Ginger, Simba and Cheryl ~New Blogger Alert

Today we are introducing you to the Ginger, Simba and Cheryl Blog.

I love cats since I can remember, they had always be my first choice when my parents asked me what pet I wanted. I remember that one time when I was 16 had a domestic cat that give birth to 5 kitties! My father was annoy so I had to give them in adoption except one, a black and white cat named Chino. I will always remember Chino, he was very obedient, playful and sweet with everyone. Now I have 3 wonderful cats that I treat like they are my kids.

Ginger is the oldest with 3 years [human years] she only respond to me and only me can touch her, she is a drama queen.

Simba is the "Cat" of the house! He's 1 year old and He's always playful, super sweet with us and he spend most of his time with my brother in his bedroom.

Last but not less is Cheryl, she is a 7 month Napoleon kitty. Cheryl came to me when she was only 4 months and has been the best thing that happen to me, she has help me in so many ways with my health problems these days, cheering me up, giving me her affection and simply been there by my side purring always. She is just adorable and full of energy! My cats are special to me but Cheryl is the #1 in my life.

One day I searched Google for "cat blogs" and that gave me the push I need it to start blogging. I was having so much fun with my cats that I wanted a way to share and when I discover so many blogs out there that were so fun to read I made the decision to start blogging, well is more like a picture blog with a little comment sometimes from my point of view or the kitty.

I blog for fun and I love my kitties forever!

Stop by the Ginger, Simba & Cheryl blog today and tell howdy!

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Misty Shore Chesapeakes ~ Featured Blogger

Our Featured Bloggers the Misty Shores Chesapeakes haven't posted in almost a month, but maybe with all of our PBU readers visiting them they will start to post again.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever’s (CBR’s) or Chessie’s as they are commonly called, are a sporting breed, they are used for duck and goose hunting but they can retrieve upland game also. My life with them began almost twenty years ago when I met my soon to be very good friend who owned two very beautiful girls; I immediately fell in love with them and wanted one of my own. My dream came true in 1993 when my friend gave me my first Chessie puppy for my birthday, a beautiful deadgrass girl named Shadowdancer and as they say…the rest is history!

Cheyenne

I now have four Chessie’s in my life, Cheyenne age 9; she is a very mouthy girl always wanting to get the last word in! She loves to retrieve ducks, geese and swim but is happiest when she is with me. She finally achieved the Working Dog title through our national dog club on August 19, 2012; this was a huge achievement for us. She sometimes sleeps with me but prefers to sleep on the dog bed next to my bed; I think it’s because she can stretch out more since my bed is pretty cramped with three Chessie’s sharing it.

Riva and Babies

Riva age 7 is the snuggler, cuddler and my baby; she is also a huge smiler! Chessie’s are known for smiling and it is quite humorous! Last September she gave me seven beautiful puppies of which I ended up keeping two. She also is happiest when she is with me and sleeps with me every night. We do conformation dog shows together on occasion and she seems to like it because she usually will strut her stuff!

Maia & Titan

Maia age 1 is Riva’s daughter and is working on being the baby, cuddler and snuggler. She is so much like her momma it is almost scary! She also sleeps with me every night and it is cute to watch her and her momma trying to get their spot on the bed right next to me. She is just beginning her show career and isn’t too sure of it at times but we will get there in time. We may also try some obedience and rally.

Titan age 1, the brother and the clown! He is such a character and never ceases to amaze me with his antics. You can see how much this boy loves life in his happy go lucky attitude every day! He is in retriever training and will be working on getting his hunting titles as well as being my hunting dog, which that will be a huge challenge for me since I have never hunted! We will also give obedience and rally a try to see if I can get him titled in that as well.

First and foremost my wonderful dogs are my companions!! We all have fun just hanging with each other, they love to be with me and go when I go. They fill my life with so much joy there are really no words that can express how much I love them and my life would be dull, lonely and empty without them!

Titan

Here are three of their favorite posts:
Chessie Weekend
Guilty
Three Handed Casts

Stop by Misty Shores Chesapeakes and see if you can get them to come out of hiding :)

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Subaru Comfort #DogTested Check It Out!

I'm a dog who travels around a lot by vehicle, I don't do airplanes.

That's why Subaru is such a great fit for me.  I've been trying to get my peeps to take me to a Subaru showroom so I can meet Grant Weber, the canine sales associate for weeks now.  I really need to get myself a new ride.

I've shown you some really cool Subaru commercials over the past couple of weeks, but you must click over and check out this newest one.  If you've ever wondered how you would go about trading in a mail truck, you'll find out here.

One of my favorite parts of the campaign are the interactive Facebook features that Subaru has added, including a Subaru Dog Matchmaker, Ask an Expert, and my person favorite, the Canine Driver’s License Division.

Now I have my official drivers license!

I can also let my peeps know how cool I look in a Subaru with the Put Your Dog in a Subaru feature.

Make sure to enter the Rafflecopter contest below to enter to win a$300 or a $150 Visa gift card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to watch the newest ad spot, it will reassure you that Subaru can meet all of your canine needs!

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Travelling Cats ~ New Blogger Alert

Today we'd like to introduce you to the world of Travelling Cats.  We were a little unsure of the correct spelling, but it seems traveling is American & travelling is British/Canadian.  They use both on their blog.

Blog Inspiration For over ten years, Vanessa Morgan has been snapping pictures of every cat she meets during her travels around the world. Her new feline photoblog, Travelling Cats, is the collection of those cat pictures.

Travelling Cats is an interesting project on many levels. The pictures are not just about the cats, but they also give a good impression of the cities and countries in which those pictures were taken. Also, whereas in some parts of the world cats look like divas, in others they are unkempt, poor creatures.

Vanessa has also managed to photograph some really weird cats – cats with unusual colours (such as purple) and cats that are so fat you can hardly see their paws anymore.

She has currently over 500 cat pictures and the collection is still growing.

On Submissions Travelling Cats also accepts cat photo submissions in order to maintain a wide variety of cats, cities and countries. If you are interested in having your cat pictures published on Travelling Cats, you can send your cat photography to lionavalon(at)gmail(dot)com with the subject line "Travelling Cats Submission" and mention the city and country in which the photo has been taken. They will gladly add your name and blog url to the post if you ask for it.

About the Blogger Vanessa Morgan is the author of two supernatural thrillers (Drowned Sorrow and The Strangers Outside) and two screenplays (A Good Man and GPS With Benefits). Nevertheless, it is her cat Avalon who is getting all the attention. He has a blog all for himself and has had special appearances in Vanessa’s stories and in the movies based on her work. If Vanessa is not blogging or writing her latest supernatural thriller, you can find her reading, watching movies, going to film festivals, digging through flea markets or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to her cat. She lives in Belgium.

"Travel" over to Travelling Cats & tell them PBU sent you!

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How To Plan a First-class Puppy Playgroup

Exceptional Canine: Off The Leash

By Susan Hoffman for Exceptional Canine

You are your puppy’s best friend, but he wants and needs doggy buddies too. It’s perfectly natural and appeals to his pack instinct. And so a puppy playgroup is the perfect place for this socialization to take place.

Your puppy’s social development from 6 to 14 weeks of age is critical for his growth as a well-rounded, happy dog, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). During this time, positive experiences with other dogs can reduce the likelihood of fearful behaviors, such as aggression and phobias later in your dog’s life.

Find Play Opportunities
So, how do you go about finding the perfect puppy playgroup? “I love this topic. I counsel clients with puppies about how to find a good play match, or two or three, for their puppy,” says Amy Robinson of Florida-based Amy Robinson Dog Training. “You need look no further than your neighborhood or your local dog park to find playmates for your puppy. You’re bound to find other young dogs playing with each other.”

“Observe their body language. You’ll see the dominant dogs put their heads over another dog’s back. You’ll see submissive dogs flip onto their backs, and you’ll see other dogs mouthing each other and running side by side. These are the type of playmates you want for your pup, offering the real give-and-take of play.”

Robinson also says to not rule out friends and neighbors who have a kindly, patient adult dog. Adult dogs can help teach social skills and the give-and-take of play to a younger dog.

Look for Organized Puppy Playgroups
If you want your pet to join a more organized playgroup, look for a group that meets indoors and includes puppies of a similar size and age, advises Dr. Emily Patterson-Kane, an animal psychologist at the AVMA. Check with your veterinarian for recommendations. “Veterinarians have some training and oversight that can give you more confidence in making this decision,” says Patterson-Kane. “I also encourage anyone interested in joining or starting a playgroup to first educate themselves about socialization, immunization and dog behavior.” The AVMA offers guidelines and advice.
Not sure where to start? Check out these resources for finding or starting a puppy playgroup:

• Your veterinarian’s office
• Your neighborhood or local dog park
• Dog training schools and clubs
• Humane associations
• Breed clubs
• Doggie day cares and pet resorts
• PetSmart and other pet stores that offer training services
• Your groomer’s shop
• Facebook and Twitter

Whether you join a puppy playgroup or start your own, our experts advise you to be present, aware and involved. It’s your precious pup, so if it doesn’t feel right, you should find another group. In general, a professionally managed playgroup is more organized and safer than an informal gathering.
Look for a puppy playgroup that has no more than 15 dogs, so your pet doesn’t feel overwhelmed. Make sure interactions are supervised by a human group leader to make sure smaller dogs don’t get “pancaked” by larger dogs. Take into consideration your dog’s age and stamina. Young puppies will mentally and physically tire out more quickly than adolescent dogs. If your puppy is pooped, it’s time to pull the plug.

You can avoid many play-related injuries by simply keeping dogs on leashes until they can be trusted to safely interact with each other. And it’s critical that your dog and all the other puppies in the playgroup are vaccinated against disease and wormed according to a veterinarian’s schedule.
Your pup will really enjoy becoming part of a puppy playgroup. Connect with the right group by doing your homework first, and then let the fun begin!

Susan Hoffman is a freelance journalist who writes about canine, feline and equine topics. Her feature articles regularly appear in consumer and veterinary media. Susan is a regular contributor to Exceptional Canine.

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Feline Purr-Spective ~ Featured Blogger

Today we'd like to introduce you to the crew at Feline Purr-spective.

Sherlock

Sherlock and Ash are now two years old. When they were just little kittens, they were found in a neighbor's shed mewing away. Their mom was a feral cat and had no home but that all changed the day they were rescued and brought to live with us. They are now happy in-side cats who enjoy snoozing in the sun or playing with their favorite toys. Sherlock loves to spend his days napping, eating his favourite cat treats and being the center of attention. He loves to curl up in mom's lap with a comforting purr to share and plenty of kitty wisdom.

Ash

Ash is the sassy princess in the family and she keeps the boys in check. She's also an excellent mouser and can sense an intruder a mile away. They both love to curl up after a long day in their cat beds and have treats on hand at all times. Her favourite thing to do is to be detective mouser on duty. She deserves a whole bowl of cat nip to herself for the great mouser she has been.

Traveler

Traveler is Sherlock's nephew who was born with special needs as a kitten, but for us, that just means more to love! He's an energetic fur ball who can be found either chasing Sherlock around the house or exploring. Sherlock is a great uncle to this feisty feline and is always busy playing with Traveler and teaching him "the ropes" to life as an in-door cat.

Sherlock

True, they can be a pawful at times (like getting into mom's laundry or leaving a few stinky goodness around the house) but at the end of the day they are family and I love them so much.

Ash

About the blog: Feline Purr-spective is a blog that's all about Sherlock,Ash and Traveler and their day-to-day lives. Although we may not post every day, we make sure to include plenty of feline fun and have enjoyed our time as bloggers. We look forward to making new woofing or mewing friends and are happy for the great friends we have now.

Here are 3 of their favorite posts:
Almost Wordless Wednesday
Silly Sunday
Tabby Tuesday

Stop by Feline Purr-spectives today and say hi to this great group of kitties!

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Iams Love Tails Contest Is Here!

Our great friends and sponsors, Iams started a great Keep Love Strong ad campain in November, sharing the special love between pets and their people.


Building on this success, this Valentine’s Day pet lovers can celebrate their heartfelt love for their four-legged friends through Iams’ Love Tails contest.

Beginning February 14, Iams will search for real stories from pet owners about the unique bond they share with their dogs and cats. And, the winning two and four-legged “family” will star in Iams next national advertisement!

Pet parents can log on to the Iams Facebook page, from February 14 through March 3 of this year, and follow the easy steps to enter the contest.

Iams Love Tails Contest Details
• Submit your story from Feb. 14 through March 3 by visiting the Iams Facebook page and following the easy steps. www.facebook.com/Iams
• Share a photo and tell them in 500 characters or less about the unique relationship you have with your dog or cat and how Iams helps you show your love.
• Once the submission phase is over, Iams will select 50 stories (25 dog and 25 cat) as semi-finalists.
• From the semi-finalist Love Tails, Iams will select 10 finalists (5 dog and 5 cat) and each will win a cash prize and free Iams food for a year.
• In April, Iams will ask its Facebook fans to choose their favorite Love Tail from the group of finalists and one grand prize winner will be selected.

This contest is open worldwide.

I know how much love you have for your pets and most of you already share it with the world through your blogs, so why not take it a step further and send your love stories to Iams.

Happy Valentines day from both of us and on behalf of our friends at Iams.

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Bark & Chatter ~ New Blogger Alert

Today we are happy to introduce you to the group from Bark & Chatter.

I love dogs. I always have. I started out as a pre-schooler with a furry, drooly Newfoundland who was bigger than me. Over the years I’ve shared my home and my heart with “good” dogs, “bad” dogs, purebreds and mutts. Some of my best and worst moments have been spent with my four-legged friends.

Bark and Chatter was inspired by my current furry pal, Finnius, a happy little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who wants nothing more in the world than my company – that and cheese treats. Finnius graciously (sort of) shares the joint with three cats - Callie, Toby, and Coco - who have better things on their minds than blogging, such as loafing, prowling, and fighting amongst themselves.

Bark and Chatter is a place to celebrate the unparalleled connection between man and dog; a place for dogs and their people to share ideas and experiences with other people who love with their dogs like I do; a place for those who are familiar with the dirtier side of dog life – and a place to celebrate the great moments, big and small!

Let’s bark… and chat!

Stop by Bark and Chatter today and say hi!

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The Princess Tails ~ Featured Blogger

Today we are introducing you to the blog The Princess Tails.

Zena 10 weeks

Zena is a Tibetan Terrier. She is six years of age and up until the end of August she lived with her two 'bipeds' and her pal Zac, another Tibetan Terrier who was eight years old and her uncle.

Zena 2 years

Zac was the blogger, Zac the All Black, and then suddenly Zac wasn't with us anymore. The blog couldn't continue without him and at that point I had no intention of blogging with Zena. But all of the sympathy and support from our wonderful online pet blogging community needed a response.

Zena 6 years

So The Princess Tails was born to answer their concerns and to show our appreciation of their caring. Very slowly over the next few weeks a new blog developed. Zena has a completely different voice to my solemn fellow Zac. Zena was always the playful ditzy one. The perennial puppy who had no need to be serious because Zac was serious enough for both of them.

Zena 2012

This became a tale of how we began to pick ourselves up after the death of our special pal. Zena is still sad. She hasn't picked up a toy since he died, she hasn't left our side at the leash free park. She is anxious and a little lost but stay in touch with us because a change is coming which we hope will help her, you can probably guess what that is.

Zena today

We cannot replace Zac and we will never try to. I would have him back in a heartbeat and I will always miss him. We have decided that the house is too empty and too sad and that we need to open our hearts to another little furry life and we are in the process of looking for a puppy to bring in and we are hoping that this will go some way to returning Zena to the joyful little dog that she once was.

So this blog began out of grief but I hope to have a happy ending with a lot of fun in the middle!

Here are 3 of their favorite posts:
The First Week Without Zac
The Impenitent Princess
The Petrified Princess

Stop by The Princess Tails today & say howdy!

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For Remington

All too often in Blogville we have to deal with the passing of a dear blogging friend.  We don't usually dwell on these painful issues here on Pet Blogs United, but we felt we had to make an exception in this case.

The Life & Times Of Remington

A tumor was found on Remington's tongue and after surgery there was celebration as it was initially thought to have been harmless. Remington's people Beth & Mike were ecstatic.

Unfortunately their joy was very short lived when the news came today that the tumor was in fact a very aggressive form of cancer.  It seems there are no treatments that will help, the only available options would be painful and of little use.

Beth and Mike have made the heartbreaking decision to let Remington live out the rest of his days as joyfully and free of pain as possible, without the invasive treatments.

This is a wonderful family, and if you currently don't follow them, we would urge you to do so to support them through this heartbreaking ordeal.

We love you Remington, Beth & Mike!

While we're at it we want to mention a couple of other friends in need of prayers & good wishes right now.  Please stop by to see Asta, and Rusty to send them your best.

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Now Oskar Wants A Subaru!

After watching the success that Grant Weber has had selling Subarus, Oskar has decided that our trusty mini-van is not up to his level of comfort and is now demanding a Subaru!

Being a Miniature Schnauzer, Oskar doesn't shed, but Subaru is ready for those pets who do.
As a veteran road traveler, Oskar's comfort must be seen to at all times, lest he make his unhappiness known to all withing whining distance.  Truth be told we don't take many vacations where Oskar can't go with us, because the family just isn't the same without him.
Subaru has a vehicle for any breed.  Grant Weber demonstrates that in the above video.

I can't wait for you to check out their Facebook App. We'll be sharing more about that in a future post.  It's full of loads of fun stuff for you and Fido, (or Fluffy if you prefer.  Cats love Subaru too, of course.)  Subaru. Dog Tested. Dog Approved. TM

This post is sponsored by Subaru. We are being compensated for helping spread the word about the Dog Tested. Dog Approved.™ campaign, but Oskar & I only shares news for things we support.

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A Dog Named Muffin ~ New Blogger Alert

Just wait until you meet Muffin the Shis-Tzu from A Dog Named Muffin.  He will steal your heart!

My name is Muffin and I am turning 4 this year! I am a male Shih-Tzu and people think I am small but I have a big personality! I had been with my humans since I was 3 months old... Mum says I have grown a lot since then. I have many toys... so much so I even dedicated a post to them here! I love sleeping, welcoming my humans coming home and when Mum brushes my fur. My most effective way to get food is to look as cute as possible!

I started blogging in the first place because I wanted to share my life with other dogs (and their humans, of course!) I got to know a lot of other fellow doggy bloggers too! :D Life as a dog can be very interesting sometimes, you know! :) Hint: TREATS, WALKS, TREATS, WALKS. I used to have another by the same name, but for some reason, the pictures all disappeared :( But I decided to get back into blogging just last December. I try to find to blog whenever mum has time... unfortunately, schoolwork is getting in the way. I try to blog at least once a week, though! Hoping to get to know more animal bloggers! :)

Stop by to visit Muffin today!

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Set Sail With Your Pet ~ Guest Post

Set Sail with your Pet By Karolina Shenton 

For pet lovers looking for a special experience to share with their dog or cat, Cunard Line, offers cruises from New York to London and vice versa where you can bring your furry friend along with you.

Photo courtesy of Cunard

Cunard has its own kennel onboard the Queen Mary 2, one of their three fantastic ships. This ship has lots of great amenities like a grand ballroom, relaxing spa and even a planetarium. The Queen Mary 2 primarily travels across the Atlantic Ocean, a service this line has been providing since the 1800s. The onboard kennel is a nod to the past when Cunard would transport travelers immigrating to the New World, or returning to the Old World, with all their worldly possessions, including their beloved pets.

The kennel can accommodate up to 12 pets per sailing. While onboard you can visit with your pet during specified hours and even take your dog on a walk in the kennel’s indoor and outdoor walking areas. Helpful staff that feed, clean and care for your pet during the sailing manage the kennel.

Photo courtesy of Cunard

However the cruise line does have some requirements, to ensure the safety of your pet and the others onboard. Those requirements include the limited size of your pet, vaccination records and proof that a microchip has been implanted in your pet. For more information on the requirements and to find a sailing that you and your pet would enjoy together contact a cruise specific travel agency.

A qualified travel agent, like those at The Cruise Web, will be able to find sailings with availability in the kennel, which fills up fast, and work with you to make sure you and your pet meet all the requirements before sailing.

Karolina Shenton is a cruise consultant at The Cruise Web. The Cruise Web is a travel agency that specializes in cruising. The expert cruise consultants focus on providing travelers with the best value for their time and money in finding and booking a cruise vacation!

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