Kreativ Blogger Award

I am so excited that I can hardly contain myself! I am spinning and barking to beat the band! Why? Because a couple of weeks ago I received my FIRST blogging award!!!

I couldn’t believe it!

My brother Cody has received many blogging awards and always brags about that fact to me, but up til this award I have won NOTHING! NADA, ZIP, GOOSE EGG!! That is probably partly due to my Mom and Cody always monopolizing the computer with their feline follies but that’s a story for another day. All that matters is that I received my FIRST blogging award!

I am honored to have received it from a blog that I follow that is simply superb. That blog is called Roxy The Traveling Dog (click on the name to check out her blog if you haven’t already!) Mom and I think highly of Roxy and her Mom so that makes this an extra special honor!!

When you receive this award the first requirement is to name who gave you the award (check!) Then you list 10 things that you may not know about me (or Mom or both!)

1) I sort of gave it away but for those of you woofies who may have Mommies who like cats, Mom and my brother Cody have a blog called Cat Chat (you can click on the name to check it out!)

2) My Mom and my Dad were show dogs!! That partly explains why I am so handsome!! It would also be due to the fact that Shelties are just downright handsome or beautiful to begin with!

3)  My Mommy’s name was Tula, here is a photo of her that my first Mommy Sheila Ellis took of some other brothers and sisters of mine that were born way after me!

4) Whenever my Mom and Dad come home from ANYWHERE (even if they have been gone for 30 seconds) I run and pick up my favorite toy (my red, white and blue Dollar Store toy, go figure!) and I run around the room with it in my mouth while Mom sings “Hooray for the red, white and blue.” No one understands why I do this. I won’t tell Mom and Dad but I don’t understand it either!

5) I kiss my kitty brother Cody ALL the time! I love him so much

6) I live in Michigan

7)  I am an obedience school drop-out. Just call me a “Sweathog.”  (For those of you that might be too young to know that term, it came from the TV show from the 70s, “Welcome Back Kotter”)

8) I don’t like sleeping in a dog bed. Yep, that’s right! Mom has bought me at least FOUR beds and I want nothing to do with ANY of them! Cody ends up taking them ALL. Mom wishes she could find a bed for me that I would actually LIKE. She doesn’t know that I LOVE sleeping on the carpet either under the coffee table, dining room table or on the floor by the baby gate in the hallway.

9) I am a very loud dog at home but I am a perfect gentleman at the vet! I truly am! Everyone there talks about how “calm” I am. I have ’em fooled don’t I?

10) I have only had my blog since April. Mom and Cody have had theirs for slightly over two years. That makes me extra grateful for this award because Cody has THOUSANDS of readers and me? I have around 200 if I am lucky!! No matter what, I love each and every one of my readers and I am super grateful for all of you.

Another requirement when you receive this award is to pass it on to 6 other blogs. Well, Mom, Cody and I have a “thing” about that.  We follow over 300 blogs (yep we sure do!!!) and we can’t narrow it down to choosing just six. Plus, some people like receiving awards and some don’t cause they just don’t have the time to blog about it which is a requirement of getting an award.

So, if you read this and you haven’t had this award yet you definitely DESERVE IT and should grab it and make it your own!!!! Blogs take a lot of time writing, posting, editing, and tons of other stuff and anyone involved in blogging knows this to be true!  If you are a blogger I want you to have this and tell your friends that Dakota gave it to you with LOTS of BARKS, LICKS and LOVE!!!!

Advertisement

Book Review: “My Dog Does That!” By Elizabeth Parker

How many times as a doggie parent, have you been in the company of other dogs and witnessed behavior, everything from stellar to “I pray someone didn’t just see him do that”  and you are certain that YOUR dog is the ONLY dog who does that?

Well, my friends, you are WRONG!

Somewhere, someplace there is a dog (or DOGS) who do the same thing!

Whew!! I thought it was just me!

My Dog Does That by author Elizabeth Parker is a book that is full of light-bulb-moments and levity and is a  quick-read at 143 pages (I finished it within two hours), that will leave you nodding your head and saying to yourself (yes doggie parents are known to talk to themselves!) “My Dog Does That!!”

I am not going to cite every example in this book because frankly it will take the fun away from purchasing it and reading it yourself, but let me offer you a few examples of Dakota’s “quirks” and I bet you  that you will find at least ONE that strikes a chord of familiarity with YOU and your beloved four-legger!

1) He HATES taking walks

2) He barks at everything known to man

3) He eats whatever is within his reach, no questions asked

4) Dakota is a thief, he will “steal” whatever isn’t nailed down

5) Dakota’s favorite day is “laundry day” he will wait at my side pretending to be intently focused on me folding the clothes, he IS but it is because he is on-the-alert for a sock that just might escape from the pile.

6) He has eaten cell phones, table legs, CD cases, combs, and wood from the molding on our front door.

Nodding yet? I thought so.

To those who are, that is exactly what you will be doing when you read “My Dog Does That.” Dog lovers, you aren’t alone!!

Just today my husband and I were at my sister-in-laws when their Labradoodle started attacking the huge glass window in the family room accompanied by scratching, jumping and maniacal barking. Why? There was a man walking a dog outside…not overly close by mind you, just within the range of his vision.

My first thought?

“MY dog does THAT!”

My friends, the things that YOUR dog and MY dog do are the very things that this book is about. The moments that embarrass us, appall us, make us beam with pride or make us love our dogs because these actions and moments are what MAKE our dogs, well…DOGS and are what make them special, are exactly what this endearing book is about.

One of many chapters that I enjoyed was Chapter 3 “Follow The Leader” where Parker talks about three separate categories of dog behavior and what they mean. There is The Nurturing Type,  Nonchalant Dogs and The Immature Dogs.

I wasn’t surprised at all to find that Dakota fit the last category. Here is the description:

“this type is the equivalent of a two-year old child except that they never grow up. You may find that they continually chew things well into their adult years, or are consistently getting into trouble. More often than not, they believe their real name is “NO!” (In Dakota’s case HIS real name is “drop it!” or “TRADE!”)

“they are the fun dogs; the ones who seem to want to put on a show just to entertain you”

“at the end of the day they are the ones that usually need to be hugged, coddled, snuggled and loved.”

Another favorite chapter was  “You Might Be A Dog Lover….” and the characteristics that WE as dog lovers have that I bet you thought were just unique to YOU!

Well, they’re not!

Have I piqued your interest? I hope so!  Pick up a copy of My Dog Does That and somewhere in this light-hearted and FUN book you will find a description of  doggie behavior (positive or negative)  that will so strongly resonate with you  that you will SWEAR that Elizabeth has written about YOUR dog!

You know what? I bet she HAS!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elizabeth Parker was born and raised in New York.

“As an avid dog lover, I volunteer for a few dog rescue organizations, as well as donate a portion of the proceeds from all of my books to some that I strongly believe in.” 

Elizabeth lives in Las Vegas, NV with her husband.

TO PURCHASE “MY DOG DOES THAT” by Elizabeth Parker visit www.amazon.com, Kindle, or Nook. You may also purchase it by visiting:www.elizabethparkerbooks.com

ISBN: 146369881X

FOLLOW ELIZABETHat:  Twitter.com/golden_books andfacebook.com/goldenbooks1 

We  were not compensated for this review. We received Elizabeth’s books to read/review. All opinions are our own.

Happy Holidays From Us, To YOU!!!

Mom, my brother Cody and I would like  to take a moment to wish ALL OF YOU the HAPPIEST OF HOLIDAYS!  We hope that whatever you celebrate, you have your loved ones around you,  lots of toys to play with, good food to eat and good health to last you a lifetime!!

We are grateful for each and every one of you and we look forward to more fun times with you in 2012!!!

Barks, licks, love and HOLIDAY CHEER!!!!

Dakota, my brother Cody  and “Mom”

We are particularly grateful to Rosie, the beautiful, brilliant, talented and loving daughter of Priscilla from one of our favorite blogs:

EVA THE SHELTIE

(please click on the above link to check out their blog)

for creating our GORGEOUS

holiday card!!!

If you would like to enlist the graphic design services

of Rosie, you may find her HERE

FROM ROSIE: My name is Rosie and I am a freelance designer and a learning photographer. I started creating photo montages of my sheltie, Eva, during my free time as a hobby. I then went on to creating more banners for my good friends, and now it has turned into a small business.

I am self-taught and still learning, but I hope you enjoy my designs and please contact me if you are interested in having one.

Photo Montages are for everybody! Although most of my clients are breeders to advertise their kennels and successful dogs, I also create montages for pet owners and dogs that have gone to the rainbow bridge. Photo montages are very useful when advertising a litter, a stud dog, or a great win!

I have created many banners and website headers with all happy clients. I hope you will be one of them!

Thank you Rosie!!! We love YOU!!!!!!!

Caren, Dakota and Cody

Holiday Hazards To Watch For: Protect Your Dogs! A Guest Blog by Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital

 

It’s a wonderful time of year, full of fun, festive decorations, family and your canine family members as well! But this can also be a dangerous time of year for dogs. While it is an urban myth that Poinsettia are the most dangerous holiday item for dogs, there are actually many more toxic holiday hazards you need to watch for. The emergency veterinarians at VRCC Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital (www.vrcc.com) share with us one case and then the top things for you to keep an eye on in your holiday home.

 

 

 

Nicholas is a Bernese Mountain dog and you see his two x-rays after ending up in the E.R. at VRCC.  He ate about 15 feet of Christmas garland, which you can see on the x-ray in the light area under the ribs and to the right of the spine.  The garland was removed using an endoscope, snaking the scope down the mouth and esophagus so the garland could be grasped with a special tool and removed from the stomach. Nicholas was uncomfortable for a few days while his esophagus and stomach healed up, but he recovered and is doing fine.

 

Other holiday hazards for dogs include:

 

• Spray on snow/flocking, foil, plastic wrap/shrink-wrap, Styrofoam peanuts.
• XMAS Tree Food/Preservatives: If you are using a real tree in a plant stand, cut off access to the stand with a heavy tree skirt. Veterinarians at VRCC say sugar-based tree preservatives and tree food/water can harbor dangerous bacteria and a thirsty dog may decide to use the tree stand as a drinking bowl.
• Batteries: It may be great to have batteries for that new, cool toy but chewing or swallowing batteries is extremely toxic. Acid burns from chewing and causing a leak in the battery are common as well as cuts from the metal casing.
• Potpourri: The spicy smell can fill the house with a wonderful scent, but dogs can experience irritation and corrosion of the eyes, mouth, throat and esophagus if exposed to the liquid form.

Hopefully, these valuable emergency room tips from VRCC will help keep you and your entire family safe and happy this holiday season.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

A Thanksgiving Poem

---

‘Twas the night of Thanksgiving,
But I just couldn’t sleep
I tried counting backwards,
I tried counting sheep.

The leftovers beckoned –
The dark meat and white
But I fought the temptation
With all of my might.

Tossing and turning
With anticipation
The thought of a snack
Became infatuation.

So, I raced to the kitchen,
Flung open the door
And gazed at the fridge,
Full of goodies galore.

I gobbled up turkey
And buttered potatoes,
Pickles and carrots,
Beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling
So plump and so round,
‘Til all of a sudden,
I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling,
Floating into the sky
With a mouthful of pudding
And a handful of pie.

But, I managed to yell
As I soared past the trees….
Happy eating to all –
Pass the cranberries, please.

May your stuffing be tasty,
May your turkey be plump.
May your potatoes ‘n gravy
Have nary a lump,
May your yams be delicious
May your pies take the prize,
May your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off of your thighs.

May your Thanksgiving be blessed!!

~~Author Unknown~~

---

Book Review And Give-Away: “Awkward Family Pet Photos” By Mike Bender and Doug Chernack

“Awkward Family Pet Photos” c’mon, you know you have ’em!  There isn’t a pet in the world that hasn’t been subjected to a moment of “awkwardness” in front of the camera,  or in the world of blogs as we like to call it “the flashy box.”

My Mom and I were asked  if we would like a complimentary copy of Awkward Family Pet Photos by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack to read and review.

Seeing as we have the most dysfunctional family on the planet Mom leaped at the chance!  Me? Not so much. I shivered and shook in fear that once Mom took a look at this book I was done for. All this book would do for my Mom is give her even MORE ideas, more ways to embarrass me.  I wanted NONE of it! I lost. The book arrived and of course Mom loved it!  You don’t have to wonder what I thought of it!

Take a gander at some of these photos. There is a certain dog breed (that shall remain nameless) that makes a prominent appearance in a few of these photos.

"Family Portrait"

 

Family Color Coordinates With The Sheltie

Want some more info about this book? Here you go, here is some info from the publisher:

“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.”

"The Switch"

“Along with many never-before-seen photos, essays, and graphics, AWKWARD FAMILY PET PHOTOS features outrageous pet photos … including dogs, cats, birds, rats, horses, pigs, goats, and exotic pets such as reptiles, sugar gliders, ferrets, and monkeys. “

I have certainly  taken my share of “Awkward Family Photos”:

I look thrilled don't I?

 

See my expression in that photo above?  It makes me feel good to see that I am not the only one who must humor my live-in paparazzi  by indulging their whims!

GIVE-AWAY: Trust me, this isn’t my idea, it’s my Mom’s. She thinks you will LOVE this book. She said with the Holidays approaching the photos in this book are the  perfect fodder to give her more ideas for more opportunities to humiliate and embarrass me. She said if this is left on the coffee table it is a sure-fire way to get that weird Uncle of yours who hovers silently in a corner to open up.

Pet lovers!  Have a first date and feeling shy? Whip out this baby, you’ll be talking and laughing in no time!

So… if you have a desire to torture your pet, just leave a comment.  Mom and I will pick ONE  victim winner (as chosen by random.org).  The DEADLINE to enter is MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21 at 11PM EASTERN. (Yep this is a “quickie” give-away!)  The winner  will be announced WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23. This way it will arrive in plenty of time for your holiday humiliation to begin.

If you feel so inclined,  you may also email my Mom any “Awkward Family Pet Photos” that YOU may have stashed at your house! Mom and I will be happy to publicly embarrass you by featuring them on a future Wordless Wednesday!  You can email them to Mom at cgittleman @ mi dot rr dot com.

Doggies, kitties, snakes, ferrets, rabbits, turtles, (you get the idea) by all means keep this book AWAY from whomever is behind the lens in your den! Ya got it? Tell them to BACK-AWAY-FROM-THIS-BOOK!!! If they don’t, I just might be seeing you in the next edition.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Barks and licks and love, Dakota

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Mike Bender is a professional screenwriter living in Los Angeles whose credits include Not Another Teen Movie and the MTV Movie Awards. He is also a regular contributor to Esquire. Mike’s dog, Din-Din, had final approval over his author

Doug Chernack

photo.

Mike Bender

Doug Chernack is a professional screenwriter and producer living in Los Angeles who has created and produced shows for E!, Fox Sports, and the Golf Channel. He has been known to take his fish, Porky, on walks around the block.

 

AWKWARD FAMILY PET PHOTOS

By Mike Bender and Doug Chernack

A Three Rivers Press Paperback Original

 ISBN: 978-0-307-88812-9

www.AwkwardFamilyPetPhotos.com

www.ThreeRiversPress.com

 

 

 

“The Eyes Are The Windows To The Soul” Part I-Wordless Wednesday

“My Little Man” A Guest Post By Colleen Richman

Almost three years ago, I rescued a little chihuahua who only weighed 2 pounds. He was in Alabama and only a few months old. His one testicle did not drop so aside from being fixed he also needed to have surgery to have his testicle removed and biopsied. Sadly, this handsome little guy was unable to find someone to open their hearts to love him enough to pay for his surgery. Until I heard about him of course!

How could anyone resist that face?!? At the time I was working in law enforcement and had the ability to work overtime often. I knew no matter how much it cost me, or how hard I had to work, I was going to have this little guy and he was going to be spoiled rotten! I paid to have him flown from Alabama to New Jersey, took him to the vet, and got him all the attention he needed! Here is a picture of him when he came home from his surgery:

It warms my heart to know how safe he felt cuddled in that little blankey. Although he had all the toys in the world, he wanted the care bear that I had gotten from a coworker as a joke between me and that officer. I knew then, that Bullet only wanted my love and anything that reminded him of me. From then on, we were inseparable, and still are to this day! What also warmed my heart is that several months before rescuing him, we had also rescued an abused cat from a shelter. The following picture shows my cat Trent watching over Bullet as he slept off his pain from surgery:

There are times that I still can’t believe how lucky I am to have him and how special he is. He brings joy to my life every day and there is nothing more important to me than keeping him safe and feeling loved.

He was even the ring bearer at my wedding:

He is my little man!!!

From Dakota and “Mom”:  Colleen Richman is a special lady. Mom and I met her through her blog: “Welcome To CRichman Freebies”. Colleen features many fun give-aways  interspersed  with adorable stories about her precious Chihuahua, Bullet.

One of the things that Mom and I LOVE about blogging is meeting  people with huge hearts like Colleen. We thank her for sharing her story about Bullet with us and hope that you will stop by her blog and give her a warm woofie  “hello!”

Barks and licks and love, Dakota and “Mom”

Guest Blogger: Banfield Pet Hospital: Microchip Your Pet

As our practice has seen with many natural disasters, including the recent Hurricane Irene, pets are often left behind or lost during hectic times or even during the holidays. This is a common fear, yet unfortunate reality for some pet owners.

In a continued effort to reunite pets with their owners, Banfield Pet Hospital is offering 50 percent off the Banfield microchip system powered by HomeAgain, now through November 30, 2011.

According to HomeAgain, one in three pets will become lost in their lifetime, and without identification, 90 percent will never return home. At Banfield Pet Hospital, we are dedicated to preventive care, and that includes protecting pets from becoming lost or stolen.

Together, let’s bring lost pets home again.

 

Dr.Karen Johnson and her dog Webster

We received no compensation for this post. We were contacted by Banfield Pet Hospital and asked if we would spread the word about Microchipping and their discount. Since we had met Banfield at BlogPaws 2011 and I  have a microchip Mom agreed.

The woman in the photo is Dr.Karen Johnson and her dog Webster, here is some info about her!

Karen Johnson, DVM, is a 1988 graduate of Oregon State University and Washington State University Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, as well as Banfield’s vice president and client advocate. As a Banfield team member since 1988, Dr. Johnson’s role as Client Advocate allows her a unique opportunity to help and support clients across the practice dealing with challenging or difficult situations. In addition, she manages Banfield’s Hospital Audit Program for Excellence, a unique look at client service from the client’s perspective. She joined the practice directly after receiving her veterinary degrees from Oregon State University and Washington State University.

 

Thanks to Banfield Pet Hospital for guest blogging today!

 

Barks and licks and love, Dakota

Have A Happy Halloween!!!!

This card is compliments of Betty Commodore Gable from Facebook. She sent it to us, isn't it just the best!

Hope your day is full of treats!!!!

Barks and licks and love, Dakota

P.S. Don’t miss tomorrow’s blog post…we have a SUPER FUN give-away!!