House & Hound

Keep Away

2009-10-02T09:13:00.006-05:00

Yet another rainy day in Minneapolis. That makes two in a row. We'll probably get three if the weather stays around for Saturday. All the football fans are going to be miserable. An outdoor stadium is great, especially when it is all new and exciting... but I'm not sure I'd like being out there on a cold wet Saturday. Even if it is Gophers vs. Badgers.

Poor pups. They're also going to be miserable if this weather continues. Rain makes it very unpleasant for all of us to go on our walks, and the boys get uptight and bored when they can only get out two or three times a day. I've tried to take them out in the pouring rain but they will have none of that. If it is sprinkling they don't mind, but if it's coming down hard they refuse to leave the house. And it's been on and off raining hard for the better part of two days.

Gus must have known they were going to be stuck inside for a while because on Wednesday when I dropped them off at Grandma's house he already had a plan to keep himself entertained. We just didn't know about it...

Grandma spoils the dogs rotten, and that day she had been to Petsmart and bought a couple gigantic raw hides for them to play with. Charly doesn't seem at all interested in raw hides. He never really has been. But Gus, he loves them, and in general will have one all chewed up within 10 minutes. That day, Grandma gave Gus his raw hide, and promptly left the house for an appointment.

When she returned home, Gus and Charly were both waiting excitedly for her, and the raw hide was no where to be seen. So she assumed Gus had eaten it up right away, like so many other times in the past.

Wrong.

That evening, as she was getting ready for bed, she noticed Gus sitting at the foot of the bed, staring at it intently. Grandma brushed her teeth, poured a glass of water, and started walking towards the bed with the intention of getting into it for the night. But as she got closer and closer to her bed, Gus became more and more agitated, to the point that he was barking and jumping and stomping all around the room. When she backed away from the bed he would stop, and when she would move forward again he would continue to bark.It was so disturbing that Charly, who had been quietly waiting on the bed for Grandma to get in, immediately jumped off the bed, thinking Gus probably didn't want him there.

Eventually, Gus hopped up on the bed and began to wrestle with the blankets, burrowing himself in the comforters. Some people call this nesting, when dogs make a mess of their beds, your bed, or the sofa. Grandma finally got into bed, and Gus made such a fuss that she took off the covers thinking he might want to get inside too, what with it being so cold and all.

And that's when she saw it, the raw hide, tucked neatly between the covers and a crack between the bed and the wall. Gus hadn't eaten the toy, he'd deftly hid it in Grandma's bed for safe keeping, but Grandma found out and ruined the secret! And took all the fun out of the next two days stuck inside.

On days like today sometimes I wish I had a heat lamp, one of those that's supposed to be good for your mood. Wouldn't it be fun if this lamp from Pure Design wasn't just a lamp but a heat lamp that could make you feel better when your feeling rainy day blues or boredom?

Reuse and Recycle

2009-09-21T21:47:00.007-05:00

A friend sent me this link and photo today and it made me laugh and think of the time when Gus chewed a hole into my mother's couch last fall. Thankfully we were out of the country in Germany when Gus decided to tear into it, so by the time we got back Mom's frustration with the situation had simmered and we were hardly scolded for our dog's misbehavior. Of course the couch still hasn't been fixed, she just strategically places a throw pillow in front of the torn section.

Oh, and yesterday Gus chewed a hole into his own dog bed here at home, but we've never had anything as bad as this photo happen at our house! This reminds me that I love this Bird On A Wire doggie duvet by Molly Mutt, a company based out of California that sells durable, stylish, and easy to clean duvets to cover your dog's doggie bed. You can cover an old dog bed with one of Molly Mutt's duvet covers, or you can stuff a duvet with old clothes, sheets, bedding, etc. that you might have lying around the house. Reuse and Recycle! These duvet covers are innovative, fresh, and fun and we love them.

Let's Play A Game

2009-09-16T17:36:00.004-05:00

I realize that I haven't posted in quite a long time, long enough that many of my readers have probably thrown in the towel thinking the writer's block was too thick, or that maybe the wedding got the best of me and sucked out all of my creative juices.

But this story is too funny not to share. So we're back, and hopefully we'll be here for a while. There are no weddings or other life changing events in the forecast so we should be good to go. My energy can re-focus onto House & Hound and this blog.

So this afternoon I decided to finally break open the "Solid Gold" brand bagel treats we've had in the pantry for over 5 months. I'm not sure why we haven't treated the dogs to these before or why we waited so long for them to try these tasty snacks.

I pull two delicious bagel treats out of the bag and give one each to the boys. They each take a treat and go off to a separate corner of the room to supposedly enjoy. Except they don't even try them. They sit sniffing at their bagels, and then get up and walk away, apparently in disgust. (Remind me some day to tell you about the time Gus ate a dozen Bruegger's bagels!)

A half hour goes by and they've totally forgotten about the bagel treats, when all of a sudden they start playing with them again and I finally hear Gus munching on his bagel in the upstairs den, and Charly gnawing at his in the kitchen. Gus finishes his bagel in 2 minutes flat, and comes down to see if Charly has finished his yet.

Charly always takes forever to finish up his treats, so of course he is just hanging out, with the bagel under his nose, sniffing it, munching on it a little, but mostly just guarding it. Evidently he knows his brother Gus all too well, because Gus begins to stare intently at Charly and his bagel for the better part of 45 minutes, obviously trying to find some way to get that bagel away from Charly and into his own jaws.

So the dogs continue to stare at each other, and as the minutes go by Gus gets closer and closer to Charly and his loot. Finally he tries for it, but of course I'm there to make sure life is fair for these two. Since Gus already finished his own treat, I end up putting myself between the two dogs, and scold Gus for trying to steal away Charly's treat. I mean, I know he's your little brother, I know he's your subordinate, but come on! Can't you just be a little generous to a fellow member of your family!

I give the treat back to Charly, who promptly sits back down with it, and continues to just guard it. He doesn't take a bite out of it, or lick it or anything, he just sits there with it. How infuriating for Gus! Of course Gus is back at the staring game, trying to manage someway of distracting me this time so he can grab the treat and make a run for it.

After a while of this back and forth staring game, Charly gets up and leaves his treat behind. Apparently it wasn't good enough for him. This time I let Gus get it and he eats it as fast as he possibly can.

Does this story remind you of when you were a kid and your big brother or sister wouldn't let you near his candy bar, even though he or she hated Baby Ruth's?

Cookoo

2009-06-02T13:36:00.004-05:00

I realize it has been over a month since my last post. Who knew planning a wedding would be so all consuming? It's like every ounce of my time and creativity is being sucked right up by planning this big day. I'm hoping when it's all said and done I'll be able to get back into writing regularly and covering a wider array of dog inspired design topics.

By the way, only eight weeks left until Gus gets to try his hand (or should I say paw) at being a ring bearer! I've been searching for a collar for him to wear on our special day, and though I haven't found the perfect one yet, I did come across this absolutely lovely Birdie collar from Wonderdog NYC. Every collar they sell is unique and beautiful, but this particular one is just so special. I love the bird motif and chic silver buckle.

What A Mess

2009-04-27T12:41:00.002-05:00

It's definitely Monday cause I've having a terrible time getting back into the swing of things. First off I had to take the dogs back to my mom's house last night for their weekly three day sleep over at her house. Of course the minute I drop them off I start missing them.

Second, I was up late on Saturday night watching movies with my brother at his house, and didn't get home until 2 in the morning (not typical for me, way past my bed time). I slept until 11 a.m. on Sunday so then of course last night I wasn't a bit tired and didn't end up falling asleep until, gasp, midnight. So then getting up on time this morning was a real nightmare.

Third, I had to drive all over the city this morning to meet a delivery truck and coordinate the installation of furniture and chairs for several of our City properties. Well communications first thing Monday morning never go all that smoothly, and I missed the delivery truck like three times at three separate sites. A delivery and install that should have taken an hour and a half ended up taking three, with a lot of aggrevation and wasted gas to boot.

The only thing keeping me from calling it a day is the fact that I spotted a dog themed dish towel in the window display of the Bibelot on my way back to the office from that horrendous delivery. So I stopped in and bought the towel, and I can be proud of at least one thing I did today. Sorry but I can't find an image of the dishcloth online. Yet another disappointment in my string of disappointments...... Oh well, it is a Monday.

Baby Mania

2009-04-22T21:42:00.003-05:00

We've welcomed three babies to the world this week. None of them ours, all of them brand new and beautiful. No, I'm not pregnant, first we've got to get married in August. But three of our good friends all gave birth within a week of each other. Two of the babies in fact were born yesterday.

Imagine our surprise when we received the second call yesterday, from our friends Alix and Holly. We'd already heard about the first brand new baby earlier that day, and so the news of Jasper's early arrival blew us away.

In fact, we had just been over to Alix and Holly's for a dinner party on Sunday, a last hurrah before baby. Jasper wasn't due until this coming Sunday, but I think the cheese cake I brought for desert(which Alix had been craving for months) did the trick. And so out he came, five days earlier than expected. Yey!

Love, Love, Love this travel diaper changing pad from My Retro Baby. Makes me almost want to change a diaper.

What's Up Doc?

2009-04-21T09:12:00.003-05:00

We brought Charly to the vet yesterday. He's been acting normal, except for he's been limping on his back hind leg for the past three weeks. The thing is, he's been going on all his walks, he's continued to run around and play with his brother Gus, and he's has had no problems jumping up onto our bed and back down again. Despite everything looking relatively fine, (except for his gate of course) we took him in.

A half hour later and the vet couldn't find anything wrong with him. She told us his muscles, his bones, his ligaments, everything was looking really healthy. So has Charly recently acquired a bad walking habit? Is this his new strutting style? His new runway walk? What the ???

By the way if you saw Charly today he'd look like the dog in this Doodle Dog painting! Seriously, you can't tell anything is wrong with him he's so energetic and exuberant.... except he's got kind of a funny walk...

Tag A Long

2009-04-15T09:55:00.002-05:00

It looks like we've finally got Spring here in Minneapolis. We're always at least three weeks behind everybody else on this front, and today's the day we get to join the rest of the U.S. in spring frolicking. It's going to be a whopping 70 degrees this afternoon!

Yesterday wasn't too bad either. We made it up to around 64 degrees, and to celebrate everybody went biking. Seriously, even me, after a long hard day of work. I hopped on my bike and took a leisurely pedal around the lake. The bike path was crowded with bikers, rollerbladers, and runners, all of us trying to get a breath of the fresh spring air before nightfall.

The best part of my afternoon yesterday was seeing three different bikers cruising along with their dogs in their bike baskets. Too bad Gus and Charly would never fit into a bike basket...

After Dinner Mint?

2009-04-01T12:05:00.006-05:00

Yesterday evening turned out to be way more eventful than Daniel and I had planned. It started off just fine. We met with a potential wedding florist right after work, stopped at the grocery store for some dinner ingredients, and then made our way home to walk the dogs and cook supper. And then everything went downhill...

Dan and I have our household chores pretty well divied up. Most of the things we split equally. If he cooks dinner one night, then it's my turn the next night. If he cooks, I clean. If he walks the dogs, I take out the trash. If he washes the laundry, I fold it, and vice versa. Tit for tat as they say.

Yesterday was Dan's turn to cook dinner, and my turn to walk the dogs. Of course a simple dog walk turned into a nightmare when both dogs decided to sniff out and proceeded to consume massive amounts of left over dog poop from somebody else's pup!

As soon as I realized what was happening I yanked them back from the crime scene, and then forced my gloved hand into their mouths. I had to yank out huge baseball sized poops, and Charly especially had poop all over his mouth and snout! It was horrifying!

So I cut the walk short, and rushed home. I had to interrupt Daniel in the kitchen for him to help me get the boys into the bath tub and washed. The smell eminating from their mouths was so revolting that it took the two of us several washings each to thoroughly clean them up.

Yesterday's incident was almost as bad as the time Gus got into a thick foamy coat of slime on Cedar Lake. But not quite. Note to first time dog owners or people who do not own dogs: Most dogs eat poop. Some eat it more frequently and some eat it less, but almost all of them eat poop, either their own or somebody else's.

I remember being horrified when Charly did this for the first time as a pup. I immediately called the veterinarian and she told me it was normal behavior. I hung up the phone, and stood there dumbfounded at this new information I had learned.

Charly doesn't eat poop very often, but once in a while, especially in the Spring when the ground is at its most fertile with left over thawed dog poop from the winter, he gets into something gross.

Look at this beautiful pristine retro biscuit dinner jar from Barker and Meowski. Too bad Gus and Charly won't be getting any treats for a while. Just Kidding!

Pit Stop

2009-03-30T10:25:00.012-05:00

Jason Stenvold Glen Lake Photography

Dan and I traveled to Spartanburg, South Carolina this weekend to attend the wedding of our very special friends Lukas and Julie. On our way we spent a day in Asheville, North Carolina for a small visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

We were planning on doing some hiking but it never stopped raining, so instead we explored the quaint and lovely town. While strolling through the main drag we came across two young men and their lovely pit bull dog. Of course we approached them and asked politely whether we could pet their beautiful friend.

They welcomed our enthusiasm for the mama dog and let us know that they desperately needed to find her a new home. With no money, no automobile, and some friends waiting for them out West, they needed to get on a Greyhound bus as soon as they made enough cash, and when they did they would need to leave the mama dog behind, since Greyhound won't let dogs travel on board.

You have no idea how badly I wanted to take this dog home with me to Minnesota. We had flown though, so that would have been pretty impossible, considering the dog had no papers, no vaccines, no history, etc. Not to mention Gus probably would have had a major fit with the addition of another dog to our household. We stayed petting the dog and talking to the men for longer than we should have, and left reluctantly, after dropping a ten dollar bill into their collection hat.

If this had happened to us in Minnesota I would have immediately called A Rotta Love, a Rottweiler and Pit Bull rescue group that fosters unwanted non-traditional breeds. Not being from North Carolina I didn't know who to contact at the time, and instead mentioned the mama dog to every person I continued to meet on our stroll through town.

Coincidentally, A Rotta Love is co-sponsoring an art show with Lintu Art, celebrating Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, and other non-traditional dog breeds through art. I missed the gallery opening this past Saturday, but First Thursday at the Northrup King Building is coming up this week, and Lintu Art should be open for showings.

Baby It's Spring!

2009-03-16T14:10:00.005-05:00

Looks like we've got Spring! It is an absolutely beautiful day here in Minneapolis, and everybody seems to have added a skip to their walk, especially Gus and Charly. They love this weather, as do we. We can finally walk the dogs wearing only a fleece, no mittens, no hats, no scarves. We can go out for longer periods of time too, hours of which the boys can't get enough of. Gus gets to chase bunnies and squirrels that have come out of their winter hideouts, and Charly can sniff around for whatever the snow has left behind for him.

The only down side of Spring , and I wouldn't call it a down side, more of an inconvenience, is that the snow and hard ground begins to melt, which is such a huge relief, but everything turns wet so the dogs start tracking an infinite amount of dirt and mud into our house. So Dan and I end up sweeping and mopping the ground floor of our place about once or twice a day. Not fun!

I'm looking forward to a nice long walk around the lake this afternoon when I get off work. We'll enjoy the sunshine and warm temperatures for as long as we can today! Love this very springtime weiner dog onsie and burp cloth set from BellaBlu Designs on Etsy. Adorable. Would she make the shirt in my size?

On The Mend

2009-03-11T10:33:00.003-05:00

It's been a pretty rough month. First Daniel came down with the cold that half the city seemed to be getting. Then I came down with that exact same cold, which eventually turned into a much worse version, some sort of terrible sinus infection that lasted three weeks. And then on Monday I somehow threw my back out, which immobilized me for 20 minutes (very scary), and then forced me to miss yet another day of work, there have been four so far this month. It's been a rough month to say the least.

Have you ever noticed how incredibly helpful it is to have your dogs around when you're sick? Seriously, emotionally, it is so much better to curl up in bed and feel crappy when there's a dog there with you to keep you company while the rest of the world keeps on moving. I definitely felt 10 times better when the dogs were at home with me, than when they were over at grandma's house because it was her turn to take care of them. Even Dan noticed that whenever the dogs were around the color came back to my face, if only for an hour.

It looks like I may be on the mend today. My sinuses feel clear, my head's not spinning, my back is sore but I can walk and come into work. This simple Akita dog puzzle from Canoe Online would have been so nice to have with me on my sick days off. Entertaining and easy enough to do when you're slowly fading into a nyquil induced nap.

Chicago Is For The Dogs

2009-02-27T09:30:00.005-06:00

Dan's off to Chicago this weekend to visit with some college friends he hasn't seen in a while. I think it has been quite a few years since all of them got together, and I'm pretty sure it's going to be a crazy weekend.

Inspired by Dan's trip to the windy city, I thought I'd search for a Chicago themed dog product and found this city-wide art contest Chicago held last year. High school students were asked to design a 2009-2010 City Vehicle Sticker under the theme “Dog Friendly Chicago," and the elected sticker will be displayed on nearly 1.3 million automobiles! Check out the 10 finalists!

Who Wants to Go On a Walkie?

2009-02-25T08:55:00.007-06:00

We've had the dogs at our place for the past 10 days without interruption... my mother took an impromptu vacation to visit her family in Argentina, and we naturally took the dogs. It was rather nice to have the boys with us, day in and day out, with no scheduled pick ups or drop offs or chauffering, etc.

Well Grandma came back from her trip yesterday and drove straight over to our house to pick up the boys and you should have seen the spectacle that was our front entry. Gus and Charly could not contain their excitement to see their beloved grandmother. Jumping and barking and squealing and violent tail wagging, it was quite a sight.

Dan slept in this morning since there were no dogs to walk, yet despite his gratitude for that extra hour in bed, the first thing out of his mouth this morning was "I miss the boys."

This leash holder from Etsy seller Bublebellydesigns is so cute. I'm always scouting out good looking storage pieces for dog related things, and this one is on the top of my list.

Breakthrough

2009-02-23T16:47:00.004-06:00

Well I've been sick as a dog for the past 4 days. Seems like this cold is running rampant through this city, and it's a pretty wicked cold. It started out in my chest and went straight up into my nose and mostly my head. I feel like a blow up doll and all I want is for somebody to stick a fork in me to let the air out.

It's not ALL bad though... I stayed home from work today to try and sleep this thing off, and miraculously, Gus spent almost an entire two hours curled up with me on the bed. This is a pretty huge breakthrough since Gussie hasn't set foot in our bedroom for the past, I don't know, maybe 8 months... I think he got spooked a while back during a thunderstorm or something, and ever since then he hasn't been able to be comfortable in our bedroom.

I'm not sure what caused him to confront his fear and join Charly and me this afternoon, but let me tell you, this was the best nap I've had in a long time. The boys took good care of me today, now all I need is to get better by tomorrow because I can't miss out on another day of work.

Remember last weekend when I spent Valentine's Day in New York City? Did I mention I had a grand old time! I stumbled on this awesome urban chic placemat featuring a New York City subway map and thought I'd feature it here today. Would have been perfect for last week's post, but it's never too late right? You can find this on Fab Dog Inc., along with other very unique items. Have fun exploring the site!

Love, Love, Love

2009-02-12T12:52:00.002-06:00

Dan and I are celebrating Valentine's Day a couple of days early since I'm leaving tomorrow for a girl's weekend in New York City. I figure we have years and years of Valentine's Days left to spend with each other, it can't be that bad to skip out on him just this once?

To celebrate we're going to Chowgirls for a special tasting evening. We've hired Chowgirls to do the catering for our wedding this summer, and we thought this would be a great way to spend our own Valentine's Day evening, trying out the foods we're thinking of serving for our wedding celebration.

I've been waiting and waiting to share this Valentine with you from Kerry Beary on etsy. Perfect for your dog loving honey.

Cheers!

2009-02-05T10:45:00.005-06:00

I like wine, but I've never really been able to say I love it... until Tuesday, when a friend of ours invited us out for dinner to celebrate our engagement, and popped open a 20 year old bottle of French Pinot Noir. Delicious!

I have never enjoyed wine as much as I did on Tuesday evening. I couldn't believe I could taste a difference between the stuff we usually drink at home and this generously aged wine. It was definitely an unbelievable improvement.

Not that the wine we drink at home is bad, but I must admit an aged bottle of wine makes the world of difference. Really.

And so does this t-shirt from Dogs Uncorcked. If you love your dogs and a good bottle of wine, this t-shirt is perfect for you. And while your at it, check out the book WineDogs, a photographic journal of stunning pictures and great stories created for the love of dogs and wine.

Welcome Baby!

2009-02-04T09:23:00.006-06:00

The past few weeks have been, I don't even know how to express it... I guess very very busy will have to do. First things first, by brother and his wife had their first baby on Thursday, January 22nd... Ayla Rose, a beauty.

Daniel and I are enamored by this little bundle of cuteness, and we've been trying to help the new parents out by bringing them food so they don't have to cook or clean the kitchen, holding the baby so they can get a half hour break, and entertaining them with our presence so they have a distraction from breastfeeding and changing dirty diapers.

We haven't introduced Gus and Charly to Ayla yet, since we're still trying to find the best and least stressful way for them to meet. Charly isn't a huge fan of children, so we're a bit apprehensive of getting these two kids together. Honestly I don't know how he feels about babies, maybe he won't mind her?

In any case, it will be a slow, gradual process. Our first step is to bring one of her baby blankets back to our house with us, so the boys can get used to her smell. I think our second step will be to leash the boys up and bring them over to Ayla's house, so they can just be in the presence of the baby. Third, we'll let them smell her, and after that we'll see what happens. Most of the literature I've read says that if your dog doesn't fall in love with baby right away, all is not lost, and it's important to continue exposing the pups to the baby in calm and controlled environment. So we'll see.

Love these natural eco-friendly toys from ImagiPlay! ImagiPLAY products have been recognized by the media, children's advocacy groups, and parents' organizations for their outstanding quality, design and ability to inspire imagination. These dog inspired toys are perfect for a dog themed baby room.

A Dose of Style to Cheer You Up

2009-01-21T14:53:00.005-06:00

I am cranky cranky cranky today. I know all I really need is a good long nap with the puppies and I'll be fine, but I've still got a couple more hours left in my work day and it will be 5 or 6 before I get home tonight.

Check out these adorable pup earrings I found on etsy from Tillylula... Aren't they fabulous!!! Just my style.

A Late Night

2009-01-13T19:50:00.006-06:00

So it hasn't climbed above 5 below today, and I was right, Gus and Charly made it half way around the block and they were done with their walk. It took Dan all of his strength to get them to finish their miserable trip to the toilet, i.e. their pooping street which is located about three blocks from home. Once the business was all taken care of they hurried back to the house, where the boys spent the rest of their day basking in as much sun as they could get through the windows.

I on the other hand have been working all day, 12 hours to be exact... I never ever work more than a 10 hour day, I don't believe it's healthy, but today I made an exception to help a co-worker out with a move project she was managing. Unfortunately, things went a little slower than planned and the movers are still here, and I'm still here. It's 8 pm and we'll probably still be working this job for another 2 hours at least. We are the designers for the project and so we have to be around to answer any questions and make sure things get put in the right place.

So that's my day. A lot rougher than expected, since I've been on my feet since basically 7 am. This t-shirt from Canine Styles (unfortunately it's no longer available for purchase) perfectly expresses how I feel about working more than a normal 8 hour work-day, and also how much I hate this weather!

Remind Me Why I Live Here?

2009-01-12T15:52:00.005-06:00

So we're getting pounded with snow today, and it looks like the next couple of days are going to be the coldest in two years. Yuck... Makes me want to stay at home and nest, never leave the house, except to walk those puppies, and most likely they won't even want to go out in this ridiculously frigid weather, which would be kinda nice for me.

We were lucky enought to miss the entire month of December here in Minneapolis, which was apparently pretty darn cold from the reviews we've gotten from friends and family. My mom actually called me up one day in December to tell me that Gus and Charly were refusing to even go outside to do their business, and she had to force them outside so they wouldn't be in pain from holding it all day long. On those days she'd walk them around the block, long enough to go potty, and then head straight back into the house. The dogs couldn't get back into the warmth fast enough.

So I figure we won't have to walk them a whole lot in the next couple of days, although I'll still have to come into work, which means I will actually have to leave the house. Bummer.

I want this Kikkerland dachshund business card holder from Shop Fosters. Instead of collecting business cards in my pencil drawer I could actually display them nicely on my desk, and actually find contacts when needed.

A Brand New Closet

2009-01-09T15:58:00.004-06:00

When I moved in with Dan a couple of years ago, we had my mom remodel all of the closets in his townhouse, except for the small closet on the first floor at the entry. Don't ask me why we didn't have her do that one because I don't have an answer. The new closets changed how we live our life upstairs... We have become so much more organized, clean, and honestly, happier since we've had functional closets.

But downstairs we've continued to struggle, and it's been hard to keep a clean and inviting entry to our house because of the lack of sufficient storage for our boots, coats, hats, scarves, mittens, umbrellas... and don't forget dog leashes, coats, and booties.

So we broke down last week after getting home from Europe, and ordered a brand new custom closet from Diseno Closets, which we had installed yesterday. I must say it looks terrific, and our storage capacity in that closet has doubled, if not tripled in size.

Now all I've got to do is find some hardware for the sliding doors... I was thinking about these dog bone shaped handles from Knobs and Things. Would Dan go for these... probably not.

Morning Commute

2009-01-08T12:39:00.004-06:00

We're remodeling our entry closet this afternoon, and because our dogs are, like many others of their species, not so welcoming towards workmen, we had to get them out of the house for the 2pm. installation.

So, this morning, I got up at 6:30 sharp, while the sky was still dark, and the temperatures were at 15 below zero Farenheit. I took a quick shower, had a cup of coffee, and made it out the door by 7:15AM, with the dogs in tow. Dan and I are still sharing a car, and I've got a number of different appointments I need to make this afternoon, thus I was tasked to get the dogs over to grandma's house, so the closet installers wouldn't have to deal with their incessant barking.

I drove from our place in Minneapolis, to my mom's house in Saint Paul, and back to downtown Minneapolis, and still made it to work by 8:00AM. That's the Twin Cities folks! Yes, it's freezing in the winter! Yes, it's a damn long winter! Yes, it's not Chicago, or New York, or San Francisco... But you can make it just about anywhere in the cities in under an hour, even during rush hour! And I like that.

This French antique clock circa 1810 can be found on the website of Gavin Douglas Fine Antiques Ltd. It's a bit spendy at 10,750 English Pounds...

Missing In Action

2009-01-07T14:06:00.007-06:00

Wow! Has it really been that long since I've written a post? This may be the longest amount of time I've gone with out updating this blog since I started it almost a year ago. I'm sorry for the delay... moving back across the ocean can take up a lot of physical and mental energy, thus my three week long absence.

But we're back in Minnesota now, and life seems to be getting back on track. It took a couple of hours for Gus and Charly to adjust to our homecoming, but they've been super dogs since moving back into our place with us. Grandma brought them to the airport when she came to pick us up a couple of weeks ago, and although they were both jumping and wagging their tales when they saw us, they also seemed a bit confused by our re-appearance. An hour or so later, they were both acting as if we'd never been away, and now, two weeks later, we're back into our normal routine: 7:00 am morning walks in the blistering cold, twice a week shuttles to and from grandma's house, snuggles on the sofa, and lots of hugs all around.

I love this painting by Lisa Ballard, and although it's already sold on her website, you can find many more dog inspired prints on her Etsy shop. It sure would be nice if the dogs could drive themselves to grandma's wouldn't it?

Celebrate Your Imperfections

2008-12-17T06:05:00.003-06:00

I love this pillow Heather Hamilton from Dooce found on Etsy... It makes me think of Gus when he was a puppy, forced to wear one of these cones for weeks while recovering from his hip surgery. Poor puppy... In addition to this humiliation, there were several weeks where Gus had no pants, as the vets had to shave his entire midsection for the operation... how embarrassing!

Charly's never worn a cone, but he has his own imperfections, like the fact that he can't help but bark at little kids... bad dog. But we love them all the same, like we love our family, our friends, and ourselves, all of us with our own problems and bad habits.

Let It Snow!

2008-12-15T08:44:00.003-06:00

When you live in Minnesota, both you and your pets have to be prepared for the weather. Take today for instance... The temperature is 5 below, with strong winds making it feel like it's minus 25! Plus there are two inches of new snow on top of an ice sheet created by yesterday's mild temperatures turning frigid. I'm just glad we're in Germany for this storm, avoiding the arctic temperatures and brutal driving conditions.

To make it through a Minnesota winter without freezing your tushie off or losing your mind, it's important to a.) take a short break from the tundra and head south for a couple of days, south as in Mexico, California, Forida, or Arizona.... and b.) have yourself a good warm winter coat, and I mean toasty warm.

This goes for your dog as well... make sure your buddy is prepared for the winter weather with this very stylish and warm bomber jacket from Idawg clothing. This coat has a highly water-resistant exterior so it's great for the snowy weather and it has 3M Thinsulate water-resistant poly-filling for added warmth. Reflective piping along the stripes and shoulder seams ensure added visibility for your pup at night and the zipper front enclosure with fur guard creates a nice snug fit. Gus sure needs one of these today...

My Sleep Number

2008-12-10T10:20:00.004-06:00

So we've only got about three weeks left of our three month adventure in Germany, and I've been thinking a lot about what I'll miss most when we're back home...

I'll certainly miss not having to drive. We haven't been in a car since we left Minnesota and it is so nice to be able to get around without joining the masses on the road. We simply walk everywhere, or hop on the train. In four hours we can be in Paris. In three hours we can be in Brussels. In 6 hours we're in Berlin. It's great!

And I've mentioned this before but the best part about this is that the dogs can hop on board too, as long as you pay the doggy fare. What a huge difference it would make in our lives if the buses and light rail in Minneapolis allowed Gus and Charly to ride.

Todd Edelman at Green Idea Factory has been working on promoting "Dogs on Board" in the United States and Canada. Allowing dogs on buses and trains could reduce congestion on the road, save us money, and make riding public transportation a more convenient and viable option for those of us who own pets. There are plenty of ways to make sure buses and trains remain safe and comfortable means of transit. Surely if Europe can do it we can do it too...

I'll tell you what I won't miss though... my European bed. I just can't wait to get home and get into my Sleep Number Bed. Swear to god, it's the best bed I've ever slept on. Since we arrived here in Germany I've been having quite a bit of back pain, which I used to have but got rid of by buying a Sleep Number bed. And the money we spent on that bed was well worth it, because the acute pain I was having in my lower back immediately went away. Here we're sleeping on a regular old mattress, and the lower back pain has unfortunately returned. I can't wait to get home and get a good night's sleep again!

Speaking of Sleep Number, Select Comfort is coming out with a Sleep Number Pet Bed, so you and your buddy can both get your beauty sleep. The Sleep Number Pet Bed is adjustable for comfort and support, making it ideal for older dogs or dogs with arthritis or other health issues. It's also covered in a soft micro-suede waterproof outer layer which is super durable and easy to clean. Why not give your pet the same luxury and comfort you enjoy from your Sleep Number bed!

Oh Shoot!

2008-12-02T05:20:00.006-06:00

Yesterday I spent an hour on Skype, talking to my mom, but mostly watching my dogs on the video camera. This was the first time since we left Minnesota that I've seen the dogs live, in action, in flesh and blood.

It was pretty wonderful, watching them wrestle each other, bark out the window, and stare at the computer screen with bewilderment. I'm pretty sure Charly didn't understand a word I said, but Gus, he seemed to perk his ears and wonder for a brief minute where my voice was coming from. At least that's what I'd like to think.

Talking with my mom I realized I have no idea where I left my keys for our Minneapolis home. I'm sure before leaving I put them somewhere and thought, there's no way I'll forget where these are. Has this happened to you? Now I have absolutely no clue where I left them.

Doggie Key Chain from fitszu. I obviously need one of these.

And Cut...

2008-11-27T04:21:00.003-06:00

I was going to save this post for Christmas Day, when so many of us who don't get presents, or meet Santa, or gather around the tree end up going to the movies instead, after eating Chinese of course.

But, I think a lot of people end up going to the movies on Thanksgiving too, at least on the Friday after the Turkey Day. It's either the movies, or face the masses at the mall, and who wants to do that.

A friend of mine in Austria sent me this link. It's a movie theater in Vienna that has Doggy Movie Day once a month! You can meet other dog lovers and catch a movie with your pooch in the next seat. How awesome! They even provide popcorn for the dogs...

European dog culture, at least in Germany and Austria, is so different than at home. I've mentioned this before on this blog but dogs can basically go anywhere with their humans. You see them at restaurants, in the subway, on the trains, and I guess even at the movie sometimes.

I love it! Wish I could take my dog to see the new highly acclaimed Disney move Bolt! It's gotten rave reviews and I'm sure we'd all have a blast together. I don't think any movie theater at home would allow Gus and Charly to make it through their doors though. I'll have to wait some months and rent it instead.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and all of your furry friends!

Get Me Some Uggs!

2008-11-22T08:41:00.007-06:00

So winter here in Europe has been pretty mild, to say the least, up until well, now. We're currently in Bratislava, Slovakia where the temperature is something like 28 degrees Farenheit, and it's snowing! Apparently it snowed for the first time this winter in Bonn yesterday too. This region of Europe is well known for being mildly cold and very very rainy compared to say, Minnesota, where it's bitter cold and always snowing, but sunny.

Honestly, I don't miss the snow one bit. Not a bit. I know I may be alone on this one among my friends in Minnesota, but I would take rain and mild temperatures over sun and freezing cold and snow any day. I would.

So today in the Star Tribune there's a great article about how to "winterize" your pups. And from first hand experience, winterizing is definitely a must, although some dogs, like Gus for example, may refuse to wear their booties. Here are some tips from the article about how to prepare your dog for a winter in Minnesota:

Focus on warmth and waterproofing, but don't be afraid to add some style.
Antifreeze tastes like candy to dogs. Keep it away from them.
Wash your dog's paws when he comes in from outside. Ice, sludge, and salt can get lodged in the paws and if you don't wash it off for him, he'll lick the stuff off himself, and can get very sick.
Trim excess hair from footpads and toes of longhaired dogs. This makes it easier to remove ice and snow.
When it's really cold, especially in January and early February, your dog should spend no more than 20 minutes outside at a time.
Always be sure your dog has adequate shelter where it will be warm and dry. Be sure that he isn’t lying in a drafty area. Place his bed, blanket or pillow on tile and wood floors to give him a warm place to sleep.
If you own a working dog, or if your canine companion spends hours outdoors, feed it extra calories. In winter, dogs need extra energy to regulate body temperature. Extra food provides necessary nutrients to see your dog through the most frigid days.
If your dog gets wet when out in cold weather, towel or blow-dry his coat. Be sure to dry his paws well to prevent footpads from cracking. If your pup's footpads become dry, moisten it with petroleum jelly.
Never leave your dog alone in a vehicle. If the engine is off, he can die from hypothermia. If the engine is left running, he can be overcome with carbon monoxide fumes.

And by the way, I tried to find Ugg booties for dogs, but had no luck. Wish Ugg did make them though. I have a pair, and they are the absolute best and warmest shoes for winter ever. I don't care whether they're in or out, they're toasty toasty!

So here's a pair of higher style booties for your dog from The Sassy Pup. I think they're cute, they look functional, and they're not terribly expensive.

My Boys

2008-11-12T12:03:00.002-06:00

I miss my dogs. What else can I say. I'm needing some puppy love right now. A wet sloppy kiss from Charly, and a big hug from Gussie Goo.

Yes We Can!

2008-11-05T13:43:00.003-06:00

"Sasha and Malia ... I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House."

-- President-elect Barack Obama, November 4, 2008.

Aw yeah! Obama's in the White House and he's keeping his promise to his girls: they're getting that new puppy!

I can't tell you how excited I was this morning when at 6 a.m. (Germany time) I heard Barack's acceptance speech on CNN. And loud and clear, in front of the entire country and world, the first thing he said to his daughters was that they'd earned their new puppy. I imagine millions of dog lovers all over the United States feeling the same way. Ecstatic because the time for change is now, a black man has been elected president of our country, AND a real shelter mutt is going to be the next First Hound.

Check out Obama Dogs Unite for this awesome Bark For Barack image you can download straight from the site.

Deutsches Hunde

2008-11-03T14:33:00.003-06:00

I know I haven't posted in a while on H&H. I've been in the dog house lately trying to learn German while we're living in Deutschland, and it's been taking up a ridiculous amount of time. What a difficult language!

Don't believe me? Check out this video... doggie products are in style here like everywhere else. Unfortunately despite the hours and hours of hard work, I still couldn't understand much of what they were saying in the clip... I did catch that Chihuahua Leopold likes his collars mean and cheap!

Show Me The Paws

2008-10-27T15:34:00.004-05:00

November 4th is less than a week away, and this endorsement couldn't have come at a better time. The Humane Society Legislative Fund has just endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President, their first ever presidential endorsement! Obama has backed or co-sponsored legislation protecting animal rights at the state and national level and Michelle Obama recently announced that the Obama family would be adopting a shelter dog once the election is over. This is the cherry on top of my Barack Obama-Split Sunday!

And for you Obama dog lovers out there, check out Muzzle-Tov and their Obama Dog Collars! Deck your pup out in election gear this Tuesday and don't forget to vote.

Couch Potato

2008-10-24T07:29:00.009-05:00

I called my mom in the States last night to find out how the dogs are doing (have I mentioned I miss them?), and to my suprise she had some big news for us... no, Charly's not pregnant, he's a boy, duh!... Gus chewed through her living room sofa, and there's nothing left of the cushions but a huge pile of sofa guts!

It's true. The boys are living with grandma while we're away in Bonn, and they absolutely adore her. Who doesn't love a grandma who spoils you rotten? Anyway, she and my brothers went out of town for five days and couldn't bring the dogs with them, so Gus and Charly stayed with their dog-sitter and one of their best friends Cathy, from Urban Dog. Cathy takes great care of them, and they always have a blast hanging out with her.

Even so, when my mom came back from her trip, Gus and Charly went ape-crazy with excitement. Like most grandma's who haven't seen there grandbabies in a while, she made the big mistake of giving them both a treat, which Charly promptly ate no problem. On the other hand, Gus had the brilliant idea of hiding the treat in the crevices of the living room couch, where he could eat it later. He returned to the scene of the crime that evening, and without warning, proceeded to ravage the couch looking for his precious treat.

By the time my mom found out what he was doing, the sofa was basically ruined and Gus was standing there with his mouth open, full of sofa foam, fabric, and treat crumbs. Silly dog. You're lucky grandma loves you so much!

I think what Gus needs is his own sofa like this one from an Italian company called dogsofa. It comes in several different color combinations and is super fly. Just love it!

A Dog Is A Dog Is A Dog

2008-10-23T08:25:00.003-05:00

In his fascinating article "The Truth About Dogs", Stephen Budiansky explores canine genetics and uses science to explain dog behavior. Budiansky half jokingly calls dogs the greatest con artists, the best pickpockets, and some of the most manipulative animals on earth! Somehow dogs have convinced humans that they're loyal, trustworthy, selfless, loving, courageous, noble, and obedient... Which of course they are, but Budiansky asserts that it's genetics, not the usual conventional explanations, that make them our best friends.

The article is long, and can be a bit difficult to understand for those of us who are scientifically challenged, but if you can, I highly recommend reading the first page and the last paragraph of the piece. Those of you who own a mutt won't be able to hide your pride. I know I couldn't.

And just to show Charly I'm proud of him too, regardless of Budiansky's pretty persuasive arguments, I'm featuring this poster from Obey The Pure Breed.

Home Sweet Home

2008-10-21T13:55:00.004-05:00

Hurray for Ratchet and Operation Baghdad Pups! On Sunday the rescue group flew into Baghdad and picked up the Iraqi dog, who was adopted by Army Spc. Gwen Beberg during her 13 month deployment in Iraq. After three separate tries to get the pup out of Iraq, he's finally on a plane and on his way to joining Beberg in Minneapolis, Minnesota!

The U.S. Army bars U.S. soldiers from caring for pets while on duty or from taking the animals home with them when they leave their posts, but 65,000 people from Illinois to Italy have signed a petition demanding clemency for Ratchet, and with help from Washington, it looks like the dog will be in the U.S. by the end of this week.

But the Army's policy has yet to change regarding pets, even with the current outcry from people all over the world regarding Ratchet's case. Pets are amazing friends, confidants, and even therapists for soldiers in the middle of a war (for all of us)... The least the Army can do is let them bring their animals home. Please sign the petition for Ratchet, and get in touch with your congressman or congresswoman: Let them know No Buddy Gets Left Behind!

Who Let The Dogs Out?

2008-10-18T04:28:00.005-05:00

There's been a lot written about Jeff Koons' sculpture exhibition at Versailles. In fact, the opening of the show was so wrought with controversy that it sparked artistic debate all over the world.

There's not much I can add to the commentary, other than to say that I for one loved the exhibition, especially and to no surprise, the Balloon Dog sculpture.

It's one thing to see a photo ( I took this one!) of this work of art, and another thing to be in the same room with it. I really enjoyed the contrast between the modernist dog sculpture and the historic art and architecture that is Versailles. I was also able to see many similarities between the two: both extravagant, intense, and over the top works.

I honestly think Louis the XIV would have enjoyed this exhibit, if only for the giant pink balloon dog. I know I did.

Lost

2008-10-17T03:07:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I took the subway from downtown Paris to the outskirts, to visit a cousin of mine who lives in an area called Montreuil. On my way back into the city we had a bit of a delay at one of the metro stops and I couldn't figure out why, until I noticed several men on their hands and knees... and when I moved closer to investigate, I saw that they were trying to coax a small dog out from under the seats!

Apparently somebody had either forgotten their dog or abandoned it on the train, and the poor thing was absolutely terrified. I tried to get close but it just growled and shook with fear. After about 10 minutes they managed to run the dog out of the train, and we started moving again, while I watched the little dog run free on the platform with three men and a woman running after it.

I hope they were able to catch the little thing. I worry that it was too frightened to let itself be caught, and may have ended up lost in the metro or worse, under a train...

Daniel and I have rescued several lost dogs at home, and maybe if I'd had a leash and some of these very delicious looking dog treats made right there in Paris at Mon Bon Chien, I could have helped the little guy out...

Haute Dog Design

2008-10-14T10:55:00.006-05:00

I'm dog tired after having spent most of the day walking around Paris, scouting out design shops and dog inspired french style. It's true that there's no where like Paris for fashion and haute couture. And the runway doesn't stop for the dogs.

Dog and Design is the place for dog owners with a taste for luxury. Here you can find a replica of Marie Antoinette's dog house for sale at 14,500 Euros. The replica is gorgeous, handcrafted here in France, and covered in a beautiful teal fabric and gold trim.

If that price tag is out of your budget, don't worry, there are plenty of other high end dog inspired home accessories and pet products here at lower price points. But the quality and craftmanship won't let you down.

And if you're in Paris and missing your dogs like I am, don't forget to spend a bit of time with Archibald, Dog and Design's labrador retriever. He's friendly, gorgeous, and does plenty of tricks to keep you entertained!

Rien

2008-10-13T15:46:00.002-05:00

I walked several hours today through a couple different neighborhoods in Paris, and saw at least three different dog inspired design items that I'm very excited to share with you. Only problem is that I'm an idiot and forgot to take my camera along today.

So tomorrow I'm going to retrace some of my steps, with my camera in tow, and hopefully come back with some good Frenchy stuff for House&Hound.

See you tomorrow. A bien tot!

Bon Jour

2008-10-11T05:53:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, as we walked down the Poppelsdorfer Allee in Bonn, I had the great privilege of watching a city dog run down the sidewalk, several feet ahead of his owner (in fact I actually didn't see the owner anywhere in sight), stop at the cross walk, wait for the traffic to stop, and cross the street, all by himself.

I just couldn't believe it! I mean, Gus and Charly would have been chopped liver!!! Sometimes I'm so taken a back by how human dogs can be. And other times, like when they sniff each other's butts to say hello, they're just so unbelievably dog.

We're traveling to Paris today, via one of these European High Speed Trains. We'll be in Gay Paris in about four hours... Check out this very hip and Frenchy travel bag from Bagira. I want one, now!

P.S. What a coincidence: on our way to Paris I saw a woman in the Koln Train Station wearing a Bagira Bag! She was very impressed that I knew the brand...

Are You Crazy?

2008-10-09T05:11:00.005-05:00

My German is pretty bad, although I have managed to master the most important phrases I will need to know here: "where are the bathrooms?" and "may I pet the dog."

And as if my limited German, American accent, and strong extroversion didn't single me out enough as an outsider, I'm also faced with the fact that only small children ask to pet dogs in Germany!

But I just can't help myself... and so I keep getting very surprised looks from dog owners and everybody around me when I ask if I can pet the dog! I think most of the people I've met are flattered that somebody as old as I am would want to pet their dog, and they just smile and laugh as I get down on my knees to play with their friend.

The only thing that could possibly make me stand out more than I already do is this adorable sweater from Anthropologie! Or maybe it would help me out, since people would be able to tell right off the bat that I'm not crazy, and that I really just love dogs?

It's also possible I'd get the opposite reaction, and people would think I'm a looney for wearing a dog on my sweater! At this point, it's hopeless I think, and I'm just going to continue being who I am, and make as many doggy friends as possible.

Gus Look!

2008-10-06T15:03:00.009-05:00

I've been in Germany now for 5 days, and the truth of it all is that I'm missing those dogs. Yeah, the ones at home with Grandma... those dogs. I'm comforted knowing that they're having a good time at least. This would would have been impossible if we'd had to find a dog sitter for three months. We just wouldn't have been able to leave.

So despite the acute sense that two of my best friends are so far away from me, I'm relieved that they're in loving hands. Just yesterday I received a hilarious email from my mom that went on and on about how she has recently discovered how to trick Gus into going out for walks even when he's not up for it. She writes:

With Gus, he is usually pretty easy going, and will follow Charly on most of our walks. But lately, he has started to put his foot down, and especially in the evening, when he sometimes doesn't want to go anywhere at all, and just simply refuses to go anywhere but back home. It is very disconcerting because this delays the walk, makes it slow, and sometimes prevents it all together.

What did I find out? I found out that the rascal understands : Look! So, when I can't get him to move, I will say: Gus! Looook!!!! And I will point towards the direction I want him to go! He perks his ears, he wags his tail, and he starts running as fast as he possibly can, towards that rabbit he thought I was pointing at!

I don't know how many times I will be able to cry wolf before he takes the hint that I am tricking him, but so far it has been the solution to our walking problems.

The funny thing about my mom's newfound insight is that Daniel has been working this trick for years now, and Gus is still falling for it. Ha!

And our product today is this incredibly cute and apropros piece of wall art from Ballard Designs called The Inconsolable Print. Well, I'm not quite inconsolable, but I do miss my boys.

Hallo!

2008-10-03T10:00:00.004-05:00

First off, my very sincere apologies to all of you readers out there who've been checking in to a very dull and rather aged House&Hound blog. I've been so incredibly busy this week with planning for my Germany trip, that I haven't had the time, and most of all the mental energy, to post.

But oh, I have missed you, and I'm actually writing to you from Germany, where Dan and I will be spending the next three months. I'm hoping that now I'll be less distracted with travel and wedding planning, so as to be able to post every day again, or at least several times a week.

Writing is a lot like running or swimming, once you fall out of the habit it's hard to pick it right back up. But with practice and devotion, it becomes a routine that is sorely missed if you happen to lack the time or energy to do it.

So now I'm here in our new apartment, and I must admit I miss those dogs terribly, already. It's pretty plain to see the Germans love them a dog too, because there are pups everywhere. In fact, I saw several dogs in the airport and on the train we took from Amsterdam to Bonn yesterday. I'm glad to know that if I need some puppy love I can walk down to the nearest cafe and there will probably be a dog waiting for me there. Or I can find one in the Poppelsdorfer Allee. Or in the train station. Or market. Of course none of them will be Charly or the Gusser, but we'll have to make do until December.

These cards from The Greeting Place are hilarious. I like the card on the top right the best, because it perfectly describes how I felt yesterday, travel tired and ragged, and my improvement today.

Nap Time

2008-09-25T11:18:00.003-05:00

Check out this photo on Post Secret (it's the third one down). What more can I say? My dogs are weird too. But man do I love them.

It's A Wrap

2008-09-24T14:30:00.006-05:00

The dogs have been over at grandma's a lot this month, seeing as I've been on my own since Dan left and needing the help. I know I'm going to go through some major withdrawal though next week when I'm in Germany, so I'm determined to spend as much time with them as possible in the next few days.

This weekend I'm planning on taking take them to their favorite dog park, and then to Dairy Queen for a couple kiddie vanilla ice cream cones. They love those! I hope the weather's nice and we can spend a lot of time outside. I'm planning the weekend already, even though it's only Wednesday, which pretty much means I've had it with this week... I'm checking out early!

Oh but no, there are still two days left of my work week, and I've got to wrap things up pretty tight before I leave. So much to do, so little time. Wish me luck.

I love this Dog-On-It gift wrap from French Paper. I'm always on the look out for dog inspired paper products because they're so hard to find, and this vintage style wrap is one of a kind.

From Prenup to Prepup

2008-09-23T11:44:00.006-05:00

Sorry people. I've missed more posts in the past two weeks than I have in the entire time I've been blogging. Life is moving fast, and I'm struggling to keep up.

This morning I read an article on MSNBC about Pre-Pups. That's short for Prepuptial Agreement. You heard me right... In addition to a Prenuptial Agreement, lawyers are now recommending newlyweds also sign some sort of "Prepuptial Agreement", outlining who gets the dog when the marriage goes up in flames.

What is this world coming to? Seriously, a Prepuptial Agreement? People can't even commit to a marriage long enough to last a dog's 13 year life span?

And speaking of flames. Check out these very awesome matches from Hom Art at Smith's Bath and Home. These are so fun, and I love how they've turned ordinary matches into something not so ordinary.

Better Late Than Never

2008-09-19T13:27:00.007-05:00

My alarm clock went off at 7:15 this morning, and thinking that it was Saturday, I turned the damn thing off, muttered a bit of frustration under my breath, and went back to bed.

The next thing I know I'm up at 10:30, and as I make my way slowly to the kitchen for some coffee, I suddenly realize that it in fact is not Saturday, but Friday, and I'm supposed to be at work, instead of lounging around in my pajamas!

Oops! I immediately call my boss, and explain to her why I'm not at work, and she laughs histerically, because nobody's ever used this excuse on her before. I'm so lucky to work with some of the coolest most laid back people, because she then tells me that if I want to take the whole day off, I'm welcome to do so.

It really is a spectacular day here in Minneapolis, and man was I tempted to accept her offer, but I have so much to get done before leaving for Germany in a week, that I forced myself in to the office. It's going to be a long day...

Gus and Charly have two matching leopard print beds, that we've now retired in favor of the DoggyArchy beds I got for them a month ago. But I may just have to buy them these very soft and stylish leopard doggy blankets from Canine Styles. Don't you just love this photo? So cute!

Dog Momma for Obama!

2008-09-18T09:48:00.009-05:00

So I've been thinking about how to write this post for the past month or so, and today I've finally decided to just come out with it. No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to figure out the best way to write about this subject, so I'm going to bite the bullet...

A while back I came across this article, in which an AP-Yahoo! News poll found that pet owners favor McCain over Obama 42 percent to 37 percent, with dog owners particularly in McCain's corner.

And people, I've been fuming ever since. For the record, this dog lover barks for Obama. And I know there are more of us. These last 6 weeks of the presidential race are going to get nasty, and though Sara Palin makes some of us break out in hives, we've got to get involved somehow, by any means necessary.

So here's an easy way to get out there and rock the vote: Buy a couple of these Bark Obama Dog T-Shirts from Psychedelic Fur, and take your pups out for a walk! You're guaranteed to stop traffic and get our message across.

Just What I've Always Wanted

2008-09-16T14:26:00.003-05:00

I'm super excited to share this very unique find with you... Yes, I know it's from JCREW (not so obscure), but seriously, it really is hard to find cute, quality, dog inspired clothing for women. You can get pups on anything for baby, and if you hit up Target I'm sure you'll find something for dad, but I guarantee you'll have to do some digging around if you're looking for a dog inspired feminine piece for your wardrobe.

This argyle cardigan features playful pooches in a 12-gauge knit and faceted Czech glass buttons. And it's super soft!

Time's Up

2008-09-15T16:16:00.003-05:00

Well, I'm officially burned out on wedding stuff... and the wedding isn't even until next August, which means I have months and months of planning ahead of me. So if this week feels bad, with wedding planning appointments every night of the week except Tuesday, what's the rest of my year look like?

Germany should be a welcome respite to all of this wedding madness. I'm looking forward to tuning out for three months, and just enjoying our engagement. The days can't go by fast enough, I want to be there already.

Well, I'm off to meet a wedding planner. Dan thinks it would be beneficial for us to hire one just for the day of our actual event, so I'm not running around like a chicken with her head cut off, which will definitely happen if we don't find a different point guard.

By the way, today is my official one month engagement anniversary! Here's a clock I love in honor of this month that's passed. It's from Bellacor. Check it out!

Correction

2008-09-12T11:42:00.005-05:00

Ok, well, it's possible I spoke too soon, jumped the gun, whatever... because it looks very nice out there today! The sun is out, the weather is temperate, not cold or too hot, and the weekend is here...

I should clarify my last post a bit by saying that PTK/PRK/laser eye surgery is definitely not a terrible thing. A recurrent corneal erosion every week is a terrible thing, and this compared to that is a piece of cake. Seriously.

And may I just add that my surgeon was the best! The surgery literally took 15 minutes total, I was awake the whole time (localized anaesthetic!) and didn't feel a darn thing. Of course two hours later I definitely felt some pain... my eye stung quite a bit, and watered a whole lot. This discomfort continued for about three more days, but decreased with every hour that passed.

So yesterday I felt great, and today even better.

I love this chalkboard from Trendy Puppy. Mine says: Out for the weekend!

Snuggle Up

2008-09-11T10:12:00.006-05:00

Well, summer has come and gone already up here in Minnesota. And we didn't even have an in between... last Sunday it was an unexpected 90 degrees here in the Twin Cities, and the day after the weather turned ugly, and it's been cold and colder ever since.

Every year, we Minnesotans, most of us at least, complain about the ever approaching winter ahead of us. Everything you've heard is true, winter here is BRUTAL. It is freezing, it is snowy, and it is LONG. Way too LONG.

But I think almost everybody who lives here would agree that the summers here make it worth our while. And if you're brave enough, winter can be quite fun too, as long as you've got yourself a nice warm pair of long underwear.

Currently in Minneapolis it's 55 degrees and raining. Days like this make me want to stay at home, curl up on the couch and snuggle up with a blanket like this one from Thorsten Von Elten, and a good book. Oh, and don't forget, a dog at either end of the sofa.

California Dreamin'

2008-09-10T15:03:00.009-05:00

This morning I went to what I thought was supposed to be my last visit with Doctor Everson, my Eye Surgeon/Doctor at Edina Eye Physicians and Surgeons. Mom was kind enough to drive me out there, since my eye has been pretty light sensitive and I haven't been able to drive long distances. Of course she insisted on bringing the dogs along for the car ride, so all three of them chauffered me around town.

The appointment was short and sweet, with the the doctor assuring me that I'm doing just fine, but I'll need a couple extra visits with him to monitor my progress. By the time I got back in the car, I was feeling quite capable of driving myself back home, but happy not to to be the one fighting the traffic on Hwy. 62. Plus, Gus decided he wanted to ride shot gun as well, so he climbed in on top of me and curled up in my lap for the whole way home. Now remember, this is a 65 pound Pit Bull! And he did not get up or move once! Seriously!!!

So I've had a bit of an off week because of laser eye surgery and all that. Five days and several doctor's appointments later, I'm starting to feel like my old self again. I say that with some degree of hesitation, as they told me a full recovery will take a few weeks. But at least I no longer feel like somebody's repeatedly stabbing my right eye with a pitch fork!

Here's a refreshing look at pet photography. Sabrina Hela of Cookies and Water takes a documentary approach to her photo shoots. No forced posing, no cute outfits, just your dog, her camera, and if you're in Los Angeles, the beach, boardwalk, Rodeo Drive, or wherever your pet wants to play.

Yet another reason I wish I lived in California...

Pet Fashion Week Guest Post

2008-09-09T13:42:00.007-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I promised all of you a personal account of Pet Fashion Week from friend and Chief Executive Officer of Printed Puppy Inc., Kristy Sevag. Well, she's finally digging herself out of the paper pile-up that happens when you leave the office for a week, and here's that promised post. Enjoy!

Well, I am back from Pet Fashion Week 2008 and I must say my back hurts. You may think it's from from lifting boxes, setting up our booth, or just general nervous tension. Nope!

My back kills from having to bend down every time I saw an ADORABLE little dog! I had to crouch down and pet every single one, they were all so irresistable. Almost every cutie I saw had to be under 10 pounds and wearing an adorable dress. The only dog I could pet standing was a gorgeous full sized Boxer who won my heart. He belonged to another exhibitor and would come visit me during our two days of showing. Sometimes he stole my display items! It was so funny!

Saturday morning was the first of two runway shows. 8 companies, including Printed Puppy Inc., were selected to strut the walkway. With the music blaring and the lights dim, in came the models. Each company had 6 looks to showcase what they are all about. I had given my gift packaging line to the staff at Pet Fashion Week and told them to go all out, and what I saw astounded me! The artists took my line of paper goods and made flapper dresses, hoop skirts, and cocktail dresses for the models, and matching attire for the accompanying dogs! Every look that past by me got better and better.

The show came to an end and the crowd of 400+ went wild! All the human models handled the canines with such grace and care. The real stars, the dogs, were proud and happy to strut! The same show repeated for the Saturday night crowd.

Overall my first Pet Fashion Week experience was one to remember. The fact that I launched my product line less than 8 months ago and I've had the opportunity to show at the largest Pet Fashion industry convention is amazing. I met so many interesting and wonderful people, who were all so helpful and willing to share their loads of industry experience with a newbie.

I really look forward to showing again next year and who knows, maybe Printed Puppy, Inc will come to the runway with a new line of doggie fashion attire. We shall see!

To view my gift line please visit Printed Puppy. If you have any questions please email me at info@printedpuppy.com !

XOXO,
Kristy!

Post Op

2008-09-08T15:56:00.008-05:00

Well, as fate may have it, I've really got very little to write about today, other than that I've been spending more than 16 hours a day for the past three days in bed. What a let down huh? After my 100th post!

I had laser surgery called PTK done on my right eye on Friday afternoon, to treat something I've had for the past year called a Recurrent Corneal Erosion. I won't get into all of it, but let's just say it's not fun. Actually, I felt fine the day after the surgery, but yesterday and today I've been feeling pretty darn crummy. I couldn't even make it in to work this morning.

The dogs have been great company through all of this. They stick close to me when I'm napping and rarely leave my side unless grandma's coming over to take them for a walk. Today is one of those days I really wish Daniel were here, instead of in Germany, so far away. Actually, I wish he were here all the time, but today it feels like a stronger need, rather than just a simple desire. I'll see him soon. And then I'll miss the dogs, so I better relish this recovery.

100!

2008-09-05T09:56:00.022-05:00

Oh Oh! This is my 100th post. And my brother Bruno promised he'd take me out to dinner when I made it here. Honestly, I can't believe it. I never thought that I'd actually be able to keep up with this blog, write every day, find enough products that I feel are worth mentioning here...

But I've made it. This is post number 100. And I think I promised I'd write a Best of House&Hound post to recap some of my favorite products that I've featured here so far. So here goes... in no particular order... I love them all!

Acqua Bol from Wow Bow

Organic Hemp Dog Bed from Doggy Archy

Drink Better Bowl from Contech

Dog Carrier from Dog Interiors

Gift Bag from Printed Puppy

Bumper Stickers from Euros

Le Chien Table Lamp from Ballard Designs

Door Mat from Vive La France

Gocco Print Cards from Paper Menagerie

Foot Stool from Atelier de Tapisserie Decoration

Print Art from Dolan Geiman

Hot Diggity Dog Pillows from Modern Dose

Pull Around Hound Toy from Zipper Gifts

Sofa Pillows from Karen Hilton Designs

Blanket from Mungo and Maude

Bookends from Restoration Hardware

Wegman Sofa Pillow from The Diva Dog

A Wee Nursery For Baby And Puppy

2008-09-04T11:01:00.008-05:00

My sister-in law Alicia is pregnant with her first kid, and like every first time mom, she's totally obsessed with anything baby! Just like me, except I go bananas over hot pink leashes and pug pillows, while she fawns over baby booties and baby slings.

This weekend she and my brother Bruno went shopping at Babies R Us and came home with a brand new, very beautiful, and may I add safe (it's actually the safest in the industry) baby car seat. You can read about the product on Wee Baby Stuff, a website they just started featuring product reviews for all things baby.

And as it turns out, Babies R Us happens to have a lot of dog inspired products for your baby nursery remodel. Alicia sent me this picture of baby's room, all decked out in a graphic mix of brown and white. I love the puppy accents, like the puppy mobile hanging above the crib and the doggy art on the wall.

P.S.

2008-09-03T10:46:00.002-05:00

Microchip. Microchip. Microchip!

A Rookie Mistake

2008-09-03T08:56:00.000-05:00

Daniel and I went out to dinner on Friday night to celebrate our last weekend together in Minneapolis. There's a pretty good Italian restaurant on Lake Street called Amore Victoria, and we were lucky enough to score a beautiful table outside, on a more than beautiful evening.

Five minutes into our meal a random puppy dog runs up to our table and starts licking up the parmesan cheese crumbs. Turns out the poor little guy is lost, and we grab him just before he runs back out into the traffic on Lake.

So now we're in the middle of dinner, and we're holding onto the lost dog, who's got no leash and no tags, just his collar and the stretched key ring where the tags used to be... It was pretty obvious the owner had accidentally hooked the leash up to the key ring instead of the collar and the pup had pulled his way loose, breaking off his tags.

I must admit that this happened to me several times when I first got my dog, except Charly never ran off further than our next door neighbor's yard. After the third or fourth time I decided I'd had enough with the broken key rings and lost tags, so I went to Lowe's and bought an S Hook. I opened it up with some pliers, strung on Charly's tags, and used the pliars again to close the hook around the existing metal hook of the dog collar. The S Hook is so small there's really no way you can hook the leash up to it, but it's also super strong, so you'll never lose those tags again.

Daniel quickly finished up his pasta dish and biked back to our house to pick up a leash and our car. We'd have to take the puppy over to grandma's house since Gus won't be having no stray pups up in HIS house. Before we left the restaurant we decided to take a quick walk around the neighborhood, now that we had a leash to hold on to the dog. And within 10 minutes we ran into his owner. She'd only had him for a couple of months and he'd never run off like this before. I'm just glad we didn't have to take the dog to animal control the next morning.

So remember, never use a key ring to hook up your dog's tags to his collar. Go buy an S Hook. They're only 0.93 cents and well worth it.

Berlin Schnau

2008-09-01T14:26:00.011-05:00

Daniel and I spent the whole three-day weekend packing up our house, getting ready for our move to Germany. We'll be spending the fall semester in Deutschland, where Daniel will be doing research at the University of Bonn.

So Dan left yesterday, and he's on his way to Europe, via Chicago. I'll be joining him in a month, after I wrap up some things with my job. They've been incredibly supportive and have allowed me to take a three month leave of absence, which means I have to work extra hard this month to help out with as many projects as possible.

The dogs of course will go to grandma's, since we're just too scared to stick them in the bottom of an airplane for the 8 hour flight to Germany. My mom is thrilled because she'll get the puppies all to herself, for four entire months.

There are so many things I'm going to miss while on this European Adventure; my family and friends, our coffee maker, a washing machine and dryer in the basement, the autumn colors of the Midwest.

Most of all I'll miss those dogs. Damn, I love those guys.

And second, I'll miss our Select Comfort Sleep Number Bed. Honestly, we've never slept better. The back pain is gone, and we are so happy and rested when we get up in the morning. I just know that little European double bed waiting for us in Deutschland is going to kill.

But at least I can rest assured Gus and Charly will be getting their beauty sleep. I just got them their very own doggy beds from DoggyArchy to take with them to grandma's. These eco-friendly beds are made from organic cotton and pesticide-free industrial hemp fibers and fillers, reducing your dogs daily exposure to the hazardous chemicals released from your typical synthetic pet bed. And these beds are gorgeous, so you can promote your dog's natural health without compromising your style.

Ride On Cowboy

2008-08-29T12:29:00.003-05:00

I've been in stuck in this country phase for the past several months, and I find myself swooning for anything that reminds me of the open road, never ending fields of green, and that perfectly quiet solitude found only in the middle of nowhere.

Of course, my dog obsession still reigns supreme, so when I came across Fine Arf Collection's leather cowboy belt adorned with gold plated pewter dogs, I said to myself, ah, now that is a perfect belt! If only I had a some cattle to rope, or a horse to ride, I'd go right ahead and buy it.

A Good Investment

2008-08-28T13:19:00.008-05:00

I think it's time for us to retire Gus's plain and simple metal water bowl, and invest in this very smart and innovative Drink Better™ product from Contech. Gus will probably hate me for broadcasting this over the internet, but I'm tired of cleaning up his vomit because he drinks too much, too fast.

The Drink Better™ pet bowl encourages dogs to drink at a slower, healthier rate, and make less mess while they’re at it. Neither Gus nor Charly seem to have any terribly bad eating habits (other than eating a dozen bagels off the kitchen counter a couple of years ago, but that's another story). Yet drinking seems to be a more complicated thing to do, and sometimes Gus just can't seem to hold down his water. So I'm gonna get my hands on one of these today!

Dog Stash

2008-08-27T13:35:00.007-05:00

I'm not one to really dress up my dogs. Of course, they each have a very simple warm coat that they wear only in the winter when it's 20 below zero (Charly's has a fur hood, and that's my mom's fault!), but essentially, that's all the clothes they have. I've seen cute numbers here and there, funny dog-t-shirts, elegant wool sweaters, heavy duty booties, and more. But I'm pretty sure Dan would throw a fit if I came home with matching outfits for Gus and Charly, so I don't even try. Good thing I didn't make it to Pet Fashion week this year, because I know it would have been impossible to resist the couture fashion.

For those of you who do have a full doggie wardrobe, check out Canine Couture Closets, and give your puppy his own place to stash those clothes. Functional yet stylish, these closets help you stay organized, while adding a punch of pup to your life. So take control of your closet, and get back that short hang you've been needing so desparately.

H2O

2008-08-26T13:38:00.009-05:00

When I saw the maker of the Acqua Bol on the Pet Fashion Week website today, I immediately thought to myself, Genius!

I can't even count the number of times I've been out on a walk with the dogs and they've been thirsty, but with no water bottle or bowl in sight, I've had to find a drinking fountain, cup my hands together, and pour water into them for the dogs to drink. Of course all the water seeps through the cracks and I'm stuck at the drinking fountain for 10 minutes making sure they drink enough water to get them home without getting dehydrated.

Well, now we can hydrate the dogs anywhere with the new Acqua Bol from Wow Bow. This folding water bowl fits in a purse or wallet, and stylishly lets you quench your dog’s thirst anyplace, anytime. Pure Genius!

Vegas Baby!

2008-08-25T13:32:00.008-05:00

Daniel and I spent this weekend celebrating our engagement with family and friends. We had a lovely barbecue in our backyard on Saturday evening, complete with great food, wonderful company, and a few very moving toasts.

And on Sunday we made our way over to Red Wing, Minnesota, where we took a look at The Round Barn, a wedding venue I've been dreaming about for the past several months. We loved the place, the natural ambiance, the rustic country manor farm home, and the beautiful old barn and the surrounding river bluffs.

But most of all, we loved the fact that our dogs will be able to join us when we tie the knot. Seeing as Charly helped Dan out with the proposal, I think we'll have Gus bring the wedding bands down the aisle on the big day. He'll need a handler of course, but I'm thinking he can do it as long as whoever's holding the leash has lots of treats in his pockets.

But don't worry, we're not planning on making the pups wear tuxedos or even bow ties. I'm thinking about just a simple black collar. Here's one from Hampton's Hound, one of many vendors offering fashionable collars, leads, and harnesses at Pet Fashion Week. The Vegas Collar has a bit of sparkle, and I think it's cute, yet classic and still simple. And I think Gus would look fabulous in it!

Pet Fashion Week 2008 Kick Off

2008-08-22T10:24:00.007-05:00

Kristy Sevag, the designer of these awesome doggie gift bags I featured here last week, is on her way to New York for Pet Fashion Week, the largest and sweetest international trade show for the pet fashion industry. And I can't tell you how incredibly sad I am that I can't go too.

But lucky for me and you, Kristy has agreed to appear as a guest blogger here on House and Hound next week, and she'll tell us all about her fabulous experience at the show. We'll feature some of the latest and greatest products and designers in the industry, and you'll be blown away by all the incredibly good looking things you can get for you and your best friend.

I'm going to kick things off today and feature this very stylish dining table from the Unleashed Life. Their Edo collection is an incredible combination of style and function. The table has a removable top and offers storage below the dining surface for treats or a collar and lead. The zebra wood and java finish will fit in with any modern home decor and the removable stainless steel bowls are so easy to clean.

Unleashed Life will be in New York this weekend showing off several of their furniture collections. If you cant' make it to the Big Apple, check out their website for a variety of different styles and finishes.

Stay tuned for more from Pet Fashion Week on Monday!

Coffee Break

2008-08-21T08:44:00.006-05:00

Last night, on my way to meet a friend for coffee, I stumbled by a small gift store in Edina called Gather. I happened to have 15 minutes to spare, and with House and Hound on my mind, I quickly ducked into the shop for some browsing.

And look what I found! Lots and lots and lots of adorable dog inspired gifts and accessories. I especially liked this dog tray from HomArt. Gather had several different dog breeds to choose from, but no Schnau. And Dan put the kabbash on my dog art shopping spree, so I had to walk away empty handed. That doesn't mean you have to!

The Bling

2008-08-20T15:17:00.009-05:00

Did I happen to mention that I love love love the engagement ring Daniel bought for me? He could not have picked out a lovlier ring. Unfortunately it's two sizes too small, and I haven't been able to wear it since he proposed to me last Friday evening. We've sent it back to the jewelers to have it resized, and instead I've been wearing the yellow ribbon he used to tie the ring to Charly's collar when he proposed in the foyer of our home.

I can't say I own a single piece of Tiffany Jewelry, and I'm not one for a whole lotta bling, but this dog charm pendant with diamonds and emeralds in platinum is pretty cute if you're into that sort of thing.

A Tiny Case of Writer's Block

2008-08-19T14:14:00.005-05:00

I need to start carrying a notebook with me everywhere I go. Sometimes the writing comes easy, but on days like today, I find myself wracking my brain for a story to tell, and wishing I had actually taken the time to jot down those great ideas I came up with before I went to bed last night.

Dog notebook from Propaganda and Panik Design.

Puppy Love

2008-08-18T14:32:00.008-05:00

I've got big news! Daniel and I got engaged last Friday, with a little help from Charly, who brought me the most beautiful perfect ring I could have ever hoped for. It shines and sparkles, and is everything a girl could want. And to top it off, I get to marry the most amazing human being on this planet.

Dan and I would have never met, had it not been for our dogs, who brought us to Lake of the Isles on that early spring morning three and a half years ago. Who ever thought that I'd find love, peace, and joy, all together at a Minneapolis dog park? I sure didn't.

In fact, I keep coming back to the conclusion that these dogs have profoundly changed me, in more ways than I'll ever be able to explain. I owe so much thanks and gratitude to these dogs who'll never be able to fully understand the magnitude of their presence in my life.

Love is in the air, and today I'm featuring this incredibly cute ceramic mug from Graham and Green. I was going to save this find for Valentine's Day, but it seems all too appropriate for this occasion.

Timeless

2008-08-15T08:22:00.008-05:00

Dan needed the car today, so he drove me to work this morning and I'll be taking the bus home. We usually take Gus and Charly with us on the days that he drops me off downtown. They love riding in the car, and I get to spend an extra 15 minutes with them while Dan chauffers us through the city.

This morning though it was cold and wet out when Dan took the boys for their walk. When they returned they were dirty and soaked, and I decided I didn't want them getting into my car all filthy like that.

So as we're getting ready to leave Gus and Charly start getting so excited because they think they're going for a ride. They're running around the house, jumping all over the place, barking, and to their surprise we say goodbye and leave them at home. Gus was so determined to get out of the house that he blocked my exit into the garage and I had to shove him out of the way several times in order to get myself out the door. Silly dog!

There are some really fun products on this website, Zipper Gifts. I especially like this classic pull-around hound toy, first introduced by fisher price in 1930, and now re-introduced for a new generation. This would make a great gift for any guy, remember they don't mature until they're around 40!

Party Time

2008-08-14T10:11:00.006-05:00

Last Friday I attended my 10 year high school reunion, and I'm happy to say I survived it! Actually, I had a pretty nice time, and I even stayed out until 2 in the morning, something I rarely do anymore. Granted the dogs were at my mom's house, and Daniel was on a business trip, so there wasn't much to pine for at home like I usually end up doing when I'm out on the town.

One of my favorite products that I've come across in the past month is this gift bag from Printed Puppy. In fact, I'm in love with the entire collection of luxe gift wrapping, inspired by Niva, an abondoned puppy who the designers rescued from Armenia and brought home with them to the US. You can read more about Niva and Printed Puppy here. Their story is pretty amazing, and yet again, reminds me of just how inspiring one little pup can be.

Leash 'Em Up

2008-08-13T08:52:00.005-05:00

Dan's mom is a voracious reader, and she's my most consistent and valuable feed marker. I can expect at least one piece of doggie news in my inbox per week, and the stuff she sends me is always interesting.

Yesterday she sent me an article from the Philadelphia Inquirer, and I was so outraged by the news that I proceeded to send it to all my dog loving friends. Saudi Arabia's Islamic Religious Police, in an effort to keep men and women from mingling in the streets, has banned the sale of pets, and made it illegal for men to walk a dog or cat in public. The prohibition went into effect last Wednesday in the capital city of Ryadh, and violators found outside with their pets will have their animals confiscated.

So now, how are the dogs in this city going to get their exercise? How will they even go to the bathroom? And what happens to the dogs and cats that are confiscated? Where do they end up?

In protest, I'm featuring this very awesome retractable leash from 26 Bars and A Band. It's a sure fire way to attract plenty of attention, whether you want it or not. And let me just state for the record, that I feel lucky and blessed to be able to walk my dogs whenever and wherever I please.

Practice Makes Perfect

2008-08-12T08:37:00.007-05:00

I'm slowly but surely approaching my 100th post, and it's so exciting! I've discovered so many cool products, interesting websites, and amazing people through this blog, and I just love sharing them with you. I think for my 100th post I'll round up some of my favorites and feature them in a "Best of House and Hound".

Of course, some of you may already know that I'm not the most patient person on the planet, and sometimes I get a little ahead of myself. Today for instance, I just can't help but let you in on PupStyle and this fabulous foot stool I found on their website. PupStyle and Atelier de Tapisserie Decoration (the makers of this fine piece of furniture) will definitely make the Best of House and Hound list, but my patience has run out on this one, and I've got to feature it right now!

I mean, come on... How absolutely cool is this piece? And if you're not so into bulldogs (not sure how this is possible since their just so funny and cute), send in your own 300 dpi photograph of your favorite mutt and ATAD will print it on their upholstery per your specifications.

The Hunt

2008-08-11T09:45:00.005-05:00

A friend of mine sent this as-of-yet unpublished flickr book to me, on the off chance that I would post about it on my blog... And I love it! Eli, No! by Katie Kirk perfectly describes my weekend with Gus and Charly. I love the subject matter, and the illustrations are darling.

I do dislike squirrels. Sometimes my feelings get the better of me and I let the dogs have at them, but most of the time I'd prefer they leave them alone, only because I can't stand the thought of how scared those poor little squirrels must be, with two unruly dogs out to get them.

Dan and I have a long standing difference of opinion on this subject. He likes letting Gus and Charly chase after all the different animals in our yard: squirrels, bunnies, toads, you name it. He never lets them actually catch the animals, but he thinks it's good for their mental health to hunt.

I on the other hand feel bad for the prey, and prefer it when my dogs wage peace, not war. Of course their hunger for squirrels is pretty much insatiable, and despite my frustrations with the boys when their lower brain stems take over, I still love them.

The Clay Pot

2008-08-08T08:50:00.006-05:00

I took my first pottery class five years ago at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts, and for the next several years I made all kinds of bowls, cups, vases, and plates. At first my work was pretty mediocre, as I struggled to understand how to use the potter's wheel. But over time I got better and better, and my collection grew.

I was pretty prolific for the first four years after that class, but lately I've been struggling to find the time to get into the studio. I miss it though, the creative process, the feel of the clay between my hands, the unexpected outcome...

My last find at the Uptown Artfair were these very cute ceramic bowls from Homquist Pottery. You can buy their standard pottery designs, or you can send in a picture of your dog and they'll customize your piece.

Lucky

2008-08-07T08:46:00.006-05:00

I love where I live, particularily because it's so close to downtown Minneapolis where I work, and every morning, instead of getting on a freeway for a half hour, I get to drive around Lake Of The Isles, and I'm at work in less than 15 minutes. I wouldn't trade this for anything. I had a job once that was about a 25 minute drive away, out in the Western Suburbs of Minneapolis, and I lasted about 2 months.

I was reminded today of how lucky I am to have such an easy and pleasurable commute, when towards the end of my trip around the lake, I saw a family out for a morning stroll. The mother was carting a baby in a stroller, and the father was handling two dogs, and sipping his morning coffee. I thought it was really special, for a family to be enjoying some time together on a busy weekday, and for me to catch a glimpse of it, rather than to be stuck in traffic on the interstate.

I spent some time exploring Nick Wroblewski's booth this weekend at the Uptown Art Fair. Even though he doesn't have dogs in his work, I just absolutely love his art. And when I went to his website yesterday, I did find some foxes and wolves.

Ambidextrous

2008-08-06T08:33:00.007-05:00

Now, back to art.

My dogs do this all the time, except they hardly ever look quite as peaceful as this pup. Usually they've heard somebody at the front door and they're all excited because they know it's grandma, or they're barking like crazy because they think they have to protect us from some sort of evil trespasser.

You can't tell by the photograph, but this piece by Amy Wood and Dean Lucker is actually a hand held dexterity game. You know, the ones where you try to get the tiny steel balls to roll into the small divots on the surface?

I love how the artists have transformed a simple game into a very unique piece of artwork. You can try your hand at the game, or if you're like me and have a limited amount of patience, you can set the piece up like a picture frame, or hang it up on the wall.

Ruff Love

2008-08-05T08:54:00.009-05:00

Alright, so I know I promised to post all dog art this week, but I have to digress today because I just can't wait another minute to share this find with you.

My brother has always wanted a dog, and I have to say he's been pretty patient about getting one. We wanted a puppy so badly growing up, but my mom just was not INTO it... can you believe that? So one day, after a particularly difficult break up, and old enough to make my own decisions (I was 24 at the time), I walked into a pet-store, fell in love with Charly, and brought him home.

But poor Bruno is still waiting for his chance at what I like to call, ruff love. He and his wife have been contemplating adopting a puppy for a couple of years now, but a dog is a pretty big commitment, and they've been waiting for the right moment. But I think once Alicia sees this brocade print dog bag, she just might think it's time!

These exclusive doggy bags from Dog Interiors are so stylish that they can be used as a regular bag, AND as a carrier for your brand new puppy! Made by hand using loom-woven silk and ecru linen, these bags are lined with water-resistant material and perfect for puppy and you.

Score!

2008-08-04T09:38:00.003-05:00

People! I'm so incredibly excited about this print I bought at the Uptown Art Fair yesterday. I spent a couple hours there on Sunday afternoon looking for dog inspired art, and to my surprise, I actually found quite a few different artists who I'll post about this week.

This is a Dolan Geiman print that I saw and immediately had to have. I spent $150 dollars for it (there goes that floor lamp I need from Pottery Barn), and I couldn't be happier. I just love it! In fact, I was so excited about my purchase yesterday that I probably took it out of the bubble wrapped bag at least 4 times to show different people I met on my walk home.

Dan says that for every piece of dog art that goes up in our house, one must come down, or we'll end up being those crazy dog people that live down the street. I'm thinking I'll just have to rotate the artwork, maybe every 6 months or so, because this is getting dangerous...

Light Me Up

2008-08-01T09:54:00.006-05:00

Our house has plenty of natural light, thanks to all the windows and the loft design, but it always seem like at night we just don't have enough.

I've been looking desparately for some better light fixtures, but just can't seem to find what I want at the right price. We really need some floor lamps and those seem to be very hard to come by, unless I go to Pottery Barn and spend $150.00 on one. And I need more than one, try two or three. I may just have to break down and pay the price at some point, but right now I'm still trying to find myself a deal.

I absolutely adore this Le Chien Table Lamp from Ballard Designs. It's out of stock right now, otherwise I'd be out, oh, I don't know, at least a couple hundred dollars. I'd be willing to splurge on this one!

Saved By A Golden Retriever

2008-07-31T11:43:00.003-05:00

Have to post this...

Just when you think you've seen it all, a dog goes out and saves three little baby tigers, abandonded by their birth mother. Read the whole article here.

The Bow Haus

2008-07-31T10:40:00.005-05:00

Dan and I have had our dogs together for 4 years, and in all this time, I've never been forced to end a phone conversation because of their barking... until yesterday. We came home last night and were welcomed as usual by two very hyper and excited hounds. It's the same homecoming we get every time: they greet us at the door, jump up and down and do circles around our legs, and then they run off into the living room and wrestle with each other, as if trying to show us all the energy they've saved up for our return.

Last night I made the mistake of answering a phone call from my mother while the boys were dutifully at each others throats. Usually they'll play around like this for a couple of minutes or so and then get tired, but yesterday their fight kept escalating, and their growling and barking at each other became so loud that I finally had to tell my mom I couldn't hear a thing she was saying and I'd call her back.

What I should have said is this: "Hold on a second mom... Boys, go to your room! Haven't I told you to be quiet when mommy's on the phone?"

One of my readers sent me a link to her own pet furniture company Den Haus in Seattle, Washington. I love the collection, especially the Bow Haus, and wanted to share it with you. This pet crate is designed to double as a stylish den for your pet and a functional piece of high end modern furniture. Having pets doesn't mean your house has to go to the dogs! With furniture from Den Haus you can keep your home in style and your dog happy.

Morkie On The Rocks

2008-07-30T12:00:00.015-05:00

Daniel and I rode our bikes over to the Lake Harriet Bandshell last night to see a Neil Diamond Tribute Show by Karl Commers. Yes, you read that right! I am a huge Neil Diamond fan, whether it's hip to be one or not. I grew up listening to him every day and I think his music is the only reason why my mother survived her first 10 years as an immigrant and her rather tumultous marriage to my father.

2 years ago my mom and I got tickets to see Neil at the Target Center, and I'm not ashamed to say that it was one of the best shows I've seen. Yes he's cheesy, yes he wears sequin suits, yes he's popular with a much older crowd... but he's GOOD! And I can't help but be a fan.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get tickets to the Neil Diamond show at the Excel Center a couple of weeks ago, so when I found out about this tribute show yesterday, there was no way I was going to miss it. I packed a picnic, a bottle of wine (should have packed two, Dan cashed the first one 15 minutes into the show) and a throw blanket, grabbed Daniel, and despite some hesitation, left the dogs at home. We don't have a doggie carrier for our bikes yet, so we would have had to drive in order to bring the boys along. Parking can be pretty tough around Lake Harriet, and I'm not even sure Gus and Charly would have been able to appreciate the concert.

Plenty of other people brought their dogs though. After a couple of songs and plenty of wine, Dan was limber enough to approach our neighbors about their friends. He found out that all three of their little dogs were designer breeds. One was called a Morkie (a Maltese Yorkie Cross), the other a Shih-Poo (you guessed it, a Shih Tzu Poodle Cross), and the third was a Whoodle (a Wheaton Terrier Poodle Cross).

I've found myself questioning Charly's identity several times. We know Gus is a mutt, some sort of Pit Bull mix. But Charly has papers and they say he's a Pure Bred Miniature Schnauzer. Yet he looks pretty different from most Schnauzers I've met. He's quite a bit bigger and has incredibly soft fur. I've had people tell me he must be a Schnoodle (Miniature Schnauzer Poodle Cross), but to be quite honest, Dan and I think he's a Schnau Wok. That's a Miniature Schnauzer crossed with an Ewok. If only he were a true Mini Schnau, I could have fit him in this awesome Pet Pack Carrier and biked over to the concert with him on my back.

Post Script: First person to name the Neil Diamond song in my title gets a free Neil Diamond i-Tunes download. Come on, you know you want it!

Leave It To The Japanese

2008-07-29T08:50:00.012-05:00

Dan has to take Gus to the Vet this afternoon. We share a car that I generally get to drive to work, while Daniel takes the bus, so today he kept the car and dropped me off downtown, and I get the pleasure of busing home.

We left this morning at 8, and we took the boys with us, since they love car rides. You should have seen the commotion as they wrestled each other for shotgun. It was so funny. Poor little Charly just got trampled by Gus, and then had a difficult time making the jump into the car, so Daniel had to give him a little boost.

It's interesting how different Charly and Gus are in the car. Gus wanders all over the place. He paces back and forth, settles down only for a few minutes to rest his head on the the front arm rest, then gets back up and takes Charly's spot, then moves over to the window, and then finally lies down lengthwise taking over the entire back seat, and leaving his brother with less than a foot of room.

Charly on the other hand hops into the car, sits right down, and stays in the same place the entire ride, unless Gus makes him move. And no matter what, Charly always sits sideways, so that one side of his body is pushed up against the back seat. He seems to love the vibrations from the moving car, somehow they're comforting to him.

I think part of the reason why our dogs love car rides so much is because usually when they they get in the car it means they're going somewhere fun, most likely to a dog park, or better yet, grandma's house. I'm pretty sure they were disappointed today, when they realized they were just taking me to work.

Check out this 2005 dog friendly car concept from Honda Japan! The W.O.W. (Wonderful Openhearted Wagon) has a special crate for dogs in the glove compartment and a bigger crate pops up from the floor in the back seat area and can be folded back into the floor when it's not needed. For even bigger dogs, just buckle them up with a special seat belt to the floor. The W.O.W. even comes with removable, washable, rollout flooring and stain resistant fabric seats. What can I say... Bow Wow!!!

Sugarbush Squirrel Does It Again

2008-07-28T09:56:00.003-05:00

I write this blog for fun, and I try not to worry about my traffic too much, but sometimes I like to check out the numbers. Google analytics allows me to track how many people view my site each day, where they're coming from, how much time they're spending on the blog, and what pages they're reading.

One of the most useful analytic tools is the traffice sources tool, which lets me see how my visitors are finding House and Hound online. Some of my traffic is direct, but most of it is from referring sites or search engines.

Daniel checked my House and Hound analytics last night and found some hilarious information. Turns out that the most common google search query leading to House and Hound are the words "sexy firefighter". 15 people have wound up on my site looking for hot male bods, only to find this! In fact, if you search the words "sexy firefighter" on google, House and Hound comes up 6th!!!

Love these boxers from The Gap! Just bought Dan several pairs. He'll love me for it...

Triple Espresso

2008-07-25T14:54:00.005-05:00

Ever feel like you have way too much going on, and you want to be everywhere at once, but you can't? I feel that way today. I've been watching the Aquatennial Tennis Tournament for the past weeks, trying to catch an hour or two of tennis and get some work done at the same time. The final matches were played today and I had to watch the women's singles championship, even though my conscious kept telling me to get back to work.

Tonight a friend of mine has an art opening, but we've also been invited to dinner at Dan's sister's house. I'll be at the American Textile Center right as the doors open at 6pm, and I'll head over to Naomi's half an hour later.

There's another event this evening that I really wish I could go to, but it's hard enough to be at two places at the same time, let alone three. Corazon, a stationary and gift shop is opening their new dowtown minneapolis store, and hosting a semi-regular Dog Party! There will be dogs (bring your own!), food, music, and fun. The party starts at 5 and goes till 8pm.

Homecoming

2008-07-24T11:38:00.005-05:00

I picked up my boys yesterday. They'd been at my mom's house since Monday afternoon, and I can't describe to you how terribly we missed them, and how incredibly excited I was to take them back home with me. I practically sprinted out of my German class at 8:30 last night, and had to try my very hardest not to speed down I-94 at 75 miles and hour. I tend to have a lead foot, and I've spent the past year and a half battling my speed demon. Gus and Charly were, as usual, happy to see me, and not at all reluctant to hop into my car for their shuttle ride home.

I like this very modern pillow design from Lila Paws at Luxury Pet Department. Add some pup style to any black and white interior, without taking the edge off.

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

2008-07-23T09:07:00.006-05:00

Dan's mom read my post yesterday and promptly sent me this article from the New York Times, published in 1999. Seems like this dilemma has been around for a long time: After the Breakup, Here Comes the Joint-Custody Pet.

I also had a House and Hound reader leave a very thoughtful comment about yesterday's post. Apparently, there's a company called Flex Petz that provides a unique alternative to full time dog ownership by allowing people to "rent" a dog instead. A monthly membership of $99 dollars a month allows you to take out a "Flex Pet" dog for $45.00 a day. The dogs live with one primary caregiver but go out on daily adventures with Flex Pet members. It's an interesting concept, and I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it. You'll have to give me some time to mull it over.

Actually, I'm not exactly sure how I feel about my Puppy Pool concept either. It's different than Flex Petz, in that a dog is actually adopted and "shared" by only two primary caregivers, who have each agreed to provide a safe, stable, and consistent environment for the animal. The tough part about this arrangement is that how do you get two potential strangers to actually commit to each other and a dog? Maybe a service is needed to match people up with compatible partners? Maybe it would never work?

Check out these really cool Paper Foldable Dogs. Print this template out and assemble your own pink mini dog. Kind of fun!

Cooperation

2008-07-22T11:30:00.001-05:00

I was thinking the other day about the dogs and the shared custody agreement we have with my mom. Basically, the dogs get shuttled back and forth between our house in Minneapolis, and my mom's house in Saint Paul. Every three or four days, she'll come pick them up if she's in the neighborhood, or we'll drop them off on our way to an event on the othe side of the river.

This arrangement works wonders for us, since it gives us some flexibility in our schedules. If we've got a softball game after work and can't make it home until later in the evening, usually my mom can help us out with the dogs, so they aren't home alone too long. She'll bring them over to her house, and they'll sleep over there for a couple of days, until the next time we're in her neighborhood and can pick them up.

We never last too long without the dogs, and they usually stay with grandma for two days max., if we can help it. By that time we're missing them so much that we need an immediate puppy love transfusion. The dogs seem to enjoy these weekly visits to grandma's house, where they get walked 6 or 7 times a day and get fed lots of treats. When they come back to us they're always dog tired, and happy for the four or five days they get off from their workout.

I asked Dan on Saturday if he thought it would be possible to create some sort of Puppy Pool adoption center, where families adopt dogs and sign a dual custody aggreement. Would more people be willing to adopt a puppy if they could share him? I know so many people who won't adopt a dog only because they wouldn't know what to do him if they had to go out of town or on vacation. Bording kennels and petsitters can be expensive, and so are dog walkers, veterinarians, and groomers. If two families could share these expenses, schedule their vacations around one another, and shuttle their pets back and forth, would it work?

I love this poster from Linnea Designs. With gas prices as high as they are, and getting higher, Dan and I are biking and busing a lot more than we ever have. It would be wonderful if we could take our dogs on the bus or lightrail when we're shuttling the dogs around town.

Paris Apartment for Rent

2008-07-21T11:24:00.003-05:00

Hello Readers!

I had a friend ask me to post a short ad. for her Paris apartment that she is trying to rent. If you're looking for a great place to stay while visiting Paris, check this out:

Everything you need! 1 bedroom (double bed), one bathroom (shower), living room with american fully furnished kitchen and all its utensils! Very cozy apartment on the last floor of an old high end Parisian type buildings, with elevator, concierge and extremely charming. Flat TV & sorround system to watch good movies when back from discovering exciting Paris. Wifi free access, towels, bed linen... you will just feel at home!

About the location: On Boulevard Montparnasse, 10-15 minutes walk to the Champ de Mars (Tour Eiffel gardens), 5 minute walk to Invalides.. 15 minute walk to the famous Saint Germain area where you find lots of restaurants and bars... close to Luxembourg gardens as well... really, you will only need to get on the metro to go to Sacre Coeur or to Versailles! Other than that, everything is walking distance from the apartment!

Contact: Andrea at andreafeinberg@hotmail.com

Tel: 0033621067039
Price: 800
Currency: EUR
Term: Weekly Rental
Rooms: 1
Surface area: 37
Features:- Furnished- Equipped- Near Metro- Sunny- Elevator- American Kitchen- Digicode- Interphone
City: Paris
Closest métro: Duroc
Métro line: 10
Arrondissement: 6ème
Post code: 75006

Me and My Not So Green Thumb

2008-07-21T09:28:00.011-05:00

A tragedy happened in our garden this weekend, as I thoughtlessly plucked off all the flowers on the tomato plants that Daniel and I have been raising since spring. Somehow I got it into my head that in order for the plants to focus on the fruit, I had to pick off the flowers. But what I didn't know then is that tomato plants flower first, and then the fruit begins to appear from underneath the flowers. So basically I killed about 25 tomatoes this weekend, and Daniel will never let me near them again.

My inexperienced gardening got me to thinking about the plants we have at home, and I decided to do some research. Some plants can be very harmful to animals, and I wanted to make sure that it was safe for Gus and Charly to be around our house plants.

So here's an abbreviated list of some common garden and household plants that can be poisonous to your pet. There are over 700 plants that can be toxic to pets, but I've decided to cover just a few. How could I possibly list them all.

Let's start with the 10 most common poisonous plants:

Marijuana – Animals who attempt to snack on this plant can suffer serious consequences such as diarrhea, vomiting, increased heart rate, drooling, in-coordination, and even possibly seizures and coma.

Sago Palm – While the seeds and nuts of this plant are most poisonous, the entire plant is toxic. Animals ingesting parts of this plant may suffer from diarrhea, vomiting, depression, seizures and liver failure.

Lilies – Plants of the lily variety are very poisonous to cats. Even very small amounts of this plant could cause serious kidney damage.

Tulips – The toxic portion of this plant is the actual bulb, which can cause drooling, central nervous system depression, gastrointestinal irritation, cardiac issues and convulsions.

Azalea – The toxins in azalea plants can be very severe and potentially cause drooling, diarrhea, vomiting, central nervous system weakening and depression, and in some cases possibly coma or death.

Oleander – All portions of this plant are poisonous and can cause gastrointestinal irritation, hypothermia, heart problems and possibly death.

Castor Bean – Poisoning as a result of this plant can cause abdominal pain, drooling, diarrhea, vomiting increased thirst, loss of appetite and weakness. More serious cases could also lead to dehydration, tremors, seizures, twitching muscles, coma and possibly death.

Cyclamen – The most poisonous portion of this plant is located in the root. Ingestion of the plant can cause severe vomiting and gastrointestinal irritation. In some cases death has been reported as a result.

Kalanchoe – Ingestion of this plant can cause gastrointestinal irritation and cardiac rhythm and rate problems.

Yew – Poisoning as a result of the yew plant can affect the nervous system and cause in-coordination, trembling and breathing difficulties. It may also result in gastrointestinal irritation, cardiac failure and could possibly lead to death.

The following are various other plants and flowers that could be harmful to your pets. It's impossible to list them all, so the best thing to do when planning a garden or buying household plants is to consult a veterinarian or the internet for more information about each plant. Check out the ASPCA website for a complete listing of toxic plants.

And when you're done reading through that exhausting list, head on over to Bloomsbury Market in Minneapolis where you can find these adorable Mind The Dog garden signs (pictured above). They're just perfect!

Bulbs: Daffodil, Lily, Hyacinth, Gladiolas, Iris, Tulip, Buttercup.

Ferns: Asparagus Fern Australian Nut, Emerald Fern, Lace Fern, Plumosa Fern.

Flowering Plants: Cyclamen, Hydrangea, Poinsettia.

Garden Perennials: Tomato Plant, Onion, Marijuana, Rhubarb.

House Plants: Cut Leaf Philodendron, Chinese Evergreen, Devil's Ivy, Folden Pothos, Nephthytis, Caladium.

Shrubs: Cycads, Heavenly Bamboo, Holly, Mistletoe, Oleaner, Rhododendron.

Succulents: Aloe.

Trees: Avodado, Buddist Pine, Japanese Yew, Macademia Nut.

Vines: Branching Ivy, English Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy.

Misc/Uncategorized: Andromeda, Azalea, Calla Lily, Castor Bean.

Baby Babble

2008-07-18T08:46:00.007-05:00

This week has come and gone so fast. It seems like ever since we came back from Yosemite life's been hitting us on at full speed, and we've frankly been struggling to keep up. Dan's been incredibly busy trying to finish up an NSF grant proposal that's due today, and I've been drawing furniture plans all week for some upcoming large scale projects we're getting ready for here at the City.

I think we're both desparately looking forward to the weekend, which somehow we've managed to keep for ourselves, except for a Brit Milah we are attending on Saturday morning. One of Dan's colleagues and his wife had a baby boy last week, and they are welcoming him into this world in the Jewish tradition, with a Bris, a naming ceremony, and a celebratory brunch.

Two Trick Pony is a small paper studio that specializes in eco-modern stationary and notecards. All their products are screenprinted by hand on recycled materials using earth friendly inks. I love these baby announcement cards. Makes me want to have a baby, just so I can send these out to all my friends!

Billy Goat Gruff

2008-07-17T09:22:00.003-05:00

All over the country, people and pets are feeling the effects of our nation's housing crisis and the pain of home foreclosures. An article in today's Star Tribune describes how animal shelters are overflowing with displaced pets from home and farm foreclosures. Dogs and cats are living side by side with pot bellied pigs and billy goats. Thousands of new pets are entering the adoption system each month, and shelters are struggling to provide food and care for each one.

Yet another reason why drastic measures are needed to revamp foreclosure laws.

Bow Wow Trivia

2008-07-16T08:35:00.004-05:00

Dan's mom sent me this link yesterday and I'm posting it on my blog because I think it's a great way to make a difference, without exerting yourself too much. Click on the Free Kibble banner above and you'll get sent to the Free Kibble website where you can play Bow Wow Trivia! Right or wrong, you win! All you have to do is click on an answer, and every day you do, Free Kibble will provide 20 pieces of kibble to animal shelters around the country to help feed hungry dogs.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

2008-07-15T12:14:00.012-05:00

Daniel and I are on a summer softball team with CSC Sports in Minneapolis. We've been playing with the Gold Gloves for the past four years, and although it's always been fun, this year's team is by far the best, even if we've only won one game out of the five we've played.

Yesterday was a nailbiter of a match up. We started off strong, with 4 runs in the first inning, and we held the other team down to zero up until the bottom of the fourth, when a couple of unforced errors in our infield and some lousy calls from the ref. gave our opponents a 4 run lead. In the fifth inning, we scored another couple of runs only to lose two more to them in the sixth.

So at the bottom of the sixth inning we are down 4 points and we somehow have the bases loaded for Daniel who is up to bat. As he steps up to the plate I see that the next team to play has arrived at our field and they've brought their dogs along for the game. There are 4 dogs in all, and of course I can't help myself and immediately walk over to say hello.

I'm obsessing over a really stunning Bull Dog when I hear the crack of the bat and my whole team yelling and shouting. I turn around to see all three runners and Daniel sprinting around the bases, and it appears that Daniel has hit the ball pretty hard, because all the runners make it home. So of course I miss his stunning Grand Slam and the best hit all season, because I'm playing with Vinny the Bull Dog, instead of cheering on my team...

Unfortunately we gave up another four runs in the top of the seventh and were only able to produce three in the bottom, for a final score of 13 to 14, and we lost the game by one lousy point.

But folks, it was a close one, and a lot of fun.

This toy box from Zanies is functional and super cute. Not sure if it's big enough though to hold all of our balls, frisbees, dogs toys, bones, etc.

Bikers, You've Been Warned

2008-07-14T14:16:00.012-05:00

I've been so busy the past couple of weeks that I've been forced to miss several days of blogging. I've been very consistent since I started this blog two and a half months ago, posting every single weekday, and taking the weekends off to refuel. I never really thought that I'd actually keep blogging for more than a week or two. I mean, how could I possibly think up so many dog stories, and if I did, how could I keep pretending to be a perfectly normal person, unfazed by the adorableness of puppies. It would be impossible.

Yet here I am, and this is my 58th post of the year. Woot!

Daniel and I biked out to Hopkins yesterday with some friends. We caught the Greenway and rode it all the way into downtown Hopkins, where a friend of mine from high school was participating in a semi-professional bike race. The ride out there was fairly uncomplicated, except for the 20 mile an hour headwinds, and a near collision with another bicyclist, who got distracted by a very cute Jack Russel puppy in a stroller, and rode straight through a stop sign, almost knocking Daniel over and causing a pile up.

Riders, take note, cute puppies are irresistable, and you must stop your bike if you are going to ooh and aah over them. Merely turning your head around backwards and losing sight of the road in front of you is dangerous!

I saw these cards for sale on Etsy a while ago and have wanted to feature them here since. They're made by Angela from Paper Menagerie, and inspired by her own Jack Russel Terrier, Chesney. The "dog pun" here seems particularily appropriate.

Europa Europa

2008-07-11T08:38:00.005-05:00

My little brother got married in January this year. It was a beautiful winter wedding, complete with cold weather, snow, and the love of family and friends. Winter weddings are under rated. There's something about the season that is incredibly romantic and special. Unless it's 20 below zero. B and A lucked out with a high of 9 above.

Today's feature product is a travel wallet I found from Juicy Couture. My brother and sister in-law decided to postpone their honeymoon because of their busy winter schedules, and planned a summer trip instead. Yesterday they returned from a 3 week tour of Europe. I'm looking forward to hearing all about their trip.