How Your Dog Can Help You Reach Your Fitness Goals

As 2009 ends and 2010 begins, so many resolutions are made (and quickly broken). If your resolution is to get fit in 2010, here are a couple of ways that owning a dog can help you keep from breaking your resolution.

1. Exercise: both you and your dog need it. Your dog wants it! Why not help your friend out. Walking is great exercise and simple to do. You don't need any special equipment (except good shoes) and you don't need a club membership to do it. There are also other ways to exercise with your dog. Why not go outside and toss a frisbee or her favorite toy. Go to the dog park and run around (both of you!) Or, if you're ready and your dog is ready, go for a run or bike ride. Just make sure you know if your dog can handle it. For example, I'm a boxer and have a short snout. Short snouted dogs like me (pugs, boston terriers, etc.) have a harder time breathing and can overheat. So, please know your dogs limitations.

2. Happiness and less stress: Being happy and stress free will help you keep your resolution. And owning a pet has been shown to relieve stress. Why wouldn't it. We're there when you need a friend, always willing to give you a "kiss" or just a wag of the tail to let you know we love you. And we don't care if you have taken a shower or made your bed! It's no wonder they call us man's best friend!

So grab the leash and get going!

Saying Goodbye to 2009 and Hello to 2010

Wow, another year has come and gone. I'm a year older and a year less puppylike (translate as I don't get in nearly as much trouble as I did a year ago!). It's been a fun year with many ups and downs but mostly ups. So, here are some of my favorite things:

For my collar and lead needs, nothing beats the stuff I wear from a tail we could wag and they have matching belts for you humans!

Some of my favorite toys are my katie's bumpers and my toys from canine genius. I also like to play with my chuck it!

I like the dog park a lot. I get to meet lots of other dogs and people! Maybe when it warms up a little more Joe and Laurie will take me again.

And, I'll eat just about anything they give me! Laurie's very careful to make sure I eat good stuff and not things that will hurt me. I don't get many people food scraps but that's ok. I know they're not real good for me.

We support our local pet stores. We try to buy local when we can.

And now onto 2010. Who knows what adventures (trouble) I'll have. But, I'm a dog and I'm ready for anything!

Happy New Year and wishing you all a prosperous 2010!

Love,

Stella

Why I Have Pet Insurance

No, this isn't an advertisement for pet insurance....I'm just glad (or my humans are) that they have pet insurance for me. Just last week I was playing outside, which is what dogs do, and I tore my nail; right down to the quick. Laurie cleaned me up nicely and didn't think about it until late in the day. Realizing that it was Friday and the vet would be closed for the weekend, she called to see if there was anything she should do to keep an eye on my foot. You know, infection, whatever. Well, the vet said I should come in because, being a dog and all, I would probably continue to get it dirty, and get all sorts of bad stuff in it. Plus, since it had bled they needed to see how badly it tore. So, in I went and $200+ later I was home...E-collar and all. (I hate that thing!) I had torn the quick so they had to clip my nail WAY back and cauterize it. The e-collar was to prevent me from pulling the bandage off and licking my foot. It didn't stop me at all! Thank goodness Laurie took the bandage off after 1 day (it got wet). And I never licked my foot/toe so she took the collar off early as well.

We don't know how much the insurance company will pay but they do cover "torn nail" (yes, it's an actually code on the insurance sheet!). So, even if they pay half it's well worth it. Who knows what trouble I'll get into next!

For those interested, our policy is with VPI.

New Product News

Hooray! martingale collars are here! These beautiful slip on collars are great for training. A quick tug reminds me when I'm doing something that I'm not supposed to be doing. I've been wearing one for several months and I can vouch that it's great. Plus, they're made with all the same good stuff that all a tail we could wag collars, leashes and belts are made with.

Here's the product lineup: sun valley holiday, starry day mango shine, harborside daybreak, at the beach catalina and foolish fish real red.




















They are 1" wide and come in sizes s - xl. To order, please call us directly as they're not yet available through our web (or ask you local pet store to bring them in!) Our number is 866.726.wags (9247). Hope you like them!

On Being Considerate

I just got back from a lovely walk through my neighborhood. I'm always on a leash because, well, if I weren't I'd probably find myself in all sorts of trouble. And because the neighborhood asks dog owners to walk their dogs on a leash or have one nearby. Most of the folks follow these rules. But tonight we encountered one of the truly inconsiderate ones...A dog without a leash. The owner just shrugged and announced she didn't have a leash. Thankfully the dog was relatively well behaved and decided not to come meet me. Now I know that some dogs do great off leash, but what if...What if he sees a squirrel across the street? What if she sees another dog down the block? What if there is a group of kids playing that sparks his attention. Chances are the dog will go running after one of these distractions, regardless of what you, the human says or does. What if running after one of these distractions puts her in the middle of a street, busy or not, only to get hit by a car? Or if he decides to "play" with the kids but his play ends up injury one of the children? Any of these things can happen. And the outcome may not be pleasant for anyone. So why not be responsible and keep your dog on its leash while talking a walk. There are lots of other opportunities for your pooch to be off leash, like your fenced backyard or the bark park. (and if you don't have a really cool leash yet, check out www.tailwags.com for a great selection of leashes!)

The other thing that really gets me (and my humans) is those people that don't pick up after their dogs. It's also a rule in our neighborhood (and most places). I guess some people think that common area means they don't have to be responsible or considerate. Not only do we see lots of stray poop on the common area but tonight we saw several piles right in the middle of the sidewalk. Yuck! So, in addition to being the right thing to do, here are some other reasons to pick up after your pooch:

1. Tapeworms

2. Roundworms

3. Cryptosporidium

4. Salmonellosis

5. Giardia

6. E. Coli

7. Parvovirus

8. The smell

9. Poo on shoes

10. The flies (which could bring with them: Shigellosis, Polio & Eye Diseases)

We all know that we dogs love to smell other dogs' stuff. Why risk getting another dog sick? And conversely, do you want your best friend encountering some other pup's poop? And if a human is unlucky enough to step in it watch out! I don't know of much else that makes humans as mad as stepping in dog poop. So, please be considerate AND responsibl. Remember your poop bag and pick up after your pooch!

Now I must rest because the day has ended and the walk did me in! Wags!

Dog Days

It's been kind of quiet around here. The dog days of summer are setting in. Boise can get really hot! We don't go outside much when it's near or above 100. Without much activity I go a bit goofy, particularly when new people come around. Today, Andrea came by. She's a great dog trainer. I really like her and she's helping Laurie work with me. It's a good thing I get to try all of the cool new stuff from a tail we could wag. Like the new martingale, or training, collars they are about to launch. They're a great way to let me know when I've done something wrong. A quick pull and I'm reminded but they don't hurt like zappers or choke chains with spikes. YIKES! I'm glad I don't have to wear one of those. I get to wear a beautiful collar from a tail we could wag. Here's a picture of me in the prototype of the martingale. This is sun valley holiday. The only change is that the blue web will be black. I heard Joe and Laurie say they're going to be available in a few weeks, so if you're interested check out the website at www.tailwags.com or call them at 866.726.9247.

Well, I've got bones to chew and grass to dig up. Maybe I'll go for a walk soon, even though it's really HOT!

Wags!

Pets are Good for People

As my human Laurie sometimes says, here's a blinding flash of the obvious...Pets are good for people! Of course, I've known it as does Spacejam and all the pets out there. But here's an article that gives some reason on why pets are so good! Now of course I still do things that I shouldn't like jumping over the gate that separates the upstairs from the main living area, stealing toys, shoes and other off-limits items and jumping all over every guest that comes over, but then I wag my tail and give them a couple of doggie kisses and all is forgiven. (And if that doesn't work I cock my head and look at them with my big brown eyes...!) As the article says, I really don't require a whole lot (food, food and more food. some water and an occasional bath). But what I provide in return is priceless.

And now for a completely unrelated topic but since I feel like musing (for a dog, that is or is it rambling?!), a new airline for pets only launched today. They don't offer flights to/from Boise yet but you never know. Maybe next time the humans take a trip somewhere they'll take me and Spacejam along!

Obie - The Outrageous Retriever

Thanks to everyone that submitted stories for our outrageous pet story contest. We received some wonderful stories about things our four legged friends did (and sometimes continue to do). The good folks at a tail we could wag had a difficult time selecting the winning story but decided that Obie's story was the winner.

Obie, a yellow lab, loves water. But, he's also been extremely protective of his human children, especially around water. He loves to romp in the stream by his mountain cabin (ok, so the cabin belongs to the humans but us dogs need to stick together!) but does not like it when the kids wade in. Even though the adult humans have told him time and again that the kids are safe in the water he thinks otherwise...He actually goes in and drags them by their swim trunks back to shore!

Obie just turned 8 and has been doing this his entire life life. The "kids" that he protects are now 17 and 19 but to him they will always be his to love and protect!Congratulations Obie!

Take Your Dog to Work

Did you know it's take your dog to work day on June 26? Now I'm lucky, because I go to work everyday with the folks at a tail we could wag (and so does Spacejam, she hangs out with Joe while I hang out with Laurie, and Cheech, who hangs out with Mary at the warehouse), but not all dogs are quite so lucky. So, check out the Take Your Dog to Work website. You can get all sorts of good info there, like how to ask your boss to participate, posters to put up in your office, tips on making the day successful and more. According to the site, here are the top 10 things to say to convince your boss to take part in Take Your Dog to Work Day:

10. The squirrels in the neighborhood deserve a break.
9. Wagging tails work great when the a/c is on the fritz.
8. With a dog as your passenger, you’ll be able to use the car pool lane.
7. It’s a great way to lick the work day blahs!
6. My dog thinks you’re grrrrrrreat!
5. Meetings end as soon as Rover starts staring at the conference room door.
4. You can blame those missing reports on one of your employees’ dogs.
3. It’s the leash you can do.
2. Finally, someone at your office will actually be working like a dog.
AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON TO TAKE YOUR DOG TO WORK…
1. Friday, June 26, is Take Your Dog To Work Day®!

Please visit the site and check it out!

And now, since I'm a dog, it's mid-afternoon and the sun is shining, I'm going to find a nice warm spot to curl up in and nap the rest of the day away!

Outrageous Pet Stories Contest

The good folks at a tail we could wag want to hear your outrageous pet stories. They thought of the idea because of my trip to the emergency vet. Details below:

Tell Us Your Outrageous Pet Tale for a Chance to Win a Collar!

Recently, Stella ate 2 of Max's socks. That earned her a trip to the emergency vet clinic and a shot of stuff (that's the technical term!) to compel her to give them back quickly. I was going to try a home remedy that the emergency clinic said was ok but to watch out for choking as they came back up. That's when we decided to let them have the pleasure of helping us get them back the way they went in! Quite an adventure for our not so little 1 year old Boxer!
Now we'd like to hear your outrageous (but true) pet stories. What kind of trouble has your pooch gotten into. Or did she/he do something amazing or heroic? Whatever it was, we'd love to hear about it. The winning story will win a new harborside collar!
So, here are the details:

1. Write about your pet's antics in 200 or fewer words. Save as a word document
2. Send your story (as an attachment) to info@tailwags.com with the subject "outrageous pet story contest" by 11:59 pm (MDT) 6/15/2009.
3. If you'd like, send along a photo as well!
4. Please be sure to include your dog's collar size in your email.
5. Stories will be judged by the good folks at a tail we could wag.
6. Winner will be announced on Stella's Blog and our Facebook page on June 30, 2009.*
7. GOOD LUCK!

Happy Birthday Stella!

I turned 1 today! Laurie baked me a yummy cake (at least it's yummy for dogs...not sure the humans would like it!) What a fun year it's been! Here are some pictures so you can see how I've grown!

My trip to the emergency room

Last Tuesday night I got to experience a trip to the emergency vet. I don't really mind going to the vet cause I get to ride in the car and the doctor always gives me lots of treats. But not the emergency vet. They gave me stuff to make me throw up. You see, I ate two, yes two, of Max's socks. Stinky little boy feet smell. YUM! But Laurie didn't think that was such a good idea. They do feed me pretty well here but I wanted a little something extra, so I saw an opportunity and grabbed it! The next thing I knew I was going for a ride! Yay, I thought until I got to the clinic. Then they gave me some stuff (apomorphine) to induce vomiting. Laurie was going to try the old hydrogen peroxide trick (only after talking to the vet, of course) but decided to take me in since I had eaten 2 socks. I probably won't learn anything from my experience since I'm a dog, but hopefully the humans will try harder to keep things out of my reach. Socks, towels, rags, underwear, etc. I like them all!
That's it, I just wanted to share my fun with you all! til my next adventure....

Summer Travel's Around the Corner

I love spring! I just got a new fence so I get to spend lots of time playing outside. One of my favorite new sports is pulling the pine cones off the tree and then playing with them. It's becoming a bit of a challenge, however, since I've pulled all the ones of the lower branches. You should see me jump! Hopefully one of my humans will take a video of my and post it for all to see, since it's pretty amusing!

And of course, after spring comes summer. I hope we go on vacation somewhere. If we do, I'm sure we'll drive. I know my humans are going to make sure I'm safe when we travel. If you're going to travel with your pet, please make sure you're ready and safe. There are some great resources with tips on travelling with your pet. The ASPCA has some great tips for car travel. If you have to travel by air, check out the Humane Society of the US, which offers wonderful information on air travel. And, if you need some ideas on pet friendly places to stay, visit our friends at Fido Friendly magazine.

Lastly, since it's spring it's time to consider some new duds. I just got a new collar from a tail we could wag. There's an awesome new design that's not yet available through the web. It's called Harborside and it's bright, fun and made with the same high quality materials that they make all of their stuff out of.
Harborside Twilight

Harborside Daybreak

If you're interested in more information about Harborside, please call the humans at a tail we could wag. Their number is 866.726.wags

Happy Spring!

Happy St. Patty's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day. All of the humans in my house are wearing green today. I'm feeling a little green...Must have eaten something yucky yesterday. I was up sick in the middle of the night. But, I'm feeling a little better today.

Spring is definitely in the air. It's been raining a bit here in Boise (still snowing in the mountains, which the humans like so they can go skiing!). The crocuses are blooming and the grass is beginning to green up a bit. Spring is a really great time for humans and their pets. It's time to get out and enjoy the great weather. And pets like me really get to start enjoying some time outside. But, there are some dangers to be aware of. Here are the top 10 spring tips from the American Veterinary Medical Association:

*Fleas and ticks
They can be tiny, little more than a pinhead in some instances, but they grow and spread quickly once they find a host. The preventative treatments that you may have discontinued in the winter should start early in the spring to keep your pet's coat, and your home, free of pests.

*Lawn fertilizers
Lawn fertilizers are very toxic to pets. Store fertilizers in a place far from where your dog or cat -- and children-- can get at it. After applying it to your lawn, follow manufacturer instructions on how long you should wait before allowing your pet into the area. If you see a sign posted on a lawn that tells you to keep your pets off, abide by it.

*Pesticides and herbicides
It's probably not surprising that these chemicals can be toxic to your pets, but, even when they're not lethal, there are some long-term health concerns. Studies indicate the use of pesticides and herbicides may be tied to increased rates of specific forms of cancer in dogs. If your pet is exposed, wash them with soap and water immediately and call your veterinarian.

*Cocoa bean mulch
It's becoming common to mulch a garden with the fragrant spent shells of cocoa beans. But just like chocolate, dogs like to eat them and they are toxic.

*Lilies
Lilies are a flower common in the spring, and they are very, very toxic to cats. Cats will often chew them, and even small amounts can lead to kidney failure and death.

*Rhubarb leaves
Rhubarb makes a fine pie and it's a staple in many vegetable gardens, but the leaves are poisonous and can cause kidney failure. For a complete list of plants and plantings that can be dangerous to pets, visit www.avma.org.

*Rat and mouse poisons
Controlling vermin becomes an issue again in the spring. Be aware that the same properties of common rat and mouse poisons that make them irresistible to pests will also attract your pet. If consumed, these can be fatal to your animal.

*Cleaning products
Spring cleaning is an annual tradition in many households, but make sure the cleaning products don't hurt your animals. If the label states "keep pets and children away from area until dry" follow those instructions carefully, and store all chemicals out of reach of children and pets.

*Paint and paint thinners
If you're putting a fresh coat of paint on the house, keep the pets away. Paint thinners, mineral spirits and other solvents can cause severe irritation or chemical burns if swallowed or even if they come in contact with your pet's skin. Latex house paints typically produce a minor stomach upset, but some specialty paints may contain heavy metals or volatile substances that could be harmful if ingested.

*Preventative medications
Consult with your veterinarian about seasonal medications to keep your pet healthy. For example, in many parts of the country, heartworm medications for dogs are often discontinued in the winter. Springtime is the season to restart this medication to keep your dog free of this parasite. But keep in mind that manufacturer's instructions warn that heartworm medications should not be given without first visiting your veterinarian to ensure that your pet has not developed the heartworm parasite. A simple blood test will give you that peace of mind.

So, as the weather warms up and the days become longer, I'm going to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. But, I know that my humans will make sure that I'm safe.

And, don't forget to check out the new tee shirts at a tail we could wag. While you're there, maybe you'll see something for your best friend too!

A Taste of Spring

Today is a beautiful day here in Eagle, Idaho. The temperature was probably close to 70! We even opened the windows in the house. And I got to spend some wonderful time playing outside. And if that wasn't enough, Laurie took me on a long walk where I could sniff and eat everything I saw (until she told me to "leave it" or took it out of my mouth!)

Ok, so now that it's getting close to spring, time to get out some new duds...Maybe a new collar for the dog (with a matching lead), a new belt to match and a new tee shirt to bring it home! You can find all of this cool stuff at www.tailwags.com.

Hopefully this weather will last but I think not. It looks like its going to rain and I think it may snow again later this week. But, the weather changes pretty quickly here and soon it will be spring for good.

Congratulations "Stump"

We watched the Westminster Kennel Club dog show last night with great interest, because dogs are cool! Congratulations to Stump on winning best in show. Can you believe he's 10 years old! Oldest dog in the history of WKC to win best in show! Way to go.

Now, while a boxer didn't win either group or show, the best in breed did come in second in group (working dog). Pretty cool. Of course, I was sleeping while the humans were cheering her on. Making comments all the while about how I was cuter than the boxer in the show but I would need to work on my other skills (like listening, not jumping, being a little calmer, etc.) Anyway, I'm not going to be a show dog, just a great family pet! Besides, I get to wear these really cool collars from a tail we could wag. If you haven't checked them out yet, you should! They've got all sorts of really cool stuff for both us dogs and our human companions. And, they're offering a Valentine's Day discount (15%) through February 17, 2009. Check it out!

So, again, congrats to all the winners at the show! And to all of the rest of us, we're pretty great too!

Winter Reading

Well, by now you've figured out that my human owner is posting for me. After all, I'm a dog...a cute one, but still a dog! So, I get to lounge around while the humans do all sorts of fun stuff. One of their favorite lazy time activities is reading. All of them read, ALOT! Recently all but Zack read a cute book called "A Dogs Life". It's an "autobiography" written from a dog's point of view. The hero is a stray that goes through quite a bit in her lifetime before finding a permanent home. Now, I don't want to give anything away, but during her adventures she is sometimes mistreated by humans, even ones that think they are being nice to her. So, just a reminder (and I know that anyone reading my blog already knows this) that when pets are brought into homes every effort needs to be made to keep them for life. But, you may come across situations where you see animals not being treated quite right. If you do, you might want to visit your local shelter for tips and advice. The Humane Society of the United States also offers some tips on animal abuse and neglect. We're all in this together and anything you can do to stop or prevent animal abuse is greatly appreciated by animals and animal lovers.

And, if you know of any other good dog stories, please let us know! Happy reading!

January Blahs but Don't Forget to Exercise

It's January. Here in Eagle (Boise) Idaho we have hardly seen the sun in nearly a week. It's hard to get my owners to take me out. But, they know that exercise is an important part of my daily routine. They take me out to run me around the yard with one of my favorite toys, a blue boomerang from Tuff Enuff. I love to fetch it and then play hard to get! Other days, they take me out on a long walk, which is great because I love seeing new things and they get some exercise too. I even love to play inside with the boys. We play "football" with my soft toys (so nothing gets broken!)

Not only is exercise great for me (and my humans), but it wears me out, so I sleep better and am a bit calmer! But remember, the type and amount of exercise dogs get depends on a lot of things like age, health and breed. Here are some tips about dog exercise. But whatever you do, don't let the winter blues keep you from getting out and having some fun. I can't wait till it snows again!