Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Barksters Krisps

Mom was contacted a few weeks back about trying a new dog treat called Barksters Krisps and I immediately told her it sounded like a great idea. What's not to love? Free treats? Count us in!

In fact, I was so excited to try the new yummies that I couldn't wait for Mom to open them, I helped myself!!


I was able to get through the outside package but they made the inside plastic bag dog-proof. Dang it! Once Mom showed off with her opposable thumbs I was finally able to enjoy the deliciousness. We tried two different kinds, Brown Rice & Beef and Sweet Potato & Chicken. I preferred the Sweet Potato and Chicken but both were very good. I even shared with Lilah on a recent camping trip. They are super crunchy and the texture is kind of like human potato chips. Mmmm!!!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Little Italy Farmer's Market

It's a little known fact but my full name is actually Giacomo (pronounced JAWK-a-mo), I just go by Jack for short. Mom was taking Italian courses and fell in love with the name but Dad quickly shot down the idea of ever naming their human child a long, complicated first name especially given the long, complicated last name we all share. Oh well, their loss! I wear the Italian name proudly!

I like to think it helped me blend in a bit at the Little Italy Farmer's Market a few weeks back. When Mom agreed to take Lilah for the day, we knew that an adventure was necessary so we called Grandma and Uncle Matt to make a day of it! In the car I wasn't too sure of where we were going but Lilah was ready to take the wheel.

We had a blast! Plenty of fresh produce, breads, juices and flowers. From Little Italy Association of San Diego site, "The Little Italy Mercato is the city market for downtown San Diego residents and visitors with more than 100 booths lining Date Street from Kettner to Union offering farm fresh produce, artisan foods and specialty items."



It was very busy at about 11am. I'd recommend going earlier for a smaller crowd (or if your dog isn't friendly with others...) The market opens at 9am and they're there until 1:30pm!



Oh c'mon Mom, leave me alone...we're in public!!

It was a great way to spend the morning and I'd highly recommend you head down there one Saturday morning with your pups too. You can find more info about the market here, hope to see you there!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Just a tease

More details to come!


Friday, August 26, 2011

Friday Fun

One great thing about Fridays? Only a few more hours of alone time before the weekend! I'm a people-lover so I always prefer to have Mom and Dad home but then again, if they were here then I couldn't do this:

Happy National Dog Day!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Is it too early to start my Christmas list?

I sure hope not because this baby is item #1!! 

Tagg - The Pet Tracker
Colorful options!
Nifty little charger, included
Well, this guy sure seems to like it!
As you've read, I like to go on my own independent adventures. As fun as they are, Mom would prefer I stay close and Tagg just might be our perfect solution.

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From the Tagg site: "Not only can you locate your dog through your computer or mobile device, you get a text or email if he leaves the Tagg zone. That means that before your dog can get into too much trouble, you can pick him up and bring him back home. The self-monitoring Tagg tracker even notifies you when it’s low on battery."

It's recommended for dogs larger than ten pounds (which I don't have any problem with) and the battery lasts about 30 days! It weighs just over an ounce and is slightly taller than a quarter. Perhaps best of all for those of us who are part fish, it's water resistant! At $200 it isn't cheap but your initial purchase includes the first year of service and each additional year is just $59.99.

Now where did I put that address for the North Pole?

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

While Grandma's away...

...the dog will play!
Grandma and Grandpa's bed
The floor of their bedroom
The hallway
Mom, hard at work
What did I do?


 I discovered an old bone buried in the backyard at Grandma and Grandpa's and just wanted to be sure I shared it with them. They will be home on Thursday and I thought they'd like a little surprise in their bed. Too bad Mom cleaned it all up and didn't even leave a trace of my kind gesture. What a party pooper!

Friday, August 12, 2011

Friday Fun

We're smiling nice and wide today because we just won a *free* ticket to BarkWorld Expo! If you don't already know, this is the social media conference of the pet world, covering everything including social media, pet lifestyle, and business education for pet lovers. WOW we feel honored! Now Mom just needs to pinch the pennies for her flight and she's off to Atlanta September 29- October 1.


Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to the For the Love of Dogs Blog and Dogster.com

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

A lesson from another Jack: Keep your pets cool!

As a fellow Jack, this story made me very sad but I also knew I just had to share it. Taken from The Kansas City Star, it's heartbreaking but carries with it a strong lesson. All information below is from the article by Wina Sturgeon, available here.

"It was one of the saddest experiences imaginable. A man was running up the mountain trail, looking through the brush on each side, screaming over and over again, "JACK" "JACK." His bike could be seen in the distance further down, tossed to one side and abandoned as the man retraced his path, searching.

I stopped my bike and asked if there had been an accident. The man started crying and sobbed, "My dog...I can't find my dog. He was right behind me." He continued running back up the trail, yelling his dog's name. I turned around and followed in case help was needed. As the man ran out of sight where the trail curved, there was an agonized scream, "Nooo! Jack, NOOO!"

Around the curve, I saw my help wouldn't be necessary. Jack was past any help. His body lay in his owner's arms, the tongue lolling from his open mouth. His eyes were open, but glazed. His beautiful long furred coat still gleamed in the hot afternoon sun. He had run after his beloved master's bike until he could run no more. He ran himself to death."


Even though I am still wiping my puppy tears away, there is a lesson to be learned here as well. Perhaps the best lesson we can learn from Jack's loss is that us dogs do not cool down the same way you humans do. First, a few bits of cautionary information:
  • Canines can fatally overheat quickly, resulting in organ failure or heat stroke. 
  • When humans overheat, they can cool off by sweating, drinking or being splashed with water. But dogs only sweat through the pads on their feet, a very small area in relation to body mass. (This certainly explains why we have to lie on our sides when we're tired) 
  • They only release heat by panting, but if the dog is also breathing hard because of exertion, that limits their ability to use panting to cool down - and panting also dehydrates the animal.  
  • If a canine's internal body temperature reaches 107, it will not cool back down. The dog will die. Nothing can be done to save it.
Now, a few suggestions and recommendations:
  • If it's over 90 degrees outside, don't subject your dog to more than a few minutes at a time of strenuous exercise.  
  • Always carry water for your dog on a hot day, as well as one of those lightweight collapsible fabric dog bowls that will allow your pet to drink from it; don't count on being able to pour enough water into a dehydrated dog's mouth from a bottle.  
  • Stop and rest often, and stay alert for symptoms of overheating in your best furry friend. Those symptoms include trouble with balance - an overheated dog may lose coordination. It will start to slow down and seem confused, unable to obey if you give a command.  
  • As the overheating gets worse, the tongue will hang further out of the mouth than usual, and it will be curled at the end and widened. If the tongue starts turning red, it's a very serious sign that the dog's internal temperature has reached the danger point. The dog will start panting hard, and there may be a frantic thirst. 
  • If you take your dog outside with you when it's hot, always pay extra attention, so that you both return home, tired, but alive.
Stay cool, my friends.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Homemade dog treats!

Just a week ago we went to the Doggie Street Festival and thank god we did because Mom walked away with a recipe for Peanut Butter Puppy Poppers, a truly delicious treat! Thanks to the Shelter Island Veterinary Hospital for the recipe and cute cookie cutter.

So here is what you need:
  • 2 cups flour (any kind will work -- whole wheat, rice, etc.)
  • 1 tbsp. baking powder
  • 1 cup peanut butter (this seemed like a lot so mom did 3/4 cup peanut butter and 1/4 cup honey for sweetness but I supposed they would be fine without the honey too)
  • 1 cup milk (someone had "accidentally" poured out our milk *ahem, DAD!!* so mom used water and it was fine)
You will want to start by pre-heating the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, in a large bowl begin by combining the flour and baking powder. In a smaller bowl mix the peanut butter and milk. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well.

 

Place the dough on a lightly floured surface (Mom used a cutting board) and knead. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes.


We found that the cookies were good both thick and thin. Thick ones puffed up a little more, like soft biscuits, and the thinner ones were more like a crunchy snack. Both were very good!

Bake for 20 minutes on a greased backing sheet until lightly brown.


Cool on a rack, then store in an airtight container. Be careful not to overcook because the cookies burn easily.

Happy baking!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

3rd Annual Doggie Street Festival

Sunday was a busy day so I'm going to have to divide it into a few different posts. First, Mom and I joined Ashley and Lilah at the 3rd Annual Doggie Street Festival. Boy was that a good time! There were over 25 rescue groups and about twice as many vendors, most of which were handing out free treats, coupons and selling of plenty cool toys. Mom tried to be good and only bought a few snacks plus a 3-foot-long beef stick for me to chew on but we still had a great afternoon.

First, Lilah and I shared a little doggie ice cream. It was hot out, after all.

Then we stopped by the Department of Animal Services booth to say "Hi!" I was once a shelter pup myself and it's always good to remember where you came from.

We saw lots of fun signs, shirts, and accessories



Plus plenty of crazies...




 Yes, that is a dog couch. They retail for only $299.

I found a nice friend to wrestle with (and Lilah joined in too)


Finally, we posed for a few pictures. Aren't we cute???



I'm looking forward to next year!