Tasty Tuesday: We Won Honest Kitchen Smooches

A few weeks ago, I was the very lucky winner of a box of Smooches from The Honest Kitchen at Roxy the Traveling Dog.

Thank you so much, Roxy and Torrey!

Jeffie, Rudy and Rosie were thrilled to taste these all natural dog treats made with free-range chicken and cranberries.

Smooches ingredients:  barley flour, chicken, molasses, water, eggs, coconut oil, cranberries and parmesan cheese.

Each Smooch is a sweet little heart and only 2.3 calories!

 

Is this what you call: waiting with baited breath?

 

 

 

Rudy didn't hesitate!

 Jeffie thought Smooches were lip smacking good!

These are gourmet healthy dog treats that our dogs find delicious!  It's easy to see why these are favorites of Roxy and Torrey.  We love them, too!

Bark in the Park - Largest Midwest Dog Festival

Join the Humane Society of Missouri at Bark in the Park - presented by Purina ONE on Saturday, May 18, 2013.  This years' fun includes a 5k run, the 1-mile Walk for Animals and a pancake breakfast.

Bark in the Park is the largest dog walk and festival in the Midwest!  There are lots of activities for you and your dog to enjoy.  Dogs are welcome to attend as long as their vaccinations are up to date.

This year's Bark in the Park mascot is very special to the Humane Society of Missouri.  Trooper's story made international headlines after he was dragged behind a truck for more than a mile.  His survival was nothing short of a miracle and his recovery has touched millions.
 

Photo: Humane Society of Missouri

Trooper is currently in foster care with the Humane Society of Missouri.  He'll be leading the Walk for Animals, along with many other rescue pets.  Be sure to stop by his tent to get a photo and pawtograph.

Find your new best friend a the pet adoptions.  Have your pet microchipped for just $25 per pet.  Bid on barking good items in the Silent Auction and enjoy St. Louis' best food trucks.

You'll also enjoy performances by the Purina Incredible Dog Team, the Frontline and Heartgard Interactive Family Fun Center, Agility course and pet contests, a bounce house, face painting, balloon animals and music.  Barn Buddy farm animals will be on hand from the Longmeadow Rescue Ranch.

Bark in the Park is head at Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri.  Registration is $35.  All proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Fund, dedicated to investigating, preventing and healing animal abuse. For more information about Barking in the Park contact the Humane Society of Missouri at 314-951-1567 or email bark@hsmo.org

Adoptable Dog Jake a Big Black Labrador Retriever

This handsome boy is Jake and he has a story to tell.

Hi there! I'm Jake and I am so ready for a brand new home with people who I can spend the rest of my life with. Oh, that sounds so nice, loving and caring for a family who will do the same for me. You're out there, waiting to find me just as I am waiting for you. The timing just hasn't been right for us yet, but we'll get together, I know we will. I am a fun, energetic, very lovable dog, just trying to find my way in this big world.

I'm a handsome, 2 1/2 year old, 56 pound, totally housetrained Retriever mix. I have a shiny and soft coat, expressive eyes, and a smile a mile wide. I don't ask for much. I just want to feel safe and loved and I just want to belong. It's been hard for me though, to find these few things in life that seem so elusive to me. 

I first came to Wayside in August of last year, as a transfer from a shelter in Hot Springs, AR. I stayed at Wayside for awhile, but the shelter was a very stressful place for me, so I've now been living in a wonderful foster home, since late last year. My foster mom knows everything there is to know about me, so there won't be any surprises when you adopt me! I've had so much fun staying with her and her dogs, but it's just a temporary stop on my journey of life, I can sense that, so I'm still anxiously searching for my forever home.

I am a home body. I love the safety and comfort of my house and yard. That's where I feel the most relaxed and where my true lovely personality really shines. Foster Mom says I'm pretty perfect in her home and fenced in yard...calm, well mannered, completely housetrained, rarely barking at all. She can leave me alone with her other dogs with full access to her home for as long as she needs...she's left me up to 10 hours in fact...and I don't bother a thing. I do just fine with her other dogs, love to go for rides in the car and trips to the dog park. 

I'm affectionate, loving, and fun. I've been working hard to become the dog I am today though, and it hasn't happened overnight. It is the result of plenty of love and patience and dedication by my foster mom. I'll need you to be that way with me too, please, especially as I get acclimated to my new home and new life, but I promise to repay you tenfold, with every bit of love and devotion that I hold in my heart.
 
 My relationship with other dogs is sort of complicated. Foster Mom feels like I really need another dog in my life, to help me stay happy and healthy and relaxed. But I can be particular sometimes. I don't always effectively read communication from other dogs I'm with, I'm a little possessive of my stuff, and I don't always know when to back down when I think something should be mine. I am learning though! Learning to respect other dogs and my place in the pecking order. Foster Mom feeds me in a separate place, so that I can eat in peace, and also so that I won't steal food from her other dogs. And we frequently go to the dog park, where I get along just great with most of the dogs I meet. I would like to meet any dogs you have before going home though, please. Oh, and I need a home without cats!

The two things in life that are the most scary to me are confinement and the unknown dangers lurking outside of my yard. I get very stressed in a crate, but there really isn't a reason why I'd ever need one, since I'm so well behaved. And the outside thing, well that's just one of my little eccentric behaviors. Being on a leash is sometimes scary for me, and I like to go at my own quick pace, but I'll probably never make a great running partner. I much prefer to play off leash or run around in my fenced in the yard, which I will need in my new home. 

In fact, a fenced in yard is an absolute must have for me! No tie out chains for me, please, and having to be leashed up every time I needed to go out would be stressful and scary. Foster Mom has a dog door I use when I need to go out and I love the freedom of being able to decide on my own what I want to do. When I get really stressed out, I make a high pitched crying noise to let you know I'm distressed and worried. I do it sometimes when I'm at Wayside. I'm just trying to communicate with you, but it's difficult to hear, because I sound like I'm in pain. Once I get home and settled and relaxed, I will be quiet and calm, but our first few days together might be upsetting to me, so please be patient and understanding with me. I will appreciate that so much!

I'm affectionate and loving, and sometimes I get up in your face to be as close to you as possible. I will get down if you ask, but it's part of my exuberant personality and it makes me happy to be close to you, so I hope you will understand that I'm showing you my love. Foster Mom lets me up on the couch with her and I hope you will too. Sometimes she lets me sleep with her, but if she doesn't want me to, I will sleep on the couch. I'm a quick learner and want to make you happy, so please offer me positive reinforcement when I do good. I promise to do my best to do what you want.

I'd love a home with people who are around a lot. Having cuddle time with you keeps me really happy, and just knowing you're there helps me relax. I guess what I need is a family who is committed to me and wants me and values me as a family member. Is that asking too much? I want to be wanted and loved and safe. And in exchange, I will shower you with love, loyalty, and devotion like you've never experienced. It's time for us to find each other. We need each other now.
Love, Jake

Wayside Waifs is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with an Adoptions Special!  All cat adoptions are $25 and dog adoptions are $50 through today. Fetch all the dogs available for adoption at Wayside Waifs.

Wayside Waifs is the largest pet adoption center in Kansas City, placing over 5,400 animals each year in loving forever homes.  Wayside does not euthanize adoptable animals and is a proud member of Kansas City's no-kill community.

For more information about Jake or any other adoptable pet at Wayside Waifs, contact them at 816-761-8151 or via email


Talking Dogs is participating in the Tuesday's Tails Blog Hop.  There are so many shelter animals waiting to find their loving forever home and this blog hop features them each week.   Please share these pets on social media and let's find them homes!

Dog Song Saturday: You, Your Dog, and I by Danny Blackwell

It's Saturday, so time for a dog song at Talking Dogs.  Today's song is an original song composed and performed by Danny Blackwell.  This love song is accompanied by a simple artistic video.

Grab a dog.  Sit.  Stay.  Relax and enjoy You, Your Dog and I.

Fetch more dog song music videos at Talking Dogs and be sure to scroll down to explore some barking good blogs in today's Pet Blogger Hop.

Dog Mom Jewelry Gifts for Mother's Day

Mother's Day is fast approaching and we've got some good gift suggestions for any woman who is a dog mom.  

You might want to explore our dog breed jewelry and choose something that looks just like her purebred dog.  Or you could select something from our mutts / mixed breed dog lover jewelry. Our dog rescue jewelry would make a thoughtful gift, too.

However, we'd like to suggest you consider something that truly spells out dog mom, like this one of a kind Dog Mom necklace.  

This handmade jewelry creation combines artisan lampwork beads in shades of purple, violet and turquoise with turquoise and purple magnesite gemstones beads.  A few sparkling turquoise crystal rondelles add just the right amount of sparkle.

If you're dog mom prefers bracelets, check out this beauty!  Rich turquoise sparkling crystals, elegant artisan lampwork beads, and old ivory color aragonite gemstone beads are hand wire wrapped with gold jeweler's sire to surround the hand crafted porcelain dog bone focal.  The clasp is a charming dog collar and bone toggle.  This Dog Mom bracelet is sure to please.

Of course, another option might be this Woof Dog Bone Necklace.  Gorgeous shades of caramel and tan, this one of a kind necklace combines artisan lampwork beads and jasper gemstones.  A beautiful way to say "I'm a dog lover" in neutral, go with everything, colors.

Fetch more unique gift ideas for Mother's Day for your special dog mom at For Love of a Dog Jewelry & Gifts.  You'll enjoy our fast, free standard shipping!  Our dog theme jewelry is handmade the old fashioned way in our Missouri Ozarks studio.  Shop now for best selection and enjoy a 10% savings on your order with this discount code:  FLDNEW.

The Versatile Blogger Award

Two fabulous bloggers recently nominated Talking Dogs for the Versatile Blogger Award.  

Many thanks to both The Daily Dog Blog and Pawsitively Pets.  I very much appreciate it, especially coming from two such barking good bloggers!

When I read the rules for this award, it overwhelmed me to even think about singling out 15 bloggers!   Actually, I hate to single out any, because I follow and enjoy so many.  However, in an effort to be true to the spirit of the award, you'll see below that I did name five.

According to the rules, I'm supposed to share 7 things about myself:

1. My favorite food is chocolate.
2. I grew up in: Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota,, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin (As an adult I've lived in Virginia and Missouri.)
3. I raised my own herd of cattle from day old bottle calves.
4. When I traced one line of my genealogy I discovered that my husband and I are 6th cousins once removed.  (Oh, those colonial era Virginians!)
5. I could never have too many daylilies. (Or too much chocolate.)
6. I believe in reincarnation.
7. I listen to my favorite movies while I work in my jewelry studio and I can quote dialog line for line in many of them.

Though the rules state that I'm supposed to pass the award on to 15 blogs I've recently discovered or follow regularly, I'm going to limit myself to 5:

2 Brown Dawgs  A relatively new blog for me, I'm learning a lot about hunt test training with Chesapeake Bay Retrievers Thunder, Storm and Freighter. Great action photos, plus new puppy pictures, too!

That Dog Dancing Guy  Kevin blogs about dog dancing with his Border Collie, Cynder - including awesome videos and instruction - plus other always interesting dog stories, issues and news.  Full disclosure:  I want to adopt Kevin.  Cynder, too.  Just for fun, I've posted one of Kevin's videos below.

Oz the Terrier  Another relatively new blog for me, I enjoy all Gina's posts, but I am crazy about the limericks! 

Saved By Dogs  I know I shouldn't say this for fear of hurting feelings, but this is simply one of my favorite blogs.  I always enjoy and learn so much from Chris's dog breed profiles, plus her personal dog stories are told from the heart and are a real treat.

Dogs N Pawz  I've been promoting shelter dogs every week for years and  I love Lisa's new Tuesday's Tails Blog Hop - Opt to Adopt to help shelter animals. 

There are so many wonderful blogs out there, and so many I follow, that it is incredibly hard to mention just a few.  Please feel free to suggest a great blog in the comments, as well as check out my blogroll of favorites here (somewhere over on the left) on Talking Dogs.

Thanks again to Julie and Ann for bestowing me with this award!  

As promised, here's one of That Dog Dancing Guy's videos.  This one is Dog Dancing Basics 101: Teach your dog the Stationary Leg Weave.
 

Wordless Wednesday: All Partied Out

The Talking Dogs are all partied out and catching up on some zzzzs...

If you missed the party, fetch Jeffie's Birthday Party page.