Home Alone

Mom and Dad are retired so they don’t have to go to work every day for long times like some of your humans do but they do go out sometimes and leave me and DixieLee alone. We don’t like being left alone because there is nobody to let us in and out when we want and there is nobody at home to give us cookies.

Those are really stressful times.

Also, it is our job to help guard the house and when our humans are gone, guarding the house is all OUR responsibility.  A responsibility we take seriously.

Mom says it’s okay for them to be gone because they will come home soon.  Really?  How does she know that we will not have a Zombie Apocalypse while they are gone?

Here are some of the things we do at our house to make being left alone less stressful.

Get a Good Work Out.  When we are sleeping, we are not stressing.  The bestest way to get a good work out is to go for walks.  We love going for walks but long walks are not always possible especially if you live in a place like we do where yucky weather makes going outside not always fun.

When we can’t go outside, we have exercise by playing tug of war or Fetch Extreme. Playing Fetch Extreme is like playing fetch but you have to run up and down the stairs.  Boy, you can get tired easy when stairs are involved. (Not recommended for dogs who are not as fit as DixieLee and me).

Soothing sounds. We keep the television on all the time, even when Mom and Dad are in other rooms or far away like in the yard.  Some humans like music playing all the time. So, when the television is on, we know that everything is okay.  Rumor has it that there are television stations that play dog friendly stuff all day long. I think that is a great idea!

Puzzle toys.  Another good idea!  When we have something to keep us busy, we forget that we are alone. I like puzzle toys but DixieLee gets frustrated and kills them.

Secure spaces. We love our crates!  It’s like having our own room in the house where it is ours alone.  No one bothers us when we are in our crates.  They are big enough so we can stand up and turn around and have comfy blankets and when we are left alone, we have a caribou antler (or other safe toy) to chew on. 

When we are in our crates, Mom said that we only have to protect that space since we can’t get to other parts of the house. 

Our crates are on different sides of the room but the fronts face each other so if DixieLee and I want to talk to each other we can, if not, we can turn our backs and not be bothered.

Hello and Good Bye. We’re really good at the Good Bye part since we get a treat but we do tend to get a little over excited at the Hello. After all, we weren’t sure we would ever see you again.

It's been days, okay, a couple of hours, who keeps track of time, anyway it is annoying when Mom and Dad ignore our pitiful cries and casually let us out of our crates.  No matter how much we carry on, they act like it’s not a big deal. 

Being left alone is not fun but it doesn’t have to be stressful either.  Think of it as a time when you can just chill in your special place and listen to the blah, blah, blah of the TV guy or the singers on the radio and dream about cookies and squirrels.

Chill,

Zeva

P.S. For the bestest pet gift basket in the universe, check out pawpalsboutique.com

Saving Lives

October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.  DixieLee and I and Fox, Dana, Cassie and Nico, the dogs who lived with Mom and Dad before we did, were all adopted.

We have lots of friends who were born at houses where the humans are “respectable breeders” and that’s okay with us.  Sadly, we all can’t be “mutts” (sorry, mixed breeds), so having good and responsible humans who loves a particular breed sell puppies is okay.

We want to encourage peoples who want to share their lives with A DOG, no matter of parentage, to please look to the shelters instead of “Pet Stores” who get heir puppies from Puppy Mills.

I don’t even like to think about Puppy Mills, never mind talk about them. They make me cry. 

“SOME” of the puppies get to go to good homes but some don’t’ and I can’t talk about the Mama dogs.  My heart breaks.

So, let’s get back to Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.  How do dogs end up in shelters? Lots or reasons and they are all sad. 

Some are strays, they got lost, ran away or their owners left them on the street to fend for themselves. 

Some are rescued from horrible homes where they were mistreated.

Some had loving families but something happened to the family, like they had to move and couldn’t take their pets or they didn’t have a job anymore so they had no money.

Some are untrained and their owners don’t want to put up with “bad behavior”.

Super sadly, some had their humans die and no one is left to take care of them.

And the super super saddest is that the pet got old and their owners don’t want them anymore.

Please help us spread the word that October is National Shelter Dog Month.

If you can’t adopt, foster, if you can’t foster, sponsor, if you can’t foster, volunteer, if you can’t volunteer, donate, and if you can’t donate, educate.

And don’t forget, cats and other pets end up in shelters too.

Love,

Zeva

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

Hi, My Name Is.........

Most of my blogs are about dogs because, well, I’m a dog so I can talk from experience but because at Paw Pals Boutique we make gift baskets for all pet, this blog is about other types of pets.

There was a stray cat that liked our neighborhood so she would come by our house every day. She finally adopted a family that lives on our street. We don’t get to see her much any more because she likes her new family and has turned into a house cat.

DixieLee and I were talking about her the other day. We called her Midnight because she is a beautiful all black cat. We are wondering what her new family named her. The next time Mom sees someone from her family, we’ll find out but in the meantime we searched out the most popular cat names for 2018 to see if she gets one of them.

According to Healthy Paws, here are the top ten:

Stella, Oscar, Gracie, Finn, Daisy, Jack, Chloe, Simba, Mia and Loki.

Nala, Oliver, Luna, Milo, Bella, Leo, Lucy, Charlie, Lily and Max were also really popular.

We have lots of friends who have horses as their favorite companions so we looked to see what are the more popular names for horses.

Saddle Box finds Bella, Alex, Lilly, Alexia, Fancy, Sugar, Lady, Tucker, Dakota and Cash are really popular.

People also like the names Jasper, Misty, Smoke, Cheyenne and Breeze.

We like to know the names of our friends so let us know what your name is and what kind of pet you are.

Love,

Zeva

P.S. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe check out pawpalsboutique.com

The Stare... What You Need to Know

Puppies stare at their new humans because they are so happy to have someone who loves them.  They may also be afraid the human will disappear.

Puppies soon learn that staring at a person can get them to say“how cute” or some other nice thing.

A smart dog will soon learn that there is a difference between staring and The Stare.

When used properly, The Stare can be one of your bestest tricks. After you have perfected The Stare, you can add The Tilt for added effect. 

But one step at a time.

Dogs easily communicate with other dogs but to communicate effectively with humans, you must perfect The Stare. The Stare is how you get your humans to give you what you want. I use The Stare when I want a cookie, to go outside, to go for a walk or if lunch is late.

When I want something I sit so that when Mom looks, she is instantly hit with The Stare. If she is watching the TV or working on a project, I first have to get her to look at me. When used correctly, The Stare can make a human turn to look at you. Once you have connected with their eyes, you keep The Stare steady until they speak.

Mom will say something like “what?”. Then I shift The Stare to the cookie jar, the door, the leash rack or the dinner bowl. Don’t shift too long because you don’t want your human to get distracted and forget you need something. This works most of the time.

I like to shift The Stare to the clock when I want to remind Mom that she is late with a meal or with my before bed cookie. I know, making her feel guilty is not a nice thing to do but I could starve to death waiting for a TV show to end or for her to finish a knitting thing.

The Stare also works when humans are asleep. It takes a little longer but they do respond eventually. I don’t like to use The Stare when Mom is sleeping but sometimes I need her to wake up and tell DixieLee to move so I can get space on the bed.

DixieLee has finally realized the power of The Stare.  She as added a Tail Wag to The Stare for emphasis.  She used The Stare on Mom twice yesterday (once when Mom was sleeping) and it worked like a charm.

Remember to use The Stare wisely. If used too often, your human could become immune to it. The good thing is, if they do become immune, it’s only for a little while.

Blogging is hard work so I think I will go use The Stare on Mom and get myself a cookie.

Keep practicing,

Your friend,

Zeva

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

A Real Bargain

Some peoples think that they should be able to go to a shelter and get a good dog for free. After all, shelters are full and there are so many homeless animal, they think that the shelters would want to give pets away.

Different shelters in different parts of the country charge different money. Sometimes special needs or senior dogs cost less because they have a harder time getting adopted. Puppies usually cost most because everyone thinks puppies are better to have. I don’t think that is always true. For example, senior dogs are a good match for senior peoples.

There are lots of reasons shelters need to charge money to adopt a pet.

1. The shelter is a home and everyone knows that it costs money to live in a home. The shelters have to pay bills like regular peoples.

2. Even though lots of shelters have volunteers who feed and walk the dogs, some body has to be the boss. Bosses and other employees who take care of the day to day operations need to be paid. These are the people who make sure the animals are taken care of properly and that they get adopted to good homes.

3. Pets need to eat and food costs money. Some pets need special food which costs more.

4. And don’t forget toys! Pets need toys and beds and dishes and leashes and collars and stuff, just like dogs who live in houses.

5. One of the most important thing for an owner to do is to keep their pets healthy and shelters have to do that too. All of the pets need to have shots and be checked to make sure they don’t have heartworm or ticks or mites or any other buggies. They should also be tested for stuff like lyme disease and other diseases.

If a pet has heartworm, or lyme or something bad, then they need to have medicine until they are better. All of that costs money,

6. Some pets enter the shelter in really bad shape. They have been mistreated so bad that they need medical treatment to get better. They may need things like x-rays or antibiotics or other medical things to help them heal.

7. Most shelters make sure that pets are spayed or neutered. More puppies or kittens would only mean more need for shelters. Although many shelters have vets who give reduced rates, surgery and medicines are still expensive.

8. And most shelters microchip all pets before they get adopted. They know how easy it is for a pet to get lost and end up in another shelter.

So, when you pay to get a pet from a shelter, you are giving that shelter money so that it can take in another animal and give it good care until someone comes along to adopt them.

For all the love and affection that shelter pets give, I think you are getting a real bargain.

Love,

Zeva

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

Easter Bunnies

Our friend Fluffy asked me to help spread the word about Easter Bunnies. Bunnies are cute and cuddly looking and peoples like to buy them for childrens at Easter time but Fluffy wanted you to know that bunnies aren’t always good pets for childrens.

People think that bunnies are easy to take care of but they are not. Bunnies need as much care as a dog or cat. Like dogs and cats, bunnies need to be fed and their houses need to be kept clean. Bunnies need to go to the Vet too. Although some bunnies go for walks with their humans, most don’t.

Lots of time childrens s get tired of their bunny after a few weeks but bunnies can live for like 10 years so too many end up in shelters or let free outside. Domestic bunnies aren’t good at living in the wild and get eaten by other animals and if they are not adopted from the shelter, they get died there too. How sad!

Fluffy says that bunnies make really good pets and he loves his human family but here are lots of things peoples should know about bunnies before they bring one home.

Like dogs and cats, it takes money to raise a bunny. Like we said, they need food and shelter. Some bunnies live in their human’s houses and some have their own houses, called hutches.

Bunnies that have the run of the house need to be watched closely because, like puppies they tend to like to chew on things when bored. Things like your computer cables or your woodwork. I haven’t really looked to see what toys bunnies like but Fluffy says he likes the cardboard thing that comes with paper towels. Hmmmm so does DixieLee.

Bunnies can be trained to use a litter box like a cat but Fluffy says it’s not easy.

Bunnies are social animals so they need love and attention. They really don’t like to be petted or hugged and they are delicate so they need to be handled very gently.

Like dogs and cats, bunnies should be spayed or neutered. It’s good for their health.

If you would like a bunny for a pet, check with various shelters or rabbit rescue organizations. They will surely have too many abandoned bunnies soon after Easter.

Help Fluffy spread the word about Easter Bunnies and suggest that one made out of chocolate or a plush one might be a better gift for most childrens.

Happy Easter!

Zeva

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

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

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. Know of a household getting a new dog or cat? Send them a To The Rescue or Kit Kat Kit. You can find them at pawpalsboutique.com

Some Times You Just Have To

Mom taught us that if you don’t have something nice to say about someone, don’t say anything.   Well, the other day I saw a dog with a really, really, really bad haircut.  I mean the only fur he had left was on his head and he looked ridiculous.

He’s a dog I see around town often and I always thought he was so handsome with his long flowing coat.  Mom said I should not say anything to him because he probably felt bad enough already.   Mom said I should just say “hi” and not tell him he looked really, really ugly.

She explained later that we didn’t know why his humans had him shaved.  Maybe he was sick or maybe he got into something that made his coat yucky and he had to have it shaved so we should be nice and not make him feel bad.

We don’t like to make people feel bad.  Our business is all about making people (and animals) be happy.  We are in the business of making people (and animals) smile.

So, I just said “Hey Dude”, and kept walking.

I’m still kind of confused about this “Don’t say anything bad, thing”. 

It wasn’t the dog’s fault that he had a bad haircut.  But I think there are times when we need to point out that things are just plain ugly.

Mom loves Pintrest.  She loves to look at the AMAZING cakes that people make.  She is not a good baker so she just looks.  She knows she has limits but she says she also has fun looking at the DYI cake fails on Pinterest.  I hear her laugh and laugh.

Peoples who do stuff all the time just know all of the secrets on how to do it best.

It may not be nice but I feel the same way when I see some of the pet “gift baskets” for sale on Ebay or some other sites.  Mom has over 20 years experience making gift baskets and I have more than 6 so we are really good at what we do.  Our gift baskets have high quality products, all of our dog treats are made in the USA, and our designs are outstanding.  Every one of our pet gift baskets is cello wrapped and topped with a hand tied bow.  Our gift baskets cost the same money as many of the baskets on Ebay AND we ship for free.

So, I guess I just can’t say anything nice about the gift baskets people see on places like Ebay when they can get much bestester gift baskets at pawpalsboutique.com  Hope that doesn’t make me a bad dog.

See for yourself at pawpalsboutique.com

Your trying to be nice friend,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion.  We do have the bestest.  See for yourself at pawpalsboutique.com

Just For You

A few weeks ago I did a blog about how dogs show affection. In it we talked about lots of ways we dogs let their peoples know how much we love them. One of the ways we show affection that I didn’t talk about was giving gifts.

Not all pets give gifts but lots of dogs and cats do. Cats are very proud when they catch a bird or chipmunk. They often bring it to their humans to show what great hunters they are and share their prize with their humans. Cats think a nice bird or chipmunk is a great thing to have so humans must feel the same way.

At Paw Pals Boutique we know all about giving gifts cuz peoples buy our gift baskets as gifts for their furry friends. So we know how happy getting a gift makes someone.

DixieLee is the big gift giver at our house. When Mom and Dad come home from being gone, even for only a little time, she always greets them at the door with a gift cuz she’s happy they are home and wants them to be happy too. Usually she brings them one of the caribou horns because she loves caribou horns and so Mom and Dad must also.  Here is a picture of her bringing her prized pterodactyl to Mom.

She also likes to take Dad’s socks out of the laundry and bring them to Mom. Once Mom notices them she grabs them away and runs to hide them in her crate. I try to tell her that it is not nice give someone a gift and then take it back for yourself. When I bring Mom a gift, it’s usually a nice toy we can both play with, not a stinky sock.

Our Mom and Dad like when we give them gifts. How do I know? I know because they always say thank you, tell us how good we are, tell us how much they like our gift and give us big pettings and ear scratchings.

Our humans make us a nice home and we want them to know how much we love them. Giving them gifts is just one of the ways we can do that.

Do you give your humans gifts and if so, what’s your favorite gift to give them?

Happy gifting,

Love,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. For really great gifts to give your furry friends, check out the gift baskets at 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

Dog Heads Up New Division

We were cleaning up the Studio and getting things back in order after the Christmas rush when we found a bunch of brochures we had made up when we started the pet gift basket business.

The cover read:

Dog Heads Up New Division

January 2012

Press Release

Marie Lisewski,

owner and chief designer of

Laurel Mountain Basket Co

is pleased to announce the promotion of

Zeva The Dog to Canine Vice President

of the company’s Pet Division.

Zeva will be responsible for choosing and

testing all of the toys and treats that will be

used in the company’s expanded line of pet

gifts and gift baskets.

“Zeva joined the company in August of 2010

as a puppy and due to her Border Collie

intelligence and organizational skills quickly

rose to several management positions

“We plan to expand our on line presence in

the pet gift field in the next twelve months and

Zeva will be an important asset to help our

organization reach its goals”

said Ms. Lisewski.

“I am thrilled to be taking on this new role.  As

a dog, I am very aware of the  need for more

toys and treats in every pet’s life and my goal

is to see that we provide pet gifts to fit every

taste and every budget.” Said Zeva.

End

Zeva can be reached at

Zeva@laurelmtbasket.com

I can’t believe it’s been five years!  In those years we have experienced tremendous growth.  I got promoted some more and am now Chief Canine Officer with lots of new responsibilities.

We now have our very own website PawPalsBoutique.com and we have our own Facebook and Twitter (@Zevathedog) pages!

We are posting weekly to this blog and sending out a newsletter to our fans every other week. (If you want to receive our newsletter it’s easy.  Just go to our Facebook page and click on the newsletter link.)

In 2013 DixieLee came to live with us and soon became a very important part of our team.  Of course I had to train her in all aspects of the business but she is a fast learner and it didn’t take long before she was the best product tester I ever saw.  She loves checking out boxes so she has become very helpful in both shipping and receiving.

If you haven’t visited our website yet, I invite you to check it out and to friend us on Facebook and Twitter.  We love talking with dogs (and cats) from all around the world and would love to hear what you have to say.

Mom says it’s time to get back to work.  The Studio won’t clean itself.

Wishing you and your humans a healthy, happy and funfilled 2017.

Love

Zeva

P.S.  The photo is of me and Mom when we started the pet division.

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

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Work I Go!

I just took a look at the calendar and boy, time is sure moving along. At the Studio we are getting ready for the upcoming Holiday Season. DixieLee and I are working very hard testing treats and toys and approving designs. We are very lucky that we get to go to work every day with our Mom.

I know lots of dogs and cats that get to go to work with their humans every day too and there is even a special day called Take Your Dog To Work Day in June where some places let the humans bring their dogs in and spend the day in the offices.

Most people I know think it is a wonderful idea to let pets go to work with their humans. Allowing pets to go to work lets the employees have a more balanced life. They will stay later to finish projects when they don’t have to rush home to feed their furry friend and walking a pet for a potty break gets the employee outside for some fresh air and exercise which can increase creativity and productivity.

Of course there need to be some rules about pets that go to work like they have to be housebroken, well mannered and friendly. Having dogs peeing in the office, fighting with other pets or biting coworkers would be a very bad thing. No company wants a smelly office, employees rushing their pet to the vet or dealing with lawyers over dog bite claims.

Some pets, like DixieLee, manage to get in trouble without trying. She’s not B-A-D just curious and klutzy. She chews socks and pulls pillows off of the sofa or gets into the trash. In an office it would be very bad for a dog to chew on computer cords or jump up on other workers or clients.

When we had our Shoppe, I had to stay in the office/studio part and not go out into the store area. I know I was a good greeter but there were some people who are afraid of dogs who might not think so. Also from the Shoppe I could get into the main hall and wander into other businesses.  I love to socialize with our neighbors but Mom says it's a no no.

As hard as it is to believe, not all people like pets and there are some people that are allergic. I am a very clean dog but there are still some businesses like medical offices and restaurants where animals shouldn’t go because of germs.

I’d like to know if you get to go to work with your human and if you do, do you work from your house or do you go to an office. If you go to an office, what are the rules you need to follow?

Sorry, got to go, I see the big brown truck just brought us some more packages. I wonder what we’ll be testing today.

Your busy friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self promotion.  The Holidays are almost here so check out the huge selection of pet gift baskets at pawpalsboutique.com  Remember we are also happy to custom design gift baskets especially for you,

Moo, I Mean Woof

I admit it, I like to eat grass.  Mom buys us good nutritious food but I still like a little grass now and then.  I guess it’s all right since most vets, even though they don’t know why dogs eat grass, say that eating grass is okay.

I like grass cuz it tastes good but I make sure I only eat grass that doesn’t have pesticides or chemicals on it.  Sometimes Dad adds fertilizer to our lawn but never in our pen so pen grass is always safe to eat.  I specially like the grass that grows near the fence because it’s extra long and thick.

Some people think dogs eat grass because they have a bad belly that makes them wanted to throw up from eating something yucky or that they are having a little digestive problem.  I remember a time or two when I had to hurry and wake Mom up to let me outside because I was going to be sick and eating grass did help. 

Some people think it’s a way for dogs to get rid of worms.  Back in the olden days when dogs didn’t live with people, they didn’t have vets so they had to take care of worms themselves.  Still others think we eat grass to grass because we don’t get enough of good stuff like nutrients or fiber from our food.  Could be the reason for some dogs but we get carrots and other veggies and even get tuna fish juice or eggs in addition to regular dog food.

If you like to occasionally nibble on some grass, it’s probably okay but if you suddenly start chowing down like Bessie the Cow or if you are eating and throwing up lots of days at a time, you need to visit your vet cuz it could mean you need medicine.

For the record, the real reason we eat grass is to mess with our human’s heads.  We have to keep you all on your toes and if you think we are sick you give us more hugs and cookies.

While I am in a confessing mood, I admit I also eat dirt, sticks and poop and DixieLee eats paper and sox but those are topics for a whole other blog.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion. Our pet gift baskets are filled with so many yummy treats you won't want to eat any grass.  Check them out at PawPalsBoutique.com

Like Cats and Dogs

I have to admit that I don’t know much about cats.  We don’t have any living in our house or working at the Studio.  I do have lots of cat friends on line, especially on petpav.com, so I decided to find out why cats make such good pets.

It seems, although I would dispute this, cats are the most popular pet in the United States.  They sure do have a presence on the internet.   Grumpy Cat himself has a huge following.

Like dogs, cats make great companions, are entertaining, affectionate and offer unconditional love but they definitely are a whole different species.

 

1.  Cats don’t make very good alarm systems.  The mail person steals our neighbor’s mail every day and their cat just sits in the window and watches.  Even if she wanted to scare him away, cats have very little voices.  How is a human supposed to know we want to go outside or are hungry if we don’t jump around and bark hysterically?

2.  Come to think of it, cats don’t need to go outside much.  They have litter boxes so they get to pee and poop in the house.  They don’t have to go outside in the rain or snow or when it’s really dark outside.  That could be an advantage for humans who live in the city where they have to go out with their dogs in the rain and snow and really dark nights.

3.  Cats are easy to entertain.  They are happy just sitting in a sunny window or playing with a laser pointer.  But entertaining a dog gives humans exercise.   Taking us for walks and playing catch or tug of war is good exercise for dogs and humans.

4.  Cats spend a lot of time grooming themselves.  Dogs are pretty clean, except for DixieLee who can track dirt across the entire house even when it hasn’t rained in days.  And we do like to roll in smelly stuff we find in the yard.  Maybe that’s why cats never have to go and get a bath.

 

I guess when it comes right down to it both cats and dogs make great companions which makes us more alike than different.

 

Another thing cats and dogs have in common is shelters are filled with cats that need furever homes.  So if you are looking for a companion who is entertaining, affectionate and offers unconditional love but can’t have a dog, a cat may be just what you are looking for.

 

Hugs,

Zeva

 

P.S. Blatant self-promotion Cat Napping is the purr fect gift for your favorite cat or kitten.

 

A BONE OR A PHONE

I’ve been surfing the web and choosing the gifts I’m going to put on my Santa Paws list.  There are some really great toys out there!  I know Mom is going to be practical and probably tell Santa we need new Shoo! Tags because Dixie ate hers and we need to be protected against fleas and ticks.  She’ll probably say we should ask for Kyjen tug toys made out of fire hoses cuz Dixie ate all our other toys.  But I’m looking for something really different this year.

I’m a real techie dog so the PetCell really got my attention.  It’s a small bone-shaped phone that attached to a dog’s collar.  Too cute!  I wonder if it comes in pink.  It works just like a human cell phone so your humans can talk to you even when they aren’t around.  How cool is that!!!  It also has a GPS and Geo fencing.  Wow.

I told Mom all about it but she says I’m too young to have my own phone.  I’m three!  And besides, I’m very responsible. I’m putting it on my list anyway cuz Santa Paws knows I have been very, extra, super good this year.

I like when Mom puts kibble inside the Kong and when I play with it, it gives me treats.  I saw some other toys like that on line so I’m hoping to get one of those.  What could be better than playing AND getting treats at the same time?

I have a ball that flashes lights when I play with it.  I like to drop it at the top of the stairs and watch it go down.   It’s a new toy so I don’t know how long it will last before Miss Chews Everything gets it and Mom throws it out.  So I looked and found something called X-Tire Blinky Ball.  It’s a ball that blinks like the one I have but this one is surrounded by two rings that are made out of the stuff car tires are made of.  Definitely going on my list.

Antlers are always a good choice and on Christmas day, after we open all of our gifts, I would like nothing better than to relax and enjoy a fresh marrow bone.  Perfection.

I think that about covers my wish list for this year. After you mail your list off to Santa Paws, drop me a note, I’d love to know what you are expecting to see under your tree.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Seasons Greetings,

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S.  blatant self-promotion... all of our holiday gift baskets have lots of great toys and treats so if you don't have the time to shop around, check out our website.  It's so easy, just choose the gifts you want and tell me where to send them.  I'll even include a nice card.  Our site is filled with great gifts for pets and the people who love them.  Here's the link to the pet page http://laurelmtbasket.com/index.php/store/category/pet-gifts-and-baskets

Chocolate Bunnies Are Better

Hi Everyone,

It's me, Zeva.  We're pretty busy at the Studio these days.  Easter is only a couple of weeks away and we're busy making lots of Easter Baskets.  We put all kinds of interesting toys and treats in our Easter Baskets and of course we have lots of fluffy bunnies in all sizes and colors.

Not living bunnies of course!  Bunnies are great pets but they are high maintenance so we don't think live bunnies are a good Easter gift for children.  Like puppies and kitties, bunnies grow up quickly and have a life expectancy of about 10 years.  Depending on the breed, a full grown bunny can weigh 10 to 12 pounds.  Like puppies and kitties, bunnies chew stuff around the house and like puppies and kitties, they need to be fed and they pee and poop on the carpets.

If you are thinking of getting your child a bunny for Easter this year, please think about a cuddly plush one or a yummy chocolate one, like the ones in our Easter Baskets.  If you still want to adopt a bunny, check with rabbit rescue services in a couple of weeks.  Unfortunately, there will be a whole bunch of cute baby bunnies needing new homes.

Your friend,

Zeva