjoy his lake or pool swims without ruining his ‘do!
It depends on your dog’s fur. The puppy clip is unsuitable for dog breeds who are double coated and shed, which makes a smooth, single length cut difficult to maintain. These dogs also typically have furnishings, or longer hair around the back legs and rear, under the stomach and chest and behind the front legs.
When a dog breed with furnishings is trimmed down to all one length, she doesn’t look like her breed anymore!
Dog breeds who should steer clear from puppy cuts include:
A few dog breeds who are conducive to the puppy cut style are:
Puppy cut grooming maintenance
To keep the puppy cut hairdo clean, mat-free and trimmed to the universal length, take her to the groomer every six to eight weeks.
Depending on your dog’s length of hair, earlier than six weeks or later than eight weeks may be appropriate. Your dog groomer can help determine the appropriate time frame between cuts.
When should my puppy get a first groom?
Veterinary and humane society professionals recommend puppies are 12-to-14 weeks old before they get their first grooming.
Before this age, a puppy is not fully up-to-date on first vaccinations and risks exposure to viruses and ailments an adult dog can quickly shake off.
Even though the definition of a puppy cut can vary by length, what really matters is how cute your dog looks!
Designer Keiji Ashizawa has devised the interiors of The Conran Shop Daikanyama in Tokyo, which is located inside a building by architect Fumihiko Maki and spotlights products from Japan and Asia.
The latest outpost from British retailer The Conran Shop is located in the modernist Hillside Terrace in Daikanyama, a quiet area close to the Tokyo city centre.
The complex was designed by Pritzker Prize-winner Maki and constructed between 1967 and 1992.
The Conran Shop Daikanyama was designed to resemble someone’s home
Ashizawa aimed to take the existing architecture of the two-storey building into consideration when designing the interior of The Conran Shop.
“Since the existing space had great potential, we knew that the work had to be put into elevating what was already there – thinking about the proportions of the space, the dry area and so on,” he told Dezeen.
“Although it is inside a well-known architecture, there were elements where we thought we could bring change to the inside.”
It features pieces by Japanese and Asian designers
These changes included turning one glass section into a solid wall.
“Glass walls were used extensively as part of the architectural concept so that the store space could be viewed through the layers of glass,” Ashizawa said.
“While building the store, we decided that there wouldn’t be a problem in making a section of the glass wall become a solid wall, considering its serenity as a space and its relationship with the street.”
A mezzanine showcases a sofa and other living room furniture
The designer created the 200-square-metre store to look like someone’s home, in a nod to the peaceful nature of the surrounding area. It features a large atrium on the ground floor, connecting it to an adjoining courtyard.
“Daikanyama is a very calm neighbourhood in Tokyo, where we wished to design a store where people could feel relaxed and away from the stimulation of the city,” Ashizawa said.
“We intended to create a space for people to stay for a long period of time and feel the space.”
The store is located in the iconic Hillside Terrace complex
The interior design was also based on The Conran Shop’s three keywords – plain, simple and useful – CEO of The Conran Shop Japan Shinichiro Nakahara told Dezeen.
The store’s product selection also places a special focus on Japanese and Asian design.
“Specifically for The Conran Shop Daikanyama, the selections were focused on objects from Asia, including Japan,” Nakahara said.
“The process of [founder] Terence [Conran] travelling around the world, finding and buying items in each place by himself, has not changed,” he added. “Many of the objects selected by the Conran team in Japan have a sense of craftsmanship.”
“We created the space by imagining a situation in which such objects would be displayed alongside each other. For example, the details of the objects are reflected in the interior design.”
It features a staircase with a handrail made from black paper cords
The interior uses materials that are common in Japan including concrete, steel, wood, plaster, Japanese stone and paper.
“The use of Japanese paper in interior design is an element that is distinctively Japanese,” Ashizawa explained.
“Shoji screens are an important element in creating a Japanese-style room but I realize that they can also be well used in both functional and aesthetic ways in a modern space.”
Concrete walls and shoji screens were used for the interior
The studio also used Japanese paper that had been dyed in a grey hue as wallpaper to give the space a “soft and contemporary feel.”
“Since we weren’t building an actual house but rather a home-like Conran store, the materials were thoughtfully instrumented to achieve a balance,” Ashizawa said.
The ground floor of the store holds furniture, homeware and apparel, and also has a mezzanine floor that is accessible by a staircase featuring a handrail made from black paper cords.
A gallery-like space is located on the basement floor
Ashizawa designed the basement floor, which functions both as an additional shopping area and a gallery space, to have a calmer atmosphere.
“Filled with natural light, the ground floor uses colours that bring grandeur and a sense of calmness,” he said.
“The basement floor is toned to create a more private feeling. We respected the natural colours of the materials as much as possible, while also considering the harmony with the objects on display and in the gallery.”
The store has a neutral colour palette and wooden details
The Conran Shop Daikanyama also has an adjoining bar where visitors can enjoy teas such as sencha and macha.
Employees today go into the office an average of 1.4 times per week, according to a study from the Advanced Workplace Association.
Many people work remotely, but they lack sustainable IT infrastructure to support them.
Providing flexible and user-friendly tech can help you sustain a hybrid workforce.
Just a few years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine a future where employees have autonomy over where and how they work. But today, as workers log into conference calls and answer emails from kitchen tables and neighborhood coffee shops, many can barely fathom the idea of going back to an office five days a week — if at all. According to a recent global study of 80 offices in 13 countries representing roughly 80,000 employees, people go into the office an average of only 1.4 times per week.
The work-from-home lifestyle has its perks. But with this widespread shift in working patterns comes a number of technological challenges.
The move away from the traditional office has ushered in the need for modernized technology, and businesses that haven’t refreshed their fleet of PCs could fall behind.
Below are a few considerations to help you support your hybrid workforce with the PC technology they need to succeed.
1. PCs underpin the hybrid workforce
Whether you’re under pressure to meet a deadline, collaborating with colleagues on a cloud-based platform, or hosting a video meeting with team members on the go, a stable work computer is a must-have. And most IT leaders understand this necessity: A report from Intel found that 85% of IT decision-makers prioritize purchasing new PCs that allow employees to work from anywhere.
Older PCs with limited battery life, aging hardware, poor connectivity, or operating systems that are no longer supported, can slow productivity to a crawl. That goes for both individual employees and the IT teams that get pulled away from higher-value priorities to troubleshoot problems with underperforming equipment.
2. Employees expect better user experiences
Companies that want to recruit and retain top talent are increasingly considering how technology impacts the overall employee experience. According to a report by Forrester and commissioned by Intel, mature organizations are 20% more likely to see improvements in employee retention when IT invests in high-performing, stable PCs.
Eliminating distractions such as updates, low battery life, or slow device response is crucial for enhancing employee productivity and satisfaction. For example, laptops powered by Intel vPro® offer businesses multi-layer security features, modern management capabilities, professional grade performance, and reliable stability to help them scale with confidence.
Instead of adopting a companywide PC refresh every few years, businesses may see improved employee experiences by implementing alternate approaches, such as ongoing but staggered upgrades, expanding the types of devices employees are allowed to use, or adopting a PC-as-a-service model instead of ownership, a Forrester Consulting survey found.
3. PCs are critical to enterprise sustainability initiatives
IT has become central to enterprise sustainability efforts, and PC purchases are a key factor in that work. Companies are under more pressure from consumers, regulators, and employees to make environmentally conscious decisions. Today’s buyers want devices that last longer and can be easily recycled or reused.
Nearly nine out of 10 companies are required to submit reports on their sustainability activity, and 64% of IT decision-makers say expanding sustainability efforts is a critical or high priority. The bottom line? If a device — or manufacturer — doesn’t factor in sustainability, it can’t compete.
Responsible environmental stewardship is a top priority at Intel. In 2021, the company sent only around 5% of its total waste to landfill and is working to drop that number to zero by 2030. Intel also achieved net-positive water in three countries and 100% green power in the US, Europe, Israel, and Malaysia.
Nearly nine out of 10 companies are required to submit reports on their sustainability activity, and 64% of IT decision-makers say expanding sustainability efforts is a critical or high priority.
4. Remote management helps keep your business secure
Maintaining a secure device environment while meeting employees’ connectivity expectations is a challenge for many companies. But without manageability either added on or baked into each device, IT teams will continue to lack visibility into needed PC improvements, like which devices need updates or specific vulnerabilities that must be addressed.
However, not all remote access features are created equal. Intel vPro Enterprise for Windows OS allows IT teams remote access even when the device is turned off or the operating system isn’t working. Meanwhile, Intel® Hardware Shield, which is included with PCs built on Intel vPro, relies on a multilayered security approach that defends at the hardware, BIOS/firmware, hypervisor, VM, OS, and application layers.
5. Tech should be able to handle the unexpected
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, IT teams had to react quickly to support a remote workforce — a shift in workflow that most organizations weren’t prepared or set up for. But in many cases, these IT teams needed even more modernized support to optimize their own productivity.
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, for example, began upgrading to Intel vPro technology in 2020. This technology allowed IT teams to swiftly respond to technical issues in medical facilities without physically entering patient rooms, resulting in quicker problem-solving and enabling healthcare workers to focus on patient care — at a time when that mattered more than anything else.
Even in non-emergency situations, today’s workers need PCs built to help them handle the unexpected. When users can depend on key features like IT support from anywhere or a quick battery recharge, they’re free to refocus their energy on tasks that drive their organization forward.
Have you noticed acne around your mouth? Or maybe you’re dealing with uneven texture or redness. While acne near the mouth is an issue for some, there are other common causes of texture, redness and bumps in that area. Read on as we explore the different types of skin issues that can develop around the mouth, how to identify them, what causes them and how to treat them.
Acne Around The Mouth
Acne is a skin condition that can show up as blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and other blemishes. The four main factors that contribute to acne according to the Mayo Clinic are excess oil (sebum) production, clogged hair follicles, bacteria and inflammation. On top of this, there are certain things that may trigger or worsen acne, including hormonal changes, certain medications and stress.
While it can often be confused for other issues, especially when it’s limited to a certain area like the lips, jawline and chin, acne around the mouth tends to look like “typical” acne. Along with redness, you’ll see pustules (whiteheads) and some congestion (comedones or blackheads). This could be triggered by a few things. Touching your face with your hands can introduce acne-causing bacteria to your skin, as can using things around the mouth that may be covered in bacteria (cell phones and some musical instruments). Additionally, certain ingredients in products like lip gloss can clog pores and contribute to acne in the area, according to Byrdie.
New York-based dermatologist, Dr. Hooman Khorasani, tells us: “The most common form of acne found on or around the lip is non-inflammatory comedonal acne, where white or black comedones are often seen. Comedonal acne results when the hair follicles on the lip margins are occluded. The most common culprit lies in the application of occlusive products such as Vaseline, lip balm, makeup or other comedogenic creams. Treatment involves discontinuing the application of the occlusive agent, as well as application of topical tretinoin and exfoliation.”
Another common cause of acne around the mouth is wearing a mask. Heat and moisture can get trapped against the skin, irritating the oil glands, which can result in pimples — or “maskne” as it has come to be known in the post-2020 era. Bacteria thrive in a moist and humid environment, making frequent maskers (like spa professionals and hospital workers) susceptible to breakouts in the area. Wearing makeup under a mask doesn’t help and neither does reusing masks without washing them (with gentle detergent) after each wear.
Hormones can also be the culprit when it comes to blemishes along the chin and jawline. Though we often associate acne with our teen years, hormonal acne can appear at any time and is caused by an excess of hormones due to menstruation, pregnancy and increased androgen levels. These fluctuations result in inflammation, excessive oil production, clogged skin cells and bacteria production. While it tends to appear in the T-zone during puberty, hormonal acne typically forms along the chin and jawline in adults.
Whatever the cause, make sure to keep the area clean. A swipe of the Clear Skin Willow Bark Exfoliating Peel is a great way to minimize breakouts in the area, especially under a mask or face covering. It contains gentle salicylic acid that removes surface impurities and dirt from the skin and willow bark to improve the look of the skin in the area.
How To Treat Acne Around The Mouth
If this is what you’re seeing around the mouth, cleansing and exfoliating the area is the best way to treat it. Our Acne Advanced Cleansing Foam is a great place to start. It contains encapsulated salicylic acid which gently exfoliates and tones the look of uneven skin. Follow it up with the Acne Advanced Clarifying Mask and Acne Advanced Clarifying Hydrator and you’ll be good to go.
Our Clear Skin Probiotic products are another option for treating acne around the mouth. Try the Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser, which gives a soft, gentle foaming action, and follow it with the Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer. Creamy and lightweight, it applies really nicely to the skin. Both use tea tree oil, willow bark extract and cucumber to help treat the skin.
Perioral Dermatitis
Perioral dermatitis is a red rash that can appear around the mouth. Signs of this condition include scaly, dry and flaky skin with swollen, inflamed bumps called papules — no wonder it can easily be mistaken for acne. This rash is most common in young women between the ages of 15 and 45.
Some of the causes of perioral dermatitis include the use of topical steroid creams, hormonal changes and dysfunction in the epidermal layer. It can also be triggered by ingredients in products that you use in the area, so changes in toothpaste, irritants from shaving cream and even certain types of chewing gum can bring on this uncomfortable condition. Other things that can aggravate it include coffee, alcohol and spicy foods. While eliminating these things from your life isn’t always easy, it can make a big difference once the cause is identified. Pro tip: Brush your teeth before you wash your face so that any potential irritants can be rinsed away.
Another common ingredient that can cause or exacerbate the condition is SLS, or sodium lauryl sulfate, which is used in many facial cleansers. Eminence products contain no SLS, so making the switch to one of our organic cleansers can be a good first step.
It’s best to cease and desist if any of these culprits are in your rotation. In other words, if you’ve changed something about your routine lately, you may be able to trace it back to one thing and eliminate that.
Perioral dermatitis may last for months or even years without treatment. There is no cure, but long-term remissions are possible. It is recommended that you consult your doctor or dermatologist if you suspect the rash or breakouts around your mouth are not acne. Sometimes the rash disappears, then reappears. The same treatments that worked the first time are likely to work again.
Watch as our Lead Skin Care Trainer, Natalie Pergar, discusses the difference between acne around the mouth and perioral dermatitis, and suggests some products that help treat acne around the mouth.
Are you dealing with breakouts or a rash around your mouth? Visit an Eminence Organics Spa Partner to find out whether it’s acne or something else, how to treat it and when to see a dermatologist.
There are many variations of canine tumors and not all are created equal. Some tumors are less problematic for dogs, while others risk spreading throughout the body. Understanding common types of tumors, how they present and are treated, and symptoms to watch for, is essential in early treatment and intervention.
Two main types of dog tumors
Tumors are characterized as either benign or malignant:
Benign tumors are noncancerous tumors that will not spread throughout the body.
Malignant tumors are cancerous and have the ability to spread cancer throughout your dog’s body. Early intervention is a key component to treatment and recovery.
Benign, fatty tumors that tend to be soft and mobile (not attached to your dog’s body wall) and range in size.
Mast cell tumor (MCT). Malignant tumors that often look like warts or bug bites and can change in size. MCTs are most commonly seen in Boxers, Boston Terriers, Bull Terriers, and Pugs.
Wart-like, viral tumors that typically appear in or around a dog’s mouth. Papillomas are benign but contagious between dogs and are typically characterized as whitish masses with cauliflower texture.
A fast growing, benign tumor typically found in young dogs. These tumors are known for infection and ulceration, however tend to resolve on their own with time.
A highly malignant tumor stemming from blood vessels. This tumor often affects the liver, skin and spleen and commonly impacts senior pups.
Malignant tumor of the bones, osteosarcoma causes significant pain, often affecting a forelimb.
Malignant tumors often found in the oral cavity of dogs and can be very aggressive. There is now a melanoma vaccine available to dogs diagnosed with this tumor!
Sebaceous gland tumor. Raised nodules that originate from sebaceous glands. In rare cases, sebaceous cysts become malignant. Remember that no tumor should go unmonitored or forgotten!
Symptoms
Dog tumor symptoms will vary greatly depending on many factors and may include:
Visualizing a lump or bump
Limping
Pain
Low appetite
Difficulty eating
Vomiting or diarrhea
Coughing
Weight loss
If your dog shows any of these symptoms, visit your veterinarian.
Diagnosis
The most common ways to diagnose dog tumors include:
Fine needle aspirate (FNA). A fine needle aspirate (FNA) involves collecting samples of cells from your dog’s tumor using a needle and syringe and viewing these cells microscopically.
A biopsy involves collecting and submitting a small amount of the tumor for pathology review. A biopsy reveals detailed information about the tumor and can help to stage malignant tumors.
Your veterinarian may recommend additional testing such as radiographs, abdominal ultrasound or a lymph node biopsy.
Benign tumors should remain closely monitored by you and your veterinary team. If changes occur in size, shape or consistency, have them reassessed. Regular exams by your veterinarian are key in finding tumors less visible to the naked eye.
Early detection of malignant tumors often happens at home. Regularly massaging your dog can help you keep tabs on current and new tumors. Monitor changes in your dog’s everyday behavior and listen to your gut. You are your dog’s biggest medical advocate!
How are all our furriest friends spending their summers? They’re making splashes in the pool, chomping down on yogurt-berry pupsicles, and showing off their most festive 4th of July outfits! Thank you to all our readers for sharing your pups’ photos with us. We’re showing them off on our Dogster social media pages – check out our #dogsterdogs in action! This summer, I’m working with my pups on their comfort levels near the water. We’re making progress! Emmy and I are graduating this weekend from the pool and are going on a little paddle boarding adventure to the lake by our house. Emmy has always hated getting wet, so she’s come a long way.
Something to think about this month: How will you keep your dogs calm during 4th of July fireworks? Many dogs get anxious and fearful of the loud, unpredictable noises. Here are some tips on calming your dog, which will make your celebration a happier one, too. Wishing all our puppy pals a happy 4th of July!
Planning to attend any dog events near you? Send us pictures of your pup to be featured on our social media pages.
A small dog with an American flag. Photography by Photohunter / Shutterstock.
July 2023 monthly dog holidays
Lost Pet Prevention month
National Pet Hydration Awareness month
July 2023 dog holidays
July 1: ID Your Pet day
July 4: International Whippet day
July 11: All American Pet Photo day
July 15: National Pet Fire Safety day
July 21: World Collie day
July 21: National Craft for Your Local Shelters day
July 31: National Mutt day
July 2023 dog events
July 8, 2023: If you’re in the Los Angeles area, head to Pawlympics from 4 to 7 p.m. at South Park Doggie – Doggieland for a series of competitive games and activities for dogs.
July 9, 2023: The11th annual PAWmicon, a Pop-culture themed festival held by Helen Woodward Animal Center to celebrate the superheroes of real life who adopt orphan animals. PAWmicon, located at AleSmith Brewing Company in San Diego, Calif., will feature events, such as the PAWsplay contest for contestants to dress themselves and their pooches up as their favorite pop culture characters. There’s also a trivia competition, music, animal artists, games for the kids and craft beer.
July 12, 2023: Marin Humane is hosting its next drop-in community clinic for pet parents in need at Pell Plaza in Novato. Bring your pet to the mobile clinic at 500 Redwood Blvd., from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. to get: free vaccinations (DA2PP, FVRCP, rabies), free microchipping, free flea/tick treatment, free mini-check-up by a veterinarian and pet food and supplies!
July 14-16, 2023: Del Monte Kennel Club Dog Show. Held at 4380 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel-By-The-Sea, Calif., 93923. All breed entry for Conformation, Obedience and Rally.
July 14-18, 2023: One of the largest American Veterinary Association events of the year, the AVMA Convention 2023 will be held in Denver, Colo. for veterinary professionals to experience 600 hours of high-quality CE, highly rated special events, innovative solutions and networking opportunities.
July 19-23, 2023:Houston World Series of Dog Shows. Throughout the five-day event, the show offers an extensive shopping venue, numerous seminars, entertainment exhibitions and obedience/companion events. During the Meet the Breeds event, the public can get hands-on experience with more than 110 purebred dog breeds and discuss care, personality traits and temperaments with breed experts.
July 19-21, 2023: The Association of Service Dog Providers for Military Veterans Partner Members invite all to attend the annual National Service Dogs for Veterans Conference in Washington, D.C. The annual conference consists of two full days of formatting for administrative, veterans, mental health and dog training tracks and a half day roundtable training session. Tickets include breakfast for all three days, lunch for two days and an opening night reception.
July 22 – 23, 2023: Join more than 50 of the top pet influencers from all over the US and Canada, such as Crusoe the Dachshund, Tika the Iggy, and Jonathan Graziano for PetCon 2023, held in Chicago. There will be meet and greets, a pet adoption garden, a shoppable marketplace featuring small businesses, speaker sessions, a non-profit showcase and lots of fun activities!
Rounded walls and archways create a flow through this Montreal boutique, designed by local studio MRDK for Canadian sportswear brand Ciele Athletics.
The first boutique for Ciele, which sells technical headwear and apparel for running, opened in April 2023 on Notre-Dame Street in Montreal – the brand’s hometown.
Black and white mosaic tiles form a pattern based on Ciele’s apparel at the entrance to the store
The 3,000-square-foot (279-square-metre) flagship store was designed by MRDK to be as much a boutique as a community space for runners to meet and socialise.
Along the narrow entryway, flooring comprises black and white mosaic tiles that form a graphic pattern based on select items of the brand’s apparel.
Visitors are lead past a quartet of mannequins to a community lounge area
Ascending four steps or a ramp leads visitors past a large white-tiled planter, then a display of mannequins lined up in front of a brick wall.
A lounge area at the end is designated for gathering and conversation, offering “anyone with an interest in movement and connection a chance to experience running and the many facets of its dynamic community through regular meet-ups and events”, said MRDK.
Access to the main retail space is via an archway that punctures a dark green partition
Access to the main retail space is through an archway with rounded corners that punctures a deep, dark green partition.
“An arched wall gracefully separates the more public community area from the rest of the store, creating a sense of intrigue and inviting exploration,” MRDK said.
The green hue continues behind the fluted white service counter
Other similar openings in this spatial divider are used to display clothing on single or double-stacked rails.
The same forest green shade continues on the wall behind the service counter, which is fronted by a white fluted panel and includes a small glass vitrine set into its top.
Lime plaster covers the angled walls, which feature bull-nose edges that soften their appearance
Herringbone white oak parquet floors are laid wall to wall, running beneath a low central island that is designed to be broken apart and moved around the store depending on merchandising needs.
A textured lime plaster finish was applied to the walls, wrapping around the bull-nosed corners that soften the angles created by the offset displays.
“The play of light and shadows on these textured surfaces creates a sense of dynamism, accentuating the uniqueness of the space,” said MRDK.
In one corner, a 12-foot-tall (3.7-metre) shelving system presents Ciele’s range of hats on cork mannequin heads.
A tall shelving system displays Ciele’s hat collection
Fitting rooms at the back of the store are kept minimal, with green velvet curtain draped behind the arched openings to the cubicles.
“The thoughtful combination of materials, textures, and colours creates an atmosphere that seamlessly blends modernity with a touch of timeless elegance,” said MRDK.
The fitting rooms are kept minimalist and feature green velvet curtains
Formerly known as Ménard Dworkind, the studio was founded by Guillaume Ménard and David Dworkind, and has completed a variety of retail spaces in Montreal and beyond.
More and more senators and representatives have a famous or notable parent.
Political families have long been a staple of American politics.
Incoming members are more likely to have notable parents than in previous decades.
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When Rodney Frelinghuysen announced he wasn’t running for reelection in 2018, it made headlines. The 76-year-old New Jersey Congressman had served 12 terms and chaired the powerful appropriations committee. But when you consider his Congressional retirement along with the fact that in 2009 he told NJ Monthly that his two daughters were “politically astute, but smart enough not to run themselves,” it becomes even more notable.
Many Frelinghuysens have served in the federal government. Rodney’s father Peter was also a congressman. In the 1800s, Frederick T. Frelinghuysen served in the Senate and as secretary of state. Frederick’s adoptive father and grandfather both also served in the upper Congressional chamber. In short, the lack of political interest from Rodney’s daughters opens the doors for some non-Frelinghuysens to represent the people of New Jersey.
But how common are people like Rodney Frelinghuysen in Congress? In other words, how often do senators and representatives have at least one parent who is also a senator or representative? Frankly, it’s not that common.
Given that we grabbed this parent-child relationship from Wikipedia, we decided to take this analysis a step further and answer a related query: How many senators and representatives have at least one parent who has a Wikipedia page? We thought this would help us measure political privilege or nepotism a bit more broadly. In short, if at least one of your parents was notable enough to have Wikipedia page, you likely had some advantages in your political career. We used this data to calculate a nepotism rate, or in the internet’s parlance, a “nepo baby rate.” This rate is notably higher than the much narrower measurement we just discussed.
We see two notable trends in this graph. Primarily, since 1900 the Senate has more nepo babies than the House of Representatives. This isn’t shocking. Given that the Senate is 22% of the size of the House of Representatives, the average senator wields more power than the average Representative. This makes getting a major party Senate nomination more susceptible to intra-party dealings and, thus, nepotism. In fact, this is sort of baked into the history of the upper chamber. Before the passage of the 17th Amendment in 1913 senators were not elected directly by the people but by state legislators.
These inter-chamber differences aside, we see a second more glaring trend. Since the 1980s, there has been a dramatic increase in congressional nepo babies across congressional houses.
When we break things down by chamber and party, we see that while there has been growth in nepotism in both parties since the 1980s, the Democratic party has outpaced the Republican party during this period.
But this data might be deceptive for two related reasons. First, incumbents have an electoral advantage, meaning that if you’ve won an election, you are more likely to win again. Second, if you are a nepo baby in your first term, you will continue to be counted as a nepo baby in each subsequent term.
Lawrence Jackson/AP
To illustrate how these two forces might affect this analysis, take Nancy Pelosi as an example. Pelosi is the daughter of Thomas D’Alesandro, Jr., the 39th mayor of Baltimore and a representative for Maryland’s 3rd Congressional district from 1939 to 1947. Thus, Pelosi has been counted as a nepo baby each year since she was first elected in 1987. It’s possible that this trend is the result of the Democratic party electing more nepo baby incumbents like Pelosi. This doesn’t seem to be the case, though.
Since 1900, we’ve seen a decline in the percent of first-time legislators by decade across both parties, meaning more incumbents are being elected across the board. If we focus on the last 40 years, the first-time election rate between the two parties is not large enough to explain the nepo baby disparity. Thus, it’s not surprising that the Democratic Party does not just have more incumbent nepo babies but also more first-time nepo babies.
While there is a good deal of variation by decade, we see that there is generally a higher degree of nepotism among first-time Democrats in the last few decades. This is more notable in the Senate, but Democrats still outpace Republicans in the House since 2000. On top of that, we continue to see that independent of party the Senate elects more nepo babies than the House.
Does this methodology capture every nepo baby roaming the Capitol? Of course not. Some senator might not have been counted because while their parents were well-connected, they were not notable enough to have a Wikipedia page. Others might have fallen outside the scope of our project because their grandfather or mother-in-law were notable enough for a Wikipedia page, but their parents weren’t. We accepted these shortcomings to avoid the somewhat tenuous connections that often lead to people crying nepotism. Regardless, we found this methodology powerful enough to help us understand the evolution and dynamics of political nepotism.
This analysis also highlights how humans have a strange relationship with nepotism. In most cases, we not only expect it but encourage it. You wouldn’t bat an eye if some guy you went to high school with took over his father’s plumbing business. You also wouldn’t hesitate to push your sister’s resume along if she were applying to a job at the company you work for.
The difference between the child going into the family plumbing business as opposed to the family politics business is twofold. First, the supply of valuable jobs in the latter industry is much smaller than that of the former. The guy you went to high school with taking over his father’s plumbing company will likely have no bearing on you becoming a plumber. But there are only so many seats in Congress. If you are not a Frelinghuysen or Bush or Kennedy, it is harder for you to make it as a federal legislator. Secondly, if you find yourself in Congress long enough, you are likely to make a good deal of money. At present, both senators and representatives make $174,000 per year with fantastic benefits. This won’t necessarily be the case if you work in the plumbing industry for a few years.
How nepotistic is the state that you live in? We aggregated overall and first-time nepotism rates across both the senators and congresspersons for each member of the Union since 1980, the approximate year that nepotism rates began to increase during the 20th century. Please note that the gross number of elections and electees varies dramatically by state. California, for example, has 52 times the number of representatives as Wyoming and, thus, many more elections. In addition, some states, like Alaska, don’t have many first-time electees post-1980.
Yvonne Villasenor is a freelance journalist and lifelong animal lover based in Orange County, California. Her work has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, Daily Paws, This Dog’s Life, among others. When not writing, Yvonne enjoys lounging with her precious pets, exploring Southern California and watching funny animal videos. You can contact her via her website and Instagram.
