Golden Retriever Puppy

It's been more than two years since I decided to get a Golden Retriever puppy, and as you know, I still don't have the puppy. I'm grateful I did not get a puppy when I first started looking, because I don't think I really knew what I was looking for, and I'm embarrassed about some of the breeders I considered at the time (one with recorded hip dysplasia in the lines! but I didn't know that!). I now have a firm grasp as to what to look for when selecting a reputable breeder.

Well, after a bit of a pause for various reasons, the search for the right breeder and litter is back on!!! I am so excited to start looking, but I'm willing to wait for THE LITTER! This puppy will hopefully become my first show dog!

I want another Golden Retriever, and a female puppy. Because I'm a newbie to showing I will probably need to co-own the puppy with the breeder, and I'll also need a mentor. Co-owning has risks, but it also has the potential to be GREAT! If I find the right breeder, co-owning will provide me with a wonderful opportunity to be mentored, and this will help ensure I don't make common dog show novice mistakes.

I just wanted to let you all know the search is back on!!!

This commercial drives Milly absolutely insane!!!

So the other night this commercial came on and Milly ran all over the house looking for the squeaker and started licking the TV!!!

My Doggie Must-Have Wish List:

Now that I’m committed to researching the right products and stopping impulse spending, I’m busy saving for the better products I should have bought in the beginning. Here are the tools and products I am pinching pennies and saving for.

I’m simply dying to purchase the Chris Christensen Kool-Dry dryer (in pink!). This is the crème de la crème of dryers! Known as the professionals’ choice, especially if you have more than one dog to groom, it’s sure to be a favorite once you use it. The Kool Dry features a variable output blower from whisper to blast, and dries quickly without added heat to damage the coat. This dryer is powerful yet quiet, it’s compact and comes with an extra long (nine foot) hose and two styles of nozzles! As you know I gave up professional groomings for Milly last summer and put aside the money saved to make this purchase, the money is ready, but it’s hard to convince myself to fork over $350 for a dog dryer!

I love to bargain on EVERYTHING! I’m planning on seeing if Chris Christensen can throw in a free brush with the dryer purchase whenever I get myself mentally prepared for such a big spend. The brush of choice is the Chris Christensen 20mm Fusion Brass Oval Pin Brush! At $50 normally this is one I’m really hoping to be able to bargain in as the freebie! This is a brush that will last me a lifetime of grooming!

Another Chris Christensen brush I’d love to get is the new wooden pin brush – ¾” pin length, 8 ½” body, in oval. This is great for detangling the coat without damaging it! The Carpino Wood pins work to delicately separate out the area of the tangle from the rest of the hair, then work gently to loosen by drawing individual hairs upward and out to the side yet away from the knot. The wooden pins eliminate painful pulling on individual hair follicles that can possible damage or break the hair under the strain. This will also eliminate tightening any knots which are already present. The wooden pins utilize the natural oils to polish the hair by distributing sebum and/or applied oils. It’s also 100% static free! At a cost of $35 it’s not cheap, but well worth it!

With all these brushes there are also times I need a good comb. Metal combs are optimum, and the best comb available is the Belgian Greyhound metal comb. The prices I’ve seen vary on these, but I’ve found one for $28 (plus shipping) and I’m ready to splurge!

Before I can groom I need to be able to give a great bath, while I’m really hoping to one day have a grooming table and a grooming tub, those are on hold for now – along with the Isle of Dog Royal Jelly Shampoo! For now I'll stick with my Cowboy Magic Rosewater Shampoo (diluted, of course).

I’d like to purchase some shammie towels (the generic ShamWow) which are only a few dollars. I’d also like a good microfiber mitt for Milly’s face (she’s very sensitive and a little head shy), and these work great - you can get them for less than $5 at your local auto parts store and they are soooooo soft!

And of course, I really need a Dremel! This is on the top of the list for ideal nail grinding (this reduces the risk of the nail splitting, and it’s harder to hit the quick if you grind the nail as opposed to clipping them). I'm debating between getting a regular Dremel, or buying the Oster nail grinder (I've heard this is good). If you are thinking about getting a nail grinder I'll warn you to stay away from PediPaws (unless you have a toy breed), as it really is not capable of grinding larger nails. A Dremel would be useful for non-dog projects, but is more expensive than the Oster Nail Grinder. The Oster would save me money, but is really only useful for nail grinding. Oh the choices!

I hope you enjoyed reading about the items I hope to one day purchase! They're very expensive, especially when you add them all up, but a girl has got to dream!

Stop Burning Money on Useless Pet Products!

I’ve spent a lot of money on dog related products over the years, I shudder to think of the amount spent, and I’m grateful I don’t have the receipts from every dog-related purchase or I might have a heart attack if I ever saw the grand total! One thing I’ve found is I buy a product, try it out, and then find a product I like more, or learn why the product I bought isn’t quite as wonderful as I initially thought or marketing told me it would be.

I’ve gotten sick and tired of this. I waste money by not initially buying the better product, usually a bit more expensive than my first purchase, because I end up buying the cheaper product and then the more costly better product. I have a dog supply graveyard, a basket full of no longer useful training aids, grooming tools, and toys. I could have avoided this by just buying the better grooming tools and training aids from the get-go, but the toys are a bit trickier, as every dog has their own personal opinions regarding what is fun to play with!

What’s in the basket you might ask? Two slicker brushes – they work, they do the job, but I feel like they actually kind of damage the coat. They’ve since been replaced by a Chris Christensen slicker brush (which I love!) that cost the same as the two inferior ones. A Gentle Leader halter – Milly hated it, and I prefer actually training her to walk loosely on a leash. A Sporn Harness – this worked, but I’ve since replaced it with a prong collar for walks and Milly has really learned loose leash walking (even on a flat collar)! A retractable leash – they’re dangerous, they can literally decapitate your fingers, and they promote leash pulling. Nail clippers – many different types. Shampoos – many contain high amounts of alcohol and dull the coat. And that’s just the first layer of stuff in the basket!

In a world full of so many doggie doodads it’s hard to know what the better product actually is. Believe it or not, often the best dog products aren’t even available at big pet supply stores like Petsmart or Petco! They’re instead made by smaller companies who cater to the extremely educated dog owner or dog professional – whether it is a show breeder, handler, groomer, or dog trainer – and can be purchased online, at pet expo’s, dog show vendors or specialty boutiques.

In an effort to end this silly frivolous spending I contacted a Golden Retriever breeder whom I admire and respect greatly. I asked her what the best grooming tools she owns are, and why. What exactly I need, and don’t need. I’m slowly acquiring them, but there are many I’m still saving for.

Want to do the same thing, but own a different breed? Join your local breed club and contact other members for advice! You might spend a bit more up front, but you’ll save in the end!

Flying Chihuahuas To Where The Odds Are Better

In an effort to ease the overcrowded population of Chihuahuas in California, Virgin America flew 15 Chihuahuas from San Francisco to New York this week.

West Coast shelters, inundated with Chihuahuas, have been searching for help from shelters on the East Coast, where Chihuahuas are few and far between, and there is a high demand for the pint sized pooches. Cooperation and teamwork between shelters to transport and relocate dogs is a common practice to facilitate more adoptions.

Influenced by red carpet Chihuahua toting celebrities, like Paris Hilton and Hillary Duff, and movies like Beverly Hills Chihuahua, irresponsible breeders and puppy mills realized they could profit off of this celebrity trend. The irresponsible breeding and media attention the little dogs received have contributed to the high volume of Chihuahuas in West Coast shelters, and the struggling economy has not helped, dog experts have noted. Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes have become the most common dog in California shelters, even outnumbering the Pit Bull.

With a veterinarian escort, the Chihuahuas were scheduled to arrive at JFK airport where they will be picked up by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), which will work to find the dogs foster families and adoptive homes on the East Coast.

To garner more support, and raise awareness to the plight of homeless animals, Virgin America’s Facebook page documented the flight, complete with photos and videos posted mid-air!

It’s not just California shelters that are flooded with Chihuahuas. In Phoenix, Arizona the pocket pet trend has caught on and Maricopa County Animal Care and Control shelters are packed to the gills with Chihuahuas. In December, the shelters were forced to have a $36 weekend Chihuahua special following a two month period where the shelters received 821 Chihuahuas, 230 more than the year before, according to the Associated Press.

A Collection of Poems by Billy Cosby, Guest Poet!

Animals are the focus of much of my life, and through my love of animals I’ve created many friendships. When I was 12 or 13 I became friends with a fellow equestrian named Anndy, and our friendship took off. Had it not been for our mutual love of all things furry, especially the variety with four legs and a tail (whether it is a dog, horse or cat), I doubt we’d be friends today. Our love of animals has been a part of our lives we’ve shared with each other, and it has been one constant that no matter how much we each grow and change, we will always have. Having grown up in the same town, Anndy and I make it a point to see each other and catch up when we visit our families for the holidays.

A few years ago, things changed, it wasn’t just Anndy anymore, but now she introduced her boyfriend Billy into the mix. At first, I was hesitant to accept Billy, after all, he knew nothing of being a 14 year old girl driving a moped, gossiping about boys, and picking up every stray we found. However, I soon realized he too was an animal lover, and quite a cool fellow (animals aside). A couple of years past, and I was able to spend a little bit more time with Billy, each visit getting to know him better. I was not at all surprised when I got the phone call that Billy would be moving in with Anndy, nor was I surprised when I got the phone call that Billy had proposed, and I was thrilled when they included me in their beautiful wedding at the National Steeplechase Museum. I knew this was a match made in heaven when their wedding website noted their dogs as flower girls, bios and all! Anndy and Billy now reside in Lexington, Kentucky with their beloved dogs Crunch and Barlee.

I am now pleased to say that Billy has become one of my friends, and we’ve been able to share three loves: Anndy (obviously, in very different ways), dogs, and the English language. As a teacher, Billy spends a great amount of time discussing poetry with his students. His class loves when he shares his own dog themed poems with them. I was thrilled when Billy contacted me to see if I’d like to share some of his poetry with my readers. Billy has a beautiful way of molding the English language into poetic music, and reading these poems makes me feel like I am in the room with the dogs he so vividly captures through words.

So without further ado, I present a collection of puppy themed poetry written by Billy Cosby.

She hears me.

She hears me

put my shorts

on.

On,

she cavorts

in a flee.

She lies down

at my socks

feet.

Fleet,

not like rocks,

streak of brown.

Barlee wags,

thinking jog,

soon.

Tune,

a rock blog,

leaving nags.

At the door,

leash in hand:

clip!

Rip,

my last stand,

she straight tore.

Her feet roar,

lion canned,

forth.

North,

pulls my hand,

so fast, “Foooooorrre!”

When the shorts

go on up,

tied.

Tried,

true this pup,

revved blood quarts.

Do Not Bring that Stick in Here

Do not bring that stick in here.

Do not share the wild.

I don’t sell the wind.

Our home is too soft.

Do not bring that stick in here.

Do not stretch our comfort;

our easy-going, snap-button wonder.

Our home is not ready.

Do not bring that stick in here.

Do not invite her in.

The Oriole will be the next to R.S.V.P.

Our home is not a cage.

Do not bring that stick in here.

Do not store kindling.

I won’t risk friction.

Our home is frisky enough.

Do not bring that stick in here.

Do not wave it like a wand.

We will not turn into cats.

Our home is for dogs…

…eh, and I guess sticks, too.

Barlee Marks

#1

Year of the Barlee:

marked by exclamatory,

pawed, parallel marks.

A summer season

of sunburnt, three-pronged marks

and beach balls popping.

Antiseptic fall;

displaced leaves and displaced skin

fall in a clawed fall.

A winter of youth,

Barlee still young, still wreckless,

young claws contact cells.

Ailing spring and flesh;

marks here and marked tulips spread

a landscape of scars.

Year of the Barlee:

marked by young marks; innocent

but somehow guilty.

The Dog Poet Laureate

You are the dog poet laureate:

designated per life,

diligently peeling language.

peeing, leg-lifting.

You are the dog poet laureate:

developing Pekinese landscapes,

devouring Poodles’ leaps.

You are the dog poet laureate:

deaf, paralyzed laps =

diary painfully laden.

You are the dog poet laureate.

Dalmation pairs lollygagging.

Dachsund princesses lazily…

You are the dog poet laureate:

daffodils pressed lastingly,

dahlias perfumed: lagoon.

You are the dog poet laureate:

danger-privy Labradors,

deserting privateer Leonbergers.

You are the dog poet laureate:

delectable pastel litter,

dancing, perpetual lifeguards.

You are the dog poet laureate:

dredging pawed labyrinths,

doggedly pursuing leashes.

The Muddy Mutt: A Self Serve Grooming Salon

When the day comes that I no longer lease, and I find myself a homeowner, I have plans of transforming my basement into a dog grooming room. I’ve looked into what tubs are the best, saved up for a professional dog dryer, have selected my grooming table of choice, and even drawn out how I want everything laid out!

Until that day comes I am stuck with either bathing Milly in the driveway with a hose and drying her with a hair dryer on the cold setting, spending $65 at the groomer for a bath and brush (I’m particular about where she goes, because she is geriatric and I need to know the groomer will give her breaks throughout the process), clogging my shower drain and struggling to rinse her in my walk-in shower, or going to the do-it yourself dog wash!

I’ve found a fabulous dog wash in Shirlington (a part of Arlington, VA) called The Muddy Mutt. For $17 (you get your 6^th wash free) you are provided with a professional grooming tub that is off the wall so you can scrub from both sides, professional all-natural and organic shampoos (mixed on site for your dog’s particular needs), a professional AirForce brand dryer, all the brushes and combs you could need, an unlimited supply of treats, an unlimited supply of ShamWow’s (they’re great, but the generic sold at AutoZone work even better, incase you were wondering), and the softest wash cloths I’ve ever felt. The Muddy Mutt backs up to the Shirlington Dog Park, talk about prime location, and is owned by the sweetest lady who will help you through the entire process and answer all of your questions. They even have a small retail section, and provide you with aprons so you can leave just as clean as you entered! The Muddy Mutt supports pet adoptions by offering one free wash to any dog adopted from a reputable within the last three months.

A dog waits to be bathed in the grooming area

For senior dogs and dogs with limited mobility they offer ramps!

They have all sorts of fun dog accessories, toys and leashes in their growing retail section!

While I have the money saved up for the Chris Christensen Kool Dry Dryer I’ve been coveting, I’m a bit hesitant to make the purchase in the winter. It truly is back breaking work to bathe Milly in the driveway, and it’s way too cold this time of year, and it is just a big mess to do her in my shower (the drain clogs just from my hair so think of what Golden Retriever fur does to it!). I never thought it could be so painful to be bent over for so long, but after grooming her at home my back usually hurts for two days. So, until I can groom her in the driveway with the hose again, I’m happily spending my money at The Muddy Mutt.

If you’ve never used a grooming tub and professional dryer you don’t know what you’re missing! I can get Milly 90% dry with a professional dryer in under 5 minutes! With a regular hair dryer on the cold setting we’re looking at over an hour of coat damaging work. A professional dryer works by blowing the water off the coat, and then you can adjust the settings for detail work. The lack of heat makes this a pet-safe tool that can be used weekly (or more) with out causing skin and coat irritations. If you are spending a fortune or hurting yourself grooming at home you should check if there is a self-service grooming salon/dog wash in your area – it’s totally worth the money!

The Muddy Mutt is conveniently located (walking distance!) from my very dog friendly office. I can take Milly to work in the morning, let her play and get really filthy for a few minutes at the park, and simply put her in a tub and scrub, scrub, scrub.

This is one business I happily frequent every other week - and where I'll be spending my lunch break today! Miss Muddy Paws gives The Muddy Mutt FOUR PERFECT PAWS!

Ho Ho Ho (a little late)

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your blogger friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy this entire post and paste into a new post on your blog, if you have one. I got the idea from Black Labs and Lilly! Change all the answers so that they apply to you. This is not a Meme or a Tag. You simply play along if you wish to. Or just read the answers! Enjoy the Disney Pictures sprinkled throughout the post!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I use both! I love to buy nice thick paper on sale right after Christmas at discount stores like Marshalls, and stash it under my bed for the year. For pet owning friends I tie a dog treat or biscuit onto the ribbon to jazz it up - a dog themed ornament is a nice touch too. When giving multiple gifts or baked goods I go with a gift bag.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real. My roommate bought a small real tree this year that I adore. I always make a wreath out of the tree clippings, and I feel safer if my pups chew on a real tree than the plastic ones! I love to lie on the floor looking up at the tree, using my Golden Retriever Milly as my pillow.

3. When do you put up the tree? In our house we’re pretty slow, the week of Christmas, but usually we wait until Christmas Eve.

4. When do you take the tree down? Since we tend to be behind on the tree buying, and our tree goes up at the last possible minute we wait until the second week of January.

5. Do you like eggnog? I love it! My dad recently passed down his top secret eggnog recipe to me! Yum yum! It’ll give you a holiday buzz, but watch out, drink too much and your belt won’t fit anymore! Make sure to keep it away from the pups as alcohol is very toxic for pooches!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? A new saddle – I thought there was a TV in that big box, and boy was I tickled when I opened it to find the saddle I’d been eyeing in the local tack store for 2 years!

7. Hardest person to buy for? My middle brother – he’s way too practical!

8. Easiest person to buy for? My dad – he’s very practical, but I know what he likes and dislikes!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. At my parents house we have many, and I keep my nativity scene at their second home in Vermont – it’s made of Olive wood and I picked it up at a crafts fair as a little girl.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. This year they featured Milly in 4 feet of snow, frozen whiskers and a frosty nose are hard to top!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A bath product set that caused a terrible allergic reaction!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Benji’s Very Own Christmas Story – my dad actually sat beside Benji on a flight once, he was allowed out of his carrier and did tricks the entire flight! Boy am I envious!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I buy gifts throughout the year and stash them in a secret hiding place I refer to as the North Pole! This year I was slower than usual, and didn’t get started until the end of November.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Is this a trick question? I recycled a photo album, because I owned the same album, but I personalized it with photos of my friend and I and our dogs and horses. So, sort of.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Smoked salmon – we have it every year!

16. Lights on the tree? Yes!! Classic white lights, and some years we even add real candles, but those take a lot of supervision!

17. Favorite Christmas song? God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I travel either to my parents house in South Carolina or their house in Vermont – it’s 7 -10 hours depending on traffic, and about equidistance to either place!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Most of them.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither, a stuffed animal cow!

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning! The only exceptions are gifts from friends, and on Christmas morning we open stockings before gifts under the tree.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People forgetting what Christmas is about (our Savior), and those who allow the stress of gifting to taint the holiday spirit.

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? I love our hand blown glass balls – there are a few that are over 70 years old! My childhood macaroni ornaments still have a place on our tree.

24. Favorite for Christmas Dinner? Blueberry pancakes and bacon on Christmas Eve for dinner and a nice pot roast for breakfast on Christmas morning. It used to be the other way around, but one year my mom put the roast in for Christmas Eve supper and forgot to turn on the oven! We were so hungry we just made breakfast, and it started a tradition!

25. What do you want to do for Christmas this year? Cherish my last Christmas in my childhood home, and celebrate the health and happiness my family and I have. I accomplished that one this year.

26. Favorite Christmas tradition growing up? Putting up our nativity scenes with my dad – they are very old, and take up the entire mantle.

27. Favorite tradition now? Drinking and making eggnog with my parents and brothers.

28. Favorite Christmas Memory? The year Santa’s sleigh got delayed in China, and he was forced to wrap all of our presents in Chinese newspapers! It was amazing! Another is the year we left carrots and hay in an empty stall, and the next morning they had been munched and there was real deer droppings in the stall. With memories like that how can you not believe in the magic?

Chicken Treats Made in China and a Christmas Dilemma

Last night I found myself in quite a pickle of a situation. I returned from a wonderful week in Camden, South Carolina to a stack of Christmas cards and a few gifts under my small tree. One gift was for Milly from my boyfriend’s mother, and when I opened it I was excited to see “Sweet Potato,” but quickly became nervous as I realized this treat was wrapped in dehydrated chicken. I turned the box over and scoured to find the country of origin – disappointment sank in as I read those bold letters, “MADE IN CHINA.”

Dehydrated poultry products have quickly become the treat of choice for many owners, but the majority of them are made in China (I’ve only found two brands that aren’t). I’ve noticed these treats tend to rely on marketing “All natural” or “Holistic” or "Grain and corn free" and even the more expensive brands sold in pet specialty shops tend to be made in China. When I’ve inquired about the ingredients in such treats I’ve been told by store owners and store managers, “They’re all natural – it’s just chicken,” and so I ask what they might be cooked in because my dog has allergies – 100% natural chicken is always the response.

You might remember when I committed a cardinal dog owning sin and fed Milly some dehydrated chicken strips, made in China, which had been given to me. Normally, Milly does not get any food made in China, but I made an exception, and she paid the consequences by vomiting all day. I am so lucky that was the extent of her illness, but it was a very terrifying day, and one that I will never forget. I now read every label, and she is not allowed anything made in China.

In 2007 and 2008, there were many articles about made in China chicken treats causing renal and kidney failure in dogs throughout the United States and Australia. The FDA investigated the issue, but no conclusions about their investigation have been released, and they caution dog owners not to feed these treats. A simply Google search of “made in china chicken dog treat” turns up enough terrifying search results to make any dog owner’s head spin, and it checks out on Snopes.com!

In China the standards for processing foods are very different than in the United States, and regulations are rarely enforced, especially when it comes to pet food and pet products. From mold tainted chicken strips – go to your local Pet Smart and take a look at the packages of dehydrated chicken, and you’ll wonder why the same exact product comes in so many shades of color – to chicken supposedly treated in formaldehyde, the risks associated with these loosely regulated dog treats are high. These are both speculations of causes, though independent panels have found traces of both in treats.

The American Veterinary Medical Association urges pet owners not to feed these poultry based treats from China, and explains that there has been no definitive answers one way or another, but pets continue to get sick. They urge owners who do continue to feed these treats to watch their pets closely for any signs of illness.

I have not found much from 2009 regarding these cases, but I also have not found any conclusions regarding the issues that took place in 2007 and 2008 in my searches, but the lack of data is not going to push me into feeding my dog something made in China, I don’t care how many thousands of dogs safely eat these treats.

So now, here I am with a gift that I have no idea what to do with. At first I thought, well, I’ll Google the company, and maybe make an exception just this once, but images of Milly violently ill the last time I made an exception came to mind, and that simply is not an option. What is the proper gift receiving etiquette? Do I simply write a thank you note, and pretend like this was a great gift? Do I donate the treats to a shelter – I don’t feel comfortable putting other dogs at risk. Do I find a store that carries the same brand I was given and try to exchange them for a treat made in the USA, and then write a thank you note explaining what I did? I do believe it is important to educate the public, but I don’t want to appear ungrateful. I was truly touched that someone took the time to think of Milly on Christmas, and include a gift for her under the tree.

FUN FRIDAY!!!

This is an amazing video of a yellow labrador catching a huge fish!


In the spirit of Christmas, enjoy this adorable video!