Our Kong Recipe: Happy Belly

{ *Winner of the 2012 Kong Recipe Contest* }

1/3 of a can cooked pumpkin

1/2 apple shredded (no seeds)

2 pinches ground flaxseed

liquid from a can of salmon
(or other meat broth)

stir ingredients. stuff kong. refrigerate leftovers for later stuffing.

nutritious ingredients, and pumpkin is excellent for digestion. happy belly!

Oregon Woods Sense

I am from Oregon. The west of the state is lush North American rainforest. It begins along the sea, and further dips into the richly forested valley where I grew up. On the coast and in the valley, months can go by without a break from the rain, thick fog, and mists that blanket the area. The further east you travel, the dryer the forests become. The flora and fauna do not lessen, but the east is more of a desert of dry pines and dusty hard ground, with clear lakes and beautiful sunsets. The smell of both types of Oregon woods are siren songs to those who love the outdoors. As a kid when I wasn't in school (even during breaks), I was outside. Hiking trails began everywhere in Oregon, and to me were merely reference points to greater adventures. I spent long days exploring with my dog Cinnamon.

These days, I still go hiking but I am now further North, and the forest isn't as wet. I plan a bit more before I set out, and getting to a trail does require a car, which thankfully I have. Miles loves to be in the woods. He is like me. He feels at home in the city and the woods alike. Neither of us are much for large bodies of water, or for city buses, but in the woods, we relax. Since I picked up Miles, I've always been on the lookout for cool gear. As far as hiking with a dog goes, I like Ruffwear. Ruffwear is a company from Oregon that designs outdoor gear for dogs. Due to the experience their location has provided, they really know their stuff. My pick of their gear is their Web Master Harness, which Miles takes in an XS. It is a excellently designed, perfect fitting dog handle. If Miles is faced with an impediment while hiking, I can easily grab the handle on his back, lift him up and over the obstacle. When other hikers come around with less friendly dogs, I can elevate Miles to safety as if he is a furry briefcase, and we move on. When Miles is old and has trouble getting into the car or up stairs, I know this will come in handy. But for now, we are all about heading into the wilderness of the west coast and exploring until we can go to bed satisfied, the scent of trees and moss and ferns still fresh in our noses...

{ Above: a dog handle, great for hiking explorations.

Below: making our way back to the city, for now.  }

The Same Day, 3 Years Apart

{  Miles and my Dad  }

{  Miles and my Mum  }

{  If you feed and love them, they will grow  }

I am so lucky to have been born into a family who respect and support me for who I am. In our own ways, Miles and I have much in common. We both can be frustratingly immune to conventional methods of training, and we each have ways that can be difficult to understand. Too often people grow impatient and fold at the urge to try to forcibly reshape that which is unfamiliar, whether it be a dog or another person. Many creatures seem to wither at attempts to buckle or to tame, but can flourish and grow if given respect and understanding. Those who have touched our lives who believe in wild things... Well, I think I can speak for both of us, dog and girl, when I say you have our deepest respect.

{  Dedicated to Nana  }

Watch Out for Foxtails!

In a article published in the 2010 summer issue of The Bark, veterinarian Nancy Kay warned dog owners about the dangers of foxtails, especially in summer and late summer/fall months. In North America, this is the season for foxtail troubles. Foxtails are the top of grass stalks that distribute the seeds of the plant. Late in the summer, they grow dry and brittle, and their little sharp "paper airplane" shaped seed pods are primed to burrow wherever they can. Foxtails are irritating to people, as they burrow into clothing and hair and are very itchy. But they are even more of a nuisance and health hazard for dogs. Foxtails are easily caught in dog fur, and can burrow into the skin if left undetected. They can also easily make their way into a dog's body through the nose, mouth and other exposed vulnerable areas. To make matters worse, once the are burrowed internally, they do not break down.

So, what can you do to prevent such problems? Obviously avoid fields of foxtails, and when clearing dry foxtail-covered grass from your backyard, don't just mow the grass down -- rake trimmings up too and dispose of them. Keep areas around your dog's paw pads nicely trimmed so that you can see if anything is stuck in them. For more tips and information, check out the following articles:

Nancy Kay, The Bark: Protecting your dog from Foxtails

Emily Green, L.A. Times: Worst weeds for dogs? Foxtails are just a start

Wikipedia: Description of Foxtails

Emma's Summer Tips for Dog People

Dog-proof your BBQ by wrapping it with an old puppy pen. Prevents those annoying beard burns, and mysteriously disappearing burger buns.

If it tends to cool off at night in your area, enjoy some nighttime walks. Why not take pooch out on a Friday night?!

When venturing out in hot weather, don't just remember to bring water. Remember to bring their favorite water holder (I am rolling my eyes at this -- but really). Many dogs can get finicky about where they get their water, especially if they are hot, tired, and GRUMPY. Miles likes his Gulpy water bottle. It is fully grump-proof.

Cool your hotdog off by providing him or her with a backyard kiddie pool. If your dog isn't crazy about water (Miles used to be a total water weenie) try tossing his or her favorite ball or toy into the shallow pool. The picture of one year old Miles above is proof that this supremely advanced training technique really works.

Talk to other dog owners if you are looking for a water park to take your dog to. Other dog owners often have great tips on which areas are and are not safe this year. I don't go often with Miles but when I do, I bathe him afterwards. He quite enjoys wading around. No dunking through. He is not a toy for human amusement, okay?

Take advantage of local air-conditioned and pet-friendly businesses, such as book stores. Miles gets tired just by standing next to Stephen Hawking books... And in this photo, the addition of Dr. Joe's Brain Sparks (whatever that is) isn't helping either.

Equip your dog with a top-notch spiffy cooling jacket. Miles' Chillybuddy is fantastic on warm day excursions. Plus when curious people ask, I can explain to them that he is a NASA dog in training. Makes "roll over" look pretty weak, doesn't it?

Better yet? Walk your cooling-jacket equipped dog into a nice cold beer store. He or she won't mind if you take forever to pick the right one.

...And last of all? Just because your dog shouldn't drink beer doesn't mean he or she won't enjoy hanging out in front of the tv with a nice cold one. Sleeping cool & happy dog = instant beer-holder. Talk about "dogs with jobs," huh?

Hot Day, Chilly Buddy

{ Chillybuddy cooling jackets appeared to be the gear of choice at the 2012 Canadian

Agility National Championships among canine competitors -- and a human or two }

Recently as a spectator at the Canadian Agility Nationals, I got to watch athletic dogs and people deal with sweltering heat while participating in vigorous outdoor sports. We all know how prone dogs are to overheating, so protection is always a great concern for dog owners. I noticed that a lot of the canine competitors at Nationals were wearing Chillybuddy cooling jackets (above). This interested me because I had just gotten one for Miles, but we had yet to try it out. It is always reassuring to see the professionals using sports gear with obvious good results.

Last weekend I put on his new Chillybuddy cooling jacket, and ventured out in the heat with Miles. In the daytime. For the first time on such a walk he did not flop down once, which is his normal routine when outside in warm weather (photo reference here). "Emma, I am dying, why are you punishing me this way (FLOP) Fetch the chariot, stat!" Not this time. We were actually able to go for a nice hot weather walk! In comfort! We also got a lot of compliments on the space-age look of the jacket, which is due to the sun-reflecting aluminum material that the shell is made from. The inside is lined with a webbed cotton that can additionally be dipped in water to up the cooling power of the airflow the jacket creates.

The airflow inside the jacket seemed to feel particularly good on the car ride home with the window open... Ahh nice cool breeze!

{{  Miles Smiles  }}

Thanks Chillybuddy!

** Update: I officially am in love with this jacket. It really, really works. Miles can and will go out with me during the day now. It can be purchased with free shipping worldwide at Clean Run. As a reference point, a Welsh terrier like Miles fits a size XS.

The Canadian Agility Nationals with Peggy & Dylan

Canadian Agility National Championship 2012

(click here for a panoramic view of the grounds)

Nanaimo, British Columbia

The logo of this year's Canadian Agility Nationals reflected the island location of the event.

A week ago I traveled by car and boat to cheer on my good friends (and idols!) Peggy McCallum and her 9-year old Welsh terrier Dylan. Peggy is a wonderful dog owner and handler. I look up to her very, very much. Dylan really has a unique personality. He is a very intense and serious little guy. Very focused on the task at hand, a true athlete. Dylan has a multitude of titles to his full name:

U-CDX Darwyn Hotspur CDX, RX, AgX, AgXJ, MADC, MJDC, AGDC, ISDs, RL3, CRN MCL, JE, CGN

(Titles are explained on his webpage)

The competitors were provided with a large area to set up their tents, where they could rest in between events.

I had the great honor of parking my chair under Peggy and Dylan's tent. The buddies she shared her area with were so friendly and welcoming, and gave me lots of agility training tips. I am so thankful for their generosity and for the experience.

Reggie (above) Peg's Airedale girl was there too cheer her family on.

"Is anyone listening here? Competitors need extra fuel." - Dylan

It was scorching hot outside, so Dylan got a hose-down before and after each event.

Cooled off, and ready to run. The bond between Dylan and Peggy is amazing to watch.

Peggy and Dylan stayed cool while they waited for their turn to run. What a cute team.

Dylan's comfort was of utmost importance; which is hard for a Welsh terrier in such heat!

Go Peggy & Dylan!

Dylan makes weaving with such a small muscular body look effortless. He is precise and focused.

Matching movements of handler and dog.

Not only is he a considerable dog sports athlete, Dylan also happens to be quite cute...

It is very clear that Peggy places her bond with Dylan above all else. Tensions can get high at such a intense event, and it was inspiring to observe someone who was able to balance all that comes with competing at the National level.

Dylan, the hero.

Always smiling, despite the heat and three vigorous runs!

The dream team. Reggie, Dylan, and Peggy.

No #3's here.