Fido's Freebie Friday

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Carrie Boyko
Our Sock Toy is Great
 for Big and Small Dogs

Last week I had a little walk down memory lane about my Xena and offered up a few All Things Dog Blog sock toys in her memory. On top of that, a reader with a big dog won a little dog giftpak, so I'm re-gifting that to someone new, and the first reader will get a "big dog pack" instead. That definitely makes more sense for her big dog, don't you think?!!

© Carrie Boyko
The Little Dog Pak
Includes all You See Here

To top this all off, the folks at Cesar Cuisine that sent me the little dog giftpaks sweetened the pot by shipping me a bunch of their gourmet dinners to give away.  I need to unload this quick before Oliver turns into a pumpkin! And Tanner, well, he could easily lap it all up in one sitting! 


So, here's the deal. Today I'll give away the giftpak and the sock toys. Next week there will be four 12-packs of Cesar Cuisine meals up for grabs on Friday, April 8. That's a bunch of chow for some happy little pups. Keep in mind, this brand of food is designed especially for toy-sized dogs. Don't comment on this post unless you have a small dog to offer it to. The nutritional balance is designed especially for our tiniest canine companions.


Need to know how to enter? It's simple: Leave a comment about your toy-sized dog here on the blog (the comment link is at the bottom of the post), comment on this small dog prize at our Facebook page, or drop me a Tweet about your pup. Entries close on Thursday evening, April 7, so don't wait. Enter as often as you like.


Today's winners of the All Things Dog Blog Sock toys are: 

Laura Dogsmom 

Beth Lee

Vicki Ross Bechet 

And finally, the Cesar Cuisine giftpak goes to Patti Smith. All four of these winners need to get in touch with their addresses for shipment: LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com.


Speaking of addresses, I have no contact info for ROXY, last week's winner of one of the giant Merrick's Miss Porky Chews last week. She needs to get in touch at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. Roxy, you have 30 days from the date of announcement. Good luck everyone.


And as always, don't forget to visit 5 Minutes for Fido, where Tanner and Oliver spout off their opinions and generally offer up silliness.

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Small Pups Can Live Large!

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Carrie Boyko
Owner's Tshirt

Step aside Great Danes. Move over  Mastiffs. The toy breeds are making a drive to win owner's hearts. I can't have an opinion on this topic, since I own dogs from each camp, but I can tell you that they each provide their affection in very unique ways. I'm not sure if I'd be able to choose between them.

Filet Mignon Flavor Treats
Sure to Be a Big Hit!

This post is merely to announce the winner of our Cesar Cuisine giveaway. This lucky lady is getting more than just the T you see above. She's also getting goodies for her little one, a special Cesar Cuisine feeding dish, and four cans of little pups' favorite flavors of gourmet dinner.

This owner and her pup will most certainly have a delightful surprise when this package arrives at her home. 

This weekend is sure to please some more readers, as tomorrow I'll be announcing the winner of the drawing for Winner's Choice (3 winners): Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul or an All Things Dog Blog dog toy, suitable for small or large Fidos. Watch for the winners' announcement tomorrow.

For today, congratulations to Melissa Travis. Hopefully, she is the owner of a toy-sized dog, but if not, we'll work out an alternate prize and I'll choose another winner for this package. Melissa, drop me a note and fill me in on your pup. Be sure to include your address to LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. If you happen to have a jumbo sized dog, I'll be in touch.

Here's the Prize

Oops....what about next week? I've got an idea. Easter is getting closer. Everywhere I go I see bunny ears. Looking through my goodies, I also see ears--two Merrick's Miss Porky Chews for dogs. This is an all- natural treat(no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives) that will keep your Fido busy for quite a while. They're 6-8" wide, yet light enough for your toy-sized dog to carry around. Amazing! To enter, all you need to do is comment here or at our Facebook page on the posting for this article. Don't forget to hit the "Like" button while you're there, so you'll be able to keep up with our goings on more easily. Happy tails!

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Freaky Dog People Tshirts Awarded to...

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Carrie Boyko

Loving My New Tshirt

from Freaky Dog People

Well, we've sure had fun talking about these adorable Tshirts. I've gotten a bunch of emails, some comments, questions and a lot of look-sees. My Facebook clan had a good time with this topic too. 

The consensus seems to be that I need to sell them right here on All Things Dog Blog. What do YOU think? I'm still taking input, so feel free to use that COMMENTS link down there at the bottom.

I suppose you're wondering who gets the goods, right? I have 3 Tshirts to give away. I'm going to name the winners, in no particular order, and email or message them all with a notification too. These will be three lucky ladies when they get their shirts next week. Time to draw the winners:

© Carrie Boyko
Need a New Bucket Soon
for these Rolling Drawings

Here they are, the winners of the cutest dog-lover Tshirts ever: 

Joanne B. 

Molly 

Ben H. (oops! Hope you have a wife or girlfriend)

The Tshirts are first come, first serve, so it's all about who replies first with their address to my email at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com or with a FB message. I have 3 shirts--2 mediums and 1 size Small. Let the games begin!

© courtesy FCP
Size Medium

© courtesy FDP
Size Medium

© courtesy FDP
Size Small

For those of you who didn't win this time, feel free to order your own Tshirt online from Freaky Dog People. 


Also, keep entering our drawings. Remember, that these are rolling entries. If your name is placed in the pot, it stays there until you win something. Enter as often as you like. Have you checked out the prize package at our latest two giveaway announcements? Here they are. Maybe you're next!

• Big prize package at MANKINDdog™ and All Things Dog Blog Vow to 'Be the Change' for Animals (NOTE: this IS a separate drawing done by MANKINDdog™)
• New Puppy Gift Pack at Seniors and Puppies. Are They a Good Match?

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Bringing Your Kids into Fido's Fold

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

(c) Carrie Boyko
Trading Cards for My Pups
 are a New Way to Share the Fun

Recently I have had the opportunity to observe a couple of families whose youngsters seemed oblivious to the presence of their dog. Dogs can be a wonderful example to children in so many ways, but sometimes they need a little help getting interested. Enter Toki Poki, a social networking site for you and your dog, with the vision to include kids.


Recently launched, Toki Poki's trading cards were a big hit at the pet bloggers' conference in Denver, Blogpaws. Your pup or kitty can join up with Toki and make friends all over the world, all the while helping you to learn about other breeds and enjoy meeting new friends who befriend your dog, or other pet. Along with your membership, you receive trading cards to begin your collection. This seems like a no-brainer for kids, to me, particularly when you add the "this is my doggie" component to the trade. What fun this will be for young children!

(c) Carrie Boyko
Trading Card Backs
Give You a Peek into the Pup

I'm especially excited to see some of the features that owner Christy Myhre has planned for the near future. For instance, online quiz shows like Jeopardy will involve answers about actual members, encouraging children, young and old, to explore the membership and meet new furry friends.


Coloring pages can be reloaded, when complete, to show off a child's work. Memory games will test our Alzheimer's potential, while we'll also be able to upload our dog or cat's actual meow or bark to their profile. Imagine, then, a game of matching barks and meows to pet's profiles. Does this sound fun for kids? You bet!


Christy tells me there will also be a birthday party package available soon through the online shop, with all sorts of intriguing possibilities for parties. And don't miss their Halloween costume contest, launched earlier this week. That's your call to arms; it's time to join up and "Do the Toki Poki" right now! That's what it's all about!


Let's get some dialog going here. I know you guys will love Toki Poki for your kids. What else can we do with trading cards, or at home, to get our children involved in learning more about dogs? Dogs are nature...right in our homes. This is a learning opportunity that we should not ignore.


Christy, of Toki Poki, mentioned another possible game where kids could play a 'guess the breed' game. There will be plenty of ways to research the answers on the computer, even right on Toki Poki's website. Have you got any other ideas you'd like to share? What do you do to involve your children in your dogs' care? Check out our poll on this topic at 5 Minutes for Fido.

Prize Giveaway Announcement:

Comments on this post, our 5 Minutes for Fido post, or on Facebook, whether questions, conversation or opinions, will be considered an entry in this week's contest. You can enter (with a comment) as often as you like. Prizes will be announced next Friday, October 8, and will include Toki Poki Tshirts, stickers, trading card starter sets and more. Oliver has even promised to dance next week. Check it out at "Lets do the Toki Poki and Turn Yourself Around". Oliver and Tanner's cards turned out adorable, as you can see above, and I'm enjoying putting them in each prize winner's package of goodies. What about your pup?

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Dog Training Treats: 5 Tips to Help You Pick

by Carrie Boyko

(c) Phil U., reader copyright on file

Corie and Nancy Trained Hard

 for Success on the Teeter

Visit any pet store, small or large, and you'll find an entire aisle of treats. Some will be labeled especially for training, while others may tell you they'll help clean your dog's teeth, freshen his breath, add nutrition to his diet, or just simply resemble something you're eating (Did I say Pupperoni?). If you have a puppy you are training, or simply want the best choice for your dog that is a national champion, here's a few tips:

1. First and foremost, treats need to be motivating. You're wasting your time and money on those that your dog is not extremely interested in. The object is to get his attention with their aroma, to encourage the desired behavior again and again.
2. Some dogs are less food-motivated than others and need extra work to find just the right treats. Seek out soft treats with a strong smell, keeping them small to consider his waistline, if you'll be using them frequently. Many trainers favor sliced hotdogs (I choose organic), grated cheese (ditto), or Natural Balance tubed dog food. I can support this one too, as it is preservative free, looking out for your dog's health. When preparing these items, you'll need to open, slice, chop or grate, and then freeze in snack-sized zippie bags for use in training. This will keep it all fresh, and allow you to thaw out just what you need for one session.
3. If your dog is a chow hound that will eat anything, you may be able to get away with something less pricey like his kibble or even a low-fat kibble or treat. The downside of these dry treats for training is that they crumble. This means pieces fall on the floor and the dog loses focus on you, surfing for crumbs on the ground. This can be a particular problem for smaller dogs, whereas big ones may hardly chew a kibble-sized dry treat, and not drop a morsel. Choose wisely for your dog's size and eating style.
4. A natural treat that is loved by many dogs, and won't crumble, is pulled chicken (turkey,too!). Whenever you roast a hen, clean off the bones till they shine, saving every small morsel for little bags of chicken to use in training. These will smell great and do the job at getting his attention on you.
5. When training new behaviors that are particularly scary, difficult, or need extra motivation (all you agility folks know that teaching a dog to walk the teeter is definitely in this category), choose the best smelling stuff in your arsenal and come prepared with lots of it. You may even find that skipping a meal before class will help get him focused on the treats, and not the scary, new skill he is learning. That's the idea...now you've got it.

One caveat, for those of you who choose rich treats like hotdogs, cheese or bacon (cooked, please!): Using a high-fat treat for an entire, 1-hour class could result in a tummy ache, diarrhea, or a pookie puppy the next morning. If this happens, take note of the type of treat, and don't use that one again. It may simply be too rich for his system. An occasional nibble is one thing, but a half cup or more could mean trouble. 

Meanwhile, you may need to mix some cooked rice into his food to calm his tummy down. You can also check out Dr. Pat's suggestions for diarrhea at her post, Natural Remedies for Doggie Diarrhea. Help is never far at All Things Dog Blog where my goal is happy dogs and happy families.


Speaking of treats, All Things Dog Blog is putting together a cookbook of readers' dog recipes. Do you like to prepare treats especially for your dog? Your recipe, dog's photo and your name, if you wish, can appear on a page here on the website. There's even prizes for recipes, cover photos and title ideas. Whatever your particular talent, you can get in on this action. Send your submissions to LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. Xena, Tanner and Oliver are looking forward to taste testing your yummies. Happy tails!


Want to try some dog delights?

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