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*This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may get a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Products are those I personally use or think you will like. Our dogs enjoy the comfort of their own cozy dog beds . They're allowed on the couch and  in my big green chair with the matching ottoman. They can lie on the hardwood floor or the braided rug. They even climb up into "my" chair in the living room when I vacate it. Truly, comfort is important to them. So then why do they sometimes do something that looks so... un comfortable? One of Petey's favorite napping positions is this: Does that look comfortable? And Ernest has a habit of sleeping atop tables like this: All I can conclude is that this must be comfortable to them. Does your cat or dog nap somewhere that seems comfortable to them, but looks like it really shouldn't be that comfortable? Tell us where in the comments!

We were walking down the street and Petey pulled ahead enthusiastically. Around the corner he pulled toward a squirrel. He heard a dog bark and he pulled toward the dog. Later, we walked into a room of dogs and he pulled hard, barking. Petey's pulling had become a problem. Now that Petey is more than a year old, he's nearly full grown and strong. He also has boundless energy. We use many techniques to help. We provide him with lots of interactive toys to keep him busy. We also use a good, front attaching harness. We like the Easy Walk harness . This has always made a big difference in all our other dogs, but Petey is an especially difficult case! My first instinct was to stop going out in public. It certainly was easier! But this wasn't teaching Petey anything. Plus, we want to be able to take him places with us, and hopefully eventually he will do therapy dog work with us. So we bought a supply of training treats . I began rewarding him every time he made eye contact with...

We walked through the parking lot, past the big yellow buses, and approached the red brick building. Pushed the buzzer to be allowed in. Then we knocked on the principal's office door. "Hello. This is Ernest. We're here to visit the first grade today." The principal smiled and jumped out of her seat to greet Ernest. "The boys and girls will be so excited," she said. She led us down the hall to the room. All along the way teachers and students stopped to pat Ernest. He sure enjoyed that!  The kids in first grade were all smiles and wide eyes. The teacher had everything organized and ready for us. Ernest laid down on a quilt and the kids sat beside him one at a time and read him their stories--they'd written original Halloween stories all by themselves! The Mummy who Lost his Bandages. The Vampire who Lost His Teeth. The Ghost That Wasn't White.  The Witch Who Couldn't Fly.  These kids could write! Ernest listened attentively while they read. Some ...

Happy Halloween Pardner!   Love, Ernest and Petey

It's Halloween time and there are plenty of pumpkins around. Good thing that pumpkin is great for your dogs! It's high in fiber, low in calories, and full of Beta Keratin.  It's also great for your dog's digestive system.   You can use canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling.) However, if you have a few real pumpkins and want to give them to your dogs, here are some cooking and preparation suggestions: 1. Raw pumpkin is okay, as long as it is fresh. Don't use your Halloween pumpkin that's been sitting out on your porch steps for weeks. Yuck! Just peel the pumpkin and cut the flesh into small cubes. You can then top your dog's food with some of the pumpkin cubes. 2. Pumpkin puree Boil peeled, cubed pumpkin until tender. or cut pumpkins in half and scoop out the seeds. Place on cookie sheet and roast for 30 minutes or so, until golden brown on edges. Scoop out the flesh and discard the skin. Place in food processor and add a little water and puree. I p...

Petey is a wiggly puppy. He is always on the go and hates to be constrained for me to examine his ears, trim his nails, apply medication, or pretty much anything else. Then I found this interesting new product, and decided to give it a try. (*Note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. I discovered this product and decided to blog about it in order to share my personal experience.) It is billed as a "dog distraction device." Introducing Lick Lick Pad !  Recently Pete needed some ear medication, so it was the perfect time to try out the Lick Lick Pad. First, I opened the package, then smeared on some peanut butter. Next, I stuck the pad to the front of a kitchen appliance. You can also stick it to windows, tiles, bathtubs, sinks, or most any shiny surface. Pete immediately got to work. (Ernest helped!). Then I applied Pete's ear medication. Lick Lick Pad worked great. Petey didn't wiggle, his head stayed just where I needed it to be, and he didn't even ...

A wonderful exhibition of Silvia Heyden's work opened Tuesday night at the  Betty Ray McCain Gallery   This gallery is part of the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh.  What a joy to see these tapestries in person. The exhibition was curated by Lee Hansley and a talk was presented by Silvia's daughter, Francoise Heyden. Francoise discusses Silvia's last two tapestries. From Above Francoise named this tapestry, she explained that Silvia loved to fly and especially enjoyed the view of the clouds from above. A Weaverly Path This was Silvia's last tapestry and was cut off the loom after her death by her family.   Francoise lovingly talked about her mother sitting at the loom staring at this tapestry without the physical strength to engage the treadles and complete the weaving.  The detail below shows the butterflies of yarn and how close to completion it was. Detail - A Weaverly Path The opportunity to view this work up close after vi...