Squash E. Bear (RIP 2011), was the ultimate gentle dog. He very rarely questioned what he was asked to do, always let ladies go first (even when it had to do with food), and protected and blessed this family from the day he wondered into our lives. When you rescue animals you really never know their stories. You can make them up in your head, you can look at their scars and their phobias, but, in the end you just have to accept them as they are, and for who they are. I believe that people and animals come into my life at particular times on my journey for lessons that I need to learn to move forward. If I don’t open myself to those lessons, then I will just keep repeating the behavior that needs to change, until I do. I do not think that I can actually choose the lessons or the teachers, they chose me, at the times that they are needed. Squash chose our family at a moment in time when we needed the gentle and loyal energy of this unconditional loving giant. He taught me to refocus on the importance of a good walk 2 or 3 times a day (no matter what the weather). A good romp in the woods when possible. Eating to stay healthy (his blood sugar had to be constant). Taking one’s medicine even if we don’t want to (he needed 2 shots a day of insulin). Trust (I was his eyes for several years and he trusted me so much that we could walk together in the woods off leash and he never got afraid or hurt). Loving with abandon. Laughing and telling good jokes (he would stand on the other side of the coffee table and let out a big burp when least expected – you just have to laugh). I am grateful for the people and animals that pass my way, some for a moment, some for a life time.
Just another DogDaz morning at my house ❤ 
Tags: animal awareness, animals, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogDaz, Dogs, Life Lessons, nature, Pet, pets, postaday
firepaw:
Fred, the Labrador retriever, adopts Dennis, the duckling, whose mother was mauled to death by a fox.
more here
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discoverynews
Tags: animal awareness, Animal welfare, animals, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, ducks, Labrador Retriever, nature, Pet, pets, postaday
Somedays, it just makes sense to roll.
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Lil’ Sofie Bear loves to roll. She rolls on toys. She rolls on grass spots. She really really really likes to roll in ivy beds or pachysandra. When she has done something she shouldn’t and knows that I am going to yell at her, she rolls. When she wants to stop me from going out the front door, or even from getting dressed from my work clothes closet, she rolls on top of my feet. I personally used to be better at rolling but, as I got older, rolling both physically and mentally just gets harder and harder. Lately I have been getting down on the floor with the dogs and letting them roll on me and with me (Lulu likes to roll too, but only at home). Getting on the floor is a challenge for me (because it is hard to get up), so though it may seem like a simple activity, it is actually a stretch. And, because the dogs both want to be on me at the same time when I am sitting on the floor, it gets kind of crazy; but, they roll and I scratch bellies.
To me rolling is a form of letting go: not getting caught up in the ‘should of’ or ‘could of’ of the event and just going straight to the ‘OK.’ Sofie reminds me that rolling with things can be very freeing and healthy mental and physical exercise. So next time you want to regain perspective – get down with the dogs and roll.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: animal awareness, animals, cute dogs, dog, Dog People, DogDaz, Dogs, pets, postaday, rolling
newyorker:
From the look of our Dashboard, it seems as though it’s “Take Your Dog To Work Day.” Or, as Charles Barsotti illustrates, “Take Your Human To Work Day.”
Source: newyorker.com
Tags: Charles Barsotti, Comic strip, comics, Dogs, funny dogs, Humor, pets, postaday
My daughter has taught Nine, the kitten, how to sit in her arms like on a perch. He likes to be with her and sit there for a long, long time. I think it is funny the relationship that each of the humans in the house have with each of the animals, and how they feel it is special to them. And it is. Everyone creates their own kind of bond – human to human – animal to animal – and animal to human. When you have a multi-species household, you learn that everyone and everything has their order in the pack and a particular relationship. Somehow, I find it interesting how the animals know the younger humans (even if adult size) from the older humans (who sometimes are smaller than the younger humans). Is it based on energy, inflection of tone, personal presence? To the animals around here, I am the food source. If nothing else, they like me because I am the primary opener of cans, boxes, and bags. Hey, we all must have our purpose in life. (Oh yah, I am also the maker of rules, the teacher of lessons, the thrower of toys, the giver of medicine, and the major cuddler and tummy tickler – which also has something to do with the relationships I guess.) Every relationship is special and each of my animals, and humans, mean something different and wonderful. Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo. ❤
Tags: Animal, Animal rights, Animal welfare, Cat, Cat People, cats, DogDaz, Human, kitten, nature, Pet, pets, postaday
thefluffingtonpost:
Glamorous Dog Signs Contract with Paul Mitchell
Hair care products giant Paul Mitchell has signed a 4-year contract with a rather chic looking Chinese crested, according to reports in Mairie Claire magazine. The dog had been unrepresented to this point, but after a stunning debut at Fashion Week in New York City in February, a number of major hair care products companies were competing for her services.
The contract is reported to be worth $800,000 and will be paid partially in milkbones.
Via crestedcrazy.
Tags: Animal welfare, Chinese Crested Dog, cute dogs, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, funny dogs, pets, postaday
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Now that I can get the girls to ‘Place’ anywhere I really want them to (except really shaky things, they are kind of afraid to do that just yet), I had them pose for me on this tree stump so that I could take nice spring pictures. They are still kind of distracted, but at least they are not sitting on top of each other, which they do sometimes when I say ‘Place” and they both want to be in exactly the same place because I told them to. Oh my! 2 dogs – 1 command. Hope you have a wonderful spring weekend and enjoy your family – both furry and human. Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: animal awareness, animals, cute dogs, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, funny dogs, nature, Pet, pets, postaday
Good day in the park
The dogs and I had a really good romp in the park. I let them both off leash for the first time and basically was able to play without to much worry of them wandering off. I really love how a good play session leads to a good nap afterwards for them and I wish I could sleep with the same abandon as the do. They seem to be finding some funny positions to sleep in though. Sometimes, it is as if they were so tired, they just conked out where they were standing, Do you find that your animals sleep in weird positions? What is that about? Are they so safe and secure once home, that they allow all worries to disappear? I like that idea, if it is true.
Good nap at home
My dogs have started to really sleep close together, or let me restate that, Louise is now letting Sofie lean on her more and more. I find that cute. Well, I guess I will just “let sleeping dogs lie.”
Another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: animal awareness, animals, cute dogs, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, nature, Pet, pets, postaday
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Being a bug in our house is a losing battle for the insect and lots of fun for the animals (oh gross!). This poor Stinkbug did not have a chance. Could someone tell me why a mouse would ever, ever, ever, come into a space with 5 cats and 2 dogs? Lately, the Skinks have started to find their way in and are losing their tails to the kittens also. BEWARE: It is not a pretty picture if you are an insect or small reptile in our house. Maybe in some future blog I will tell you about the snake. Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: animal awareness, animals, Cat, cats, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, nature, pets, postaday, Stinkbug
Can I take a nap, Mommy?
I try and wash the sheets on the dog bed in my office as often as I remember to. The dogs like to help me change the dog bed sheets. Sofie wanted to take a nap before I was finished putting the clean sheets back on. Oh well, she was toooo cute to say no to.
In a house with multiple pets (and humans), it is basically impossible to manage the hair. I have always told the kids to tell any friends that might be coming over to (1) take their allergy medicine, if they need it, and (2) don’t wear black. Now you know, I always wear black and I have a lint roller in every car and purse, and stationed at every exit.
Tumbleweed
Trying to control animal hair in my house is like trying to control tumble weeds in the desert – good luck with that! I even bought that fancy Animal vacuum when it came out and….. I am not impressed. What I have learned is that the short haired animals in my house seem to shed a great deal more then the long hairs (both cats and dogs). The Guinea Pigs used to shed a lot too, but mostly that was contained. Louise is a constant shedder. There is black lab hairs everywhere, all the time, even after you just swept or vacuumed. Cat hair – OMG!! – I can run the vacuum down the hall, and by the time I am back in the living room, it has to be done all over again.
I pulled a pencil out of my pencil cup this morning on my desk and the eraser had all this white Noel fur on it. (She lives on my desk most of the time, remember.)
I wash the dog’s kennel bedding once a week too. I guess I probably should do it more, but they are never really dirty when the go to sleep (who am I kidding, they are dogs and they walk in dirt all the time!) I guess if I saved all the hair when I brushed them and around the house, I could probably go into the hair pillow business, but then, I figure most of you have enough of your own pet hair to make pillows with.
Models wearing animal hairdos
Oh did I mention all the long curly human hair in the house too. Well, that is for another blog.
Just another DogDaz morning at my house.
Tags: animal awareness, Animal welfare, animals, Cat, cats, cute dogs, dog, DogDaz, Dogs, funny dogs, Guinea pig, Hair, nature, Pet, pets, postaday
Squash E. Bear (RIP 2011), was the ultimate gentle dog. He very rarely questioned what he was asked to do, always let ladies go first (even when it had to do with food), and protected and blessed this family from the day he wondered into our lives. When you rescue animals you really never know their stories. You can make them up in your head, you can look at their scars and their phobias, but, in the end you just have to accept them as they are, and for who they are. I believe that people and animals come into my life at particular times on my journey for lessons that I need to learn to move forward. If I don’t open myself to those lessons, then I will just keep repeating the behavior that needs to change, until I do. I do not think that I can actually choose the lessons or the teachers, they chose me, at the times that they are needed. Squash chose our family at a moment in time when we needed the gentle and loyal energy of this unconditional loving giant. He taught me to refocus on the importance of a good walk 2 or 3 times a day (no matter what the weather). A good romp in the woods when possible. Eating to stay healthy (his blood sugar had to be constant). Taking one’s medicine even if we don’t want to (he needed 2 shots a day of insulin). Trust (I was his eyes for several years and he trusted me so much that we could walk together in the woods off leash and he never got afraid or hurt). Loving with abandon. Laughing and telling good jokes (he would stand on the other side of the coffee table and let out a big burp when least expected – you just have to laugh). I am grateful for the people and animals that pass my way, some for a moment, some for a life time.
