If Dogs Could Speak...

Cuddle Monsters

It is a rare thing indeed when Simba decides to cuddle with me. Typically he wants a snack that I am eating and will perch himself on my lap until I give him a piece. Tonight I had my heating blanket on and he really loves the heat. He loves to curl up and sleep on the most comfortable blankets and shed all over them too. If Buddha wasn't a Husky then he wouldn't overheat as much and would cuddle much more. Sadly, Buddha has to get up and down from the couch constantly because even without a heating blanket he is always hot, hot, HOT.

Clothing Swap

We've all heard about Clothing Swaps where people get together with their gently worn clothing and accessories and swap them out for something else. I think that this theory can actually work out for dogs as well. The winter is slowly approaching and there are a lot of dogs who need to revamp their wardrobes. Then there are those pups who simply can't fit into their old clothes and want to donate them to their smaller friends.

I am collecting small clothing right now for a friend who has a puppy who will undoubtedly need some warmth in the cruel months ahead. So if you have any doggy clothes, collars, leashes, food, etc. then let me know! I will start at a smaller scale and if this thing actually pans out then I will contact the local humane society and make donations to them.

Let's not forget that the holidays can be tough for everyone. There is always a financial strain on the humans and this strain can translate to dogs and cats all around. If we can pitch in to keep a dog at home instead of in a shelter then I say LET'S DO IT!

Pups & Babies

We had an eight month old visitor the other day. The dogs get along with kids very well because they have been socialized since we first got them as pups. We feel that we are so fortunate that our dogs are gentle and loving towards babies and children. But it is so interesting to see the levels of interest that the dogs possessed towards the baby. Simba (my Shiba) was interested in sniffing her when she first came to the home and once he figured out what she was, he didn't care what she was doing for the rest of the day. So while the baby was playing for the rest of the day Simba stayed in his own place and in his own world, which is typical of his breed and left her alone until she began to eat. Once the baby had some snacks, Simba had his eye NOT on her but on her food! He quickly figured out that she had the tendency to throw or drop her food and he would steal whatever he could. He is a stealthy guy but more importantly he is very patient. He got away with lots of yummy treats.

Onix the Pomeranian was the most interesting of the bunch. He has met many children as well but it seemed as though he exhibited a little jealousy or confusion. When his mommy made baby noises towards the baby Onix was confused and would come over and sniff the baby and his mommy. Once in a while he would even jump in between his mom and the baby. He never showed any signs of aggression. Instead, he wanted to follow the baby around to check her out and understand what exactly she was! ALIEN! RUN!

 Ah Buddha bear! The kindest Husky in the world. He is like the big brother who is all up in your grill and will take your toys. He didn't care about her food and would move his head from side to side when the baby cried but he wanted to figure out what made this little girl tick. He licked her fingers a few times and sometimes followed her but what amazes me is that Buddha is so careful around little kids. He realized he was much bigger than the baby so he moved around like a shadow but did follow her nonetheless.

September Allure

Nature is a beautiful thing. I love to photograph the dogs at the park because they are pure, real. They play, roughhouse, run and some don't get along. Their kingdom is full of truth where a lot of humans wear a mask. The allure of nature is the variety found throughout the seasons and after storms, days of oppressive heat and cooler mornings. It all seems so elementary but it is truly intricate.  

Buddha's Second Birthday!

I have been consistently ordering cakes for my dogs from http://www.mybestfriendpettreats.com/
and they have always turned out great. This is the fourth cake that I have gotten in their short puppy lives and  every dog that has had a piece found the cake to be a hit!

This year we had a fun photo shoot with Buddha and Simba. We all wore blue and I am hoping that we can use one of the photos for our yearly Holiday card. Buddha had a fantastic day at the dog park, was a rock star at the outdoor breakfast and finally he waited patiently while I took a million photos of him with his cake.

Since Buddha loves squirrels so much we bought him a squirrel toy and he also got a very cool card with a stuffed Rhinoceros and Frisbee from his Auntie.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDHA BABY!!! 

Doggy Dip

The end of the summer has come and gone. I still can't believe how quickly it went by! I only went to the pool one time and it appears that the dogs have been in the water much more than I have. Here are some photos of the boys. Buddha is a natural in the water while Simba flails wildly and is very uncomfortable in any water. We had a great time. Well...maybe all of us except for Simba!