Bark On

Special delivery!

I received a pleasant surprise in the mail today, a beautiful zig zag dog bed duvet from The Olive Crow! I'm so excited to try this out with one of the dogs' existing beds, or maybe I'll stuff it with memory foam to create a luxurious orthopedic nest for my senior buds! Either way, I can't wait to add a pop of colour and pattern into my living room with this stylish and durable cover. More pics to come once I get this home!

Find more patterns/colours at http://www.theolivecrow.etsy.com/. 

Back in Black

This month, Best Friends Animal Society is hosting their second annual Back in Black event promoting the adoption of black pets all throughout May. Personally, I cannot understand why there is a necessity for such a cause. To me there is nothing more striking than a shiny and sleek black pittie, or a proud and elegant Rottweiler. However, 54% of shelters report that their dogs experience black dog syndrome; the case of black pets being overlooked for adoption while their lighter coloured friends find homes.

There are several reason as to why this occurs including stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding black pets (some cultures believe black dogs are a symbol of evil, and we've all heard the hubbub about bad luck and black cats). Black pets are also more difficult to photograph, and their coats have a tendency to blend into the background. There are several ways you can help black pets get a better shot at a forever home:

1. Adopt one!

2. Make one of these simple, DIY flower accents and donate it to a black pet to help draw the attention of potential adopters!

3. Donate fetching collars, snuggly blankets or adorable toys. Having toys and blankets in the kennel makes black pets seem more adoptable and less intimidating.

4. Volunteer at a black pet adoption event in your area. If you're in the US, click here to check out events near you. You can also go to any shelter in your area to volunteer year round!

Visit http://events.bestfriends.org/upcoming/backinblack for more info.

Squirrel, enemy #1

Roxy grabs the devious intruder within her mighty jaws, shaking him back and forth ferociously! 

She fights perilously to defeat this advisary encroaching on her territory.

After battling bravely, Cash congratulates Roxy on a job well done. The two celebrate the ongoing safekeeping of their yard, but little do they know...

Dun duh dun!!! The squirrel remains, closely observing their habits and plotting the eventual takeover of the dogs' precious home.

Treachery is afoot here, my canine friends. Be safe.

Duck feet - delicious or disgusting?

This weekend we decided to take the dogs to our local pet store after a romp at the park to pick out some delicious treats. Usually they go straight for the bully sticks, but this time another type of chew caught their rapt attention (and mine) - duck feet. Yes, you read that right, dehydrated duck feet are apparently the new rage in dog chews.

I have to admit, my first impression was that this was disgusting. After all, they still look like the feet of a duck! At least bully sticks and tripe and other well-known treats leave a little something to the imagination...but these really grossed me out! I can't even feed my dogs pig's ears because the sight of them inflicts horror into my piglet loving heart. However, the kindly pet expert advised me that these were a great source of protein and provide long-lasting, chewy satisfaction, so I decided to give them a try.

The duck feet were a huge hit with all three dogs (even Chance!), however they were definitely not long-lasting. I'm not sure if my dogs are particularly aggressive chewers, but Cash finished his off instantly, with Roxy taking only 5-10 minutes to completely devour hers. Chance took a bit longer since he has an interesting way of tackling the duck feet...

but he still had his demolished within 10 minutes.

Cash finished his treat too quickly, so went looking to Chance for a bite of his...

 

to which Chance kindly answered "no".

 

Meanwhile, Roxy quitely snuck off into the backyard to enjoy her duck foot in peace.

All in all, dehydrated duck feet are a good, healthy, well received treat, but definitely not a long term, boredom busting chew. Looks like frozen raw beef bones still win as the ultimate in chewtastic entertainment!

Pet photo tips from Jayme Anne Photography!

After eagerly awaiting the results of our family photo shoot last week, we've received the photos and I can't tell you how much I love them! I finally had time to amass a collection of some of my fave shots and am happy to share them with you! We worked with Jayme Anne Lang of Jayme Anne Photography and we couldn't be more thrilled with her work. I was adamant that I didn't want to go with a "dog photographer" because I wanted these to have the same feel and style as any other family photos, just with four legged members in tow! I can't believe how well Jayme was able to capture the bond we have with our little monsters in these photos, especially the one of Roxy and I! This one is definitely my absolute favourite and will be framed and displayed proudly in our living room.

In addition to taking incredible photos that we'll treasure forever, Jayme was kind enough to offer up some expert tips on how to have the most successful pet-inclusive photo shoot. Here are some helpful hints from a pro: 

Don't stress. This is a tough one as I can attest from my personal experience. You're trying so hard to get your pet to pay attention, face the camera, strike the perfect pose...but it's probably not going to happen. Just relax, have fun and accept that you're going to love the photos because you love your pet.

Avoid flash. This will always cause red eye in pets and the noise and brightness can be scary, too!

Work in the right light. Obviously, day time is best. A sunny or slightly overcast day will provide you with tons of natural light without being too bright. First thing in the morning is good since the sun most likely won't be out in full force. Late afternoon works great, too, just avoid the bright mid-day sun.

Make it interesting. Your dog doesn't always have to be perfectly centered in your frame of view, mix it up and get some pics that are really close up with others from farther away. Try focusing on their noses (if your dog has a big snout it will create a nice depth in the photo). Finding it difficult to get Max to go where you need him to go? Instead of repositioning him, move yourself so he appears in your frame exactly where you want him to be.

Get down on their level. Take shots from all different angles; from above looking down, below looking up, don't be afraid to get down on the ground to snap shots from their level.

Choose the right background. If your dog is black, avoid dark backgrounds. If your dog is white, place them against a dark or colourful backsplash. I always like bright green, grassy backgrounds since it contrasts nicely with Cash's red and Roxy's dark brindle markings. Blue skies also make for beautiful photo backdrops as well.

Pick the right spot. The dog park seems like an obvious choice, but this can actually be tricky since there are so many potential distractions at hand! Other dogs, other people, games of fetch, tussles and rough ups...we learned from experience that this might not be the best place to try and pose for pics. Perhaps consider a regular park or an open field. Better yet, utilize your space at home and snap your photos in the front or back yard, this way you can remove any distractions and don't have to worry about other dogs or people.

Catch a candid moment. A prized photo doesn't have to be a premeditated one. If Fido's lounging adorably in the sun by a window, snap a pic and the sun should provide enough natural light to avoid using the flash. Want to catch your pet mid-play? Take as many subsequent photos as your camera will allow and you'll surely snap some great ones!

Be prepared. Make sure to have plenty of treats on hand to distract, bribe and reward compliance. Be sure to bring water to keep everyone hydrated (yourself included) and some of your pup's favourite toys to keep them busy or to get their attention for a perfect pose. And don't forget poop bags! Like any trip to the park, you should also have a doggie first aid kit handy since any outdoor adventure comes with the risk of injury. Poor Roxy got a prickle stuck in her paw which pretty much ruined the experience for her, but she's tough so she forged on regardless.

Just keep in mind that this should be a fun bonding experience for all and that the photos don't have to be perfect, just sincere. After all, you're going to love them either way!

To see more from our shoot, or to book one of your own, visit www.jaymeannephotography.com.

 

Hoppy Easter!

but Chance absolutely hated his.

Furry family photos

Recently it's been weighing heavily on my mind that my dogs are getting older. Chance will be eleven at the end of this month, Cash, nine in July and Roxy, ten in October. I've immortalized my dogs with paintings prominently displayed throughout my house, photographs, and even stuffie replicas, but it dawned on me that we don't really have any pictures of Jeremy and me with the dogs. This saddened me, and prompted me to take action.

Most families get portraits done, and my family consists of Jer and the dogs, but I have to admit that I usually find the typical family portraits pretty cheesy. The potential for lameness is even greater when taking family photos with dogs since you run the risk of becoming a victim of awkward family photos. So what to do?

I started looking around at local photographers and found a few through event blogs that seemed more in line with what I was after (i.e. no velvet backgrounds or being forced to stare dreamily into space). After much deliberation, we decided to go with Jayme Anne photography because I love Jayme's laid back style and the fact that she's not a pet photographer. After all, the dogs will look good regardless, but I'll need as much help from a professional as I can get! Anyways, we've scheduled a photo session for this weekend barring any unforeseen horrible weather, so wish us luck and I'll be sure to share some of the photos next week!

Welcoming spring with sunshine and yardwork

We received a brief reprieve from the relentless rain on Sunday, so I decided to head out back to do some yardwork. During the cold winter months, Roxy took to peeing on my deck to avoid the treacherous snow drifts, and Cash tore up the lawn with his big paws during fits of the zoomies, so I deemed them mostly at fault for my damaged lawn and deck. This meant that they had to get off their butts to help me clean.

At first they both seemed willing and eager to help, scouring the grass and piles of fallen leaves for wayward bones and toys. Roxy was particularly helpful in pointing out the, ahem, "landmines" Cash scattered across the yard, while Cash curiously sniffed at the dirt mounds left by our resident backyard mole. That little lawn-wrecker better hope that Cash doesn't find him, as he harbours a strong disdain for rodents.

In the end, Cash was more interested in what I was doing with the camera than helping me rake. To be fair, I was busy taking pictures instead of raking, so it looks like limited attention spans run in our family.

Speaking of limited attention spans...easter is coming! I love this holiday because it means a big delicious dinner courtesy of my grandma and easter baskets from my mom, and again, my grandma. (And no, I'm not too old for that). I'd like to arrange an easter egg hunt for the dogs, but can't think of a safe way to do it. I could hide treats in those plastic colourful eggs they use for kids, but that seems like a recipe for disaster. Have any of you done easter egg hunts with your dogs? If so, how?