Camera Shy?

If your Mom is like ours, she is always trying to take pictures of you when you are doing something “cute”. 

DixieLee is okay about having her picture taken.  She is always doing something funny but lots of times she moves too fast to get a not blurry shot.

Me, I prefer my privacy but it is important that your humans have some good pictures of you just in case you go missing or get pet-napped.

Every day we see lots of posts on Facebook and flyers in store windows of pets that have gone missing.

A “good” picture is one that shows lots of you so peoples can get a sense of how big you are and what colors you are all over.  A “good” picture is a recent one.  I know I look way different than I did when I was younger.

A good description of you to go along with your picture is also important. It should tell how big you are, how much you weigh, how old you are (I know, girls don’t like to tell those things but they are important to know) and tell where you were last seen.

Your humans should call the local rescue/shelter and police department.  Sometimes peoples take lost pets to shelters or call the police to say there is a stray in the area.  Getting your picture to the shelter and police is good too.

We hope you never get lost or pet-napped but if you do, having a good picture and having your humans act quickly, will be a big help in getting you home safe and soon.

Smile pretty!

Love,

Zeva

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

What Color is Your Ribbon?

Our friend Beauregard had a very bad experience the other day. He and his Mom were taking a walk. There was a Mom and a little boy walking in front of them. The little boy spotted Beauregard and started to go toward him.

Beauregard is a service dog. His Mom has Autisim. Her Autisim makes her uncomfortable around strangers so they crossed the street to avoid the little boy. The little boy started running toward them, waving his arms. Beauregard’s Mom was so upset.

I guess if you are not a “dog” people, you don’t realize how dangerous it is to approach a strange dog. Not all dogs are friendly and dogs like Beauregard have big jobs to do and should not be bothered.

Some service dogs, emotional support dogs or therapy dogs have special vests that they wear to let people know that they are working.

Some peoples use colored ribbons to tell certain things about the dog.

Blue means the dog is in training.

Orange means the dog is okay around peoples but not so good around other dogs.

Green means the dog is friendly.

White means the dog is blind or deaf.

Yellow means the dog is fearful.

When we walk, Mom and Dad make sure we don’t get too close to strangers or other dogs. If we stop to talk with friends, Mom watches to make sure we are on our goodest behavior.

The idea of using ribbons is a good one except not everyone knows what the colors mean and lots of us like to wear pretty colored collars, harnesses and leashes. I have a pink collar, black harness and a pink leash.

DixieLee and I wear colorful kerchiefs too! All the mix of colors could confuse peoples. I think the bestest thing to do is not go near any dog until you ask the Mom or Dad and even then to watch the dog’s body language. Hey, we all have grumpy days.

It’s another beautiful day outside. I think I’ll get DixieLee and we’ll both stare at our harnesses until Mom and Dad get the idea that going for a walk would be fun.

Your friend,

Zeva

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

'Tis The Season

We love the warm weather, We love the birds and the flowers. But there are things about warm weather we don’t like.

Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitoes!

We hate having to get medicines put on our skin to keep the bugs off and even when we do wear that stuff, some fleas or ticks or mosquitoes can still get on us. It wouldn’t be so bad except that fleas, ticks and mosquitoes carry littler buggies that can make us sick or even died.

We just read that ticks carry over a dozen different diseases and mosquitoes carry the bug that gives us heartworm.

Our humans could spray our yard with poison to kill the them but the spray is not good for us either. At our house we use plants to keep the bugs away and they seem to work pretty good.

There are many plants that keep fleas and ticks and mosquitoes away and MANY of them are okay around pets. There are some that keep bugs away that should NOT be planted where pets can get at them.

To keep fleas and ticks away from our yard we plant:

Lavender, Marigolds, Cat Nip, Sage, Rosemary and Lemongrass. Chrysanthemums, Chamomile and Citronella are good for keeping fleas and ticks away too but they can be toxic to pets.

I tried Catnip once. I don’t see why some cats like it so much.

Garlic and Eucalyptus are also good for keeping ticks away but they too can be toxic to pets.

Lavender, Catnip, and Rosemary are also good mosquito repellents.

Even though some of these plants are safe for pets, Mom doesn’t want to take any chances. We have big planters that she fills with these good plants and keeps them on the other side of our fence so we can’t eat them or rub them on our fur.

Looks like it's about time to take a tour around the yard to make sure everything is good and the lady in the little truck didn't steal our mail again.

Love

Zeva

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

Puggle or Pomsky

Mom was filling out some papers for me and one of the spaces needed to say what breed I am. Like we always do, she said I am a Lab Mix. When we have to fill in the spaces saying what DixieLee’s breed is, we say that she is a Hound Mix.

Mom said in the older days when she was young, they called dogs that were not pure breeds, “Mutts”. She says that all the dogs she has had were Mutts and that they are one of the bestest breeds.

There are still lots of dogs that are “Mixes” (which peoples think is a nicer name than Mutts). Mixes means that their moms and dads are not the same breed. Mixes are so good that some breeders are combining two pure breeds on purpose to create a whole new breed. These newer breeds are sometimes called “Designer Dogs”.

Lots of peoples like these new breeds because they say that the breeds combine the best characteristics of each breed which is a good thing because if dogs are too interbred, they can have bad health problems. Cross breeding hopes to make the good characteristics happen while making the bad characteristics go away.

There are rules about how to be a real Designer Dog. An established kennel club has to look at the ancestry of the dog to see its history and pedigree. There has to be three generations before a new breed can even be considered. If the kennel club says it’s okay then the club registers it and it becomes an accepted “breed”.

I think the bestest thing about Designer Dogs is they have fun names. Here are some of my favorites.

Labradoodle is a Standard Poodle and Labrador Retriever. These dogs are really smart and athletic.

Cockapoo is a Poodle and Cocker Spaniel and is one of the first Designer Dogs.

Peke-a-poo is a small Poodle and Pekingese. This combination gives puppies longer noses so they have fewer respiratory problems.

I’m not sure which I like best, I like Puggles, which are a cross between a Beagle and Pug. Puggle is a great name and Puggles, like Peke-a-poo, they have less breathing issues than Pugs.

I also think Pomsky is a great name. A Pomsky is a cross between a Pomeranian and a Husky. All puppies are cute but I think a Pomsky puppy is the cutest of all the cute.

Anyway, if your humans are thinking of getting another dog to live with you, you might like a Designer Dog or a Mix as your new brother or sister. It’s something to think about.

Right now, I think I will think about getting a snack. Writing a blog is hard work you know.

Love,

Zeva

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

Why Dogs?

It’s 4:00 a.m. and Mom and Dad are still sleeping. If it weren’t for DixieLee and me, they would sleep the day away. Mom says we are the cutest alarm clocks, even if we don’t have a snooze button.

Being good alarm clocks aren't the only good things dogs do for their humans.

Dogs help to keep their humans healthy.

They are great exercise buddies. Going for walks or playing games every day help dogs and people stay fit and healthy.

People with dogs recover from being sick faster. Some hospitals are even letting dogs visit their peoples when they are recovering because they see that the peoples get better faster.

Some dogs, called service dogs, are trained to help people with disabilities. They can fetch things like medicines or phones or even help with grocery shopping.

Other dogs are trained to help people with PTSD from getting anxiety and Autistic children from having melt downs.  Dogs can be trained to help Diabetics when their blood sugar is getting too high or too low and others to tell if their human is about to get a migraine or seizure.

Dogs are even being trained to sniff out Cancer!

We are very good at helping to relive stress. Okay, Mom says we cause her stress but she loves it when we run to greet her when she gets home from work. Some offices even let dogs go to work with their humans. When we had our Shoppe, I used to go with Mom every day. I loved to greet the people and some even came by just to see me.

Dogs are great for children. We help them learn responsibility and we are an excellent playmate. I read that kids with a family dog miss less school and are healthier than kids from homes without dogs.

We can help our humans make friends. A dog park or a walk around the neighborhood is a great way to meet people.  Dogs are good conversation starters.

We are super good at guarding our houses. No body can get near our house without us sounding the alarm. We are good at letting Mom and Dad know when the mail arrives and when the UPS truck comes too.

Best of all, dogs are super fun to be around.

Give your humans a hug and have a happy day,

Zeva

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

Being Top Dog

I didn’t wake up one day and find myself as Chief Canine Officer of a pet gift basket company. It took years of hard work and lots of learning.

I started my life in a non-kill shelter in South Carolina. When I was just a baby, I was put in a van with my litter mates and other shelter dogs and driven to New England where my chances of being adopted were better.

My picture was put on petfinders.com along with thousands of other dogs looking for forever homes. I got lucky when my Mom saw my picture and called the rescue people. I was so little and kind of scared. Mom and Dad were really nice and before long we were a real family.

I had a big job to do. Being the dog of a family is a very responsible position, especially when you are adopted into a family where other dogs used to live until the crossed over to Rainbow Bridge.

I got to go to Mom’s Studio everyday with her. I watched how she worked at the gift basket business. Peoples seemed to like getting gift baskets and I knew that pets liked to get gifts too so why not start making gift baskets for pets.

Mom liked the idea and we made a special section in the Shoppe just for pet gift baskets. We would think about what kinds of things would be liked best. Toys are always fun and of course, treats,

My job can be challenging but it is also very rewarding. One of the percs is that I get to taste test the treats and play with the toys we consider using.

When DixieLee came to live with us I trained her good and now we are even more selective in what toys and treats we put in our gift baskets. Like, now we only buy treats that are made in the USA.

We have grown over the past six years and I am looking forward to helping more pets received high quality gift baskets from the peoples who love them.

To see our large selection of gift baskets for dogs and cats, just go to pawpalsboutique.com You’ll be glad you did.

Love,

Zeva, Chief Canine Officer

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

Running Free, Not Me!

Did you know that a long time ago, when Mom was a girl, family dogs stayed outside all the time and ran free around town? I bet it would be fun to run around town and visit other dogs but it must have been very dangerous living back then.

Today most people let their dogs stay in the house and don’t let them run free when they are outside. I know that some adoption agencies won’t let a dog get adopted unless the house has a fenced yard. Fenced yards help keep pets safe. Fences keep dogs from running into the road where cars are and help to keep them from getting stolen. Today dogs that are running free around town can get picked up by the Police.

Pets that run free, especially cats and little dogs, are targets for undomesticated animals like foxes and coyotes. Porcupines and skunks many not eat you but they sure can make your life miserable. Even tangling with a squirrel or snake can mean a trip to the Vet. A neighborhood cat was almost taken by an eagle. Good thing her Mom heard her screaming and was able to rescue her. She is going to be okay but she did have to go to the emergency Vet to get stitches and shots.

Fences can be made from lots of things like wood or vinyl. There are even fences that are invisible!

DixieLee and I have a nice fenced in area. It is big enough for us to have good races and play fights in. It’s made out of chain link. DixieLee is a good jumper but the fence is high enough so she can’t jump over it and she’s not big on climbing over it like some dogs would be.

Dogs have been known to climb on top of dog houses or wood piles and jump over their fences from there. Some dogs prefer to go under their fences.

DixieLee almost dug her way out from under our fence. I don’t think she started out thinking of tunneling her way out, it’s just that she likes to dig holes and a couple of the holes happened to be near the fence. Some dog fences have a border of metal netting that helps keep a dog from digging their way out. Another way to keep a dog from digging under is to make sure that the fence goes at least 6 inches under the ground.

We get to go in our pen most any time we want but only when Mom or Dad is home. They don’t need to be outside with us but they want to be able to keep an eye on us. They know that DixieLee can get into trouble without even trying and escaping from the yard would be big trouble.

When we first got our new fence she tried to squeeze between the end of the fence and the house. Dad had to put an extra post in to fill the gap.  Like I said she doesn't look for trouble but it does seem to find her.

It’s a beautiful Spring day in Northern New Hampshire so I think I stop now and go outside in my pen and enjoy some sunshine and fresh air.

Love,

Zeva

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

No Bow Thank You

I watched some of the Westminster dog show a couple of weeks ago.  I liked watching the dogs run around the arena with their humans.  That looked like fun but why would any dog put up with the other stuff?  I mean hair dryers and nail buffing and smelly baths.  Not for me!

I know grooming is important and not just cuz it makes us look pretty.  Things like brushings are good for all dogs, not only the ones with super long coats.  Brushing helps keep us clean buy getting rid of dirt and dandruff and hair we shed.  Brushing also helps make oils spread over our fur making it look silky.

I don’t mind a little brushing but I’m sure glad I’m not an Afghan or Poodle.  They have to get brushed lots so they don’t get their fur matted.

Brushing also lets Mom check us for little hurts.  DixieLee and I play hard and sometimes we get little hurts so when Mom brushes us she can check us for scrapes, cuts, lumps, bumps and even fleas and ticks.

Brushing is a nice way for dogs and their humans to spend time together. I know lots of dogs like to get groomed but me, not so much and DixieLee hates it.   She thinks she is a tough dog.  She loves to roll in the dirt and grass and get muddy.  She thinks grooming is for sissies.  The groomers at the day care really earn their pay when she shows up.  Especially when she needs her nails clipped.

Before she came to live with us she spent most of her time outside running free.  She ran on rocks and roads and sidewalks so her nails stayed pretty short.  Now that she has a house to live in with carpets, nice grass in the yard and woodland trails to walk on her nails get pretty long.

Long nails are not good.  If they are too long they can make walking and running difficult.  They can split or break which hurts.  If a dog’s nails are too long they start to walk funny and that can cause their joints to hurt or even get arthritis.  Long nails can accidentally scratch too.  I know DixiLee scratched Dad’s hand one time and he needed a Band-Aid.

Lots of dogs get their teeth and ears checked when they get groomed.  You need good strong teeth for eating cookies so keeping them clean is important.  Ears need to be clean and working well too or else you can’t hear the potato chip bag open.

Even though I don’t like getting brushed and washed and clipped I admit I do look extra pretty when we are all done.  I always get a nice colorful kerchief to wear after a grooming but no hair dryers please and no one puts one of those little bows in my hair.

Your well groomed friend,

Zeva

P.S.  When you need a gift for your favorite fur friend, check out the huge selection of pet gift baskets at pawpalsboutique,com  I bet you fill find something your friend will  absolutely love.

Not Just For Fun

If you think that playing is only for fun you would be wrong.  Play is a very serious thing.  Play is exercise and exercise is really important for dogs because it helps us get rid of energy.  If we don’t get rid of energy by playing we find some other way to get rid of it.   I’m not pointing paws or anything, but some dogs, like a certain sister I have, get rid of extra energy by misbehaving. 

By encouraging play, your human could save a nice pair of shoes or an end table or even Mom’s reading glasses.  (Not pointing paws.  Just saying it wasn’t me.)

Anyway, play can be lots of things.  Play can be gentle or extreme.  Taking a walk can be a kind of play.  Nice walks are good for older dogs or dogs that don’t have lots of energy like Basset Hounds or Bulldogs.  Breeds like Border Collies or Australian Shepherds are very high energy and need lots more exercise.  Lots of high energy dogs love agility training because they get to use up all that energy.

Beagles can do well in the agility part.  It’s the training part that gets in the way.  DixieLee is a beagle mix which might explain a lot.

I like to play catch and our toy box is filled with lots of different balls.  Balls are good for playing other games too.

When it’s too cold or rainy outside Mom likes to play Up and Down the Stairs.  Mom makes the ball go down the stairs and I have to go down the stairs, get the ball and bring it back up to her.

Up and Down the Stairs uses different muscles and gets rid of energy fast.

Fetch is another good game and you can use lots of different toys.  A ball makes a good fetch toy but so does a Frisbee or even a soft toy.  DixieLee’s favorite toy is a funny snowman.  She loves when Mom throws it and she can fetch it back. 

Chase games are fun.  DixieLee and I play chase all the time.  Mom and Dad aren’t very good at this game so they just watch and cheer.  Bubbles are pretty to chase but are not good for playing fetch.  No matter how quick you are they disappear as soon as you think you’ve got them.

The soft snowman is also good for another good game.  Tug of War.  This is lots of fun.  We play Tug of War with Mom and Dad and with each other.  Braided rope toys are good Tug of War toys.

We have lots of toys to play with and after a day of playing our toy box is empty and our toys are all over the house.  Some dogs, like our cousin Sophie, put all their toys back in the box when they are done playing.   Putting away toys takes energy and by the time I’m done playing I’m out of energy and ready for a nap.

I bet you have a favorite game and toy.  Let me know so that we can make sure that we have the most popular toys in all of our gift basket.

Your playful friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  Check out our huge selection of pet gift baskets at pawpalsboutique.com or on our Facebook page.

Tips On Vacationing With Your Pet

A few months ago I wrote about the difference between staying at a kennel and using a pet sitter while our humans were attending a wedding far away.  DixieLee and I weren't invited so we couldn't go but when Mom and Dad go on vacation, we can go with them.

DixieLee and I both like to ride in the car. She likes to sleep in her crate the whole time while I like to sit up and look out the window.  When traveling by car, a crate or seat belt harness is recommended.  Just like a human, we need to be protected in case there is an accident.

Dogs should never ride with their heads outside the window because they can get stuff flying in their eyes.  I keep the window down just enough to I can stick my nose out and smell all the good smells but not so far down where my eyes can get my eyes hurt.

And never ever ride in the back of a truck.  You could get very hurt or even died.

Just like humans, we need to pack our belongings.  We need our regular food and it's good to bring along water from our house or bottled water because we get thirsty on long car rides.  Mom likes to take lots of water because she says that in some places the water tastes yucky.  Don't forget any medications you are taking and of course treats and toys.

Since you will be drinking water, make time for potty breaks where you can walk around a little and stretch your legs.  Lots of rest areas have poop bags available but you should bring along your own just in case.  Also make sure your humans always clean up.  It's the nice thing to do.

Of course we need to be on leash whenever we leave the care, even for a minute.  It is easy to get distracted or confused and run into traffic.

Don't ever stay in the car without your humans, especially in hot weather.  It gets really, really hot very fast.  It can get so hot that you could get sick and even died.

No pet should ever leave home without proper identification and this is even more important if you are going to be far from home.  We have microchips so if our collars or tags get lost, we can still be identified.

It's a good idea for your humans to have your microchip number and the phone number of where to report you missing if they somehow get separated from you.  Having a recent photo of you is also a good idea.

If you are going on a very big trip a visit to the vet before you leave is recommended.  The vet can make sure you are in good shape and they can give you a copy of your inoculations report to take with you.

Mom is going to take us to the beach this summer.  We have never been to the beach so it will be a big adventure.  The beach is far away so we will need to stay at a hotel.  There are lots of hotels that let pets stay in the rooms with their humans but we need to be on our best behavior.

The first thing you need to do when you get to the hotel is take a big walk.  After riding in the car it's good to stretch your legs and get rid of some extra energy.  Since you will be going to a strange place, there will be lots of strange scents everywhere.   Your humans should walk around the whole hotel room so their scent is the freshest.  I may help you feel more comfortable.

Some places have size restrictions so Mom had to make sure we found a place where they let big dogs stay.  Like not staying in the car without your humans, you shouldn't stay in the hotel room alone either.  Hotels where dogs can stay are often near lots of places where dogs can go like the beach.  The beach we are going to has rules so we have to be on our best behavior there too.

Sine Mom and Dad don't like to fly we don't have to worry about traveling on an airplane.  If you are going on a vacation that needs an airplane to get to, there are lots more things you need to know about.  And, if you are going to travel to another country, oh boy, you really need to know about lots of stuff.

I hope you get to go on vacation with your humans.  If you already have been on one, I'd love to hear about it.

Your traveling friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotions.  Did you know you can now shop at pawpalsboutique.com right from our Facebook page?  Come and check it out.

The Hole Story

She’s at it again.  My sister, DixieLee, is a very energetic dog.  We try to give her lots of exercise.  Mom and Dad take us for walks and I run and play fight with her all day long, but I’m usually warn out long before she is so she finds other ways to entertain herself.

One of those ways is digging holes.

Dogs dig holes for lots of reasons.

1.  Keeping comfortable and safe.  Before dogs lived in houses with people, we dug holes to make dens to live in.  They would be warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

2.  Storing valuables.  Holes are also great places to hide things so we bury extra food or other valuable things.  Lots of dogs today bury bones or toys to keep them safe.

3.  Hunting.  There are some breeds like terriers that hunt animals that live underground like moles and groundhogs.  They dig to get to their prey.

4.  Escape.  Even when a dog has a nice big yard like we do, they don’t like not being able to go where they want to so they dig to get out.

5.  Boredom.  Digging is something we do to relieve boredom and some, like DixieLee, find digging fun.  She loves to dig and she digs really fast.  Dirt flies everywhere and it is fun to watch.

If you like to dig and your humans don’t mind a yard full of holes, there is no problem but if they prefer a nice lawn, digging can be a problem.  The first thing for your human to do is figure out why you are digging.

1.  If you can’t stay inside all the time you could dig a den or your human could make sure your outside area has shelter from the cold, like a dog house with some nice blankets, or from the sun, like a shaded area. 

2.  We have lots of toys and antlers but are not allowed to take them outside.  If we are given a treat while we are outside, it is one we finish right away so there is nothing for us to bury.

3.  Stopping a dog that is hunting for prey is not easy.  The instinct to hunt is very strong so you may need the help of a professional trainer to stop this behavior.

4.  Dogs don’t like to be left alone and digging our way out of a pen is our way of breaking free to find our family members or other dogs to hang out with.  A layer of paving stones around the inside of the pen might stop escape efforts.

5.  DixieLee loves to dig because it’s fun so we have a place in the pen where she is allowed to dig.  Dad dug a hole about three feet square and filled it with sand.  DixieLee is allowed to dig all she wants in her sandbox and at the end of the day Dad rakes the sand back over the hole.  DixieLee can dig all she wants and our pen still looks nice.

We always look for a way to solve our problems that lets everyone one be happy.

Love,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self promotion.  Don’t forget the Holidays are coming soon and we have lots of gift baskets especially designed for pets and the people who love them at pawpalsboutique.com

Happy Birthday DixieLee

November 20, 2011 is DixieLee’s birthday!  Sort of.  Could be.  See, the truth is we don’t know when she was born and she was too young at the time to remember so she can’t tell us.

I know my birthday is May 2, 2010.  I know because I was born in a shelter and the shelter gave me a piece of paper telling me when my birthday is.  DixieLee was a stray so when she got found and adopted by us, the vets had to guess how old she was. 

By the time DixieLee came to live with us she was no longer a puppy and into her adolescence, which is like being a bossy human teenager.  She didn’t seem to have good training like I did so there were lots of bad things she needed to overcome.  It took some time but she has managed to overcome lots of those bad habits like not being scared that I was going to steal her food and no one was going to hit her.

Now we are both grown up dogs and everyone gets along just great.  Sort of.  She still wants to play with the toy I am playing with and still wants to sit in Dad’s chair when he is sitting in it, but she is working at be good.

Just like humans, the different stages of a dog’s life mean different things.  For example, by the time a puppy becomes an adolescent he or she should have learned appropriate social behavior with other dogs, like no biting and should have formed a strong bond with humans.

Some of the most important time in a puppy’s development is around 8 or 10 weeks when they are especially impressionable and negative experiences can permanently harm a dog. Dogs always need to have love from their humans but it is especially important when they are this young.

 Around 10 or 12 weeks old is a good age to take a puppy to training.

By the time a dog is 6 months old, he or she should have confidence and some independence.  Continued training is important so that the independence doesn’t get to the point where they don’t listen at all.  Mom says I am too independent sometimes just because I don’t hear her call until she says my name 3 times.

DixieLee and I are getting close to being seniors like Mom and Dad.  Because we are both medium /big size dogs we can have many, many years ahead of us.  The important things we need to be aware of are eating well, getting enough exercise and having regular vet check-ups.

I’m just happy DixieLee is my sister now and that we are going to be celebrating her special day soon.  I love birthdays because in our house, no matter who is having the birthday, we all get presents!

Join me in wishing DixieLee a very happy birthday!

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self promotion.  Looking for a gift for you dog or cat's special day?  Check out the huge assortment of dog and cat gift baskets at pawpalsboutique.com

What's for Lunch?

Graphic copyright Priya Nagarajan

Zeva: I have been working for hours and I'm starving!

Mom: Zeva, you had breakfast fifteen minutes ago.

I know but I am part Lab so part of me is always hungry. Just because I know when it's time to eat doesn't mean I won't try to get a snack before it's time. Just like I know when it's time for Mom to leave to go to the gym doesn't mean I will get off of the big bed and go to my crate without her coming to get me.

Dogs are much better time tellers than people are. People have to look at the round thing on the wall to know when it's time to eat or go for our nightly walk. Dogs know time differently than peoples.

Mostly we know how to tell time because our humans give us clues. We know we are going to get breakfast minutes after Dad wakes up. Some times I need to remind him he has to get up and feed us but most of the time he gets up at the right time, just before the music plays. We know it's time to go for our walk because our friend Scout and her Mom start to walk up the street.

Dad is the food giver in our house so some times if he is not home we need to remind Mom that it's time to eat. I know it's time because my tummy is empty. I tell Mom that it's time by making little barks and looking at the round thing on the wall. Mostly she says we have to wait another big minute but at least I know she won't forget to feed us.

Our Mom works at home so she gets to be with us all the time. Lots of humans have to leave their houses and their dogs for long times and they feel bad about it. As long as they give good treats, they don't have to feel very guilty. They might also want to leave good toys to play with because although we like to nap, if too many hours go by, we need other things to do or we find good things to play with like their shoes or favorite book.

A regular work day for a human can be a long time for a dog, especially a young dog. We are social animals. That's one of the reasons we are a two dog household. Even when our humans are gone we have each other to talk to. When Mom and Dad have to go away for the day they have one of our friends come in to feed us and let us into our pen to play for a time which makes the time go by better.

Okay, now my tummy is really empty. I think I need to tell Mom to look at the round thing on the wall because it is time for lunch.

Bone appetite,

Zeva

P.S.   Just to remind you we put lots of yummy treats in our pet gift baskets.  You can see them at www.pawpalsboutique.com  The Holidays are coming.  Make sure you don't forget your favorite pet this year.

Forever In Our Hearts

We visit lots of dog sites on line.  I especially like 3 Million Dogs and Dog Everywhere on Facebook because we get to meet dogs from all over the world and see what they and their families are doing.  We may live in very different places (our bestest friends live in India and Canada) but we are all very much alike.

We all like treats and walks and spending time with our humans.  Mom reads me the posts all the time and sometimes we find a post about a dog that has crossed over to Rainbow Bridge.  It never fails, Mom cries.

It doesn’t matter that she doesn’t know the dog or the humans, she still cries.  I asked her why and she said that some dogs are extra special (like me and DixieLee) and that when they cross over Rainbow Bridge, their humans are very sad.

Special dogs make their humans so happy that when they cross, they make their humans extra sad.  I think that’s right because when our neighbor Ranger crossed over a few weeks ago her humans were very sad.  Even though she was 15 years old and not feeling good it still hurt them a lot.  It hurt her doggy sister too.  I know because we talked.

Mom said when she lost her first dog the vet said to go and get another right away.  I know, that doesn’t work for most people.  Everyone grieves in their own way, but Dr. Nancy knew Mom forever and getting another dog right away was good for Mom.

Dr. Nancy said the best way to honor the loss of a pet is to give another animal the chance for a good life.  Humans never forget their special pets and another pet is not a replacement.  A new pet is the chance to fill their heart and home with the love of another special pet.

Just yesterday, I noticed that there is a new puppy at our neighbor’s house!  Dad said she is a rescue from the local shelter.  I can’t wait to meet her.

Wishing you all a long life filled with treats and walks and fun times with your humans,

Your friend,

Zeva

P.D.  Blatant self promotion.  Visit our website at pawpalsboutique.com for the best selection of pet gift baskets in the Universe.

Should I Stay or Should I Go Part 2

We go to day care at a facility that offers boarding. Since we already know the place and the people, staying for a longer time would not be so bad.  If you don’t already have first paw knowledge about a kennel, ask your vet or a friend if they know a good one.

 I told you last week that Mom and Dad are going away for a vacation soon and we can’t go with them. They take very good care of us so it is important that we have someone who can take very good care of us while we are away. 

Last week we investigated having a pet sitter come and stay at our house.  Today we are going to investigate going to a boarding kennel.

When our humans go away it is very stressful for us so we need to know that we will be taken care of.  Hey, I’m a dog, the world does revolve around me.

So, if Mom and Dad choose to bring us to a boarding kennel, how do we know we found a good one?

The first step is asking people you trust to recommend a kennel.  about a boarding kennel you should ask friends, neighbors and of course your vet for referrals.

Your humans should visit the kennel.  While they are there, they should look to see:

1.         Is the kennel clean?  Does it look and smell clean?

2.         Is it comfortable?  Is there enough light, is it warm enough or cool enough, how abou ventilation?

3.         Are the staff attentive and caring?

4.         Are all pets required to be up to date with vaccinations, including kennel cough?

5.         Is the kennel area adequate for the size of the dog?  That means inside and outside. 

6.         Is there adequate exercise included in the daily schedule?

7.         What about the feeding schedule?  And treats?

8.         How are medications handled?

9.         Does the kennel have access to emergency veterinary care?

10.       What other services are available?  Grooming, etc.

We like going to day care so I guess if we had to stay overnight, it would be okay.

Many of our friends commented on last week’s blog saying they got to stay at a friend’s house or that a pet sitter got to stay at their house.  They liked the care they got and recommended in house sitting.

We would love to hear about their experiences from dogs who stay at boarding kennels when their humans are away.

Thanks

Zeva

P.S.   Don't forget.  Visit pawpalsboutique.com and see the largest selection of pet gift baskets anywhere.  

Pamper Your Paws

Mom believes that “a home is not complete without the pitter patter of doggy feet”.  She loves to hear the click click of our nails on the floor but she also knows that when she can hear the click click of our nails on the floor, it’s time to get them trimmed.

I am good at keeping my nails trimmed but DixieLee, not so much.  She lets her nails get too long.  She says long nails help her dig holes better.  Her hole d
igging is something else that gets in trouble but that’s a story for another time.

She doesn’t like to have her nails trimmed so rather than fight with her, Mom has her get her pedicure from the professional groomer at doggy day care.  I manage to keep my nails short by walking on pavement but sometimes I have a hard time walking across the kitchen floor because the hair between my pads gets long and make me be slippery.  I don’t like it much but I let Mom give me a trim with her littlest scissors. It is a traumatic experience so I make sure I get lots of treats for sitting still.

Keeping our paws healthy is important.   After all, we don’t wear shoes like humans so our paws walk on hot pavement in the summer and freezing snow and ice in the winter.  Our feet get coated with chemicals from lawn care and salt from deicers.  We love to go hikes with our family but we don’t go where it is super rocky or where there can be broken glass because rocks and glass can cut our pads.

As I said, one of the ways I keep my nails trimmed is by walking on pavement.  We love to go for walks with our humans but during the summer we make sure we walk early in the day before the sun makes the pavement too hot or we only walk on grass or dirt paths.

In the winter we get our feet washed after our walks. Warm water washes away any salt we may have picked up from the sidewalk.  Mom checks our feet when we come inside from our pen too.  We don’t use salt in our pen but sometimes we get clumps of ice and snow stuck between our toes.  I’m not thrilled about having my feet checked and washed but it’s better than having cracked and bleeding paws.

I’ve never had cracked and bleeding paws but I know that Dr. Nancy has moisturizer just for dogs because people moisturizer would make our pads too soft.  We need our pads to be tough to keep our feet protected.

I know some dogs who even get their nails painted pretty colors when they get groomed.  I guess that’s okay if you are a city dog but if you live in the North Country, you want to look tough.  You never know when a bear will cross your yard.

Keep your feet dry and nails clipped because going for walks with your human can be the funest part of your day.

Love,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion  for some of the bestest Pet Gift Baskets anywhere, check out our website at pawpalsboutique.com