Eat Some Mashed Pumpkin and Have a Nice 'Hershey'

Like I mentioned in my interview on The Daily Corgi yesterday, I often get inspired by other bloggers and sometimes, all it takes is a word. Today's word is "pumpkin." Thank you, 24 Paws of Love! :)

Also, because this is a serious topic, and you are not used to me writing seriously, I have decided that instead of using the word "poop" here, I will instead refer to it as "Hershey." I would appreciate it if you would NOT giggle.  Don't. I mean it.

So as I was saying, 24 Paws of Love recently posted some helpful tips on how to roast and puree your own pumpkin, which when fed in moderation to dogs with upset tummies, works like a charm to firm up the Hershey. I admit, I knew this already. I've tried it before with success; however, unlike 24 Paws of Love, I prefer to take the easy route and buy the pumpkin already cooked and mashed up in the can. 

100% pure, high in fiber and Vitamin A, Hershey-fixer

Why am I bothering to tell you this? Well, coincidentally, a couple days after reading the pumpkin post, Dewi ate an entire (edible-supposed to last a long time-will never give to him again) chewy in two hours and, not surprisingly, wound up with some syrupy Hershey. 

So I gave him two heaping tablespoons of pumpkin with his dinner.

12 hours later, Hershey syrup NO MORE! :)

Mmmm, smells like can!

I love pumpkins. So do Dewi and Jon Farleigh.

I love you with every fiber of my squash-colored being!

Note: Jon Farleigh also had some pumpkin with his dinner, but half as much as Dewi. He missed one of his usual three Hersheys the next day. I would, therefore, recommend feeding it sparingly (not daily and in teaspoon or less quantities) to avoid backing up your dog's Hershey-producing chute. 

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Okay, all this talk of pumpkins and Hershey has made me hungry. Does anyone else love pumpkin pie/bread/cheesecake, like I do?

Well, I'm wondering, although never a good idea to feed to one's dog, with the pumpkin pie-laden holidays coming up, wouldn't you think eating its fiber-filled goodness (in moderation, of course) could preempt holiday meal stomach upset? 

I think I'm going to go with "yes." :)

Have great day!

From Dewi Dance to Dewi Stance - How I Learned to Converse With My Dog

So yesterday I (re)introduced you to the Dewi Dance and how because we (the folks who live in my house) showered him with lots of wonderful attention whenever he performed it on command, Dewi might have started offering it up unsolicited. 

I know what you're thinking. And yes, (despite the obscene cuteness) I tried to ignore him. It's not right to reward a dog for offering up a behavior (simply to get the reward) without being told to do it. Anyone who's been through basic training with a dog should know this. ;-) So anyway, it was a battle of wills that first time (or three), but Dewi eventually got tired of waiting and wandered off. And we don't do the Dewi Dance anymore. 

That's because it's now the Dewi Stance. Dewi works with me on it almost daily, and it's possible that I might be completely trained by Christmas. 

Allow me to elaborate through pictures and dialogue.

It's hard to teach an old lady new tricks.

Dewi: Oh, for Pete's sake, would you look over here already?! Hellooooo! I'm not playing here.

Me: [stoic face, looks straight ahead, thinks] I won't look, I won't look....just ignore him....

5 minutes later

I find poop on the dining room rug; however, I fail to connect it to The Dance.

A few days later - repeat the same scenario. No poop, but Dewi is precariously positioned by the door to the "doggie snack stash."

A few days later - repeat the same scenario. Pee accident. (I begin to sense a pattern.)

The stance has many meanings.

Just like the words 'aloha' and 'shalom' - to gain meaning, one must consider the context of The Stance.

The Poo and/or Pee Stance

Dewi: One Who Has Thumbs and Lets Me Outside, I have no buttocks and, therefore, am in imminent danger of blowing (and simultaneously extinguishing) this fire in my hole.

Me: [using soprano voice] Need to go potteee? 

Dewi: [runs frantically to back door]

The Snack Time Stance

Dewi: One Who Makes Noms Appear When My Insides Are Grumbling, I don't know why, but my insides grumble at this same time every time it is not nighttime. I need noms.

Me: [using soprano voice] Need to go potteee?

[cue crickets chirping - checks watch for time - it's between 12:15 and 1 p.m (snack time)]

Me: [using soprano voice] Wanna snack? 

Dewi: [gallops to kitchen]

The Tattle-Tale Stance

Dewi: One Who Reigns Supreme Over Jon Farleigh, Jon Farleigh has stolen my chewie/toy (even though he has his own chewie/toy) and is saying "neener neener." Please get him.

Me: [using soprano voice] Need to go potteee?

[cue crickets chirping - checks watch for time - it's 9:30 a.m. - remembers that both dogs just got new chewies - notices Dewi breaking eye-contact and glancing over toward Jon Farleigh who is hoarding both chewies]

Me: [using parental voice] Jon Farleigh, give me that! [physically retrieves object from JF]

Dewi: [prances around in circles, takes object and relocates to next room]

The Fetch Stance

Dewi: [drops rope at my feet] One Who Makes This Rope Fly, I urgently need to fetch.

Me: [using whiny voice] But, we just did this 10 minutes ago (as if he can understand me).

Dewi: Must fetch.

Me: But...

Dewi: Must.  

Me: [groans and throws rope]

Dewi: Scampers to fetch rope and continues this cycle about 248 more times.

The 'Everything Else' Stance

(Note: I'm still learning.)

Dewi: One Who Can Read My Mind, I'd like a ham sandwich, toasted, with mustard and pickles.

Me: [using exasperated voice] Dewi, I don't know what you want. What do you want???

Dewi: Forget it already. Sheesh.

Notes and disclaimers:

• As I draw breath, all of this is true, including the interpretations, until you can prove otherwise.
• Dewi and Jon Farleigh are let outside to poo and pee several times/day, at regular intervals.
• Jon Farleigh can "dance," too, but he cannot balance on his haunches.
• He does not dance unsolicited.
• I used the same photo six times in this post.
• I will be posting short, non-wordy posts the rest of this week.

~~ Aloha and Shalom ~~

:)

Jon Farleigh and Dewi Weigh in on Their Favorite (Edible) Chewies

Nearly two months ago I wrote a post about a prize I had received from BestBullySticks.  If you recall, at post time, Jon Farleigh - in only 24 hours - had nearly devoured an entire large-sized deer antler, and that I was waiting for both antlers to be completely chewed before bringing out the bully sticks. 

Our prize loot from BestBullySticks (chewy antlers and bully sticks)

Well, guess what?

The dogs finished the one antler and then promptly lost interest in the other. It's still here - unchewed. *sigh* So after about a month of waiting for one of them to regain interest - with no luck - I held my breath, swallowed real hard and dolled out the bully sticks (2, 6-inch braids).

After some gagging and excessive salivation (me - not the dogs), both bully sticks were completely chewed (and devoured) within one hour. No exaggeration. Probably not the best choice for my power chewers. (I have to admit that I'm a little relieved about the bully stick fail :-).)

So what does one give a couple of Corgis with serious chompers to chew on that will last longer then a day or two?

We've tried USA-made rawhides with mixed results. Jon Farleigh can motor through these in a couple days, too, and Dewi has a tendency to bite off chunks and swallow them (which makes me really nervous).

Pressed Rawhide

I've used pressed rawhide in the past with Molly (my first dog), so a couple weeks ago I purchased two 8-inch bones (from a high-end dog treat retailer). At $1.89 each, they were a steal. It took Jon Farleigh and Dewi about a week to get through them. Not too bad!

The dogs never lost interest and there were no large sheets (of soft rawhide) to worry about anyone swallowing (although when Dewi got down to the last softened bit of his, he swallowed it whole; thankfully it was small and went down easily). I just wish I could find pressed rawhide that's made in the USA.

And then there are raw beef marrow bones.

NomNomNom

I've been giving them to the dogs (about once every 3-4 weeks) for several months. I buy them in two-packs at my local grocery store (fresh from the butcher) for about $1.65 a pack. The dogs get them in the kitchen (on hardwood floors) raw. I've tried to keep them on a towel, but it just wasn't worth the fight. (So, yes, I have to wipe up the mess.)

The dogs clean the meat off the bones first and then go for the marrow. This, alone, can take a few hours. If they get tired, I take the bones, wrap them up, refrigerate and then give them back the next day. Once the marrow is gone, the dogs have the bones to chew for several more days. They love them! And for the price, convenience, nutritional value and longevity, so do I.

So yeah, I'll be skipping the bully sticks and antlers (unless we score some more free ones) and opting for the raw bones and pressed rawhides ('til the boys get tired of them, too). And in case you might be wondering, they also like a good Kong or cotton rope to chew on. :) (Everything else gets shredded.)

Has anyone had luck with something else for a power chewer that I've missed?

*****

Have a great weekend!