Here Comes the…Dog?

Every summer thousands of couples say “I do” under the sun.

With millions of dog lovers in the US, many will be looking for ways to include their four-legged family members in their wedding festivities. A popular choice for many is having their pup as the ring bearer or flower girl – both newly engaged singer Carrie Underwood and Trueblood actress Anna Paquin have already announced their pups will take a walk down the aisle with them. While non-dog lovers sometimes think including pets in a wedding is bizarre, many other celebrities have included their pups in their weddings as well!

Adam Sandler’s dog Meatball took on the big responsibility of walking the rings down the aisle while wearing a tux and yarmulke to match for Sandler’s 2003 wedding.

Another bulldog ring bearer, Hemingway, participated in the May 2005 marriage of his humans, Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson.

Ellen Degeneres’ malti-poo mix, Wolf, witnessed her wedding to Portia DeRossi in 2008.

Since our pets are members of our families, it’s always fun to want to include them in our nuptials. Including your pooch can personalize your wedding and add a lot of “dogvergnügen” moments to your wedding! When you decide which role you want your pet to take, make sure to keep these things in mind:

• Have someone be your pup’s guardian during the day of the festivities. This person should not be a part of your bridal party; in the event something goes wrong (your dog doesn’t do well with large groups or starts barking, etc) you want this person able to escort your pup home or just somewhere else during the ceremony.
• How is your pup getting down the isle – is he well-behaved enough to walk down alone? Most dogs aren’t. In this situation, make sure you buy your dog a nice leash and assign someone in the bridal party to accompany your beloved pooch.
• Many venues don’t allow pets; make sure to ask the coordinator what their policies are upfront.
• Include your pup in the flower order – for your ring-bearer include an extra boutonniere and for your flower-pup have a flower wreath to wear on her head or around her neck.

Overall you know you pup’s personality best; if they don’t do well with large groups, having them a part of the wedding party might not be the best idea. Make sure that whatever you choose, your dog will enjoy your wedding as much as you do.

Make sure to check out our website for great gift ideas and thank you cards for the dog lover in your wedding party!

Puppy Parties!

This Friday, June 4th is my puppy’s fourth birthday! A lot of people think we are crazy but we are definitely going to get her a present and make her a cake!

For all you pet lovers, I know you’re with me on this one. Our pets are a a part of our families too so why wouldn’t we celebrate their birthdays?

Cakes are always the centerpiece of a birthday and there are many options for dog-friendly birthday cakes. Just like with people, cakes are great – just in moderation. There are great places where you can buy your dog a cake to order, or you can bake your own! 

When baking your own, you can use a recipe you have and just substitute the ingredients that aren’t suitable for your pooch. Instead of the traditional sugar frosting, you can use peanut butter, cream cheese, cottage cheese or even yogurt. Dairy is okay for pups in moderation. Replace white flour with wheat flour and make sure to not include any chocolate or nuts. Carob is a great replacement for chocolate- and dogs love it!

Here’s a yummy (atleast to your birthday pup) and easy recipe for a fun Birthday Cake;

Doggy Layer Cake

3 cups wheat flour   

1tsp baking power         

1/2 cup softened margarine

6 beaten eggs         

2 jars chicken baby food strained

1/2 cup veg oil          

2 cups shredded carrots  

Plain or vanilla yogurt

3 strips bacon cooked and crumbled

Directions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 2 8″ round cake pans. In a medium bowl mix flour and baking powder; set aside. In a mixing bowl, beat softened margarine until smooth. Mix in eggs and oil. Add chicken and carrots, mix until smooth. Add flour to wet mixture and mix thoroughly. Pour batter into the round cake pans. Bake for an hour. Let cool before removing from pans. Spread yogurt on first layer, place second layer on top, then spread yogurt on the top and sides of the cake. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon over the top. Enjoy! (well your puppy atleast)

For the baking challenged you can always buy your cake to order! The Barkery and HeathyHound Bakery are great places that can customize and ship your cake in time for your pups birthday!

Memorial Day

Every year on the last weekend of May, most of us celebrate Memorial Day by camping, BBQing or just enjoying the extra Monday off.

This year – let’s take a tip from Troy and really commemorate the people who have sacrificed so much for our country. Troy + Emmie have already  travelled over 700 miles so far on their mission to raise awareness for American Military families. With 3 million people actively serving in the armed forces and the millions of veterans – let’s not forget what Memorial Day is truly about; commemorating and thanking all of our Servicemen and Women for what they do.

But there is another group of troops and veterans that many of us overlook – the War Dogs. Yes, that’s right – the War Dogs. Many people don’t realize that human’s best friend is out there fighting alongside our servicemen and women – risking and giving their lives as well.

Military Working Dogs have been used by the military since World War I. Many of the animals were donated by families in the US to aid and protect the troops during times of war. Trained as scouts, trackers, sentry, mine/booby-trap/tunnel and water detection units – these animals play a crucial part in our armed forces. It is estimated that during the Vietnam War over 10,000 troops were saved by these courageous canines. Currently there are over 600 Military Working Dogs alongside our troops in the Middle East.

Rarely recognized for their sacrifice – our War Dogs and their handlers were and still are a vital resource for our military.

Stories about the loyal companions range from preventing casualties by locating trip wires, bombs and booby-traps to rescuing injured soldiers and locating hidden enemies.

So this Memorial Day when you eat your hotdog, set up your tent or are just relaxing on your Monday off – make sure to thank those who are often overlooked for all they do.

For more information regarding the history of American War Do.gs or to make a contribution to their nobel cause visit www.uswardogs.com

To contribute to Troy’s Hike for our Heroes visit our website at www.dogisgood.com to purchase our Never Walk Alone tee – remember all retail proceeds go to Troy’s cause.

My Dog is Allergic to What??

Now that it’s sunny outside and the flowers are blooming all of us are thrilled to welcome the… sneezing? runny nose? itchy throat?

Millions of Americans suffer allergies related to pollen, dust and their household pets! But did you know… fido could have allergies too? But unlike people, their symptoms can be very different! If you’re worried your pup might be allergic, we’ve listed a few common symptoms. If your dog shows any of these signs, you can visit the vet for some ideas on how to help.

Unlike the hay fever symptoms we experience, dogs with allergies generally have skin issues. Itchy ears, stomach and paws are common signs of allergies.

Recurring ear problems is a sign of allergies as well, left untreated this can be very painful for your pooch and even cause his ear drum to burst! Dogs with floppy ears are especially susceptible , make sure to keep them clean – your vet can provide ear cleaning solution to help prevent and treat infections.

A major indication of allergies, food and airborne, is itchy paws. Some pups chew and lick their paws so much that it can cause cracks and sores – the paws can become so inflamed and irritated that your pup might even limp a little.

While we all hide indoors with our allergy meds when the pollen count is high; what can we do to help our dogs? Luckily like humans, dogs can get antihistamines prescribed as well. My dog was scratching so much she was getting scabs under her arms – a quick visit to the vet and a prescription for some allergy medicine later – she was feeling better within a week and stopped scratching her skin raw!

Another thing you can do to help your dog is give her a bath! There are lots of specialty shampoos to help itchy dry skin that can bring some relief.

Finally if your pup’s seasonal allergies are out of control – your pup can even get tested and have a vaccine created to  help desensitize her from the culprit. This is obviously a last resort, since immune-therapy can be very expensive and time consuming!

If your pooch has any of these signs even when the seasonal allergies are mild, the cause could be a food allergy. Much harder to determine but easier to treat once the culprit is determined, make sure to work with your veterinarian to reduce your pup’s misery.

Overall, animals are susceptible to the same types of allergies we are – their symptoms are just different. Hopefully this will help make your summers more enjoyable and allergy-free!

United in Strength

On the third Saturday of every May for almost 60 years, America has celebrated Armed Forces Day. Unfortunately many of us Americans have no clue the day even exists! My husband is an Iraqi war veteran and I am shamed to admit it… but I didn’t know even know it existed. This year we celebrate Armed Forces Day on May 15.

With a theme ‘Teamed for Defense’, Armed Forces Day was created to commemorate the unification of all branches of the military.

According to a New York Times article printed in 1952,

“This is the day on which we have the welcome opportunity to pay special tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces … to all the individuals who are in the service of their country all over the world. Armed Forces Day won’t be a matter of parades and receptions for a good many of them. They will all be in line of duty and some of them may give their lives in that duty.”

Troy + Emmie have been on their mission to raise awareness for military families for just under a month now. We are so proud of his commitment to supporting those who give so much of their lives to support and protect all of us. He reminds us that whether we have family or friends in the military, we are provided many of our liberties because of our Armed Servicemen and women.

President Kennedy said it best, 

“… Our Servicemen and women are serving throughout the world as guardians of peace–many of them away from their homes, their friends and their families. They are visible evidence of our determination to meet any threat to the peace with measured strength and high resolve. They are also evidence of a harsh but inescapable truth–that the survival of freedom requires great cost and commitment, and great personal sacrifice.”

This year’s theme is for Armed Forces Day is “United in Strength”. So whether on Armed Forces day or any other day of the year,  remember to show your support and appreciation for our troops.

We at Dog is Good are showing our continued support of American military families by contributing all retail proceeds from the sales of our Never Walk Alone tees to Troy’s cause. Make sure to check out our website at DogisGood.com to get yours today!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Mother’s Day is here and we thought it would be great to focus on all the different types of moms out there. Here is my story.

I am the mother of my four year old mixed-mutt Kaycee and you bet I expect at least a card from her for Mother’s Day… with the  help of my husband of course

When we first got Kaycee she was only 8 weeks old. She was being sold by a man on the side of the road and was covered in her own urine and feces. I had never been a huge dog person but seeing the sad look on her adorable face made it almost impossible to say no – that and my husband had been wanting a dog for years (he has had dogs all of his life).

To say the least, she was a little terror. I could have sworn every time she chewed a pillow, looked the other way when I called her name, or peed on the floor- she was doing it to spite me. It was definitely a love hate relationship – it even got to the point where I considered re-homing her. A week in, my husband told me, “if we have to give her up, we need to do it now. I am already getting attached to her”. The way he loved her and the way she obviously loved him made me committed to trying to make it work.

We got her a trainer (well mostly got me a trainer) and I bought “Puppies for Dummies”. After our first training session – I was shocked! My little monster was a genius! She sat after being asked once, laid down, and stayed after just a few tries. Obviously she was a smart girl… so she WAS just disobeying me! After a week of training and un-”dummifying” myself about puppies – I learned that puppies are JUST like human babies (a fact that is so obvious now, but to someone who wasn’t a dog person, this was shocking).  With a little love and patience my bratty, monster puppy would grow into a respectful and loving adult!

I realized she wasn’t peeing on the carpet to spite me, she just really had to go and I didn’t take her outside. I understood that she wasn’t chewing the furniture to make me angry – her teeth were coming in and it helped soothe her gums.

It was like a light bulb turned on in my head – she wasn’t doing things that she knew upset me, rather she was just exploring the new, unfamiliar, scary, big world that she had just entered… and with my help I could teach her that the vacuum wasn’t as scary as it sounded and that the carpet was for laying on, not chewing.

I may not have any children yet… but I do have a “doghter”. I worry about her when I leave to work, I try to find her the best babysitter when we go on vacation (when we can’t take her) and I do my best to make sure she knows how to share and play nicely.

I never thought it would be possible to love a dog so much. If you ask me I am a mother.

To all you dog moms out there – Happy Mother’s Day.

- Phuong and Kaycee

Thoughts on Parenting Human and Canine Kids

As a mom of both a two-legged human and a couple of four-legged canines, there is never a dull moment.
The most monumental experience in my life was that first moment when Abigail Leigh (Abby) gave out her first cry. Instantly, I was overcome by a feeling of love greater than anything I had ever experienced before. I was so enamored by this new human being, my daughter, absolutely perfect in my eyes. At the time of her birth, we had only one dog…Zoe, or “pesto puppy” as she was affectionately called because of her demanding demeanor. Zoe was a highly energetic Dalmatian/Labrador mix with a need for constant attention. While she “took” to Abby nicely, she was none too thrilled to have to share our attention with this new baby. She specifically chose moments when I was nursing Abby to suddenly need to have her ball thrown, or the door opened to go outside, etc; she was the quintessential first born. However, I distinctly recall when the tide turned and Zoe suddenly found “value” in having her new “human sister” around. When food fell on the floor under Abby’s high chair, Zoe was quick to discover that the addition of this new baby to the family probably wasn’t such a bad thing after all, and the day Abby started walking and carrying food in her hands at the perfect height for Zoe to stealthily cruise by and snag whatever she was carrying, confirmed for her that this kid was alright! Poor Zoe did gain weight during those toddler years and while Abby was unaware of Zoe’s true motives, this was the beginning of their relationship and connection to each other.
As Abby grew so did our canine family. First, we added Sasha when Abby was 4 and then Henry when she was 9. Many families have multiple children and 1 dog. I ended up with 1 child and multiple dogs.

Each day, I could not wait to start my adventures with Abby and neither could the dogs. They (Zoe and Sasha) knew that once the human munchkin was fed and squared away, she would get loaded up in the baby jogger (something I held onto for over six years) with her music, books, and drink and they would get to head out for their morning jaunt. There is nothing better than hearing the sweet voice of your child and seeing the happy smiles on the dogs as we participated in this morning ritual.

Like parents with more than one child, there was always the balance of doing activities with Abby and making sure the dog’s needs were also met. She never seemed to mind, until she started getting older and began pulling the guilt trip tactic using the proverbial “you love the dogs more than you love me”…grasping at the only ammo an only child has since there are no siblings to pull into the game.
In the past 12.5 years some things have changed. Zoe has left our lives but not our hearts. And, while Abby still continues to be the source of food she doesn’t want to eat, she no longer joins me on my morning runs/walks with Sasha and Henry. As my child has grown into a beautiful pre-teen, with her own independent ideas, thoughts, and opinions I continue to love my role as mom in her life. Each day I feel more pride and continue to be enamored by and filled with indescribable love for this person that I brought into the world. At the same time, my dogs play a role that no human can actually fullfill. The dynamics of our time together and our relationship is the impetus behind our concept “Dogvergnugen”…the joy, peace, and love I feel in their presence is something very hard to articulate but something I know all dog “parents” experience.

I am a true nurturer, always looking to take care of those I love. I am both energized and exhausted every day. If you are a mom, you know exactly what I mean. Multitasking at a furious pace is a daily routine for me but something I would never want to replace, and while I love my daughter more than life itself, I will say that “my dogs don’t roll their eyes” at me  .

Gila, Abby, Sasha and Henry

In Search of The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift…

Less then a week til Mother’s Day and to all of you procrastinators – no need to panic – we’ve made a list  of things that are sure to make Mom happy! If you hurry you might even get the shipment in time to give it to her on Sunday.

For those stylish, yet comfort-loving Mom’s check out our Never Sleep Alone sleep shirts. Made with some of the softest materials on earth you’ll most likely want to get one for yourself (or all the women in your life).

When it comes to moms, you can usually never go wrong. Even if they hate the gift, they’ll never admit it. Moms just love the fact that so much time and effort goes into picking a gift.. But a never fail gift is something that is personally made and displays their children and grandchildren.  Shutterfly can make even the creatively challenged seem like a talented artist. With little effort, you upload your photos and create personalized photobooks, mugs, calendars, cards you name it!

I ordered my Moms (yes, both mom and mother-in-law) a great family tree picture frame holder from PersonalCreations.com. With no grandchildren on either side of my family yet, I plan on filling the picture frames with photos of all our family pets. There are 10 dogs in total!

Even though Mother’s day is only once a year, why not give her a gift that keeps on giving ?! Amazing Clubs has over 20 different monthly gift clubs you can get for your mom. Anything from Wine of the Month, to Cheesecake of the Month even Peanut Butter and Jelly of the Month! You can request a three, six or 12 month subscription. There’s even a Dog Treat of the Month for all your pooches that are mom’s too! (We don’t want to forget them now, do we?)

If you still don’t know what to get Mom, go with the gift that never fails.  Quality Time! Yes, necklaces are lovely, gift certificates are nice, candles are great but there is nothing your Mom wants more than to spend time with you! So why not make it an occasion. For all you foodies, take Mom out to a nice dinner. For all you fashionistas, take Mom out for a day of shopping and spa treatments. For all you sports lovers, take Mom to a baseball game. For all you undecideds, have Mom come over and make her lunch.

No matter what you do or where you go, you Mom will love just getting to spend the extra time with you.

The joys of motherhood

Mid-April my boyfriend and I welcomed a new little bundle of joy into our life. This bouncing baby boy was 10 lbs 6 ozs. when we brought him home.

That first time he feel asleep in my arms – my heat melted and became forever his.

We named him Charles (although we usually call him Charlie) and though the nights were somewhat sleepless those first few weeks and I swear every time he ate he pooped and every time he pooped he was hungry again… he’s been a constant source of joy and laughter in our home.  At first his big sister Olivia (now 6 yrs old and VERY accustomed to being an only child) was a little unsure about what to think of this new addition. She regularly voices her concern when he gets too near to her toys or dominates too much of our attention, but she’s warming up to him nicely and now she’ll even kiss him on the cheek occasionally.

Our favorite times together are in the mornings – I go and pick Charlie up and carry him over, Olivia climbs into bed with us, and we all snuggle together, laughing and bonding as long as our busy schedule will allow.

Although Charlie is not my first, it’s amazing how easily you forget just how demanding the needs of a baby can be! I feel like I get nothing done during my “work day” (working from home can be a dangerous thing) and I definitely feel like the laundry and dishes have tripled since his arrival – but what I also forgot is the immense joy a new little one brings into your day-to-day life.

When Olivia was a baby – I was a single mom, still in college and had just started my business. Those were tough times but I feel like she inspired everything and anything really great I have done since then. Now, Charlie feels like the completion of our family – our house feels that much more like a home and come Mother’s Day this year – I get to celebrate with that much more enthusiasm.

Happy Mothers Day to all of you mothers out there – especially you doggy moms, you rarely get the recognition you deserve for the hard work you do!

- Nichole, Olivia + Charlie

Here you can see Olivia + Charlie at home with mom and dad:

Mother to all Breeds

With Mother’s Day less then two weeks away we decided to focus on some fun and sweet mom-related dogvergnügen moments.

The fact that dogs get so attached to their “person” should be an indication that these wonderful creatures are capable of loving anything and anyone unconditionally. I’ve seen a lot of stories about dogs mothering orphans of other species but it always seems to amaze me how uncritical, unjudgemental, and undiscrimanatory they are.

When researching I came across this amazing story from England about Jasmine, a greyhound that was found abandoned,hungry and abused locked inside a shed.

She was brought to a local wildlife sanctuary and given her past, you would think she would have been shut off from the world. After a few weeks of love and kindness, Jasmine came around. They were prepared to help her find her forever home but Jasmine had a different plan.

She soon became the resident surrogate mother and welcomed every scared and frightened animal that came to the sanctuary. Her actions were as to say, “I know how you feel, I was there too”.  She didn’t judge or discriminate… she just loved. She loved orphaned puppies, chicks, foxes, rabbits, cats and even a baby doe! She knew that despite what these animals had been through, they deserved a chance too.

Jasmine reminds us that no matter what someone looks like, what language they speak, what the predetermined assumptions are, we all just want the same thing – to be loved.

Happy Mother’s Day Jasmine!

To read more about Jasmine click here to be directed to the snope’s article.

To learn more about the Warwick Wildlife Sanctuary visit their website at http://www.warwickshirewildlifesanctuary.co.uk/index.htm

For Mother’s Day gift ideas check out our website at www.dogisgood.com