Aspen the Yorkie

I know Christmas is over, and I hope that you had a really good one! We did, and today one of my owners has a birthday, and so we all had a lazy day at home, eating leftovers, and I got a lot more turkey, my favorite! My owner got lots of birthday “tweets” on Twitter and greetings on Facebook, and calls from family, and nice presents, but I was just happy that they were home all day.

Since my owner’s birthday is right after Christmas, this year some people bought her gifts after Christmas because there are such good sales. In fact, shopping after Christmas is a great thing to do if you are looking for the best bargains.

Maybe we have told you before, but we really like Sears a lot because they have the heroes at home program with it’s wish registry that helped provide gifts for children and families of our military. It is stores that care like this that we should support with our shopping dollars, even if Christmas is over. I’m sure you can think of a few things that you didn’t get for Christmas that you might like to buy…or maybe you were given money as a present, you can spend that on yourself, or you can look around at the different departments in Sears for something for your pet if you have one. We like toys and presents too!

Here’s a little video for you to help you understand more about the heroes at home program.

We didn’t get a chance to wish you Merry Christmas when we wanted to because our cable internet connection was down, so we hope you had a Merry Christmas.  There are parts of Christmas I like…like opening my presents.  I’m going to have to ask my owner to add a picture later of me opening presents, I got a squeaky toy and loved opening that, it made noise the whole time, and my owners laughed at me the whole time I was opening it.

But the other present, lets just say I felt the same way about it as some children feel when they get a box that they know is cloths.  It was a collar, it wasn’t as fun as the other present, even though it’s nice and has a red bandanna attached to it.

The part of Christmas I don’t like is when everyone leaves to get together with the rest of the family.  Then I am all alone at home.  But today, the day after Christmas was even better, at least to this little yorkie.  There was so much food around the house over the past few days that the 20 lb. turkey that my family bought didn’t get eaten, so they cooked it tonight….I LOVE turkey…so have had my fill.  I’m stuffed and going to lie down and go to sleep soon, but wanted to wish all my readers a late Merry Christmas!

I’m not sure I want my owners to know all of this pet safety information, especially the part about food, but since I’m happy to eat just about anything, maybe it’s a good idea.  During the holidays, there are things around the house, and things that people eat, that are not good for pets.  Here are just a few health and safety tips:

• High-fat holiday foods that people enjoy can make some of us animals sick, especially little ones like me.  Fatty foods can lead to pancreatitis in pets, just like it can in people, only a little more easily because we are smaller.  This is a very serious thing for pets to get and will mean staying in the pet hospital.
• Chocolate, coffe and tea contain something that causes cardiac problems and problems with the nervous system in pets, which can lead to seizures and gastro-intestinal upset.  Dark chocolate is even worse than regular chocolate, which is bad as it is.
• If you have a party and serve alcohol, be sure that we don’t get tempted to finish off the glasses of drinks that aren’t finished by your human friends, that can be fatal, every year hundreds of dogs die from alcohol poisoning.
• The pretty plant, Holly, causes digestive upset in dogs and cats.
• Mistletoe causes heart problems and digestive upset
• Poinsettias cause blisters in the mouth and digestive upset
• Secure your tree if you have a cat, especially if it’s your first Christmas with the cat and you don’t know their habits.  They will sometimes climb the tree, and knock ornaments off the tree to play with.
• Cats might swallow tree tinsel, ribbon and other things that can cause obstructions inside that might require surgery.
• Don’t have batteries lying around or other little things that you dog might chew on and make them very sick because of the toxins inside.
• Macadamia nuts are not good for pets, they can affect the nervous and digestive system.
• Potpourri, the wonderful smell comes from oils, and those oils can be toxic to pets.
• DON’T GIVE PETS AS GIFTS unless you have planned well ahead for them…so many pets end up in shelters or out on the streets because the family isn’t prepared and gets tired of them, and that’s just plain mean and sad.

A lot of these tips came from a vet in a town not far from here, his site is newtonvet.com.

Christmas is going to be here before we know it, and my owner Mom was reading in the local paper tonight that there would be a couple of places where owners can take their pets to have their picture taken on Santa’s lap. Then, just a little while later, she was looking at some things online, and came upon a place where she could VIRTUALLY put me on Santa’s lap without taking me out in the cold and driving anywhere. I could tell Santa what I wanted for Christmas, and have got a wish or two, so we gave it a try. Then when we were finished, we found out we could share the video with you…please listen to the whole thing, it’s not long, you’ll see my picture in a photo-frame and what I asked Santa for. I picked this picture because it’s one of my owner’s favorites, and guess what, you can go visit and do the same thing! While you’re listening, please see if you can figure out what makes CEIVA Digital Photo Frame different from other photo frames.

Okay, here’s the video:

Oh, and there’s something else that you should know….1 random entry is selected for each and every day of the contest with a cash prize of up to $500 per winner.Now go make your own video, it’s fun, and I’m sure you’ve got a wish to share with Santa.

Here is an article for you with some shopping ideas for your dog, with Christmas coming, we’ll see what other ideas we can come up with to help you.

Dog Food Bowl: Great Gifts For Man s Best Friend
By: Ben Anton

Dogs, like people, enjoy a gift every now and then. Purchasing something that your companion loves and benefits from is a great feeling. As with purchasing any gift, it is important to remember the likes and dislikes, the personality, and the needs of the four legged recipient. It is also important to do a little research to ensure you purchase something worthwhile rather than junk.

We’ve put together a list of a few gifts that your dog might like this holiday season, or anytime praise is warranted.

Doggie Beds

Like people, sleep is an important part of a dog’s life. Providing a comfortable place for him or her to sleep will not only make the dog happier but will also reduce the chances of your pet getting spine, joint and muscle problems.

To choose the right bed, watch how your dog sleeps and, along with assessing the size of your dog, try to find a bed that will compliment their habits. Dogs that sleep curled up may best appreciate a donut dog bed while active or younger dogs may be better off with a chew proof bed. Orthopedic beds are available for older dogs that may have arthritis or incontinence.

Doggie Bowls

Dogs eat healthier when they have a food and water bowl that fits their size or breed. Large dog need elevated dog bowls so that they do not have to strain their neck to get at its food. Smaller bowls are better suited for little dogs so that they aren’t forced to step into the bowl to get at a piece of kibble. Smaller bowls also keep the dog from overeating and getting sick. Newer dog bowls are now designed with dividers inside to help control overeating or fast eating by dogs that are prone to dog bloat or are overweight.

Doggie Toys

Just like with people, doggie toys are meant to make them happy. They give your puppy entertainment, help deflect chewing, provide exercise and can be used as a reward for your dog in place of treats. To choose a good dog toy for your pet, find one that is made specifically for dogs; giving a dog a child’s toy can introduce them to harmful fibers or Styrofoam inside when they chew on it. Also, make sure the toy is large enough so that the dog won’t choke on it and tough enough for whatever extent of chewing your dog may do. Toys that can be filled with treats are very popular. However, make sure to only use such a toy for dogs that are not overweight.

Dog Grooming

Grooming is sometimes difficult. Cleaning, brushing and clipping your dog while also trying to keep them calm can be a challenge for any dog owner. However, sometimes a good set of grooming tools can make the job much easier. Look into a good dog brush that thoroughly brushes as well as trims out excess hair. This will help you get to tasks done at once. If you don’t feel up to grooming your pet yourself, there are hundreds of dog groomers who would love to pamper your pooch for an afternoon.

Caring for your dog’s teeth has become increasingly important. Veterinarians highly recommend that dog owners invest in a good toothbrush for their pet. Dog owners can also buy oral hygiene dog food to help in this area as well.

Everyone loves buying gifts for their friends. Take the time to buy something special for that companion that greets you at the door every evening, curls up with you while you watch TV and provides you countless hours of love and companionship.

Author Resource: Check out the DogPauseBowl website at http://www.dogpausebowl.com to view the best solution for your Dog Bowl.

Article From Selling With Articles