Pet Blogs United

My Life With Scotties, Featured Blogger

2012-03-03T12:05:00.000-05:00

Today we are featuring two lovely Scottish terriers from Oregon, who's blog is Life With Scotties.

Hello! We'd like to introduce ourselves! We are Pippen and Jacque and we live in Portland, Oregon with our mom and dad! We are both Scottish Terriers. Pippen is 5 and has been here since she was just 8 weeks old and Jacque is almost 8 and came to live here when he was almost 5! He was rescued from a local group called Aberdeen Scottish Terrier Rescue.

We don't play together much, but we always look out for each other. We like to lay around and eat treats! When we are outside we like to sniff everything and bark at other dogs and squirrels. Oh, those squirrels! They always taunt us! We sleep on the bed and pretty much rule the house!

We are excited to be featured on Pet Blogs United and meet some new friends! Our mom just started blogging about us recently and loves to share cute pictures of us! In fact, she takes so many pictures that sometimes we get tired of it and won't look at her!

Here are 3 of our favorite blog posts!

Merry Christmas to All, We Got Pressies

We Are Having Company Over Later Today

Pictures!

Take a trip over to My Life With Scotties & them them Oskar sent you!

If you're interested in having your blog featured on Pet Blogs United, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

The Blessings of a Dachshund on Wheels

2012-03-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

We are very proud to share the story of Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog with you. Keep reading to find out how you can win a set of Frankie Magnets!

When I brought home my dachshund, Frankie, as a pup in November 1999 I had no clue of a disease that the breed is prone to called Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD). I knew they had back issues, but didn’t take the time to educate myself on exactly what that meant.

On Easter Sunday 2006 I would come to learn exactly what it meant. While vacationing in Florida, I got a call that Frankie had fallen and ruptured a disc in her back while at the kennel she was staying at. She needed to be rushed into surgery as soon as possible. My sister-in-law was my emergency contact so she immediately whisked Frankie to a nearby animal clinic after having her at my vet who diagnosed her with IVDD. Being so far away from Frankie was hard, but I knew she was in good hands. Frankie was given a 10-30% chance of walking even with the surgery. The odds were not great. The fact I was uneducated about IVDD left me feeling very fearful of what her life would look like if she didn’t walk again. I almost made the terrible mistake of having her put to sleep.

Fortunately with the help of the surgeon, my mom (who I was staying with) and my husband, John, I went ahead and gave my consent for the surgery. I was assured that if Frankie did not gain full use of her hind legs after the surgery and healing, she could be fitted for a dog wheelchair and resume a happy, healthy, quality life. Dog wheelchairs were new to me also. But once it was explained to me how they worked I was hopeful that no matter what, Frankie would live a long, good life.

The surgery was not successful in helping Frankie walk on her own again so she was custom-fitted for a dog wheelchair from Eddie’s Wheels in the summer of 2006. Watching Frankie never feel sorry for herself through her ordeal, as well as persevere despite now having wheels as hind legs, I knew I was being given an opportunity to educate others about IVDD. Since 2007 it has become a passionate mission of mine to share Frankie’s story with others and give other pet owners hope whose dogs are diagnosed with IVDD.

Too often dogs are put to sleep because owners were not educated about the options available. IVDD is not a death sentence and dogs can, and do, live quality lives if given a chance. Frankie, as well as many others, are shining examples of this.

I truly believe that if we look for the blessings in our challenges our life will take on new meaning and we can make a positive difference in the world. I realized as I started taking Frankie out in my little town of 1,100 residents that people were fascinated by her and wanted to know her story. Even more amazing was how children responded to her in such a positive way.

One big blessing from all of this is that I’ve been able to share Frankie’s story with thousands of children through a book series I wrote about Frankie called, Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog. To date we have done over 325 personal appearances to classrooms and libraries, as well as visits via Skype. Our message to children is, “Always be positive, make a difference, and keep on rolling.”

In 2008 Frankie became a registered therapy dog with Therapy Dogs Incorporated after a third grade teacher noticed how well Frankie is around children. She encouraged us to become a therapy dog team. For over three years, Frankie and I regularly volunteer at Libby’s House, Senior Assisted Living (which the second book in my series is about) as well as Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice.

When Frankie was first diagnosed with IVDD, I couldn’t imagine how I would take care of a special needs pet. I went through a period of feeling sorry for myself and having a big pity party. But some of my greatest life lessons have come from observing Frankie go on with her life, living it to the fullest. She is my biggest inspiration!

She has taught me to be more patient and compassionate. She has also helped build my confidence in myself. I always used worry what others thought of me and the choices I made, but that no longer gets in my way of living the life that is right for me. She has also taught me that we always have choices—and choosing to live positive despite our challenges will open doors to opportunities we never expected enriching our lives in ways we could have never dreamed of.

Frankie and Barbara have been featured in Woman’s World, The American Dog Magazine, Doxie Digest, USA Today and AOL Paw Nation. They are also featured in three books: Dogs and the Women Who Love Them, recommended by Oprah’s O Magazine, Animals and the Kids Who Love Them, and Every Dog Has a Gift. Barbara is currently working on her first adult nonfiction book about her journey with Frankie titled, Through the Eyes of Frankie, Lessons Learned from a Dachshund on Wheels. Be sure to watch her blog for updates and release date.

To learn more about Frankie and Barbara, their books, and their mission, you can find them several places on the internet:
http://www.joyfulpaws.com/
http://www.frankiethewalknrolldog.com/
http://www.facebook.com/frankiethewalknrolldog
http://www.facebook.com/barbaratechel
http://www.twitter.com/joyfulpaws
http://www.twitter.com/walknrolldog
http://www.youtube.com/user/barbtechel?feature=mhee

One lucky Pet Blogs United winner will receive a set of Frankie magnets pictured below:

All you have to do for a chance to win these magnets is leave a comment on this blog post. Be sure to include your e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win. Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada only. Entries will be accepted until Midnight EST on Wednesday, 3/7.

We'd like to thank Barbara & Frankie for sharing this inspiring story with us.

Whiskered Paintings - New Blogger Alert

2012-03-01T16:09:00.002-05:00

Today we are pleased to introduce you to Whiskered Paintings.

A few months after I moved to Denver, Colorado, my husband I began the extensive search to add a new dog to our family (an idea our cat, Onyx, was not too thrilled by.) After checking our local shelters several times, I found the Colorado Basenji Rescue and the adorable Basenji mutt Yodel (later to be renamed Indiana.) Taking him around to the local dog parks and working at a doggie daycare introduced me to the dog culture that Denver had to offer. I started painting pet portraits in October of last year and have been blogging to post updates on my art and the antics of my two precocious furry babies.

Working from home with a cat and a dog living in an apartment has been pretty interesting and a little hectic sometimes! I’m ashamed to admit that most of my posts are about Indiana, as he tends to garner my attention by stealing food off the counter, chewing on dirty laundry, and harassing the cat when he is bored. I write a weekly post about (my attempts at) training him, since Basenjis are a notoriously hard breed to get to listen. Onyx puts up with having his picture taken on occasion and I’ll mention The Husband sometimes so he doesn’t get left out.

Stop by Whiskered Paintings today to give them a big hello to Blogville!

Red Carpet Cat Blog Tour - Hipster Bag Giveaway

2012-02-28T12:32:00.000-05:00

Our friends at The Tiniest Tiger Conservation Cub Club were just in Hollywood for the Oskar parties to give out The Tineist Tiger Hipster Bag in a swag room for the attendees.

Now is your chance to win one of these hipster bags which is packed full of goodies for any cat lover!

When I got the bag in the mail Chloe was all over it smelling the good catnip and claiming the bag for herself, as you can see.

This one of a kind hipster features The Tiniest Tiger's feline finesse quilted inot the fabric creating a subtle yet cool cat appearance. The irrestible design combined with the hands free practicality of the cross body Hipster make this the perfect bag when you are on the prowl.

The Hipster is slightly padded providing protection for your iPad, mobile phone, and other essentials. Handy front zip pocket keeps your ID, cash, credit cards and keys secure, yet easy for you to access.

This bag comes filled with amazing feline friendly fun products and savings of over $200.

We can ship the Tiniest Tiger Hipster Bag to the USA, Canada, Europe & Australia, so check out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win. Contest will be open until midnight, March 5th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Yuki & Rocket, Weekly Featured Blogger

2012-02-25T21:23:00.000-05:00

This week we are happy to introduce you to 2 adorable mini schnauzers, Yuki & Rocket. Their person is an an amazing photographer & their blog is delightful!

Rocket

To say I’m a bit obsessed with my two schnauzers would be a big understatement. I love dogs, and I love talking about dogs. Combine my dog love, with my love for dog photography, and you have Yuki and Rocket the blog. The whole reason for me starting our blog was because I needed an outlet for my dog obsession. It was pretty clear to me that family and friends were getting a bit annoyed at my non-stop dog talk. Luckily for me, I discovered the pet community and have met many people who share the same type of interest for our furry ones.

Yuki

Yuki was our first schnauzer who I found through a breeder out of state. I knew I eventually wanted another schnauzer and when Yuki was about 10 months old, we got Rocket through a local breeder . Both Yuki and Rocket have completely different personalities, yet they are a perfect pair. Yuki is vocal, bossy, and demanding, but is actually very shy. She needs constant attention and affection. With Yuki, you need to be one step ahead of her because she is very clever. Rocket has made it clear he has two missions in life: to eat as much food as he can and annoy Yuki as much as possible. Rocket is the big boss and likes to let every dog know it. But, with the humans he’s very submissive and so loving. He really likes meeting new humans and greets many of our guests with a big kiss. Rocket is more independent and doesn’t need the constant affection Yuki demands.

For the most part, our blog is told through my point of view. Sometimes, Yuki and Rocket will give their take on things. A big part of my posts is talking about Yuki’s and Rocket’s behavior issues. I discuss what the problem is, how they have overcome it, and what they need to work on. I really enjoy the feedback I get from fellow bloggers or fans of the blog, because I love that they can either empathize with me and/or suggest things that may help. Although, it is mainly about Yuki and Rocket, there are bits of my personality as well. I love baking and crafty stuff and I incorporate my two favorite things into dog recipes and sometimes dog crafts. The three following links I have included will give you a feel as to what we're all about. I hope you enjoy our little blog.

Here are 3 of Yuki & Rocket's favorite posts:

The New Problem

Schnauzer Tote

Pumpkin Dog Cookies

Due to some computer problems this got posted a lot later than it should have, so do me a favor & hope over to Yuki & Rocket's blog and spend some time looking around. You won't regret it!

If you are interested in being featured on Pet Blogs United, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

Foster Friday - Smokey

2012-02-24T06:30:00.000-05:00

Let me tell you a little bit about Smokey. Smokey showed up at a home in the City of York in December 2011. The wonderful folks who live there are animal lovers and they tell us it is very common to see animals pass through their yard. One day in December they spotted Smokey stocking a Mole but think think that much about it. Then in January they noticed their inside cat watching Smokey as he busily made himself a little nest in some weeds so as to catch a mid-afternoon sunpuddle.

Then one night the gentleman of the house called his wife from his cell phone to have her take a look outside in the driveway. Smokey was interested in getting some attention and perhaps some much needed help. Well after that initial contact handsome Smokey began to hang around more and more and the humans decided it was time to put out some food in case he wasn’t getting fed elewhere.

Since he was spending so much time at their house they decided to take him to the vet to determine his gender, age, and see if he was micro-chipped (which he wasn’t) and to get his shots etc. This is when they found out Smokey is FIV+.

The moment you touch Smokey he starts “making biscuits” or kneading. The vet says his overall health appears to be good. She gave him a shot of Depo Medrol for dermatitis, which she thinks was caused by fleas and they have treated him with Advantage for fleas. He has also been treated for worms. He was so sweet when they took him to the vet. He laid on the table and let them scratch his belly and purred loudly. He allowed them to clip his nails with no problem and only cried a little on the car ride there, which is totally understandable.

Since returning from the vet they put a collar on him with the rabies tag and none of their neighbors have called to tell them that he belonged to them or ask why they took their cat to the vet…..so still no owner is stepping out and claiming this beautiful creature. He belonged to somebody at some point because he is neutered, loves humans, and is totally handsome and looks very similar to a Zeus Seal Lynx Point Siamese.

He is incredibly friendly…loves to be petted…wants to come inside so badly he can’t stand it and due to his FIV+ status they are heartbroken that he can’t come in.

Won’t you please help us spread the word about this handsome boy and help him find the home and life he deserves?

Additional Details:
Name: Smokey
Neutered, Male
Short Haired – Siamese/Tabby with beautiful markings and ice blue eyes.
About 1 year old. Has a great personality, loves to be petted, sweet and affectionate. Loud purr and makes biscuits the entire time you pet him.
Weights 10.58 lbs
2/10/12 – Current on Snap Test -Feline Leukemia, Feline Aids and Heartworm test Wellness Exam
Fecal FVRCP and FeLV
Rabies
Deworming
Advantage Multi Cat
Depo Medrol Injection for Dermatitis
Tested positive for Feline AIDS and vet suggested that he be kept inside and isolated from other cats. Said he will probably live a long life with good care.

If you can help, please email brianfrum (at) gmail (dot) com. Transport can be available if necessary.

Post courtesy of Brian's Home.

Where My Dogs At, Cool Phone Networking Site

2012-02-23T15:24:00.001-05:00

We just found a cool new doggie social site called Where My Dogs At. Here's what the company has to say about it.

"Where My Dogs At is the first ever location-based social network for dog owners and we’re making it fun and easy to find the best places to hang with your four legged friend.

Mark your territory without the mess. Use your mobile phone to find, rate and check-in with your dog to great locations in your area. As you explore, you’ll make plenty of connections, human and canine alike. Add friends, send messages and sniff around.

Remember - it's a dog meet dog world. So log onto http://www.wheremydogsat.com/ from your mobile phone today and see what everyone’s barking about!"

Check out Where My Dogs At & let us know what you think.

Raising Rama - New Blogger Alert

2012-02-22T14:57:00.000-05:00

Raising Rama is a blog about the daily life of a Cane Corso pup as she grows into adulthood. It chronicles her life as a show dog, an obedience dog, aspirations to become a therapy dog and most importantly, beloved family dog. We will touch on the subject of judging on appearances, as Rama is sometimes feared because of her size and because she has cropped ears. We will also examine dog training (Mom is a former obedience instructor), feeding (Mom is also one of those kooks that makes her own dog food), basic care and grooming as well as news of note in the dog community.

Why I started this blog:

I love to write. I love dogs. I have a TON of information in my brain after working as an obedience instructor, veterinary technician and pet retail sales associate and fostering dogs for some 20+ years. Miss Rama is special. I have a feeling she will do great things. I wanted to capture her life on a day-to-day basis and give people who might otherwise not know anything about them a humorous, light-hearted glimpse into one dog's journey to becoming an ambassador for the breed.

Let's stop by & give Raising Rama a big Pet Blogs United welcome to Blogville!

If you're interested in having your pet blog featured on PBU, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

#RedCarpetCat Twitter Party!

2012-02-21T14:58:00.000-05:00

Our friends over at The Tiniest Tiger have an amazing hipster bag that is being featured in a swag room at the Oskar awards this week.

Tomorrow from 5:30 to 7:00 Pacific time, Joanne from The Tiniest Tiger will be tweeting live from the Secret Room swag event and will be joined by none other than Jackson Galaxy of My Cat From Hell.

There's going to be lots of fun & giveaways every 10 minutes, so RSVP today!

Click the link below to RSVP

Bicontinental Dachshund Featured Blogger

2012-02-18T12:23:00.001-05:00

Today we are please to feature Tootsie, the Bicontinental Dachshund. What an interesting life she leads!

Hi! I'm Tootsie, the Bicontinental Dachshund. I'm an American by birth and a naturalized Swiss citizen. I divide my time between southern Switzerland and northern Idaho. I don't have opposable thumbs, so Mom and Dad help me with my blog. Of course, I tell them what to write!

I have a wide palette of interests. At "Bicontinental Dachshund," you'll find posts about hiking, dog philosophy, literature and writing, travel, and much more. I'm a punster, and I love to create cartoons. I've included some of my greatest hits for you here. Hope you like them!

I send a bark-out to all my fellow bloggers and thank them for their inspiration. And special thanks to Oskar and your biped Pam for your support!

Keep on wagging!

Love, Tootsie

Here are three of Tootsie's favorite posts:

Tootsie travels to a Swiss cow festival

Tootsie tries to catch a wave on the beach in Tuscany

Paraphrasing Descartes, Tootsie takes us on a journey into the canine mind

Stop by & visit Tootsie & tell her that Oskar sent ya!

If you're interested in being featured on Pet Blogs United, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

Traveling With Your Dog

2012-02-17T14:31:00.000-05:00

Traveling with your dog is a fantastic way to forge and strengthen the human+pet bond. You get to introduce your dog to new and fun activities, enjoy a change of scenery, and create lasting memories. While it takes a bit more planning on your part to take your dog on vacation, it isn’t difficult and it’s certainly worth the effort.

Gunnar on a 4,200 mile road trip.

Even though an increasing number of hotels now welcome dogs, they can be a bit tricky to locate. That’s why I created the specialty travel website, http://www.dogwonderful.com/. I came to this endeavor after 20+ years as an entrepreneur in the travel industry, owning and operating dog friendly hotels throughout the country. I saw a need for a website that allowed users to easily search for pet friendly hotels, using familiar interfaces such as those found on major online travel sites like Travelocity or Priceline. I also wanted to couple the travel booking engine with top-quality content. DogWonderful’s articles focus primarily on dog friendly travel and vacation ideas, but also include how-tos, product reviews, and fun stuff like contests and giveaways. The other major feature of DogWonderful is that we contribute 10% of any commissions and fees earned on travel bookings to our dog-related charity partners.

So be part of this growing pet trend! Check out DogWonderful and start planning a vacation with your dog today.

-- Teresa Matsui Sanders is a travel industry veteran and creator of http://www.dogwonderful.com/, a website specializing in pet friendly travel. Mostly she specializes in obeying her dogs.

Interview With Jackson Galaxy of My Cat From Hell

2012-02-15T12:57:00.000-05:00

I was lucky enough to have an interview with Jackson Galaxy star of Animal Planet's My Cat From Hell.

If you haven't seen this show, it's an amazing testament to his love of cats and how one person can really make a difference.

The season finale of My Cat From Hell airs this Saturday on Animal Planet, so make sure to tune in. If you're an animal lover, you won't be sorry!

PBU: Hi Jackson, can you tell me the story of the night of the thunder storm and the slow blink.

JG: I was working at the shelter; I was the Community Outreach Supervisor. I had a notoriously ADD personality, so if there was anything was going on around the building during work hours I would find that thing to do and not work on the thing I was supposed to work on, which was, in this case, a presentation.

So it was 1:00 in the morning and the place was empty, but the shelter was full of cats. We had taken previously taken in a huge transfer so we were just busting at the seams. It was an old, old building. It was also pouring rain that night and in Colorado that summer it was drought conditions, so I started panicking because we could flood pretty easily. The worst part about it was I was trying to get this job done and these cats were screaming because it was a loud, loud storm. It was at that moment that I said this presentations not going to get done anyway, ‘cause I can’t concentrate, so I’m going to go into the cat impound area and I’m going to start working this technique that I had picked up from Anitra Frazier in her book, The Natural Cat.

That technique was what she termed “the cat I love you,” and they call it the slow blink. She discovered it and she thought outside the box. She met a lot of cats & she discovered if you softened your eyes, don’t stare at your cat, but soften, and do a slow blink. She would put the words behind the blink. With your eyes open you said the word “I”, you slowly close and say “love”, slowly open and say “you.” More times than not, you will get a return blink.

PBU: How interesting!

JG: That’s the cat saying, “trust established”, “yeah, we’re OK.”

And the amazing thing is, that to me, it represented like a Rosetta Stone; the first glimpse of human-animal communication. In the course of the night I managed to get 45 cats and some kittens to be quiet. They all just went to sleep in the midst of this incredible storm and the upshot of that is I refer to it as The Night of 45 Kisses. At the end of that night I had a defining moment, I was no longer a gypsy, no longer a wanna be rock star, you know this is what I want to do; this is what I have an obligation to.

PBU: I heard you mention The Natural Cat…

JG: Yes, The Natural Cat, by Anitra Frazier, and to me it was always my bible of holistic cat care. She is a wonderful person. I just met her for the first time back in New York & we are totally kindred spirits and she was doing this in the 70’s. Talk about the front line of the profession.

PBU: The thing that I’ve found is that I have a miniature schnauzer, a terrier, who doesn’t like to listen, he can be a nightmare when he wants to be, but I can find so many resources for how to interact with my dog differently to help improve his behaviors. Besides your show and a few books, there don’t seem to be as many that teach us how to interact and exchange behavior with our cats in a way that they understand.

JG: Honestly, it’s a gift horse that I definitely don’t look in the mouth, because having been a veteran of the shelter system, the fact that I know for certain that my show will affect euthanasia numbers, even a little bit, is so humbling.

PBU: We were amazed. My husband & I saw 4 episodes of My Cat From Hell back to back & we just sat here and thought, “How could this make this big of a difference?” You’ve seen that kind of turnaround in dogs on TV before, but your show is the first time that we get to see a turnaround in cats…where you can actually make a difference to the point of the cat being allowed to stay in the home.

JG: The beauty of where I came from at the beginning was, this cat is so scared, and so displaced in this cage that she is putting her head to the back of the cage and nobody ever gets to see her face, so she’ll sit around, no one will adopt her, and she’ll get killed. That’s simple, the math is so simple. So just as simple is the reverse math. If I somehow get that cat to come to the front of the cage, she will go home so that’s the only thing I was doing.

So when I’m trying to get somebody, who’s admittedly not a cat person or doesn’t really care or “I’m in the because my girlfriend wants me to be in this”, all they’ve got to see is the equivalent of the cat coming to the front of the cage, and then I’ve got their buy-in. Once I’ve got my hooks in them, then I can try and deepen their relationship, but all I care about right away is that you’re not going to turn this cat out.

PBU: Are there places that people can go in different cities, are there other people like you if they’re looking for help?

JG: It’s not a very large community, no. I’m sure there are some, but to be completely honest I’m not really synched into that community, we’re fairly fragmented, and hopefully through shows like this we won’t be. It’s hard because quite honestly, there’s a lot of methods out there.

PBU: It seems like you’re totally unique when it comes to the cat world…

JG: I’m not totally unique, there are people out there who do what I do, and it’s just that we’re all individuals, we believe sometimes different things. But that being said, it’s all about the results. As long as you do no harm to the animal, I’ll listen. I would love to learn from you if you get results, because the bottom line is we’re all, I would hope, going for the same end game, which is no homeless animals having to die. It frustrates me sometimes that we can’t develop a consensus, but we will.

PBU: I think this show will help people see that cats can be changed behaviorally and your show puts it out there that cats don’t deserve less of your time and effort than a dog, if the cat needs you then you need to find a way to meet it on its terms…

JG: Very well put, that’s the bottom line about cats; if you don’t meet them on their end of the fence, then you don’t stand a chance and it’s our egos that prevents us from solving these problems. People think “really, you want me to go to their end of the fence when I just spent $2,000 replacing my furniture?” That’s the initial level of buy-in that I’m constantly working towards.

PBU: It looks great on the show; it looks like you’ve done wonders for a lot of these cats. Was your research mainly a lot of trial and error?

JG: There’s tons of trial & error, sure. One of the beautiful things about working in a shelter is that, I would immerse myself in anything ever written about cats and anything that I could translate into a theory, boom, I’m in the back of the shelter trying it out. Talk about win-win, because I get to further my studies and these cats are enriched. It was a great way of solidifying a method. But with that being said, you don’t want to throw out what I consider to be some amazingly ground breaking writings, some of it had to do with cats and some of it just had to do with the inner life of animals and how to understand their world more fully, not just understand it, but if you can walk a mile in their shoes so to speak, then your empathy goes to a place where why would you ever think of “getting rid of” your cat.

PBU: I see that you do seminars, have you ever thought of doing webinars?

JG: Yeah, and I probably will, I’m looking to affect as many cat people as I can in one fell swoop. Right now my concentration is on the book that’s coming out. I’m still putting finishing touches on the edit.

PBU: Now you have to tell us more about the book!

JG: The book is called Cat Daddy and right now the working subtitle is My Life Working With The Cat From Hell, and that book is coming out on May 10th. If you Google it on Amazon, it is available for pre-order.

It’s about my life with my cat Benny and how he was my most esteemed teacher and most frustrating companion. Every time I thought I had cats figured out he’d just flip me the bird. That was just his life’s mission to frustrate me it seemed. But I learned so much from him and it’s just about our lives together sort of a journey about two broken things fixing each other because we were both pretty busted up so it’s just the years I was with him. The cool thing about it is that as I spent time with him, I also developed a lot of these methods I talk about, so we highlight these methods in there. We hit on a lot of different things. That’s the next big thing, we’re going to put out the book in May, so we’re going to go on a book tour and we’re going and also we’re going to shoot another season of the show coming up soon.

All of the bloggers I’m working with are going to get a copy of the book and then we’re going to hit you up in May.

PBU: That’s great; I’d love to read this story, because Oskar, my miniature schnauzer, is my heart dog. He’s the one that brought me out of myself during some hard times, so I love reading stories about the special connection between people and their pets.

JG: I’m literally not exaggerating when I tell you that had it not been for cats in general, and Benny specifically, I really don’t think I’d be here right now. The debt I owe them is huge.

PBU: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me.

JG: Thank you.

I can't wait to review Jackson's Book Cat Daddy and don't forget to tune in this Saturday for the season finale of My Cat From Hell!

Pillars of Strength

2012-02-14T13:02:00.000-05:00

Today we are dedicating our post to a new blogging friend KB, who is facing a difficult time with her beloved dog K. K is facing one of the ugliest things that our loved ones can, cancer.

When I look at Oskar's face & think of the possibility of losing him, of him having to fight a horrific battle like the one K & KB are facing my heart just breaks. The desire to take the pain from a loved one, to make them whole again must be so strong in KB's daily existance.

K has her next round of chemotherapy this Friday, 2/17, so if you could please take a minute to say a prayer that this powerful drug find and destroy every single cancer cell.

Oskar & I pray that K & KB stay strong and focused and know that they have the entire community at their backs, praying for the day that the Dr. will say that K is cancer free.

Give your loved ones a little extra hug on this Valentines day, and know how precious true love is.

Dachshund Nola Featured Blogger

2012-02-11T11:53:00.003-05:00

This morning we are please to introduce you to Dachshund Nola.

Hi I'm Dachshund Nola, and I live in hot and sunny north Florida with my crazy human family and my two adoring minions, Boston and Augustine (also Doxies). I also have two adopted cats, Saphira and Star, five chickens and one hermit crab named George.

I started my blog to document life as a crazy, fun loving Doxie, and it's grown into a place where I share my adventures about proving that just because I'm an 8lb Doxie doesn't mean I can't have just as much fun as a bigger dog. I share my recipes for homemade food and treats, Doxie info and humor, funny and interesting finds, my pictures and my life.

I'm fun and loving, but I'm also bossy and loud. I may be the second smallest pet in my house, but I still rule the roost.

I'm your typical Dachshund and at the same time I'm completely unique. My mom just took a sign language course and we're working on hand signals and hopefully soon agility. It's been quite an adventure for me and my family; I'm their first small dog.

I came to my family at just the right time. Mom had just lost her lab, and it was a very difficult time for everyone. I'm bonded very strongly to my mom, as she is to me.

We've had bumps in the road, like food allergies, barking and separation anxiety, but we're working through them and it's been the time of our lives.

Here are three of Nola's favorite posts:

Me And Mister Squeaky

Reunion

Atlanta Pictures

Please stop by this week and say hi to Nola.

If you're interested in being featured on Pet Blogs United, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

Foster Friday - Sophia

2012-02-10T06:30:00.000-05:00

Got love? Then Sophia is the ladycat for you! This super snuggly senior was a bit overwhelmed when she first arrived at PAWS, which we can certainly understand. How sad that at 12+ years old, she suddenly found herself without a home, and in the midst of so many unfamiliar sights, sounds and smells. We imagine that's why she was withdrawn and depressed for so long. While she did enjoy being pet, she seemed to prefer the comfort of her cage -- even when it was her turn for "out" time. About three weeks ago (just to see what would happen), I decided to try to hold her in my arms. Boy, am I glad I did! It turns out that Sophia LOVES being held. She purrs extra loud, and burrows her head between my neck and shoulder. And spending regular time with her with each visit has made all the difference in her demeanor. She now recognizes my voice, comes to the front of the cage to be let out when I enter the room, and enjoys being out of her cage. And if a shoulder isn't available, this lovebug is also pretty happy in a nice warm lap. :)

Sophia is spayed, and up to date on all her vaccinations. She has tested negative for FIV and FeLV. She does have hyperthyroidism, but is regulated and quite good about taking her medication (especially when it is wrapped in a salmon treat). :) Sophia would do well in a quiet home with someone who is willing to give -- and get -- lots of loving snuggles. She would do best as an only pet. Won't you give this sweet gal the forever home she deserves?

Sophia is available for adoption at PAWS (Pet Animal Welfare Society) of Norwalk, CT. If you or anyone you know would be interested in adopting her, and live within a reasonable driving distance of Norwalk, CT, visit http://www.pawsct.org/, where you'll find the online adoption form, shelter hours, directions and contact information.

If you have a foster or shelter animal that you'd like to have featured on Pet Blogs United, please contact us at PBU at comcast dot net.

Bengal Business - New Blogger Alert

2012-02-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

My name is Jennifer, I am 31 years old and I live with my husband and two daughters in a little town in The Netherlands. I work in the healthcare system and in my free time I love to go jogging, take pictures, take long walks with our dog and write a blog about our two cats. My husband works in the airforce and he's away quite a lot so it's so nice to have 3 pets who are always around when you need a cuddle!

I decided to make a blog about our 2 cats Lars and Odin because I love to write and I think they have lots to say. They each have their own personality and feelings. And I think it is so much fun to figure out what they must be thinking. Sometimes it causes lot's of laughter in our house so I wanted to share it with everyone.

Lars and Odin are 2 Bengal mancats. They come from the same breeder but they are not brothers. Lars is 5 months older but Odin is bigger! Lars has a sweet personality, he loves te cuddle and follow me around where ever I go. Odin is a tough mancat, much more "wild" then Lars is. He loves to lay on your lap and he loves to eat....everything!

We blog daily and we hope you will pay us a visit sometime and be our friend.

Stop by Bengal Business today & welcome them to Blogville.

If you would like to be featured on Pet Blogs United, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

Groucho The Wonder Westie - Weekly Featured Blogger

2012-02-04T12:01:00.001-05:00

Today we are pleased to introduce you to Groucho The Wonder Westie!

Groucho entered our lives on 13 April 2006. At the time, we were living in Dublin, Ireland and, after many years without a dog, having just moved into a new home that had enough room for a 'four legged family member' we had registered with the truly amazing Westie Rescue Ireland (www. westierescue.ie). This organisation is run by an inspirational woman who, with her band of dedicated volunteers, rehomes abandoned Westies, many of whom are in a terrible state when they are handed in to Westie Rescue.

On 12 April, Westie Rescue called to say they had heard of a wee Westie puppy (6 months old) in a pound who was looking for a home, and would we be interested - if we were, we had to collect him the next day before 2pm otherwise he would be put to sleep. Well, of course we said yes and, at 11am the next day, we set off, allowing plenty of time (it was a 50 mile drive which, in Ireland, takes some time!). We arrived at the pound to find this bundle of white fur waiting for us and, of course, it was love at first sight - he turned our lives upside down, for the better!. Groucho had a very tough start to life so it took some time for him to understand that we would not abandon him or treat him poorly as his first owner had.

Groucho has had any number of adventures since arriving in our lives. We call him a frequent flyer as he has lived in Dubai for 15 months (which he loved - he was able to attend a doggy creche twice a week and, in true Westie fashion, had all the other dogs doing what he wanted them to do! He was like a little general, commanding the Rotties, the Dobermans, the Vizlas etc to do what he wanted, when he wanted!), back to Ireland for 12 months (loved it, particularly his visits to the country, in the West of Ireland, where he was made a fuss of wherever he went!) and now, Australia. He has developed into a real 'Aussie' dog (although we like to think he has retained his Irish woof accent!), spending most of his spare time on a beach or the river foreshore, taking up kayaking, learning to deal with the overwhelming number of flies that torment us every Summer (he tries to eat them) and, most of all, charming all he meets.

But, for us, the best thing about Groucho is his ability to delight - we love his affectionate nature, his button eyes and little black nose, his cocky personality, his determination to get his own way (a constant battle of wills!), his cheeky sense of humour (he is named after Groucho Marx - same whiskers, same sense of humour!) but, most of all, it's his ability to delight us that we love the most. He has brought a huge amount of humour and love into not just our lives, but all who know him and his ability to continue to trust and love us four legged ones after his tough start to life has been a wonderful lesson for us.

We hope you enjoy his blog and his perspective on life!

Here are some of Groucho's favorite posts:

If You Go Down To The Woods Today

Day One: Groucho Enters Our Lives

I Am Groucho

Why I Love Sundays

Please take some time out of your week to stop by & say hi to Groucho. You won't be sorry you did!

If you're interested in having your blog featured on Pet Blogs United, please drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

AKC Eukanuba National Championships

2012-02-03T17:38:00.002-05:00

I can tell you first hand that the AKC Eukanuba National Championships Dog Show is awesome! I haven't gotten to write as much about it as I wanted to, but any dog lover will love this broadcast.

There will also be a Twitter Party happening, so make sure that you follow @PetBlogsUnited. The other VIP bloggers who attended the show will be Tweeting also.

Gracie Lu The Shih Tzu, Weekly Featured Blogger

2012-01-28T14:45:00.004-05:00

Oskar & I are glad to get back into the swing of things, so here is our Weekly Featured Blogger, Gracie Lu, the Shih Tzu.

My name is Gracie Lu, and I'm 15 years old in human years (but only 1.5 in doggie years). I'm a black and white purebred Shih Tzu puppy who lives with my human Mama, a cat brother named Mr. Pumpkin, and a black Lab dog brother named Bo. I love to lick faces, play with my toys, and run around in giant 8s in the backyard. I also love tummy rubs and kisses, and I hate baths.

What My Blog is About: Mama and I enjoy showing photos of my daily life on my blog. Sometimes, we update it quite a lot... Other times, Mama gets busy and she forgets to update it. But we always update my blog on major holidays with cute photos of me. So, if you love looking at photos of the cutest shih tzu dog ever - ME - then you will love my blog. I like to wear a lot of dresses, and I feel like I'm barely naked anymore. Mama likes to spoil me with lots of new toys... All the time... I think I have a bigger wardrobe than my Mama, but that's OK. Since I am my mom's first doggie ever, I live quite a spoiled life.

More About Me: Mama has always wanted a Shih Tzu dog, so when she got old enough, she got me! I'm her first dog, so I am pretty special. I've lived with my Mama since I was 6 weeks old. My Shih Tzu Mama was a blonde; and my Shih Tzu Daddy was black. I'm pretty hyper sometimes, but I also enjoy sleeping, too. Sometimes, I enjoy chewing things I shouldn't be eating. And I always end up murdering all of my toys. I chew and bite them until their guts are splattered all over the floor. Mama does sew them back up though, but let's just say... I am quite playful.

If you want to know more about me, please visit my blog. I also Tweet and I have a Facebook page.

My Three Favorite Blog Posts:
First Gracie Lu Shih Tzu Photos of 2012

Howl-o-ween: Official Photos

Photo of the Day: I Have Cute Toofers

We ask that you take a little time out of your week to visit Gracie Lu and leave her some comment love. If you're interested in being featured on Pet Blogs United, you can drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

Back In The Saddle Again

2012-01-25T08:23:00.001-05:00

Hello friends,

I am well and home from the hospital again. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all of your prayers & well wishes while I was gone for 2 weeks. They made me feel great when I got home.

It may take me a few days to get PBU back up to speed, but I still have lots to share about the AKC Eukanuba National Championships and more, so stay tuned :)

Hospital Update

2012-01-15T21:21:00.004-05:00

Hi Everybody,
Pam is still in the hospital and should be there for another week. She's doing OK and is looking forward to getting back to you all!

Schnauzer Snuggles,

Oskar (and Chris)

An Offer From My Friends At PetsDirect.co.uk

2012-01-09T14:00:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone!
As a late Christmas present, we’d like to offer any bloggers following PetBlogsUnited.com a free gift, worth £10/$15 (or equivalent) for simply mentioning PetsDirect.co.uk on their blog.

To get your free gift all you have to do is choose what gift you’d like from PetsDirect.co.uk up to the value of £10/$15, then email your postal address and item(s) choice to sales@petsdirect.co.uk, and where you’ve mentioned us on your blog/website.

It's as easy as that! There are no restrictions on what you can order, whether it's a new collar you need or a fancy toy to keep your pet amused, if it’s on PetsDirect.co.uk then we’ll get it for you.

You wont have to pay postage, and there won’t be any other hidden costs. This fantastic offer is worldwide and available to any bloggers or pet blog owners. Happy shopping!

John
Pets Direct UK

*This post was pre-scheduled, before I knew about the hospital stay. Unfortunately I don't have any other posts ready, so PBU will be quiet for awhile.

I'm Sorry To Say

2012-01-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

That my mom person is sick again. She's helped me write this post before she went back to the hospital. She'll be there for at least a week this time. I hope that this will make her better & I will miss her. She & I will both miss all of my friends while she is gone.

Please don't forget about us :)

Love to you all.

3 Pups In A Pop Up

2012-01-07T07:30:00.000-05:00

This week we are please to introduce you to 3 Pups In A Pop-Up.

Hi there. We are Kismet, Roxie and Chance. We are all rescue pups living with our mommy and daddy in Atlanta, GA. We are soooo excited to be the featured bloggers here at Pet Blogs United!

Kismet

Here’s a little about us… Kismet was adopted in May of 1999 when he was about 1 y.o. He is a Tibetan Terrier mix, and a “Wise Old Man” that knows when someone needs a shoulder to lean on or a good face licking.

Roxie

Roxie was only 3 month’s old when she was adopted in 2000. She is what mommy calls a "Hybrid Herder" that keeps all all in line and is stuck to mommy like glue. She is also a Certified Therapy Dog and enjoys visiting nursing homes and performing for patients.

Chance

Chance, aka "Sir Chauncey, Defender of the Underdog", is mommy’s “foster failure” from 2010. He is also a very good first mate aboard sailboats. He provides lots of laughs and love. He is around 2 or 3 years old, and mostly a Bichon Frise.
We are “Ambassadors for Adoption”, and this year we traveled the country and Canada for 3 months with a pop-up camper promoting pet rescue and adoption. Mommy is even writing a children’s book about us!

We hope you will follow us along on some of our adventures and drop us a line from time to time. We’d love to meet you! Arf!

Some of our favorite posts are:

What I Learned While On The Road

Sailing For Dummies, Or How I Got The Crabs At Sea

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Part 1

Stop by & learn more about these fascinating pups!

If you're interested in being featured on Pet Blogs United, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

Dorkiness Be Damned, I'm Going To A Dog Show!

2012-01-03T15:38:00.000-05:00

I think you all know I'm crazy for dogs. (Cats, too, for that matter.) So when I got the opportunity to go to the AKC Eukanuba National Championships as one of Eukanuba's VIP Bloggers I was in heaven!

And then I got nervous...scared...to...death. While I was lucky enough to know most the of people who would be accompanying me, these were all dog people. People who show dogs, people who breed dogs, people who know stuff about dog shows. Well, there was one other in our group that I don't think is a real dog show aficionado, but she happens to be a beautiful veterinarian, who has been to the show before. Yeah, I think she knows a little bit about dogs too.

I've never been to a dog show, much less a National Championship! Chance of me looking like a huge dork, likely, very likely.

Eh, I figured I'd rather be a dork at a dog show than a dork missing the dog show. I also had the built in security of knowing that these people I had traveled with before were patient about my questions, and really just fun & welcoming people all together.

Well, I had an amazing time, tons of fun stuff to share with you & lots of pictures of cute dogs! I learned a lot, and I still don't know about titles, and points and disqualifications, but I'm excited to share a dog show outsider's view of this great event with you over the coming weeks.

Time Out

2011-12-29T15:56:00.002-05:00

Hi guys, Pam here. I hope your all taking advantage of the MrChewy.com giveaway!

You may know that I was a VIP Blogger for Eukanuba at the AKC Eukanuba National Championship a couple of weeks ago. I had a marvelous, amazing time & I have some great stories to share with you, but I need to take a little break.

When I got home from Florida, I got slammed with a sinus infection and with all of the running around that Christmas brings to our house it has now moved into my chest.

I need to take a complete break & just rest for a few days, but I promise I'll be back soon, Oskar too, with some great stuff to share with you.

Thanks for your understanding.

$50.00 Gift Code To MrChewy.com

2011-12-26T12:18:00.000-05:00

We hope you had a wonderful holiday with more fun planned. We thought we'd use this week to do another giveaway!

MrChewy.com is an online pet retailers selling foods, treats, potty pads, litter and more for cats & dogs.

Order online, have it shipped directly to you house & you don't have to lug all of those heavy bags around anymore.

MrChewy.com is offering one lucky Pet Blogs United reader a $50.00 gift code to try their site. This contest is open to US only, since MrChewy.com doesn't ship internationally at this point.

Want your chance to win? Visit MrChewy.com and tell me in a comment one thing that you would order if you are the winner.

Click the link to get to the entry form

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Season for Giving, and Receiving, Guest Post by Kevin Hattori

2011-12-24T11:10:00.000-05:00

Moosey

“It’s better to give than to receive.” Wise words indeed, especially during the holiday season. But the everyday example set by the volunteers at PAWS has me convinced that the phrase could be improved by changing it to read, “It’s better to give, because what you’ll receive is even better.”

I’m talking specifically about the amazing rewards that come from volunteering with homeless pet animals. And believe me, the rewards – for the animals AND the volunteers – ARE amazing.

When Tracey and I asked some of our volunteer friends (and ourselves) some questions about working with shelter animals, the responses painted a wonderful picture of why this small band of animal lovers is part of a group that continues to spend time with the PAWS cats week after week, month after month, and year after year. We hope this sampling of answers gives everyone a little holiday cheer, and inspires folks to know that even the smallest kindness does make a difference.

Q: Why do you volunteer with animals? What do you get out of it?

Karyn: I was raised to have great love and respect for animals of all kinds. I would rescue every abandoned pet if I could, but since I am already at full capacity … this is the way I help bring some comfort and happiness to those without homes.

Maggie: I get an immediate good feeling when I touch a cat and he or she purrs or rubs on my hand. I know I've made that cat's day a little better. And the love that I get from them – even cats I've never met before – is so sweet. Many of the cats are such good role models, too. They've been abandoned, kicked out of their homes, left at the shelter (and those are the lucky ones) … and yet so many of them still look to us for love. How can we turn away? (NOTE: Maggie also blogs about the PAWS cats at the always wonderful “Sundays at the Shelter.”

Susan: I love animals. They never cease to amaze me and I marvel at their beauty, personality, and behavior. Working with them takes me out of myself and I forget about my small world and problems.

Tracey and Kevin: The time we spend caring for the PAWS provides us with an outward focus, and with lessons about the power of love. When life gets tough, caring for shelter animals brings a welcome respite from troubles. And when life is good, it has a way of keeping us grounded in reality. It’s become an inextricable part of our lives, and we feel “out of sync” if we miss even one of our regular days. We’ve also found kindred spirits: many of our closest friends are our fellow volunteers. And it was at the shelter that we re-connected after so many years, fell in love, and eventually married. J

Ginny: I started volunteering because of my love for animals, and an awareness that there was a great need for help with homeless, lost, and abandoned animals that end up in shelters. I thought I would be doing something good for the animals, but never did I realize how much they would do for me. Since I started volunteering, there is no doubt that working with the wonderful cats at PAWS helped me through the most difficult and stressful times.

Diamond

Q. What keeps you coming back to the shelter?

Maggie: Knowing I can bring comfort to a frightened or sad cat keeps me coming back.

Karyn: Every animal pulls at your heart, and some more than others, but you simply accept that you are doing the best you can for them until they do find a home.

Ginny: I keep coming back because I know I am truly making a difference in the lives of these cats by being there. Providing a lap, a good brushing, some time out of their cage, an interesting toy, or just some much-appreciated attention … the cats let us know they are happy we are there.

Kevin and Tracey: We love these cats, and want them to find forever homes. But until they do, PAWS volunteers and staff are caretakers, nurturers and most importantly, friends, to them. And who doesn’t want the very best for their friends? In order to help socialize these kitties (so that they have the best chances of being adopted), we really have to know them. And since each has its own personality, likes and dislikes, the process requires time, consistency and patience. So we keep coming back, as good friends do.

Ian

Q: What are some of the high points of volunteering?

Maggie: There are so many from which to choose … Getting Milo to purr … Nemo getting a forever home … so many adoptions (though still not nearly enough).

Karyn: The animals give so much love in response to the attention and care you give them, and there is nothing quite as wonderful as hearing the follow-up stories on the cats and dogs lucky enough to be adopted into great homes.

Susan: I love when a cat that was afraid, unfriendly, or even hostile becomes more comfortable with people. It’s often a slow process, but there are always little victories along the way.

Ginny: One of the high points for me is seeing cats who enter the shelter shy, afraid and timid or angry and aggressive slowly but surely come out of their shell or calm down as they realize they are in a place where they are loved and safe. Any adoptions and all of the successful follow up tales are definitely also high points. And I love that PAWS never gives up on a cat, and that euthanasia is not an option unless a cat is terminally ill and in pain that cannot be helped.

Kevin and Tracey: To see a cat that cowered in fear when it first arrived transformed by patience and love into a lap cat is amazing. To see cats who wait for YEARS finally get forever homes is the best ever. We love those happy follow up stories, too. And to know that every adoption means that TWO animals’ lives (the one being adopted, and the one taking its place at PAWS) are being saved is a great feeling.

Meeting Room

Q. What can other people do to help out at a small, local animal shelter?

Susan: Besides actually working with the animals, people can donate needed items or money, transport animals to and from the vet, and help clean. They can raise money, think of ways to raise money, pass along a good word about the shelter and animals that need adopting, and write summaries about the animals to be posted on line.

Karyn: Every little bit makes a difference. On weeks when I cannot get to the shelter, I am out collecting newspapers or picking up needed items when I see them on sale. There is much that people can do … giving just a couple of hours a week, or dropping off paper towels, cleaning supplies, towels, or blankets. (Ed. note: Many shelters have lists of ways people can help, like this one from PAWS.) On a more general level, I talk with others about the importance of spaying and neutering; and when I hear of a friend looking for a pet, I strongly encourage adopting from a shelter.

Ginny: The best thing anybody can do is just show up and give the animals some love and personal attention.

Thank you to all who work or volunteer with shelter animals, or otherwise work in animal rescue. You are true heroes. As for us, we’re on our way to do a little Christmas Day giving and receiving with the PAWS cats. Happy holidays, everyone!

Kevin (aka "meowmeowmans") and Tracey's blog, "Animal Shelter Volunteer Life," is about cats who pass through the doors of PAWS, a privately funded non-profit, no-kill shelter located in Norwalk, CT. Since 1962, PAWS has rescued, rehabilitated and rehomed thousands of stray, neglected and abused animals.

I'd Like You To Meet The Cesky Terrier

2011-12-21T11:00:00.000-05:00

We happen to have a soft spot for terriers around here and when I found out that the Cesky terrier would be at the AKC Eukanuba National Championships for the first time I wanted to learn more.

I contacted Charlene Ewen of the American Cesky Terrier Fanciers and she sent this background about one of the new breeds to be recognized by the American Kennel Club.

I got to spend some time with Charlene and her boy Leo, and I even got to take Leo for a turn around the main show ring, but that's a whole other post. Here's the background that Charlene sent me to let you all get to know these guys.

The Cesky Terrier (Chess-key)

This breed is very unique in that we can follow our pedigrees right to the first two dogs used for its creation. Frantisek Horak lived outside Prague with his family and was involved in pure bred dogs since his childhood learning from his father who was a game keeper and kennel master for a wealthy family in Bohemia.

Mr. Horak was a great hunter and used this as his "kennel name" lovu zdar for registering the Scottish Terriers he owned/bred/showed and hunted with. Back in the 1940's the Terrier in the Czech Terrier Club was considered above all a "hunting" dog, hunting rabbit, fox, small to larger game such as the Wild Boar in the Bohemian Forest. Mr. Horak had a dream to create a breed of dog by using the Scottish Terrier and the Sealyham Terrier. He wanted a hunting dog that would hunt in packs more easily without the more hyper attitude of the Scottish Terrier and a more slim dog who could go into the burrow after game. He also wanted a dog that is all natural with no ear trimming or tail docking and a dog who has color unlike the Sealyham Terrier who is white and a very hard dog to hunt with on a Friday and get ready to show in Conformation on Sat. and Sun.

He went to school and worked as an accountant until WWII when he lost his job and was assigned a position with the Czechoslovak Academy of Science where he worked until he retired at the age of 76. During this time he was very active in the Czech Kennel Club and reported he was going to try breeding a new type of Terrier and if successful would be called the Cesky Terrier (or early on the Bohemian Terrier).

His plans for breeding had to be put aside until 1948 when he did his first cross breeding of the Sealyham and Scottish Terriers. Thru Mr. Horak's immaculate keeping of records, pedigrees and his dedication to his dream of creating a new Terrier was a success. In 1959 Mr. Horak first exhibited the first Cesky Terriers and the registration with the FCI and Czech Terrier Kennel Club began. Thru his breedings Mr. Horak created a unique soft coated terrier. The Cesky is a great hunter and tracking come natural for the breed. They have "great noses". It is also a breed who is more a silent hunter and more cat like in the hunt for game. They are a great dog that love to retrieve and owners feel that the Cesky is born with the need to play ball. Most will play toss the tennis ball until the owner wears out and the Cesky even though exhausted will want more! "For A TERRIER" they are a little more laid back and love and need their exercise but are comfortable laying on a couch as long as they are close to their owners.

Source

They are "reserved" towards strangers so they are usually not a jump up on you type dog but of course if they know you have food treats are involved with a "hello" they are right there wanting to say hi. The Cesky is a total Food Lover so feeding a free feeding style is out of the question since they would eat everything and look for more!

The Cesky has a long soft coat that needs clipping every 3 to 4 weeks and the pattern for the grooming is in the AKC Breed Standard and like the Poodle or Bedlington Terrier a very specific haircut.

The are an Oblong dog with short legs, but don't let the short legs fool you, they can really move. When moving they should have a very elegant movement. The Top Line is not a straight top line like most Terrirers but have a slight rise over the loin and an elegant neck. They have almond shaped brown eyes and a button type ear in the shape of a triangle. The hair is soft and wavy and if left uncut would grow long all over. They have a very deep bark for a small dog and are not usually big barkers. They also have very large teeth for a smaller dog and a very loose skin.

They excel in Agility and are extremely smart and use this to their advantage. Like most terriers they will try to rule the house and they need a more alpha type owner who is gentle but firm in their training.

They also "talk" and make some very strange noises, I think the boys talk more then the girls and even after 19 years of owning Cesky Terriers I am amaized what funny noises can come out of them when they are in a talking session. Most are also big TV watchers. My Leo can spot a dog on tv and heads to the tv set to try to watch.

They are a fun, unique breed and I hope you will get to know us more thru Pet Blogs United.

You can find more information about the breed thru the club web site: http://www.cesky.com/

You can find out more about my dogs at http://www.dogartdiva.com/ on my Cesky Page.

Charlene Ewen - American Cesky Terrier Fanciers Assoc. - President - Event Chair - Education Chair

The 12 Dogs Of Christmas

2011-12-20T20:03:00.000-05:00

This 12 dogs of Christmas graphic was produced by Pet365 - a UK stockist of dog jumpers and brands like Hamish McBeth.

Some Thoughts About Dogs - Featured Blogger

2011-12-19T17:57:00.000-05:00

I have to make apologies to Tegan & Some Thoughts About Dogs for not getting her featured blogger post up on Saturday. Spend some time getting to know:

Chip

Some Thoughts About Dogs have rather self-centred routes. Basically, I live dogs. There is not much I don't do with dogs - I have enjoyed their companionship throughout life, I have worked in a shelter, I foster rescue dogs, I've had dogs with behavioural problems, I love dog training and behaviour, I've been involved with almost all dog sports possible. There is not much 'doggy' that I haven't done.

Clover

Considering this, I have spent a great deal of time thinking about dogs and my brain had just about reached capacity. I really feel that, because I am so involved in the dog world, I actually have a rather 'well rounded' idea of dogs. And I hold some dissatisfaction with how dogs are treated, on many levels, today.

Winona

My blog is quite political at times, as I really feel like much legislation surrounding dogs is either useless, or counter productive to welfare aims. I am also very interested in dog science, as I feel that the dog world really needs to embrace what science has shown about our pooches, and then ask for more research. Dogs are under researched, so any research is precious.

Clover feeding Myrtle and foster babies

I have four permanent doggy residents here, all border terriers, but then numerous puppies and foster dogs make their appearances, too. Though occasionally there are posts about the pets themselves, most of the time they are only mentioned in terms of a 'bigger picture'.

My four favourite posts:

Belyaev Fox Experiment -
http://leemakennels.com/blog/the-origin-of-dogs/belyaevs-fox-experiment-index/
This is a link to the index of four posts outlining the Belyaev fox experiment. This was such a long winded assignment I set myself, researching all facets of the experiment, but I have received a number of comments thanking me. So it's all worthwhile! Plus, it was heaps of fun to research.

Paucity in Dog Science -
http://leemakennels.com/blog/dogs-and-politics/paucity-in-dog-science/
This blog posts looks at why dog science almost doesn't exist. I was particularly happy when I attended a seminar recently, with Paul McGreevy, and he agreed with me!

What is the Answer to Puppy Farms? -
http://leemakennels.com/blog/dogs-and-politics/62/
My proposals for reducing puppy farms that does not specifically legislate against breeder practices. A much more sensible way of ensuring puppies aren't produced in substandard conditions, and at the same time not impacting on responsible breeders.

"Don't Breed or Buy While Shelter Dogs Die" -
http://leemakennels.com/blog/rescue/dont-breed-or-buy-while-shelter-dogs-die/
A critique to the suggestion that the death of shelter animals is as a result of responsible dog breeding.

Check out some of Tegan's favorite post some time this week on Some Thoughts About Dogs.

If you're interested in being featured on Pet Blogs United, send an e-mail to PBU at Comcast dot net

The AKC Eukanuba Dog Show Live

2011-12-17T19:21:00.002-05:00

If any of you are following, I'm at the AKC Eukanuba Dogshow ringside. I'll be tweeting at @petblogsunited. This is so exciting!

Custom Pet Portrait by LesElegantes Enter To Win

2011-12-13T12:00:00.001-05:00

I am so sorry that our Holiday Happenings Posts have not come as they should. My cable company is having trouble & my inernet has been intermittent.

Today the Amazing Etsy vendor LesElegantes is our giveaway sponsor. These amazing works of animal art are just super-cool!

Well one lucky winner, will win a gift certificate allowing you to get a custom portrait of your pet!

And I'm happy to tell you that this contest is open worldwide!

The idea of Holiday Happenings on Pet Blogs United is as a way for Oskar & I to give back to all of our readers who welcome us into your homes and leave us great comments & feedback.

I'm preparing to leave for the ACK Eukanuba National Championship so stay tuned for live blogging ringside and tons of great behind the scenes fun!

Now click over to try & win this great gift.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stuffed Plush Cat From CatCalls Enter To Win

2011-12-12T19:15:00.001-05:00

CatCalls is a fun Etsy vendor who would like to offer an adorable stuffed cat to one of our readers.

This would make an adorable gift! This giveaway is open to USA & Canada only.

DogBarks, CatCalls sister shop is also having a giveaway here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Stuffed Dog Toy From Dogbarks Enter To Win!

2011-12-12T10:40:00.000-05:00

Esty vendor, Dogbarks has a fun stocking stuffer for the dog lover in your household!

These guys are fun and fabulous!

One lucky winner will recieve a plush dog of your own! This contest is open to USA & Canada only.

CatCalls, DogBarks sister shop is also giving away a stuffed cat here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alfies Blog Featured Blogger

2011-12-10T10:18:00.001-05:00

Our featured blogger this week is Alfie!

Hi My name is Alfie, and I'm a 13 month old Entlebucher Mountain Dog. I live in London with my two humans, and as a very clever and inquisitive youngster, I see it as my duty to educate them in all things dog.

What My Blog is all about: I like to blog about anything that I’ve seen or sniffed that could help other dogs and puppies out there. For example, when I was a little puppy I invented the Sock Game and set the rules for how to play it, showing other puppies how to steal socks at any time and in any location (it is not as easy at it might seem!). I also give other dogs out there advice on how to get their humans involved in more games and play, and one day I woke up and invented an instant sliming method for dogs. Sometimes I like to bark about Entlebucher Mountain Dog Stuff too. Every Friday I set a photo challenge in my blog hop 'Alfie's Friday Foto Fun' and lots of doggies join in and share their own photos. It is so good to hear from my friends from all over the world. As if all of this isn’t enough to keep any blogging dog busy, I’ve also decided I want to be a shop keeper and I’ve opened my very own dog shop online, where I sell some of my favourite toys and goodies.

About Me There are not that many Entlebucher Mountain Dogs in England, so my humans always tell me I'm pretty unique. When I was younger, a lot of people mistook me for a Beagle, but now they always ask why type of cross breed I am. My humans love to talk about my breed, and they get lots of opportunities on every walk as there is always someone curious about my smiley 'Entle' face!

My parents Queenie and Leon met and fell in love on a beautiful summer’s day in Switzerland. After a short holiday romance, my mum travelled back home to Norwich and I was born in September 2010. I have four siblings, and we're all still in touch on Facebook. When I was eight weeks old I was ready to leave home and my new humans came to collect me and drove me all the way to London. Now I’m an adolescent, adventurous puppy in a grown dog’s body, and I spend most of my time looking for trouble so I can blog about it!

I wish someone could invent a paw sized keyboard, but until that happens, my human Linda and I work as a pretty good canine-human editorial team. I'm the creative brain behind all my adventures we write about on the blog, there is always something going on in the park or at home worth blogging about. Then, Linda helps me type it all up and she takes the photos too. In the beginning, I tried doing all the technical computer stuff involved in running my blog myself, but I kept chewing all the cables so now I've delegated all of that to my other human Jelte (his teeth are less sharp than mine).

I love hearing from other dogs and anipals from all over the world, so please sniff out my blog Alfies Blog and say hello! *waggy tail*

My favourite Blog Posts:

The Sock Game and How to Play it

Five ways to get your humans off the sofa - guaranteed results

My First Year

Thanks, Linda & Alfie

Everyone take a little time out of your week and go say Hi to Alfie & friends. If you're interested in being featured on Pet Blogs United, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

We will be featuring a couple more Holiday Happenings giveaways today & tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Fido's Closet Dog Collar Giveaway

2011-12-08T09:21:00.001-05:00

Today we are giving away a custom dog collar from the Etsy Shop Fido's Closet. We've worked with Fido's Closet in the past and have heard nothing but raves from everyone who has dealt with them. Look how cute!

With lots of adorable styles to choose from, Fido's Closet offers something for every pup.

Would you like to win one of these adorable collars for your dog? Just fill out the form & you will be entered in the drawing! This contest is open to USA only.

Hartz Angry Birds Cat Toy Review & Giveaway

2011-12-07T00:30:00.000-05:00

How would you like to win all of these for your kitty?

Here's Moe giving the Hartz Angry Bird Wand a try. It's cool because it come with a bird head & pig head so you can change it up.

She liked the pig head best!

The contest open to entrants worldwide, so click on over & fill out the fun form!

Hartz Angry Birds Dog Toy Review & Giveaway

2011-12-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

So I told you that some pawsome Hartz Angry Bird toys had arrived here for me & the kittys to review and giveaway. I'm sure you know Angry Birds is the biggest hit this season, so jump in on the fun with me

Today we will be reviewing & starting the giveaway drawing for starting with me & the dog toys.

I absolutely adore my Hartz Angry Birds Plush Ball. He's yellow & has a fun soundchip!

I haven't de-stuffed him or chewed off his nose or anything! I just love carrying him around and I dare my mom person to try to get him from me! I would have tried to ruin it or just gotten bored with most stuffed toys by now, but that hasn't happened yet.

Now just look at this fantastic prize pack I have for one of you!

I have really wanted to play with these toys, but they're all for you. My mom person says she will ship them anywhere in the world so click to jump & fill out the giveaway form!

Quilted Placemat Based On Your Pet's Picture - Giveaway

2011-12-06T10:48:00.001-05:00

As a second giveaway today we wanted to show the the incredible quilting skills of another Etsy vendor named Agnes from the blog Daschsies With Moxie and the Etsy shop of the same name.

I sent her a picture of Oksar & she sent me this incredible placemat.

It will not be used as a placemat, but as a table cover, cause it's too pawsome for Oskar to get messy! Look at this one!

Would you like to win one of these fashioned after your own pet? Click over & fill out the Rafflecopter entry form!
This contest is open Worldwide, so all of our friends can participate!

Hand Knit Pet Sweater from WagWonderWear Giveaway

2011-12-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

Today we are featuring a wonderful Etsy shop called Wag Wonderwear, Emma, the woman behind the knitting needles says, "These items are hand knitted especially for you in the heart of stunning Cornwall UK. Blended with a love and passion for pets and knitting I put all my years of creative experience in them for you so that you receive the special item you and your pet desires and deserves."

We are happy to be giving away one of these custom made pet jumpers, or sweaters, as we Yanks call them.

One of a kind and made to the exact specifications of your pet these are beautifully made. Since this prize is hand made to your pets specifications, this prize may not arrive in time for Christmas.

This contest in open worldwide, so click to enter the drawing!

Blanket ID Tag Giveaway - Holiday Happenings 2011

2011-12-05T00:30:00.000-05:00

Blanket ID is a wonderful, stylish way to keep your pet safe. With lots of adorable tags to choose from, this prize include the Blanket ID Tag, along with 1 year of monitoring.

You'll need to go to the Buy A Tag page on the Blanket ID website HERE to tell us what tag is your favorite in a comment for your first & mandatory entry.

Keep reading to enter this contest which is open to the USA & Canada only.

Holiday Happenings Giveaways 12/5 - 12/10

2011-12-04T14:34:00.001-05:00

>

Since Oskar & I started Pet Blogs United we have been blown away by the support you have all shown us, and now it's our turn to give back!

This post should have been up many days ago, but I am having trouble with Blogger putting up new posts.

We are please to announce the Second Annual Pet Blogs United Holiday Happenings! It's going to be 6 days of giveaways, December 5-10, for your pets, to say thank you for welcoming us so warmly.

If you want in on a little secret, there may be more than one giveaway per day, so stay tuned!

Each day will be a new giveaway, with many ways to win. Want a jump on the entries? Copy & paste the button above into your sidebar.

When the giveaways start tomorrow, you will get one extra entry into each giveaway. You can add the button anytime this week, but I will check so you must have it posted on the day that you say you do or I will disqalify your entry.

Grab a cup of hot cocoa & get ready for Pet Blogs United Holiday Happenings!

Sorry about the weird spacing above, Blogger REALLY isn't co-operating right now. If we miss any days of posting we will continue the giveaways past 12/10.

The Doggy Diary, Weekly Featured Blogger

2011-12-03T08:30:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone, I’m thrilled to be a member of Pet Blogs United. I am DogMom to four wonderful, quirky mixed-breed dogs: Gus, Buster, Hobbit and Abby. My husband, (DogDad), and I get a kick out of our dogs and often wonder what in the world they could be thinking! I figured a great way to find out was to provide a place for the dogs to express themselves. That place is The Doggy Diary. In the diary the dogs write about their thoughts, observances, dreams and prayers.

Gus

Gus is a 12 1/2-year-old sweet and gentle tri-colored mix of possibly shepherd and hound. He is full of love and enjoys napping and getting his back scratched. Buster is almost 11 and most likely a coonhound-black lab mix. He’s a smart, handsome and well-behaved fella. Hobbit is our funny little one-eyed guy. He's about 11 and is a mix of beagle, basset hound and corgi and loves nothing more than to be held. He also likes to push balls around the yard with his nose. And then there's Abby, our three-year-old princess who tries to boss the old guys around. She is a schnauzer-poodle mix and she's a little spitfire. Everyday is a good day for the Abster! We rescued all four of them and in return they've brought us joy, laughter and smiles. And, of course, sometimes with that love comes tears of worry, sadness and loss.

Hobbit

Gus, Buster, Hobbit and Abby each have their own unique personality and take turns sharing their thoughts and musings in The Doggy Diary. DogDad and I have laughed and cried as we’ve read through these entries. I hope they will touch you, as well.
Here are some of blog posts that mean most to me. (I couldn't pick just three!):

Abby

Hobbit: Hello Diary. Please meet my family.
Hobbit: I’m Famous!
Buster: Home, Sweet Home!
Gus, Buster, Hobbit & Abby: Goodbye, Huck. We love you.
Gus: Praying for Buster.
Gus: Thinking of the shelter dogs.
Abby: Counting my blessings.

Buster

In addition to "managing" my dogs' blog, I contribute to the Charleston Daily Mail pet blog, Cap West's Pet City.

I also have two articles published with Guideposts magazine:
Hobbit the Angel
GoD and DoG

Thank you for visiting The Doggy Diary!

*If you're intersted in being featured on Pet Blogs United, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

Helping Dogs With Travel Phobia By Hsin-Yi Cohen

2011-11-29T07:28:00.000-05:00

Does your dog drool or vomit in the car? Or does he dread a drive so much that he refuses to get in? Fear not – you’re not alone. There are simple ways to teach your dog to enjoy trips in the car.

Dogs develop a fear of car travel for a number of reasons. The most common is negative associations, particularly when the dog was a puppy. His first experience was probably the traumatic journey from the breeders, pet shop or shelter where he was wrenched from everything familiar, to sit in a “room” that moves strangely, accelerates, stops without warning and throws him from side to side. Not surprisingly, he gets nauseous – and associates feeling sick with car rides. In addition, owners are often advised to keep puppies at home until fully-vaccinated and so may not introduce car rides until well past the crucial socialisation period - plus those that exercise their dogs close to home will probably only take their dogs in the car for “unpleasant” reasons, such as trips to the vet. Dogs can also develop a fear of the car following a road accident.

To help your puppy, it’s important to start socialising him to cars as early as possible. Even if you are not going anywhere, get your puppy used to sitting quietly in the car, first with the engine off, then with it on but stationary. You can feed him tasty treats and praise any calm, quiet behaviour but ignore any whining, crying, jumping around and other excitable behaviours. Most of all, DO NOT comfort and reassure any sign of fear or anxiety – dogs see reassurance as praise and this is guaranteed to create a fearful dog. When your puppy is happily getting into the car and sitting calmly, start going for short (5-10mins) rides down the street and back. Gradually increase the length of rides and include “fun” destinations, such as the local park, a favourite friend’s house or even puppy school, so that he looks forward to car trips.

For adult dogs with car-phobia, the steps are very similar. Even if they have been in cars before, go back to the beginning and start with positive experiences in a stationary car. Feeding their daily meals in the car for a week can do wonders. However, if you’re actually driving anywhere and you have a sensitive passenger, it is best to avoid feeding any food for a few hours before the journey. For dogs that are persistently sick (motion sickness rather than anxiety), consult your vet for medication.

If your fearful dog refuses to get in the car, try enticing him with a very tasty treat (yummy human food he hasn’t had before) or even a ball game. Playing with your dog’s toys in and around your car will help to build positive associations.

People who think that it’s “cool” to let their dogs hang out the window, bounce from seat to seat or even sit in their laps while driving (yes, this has been witnessed!) are simply irresponsible and putting themselves and their dogs in danger. Dogs don’t have to do these things to enjoy car rides and having your dog properly restrained can go a long way towards helping him feel comfortable and secure. This can be in the form of a crate for smaller dogs, a doggie seat-belt or a dog grill for larger dogs at the back. Crates are ideal as dogs love the den-like environment and will feel safer enclosed. If you have a particularly nervous passenger, having a covered crate can help him relax. However, if your dog is not used to crates (or seatbelts), make sure that you gradually acclimatise him to time spent with these devices, using treats to build positive experiences, before you strap him in for a long car ride – otherwise he will simply have a new negative experience in the car.

Happy Driving!

“Hsin-Yi is a freelance writer specialising in pet magazines; she has also had short stories and poetry published and is working on a novel – when she isn’t wiping up slobber from her Great Dane! She is currently living in Australia with her husband, their Great Dane, Honey and their rescue kitty, Muesli. You can follow Honey’s adventures on her blog at http://www.bighoneydog.com/, which features plus-sized doggie adventures, fun photos & videos, as well as dog training tips & information on dogfriendly places, products & services.”

The Hartz Angry Birds Have Landed

2011-11-28T13:38:00.001-05:00

Oskar here,

You will not believe what's in the giant package that came to my door!

Only a box full of Hartz's brand new Angry Birds toys!

Angry Birds is the hottest thing this Christmas and I've got them to give away.

Hartz sent us some amazing Angry Birds loot for both cats & dogs, so Chloe, Moe & I are going to give some of these a good hard testing and then we'll be giving some away to you! A cat pack & a dog pack.

And I didn't even have to wait until Christmas!

Check Out Tiny Prints For Your Holiday Cards

2011-11-26T16:10:00.001-05:00

We have found another great option for holiday photo cards.

Tiny Prints wanted us to share their holiday collection with you and I found a bunch of designs that I like.

I really like some of the less traditional cards like this one called Peppermint Streamers.

Since we've started participating in pet blogging holiday card exchanges, Oskar gets tons more cards than we do. Last year I decided to display them hanging around the room on twine with little clothespins that I found at a craft store. It looked adorable & I'll be doing it again this year.

If you haven't bought your holiday cards yet, take a look around Tiny Prints and see if you like what they have to offer. I know you'll find something!
*in exchange for this post Tiny Prints is offering me 50 free holiday cards. The views expressed are my own.

My Dogs Love Me - Weekly Featured Blogger

2011-11-26T08:42:00.001-05:00

Haopee of My Dogs Love Me, gives us some insight as to what it's like to be a dog owner in the Philippines. She has a true desire to help more dogs in her country:

Street puppies

Only a minority of people here treat their dogs the way you guys do. People here rarely visit the vets unless they have purebred dogs. I, on the other hand, am willing to spend a buck or two just to keep my dogs healthy and it's kinda funny how whenever I go to the animal clinic, my pets are the only street dogs/mongrels being attended to (most of the time).

Buchi, happy without mange

The first time I could proudly call myself a pet owner was when I bought my shih-tzu named Buchi from a breeder. I specifically chose him because he seemed so good and nice compared to his brother which was active and very playful. Little did I know that choosing him was the start of a grueling battle against mange. At first I thought it was dandruff or extreme itching, so I cut his hair because the weather in our place was extremely hot. But he did not get better and I felt helpless. Because he was still a puppy, mange soap was not a suitable treatment. It even came to a point that he was scratching his eyes against his cage which in turn caused corneal ulcer. I called the first vet and asked her what I should do about it and she told me to calm down and just wait for it to heal. Being the panicky owner that I was, I finally decided to go to another vet clinic. They charged me for a medicine that was dropped on his back and an eye ointment. These gave Buchi instant relief.

Twitch

Though this had been a long time ago, it was then I started posting. At first it had been all about Buchi, but now, I realize that pet owners in my country don't have that much knowledge about pets that we only rely on vets to help them.

Shark, died of poisoning

Aside from enjoying talking about my doggy experiences, I also hope to help fellow pet lovers with tips which are also applicable in my country for breeds, mongrels and especially street dogs.

Your Dog's Set Of Rules

My Favorite Dog Story: Hachiko

Poisoning- A topic close to my heart because our dog recently died of it

Stop by My Dogs Love Me this week and say hello to Haopee and the gang.

If you're interested in being featured on Pet Blogs United, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

Mike Arms Answers Your Questions Part 2

2011-11-25T11:07:00.001-05:00

Here are the second half of the questions Mike Arms, President of the amazing Helen Woodward Animal Center & founder of the Iams Home 4 the Holidays program.

Don't forget that for each comment you leave on this post that Iams will donate 10 bowls of food to an orphaned animal! You can also still comment on the first post if you haven't already & earn another 10 bowls of food.

Confetti

14. How can we make humans understand that just because the cuteness is worn off their pet- it’s wrong to dump them out. We all need to work harder to educate the public at point of adoption that this is a life-long commitment. That this is not something you take home and play with while it’s a puppy or kitten and disregard when it’s older. I feel we don’t do enough of this in the industry, and we really need to start focusing on it. I hope someday, we do not license pets, but license pet owners. They should go through an 8 hour class on what pet parent responsibility is, and not be allowed to get a pet until they’ve achieved this mark.

15. I am from the other side of the world but I believe there's no boundary to helping animals. We know adoption is the way to go in order to eradicate puppy mills. But in the meanwhile, what happens to those poor puppies in pet stores? Won't they get killed if no one buys them? :( It's really a dilemma. I have found many times, when these pet stores are going out of business because of lack of sales, they find it’s much easier and cheaper just to relinquish the pets to their local animal facilities. And that’s what we need to happen until all these puppy mills are closed and the pet stores become obsolete.

16. There are so many different niche groups when it comes to pet adoption; seniors, special needs, and breed specific all come to mind quickly. Are there any special groups that are particularly near and dear to your heart? I stay focused on major programs like Iams Home 4 the Holidays that encompasses all pets. I rule with my mind over my heart for the purpose of saving as many lives as I can—young, old, disabled, etc.

Cardinal

17. My question is whether you believe in the concept of a "heart animal" and if so, which of your own pets has earned that distinction? I have to admit that I had one pet that I strongly felt was my soul mate. His name was Trouble and he was a Belgian, Shepard, blend. He stole my heart when he was a puppy. He was closer to me than any living thing in my life. I lost my good friend about 8 years ago, and as I’m now thinking of him, I am overwhelmed with sorrow and the tears are in my eyes. I will love him forever.

18. I wood like to know if yoo've tride dressing cats in kyoot outfits to show them off and make them more adoptable? We don’t dress our adoptable pets, but we do come up with creative marketing ideas to bring more attention. For example, during the Royal Wedding we named two puppies Princess Kate and Prince William and held a ceremony of our own, which brought media attention.

19. What is the single most important piece of advice you can give to people who want to make a difference? If you really care about pets, and totally understand that we were put on this earth to share life with them, we can help by providing them with good homes, or by going down to your local animal facility and giving some of your precious time to help enhance the quality of life for them. Tell friends and neighbors who are interested in bringing a new pet into their home to go down to their local animal facility. Keep in mind, the best adoption is when the pet adopts you. So go down to your local facility and see if the love of your life is waiting there for you.

20. Have you got any connections with animal shelters in the UK? There are more and more homeless animals here due to the economy problem. We work with a handful of animal organizations in the UK, please visit this link to see the complete list.

Snowboard

22. My question is how do you suggest introducing "newbies" to the rescue community? I would take this as you’re speaking about people getting involved with the rescue community. My best suggestion would be to attend pet conferences, to meet the individuals, see what they’re all about, and explain to them what you’re all about to see if it’s a fit.

23. I would like to provide people the five top reasons they should adopt a homeless dog or cat. What five would you list?

1. You will have someone to tell your troubles to that will not be judgmental.
2. They will keep you company.
3. Having a pet helps in so many ways with health related problems; keeping blood pressure low, etc. 4. They can teach you the true meaning of love.
5. They can teach you the meaning of responsibility.

25. How can we get the point across that humans need to take on responsibilities and get their pets neutered? Education. It’s important that we all work together to educate our peers on the importance of spay and neutering our pets. Four million cats and dogs—about one every eight seconds—are put down in U.S. animal organizations each year. Often these animals are the offspring of cherished family pets. Spay/neuter is a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation, ensuring that every pet has a family to love them.

26. We’re in the UK but have the same problems with Rescue over here. We wondered what was the breed most commonly found in rescue in the USA? For the last several years, it has been pit bulls.

Butter

27. What do you think are the most important things that we should be teaching our fosters other than house-training them? It’s very easy to teach the pets we are fostering basic, good manners. To sit, to stay, not to chew on things they’re not supposed to chew on. But most importantly, teach them that the human hands are to be gentle with them, so they understand there is nothing to fear.

28. Do you think my idea can help generate more donations? I created the first all-encompassing 'breed' for mutts, the GenChan®. It's trademarked and all that stuff. GenChan is a humorous acronym for the genetically challenged dog. GenChans can get their Pedigree/Medigree papers, GenChan accessories and human garb. All the stuff purebreds have except for GenChan mutts and mixes! There's a lot more to this but from 30,000 feet do you think we may have something new here to help raise donations? I encourage all new types of promotions and sometimes things need to be modified, based on the public’s response. Here we know that calling our pets “blends” instead of “mixed breeds” has really started to make a difference. Keep up the great work.

P.S. If you want to know more about why I do what I do, just go to our website and you can read my story.

I want to say a huge thank you to the amazing Mike Arms for taking time out of his busy schedule to spend with us. Of course another thank you to Iams for donating 10 bowls for every question asked & 10 bowls for each comment here and on the first post.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T12:55:00.001-05:00

We want to wish everyone in the Pet Blogs United family a safe, loving & pet filled Thanksgiving!

Mike Arms Answers Your Questions!

2011-11-23T16:45:00.001-05:00

Mike Arms, founder of Iams Home 4 the Holidays compaign and president of the Helen Woodward Animal Center took all the questions Pet Blogs United readers posted last month & answered most of them. There were a few health-related questions that he wasn't able to answer, but here are the first 13 that he did answer.

By the way, by asking 39 questions, Pet Blogs United readers have raised a total of 390 bowls of food so far for the questions. Now we have the opportunity to earn 10 more bowls of food for each comment left on this post & tomorrow's post.

1. How did you come up with the idea behind the creation of Iams Home 4 the Holidays? I am proud to say that I've spent over four decades as an animal welfare advocate. When I joined the staff at Helen Woodward Animal Center in 1999, I was all too familiar with the pet homelessness epidemic and I wanted to do whatever I could to help find orphaned animals loving, forever homes. In an effort to encourage families to adopt from a shelter or a rescue organization, I created an adoption drive and quickly brought Iams on board to help bring greater awareness to the cause. Thirteen years later, the Iams Home 4 the Holidays program is still going incredibly strong.

Parka

2. Do you know if IAMS is sponsoring a similar drive in Australia? We have lots of homeless animals here, too. Yes, we work with nearly 50 animal organizations in Australia, to see a complete list please visit the following link: http://www.animalcenter.org/home4theholidays/shelter_map.aspx

3. Any advice for getting people to be more open to adopting older or special needs animals? Older dogs generally have some training, both in obedience and manners. Older dogs can also learn quickly what’s expected of them to gain and keep your love and attention. As for special needs animals, with a health assessment before adoption, one can take appropriate measures to address them and help with improvement. In general, all dogs are in need of lots of love and attention.

4. What’s the best way to get an adopted shelter dog used to your home when you leave for work? I live in a condo with an open concept (not really rooms to close off except the bedroom) and am looking at various small dog breeds that might work well in this situation. The best way to acclimate your new dog to your home is to establish a specific area for them. You can also try crate training them – it will help with potty training and will provide your dog a safe, comfortable place they can call their own.

Tessie

5. Any advice on ways to help animals displaced because of the economy and foreclosure crisis. I know this is a tough question, but so many animals are losing their homes and families. If you are having trouble keeping your pet, it’s always best to ask friends, family and your community before giving them away. People are always willing to help. If you can’t afford to adopt in the first place, but really want a pet, you can always volunteer to temporarily foster a pet, or donate your time or money to a local animal organization.

6. I just read on the HWAC site the amazing story of how you came to be an advocate for animal welfare. Can you tell us a little about what you did immediately before creating HWAC, what led you to where you are today and perhaps one or two of the most valuable insights you've learned from your years helping the animals who need it most? First I need to say, I did not create Helen Woodward Animal Center. It was a wonderful, best kept secret, that needed someone to help it grow and become a world leader. Prior to coming here, I spent twenty years at North Shore Animal League of America, and two years as a consultant for animal welfare. The most valuable insight that I have learned is to think with your mind, rather than your heart when running your organization. The pets already have my heart; I can only help them by using my intelligence to get them into quality homes as quickly as possible.

7. How did you get involved in your work and do you have pets of your own at home? I seriously got involved after a little dog put purpose into my life. I have 3 dogs and 1 cat at home, and any of us that have pets know that our dogs welcome us home, and our cats allow us to come home.

8. If someone is unable to foster or adopt, but still wants to help, what is the best way to do that? That’s a good question … even if you’re not able to adopt a pet, there are still plenty of ways you can get involved to help homeless animals. You’ll definitely want to visit facebook.com/iams and “Like” the page itself, various messages, photos, videos, etc. posted and in return Iams will donate up to 100 meals per “Like” or comment to feed orphaned animals. The page also has information about becoming a volunteer, look into making a donation to help pets or learn about other ways you can help.

Sleigh

9. Can you tell us what your favourite memory (animal related) is? Going back to that day on the street in the Bronx, when that little dog gave me purpose, will be the day that I never forget. Many of us go through life doing good things and being good at our jobs. I feel I am one of the blessed few that feels they have a purpose for being on this earth.

10. I would like to ask Mike if -- in his early years in the trenches of actually saving and fostering and re-homing, etc. the animals – did he ever get attached to any of them? Did he ever want to keep them for his own? I run into this a lot... You know there are so many times that we fall in love with animals. It could be the way they looked at us today, it could be the way they crawled up on our laps, it could be the way they snuggled our face, licked our hand, licked our cheek, all of these reasons, and many others, are the reason I fall in love with pets. But I know if I had too many, I could not give them the individual attention they deserve. So I need to work to get them into quality homes as quickly as possible. That’s what they deserve.

11. I could never do your job, if for no other reason than I would just get too emotionally overwrought. How do you (and those who work with you) keep going without completely burning out? We stay focused, and I encourage every day, to stay focused on the good we achieve. We stay focused on the purpose of why we are here. We work hard, but we never forget the reason for us being here, and we work as a team to achieve our goals.

Candle

12. I am wondering if Mike is a cat person or a dog person? I do not want my cat to read my answer. I find my dogs more loving and my cat more aloof. I am a total pet person.

13. What do you think are some ideas to help eradicate back yard breeding, puppy mills, and to show uneducated people that adoption is the way to go? The most important step is to speak out and show people the problems with puppy mills and back yard breeding. A great action to help eradicate this type of breeding is by joining your local animal organization. This will not only help educate people about back yard breeding and puppy mills, but it will also help push pet adoption.

Don't forget to leave your comments to earn more bowls of food donated by Iams for orphaned pets. 10 bowls per comment! And come back tomorrow to read part two of Mike Arms answering your questions.

* All pet featured on this post are available for adoption for the Helen Woodward Animal Center.

Along Came Rupert - New Blogger Alert

2011-11-22T14:44:00.001-05:00

Today we are glad to introduce you to ...Along Came Rupert.

"Rupert is a 16 week old miniature schnauzer who loves to play with his fuzzy skunk, do tricks for treats, and sing along with opera (or any other high-octave style of music). He was the only male born in a litter of three, on August 2, 2011, and is a very smart puppy that already knows a number of commands. He has a lot of character, loves people, and is very interested in every other dog we pass or see. He's doing very well so far with some of the more obvious puppy behaviors -- house training, crate training, and walking -- and we couldn't be happier with the little dog he's turning out to be.

The adventure with Rupert all began one day when Melinda suggested to Andre that they start looking for a new addition to their little family -- a dog! As animal lovers, the two both agreed that bringing a dog into their quaint apartment life would truly make their home complete. Setting upon their search, Melinda and Andre explored all options -- shelters, rescue organizations, re-homing options, and local reputable breeders. After lots of research, lots of decision making, and more than a little bit of heartbreak (with a foster dog that unfortunately didn't work out), Rupert was found!

After instantly falling in love, Melinda and Andre decided that they would chronicle their new life with Rupert as a way to keep their family and friends updated on his progress and their lives together. They had become inspired by the numerous engaging pet blogs that they began to follow when their search for a new family member had begun months before, and decided that a blog was a great way to showcase Rupert -- as well as a way to join a dynamic online community of pet bloggers.

Now after only 2 months, Melinda and Andre are loving the blogging experience that they have already acquired and the many people who they have had the benefit to interact with. They are also enjoying every day with their new puppy, and are eagerly documenting their experiences with Rupert to share with readers. One day, they were just a regular couple living a regular life. The next... along came Rupert! And they haven't looked back since."

You have to know we have a soft spot in our hearts for black miniature schnauzers, so please stop by ...Along Came Rupert and tell them Oskar sent you!

Please Read ~ Giveaway Problem

2011-11-21T12:31:00.001-05:00

We are having some technical difficulties!

I tried using a tool called Rafflecopter to host last week's Gift Guide giveaways, but there seem to be some problems.

Currently the Rafflecopter form for the Pet Convincer is on the H.L. Whitingham post & the Pet Convincer post has no Rafflecopter form.

I had sincerely hoped that this would make giveaways easier, and maybe it does, it could be that I used it incorrectly.

Whatever the case, if you had any trouble entering any of the thre contests last week leave me a comment here on this post.

The three contests were, ZooBorns Cats Book, Pet Convincer, or H. L. Whitingham Collar & Lead.

I'm so sorry for any inconvenience that this may have caused.

ClumperDumper Review Holiday Gift Guide Pick

2011-11-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

The ClumperDumper is a great way to change your cat's litter box without the usual hassle and mess.

You just insert the ClumperDumper into a container, dump the used cat litter into the ClumperDumper, and remove the ClumperDumper and dump the clumps.

The ClumperDumper is sized to fit into a Tidy Cat litter container, but you can use an empty litter box or whatever else is convenient for you.

It's easy to use, and I prefer this "sifting" method as opposed to being hunched over the litter box scooping out poop.

It's really a great idea and very simple to use. Whoever is in charge of scooping poop at your house will thank you if you get them a ClumperDumper this holiday season :)

H. L. Whitingham Collar & Lead Set Review & Giveaway Holiday Gift Guide Pick

2011-11-17T13:42:00.001-05:00

Today we have a beautiful review & giveaway for any dog lover, a high quality, beautiful collar and lead set from H. L. Whitingham.

We requested the Buchanan collar and lead for Oskar and it's perfect, the colors really stands out nicely from his fur.

I have to tell you though, the real story behind these collars & leads are the quality, the craftsmanship, and the fact that they are made in the USA.

This is a Christmas Day set, a dress to impress set, and one that I'm sure you will own for many years.

One lucky Pet Blogs United reader is going to win an H. L. Whitingham MacGregor plaid collar & lead set. Just like Oskar's, but in the pattern shown below.

It will be just stunning for the holidays.

I feel like this is kind of a short post, but there is just nothing left to say. Beautifully made, detailed and even packaged carefully, H. L. Whitingham products are just spectacular.

To enter the contest you only have to do the first task in the Rafflecopter. The others are just for bonus entries. We don't want anyone to think they are excluded if they aren't on Twitter :) And like the others, this giveawy is open world wide!

Quick Release Dog Backpack From Kyjen Holiday Gift Guide Pick Review

2011-11-16T17:50:00.001-05:00

Sorry this is late in getting posted, Blogger has been a bear these last couple of day :(

Today I'm glad to show you the the Quick Release Dog Backpack from Kyjen. I originally got a medium for Oskar, but he needed a small, so measure carefully. I can't tell you how much I love this pack. I think he looks ridiculously cute in it & it's really functional.

It's really easy to adjust & put on with one strap around the neck and two around the chest/abdomen.

A nice feature of this pack is that each place where there is a plastic latch, there is also a little padded circle of material between Oskar & the latch so it can't rub or pull fur. You can see it in the photos below.

With 2 zippered packs & 2 mesh exterior pockets for wet items, the dog can really carry some stuff in this.

Other cool features include reflective accents for high visibility, clips for harness and keys and my person favorite the ability to remove the weight of the pack without removing all of the clips.

Velcro keeps the top layer on & is easily removable for breaks.

Leaving only the lighweight body & straps and actually removing the "saddle bag" portion that carries the weight.

The Quick Release Dog Backpack from Kyjan is really cool and Oskar actually seemes to have a little extra bounce in his step when he wears it.

This is a great gift for any family who likes long walks or long hikes with their dog. Kyjen also has really cool dog puzzles, toys and some really unique items, so check 'em out for your holiday goodies!

The Pet Convincer Holiday Gift Guide Pick & Giveaway

2011-11-14T19:03:00.001-05:00

The Pet Convincer is a product that I 100% believe in. It sends a blast of air from a C02 cartridge and makes a sound that pets don't like.

Oskar loves the sound of his own voice & we live on a corner where there are tons of other dogs walking past every day. Oskar is constantly barking driving myself and the neighbors crazy.

Well Valdae, the Russian Dog Wizard, who you can read about in this recent interview, has come up with an easy innovative solution. You lean towards the dog, while simultaneously yelling AAAAAAAAAATTT and giving a blast with the Pet Convincer. It's just air & noise to startle them & get their attention. You hold your ground for a moment and then give jubilant happy praise when they stop doing the undesired action. Click here to see a video of the Pet Convincer in action.

This is also great for correcting cats from climbing on the counter, scratching up furniture, etc. Vladae says that many people also use it for protection from dogs attack on the street and even against Coyotes.

After using it on Oskar several times, I can tell you today that all it takes is for me to keep him from barking is give him an AAAAAAAAAATT sound or show him the convincer, if he even barks at people. Today he hasn't barked at any dogs walking past!

Also making sure your pet is stimulated physically, mentally & socially are going to help behavior problems obviously :)

I have one of these magic wands, as Vladae calls them, for one of my lucky readers.

If you don't win, and you order a Pet Convincer for yourself order a couple of extra cartridges to go with it, because they do tend to run out pretty fast. That is the only minor drawback that I have found with this product. It's definitely a keeper in my world.

Good luck!

PS - only the first entry is mandatory. You can still enter if you don't have Twitter :)

EzyDog Chest Plate Harness Holiday Gift Guide Pick

2011-11-14T10:59:00.001-05:00

The EzyDog Chest Plate Harness is a fantastic way to walk your dog and keep him safe in the car.

"It's padded EVA chest support is easy to adjust and your dog can be safely restrained in a vehicle with the minimum of fuss by using the detachable, swivelling car restraint" is what the catalog says and I agree on all counts. It's very well thought out and manufactured, in my opinion.

Putting it on & adjusting it for the first time.

Oskar, who badly needs a hair cut, still looks excessively handsome in his EzyDog harness. We went for a walk and it really gave me good control of him, while still being very comfortable for him.

Then we tried out the brilliant car restraint that comes with every Chest Plate Harness.

You can see it more clearly demonstrated here:

With sizes to fit dogs from 4 lbs. to 77+ lbs. the EzyDog Chest Plate Harness would be great for most any dog, especially those with active lifestyles.

EzyDog has a wide array of products from innovative leashes to beautiful warm winter coats, that would be perfect holiday gifts for any dog or dog lover!

*I was sent an EzyDog Chest Plate Harness for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Urgent Help Needed For Senior Mancat is SC - Courtesy of Brian's Home

2011-11-14T09:26:00.001-05:00

Please, please, please, if you know anyone in or around Greenville, SC please share this with them, or anyone else that might be able to help.

Y’all know how many times I’ve mentioned our friend Jenna. She is the one who saved my Sister Dolly, my Sister Precious, Little Bit, Selina (aka Faith) and so many more. Jenna needs our assistance in helping a senior mancat in her neighborhood. Jenna has so many critters she cares for, she just can’t help this guy.

Jenna tells me this senior gentleman is about 9 years old, and his name too is Cobie. He is all black and huge, road hard and put up wet if you know what I mean. His ears are chewed, but he was tested and was okay. He is neutered and needs shots updates, but had them a couple of years ago when Jenna took him to the Vet.

Jenna says that she lives in a very low class neighborhood with a lot of foreclosures in the $90,000 range. His owners were very cruel to him and have told Jenna to her face they no longer want him. He is the street cryer. He walks with everyone that goes by and cries out for attention and pets. He looks in people’s doors and is dying to go inside. He does not live near Jenna, per se, but used to live several streets away. Jenna has rehomed him 8 times and every time the people will feed him then move away. Jenna has made styrofoam boxes lined with bedding for people’s porches only to have them thrown away. She made one just last week and he continues to sit in it at the last house that was foreclosed upon, where he still sits for food every day. Jenna puts food and water out twice a day but Jenna is also moving and it is killing her about what to do with this poor old kitty.

He just needs to have a place to be warm. Everyone loves him but is not even committed to putting a little food out for him, even though Jenna has offered to purchase the food for them. The fear is as he gets older he is becoming slower and loves the warmth summer provides. but the winters can be very cold here. Jenna has knocked on 15 doors to date, and talked to this many people only to have them say, sorry not interested.

Jenna says he just breaks her heart and she prays for him each and every night as she goes to bed, praying that someone will open their home to him or feed him or whatever. He is very affectionate, albeit he is a little dominant around other cats, but that could change given the right environment and attention. He could be outside, if he had a warm place to go to be fed on a regular basis and if he were sick could be taken to the vet or euthansized so he would not have to suffer.

If you can help, or know someone who can, please email me at brianfrum (at) gmail (dot) com. This senior gentlemancat really needs our help.

*We'd like to thank Brian for sharing this story with us.  Please hit the tweet button at the bottom of the post if you are on Twitter to share with as many of your friends as you can.

We'll be posting our Holiday Gift Guide Pick for today shortly & don't forget the Zooborns CATS! book that we are giving away here. It would make a perfect stocking stuffer :)

Zooborns CATS Review & Giveaway - Holiday Gift Guide Pick

2011-11-12T23:59:00.000-05:00

As the first of our Holiday Gift Guide Picks, we are hilighting Zooborns CATS!
When we were contacted by Simon & Schuster to review ZooBorns CATS! we had no idea how much we would love it.

ZooBorns CATS! The Newest, Cutest Cubs and Kittens from the World's Zoos (for all ages)!

I don't care if it's your Grandma or your nephew, unless this person suffers from Ailurophobes (fear of cats), everyone will love this book. I really don't think that too many people who are visiting this site have Ailurophobia, though, BOL!

"The books showcase the newest and cutest baby animals born at zoos and aquariums around the world. Highlighting each baby as an individual, we include their name, date of birth, home zoo, and fun facts about their unique personality as well as the conservation challenges faced by their species.

Just as with the site, we seek to build awareness about the ways breeding programs at accredited institutions help support conservation efforts in the wild. Additionally, 10% of all ZooBorn's proceeds from the sale of every book goes to support the AZA's Conservation Endowment Fund."

You can purchase your copy of ZooBorn's CATS! from Amazon or Barnes & Nobel, but to possibly win you own copy, follow the directions for the Rafflecopter below.

Holiday Gift Guide Information

2011-11-12T23:00:00.000-05:00

For information on our Holiday Gift Guide click here.

Pandora or @Pandafur, Featured Blogger

2011-11-12T07:36:00.001-05:00

This week we are proud to feature the beautiful Pandora, or Pandafur as most people know her.

Thank you for inviting me to write about Pandora and her blog. It was so much fun to meet you on Rumpy’s blog and then to get invited to write here is such an honor.

Pandora is a silver tabby Maine Coon kitty, she is a purebred kitty and her official name is Kitty Korner Princess Pandora. Pandora was born in a litter of 5 females and I picked her out special, she came to live with me at 8 weeks old, and she has been ruling the roost with an iron paw ever since.

Usually my kitties come from shelters. My dear Cookie lived with me for 15 years, and was 18 when she ran off to the bridge. I had wanted a Maine Coon and I wasn’t finding any rescues so I decided to go the breeder route. Pandora was a joy as a kitten, so playful and fun, and smart! As she started to get bigger I could tell that she needed more stimulation. Pandora was bored! So I decided she needed a friend and I started to look around at rescues - enter Mr. Boots.

Mr Boots is a tuxie rescue who we adopted at a Petsmart adoption event. He was around 6 months and Pandora was 1 yr old when he came to live with us. Ever since, Pandy and Mr Boots have been buddies. About two years later Ramses came to us via another rescue organization. Now we have a happy household of 3 young cats and one not-so-young cat-lady mom.

Pandora loves Mr. Boots and Ramses, and there are games and chases and fun times at our house every day. But sometimes Pandora needs more, she is such a smart kitty and demands entertainment and stimulating conversation. Thus, Pandora decided to start tweeting in January 2009. Pandora has thousands of friends on twitter and loves to chat, play games and pawty with all of her anipals. She is a regular DJ at #Nipclub on Thursdays and at the monthly #Pawpawty on twitter.

Through twitter Pandora is able to meet and interact with so many interesting people and anipals, she is never bored anymore. In fact, Pandora has so much to say sometimes that twitter isn’t enough, so she started a blog too at http://pandafur.blogspot.comot.com/. Here Panda can post pictures and tell stories and visit with her anipals that don’t tweet. I hope you can stop by and say hello to Pandora sometime, or visit her on twitter at @Pandafur.

Here are some of Pandora's favorite posts, in her own words:

This one cuz I hopes I makes noo furrends here who wants to come pawty on twitta

This one of mai noo catio wat we got fur moving from meowsachusetts to arizowna

An this one when I gots mai baby brofur

Pandora is quite the celebrity on Twitter and on her own blog, so stop by this week & give her some Pet Blogs United comment love!

If you're interested in being featured as one of Pet Blogs United's Weekly Featured Bloggers, you can drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

Want Your Pet Blog Front & Center?

2011-11-11T09:20:00.000-05:00

Hi friends,

Oskar & I wanted to make sure that you all know that the reason Pet Blogs United exists is to bring traffic to your pet blog. Cats, dogs, guinea pigs, or any other animal blog will do :)

With our Weekly Featured Blogger for more established blogs & our New Blogger Alert to introduce you, you can count on getting some extra readers from being in our spotlight.

Do you have a pet product that you'd like to introduce to our readers? I have a dog & 2 cats that we can test your product on & we love to do review & giveaways to our readers. We do not, however, review pet food, my pets all eat Iams & I don't want to disrupt their eating habits, but we'd love to try out your treats!

Is there a subject that you're knowledgeable that our readers would find interesting? You could be in a Talky Tuesday interview or possibly write a guest post for us.

As a pet blogger, this is your place to find new friends and have your moment in the sun, so what are you waiting for, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net today.

Thanksgiving Catturkey!

2011-11-09T16:59:00.001-05:00

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Chloe is trying, and succeeding, at looking like a Thanksgiving turkey, BOL!

Holiday Gift Guide & Holiday Happenings Announcements

2011-11-08T14:17:00.001-05:00

There's a lot of exciting things coming up here on Pet Blogs United & we thought it was time that we spilled the beans & spread the cheer!

We've tried some really great products lately & next week we'll be sharing our ideas for holiday gifts with you. There will even be a few giveaways thrown in for fun.

If you're interested in two extra entries for each of next weeks giveaways (there will be 3), copy & paste the code above to put our Holiday Gift Guide button on your side bar and leave me a comment telling me that you did so. You must post the button before 11/12 to recieve exta entries. All 3 giveaways are open to worldwide entrants:)

Then when the giveaways start you will get two extra entries into each giveaway. I'll let you know how that works when the time comes. I will verify that you have the button in your sidebar before 11/12, so make sure you post it before you leave your comment here.

And just be warned that we are working on our second annual Holiday Happenings with 6 days of giveaways, to thank you for being a part of the Pet Blogs United community.

The Holidays are looking cheery and bright here at PBU!

5 Questions With Peggy Frezon Author Of Dieting With My Dog

2011-11-08T07:27:00.000-05:00

Today we are talking with Peggy Frezon. A great blogging buddy, Peggy & her beloved Kelly have witten the book, Dieting With My Dog.
Hi Peggy,

First can you tell us a little about yourself & Kelly? I write full time for Guideposts magazine, and contribute to Chicken Soup for the Soul books. I'm also staff writer at Be the Change for Animals and blog at Peggy's Pet Place. Kelly is my office mate and fitness trainer. She's also a pawsome friend.

What made you decide to try dieting this way? One day the veterinarian told me that Kelly was a bit overweight, and if she didn't lose weight she was at risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease... and that's when I realized, those were all the same warnings my own doctor had been giving me! My sedentary lifestyle and junk food habits were not only hurting me, they were also affecting my dog. So it was up to me to change, for both of us.

Was it your intent to include Kelly in this, or did it just end up working out that way? At first the diet was for her, to help her get healthy. Then, she was the one who ended up motivating me to lose weight too.

When did the concept for the book come along? I wrote an article about it called The Doggy Diet for Guideposts magazine. I got such a big response, I realized that so many other people struggled with the same issue. I wrote the book to help inspire others to lose weight with their dog too.

Is the book more of a dieting guide, the story of your personal journey, or both? The book is my personal journey. I share how I struggled with the empty nest and turned to food to help fill the empty places, and how I dealt with setbacks and obstacles along the way. It's also a story about the bond between human and dog, and how Kelly seems to know just when I need her and cuddles up next to me and lends a paw. She also pesters me when I'm working too long and encourages me to get out and take walks with her.

It sounds great, doesn't it? You can get a copy for yourself right now at Amazon, it's got a 5 star rating :)

An Upside Down World For Jake, Guest Post

2011-11-07T10:47:00.001-05:00

~Jake~

In my experience I have found that people give up their pets for the most trivial of reasons. I have also found that they give them up because they feel they have no other choice. Financial hardship, working two jobs, Jake alone for about 15 hours a day, and a daughter requiring medical care all contributed to the reasons why Jake's former owner felt like she couldn't keep him. She had asked everyone she knew if they could take Jake and as a last resort, contacted our county animal shelter. They were honest with her, and told her that because Jake is 13 years old, he probably would not be adopted and would be euthanized. They provided her with the rescues number and she contacted them.

This brought me into the picture on Wednesday when I was asked by the rescue if we had room for him. The owner was getting ready to go out of town, so a quick decision had to be made. Where Jake lived was practically around the corner from my office, so using that flimsy reason to justify taking him in, I agreed and picked him up after work. I felt very sad for the owner and we both cried as she said good-bye to him. I didn't tell her that I was the one who would be caring for Jake, but I did promise to let her know how he was doing.

~Jake's Paw~

As I mentioned on Thursday, Jake is not the most handsome of Goldens and his care has been neglected. He is tall, lanky and thin. His nails are really long and curled under, looking more like talons than nails. Added to that, there is a problem with his feet and he walks on his wrists. He has a very thin coat and his skin is visible in places including on his tail. There is also a large cyst over his eye.

~The Trouble Maker~

Meeting our crew did not go as smoothly as it has in the past. For some reason Todd had an issue with Jake. He meets new dogs practically each time he goes to day care, and I can only guess that the problem started because he was crated when I picked up Jake, and couldn't meet him on equal ground. The 'hostility' from Todd continued even after he was let out of the crate, fed his dinner, and played with. Of course all of this upset the entire household, making it chaotic and very stressful for everyone. I finally made Todd a 'Kong' and put him to bed.

Even with Todd out of the picture, Jake continued to be a nervous wreck. His entire 13 years of life had been turned upside down. He paced, panted and had several accidents. Jake had always lived as an only dog, walking on wood floors and not being allowed in the kitchen and never having to do steps. Our house is full of area rugs, dogs and he has to walk through the kitchen to get outside and down two steps. You can see why he was so upset and confused about what was happening to him.

~Jake~

Worn out and tired, we all went to bed. I'm not sure where Jake slept that first night. But the last couple of days have been better ones, and even Todd has gotten over his issue with him. We're working on getting Jake to feel more comfortable coming into the kitchen. He's still reluctant to walk on the rugs, and learning the steps is going to take some time. But he comes to us for attention and will sit next to me and and we're seeing tail-wags more and more. The last two nights he has slept on a blanket next to the bed--I think we're headed in the right direction.

*This guest post is from Kim of Life At Golden Pines. I thought it was such a wonderful love story that I had to share it.

Adventures Of Two Boston Terriers - Featured Blog

2011-11-05T10:58:00.002-04:00

Today we are please to feature Adventures of Two Boston Terriers.

I started writing this blog for my babies-Rider and Miley because they are just so much fun to write about. Since we live in a world that’s ever changing bad or good; they bring so much joy into our lives that I wanted to share them with the world. I turn and take one look at my pups and they always know how to turn a bad day into a good day.

Rider came from the Boston Terrier Rescue of Florida Inc. The first day he came home to us he was so scared. The foster mom told us he was shaking on his way to our house in her car. Look at him now-Happy as any dog should be. He came to us as Max but we renamed him because Max wasn’t a good fit for him. We do think Rider was abused at some point in time, but now he doesn’t have to worry about that anymore. Our boy lives like a king here in our house. Rider enjoys riding in the car, Jet Ski, enjoy walks, and hanging with the family. We sometimes call him King Tut just because he loves to make sure where ever he lays down he’s super comfy.

Miley is very energetic and full of life kind of dog. Who ever had her first didn’t spend the necessary time that she needed to expend her energy. Miley runs, bikes, and swims with us all the time. She’s such a smart little girl but bossy at times, so we do sometimes call here Bossy Miley. Our little girl, came to us from a very good friend of mine because she was a hard to handle dog at first. Originally, she came from a human society in Tampa and traveled to her second owner but then came to my friend who couldn’t take in another pet so we took her in. Poor girl, was bounced around about three times before she came to us. Miley is a keeper and safe in our house. We love her to bits and pieces.

They both are adopted and rescued so it’s a good feeling to know we saved a animal live. We are very blessed and grateful to have these two dogs in our lives. They have brought so much joy and happiness. Please enjoy their daily adventures!

Our favorite links:

Rider's Big Woofing Weekend

Rider & Miley's July 4th Weekend

Before Rider & Miley There Was Japhy

Please take some time this week to visit the Adventures of Two Boston Terriers. Tell 'em Oskar sent ya!

If you have a pet blog & would like to be featured on PBU, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

Training Tips 101, by Vladae The Russian Dog Wizard

2011-11-03T18:22:00.001-04:00

Walking - Don’t let your dog walk ahead of you. If he is ahead of you on a walk, he will walk all over you in all other areas of your relationship!

Loose Leash - Always walk your dog on a loose leash. Tension on a leash can cause frustration which may be taken out on other dogs or moving objects.

Supervise - Supervise your dog at all times. You must witness a problem in order to correct it and prevent it from reoccurring

A Tired Dog is a Good Dog - Fulfill your dog’s needs both mentally and physically. A 15 - 20 minute run, twice a day will serve your dogs’ physical needs. 30 minutes of obedience training will have a therapeutically profound effect on your dog and will serve your dogs’ mental needs.

Attention - You can’t teach a dog if you do not have his attention. Get his attention first before you give a command.

Reinforcement - Never give a command that you can’t reinforce. Mom Says ONCE! - Give a command once, then correct if the dog does not obey. If you repeat a command more than once, you will teach your dog that the command has no meaning.

Jobs - If you don’t give your dog a job to perform at, he will eventually find one himself and you won’t like what he chooses!

Calm and Assertive - Do not yell and scream at your dog when he is behaving badly.

Down Stay - Do a 30 minute down stay, twice a day. This will reinforce your role as the Alpha leader.

Arriving Guests - Before your guests arrive, crate your dog or put him in “place.” No one enjoys being greeted by an out of control dog!

Eating and Entering Passageways - Eat and enter all passageways before your dog does. Alpha’s always eat first and enter all areas first.

Attachment - Don’t let your dog follow you around like a laser guided missile. This behavior can lead to separation anxiety.

Love and Discipline - Always balance love with discipline and structure. If love was all that was needed, my business would not be thriving!

Tonality - Tone of voice is extremely important. A high pitch tone is a sign of approval and a low tone is a sign of disapproval. Your dog will clearly understand this.

Praise - Praise your dog for doing something right. Praise does not always mean you have to shower your dog with affection. It simply means you need to say “Good boy / girl” in a high pitch tone of voice.

Elevating Status - Don’t allow your dog on the furniture or on your bed. If you allow your dog to be on the same level as you, you are elevating his status and lowering yours. This is clearly not the way to establish yourself as the Alpha Leader.

Ignoring Problems - Ignoring problem behavior will not make it go away. Ignoring is condoning and condoning is approval in your dogs’ mind.

Corrections - Correcting your dog must have meaning. If your correction is not strong enough it won’t have meaning for your dog. If it doesn’t have meaning, there is no motivation for your dog to stop the bad behavior.

Behaving Badly - Dogs behave badly because they know they can and they don’t understand it is wrong.

Vladae Roytapel, known as “The Russian Dog Wizard,” is the owner of SoCal Dog Training - one of the most successful dog training companies in the world. He has worked for various organizations including leader dogs for the blind, the Red Army, and Soviet KGB. Vladae has been seen on CNN, CBS’s Late Show, and countless morning shows on ABC, NBC, & FOX stations across America.

To learn more tips and secrets from the Russian Dog Wizard, please contact him at http://www.socaldogtraining.com/

Vladae The Russian Dog Wizard

2011-11-02T16:54:00.001-04:00

This weekend, purely by coincidence, I had a phone conversation with Vladae The Russian Dog Wizard. He's a great guy who knows so much about dogs. He used to live here in my home state of Michigan, but is now in southern California.

The way I ended up talking to him is because I was calling a number I found for the Pet Convincer, a way to keep yippy terriers like Oskar from barking. Not just for dogs, the Pet Convincer uses air and a sound to break you pet from unwanted behaviors.

While I'm waiting for my Pet Convincer to arrive (along with one for a giveaway, so stay tuned) I wanted to tell you about the Animal Planet show that Vladae is working on, You Like The Money.

Vladae is a little crazy & the show is a little silly, but it's all in good fun. If you enjoy it click "Like" to let Animal Planet know what you think.

You want some background on Vladae? Well he's appeared on every major network, including CNN & even on David Letterman. You can read his bio here, and visit his media room here. I've watched many of the video's and they are pretty impressive as far as what he can teach a dog in a short period of time.

Check him out & let Animal Planet know if you'd like to see more of his show. Tomorrow I'll post some of his great tips!

Awkward Family Pet Photos Book Review & Giveaway

2011-11-01T08:36:00.002-04:00

When I was contacted to review Awkward Family Pet Photos I was thrilled. This is right up my alley. When they said one of my readers could win a copy too, I was in.
Written by:

Mike Bender

and

Doug Chernack

this book cracked us right up. My husband & I pulled it out of the envelope, started flipping through it & ended up flipping through the whole book, laughing at these unfortunate group of pets and people and then identifying with them just a smidge :)

On sale today, it would be a great icebreaker at any holiday party. That one gift that gets passed around for everyone to check out. Don't forget to leave a comment to win a copy!

"There are few things more rewarding than having a pet. They love us unconditionally, shower us with attention, and actually help us live longer. So, what can possibly be awkward about our animal BFFs? Well . . . nothing. In truth, we're the awkward ones. We adore our pets and treat them like members of the family, but let’s face it—sometimes L-O-V-E makes us go a little overboard. We give them middle names, throw them elaborate birthday parties, and make them a Christmas sweater to match with the rest of the family. Truth is, what they cherish most is our companionship. But maybe that’s why we love them so much—because for such a simple pleasure, they allow us to be as awkward as want."

How do you win a copy? Leave me a comment telling me who you'd give it to as a gift. Who'd get the biggest kick out of it?

If your e-mail address isn't in your comment and it's not linked to your blog than I'll have to pick a new winner, so make sure I can contact you if you win. This contest is open to USA only.

I'll close the comments on Monday, November 7th at midnight EST, and contact the winner on 11/8. Good luck!

Shutterfly Cards, Review & Giveaway - 3 Winners!

2011-10-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

Last year I discovered how awesome Shutterfly was for holiday cards.

You may know that Oskar has his own blog, and for Valentine's day I got him some great cards to send to his female admirers.

We also ordered our holiday cards from Shutterfly last year and loved the way they turned out. I have to mention how easy it was to order them & how quickly they got here. They offer tons of different layout options for you to choose from, or else you can just follow one of their pre-made themes.

With one of Shutterfly's great coupon offers, I even ordered Oskar's cards for this year, but you don't get to see them until they are mailed out! I will tell you I really love the non-traditional style of the ones I chose :)

Shutterfly also has a great selection calendars, photo gifts & greeting cards.

Are you a blogger? Want a chance at 25 free cards this holiday season? Register here: http://goo.gl/DDw7Q

Now for the best part! Shutterfly has offered me a giveaway of 25 free cards to 3 different Pet Blogs United readers!

We're going to make this contest simple, so here are the rules:

1. Be a follower of Pet Blogs United, with GFC, Twitter (@PetBlogsUnited), or through networked blogs.

2. Go To Shutterfly and tell me what kind of cards you would like to order.

That's it! Leave one comment telling me how you follow Pet Blogs United and which cards you like best. On November 8th I'll pull ~~a name~~ 3 names out of a hat. Make sure that your e-mail address is in your profile or in your comment, or you can't win.

Comments will close 11/07 at midnight Eastern time. Winners will be notified via e-mail and have 48 hours to respond or else a new winner will be chosen.

*Shutterfly is providing free photo cards to me in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed are my own, I really do love this company :)

What are you waiting for, the holidays are getting closer!

Luna, A Dog's Life - Featured Blogger

2011-10-29T08:30:00.000-04:00

Today we are pleased to introduce you to Luna, A Dog's Life:

Luna is very excited to be a Featured Blogger on Pet Blogs United. When we had decided to bring a puppy into our lives I was already sold on starting a blog for him/her, this was before I even discovered the numerous other bloggers out there! I used to think I was the only one! :D Originally we were set on getting a boy but when we found little miss floppy ears Luna our hearts just melted and we had to have her :)

My partner Antonio and I have both grown up with dogs and so it was only right for us to bring a little puppy into our family, and boy is she spoilt! The blog is a great way for us to show the world our little girl, and to connect with other likeminded people in order to learn from them.

Luna and I write most of the content and Antonio is starting to get more actively involved, so it's really great for us as a family. Luna is almost 5 months old but she is the most important thing in our lives.

I hope you can stop by and enjoy the stories of a little Beagle girl in Melbourne :)

A few of my favourite posts would have to be:
Our very first post: Coming home..
Top 10 treats to keep Luna happy...
Photos: Building a kennel...

Welcoming Your New Cat Home

2011-10-28T07:10:00.000-04:00

This article is brought to you by Wet Nose Guide, a nationwide dog care directory which lists dog stores and dog businesses for when you’re away from home.

The first day you welcome a new cat into your home is an exciting and joyous occasion. This is your cat's first day in a brand new world, and for you it's a new addition to your family. It's reason to celebrate, but it's also not a day that should be taken lightly. Welcoming a new cat into your home requires a bit of preparation to make sure that things run smoothly and that your new feline companion makes an easy transition to the new environment. Take the following steps to give your new cat a perfect homecoming.

1. The first step you need to take is before your cat arrives in the first place, which is to prepare your house for its new guest. "Kitty-proof" your home to make sure your cat can't wander into trouble. This means no sharp edges, loose pills or small, choke-able objects that your curious cat might find interesting.

2. Secondly, make sure your place is well-stocked for the new arrival. You'll need food and water, and dishes for both. Whether you're feeding your new cat wet or dry food, make sure to stock up on plenty of both. A litter box (and newspapers, until your cat learns how to use the former) is also vital. Also, assuming your new cat isn't declawed (which is a whole other issue, entirely), make sure to have a scratching post on hand for those busy claws.

3. It's also vital that you have a game plan for where your cat is going to stay for his first few nights in the new place. Remember that cats can be timid, excitable creatures, and it's usually best to keep them isolated in a relatively small place until they get comfortable with the sights and smells of their new surroundings. So have a room set aside for your cat.

4. Another vital preparation is in the event that you have kids or other pets that might be curious as to their new housemate. For the ease of everyone involved, give your cat at least a few days before introducing his new family members. And keep a close eye on any encounters for the first few days, at least. Again: your new feline is going to be intimidated and perhaps a bit erratic for these early days, so the idea is not to let him get too worked up.

5. Finally, once you've determined that your cat has grown accustomed to his limited surroundings for those first few days, open up the house and let him explore. If you live in a relatively calm neighborhood, exposure to the great outdoors comes next. Keep him on a cat leash for his first few trips outside, for obvious reasons. Once he's accustomed to his surroundings, your new cat will fall into the rhythm of his new life and you will fall into his!

Hate The Deed - New Blogger Alert

2011-10-26T07:42:00.000-04:00

Today we are pleased to introduce you to Trip & Kimberley of Hate the Deed:

Serenity & Trip

My name is Kimberley. I am a Senior at a great university in the midsouth, majoring in the Department of Communication studies. I plan on furthering my education, and attending Grad school, I am in the process of trying to apply (so wish me luck!). I live with my boyfriend and our 3.5 year old daughter, who is our entire world. We got Trip about 8 months ago, to save him from getting into the wrong hands. I was in love with him immediately, but the thought of his breed, a pit bull, worried me and so I did tons of research on whether we should keep him or find him another home. After doing a lot of research, and gathering information from both sides, I realized that if this dog is raised properly that he can grow to be a friendly family dog (In 1980, they were actually considered the best family pet).

Trip is a very energetic dog, that shows his eagerness to please us. He is VERY easy to train. He loves to learn new tricks, because he knows that means he gets a treat. He is kennel trained, and he is a house pet. He doesnt know that he is seen as a fierce and scarey animal, because he thinks he is a lap dog. He loves sitting next to people, and if you don't give him attention, he will sit his heavy self ontop of your feet or on your lap to make you give him the attention he is craving. He loves our daughter Serenity, and they play together everyday. They play chase, He loves dragging her around the house (gently) when playing tug of war, and their own version of hide and go seek which is really adorable.

I actually started this blog as a school assignment, but after I decided to do it about the dog, and trying to reimage his breed, I decided it is worth much more to me than any school project. I want people to get to know him for his funny and energetic and loving self, instead of the image that is given to people by the media and unfair statistics.

Thank you so much for allowing me to do this! :)

Oskar & I would like to thank Kim & Trip for spreading the word about what loveable pets pit bulls can be.

Please take a moment to visit Hate the Deed and give them some comment love. If you're interested in being featured on Pet Blogs United, drop us an e-mail at PBU at comcast dot net.

The Guinea Pigs Have Arrived

2011-10-24T08:30:00.000-04:00

We want Pet Blogs United to be a place for all pet lovers and bloggers to learn more about each other. Since we don't have a lot of guinea pig exposure here on PBU, I asked Angela Mitchell from
Guinea Pig Today to tell us more about these adorable fuzzies.

The Care and Life of a Modern Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs can be very rewarding animals to bring into your life, and with proper care and socialization, your guinea pig can live up to eight years as an active member of the household. You might be surprised to find the modern guinea pig's needs are quite different than what you would expect. Guinea pig pairs nap on fleece blankets, enjoy open floor time, and can be litterbox-trained, making these social pets clean and easy to handle.

These gentle rodents are not from Guinea and are not related to the pig. So how did they get their name? Nobody knows for certain, but perhaps they were mistaken for natives of West Africa and made sounds reminiscent of the barnyard pig. Their names vary in other languages as well. The German call them Meerschweinchen, meaning "sea piglet." The French term is Cochon d'Inde or "Indian pig." The Spanish say conejillo de Indias or "little rabbit of the Indies." Guinea pigs also go by the name "cavy," referring to the family Caviidae, where guinea pigs are scientifically classified.

Guinea pigs are naturally prey animals and require a lot of handling to overcome their instinct to run and hide, but they will bond with their caregivers. Cavies typically live in social groups, so it's best to keep a bonded pair in your home. With patience and care they can be very personable and can be taught tricks like making a circle or sitting up. Guinea pigs make a range of sounds to display different moods, and they jump or "popcorn" to show they are happy. Their cage can be lined with fleece blankets, which can be washed and reused, limiting trips to the pet store to purchase bedding. Unlike a dog or cat, their mess is contained within their cage. A healthy guinea pig will have small, dry droppings that can be easily swept up. They will learn a routine and adapt to your sleeping schedule. Don't be surprised if they welcome you after learning the sound of the front door or beg for food after hearing the sound of the refrigerator. You may find keeping fresh vegetables in your home for your guinea pig means you begin to eat healthier as well.

General misconceptions and outdated ideas land unwanted cavies in rescues and shelters. While guinea pigs are usually gentle, some will bite or "kiss with teeth." Families with small children need to take special care. The "Parent's Guide to Guinea Pigs" can help you decide if a guinea pig is right for your family. Guinea pigs are not low maintenance. They require daily supplies of lettuce and other fresh vegetables, fresh water, fresh grass hay, high-quality timothy hay–based pellets, and a stable source of vitamin C. These daily needs make guinea pigs a poor choice for classrooms, where they will often need to make it through the weekends and holidays alone. Guinea pigs need more space than pet store cages can provide, and floor time is essential to keeping your cavy fit and healthy. Many guinea pig owners choose to build their own cages or create homemade toys and treats. Cavies require veterinary care from an exotic vet, which can be expensive and difficult to find.

If you are considering acquiring guinea pigs as pets, please find a pair at your local shelter or rescue. Your local rescue can help you find a compatible friend if you already have a solo guinea pig, help you acquire supplies if you would like to build a larger cage, and assist you with guinea pig services like nail-trimming or vacation pig-sitting.

If you'd like to keep up with the latest in guinea pig news, health, and living, check out Guinea Pig Today. We celebrate the cavy lovers interested in integrating their pets' needs into their lives by keeping them up to date on the latest national trends and activities. There's a rescue map to help you connect with volunteers in your area. Join us on Facebook and Twitter to plug in to the guinea pig world.

Thank you to Angela for letting us in on what great little pets guinea pigs make!

MOO Business Card Review

2011-10-23T12:00:00.000-04:00

When I was contacted by MOO business cards to do a review of their pet themed line, I was thrilled. I had seem some of their cards before & the quality was really high.

The animal & pet cards have really adorable themes to work with or you can design your cards yourself.

I chose the Mucky Pups design & I was not disappointed.

They come in a nice sturdy storage box that even has little tabs on the inside for separating your business cards from ones that you collect from others.

The paper is thick and almost silky to the touch and the graphics are awesome. I wish I had a better camera to better show you the designs.

Moo has great designs in many different categories so do check them out the next time you're in the market for some high quality business cards.

Mariodacat - Weekly Featured Blogger

2011-10-22T08:30:00.000-04:00

Today we feature a kitty that needs no introducion. Ladies & gentlemen, Mariodacat from Mario's Meowsings!

This is such an honor to participate in your blog. We always just assumed it was strictly for doggies until you said something. Thank you so much for opening it up to we kitties too. I'm very happy to be part of your great community.

Mario actually adopted us 3 years ago. In fact, that is one of my favorite posts - see link at end of story.

Over a 48-year-span, Mario is our fourth cat. Because we are senior citizens and both have Parkinson's Disease, we asked our daughter if we were to get another cat, would she and her husband take our cat in the event something happened to us. Well, obviously, they said yes, because we now have Mario.

While we loved our previous 3 cats and 1 dog very much, Mario is that extra special cat that doesn't come along very often. He is extra loving and friendly to everyone who enters this household. When the doorbell rings, he's right there to greet people. Once they sit down, he'll hop on the first lap available, make himself comfortable (weather you like cats or not) and purr for you. Mario just charms his way into your heart, even if you are not very fond of cats.

We've been through a lot together. Three weeks after adopting him he started his first round with tooth problems. To make a long story short, before he had been with us for a year, he had to have all his teeth pulled. Another favorite post. He now uses his blog and the toothie story as a type of reference for any Twitter/blogger pal who is starting to have a problem with their teeth. We call him our $l0,000 moggie kitty.

Since both my husband and I have Parkinson's Disease, our future is bleak. But getting thru the struggles of daily living is so much easier with Mario around. He brings true joy into our lives. I can easily say he is the best cat we've ever had or could ever hope to have again.

I'm only listing two favorite posts from Mario's blog because they are rather long:

My Toothie Story - 3 posts in one and on it's own page for easy reference.

Life After Adoption - (The CallMeGraham story)

You might find my own personal blog, Shuffling Along With PD interesting, especially if you know someone with Parkinson's disease, have PD yourself, or know or have some other handicapping condition.

I have to say that if your a pet blogger or active on Twitter you're probably already familiar with Mario, but even if you are go over and tell him hello. He is one pawsome kitty.

If you're interested in being in the Pet Blogs United spotlight, and that includes kitties, horsies or any other kind of pet blogger, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

Pet Insurance and Drinking Water

2011-10-21T10:58:00.000-04:00

Pet insurance assists you financially if your pet becomes ill and requires veterinary treatment. You should take good care of your cat, however, by making sure he or she regularly drinks clean water to keep them in good health.

Pet insurance can be an investment in your cat’s future health, as your insurance policy can provide financial security to cover the cost of veterinary care.
Drinking water will flush the kidneys out and remove toxins from the blood; it also helps keep your cat hydrated and healthy overall. Cats can be very sensitive to kidney failure, so lack of sufficient water is a very serious problem. If your cat does have kidney failure, they may need intravenous fluids or a subcutaneous drip provided by the vets. This kind of procedure can soon become very expensive, and if your cat requires on going treatment for kidney problems, you will soon appreciate the financial support your cat insurance policy can give you.

You will get to know your own cat’s drinking habits, so allow your cat to drink water as she or he likes. Keep an eye on how much water they are drinking, and talk to your vet if anything changes or seems amiss. You can test your cat’s hydration levels by gently pinching the loose skin at the nape of their neck; if it goes back into place quickly then your cat is well hydrated, but if the skin is slow to recede then your cat may be dehydrated and at risk.

Cats can get water directly from drinking, and also indirectly from food. If your cat eats mostly dry food, they may need to drink more water to keep hydrated. You can always add a splash of water to dry cat food to help with the water content.

Cats tend to like to drink fresh water, so make sure you change their water several times a day. You may even find your cat will only drink out of a running tap or from a freshly poured glass, whilst other cats like automatic water fountains - however your cat likes to drink fresh water, be sure there is plenty of it!

Water will keep your cat healthy, but conversely over-drinking water can be a sign of bad health. If your cat is drinking a lot of water, it could be a sign of feline hyperthyroidism or feline diabetes – you should consult your vet immediately.

Company Profile:

John Lewis Insurance offers a range of insurance services selected by the John Lewis Partnership. These include car, life, travel, wedding, event, pet and home insurance products.

For more information about John Lewis Pet Insurance please visit the website John Lewis Insurance is a trading name of John Lewis plc. John Lewis plc is an appointed representative of AXA Insurance UK plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and eligibility criteria apply. A full copy of the policy wording and the insurance complaints procedure are available on request.

Donna Sword, Puppy Raiser – Canine Companions for Independence, Part 2

2011-10-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

Inga at graduation.

How many training dogs have you had before Yaxley, and will you continue on after Yaxley is returned? Yaxley is my third pup for CCI. Our first puppy was Inga IV, a lovely full Labrador retriever. She was a super intelligent and easily bored puppy. Inga could be a little stinker; if she wasn’t challenged with a job then she would simply find one on her own. With these leadership qualities (plus the happy fact that I must not have messed up too much raising the first pup) she was successfully placed with a young boy as a Skilled Companion Dog. We couldn’t be happier or more proud of her.

Number two is the mighty Micron, our college dropout. He was released from CCI after three months of Advanced Training. Micron’s bubbly personality (squirrel!) is just not suited to service dog work. As his puppy raisers we’re given first dibs on adopting him. I absolutely adore this dog and feel like one lucky chick to have him in my home.

Yaxley will be in the puppy program until next August. We’ll be looking forward to puppy number four around that time to ease the heartache of turn-in time.

What’s your funniest story about raising a CCI dog?I’m reminded of a couple of stories that fall into the “it was funny later” category. There was the CCI presentation Yaxley and I did at a preschool, where we suffered a miscommunication about Yaxley’s training as a Service Dog. This came out at the Q&A, but I just wasn’t picking up on the clues. Why were the kids asking to see Yaxley balance a ball on his nose and stand on his hind legs? Then a little later that morning I overheard a kidlet say, “Look! There’s that Circus Dog I told you about!” Forget Toastmasters; if you want lessons on talking clearly and slowly, just get feedback from a room of four year olds.

Another story is about a humbling lesson in dog behavior. I have an unflattering character flaw that encourages me to stretch myself a wee too thin. Silly things like overlapping puppies in training while working a full-time job. With three months to go before Micron’s turn-in to Advanced Training, we brought home puppy number three, Yaxley.

Mudpuppy Micron

We’re all out in the backyard so I can take the obligatory First Day photos of eight-week-old Yaxley’s adorable mug. Micron and Jager are playing nicely while I’m busy with the new puppy. Well, that’s where I was in my happy place mindset. The dark reality is that Micron was not very happy about the attention shift and had opted to demonstrate his displeasure about this new little roommate. And just like kids, if things get too quiet, you know it’s time to check on them. I find Micron blissfully exploring the restorative powers of a mud bath. Ugh, swamp dog. Oh, but not one to be topped, the otherwise fastidious Jager had found something rather squishy and very decayed to roll in. I don’t know who really won the contest for the Food Lady’s attention that day, but I was the clearly the loser in the deal.

Donna, can you tell us some of what you go through when you return the dog to CCI? And also when you meet the dog’s new owner? A question we hear as a puppy raisers is - How do you give them up? How, indeed. I’ve answered this before as “with a lot of pride, a box of tissues and a margarita.” But setting silliness aside, it’s hard thing to do because you just fall in love with these pups during the time you have them.

But looking over at Yaxley - this beautiful, intelligent puppy - I know this isn’t my dog. Never was. I’m in this for a reason.

Our first pup, Inga IV, is today a Skilled Companion; she was teamed with a young boy in August 2010. We met Inga’s new family at the CCI graduation ceremony and we were simply wowed by these people. For the last year, they have been sending photos and sharing stories of their new life together. They are absolutely in love with Inga. I drop a few happy tears every time I see that return address on an envelope in my mailbox. May these blessings continue.

Yaxley at Blogpaws.

I would encourage anyone considering puppy raising to attend a CCI graduation. A celebration is held at the end of two weeks of intensive team training of assistance dog and handler. The graduate is recognized on stage, and then the puppy raiser of their dog is asked to come up with the dog and “hand the leash over.” A little symbolic, but a very real experience. Last August we handed Inga’s leash over to her new boy and I have to tell you that there is nothing (nothing!) in the world like that feeling. We were but a small part of a life changing event for this beautiful family. But that’s enough for me.
How do we give them up? With the end in mind, that’s how. With the hope that just maybe, in my small life, I can make a difference to someone.

CCI graduations are open to the public and free of charge. The celebrations are held four times a year in each of the five regions. Dates and locations are on CCI’s website www.cci.org . Don’t forget to bring tissues; you’ll need ‘em.

Is there anything that I missed that you care to tell us about?
Thank you again for letting me go on about CCI. I want to invite your readers to check out www.cci.org for more info on the different service dog programs. Of course, drop me an email at jagerhund@frontier.com with any questions about my personal experiences with these fuzzy yellow pups. I can talk about CCI dogs endlessly. Or until folk start to politely back away from me.

We want to thank Donna for taking the time to share her passion with us so that we could share it with you. Do we have any readers who might be interested in being a puppy raiser?

Donna Sword, Puppy Raiser – Canine Companions for Independence, Part 1

2011-10-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

Micron at two years old.

Hi Donna, thanks for taking the time to talk with us. Thanks for inviting me to share my thoughts with your readers! I love talking with folk about my volunteer work with Canine Companions for Independence. CCI is a non-profit organization that provides highly trained assistance dogs to individuals with disabilities (other than blindness) – free of charge. I am a volunteer puppy raiser for this amazing organization.

When did you first hear of Canine Companions for Independence (CCI)?
My husband and I have close friends that have been CCI puppy raisers for as long as we’ve known them. This couple, Jerry and Jerri, are my heroes and mentors; they’re now raising their 17th puppy for CCI. But I will admit, as I’ve watched them work with these pups over the years, it was with a touch of envy. Puppy raising seemed like such an adventure, as well as a way to “give back” for the blessings in my life. I just wasn’t sure I was made of the right stuff to do this thing and I had to search internally for the strength to, well, kick myself into action.

Micron

And what made you want to become a puppy raiser? Did your job at Proctor & Gamble influence your decision to get involved with CCI? The husband and I we were going through some life changes; the tough loss of a beloved dog, then sending my favorite (and my only) kid off to college. It was a good time to take on some new challenges, I think. As soon as the kid was settled into campus life, I contacted CCI to start the application process. My son takes some kind of pleasure in telling everyone I replaced him with a dog, but in my defense, he wasn’t using his old room anyway. And it’s the perfect place to keep the dog crate.

P&G has been supportive of my volunteer work with CCI by allowing me to have the pups with me during the workday. I work in the Pet Care division - an incredible group of pet passionate folk, we are. We have four CCI volunteer puppy raisers at P&G Pet Care; individually we’ve raised twelve puppies for CCI. Truth be told, it’s our Pet Care co-workers that make things so much easier. We all work together to encourage good behavior out of the pups.

Our P&G Pet Care organization can boast of puppy raisers that volunteer for other service dog organizations, as well. And many are deeply involved in animal rescue work. We’ve got us some serious animal lovers here.

When did you start your blog?
Raising a Super Dog was a pretty humble affair in the beginning. I was a blogging novice and had created a rather vanilla website on Blogger in November 2009. Our second CCI puppy, Micron, was (and still is) ridiculously photogenic. He just can’t help himself, the poor guy. So, using the blogging platform, I started sharing photos and stories with the other CCI puppy raisers of his equally adorable littermates.

Then I found myself getting a motivation high from positive feedback from my friends, especially when they shared the blog with other folk to read. So now I’m hooked on it. I’m a Dog Blogger. But of course, I could probably kick the habit anytime I wanted to.

What are your training tasks for each puppy while you have them?
We’re asked to introduce thirty commands and behaviors before we return the pup to CCI to matriculate into the Advanced Training program. We work with the basic behaviors you’d expect from any well-behaved pet (sit, down, bed), plus more specific commands to prepare them for Advanced Training. Such as Shake (pup’s paw to touch the flat of my palm), which is a target behavior that will be used later for flipping light switches.

But really critical is the socialization the puppy raiser provides. We want to introduce these fuzzies to new situations during their formative months, with the intention that the dog will be accepting of any environment. I’ve taken pups to museums, on doctor visits, grocery trips, restaurants and to the movies. Anywhere a person would want to go. The pup needs to strut into any situation with a been-there-done-that attitude that allows them to focus on their handler, not the food scraps on the floor.

How long do you have each puppy before they return for the continuation of their training with CCI?
Just a short 14 to 18 months. It goes by so fast.

After matriculation, the dog receives another six to nine months of Advanced Training by professional dog trainers at one of CCI’s regional centers. A fully trained assistance dog will be at least two years old.

Yaxley's first day.

You have other dogs; do they understand that Yaxley has a job that’s different than theirs?
Right, I have a minimum three dogs in my house most days. Along with Yaxley, we have Jager (an All-American mutt blend) and the mighty Micron (our CCI release dog). CCI puppy raisers have a great network and we are always ready support each other, especially with the fun stuff like dog sitting. So, many of us could have six or more at a time. But as we say, after four dogs it’s not worth counting anymore.

Our family dog, Jager is nothing less than a good sport and has resigned himself to sharing his life with new dogs. He does seem to understand the interlopers have a different role than he does. We do insist on good behavior out of the little spotted dog, but mostly we just shrug it off. Because Jager is a rescue, my story is that he just showed up with all his naughty behavior. Hard-wired in his little terrier head, so to speak. I think if you asked him, Jager would say all he really wants out of this puppy raising business is a bowl of water without the Labrador backwash.

But folks may also be relieved to hear that the CCI pups aren’t on the job every waking hour. When the cape is off, they get to be dogs. These guys can run around and dog wrestle to their little fuzzy hearts’ desire. I just have to call cool-down time when they start knocking over the furniture.

*Come back tomorrow for part two of this great interview.