My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much

Wordless Wednesday ~ Cat Pals

2012-02-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

These were taken by reader Vikki Hurley-Schubert.

And, This Is Why I Don't Buy Dog Beds

2012-02-07T21:10:00.002-05:00

Since Toby was a puppy every single dog bed I've bought him he's torn all the stuffing out of and basically ruined it. This habit of his is why I never buy him dog beds -- they're usually destroyed within minutes of giving one to him.

Recently, I thought we had turned a corner. When Toby hurt his leg a few weeks ago -- and has been on crate rest ever since -- I dug out a dog bed I bought on sale about two years ago and put it in his crate, covering it with blankets. It was soft and cushy, and Toby was loving it!

Until tonight when I walked in the living and found this:

Yup, all that green ... it's stuffing from the bed.

Jenks Comes to Visit!

2012-02-04T09:54:00.003-05:00

Wow, what a week! I can't believe I haven't written anything since last Saturday. Well, actually, I can believe it. After our fabulous weekend with Jen and Jenks {which I'll get to in a minute} I ended up getting a nasty cold that caused me to just want to sleep.

Like serious sleep - I worked from home Monday and then called out altogether on Thursday, which if you know me is completely unlike me. I might not feel good, but I will always offer to work from home. Not this time -- I came home Wednesday and slept straight from 6 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., emailed work and went back to sleep all day.

Toby loved it. He stayed snuggled next to me the whole time. I'm not sure if it was because he knew something was wrong and didn't want to leave me, or because it meant he got to sleep under a bunch of blankets for almost 24 hours straight. Likely a combination of both.

OK, enough about our sick days, there's so much to catch everyone up on! Let's start with where we left off last week when we were anticipating a visit from Jen and her dog adorable dog Jenks!

As I mentioned, it was going to be Toby's first time sharing the house with another dog. He's obviously been around other ones before, but never in his house, and never staying over in his house. I was positive it was going to be a disaster, especially with Toby's bad leg. See, Toby has two favorite kinds of dogs -- labs and Golden Retrievers. Jenks is a lab.

It didn't go as bad as I thought, and actually worked out pretty well. Saturday afternoon when Jenks arrived, there was a lot barking -- all on Toby's part, but by Saturday night after being forced to spend time with each, because Jen and I left to go to a local event almost immediately after they arrived, Toby seemed to be better about the situation.

{By the way, I would not suggest doing what we did, which was let me meet for about 15 minutes and then put Toby in his crate and put a blanket on the couch for Jenks. But, hey, both of them have good personalities and it worked. Although, I know it could have been terribly bad, too}

Toby was even good about knowing when to call it quits because of his leg and just go hang out in his crate instead of running around the house. I was every surprised that Toby didn't freak out when he saw me giving hugs and making a fuss over Jenks. He's usually pretty possessive. Jen made a great point that there were things that he was getting that made him different than Jenks -- like being in either my or Jen's arms all the time. It's a little hard to pick up a lab. :)

Sunday morning, we even got Toby to finally sit near Jenks. For about 5 minutes, but it still counts!

How does your dog, or cat, do with other dogs, or cats, when they come for a house visit?

Saturday Snuggles

2012-01-28T12:12:00.000-05:00

We're so excited to be hosting Jen, and her dog Jenks, of Brown Dog Designs at our house this weekend! I met Jen and Jenks at BlogPaws in Denver, and then met up again with Jen at BlogPaws in Virginia last year. They recently moved much closer to us and we can't wait to see them today!

It will also be the first time another dog is staying in the house with Toby, so this, should be interesting. I'm sure we'll have a fun blog post tomorrow or Monday about it.

In the meantime, all Toby wanted to do was snuggle this morning. He's feeling a while lot better, even though he can't put his full weight on the leg.

Gosh, I just love him!

Wordless Wednesday: I'm Not Coming Out of Here

2012-01-25T10:40:00.001-05:00

Not so "wordless" :

After a 20 hour work day yesterday, I was so excited to come home to Toby. But, what I wasn't happy to see was that he was still limping and refused to come out of his crate. He was, however jumping around in his crate and pawing at me through it.

He seems better -- he's walking, putting pressure and laying on it -- but I can tell he's still not totally OK, or back to normal. My Dad said he was whining and hitting the crate really hard yesterday afternoon. He had already taken him out, so he asked if he wanted more water. Toby barked and pawed at the crate again. He opened it, and Toby headed toward the water, but then made a quick turn and tried to jump on the couch, which was covered in sun -- Toby's favorite thing.

While that's a good sign, I realized this morning that I left his crate open last night. And, he didn't once try to jump up on the couch and snuggle with me at all during the night -- which is very unlike Toby. I think it might be time to take him to the vet very soon.

*sigh*

Enjoy this week's Wordless Wednesday Hop, sponsored by BlogPaws:

Should Uggie Have Been Nominated for an Oscar?

2012-01-24T16:35:00.000-05:00

Major news outlets are covering the story, and Reuters even headlined their story, "Oscar's big snub." So, we want to know, should Uggie, from the hit movie, "The Artist," have received an Oscar nomination?

Vote in our poll:

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Better, But Not Healed

2012-01-22T17:41:00.001-05:00

So much for getting better at this!

Last night at about 7 p.m. I started to go into full freak-out mode about the leg Toby injured yesterday playing in the snow. His eyes looked "glassy" to me, he seemed kind of dazed and he would yelp when you tried to pick him up.

I immediately set up a crate with a plush dog bed covered in two fleece blankets and put him in there so he couldn't run around and would just rest.

He curled right in, and didn't put up any fuss, which for Toby is odd. I mean he loves his crate, but just for traveling. If someone is home, he usually wants to be in their lap.

As the night went on, he seemed to get worse -- no interest in eating, coming out of his create or drinking any water. At one point, I did consider taking him to the emergency vet, but last time he did this and we went, it was a stressful disaster for both him and me. Plus, as my aunt pointed out in a blog comment yesterday, we know he has knee issues and this is can happened when he over does it.

Around midnight, I finally got him to eat a few Blue Dog Bakery treats, and lick some water off my fingers. I set up camp on the couch in the living with him next to me in his crate. Normally, Toby would be whining to come up on the couch and sleep next to me.

Not a peep.

This had me worried. But, at 4 a.m. I was finally exhausted enough to fall asleep.

I woke up this morning to a much happier looking Toby face, who was holding his ears straight up instead of pulled completely back like they were yesterday. He hobbled out of his crate when I asked if he had to go out, and after carrying him down the stairs, he immediately did his business without yelping and while putting pressure on his back right leg.

He headed straight for his food when we came him and devoured it. Toby even let hold him, and rested his right side against my chest -- something he couldn't do last night. I put him down after a little while and he went right into his crate and curled back in.

He got up in his crate and begged for some egg at breakfast time and has been barking at noises throughout the day, but has opted to stay in his crate, even when I left the door open. He's been sleeping most of the day, but seems like he's doing better than he was.

I'm going to keep him on crate rest for another few days and see how he does. Unfortunately, I'm working some ridiculous hours this week, but thank goodness my Dad is around to keep an eye on Toby make sure he's going OK.

Let's Go Giants!

2012-01-22T13:11:00.000-05:00

A Snowy Limp

2012-01-21T15:57:00.000-05:00

Toby loves to play in the snow, and today was no different. Even when he woke me up at 5:40 a.m. this morning to go out, he couldn't wait to romp around in the fluffy, white powder. I let him play for a few minutes, but then we went back inside to catch a little more sleep.

We went out two more times for him to "go" until I finally got myself out of bed to fully help my Dad clean everything and not just sweep away a little area for Toby to do his business. Once we had everything cleaned up, I took Toby outside so he could play for a little bit. He even wore a sweater!

I threw the toy his Aunt Irene got him for Christmas several times.

I left his leash on, because he can't run as fast with it and there were neighbors outside, so had he tried to bolt away from the back yard, it would be easier to grab him with the leash.

But after the third throw, Toby started limping, and holding up his rear right leg -- the same leg he hurt a while back. He let me check it for ice, and there was nothing in it. All that powdery snow had a thin coating of ice on it and my guess is Toby may have stepped the wrong way.

I threw the toy one more time. Toby looked at it, turned the other way and hobbled right over to the stairs to go inside.

I scooped him up, brought him in, took off his sweater and leash, but he was still limping. Normally, I would have started freaking out at this point, but we've been through this so many times before, I'm scarily getting better at this.

Toby's now parked on the couch snuggled under two blankets, warm and relaxed. I went to take him out before and he's still limping, so I carried him up and down the stairs, but not before making him pose for a fun photo outside that I'll post later.

Silly puppy. We'll see how he is the rest of the day. For now though, I think he just over did it.

Nevada May Ban "Street Pets" From Las Vegas Strip

2012-01-19T09:57:00.001-05:00

You might remember my article about what I called "street pets" a few months back. It's one of those issues that really upsets me, and leaves me torn because there are so many various sides and reasons for it. But now, Nevada might be taking up the cause, too -- and banning them from the famous Las Vegas Strip.

The new measure being considered by a committee tasked to look at problems on the strip, may ban animals from the street that are not vaccinated and neutered or spayed, according to the Las Vegas Sun. Animals with guests at animal-friendly resorts or residents of the Strip are exempt.

Sparked by a California man who was recently bit by a dog on the Las Vegas Strip, the Sun reports that the committee wants to move fast on this proposal which would ban panhandlers from taking their pets on the Strip.

While I understand the safety issue at hand, just banning them worries me, too, and raises some questions that make me fear for the animal's well-being, like, where will the dogs go when the panhandlers hit the Strip?

I would encourage the committee to look at the root of the problem and not just pass a short-term solution to appease the tourism community. How about offering free vaccines for these pets? Or, free obedience training?

All they are doing is moving the potential danger off the Strip. It doesn't matter if it's a tourist on the Strip or a child around the corner who walks up to the dog because it's cute -- it's still a problem.

Wordless Wednesday: Nemo, Is That You?

2012-01-18T09:20:00.000-05:00

Snapped by my friend Vikki of her cat. Figment.

I'm ... Getting ..... Tired ...

2012-01-15T10:41:00.000-05:00

How about a Wordless Sunday?

I just love sleepy dog photos. :)

Not Every Toy Is for the Dog

2012-01-14T16:49:00.000-05:00

I was unpacking the car earlier and put all the bags on the floor in the house. I came back in from being outside talking with the neighbor and I couldn't find Toby. I yelled a few times, but he didn't come.

My first instinct was to get paranoid that he slipped out the door, but had he done that I'm sure he would have followed me, because I was playing with the neighbor's newish puppy. Not on the couch, not in the kitchen, not on my bed.

Then, I went into the spare bedroom and there was Toby on the other side of the bed, and this is what I found:

That stuffed bear was not a dog toy, but Toby dug it out of the bags I brought in from the car and made it into one. And, he wouldn't give it up!

Poor bear!

Enjoy the pet bloggers hop:

Toby's Work From Home Privileges

2012-01-12T19:32:00.001-05:00

Tuesday night I fell asleep on the train on the way home from work. When I woke up {just in time for my stop} I felt terrible -- chills, achy, all the signs of the start of something not-so-good. I got home, lied on the couch covered in several blankets and of course a Toby dog, and stayed there most of the night.

When I got up at 5 a.m. the next morning, I definitely wasn't rested after tossing and turning all night and I just felt like someone drained all the energy out of me. While I was trying to get ready for my train, I realized I just couldn't do it, and decided it would be smarter to work from home.

I went back upstairs to get a few more minutes of shut eye before I had to start working and this is what I found in my bed:

I have to admit, I love working from home. I mean who wouldn't when you're sitting at your desk and look to your right to see this:

I have a feeling Toby loves when I work from home, too because he is usually not allowed in my room unless I'm home. So, yesterday he pretty much refused to leave my bed. And, honestly, I can't say I blame him.

Are there certain privileges you let your dog when you're home, but not when you're at work or out of the house?

Wordless Wednesday: Me and My Shadow

2012-01-11T08:37:00.000-05:00

Pet Blogger Challenge 2012

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

Better late than never, right? The annual Pet Blogger Challenge hosted by Go Pet Friendly and Will My Dog Hate Me was actually yesterday, but I fell asleep last night writing it. Although we're a day late, I still thought it would be a good reflective exercise to participate in.

Here we go:

1. Provide a link to your post from last year’s Pet Blogger Challenge so we can refresh our memories.

Here is our link from last year's Pet Blogger Challenge. Doesn't time just fly?!

2. What do you consider the most important goals you set out in last year’s post?

The most important goal was to write, and post, on a more consistent basis.

3. Have you made progress toward those goals, or have your goals changed over the past year?

Yes, and yes. I have definitely posted more, but it hasn't always been something I had to write. I think I've started to stop worrying that everything has to be a novel and sometimes will just post a fun photo of Toby. In fact, that seems to go over just as well, as writing a product review sometimes.

4. Has your opinion of blogging on a schedule or as the spirit moves you changed?

I do plan out posts a little more than I did, but I don't keep to a tight schedule. If I have five product reviews to do, I strategically plan when the best time to write and post them will be, but that doesn't mean things can't change or if there is something else interesting that I see, I can't write about that, too.

Which are you doing now?

Based on my answer above, I guess I'm doing a little of both.

Do you still worry about lost traffic, momentum, etc?

Oh, traffic... When I first started, I used to freak out about traffic, but then I stopped because of several factors. Very simple, numbers aren't everything. You have to build relationships. What good is it to have 1 million followers, but only three people are talking about your brand? It's the old saying quality over quantity.

I preach this to all my social clients, too. I would rather have 100 people who care about what I'm saying, engaging, listening and talking about my procust rather than 1,000 people who aren't listening at all.

That said, Blogger's new dashboard has made it easy to see your daily post views and I do watch them, but I don't stress over them. It has, however, given me insight into what my readers like to hear about. What I pay more attention to are the social buttons at the bottom of each post. If someone "likes" or tweets something I've written, I feel like I've accomplished more than if 500 people read my story.

5. Are you generating income from your blog?

No, but I would like it to. My website has helped me get jobs, so I guess inadvertently it generates income, but then I get so busy at my new job that I don't have time to write my website. It's a vicious cycle.

Has this changed since last year?If not currently, do you hope to in the future — and how?

Ironically, last year, I sold an ad and was all excited about trying to monetize it. Now, I think because over the past year, I've changed what I want to do with My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much, I'm not as focused on selling ads, and such, but am working toward a different goal, and way of making money through this.

6. Have your likes and dislikes about blogging changed since last year?

I think overall my likes have stayed the same -- I LOVE connecting with other people, writing about an industry that I enjoy and sharing my life with Toby. What I dislike is the commercialization of blogging -- the race to gets sponsors, the 20-blog giveaways for a $10 Amazon card ... The pet blogger community has changed quickly.

Personally, I just want to write, share, create conversation, meet new people, take pictures and shoot video, but I know sometimes that's not enough, and those other things help generate new readers and build traffic -- so it's creating that careful balance and still staying true to yourself.

7. Overall, are you pleased with the progress you made in 2011?

Yes! My audience has grown, my journalism experience combined with this gave me the very fortunate ability to be the online editor of Tails Magazine for a while {unfortunately, I was offered another amazing professional opportunity that I couldn't pass up, so after three months I had to resign} and I'm getting more comfortable in my pet lifestyle writing skin.

8. How do you see your blog changing/growing in 2012?

There are some fun ideas in the works to expand My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much, but it takes money, time and some luck ... so I don't want to jinx myself by sharing those.

I would really like to become more involved with companies and products -- and not just through reviews and ambassadorships. Last year I attended several industry trade shows, including the Global Pet Expo, and really enjoyed learning about product development, and the overall pet industry. For me, those events were extremely beneficial.

It's one thing to have an executive in your pet industry related company who excels at business development, networking or social media. It's another to have an executive who does all of that AND loves pets.

Visit the other bloggers participating in the Pet Blogger Challenge:

Bill to Protect Pets During Domestic Disputes Waits for Gov. Christie's Signature

2012-01-10T14:51:00.002-05:00

Among the bills sitting on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's desk is one that could help protect pets during domestic disputes.

The bill, which passed the State Senate Monday, would allow a judge to issue a restraining order limiting a defendant charged with a crime or offense involving domestic violence or who is released from custody, from having any contact with any animal kept by either person, or minor, involved in the case.

It also lets the court decide who the animals will live with.

"We've heard so many stories of pets being abused or even killed as retaliation against a partner when a relationship goes sour,” said Assemblyman Reed Wagner, who co-sponsored the bill with Assemblywoman Connie Wagner. "Often times it’s done without thinking as an attempt to hurt the other partner, but whether it’s intentional or not, animals should not have to suffer. This is a humane measure designed to protect innocent pets from being the victim of a domestic dispute."

Currently, animals are not addressed as part of New Jersey's domestic violence law.

Bissell Lift-Off Deep Cleaning System Is Very User-Friendly

2012-01-10T09:47:00.000-05:00

Remember last month when I told you I hated cleaning carpets? Well, the Bissell Lift-Off Deep Cleaning System changed my mind on that. It was incredibly, incredibly easy to use!

This is not your my grandparents carpet cleaner!

It's actually a 2 in 1 machine that allows you to use it to deep clean a whole rug, or use the removable, and very portable, spot cleaner to take care of just one area -- something that absolutely comes in handy with pets.

Toby is usually pretty good about not going in the house, but every once in a while he has an accident.

Cleaning up pee on my hardwood floors is one thing, but on the rare occasion he does number two, he *always* does it in the corner of the third bedroom.

And, of course, the only rooms in my house with carpeting are the bedrooms.

Toby had to be in the middle of everything I was doing while testing out the product.

I was worried using the steam cleaner would be difficult, because of a past experience. When I bought my house {wow, almost three years ago!} I wanted to give the bedroom carpets a good cleaning since the previous owners had at least one indoor cat and I'm allergic to them.

To save money, my grandparents let me borrow their steam cleaner. I lugged it up to my house, had a difficult time filling tank and had an even more difficult time actually using it to the point where I ended up just bringing in a professional company.

Not with this!

Remove the tank, add the cleaner, fill with water and replace. That easy! And, no mess. It was just as easy to remove the area where the dirt it pulls from your carpet goes {photo below}

This may sound silly, but one of the major reasons I hate using anything that resembles a vacuum is because it feels large and clunky and like I have no control of where the machine is moving.

Once again, not with this.

It smoothly glided over my carpet and the button you press to release the water is very easy to control.

As soon as we turned the on the machine, Toby started barking at it.

You can see where I used the Bissell Lift-Off and where I didn't, but I wish you could feel it -- the area cleaned was so soft.

Before Bissell was nice enough to send me their Lift-Off Deep Cleaning System to review, I would spray the carpet with cleaner and then vacuum it up after it dried. Yes, it got it clean, but it was a long process. This past time, I pulled out my lift-off and knew it was getting 100 percent clean. It was actually simpler because it was getting done all at one time.

I mean, look at all this dirt that was in my carpet -- and that was just the small area you saw above.

So gross!

While this product was provided to me by the company, this is my honest opinion about the product and I was not compensated in any other way.

These Paws Can Walk ... Differently

2012-01-09T10:34:00.000-05:00

On our walk Saturday in New Jersey.

I have a confession. When I'm in New Jersey, I rarely take Toby for a walk, especially around the neighborhood There's a better chance of me driving him an hour to my favorite dog park instead.

Other than the fact it's dark out both when I wake up and when I get home, I hate walking Toby when I'm at my Dad's house, because he's like a totally different dog.

Half the time I have to fight with him to keep walking, sometimes even having to brib him with treats, or pick him up. "Let's go, Toby!" comes out of my mouth way more times than I would like.

But, in the new year, I've decided he's going to have to get better at it.

So, this weekend, we went for a walk Saturday afternoon and early Sunday morning around my Dad's neighborhood and I noticed something -- he has very different ways of walking depending on the environment he's in.

When we're in the Adirondacks, if you say "walk" or "Village" {referring to the downtown area by the lake filled with stores, eateries and tons of people} Toby jumps off the couch and runs to his leash with a crazy wagging tail.

And, he doesn't walk ... he prances -- barely letting his paws completely touch the ground, he resembles a show horse taking a victory trot through the ring. His head's up, looking side-to-side and at people. It's very funny.

In New Jersey, his nose is to the ground and he does almost a speed walk when actually does walk. His little legs are moving like crazy, and he's very tense. This was, until I took him along a main road and he saw people instead of just rows of houses.

All of a sudden he started prancing -- although not as much as he does in the Adirondacks. You little stinker! He's such a showoff, and loves attention. When I said that to him, this was the look he gave me:

Who? Me?

Where does your dog walk best? Is he, or she, like Toby and show off in front of people?

Merry Russian Christmas!

2012-01-07T09:16:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas, pals! No, I'm not crazy -- today is the Orthodox Christmas, or as my Dad's side of the family calls it, Russian Christmas.

When I was little, we would actually have another Christmas dinner on Jan. 7 with my grandparents and celebrate. It wasn't an evening filled with opening presents and such like Dec. 25 was, but it was a dinner filled with traditional favorites like stuffed cabbage rolls, potato pancakes, kielbasa sauerkraut, perogies and other ethnic favorites. I would usually get one small gift from my grandparents.

Toby trying to find a sunspot on my Dad's porch this morning.

In recent years and as my grandparents got older, we haven't celebrated it like we used to, but we still keep Christmas decorations lit and up through today, and my Dad and I usually go some kind of little celebration like a special dinner. While I'm a particularly religious person, I do love traditions, and this one is not one I want to let go of. So, yes, Toby will get a small present today, like I used to when I was little.

Happy Saturday and Merry Christmas if your family also happens to celebrate today, too. :)

Enjoy this week's blog hop ~

Snuggly Puppy!

2012-01-06T15:18:00.001-05:00

Sorry, I've been a bit crazy the past few days with my hours at work changing, sending out freelance pitches, pushing my resume out all over the country and trying to quickly figure out my next career move, so reviews, giveaways and posts have gotten a bit backed up. But, I will do my best to try and get caught up this weekend!

In the meantime, check out this cute photo I snapped of Toby last night. He absolutely didn't want to get up after sitting snuggled in next to me for two hours under three (!) blankets.

Romney on Traveling With His Dog on the Roof

2012-01-05T11:28:00.002-05:00

As a journalist and dog lover, I'm very happy to see a mainstream media out like Fox News, ask Republican presidential candidate hopeful Mitt Romney about the controversial way he transported a dog.

Forget his politics, what do you think about the way he carried his dog?

New Jersey No-Kill Animal Shelter in Danger of Closing

2012-01-04T14:34:00.001-05:00

A no-kill animal shelter in Sayreville, N.J. is in danger of closing according to a recent article published in the Home New Tribune.

The Sayreville Pet Adoption Center, a not-for-profit Central New Jersey shelter privately owned by a veterinarian is one of the only non-kill shelters in the area. But, if they don't find additional funding or find homes for the many pets they currently have, their doors may close forever.

In an effort to help, a Flapjack Fundraiser to benefit the shelter is scheduled for this Sat. Jan. 7, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Applebee’s Restaurant {324 Ryders Lane} in Milltown. Tickets are $15 each.

Adoption fees for all animals have also been waived through Jan. 7, to encourage people to adopt a new furry friend. You can see all the pets up for adoption at their facility on their Petfinder page.

Candy is one of the many pets up for adoption.

And, if you're not from New Jersey, but Sayreville sounds very familiar to you, it's the hometown of rock-star Jon Bon Jovi. Hey, maybe with a little luck he will help SPAC stay open!

**If you are in New Jersey and plan to, or want to attend, Saturday's fundraising breakfast, let me know. I'd love to get a group of us together!

Wordless Wednesday: Laundry Time!

2012-01-04T08:11:00.000-05:00

This post was shared with the following websites: BlogPaws,Wordless Wednesday, Life and Castle,

Toby Approved Reflective Dog Jacket From Target

2012-01-02T11:51:00.001-05:00

As you know, Toby hates wearing jackets, sweaters, rain coats -- pretty much any type of dog clothing. In the past four years, I can count on one hand when he's worn one, and it's usually been when he's been super cold -- or getting a lot of attention.

The other night I was taking him with me to go watch the New Year's Eve fireworks by the lake and was worried he would be cold. After a lot of hesitation I purchased a Boots & Barkely medium size reflective jacket at Target.

It was $9.99 and I figured since it was reflective and we were going to be working in a very dark area, it would be good. Plus, it was fleece like on the inside and Toby loves anything fleece.

To my surprise, Toby immediately took to the jacket, because as I explained to him, he wasn't going to come with me if he didn't wear it.

Sure enough, Toby wore the jacket the whole time without a fuss. These come few and far between, but I think he might like this. I like it because it's reflective and good for walking at night.

How are your dogs with wearing jackets and sweaters to keep warm? Do they love it, hate it or tolerate it?

Acupuncture for Pets Fights to Be Accepted Practice

2011-12-30T11:43:00.001-05:00

There was an interesting article on the front page of The Star-Ledger the other day, focusing on acupuncture for pets industry, and how it's not recognized buy the American Veterinary Medical Association.

They do, however, allow their vets to practice it.

A spokesman for the professional organization told the newspaper, "we don’t say it shouldn’t be used and we don’t promote it."

Many vets, according to the article, are afraid of the procedure, but those who practice it, say it's a last alternative when nothing else works.

Pet parents who knew there was something wrong with their dog, or as one example in the acrticle mentioned, horse, but no one could figure it out, touted the procedure to The Ledger.

One of them said she lost two dogs to wobbler’s disease, and she wasn't going to let it happen to a third.

"I am not going home with this dog in a box," she told the newspaper. "I am going to give this one a chance."

She says after a few treatments her 140-pound, 6-year-old Doberman seemed to be doing much better.

The treatments, according to the article, cost around $70 per session.

Would you try acupuncture on your pet? I think I would be afraid Toby wouldn't stay still long enough during the it -- especially after yesterday's performance.

Toby's Yearly Check-Up

2011-12-29T12:14:00.001-05:00

It was time for Toby's yearly check-up today. This is usually the one vet visit that doesn't freak me out, because we're not going there with any specific problem. Everything was going going until ... well, until, the vet walked in.

Waiting for Uncle Ira.

When he was a puppy going to the vet was fine, but these days he freaks out as soon as the vet goes to touch him. Toby shakes, pants and pretty much has an all-out anxiety attack.

The good news is that my vet has become accustomed to Toby's behavior and doesn't push him beyond a stress level he thinks Toby can handle. Today's visit was supposed to include his shots, a blood test and nail clipping.

A vet tech had to hold Toby during the shots, but he did OK. He even stayed in her arms while Ira was drawing blood. Clipping his nails however, turned into a disaster.

My aunt and I used to do them all the time with no problem, but after Toby injured his leg the last time, he hates people fussing with his feet. So, as Ira grabbed his back paw to start on the nails, I was talking to Toby and petting him. As soon as Ira made the first clip, Toby yelped so loud you would have thought he was being beaten and was panting like he was stuck in a desert for days without water. That's when Ira killed the idea, because Toby was getting too stressed.

The good news is that Toby is still around the same weight -- only gained a half-an-ounce -- and is overall all pretty healthy as far as we know. We're waiting for the routine blood test, heart worm and stool sample to come back, so we'll know more then, but overall Ira said Toby is looking good.

I, however, needed an anti-anxiety pill when we were done, because I freaked out when Toby started freaking out. I worry his little heart will get overly stressed in situations like that. We actually talked about giving Toby a pill to calm him down before his next visit, but my vet shot down the idea at this point.

I also could have used a chill pill when I got the bill -- $205. It made me curious -- what does your pet's early exam cost?

Wordless Wednesday: Is That Present for Me?

2011-12-28T10:18:00.001-05:00

I'm not really sure how he did it, but Toby knew this was his present on Christmas morning. He was at my feet while I was putting my Dad's presents on the table and completely left them alone. But, when I put this one down with his name on it, he immediately started jumping around and taring into it. It wasn't treats or food, so I can't even put it off to the fact he could smell it.

I was so unprepared for him to do this, I ran really fast to get my camera, but I really wish I had took the extra 5 minutes to find my video camera and get video of this.

Toby was truly like a kid on Christmas and couldn't wait for his Grandpa to put together his toy. In fact, I uploaded a similar photo of my Dad putting together Toby's steps to my Facebook profile with this caption: And my Dad thought his days of assembling gifts on Christmas morning was over just because I have a fur kid. Think again...

My Insomniac Dog

2011-12-27T11:51:00.001-05:00

Last night was the first time in weeks Toby slept through the night. Ahhh.. it was so nice! No waking up at 4:40 a.m. to go out, get a drink of water or nibble on a snack. He slept right through.

I can't even begin to tell you how nice it was!

Toby at 4 a.m. a few weeks ago.

For the past month or so, Toby has been waking up in the middle of the night wanting to either go out side, go downstairs or eat. It's usually somewhere between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., and on mornings when I have to go to work the next day.

He even did it Sunday night when my aunt stayed over Christmas night. We came back in from outside at 5 a.m. and ran over and licked her nose!

I always take him out at night between 11 p.m. and midnight before I go to bed, so he really shouldn't have to do anything overnight. Last night I decided to give him a treat around 10:30 p.m. figuring if he gets up because he's hungry, that might nix that.

We're going to the vet for his yearly exam on Thursday morning, so I'll be talking to him about it then, but any suggestions on how to combat this, would be helpful. I'm a little out of ideas.

Happy, Merry, Ho Ho Ho!

2011-12-24T09:39:00.001-05:00

Whatever you celebrate, we hope you have a very happy and merry one, and enjoy time with both the two and four legged members of your family.

Enjoy today's pet blooger hop!

Iams Home 4 the Holidays Brings Puppy Love to Wall Street

2011-12-23T10:44:00.002-05:00

If you want to see a bunch of cut-throat Wall Street traders melt, just walk through the floor of the New York Stock Exchange with a handful of puppies and kittens.

That's what happened this morning when folks from Iams Home 4 the Holidays campaign, including Mike Arms, president of the Helen Woodward Animal Center, rang the opening bell, bringing more awareness to the plight of homeless animals who are looking for their forever homes.
With two weeks left, Iams Home 4 the Holiday campaign has helped 924,932 pets be adopted since Oct. 1. A number that's very close to their goal of helping of 1.5 millions pets find loving homes.·

Mike Arms with an adorable pup from Bideawee.

"What better venue can you get to show on national and international TV how beautiful these animals are and to tell those who want to bring a new life into their home not to support puppy mills and give an orphan a home," Arms said.

Before the opening bell, Larry Leibowitz, chief operating officer of the NYSE, said this event event is one of his favorites.

"We do a lot of events here ... Sports Illustrated models ... and people here know this is the one I always want to do," he said. "This is the most popular bell we have each year. It's a great way to showcase an important cause. I guarantee you almost all of them will be adopted by the time we leave the podium."

When the puppies and kittens hit the NYSE floor, traders stopped talking about the finance and started talking about their own dogs, asking to hold the fur balls and encouraging others to adopt one of them.

"It's very exciting," Leslie Myrie, assistant brand manager for Iams said. "It's a great way to raise awareness."

You can see more photos from the event on Facebook.

Thank you to Iams for inviting us to be one of their guests at the NYSE today.

Toby's Guide to Unwrapping Champagne

2011-12-22T12:49:00.000-05:00

In case you need help unwrapping your gifts this holiday season, Toby is always there to lend a helping paw. :)

Gift a Virtual Angry Birds Toy and Hartz Will Make Shelter Donation

2011-12-21T12:11:00.003-05:00

Since we got such great feedback from our Hartz Angry Birds review and giveaway I thought I'd share with you a new social good campaign Hartz is doing involving the popular line of toys.

If you visit their Facebook page and virtually gift your Facebook pals a virtual Angry Birds pet toy, Hartz will donating $1 worth of Hartz products to shelters in need across the country up to $10,000.

For those of you who have real Angry Birds toys, Hartz is also running a photo contest, featuring pets with their Angry Birds toys.

You can enter that contest on their Facebook tab.

Holiday Baking Goes to the Dogs

2011-12-20T08:42:00.002-05:00

If you follow us on Facebook, you may recall seeing a photo I posted on Saturday of homemade dog treats. Toby's Aunt Kelly bought this adorable make-your-own cookies for him, and I figured what better time than the holidays to make these treats for Toby and some of our other dog friends.

While I consider myself a good baker, cut-out cookies are by far my weakest area -- making these treats a bit of a challenge. As you can see, I finally gave up at the cut-out part, rolled the dough and made candy cane shaped treats instead.

Toby didn't seem to mind in the least. :)

I took the treats and put them in festive holiday packages intended for human goodies, I found in the baking area of WalMart, and gave them to some of our doggie cousins along with human treats for their pet parents. But, of course I forgot to take a photo of the packages when they were done!

Do you bake special treats for your dog during the holidays?

Toby Plays Santa

2011-12-17T12:15:00.000-05:00

Toby checked all the packages before I shipped them.

Packages, packages, packages!

If you were a recent My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much giveaway winner, keep an eye on your mail, because you'll be getting your swag soon! We spend the morning filling packages and shipping lots of prizes out.

Toby spend much of the morning, {and still is} barking his little head off, because I have a crew here cutting down and trimming several dead trees. Every time a piece falls into the truck it makes a loud nose and the house feels like it shakes.

So, needless to say, Toby starts barking as soon as it happens. Oh, and forget it if I walk outside to go talk to the workers. I brought them coffee and you would have thought someone was trying to kill me the way he was barking.

He's such a little protector!

It's also why this post is really short -- gotta get back outside and then in the kitchen to make a bunch of holiday treats -- both human and dog.

Happy Saturday - enjoy this week's pet bloggers hop below :)

New Jersey Pets One Step Closer to Protection in Domestic Disputes

2011-12-15T15:54:00.002-05:00

A bill that would include animals in domestic violencerestraining orders unanimously passed the New Jersey Assembly and will head to the State Senate for approval.

"We’ve heard so many stories of pets being abused or even killed as retaliation against a partner when a relationship goes sour,” said Assemblywoman Connie Wagner, who co-sponsored the bill with Assemblyman Reed Gusciora. “Often times it’s done without thinking as an attempt to hurt the other partner, but whether it’s intentional or not, animals should not have to suffer. This is a humane measure designed to protect innocent pets from being the victim of a domestic dispute.”

The bill would allow a judge to issue a restraining order limiting a defendant charged with a crime or offense involving domestic violence or who is released from custody, from having any contact with any animal kept by either person, or minor, involved in the case.

It also lets the court decide who the animals will live with.

"For many pet owners, a pet is a member of their family. To harm or even kill a defenseless pet simply to get back at a partner is cowardly and cruel," said Gusciora. "No animal deserves to be mistreated or abused, especially out of revenge. This will protect pets caught in the middle of a domestic dispute from potentially dangerous situations."

Currently, animals are not addressed as part of New Jersey's domestic violence law.

You can read the full bill on the State Legislature's website.

Holiday Gift Guide: Planet Dog Holiday Toy Line

2011-12-14T23:48:00.000-05:00

Even before I had Toby I knew of Planet Dog. But, my first real encounter with the company was by complete accident. I was in Maine for a journalism conference and had gotten Toby just two weeks before, so when I saw there was a "pet store" on the street I was driving on, I had to go in. When I went in, I put two and two together and have been a fan ever since.

Like their year-round line of toys, their holiday collection is made with the same quality standards and are absolutely adorable! We got to hand select these favorites to test out and share some with one lucky reader!

Toby is loving the snowball and hasn't put it down since I gave it to him. I tried taking it away from him so I could throw it, and he ran into the other room!

We also really loved the mint, snowman buddy, 'lil bub and gingerbread buddy. They would make great stocking stuffers for your favorite pet, or for someone you know who has a pet.

I'm waiting till Christmas to give Toby the mint, because it has a peppermint smell and I plan to wrap it... hehe. I know he'll smell the peppermint and want to get it open faster than he usually likes to unwrap presents. :)

Now for the fun part! One My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much reader will win the hand-selected Planet Dog holiday toys you see below!

CLOSED

~~Giveaway Details~~

Since Christmas is just around the corner this giveaway is only open until Friday night, so it will hopefully arrive before the holiday. Please remember to be qualified to win, you *must* do the mandatory entry!

IMPORTANT: Some people are having a hard time entering for some reason. If Rafflecoper isn't working for you here are the rules for the contest. If you do these things, leave a comment for each thing and I will add you manually to the raffle.

~~- Mandatory entry: Leave a comment telling me why you like the holidays (worth 1 entry)~~
~~- Follow @toby_pup on Twitter.(worth 1 entry)~~
~~- Like My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much on Facebook (worth 2 entries)~~
~~- Tweet about the giveaway: I just entered to #win Planet Dog holiday toys from My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much @Toby_Pup (worth 1 entry)~~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Let Me Sleep! ~ Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-14T13:08:00.001-05:00

This post was shared with the following websites: BlogPaws, Wordless Wednesday, 5 Minutes for Mom,

Holiday Gift Guide: Dear Santa, Love Toby

2011-12-13T14:36:00.001-05:00

Dear Santa,

Despite anything Mom may have told you, I was a really good boy this year. I protected her, cuddled with her when she was sad and tried to only rip up things that belonged to me and not anyone else. OK, well, there was that incident with the blankets, but still -- I was a good boy.

Here are some items I hope you consider putting under my tree this year. Last year, I waited up for you on Christmas Eve, but I fell asleep before you came.

Maybe this year I'll stay awake and get to see you. Meeting your reindeer would rock, too!

Thanks, Santa!
Toby

1. Anything KONG
If there is one toy in the world I knows the name of, it's my Kong. I knows the difference between my "regular" KONG and my KONG ball.

One year for Christmas, my aunt bought me a KONG Wubba and I carried it around from the moment I opened it until the next afternoon when they had to take it away because I chewed through it. I even took it outside with me when we went for my nightly walk, and took it to bed with me.

2. Freezy Pups Kit

Freezy Pups became a quick favorite of mine after Mom went to the Global Pet Expo. I ate the organic, frozen treats right out of the freezer, stuffed in my KONG and melted over my dry food. They were great during the summer when it was hot and I wasn't eating, because instead of Mom just giving me an ice cube, which I loves to suck on, she gave me one of these because she knew I was getting some additional nutrition.

3. Buckle-Down Dog Gear

Just because I'm little, it doesn't mean I'm not tough. Buckle-Down dog collars and leashes show off my rough side with this rock-and-roll inspired collar, and leash to match.

4. Anything Fleece

I love Fleece blankets. It doesn't matter the size, color or even how soft it is. It just has to be made of fleece and I am happy. I will gladly snuggle into any of them. Case in point .... see that blanket in the photo above? Mom won it at a holiday party last year. As soon as she took it out of the bag, I went nuts and didn't rest until she opened it and let me lie on it.

5. Treats

Oh, Santa, I know you are usually the one who gets a treat when you come down our chimney, but I really love treats. Mom only usually gives me healthy ones, like the ones in the photos above. Plus, I'm also a big fan of ones from Pawjevity and Blue Dog Bakery. I would *love* to find some of those in my stocking this year. :)

6. Stay + Play Wireless Fence

We travel a lot, so putting an in-ground fence in would be silly since we are at a variety of different places, but with PetSafe's Stay + Play Wireless Fence we would be able to take it with us. It would allow me to run free both at home in the Adirondacks and when I visit my Grandpa in New Jersey.

7. Hartz Dura Play Ball

I know I have a lot of toys, but this blue Dura Play ball from Hartzis one of the only ones I haven't chewed through, and for me, that's a big deal! I even have my original one I got last year around Christmas time, but you can never have enough toys!

TGIS!

2011-12-10T13:49:00.001-05:00

We are so happy it's finally the weekend! December has been such a crazy month. Actually, the whole year has been a bit nuts, making us very excited to say goodbye to 2011 and hello to 2012 very, very soon.

But, before we do that, there's still a lot of fun things we have in store for our readers!

We are currently hosting a Hartz Angry Birds Dog Toys giveaway, where two My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much readers will win an Angry Birds Dog Toys gift bag. Hurry and enter because the contest ends tomorrow night.

Coming up this week, we'll have two more fun giveaways -- A chance to win a donation to the shelter of your choice and some fun holiday themed toys from Planet Dog that we hand selected.

Although the holidays are fast approaching, I'm still determined to put together some type of gift guide, but it's likely to be a lot smaller than I originally planned. So, stay tuned for that.

If you missed it earlier this week, Best Friends Pet Care is hosting an Angel Tree in the lobby of all their 42 locations to help local shelters. Find out how you can help them in their effort to make this holiday season a little brighter for pets waiting for their forever homes.

Enjoy your Saturday and don't forget to check out some of the other fun pet blogs and websites below as part of the Saturday Pet Blog Hop!

Holiday Pet Pop-Up Shop Open In SoHo This Weekend

2011-12-10T10:57:00.001-05:00

If you still haven't found that perfect holiday gift for your favorite four-legged friend or for the pet lover in your life, have no fear. A new holiday pet pop-up shop, hosted by Pet Socialite Events and Charlotte Reed, will be open today and tomorrow in New York City.

Some of the bestnames in pet fashion & products will be featured in the store, including:Animal Wrappers, Fab Dog, FouFou Dog, Hip Doggie, Jax and Bones, Oscar Newman,Pet Flys, and more. They also have a number of dog related household items from one of our new favorite brands, Crypton.

Some of the products you'll find including sweaters, collars, bags, leashes, toys, beds, bowels, blankets, ornaments, key chains, calendars and more.

The shop is open Saturday, Dec. 10, and Sunday Dec. 11, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is located at 19Kenmare St. at the corner of Elizabeth.

Here are some photos from last night's press event:

Help Best Friends Pet Care Collect Donations for Shelters

2011-12-08T18:59:00.001-05:00

Best Friends Pet Care is kicking off their 11th annual Angel Tree campaign to benefit more than 70 community animal shelters across the U.S., and you can help make a dog or cat's holiday season just a little brighter.

Each of the 42 Best Friends Pet Care centers has an Angel Tree in their lobby decorated with paper ornaments featuring photos and information about dogs and cats waiting for forever homes, along with a wish list of supplies, toys and treats needed to care for them.

To participate, you can select a specific dog or cat from the tree and shop from that wish list, or you can make a cash donation to benefit the shelter. The program runs through Jan. 2, with deliveries being made to the shelters throughout the holiday season.

In addition, Best Friends supplements donations with food and other supplies.

To support the campaign, all you have to do is find your local Best Friend's location. Donations can be made either in person of by phone.

Toby Goes Crazy for Hartz Pets' Angry Birds Toys

2011-12-07T13:30:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for a toy for your pet that you'll enjoy just as much as they will Hartz Pets' new line of Angry Birds toys would be a good pick. I don't think I stopped laughing for at least an hour.

When you review pet products teaching "leave it" is the single most important command.

Designed like your favorite characters from the game Angry Birds, these very realistic and plush toy will have your dog going crazy. Toby could not get enough of them. I really thought he was going to go after the Angry Birds Hard Head, but within seconds he snatched up the largest toy in the group -- the Angry Birds Two Heads.

I wish I had grabbed my video camera. He ran around the house for a solid hour with this toy in his mouth -- on the couch, off the couch, on the chair, off the chair, in the kitchen, in the living room, whipping his head back and forth slamming each side of the poor toy against the hardwood floor.


As you can tell he didn't leave it alone long enough for me to take the tag off.

Some of the toys have squeakers and others, like the Angry Birds Plus Balls make real Angry Birds sounds.

Hartz Pets not only sent Toby these toys to test out, but was nice enough to give us several others to share with two lucky readers!

Giveaway Details

Good luck!

Asleep at the Table

2011-12-07T09:09:00.000-05:00

This post was shared with the following websites: BlogPaws,Wordless Wednesday,

Happy Birthday, Toby!

2011-12-03T10:39:00.001-05:00

Happy 4th birthday little boy!

I cannot tell you how much joy you bring me.

You have such a little personality and know exactly what you want when you want it, like when you want a snack at 4 a.m. and paw at me until we get up, go out and then you nibble on a treat. Or, like when you decide it's bed time and you get up from someone's lap, scurry down the hall, jump in my bed and get under the covers.

You also are keen to exactly what I'm feeling even sometimes before I am. Somehow you know when I've had a bad day at work and you greet me with an extra wagging tail, jump on my lap and lick my nose. Or, when I'm not feeling well, or am upset about something -- you won't leave my side. If I'm walking around, you heel better than when I tell you to, and if I sit down you are right next to me.

You are such a wonderful pup, and I'm so glad you came to live with me when you were just 4 months old.

Happy Birthday :)

This post was shared with the Saturday Pet Bloggers Hop below:

How Do You Wrap Those Odd Size Gifts?

2011-11-30T09:06:00.001-05:00

Mom of our resident cat, Figment, sent this to us. I always try to take a photo of Toby while I'm trying to wrap gifts, but he always seems to jet away or he starts eating the wrapping paper.

What does your pet do while you're wrapping gifts during the holiday season? Do they plop themselves right in the middle, or do they stay far away?

This post was shared with the following websites: BlogPaws, Wordless Wednesday,

Pet Products for Your Home and Your Pet

2011-11-26T23:58:00.001-05:00

Being a pet parent also means pet-proofing your home -- dog dishes that won't slide around your floor or break if someone knocks into them by accident, odor eliminators that remove smells quickly if your pet has an accident while friends are over and of course overall products that make life easier for you and your pet.

We got to check out some of these two weeks ago at the Home and Safety Pet Product Showcase in Manhattan hosted by Charlotte Reed's Pet Socialite Events. There were so many fun, and useful items.

I had several favorites which I have been using ever since the event and have become part of my daily routine. They would make great holiday gifts for any pet lover in your life -- or a treat for yourself, or your furry friend.

First, check out this awesome bag from Crypton:

While this is not to put your dog in, it's large enough to carry all your pet products while traveling, groceries from the store or gear for a day at the beach. But, here's the thing I love -- their patented fabric is capable of resisting stains, moisture, odors and bacteria.

They have an entire line of pet products, including beds, accessories and cleaners. I'm really liking their throvers -- versatile, reversible, machine-washable, go-anywhere dog throws protect and prettify wherever you put it. Since I do so much driving with Toby, it would be perfect for the car or when he wants to snuggle up on a relative's couch.

The mom and daughter team over at M&J Dog essentials, a holistic dog grooming system, showcased a new product that is essentially the dog world's answer to dry shampoo.

Their Freshen Up line of products are a fast solution when you don't have time to give your dog a full bath. I like their coat tonic -- a conditioning mist that you just spray on your dog's coat between shampoos or after using their cleansing treatment.

I tried their nutrient fusion pre-bath treatment with Toby yesterday, and just wow. Seriously.

If you told me I would have been using a pre-treatment on my dog I would have laughed in your face, but I figured I would try it. Toby's coat is smooth, soft and shiny -- and it doesn't have a smell afterward. It's only been a day, but he also doesn't seem to be itching as much as he usually is.

This next item is a total game-changer for me and will be for you if you take long walks, hikes or kayak with your dog, like I do. This water bottle for you from OllyDog has a detachable water dish for your dog.

If you have a cat, Zero Odor's litter spray should be on your shopping list. Although I don't have one, I've been a fan, and recommending it, since the Global Pet Expo earlier this year when I saw it in action. The patented formula eliminates foul odors and leaves no extra sent behind.

They also have a general pet odor eliminator and a pet stain remover. I keep both under the sink with my house cleaning supplies.

Toby's favorite item from the event, however, was by far the Holistix with bison, flaxseed, apples and carrots from Holistic Select. As soon as I brought the bag in the house, he went nuts, never mind trying to get a photo of him with it.

We learned about some other neat products, but you'll have to wait for the My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much gift guide to check them out!

Now for the fun part ~ Enter for a chance to WIN several of the products we saw, and liked, at the showcase.

~~Giveaway Details (CLOSED)~~

One My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much reader will win a braised liver flavor Lickety Stik dog treat and a bottle of Comfort Zone stress-reducing spray for puppies and dogs. Sorry, but because of shipping fees, this is only open to residents in the continental U.S. Contest is open until midnight eastern on Thursday, Dec. 1, when a winner will be randomly selected.

Don't forget to leave an email address or way to contact you if you're selected as the winner!

Here's how to enter:

Mandatory Entry ~ Leave a comment telling us which of the products mentioned above (other than the two products in this giveaway) you would like on your holiday wish list.

Extra Entries ~ (Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry)
- Follow My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much on Facebook
- Follow @Toby_Pup on Twitter
- Tweet about the giveaway using @Toby_Pup in your tweet and leave a link to your tweet.

Good luck!

Small Business Saturday: Pets Edition

2011-11-26T00:48:00.001-05:00

Today is Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting small businesses during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.

We've complied a list of some of our favorite small and family run pet related businesses across the country that we love and hope you will consider supporting today.

Some have store fronts, many have online stores and others have both.

Either way, all of these have items that would make fabulous holiday gifts. You'll see that many of these will also be on my gift guide list. ;-)

If you own a small business, or have a favorite small business, feel free to leave a link below telling us about it so we can find more great stores to support!

You can learn more about Small Business Saturday on their website and like them on Facebook.

Pet Treats:
Pawgevity
Barkn Belly Bakery
Biscuits by Lambchop
Freezy Pups
K9 Cakery

Pet Products:
M&J Dog Essentials
Moda Pet
The Smiling Frog Pets

Pet Clothing, Accessories:
Sam and Tasha
Bandit Rubio Designs
Ada Nieves for Pets

This post was shared with the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop. Visit other pet websites:

It Was a Very Toby Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T13:00:00.001-05:00

S-P-O-I-L-E-D

That sums up Toby's day yesterday, and actually this morning. We went to see my Mom in the nursing home, where a) she was more happy to see him than me and b) every resident there asked us to stop so they could pet Toby. It was like walking down an L.A. street with Justin Bieber.

...And, that was just the start of his fabulous day.

My Dad wouldn't give Toby any of my Mom's food, but he sure tried to get some.

Then, we went to my grandparents house where I never thought I would see Toby be allowed to ever do this:

I don't normally cook for Toby, but I decided to try it this year and make him a special Thanksgiving treat -- Turkey breast and veggies. It was so simple to whip up and Toby, as you can see loved it.

I guess the tryptophan (or all the non-stop activity) got to Toby, because he quickly passed out in my arms when we all went back to my Dad's for an after-dinner drink.

Some mornings I will give Toby a little egg, but today he again got a special treat. We were making pancakes, bacon and eggs, so I added a teeny tiny piece of bacon and pancake to his dish. Toby must have thought he hit the lottery, because he never gets the other two.

Hope you has as good of a Thanksgiving Toby did! Tell us about it in the comments below :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T09:32:00.001-05:00

What a year! I can't believe it's Thanksgiving already.

It's been a tough year, but there are so many things we are thankful for, including our anipals, friends and great experiences we've had.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Carpet Confessions With Bissell

2011-11-23T14:47:00.001-05:00

I have to confess, I'm not a fan of carpets. I have hardwood floors, or the fake stuff that looks like them, everywhere but the three upstairs bedrooms.

Where does this despise come from? Likely my mother because she hated it, too, but a more realistic reason would be a) I'm allergic to everything, so less carpeting the better and b) I've never had a vacuum that I enjoyed. But, I've also never had a Bissell. So, when they asked if I would like to review their new Lift-Off Deep Cleaner, I was very excited to try this out on my heavily trafficked bedroom rugs.

I plan to test it out this weekend and will be posting a review next week. In the meantime, you can enter for a chance to WIN one of your own!

Here are the details:

From now through Dec.2, confess your carpet and upholstery secrets on BISSELL’s Facebook page for a chance to win a bunch of fun prizes.

One grand prize winner will receive a Lift-Off® Deep Cleaner for themselves and five friends or family members as well as a $2,500 gift card and a suite of BISSELL Lift-Off products.

Five runners up also will receive the Lift-Off suite.

How awesome is that?! I don't know about you, but a $2,500 gift card could help out with those holiday bills.

What? Yeah, I'm Awake, Mom. Really.

2011-11-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

A few Saturdays ago I needed to be in the Adirondacks by noon. It was a hard deadline, because I had an important appointment. For those of you not familiar with the trek, it takes about 3.5 hours depending on traffic. But, since I always allow at least 4 hours just to make sure, I was up way early packing, because of course I didn't do it the night before.

Toby, however, was snuggled in my bed, and would not get up. Every time I tried to wake him up, he would bury himself deeper in the covers. Finally, when the car was packed and basically the only thing left to go was Toby, I said in a stern voice, "Toby, Let's Go." And then this popped up from the covers.

This most was shared with the following websites: BlogPaws, Wordless Wednesday,

National Get a Pal For Your Pet Day

2011-11-19T09:04:00.001-05:00

Doesn't everyone deserve a friend? I think so, and so do the folks at Pets Add Life, who have declared today National Get a Pal For Your Pet Day.

I always wonder if Toby would be happier with another dog to snuggle with when I'm at work, to create mischief with and to commiserate with when I tell him "no" after begging at the table for a taste of my breakfast. I think that answer is, yes, and I have thought about getting him another pup -- it's just a matter of timing.

There are so many benefits to having a companion for your pet. In fact, when I first got Toby as a puppy, I also had a bird. Ironically, Toby immediately took to the bird and although the bird was older, Toby would always look out for Sky. If Sky was on the floor, Toby would bark and come over to alert us. He never once tried to take a bite out of Sky, and would even let Sky sit on him. Unfortunately, we lost Sky, but, to this day Toby goes nuts for blue birds when we walk past their cages in the pet store.

I'm not, however, saying you should get a bird for your pet, but the interaction shows how much pets like to have a companion.

And, it's not just dogs and cats that like companionship. When I had my tortoises, I always made sure they had a friend. I mean, what fun would it be to just crawl around a (very spacious) enclosure without a buddy?

Giving your pet a friend allows it to interact with other animals, which results in a more active and social animal, according to our friends over at PAL. Studies have even shown that multiple pets can help ease a pet’s separation anxiety from its owner, as well as revitalize older animals when a new pet is introduced.

So, why not jump on Petfinder while you're slipping your morning coffee and browse the local pets available for adoption and get your pet a friend today!

This post is sponsored by the Pets Add Life campaign and the American Pet Products Association. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the benefits and joys of pet ownership.

Dog Dives to Pool Bottom After Toys {Video}

2011-11-18T10:54:00.001-05:00

When I first saw the title for this article from KARE 11 in Minnesota I thought, "what's so special about a dog who jumps in the water after this toy." After I watched it -- Wow. This is pretty neat.

I know Toby would *never* do this. Would your dog?

Sam & Tasha Trunk Show ~ Pet Products, Clothing

2011-11-17T11:44:00.001-05:00

The other night we attended a trunk show hosted by Sam & Tasha at the RS Pop Up Shop in Manhattan. The designer/owner Laura Kinsey is such a sweetheart! Her designs are inspired by the aesthetics of adult and children's wear and wants to bring the same to pet clothing.

Kinsey founded the Brooklyn-based company in 2009, and hand selects all of the fabrics, finishes and trims after she creates her design.

Her designs immediately caught my eye, because, well, they looked "normal," and practical. It was simple designs that you could actually use on your dog when they're running through the snow or shivering because it's so cold outside.

My favorite items were the leashes and collars. They come in fun designs that are especially great if you have a female dog. They were fun -- designs that you would look for on a weekend bag to take shopping or a bracelet that you would want to wear yourself. Some of the pieces almost have a vintage appeal.

You can see more photos from the trunk show in our Facebook album.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Adopt Me!

2011-11-16T09:49:00.001-05:00

How adorable are these puppies?! They are from Dog Habitat, a Brooklyn-based rescue. I met these cut rat terrier mixes last night at a Sam & Tasha trunk show at the RS Pop Up Shop.

If your pet, or a pet that needs to find their forever home, would like to be featured in a future Wordless Wednesday post, email me at michellemaskaly (at) yahoo dotcom.

This post was shared with the following websites: Wordless Wednesday, Bit of Byrd, 5 Minutes For Mom, BlogPaws,

We Made It Through Blogathon 2011!

2011-11-13T14:25:00.001-05:00

We survived! And, now, it's time to sleep ... somewhere other than on my puppy.

We hope you take a moment to learn more about why we selected the North Country SPCA and consider making a donation to help them continue the amazing work they do for animals in the Adirondacks.

I'll be posting the full pupcakes recipe this week ... too ... tired .. right .. now.

Toby Taste Tests the Pupcakes!

2011-11-13T13:41:00.001-05:00

So, were all my silly Touts worth it? Let's see what Toby thinks ~

Animals at the North Country SPCA Need Your Help!

2011-11-13T11:17:00.001-05:00

Meet Bashful

We're approaching the home stretch of the Blogathon -- just a few more hours left! My approach last year, and this year, to the Blogathon, and fund-raising in general, is an attempt to create fun, creative content that makes you laugh and stay engaged.

I'm not one to usually hit people over the head and guilt or beg them into making a donation. I believe that if we create a fun environment, you will want to support us and our cause because you're having a good time and enjoying yourself.

That said, I needed to share part of this letter from the North Country SPCA:

A new shelter is a necessity, not a luxury.

After more than 40 years, the Westport shelter is in terrible shape. The roof leaks, the foundation has shifted, there is minimal insulation and the furnace is dying. This building has so many problems that the only choice is to start over.The no-kill Westport shelter is also very overcrowded.

It continually houses between 60-70 cats and 25-30 dogs that share a space that is half the size the Human Society recommends. And there is no place to isolate sick cats and dogs, putting all of the animals at risk.

To combat this growing problem the North Country SPCA is planning a new 5,000 square foot no-kill shelter. Already, they have raised over 80 percent of the money needed to build the new facility. The North Country SPCA is the only animal shelter in Essex County. It provides refuge for cats and dogs that have been abandoned, abused, or surrendered. Each year, the Westport shelter cares for over 400 animals.

Since it opened in 1969, they've found loving homes for thousands of dogs and cats.The North Country SPCA does not receive any state or federal funding, nor does it get any money from the ASPCA – over 80 percent of their income comes from individual donors.

Meet Maverick

The new facility has been designed by ARQ Architects. This small firm revolutionized the field of animal care with major shelters in San Francisco and New York. The new facility in Elizabethtown, NY will be a prototype for smaller shelters nationwide, and will include: ·

LEED certification --Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – something only a handful of shelters throughout the country have been granted. ARQ's LEED shelter in Rhode Island uses 30 percent less electrical energy, 43 percent less natural gas, and over 40 percent less water.

Animal housing that meets modern criteria for optimal animal care and well being.

A separate intake room for new arrivals, an inviting reception area and room for basic medical procedures.

Meet Honey Bun.

We hope that you will consider making a donation to the North Country SPCA. These animals need your help!

Bear Will Benefit From Your Donation

2011-11-13T11:05:00.001-05:00

Bear can be a bit shy at first, but once he's comfortable and gained your trust he'll want to be by your side. He is intelligent and would be great for obedience training and maybe evenagility courses.

He is one of the many animals up for adoption at the North Country SPCA, and could use your help. Please consider making a donation to help this no-kill shelter continue helping cats like Emma.

Emma Will Benefit From Your Donation

2011-11-13T05:30:00.000-05:00

First, let me say I am 100 percent in love with Emma! I mean seriously -- look at that face?! How do you not want to get in the car, adopt her and make her part of your family?!

Emma is a wiggly,silly, full of energy little girl. They think she is about 3 months old, bu don't know what breed she is mixed with. However, the beagle part is very evident, her nose is always to the ground.

Se is one of the many animals up for adoption at the North Country SPCA, and could use your help. Please consider making a donation to help this no-kill shelter continue helping cats like Emma.

Alvin Will Benefit From Your Donation

2011-11-13T04:00:00.000-05:00

Alvin is a bushy tailed boy who likes other cats and keeps himself entertained for hours playing with jingle balls. His life has been turned upside down since the recent flooding. But, it has not affected his outlook on life.

He is one of the many animals up for adoption at the North Country SPCA, and could use your help. Please consider making a donation to help this no-kill shelter continue helping cats like Alvin.

Shhhhhh! Someone's Sleeping Through the Blogathon!

2011-11-13T02:25:00.001-05:00

It's 2:30 in the morning ... I knew one of us would be asleep... hehe :)

Pupcakes Are Out of the Oven!

2011-11-13T01:47:00.001-05:00

P.S. Don't forget to click on the link to the right of the page and donate to the North Country SPCA! There are a ton of animals that could use your help :)

Time to Make the Pupcakes!

2011-11-12T23:04:00.001-05:00

Follow our pupcake adventure on Tout! We'll be shooting quick 15 second updates during the process. when we're done, we'll post the whole thing here!

Time for Some Human Noms

2011-11-12T21:25:00.001-05:00

We're getting a little famished, so it's time to grab some human treats and then we'll get back to blogging! We've got more giveaways, you'll get to learn more about our charity, the North Country SPCA and meet some of their animals.

If you're curious, we've having vegan, vegetarian and meat tacos -- something for everyone. :) The recipe for the vegan ones will be on the The Adirondack Chick soon!

How are you guys enjoying the blogathon so far?

Win a Copy of Barkonomics by DogTipper.com

2011-11-12T19:29:00.001-05:00

We picked up a copy of Paris and John's book Barkonomics while we were at BlogPaws in August, because we knew it would make perfect Blogathon giveaway prize.

In this book, the folks behind DogTipper.com (who I think just totally rock) give you really great tips for saving money when it comes to pets in this unstable economy. In fact, during last year's blogathon Paris shared some of those tips with us.

Here are the giveaway details:

Additional information -- Sorry, but we can only ship to those in continental U.S. A winner will be randomly selected from all qualified entries when the contest closes at midnight Eastern on Nov. 13. Please make sure you leave an email address so we know how to contact you!

Our First Tout!

2011-11-12T18:05:00.001-05:00

Hey guys!

So, we're going to be using this new application called Tout tonight to help spread the word about the North Country SPCA and raise some money for them! Tout captures short 15 second video status updates that are shared instantly with friends, family or the whole world through Twitter and Facebook.

Here's our first one telling the Tout world what's we're doing over here at #blogpocalypse :)

Time to Tire out the Toby!

2011-11-12T17:06:00.000-05:00

While all of us humans may need to stay awake for the next 24 hours, a bouncing-off-the-wall Toby is the last thing I need.

So, I'm stepping away from the computer for a few minutes so Toby can have some fun and run around the yard with his ball!

We'll be back in a bit! :)

Meet the Bloggers of #Blogpocalypse

2011-11-12T15:46:00.001-05:00

What you think, I was doing this alone? Ha. No way! There are a handful of other crazy bloggers out there who jumped on the blogathon bandwagon with Dr. V of Pawcurious. They'll also be having some fun events going on throughout the night, so make sure you stop by and say hello over the next 24 hours.

Dr. V at Pawcurious

supporting

Lions, Tigers, and Bears.

Amanda Finch

supporting

Nebraska Humane Society

Abby Finch

supporting

Nebraska Humane Society

Riley and James

supporting

Nebraska Humane Society

The Wandering Duck Climbs a Mountain

supporting

Nebraska Humane Society

Cornerstone Christian School

supporting

Pawsitively Texas

BZTAT

supporting

Okey’s Promise

Kol’s Notes

supporting

Lucky Dog Rescue

My Tail Hurts from Wagging So Much

supporting

North County SPCA

A Shepherd’s Voice

supporting

Bridey Boyle Liver Shunt Surgery on Facebook and ChipIn

supporting

supporting

And, don't forget! Even a small donation to the North Country SPCA can help save an animal! The link to make a secure donation using paypal is on the right side of this page :)

Blogathon 2011: Let's Get This Party Started!

2011-11-12T15:10:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone!

In typical My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much form, thing haven't got exactly as planned this afternoon. I was going to have this great first post introducing everyone else we're blogging along with today along with their respective charities, but I completely lost track of time and got stuck at the bank for way longer than I thought I would. So, that post will have to wait until 4 p.m. when I'm not a passenger in the car and on my Blackberry.

Oh, yes, we were out for a while picking up some last minute items to help get us through the next 24 hours. Lots of caffeine and sugar to keep us awake? Not exactly, more like vegan tacos for dinner and all the ingredients so we can possibly live stream another dog treat cooking segment like last year.

The goal of all this craziness is to raise money for the North Country SPCA. You can find more info about them in the post before this one and you'll see a spot to make a donation on the right side of the page. We'll tell you even more about them and their adoptable pets later today!

Hope you will join us on this fun blogging adventure for the next 24 hours! We'll have some fun giveaways, too! :)

Charity Blogathon to Help North Country SPCA Starts at 3 p.m. Today!

2011-11-12T00:30:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again! Time to stay awake with a team of other bloggers from around the country and blog for 24 hours all in the name of charity as part of Dr. V's yearly blogathon on Pawcurious! This year, I am raising money for the North County SPCA in the Adirondack Mountains of New York.

Emma is one of the many dogs up for adoption at the North Country SPCA.

You might be familiar with the Adirondacks and upstate New York, because portions of the area were slammed by Hurricane Irene in August. And, earlier this year, the area where the no-kill shelter is located was also devastated by terrible floods.

These weather incidents didn't exactly help an already weathered shelter. For example, the roof is leaking, the foundation has shifted, there is minimal insulation and the furnace is dying.

So, starting at 3 p.m. Eastern today, and continuing until 3 p.m. Sunday we will be posting a ton of fun stuff, including some awesome giveaways such as treats, books, swag, toys and a professional social media consulting session with me!

To make things easy, there will be a permanent link on the right side of our website, with information on donating via Paypal to the North County SPCA. We'll also keep a list of the ongoing giveaways happening throughout the 24 hours over there, too.

Please remember that even a $5 donation can help this group continue doing the amazing work they are currently performing!

Hope you will stop back here later and follow our Blogathon adventure! You can also follow the hashtag, #blogpocalypse to see what we're all doing. We are also going to be shooting short 15 second video on Tout, that we'll use as part of giveaways and to interact with others. So, if you don't have an account, sign up now! It's so easy, and you can use your twitter account to sign in.

This post was shared with the following websites: Saturday Pet Bloggers Hop.

Pet Stores Misled Customers on Origin of Dogs, Humane Society Says

2011-11-11T12:06:00.001-05:00

More than 4,500 puppies in New York came from large-scale commercial breeding or brokering operations in during a four-month period in 2011, according to a new investigation by The Humane Society of the United States.

And, if you think that stat is nauseating, it gets worse.

The Human Society says they found at least 11 New YorkCity-area pet stores making misleading claims concerning the origin of theirpuppies. The stores got their puppies from large-scale commercial breeding facilities, despite specific claims of “no puppy mills” or misleading statements implying that their sources were small “private breeders.”

"Thesehigh-priced pet stores claim to sell dogs from small private breeders, but are actually pushing dogs from huge Midwest puppy mills with some ofthe worst federal Animal Welfare Act violations imaginable," said JonathanLovvorn, senior vice president for investigations at The HSUS, in a press release. "Consumers arebeing duped into buying puppies born to breeding dogs who spend their entirelives trapped in tiny wire cages, churning out litter after litter."

You can see the full investigation, which caught the attention of media outlets like The Huffington Post and NBC New York, in this pdf document.

Sturdi Products Party at the RS Pop Up Pet Adoption Shop

2011-11-10T10:11:00.002-05:00

Last night we attended the Sturdi Products party at the RS Pop Up Shop in New York City, and fell in love with a number of cats who are in need of forever homes. If I weren't allergic, I would have loved to walk out of there with at least one of them.

In a unique partnership geared toward helping homeless animals, the RS Pop Up Shop will feature adoptable pets, as well as the latest fashions, toys and accessories for your dog and cat, for the entire month of November.

Throughout the month, adorable dogs and cats will be sitting in the window ready to meet their future forever homes and each Wednesday evening the mobile adoption van from the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals is outside the shop with adoptable pets.

Plus, 10 percent of all sales go towards the Mayor's Alliance for NYC Animals. Shopping for a cause -- how great is that?!

Here are some photos from the fun evening. Next Wednesday there is another party, sponsored by one of our favorite dog food and treat companies. Can't wait to share the fun from that! :)

Reader Photos: Treat Time!

2011-11-09T10:26:00.004-05:00

So, maybe it's not a very Wordless Wednesday ~

Meet Schooner and Skipper. Their mom is a loyal reader of My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much and recently won our Barksters Dog Treat giveaway. She sent me this cute photo of the two and this nice note:

"Schooner and Skipper love the Barksters Treats. I attached a pictures of them with the treats. Skipper is the one eating...Schooner has his gone before we could start taking pictures. Skipper was enjoying every bite slowly. Thanks!I love My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much facebook page and your website!!"

If your pet, or a pet that needs to find their forever home, would like to be featured in a future Wordless Wednesday post, email me at michellemaskaly (at) yahoo dotcom.

This post was shared on the following websites: Wordless Wednesday, Bit of Byrd, 5 Minutes For Mom, BlogPaws,

Tips for Putting Together a New Puppy Gift Bag

2011-11-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

The other day someone said to me, "you shop for other people's new puppies the way most people shop for baby showers."

Yup, I do.

And, why shouldn't we?

Bringing a new puppy into your family is a big deal, and should be celebrated, especially nowadays when pets are treated just like another member of the family. Making the decision to become a pet parent is a big one. It means more responsibility and in many cases a new chapter in your life.

So, when my neighbors brought home a new puppy on Saturday, I knew the first thing I had to do after running over to meet him and snap some photos of the kids playing with the pup was go to the store and put a new puppy gift bag together.

Here are some of the things I put in the bag.

It's so simple to put one together, and your new pet parent friends will really appreciate it. Here are a few simple tips to putting together a new puppy gift bag:

Keep It Simple

The excitement of a new puppy may make you want to buy everything in the store, but refrain yourself from walking down the puppy aisle and grabbing one of everything. Think of the basics that will be most helpful to those new pet parents and also are most practical for the size and type of dog.

Toys

Think of a kid around the holidays, they want toys, toys, toys, right? Well, same goes for a puppy, and their pet parent. Puppies, especially if they they are chewers (like Toby), will go through a string of toys, so the more the pet parent has the better. Look for a combination of toys and make them the focal point of the gift bag -- squeaker toys, rope toys and chew toys made specifically for puppies are always good finds.

If you can find something that matches the pet parent's interest, like a baseball for MLB fans, that's always fun. Include a toy that your pet likes, because chances are if they approve, the new puppy will like it, too.

Stay away from rawhide or plush related toys, because some pet parents may not want their new pets to have them. I made a conscious decision not to give Toby toys that looked like stuffed animals when he was a puppy, because I didn't want him thinking it was OK to rip up anything that remotely looked like that.

Treats

Since the new addition to the family is just a puppy and still developing, go for treats marked specifically for puppies. There are a ton of puppy-treat options out there and if you're in an area with limited options, like I was over the weekend, a box of good old fashioned Milk Bones for puppies will do just fine.

Don't freak out about buying the most expensive organic, treat out there. Get something that's practical and that you think the new pet parent will feel comfortable feeding their new addition. You'll have plenty of time to buy fancy treats for the pup in the future.

What to Avoid

Stay away from pet advice books (it looks like you're saying the pet parent needs help), dog food (unless you know the specific kind the pet parent is feeding), dog beds and collars (that's more of a personal, special purchase) and medicines, carriers or crates.

When in doubt, play it safe and just pick up another toy.

Have Fun and Be Creative

Think back to when your dog was a puppy and some of the things you needed. If they weren't house broken, that may have very well been more floor cleaner and paper towels. If that's the case throw them in the gift bag.

Remember, having a puppy is fun and your gift bag should reflect that.

Even if you don't have the time to put together a whole gift bag, a single toy will work just fine to acknowledge the family's new addition!

RS Pop Up Shop Features Adoptable Pets in November

2011-11-07T00:46:00.000-05:00

Adoptable pets, as well as the latest fashions, toys and accessories for your dog and cat, are popping up at the RS Pop Up Shop in New York City for the entire month of November in a unique partnership geared toward helping homeless animals.

Each Wednesday (except Nov. 23) throughout the month, adorable dogs and cats will be sitting in the window ready to meet their future forever homes.

Not ready to adopt another pooch? You can get all your holiday shopping done for your favorite pet at the pop up with while also helping homeless pets, because 10 percent of all sales will go towards the Mayor's Alliance for NYC Animals.

There are tons of fun products to choose from, including those by DuckyWorld, Sam N Tasha, Sturdi Products, Stella & Chewy's and Metro Paws.

Last week we attended the grand opening of the pop up, and met so many adorable pets. Here are a few photos, but you can find all of them in our photo album on Facebook.

Jay Leno Saves Pets

2011-11-04T01:17:00.000-04:00

Since Toby hates to wear a Halloween costume, or any type of clothing for that matter (unless he's super cold) I found this funny when it aired the other night. Enjoy!

Do Automatic Cat Feeders Really Work?

2011-11-03T10:55:00.000-04:00

Guest post and reader question by Vikki Hurley-Schubert --- aka "Figment's Mom."

As a pet owner, it pains me every time I leave my beloved Figment. But since I love to travel, it’s a necessity.

Figment and Samantha

I used to be able to leave her with Grandma and her two cat cousins. Sadly, the cat cousins have passed on and Grandma has acquired a new Siamese cat cousin named Samantha. Figment and Samantha seemed to get along—they eventually learned to tolerate each other-- when Grandma had to stay here for five days during Hurricane Irene.

So, we sent Fig to Grandma’s for our recent vacation and it didn’t go so well. So badly in fact, she is not invited back. Fig and Samantha just couldn’t get along at Grandma’s.

As pet parents, we are beside ourselves. Fist of all, it is very unlike her to be so, well, rude. She is very loving and cuddly and adores her Grandma (to the point where we think she loves her more than us because it’s 24 hours of love, attention and playtime over there because Grandma is retired and we both work).

What do we do the next time we leave town?

Boarding her is not an option. We did that once when she was a kitten and were so racked with guilt that she was caged we really didn’t enjoy ourselves.

We have tried a feeder that works on gravity—you know what I’m talking about. You dump the kibble in the top and it drops out as the pet eats.

This didn’t go over so well in our house, at least not by our standards. By Fig’s it was great-24 hours of food! Our furball isn’t the brightest bulb in the three-pack. She ate ¾ of the amount we left on the first day! Thankfully, we came back after one night instead of two or I think we would have been cleaning up exploded kitty! She just ate and ate and ate and ate and ate…

Now I am looking at a fancy-pants feeder that comes with a timer and dispenses a specific amount of food at selected times. But, do they work? Are they reliable?

So dear My Tail Hurts readers, I am looking for advice and suggestions from you. What do you do with you pets when you leave home? Do you have a product that really works for you?

Thanks for all your advice!

Figment’s Mommy Vikki

Bubbles, Please!

2011-11-02T00:05:00.003-04:00

Isn't she just the cutest thing?! Regular readers know this is Figment, my friend Vikki's cat, who always seems to find a new and interesting place to curl up. This time, in the sink! All Figment needs are some bubbles and glass of champagne. She's just so cute!

I wonder what would have happened if Vikki turned on the water ..... ;-)

This post was shared on the following websites: BlogPaws, Wordless Wednesday, Bit of Byrd,

"Miracle Dog" Stirs Adoption Interest, But What About the Others?

2011-11-01T13:30:00.000-04:00

Many of you might be familiar with Daniel, a beagle mix dubbed the "Miracle Dog." If you're not, he's the dog who survived an Alabama gas chamber early last month and was shipped up to New Jersey where those at the nonprofit Eleventh Hour Rescue are trying to find him a home.

Daniel has garnered international attention from the media, as well as the general public. His story has appeared on more websites and news stations than I can count. So, has the fact that hundreds of people want to adopt him.

"We have so many applications for adoption, we cannot keep up," Jill Pavlik, a volunteer, with the group told Fox News Channel's website. "We want a family that is willing to take care of him his whole life. He needs a lot of love and exercise ... a soft place to put his head at night."

This is not Daniel. This is Madonna, who is also up for adoption in New Jersey.

Hopefully, he finds a loving forever home where he can play, eat lots of treats and have the amazing life he deserves. After all, cheating death is no small feat.

Everyone loves a story like Daniel's. From a media perspective, it hits on all the viewers' emotions, plus, he's an adorable dog so it makes a great image. From a psychological perspective, owning a dog that's gotten all this attention can make one feel special and important -- almost elite.

But, as hundreds of people jockey to become Daniel's pet parents, I can't help but think about all the other dogs that need forever homes, too, including the ones who died right in front of Daniel's eyes.

I hope those who are not selected as Daniel's forever home consider adopting one of the millions of dogs that are up for adoption, and may face the same fate that Daniel amazingly survived.

Snowtober

2011-10-31T10:00:00.002-04:00

With this record-breaking and unusual snowfall in New Jersey, we were really lucky and are *not* one of the millions without power. In fact, Toby and I have been enjoying the snow. This afternoon I took him outside to run around and play.

Unfortunately, Toby refuses to wear a sweater, so he did get cold pretty quick, but he looked like he was having a blast running through the white stuff.

You can check out a few more photos from yesterday's snow fun on our Facebook page.

Pets Add Life: Ever Wonder About Your Pet's Conversations?

2011-10-30T23:51:00.001-04:00

Our pals over at Pets Add Life created three very funny videos to encourage pet ownership. Although I'm a dog owner I think the lizard video is funny.

Well, see for yourself:

All the videos make a really good point -- life is better with a friend, so why not get a friend for your pet? Toby is an only dog, but I'm always talking about getting him a friend. It would give him someone to play with when I'm not around, someone to cuddle with when he's cold and someone to cause some trouble with.

Just think, he could have a conversation like this with new new bother or sister:

My aunt has two adorable cats, and I'm sure they've absolutely had this conversation before:

Do you have a multipet family?

This post is sponsored by the Pets Add Life campaign and the American Pet Products Association. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the benefits and joys of pet ownership.

October Snow!

2011-10-29T13:09:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it's snowing in October! In central New Jersey!

I could kind of see if we were home in the Adirondacks Mountains, but here in New Jersey? This is crazy. And, it keeps falling!

Toby doesn't mind the snow that much, but he typically won't wear a sweater, so he gets cold fast. I like the white stuff, too, but this is a little early! Have a happy Saturday :)

This post is linked up to the Saturday Pet Bloggers Blog Hop brought to you by Two Little Cavaliers, Life with Dogs, and Confessions of the Plume.

Eat Chocolate & Help Animals on National Chocolate Day

2011-10-28T12:05:00.001-04:00

This post is for humans only, so any of you dogs or cats out there reading this, don't eat, or try to grab from your human, a single piece of chocolate because it is very, very bad for you!

Today is National Chocolate Day and I can't think of a better way for My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much to celebrate it than by encouraging you to learn about, and purchase sweet goodies from Rescue Chocolate!

(But only for you and not for your pet, because chocolate can be deadly for animals, so please don't give them a taste.)

Started by fellow animal lover and all around awesome gal, Sarah Gross, Rescue Chocolate donate 100 percent of their net profits to animal rescue organizations around the country.

What it says on their website, "the sweetest way to save a life," is true.

Not only does their chocolate taste good and help rescues, but the vegan treats are also packaged and marketed in a way to shed light on a various issues facing pets.

And, if you're looking for some other sweet treats, check out my Top 5 Favorite Chocolates list on my other website, The Adirondack Chick, where Rescue Chocolate is also featured. :)

Why I Heart My Human #89

2011-10-28T08:50:00.002-04:00

She let's me play with all the covers on the bed!

Read more of Toby's "Why I Heart My Human" posts.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Can You Work From Home All the Time?

2011-10-26T08:50:00.003-04:00

This post was shared with the following websites: Wordless Wednesday, Bit of Byrd, BlogPaws, 5 Minutes From Mom,

Our Chilly Weekend In Photos

2011-10-24T12:35:00.001-04:00

The more I tried to make sure Toby was warm enough while we don't have heat, the more he fought my initiatives. With the temperature dipping down to 38 degrees last night, we went and bought some ceramic electric heaters, which makes me nervous, but certainly heated up the house.

And, in case you're wondering ... no, I didn't decorate my house to match my dog's colors. It kind of just happened ;-) Happy Monday!

From Zero to Ferocious in 10 Seconds

2011-10-23T12:05:00.000-04:00

I always worry about whether or not Toby could really protect me if I were, God-forbid in a bad situation. But, he continuously proves that despite his deceivingly small size, he's a really good watch dog.

Well, as long as the person don't have a Kong, or a treat or a piece of hard roll. Or, decides to play with him.

When the guy came to look at my furnace yesterday I originally locked him in my bedroom, figuring he would go hang out under the covers.

Not so much.

Instead it sounded like I was killing him. So, before someone called the local ASPCA on me, I figured I better come up with a different solution.

At first I was just holding him, which is where his actions made me say the title of this blog post. He was barking, growling and wiggling everywhere.

As soon as I yelled at him he would turn his head and lick my nose. This went on for about 5 minutes. It was very funny, but also not practical.

Finally, I decided to block the hallway with a gate. It solved the wiggling, but not the barking. Ding, ding, ding! Three words solved everything -- Want your Kong?

I stuffed it with a little low-fat peanut butter and the food he hadn't finished eating from the morning, and, ta-da, a very quiet, well-behaved dog.

Thank goodness for Kong!

What does your dog, or cat, do when a repair person, is in the house?

Oh, and P.S. - we still have no heat. So, I've been wrapping Toby in tons of blankets to make sure he's warm enough since it's chilly here in the Adirondacks.It's made for some cute photo, which I plan to share for Wordless Wednesday. :)

One Cold Chihuahua & Favorite Links From the Week

2011-10-22T12:09:00.003-04:00

Berrrrr! It's cold! And, I'm not talking about the temperature outside.

Last weekend we all thought it was a little cold in my house, so I raised the thermostat. Saturday morning, my friend's boyfriend commented how Toby was shivering while we were at the store. I still didn't think much of it, because sometimes Toby does that.

I did notice my furnace kept running, but again, didn't think much of it. I told my Dad about it and when he came up late, late last night, he even said it was cold in here. Finally at 3 a.m. we determined the furnace was continuously running, but that it was just moving air and no heat was actually coming out of it.

Boy did I feel like the dumb blonde. ;-)

There's someone from a local company on their way to look at it right. So, fingers crossed it won't be too expensive.

In the meantime, I wanted to share two of our favorite links from this week:

- Our pup pal Jasmine from My Favorite Pup Jasmine, and her mom, were on national TV the other day. How fun, right?! It was on a show called "Right This Minute." You can watch the clip over here on their blog.

- It's a dreaded time we all don't want to ever face with our pups -- when you know their health is declining. Melissa Chapman over at Married My Sugar Daddy is going through this every thing, and shared a very touching post about it on her blog Friday. Send her some happy thoughts.

This post is linked up to the Saturday Pet Bloggers Blog Hop brought to you by Two Little Cavaliers, Life with Dogs, and Confessions of the Plume.

Mom, Please Don't Recycle Me! {Wordless Wednesday}

2011-10-19T06:24:00.007-04:00

A special Wordless Wednesday from one of our readers, and Disney vacation expert, Vikki, who sent us this cute photo of her cat Figment. If your pet, or a pet that needs to find their forever home, would like to be featured in a future Wordless Wednesday post, email me at michellemaskaly (at) yahoo dotcom.

This post was shared with the following websites: Wordless Wednesday, Bit of Byrd, BlogPaws, 5 Minutes for Mom, Shanamama, Live and Love ... Out Loud, SOOC Saturday,

Dog Takes Game of Fetch Into His Own Paws

2011-10-18T07:45:00.000-04:00

It seems like no one wanted to play ball with this dog, so he took the situation into his own paws and figured out a way to play anyway.

Enjoy!

<a href='http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/dog-plays-fetch-with-itself/1jrtp9wxp?q=Jokeroo&from=en-us_msnhp&rel=msn&cpkey=3c356a22-5460-498a-a013-d6e9d4904ee3%7cJokeroo%7cmsn%7c%7c&src=v5:embed::' target='_new' title='Dog Plays Fetch With Itself'>Video: Dog Plays Fetch With Itself</a>

Lets Go Bananas!

2011-10-14T10:48:00.002-04:00

The other night during dinner I commented that Toby was way too quiet while we were eating. He usually sits at my feet waiting for something to drop, begging to get picked up or at least lies on the rug in the kitchen and stares up at me trying to do some type of jedi mind-game to get me to give him something.

But, this particular night, he was nowhere in sight.

I should have gone in the other room and looked for him, but I needed to eat fast so I could jump on the computer and run an online chat for work. I figured, 'how much trouble could he get into?'

Apparently, the answer was a lot.

When I went inside to get my computer a little while later, I was greeted with banana peel -- all over the floor.

Somehow, Toby went into my bag, grabbed the banana I had in there from the morning, peeled it and ate the whole thing! (Including part of the peel) That's a lot of banana for a little dog.

Has your pet ever stole something out of your bag?

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Flexi City Retractable Leash {Product Review}

2011-10-13T12:12:00.001-04:00

I was never a fan of retractable leashes, so when we were asked to review Flexi's 'City' one, I almost said no. I'm very glad I didn't, because after this experience, my opinion has changed.

My first concern was whether or not the leash was going to be strong enough. This particular leash says it's safe for dogs up to 77 pounds.

Toby tends to pull when he gets excited, which is every time we walk down my driveway for the start of our walk into the village. It seemed to hold him perfectly fine even with his pulling.

As soon as I put the leash on Toby, he started to chew it. It's a habit he's been doing since he was a puppy, so I was a little concerned that the leash might have been compromised, but he quickly stopped and the leashed seemed OK.

As we started to walk down the street I noticed Toby had a lot more ability to roam, which for me, was a little weird, because I'm one of those people who keeps a short, tight leash when we walk. At first he was all over the place, but he quickly started to walk beside me like he does on his regular leash.

Once I got the hang of how to shorten the leash -- by pressing the button and then pressing it again to release it -- if I didn't want him going further than where he was, it was pretty easy to control him.

Since it was the first time we used this type of leash, I also brought a regular leash with me "just in case." Once we got to the village area where there were a lot of people and Toby was way over stimulated, I switched to the other one.

And this is exactly when my opinion of retractable leashes changed.

I was never a fan of them, because I always saw the dogs attached to them running all over people's lawns when walking down the street, weaving in and out of crowds almost tripping people and simply being rude by roaming everywhere they please.

It annoyed, and worried me. What if someone put pesticides on their lawn and you're letting your dog run all over it? What if there are cars coming and your dog is running in the middle of the street?

What I realized at that moment was it's not the leash's fault, it's the humans who may not use it in the best situations.

The leash's design makes holding it very comfortable and natural, and although, I switched back to Toby's regular leash when we were in a crowd, the Flexi City retractable leash is perfect for hiking, walking in less crowded places or when taking your pup to a dog party or event where you want them to be able to have some freedom, but not run wild.

Flexi sent us one of their leashes to be reviewed. This is our honest review of the product, and we were not compensated in any other way.

Wildlife Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-12T13:29:00.002-04:00

We saw this adorable giraffe while on a sunrise safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Isn't it just so cute?! Watch for more animal related photos from our trip soon!

This post was shared on the following websites: BlogPaws, Wordless Wednesday, Bit of Byrd,

5 Tips for Keeping Your Dog at a Healthy Weight

2011-10-12T10:30:00.001-04:00

Keeping your pet at a healthy weight is key to a happy and long life. It is especially important when it comes to small dogs like Toby, because their little frames can't hold additional weight.

In the US, over 45 percent of dogs of dogs and 58 percent of cats are now estimated to be overweight or obese according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Overweight dogs, no matter what their size, can have knee and joint problems, and develop diabetes or other health-related issues.

Toby has been the exact same weight since he became an adult dog - 12.6 pounds. My vet says he's healthy and always tells me to "continue doing whatever it is you're doing."

In honor of today's National Pet Obesity Awareness Day, here are 5 tips to keeping your dog at a healthy weight.

1. Find a Food That Works for Your Dog

Just like people, each dog can react differently to food. Not every brand will work for every dog, and it's good to know what does, and does not, work with your dog's natural metabolism and body type. If you find a food that keeps your dog trim, is nutritionally balanced and he or she seems to do well on, then stick with it!

2. Keep Your Dog Stimulated

Taking your pup for a walk is important, but so is playing catch, giving them toys, socializing them, taking them to the dog park and exposing them to new experiences. It will not only keep their body trim, but their mind sharp.

To be honest, Toby doesn't get to go for a "walk" everyday, but he does go see my mom in the nursing home, hangs out on the front porch watching everything going on in the neighborhood and is around people daily. These activities keep him sharp.

3. Read Dog Treat Labels

Have you read what's in your dog's treats? It's not always pretty. While there's an endless debate over the dog food you should, or should not, be feeding your dog, the ingredients in dog treats seem to get overlooked even though it's just as important as what what you're feeding them for a meal.

Since Toby was a puppy, I've always been careful about the treats he gets on a regular basis. Unless someone buys them for him or it's a one-time deal, Toby doesn't get fake bacon strips, or treats that look like your favorite deli meat. Instead, I try to feed him low-fat, crunchy treats that are made with ingredients I can pronounce and limited artificial flavors.

4. Feed Healthy 'Table Scraps'

In my house, you can't bite into an apple, or open a jar of peanut butter, without having a wagging tail begging for a bite. Toby loves peanut butter, apples and eggs. There is nothing wrong with giving your dog "table scraps" if they are the correct kind. Select vegetables, eggs and fruit all make a good supplement to your dog's regular food.

5. Know Your Dog's Body Type

When I tell people Toby is a 12-pound Chihuahua they look at me like he must be some rolly-polly dog. They always say, "12 pounds?" But, if you look at Toby you know he is a trim dog with very little excess body fat.

Just because a dog's breed says they should be one weight, it doesn't necessarily mean it's the correct weight for them. Your dog's healthy weight should be based on his or her specific body type. The best way to determine this is by talking with your vet, as well as by just observing your dog. You will see when they are most active and if you're in-tune with your pet, you'll know when they are are feeling their best and when they're not.

What are some of your tips for keeping your pet healthy?

PetAg's Spotlight on Healthy Pets Featuring Toby!

2011-10-11T13:33:00.000-04:00

How cute is this?! Toby was "interviewed" by PetAg's blog about being a healthy pet, as part of tomorrow's National Pet Obesity Awareness Day.

He was asked about a variety of topics, including, his favorite activities, funniest thing he's seen his human do, why he picked the prop he did for his photo shoot, best food he's ever tasted and my personal favorite -- his favorite object in the house.

Wait till you read his answer to that one! Talk about spoiled......

You can read his interview on PetAg's Pet Health blog. Plus, check out the other four pets who were also selected to be featured as Healthy Pets.

Check back here tomorrow for our tips on keeping your dog healthy as part of National Pet Obesity Awareness Day.

Sunday Night Blues

2011-10-09T21:04:00.000-04:00

Anyone else's dog get a sad look on their face on Sunday night? I swear Toby does.

Seriously, his whole demeanor changes, especially if we are home in the Adirondacks all weekend. This morning he was lively, bouncing, jumping and playing with Kong. Now that we're in New Jersey at my parents, he curled up on the couch with a droopy-looking face.

It's like he knows the weekend fun is over. And, this weekend he had a new lap to sit on because we brought my aunt up to my house for the first time. A dog lover who used to show German Shepherds, my aunt was the perfect human for Toby because she let him lie on the couch and snuggle up with her.

Now, he's sitting on the small couch with such a sad look on his face! :(
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Home Sweet Home!

2011-10-08T10:44:00.000-04:00

Home sweet home! I love to travel, but this past week with being in Atlanta for Bark World and then Orlando for vacation, I was going through major Toby withdraw!

This was the face I got before I left:

I mean seriously, how can you not feel guilty leaving that face?! I did, however, make it a point to stop at dog store inside the Orlando airport, and brought Toby back a special treat! When you're on vacation and your dog isn't with you, do you bring something back for them? Or, am I the only crazy person that does that? ;-)

This post is linked up to the Saturday Pet Bloggers Blog Hop brought to you by Two Little Cavaliers, Life with Dogs, and Confessions of the Plume.

My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much

Wordless Wednesday ~ Cat Pals

And, This Is Why I Don't Buy Dog Beds

Jenks Comes to Visit!

Saturday Snuggles

Wordless Wednesday: I'm Not Coming Out of Here

Should Uggie Have Been Nominated for an Oscar?

Better, But Not Healed

Let's Go Giants!

A Snowy Limp

Nevada May Ban "Street Pets" From Las Vegas Strip

Wordless Wednesday: Nemo, Is That You?

I'm ... Getting ..... Tired ...

Not Every Toy Is for the Dog

Toby's Work From Home Privileges

Wordless Wednesday: Me and My Shadow

Pet Blogger Challenge 2012

Bill to Protect Pets During Domestic Disputes Waits for Gov. Christie's Signature

Bissell Lift-Off Deep Cleaning System Is Very User-Friendly

These Paws Can Walk ... Differently

Merry Russian Christmas!

Snuggly Puppy!

Romney on Traveling With His Dog on the Roof

New Jersey No-Kill Animal Shelter in Danger of Closing

Wordless Wednesday: Laundry Time!

Toby Approved Reflective Dog Jacket From Target

Top 10 Favorite Posts of 2011

Acupuncture for Pets Fights to Be Accepted Practice

Toby's Yearly Check-Up

Wordless Wednesday: Is That Present for Me?

My Insomniac Dog

Happy, Merry, Ho Ho Ho!

Iams Home 4 the Holidays Brings Puppy Love to Wall Street

Toby's Guide to Unwrapping Champagne

Gift a Virtual Angry Birds Toy and Hartz Will Make Shelter Donation

Holiday Baking Goes to the Dogs

Toby Plays Santa

New Jersey Pets One Step Closer to Protection in Domestic Disputes

Holiday Gift Guide: Planet Dog Holiday Toy Line

Let Me Sleep! ~ Wordless Wednesday

Holiday Gift Guide: Dear Santa, Love Toby

TGIS!

Holiday Pet Pop-Up Shop Open In SoHo This Weekend

Help Best Friends Pet Care Collect Donations for Shelters

Toby Goes Crazy for Hartz Pets' Angry Birds Toys

Asleep at the Table

Happy Birthday, Toby!

How Do You Wrap Those Odd Size Gifts?

Pet Products for Your Home and Your Pet

Small Business Saturday: Pets Edition

It Was a Very Toby Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Carpet Confessions With Bissell

What? Yeah, I'm Awake, Mom. Really.

National Get a Pal For Your Pet Day

Dog Dives to Pool Bottom After Toys {Video}

Sam & Tasha Trunk Show ~ Pet Products, Clothing

Wordless Wednesday ~ Adopt Me!

We Made It Through Blogathon 2011!

Toby Taste Tests the Pupcakes!

Animals at the North Country SPCA Need Your Help!

Bear Will Benefit From Your Donation

Emma Will Benefit From Your Donation

Alvin Will Benefit From Your Donation

Shhhhhh! Someone's Sleeping Through the Blogathon!

Pupcakes Are Out of the Oven!

Time to Make the Pupcakes!

Time for Some Human Noms

Win a Copy of Barkonomics by DogTipper.com

Our First Tout!

Time to Tire out the Toby!

Meet the Bloggers of #Blogpocalypse

Blogathon 2011: Let's Get This Party Started!

Charity Blogathon to Help North Country SPCA Starts at 3 p.m. Today!

Pet Stores Misled Customers on Origin of Dogs, Humane Society Says

Sturdi Products Party at the RS Pop Up Pet Adoption Shop

Reader Photos: Treat Time!

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RS Pop Up Shop Features Adoptable Pets in November

Jay Leno Saves Pets