Bob Recommends Eukanuba with 3D DentaDefense

Mom has been trying new dog food again.  I hate it when she does that!  It's usually something that's supposed to be good for me and you know what that means.  It will not taste good!  Mom is a BzzAgent. That's someone who gets to try products for free or at a reduced price and then share what she thinks about them with others.  Normally, it doesn't have anything to do with me, but this time they asked if she wanted to try the new dog food and of course, she said yes.

When she does try something new, I usually just don't eat it until she gets afraid I will starve and gives me back my old food.  But she said this new food was good for my teeth.  I have been to the dog dentist once before to have an abscessed tooth pulled.  It was no fun.  My mouth hurt.  I had to stay at the Dr. Karen's all day by myself.  And then Mom would not let me have a hamburger when she picked me up.  Plus I had to take pills for a while.  YUCK!  If this new dog food could keep that from happening, then I was willing to at least try it.

Mom started by mixing it with my regular food, but each day I noticed there was less of my usual stuff and more of this new dog food.  If this was a trick, it was working because by the end of a few days, all that was in the bowl was the new dog food.  And it actually didn't taste too bad.  I could eat this as long as I got an occasional burger or piece of bacon.

So I've been eating the Eukanuba 3D DentaDefense dog food for almost a month now.  So have Austin and Oscar.  Mom says my teeth already look better.  I don't know if that's true but I know that Oscar's breath has gotten a lot better.  I don't have to bury my head when he comes to lay by me!  Mom says that the Eukanuba dog food reduces stuff called tartar and plaque.  It's the tartar and plaque that make my teeth hurt and Oscar's breath smell bad.  Getting rid of them helps keep our mouths and teeth healthy.

Mom asked Dr. Karen about Eukanuba dog food and Dr. Karen said it was good for all of us.  She said she had heard about the new DentaDefense food and how it would help our teeth.  She also said Eukanuba was good for Austin because it had something in it called OmegaCoat which is good for his skin.  Austin has problems with his skin a lot so anything that can help him is good!

Mom has to go to the pet store to get this dog food, but she said she doesn't mind since it's so good for our teeth.  I'm just glad it may help cut down on trips to the dog dentist.  It's bad enough having to go for cleanings.  I don't ever want to have to get another tooth pulled.  Now with this new dog food, I shouldn't have to!  Thanks Eukanuba!

SpayArkansas' 5th Annual Silent Auction

Hello Friends of the Furried Ones!

Please mark your calendars on Sunday November 25 for SpayArkansas' 5th Annual Silent Auction 1 to 4 pm, at Arsaga's on Crossover & Mission, Fayetteville, AR. Music and wine and fun! Get your holiday shopping done early and know that all of your money goes to a good cause! They have done over 6000 surgeries so far, thanks to YOUR support!

There are lots of great donated items this year, including a guitar, some hand made hardwood bowls, some cool jewelry, all kinds of stuff and services...

Come join the party!

Welcome to Hannibal, Missouri!

I've been so busy sharing about Adopt a Senior Pet Month and Adopt a Shelter Dog Month that I have not had time to share our trip to Hannibal, MO.  It's actually been a couple of months since we went but Mom and I have been so busy, I am just now getting a chance to tell about it. 

We stayed at the Quality Inn and Suites.  It was a very nice hotel except that Mom did not like that they only allowed pets in smoking rooms.  Mom and Dad do not smoke.  But since we were already there, we just stayed.  Dad said we could look for another hotel, but Mom was tired.  The free breakfast made up for it as far as I was concerned because Mom was able to bring me back some bacon in the morning.  And it was very quiet so I was able to sleep all night and so was Mom.

It was late when we got there so we just settled in for the night.  There aren't any outdoor restaurants in Hannibal where I could go so Mom fed me (I always travel with my own food) and then she and Dad went out to eat.  They went somewhere for pizza because Mom brought me back a pizza crust.  I love pizza crust! 

The next morning we had breakfast (BACON!) and then we went to the Mark Twain Cave and Campground.  Dogs are not allowed in the cave but there was plenty to look at in the park and campground.  As always, I had to put Mom on her leash.  But I don't mind.  At least I know she can't get lost.

We spent a little time walking through the campground area.  Then dad had a surprise for Mom.  He had booked a trip on the Mark Twain Riverboat.  This unique riverboat has been offering excursions for over 20 years. I was hoping it was a dinner cruise but dogs are only allowed on board on the sightseeing cruises. Still it was fun.  Mom enjoyed listening the tour guide and I enjoyed the sandwich I shared with Dad from the snack stand!

After the cruise, we were supposed to go back to the room and spend another night.  But Mom just did not want to spend another night in a smoking room.  So we loaded up and headed home.  It was not as much fun as some trips I have been on.  But at least I had bacon and pizza so it wasn't all bad!

Support Your Local Animal Shelter

This week is National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week - a good time to support local shelters and rescue organizations.  Plus maybe a little extra for those in the northeast that were impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

Mom did some research and she found that there are approximately 3500 animal shelters in the U.S.  Together with local rescue groups, they provide safety and care for approximately 8 million homeless animals each year.  That means each shelter serves approximately 2200 homeless animals per year!

Many cats, dogs and other animals end up in shelters when their families can't afford to properly care for them, when families relocate and can't take their pets or when someone in the family is allergic, leaving animals of all breeds and ages without homes. If only given another chance, these animals could make grateful and loving pets.

Animal shelters and rescue groups not only provide care for animals that need homes, but many also assist in emergencies like Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy.  They need your support to be able to provide these programs. 

There are lots of ways you can support your local animal shelter! 
1. Adopt!  Give a pet a forever home and encourage your friends, relatives and neighbors to save lives by adopting pets.

2. Volunteer!  Most shelters and rescue groups have volunteer programs.  They can always use an extra hand. 
3. Give!  Donate funds or supplies. Shelters and rescue groups always need food, towels, blankets, rugs, toys and other supplies for animals.

4. Spread the word!  Tell your family, friends, and neighbors how they can help support their local animal shelter.

For more information about National Animal Shelter and Rescue Appreciation Week, visit www.humanesociety.org/sheltersrock.

Facebook? Pinterest? Help Me Choose!

I have my own Twitter page.  Bet you didn't know that!  And I'm not the only one.  Many of my friends have one too.  Stinky Tinky Cat, Pixel, Brewskie Butt, and Woofie are just some of the ones I follow.  And Austin and I have a board on Mom's Pinterest page.

Mom also is on Twitter - and Facebook and Pinterest and LinkedIn and Digg and StumbleUpon - and many, many others. In fact, she is on so many of these sites I'm not sure she even remembers them all.  But I have noticed she seems to focus on a select few. 

I have been asking Mom if I should expand my networking also.  I like Twitter and have met lots of friends there, both of the 4-legged and the 2-legged variety.  But I would like to meet more.  I'm just not sure where to start.  I was sitting quietly during a meeting of Mom's mastermind group recently.  I was just quietly listening when the subject of social media came up.  It seems all Mom's friends have a favorite.  Mom is a huge Twitter fan. Linda loves Facebook. Jessie's new passion is Pinterest. And Mike prefers LinkedIn and something called Google+.  None of them are dogs though, so I'm not sure what works for them will be good for me.

So, here goes: Which social media site do you focus on and why? Is there a particular site you would like to see me on?  Answer by leaving a comment. Maybe you can help teach an old dog another new trick!  And if you aren't already, come follow me on Twitter. 

You CAN Teach an Old Dog New Tricks!

After many months of trying, I have taught my Mom a new trick!  She has learned to dance with me.  I like to dance  on my hind legs a bit when Reid is here dancing and Mom has FINALLY learned to dance with us.  Just goes to show you are never too old to learn a new trick!

I am a senior citizen. In dog years, I am older than my Baby Boomer Mom. I admit, that's a bit weird at times. But it's nice to know she's still young enough to take care of me!

Now that I am a bit older, I admit there are some things I cannot do as well as when I was a puppy. Mom needs to help me get up in my chair sometimes. And I sleep more now than I used to.  But there are some advantages to being older.  Mom seems to enjoy my company more now. She laughs at Austin's antics and likes to play with him outside and take him for walks. But in the evenings, she likes to sit in our chair and read or watch TV and I will curl up in her lap and just be with her. She will scratch my ears or sometimes give me a belly rub. It's pleasant to just spend quiet time together. Austin is constantly jumping up and down and Mom finally gets tired of it and tells him to stay down. But she seems to really enjoy having me laying quietly in her lap.

Now that it's getting colder at night, she often lets me sleep with her. We lay quietly next to each other snuggled under the quilt. Sometimes Dad's snoring wakes me up, but Mom will nudge him and he quiets right down. And sometimes Austin will try to squirm his way in. But he can't ever lay still long enough so Mom makes him sleep at the food of the bed or he would keep all of us (Mom, Dad, and me) awake all night.

I remember my puppy years. There was so much to learn. How to go outside so I didn't mess in the house. What toys I could chew on and some things (like shoes) are not chew toys. Mom was often stern with me while I struggled to learn the rules. Now I watch Austin going through the same thing and I am glad that I am old enough to know all the rules. I'm done teething so Mom and I don't have any differences of opinion over what makes an appropriate chew toy. And while Austin needs to run and play ALOT, I'm content to walk quietly with Mom or just sit in the sun on the porch with her or in our comfy chair. Being a older dog is much less stressful than being a puppy!

There are lots of senior pets in shelters all over the country that would welcome the chance to share their golden years with a special Mom and Dad. And there are lots of advantages to owning a senior dog. We are already grown so you know exactly how big we are going to be. We are done teething so you don't have to worry about us chewing up your favorite slippers - or the rockers on your antique rocking chair (sorry Mom!). Most of us have been housebroken already so once we know where we are supposed to go, there aren't the usual puppy messes to clean up. Some of us have even been trained to do other things. When Ginger came to live with us, she soon showed us that she had been trained to herd. She used that training to round up everything from grandkids to cats for Mom. Our older cats have years of experience hunting. So while neighbors complain of mice coming in their houses for the winter or finding snakes in their yard, Mom relaxes knowing that her four-legged mouse traps and snake deterrents are on the job. (I don't have any special tricks or skills, except dancing. I guess it's a good thing I'm so cute!)

At shelters, older dogs are often the last to be adopted and the first to be put to sleep. When you save the life of one of us senior dogs, you will be rewarded with unconditional love and devotion every day. If you don't believe we can know and express gratitude, just talk to someone who has adopted a senior pet.

Ready for some good senior pet companionship? Check out these programs that specialize in senior pet adoption.

Berkeley East Bay Humane Society
H.A.R.T. (Humane Animal Rescue Team),
Muttville
Peace of Mind Dog Rescue
Atlanta Animal Rescue Friends (AARF)
The Hinsdale Humane Society
Indiana Petite Paws Rescue Angels, Inc
St. Louis Senior Dogs Project
Senior Dogs 4 Seniors
Posh Pets Rescue
North Shore Animal League
Warwick Valley Humane Society
The Sanctuary for Senior Dogs (SSD)
Senior Dog Rescue of Oregon

Mom has said I can do something to help these adoption programs for senior pets!  How exciting!  We have a new design in my CafePress shop celebrating senior pet adoption.  And for item purchased we will make a donation to one of the shelters listed above.  Check out our Senior Pet Adoption design and let the world know that you can teach an old dog new tricks!