Peggy's Pet Place

Pillars of Strength for K from me and Kelly

2012-02-14T00:04:00.004-05:00

K is a very special dog belonging to KB, of Romping and Rolling in the Rockies. The photography on this site is so beautiful. KB posts videos and pictures of bears, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, elk, and some of the most amazing mountain views. I especially like this shot below.

Romping and Rolling in the Rockies

I know! It's like a painting.

KB's dog K is facing some very challenging health issues and has her next round of chemotherapy on Friday, February 17. I know this is a difficult time when a pet or loved one is ill. I understand the worry and stress and even the helplessness KB must feel. I am honored to be part of Pillars of Strength for K, and I hope this post will help them to feel surrounded by love and hope.

KB, during this time I am praying for you for strength as you have to watch your beloved pet be ill and undergo treatment. I pray for K's veterinarians to find the right treatments. And I pray for beautiful K, for a strong will and that K be restored to health.

Please know that during this time you are supported by so many who are sending you caring thoughts and prayers. Please get well soon, K.

Valentine x's and o's

2012-02-13T06:01:00.001-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day from Kelly!

Z is for Zzzzzz

2012-02-11T06:15:00.001-05:00

Pawing through the Alphabet

Z is for Zzzzzzzzz

After all this pawing through the alphabet, I think Kelly deserves a well-earned nap!

I'd also like to announce the winners of the Worst in Show DVDs.
Congratulations:
Penny H.
Kristine T.
Aimee
(Please contact me with your mailing information and I'll get them right out to you.)

Thank you for pawing through the alphabet with us. We had a great time! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Y is for You Tube pets

2012-02-10T06:00:00.002-05:00

Pawing through the Alphabet

Y is for You Tube

Here are four adorable, cute and clever pets brought to you by You Tube!

1. One of my all-time favorite pets are guinea pigs. If this video doesn't convince you, nothing will!

2. This one combines a guinea pig with a pit bull. Seriously!

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

3. I love the way this cat catches food with its paws, not with its mouth!

4. Wisdom might suggest that it's not wise to let a baby and a dog crawl on the floor together, but I can't help thinking that this boxer and his baby are so sweet together.

X is for Xtra Special

2012-02-09T08:19:00.000-05:00

Pawing through the Alphabet

X is for Xtra Special

I know you're up to this challenge! I wanted to list all of the things that are xtra special about pets and then I thought of this list that is going around on email, where you write a word that starts with the last letter of the word before and...well, wouldn't it be fun if that's what we did with this post? (What do you mean I must be writing this post at 1am and out of actual good ideas???) Seriously, I will start us off here, with a word, and the first one to comment should come up with a word that starts with the last letter of my word, and the next person comes up with one that starts with the last letter of the first comment and..... get it? If it gets all messed up, at least we'll still be thinking up things that make pets xtra special, right?

Here we go:

CUDDLES

your turn!

W is for Water Therapy

2012-02-08T05:35:00.004-05:00

Pawing through the Alphabet

W is for Water Therapy

Here is Libby on the underwater treadmill. She almost looks like she's smiling! Must be good stuff.

When Libby, a miniature Australian Shepherd, began hopping around on 3 legs and avoiding putting weight on one of her hind legs, her mom Karla became concerned. Libby and her buddy Buster had been playing in the yard, (rutted with Buster's holes!) and she assumed that Libby had stumbled and maybe sprained her leg. It turned out that Libby tore a cranial cruciate ligament (similar to an ACL in people) around her knee.

Surgery was considered, but it was expensive and might not even take care of the problem. So, along with their veterinarian, Karla and her family decided that Libby might benefit from some water therapy. The low-resistance therapy would also help Libby, who was about 10 lbs overweight, safely burn calories.

Libby signed up for 12 weeks of AquaPaw underwater treadmill. The treadmill is contained in a large plexiglass box with a door on one end. The water, filled to about hip level, is a comfy 90 degrees.

So far Libby has made good progress. In the beginning of her therapy, she walked for 7 minutes at .2 mph. When she became tired, she slowed down and rode the treadmill backwards. Every session the time is increased. Now she is able to walk for 20 minutes at 1mph, and will go on a maintenance program.

Karla reports that the therapy was relaxing and enjoyable for Libby. She lost 1-2 lbs. And, now Libby is improving and walking much more comfortably! Way to go, Libby. Keep it up!

Check out this video of Cloie, an Australian shepherd, and her treatment!

V is for Vermont

2012-02-07T09:32:00.000-05:00

Pawing through the Alphabet

V is for Vermont

You might be saying, now wait a minute! What does Vermont have to do with pets? This is supposed to be Peggy's PET Place! But I chose Vermont because I wanted to give you a sneak peak of my next book, coming soon, which is set in Vermont. AND...it involves lots of pets! The title of the book is

Dog in the Pond, Goose on the Roof

A true tale of finding faith and hope through the healing love of animals

This is a true story about one woman's struggle to build a log home and small farm in Vermont. Getting along when the house needs a roof, the well runs dry, the truck ends up in the pond, and her husband hides beer in the pig sty isn't easy. But it's the quirky yet irresistible animals she embraces on the farm--and the animals from her past, as she was shuffled between 4 different mothers, a grandmother, and an orphanage--who teach her valuable lessons that help her not only endure the challenges, but ultimately find her strength and value.

Some of the animals you'll meet are:
Corky the faithful dog
Gertie the lovesick goose
Herkimer the ornery bull
Dr. Seuss the sad donkey
Mittens the 6-toed cat
Happy the devoted dog
Toy the intelligent parrot
Fred the bossy rooster
and more!

I hope you'll check it out and enjoy this book. COMING SOON!

U is for Ugly

2012-02-06T05:01:00.003-05:00

Pawing through the Alphabet

U is for Ugly

Ugly: Hairless, buggy eyes, blotchy skin, tufts of hair, pointy teeth, pimples, moles and warts. One red eye. Yup, I have to say that Sam was the ugliest dog in the world. And he had the credentials to prove it: he was undefeated in the World's Ugliest Dog competition. But never fear, there are plenty more contenders out there!

Every summer pet parents bring their dogs to Petaluma California to compete in the World's Ugliest Dog competition. The DVD, Worst in Show, documents some of the canine competitors and their quirky families. The film is not so much about what makes a dog beautiful or ugly, but about the desire to win, the love for pets, and the pros and cons of competition. And, speaking of competition, read on for your chance to win one of THREE Worst in Show DVDs!

Some of the dogs you'll meet are Winston, a shepherd with a scar on his head, who isn't really ugly or even homely. Rascal, an African sand dog (a hairless breed) with big ears and a blond topknot of hair. Icky, an adorably ugly Chinese crested with a Mohawk. And Pabst, a bulldog with an underbite.

While some of the pet parents are down to earth, others are fiercely competitive. Icky seems to be a crowd favorite, but you might cheer for your own favorite ugly dog as you watch. Worst In Show was directed by award winning filmmakers John T. Beck and Don R. Lewis and is distributed by Breaking Glass Pictures. Check it out on Facebook and YouTube.

And now for the Giveaway!
If you don't win, you can always get your own copy of Worst In Show at Breaking Glass Pictures. You can even get a great discount. Enter code "PEGGY" to get $5 off the already discounted price! So here you go, here's the contest and good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Super Dog Sunday

2012-02-05T00:17:00.002-05:00

Go Team Go!

Join the fun as All Things Dog Blog and DogTipper celebrate Super Dog Sunday! There are prizes for bloggers, and proceeds of the event benefit Petfinder. I love Petfinder because we found Kelly on Petfinder!

T is for Toothbrush

2012-02-04T06:05:00.001-05:00

Pawing through the Alphabet

T is for Toothbrush

My veterinarian informed me how important it is to brush Kelly's teeth, so we got her a new toothbrush set.

It contains a little finger brush to get her used to the idea, some yummy chicken toothpaste, and a toothbrush.

It's not easy to brush a dog's teeth. Here are the results.

S is for Squirrels

2012-02-03T05:35:00.005-05:00

Doug: "SQUIRREL!!"

Pawing through the Alphabet

S is for Squirrels

I was going to write about Something Wagging Train Your Dog Month Challenge, and discuss my training results here. My challenge was to work on Kelly's mailman aversion. Due to unforeseen circumstances, however, I was unable to spend as much time working with her as desired, and have no results to share with you. Yea, great blog post, telling you what I WAS going to write about!

Instead, today I am going to talk about squirrels!

This is our squirrel, Fat Fat Fatty. Here is how he gets to the good stuff.

How does your dog or cat react to squirrels? What about you? Do you like squirrels, or consider them pests who eat all your birdseed? Has your pet ever had an up close and personal encounter with a squirrel?

R is for Ruff

2012-02-02T05:01:00.002-05:00

R is also for this RED cardinal at our feeder!

Pawing through the Alphabet

R is for Ruff

Still having RUFF times here, so I thought I'd ask for your help again. You did such a great job telling me what P is for. So how about, can you help me out again? What are your thoughts on R??
Thank you for your help...and also your good wishes and prayers.

Q is for Quilts and Questions

2012-02-01T10:33:00.000-05:00

Quilt square from Dachsies with Moxie

Pawing through the alphabet

Q is for Quilts and Questions

Two great things going on around the Internet that I want to tell you about!

QUILT:
My heart is warmed by the way bloggers are joining together to help others. Dachsies with Moxie is piecing together an amazing quilt to help comfort the family of The Fearless Five/Pittie Pack, who were tragically lost in a fire. Blog friends far and wide are donating fabric squares and Cindy of Bird Brains and Dog Tails is doing the quilting. Check out the progress of this quilt. A big hug goes out to everyone involved.

QUESTIONS:

BaDaBing Benny from Two French Bulldogs

One of my favorite days of the week has been Tuesday, because that is the day you can get your questions answered by BaDaBing Benny! I just read that this week was the final episode of BaDaBing Tuesday and I will miss his wisdom. No matter what, there is always something fun in store with Benny and his sister Lily, so stop by The Antics of Two French Bulldogs and tell them Kelly and I sent you!

P is for Pneumonia

2012-01-31T12:14:00.000-05:00

Pawing through the Alphabet

P is for Pneumonia

...and that is because I'm not able to write a regular blog post today because I'm spending time with my husband who is in the hospital with pneumonia and as of yet undiagnosed respiratory conditions. I haven't been able to be around to visit your blogs either and I miss you!

How about today YOU tell Me what P is for? Pets? Puppies? anything else??

O is for On the Go

2012-01-30T05:25:00.001-05:00

Pawing through the Alphabet

O is for On the Go

I thought it would be fun to ask a question and see what kind of answers we get:

Where is the most unusual place you've taken your pet?

For me, we took our dalmatian puppy with us on our honeymoon!
My mom took her little lamb with her to church!
What about you? I can't wait to hear!

I also wanted to talk about products that we use when traveling with our pets, and tell you about this pet carrier, Sturdi Bag. I was lucky enough to be sent a sample of Sturdi Bag to check out and see what I think. I have nothing but good things to say!

Sturdi Products makes quality carriers, pop-up shelters and cool products for traveling pets and their people. The Sturdi Bag is really well made, attractive, and full of helpful features.

Although Kelly is too big to fit in the Large Sturdi Bag we were provided with, we both inspected it thoroughly. Some of the features we noted:

*Lightweight
* It holds its shape
*Super thick padded mat in the bottom. Any dog would appreciate that.
*Tether for securing your pet
*Lots of zippers so you can customize to your needs--screen windows, pockets, doors...you name it!
*Screen windows for ventilation all over the place!
*Extra comfy padded shoulder strap
*Seatbelt safety straps

While the website indicates that the large can safely carry 40 lbs, it also states that it is most suitable for all cats and dogs up to 25 pounds. Take this seriously, because Kelly is about 35 pounds and she couldn't fit in the Large. Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large Sturdi Bags are available, as well as many colors and designs.

We give the Sturdi Bag 4 paws up! It's light and durable, attractive, and full of features for any pet on the go.

* Full disclosure: I was provided one Sturdi Bag in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are 100% my own.

N is for Nose for News

2012-01-28T05:56:00.002-05:00

Pawing through the Alphabet

N is for Nose for News

Today Kelly and I are sniffing around to bring you some pawsome dog news!

****First, the winner of contest for a copy of the book In a Dog's Heart , chosen by random drawing, is DIANNE. Congratulations! Contact me with your mailing address!

* Hamster hoarder surrenders 94 pets to authorities.

* Missing feral cat colony in Fort Worth, Texas.

* Westminster introduces 6 new dog breeds: the Entlebucher mountain dog, the Norwegian Lundehund, the American English coonhound, the Finnish Lapphund, the Cesky terrier and the Xoloitzcuintli.

*Cyrano the 20-lb cat gets a new knee.

What have you sniffed up lately?!

M is for Movies

2012-01-27T06:26:00.001-05:00

Kelly taking her seat to watch a good movie

Pawing through the Alphabet

M is for Movies

Take your Brad Pitt, take your George Clooney. Give me a movie with an adorable dog in it, and I'm hooked. It doesn't hurt to have Brad Pitt also, but just be sure there's a dog! When it comes to movies, dogs--and cats, horses, elephants, penguins--steal the show.

Last year, my mother and I put on a DVD of Benji movies. Wow, they were bad. Trite, poorly acted, melodramatic. But, Benji was adorable, and so clever--real dog tricks that were fun to watch (and made Kelly look like quite the slouch.) It didn't make up for the contrived plots, but I've sat through worse entertainment. I'm just saying.

When it comes to great dog movies, I can't forget Old Yeller, Sounder, and Lassie. (But it's been so long since I've watched them.) Here are some more of my favorite animal movies:

The Incredible Journey (the 1963 version). Here's one with dog and cat actors. I watched this first in school, and was so embarrassed when the teacher turned the classroom lights back on and I had tears running down my cheeks. But I needn't have worried--I wasn't the only one!

My very own Marley, Hudson

Marley and Me-- Say what you will about the story line, or whatever. I love Marley the puppy, Marley running on the beach, Marley chasing people and kids around. This movie got to me. For many reasons, and not only because I had a yellow lab and sat holding him as he crossed the rainbow bridge.

Lady and the Tramp-- Oh my gosh, the scene with the spaghetti...sweeeeet! There couldn't be any cuter dogs and (Spoiler Alert for the one person who has never seen the movie!) the Lady/Tramp puppies at the end. Even if they are animated.

Eight Below-- This movie wins points for the relationship between the sled dogs and handler, the dogs' will to survive, and of course the tearful reunion.

Born Free-- Okay, so it's not about domestic cats, but this movie goes down as my all-time favorite animal movie. For most of my childhood, I wanted to be Joy Adamson.

A couple honorable mentions:

Hachi-- The movie itself wasn't great, but the devotion of Hachi still tears me up. Reminds me of a book I read, Greyfriar's Bobbie.

To Dance with the White Dog-- I think this was a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie, but I remember liking it. The man thinks the white dog is his deceased wife, come back with a message.

Ring of Bright Water-- I don't know if this one holds up over time, but I remember loving it when I was a kid. It was about an otter, and the neighbor man with a shovel, and there were tears...but I'm sure it ended happy.

Another animated dog I really like is Disney's Doug from Up!

So what about you? What are your favorite animal movies?

L is for Leash

2012-01-26T06:15:00.003-05:00

Stop taking pictures and get on with the walk!

Pawing through the alphabet

L is for Leash

Okay, all I can say is one dog: one leash. Right? Maybe two. But seriously, is this too much?!

Over the years Kelly has acquired many leashes. Some have been prizes! This is her favorite.

Some of the options when choosing a leash:

1. Length-- A standard leash is about 6 foot long, but you can get them anywhere from 4 to 8 foot long. I like to give Kelly enough slack while walking so that she can sniff around, but not so long that I can't reel it up and put her at a heel if people pass by on the sidewalk. Kelly really likes it if she sees the super-long leash come out.

This one is 25 foot long, and it means we're either going to go outside and practice our recall (which amounts to a game for her!) or she's going to get a lot more freedom and the ability to run around and have fun (without the fear of her running off).

2. Material--leashes come in leather, nylon web, cotton, hemp and probably some other materials, but I don't happen to have anything else. I like cotton. This hemp leash by Planet Dog has a cool feature:

A cozy, warm fleece-lined handle. See it? Now that's thinking of the dog and the dog walker!

3. Function-- You might want different types and lengths of leash depending upon what you are using them for, like Kelly's shorter leash for walking and longer for running and playing. I won this cool-looking leash by Pet Zen and couldn't really figure out what it was for until I looked it up.

Turns out this Dog to Go HitchN Leash allows you to clip the leash around any object, and separate the clips so that you don't have to unhitch the leash from the collar in order to clip the dog to something, say a tree, or a post if you are out in public with your pooch.

4. Color/Design--You want your dog stylin' when you go on a walk? No problem there. I don't suppose you could count the number of colors and designs to choose from!

Now, to neatly store all our leashes, we got this neat hook, which we installed on our front porch.

Of course, we also have a lot of cool collars to go with all those leashes. And also, these cute hooks for collars!

What features do you look for in a leash? What makes your favorite leash your favorite?

** This just in!! Need a new leash? Check out Go Pet Friendly's Colossal Dog Leash Trial and Giveaway today!!

K is for K9Kamp

2012-01-25T06:01:00.000-05:00

C'mon, Join us!

Pawing through the Alphabet.

K is for K9Kamp

Only a few short months ago (it seems like forever ago!) Kelly, Koly from Kol's Notes, and a gang of blogger friends joined together for Koly and Kelly's K9Kamp. We had so much fun, worked on some fitness challenges, and gave away a ton of prizes too! I thought I'd take this time to answer some of your questions.

Q: Wait a minute! What is Koly and Kelly's K9Kamp?
K9kamp is a participatory blogging project involving fitness challenges, healthy recipes, weight loss tips, prizes, and more. Our goal is to celebrate the bond between pets and pet parents by getting fit together. The Kamp ran for 6 weeks this past September.

Q: Will there be another one?
You bet! We had so much fun last year, we couldn't wait to do it again! We thought what better time to run K9Kamp than spring, so we can all get in nice shape by summer. So look for Koly and Kelly's K9Kamp this May.

Q: What kind of challenges am I in store for?
Some of our most popular challenges last year were "Fetch it Yourself" and "Tug and Tone." The challenges involve walking, jumping, chasing, and simple steps you can easily learn and do along with your dog.

Q: I'm not in very good shape. Will this be too difficult for me?
All the challenges can be adapted to fit any fitness level. We'll suggest adaptations, or you can alter challenges yourself to meet your needs.

Q: My dog and I already work out, eat healthy and are in great shape. What's in it for me?
Even those who are already fit will enjoy the opportunities to vary your routine and have fun bonding with your dog!

Q: Prizes? Did I hear prizes?
Absolutely! Last year we gave away DVDs, collars, leashes, fetching sticks, a copy of Dieting with my Dog, e-subscription to FIDO Friendly magazine, ID tags and much more! Not to mention the final pawsome GRAND PRIZE package!

Q: What's new at k9kamp this year?
We'll have all new challenges! More exciting prizes! And a new, easier to follow organization with fewer challenges and more time to participate. What stays the same is the fun!

Q: How can I get involved?
Keep watching here and on Kol's Notes for updates. In April, you can decide whether you want to be one of our Featured Bloggers and commit to participating in every challenge, or drop by and participate as you can. Then, in May, the fun begins!

And now, here is your chance to give us your input. If you participated last year, what did you think worked well, and what needed tweaking? If you weren't involved last year, what would you like to see in k9kamp? How can we help motivate you and your dog to get fit together? We'd love to hear your ideas!

J is for Jobs for Dogs

2012-01-24T07:07:00.001-05:00

Pawing through the Alphabet

J is for Jobs for Dogs

I love the way that dogs help people in so many ways. That's why I decided that for the letter J, I would reprint this post from my column, Pawsitively Pets.

Dogs hold many jobs. Police Dog. Guide Dog. Therapy Dog. Kelly works with me in my home office. There are many ways dog help people, each and every day.
Here are five great jobs that your dog can do:

1. Alarm Clock
Just try and sleep late on a Saturday morning. Your pup won’t let you forget that it’s wake-y time! Some dogs like to jump up on the bed and lick your face. Others tug the covers. The only trouble with these models is that there are no snooze buttons.

2. Personal Trainer
Taking your dog on a walk is great for physical fitness. So is retrieving the sticks he won’t fetch…chasing her around the house to reclaim your slipper…wrestling him into the tub for a bath…Who needs a gym membership?

3. Body Guard
Your dog won’t let anything happen to you. If she hears a noise late out night, she’ll bark. Although sometimes she’ll also bark at a shadow or a buzzing housefly. Such security!

4. Maid
What dog doesn’t make a great vacuum cleaner, scarfing up the crumbs left on the kitchen floor or under the dining room table? And, his tongue would gladly take a swipe at washing those dishes, if you’d let him.

5. Psychiatrist
You can tell your dog your worries. She will always listen and never tell anyone. She knows when you’re sad and puts her head in your lap. Just knowing she is there somehow makes you feel better. She cuddles up beside you and stays for as long as you need. This is the greatest job of all.

Which jobs does your dog hold?

*This column first appeared on Guideposts website, Pawsitively Pets, June 2010.

I is for In a Dog's Heart

2012-01-23T06:00:00.006-05:00

Pawing through the Alphabet

I is for In a Dog's Heart

This book by Jennifer Arnold is subtitled "What our dogs need, want and deserve--and the gifts we can expect in return." Really, is there much else you want to know about dogs?

I absolutely love this book, and I wish everyone could read it! So mush so, that I'm giving away a free copy at the end of the blog post today. So keep reading for your chance to win!

Jennifer Arnold is founder and executive director of Canine Assistants, a service-dog school in Georgia. In order to run such a successful organization, Jennifer really understands dogs and the relationship between pet and pet parent. She sees herself as "a relataionship expert who improves communication between humans and dogs in the process, betters the quality of life for both."

One thing In a Dog's Heart helps us to understand is the very destructive nature of negative training methods some people use. Jennifer's organization never teaches using fear or force. She's developed a positive training methodology called Choice Teaching, which "lends to calm, well-mannered dogs who respect their human partners and enjoy doing as asked."

The book advocates building a strong bond with your pet which will give you the patience to "guide your dog through life on Planet Human, when he doesn't speak the language or understand the customs." Some of the steps the author explains are:
* Try to see the world through your dog's eyes
*Understand that your dog's perspective is quite different from your own
*Listen to your dog
*Be your dog's advocate

There is a wealth of information in this book about how to keep your dog safe and healthy, and how to deal with various behavioral problems.

So what do dogs want? According to Jennifer, "dogs simply want to be happy, and they want us to be happy with them." And what does a pet parent want? This book!

In a Dog's Heart is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your favorite bookstore! Also available is NYTimes bestseller, Through a Dog's Eyes.

Contest:
Enter to win one copy of In a Dog's Heart by Jennifer Arnold
To enter: Leave a comment below saying why you'd like to win a copy of "In a Dog's Heart." For an extra entry, tweet a link to this contest, or share about the contest on your FB page, and leave another comment here telling me that you did so.
One winner will be chosen at random. Please be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Contest limited to the U.S. and Canada. (Canadian winners may have to answer a knowledge-based question.)
Good luck!

H is for Happy

2012-01-21T02:12:00.002-05:00

Join me as I continue Pawing through the Alphabet. Today, for the Pet Blogger Hop,

H is for Happy!

I'm smiling as I'm writing this, because it is probably the most pleasant and personal subject I will ever blog about. Let me introduce you to Happy.

Happy was my childhood dog. We got him when I was in first grade, and he lived until I was a freshman in highschool. So he was pretty much my best friend all of my youth. A family friend found Happy in the woods, skinny and muddy, and traded him to us for a pile of wood. I'm sure we got the best end of the trade. Part beagle/part black lab, he embodied the best qualities of both breeds. I always felt that Happy was grateful to us for rescuing him because he could never stop thanking us. He did everything he could to please us. The only thing bad I recall that he did was to sneak up onto the dining room table late at night and lick all the sugar out of the sugar bowl. That was an offense for which my brothers and I got blamed for many years.

Happy was mostly my dog. I lived in a small suburb in Vermont, and at the time dogs were commonly let out in the morning, wandered around loose all day, and came home for dinner. Happy followed me everywhere. When I walked to my friend's house, he'd follow me and wait on the doorstep until I was done playing, and then follow me home. Not even a thunderstorm, that he was so afraid of, would cause him to leave that doorstep.

One of our favorite things to do together was to play in the puddles. After a summer rain we'd go outside and splash and dance in that shallow muddy water. To this day I can't look at a rain puddle without feeling happy inside.

The best thing about Happy was that I could tell him all my secrets, from playground slights to teenage crushes. Happy always understood. Happy never tired of listening, either. He also got along great with my cat, and my bunny, and in fact, everyone--except for men in uniform.

I'm not going to go into the day he died, but I remember ever second of it in detail. Mostly when I think about Happy, I think about that once in a lifetime dog, the one who understands you like no one else, the one who personifies devotion. And that's Happy.

G is for Gibson

2012-01-20T06:00:00.002-05:00

Pawing through the Alphabet

G is for Gibson

Do you know Gibson? He's one of the beautiful Siberian Huskies over at Five Sibes blog. And Gibson has a very special message. Gibson has a children's book, written by his mom, Dorothy Wills-Raferty. And it's all about him and a serious condition affecting some dogs. And we're excited to be joining in with the Five Sibes Book Release Blog Tour!
Here's a description of the book:

A FiveSibes Tale-- What's Wrong With Gibson? Learning About K-9 Epilepsy

by Dorothy Wills-Raferty

Welcome to the world of the FiveSibes! They are five energetic Siberian Huskies who spend all their days playing and learning together. In What's Wrong With Gibson?, one day while playing, Gibson has a seizure. It is a beautifully illustrated short story of the pups learning about what Canine Epilepsy is and how they can help their big brother. The FiveSibe Tales are stories that children and adults of all ages will enjoy.

Today Dorothy joins us to answer some questions about Gibson, k9 epilepsy, and writing the book.

1. When did you first know that Gibson had k9 epilepsy?
It was three years ago, shortly after Gibson's third birthday.

2. How many dogs are affected by k9 epilepsy? What are some of the symptoms?

That's a really good question...large numbers of dogs worldwide experience seizures or are diagnosed as Epileptic Dogs or Epi-Dogs everyday. While there is no actual tracked number of dogs with Canine Epilepsy that I know of, there are quite a few valuable resources with information available to Epi-Dog parents worldwide. Canine Epilepsy Resources (www.Canine-Epilepsy.com), who is the non-profit center that a percentage of proceeds of "What's Wrong With Gibson" will benefit, is a center that not only has information, but also is home of the Epil-K list, a place where Epi-Dog parents can connect. There are other great resources listed on my blog and in this posting from National Epilepsy Awareness Month that may be of interest to Epi-Dog parents (http://www.canineepilepsy.co.uk/default.htm).

3. Why did you decide to write this book?

Ever since Gibson had his first seizure, which scared me more than anything I've ever experienced with my dogs, I carry his experiences around with me. As an Epi-Dog parent, you always are listening, watching, waiting, and hoping another seizure will never come. It keeps you on alert. It was very hard for me to talk about it at first and I just concentrated on learning everything I could to help Gibson live the best and healthiest life he could. I am a photojournalist by trade, so when Gibson first seized, I turned to social networking and met a fabulous lady from Texas who walked me through it all in the early days as one of her dogs is an epileptic also. I then shared my journal entries of Gibson's seizures online in hopes of helping others. To pay it forward, if you will. I've worked in the educational field for 19 years and knew I wanted to write about it in the format of a children's book. There are children out there who have epilepsy themselves, or have a family member, friend, or pet who has it. It was my hope that by writing this book, children could have something they could relate to, help them understand, and...if one child remembers to get "a bag of frozen peas" to put on their pet during a seizure, then they've helped! Canine Epilepsy is very scary, and through this illustrated story, I hope to remove some of the fear for children and let people know that it's OK for a pet to have epilepsy and, with a regiment of medicine, vitamins, diet, and exercise - still be able to live a happy and healthy life. A reader told me the only course of action for her Epi-Dog 20 years ago was euthanasia - that is not, thankfully, the case today.

4. What does the book tell us about how we can help dogs with epilepsy?

There are hints throughout the tale, such as getting a first aid kit (very important - all Epi-Dog household should have one); getting an ice pack or bag of frozen peas (to bring down the dog's body temperature) - when Gibson seized, I did not have ice packs in my freezer, so I actually used a bag of frozen peas and a loaf of frozen Italian bread! I also have the pups get a hose for water, as a dog needs a drink post-seizure. They see Harley jot notes in a journal (which is key for parents of epileptic pets to mark down details of seizure). They also have ice cream at the end, which is what you can give the dog post-seizure to help raise the sugar levels back up. There are all little helpful, true tips throughout the book.

5. How is Gibson doing now?

Gibson is doing well! As any Epi-Dog parent can tell you, when things are going good, you don't even like to say it! He is on a good regiment that is has been successful for him for the past three years. I pray it continues. The one thing about Canine Epilepsy is that even if your dog is successfully medicated, there is no guarantee that a seizure won't happen again. We just do the best we can. Gibson has some mild effects from the meds - lethargy, voracious appetite, and occasional stomach upset. I have his blood levels tested every six months to check on his liver as one of the medicines can affect it long range. I do give him a vitamin supplement - Milk Thistle - to help cleanse the liver. I was extremely overprotective of him for the first couple years. I still keep a very close eye on him and always will, but finally I let him pretty much do what he feels like, i.e. running, playing, etc. My vet gave me the best advice ever. She said, "Let him live his life." And now, I do.

If anyone would like to order a copy, they may do so through the ArcticHouse Publishing website,(www.ArcticHousePublishing.com).

I think this book would be a wonderful to share with any child, to give them a better understanding of our canine friends and a disease that can affect people, as well as our pets. Plus, a percentage of the proceeds are donated to Canine Epilepsy Resources.

Thank you Dorothy for joining us today, and here's a big hug for Gibson, and all the Sibes!

F is for Fat Cat

2012-01-19T05:00:00.000-05:00

My friend Becky's cat Pepe

Pawing my way through the alphabet

F is for Fat Cat

* Fat Cat. Remember Walter the fat cat, who tipped the scales at more than 28lbs? He's lost 3lbs and is being adopted, which is good. Find out why he's now being instructed to GAIN weight.

* Fat Cats... AND Dogs...AND people - The Wall Street Journal reports on a new project, Project Slim Down, which combines a program of weight management food for pets, and Jenny Craig program for people. You can register for the project and find some handy tools for getting fit. (What a perfect combination for Dieting with my Dog, too!)

F is also for Friends

* Friends- The Daily News reports on a Great Dane who threw himself in front of his owner as she was being beaten with a hammer by her boyfriend. The Dane absorbed most of the blows, probably saving the woman's life. The two are now fighting for rights for pets to stay in shelters for battered women.

* Friends- This Boxer saved Shih-tzu friend from an owl attack!

E is for Ears

2012-01-17T06:30:00.002-05:00

Pawing through the Alphabet

E is for Ears

What's that I hear? There are names for all those different size and shape ears! For some reason I find this fascinating. Without names, I'd just describe ears as droopy, pointy or furry. Now...I can call them by name.
Bat Ears-- large and upright

Round tipped ears-- large, upright and rounded tips
Button ears-- upright and folded over at the top
Prick ears --upright, pointed
Cocked ears-- prick ear, folded at the tip
Drop ears-- hang down
Folded ears--drop ears that hang in folds
Hooded ears-- curve inward on the edges
Rose ears-- small drop ear that folds backwards


Chart via Caninest.com

+

To add to the fun (hey! It's fun to me!) leave a note in the comments and let me know which type of ears your dog has. I want to see which type of ear is the most common...at least, the most common reader of this blog!

D is for Diet, and a bonus

2012-01-16T06:30:00.000-05:00

Photo from Dieting with my Dog

Pawing Through the Alphabet
(**Frankie keep reading...I won't let you down.)

Today,
D is for Diet

Many of you already know that Kelly and I have been dieting together. I don't want to be redundant, and I won't tell you here about good nutrition or exercise. What I want to talk about is the struggle--the frustrating, continual challenge--of keeping up a habit like dieting. Just because my book, Dieting with my Dog, is out and at the end of the book Kelly and I reached our goals (I lost 41 lbs and Kelly lost 6 lbs!) doesn't mean we can stop dieting.

I don't think I'm giving away anything when I post this section from near the end of my book. I'm looking around my daughter's old bedroom, which I'd refused to change since she'd gone away to college.

     "What are you doing in here?" (my husband) asked.
     "Picturing this room a little different," I replied.
     "You mean, a change?" Mike grinned.
     I ran my hand across the dresser again. "Could be." No way around it; things changed. The trick was to accept, even welcome it. Like losing weight, it was a lifetime challenge.

Yup, losing weight is a lifetime challenge. I've succumbed to oreo truffles and cheesecake over the holidays. Some days Kelly and I couldn't convince each other to get outside in the bitter cold to take our walk. Many times we abandoned the good habits we established in favor of a yummy treat or a lazy snuggle together on the couch. And a few pounds found their way back for both of us.

I know that if I want to keep myself--and my dog--in nice shape, and most importantly healthy, I have to keep in practice all those good habits that we started when we set out on our journey: Turning down extra sweets. Resisting feeding Kelly table scraps. Keeping up with exercise even when we're feeling lazy. Measuring Kelly's food and being accountable for how much I'm eating. And all that isn't always easy.

So I'm here to encourage you all who have strayed a bit from your diets, or have a dog who needs to shed a few pounds, or who find it difficult to get out and walk the dog when the sun is hiding...you can do it! Join us on our Facebook page and we'll support each other.
Just take a step today. If you will, we will too.

Now...for the bonus.

D is also for Dachshund!

Kelly is part long haired dachshund--see the resemblance (especially those ears)? And very proud of it. And is also very very lucky to have so many dachshund bloggy buddies:
Frankie Furter and Ernie
Puddles, Albert and Whitney (but mostly Puddles, right?!)
Amber and Max
Frankie the Walk 'n Roll Dog
Dachies with Moxie
So today we can also celebrate dachshunds!

Blog the Change- Canine Assistants

2012-01-15T00:02:00.002-05:00

Photo courtesy of Canine Assistants

Pulling a wheelchair, turning on a light switch, retrieving a dropped object...these are just a few of the tasks dogs can perform to help the disabled and increase independence. Some dogs even offer support that people--and even medical science--can't provide.

Recently I was researching an article and had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer Arnold, bestselling author of Through a Dog's Eyes, and In a Dog's Heart, and founder of Canine Assistants. Instantly I knew that Canine Assistants was the cause I would highlight for Blog the Change.

Jennifer Arnold

Located in Georgia, Canine Assistants is a non-profit organization which trains and provides service dogs, seizure response dogs, and companion dogs for children and adults with physical disabilities and other special needs. About 1,000 dogs, mainly golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers and goldendoodles, have been placed since the organization began in 1991.

In addition to physical assistance, the dogs can provide emotional support. Often a dog is able to get through to a person in a way that no other human can.

Seizure response dogs provide assistance after a person has a seizure by laying next to the person, retrieving a cordless phone, or even pressing a medic alert button.

Another type of service dog, seizure alert dogs, sense an oncoming seizure and can alert a person before it happens. Because at this point no one really understands what the dogs are sensing, that behavior can't be trained. But Jennifer explained that after a strong bond is developed, 87% of her seizure response dogs were able to alert their partners in this way.

Photo courtesy of Canine Assistants

Choice Teaching
Jennifer uses only positive training methods. The methodology she developed is called Choice Teaching, and involves rewards for positive behavior. This leads to "calm, well-mannered dogs who respect their human partner and enjoy doing as asked." Throughout our conversation, I could easily sense Jennifer's dedication, respect and love for the dogs she works with.

There is no charge for a dog through Canine Assistants. Recipients attend a two week training class in Georgia to learn how to work with their dog, and for the dog to learn about them. The waiting list for Canine Assistants dogs is from 1 to 5 years.

I wanted to tell you all about this inspiring organization and hope if you might check out their website, or Facebook, and if you know anyone who could benefit from their wonderful work, you might spread the word.

C is for Curl

2012-01-14T06:30:00.004-05:00

Pawing Through from A to Z

C is for Curl

I bet you didn't expect that, did you? There are many good options for "C"--cats, cookies, cuddles... But I knew I just had to pick "curl" because it describes one of my favorite features of Kelly.

If you're really really old like me (haha) or if your mother and grandmother liked to recite old rhymes, you might remember this one:
There was a little girl
with a little curl
right in the middle of her forehead
and when she was good
she was very, very good
but when she was bad
she was horrid.

Well that rhyme kind of relates to Kelly. Because she has this lock of hair, I guess it's technically not really curly, and it hangs down right in the middle of her forehead! Of course, Kelly is always really, really good and she's never bad! ;)

Kelly also has a mustache of sorts, that sticks out above her nose. The funny thing about it, sometimes it's long, and then sometimes it's short. It grows and then apparently the hairs fall out and it starts over again. I can't really figure it all out.

Kelly's bad hair day is part of what makes her so endearing to us!
Does your dog have any funny, cute and unusual physical features---that you just absolutely love?

B is for Book

2012-01-13T06:05:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my new blogging challenge, Pawing Along from A to Z. If you read yesterday, you learned that A is for Adoption. Today, join us for

B is for Book

I love Books. Reading them. Writing them. Stacking them up in a pile. Underlining beautiful phrases inside them. Alphabetizing them on a shelf. And reviewing them!

Recently I was asked to review two books, published by Hubble & Hattie (those great publishers who brought you Dieting with my Dog!). One of the things I like best about Hubble & Hattie books is that they are useful and helpful--books on subjects such as animal grief, dog massage, dog arthritis, and fun and games for cats. Here are two great books:

Clever Dog: Life Lessons from the world's most successful animal by Ryan O'Meara
ISBN 978-1-845843-45-8 Hubble & Hattie $19.95

The subtitle of this book interested me right away. Most successful animal? Cool! How did dogs accomplish that? What makes them so successful?

Inside this book I found the answers to those questions, and much more. Why people love dogs. How dogs benefit human health. How dogs communicate. How dogs solve problems. It is truly a wealth of information, starting with wolves and the domestication of dogs, to working dogs and the ways dogs help humans. There are even tips for handling puppies, dogs with separation anxiety, and canine conflict. There is so much information, it is almost overwhelming. Ultimately, the book's aim is to examine how the dog achieved the epithet "man's best friend" and how we might emulate his talents in order to enjoy the same fortune and fulfillment in our lives. The only quibble I have with the book is that the type is very small, with no photos, illustrations or charts to break up the text, and a bit taxing to read.

Living with an older dog
by David Alderton and Derek Hall
ISBN: 978-1-845844-07-3 Hubble & Hattie $24.95

I love senior dogs. They seem to have a wisdom and nobility that melts my heart. At nearly 10, Kelly is considered a senior dog, although really the only thing that gives it away is a bit of graying on the muzzle.

If you have a senior dog and are looking for ways to help your dog live comfortably and happily in his golden years, this book is for you. It offers tips such as recognizing physical symptoms, using an adjustable stand to position food and water bowls at the most comfortable height for your dog, and providing games for mind stimulation. The book also discusses physical changes and other common consequences of aging, such as noise phobia, disorientation, and anxiety.

What I like best is that the book is filled with photographs of beautiful, happy, romping, engaged older dogs who are enjoying life.

*Full Disclosure: I was provided these books to review and asked for my honest opinions. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

A is for Adoption (yay!)

2012-01-12T07:00:00.003-05:00

Kelly poses after a haircut

I've decided to give myself a little challenge for the new year, and blog about something for each letter of the alphabet, one each day. So without further ado, I'll start at the very beginning...a very good place to start...

A is for adoption.

Remember that scene from Modern Family where Cam and Mitchell clapped and said "Yay!" every time they said the word "adoption," because they wanted Lily to form a positive association with the word? Well that's the way it should be with pet adoption too! Pet adoption (yay!) is positive for so many reasons, because it can save lives of homeless and unwanted animals. But it's strange to me that not-all-that- many years ago, I never even considered adoption (yay!)

When I was growing up, our dogs were strays, or given to us by friends whose dogs ran loose and had puppies that needed homes. Later, my husband and I bought our first dog, a dalmatian, at a bargain price from a backyard breeder. Fortunately Schuyler was wonderfully healthy and had a calm, gentle disposition. He was a pampered only dog, earned his CD in obedience, and became a nurturing big brother to his two human siblings.

Hudson

When it was time for our next dog, I still knew nothing about adopting (yay!). And I couldn't help but wonder why. Surely there were humane societies then, and good people fostering dogs, but I knew nothing of that world. We found a yellow lab through an ad in the newspaper. Again, Hudson was a wonderful member of the family and I wouldn't have traded him for anything. But I know I would have wanted to save a homeless dog, if I'd only been more aware.

Nearly ten years ago, we added another dog to the family. This time, computers were a part of our lives. And I finally figured out, for me, that is what made the difference. Now I had access to a myriad of thoughts and opinions, advertising and websites. And when it came time to find our new dog, Petfinder was a household name, and we searched there without a second thought. And, luckily for us all, we found an adorable 1 year old spaniel-mix, and Kelly was adopted. (Yay!)

Today I read about pet adoption (yay!) everywhere. Animal advocates are spreading the word. All of my friends have either purchased their dog from a responsible breeder (I'll add a yay for this too! I've shared my home with purebred dogs from breeders and I don't think anyone who goes this route should feel guilty for not adopting. There are many good reasons to get a dog from a reputable breeder too!) or adopted (yay!) their pet. So more and more homeless dogs are finding good forever homes. And there's only one thing I can say to that.

YAY!

Pet Blogger Challenge 2012

2012-01-10T00:04:00.003-05:00

Thank you to Amy from Go Pet Friendly and Edie from Will my Dog Hate Me for hosting the 2nd annual Pet Blogger Challenge! The best part of the Pet Blogger Challenge last year was learning from each other--sharing our high points and commiserating about our challenges. Here we go again!

1. Provide a link to your post from last year’s Pet Blogger Challenge so we can refresh our memories.

My 2011 Pet Blogger Challenge Post

2. What do you consider the most important goals you set out in last year’s post?

My most important goal was to share interesting posts. My posts aren't always the deepest, or the most news-breaking, but I try to write something fun, interesting or helpful. And to write from the heart. Another goal that is important is to promote my books, which I hope also contain interesting, useful and entertaining information.

3. Have you made progress toward those goals, or have your goals changed over the past year?
My definition of "interesting" has developed and refined. My new goal is to write more posts that are helpful and useful to readers. I'm more willing to dig into a tougher topic. Yet, I still want to balance that with lighter posts, cute pictures and things that will make people smile.

4. Has your opinion of blogging on a schedule or as the spirit moves you changed? Which are you doing now?
I'm still blogging on schedule. I'm kind of compulsive about it. This year, I even made an editorial calendar for the whole year!

Do you still worry about lost traffic, momentum, etc?
Yes. The hardest part is when I get busy on assignment and with other projects, and have less time to go visit other blogs. Then I feel like I'm losing traffic, and I feel less connected to readers and other bloggers, and I really miss that connection.

5. Are you generating income from your blog?
Yes, a little.

Has this changed since last year?
Yes! This actually was not one of my goals, but I was approached by an advertiser, and I got started with Social Spark. Although I'm selective about which leads I accept, I've made enough to cash out, and it's going pretty well. I am open to other opportunities like affiliate sponsors, but I don't feel I know enough about it at this time.

6. Have your likes and dislikes about blogging changed since last year?
Pretty much the same! I still like commenting and reading comments, and the sense of community. And I still dislike how time consuming it all is.

7. Overall, are you pleased with the progress you made in 2011?
Very pleased. I ran an awesome blog book tour to promote my first book, Dieting with my Dog, in which more than 20 bloggers participated. (Thank you everyone!) I also took on some new ventures, such as co-hosting an 8-week k9kamp with fellow blogger Kol's Notes.(Keep an eye out for our second annual k9kamp this year!)

8. How do you see your blog changing/growing in 2012?
I'd like to find ways to grow in followers, and to continue joining in with bloggers' challenges, contests and hops. I'd like to be even more useful to readers. I've been considering changing the name, but I'm not sure if that's a good idea or not. And...I'll soon be announcing my next book, being released in February! And I'd like to "make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold!"

Band-aid for Pip

2012-01-09T05:06:00.001-05:00

See that badge up here on the right column? It was made by Puddles of We 3 Doxies, and it's because our bloggy friend Pip hasn't been feeling well. I don't know Pip in person, but I know he's one super special pup.

Pip

He has an enlarged heart and fluid in his lungs. The doctor gave Pip some medicine and he's feeling perkier, but he needs to get all the way better soon!

I think he has a doctor appointment soon and we're hoping to hear a good report. So please join me in sending good thoughts and prayers to Pip. If you don't know Pip, please hop over to his blog, Pip Gets Back in the Game and tell him Peggy and Kelly sent you. (And while you're at it, check out We 3 Doxies for a big smile to start every day.)

Graphics made by We 3 Doxies.

Woof Friday and Daisy

2012-01-06T05:29:00.002-05:00

Daisy

A Spring Flower for Christmas
Guest Post by Sharon Azar

My holiday week between Christmas and New Year’s was supposed to be relaxing—a few family visits, some quiet time with Norman and dogs PoohBear and Chili along with our semi feral feline, Samurai, one of the kittens from my recent cat family rescue.

We didn’t figure on a hundred mile an hour whirlwind named Daisy!

Cute beyond words, the little 18 months young King Charles Spaniel puppy entered our lives as a holiday guest and wound up being my exercise trainer!

To give my elderly dogs and husband a rest, Daisy and I went for 4 hour walks (we sometimes ran) every day. Well, with my bad knees I thought this would be the end of my love of walking. But the opposite happened! The longer we walked the better I felt. Not to mention that Daisy loved exploring and meeting so many dog and human friends! When we returned home little Daisy slept like an angel and I felt great. Now, I’m taking longer walks with my dogs, even on the brutally cold days. Bless little Daisy’s big, energetic heart.

Moral of the story: Sometimes we get stuck in our routines and we need a little whirlwind to shake things up. I even think my guys miss her.

(Don’t get any ideas about adopting Daisy. She was not one of my rescues. She belongs to a wonderful Brooklyn family)

UPDATE!

Sharon's 5 tips for dogsitting:

    1. Be certain to arrange a visit prior to the time you’ll be caring for the guest dog so that you can see the dynamics of your resident dog(s) and the guest dog. This visit should be at least one hour or more. Initial meeting should occur outside on neutral territory so guest dog doesn’t seem like an intruder. Then bring guest dog and his or her family into your home and see what happens. Keep all dogs on leash until you’re certain everyone is comfortable.

    2. You’ll need a detailed written list and explanation of the dog’s schedule of walking, eating and hygiene needs (teeth brushing, ear washing after eating; paw cleaning after walks, etc.), food allergies and behavioral quirks, if any. Discuss the dog's diet.

   3. Name, address and all contact info for the dog’s veterinarian as well as owner’s contact info and trip itinerary.

    4. Owners like to stay connected so I send frequent ‘reports’ as well as photos via cell phone.

5. Last but not least, give the guest dog lots of love and attention, but be sure to include the resident dogs so they don’t feel jealous!

If you have any questions or concerns, you can e-mail me at: woofwoof.sharon@gmail.com

Missy, an adoptable dog from Sharon Azar's, WOOF!

WOOF! (Wagging On and On Forever!)-- advice, information, resources and true stories about our animal friends. By Sharon Azar

Pawsitively Perfect Cards

2012-01-05T06:14:00.001-05:00

One of my holiday un-decorating traditions is to go through the Christmas cards and sort and categorize them. I always save those with different depictions of the nativity scene--traditional, modern, elegant. And those with snowmen. And of course, animals!.
We received many fun pet-themed Christmas cards. Some were from the Blogville's Christmas card exchange organized by HoundDog Mom, Finn, Schnauzer Days and Jazzi's World. (Thank you everyone for all your work, and all the great cards and email cards!)

There were pets in Santa hats.

Big dogs, medium-sized dogs and small dogs.

Cards with cats.

Many cute photo cards, including this one of my friend Becky's kids and her dog Murray.

And even Kelly gave me a card:

It says:
I'm proud of how well trained you are.
How you preform each task
Like petting me and feeding me
Before I even ask.

You're my very favorite person
(And my best friend as well)
That's why I'm here to let you know
In case you couldn't tell.

I "woof" you lots!
Merry Christmas!
Kelly

What about you? What were your favorite pet themed holiday cards?

Wednesday Pet Roundup- After Holidays Edition

2012-01-04T05:45:00.002-05:00

Hi and welcome to Wednesday Pet Roundup! Here's Kelly, reminding me to renew my commitment to fitness this new year. And here are your links for this week.

* From Mercury news, Tillman the bulldog rode the waves on an impressive nearly-120-foot long float with real surf in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

* The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that pets given as holiday gifts too often end up being returned to the shelter. Surrendered pets suffer emotionally when they are returned to a shelter cage.

from nj.com staff photo by Britney Lillya

* Amber the pitbull will soon be placed in a new home. nj.com tells us that she was abandoned with a note on her collar: "Amber: I need a family."

*Reuters reports that having a cat as a kid can help reduce chances of developing allergies. However, the same is not true for adults. Getting a cat when you are an adult nearly doubles your allergy risks.

* Check out these Cute Overload photos of cats taking baths!

Worst In Show

2012-01-02T05:45:00.001-05:00

Are you looking for a great new DVD? One featuring lots of dogs? Do you like watching scenes of adorable pooches, perfectly groomed and proudly prancing around a show ring? Well, Worst in Show might be the DVD for you! It depends upon your definition of "adorable." Because these dogs in this movie are all competitors for the title of World's Ugliest Dog!

Synopsis:
Every summer, proud dog owners bring their canine companions to Petaluma, California, to compete for a highly coveted title. No, this isn't your standard Best in Show championship, this is the contest for the World's Ugliest Dog. For more than 20 years, the grassroots contest has gained worldwide media attention and has given rise to a new class of competitors. 2008 was a particularly competitive year: vying for the top spot was Rascal (the veteran), Icky (the Rookie), and Pabst (the underdog).

Worst in Show is a fascinating documentary that examines the many ways our society defines beauty and takes viewers behind the scenes at an event where the competitors never fail to impress. Equally impressive, however, is the care and devotion of their human counterparts, all of whom prove that love goes beyond skin deep.

I know I'm going to get a copy of Worst in Show, and I bet I'll meet a lot of adorable dogs, too!

Watch the movie trailer here!

Dogs, Pets, and the Best of 2011

2011-12-31T00:04:00.004-05:00

A new year causes me to think about new goals. My goals for my blog are connecting with a community of pet lovers, and also to be useful to you. So, to celebrate 2011, here are some of my most useful posts from this year:

On Animal Advocacy:

* Co-founder of Petfinder Barks Back

* Blog the Change- Just say NO to Puppy Mills

* Adopt Me Because I Need You

* The Patrick Miracle- Positive Thoughts

On dieting and getting fit with your dog:

* Top 10 Things I Learned from Dieting with my Dog

* Kelly and My Weight Loss Before and After Shots

* Koly and Kelly's K9 Kamp

* My Bowl

On Our Bonds with Animals:

* Reasons Why I Love You

* Pit Bull Healed with Love

* 32 Simple things You Do that Matter To Dogs

* The Magical Mystery Mutt Tour

On Great Reads:

* A Pug's Tale

* Animals and the Kids Who Love Them

* Seven Dogs in Heaven

* Spencer Quinn's The Dog Who Knew Too Much

* Zellwood

* and of course, Dieting with my Dog

Want to read more posts like this? Subscribe via RSS or email.

Happy New Year! Here's to a fantastic 2012!

Dog t-shirts for People

2011-12-30T05:30:00.003-05:00

When I saw this cute t-shirt with a dog holding a heart, advertised on All Things Dog blog, I clicked on the image and visited the site about a million times, then I hinted to my husband that I would like the shirt for my Christmas gift.

Well, great guy that he is, he came through! But first, there was a little glitch. He filled out the forms to have the package shipped to a different address, so that the shirt would remain a secret. Unfortunately, the package arrived on our doorstep, very clearly marked from Freaky Dog People, and when I retrieved the mail, I saw it.

Disappointed that the surprise was ruined, my husband contacted the company. He wasn't expecting anything, but just wanted to let them know that there was a glitch in their ordering system. They responded promptly, and offered him another shirt of his choice to make up for the mistake.

Here is the second shirt I received!

We were both happy with their very generous response to the shipping error. And I look forward to wearing my cute new dog t-shirts! Thank you Freaky Dog People!

Lots of good stuff with dogs on it

2011-12-30T05:00:00.001-05:00

I love it when everyone knows what I like...dogs! I got some PAWSOME doggy-related Christmas gifts.

Hallmark singing snowman and doggy...they're so cute!

Glass Earrings with dogs

This cute guy is handed down in the family.

Really cute t-shirt.

Isn't this unique?


Laurel Burch pillow

I love them! Thank you everyone!!
How about you? Did you get something dog-related for Christmas?

How long did the dog toys last?

2011-12-28T05:00:00.003-05:00

Kelly got 3 new toys for Christmas: a canvas newspaper with crinkly stuff inside, a heavy duty Hartz Angry Bird flying disc, and a ball with feet. She was so excited opening her presents!

Here they are about 20 minutes later.

Kelly: "All in a day's work!"

Pawsome Mr. Chewy

2011-12-27T05:45:00.001-05:00

I never considered ordering Kelly's dog food before. I mean, wouldn't that be inconvenient?

Well...I tried it and turns out I was wrong. I visited this cool site called Mr. Chewy and discovered that ordering pet food can be easy, quick, convenient, and even less expensive than buying it in the store.

EASY:
Mr. Chewy's site is user-friendly. Photos help you identify all those different bags of dog food easily. You can narrow your selection by brand, lifestages, or other categories such as Organic, Grain Free, or Weight Control. And, the check-out process is simple.

QUICK:
Did I say quick? I ordered my food on a Wednesday, and shortly received an email confirmation. My order was broken into two parts. The very next day a box of dog treats arrived on my doorstep. And in only 2 days, a huge box containing a 35 pound bag of dog food arrived!

CONVENIENT:
No standing in lines! No fighting traffic! No lugging a heavy bag of dog food! I didn't even have to get up from my chair! Okay, now that's convenient! You can even arrange for automatic delivery based on a schedule you set up.
Plus, Mr. Chewy carries more than 70 brands of pet food and treats including:
Blue
Nutro
Halo
Science Diet
Taste of the Wild
Honest Kitchen
and more!

LESS EXPENSIVE:
Check out their prices for yourself! And, shipping is free with orders of $49 or more!

Why else should you order from Mr. Chewy?
HELPING CHARITIES!
Mr. Chewy's Donation Program is great! For everyone you refer to their site who makes a purchase, Mr. Chewy will donate $10 to a pet charity of that person's choice!(Your referrals get 10% off their first order, too!)

Before this experience, I never even thought about ordering Kelly's dog food. I mean, why not just keep doing things the same way I've done them? Now, Mr. Chewy may just have changed my mind! Mr. Chewy has my vote for a pawsome pet food site that certainly delivers as promised!

*Disclaimer:
We were contacted by a representative of Mr. Chewy.com, a new online pet retailer, to write a review of their ordering process in exchange for a gift card to their site. We received one bag of dog treats and a 30 lb bag of food (courtesy of Mr. Chewy) and asked for our honest opinion of their service. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T05:10:00.001-05:00

Thank you to everyone for making this year a successful one for my first book. And Merry Merry Christmas to all from me and Kelly!
luv
Peggy and Kelly

Merry Christmas from Kelly the Reindeer

2011-12-21T00:02:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Best Wishes from Kelly the Reindeer and me!

Six Ways to Help Shelter Dogs this Holiday

2011-12-19T05:26:00.001-05:00

Kelly sends luv to all shelter dogs and cats.

1. Adopt, if the time and circumstances are right for you.

2. Give a shelter dog or cat as a gift, if the recipient is in on the decision and the time and circumstances are right.

3. Foster a shelter pet. There's no place like a home for the holidays.

4. Volunteer to cuddle, play with and walk shelter dogs.

5. Donate food to a local shelter.

6. Donate toys to a shelter. Wouldn't those dogs love a new toy to play with, to brighten their holiday?

Not so Grinchy Paws for Thought

2011-12-17T00:25:00.001-05:00

Saturday Pet Blogger Hop

Paws for Thought:

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." ~ Dr. Suess

Toy Poodles Prized for Police Work

2011-12-16T05:10:00.002-05:00

Photo courtesy Wall Street Journal and Miyamoto Pet Dog Training Center

What type of dogs come to mind when you think of police dogs? German shepherds? Labrador retrievers? Maybe a rottweiler?

What about a toy poodle?

A pair of toy poodles are set to join a Japanese police search and rescue squad as early as January, after passing the local police dog test earlier this month. The dogs, Karin and Fuga, weigh only about 6 pounds each. Other small breed dogs on the force are a chihuahua, a miniature schnauzer and a Japanese Shiba.

Small dogs have the advantage of being able to search in tight spaces and to gain access to collapsed buildings where heavier dogs couldn't go.

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, Natsue Miyamoto, who runs the Miyamoto Pet Dog Training Center in Tottori city, says, “I hope that this will show that not all police dogs have to be big and scary types like German Shepherds, but that small cute dogs can also do the work of a police dog.”

If your dog goes missing...

2011-12-15T21:45:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of LostDogHQ. All opinions are 100% mine.

Recently one of my good friends, and several blog friends, have experienced having their dog escape or break away, and spent many heartbreaking days looking for their lost dogs. I can't imagine the worry of not knowing where Kelly was, wondering if she was hurt, worrying about her running into traffic. If Kelly went missing, I know I'd do just about anything to find her I've heard of PetAmberAlert and how they could help locate a lost dog. That's why I was interested in learning more about PetAmberAlert. Does it really work? How does it work? Has it helped reunite people with their pets?

Does it really work?

PetAmberAlerts reports an 85% success rate if the alert goes out in the first week, 75% success rate if the alert goes out after 2 weeks.

How does it work?

PetAmberAlerts Pet Finder system will send phone and poster alerts with photos, descriptions and details to neighbors, veterinarians, animal control, animal shelters, hospitals, pet stores and rescue volunteers within 10 to 100 mile radius of where the pet was last seen. A pet detective will follow up on leads for both lost dogs and lost cats.

Has it helped people reunite with their pets?

According to the website, many people have been helped by PetAmberAlerts. Here are some success stories.

There is an cost for the service. But if your pet goes missing, it would be extremely helpful to have this company sending out the fliers, making the phone calls, and contacting everyone possible, while you scoured the streets and searched your neighborhood, and/or also made sure you were at home if your pet returned.

Check out the lost pet posters on PetAmberAlert's Facebook page.

Dogs Have Angels Too Book Review

2011-12-15T05:00:00.001-05:00

Could you relate to a woman who has lost her job, divorced her husband, is down on her luck, but loves dogs? This new book, Dogs Have Angels Too, by Sarah Cavallaro, is the tale of just such a woman, making her way through the dog-eat-dog world of recessionary New York City.

Miss Pink, a former marketing exec, finds solace by volunteering in an animal control center. Her "adoption walks" bring her to meet a series of fellow New Yorkers, all of whom are struggling with their own personal and financial crises.

I enjoyed reading a novel about the world of animal shelters and animal welfare, and the narrators passion for helping animals. In the end, the author shows how one woman with a vision is able to enlighten others and bring about change for the needy pups in her community.

Sarah Cavallaro is a filmmaker, poet and author. This is her second novel.

Wednesday Pet Roundup, Extra Toes Edition

2011-12-14T05:00:00.001-05:00

Photo courtesy of AP

Question: How many toes does the average cat have?
Answer: 18
Question: How many toes does Daniel the orange and white tabby from Milwaukee have?
Answer: 26
Find out how Daniel the cat with 26 toes is helping the Milwaukee Animal Rescue Center!

* Check out USA Today's slideshow of holiday gifts for your pet. The Rudolph dog in the car seat is adorable!

* If a pet is going to be given as a gift, experts encourage you to get the recipient involved in the decision. The HuffPost Detroit article encourages responsible pet adoption this holida y season.

* Two kittens are looking for a new home after Reagan the yellow lab found the kittens discarded in a Meow Mix bag. Skipper and Tipper have been cared for by the Raccoon Valley (Iowa) Animal Sanctuary.

We hope you are having a wonderful holiday season, with lots of love and attention to and from your pets!

Christmas cards that Give Back

2011-12-12T05:30:00.002-05:00

Here’s an easy way to connect with friends and family while supporting a great cause.

Whether you like cats, dogs, or both, there are many beautiful greetings to choose from, and a portion of the purchase price will benefit hard-working animal organizations.

1. American Humane Association
The Humane Association's mission is "to create a more humane and compassionate world by ending abuse and neglect of children and animals. You’ll find a choice of all dogs, cats, dog and cat combinations, and pets with Santa.

2. Canine Companions for Independence
This national non-profit organization that provides trained assistance dogs and support to children and adults with disabilities offers a pack with two different designs--one with an adorable pup in the snow, and the other with a sweet black dog with a green bow on his head! Proceeds support CCI programs.

3. Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind
This organization provides guide dogs to blind and visually impaired people, or people with other special needs who seek enhanced mobility and independence. These cards feature golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, and include an inspiring photo card featuring dogs helping vets.

4. Puppies Behind Bars
Proceeds from the holiday cards will help fund their work training inmates to raise service dogs for the disabled and train explosive detection dogs for law enforcement. The card features a beautiful black lab with reindeer antlers.

If you love pets, consider ordering any of these cards and support a wonderful cause.