paws from the trip

While we were gone, we had an opportunity not just to visit our human loved ones, but their four-legged companions as well.

First up, Lily, we we arranged for adoption with my husband's dad. He was uncertain about getting a cat, but we knew he'd be a great home for a cat. Lily wasn't getting along with other cats and was in a rescue where she didn't have a lot of space to call her own because of her need to be isolated.

When she first came to live with my father-in-law, she was a shy girl. Now, about 10 years later, she's as friendly as can be! She comes to cozy up to new people and doesn't even mind being chased by a one-year-old tyke.

 Gonna get that kitty!

Almost got ya!

I see her!

Can't reach....kitty too high!

Smart kitty! Just out of reach. Lily loves being queen of the house.

Little Baby A loves animals, although her petting is more like a grab at this point. She has a dog "brother" but I didn't get a pic this time, and going back through my old pics causes too much heartache because there's dozens of my now fur angels Zuki and Heather.

  

 Zoe, pictured here with Baby A is my aunt-in-law's dog, a dachshund. She followed baby A around while we visited. Baby A loves the dog crate and puts her toys in them. She also has been known to be found napping in the dog bed. I foresee this in my future if we ever have human kids.

 

Another cousin's dog is Zeus, a dog whose breed we aren't sure. Love his underbite. 

Here's Baby A petting Zeus. Zeus is a barker, but it helps protect Chris's great aunt who is home alone sometimes. It's sometimes a nice warning to have a bark and feel a little protected by that woof. (I'm starting to appreciate it from Ellie.)

The theme of this post is beginning to be babies and critters. This is my sister's cat, Sid Vicious, who is mostly sweet but does have a little mean streak in him. He's a bird hunter, leg crawler, and lap cuddler. Now he also has a baby in his family. I'm not sure he's too thrilled about that.

This dog isn't taken care of by anyone I know, but was spotted outside a vegan ice cream shop and I couldn't resist his cute face. The woman he was with just adopted him from the shelter and wasn't sure his breed and was going to get him DNA tested because he's so interesting looking. I almost wish I had gotten her info to know the results. Any guesses?

And finally, Layla. She seems sweet from across the room, but watch out, she's a hisser! She actually attacked my leg as I walked by. I want to love her and rehabilitate her, but she's just the kind of cat that does the best with just one person. She loves her human, my cousin, but isn't too fond of anyone else. She's a tiny kitty and was found on the streets of Brooklyn, malnourished.

 I'll love you from afar, Layla.

Many of my and Chris's family members have rescued cats and dogs. I appreciate that their hearts are big enough to take in an animal that has had a troubled past or isn't "purebred." Rescued animals are the best!

Giveaway: The Art of Racing in the Rain

the author and his dog

It's about time I jump started this blog back into action! I was away for a week and just let things lie not unlike the dogs on my couch. I promise not to let it go so long next time.

To get things rolling, I found an awesome book today that I've read and got another copy for one lucky reader. It's called The Art of Racing in the Rain. by Garth Stein. It's a heartwarming tale about dogs, family, and love. I think it's better than Marley and Me but if you liked that one, this one is sure to be up your alley. I got a paperback copy which has this cute cover on it:

Here's how to win

Mandatory: write a comment below saying something you love about dogs

Sorry US and Canada only.

Extra entries:
Follow on Google Friend Connect (on the sidebar)

Tweet about this giveaway using the link and @siennastaffie in the tweet.

Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post.

Winner will be drawn on February 1st at noon PST. Be sure to either leave your email address or come back here to see if you won.

max and ruffy's tasty treats

Taste the rainbow of doggie biscuits!

I had to hold off on reviewing these delicious treats because of Ellie's strict diet. Sienna wanted them but it was cruel to taunt Ellie. Well Chris and I decided that we'd let Ellie have some buckwheat (she hadn't been having it before), so she could indulge in some Max and Ruffy's. The pups have had them before when their auntie mailed them some straight from Alexandria.

The humans should love these treats because they are al natural and cruelty-free (no animal products). Many of the kinds are good for pups with allergies. The flavors sound a little odd like kelp and blueberry, but I can assure you even picky Ellie (who is becoming a bit less picky) loved them.

 

 

 The biscuits come in mini size for training or in larger size. A handful of them makes a good snack for when dinner's running late or a fun dessert for pups.

 The only thing I guess we wish is that none of them had wheat in them at all since I'm allergic and Ellie might be too. But we understand that not everyone is.

Thank you so much for sending us these treats to review Max and Ruffy's! You made some pups very happy!

delicious

I have been making some videos of the pups...now I just have to get my act together to upload them. Stay tuned.

"A Dog's Purpose" and the dogs in my life

 

I recently read A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron on my kindle. I have to say, I was a little intimidated of it because I didn't want to get to sad. It's been a rough year for me, having lost one dog and two cats (Heather and my parent's cat Sami), and I was sure the book would trigger something in me. But yet, sometimes you have to face those emotions.

What I liked about this book is that the main character (whose name changes throughout the book) reincarnates in different dogs after he passes. It is actually a nice way to think about what could happen when a dog dies. It was interesting to see him change in form, location, and have different relationships, with his personality and memories staying with him.

A philosophical pup he was, wondering his purpose in life. This arose after he had an opportunity to be with humans after being stray. I sort of wonder whether that need be a question that dogs really ask. That is a very human-like thing to ascribe a purpose or meaning to things beyond what they just are. I feel that in actuality a dog would accept life at face value. However Bailey (his name for the longest portion of the book) questioned as a human would, and it perhaps made the book more appealing to humans.

Another theme of the book is actually love. And the relationships dogs have with humans. I actually loved reading about his interactions with the other dogs the most. But, having lived with dogs almost all my life, I know a lot about the love between a dog and a human.

Because Bailey took different forms in his lives, I started to think about the different dogs who have come in and out of my life.

The first was Smudge (no picture available), an English Spring Spaniel. He was alive when I was born and died when I was just 4 years old. One of my strongest memories of him is of his burial. So death and dogs is not a foreign concept to me. I was unable to deal with the concept at that age and my baby brother was born just a few months later. It was a chaotic time. Smudge's life in my mind is more from scraps of stories my parents told about him, a wild city-turned-country dog who loved adventure and mischief.

Nellie

My sister-dog, Nellie, another English Springer Spaniel, was around since I was quite little. There are pictures of her and I when I was but 2 or 3 and she was a wee puppy. She was a wonderful dog. So protective of us, in a quiet way. I remember her just being there. She'd lay at our feet during dinner or watching TV. She took walks with me into the woods and later bike rides into town. She was allowed to do as she pleased, and had a lot of wisdom and strength to her.

When Nellie got old, I was unable to handle it. When she smelled funny I pushed her away and when she had an accident in the house I was repulsed. I was unable to care for her then and was upset with her for getting old. When she was put down, I was already detached from her, but it still hurt.

After Nellie died we still had the cat Daisy, the tabby, who was very independent (the cats in my life deserve their own post, and will get one in due time). Then when she died we adopted Sami, another cat. I had toyed with the idea of another dog but I was living with my parents, very young, and they had resigned themselves to never having a dog again.

Zuki

About 5 years later, when I found Zuki, the black lab mix it was a surprise. I had wanted a dog in the back of my mind, but never so strongly as that moment I saw him. When we rescued him from the side of the road, he was so full of life and love that it was impossible not to love him. He had a love for people but also adventure. But he was loyal. He'd always prefer us to others, although he basked in their affection, particularly if they offered food.

I could go on about Zuki for ages. I can barely think of him without getting tears in my eyes because our bond was so deep. I relied on him for strength, calm, certainty, and his dependence as well. In many ways I feel he was my "dog soulmate" if such a thing is possible. But I still have more love to give a dog and will not cut my heart off to the species.

Sienna

Sienna, a pit bull mix, came into my life shortly after Zuki did. She's a spunky little girl who was needy in a way I'd never known another dog to be. You could feel the baggage she carried from her past life before us. Her history as a mother always makes me wonder about what she left behind. She shows such passion to be with others, particularly new people and a lot of playfulness with other dogs, particularly puppies. She is in many ways still a puppy herself, still chewing here and there and getting into the trash.

At 10, Sienna's slowing down a bit but still has so much love in her. She will abandon us for a guest who comes for the night, but most nights cuddles right by my side, a total snuggle bug. Sienna is probably the least dog-like of all the dogs that have come into my life. She stares you right in the eye without blinking. She's a strong dog who knows what she wants.

Ellie

Ellie, a chow-collie, represents the latest generation of dogs in my life. A new breed, a new personality to get used to. She's very calm indoors (aside from when there's critters on the porch) and very excited outside. She's got a strong instinct to track and chase. My times that I feel closest to her are when I am ready to give her what she wants, like going out. She jumps on me in a hugging type of way. She's not very in tune with us yet, having lived on her own and not relied on humans much, and humans may have been cruel at best. The signs that she is protective, live barking when the someone knocks at the door, show that she does care about us and sees us as a pack.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to have had these dogs come into my life. It is so hard that their lives are shorter than humans and we have to say goodbye to them so many times in a human lifetime. But to never have loved a dog would be a shame.

I adopt a dog for the sake of giving them a good home and the care they deserve. Though I hope for an attachment and bond selfishly, because I know how much love can develop between a dog and a human. I don't think it's wrong to want love back. Although the love of dog should not be an excuse to breed more dogs while millions die in shelters.

A dog's love is special, and each dog has his or her own way of showing it. As humans we are often so disconnected from nature, yet dogs can be a connection to the part of the world that isn't about words, culture, or money. They are windows to another way of looking at the world, unburdened in many ways by human fetters.

A Dog's Purpose not only shows the love between dog and human, but appreciates the nature of a dog and celebrates it. And for that it's a great read.

BITT OF PAW RATING: 4 1/2 paws  (out of 5)

PS: Word is the book's being made in to a movie. Sienna and Ellie would love to audition as extras for some "dog park" scenes. Where do I send casting tapes?

ecostore review: dog conditioner and all purpose cleaner

Since the critters make so many messes around here, I was grateful to have some cleaning products to try out from EcoStore USA.

The first product I used by them was the all purpose cleaner. At $9, not a bad price.

It cleans well, and easily wiped my my smoothie spills, dog cookie crumbs, various cat and dog bodily-fluid messes, and overall freshening up of the house. Keep in mind I always use a natural cleaning product and I am comparing this to your average green eco-friendly cleaner.

The second product I used was the leave-in dog conditioner. I had been eager to find a dog conditioner because I usually use conditioner on Sienna to keep her coat smooth. This is pre-Ellie.
Now that we have a long-hair dog, I felt I could truly put this product to the test. No I did not get Ellie just to test this product, it just worked out that way.

First, Ellie ran away from it because of the spraying sound. She's scared of a lot of things, but she's not the only dog I know who dislikes sprays. People use spray to correct dog behavior so they may come to fear it. Second, I found the smell ok and it to work fairly well but Chris said the smell gave him a headache. The scents are all natural, but still too potent for some. For these reasons I felt the product was not right for us.

Instead I did search for a product that would work given the fears and smell issues. I found Aroma Paws Chemical-Free Fur Conditioning Treatment with Sunscreen. It's 100% vegan and has a blend of avocado oil and other natural oils. This bottle is a pump so it doesn't scare Ellie and it doesn't smell as strong. I was not compensated for a this bottle, but I just felt it was only fair to mention the product that did work for me.

Disclaimer: I was provided with the ecostore products for review purposes. I was not paid for this post.

What are your favorite dog shampoos or pet cleaners?

Ellie gets trained

We signed Ellie up for a workshop on leash walking. We opted not to sign her up for a whole 6-session class because she has already learned a lot of what Sienna learned in Basic Manners class, like sit, down, and some other tricks. Her main issues are with walking.

Inside, Ellie is a calm and quiet dog. She doesn't chew anything or make much noise. She sometimes hides under the bed just for quiet or when she's hiding from the comb or toothbrush. But when she goes out, she's a wild dog. She loves to track and chase squirrels and the neighborhood cats.

 

At the workshop, Ellie was a model student. She followed the cue and even got used to the clicker (she has previously been fearful). But when we tried to take the techiniques home, she didn't show any interest in the treats outside. She heard the clicker, as we clicked when she did something we wanted her to do, to "shape" her behavior, but didn't care for the treat.

Now we know we may have to find a more desirable treat, but she's never shown much interest in treats. It just isn't her thing. She gets used to them and will eat them inside but much prefers chasing squirrels.

 

At least we are armed with a few ideas now and know that she doesn't hate the clicker. She's responded well to training indoors, so we'll keep up with that and hope something transfers. We also struggle with whether to avoid walking her to the places where there are squirrels, or to just walk her where we know there is grassy area at the nearby park. It's a tough call.

Advice welcome!