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 »
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Giveaway Tuesday: Moda Pet Sunflower bowl!
You know by now how I feel about cutesy pet stuff, right? I mean, it has its place, but as far as my own tastes go I'm constantly on the lookout for something that falls on the sleeker end of things. (This from the person who bought a dinosaur barrette from Anthropologie, so take it with a grain of salt.) But I digress. When it comes to pets, function still has to have a place over form, or you end up like me with a nice wooden bowl holder that is chomped to bits within a few weeks. ... Read more »
I’m only *kind of* violent
Ever since I was a little kid, I've been particularly sensitive to depictions of violence against animals. My mother learned early on that I couldn't handle Tom and Jerry, the Roadrunner cartoons, or Sylvester and Tweety. "But he's a carnivore!" I would cry sympathetically. "He's just hungry! Turn on the Snorks, Mom." And that holds to this day. But apparently I was much less bothered by anything involving humans wailing on each other. Shortly after graduating vet school, my husband bought an ... Read more »
A pet’s worth
We didn't get a whole lot of education on the topic of the law while we were in school. Too much other stuff to cram into four short years to spend much time on something that changes with some regularity. But at the time, the general consensus was this: from a legal standpoint, pets are property, and as such, your liability in terms of the law is limited to the replacement value of the pet. That has changed with some rapidity. A Texas court is just one of the most recent cases in which a ... Read more »
Bostons, Breeders and the surreptitious obtaining of important phone numbers
I think it's interesting that the newest competition at the AKC/Eukanuba show in December was called the "Breeder's Stakes". I know they meant it one way, but really, there is a lot at stake, and I'm not talking about the cash prizes. It's defining 'good breeder'. There is a circular conversation going on in the world of animal lovers about what constitutes a "responsible breeder." Most people who breed their dogs call themselves a responsible breeder, even if they're not. Even if they are ... Read more »
AKC/Eukanuba: Stealing Smooches
Everyone knows you should start the New Year off with a kiss. I love kisses. I live for kisses. Unfortunately for me, when I'm at work most dogs are not really that happy to give smooches. Sure they do at first, but one go with the thermometer and the honeymoon's over. This is one of the reasons I was thrilled to throw on my civvies and hit the Meet the Breeds booths at the AKC/Eukanuba show as a regular Joe. I thought, maybe I could ask owners about their dog's proclivity for herding ... Read more »
Epic Bad
We had a great New Year's Eve. Well, some of us did, at least. My parents offered to watch the kids so that my husband and I could go out for the first time in a decade. Being well past the expiration date for things like heading downtown with the hordes, we decided to check out a new restaurant in our area that was opening on New Year's Eve instead. So we got there, only to find that it was technically a private event for family and friends. No matter, said my husband, and somehow talked ... Read more »
Carefree
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Thousand Post Giveaway: Joy Pet Products Doggie Coat!
I can hardly believe it myself, but I've just passed the thousand post mark on the blog. That's a lot of hammering on the keyboard. What a cool benchmark to ring in 2012! Thank you for sticking with me through all of it- the good, the sad, and the goofy. I know lots of you are reading this from chillier climates than mine, so to celebrate, we're having a giveaway of one Original Goose Down Filled Doggie Coat from Joy Pet Products! Our Original Goose Down Filled Doggie Coats are so unique ... Read more »
Scenes from a holiday
The holidays are exhilirating. Well, for most of us, at least. Some find them merely exhausting. While others use them as a time to indulge in the most ironic of activities, such as opening a "Good Dog" ornament from under the tree and chewing it up. Indeed. Hope you all had a great one! ... Read more »
