Doggy Details
Doggies and People
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Posted on March 2, 2010
Cover by the awesome Erin Vey
I’m not even done with this book, yet, and I cannot help myself but sing praises!
This book has been on my list of books to read for a while. I did not order it, yet, in favor of reading different ones first for one reason: the reviews. And they are not bad, but they just left me with a feeling of “that’s not the book I MUST read”. I don’t recall them in detail, I know one said it mentions lots of things we already know. But it’s not one review in particular, it’s the feeling that many reviews left in me. And boy was that wrong!!!
A friend of mine had ordered it and said she thinks it’s something I would want to read (even before she opened the book). And I am so glad she brought it over. I am absolutely in love.
I probably have to explain something first. I love science. I studied equine science and I soaked up all of the scientifical articles I could find. I set out to become a journalist to spread the news of science, because I had the feeling that there is a lack of communication between the scientific community and the press and rest of the world, namely the people that need to actually APPLY the findings. In the end photography stole me away from journalism, but I love science nevertheless. And I am so happy, that Alexandra Horowitz, a scientist, wrote this book for everyone to understand.
Usually I rather read books about training and understanding dogs than heartfelt stories about dogs. This one is somewhere in between and totally different at the same time. Horowitz uses her own dog as example without boring me. She actually writes beautifully, almost poetic, about her dog as introduction to each chapter. And then each chapter is exactly what the title promises. A look from the inside out. How do dogs see, smell, hear and taste the world backed up by scientific evidence. How do they experience us, their toys, other dogs, and themselves.
Don’t we all sort of know how dogs see the world, how they smell much better than we do and how they descend from wolfs… or not? Horowitz clears up misconceptions and takes you a step further. Into the dogs mind. What information does the fire hydrant give him (it’s like the community board or local newspaper) and why do they not find the ball right in front of their nose. Day after day that I am reading, chapter after chapter, I am understanding my dogs a little better. In small, but significant ways.
I can only encourage everyone to read it. I might get back to you about when I’m actually done. Not with a reviewed review, but with more wisdom 
Posted on February 23, 2010
As I am working on pictures of Harvey (and procrastinate all the important things that are to be done) I didn’t want to leave you hanging and finally tell you about my latest etsy buys. I had been looking for a treat pouch, one of those you can just clip to your pants, for a while. Unconsciously I have probably been looking around since I got Mac, but I really got on it once I started clicker training not too long ago. You really go through some treats that way! Since I never saw anything decent in pet store or on websites I figured I’ll try etsy. Because that’s just the place I go to for everything cool, unique and handmade.
And actually, there were not too many treat bags out there, even on etsy. I think only about two sellers seemed to have some cool fabrics and sort of the bag I was envisioning. Sort of. So I got in touch with them to see what we can work out. And wow… I found someone who would customize it even after i had already received one bag and wasn’t completely satisfied, yet. I got as many clips as I wanted where I wanted them and she has a load of different fabrics to choose from. So don’t settle for what you can find at the store! Get in touch with Kerrie of Cody’s Creations and let her know what your perfect treat bag (or leash or collar) looks like and I’m sure she can help you out!
And then the second one is once again, another collar. Can you blame me? What else is there to give your puppy a new look (if you don’t have a poodle you can groom into all shapes and sizes)? And it was the right occasion, too. We decided to adopt Maize, so it was time to get her out of that Shelter Collar and into something stylish. I love the collars that are 1.5″ thick. But usually they only look good on Greyhounds or Danes. It wasn’t ever anything I could by for Mac if I didn’t want him to look like he is wearing a turtle neck. But Maize has a much longer neck, so I decided to go for it when I found this gorgeous piece at the etsy store Alaska Leash! She has a lot of cool leashes and split leashes (the ones that look like a bungee cord and have a handle) and she also had this amazing collar of which I luckily snatched the last one. I would have taken a picture of Maize wearing it, but unfortunately her friends have already chewed on it quite a bit… It still looks good. Just a little worn. I guess that’s what they are supposed to look like anyway, right?
So, before you check the big pet stores for something in particular next time, try some of these great people on etsy who will custom make you about anything!
Posted on February 21, 2010
Last night I got a little decorating idea, which included cleaning up and painting the area where I feed the dogs. So this morning, as I have to get up at EIGHT AM to supervise my dogs and the new CRAZY skittish foster, I went online to look for dog bowls that fit my idea. And I came across this website that some might see to be a little over the top, but I think it is still acceptable (if you ignore the dog strollers). Expensive, as in: I will loningly stare at most of their items, but super cool! The website is called The Premium Pet, check it out sometime. I’m gonna go back to drooling all over my keyboard now.
Posted on February 8, 2010
Before I get to yet another thing you can spend your money I’ll tell you what cheap solution kept Mac busy for the longest time.
I don’t throw out any of my empty juice bottle (the sturdier plastic kind). Instead I keep them to fill them with all sorts of treats. And whenever I have to leave Mac alone, I will put those out around the house for him to entertain himself, trying to get out all of the treats. Now officially I am probably supposed to tell you to supervise your dog while he is playing with things like plastic bottles. And I have the first few times. I learned that he usually won’t chew them up until they have been laying around for a few days. So I feel safe letting him play with them while I’m not gone and while they’re still new.
Anyway, so although I’m still giving him bottles with treats he really has figured it all out by now and I had to look around for new things to keep him challenged. And I have came across a toy (that I have not tried, yet) that will soon replace one or two of the plastic bottles. They are made by the company Canine Genius, and what loving dog owner does not believe that their pooch is one of those, right? Well, I definitely fall into that category and will get Mac several Canine Genius toys. Two of their toys are interactive treat dispenser (did i just make that up?). They are a little bit more challenging than the usual Kong, since they have little prongs at their openings which makes it harder for the dog to retrieve their treats. I think I’ll start with Mike (picture below), before I move on to Leo. Leo seems super intriguing to me, because you cans stick several of those into each other and make it infinitely more challenging. I will take bets how long this will keep Mac busy until I have to think of a new toy!
And I’m all about rubber toys lately, by the way. I think I have finally passed the stage of replacing stuffed toys that have been ripped apart after a day or even just a few hours. How will the stuffed toy industry survive without me, I wonder?
Posted on February 2, 2010
I loooove etsy. It is my go to source for everything stylish and a little different. Like right now I am searching for a treat bag for training treats and I realy just don’t want the ones everyone has. So I went to etsy and voilá! I found one. Several.
But that’s not what this post is about. I will tell you about my cool treat bag once I’ve actually received and tested it. Right now I’d like to show you the art of a seller I found by just browsing around the website. Gemini Art Studio.
The artist, Stephen Fowler, gets his inspiration from the big town Chicago, but creates all of these wonderful pieces in a studio in his small hometown Ohio. I am in love with this vintage-feel and I’m an now risking a lot by showing you the piece I really, really would like to have. And I really hope no one else buys it, before I can come up with the money Maybe I should save up a while longer and have him do a custom piece of my doggies. He does that, too!
Posted on January 26, 2010
As promised last Tuesday I will give you my personal two cents on the dog baking book I purchased recently.
I have to say, the journey started out a little rocky. I had checked out a friends book before and tried some recipes from magazines like The Bark and Modern Dog. So I had things like oat flour and rolled oats already handy. What I had to find out, though, was that this book uses loads of oat and wheat germ and basically no oat flour and rolled oats. So for me it felt like I kept looking and looking and their was nothing i could find to bake right away with what I had in the house. So I got a little annoyed, because I’m impatient like that. After that first little annoyance I just decided to substitue. I think it works just as good. Long story short: to save yoursekf the trouble I had, I advise you to read the introduction before you start baking and stock your pantry with a few basic items that will last you for quite a while! Easy as that. I wish I wouldn’t be so impatient.
Anyway, my initial reason for buying THIS book was that it promised to include a few recipes for training treats. You might know my love for Zuke’s, but I always look for a way to mix things up and why not try to save some money that way, too. So the first thing I baked were Salmon Cheese Treats. And you know what? If I don’t bake any other treat out of this book, I think those alone made it worth the $10 I paid. Or at least my husband would say so. Because it saves him from spending lots and lots of money on my beloved training treats. (And please nobody tell him that this saved money will now go to more rawhides!) Admittedly, the salmon isn’t the cheapest ingredient, but you are supposed to use the canned one, so I would say one whole batch of these treats cost me about $4, depending on where you shop. And it filled a quart-sized ziploc bag. And I mean it FILLED it! Maybe one day I’ll sit down and count the treats one batch makes and compare them to the amount of treats I get in the store bought bags… but not today.
Here is where I’m going with all this. All in all I am pretty happy because it is the first home made treat I found that is small, moist and chewy. Perfect for training. Because in all reality, I’m not one who gives cookie after cookie to my dogs. I enjoy to bake them. I enjoy to bake, period. And then since I’ve already baked them I decide to use them to fill kongs and similar toys. But that is about the extend of it. What I need is training treats. Small and LOTS of them.
And you know what, even if it doesn’t compare to the inexpensive treat you get in every grocery store, at least I know what’s in them. And not only that, the book also gives me nutrition tips along the way, and I like to learn.
Wasn’t that an insightful review?
I’m sorry!
Really!
“Super important edit: Christi added that many commercial chicken stock contain onion, which are toxic for dogs! Homemade chicken stock is pretty easy (and dogs love it frozen into ice cubes), she said. I have not, yet, made any treats with chicken broth, but this book actually does contain a few recipes that call for it. So stay alert and know what your dog can and can’t eat!*
Posted on January 19, 2010
Last weekend we had a game night of a different kind. This one included our dogs as well. One of our friends brought over “Do you mind?“, a simple dice game for people and dogs.
“Do you mind?” is one of several dog (and cat) games by darf inc. In this one you roll the die and pick the appropriate card which is going to tell you a task you have to fulfil with your dog. The tasks go from easy, like “sit” to hard, like “retrieve a toy and place it into your arms shaped like a hoop”. We played it with four people and four dogs and had lots of fun. The dogs stayed entertained, trained their brains and went to sleep right after the party
I could actually also see it as a little help in training your dog. First of all, the game comes with a set of tips for how to get your dog to do certain things. But also, I would just pick a card a day, or maybe a card per week, to get new ideas of what to train my dog. And lastly, we got the idea to make our own cards with even harder tasks for the agility dog, for example.
So all in all, I would definitely recommend it. If I remember right my friend bought it at cheengoo.com, but darf’s website lists more sellers, locally and on the web.
*stay tuned for next tuesday when I’ll give you my two cents on the new dog buiscuit baking book I just bough*
Posted on January 12, 2010
Aren’t these super cute? And you don’t have to pay horrendous shipping fees on them because you can make them yourself. Run to the hobby lobby for shrinky dinks, download the templates and go!
I found this on the Martha Steward website. And although Martha has been driving me insane with her baking recipes in the past (could it be any more complicated?) and I was close to wondering if they were the real reason for why she went to prison, I have to admit I love these tags. Get your instructions here.
Posted on January 5, 2010
As promised last week, here is a “helping hand” for your daily walks. Port-A-Poo clips to your leash (and even flexi-leash) and carries your full and empty poop bags. What more can I say about them? Other than: I want one!
Well, I have a little more to say. For example, I would absolutely love one of those when I walk both of my dogs all by myself and all of my hands are tied up in leashes. And they come in several colors, in case you are concerned about you and your dogs looks no matter where you are. And now there is really not much more to say. And that’s not a bad thing. Port-a-poo, simple but profound. Love it!
*Tell me what your favorite pet products are! If they get featured on the blog you might just have a sweet little something come your way! Just comment below or shoot me a mail*
Posted on December 29, 2009
Ever thought about your doggies carbon paw print? There is a myriad of information out there on how to raise a “green” dog and being the european recycling person I am, I just love that! In the past I have mentioned a few products, like the west paw design toys or the molly mutt bed, that help you be more eco friendly. Now here is an invention that’s helping tremendously.
Ever think of where all your poop bags go?
For a while I was pretty excited to finally have another use for all those plastic bags from the grocery store that they give if (if you want them or not!). But I wasn’t too excited for long when I realized that once I picked up my doggies’ poop they just go to the landfill as well! So here is the solution: One of my favorite websites, Planet Dog, sells biodegradable poop bags. They are made from corn and biodegrade within only 45 days! Granted, spending 6 bucks at least once a months (for 40 bags) is probably more than you did so far, but isn’t it seriously worth it? Just get a whole supply and give some to your friends at the dog park, too!
Now, I’m not sure people will like you leaving those used bags on the side of the ride. Because they don’t know how nifty those really are! So next week I’ll show you a product that will let you carry your poop bag home in style!
*EDIT: I just found biodegradable bags at portapoo.com! Get your Port-A-Poo and bags all in the same place!*
*EDIT2: And (thanks to Elvia who found this!) there is an even cheaper place to buy biodegradable bags from BioBags.*