Favorite Read Friday

JUST THOUGHT WE'D CATCH UP ON SOME OF OUR IMPORTANT READING TODAY!


I just love all these heartwarming dog stories.  *Sigh*

THIS BOOK IS OUR FAVORITE, IT'S A TOTAL CLASSIC!



This story about a hero dog is fascinating!

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE PET BOOKS?  PLEASE LEAVE US A COMMENT & SHARE!

Wordless Wednesday: DON'T HATE ME!

DON'T HATE ME BECAUSE I'M ADORABLE,

I WAS A MATTED MESS WHEN MOM BROUGHT ME HOME FROM THE SHELTER!

HONESTLY, I WAS!  YOU DIDN'T EXPECT ME TO POST A PICTURE OF ME BEING A MATTED MESS, DID YOU?!?

THIS IS THE BLOGPAWS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!!

Bathe Dogs Naturally With BVH PET CARE Premium Dog Shampoo & Conditioner

It's bath time for Phoebe again!  She's a pretty active dog and loves to explore the outdoors.  Dirt, mud, and grime easily get lodged in her wavy white fur, which means frequent bathing! 

Phoebe isn't always too happy about that, and I worry about bathing her too often.  Frequent bathing with most shampoos for dogs can really dry out their skin.  With dry skin comes itching and scratching, which can lead to "hot spots", sores, and infections. 

I think my frequent dog shampooing worries are over though!  I just tried a great dog shampoo, BVH Premium Dog Shampoo and Conditioner.  It contains all natural ingredients with no harsh chemicals, so I can bathe Phoebe as often as I want without worrying about irritating her skin! 

It's a safe and gentle formula that cleans, conditions, moisturizes and deodorizes your dog's fur.  I'm so happy about that deodorizing part because Phoebe has a habit of rolling in all kinds of "stuff" we encounter on our walks and hikes!

BVH Pet Care Premium Dog Shampoo & Conditioner is Cruelty-Free, Soap-Free, Chemical-Free, and Won't Irritate Or Redden your dog's Skin. It's pH balanced specifically for dogs so it won't cause skin irritation and those nasty rashes, bumps and dry flaky skin. 

These are the ingredients in BVH Pet Care Premium Dog Shampoo & Conditioner: 

Purified Water based formula

Coconut extracts

Palm extracts

Citrus extracts

Rapeseed extracts

That's IT!  Nothing but gentle, natural ingredients in this dog shampoo and conditioner!

The shampoo lathered up beautifully and rinsed off easily. I like that it's not a heavily perfumed shampoo, it has a light clean scent.  It contains a moisturizer to replenish the natural oils in dogs' skin, and a fur conditioner to help control mild matting and provide a soft shiny coat.  It left Phoebe's fur feeling so soft and easy to comb out.  Her fur looked really shiny and bright too!

I love that BVH Pet Care Premium Dog Shampoo and Conditioner is:

> CRUELTY FREE

> MADE IN THE USA
> BIODEGRADABLE

 

 


We know you'll love this shampoo, but BVH Pet Care offers a Money Back Guarantee if you are not completely satisfied with their product!

BVH Premium Dog Shampoo and Conditioner is For use on dogs 12 weeks and older.  It's available on Amazon.com

This post is sponsored by BVH Pet Care. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about BVH Natural Dog Shampoo and Conditioner, but Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers!

 

 

Hollywood Glam

PHOEBE DISPLAYS A LITTLE HOLLYWOOD GLAM WITH HER "DIAMOND" NECKLACE AND "FUR" TRIMMED SWEATER!

THIS IS THE BLACK AND WHITE SUNDAY BLOG HOP!

Therapy Dogs Helping Kids

My favorite Therapy Dog days are the ones where I get to read with the kiddo's!

I love meeting all the little kiddo's that come to the library. Mama says I'm helping them be better readers!

This sweet little girls' voice is so soothing..... I think I'll close my eyes, just for a moment.

SNOOZE,  SNOOZE, ZZzzzzz......

If you want to learn more about it, read my post on Why Children Should Read To Therapy Dogs to improve their reading skills. 

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An InLinkz Link-up

Dog's Love Affair With A Fish

ME AND MR. FISHY-FISH, WE GOT A THING GOIN' ON!

PUT YOUR EYES BACK IN YOUR HEAD PHOEBE, QUIT STARING AT MY MAN!!

Does your pet have a favorite toy like Mr. Fishy-Fish?

Let's connect on Facebook!

THIS IS THE BLOGPAWS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!

ARE DOG DOORS DANGEROUS?

Thinking about installing a dog door?  It would be great to join your friends for dinner after work, if only you didn’t have to run home to feed and walk the dog.  Your dog would love to get some afternoon sun in the yard and a potty break whenever nature calls.  

A dog door sounds like the perfect solution, right? But are dog doors dangerous? Although a dog door can provide an enticing level of freedom and convenience for you and your dog, there are some potential dangers associated with them.

PIN THIS!



Why can't we just let ourselves out?

Before installing a dog door in your home, be aware of these 4 potential dangers:

Invaders of the furry kind

With most dog doors, there’s nothing to prevent other animals from discovering this magical portal to your castle and entering at will.  The neighbor’s cat may slink in to sleep on your furniture, or the local raccoon might decide the fruit bowl on your kitchen table is irresistible!   In Florida, alligators have even crawled through dog doors!  Personally, I can deal with a cat or a raccoon but an alligator?? No way! 


It would be great if your dog could let herself outside with a dog door, but is it safe?

Invaders of the human kind

The real danger isn’t wildlife or the neighbor’s pet crashing your pad, it’s the human variety that is the most dangerous.  According to FBI crime reports a robbery takes place approximately every 15 seconds!

Think your dog door is safe from intruders because it’s small-dog size?  Not so.  Your dog door doesn’t need to be Mastiff- size in order for an intruder to gain access.   My neighbor, an elderly woman named Connie, was robbed few years ago.   She had a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a dog that weighs about 15 lbs.  Apparently, one of the thieves brought a child along on the heist to gain initial entry to the house.  The kid slipped  through  the dog door and unlocked the main door for the real perps to get inside!



Is it safe for us to be free to roam the yard while you're at work?

There are electronic dog doors that open with a collar. They open, close and lock automatically via a battery operated device on your dog’s collar.  Sounds great, but if a dog is anything like mine, as soon as anyone approached the back door they’d be right there barking.  They’d be inadvertently opening the dog door for the intruders with their electronic collars!

Danger Beyond The Dog Door

Another consideration is that if your dog has entry to your yard on his own, is the yard itself secure?  Could your dog jump the fence if sufficiently motivated?  Could someone from the outside jump the fence and steal your precious pooch right out of your yard?  Although we had a 6 foot concrete wall around our house, common in the Phoenix area, we never left our dogs in the yard unattended.



I would love to lounge in the yard all day but not if it isn't safe!

A Danger To Small Children In The Home

The last potential danger is the scariest of them all.  Small children have been known to crawl through dog doors and get injured, wander off, or worse.  In 2008 a 3 year old boy crawled out of a pet door and fell into his family's backyard swimming poor in Ahwatukee, Arizona.  Tragically, he did not survive. 

Advocates in Florida reported that “ In the last decade there have been at least 100 incidents of small children squeezing through a pet door and incurring an injury.  50% of those occurrences ended in fatalities”  They also stated that “A 38 lb baby can easily crawl through an 8 x 11 opening”   See KATVs report on dog door safety and potential dangers to children, pets, and your personal property.

Dog doors for big dogs as well as dog doors for small dogs can pose a danger to children. 100 incidences over the course of a decade may sound small, but where child safety is concerned even one incident is too many! 

These are all important things to consider if you’re thinking about installing a dog door.  Convenience is great, but safety comes first.  I’m not a fan of dog doors, and we don’t have one for our two dogs, Icy and Phoebe.  The important thing is to do your research and be aware of the potential risks of dog doors and decide whether or not a dog door is right for you.

What are your thoughts, were you aware of all these potential dog door risks? Leave us a comment, we always love to hear from you!

Tribute To Rock Legend David Bowie

GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM.... THE EARTH IS WEEPING

I think we are all still reeling after learning about the death of David Bowie.  For so many of us he was very much a part of our musical culture growing up.  His illness wasn't highly publicized, it seems most people didn't even know he had been battling cancer for 18 months.

David Bowie's last video, BLACK STAR was released recently.  In case you haven't seen it, here is a link to the video on YouTube.  It's a dark and daunting video.  I have no doubt we'll hear many interpretations of his lyrics for years to come, but we must each interpret the song, the video, and the man in our own way.

Reflecting on this tragic news, Some of my favorite David Bowie memories were;

*** Seeing him in concert in New York when I was a young teenager.  It was a spectacular and thrilling show!  He didn't just stand there and sing, it was an epic stage performance that sent chills through my teenage heart! 

*** In Junior High, which somehow came to be called Middle School - when exactly did that happen!?, we had a really cool art teacher, Miss Rose.  She played awesome music in the classroom while we created "art".  She played the Stones, Led Zeppelin, Bowie and others to help stir our creative juices. 

The classroom was right above the Principle's office.  He was always popping his head in telling her to lower the music.  Honestly, I think he just liked to come in and hear all that awesome music! 

One of our projects was to paint a t-shirt using acrylic paint.  Mine was a pink tee on which I painted BOWIE and made a red, white & blue shooting star banner through it.  God how I loved that shirt!  I wore it and washed it until it was nothing but a tattered rag.  I wore it to every party and sleepover, proudly displaying my love for David Bowie and his music.  

*** The hours and hours spent hanging out in our friend Mary's room, listening to Bowie albums and discussing, Ad nauseam, every aspect of life and teenage angst. 

I'm trying to decide which David Bowie song is my favorite.  Although I have always had a thing for Major Tom, I think I'd have to say "Changes", because it really depicts how life feels for me.  Nothing ever seems to stay the same, it's a roller coaster with constant changes to adapt to.

David Bowie will be sorely missed

Artist. Genius. Icon. Legend.  Rest In Peace, David Bowie.  Thank you for everything you meant to a young teenage girl, and for sharing your talents with the world.  An ocean of tears will be shed, you will be sorely missed.

What's your favorite Bowie memory and song?  Leave us a comment & share!

I'm joining the blog hop to send thoughts and prayers to the beautiful Sugar the Golden Retriever. She is having surgery to remove a tumor on her spleen. I love Sugar, and I'm not alone!  Sugar has been sharing Golden smiles with the world for 14½ years and is loved by all those who visit her Golden Woofs blog.  Please join us on this blog hop and send your love to Sugar as she goes through surgery and recovery. ♥ Stay Golden Strong Sugar! ♥



The Pet Parade blog hop appears to be having technical difficulties, I will monitor it and make corrections as they are available.

THIS IS THE FRIDAY PET PARADE BLOG HOP!

An InLinkz Link-up

Phoenix in the Winter

WHAT PHOENICIANS WEAR IN THE WINTER IN PHOENIX

WHAT TOURISTS WEAR IN THE WINTER IN PHOENIX

HUMANS! WHO CAN FIGURE THEM OUT?!

 

 

THIS IS THE BLOGPAWS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!!

Winter Safety Tip For Pets

If you live in a warm climate, you may think you don't need to be concerned about Winter Safety for your dog or cat.  Not true, especially if you travel to colder climes with your pet!  Ever head up to the mountains for the weekend?

Beautiful view from the car traveling through New Mexico

We live in Phoenix Arizona but we travel quite extensively with our 2 dogs.  I recently had a Pet Winter Safety scare I wasn't prepared for during our trip back to Phoenix from the East coast. 

Black & White Sunday: Almost Home!

I love that feeling you get when you've been traveling for days and you're almost home!

 

 Photo from my car, crossing the border between New Mexico and Arizona. 

 

 

THIS IS THE BLACK AND WHITE SUNDAY BLOG HOP!

 

 



Exhausted Pup

I'm so exhausted from the hectic holiday festivities!  I am going to sleep.  For a very long time.  I'm not waking up for days.  Do not even attempt to rouse me!

TREAT??  DID SOMEONE SAY TREAT?!

RoundUp: Favorite Blog Posts of 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Can you believe we've said goodbye to 2015 already?  It feels like I had barely said hello to 2015, but here I am ushering in 2016!  This eventful year has really flown by.

As I reflect on the past year and scroll through the blog posts I published in 2015, I feel a sense of accomplishment.  Most of my posts were joyful to write.  Some were more difficult, I felt like I was taking a risk by baring my soul, exercising my "digital bravery".   As I close out for the year, I'd like to share a few of my posts that are my personal favorites from 2015, in case you missed them during the course of the year.  I hope you enjoy them!

> As many of you know, my Siberian Husky Icy and I are a Therapy Dog team.  One of my favorite Therapy Dog activities is the children's reading program where Kids reading to Therapy Dogs helps improve reading skills.  It's such a fun program, I love to see the children's faces light up when they see the dogs at the library.  It's so rewarding to see their reading skills improve week after week!  Although it was brief, this was one of my favorite posts to write this year.

> We love to travel with our dogs, Icy and Phoebe!  One of our favorite places to visit with the dogs is Sedona, the stunning Red Rock region in Northern Arizona in 100 Places to See With Your Dog; Sedona in the Fall.  I really enjoy sharing the great dog friendly places we've found with other pet parents.  You can read about other places we've traveled with our dogs by clicking on the Pet Travel tab from the Home page. 

> Fostering Saves Lives.  It's that simple.  I love to foster shelter dogs in my home, it's a lot of fun for me and my dogs to have a new little visitor come and stay with us for a few weeks.  Even if you can't foster a dog for weeks you can be a Day Foster, fostering dogs for just one day.  It may not sound like much, but this post talks about how even one day away from the shelter can have significant positive impacts for a shelter dog!  This is an easy way to make a real difference for a shelter dog, it's something I'm very passionate about.

> This next post is one of those posts where I had to exercise some of that "digital bravery" I mentioned.  The world of animal welfare is an ugly truth, it's not always cut and dry and it's rarely as simple as people think.  I didn't know how people would react to the directness of my post or the analogy I used when discussing what I believe to be the only way to truly solve the problem of pet homelessness.

> One of the highlights of the year was attending BlogPaws2015 in Nashville in May.  This post contains highlights from that fabulous conference!  I'm so glad I went, it was the best experience and definitely the pet lovers event of the year! 

I hope you enjoyed my 2015 Roundup.  Thank you fellow pet lovers for visiting us on the blog and for being such great friends.  I wish you all the best in the new year!

Love & Biscuits,
Cathy, Icy, & Phoebe