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.

Dogs Can Be Scaredy Cats Too

My sister DixieLee is one of the bravest dogs I know. When we go for walks and other dogs bark and growl, she barks and growls right back.  She’s a really good fighter too!  We play fight all the time and I am bigger and stronger but she is wicked quick and barks really loud.  She is a fierce warrior who isn’t afraid of anything.

Or maybe not.  She won’t like me telling you this but there are things that make her be really scared. She would run at a huge bear if it were going to attack Mom but when she hears thunder miles away, she hides in the closet.  She is afraid of loud noises.

She is not alone.  Fear caused by noise is a very common problem for dogs.  Remember, we have really good hearing so a loud noise for a human is super duper loud for a dog.  When a dog gets scared by a loud noise he or she may try to run away from the noise.

A thunder storm or fireworks display can go on for a long time and there is nowhere to go to get away from the noise.  DixieLee is lucky that she has a place to hide where she feels safe.  Mom’s clothes closet is small and the door is not open wide so the noise is not so bad.  Some dogs are not as lucky and don’t have a place where they feel safe.  They get so scared they try to dig their way through the floors of their house to make a den like our friend Miu or escape from their yard and run for hours (getting very lost) to get away for the noise.

Oh Boy!  Neither is a good solution.

We have a Mom who wants us to be healthy and happy.  Shew doesn’t like that DixieLee is scared of loud noises and although hiding in the closet makes her feel okay, We wanted something better. Recently our Vet told us about an herbal supplement that helps with anxiety.  Now when we know a storm is coming or when we are going to have fireworks in our town, DixieLee gets a supplement that lets her feel less scared and safe enough to sit with Mom and me on the couch until the noise goes away.

Dogs can be trained to not be scared of loud noises and there are other way to help them deal with their noise fears.  One of our trainer friends recommends the Thunder Shirt.  Some dogs do well listening to soothing music or getting a massage.  There are holistic remedies like the one we use that work for some dogs.

For me, just being able to cuddle up next to my Mom on the couch until the storm passes is enough but not for my sister.  If you need more than a cuddle to help you get through a thunder storm, have your humans talk to your vet and look for other alternatives.  There is no reason for you to be so scared of loud noises that you could hurt yourself or get  lost.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self promotion.  The Holidays are right around the corner.  I bet your favorite pet would love a gift basket filled with toys and treats from PawPalsBoutique.com  Our Santa Paws Gift Basket is specially cute!

Her Royal Highness ---- Cat

In ancient Egypt cats were held in the highest esteem. Many of us modern cats have not forgotten that and require royal treatment from our humans. Maybe it is because cats are more independent than dogs that people think we need less care. That simply is not true. Before you decide to bring a cat into your life there are a few things you should know.

1. The average lifespan of a cat is 13 – 17 years and 20 years is not that uncommon. That’s a big commitment.

2. Cats have an average of 3-5 kittens per litter and can have up to 8 or 9.  Cats also can have 2 to 3 litters a year so you can see that over population of cats is a serious problem. Spay or neuter your cat even if they are going to be an “inside” cat because accidents do happen.

3. Claws are important to cats. Please don’t declaw your cat. For more information you can read my blog  Declawing Cats on this site.  Cats need to shed their outer nails to get to the healthy nails beneath. You can help your cat keep their nails healthy by providing a scratching post. It really is a good idea because if they don’t have a nice scratching post to keep their nails in shape they just might substitute your favorite piece of furniture.

4. Cats won’t use a dirty litter box so it is important to make sure the box is cleaned often and fresh litter is provided regularly.

5. Many people think that cats need milk when the truth is that dairy products are harmful to cats. What cats need is plenty of water so keeping their water bowl filled with clean, fresh water is important.

6. Dairy products aren’t the only foods that are harmful to cats. Never feed your cats chocolate, coffee, tea or other caffeinated drinks, raw meat or fish, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic or Xylitol (artificial sweetener).

Instead, feed them a high quality food made especially for cats and feed them on a regular schedule.

7. Cats are fond of eating plants but there are hundreds of common plants that are toxic to cats. A few of the more common ones are holly, aloe, calla lily, Rhododendron and peace lily. If you are not sure the plants you have in or around your home are non toxic to cats, there are several places on line you can source.

Most cats do like cat nip and I personally suggest you grow a pot or two in a sunny window.

8. You may have gotten your cat from a friend or local shelter for a few dollars but the ASPCA determined that when you add up the cost of housing, feeding, and vet bills, having a cat in your life costs around $600 a year.

Cats make wonderful companions and I hope you consider adopting a shelter cat today but know that we are decedents of royalty and expect to be treated as such.

Meow for now,

Fo

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  Zeva asked me to remind you that PawPalsBoutique.com has a large selection of gift baskets especially designed for cats and the people who love them.  The Holidays are coming soon so make your list and shop early.

Rain, Rain Go Away

It has been a very dry summer. Some places have had so little rain that they are having a drought. Today it is raining and raining and raining. Lots of peoples are happy but me and DixieLee aren't.

We don't like droughts but we don't like getting wet either. We usually like to go outside and play in our yard, but on rainy days like today we would rather stay inside and sleep on the big bed.  We just don't like to get our paws and butts wet. Wet paws and wet fur is so yucky!

Mom and Dad have fluffy towels to dry us off the second we get back inside but it still is not fun getting wet. I think they snuggle us with a towel so quick so we don't shake off the rain in the house.

Even when I have to pee I hold off as long as I can. Lots of times I can out last the rain. If I really, really have to go, I run out and run back in as fast as I can, which is pretty fast.

On rainy days I envy cats because they have special places where they can pee indoors. I'm a big girl and I don't EVER pee in the house but for you little puppies who don't like to go out in the rain you need know that peeing in the house is a big no no.

Little puppies need to go outside when their human wants them to even if it is raining. There are things humans can do to make going out in the rain less yucky if you let them know you don't like getting wet.

Humans can get some boots and a rain coat or they can hold a roof thingy called an umbrella over you. The roof/umbrella thingy doesn't help with the wet paws and buttsbut it does keep rain off the coat.

It's really important to make sure you remind your humans to give you a treat for going out to pee in the rain. Treats make everything better.

Looks like the rain has stopped for a minute. Time to run outside for a quick pee and then back on the big bed for the rest of the day. I love watching the rain fall as long as I am inside and dry.

Stay warm and dry.

Your friend,

Zeva

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

I'm Always Thinking

The other day one of our friends asked me where I get my ideas for our gift baskets.  If you have been to our site you know we offer lots of different baskets for all kinds of reasons.  I told her that I get ideas from things that I see happen in my world.

Like the time I was thinking about when a dog or cat gets rescued how nice it would be to get a pretty “welcome to your new home” basket filled with important things like a dinner bowl and some toys and treats.  I call that gift basket “To The Rescue”.

One of my very favorite ones is our “Santa Paws” gift basket.  The Holidays are a very busy exciting time in our family.    Mom spends lots of time getting and wrapping gifts for our human family and friends.  She always remembers to get gifts for us and our furry friends too.

There are lots of people who like to give Holiday gift baskets from Laurel Mountain Basket Co because they are very busy and gift baskets are so easy to give.   We know the people who get them really like them too.  Since gift baskets are so easy to give I thought it would be a good idea to offer Holiday gift baskets for pets too.  After all, pets like to get gifts too and gift basket filled with lots of toys and treats are so fun to receive.  

I also get ideas from talking with our clients and asking what they like.  Most of them like toys and treats, which would be my best choices too.  One of the things that is super important to our clients is that the treats we use are made in the USA.  We know several people in New England who make dog treats so we know that the treats are not only made in the USA, they are also fresh.

We also have clients who want us to make up gifts especially for them.   They tell us what they want and we are happy to help.  Like the time the lady wanted us to make a gift basket for a horse who just became a Mama.  Yup, we got to make a fun gift basket filled with things the Mama would like.  Did you know that they make cookies for horses too?!?

I’m always looking for new ideas so if you have any ideas that you think would be a good gift basket for a pet or if you have a special gift you want us to help with, just let me know.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  To see our full line of pet gift baskets go to pawpalsboutique.com 

How Much Is Enough?

Mom thought that I was asleep in the other room so she didn’t know that I overheard her talking with DixieLee.  If you have been following my blog, you know that DixieLee is an abandoned dog that we rescued several years ago and that she recently has had a rough couple of months.  First she had a liver infection and then, when we went to doggie day care to have fun, she got kennel cough.

Mom told DixieLee that she knew that she was getting good food and shelter but she hoped that she also was getting enough love.  Dog that are in shelters get good food and shelter and I know that the humans who work at shelters love animals and spend as much time with them as they can but it’s not like having their own family where someone loves them for who they are.  Having your own humans who love them is super important.

Some people think that dogs love anyone who feeds them.  That’s sort of kind of true but it’s not the whole true.  Dogs are pack animals.  We need to have others in our lives.  Other dogs are good but when we leave our birth moms and litter mates to go live with humans, we form a pack with them. 

Sometimes it’s just one human.  I know lots of dogs who live with one human and love it.  They get all the attention and all of the treats.  I know other dogs who live in houses that have other pets and lots of humans.  They think they have it pretty good too cuz there is always someone to play with or to beg treats from.

No matter how big or little the pack is, dogs are affectionate beings.  All we want is to love our pack members and be loved by them.  We are also very protective of our pack members.  I don’t like it when someone I don’t know gets too close to Mom cuz it’s my job to protect her but once Mom says it’s okay, I know she’s got it all under control so I can relax.

I don’t know how much love is supposed to be enough but I do know that DixieLee and I know that Mom and Dad love us super much.  I just wish every shelter dog (and cat) will someday get a good home with plenty of food and lots and lots of love.

Your very loved friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant Self-promotion.  For the biggest selection of pet gift baskets anywhere, check out pawpalsboutique.com 

Finding The Perfect Pet

In last week’s blog I said that, after the loss of a special pet, adopting another is the best way to honor that pet.  I still believe that is true HOWEVER choosing a pet is not like shopping for a dress.

I’ve talked with shelter dogs and they say that being chosen and then returned to the shelter because they were “not a good fit” is worse than not being chosen at all.

A pet is going to be the member of your family for, hopefully, a long time.  10 to 15 years.  That’s a long time.  So, please think about the type of pet that would fit best in your family BEFORE you take one home.

Here are a few tips on how to choose the perfect pet.

1.  Look at your family and think about how a new pet will fit in.  Every breed has a different personality.  Our family has two adults who could live with lots of different dogs.  A family with children, especially young children, needs to be more considerate of the age and breed.

2.  How much can you spend?   We don’t like pet stores very much and they often charge much more than reputable breeders.   We like the idea of adopting from a shelter but shelters cost lots to run so they have to charge a fee too.  A “free to good home” ad on Craig’s List may seem like a good idea but it may not be a bargain in the long run.

The cost doesn’t stop there. Since you already had a pet, you know taking care of a pet is expensive.  There are food and vet bills and training and grooming costs and of course the toys and cookies.

How much can you spend also means time.  Certain pets need more attention than others.

3.  What is your lifestyle?  We have a pretty laid back household with a good yard to play in but we still need to have walks and interact with our humans.  Walking together is good exercise for everyone but it’s much more.  We get to socialize with other people and animals and make our bond with Mom and Dad stronger.

There is a lot that goes into choosing the right pet.  Breed, size, age, and disposition are just the beginning.

Mom found me on Petfinders.com.   Sites like Petfinders.com can help you narrow down just what you are looking for in a pet.  There are also breed specific sites that can help you find your next best friend.

DixieLee was abandoned and found by one of Mom’s friends.  DixieLee, like many abused and abandoned animals, needed lots and lots of TLC.  It took a long time to build trust but now she knows she is in a safe and happy home.  Mom says it was worth the effort because DixieLee is a special dog.

Not every household could deal with the issues DixieLee brought with her.  Many would have brought her to a shelter where she may even had to be died because she was unadoptable.  Not because she was a bad dog but because she had the misfortune of having bad people in her life.

I hope you always have a special pet in your life and if you take the time to choose wisely, you will.

Your friend,

Zeva

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