Tomorrow's the big day! For air time info, check here but it should be either 2 pm or 12 depending on your time zone. There's also an online Twitter party that will be going on simultaneously using the hashtag #AKCEukshow. I'll be there with some more Eukanuba dog food vouchers during the PST air time, 12-2 PST. I hope you can stop in! The show will mostly be covering the Best in Show finals, but as you know there was a ton of other stuff going on too. I put together a slideshow of some of ... Read more »
Game Day! With Pawcurean Dog Nachos
It's a big weekend for those of us who like to sit by the TV and eat. One, the AKC/Eukanuba show airs on Saturday, so I'll be glued to the screen jumping up and down every time I spot myself on TV. And of course, the next day is that most festive of sports events, the Super Bowl. It's fair to say I am ambivalent at best about football, so the question here is not so much "Team Pats" versus "Team Giants" as it is "Team Game" versus "Team Commercials." I for one, am of the latter persuasion. ... Read more »
Behind the Ribbon: An exclusive interview with new AKC Champ London!
As a non-dog show person, I was admittedly nervous going to a big dog show like the AKC/Eukanuba show. I don't know the lingo. I don't know how to conduct myself. I was worried that if I admitted I was as clueless as they come and didn't know a triangle from a drum that I might be laughed out of the place. After all, dog show people aren't like the rest of us, right? They're kind of stuffy. Pretentious, even. Out of touch with all of us regular folks slumming it in the trenches. As it turns ... Read more »
Dogs, DNA, and some really incredible pictures.
I've had dogs on the mind lately (what else is new?), but the world of purebreds has been there even moreso than usual. The AKC/Eukanuba show I attended in December will air on ABC on the 4th, as you probably gleaned by now since I haven't stopped yammering about it since then. In addition, I'm also going to Westminster on February 13th and 14th, for no reason other than I just wanted to see it, to marvel at the spectacle. It's such a strange confluence of worlds, society-minded dog fanciers ... Read more »
Let’s play “What Breed are you?”
When I was in school, there was a resident who could best be described as a holy terror. She ate senior students for breakfast, washing it down with the salty tears of our despair when she would mercilessly rip us to shreds in rounds. And hoo boy, did she love me. And by love, I mean, love to rip me up one side and down the other. I was an easy target; I didn't know much at the time. Her very favorite snack. "The patient in room two is a...." I studied the chart..."Belgian ... Read more »
Cat Lady Undercover
Anyone who's read this blog for a while knows I identify as a dog person. In this world, you're one or the other, it seems, but just because you lean towards one doesn't mean you dislike the other. I happen to like cats a lot, too. Which is why I took my daughter to check out the 2012 San Diego Cat Show this weekend. It really is a different world. Much like a dog show, there are 'rings' where the cats are judged. There's none of this running around in a show lead, however. The cats ... Read more »
Hello Olive
Our friends Jeff and Shelia recently brought home a poodle puppy, Olive. Now, I love these guys to begin with, but when they told me how they prepared for a new dog- being inexperienced owners- I loved them even a little more. They waited three years, until the time was right and the kids were old enough. They researched exhaustively, picking a knowledgable breeder who spent hours with them visiting, teaching them about the breed, and making sure they knew the importance of early ... Read more »
PSA: Designate a Segway-er
So I'm super excited to watch the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship on the 4th! Four days of dogapalooza collapsed into two hours- it's a tall order. I have some fun posts/giveaways planned for next week to lead up to the air date, but in the meantime I wanted to give you a little glimpse into the behind the scenes cogs of a show this size. What can I say? I live for behind-the-scenes stuff. Dogs galore, camera crews, obedience trials, police dogs, Super Dogs, conformation, agility, and ... Read more »
Sometimes it’s better not to wait
A lesson I should know by now. This afternoon, I saw Koa nosing about by the pool. She never noses about by the pool. So I investigated, and sure enough, a dead mouse was floating in the pool. I suppose I should have spared more than a passing moment to feel for the poor drowned rodent, but my first and immediate thought was, how the heck do I get rid of that? Because as I learned the hard way, there is nowhere in the yard that is safe from Brody's investigational prowess. The dirt in ... Read more »
Giveaway Tuesday: Be My Valentine with Jack’s Master!
My husband sometimes gently mocks me for my love affair with cards. But I love cards. I love stationery, little joyful repositories for a happy word or two. Who doesn't love getting a note in the mail? Especially in this day and age when bridal shower invites come over Evite, there is something nostalgic and extra special about getting a real, paper, happy card in the mail. Unsurprisingly, most of the cards I have in my stationery drawer are of the animal persuasion. It's not intentional, it ... Read more »
Game on
I don't watch a whole lot of football, normally. Living in San Diego, it's kind of depressing. We have the Padres and the Chargers. Now, I know my husband will disagree vehemently, but they aren't very good. He will defend the Chargers to the death, but they never win much, and it's sad to get your hopes up over and over and over only to be robbed of glory each and every time. No fun. I can say this because I grew up in Boston. Back then, the Celtics and the Lakers were in the midst of their ... Read more »
Dogs are predictable
The thing about living with a dog is, they tend to behave in a very predictable manner. So when bad things happen, you can usually trace it back to an error on your part, and/or follow the trajectory of all the future things that will arise from it. Case in point: Koa has now realized that when she is left alone for more than two minutes, the best way to assuage her anxiety is to lock herself in the pantry and eat away her stress. This has happened three times in as many weeks. It's ... Read more »
So a dog walks in to a sushi bar…
First, a note: I fully support the efforts to bring awareness about the dangers of SOPA. And if you happen to have no idea what I'm talking about, or why Wikipedia and reddit don't work, well, the info is all out there. SOPA/PIPA stinks, and as a small potates blogger, the implications horrify me. That being said, I decided not to black out the site for two reasons: I doubt this site going dark is going to be the tipping point for anyone to say, "well, I thought SOPA was a good idea, but ... Read more »
Giveaway Tuesday: Goodies from Kyjen!
We go through a lot of dog toys in these parts, and I can say with confidence that Brody has yet to come across a Kyjen toy he didn't love. They're fun, they're well-made, and they have interesting configurations that engage the dog in a way different from standard toys, either with a big mat of squeakers or hidden eggs or an unusual food puzzle. To this day Brody's penguin egg is the only toy I have actually ordered replacement parts for. He loves it that much. So today, I'm happy to be giving ... Read more »
Exercise with your pups the easy way
I always get intimidated when I read exercise tips from exercise pros. Invariably it's some triathlon veteran with incredible abs who promises to get you ready to do your first ironman in six months' time or less. And for me, as someone with a busy schedule and kids and knees that shudder at the thought of a 15 mile run, I want something a little more realistic. And it can be done. Anything is better than nothing, and a moderate approach is a little more accessible than a marathon training ... Read more »
A breath of fresh air: World Vets in action
We tend to take for granted all the medicine we have at our fingertips for our pets- ultrasounds, MRIs, surgeons with insane specialties. It's easy to forget sometimes the conditions most of the rest of the world functions in. It's one of the reasons I am in such awe of organizations like World Vets, which sends vets all over the world to not only help animals, but help the vets in other countries learn cutting edge skills. Running a multi-national nonprofit like this presents challenges you ... Read more »
The Pawcurean Presents: Super Simple Chicken Jerky
Chicken jerky is one of those things I had never even thought of trying to make until recently. I know my dogs love it, and until the FDA put out multiple warnings about how imported jerky was making pets ill it was something I included in their treat regimen. About a year ago I got a dehydrator, in one of my occasional crunchy fits of health (it never lasts.) I used it a handful of times and then let it sit on the counter. A few weeks ago, I thought I would try and figure out how to make my ... Read more »
Get Down Tonight
OK, so we haven't tried canicross yet, though the concept that "your dog is actually supposed to be pulling you" is quite compelling since that is kind of how it goes now anyway. The thought of tying Brody to a bicycle seat, scooter, or anything with wheels fills me with a deep sense of dread. I think for now, in order to keep it simple, I have two main goals for us in the next few months: 1. Learn to paddleboard (me first, then I'll throw him on and see what happens.) 2. Get back into ... Read more »
