Here are some recent pics of Bailey (white lab) and Brandon (choco). This is by our house here in Massachusetts. I love watching them run and play. I wish I could be that care-free!

When we bought Lily from her previous owner, we were told she liked to play with balls. Sure enough, we bought her this volleyball and she will move it around with the side of her head. It’s too funny!

Lily Playing With Ball

Here is Ben. I get the feeling he is trying to tell me he is hungry-AGAIN!

Ben With Angry Eyes

Another “talent” of Lily’s is that she makes Ben be her slave.

Ben is Lilly's Slave

Poor Ben! She walks all over him-literally!

Lilly walking all over Ben

No this isn’t a new type of remote designed for the visually impaired. This is my buns way of making modifications to the remote for our t.v. This is the same BAD bun that was being carried by my neighbor up to my front door last night at around 9:00. Apparently she had decided to go exploring out the back door and by the Grace of God, was found by my neighbor. Thank you Will! I have no idea how long she was outside last night. I just can’t get over the fact that she was brave enough to leave the wonderful, safe, and comfortable home I have provided her. I also can’t get over that she was found. What are the chances that Will would even be out there and actually see her in the dark? What a bad bun!  So now I just have to wait and see if her belly starts to grow. She is not “fixed”, so the chances that she got knocked-up last night are pretty great. Especially since my husband saw a wild bunny running into the woods in our back yard right after she came home. Seeing wild buns around our house is an everyday occurrence. Only time will tell. Anyone need some new buns?

I have two labrador retrievers. My dogs are my children, so I want to make sure they are well taken care of. I have decided that their needs can often require a lot of money! Whether it be their food, toys, vet visits, teeth cleaning, treats, gadgets, or grooming, the out-of-pocket costs can really add up. So, I decided I would become a dog groomer. No, I don’t mean make a career change-I already have a job. I mean I have decided to cut costs where I can and it REALLY DOES WORK! Here is how I did it:

Since our arrival to Massachusetts, it seems my boys need their nails cut every week. When we lived in Arizona, our nail trimming was not as frequent. I was spending an average of $30 a visit to get their nails cut at a local dog groomer. I was terrified at the idea of cutting their nails myself. Now that I have taken the plunge, I will NEVER pay to have it done again. So, I went out and bought the dog grooming equipment I needed to get the job done. Through my research, I learned that I would need specific nail products to ensure that:

1. Their long, thick nails would cut with ease

2. If I cut the “quick”, I could stop the bleeding fast

3. If need be, I could file the rough edges after cutting

It is vital that you know what the “quick” is. When looking at your dog’s nails, the quick is the pink part that is visible through the nail itself. You can think of it as the part of your finger that is under the nail-the flesh. IF THE QUICK IS CUT, IT WILL BLEED A LOT. When cutting your dogs nails, only trim a little bit off at a time. Even if your dog’s nails have become longer than you would like. Then after a week, trim a little more off. As the nail grows longer, so does the quick. If you trim a little off at a time, you avoid cutting the quick and it will eventually recede back to a healthy position. If your dog has black nails like my little chocolate bear (lab), then you obviously have to be even more careful and take even less off. When the quick is not visible, don’t just try and guess where it may be. My research has told me that if the quick does get accidently cut, it is not quite as painful for dogs as it would be for humans when their nail happens to be cut or torn to short. This is not to say it doesn’t hurt them. The main thing you need to know if the quick is cut is that it will bleed A LOT. To stop the bleeding, you will need a few nail products. You should have these on hand whenever you are cutting your dog’s nails in case you do cut the quick. You will want to act fast. I use a Q-tip and a product called “styptic powder”. With the MOISTENED Q-tip, apply the styptic powder directly on the bleeding area. The bleeding should then stop immediately. Also, when using the nail clippers to trim the nail, cut quickly. Squeezing the handles and cutting slowly can actually be painful for the dog. Grip it and cut. This too will ensure a clean cut that will require minimal, if any, filing.

Why is so important to keep your dog’s nails cut?

1. It can save wear and tear on your hardwood flooring.

2. It actually keeps your dog’s feet and hips/back area comfortable.

Again, through my research on this topic, I discovered that it is uncomfortable for dogs to have long nails. It can be painful to the feet to walk when the nails are long. Also, the imbalance that occurs when walking or running with long nails can affect the hips and back.

Cutting tools that I recommend:

Bamboo Care Dog Nail Clipper, Styptic & File

This can be purchased through Petco. The 6.25″ length is for medium to large breed dogs. If you have a lab, this is the one you want. This is an awesome product and a great buy because you not only get the nail clippers, but the styptic powder AND a built-in file. It is a complete package and cheaper than buying each product separately. The internet price is $17.99 and it leaves the warehouse the next day. You can purchase it on sale for $16.19 until 10/18/08. The same product comes in a 5.5″ length and it is for small breeds. The internet price for it is regularly $15.99, but is on sale till 10/18/2008 for $14.39 (also ships next day).

A few more tips to make this an enjoyable experience for you and your dog:

1. Reward our dog.

I happen to have a white lab that I am convinced is ADHD. He goes wild any time he his touched by anyone. In order to keep him calm during this time, I give him a rawhide bone to chew on. This keeps him distracted and quietly engaged while I work on his feet. It is amazing how well this technique works! I will also offer lots of praise during and after the process.

2. Touch your dog’s feet often.

During times when you are not grooming your dog, touch his/her feet and body. Get him/her used to being handled so when grooming time comes around it is less of a struggle.

Hope some of you will be able to save some money and become your own groomer. Don’t forget to write about your experience here so we can all read about it. Good luck! Your dog will love you for this.

Today was a relaxing day….filling out report cards. I spent a couple hours sitting in bed with the usual suspects around me. Bailey, the yellow lab, was laying right next to me. Brandon, the chocolate lab, was trying to get me to throw his ball. Ben, the mini lop bunny, was hopping around.

I was snacking on a bag of chex mix when Ben decided to try dig his way through the floor. I went to see what he was up to and make sure he wasn’t doing anything drastic. While verifying that Ben was under control I hear a rustle. I look over and Bailey has his head inside my snack bag eating my chex mix. I yell at Bailey, thinking everything was under control and notice a long string of yarn through the room and halfway down the stairs. Brandon decided to step on the yarn and cause it to stick to his feet. In his normal style he was running around hoping someone would toss a toy for him to chase.

It all happened so fast…and it was all pretty funny. You never know what will be next with a house full of pets.

This girl walks into the pet shop…..as opposed to a bar. Anyway, I was at the pet shop the other day I noticed I put my foot in my mouth. I just wanted to warn all your rabbit lovers out there to watch what you say. I was in the pet shop to order my crickets for my geckos and made my usual trip to check out the bunnies. I told the lady, I would like 50 crickets and I want to see your buns. How silly does that sound. If you are rabbit owner it might be a normal phrase from your lips..but I am here to warn you. You are not at a pet shop to see the ladies buns. Use the word rabbit and save yourself a TON of embarrassment.

I have a lop who LOVES his rabbit kibble (pellets). Aside from the kibble, I also feed him alfalfa hay and at times, some veggies or a little fruit such as carrots, broccoli, or apple. I am wondering what other bunny owners feed their little ones. My rabbit seems to prefer the kibble and the veggies over the hay, but there obviously has to be a limit on the kibble due to the protein consumption. Balance is key to everything, right? Is it weird that my bun only wants to eat his hay when it is out of necessity? It seems he only eats it when he is tired of holding out for something better. I will post some pics of my lop-he is too cute! His name is Ben and he is such a lover.

Well, I just finished reading Marley and Me last night. I cried, and cried. I was so devastated at the end, even though I knew it was inevitable. The book reminded me of my lab Bailey in so many ways. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. John Grogan is such a humorous writer who has a way of explaining things as if you were sitting with him at a coffee shop as he told you stories about his life. If you have a hyper, mischievous yellow lab as I do, you HAVE to read this book! Does anyone know of any good books starring a chocolate lab?