Mutt Monday Shares Clean Up Tips

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Good Monday morning to ya! The weather in our neck of the woods has absolutely been stellar lately, but sometimes that makes for dirty paws when the dogs come inside. And let's not even talk about what happens when Tanner rolls in the garden dirt and mulch. Ack!

Today's theme is 'clean up tips' for pets, interesting and simple ways to keep them from bringing in the outdoors to your carpets, couches and beds. Tips for getting out stains and removing smells from pups who've gone exploring int he woods works too. Please search your archives for any and all posts that fit this category. They don't have to be current. As a matter of fact, that's the goal here--digging up our archives.

I'm looking forward to your linkups and meanwhile I'll offer up a theme for next week so you can ponder old posts that you'd like to seek out:

Tips for Winter Walks

I'm sure you're all shaking your heads. After all, what could I possibly have to offer on this topic, here in 80 degree Florida. We do have an occasional cold spurt. I call them spurts because they rarely last beyond 2 PM. I'm still hoping we'll get one this year and I may have a chance to break out a lonely turtleneck to try on for size. Sigh.

So, that said, next week's all on the bloggers that stop by here; let's hope they can pull this off. I may struggle to find an appropriately themed topic. I'll do my best, but I'm counting on you to come through for me. After all, it is winter. Do me proud!

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Great Tote Bag
Perfect for the Dog-Loving Blogger

One quick tip: Product reviews are more than welcome, as this may be a great way to offer a winter walking tip, whether it be a special coat, paw booties, paw pad salve or warming harness, I'm up for anything that works in this theme.

I'll tell ya what; let's sweeten the pot to get some more activity here. I'll throw in a prize--darling dog-themed handbag that was handmade in Thailand. This tote bag in fully-lined, has a zipper closure, an inside pocket and hand-stitched doggie design. What's more, you can fit a full-sized laptop inside when you're headed to a pet conference or just your neighborhood Starbucks. Each one varies slightly from the photo, but the wheat color is what I have available. 

I bought a batch of these while on vacation when I fell completely in love with them. One lucky linkup with a Tip for Winter Walks entered next week, will be drawn from the entries to win this handbag. This prize winner will be announced on Tuesday, January 22. All you have to do to qualify for the drawing is link up a themed article from your archives that can be considered a tip for winter walks. Good luck; hope to see you next week.

The handbag being given away on Monday, Jan. 22 was purchased by me and is being given away as an inducement for Mutt Monday entries on Monday, January 21. This prize is available to any blogger worldwide; void where prohibited, including Quebec, Canada.

One Last Batch of Back to School Tips

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Fall is Here!

Our kids are back to school and the pups are now left behind to linger around the house. How do you keep Fido busy when their favorite playmates have taken off to class for the day? Here are a few tips:

• Start with a healthy breakfast and use feeding as an opportunity for classtime for your pup. Ask for a 'Sit' and a 'Leave it', until you've cleaned up and have everything ready to go. It's nice to prepare a meal without your dog jumping all over you, and he'll learn great lessons of patience from waiting for your signal to 'Take it'.
• Don't skip the morning walk. This will soothe separation anxiety and tire Fido out so he'll sleep the morning away.
• While you're away from your dog, leave a frozen Kong or other sturdy stuffable toy, filled and frozen with favorite healthy yummies. I like to layer these to create a game of exploration, as each new layer reveals a different taste sensation. Don't forget to include a layer of kibble or treats to add some crunch to the frozen deliciousness. These 'Busy Bones', as I like to call them, will kill time, soothe anxiety and take care of the urge to chew.
• Once you're home and can supervise, carefully select and offer toys for playtime and to encourage curiosity. Change it up a bit by offering different toys, hiding them, or using games that encourage problem-solving.
• At the end of the day when your kids have returned home, give them a break from school and have them walk the dog. This will be good for both to unwind, reunite and bond.
• Finally, evening is a time of boredom for many pups, as kids pursue their homework. This is the perfect time to toss in a few minutes of training. When no time is available, have your kids do their reading aloud to the dog. My dogs love to be read to. Try it and be sure to report back on how yours enjoys this activity. And what about the kids? Did you find they were less stressed when reading to Rover than if they read aloud to you?

Now let's put this back to school thing to bed with one last back to school giveaway. We'll make this one a whopper. Five prizes will each be valued at a minimum of $81, ranging to over $100:

1. Choose from Castor and Pollux Organix or Natural Ultramix pet food, 15 pounds per winner.
2. I'll toss in 3 dog training videos to give you some ideas and problem solving approaches. Make sure your kids take time to enjoy these also.
3. Finally, there's a toy, leash or grab bag in each package, to help make this time of year a bit easier on you and Fido.

The vouchers for Castor and Pollux food expire September 15. This giveaway will wrap up with entries ending Thursday, September 6 and winners will be announced Friday, September 7. Be prepared to check your email that evening and redeem your coupons immediately upon arrival. You can find your nearest Castor and Pollux retailer here and be sure to always follow their guidelines for food transitions that are posted here.

You can enter this giveaway below in the Rafflecopter entry form. If it doesn't appear there, simply click on the title to refresh and it will return from its hiding place. Good luck to you all and enjoy your back to school journey.

Castor and Pollux has provided these vouchers for free bags of food as a promotional courtesy. The remainder of the prizes in this giveaway are offered from All Things Dog Blog. There is no purchase required to enter.

Freaky Dog People Giveaway

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Jacque Debuts as a Model

Funny name, right? It fits us though because, as they say at Freaky Dog People, 

"You know who you are!" 

Freaky Dog People's Tshirt designs are the ultimate way to show off your love of dogs. They have a bunch of different designs that are specially made for us ladies--slightly shaped to fit our curves with designs that work for our tastes as well. Note that ladies sizing runs more true to junior sizing, so order accordingly. If you'd like to check out their designs, just click the image below to visit their site and see what's available. Be sure to have your credit card handy; you're going to love their designs :)





Freaky Dog People also has a unisex design that can be bought on both traditional men's cut  T-Shirts and ladies' T-Shirts. This crest design is on our giveaway shirt which is a ladies XL with an adjustable hat.


Today's promotional giveaway includes both a T-Shirt and hat with the Freaky Dog People crest on them. We'll run this giveaway through Monday, June 25 with the winner being announced on Tuesday, June 26. Good luck!


This giveaway is provided by Freaky Dog People as a promotional courtesy. I have not been compensated to offer you this prize, nor was I paid to share my opinions. I personally have bought and paid for several of the Freaky Dog People T-Shirts because I enjoy their designs so much!

Dogs on a Scale: Dieting with My Dog Giveaway

by Peggy Frezon, guest blogger

© Peggy Frezon
Kelly and Peggy Share the Scale
and the Success

© Carrie Boyko
Hmmm....Do You Have a Bigger Size?

You’ve seen the movie, Snakes on a Plane? Well, here is something just as scary: Dogs on a Scale! These dogs will do anything to avoid getting weighed. And who could blame them? I get a bit frightened at the numbers I see when I step onto a scale. And, it turned out, my dog Kelly’s vet wasn’t happy with her weigh-in either. So we teamed up, changed our lifestyle, and got fit together.

© Carrie Boyko
No Diet Please!

My new book, Dieting with my Dog shares our journey as we learn to love carrots instead of cookies, working out instead of vegging-out. We fit in daily walks, bravely facing off loose, aggressive dogs in the neighborhood. Although it wasn’t easy, we changed our diets, got off our butts and got active. I lost 41 lbs and Kelly lost 6 lbs. And best of all, we did it together.

Tanner and Oliver had to take a stab at this scale business after watching the video below.  Be sure to watch it; what fun!

*Studies conducted by the National Association for Pet Obesity Awareness found that more than half the pets in the U.S. are obese or overweight.



That was fun, huh? Well, now it's time to get down to business. Shall we give away a couple of copies of Dieting with My Dog? If you're not a winner here, you can order yours from Amazon. You can enter using the Rafflecopter form below. If you don't see the form, just click on the post title to refresh and it will appear here:

Dog Poetry is Rescued by Four Big Readers

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Carrie Boyko
Storytime Anyone?

Reading is so much a part of life that I get great joy from giving away dog books for my visitors to share with their kids, grandkids, students and neighbors. My grown children still tell me that some of their best childhood memories are of reading with mom and dad.


Today's giveaway is for youngsters who enjoy poetry. The illustrations in these books will help bring young imaginations to life. I hope the new owners will enjoy these books and share them with others as well.


The winners are Elsie, Tammy1409, Sharon Gilbert, and Christina Jackson. Those of you who have not already received an All Things Dog Blog bandana for your dog may do so by replying to my announcement email (coming soon) with your dog's weight and breed. I'll send the appropriate size along with your book.


Now it's my turn to ask for a favor. Please send pictures of your dog in his bandana. I love sharing and am busy collecting pics for a slideshow. We don't want your Fido left out. Happy tails!