the numbers of clean

1. wash two dogs


2. wash two loads of dog towels


3. wash tub out (twice)


4. wash one load of dog sheets (twice)


5. clean 4 dog ears


6. brush 64 teeth


7. wash two halti's


8. wash two dog collars


9. sweeping fur off floor - 10 mins


10. snuggle with two clean labradors

now on to my own laundry!

Foods poisonous to pets

Ok I knew about onions, chocolate and grapes. But Avocado and Mac nuts? who knew? Yeast dough makes sense - but I guess folks don't really think. Lucky for us we can all Guide Dogs, but it is still nice to have the ASPCA number handy for the times when your freakin' out! - found this on Yahoo
enjoy - Carrie and the sleepy Waffle

(Photo: Getty Images)

We all know that pets aren’t supposed to have people food. But let’s face it, sometimes, it happens…something falls on the floor when you’re cooking dinner, and Buddy is quickly there, vacuuming up the crumbs, or Felix steels something off the plate when you aren’t looking…

There are some healthy “people foods” for pets (only small amounts– not replacements for pet food). But there are also many foods that can be dangerous to our feline friends and canine companions.

Here is a handy list of the top common foods that are toxic to your pet along with tips on what to do if your pet happens to get a hold of any of these substances.

Avocado

Avocado

While many pet owners say they feed their pets avocados with no problems, studies have shown that their leaves, fruit, seeds and bark can contain a toxin called Persin. According to the ASPCA, the Guatemalan variety, which is commonly found in stores, contains the most toxicity.

Onions, onion powder, chives and garlic

These all can lead to gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage. All forms of onion can cause problems including dehydrated onions, raw and cooked onions. Cats are more susceptible than dogs, but it can be toxic to both.

Grapes

Grapes and raisins

These can be toxic to dogs and cause kidney failure. Researchers say there are still many unknowns about the toxicity of grapes and raisins, including whether only certain types of dogs are affected, but it is advised not to feed grapes or raisins to dogs in any amount.

Yeast dough

Dough that is not cooked and contains yeast can rise in your pet’s stomach, causing pain, and can potentially cause the intestines to rupture. This risk diminishes once the dough is cooked.

Bones

Left-over bones

Left-over bones pose a choking hazard to pets, and they can also splinter and puncture your pet’s gut or intestine. Additionally, do not feed your pet undercooked meat or eggs, as they can contain harmful bacteria.

Foods with a high salt or fat content

Excessive fats can cause upset stomach and potentially inflame the pancreas causing pancreatitis. Salty foods can pose a risk for the development of sodium ion toxicosis, according to the ASPCA. Be aware that if your pet gets into food with a high fat or salt content, she could experience stomach problems including diarrhea and vomiting.

Chocolate

Chocolate, coffee, alcohol

According to the ASPCA, the substances in chocolate, coffee, and caffeine, methlxanthines, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures, and potentially death in pets. The higher the cocoa percentage, the more dangerous the chocolate is, making dark chocolate more toxic than milk or white chocolate. All these products can cause vomiting, diarrhea and even death.

Sugarless candies (products sweetened with xylitol)

This compound can cause liver damage and even death in some more vulnerable dogs. Xylitol is in many products including gum, candy, sugar-free cookies and toothpaste.

Macadamia nuts

These nuts can cause weakness, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Symptoms generally last up to two days, and usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion.

What do you do if your pet ate something poisonous? If your animal is having seizures or losing consciousness, bring him or her to your veterinarian or emergency vet center. If your pet is not showing symptoms, but ingested something potentially toxic, call the ASPCA hotline at (888) 426-4435. Have the following information available: the species, breed, age, sex, weight, and information about the product exposure. It is best to have the package of the product available for reference

Taco Bell

Taco after a long hike and at her 1st birthday


Taco Bell's people work at the same place as I do. They also believe in keeping in contact, so I get treated to regular visits from my problem child. So today I got to give ear squidgies and kisses to my lovely girl. She is still slim and trim, with her long beautiful legs. I wish I could be Taco, her peeps are taking her up to Mammoth for holidays. Cross country skiing and cozy naps by the fire. What a life!

New rules for animals weighed - News

New rules for animals weighed - News

Truffie made the student newspaper, page 4 -- and they mis-quote and take stuff out of context. oh well I tell myself it is a student newspaper. Plus they burry her cute little face behind the story who our new college president could be who cares! A cute lab should be front page news.

Out and About

by Truffle

I haven't really been talkin' much about what I've kind of busy - practicing being a guide dog is hard work! So last week I was telling BFF that I wanted to do something else besides work and next thing I know I'm loaded up into the car and off we went.

So the peeps went to Soup Plantation for lunch - just look at the carnage on the table, food - food everywhere but not a crumb for me. :(

this might be familiar to my fellow PIT's the peeps up top hogging all the food and here I am stuck under the table, suffering..... gee don't I look like I'm suffering. Quick someone should call GDB


After lunch on our way to who knows where, I ran into a friend. Her name is Java and she comes from the Seeing Eye. She was really cool, I was afraid that being a German Shepard that she wouldn't speak regular dog - but she did. In fact she is tri-lingual, she speaks regular dog, German and English. Yeah her people gave her directions in German! she is really smart, you know how I know? 'Cuz all she wanted to do was play with me! Even though she was harnessed up Java's person let her meet and greet and I snuck in a little kiss


Don't forget to bring your re-usable bag


Pudding? Pudding? where is she? (family joke)

Not another store!

ok- people, I need a nap

I mean when you are only 19 inches this is the only view you get, kind of on the dull side

Yeah let's wiggle waggle our way home

Happy Mommy Day!

Happy Mommy Day

I have lots of 'Moms' but I want to send a big slurpy kiss to my favorite dog-mom who is pregnant with her second round of pups. HOPE you feel good and they are all as good pups just like ME!

Love and licks to my hu-mom too. There is no one else I want to cuddle up next to.
love Truffie

working hard or hardly working?

both of them snuggled up with their toys - napping after a hard day of..... well of napping

The Fur will fly

We tried to furminate Truffie the other day, but she didn't like it. She actually jumped up on top of Waffle who was on the sofa to get away. So I tried the shedding blade on her with a bit more sucess.

A couple of days ago I wrote a post about Waffle and Truffle's snoring. Well I found the commercial.

Dumb A** people should not be allowed to own dogs

This is a RANT

The socialization we do with the dogs should be required of all dog owners.

Tonight I was walking Waffle around our local park thinking about writing a post about how much I love our park in the summer and spring. There is year round softball which means the park is lit until 11pm, but in the spring and summer it is filled with tons of interesting people doing interesting things.

Well one of those interesting things attacked Waffle. We were walking our usual route when we came across this man walking his chocolate lab, I asked if they could meet and he said yes, there was another couple there with their little fluffy yappy dog (this couple ALWAYS picks up their dog when they see us walking by) down on the ground talking to the man and his dogs, so I figured the dogs where safe. The chocolate approached Waffle and then lunges and starts barking and snapping. Waffle, who was at my side backed up behind me, the dog jumps forward. I am trying to avoid his teeth, I back up trip over Waffle and fall into the street on top of Waffle.

Lucky for us neither one of us was hurt and this jerk is apologizing and I say 'hey if your dog is violent - don't take him in public' he says 'he's not' - which stops me cold, I wanna say 'what the bleep was that! Instead I just walk away until we are far enough away and check Waffle out. She was fine, in fact she was a little peeved that I wouldn't let her do her usual sniff of the park. I just finished the lap we were on and took her home - none worse for the experience.

After I had imagined all the evil things I would like to do to that fool, it occurred to me just how vital all the socialization we do with the dogs is. Waffle walks well around the park, not pulling and responding when I call her. I can let her meet kids, and she walks calmly when they ride their bikes, skateboards and scooters around her. She meets and greets other dogs appropriately, but I can not tell you how many of the other dogs at the park will lunge and bark as we go by. I don't blame the dog, but I should have known something was up, the dog had on a harness. I find that at this park most of the dogs who are out of control have harnesses on, their owners are digging in while their dogs are on their hind legs desperate to make our acquaintance. I think their owners think it will give them better control of their animals. We greet very few dogs at the park because I'm afraid of a fight, and actually this is the third time we've had some dog come up attack Waffle. I used to wonder why this guy in my neighborhood takes his walks with a piece of water hose, but after I had a lose dog come up and jump Waffle it made a lot of sense.

Had either of us been hurt, I would have sued to have his animals taken from him, people like that shouldn't be allowed to have animals.

how did I get so lucky?

so there is this mobile phone commercial with this man and a dog both laying on their back snoring away. The tag line is the woman using her cell phone to share the sounds with her friends "I know how did I get so lucky"

I'm sitting here, one dog on the sofa one on the dog bed listening to alternating snores....how did I get so lucky?