Pirata being judged   I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with photographers at the ring’s edge. It was thrilling to witness the procession of champion dogs, as they tried to impress judge Betty-Anne Stenmark, hoping she’d choose them as the top Hound. The grandeur that is the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is contagious, and I was in the thick of it. Little did I know at the start of the Hound Group, that they’d sound the bugle for the Beagle. But, it was still So. Much. Fun.. 🙂 I was there to report on and support the perky… [Continue Reading]

Karen & Pirata   There’s a passionate romance between Portuguese Podengo Pequeno owners and their pets, and I admit I’m smitten. As many of you know, our little Sophie is a Podengo, albeit a scruffier and scrawnier one than most you’ll see. We love her all the more for it.  So, I’ve been waiting in anticipation for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show this year, to witness the Podengo class and see who gets top honors. And, to get a little Podengo love, of course! Surprisingly, the field was a bit thin this year. Only three… [Continue Reading]

I was like a kid in a candy store at Meet the Breeds Saturday. With 143 different breeds represented, it was a dog lover’s paradise. What made it extra fun were the unusual dog breeds I discovered, many I’d never heard of. Do you know the Bergamasco, the Berger Picard, the Hovawart or the Lowchen? These are just a few of the many. There’s not enough space to mention them all, so I’ve chosen four I connected with to highlight. The Bergamasco Shepherd   Meshu, the Bergamasco Picture an Old English Sheepdog mixed with a Rastafarian… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links Max in his favorite froggy pose Scrunchies are back, and not just for us! A new brand, Schmoozies, has devised the clever scrunchie. It sings, dances….uh, no, no, no. 🙂 What it does, is hold your dog’s ID tag and contains a small pouch where you can insert a special aromatherapy wafer to help alleviate certain issues your pup may have. Schmoozies are a colorful, adorable, lightweight dog collar. Form meets function; I love it!  There’s a great Schmoozies giveaway, so read on for details! … [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links The Ooo La La Glitzy Galore!   From a mountain village in New Zealand, some of the most stylish luxury dog collars are being made! Luxury brand, Momo & Beau, is creating stunning collars made from leather, studs and crystals. Yes, lots of people are making collars from these specific materials, but this brand have done it with panache. And, that gets my attention. Designed by contemporary New Zealand jeweler, Hayley Inder, I can see from exploring her design site, why her collars are so special. Hayley creates gorgeous… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links It all started with a bow tie and an eco-friendly idea. I love Buggsly Black Label, an innovative and creative brand out of Vancouver, Canada, that makes eco-friendly dog products, using recycled materials. Named after the cute Boston Terrier/Pug mix rescue of brand founders, Cassidy Morgan and Michael Flint, Buggsly Black Label has expanded from colorful, fun shirt collared bows-ties into cool jackets. But, true to the Buggsly brand, these aren’t just any jackets.     Buggsly Black Label Dog Jackets were engineered using a special, 3-layer material called Dintex®. It’s composed of… [Continue Reading]

Cuddling with Tiddly and Archie I can still feel the soft fur on my face and the delicate licks of their kisses. I’d been excited about this visit all day. You know the feeling; you’re away from home and your furry babies couldn’t come along. You’re missing them terribly. You’re ripe for a puppy fix! And, was I ever! But, this one was planned and very special. I was going to see where life began for our Sophie! Sophie started life at Plushcourt Kennels in Faringdon, England, where kennel owner Betty Judge, the #1 breeder of… [Continue Reading]

Affiliate Links   Waggy tails, big grins…it’s exciting stuff going on a ride in the car. But, are we protecting them? With children, we don’t think twice. In their car seat or buckled up in the seat belt they go. Most of us don’t extend that kind of protection to our dogs. We’re in a hurry, they don’t like to be restrained, etc. I learned that there’s no excuse for allowing our dogs to roam freely in a car, unrestrained or restrained unsafely. I’ve had to stop short in that situation, and it’s scary. And,… [Continue Reading]