Archive | May, 2011

Moo

26 May

I like to consider myself a professional blogging dog. I mean, it’s not every day that you humans meet a pooch like me who not only writes, but also has a facebook page and a twitter account (both of which you can go to by clicking the new buttons my mom made for me on the right side of this page). So it’s often embarrassing when I’m out doing bloggly duties and my mom winds up having to write down my url for inquiring humans on some scrap piece of paper. Where is the professionalism in that?

Thankfully, after some begging and willingness to forgo extra treat purchases for awhile, my mom finally decided to order me some snazzy business cards from MOO.

Front

Back

The reason we chose MOO was due to their deal of 50 business cards for only the cost of shipping, the only catch is that they have a tiny advertisement on the front of your card. If you reorder for the full price, that advertisement is no longer added. Not only was my mom able to upload a custom image for the front of the card (one of my favorite pictures of me!), but she was also able to add in any information she wanted on the back, as well as choose the type of paper it was printed on. All of my cards are printed on their “green” paper which is 100% recycled and recyclable as well as produced using wind power and free of harsh chemicals. You can also upload more than one image for the front of your cards.

I have to say I am quite happy with my business cards. I feel much more professional! I can’t wait to start handing them out.

Happy tail wags!

Tags: ,

Hypoallergenic or Just Hype?

24 May

While we were waiting for the final decision as to whether or not I would be able to live with my mom at college, I often mused over possible reasons why I wouldn’t be allowed to go. One of the big reasons I thought of was the fact that there are humans out there who are allergic to dogs. Since we would be living in a communal environment, I would be interacting with a lot of humans on a daily basis, some of which may be allergic me (no matter how cute I am). The thing is, I could be what is labeled a “hypoallergenic” or “non-allergenic” breed as both Yorkshire Terriers and miniature Poodles are on the low allergen list. But, can a dog be truly non-allergenic or is this all just hype?

The most important thing to consider is that humans usually aren’t allergic to a dog’s coat, the usually scapegoat for an allergic reaction. In fact, there is another major culprit, dander. Dander is made up of skin cells that tend to linger in a dog’s coat.  All warm-blooded animals, including birds, produce dander.

So what’s a human to do? While it’s true that there is no 100% allergen free pooch, a dog that has hair tend to accumulate less dander than dogs with a fur coat. This is also true of dust and pollen that may accumulate. Regular grooming, including bathes, will also help cut back on dander. A HEPA air filter in the home is also suggested.

Thankfully none of my humans are allergic to me too much (my aunt sometimes gets sneezy around me), but we are aware that in the fall some things may need to change in case there are humans who may have an adverse reaction to my presence. While I don’t really like it, I will be getting more baths than I usually get (though not enough to dry out my skin). I’m already brushed every day, so we’ll just be concentrating on keeping me nice and squeaky clean, even if I hate it.

Please leave some of your tips for a low dander lifestyle in the comments.

Happy tail wags!

Tags: , ,

First Aid

20 May

For the longest time my mom has been wanting to take a pet first aid class. Though she is on the way to attending veterinary school and becoming a vet, there is a long time between then and now. An emergency may happen involving myself or one of the kitties within that time. If she has some tools that will help her help us, the more the better. So she was more than excited that The Loyal Biscuit decided to host a pet first aid class as a fundraiser for the Maine POM Project. For every class fee of $40, the Red Cross gets $22 to cover fees while the POM Project gets $18 to help purchase Pet Oxygen Masks (or POMs) for Maine emergency vehicles and firetrucks. So far, The Maine POM Project has donated over 152 sets of POMs to areas all over Maine, including my town and the ones that are neighboring.

A pet oxygen mask

The human who teaches the pet first aid class, Bobby Silcott, is an ACO as well as the one doing the majority, if not all of the work behind the POM Project. In between his duties as an ACO, he goes around the state teaching pet first aid classes as well as handing out and doing the training for the POMs.

Heidi, the owner of the Loyal Biscuit, and Bob Silcott.

While I can’t divulge everything that my mom learned at her class (while time is a factor, taking the class is far better than reading everything on a blog anyway), there were a few key points that my mom felt needed sharing. The first is that knowing pet first aid does not mean you become a stand-in for your pet’s veterinarian. In fact, the number 1 priority is get the pet stabilized enough so that you can make it to the vets, not make them 100% better. To go along with that is to try to remember as many facts as possible to better inform the veterinarian. If you see a dog get hit by a vehicle, it can be important to know where the dog was struck, what kind of vehicle it was (compact car, truck, etc), how the dog is acting, etc. The more information, the better.

Bob administering chest compressions on his helpful, stuffed assistant Hope.

The second important thing is to know what is normal for your own pets. Know their eating habits, bathroom habits, grooming habits, what their normal heart beat feels like, etc. We animals can not verbalize to humans when something is wrong with us, so we rely on you to notice if our behavior changes; a signal that we are not okay.

Bob showing how to use a make-shift muzzle

Another thing that Bob stressed is that you can never fully trust an injured animal, even if it’s your own. He said that cats, especially, can turn very violent when they are stressed and in pain. That’s not to say all injured animals will always lash out, or always get violent, it’s just to stress caution. If you are injured when trying to help your pet, you will no longer be able to help to the best of your abilities.

Because of this wonderful and informative class, my mom feels better prepared in case of an emergency. She is now certified in both cat and dog first aid, and has a handy manual that helps give information on everything from eye injuries to hypothermia. If you are interested in taking a pet first aid class, please check with your local Red Cross. If you would like to donate or learn more information about the Maine POM Project, you can check out their website and facebook page.

Happy tail wags!

Tags: , , , ,

Who Doesn’t Love Presents?

17 May

Presents are wonderful. They make me so happy, and every time I use or wear or eat or think about my presents, that happiness continues on. Last week my birthday left me so brimming with cheer, my butt is still wagging. One of the sweetest gifts I received came from my friend Claudia and her three sweet pups who are behind Schnauzer-tude. Claudia make a donation in my name to the Humane Society of Knox County, my favorite animal shelter. Though I do like having gifts, I know that some of the best are ones that help other animals.

I also received a lovely package from Nip and Bones. Inside contained a present from my mom, an interactive treat toy called the Busy Buddy Twist ‘n’ Treat toy, and a couple of surprises from Salina and the every fluffy Baby Patches. I will talk about one of the surprises in another post because I want to do a whole review about it, but I can say I got a sample of these really tasty treats from Pawduke and an antler dog chew! From my mom I was given a bag of freeze-dried venison snacks from Nature’s Variety, a bag of treats from Zukes, and a yummy bone to chew on; all purchased from the Loyal Biscuit.The Busy Buddy has been a really fun toy to play with. You just unscrew the pieces, fill it with treats, screw the pieces back together and let your dog figure out how to get the treats out. It’s been fun to roll it around the living room with my nose. And the Pawduke treats work with the Busy Buddy perfectly! I was actually confused when I was first given one of the Pawduke treats because they are almost perfectly sphere. I thought it was a mini ball! My mom had to break one into pieces for me to realize I could eat it.

Of course, no birthday is complete without a special outfit made just for me by Angelica and Leo. My favorite part about this shirt is that it is made from one of my aunt’s old tank-tops, so it still smells like her. What you can’t see from the photo though (I was being a difficult model) is that the back has frilly little ruffles along the butt and a pocket! Each are lined with lace like the tall collar. It’s a very unique shirt, I have none like it in my wardrobe. I’m so happy to have it!

I’m also so very happy to have so many loving family members and friends who help make not only each birthday, but every day a wonderful event. My life would probably be very dull without you all, so thank you from the top, bottom, and middle of my sweet puppy heart.

Happy tail wags!

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Official Campus Pooch

13 May

I know you are all probably dying to hear about my big birthday extravaganza yesterday, but, some of my presents and well wishes are still trickling in. So that means an update will have to wait until Monday. In the interim however, I have some wonderful news to share with everyone. Of course, those of you that follow me on twitter and facebook are already aware of the news, but even still, talking about it just makes my tail wag so very much.

Right after Christmas, my mom was accepted at the University of Maine (UMO) as a transfer student. During this time, we had been making plans to live with someone who was interested in renting a room to a student. However, our living arrangements fell through due to a few different reasons. My mom was hesitant to live on campus not only because she’s a little bit older than most of the regular undergraduates (she’s 23) but most importantly, because she knew she could attend UMO without me by her side. My constant presence has helped her during the difficult times when she’s struggled with intensified symptoms of her PTSD. Luckily for the both of us, there is a system in place at the university to help in scenarios just like this. And so, with the help of my mom’s therapist (a very kind human who often lets me come for visits), we filled out the Therapy Animal Documentation of Need.

Since everything was submitted last month, my mom and I were very anxious to hear the verdict. Well, on May 10th we got an email from the disabilities service with the news we’d been waiting for. I was officially given permission by the University of Maine to live in the dorm rooms with my mother! I’m going to college!!

I'm a Black Bear!

So what does this mean? Well, there are going to be some strict rules that I will have to follow. I won’t be allowed to attend classes with my mom (even though I was really looking forward to visiting the Witter Farm and seeing the cows and horses) and when she does leave for class, or anytime I am alone in the dorm room, I will have to be crated (something I’m relearning). I will also have to adjust from having the run of a duplex to living in a small single. However, the campus is very large so there will be a lot of walking space. Mom will also have to problem solve the logistics of my food. Since my The Honest Kitchen needs rehydration, she’ll have to figure out how to source warm water without a kitchen (we’ve been thinking a coffee maker minus the coffee). Thankfully, we have a little over three months to figure all of this out.

This next chapter of my life is probably going to include its own little set of challenges, but I am awfully excited for it to start. And don’t worry, I will still be blogging every step of the way!

Happy tail wags!

Tags: , , ,

Today I am Three!

12 May

Tags:

Max & Ruffy’s

2 May

By now my loyal readers know that something I love possibly more than running on the beach is featuring (and eating) unique and healthy dog treats. That’s why, after a polite request from my secretary (aka my mom), I was absolutely tail-waggingly thrilled to receive a package of treats from a wonderful company called Max & Ruffy’s. The thing that really drew me to Max & Ruffy’s (besides their unusually adorable product names like “The Kelp Highway” or “Molasses Explosion 1919″) was their philosophy: uncompromised nutrition + uncompromised quality + compassion for all living beings. This philosophy is seen in every one of the products that the creators of Max & Ruffy’s, Beth and Kelly, make. All of their treats, from the “Five-Star Blueberry” to the “Powerhouse” are 100% organic, hand-baked, non-outsourced, made from human-grade ingredients, and contain no animal products so they are vegan. As Beth and Kelly are vegan themselves, it was only natural for them to create a treat that was nutritious for their pups, but also reduced “suffering to other beings and the environment.” What’s more, the packaging for the treats (which you can see in the above photo) is eco-friendly due to the 100% biodegradable and compostable inner bag to the paperboard box that is printed in soy-ink. They even have grain-free and wheat-free treats for dogs who may have allergies to those ingredients. Not to shabby!

Max & Ruffy’s has a line of six treats that contain ingredients to benefit the well being of your dog. Even the “W.P. Pizza” treat, which smells like the oh-so-heavenly, but not very health conscious pizza the humans like to eat, is chock full of antioxidants. And what’s also pawesome about these treats is that they come in two sizes; “original” and “mini bites” for smaller pooches like me (though my mouth is definitely big enough to handle an “original” sized treat). As I was gifted big boxes of the “W.P. Pizza,” and “Mother Quinoa’s Pumpkin Patch” as well as sample pouches of the other flavors, I’ve been able to taste test them all. I’ve really enjoyed the “W.P. Pizza” and the “Five-Star Blueberry,” but in all honesty, they are all incredibly delicious. Since they are on the hard and crunchy side, like most cookie-like treats, I don’t think we will be using these much for training (except maybe the “mini bites”) so I definitely see these as more of a in-between-meals snack kind of treat (those are truly my favorite kinds of treats). And because the ingredients are so healthy, my mom doesn’t have to feel guilty about sneaking me a few more than I should have.

If you would like to purchase Max & Ruffy’s treats, you can shop in their online store, or check out their store locator for information on what stores carry their treats (Krazy for Pets just happens to be one of the online retailers!).

Happy tail wags!

(FTC Disclosure: I was sent free samples of Max & Ruffy’s treats per request for the sole purpose of writing a review. I did not nor will not receive monetary compensation nor any other form of compensation for my review.)

Source: Max & Ruffy’s

Tags: , , ,

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 37 other followers