A couple of months ago, we started having problems with our sprinklers. Because we live in what is basically the desert, this means that within one month most of our backyard was dead. Not that the grass was ever in great shape to start with, I suppose. Anyway, we are slowly trying to put it back together, starting with two little patches of what has been dirt for a very long time but was at one point grass. For now, it is again. "Do NOT," my husband said, "under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES let ... Read more »
Brody
Wordless Wednesday: Happy Thanksgiving!
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Yawn – Photo of the Week
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Brody versus Zombies
Can dogs become zombies? According to World War Z, no: Like all animals, dogs who bite zombies do not turn into zombie-dogs, but instead contract a fast-moving fatal infection and will rapidly die. Thus it is important to train dogs being used against zombies never to bite them. Instead, they're trained to circle around and pounce on the zombie's back, pushing with their forelegs between the shoulder blades, to knock the zombie down. But according to Resident Evil, they ... Read more »
Product Review: Tagg, the Pet Tracker
There are few things worse than that sinking feeling of looking around for your pet, and realizing he or she is gone. Not just hiding, but gone. Perhaps you're like my neighbor, whose tricky latch on the side fence meant that whenever the gardener didn't pull it shut all the way, the labs would push it open and go for a run. Or you have one of those dogs who likes to dig, dig, dig, right under the fence and out onto the street. Or you're just unlucky, like a client of ours whose dog Tinker ... Read more »
Time to party- we got sweet and sour here!
Are you all ready for the concert of the year? I said, are you READY?! Let's get this party started with the one and only KOTY PURRY! I know a place Where the grass is green and cleaner Dogs get to run And they have lots of bones and water ... Read more »
Off the Grid: Surf Dog Kills It
Yesterday, Brody and I had our rescheduled surf lesson with Evan the Surf Instructor. It went great. Brody is a natural. His handler, on the other hand, needs a lot of practice. I had no idea how much work it was to push a dog into a wave. I would have had a fuller recap for you by today, but as you may have heard, some doofus in Yuma managed to power down the entire county of San Diego for the day. As we were leaving the beach, I remarked that there sure was a lot of traffic, even for 4 ... Read more »
Hang 20 Part 2: Pool Lessons
With our surf lesson postponed until today, I didn't want to waste this week doing no preparation at all with Brody. So we practiced getting acclimated to the board at home and in the pool. I'm not a surfer myself, so I got on the board to get a feel for the balance involved. It's quite a lot of work. With practice, I'm sure we'll both improve, but in the meantime, I got him to sit on it for a few minutes and that alone is pretty cool. Hope you like Part 2 of Hang 20! ... Read more »
Catch Me if You Can
So what do you do when the surf is too dangerous to practice your surf technique? Raise mayhem, of course. ... Read more »
Hang 20: Safety First
I am a competitive person. I am the first person to admit this. Although we are doing the Helen Woodward Surf Dog Surf a thon to have fun, there is admittedly some small part of me that is whispering, "But next year we're taking this thing." This year we are just trying to stay on the board for a full set. That being said, I'm not one to turn down a surf lesson, so on Sunday Brody and I headed down to the World's Best Dog Beach (aka Coronado) for our lesson with Evan the Surf Instructor. I ... Read more »
Surf’s Up Bro! The Hang 20 Surf Dog Experience Part 1
It's a new day, the sun is shining, and this blog is up and running! YES! I can't think of a happier way to celebrate than to talk about our participation in the upcoming Surf Dog Surf-a-thon on September 11th. As you know, Brody and I have given surfing a shot a couple of times, but it's been very casual. So when Eukanuba asked if we would be interested in being sponsored by them to participate, I said "Heck yes!" and then, "But only if you don't have any performance expectations." ... Read more »
Sleepypod Yummy Bowls Review
Back to School Week continues with a stylish offering from one of my favorite designers of modern pet accessories: Sleepypod's Yummy Travel Bowls! I have a dog who, despite his low-maintenance background as a retriever, is much too fussy to actually drink water from a bottle and prefers it to be delicately decanted into a bowl. Preferably chilled. Whenever we go for a walk, this means I have to remember to bring his travel bowl. This offering from Sleepypod is my new favorite, for a few ... Read more »
Paranormal Snacktivity
My daughter is doing a horse riding summer camp this week. She has been subjected to plenty of "Well I never got to ride horses when I was a kid, I had to sit in a cardboard box with some yarn stapled to the lid all summer" flibbity floo sorts of things from me, enough so that she hopefully realizes we are by no means embarking down the slippery, expensive slope of riding on a regular basis. One week this summer and that is it. The camp she is going to seems to be doing a good job of giving ... Read more »
Mind Games
Brody and I went on one of my favorite hikes yesterday. It's a 3 mile loop, the first half straight up and the second half straight down the side of a mountain plunked square in the middle of a suburban center. It's unusual to have such a pleasant, heart pumping yet short hike so conveniently located. And at the top, you get an amazing 360 degree view of the entire county. As such, it is the most popular trail in San Diego. If you can deal with the ankle-twisting rocks, the crowds, and the ... Read more »
What dreams may come
I love watching my dogs dream. They twitch, sometimes making little running motions with their feet, and Brody in particular makes a noise just like one of the Three Stooges- "whoopwhoopwhoopwhoopwhoop," a sound never heard when he's actually awake. I've always wondered what they dream about. Do their brains use the time to work out subconscious fears like we do? What can they be all that worried about anyway? They have it pretty easy. Are their dreams populated with the surreal workings of ... Read more »
Baking With Brody: The Puppy Cuppy
I am, to put it mildly, really into cupcakes. I think they are amazing. Adorable, teeny tiny little bites of cake heaven in a portable handheld form. When cupcakes started coming back into fashion a couple of years ago, I sighed, knowing my waistline was doomed. In their sugary clutches, I am powerless. I've sampled some of the wares from local cupcakeries, most recently the Sprinkles that opened up about a half an hour from my house- which is a relatively safe distance. This week, I ... Read more »
Happy Fourth!
Give me your burgers, your corn, Your soggy shortcakes yearning to be eaten, The yummy refuse of your grill galore. Send these, the castoff, crumbs and chips to me, I lift my mouth unto the golden bowl! A very joyous Independence Day from Lady Liberty and...er....Lady Liberty. ... Read more »
Grand Theft Karto
It was a beautiful, sunny weekend here in SoCal, which means one thing: the kids and the pets spend the entire time marinating in the pool. I prefer sitting in the shade, trying unsuccessfully to keep wet Brody from shaking off all over me. Mild mannered Dr. V, benignly watching over the family as they take in the sunshine. No one would suspect me of having more sinister intentions. Such as go-kart theft. What can I say? We got my son one for his birthday and I thought it looked like ... Read more »
