Thursday, 11 June 2015

Cool Cats and Hot Dogs

As it heats up, it's vitally important that you know how to keep your dogs - and cats - safe and cooled. Here, I share a handy infographic that will educate and remind you about the dangers and preventions of hot pets this summer.

Cool Cats and Hot Dogs by Cast Iron Radiators 4u
Click to enlarge and visit website

Cool Cats and Hot Dogs by Cast Iron Radiators 4u.

Keep your hot pets cool!


So ensure you are 100% knowledgable on how to act if your dog or cat slips into the heated trap of hot weather this summer, and know what to do to prevent tragedies occurring. It could save your pet's precious life.


We're joining our hosts, 2 Brown Dawgs and Heart Like a Dog, for the Thursday Barks and Bytes Blog Hop. We send many thanks their way, and you can join in below.


Wednesday, 10 June 2015

Om Nom Nom

Life is good with good foodies to nom!



We're joining our hosts, BlogPaws, for the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop. We send many thanks their way, and you can join in below.


Tuesday, 9 June 2015

Another Liebster Award!

I would like to give a huge shout out and enormous thanks to our good pals over at My Mutt Riley, for recently passing the Liebster Award onto us - another lovely Liebster for our collection! So, here we go, we our online award ceremony here on the blog...


Here are the rules that come with this award:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.
2. Give readers 11 random facts about yourself.
3. Answer 11 questions from the blog of the person who nominated you.
4. Nominate 5 - 11 bloggers for this award (those with fewer than 200 followers is recommended).
5. Come up with 11 questions for your nominees.
6. List three rules in the post, along with said nominees and the questions you wish them to answer.
7. Last but not least, notify your nominees.
8. And of course, have fun!

So, firstly, here are 11 random facts about me:

1. My strongest subject in school is English.
2. I currently have a book on the go.
3. My joint favourite colours are blue and red.
4. I have only been abroad once - to California, America.
5. I am more of a home bird, unless the event is dog related. Friends... are reserved for school.
6. I know more about computers and technology than my parents.
7. I am a sporty person.
8. I am not scared of spiders.
9. I am not a makeup and hair kind of girl.
10. My favourite outfit is jogging bottoms, a casual t-shirt and trainers.
11. I used to be horse mad.

And now for the 11 questions, posed by Frada at MMR.

1. What keeps your dog most entertained?
A good, stuffed Kong to last.

2. Does your dog like grooming?
Earl enjoys grooming more than Ethel, who is still getting used to the process.

3. Would you rather go for a morning walk or evening?
Hmmm. This is a tough one. I'd say morning walk, because of the fresh atmosphere.

4. What is the most embarrassing thing your dog has ever done?
Earl is a good boy, but Ethel once stole a donut off a visiting friend's plate.

5. Do you compete in any activities with your dog and if not would you?
Yes, I compete in agility with Earl, at Grade 5 Kennel Club level, and Ethel is coming up.

6. Does your dog like water/swimming?
Earl despises it, and steps carefully around the smallest of puddles, but Ethel is a bit more robust.

7. Has your dog ever won any prizes?
Gosh, yes! I have over 100 prizes, and Ethel has hardly began her career yet!

8. Why did you name your dog what you did?
Earl and Ethel have old names, because Borders have an old and rustic look! Earl is also a regal name, and Earl is the most regal looking dog you could ever see. Sat there, head held higher than the highest mountain on earth and beyond.

9. What do you like most about blogging?
The chance to write about your passion, and join a wonderful community of fellows.

10. What is your favourite flavour of ice cream?
It has to be bubblegum. Mint choc chip soon follows.

11. Does your dog have a special habit or thing about them?
Well... Earl will just do anything for me, whatever it is, and Ethel is a mental pup. Haha!

Now, here are the blogs I nominate for this award:

- Browndogcbr
- Sand Spring Chesapeakes
- Easy Blog
- Dory's Backyard
- Dakota's Den
- Spencer The Goldendoodle
- Bichonpawz

There are SO many amazing blogs I love. I would like to say THANK YOU to all of these blogs and all the others I read so frequently. You all make me smile. I would like to say an especial good luck to our first nominee, Browndogcbr. Hawk has moved to a new blog, and we wish them good luck in completing their venture.

Be sure to grab the award at the top of the page, you lucky nominees!

Now, here are my 11 questions for you, my nominees, to answer in your own award posts:

1. What is your dog's favourite pastime?
2. Apart from dogs and blogging, what is your favourite thing to do?
3. What genre of music do you prefer?
4. What food do you feed your dog?
5. Do you actively use social media?
6. What is your pet peeve in life?
7. Do you prefer nights out or home snuggling with your dog?
8. Do you run with your dog?
9. Is your dog an exercise lover, or a sleepy kind?
10. What is your favourite thing to eat for breakfast?
11. Have you ever attended a dog show?

If you are a dog blogging, then please feel free to adapt these questions so that you, as the dog, can answer them yourself!

I hope you all, my beloved nominees, accept this award with open paws, and post your own 'award ceremony' on your blog. I will be looking forward to reading them!




Monday, 8 June 2015

All About Dogs Show & Ethel's Presents

Well, as you will probably all know, yesterday (Sunday 7 June) was little Ethel's 1st birthday. And we spent her special birthday weekend in her favourite way - parading around a busy show, entering fun competitions, getting fussed by dog loving humans, meeting other dogs, and having fun out and about - at our local All About Dogs Show (click and see what the show involves)! We also went to the same show on Saturday. We entered more shows on Saturday, because on the Sunday, we were helping out on the have a go agility arena with our dog training club. The dogs enjoyed some playing about on the equipment when there wasn't a queue! On the Saturday, the dogs won HUGE! Earl and I were awarded: 1st in the Junior Handling Competition, 1st in Junior Obedience, 1st of our hour and of the entire day in the Doggie Obstacle Course, 2nd in Quickest Sit, and 3rd in the overall day's Best In Show! The Junior Handling Competition win took us into the BIS, and we came 3rd out of around 9 other winners! I am so proud! I entered Ethel in one, too, and she got 3rd out of around 40 other dogs in the Loveliest Lady competition! She was amazingly well behaved - everyone thought how sweet she was! Then, on Sunday, we only had time to enter one show, as we were busy helping on the ring that day. So, I entered Ethel, this time, in the Doggie Obstacle Course, and we won our hour and the entire day, just like Earl and I had the day before! We then worked out that Earl and Ethel were 1st and 2nd quickest dogs of the entire weekend! So that's 7 rosettes, a lovely Junior Handling trophy, and multiple huge bags of doggie goodies! What a brilliant weekend! The dogs were also treated to a new bandana each at the show, and a new travel water bowl. It was such a fun weekend spent.



Now, what did little Ethel get for her 1st birthday on Sunday? A lot, is the answer to that question! From us, as in, her family, she got: an agility competition collar and lead, a tripe bone, a pink extendable lead from flexi, a butterfly puppy toy, a thin tug toy on a rope, a thick rope tug toy, and a flowery bandana. Earl also got a tripe bone, so jealousy could be avoided! We even got her a birthday girl badge to pin onto her bandana on her big day, plus a card!

All ready and wrapped up...


And walla!


Here they are, opening her presents! Earl helped too, of course!

Get in there!

Ooooh, yippee!

This looks cool!

What do we have here, then...

From our good friends at training, Ethel got: a personalised soft bone toy with her name on it, a bag of chocolate drop treats, a bag of misfits treats, another birthday badge and a beautiful personalised card with her photos featured! She sure had a lot of presents!


Oh, and upon arrival home, we made her a cake... a cheese themed cake! A candle in a delicious block of their most favourite cheese in the world. Plus, Ethel was kind enough to break it in half and share with her big brother Earl! How kind!

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...!!!"

We would also like to send out a huge thanks to Jenna and the pack at Love is Being Owned by a Huksy! for the totally stunning virtual birthday card! Ethel barks a huge thanks your way, and we love how it moves and sparkles! PAWsome indeed! We would also like to thank every single one else who wished my amazing girl a happy birthday. She barks thanks to everyone!


We had an amazing weekend, and my wonderful little girl had an equally amazing 1st birthday.


We're joining our hosts Snoopy's Dogblog, Alfie's Blog and My Brown Newfies in the Monday Mischief Blog Hop. We send many thanks their way, and you can join in below.


Sunday, 7 June 2015

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY ETHEL!!!

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY ETHEL!!! I can't believe how the time has flown since I brought my little girl home at seven weeks old. I love her so much, and she has so much to give. Her potential is huge, and she is such a unique, clever and adorable pup. So wish my girl a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!


She is my girl, and I love her so much. Come back tomorrow and see what presents she got, and what a good time she had spending her big weekend at our local All About Dogs Show. See you then!