Yappy Howlidays!!!!

Holidays are here

I am counting down the days until Santa Paws visits me! I have been pretty good this year, so I should get almost everything on my list. Besides presents and delicious food, holidays can also be stressful for some dogs. Shopping, baking, wrapping gifts, rushing, parties, etc. Lots of different people in and out of house, mysterious shiny boxes, crazy lights all over, some pets just don't get excited about this time of year.
What can you do to make sure we are as comfortable as possible? Stick to our routine, it's what we know! Keep all sweets and chocolates OUT of our reach. Make sure there are no ornaments in grabbing range. If there are a lot of people over and we feel crowded, put us safely in another room, and in our crate.
AND if you insist on putting the dreadful Elf, Santa or Reindeer costumes on us, be sure to take them off after pictures. They can be uncomfortable and if too tight, cause circulation problems.

So back to the fun stuff, here is my list: I would love to know what's on yours!
I LOVE these smart toys...interactive, fun and if you buy from this site: www.ihelppets.com it helps shelter pets!!

and this SNUGGLY soft dog bed, I can just see myself curled up all nice & cozy in it! 'Ring O' Rosies Dog Bed'

and of course BULLY STICKS!!!!! bestbullysticks.com

what I choose to CHEW

My gums and teeth need exercise too. A good way to keep yo grills clean is chewing! But are you chewing on the right stuff? There are a few chews I just cannot live without.
1. Kong - I love my kong! Fill it with peanut butter, then freeze for longer lasting treat! Or yogurt, pears, apples, the possibilities are endless.
2. Bully Sticks - made up of dried bull tendon and penis, this long lasting tough chew is 100% digestible! Now I know many people just love rawhide, but it does not digest. Especially if you have a heavy chewer, watch very carefully. And if you DO buy rawhide bones, please only made in USA.
3. Marrow Bones- right from the butcher at local meat shop. Cut off all excess meat (if there is anything left) and freeze for at least 48 hours to kill off any bacteria (just in case!) I can spend hours trying to get all the mineral rich marrow out.
4. Himalayan Chew- Made by boiling yak and cow milk and then dried for several weeks to create a hard chew. DELISH! and long lasting.
Check out bestbullysticks.com for great prices and chew selection!

Fleas, Ticks, Bugs, OH NO!!!

Nothing I hate more than creep crawly bugs on me. But I also hate putting those burning chemicals onto my skin every month too! However, living in SW Florida, and being as hot, tropical and humid it is down here, it is bug season 365 days of the year!
So I try to use as little of the frontline plus as I can, but what I really love is GARLIC! **now, don't panic....A lot of people think that garlic is toxic to dogs, ANYTHING in extreme is toxic. And do NOT give garlic to cats. But it is actually very safe for dogs. I get garlic every morning in my breakfast. World renown holistic vet, Dr. Marty Goldstein (drmarty.com) also is an advocate for garlic as a natural bug deterrent. I order the air dried garlic granules from SpringtimeInc.com. Quoted from their site:

-Garlic Provides a 24-hour shield against flies, ticks, mosquitoes, gnats, etc.
-Safe, effective alternative to chemical products,
-One of the world’s most powerful antioxidant foods,
-Promotes friendly bacteria in the digestive tract,
-Provides four times more organic sulfur than any other food,
-Contains natural MSM,
-Stimulates immunity – antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral, & anti-parasitic.

http://www.springtimeinc.com/product/148/2

What do you wash with?

We went to dog beach this past weekend, what that means is we always have to get a bath right after.
What you bathe your pets with is more important than you might think. Like many corporate pet companies, cheap ingredients fill the labels and little or no concern to pet's health is considered. One common harmful ingredient in pet shampoos (and in human shampoos too!) is Laurel Sulfates. Sodium laurel sulfate is a surficant, or an agent that loosens the bond of things like oil to other objects such as skin or hair. It is used as an industrial degreaser and to clean factory floors of grease and grime. Studies have linked it with causing cancer, and eye problems, and the severest claim is leading to blindness. Laurel Sulfates are found in 99% of dog shampoos. They dehydrate skin cells, causing dryness, itching, redness, inflammation, irritation and they are proven carcinogens. They build up in vital internal organs to cause complications in later life. Most skin conditions in dogs come about from Sulphates in shampoos. And yes, all they do is make the shampoo bubbly.

Find a shampoo that is environmentally friendly, non-toxic and safe. Some of our favorites are: Earth-Bath http://www.earthbath.com/shampoo_pints.html and also PetPromise

What do you eat from?

Obviously a bowl, but what kind? It matters more than you humans think. There are numerous choices. Plastic, ceramic, stainless, etc. Here is the breakdown, Plastic bowls- scratch and harbor bacteria. The bacteria lives in the scratches in the plastic and can cause infections, chin acne and stomach issues. To stay on the safe, hygienic side, choose stainless steel, ceramic, porcelain, or stoneware, but make sure the glaze is for human consumption and lead free.
Also, don't buy an over sized huge bowl, this temps you to fill it with more food, and results in us dogs getting fatter.
I ordered personalized ones for my pack from Cindy, at http://spanielbowls.com she is a great lady, and she uses a non-toxic, lead free, tested for human consumption glaze on all her creations.

Happy 3rd Birthday TO ME :)

August 16th was my third Birthday. The world has been lucky enough to have me for 3 whole years. I had some friends over, drank a few brewskie's, Mom made some great treats, and I got some spectacular gifts..... Many more good years to come :)

Abuse of Authority!!

This story outrages me! These police officers had NO reason to shoot these innocent labs.
"Cops raid Mayor's home, shoot his dogs, on a misguided drug raid'

read full story:

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/WireStory?id=5536184&page=1

Vacation - travel safety

My family & I went on vacation to MI for the 4th of July, met up with lots of old friends. Then we headed to Indiana to see some friends and go to the ASC Nationals in Indianapolis. What a great time we had! We had to ride in PetMate carriers for the long drive, to keep us safe & secure. All pet owners should take precautions when traveling. Bring bottled water, pack a first aid kit, bring vaccination records, make sure pets have all ID tag on, & bring photos of pets in case we ever get lost. Most importantly,
have a crate, car-seat, or seatbelt to contain and secure pets while on the road. (and don't forget to clean up your poop at the rest stops!)

visit for tips, articles & products:
www.petautosafety.com

WARNING!!! ProHeart6 back on the market!

ProHeart 6 — a controversial heartworm drug for dogs — came back on the market last week, almost four years after it was pulled when hundreds of dogs died and thousands more suffered adverse reactions. Ordinarily, this might be of interest mainly to pet owners and veterinarians. But this is much more than a dog story. Tale of ProHeart 6 raises questions about who calls the shots at agency. Read whole story: http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/06/our-view-on-dru.html#more

Healthy Immune System

Another good read is the online housepetmagazine.com It is packed with good information. This was my favorite read by: Dr. Shawn Messonnier, DVM "Maintaining a Healthy Immune System"

While supplements can be used in times of illness, maintaining a healthy immune system is important in decreasing the incidence and severity of disease. Follow the following tips to keep your pet as healthy as possible:

1. Feed the most natural diet possible. Learn to read a pet food label and avoid foods with chemical preservatives (BHT, BHA, ethoxyquin) and animal and plant by-products that can damage a pet's immune system and do not help maintain health as much as foods with natural preservatives and no by-products. When possible, prepare and feed a homemade diet (using on of the recipes in The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats) to ensure that your pet is eating the healthiest food possible.

2. Minimize vaccines. Most pets do not need annual "shots." A simple blood test called a titer test can determine which vaccines you pet needs.

3. Minimize chemicals. I prefer not to use chemical flea prevention products unless absolutely needed. Monthly heartworm medication is preferred over the 6 month injectable heartworm preventive.

4. Administer whole food vitamin and mineral supplements, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids to maintain a healthy body.

5. Administer choline supplementation to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease (cognitive disorder) in dogs and cats 10 years of age and older."

Pets for the Environment

One of my favorite readings is 'Eddie's Blog"....Eddie is another dog on a mission for a healthier, cleaner, better world for humans and pets to live in. Take a look and pass it along. Great work Eddie!!!! http://www.petsfortheenvironment.org/about/pets

TO chip or NOT to chip?

Ahh Microchipping....just as controversial as dog food and politics. There are two good sides to every argument, and I wanted to discuss them.

PRO: As small as a grain of rice and claims to be safe, reliable and can re-unite you and your lost pet. And the only positive way (besides tattooing your pet to have it identified). http://www.healthypet.com/library_view.aspx?ID=78

CON: claims related to causing cancer and tumors at microchip site, as well as being an unnatural. Read about Argo: http://www.petsfortheenvironment.org/blog/2008/06/11/allies_dog_argo_and_the_microchip_dilemma#comment-431
more info against chipping: http://www.antichips.com/cancer/

Let's be a little greener!

Let's face it, I poop 3 times a day. That's 21 poops a week, 84 poops a month & 1,008 poops a year. Just from one 24lb American Cocker Spaniel. That's a LOT of turds.
• 4 million tons – It is estimated that dog owners do not collect over 4 million tons of dog waste annually.

• 20-30% of all pollutants in waterways attributed to dog waste – Pollutants originating from rainwater run-off via sewer systems, and dogs pooping near watersheds or beaches. Overall, it is believed dog waste is third or fourth on the list of contributors to bacteria in contaminated
waters.

• 4th highest generated waste – Plastics are the fourth highest generated waste in the U.S., originate from petroleum which is non-
renewable, do not biodegrade, and take thousands of years to break down. Paper, yard trimmings, and food scraps are the top three generated. However, all of them come from renewable resources.

• Bottom – Plastics are the least recycled with a 6.9% recovery rate. In 2006, the U.S. produced 29.5 million tons of plastic and only recycled 2.04 tons.
-info. from poopbags.com

So use biodegradable poop bags! Poop Bags meet the ASTM D6400 specification for biodegradability, and comply with biodegradable product claims in all 50 states. http://poopbags.com/Facts.html

Clean up your POOP

I love dog beach, but what I can't stand is irresponsible owners who don't clean up after their dog. I went this weekend and I was very disgusted by all the poop everywhere. WARNING: If I see you at dog beach NOT cleaning up your mess, I will pee all over your stuff.

Agility

I decided to conquer my fear of heights. I started agility and I am enjoying myself & meeting lots of new dogs. It had really been a confidence builder and great muscle toning. Getting my body ready for dog beach!

Over vaccination

Why is it that every vet thinks I need to be pumped full of shots every year? Do you get vaccinated every year? How do they know what I am immune to? After my one year shots, I am done. I will get a titer test to determine what I need. Check it out and decide for yourself: http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/titer_test.htm

Happy Valentines Day

What is Valentines Day all about anyway? Hallmark holiday I think. I had too many requests for dinner, so I chose to spend the night drinking box wine and watching Family Guy re-runs. Sorry ladies.

Here is what I think about snow!

the scoop on DOG FOOD...you are what you eat!

I am kinda a dog food snob. I just cannot fathom why some companies think us 'dogs' want to eat human left-over garbage, ie. 'by-products'.....it's all about $$$. Purina, Pedigree, IAMS, Science Diet = CRAP.....If you care about pets, then develop a food without all the cheap fillers that won't kill us! Check the back of your bag, and make sure your not eating any corn, wheat, by-products or soy. My favorite food is Timberwolf Organics. http://timberwolforganics.com/
But I also approve of: Eagle Pack, Fromm, Merrick, Canidae, Solid Gold, Innova, Wellness, Nature’s Variety, and Evanger’s.
Please check out the dog food analysis: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/

It's the most wonderful time, of the year!!!

Christmas that is. Presents, cookies, ham, family, what could be better? We are traveling back to Michigan for the holiday. Stay tuned for snow adventures!

Sea Dog

I went out on my boat. I cruised the gulf. I love the warm salty air and feeling the sand between my toes.

Topknot or not???

Since my mom grooms me....she decided to take Aunt Sarah's advice, and work on my topknot. It's the poof at the top of my head. I like it and think it only makes me more handsome. For all you other novice cocker groomers out there, this site can really help: http://www.groomingsmarter.com/Basic%20cocker%20grooming.html
what do you think about it??

Happy Halloween

I really did not enjoy dressing up this year. I was T-Rex. Nobody in Florida seems to get the Halloween spirit. I did have some pumpkin though. I peed on the one that sat on our porch too, it was laughing at me and I didn't appreciate it.

say goodbye winter, hello FL

Bad news northern ladies, I'll be moving to Florida. I'l be sure to e-mail you my new address. Don't worry though, I'll fly back for holidays and special occasions. HELLLOOOOO dog beach!!!

My 2nd Birfday

I had a great Birthday. All my friends and cousins came over, I got to go for a car ride, and got chicken for dinner. My friends were pretty cheap with the gifts though. Guess I need to be more specific next year. I said I want an 'I-PHONE' not a rawhide bone!!

The kiss

It was magical.

more additions

I am starting to think my owner is a little dog nuts! I have 2 new sisters. Maddie & Reese. They really bug me, but I know I am still mom's favorite.

New Home

I was taken home by a nice couple. I was ooo-ed and ahhhhh-ed, kissed and squeezed often. I had a brother at home too, his name is Bernie. He is a little scrappy, bossy guy. But he made sure I knew he was in charge. He toldme on my first day home "I'm the cute one, I'm always right and I'll beat your a** if you mess with me." We were BF's soon after.

August 16th 2005

Hello world, my name is Buddy. I was brought into this world in the outskirts of Michigan. I had one red brother and 2 chocolate & tan sisters. I had big dreams of being a cowboy, moving out west, and working at rodeo's...but even bigger dreams of being loved.