2 Things (including burning up the vacuum motor) My Pets Are Sorry For + Enter to Win $575 in Prizes (incl. a vacuum)!

Don't let their innocent faces fool you; an hour before I got this photo, they both (freakishly) shed their entire undercoat and immediately grew it all back. In that same hour, I (freakishly) vacuumed the entire house twice, and attempted a third time, except the 3,001,297 strands of corgi fur wrapped around the carpet attachment's brush-roller (that I'd neglected to inspect, even though the last time the vacuum broke, the shop said it was because the fur of 1,001 corgis was wrapped around the roller) got severely tangled, and burnt up the motor beyond repair. The corgis were distraught, so I put them in the pen (pictured) to think about the consequences of shedding. In the end (after 1.76 minutes), they simply issued an apology, and vowed not to shed as much, at least not on carpeted areas, rugs, upholstered furniture, lamp shades, or dark-colored clothing.  

Note: Numbers reported in the above paragraph are rough estimates. 
Note: My use of the term "rough estimate" in the above sentence is a rough estimate of the actual definition of rough estimate. 

I own this book. I got it for free from the author. It's so funny, I bought the three others in the series with my own money. 

Speaking of shedding on dark-colored clothing (which all my pets are sorry for)...that is not my Boston Terrier on that adorable-and-also-crude book cover, nor does it represent my dogs' shame (they've never humped a leg--a CAT, or EACH OTHER, though?). Anyway, when I was at the BlogPaws conference last spring, Jon Farleigh (my red fluffy corgi) and I got into an elevator with a guy wearing all black (I think--it might have only been 96% black, but I round up). Picture Bono, or Johnny Cash, except he didn't look anything like them (plus Johnny Cash is dead, may he R.I.P)...anyway, it's a good thing he broke the awkward elevator silence by speaking directly to Jon Farleigh (who was visibly on the verge of exploding with feelings of profound love and affection toward the complete stranger). Because after doing so--and hence, inviting the dog to thrust his entire, blonde-coated, fluffy, molting, gyrating corgi being directly on the aforementioned black outfit, resulting in my mortification--it got out that he wrote funny books about pets being sorry. 

And the next day, he gave me a copy of that one with the Boston Terrier on it. I knew then--after matching the author's headshot on the book cover to the actual person--that I had, in fact, met the real (vs. fake) Jeremy Greenberg--comedian and author of several pet-centered humor books that are in big book stores and make charming holiday gifts for people who love pets, have senses of humor, and can read.  

That's Jon Farleigh in a hotel room at BlogPaws. He wasn't sorry in this photo, because the couch is p/leather so his fur didn't stick. 

That's also Jon Farleigh at BlogPaws (it was in Myrtle Beach). You can bet he was sorry for dumping the sand that had gotten lodged up in the undercoat on his undercarriage all in the backseat of my car, the hotel lobby, and bathroom floor in my room. 

The point of that elevator story, in case you've forgotten how you arrived here, is that Jon Farleigh (not I) should have apologized for jumping up and smearing his loose fur all over the author's black pants. But since Jon Farleigh's not ever getting a mention in a "Sorry I..." book, I'm giving him a pass. Sorry, Jeremy*. 😉

* It's OK, we're friends now. And I'm not really sorry.

So, there's this giveaway...

(Isn't that the REAL reason you're here, after all? It's totally OK.) Yep, we're co-sponsoring--with nine other pet bloggers, for our second holiday season--a fun giveaway, with three pet-friendly prizes (and they're huge)! Read on for details, including how you can enter on all 10 sponsors' blogs, and what you might win, just in time for the holidays!

Here are the other nine pet blogs bringing this awesome giveaway to you!

• Christina at The Everyday Dog Mom
• Amanda at Dog Mom Days 
• Alison at Sarcastic Dog
• Jessica at Beagles & Bargains 
• Jodi at Kol’s Notes 
• Joy at My GBGV Life 
• April at Tenacious Little Terrier 
• Sandra at Dolly the Doxie 
• Kama at Kama Loves Agility

And these are the prizes!

• Grand Prize: (1) $300 Amazon Gift Card*
• 2nd Prize: PET 2-In-1 Cordless Stick Vacuum from Black+Decker (approx. $199 value)**
• 3rd Prize: $75 gift card to Inspired Dog Mom Boutique**

Y'all, I'd love an Amazon shopping spree and I know you would, too! You know what else I'd love? The cordless PET vacuum (for the corgi tumbleweeds) AND that $75, Etsy shop spending spree! Yes, give it all TO ME! Alright fine; you can have it. I'll just be over here with fur all over my clothes, being happy for you when you win. 

* The 10 participating bloggers each contributed their own money toward the Amazon gift card.
** 2nd and 3rd place prizes have been donated by their respective brands, Black+Decker and the Everyday Dog Mom blog.

Once again...YOU CAN ENTER TO WIN ON ALL 10 PARTICIPATING BLOGS!

Yep! To increase your odds, simply visit all the blogs (linked above) and enter (but hurry, all entry forms will all close at 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, November 30)!

One "finalist" will be randomly selected from each blog!

Then all of the finalists' names will go into a drawing, during which three winners will be randomly selected to receive the prizes listed above.

This is great news! That's because even if one of the 10 blogs has 467 times more entries than another, EACH BLOG will still get one finalist in the drawing! (FYI: Chronicles of Cardigan produced the 3rd prize winner in a previous pet blogger holiday giveaway!)

Ready to enter? Yay! But first, you'll have to comment on this blog (and I will check, yo)...so, tell me: 

What's one thing your pet(s) is sorry for (or you are sorry for, on behalf of your pet)? 

Done commenting? Get entered, using the giveaway tool below!

Paws & Santa Claws Holiday Giveaway
Well, did you enter? Yay! I hope you win! Don't forget you can enter at the other nine blogs (linked at the top of the post) to increase your chances! 

I'll post all three winners' names on the Facebook page and Twitter the first week of December!

Good luck!

About the giveaway: 

No purchase necessary. Giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents age 18 and older, except where prohibited by law. Giveaway will run from November 24 to November 30, 2017 at 11:59pm EST. Three (3) winners will be randomly selected and notified via email. Winners will have 48 hours to claim their prizes; failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the prize. Twitter and Pinterest do not sponsor, administer, or endorse this promotion. Participants must read and agree to Gleam’s Privacy Policy before entering and participating in this promotion. By entering this contest, participants grant permission for their email address to be added to the Chronicles of Cardigan mailing list. 


Each participating blogger paid an entry fee which will be used to fund the grand prize. The 2nd and 3rd place prizes were generously donated by the participating brands. Please be sure to visit their websites to see all the incredible pet products they have to offer.

My friend Jeremy (the real Jeremy Greenberg, who invited Jon Farleigh to be bad in an elevator) wrote this book, too. Cats hardly ever apologize for anything, and that alone is worth the read. Except, I'm telling you to read it (or give it to someone else to read) because it's funny, and full of cute cat photos. Like Facebook, except you don't need to log in, or read about your "friend's" politics. 

My Corgi Licked My Brain

Previously published, but still true...

OK, maybe Jon Farleigh only managed to get the back of my eyeball (when I accidentally sucked his tongue up my nose, as he and Dewi tried to lick my face off!). Nevertheless, that's what I get for lying flat on my back to get these pictures of me for the "Meet the Bloggers" hop sweeping through pet blog-land this week (2013). 

OK, if I was truly, fully participating in the blog hop, I'd answer a handful of set questions about myself--like what's my favorite book, movie, food, actor, extracurricular activities, and whether or not I'm happy with the way I turned out in life (or something like that). But, I'm only half-participating, so I'm just gonna answer these three questions that I made up by myself:

1. If you had to transform into a fruit or vegetable, what would you choose to be?

A strawberry, because they wear their seeds on the outside. 

2. If you could choose one other breed of animal to have as a pet (hypothetically, of course), what would it be?

A cow, and I would call her Sugar Plum, milk her and churn my own butter.

3. What is the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?

In July of the summer between 4th and 5th grade, I laughed so hard I peed my pants sitting in a restaurant booth with my three younger* siblings. Specifically, on a family vacation in rural Pennsylvania, having lunch in a Friendly's restaurant full of older couples eating in complete, dreadful silence. Yeah, silence, until someone (not to be named) farted like a trumpet off a vinyl booth seat and I laughed so hard I slid under the table, cried in silent, side-splitting agony, and undammed a warm, yellow river all over myself. But the worst** was having to do the shimmy of shame (my brother playing wingman behind me with a strategically placed tray) to get out the front door. Damn vinyl seats. 

Anything else you all want to know? 

* I was 10 and was the oldest (and presumably, most mature) one at the table. Let that sink in a minute. (The 70's were the BEST, if you were a kid, y'all!)

** Actually, the worst might have been having to change into an outfit that was not a handmade, matching set to my two younger sisters'. (Think The Sound of Music, VonTrapp family matching outfits, except not made from expensive drapes, but inexpensive, terry cloth beach towels.)

How I Exercise My Food-Motivated Senior Dog Indoors

Frantic licking of hands totally counts as exercise. 

When I saw the writing prompt for this blog post--fun indoor activities to keep one's dog's body and mind active during the warm summer months (or something similarly related to summertime activities with dogs)--my immediate thought was: I'm screwed.

Screwed because this post is about the benefits of feeding one's dog a high protein, plus freeze dried raw meat pieces, diet for whole-body health. To be whole-body healthy, a dog should get plenty of exercise. The problem is, the dog who's currently eating the food--Wellness® CORE® RawRev™--and who would benefit from "fun indoor activities," is Lele, my 11+-year-old, formerly crusty, wobbly kneed, mostly-toothless, half-blind and totally deaf chihuahua mix.

Like we regularly break out an indoor chi-chi obstacle course and/or tug toys! 😉

The truth is, Lele is old. And she sleeps a lot, like old dogs do. But darn it, she's not bedridden, and she can move with the speed of an angry mule when she wants to! So, what does she do when she's indoors, but not resting or eating (two meals and a regular snack each day)?

Guess.

OK, time's up! She's either barking at people who've knocked on the door (because she sees the corgis doing it, not because she can hear the knocking) or jumping and running in circles all around me begging for food!

I think fierce barking, jumping, and running all around count for indoor exercise, don't you?

It's just that if one is going to rely on these activities (except, let's forget about the barking; there are too many uncontrollable factors) to keep one's old dog active indoors, one needs to have a reliable, daily plan. Here's mine!

Creative* Ways I Keep Lele, My Senior Dog, Exercised Indoors During Summer

* Creative, meaning how to get her to jump around like she's begging without actually giving her food and making her look like a giant baked potato with legs.

Exhibit A.

Note: All three dogs' regular snack time is at approximately 10 a.m. Also, Lele is on a low dose of Prednisone (steroid) to manage an autoimmune disease of her skin (which is what caused all her health woes when I agreed to foster her for the local animal shelter 18 months ago). A side effect of steroid usage is excess hunger (which is what low-cal green beans are for).

• Feed Lele her breakfast at all hours of the morning, because it's summer, the kids are out of school, and I can sleep in.
  Result: Lele's biological snack-time clock goes off (which translates to jumping and running around and making piggy noises, wherever she is inside the house) every half hour because it (the clock) is confused. 
• Stand in kitchen too long after feeding dogs in the morning, and make the mistake of opening the pantry door, and/or the refrigerator (can be 15 minutes after Lele just ate, but she'll still think it's snack time).
• Cook bacon.
  Note: This only happens on certain weekends, but it ALWAYS results in strenuous begging activity. 
• Go to the gym during regular snack-time hour.
  Result: Snack must be given late, which causes a snack clock malfunction (see first bullet point) through late afternoon. 
• Run anywhere (in the house, and by run, I mean move QUICKLY).
  Result: Lele chases, which always ends in a race past the pantry door, at which point she stops to jump around and make piggy noises. 
• Drag out the bag of CORE RawRev in front of her.
  Result: Yeah, I shouldn't be dragging out the dog food except at mealtimes, but if I did, Lele would jump all around and beg. 
• Pour a second (and third, fourth, etc...) cup of coffee. Lele believes coffee time = snack time.
• Unload the dishwasher when it contains a dog/cat food bowl (because when Lele sees the bowl in your hand, she will think it's mealtime).
• Reach for anything on the shelf in the pantry. Dog snacks are in the pantry.

Note: When it's not too hot, short walks outside substitute for most of this list. 

And, now you know how Lele stays active in the summer! Incidentally, so do I (stay active, keeping up with Lele)! Yay!

There Would Be No Old-Dog Begging Activity if Not for High-Quality, Balanced Nutrition

 

Lele has been eating Wellness CORE dog food (soaked in water) for over a year, but just last month, started eating new CORE RawRev (Wild Game recipe) with added freeze dried pieces of 100% raw meat. I am happy to report that all is well! In fact, I can't tell anything is different--she's still looking great! (Except, I know and feel good about her getting a little extra protein, added [unprocessed] raw nutrition, and a little variety in her meals).

Is your pet eating* Wellness CORE RawRev dog food? Buy one 2-5-lb bag and get one 50% off at PetSmart and unleash the power of raw!

* Remember to switch your dog's food gradually to avoid stomach upset. Refer to package directions.

Do you have a senior dog? How do you keep him/her active in summer (or anytime)? Do you feed a high protein dog food? Have you tried adding raw? 

Stay up-to-date on news and the latest deals; follow Wellness Natural Pet Food on social:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

How a High Protein Diet Has Helped Heal and Transform My Seriously Ill, Senior Chihuahua

My husband burst out laughing the moment he laid eyes on Leona Lilly--my (then) foster dog from Richmond Animal Care and Control. Considering I had not expressly* told him I was getting another** foster dog before he left for work that morning, it was NOT the reaction I had envisioned.

* He had not asked whether I was getting another dog; therefore, I did not tell. Mornings are stressful, so I pick my battles. Don't judge.

** I had told him that I was returning Abdul, our current foster dog (a chihuahua mix with pharma-managed epilepsy, but otherwise, exceptionally easy), that day (he was due to return for a medical test so he could be released for adoption). If I'm being honest, I was counting on my husband to forget what I'd told him while he was rushing out the door, and not notice right away that Abdul had been replaced. I mean, how different could two, 10-ish-pound, fawn-colored chihuahuas be on the surface? I'd planned on springing the news that Abdul had been long-gone only upon confrontation.

OMG, what a relief!

Let me explain: so, Abdul (who we called affectionately, Bean, because he was shaped like a pinto with legs) was compact, calm, agreeable, clean, shiny, behaved, and thoroughly enjoyed a good nap). In other words, he did no wrong. He was actually a bit of a space cadet (why, no one was sure, but it was suggested that previous un-managed seizures had caused permanent cognitive damage), preferring to stare into space vs. have any reaction whatsoever to activity in and around his bed. He basically only got excited for food.

Here he is:

Leona Lilly, on the other hand, looked like this the day I brought her home:

OK, it's Ren from Ren & Stimpy, but they could've passed for twins, I'm telling you. 

Despite having barnacle-like growths on her balding coat, only three and a half teeth, infected ears, shifty eyes, and wobbly knees, however, she was taking no crap from my husband. As soon as she had him in view, Leona launched into the worst-sounding, throaty, wheezy, screaming fit you have ever heard come out of a decrepit chihuahua.

My husband must've really needed that belly laugh, because--despite her myriad medical issues, months of extensive (and expensive) veterinary care, and attitude--he never questioned nor protested her being here. It was the best foster chihuahua bait-and-switch ever executed!

You know what else?

Leona (now Lele, and officially ours) is fully* recovered!

* As fully as can be; we're managing the autoimmune disease of her skin with medication, and she's on a joint supplement for the wobbly knees.

And her, formerly nasty, coat looks GREAT!

Healthy Lele lives and loves hard. 

Y'all, she was balding, and greasy, and scaly, and stinky, and oozing when I got her. It was so sad that I only took pictures of her in sweaters, or of her face only, so no one could see how bad she looked. You have no idea how far she's come health-wise over the last year.

And it's not just because of the low-dose steroid she's on, or the joint supplement, or the fact that she's pampered and cared for, it's BECAUSE OF HER DIET!

Wellness® CORE® Dog Food Has Made a Huge Difference In Lele's Health.

Last spring, I wrote a three-part series of posts about Lele's journey to wellness, incorporating her veterinary care and treatments with a switch to an almost exclusive diet of grain-free Wellness CORE Wild Game recipe kibble. (Almost, meaning the kibble was exclusive, but I topped it with a scoop of rotating varieties of wet food.)

Wellness CORE, now in two kibble varieties. What corgi? I don't see a corgi. 

There were a number of reasons why I loved (and still love) Wellness CORE for Lele, but noteworthy are the benefits of high and rich protein for aging dogs' body mass and muscle tone, the addition of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health, and mega fatty acids for Lele's skin and coat. All these things, plus (and this is MAJOR) the kibble readily soaks up (softens) in water, so I can mash it up for no-teeth Lele to eat! (No dog wants to swallow her food whole because she can't chew it!)

Oh, and Lele LOVES the stuff!

At the end of last year's three-month trial (and with the help of a wonderful veterinary dermatologist who prescribed all the right medications), Lele was definitely on her way back to health....though, we were still in the dark about the cause of her illness (more on that in the second post in this series).

Today, though? Lele is doing (and looking) GREAT! Once we got the cause of her illness diagnosed and managed, the balanced nutrition she was getting from Wellness CORE truly pulled her through.

Lele no longer has "barnacles," bald spots, greasy or stinky skin. She has the thickest, shiniest, regular (fairly clean) chihuahua-smelling coat that you will ever see!

And Now the Wellness CORE Kibble Line Has Been Expanded to Include Wellness® CORE® RawRev™, the Same CORE Kibble Infused With Chunks of Whole, Freeze Dried Raw Meat!

Raw meat protein, in addition to appealing to a dog's sense of smell and being highly palatable, is packed with the nutrition that dogs need for whole body health. Though feeding an all-raw diet might not be an option for some (me included), feeding a high quality kibble with added raw meat protein is. And Wellness CORE RawRev makes this option easy, safe and convenient!

Lele has just started her switch from original Wellness CORE kibble to RawRev. I'll return next month to tell you how it goes!

Is your pet eating* Wellness CORE RawRev dog food? Buy one and get one 50% off at PetSmart and unleash the power of raw!

* Remember to switch your dog's food gradually to avoid stomach upset. Refer to package directions.

What is your experience with feeding your dogs raw food? Would you? Do you have a senior dog? Are they on a high protein diet?

Stay up-to-date on news and the latest deals; follow Wellness Natural Pet Food on social:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

9 Reasons I Might Be Crazy, Plus Enter to Win Over $375 in Pet-Friendly Prizes! #SpringFlingGiveaway

Hey, y'all! Ahem. I said, HEY, Y'ALL! (Look away from those prizes, dangit!)

So, you're here. That means at least one of two things:
You want to:

1. Find out why I'm crazy, and/or
2. Get yourself entered in the Spring Fling Pet Blogger Giveaway...because there are over $375 in prizes!

Note: Although #2 is not contingent upon #1, if you picked #2, you're still gonna have to scroll down through the nine reasons I might be crazy. And not only that, one of the bonus entries is a QUIZ question.

You might want to summon some patience, is all I'm saying.    

But first, I need to tell you more about the giveaway!

For starters, I'm not in this alone!

I've collaborated with these nine other superstar pet bloggers so that we could make the prizes HUGE!

• Christina at The Lazy Pit Bull
• Amanda at Dog Mom Days 
• Kevin & Rachael at My Dog Likes 
• Jessica at Beagles & Bargains 
• Jodi at Kol’s Notes 
• CK at Stunning Keisha 
• April at Tenacious Little Terrier 
• Rochelle at The Broke Dog 
• Bryn at A Dog Walks Into a Bar

And these are the prizes!

• Grand Prize: (1) $250 Amazon Gift Card*
• 2nd Prize: Black+Decker PET Cordless Lithium Hand Vacuum (approx. $100 value)**
• 3rd Prize: Embroidered collar and leash from dogIDs (approx. $44 value)**

Y'all, I'd love an Amazon shopping spree and I know you would, too! You know what else I'd love? The cordless hand vac (for the corgi tumbleweeds) AND that leash/collar set! Yes, give it all TO ME! Alright fine; you can have it. I'll just be over here with fur all over my clothes, being happy for you when you win. 

* The 10 participating bloggers each contributed their own money toward the Amazon gift card.
** 2nd and 3rd place prizes have been donated by their respective brands, Black+Decker and dogIDs.

YOU CAN ENTER TO WIN ON ALL 10 PARTICIPATING BLOGS!

Yep! To increase your odds, simply visit all the blogs (linked above) and enter (but hurry, the entry forms will all close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, April 25)!

One "finalist" will be randomly selected from each blog!


Then all of the finalists' names will go into a drawing, during which three winners will be randomly selected to receive the prizes listed above.

This is great news! That's because even if one of the 10 blogs has 467 times more entries than another, EACH BLOG will still get one finalist in the drawing! (FYI: Chronicles of Cardigan produced the 3rd prize winner in a previous pet blogger holiday giveaway!)

Ready to enter?

Well, you can, right after you see these nine reasons I might be crazy!
(Note: By might, I mean I am. Just a little. And in a harmless way.)

#1: Tigger (at 17 years, doesn't make the litter box every time.)

#2: Maddox (stepped on my right eyeball last Saturday night after Lele charged him for entering her personal space. He was trying to lie down on my stomach. The pain was like a knife stabbing through my pupil. Thankfully, it subsided after I took the maximum dose of ibuprofen and I haven't had any issues since.)

#3: Lele (barks ferociously at my husband every day when he comes in from work--like he's an intruder--even though she knows and loves him. Gets into trash [bacon packages] and recycling [yogurt containers] and cat box if I don't lock them up.)

#4: Lulabelle (steals hair elastics and drops them all over the house. Sits with her head shoved through banister posts.)

#5: Jon Farleigh (yanks and tugs his own leash every time I take him out to pee and poo. Barks like a raving wild dog whenever I clean the kitchen counters, dust the dining room table and/or open the spice cabinet.)

#6: Dewi (barks 95.23% of his waking hours, in 249 different dog languages, most of which I don't understand. Likes deer poo...as an appetizer.)

#7: Bertie (drops his stuffed pheasant, Chewbacca mouse, and goldfish in the water bowl and then pulls them out (soaking wet) and drops them into the food bowl for me to find...every day. Also, YES, I take the toys away from him, but he finds them! He can smell them inside drawers!)

#8: Frances (rubs all over my legs and feet when they're still wet from having taken a shower. Stands under my feet when I'm not looking and watches me nearly wipe out on the tile floor trying not to step on her head.)

#9: Bobby Flay O'Fish (turns on the kitchen faucet, steals the rubber drain collar for the garbage disposal, pesters Frances between 2-3 a.m., causing her to meow like an alarm, gets into things he shouldn't and eats them [which is why we have to lock up all of the things].)

Heed his advice; he knows what he's talking about. 

And there you go; nine REALLY good reasons, I'd say! 

How about you? Might you be "crazy," too? Give me one good reason why (in comments, please)!

* Crazy, as in crazy about your pets because if you weren't, they'd be in big trouble! 

Now, go forth and enter the giveaway, using the Gleam gadget below!

Spring Fling Pet Blogger Giveaway II
Well, did you enter? Yay! I hope you win! Don't forget you can enter at the other nine blogs (linked at the top of the post) to increase your chances! 

I'll post all three winners' names on the Facebook page and Twitter on April 26!

Good luck!

About the giveaway: 

No purchase necessary. Giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents age 18 and older, except where prohibited by law. Giveaway will run from April 19 to April 25, 2017 at 11:59pm EST. Three (3) winners will be randomly selected and notified via email. Winners will have 48 hours to claim their prizes; failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the prize. Twitter and Pinterest do not sponsor, administer, or endorse this promotion. Participants must read and agree to Gleam’s Privacy Policy before entering and participating in this promotion. By entering this contest, participants grant permission for their email address to be added to the Chronicles of Cardigan mailing list. 

Each participating blogger paid an entry fee which will be used to fund the grand prize. The 2nd and 3rd place prizes were generously donated by the participating brands. Please be sure to visit their websites to see all the incredible pet products they have to offer.

How to Determine Whether Your Dog Really Wants What He's Begging For

When I'm in the kitchen, my dogs beg for everything I get out of the pantry, cabinets, refrigerator, off the counters, out of gift and grocery bags, from envelopes, out of coat and pants pockets, drawers...I think you get the picture. It dawned on me that they might not actually want to eat all of these things, but that they are simply taking their chances (aka betting, using their better-than-50%-odds gut instinct, which they learned from experience) that whatever the thing is that I'm retrieving is 1) edible, and 2) tastes good. Lest, they would be much more selective with their begging efforts.

To test this theory, I showed Dewi a selection of fresh, whole fruit, in rapid succession. This is what happened...

Mmmm, banana...

Mmmm, tomato (Yes, it's a fruit.)...

Mmmm, apple...

Mmmm, peach...

And then I showed him this...

Mmmm, jar of unopened pickled jalapeno slices...Ha! I knew it!

In conclusion: (My) Dogs know how to gamble (using time and energy as currency) and have no shame in doing so. I guess that makes me an enabler. 

Does your dog beg for everything gamble in the kitchen, or wherever yummy edible things get "dropped" in his direction? Has he ever gambled and "lost" (like Dewi and the pickled peppers)? Do you always cave in and let your dog win the jackpot? Or, do you look the other way and eat ALL the cheese, for example, hoping your dog will not notice you didn't share? 

Anyone want some fruit salad with a side of dog drool?

Ho Ho Ho, Fleas and Ticks Don't Die in Snow! (and Here's Where They Go) #12Bravecto

When I was in kindergarten, my class sang "Up on the Housetop" in the school Christmas program. I had to memorize the words and to this day, I remember many of them: ♪♫ "Ho ho ho, who wouldn't go? Ho ho ho, who wouldn't go-oh, up on the housetop, click click click; down through the chimney with good St. Nick?" ♫♪

Can someone tell me what the heck that means? I mean, who would go down the chimney with Santa, and more importantly, WHY would anyone be on the roof with Santa to begin with? And why does Nell get a doll in her stocking, but Will gets a hammer, tacks, whistle, ball and whip? I, frankly, don't even like the Santa in this song; he's creepy!

Clearly, I am the only one with a problem.

But I digress. You see, that story has nothing to do with anything I need to tell you in this post about fleas and ticks NOT dying in snow (or frigid cold), except that it's what inspired the title. #theMoreYouKnow

FLEAS AND TICKS MIGHT NOT SURVIVE THE APOCALYPSE, BUT THEY WILL SURVIVE SNOW AND COLD

So, who's ever wondered whether fleas and ticks die when the temperatures dip below freezing and/or there's snow on the ground? (If not, what exactly was it about the title of this post that hooked you? [wink])

I certainly have! I've googled it at least once, but to tell you the truth, until I got into planning this post, I might as well have known NOTHING about the subject. If you thought fleas and ticks were genetically built for survival (aka, alien mutants from hell) before, wait until you find out how they outwit winter weather (and us, if we're not careful)!

This post is sponsored by BRAVECTO® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about BRAVECTO.  But we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Neither Intervet Inc., nor Merck & Co Inc., are responsible for the content of this article and have not written, reviewed, or edited it in any fashion. For more information about BRAVECTO, please click here.

Off-topic side note: I don't believe I've ever mentioned before that when I need to research health-related things about my pets online, one of my trusted, go-to sources has always been the Merck Veterinary Manual. Seriously. It's not a substitute for an actual vet, but if one needs the straight facts, from experts in the field, it is one excellent resource. And this is a huge reason why I signed on as an ambassador for, and give my own dogs**, BRAVECTO® (Fluralaner), a chewable flea and tick preventative (that lasts up to 12 weeks* in ONE dose)!

* BRAVECTO kills fleas, prevents flea infestations, and kills ticks (black-legged tick, American dog tick, and brown dog tick) for 12 weeks. BRAVECTO also kills lone star ticks for 8 weeks.
** BRAVECTO is approved for use in dogs only. Ask your veterinarian about appropriate flea and tick prevention for your cat. 

THERE ARE PLENTY OF WARM PLACES IN AND AROUND YOUR YARD FOR FLEAS AND TICKS TO HIDE (OR RIDE)

Cold out? Snow on the ground? No problem, said the fleas and ticks in your yard! Here's where they're hiding (some in plain sight):

• In warm pockets on the ground, carved out by grass and leaves. And, when that first snow falls, it serves as a blanket, keeping bugs extra toasty. For real, they can survive all winter tucked in these warm spots!
• In your garage, covered patio, wood pile, shed or basement. Essentially ANYWHERE that there is shelter from the cold. They're tiny, y'all, and can crawl right in (and lay their disgusting eggs) undetected. 
• On the warm bodies of wild (and tame) animals. That's right; think the squirrel gets a break from fleas? Probably not. And if your pet comes in contact with one of these flea/tick-ridden animals, they can get infested too. Unless, of course, they were infested already. 
• In your home. Now, this is their FAVORITE place to hide during winter: on your pet where they can breed and lay eggs all over your home! (Click here to read about the time MY home was infested with fleas.)

Jedi wisdom. 

FLEA- AND TICK-BORNE ILLNESSES ARE DIAGNOSED IN WINTER

Even in places where winters are long and hard. In fact, ticks will start looking for a blood meal when the temperature rises to only 39 ℉; that's COLD to me!

GIVE YOUR DOG THE GIFT OF A FLEA- AND TICK-FREE HOLIDAY...ALL YEAR!

See your vet for BRAVECTO to not only ensure a pest-free home for the holidays (and a comfy, itch-free dog), but year-round. It can be done in less than five doses a calendar year!

HAVE YOU EVER DEALT WITH FLEAS AND/OR TICKS BITING IN COLD WEATHER? HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO FORGO HAVING COMPANY OVER, OR TRAVELLING WITH YOUR DOG, BECAUSE HE HAD FLEAS?

BRAVECTO is FDA approved and available only from a veterinarian or clinic. Ask your dog's veterinarian about it today. (Locate a veterinarian or clinic that carries BRAVECTO. P.S. It's accurate; I've used it myself!)

Money-saving tip: Register at My Pet Rewards for deals, such as cash rebates!

For the latest news and promotions, follow BRAVECTO on social: Facebook | Twitter

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published. However, it remains the responsibility of the readers to familiarize themselves with the product information contained on the USA product label or package. More product information is available here: https://intervetus.naccvp.com/product/view/1047512?e=d97b22ed63e734e84c1a5910a9c8f531z1688

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Six years ago on December 29, I published the following picture on this blog. It was my very first post. How far we've come, and at the same time, how little we've changed! Thanks for sticking with us! 

Stay toasty and insect-free! Happy holidays, y'all!

Love, 

Elizabeth, Jon Farleigh, Dewi, Lele, Maddox, Tigger, Bobby Flay, Bertie, Lulabelle and Frances

Why You Should Give Your Dog Flea Protection, Not Underwear, for Christmas* #12Bravecto

* My family celebrates Christmas. If you don't, feel free to substitute any wintertime gifting occasion you like.

From the time I was about 7, until I was old enough to drive, my grandmother gave me underwear for Christmas. Sometimes I'd get some cherry cordials, too, but mostly, it was a professionally wrapped gift box full of high-end briefs (translated: granny panties). High-end, in that they were thicker, more adorned and softer than my standard issue Sears undies, and were purchased at Montaldo's, the local boutique department store that my family couldn't afford.

In memory of my underwear. R.I.P.

My two sisters got underwear, too, so none of us felt like we were grandmother's less favored, going on to suffer irreversible emotional damage or anything. It was just a fact of life: grandmother gave us fancy (if not two sizes too big) underwear for Christmas. And each year, on Christmas Day, we girls would sneak a glance at each other after unwrapping our Montaldo's boxes, snicker a little, and then go on about our day. I have no memory of whether I ever wore any of that underwear. 

UNDERWEAR IS EASY TO GIVE, AND NECESSARY TO WEAR

Maybe it's the fear that one's offspring will get in a car accident (not major enough to be seriously injured, but bad enough that one needs to be placed on a stretcher and have one's bottoms cut off) and be caught by emergency personnel wearing nasty underwear that drives mothers and grandmothers to do it. Or maybe it's because it fits neatly in a stocking. All I know for sure is that when my kids got old enough to wear underwear (vs. a diaper) and read (in that order), I went and got them underwear for Christmas, too. Just like it had been done unto me. Except I got theirs at Target, and they wore it (because I threw their raggedy old underwear in the trash).

Please note that I won't be buying any future grandchildren of mine underwear for Christmas (because they might think I'm crazy), but I fully expect my daughters will carry on the tradition.

HOW GIVING UNDERWEAR FOR CHRISTMAS IS LIKE GIVING ONE'S DOG THE GIFT OF YEAR-ROUND FLEA AND TICK PROTECTION

But first, a shout to my sponsor, without whom, I might never have told this story! They, and their product, which I give to all my dogs, rock!

This post is sponsored by BRAVECTO® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about BRAVECTO.  But we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Neither Intervet Inc., nor Merck & Co Inc., are responsible for the content of this article and have not written, reviewed, or edited it in any fashion. For more information about BRAVECTO please click here.

Answer this question: How do you feel about the idea of your dog running through a flea- and/or tick-infested field/yard/park/trail/whatever and being caught without any flea and tick preventative?

Or maybe he has preventative, but it doesn't protect from the type of tick that causes Lyme disease? Or you forgot to give him his next dose, that was due over a week ago?

And let's say a few fleas jump on him like brown on chocolate,

Would You Rather Be Bitten by Dracula or a Deadly, Plague-Infected Flea? #12Bravecto

Before you answer that impossible question, did you even know fleas carry PLAGUE? The disease* that wiped out millions of people in the Middle Ages, up to 60% of Europe's entire population, and remains the world's worst pandemic ever?

Y'all! My family came out to Arizona after BlogPaws this summer and we visited the Grand Canyon. As we approached the most visited overlook on the South Rim, THIS warning sign met us (five seconds AFTER I had already seen a tame squirrel on the path). I had not seen the word plague used in an actual present-day warning in my entire life. I didn't even know the plague was still a disease that people got! And to be honest, I wasn't convinced the National Park Service wasn't spreading tall tales just to scare the daylights out of people who ignore "do not feed the wild animals" signs! Until I googled "grand canyon squirrel fleas plague" on my iPhone...

And that the disease remains alive and spreadable in the world, including the United States? And the fleas that carry it can jump off their hosts (frequently rock squirrels) and bite pets and people? And if it's not diagnosed and treated with antibiotics early...well, you know. [insert funeral music 💀]

* The bubonic plague, to be exact. The disease--caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis--led to gangrene (dead, rotting tissue) in human extremities, and was referred to as Black Death.  (source: CDC)

But back to my question...What's it gonna be? Dracula or the flea? (Go ahead and take 10 seconds to think about it...)

This post is sponsored by BRAVECTO® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about BRAVECTO.  But we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Neither Intervet Inc., nor Merck & Co Inc., are responsible for the content of this article and have not written, reviewed, or edited it in any fashion. For more information about BRAVECTO please click here.

The one on the right is a fiend!

EW, look at the flea in that picture! Talk about a blood-sucking monster! SO nasty! The thought of those jumping all over my poor dogs (and/or cats) makes me feel sick to my stomach! (But not as sick as when I looked at this other, much worse, blood- and plague bacteria-filled flea photo from the CDC while researching this post. [retch!])

Where was I? Oh yeah! The "would you rather" question!

But whoops. I might have swayed you with those scary images. So, you know what? Scrub them from your retinas! Check out this comparison chart I made and then answer the question!