Animal Wellness Magazine

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!

New Year’s Resolutions for dogs

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!

Happy Holidays!

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

I Went to the Beach

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!

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 Don't Like Dog Parks

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.

My Paw is Injured

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

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

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.

Dogs Get The Flu Too

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

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

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

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

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

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'm Back

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!

Mommy Gave Me a Bath Today

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

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?

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!

I Don't Want to be a Girl for Halloween

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.