Ok – so maybe I’m not a rockstar… but it does feel kinda cool to have the American Kennel Club like your tweet. 🙂 Not so bad for this social media newbie.
If we aren’t friends on Twitter, we should be. @Brad_Nierenberg
Tag: CKCS
When your dog gives you “side eye”
I like to imagine Bitsy as having complex thoughts, but sometimes I think she’s just judging me…
“Dad, white shoes? Really?” (Side eye…)
“Dad, I’d rethink that tie…”
“You’re watching NCIS again Dad?”
Happy Friday everyone. May your weekend be judgement free.
Brad’s Musings for Sunday Afternoon…
I just read an article about how dogs recognize human emotions. This kind of freaks me out. I mean, I’ve always known Bitsy seems pretty intune with me, but, now there’s science telling me that she really does truly understand and recognize my facial expressions.
Here’s the article. http://www.sciencealert.com/your-dog-really-can-recognise-your-emotions-study-finds
So — this obviously begs the question, if she knows I hate giving her baths, why does she persist on rolling in the most stinky things? I found her pawing at a bush when we were on our walk only to find a sad dead bird… I did everything I could to keep down my taquitos but that makes this 2 baths in a week… I’m very much over this…
I’m on the look out for a new dog shampoo too. I usually go to Target and get what’s on sale, but recently Bitsy has looked a little too fluffy (and static-y)… Does anyone have any suggestions for her coat? I’ve noticed cavaliers who aren’t spayed aren’t as fluffy as she is, I’m wondering what I’m doing wrong.
Don’t Buy things at 3am…
So – over the holidays I succumbed to a 3am infomercial… after 16 AAA batteries completely drained, I can say, without a doubt – Bitsy and I are completely disappointed in the KnotOut brush…
On the bright side, we’ve discovered that when we go too long without going to the groomers, Bitsy can really rock a good comb-over / pompadour.
Maybe she and I should go out on the town and I can gel my hair and we can be one of those rockabilly duos.
Happy Tongue Out Tuesday Everyone!
Bradley Nierenberg’s New Years Resolutions
So, I’ve been delinquent in committing to anything for New Years until today. I was reading through my facebook feed and came across a very touching article about a woman who reads to shelter dogs.
I always think to myself, “wouldn’t it be nice to have another dog” – but then I realize that it would be a lot harder to give Bitsy the time she deserves if I have to share it. So I don’t think a new dog is in my future.
However, my new years resolution is to spend more time volunteering at animal shelters. A friend of mine in PA told me they have dog play rooms at her local shelter. I think I need to do some research to see what fits with my schedule.
I know you’re probably going to think I’m nuts, but… should I be worried about getting Bitsy sick? Like, if one of the dogs there has a cold, could I transfer it to Bitsy? I hate to sound like a germphobe… but, she’s my world… I’d hate myself for getting her sick. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
The Holidays and Grooming
Well, I figured since I had to shave off my goatee before going to see family, Bitsy deserved some time at the groomers’ too. This way we were both groomed for our visit home.
She looks so cute with the bowties, but this lasted a whopping 3 minutes til she got home and decided to slide face first on the rug to “scratch”. I made her sit on my front steps to get a good picture so I could show my mother that I DO try to make her pretty for visits…
Do your dogs hate having stuff put in their fur? I wish she’d tolerate this since I see other dogs at the park with them. Do you take your dogs to the groomers before visiting family?
I swear, Bitsy’s fur just gets loosened up and she sheds more after she’s been groomed. I did see this great infomercial when I was at my parent’s house for a knot free brush. I succumbed to the 3am infomercial… I’ll let you know how it goes when I get it. Bitsy always gets knots near her bum and behind her ears… it probably has something to do with the face sliding on the carpet thing…
She is my heart.
Mix’n it up – Cross-breeds
So, I have friends who know I’m obsessed with cavaliers. It’s good to have friends… but friends who feed my obsession are even better friends. So, a friend sent me a link on cavalier cross-breeds.
While I’m not really a designer pooch kind of guy, I have to admit, if I saw these two faces at a shelter, I’d be sunk…
It’s something about the ears. Plus, I think that a cross breed might shed less. I swear, since Bitsy came into my life, no shirt or pants are safe. Black, tan and white… I’ve given up trying to not look like a crazy dog dad.
Anyhow. That’s what’s on my mind. Oh! Another thing… Bitsy is not nearly as excited for the reindeer costume my sister bought for her as my sister is… I may have to try to get a picture of her in it. It’s better than the cone of shame… right?
P.S. the link for all the cross breeds was http://pinsit.com/10-unreal-cavalier-king-charles-spaniel-cross-breeds-you-have-to-see-to-believe/ in case you wanted to have a look too.
How to Keep Your Dog Happy
For me, I’ve been fortunate to have one of the happiest dogs on the planet. Bitsy is a bundle of love and affection and seems to thrive on simply being around me.
I was reading an article in my facebook news feed the other day – http://www.eukanuba.com/dog-articles/puppy/happy-puppy – and while I’d never use Eukanuba (we’re a purely organic household) – they had some cute ideas.
The things I’ve come to find make my dog happiest are:
- Spending time with me — sometimes I call her my little shadow.
- Going to Home Depot – they let us shop together. And she doesn’t rush me through the hardware section… so that makes both of us happy… especially when I can’t find what I’m looking for.
- Going on roadtrips — the wind blowing back her ears and all the fun smells really seem to make her tail wag.
- Learning — she’s a really smart pup – so when I play games with her and teach her new words, like “frisbee” instead of “ball” and we play fetch, I know she’s fully engaged.
- Leaving the lights on when I’m not home — it could be that it’s this time of year, but she really does better when I’m out later and leave on a few more lights. I know they say dogs have great vision, but I feel like leaving on a few extra lights makes her calmer when she’s home alone.
So, that’s all for today. What do you think makes your dog happiest?
Do’s and Don’t for Dogs
I’ve always been an ardent “no people food for dogs” advocate… but sometimes those “but Daddy, don’t you love me??” eyes get the better of me…
If you’re like me, and you like to indulge your dog every now and then, it’s better to do so knowing what can be harmful. I was talking to a woman the other day who said she fed her cav carrots. When I gave Bitsy some, she chomped on them a little and then spit them up… which prompted the google search “are carrots safe for dogs” – (yes they are)… but apparently, she doesn’t like the taste.
With the holidays approaching, I know my family won’t be able to resist her big brown eyes either… so, in case you want to break the “no table food” rule – you know what you’re doing.
I didn’t realize how many of these foods are on my holiday table… so make sure it’s a MERRY Christmas with healthy pets!
Naming Your Dog
Sometimes I’m at the dog park and I hear the most ridiculous names. My veterinarian said that the two most popular Cavalier names she hears are “Bentley” and “Teddy”. I came up this article – http://pinsit.com/10-best-cavalier-king-charles-spaniel-dog-names/ – and I have to say, these are some of the most ridiculous names I’ve ever heard… or seen for that matter.
When I named Bitsy, I thought “She’s just a bit of a thing” and I thought it was a cute nickname for a more preppy name, like Elizabeth.
I wonder what other people think when they name their dogs. If you rescue, do you keep the same name that the rescue gives them? If they’ve already been rehomed a few times, does the dog get confused because he’s named Bear Oreo Bandit Sir Wiggles McLovin Roofus?
Just some thoughts for a gloomy Wednesday.
On another note, does anyone’s cavalier hate getting their paws wet when it rains? I swear I’m playing the negotiator when it rains here with her to get her to potty outside… *first world problems…*
Pawsitively Dog Stuff by Brad Nierenberg 