Dogs N Paws ~ Featured Blogger

Today we get to introduce you to Lisa & the gang at Dogs N Paws.

Hi! My name is Lisa and I have four big, but very special dogs! Shiloh is the oldest of my dogs. She is a black Lab and just turned 15 years old this month. She is the sweetest, most loyal dog and it seems like she has been with us forever!

Scout is a big, white blockhead Lab. He is beautiful and is the best dog ever!

Ash is the smallest of the four and has the sweetest personality. She is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and loves attention.

Teddy is a Lab/Great Dane mix . . . we think! We rescued him from an oil field when he was a couple of weeks old. It was the middle of the summer and it had been anywhere from 100 degrees to 110 degrees during those days that he was trying to survive. He is very timid and scared of anybody and anything, but once he figures out that you are okay he is awesome! He is a very big dog and he will climb up in your lap if you will let him. He thinks he is a lot littler than he really is!

My dogs brighten my day and are always there to greet me with a wagging tail! When I was trying to figure out what to blog about, it was a no brainer! I share stories about my dogs as well as information about dogs in general on my blog. My blog is about everything dog at Dogs N Pawz! Please come visit my blog!

Here are three favorite blog posts:

Tips For Taking Great Photos Of Your Dog

Can Cats & Dog Live Together Under One Roof Peacefully

Cute Labrador Retriever Pictures & Quotes About Labs

Take a minute out of your day to stop by Dogs N Paws.  Tell 'em Oskar sent ya!

If you're interested in having your pet blog featured on Pet Blog United, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

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Is Your Dog Destructive?

My friend over at Indestructible Dog Toys is having a cool contest & the prize is an Unbreakoball.  Here's what she's got to say about the giveaway:

Can you remember a time where your dog did something so unbelievably destructive that you couldn't be mad at him due to your admiration of the skill it took to do such a thing? If you have a memory of your dog doing something destructive, Indestructible Dog Toys wants to hear about it. They are building the largest compilation of doggie destruction tales on the internet and they need your help.

For your participation, Indestructible Dog Toys has teamed up with UnbreakOBall to offer one ball every month to the dog with the best story. If your dog doesn't win one month, submit again to be considered for the next month! Although photographhic evidence is nice, it is not required. The only thing that is required is a picture of your dog and a story to go with it. We will do the rest. Submit your story at Indestructible Dog Gear.

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I'm A Guest Poster At Two Bostons

I had the opportunity to do a product review for the store Two Bostons and they put the review in their store blog.

Two Bostons has both brick & mortar stores and a wonderful online store.  In fact Meg from Two Bostons is going to be doing a guest blog for us about the hottest trend in dog toys & accessories soon.

I reviewed the Star Mark Bob-A-Lot treat dispensing toy and the Cloud Star Tricky Trainers treats.  Hop over to the Two Bostons Blog to find out how the Bob-A-Lot held up against Oskar's jaws of steel and pick your dog up a treat or two while you're there!

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Happy Birthday To My Excessively Handsome Schnauzer

I want to wish my partner in crime, Oskar, a very happy 7th birthday!

He's the best dog without manners anyone could ever hope for, and the true inspiration behind this blog.

You can leave Oskar birthday wishes at The Daily Oskar.

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Days with Dante, New Blogger Alert

Hello! My name is Hannah, and welcome to Days with Dante! Days with Dante is all about the in's and out's of raising a future service dog for Canine Companions for Independence. 

I first started blogging just over two months ago. Since Dante is a Canine Companions puppy, I will only have him to raise for about 16 months. I decided to start blogging about our daily adventures so that when Dante is grown up and moves on from me, I will be able to look back and see all the details and lovable "quirks" that Dante possesses. But along the way, I have also met many wonderful, animal-loving bloggers!

Dante is the first puppy that I have raised, so we are learning together! He is a very independent and outgoing pup, and has challenged me in what I know. We would love for you to follow along in our journey!

Stop by Days with Dante and give them some Pet Blogs United comment love.
If you're interested in having your blog featured on PBU drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

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Ten Dynamite Tips To Improve Your Dog Photography Guest Post by Susan Ley

After years of photographing animals, and trillions of photographs of our Irish Terriers (ok, trillions is a bit of a stretch), I’ve come up with a list of foolproof suggestions to improve your dog photography.

1.First tip, relax!
Forget about that stock option for a million bucks or the shopping spree to Aruba. This is more important. Take some deep relaxing breaths. Watch your pet and figure out want kind of image you want to capture. Keep focused on the present moment and only that moment.


2. Read your manual.
Before you do anything else, go dig up your manual and study it. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to figure out the best settings as your dog does a triple flip off the diving board.

3. Set the shutter speed to at least 1/250 of a second or faster.
(You know how to do that because you have read your manual. If not, do not pass go…go back. Read your manual.) You want crisp, clean images with no blur. If you are using a point and shoot, no worries. Just put the speed dial on the action icon.

4. Vet the background.
Poor backgrounds ruin more dog portraits than any other factor except incorrect exposure, so check it out and move your pet to another location if the background has a parking lot full of screaming kids, a garbage truck on the move or a ugly fence.

5. Move In Close. 
Move in close to give your viewer a sense of being right there. This will also help to crop out background clutter you can’t eliminate.

6. Always focus on the eyes. 
Get down..get down. Unless your dog is as big as a miniature horse, you need to get down low enough to photograph your pet at eye level. If you are photographing a puppy, get flat on the ground and use your elbows to prop your camera up to your eye.

7. Keep It Simple.
Concentrate on capturing one thing and one thing only. Do you want a photo of the flowers around your dog, or your dog? Decide. It is usually impossible to capture two ideas in one photo.

8. Avoid Harsh Light.
Yikes..it’s noon and it’s too bright to photograph. Really. Bright sun works for scenic images, not pets. Shoot early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the harsh glare of noon day sun. Overcast days when the sun is hidden behind clouds will turn the sky into a giant light box. Perfect for dog photography!

9. Use Props.
To capture dynamite expressions, use props. Try a battery-operated toy, a bright cloth flapping in the wind or a whistle. Be ready! Props only work until your dog gets bored, so you have to work quickly.

10. Know Your Flash Range.
Memorize the flash-to-subject distance range for your flash and stay within the range.

Good shooting! If you want more information on any of these subjects, check out my web site, www.susanleyphotography.com or email questions to sley@ee.net.


Susan has sent me a copy of her book Pet Photography For Fun and once I review it I will have a copy to give away to one PBU reader, so stay tuned!

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A Basset Hound in Cape Town Featured Blogger

This week we are pleased to introduce you to A Basset Hound In Cape Town.

Over a year ago, I--a gorgeous female basset hound--left Toronto, Canada with my parents and three (yucky) cats to move to Cape Town, South Africa. I soon fell in love with Cape Town and all that it offered: dog-loving restaurants, a snow-free existence, miles and miles of hiking trails, friendly, dog-loving people, the ocean, and sun, sun, sun!

It was not all good-times, however, two of the cats have since passed away (I have been cleared of all charges), I almost fell off Table Mountain (my ears took flight thanks to a sudden, strong gust of wind), Halloween is just catching on here so not a big audience to see my many cute costume changes, and my mom has just recently adopted a South –African stray (dad, a very wise man, is a feline hater like myself). Every day brings new adventures for both me and my parents as we travel around Cape Town and South Africa together!

Here are three of Charlie's favorite posts:

Something Evil This Way Comes: The Five Stages of Grief

Hungry Hound Restaurant Review

A (Not-So-Average) Week In The Life of a Beach, Food & Wine Loving Basset Hound.

There's lots of fun stuff going on over at Charlie's blog, so take a look and see what you think!

If you're interested in having your blog featured on Pet Blogs United, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net. 

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Ready To Pawty At BlogPaws!

Flat Oskar & I are here at BlogPaws thanks to our fantastic sponsor EzyDog.com.  I've already met lots of blogging friends and the conference hasn't even officially started yet.

I'm still trying to figure out which of the great seminars to attend, it seems all of them are ones that I really want to attend.  That's the drawback of BlogPaws, there's just too little time!

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Savannah's Paw Tracks ~ New Blogger Alert

This week you get to meet that wonderful Savannah of Savannah's Paw Tracks.  She's a great addition to Blogville.

Ok, so this is to tell you about me...Savannah I am a 5 year old Russian Blue Cat, with totally darling white markings! No, seriously, they are really, really special! I have really cool white markings on my front paws...sort of a French mani look, if you know what I mean?...Like, both front paws have really cute white tips.

My back paws have pawsome white socks! Neat, huh?! Oh, and there is more...I have this very nice large white bib under my chin, on my neck...very striking if I must say! And then, I have these two fab diamond shape white markings on my tummy. Nice!

Oh, I was rescued by my Dad and Mom...well...at least they adopted me from Contra Costa Humane Society's Kitty Corner where I was living with my roomies...we were all adult cats, and some of us had special needs, like Barney who only had 3 legs and Chloe who has stomatitis. It’s a really great place...waaayyyy better than the county shelter where I was almost...well err, umm…you know...

Finally, I am working on both my fitness and mental recovery...I am sort'a like an adult survivor of trauma, both kitten hood trauma and trauma from when I was stray and abused and stuff. That's it. Catch'ya on my blog...hope you like it enough to follow me along on my journey.

WHY I STARTED BLOGGING

Great question! I decided I had a story to tell so I asked for the blog and a Twitter account…of course Mom and Dad said YES!

So here is part of my Mission Statement (Mom made me write one)
“I just hope my life experiences, and those I can share about some of my former roomies and other guests at Kitty Corner, will give you a moment to pause and think before you grab up that darling kitten…and please consider how much a cat, out of “kitten hood”, can give you…easily as much, or even different, joy and pleasure.”

I have more in my mission statement, but I think this is enough. Well, I guess I would also say I blog so peeps can understand how much we need their help if we are adopted as adults because we have had so many more life experiences than kittens…most of us have some mental baggage you know. But, we really are worthwhile saving.

Please take a minute to visit Savannah & welcome her to the world of blogging.

If you are interested in having your pet blog featured on Pet Blogs United, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

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Proper Cat Care For Your New Adoption

Adding to your family by adopting a shelter car is very rewarding.  In order to have the most successful experience possible, here are five tips to help you learn about cats.

Prepare Your Home


Prepare your home to keep your furry friend out of trouble.  Cats are very curious by nature and will explore everything.  Move all chemicals to cabinets or closets.

Feed Your Cat Properly


A good way to ensure your cat stays healthy starts with the food.  You veterinarian can help you select the best food for your pet.  However, if you change foods, add small amounts of the new food to the old food and increase the proportion of new food to old food slowly over the course of several weeks.  This helps your cat avoid digestive woes.

Use The Right Litter


Cat owners who properly clean, select the right litter, and box size will enjoy their experience the most.  Litter should be scooped either once a day or every other day and the entire litter should be changed weekly.  Use unscented litter, as the cat may avoid using a litter box filled with scented litter because it irritates their sensitive noses.  A proper sized litter box means the cat can see out of the opening when filled with three inches of littler.

Select The Proper Scratching Post(s)


There are styles and colors of scratching posts to suit even the pickiest fashionista.  However, when picking out a scratching post, there are two key concerns.  First, your feline friend may prefer scratching wither vertically or horizontally.  New cat owners should consider either buying or purchasing one of each type of scratching post.  Second, choose a post upholstered with carpet or wrapped sisal to ensure your cat enjoys the feel of the material.

Make Playtime Fun

Playing with your new friend can be one of the best parts of your day.  Additionally, it is important for your cat to stay fit.  First-time cat owners may want to purchase a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors of toys for your new pet.  It is also enjoyable for the cat if you hide a few toys which they can discover later.  Playing should also include plenty of stalking.

Following these tips will put you on the road to a long, healthy relationship with your adopted cat.  However, you should continue to learn about cats by reading books and speaking with experts.

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Febreze Says Thanks a Million

I know usually we're all about the pet info, but I thought this was so cool that I had to share it with you.

Febreze recently reached one million Facebook fans globally and they have a fun program scheduled to thank their loyal fans. Beginning Monday, June 18th at 10:00AM EST they are going to thank each and every one of their one million fans, literally, via a live streaming video on their Febreze Facebook page. Members of the Febreze global teams will be saying “thank you” around the clock – night and day – until they say “thank you” one million times. Now that’s gratitude!!


To see it in action, go to https://www.facebook.com/febreze. Enjoy! 

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The World According to Garth Riley - Featured Blogger

Today we are proud to introduce you to Garth Riley and his blog The World According to Garth Riley.

The World According to Garth Riley is a blog by and about Garth Riley, a 4 1/2 year old yellow English Labrador Retriever who lives in Richmond, Virginia, in the United States. Garth was bred and raised to be a show dog, but when he became full grown, he was just a little too short to be a show dog. So instead he went to live with a new mom and dad who made him the center of their world. He didn't mind this one bit.

Garth loves to hike and travel with his humans, and he has lots of excellent adventures. He goes hiking with his mom almost every weekend either on the trails of the James River Park System or somewhere else in Virginia. He also vacations with his parents whenever he and they can. Their last vacation was a two-week trip to the Florida Keys, where they had lots of fun and made some new friends!

Garth is also very active in his community. He is a member of Dog Scout Troop #194, he is a therapy dog with Caring Canines, and he is also a Reading Education Assistance Dog. He is an Advanced Trick Dog, and he does tricks at local doggie events and fundraisers. His favorite tricks are skateboarding and playing the piano. He is working on his Expert Trick Dog rating, then he hopes to become a Trick Dog Champion. He loves to learn tricks because he gets lots of treats!

Garth blogs about all of this, and more. Making people smile is one of Garth's primary goals in life, and his blog is written with that in mind.

Here are three of his favorite blog posts:

Florida Keys Adventure

Santa Paws, Hanover Hounds & That Warm Fuzzy Feeling

Garth Riley, Fashion Hound...I Mean Lab

You can see Garth Riley is a very hansome boy doggie who wants to make lots of friends, so stop by The World According To Garth Riley and say hello today!

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K9 Kamp Week 4 Kamper's Choice

This week for K9 Kamp it was Kamper's Choice. We stuck with Oskar's favorite, which is keep-away. Every day, at least twice a day we went out to the yard and played Chase Oskar.

The rules are:
Throw the ball once to Oskar.
Chase Oskar.

I know it's highly technical, but it works for us:)

My husband and I were both out chasing him last night & when one of us gets close, he just turns on a burst of speed that leaves us in his dust.  Oskar makes all kinds of barking & snorting sounds while he's running with the ball in his mouth, just to taunt us.

The added bonus to this game is that it makes Oskar so truly happy!  He thinks this is the most fun possible, so it makes it easier for me to do it seeing him so happy.

Once again this year K9 Kamp has been a blast.  I want to thank our hosts, Peggy & Jodi for putting together such a fun event!

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The Misadventures of Masaki ~ New Blogger Alert

My name is Dawn and my blog is The Misadventures of Misaki.  Misaki is my 5 month old Alaskan Malamute puppy. She enjoys eating, having her belly rubbed, chasing pigeons and playing.

The blog is from her perspective. It covers her day to day activities, her thoughts on life, the universe and well, anything that comes in her path really. From being left home alone to her favourite games and treats.

I decided to write it because she entertains me all the time, the way she interacts with other people, other dogs and new situations. She’s so full of life and enthusiastic about absolutely everything. So I wanted to share a little bit of her on my blog. I hope you enjoy it.

Hop on over the The Misadventures of Misaki & tell them Oskar sent ya!

If you'd like to have your pet blog featured on Pet Blogs United, drop us a line at PBU at comcast dot net.

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