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Belated Blogiversary

14 Jul

Well this just goes to show how up-to-date my human and I are when it comes to my blog. As of July 7th (7 days ago?! I am ashamed of myself), I have been an official dog blogger for two whole years. So, in dog years, Of Cows’ Tails and Chew Toys is in its teens. I would say that it seems like only yesterday since my blog got started, but that would be lying (and I never lie), this year especially. There were actually a few times when I almost hung up my typing paws. Mom’s new school schedule was taking a toll not only on our daily activities, but also on the motivation to keep OCTCT afloat. Really it was not wanting to let down all my friends and readers that kept everything going. And I’m so glad! Especially with this wonderful adventure of going to college spread before me. Who better to share the triumphs and failures of a dog’s dorm life than all of you wonderful humans and animals that I have come to know and adore so very much. So thank you, thank you for making not only this past year, but these last two years such a joy and so very worth it.

And now I have a favor to ask, after I’ve buttered you up with complements (and maybe a hang-dog glance or two). I would love to know, in the comments, what your favorite posts from this past year have been (since the last blogiversary) and what you would like to see more of, or even less of, as I blog more. More product reviews, more real news stories, less about the beach; whatever you’re feeling, please let it out!

Happy tail wags!

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Stylish Blogger Award

4 Apr

A couple of weeks ago, my very good human friend Cate from blanketID and Under the Blanket informed me that she had awarded me, as well as 14 other great blogs the Stylish Blogger Award! I am one incredibly honored pup. Cate knows stylish, and to be considered a pooch worthy of her attention is a wonderful thing. So thank you very much, Cate! Of course, there are a few stipulations to this award; stipulations that I am very excited to accomplish. First I have to list seven things about myself that you may not know about me. I’m usually very open in my posts, so this took a lot of brain storming. I think I’ve come up with a pretty unique list though!

1. I was not only the only female in my litter, but I was also the only pup with apricot coloring. Both of my brothers were black with white markings on their bellies and paws. They were also much curlier than me.

2. The claws on my back feet are white, while the claws on my front feet are black; all except for one claw which is white. 3. I am very overprotective of my tail. If it gets touched or if one of the cats try to bat at it, I tuck it in and sit on it.

4. The blond hair on my head wasn’t there when I was a puppy. Instead of blond, I had little bits of black hair. During one of my grooming session, my mom trimmed down the hair on my head to reveal a small blond patch. It has since grown from a patch to cover my entire head!

5. When I hear the words “walk” or “ride,” even if the humans are just having a conversation, I will run to the front door.

6. My gramp works for a taxi company called Joe’s Taxi. Because he often comes to visit me during his taxi time, I now think every Joe’s Taxi is driven by him. Whenever I see one, my tail starts wiggling and I get incredibly excited. 7. My clothing wardrobe has now expanded to fill two big totes. Eventually, my mom wants to get me my own mini closet.

The second part of accepting the Stylish Blogger Award is to nominate 15 other blogs to pass the award on to. Obviously this is even tougher than coming up with facts about myself (I am my favorite subject after all), but here I go!

Road Dog Tales: Ever wonder what it would be like to take a road trip around the US with your favorite hounds in tow? The Road Dog crew is doing just that and blogging about their adventures the whole way!

Speaking for Spot Blog: Dr. Nancy Kay, the author of Speaking for Spot, keeps a great blog about useful things every dog caretaker should know.

To Dog With Love: A cute blog written by my furry pal Cosmo and human Diane. I love reading about Cosmo’s agility competitions.

The Honest Kitchen Blog: Not only does The Honest Kitchen make some of the best food on the block, but they also keep an incredibly informative blog where they talk about everything from health issues to yummy foods you can add to your pets diet to new updates about the company.

I Still Want More Puppies: Pup Fan’s blog is always a great stop when you need to watch some cute pet videos and squeal over adorable photos.

K-9 Solutions Dog Training, Inc.: Marie is one of my great new human pals! Her blog not only documents her work with the local Humane Society of Knox County, the daily comings and goings of her two dogs Jack and Jenny, but also some really thought-provoking posts.

Life @ Silly Dogs: Sam and Kelly’s webcomic is one of my new favorite stops on the internet. Their comics are bright, colorful, and above all tail-waggingly hilarious!

Oh My Dog!: I don’t think I can explain Oh My Dog! any better than how it is explained in the “About Me” page: “[it's] a site for all things dog,” including product reviews, recipes, tips, and tons of photos and stories about the Oh My Dog! crew.

Pawcurious: Dr. V’s blog was the main inspiration for my mom to start this blog for me. It was the first pet-centric blog she ever started to read and she’s still obsessed.

Pawesome: Everything you’d ever want in a fun pet-blog you can find on Pawesome: photos, new products, links to other nifty articles and blogs, great information, funny videos, and my favorite, their curbed posts that feature pets spotted by the various blogging team.

Phetched: Phetched often gets my mom in trouble with her bank account! Katherine always features the freshest and hippest pet products on the market. Pretty much every post will make you think “my pet TOTALLY needs that!”

Boulder Dog: Deborah’s stories about living with her shy and sometimes fearful muse, Sadie the Standard Poodle, have been some of the best posts my mom has ever read. This blog is definitely an amazing read and will really make you think.

Confessions of the Plume: Baby Patches is one of the pawesomest kitties I know. Her blog details all the adorable things about her life.

Dog Milk: Like Phetched, Dog Milk features some very barkworthy pet products. Also incredibly dangerous for the bank account.

Boogie’s Blog: Boogie’s Blog is Boogie-centric. This cutie of a Boston Terrier has a dedicated human who chronicles Boogie’s struggles with skin issues, aggression problems, and general adorability.

Happy tail wags!

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Let’s Adopt the Internet

14 Mar

Tomorrow is going to be a very exciting day. Why? Because it’s Adopt the Internet Day!In celebration of their 15th birthday, Petfinder decided to celebrate in a big way; namely, asking the internet and those that frequent it to spend the day spreading the word about adoptable pets. Anyone can sign the pledge to promise that they will tell at least one person about pet adoption. If you plan on blogging, tweeting, or dedicating your Facebook page or status to this event, you can attach a link to your adoption related posts on the list of posts that will be featured on the front page of Petfinder starting tomorrow (if you’re tweeting, make sure to use the hashtag #adopttheinternet).

As of now, some really great blogs and websites have already promised to dedicate their space to Adopt the Internet Day. ICanHasCheezburger is running a caption contest where they are looking for captions for Petfinder adoptable pet photos. On March 15th, the best will be chosen and featured all day on their homepage. PeoplePets, FIDOFriendly, Animal Planet, Oprah.com, Dogster, Catster, and PetSugar, are just some of the over 50 websites and blogs that are going to be participating tomorrow, not to mention the countless people on twitter and facebook. And, of course, you can plan on me posting a post or two tomorrow (I think I even roped Harry, who was adopted from the Humane Society of Knox County, into writing a guest post featuring his adoption story).

If you’d like to participate, make sure you sign the pledge (when you pledge, you are automatically signed up for a chance to win one of ten BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Vacuums!), grab a badge for your blog or site if you have one, and get to informing the world as to why adoption is so great.

Let’s help make Petfinder’s 15th birthday (and over 17 million adoptions) one that they will never forget!

Happy tail wags!

Source: Petfinder

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New and Improved

21 Feb

For the past month my blog has been a bit on the quiet side. Of course, my days haven’t been as quiet (meaning I have lots to share!) and neither have my mom’s. Which in itself is why I have been a bad little puppy when it comes to writing posts. If this sounds like something you’ve heard before, it’s because this isn’t the first (or most likely last) time I’ve been preoccupied with bones, walks, and other various adventures which have kept me from my blog. This time, however, the blame solely lands on my mom’s shoulders. No one warned me that human school takes up so much time and attention! Not to mention all the long nights helping my mom study and do homework (or, you know, help distract her from all that).

I mean who would choose homework over this adorable face?

Anyway, Of Cows’ Tails and Chew Toys is back with a new fervor! I’m going to make sure from now on that I keep myself and my human on track. You have my peppy little doggy word.

Stay tuned tomorrow for a post on a great new treat that’s made right here in Maine, my home state.

Happy tail wags!

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Pet Blog Directory

17 Jan

Have you ever sat at your computer and not know what website you wanted to visit? No? Me either. Usually my forays on my mom’s laptop are blog related so I know exactly what sites I want to visit. But just in case there is ever a time where you just can’t decide what blog you may want to read, or if you want to have a great resource to see some of the wonderful pet blogs out there, you’ll want to check out DogTipper.com‘s new feature; the Pet Blog Directory.

(photo source)

Compiled through submissions by pet bloggers far and wide, the Pet Blog Directory features anything from breed specific blogs to pet travel and even pet savings blogs (and, you know, me!). So if you’ve ever been curious as to what pet-related blogs are out in that vast space know as the interweb, definitely hit up DogTipper.com! And if you write a pet blog, make sure you submit your information to be included in the directory.

Happy tail wags!

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Pet Blogger Challenge

11 Jan

A unique challenge was put together by fellow pet bloggers Edie Jarolim of Will My Dog Hate Me? and Amy Burket of Go Pet Friendly. The idea is to take a retrospective look at your blog and to think about where you’re heading in the future. As I seem to be in the blogging dog house what with being continually late with posts or not doing them at all, I figured this may help!

1. When did you begin your blog?

July 7th of 2009!

2. What was your original purpose for starting a blog?

Of Cows’ Tails and Chew Toys was originally started as a kind of fun side project of my mom’s who wanted a unique way (i.e. through my voice) to journal my daily activities and any fun bit of pet related news she stumbled upon.

3. Is your current purpose the same?

The main focus is still about me (usually), but I have since branched out to include more posts about different topics.

If not, what’s different?

I’ve really opened the doggy doors as to what topics I consider blogging about. If it’s something that interests me, I’ll write about it. Plus, even though I’m absolutely adorable, I don’t think it would hold human interest enough if every single blog post was about how cute I am sleeping, eating, playing with a squeaky toy, etc.

4. Do you blog on a schedule or as the spirit moves you?

For the longest time I tried to have a post for every day, Monday through Friday. It was a lot easier when my mom wasn’t in college like she is now. While there are still weeks when I can churn out a post every day, it seems more often than not nowadays, I post when I can at least three times a week.

If the former, how often — and what techniques do you use to stick to it?

When I was blogging everyday, I would set a time at night (usually around 7-8) when I would have my mom (hello, paws) type up a post. As to blog ideas, I usually came up with a weeks worth over the weekend, but I also kept (and still keep) a bookmark file of pet related news stories just in case I need something to write about.

5. Are you generating income from your blog?

Well since my form of income usually boils down to chewies and delectable treats, I do receive those things to try and write about. In terms of the human income (which I take to mean those green pieces of paper known as “money”), no, this blog does not make me or my human money.

If so, how (e.g. sponsor ads, affiliate relationships, spokesperson opportunities)?   If not currently, do you hope to in the future — and how?

I’ve always thought it would be fun to somehow turn this blogging thing into a book, but other than that, this blog is just for fun.

6. What do you like most about blogging in general and your blog in particular (bragging is good!)?

I like all the attention my blog gets me! I think my human does too, especially because it has helped her make some really good friends in the pet blogging community. It’s quite nice to have a platform in which to express my thoughts and talk about how adorable I am. Who isn’t a little self-centered? I have also found that Of Cows’ Tails and Chew Toys has afforded me opportunities to help other animals that aren’t as fortunate as I am, especially since Blog the Change was started.

7. What do you like least?

Coming up with new, intriguing, and unique things to write about. While I could just write about things I like (all chicken all the time) I still want to cater to and keep my readers’ interest. It’s a lot of work for a little pup.

8. How do you see your blog changing or growing in 2011?

I have occasionally written about pet related stuff that has happened locally, but I think I want to do much more. I also want to find more ways I can use this blog to help make a difference. It’s fulfilling to do good, not to mention it makes my tail wag like crazy.

For a growing list of all the pet blogs participating in this challenge, please visit Go Pet Friendly.

Happy tail wags!

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Blogathon Wrap-Up

16 Nov

Over the weekend, members of the pet blogging community spent 24 hours of their time blogging to help raise money for a little human named Bradyn who is in need of a service dog. Four year-old Bradyn suffers from uncontrollable epilepsy. His family has been trying to gather the $13,000 to get little Bradyn a pup from 4 Paws for Ability to help comfort him during scary times, give him a cuddly distraction from procedures that may be unpleasant, and to help alert Bradyn’s parents if he has a seizure in the middle of the night.

The second annual blogathon kicked off on Saturday at 11 am PST (mom and I had to wait until 2 pm our time) and involved the skillful blogging talents of Dr. V from Pawcurious (the genius behind this pawesome event), Michelle Maskaly from My Tail Hurts from Wagging So Much, Dr. Janet Tobiassen Crosby from Aboutvetmed.com, and Dr. Shawn Finch from Riley and James. Three other bloggers, Jen Cleere from Fetching Tags, Felissa, Davinia, and Indiana from Two Little Cavaliers, and Dr. Laci Schaible from Vet Live and one painter, BZTAT, blogged or painted for other causes such as helping another human who needs a service dog, Boggs Mountain Humane Shelter, World Vets, and to help a pup named Flower who needs a $2,5o0 surgery.

Each participant blogged (or in BZTAT’s case, painted) every hour straight for 24 hours. There were guest posts galore as well as oodles of wonderful prizes (like one of my mom’s squeaky penguins!). Biscuits by Lambchop held virtual scavenger hunts with the winners taking home some of their delicious treats. The crew at My Tail Hurts from Wagging So Much live streamed a dog biscuit baking session with Toby the chihuahua taste testing all the goodies. Brave Dr. V cooked up and ate an interesting looking meal using World’s Best Cat Litter as the main ingredient.

As the hours ticked by (mom and I could only last until 12 am our time) the funds for Bradyn and the other causes started getting higher and higher. As of 8 pm PST Sunday night, $2,400 had been raised for Bradyn! This isn’t even including a few more contributions as well as the auction results from BZTAT’s paintings (if you would like to check out the paintings or even place a bid, click here). It’s amazing how humans will rally to help those in needs and all the incredible things they will do to prompt involvement.

If the blogathon goes off as scheduled next year, keep your eyes peeled for a little shaggy pup who is throwing her paw into the blogging ring.

Happy tail wags!

P.S. Bradyn’s family is still taking donations, so if you would like to donate, please check out this link.

Sources: Pawcurious, Call Me Ferg_e

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Never Shock a Puppy

13 Sep

A few weeks ago, I was in TJ Maxx with the humans as they were shopping (sadly not for anything interesting like treats for me). A friend of my nanny’s happened to be there as well so the humans were chatting away when the topic turned to me (I mean, how could it not!). My mom mentioned something about working on my recall training so I can do some more off-leash work. In response, the friend suggested my mom use a shock collar on me.

A shock collar is an electronic collar that, when triggered, produces an electric pulse that zaps a dog via their collar. Marketed as a mild sensation that can be helpful in training, shock collars, and for that matter choke and pinch collars, still use pain, fear, and negative reinforcement to “train” (more like bully) a dog into submission. These pain-driven training methods tend to be an easier solution for humans who don’t want to take the time to successfully train their dogs with positive reinforcement. But, like the human saying goes, you attract better with honey than vinegar (or, as I like to say, bacon than vet visits).

September 1st marked the starting date for the Never Shock a Puppy campaign. Never Shock a Puppy hopes to promote humane alternatives to things like shock, choke, and pinch collars through education, support, and action. Right now, Never Shock a Puppy is trying to raise money to jump start the No-Choke Challenge being run by the Humane Society of Bolder Valley, Colorado. The money raised will help purchase approximately 165 dog collars (of the non-punitive kind) and harnesses to be given to Bolder Valley residents who resort to the painful kind of collars. That is 165 dogs who will no longer be hurt under the guise of learning.

Never Shock a Puppy has a very powerful message they are trying to spread. They believe that…

..training should be fun for both dogs and humans; not a power struggle

..dog training is more about building a relationship tand trust than it is about showing who is in “control.”

..dogs learn human rules through bridging the communication gap between species.

..humans cannot (and should not) punish dogs into behaving better — no matter their size, age, breed, or sex.

..in positive reinforcement training where dogs primarily get rewarded for the behaviors humans want, not punished for those they don’t.

..any time someone hurts, scares, or intimidates a dog in the name of training, it damages the relationship and makes the dog afraid to so something “wrong” rather than be excited to do something “right.” Dogs that learn to love learning are far more likely to do what is expected of them.

So what can you do to help? Well, Be the Change for Animals has come up with a really great list of the things we can do to spread the word and get involved.

  1. If you have a blog or website, post the Never Shock a Puppy Badge (you can see mine on the right side of my blog).
  2. Blog, tweet, facebook, bark about this cause, the efforts everyone is taking, and the upcoming giveaways to encourage people to visit the Never Shock a Puppy page.
  3. Share links to posts from our about Never Shock a Puppy.
  4. Comment on the Never Shock a Puppy blog and get in on the conversation.
  5. Donate and/or post the donation widget on your site (I am unable to do that, but if you would like to donate, please click here).

If you would like more information about the No-Choke Challenge, you can click here. Throughout the Never Shock a Puppy campaign, which runs until October 20th, I will be occasionally blogging about some of the alternative, reward and positive based training methods which can be used in place of negative reinforcement. Some, like the use of the Halti or Gentle Leader, I have been through myself. Hopefully we will start to make people think about not only the way they want their dogs to learn, but also their relationships with they dogs and how they treat them. No dog deserves to live their life in fear and pain, no matter how “mild” it may be.

Happy tail wags!

P.S. My mom told the friend that she only uses positive reinforcement training on me and offered her help and guidance if the friend needed help training her dogs.

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The Versatile Blogger

12 Aug

The other day, Pup Fan, one of the regular commenters on this blog, informed me that she had awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award on her blog I Still Want More Puppies. Not only am I incredibly excited, but I am also so tail-waggingly happy. It seems mom and I have hit the second year slump when it comes to blogging, so being told that we are a blog that someone really enjoys reading to the point where they give us an award, well that just makes a slump a little less slumpy. So thank you Pup Fan for giving me this really great honor! It’s as good as a really stinky bully stick.

There are a few rules that go along with being a Versatile Blogger, the first being to thank the blogger that gave you the award. Thank you again Pup Fan and I Still Want More Puppies! The second rule is to list seven things about yourself. So here goes:

  1. When my kitty brother and cousin get in to trouble, I love to tattle on them to the humans. I run back and forth from where ever the kitties are to a nearby human until it gets their attention and they go to investigate. The cats hate it which makes me love it even more.
  2. I tend to get along better with dogs that are a bit bigger than me than dogs that are my size or smaller. This makes mom happy as she’s always wanted to adopt a big Goldendoodle.
  3. During the afternoon, I have to have all the curtains open in my and mom’s bedroom so I can spy on the neighbors and the people and dogs that walk on the street. If the curtains are closed, I pretend to have to go potty so I’m taken outside.
  4. If I want your attention, I will scratch your arm until I get it.
  5. In the morning, the first thing I love to do is go out in the living room and roll around on one of the couches. I also make this snorting noise that my mom says sounds like a pig. I’ve never met a pig so I can’t say if that’s true or not.
  6. One of my favorite food toppings (besides chicken of course) is cheese. Sometimes my mom will shave off a tiny little bit of Parmesan cheese onto my Honest Kitchen food. It’s chop-licking good!
  7. I actually like visiting my vet, Dr. S. I drag mom through the door every time we go for a visit! Of course, going into one of the exam rooms isn’t exactly a trip to the dog park, but sitting in the waiting room means lots of head scratches from the staff and new dogs to sniff.

The last requirement is to list ten blogs that are new or somewhat new discoveries for you and that you think are really great and that others would enjoy. Obviously if I could I would list all the blogs I love, but there are more than ten and the majority of them I’ve been reading for awhile. Of course you can always find my favorite blogs on the right-side column of this blog under the “Blogroll” category.

My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much

A.G. Outloud

To Dog With Love

The Way Life Should Be

Road Dog Tales

Two Little Cavaliers

Oh My Dog!

DoodlieBop

The Doggie Blog

Fido & Wino

Happy tail wags!

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Guest Post

28 Jul

My mom, in all of her crafty goodness, was asked to do a guest tutorial over at Doggie Stylish! Here’s what she made (with me modeling of course): If you would like to learn how to make an adorable hairbow for your pup, check out the tutorial here.

Happy tail wags!

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