I hope your 2013 has been pawesome so far. Mine has been amazing. My “mom” asked me to help her with 2 new projects. I get to write for her new blog, The Soulful Pet, and her new FB page for the blog. It will be a blast because I’ll get to talk about food, toys, travel, squirrels, cats, pugs & tons of BOLs. So if you’ve been enjoying my blog, don’t worry – I’m not straying far. Just catch me here: Follow The Soulful Pet by email or on Facebook.
Lookin’ forward to welcoming you to our pack, pooches! ~Rusty~
Whew, it’s hot here! Fortunately, my mom’s a creative cook.
She made these perfect summer snacks to please all of us guys, and she made them bone-shaped! Even my pal Bruno, a super picky eater, chowed down on these tasty-icy morsels.
When us pooches get together, it’s always big fun. (More on that in my next post!) Dawgs, these snacks did not disappoint! ~Rusty~
So the other day, another package came in the mail for me. Actually, this one’s for me to share with my friends, including you!
Check out my awesome poodle-impulse control in this pic! Mom stocked up on all of my fave, healthy treats. Mostly from left to right, my Scooby snacks are:
So the other day, my people put a pile of boxes on the floor & told me they were mine.
Wow! It was like poodle Christmas in June! So I opened them up (with help….’cuz I don’t have thumbs), and picked out my fave things. I especially loved the Jumpin’ Ginger Snaps, the HoloBal, and the Bully Stick ring. Watch me try them out…..
Dawgs, beg your humans to get these boxes. They’ll need to know how much you weigh so you get the right size toys & treats, so ‘fess up. After that, you get a box full of fido surprises every month for however long you want. Your humans will like that the shipping’s free. I love that they donate 10% profit from each box to a local shelter or rescue!
The best part? I didn’t even tell you about my new favorite toy that I pulled out of the last box. More on that later….. Woof, yeah! ~Rusty~
Fidos, if you follow me on Facebook, you already know I had a ruff go of it a few weeks ago.
Seriously, pups: I put my own spin on sick-as-a-dog. After almost checking into doggie-heaven & scaring the heck outta my humans, I’m just fine now. Big woofs & wags to all the people who saved me, especially my Auntie Tina. (She rocks & here’s why!) Pooches, if you haven’t licked your vet & her staff lately to say thanks —- what are you waitin’ for?!
My peeps & I are glad to be soakin’ up the sun together. Each day’s a blessing, dawgs. Make the most of it. Woof, yeah! ~Rusty~
I love its shape ‘cuz it’s easy to grab. Words of warning, though, dawgs: Before you play with a new toy, ask your humans to wash it well for you with soap & water. (Be sure to rinse the soap off well.) As much fun as this toy is, it tasted funny @ 1st. You can see I made a few “ick” faces in the video. It was all better after “Mom” washed it several times with animal-friendly Dawn dish washing liquid. But overall, I agree with Mom: We’re gonna stick with the heavy duty, inert Zogoflex plastic toys made in America (not China like this toy!) by West Paw Design. And you should, too.
Big fido foodie-fun here. “Mom” asked me to test two new feeding stations, and let you know what I thought. So here we go!
The first one is meant to slow little dogs down when they eat. (Seriously, pace yourselves, pups!) If you’re looking for a puzzle toy that will keep you busy for awhile, this isn’t for you, dawgs. But it will make meals last longer. If your nose is bigger than mine, you’ll have trouble getting food out of it. (I don’t mind sayin’ that I weigh 12#. So you judge if you’re too big for this bowl.) Human advantages: It’s easy to take apart, and it’s dishwasher safe. Watch me use the bowl for the 1st time, after Mom loaded it up with chicken. Yum!
Next up is the cat version. I hated this one, pooches. But I tried it for you. Mom made it harder for me by making some of the tubes deeper. Since I don’t use my paws much to get to stuff, I couldn’t reach in far enough with my nose. Not even for chicken! I tried pushing it around & pulling the tubes out with my teeth – no go.
I couldn’t figure it out, but I’m not taking it personally because……………. I’m — not — a — CAT, AM I?!! Grrrr! ~Rusty~
It all started when my humans took me on a road trip to Mendocino, CA. I had a blast taking in the views, smelling the flowers & the ocean. I met amazing animals, including llamas & geese. (Dawgs, I had no idea there were birds bigger than me!) Then I slept in a huge bed by a fireplace & an ocean breeze. Perfect for a princely poodle like myself.
Yeah, I said it. I’m not hatin’ this sweet life one bit. ~Rusty~
Hey, no New Year’s resolutions required here, dawgs! I’m stayin’ in shape through the holidays.
It’s easy ‘cuz it’s fun! I eat healthy food, snacks & chewies. I go for walks on the beach and family adventures. Sometimes mom puts my food in toys, so I have to eat slower & exercise while I eat – cool! I play with friends whenever I can. Fetch & catch are always awesome. I even hopped on the treadmill to show you dawgs how I roll! (There are treadmills for dogs. Your humans can help you use one safely: read here, here and here.) It’s all good ‘cuz I get plenty of R&R and vet care, so I stay happy & healthy. And my humans love me. Awwww…..
Happy Howl-idays, hounds!See ya’ next year! ~Rusty~
I just got another new chewy, but this one is really different. And I’m embarrassed to say, I lost it. But you should have smelled it when it came out of the bag: CHEEZY! That’s right, dawgs. It looks & smells like a huge chunk of cheese, ‘cuz IT IS! I was so excited I couldn’t even stay in a sit to get it. But that’s not the worst of it. Once I did get it, I tried to bury it because I couldn’t eat it all @ once. That didn’t work. So I stared @ it…. and stared @ it. Dawgs, I was tense, watching my humans out of the corner of my eye to make sure they didn’t touch my cheese.
Fortunately, “mom” knew just what to do. She didn’t get upset with me; I was already upset enough. Instead, she showed me that no one was going to take the chewy away and that I didn’t have to hide it just because I couldn’t eat it right away. We played a great game: She got bits of boiled chicken breast (yum!) and asked me to sit/stay. As I watched, she put several bits on the floor, then released me to go “find” them. I had to move away from the chewy to do it, and I was happy to! When I came back, she had the chewy in her hand. She asked me to sit again, and then gave it back to me! So cool! We did this a couple more times. Then, she had me sit while she touched the chewy on the floor next to us. If I looked @ her on my own, instead of the chewy, I got surprise chicken! Then, she picked it up. But I didn’t really care because I just wanted to look @ her for more chicken. We played the game in a few spots in the house, and then I didn’t care about guarding the chewy anymore. And that was a relief!
Words of wisdom: My mom’s a professional trainer who uses dog friendly training techniques. If you’re tense over a chewy, have your humans call a qualified trainer with experience helping aggressive dogs. There are some folks out there who think dogs should be hurt when trained. Ouch! That’s sad & scary.
So while you’re enjoying cheese & crackers over the holidays, I’ll be relaxing with my cheezy Himalayan chew. It’s long lasting, and it’s healthy; it’s super low in fat & salt, and it’s packed with protein. And, I’m proud to say, I can take it or leave it.
It’s OK with me if someone moves my cheese! ~Rusty~
I’m a lucky poodle! My humans just gave me a new, gigantic chewy: an antler!
It’s long lasting and way healthier than my old bone. If I do scrape anything off of it, it will be packed with good-for-me minerals, like calcium. Tip from my “mom”: If you get an antler & it doesn’t smell much (so why bother chewing, am I right?), have your humans sand the surface a bit to release some smells.
And keep it safe. Only chew antlers from the USA. Here’s some grrreat advice from mom’s fave place to buy antlers:
Supervise your dog. Do not allow your dog to attempt to break the chew in half with his back teeth. Do not allow your dog to consume more than 1/2″ to 1″ per day. If you need to get the antler away from your dog and he doesn’t know “drop it”, you can trade him for a tasty treat such as a piece of meat or cheese.
Best part, dawgs: No Rudolphs were harmed. Woof! ~Rusty~
Hey, dawgs. Are you all dressing up for Halloween?
Last year I was Count Dogula, & I described how “mom” helped me like my costume. This year, my people broke out a monkey suit for me. Yeah, an actual monkey suit. But chin up - a cool toy & boiled chicken breast were on hand, so I was one very happy monkey! I hope your Halloween is sweet, not-so-spooky fun.
It moves a lot, all by itself, and it’s loud. I wasn’t so sure about it @ 1st, so I barked @ it. But then “mom” got on the floor with me to show me it was OK. She held it, so I knew it couldn’t be that bad because she wasn’t scared of it. And then we played tug with it, so what’s not to love?! I quickly figured out that it was quieter if I kept it on the rug, rather than the hard floor. By the time I played with it outside, I was shaking it to get it to go. Big fun! Ruthhas some advice, so listen up, dawgs: This isn’t the toy for you if you’re easily scared or another animal in your family is fearful. It’s not the toy for you if you shred your toys. You’ll like this toy more if you start playing with it outside so it’s quieter. If you play with it inside, play on carpet. Make sure your humans are there to help you have fun.
My humans spent some time in Seattle last week while I was @ doggy camp. I missed them, but it’s all good now. It seems “mom” found an amazing store in Seattle with lots of goodies for dogs. (She’s almost as sad as I am that we don’t have one of these stores in CA.) I scored yummy new noms made out of sardines & carrots, and a new toy! I love my boiled wool ring because I can fetch it & tug on it. It’s soft & light, but strong. And since I don’t chew thru my toys, it’s perfect for me. My humans play tug with me because I’m happy to drop my toys when asked. We play it safe & smart. (I know – good boy!) Dawgs, I hope your humans visit their favorite pet store soon, too. If they pick up the treats or toys I mentioned above, part of the proceeds goes to charity. Woof, yeah! ~Rusty~
I had a blast @ the beach, bidding ado to summer. (Yeah, I said “ado”.) I used to run away from the waves, but this time I chased the birds right into the water! And, I went in style: Check out my new harness, dawgs; it’s uber comfy! So it’s on to a fab fido fall. Woof, yeah! ~Rusty~
Rusty, here. Hey, remember when I mastered catch? No small feat for me. Well, check this act out: it’s amaze-balls and ridiculous! I’m not aspiring to master this any time soon. Treats are meant to be eaten asap, dawgs! ~Rusty~
New noms for me! Recently, “mom” switched me to a new, crunchy food. She says it will be easier for me to eat when she’s not here to make my meals. Hey, I’m a foodie poodle, so I’m not picky. The super cool part about my new food is that I get to eat meals out of a bunch of new toys! Mom says that’s to slow me down a bit when I eat. (I do tend to wolf it down – not gonna lie.)
I tried each of the toys Ruth gave me separately, but those were too easy for me to figure out. (Scary smart, here.) So she connected the 2 toys to make it harder. (She’s even smarter, or so I let her think.) My pal, Elliottthe corgi, eats fast, too. So his mom feeds him from 3 toys! Watch – we’ll show you how it’s done, dawgs. Bone appetit! ~Rusty~
Last month, my good pal, Bruno, hung out @ my house. I helped him not miss his mom too much for a couple weeks. A little poodle play did the trick: We tore it up! Woof, yeah! ~Rusty~
Whew! I’m resting up after a month of sleep-overs with my best friends, Bruno & Elliott. Bruno’s a blast to play with — more on that in my next post. But he does have one freaky little habit: He barks @ any animal on TV. I’m not kidding, dawgs. Everything from pigs to cats to cartoons. Check his act out. Weird, right?! ~Rusty~
Little dogs are mocked, abused, & hauled around like human babies or accessories. We’re dogs, not stuffed, wind-up toys. So I feel for my misunderstood brothers-from-another-litter, the pitties. They get a bad rap, too. Dawgs, I’m groovin’ to this video. In honor of their cause, I’m hanging upside down, too!
How does a foodie fido stay cool?Bobbing for Ice Pups, of course!
I had a blast playing this game that “Mom” came up with. Behind-the-scenes recipe tips: Ice Pups made with water float. If they’re made with non-fat, plain yogurt , they sink, so they’re harder to get. Either way, they flavor the water. So too many in the bowl, and I just drank the water. But I bobbed for them if there was only one in the water @ a time. Dawgs, don’t try to swallow the ice cube whole. If you’re tempted to chew it rather than lick it, ask your human to make it out of yogurt instead, to be safer. Keep your cool. ~Rusty~
Hey, y’all! This poodle’s headed back to the beach – finally. (Enough with the rain!) I hope your weekend & summer are as good as mine’s shapin’ up to be. Wooftastik! ~Rusty~
PS — Dawgs, if you’re afraid of fireworks, ask your humans to stay home with you this weekend. Stay inside, maybe in the most insulated room in the house, with some background sound on so you can’t hear the fireworks as well. Dig into a special, yummy chewy. Or play fetch or tug with your people. I know fireworks can be ruff for some of you, but you’ll be ok. And, keep your cool: Hit the beach or a pool!
Wait’s over …. I’m finally showing off my catch game! It’s been a long time coming, but mom was patient with me. I used to duck when a ball was thrown to me. But she found a perfectly sized & weighted ball. (Ruth wants me to tell you that this ball is non-toxic & non-abrasive for my teeth, unlike regular tennis balls. But, it doesn’t stand up to chewing well, and I’ve gone thru quite a few already, just chewing them as I play fetch.)
Here’s how I learned: First, mom bounced the ball near me so I could catch it after the 1st bounce. When I got good @ that, she gently tossed it in the air so I could catch it in the air as it went by me. No bounce required & not scary! After awhile, I started to run toward the ball to catch it, so mom knew I was brave enough to catch it if it was tossed to me head-on. She sat down on the floor, lightly tossed it a short distance toward me, & I grabbed it. Now I’m a catching machine! Mad skills, dawgs. Mad skills. ~Rusty~
Remember when I told you I was working on my catch game? Well, I’ve almost got it down, with a twist. Dad & I are working on a video of my newly acquired skills. In the meantime, these videos are either inspiring or intimidating. Not sure which. Have a wooftastik weekend, dawgs. Yatta! ~Rusty~
Hey, I’m hanging with my corgi bro, Elliott. We’re watching videos with mom, and I picked two of my favorites to share with you. I love the first flick because it reminds me of when my house smelled like BACON. But my humans didn’t tease me about it. They delivered alternative noms. The second vid is just ridiculous. No self-respecting poodle would do that. (Remember when I showed you the game I taught my dad?) So grab some popcorn & enjoy. Two paws up! ~Rusty~
A few posts ago, I got pretty mushy about my “mom”. Dad rolled his eyes a bit ’cause he can’t handle the mushy stuff. Or was he a bit jealous? No way – he knows he’s my favorite human dude. So he won’t mind if I dedicate this post to my human mom. I love this video of Iso & his mom because it reminds me of Ruth & I. Hey, dawgs – a quick tip: Get mushy, and you get more biscuits! ~Rusty~
I’m lovin’ spring! My people just surprised me with another toy. They said it’s way better for me than achocolate rabbit. And I agree! I know I already got a bunny, but a poodle can never have too many toys, right? Plus this one’s big so I can wrestle with it. And it squeaks. Cool. ~Rusty~
Alright, so mom said this pup is amazing. And she loves how he smiles as he works. She says that’s what positive training does. ok, OK. He’s not me. But I do my best, and she stillloves me! Really – do you have to watch this, too? ~Rusty~
Writer’s block stinks, and yes – even poodles get it. Maybe it’s the rain, wind & hail we’ve had @ my house for the last week. So as I was racking my brains for new post ideas, I came across this video. Suddenly, I felt completely inadequate as a dog. I know Harvey’s campaigning for a good cause: doggy adoptions. And, good boy! But he set the bar so high, how can mutts measure up? Serious poodle-pout here. But then “mom” reminded me how much she loves me. We reminisced about when she adopted me, and she said, “You’re my Harvey, Rusty.” Awww, shucks. It’s all good, dawgs. ~Rusty~
So it’s supposed to be spring. But the weather is dismal @ my house. Until the sun shines again, I’m dreaming about playing in my pool. (Remember when I had a pool party with my pal, Bruno? Big fun!) This video reminds me of good times! ~Rusty~
Woohoo! My favorite time of year! And I’m celebrating early with a new toy, of course. It’s my Year-of-the-Rabbit; Hoppy-Easter; Spring-Fling toy. (I call him “bunny” for short.) He’s perfect for me because he’s soft, he squeaks, and I don’t shred my toys. Fluffy-fun! ~Rusty~
I’m seriously tired of the rain. But “Dad” & I are pretty creative about passing the time inside when it’s pouring outside. Check out the little game we played one evening with a special ball he got for me. I’m feelin’ the love. ~Rusty~
Big things to smile about here! My vet cleaned my teeth. (I told you about that already.) Now “Mom” helps me keep my teeth & gums healthy. She brushes my teeth every day with chicken-flavored doggy toothpaste (yum!). I get big, crunchybiscuits. And, I just got this cool Bristle Bone! It has rawhide discs between bristles. When I chew the rawhide, the bristles brush my teeth & gums. (Ruth said she might even put my toothpaste on the bristles.) Big fun – and no doggy breath here! ~Rusty~
I love the good things in life: My forever-home with my humans; toys; play; treats; good food; cuddles; and new adventures. Fetch & tug with Dad and my new Boing Ball? Poodle heaven! (Dad tugs with me because I’m good @ fetch & drop, and I’m not possessive of my toys. Just growlin’ for fun.) I hope all your days are one big Valentine’s day, like mine! ~Rusty~
So this is what happened at my house last weekend: My humans cooked a pan full of bacon! The smell was epic. I mustered up every ounce of cuteness I had, and still they didn’t share any with me. (“Mom” said something about salt & fat not being good for dogs. Humans, too, right, Ruth?) But don’t worry about me. I had just eaten an awesome breakfast (Honest Kitchen’s Preference made with freshly cooked chicken)! Ruth gave me one of myfavorite treats while they ate breakfast. And – “Dad” gave me some of the salmon he cooked for dinner. So it was all good! Here’s the scene that morning. Dawgs – I wish you had smell-o-vision! ~Rusty~
Remember when I showed off my howling prowess? It’s a newly acquired skill for me. I mostly only howl @ sirens if “mom’s” in the room. I hear a siren, and I look @ her to see if we’re howling. If she ignores the siren, I do, too. If she smiles & howls, let the music begin! It’s big fun, and I never annoy my humans because I ask permission. (Poodle confession: Twice, when I’ve been alone in a room, I howled softly @ a siren. Who doesn’t hum a little tune when they’re alone, right?) Having said that, now I can really appreciate a pro when I hear one! Have you heard little Tucker, the miniature schnauzer/poodle, in concert? Not only does he howl, he plays the piano! No waiting around for sirens for that schnoodle! Enjoy the musical stylings of Tucker….. ~Rusty~
Happy New Year! I resolve to play, be cozy & cuddle as much as possible – - and maybe smile more for “mom”‘s pictures. Shouldn’t be a problem! I shared my B-day toy with you; I’ll show you what Santa brought me – later. And, my corgi-pal, Elliott, is visiting again this week. In the meantime, I’ve got the cozy down already. Watch! ~Rusty~
I hope your holidays were awesome! I had a blast, beginning with my B-day on 12/20. (I’m 4 now!) I got a Socktopus for my birthday! It’s perfect for me because I can drag it around, shake it & play tug with it. (If your pup chews toys up, this wouldn’t be the toy for him.) Ahhh-woo-woo-woo! ~Rusty~
Thanksgiving week, my buddy, Elliott the corgi, visited. A little background on this situation: We played really hard & had a blast for a month when I was newly adopted. The next time he stayed over, I invited him to play (peeked around the corner & barked @ him), just like I had always done. But that time, he came on way too strong, rushing face-on up to me. What’s a poodle to do? I gave him the cold shoulder to settle him down, and we agreed to peacefully coexist. Really – I had to seriously calm that corgi down! So the next few times he visited, we didn’t play. But this time, “mom” whispered in my ear, “You’re taking him way too seriously. Go Play!” So I invited him to play again, calmed him down a bit, and game on! DoggieDetente!! (The best part: Elliott’s “mom” told my “mom” that Elliott is now playing more with other dogs than he used to. Woohoo!) ~Rusty~
I hope your Halloween was a grrr-eat as mine! “Mom” got me some new,tasty treats. Actually, I’ve had 2 big weekends, back-to-back. I’ll post pics & vids of my roadtrips later. For now, I’m napping & dreaming about all the fun I had. (Do you ever feel like you’re being watched?) -Rusty-
OK – so I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of wearing a costume. But I’ll do anything for a treat, and Ruth let me practice wearing my costume for short periods until I relaxed. Some behind-the scenes info for my movie: We all agree that dogs aren’t accessories or dolls to play dress-up with! Having said that, we all had fun. “Mom” was the stylist – like Rachel Zoe for dogs. Ba-nanas! “Dad” was the cinematographer and – most importantly - bearer of fresh-cooked salmon treats for me! And now……introducing me as “Count Dogula“! (Does this costume make me look fat?) -Rusty-
I’m having a blast with my new favorite ball(Thanks, Tim!) It glows in the dark, so it’s easy to find under furniture. And, it’s lightweight – so I’m not scared to try to catch it. Ruth’s teaching me to catch. I don’t like the ball thrown straight @ me (poodle trust issues?). But I’m getting better @ catching it on the fly if she throws past me, or after it bounces once. Someday, I hope to enjoy an epic catch game like this guy! -Rusty-
Hi! I hope you’re keeping cool. Labor Day weekend was a blast! I promised you more pics, and I’m a poodle-of-my-word. Enjoy! (Left to right below: My 1st visit to Spring Lake & my 1st ducks!; Shell Beach; and me with Ruth on the beach. Epic fun! ) -Rusty-
I had a great Labor Day weekend – hope you did, too! I’ll update you later on my adventures. For now, I can tell you one thing I learned: I love watermelon! (Not sure which I like more: watermelon or cantaloupe.) Not shy about eating in front of a camera, either. (You can hear me smack my lips; sorry – I have to work on that!) -Rusty-
A pool or a pond? A pool will do for me! I got a new pool, and Bruno’s visiting. Woohoo! Did you know poodles are water retrievers? (No, Paris, we’re not silly fashion accessories!) Fun fact: “Poodle” comes from the German word “Pudel” which means “plays in water”! Anyway, we learned to play in the pool this weekend. We were nervous @ 1st, but “mom” & “dad” safely eased us into it. First we got in with no water & a bathmat on the pool bottom so we didn’t slip. Then we hopped in & out of it for chicken treats. (Yummy!) When we were having fun, “dad” slowly added water while we munched on chicken in the pool. He put about 2 inches of water in it. Then “mom” floated some of my favorite balls in the pool, and I jumped in & out to get those. (A blast plus a great way to cool off!) They added a ramp to the end of the pool for another way to jump or look into it. Bruno mostly watched me hop in & out from the ramp, after he took a dip in it by himself. Then Bruno, aka “Splash”, jumped off the ramp into the pool! Cannon ball! When we’re even braver, they’ll put more water in it. I’ll let you know how that goes.
Check out my pool pics & video. I hope your weekend was as epic as mine! -Rusty-
I’m so excited that I get 3 whole days with my “parents”, Ruth & Tim! Looks like we’ll go to the beach, start up the Cheezeburger Machine, and play a lot! Ruth says they’ll stay home with me on the 4th to help me if I’m scared of the fireworks. (I think I’ll be fine, but it’s nice to know they love me.) Plus, they said they might get me a cool pool to play in so I don’t get too hot. Lucky dog!
Hi, everyone. I’m sad today. I just heard that some people in Iran think that dogs are unclean, and they will fine humans found with dogs in their cars! In my humble opinion, poodles are uber-clean! And we all know how most dogs love car rides. Very sad. But the weekend is coming, the cheezeburger machine will soon be going again, and my buddy, Elliott, is visiting me. Life’s lookin’ up!
Bruno & I hung out for a few days, and had a blast! He’s fun because he’s all about play; he laughs & smiles a lot. (I know there are some humans out there who don’t think us dogs smile or laugh, but they’re wrong. It sounds like this.) Here’s a quick video of us playing. We were moving so fast, my mom couldn’t keep up with us with the camera! If you listen close, you can hear Bruno laughing…..
Hey, dawgs. I missed you all!
