Loving Olympia

We visited our daughter and son-in-law last week in Washington. It was easy to fall in love with the beauty and awesome temperatures in the Pacific Northwest. We enjoyed a trip through Olympia Farmer’s Market and a walk along the Port of Olympia. You can see the state capitol in the background. It was truly an incredible trip.

5 Beauty Routines That Have Gone To The Dogs

   I cannot remember a time when I didn’t talk to my dogs and imagine them as humans trapped in dog’s body. It seems that they know more than they let on and it is some kind of universal canine joke on humans. Anthropomorphizing your pet can also make life a lot of fun. While we enjoy imagining Bentley and Pierre doing things considered strictly human, there are many things we actually do the same. That shouldn't be a surprise considering we share 84% of our DNA. Source:http://education.seattlepi.com/animals-share-human-dna-sequences-6693.html

Here are 5 beauty routines I share my dogs:

1.  We all use the same shower. 

*Not at the same time, that'd be weird.

Happy National Dog Day on the Bayou

Happy National Dog Day 

to my best friends. 

“The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.”

The Return 2 ~ Showstoppers

M. K. Clinton

5 Reasons to Give Your Dog Dr. Harvey's Multi-Vitamin & Mineral

   It is important that our dogs are receiving the necessary vitamins and minerals in their daily diet. I feed Bentley and Pierre top-quality Dr. Harvey’s Canine Health, Veg-to-Bowl, and Oracle so I know they are getting terrific food. Personally, I try to eat right too, but I still take a multi-vitamin every day. It makes me feel better and I believe keeps me from catching colds or other illnesses. Why wouldn’t I want the same benefits for my boys?

The Truly Grand Grand Canyon

   We took the boys to see the Grand Canyon on our way home from the BlogPaws conference. It truly is a grand sight to see and leaves little doubt as to why it is one of the Wonders of the World. Enjoy these photos from our visit.

Fetch Some Kaleb's Organic Dog Treats

Barking from the Bayou, LLC received a box of Kaleb's Organic Dog Treats in exchange for an honest review. We only share products/services that we use and feel would benefit our readers. Kaleb's is not responsible for the contents of this article.

   We always strive to feed Bentley and Pierre healthy treats. That’s why when I heard about Kaleb’s Organic Dog Treats, I was excited to try them. They are baked with 100% USDA certified organic ingredients and non-GMO project verified. Kaleb’s Vermont bakery makes these treats in small batches to ensure the best quality. They use all natural ingredients but no wheat, corn or soy.

5 Ways to Help Your Dog Beat the Summer Heat

   It is hot on the Bayou. Triple digit hot. And humid. It’s the kind of weather that would make the devil sweat. We have learned ways to beat the Louisiana summer heat. It is probably hot where you are too, so here are some tips that we find helpful.

1.  Stay indoors and play with your toys. This is also a good excuse to buy new summer toys that are marked down to make room for Halloween costumes.

National Black Cat Appreciation Day

   Today is National Black Cat Appreciation Day. It is so unfair for black cats to have such a bad reputation. They are less likely to be adopted if they enter the shelter system. Many are abused or killed by ignorant people who believe they are somehow bad luck. Every child sees black cats with arched backs and hissing associated with Halloween and witches. It is time for these myths and superstitions to be put to rest.

   I was lucky to have the coolest black Manx cat that ever lived named Amos. A lot of Manx cats have stubs for tails but Amos was completely tailless. Their hind legs are longer than their front. He always looked like his rear end was jacked up. He was so much fun.

   Amos was very shy and few people ever actually saw him in the fur. When someone came to the door, all you would see was a black streak and then nothing until whoever invaded his territory left. If Amos loved you, you knew it. He was a top-notch bread maker and his purr could wake the dead.

   There was never a question about having Amos represented in my book series, The Returns. Many who have read the books chose him as their favorite character. There is nobody cooler in the Big Easy than Amos the Black Cat. He knows people that know people if you catch my drift…

Happy Black Cat Appreciation Day!

Remember, when a black cat crosses your path, adopt it!

*On a personal note, this is my two-year anniversary of kicking the smoking habit. If you haven’t read the post from one year ago, please visit Does Your Dog Think You Stink? and share it with a smoker that you love.

We are joining our BlogPaws friends for

Wordless Wednesday's blog hop.

A Surprise Package from Natural Balance

  As I have mentioned before, we were able to meet some incredible pet brands at the recent BlogPaws™ conference. One of those that really stood out was Natural Balance®. I was invited to attend a delicious breakfast and learn more about the company. It was very nice and their representatives were terrific. Later this month I will introduce you to some of the new treats they have coming to a store near you. Until then, the boys and I wanted to share this awesome gift box of goodies that we received when we returned to the bayou. They didn’t ask us to review it, but Bentley and Pierre really wanted to tell everyone about it. They love getting surprise packages!

A Back-to-School Salute to Teachers

   That is such a limited description of a person whose job is truly limitless. I had the privilege of working with some outstanding teachers over the fifteen years I was in the public school system. My experience allowed me to observe teachers in their classrooms from the kindergarten through the twelfth grade.

5 Reasons to Smile Today #Smile4Sugar

Here are 5 reasons to smile today

5. Smiles are gifts that are easily returned.

4. A smile is the same in every language.

Twigo Pet Tags Are A Great IDea

Barking from the Bayou, LLC received two Twiggo® Pet ID Tags in exchange for an honest review. We only share products and services that we use and believe will be of benefit to our audience. Twiggo is not responsible for the content of this article.

   I have developed a sort of obsession with dog tags. Bentley and Pierre have a wide variety of ID tags to wear for different occasions. When I saw the Twigo® Pet ID Tags there was no question, I had to have them. Why? Let me tell you more about them and you will understand.

7 Photos On The Road to Sedona

   This year’s BlogPaws™ conference was in Chandler, Arizona. We wanted to make it a working vacation with Bentley and Pierre. That meant ROADTRIP!! It was a wonderful drive from the Bayou with the exception of the Dallas interstate construction. Wow, that is some intense traffic! Anyway, we spent our second night in Flagstaff and drove down to Sedona before arriving at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort for BlogPaws.

   It is said that the landscape around Sedona is the most beautiful in America. I’ll be honest, after seeing certain parts of Alaska, I had my doubts. Wow, I became a believer with each passing mile! It is some of the most breathtaking scenery that I have ever laid eyes on. Each turn of the road led to another awe-inspiring view. The red rocks are incredible.

   The city of Sedona is one of the coolest places that we’ve visited. I found it very dog-friendly and several stores allowed Bentley and Pierre to come inside to beat the heat. We stopped for a frozen coffee and an employee brought out a fresh bowl of water for the boys. We only spent a few hours wandering the main street and its fun stores but I’d love to spend more time there…when it is cooler.

   Here are 7 photos of our trip from Flagstaff to Sedona, Arizona. I hope that you enjoy them.

Dogs Prefer a Quick Bath

Barking from the Bayou, LLC received Quick Bath and Tushee Wipes in exchange for an honest review. We only share products that we use and believe will benefit our audience. International Veterinary Sciences, the makers of Quick Bath and Tushee Wipes is not responsible for the contents of this article.

   Bentley loves getting a bath. Pierre is not a fan but he will tolerate it. The problem is it takes me a couple of hours to give them both a bath. You can read about the process here and here.  

   When unexpected company is coming or the boys want to go with us to the pet store, there isn’t always time for a bath. That is when I reach for a Quick Bath® pre-moistened wipes. They are extra thick and heavy duty so they leave the boys fresh with clean and shiny hair. I was surprised at the amount of dirt that came off with one wipe.

The wipes are:

·        Alcohol-free

·        pH Neutral

·        Contain Aloe Vera to soothe skin

·        Helps reduce odors

·        Vitamins A and E for healthy skin and coat

·        Removes dirt and bacteria from skin

·        Available in large (5” x 10”) and small (5” x 8”)

   The package is perfect for trips to the park or long walks. Let’s face it, keeping our dogs fresh on a road trip can be difficult, but not with Quick Bath. All you need is one wipe to clean most pups from nose to tail.

   They work really well on Bentley’s ears which drag the ground and are always in need of a Quick bath. The wipes are soft enough for those sensitive areas and leave his ears fresh and clean.  

   Speaking of sensitive areas, let’s talk tushees. If you have had a dog for very long, the chances are that you’ve run behind them with a paper towel, tissue or toilet paper praying they don’t sit down before you reach them. I know that I am guilty of it. The makers of Quick Bath have made a perfect way to clean our pet’s bottom. Tushee Wipes™ are non-irritating pre-moistened wipes to clean your pooch’s tushee. Like Quick Bath, these wipes contain Aloe Vera, Vitamins A & E, eliminate odor and are alcohol-free. They are also bio-degradable.    These aren’t as thick as the bath wipes and are 5” x 8”. What I love about the Tushee Wipes is the scent. They smell wonderful. Every dog could use a little extra freshness. These wipes help eliminate bottom area pet stains, reduces the transfer of fecal matter and are great for older dogs with incontinence issues. They also help control male spray odors.

   Both of these wipes can be heated for your dog’s most comfortable cleansing experience yet! Place the wipe on a microwave-safe surface and heat on medium 5 – 10 seconds. Oh, your best friend is going to love you so much for this Quick Bath!

   Here’s great news for cat parents…you can use these wipes or there is a Quick Bath designed especially for felines!

   You can follow International Veterinary Sciences on Facebook for more great products and helpful tips.