Warning: Will Party

Warning:

Will party at a moment’s notice.

Five Steps to a Pet Safe New Year's Eve

  It is almost New Year of 2015 and I have just gotten used to writing 2014!  We keep New Year’s Eve pretty low-key around here.  When the kids were growing up, we exploded fireworks.  They have never really bothered our dogs.  In fact, we had a miniature Schnauzer that loved to watch fireworks.

  Bentley absolutely HATES fireworks.  He is certain that we are under military attack.  Bathroom breaks must be timed very carefully.  If he is in the middle of some serious business and a firework booms,

Get Plenty of Rest

It is important to get plenty of rest before our Monday newscast of

 BFTB Channel 7 NETWoof News. 

It will be our end-of-the year broadcast.

Meet Paisley the Puppy

   Yesterday was super exciting for our family.  We welcomed a new granddog! Our son and his wife added a precious puppy to their family.  Her name is Paisley and she is a six-week old chocolate Lab.  We went over to see her, give her puppy presents, and get some puppy love.  She is adorable, bouncy, and full of curiosity.

   Don’t take my word for it.  Here she is…Paisley!

Barking from the Bayou's Christmas Morning

Bentley: “We hope that everyone enjoyed a wonderful Christmas holiday.  Santa Paws sure must have thought we were super good boys.  Pierre and I were so excited with our treats and toys.  Santa even brought me a brand new Slappy!  It is my bestest toy in the universe and my old one is pretty ragged these days.  You will notice at the end of this video, a certain “friend” tried to do the snatch and run with my new Slappy!”

Merry Christmas Y'all

♥ Merry Christmas Y'all ♥

Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve

To: All of our Friends

From: Melissa, Bentley, & Pierre

D.I.Y. Holiday Dog Treats

   One of the Christmas traditions we have on the bayou is baking goodies and making candies.  The only problem is none of the things we enjoy are good for our dogs.  As much as they insist a little chocolate won’t hurt them, they are wrong.  It is best to avoid giving your pet any candy or treats meant for humans.  

   This year, thanks to our friends at Kurgo, I can bake something special just for them.  Now all of those pleading eyes can be answered with a doggie-approved holiday treat.

Hustle and Bustle of Christmas

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season,

take time to enjoy your best friend.  It's the perfect gift for both of you.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

"Do you hear what I hear?"

Before I began Barking from the Bayou, my blog was about writing and humor.  This post from last Christmas is one of my favorites.  It is about Christmas carols and I hope that it makes you laugh.

Click for “Christmas Carols”

Christmas Pet Safety

Bentley: “Can you believe Christmas is next week?  I am so excited to see what Santa Paws is going to bring me.  I’ve been a very good boy and…PIERRE!  What are you doing dude?”

Pierre: “Nothing, I was just about to see if this potpourri is as tasty as it smells.  Here, smell this.  Don’t you think it’d be yummy?”

Bentley: “Put that down and go wipe your paws.  Potpourri is among the potential dangers that the American Veterinary Medical Association warns us about during the holidays.  You shouldn’t even be left alone in a room with potpourri, candles, or other holiday decorations.”

Christmas Snow Globes and Dogs are Magic

Christmas snow globes have always held a special kind of magic and wonderment.  When you add dogs to them, snow globes are even more special.

10 Ways to Help a Shelter this #Christmas

  Christmas is quickly approaching and it is a perfect time of the year to play Santa Paws for your local no-kill pet shelter.  There are countless ways to help and not break your holiday budget.  In fact, most of the ways are completely FREE.

One Dog A~sleeping

After a mega-birthday celebration and our one-year blog anniversary, Bentley is dog-tired.

If the visions of sugarplums would quit dancing in my head, I could get some serious sleep.

We are joining Sugar the Golden Retriever and Dachshund Nola for their Black & White Sunday blog hop.  You can click below to visit other participating

 B & W blogs.

Celebrating Our One-Year Blog Anniversary

  

Kurgo Makes a Quantum Leap in Dog Leashes

    I am a leash hoarder.  We have more than a professional dog walker, but all of them serve different purposes.  I have some cutesy ones, some retractable ones, leather, paracord, and training ones.  We even still have our quick-release short collar from our police K-9 Shepherd.  Wouldn’t it be awesome to have a leash that does the job of several and still look stylish?  In the words of Santa, “I have just what you asked for and more.  Ho*Ho*Ho!”

   The Kurgo Reflect and Protect Quantum Leash has everything that you’re looking for in a dog-walking product.  When my leash arrived, I wasn’t sure how to use it.  This is because it is unlike all of my leashes.  KURGO has developed the Quantum Leash to extend to a 6-foot long lead.  Nothing new there, but just wait!  

When Fall Fell

   Once the majority of our leaves fall, it is time to mulch them.  The boys love to roll in the freshly chopped foliage.  The tiny pieces fall off Bentley with a couple of shakes.  Pierre…not so much.

Easy Dog Cookie Recipe

I wanted to share the other recipe that I used in celebrating Bentley’s birthday.  These are easy and the boys give them a paws-up.  It is really just a basic dog treat recipe with a special ingredient.

Bentley’s Birthday Bones

Ingredients

½ cup Cornmeal

6 Tbsps. Oil (I used canola)

2 cups Whole-Wheat flour

2/3 cup Water or Broth*

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350˚.  Mix well.  Roll your dough to approx. ¼” thick.  Cut into the shape of your choice with a cookie cutter.  Bake on parchment paper for 35-40 minutes.  Let cookies cool completely before decorating.  Store in tightly sealed container or refrigerate if frosted.

*I used 2 Tbsp. of *The Honest Kitchen Beef Bone Broth to 2/3 cup of hot water.

Up to My Belly in Leaves

When you have short legs, everything is up to your belly.

Do You Want to Make a Pupcake? Easy Recipe

   When it comes to creating dog friendly treats in the kitchen, my experience consists of liver cookies.  The dogs love the smell, the humans not so much.  Since this was a big birthday for Bentley, I wanted to try my hand at pupcakes.  I used to bake and decorate cakes, so I figured dog cakes couldn’t be much different.  I began searching my favorite pet blogs that I trust for great recipe ideas.  I ended up taking bits and pieces of several and came up with a tasty recipe for the cakes and frosting.  Yes, I took a bite before giving it to Bentley.  In case it tasted gross, I didn’t want him to gag on his birthday.

This is a simple recipe and was definitely a winner in Bentley’s opinion.

Bentley's Bayou Birthday Bash

"A group shot with some awesome friends from left to right; Bailie, Ruby, Chewy, Me, Emma, Mika, Pierre, and Koda."

Bentley: “Wow!  Thank y’all sooo much for all of the birthday wishes.  I had so many visitors and it was so much fun.  I’m going to have to rest my tail from all the wagging.  I have lots of party pictures, so I’m going to try to not talk too much.  *snicker  I was answering the comments that you left, but Mom said it was time to write our post.  I’ll get back to everyone as soon as possible.  I want to give a special thanks to Ruby for her Ruby~rita truck.  It was definitely a hit.  I could tell some stories, but what happens on the Bayou, stays on the Bayou!  A big hug to our pals at Love is being owned by a Husky for their beautiful sparkling card.  My sweetie Emma gave me a very special card.  I may or may not have gotten a hug and kiss.  Bassets do not kiss and tell.”

Happy Birthday Bentley #7

Bentley: “Hey Pierre!  Guess what day it is.

If We Ever Had Some Snow

  
 We enjoy many awesome things on the bayou.  We have beautiful trees and flowers, great bayous and waterways, Mardi Gras, southern-fried chicken, Cajun food, and New Orleans.  There are also things that we don’t get to enjoy.  We are out of luck if we want to climb a mountain, we have the Gulf of Mexico, but no oceans and we never get much snow.  Ever.

Seven On Seven

This is a very exciting week for us here on the bayou.  Bentley is turning seven years old on Wednesday.  This is our first birthday that we can share with all of our friends.  We are really excited for this year since he has the #7 on his fur!  Bentley is channeling his “inner~Oprah” by hosting a giveaway of his FAVORITE THINGS!

This is Baby Bentley on top of Big Boy Bentley at 7 years!

Deep Thinking

Paws to Give Thanks #ShareGratitude

Me: “It’s Thanksgiving in America and you know what that means.”

Bentley: “Yes, it means I get to smell turkey roasting, dressing baking, pumpkin pies browning, and we get to go belly-up to watch football.”

Pierre: “It means that I get to stand under your feet in the event something hits the floor.”

Me: “I have to agree that it does mean all of those things, but it also means that we need to take time to give thanks for all of our blessings.  I thought we could pause to give thanks for some of the many things we are thankful for this year.

Bentley: “Well, you and Dad are on the top of my list.  Here, we can handle this by ourselves.  Why don’t you go start the baked spaghetti and cheese?  We can give paws for thanks.”

Vario Flexi Leash ~ A Review

 

 Bentley and Pierre enjoy our walks throughout the neighborhood.  We know where the other dogs live, where the barkers are, and where owners sometimes allow there dogs out without a leash.  (Yes, it is against the law.)  There are areas where we could allow them to have more leash to explore.  I was looking for a leash that I could trust to do that.  I have seen a variety of retractable leashes.  Some of them are pretty, others functional, a bunch are clunkers, and even more are just plain flimsy.  I needed a quality leash that I could trust to stop when I pressed the brake button.  Bentley has unbelievable pulling strength and it makes stopping him difficult.

It's Rainin' ~ It's Pourin'

It’s rainin’, it’s pourin’…

Guess who’s gonna be snorin’.

Waiting for Mama

♥ Waiting for Mama ♥

Gobble up 30% off your PrideBites order.  Click here to begin shopping then, enter the code TURKEY.

There's No Place Like Home for the #Holidays

   Do you have travel plans for the holidays?  If you are leaving town, is your dog going with you?  I never like to have to be away from Bentley for very long.  I miss him and worry about him.  It’s the old saying that nobody can take care of your “children” as well as you.  We thought about traveling for Thanksgiving.  I’m not ashamed to say that the thought of Bentley not being with me for the holiday was a deciding factor.  After all, I’ve been saving his Merrick Thanksgiving Dinner for this special day.  ☺

Break The #Internet

By now, you have probably all seen the “other” cover that failed to break the Internet.  If not, click here. Bentley feels that his cover shot could do the trick! 

"Eat your heart out Kim!"

Selfie Assured

“I am feeling very selfie-assured.”

Thinking About Senior #Dogs

“I’m just thinking about the senior dogs in shelters.

It makes me sad.”

Reasons to Adopt a Senior Dog

#18

Senior dogs make great snuggle buddies. 

**More on the Humane Society of Northwest Louisiana on Tuesday's Tails

Hands-Free Gate by #RichellPet

                                                                          

This post is sponsored by Richell USA and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger network.  I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Richell products, but M. K. Clinton Barking from the Bayou only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.  Richell USA/Richell is not responsible for the content of this article.

    There are two things common in almost every pet parent’s home.  They have sheets covering the couch and baby gates in the doorways.  When company comes over, we can hide the sheets.  Unfortunately, there are times when we have to keep our furry friends separate from us.

   We have a baby gate that has been through all of our dogs and our babies. 

I do not miss this gate!

The problem with it is that it’s ugly and you have to climb over it.  I have stepped over it for so long, it is second nature.  That isn’t the same for Granny or Auntie when they visit.  It isn’t very polite to ask them to hurdle a fence to go to their bedrooms or the bathroom.  What is the solution?

   Enter Richell USA and their fantastic hands-free gate!  They are distributors of quality home and pet products designed by Richell Corporation in Japan.  All of their products have excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail.  This is the reason many of their product designs have earned the “Editor’s Choice Award” for four years in a row.  (2010 - 2014)

Leading By Example

Bentley and Pierre love learning and practicing new tricks.  They take turns leading by example.  Pierre is showing Bentley how to “turn around” and Bentley is helping Pierre to learn how to sit up like a gentleman.

Whenever I tell Bentley to turn around, he usually takes a minute to give it some deep thought before accomplishing the trick.  However, Pierre is in my peripheral vision spinning like a top!  I really believe they help each other learn.

"Don't worry Pierre, you'll get it. Just relax."

4Knines Has You Covered #seatcovers4Knines

*This post is sponsored by 4Knines and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network.  I am being compensated for helping spread the word about 4Knines Products, but M. K. Clinton Barking from the Bayou only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.  4Knines is not responsible for the content of this article.

   Do you dread the time it takes cleaning and vacuuming the car after a road trip or a fun day at the park with your dog?  If you have better things to with your time, 4Knines has got you covered with a very fashionable solution.  It is certainly making my life much easier!

   Jim and Maggie are the dog-loving couple who founded 4Knines.  The pet parents of two gorgeous, but rough and tumble Dobermans knew if they could design a product that would stand up to Ares and Ana, they’d have a winning product.  That is exactly what they did and the result is a high-end seat cover that is both attractive and functional.  Their motto is “Nothing but the best for your best friend.”

Greener Grass

“The grass doesn’t smell any greener on the other side.”

It's All About That Look

“As a granddog, it’s important to know how to work the 'innocent' look.  Nailed it!”

5 Tips in the Art of Cool

"I am sharing five tips in the Art of Cool.  Use with caution." ☺