Spring fever

I had a taste of spring this week.  It’s kind of chilly again now, but at least I know it’s around the corner! 

  1. First up, your punny animal name: Moose Springsteen. (Or Goose Springsteen, if you prefer.)
  2. It’s almost spring – time to spruce up the outside of your home with some new flowers. (Whatever you choose, do your homework to make sure it’s safe for your pets!)  Park Avenue Chihuahua recently posted about an interesting option – a Chihuahua topiary!  Apparently if you’d like to decorate your yard with botanical canines, there are a lot of options out there.  Check out these Bowzai shrubs, for example.
  3. After a little more digging (wordplay!), I found some other puppy plants out there.  At least one site, GI Designs, seems to offer a variety of pet topiaries.  (You can find the selection here.) These things look a bit like Chia pets on steroids.  Honestly though, I do think this little terrier topiary is a bit charming.  Okay, okay… I’m rethinking my stance here, and may now really want one.
  4. In any event, these topiaries pale in comparison to the giant Puppy created by artist Jeff Koons.  For more information on Puppy and his world travels, check out this slideshow.
  5. You’ve probably already guessed that I have springtime on the brain.  Accordingly, I really enjoyed this list of the best places to see millions of spring flowers.
  6. On an unrelated note, you know how much I love the cone of shame.  So I have to advise you to enjoy these photos of 20 dogs wearing the cone of shame.  (Maybe we could say that the cones remind me of flowers?  Sure, let’s go with that.)

Finally, today’s video offering showcases a puppy discovering the wonders of spring:

Oops… wrong kind of spring.

Anyway, before I go, I’d also like to send a big thank you to All Things Dog Blog for honoring us with the Stylish Blogger Award.  Go visit and say hi!

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Paws for Japan: How to Help

Paws for JapanAs you know, the images and stories from Japan in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami are haunting and heartbreaking.  The tragedy has had a devastating effect on both people and animals.  For that reason, I ask you to take a moment today and learn how you can help with animal relief efforts in Japan. 

Today has been dubbed Paws for Japan Day.

What can you do? Please visit Pawcurious and BlogPaws Be the Change for Pets for information how you can donate to World Vets to support its animal relief efforts in Japan.  Huffington Post also highlighted World Vets in this list of ways to help animals in Japan – there are 5 other organizations mentioned as well if you’d like to learn more.

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Adopt a pet… and the Internet!

Petfinder Adopt-the-Internet Day

Tomorrow’s a big day… in honor of its 15th birthday, Petfinder is asking all of us to adopt the Internet and spread the word about pet adoption.  How can you help?

  • Add a badge to your site.
  • Take the Petfinder pledge to tell at least one person about pet adoption.
  • Donate your Facebook status and photo to an adoptable Petfinder pet.  Simply replace your photo with one from the Adopt-the-Internet All-Stars gallery and post one of these messages:
    •  More than 320,000 pets are waiting for homes on Petfinder.com. Help
      Petfinder Adopt the Internet today and find forever homes for as many as
      possible!
    • I adopted my pet from Petfinder and now I want to help get this pet
      adopted! If you want to help pets in need of forever homes, please
      repost this!
  • Share an adoptable Petfinder pet on Twitter with the hashtag #adopttheinternet.
  • Add a link to your blog, Facebook or Twitter post to Petfinder’s Adopt the Internet page.

There are also many other cool ways to celebrate Petfinder’s birthday – check them out! Our good friends at Grouchy Puppy, Will My Dog Hate Me, and FIDO Friendly will be holding blogathons, highlighting several adoptable pets throughout the day.  Feeling silly?  You can even caption Petfinder photos at I Can Has Cheezburger.

I found Ms. Bella on Petfinder, and you know she’s awesome.  There are many animals out there that need a home, so if you have love to give… adopt! 

Spread the word… happy birthday to Petfinder!

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A long overdue thank you…

I’ve been slacking a bit… several wonderful bloggers awarded me the Stylish Blogger award recently, and I’ve yet to thank them on this blog.  That changes today!

However, because I’ve been such a slacker, I’ve now received this award from 10 (!) other bloggers.  I’m incredibly humbled and honored that these wonderful bloggers chose to share this honor with me.  So, I’m going to bend the rules juuuuust a little.  The rules of the award require you to: (1) thank the person that gave it to you; (2) share 7 things about yourself; and (3) pass the award on to other bloggers (the number seems to vary from blog to blog).

It’s that third rule I’m going to… modify.  Rather than select new recipients, I’m going to take a cue from Doggie Stylish and tell you a little bit about the bloggers that gave me this award and encourage you to go visit their wonderful blogs.  All this and more, after the jump…

So first, a big thank you to browndogcbr, Pawprints on My Heart, Welcome to Kirby’s World, Banjo & Millie, Life with LuLu, Something Wagging This Way Comes, Grouchy Puppy, Chunyo’s Corner, Kol’s Notes, and under the blanket!  As discussed above, I’ll be telling you more about them at the end of this post.

Second, I have to share 7 things about me.  However, I decided to share 7 things about Bella instead – honestly, she’s probably more interesting anyway.

  1. Bella doesn’t know how to catch.  If you throw a toy her way, she’ll close her eyes and wave her paws in the air.
  2. She also doesn’t know the most efficient way to chew.  She never holds a bone with her paws, but props the bone against a toy in hopes of holding it still.  I suspect Bella missed a lot of days in Being a Dog 101.
  3. Bella also can’t play fetch.  When you throw a toy, she immediately returns it to Toy Corner.  The only way to come close to a game of fetch is to sit in front of Toy Corner and take the toy from her when she returns.
  4. Bella is a creature of habit.  When I turn off the TV, she thinks it’s time to go to bed (even in the middle of the day).  When I close the laptop, she thinks it’s time to go outside.
  5. She would happily spend all day out in the backyard, if I’d let her.
  6. She once did a stint in rehab (aka spent a month with my in-laws).  When we were still living in an apartment, we ended up with some terrible upstairs neighbors.  They managed to shake the ceiling so much that Bella developed noise anxiety and had to go to rehab until we moved.
  7. Before Bella came to live with us, the rescue group called her Sally.

Wow… if you add up the identity change, the fact that she must have been skipping classes (hence the lack of dog skills), and the stint in rehab, Bella sounds like a shady character!  Just kidding…

Finally, I’d like to tell you a little about the wonderful bloggers that gave us this award.  Go visit them and say hi!

The dog behind this blog is Hawk (or Hawkeye – I love a good MASH reference), a Chesapeake Bay Retriever.  There’s always great content on the blog – and he’s great at keeping up with his readers.  Hawk spends time in many of his posts answering questions from them.
Dee, the human who maintains this blog, has a menagerie of both children and animals.  She posts wonderful photos and great stories.  I love reading about this big happy family!
Kirby is an adorable little mutt – a terrier mix, in fact.  You know how much I love my terriers!  I always enjoy reading about his adventures as a rescue pup who found his forever home.  He just started rally class, and I can’t wait to hear all about it!
A bit of an odd couple: Banjo is 10 and works as in a prison as a therapy dog, while Millie is 12 weeks old and, as her human puts it, “likes to poop and then play in it.”  Their blog is endlessly entertaining, and there’s even a Millie Cam where you can get your puppy fix!
I love reading about the antics of LuLu and her little brother Wally.  In addition to general cuteness (which they have in spades), they also are dedicated students.  LuLu is a Canine Good Citzen, and Wally has been taking obedience classes.  It’s fun to see them learn and watch videos of their newest tricks and accomplishments.

Something Wagging This Way Comes
Pamela the human writes about a lot of things, including the adventures of her Golden Retriever, Honey.  I especially like what she calls her “Puppiness Project.”  Inspired by Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project (which I loved), Pamela writes about lessons in happiness she’s learned from Honey.  In addition, Honey has been taking classes on K-9 Nose Work, which I’ve enjoyed reading about.

Grouchy Puppy Dog Days
First and foremost, you can’t beat the motto: “don’t judge a book, blog or dog by its cover.”  Genius!  Although the blog is based in San Francisco, my East Coast heart still adores Cleo and her human.  Cute photos and informative posts – this blog has it all!  The Influence Positively interview series highlights amazing animal advocates – I love learning about these inspiring people.

Chunyo’s Corner
I recently discovered this blog, and I’m so glad I did!  Chunyo is an adorable Boston Terrier, and there are plenty of cute photos on the blog. In addition, there is a wealth of information on there.  I look forward to visiting Chunyo and learning even more.

Kol’s Notes
The dog behind this blog is Kolchak Puggle.  (Bella used to have a Puggle nemesis in our old neighborhood, but she doesn’t hold that against Kolchak.)  His human is studying canine nutrition – cool, right?  As you can imagine, I’ve learned a great deal about nutrition from this blog.  However, all of the posts are great – so much personality packed into each one!

under the blanket
I look forward to every post from Cate, the blogger behind this blog.  She finds the cutest and coolest products – items that are unique and (no pun intended) drool-worthy.  If you and your pup want to be the coolest kids on the block, I’d recommend starting here.

I received this award from Park Avenue Chihuahua and SewDoggyStyle back in January too – I thanked them then, but I’d like to say a few quick words about them now too, since I’m all about sharing the bloggy love today…

Awesome name, right?  This blog makes me laugh, it makes me smile… blogger Chihuahua Girl is a dog lover after my own heart.  I guarantee a smile if you visit this blog.
Creativity doesn’t even begin to describe what you’ll find on this blog.  So many unique and awesome projects featured here – complete with handy do-it-yourself instructions.  I mean, where else can you learn to make a Doggy Gaga costume?

So… that’s a wrap!  I’d like to say thanks again to the fabulous bloggers above – I’m honored to be in such fine company.  

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To Bella from To Dog With Love

Apparently Bella and I are on a hot streak.  First, she won a collar from Doggie Stylish.  Then, I won a really cool book called  For the Love of Dogs: an A-to-Z Primer for Dog Lovers of All Ages thanks to the wonderful Cosmo Havanese from To Dog With Love.  (Go ahead and check out that awesome blog… I’ll wait.)  Anyway, To Dog With Love gave away a copy of the book, and I won!  (We should enter the lottery, right?  Third time’s a charm, they say.)

The book, written by Allison Weiss Entrekin, is full of whimsical illustrations by Mark Anderson.  It uses all 26 letters of the alphabet (even X) to present fun facts and wonderful info about our beloved pups.  To give you a little taste, I selected a few letters at random. (As you’ll see, it wasn’t really that random.)

B is for Beagles
E is for English Foxhounds
L is for Labradors
L is still for Labradors
A is for Adoption

C is for Cavaliers
O is for Obedience
S is for Shih Tzus
M is for Mascots
O is still for Obedience

Here are some photos of Bella enjoying her new reading material.

Thanks again to Diane and Cosmo from To Dog With Love!

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Thank you, Doggie Stylish!

As you know, Bella has been rocking her Christmas collar for far too long.  She was wearing it on this blog as recently as last week, in fact.  Well, no more.  Thanks to Doggie Stylish, Bella has finally accepted that the holiday season is over.  During the Magical Mystery Mutt Tour, Karen from Doggie Stylish gave away a collar on her blog.  Somehow, I won!

I chose this sassy little number:

Isn’t her new collar the cutest?  Thanks again to Doggie Stylish!

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Bella Bowl V

All Things Dog Blog
Bella Bowl weekend is traditionally a busy one in our household.  That’s right, it’s not just Super Bowl weekend around here.

  We throw an annual Super Bowl party known as Bella Bowl… we’re up to Bella Bowl V.  The dining room has been christened Puppy Stadium for the day.  Sometimes Bella will rock Giants paraphernalia for the party – but her interest in wearing a jersey is usually short-lived.  Such a fair weather fan…

Anyway, I’m excited to add a new tradition to our Bella Bowl/Puppy Bowl/Super Bowl weekend… the All Things Dog Blog Super Dog Sunday Blog Hop!

I didn’t have the heart to make her wear her jersey and let me take a new photo, given that the Giants didn’t even make the playoffs.  So let’s just agree that the pose above is how she reacted when she learned this news.

Want to join the hop?

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Name that Bella

It’s finally here… the Magical Mystery Mutt Tour!  Make sure you also visit my co-hosts Edie (of Will My Dog Hate Me) and Peggy (of Peggy’s Pet Place) today and say hi.  Read on, and then join the hop!

Now, time for everyone’s favorite game: Name… That… Breed!  Below, I’ve provided some info about the dog behind the blog, Ms. Bella.  What breed(s) do you think she is?  Leave your best guesses in the comments.

Bella – a dog of very little brain, but a lot of love.  I tend to think she’s a bit out of proportion – low to the ground, but in possession of big ears and an even bigger posterior.  (Seriously… when she sits, her butt is so big that one of her feet often sticks up in the air.)

She weighs approximately 26 pounds and is roughly 24 inches tall (from her toes to the top of her head).  Health quirks?  She’s got a few.  You’ll frequently hear her reverse sneeze, she gets carsick like a champ, and she gets more than her fair share of ear infections.  In addition, she was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

I’ve never heard her howl.  She barks on occasion, mostly at doorbells (including TV doorbells and the chime at the vet’s office).  She has crazy bursts of energy, but they usually flame out fast.  She loves to cuddle, but hates being under a blanket.  She does like to sleep under pieces of furniture, however.  She hops through the snow like a bunny and loves to run around in the backyard.

Finally, a few photos:

For more photos, well… there’s obviously no Bella shortage on this blog. Let the guessing begin!

Have a mutt? We’d love for you to join the tour!  It’s simple:

1. Link up your blog name and URL using the Linky Tool below.
(Include on your blog a few pictures of your dog, and specific details to help everyone guess.)

2. Grab our Magical Mystery Mutt Tour Blog Hop Badge and include on your post! (optional)

3. Follow your co-hosts (listed above) and comment on their blogs to let us know you’ve joined the hop!

4. Check out as many of the other blogs on the Linky as you’d like, and guess away!

If you want to put the Linky Tool on your own post, you can get the code on Edie’s blog.

Can’t wait to see your mystery mutt!

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Coming soon… Magical Mystery Mutt Tour

Photo courtesy of dogtipper.com

Have you ever looked at your pup and wondered what breeds all mixed together to create that furry face?  I know I have… I’d imagine it’s a question many ponder, especially with regard to rescue pups.

Last week, Edie (from Will My Dog Hate Me?) invited her readers to engage in a game of Name That Breed and guess the genetic makeup of the adorable Wilson.  Peggy Frezon (of Peggy’s Pet Place) thought it would be fun to invite reader guesses about the breed of her pup, Kelly.  I loved the idea and thought I’d do the same for Bella.  Then Edie had a brilliant plan – why not make it a blog hop?

Without further ado, it’s my pleasure to announce the Magical Mystery Mutt Tour!  Join Edie, Peggy and me for a blog hop on Friday, February 4 – it’ll be a name-that-breed-a-thon!

Want to play?  It’s simple: write a post about your pup.  Include at least two pictures, provide the pup’s height/weight, and describe any personality characteristics you think might be relevant.  Post it on Friday, February 4, and wait for the guesses to roll in.  (While you’re waiting, you can join the hop and offer your best guess as to the breeds of the other pooches participating!)

There will be a Linky tool available at Will My Dog Hate Me? and Peggy’s Pet Place beginning at 12:01am EST on February 4.  I can’t promise I’ll have the link in my post that early, but I’ll add it once I’m able.

Today’s regularly scheduled No Frown Friday has been canceled due to the fact that I was without power for over 24 hours beginning on Wednesday night.  I’ll make it up to you with some extra posts next week… promise. Until then, here’s a M*A*S*H-inspired punny pet name to tide you over: B. J. Hunnimutt.

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