Mutt Monday Loves Bo Obama!

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Mutt Monday will be noticeably overrun by #RedCarpetCat activities (more Twitter Party fun for dogs and cats) combined with our Bo Obama visit, a series prompted by a Home Goods creation of a perfect setting for this very special pooch. We enjoyed a busy weekend of water activities and preparing Bo to adopt a packmate or companion for his lonelier days at the White House. We'll share Oliver's tips a little later.

Today's post chronicles my shopping expedition to Home Goods in preparation for Bo's visit. What a great place to shop for fun pet things. I had a blast!

Links below include much of my last week's postings as well as any bloggers who would like to link up to share their articles with my readers. Feel free to join in with as many listings as you wish. 

My Home Goods Shopping Spree!

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

(c) AllThingsDogBlog.com
Here I Am...
Ready to Shop Home Goods 

When this Home Goods store opened near my house I ventured in looking for something shortly afterwards. I came out with much more than I intended to buy, yet never saw their pet selection. Wow; did I miss a fun department. Today I'm going to take you along on my Home Goods shopping expedition so you can get a glimse at the size and scope of what they have to offer. This is not a single set of shelving, but aisles of great selection to make your pets home comfy and stylish. Let's go:
We sure did have a good time exploring, and enjoyed Home Goods' other departments as well. When all was done we had a car load full of goodies to make sure our pet parlor is up to speed for Bo. After all, when you're hosting the Furst Dog, things gotta look good.

(c) AllThingsDogBlog.com
Can I Go to Home Goods too?

Upon our arrival home Jacque, my mother's dog, promptly offered to check out this new bed we picked up for Oliver. We even got a matching one for Tanner, but his is much larger and styled differently, yet with the same fabric. Do you think they knew we were coming? Now that's customer service!

The time has come to begin a giveaway sponsored by Home Goods. Two of you will win a $50 Gift Card to spend as you wish at your local Home Goods store. Sounds like fun, right? So let it rip on the Rafflecopter below. You'll have through Thursday, September 20 to enter. Winners will be announced and notified on Friday, September 21.

Entries may be made on the Rafflecopter form below. If you don't see the form, please simply click on the post title above to refresh. The Rafflecopter form will reappear below. Good luck! 

Home Goods has provided this giveaway as a promotional courtesy. I was not paid to offer this review, and the thoughts shared about Home Goods are my own. Many of the products I reviewed will be offered in future giveaways, so be sure to watch the blog closely for more exciting Home Goods pet products. No purchase is required to enter.

More Fun with Bo!

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
It's Fetching Time!

Swimming and Fetch Instruction with Bo

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Warm Weather Fun

Our full day of fun with Bo Obama here in the Florida sun will include a healthy breakfast followed by some poolside fun. Tanner's plan is to demonstrate and then teach the art of Fetch in its truest form. He takes his fetch games very seriously, so I'm hopeful he'll be patient as we acclimate Bo to Tanner's favorite game.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Secret Service?

The Secret Service has put the nitch on our plan to photograph this visit. I guess they are short-staffed and need us to keep Bo's activities under wraps. When we heard this, we ran right over to Home Goods and snagged a camouflage wetsuit, perfect for making sure no passersby recognize Bo. The goal is to keep the Pupparazzi off our trail, so Oliver and Tanner have been taking turns as lookouts.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Camouflage Wet Suit for Bo

My task will be to offer swimming instruction. Since Bo is a Portuguese Water Dog this shouldn't be too difficult, but we're not sure how much action he's seen in the pool, so safety first. We've got a life vest if he's wary, so we're well-prepared. Tanner even offered to try on the camouflage wetsuit and sure enough, it's a snug fit on my boy which probably means we're in the ballpark for it fitting Bo. I think we're ready for Bo's fun day on the water.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Ready for Bathtime

After swimming instruction is complete, we'll give Bo a soothing bath with some yummy smelling shampoo we picked up at Home Goods, then towel him off with this adorable microfiber towel. 

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Comfy Napping for Tanner

Next up? Naptime. Tanner and Bo will be pooped from swimming and all that Fetch instruction. I'm sure Tanner will do his share of showing off. He is, after all, a Fetch master! We'll assign Oliver to guard duty during their nap. He can use the computer-monitored video surveillance for extra security.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Oliver Takes Watch

 After the boys nap off their swimming session, we'll offer everyone a tasty treat to renew their energy.   That's when Oliver will make his move. He has a big plan for Bo's family. Read on...

© AllThingsDogBlog.comTreats Anyone?

 It's Rescue Time!

Oliver has been busy researching a companion for Bo. Being a 'companion dog', Oliver knows how important it is for Bo to have somepuppy to hang with. What's the poor fella to do when Sasha and Malia are off to school or Camp David with the rents. He needs a buddy, for sure!

Parade Magazine, September 2, 2012
Off They Go Without Bo!

This worry brought Oliver to the decision to seek out a companion for Bo. Oliver worked over Petfinder.com quite thoroughly, checking out areas located near DC. Knowing that he needed to locate a reasonably reduced-allergen dog (like Bo's breed or a poodle) he selected a Toy Poodle just outside DC in Bethesda, Maryland. I'm embarrassed to say that her name is Carrie. Yes; you read that correctly. I guess it will help me remember her name!

courtesy Petfinder.com
"Carrie"

Carrie is a 12 lb. little lady, about 1 year old. Petfinder's description says "Some dogs seem like they have read "Miss Manners" in their spare time. We know Carrie can't read, but she does seem ladylike and focused. . ."

Working on the assumption that the boys would be successful in helping Bo adopt a companion, we've taken another opportunity to scour our local Home Goods for things this new little darling will need.  We collected a wide variety of treats to be sure to have a Presidential selection available, while also sending some home with Bo to share with 
Carrie. (Yes, I had to swallow when I typed that name--so strange!)

Appropriately small toys, a girlish bed in the furry family's favorite Black and White is a perfect balance for Bo's bed and his party colors. We now have a totally coordinated furry Furst Family, thanks to some help from Coco, the Home Goods pet products advisor.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
A Perfect Bed for Carrie

Now that the Obamas may have a girl dog, we had to make sure a few girlish items were ready to go, while still leaving the selection of fashion to the Obama daughters who will, no doubt, enjoy dressing up Carrie to show her off. We found special shampoo for girl dogs at Home Goods and pink bags for picking up ladylike deposits on the White House grounds. With an appropriately sized collar and matching leash, this girl will be just about ready to rock. Are you ready Bo? Apparently he and the President are in training for a younger pack member.

© Pete Souza
Look at Them Go!

We'll be sharing some tips in the coming weeks on integrating a new pup into your family, as well as moving a dog. Watch for these helpful hints that we'll be sharing to assist Bo and his family with a possible adoption. And of course, Home Goods will be happy to help with all the necessary supplies needed for a new adoptive brother or sister for Bo.

Bo's Visit: Our Plan Commences

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© photo courtesy of the White House Blog
Air Force One...
Coming Soon to Our Neighborhood? We'll See!

Now that the cat is out of the bag we're ready to start sharing our plans for Bo Obama's planned visit. In case you've missed any of the lead up, we've been tasked with preparing a special event at our home for Bo Obama, the Furst Dog. Home Goods is providing all the necessary accouterments to make a cozy spot for Bo, to make sure we have everything we need to make his visit comfortable, safe and fun.

Needless to say Tanner and Oliver are busting at their seams. Here's the general flow of the visit. Be sure to follow along so you don't miss any of the excitement or prizes. With all the Secret Service around, we're pretty sure we'll be attracting some puparazzi!

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Tanner on Duty

Bo's Arrival will be top secret, of course. I can't tell you when or where he'll arrive. To be honest, I don't even know myself. We simply have to be ready at any moment to receive our celebrity guest. Sigh. I'm so not into surprise visits, but who's to argue with the Secret Service! We're guessing he'll arrive by Air Force One, after which he'll be brought here by special transport in an unidentifiable vehicle. No clues on that.

Our plan is to meet him at the back of the house (very stealthy, right?) where Tanner can escort him safely to the back yard for some welcome relief after a long plane ride. Tanner doesn't understand the whole Secret Service thing, so he's pretty sure he's in charge of Bo's safety. I'm sure Oliver will mark the spot to let all the neighborhood dogs in on the news, while keeping the humans out of the loop entirely. The dogs will quickly learn about Bo's safe arrival before any of you, as dogs always do scent things out well.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Another Home Goods Find!

Our meet and greet plan with the Furst Dog: Most certainly Bo is accustomed to staying clean, so we've stocked up on paw wipes and a new doormat, all located at our handy, local Home Goods store, to make sure Bo is satisfactorily tidied up before entering his private rest area. 

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Tanner Tests Out Bo's Bed Poolside

Since Bo is a party-colored Portugese Water Dog, we've acquired suitably-colored bedding from Home Goods to assure a good night's rest in fashionable style.

Tanner and Oliver have insisted on having a 'sleepover' with Bo, so, of course, we had to get the boys matching beds in a color that works with our decor. Goodness knows, we couldn't be just tossing our old beds into Bo's area. What would he think!!! Of equal importance, what do you think?:

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Both of the Boys
 Seem to Love their New Beds

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Good Memories in the Making

Just to make sure Bo feels at home, we've hung an adorable photo board over his bed, featuring pictures of the Furst Dog himself as well as Oliver and Tanner. I picked this up at Home Goods;  a little tip--they even had a kitty version :) And stay with us as we unveil the rest of the plan; Oliver hopes to help Bo's furry family grow and Tanner has big plans for bringing out the water dog in our new friend :)

There's a lot more to share, so watch the blog closely to see how we spend our time with Bo, as well as what we'll be doing with the excess loot. Can you guess?

More soon,