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!

A simple Puppy Wishs

Tomorrow is a BIG day for most people and pups, filled with family, food and goodies!  Today mama, me and Ruby are going to be delivering some goodies to pups that don’t have anyone.  We’re also going to go see some of the elderly mama regularly goes and see cause they don’t have anyone either.  This makes me really sad but I always feel better after seeing their smiling happy faces.  A couple of the people we see adopted one of the elderly pups, this makes me really happy cause they’ll have each other. 

One of the things I like best about this time of year isn’t all the goodies (even though they are good) but spending time with loved ones that you don’t get to see regularly and how so many people open up their hearts to help those in need even if they don’t have a lot their selves.

My wish is for everyone (pup or human) to have someone that LOVES them no matter what and to have a safe warm place to live.  That isn’t to much to wish for is it??

Well I better go cause our first stop is Nana Meg and she is one you DON’T keep waiting.

Oh, one more thing take time to tell those you care about how much you appreciate and love them.  It’s always nice to do that.

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"

No More "EVIL" kitty

Happy Day the ‘EVIL kitty’ is gone!!!  Mama’s friend came over early this morning and set out traps with stinky stuff.  He said it would attract the kitty and it would be REALY hard for it to escape.  Well mama and I went outside to get some firewood when we heard a ‘bang’ noise and screaming.  Mama went over to check and there it was in the trap…it was screaming cause it was so mad!!  I felt kinda bad cause I don’t like being caged but it wasn’t very nice.

Well mama called her friend and he came to get the traps and the ‘EVIL kitty’.  Don’t worry the kitty will go live on his farm.  He said this kitty is mean enough to hunt down those pesky rats.  I’m told that’s natural for kitties and I think it will enjoy that every much.  The traps also catch some other kitties that will get a vet check and go to a nice lady until they get a forever home.  Whenever mama would catch the other kitties she would call this lady and take them to her.  I call her the ‘Kitty Lady’ cause she takes care of stray kitties and finds them loving homes.  Which is really nice cause kitties need love too!!

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!!

What a Ball

Tennis balls, rubber balls, squeaky balls…….It is so hard to find a good ball to play with.  Ruby likes almost any type of ball, where as I’m not fond of fuzzy tennis balls.  I defuzz those and I break them quickly.  Plus some of the tennis balls aren’t safe for pups to play with.  The ones for that people game can wear our teeth down and they have a gas it them.  Not good at all.

Mama doesn’t let us have squeaky balls cause 1) I don’t like them, 2) Ruby goes around all day and night squeaking it……or until she gets distracted and it disappears.  Hehe I help mama with that trick.  We once got a Whistler from Chuck-It and Ruby actually didn’t like it nor did I.  Mama was able to hear it and she said it hurt her ears.

For a long time the ball that I really liked was called a Turnup from Ruffwear.  It bounced all kinds of places so you never knew where it would go.  I lost mine and mama couldn’t find another so that was a very sad day!  Then Chuck-It came out with a new rubber tennis ball.  I’m sure they had it before I got mine but we don’t get a lot of cool stuff around here when it first comes out unless it’s for the people.  Anyway mama got me one and we tried it out.  It’s orange with a blue strip so easy to see especially in the tall grass.  It also bounces really nice so I can jump after it and have all kinds of fun.

I’ve had mine for 2 years now and it still looks almost new minus the drool from Ruby cause I don’t do that.  Ruby likes to squish the ball in her mouth a lot and it has withstood that plus I sometimes like to roll on it.  Oh, and mama likes how when we play on the sand it doesn’t get all yucky……I don’t like my ball all sandy either.  Also, the drool from Ruby washes off easily and/or dries quick unlike those fuzzy ones.

I have the standard which fits in the basic type chuck-its, but there is a bigger one for big pups and I even saw a little one for little pups.  Plus they have chuck-it’s that fit both sizes which would save on the throwing arm.

I give my Rubber Chuck-it ball 2 paws up and recommend it to any pup that loves balls.

It's mine get your own!!!

I GOT IT!!

 

Best Mama Ever

Most pups can say they have the best mama or daddy ever but I think mine is the best.  She’s loves me sooo much and is really smart.  When I was little my paws got burnt and she knew what to do right away.  My feet hurt really bad and mama would soak them and use this stuff called Boo Boo Treatment Gel by Pal Dog and that helped sooth and cool my paws.  They healed within a month.  It helped moisturize my little feet.

I recently went after the “EVIL” kitty and got a cut on my leg.  Mama cleaned it and clipped the hair away then sealed it up enough to hold the cut closed.  Every day it got cleaned and doctored until it was all healed.   I had a bald spot but at least my tail helped hide it and the hair has grown back.  I was sooo embarrassed and really didn't want to go anywhere with mama if people could see my bald spot.

How I got my Family!!

I’ve been with mama since I was just 6 weeks old and I was very cute and fuzzy!! At the time mama was really sad because she had already lost two of her Dalmatians to old age (Simba and Annie) and Jordi was very lonely and sick.  Jordi hadn’t been alone since he was 1yr old and mama thought a friend would cheer him up, so they started looking.  Mama took Jordi to meet all kinds of dogs that needed homes and he didn’t want to take any of them home.  Mama had almost given up hope at finding Jordi a friend and was doing her best to make him happy.  A human friend had told them about me and my sisters so they came to meet me.  I tried to be gentle, polite and cute but that is so hard for a puppy to do.  Mama didn’t think Jordi really cared and was ready to head home when Jordi started pushing me to mama.  She asked him if he wanted to take me home and Jordi pushed me to the car!!  They took me home; I was scared and excited all at once.  What was life going to be like? Would they love me always?  So many questions that every puppy wonders.  My first lesson was not to potty in the house and not on the bed.  I learnt that lesson my first night when I pottied on Jordi’s bed when he grabbed me and drug me outside and wouldn’t let me come in till I pottied outside.  Mama said Jordi seemed happier and he played with me some but learnt not to jump on him and wait for my goodies cause he was scold me.  3 weeks after mama and Jordi brought me home he got even sicker and passed away.  Mama got really sad and I tried to cheer her up and show her how much I loved her.

That's me and Jordi

Thats Me!

Hi, my name is Nanqu and I’m a sweet loving Malamute though I don’t look like one.  My coloring is called a seal with tan points, which means I look black but my undercoat is silver and I have tan where most have white.  I may be small compared to other Malamutes but I’m just as tough and mama says mouthy but I just like being heard. Mama says my name fits me because sometimes I act just like a polar bear cub and my name means little polar bear.  I like using my paws a lot and sometimes forget to wait and charge through the house and don’t always use my inside voice.

Mama started this blog for me to share different things I’m doing, share taste treat recipes, product reviews and about what my mama is up to.  I live a pretty full life since mama is always taking me to different places and events, plus I’m the boss when it comes to mama’s treat business

 Cristina's Dog Treats.

At a young age I already took to the computer.  Wasn't I cute?

Not the center of Mama's world anymore

I was the only dog in mama’s life until I was 2 then one stormy night my whole world changed.  It was late and the rain was coming down hard with the wind howling when we heard a noise.  Mama got the flash light and went out to check when she came in so did this grey thing that was soaked, skinny, cold and scared.  Mama said this poor pup would stay the night with us and tomorrow she’d take her to the vet and see if there was a microchip or a listing for a missing dog.  Well no microchip and no one seemed to be missing a pup that matched this one’s description.  We put up flyers with a picture all over to see if we couldn’t find the family. Well she got sick and mama took the pup to the vet and got medicine for Salmon Poisoning.  I was worried cause the pup didn’t want to play or eat.  Mama took really good care of the pup and as the days passed no one called looking for this pup.  After over a week and no one claiming this pup and I was getting along well mama decided to keep the pup.  Ruby is what mama named her and said she was about a year older then me.  Ruby has been part of our family for 2 years now and I think she’s more bossy then me but mama says no.  The only problem is Ruby thinks ALL the toys are hers and is always stealing my toys and sometimes the chewings.  I don’t mind sharing some of my things except my chewy which I hide in mama’s bed….shhh don’t tell Ruby.  If Ruby takes my chewy I just get a toy and shake it in front of her then drop it in the hall.  She usually leaves to take the toy and I get the chewy!!!  Mama laughs about it sometimes. I’m one smart pup!

This is Ruby

She's always doing this. Me trying to look out the window and she has to come and look to!