Blogpaws Bound: Packing Time

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Sorry Boys...

It's time to Sharpen the Saw, as Stephen Covey would put it. His 7 Habits for Highly Effective People has had a tremendous effect on my life. If only I could master that fourth quadrant, I'd be so much better off. Sigh; there will always be fires to put out.

Oliver and I are off to Blogpaws--a pet blogging conference--to meet other bloggers, visit with pet brand representatives, attend breakout sessions on various topics and network. When the work gets to be too much for Oliver, he'll have access to an all day daycare just for the furry members of the entourage. There he'll have an opportunity to play with Snoopy, Dexter, Rocco, Pepper and dozens of other bloggers' dogs who will join us to learn more about what we do and how to do it better--for YOU!

Oliver and I are busy packing and preparing. Tanner and Jacque will enjoy a vacation from photo shoots, product reviews and all manner of other silliness that Mom often puts them through. They'll get walks with their Daddy and their girl and playtime at the park, so not to worry. No unhappy puppies here. They don't know it yet, but they'll be getting some VIP visitors :)

Back to packing now. Oliver supervised the preparation of his Natural Balance food for the trip, and has patiently watched as I filled my suitcase with things he certainly thinks are not necessary. I did, however, make sure we brought his health certificate, bowls, leash, harness, bed, crate and a few other essentials. He packs light. Good boy Oliver!

The First Aid kit, a spill-proof water bowl, and a couple of favorite chew toys, are in the back of the car along with his seatbelt and safety harness for travel. A cooler includes water, stuffed Kongs and a few snacks. Can you think of anything he still needs to bring?

Another Dog? A Road Trip? Absolutely!

guest post by Brock Malibu

© Steven Meckler Photography, Tucson, AZ
Buddy, Delilah, Dino,
Chautauqua, Dorothy, Gotham, and Spirit

I'm thrilled to be able to write a little something about my love of dogs, my dog family, and sharing life and adventures together. We've got seven (yes, seven!) wonderful dogs and as you'd expect, they're an integral part of my family, my time, my fun, my adventure, and most importantly my love, peace, and life.

I'm sure you're wondering if there's possibly something wrong with me for having seven dogs but it all happened quite by accident, and somewhat by design. Four of the dogs were rescued from pet shops, one I inherited from a friend who died, one I adopted as a pup from a shelter, and the youngest, I adopted while at a gas station on vacation on the way to the airport. A couple next to me pumping gas (this was in a little town out in the country in New York) had a little puppy in the back seat pawing at the window. I commented on how cute he was and they asked me if I wanted him because they were on their way to take him to a local shelter to get rid of him.

I thought about their offer for all of one second, said "I want him", stopped at a PetSmart on the way to the airport, bought him an underneath the seat carrier for the plane, some treats, and away we went. He's my lucky number seven and when I arrived home, my other six dogs welcomed him to the family. By the way, I had three layovers cross-country, and he was an absolute joy. So cute it was unbelievable.

My point with all of this is that as I'm sure all of you know, there's nothing more wonderful than the bond, love, and companionship you have with your dog, or in my case, plural. Right now, nearly every shelter in the country has an abundance of puppies and adult dogs, all looking for a home and a family. If you can love and manage one dog, you can do two, and if you have two, well you can do three - - - you get the point.

I'm pretty sure seven is my limit. I've gotten very good at giving seven dogs love and attention all at the same time and am very good at using my hands, feet, legs and arms simultaneously to pet, pat, and hug each of them. Quite a mental picture, right?!

So, go get another dog today. Use your own judgement on the size, breed, temperament, and age of the dog and how well the new doggie will work with your existing family. And, don't forget, dogs love other dog companions and dog company almost as much as they love you. Spoiler Alert: Be careful not to spread yourself too thin; dogs need lots of loving and attention, but I'm sure you can handle it!

You may now be a bit overwhelmed about the thought of bringing another dog into your family, but don't despair! It's the end of the Summer and Fall is right around the corner so now is the perfect time to plan a getaway road trip with your dog family. Maybe you'll have a new addition to the family and you can plan to take a couple of dogs with you on your road trip. Dogs love road trips, so plan an excursion to the city, to the beach, to the mountains, to the country or wherever you love to spend time. Guaranteed, dogs love to travel in the car and explore new places with you! I usually take Gotham, my English Mastiff, and Dorothy, my Cairn Terrier, on my weekend getaways. They are great travel companions, and believe it or not, very manageable! Where to plan to stay with your dogs you ask?

Most hotels and resorts (and many B&Bs) allow dogs; many are very, very pet-friendly. A great resource to find the perfect hotel in your select destination is a new resource website called Absolutely Pet-Friendly and its sister site, the National Pet Friendly Hotel Association. On www.absolutelypetfriendly.com, you can select and book a Recommended hotel by City or search thousands of hotels in their extensive database (there are nearly 28,000 pet-friendly hotels in the United States alone!). Get on the ball and make a plan to get away with your dog (or dogs!) today! There is nothing more fun than traveling with your dogs and staying in a hotel - - - both you and your dogs will love the experience and have memories for a lifetime!


Traveling with your dog is truly one of the most special things you can do. Ever.


Stay tuned . . . I hopefully will have the opportunity to write more about dog travel, creating experiences with your dog, and enjoying your "LB" with your dog. That's Love Bond. I know you know what I'm talking about.

Pet Expo Time; Should I Take Oliver?

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© All Things Dog Blog
Do I Need the Suitcase or My Snoozer?

© All Things Dog Blog
How's This?

It never ceases to amaze me how Oliver senses the least little change and knows exactly what is up. He also figures out a way to get his own message across, like this image where he was clearly saying, "I want to go too".


I considered taking him along in his Snoozer rolling carrier. He loves riding in it and would be a great "magnet" for me. However, the decision was made when I considered the issues of taking him outside--it's a 20 minute walk to the exit :(--and how to carry other materials when my hands need to roll him. So Oliver is staying behind, sadly. 

© All Things Dog Blog
When Will She Return?

Little does he know that he has a date to play with some of his favorite friends at doggie daycare, where he enjoys a rich social life, along with Tanner, who will be boisterously running the big dog area's tag games.


When I return home, he'll no doubt be waiting for me at the front door, pondering how to greet me before Tanner gets to me. "It's okay, boys. There's plenty of mom to go around. I'll be ready to kick back for some puppy time after long days on my feet. Be ready!"

Thanksgiving 101 for Dogs

Guest Post by Megan Brown

© courtesy bmwlaguna via Flickr.com
Frequent Stops
Make for a Happy Travel Companion

Thanksgiving is a great time for gathering with family, seeing friends and enjoying a delicious meal. But sometimes we forget how stressful large gatherings can be for our furry friends.

The truth is your dog is probably going to be a little frazzled by the high volume of visitors in your home. Too many visitors can cause a lot of stress for your dog, which can make the animal misbehave or act out of character. Thanksgiving also presents many hazards for your dog ranging from harmful foods to long travel times or dangerous décor. To ensure a safe and happy Thanksgiving for both you and your pet, check out these few tips for keeping your dog comfortable and your home pet-friendly.

1.      Pet-Friendly Accommodations and Travel Tips: If you're planning to travel for Thanksgiving and want to take your dog, you'll need to do some planning ahead first. When traveling, be sure to give your dog plenty of restroom breaks and try to stick to Sparky's typical eating and bathroom schedules. The holidays will probably be irregular, but keeping to his routine will make his adjustment process much easier. If you're staying with family at your destination, ask them well ahead of time if it's all right for your dog to crash there, too. Don't assume they won't mind Sparky sniffing around and don't push them to agree. If you're staying in a hotel, make sure they allow pets and also beware of any additional charges. Many larger cities have plenty of pet-friendly hotels, so if you're traveling to a small town, you might consider staying in the city and enjoying a mini-vacation in addition to Thanksgiving festivities. I've found that there are many pet friendly Chicago hotels that love your furry friends as much as you do, with plenty of them being close to the downtown area so you can be close to parks and other open areas for your dog to stretch its legs for a bit.

2.      Dangerous Foods and Decor for Sparky: Our tummies love Thanksgiving foods, but the same can't be said for our dogs. While it can be tempting to give in to your dog's begging and scavenging, you can find a happy medium between letting your dog indulge without giving it foods that can be hazardous down the road. While a few strips of turkey might be fine, your dog's stomach cannot process Thanksgiving foods the way our bodies do. Instead, provide healthy pet-approved treats to give your dog a special something to nibble on. Try to keep your dog out of the kitchen as well, to avoid tripping over the dog and to eliminate the threat of hot dishes, foods and open ovens. Your Thanksgiving décor may also look pretty delicious to Sparky, so avoid using anything that might be a choking hazard. Try to stick to wreaths, fun place mats or anything far from the ground. 

3.      Guests and Pets: While your family may love your dog and vice versa, Sparky may not be prepared to deal with everyone all at once, for an entire day. I did basic clicker training with my 2-year-old Yorkie, Alexa, to keep her from jumping on the table or stealing food. Try to do this training months in advance so your dog gets the hang of it by the time the big day rolls around. You can leave the dog out for a while to greet the guests, but letting it run around your fenced-in yard or nap in a closed-off room will give Sparky much needed rest.

These few tips should make your Thanksgiving much more enjoyable for both you and your dog. So prepare to kick back and spend some quality time with your pup this year -- and your family too, of course. 

Megan Brown, in addition to being Alexa the yorkie’s favorite human, is a social media networker at Slingshot SEO. In her free time, Megan enjoys cheering on her favorite sports teams, trying out new organic dog treat recipes, and cycling. You can follow her adventures on twitter (@thatgirlmegan) or check out her personal blog:www.thatgirlmegan.com

Blogpaws Bouncer Home Safely After Brush with Hurricane Irene

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

(c) Carrie Boyko
The Bouncer is Home

Catch the whole story of Oliver's job at Blogpaws over at his blog, 5 Minutes for Fido.