Monday Mischief-Pumpkins, Pugs, and Bulldogs at Demarest Farms

October is by far my favorite month of the year.  I love the colors, the cool air, and Halloween.  One of my favorite parts of October is going to Demarest Farms 
 

with a few of the dogs to buy a pumpkin and eat their delicious apple cider donuts and potato pancakes.   This year we brought Tubby, Ping, Weasley, and Bob.   One of the nicest things about Demarest farms is every fall they have a play area set up with photo props for Halloween pictures, if you get there early in the morning like we did you have the section to yourself and can take some cute doggie pictures.

 The best part of a trip to Demarest farms is the food.  They have amazing apple cider donuts that just take like fall and delicious apple pancakes.  Since they have a lot of picnic tables its easy to sit with the dogs and have a nice breakfast.

Everyone got a taste.

After we ate our food we picked out our pumpkin:

The whole trip was a big success with every on good behavior and no mischief in sight until...............we walked back to our car and realized we had a flat.

Luckily Dad was able to change it quickly while the dogs waited in the car.  Mischief managed!

We Got a Package!!!

This year Halloween came early.  We got a package in the mail from our friends Benny and Lilly at Two French Bulldogs, we were lucky enough to win their hug contest.

All five of us were super psyched to look in the package:

 

 And when we did open it was full of fun stuff!!!!

Three Halloween squeeky toys and a picture frame and a super sweet note.

 Weasley had so much fun playing with the toys:

Mom used the frame to hold a picture of Dad and the three pugs and now it hangs on our photo wall.

 Thanks so much Benny and Lilly we love you!!!!

The Felines of Urban Hounds

We love our cats but its so hard to photograph them.    Here are pictures of our three resident felines Baby, Scooter, and Ernie.

Tasty Tuesday-Cheese Ball!!!

Every once and a while I like to make a dinner of appetizers for my husband and myself.  I'm partial to retro tinged classics like shrimp cocktail, sweet and sour meat balls, and of course cheese balls.  Then I can pretend our home is the setting for a glamorous vintage cocktail party.

 A few weeks ago I made a cheese ball so deliciously indulgent that after a few crackers worth I tossed it to prevent any further consumption, but it was totally worth it.

Delicious Cheese Ball

In fact it was so tasty that it got me thinking about a cheese ball for dogs.  I mean why should people have the fun.  If I ever do have a real cocktail party with guests and everything, unlikely, wouldn't it be fun to have appetizers for the dogs as well?  I think so.   Luckily my dogs tolerate dairy well and they all love cheese so my primary tax was defatting and simplifying the recipe.  I can't say the end result is healthy but its not terrible and the dogs sure loved them.

Canine Cheese Balls

Everyone loved the cheese balls even my big old guy Norbert who looks rather stoic in this picture.

 Now for the recipes, of course you can change up a cheese ball any which WAY you like by using different cheeses and seasonings.

Cheese Balls for Dogs

• 8 oz fat free cream cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded fat free cheddar 
• 5 baby carrots, diced

Stir the above ingredients in a bowl and form into balls with your hands.  Voila! cheese ball.

Amy Sedaris's Lil' Smokey Cheese Ball

Definitely half this, I should have.

2 cups shredded smoked Gouda cheese
16 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup butter
2 1/2 tablespoons milk
2 1/2 teaspoons steak sauce
1 cup chopped nuts

Directions:

Bring all ingredients to room temperature.
Beat the Gouda, cream cheese, butter, milk and steak sauce together in a bowl until combined.
Chill overnight.
Roll the mixture into a ball.
Roll the ball in the chopped nuts.
Serve at room temperature with ritz or club crackers

In the end I'd really much rather spend an evening at home with my dogs then at any silly cocktail party!

Monday Mischief-Meet The Breeds 2013

For the past several years the Javits center in Manhattan has hosted an event that for me is better then my birthday, Christmas, and Halloween all rolled into one.   The event is Meet The Breeds and its a gathering of breed fanciers and their dogs and cats that allows the public to learn more about the unique breeds in the AKC and CFA and to hopefully determine which pet might be a good match for them.   I love this event because it is a gathering of responsible breeders and rather then being a sales pitch, all of the individuals there truly love their chosen breeds and are committed to educating the public thoroughly.   I firmly believe that a major reason so many dogs and cats wind up in the shelter system is that people do not do their research.  They choose their pet based on appearance or rumored traits and wind up with a dog or cat that is a terrible match for them.  Other people turn to disreputable sources and wind up with an animal companion with significant health problems.  At best this causes discomfort for the pet and signficant financial expenditure for the owner, at worst it causes serious discomfort for the pet and heart break for the owner.  

Since first attending Meet The Breeds three years ago my husband and I have learned more about many of the breeds we were initially attracted too and have eliminated many of them from our list of potential future family members.  Other breeds we may not have initially been drawn to have become favorites.  Of course the best part of the event is meeting so many adorable dogs and cats!  My phone pictures of the event definitely do not do  it justice if you live in the New York area, you just have to go!

Pekingnese are an example of a breed I really like the look of (adorable Muppets) but have come to realize are probably not for me.   The Peke fanciers I have talked to have all told me they are not super affectionate or playful like their pug cousins, traits that are very important to my husband and me.

The Boston Terrier is a dog I like the look off and know would be a good match for us.   I love the history of these dogs too.   In the future I definitely plan on having a Boston in our family.

This Shar Pei was so sweet.  They are not a dog I'd necessarily ever want to own but its lovely to meet them.

The Norwich Terrier is an example of a dog my husband and I previously didn't pay much attention too but since meeting them at the event they have become favorites of ours.  I love the look and spirit of all of the breeds in the terrier group but know that many of them are not good matches for us.  The Norwich however has all the traits we are looking for with manageable exercise needs. They are one terrier that fits in well in a city environment when provided with sufficient exercise.  I also love their long life span, another trait that is very important to me.

I love the giant breeds like New Foundlands and Irish Wolf Hounds, who I forgot to get a picture of, but I know they are not really right for our home.  My husband is set on sticking with small dogs in the future and since he is fine with having five dogs, and several cats, I figure I can't complain.  This big guy was so sweet though!

My favorite of all the animals in attendance though is actually in the feline section, I've come to really love Sphnyx cats.   Years ago I got hooked on them when I took care of one at a vet's office I worked at.  I had previously thought they were ugly, as so many people do, but when saw how affectionate, soft and warm they are, I fell in love.   I adore visiting them every year and I have gotten good information on their special care needs so that some day when I get one, which will definitely happen, I will fully know what it entails.  I am hoping it will be many years before my husband and I add a Sphnyx kitty to our family since it wont be until our current kitties are no longer with us, but thanks to Meet the Breeds I have a list or reputable breeders, rescue groups, and resources to turn to when I do get one.

Traveling With Pets

If you ask me a meal out shared with your pet is all the more enjoyable, so the same should go for travel.

I'm a firm believer that all the best experiences in life are made better by sharing them with your pets.   I feel the same way about vacations and travel, if it can't involve my pets then I am not interested.  Thankfully, as dogs and cats positions as family members becomes more established in our society traveling with pets is getting easier.  That is why I am so happy to be able to share this article from Priority One Jets on staying safe while traveling with your pets.   It has great advice on airplane travel and international travel.

Baby Weasley traveled by air from Tonawanda, New York to our home in Jersey City, New Jersey. It was a very short flight and likely much more comfortable for him then a long care ride would have been.

I have never traveled internationally with my pets but I have had a puppy, Weasley, shipped by air with no problems.  I would certainly consider taking one or two of my smaller dogs along on a plane trip as long as they could fly in the cabin, which is generally possible with proper carriers on most air lines.

I have taken several local car trips with my dogs and I regularly travel with my small dogs on the New York Subway and New Jersey Path train system.   


From my experience with local pet travel I'd say there are a few absolutely essential rules to follow.

1) Vacinations/Medical Records-I tend to avoid vacinations with my adult dogs and prefer to rely on titer testing since I believe over vacinating is unhealthy.  However, many hotels and doggie day cares require proof of vacination, not just titers.  I would recommend calling all hotels, daycares, boarding facilities and any other place you will be visiting with your dog to find  out what proofs of  vacination they require and if they will accept titer testing.  I was able to have a letter from my vet and copies of my dogs titer test serve at one out of town day care my dog visited.

2) Proper Restraints-When traveling with dogs in a car, seatbelts are an essential.   I use smaller car restraints from pet smart for my pugs, but for my large dogs Bob and Norbert I found a more accurate fit was important.   I think the best seatbelts are from the Ruff Rider Roadies available online.  These seatbelts are every bit as high quality as those made for people and they offer complete restraint.

3) Proper Carriers-When traveling by Subway and path train with my pugs I generally use a doggie stroller.  When Weasley was a puppy I used a travel bag, however for all but very small dogs I find the stroller more comfortable for dog and human.  

 Its important to make sure that any stroller you use zips completely shut as that is a requirement on most public transit.   It is also a good idea to avoid rush hour and to check what the specific pet rules are in your area.

4) Identification-A double sit of identification tags on your dogs collar and leash are another must.  While traveling with your pet I would make sure they are wearing ID at all times.    



Current photos of your pet are another must.

5) Have a Back Up Plan-Every time I've traveled over night with my dogs we have stayed in the home of friends or family.   Luckily this has always worked out for us.  I do think it is important to realize though, that not everyone is going to be as dog crazy as you are.  Unless you know the people you are visiting are dog nuts have a back up plan for occupying your dog if you have to spend the day apart, maybe a day spent at a local doggie day care or grooming spa.  Also its a good idea to know of a few pet friendly hotels in the area in case their is a problem with resident pets or another issue that requires you to stay in a hotel.   

I'm hoping that as the years pass and hopefully my bank account grows I will be able to spend more time traveling with my pets.

Happy Dog!

This picture was taken of Norbert in front of the Happy Dog Gallery in Piermont New York.  Norbert doesn't stay well for pictures so he prefers having a parent on camera too!