NEW PET STORE!!!

Did you know Tillamook now has its own pet store?  Well we do it is located right next to Tangled Yarn on Main Street.  Currently it is painted hot pink and on the left so very hard to miss.  Maybe once everything gets set-up the paint will change…the former shop owner painted that color.  I went in and scoped things out and am very excited to say there are TONS of fun stuff and healthy food.  There is pretty much something for every pet (except livestock) in there.  Yes, there is even things for fish, birds and snakes.  I was happy to see the great food selection and samples are available….very important.  This means people that feed their pups Taste of the Wild can get it locally and no have to drive to Manzanita.  Some of the food I saw was Taste of the Wild, NutraSource, Evangers and Blue Buffalo they are still getting the food organized.  Did I mention the TOYS well they have several choices and this cool floppy one on a stick that mama can swing around that would be perfect for Ruby.  Maybe she would leave my toys alone then…hmmm.  Well you just have to stop by and see for yourself.  Monday – Saturday 10am to 6pm.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Ruby and I wanted to wish everyone a very Happy and Safe New Year!!  Something we try to do is leave the past in the past.  This is a fresh start and hopefully filled with more Goodies!!  I can't wait to see what the New Year holds for me (Ruby too) and all of my friends both humane a pup alike.

Taster’s Job is NEVER DONE!!

As many of you know my mama owns Cristina’s Dog Treats and I’m in charge of taste testing EVERYTHING.  Yes, I even taste test each batch mama makes even if I already approved the flavor you just never know when it just doesn’t taste to my liking.  This is a job I take very seriously….Ruby not so much.  I’ve been doing this well….forever.  I can be quit picky and I mean picky but not as bad as one of my predecessors.  His name was Kal and he was one of mama’s first tasters.  If he didn’t like something it went in the trash and that was just from it touching his tongue.  If he really didn’t like it he would go put it in the manure pile!!! Now that is brutal so my spitting them out is nothing. 

Ruby and I are subject to mama experimenting on flavors.  Yep we get to choose the new flavors your pups get to choose from.  This is far from an easy job; I mean some of mama’s flavors are crazy like pomegranate pumpkin with a splash of mint.  I actually watched Ruby to see if anything happened to her when she only took a nibble I sure as woof wasn’t going to try.

Some people call us treat snobs and me a major treat snob but I know what I like and don’t so it’s a complement.  I mean really how can mama say its approved if I ate anything I was handed…I saved so many pups from mama’s weird combos you should thank me.

There are flavors that I like that Ruby doesn’t which is rare. Today mama was working on a chamomile/lavender treat, Ruby wouldn’t eat it, it was okay but mama has some work to do. 

This coming year mama is going to have a panel of other pups to help decide which treats will be offered after they pass MY approval.  It’s kinda like those treat of the month club but ours is going to be called the “Paw Club”.  To begin they will get a sampler pack with some of MY favorites. Each pup will be able to choose the one they like to get every month on top of a sample of NEW flavors before anyone else can get them and a pack of one of our other flavors.  This way pups get to try something new and help mama decided which one of her new creations will be available for ALL pups to try.  When the pups get the sample of the ‘New’ flavor they’ll need their humans to fill out a little questionnaire and then return it.  I told mama she would include a TOY and have a couple levels since she’s ALWAYS creating something new.  Mama is thinking about it and I’ll let you know when she decides.

 

Holiday Wishes

Ruby and I just wanted to Wish Everyone a Happy Holidays and I hope everyone has a safe and fun time today!!

Today we delivered goodies to all our friends.  Now we are going to relax and enjoy our chewies mama got us.  I might even share with Ruby….well give her mine after she got hers started.  That’s nice right??? I think so.

We didn't get snow but today was filled with LOVE!

Oh Puppy Tree!!

Christmas is supposed to be a happy time of year but it can be dangerous to for us pups.  Many pups find it hard to resist the Christmas tree.  There are all those pretty likes, sparkly string stuff that you say isn’t a pull toy and those things that look like toys hanging all over.  Sometimes a pup can get into trouble by climbing into the tree, tip the tree over and maybe pee on it.  Many people get creative about how to puppy proof.  Our friends have a little one they put on the table out of reach….they have doxies so not much is in reach just saying.  On Facebook someone used their couch to help block then a baby gate across.  However, the pups could go over the couch or pull on the higher stuff.  Another lady puts all the breakable ornaments (that’s what she called them) and then plastic on the bottom.  We also have a friend that gets small trees in a heavy pot then hangs puppy goodies all over…now that’s my kind of tree.   When I was little mama had the tree behind the chair and NO breakable ornaments.  I was allowed to sniff and lay by it.  Mama used it as an opportunity to practice my leave it and since it was so fascinating she had me practice my other commands.  We also played a game of how close could I be to the tree without pulling stuff off.  If I was able to lie next to it I got a special chewy, if not I had to move a way and do something else.  I wasn’t allowed to be around the tree unsupervised which is a good idea.  The little hook things on ornaments can be a chocking hazard or cause a blockage as well as if we chew something we shouldn’t.  We can also get tangled in something; this can be really scary for us. 

Now that I’m older mama has the tree out but at night she puts the x-pen around the tree to block it off so there’s no accident. I like to sit and look at the tree and sniff it when it first comes in but that’s it.  Ruby on the other hand tries to sniff out our presents but mama doesn’t put them under the tree.

So here is what I suggest to help make the tree safer:

• Use ribbon or string to hang ornaments instead of those hooks.
• Keep the breakables out of reach.
• Have your pup do something to take their mind off of the tree.
• Don’t leave them around the tree unsupervised
• If need be block the tree off or get one for on the table out of reach.
• Use items that are safe: pupcorn garland (yummy), doggy treat ornaments...just some ideas

Have a Safe and Pawtacular Holiday!!!

Something Sad

I want to talk about something sad but it has to be talked about.  It can be supper hard on our people when we leave them and they get sad.  I’ve seen mama really sad when Jordi left us and even though him and Simba have been gone for several years it still hurts her.  A friend of mine is going to be leaving his family soon cause he is really sick and old.  I know there isn’t anything we can do about this, it just happens.  I think it’s important that our people know that day is going to come but not focus on it even when it is close.  Every minute is so precious and we need to enjoy it while we can.  When mama gets sad Ruby and I show her extra love or let her love and hold use until she’s not so sad anymore.  It’s also important that our people not blame their selves or feel guilty about opening their heart to another pup.  I know mama tried everything possible for Simba and Jordi but also tried to make every moment she had left count for something.  Even though mama would have loved to have kept them longer she knew they were ready to leave and she didn’t keep them. My friend’s family is doing the same, when he tells them he’s ready they will say good-bye.

Mama always says “they are never truly gone because the love and memories of them I hold in my heart forever and I know they are watching over us”

Are we really gone or are we just becoming angels to watch over our humans??

"They are never truly gone those that leave paw prints on our hearts"

It's My BIRTHDAY!!!

Today is my BIRTHDAY!!!  I’m now 5 so what does that mean???  Mama says I’m supposed to be mature, calmer and actually listen.   I think it means I’ve had 5 years to prefect the “I’m STARVING” look and believe me that takes A LOT of work, you have to get the sad pitiful look just right with the big eyes and ever so slight lip quiver and I like to add a little whine to mine.  You also need to know the perfect time to use it, like when mama has WAY too much on her plate and just doesn’t realize it or a yummy human cookie. 

I also got to go with mama to work for 4 years which let me meet all kinds of people and pups.  I also got to play on the beach almost every day mama had to work.  Sometimes with new or old friends or just mama.  I also got to go with her to the Farmer’s Markets she does.  This is really fun and I enjoy it.  It is hard to be good all the time there and it’s a LONG day.  But if I’m super good mama always buys me some yummy jerky from one of the vendors she knows.

I also have been able to try ALL kinds of yummy goodies.  Yes a lot have been ones that mama has made but mama believes I need to try new things.  Sometimes I like them and sometimes I don’t and I will admit there have been a few times I like something one day so mama buys more and then the next I won’t eat it!!! I had time to think about it and decided I didn’t like it after all. 

Most importantly this Birthday means I’ve had a mama that takes good care of me, wither I’m good or bad, and she LOVES me unconditionally and I’ve loved her back.  She shows me every day how much she loves me. 

I may be getting older put I still have so much more to do and explore!!

Take AMAZING Photos!!!

It's finally a little warmer so we got to play outside and mama was busy taking photos....oh boy.  Mama really isn't that good and she says its so hard to get the PERFECT pic especially an action on.  So she got smart and started filming everything.  That's right she takes movies ALOT but you wouldn't know with some of the AMAZING shots she's got of me.  After mama does all the filming she's going to the fun begins.  Windows Movie Maker is her fav. since she can go frame by frame and tell it to take still shots.  Then if it needs touch ups...I never need a touch up..she can use Photoshop to adjust the lighting or remove unwanted objects.  This is how mama got those great shots of me and Ruby doing some flying when we played with the ball the other day!!!  Mama loves this way to cause she doesn't usually have to mess with the flash.  Plus when she films her 4-H group or horse group the kids not only get to see all their photos but watch what they did.  They have gotten some really cool photos that could have been missed otherwise.  So next time try filming your pup in action instead of doing regular photos....we move super fast.  Here's a few great shots mama got!!

NEW CHEWIES!!!

CHEWIES, CHEWIES and more CHEWIES!!!! This is one of my favorite topics.  Since mama was a Dal mama for so long she is extremely picky about the type of chewies we get.  When most pups get cow ears, bully sticks, tendons we don’t.  Mostly we get sweet potatoes, lamb ears and antlers.  However, mama came across….wait for it…..BISON BULLY STICKS!!!! This means we can have them.  I have tried to tell her that I can have the beef ones but she says NO, so this find is really EXTITING for me.  I see all my doggy friends with their bullies and it would make me sad.  Anyway, mama got me and Ruby each one….I wouldn’t have shared otherwise…..to try.  Ruby wasn’t so sure to begin with but she might have had the other type before she came to live with us.  I of course took my time chewing it and savoring it.  Ruby did chew on hers and actually chewed hers kinda fast but did leave a little piece that I felt obligated to finish so mama would get us more of these.  Mama did say they were smelly but not overpowering like some other chewies.  Of course they got slobbery and could make some humans say they are yucky and do the ewww thing but what do they expect.  I was helping mama shop for more and found they are available in 6”, 12”, braided, small pieces, rings and even a 30” long one!!!  Oh my 30” of yumminess and mama wouldn’t hear a peep out of me for quit sometime.  Mama wants me to tell you that it depends on each pup as to how long the bully will last.  For me and Ruby it averaged about 40 minutes of quite for mama and that isn’t including my nap I took afterward.  These bullies are made in the US from bison grown in the US.  This is really good since some of the beef ones are imported plus mama is BIG on only buying US products.  We got the ones from Bingo Pet Treats  and are available on Amazon.

Sooo Yummy!!! I'm busy chewing!

Keeping Your Pup Safe

One of the worst things about winter is it get dark really early.  This means by the time we get done with our evening walk it is dark.  This can be scary and even more so if you live by a busy road like I do.  Safety becomes VERY important especially for use black guys cause we are super hard to see.  I’ve seen several pups without safety gear and one reflective strip doesn’t count.  I live right on the highway so NO fancy street lights here.  Mama tries really hard to keep use from walking in the dark.  We only walk a little while along the Highway then we go down a side road but people still don’t always pay attention.  Mama also tries to make sure I’m visible even in our yard just in case and I may or may not like to hide and jump out at her which scares her……I’m an ANGEL.

We have tried different types of reflective gear and lights for the collars but I either loose them or mama isn’t happy with the quality/performance. So this year we tried a new brand of glow collar and leash called Litey.  The leash comes in a 5’ length, 4 colors (blue, yellow, green, red) and 3 settings (solid, fast flash, slow flash).  The collar has the same settings and comes in blue, orange, yellow, pink (from the ones we found).  Now most people think red or yellow for safety which may be fine in their area but here it’s not going to get people’s attention.  Mama got me a blue collar and green leash, while Ruby got an orange collar with a red leash.  Yes, they don’t match but when we have them on and flashing people driving by take notice and several have slowed down and moved over. 

The other day I got my collar yucky and mama was able to clean it without worrying about the light stipe.  The battery pack and strip can be pulled out of the collar for easy cleaning then slid back in once the collar is dry.  As for the leash its actually pretty durable if pulled and jerked on.  Ruby put it to the test when she decided she wanted to go play with a kitty on our walk….she can be very naughty.  Mama is very pleased and it helps keep us safe so I’m giving it 2 paws up.

See how bright the leash is.