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~
(Left to right: Bruno, Elliott and me!)
(Well worth the sit-stays!)
(Me, licking my chops, & Elliott)
Yum!
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:
Itty Bitty Buddy Biscuits (Veggie Madness flavor); Sweetie Pies; Healthy Dogma Barkers (peanut butter flavor); Grizzly Salmon NuTreats (smaller ones for cats/tiny dogs, too!) & Grizzly Salmon Fillets (for dogs & cats); Honest Kitchen’s Smooches, Pecks & Nuzzles; and Salmon Paws jerky (with & without broccoli).
I’m munching away & listening to my new favorite song, “Share It Maybe”. Why? ‘Cuz I’m a cookie monster, too, dawgs! ~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.
Boo! ~Rusty~
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~
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~
Via abollum
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, 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~
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 my favorite 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~
Hey, pooches: Heads-up on some great places to go with your people! My humans & I took some epic, dog-friendly road trips in October. On the way to Mendocino, we visited Navarro Winery, which has its own little dog park. In Mendocino, we stayed @ the Standford Inn. They love dogs so much there that they left me a homemade, dried sweet potato treat in the shape of fish, wrapped in a blue bow – on the bed! (No mints for humans, just goodies for me!) We walked around their gardens & enjoyed the view from the balcony. Then we all went to the lounge & hung out by the fireplace. Our next road trip was to the hills around Lake Sonoma, stopping for noms @ Buns & Burgers in Larkfield on the way back. (They have a cheezburger machine there, but I ate chicken that Ruth brought for me. I wanted fries, but “mom” said no because I might get sick. Bummer.) Then my humans picked up a few goodies for me in the pet store next door. The whole time I was super cozy & safe in my new car seat. Ahh-mazing. Check out my new video! ~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-
Whew – big day yesterday! I got my teeth cleaned at the veterinary hospital. I was nervous, but Auntie Tina (the world’s best vet tech!) helped me thru it. Now that my teeth are sparkling, “mom” says she’ll keep them that way with large, textured treats; chewies; and daily tooth brushing. (I actually love getting my teeth brushed! I’ll post a video of that later.) Professional dentistries are good preventive medicine for dogs like me because it will help me live a long, healthy life. So take doggie-breath seriously like my “mom” did, & see your vet! Serious napping now. (Even woke myself up talking in my sleep.) -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-
Humiliating. Here’s what happened: “Mom” let me lick her empty yogurt container, and I abandoned all poodle pride! By the way, did you know that non-fat, plain yogurt (no sugar or fat) is good for doggies? And my favorite hot-weather snacks are my mom’s “Yogurt Pupsicles“. They’re super easy for humans-with-thumbs to make. Don’t tell her I told you, but here’s how: Mix 1 C non-fat, plain yogurt with 2 T of Honest Kitchen’s “Ice Pups” powder. Spoon the mixture into mini ice cube trays. Freeze until solid. Yum! (The powder is optional. You can use plain, canned pureed pumpkin instead. Or just yogurt is also tasty!)
Have a grrreat holiday weekend! -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-
Today my new friends, Penney & Sherman visited. I have to admit, I’ve never seen a pug before, and it took some getting used to! Penney’s fun, and if she likes Sherman, then I do, too. Here’s a pic of my mom handing out homemade treats. Look @ how good we all are @ “sit”!
A note from Rusty’s “mom”: I made “Pumpkin-Yogurt Pupsicles”. They were a big hit! Check our next “You Are What You Eat” post for the recipe & more of Rusty’s favorite treats …. -Ruth-
Hi, everyone! I’m Rusty, a 3-yr.-old miniature poodle. I’m settling into my new forever-home. It’s been really fun so far because I’ve played with lots of dogs, and my new mom & dad love me. They even gave me my own blog so I can give you a poodle’s point-of-view. Cool! I have lots to say about my favorite things, poodle-peeves, my adventures, new friends – and pup culture!
So here’s what’s happening so far: My friend Elliott, the corgi, stayed with me for a month. We had a great time, but he did smell funny. My mom said something about a “skunk“. I went to the beach where a nice lady gave me a biscuit just for being cute! Last weekend I met Penney, the Havanese/poodle, and Sherman, the pug. We’ll have more time to play this weekend – I’ll post pics later. This morning, I had to potty in the rain, thunder & lightening. My mom, Ruth, was nearby cheering me on, so I was brave. When you gotta go, you gotta go!
Lots more to come: I got new toys, food, a new bed, homemade treats – and lots more I can’t wait to tell you about! Have a great weekend. My dad, Tim, says its going to be sunny & warm here. Woof! -Rusty-
A note from Rusty’s “mom”: I introduced Rusty in my Mother’s Day post. We’re so happy to have him in our lives. (For you purists out there, we do realize that we aren’t his “parents”. So please suspend reality & enjoy his blog.) Folks always ask me what toys, food, & products I recommend and/or use for my pets. I’m hoping Rusty’s posts will give you more insight into your pup, as well as new ideas to improve life with your dog. Please contact me to help your new pup make a smooth transition into your home & family!
A side-note about Rusty’s friend, Elliott: He’s adorable, but he did get skunked. Check out our spring post for info on skunk season, including a link to a home-made solution you can wipe on your pup to get rid of the smell. (Hint: Skip the tomato juice!) -Ruth-
