Teach Kids About Pet Care & Safety Using Stuffed Animals

Teaching kids how to properly care for a pet is so important.  As many of you know, Icy and I are a Therapy Dog team.  We make several different kinds of visits throughout our community through Bideawee, in Long Island NY.  Bideawee is near and dear to my heart, not only because Icy and I do our Therapy Dog work through them but because I got my first dog, Ginny from them. Having Ginny in our

Dog Friendly Belmont Lake State Park in New York

There are so many fun summer activities to do with dogs!  We've been taking the dogs to dog friendly parks and beaches here on Long Island, New York.  There aren't many dog friendly parks and beaches on Long Island.  I'm still trying to figure out why.  There are some, but there are more dog friendly beaches and parks in Suffolk County, the Eastern half of Long Island, than there are in Nassau

Hand Over The Pink Unicorn!

HAND OVER THE PINK UNICORN RIGHT NOW AND NO ONE GETS HURT











Does your pet have a toy that drives them crazy?  Leave a comment and let us know what it is!


THIS IS THE BLOGPAWS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!!

Adoptable Dogs In Need of Love & Exposure

There are two adoptable dogs at the BIDEAWEE Animal Shelter in New York, where I volunteer, that are waiting for someone to love them and give them a loving home.  Pace and Gracie are not as easy to find homes for as some of the other adoptable dogs at the shelter, for a couple of reasons. They both need some extra help and exposure to find their forever homes.  

I'm sharing their stories here

Pet Safety Both At Home and On Outings

We want our dogs to have fun and be safe both at home and away, but there are things that can harm our pets and ruin our fun!  Some of them can be found in the home, some are near water, and some we may encounter on travel outings and adventures we take them on.

Last week I talked about dangerous Insecticides and Pesticides that could be lurking in your yard or on walks with your dog.   Today I

Dogs Enjoying Summer

 MY DOGS ARE THOROUGHLY ENJOYING SUMMER!



Hitting the Beaches

We make sure to follow impawtant SUMMER SAFETY TIPS while we're having Fun in the Sun and PET BOATING SAFETY TIPS if we take the dogs out on the water!



Dipping our paws into lakes and ponds




Chillaxin on the porch




Enjoying Summer breezes




Devouring delicious Starbucks Puppaccinos!


HOW ARE YOUR PETS ENJOYING SUMMER?  

Summer Health Tips for Pets

As a proud member of the Bayer Animal Health PET INFLUENCER TEAM, I strive to share information and support initiatives that help achieve every pet parent's goal of HAPPY AND HEALTHY PETS! 

Today I'm sharing some important Summer Health Tips for Pets that were provided to the Bayer Pet Influencer Team by Bayer Veterinarian, Dr. Zachary Miller.







Dogs and Panting
🐶 Dogs have sweat glands,

Are These Toxic Pet Dangers Lurking In Your Yard?

The use of insecticides and pesticides has increased so much over the years, both in residential neighborhoods and public areas like parks.  These are the places we play with and walk our dogs!  Do we have a false sense of security when it comes to these potentially toxic chemicals and our pets?




I don't want any poisonous stuff ending up in my garden!

We know these substances can potentially

Artisan Inspired Dog Treats and a Giveaway

We first met the folks from Vita Bone® at the BlogPaws Conference in 2015. Each year since then we've enjoyed visiting their booth at the conference and seeing what new treats for dogs they have. 



Vita Bone® Artisan Inspired® soft dog treats

This year Vita Bone® has introduced some new Artisan Inspired® soft dog treats. I love the healthy ingredients and the artisan inspired style of these

Two Shirts Morph into a Fancy DIY Dog Skirt

The BlogPaws Conference was coming up fast, and I wanted to walk the Red Carpet with Icy and Phoebe at the Nose to Nose Awards dinner.  I had an adorable dress for Phoebe, but I could not find anything dressy that would fit Icy with her big 50lb. long body!  Time was running out, so I got a little creative.



I made this skirt last minute for Icy to wear on the Red Carpet at the BlogPaws

Boating Safety For Pets

Summer is upon us, and with warm weather and sunny skies, many owners
are choosing to take their canines out to sea on their boats.  Many four-legged companions enjoy sailing as much (heck, maybe even
more) than their human counterparts. The feeling of the wind in your fur and the
smell of salt air is enough to make any canine go crazy!




Icy is Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay, hoping to get

Wordless Wednesday: My Dog Patrolling The Beach

PATROLLING OUR FAVORITE DOG FRIENDLY BEACH 




ICY SITTING ON THE SEA WALL PATROLLING THE BEACH, 




FINDING STINKY STUFF ALONG THE SHORE AT LOW TIDE,




ENJOYING THE SUN SET AFTER ALL HER HARD WORK...



Have you taken your pet to the beach this season?

Dogs Love Summer, But If Your dog's digging in the Yard Try This!



THIS IS THE BLOGPAWS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!!

Ready For The BlogPaws Social Media & Bloggers Conference Experience?

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! THE BLOGPAWS SOCIAL MEDIA & BLOGGING CONFERENCE IS NEXT WEEK! 

LEARNING, COLLABORATING, AND NETWORKING ARE  AT THE HEART OF THE BLOGPAWS SOCIAL MEDIA & BLOGGER'S CONFERENCE!


This post is sponsored by the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated as a BlogPaws Conference Ambassador to help share information about the BlogPaws 2017 Conference but we only

Bleeding Hearts

Bleeding hearts are among the most beautiful and delicate flowers.  I plant two types in my garden, the Fern Leaf Bleeding Heart and the Traditional Bleeding Heart.




Fern Leaf Bleeding Hearts are strong and resilient.  They bloom early and last throughout the entire growing season. 




Traditional Bleeding Hearts are fragile.  They bloom early but their beauty is fleeting, only lasting a few

The Perfect Dog

Life is full of "First's".  The first time you rode a bicycle, your first day of school, your first best friend, and of course your first pet.  The bond we form with our pets as children is a special and unbreakable one.  It stays with you forever, and in many ways it changes us.

I will always remember my first dog, Ginny.  She is what people would call my "Heart Dog", the one that grabs hold of

Flowers For Angel Dory

I always say, one of the best things about blogging is all the wonderful pets you come to know and love through their blogs.  The worst thing is having to say goodbye to some of those beautiful pets.  Last week we said goodbye to Dory, from the blog Dory's Backyard.  On this Blog Hop we all come together to honor Dory with a Flowers For Dory Tribute.



Look at Dory's gorgeous smile, This

Two Adoptable Dogs Looking For LOVE!

There are several days in April devoted to pet adoption, but really Anytime is a great time to give a shelter pet a home!  There are so many pets in need at shelters and rescues everywhere.

Today I'm spotlighting two dogs beautiful shelter dogs who are in need of a loving home.  They are from Bideawee, in Long Island New York.  I grew up on Long Island, and Bideawee has been a fixture in our

Improve Your Social Media and Blogging Skills At The BlogPaws Conference

BlogPaws is the premier online social media company for Bloggers, Micro-bloggers, & Social Media Influencers.  Enhance your Blogging & Social Media Skills! 
Join us at the BlogPaws Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! 

May 18 - 20, 2017 

Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel

Myrtle Beach, SC 


This post is sponsored by the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am
being

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring!

GOODBYE OLD MAN WINTER



Icy is one dog that probably isn't all that happy about saying goodbye to snow!


HELLO SPRING!!!!



Phoebe loves the warm weather & all the flowers so she's happily welcoming Spring!

(This is a PetSmart Affiliate link.  If you make a purchase through this link I may receive a few pennies)



AREN'T YOU HAPPY THAT SPRING HAS FINALLY SPRUNG? 


THIS IS THE BLOGPAWS

See Beautiful; Footprints On Our Hearts,Tribute To Sugar

One of the most wonderful things about being a Pet Blogger is getting to know and love each others' pets.  One of the saddest things is when you hear about the loss of one of those pets.  We have had to say goodbye to many of the pets we've come to know and love in our blogging world.  One of those pets is the beautiful Sugar, from Sugar The Golden Retriever.

I feel so lucky to have had the

Dog Friendly Beach!

What's more fun than a dog friendly beach?!  I love seeing the dogs diving into the water, chasing after balls and frisbees, it's a blast!  They have so much fun.  We have a nice little dog friendly beach here in Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island.  It's mainly used by the local residents but the word has been spreading thanks to the internet.




Icy doesn't actually "swim" per se, but she is

Phoebe Gets Ready For The BlogPaws Conference

Phoebe is getting ready for the best Blogging and Social Media Conference of the year, BlogPaws!



All the Essentials I'll need for the conference.  Do you think I need more toys?



The conference is at a beach, Myrtle Beach, so I'm packing my Mermaid collar!




My pink pearl necklace will be perfect for the Yappy Hours

Have you registered for the BlogPaws Conference yet?  They are 75% full

Therapy Dogs Making a Difference for Children

I
met my friend Christine Orantes in the children’s reading program at our local
library in Phoenix.  It’s a program where
kids read aloud to therapy dogs to help improve their reading skills.  Icy and I were one of the therapy dog teams
that volunteered at our library along with Christine.  At each visit, Christine would have one of her beautiful therapy dogs
with her.

Christine
has been a

A Dog's Slumber

We love to follow the daily comings and goings of our two favorite Persian cats, Truffle and Brulee from Sweet Purrfections.  They always have something interesting to say, and they have great giveaways!  I won this beautiful TRUSTYPUP Dog Bed on Sweet Purrfections.  





I wanted the bed for my Siberian Husky Icy, but of course Phoebe wanted it too!  Little sisters are like that, they always

Do You Dread Trimming Your Dog's Nails?

Whether you use a dog groomer or not, sometimes you need to trim your dog's nails.  Most dog's nails seem to grow really fast, a lot faster than their fur!  I almost never have to trim Icy's nails, she's so active they get worn down naturally.  I often need to step in and trim Phoebe's nails myself between grooming sessions.

Icy is always outside, running around the yard or taking very long

5 Great Reasons To Attend the BlogPaws Conference

BlogPaws is the premier online social media company for bloggers and social media influencers.  BlogPaws connects brands with bloggers and social media influencers, and connects bloggers and influencers with each other.  Take your blogging and influencer skills to the next level by joining us at the BlogPaws Conference! 

May 18 - 20, 2017 

Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel

Myrtle

My Dogs Want To Meet YOU!

WOW!! Only 8 more weeks until the BlogPaws Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC!!



Icy and Phoebe made their conference debut at the 2015 conference in Nashville and will be at this year's conference in Myrtle Beach, May 18-20!





This year I have the honor of being a Conference Ambassador!   I also have the pleasure of offering you the special AMBASSADOR 10% DISCOUNT if you haven't yet purchased

How Do You Know Your Pet's Food Is Really SAFE? #WeBelieveinNB

Finding a healthy pet food you can trust can be confusing, but it doesn't have to be!  I've done my best to educate myself on what a high quality food for pets should look like.  Premium Quality Ingredients and Safety are the two most important factors for me in choosing a dog food.  Taste is another key factor, because what's the point in feeding my dog the best quality pet food if she won't eat

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

HOPE YOU HAD A HAPPY SAINT PATTY'S DAY!

What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day than with a plate of treats with a bit of Irish Green in them!  No I don't mean Brussel Sprouts, I mean green dog biscuits!  VitaBone has dog biscuits in multi colors, so I picked out the Green ones for Icy and Phoebe to enjoy on this fine St. Patty's Day!




What, no Corned Beef with these delicious

Snowdog Days

The big conversation the last two weeks has been the Weather!  Mother Nature has been more fickle than ever.  A couple of weeks ago we had a snowstorm, then she sent Spring for a week, but then she changed her mind and sent another snowstorm!!  WHAT is she thinking??



Here are some photos of us as we got jerked around by Mother Nature's whim this month.



SNOWSTORM
In February we had a pretty

Irish Dogs That Say Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

We're always talking about dogs and dog breeds on the blog but today I'm doing something slightly different.  In honor of Saint Patrick's Day, I wanted to find out what the most popular dog breeds were in St. Patty's homeland of Ireland.  Here they are!



TOP 10 IRISH DOG BREEDS

1. Irish Wolfhound
The Irish Wolfhound is an ancient dog breed that is estimated to be over 5,000 years old.  They

Saint Patrick's Day Hat

Saint Patrick's Day is coming!  I'm trying to find the right hat to wear in my town's St. Paddy's Day parade.



Does my head look big in this hat??



Erin Go Bragh!!  

I always wondered what the heck that saying meant so I finally looked it up.  It's a term used to express allegiance to Ireland!  Everyone's Irish on Saint Paddy's Day, right?!

Will your pet be dressing up for St. Paddy's Day?

One Baby Animal's Struggle To Survive

Although this is a dog blog, today I'm posting about a very special bird whose tenacity and struggle to survive inspired me and touched my heart.  This is Tiny's story.

My Mom always loved birds.  When she was in her 80's, she ended up with a pair of Cockatiels that friends of hers could no longer keep.  One day one of the birds laid eggs!  It was a total surprise, we didn't even know what

Dog Adventure Photos

I love to travel, and we are big travelers with our dogs. We've had lots of fun adventures from East coast to West coast.  Today I'm sharing some of my favorite pet travel photos with Icy and Phoebe.


Pet Travel Adventures
This photo was taken on one of our many Sedona, Arizona hikes:




This was my very first really good pet travel adventure photo.  Icy sitting on a rock in Sedona, Arizona.  I

How Fake Service Dogs Hurt Real Service Dogs

I was inspired to write this by a recent Facebook post on Lisa Bregant's Facebook page.  Her post has a great photo of a Golden Retriever with a message asking people NOT to pass their pet off as a Service Animal if they don't truly perform the functions of a Service Animal.  The photo was one Lisa shared from Frankie Franks Facebook page.  It succinctly states that:

"FAKE SERVICE DOGS CAN HURT

My Dog's Backyard Adventure

I was recently reminded that my dogs don't need to travel somewhere in order to have an Adventure.  Sometimes you can find adventure right in your own backyard! (this post contains an Affiliate link)

A week or two ago we got a lot of snow here, nearly a foot of the white stuff.  Being a Siberian Husky, Icy was loving all the snow in our yard.  She was leaping through the snow like a Gazelle,

Pet Nutrition Experts Are Here To Help YOUR Pet #WeBelieveinNB

There are so many pet food options out there, it can be overwhelming!  Don't you wish there was a bona fide pet food Nutrition Expert to help you determine which food is the best option for your pet? Well, I have good news for you, there is!  

Each member of the Natural Balance® Customer Care Team is a Veterinary Technician with a degree in Animal Health Science.  Not only are they highly

Be A Ninja Road Tripper With Your Dog

We love fun and adventure with our dogs! One of the things we love doing most with our dogs is taking exciting road trips together.  The first road trip we took with Icy and Phoebe, however, was a series of mishaps.  We were totally unprepared for a long trip with two dogs!  I packed everything but the kitchen sink for the dogs and embarked on an 8 day cross country road trip with no dog friendly

Cute Dog Trick; Roll Over

Tricks training is a great bonding activity to do with your dog.  It's so much fun! One of the easiest tricks you can teach your dog is to Roll Over.  It mimics one of a dog's most natural behaviors, rolling over!

Begin by putting your dog in a SIT position.  Give her a treat as soon as she sits.




Start with your dog is the SIT position


Next get your dog to lie DOWN.  Give her a treat as

Dogs Poor Dental Health Leads To Health Problems #OrateneOralCare Giveaway

February is NATIONAL PET DENTAL HEALTH MONTH!


Dog dental health isn't just about clean teeth or the unpleasant smell that goes along with bad breath.  Pet oral health is an important part of your dog's overall health, so you don't want to overlook it!  Your pet's mouth is an ideal place for all kinds of bacteria to grow, including plaque which hardens and becomes tartar.  This can throw off

My Adopted Dog Has Fear Issues, Now What?!

Walking through the shelter aisles to see what adoptable dogs were there was part of my routine.  As an Adoption Counselor at the county shelter, the first thing I did after signing in for the day was to see which dogs were still in the shelter from my prior shift, and who had been adopted.  I was elated when animals from the prior day had been adopted, but my heart would sink when I'd see the

Hiking With Dogs

Hiking a dog friendly trail in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire



Dog friendly trail in Waterville Valley, NH



This photo was taken on our recent trip to Waterville Valley Resort, New Hampshire.



JOIN US ON THE BLACK AND WHITE SUNDAY BLOG HOP!!

Winter Fun With Dogs

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!!!







We had so much fun  with the dogs on our trip to dog friendly Waterville Valley, New Hampshire last week!



Planning to travel with your pets this Winter?  Make sure you have all the right supplies & pet travel gear!  You'll find great deals at Amazon.com (affiliate link)







JOIN US ON THE BLOGPAWS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!!

Bring On The New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!


The holidays are over and it's time to plan for 2017!  




I'm resting up and recharging my batteries.  I'm reviewing my 2016 blog progress, and finalizing plans for the year ahead!  I'll share my blog planning activities and goals in a blog post real soon so please stay tuned.  



Wishing you all Good Health, Much Love, Happiness, and Success in the New Year!!