Tricks for Treats Contest Time

We are joining our friends at

Dr. Harvey’s for a new Halloween contest and it starts today!

Let us see your

BEST TRICKS

 for a chance at winning

SPOOKTACULAR TREATS!

The Power of Power Pops

   The other day when our delivery of Dr. Harvey’s arrived, the Bayou Boys seemed unusually giddy. I know they love their Paradigm and Pierre can barely contain himself while I mix in their protein and oil each meal. No, this was something different. That’s when I saw the bags of Dr. Harvey’s Power Pops inside the box!

Change a Pet's Life with 1-800-PetMeds Cares

Barking from the Bayou, LLC is a customer of 1-800-PetMeds and happy to help share the news of the 2017 Change A Pet’s Life Day.

   Do you work with or know a rescue/shelter that has pets waiting to be adopted but are in need of veterinary care? The cost of treatment is one of the biggest hardships these wonderful organizations face. That is where our friends at 1-800-PetMeds Cares becomes their hero. 

What is Change a Pet’s Life Day?

Give Your Dog a Boost with Dr. Harvey's E-Mune Boost

   Nobody wants their dog to get sick. We try our best to keep them healthy and happy with great food and regular vet visits. I believe that feeding Bentley and Pierre a diet of Dr. Harvey’s amazing line of food and supplements has helped them achieve their optimum health. Their veterinarian agrees and has urged me to continue with their current regiment.

Why You Should Enter Blog Contests

   I love to win! Anybody that tells you they don’t is not being honest. It is a rush to me whether it is winning a game, a lottery scratch-off #FreeTicket, or a contest. The fact that I am by my very nature super competitive does not hurt my desire to win. It wasn’t long after I began Barking from the Bayou in December of 2013 that I discovered blog contests. Since that time I have won countless giveaways and contests.

Why you should enter blog contests

1. Bloggers need you

Most contests are sponsored by a company that wants exposure. They are either investing money and /or product to the host blogger. If the contest only garners a few entries, it does not reflect well on the blog. It is a business advertising expense and they want results.

Chews Rescue ~ Choose Barkworthies

   Barkworthies® believes in making things simple and that is why we love them. They offer over 200 products from antlers to chews and treats, but you will never find anything artificial in any of them. “Naturally Healthy. Naturally Happy.” is more than just their tagline. It is the idea on which the company was founded. When we were contacted about their newest program, ‘Chews Rescue’, we think their tagline should include, “Naturally Awesome.” 

What is Chews Rescue?

Dream Big with #ThePeanutsMovie

   Let me start by stating unequivocally that I LOVE CARTOONS. As far back as I can remember, cartoons have made me laugh, cry, and laugh some more. When Charlie Brown’s Christmas debuted in 1965, it became a part of every Christmas memory. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the gang have always been a staple in my home for the holidays. We have enjoyed a Peanuts Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s, and Easter. Now, the entire gang is making their big-screen debut in state of the art 3D animation! I can hardly wait.

Putting on Our Black Ties and Tails for #NationalDogDay

In honor of

National Dog Day

We have put on our black ties and of course, our tails.

Dogsters Are the Cool Way to Treat Your Dog

Bentley: “I don’t have to tell y’all that summers on the bayou are crazy hot and humid. We don’t have a beach or a swimming pool so how are two hot dogs supposed to maintain their cool?”

Pierre: “This has been a problem until we made an incredible discovery. It is Dogsters® ice cream style treats. I can describe it in word one word…delish!”

Dog Poop Happens

 

Courtesy of Sooty Paw Paw

 Let’s talk about dog waste, poo, poop, feces, #2, or crap. No matter what you call it, I think that we can all agree that it happens. When you take a trip with your dogs, you will be making pit stops for them. If you are lucky, they will need a bathroom break about the same time you do. Most interstates have easily accessible rest areas. We stopped at several places along our last trip and the majority were clean and had garbage bins out by the grassy areas. It made it simple to toss a used poop bag away. #ThereIsAnEmojiForPoop

PetSafe and Pet Hydration Month

July is Pet Hydration Month and we are celebrating with our friends at PetSafe®. Providing your pet with clean fresh water is vital for their health and well-being. Did you realize that a dog needs to drink 1 ounce of water for every pound of body weight? Depending on your dog, that can be a lot of water! Of course, you can lead a dog to water, but you can’t make them drink. Getting some dogs to drink enough can be a real problem for many pet parents. Water is necessary to cushion joints and support vital organs. How can a pet parent help?

Darling Collars from Darla Jane's

Photo courtesy of  Louie The French Dog

We met so many awesome people and pets at BlogPaws this year.  I fell in love with a certain French gentleman.  His name is Louie and he’s an adorable French Bulldog.  He has one of those faces that you just want to kiss.  You can read his adventures on their blog, The French Dog. As I was trying to control my urge to cuddle him, he lifted his head and I saw that he was wearing a bowtie collar.  There should have been a “Caution! Cuteness Overload” neon sign on him.  I asked his mom, Karen, where she had found such a great collar.  It was very exciting to discover that she actually made Louie’s collar.  She has her own Etsy store, Darla Jane’s.

Karen began her store after raising puppies for 15 years.  The new puppy owners would get excited about buying collars and toys for their new “baby.”  She quickly realized there was a huge market for unique dog accessories.  She makes custom-fitted coats for dogs that are harder to fit than some others.  Dogs like Louie and Bentley usually can’t buy “off-the-rack” clothes and accessories.  At Darla Jane’s, she can take your pets measurements and make sure that you get the correct size.  She fits average-sized dogs too! 

Wet Dogs and Muddy Paws

This has been an exceptionally rainy spring here along the bayou.  That means dealing with wet dogs and muddy paws.  These are not two of my favorite things.  I have tried to reason with the boys, but the conversations are usually unproductive.

Me: “Are y’all sure that you have to go outside now?  It is pouring down rain!”

Bentley: “I can’t hold it another second.  I’ll hurry and try to dodge the raindrops.  I promise.”

Pierre: “If Bentley gets to go, then I want to go too.  OMD!  It’s a squirrel in a mud puddle.  Hurry!”

Me: “Seriously boys, stay out of the mud.  Do your business and get back up here.  Try not to get super messy.”

Of course, they return after Pierre has chased the squirrels through several mud puddles and Bentley’s ears have been drug through the mud.  

Happy Birthday Pierre

Bentley: “Hey Pierre!  SURPRISE!!  Guess what is special about today?”

Pierre: “Aww, y’all remembered.  Is there cake and presents?  Will there be a party with the birthday song?”

Me: “Happy fourth birthday, little man.  Of course, we will have a party later today.  We are going to show our friends a picture of you in your birthday suit.”

Pierre: “You can’t be serious!  How will I ever be seen in public again?”

Me: “I’m talking about the birthday suit we bought at Petco.  Since it’s your big day, why don’t you take over from here?  Bentley and I need to go get things ready for your party.”

Pierre: “I could get used to this special treatment.  It all started yesterday when we loaded up and rode to the pet store.  They had small buggies that were the perfect size for me to get a good look at everything. 

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.