SheSpeaksBark

Will you be my Valentine?

2012-02-14T07:03:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day!

I made Scooter's sweet little heart collar by following the "5 Minute Valentine" tutorial found on PrettyFluffy. Her DIY heart collar was so cute on her border collie Soda that I just couldn't resist an attempt of my own. I think Scooter's turned out adorable, don't you? It justsohappened to snow overnight which worked out splendidly for an impromptu photo shoot.

I thought it would also be fun to share a Valentines themed recipe today. This is one that you can quickly whip up as an extra special treat for your dogs this year. Not only are these treats right in time for Valentines Day, they're also full of delicious heart-healthy ingredients.

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 375 F

In a large bowl combine all of the ingredients and stir together until well combined.

Lightly grease a cookie sheet. Roll dough into 1/2 inch balls and bake 15-20 minutes.

Remove from the oven, and allow to cool. Enjoy!

They look like little meatballs when finished, not the most appetizing
cookie to share with human friends, SO glad this ones for the dogs :)

How do you and your pup celebrate Valentines Day? What types of treats do you bake for your dogs?

Roasted

2012-02-09T13:38:00.000-08:00

This isn't the first time you've heard me talking about pumpkin on this blog. And it won't be the last either. Pumpkin is awesomely healthy for our dogs. And they love it! Today I want to show you how easy it is to skip the canned variety and roast a pumpkin at home instead.

I already know what you're going to ask. So yes....I have had this pumpkin laying around on my counter since before Halloween. And yes, I know I'm lucky it didn't rot away on the counter. Don't judge me :)

In our Howl-oween post this year, I shared a kong filler recipe that called for canned pumpkin. The roasted pumpkin "recipe" (not sure I can call it that- it's too easy!) I'm sharing today could easily be used in place of the canned pumpkin for this or any other recipe. So no excuse not to try this right away, since you've got a recipe to try already! You could bake it into biscuits, birthday pupcakes, the possibilities are endless. Honestly though, our dogs prefer to eat a few scoops of pumpkin mixed in with their kibble at night.

Roasted Pumpkin:

1. Start with a small "baking" or "cooking" pumpkin. These are much smaller than your

traditional jack-o-latern, and are sold in the produce section of your grocery store

{See photo of Scooter above for size reference}

2. Cut pumpkin in half, scoop out seeds and strings

Ready for the oven

3. Line a glass baking dish with aluminum foil.

Place each pumpkin half open-side down and add 3/4 cup of water.

4. Bake at 375 degrees for about 1 1/2 hours. Pumpkin should

be fork-tender and slightly browned when done.

5. Let pumpkin cool completely before scooping out the cooked insides

6. Store roasted and finished pumpkin in an air-tight container in your

fridge if you're not planning to make kongs, or other bake pup treats with it.

Final Product

What have you been baking for your dogs lately? Who's planning on roasting a pumpkin this weekend? Oh just me then...

A little {pre} spring cleaning

2012-02-01T08:56:00.000-08:00

I keep jumping to the conclusion that Spring is here already. We've gotten snow exactly one time this year (which has to be some sort of record low), and have had an extremely mild winter as far as we're used to. No snow combined with mild temperatures has let my mind wander ahead to next season. Our dogs' toy basket has gotten a little out of hand lately and the "spring cleaning bug" temporarily took over.

Toys, toys everywhere! I only keep about half of their toys out at a time because I rotate them to avoid boredom.Yet it still seems that toys laying around are a constant nuisance in our house. A little cleaning and organizing was definitely in order.

I started by sorting the toys into three piles: stuffed toys, plastic toys, and 'other'. Immediately all the stuffed toys went straight into the washing machine, and the plastic toys met with a sink of soapy water. Once they were clean, it was just a matter of deciding which toys stayed out, and which ones I wanted to pack away. I settled on re-purposing an old linen bag to store the rest of our dog toy collection away in the closet.

Ahhhhhh. It's so much better now that it's nice and tidy :) Notice how the toys look so nice and clean compared to the grunge-ified first pics?

What are you cleaning and organizing this week? Does anyone have organization on your list of resolutions? Better yet...are you and your dogs out enjoying some great weather?

Gearing up

2012-01-27T14:07:00.000-08:00

Hi! Remember me? I still like to blog about dogs sometimes{I promise}

Take a step back in time with me will you? Back to the days when SheSpeaksBark was a brand spankin' new blog just trying to find its own niche in the craziness that is blogland. Even early on, I was supported by some wonderful products and people, and I'm back today to return the favor. This happened to be one of our first product reviews, and remains a favorite to this day.

For starters, I'd highly suggest checking out our original review on the Critters Inflatable life jacket, and once you've done that you might as well pop over here to the manufacturers website where you can find details on sizing and learn how to place your order.

And wanna know the best news?...Oh c'mon, I know you do!

Critters Inflatable inventor Dan McCormick contacted me to let me know they're hosting an inventory clearance sale right now and *ALL* of their pet life jackets (that's right for dogs AND cats!) are available for a bargain price of $60.00 until further notice. That translates to HUGE savings for you and me!

The bigger the dog the better the discount: those of you with large dogs could get a life jacket for more than half off {an $80 savings!}so don't delay. The sale is only running until their current inventory is sold, so this sale may last a week or it may be gone tomorrow. Don't say I didn't warn you ; )

Be sure to check 'em out today, because it will be summer again before we know it! Oooh and speaking of summer..what are you guys most looking forward to doing with your dogs once we're graced with sunshine and good weather again? Are your dogs big swimmers, long hikers, or backyard explorers?

Pssst: Are you on Facebook? Of course you are! Here's direct links to both our {SheSpeaksBark's} page and CrittersInflatable so you can connect with us on Facebook. We love our readers so be sure to "like" us too!

Painted memories...

2012-01-18T09:44:00.000-08:00

I'm just dropping in today to share with you an extra special gift we received this holiday season. A friend of the family (through my parents) recently started selling her amazing family and pet portraits so my parents jumped on the opportunity to get us a one-of-a-kind way to celebrate our love for our dogs.

Behind our backs, my parents arranged for Leah to create an oil portrait of our boys and they sent her right here to our little piece of blog heaven so she could peruse our pictures and read up about the boys. I think she captured their personalities perfectly, and of course the piece is much more moving and realistic in person. The gentleness in Bears' eyes are one of the most captivating things about this portrait.

This is a direct link to the "oils" section of her online portfolio. You'll see Bear and Scooter smiling up at you from somewhere mid-page, but be sure to browse all that she's got to offer. I was especially drawn to the charcoal pieces myself.

Front Row: (L-R) Nikita, Sydney, Maynard. Back Row: (L-R) Jayden & Henry

Oh and while you're there? Be sure to hit up the graphite collection too. Cause she's got one spectacular piece called "5 Family Pets" that is hands-down my second favorite. These five happen to be all of my childhood pets, and I can't think of anything more special than having their images together in one beautiful display.

Thank you Leah for the wonderful artwork, and thanks again to Mom and Dad for the gift!

Thanksgiving {leftovers} Kong

2011-11-30T19:25:00.000-08:00

Happy {late} Thanksgiving to you all!! Is anyone still recovering from their turkey-induced coma?

With the Thanksgiving festivities wrapping up we're all left with the single same question in our heads. What to do with all those leftovers? While I'm sure there are many logical suggestions that include continuing to stuff our own faces (turkey mashed potatoes, turkey tetrazzini, turkey wraps, oh the possibilities are endless!) You still may find yourself getting sick at the thought of another bite of turkey. If this sounds all too familiar to you, allow me to volunteer a suggestion? Share it with your dogs!

Huh? Did you say turkey for me!?

Turkey is a nice lean meat that your dog will love, and mixed with a few of your dogs favorite snacks it will make a nice stuffing for Fido's kong toy. For dogs with sensitive stomachs you will want to avoid adding the skin to your mix, it's fatty and will cause some dogs digestive upset. (I left the skin off ours for one simple reason: Bears on a diet. Again.)

As with all of the Kong Recipes I've created, I just wrote this one down as I threw it together. That's whats so great about "cooking" for dogs, they are not usually picky eaters allowing you to work with what you have on hand. After minimal experimentation I know which fruits, vegetables, and other add-ins my boys do and don't like so I'm able to tailor the mix to their taste.

You'll need:

1/2 cup cooked and de-skinned turkey

1/2 cup leftover rice

1/4 cup cooked brocoli florets (my boy's favorite veggie)

1/4 cup shredded cheese

1 dash cinnamon (for good measure!)

Mix all ingredients together until blended and use the mixture to fill your dogs favorite kong toy.

Keep in mind this is a leftovers recipe. So feel free to substitute with what you have on hand and available, preferably if its already sitting in your fridge aging away. For instance, I used fresh broccoli left over from dinner, but maybe you have half a can of carrots chillin in your fridge- just use those instead!

SSB Disclaimer:*If you're worried about anything you're considering adding to your recipe NOT being good for your dog, just skip it! It's much easier than a visit to the vet I promise you. Use this list (from the American Humane Society) as a valuable resource for foods to avoid feeding your pets.

Finish it off with a high-five & enjoy, whoo hoo that was easy!

Check out Scooter....this boy loves his veggies! Favorites include: brussel sprouts, asparagus, green beans, squash, and brocoli. Such a healthy little guy!

What fruits/veggies or unique treats does your pup enjoy?

Herbal Cure: Abrasions & Bald Patches

2011-11-08T19:44:00.000-08:00

My poor 'ol Bear's legs are in rough shape these days. He's got several cuts and abrasions on them that are having a rough time healing up completely. I have no idea where they came from but I think the main problem is the fact that he won't leave them alone long enough to heal.

Things were looking bad enough that I decided it was time for me to intervene, and started looking into the best ways to help him. I found this recipe in my "10 Herbs for Happy Healthy Dogs" book and was happy to discover I had all the ingredients on hand. The recipe was only three ingredients, and while I can't ethically post the ingredients and how-to on my blog, you can buy the book here for yourself. I promise it's $3.95 well spent!

We've been using the new serum (nearly) once daily for two weeks now with relative success. Let me explain:

Pros:
*Easy to use/apply: Once or twice daily depending on your memory
*Low odor: smells natural and chemical-free
* Low maintenance: keeps in fridge for two weeks, apply with Q-tip
*Affordable: Some store bought wound sprays can run you $15 or more!
*Gradual improvement, slowly but surely they're looking better

Cons:
*Cold application: Neither Bear or I like how cold the serum is after being stored in the fridge (brr!), but it is not shelf stable like store-bought wound sprays so that's our option.
*Watch carefully: Bear seems to have the urge to lick the serum off after I apply it. If I don't keep him nearby for 10 minutes or so after applying he'll get to it undoubtedly.

For us there are certainly more pros than cons, which makes this a very valid treatment option for our family. I feel the need to mention here that about twice a week after the 10 minutes of monitoring I will finish things off by putting a drop of honey on each of the abrasions. You can read all about the benefits of honey here in case you missed it.

Fair warning: Of course adding the honey treatment means an additional 15 minutes of babysitting while you wait for that sweet stuff to soak in. Fifteen minutes seems to be the key amount of time for honey to work its magic on the skin. And YES, after that it's safe to let your pooch lick the rest of the honey off.
Bear sure does......with gusto. And don't even try to stop him.

Happy Hooooowl-oween!

2011-10-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Howl-oween to you and yours!

The various kong recipes I've posted in the past are some of the best received posts to-date, so today I'm sharing a festive "Howl-oween" kong recipe for your pups to enjoy. Last year I covered the benefits of including pumpkin in your pooches diet, so consider this recipe yet another trick up your sleeve.

You can use canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling!) for this recipe, or you can roast a fresh one yourself.
This recipe makes enough filling for two kongs, any extra can be refrigerated in a plastic container for up to four days: use it to stuff another kong or simply include it with your dogs normal kibble.

You'll need:

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup cooked brown rice

2 TBS peanut butter

1/4 cup diced peas n carrots

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 red apple: finely diced (do not include skin)

2 small dog biscuits: broken into bits

Mix the first 5 ingredients together. Stir to combine. Allow to chill and set in fridge for 15 minutes. Mix in biscuit bits, stuff kong and let your dog enjoy his healthy holiday treat!

*For those of you with super strong chewers: try freezing the assembled kong for an hour first

*Pumpkin can be messy, and might stain carpets and fabrics. This would make a great treat for your pup to enjoy in the crate or perhaps out in the backyard.

Need to brush up on your pet holiday safety tips? We've got you covered, look no further.

Find our other kong recipes here: "Rice and Veggie", "Chicken Lickin'", "Eggstra Good", & "Tasty Tuna"

Anyone have a favorite seasonal recipe you make for your dog? I'd love to hear from you!

Apple Cider Vinegar: For Dogs

2011-10-20T17:34:00.000-07:00

Apple cider vinegar is one of those hot topics that has become popular in health related discussions lately. It's reportedly great for your heart, can help to help manage blood sugar levels, and has a lot of beneficial properties for our skin and hair. I've even found a few ways to use apple cider vinegar (ACV) to benefit our canine pals!

ACV: An introduction
Apple cider vinegar has both antibacterial and anti fungal properties which makes it a valid remedy for a variety of ailments and illnesses. Just like the rest of the herbs and supplements featured in our herbal highlights, ACV has both internal and external benefits for dogs. Besides its antibacterial characteristics, apple cider vinegar is full of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. ACV can be found at your local grocery store right next to the white vinegar. Until last week, I'd only seen small bottles available, but I recently discovered that some grocers sell the large jugs of it as well which is a lot more cost effective.

ACV: How-to
Applying a small amount apple cider vinegar topically (to the skin) can mean the difference between comfort or misery for a dog with itchy skin. To relieve your pups itchy skin: start by giving a bath using a gentle oatmeal or aloe shampoo. Rinse well. Finish off your pups spa experience by dumping a cup of apple cider vinegar on his coat after the bath. Give it a quick rub in with your fingers and consider yourself done. You should not rinse out the vinegar as it conditions best if allowed to soak into the coat. What...you don't like the smell of vinegar? ME EITHER! Simple solution: add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (we used lemon grass) to help mask the smell.

Some cautions when using ACV:

Never give undiluted ACV orally to your dog
When using it as an after bath rinse, be sure to avoid getting it near the eyes
Don't use ACV on open wounds such as cuts or scratches, ouch it burns!

Final Thoughts:
I haven't given ACV orally to my dogs, since we already use cinnamon as an immune booster, but we did try the after bath rinse. I've given it three days (since bath) prior to making any judgements, and we totally loved it! Bear carried the odor of ACV (even with essential oils added) for about two days after the bath and I'd read the smell was supposed to dissipate as soon as the coat dried. That was the only negative in the whole scenario though. His coat is shiny and uber soft and we're loving lovin' on our big ol' Bear just a little more these days.

He's always gotta get a good roll in after a bath

.Image Credits: Apple Cider Vinegar,

Oh honey

2011-09-22T14:55:00.000-07:00

Whew it's been a long time since I've posted much of anything around here! Is anyone out there still tuned in?

If you're reading this, I sure appreciate you! : )

My interest in herbal supplements for the dogs isn't something new. You might remember previous herbal highlights covering cinnamon (the first ever herbal supplement we tried!), rosemary, and most recently wheat grass. Learning new ways to use herbs and other natural supplements for improved health has become a large part of our lives recently for two main reasons.

ONE: Bear is officially a senior. At nine years of age, there really is no denying it anymore.

Good 'ol graybeard

TWO: Scooter is handicapable and needs all the preventative care he can get. His trachea has been a source of problems lately, maybe herbal treatments offer a solution...?

Currently Bear's eating Iams Lamb & Rice kibble with Nupro and a sprinkle of cinnamon added twice daily. We use garlic and thyme (along with the ever constant cinnamon and Nupro) on their food about twice a week. I'm too leery to use garlic daily, even when paired with thyme because I've heard it can build up in their systems. I always lean toward the side of caution, since I'm not a nutritionist by any means and am just learning as I go.

Lately, I've been feeling like we're ready to add another vitamin/supplement/mineral to their diet. Right now, the anatomy of their food dish usually looks like this....

And just so you can tell what's going on here... the black arrow points to Bears morning portion of Nupro. White arrow points to his 3/4 cup of kibble, green to the 1/4 cup french style green beans, and red points to the two shakes of cinnamon (barely visible-sorry!) Scooters dish is similarly assembled, with everything measured in smaller portions for him of course.

Bear likes his food mixed with a little water so that it creates a gravy with the Nupro, and then everything all mixed together. Scooter on the other hand won't eat unless his food is all kept separate, and he hates water mixed with his Nupro. Go figure. Guess how long it took us to figure that one out? I'll tell you....FOREVER!

My husband and I have both been suffering from severe allergies this year. I've read from several sources that consuming local honey can be a helpful solution to the suffering. The honey contains small amounts of the pollen which our bodies are able to gradually build a resistance to. Local honey wasn't hard to find, we were able to obtain some at our local farmers market on our first stop. We now try to incorporate it into things like yogurt and cereal once daily. But then I got to thinking...what about honey for the dogs too?

As it turns out, honey can be advantageous both when consumed orally, and applied to the skin. In both humans and dogs, liquid honey has antibacterial qualities when used on burns and wounds. It apparently makes a wonderful face mask, and can be used to help heal pimples and blemishes too.

Starting today, I'm going to start adding 1 TBS of honey to Bear's food, and 1 tsp in Scooter's food. They're fed twice daily so this means I'll do it consistently each evening, and skip it for the morning feeding. I'm always in a rush in the morning, so I know I'll stick to the routine better in the evening. I'm going to start adding honey three times a week to start, and may make some adjustments from there depending on how things go. I'll of course be back to share all the juicy details on how this works (or potentially doesn't work) for our family.

What herbs or natural supplements do you feed your dogs? Are there any herbs in particular you'd like to learn more about (the effects, dosage methods etc.)? Or how about this, what's the weirdest thing your dogs have ever eaten? For us, it's always been Bear and his bad bee eating habits...

Image Credits: honey comb

Mmmm wheat grass

2011-09-21T12:17:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share "the evidence" on wheat grass, the boys truly love this snack!

Bear: concerned face

Bear: avoiding-you face

Bear: annoyed face

Wheatgrass for dogs

2011-09-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

I planted some wheatgrass for the dogs to munch on about 4 weeks ago. I decided to mix mine in a longish planter amongst some spring lettuce mix to create a few options for their munching pleasure. The grass is finally getting lush and filling in now, so I'm able to let the dogs dig in and enjoy.

Both Bear and Scooter love to munch on grass. It's often how Bear ends up getting stung by bees. Three quarters of the year, they've got access to some sort of green edible outdoors, but the winter months can be so hard on their digestion. Right now the plan is to keep nursing this batch along and plant a second one to rotate through the winter. I just purchased my seeds from an online vendor in a batch I was already getting for the garden. You can make things really easy on yourself and pick up a commercially sold wheatgrass for pets kit instead to get started.

What kinds of special precautions do you take for your dogs as the seasons change? Any new routines you're planning to implement this year? We'd love to hear from you, BARK BACK!

Image credits: wheatgrass

Spotlight's on us

2011-08-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

Just dropping by real quickly today to let everyone know that we're being featured over at Beloved Pets Blog today!! This is a really exciting opportunity for our us, and you can officially consider us honored : ) Cheeks blushing and all.

Check out our exclusive interview with Hailey from Beloved Pets by clicking right here. Hope to see you all over there, and thanks as always for your comments and support.

Meet Frankie, the walk 'n roll dog

2011-07-18T07:20:00.000-07:00

*This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who participated*

We haven't been blogging much lately, but that's partially because I've been busy behind the scenes reading. And now, I've got another book review to share as part of our Bark Back Book Club series. This is just our second book review of what we hope is many more to come. (Click here if you missed out on our first review)

Meet Frankie, a percocious dachshund who didn't let a scary diagnosis with intervertebral disc disease stunt her enthusiasm for life. Quite the contrary, she's used her personal story as an example to others. Frankie embodies the idea that you can accomplish anything you have the desire to do. Frankie is a therapy dog, and makes frequent appearances at schools and libraries to socialize with children.

She may be on wheels, but don't let that fool you. She's as capable as any other dog with full use of all four legs. This story is especially dear to my heart considering the birth defect that Scooter has. Since we do not know much about it, there is certainly a possibility he will transition to a wheelchair as he ages. It's inspirational to see just how well Frankie has adjusted.

We've been friends with Frankie for awhile now, but its taken awhile to work up to this post. Her mom, Barbara, graciously sent us two books: "Frankie the Walk 'n roll dog" (the original), and "Frankie the walk 'n roll dog visits Libby's house" which we are thrilled to review!

[Book Intro]

As I've already told you in the post introduction, Frankies story is a story of hope and overcoming struggles. Her books demonstrate that every challenge is more easily overcome when you approach it with a positive attitude. Through her own life experiences, Frankie teaches the reader about a positive and laid back approach to the trials in life.

[Final Thoughts]

I love the illustrations in the book. They seem to be a vibrant mix between hand drawing and computer animated images. But the image of Frankie herself is so endearing. Her cartoon character does her justice! My favorite part in the original book "Frankie the Walk 'n roll dog" is on page 46 when Frankie meets a new cat-friend named Sunshine who helps her in her healing process. In the second book "Frankie the walk 'n roll therapy dog visits Libby's house" I really enjoyed the description of Frankie passing her therapy dog test to be allowed to visit and socialize with the seniors living at the Libby house. I'd love to do therapy with Scooter someday, and the insight into the process was really neat for me.

Bear & Scooter posing with Frankie's books

[Bonus Info]

To make friends with Frankie yourself, I'd suggest visiting her blog here, or her website here. She's also on facebook, twitter, and she's quite the YouTube star too. This would make a wonderful book for a child learning to read. Dogs make wonderfully patient reading companions for children and can help to boost reading confidence.

But, that's not all. Barbara and Frankie want to offer one of *YOU* the chance to win a copy of their book too!

PRIZE : One copy- “Frankie the Walk 'n Roll Dog” by Barbara Techel

NUMBER OF WINNERS : One

TO ENTER : Leave a comment on this post. As a bonus, share your favorite all time book.

SHIPS TO: United States residents only

OTHER DETAILS : The giveaway ends on Friday July 22nd, 2011 at 8PM central time. Only one entry per email address, and random.org will select our winner.

*Please include a valid email address with your comment so I can contact the winner!

Pup tent

2011-07-07T18:33:00.000-07:00

Scoot's officially a camping pro after breaking in our new tent.

Eggstra good kong

2011-06-24T08:37:00.000-07:00

I recently came up with the idea for an egg and veggie omelet for the dogs. And since we're a Kong family, this mixture went straight into their favorite only-for-special-occasions toys to the tune of a few good tail wags. This recipe is a double-egger. (You'll see what I mean in a minute)

I can already promise you this is going be a fall favorite in our house. We recently added four layer hens to our menagerie and Bear and Scooter can't wait to capitalize on their eggy goodness. If all goes according to plan they'll be laying their first eggs by fall, so until then we're begrudginly using store-bought. To make a healthy veggie egg omelet for your dogs follow these simple guidelines but feel free to adjust to your dogs preferences as needed.

You'll need:

4 eggs, divided (protein, good for skin/coat)

2 carrots-peeled, finely diced (good for eyes/vision)

1/2 cup broccoli florets- finely diced (good digestion)

1/3 cup frozen peas

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 tsp cinnamon (see benefits here)

To assemble:

Scramble 3 of the eggs. In the last few moments of cooking add: finely diced veggies, frozen peas, and cinnamon. Turn off heat and mix in cheese. Add the remaining raw egg (this acts as the "glue") and mix gently until mixture is holding together well. Then take your double egger mix and fill a kong, or use as an additive to your dogs regular kibble. Mixture will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days.

We love coming up with fun new ways to use our Kong toys! Interested in our other kong friendly recipes? Check 'em out here, here, and here.

Food Critics

2011-05-27T08:00:00.001-07:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Nutrish for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Nutrish is a newer-to-the-market dog food created by Food Network star, Racheal Ray. Boasting just six ingredients, this kibble is formulated for dogs of any size or age. Real meat is the main ingredient in all of the Nutrish varieties. Our sample was Just Six: lamb meal and brown rice which has six main ingredients + vitamins and minerals.

I was pleasantly surprised when the sample arrived in the mail. Their presentation of the product was above and beyond my expectations. The sample was nestled into a small paw print food bowl, wrapped in cellophane, and tied together with a paw print ribbon. So cute!

The boys were interested immediately. Let’s be honest, anytime food is involved they’re interested. But when I cut open the package Bear tried licking the inside of the plastic with this look of divinity on his face. We got a giggle out of that. I quickly prepared their meal (Bear likes a little water with his kibble) and let them try it out. Bear behaved as I expected and did his “you’re gonna feed me” dance and then gobbled his food. He’s a good eater, always has been.

I gave Scooter the new paw print dish. It was more his size, and he needed a new one anyway (thanks Nutrish!). Even with the switch-up in dishes (and he’s had the same one since he was a puppy) Scooter dug right in. Which both shocked and floored me all at the same time. Talk about a head rush.

This dog is picky. And not just the “I won’t eat that. Ever.” Kind of picky, but the kind where he gets “sick” of the food about 1/8 through the bag and would rather turn up his nose and never eat again than ever touch that kind of dog food. And he’ll never eat a good meal the first night trying a new food. But Nutrish? He did everything but lick the bowl clean, which he kindly left to Bear.

I was especially happy to discover that all of the proceeds from Nutrish are donated to animal rescue causes. We give Nutrish four paws up! If you're interested, click here for a free sample for your dog to try too.

We haz chickenz

2011-05-13T19:59:00.000-07:00

Bear and Scooter have exciting news they've demanded I share with all their blogging buddies.

"We haz chickenz!"

My husband and I recently decided to start a backyard flock of chickens. We're in the baby stages now (literally) with three new chicks. The boys are IN. LOVE. They sit nearby as often as possible and listen to the gentle cheeping. The black chick (pictured first) seems to actually have an affinity for the dogs. Perhaps a long term friendship is in bloom?

They've loved checking out every nook and cranny of the new hen house. Scooter even gave the ramp a go!

Neither Bear or Scooter have ever been around adult hens before. We've introduced them to the chicks, and they both seem very mellow about the whole thing. Semi-interested, but semi-timid yet since they haven't figured out yet just what they're dealing with.

Those of you with dogs and a backyard flock have any advice for ensuring a good canine/chicken relationship? What have you done to ensure your dogs are safe around your flock?

2011-04-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

Petco's gone semi-green, and now an entire portion of their website is full of great ideas to start you and your dog (or cat!) down the road toward a greener lifestyle. With spring just around the corner, now is the easiest time to implement these small changes into your lifestyle for good.

After browsing through the site, I thought I'd share a few highlights

10 Tips for reducing your pup's carbon pawprint

More natural nutrition options than ever

Free printable coupons (they change approx. monthly)

Innova Dog Food Giveaway Sweepstakes

*I was not paid or perked by Petco to write this article. I occasionally buy dog food there, have a pals card, and was browsing the website when I found the "natural section"*

Dogs & television

2011-04-24T19:58:00.000-07:00

Something funny has been happening in our house lately which has left me with a question for you guys: Do you leave your TV on for the dogs when you're not home? I do sometimes because I think its nice for them to have some background noise to an otherwise nearly silent day. Do you feel that your dogs "watch" TV?

Image via

Scooter has a major obsession. With this commercial. It is uncanny and his response is the same each and every time. When his obsession started, he used to start barking at the point in the commercial where the dog walks into the room and his tags jingle. But now, after a few months of hearing it, Scooter now recognizes the sound of the door opening at the start of the commercial, and begins howling right away. He howls through the commercial from start to finish, and only then will he be coerced to shut his mouth.

So how about all of you out there? I can't be the only one with a tv loving dog can I?

Bacon Pupcakes

2011-04-14T14:02:00.000-07:00

I'm back today, as promised, to share the Birthday Bacon Pupcake recipe with you that has become traditional doggie birthday fare around our house. You can edit the recipe slightly based on what your dog likes (or what you have around the house) because this is one recipe that always turns out great. I have yet to have any dog turn his nose up at these homemade goodies!

You'll need:

1 1/2 cup flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup melted butter

1/4 cup olive oil

3 eggs

1/4 cup shredded cheese

5 slices of bacon-cooked

1 jar baby food (I used chicken & vegetables)

Start by mixing all the dry ingredients together gently with a spoon before adding melted butter, oil, babyfood, and eggs. I always cook the bacon fully in the microwave, and then crumble it into the batter.

As you probably saw in Bears birthday post, I used baking cups to make the pupcakes in because it helps to reduce any potential messes. Just like "normal" pupcakes, you'd want to fill these about 2/3 full. Bake at 325 degrees for 22 minutes and allow to cool.

Dogs will love these pupcakes with frosting or without. If you go the frosting route, use whatever your dog likes. My top choices are: yogurt, cottage cheese, and gravy all of which have gone over extremely well.

How do you guys celebrate your dogs' "big day"? Do you host a pup birthday party at the dog park?
Does anyone make their dogs a full-fleged birthday cake each year? We'd love to hear from you, bark back!

Bear's an old man

2011-04-10T19:13:00.000-07:00

He turned 9 on Saturday, which was the 9th, so I guess that makes it his golden birthday. He's got less hair than expected for a nine year old so we may start taking bi-monthly photos to document his ever growing gray beard. To celebrate, we made "Pupcakes" for his birthday (a tradition we started last year) as expected, both boys enjoyed them thoroughly.

We had wonderful weather this weekend so Bear worked in a lot of sunbathing and a bit of gardening. Check back with us later this week when we'll share the bacon pupcake recipe we use. And now that Bear's officially a "senior dog" I'm going to begin highlighting the specific changes we'll be making in his diet and routine to accommodate for his growing older.

Happy birthday Bear- we love you!

Prevention is key

2011-03-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

I was given a heads up on some free printables in an email earlier this week and thought it would be the perfect thing to share on the blog. I myself wasn't aware you could get your hand on these "I'm inside" decals unless you dished out some dough for them. But I was wrong...

Pet Plan is a company who provides pet insurance plans for owners interested in help offsetting vet bills that can occur over the lifetime of a pet. They also strive to educate pet owners on better ways of protecting their pets from common perils, including house fires.

I'm not here to talk insurance (I hear enough of it at the day job I assure you) the real reason I'm bringing Pet Plan to your attention today is their FREE "I'm inside" stickers that can help alert firemen to the number and types of pets living in your home should you ever have a house fire.

They have two variations on the "I'm inside" stickers. The first one is a simple orange block that displays the number of dogs and/or cats inside the home. I like the bright orange because its sure to attract attention, but the second style is my favorite because it includes an image and description of your pet. I thought it was extra special that you can note their favorite hangout to clue the fire department in on where to check first.

If you'd like the orange stickers, click here to download one from Pet Plan for free. And if you're like me, and like the picture version better, just click here to create your own. Prevention is key to fire safety, and this is just one more way you can ensure that your family and pets stay safe.

*Please note, you will need to have access to a printer to make these cards yourself- the company does not mail them out.

National Puppy Day

2011-03-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

Today, March 23rd is "National Puppy Day". So in celebration, we'd like to talk all things puppy.

Scooter @ 3 mo.

I've been asked several times recently what a good "starter list" of supplies are for first time dog/puppy owners. So for anyone who is curious, I figured I'd share my basics list here too. Since you should always have a few starter supplies before picking up your puppy or new dog this will be a great way for us to start off on the puppy discussion.

Food & water dishes
Adjustable buckle collar and leash(We love these collars, and these leashes)
Variety of toys: 1-2 are good to start (see below for details)
Puppy food (preferably the same brand pup is eating before you get him/her)
Crate/kennel- to get a good fit pup needs to be able to stand up, turn around, and lay flat comfortably.

Small "combo" dishes like this one work well for small breed dogs. Metal is easiest to clean & sanitize

And below is the remainder of the list, these items can be purchased over time to spread out the initial costs:

ID tags: Name, phone number (available in stores and online)
Treats for training- usually small bite sized treats are best for training
Dog bed
Dog brush/comb
Nail clippers
more variety of toys
harness, backpack, other accessories

Providing a variety of textures, shapes, and colors of toys are vital to the development of your puppy. Different textures are especially important during the teething stage when a puppy will put anything in their mouth without discrimination. I've chosen a few of our favorite puppy toys to share with you, I know your puppy will love them too!

1."Busy buddy puppy waggle treat dog toy"
2."Nylabone Puppy Rhino Bone"
3. "Nylabone Puppy Teething Key Ring"
4."Rope bone toy"
5. "Booda Whipper Snappers Fish"
6. "Puppy Kong"

My boys have this Booda brand elephant toy and its one of the few toys they both adore. And I do too! First off, I have "a thang" for elephants, and secondly, it's made of a wonderfully durable canvas material that can withstand a little rough play! I haven't washed it yet, but I'm assuming the canvas will hold up wonderfully in the washing machine too.

Last spring we hosted a series of posts we called "The Spring Puppy Series" that touched on our most frequently asked puppy questions. While the posts are a year old, the information in them is as timely as ever. If you're interested in any of these topics please just click the topic here to hop over to the original article.
Do you need help dealing with rough puppy play (nipping, jumping, and biting), potty training or house-training tips. We've also touched on crate training and positive reinforcement techniques. If any readers have specific questions feel free to leave them as a comment and I'll try to address them in a comment back, or an entire post if there is enough material.

Happy puppy day! I'll leave you with a small photo stream of some amazingly adorable puppies.

Seamus & Quinn

Pomeranian puppies

Claude- Cocker spaniel

Rambo- Mastiff

Herbal highlight

2011-03-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

As promised in the post on benefits of cinnamon, we're back with another "Herbal Highlight". Herbs are good for people, and they're good for dogs. The helpful herb we'd like to cover today is an herb that is readily available to most people.

I get my information on herbs from a variety of sources. The internet is certainly one of them, although I do take all that I read there with a grain of salt. I have two "go to" sources at home that have supplied me with a lot of the know-how I've gained thus far.

"Herbs for Pets" by Mary Wulff-Tilford & Gregory Tilford was given to my as a high school graduation present from a close friend who was a holistic veterinarian. It is currently well loved and living in my storage ottoman where its always close by.

My other great resource is much more concise than the thick book that is "Herbs for Pets". Its a 31 page booklet that my mother in law picked up from the gift shop at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens while attending our Hawaii wedding. Both books have great back stories, and wonderful & helpful information.

Rosemary is one of the herbs featured in the "10 Herbs for Happy Healthy Pets" booklet and its known for being one of the easiest to introduce into your dogs diet. Since many people grow rosemary for their personal cooking in a kitchen garden its easy to get your hands on. Rosemary has anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory antispasmodic and stimulation properties when consumed. It is good for both the heart and the liver and can help to improve circulation. It can be used externally to treat abrasions, bites, and cuts as well. Rosemary is a very versatile herb. The booklet makes mention that rosemary is not safe for pregnant dogs.

"10 Herbs for Happy and Healthy Pets" is published and sold by Storey Publishing for an extremely reasonable price of $3.95. "Herbs for Pets" is available in bookstores and online. Amazon offers the second edition for $17.

and the winner is....

2011-03-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

Allie took full advantage of our bonus entry and commented both on her choice if she won, and that she was a facebook follower. Allie I'll be emailing you soon regarding your gift!

Bear's Backpack

2011-03-18T21:58:00.000-07:00

I've wanted a doggie backpack for Bear for years now. I think they're both endearing and useful at the same time. But damn are they expensive! I've never had the extra money just laying around to waste on something that seems so frivilous compared to more important things like dog food and treats : )

I was browsing at Petco last month after picking up some salmon oil and Bear's food when I noticed they now have both a clearance and dollar section. Lo and behold there sitting on the bottom shelf was a green (fave color) backpack IN Bear's size...for $11.97. SCORE!

And doesn't he look handsome?

Here is a link to the backpack if you're interested for yourselves, and luckily right now the internet price is still set to the $11.97 in store clearance price I paid!

Back it up!

2011-03-09T09:16:00.000-08:00

I often get asked “Can your dogs do any cool tricks?” While I think that’s quite the subjective question, I can say that one of my favorite commands that Bear knows is "back up". I taught him the command about five years ago more out of fun than necessity, but it’s turned out to be an amazing trick to have in his repertoire.

This command is simple and effective. I like it, because it gives me greater verbal control over what my dogs are doing with their bodies. For instance, we’ve all experienced “the hover” where your dog is peeking over your shoulder and may or may not be pressing you for space. Give the “back up” command, and viola! a little more depth to your personal bubble. I’ve also been able to tell Bear to back up and “save” him from tipping over a beverage on the floor. You get it. The possibilities are infinite.

So the concept is pretty straightforward, and the reasons for teaching the command are useful. So now you may be wondering…how do I teach my dog? I’ve got a little insider info for you here…. if you’ve got a couch, a wall, and a few dog treats you’re well on your way.

Teaching “back up”:

To start, pull your couch about 2 feet away from the wall (if you have a small or large dog, adjust accordingly, the point is not to give the dog enough room to change directions while in the alley). This should leave you with a narrow alleyway to work with.

Then start by standing in this “alleyway” you’ve just created at the end of the couch, so you can only move backwards but the dog will be walking forward to you. Bring your dog to a sit at your feet.

Ask him to sit/stay while you walk backwards into the alleyway away from him. Call him to you and treat. I realize your probably wondering whattheheck this has to do with teaching a dog to move backwards since I just asked YOU the owner to do it. But right now you’re just acclimating your dog to the weird gap you just created between the wall and the couch. Once pup is confidently following you through the alleyway you’re ready to start the next step.

Start in the same position as before, ask your dog to sit/stay again, walk backwards, and call your dog to you. Before giving a treat this time, ask your dog to sit at your feet- this will force them to sit in the alleyway a moment longer than last time. Praise and treat.

Then tell your dog to “backup” (or whatever command you’d like to use) in a confident voice, while at the same time walking toward your dog. Since you’re both still in the alleyway, this means if he’s gonna get out of your way, he’s gonna be scooting backward because he’s got no other choice. Once he does, ask him to sit, praise him and give a treat. Your dog just backed up on command!

Now it’s a matter of practice. I recommend using the couch method for your next several training sessions until he’s got the new skills down pat. Initially it’s all about learning the association between the command and the action. Once your pup is backing through the alleyway like a pro, you’re ready to move on to bigger and badder things- like a new area to practice. Once you’ve removed the couch from the scenario, it might be easiest to keep practicing in the living room or somewhere else in your house. This will help solidify the behavior without the couch keeping borders.

Take things slowly until you’re backing up all across town- in your back yard, the dog park, your moms garage, a target parking lot….the more unique and interesting places you choose to practice, the more strong the behavior will become.

So how about you guys? What’s your “coolest” or favorite dog trick? Or what trick do you wish your dog knew?

Pssst....if you haven't already, be sure to enter our CSN stores gift card giveaway.

No clever title...

2011-03-08T14:07:00.000-08:00

but a giveaway is enough to get your attention anyways right?

As you guys probably remember, not too long ago we hosted a giveaway with CSN stores and offered up a gift card to the contest winner. Well they're back with another giveaway for you, and this time a $20 gift card is up for grabs to one lucky entrant. Hmmmm whatever will you buy? There are SO many choices afterall...and lately, I've been dreaming of these modern barstools to spruce up the half-wall between our kitchen and living room.

Besides dogs, decorating is another of my passions, and I love that CSN stores is able to help me celebrate them both!

PRIZE : $20 gift card/gift code to any of the CSN online stores

NUMBER OF WINNERS : One

TO ENTER : Visit www.CSNstores.com, then come back and tell us what you'd buy if you win... gifts for the pooch, a new pair of shoes, a blender, new barstools...the possibilities are truly endless.

SHIPS TO: Residents of the US

OTHER DETAILS : The giveaway ends on Thursday March 17th, 2011 (St. Paddy's Day!) at 8PM central time. Only one entry per person, and we'll use random.org to choose our winner.

*BONUS ENTRY*

For a second entry into the contest, "like us" on facebook or follow us on twitter. Then leave us a comment on this post letting us know you do.

Please include a valid email address with your comment so I can contact you if you’re the winner

Good luck!

Pawz Coat

2011-03-02T10:31:00.000-08:00

If you're a regular reader of our blog at all, you already know how much we love Pawz brand booties. These booties are the one thing we have found that work on Scooters funny little feet (more about that here). Pawz have been a major part of keeping Scooters feet in good condition year round, and for keeping our dogs toes warm for walks and potty breaks all winter long. You may also remember two years ago they made our 2009 Christmas Gift Giving Guide.

pawzdogboots.com/1z-coat

So when Andrea from Pawz contacted me I was thrilled! She offered to send us their newest product the "1 Z" coat for Scooter to try out. It arrived in the mail on my birthday (sweet timing) and I immediately slipped it on Scooter. I noticed immediately how high quality the coat was, this isn't your $5 end of rack special at Walmart people. This coat is like a ski jacket for dogs. It is sleek, and wonderful.

Apologies for the crappy cell phone pic, we were excited to try it out!

The coat has a built in leash hook, so you don't have to hassle with a harness (underneath a coat) or a collar. Just bundle 'em up in the 1Z coat, clip on a leash, and you're ready to stroll. We requested a size 10 (the smallest they offer) and it fits Scooter like a glove. Maybe slightly on the tight side due to his puffiness. He seems to feel secure in it though, and has no problem napping or relaxing while wearing the coat indoors for short periods (so he doesn't get hot). Sizing guidelines are available on their website if you're interested in ordering one for your pup.

Better Dental Care

2011-02-22T14:17:00.000-08:00

February is "Pet Dental Health" month, so I thought it appropriate to discuss the topic of cleaning our dogs teeth.

Bears teeth at 8 years- lookin good for an old man!

Having clean teeth is important for both of our dogs (and yours too!). Because Bear has transitioned into the "senior" category, his dental care is becoming increasingly important to his overall health. Good strong teeth ensure health in more than just the mouth. Dirty and unhealthy teeth can lead to heart disease among other health problems in your dogs older age. For Scooter, and other small breed dogs, extra care must be taken to be sure his small fragile teeth don't build up tartar and plaque like they are known to do.

You can buy a variety of commercial tooth cleaning products including: toothbrush/toothpaste (must be made for dogs!), teeth wipes, tooth spray, teeth drops (added to water), and teeth cleaning powders like Teddy's Pride which we reviewed last year. In our household we use the toothbrush/toothpaste method for Bear and teeth wipes for Scooter-it was hard to find a brush in his size!

There are also a variety of teeth cleaning toys, chews, and treats newly available on the market. We mentioned one of our favorites, Greenies, on the 2009 Christmas Gift Giving Guide. Rope bone toys, and nylabones also help keep teeth clean.

Riley chewing a rawhide wrap


Greenies

DentaStix

Nylabone

The best tooth-friendly treat we give the dogs doesn't come from a package though. We give them both beef and pork bones left over from cuts of meat we use in our own dinner. The dogs love pulling off the meat scraps and fat before chomping away on the bone itself. The bones are great for cleaning their teeth, and provide calcium and essential vitamins.

In our house we do what works for our lifestyle. That ends up being a combination of the options listed above. I brush the dogs teeth every time they get a bath with their toothbrushes and chicken flavored dog tooth paste. I need to do it more often- like weekly, so I'm going to see how it goes to add this to our schedule and see how well we remember. We also have oral cleaning pads- which I use when I groom the boys. Our two rope toys are rotated along with the other dog toys, so they make their semi-monthly appearance and do their job while the dogs are interested in toying with them. Greenies, Dentastix, and other chewies work their way in at least once a week. I only buy these more expensive type treats when I've got a coupon or they're on sale so sometimes we go without.

So now that you know.....put all this good knowledge to use and get to brushin'! February is almost over, but that doesn't mean you can't make a pledge now for cleaner teeth all year long.

The pedigree perma-smile dog says so!

www.pedigree.com

Pssst- If you haven't already...be sure to enter our newest giveaway contest! Click here for the details, just leave us a comment on that post and consider yourself entered!

Planet of the Dogs: Review & Giveaway

2011-02-17T09:32:00.000-08:00

*This giveaway is now closed....scroll down to see if you're the winner!

I teased about it last week when I introduced the Bark Back Book Club. The day is finally here. Our very first book review!! To sweeten the deal, the author has offered a copy of the book to one of our lucky readers…let the contest begin : )

[Book intro]

The Planet of the Dogs series is geared towards children, but has a wonderful quality that allows parents and adults to enjoy the read as well. In the first book of the series dogs are introduced to Earth where they try to teach humans about loyalty and love. The dogs having done their research, first make a connection with human children, and slowly work their way into becoming the invaluable members of society they are today. The illustrations in the book are beautifully done, and a masterpiece in and of themselves.

[Final Thoughts]

I found myself smiling a lot while reading this book. The author does a wonderful job describing the actions of dogs in a way that you can see in your minds eye. Things we see our own dogs do daily, and it was a great way to bring the story to life for me. My favorite chapters were Chapter 10 when one human realizes the dogs have healing powers for those with illnesses of all varieties, and Chapter 15 where Omeg, the village leader meets the dogs for the very first time.

Other books in the series are: "Castle in the Mist" and "Snow Valley Heroes"

You can find out further details about the books and author by visiting their website, or blog.

Scooter likes reading, and kids. Maybe therapy reading is in his future?

[Bonus info]

One of the best things about this book series, is that the author has a mission to encourage kids to read. More specifically for children to read to dogs as a form of therapy. And its working! The dogs help less confident kids calm down, and read aloud to an unbiased audience. Dogs make the best listeners for children learning to read because they aren't judgmental and express great patience.

Alright, now onto details I know you’re all waiting for: How to get your chance to win a copy of “Planet of the Dogs”

PRIZE : One copy- “Planet of the Dogs” by Robert McCarty

NUMBER OF WINNERS : One

TO ENTER : Leave a comment on this post with the phrase “BOOKIT” and for a bonus tell us your favorite book as a kid

SHIPS TO: Residents in the lower 48 states. (Sorry to anyone this doesn't include!)

OTHER DETAILS : The giveaway ends on Thursday February 24^th, 2011 at 8PM central time. Only one entry per person, and we'll use random.org to choose our winner.

*Please include a valid email address with your comment so I can contact you if you’re the winner

We have a winner!

Congrats to: "Anonymous" Who commented "Love the articles...especially the puppy series. Lots of good tips for dog lovers. My favorite book as a kid? The 3 pigs."
Be looking out for an email from me shortly with details on claiming your copy of "Planet of the Dogs"

Chicken lickin' good

2011-02-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

I've been watching the stats of the blog closely lately, trying to figure out which types of posts are the most popular, and thus (I'm hoping) most helpful to you guys. If the stats are telling the truth...it seems you guys keep checking back on our recipe and training posts, so I'm going to strive to provide more on these topics. If you've got a specific topic or question I'm open to suggestions via email, or by leaving a comment.

Today I've got another kong-stuffer recipe to share, this time with chicken instead of fish. I like to pick up a rotisserie style chicken occasionally when the store offers a special on them. We can usually get two good dinners out of a single chicken, and still find there are scraps leftover that the dogs would love. That's how this recipe came to fruition.

You'll need:

1 cup cooked chicken, finely diced (good source of protein)

1/2 cup cooked rice, potato, or sweet potato, roughly chopped

1 carrot, cooked or raw, finely diced (good for eyes/vision)

1 handful of broccoli florets, finely diced (good digestion)

1 egg (protein, good for skin & coat)

If you don't have a kong treat toy for your dog, or wish to use this recipe in another way it also makes a great "mix in" to kibble dog food which is always how I give it to my dogs when I'm feeling too lazy to stuff and freeze their kongs.

[I apologize for no "finished" photo. Dogs were too excited for 'em and camera was nowhere to be found....better photos next recipe post-I promise!]

Find strength in numbers

2011-02-08T12:26:00.000-08:00

Going to the dentist or doctors office is something that most of us humans dread. Its just not usually a pleasant experience. And I think its safe to assume that most of our dogs feel the same way. Getting poked, prodded, and picked at in an unfamiliar place can be unnerving to say the least. Do you have to fight with your dog to get them through the vets front door? (Yep, I've really seen that happen) Then these pointers are for you!

Help your dog learn to walk confidently into the vets next time

For the scaredy-dog:

Take your dog for a ride in the car somewhere fun, like a dog park or open field. That way she won't assume each car ride is leading to that same dreaded destination and will enjoy going places with you more.
Make it a positive experience. Have the vets staff give her treats and gentle praise when you arrive to help ease nerves.
Visit the vet sometime when you don't have an appointment to just drop in and say a quick hello- that should help her realize even the vets office isn't always a scary experience.

If you're a multi-dog household there are a few other options to try out. Always take your dogs to the vet together because they will find comfort in having pack members near them. Don't have the dogs seen by the vet on the same day though.

For instance, if Bear needed an update on his rabies shot, I would take both him and Scooter even though Scooter didn't need to be seen. Bear would get poked, prodded the whole works, while Scooter was able to just soak up the experience. When we leave, Scooter is left with the impression that the vets office is just a fun place to hang out and won't stress about it next time we need to visit.

High five to no stress!

Bark back book club

2011-02-07T13:50:00.000-08:00

Before Christmas I was contacted by Robert McCarty, the author of a book called "Planet of the Dogs". He'd been doing his blogging research and stumbled across SheSpeaksBark somewhere out there in blog-land. I'm excited to announce that we've teamed up for our very first book review- a review I should mention, that of course involves a giveaway for all you great readers out there! (Stay tuned for details on entering)

This book is the first in a series geared towards children, but unlike some kids books this one will keep mom and dad's attention too. The book describes dogs' journey to Earth to teach humans kindness and unconditional love. Besides the good feeling storyline, the book is chock full of amazing illustrations, done by the authors wife that will keep even the youngest kiddos engaged.

I'll of course read/review my personal copy of the book and post my results here on the blog. Then we'll open the contest for entries so you all can enter to try to win a copy for yourselves.

A"sneak peak" of some of the beautiful artwork inside

If you're interested in reading the rave reviews, or checking out the rest of the books in the series please just click here. If you want to be sure you don't miss our announcement about the giveaway I've got a few suggestions:

subscribe to our feed
become a follower of the blog
like us on facebook
follow us on twitter
and check back often!

Dog DNA Testing

2011-02-01T09:40:00.000-08:00

I see on dog forums all the time....new dog owners are posting pictures of their pooch and begging the dog world to guess "What kind of dog do you think he is?". And I can relate to that need to know. As a lover of mutts, it’s easy to understand why an owner wants to know just what breeds were combined to create their own loveable pooch. Knowing your dogs breed history can do a lot more than satisfy your curiosity though. It can help you understand their particular behaviors and motivations and lead to a better communication platform for you and your dog.

"Mystery" breed Bear

Each breed has its own quirks, tendencies, and behaviors that are common characteristics. Knowing the breeds that make up your mixed breed dog will help you:

· Understand exercise requirements

· Provide proper nutrition

· Targeted training techniques

· Behavior interpretation

· Be aware of breed-specific health concerns

Did you know that thanks to science and technology its now possible to get a little insight (rather than just opinion) into what breeds make up a mutt? Dog DNA testing has been around for years, but has only been available to the general public in recent times. I’m wondering if it’s something many dog owners even know much about. Dog DNA testing works off of the same premise as human DNA testing, but at a more basic level. Instead of using the sample to find a match with a single individual, the sample is tested for “markers” found in certain breeds.

Currently there are three major companies who offer DNA testing for dogs. Their testing methods and prices vary- as does their feedback from customers.

· Canine Heritage

o $80, cheek swab, 4 week turnaround, 100 breeds

· Wisdom Panel

o $80, Cheek swab, 2-3 week turnaround, 185 breeds

· BioPet

o $60-70, Cheek swab, 2 week turnaround, 65 breeds

List of breeds from Wisdom Panel

The results come back with your dogs primary and secondary breeds listed on a certificate. You also get a print out of the “other breeds found in the mix”. I’ve always wanted to do this with Bear because he’s got such a unique look, but have never taken the leap and just ordered the kit. Of course I have my guesses as to his heritage, but until I get him tested I feel like I’ll never know.

So how ‘bout you guys? Anyone out there heard of this? Tried it?

Healthy Kong Recipe # 2

2011-01-16T12:38:00.000-08:00

Our first kong recipe (can be found here) went over so well with you guys that I figure its high time to share another one. I'm not doing any high-tech cooking over here, I just combine ingredients that my dogs love (and are healthy for them) into a treat to keep them busy for a bit.

I love feeding my dogs fish, especially in the winter because the natural oils in the fish are great for their coats. They usually get fish or some other add-in mixed in with their kibble these days, because we're really on the fence about starting to make our own dog food instead of keeping them on a commercial diet. (More on the thoughts behind this decision here) so this is a regular for my boys anyway. If your dogs don't get a lot of "extras" you might add some rice to this recipe to help balance it out.

You'll need:

1 can of drained tuna or salmon (good for skin/coat)

1/2 can french-cut green beans (digestion/no calories)

1 tsp garlic powder (immune system/flea repellent)

*garlic should only be given to dogs in small amounts without consulting a vet for regular use

1/2 tsp Ceylon cinnamon (good for immune system)

Mix all the ingredients together (cooked rice too if you choose) and stuff into kongs. Freeze kong for a minimum of 30 minutes before giving your pup this delicious treat.

What's a "dog breed rescue" anyways?

2010-12-20T12:04:00.000-08:00

There is a lot of talk these days about Dog Breed Rescues, but I've noticed that there also seems to be a lot of confusion about what a rescue really is. This post is my attempt to try to help clear the confusion out there.


"Piglet": Doberman/Pitt bull: Adopted 2007

In a summary, a breed rescue works similarly to an animal shelter with a few key differences.

Both shelters and rescues share the same goal: find a forever home for a homeless animal
Adoption or re-homing fee applies
Almost all the time the animals from shelters or rescues will have their vaccinations and all medical work done (spay/neuter, microchip, blood tests, de-worming)
Both groups will require an application, background check etc. before releasing animals to a new owner. Be prepared to be asked for an in-home visit as well. Not all rescues/shelters follow this policy, but always know its a possibility.

"Max": Black Lab: Adopted 2006

Differences:

Rescues are much more selective than shelters. Most rescues handle only one breed of dog (like German Shorthair), or one group like "hunting dogs" that might include German Shorthairs, Vislas, and other hunting breeds
Most of the rescues keep their dogs in a home situation, like a foster family. Where shelters house their animals in one building with many kennels.
Shelters are often managed by the city or county, where rescues are usually started by individuals with a love and investment in the particular breed
Rescue groups tend to be more particular about the homes they place their dogs in. For instance, a perfectly good applicant may be turned down for adoption just because they don't have a fenced in yard-while that's something that rarely happens with a shelter.

"Patsy": Pitbull Terrier: Adopted 2007

Is a rescue right for me?
To help determine if looking for a pup from a rescue will work in your life, consider these few questions:
1. Is there one particular breed that I know I'm looking for?
2. Have I been searching elsewhere for a companion with no luck at finding "the one"?
3. Do have have "special needs" when it comes to a dog? (ex. good with cats, tolerant of young kids)

If you can answer "yes" to these questions then I'd say a rescue would be a great starting point for you. Rescue groups tend to know their animals very intimately. They are wonderful at taking an adoptive families "needs" in a dog, and matching those needs with an applicable candidate that they have for adoption. They truly do help with the matchmaking process so you're sure to get a match made in heaven.

Adopting a dog (or cat) can be a wonderful process weather you decide to support your local shelter or a rescue organization. Just remember to do your research first, and be prepared to see several dogs before finding "the one". As long as you're patient with the process you will undoubtedly be happy with the results.

Have a rescue/adoption story of your own? How did you and your current canines cross paths? We'd love to hear your stories

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! (and don't forget to help wish stray pets in your area a happy holiday as well....find out how here.)

*The photos of shelter dogs were taken by me when I worked in an Iowa shelter. Just some fun photos I like to recycle when possible

2010 Christmas Gift Guide

2010-12-18T18:29:00.000-08:00

With Christmas just around the corner (next week already can you believe it!) we'd like to share our 2nd annual Christmas Gift Giving Guide. Last year, we featured several items that had made a difference our dogs lives: toys, grooming products, treats and everything in between. This year, we'll again share Bear and Scooters top picks, and then as an added bonus, we've got gift ideas for the dog lovers in your life.

Bear's choices:

Humidifier: Poor Bear is probably the itchiest dog in the world ALL winter long. He has bad skin to begin with, top that with allergies, and dry air (thanks to the furnace) and you've got one sad itchy dog indeed. We do all we can to help ease his itchiness and make him more comfortable, and purchasing a humidifier has made such a drastic difference in his comfort level that it just had to be featured on this years list.

Furminator: We were "gifted" one of these this year. I've used them before on dogs at the shelter, but had never actually used one on my dogs. Bear is a huge fan of this brush, he actually wags his tail and comes over for a brushing when he sees me pull it out. The teeth on the furminator get down to his skin and give him a nice overall scratch. Since he's a big ball of itch all winter long this is a huge part of our skin care routine with Bear in the winter.

Orthopedic dog bed: This luxe bed is on the top of Bears Christmas wish list this year. Specially made to help ease those aches and pains, we think this bed would help him have sweet dreams.

Scooters Favorites:

Kong: We've been users and lovers of Kong brand products for years now. But this year is the first year that Scooter really learned the wonders of the kong. We bought him a "baby kong" because it was the right size, and a little bit lighter weight to make it easier for him to carry it around. He's had a fun year learning how to get all the goodies out from inside, and the best places to hide with it from big brother Bear.

Dentastix: I'm always on the lookout for a treat that will work double duty in our household. I love giving these Dentastix to my dogs as a reward because I know they're getting a good tooth cleaning in the process of enjoying their snack. This is especially important for Scooter as small breeds are more prone to dental problems, and just between us- he has horrible "Pomeranian breath" : ) I also like supporting Pedigree when I can because they are such supporters of animal shelters and adoption.

Pop up kennel: Scooter's been loving his red pop up kennel that we got earlier this year. We leave the door open and he'll slip in for a nap. Its great in the car to make sure he's got a safe place to sit.

Gifts for the dog lovers in your life:

This cute little doorstop would be a great addition to a dog lovers home


Available at BedBathandBeyond

These picture/paw combinations are just so sweet. I think

they're a great way to honor a beloved pet. Because they're available

online and in craft stores you have the option of custom ordering or doing

it yourself.

A tribute to mans best friend

I'm totally in love with these dog and cat wind chimes!
What a great way to personalize your garden or outdoor space.

Available from Uncommongoods

Whats on your Christmas list this year?

A hint of cinnamon?

2010-12-16T14:57:00.000-08:00

When thinking about food additives that are beneficial to my dogs health, cinnamon isn't something that really comes to mind. Fish oil, green beans, and meat tidbits sure, but cinnamon...not so much. So when I found this article about the benefits of cinnamon for both humans and dogs I was more than surprised, and started research to find out more.

I learned that cinnamon has both antibacterial and anti-fungal properties to it. In the article, the author mentions that researchers from Kansas State University (had to give a little shout out!) found that cinnamon can even prevent the growth of E. Coli.

Cinnamon's benefits for dogs:

Anti-inflammatory: Sprinkled over food or mixed with a little honey, cinnamon may help to ease your senior canines achy muscles and joints.
Immune system boost: Cinnamon helps to increase the levels of white blood cells in the body
Improved circulation: Cinnamon helps the body move blood faster, which decreases the time it takes for oxygenated blood to reach vital organs. (Note: it works by thinning blood, so anyone on blood thinning medication should be cautious)

In my attempts to provide you with accurate information about cinnamon and its effects on dogs, I ran across this webpage and learned a lot about the process of integrating herbal remedies into day to day living. The author writes about diet and health of canines from an herbal point of view and shares what she has learned through her own experiences with her dogs and their ailments.

I haven't tried adding cinnamon to my dogs diet yet, but I plan to. I'm going to record basic info and any changes I notice in my boys so I can come back to you with a full report and my own tried and true opinion on the matter.

Writing this post opened a whole new can of worms in my world. Doing research on supplements for dogs quickly leads you to a messy boatload of information on making your own dog food/raw food diet. And now I'm hooked. I've been interested in potentially switching out what we're feeding our dogs for awhile now. Especially as I learn more and more about the negatives associated with commercial dog food, but its a huge step. Even for an obsessed dog lover/blogger like me. So, I'll continue to read, research and weigh my options, but guaranteed to be more on this topic soon.

So readers, does anyone out there do the "raw food" thing? Or ever thought about it? I'm wondering what your thoughts and opinions are while I consider making the leap.

*[Please note, before making any changes to your dogs diet it is always a good idea to consult your veterinarian to be sure they don't have any concerns as they know your dog as an individual]

Avoid winter woes

2010-12-11T08:21:00.000-08:00

Winter means a change in our routine for all of us. Throwing on that extra sweatshirt and remembering to grab a pair of gloves before we run out the door becomes the difference between misery and comfort.

Winter should be a time when you change your pet care routine too. Last year, we discussed some pet care tips for the winter that were very well received (you can check that out here), so this year we'll touch on those same important topics and broaden our discussion a little.

Warm 'em up:
Owners of short haired breeds may need to take special precautions against the chill this winter. If its cold enough that you're ready to go inside you can safely assume your pet is ready too. One way to help keep your pup warm is to purchase a dog coat or sweater. Dog coats are sold commercially in all sizes, shapes and colors, but you'll spend a pretty penny on most of them. That's why last year we decided to DIY our own dog coats- and you can too, it's easy!

*Check back with us soon regarding dog coats. We've got a little something up our sleeve that we're not just quite yet ready to share, you're gonna love it though, I promise! :)

Paw Protection:
Dogs with bare toes probably won't be able to take as lengthy of walks as you'd expect when the weather is warm. Just like humans, dogs can suffer from frostbite and because the pads of their feet are bare skin they are more prone to getting frostbitten than anywhere else (ear tips are another common place). One solution is to shorten the length of your walks, and try to walk during the warmer part of the day when the snow may be a bit melty. The other option is to go with some sort of bootie to cover your dogs feet on the coldest of winter days.

Regular readers know we're huge fans of Pawz brand booties, but they're not the only dog boot company out there. I'm only going to touch on Pawz brand because they're what I use, and I know they work. Pawz booties come sized to fit any dog, and in a variety of size specific colors- which makes it easy when you go to re-purchase. I know Bear gets the blue pack, and Scooter gets the green ones. I like easy.

We first introduced you to Pawz last year after we stumbled across them in our local pet store and fell in love. We liked them so much they made our 2009 Christmas Gift Giving Guide. We use these booties for Scooter year round (with his handicap they help keep his feet from scraping the cement on walks) and for Bear just in the winter when he likes the do the hold-one-foot-in-the-air-insert-pathetic-face-here move to tell us "hey! it's cold out, gimmie my boots!"

For city dwellers it's also always important to rinse your pups feet off in luke warm water after returning from a walk. The chemicals used to clear sidewalks and roadways of ice are often very harmful to the pads of your dogs feet, and cause cause illness if ingested (like when your dog grooms himself). If you're looking for a child and pet friendly way to clear your sidewalks this winter, look no further than Paw Safe Snow Melt. Sold in stores and online, its a great alternative to the chemical option. Average prices seem to be about $20 for an 8lb container.

Diet:
Most indoor pets probably don't need an alteration of their diet in the winter months, but outdoor pets are another story. I'm not a huge fan of strictly outdoor pets, but I'd be a fool to pretend that it isn't common place. Outdoor pets may need an increase in their food ration over the winter to retain a healthy body weight. Because they'll be burning more calories to keep their body temperature up in the cold weather, they'll need to consume more calories. Its also important to make sure that outdoor pets have access to fresh (unfrozen) water at all times. Some people provide their outdoor pets access to a barn or garage where they feed, water and bed them, yet others prefer to purchase a heated water bowl.

Winter is a beautiful season that can be a lot of fun for both you and your pet. With a little forethought and a few added precautions a safe and happy holiday is right around the corner.

How to: Help a shelter dog this Christmas

2010-12-10T12:18:00.000-08:00

The holidays are a time of joy and celebration. They're a time of giving, and appreciation. A time of love and family. With all the hulabaloo it can be easy to forget furry friends in need, shelter animals. So I've compiled a list for you of things that don't take a lot of time, but make a huge difference to your local shelter. We're big fans of adoption over here (both our boys are adopted) so if you're interested in helping, be sure to check out our thoughts from last years post too.

Donate your time:
The gift of your time can be an amazing thing, in a few short hours you can truly make a huge difference. Animal shelters and rescue organizations rely on the kindness of others to keep up and running, and provide a good standard of care to their animals. Shelters are often understaffed, and never have enough funds to go around so volunteers become a lifeline that they rely on.

This year, get a group of friends together, and hop over to your local shelter and walk dogs for an hour, socialize kitties, or do a variety of other cleaning/organizing tasks that will be so appreciated. It's a great way to make an impact in your community, and socialize with your friends at the same time. Plus, who knows? You might get the "volunteer bug" and keep going back for more.

Donate funds:
Really super busy this holiday season? Then the gift of money might be the most simple thing you can do this year to help your shelter, that requires little to no effort from you (except for filling out and signing that check!)

Check your local shops who often have donation boxes near their own check out counters to help the animal shelter. If you're thinking of contributing a significant amount, consider contacting the shelter directly. Some shelters (like the one I worked for) offer special bonuses to large contributors like an engraved brick in the shelter, or a plaque for your donation.

Donate goods:
Most shelters have a "wish list" of general items they need to keep the shelter running on a daily basis, and there isn't a more satisfactory feeling than dropping off a few bags of useful items you know will make a difference this holiday season.

paper towel
bleach
laundry detergent
lysol/clorox cleaning wipes
spray bottles
disposable gloves
sponges, scrubbers and brushes
old towels, blankets, rugs, and comforters

Dog:

old stuffed animals
treats
leashes (they'll use them in house, and usually give them away with a new adoption)
collars (think all sizes: small, medium and large)
toys
rawhide bones

Cats:

Toys (mice, batting balls, crinkle balls, etc)
non-scoopable litter
breakaway safe collars
soft bristle brushes
treats
canned cat food
KMR (kitten milk replacement powder)

Adopt an animal

Offering your home to an animal in need is the ultimate favor you can do for your local shelter this holiday. Shelters are often inundated during the holiday season and sometimes offer discounted adoption fees to help their animals find a loving home. Don't adopt an animal near Christmas just because it is Christmas, only make this choice if its something that's been well thought out and planned prior to your visit to the shelter.

An animal should never be given as a gift. While we all love the thought of a puppy in a box under our Christmas tree, its just not fair. Not fair to you who has way to much going on over the holidays anyway, and really not fair to the poor puppy who's thrown into a chaotic mess that we like to call Christmas. If you insist on getting a pet as a gift this year either arrange to pick him/her up after the holidays have passed OR choose an adoption voucher to the shelter instead so your entire family can be part of the decision making process. If you're looking for a few hints to ease your way through the adoption process, check out our discussion on the topic.

Planet Dog

2010-12-06T18:58:00.000-08:00

Ever heard of Planet Dog? They're a socially responsible company that specializes in all things dog.

[The fire in our belly is to concept, innovate and develop premium products

"made for dogs, by dog lovers" all while being fully dedicated to satisfying both you and your best friend's needs.]

They have a special place in my heart due to their avid promotion of adoption. Planet Dog works closely with Petfinder and ASPCA to spread the word about adopting needy dogs and cats from local shelters.

We were gifted one of these awesome Christmas bulb treat toys from my parents (doggie grandparents!) last year, and our boys LOVE it! Its squishier than a Kong brand toy, but they still bounce all silly, and best yet have a spot for treats. I can see how these may not stand up to a severe chewers jaws, but my boys haven't even punctured a hole in theirs.

Planet dog is offering 15% off holiday products ONLY today thru midnight on Tuesday (December 7th) by entering this code:

FFHP

Here are a few things we found to add to our Christmas list this year:

This artichoke ball is right up Scooters ally- what with his affinity for veggies and all


The "Old Souls" bone because Bear isn't getting any younger

This mint orbee ball is so cute and festive!

Their "healing shampoo" is said to help ease dogs with a major winter itch- Bear needs this for Christmas!

I've always been drawn towards their huge array of hemp collars and leashes

So there's a start to our wish list. You can visit Planet Dog on facebook here. What are you digging this Christmas?

*I was not paid in any way, shape or form to promote Planet Dog or any of their products. I just came across their announcement on facebook, and since my dogs like their products I thought I'd pass the news along to readers*

Eco-Me Giveaway Winner

2010-11-23T09:47:00.000-08:00

Bear's still not so sure....

2010-11-17T19:35:00.000-08:00

what to think about the new camera that's been flashing in his face lately.

I've been getting a lot of pathetic looks...

nervous yawns....

avoided glances...

and down turned heads. I'm hoping if I keep at it, he'll get over his shyness.

Certainly mine can't be the only camera shy dog out there right?

On a happier note, don't forget to enter our Eco-Me giveaway contest ending tomorrow (Thursday Nov. 18th) at 8 PM central time. Just leave a comment for your chance to win, and be sure to leave an email address so I can contact the winner!

Eco-Me Giveaway

2010-11-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

*This giveaway is now closed*

Today I'm SO excited to announce our latest giveaway. It's probably our coolest product giveaway yet! This product is dog friendly of course, but an added bonus- it's Eco-friendly too!

The deal keeps getting better too, because I've already reviewed this product, waaaay back when we first started, and now I'm able to share the love with one lucky reader.

Eco-Me is a company who focuses on making an Eco-friendly house an option for everyone. They're staff are a pleasure to work with, and the company takes notice of the little details which make their products so much better. Besides Eco-friendly dog (and cat) products, they can also sell house cleaning supplies, baby supplies, and body products. A majority of their products come in cool little self contained kits, which had me jumping up and down like a 4 year old- because they're just so fun. I really like that the kit allows you make the product yourself, because then you know exactly what went into it.

You can read all up on Eco-Me here and my review of the kit we're giving away here. We loved the kit so much, it made our Christmas Gift-Giving Guide '09. The kit we're giving away includes everything you see below. A spritz bottle and vinegar for flea spray, baking soda and canister for flea powder, and a canister and little bone cookie cutter for homemade biscuits. The secret ingredient to their flea remedy is a special blend of oils that you add after the rest of the product is mixed.

Ok. Enough blabbing. Onto the important details. You wanna know how to enter right?

PRIZE : One Eco-Me Dog Box Set

NUMBER OF WINNERS : One

TO ENTER : Leave a comment with the phrase “ECO-ME”, also let us know: Is this for you and your dog, or a gift for a loved one and their dog? (not that it matters, just curious)

SHIPS TO: Residents in the lower 48 states.

OTHER DETAILS : The giveaway ends on Thursday November 18th at 8PM central time. Only one contest entry per person, and we'll use random.org to choose our winner. (This time we won't be including face book friends automatically for a second vote- until I figure out a better way to work that out, its just too confusing!)

Good luck, and be sure to tell all your friends!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-10T18:39:00.000-08:00

*nervous yawn- as in "get that flashy deal outta my face"

We just got a new camera- its way more high tech than anything we're used to, so we'll be learning as we go. These are just a few shots I got in our new backyard- I didn't get the right light settings though, and I've had to tweak the colors a bit using picnik. I'll be doing research these next few weeks on just how to best utilize this bugger- if anyone has any suggestions of websites or blogs to visit to help me learn, please share by leaving a comment!

Is anybody out there?

2010-11-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

I've been making a lot of changes to the format of the blog lately, and I'm looking for some reader feedback after all of this. I've added screen shots and details of the areas I'm most curious about, and I'd love to know what everyone thinks about the changes I've made. Good, bad, or ugly, we'd love to hear your thoughts so we can continue to improve the maneuverability and design of the site. We really love hearing from you, your opinions and feedback help make us better :)

Here is what I'm most interested in hearing about:

1. The blog header: I personally love to switch out my blog header seasonally, or whenever the mood strikes. Do you guys like that, hate that, or not even care? I see some blogs like mine that seem to like to switch it up, and others who won't change it for the world.

2. The *new* pages options across the top. I was really against this at first, but when my sidebar turned out to be a mile long and unorganized I knew I needed to do something to spruce it up. I'll be adding more to these pages as I get going, pictures, and links to come I promise! Does this help to navigate the blog? Does it detract too much from the header above?

3. The tag cloud. Am I the only one out there who likes this? I've heard other bloggers mention their hate of it, but I like it for some reason. I guess because it shows all of my most common tags, and helps ME to find things on my site, plus I like how my most common tags are bigger than the rest. Does it help you? I moved it to the bottom of the page, so its less distracting. Is it too useless there?

4. Products we love. I've seen this on a lot of blogs, and thought it would certainly apply to mine too. This is a widget available through amazon, and who doesn't love amazon! They've got everything, which is why I thought it would be a useful application to have. Do you guys like it, love it, or leave it?

Any feedback on these questions would be greatly appreciated. See something else you like, or dislike? Let us know about that too please! Feel free to leave your feedback as a comment, or just shoot us an email. We'd love to hear from you, bark back at us so we know you're out there.

Pooches and pumpkins

2010-10-29T13:04:00.000-07:00


This pumpkin is awesome! But not quite what I meant with the title...

ah ha! now that's more like it...

Did you know that pumpkin is good for your dogs (and cats) digestion? Interestingly enough, pumpkin can aid a dogs digestive tract in a variety of ways. Always be sure to use canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling- the sugar in pumpkin pie filling would be too much for a dog.

Canned pumpkin is great for dogs with an upset stomach/diarrhea because the large amounts of fiber will help absorb extra water in the stool and keep things solid. Keep in mind that anytime your dog or cat is having diarrhea they should be monitored carefully. Dehydration is one of the biggest risks, so be sure to provide fresh water at all times, and do your best to monitor your dogs water intake. If you think your dog has stopped drinking completely, its time for a visit to your vet. Administered under the skin, subcutaneous fluids (sub-q fluids) may be necessary is some cases when a dog has stopped drinking to ensure they stay hydrated enough to continue feeling better.

Yet pumpkin also works wonders on dogs who are having the opposite problem- constipation. A few tablespoons should be all it takes for most dogs. A lot of dogs (mine included) will eat pumpkin just mixed in with their regular food. Other dogs may be more picky, and prefer to have it mixed in with rice and a bit of browned meat to make it more palatable.

I've always used pumpkin with great results myself, and knew a breeder who swore by it.What are your thoughts and opinions?

Halloween Safety for Dogs

2010-10-26T10:52:00.000-07:00

Holidays stir up memories of good times, family & friends, and lots of food. For people, holidays are something to look forward to and enjoy. But for pets, a few precautions may need to be taken to ensure they can join in on the festivities too. (Think scary fireworks on 4th of July, and being bombarded with strange house guests on Thanksgiving)

1. Supervision: Halloween is not the best time of year to leave your dog outside alone and unattended. He could be victim to a prank, or worse yet he could be stolen. If you have a cat, especially a black one they should be kept indoors as well. Halloween is a time of year when many pets go missing, take extra care to make sure that your beloved pet isn't one of them.

2. Sweets: While candy and chocolates are a great reminder of Halloween for us, they should NEVER be shared or given to your dog. Most pet owners already know chocolate contains chemicals that are toxic to dogs, and sugar in general is not meant for the canine belly. Better to save the sweets for yourself, this is one thing Fido will thank you for not sharing.

3. Decorations: Glass decorations on a coffee table certainly are pleasing to the eye, but easily fall prey to an overly excited wagging tail. Keep all breakables up off of ground level, and ensure your candy stash for trick- o-treaters is safely out of reach of both children and pets who may over indulge themselves.


Mums are a fall favorite- they are also non toxic to dogs

4. Halloween night: Keep a special eye on your pets during trick or treating hours
because the frequent opening of the door presents an easy opportunity for them to escape. Some pets do not handle strangers at the door well, and would be more comfortable to be kenneled during this period.

Scooter in a "puppy pen"- 2 mo.

5. Costume wearing dogs: Some dogs would love wearing a costume and enjoy the attention they'd receive in one, while other dogs might feel scared and nervous in a costume. To see how your dog reacts try a bandanna. If you find your dog might not be the costume wearing type try a decorative collar instead.

What works for you and your pet during the holiday seasons? Who out there is planning on dressing up their dogs?

Happy Halloween!

We have a winner!

2010-10-25T14:44:00.000-07:00

The winner of our $40 CSN gift card is:

Jim

Congratulations to Jim who said he'd use the gift card toward a personal fireplace from CSN stores. I'll be contacting via email with the gift card details.

Thank you to all who entered!!

Lovely Mutts

2010-10-19T14:14:00.000-07:00

As promised last week, we're doing a photo montage for the love of mutts. Who doesn't love mutts? They're so endearing...

Benjamin (wirehair/terrier)

Odi (pug/Boston terrier)

Tony (boxer mix)

Courtesy of Racheal Zatovich

Maya (chihuahua mix)

Piglet (doberman/pittbull)

Skye (wolf hybrid)

If you haven't already, enter our giveaway contest for a chance to win a gift card to CSN stores here. Open through this Sunday October 24th

Now you're turn, tell us a little about the mutt that you love....

Bark back at us!

Enter for your chance to win

2010-10-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

We haven't done a giveaway in awhile now...so this week, we're working in cooperation with CSN stores to giveaway a $40 gift card to one lucky reader. They have everything on this site, and I'm not exaggerating when I say everything. You can shop in your pajamas for some new dog toys for your pooch, to a new dining set for your dining room and anything in between. (I really like the shop in your pj's option- it's definitely my style!)

I've been browsing the site for awhile now prior to posting so I'd have a good idea myself of what they have. Because they offer so many items for so many different uses and rooms in the home its taken me awhile, but here are some of my favorites that I've found.

I've been wanting one of these elevated feeders for Bear for a long time now. They come in all shapes and sizes, but this one is really sleek looking, and would even match our decor!

I've also had my eye on one of these dog packs for awhile now too. I like that when you're hiking or camping your dog can be responsible for toting their own food. Plus I think the extra weight might help Bear loose a few pounds on our walk as well- extra bonus!

And Scooter is in need of a better harness. We've got one that works- but its not ideal. The harness we have is actually made for rabbits- its the only one small enough that had the mesh like I wanted that I could find in stores. This one looks a lot better- and is made for a dog's body- definite plus there!

But if I had to pick something for me and my fiance to enjoy, this awesome fire pit would be right at the top of my list. Since we've just recently relocated we've got a place with a yard now, we've really been enjoying spending more time outdoors. You'd find me dining al fresco every night the weather cooperated if I had one of these to keep me warm!

Now onto the important details:

To enter the contest, just leave us a comment on this post. One comment per person please. Go visit CSN stores and check out their huge array of products, then come back here, let me know what you'd choose if you won, and leave your email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. That's all. Easy as pie right? We'll be choosing a winner randomly next Sunday October 24th and posting an update on the blog to congratulate our winner.

*Bonus second entry*
Since I know you all reaaallly wanna win this gift card, you can get a second entry by "liking" our facebook page (just search shespeaksbark). And what if you already like us on facebook? Don't worry, you'll be entered twice automatically just by commenting on this post. So like us already, we like you! : D

For the love of Pomeranians

2010-10-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

After last post about Scooter's recent star status, and browsing around at Pomeranian photos online I thought a tribute to all things Pomeranian was in order. I just wanted to share some of my favorite photos, that really capture why I love this breed (that I never thought I would). Before Scooter my next dog was going to be a great dane...hah, guess we put the kabosh on that for awhile!

"I eatz in the bowl"


This is what we call the "monkey stage" halfway between puppy and adult coat

Poms are always so happy and joyful-one of the best characteristics of the breed.

That's the "Pom Smile" that I love! (littlepawz.com)

But poms are also really good at being lazy snuggle bugs (goodhousekeeping.com)

And making silly faces (http://benguet.inetgiant.com)

And this gorgeous chocolate pup is just such a looker! (thecoolpuppy.com)

Next week, in honor of Bear, we'll do a "Tribute to mutts" (my other favorite "breed")

Scooter's a star

2010-10-13T20:28:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite dog loving photographer friends sent me this link the other day. I immediately saw it said "Pomeranian" so I thought it would be a cute/funny video she was sharing. Imagine my surprise when the page opens and I scroll down to see this gorgeous face......

Check him out in all his glory here. Turns out getting a flickr account is something I might need to look into. Someone was browsing pomeranian photos and found this on her flickr account and emailed asking permission for use. Thanks to her generous "yes" Scooter's face is plastered on the Pomeranian page for all to see.

Wanna know more about my dog lovin' photographer friend? Check out her dog blog here, and her photography blog here. These are a few of my favorite photos of hers, just a sampling of the beauty you'll see.

All above photos are copyright of Jaderbug Photography

Flexi Leash Review

2010-10-11T19:08:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was contacted by Jackie from Flexi Lead. She asked if we'd like to try out a Flexi lead of our choice and write a review of the product after using it awhile. I was so excited- of course we would! With just moving to a new state, we're still exploring a lot with the dogs to find the best places that all the locals know about. We've found several really dog friendly parks where the expectation is for all dogs to be off-leash. This was a new experience for us-we actually got asked if Bear was aggressive because he was on the leash. Um no, that's why he's wagging and greeting you excitedly....

Our new flexi leash- Bear looks so dashing in green

So we're planning to test out the new leash in a state park that's fairly close. Dogs are allowed but only when leashed, thus a perfect scenario for our trial. We already have a small retractable leash for Scooter, because with his disabled legs, its been helpful to allow him to walk a bit behind us at a slightly slower pace and still feel included.

My initial reactions: What I love about this leash is that it's quiet. Unlike those cheap-o retractable leashes sold in non-pet related stores, this one doesn't give off that annoying clicking noise while the line is being pulled out, nor does it grind when you push the "stop" button to avoid the release of any additional line. Its got a great rubber gripper that is easier on the hands than the standard plastic casing you usually find. But my hands down favorite thing about it is how solid it feels. I know if I drop this leash on the ground it won't break in two halves (that's happened to me before with crappy retractables- not the most pleasant experience) I was impressed with the variety of colors that Flexi offers as well. When flipping through their brochure I saw colors ranging from pink to black and everywhere in between- gotta love those options!

Final thoughts: Great product, they seriously have a leash (and color) out there that's fit for any breed of dog you might happen to own. Their brochure was spectacular and thorough, reminding me more of a new car brochure that dealerships give out than a brochure for a retractable leash. I was so impressed with the professionalism and attention to detail I received from the company. Jackie who initially contacted me dropped me an email during the testing process to make sure things were going well and that I didn't need anything further from her. She was so thorough in her first email and with the info she sent with the leash that I really couldn't ask for anything more!

In the market for a new leash? Check out what Flexi has to offer! And even if you think you aren't in the market for a new leash, check 'em out, I guarantee they'll change your mind!

DIY "cruncher toys"

2010-10-02T18:34:00.000-07:00

I've been really into crafting, refinishing, and making things lately. But instead of focusing on just what I wanted for me, or my home I decided I'd better include the dogs in the fun too.

Lately they've been horrible with their toys, ripping them apart and leaving an awful stuffing mess to pick up. We needed to try something new. Bears favorite toy, and the only one who remains un-maimed after 8 whole years (that's gotta be a record of some kind!) is his snake toy that has a squeaker in the head. I figured the shape of a snake would be easy for me to make, and since I knew it was a desirable shape I just went with that for starters.

Supplies you'll need:

sewing machine, or needle and thread

fleece fabric

rotary cutter or fabric scissors

newspaper strips for stuffing


The finished product

To start I just cut the basic shape of a snake out of my two pieces of fleece. I didn't use a pattern of any sort, that's the great thing about dogs- they're not too judgmental. I used scraps of fleece I had leftover from another project making this a really affordable as well.

Starting at the tail end of the snake I sewed up the long side, around then head and back down the other long side, leaving that last 3 inches of the tail un-sewed. I then flipped the snake inside out so that the rough edges were on the inside and hidden. I took strips of newspaper, and twisted them stuffing them inside the snake as I went. There are no right or wrongs here, just however much fits or when you feel like you're ready to be done stuffing. I didn't stuff mine too full, so that it still had a nice crunching sounds to it.

Mini man tried running off with the snake before I had it completely sewed shut.

Then Stella decided it was her turn. She really liked the crunching sound it made.

and when Bear finally got his turn, he even let Scooter share.

This toy even had a "cool factor" with the cat, so I'd say it was a hit.

Ok Go! + dogs = awesome video

2010-09-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

Ok Go doing one of their awesomely coordinated videos again, this time with highly trained dogs added to the mix!

Bee-eating dogs

2010-09-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

What possesses a dog to try to catch and eat bees? I've never understood, and probably don't want to. That has never stopped Bear from trying to take a crunch out of the nearest buzzing bee- in fact my reprimands when he does so only seem to egg him on.

Major bee "hunter"

He hates bees, and at this point intentionally seeks them out. At first, he would just snap at a bee when it buzzed past his face, pretty harmless until the day he actually caught one. He was stung of course in his mouth before spitting it out, but did he learn his lesson...no! He was back at it with enhanced drive the very same afternoon. His worst sting was actually a bee he surprisingly did not mean to encounter at all, he stepped on it while it was busy on a clover flower. His poor foot swelled up and he limped around for 2 days while the swelling went down.

But at least he didn't eat an entire hive of bees like this dog. VPI pet insurance has a VPI Hambone Award that they give out each year. Each month an "interesting/unusual" claim is selected by VPI employees and added to the list of selections. Ellie, the bee-eating dog has been featured on Rachel Ray among other shows, and is quite the star now- surely she deserves it after the misery that must be associated with eating a bee hive.

The "Hambone Award" the really fun and silly award that you really don't want your pet to be the winner of!

Does anyone out there have insurance for their pets? Has it been worth it for you? I've heard of Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), and have done some research into their various policies. I haven't purchased any myself due to (lack of) funding reasons, but I do keep checking back with them on their website.

Pet insurance is a fairly new option available for pet owners. The first I'd heard of it is when Progressive Auto insurance started covering pets who were injured in car accidents, Nationwide and a few other companies now have this policy as well. But to purchase insurance for your pets health concerns is recent, and a neat idea. You can customize a policy for your needs to cover things like: emergency surgery, cancer treatments, vaccines, and regular office visits which I think is pretty neat.

If you insure your pets, leave us a comment. We'd love to know what prompted your decision, and how things have gone for you thus far.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-08T08:53:00.000-07:00

Wet-weekend fun

2010-08-22T06:23:00.000-07:00

So. Its been awhile between posts. I'm really sorry- in my defense things have been crazy busy in our world lately. We're in process of moving to Kansas; half of us there, and half of us here is making things difficult as far as posting goes. Not to mention, Bear has been visiting his grandparents, and has been less than available for the usual photo-ops.

Not to worry though, we have a lot of fun in the works. This weekend, we visited the farm to play with German short-hair Stella.You may remember her from our past posts, she usually looks a little something like this....

She's a busy gal, but the boys have SO much fun with her.

They go swimming, while Stella hunts frogs, and Bear always has to have a good roll after wards.


Pure bliss

Scooter sporting the "drowned rat" look

A treat convinced Stella to sit still for her close up...

Even somehow convinced them all to stay still in the same moment- Stella even remembered to smile!

We've also been visiting a lot with doggie-friend Ruthie, (you might remember her from our healthy Kong recipe post) so we'll have pictures of their adventures, and our very first video to follow.

Heads Up: Dog Days of Summer

2010-08-10T12:57:00.000-07:00

The boys and I were browsing the paper this past weekend and discovered that Petco stores will be hosting a "Dog Days of Summer" event this upcoming weekend August 14th and 15th. Just wanted to share the info for anyone who might be out and about this weekend with canines in tow!

A visit to your local Petco store between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM will score your pooch a free Pegetables treat. We've tried them once, both boys loved 'em. Other than that, I can't say much about them, but you can try one out for free if you're interested. We'll be busy moving cross-state from Iowa to Kansas or we'd be stopping in ourselves. Perhaps if we see a Petco on our way, we'll have to stop for a little pit stop and a pegetable.

Update: One person had asked if this is just a midwest thing since I found the original ad in my local paper. Answer appears to be no, that this is a nation-wide thing. I found several local papers mentioning it (online) and several coupon and giveaway blogs mentioning it too.

Scootie's excited....

2010-08-06T16:03:00.000-07:00

because tomorrow he gets to go to the Farmers Market!

We're going home to visit family, and they've got a wonderful farmers market in town thats 10x the size of our little local one. We always look forward to a visit, because there is SO much more to do and see.

Didju say we're going to the farmers market!?!

Scooter loves visiting the farmers market because:

1. everyone pets him and ooh's and ahh's over him
(he feels like a big deal)

2. he gets to meet lots of other friendly pets
(last time we saw 4 other poms!)

3. he loves all the sights and sounds
(especially the live music)

4.everyone is always friendly

I love it because its such wonderful socialization for him, and carrying him around always sparks up a conversation with someone (usually many someones), so I guess its good socialization for me too!

Hey ma!? Can baa-baa come too?

What are your plans for the weekend? Anyone else visit the farmers market regularly with their pups?

Perfect Pooch Traveling Tips

2010-08-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

When they hear my car keys jingle, both of my boys perk up their ears and sit at attention, hoping they’re allowed to join on the ride. My dogs LOVE the car. We don’t even say “that word” in our house unless we really mean it. Because if we do say it and don’t follow through, there are always two very little pathetically “left-out” faces to attend to when we get home.

Unfortunately though, some dogs have quite the opposite feeling about car rides, and I have friends with dogs who will literally run in the other direction to avoid the experience. There are two main reasons that dogs don’t like riding in cars: some dogs are simply scared of the process, while others get physically sick. Luckily, I’ll be able to discuss some work a round’s for both causes.

Many dogs are anxious in the car because the only time the get to go for a ride is when they’re going somewhere scary, like the vet or a boarding kennel. If this sounds like you, try first by taking your dog for a short trip somewhere fun: a creek down the road, or a nice open field to run. Give lots of treats upon arrival, and once you get back home.

If your dog is an anxious passenger:

Slow and steady wins the race. Try taking short little jaunts around the block before venturing outside your neighborhood. A few very short (and good) experiences in the car can make a world of difference for a nervous dog.
Chamomile is another great homeopathic remedy to try. Chamomile works to soothe anxious dogs and helps them to relax in a situation that normally makes them uncomfortable.

If your dog gets sick in the car, try these tips:

Hold off on feeding your dog at least 2 hours prior to a car ride
Cut off their access to water at least an hour prior to traveling
Ginger is actually a homeopathic remedy that has been proven to help with carsickness in people and dogs. Try giving a half capsule about a half hour before your planned departure to soothe your pup’s stomach.

With a little practice and patience, even the most nervous dog can begin to work towards being a perfect pooch passenger. If you're interested in tips on keeping your dogs safe while in the car you might like this article from the ASPCA.

Raincoat Re-Fashion

2010-07-30T08:36:00.000-07:00

Several months ago, I was browsing the dollar section at Target and found this hideous little raincoat perfectly sized for Scooter. Since it was only a dollar, of course I bought it. I have been meaning to work on sprucing it up, and covering up the plainer parts by re-fashioning the coat myself.

I hated all the details from the original rain coat, from the blue runner ribbon that wasn't even long enough to fit around Scoot's belly, to the awkward hood that wouldn't lay flat and was always in the way. The first thing I had to fix was the hood, so I fixed it to stay in place using a tiny piece of Velcro on the back of the hood, that's completely hidden when its laying flat now.

The coat originally had an ugly blue ribbon that wrapped around but didn't even come close to being able to fit around any sort of dog I've seen. Scooter weighs in at a whopping 4 lbs, and there was no way that ribbon was going to reach around his little belly. I decided to jazz it up using this decorative black floral swirl ribbon I picked up at hobby lobby awhile back.

I spent less than $3 on this raincoat. The coat itself was only $1 and the roll of ribbon was a bit over $2 (but I didn't use much, and have nearly the whole roll left). I really like having various coats for Scooter, he almost never has an occasion to wear them, but its a great way for me to practice creating different things, and get in some time with my sewing machine. We've shared our coat making experiences before, remember this post?

And coincidentally, its torentially raining outside today, so we'll be breaking out the new coat just in time.

Keepin' it Cool

2010-07-25T12:11:00.000-07:00

After doing a bit of research and blog browsing, I've found some unique ideas for cooling down a hot dog in this summer heat, and thought I'd share:

1. I found someone who suggested freezing a hand towel over night, and then using it underneath your dog on the seat to keep them cool for the first 15 minutes of a car ride when the AC is working towards its full potential. I see this being a useful tip, but only if a freezer is readily available. For those traveling and staying in a hotel or motel room this one might not be an option.

2. There is also a new(er) product that acts as a cooling band for dogs. It looks like a regular bandanna, but is filled with special crystal polymers that hold water for a lot longer than regular fabric. This helps to keep your pooch cool and comfortable. Has anyone ever tried these? I'm intrigued, and may pursue this for a product review- if they work as well as they say my boy Bear would be a lot better off in life!

3. Have you ever noticed during the summer that your pups feet seem sore when walking on cement? That cement gets hot, and just like our feet, dogs have sensitive paws. I use a paw cream on our dogs to help keep their pads in good condition and have seen great results by doing so. I also found a little suggestion saying that using rubbing alcohol on your dogs paws can help cool them down and provide some instant heat relief. The suggestion said to use a cotton ball to apply the alcohol to paws and toes. This isn't something I've tried yet, but its my new favorite cool down trick that I can't wait to try.

4. An obvious one, water, and lots of it, and preferably in amounts you can wade and slosh in.

Or your dog can take a hint from Scooter, and take up knee boarding :D

5. One of my favorite summer travel tips is to keep a cooler with ice cubes in the back seat of your car. I keep a small water dish handy and am able to dole out ice cubes when the panting in the backseat gets un-bearable. (My backseat doesn't have any air vents : ( so it takes longer than most cars to cool the back, where the boys sit, and this ice cube trick has saved us more than once!)
-Side note: Some breeds of dogs that are prone to bloat should not be allowed to eat ice. In this case, my dogs only lick the ice to keep cool. If your dog is prone to bloat, better skip this tip for a safer option.

Hey all you other dog owners out there, what brilliant "keep cool" tricks do you use with your pups?

Bark Back at Us!

Wordless Wednesday- Pup Pop Art

2010-07-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

Pup Pop Art inspired by Pop Art Pet and pet portraits by Andy Warhol.

Wait..what's that in Dog Years?!

2010-07-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

Recently, we've been discussing our boy Bear and how old he's getting. He seems to be aging faster these days, which is a hard reality to come to. That's got us to thinking, if he's 8 in our years, how old is he really in dog years?

We all have heard the saying that 1 human year = 7 dog years. While that used to be the rule of thumb, better science has taught us that might not be as accurate as we once assumed. Just like humans, dogs age at different rates depending on their stage of life. For instance, the difference between a 1 and 2 year old toddler is much more incredible than the difference between and 20 and 21 year old adult. So it only makes sense that this idea would apply to dogs too.

Not to mention that we all know smaller dogs tend to live longer than their large/giant breed counterparts. So the rule of 1/7 year ratio doesn't really apply well in this case either. I decided a little research was in order...and TA DA- lookie what I found!

*I found this image on a dog site I like, called Dogster.com. They borrowed the image from the Dog Owners Manual published by Quirk Books. I'm just sharing the info I found*

This. chart. is. amazing. Not only is it really accurate, they've done a wonderful job of displaying the information to include a range of sizes from a tiny chihuahua all the way up to a great dane.

According to this new chart:

Bear: 8 human years= 66 dog years

Scooter: 2 human years= 24 dog years

That's all I've got for now, hope you all enjoy!

Traveling with Dogs

2010-07-14T16:34:00.000-07:00

Lately in our household, we've been making a concious effort to include our dogs in as many activities as possible. They've been joining us both on small trips to the grocery store, as well as lengthier cross-state trips recently, which got me to thinking I should post some tips on traveling with dogs.

When preparing for a lengthy trip with the boys, the first thing I always do is write up a list of their essentials. A basic list might look something like this:

1. dog food for X amt. of days
2. good fitting collar and leash per dog
3. food and water dishes
4. baggie of treats
5. each dogs favorite toy
6. poop pick up bags
7. gallon jug of water (easier than always finding a spigot when you stop)
8. any daily medications your dog needs
I stash everything in a re-usable grocery bag to make things easier on me when I'm searching for something the dogs need during one of our stops.

I tend to keep a lot of dog related products in my car all the time anyway. I always have a lint roller, extra leashes, a water bottle, and a few treats stashed away somewhere. For longer trips I like to "makeover" the car a bit, to make things a little more dog friendly. We have a dog bed that fits perfectly across my backseat, so thats usually my first step- as a way of avoiding as much free floating hair in the car as possible.

For our most recent long trip to Kansas we packed a cooler with us. This turned out to make things a lot easier when we were watering the dogs and trying to keep them cool (it was in the 90's our entire trip). We kept the dogs water bottles cold in the cooler for our pit stops, and provided them ice cubes in a dish while we were actually driving in the car. Bear is hot, ALL the time, so keeping him cool is our biggest challenge when traveling with the dogs. We end up leaving our car running a lot, with the AC pumping to ensure he stays comfortable.

I even looked into getting little window screens for the car to provide some shade, you know the ones that people plaster on their windows to prevent kids from getting sunburn? I had less than spectacular luck finding something that wasn't pink and purple or with Whinnie the Pooh pictures everywhere, so I've momentarily given up on that front, although I'm sure there is some sort of basic window screen out there. I'll be back with more information on this.

On our trip we made an effort to stop at rest areas or gas stations with an open lot next to them. After we'd filled up the car and taken care of our needs, it made for an easy jaunt to a patch of grass for the boys to relieve themselves, stretch their legs, and get a drink before packing up to hit the road again. I always keep the boys on a leash, so that they don't disturb other patrons, or get too near any busy roads. Due to our last trip being cross-state, I also double checked the ID tags on their collars and made sure I had a copy of their microchip number in my wallet.

Traveling with dogs is a blast, and its not too much extra work with just a few of the precautions above. So now I'm wondering, what do you readers do to prepare for a trip with your dogs? Any great tips for other readers (and me!) that you've developed over the years?

Bark Back at Us!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-07T20:58:00.000-07:00

Free Treats for Year? What's that you say?!?

2010-07-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

I found an advertisement in a magazine yesterday that was promoting a contest to win free dog treats for a year.

Entry is free, you just have to provide a valid email address and fill out a {short} survey on your dog treat preferences: the types you buy, the amounts, where you buy them and why.

If you'd like to enter on behalf of your pooch hop on over to www.DADSpetfood.com/treatad to enter today.

Good luck!

How to: Deal with rough puppy play

2010-06-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

Well folks, I've finally gotten around to posting another "real post". I feel like I've been posting a lot of fun things lately with our giveaway contest, product review, and fun photos, so I hope you enjoy an informative post for a change!

Handling a puppy who's constantly nipping and biting can become frustrating very fast. Not only is this a behavior you want to discourage as soon as possible due to future implications, but ouch it hurts! Those little puppy teeth are always sharp.

Some of the best tips I've learned to deal with this rough play involve thinking, and behaving as if you're another puppy.

Tip # 1 Squeal! (this works well for kids)
Try this when a puppy nips or bites at you. Squeal or shriek in a high pitched voice. OUCH! or any other word will do, its the pitch that matters here.
Why it works: Your high pitched voice is reminiscent of another puppy in pain. This communicates to your biting puppy that she's biting too hard, and better back off.

Tip # 2 Pinch gently- and I do mean gently, we're not trying to cause any pain here!
Why it works: Not only does this distract your nipping puppy from his current (bad) behavior, but its not comfortable for him either, leaving him less inclined to take a taste next time around.

Tip # 3 "Ah-Ah"
Why it works: Ah-Ah should be said quickly and authoritatively. Its important to sound like you're the boss, and serious. Mainly, this works as a distraction technique, to get your pups mind onto something else.

Tip # 4 Replacement options

Why it works: When your puppy is teething, its a very natural response for him to want/need things to chew on. Buy toys with different shapes and textures to provide a variety of things for your pup to gnaw on. When your puppy becomes excited and nippy, promptly replace your hand with one of his toys.

Puppy nipping and biting behaviours are something that most dogs grow out of as they age. You can help reduce the length of time your puppy is in this "stage" by reacting appropriately to the behavior, and giving your puppy a better option to chew on (like one of his own toys).

Anyone have other tips and tricks that have worked with fiesty puppies? Be sure to leave us a comment to share!

(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

The sun finally came out, so we finally got to play

Bear had a good roll in the warm grass.

Scooter found a little hidey-hole

Cool down session

Someone needed a little help getting out when we were done

At the end of the day we all trudged home exhausted

We have a winner!

2010-06-23T12:30:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who entered our VERY FIRST giveaway contest!

A winner has been drawn....and reader Jill Fox will be recieving a complimentary 60-day supply of Teddy's Pride to try out at her home on her pets.

Congrats Jill, and thank you for entering! Send us an email with your home address and we'll have Teddy's ship your prize out to you directly. And of course, enjoy!

Tune in next month for our second product giveaway contest.

Give-Away Reminder

2010-06-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder, we will be hosting our Teddy's Pride product giveaway contest for 2 more days.

If you haven't already entered, or know someone who hasn't, be sure to send us an email at
shespeaksbark@yahoo.com and tell us why you'd love to try the product.

We will be choosing and announcing our winner on Tuesday.

Enter our VERY FIRST product give-away contest!

2010-06-15T06:03:00.000-07:00

We're excited! Did you hear, today is our VERY FIRST product give-away?! Enter our week-long contest today for your chance at winning a 60-day supply of Teddy's Pride pet teeth cleaner.

If you've never heard of Teddy's Pride, check out my introduction to the product here, and our review of the product here, or hop on over to Teddy's Site for more info.

To enter:

1. Send an email to: shespeaksbark@yahoo.com

- Include your name and a brief reason why you'd love to try the product.

- Optional: include a photo of your furry friend - we'd love to see your pets too!

Entries will be accepted from Tuesday June 15th through Tuesday June 22nd. One entry per person please.

Good luck, and as always, Bark Back at us!

A winner will be chosen by their email address at random. As entries are submitted, each entrants email address will be recorded so at the end of the contest we can choose one lucky winner. Be sure to add shespeaksbark@yahoo.com to your address book, as we'll be notifying the winner via email. Teddy's Pride will mail the prize directly, so the winner will be asked to provide their mailing address at the end of the contest.

Teddy's Pride Final Review

2010-06-12T06:20:00.000-07:00

Well the pups of SheSpeaksBark have finally finished off their tub of Teddy's Pride Teeth Cleaner. So we're officially ready for our review. I decided to use the entire tub before posting our results in order to get the most accurate review possible.

Teddy's Pride is said to:

work naturally using probiotics to improve breath, and clean teeth
have no taste or odor- meaning the pickiest of eaters can still enjoy it
work for both cats and dogs
have noticeable improvement within a week when used according to pkg directions

For more information, check out our introductory post, or Teddy's website directly.

I must admit, I think the product worked better for Bear than it did for Scooter. I noticed a huge improvement in the condition of Bears teeth, and some improvement on Scooters but not as much as I had hoped. That being said, Pomeranians are notorious for bad teeth, so I'm not ruling out the fact that Scooters breed may have been a factor in these results.

Bear's teeth after Teddy's Review:

Only a tiny bit of tartar near the gums- look at those suckers sparkle!

Final thoughts:

For an 8 year old dog, Bear's teeth look incredible! We had a vet appt for their annual shots and rabies boosters a week before the review was set to end. Bears vet gushed over his teeth, telling me how spectacular they looked, she didn't believe me that he was eight! Needless to say, I was one proud mamma!

I plan to continue adding Teddy's Pride in the boys' food regularly, as well as continuing to brush their teeth when we do their regular grooming (I really should do it more, but I'm trying to set some realistic goals here!)

Overall, I give Teddy's Pride a 4 out of 5 stars

Added bonus: The nice people from Teddy's Pride have offered to do a give-away of a 60 day supply of their product to one lucky reader! I'll be hosting a contest next Tuesday that you can enter for your chance to be that lucky reader- mark your calendars and be sure to drop by and enter!