On Long Island, New York, we had a fairly mild Winter in terms of snow. Lots of colder weather and rain but very little of the white stuff. My dog Icy was not pleased. Being a Siberian Husky, she lives for cold weather and SNOW, which is why Huskies are often called "Snowdogs"!
Fortunately, Mother Nature obliged and finally delivered over 5 inches of snow for Icy's Snowdog pleasure. Here are some fun photos of her and Cooper, Icy's Golden Retriever love interest, enjoying a romp in the snow.
This photo is my favorite. Icy is so excited to play in the snow, she looks like a wolf rather than a dog, don't you think?
Siberian Huskies tend to be a lot more energetic than most dogs. When you see them playing it sometimes looks like they're playing rough. Icy doesn't have an aggressive bone in her body, but when she plays she is pretty rough and tumble. Both dogs are 9 years old now, and Cooper has slowed down considerably. Not Icy though, she's as energetic and rambunctious as when she was a puppy!
Here's Icy saying "C'mon Coop, let's get wild in the snow like we used to"! And Cooper is looking at her like "Haven't you had enough yet, you crazy Husky?"
In the end both Cooper and Icy finally relax after a fun romp in the snow they've waited so long for!
How about you, have your pets played in the snow this season? Tell us about it in the comments - we Love when you Woof back at us!
My very favorite photos, including this one, are the ones taken in Sedona, Arizona when we lived in Phoenix. The dog friendly hiking in Sedona is incredible!
As most of my regular readers know, my Siberian Husky Icy and I are a Therapy Dog team. We've been volunteering as an animal therapy team since 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona and across Long Island, New York. There is nothing I love more than giving back to my community with my dog by my side! It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done.
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Icy waiting for the reading to dogs program at the library to start
Over the years I have learned a lot about how to successfully manage a facility therapy dog program in libraries and schools. I'd like to share my personal insights to help both people who run therapy dog programs, or plan to start one, and for people whose children may benefit from a therapy animal program.
THERAPY DOGS IN LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS
I have visited many libraries and schools and they are all run differently. Most animal therapy organizations allow their member facilities to run their programs in the way that best suits them and their customers. The guidelines facilities must follow to remain in compliance usually don't include guidelines around the physical space they chooses to use for the program, or exactly how they manage the animal therapy visits. That is both good and bad.
It's nice to have the flexibility to manage the program in the way that best meets the needs of their participants, but some facilities do a better job of making pet therapy visits more enjoyable and effective. Let me share some examples and tips with you.
SOME FACILITIES RUN PET THERAPY PROGRAMS BETTER THAN OTHERS
One of my favorite visits (and Icy's too!) is the Reading To Dogs programs at the library. During these visits children read out loud to dogs, which gives them an opportunity to practice their reading and improve reading skills in a safe, non-judgmental environment. I'm not grading or correcting them and Icy doesn't care how well they read, as long as they'll give her a few pets and maybe a belly rub! Learn more about Reading To Dogs programs for kids in this post.
At one of the libraries we visited in Phoenix, the program was very unstructured. We showed up with our dogs, signed in, and were told to "just find a place to sit and we'll send the kids to you". If you've ever seen a dog in a library, you know how excited kids get when they see a dog there. They can't help themselves, they invariably come rushing over to pet the dog and start asking questions. They are oblivious to the fact that you're conducting a therapy dog reading session.
One of my favorite photos of Icy reading with one of the kids at the library. She looks so interested in doesn't she?!
One day Icy and I arrived at the library and found a tiny corner. The first child sat down to read to Icy but almost immediately, another kid came running over, excitedly yelling, and plopped down to pet Icy and begin asking questions about her. Needless to say, the child that was reading to Icy was very put off and he immediately shut down. The second kid's grandparent came over but seemed oblivious to the fact that this was a one on one reading session. I finally had to gently suggest that he come back after the first child was done reading.
There wasn't a library staff in sight to oversee the program or help in any way. I went to this library twice before I became discouraged and never returned. This type of environment puts the therapy dog handler and the kids who want to read in an awkward position. It's not a pleasant or effective experience.
At another Phoenix library it was a totally different story. Their program was perfectly executed and managed. This library was a joy to be a part of and I continued my visits for a couple of years. I left only because we moved out of state. They did so many things right:
🐶 They had a separate room for the visits and set it up perfectly. There were no more than 3 dogs at any one time and the sessions were one child at a time reading to a dog. For kids who struggle with reading, group reading sessions can be stressful and unpleasant, lowering their confidence. Here, each child had one on one time to read and interact with the dog in a non stressful environment.
🐶 Kids signed up in advance for the program and waited outside the room for their turn to read. No other kids interrupting or making the child uncomfortable.
🐶 At the end of their 15 minute reading session, the child was given a lovely printed certificate that said "I read with Icy today!" The kids loved the certificates, it gave them a sense of accomplishment and pride.
🐶 They didn't allow therapy dog handlers to give out candy or other edibles to the children, which is smart. Sticky fingers and books are not a good combination! Parents also don't appreciate their kids being randomly given sweets or other foods in the middle of the day. They did allow us to give out stickers, which the kids loved. One or two fun stickers for each child adds a nice touch and feeling of pride and accomplishment to a therapy dog visit.
🐶 They Paid Attention! If kids started entering the room, crowding a dog, or squealing in high pitch tones they stepped in. They didn't just leave the handlers alone to supervise the groups of children who participate in the program. The handler's responsibility is to their dog. They shouldn't be left to their own devices to manage groups of children in a facility.
🐶 They had books available for the children to select to read. They also obtained input from local elementary schools on books that should be offered.
I miss that library and their staff so much! Of the many libraries we've visited as a therapy dog team, that one was my favorite.
MORE TIPS TO RUN YOUR THERAPY DOG PROGRAM WELL
🐾 Ensure therapy dog handlers don't bring any dog treats or food that contains nuts. Dogs love peanut butter treats but they should be left at home. There are so many kids with nut allergies!
🐾 Always have someone manage both the participant's signup process and the room. Don't let kids just walk in and sit down. Explain to a parent or guardian what the program is, how it works, and ask them to sign up.
🐾 Manage the visits! Be there to support the therapy dogs and their handlers, who are volunteering their time to help you and the kids at your facility. If a child starts crying uncontrollably, becomes frightened of the dog, wanders out of the room, or acts out please step in to help. It's unfair to leave therapy dog handlers to be responsible for a child that wanders off or to handle behavioral issues.
🐾 Remember that the handler's first responsibility is to their DOG. They will explain to a child how to best pet and interact with their individual dog, and they will help a child with a word or sentence if they need it but they are not teachers or babysitters. I have seen parents drop their kids off to read to the therapy dogs at the library and not return for well over an hour!
🐾 Have a cart or table with a large variety of books available for the kids to read. Many times a child selects a book that is either way above or below their level, or they just don't like the book they chose. When they have to run out of the room and search the shelves for another book, they run out of time. Have plenty of books to choose from within easy reach.
🐾 Try to limit therapy team visits to one hour, and kids' reading sessions to approx. 15 minutes per child. Most dogs become tired or need a break after an hour. Being a therapy dog is very mentally stimulating for the dog and they can get tired, or sometimes they've just had enough. If a handler feels the need to leave early or give the dog a break by leaving the room or walking outside, please respect that. The handler's biggest responsibility is to advocate for their dog. Part of that is to know when their dog is becoming stressed or has had enough. Just like people, dogs have good days and bad days. Please don't be offended!
Another adorable photo of Icy reading with a child. I get a kick out of her putting her paw on the book!
I hope you have found these tips helpful. By following these tips your pet therapy program should run smoothly for everyone!
Have you ever run or participated in a therapy animal program? Please tell us what your experience was like in the comments!
Lack of oral care in dogs can lead to dental disease, which in turn can lead to more serious health issues. Good oral health for dogs (cats too!) goes beyond just whiter teeth and fresh breath, it's important to your dog's overall health as well. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), 80% of dogs have some form of periodontal disease by the age of 3! That number for cats is not much better, at 70%. PIN THIS!
Good oral hygiene in dogs can help prevent dental disease.
Poor Dental Health Can Negatively Effect A Pet's Overall Health
Periodontal Disease can lead to even more serious health problems. Toxins from periodontal disease get absorbed into the dog's blood stream and can cause infections in the body. This can potentially damage kidney, liver, heart, and brain tissue.
This post is sponsored by Zymox. I am being compensated to help share information about Oratene® Brushless Pet Oral Care products. We only share information we feel is helpful and relevant to our readers.
Pets taking medications are especially prone to dental health issues.
Many pets taking medication can experience a change in thequality of saliva. Although pets may still have saliva and drool, this condition is called "Dry Mouth". Pets with chronic Dry Mouth develop severe halitosis (bad breath), and accumulate plaque which can lead to tartar and tooth decay.
Oratene's line of Brushless Pet Oral Health Products kill harmful bacteria and germs, and remove plaque biofilm in your dog's mouth. Tartar can throw off the balance of normal, healthy microbial flora in a dog's mouth. Oratene Brushless Oral Care products break down plaque and biofilm, and specifically target the harmful bacteria and microorganisms in the mouth. They help maintain a healthy oral ecology, and freshen your dog's breath. Oratene products are especially beneficial for senior pets, pets with special health conditions like Diabetes, and pets who are taking medications for behavior, pain, allergies, heart problems, thyroid dysfunction, or urinary incontinence.
One of the products in their line of pet dental care products is the Oratene Brushless Oral Care Water Additive. It's a flavorless concentrate you add to your pet's water each day that provides a safe, healthy way to conveniently keep teeth clean without brushing!
Just add two pumps of Water Additive to 4 cups of water daily.
Dogs' teeth need attention in order to prevent plaque from hardening and turning into tartar on the teeth. Although brushing your dog's teeth every day is ideal to ensure good oral hygiene and ward off dental disease, not everyone can commit to that. And many pets, if they're like my dogs Icy and Phoebe, will not tolerate a toothbrush in their mouth! Believe me I've tried but it's just not feasible for us. I use Oratene Brushless Oral Care Water Additivein their water and Oratene Brushless Oral Care Toothpaste Gelto keep my dogs' teeth clean and healthy. Yes, I said BRUSHLESS! These videos show you how easy it is to use both the water additive and the toothpaste gel.
Although my dogs don't take medication and don't have "Dry Mouth", they are both 9 years old and have shown signs of deteriorating dental health. I've been using Oratene water additive and Oratene brushless toothpaste for a year or so and it's been really helpful. Trying to brush Icy and Phoebe's teeth was just not working, but these products are effective, easy and convenient to use, and my dogs don't mind them at all, which is half the battle! Note: According to Oratene, the Water Additive can be used with a pet water fountain however "the filter MUST be taken out or it will remove the active compounds and it will plug up the filter."
HOW DO ORATENE BRUSHLESS ORAL CARE PRODUCTS FOR PETS WORK?
>Oratene brushless pet oral care products contain two patented, natural enzyme systems, the LP3 Enzyme System and the MD2 Enzyme System(Mutanase + Dextranase). >These enzymes inhibit harmful odor-causing bacteria and remove plaque biofilm. The LP3 Enzyme System destroys bacteria and fungal microorganisms while restoring the oral balance in a pet's mouth. The MD2 Enzyme System makes plaque water soluble and unable to bind to the teeth. >Oratene oral care products do NOT contain CHLORHEXIDINE, XYLITOL, ALCOHOL, OR CHLORINE COMPOUNDS, so it's safe for dogs and cats to use daily!
*** Never use Human toothpaste on your dog or cat, it contains ingredients that are toxic to pets! ***
Symptoms to watch out for that could indicate poor dental hygiene in dogs:
⇨ Broken or loose teeth ⇨ Teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar ⇨ Abnormal chewing ⇨ Excessive drooling ⇨ Dropping their food, appearing hungry but will not eat ⇨ Pain or bleeding from the mouth ⇨ Swelling around the mouth
Oratene Oral Care Water Additive and brushless toothpaste for dogs & cats!
Contest open to US and Canada residents
FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL PET DENTAL HEALTH MONTH!
We should always keep our pets dental health top of mind but National Pet Dental Health Month, Sponsored by the AVMA, helps raise awareness of the significance of oral healthcare for pets.
VISIT ZYMOX ON SOCIAL MEDIA & LEARN MORE ABOUT PET DENTAL CARE AND ORATENE PRODUCTS!
When the holidays roll around we know it's going to be a busy, stressful time so we try to plan an early pet friendly holiday getaway with the dogs. We usually go the first few days of December, when holiday decorations are up but before the holiday crowds are in full swing. For a few years now, our dog friendly holiday vacation has been a few days in the quaint upstate New York town of Rhinebeck.
QUAINT AND HISTORIC, RHINEBECK, NEW YORK IS A PEACEFUL GETAWAY
Rhinebeck has always been a wonderful place for us to get away and unplug, not too far from Manhattan or Long Island. Our favorite place to stay is the Beekman Arms Inn. The Beekman Arms, established in 1766, is dubbed the "Oldest Inn in America" and has quite an interesting history. The hotel consists of several buildings, the most popular being the main Beekman Arms Inn and the Delamater House Inn. We enjoy staying at both of these beautiful, charming properties. We've stayed there many times but neither of these properties are a pet friendly hotel so we've had to leave the dogs at home. 😞
Beautiful waterfall, pratically frozen, on one of our walks through the quaint town of Rhinebeck
We love to vacation with our dogs, they are our family, so it was disappointing that we could never take them with us. I understand why pets are not permitted in the main Beekman Arms Inn or the Delamater House because they are historic inns with upscale furnishings and antiques. I really can't blame them for not wanting dogs or cats in those unique and special hotel rooms.
DOG FRIENDLY HOTEL IN RHINEBECK, NEW YORK
However, the Beekman Arms does have one building that allows pets, it's called the Guest House, and is described as a "motel style" hotel on property. We were never able to find photos of this building or the pet friendly rooms online in the past, they just didn't have them which made us suspicious that they might be hideous. Recently though, we found a photo of a dog friendly room at the Guest House on the web site and it didn't look bad at all! We decided to take a chance and book a dog friendly room in the Beekman Arm's pet friendly Guest House property. We were pleasantly surprised. It was a far cry from the beautifully appointed rooms of the main Beekman Inn and the Delamater House, but we really enjoyed staying there. It was wonderful having our dogs with us in one of our favorite quaint upstate towns!
The pet friendly Guest House building at the Beekman Arms in Rhinebeck, New York. There's actually a cute courtyard area behind this fence, I'm sorry I didn't get a photo of it.
The Guest House at the Beekman Arms doesn't look like much from the outside. It's definitely more "motel style", but it was clean and comfortable. We were just so delighted to be able to finally bring our dogs with us to Rhinebeck! There don't seem to be any other dog friendly lodgings in the town of Rhinebeck. Here's a photo collage of our dogs Icy and Phoebe in our Guest House room.
Our pet friendly room in the Guest House property of the Beekman Arms Inn, Rhinebeck NY
GREAT WALKABILITY AND DOG FRIENDLY! Having our dogs with us on our Rhinebeck getaway was great. We loved being able to walk through this beautiful little town with Icy and Phoebe. The sidewalks weren't too crowded and there were several places for both the dogs and us to enjoy together. There's a lovely little park with a lake at one edge of town, which Icy and Phoebe loved exploring. The lake runs off into a creek with a waterfall that was partially frozen. It was so pretty!
Just steps from our hotel room we discovered another great dog friendly park with a gravel walking path and a large grassy field. Each morning and evening we went for nice long walks with the dogs here. It must be gorgeous when it snows. Unfortunately it's not an off leash area but we enjoyed it so much.
A wonderful dog friendly park where we took lots of long walks with the dogs
ENJOYING THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT IN RHINEBECK, NEW YORK
The town of Rhinebeck and the Beekman Arms hotel were beautifully decorated for the holidays. This wonderful antique sleigh stood right outside the Beekman Arms Inn so we took advantage of a photo op for Phoebe. Too bad there wasn't any snow, maybe we could have gone for a sleigh ride!
What, we're not going for a sleigh ride?!
At night the streets were all lit up with beautiful Christmas lights. It was so nice to stroll through the town in the evening enjoying all the lights.
Rhinebeck all lit up for the holidays
I love Broadway shows in New York City, but I really enjoy dinner theater too. Great food and a show at the same time - I love it! A wonderful theater company performed A Christmas Carol in dinner theater style and sang Christmas carols right in the Beekman Arms hotel. We loved it! The actors and singers were all so talented. The little boy who played Tiny Tim was such a talent, I won't be at all surprised if I see that kid on broadway one day soon.
The talented theater company performed A Christmas Carol at the Beekman Arms hotel
I hope you enjoyed this post. We love sharing our dog friendly adventures and all the great pet friendly hotels and other places we've taken Icy and Phoebe to. If you're interested in other dog friendly vacations and pet travel tips, check out more of our Dog Friendly Travel posts.
What dog friendly place can you suggest visiting? Leave us a comment and share! We love hearing from you. 🐾💖
The Long Island Scottish Festival and Highland Games event has been going on for decades. Despite being born and raised on Long Island, New York I had never been to this popular festival. I had heard a lot about it and I've wanted to go for quite some time, so when my cousin called and said Let's Go to the Scottish Festival! I was on board! The Scottish Festival celebrates and preserves Scottish Heritage by educating people about the cultural history of Scotland. I was looking forward to all the vendors with unique Scottish merchandise, sampling some interesting Scottish food, and watching the fun demonstration of Highland games and dancing. What I was most looking forward to though, is seeing some Scottish Dogs! You knew there had to be a dog angle, right?
Guenevere "Gwenie", my cousin's adorable Scottie was none too pleased that we went to a Scottish Festival without her. You're not taking ME along? Really!? I hope you get sick on Birdie Pie, Humpf!!
DOGS OF SCOTLAND, LET'S GET TO IT ALREADY!
The Scottish Festival wasn't a dog event, in fact it wasn't even a dog friendly event! No dogs were permitted other than a few dog rescues, Scottish dog aficionados wanting to educate people about their dog's breed, and Scottish dog breeders that had booths set up there. But there were plenty of adorable, sweet Scottish dogs to pet and love on! I was a little disappointed that there weren't more rescue dogs and dog rescue groups represented at the festival, but it was interesting to learn about the dogs of Scotland. I was especially interested in the Scottish Deerhound, which I was only a little familiar with. When I first saw this beautiful dog I assumed she was an Irish Wolfhound, the tallest breed of dog, but I was wrong. Scottish Deerhounds and Irish Wolfhounds look so much alike - to me, anyway!
I mistook this sweet Scottish Deerhound for an Irish Wolfhound - My Bad!
The Scottish Deerhound is a pretty big dog, but they're considerably smaller than their Irish Wolfhound cousins. This beautiful girl was so large I just assumed she was an Irish Wolfhound - sorry sweetie, my mistake! You know what happens when you assume, don't you? You make an ASS of U and ME, LOL!! In this Modern Dog magazine article, you can read more about the differences between the Scottish Deerhound and the Irish Wolfhound . I was thrilled to see a number of Scottish Terriers at the festival. These Scotties were so adorable, and super friendly!
This adorable Scottie loved greeting the children who came by to say Hi. Look at him smiling at his adoring fans! Kids' faces obscured for privacy purposes
I love black Scotties! In fact that's what I wanted when John and I finally decided to get a dog - actually, I had decided long before but it took some work to Convince my husband to get a dog! We ended up with our Siberian Husky, Icy, instead! A Scottie and a Husky couldn't be more different, but as most of you probably know, I wouldn't have it any other way. Icy brings us so much joy. I still hope to have a jet black Scottie one day.....
How handsome is this Scottie dude?!
I was happy to see a Shetland Sheepdog rescue group with some really sweet Shelties at the festival. Among them was this absolutely adorable Dog. This Sheltie was so popular and friendly, I could barely get near him! I loved his unique coloring and amazing temperament, especially with the children.
This beautiful Sheltie was there with the Long Island Shetland Sheepdog Rescue group. If you want to Adopt a Sheltie or Foster a Sheltie, they might be a potential resource for you if you live in the vicinity of the Northeast.
Sheltland Sheepdog Rescue Group on Long Island NY
Other great Scottish dogs we had the pleasure of meeting at the festival were West Highland White Terriers (Westies), a beautiful Sky Terrier, and a sweet little Dandie Dinmont.
Beautiful dogs! Skye Terrier (L), Dandie Dimnont (Upper Rt), and a Westie (Lower Rt)
It was so nice to meet these dog breeds of Scotland, I loved it! After I got my Scottish doggie fix, I was delighted to see that there were some interesting birds of prey at the festival too!
BIRDS OF PREY MAKE AN APPEARANCE AT THE SCOTTISH FESTIVAL
All birds of prey are beautiful and fascinating. One of my favorite birds in general are Owls. I can't recall if my owl fascination increased following Harry Potter and his stunning Snowy Owl, Hedwig, or if I've always been this enthralled with Owls. There wasn't a Snowy Owl at the festival, but there was an adorable little Barn Owl and a gorgeous amber colored Eurasian Owl.
Beautiful birds of prey were at the Scottish Festival
In addition to Owls there were Hawks, Kestrels, and a majestic Bald Eagle, which is the national bird of the United States. The Falconer shared some interesting facts about each of the birds. Check out the giant talons on this Bald Eagle! These birds can weigh up to 12 lbs and can lift and carry up to 5 lbs. But don't panic dog moms! Although they'll eat small mammals, a Bald Eagle's primary diet is fish.
Closeup of a Bald Eagle's talons
Red Tailed Hawks and Great Horned Owls, however, have been known to attack cats and dogs weighing well over 6 lbs. Both of these predators are common on Long Island, so needless to say I keep a close eye on little Phoebe. I wasn't that clear on the connection between these birds and Scottish culture, but I do know that Kestrels and Golden Eagles can be found in Scotland. Oh well, it's a festival and these wild creatures were beautiful to behold! Most of the birds they had on display were rescued birds, but not all of them. I hope you enjoyed hearing about our day at the Scottish Festival and all the sweet dogs and beautiful birds we saw there. Please leave us a comment and let us know if you enjoyed this post. We always love hearing your thoughts!
Here's a fun Flashback photo of Icy when she was less than a year old. Look how big her ears were LOL! As she got older, she lost the beautiful markings around her eyes which looked like a mask. I always thought they made her look a bit mean, but of course she's the sweetest girl! I'm jumping on the Flashback Friday blog hop with this photo of Icy:
Icy as a puppy. Look how giant her ears are LOL!
JOIN US ON THE FLASHBACK FRIDAY BLOG HOP, HOSTED BY DOROTHY WILLS-RAFTERY OF FIVE SIBES!!
If you've been reading our blog for awhile, you know that we love taking our dogs just about everywhere with us! We're always looking for great dog friendly restaurants, dog friendly activities and other destinations that welcome dogs. We have recently discovered some great Dog Friendly Wineries on Long Island, New York!
Long Island's Wine Country
Yes, Long Island, New York has a Wine Country and it's pretty darn good! The sandy soil and moderate climate found on Long Island makes it ideal for growing grapes. Although grapes have been grown and vines sold on Long Island since the late 1600's, according to the Long Island Wine Council the first Long Island Vineyard wasn't planted until 1973.
Several vineyards on Long Island, NY are dog friendly!
Upon visiting Long Island in 2,000, world renowned Australian viticulturist Dr. Richard Smart said that the soils of Long Island "are among the finest soils for grape growing that I have ever seen in the world" Wow, that's quite a testament coming from a leading global consultant on viticulture methods!
Sandy soil and a moderate maritime climate are ideal for growing grapes that make the delicious wines of Long Island!
As you travel East on Long Island, the Island splits into two sections, the North Fork and the South Fork of the island. This split begins at the town of Riverhead, about two thirds of the way to the Eastern end of the island. The North Fork of the island is where most of the wineries are located in towns like Riverhead, Mattituck, Peconic, and Southold. There are a couple of wineries on the South Fork as well, but the South Fork is better known for the beautiful regions of The Hamptons and Montauk.
Dog Friendly Wineries, North Fork Long Island
We've visited several vineyards on Long Island over the years, but this was the first time we visited wineries on Long Island that allow dogs! It's the first time, but it will certainly not be the last. We had a wonderful time at two of Long Island's pet friendly wineries, and so did our dogs, Icy and Phoebe! For our first winery visits with the dogs we chose Pindar Vineyards in Peconic and Macari VineyardsinMattituck. Visiting two wineries with dogs was plenty for one day. We wanted to take our time and enjoy the wine and the beauty of the vineyards, and didn't want to tire the dogs out too much. We'll be heading back out to visit a couple more pet friendly wineries on Long Island in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for that!
Dog Friendly Pindar Vineyards, Peconic, Long Island NY
Our first stop was Pindar Vineyards in Peconic. I did a tasting of about 5 different wines (don't worry, the tasting size is super small!) and John had just one glass of wine since he was our driver. We bought a couple of cheese sticks and a small package of crackers to enjoy along with our wine. They had a covered patio with lots of shade and a beautiful view of the vineyards. The gentle, cool breezes off the water were delightful! I had brought chew sticks for the dogs, but of course we couldn't refuse sharing some of our cheese sticks with them too!
We had to share some of our cheese sticks with the dogs. I mean, who could say No to that face!?
I really like Pindar's green initiatives, one of which is the use of wind in their wine production. They installed a 156 foot tall Turbine that will power at least 80% of all winery operations. We applaud their sustainability efforts!
This wind turbine will power at least 80% of wine production at Pindar Vineyards
There is a beautiful Sunflower Field on the property as well. You can stroll through the field with a glass of wine in hand, admiring the bright, "happy" flowers. You can even cut some sunflowers to take home for just a dollar or two per stem. They provide the clippers, you choose & cut your flowers.
Pindar Vinyard has a beautiful sunflower field. Sunflowers can be cut and purchased by the stem.
We left Pindar Vineyards with 2 bottles of wine in tow. A bottle of Pythagoras red wine for my husband and a bottle of Winter White for me. Delicious!!
Dog Friendly Macari Vineyards, Mattituck, Long Island NY
Our next stop was Macari Vinyards in Mattituck. I didn't do another tasting, instead I had a glass of a sparkling Cabernet that I really like and john had a glass of Merlot. In addition to tasting flights, Macari offers a boxed cheese, cracker, and aged salami snack that you can enjoy with your glass or bottle of wine outside on the patio. You can also buy these items a la carte. There was enough in the boxed "snack" to consider it lunch for two. There was also enough cheddar cheese and salami left over for a delicious omelette du fromage the next morning!
Macari Vineyard offers a la carte or boxed snacks of cheeses, crackers, and aged Italian salami. Yum!!
We enjoyed one of the boxed snacks with our wine on the covered patio overlooking the vineyard. It was perfect, sipping wine and snacking on cheese and crackers while looking out over the beautiful vineyard. The breezes that came off the Long Island Sound were so relaxing, even the dogs were loving the cool breezes! We made sure there was plenty of shade and kept the dogs well hydrated. Of course, we had to share a little of our cheese and salami with the dogs!
Phoebe jumps up to catch a bit of cheese!
The Macari Vineyard started in the 1990's. The Macari farm uses an ecological and holistic approach to growing their grapes. That includes a field devoted entirely to compost, with a composting program that utilizes a herd of Long Horn Cattle and a couple of horses. PIN THIS!
If you decide to visit wineries on Long Island, New York, there are lots of Long Island Vineyard Tours available. I like the idea of a tour because you can visit several wineries and participate in wine tastings to your heart's content without having to worry about driving afterwards! It's probably the safest way to do a wine tasting tour, don't you think?
Have you ever visited a dog friendly Vineyard? If not, would you like to? Leave us a comment and let us know, we LOVE hearing from you!
My dogs don't have to take pet medications very often, especially in pill format. The occasional need for an antibiotic and their monthly heartworm preventative medication are the only medications my dogs need, thankfully. However, I wanted to share a creative way to give a dog a pill with food your dog probably already eats. My cousin's Veterinarian shared this pill giving tip with her and now I'd like to share it with you!
GIVING YOUR DOG A PILL BY MOUTH CAN BE A STRUGGLE
Even if it's infrequent, giving your dog a pill can be a struggle. You slather it with peanut butter or cream cheese, you hide it in their food, you may even stick it in the very back of their throat or use a "pill dropper", hold their snout closed and tilt their head back trying to get your dog to swallow the pill. Even after those stealth pill giving attempts your pet may eat all the peanut butter or cream cheese around it and spit out the pill. Or your dog might remain stark still while you practically wrestle him to the ground trying to get the pill to the back of his throat, but then find a way to gag or spit the pill out anyway. Or you think you've hidden the pill in your dog's food but he smells it immediately and refuses to eat at all. Pin This!
Make giving your pet medications in pill form easier!
It's difficult when there's an occasional need to give your dog a pill, but imagine how hard it must be for dogs or cats who need daily medication in pill form long term! What's a Dog Mom to do? Pill Pockets you buy in the pet store may make it easier but they can be expensive. For ongoing daily pet medication administration of pills that's a lot of extra cost and calories added to your dog's diet.
HOW TO GIVE YOUR DOG A PILL USING A DOG FOOD MEATBALL
My cousin Grace shared a tip with me that her Veterinarian recommended when her pill hating Scottish Terrier needed 10 days of medication. He suggested making a simple Meatball Pill Pocket using canned dog food she already feeds her dog. 🐶 Place a can of dog food in the fridge to harden and chill. Make sure it's a canned food your dog likes to eat, and one you can scoop out and roll into a ball! It shouldn't be too wet or have gravy in it. 🐶 Scoop out 4 tablespoons of the canned food and roll each one into a ball in your hands, just like making a meatball. Make 4 of these dog food "meatballs". 🐶 Insert the pill you need to give your dog into the middle of one of the "meatballs". The other 3 meatballs won't have a pill inside. 🐶 Start by giving your dog one of the meatballs that doesn't have the pill in it. Then give him a second meatball without the pill inside as soon as he swallows the first meatball. Make it fun like you're giving your dog a special treat, and praise him! 🐶 As soon as he swallows the second meatball, give your dog the third meatball, which should be the one with the pill inside it. After scarfing down the first two yummy meatballs and being praised for it, your dog will be anticipating the third yummy meatball and happily gobble it up! 🐶 Finish by giving your dog the last meatball without the pill in it. That will end your pet medication session on a fun and positive note!
Have you ever had to give your dog or cat medication in pill form? Was it easy or did you struggle? Tell us about it in the comments, and if you have a pill giving tip, please share it!
