Hey, All…Did you know they have a National day of celebration in MY name???!!!
Yup, February 22 is National Margarita Day!
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Category Archives: Daily Life
Valentine’s Day 2018
Always look at life through heart-shaped glasses, and EVERY day will feel like Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Spread the love!
Bird Dog Cheering on the Birds!
Margarita showed her Philadelphia Eagles spirit during the Super Bowl, and she made the local news!
She also made the Courier Post online news…
…And 6 ABC News Instagram!
New Year’s Eve 2017
New Year’s Eve 2017
Christmas 2017
As you might have noticed lately, we are WAY behind on our posts (almost a year – yeah , we fell WAY behind!) and trying to catch up on our 2017 adventures and daily shenanigans!
Here is our Christmas Celebration!
Our 2017 Christmas card:
Christmas morning… Santa was good to us!
We hope you all enjoyed your Holiday Season!
When the Beaver Family Comes Christmas Tree Shopping in Your Yard
Hope our Red Maple looks great in your den, Beaver Fam!
Amazon Influencer Program
We are proud to announce that we are now a part of the Amazon Influencer Program!
This program allows us to have our own page on Amazon with an exclusive URL to showcase the products that the pups and humans in our pack recommend to our followers! When Amazon customers shop through our storefront, we earn money on qualifying purchases.
We get asked very often about the things people see in our posts. Now it’s even easier to compile and share items with our followers!
You can find a link to our Amazon page on the home page of our website, or by clicking HERE!
Halloween 2017
My 2017 Halloween Super Heroes!
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- Lager
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- Limoncello
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- Hooch
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- Margarita
Rita Goes to College!
Margarita had her “first day at college” with a great visit at Rowan College at Burlington County meeting students and staff in the Student Success Center for their Mental Health Week event, while she helped enlighten them on the positive benefits therapy dogs provide for students with depression and anxiety!
The event was sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa Chi lota Chapter and RCBC Student Support.
The first full week of October focused on increasing understanding of what mental illness feels like, so others can learn more about the wide range of symptoms experienced by those living with a mental illness.
In addition, the purpose of this week was to also reduce the misunderstanding and stigma associated with mental health conditions.
Blessing of the Animals at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church: Brick, NJ
This summer Margarita was blessed at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Brick, NJ!
All the animals waiting to be blessed:
Margarita waiting in the shade as the Pastor begins the ceremony:
Waiting in line to be blessed:
Getting blessed by the Pastor:
All the animal’s PAWrents also received a prayer square:
More Summer Bucket List Items Accomplished
Margarita visited Island State Beach Park where she checked of TWO 2017 Summer Bucket List items:
1. Visiting a State Park
2. Walking in the ocean
Entering the beach
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- Atlantic Ocean
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- Rita loved watching all the birds!
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- Checking out the scenery
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- What a great day together!
Rita had fun taking a walk in the ocean for the first time!
My favorite photo from the day:
Tito’s: Vodka for Dog People!
This summer we were lucky enough to receive a pretty cool package in the mail – – Tito’s Vodka bling!
Tito’s Handmade Vodka is made in batches using old-fashioned pot stills, is gluten-free, and distilled & bottled in Austin, TX.
They even have a “Vodka for Dog People” program – where their mission is to better the lives of pets and their families.
100% of the net proceeds from sales through their Vodka for Dog People web store go directly to support their non-profit partners – and you get to choose which one non-profit you want to help!
Our pack thoroughly enjoyed their goodies from Tito’s!
Who Let the Dog’s Out?!
Thank goodness we have amazing neighbors who love to see our pack getting crazy out on the lake …(you can hear them cheering in the background as our pups come barreling out onto the lake!)
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
While checking-off a 2017 Summer Bucket List item, we were close enough to Barnegat Lighthouse to take an extra little drive and visit this NJ State Park.
Such a pretty lighthouse with an amazing view from the park!
Walking on the Beach
Margarita checked-off another 2017 Summer Bucket List item when we visited the dog Beach on Long Beach Island.
She even went into Barnegat Bay for the very first time (You can see Barnegat Light House across the Bay)!
Margarita had a blast retrieving her toy from the bay!
We had an amazing day!
4th of July 2017
Happy 4th of July!
July 4, 2017
First Baseball Game!
Margarita checked-off another Summer 2017 Bucket List item … We attended a Lakewood Blue Claws game together!
On our way to the game:
Arriving at the Blue Claws home stadium- First Energy Park:
Rita got her own “wrist” band for the game!
Finding our seats… we had a great view!
Watching the game with Pop:
Keeping cool during the game:
Margarita found a doggie friend, and didn’t want to leave his side!
Margarita enjoyed her first ball field hot dog !
Such a fun time!
Somewhere Over The Rainbow(s)
“Count your rainbows, not your thunderstorms.” ~ Alyssa Knight
We were lucky enough to see a DOUBLE rainbow from our porch this summer!
Limoncello
Summer of the Sloth
Since we get up so early during the school year, one of Margarita’s 2017 Summer Bucket List items was to sleep-in.
She accomplished that task like a boss! ZZzzzzzzz
First Canoe Ride!
Margarita’s Summer 2017 Bucket List item: Take a ride in a canoe for the first time!
What a beautiful night ~ The sky was as pink as Rita’s life jacket!
We had a beautiful sunset, and a fun night out on our lake!
First Ice Cream Cone!
One of Margarita’s Summer 2017 Bucket List items was to enjoy her first ice cream cone!
We took her to the Sand Stand in Medford, NJ – I think she enjoyed it! Haha!
Margarita’s Summer 2017 Bucket List
Summer 2017
As Rita began to enjoy her second chance with a “New Life,” I created this Summer Bucket List to help Margarita experience some fun things her “old life” kept her from enjoying.
Father’s Day 2017
Happy Father’s Day from the ones who take up all the room in the bed and test your sanity on a daily basis!
Father’s Day 2017
Mother’s Day 2017
Being a mother doesn’t mean being related to someone by blood. It means loving someone unconditionally and with all of your heart.
…To all the moms out here who traded beauty sleep for dark circles, salon cuts for ponytails, long showers for quick clean-ups, late night parties for late night potty walks, sleeping-in for early morning face-licking-wake-ups, pedicures for PAWdicures, and designer bags for poop bags…Happy Mother’s Day!
Happy Mother’s Day 2017!
National Limerick Day
National Limerick Day is celebrated annually on May 12, and celebrates the birthday of English artist, illustrator, author and poet Edward Lear, known mostly for his literary nonsense in poetry and limericks.
National Limerick Day also celebrates the limerick poem. Limerick poems were popularized by Edward Lear’s book “Book of Nonsense.”
A limerick is a very short, humorous, nonsense poem. A limerick has five lines. The first two lines rhyme with the fifth line and the third and fourth line rhyme together.
Here is an example:
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY
By Edward Lear
There was a Young Lady whose chin
Resembled the point of a pin;
So she had it made sharp, and purchased a harp,
And played several tunes with her chin.
Here at Cello’s Corner we thought it would be fun to try and create a Limerick about Limoncello. So on May 12, I did my best on writing my first Limerick:
Bring Your Child to Work Day
Brian and I only have “fur-kids,” so we have never been able to participate in Bring Your Child to Work Day, as the jobs we have do not allow us to bring 4-legged children to work…UNTIL … this year when Margarita became a registered Therapy Dog!
I am a Special Education teacher, so Miss Rita came along with me to work on April 27 (also my birthday!) to attend class with my students, and to make some Therapy Dog visits to a few other classrooms.
Miss Rita, keeping class in order! All the students were SUPER attentive, of course!
The students just love their time with Rita!
…and after a long, hard day of work, Rita needed a pick-me-up – so we stopped by Starbuck’s and she ordered herself a Puppuccino!
This was the best birthday gift ever!
We’d love to hear from you! Does your job allow you to bring your 2-legged or 4-legged children to work?
Easter 2017
This was Margarita’s first celebrated Easter with us, so of course we took her to meet the Easter Bunny! 
The Liver Killers – Easter Day, 2017
Easter Baskets!
The Easter Bunny was here!
Easter Breakfast:
Easter Basket fun and Easter Egg Hunt!
Margarita’s First Day of School
Those of you who have been following along know that Rita became a registered Therapy Dog. My school district decided to start a Therapy Dog program, and Rita was one of the first dogs starting the program!
My students were super-excited! They made welcome signs, and we marked the calendar for her first day of school!
Students created posters and centimeter cube formations to welcome Rita to our class:
Ready for her first day of school with her Paw Patrol backpack!
Rita did very well with the kids, and the students enjoyed having Rita by their side as they practiced multiplication facts.
Rita was quite exhausted after her first day with the students, and napped her way through my Prep period.
Rita’s first day was a success – what a great program this will be for the students!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day 2017!
Limoncello, Hooch, Margarita, Lager
Lure Coursing
We recently tried Lure Coursing with Rita!
Lure Coursing is a system of mechanized lures and pulleys that simulate the unpredictability of chasing live prey. Dogs of eligible breeds are evaluated for follow, speed, agility, endurance, and overall ability as they pursue an artificial lure zigzagging across an open field. All dogs one year of age or older from the following breeds are eligible to participate in Lure Coursing Events.
AKC Recognized Breeds
- Afghan Hound
- Basenji
- Borzoi
- Cirneco Dell’Etna
- Greyhound
- Ibizan Hound
- Irish Wolfhound
- Italian Greyhound
- Pharaoh Hound
- Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Saluki
- Scottish Deerhound
- Sloughi
- Whippet
If your dog is not one of the listed breeds above, you can still have them participate in the CAT test. The Coursing Ability Test (CAT) is an introductory event fashioned after the sport of lure coursing, and is for any dog of any breed, including mixed-breeds, as long as it is at least 1 year old and individually registered or listed with AKC. It tests a dog’s basic coursing instinct or hunting-by-sight ability. The dog chases an artificial lure, and the test is a non-competitive pass/fail event with dogs run one at a time. To pass the test, a dog running alone must pursue a lure, completing the course with enthusiasm and without interruption within a given time. Dogs that pass the CAT three times will earn a Coursing Ability (CA) title. Ten passes and a dog earns a Coursing Ability Advanced (CAA) title, and 25 passes results in a Coursing Ability Excellent (CAX) title. Licensed lure coursing clubs may hold CATs in conjunction with a licensed lure coursing trial or as a standalone event.
If your dog is not AKC registered at all, they can still participate in this lively and healthy activity by attending practice runs, as Rita did in the below video.
She had a blast!
Lure coursing information from: AKC
The Liver Killers Review the CarPET Pet Hair Remover
Having both brown dogs as well as a white dog, we can never seem to be without dog hair showing on our clothes, furniture, or car upholstery. I was very excited when we were asked to review the CarPET Pet Hair Remover by GlosStock.
The packaging was appealing, and the directions were easy to understand.
I was especially excited we had been asked to try the CarPET Pet Hair Remover when I had a rental car with a black cloth interior, and forgot to put a seat cover down before taking Margarita on a ride with me!
When I realized how much of Rita’s white hair was all over the rental car’s back seat, I ran to get the CarPet Pet Hair Remover…
…and good thing I did~it worked great! Watch how the white dog hair begins to disappear:
The CarPET was super easy to use – all you have to do is hold one side of the rubber block FLAT on the surface and brush it lightly. You do not need to rub forcefully, as the pet hairs, will naturally brush away and gather on the block. After every few strokes either tap the block gently and the hair will fall away – or for longer hair, simply pull it off the block with your fingers and dispose. If necessary, you can also clean the CarPET by running it under some water to rinse.
Rita is super excited that the CarPET also comes in her favorite color: hot pink!
To buy the CarPET, click HERE!
The Underwater Treadmill is a Great Low-Impact Workout!
One of the ways our pack stays fit during the off-season in the winter months is using an underwater treadmill. We take our dogs to Dr. Fulton at V-Crest.
This type of exercise is beneficial to dogs as it uses the therapeutic properties of water to improve range of motion, strengthen muscles, and boost endurance. The underwater treadmill is a low-impact, high-resistance workout that provides optimal training and conditioning. During the off-season, this activity provides a rigorous cardiovascular workout for our pups, with reduced impact and stress on their joints!
New Year’s Eve 2016 (Rita’s First)
Happy New Year from The Liver Killers!
Christmas 2016 (Margarita’s First!)
Rita’s stocking!
All decorated for Santa!
The pups must have made Santa’s “Nice List!”
Margarita had a blast on her first Christmas!
Merry Christmas from The Liver Killers!
Beco Flyer Soars to the Top of Lager’s List!
Beco Pets products are two-for-two here at Cello’s Corner!
As you know, Margarita tested out the Beco Ball on a Rope a couple of days ago, and she thoroughly enjoyed it! We were asked to review another product from Beco Pets. This time, Lager had the pleasure of trying out the Beco Flyer!
The Beco Flyer is made from natural rubber and rice husk, making it non-toxic, and flexible, and perfect for a game of fetch!
We loved that the Flyer’s packaging was printed on recycled paper!
The flyer is very flexible , and the raised profile made it easy for Lager to pick up.
Watch how flexible this Flyer is:
The flyer was easy to handle, and all it took was a simple toss to get the Flyer to soar across the yard!
Lager had a blast chasing after this non-toxic toy!
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- Lager loved catching the Flyer in the air. It’s flexible, soft texture made us feel safe that his teeth would not be damaged.
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- Lager also enjoyed running around the yard with the Flyer.
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- The Flyer held up to some tough chewing.
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- Lager was just a “little” excited to get to the Flyer!
Overall, Lager thoroughly enjoyed himself, and the Flyer helped make fetch a bit more fun as the bird dog in Lager enjoyed tracking this toy as it soared through the air. We were very impressed with Beco toys so far, and look forward to trying other products from this eco-friendly company!
Check out Beco Pets on their website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Product Review: Beco Ball on a Rope
Keeping our Pointers both physically and mentally stimulated is very important to their health and happiness. We are always looking for new, Pointer-proof toys to help us bond with our pups, as we exercise the four of them. Our family is also very conscious about recycling, so I was more than eager when we were asked to try out a couple of products from Beco Pets!
Beco Pets is a fast-growing company focused on creating products for your pooch that are also good for the environment – all without compromising on quality, price, or safety for your fur-child. Whenever possible, Beco uses renewable or recyclable materials.
All rubber parts of Beco’s items are made from environmentally friendly rubber materials. Beco uses ethically sourced risk husk, which makes the rubber biodegradable, and free of BPA and Phthalates. Plant fiber plastic, made mostly of bamboo (they even recycle chopsticks!), makes their bowls 100% biodegradable. Plush toys and beds are made with stuffing from recycled plastic bottles, and only natural dyes are used for coloring. This company even recycles their cardboard boxes into the packaging for their items!
The first item we explored was the Beco Ball on a Rope.
The ball is made from natural rubber made from rice husk fibers, and the rope is made from 100% natural cotton.
This toxin-free toy is great for playing tug or fetch! We decided to let Margarita test-out this new toy!
Margarita also loved running around with this toy…
…Playing tug…
…and taking some time to stop and chew on it as well!
Here is Margarita enjoying herself with the Beco Ball!
Overall, we were very impressed with this product. Not only did Margarita thoroughly enjoy playing with this toy, it held up well to some tough chewing and rough-play, and best of all, it is non-toxic and eco-friendly. We look forward to reviewing the other products from Beco Pets, and Margarita looks forward to more fun with her Beco Ball!
Thank you, Beco Pets for giving us the opportunity to try out this product!
Check out Beco Pets on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter!
Margarita Meets Santa for the First Time!
Guess who we ran into while Rita had her first swim lesson? Santa! This was Margarita’s first time meeting Saint Nick – she loved him!
Margarita’s First Swim Evaluation and Lesson at Green Leaf Pet Resort
Those of you who follow our Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter pages, know that Margarita cannot swim very well. When we saw her lack of confidence while in our lake, we decided that it would be beneficial to have a swim instructor evaluate her current swimming ability, and help her improve enough to feel comfortable swimming with Limoncello, Hooch, and Lager. We took her to Green Leaf Pet Resort, where we had taken Limoncello and Hooch in the past to swim during the winter months.
Green Leaf was very festive and ready for the Holidays!
Margarita’s instructor, Krystal, was so patient and kind!
With a little coaxing and a lot of patience, Rita was swimming with some guidance.
Margarita is definitely going to need some further instruction. We plan to continue to take her twice a month through the winter months in hopes to become a more confident swimmer this year.
Halloween 2016
Happy HOWL-oween 2016 from The Liver Killers Team!
The Referee:
The Cheerleader:
…and the “Playa’s”:
“Zen Clipper” Took the Stress Out of Our Pack’s Nail Clipping!
Trimming nails is a part of having 4 legged children. Nails that are too long can chip or break, causing a painful condition for your pup. Additionally, nails that are too long can make it difficult or painful for your dog to walk. In extreme cases, the nail can even begin to curl under and embed itself in your dog’s paw pad (ouch!) We trim our pack’s nails about once a week. The boys, Lager and Hooch, need a good trimming each week. The girls, Limoncello and Margarita, usually don’t need much at all. Every dog’s nails grow at a different rate, and some dogs wear their nails down naturally with their day-to-day activities. No matter what your pup’s daily schedule is, nail trimming is a must. But what do you do when your pup is not a fan of nail trimming, or your dog has dark nails, and you are fearful you will cut the quick? (double ouch!!)
I have to admit, I have always been too nervous to trim our fur-kids’ nails. However, during our once a week “spa night,” I clean ears and teeth, while Brian cuts nails. Although Brian is perfectly comfortable doing this, it has always been a chore to “guess” where the quick is in our dogs’ nails since three out of the four dogs have extremely dark nails. Dark nails make it impossible to see the quick, and Brian has on more than one occasion nipped the quick. This is painful for the dog, and has made both of us feel very badly.
That is why I was super excited when we were asked to try the Zen Clipper. We were sent a sizing chart to help us choose which size clipper would be best for our dogs.
After following the easy measurement directions, we decided that Blue Size 7 was the correct size choice for our pack.
When our clipper arrived, I was impressed with the packaging, and clear directions.
I loved that the clippers were not bulky in size, moved smoothly, and were extremely easy to squeeze. The clippers are stainless steel, and have a conical blade, which is what allows you only to cut the tip of the nail when you are using the correct size for your dog’s nails. The handles are coated in plastic, and were comfortable on my hand.
Brian was pleased with how easy the clippers were to use.
We followed the direction on the package to insert our dog’s nail into the conical blade of the clipper, and squeezed the clipper to cut the nail.
We were very happy with the Zen Clipper. It sure made Nail Clipping Night at our house much less stressful!
Zen Clipper is designed, manufactured, assembled, and packaged in the United States.
You can download the sizing card and order clippers for your dog, cat, bird, reptile, or other small animal on their website. Also, check out Zen Clipper on Facebook and Twitter , and be sure to tell them Cello’s Corner sent you!
The Liver Killers… Now Sponsored By Ken Tidy Photography!
The Liver Killers are proud to announce that we are now sponsored by Ken Tidy Photography ! Ken Tidy has long been known as one of the most talented photographers in our area, capturing stunning action-packed images that truly express each dog’s individual personality. His images have been shared across the DockDogs world, and we are truly honored that Ken has chosen our fur-kids to represent his amazing work. We super excited about this sponsorship! Be sure to check out some of Ken’s amazing photography, and schedule a session with him to capture YOUR pup!
Website: www.kentidy.com
FB: @kentidyphotography
Twitter: @kptidy
Instagram: @kentidyphoto
Margarita and Mr. Spock Get Engaged at the Old Oar House, Millville, NJ
Each Thursday during June through October, The Old Oar House Irish Pub hosts a “Doggie Date Night, ” where dogs are welcomed to join you as you dine in their outdoor seating area. A portion of the proceeds from your food bill goes to the Cumberland County SPCA. This particular Doggie Date Night was a very special (and rainy!) one… Margarita and her heart-throb and fellow English Pointer, Mr. Spock, helped out the Cumberland County SPCA, and got engaged!
Margarita got Mr. Spock some special engagement gifts!
And Mr. Spock had a good friend make Margarita the most perfect and beautiful engagement necklace!
There were lots of party decorations and favors!
All our 4-legged friends go dressed up for the PAWty!
And lots of people and pups came to the PAWty even though it was raining – I bet you they came for this yummy homemade cake!
We’re Engaged!
Margarita showing off her new necklace:
The happy couple enjoying some of their engagement cake together:
What a fun night with good food, friends and pups! Best of all, we were able to help out the Cumberland County SPCA!
Margarita’s Therapy Dog Workshop: WonderDogs in Berlin, NJ
Brian and I think Margarita would make a great Therapy Dog, but we were unsure of the requirements, OR if Rita would truly make a good candidate for this type of work.
Last night we took her to a Therapy Dog workshop at WonderDogs in Berlin, NJ, where we have taken both Limoncello and Hooch for obedience training when they were young pups. (Click HERE to see Limoncello’s graduation from Puppy Head Start class at WonderDogs, click HERE to see Hooch’s graduation from Puppy Head Start class, and click HERE to see Hooch’s graduation from the Terrible Teens class at WonderDogs!)
Jenny and Rita getting ready to start the first activity at the Therapy Dog Workshop:
Margarita lovers her “place” mat, and was a well-behaved, attentive student:
The instructor, Judith Azaren, focused on a variety of skills, including:
- Greeting/Disengaging on cue
- Working calmly around other dogs
- Handler engagement techniques
- Moving exercises
- Distraction work including dogs, people, wheelchair, walker, etc
- Physical handling
- Stress signals
We feel as though Margarita did very well for her first time being presented with the tasks that were covered in this workshop.
Margarita quickly learned to look at me to earn a reward when she discovers staged piles of treats on the floor. Therapy dogs come across many items on a floor, such as medication/pills accidentally dropped on the floor. It is imperative that the dogs look to the handler rather than ingest what they find:
Here is Margarita weaving past other dogs, and not engaging:
Rita practiced loose-leash walking:
Margarita did well working around distractions such as crutches, wheel chairs, walkers, and a vacuum cleaner:
Margarita picked up on the “touch” game very quickly! Each time she touched my hand with her snout, she earned a treat. That was a fun game for her!
Here she is working on “touch” while not engaging with other dogs as they walk by:
Working on “touch:”
We have already contacted several Therapy Pet Registering organizations in order to start the process of Margarita’s evaluation and registration. We are hoping that with some additional training and practice, we will be able to have Margarita certified as a Therapy Dog so that she can help provide affection and comfort to those in need!
Do you think your dog or pet may be a good candidate for becoming a Therapy Dog? Each organization has different requirements, so be sure to do your research. Here are some of the most well-known for therapy pets (click on the names below to be directed to the organizations’ website):
SUP With Your Pup! Rita Learns How to Balance on a Stand-Up Paddle Board!
SUP with Your Pup!
Margarita learned how to balance on a paddle board! Why is this such an accomplishment? Due to her past, Rita is extremely fearful of any object that looks like a long stick/pole. She has a severed spleen as a result of blunt-force trauma, so we need to be very careful when handling objects WE take for granted, such as brooms, mops, vacuum cleaner extensions, and since we live on a lake… paddles!
We started with no paddle… Then introduced the paddle slowly- first just laying it on the board… then moving it around, then gradually picking it up. We got to the point where I could paddle – switching to either side- and she was fine with it. We will continue to work with her on the paddle board …and hopefully we will be able to fully stand up with her on the board sometime soon!
4th of July 2016
We were still in Canada on the 4th of July.
We left to come home on the July 4 …but not before we posed for a picture with some 4th of July bling! ~Cello wasn’t thrilled 🙂
We hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July!
May the 4th be With You
Easter 2016: Old Mill Stream Campground, Lancaster, PA
This year’s Easter camping trip was at Old Mill Stream Campground in Lancaster, PA. We had a great view, and a wonderful weekend with friends!
Our campsite (Site 125):
View from our campsite:
This campground is located at Dutch Wonderland and offers discounted tickets for the amusement park. The amusement park was closed during our Easter visit.
Old Mill Stream is also very close to many area attractions and shopping in Lancaster, PA. For those who would rather stay-put in the campground, there are lots of amenities such as:
- Two Laundromats
- Country Store – selling a limited selection of groceries, sundries and camping supplies including ice, wood and propane.
- Two dump stations
- Free Wi-Fi
- Game Room
- Playground
- Half-Court Basketball
- Horseshoes
- GaGa Ball Pit
Unfortunately, Rita had to stay with a friend for this trip since she had just gone into heat, and Hooch is still intact. However, we still made sure the Easter Bunny took care of Rita in our absence!
The Easter Bunny always leaves great treats for the pups in the camper:
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- Lager
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- Hooch
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- Cello
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- The Easter Bunny left his gifts on the couch of the camper.
Every Easter camping trip, we let the pups have an Easter egg hunt in the camper:
The Pups finding their Easter Baskets:
The pups on Easter Morning:
(Hooch, Limoncello, Lager)
When we were able to pick up Rita, we gave her the rest of her Easter Bunny goodies:
Happy Easter 2016!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day 2016
This St. Patrick’s Day is special for a couple of reasons – It’s Lager’s first, and also our foster-pup Penelope’s first St. Patty’s Day celebration!
“May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.”
~ Irish Blessing
Erin Go Bark!
Hydration
No matter the season, water is crucial to your dog’s health, but in the dog days of summer, which just so happens to be the height of our dock diving season, it’s even more important. A dog’s body weight is almost 70% water, so losing just 5-10% of body water means your dog could suffer from severe dehydration. Monitoring your dog’s water intake can improve their health, prevent illness or injury, and insure proper hydration. While some dogs naturally do this on their own, some either under-drink or over-drink. Too little water can lead to dehydration in dogs, kidney stones, organ failure, and even death. Drinking too much water can lead to stomach bloat, electrolyte imbalances, and water toxicity.
****PLEASE NOTE: If your dog is under-drinking or over-drinking, it could be a sign of an underlying illness. Under-drinking can indicate Parvo, Leptospirosis, or Pancreatitis. Over-drinking can signify a bladder infection, or diabetes. Be sure to have your vet check your dog if he/she is doing either.
GSPs are susceptible to bloat, so we have to be sure we keep an eye on our dogs’ water intake, making sure they don’t over-drink right before, during, or immediately after running. During intense activity, we use a stainless steel water bottle with a roller-ball flow top (acts just like a hamster/rabbit style water dispenser), similar to the one pictured below to ensure our dogs are not gulping large amounts of water. This type of water dispenser allows us to control their drinking during times when they would normally gulp, or drink too much. We always provide them with access to water throughout the entire day.
On average, Pets Web MD recommends that dogs should drink about an ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. If you are exercising your dog, you need to take extra steps to keep him/her hydrated. During exercise, give your dog small amounts of water every 15 to 20 minutes. Once activity has ended, don’t put a water bowl down in front of your dog right away. Wait until your dog is calm and has stopped panting before you let them drink. An overly eager dog can swallow large amounts of water and air, which could lead to vomiting, discomfort, bloat, or torsion.
Another great tip we learned from our agility instructor is to offer our dogs small amounts of watermelon on extremely hot days, while at competition events, or during strenuous activity. This is especially helpful if your dog (like our Limoncello) doesn’t want to drink while “working” or competing. The dogs think of watermelon more as a treat… and what a great treat it is! Watermelon is loaded with minerals, low on calories, and is great for hydration. For an added bonus, you can enjoy the watermelon along with your dog for some of the same benefits!
Benefits of Watermelon:
- Contains beta-carotene, magnesium, vitamin A, potassium, and vitamin C
- Great for dogs and their immune system
- High water concentration – great for hydration
- 91% water by weight
- ***THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
- Dogs don’t digest fruit as well as we do. Practice moderation when feeding it to your dog, especially if you notice a change when they empty their bowels. If your dog has never had watermelon, start out by giving them only a small piece or two, until you know how they will handle it.
- Do not feed your dog any part of the rind
- Remove all seeds before feeding to your dog, or purchase seedless watermelon
Happy Hydrating!
Information taken from:
Bear Claws Are Yummy
…Well at least to Lager they are…
We aren’t talking these kind of Bear Claws:
Or these kind of bear paws:
Nope…we are talking about THIS kind of bear’s claws:
When friends moved and gave us their bear skin rug, I made my Mommy’s day off quite an adventure. My curiosity of the second floor of our cabin lead me to stumble upon the bear skin rug hanging over the balcony railing.
Why have I not noticed this big toy before? Did they hang it there just for me!? They must have! When I took a closer look, I discovered that the bear’s claws looked tasty – and boy, was I right! They were very yummy snacks!! I ingested 2 before my mom caught me, and boy was she upset. The claws are as long as her finger!!
Mommy was in a panic and called my doctor. We had to drive through the snow storm to the vet so they could X-ray me in case I swallowed the claws whole.
Dr. Campbell and her nice staff fed me hotdogs and cheese (more yummy nibbles!) while they did my X-rays. They couldn’t really see any bear claws in my belly on the X-ray, so I got to eat even more yummy treats of high-fiber bread while Mommy got to watch me really closely the rest of the night…and each time I did potty, my dad got to search through it. They didn’t look excited about this …so I told them not to worry, because I searched a lot of things when I was in Iraq, and it’s really fun and exciting… And if you find what you were told to look for you get rewarded! Boy, I hope my mom and dad got a good reward after their searches out in our yard!
Dad was the best searcher, and found one of the bear claws. We never found the other, so I’m assuming the humans “overlooked” it.
My humans made me promise not to eat bear claws ever again. (They’re no fun).
~❤Lager