Peggy's Pet Place

Fetching, Catching and Chasing Around Blogville

2012-05-31T00:20:00.002-04:00

Here I come!

Throw it again! Throw it again!

Have you been k9kamping with us? If not, it's never too late!

You can join in at any time. Just look for our next challenge, tomorrow, and then complete the exercise on your own time over the course of the week.

This week was Challenge Week 2, Play with your Balls. (I know, I know.) Keep reading to see how we did!

How did Kelly, Brooks and I do this week?
Well this one was pretty easy for Brooks. He LOVES to fetch his tennis ball, and he won't stop pestering me until I throw it again and again and again!

While he was off chasing, I jogged around in place and kept the feet moving and heart pumping. Great! So I'd say we both got in pretty good workouts. Wait, you ask. What was Kelly doing while Brooks was off chasing tennis balls?
well...
hmmm....
let me see now....

Ball? I don't see no stinkin' ball.

Kelly subscribes to one of our favorite K9Kamp 2011 games, Fetch it Yourself, otherwise lovingly dubbed "Go Fetch Yourself." (Who was it who came up with that name, anyway?) She wasn't overly thrilled about exerting herself just to get a mouth full of grass and some dirty fuzzy felt between her teeth. 'Even if we did get her a nice pink tennis ball. After a few chases, she was done.

How did our Kampers do? The results are in! Check out how Koly from Kol's Notes did this week.
And, click on the links and see how our Featured Bloggers did on Week 1.

And, if you were joining in at home too, link up and tell us about your experience. We want to hear!

Don't forget, we've got fantastic dog and fitness prizes too! It's super easy. Just follow the link to enter to win great k9kamp prizes like dog collars and leashes, dog toys, books and more!

Grab the linky code too.
get the InLinkz code

Wednesday Pet Roundup, Sunshine Edition

2012-05-30T06:25:00.003-04:00

Nice day for a walk!

Hi and welcome to Wednesday Pet Roundup!

* Nice story: ABC News reports that a stray dog ran 1,100 miles with a team of cyclists over 25 days. Find out what happened to the dog after the race.

* Beware of jerky treats. Nearly 1,000 dogs are now sick. Find out more about recalled brands of jerky treats.

*More pet food recall. Diamond cat food now affected.

* There is a winner in the Guinness Book of World Records category for largest puppydog eyes. First guess.....then see which breed of dog won for world's largest puppydog eyes!

* From The Frisky, an Israeli man divorced his wife after refusing to continue living with her 550 cats.

* k9kamp is going strong! Check out the results of week 2, "Play with your balls" on Thursday, and a brand new challenge for Week 3 on Friday! And enter to win dozens of fantastic prizes like leashes, toys, books and more!

That's all the news for today. I hope you enjoy some sunshine with your dog, cat, or favorite pet.

Our boy is graduated!

2012-05-29T06:52:00.004-04:00

Kelly and Brooks are so excited and proud! Their boy graduated from college this weekend.

He has a degree in Information Technology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is now a database engineer at Treo Associates.
Congratulations Andy!

Real Life Dog and Me Fitness Classes

2012-05-28T06:17:00.003-04:00

Brooks likes to help me get fit.

How many times have you said, "I wish I could take my dog to the gym with me."?
or
"I don't have time to get in my own exercise AND exercise the dog every day."

Well believe it or not, there are some real solutions to this problem. Of course, you can walk or jog with your dog. Pooch to 5k is a great place to start. It's not a camp you can go to, but an amazing running program for you and your dog that you can follow along online, get some great tips and encouragement. And who knows, you might soon find yourself and your dog running a 5k!

There are also fitness camps, classes and programs for people AND pets. Kind of like a real life K9Kamp! Check these out:

1. Doggy & Me Fitness, various locations in California. Workouts include walking, jogging, strength training, hill work, and stair climbing, all with your leashed dog at your side. Sessions end with stretching for you and treats for your pup!

2. Leash Your Fitness also of California, offers cardio, balance, strength, dog yoga, and special fun events. Classes include a boot camp and running club. The website is very well designed and gives answers to all your questions!

Leash Your Fitness

3. Thank Dog Boot Camp unites a workout for people along with obedience classes for dogs. Locations in California, Cleveland Ohio, Boston Massachusetts, and Toronto.

4. FitDog in Austin Texas includes cardio, agility, speed, muscular endurance, balance and flexibility. The camp's goal is to increase fitness and strengthen bonds.

When I wrote Dieting with my Dog, I was about as far away from this concept as you could get. I didn't exercise with myself, much less with Kelly. At first, just short walks around the block were all I could manage. And I wasn't a hundred pounds or more overweight, I was just seriously out of shape. Well, to be honest, I probably never was in shape. At least not since I was in college. And that was...well, a couple few dozen years ago.

After I got active and took off the weight I learned that I had to KEEP active. Yeah, that was a difficult lesson. Classes like these would be a lot of fun. And that's why Koly and Kelly's K9Kamp is a lot of fun too! Getting out and doing something different, knowing others are joining in and blogging about it makes getting fit almost painless!

Have you ever joined a Dog and Me type fitness class? If not, would you join if one was located close by?

**While you're all busy signing up for bootcamp or making plans to do some exercising with your dog, you might need some supplies. Check out Kol's Notes today for Essential Products for Active Pups.

***And, do you know where else you can get some fun toys and supplies for you and your dog? Just follow the link here to go to our k9kamp prize page. It's quick and easy to sign up and you won't believe all the great things you can win....leashes, harness, toys, books and even a Nike+ sports band!

K9Kamp Challenge 2- The Challenge with the Naughty Name

2012-05-25T06:47:00.004-04:00

Brooks loves to play with his tennis ball!

So here it is WEEK 2 of K9Kamp!!
And we've got a great challenge for you this week. It's called, umm, errrr....Play with your Balls

Here's all you need to do:

1. Collect your dog's favorite ball. Is it a tennis ball? Soccer ball? Do we have any basketball playing dogs here?

2. Engage in a game of ball with your dog, keeping the energy level up for both of you. If you have to, run in place while he is chasing the ball. See below for two ideas of games you can play.

3. Aim for playing for 10-20 minutes three or four times during the week. Adapt to your own schedule and you and your dog's physical needs. You may play longer just once on the weekend. Or you may need shorter play periods and fewer days. Whatever works for you...just be sure to challenge yourself a bit, okay?

Here's the ball game Kelly and I like to play:
GOAL!
1. I have a small, soft soccer ball.
2. Kelly is the goal tender.
3. I try to dribble the ball with my feet past Kelly to make a "goal."
She usually gets it away from me. She's pretty good!
4. Now switch it up. See if you can get the ball away from your dog. Do NOT do this with bare feet, lol!
Only you can know if your dog will respond well to a foot trying to steal her ball. Also, use caution and move in softly (I usually come in from the side) so that your foot doesn't make contact with your dog's face instead of the ball.

Okay, so we're not moving at the speed of lightning!

Here's the ball game Brooks and I like to play:
1. Fetch. Plain and simple. Over and over.and Over.
2. In order for this to be exercise for me too, I get up and move about the yard or park, so that when Brooks returns the ball he has to run to find me. While Brooks is retrieving the ball, I start running around like a crazy woman, calling his name and getting him all excited.

Even Brooks' ears get into the action!

****Now it's your turn! What ball game will you play with your dog this week?

It's never too late to join k9kamp. Even if you didn't join us in last week's Walking on Sunshine you can still participate this week. Just do the challenge at home and come back next Thursday to let us know how it goes.

PRIZES! Remember, we're giving away collars, leashes, toys, copies of Dieting with my Dog and other books too! Just follow the link to enter to win great prizes!

Bonus: You'll receive the summer edition of Modern Dog magazine FREE if you complete all four challenges and fill out the Rafflecopter form! Sweet!

Everyone Walks on Sunshine

2012-05-24T00:30:00.004-04:00

Dad's helping with the dog walking. (Notice Kelly, nose down!)

Have you been k9kamping with us? If not, it's never too late! You can join in at any time. Just look for our next challenge, tomorrow, and then complete the exercise on your own time over the course of the week.

How did Kelly, Brooks and I do this week?
Great! We love Walking on Sunshine! Despite some rainy weather, we were able to get out and walk between the raindrops. At our best, we walked 3 times a day: in the morning with Dad before he went to work, the 3 of us mid day, and with Dad again after work. At the worst we got in one rushed walk around the block in the rain ("Hurry up guys, I'm getting wet!") but hey, it was at least a walk.

The dogs love walking together.
When I walk the dogs alone, sometimes I get a little tangled. But mostly they are good walkers. Brooks walks well on the leash, steady pace, head up, straight line. Kelly skitters here and there, sniffing everything, wrapping around a pole or my feet. Her nose is always on the ground. I could insist she heels nicely but, as long as she's not bothering anyone else on the sidewalk (and she reels in nicely when I ask her to) I think she deserves the chance to explore and sniff. She obviously loves it! We spiced things up by interspersing a little jogging here and there. We also changed up our route every other day.

How did our Kampers do? The results are in! Check out how Coach Koly and his mama did this week!
And, click on the links and see how our Featured Bloggers did on Week 1.

Wednesday Pet Roundup-- k9kamp edition

2012-05-23T06:02:00.004-04:00

Brooks and Kelly help round up the pet news!

Hi and welcome to Wednesday Pet Roundup. We're in the first week of k9kamp and getting fit and working hard every day. But it's fun too. And we still had time to find you this week's links:

* This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. So remember, don't bite a dog. No, seriously, the WSJ online has some tips for preventing dog bites.

* Cesar Millan on Huff Post answers the question, should dog microchipping be mandatory? What do you think?

* The Mirror, UK, reveals that hundreds of pet owls have been abandoned as the Harry Potter craze subsides.

*Can pets help fill the empty nest? That's what the LA Daily News reports, and that's also a big part of my book, Dieting with my Dog.

*Don't forget, you could win custom collars and tags, dog toys, harness and leash dog books, a dog nap mat, and more! It's all part of the 2nd annual Koly and Kelly's K9Kamp. Everyone can join! Get fit and have fun. And, it's easy to enter to win great stuff too--- here are where the prizes are!

* Have you seen a big black cat? A really really big black cat? According to Mercury News, citizens in the Bay Area of San Francisco report spotting a mysterious wild, 5 foot long black cat with a long tail, which some claim is a panther.

Can Grain-Free be Delicious Too?

2012-05-22T06:31:00.003-04:00

We've got mail!

That Mr. Chewy. He's always coming up with new food and treats for hungry pooches and offering them via super-speedy shipping right to the door.

Take Fromm dog food and treats, for example. Mr. Chewy asked Kelly and Brooks to look over the offerings and pick out something delicious to try. Kelly suggested the low-fat Cranberry and liver treats because she's on a diet. But then Brooks reminded her that he has some allergies and skin problems. So they selected the Fromm Lamb with Cranberry grain free treats. Kelly very graciously agreed to try them, even though she wasn't sure if she'd like them. After all, she likes grain!

They placed their order, and the next day got an email that the treats were shipped. And the very next day the box arrived.

Where did they go? I know I smell treats!

Fromm makes some pretty awesome natural and holistic pet food. They pride themselves in creating the highest quality natural and holistic pet formulas that contain zero wheat gluten, rice protein concentrate or rice gluten. Take a look at the ingredients in the Lamb and Cranberry treats:
Fresh lamb, pea flour, potato flour, tapioca, whole peas, chicken fat, tomato pomace, fresh cranberries, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, split peas, green beans, green bell peppers, celery, beets, parsley, lettuce, watercress, spinach.

My eyes are bugging out, they smell so good!

Well the proof is in the pudding....er, doggy biscuits. The jury is out...and they love 'em!

Blurry action shot, but Brooks says "Yum!"

I feel good that the treats are made with wholesome ingredients, good for Kelly's diet and Brooks' allergies. And they agree, they taste good. You've done it again, Mr. Chewy!

Please Mom, I want some more!

*Mr. Chewy provided us with one 8oz. bag of Fromm dog treats for review. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own...with the help of Kelly and Brooks, of course!

P.S. Head over to Kol's Notes Tasty Tuesday and find some recipes for fresh lean meat treats too!

Keep on Kamping with Koly and Kelly. Enter to win great prizes too!

What to Stuff in a dog Kong toy

2012-05-21T06:00:00.010-04:00

I'm holding on tight with my front paws.

They're funny shaped. They're versatile. They come in all colors and sizes. They can help keep your dog occupied. And they can be stuffed!

I've always given my dogs Kong toys, but until recently I never realized how popular it is to stuff them!

You can buy a spray can of stuff to squirt inside. But why not get creative.

There are lots of fun ways to stuff them. Remember, first fill the little hole at the top of the Kong with peanut butter or something.

Then fill with:

*large chunks of dog biscuits

*canned dog food mixed with kibble

*leftover lean meat mixed with steamed or mashed veggies

*chunks of apples, banana, blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe

Can you see it there under all my fur?

*cottage cheese mixed with fruit

*green beans

*frozen banana

Mix and match ingredients. Freeze and serve frozen for long lasting fun.
Remember, not all food is good for dogs, so when in doubt be sure to check with your vet first.
The ASPCA has some great recipes for stuffed Kongs too!

What do you like to stuff in your dog's Kong toy?

----------------
Kong toys with healthy stuffing can be used with your dog on a diet too. They take longer to eat, they keep your dog busy and even the act of getting out the food can burn a few calories! I wish I'd known about this when I was dieting with my dog. But anyway, we can do it now (and Brooks too)!

MY BOOKS:

Dieting with my Dog: One busy life, two full figures, and unconditional love.

Heart to Heart, Hand in Paw: How one woman finds faith and hope through the healing love of animals.

*And don't forget my K9Kamp partner Kol today. He's got some great tips on k9 massage and stretching.

*While we're talking about k9kamp, how is your walking going this week? Keep it up! And don't forget to go to the PRIZE PAGE. You could win custom collars and tags, dog toys, harness and leash dog books, a dog nap mat, and more! If you want to get fit and have fun that's where all the prizes are!

K9Kamp Challenge 1-- Walking on Sunshine

2012-05-18T06:45:00.005-04:00

Kelly and Brooks take me for a walk.

Are you ready? It's here.....

The FIRST CHALLENGE!

WEEK ONE: Walking on Sunshine

Well, let's hope it's sunny. If it's not, maybe singing a happy little rap tune will help you feel sunnier.

We're starting off easy...but this can be as easy or as strenuous as you want. This week your challenge is to get out and walk --try for for at least an hour total this week. (You can do your one hour all at once, but I recommend getting out and walking every day. Your dog will remind you.) But wait! Don't just WALK...we're going to spice it up a bit.

1. Lace up your walking shoes and grab your dog's leash (Does your dog walk without a leash? I've always been impressed by that.)

2. Start off slow and easy. If you're used to walking 20 minutes a day, keep this pace at first.

3. Now, spice it up. Increase your time by 5 or 10 minutes (or 1/2 hour for you overachievers.) If you walk in the city, take another lap around the block. If you walk in the park or the country, go a bit farther. You might find that by the end of the week, you've walked much longer than one hour.

If you already walk more than an hour a week, amp up your time. Push yourself. Will you aim for two hours? Three? More? Adapt the challenge to your own level.

4. Now, add one EXTRA to your walk. Here are some ideas:
try interval walking
walk with weights
include a hill
change your route for variety
climb stairs
jog for a bit

Okay, that's all there is to it! Let's get out there and walk and have fun!

Sound like fun? Peggy's Pet Place and Kol's Notes 2nd annual K9Kamp is a great opportunity to get active, get fit and bond with your dog (or cat, right Kristine?!). Anyone can join in the fun! Just try out this week's challenge on your own any time during the week. Then, come back next Thursday and leave a comment sharing how you did. Or, write a blog post about it and link up next Thursday. That's it! Oh wait, one more thing...
You can win prizes too!
Yup LOTS of great prizes, like:

A Puppia Soft Harness & Matching Leash

Gift certificates to Dogwise, compliments of Pooch to 5K

Toys, toys, toys

And books, including two copies of my book, Dieting with my Dog, compliments of Hubble & Hattie!

We have so many great prizes, we've had to make a separate page just for them. But don't worry, it's so easy. All you have to do is click on the following link to reach the form to enter to win these exciting prizes! There's even a FANTASTIC Grand Prize including a Nike+ sports band for you and a collar, tag, and fun fitness toy for your dog!

And...EVERYONE who completes all four challenges and fills out the contest entry form will receive a free copy of the summer issue of Modern Dog magazine! Enter to win the PRIZES now!

Time to share: What do you do to spice up walking with your dog?

Why I'm K9Kamping Blog Hop

2012-05-17T00:04:00.007-04:00

Tomorrow is our first K9Kamp Challenge! Jodi, Kol and I are so excited! You can join in too! Check in every Friday to see our weekly challenge, and consider kamping with us. It'll be fun, fitness, bonding and even prizes!

Eight bloggers have committed to joining with us and completing every challenge, and blogging about their experience each Thursday throughout Kamp.

Tomorrow: CHALLENGE #1--Walking on Sunshine

I'd like to introduce you to our Featured Bloggers:(click on buttons to visit their sites!)

Foley Monster and Pocket and Marsha from Small Tales

Bella and AJ from I Still Want More Puppies.

Shiva and Kristine from Rescued Insanity

Audrey and pups from Pooch to 5k

Oskar and Pam from Pet Blogs United

Daisy and Liz from Woof Woof Mama

Riley and Elyse from Adventures of a Cattle Dog

Cinny with JR and Baby Pom from Whirlwind of Surprises

And of course, Kelly and me, and Koly and Jodi from Kol's Notes too.

Why are Kelly and I Kamping?
Last year my book was published, Dieting with my Dog. Kelly lost 6 lbs and I lost 41 lbs! Since then we've been working hard at trying to maintain our weight loss. Kelly has done great, but I've struggled at times. So K9Kamp is a great way to have fun while getting some exercise.

And this year we have a new addition, Brooks, who will be joining in too! K9Kamp is the perfect way for us all to bond as a blended family.

Now let's Hop! Learn why our pawsome Featured Bloggers are Kamping with us! And you can Kamp with us too! Anyone can join in these fun challenges every Friday. No registration, no fuss, no muss. Won't you kamp with us? Just join our blog hop and tell us why you'd like to Kamp too!

Do you want to join in our blog hop?
Click here get the InLinkz code to display on your blog!

Wednesday Pet Roundup

2012-05-16T07:01:00.002-04:00

Hi and welcome to Wednesday Pet Roundup!

There's not a lot of pet news this week, so instead I thought I'd cheer you up with a find from Huff Post, adorable videos of dogs playing with kittens! These videos were also featured on The Ellen Show. Be sure to click through all ten on the link. Here is one---I think this one is my favorite.

And, here's another one I found. Puts you in a sweeeeet mood, doesn't it?

Are Dogs Jealous?

2012-05-15T06:32:00.002-04:00


Watching Dad leave for work.

We just adopted 11-year old Brooks. He's a sweetheart, and I can't stop patting his soft golden head, hugging his neck, planting a kiss on the side of his nose. But every time I do, I glance over to Kelly eying me with what I perceive as a mixture of contempt and hurt. What are you doing patting HIM? You used to pat only ME. You must not love me anymore.

Of course I'm projecting my own emotions onto my dog. But seriously, do dogs feel jealousy? How traumatic is this for Kelly? Do some dogs prefer to be an only dog? I've been watching them carefully to try to determine the answers.

First, some background. Kelly was about 1 year old when we adopted her. We had a senior yellow lab at the time. Kelly immediately made it known that she was the boss, and this old guy sleeping on his pillow didn't really need any food, water, toys or affection. It was all hers. Our lab, Hudson, accepted his place with dignity. We gave him lots of food, water, toys and affection anyway. And eventually Hudson and Kelly did become friends. But whenever we gave Hudson attention, Kelly always ran over and nudged her way between us and Hudson.

It's been 6 years or so since Hudson crossed over. Years of just us and Kelly. All the food. All the toys. All the love. And now here's Brooks.

At first Kelly reacted badly. Whenever Brooks got anywhere near us, she bristled, made a loud noisy show of barking and snapping, sometimes even pushed him away with her front paws on his back. I have to tell you that these displays scared me at first, and upset me. I felt bad for both dogs--Kelly for feeling displaced. Brooks for feeling unaccepted. How could I show them that I loved them both?

I was talking to my dear friend Shawnelle one night. Shawnelle has five sons. And she told me that when a new sibling joined the family she, too, wondered how the older boys would feel. Was there enough time, enough resources, enough love to go around? Would they resent the newest? But, she said, every time the boys' lives were enriched by the newest brother. It was a wonderful thing.

The dogs enjoy walking together.

I hope this is the way it will be for Kelly and Brooks. Right now they aren't quite buddies, but after two weeks, the scuffles have dissipated. I still feed them separately. Toys are played with in separate rooms for the time being. But they can play outside together, snooze in the same room, and get along without any fighting.

If you're looking at a new dog to join the family, here are some tips to consider:

* Gender
Kelly is female, Brooks is male. Opposite gender matches usually go better.
* Personality
Kelly is bossy. Brooks is laid-back. When Kelly asserts herself, Brooks defers to her. Two dogs who both want to be the boss can make for a stressful situation.
* Energy Levels
Kelly and Brooks are both older, and have similar energy levels. One isn't constantly being bothered by an active puppy. They both sleep a lot and don't have a lot of youthful crazies.

There are many challenges to adding a new dog to the family. Our schedule has changed. We have to come up with new ways to handle new situations. Get to know what situations might trigger new behaviors. But my biggest worry, could Kelly accept a new dog into the house, has been calmed.

When I pat Brooks, I still feel like Kelly is shooting me daggers. But maybe it's just me. I go over, kneel beside her, kiss the top of her head and tell her that she's still loved. Very, very much. I have enough love to go around. And they return so much love to me.

Kelly and Brooks. Brooks and Kelly. I'm so blessed to share my life with two special dogs.

Welcome to K9Kamp!

2012-05-14T06:45:00.003-04:00

Ready for some fun? It's K9Kamp!!

What is K9Kamp?
An exciting opportunity to walk, play and get fit with your dog, and connect with other bloggers.

How do I join?
It's EASY! No registration, no fees, no time-consuming commitment. Just look for the challenge posted on this blog and on Kol's Notes every Friday from May 18 through June 8. Then, at your own convenience, complete the challenge with your dog. You and your dog will walk, jump, tug, chase and more!

If you blog, you can blog about your results, and join in on our K9Kamp Blog Hops every Thursday. Just tell us about how you and your dog enjoyed that week's challenge.

If you don't blog, feel free to leave a comment and tell us how you did. Our first Blog Hop is this Thursday, May 17th--if you blog, we'd love to have you write a post about why you're joining k9kamp (and it doesn't have to be for all 4 weeks, just as long as you want to try to get fit and have fun with us!) and link up to our linky, you will find it here Wednesday night.

Are there Prizes?
But of course! You'll get a chance to enter our drawings for dozens of great prizes! Leashes, collars, tags, dog books, and toys, toys, toys! Here's just a few:


Busy Buddy Rip and Tug Ball

Nike Sports Band


leather collar from Design A Collar

Books including this one (blush!)

We even have 8 special featured bloggers who have committed to participating in ALL 4 challenges and blogging about their journey.You'll meet them here this Thursday. I can't wait to introduce them all to you!

And Kol's Notes and Peggy's Pet Place will be blogging about diet and fitness tips during the week too. Plus look for us on Facebook and Twitter @peggyfrezon and @kolsnotes and the hashtag #k9kamp to keep up with all the fun. Join me on Facebook too!

So are you ready? Kelly, Brooks and I are excited to see you at K9Kamp!

Who'd Want this Homely Mama Dog?

2012-05-11T07:34:00.000-04:00

Cordelia, aka Maggie

Woof Friday!
The first Friday of every month (or so!) we feature a guest post by animal rescuer, Sharon Azar. She shares the heartbreak and happiness of being involved in animal rescue.

From Cordelia to Maggie
by Sharon Azar

I just uncovered an envelope of old photos of a dog named Cordelia, a 3 year old mixed terrier girl who was found huddling against the concrete divider on the NJ Turnpike on a hot summer day some years
ago. I’ll never forget the magic that unfolded.

Our vet said this dog probably had many litters of puppies. My fear was since she wasn’t such a ‘looker’ I’d have a difficult time placing her. Posters, ads, telephone calls, all brought no results. No one wanted a mama dog with teats hanging down from delivering multiple litters.

But then, a fellow rescuer said she knew of a family looking for a companion for their golden retriever, Murphy. My hopes were not high. “A golden retriever! Why would they want a scruffy little mama dog?”

We arranged for a meeting anyway. After spending some time with them, I was in awe of their obvious love and sincerity toward their dog and each other. Al and Barbara are the sweetest, most loving couple. I prayed to myself, “Please let them fall in love with Cordelia.”

When I met their beautiful golden retriever, Murphy, my doubts surfaced. “They’d never want such a dog as Cordelia.”

Oh, me of little faith.

Best buddies swimming together.

I was blown away when they told me they’d love to have her in their family! As the years went by Al and Barbara would send me cards and photos of their family trips with Murphy and Cordelia, who they renamed Maggie. They took Maggie and Murphy skiing, boating, and swimming in Alaska!

Pretty wonderful for a dog who was near being run over on the New Jersey turnpike.

Check out Sharon's animals for adoption at WOOF!

Should you change an adult dog's name?

2012-05-10T06:59:00.000-04:00

When we recently adopted our new dog, he arrived with the name Parker.
We knew very little about his past. We knew that he'd been a stray and so his real name is not known. He was more than 10 years old when he was found and brought to a shelter. What had he been called for 10 years before? No one knew. At some point a rescue group gave him the name Parker. Whether they used that name or spoke to him often was unclear, also. After being in rescue for about a year, a rescue group near us took him and put him up for adoption. We adopted him shortly after he arrived.

So the question became, should we change his name?

We didn't really have anything against Parker, but it didn't mean anything to us either.
At first we considered names that rhymed with Parker, or sounded similar. Walker? Bob Barker?
But after trying out his old name multiple times, it didn't seem as if he responded to it in any way. He responded just as well to Ralph, Edgar, Big Boy and Hey You. So, we decided that it was okay to give him a brand new name. A new start, a new name.

Mike loves baseball, and he loves history of the area, and one name that made us both smile was Brooks--after baseball legend Brooks Robinson, and a local historical Dutch name of ten Broeck (pronounced Brook). Not to mention the pleasant image of a rural babbling brook. Brooks also is the name of a character in a favorite movie, The Shawshank Redemption. And it doesn't hurt that it is also the name of a favorite chicken barbeque restaurant in New York. Last but not least, there was an old bakery in Albany called Brooks Donuts.

That is how Parker became Brooks.

Tips on Renaming Your Adult Dog
* Petfinder says that it's easy for adult dogs to get used to a new name. Just give him a treat every time you say his new name and he'll soon respond!

* It may be best to change an adopted dog's name, especially in cases where the dog has been abused. He may associate bad things happening with his original name.

* Several people commented on Dogster blog about how they changed their adult dog's name. The commenters said it was easy and caused no confusion.

* One reader suggested starting off by calling the dog both the old name and the new name together, and then gradually dropping the old name. Ex: "Spot"to "Spot Sam" to "Sam"
I'm not sure that's necessary. Brooks is responding to Brooks, and seems perfectly content.
Good boy, Brooks!

Wednesday Pet Roundup-- Cinnamon Edition

2012-05-09T07:04:00.001-04:00

Hi and welcome to Wednesday Pet Roundup! This is my daughter's cat, Cinnamon. Cinnamon loves looking out the apartment window. In the second picture, Cinnamon is checking out the Canadian Geese in the yard. And now, here are this week's links:

*If you haven't heard about the latest pet food recalls, here's the update: The recall covers a number of pet food brands including Canidae, Natural Balance, Apex, Kirkland, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul, Country Value, Diamond, Diamond Naturals, Premium Edge, Professional, 4Health and Taste of the Wild.

* It's been widely reported that obesity is the #1 health concern affecting pets. Can you guess what
#2 is?.............. According to a report posted on The Huffington Post, the second most common pet health concern is arthritis.

* Abandoned cats in prison? Check out this program in the Chicago Tribune News.

* The Huff Post reports that 500 dogs, headed for the slaughter house, were rescued by hundreds of animal lovers who stopped the truck at a tool booth in China.

Bark for Life

2012-05-07T06:29:00.003-04:00

The dogs showed up at the Albany-Colonie (NY) Bark for Life, a walk-fundraising event to help support the American Cancer Society, raising funds for cancer research while honoring canine companions.

I met dedicated and caring people, hugged dozens of gorgeous dogs and signed copies of my books Dieting with my Dog, and Heart to Heart, Hand in Paw. It was so much fun to see all the dogs of every shape and breed, walking together and joining the fight for a cure for cancer.

Here they are, setting off to the DJ playing Who Let the Dogs Out.

More than 180 Pawticipants.

What's better than a Golden? Three Goldens and a Boston Terrier!

This sweet girl is 18 years old!

For some, taking a ride was the way to go.

Here's my book table.

Look who came to visit me at my table...Moses!!

Foster mom says he's doing great! And I might have some happy news about his forever home soon too.

Beautiful Namaste enjoyed treats available on my book table!

Kim Clune of This One Wild Life was there with me too, promoting her new venture, Dog House Adoptions. That cute pup with them may have found a new home!

Kiss a pit bull!

The Valley Cat mascot meets a friend.

Nearly $25,000 was raised to benefit cancer research and programs. Yay!

Fitness Fun with K9Kamp

2012-05-05T00:02:00.005-04:00

Is blog hopping the most exercise you and your dog get together?
Then it's time to join the 2nd annual Koly and Kelly's K9Kamp!
Yup, we're back and we're better than ever!

K9Kamp is an interactive fitness challenge event for bloggers and their dogs. This year the event runs from May 14- June 14. Peggy's Pet Place and Kol's Notes post one exciting fitness challenge each week for 4 weeks.

These challenges are easily adapted for beginners to experts. No registration required. No difficult rules or extensive time commitment. Try one or all! Have some fun with your dog!

You'll even have the opportunity to be entered into contests for awesome prizes like dog toys and training books, and our end of Kamp GRAND PRIZE package!

We already have several FEATURED BLOGGERS committed to participate in all four challenges and blog about their experience, and we have openings for just a few more! Could that be you?? If you're interested leave me a comment here or email me or Kol's Notes, and we'll get in touch.

I hope to see you all there!
Peggy & Kelly
Jodi & Kol

Kelly and Brooks

2012-05-04T07:01:00.000-04:00

Okay, so now the question you're all waiting for....how do Kelly and Brooks get along?

Does this answer things?

I can't say that Kelly hasn't been bossy. She makes a big, noisy scene and gets possessive over food. A crumb dropped on the floor. A tennis ball. Me. Especially me. She still is having a difficult time sharing.

But Brooks is one smart boy. He just stands there as if to say, "Whatever, girl." Or he walks away. He learns fast. He wants to stay.

I've learned too. I've learned not to get afraid and emotional while they work things out. I've learned that showing Brooks love and attention does not mean that I love Kelly any less. I've learned that Kelly can accept another dog.

And maybe, just maybe they'll become buddies.

I'm Adopted!

2012-05-03T07:05:00.002-04:00

I have some exciting news! I can officially announce, Kelly has a new brother!
MEET BROOKS!!

I'm feeling good here!

Hmm, do I see a squirrel out the window?

Some of you know that, sadly, things didn't work out when we brought home our first dog (I'm happy to report that Moses is doing great and happier than ever!). But we wanted to open our home to another dog so much, and --guess what? Peppertree Rescue came through!

Here are a few facts about Brooks:
*He is a male Golden Retriever
*He was abandoned by his former owners. We don't know how long he'd been on his own.
*The rescue group gave him the name of Parker, but we decided to change it to something that was special to us. A new start, a new name.
*He'd been in a rescue shelter for a year without anyone taking any interest in him
*He's got a skin condition on his back and belly and hematomas in his ears (allergies?)
*His fur on his back, hind legs and tail was shaved and is just now growing back nice
*He's 11 years old!

Life was tough before, but I don't need to worry anymore.

At first, my husband and I didn't want to consider an 11-year-old dog. I love senior dogs, but could I bear risking having my heart broken and possibly losing him after what could be a short time? All that emotional investment. And, who knows what kind of condition he was in after being abandoned? But my husband begged to meet him and once we met him, we just had to give him a second chance. It's pretty hard to meet a homeless dog and walk away....especially this face!

Won't you love me, please?

Technically, we have a few more days to complete the rescue group's two week trial period, and then Brooks will be officially adopted. But I can tell you right now, he's already a part of our family.

Speaking of which, I bet you are dying to know how Kelly is getting along with him? You'll have to tune in tomorrow to find out! But I promise you, this time now surprise endings. Brooks is here with us to stay.

Meet the woman who inspired Heart to Heart, Hand in Paw

2012-05-02T08:01:00.001-04:00

My new book, Heart to Heart, Hand in Paw is about a woman who struggles. Falls down. Gets up. Works hard. Struggles some more. But through it all she has joy and love.

Why?

Mainly because of the animals in her life. Throughout all the nitty gritty tough times-- the loss of her first two mothers at a tender age, the years in the orphanage, the divorce, the alcoholism of her second husband, the financial hardships---she's always found a way to connect with an animal that has brought her healing.
The healing love of animals.
dogs
cats
birds
sheep
even pigs!

**Here's something special just for you, not found in my book: an insider's peek at the heroine of the book, my mother Luanne! I thought you might like to meet Luanne, and learn a little more about her. So, without further ado, here's Mom!

Q: You were raised and lived most of your life in Vermont. What do you like most about the state?
Luanne: The beautiful mountains and countryside, and the laid-back attitude of people.

Q: Which animal from your childhood made the greatest impression on you?

Luanne: Toy, my grandmother's parrot. He was so smart and funny although he bit me and was a tease. He hated when I practiced for the school band on my baritone horn. He would yell, "Awe shut up!" and keep yelling until I covered him up with a blanket. I guess he didn't think I played very well.

Also, Nicker, my white Maltese. He was such a faithful little guy, always looking for me to come home from school. The love he poured out to me was so special.

Q: How many birds did you have when you lived with your grandmother?

Luanne: At one time my grandmother had 500 parakeets, a parrot, and a pair of love birds! After Toy died (he was more than 60 years old!) she got a mynah bird. He could imitate so well, he sounded just like my grandmother. Sometimes I wasn't sure which one said Hello to me!

Q: You lived in some pretty rustic places before you built your log home. What was it like living in a school bus?

Luanne: Fun! I guess because we were building our log house and I knew it was just temporary. At first it was a big adventure. But as it got colder, I admit, it wasn't as much fun!

Q: The book tells the story of building your log home and starting a small "gentleman's farm" (or "hobby farm"). What animals did you have on the farm?

Luanne: Cats and dogs of course! Chickens, ducks, goats, a few cows, sheep, pigs, rabbits. Once we had a donkey. We tried to provide for as many of our own needs as we could. Milk, eggs, chicken, etc. We felt proud to raise most of our own food. We never did raise bees, Henry was allergic to them. We tried to be good stewards of all we had. We sold wool and sold eggs at the general store. And we had a huge garden with all kinds of vegetables. My husband taught me how to cook things I'd never tried before, like dandelion greens, milk weed greens,and fiddlehead ferns.

Q: What was your favorite farm chore? Least favorite?

Luanne: My favorite chore was feeding the animals, especially bottle feeding the lambs. I also thought it was fun to go out and get fresh eggs for breakfast. My least favorite was cleaning out the chicken coop.

Q: Tell us about a new pet in your life.

Luanne: Misty is a beautiful all silver gray kitty. She is not a cuddler, but she likes to be where I am, as long as I don't hug her too much and "mess up her hair".
Before I go, I want to add one thing. May I say I am so blessed to have a daughter see enough beauty and meaning in my life to write my story, I stand in awe.

Thank YOU for the great answers. I hope everyone will go meet you in Heart to Heart, Hand in Paw, How one woman found faith and hope through the healing love of animals.

We got treats!

2012-05-01T07:18:00.006-04:00

Kelly here. I just wanted to thank Shaggy Dog Stories for the pawsome by nature treats! I got the mixed berry flavor. They're made with rice and barley, chicken meal, cranberries, carrots, blueberries, dried tomatoes, rosemary, ground flaxseed, vitamins and minerals. Mom says they're good for me. I don't believe her though, because they taste too good to be healthy. Mom took these pictures of me enjoying my treats. Thanks Shaggy dog and by nature!

I could be a model, couldn't I?

Hmph, how do I get in the bag?


This biscuit is really crunchy.

Mom, did anyone ever tell you that it's rude to take photos of a lady when she's eating?

More?!

What Do you Do with your Pet's Leftover Medication?

2012-04-30T08:16:00.002-04:00

Recently I was asked to help spread the word about how to properly dispose of your pet's leftover prescription medications. I never really thought about this before, but it certainly seems like a valid and worthy topic.

The first thing to know--April 28 was the DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, with collection sites available for people to deposit unused people and pet prescription medications. While I'm a tad off the mark in posting this date, the information is still useful.

I had the opportunity to ask some questions of Dr. Catizone, Executive Director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)

1. Why is Drug Take-Back day so important?

Dr. Catizone: Prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions across the country. In 2010, 7 million people aged 12 or older abused prescription drugs, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a government agency that conducts a national survey on related topics each year.

The same survey showed that over 50% of people abusing these drugs got them from friends or family for free. Often those who abuse drugs, including teens, take them right of the medicine cabinet. This can include medications prescribed for pets.

Ridding the home of unused, expired, or unneeded medications, helps to prevent the drugs from falling into the wrong hands.

2. Are pet medications abused by people? Which ones are the most commonly abused?

Dr. Catizone: Pain relievers and tranquilizers are two of the most commonly abused drugs, as reported in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Survey, and both types of drugs are used in the practice of human and veterinary medicine.

DEA has also indicated that buprenorphine and ketamine are drugs of abuse; each of these drugs is a prescription controlled substance approved for human and veterinary use.

3. Is it safe to keep leftover medication? For how long?

Dr. Catizone: First, be sure to follow the instructions given by your doctor and your pharmacist for using prescribed medications, or the instructions provided by your veterinarian for administering medications to your pet. Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or veterinarian if you have any questions about taking or administering medications, including how long to use the medication, and how you should store the medication.

Generally speaking, keeping leftover medication is not advised.

Removing these unused medications from your home helps to protect your pets, as well as other family and friends, from accidental ingestion or misuse.

4. What are the most common wrong ways people dispose of old medications and why is it harmful?

Dr. Catizone: Flushing certain medications or improper disposal in the garbage can lead to safety and environmental hazards.

FDA does recommend that certain drugs are flushed to prevent danger to people and pets in the home. FDA has determined that the risks of accidental ingestion of these select medications, outweighs the small risk to the environment. A link to the list of drugs that should be flushed for disposal, as well as additional information, is available on the Medication Disposal page of the AWARxE Web site.

5. What is the proper way to dispose of old medication?

Dr, Catizone: If you have pills or medication that is no longer needed or has expired, dispose of it at an authorized DEA Take-Back location, or a local medication disposal program. The next DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is April 28, 2012 and collection sites will be located across the country.

Also, cities and counties across the country provide permanent medication disposal programs. Many programs provide a drop-box at a police department—these programs can take controlled substance medications for disposal. Other programs are run by hazardous waste disposal agencies or other entities that cannot accept controlled substance medications, but can take all other unused drugs for safe disposal.

If there are no drug disposal sites near you, there are options for disposing of drugs at home. The information that comes with your prescription may provide instructions on home disposal. Only some medications should be flushed down the toilet and the US Food and Drug Administration has a list of these drugs on its Web site. If there are no instructions for disposal you can throw the drugs in your home garbage. But first, take them out of the container and mix them with an undesirable substance like coffee grounds or cat litter. Seal the mixture in a sealable bag, empty can, or other container that can be disposed of in the garbage.

Thank you Dr. Catizone!

Two Dogs, One Tennis Ball

2012-04-27T07:09:00.001-04:00

I've been learning firsthand about two dogs getting along, resource guarding, and sharing toys. So this video really hit home. How cute! It gives me hope that two dogs and one tennis ball can all get along!