Here are our 11 Questions from K9sOverCoffee:

1. What is your & your pup’s favorite outdoorsy activity & why?

Our pack’s favorite outdoorsy activity is hiking.  In fact, we have a post that explains the benefits of hiking with your dog, as well as a whole section of our blog dedicated to Cello and Hooch’s hiking adventures!  We enjoy hiking because it provides many benefits to Cello and Hooch, such as exercise, bonding time with their human pack members, variety in their surroundings to keep them stimulated, and socialization with other pups and “peeps” on the trail!  Hiking also benefits the two humans of our pack (Jenny and Brian) by giving us an opportunity to exercise with our pups, relieve the stress of our day, reward us with a sense of accomplishment, and (my favorite!) it allows for many, many breathtaking views and picture opportunities!

2. Does your pup have a favorite sleeping position?

Yes, and Yes!  Cello’s favorite position is either curled up under the covers, or cuddled up with her favorite “baby,” Lamb Chop.  Hooch’s favorite sleeping position is on his back, with his legs spread wide open, as he snores (loudly!)

3. Have you had any crazy vet expenses?

Luckily (knock on wood!) we have been fairly lucky with vet expenses. Although Cello has had many issues since she was a pup, and is currently dealing with a skin and liver-value issue, our expenses have not been outrageous, as we have experienced in the past with both of our Miniature Pinschers.  Once we were out of the “puppy shots” stage with Hooch, we have been very fortunate with his health and vet expenses as well.

4. What are your thoughts on dog insurance ~ yay or nay?

Yay…yay…YAY!  As I mentioned in #3, we had 2 Minature Pinschers (Dante and Cleopatra) (who have since passed), who had many health issues throughout their lives.  We did not have insurance for either of them.  Both had severe health problems their entire lives, and both fell very, very ill in the their old age.  We spent thousands (AND thousands) of dollars at a time during these episodes, and regretted not having insurance.  When we brought Cello and Hooch home, the first thing we did is sign up for insurance!  I know of several people who all use different companies, but we went with VPI Pet Insurance through a recommendation of our prior vet, and we have had great experiences with them so far.

5. Do you feed raw food or have you considered it?

At the moment we do not feed raw.  For dry kibble, we feed Orijen to both Cello and Hooch.  Hooch is on the “Puppy Large” variety, and Cello is on the “Six Fish” Variety.  Both pups get a hard-boiled organic egg twice a week, and both get daily additions of Grizzly Salmon Oil, Coconut Oil, and Nupro in each of their meals.  In the recent past, we had given thought to switching over to raw when it was discovered that Cello not only had a chicken allergy, but also had crystals in her urine, and a skin disorder. We did lots of research, and decided to try our current feeding option for Cello first.  We switched to Six Fish Orijen, increased her water intake, increased her protein by adding organic cooked bison, salmon, and eggs to each of her meals.  Cello also gets an additional supplement of Milk Thistle to help regulate her liver values.  So far this has ben beneficial to Cello, and has improved her conditions.  However, if we find that her nutritional intake is not keeping her as healthy as can be, we will again look into the option of feeding raw.

6. If you use specific poop bags ~ do you have a favorite brand? (we love Mutt Mitts)

We do not use specific poop bags, but do carry LOTS of them everywhere we go, as both Cello and Hooch are masters of relieving themselves in THE most embarrassing places on the occasion we have forgotten our poop bags, or have not brought enough!

7. What brought you to the blogging world (other than your pawsome pup)?

Cello is the sole reason the blog was created! My goal was to document our adventures, and share with the world the abundance of love and joy Cello (and now Hooch!!) bring to us each and every day!

8. Does your K9 have a feline best friend?

Cello and Hooch have a feline brother-from-another-mother, named Loki, named (quite appropriately) after the Norse god of trickery and mischief!  Loki thinks he is “just one of the dawgs!”  He has a funny personality, and loves to snuggle with his pack, meows for treats, and follows us everywhere we go in the house!

 9. What does your perfect Saturday (or other day off) look like?

Ahhh, the weekend –  a day off means a day of fun…our favorite!  Our perfect weekend day is doing what we enjoy with Cello and Hooch.  We are fortunate to live on a lake, so some weekend days we enjoy just sitting on our dock, letting Cello and Hooch dive and swim.  We also enjoy hiking with Cello and Hooch, and seeking out dog-friendly attractions, historical sites, and wineries / breweries (Cello even knows how to sit on a bar stool, and has been served a drink {of water!} at the bar!)  Cello and Hooch also participate in dock diving competitions, so on many Saturdays and Sundays we are at events with family and friends, which we also enjoy very much enjoy!

10. Does your pup like his paws handled?

We have tried our best to pet, touch, and message both Cello and Hooch all over their body since they were small pups, in hopes to make them comfortable with being handled either by us, or a veterinarian.  Both Cello and Hooch are really great about letting us touch their paws and trim their nails.

11. Do you indulge in doggie kisses?

Definitely – – and and as often as we can!

11 Random Facts about our Pack:

1.  Cello’s full name is “Tommy D’s Limoncello,” and originates from Jenny’s grandfather’s homemade Limoncello recipe.

2.  Cello and Hooch live in an authentic log cabin, built in 1927.  Jenny and Brian have been (slowly!) renovating the cabin themselves over the past five years, back to it’s original beauty.

3.  Hooch’s full name is “Windy Spot’s Homemade Hooch,” and is a combination of the name of our cabin, and the homemade Limoncello in #1. Read the full story HERE!

4.  Our entire pack volunteers for the German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue of NJ by doing home visits, calling potential adopters, transporting dogs, volunteering at events, and fostering. Cello and  Hooch very much enjoy volunteering as donation dogs while Jenny and Brian help educate others about the GSP breed and rescue.

5.  Cello’s DockDiving Big Air personal best (distance) is 23′ 7″ … and Hooch’s is 16′ .

6.  Cello has visited 9 states in her 3 years, and Hooch has vacationed in 6 states in just his short 8 months!!  …Hooch has spent more weekends away, then he has at home!

7.  We love to go camping!!

8.  Since there have been so many recalls on food and treats,  Jenny started “Cello’s Cucina,” and bakes homemade treats for Cello and Hooch.

9.  Cello has appeared in the newspaper for Halloween and dock diving, and has been featured in a calendar as well as in The Dog Show Journal.  Hooch recently won a contest and is going to be featured on a greeting card.

10.  Cello has ridden on a public bus, a ferry (to both Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard!), a tour bus,  and a golf cart during our traveling adventures.

11.  Cello and Hooch’s coloring is called “Liver.”

Our Nominations:

1. The Little GSP: Annie blogs about the food, running, hiking, and of course, her little GSP, Piper!   The Little GSP is who inspired me to share Cello and Hooch’s adventures through blogging!
2. Barking From the Bayou: A blog about funny dog stories, important pet information, and lots of great pictures of Bentley the Bassett Hound!  M.K. Clinton also does a great Monday          NETWoof News post every Monday that you won’t want to miss.  Don’t forget to check out M.K. Clinton’s book series, The Returns, also! M.K. Clinton has been one of our biggest supporters on all of our social media!
3. Running With Sam: Aimee shares running stories and gorgeous photos of her and her dog, Sam, on their running adventures in Colorado.
4. The Adventures of Sawyer:  This blog follows the daily adventures of Sawyer, a 3 year old Jack Russell Terrier, who lives in Salt Lake City, UT.
5. My Goodness:  Jordyn blogs about exercise tips, clean eating habits, and random GOODNESS with her friends and family…and she has 2 GSPs, Guinness and Daisy!
6. 2 Brown Dawgs: Escapades of super-cute Chesapeake Bay Retrievers!
7. Tails of a Foster Mom: Rebecca shares stories about her foster pups, and all that she has learned about dogs along the way.
8. The Adventures of a Dog Mom: Emily shares her adventures with her two cute Labrador Retrievers.

11 Questions For Nominees From Cello’s Corner:

1. Most bloggers have a moment where they say to themselves, “I need to tell the world about this!” What was that moment for you?
2. What is the craziest thing you have ever done with your dog(s).
3. More and more establishments are starting to become pet-friendly.  What are your thoughts on this policy? And do you hope that it becomes more of the “standard” in the future?
4. Have you have taken your dog to a dog-friendly winery/bar/restaurant/attraction?  If so, what was your favorite place, and why?
5. What is your favorite game to play with your dog?
6. Does your dog sleep in bed with you?
7. What is the silliest thing you have ever seen your dog do?
8. Does your dog participate in any organized activity, competition, or sport?
9. What type of training do you use with your dog?
10. How many dogs total do you have?  Have you ever thought about adding another to the pack?
11. Do you carry a first aid kit with you when traveling with your dog?  If so, what do you think are the most important items you have in your kit?

What To Do If Nominated: