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!