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.