Bull Dog Therapy

I usually post on Mondays but I came down with a lousy cold and was somewhat incapacitated yesterday. I went to the doctor who confirmed that my throat was a rosy red and told me to buy some over the counter medication. For a thirty dollar copay I wish I had gotten a little more help than that! I went home after the doctors and decided to lay down for a little while. As soon as I got on the couch, Ozzie decided to join me. There we snoozed away and when I got up I must say I felt a little better. I will contribute it to bulldog therapy.

I have got to get going and finish my shopping for Thursday. I have 20 people coming over for Thanksgiving dinner and haven't done much. Off to the grocery store to get my fresh turkey!

Finally Friday and So Long Regis!

I am very distracted this morning because I am watching Regis's final day on "Live with Regis and Kelly". He has been a morning staple in this household for many years as I assume many others across America. Ozzie is usually taking his morning nap by 9:00 AM most times so he misses the show altogether. Anyway it's sad to see him go and I am not sure if Kelly sans Regis will be something I would want to tune in to every morning. (Besides I was more a Kathy Lee Gifford fan!) Good luck Regis. thanks for all the memories and enjoy your "Second Act"!

Anyway that being said I have to get shopping and ready the house for Thanksgiving next week. We are having roughly 20 people coming which means one big turkey! Ozzie will be taking his spot under the dining room table waiting patiently for the fallout! I am also getting a package together for the boy scouts who are collecting for the food pantry in town which has gotten very low on provisions lately. For the holidays we need to keep in mind to donate or give our time to those not as fortunate as ourselves. That includes our furry friends too. Animal shelters are in great need right now, so any donations monetary or supplies are very much appreciated!

Have a super weekend all!

P.S. Sorry about the picture placement. Blogger is not allowing me to move or delete the photos or maybe its me?

Eat or not to Eat!

Please don't eat the daisies!

Since the holidays are on the horizon and we are going to have all sorts of goodies in the pantry I thought it may be a good time to review all things food that are not good for our doggies.

I know Ozzie likes to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables (variety is the spice of life!) but there are some things that fall in this category that are no-no's. You most likely know of the dangers of grapes and raisins, they can be toxic to your dog and onions and garlic can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. ( Onion being the bigger offender of the two.)

As far as turkey goes, never give cooked bones from a turkey to your pet, they can splinter and cause severe damage to their intestinal track. As far as that yummy crispy skin from the bird do not be tempted to offer that because that causes acute pancreatitis and at the very least will upset his tummy!

I have attached a link that gives a list of items to avoid. In the meanwhile I have to a make more Thanksgiving meatballs for Oz since his Grandpa finished off his for lunch the other day!

http://www.risingwoods.org/OURFAMILY/THEDOGS/knowntoxicfoodsfordogs.htm

Thanksgiving Treat for Your Pup

"Yummo!"

Happy Monday all! I wanted to share a recipe I tried out on the Oz this weekend, Thanksgiving meatballs . It's for the holidays or any day for that fact. It's quick and easy and requires a few simple ingredients.

1 pound of ground turkey

1 egg, beaten

handful of dried cranberries

1 slice of whole wheat bread

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a cookie sheet lined with foil and spread a little olive oil on the foil so the meatballs won't stick. Mix together the turkey with the cranberries. Take the bread and moisten it in the beaten egg, ( you may want to add a little water to stretch the egg) then break it up and add to the turkey mix along with the remaining egg. Make meatballs at your desired size. Arrange them on the cookie sheet and bake them in the oven for about 20 - 25 minutes.

Once they are cooled serve them to your favorite pooch. It's a great way for them to enjoy a little taste of Thanksgiving. Ozzie gives them two paws up!

P.S. to this post:

One thing I may add to this recipe. After storing in a container, carefully label it. Example; "Fidos Meatballs". If not someone may come along like Ozzie's Grandpa and eat them for lunch. Sorry Oz!

Finally Friday and Happy Veterans Day!

Another week has flown by and here we are. We have no particular plans for the weekend which is sometimes a good thing (like Martha would say) Maybe I will finally get to making those Pumpkin doggie cookies!

The leaves are at their peak here and with the windy brisk weather of today they are taking flight! Many neighborhood trees have suffered damage from the freak snow storm the other week, so their display is not as dazzling as it would be with missing branches and all!

Ozzie and I wanted to take this opportunity to say thanks to all who have served this great country! Not to be forgotten on this day are the dogs that courageously served in the armed forces. They too have made the sacrifice and along side their human counterparts and have served bravely over the years. If you want to read about dogs in the military check out The United States War Dog Association.

In the meantime Ozzie has prepared a little speech for this special day, take it away Oz!

Ahem...On this Veteran's Day let us remember the service of our veterans and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live free!

Very nice Oz! Everyone have a great weekend!

Catch That Labrador!

Phew! What a very exciting morning in the neighborhood! I had noticed a lot of commotion outside in front of our house as I sat at my desk. I then saw kids chasing after something down the street. It was a big brown lab galloping along Cleveland Ave! As the kids left for school the dog made his mad escape out the front door! I went outside to see what I could do. With doggie treat in hand I made my way towards the wily young pup. I approached him slowly and he ran to me. Yikes this dog was big at least 90 pounds and jumped up at me in uncontrollable, slobbering puppy like enthusiasm! I managed to hang onto his collar as a neighbor of mine lured him with her unwilling beagle who was just trying to do his business. He followed her for several steps than took off in the other direction towards the Boulevard! I ran home to get my car keys to follow the runaway pooch. As I circled the block I saw the kids and they pointed down the block. I went to the main street hoping not to find a doggy disaster when I saw a police car. I pulled up to him and excitedly told him about the wandering Lab. Then I noticed him sitting in the back seat of the car. The cop was way ahead of me and was on his way to return him to his owner.

When I get back to the house, Ozzie was comfortably snoring away enjoying his morning nap on the couch. I knew what Ozzie was thinking, "Dumb a-- dog!" I have to agree!

Messy Monday and Poo on my Shoe

Ozzie went visiting this weekend to see his buddies Harley and Tank. It's been a while since he has been there, ( last summer?) and I think Harley may have forgotten about him and was a little leery of the Oz. Let's face it, if you never see any other dogs other than your Labradoodle brother and all of a sudden this flat faced dog built like a fire hydrant shows up at your door it can be kind of frightening. Especially if you are only a 12 pound Pomeranian-Chihuahua. Ozzie just wanted to play so he chased Harley around who was not liking it one bit! Tank stepped in to bark at Ozzie to stop like the good big brother he is. They seemed to work things out in their own canine fashion and the boys were all "chillin" together at the end of the evening.

I found out the leaves on the ground in our yard make the perfect camouflage for poop! It becomes a game of sorts where you are challenged to find the hidden kabobs. I definitely lost the game the other day when I thought I knew the exact location of Ozzie's morning constitutional. I walked back into the garage and found a very unpleasant surprise on the bottom of my shoe! Perhaps this is a game all dog owners are playing at the moment. Inspiration to keep up with cleaning the yard of dog doo I suppose. Though I swore I heard Ozzie snickering when I discovered the mess on my shoe! Watch were you step and have a great day!

Finally Friday and Turn it Back!

Ozzie is looking forward to a relaxing weekend, (what weekend is not relaxing?). The weather this time around should be wonderful! No snowstorms in our forecast! The Northeast is still recovering from last Saturday's storm which brought down thousands of branches and trees along with that many electrical wires! Some folks still patiently wait for their power to be restored while power companies work around the clock to get things back to normal. Most people have furnaces that require electric to operate them so that means no heat for them as well! We were lucky and only experienced a momentary dimming of our power.

I want to mention a story that has been in the news this week about contaminated pet food that may be making pet owners sick. Not that they decided to eat kibble alongside Fido but the handling of the food and then touching ones mouth could transmit salmonella. The FDA announced they would be testing dog and cat food, along with feed for rodents, reptiles, fish and birds. Testing samples will be collected from major retail and wholesale pet food companies, including, but not limited to, PetCo, PetSmart, Walmart and Target.

Now what can you do in the meantime to keep your family safe? First of all the salmonella does not affect your pet so don't worry on that count it's only cross contamination that occurs in handling the pet food that affects humans. Here are some tips to help ensure you avoid this scenario all together.

Tips when purchasing food

Buy packaged pig ears, avoid bulk bins

Do not buy food with damaged packaging

Store pet foods in cool dry place under 80 degrees

Save original packing material for label and date codes

Avoid raw food diets

How to avoid illness

Prepare pet food away from human prep or bathroom areas

Wash hands after feeding pets

Discourage at risk individuals from preparing pet food (small children, elderly, immunocompromised)

Disinfect pet bowls regularly

Ozzie wants to rent a movie this weekend and he is thinking of Turner and Hooch which is a pretty good choice. I haven't seen it in a long time and Ozzie will probably like it, though I have a feeling he has seen it before. Whatever movie you watch over the weekend, enjoy and don't forget to turn back your clocks one hour Saturday night before you go to bed!

King of the Couch

This is the usual routine for us here at the Ozzie residence. I take the couch cushions off so I can get in there with the vacuum and clean up the piles of dog hair left behind from our favorite canine. Ozzie in much anticipation to get back on his beloved couch cannot wait and sits there, sans cushions! In the process of this he leaves more hair behind for me to pick up! Thanks Oz!

P.S. For those of you wondering what Ozzie wore for Halloween, it wasn't much. With the snow and all I just didn't feel in the mood and neither did Ozzie. He ended up wearing a dog-bone patterned bandana and anxiously answered the door each time the kids rang for trick-or-treat. The kids were so thrilled that a bulldog answered the door and supervised the candy being doled out that it didn't matter much what he wore!

Happy Howl-o-Ween!

We are starting off our day with snow covered ground and freezing temps. No it's not Christmas time but Halloween! Who would of thought we would get 5 inches of snow the weekend before Halloween? The trees have barely changed color and now they have been assaulted by wind and snow, the likes of mid-January! Many trees in our neighborhood have broken branches from the weight of the snow on the leafed limbs! That has also resulted in power outages all over. We were lucky enough to of been spared unlike some of our neighbors who have no power until at least Wednesday of this week!

I wonder how this will affect the trick or treaters later on this afternoon? It's suppose to be in the 50's today so it shouldn't be cold. Just a strange juxtaposition to see costumed kids against a snowy back ground! I am just going to throw Ozzie's pirate cape on him and say he is Prince of the Bulldogs, since he looks so regal in it! I am not sure Oz will cooperate at this point but it's my best shot. As far as dressing up your pet it's probably not recommended unless your doggie is a real diva and enjoys it. I think most dogs are like Ozzie and rather go au natural!

Have a great fun filled Halloween!

Here are some safety tips below from the Humane Society for our pets.

• Keep pets safely inside, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities to ensure they don't become frightened or feel threatened at the sight of noisy, costumed children
• Cats, especially black ones, may be the target of pranksters. Black cat owners are advised to keep their cats safely indoors during the Halloween season
• Frequently opened doors provide a perfect opportunity for escape, which can go unnoticed during all the commotion. Consider keeping your cat in a separate room with the door closed. For dogs, preventing access to the door can be as simple as keeping them attached to a leash, putting them in crates or confining them to another room with baby gates. Be sure all pets wear collars with ID tags in case of accidental escape. Of course, microchipping your pet is the best way to ensure your pet's return should he escape
• Keep candy out of your pet's reach. Candy can be harmful to pets and chocolate is toxic and potentially life-threatening to cats, dogs and ferrets
• Keep pets away from decorations. Flames in jack-o-lanterns and candles can quickly singe, burn or set fire to a pet's fur. Pets can become tangled in hanging decorations like streamers and can choke on some decorations if they chew on them
• Resist the urge to put your furry friend in a costume. Most pets dislike the confinement of costumes and masks. A printed bandanna or fun collar can be just as cute and often more comfortable for your pet
• Don't bring the family dog along for trick-or-treating. Dogs may become difficult to handle during the noise and confusion of the festivities. A lost dog bite will quickly end your Halloween fun

Finally Friday and Let it Snow?

Yup the weather forecast is calling for rain changing to snow on Saturday with a possible 1 - 3 inch accumulation in the NYC metropolitan area. Up north in Sussex County NJ where our friends, Terri and Dan and their doggies Tank and Harley live, they are predicting 4-8 inches of the white stuff! When was the last time it snowed before Halloween. Can't say I recall that happening .....ever! So much for global warming!

It certainly ruins plans we had for Saturday night. We always go into the city the Saturday night before Halloween to take our own spooky ghost tour of historic and infamously haunted sites. We usually end up at some point at McSorley's the oldest bar in the city. Believe me it looks it too! The bartenders are a bunch of characters that dress up for Halloween and serve beer three fisted at a time to tables. The walls are covered with memorbilia from over the years and the foot railing at the bar has Houdini's handcuffs attached to it. Yes the place certainly has a haunted quality about it. Well we may have to hunker down Saturday night and watch the snow fall while watching a scary movie or two instead!

I am sure Ozzie will be surprised by the snow. I anticipate it won't hang around long since Sunday will be sunny and in the 50's but enough for Ozzie to make it yellow in spots! Still working on Ozzie's costume idea for Monday. I like my son's idea of dressing Oz as a gangster and calling him Al Cabone, but I am not that creative and can't sew a stitch so it's not going to happen! Though the visual is amusing!

Well here is hoping you all have better weather than due us here in the northeast this weekend!

Smile and Say Cheese...Then Eat It!

Cheese! Ok I said it, now give me some Provolone!

I found what I believe is to be a good deal on Barking Deals.com. It's for Flavor Tek Dental Spray for dogs. It's all natural and not only does it give your pup better smelling breath, it helps combat tartar and keeps gums healthy. ( So they say! ) It's on sale for 13.99 for a 4 oz spray bottle, regularly 39.99 with free shipping. The offer is good for only 4 days so if your interested you best get shopping. I am going to try the product on Ozzie and report the results. Brushing his teeth is challenging at best and he is not the most cooperative dog when it comes to brushing. He constantly is trying to eat the dog toothpaste, usually chicken flavored, as if it was some pate appetizer I am serving him. Not that I will stop the brushing but this spray may make my life easier and Ozzie's breath fresher!

Flea is a Crowd - Mike Rowe, Chuck and a Flea

Ozzie and I have been invited by Norvartis Animal Health to check out their latest product for flea and heartworm protection, Sentinel Flavor tabs.

Even though the cooler weather has arrived there are still fleas that lurk outdoors and we must continue to give our dogs protection against the nasty buggers. Not only do they make our pets miserable but they invade our homes, hiding in bedding, carpets, furniture and even the floorboards of your home. Following are some revolting flea facts:

• Adult fleas represent just 5% of the flea festation-the other 95% are the egss, maggot like larve and pupae hiding in your home. (Yuck)
• A female flea can lay 50 eggs every day-as many as 2000 eggs in her two to three month life cycle. (busy little fleas aren't they?)
• Larvae are repelled by light and burrow into the carpet, fabric, cracks and crevices (Ewwh)

Sentinel has enlisted the nations most experienced authority on dirty situations, Mike Rowe the host of The Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs" to lead the campaign to educate the public about fleas. Mike is experienced with all things messy is no stranger to bugs. "I've been biten by just about evey parasite on the planet." he said. "Bed bugs, lice, ticks, leaches...I even had a tapeworm for a while."

Mike has made a series of videos for the campaign with his best friend Chuck, a Burmese Mountain dog who gives us advice on flea and tick control. Chuck by the way talks and is 6 feet tall but you will see for yourself! Ozzie finds the videos amusing but thinks that Mike's dog Chuck is too much of a neat freak.

Sentinel Flavor Tabs are only available through your vet and your dog must be tested for heartworm before medication is administered.