Tanner Gets the Weekly Preview!

by Tanner

© Carrie Boyko
Tanner Snuggles with his Treat Ball

Having a cut on your paw pad is not such a great thing. It really isn't that bad, but mom will absolutely not take me to the dog park or even let me swim. It's a super bummer.

I get to do stuff like chase a treat ball around the house, take walks on the sidewalk when it's cool outside, and do photo sessions for the blog. I actually like the photo sessions. I get treats for doing a good job.

Since I'm disabled, mom says I get to do this week's All Things Dog Blog Weekly Preview. She's gonna put Oliver on some other task like guarding the house or.....well, that's just nonsense!

Here's what's coming up this week over at All Things Dog Blog:

• Pup Profiles returns with a special reader's pup
• Mom's series on healthy dog food and the investigation into organic food continues, with 4 more posts this week. What do you suppose she has up her sleeve? Sounds like a big announcement or a giveaway. Oh, right. I do have a secret to keep. Oops.
• Product reviews are big fun this week--food and the opposite of food. LOL, Oliver had to do the dog potty review! I have to admit though, he got the hang of it really well. Good job Oliver!
• Our trainer has some suggestions for a Border Collie owner whose pup is in need of extra workouts. I think that's true of every Border Collie I ever met at agility--hyperactive and fast as lightening on the agility course!
• Did I forget the giveaway?  Toys, food, and a dog potty are all up for grabs. You can check mom's sidebar for links to the giveaway posts. Good luck!
• Finally, our Adoptable Pets Tour of States will take us across the ocean to Hawaii. I'm curious what sort of pets we'll find there. Do you suppose the dogs wear Hawaiin leis instead of bandanas?
• Next week? Money saving mania begins. Mom plans to show you how to make living organic a possibility, even on a tight budget. She's got all sorts of recipes and a guest post coming from her 20something Saver buddy, Lizzi. Don't miss these great tips for keeping your pet food budget in check.
• And Dr. Pat will be back next week...lots going on, huh?

I think I got a bit carried away with some peekaboos at the following week, but that's okay. Hope to see you all real soon.

Doggie Massage? I'm Ready to be a Tester for That!

by Tanner

© Carrie Boyko
Tanner enjoys an Ear Massage
Compliments of  Nikki

Hi guys. The official All Things Dog Blog veterinarian, Dr. Pat, posted about doggie massage today. I'm all for that! It reminded me of this picture mom took and I had to share it. Doesn't this look absolutely indulgent?! There's just nothing like a good massage.

Mom was so excited to read Dr. Pat's post that she went and ordered a couple of the videos that are for sale on TTouch. Dr. Pat says Tellington Touch is the way to go, so I guess we're on our way. I'll keep ya posted.

We're Rolling Back our Shot Schedule!

by Tanner

(c) Carrie Boyko
Yippee!

We love Dr. Pat more and more. Every time she writes a post for All Things Dog Blog, we seem to get more good news. Our mom has been working at going green in everything, and Dr. Pat is going to help. She's not recommending that we have ALL of the vaccines EVERY year. Yeah!

Of course it is different for each dog. I'm a big healthy guy who lives in a low-toxin home. That should make me a low risk, right? I'm starting to like this going green stuff. What about you?

Holistic Dog Food Finally Defined

by Tanner and Oliver

(c) Carrie Boyko
Loving the Natural Life

"HOLISTIC":  Look it up in the dictionary and you'll find something like 'considering the mind, body and spirit'. Our own Dr. Pat is a holistic veterinarian. That's pretty easy for us to understand.

Today, over at All Things Dog Blog, Dr. Pat is explaining how food can be considered 'holistic.' Mom says Tanner and I are a spirited two-some, but that certainly does not make us holistic. It's so confusing! Thank goodness Dr. Pat is helping folks understand what holistic dog food is and how it is good for us.

"Hey Mom; can we read the ingredients on our dog food bag again? We just gotta make sure."

Do You Have a Holistic Vet? We do!

by Xena, Tanner and Oliver

(c) Carrie Boyko
Don't Miss Dr. Pat's Video

We're all here today to make sure you watch Dr. Pat's first video presentation, Holistic Pet Care 101. It's pawsome!

Dr. Pat is the Ask the Vet columnist over at All Things Dog Blog, where our mom tries to help dog owners live happily with their pups. We're doing pretty good here, thanks to all her efforts. What's not to love about walks, swimming, training with treats, dog park visits and 2 squares a day?

But when a pup gets sick, sometimes they need a doctor. We love Dr. Pat's approach to doctoring. She's not entirely about popping pills and jabbing shots. It's good to know when there are alternatives (wow! that was a big word for us). That's why you should watch her video. It's short and sweet; you'll love it.

Salmon What? Is This Really a Dog Thing?

by Patches,
the 5 Minutes for Fido housecat

Hmmm? I'm hearing all this talk and chatter about Salmon-ella. All I hear is the first part of that word, and off I run to the kitchen. Where is it? It's got to me here somewhere. Yet I can't smell it.

Sometimes I wonder about this dog blog business that I've managed to find myself in the middle of. Really! What self-respecting cat wants to live in a houseful of dogs that seem to be all about themselves and their personal, private website? Me, I guess.

I have a great setup here. I get two squares a day, extras when dad rolls past my "room", my own kitty door, food area and litter box house. I even have an upstairs that the dogs pretty much ignore, so it has become my room--my perch. I love to sit on the steps and just watch the goings on below. When I do venture down, the dogs are okay....as dogs go. I'm not crazy about them (except Xena; she adopted me, I can't complain about her), but I love mom's lap, so I snag it whenever the dogs are out on a walk or dog park trip with Dad or our kids that come and go. It's glorious to have her all to myself occasionally.

Back to the Salmon. Turns out that is an illness, not chow for me. Bummer. Sorry I messed up today's post you guys. I just couldn't resist getting in on some Salmon. Maybe another time?

Free Help for Fido

by Tanner

(c) Bow Wow Resort

I hear mom talking about folks having money problems a lot these days. She says that some families have a tough time keeping their dogs, because they can't afford their food or healthcare. That's why she supports our local dog food pantry for families who need a little help. Central Florida Animal Pantry, among others, offer free food and pet supplies to families in need.


But what about health questions or assistance with training problems? Not all dogs are as perfectly well behaved as I am. "Ouch! Stop it Oliver! Just because you got your CGC doesn't mean you're the only well-behaved dog in the house."


Anyway, I just wanted to remind you that over at All Things Dog Blog you can Ask the Vet about your dog's health, and you an also get training advice from Judy, our Ask the Dog Trainer columnist. The best part is that this is all FREE. Unlike some of those ads you see on Internet pet sites, our advice is totally FREE. Write to LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com with your questions. Happy tails! 

Doggie Michief and Odd Behaviors?

by Xena

(c) Carrie Boyko
Now This is Mischief!

Maybe I'm just an old fogy (did I spell that right?), but I got a good chuckle out of the letter Dr. Pat answered today over at All Things Dog Blog. Apparently Bob, the dog, is a nice fella who doesn't get into much mischief. Yet his owner was asking about things like eating paper. 


I eat paper, quite often, actually. Anytime a paper napkin, tissue or stray piece of toilet paper (don't ask) find their way into my easy access, I scoop them up and scarf them down. Yum! 


So, moving on to Dr. Pat's comical association with Bob's mix. 

Mischievous + Enthusiastic Chewer = Large Potential for Damage

Since Bob is a Labradoodle, Dr. Pat finds it interesting that Bob is not more of a trouble maker. I concur. Let's face it, those Poodles are really michievous, right? What? You say it's the Retrievers that are ambitious michief-makers? But I'm three quarters Retriever; that's not fair. I'm not mischievous. Case closed. It's a moot point anyway, since Bob is not a trouble maker. So there!


(Allow me to point out that Tanner is the mischievous one at our house; note the picture above where he has snagged a lady's undergarment for a toy. Okay, I'll admit he was a puppy, but still, his taste could use some work.)

Dog Embarrassments and Natural Solutions

by Xena

It's sorta embarrassing to think that there is some dog out there with diarrhea. Whenever I have that problem, I find a private place way out behind a bush to take care of matters without onlookers watching.


Dr. Pat seems to have lots of new ideas for fixing this little predicament; she wrote about them at All Things Dog Blog today. 


Apparently, Jagger is like Oliver. He likes to eat whatever unsavory things he finds. Oliver's favorite outdoor treat is dried worms that didn't make it across the sidewalk in the hot, Florida sun. Yuck!


Not me, I'll stick to my organic kibble, thank you very much. Good luck, Dr. Pat. Hope Jagger feels better soon.

Our New Veterinarian Has Tips on Sun Protection

by Xena

I just heard about Dr. Pat's first ASK THE VET column over at All Things Dog Blog. Sounds like there are lots of dogs wearing sunglasses and needing sunscreen. Thank goodness I'm 25% Chow Chow and have a thick, black coat. Even at 14 1/2 I still have a thicker coat that Oliver or Tanner will ever have, and it's black. Well, sorta.

At my age a girl's fur can change colors a bit. I'm getting some red highlights that I prefer to think of as part of the aging process, rather than a product of being in the sun. I've taken quite a few walks in my day, so it adds up. Let's see 365 X 14 1/2 = ummmmmm... You do the math; I don't have enough toes. That's a lot of walks in the Florida sun.

If you have a thin coat or are very fair, Dr. Pat has some tips. Couldn't hurt to go check 'em out now, while you're thinking about it. It's good to take care of your appearance so you can stay as good looking as me, when you're old too. Is that modest enough?

Before I go, say hello to Hank in the photo up there. He belongs to Brian. Thanks for sharing Hank's picture, Brian. We think Hank is a hunk! LOL

(c) photo copyright Brian, full name on file for privacy

Did You Meet Our New Vet?

by Oliver

Today's a big day over at All Things Dog Blog--huge! Mom just introduced our new ASK the Vet Columnist, Dr. Pat.  Mom says she's a holistic vet, something that means she will look out for our minds too.

I'm not sure I get that, but hopefully you do. Anyway, I guess that means that we'll be having Ask the Vet columns from Dr. Pat now. She seems like a nice lady, so I'm cool with that.

Her first answer to a reader will be coming up real soon--something about sun protection for us pups. I guess there's a dog planning a trip to the beach. Sounds interesting. I'd like to go back to the beach too. What do ya think? Have I got my body surfing position down?  Mom..........

What's Not to Like about a Cushy Dog Bed?

by Tanner

I love my corduroy dog bed in our family room. It's big enough for Oliver and me to share sometimes. But best of all, I love it when I have a toy and treat, like this chewy strip mom got at our vet's office. 


She says it's treated with an enzyme that's good for my teeth and makes sure it will digest completely.  All I know is that it tastes good.


Right now mom is busy trying to get Xena to nap on a dog bed, instead of the hard floor. Mom says Xena is getting older and should have padding under her hips.


Dr. Jacki suggested she take medicine for her arthritis over at All Things Dog Blog. I sure hope Xena feels better. You can follow her progress by reading our updates. Don't worry; I won't leave you out of the loop. Oliver and I are good reporters. Come back to visit us soon, here at 5 Minutes for Fido, where the dogs do the blogging. We hope you have a Bow Wow Day!