Thursday, December 28, 2017

Home for Christmas

Christmas is over and we are back in our routine. Getting ready for Christmas was lots of fun. We got to help Mom make lots of Christmas gift baskets, write out our Christmas cards and wrap all of the gifts.

On Christmas Eve DixieLee and I got to open one of OUR gifts. We each got a fun toy that has a ball to catch on one end and a tail to tug on the other. I got a blue one and she got a red one. Or did I get the red on and she get the blue one?

Christmas morning was not so much fun. We rushed breakfast so Mom and Dad could leave early to go visit Mom’s human family. It was snowing really, really hard and it was really, really dark when the left. They were gone for a very long time and DixieLee was worried they were never coming back.

I knew Mom was coming back cuz she told us she was when she left. She told us Tracie, our neighbor, was going to take care of us and when she came home, we would get to open another gift.

Tracie, came to feed us and let us outside but DixieLee cried and wanted Mom and Dad. She was not on her best behavior, barking and carrying on. She wouldn’t listen good to Tracie except when she was bribed with cookies. Then she was miss goody four paws.

It was hard waiting for Mom and Dad to come home and to see what our other gifts were. Having very bad weather made it worse since we couldn’t go outside much during the day and they had to drive very slow so it took forever for them to get home.

It was well worth the wait! We got extra treats and our big gift was a new unstuffed Zanie! Unstuffed Zanies are good fun. They have TWO squeakers! I got a chipmunk and DixieLee got a coyote. Or did I get the coyote and DixieLee get the chipmunk?

It’s good to get back into our routine but I think it would be fun to have more Christmas times. At least the present part.

Hope your Christmas was good and you got lots of toys and treats and bestest wishes for a healthy and happy 2018 from everyone at Paw Pals Boutique.

Your friend,

Zeva


P.S. Blatant self-promotion. For the very bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, check out pawpalsboutique.com

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

The Night Before Christmas

Whoo. Christmas is almost here and we shipped our last batch of orders yesterday. (Maybe) DixieLee is happy because she says she will be able to sleep later in the morning now that things will be getting back to normal.

Mom and I like to stick to our routine, no matter what time of year it is. It’s true that getting up early when it’s still dark and cold out isn’t fun but once we are awake and moving, we take charge of our day and get lots done.

Dixie Lee and I like to sleep in the living room at night. I stretch out on the couch while she curls up in Dad’s chair. Around 2:00 a.m. we both go down to the bedroom and cuddle on the bed with Mom and Dad. That way we will be able to easier wake them up at 5:00 to feed us breakfast.

Breakfast is a complicated affair so even though DixieLee trusts that Mom will do it right and dozes on the couch until our bowls are filled, I always sit right in the kitchen so I can supervise better. As soon as we finish our kibble, we go back into the kitchen and up to the counter where the cookie jar is.

Mom doesn’t often forget our after breakfast cookie but you never know. She’s getting older and I understand forgetfulness is something that happens when humans get older.

After breakfast Mom works on the computer, taking orders and updating our Facebook pages and Dad goes out to get the newspaper and coffees. We help Mom with her computer work or nap until we get bored and want to go outside.  Sometimes we like to play doorman with Mom.  That's the game where we want to be in the house when we are outside and outside when we are in the house.  She isn't too fond of that game but we like it lots.

When Mom has to run errands we nap but as soon as she comes home and starts working in the Studio, we all help. 

Dad helps by restocking inventory or getting packages ready to mail. I supervise from the dog bed in the corner but DixieLee has a more hands on approach. One time she took a whole roll of ribbon and pulled it off of the roll. Mom was not pleased since ribbon that has been dragged around the floor and chewed on doesn’t make very good bows.

We work hard all day and are ready to call it a day when Mom takes the packages to the Post Office or does more computer work.  While she is gone we get our supper and an afternoon cookie.  After all, we worked hard all day and deserve a treat.

Now that Christmas is almost here, we want to wish all of our friends, furry and human, a Very Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy 2018.

Love,

Zeva and everyone at Paw Pals Boutique

P.S.  Visit Paw Pals Boutique and check out the huge selection of gift baskets especially designed for pets and the people of love them.


Thursday, November 30, 2017

Sparkly, Shiny, Pretty, and Dangerous.


We love Christmas but Christmas can be dangerous for pets.  Before you start decorating and putting the gifts under the tree (remember pets love gifts too), make sure your house is pet proof.

Here are six things to look out for.

1.  Christmas trees.  The biggest part of Christmas decorating in most houses is the Christmas tree.  Lots of families like to have a real live tree and the bigger the better.  They look and smell so pretty but if you have a cat, a real tree can be very tempting to climb which could make the tree fall, break the pretty ornaments and even hurt the cat.

Dogs may not climb a Christmas tree but they still could knock it down.

2.  Chemicals.  A real tree needs to have water all the time and most peoples put chemicals in the water to keep the tree fresh longer.  A dog or cat may not know that the water bowl under the tree is not for drinking.  If you have to use a chemical, make it impossible for your pet to drink from it by covering it with something they can’t take off.

3.  Angel Hair and Tinsel.  Shiny and so pretty but so bad for pets!  The old Angel Hair was made of stuff that they can’t sell any more but some peoples have really old ornaments they like so be careful.  Tinsel makes a tree look so pretty but if a dog or cat eats it, they can get really, really sick or even died.  Best to not use any.

4.  Candles.  Candles make a house look and smell so pretty but be careful where you put them.  A kitty jump or a waggy tail can easily knock one over and make a fire start.  The best thing to remember is to not leave a room where a candle is burning, even for a minute.

5.  Candy.  Lots of childrens make Christmas ornaments out of candy and other foods.  Sugar is not good for pets but we like it so if we see ornaments made out of candy or cookies, it is hard not to try to eat them. Candy canes are pretty but are made of lots of sugar too.

6.  Plants.  There are plants that are special to Christmas.  Some of these plants like Amaryllis, Mistletoe, Poinsettia, Christmas Cactus and English Ivy to name a few, are poisonous to pets.

That’s lots of things to remember but every one is important.

In our house the big problem is the tree skirt.  DixieLee thinks the tree skirt is a blanket and blankets belong in her crate.

Time to check to see how our decorating is coming along and then maybe time for a nap.


Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night.

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest Christmas gift baskets for  pets and the people who love them, check out pawpalsboutique.com 

Friday, November 10, 2017

The Good, The Bad and The Yummy

It’s snowy and cold but that’s okay because it is soon going to be Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is one of our very favorite holidays because it is all about food. Well, maybe not ALL about food, Mom and Dad get together with their human family and talk and laugh but for us, it’s about food.

There is soooo much food and it is one of the few times when we get to eat human foods. BUT not all of the foods that peoples eat at Thanksgiving are good for pets. Some is so bad that it can make dogs and cats died.

The bestest food at Thanksgiving is the turkey and of course the turkey has to be stuffed. Turkey is okay for pets (not too much) but the bones and the skin are really bad! Bones and fatty skin can hurt our tummy. A bone that gets caught in our throat or intestines could mean lots of pain and a trip to the Vet. Fatty stuff like skin and gravy and even the butter in smashed up potatoes can give us a belly ache.

Stuffing is bad because it probably has things like onions, garlic, scallions and some spices like sage, which are all bad for pets.

Lots of peoples like pretty salads like Waldorf salad, ambrosia or fruit salad. They look nice but grapes and raisins are toxic and can make our kidneys fail.

Sweet desserts are always part of Thanksgiving but many sweets are toxic to pets. Chocolate is super bad and the darker the chocolate the badder it is. Pumpkin pie is one of the favorite desserts and although canned pumpkin is really good for dogs, when it is cooked in a pie, it is not so good.

Apples pie is another Thanksgiving dessert. A slice or two of raw apple is a yummy treat but make sure you don’t eat any seeds because apple seeds are bad for dogs.

Alcohol is a BIG NO. Your humans know to keep their wine and beer away from you but what about rum cake or yeast dough.

There are some good Thanksgiving foods we can eat. A little turkey is okay. Sweet potatoes (not canned), carrots and green beans are super good. They have lots of good stuff in them but make sure they don’t have any added sugar, xylitol (fake sweetener), nuts or marshmallows mixed in.

I'm getting really hungry just thinking about our Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe I’ll check out the kitchen and see if I can get Dad to give us a snack.

Happy Thanksgiving All!

Zeva


P.S. Blatant self-promotion. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, go to pawpalsboutique.com

Monday, October 30, 2017

When House-Hunting, Consider the Pooch

(Today we have a guest blogger.  Our friend Cindy from dogfriends.org has some great information to share.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.)

Finding a new home is fraught with tough decisions. Do you want a two-story home? ‘How important is the neighborhood? Will a home be suited to your life plans?’ These are just a few of the questions you’ll need to consider.

Most considerations inherent to finding your home of the future revolve around you, your partner, and your children, whether born or expected. However, dog owners should also be aware of how a home’s features will impact their pet’s life. While it is not always possible to find a house that suits both human and canine needs, there is no harm in attempting to find one that does. Moving can be stressful, even for a pet, so be sure to prepare them as much as possible before the big day.

Yard, Yard, Yard. Did We Mention the Yard?

When it comes to definitive guides for dog-owning house hunters, one cannot be taken seriously unless it stresses the importance of a home’s yard to a dog’s spirit. Some dogs will remain primarily indoors while they are at home, but as Pet’s Best points out, even indoor dogs need space to stretch their legs and relieve themselves from time to time.

Dog parks are an invaluable asset to owners who relish granting their companion the chance to socialize with other dogs, but life sometimes prevents us from making the trip to the local recreational park. Many dogs also find it far more difficult to go to the bathroom on hard surfaces such as concrete or gravel, so having some form of yard – preferably a large, fetch-ready one – at your home base is one of the most important dog-friendly features.

The Neighborhood

Choosing a home is not a task which should be done flippantly. Conducting a bit of in-person research, not only on the house itself but surrounding neighbors as well, could be the difference between the home of your future and a quick-flipper which you quickly regret.

We have a special treat for you today.  Our friend Cindy, from ourdogfriends.org has agreed to write a blog for us!  We hope you enjoy it and will check out the site.

A neighborhood occupied by several dog owners means that your own dog will likely get a healthy dose of social interaction without having to head to the aforementioned park to find its pals. It also means that you have a sort of built-in familiarization tactic, as many neighbors find that their most frequent interactions come when dog-walking.

On the flipside, countless stories document the lengths to which dog-hating neighbors could go should they take issue with a dog’s barking or bathroom habits. Without being alarmist, it cannot be emphasized enough that a dog owner should actively seek a neighborhood filled with other dog owners, for both their own and their puppy’s sake.

The Home Itself

The dimensions and interior features of a home are especially important for those who own larger breeds. A home with a series of tight hallways and rooms which fall on the smaller side should be prepared for unintentional, dog-induced damage which is almost certain to occur over time. While Vet Street lists some larger dog breeds that fare well in small spaces, avoidance of cramping a large pooch in an overly cramped living situation is preferable for most.

In addition, the choice of whether to go with a two-story or one-story home should be viewed through a dog-centric lens. Most owners are realistic enough to see when their beloved canine friend is reaching its twilight years, and burdening the dog with frequent trips up and down the staircase can be taxing on its joints and your conscience.

While dream homes should not necessarily be passed over due to the presence of stairs alone, such a feature may serve as a deal-breaker when it comes to choosing between two homes which you consider comparable.

Conclusion

Most dog lovers truly consider their own companion to be a member of their family. When it comes to selecting a new home, every member of the family should be considered, though it is understandable that human needs may be prioritized before the dog’s. With that said, the features which are conducive to a happy pup – a large yard, for one – tend to also be appealing to humans. A yard your dog can play in is also a yard in which your children can do the same. When it comes to informing your real estate agent of what you are looking for, don’t forget to consider the pooch.


Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Scary Times

Halloween is supposed to be scary fun.  I get the scary part but not the fun part.  For many pets, including me, Halloween is scary and stressful and can even be dangerous.

The parts of Halloween that make it fun for humans, especially for little humans, are the least fun for pets.  Here are some reasons why.

1.  Treats.

Little humans like to go from house to house and beg for treats.  I get the begging for treats part.  I am a very good begger of treats but I don’t like when anybody else beg at my house!  They are MY treats and on top of that, it is my job to protect our house.  It is really hard to protect our house when someone comes to the door every two minutes.

If your pet is like me (and DixieLee, who also is in charge of protecting our house) you might want to put them in their crate in a room where they don’t have to deal with all the opening and closing of the door.

Also, it will make sure that they can’t get scared and run outside when the door is opened.
Remember that the treats that little humans like can make pets sick.  We all know that chocolate is dangerous for dogs and the Xylitol, the artificial sweetener, can be poison too.

2. Costumes.

Dressing up in scary or funny costumes is fun for humans but not all pets like to dressed up in costumes.  DixieLee and I don’t.  I will wear a pretty kerchief now and then but she doesn’t even like to dress up in a kerchief.  If you are going to dress a pet in a costume, please make sure they like it and that the costume does not limit movement, sight, the ability to breath, bark or meow, drink and eat.  Make sure there is nothing that can be chewed off and choke or can get twisted and injury the pet.

I already said I don’t like when peoples come to our house to beg and it is even worse when they are wearing scary costumes.  They might be peoples I know but it hard to tell when they have masks on.

3. Decorations.

Mom is not a fan of Halloween either but she loves Autumn so we do some decorating.  Sometimes we have pumpkins or corn stalks, or Indian corn or some other “Autumn” kind of decorations.  They look pretty!

Pumpkin is a good food for dogs but not after it has been out and gets mold.  Lots of peoples put burning candles in their carved pumpkins or burn candles around the house.  Burning candles are very dangerous around pets.  One good sweep of an excited tail can mean a big fire and no place to live.  Yikes!

Halloween can be fun for humans and non-stressful for pets when remember a few simple things. 

Happy Halloween,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe check out pawpalsboutique.com



Thursday, October 19, 2017

Bad Luck For Black Cats

I love humans but sometimes they are very confusing creatures. Take for example what they think of black cats. Lots of people think that black cats bring bad luck. Witches, the bad kind in spooky stories, always have a black cat as a pet so black cats must be evil too.

Even when people say they don’t really believe that black cats are bad luck, there must be a part of them that does because when they go to find a new pet at an animal shelter, they don’t even look at the black cats.

I read a study that said black cats are two-thirds less likely to get adopted than white cats and half as likely to get adopted as tabbies. It is so unfair that just because they have a black coat, they stay in shelters almost two times longer than other color cats.
Some shelters spend lots of effort to get black cats adopted. They take really pretty pictures of them and put those pictures in newspaper and television ads.

There is one time of year when some shelters don’t want to let black cats be adopted. That time is around Halloween. A black cat, like any animal that gets adopted should be part of the family.  They should be loved and pampered.  A black cat is not an accessory to a Halloween costume.

Worse yet, there are really bad people out there who want to hurt black cats at Halloween time! I think those peoples should be put in a cage and only be let out to pee twice a day.

I know the people who read my blog are super good people so if you are thinking of adopting a cat any time soon, please think about adopting a black cat. They are just as loving as other color cats and they purr just and loud.

Have a happy and safe Halloween,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, go to pawpalsboutique.com 



Friday, October 6, 2017

Be Ready To Be Safe

We heard some good things on the news today. Some of the dogs that were rescued from the hurricanes are being returned to their Moms and Dads. Everybody is so happy!

When Mom helped the peoples at Above the Notch Humane Society, she learned all about how to help pets in disasters like hurricanes and forest fires. 

Sometimes during a big disaster, peoples have to leave their houses quickly and go to safer places.  Some of those places let pets stay but not all.   It is good to know that many kennels have plans so that when a disaster happens they are ready to help pets.


Mom has a special box that she keeps right in the kitchen cabinet with our heart worm medication, proof of vaccinations, photos of us, and the telephone numbers and id numbers for our micro chips. Mom makes sure the microchip information is correct and up to date.

We always wear out collars and tags, even when we are in the house so we don’t have to go looking for them. We have bigger plastic box in our office that we keep our dog stuff in, Stuff like leashes and harnesses, poop bags, towels and blankets.

Mom says the big box is convenient for every day use and keeps the house from looking messy.  Having all of those things in one place makes it much easier if we had to evacuate quickly because we don't have to go looking for anything.

Even with all that stuff in it, it’s still big enough to hold some gallons of water and bags of dog food and still have room for some of our toys.  It fits in the back of our car along with our travel crates.

We keep a people first aid kit in our car and it’s good for pets too.

We hope you never have to be in a hurricane or other disaster but just in case these are some things you can do to be ready to move to safety real fast.

Be ready to be safe,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  The Holidays are coming and we  know how much pets love to gets gifts so check out our huge selection of pet gift baskets at pawpalsboutique,com and order early.




Monday, September 25, 2017

A Walk In The Park

One of my favorite thing to do, besides eating treats and taking naps, is taking Mom and Dad for walks.

Walking is a cardio exercise which means it is good for your heart. It is also a weight bearing exercise which means it helps keep your bones strong. The more you walk, the more you can walk. That’s called endurance and like other kinds of exercise, waking makes the good chemicals in your brain feel happy. That’s called “improving your mood”.

Walking is very good for weight control. That means walking can help you keep your weight right or if you have too much weight, walking can help you make the too much weight go away.

Come to think of it, we dogs need to have good hearts, and bones and we like to have improved moods and controlled weight too.

Walking is magic. It’s does all kinds of healthy things and it’s fun. DixieLee and I have to get Mom and Dad to do more walking.

There are other reasons to get your humans to go for walks.

Walking with your human is a good time to build trust and bond with your human.

Walking uses up energy and that’s a really good thing for hyperactive dogs like DixieLee. When dogs have lots of extra energy they find ways to use it up and sometimes the ways they find can be very destructive. Nobody likes to come home and find a big hole in your sofa or your favorite shoes missing their heels.

Before you leave the house, make sure you are wearing your tags and you are on leash. Your human should take along some poop bags. Good neighbors always clean up after their dogs.

Don’t go for walks when it is too hot or too cold. Mom puts her hand down on the black top and counts up numbers and if it’s too hot for her hand, it’s too hot for our feet.

If you are going for a big walk, make sure your human brings water for them and for you.

So how big is a big walk? That depends on lots of things.

Age is important. Very young or very old dogs shouldn’t walk as long or as far as a middle age dog. The dog’s breed is important when deciding how long or far a dog should walk. Sport breeds can walk much bigger walks than a little dog like a Chihuahua.

A dog that has too much weight should walk to help lose that weight or dogs who don’t do many walks need to start out doing little walks and work up to big walks.

Today is a beautiful day. The sun is shining. It’s not too hot and there is a nice breeze. I think I’ll get DixieLee and we’ll tell Mom it’s time to go for a walk.


See  you when we get back,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  Looking for a gift for your favorite furry friend that is really different.  Check out the gift baskets at pawpalsboutique.com  I know your dog or cat will love get a gift that is really a bunch of gifts in one.

Thursday, September 14, 2017

On To Plan B

Hi.  It’s me, Zeva.  There has been a change in plans and I am taking over writing the blogs sooner than expected.  Since DixieLee was going to go to Basic Obedience School, we had planned on her writing the next few blogs so she could talk about her experiences.

Well, that plan has gone away since she is not attending Basic Obedience School anymore.  She never even made it through the first lesson.  Mom and I are pretty embarrassed but DixieLee is unfazed.  She doesn’t understand why she and Mom had to leave before the class even started.  

The place was crazy full of other dogs!  They were all playing nicely or helping their humans fill out paperwork.  According to DixieLee, she was just helping get the class started.  She was teaching the other dogs how to greet one another.  After all, aren’t you supposed to bark non-stop at every dog you see.

Part of the reason for sending her to a class was so she could learn how to get along with other dogs better.  Now Mom and Gail are going to work out some private lessons where she can meet other dogs and animals a few at a time.  

The trip wasn’t a total waste of time.  She told me she saw a cow when she was at the farm where the they have the Obedience School.  She said it was amazing.  So amazing that she didn’t even bark at it.    I’m not sure what a cow is but she says it’s really big!  

There were chickens and ducks at the farm too.   We had some chickens that lived in our neighborhood and would come over to our house every day.  We all got to be friends so she doesn’t bark at chickens only dogs.

She really does need a refresher course in obedience.  Mom thought she had “leave it” down really good.  When we play toys, both DixieLee and I let go of the toy when Mom says “leave it”.  I guess DixieLee wasn’t paying close attention because she didn’t understand “leave it” also meant that she was supposed to let go when she grabbed the pork chop bone that Dad accidentally dropped on the floor.  (sigh)

Oh well, I guess I’ll see you next week and share more adventures.  Until then,

Love,
Your Friend
Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.   If you have a furry friend who is about to graduate from Obedience Class, why not send them a “congratulations” gift?  You’ll find some really great ones at pawpalsboutique.com  Check it out for yourself!

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Teaching a Not So Old Dog Some New Tricks

Hi! It’s me, DixieLee. Zeva said I could write the blog this week because I have some exciting news.

I am going to school! Yup. Just like the human kids, I am starting school today. Mom and I are going to Basic Dog Obedience class at Paws-a-tive Training in Lancaster.

I am nervous but not scared because I already know my teacher really good. Gail is the nice teacher who came to our house and even took me and Mom for a big walk once. Gail is really nice and she always has lots of treats in her pocket.

Basic Dog Obedience class teaches dogs how to do important things like Sit, Come, Down, Off, Stay and Heel. I’m already sort of good at most of those things but I am going to class so that I can get to be with other dogs and learn how to behave around them.

Since I came to live with my family, I spent most of my time with Mom and Dad and Zeva. I never got to learn how to behave around other dogs. When I see other dogs I jump and bark and pull on my leash. Mom says it makes it very difficult to take me to dog park or for big walks because I don’t pay attention to the walking.

When Zeva came to live with our family, she went to work with Mom every day. She got to meet and play with the other dogs that worked in the same building and went for walks with a dog walker and some other dogs. She even got to go to doggie day care ALL DAY some times so she knows how to act nice around other dogs.

Zeva said I can tell you all about my adventures but that I shouldn’t think that I am going to be taking over the blogging because that is her job and she does it best.

So, wish me luck. I am going to try real hard to be on my best behavior and show all the other dogs how good I do Sit, Come, Down, Off, Stay and Heel. Well Sit and Down anyway.

Talk to you soon,
Love
DixieLee



P.S. Blatant self-promotion. We have the best pet gift baskets anywhere! Check us out at pawpalsboutique.com and see for yourself.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Sweet Dreams

I was having a nice nap when DixieLee kicked me.  I work up quick, scared that the house was being attacked. I should be used to being kicked awake by her since it happens lots.

When she dreams she is running in her dreams her feet move like she is really running. If I am sleeping too near her, I get kicked. She kicks Mom or Dad too but they don’t jump up thinking the house is being attacked. Good thing I am on guard duty all the time cuz we would be in big trouble if I left it up to them to keep us safe.

Some peoples think that dog peoples, like the ones who read my blog, treat their dogs like humans and make believe we do things that we don’t do. They think humans are the only ones who get to dream.

There are studies by science peoples showing that, not only do dogs dream, but that our dreams are connected to things that happen to us. They say hunting dogs move like they are pointing game or flushing birds when they are dreaming.

Mom says I dream softly. I almost never “run” or whimper when I sleep. DixieLee does it all the time. Sometimes she even woofs.

There is an expression, “Let sleeping dogs lie” which has a human meaning but it is good advice when dealing with a sleeping dog. Mom or Dad can come up to me and pet me while I am asleep and I wake up nice. When DixieLee is woofing or whimpering in her sleep, Mom talks softly to her, telling her she is safe or makes little shhhh sounds.

We learned the hard way that if you wake DixieLee up unexpectedly, you could get nipped at. Not so much anymore but when she first came to live with us, oh boy, look out. Mom says it was because she was always scared back then and maybe dreaming about bad stuff that happened.

If dogs dream like humans do, we think they have nightmares like humans do too. When I ask her about her dreams, she says she can’t remember. I hope she is dreaming about catching squirrels or warning that the mail person is coming to our house and not having nightmares about when she was little and scared.

The one good thing about being a dog is that we can fall asleep any time, any where. All this talk about dreaming is making me tired so I think I’ll say “good night” and take a little nap.

Sweet dreams,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  For the very bestest pet gift baskets in the universe at pawpalsboutique.com  See for yourself!


Tuesday, August 8, 2017

I’m Cute And You Love Me

It’s a good thing that DixieLee is cute and that Mom loves her because it she wasn’t so cute and so loved she would be in the biggest trouble ever.

We had all eaten our suppers and Mom was cleaning the kitchen.  Dad did a big painting project and he wanted Mom to see how nice it looked so she left for a minute.  It was only a little minute but when she got back to the kitchen, DixieLee was chewing on the left over spare ribs Dad had for supper.

She took it right off of the kitchen counter! 

She did so many wrongs….

1.  No jumping on the kitchen counter

2.  No eating people food

3.  No eating cooked bones

She knew she was bad cuz as soon as she saw Mom she took the rib, ran and hid in her crate so she could finish eating where no one could get to her.

I know that some dogs steal people food off of counters all the time. Trainers call it counter surfing.  When dogs didn’t live with peoples we had to do scavenging and unattended food was, well food.
   
I might do some begging now and again but I never thought to just take food from the counter.  Now that DixieLee knows how easy it is to get really yummy food, she told me she is going to do it again.

I hope not!  The only thing badder than taking leftovers off of the counter would be to take Dad’s dinner off of the counter before he got to eat it.  I bet she wouldn’t look so cute or be so loved then!

Some peoples try tricks to discourage counter surfing but punishing a dog for doing something so natural is not good.  The bestest way to prevent counter surfing is to not leave food unattended or to place it beyond the reach of even the most determined dog.  Keeping dogs completely out of the kitchen is also another way to prevent food theft.

Well, what's done is done.  Now Mom has to watch to make sure that the cooked bones don’t cause any problems that involve trips to the vet.   Living with DixieLee is always an adventure.

And it's my turn to watch her so I'll see you later.

Love,

Zeva


P.S. Blatant Self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, go to pawpalsboutique.com and order one for yourself today.  I know you’ll just love it!

Thursday, August 3, 2017

A Day In The Life Of This Dog

It’s four o’clock in the morning and I haven’t been fed yet! It doesn’t happen often but every once in a while Dad oversleeps and I have to wake him up to feed us.

DixieLee and I doze on the bed until he is dressed for outside and then follow him to the back door to be let into the pen. When we come back inside, our breakfast is waiting in our bowls. We get fed half of our food in the morning, a snack at lunch and the other half in the evening so it doesn’t take all that long to finish.

We always get desert, even at breakfast. Unlike Mom, who has to be reminded about desert, Dad has the cookie jar open and our desert ready.

Then Dad goes to get his newspaper and we go back to sleep until Mom gets up. Mom is in charge of giving DixieLee her itchy pills (I get a lick of peanut butter too) and we both get a scoop of coconut oil. We like coconut oil and it does lots of good things like keep our coats shiny.

That’s the way we start every day but then our routine changes depending on the day.

Sunday is our bestest favorite because if the weather is nice we always go for a big walk or a ride in the car. We like to go for big walks everyday but we don’t get to decide. We try to let Mom know we want to walk by leading her to where our leashes are hung. We know she understands and some times she listens but not always.

Some days we hang out in the office while Mom works on her computer or in the Studio while she makes gift baskets. Those are good days because she take breaks and plays games with us. When Mom does work away from home, we hang out with Dad while he plays in the garden or on the lawn.

DixieLee and I spend lots of time napping or lying on the big bed watching the birds and squirrels play in the yard or playing with our toys in the living room.

After supper we usually lie on the couch and watch TV with Mom and Dad until it’s time for bed. Night time is an important time since it is the dog's job to guard the house while our humans sleep.

DixieLee and I divide guard duty so that one of us is always sleeping on the bed. We switch off until almost morning and then both of us sleep on the bed until four o’clock when we start our day all over again.

It’s a good life and having a structure is nice because it makes us feel safe and we know exactly when we are going to eat which is the mostest important thing.

Now, I see it is time for a nap.

Your friend,
Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, go to pawpalsboutique.com


Thursday, July 27, 2017

Bonding With Your Pet

Mom loves me. How do I know? She tells me all the time. She tells me I am her very favorite white dog. She loves DixieLee too. How do I know? She tells her she is her very favorite brown dog.

Mom and Dad tell us they love is us lots of other ways too.

They spend time with us. We go for walks or to the park together. When Dad plays in the yard or garden, we get to watch him. Dad is also good at playing games with us like tug of war or hide and seek.

We help Mom when she does her computer stuff and when she works in the studio making gift baskets. She plays games too, her best being catch.

We watch TV with them and even get to sleep on the bed with them.

Touching is a good way to show love but every dog is different about how they like to be touched. Some dogs, like DixieLee, don’t like to be touched much and not many dogs like to be hugged. Human hugging is like when a dog puts it’s paw over another dog which is a dominance stance.

Brushing and baths (I hate both) are not only good for being healthy, they are good ways to bond.

I love to get belly rubs and ear scratches and DixieLee and I both think getting our backs and butts scratched it the bestest way of getting petted.

Mom and Dad talk to us all the time. We like hearing their voices (most of the time). I specially like when Mom asks my opinion about a new design or a new product we want to add to the Paw Pals Boutique line.

They show us they love us by letting us have our own space. We each have our own crate and we can go in and be alone when we want. We also have the run of the house when they are home so if I want to sleep on the bed or be outside in the pen while Dad and DixieLee are watching TV, I can.

Food and treats are another way we know we are loved. We get healthy food and good stuff like coconut oil and good treats like carrots and watermelon. They could give us more treats though. We’ve had that discussion several times but I don’t think I’m getting my point across.

Aside from not understanding the more treats thing, Mom and Dad try to listen to us and understand what we like and don’t like. All in all, it’s a pretty good arrangement. I know Mom and Dad love us and we try to let them know we love them back.

I think it’s about time for another belly rub. Dad doesn’t look too busy….

Love,

Zeva



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Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Never Too Many

Once upon a time we were a one dog household. Then DixieLee came to live with us. Before I came to live with Mom and Dad they had two dogs so having two dogs was no big deal for them. Or so they thought.

The two dogs they had before were litter mates.  One was a boy and the other a girl. Since they lived together since they were babies and they knew that the girl dog is always the boss, there was no problem who got to make the rules.

DixieLee and I both had to make changes in how we did things and it wasn’t always easy. DixieLee likes to be the boss.  I get to do what I want most of the time so I don’t care. Besides, we both know that the real boss of the house is Mom so if DixieLee gets too bossy, Mom steps in and makes her be good.

Dogs are pack animals and in the way long time ago it was important for the survival of the pack that all the dogs got along.  I don’t know about you but sometimes having a sister gets on my nerves. Like when I have a good toy or when I get the best seat on the couch she tries to be a bully and make me give in. 

There are things peoples can do to help dogs in the family get along better. Everyone knows that a tired dog is a good dog so seeing that we get lots of exercise is important. Exercise gets rid of energy and stress. Yes, we get stressed too.

When she first came to live with us, DixieLee got fed in her crate. Mom called it preemptive action.   It took time but she knows I am not going to steal her food so we now eat side by side in the kitchen. Mom still takes preemptive action when we have extra special treats like marrow bones or carrots. No sense looking for trouble.

We have to be a little careful when we play fight too. Most of the time we play fight good but Mom makes sure we take breaks so we don’t get too excited
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When Mom or Dad comes home DixieLee wants to be petted first so sometimes she pushes me out of the way. Mom says “Hello Girls” but doesn’t pet either of us until she has taken off her coat and put her work stuff away. Then she pets us both at the same time.

Dogs can get jealous so making quality time for each of us is important. I love to play catch with Mom and Dad and sometimes when we go for walks, Dad and I take a short cut home and Mom takes DixieLee for more miles.

Relationships take a lot of work and it’s important that we all work together to make us have a happy family. Mom says as long as we remember that she is the BOSS, everything will be just fine.

Your friend,

Zeva

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Wednesday, July 12, 2017

So Many Choices!

We were in the Vet’s office last week for my annual check up and it was really busy. While waiting our turn, we met a bunch of dogs and a cat who looked and acted just like Grumpy Cat. All the dogs knew to stay away from him!

One of the dogs we met was a Mini Pin and another was a Shih Tzu. When one of the Moms asked Mom what breed I was, she said I am an All American. She said DixieLee is an All American too. That confused me cuz DixieLee and I don’t look anything alike. I look mostly like a Lab and she looks mostly like a Hound.

I tried looking up All American on Google and although I found out that there are over 300 breeds of dogs recognized by dog groups like the FCI.. I didn’t find All American on any of the lists.

What I did find was that the breeds are broken down into ten groups according to the breed’s purpose/function and appearance/size. Dogs in the Sporting group were bred to hunt while dogs in the Working group were bred to do things like pull a sled. Dogs in the Toy group were bred mostly for companionship but don’t be fooled, they can be very protective and their yappie bark can scare away a burglar as well as a big dog’s bark.

With so many breeds to choose from, how is a human supposed to know what dog is best for them? Mom said she chose me because I looked like a little angel. Both of the dogs who lived with Mom and Dad before me had just got died and she said that they sent her an angel.  She said they played a trick on her because I am not always a little angel.

The best way for a human to choose a dog is to think about their lifestyle. Even though they may not need a dog to hunt or pull a sled, they might want a dog from one of those groups if they like to spend time outdoors doing things like hiking or snowshoeing. If they live in an apartment in a big city, they might want a dog that doesn’t take up too much room and who can be carried when they go outside.

If you know someone who is thinking of adding a pet to their household, please ask them to check shelters and rescue services first. Shelters get pure bred dogs too and there are breed specific rescue services. Just check on line. If you know someone who wants to buy from a breeder, tell then to make sure they are honest and have a good reputation.

Also remember that lots of pet stores deal with puppy mills and those are TERRIBLE places for dogs.

One thing I can tell you from personal experience, All Americans are a terrific breed. We come in lots of different colors and sizes and we are all extra special in our own way.

Your All American friend,

Zeva

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