Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Sister Selfie Sunday: Jellie Learns To Love The Camera


I've been working real hard to help my sister Jellie get more comfortable in front of the camera. She's a real cutie patootie and should be photographed and celebrated as much as any other super model.
Problem is, she tends to freeze up, look away or just get super self conscious whenever the camera comes out. I keep telling her she's a natural beauty and that she's got a lovely smile, but I suppose we all have our insecurities. So, for today's "Selfie Sunday" I got some of our fur sisters in on the act.
Dixie Mae (the black and tan Dachshund) and Bella Boo (the copper Dachshund) really know how to work the camera! It certainly helped bring Jellie out of her shell a bit, and it was really fun doing group photos with them.
We let Jellie take photos of Bella and Dixie Mae to see how fun it was...this helped her feel more comfy in the group shots.

We put the camera back on the tripod, set the timer and took more group shots. Jellie's looking right in the camera now. Way to go Jellie!

In the end, Jellie was giving silly faces. It was hilarious! I think this last one could be a great music album cover don't you agree?
We had so much fun taking part in today's Selfie Sunday Blog Hop. It is hosted by my dear friend Janet Blue & her Kitties on their blog Cat on my Head. This is such a fun hop! I hope you'll visit some of my friends below to see their cool and entertaining selfies.

Monday, July 4, 2016

Pixel's Top 5 Tips for Keeping Pets Safe & Happy on July 4th

Happy U.S. Independence Day friends! 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday with family and friends. I'm reprising my role as "Patricia Henry" this Independence Day in honor of the occasion.
The July 4th holiday is perhaps one of the top summer holidays in the U.S. and people absolutely LOVE it! But your pets? Not so much.

Dogs Fear Loud Firework Bangs

Dogs especially have a terrible time in most cases dealing with the loud bangs, hisses and pops that fireworks make. And people love to play with fireworks. According to a recent Time.com article, it is estimated that people spend an average of over $100 getting various fireworks, with many folks spending a LOT more. That is a great amount of scary noise for dogs. We've had people in the neighborhood and around town popping off fireworks for days and so my sisters and I are constantly looking up at in the air, barking at the bangs (that's what I do), or in little Dixie Mae's case, running around like crazy, trying to dig and hide through the tub, wall or floor on her way to China to get away from the scary sounds. All us pups feel like we are under attack, just like our forefather's did back during the Revolutionary War.
Many dogs and cats end up getting so scared, they run out of the house or yard, leap out of their pet parents' arms or break free from leashes and collars, then get lost forever and end up in homeless animal shelters. What a horrible scary thought!!
This year, let's keep our pets extra safe!

Pixel's Top 5 Tips for Keeping Pets Safe:

1. Bring any outside pets indoors during the evening hours and if you hear ANY fireworks going off.
2. Have safe places that your pets can "hide in" such as "blanket/bed caves", special corners made up extra cuddly, or just let them cuddle with you on the couch or chair.
3. Keep the TV on to mute the sound of outside noises, bangs and fireworks.
4. If you open a door, make sure your pet is secure before hand so they do not run outside out of fear.
5.  If you want to play with fireworks, do NOT do so near your pet. Go to a friend's house, or have someone watch your pet at another location where they will not hear it. It's not worth scaring them, just to hear loud bangs. There are quiet fireworks out on the market, and they are actually more colorful I hear. What a cool idea!

One extra note for comforting a scared pet:  

Use of a warming/heating blanket, or putting blankets in the dryer to warm them up can be extra soothing when cuddling your scared pet.

I hope everyone has a safe and fun 4th of July, and I hope you pets enjoy it too! Just remember to keep their fears in mind, and everyone can have fun. 

Monday, March 28, 2016

The Joy of Easter - Pixel Celebrates with Her Family & Her Peeps


Hi friends! Just hanging out with my peeps after an amazing weekend of fun. I hope you all had a great time celebrating the joy of Easter with your family and friends, sharing everything that this special day means and enjoying the day with laughter, food and a sense of renewal. We certainly celebrated all weekend long.
We started out the weekend by enjoying all the pretty flowers that are growing in our yard. It was such a pretty day with a blue sky and sunshine all around! I just had to stop and smell the flowers!
 The pear trees are in full bloom too, and looked gorgeous with the sun kissing each bloom. I wished I was a little bird so I could fly up in the tree and sit among the blossoms!
On Sunday morning my sisters and I were surprised with a basket full of Easter toys and goodies. So many new little friends to play with! It was such a fun time that we all had! I can't believe the number if little peeps and cute little squeakie fuzzy friends that showed up at our house. I guess they'll be hanging out with the duckies now.
Dixie, Sassy, Bella, Peanut and I played and played until we were exhausted. It was almost like Christmas!
And speaking of duckies, inside the big basket of toys was a special little friend for me, a round little duckie I'd never seen before. I knew he had to be for me so I gently picked it up immediately. He is very sweet and we became instant friends! He squeaks just like all my other duckies and rides on my back really well too. He is very special because he is made by the company who made all my other favorite duckies. Unfortunately they no longer make that model of duckie. I've been heartbroken for months over this sad, sad news, and Mommy has searched far and wide to find me a similar duckie friend. Well, this little guy is a direct relative of those duckies!! So I am a happy Pixel again. I still have my favorite duckies, they are just getting injured more and more each time I play with them, so I have to be extra careful. Now...I just have to come up with a good name for my new round duckie friend.
Do you have any ideas for a good name for him?
So, how was your Easter friends? Tell me something special about it in a comment.

Monday, March 14, 2016

The Joy of Change: Pixel's Pink Ribbons & Merrick's #BestDogEver Recipe Refresh

This post is sponsored by Merrick Pet Care and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated for helping create awareness around the Merrick Classic Refresh, however we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Merrick Pet Care is not responsible for the content of this article.

Sometimes it's good to make a change for the better or go for a more natural approach. I've been doing that as of late with my hair in letting it grow out long and natural, and by wearing a classic style with pretty, pink ribbons. Mommy loves my new longer natural hair style. It makes me feel  pretty and attractive. She'll shower me with kisses and tell me I'm the "best dog ever". Of course she's told me that my whole life! 




My friends at Merrick Pet Care believe in a more natural approach as well, when it comes to their Classic line of Dog Food and natural nutrition, and they've just done a fantastic recipe refresh for 2016 that you are going to love! Merrick Classic has long provided dogs with best-in-class natural nutrition from a wholesome balance of protein, wholesome grains and fruits and vegetables. Merrick Classic recipes now have been improved to offer an even more palatable and easily digestible mealtime experience for your "Best Dog Ever". 

These 5 new and improved recipes start with real de-boned meat as the very first ingredient to provide leading levels of high quality protein. It's then followed up by whole grains like Brown Rice, Barley and Oats, and fresh fruits and vegetables including blueberries, apples, sweet potatoes, peas, and carrots. The Merrick Classic Dog Food line also contains no soy, wheat or corn, which are common allergy triggers. 


I wanted to really get "up close and personal" with this new recipe as I learned all about the yummy new enhancements they've made. It sure smells good! The Merrick Recipe refresh comes with new ingredients such as ancient grains like Quinoa and Chia seeds, which adds fiber, protein and Omega-3 to your dog's diet. They removed potatoes from some of the recipes, and have introduced smaller bite-size kibble pieces for very small breed dogs. There's also NO ingredients from China and it is proudly MADE IN THE USA! 

I'm also happy to share that these five new Recipes offer pet parents the same Wholesome Natural Nutrition that Merrick stands for at a new attractive price. And speaking of attractive, just like I have a new look, well so does Merrick's Classic line Dog Food bag. Just looking at the front of it, with all those images of food on it, makes me want to start eating the bag itself!


Every dog is unique, has different tastes and different needs. Merrick considered all that when updating their recipes. Merrick has varieties available based on protein needs, life-stages, and breed size. You wouldn't give big breed dog food to a little dog, now would you? Of course not. Merrick's Small Breed Recipe for Adult Dogs is made especially for small dogs like me. 






In fact, the kibble is so small and bite size, you could feed it to a 5 lb dog and they would easily be able to chew it without it being too big for them. See? My friends at Merrick have pretty much thought of everything. Let me tell you, it's also incredibly delicious!! And Merrick is a brand that I truly trust. My family has trusted them for years and you can too. Doesn't your 'best dog ever' deserve the very best?



DOG FOOD GIVEAWAY!!!
Think your #BestDogEver would like to try new & improved Merrick Classic recipes? Merrick is giving away 50 bags to 50 lucky dogs on their Facebook page – click the link to sign up for a chance to win: http://bit.ly/1Lw2H1X
**Open to U.S. and Canada ONLY.**
Enter by April 2, 2016 to qualify to win.
Learn more about Merrick and get social with them. They'd love to hear from you!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Merrick. 
 The opinions and text are all mine.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Adventures in Snacking: Pixel's Top 5 Dog Super Bowl 50 Pawty Snacks

Super Bowl 50 Sunday is today, which means that the ever so fun Puppy Bowl 2016 is playing (and replaying) on TV, so no matter who you are, there's lots of exciting action to watch on television and the internet. Whether you will be attending a party, throwing a party or just hanging out with your friends and family at the house, there will be loads of snacks and fun foods for the humans, but what about the dogs? You'll want to have some fun snacks on hand for the dogs too, right?
Do not fret if you hadn't thought about it. Help is here. I have some wonderful and simple dog snack and beverage ideas you can do for your beloved canine companions that they will simply love.
Peanut Butter covered Rice Chex 
This treat is super easy to fix.
1. Lay out individual pieces of Gluten Free Rice Chex pieces on a tray or large plate.
2. Using a butter knife, spread small amounts of peanut butter on each little piece of Rice Chex.
Voila! Instant super fun snack for your dog that is absolutely delicious!
Chicken and Rice Pate
Ingredients:  1 lb. Cooked Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts cooled
                     1 c. Cooked White or Brown Rice cooled (slightly warm) NOT cold
                     3 Tbsp. Instant Baby Oatmeal Cereal (Optional) for extra smoothness
                     1.5 - 2 c. Filtered or Spring Water
 1. Grind the chicken in a food processor until finely chopped
2.  Add 1 cup rice (and the 3 Tbsp. of baby oatmeal if you have it) into food processor
3.  Add 1 cup of water into food processor
4.  Place lid on top and grind all ingredients together
5. As it is grinding, add the additional half to one extra cup of water until you have a nice chicken and rice paste/pate that you could put on a cracker.
Keep refrigerated.
You will know it's done when you can scoop up some in a spoon and your face when you taste it.
Now, with this chicken and rice pate, you can do anything you like! Scoop it with biscuits, use as dip with Rice Chex, or form it into cute shapes like footballs, bones, flowers or other shapes.
If you create shapes, you can then use baby food puree squeezies like icing and create all sorts of fun designs and patterns. See the photos below as an example of one fun idea we did using Banana, Beets, and Blueberry puree for the flower color and Green Bean puree as the flower stem! It was DELICIOUS!!!






Sweet Potato Wedges
Super Easy and OH SO GOOD!!
Ingredients:  2 - 4 Sweet Potatoes
1.  Peel sweet potatoes 
2.  Cut potatoes into little bite-size pieces about 1 inch wide or larger (depending on dog size)
3. Place in microwaveable bowl and cover with either a paper plate, plastic wrap or a vented lid.
4. Microwave until fully cooked, checking every 3-4 minutes.
5. Once cooled, serve as doggie hors d'oeuvres or treats!
Chicken Broth Water
Ingredients:
Low sodium , fat free Chicken Broth
Filtered or Spring Water
1. Mix half chicken broth and half water in one or more bowls, and share away!
Fruity Water
Ingredients:
Baby Squeezable Fruit Packets, such as Bananas, Beets & Blueberries by Happy Baby, Strawberry/Apple, or any flavor that sounds good
Filtered or Spring Water
Mix 1/3 fruit puree and 2/3 water in one or more bowls...it will appear lumpy at first, just mix with a spoon or finger until smooth
Share and enjoy!
NOTE:  Normally, Mommy only lets me drink about 1/4 cup at a time of any kind of mixed/flavored water, because it's so good, I'll drink too much and get bloated. So keep that in mind for both the broth and fruity water with your dog.
These are favorites in my house any day of the week, for dog parties, weekend TV watching or picnics. So have fun and let me know which ones sound good to you! Also, I'd love to hear if you watched the Puppy Bowl or Super Bowl. Which team is your favorite??

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

The Joy of Bad Hair Days - Pixel Has Bed Head

Bad hair days. We all have them. What separates the dogs from the puppies is how you deal with them. Are you going to freak out and get stressed over a few (thousand) hairs out of whack of are you going to stand tall and make others think you're starting a new trend in hair fashion? Think about it...and remember this wise Pixel quote, aka Pixelism:
"Don't let bad hair day get you down . Just smile ... like you meant to style it that way ."


Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Pixel's Joy of Hugs, New Paula Deen Dog Food Review & Giveaway

Pixel Blue Eyes, Her Tails of Adventure is not being compensated for this blog post. We were contacted by the company, sent the dog food and asked to do this review.

Pixel's a Southern Dog

I love being a southern dog, I love hugs, and I love good, home cooked food, so imagine my excitement when I was asked to try a new dog food by the quintessential queen of southern home cooking, Miss Paula Deen. I know how much she likes pets so I knew it had to be good, and I jumped at the chance!
Introducing new Paula Deen® Hugs® Premium Select Dog Food. It is specially crafted in 3 scrumptious flavors: Chicken and Rice, Beef and Rice, and Lamb and Rice. Leave it to the queen of good down home cookin' and warm southern hospitality to create a delicious and nutritious gluten free dog food called Hugs! I just want to hug her for it.

Lovely Warm Smiles

It's not widely known, but Paula Deen and I have a lot in common:
1. We both love good food.
2. We both love our family.
3. We both have warm smiles.
4. We both have sparkling blue eyes.
5. We both have great hair.
6. We both have names that start with the letter "P".
7. We're both from the south.
8. We both love to dance! (Be sure to watch and support Paula on Dancing with the Stars on ABC)
Paula Deen loves her pets, and she wanted to create flavorful, nutritious food that dogs would enjoy. The new Hugs Premium Select dog food is made with 100% American raised chicken and beef, has no artificial colors or flavors, and is a fully balanced meal for your dog. The kibble is small and easy to chew for little dogs like me, but large dogs can easily enjoy it too.
When I first heard the Hugs kibble fill my bowl, I couldn't wait to dive in. I always like trying new things. It smells good Mommy!
I went over to my spot in the kitchen where I always eat and gave Mommy my best and most charming southern smile, as she placed the bowl of Hugs Chicken and Rice kibble down for me to try out. Everybody knows chicken and rice is my favorite meal.
My face was in that dish in a flash and I was eating it up faster than you can say "southern fried chicken"! It was delicious! Mommy loved how much I enjoyed it.

Learn More About Paula Deen's Premium Select Dog Food

Here's a few things to know about Paula Deen's Hugs Dog Food:
- Wheat gluten-free
- Ingredients include brown rice, peas, flax seed, and beets (great fiber source)
- All natural with added minerals and vitamins
- Rich in blended Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids to support healthy skin, shiny coat and strong immune system
- Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance of Adult dogs.
Their recipes do contain corn, so keep this in mind if you have a dog with allergies, as corn can cause issues with dogs who have skin or other allergy issues.
Paula Deen Hugs Premium Select Dog Food is a good mid-range dog food that is not overly expensive and provides a good balanced nutrition for your pet. And right now, my friends at Paula Deen's General Store are offering all my readers $5.00 off ANY SIZE BAG of Hugs Premium Select Dog Food. Just use the coupon code "PDDOGFOOD" when you checkout at the register online.
Get social with Paula Deen by following her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Youtube.

Pixel Blue Eyes is Giving Away Paula Deen Hugs!

BIG NEWS FRIENDS...AND I'M HOWLING WITH EXCITEMENT!!
There's nothing like getting a big hug to make you feel special right? Well, I'm having a huge giveaway right now that will make every recipient feel that way. 10 Lucky Winners will each receive a Bag of Paula Deen Hugs Premium Select Dog Food!! I have my little red wagon filled with the scrumptious Chicken and Rice formula and the delicious Beef and Rice formula, both in 4.5 pound bags, ready and waiting for me to give to you.
Imagine....FREE FOOD for your dog to try....delivered to your home. It's every dog's dream. Makes my eyes glisten just thinking of it.
Simply enter below and MAKE SURE TO ENTER A VALID MAILING ADDRESS when directed. Enter all the information requested friends, the more information you fill out, the more chances you have of winning! So don't wait, ENTER NOW FRIENDS!!
GIVEAWAY ENDS 11:59 PM EST FRI, October 23, 2015! Don't wait, enter today!!
(Must be a resident of the Continental United States to enter the contest.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, August 6, 2015

The Joy of Hard Work - Happy "Working Like a Dog" Day

Today is National "Work Like a Dog" Day in the U.S. Some dogs, like me, are indeed very hard working. I love my many jobs, such as nursing, inventing, blogging, writing poetry, doing my animal advocacy work, and of course, being a trick dog. I can get downright dog tired with all of that. They say the "work like a dog" term originates from all those working dogs who really 'hoof it' to sniff down leads in police work, who save lives, who work in the fields herding sheep all day and who do all those other hard tasks with honor and faithfulness.
Today, in honor of "Work Like a Dog" Day, I thought I'd share some fun photos of me working at some of the jobs I love. I hope you enjoy them!
Nursing
Checking the pulse and vitals while visiting one of my human patients. 
A day in the ER with Nurse Pixel: Getting a call, rushing to Teddy Bear Surgery, happy as another patient is saved.

Image of Nurse Pixel next to Pinkie Duckie just before surgery to fix her broken wing
Nurse Pixel preparing to do surgery on Pinky Tuskadero Duckie, who got hurt during hours of "excessive play".


Blogging
I started blogging before I was even a year old.

Searching for the right word to rhyme with "Pixel".

Trick Dog
Practicing one of my first and earliest tricks, "Smack", which eventually became multiple other tricks.
Another Pixel trick favorite: "Sneer", which is my signature smile!
Years of hard work pays off as I win 1st prize
in a dog trick contest, May 2014! 

So, how do you "work like a dog"friends? Leave me a comment and tell me all about it!


Thursday, July 2, 2015

Joy Riding with Mommy - Pixel's Wordless Wednesday


Taking trips with the family, hanging out with Mommy, singing in the car with her, joy riding.
The joy we share in the car never gets old. 
However, the following verifies she should never leave her cell phone
within easy reach of my paws!
Image of Pixel Blue Eyes Face Close Up Wearing Seat Belt Harness
My "Vehicle Protection Watchdog" Look
Image of Pixel Blue Eyes with her Mommy in Background inside Car
You can never have too many "Mommy and Me" Selfies
Image of Pixel Blue Eyes leaning against her Mommy's Chest
Snuggled against Mommy while seat belted securely in place
I'm very serious about canine car safety as I wear my seatbelt.
Getting a little sleepy on one of our family car rides...
Did someone in the car say "Wendy's food break"??
"Who Let the Dogs Out? Who, who, who??" BOL!!
It doesn't get any better than this...car trips with the family.
Contemplating on just how lucky and blessed I really am.
Happy Wordless Wednesday friends!! On this day, many bloggers take a break from the many words that escape our minds (and make their way to the virtual page) and share photos we love. 
This Wordless Wednesday is hosted by my good friends at BlogPaws! July is "Pet Safety Month", so you'll notice that in several photos, I'm wearing my Kurgo Tru-Fit dog harness safety seat belt, which I now wear for ALL car rides with Mommy.
She and I both feel much more secure for my safety now that I have it.
Check out some of my fellow pet bloggers below to see what other "Wordless Wednesday" fun is being shared...