Recipe For Pumpkin Dog Treats

With all the delicious ways we are enjoying pumpkin this month, I thought our dog Chewie would love a pumpkin treat, too.

I love making him treats, and look for recipes that are quick and easy. These smell great, and make about eighteen biscuits, depending on how large a cookie cutter you use.

If your dog is like Chewie, he will adore these, and think you are fabulous for making them.

A new kitty in the family...

This weekend the littlest sister in our family, Megan, got this sweet little kitten. 

He is just 10 weeks old and is the sweetest, tiniest little thing.

She has decided to name him Mango :) 

We spent all day watching him explore his new environment, try out his new toys and just be.

That and watched my children pick him up, put him down and carry him around like a baby about a hundred times!

Everyone is a sucker for a new kitten, and we are no exception.

Sacramento Kennel Club Dog Show 2013

Sunday morning we attended the Sacramento Kennel Club Dog Show. I was so glad we were able to make it on the last day. My son had so much fun last year I knew this year he would be delighted to go. We were watching Good Day Sacramento on tv with a morning cup of coffee and saw the preview of the Dog Show. My son was so happy and asked to go so we jumped in the car and drove down to Sacramento.

I am happy we went! My son adores dogs, he always asks people at parks if he can pet their dog. He gets the biggest smile on his face. Since we moved and had to find a new home for our dog ( you can red the story about that here) my son has asked about our dog a lot, he still calls her his dog and when he sees a black lab he yells her name. It breaks my heart! I knew he would love to see all the dogs at the show.

He was so excited for all the different dog breeds. He asked what kind they were and what their names were. He got many dog kisses lol which for him was awesome! He got to shake some paws, give a few high fives and petted so many dogs he could not stop smiling.

Last year his favorite dog was a Great Dane named Patrick. This year we met the sweetest, mellow dog I have ever met, Anya. She is an Anatolian dog that originates from Turkey. Anya's owners were just as sweet as she is! They let my son pet her, shake her hand, look in her mouth at all her teeth, mess with her paws, touch her tail and the dog even laid down to get belly rubs! My son did not want to leave the dog. The owners live and breed the dogs on Rare Breed Ranch in Northern CA. It was nice to meet breeders that were from Cali.

Anya the Anatolian dog. She is so mellow!! 

Another Dog from the Rare Breed Ranch, Boris 

He did a few crying fits since after all he is 3 1/2, he wanted to get in the ring with the dogs. He put his little hands on the gate to watch as close as he could without getting in there and a volunteer came over and told him dont touch the fencing and gave me a look. He loves dogs he cant help it! :)

My son took this picture. He wanted to pet them then take a pic lol

He cried again when he could not pet EVERY dog he saw. The poor kid would have stayed all day petting dogs if I let him. We were there a few hours and when we left he asked me pretty please can we go back. I am glad he had so much fun. I am hoping by next year he will have his own dog to go home to.

Taking more pictures of the dogs in the ring that he could not pet

* We were guests of the Sacramento Dog Show and received tickets to enter. This is a non paid post.

The Heart of Strangers: Saving Our Dog

This last year has been filled with rough times and other times filled with joy. One of the rough parts was finding out the home we had been renting for over 3 years was going into foreclosure and we had 30 days to move. After the shock, tears and anger of why someone we knew as a friend would let this happen that our rent was not going to where it should have been, the bank! (That is another story in it self lol)

We went into survival mode of where are we going to move to and can we find a spot in such short notice that would fit our needs, including our loving dog Dakota. She is a big black lab and many places we found had weight limit restrictions. As the time grew closer to the day we had to leave we started to panic. We found no rentals that would allow us to have a pet of her size. We started to post ads about our dog needing a home and why with no responses. It was about 5 days until we had to move and we cringed to think that our sweet loyal would not hurt a fly dog would have to go to the shelter. All the thoughts of her being in a cage, wondering where her family went, wondering why she was not home. The tears and sadness of wondering what would happen to our dog that was our first baby (she is 7 and our son is 3) was overwhelming on top of where on earth were myself, my husband and son going to live.

Our ads online got even more desperate in our plea for a good home to adopt our sweet dog. I did not want to look back at her many years of photos with sadness and have to explain one day to my son that the sweet pup in all the photos since the day he was born was a dog that was sent to the pound. I wanted to look at those pictures with joy of the fun times we spent with the dog and how much my son loves her and calls her his Kosha and says he loves her.

A few days before Thanksgiving we had a few people interested in meeting her. Many texts, phone calls and pictures passed but nothing ever seemed the right fit for her. When we only had 3 days until moving day we finally had a family that contacted us that seemed perfect for her. I prayed our dog would find a good home, we had found a place to move to but we could not take the dog, it seemed so sadly unfair that we would go to a new home and enjoy the joys of Christmas and she would go to a shelter. Older dogs get over looked in those places, I was so scared for her.

I messaged back and forth to a woman about Dakota how sweet she is, how happy go lucky about life she is, she adores kids, wouldnt hurt a fly, she is papered, she is crate trained, bell trained and they started to fall in love with the idea of helping her too. This family was so generous to take Dakota, they did not really have room for her they have kids and many dogs already but did not see a lab like her go to the shelter. After meeting the woman's husband when he came to meet Dakota I knew this family would treat her right and help her find a loving home. I found out the husband grew up on a farm and hunted with his own Dad with labs. He adores them and his wife knew if he heard Dakota's story and met her that he would have to save her. His wife was right! He made arrangements to come pick Dakota up the next day, only 1 day before we had to pack the moving truck and go.

When he arrived to pick up Dakota we did not let our son see her and all her stuff get packed into his truck for her to leave. I knew my son at 3 years old would be devastated and would never understand why his best friend was leaving. A good friend stayed inside with him while my husband and I walked her out to the truck with all her cute collars, dog toys, favorite bones and her crate to say good bye. When we were telling her bye, we loved her and everything would be ok my voice choked up and tears ran down my cheeks. Dakota whimpered a bit, I am sure she was wondering what on earth was going on, we are all she has know for 7 years, we were her only family she had ever had. When she was ready to go the man put his hand out to shake mine and I pulled him in to hug him and thank him with all my heart. My husband hugged him and thanked him too. He was just a stranger who came into our lives when we needed someone to care enough to help.

This family wasn't rich, they had no room to spare but they had a loving heart and sometimes thats all it takes.

They have even kept us updated over the last month about her condition. She did have a skin irritation that they paid for her to have fixed, found out she has a begin tumor that might need an operation and found her a permanent home with a loving family they selected. They sent us a picture of Dakota in her new home, she looks happy, her tail is a blurr in the picture since she is wagging it so fast. I am over joyed that this family took her in and then found her a permanent home. There are so many sad stories about animals getting left on the side of the road and abused that a good story like this with a happy ending is worth sharing. :)

Now we can look back on all the pics of her in our lives and be happy knowing she found another family that loves her in her journey of her life as a dog. 

Sacramento Cal Expo First Ever Puppy Show Oct. 13-14

Earlier in the year my family and I attended a Dog Show at Cal Expo in Sacramento CA. My son loved it! All the dogs were great and the trainers so informative and friendly. My son's favorite part was when he was able to meet a litter of Jack Russel puppies. He loves puppies, everyone loves puppies right?!? This weekend Cal Expo in Sacramento CA is hosting the First Ever Puppy Show. It will be a fun and cute time!

First-Ever Puppy Show Comes to Cal Expo

-Hundreds of puppies, pet product vendors, dog lovers and media expected to attend the first-ever Sacramento Puppy Show, hosted by the Sacramento Kennel Club-

What: The Sacramento Kennel Club, a member of the American Kennel Club (AKC), will host the inaugural Sacramento Puppy Show at Cal Expo-Saturday October 13 and Sunday, October 14^th.

A great family event, the Sacramento Puppy Show will offer pet lovers dozens of opportunities to celebrate all things dog! Bringyour pet (or even just a photo) and communicate with one of our pet psychics; let your dog run through our agility course, or watch dog agility demonstrations throughout the day; plan your dog’s birthday party, or participate in a dog wedding; enjoy AKC breed and puppy competitions; adopt a pet from area rescue groups and shelters; enter your dog in one of our fun costume contests; win fun prizes and shop some of the best pet and specialty vendors around!

This is a dog friendly event, and you won’t want to miss it!

When:                 Saturday, October 13^thopen from 9am-5pm

Sunday, October 14^th open from 10am-4pm

Where:               Cal Expo, Building C

                                    1600 Exposition Blvd.

                                    Sacramento, CA 95815

Dog Wedding, 10/13:

Event highlights include a dog wedding where pet owners can let two dogs get hitched at a wedding. Participants will receive the wedding ceremony, a puptual photo, and goodie bag. The dog wedding will take place on Saturday, October 13^th at 1pm.

Dog Costume Contest, 10/14:

Additionally, and just in time for Halloween, a dog costume contest will be held in three categories- best dog/owner team or best group costume; most original; and best celebrity look-a-like costume. Register at the show, beginning at 12:00. The contest will begin at 1:00 sharp.   

                          

Schedule:            Saturday, October 13^th

                           11am- Puppy Competition

                           1pm- Dog Wedding

                           3pm- Adult Dog Competition

                           Sunday, October 14^th

                           11am- AKC Puppy Match

                           1pm- Costume Contest

                           3pm- AKC Adult Dog Match   

Shopping, dog agility demonstrations and an open course, birthday party planning, giveaways, games, adoptions and psychic readings will be available all day,every day.

Cost:                   $5 Advance Tickets Online

$10 Event Tickets at the Door

                           $8.50 Seniors (60+) & Juniors (13-18)

Children under 12 are well behaved, leashed dogs are free.

For complete event, competition and ticket information, visit www.SacramentoPuppyShow.com and ‘like’ us at www.facebook.com/CalExpoDogShow or follow our tweets @CalExpoDogShow.

A Boy and his Dog

My son and his best pal "Kosha" are so sweet! They play ball, fetch, chase and even both listen to dog commands lol. It seems when my son is playing that he is a dog he actually listens! HA if this method would work in the grocery store I would be set. Our lab is the most gentle, tolerant and well behaved dog I have ever met. These two are inseparable and I think its awesome he has been able to grown up having a dog since the day he was born. Reminds me of Bobby and Ladybird from King of the Hill and oddly dog dancing might be in the future. Leave a comment if you know which episode I am talking about. lol

Creating Memories and Saving Money Equestrian Clearance

As a kid we lived in Southern CA I was lucky enough to have a wonderful year that my sister and I took horse back riding lessons. I was one of those kids that if I had my own pony I would be over the moon happy. Where I would put this pony and how I would take care of it were the last things on my mind.

I loved showing up for lessons. Not only did we get to learn how to ride them we also were taught how to care for them. We were able to brush them, clean their hoofs, put on and take off all the gear and learned how to behave around them. Its an experience I will never forget. It was amazing.

So even if you dont own a horse you or your children can experience horse back riding through lessons. The main thing you need to have for horse back riding is a good pair of riding boots. Like with any sport your shoes make a big difference in the experience. I remember mine, they were so cool to me long after we stopped taking lessons. Horseback riding can be a pricey hobby to have saving money is crucial. Places like Equestrian Clearance online store can offer the lower price that is needed to enjoy horseback riding and ownership. Equestrian Clearance Riding Boots are reasonably priced for Kids, Women and Men.

Another part of the Equestrian Horse Riding experience is the gear. Its like with having a dog and getting them blankets or outfits.GFS Rugs are a horse blanket that will keep the horse dry after exercising and great for travel. When I was taking lessons when we were done we would help take off all the gear, brush the horse down and then put the blanket on the horse. It was great to be a part of such a wonderful activity.

They even carry Dog Blankets. My black lab would look dashing in the blue on they carry. They also have dog bowls, dog beds, leads collars and more at low prices.

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own and may vary from your experience.

Positive Pet Ownership Tips

I have been a dog person since I was a toddler. My mom has the cutest picture of me and our dog Snowball when I was only 4 years old. From then on I have had many dogs and as an adult a few more. There are a few things I have learned over the years about being a pet owner.

#1 Crate training is essential. 

Even if your dog is an outside dog having them be comfortable in a crate is important. I have a big dog, a black lab and we trained her as a puppy. Just recently she needed to be in her crate while construction work was being done for her own safety. 

Crate training is also a vital part of potty training early on. It will take about a week of dedication but it will pay off for you and your dog. With my dog we would have her hang out in the crate for an hour or so then take her to the back door and ring a little bell that was hanging from a string. I would ring the bell and then open the door to take her potty. After she went to the bathroom I would tell her she was good and jump around all excited. Then back in the house right away. For the first week the back yard or outside was only for potty. I did not let her play out there just yet. She would play and run around the house then into the crate for a bit. Each time she came out of the crate we would go to the back door, ring the little bell, tell her potty and go out back. We did this for a 4 day weekend we had and by the fourth day of this consistent routine she went to the door and rang her little bell and sat waiting for me. SUCCESS! To this day my dog has only peed in the house twice and she is 7 years old. Be sure when they are little to respond to the bell ringing. Even if your tired and she was just out there, say potty and take her out back. 

Without the crate being the spot she was in hanging out during training I am sure she would have found a hidden spot to pee or poo. The crate is what helped her know to wait since she did not want to pee in her own bed. 

I also want to add do not do the old fashioned "rub their nose in it" or punish a dog for a potty accident. This will create a fear driven pottier. I am not a dog expert in the slightest just have seen dogs positive attitude destroyed by the fear of needing to go. 

#2 Toys keep a dog entertained.

 Dogs just like us get bored. When you buy toys for them change them out with older toys. I buy toys for my dog when there is a sale like a holiday has passed and the toys have gone on clearance. My dog will not know a bunny or snowman is a seasonal thing. If you keep their toys on a cycle they will not get bored with them. This also works on my toddler lol

#3 Positive Praise.

Just  like kids dogs enjoy praise for things they have done good. Training is a constant for dogs, even older dogs need to be reminded that their good behavior is still appreciated. I know with my dog when she rings her bell I still cheer for her and its been almost 7 years. She still wags her tail and dances around with excited. 

#4 Learning new behaviors.

Keep training them. Dogs need to be learning new things and to practice learned skills. Starting with a dog training collars can be helpful for older dogs that may have already learned un-wanted behaviors to help correct them. My dog can sit, stay and come with hand commands. I dont have to say a word just a gesture. We still keep up the practice with little drills in the back yard. She needs to know I know she listens and is sharp with her skills. We are currently working on a new skill of high five. Its a tough one for her since I did not teach her shake or to put her paws up on people. We knew we would be starting a family in the near future when we bought our dog so we tried to teach her skills to be kid ready for when we did have children around her. 

#5 Personal space for your dog.

Dogs like alone time too. They should have a den like area even just a dog bed that would be all theirs in your own home if its outside or inside make your dog their own space. One that you dont mess with or the kids. We have a dog in our neighborhood that is always kept in the front yard on a busy street corner with a chain link fence. He barks at everything and appears to be under constant stress. He sees every one and animal that goes by and he is always on guard. He barks at cars too and its a busy street. I always say if he just had his own little house or some fencing that was not see thru he would be more mellow. 

Those are my 5 tips for a positive dog ownership. I hope you find them helpful. I am not a dog expert in anyway just a dog owner for many many years.

At a local dog show checking out the puppies

This post is brought to you as a part of the Dog Days of Summer Campaign, hosted by the folks at dog training collars. It is my hope that these tips help pet owners and their pooches have a harmonious summer.

We Attended the Cal Expo Sacramento Kennel Club Dog Show

I have always wanted to attend a dog show. As a kid I had many different breeds of dogs and loved everyone of them. My son now has inherited my love for animals and especially dogs. We watch the AKC Eukanuba National Dog Show in tv each year and we always say we need to attend one.

This year we were finally able to attend one. On Sunday we went to the Cal Expo Sacramento Kennel Club Dog Show. As soon as we got there I knew this was going to be something my son would love. He was yelling "look dog" and pointing to every dog we saw. He had a huge smile on his face. We saw many breeds of dogs we knew of like weimaraner, collies and great danes. We even met a Great Dane named Patrick. He was only 18 months old but huge. My son loved this one and so did I. He would jump in his kennel really high in the air. He attracted a large crowd of people who were just as amazed by him as we were.

Patrick the Great Dane

We were able to see all the aspects of a dog show. We saw the grooming area where the dogs were styled and brushed. (we did sneeze a bit, there was a lot of hair) but it was so cool to see a furry dog shaved into a stylish cool one. There were many vendors there selling dog accessories, food & treats and even professional dog photography. My son wanted some of the stuffed toys he saw that were for dogs and asked to try a few dog food samples. Of course I did not let him try the food, but some of it was so pure and organic I am sure it would have been great! Eukanuba was there and we were able to get a sample to take home to our black lab. All the booths were friendly and informative. The breeders we so nice too. They answered all our questions about the dogs and let my son pet their pets.

I love Beagles. I had one as a kid.

This was another favorite dog of ours. The owners were so nice. We watched him get groomed and then be in the competition.

Even kids were showing there dogs. It was great to see people all ages there.

We stayed for a few hours at the dog show. We watching the individual breed competition and watched some obedience shows in a separate building. It was great to see how much fun my son was having. He was able to pet breeds of dogs he had never seen before. They were all primped and soft but the owners always allowed someone to pet them. Everyone was so nice. There was food vendors serving all sorts of items like kettle corn, sandwiches, pretzels, tacos and even Hot Dogs! That one made me laugh a bit.

The awards for the top winning dogs.

Outside the buildings we found the cutest little puppies! My son was so excited to be able to pet them and be licked by them. He was laughing and wanted to get in the kennel with them. He was able to pet them as we talked to the owner about the family friendliness of the breed. We had a blast at the Cal Expo Dog Show. You can learn more about the Sacramento Kennel Club and the Cal Expo Dog Show on twitter and facebook.

*I was not paid for this review. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others. I was provided free ticket for my family for admission from the PR/Company that represents them.

Mr. Chewy Orijen Dog Food Review

Just like with the rest of my family I like to make sure my dog is eating enough and getting the proper nutrition. Sometimes for us on a budget it means getting my dog a base food an then adding in a higher end food. She thinks of it as a treat to get great dog food like Orijen with her normal food. Its like being able to have lobster for dinner when you normally eat chicken. She really loved the flavor and I loved the high quality ingredients. 

Orijen is a Canadian dog food brand. They select all their ingredients regionally including free range chicken and turkey and wild caught fish. Almost sounds good enough for me to try! Orijen Adult Dog Food is Biologically Appropriate. Which means "formulated to nourish dogs and cats in keeping with their evolutionary and anatomical adaptation to protein-rich diets that include a broad variety of fresh meats." Many dog foods have the first ingredient as corn or corn meal, this is not the natural main ingredient a dog would eat, they are meat eaters by nature. I love that Orijen Dog food contains no corn. My dog has refused some brands of dog food and I assumed she was picky but she is not, she just knows she likes meat!

Mr.Chewy.com carries a variety of Dog and Cat food including Orijen Adult Dog Food that can be delivered to your dog step. No more trying to get a big bag into your cart than into the house. Makes shopping for dog food super easy. With a wild two year year old and a busy schedule it can be easier to have it delivered.

 *I was not paid for our review. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others. I was provided the product mentioned in this post to review for free from the PR company that represents them.