Tag Archives: dogs

2019 Holiday Gift Guide for dog lovers

It’s that time of year again and our resident reindeer and elf are ready to share some of their favorite gift ideas for all of the different people and pets on your list.1

To celebrate the season

  • Advent calendars $3 and up

IMG_2030Advent calendars have come a long way from when I was a kid. The assortment is enormous with items to appeal to even the fussiest person on your list.  Of course the traditional chocolate can still be found in stores everywhere, but other calendars are filled with toys, beauty products, beer or wine, and now there are even calendars for dogs and cats!

For the big dogs 

  • drying robe from Ruff and Tumble $50 and up
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Photo from Ruff and Tumble

We spend a lot of time in the water and I’ve had a very difficult time finding a drying robe that will fit a large dog. A friend referred me to Ruff and Tumble and the first one I bought was actually too big! They are located in the U.K. but they are very quick to ship. They are a little pricey but quality is wonderful and they are very long lasting. I recently got a pair of the drying mitts and they make drying muddy paws so easy. Find out more here.IMG_2912

  • a new leather collar or leash $30 and up
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A small selection of the many leashes we have on hand.

Several years ago I discovered that for dogs with long, thick hair around their necks, a round leather collar is the best collar to prevent matting and tangles. Ever since then, that’s been my collar of choice but it’s a little boring. I admire dogs with different patterned or jeweled collars, but I resist the urge to buy one for my dogs. As a result, I have a pretty big leash collection. I have leashes for training, swimming and walking the neighborhood.  I love buying a new leash and I have leashes that range in size from 2 feet to 30 feet.  I love the variety and I choose what to use based on my mood and what we are going to be doing.

Click here for my favorite round leather collar,  here for Hund collars, here for custom leather leashes and collars,  and here for patterned collars by Foggy Dog. They donate food to shelters with each purchase.

  • Oma’s Pride dog treats $8 and up
O'Paws Chicken Hearts
Photo from Oma’s Pride
  • High in fatty acids, vitamins A and B, Iron, and Taurine.
  • Sourced & produced in the USA.
  • 100% natural — no preservatives, additives, or flavorings.

Suggested Use & Instructions: Use as a treat, snack, or training tool. Feed whole or break into smaller pieces.

Ingredients: Hand-sliced chicken hearts

I can teach Winn to do anything when these treats are involved! Her favorites are the chicken hearts but she really isn’t choosy. There’s really nothing else to say, she loves them.

Click here to shop the collection.

For working newfs and their owners

  • Water Work, Water Play by Judi Adler $40 plus postage

IMG_1831-1The best Newfoundland specific water training manual out there! This book explains how to get started and how to be successful with each componenet of the Junior, Senior and Excellent test. If you know someone  interested in water work, this is the book for them.

Purchase this wonderful book here.

  • Katie’s bumpers $10 and up

IMG_3407Durable toys made from firehose. Great for big dogs, strong chewers and water play!

Click here for Katie’s Bumpers Amazon store

  • Garden totem or other pottery pieces from Prairie Dog Pottery $25 and up

IMG_2036A dear friend gave me this garden totem when Winn and I passed our first Water Dog test. She introduced us to water work and taught us how to do each different exercise. The metal rod I put it on for the planter is a little long, but I’m holding a spot for something special when we pass the Draft Test.

There are so many wonderful items to choose. In addition to the garden totems (with many different dog breed pieces) she has a huge selection of pottery items. I’m especially fond of the coffee mugs with a Newfie pulling a cart.

Brouse through her different collections here.

  • Newfie socks from Newfielove.com $16.15

PictureThe shop at Newfielove just keeps getting bigger. She’s got bibs, mugs, pillows, towels, t-shirts and sweatshirts and a whole lot more. I think these socks are pretty darn cute and the perfect gift for someone who might be bashful about advertising their newfie love. Check out her shop here.

  • Sea Bags $30 and up

IMG_2046.jpegThis company recycles old sails into bags. I’ve been a fan of theirs for a long time. I appreciate their reuse, repurpose mission and I’m nostalgic about the many years I spent living on the east coast. They are located in Portland, ME and have opened several stores in New England and beyond.  Winn knows this bag is “her” bag. It’s always packed with treats and all the things we need when we are training or testing. I’ve got my eye on a custom bag. I want to have one made with the image of Winn either pulling the boat to shore or jumping off of the  boat.

Click here to shop their pets collection but don’t be surprised if you spend more time looking around at all of their other items.

A little bit of whimsy for dog lovers

  • Dog Bingo by Polly Horner $29.95
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Photo from Polly Horner

How about a board game the whole family can play? You can learn more about other fun products by Polly Horner here and purchase Dog Bingo here.

  • Dog tail hooks $29
IMG_3341
photo from Grandin Road

I absolutely love these hooks and that they come in two sizes. These are available at Grandin Road here. There are similar options at several other online retailers if you want different colors or sizes.

  • Holiday kitchen towel from Sur La Table $12

IMG_2033This towel is pretty cute and there are lots of other options available to add to your kitchen. Dog lovers 12 days of Christmas towel available here.

  • Teddy the Dog $5 and up

IMG_2038Teddy the dog offers a huge variety of items featuring almost every dog breed with a silly pun. For the hard to shop for person, surely you will be able to find something here!

We hope you’ve gotten some good ideas for somebody on your shopping list. Most importantly, enjoy your time with your loved ones and give everyone extra hugs.

Happy Holidays!IMG_2064.jpeg

 

 

Our year in pictures

January: Annie, Winn’s first Rally title, fun times in the snow, training and Winn’s Canine Good Citizen title.

February: Snow!! Hearst Castle and indoor swimming.

March: St. Patrick’s Day, a VERY tiring grooming seminar and chasing chickens.

April: Kansas City with Maisie.

May: Newfoundland National Specialty, meeting new friends and attending a water training workshop with our Canadian buddies.

June: celebrating Maisie turning 5 and Winn turning 1 on our newly designated Annual Dog Birthday in honor of Annie, more ribbons for Winn and Therapy Dog training with Maisie.

July: 4th of July and water training with our friends.

August: Lots and lots of training fun and our very first Newfoundland Water Test (we didn’t do very well, but it was a great experience).

September: Studying hard for our final water test, which was our most successful and a great way to end the summer.

October: October baseball and Halloween, Maisie and I began our quest to find all of the murals in town.

November: Thanksgiving, playing in the leaves and frolicking in the first snowfall of the season.

December: The most wonderful time of the year!

so long, 2018!

How is it that the year is over? In some ways it seems like it flew by and in others it feels like it’s been a very long year.

It certainly didn’t start out the way that I had hoped. I had such big plans for Annie. For the first time since we brought her home, she didn’t bark at my son when he came home for Christmas break last year. She had finally accepted him as a safe member of the family and was able to tuck her fear of men away when she saw him. That was huge!

Unfortunately, she developed an illness that she just couldn’t overcome and we had to say goodbye on January 12. Even up until the day before, I was convinced that we could find a way for her to recover. She deserved more time with us but that disease is incurable and I promised her that she would never suffer in our house. It was the hardest decision I have ever made and to be honest, I’m still not over it. It was the right decision for her but I mourn her loss every day.

I think I overcompensated for Annie by working with Winn. We went to a Rally trial right before Christmas and she brought home her first ribbons! After that success, we continued to train in Rally and she earned her Novice title. In May, We traveled to the Newfoundland National where she earned her Rally Intermediate title and more ribbons. In June, I printed up the rules for the Beginner Novice title in competition obedience and entered a trial. She did beautifully in that and earned that title as well!

Once the weather warmed up, I decided to try and train us both for a Newfoundland Water Test and she was a natural. It was much harder than I imagined it would be, but on our final attempt in September, she came as close as she possibly could to earn that title and I was so proud. We didn’t pass the test, but she was able to execute each and every exercise, and we had so much fun working together. She really is an amazing example of a working dog and she loves to learn new things.

Maisie and I had very active year as well. We traveled together to Kansas City in April for a blogging conference and she was so well behaved. We’ve been working for quite a while at trying to become a Therapy Team. At the conference, I met a woman who was a director of a Therapy Dog program and she gave me some great advice on what to look for in a program. She was very impressed with Maisie, especially when she didn’t react and stayed right by my side after she was lunged at by a trio of very loud French Bull Dogs.

I’ve had to put our training on hold several times over the past couple of years, but this fall I was able to finally make some progress with her. I found an organization that seemed like a good match for us and in October she passed their temperament test. I need to do some observation visits on my own and with her before we can be officially certified. Once I get those done, hopefully we can get to work sometime in the next month or two.

The holidays always seem like a whirlwind and this year was no different. I love decorating our house for Christmas and this year I made a wreath to layer over the mirror that hangs above our fireplace. I’m quite pleased with the way it turned out! (I have admired a similar one for the last couple of years but I felt it was too expensive, so I gathered the supplies and made a bigger one at a fraction of the cost.) It was the perfect backdrop for the many silly holiday pictures that Maise and Winn patiently posed for.

As I reflect on the past year, I am pleased to say that we’ve accomplished a lot of the goals that I had for 2018. I admit, I’ve had a harder time writing this year, Annie was previously my inspiration so much of the time. I hope that as 2019 rolls around, I’ll be able to keep the blog going, but most of all, I’m looking forward to more fun times with Maisie and Winn!

These are a few of our favorite things

2018 gift giving guideAre you looking for a gift idea for that special dog or dog lover in your life? Whenever possible, we like to support local or small businesses and many of our favorite things fall into that category.

I received a free sample from Whisk and Wag and a free stick toy from Doog when I met their reps last spring, but since then I have purchased more items from each of them with no promises of good reviews.  All of the other products are things that I have found, purchased and used on my own (with the exception of the two items our friend Capone loves and recommends). I don’t use affiliate links or make any money off of my recommendations.

For the dog lover:

IMG_2949There are 5 different flavors to choose of this easy to make, easy to store mix.  Personally, I add more water than is called for because the mix is very crumbly and I find it easier to roll out and make shapes when the texture is smoother.  The girls haven’t noticed a difference and have loved every flavor that we’ve tried!IMG_2982

$9.99 each, variety packs available here at Chewy and here at Amazon.

  • water toys from Doog

IMG_5618There are so many choices!  We especially like the seal because it bobs in the water making it easy to see.  Winn also loves her stick toys and will play fetch endlessly when I pull them out.  I do have to supervise her when I pull these out, they are throwing toys, not chewing toys, as she would be able to destroy them if she were allowed to carry them off and lie down for a good chew session. I had a very positive experience with their customer service when I was waiting for a different item that had been back ordered and everyone I’ve interacted with has been so friendly and accommodating.IMG_6548.JPG

$9.99-$16.99 available here at Doog USA.

IMG_9608Keep your favorite furry friend nearby when you are out and about.  I recently bought a memorial key chain in honor of Annie, but there are many other key chain options as well as a bracelets, necklaces and ornaments. They are made to order and personalized so plan on about 10 days lead time during the holiday season.  I ordered mine last month and received it within days of my order and so far have been very pleased.

$14.95-$24.99 plus shipping, available here in her etsy shop.

IMG_5093Last year my husband gave me glasses with the names of each of our past and present Newfies etched under the Newfie image.  It took me a while to be able to use the Annie glass, but after a year of regular use and being washed in the dishwasher, they are still in perfect condition!

$13.50 each or $26.50 each if you would like to supply your own photo. Order the Newfie glasses here from her etsy shop other breed designs available here.

  • gift subscription for a sporting class (rally, agility, scent work, barn hunt, tricks)

IMG_4419Taking classes with Maisie and Winn is something we all enjoy.  Training has helped strengthen our bond and they each look to me as the leader of our team. My communication with them and their listening skills have continued to improve with each session.  They both love the one on one time and the tasty rewards. Take a look at the schedules at your nearby training center and surprise someone with a class to try something new and different.

IMG_9621
photo by Neater Pets

My mom bought this a few months ago for her dog and I have been very impressed.  We have had him stay with us a couple of times when she is out-of-town and I’m thinking of getting a large one and filling both sides with water.  The water bowl in our house is always needing to be refilled and Winn makes a huge mess every time she drinks. The trough under the bowls catches a lot of the overflow and the side rim helps to contain the splashing. (Of course we will still need the waterhog mat for when she lifts her head and walks away with water dripping out of her jowls.)

$19.99-$59.99,  available in 6 different colors and with optional leg extensions. Available at  here at Chewy and here at Amazon.

IMG_6629 (1)
Winn giving me her best resting beach face

T-shirts, sweatshirts, bags, hats, dog accessories and so much more are available in numerous designs with Teddy and a clever pun. (Of course I love Newfound Love of Life, but Shepherds Pie,  Pittie Party and Whippet Good are pretty great too).  There are many collections including breeds, sports, music and tv.  It’s hard to choose but you are sure to bring a smile to anyone who receives a gift from Teddy the Dog.

$15 and up, available here on the website.

For the Newfie lover:

  • Newfs Gone Bad 2019 calendar 

39526404_482797085521590_6490419737216942080_oThis calendar raises money for the Newfoundland Club of America’s Charitable Trust. Each year they ask for pictures to be posted on their FaceBook and the top 12 pictures with the most likes are featured. The runners-up are featured in smaller squares within the calendar (baby Maisie was in the calendar last year).

$25 plus shipping available for domestic, Canadian and International delivery. They can be purchased through the Newfs Gone Bad FaceBook.

  • Newfie graphic t-shirt, sweatshirt, ornament or coffee mug from Newfielove 

HoodiesChristine is a Newfie owner and graphic designer. She has created so many cute Newfie images that can be put onto many different things. I purchased a beach towel from her last year that she customized for me with a brown newfie.

t-shirst and sweatshirts  available here at Amazon.

GiftsMugs, ornaments, coasters and other novelty items $16 and up available here on her website.

22181290_1964701210474545_1682301798206480996_o$20.70-$28.80 depending on size, other gift items also available on their website here. (I’m big a fan of the Canoewfie design as well.)

  • Newfoundland Growlers gear

IMG_9624 (1)Newfoundland, Canada has a minor league hockey team and their mascot is the Newfoundland Dog.  Check out their online store here for the full selection of hats, jerseys and collectibles.

For big dogs:

Big dogs need big toys and these are great.  They are very durable and they float.  Winn did chew the handle on the pink one but she still loves to fling it around and chase it as it bounces.  They come in different sizes and colors and some of the colors are scented.IMG_7380$11.99-$19.99 depending on size and style, available here at Amazon and many local pet stores.

  • bibs for drooling dogs 

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This shape available from Droolicious

Big dog owners know that drool happens and wearing a bib helps with clean up and control.   Two of our favorite sellers are Droolicious bibs (you can find her on FaceBook and send a message. She is located in the UK so shipping takes a little longer) and  Designs by 2 Paws. They each have many designs on hand and will also customize anything you can think of.

 

Prices range from $27-$35 plus shipping.

IMG_3858As a big dog owner I have a hard time finding things big enough, especially beds.  This is one company that caters specifically to big dogs. They are made in the U.S.A out of high quality materials. The cover zips off for easy washing and replacement covers are available. I purchased one for Annie and she immediately knew it was hers.  She let Maisie try it out when it arrived, but after that, it was all hers.  Every night, she cuddled up on it, rubbed her face in the bumper while making happy noises and then fell into a sound sleep.

$199-$399 depending on size and style.  Crate pads and cargo liners for SUV’s also available here at Amazon.

For the dog that needs a little extra protection from the cold weather:

IMG_9616Our “shop dog” friend Capone recommends the super soft and washable stretch fleece from Gold Paw ($22 and available in many colors on their website here).

He also recommends the only boots that he will wear from Salt Sox ($54.95). These booties are available at Bentley’s Pet Stuff, small retailers and on their website here (you can also enter your zip code to find a retailer near you).

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So there you have it, these are a few of our favorite things. We hope we gave you some unique, new ideas for this gift giving season and we wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year!IMG_6632

Our weekend round-up

IMG_9531Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful.

Grateful for the people in our lives. Grateful for our home and the food on the table. Grateful for those that are no longer with us and how much they meant to us.  It can be difficult remembering our loved ones, wishing we had more time with them, but life is so much better for having them as long as we did.

This year, we didn’t have any guests or additional family members around our Thanksgiving table, it was just the four of us and that is always very special.  My daughter drove in from Michigan.  She had to be back at work on Friday so it was a very quick trip for her, but wonderful all the same.  My son drove in from Ohio and was here for five days which seemed to fly by just as quickly as the day and a half that my daughter was here.  It doesn’t really matter to me, I just love and savor the times that we are all together.  The house feels full again, as it should be, and I feel complete. I’m so very, very thankful that they both were able to come home for the holiday.

Wednesday was baking day and I made two pies and some dog cookies. I used a dog cookie mix that I discovered last spring. I usually keep a couple of jars on hand to supplement our huge assortment of dog treats. Whenever I’m in the kitchen the dogs are close by. Now and then, I actually cook for them and since they are always optimistic about getting an extra nibble they are underfoot as much as possible.  Winn is particularly eager in the kitchen, always alert and ready to pounce on anything that might drop.IMG_6488IMG_6495Somehow, they both knew that these cookies were for them and they watched my every move with anticipation. They knew that good things were coming and they simply needed to wait. They also thought it might help speed things along if they gave me a nudge now and then but their eager eyes usually do the trick.IMG_9497Once the cookies were done, I moved on to the pumpkin pies.  I gave them both a taste of the cooked pumpkin, which they loved, and decided to offer the pot to them for one or two licks.  I should have known that Winn would stick her whole head into the pot and come up with pumpkin all over her! I pulled it away, gave Maisie the chance for a lick and decided that was enough. They get dirty enough on their own, I certainly don’t need to add to their need for a bath.IMG_9490Thanksgiving morning we all (not including the dogs) participated in a 5K family fun run.  We actually did a brisk walk since not all of us are runners.  I had to do a fair amount of cajoling to get everyone to participate but they were up, dressed and ready to go at 8:15 just like I asked (despite my son’s raging hangover and my daughters aversion to races). It was bitterly cold but it was a very festive atmosphere. We were surrounded by families and it felt good (at least to my husband and I) to get some exercise before we sat down for a big meal.IMG_9514.jpgIMG_9518I thought it was a great way to start the day and we then went on to cook, watch football, take naps and eat one of our favorite meals of the year.

Thanksgiving weekend is also a time of another tradition, doing the final clean-up of the yard.  Our backyard is dominated by three huge old oak trees.  They provide a vast canopy which is wonderful in the summer because our house stays very cool, even on the  hottest days, but that also means we have to deal with a thick carpet of leaves every fall.  Those leaves are also the last to drop in the neighborhood so even though we would like to get the job done while the weather is still mild, it seems like the trees need a prolonged cold snap before the leaves will descend.IMG_4074img_3534The dogs were outside enjoying the cool weather while we did all of the work. It took several hours of blowing, raking and scooping but we got it most of it done with about 15 minutes to spare before the truck came down the alley to collect the bags.  They come once a week so I was thrilled that we got all of the bags filled and taken away in the same day.IMG_9569IMG_9586 After getting the leaves taken care of (before a big storm was due to roll in), I moved on to getting the front porch ready for the season. This involved cleaning out all of the baskets and pots, removing the furniture cushions, storing the small furniture under the deck and then hanging the Christmas decorations.  I’m glad I was able to get all of that done while it was still relatively warm out, the temperature was due to drop along with a big snow storm blowing through the area.IMG_6568

Sure enough, late Sunday night the snow started and when we all got up Monday there was a fresh, wet blanket of heavy white stuff to entertain Maisie and Winn.  They are always so excited to go outside after a storm.  They race around, plunge their faces into it and have expressions of pure joy on their faces.  What a great way to end the Thanksgiving weekend and get into the holiday spirit!IMG_6589