Springtime in the Desert Southwest

Here in Phoenix, Arizona Winter is like a flash in the pan.  It starts in December and before ya know it the whole thing's over.  It's late February and as you'll see from these photos, Spring has definitely sprung out here!

Here's Isis among some of my favorite desert wildflowers.

Those of you back in the Northeast, especially the New England area, are probably pining for some warm weather, but I know of at least one snowdog who is green with envy that you guys got all the white stuff!  Hint, hint, it's NOT Phoebe.  I confess, as much as I love the warm weather I really miss the snow!

For those of you battling this insane Winter weather, please stay safe and cuddle with the furkids to stay warm.  And enjoy as much of the snow as you can!!

Who's that peeking out from behind an Aloe plant??

Uh oh!  Someone's got her eye on a bee!

Are you in a warm climate right now, or are you getting pummeled with snow?  Leave us a comment and share!  We always love to hear from you!

THIS IS THE FRIDAY PET PARADE BLOG HOP!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Wondering If Your Dog Is Overweight? #PerfectWeight

This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science Diet® Perfect Weight 10 Week Turnaround, but Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

I'm helping Hill's Science Diet® spread the word about a common problem for dogs; being overweight or obese.  Many people don't notice or care when their dog begins to gain weight.  Sometimes they even think it's cute "Oh, look at that cute pudgy dog!".  But overweight pets aren't funny or cute.  In fact being overweight can lead to serious health problems in pets.  Once your dog begins gaining too much weight it may become difficult for her to exercise, which will make her not want to go for walks or do some of the other active things she used to enjoy, leading to even more weight gain. 

 



 



Being overweight for a dog is just as much a concern as it is for a human.  Did you know that over 50% of pets in the U.S. are classified as being overweight?  That's a startling statistic!  To help pet parents manage their dogs' weight, Hill's has introduced a new dog food.  Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight is a dog food for weight loss that can help you achieve your dog weight loss goals and get your dog to their perfect weight!  Learn the benefits of Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight dog food and take the Science Diet 10 Week Perfect Weight Turnaround Challenge!



Keep Pet Dental Health Top Of Mind All Year

We've been recognizing National Pet Dental Health month throughout February.  Just because the month of February will soon be over, that doesn't mean our focus on pet dental health should end.  Let's pledge to keep pet dental health top of mind all year long - Whose with me?!?

In honor of all the blogging, tweeting, pinning, and Instagramming we've all been participating in this month, I want to share two videos I created for the #DogDentalHealth campaign, which I had the pleasure of working on with PetSmart and Pedigree/DENTASTIX. 

I hope you enjoyed the videos.  You can see my #DogDentalHealth campaign post by clicking HERE.

Has National Pet Dental Health month motivated you to make any changes in your pet's dental health routine?  Leave us a comment and let us know!  It's motivated me to finally try using a finger toothbrush on my dogs, and to include more dental treats in their daily routine and training.

Visit our YouTube channel to see more videos of Isis and Phoebe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdRBAWThGWqA1tkOc1GLUCQ

THIS IS THE FRIDAY PET PARADE BLOG HOP!!

An InLinkz Link-up

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: My Dog's First Date

I hope everyone had a marvelous Valentine's Day this weekend!  My girl Phoebe had her very first date with the handsome Oz The Terrier.  They attended the Mayorz Heart to Heart Valentine's Day dance in Blogville.  I wanted to share a photo of Phoebe and Oz on their date.

Doesn't Phoebe look pretty with that beautiful necklace and hair piece?  And how handsome is Oz in his plaid bow tie!?  Love was definitely in the air on Valentine's night, and these two furkids had a blast at the dance, which was hosted by Murphy and Stanley.  Special thanks to the very talented Ruby the Airedale for this beautiful graphic of Oz and Phoebe! 

THIS IS A BLOGPAWS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!!

A Dog's Valentines Day & Dance

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentines Day, and is enjoying a special evening with someone, 2 legged or 4, that they love.  We all had a delightful day together!  Here's what we did:

We spent the morning in our favorite park and Mommy took a few pictures.  Nothing new there, that camera is attached to her hip!


Then we went to Daddy's favorite coffee place to relax after our morning at the park.  Mommy always brings yummy treats and chew sticks for us, to make sure we behave while Mom and Dad enjoy their coffee, tea and people biscuits.

Phoebe was chomping furiously on a bone.  She had pre-date jitters before her big date with Oz The Terrier later in the day!

Phoebe on her very first date, with the handsome Oz the Terrier!

Later, Phoebe got to go to the Blogville Mayorz Heart to Heart Valentines Day dance!  It was a huge Valentine's Day soiree hosted by Murphy and Stanley.  Apparently it was this big splashy party with a Red Carpet event, Puparrazi, and everything.  I had to stay home.  Can you believe that?? Everyone always says I'm the pretty one, but I had to stay home!  Phoebe even had a date for the dance with a hunky Terrier named Oz.  Humph!!! Mommy said I had to stay home this time because I always "steal the show" and it makes Phoebe feel bad.  Puh-leeese!!  I can't help it if Phoebe's a wallflower!  How is that my fault? 

Anyway, Phoebe had a great time at the dance and has been blabbing about it for hours.  Blah, blah, blah.  Mommy keeps saying she's so grateful to Ruby the Airedale for setting Phoebe up with Oz The Terrier for the dance, and for creating that beautiful picture of Phoebe and Oz to commemorate Phoebe's very first date.  She says she'll treasure it forever.  For the first time ever, I kind of know how Jan Brady must have felt... Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!  Oh well, Mom says we are having Kong's stuffed with peanut butter at midnight, so it's all good!

I hope everyone had a grrrr8  Valentine's Day!!  Make sure you Join the Blog Hop below, and visit Murphy and Stanley to see all the stunning photos and graphics from the Mayorz Heart to Heart dance!
Love and Biscuits,
Isis  (not Phoebe.... or Mommy)

THIS IS A VALENTINES DAY BLOG HOP!!

Embrace Your Dog's Digging

Stop ripping your hair out every time your dog digs up the yard!  Dogs like to dig, it's what they do.  Some breeds are more prone to digging than others.  Terriers, for example, are champion diggers.   The name Terrier comes from the word Terra, meaning earth so it's no surprise they love to dig!

Icy used to scour the yard, digging holes everywhere!

Rather than lose your sanity over Fido ripping out every flower and shrub you've ever planted, embrace it!  Am I crazy?  Maybe, but that's beside the point.  When Icy was just a puppy she began digging all over the yard.  It looked like an army of Moles had invaded our yard.  I tried all the recommendations; 

• Bury her poop in the places she usually digs; it just made a giant mess and didn't even work.
• Bury large rocks where she likes to dig;  She started digging up & playing with the rocks!
• Bury wire mesh a few inches into the dirt; her nails got caught in the mesh and it frightened her.

Stop your dog's digging up the yard by letting them dig to their hearts content... in a place you designate!

Finally, some solid advice came my way - Let Her Dig!  Huh?  Yes, let her dig  to her heart's content, but only in a place you designate.  A sandbox or designated patch of earth to call her own.  So I looked around the yard for a good place to make a Dig Pit for Icy.  I decided that behind my husband's prized shed made the perfect spot!  She could dig to her heart's content there behind the shed, out of site.  Once I had chosen the perfect spot for a Dig Pit, here's what I did:

# I sectioned off the Dig Pit area behind the shed, about 6' x 4'. 

# I started digging it up, just to loosen the dirt and make it nice and inviting.  Dogs seem to love freshly dug up soil, which is probably why they love to dig up our plants moments after we've planted them!

# Now I  needed to let her know there was a Dig Pit just for her.  I took 2 or 3 chew sticks and placed them into the ground, with about 2 inches sticking out of the dirt so she could easily find them.

# I walked her over to the Dig Pit and showed her the first chew stick.  It was so exciting for her, she had found buried treasure!  She found and scarfed down all the chew sticks in minutes. 

# I continued to bury treats, rubber toys, and chew sticks in her Dig Pit once or twice a day.  She quickly learned that good stuff awaited her in the Dig Pit!  Before long, her preferred spot to dig was the Dig Pit, and eventually she almost never bothered to dig anywhere else in the yard!



Icy, enjoying her special Dig Pit behind the shed!

Finally, I had conquered my dog's annoying digging habit..... by embracing it!

Is your dog a DIGety Dog?  Have you solved the problem of your dog's digging in another way?  Please leave us a comment, we love to hear from you!!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: PET DENTAL HEALTH #DogDental Health

We've been celebrating NATIONAL PET DENTAL HEALTH month, sharing the message about the importance of keeping pets' teeth clean and healthy, preventing dental disease.



This is one of the photos I used to promote my post on Dog Dental Health.  I can't decide which is cuter, Phoebe's head tilt or Isis' smile.  What do you think?  I invite you to read my post on Dog Dental Health, just click here.

THIS IS A BLOGPAWS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!!

 



Could You Foster a Dog For One Day?

We hear it all the time, Fostering Saves Lives!  And it does, but not everyone can take a dog into their home for weeks, or even days at a time.  If you wish you could foster a dog but it just doesn't fit into your lifestyle, there's a solution. You can Day Foster!

A Pitbull puppy waits for someone to love him again

When a dog has been in a shelter for more than just a few days, it begins to take a toll on them. 

# They don't get enough fresh air or exercise.

# They don't get the attention and love they remember when they were in a home.

# Shelter life is so stressful; it's loud, frightening, confining, and it's not a home!

# Some dogs develop behavior issues if they're cooped up in a shelter for too long without a break.

These factors effect them both physically and emotionally, these dogs need a break!  Even if it's not a forever break from the shelter, the benefits of getting out of the shelter even just for a day can be significant.

Sweet Cascade loved getting out of the kennel for long walks!  She enjoyed several Day Foster days with volunteers before she was finally adopted!

Getting a dog out of the shelter for a day helps dogs calm down, get fresh air and exercise, get some socialization, feel like a loved pet again, and have some fun!!

Here are some things you can do with your Day Foster dog:

# Take him to a park and go for a long, leisurely walk.

# Take her to a dog friendly outdoor café.  While you enjoy your favorite beverage, give her a chew stick, a toy, or a couple of treats.

# Play some games!  A great thing to do is work on basic obedience.  Make it fun to learn or practice Sit, Down, Shake Paws.  A dog who knows a few basic obedience commands can make a big difference to an adopter!

#Take some great photos of her and give them to the shelter for their web site or Facebook page.  Post them on your social media sites too and spread the word that an awesome dog is looking for a loving home!

# Write a few notes for the shelter to include in the dog's bio.  When you can say she's friendly, loves to play fetch or go for a walk, or knows how to sit and lay down it goes a long way with potential adopters.  It eliminates some of the fear of adopting a new dog when you've told them how loving and sweet she is!

One of my fosters, Howdy, content in my husband's arms.  He had displayed some aggression at the shelter, but after 1 day with us he was calm, sweet, and social.  He just needed a break!

If you have just a few hours a month, contact local shelters to see if they have a Day Foster program.  If not, urge them to start one!


What do you think about fostering a dog for one day, giving them a break from the shelter?  Is this something you would be willing to do?  Please leave us a comment, we love when you share your thoughts with us!

Dogs' Playtime

Recently I took a video - with my new camera, YAY! -  of Isis and Phoebe goofing around.   About halfway through this 40 second video Isis does a funny little hop that just cracked me up.  I thought I'd share it with you today, just for fun!

Hope the video made you smile just a little.  Have a Pawsome day, friends!!


Did you catch Isis' little hop?  Did you see Phoebe snatch the toy while Isis wasn't looking?  That's Phoebe's signature move; Distract & Snatch!  Leave us a comment & let us know if you caught those two moves.  We love hearing from you!

THIS IS A RASCAL AND ROCCO PET PARADE BLOG HOP!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Give Your Dog A Healthy Smile With DENTASTIX® Dental Treats #DogDentalHealth

This post is sponsored by PetSmart, and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Dental Health Month, but Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. PetSmart is not responsible for the content of this article.

Mommy has her bedtime routine and I've got mine.  One  DENTASTIX® every day helps keep my teeth and gums clean and healthy!

February is National Pet Dental Health Month!

Did you know that over 80% of dogs show signs of dental disease by the time they are only 3 years old!?  Dental disease can lead to significant health problems, so healthy teeth and gums are really important for the overall health of your dog!  Let's face it, brushing our dogs' teeth isn't always convenient or easy.  The good news is that it's easy to help keep your dog's teeth and gums healthy with DENTASTIX dental treats by Pedigree!  Dental treats shouldn't completely replace brushing your dog's teeth, but they're an easier way to keep their teeth and gums clean and healthy. 



Plaque and tartar build-up like this can lead to dental disease.

Here's how DENTASTIX dental treats can help improve your dog's dental health:

• DENTASTIX are clinically proven to help fight plaque and tartar build-up.

• The special texture and innovative "X" shape help clean between teeth and down to the gumline.

• They're clinically proven to reduce plaque and tartar buildup, a contributor to gum disease, when used as part of your dog's daily oral care routine.

• Added Green tea, zinc and vitamin C help support your dog's immune system health.




DENTASTIX special texture
helps clean down to the gumline

The patented DENTASTIX  "X" shape design









 

DENTASTIX  dental treats will keep your dog healthy inside and out.  Plus, I have it on very good authority from Isis and Phoebe that they taste Great!

After a brisk morning walk, Isis looks forward to getting a DENTASTIX dental treat, while we enjoy a cup of coffee at our favorite café.



Hey Phoebe, can you believe how delicious these DENTASTIX Dental Treats are?  They taste too good to be healthy for us!

I know, right!?  And Mom says they freshen our breath too!  I didn't even know we had stinky breath, did you??

Whether you give your dog a DENTASTIX treat in the morning, at bedtime, or somewhere in between, one DENTASTIX  per day is all you need for maximum results! 




You can easily pick up DENTASTIX dental treats at PetSmart® while you shop for pet food. Make DENTASTIX part of your dog's daily oral care routine!  You can find the complete line of DENTASTIX products on PetSmart's web site.

Since February is National Pet Dental Health Month, I'm joining PetSmart and DENTASTIX  in sharing the message that dog dental health is an important part of a dog's overall health.  Cat dental health is an important part of a cat's overall health as well.  Please join us in sharing this important message with pet parents everywhere!

Get Social with PetSmart and DENTASTIX on Social Media:
PetSmart web site
PetSmart on Facebook
PetSmart on Twitter

BLACK & WHITE SUNDAY: Dogs and Football

It's Superbowl Sunday and my husband is stuffing himself with wings, chips and all manner of fatty foodstuffs.  Every 15 minutes or so he yells at the TV screen, which is giving me a headache.

I took solace in the backyard and snapped these photos of my dogs with a commemorative Superbowl XLIX football I found at one of the many temporary Superbowl "stores" around Phoenix.  The Superbowl is being held here so the entire city has been insanely crowded and Superbowl crazed!

Here are some shots in black & white.  I also added them in color so you can see how pretty our commemorative football is!  Before Isis "plays" with it, and rips it to shreds! 

Isis and Phoebe are proud that their city is hosting the Superbowl, but Mama is getting tired of all the crowds!

Hey, no fair! Isis went for the ball before Mama did the coin toss!

Here are the color shots:

Our commemorative football is pretty isn't it?

We like all the colors in the ball!

Just had to throw in one more shot of the girls showing off their Superbowl football.  Isis has that mischievous look on her face, something tells me this ball won't last very long...!

I'm pleased to be joining the Black and White Sunday blog hop today!  How did your dogs spend Superbowl Sunday?  Please tell us by leaving a comment, we love hearing from you!

 



THIS IS A BLACK AND WHITE SUNDAY BLOG HOP!!