I’m not one to dress Cubbie up in clothes. He’s worn a couple bandanas and the only shirt he’s worn is a doggy Chicago Cubs baseball jersey.

But, I found an article on Pet Fashion Week, and I found it funny and interesting. I’ll admit… I love clothes and shoes and purses (like most women). I even have a guilty pleasure of watching some reality shows like Project Runway.

Whether you like to dress up your dog or not, you might find this article interesting. Sadly… I think some people could spend more money on these accessories for their pets than I make in a year!!

Posted under In the News

Do you have pet insurance? I’ve been considering getting health pet insurance for Cubbie for awhile, but I haven’t done it as of yet.

I figure it’s better to do it now while he’s still young (three years old) before even more health problems occur.

Cubbie already has expensive vet bills because of pancreatitis, but I’m not sure if insurance would cover that because it’s a pre-existing condition very common among yorkies.

I found an interesting article that once again spurred my interest in pet health insurance. I’m curious if you have it, and if you think it’s worth it. I recently read a magazine article that listed the top ten pet health insurance providers, but of course I can’t find it now!

Posted under In the News

Before, I wrote about a new toy Cubbie got from a friend of mine. It was a battery operated ball that rolled around on the floor. Attached to the ball is a furry creature.

At first, he was scared and didn’t really know how to react to the toy. Then, he started getting used to it. His mission has been to get the furry part away from the ball.

I bring the toy out every once in awhile. I got it out today because I wanted to do some cleaning so I thought it would be a good way to occupy Cubbie.

Cubbie was playing and playing in the living room. I began cleaning. I opened the door to the basement so I could go outside to shake out the rugs. I left the basement door open while I wiped down the counters and got out the broom. Soon, into the kitchen trots Cubs with the furry creature in his mouth.

I could tell he was frustrated at still not being able to detach the furry part. He constantly picks up the toy and drops it on the floor in hopes of separating it.

Well… when I left the basement door open, I swear Cubbie got a bright idea. It’s like those cartoons where you see a lightbulb over the character’s head. That’s how I felt with Cubbie today.

As soon as he got to the edge of the stairs I knew exactly what he was going to do. I didn’t want to say a word because I honestly wanted to see this play out. He had the toy in his mouth. He looked down the stairs, and then he looked at me. I can’t describe the look in his eyes–maybe it was anticipation. Then he looked down the stairs again, and I knew exactly what was about to happen.

Sure enough, Cubbie threw the toy down the stairs. I know his goal was to separate the furry creature from the rotating ball. He stayed at the top of the stairs and watched as his toy fell down about ten steps. Once the toy hit the basement floor, Cubbie ran down the stairs. Too bad for him, even a fall down the stairs didn’t separate his toy.

I laughed and went about cleaning. I could still hear the toy rolling around in the basement, and then Cubbie appeared back upstairs. I asked, “Where’s your toy?” He went back downstairs and got it. To avoid another opportunity for him to throw it down the stairs, I decided this would be a good time to put the toy away for today. I must say I’m impressed. I didn’t think the plastic ball would survive a fall down the stairs. Not many toys last long around Cubbie, and this one is still going strong.

Posted under Cubbie stories

Are there any indoor dog parks in eastern Iowa? I don’t know of any, but I could be wrong!

Here’s an article about the increasing trend of indoor dog parks.

Posted under In the News

If you think your pet’s name is creative, or if you’d like to laugh a little… I found a list of the 50 most unusual dog and cat names for 2009 (at least according to VPI Pet Insurance). VPI got the names from the company’s database of 470,000 insured pets and then narrowed it down through voting.

For the full 50 names of dogs and cats, click here.

Top Ten Dog Unusual Names:

10. Inspector Foo Foo

9. Kanye East

8. Fluffernutter

7. Mouse Meat

6. Bam-Bam Noodle Butt

5. Angus Sir Loin

4. Lunchbox

3. I am Sparticus

2. Sargent Sausage

1. Doogie Schnauzer MD

———————————–

Top Ten Cat Unusual Names

10. Polly Prissypants

9. Dishwasher

8. Yardsale

7. Thurston Picklesworth III

6. Catzilla

5. Blue Man Chew

4. Eartha Kitty

3. Velvet Elvis

2. Clawed Monet

1. Snag L. Tooth

Posted under Uncategorized

Cubbie and I love to go for walks. (Okay, I love going for walks because he loves it so much). I think the weather has been absolutely wonderful this summer for walks. I personally enjoy warm weather but not super hot or humid. Typically, Cubs and I go in the early evening.

Usually we walk around the neighborhood because it’s just easier than getting in the car to drive somewhere for a walk. But on my days off this week I had several errands to run out by George Wyth State Park, so I took Cubbie along and we decided to stop and walk the trails. I really enjoy the trails system around this area.

Cubs and I probably walked a little more than two miles. He was all excited, but I wouldn’t let him go off the trail. Knowing him, I was afraid he’d get into poison ivy or something else!

He does pretty good when bikers whiz past us. He’s more intrigued with how fast they’re going. I could tell he wanted to run with them a few times!

Another fun encounter, we saw two fawns. Both still had their white spots and were just on the side of the trail eating. Thankfully, Cubbie didn’t try to charge the fawns like he does squirrels.

When we were just about back to the car, I heard thunder. We wrapped up just in time because It started to down pour on our drive home!

Posted under Cubbie stories

Cubbie has an entire basket full of toys. He pretty much goes to the basket and pulls out what he wants to play with at any point during the day. It’s funny to see just his back legs hanging out of the basket if what he wants is all the way at the bottom.

The toys range from stuffed animals (usually without stuffing), to balls, to bones that can’t be chewed up but have some type of filling in the middle. I often put peanut butter inside these bones and just keep reusing them.

Each night I make a point of picking up Cubbie’s toys before going to bed, but somehow they all make it back out before I’ve even turned out the lights. It’s like when he see me picking up he says, “Hey, I was playing with that, or, I’m not done with that one yet.”

Getting up around 3:15 a.m. earlier this week, I said the same word each morning. “Ouch!” Cubbie had dragged various toys (of course ones with the sharpest edges) around the house.

When I get up and it’s pitch black outside, I don’t like to turn lights on right away. Instead I just feel my way around the house until I’m a little more used to being awake. When I’ve adjusted, then the lights come on.

Well, not turning the lights on isn’t a good idea when you have a dog who scatters his toys everywhere. The first morning I stepped on the edge of a bone and on his squeaker toy which gave me quite a startle.

The second morning I again stepped on his bone–even though I made a point of putting it away the night before so I wouldn’t have a repeat incident. This time when I stepped on the bone, it hurt so badly I actually lost my balance and fell into the wall elbow first. Ouch!

The whole time I was stepping on Cubbie’s toys, he was still asleep in bed. To my knowledge, he didn’t even raise a paw or open his eyes.

Maybe the next trick I teach him will be how to put his toys in the basket instead of just out of the basket.

I didn’t realize having a dog could be so dangerous to my health!

Posted under Cubbie stories

Thanks to Kelli Jo for sending me this website!

It’s another story with a happy ending.

Posted under In the News

The past two days I’ve gotten up at 3:15 a.m. to be at work by 3:45 a.m.

My goal was to be in bed by 8 or 8:30 p.m. both Sunday night and Monday night. I was in bed by that time, but unfortunately it took me a little longer to get to sleep. My body or mind isn’t used to that schedule.

My plan was to take Cubbie on a long walk around 5:30 or 6:00, then shower, read a little and go to bed. It worked pretty well. Cubbie was worn out enough from our walks that he did go to bed at 8:00. However… he also woke me up both mornings around 1:30 a.m.

Most of the time, we go to bed between 10:30 and 11 p.m. and he will sleep through the night. I don’t know if it’s because of going to bed at 8 or what, but both mornings almost 1:30 on the dot he wanted to go outside.

The problem, I have trouble falling back asleep once I’m up (unless I’m exhausted–which I was this morning). Monday morning, I was wide awake at 1:30, but I kept telling myself I could sleep for another hour and 45 minutes. I forced myself to go back to sleep, and of course, I got back sleep about 20 minutes before my alarm went off.

Last night, I was so tired it didn’t take long for me to fall back asleep, but then Cubbie woke me up again around 2:30 when he jumped on the bed and took over my pillow.

Since we don’t have to worry about getting up early tomorrow, hopefully Cubbie lets me sleep in!

Posted under Cubbie stories

 This shocking, hard to believe story is a good reminder of how dangerous swallowing objects can be to our pets.

Bertie is just an average English family pet, but now he has quite the unusual tale. He has survived being shot in the abdomen and eating nine golf balls.

Posted under In the News