Death By Chocolate Lab

Happy Father's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 22:36:00 +0000

Coco's daddy is out of town, but we are wishing him a very happy Father's Day from afar.

#NationalBestFriendDay

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 00:34:00 +0000

Coco is celebrating National Best Friend Day with her BFF, Cousin Madam Star.

Did you celebrate with your best friend?

Back From Vacation!

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 11:59:00 +0000

Mommy and daddy are back from vacation. We went to Wisconson for a wedding--honestly, I don't know how you all up there do it. I was freezing the whole time! The guy in Gap told me that they only have two seasons, winter and football. I'm guessing football season is cold, too. We also stopped in Nashville to visit Bill's daughter and had a great time.

Madam Star and her mommy came to stay with Coco and Pookums while we were gone. The pups also got a couple of visits from Bruce at Groovy Dogs. When we finally made it back to Florida (and thawed out), we had very happy pets. We are so lucky to have such a good best friend--the best, and a trustworthy, caring trainer for walks. I don't know what we'd do without them. Well, yes I do. We'd never go anywhere and have no fun at all.

Warm Florida walks with Madam's Mommy

We are so happy to be home in the warm, Florida sun!

Rating Earth Rated

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Wed, 27 May 2015 01:17:00 +0000

We recently got to try some poop bags from Earth Rated, and let me tell you, I will never go back to plastic grocery bags again!

I could go on and on about why I like these bags, but I'll just hit the highlights: the lavender scent, size and easy of transport, and the impact on the environment.

Earth Rated bags smell so good! They actually make our house smell better. We keep the bags next to the door, so that lavender scent is the first thing I smell when I come home. One of the worse things about picking up poop is the smell, and while it is true that as pet parents we kind of get used to it, why not make it a little more pleasant? If you aren't into the scent (for whatever reason) they also come in unscented.

The best thing about the bags we tried is the size. There are different sizes; our favorite was the handle bags. These are big enough for Coco sized poo, but small enough to carry easily. (The standard size was a little small for Coco sized poop.) No more toting around giant plastic bags for me.

They smell good, they are easy to carry and use, and they are good for the environment. Earth Rated produces their product with the environment in mind, so waste bag roll cores and packaging are made from recycled content. While the bags themselves are not "biodegradable," they do contain an additive to help break them down over time, unlike the bags I had been using. In addition, they offer white bags which are 100% plastic free!

Overall, I'd rate Earth Rated 4.5 out of 5 paws, not 5 because the standard bags are just a tad too small. If you aren't picking up Coco sized poop, you'll be just fine! Just the convenience of the compact size alone is enough for me to make the switch, but after learning about the benefits to the environment, I'm sold!

Coco+Mommy+True Detective= Snuggle Extravaganz

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Tue, 26 May 2015 01:23:00 +0000

I've been binge watching True Detective on HBO GO and can’t get enough. While you’d think that an attention seeker like Coco would loathe such a scene, she doesn't seem to mind because she gets to snuggle up with me for hours on end. More than she loves attention, she loves a good snuggle, especially mommy’s. Also, if she plays it just right, I’ll rub her belly when the plot twists--to get rid of my nervous energy. I’m pretty sure watching TV while snuggling with Coco is one of my favorite things in the world.

Is your dog a snuggler?

Coco's Human Career

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Mon, 18 May 2015 13:10:00 +0000

I was thinking the other day about what kind of career Coco would have if she were human--this after Bill politely reminded me that she is just a dog. I ignored him.

I've put some thought into this. She’s friendly (when she wants to be), outgoing, has tons of energy, wakes up super early, has an excellent memory, and has a good family to support her so she doesn't need to make a lot of money. After much deliberation, I've decided that Coco would make a good Barista.

What human career would your dog have?

Training with Merrick Power Bites

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 22:35:00 +0000

We've been doing a lot of training recently. Trying to get Coco to not eat people while we are walking is a hard task. While the strategies Bruce from Groovy Dogs gave us have helped a lot, she still has some...trouble.

When we go for walks, we always have treats with us. And sometimes, depending on the situation, we give her quite a few treats at once. That's why we like treats like Power Bites from Merrick. These small treats are so easy to take with us on walks and Coco loves them so it is easy to get her attention with them, which is essential when training! The one downside is that they smell, which daddy doesn't like because it makes his precious little hands stink. However, I'm pretty sure the odor is one of the selling points for Coco.

We can ALWAYS count on chewy.com for bringing us quality treats and shipping them to us before Coco eats everyone in the neighborhood! Thanks chewy.com!

Wordless Wednesday: Fetch!

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 20:55:00 +0000

Coco and daddy play fetch after work.

Baseball Season is Here!

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 15:27:00 +0000

Baseball season is the best time of year in our house. Even Coco likes to snuggle up and watch the games. Bill and I argue over which team Coco roots for. Of course I'm a Yankees fan, and Bill is stinkin' Red Sox fan. There is no doubt that Coco loves her Mommy's favorite team as much as she loves her Mommy. And we know how much Coco loves Mommy.

Are you all as excited as we are about baseball season?

How Do You Bond With Your Dog?

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 02:14:00 +0000

Recently I wrote a blog post about how to strengthen the bond with your dog. I wrote about games you can play to become closer to your best friend, but there are many more ways to stay close.

When Coco was small, I made sure that she was physically close to me at times--cuddling on my chest and getting lost of belly rubs. I really think to has lots to do with why she is such a mamma's girl.

How do you stay bonded with your dog?

Happy 5th Birthday to Coco--We Celebrate With Treats!

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 00:33:00 +0000

Yesterday was Coco's birthday. First, we celebrated by doing one of her favorite things: going for a run.

I snapped this picture just before we took off. The weather has been so nice here, it would have been a shame not to take her for a birthday run. When we got back I decided to make her and Cousin Madam Star (who has been staying with us this week) some birthday treats. I found the recipe on pinterest, and it is the easiest treat recipe ever. It is so easy, it really isn't a recipe at all. Here's what you do:

Mix 2 jars of baby food with 2 cups of flour. Then bake it in the oven for 25 minutes. So easy! (We all remember how much I appreciate easy treat recipes.)

I tried to pick the healthy looking baby food and ended up with sweet potatoes and bananas. The treats smelled really good while they were baking, and the girls loved them! I will most certainly be making these again.

Overall, I think Coco had a good birthday. A nice run in the sun, yummy treats shared with her favorite cousin. Turning 5 wasn't so bad.

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 00:47:00 +0000

"Hey Mom, wanna bite?"

Coco Eats a Dino

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 01:41:00 +0000

February was Pet Dental Health Month, reminding pet owners of the significance of good oral health for your best friend. However, just because February has ended, it doesn't mean that we should stop caring about our pet's teeth! That's why I wanted to share with you a review of a dental chew toy today, in March.

As most of you know, Coco is a power chewer, but she's also pretty picky about toys. She loves to chew on antlers. That's her chew of choice, so I was pretty skeptical when chewy.com sent her the Nylabone DuraChew to try out. I wasn't at all convinced that she'd take to it. But I thought it was it cutest, even if she didn't like it.

Luckily, once I got it out of the package, she was all over that dino! She let those little nubs help clean her teeth without even noticing it. It claims to freshens breath, but it does't smell fresh to me, so I don't know how it would. Coco still chews on it, even after a month of play. She hasn't chewed it to bits, which is testament to its durability. It hasn't replaced her antlers as her favorite chew toy, but as long as she is playing with it sometimes and it is another tool in my bag of teeth cleaning tricks, I am a happy mama!

Too Rainy for Coco

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 02:23:00 +0000

Today has been such a rainy, cold, dreary day. These are the days that this human and her Coco dislike the most. Coco of course doesn't want to be bothering by going out potty. I have to bribe her with sardines (a sure way to get her to do anything). Luckily, Daddy has a fire going for us. What's the weather like where you are?

My Alarm Clock

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 00:19:00 +0000

So this little brown dog has been waking me up between 3:30-4:30 every morning for various reasons. Maybe there is a varmint outside that needs chasing. Maybe there is some cat food morsel somewhere she can't reach without assistance. Maybe her tummy is telling her that mommy should giver her a treat. Or maybe she really does have to go out potty.

Certainly I'm not the only one who experiences early morning wake-up calls--legitimate or not. What do you all do when you hear that alarm? Telling her to go back to sleep doesn't work. Someone please help!

Wordless Wednesday: Coco Gets Dirty

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 18:13:00 +0000

Mulligan Stew Cures Coco's Grumbly Tummy

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Sun, 01 Feb 2015 01:51:00 +0000

Coco has been trying out Mulligan Stew from chewy.com this month. It has been a big hit with everyone! Even Cousin Madam loved it. I love it because though it is a pate-style canned food, I can see and smell the freshness of the ingredients when I open the can. It doesn't just smell like regular wet food, it smells like real food. I lets me have faith in the quality that I am feeding my Coco. And Coco just gobbles it up!

We've been giving a little of the Mulligan Stew to Coco as a bedtime snack because she gets what we call "grumbly tummy." This happens when her meals get spread out too far apart and her tummy starts to grumble. After that, it is almost impossible to get her to eat again. So to avoid this, she basically has to have three small meals. One of them is a little canned food; her favorite recently has been Mulligan Stew.

After I saw that the company was endorsed by The Whole Dog Journal, I was sold. I haven't seen Mulligan Stew in any pet stores around here, but as always, chewy.com has it for you!

Mondays With Madam Star

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 16:38:00 +0000

I know Mondays can be tough. Maybe this smiling face from cousin Madam Star will help you get through...

Privacy

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 21:29:00 +0000

Recently Coco has been paying extra close attention to her, um, private area. Bill says that's what dogs do, they lick their privates. And I suppose this is true. But how do you know when regular ol' lickin' has turned into problem lickin'? I'm thinking a little trip to the vet may be in order.

UPDATE: Coco went to the vet and had her anal glads expressed. All tests came back negative, so we are keeping an eye on her hoping expressing her will do the trick.

PS, she is still licking and I'm starting to think Daddy was right. But I'd never tell him that.

My Ball Fanatic

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 02:37:00 +0000

While on Winter Break, I decided to clean under our bed--a task that was long overdue, trust me. Of course I had a little brown helper. Coco was right there with me the whole time...a little bit scared and a lot curious.

After an hour or so of cleaning, I had unearthed 7 balls from underneath the bed (and a mountain of other crap I won't mention). I can assure you that neither Daddy nor I put these balls under there. My little brown helper is the culprit.

I have no idea how she gets all these balls under there! And it seems like we are forever dragging them out anyway; I don't know how we let 7 of them get away from us.

I realized that much of our lives revolve around balls: throwing, rolling, finding, hiding, tossing, squeaking, tugging, cleaning off. I can't turn around without seeing a ball. I can't get into bed without rolling onto a ball. I dream about giant balls demanding to be thrown. I've got a serious ball fanatic on my hands.

What's your dog a fanatic about?

Sissy Gets Spoiled By Chewy.com

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 00:12:00 +0000

Last month our favorite friends at Chewy.com asked if Spooky would be interested in trying Divine Duos from Wellness. I was excited for Sissy to get to try something new and such good quality (we are big fans of the folks at Wellness).

This chicken pate and diced turkey was perfect for Spooky! It was described as,"savory pate topped with cuts in gravy." Just as much as Coco is crazy about crunchy treats, Spooky goes nuts for food with gravy. The trouble for Spooky is that food with TOO much gravy makes her tummy upset--let's be honest that's trouble for the whole house. Divine Duos was perfect because of the mix of pate and cuts of turkey bits under the gravy.

So this month, it was Sissy's turn to get a little spoiled (but don't worry, Coco still insisted on licking the plastic container!)

If you think your furry friend will love Divine Duos as much as Sissy did, check out Chewy.com. Once we started using their autoship, we will never buy dog or cat food any other way. It is such a lifesaver. (You can thank me later.)

It Is Good To Be Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 21:24:00 +0000

December was a very busy month for us. It usually is. Working in education means that during the ends of semesters, life gets almost unbearable. That's what happen last month. But don't worry, I'll provide a rundown so no one feels left out.

Coco had a nasty boo boo on her paw that we are pretty sure turned out to be an insect bite. It looked gross, but only required a single visit to the vet, a little ointment, and monitoring by mommy.
Madam Star came over for a few visits. Fun was had by all.
Mommy watched too many hours of Magnum P.I. on Netflix to unwind. Fun was had by all.
Mommy went to visit family for a long weekend and returned to find this note:
Coco's big sister's came over to visit for Christmas. Coco's niece, Scout, came too and they played until they were pooped.
Coco got many Christmas presents. It is true, everyone loves her.

Coco Is #Thankful for TropiClean Fresh Breath Dog Treats

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 23:28:00 +0000

I know we are a few days past Thanksgiving, but since a) Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I don't see anything wrong with celebrating a little longer, and b) Christmas always infringes on Thanksgiving's time anyway, I'm going to take the liberty of extending Thanksgiving just a little and tell everyone what Coco is thankful for.

Finally we found a treat that Coco is especially excited about. For the first time she is begging for treats.

In the beginning of November, Chewy.com sent Coco a bag of TropiClean dog treats to try. Before I knew it, she was sitting by the treats whining for them before bedtime, when we came home from work, and in the morning when she woke up. The bag of treats was gone in no time, before I even had a chance to write a review.

So, when her autoshipment of food was scheduled to come from Chewy, I added another bag of TropiClean treats, so I could actually write my review (which in a nutshell is Coco is CRAZY about these treats). Needless to say, I've got a very happy little brown dog on my hands.

So this Thanksgiving, Coco has a new bag of her absolutely favorite treats, and I can bribe her to do just about anything, including (but not limited to) taking out the trash and mowing the lawn. No kidding, I have never seen her savor treats more than the TropiClean treats.

Cleans her teeth, freshens her breath, AND she loves them? I'm thankful for TropiClean Fresh Breath treats...and Chewy.com!

Coco Catches An Armadillo, Again

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 16:17:00 +0000

This morning Coco woke us up with incessant barking, howling, really. I knew there was a varmint outside our bedroom window. We'd seen the signs of tunneling and digging earlier, and I knew there some little critter up to no good. But I guess this morning Coco caught wind of the little thing and it was case closed.

Coco yelped and hollered until it was time to get up and go potty, then she made a beeline for the suspected varmint site. She hunted around awhile but came up empty pawed. We went for a very short potty walk and came straight back to find an armadillo right next to our house.

Don't let this innocent face fool ya, especially if you are an armadillo.

This completely incensed Coco. No armadillo was going to dig around her house. And to prove her point she cornered the nasty thing, grabbed it in her ferocious jaws, and when Mommy yelled her name, promptly dropped it and started to bark until it scurried away.

This is an armadillo common in Florida. I didn't have my camera handy this AM to capture the lucky one that Coco snagged.

At least she didn't go in for the kill! That'll teach those armadillos to dig in her yard.

Happy Tongue Out Tuesday From My Two Favorite Things on Four Legs!

noreply@blogger.com (Cocos Mommy) — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:19:00 +0000

Could they be any cuter?