The Adventures of Euri, the Dog

Animal Wellness Magazine

2011-06-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

Check out my mum's (that's the British version of mom) article which has been published in the June/July issue of Animal Wellness Magazine. It's about eco-friendly ways to dispose of dog poop -- you know, the stuff a lot of people don't like to pick up. A lot of people don't realize just how toxic dog poop is to the environment but my mommy explains all of that in the article.

Mommy always has a bag with her when we go for a walk but many people in our neighborhood don't curb their dogs and...well....I love to eat the stuff so it's always a challenge for mummy to keep me away from it. "Leave It" is a command I'm not fond of but I do it anyway because I'm a well behaved canine (most of the time -- except when I'm counter surfing or rummaging through the trash for leftovers). I've been really good about not eating poop ever since mommy taught me "Leave It" but it doesn't mean I don't like it anymore. ;-)

Anyway, my photo is in Animal Wellness Magazine as well. Actually I was in it last month for their April/May issue and now I'm pictured with my mommy in the June/July issue. So be sure to check out Animal Wellness. It's a great magazine for dogs (and cats) and their humans!

Vote for Me in the Cover Dog Contest

2010-10-02T05:35:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! I know I haven't written on my blog in a while but I've just been so busy with advanced obedience class, Canine Good Citizen (CGC), agility, local dog events, and entering lots of contests. Oh and I'm beginning to learn Rally-O as well.

I won second place in the Greenies smile contest and I'm told I'm going to be in a future issue of The Bark magazine. I won a tin of Greenies treats but since I'm on a special diet I'm donating it to a local rescue group. I'm also supposed to be in Fido Friendly magazine in the Pupparazi section.

But now I'm going for cover dog for the new magazine, Life+Dog but I need your help.

All you have to do is go to my entry and click on "Vote." Please vote daily through October 15th.

And I would love it if you would help spread the word. Post my contest entry to your Facebook wall, Twitter, and blog. Here's my contest entry website: http://su.pr/2hiWhO

The picture is of me in the wildflowers in the Texas Hill Country. I loved that trip and I would love to be a cover dog! Thank you so much for your help!

Woof!

Hugs and sloppy kisses,
Euri

New Year’s Resolutions for dogs

2009-12-30T08:41:00.000-08:00

Mommy says I have a couple of bad habits that I should resolve to change in 2010. Me? Bad habits? I thought I was perfect!

So what are my bad habits? I pretend to sniff the grass while walking with my parents and then I speedily eat any poop I can find on the ground. OK, this is not entirely my fault. After all, if all dog owners picked up their dog's poop then I wouldn't be so tempted. Right?

My other bad habit? I use my cuteness to manipulate my parents. Shh, don't tell them though because they have no idea.

Do you have a bad habit you'd like to change next year? Click here to read some of the top doggy New Year's Resolutions.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and safe new year to all of my animal friends!

I Donated Food to the Animal Shelter

2009-12-29T15:09:00.000-08:00

Do you remember how I won a gift card to Petco for the Halloween costume contest? Well, in addition to buying myself some treats I bought a huge bag of Wellness dog food for the doggies at the shelter. I went to Petco with mommy, grandpa and grandma. Grandpa held my leash and walked me around the store; well, actually I dragged him around while I searched for food on the floor. Grandma pushed the cart, and mommy looked for goodies.

When we were all done, we drove to the Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP) and donated food. Mommy said it was very busy there so she didn't take me inside. I hope the doggies at CAP enjoy the food and have a very happy new year!

If you are looking to adopt a dog or puppy in the greater Houston area, please click here.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-14T19:57:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy holiday season!

I Went to the Beach

2009-12-04T11:19:00.001-08:00

It was a gorgeous day last Sunday so mommy had the brilliant idea of going to Galveston so I could see the beach. It was the first time I had ever been to the beach (that mommy and daddy know of), and I have to say I loved it! I had the time of my life running on the sand.

Galveston has a separate beach where doggies are allowed - isn't that cool? I ran towards the ocean but then it kept coming towards me so I jumped and ran away; then I did it again. I got very wet and sandy but thankfully mommy has a waterproof liner in her car - and she brought a towel.

You can see a video of me enjoying the beach. Sorry for the poor quality; mommy has a cheap pay-as-you-go phone.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-23T19:19:00.001-08:00

Well, you know how I thought I was fat and mommy put me on a diet? Well, after two weeks I think I'm looking pretty thin. I guess it's hard for mommy to find that right balance but the good news is that I lose weight quickly. Mommy is a little jealous of that fact, but shh, don't tell her I said so.

I'm getting one big organic carrot each day along with some other healthy snacks and my Nature's Logic food. One cup is too much and 3/4 cup is too little, so I guess mommy has to find a new measurement all together.

The National Dog Show is on TV after the Macy's Day Parade on Thanksgiving. Are you going to watch it? If you want to learn more about it, click here. And doggies, please be careful on Thanksgiving. There are all sorts of things we can get into that can hurt us. Mommy wants all dog owners to read this article. It's called "How to Keep Your Dog Safe on Thanksgiving." I know we're hard to resist with our cute puppy dog eyes, but you humans have to be extra careful so we don't get sick.

My mommy and daddy are going out for a meal so I guess I'll get my usual; oh well, at least I get to roll the Kong around the floor and look for kibble that mommy and daddy hide around the house.

I'm sorry I haven't been more active with my blog but mommy has been a bit of a computer hog lately. Daddy is hoping to get a second computer so maybe he'll let me share his.

Best wishes for a very happy and safe Thanksgiving! Leave a comment and let me know what you are thankful for. This year, I'm thankful for my parents because they spoil me, and for my new food that helps my tummy and makes my coat shiny.

I'm on the Nature's Logic Website

2009-11-12T13:55:00.000-08:00

Hey, remember when I said I was on a new brand of dog food that has helped the acid in my tummy? Well, it's called Nature's Logic and I highly recommend it. Mommy's testimonial and my photo are on the Nature's Logic web site if you want to check it out: http://www.natureslogic.com/testimonials/

I Think I'm Getting Fat

2009-11-12T10:14:00.001-08:00

There, I said it. I think I'm getting fat - isn't that the first step? I eat a very healthy diet (no wheat, dairy, soy, or pork) but mommy discovered that my new food has 100 more calories per cup than my previous food. So all of those calories are adding up despite the fact that I get plenty of exercise and eat well.

So why do I stay on my current brand? My new food has worked wonders on my tummy. I no longer vomit and I am waking up much later for breakfast. One time I even woke up at 9:30 AM! Can you believe it? I usually get fed around 7:15 AM but sometimes I let mommy sleep in a bit more. So if that means I have to get fed a bit less each day, I think it's worth it, don't you?

P.S. This is a photo of mommy's bruise from the dog park. It's a rotten photo because it doesn't show just how big the bruise is or the deep purple color - just a day after the incident - but you get the point. He might have been "just playing" while chasing after other doggies, but he knocked right into mommy quite hard and mommy got hurt.

Don't worry, we don't hold anything against Huskies; in fact, some of favorite dog bloggers are huskies and we wuf them very much! And mommy thinks they are beautiful - not as handsome as me of course, but still very pretty doggies.

I Don't Like Dog Parks

2009-11-10T12:43:00.000-08:00

Hey, that's mine!

Mommy took me to a new dog park in Houston yesterday. Mommy knows how I don't like to play with other doggies but she thought the do park would be empty since it was the middle of the day. I guess there are lots of dog moms and dads that work from home too because there were other doggies there.

This park separates small dogs and big dogs so I had no choice but to go in the big dog group because I weigh more than 20 pounds. That's not fair! They should have a medium dog area.

I sniffed a bit and then some doggies came over to say, "Hello!" I didn't mind too much but then one dog started to run around and he knocked into mommy with his wet fur and 100 pound body. He was a puppy - a big puppy - so he didn't do it on purpose but mommy now has a bruise on her leg. And the doggy was wet because they have a swimming pond in the park. That's great for the other doggies that like to swim but not for mommy and me because they chose to shake off right in front of us. How rude!

I ran to the back of the park so I could have my own space. OK, truth be told I was trying to escape but that darn fence was in the way. Mommy was disappointed in some of the dog owners that must have been there before because there was poop that wasn't picked up. There are dog bags and trash bins everywhere, so why didn't they pick up their dog's poop? Don't they know they're breaking the rules? Lazy humans.

Mommy and I left - and not a moment too soon if you ask me - and we drove home, but before we got there, mommy let me play in my local park. I had the entire park to myself and I even got to chase a squirrel. I'm a solo dog - well, me, my mommy and daddy - and I don't want any other dogs chasing after MY squirrel.

That is the Siberian Husky that hurt mommy. Sure, I might look interested, but I was just making sure they were occupied before I made my getaway.

Wysong Dog Food Recall

2009-11-05T09:17:00.000-08:00

Attention all doggies! Wysong dog food has recalled several batches of their dry kibble. If you eat Wysong them make sure your human checks the batch number on the bag because your dog food could be contaminated with mold. Click here to find out more.

My Paw is Injured

2009-11-03T15:18:00.000-08:00

I think injured paws are going around because another one of my doggy blogger friends had an injured paw, I saw two doggies at the vet with injured paws, and now I have one. I started to limp last night for no apparent reason. Mommy and daddy inspected my paw and didn't see any stickers or cuts so they were confused. I wouldn't even walk on the grass to go potty so I had to be carried to the yard.

This morning my limping was gone and it turned into a full fledged hop - on three legs. Mommy took me to the vet where we wound up waiting for an hour. I've never seen the vet's office so crowded. Finally it was our turn and mommy warned the vet assistant that I might bite if my injured paw was touched so they muzzled me just in case. I didn't like that at all. I looked like a racehorse.

The vet and his assistant tried to flip me so they could see my paw better and I liked that even less. I cried but the vet continued to touch my paw. Didn't he know that I was in pain? It turns out that my injured paw has a swollen digit. I don't know what a digit is but I wish it wasn't swollen.

Mommy doesn't know how it happened since I was perfectly fine yesterday but the vet said I probably jumped wrong or something like that. Mommy said it must have been caused by chasing squirrels because that's when I'm most active. I can't help it, it's in my nature.

The vet wanted to take X-rays but the machine is in the same room as the surgical room and a doggy was having an operation in there so we couldn't go in. The vet told mommy to come back later for my X-rays. So we went home, mommy took me on a walk - yes, I can walk, well run actually on three legs. Then I got some awesome treats: eggs and carrots. Finally it was time to return to the vet. We wound up waiting and waiting once again only to be told that there was another doggy in the X-ray room. Ugh!

The doctor apologized and suggested I take some special medication and see how I do over the next week. He told mommy to come back for that X-ray if my paw doesn't get better in a week, but he said I'd most likely heal on my own. Doggies are cool like that.

The good news is that I lucked out because I was supposed to be groomed tomorrow but mommy had to cancel because of my paw. So I guess I have to look a bit scruffy for another week or so but don't worry, mommy is still brushing me at home. I might look a bit "fluffy" but I'm still under 30 pounds so I'm actually perfect. Well, that's what mommy says anyway.

You can see a short video of me trying to hop along. This was before I became comfortable walking on just three legs. Don't worry, I'm much faster now although I think it still breaks mommy's heart to see me hop. Shh! Don't tell her I know.

I Won the Halloween Costume Contest

2009-11-01T07:43:00.001-08:00

Guess what? I won the Halloween costume contest at "Scream on the Green" in downtown Houston. In the photo above I'm not wearing my yellow booties and my jacket is not buttoned up but you can see just how cute I looked after the contest. I even danced on stage, and mommy wore a pea coat and Paddington hat as well.

I would like to thank my grandma, mommy, and daddy for making this all possible. Well, I deserve a bit of credit too; after all, I am adorable and have great stage presence.

When they called my number - we have to go by numbers at the contest, not names - mommy and daddy cheered. I knew I had won and I was over the moon! Mommy walked me up on stage so we could collect my prize: a $250 gift card to Petco. That's some prize for a free contest don't you think?

After mommy accepted my prize, she attempted to walk off stage but I didn't want to move. I wanted my full 15 minutes of fame so I acted like a bull and wouldn't budge. Mommy almost tripped down the stairs because people were crowding the area but I made it through no problem.

Mommy and daddy gave me lots of hugs and kisses and kept telling me how well I did. I just jumped up and wagged my tail.

Then it was time to go home so I ran mommy down the street. Oops, I mean, mommy walked me down the street. Actually some man on a funny looking bicycle - I think it's supposed to carry humans - told mommy I was like a bull full of energy. I was just so excited!

Mommy wanted me to burn off some of that energy, so we drove to the park where I was able to run around and bark. I even rolled around but don't worry, mommy had already taken off my costume by that point. "Woof! Woof! I won! I won!"

So you're probably wondering what I'm going to do with the Petco gift card, right? Well, since I'm doing well on Nature's Logic (which is not sold in Petco), I'm going to get a lot of natural treats for myself. However, I know that not all doggies are as lucky as me, so I'm thinking about buying cat and dog food to donate to the animal shelter as well. Yeah, yeah I know....cat food? Well, it's the least I can do since I chase them around the neighborhood.

A Chihuahua Tried to Attack Me

2009-10-28T18:03:00.001-07:00

While going for a walk with mommy this evening, something strange happened. A high pitched squeal came out of nowhere, and something that looked like a cat appeared. Mommy didn’t know what was going on and though the cat was in pain as it came running past us. It turned out to be the smallest Chihuahua we’ve ever seen and it was guarding his part of the street. Hey, it’s a free street and I can walk on it too Mr Chihuahua!

I didn’t know what to think of this silly Chihuahua - who must have weighed all of three pounds. He certainly didn’t look vicious so I just went on my way, but mommy stomped her foot and said, “No!” The Chihuahua ran away but came back so mommy bent down to let the Chihuahua know that we weren’t going to hurt him. He must have gotten the message because he hopped – yes hopped – and ran away. I couldn’t decide if it was funny or sad that this poor Chihuahua thought he could intimidate me. I hope his owners let him inside because shortly after that, it started to rain. I’d hate to think of that poor little doggy getting wet while stuck outside.

Mommy has been taking me to different parks because of the rain. Some parks are just filled with puddles and others have lots of stickers which get stuck in my fur (and mommy’s fingers when she tries to pull them out). I don’t think we’ve found a puddle-free park yet, but it sure has been fun going to new places.

I Attended my First Pet Fest

2009-10-26T15:02:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we went to Pet Fest in Old Town Spring. It was a lot of fun. Before we went, mommy put my basketball Jersey on me so daddy thought it would be a good idea to really make me look like a basketball player. He cut out red felt and made me a sweatband for my head and two for my legs. I got a lot of attention and everyone said I looked adorable even though I'm a bit furry at the moment. I know, I need to be groomed so I'm looking like a fluffy nuffy.

I got to meet other doggies and see Melissa from Pets Are Inn. If you'd like to see more photos from the Pet Fest, click here.

Dogs Get The Flu Too

2009-10-22T13:59:00.001-07:00

Ah-chew! No, don't worry, I'm not really sick but doggies can get the flu too. We have a special kind of flu called canine influenza and humans can pass it us if they don't wash their hands after touching a doggy infected with the flu. So be sure to tell your human to wash their hands after touching other doggies just in case. To find out more about dog flu, click here.

It poured last night and this morning so I didn't get my morning walk. I did, however, tippy-toe onto the wet yard and do my business. I don't really like being wet but when you have to go, you have to go. Mommy went to the SPCA to interview the lead cruelty investigator and she said he was a very nice man. He works hard for the doggies so let's give him a round of applaws.

My Weekend at the Parks

2009-10-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

This is me at the Terry Hershey Park in Houston, TX. There were so many things to sniff!

Here I am enjoying the view. Don't worry, I wasn't going to jump but that water sure did look like fun.

On Saturday, mommy and daddy tried to take me to some fancy gardens. We walked over a fun suspension bridge and when we got to the main entrance, a nice man told me I was cute but wasn't allowed in, so we left.

Then we went to Memorial Park and I got to run in the woods and sniff everything. Afterwards, we all had lunch together at a dog-friendly restaurant. I even got to sit next to another doggy - a Standard Poodle named Thor. He was friendly and kept coming over to say, "Hello!" to mommy. I think it might have had something to do with the food she had - MY food.

On Sunday, mommy and I drove daddy to the airport. He went to North Carolina for a leadership course. I guess he's going to learn how to be a better pack leader. Mommy and I took a nap on the couch because we were so tired from having to get up early for daddy, but then we drove to a huge park called Terry Hershey. It has miles and miles of trails so I had fun, but unfortunately there were many cyclists there. They kept coming in all directions and since they are so quiet, mommy had to keep looking over her shoulder. I don't think mommy enjoyed it much but I had a great time.

Middi, a Lovely Dog Available for Adoption in Houston, TX

2009-10-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

This is Middi. She is a pretty girl, don't you think? Mommy tells me Middi is looking for a furever home. Do you know anyone in the greater Houston, TX area that is looking for a new best friend? If so click here and read more about Middi.

Hope all of my four-legged friends (and their parents) have a wonderful weekend. The weather in Houston has finally cooled off and it's so much fun to go for walks now that the humidity is gone.

My Halloween Costume Saga

2009-10-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

Hmm, mommy said this package (sent from grandma) is for me, but I don't smell any treats inside.

What is this? A picture of Paddington Bear. Am I supposed to look like that for Howl-o-Ween?

Is it me or do I look like a cowboy? I don't think this hat fits me very well. Mommy said it's big enough for her head.

Here's the rest of the costume. Mommy didn't button me up because she didn't want to break anything. I think I might have to lose some chest fur though because the costume "just" fits. Grandma did a great job, don't you think?

And just in case the Paddington Bear costume didn't work out, grandma sent me a Bumble Bee costume. I think it's cute but daddy is insistent that I be Paddington Bear. I guess daddy will have to make my hat smaller and buy me some boots if he wants me to win. I don't see how he'll have the time for that since daddy is going away this weekend. I have a feeling I might just be a bee after all.

I'm Taking a Bath

2009-10-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Daddy is giving me a bath. Hmm, why is there a smirk on his face?

Now daddy really seems to be enjoying himself. Does this look like fun?

Oh, woe is me. I hate getting a bath. Daddy tries so hard to keep me clean and smelling nice but I would much rather be smelly and dirty. Oh well, at least I can rest my head on daddy's knee.

P.S. You see the human body wash on the soap dish? That's not for me; that's for my grandpa and grandma - they're coming to visit me soon. Oops, don't tell them that I used their bathtub.

Help the doggies rescued from the Corridor of Cruelty

2009-10-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

Mommy told me that some mean people are abusing and neglecting dogs before dumping them at the Corridor of Cruelty (near Highway 59 and West Little York in Houston, TX). A nice woman named Deborah Hoffman and some volunteers from Corridor Rescue are trying to help these doggies but need your help.

The most recent doggy that was rescued is Charlie. You can read his story here. Mommy posted his photo for you all to see. He's not in great shape but he can get better with some wonderful veterinary treatment and a nice foster home.

When I hear about these stories, it makes me realize how lucky I am that I have a great mommy and daddy - even though I don't like it when my daddy gives me a bath and my mommy brushes out my knots. I know they're just trying to keep me clean and healthy but geez, don't they know I like to be dirty and roll around on the grass?

Daddy gave me a bath this past weekend and I didn't yodel once but I did try to escape towards the end. Fortunately mommy was there to make sure I didn't run around the house soaking wet. Then daddy took me for a walk so I could dry off and play.

I don't know why, but this past weekend I received a lot of doggy massages and snuggle time. I think mommy and daddy just love me more and more each day although mommy did complain that I scratched her face when I tried to wake her up last week. I can't help it; I want to say, "Good morning!" to my mommy and of course, I do my best to get her to feed me even though daddy gives me my breakfast. I'm pretty good at manipulating mommy with my tricks and big brown eyes. Even daddy has recently said, "How can you resist that face?" Yep, I'm a master manipulator and it works....well, most of the time.

I hope everyone had a good weekend. Happy Columbus Day - whatever that is.

I Can Brush My Own Teeth

2009-10-08T10:19:00.000-07:00

As you can see from my photo, I know how to brush my own teeth. Mommy was quite surprised when she noticed that I had taken my toothbrush from the mat - where mommy normally brushes my teeth - to the dining room area. Mommy thought it was the beef flavored toothpaste that I liked, but there was no toothpaste on my toothbrush when I took it to the dining room and started chewing it. I'm not normally a chewer so it surprised mommy. I guess she didn't realize just how clean I want my teeth. I want to have a movie star smile.

Mommy got mad at me today because during our walk in the woods, I ran off and started to eat something. Of course I was pre-occupied so I couldn't hear mommy calling me; OK, so I heard mommy but I ignored her. Hee-hee! Mommy had to make her way through the woods to get me and when she found me, I was quite shocked. I didn't think mommy couldn't make it through all those trees. Mommy saw that I was licking something but she didn't know what it was. She saw flies and it was all wet. My breath didn't smell like poop but still mommy thought it was poop - possibly even human poop. Gross. Whatever I ate, I sure hope I don't get sick from it. Mommy won't let me run off again. My bad.

I'm Back

2009-10-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I'm back from staying with my host mommy, and my parents are back from their vacation in New England. They told me they had a great time but were anxious to get back and see me. I had a fun time with my host mommy and this time, I was a very good boy. I didn't steal any cookies and I didn't vomit once.

I have some sad news; Rebekah, the Chinese Dwarf Hamster that was my guest blogger, passed away. We're sending our condolences to Rebekah's mommy and hope Rebekah is happy in hamster heaven. You can click here to read more about Rebekah.

Above is a picture of me before my mommy and daddy went on vacation. I was on their bed resting my head on mommy's T-shirt. She always makes sure she leaves a T-shirt in my crate so I don't forget her when she's on vacation. I could never forget my mommy; I love her too much. I was so excited to see both my mommy and daddy when I came home. I gave them lots of hugs and kisses. Daddy was happy to see that I was so affectionate towards him because he usually plays second fiddle, but not this past weekend. See daddy, I love you too.

Hope everyone had a good week!

MagMyPic

2009-09-18T12:19:00.001-07:00

Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com

There's a Serial Arsonist in our Neighborhood

2009-09-17T19:49:00.000-07:00

I learned that someone is burning down unoccupied homes in our neighborhood. At least people aren't living in the homes that were set on fire, but it sure is scary. Mommy and I walked by one of the homes today and took pictures. The smell didn't bother me but mommy didn't like it. I hope they catch the person who is setting the fires because mommy doesn't like to listen to sirens and helicopters at night. This is very unusual for our area so everyone is quite upset.

On a happier note, I received my Paw it Forward presents from Dory - thank you Dory! I'll be sure to Paw it Forward next month when mommy has more time. Mommy wants to let everyone know that my blog will be on hold for a couple of weeks but I'll be back in October. Mommy and daddy are going to take a much needed vacation which means I get to stay with my host family. I'm sure they won't leave any cookies on the table this time because last time, I stole them and got sick.

Did I tell you that I was sick twice last night? I threw up food around 2 AM and then bile around 7:30 AM. Mommy thinks it might be my new food even though I only had 1/16 of a cup - since mommy is trying to transition me slowly. I hope I do better tonight. Mommy only gave me kibble with water today - no treats - so hopefully I won't vomit. And tonight, we're actually going to go to bed before midnight so maybe a good night's sleep is all I need. Mommy has been so busy lately so I hope she gets to relax on her vacation.

I'm going to get professionally groomed next week - I can't wait. Mommy thinks I'm starting to look scruffy but I actually received two compliments today. I was told I'm beautiful and yes, it's gone straight to my head.

You can see a picture of me in the car before our morning walk - which means it's before I've been brushed for the day. I'm wearing my seat belt. It's pretty don't you think? Mommy says this picture shows off my long eyelashes. Apparently the ladies love my long lashes.

I'm Switching my Dog Food

2009-09-16T20:42:00.000-07:00

Mommy took me with her on a lot of errands which means I got to enjoy one of my favorite activities: ride in the car! Besides our usual drive to the woods for our morning walk, mommy took me to a holistic vet so I could get new food. No one was there but we sure had fun looking around. I was very interested in chicken legs or beaks or something chicken related that I had never seen before.

Since no one seemed to be there, we left and went to a pet store so mommy could return the food I usually eat. It's wheat-free but mommy thinks the synthetic vitamins could be what's causing my tummy problems. Apparently doggies have died due to synthetic vitamins D3, Selenium, and Zinc. That's why some dog food brands had to be recalled....or at least that's what the folks from my new dog food manufacturer told mommy.

While we were at the pet store, we saw another Cocker Spaniel but this cocker was not like me. His owner said he was a field cocker but mommy thought he looked awfully American to her. He was very friendly, sweet and cute, but after I let him sniff me, I walked away. I don't mind being sniffed or sniffing other dogs but I don't really like to "play" like some other doggies do. I was more interested in an open bag of treats. I tried to get some, but I couldn't because mommy kept an eye on me while talking to the other cocker's owner. He was a nice man and was so excited to share cocker stories with mommy. I guess we're a funny breed.

Then mommy took me back to the holistic vet and we were able to buy that special food. Mommy said she wants to give me a little each day until I get used to it, but I'd be happy eating all of it now. I seem to be waking up earlier and earlier with my tummy problems so mommy is hoping this new food will do the trick; if not, I'll have to see the holistic vet to see if my stomach pH is off or if I need some probiotics. In the meantime, I'm stilling taking antacids at night.

Later this evening we stopped by a new park - well, new to us. There was a tennis court and a volleyball court with sand. It looked really neat for humans, and the best part for mommy was the fact that there was no litter. Yeah! I didn't see any other dogs there but that's OK; when they go there tomorrow, they'll know that Euri was there because I marked my spot.

When we got home mommy cleaned my water bowl and I received fresh filtered water. Am I a pampered pooch? So with all of the walking and driving today, I'm worn out. I sure hope I sleep well tonight. I know mommy would like it if I didn't get up at 5 AM again.

P.S. Do you like my photo? It looks like I'm sticking my tongue out at you. Hee-hee!

Food, Food Everywhere

2009-09-15T18:06:00.000-07:00

As you can see from my photo, I'm poking my head through someone's fence. No, I'm not being nosy, I'm staring at a kitty that is hiding under a car. I have a good eye for cats because I love to chase them ....even though they seem to be faster than me and they can jump like Spiderman.

Mommy hasn't been taking me to the local park where all of the rubbish is but I managed to find some trash anyway. It seems people around here just like to put their food all over the sidewalks and grass which is great for me, but not for mommy. Today we took another route but I found some popcorn on the pavement. Mommy said she gives up; no matter where she takes me, people seem to litter. Did you know that it's actually illegal to litter in some countries? I bet mommy wishes she lived in one of those places but not me.

Walking in the Woods in the Rain

2009-09-14T16:33:00.000-07:00

It has been raining a lot lately which means the ground is wet, so mommy put my waterproof suit on me and off we went to the park with the woods. I'm such a good sport because I don't mind wearing my snood or waterproof outfit; I know that when mommy puts it on me, I will be able to go out and play despite the weather. Mommy took a short video of me running in my outfit so you can see how great it is. Now mommy is thinking she should use it as part of my Halloween costume. Grandma suggested I be Zoro - do you think I can do something with my waterproof outfit for Halloween? If so, leave a comment or e-mail me at EuritheDog@yahoo.com.

I love running through the woods because there are so many good things to smell. I never really see any animals except birds but whenever I get close to them, they fly away. Today while we were walking in the woods mommy spotted a dog out of no where. We noticed the doggy's collar but we didn't see an owner. Mommy told the dog to "Be nice" while sniffing me. She says dogs know that term. Do we? It turns out the dog was actually friendly and really liked mommy. I think the dog was part terrier because it had wiry fur like a Cairn Terrier. Then the dog's owner came and got the dog. I think her name was Lucy or LuLu or something like that. Anyway, if I see her again, I'll be sure to say, "Hello!" because she was a nice doggy after all.

The woods are really strange because it's in a park in a suburban neighborhood. It feels like we're in the middle of no where but we're really surrounded by houses, trails and lots of grass with picnic tables. It's pretty neat for us doggies and dog parents like it because the park supplies free dog bags - no, not leftover food; bags to pick up your dog's poop - and the bags are biodegradable...whatever that means.

I'll Be Sleeping In My Orvis Bed From Now On

2009-09-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

Mommy didn't get any sleep last night and I think I'm to blame. You see, we took daddy to the airport yesterday and as a special treat, mommy allowed me to sleep on daddy's side of the bed. The problem is, I moved around all night, made lots of noise - including loud snoring - and at 6:50 AM, I threw up bile. Don't worry, mommy managed to get me off of the bed and onto the hardwood floor in time, but now she's upset because my antacids just don't seem to be working like they used to.

Mommy made sure she didn't feed me anything new yesterday so she thinks that maybe I snuck something in at the park yesterday morning when I was walking with daddy. Or maybe I just need more antacid? So anyway, I have to sleep in my own bed tonight but that's OK with me because I love my Orvis bolster bed.

I remember when mommy went to a special warehouse sale to buy me a plush Orvis bed. You can see a picture of me in my Orvis bed above this article. I don't look very happy in the photo because I had just gotten a bath and my parents made me wear a towel to keep my back fur flat. It's a lot of work staying gorgeous. Anyway, mommy got my bed on sale but I think it would have been very expensive if she has purchased it in the store. I like Orvis because they allow dogs in their stores. Did you know that? They are very dog-friendly especially to hunting dogs like me. OK, so I only hunt for cats, squirrels, and poop while in the park, but I'm still hunting.

Mommy is thinking about not taking me to the local park anymore because some people there are very inconsiderate and put their trash all over the place. Whenever we go there, I see lots of bottles, chicken bones, and empty bags of potato chips. I don't know why they don't throw away their trash when there are trash bins all around the park. It makes mommy very upset because I have a knack for finding all of this stuff and I try to eat it quickly. Mommy has to watch me like a hawk.

And there are those dog parents who don't curb their dogs - that means pick up their poop - and I love to eat poop so it's like a buffet for me. Mommy wishes someone would enforce the rules but no one seems to care so it's best we go somewhere else from now on so I don't have to be tempted on a daily basis. The other park we go to in the mornings has woods and is very clean but we have to drive to get there. Mommy is trying to convince daddy to move but he thinks we live in a convenient location. Come on daddy, let's move to a nicer area where people don't litter in the park and they pick up after their dogs.

Remembering 9/11

2009-09-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

I wasn't even born yet but mommy told me that something bad happened on 9/11/2001. Mommy remembers living in the DC area and being scared to leave work and go home because her house was so close to the Pentagon (which was hit by bad men). Mommy also lost a very dear friend in the World Trade Towers. I didn't know him but I'm sure he was a very nice man. Mommy said he was like a brother to her, so that sort of makes him my uncle. I know that lots of doggies were involved in helping people during 9/11 so here's to the hard working doggies that dedicate their lives to helping humans.

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Today

OK, so you know how I got a bath yesterday? Well, I got dirty again today. Mommy took me for a walk in the rain - well, it wasn't raining when we first left but it started to rain so what could we do? Mommy was smart enough to put my snood on me in case the ground was wet from yesterday's rain, but that wasn't enough. My entire body got wet and my paws got all muddy. So now I don't smell so nice anymore. Oh well, at least I had a good time sniffing away in the woods.

Today mommy took me outside to walk the street looking for something. Apparently someone delivered daddy's package to the wrong place and now we can't find it. So while mommy was out walking from house to house, I went with her. I was very well behaved. I didn't run in the street or anything and I stayed close to mommy .....OK, I ran ahead to see if I could find a cat and I ate some grass, but I listened to mommy as soon as she called me. I'm a good boy.

Zanies Giggling Peek-A-Treat Ball for Dogs

2009-09-10T16:18:00.000-07:00

Mommy is trying to sell the toy she got me because I'm scared of the noise. It's ironic considering I don't mind "real" noises like thunder but there's just something about the giggling that comes from the "Peek-A-Treat" ball that I don't like. I'm sure it's perfect for some doggy out there, just not me. Click here to learn more.

Mommy Gave Me a Bath Today

2009-09-10T11:57:00.000-07:00

Usually daddy gives me a bath but today, mommy decided she was going to do it. Was I really that stinky mommy? We went to the park with the woods this morning, and even though the trails were dry, I came out soaking wet. I guess mommy couldn't stand me being stinky and wet, so she took out the doggy bath and lathered me up. She tried a new shampoo this time since I keep getting so many knots - paws crossed it works. I know it smelled nice. Avocado or something.

I was a very good boy; I didn't yodel once! I like how mommy talked to me the entire time to make the torturous task of getting clean more bearable. Then we went for a walk in the sun so I could dry off - that was my second walk of the day! I did something silly though; I rolled around in the dirt. Oops! You can see a leaf on my wet fur in the picture. It actually compliments my coat, don't you think?

I'm getting professionally groomed in two weeks so I'm safe from another bath for a while. Can you tell I hate getting a bath? At least mommy gave me treats while she was cleaning me so it wasn't so bad. Mommy says she wants my fur to grow back since summer is just about over. That makes me happy because I don't like people thinking I'm a Poodle when I'm shaved. I'm not a Poodle - I'm an English Cocker Spaniel. I guess they don't see too many of us around here. That makes me special.

Paw it Forward

2009-09-09T15:29:00.001-07:00

I received my very first Paw it Forward award from Dory! I'm so excited! Read about it on Dory's blog by clicking here.

Do I Look Like Will Smith?

2009-09-09T06:12:00.000-07:00

I took a celebrity quiz yesterday - it's OK, it's for pets - and it said I'm just like Will Smith. Daddy thought I'd be someone more girly ( does that mean a girl?) but mommy wasn't surprised by the results. Daddy thinks I'm scared of everything because I jumped at a leaf once...OK, maybe two or three times, but I'm very brave and curious. Anyway, I like Will Smith and mommy said he's a good actor who is funny too, so I'm happy with my results.

Are you a doggy that wants to find out which celebrity you are most like? Click here and read all about it.

Oh, did I tell you that I threw up again this morning? Mommy wasn't happy about it because I threw up in my bed. She gave me a new treat yesterday made with lots of vegetables and healthy grains so she's convinced that it's all her fault. Poor mommy. But maybe it's because I ate some poop while walking to the park - it's one of my bad habits, I can't help it. Everyone has at least one bad habit right? Mommy likes to pick at her nails when she's upset. What's your bad habit?

So what's the good news about vomiting early in the morning? I got to eat breakfast early!

Adopt Me - I'm Clay and I'm Looking for a Forever Home

2009-09-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

This guest blogger's name is Clay. He's a lovely lad, and I must say he's quite good looking too. Clay is staying at Rover Oaks in Katy, TX while waiting for a forever home. If you know of someone who would like to adopt Clay, contact Joy at 281-693-7687.

My name is Clay and I'm about three years old and about 35 pounds...a pretty good size. I'm probably a cattle dog mix of some sort, and I am staying at Rover Oaks in Katy where they are trying to find me a good home. See, I'm a really good dog, but because I'm a herding breed I have a lot of energy and I need stuff to do to keep me occupied. I was bred to herd things, so sometimes I still nip at feet and heels, even though my trainer keeps telling me that doesn't make a good impression on people. I'm a smart guy, and know all of my basic obedience, and they even tried to get me involved in something called the Gifted Animals Program where I could learn to sniff out bombs and drugs and stuff. But, I was too interested in the other dogs so they said that wouldn't work out very well. Next, they are going to teach me agility - I can run fast and I'm smart so I bet I'll be really good at it! And it will be good for my energy level too.

Anyway, I got adopted once but it didn't work out. I really loved my dad and he loved me, but he had a lot of company in and out of his house so that got me really agitated and I acted out a little bit. I'd probably do great in a place that didn't have a lot of comings and goings, but where somebody had time to spend with me, running and playing and stuff like that. I really like other dogs...my trainer says I like them TOO much...I like to play rough and I don't seem to get it when another dog tells me to back off. And, I REALLY don't like cats. So probably if I could be an only pet in a house with no young kids and someone who understands dogs like me that would be best.

So, I'm having a little bit of a hard time finding that great fit for a forever family...even though I know there's someone out there for me...so if you find anybody that might look at me and say "He's perfect!" please let them know. I'm at Rover Oaks in Katy waiting for them!

Labor Day is for working dogs too

2009-09-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

Mommy says today is Labor Day - a day off for humans that work, but what about dogs that work? There are military dogs, service dogs, herding dogs, tracking dogs....oh, the list goes on an on. Click here to read more about why working dogs deserve to celebrate Labor Day too!

Photo Credit: Flickr, billadler: Sled Dogs in Iceland Taking a Break

I Don't Want to be a Girl for Halloween

2009-09-06T11:51:00.001-07:00

Yesterday mommy and daddy took me to a warehouse store with lots of party supplies and Halloween costumes. They even made me try on a dress! I was so embarrassed. I don't know why they want me to be a girl for Halloween; I guess it's because of my long pretty ears.

Someone suggested that I be a revolutionary soldier for Halloween. I would like to be a Red Coat but neither mommy nor daddy can make my costume. They're good at a lot of things, but making clothes is not one of them. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Now daddy just wants to do something easy for my Halloween costume: a basketball player since I already have a basketball jersey. But mommy wants me to be something special so I'll win the costume contest on Halloween. Mommy can buy me a cheerleading outfit and put my ears in scrunchies, but then I'll be a girl and I don't want to be a girl. I'm a boy!

It's hard being a pretty male dog.

Chinese Dwarf Hamsters Guest Blog

2009-09-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

We have two guest bloggers: Ruby and Rebekah. They are nice Chinese Dwarf Hamsters. Read what they have to say below. Above is a picture of them. Don't ask me which is which, I'm just a dog not a veterinarian. Ruby's text is in Bold while Rebekah's is italicized.
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HI I'M RUBY AND THIS IS MY TWIN SISTER REBEKAH. WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABO......

RUBY, YOU HOPPED ON THE CAPS LOCK THINGY. IT WILL MAKE EVERYONE FEEL LIKE YOU ARE YELLING.

THAT'S DUMB. I AM AN ITTY-BITTY HAMSTER. HOW CAN I YELL? I JUST MAKE CUTE LITTLE SQUEAKS AND CHIRRUPS.

RUBY…………...FDGJHJOjfghiuhs. there, i fixed it. go on typing, the people will be awake soon.

um, ok, whatever. what was i talking about?

you were telling the computer world about us.

gotcha. i'll start over. hi, I'm ruby and this is my twin sister, rebekah. we had another sister, but they didn't bring her home with us.

nope. Left poor ole mavis back at the pet store.

(a moment of silence for poor ole mavis…)

anyway, we live here in our lovely glass castle nest in the people's big house. the people give us nummies and treats and soft bedding and fun places to hide. they also give us our beloved wheel-of-excess-energy-dispersion and the bottle of water-that-never-ends.

...and they also wake us up in the middle of the day to talk to us and flash bright lights at us and destroy our nest in the castle and pour in new, scratchy bedding and tubes and talk to us in baby voices.

do we have an attitude today, rebekah? hmmmmmm?

me? attitude? just let one of those hands come in here and chase me down today. i'll show my "attitude" with a big ole chomp out of one of those fingers!

rebekah. tsk.tsk. first of all, the hands are quite nice. at least, i think they are, once i'm fully awake. they hold us so gently and i love it when the finger strokes the top of my head. second of all, those are the proverbial hands that feed us; you're not supposed to bite them. thirdly, your mouth is so tiny that i doubt they even notice it when you do bite them.

since when do you know any proverbs?

sheesh. if you're going to be a crab, rebekah, why don't you just go back to bed?

i think i will. but i don't know if i'll be able to sleep.

why not? our nest is perfectly warm and snuggly and comfortable.

exactly! and you know what that means!

um…*scratch*scratch* ok, bek, what does it mean?

the people will probably "clean" it today. they'll steal all our food stashes and scrub away our marked spots and destroy our cozy home! we'll have to start all over from scratch. again! *sniffle*

oh. bummer. you're right.

(a moment of silence for the sure-to-be-destroyed cozy home.)

but wait, bek… I know how we can pay them back for all that stress!

*sniffle* You do? How?

we'll send all this typing we're doing to that dog, euri. if he'll put it on his blog, then the whole world will know the trauma we chinese dwarfs have to go through every couple of weeks.

ooooooo. and won't the big female human be surprised when she sees us online? and won't they all be puzzled and confused when they see the computer on in the morning, even though they're sure they turned it off?

...and the lid off our castle?

..and the crumbs on the keyboard?

heh-heh-heh!

ok, so how do i put those photos on here?

I think you just drag them from the desktop to the email with the mouse.

(hop) THE MOUSE????????????

Please Don't Hit Your Dog

2009-09-04T10:31:00.001-07:00

As mommy and I were walking home during our evening walk last night, a chocolate Labrador Retriever came running over to me. He wasn't mean or anything, he just wanted to say, "Hello!" But then his owner came over, took his hat off of his head, and hit the brown doggy. That wasn't very nice. Both mommy and I were very upset that the poor doggy was hit for no reason. Mommy didn't understand why the dog was treated like that, and I thought maybe I had gotten him in trouble so I walked away as quickly as possible. Mommy vocalized her displeasure but the owner didn't care. He actually apologized to mommy for his dog coming over to me. It made no sense. Doesn't he know that dogs like to say, "Hello?" to one another?

I could see if the chocolate lab was aggressive or trying to attack me, but he didn't seem to be mean at all. So mommy and I will try to avoid that street in the future because we don't like to see dogs being hit. Please don't hit your dogs! We need love, praise and affection - we don't like to be yelled out or hit.

P.S. Mommy said there is a nice doggy named Ellie that is looking to be adopted. If you want to learn more about Ellie, click here.

Houston Astros Dog Day: bring your dog to the game on Labor Day

2009-09-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

I'm not exactly a baseball fan; in fact, I'm not a fan of balls unless they squeak, but the Houston Astros are doing something really nice for Labor Day - they're allowing dogs to go to the game!

A combination ticket for both owner and dog is $20, and $10 of the ticket price will benefit the Houston Humane Society. So if you're a baseball lover, make sure you register on the Houston Astros web site. Click here for more information.

I Got Hit by a Soccer Ball

2009-09-02T09:29:00.001-07:00

When we were walking home after our visit to the park last night, a soccer ball came rolling down the street. I saw it coming and didn't know what to do. I jumped and moved out of the way but somehow this ball managed to roll right into me. I wasn't hurt but I was a bit embarrassed. I tried to get out of the way yet the ball kept moving. Some nice men at the park did warn me, and mommy tried to move me out of the way. I guess I just wasn't expected a soccer ball to roll down the street like that.

Mommy noticed that I tripped yesterday when going for my evening walk as well. Daddy was surprised that mommy hadn't noticed sooner because he says I'm a clod. Is that like a Clydesdale? They're my favorite horse. Daddy thinks it's because my front paws are so large. He thinks I' have big bear claws and that I should be a bear for Halloween. Last year I was Superman - or should I say Superdog? What do you think I should be this year? E-mail me with your Halloween costume ideas: EuritheDog@yahoo.com

The World's Oldest Dog Dies

2009-09-01T09:33:00.000-07:00

I'm saddened to report that Chanel, the world's oldest dog (according to Guinness World Records) has died. Chanel celebrated her 21st birthday (in human years) in the spring and led a long, happy life. To read more about Chanel, click here.

*Photo courtesy of BARM/Fame Pictures

Why Did I Throw Up This Morning?

2009-08-31T09:34:00.000-07:00

Mommy & daddy thought they had it all figured out and the vet even said the Pepcid AC would help the extra acid in my tummy, but I threw up this morning at 5 AM while daddy was in the shower. That's the first time I threw up since starting my antacids.

Mommy made sure I didn't throw up in my bed and pulled my ears back. Then she had to clean the hardwood floors. It was just the yellow bile so it wasn't gross or anything but I don't know why I did it.

What could it be? Last night I had soft peanut butter instead of chunky. Or maybe I didn't really swallow my pill? Or maybe it was something I ate in the park? Or maybe it's the special rawhide that mommy gave me for my anniversary? I just don't know.

I don't like throwing up. Hopefully I'll be better tonight. The good news is that my heartworm test was negative so I'm heartworm free. Yeah!

Happy Anniversary!

2009-08-29T08:16:00.000-07:00

Today is my one year anniversary with my mommy & daddy. I can't believe it has only been a year - I feel like I've been with them my entire life. Even though today is "bath" day, I'm still very happy. Mommy says we're going to celebrate by going to a fancy dog boutique where I can pick out a nice treat, and then we'll go running around a large park with lots of woods. Of course no anniversary celebration is complete without dinner, so we're going to a dog-friendly restaurant later tonight. I can't wait! I already started the day off sleeping in the human bed , and mommy even gave me a nice belly rub. Happy Anniversary to my mommy & daddy! I woof you!

Do I Have Egg On My Face?

2009-08-28T06:35:00.000-07:00

Mommy is trying to lose a few pounds so she no longer eats egg yolks - that means I get to eat them - yeah! They are good for my coat and they taste great too. This morning mommy cooked my egg yolks, mashed them up so I could easily digest them, and mixed them with water. She knows that I can be a messy eater so she put my snood on to protect my ears. Thank goodness she did that because mommy accidentally knocked my bowl full of eggs into the counter while trying to serve them to me, and they spilled all over the kitchen floor.

Since I was already wearing my snood I figured, "Why not?" So I started eating all of the eggs off of the hardwood floor. Mommy started laughing and said I was a funny dog. She was trying to clean up some of the mess when she heard what she thought was a warthog. She knew our neighbors didn't keep any warthogs - roosters and chickens, yes, but not warthogs. Then mommy got closer to me and learned that I was the warthog! I was making snorting noises as I was trying to find all of the egg mixture in the kitchen.

When I had licked all of the egg and water mixture from the floor, mommy noticed I had some egg on my face so she took my photo. She said I looked awfully cute and thought you might want to see my picture. Don't worry, mommy made sure the egg was removed from my face afterwards. She wouldn't want me to embarrass myself in front of the other dogs during our morning walk now, would she?

P.S. Mommy says a nice doggy named Bailey is available for adoption through CAP - the Citizens for Animal Protection - so if you'd like to learn more about Bailey, click here.

Heartworm

2009-08-26T18:03:00.000-07:00

I went to the vet yesterday so they could test me for heartworm. Mommy makes sure I take a special pill every month so I don't get it, but unfortunately I still have to be poked once a year to make sure the medicine is working. Mommy says it's medicine but it tastes just like a yummy treat to me.

The vet tech tried two times to get my blood to come out but it didn't work. Maybe I'm too furry? He was awfully nice so I didn't mind. Then a different vet tech had to draw my blood and I was a very good boy. I didn't moan, whince, move or anything. I really like the staff there. They are always so nice to me. When it was all over, I got a special bone-shaped treat. And I when I was in the waiting room, one nice man said cockers are great. He told mommy that cocker spaniels are like children, only better. Mommy is always getting compliments about me. I must be one special dog. Well, when I'm not trying to eat poop that is.

I hope all of you doggies out there are on heartworm preventative medicine. If you're not, make sure you tell your owners to get you tested. If your test comes back negative, that's a good thing. Just take your medication - which tastes like a yummy treat - once a month and you're good to go.

Heartworm isn't a good thing so you want to make sure you never get it. It is a yucky worm that you can get from a mosquito bite. Mosquitoes like to bite my mommy. She has big red marks all over her legs. We can't wait until the winter when there won't be as many mosquitoes out.

Don't Leave Your Dog in the Car

2009-08-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

Owners, please don't leave us dogs in the car. It's hot in there and we can get all sorts of health problems. Some doggies have even died from heatstroke because they were left in the car.

No pet should be left inside a vehicle during the summer – even with all of the windows rolled down. The temperature inside a vehicle during the summer (even if the temperature is only in the 70’s) can rise quickly within a matter of minutes and can easily cause heatstroke.

Heatstroke can cause blood-clotting abnormalities, brain swelling, seizures, kidney failure, shock, coma and death. The adverse conditions might not appear right away, so please take the signs seriously; and more importantly, take precautions.

Signs of Heatstroke in Your Dog

Excessive Panting (*Note: Dogs pant to cool down but when they pant excessively, this is the time to worry).
Excessive Drooling
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Dark Red Gums
Walking Slowly or Differently than Usual
Extreme Lethargy
Odd Behavior
Seizures
An Elevated Heart Rate (*Note: a dog's normal heart rate is between 70-160 beats per minute)
Collapsing or Becoming Unconscious

Steps To Take If Your Dog Develops Heatstroke

Call your dog's veterinarian and go to the closest veterinary hospital as soon as you suspect your dog has heatstroke.
Move your dog to an air conditioned area. If you are outside and have no access to air condition, move your dog to a shaded area.
Apply water to your dog to lower his temperature back down to 104. Be sure to do this within the first ten minutes and use cool water, not freezing cold water. Start with your dog’s neck, legs and paws first before moving onto the rest of the body.

Ways to Water Your Dog

Wet a towel (or a piece of clothing if you are outside) and place on your dog as described above.
Submerse your dog in a sink, bathtub, or wading pool for a minute at a time.
If you are not able to lift your dog, use a garden hose to wet your pet down once the hose water cools off. (*Tip: Remember your hose will be affected by the heat as well, so initially hot water will come out. Let the water run until it becomes cool).

Tips for Walking Your Dog in the Heat

Walk your dog in the morning or late at night when the temperatures aren’t as high.
Carry personal identification with you along with your dog’s id.
Bring your cell phone. *Make sure your phone is charged.
Add your dog’s veterinarian’s phone number to your cell phone address book. It’s also a good idea to have the number of an emergency animal hospital just in case your veterinarian cannot handle the case.

It's Great to be a Spaniel

2009-08-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

As I sit here typing with my muddy paws and wet fur, it makes me think about what I was born to do. I love sniffing things in the woods and chasing anything I can find - usually squirrels and birds - and when I'm done, my mommy gives me fresh cold water (it's filtered and everything).

Daddy says I'd do well with tracking. Mommy thinks I'm great a jumping over things so agility might be my calling; and one nice man told my parents that I would make a wonderful hunting dog. Of course everyone says I'm sweet too, so perhaps I should be a therapy dog? So many activities and not enough time to do them all. Maybe I'll try a different one each year, or maybe I'll just continue to sniff the local woods and watch TV.

All I know is that my little tail goes a million miles per hour when I'm on the scent for something good at the park. Being a spaniel is fun although I'm sure my parents aren't fond of wet, muddy paws. Thank goodness for waterproof seat covers!

Adopt Me - I'm Teddy the Lap Dog

2009-08-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

This entry comes from Teddy, our guest blogger who is currently staying at Rover Oaks in Katy, TX while waiting for a loving forever home.

Hi,

My name is Teddy and I am a seven year old, seventy pound Shar-Pei mix. I might look a little gruff (I prefer to think of it as "distinguished"), but I am really just a big old teddy bear. Get it? "TEDDY" bear! Hah!

Anyway, my story is a little sad but things have been looking up for me in the last couple of years. I was a stray, and a very nice lady found me on the road after I'd been hit by a car. She picked me up and took me to a vet, where they took care of my injuries and also treated my heartworms. She wanted to keep me, but I didn't get along very well with her other dogs, so she asked CAP (Citizens for Animal Protection) if they could find me a home.

The folks at CAP asked their friends at Rover Oaks in Katy if they could work with me a little bit since I wasn't very good with other dogs. So, I came to Rover Oaks, where I have been staying for over a year. The trainers there told CAP that I'm not really dog-aggressive, I just have something called a high prey drive so I am inclined to chase after smaller animals. Who knows, maybe it's because I had to find my own food out there on the streets.

In any case, I absolutely love people and all the folks at Rover Oaks absolutely love me in return. The only reason I haven't gone home with one of them is that almost everybody already has other pets, and it would really be best for me to be the only animal in the house. My favorite things are chew bones and stuffed toys, and my favorite activity (besides sitting in laps and getting chest rubs) is tug-of-war. Most days I get to go and hang out in the big kitchen at Rover Oaks, where everyone pays attention to me and I get lots of love. But, it would be even better if I had a family of my very own!

I'm a very low maintenance kind of guy and would be happy if I could find a home where I could be someone's couch potato companion. I'm also very healthy, except for some pesky allergies that make me really itchy in the late spring and early summer.

So, I just wanted to tell you my story and hope that someone who reads this might know someone who would like to take me home! The trainers at Rover Oaks would be very happy to work with any new family to help us adjust to our life together. If you'd like more information on me, you can call Rover Oaks in Katy at 281-693-7687 and talk with Joy or Jacque. Thanks for letting me share my story!

Love, Teddy (a/k/a the Lap Dog)

Euri, the Dog Ate an Entire Bag of Cookies

2009-08-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

Last month when my mommy and daddy went to the Pacific Northwest, I stayed with my host family. Melissa Maertens from Pets Are Inn picked me up in her van and off I went. I didn't mind because I love staying with my host mommy. She's always so nice to me, and she even lets me sleep in her bed - something daddy won't let me do because he says I hog the bed. Me? Hog the bed? I'm just a medium sized dog, how can I take up the entire bed?

So while mommy and daddy were away, I had a lot of fun with my host mommy but on the last day, I saw her pack up my belongings and I got scared. I did not want to leave so I did something naughty. I saw a bag of cookies just sitting there on the kitchen table, so I jumped up, knocked the cookies down, and ate all of them - that's right, each and every cookie. My bad.

I'm on a wheat-free diet so I'm not supposed to eat things like that plus I don't even know what was in those cookies. There could have been chocolate which could kill me. My host mommy was surprised that I had done something mischievous when I'm normally so well-behaved. I bet she won't leave cookies lying around the house next time I stay with her.

So on the way home, I got sick in my crate and threw up. Poor Melissa had to clean it up, and when I got back home to mommy and daddy's house, I didn't react enthusiastically so they knew something was wrong. They thought of me during their vacation and bought me muttaroons - wheat free macaroons for dogs. I normally will eat anything but I was feeling so sick that I didn't even eat the muttaroon mommy gave me. Mommy was insulted and didn't know what was wrong, but then Melissa told her about my antics.

As soon as Melissa left, I threw up on the area rug. Daddy was not happy that I chose the rug instead of the hardwood floors - which would have been easier to clean - but the rug was so much more comfortable. Then, as mommy was cleaning up my vomit, I ran to the bedroom so I could vomit again....on the area rug of course, isn't that where I'm supposed to throw up?

I was pretty sick all night and the next day but fortunately I made a full recovery, and I learned my lesson....well, OK, so maybe I didn't learn my lesson but what do you expect? I'm a dog for goodness sake!

Guest Blogger, Turbo the Poodle from Texas

2009-08-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

This entry comes from Turbo, our guest blogger whose mom is Joy Lee, co-owner of Rover Oaks in Katy, TX, and author of Rover's Rescues. Read her interview with the Houston Dogs Examiner by clicking here.

My name is Turbo because that's what I used to be like when I first showed up at Mom's work...some guys brought me into her pet resort and said I was a stray and they couldn't keep me. Thankfully, Mom did!

I am only about three years old now, but I'm not really a Turbo any more. I've had lots of health problems for a young dog, and I think I've been to the emergency clinic you were talking about one time when I took some medicine for my aching joints but it ended up making me throw up blood. And, I was in the hospital part of that clinic for three different knee surgeries and a bunch of tests. They say I have something called "lupus"...I'm not really sure what that is but I do know that the medicine they usually give for that is the same medicine that sent me to the emergency clinic. So I am on a different medicine, plus I get acupuncture and herbal medicines. And, I'm doing a little better now and am kind of getting back to my old self.

I still keep finding new and different reasons for Mom to need to take me to the vet though. Like, the other night, I was exploring in the back yard and came across a walking stick insect. Did you know those things spray a really nasty stuff and they are really good at getting it right in your eyes? I came running back inside, shaking my head and rubbing my eyes, and Mom took me and flushed my eye out, but the next morning it was still really swollen. The vet says I got an ulcer on my cornea from the bug and now I need ointment in my eyes four times a day so it will get better. Anyway, the picture Mom is sending of me isn't my best, but it's the best one she can find right now.

Hope we can be blog friends, but right now I want Mom to stop typing on the computer so she can give me my nightly massage! Bye for now, Turbo

Commemorate Your Deceased Dog With a Scrapbook Memory Box

2009-08-19T12:15:00.000-07:00

Mommy couldn't sleep this morning because she was thinking about a great idea: a scrapbook memory box for dogs that have gone to heaven. She thinks it is a nice way for dog owners to commemorate their beloved best friend who has passed on.

Want to read mommy's idea? Click here and give her your thoughts. Have you lost your doggy? If so, how did you deal with it?

I hope I never leave my mommy.

Hoshi's Guest Blog Entry

2009-08-18T20:51:00.000-07:00

This blog entry comes from Hoshi, our first guest blogger. Hoshi is a beautiful American Cocker Spaniel and my new friend. Hoshi's dad runs the Cocker Spaniel Forum at http://mycockerspaniel.com/forum/index.php

My dad was flustered this evening because he couldn't get Euri, my new Twitter friend registered on his cocker forum. Dad isn't good with registering "COPPA users." I don't even know what that means. All know is dad was clicking his mouse and typing like crazy. Dad is mad at me too because I chewed the phone line to our fax. He says puppies shouldn't play with cords because they are dangerous. Dad needs a fax so "COPPA users" can become members. I'm all excited about my new friend Euri. I hope he likes to play ball. Dad is taking a rest now. I think he figured out the "COPPA" thing so Euri can join dad's forum.

I'm Looking for Guest Bloggers!

2009-08-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, my mommy and daddy offered to dog-sit a Shih Tzu for the weekend. It turned into a fiasco because the dog had fleas and the owners never told my parents. But before mommy and daddy learned about the dog's flea problem, they learned that I was a jealous and needy dog.

I hated the attention they showed to the Shih Tzu and I acted like a spoiled brat who had sibling rivalry. Whenever mommy tried to pet the Shih Tzu, I would maneuver my way under her hand so she could pet me instead. Mommy said I was being selfish, so in an attempt to be less selfish, I'm going to allow guest bloggers on my blog.

So what do you have to do to be my guest blogger?

Well, you have to be an animal of course - any type of animal is fine, I don't discriminate - and you have to e-mail me your article. My e-mail address is EuritheDog@yahoo.com. Don't forget to send a photo of yourself too!

Part II of My Trip to the Emergency Animal Clinic

2009-08-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

Mommy made sure I was buckled up in my seat belt so I didn’t get hurt just in case daddy stopped short on the way to the hospital, and off we went down Houston’s highways. They might be scary for some people, but I love adventure. We used mommy’s Garmin to get to the emergency veterinary hospital and it took us there in no time. I wasn’t feeling very well but I still enjoyed the ride. When we got there, mommy and daddy couldn’t figure out how to enter. It turns out we were all on camera and had to use a special buzzer. A magical force opened the door and then we went into a big box that moved down. Mommy told daddy that I had never been on an elevator before but I have – at the airport. Silly mommy!

When we got there, only a kitty cat (that was old) was waiting but I was the very next patient. Mommy filled out the paperwork while a nice lady took me to the back room. I have to admit I was scared and anxious but the staff at the animal hospital was so nice to me. They kept telling me how handsome I was and I felt better. Who doesn’t feel better after receiving a compliment?

The doctor examined my belly and said I was a glutton. Me? Can you believe the nerve? OK, I admit it I am a glutton. I love to eat! Do they have overeaters anonymous for canines? "Hi! My name is Euri, and I'm an overeater."

The staff at the animal hospital suggested that I get an x-ray just in case, so my parents agreed – despite not knowing how much it was going to cost them. Pets; what are you going to do with them? They’re so expensive but we give you so much love.

Mommy and daddy went back to the treatment area where the doctor explained to them that I had eaten too much and showed them a picture of my stomach. It had expanded like a balloon, and all that food was putting pressure on my organs. Mommy and daddy were very concerned but the doctor kept laughing; she thought it was funny that I had eaten so much. I don’t think she’s ever seen such a piglet in a doggy before. They called me a chow hound, but I’m not a hound, I’m a spaniel.

The doctor told my parents that they could give me something to induce vomiting to help purge some of the contents of my stomach, so they agreed but then they left me with the staff and I was scared again. They gave me a shot and I knew I had to vomit but I was embarrassed to throw up in front of everyone. They kept telling me it was OK so I went ahead and threw up. The staff at the animal emergency clinic told my parents that a whole lot of food came out which is good. The rest of the contents in my stomach? Well, I had to poop them out the next day and not just once, but many, many times. At least I didn’t throw up again.

Mommy and daddy were asked a lot of questions about me because everyone wanted to know where they got such a lovely dog. I was very popular that night, and I have to say I loved the attention despite not feeling well. Afterwards, mommy paid the large bill and we went home. The moral of the story? You can eat as much as you want as long as you vomit afterwards. What? That isn’t it?

My Weekend Walks

2009-08-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

On Friday night mommy took me for a walk to the local park. We go every evening but some nights are more fun than others. On our way there I ran onto Spot's driveway - Spot is a cat, not a dog. Spot arched his back and started hissing at me but I didn't care. Mommy tried to pull me away but I just stood there with my tail - oops, I mean stub - wagging

When we were on way home two large dogs came out of no where. I wasn't sure if I should be scared or not but mommy told me it was OK.

The dogs' owner kept shouting at the dogs but they didn't listen. Mommy put her hand out so the dogs could sniff her and she kept saying things like "Hello doggy!" in a silly voice to the big dogs to keep them calm.

I stood still as the two big dogs sniffed me, but they got bored after a while and just wanted to be pet by mommy. Then, a car was driving down the street and one of the big dogs ran into the road but mommy protected him from being hit. When the car stopped and pulled into the driveway, a man got out and told mommy how pretty I was.

We continued walking down the street when two kids on bicycles came up to us. I didn't know what to do so mommy made me go over to them so they could pet me. Some kids in our area don't have nice dogs so mommy thought it was important to show them that I was a nice doggy and that I could be pet without biting them.

Then we were almost home and I ran into Spot's driveway again - I never learn! Needless to say, Spot arched his back and hissed at me again. You'd think he would be friendly by now but I'm getting the feeling that he doesn't like me much. Again, I tried to stand my ground but mommy didn't want my eyes to be scratched so she pulled me away. Oh well, maybe next time.

Over the weekend, daddy took me for my walks. Even though my parents are together, daddy has custody of me over the weekend...or something like that. Mommy says I'm daddy's dog on Saturdays and Sundays so he has to walk me. The good thing about walking with daddy is that he lets me off the leash when I'm at the local park so I can run and find poop before daddy can get to me. Poop is one of my favorite treats but my parents don't like me eating it. I don't know why, do you?

I Had My First Visit to the Emergency Vet Last Weekend

2009-08-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday my parents went to the gym - I'm not sure why my mommy goes when she runs with me twice a day - and when they were gone, I did something very mischievous which led to a trip to the emergency veterinary hospital.

My parents always give me a Kong filled with kibble and treats before they leave so I won't be bored, but last Saturday night I discovered that daddy did something naughty and I got the blame. He not only left the pantry door open, but he forgot to put the lid back on my food container. So what's a dog to do?

After I finished rolling my Kong around, I headed towards the pantry and well....I jumped up onto the food container, stuck my head in the opening, and ate and ate and ate until I couldn't eat anymore. I was very careful not to knock the container over so mommy and daddy wouldn't find out, but unfortunately my big belly gave it away.

I was so full that I had to poo, and even though I've never gone in the house before, I had no choice. At least I was considerate enough to go on the tile floor where it would be easy to clean up.

When my parents got home my dad said something disparaging. "Hi fat boy!" I was a bit insulted but I guess the cat was out of the bag - he could see my bloat. Mommy yelled at daddy for being mean to me because she never even noticed how bloated I was. But moments later when she took a few steps, she saw the poo and knew something was wrong.

Daddy thought I might have been spiteful but I have never been spiteful. I'm a good boy; well, most of the time. But mommy noticed that I was acting funny and she started to get worried. She saw that I was swelling up like a balloon so she started researching bloat on the Internet. She knew it was dangerous and dogs could die, but she wasn't sure if I had the dangerous kind or not. So daddy called the emergency hospital and they said to bring me in to play it safe.

So my parents ran around the house getting ready for our road trip. Oh I love road trips! They're my favorite...next to eating to my heart's content.

Stay tuned for Part II of my emergency vet hospital saga.

Oops, I did it again!

2009-08-14T22:12:00.000-07:00

So yesterday morning my daddy fed me extra early before he went to work, but what he didn't realize was that he left the pantry door open. Inside the pantry was a fully loaded Kong with food and treats that my parents were supposed to give me the night before but didn't because they were lazy and decided not to go to the gym.

So daddy put the Kong on the lowest shelf in the pantry - silly daddy - and when I was done with my breakfast, I knocked the Kong onto the floor. I did it! I'm brilliant!

Mommy was sleeping since she's not a morning person but she must have heard the thump because she called my name soon after the Kong fell on the floor. I had to quickly eat everything so she wouldn't see what was going on, and then meandered back to the bedroom where I pretended I had just eaten my breakfast slowly. Who knew acting was my forte?

Mommy was confused when she woke up and saw the empty Kong on the floor and assumed that daddy had given me the Kong for breakfast, so she called daddy at the office but he didn't answer. Fortunately for me, mommy felt guilty about me not getting a proper breakfast so she gave me another one - lucky me!

Later, daddy called mommy and told her the truth and I knew I was in trouble. Mommy wasn't angry though, she just laughed. I guess she knows me by now since we're coming up on on one year anniversary together.

Welcome to My Blog!

2009-08-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

Hi! My name is Euri and this is my blog. I'm not exactly sure what a blog is but my mom says people would like to read all about my adventures because I'm um, mischievous. Actually I'm just curious and smart and when you put the two together, well...things happen.

Thanks for reading my blog and don't forget to tell your four-legged friends and owners about it!