Friday, December 28, 2012

One Dog's Christmas

Holy Santa Paws Batman!!! What a wonderful Christmas this was at my house.  As you can see from the photo, I hit the jackpot this year on toys and I also got a bunch of treats including a BIG box of my favorite cookies!

One of the gifts I got this year that I never got before was an antler. (That's what I am chewing on in the photo).  My Dad is a woodsman so we have moose antlers in our rock garden that he found and some deer antlers too.  But they are for decoration so I never thought they would be okay for dogs to chew.

Boy, was I wrong!  I am so glad Santa Paws brought me an antler for Christmas this year.  They are almost like the marrow bones Dad brings me from the humans' food store, but not quite.  Antlers are great to chew on.  They are good for my teeth and gums and they last forever.  They are made of protein which I understand is a good thing for dogs to eat.  They also come in all sizes so any dog from a tiny Chihuahua to a huge Bernese Mountain dog can have an antler that is just the right size for them.

I found out that good antlers are found all around in woods, just like the moose antlers Dad found that he put in the garden.  The antlers from deer, moose and elk fall off in the fall and if humans find them before the mice and other rodents gnaw them down, they make great chew toys for dogs.

Antlers that are found like that are all natural and the animals are still alive to grow new antlers in the spring.  Since antlers are all natural, there are no dyes or preservatives in them.  They don't chip or splinter when they are new.  And they don't get stinky they way marrow bones can get.  "Stinky" in humans' minds anyway.  I actually like the scent of a "aged" marrow bone.  And a little bit of dirt doesn't hurt the aging process.

Anyway, I hope you all had a great Christmas.  I'd love to know what your favorite Christmas gift was.

Happy New Year,

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S. Shameless self promotion -- for some really awesome pet gifts, check out http://laurelmtbasket.com/index.php/store/category/pet-gifts-and-baskets





Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Can We Talk?


Dogs and humans have different communication styles. It is quite obvious how different they are when Mom and I go to the dog park.  When we meet others coming up the path, we dogs circle and smell each other and then decide if we want to play together.  Humans say “hello” and decide if they want to stop and talk.

Dogs and human communicate with each other too.  Lots of that communication is by body language. When Mom stands with her feet apart and her hands on her hips when she looks at me, I know she is not happy about something I did. When I push my bowl against the wall, it means I want to eat.  I know they know what I mean cuz they usually say, “It’s not time yet”.

Sometimes it’s not what Mom says but how she says it. “Zeva” and “ZE VA” mean very different things and I know the difference.

But dogs are smarter than some people think.  We can understand spoken language very well.  I know some dogs who understand the same words in more than one language.  Mostly we associate words with objects. One thing Mom had to be very careful of when I was a puppy was to use the same word every time.  She couldn’t say “fetch” one time and “get it” the next time cuz I would get confused.

My Mom talks to me all the time. I like it when does.  It makes me feel important and loved.  She tells me where we are going and what we are going to do.  She tells me about work and the people she knows. She asks my opinion about lots of things too.  Dad laughs because one of Mom’s favorite things to say to me is “What are you thinking?”

It’s not just the sound of my Mom’s voice that I respond to.  I understand lots of the words. Just because I can’t say them, doesn’t mean I don’t know what they mean. The average dog can learn the meaning of around 165 human words.  A smart dog, like a border collie, can lean 250 words or more.  That is about as many words as a human who is two years old can understand.

One of the first words I learned was Zeva. That was probably the first word I learned because it is a very important word.  Some of my favorite words are:  cookie, toy, and dog park.  “What’s in your bowl?”  means I’m getting a special treat like chicken or eggs and “Do you want to help?” means one of the humans is going somewhere and I can go with them.

I’d love to know what some of your favorite words are.

Your friend,

Zeva

Blatant self promotion: The Holidays are coming and this year we've added several new designs to our collection.  The new Santa Paws Gift Basket is one of my favorites.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Santa Paws' Helper


At Laurel Mountain Basket Co we're designing new gift baskets for the upcoming Holiday Season.  I love this time of year cuz as Product Tester for the Pet Division,I get to find and test all the new toys and treats before we order them for our Holiday gift baskets.

I've already found some sweet new toys in the catalogs that we just have to try.  I've also been searching on line for new and interesting gift ideas.  I found some really exciting things but I think they would blow my budget big time.
 
Don't know how I would justify ordering any I Love Dogs 52- carat Diamond Dog Collars at $1.8 million or Dog Tiaras at $4.2 million.  I think I would look stunning in the collar and I know my cousin Sophie would love the Tiara.  She likes to dress up fancy.

All the dogs I know like to roll in dead stuff so I don't think Les Pooch V.I.P. Dog Parfum at $3,000 would be a good match for our clientele or the Louis XV Pet Pavilion dog bed at $23,990 either since we like sleeping on our humans' beds.

However, I was impressed with the dog houses I saw.  Our friends at Kanes Krusaders are building houses for dogs who have to live outside but I don't think they are as fancy as the Super Dog House with a plasma T.V. and SPA that costs $410,825.  I also saw Paris Hilton's dogs' houses that have heating and air conditioning and something called a crystal chandelier. Rachel Hunter's dog's house has running water too.

No, we're going to keep making our gift baskets with fun toys and yummy treats and leave the fru fru stuff and bling for another day.

Don't forget when you write your letter to Santa Paws, make sure you let him know which of our gift baskets you want this year.

Your friend,

Zeva

Friday, October 26, 2012

FRANKENSTORM

Mom keeps watching the Weather Channel.  I don't know why. It is beautiful outside. The sun is shining and it's warm for late October in New England.  She says she's watching the progress of Hurricane Sandy.

Hurricanes are not good things to have but there are certain things that can make a regular hurricane even scarier. It has to do with weather patterns. (yawn)  Anyway, last year.... I don't know how it happened but we had a big snow storm in October which is way too early for snow. The storm made the electric lines fall down and we didn't have lights or heat for 5 days!

The news people are saying that Hurricane Sandy could be like that storm we had last year.

I don't know why Mom is worried.  We are prepared.  We bought me a big bag of dog food last week and we have lots of bottled water and two boxes of cookies.  We also went to the human food store and got canned food like tuna fish (I love tuna fish juice!!) and other stuff that doesn't need to be cooked.  She also made sure we had a hand held can opener. I love the sound of a can opener, don't you?

Mom says that in the 20 years she has lived in our house they have had some bad storms where there was no heat or lights.  One time, she couldn't even leave the house for three days cuz of all the snow and the trees were down across the roads.   It was in the middle of winter and it was very cold and very dark.  Those times were bad but not so bad that she had to leave our house and go somewhere else.

I'm not worried cuz Mom is smart and knows where we can go if it gets really, really bad.  There are places like schools and halls where people can go if they have no heat or lights and Mom knows about the one where people can bring their pets.

We always have emergency kits ready in case we need to leave our house.  There is one for Mom and Dad that has their important stuff and one for me.  We keep my emergency kit on the kitchen counter.  It's a pretty box where we keep all of my medical records, license and micro chip information.  I keep any meds I'm taking, like my heartworm pills in there too.  We can just grab that and my food, put it in my crate and take everything to the car.

Since I always wear my collar and tags, we don't need to think about making sure I have them on and Mom and Dad both have lots of photos of me on their cell phones so they have recent pictures if I get lost.

Today I am going to continue to lay in the sun and enjoy a beautiful Fall day in New England.  A man named Mark Twain said  "If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes" so if we do get a hurricane or blizzard next week, I'll just wait a minute and it will change.

In the mean time, it's best to be prepared.

Your prepared friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  Winter makes me think of the Holidays and Yappy Holidays!  is one of my very favorite gift baskets!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Better than Cookies!

I never thought I would think there was anything better than cookies but I would give up half of my cookies (maybe not exactly half) but some of my cookies if I could go to the dog park every day and have as much fun as I had today.

There are so many good things about the dog park that I go to.  First of all, it's seven acres which is really, really big.  We live in a place that my Mom calls "rural".  That means that there are more trees than people so our dog park has room to be really big.  It is so big that there can be lots and lots of dogs at the park but there are so many different trails that you only see one or two dogs at a time.

Another best thing about my dog park is that we get to be off leash.  I only wear my leash when I am going in or out of my car because there are lots of cars near ours.   Some times if Mom sees a dog that is shy, she will put my leash on so the other dog is not scared.  I don't know why anyone would be scared of me, but it happens.

When I do meet a dog that wants to play, most of the time our humans let us play together. Then Mom and I go on our way again until we meet another dog and I get to play with them. Not all dogs get to play but most of them do say hello before they have to run after their humans.

There is a river (not very deep) that runs along the side of the park and there are lots of places where the paths lead to beaches.  We always meet dogs who have been swimming.  May be next summer I'll try swimming but for now, I just like to run in the big fields and along the trails.

Today I met a lot of dogs and got to play with some of them.  Just before we left the park I met a Pitbull mix named Dakin.  He is only one years old and loves to run.  Mom and Dakin's dad talked for a long time so we got to play forever!  Dakin is a rescue dog too.  He got his name because he was born at the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society shelter.  I know where that is because Mom and I collect food and supplies to bring to the shelter all the time.

Mom says as long as the weather is nice, we can go back to the park. I hope we find more time to go again soon.  Any of you who go to the Northampton (Massachusetts) Dog Park at the old State Hospital grounds, let me know and maybe we can have a play date.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  After a nice day at the dog park, a bubbly bath and nice brushing are in order.  Our Spot's SPA Gift Basket  (shown) is perfect for such an occasion.



Sunday, October 14, 2012

Zeva The Dog An Autobiography

October is adopt a shelter dog month. I know lots of my friends are adopted, some as babies, some when they were older.  The one thing we all have in common is that we were lucky enough to choose the right humans to share our lives with.

Today I want to tell you my story.  My six litter mates and I were born in a shelter in South Carolina.  We were lucky.  Some nice person found my dog mom and took her to a no kill shelter where we were born.  When we were just 11 weeks old, we were put in a van and rode all the way to New England.

I don't remember much of the ride cuz I slept most of the way.  The ride was long and we got to ride with different people along the way.  Before we left South Carolina had our shots, were spay and neutered and had micro chips. When we got to New England, the two ladies who ran the rescue site took us to a vet and we got examined again.

Then the ladies took our pictures so we could go on PetFinders.com. That's where my Mom saw me.  She said the minute she saw my picture, she knew I had to come and live with her.  My name back then was Puff cuz I looked like a little ball of cotton and I didn't bark but made a little puffing sound. I bark now but sometimes I still like to puff.

My Mom and Dad lived far from where I was so they asked the nice lady who was taking care of me if she would please, please, please not adopt me to anyone else until they could come and get me.  It was good she made the lady promise because it took a couple of days for them to get to me and by then five of my litter mates were adopted.  It was just me and one brother left.

As soon as my Dad saw me, he said I had to come home with them,  he said it was love at first sight for him too. I think he was right.

When I saw the lady who was going to be my Mom, she looked so sad.  The two dog who lived in my house before me had just gone to Rainbow Bridge and she was very lonely.  I knew right then that I had to rescue her.  I am soooo glad I did.

Mom, Dad and me make a good team. Now all of us try to help other humans adopt shelter dogs so they won't be sad or lonely either.

If you were adopted, I'd love to hear how you found your humans.

Your rescued friend,
Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self promotion.  One of my favorite Laurel Mountain Basket Co gift baskets, Dogs In Toyland cuz a dog can never have too many toys.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Harvard, Yale or Podunk State?

So, you’re thinking of getting a dog?  Great… I think every dog should have a good home but that doesn’t mean I think every home should have a dog.

I don’t want to see any dog have to live in a puppy mill or shelter but being adopted by the wrong humans could mean that they get abandoned and end up back in a shelter or worse.

For those thinking of getting a dog, I hope you will think about a few things first.  For starters, what kind of dog do you want?  The most popular dogs in the US today are Labrador Retrievers (I’m part Lab), German Sheppards, Beagles and Golden Retrievers.    All of these are great breeds and have certain characteristics that make them special.

Let’s say you want to get a Lab because we are good with young children.  Do you know we Labs are high energy dogs so we need lots of exercise and we’re also high strung so we need good consistent training?  We’re also very smart so we need lots of mental as well as physical stimulation.  We also tend to like to eat so without a lot of exercise, we get obese.  Like humans, obese dogs tend to have many more health problems like diabetes and hip, knee and joint problems.

When choosing a dog please remember that a dog is not a status symbol, fashion statement or a lawn ornament.  A dog is a living being that needs love and attention.  If you want to buy a pure bred German Sheppard for example, you could pay anywhere from $3,000 to $24,000.  A Pharaoh Hound $2,500 to $6,500 and a Bearded Collie is a steal at $1,000 to $5,000.  The average shelter charges from around $300 to $575.  And shelter dogs often come with all of their shots, spayed/neutered and with a micro chip! 

Having a dog is expensive.  I’m not only talking about how much it costs to buy a dog, I’m talking about how much it costs to keep a dog.  The first year, the cost to have a dog in your household averages between $1,300 for a small dog and $1,800 for a big dog.  After the first year it averages between $580 and $875 a year.  If your dog gets extra special treats like I do, the cost will be more.

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.  If you are considering getting a dog, please check your local shelters or rescue service and choose a dog that fits your life style.  Consider adopting an older dog if you don’t have lots of time for training.  Many dogs in shelters already know the basics, like knowing to go outside to pee. 

 You don’t have to go to a big name college to get a great education and you don’t need to pay a ton of money to get a great dog.  I didn’t come from a high cost breeder but from a really small rescue organization and I am the perfect dog for my family.

Your Adopted Friend,

Zeva

P.S. Shameless self promotion.  Your dog doesn't need lots of blue ribbons to deserve one of our Best In Show gift baskets. (shown above)

Monday, October 1, 2012

The Story of Cassandra Sally

My Mom is old, well, not real old like my grandma, but old enough to have had dogs before I came to live with her. All of the dogs who have ever lived with Mom were rescued.  Most of us found her when we were babies.  I was only 11 weeks old and the two dogs who lived here before me were 12 weeks old and her first dog was also really young when Mom took her home.

The only dog Mom adopted who wasn't a baby was Cassandra Sally, better known as Cassie.  Mom found Cassie in a newspaper ad (I told you Mom was old.  They didn't even have the internet yet).  Anyway, Mom adopted Cassie when she was about seven months old.  They weren't sure exactly how old she was but Mom found out she was rescued wondering around, half starved.  The rescue people who found her  think she was also physically abused because she was very afraid of everything.

Mom and Dad loved Cassie and took her home.  They loved her even after she tore the curtains off of the kitchen windows and chewed them to ribbons.  They loved her even after she scratched all of the paint off of the kitchen door and even after she ate the collection of pewter bowls Mom got for her wedding and  ate a HUGE chunk out of the kitchen floor. Mom thought of giving Cassie back to the shelter but couldn't abandon her like the other humans did.

They tried everything they knew to make Cassie feel loved and safe even when she was destructive and wouldn't listen to commands.  When a neighbor lady FINALLY told Mom that Cassie cried from the time Mom left the house in the morning until she got back from work,  it was time to take action. Mom felt horrible that Cassie was so unhappy.  It was time to call in an expert.  Back in the olden days, there weren't as many people who were trained in animal psychology and stuff as there are today.  Luckily, there was a really good woman who lived in the next town.

She taught Mom and Dad how to work with Cassie to help her become a great dog.  One of the biggest things Mom and Dad learned was that not all dogs are the same.  You see, Cassie was part Border Collie.  Yup, just like me.  Border Collies have a lot of traits that make them great dogs as long as you understand them and work with them.  Border Collies are super hyper. They need lots of exercise and socialization and don't do well being left alone for 10 hours a day. After working with the trainer, every one got along just fine.  Cassie lived with Mom and Dad for 12 years and after that first year or so, they got along great.

October is Adopt A Shelter Dog Month.  Adopting a Shelter or Rescue Dog is wonderful but humans have to realize what they are getting into.  Living with a pet is a HUGE responsibilty.  We are not fashion accessories or lawn fixtures.  We are living beings.  I want every dog living in a shelter today to have a loving home like I have so please adopt. But before you take home your new best friend, make sure he or she is the right fit for your household.

Over the next month I will be posting some of the things you should be aware of before you adopt a shelter dog  (or bring any pet into your life).

Your friend,

Zeva
P.S. Shameless self promotion  Good Dog Spot Gift Basket because every dog is a good dog.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Dining With Zeva

I just saw another post listing names of dog treats coming out of China that may be causing dogs to become sick or even died!  The list is getting longer and longer.

My mom tries to buy only good treats for me, made in the USA, that we can get at the pet food store, not at the supermarket.  We buy my regular food from the pet food store too. Our pet food store is called Dave's Soda and Pet City.  Dave and his people know a lot about pets and they help Mom find the food that is best for me.  Buying really good food at the pet food store costs a little more but, hey, I'm worth it!

Anyway, Mom recently changed my food again and boy, am I glad she did!  I like my old food but I LOVE my new food.  To me, it's all about the taste but to Mom, it's about keeping me healthy.  She recently switched me to Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream cuz I have dry skin and she's hoping the good salmon and other omega stuff will help.

Mom reads labels on all the food that we buy, canine and human, and she knows that the first word listed is what is most in the food.  Can you believe Salmon is the first word on the label for my new food.  Salmon is soooooo yummy.  Just ask any bear.

Also near the top of the list is sweet potato (another yummy food).  A little farther down are tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries!  Of course there are the vitamins and mineral stuff too but no grain.  Lots of dogs are allergic to grains and even if I'm not allergic, I would rather have real meat and salmon than soy meal.

Do you know what is in some dog food.  Meat by products.  I looked up what meat by products are and yuck!!!!

Meat by products are anything that is not strictly speaking meat (like liver, spleen, bone, blood, cleaned/washed intestines, brain, lungs, etc.) but does not include questionable items like feathers, hoofs, hair, horns teeth, etc.
I'm glad my Mom gets me food with stuff like salmon and sweet potato in it and not stuff like intestines and brains!

Some day I may get Mom to make food for me at home like some of friends humans do, but for now, I'm totally happy, except I could use an extra cup or two every day.

What dog food do you eat and what do you like best about it?

Bone appetite,
Your friend,
Zeva

P.S. Shameless self promotion  A pretty dog dish is the "basket" in our To The Rescue Dog Gift Basket! Photo above.


 

Friday, September 21, 2012

Road Trip Safety Tips

Hey Everyone!

Doing a little catch up. My humans and I took a day off this week and drove up to the White Mountains Region of New Hampshire. It was sooo much fun. Before we left, Mom and I made sure I had everything I needed to have a good trip.

Here are some things your humans can do to make sure you are safe and have fun on your next trip.

1. Safety is Number One. It was a long ride but it was so pretty I sat up the whole way looking out of the window. We always drive with the window closed, or only open a little bit so I can’t stick my head out. We don’t want me to get dirt or buggies in my eyes.

Dogs always should ride in the back seat or the way back of an SUV and never in the open back of a pick up truck. Some humans let their dogs sit on their laps while they drive. I’m too big to sit on anyone’s lap but even if you are a small dog, it is a dangerous way to ride.

Crates or seat belts for dogs are also a good idea, especially for active dogs.

Don’t stay in the car alone cuz you could get too hot or too cold depending on what time of year you are traveling. Too hot or too cold could make you sick or died. It was a beautiful day, not hot, not cold but still, whenever we stopped for something, someone stayed with me in the car. I think Dad was happy cuz he doesn’t really like shopping stuff.

2. Do some test drives if you don‘t ride often. Since I help Mom deliver our gift baskets, I ride in the car all the time and we go to lots of places so we know I don’t get car sick. If you’re not used to riding in the car and your humans want to take you on a big ride, they should take you on some short rides first so you can get used to it.

We don’t like to take meds but if you don’t like riding in a car and get sick all the time, check with your vet or someone in at your pet store. There are meds to help you not be sick. Car rides are fun, being sick is not.

3. Like all good Dog Scouts, be prepared. For this long trip, we packed my daypack. It’s a little back pack that I can carry myself. I made sure I had my collapsible bowl and some bottled water, my halter and leash, poop bags and of course extra cookies. I ate breakfast a couple of hours before we left and we were going to be home by supper time so we didn’t take any of my trail meals.

I’m not taking any meds but if I were, we would take them along too.

Mom put my microchip information in her wallet and we made sure I had all of my tags. Mom always has a bunch of pictures of me on her phone but if she didn’t she would bring along a photo. We do all of this just in case my humans get lost. I wouldn’t be able to find my way home without help so we make sure we have everything I need to help me get back home safely.

I had so much fun, I’m ready for our next road trip! How about you? Have you had a good road trip lately?

Your travelin’ friend,

Zeva

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Mom's Gone To The Dogs


My Mom took a test today and found out that she is a Dogaholic. 

Here are a few things she found that confirmed she needs help and that I am a very spoiled dog. (Like that's a bad thing....)
  1. My crate is in the living room and Dad uses it as an end table.
  2. The new living room carpet is gray because gray doesn't show my dog hair or the dirt I track in as quickly as some other colors.
  3. My humans bought their 4 Runner because there were two dogs living here back then and they wanted the dogs to be comfortable.
  4. All of Mom's jackets have treats and poop bags in the pockets.
  5. Mom knows the names of all the neighborhood dogs but not their humans.
  6. Some weeks Mom spends more in the Pet Food Store than in the grocery store.
  7. My name gets added to all greeting cards we send.
and maybe the biggest one, I have my own business cards.

Is your favorite human a Dogaholic? How can you tell?

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S. Sales pitch..... Until October 31st, get 20% off any of our Pet Gift Baskets.  Just type "pets" in the coupon code section and we'll take care of the rest.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Driving Ms. Zeva


One of the things I like most about my job is that I get to go with Mom when we have errands and when we deliver our gift baskets.  I ride in the back seat of our SUV right behind Mom.  I have AC and heat so that I don’t cook in the summer or freeze in the winter.  I get left alone for minutes when Mom has to go into a store, but NEVER when it is too hot outside.  In the winter, I even have extra blankets to snuggle in if I want.
I like sitting behind Mom because I can look out the window.  I like smelling the air as we drive.  I can smell the trees and animal as we drive through the wooded areas and even the not so pleasant smells when we drive through the cities.
I like to have the window open so I can smell better.  Mom only opens it enough for me to stick my nose out of but too small for me to stick my head out of, and when I am left alone in the car, the window is only open a couple of inches.
My safety is important to my humans.  And I bet if you are reading this blog, your safety is very important to your humans too.  Obviously, a dog that gets to use to the family computer is very well taken care of.
That’s why I’m wondering why some people think they know better than our humans how to treat us.  Some places have laws that say that we have to wear seat belts.  And now they are trying to say we can’t stick our noses out of the window!  Well, technically, they are trying to say we can't stick our heads out of the window because we could be hurt.  We could get buggies in our eyes or even get smacked by a branch or something hard if our humans aren’t careful.
If we are driving through some states, like New Jersey, my Mom could have to pay the policeman $1000 because I am not wearing a seat belt!?  Yes, if our humans get our car crashed, we could be very hurt or died.  And it probably isn’t safe for a dog to sit in their humans lap while the human is driving.  But come on.
 Isn't it better to let humans know the dangers of letting their dogs stick their heads out of windows or letting them sit in their lap than to make a law?  Look at all of the information that came out this summer about not leaving dogs in the car when it's too hot.  People who didn't know about how bad it is learned and now they won't leave their dogs alone to be died.
Those people who think up these laws mean well I’m sure but why aren’t they working harder to protect those dogs that don’t have good humans taking care of them.  The dogs that are made to be in dog fights, the dogs used as bait to train fighting dogs, or the dogs kept in puppy mills.  These are the dogs that need to be rescued and protected.  Not dogs like me who ride around in nice SUV’s and live with humans who try their best to keep us safe.
I would be interested in hearing about your car riding experiences and how you feel about mandatory seat belts for dogs.
Your friend,
Zeva
P.S. Shameless self promotion.  Here is the sign that hangs on our door.  I think it says it all.  Every dog should have one of these.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Shame On You!



As if many dogs don’t have enough self esteem problems what with breed specific issues etc. , now our very own humans are holding us up to public ridicule!   I’m talking about Dog Shaming.
Being the perfect dog, my Mom has no reason to shame me.  She, however, should get a sign for making me wear that stupid Hawaiian shirt for that end of summer photo contest.  I never did look at the camera so she had to give up on the idea of even entering.
I am speaking out for all of the dogs who have been shamed.  I see nothing shameful about eating a dozen donuts and then the box.  I bet there was a lot of yummy donut guts stuck to that box.  And the poor dog who got shamed because he ate two sticks of butter, half a pound cake and a pan of dinner rolls.  He must have been starving. And whose fault is that I ask you.  Hey you humans grab a snack when you’re hungry, why shouldn’t we?
Maybe the dog that ate the little girl’s ice cream cone in the park went a little too far.  He probably didn’t even get to enjoy it with all the crying, screaming and yelling that must have gone on.  Have you ever heard a little girl cry? I rest my case.
To the dog that ate the $20.00 bill.  Bad move dude.  That $20.00 could have been used for treats or gas for riding in the car.  Next time think.  You may not have been hungry at all, only thirsty.  A drink out of the toilet would have been a better option.
To all the dogs who have been shamed, you are not bad dogs; you’re just misunderstood.  Here are a few of tips to avoid shaming.
1.        Don’t get caught.
 
2.       If you do get caught, blame it on the cat.
 
3.       If you don’t have a cat handy, play on their heart strings.  Look at your human with your most soulful look and for extra points, throw in the head tilt. 

4.      Do Not LOOK guilty, even if you are.

5.      If all else fails and you get shamed, look right at the camera and use your most soulful look again.   It may not work on your humans cuz they are used to it but it will work on other people.  They will feel sorry for you and your humans will feel bad.
 
If you or any of your friends have been shamed, please share your story.  You are among friends here.
 
Your Friend,
Zeva
 
P.S. Shameless self promotion.  For all the Good Dogs out there, I have created a gift basket especially for you.  I call it my   Good Dog Spot Gift Basket  and filled it with toys to keep you busy all day long. As we all know, a tired dog is a good dog.
 

 

Thursday, August 23, 2012

A Walk In The Park - Then and Now


Today we went for a big walk in a park I never visited before. It’s not a dog park where dogs can run free.   This park has lots of signs reminding people that dogs have to stay on their leashes and to make sure to pick up any poop.  That’s okay cuz it is a very pretty park with lots of different kinds of trees and flowers. There are lots of roads and paths and benches to sit on.

While we were walking, Mom told me a story.  She told me about how different things were for dogs a long, long time ago in the 1970’s.   I like history and this was about dogs so I paid very close attention.   She  said when she was young and working in the city, she lived not far from this park but said she didn’t bring her then dog (her name was Nico) to this park very often.

Mom said back then, the laws about dogs and leashes were much less strict and people were much more dog friendly.  She said she and Nico could  go for walks anywhere, and they didn't have only certain parks where dogs were welcome like they do today.  Nico could even go outside of their house by herself without being fenced in.  If Mom wanted to go into a store for a minute, Nico could sit by the door and wait. Mom didn’t worry about anything bad happening.  Today, she doesn’t let me off of my leash or out of her sight.

It was interesting learning about the olden days and I sort of wish I could run around with my friends any time I wanted, but I’m glad that I have humans who care about me and want to keep me safe.

I’m also glad that more humans, like my Mom and her friends, are getting together to make sure that the rules that get made about dogs are fair for all dogs and that all dogs are treated well, especially dogs who don’t have furever homes with loving humans. 

When people hurt dogs, they need to be punished a whole lot.  It makes me so sad when I see how badly dogs are hurt by horrible people. And the law shouldn’t say a dog is bad and can be killed because of how it looks.

We are lucky to have humans who love us and take care of us but we need to make sure our humans keep looking out for and try to help dogs who aren’t so lucky.

Your friend,

Zeva

 

 

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Ready to Help



Happy Wordless Wednesday to all Blog Hoppers.
No matter what day it is, I'm ready to help a client choose the perfect gift basket for that special pet or person who loves them.

Your friend,
Zeva


Saturday, August 18, 2012

Begging 101

I have a problem and I'm hoping you can help. I'm looking for some professional advice. I rescued my humans when I was only 11 weeks old so they were pretty easy to train. It was easy to get them to make room on their bed for me and it was easy to get Mom to take me to work with her every day so I didn't have to stay at home by myself.

It was easy to get them to take me to doggy daycare on days when neither would be able to stay with me. And it was easy to get them to take me for long walks.

Here's my problem, I can't get my humans to give me people food. I have tried all of the tricks. I've got the soulful eyes look perfected to Academy Award level. I've found that a soft whimper gets their attention but it doesn't get me any food.

Sitting in the kitchen while they are cooking only gets me banished to the living room and they always seem to catch me when I try to sneak back. I try to ease my way under the table while they are eating but again, I get banished to the living room. How can they expect me to sit by and ignore the wonderful scents of a chicken or a roast? Man, I'll even settle for scrambled eggs or tuna fish but nooooo.

Okay, so every once in awhile I get some tuna juice or a soft boiled egg mixed in with my dry food and I do get a marrow bone every Saturday, but they get that stuff anytime they want. It's not fair!

Do you get your humans to give you human food any time you want?  How do you do it?

Your starving friend,

Zeva

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Goldilocks Syndrome

My Mom said I have Goldilocks Syndrome.  Don't worry, it's not contagious or anything.  She explained it this way.   She said that once upon a time there was this human girl named Goldilocks who went walking in the woods and came to a house.

She went inside like she owned the house even though she didn't.  Inside she found some porridge (whatever that is) and ate some. Then she sat on some chairs and broke one.  And then, being all tired out from messin' with other people's stuff, she decided to take a nap.

She tried one bed.  She didn't like it cuz it was too hard

Then another.  She didn't like that one cuz it was too soft.


And finally she found one that was just right.

When the  owners of the house came home, they saw that someone was messin' with their stuff.  Someone ate some of their food, and sat in their chairs and then they saw someone was actually sleeping in one of their beds.

That's when Goldilocks woke up and got scared cuz the owners of the house were bears and everybody knows that bears can hurt you if you mess with them so she ran away.

I don't get it. Why would Mom think I was like this Goldilocks person.

Your friend,

Zeva



Saturday, August 11, 2012

Dogs With Opposible Thumbs


I am a very socially media savvy dog.  I have a Twitter account @zevathedog, I am a guest blogger on our company blog and of course I write this blog.  I follow tons of other dog’s blogs and spend time on several pet sites like PetPav.com and DogBook ( a FaceBook app). Pinterest has a whole section about animals and I love to pin stuff from there onto our DogsRule board.
Anyhow… I was on DogBook today and realized that there are thousands of dogs on that site alone.   There are dogs from all over the world who share photos and stories. 
There are hundreds of pet blogs on the internet too.   These blogs cover all sorts of interesting topics.   There are blogs about pet health and welfare, reviews of new products, warnings when a product is recalled or dangerous and even blogs that inform and campaign for pet’s rights.  The dogs who write them are very, very smart.
 I got to thinking… all those dogs with internet access… imagine what we could do if we all got together. 
I had to stop and take a nap because my head started hurting.  I could think of so many things we could do but then I got confused.  What would we do first?
So friends, what do you think?  If all of the dogs on the internet got together, what, of all the important things we could do should we do first?
While you think about it, the first thing I am going to do is get a treat and take another nap. This saving the world thing is very exhausting.
Dogs Rule!!!!
Your friend,
Zeva
P.S.
Shameless self promotion  Spoiled Rotten Dog Lives Here sign. No home should be without one.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

To Your Health Redux

Last week I told you it was time for my annual check up.  I love Dr. Nancy.  She has been my doctor since I first came to live at my forever home and she was the doctor for all the dogs who lived here before.

Doctors are good people to see when you are sick but being sick is no fun so, I try not to get sick.  I do lots of things to help me not get sick.  Eating good food, drinking lots of clean water, getting plenty of exercise and knowing about other kinds of doctors and medicines are all good ways to stay healthy.

There are lots of different foods for dogs.  Some are better than others.  I eat Wellness Core because of what it has in it and also what it doesn't have in it.  Meat and veggies (except corn) are good but even though I LOVE cookies, grains are not that good for dogs so I don't eat many grains.

Clean water is also very important.  My water bowl is kept filled with clean water.  By clean, I mean not just no dirt but no chemicals either.  Our water comes from a well so it doesn't get treated with chemicals like regular tap water.

Chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, Reiki masters, and holisitic vets are some people who help us stay healthy.

Dogs, especially when they get older and get arthritis, or if they do extreme sports like agility, see chiropractors and get massages.   Acupuncture is very helpful in treating lots of things like allergies, epilepsy and even paralysis.

Mom and Dad see a chiropractor cuz they work hard and get out of shape and Mom visits her acupuncturist all the time so she doesn't have chronic pain.  So I know if if I get arthritis or something, they will find the right people to help me get better.

That's what I do to stay healthy.  What do you do?

Your friend,

Zeva





Wednesday, August 1, 2012

To Your Health!

I'm used to getting emails, after all, I am a very savvy dog when it comes to the internet, but today when we opened the mail box, there was a post card for me.  It was from my vet. 

It's time for my annual physical.  I'm going to get to stand on the scale and show Mom I'm not gaining weight.  Then Dr. Nancy will look in my eyes and ears with that funny light.  She said I'm also going to have a test.  I don't think it is the kind I can study for.  It's a test to check for heartworm and other nasty things that could make me sick.

Then, if all the tests come back saying I'm good to go, I will have to get some shots.  I don't mind shots but my Mom wonders sometimes if I get too many shots.  We have to have rabies shots.  It's the law.

I also get a Lyme shot cuz, even though this year hasn't been bad, we have those nasty ticks near our house.   My Mom and one of the dogs who lived here before both got Lyme disease so we are very careful.  We do buggy checks whenever we walk in the woods and when we work in the yard and I get my FrontLine every month.

Mom says she would prefer not to put chemicals on me but until she can find something that works just as good and is easy to use, we need to. If you know a better way, we'd be interested.

I'm looking forward to my having my check up because everyone at the office is so nice and they all tell me how good I am.  Visiting the doctor when you're not sick is not so bad and regular check ups are very important to staying healthy.

If you haven't had a annual physical yet this year, make an appointment soon so you can stay healthy too.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S. Shameless self promotion.  I'm very excited that one of my Dog Gone It! gift baskets is going to go to another country.



Thursday, July 26, 2012

Were Not Even in Kansas!

Mom has been keeping an eye on the weather forecast today.  We may be in for some stormy weather.  Just last year we had a very, very bad tornado near my house that destroyed lots of houses.  It was so bad that people are still getting their lives and homes back together.

I'm glad my mom knows what to do if we have an emergency.  I have my own emergency kit.  All of my important papers like medical records and stuff are in a box.  I'm not on any medication right now but if I were, the medication is kept in that box.  My box could hold a recent photo so my humans will have a picture to post if I get lost.  Mom has lots of photos of me in her phone so we don't need any others.  If we have to leave the house we can grab my kit very quickly and put it into my crate which goes in the car in a flash.

Other things that are in my doggy emergency kit are:
Extra leashes and collar
A blanket
Food in pop top cans or powdered food made for camping
A dish
Bottled water
and
Toys

If we have to leave our town, we have friends who live far enough away that we can stay with.  If you don't have friends like that, make sure your humans know about pet friendly shelters in your area or pet friendly hotels that are far enough away.

If we don't have to leave the house, we have a nice room that is partly under ground where we can go.  It is where Mom has her gift basket supplies so the humans will have lots of cookies and candy to eat if we need to stay in that room long.  They also have healthy human food and lots of water to drink.

Make sure you don't get left behind because you will be soooo scared that you might break out and run away and not be able to find your way home again.

It can be scary but trust your humans and you will be fine.

Your friend,
Zeva
P.S. The photo shows what happened when a micro burst hit our town a few years before I was born.  See that black line on the right?  That is where the wires burned the road.  Sacry....

Saturday, July 21, 2012

To The Rescue

My name is Zeva and this is my blog.

July 23, 2012 is Bloggers Unite for Dog Rescue day.    I am a rescued dog. I was born in a shelter in South Carolina.   Some very special people gave a pregnant homeless dog a safe place to have her puppies.  When  my brothers and sisters and I were old enough, they helped us get to another rescue service in Connecticut where we would have a better chance at getting adopted.

It was a very long ride in a car but it was well worth it.  Before we even got to the rescue service our pictures were posted on www.petfinders.com.  That's where my mom saw me.  She said she knew as soon as she saw me, that I was very special and she would be taking me home.

I am a very lucky dog.  I have a very loving home.  Millions of dogs are killed each year because instead of choosing a perfectly excellent dog like me from a shelter or rescue service, people buy dogs from pet stores.  Dogs that are sold in pet stores have sad stories to tell also because lots of them come from horrible places called Puppy Mills.

Many dogs end up in shelters because people don't realize how much responsibility there is to having a dog as a pet. They get tired and frustrated and dump perfectly good dogs at the shelter adding to the over crowding.  Because their humans didn't understand them, many of these animals developed "bad habits" which make it even harder to find good homes for them.

Not everyone who loves dogs can adopt.  If you can't adopt a dog cuz you already have one or two, you travel too much, or live where you can't have a dog.  There are still lots of ways you can help.
  •  Volunteer at a local shelter or rescue organization.  A few minutes a week walking a dog or simply spending time with him in a shelter will mean the world to that dog.
  •   Foster a dog.  Shelters only have so much room.  By taking a dog into your home,  you may be saving that dog's life.
  •  Drop a bag of food into the collection box at your local pet food store or organize a fund raiser to help raise much needed money and supplies for a local shelter.
  • Spread the word that we need your help.
We dogs can do lots of things but we can't speak for ourselves. Please be our voice.  Please help me help other very special dogs find forever home.

Your friend,
Zeva

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Monday, July 16, 2012

Paw Prints On Our Hearts


Mom starts her day by checking her emails and then FaceBook and Twitter.  Then she helps me log onto my Twitter and DogBook accounts and we read the messages together.  I have dog friends who live in places like India and Australia.  I like hearing about what everyone is doing and telling them about my life as a blogging lab border collie mix who works with my human running a gift basket service.

We share our adventures, share information about lost pets and keep up to date on legislation to help animals.

Some of the messages are sad.  Like the one this morning from Gretchen's Dad.  When you have lots and lots of friends like I do, some times bad things happen.   Some times we find out a friend had to go to Rainbow Bridge.

When my Mom reads me about someone who has gone to be with St Francis she is very sad.  She even cries because she knows how much it hurts when a dog or cat leaves their family especially when the humans have to do what is best for the pet.

Mom knows that pets are so much a part of the family that the humans and other pets feel the pain of the loss.  Even though it was before my time, I know that when Mom and Dad had to help one of the dogs who lived here before me go to Rainbow Bridge they were very, very sad.  His name was Fox.  His litter mate was so sad that she followed him to Rainbow Bridge a couple of week later.  Even with all the extra love and attention, Mom said Dana was so sad that her heart got broken and even though Mom and our vet tried, they couldn't fix it.

Most people don't think it's a good idea to get another pet right away but since Mom was already looking for a new friend for Dana, she kept right on looking.  Lucky her!  She found me right away.  My six litter mates and I had just been rescued from a South Carolina shelter and were on our way Up North. It took a whole week to make arrangements for Mom and Dad to pick me up but I got to go home with them right away.

I love my life and love having so many friends for real and on line.  If you want to be my friend, follow me on Twitter @zevathedog.  You can find me on DogBook under the name Zeva too.

I would like to be your friend and learn all about your life and your humans even if sometimes we are sad together.

Your friend,
Zeva

P.S. Shameless self promotion.  Because pet people understand how the loss of a pet hurts, we have designed gift baskets especially for such an occasion.  We call them Paw Prints on the Heart Gift Basket and we have a Paw Prints for dogs and a Paw Prints for cats.  In addition to lots of comfort foods we include a copy of the poem Rainbow Bridge in each.







Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Train Like An Olympian


One of the discussions that seems to happen quite regularly among us dogs at the dog park is how to choose a personal trainer.  Lots of us go to the park with our humans and part of the time there is spent on training exercises.  I noticed there appears to be several different methods being used.

I thought I would ask my friend Eric The Amazing Dog Training Man what advice he would be able to share about how to make sure your human chooses the best trainer for you.

Zeva:  So, Eric.  What should a dog look for when choosing a personal trainer?

Eric: First, I'd like to thank you for interviewing me. I feel very honored. Choosing the right trainer is important. I think a good trainer is experienced, patient, positive and most importantly fun. A good trainer will help the owner train their dog using positive methods. I would also recommend going and watching the trainer do a class. This will give you the best indication of what the trainer is like.

Zeva:  Do all trainers use the same methods?

Eric: Nooooooooooooo!!! Let me share a very popular quote among dog trainers: "The only thing two dog trainers can agree on is what the third one is doing wrong." Being in a room of dog trainers can be worse than being in a room full of Democrats and Republicans.
Zeva: BOL.  How do I know which training method is best for me?  After all, I'm very special.

Eric: Well Zeva, I've been in this game for a long time. I have trained dogs for security and police work, dogs for deaf people, worked with and helped thousands (millions if you count my YouTube videos) and I can tell you that ALL dogs should be trained using positive methods. When you train using negative methods you always have side effects that will harm the dog. You can't go wrong using positive training methods.

Zeva:  Interesting.  How old should a dog before starting training and when is a dog too old to be trained?

Eric: I start training as young as eight weeks old. Puppies can learn how to do the basics at that age. Sessions should be very short and fun but they can learn a lot. More importantly puppies should get a LOT of socialization. Puppies need to play with other puppies, go places, be exposed to a lot of different sights, sounds, smells and people. You can't over socialize a puppy. As far as age goes you can teach an old dog new tricks. I have had dogs in my classes as old as 12.

Zeva:  12, that's pretty old! How long should each session be and how many sessions should a dog take?

Eric: I always advise keeping sessions short - 10 to 15 minutes. You can do as many sessions as you want in a day but each individual session short be short and fun. I think training is an ongoing process and the owner should do as many classes as they like. If you get bored with obedience you can do agility, flyball, scent work, search and rescue, dock diving and much more.

Zeva:  Anything else you would like to add?

Eric: Just wanted to thank you and share the best advice I ever got about dogs. Here it is: "If you want a good dog, learn how to be a good dog owner. If you want a great dog, learn how to be a great dog owner."

Thanks Eric for sharing all this great information with us.  If any of you have specific questions, go to The Amazing Dog Training Man's website or contact Eric directly. He has lots more good tips he can share.

Let me know of any fun training exercises you would like to share with us.  I'm always looking for new things to learn.

See you at the park,
Your Friend,
Zeva
P.S. in our house positive method means cookies so I also highly recommend this method of training.
Shameless self promotion:  Follow me on Twitter @zevathedog and check out my website at www.laurelmtbasket.com Pay special attention to the Pet gift baskets. You'll want every one of them!


Monday, July 2, 2012

Happy Birthday USA



What do you think of when I say Fourth of July celebration?  Parades?  Fireworks?  Picnics?  I love a good party but not all pets do.  Parades, with large crowds of cheering people, marching bands playing music and people throwing things from floats make some pets very anxious.  Fireworks, although pretty, are very, very loud to our sensive ears.  And picnics.  Fourth of July picnics are actually dangerous places for pets.

Lots of things that you see at a picnic may seem harmless but they are not.  Hot dogs, hamburgers, potatoe salad, chips, they're just food.  So what's wrong with food.  We dogs should only eat dog food even though we love human food.  You might think a little human food would be okay.  Well, dogs you see, we're never full.  If we can beg or steal human food we will keep going until we are really sick.

That can of beer or glass of wine you leave by the side of your chair, can be mightly tempting to a pet.  But pets should NEVER be allowed to drink any kind of alcohol.  Alcohol is so toxic to pets
.
And the other stuff we might find lying around like sunscreen, insect repellant, citronella candles or oils can cause serious harm if we eat them.  You see, we can't read and some of these things look like they would be fun to play with.  We won't know it's not good to eat until it's too late.

Fireworks and glow sticks also look like toys but are poisonous so please make sure they are well out of reach.  Like I said before, the noise from fireworks is scarey to many pets.  So many pets get scared by fireworks that the Fourth of July is the day/night when the most pets get lost.  The loud continuous noise is so scary a dog or cat might keep running.  They are so scared that they could run so far trying to get away from the noise that they can't find their way home.  They could even run into traffic and get hit.

Please help us stay safe this Fourth of July.  I have a nice crate in an air conditioned room that is a perfect place for me to spend the Fourth.  I can have my own good food and cool water with ice in it and nap the day away.  If you don't have AC, find a nice cool room and turn on a fan. If your pet is really scared, you can call your vet today and have them give you  something to help.  There are also some good holistic treatments you can get at most pet stores. 

Wishing you (and your pets) a happy and safe Fourth of July.

Your friend Zeva

P.S.  Follow me on Twitter @zevathedog or see the pet gift baskets I designed at Laurel Mountain Basket Co