It's a Dog's Life: 10 Things about Xena

by Xena

© Carrie Boyko
Xena Savors her Treats

I know. We just finished telling you that we're not planning to get too organized. After we hit the publish button on the last post, we had a staff meeting: me, Tanner and Oliver--the little guy. The three of us decided that we should probably tell you a little about each of us. We gonna write our own, so don't expect anything too much like a profile. Tanner's will probably talk about his fetch toys! Here goes:


10 Things About Xena:

• I am 1 of a litter of 8 puppies from a Golden Retriever momma who had a oopsie with a Lab/Chow daddy. I was adopted at a "Rescue Day" at a local pet superstore.
• They call me a senior citizen because I'm old. I was born in 1996. You do the math.
• Just because I am old doesn't mean I don't still like to have fun. My favorite activities are tossing dad's socks in the air, taking a car ride, going on a walk, and napping. 
• When I was first adopted, the lady at the agency gave me a bandanna. My mom put it on me and after a few days it fell off. I picked it up and brought it to mom to put back on. I almost always wear a bandanna. I love them!
• My first friend's name was Deke, a handsome Rottweiler. 
• My girl, Toni, helped pick me out and myy boy, Brent, named me. My official name is Xena--Warrior Princess.
• I savor my treats and chewy strips. Sometimes I hide them for later and Mom finds them in funny places, like under her pillow.
• When I was about 2, I adopted a kitten named Patches. She and I played tag and hide and seek a lot. Now we're both getting on in years, and we're more into napping. She hunts down the sunny spots near windows and I like the cool tile.
• I met one of my sisters at the dog park once, when we were about 12. It was cool...sorta like looking in the mirror. There is something magical about sharing the same birthday with someone. Don't you think so?
• I loved helping to raise my 3 kids. It was my job to make sure they got their exercise. We biked and walked and went swimming together. Mom and Dad and I walked a lot too. It's been a great life.

Finding Dog Sports and Competitive Events

by Xena, Tanner and Oliver

© Carrie Boyko
Get Organized About Feeding Us

Our mom is busy AGAIN, trying to get All Things Dog Blog even more organized. Just between you and us, she's sorta anal about making sure she has all sorts of information ready for you guys, and easy to find. It's true, though, she has got a lot of good dog stuff in her sidebar. We're sorta jealous, but don't really want to do all that work on our blog.

Today she's started this new Clipboard thingamajig. She says its like a symbol. Every time you see the clipboard, you'll know it has information on it to help you find something on her blog. Her first example with it is to show you where to find the sports activities and stuff like that. We like dog sports--mostly agility, obedience, dock diving, flyball, well you get it. Is going to the dog park a sport? We're really good at that; we do it almost every weekend.

Trust us, our blog will NEVER have clipboards. We're not planning on doing too much organizing either. As long as our meals are served on time, we'll consider that organized enough. Breakfast was great! Ya'll have a great day.

Help with Adoptions; Here's the Straight Scoop

by Xena

(c) Carrie Boyko
Find Your Loving Home too!

Let's face it. There's really only one important thing to making a pet adoption work. It's very simple: Love us!


Over at All Things Dog Blog Mom is turning this topic into a major thing. She makes a lot of great points, but it still comes down to love. If you really love your dog, you'll do whatever it takes to care for her, right?


I was adopted at a rescue day at one of those big pet superstores. It was really noisy and everyone was very excited. I had 7 brothers and sisters. We all got homes that day, so it ended well.


Later, I got to meet one of my sisters at the dog park one day when we were about 12. How cool is that? It was like looking in the mirror--sorta spooky!


Anyway, if you need some help making sure your own adoption goes well, my mom can help with her tips. She'll be glad to answer your questions too. Just leave your question in the comment box and she'll get back to you. Good luck with your pup.

Thunder? What's a Dog to Do?

by Tanner

(c) Carrie Boyko
Fetching Fun?
Not during Thunder.

I really don't get all the hoopla about thunder and fireworks. Xena retreats to her crate whenever this noisy stuff starts up. Oliver glues himself to mom, but seems to cope just fine. Me? I'm ready to celebrate in the rain or attend the fireworks display myself. What's all the fuss about?

The buzz at the dog park is that thunder is dangerous. I'm not so sure about that, but I guess that's why mom won't let me swim when it gets stormy outside. Oh well. I get to have my daily wet fetch game after it passes over.

So, what's my philosophy on fear? It's best said in a verse my mom likes:

Grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;

And wisdom to know the difference.

Does that make me a wise dog?

Doggie Daycare Works for Us

by Tanner

(c) Carrie Boyko

Whose Mom is That, Guys? 

We're sorta regulars at our doggie daycare, Bow Wow Resort. I know; I know. It sounds like a preschool for Chihuahuas, right? Trust me, there are plenty of us big boys here too. My friends Zeus and Bentley are Great Danes. They make me look like a miniature pup.  (That's me on the right and Zeus on the left; he's just a little bit bigger than me, huh?) Imagine that! I'm a 70 pounder, but these guys are about 175. They put the "big" in Big Boy.


Mom's gone on a trip and Xena, Oliver and I are here to play. We have a cool room for sleeping, an indoor play area for the little guys that can't handle the sunshine (I think Xena is in that category sometimes. She's a golden oldie!).


My favorite is the splash pool and the misters that keep us cool all around the play yard. We have shade sails and walls to jump on, toys to play with, and a long run out back for us guys that like to race. 


No rush coming home, Mom. All Things Dog Blog is on auto-pilot. We miss you, but we're having fun. Take your time.

Free Help for Fido

by Tanner

(c) Bow Wow Resort

I hear mom talking about folks having money problems a lot these days. She says that some families have a tough time keeping their dogs, because they can't afford their food or healthcare. That's why she supports our local dog food pantry for families who need a little help. Central Florida Animal Pantry, among others, offer free food and pet supplies to families in need.


But what about health questions or assistance with training problems? Not all dogs are as perfectly well behaved as I am. "Ouch! Stop it Oliver! Just because you got your CGC doesn't mean you're the only well-behaved dog in the house."


Anyway, I just wanted to remind you that over at All Things Dog Blog you can Ask the Vet about your dog's health, and you an also get training advice from Judy, our Ask the Dog Trainer columnist. The best part is that this is all FREE. Unlike some of those ads you see on Internet pet sites, our advice is totally FREE. Write to LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com with your questions. Happy tails! 

The Rainbow Bridge Memorial is Real--at All Things Dog Blog

by Oliver

Great Lap, Dad

Mom and Dr. Pat have a dream. They want to give our readers a place to remember their pups that have gone to the Rainbow Bridge. It's a beautiful place where the sun shines all day and the pups are never cold or hungry. Mom says we'll love it when we go there...just not too soon.

Now the Rainbow Bridge Memorial is a real place, just for our readers. There is beautiful music on the site, the Rainbow Bridge Story, and pictures of our readers' lost companions are beginning to appear there. I recognized some from blog posts, like Allie Woo Woo. Her story was on the Rescuing Rover column just recently.

Mom also set up a little store for dog lovers to buy dog books for their friends who have lost a dog recently. Lots of them are great for gifts to give someone who is missing their pup. Poems, novels, books for kids and adults; they've got everything at the Rainbow Bridge Resource Roundup. Stop in and visit sometime.

It's naptime for me now. I found a warm lap. Catch ya later.

Oliver Can't Stand it! CGC Bragging Rights...

No laughing at the middle name; there was major pressure.

Doggie Michief and Odd Behaviors?

by Xena

(c) Carrie Boyko
Now This is Mischief!

Maybe I'm just an old fogy (did I spell that right?), but I got a good chuckle out of the letter Dr. Pat answered today over at All Things Dog Blog. Apparently Bob, the dog, is a nice fella who doesn't get into much mischief. Yet his owner was asking about things like eating paper. 


I eat paper, quite often, actually. Anytime a paper napkin, tissue or stray piece of toilet paper (don't ask) find their way into my easy access, I scoop them up and scarf them down. Yum! 


So, moving on to Dr. Pat's comical association with Bob's mix. 

Mischievous + Enthusiastic Chewer = Large Potential for Damage

Since Bob is a Labradoodle, Dr. Pat finds it interesting that Bob is not more of a trouble maker. I concur. Let's face it, those Poodles are really michievous, right? What? You say it's the Retrievers that are ambitious michief-makers? But I'm three quarters Retriever; that's not fair. I'm not mischievous. Case closed. It's a moot point anyway, since Bob is not a trouble maker. So there!


(Allow me to point out that Tanner is the mischievous one at our house; note the picture above where he has snagged a lady's undergarment for a toy. Okay, I'll admit he was a puppy, but still, his taste could use some work.)

Dogs Need Boredom Busters!

by Oliver

Hide your handbags, shoes and table legs; the dogs are out to get them! (Sorry, Mom, but I couldn't help making fun of you.) I'm a toy-sized dog, weighing in at 9.5 lbs., so it's a little harder for me to relate to my mom's post about tips for renters with dogs. I couldn't do much damage to furniture, can't reach the handbags on the shelves, and my teeth aren't big enough to chew through a shoe. Well, maybe a shoe, if I had several hours to work at it.

Tanner says that he'd like to have a chance at that Coach handbag Mom mentioned in her article. That's funny, cuz she doesn't even own one. Fortunately for Mom, Tanner has learned not to chew on stuff, but there was a time, I have heard. It seems that when he was a puppy, before I came into the picture, he favored Topsiders, UNC Chapel Hill hats and hangers. Go figure! I could have made some better choices. There's just no accounting for taste sometimes.

Personally I'm a fan of mom's Busy Bones. She takes all sorts of our favorite goodies and layers them into a Kong or those hollow, sterilized Beef Bones. Then she freezes them, and it takes me an hour to work my way through from both sides. Tanner is faster than me, but that's just cuz he's so much bigger. You can find more ideas at this article.

I can't figure out which healthy ingredient is my favorite: chicken bits, cheese, organic dog food, peanut butter, chopped apples, grated carrots, kibble, chopped potatoes, or rice. Rice may sound boring to you, but Mom's organic rice if super yummy.  What's really cool is that just about the time I get bored, there's a new layer of something delicious in my Busy Bone that I hadn't expected. You guys should all tell your moms to make these for you. They're Pawsome!

Since When do Bulldogs Retrieve?

by Tanner

I guess I have to admit something today. Apparently it is not just Retrievers that can learn to retrieve stuff. At All Things Dog Blog, our Ask the Dog Trainer columnist, Judy, has trained her American Bulldog to go Fetch the newspaper. I would have bet big kibble that he couldn't learn to do that. She must be pretty good.


Seeing Judy's video of FatBoy made my mom want to work more with Oliver. He's  sorta Fetch-challenged, if you know what I mean. Of course, the biggest problem is he can't pick up most toys. He has the teenie-tiniest mouth, so he has to have special, baby-dog toys. He would have to drag to newspaper to the house; it probably weighs as much as he does.


I could pick up our newspaper, if only the paper guy would throw it into our yard. It usually lands next to the mailbox, a place I can't go because of my fence. That's not fair. I'd really like to show FatBoy that I, Tanner, am up to the task. I can Fetch big sticks, balls, floating toys in the pool, Frisbees--most anything. I need a chance to prove myself to him. I'm bummed.


I suppose if mom moved the newspaper to the yard, I could learn to retrieve it--no problem. She says that defeats the purpose. Not for me!  :(

Swimming Lessons Again?

by Oliver

We have three staff members here at 5 Minutes for Fido: Xena, Tanner and Oliver. We usually try to rotate somewhat, but today I snagged the post again. Mom's talking about me over at All Things Dog Blog AGAIN, and I just had to get in the first word.


Just because I don't like to swim doesn't mean I have to prove that I can do it every month. Really....do I look that stupid? (Don't answer that!) All that I have to do is remember where the shallow step is and swim to that spot. It's easy. Any Chihuahua could do it. Or even a Mastiff. Us extremely bright Papillons have no problem remembering where the shallow step is. Can we make this the last time? Huh? I'll watch the short video below and remember every time!


Now, where's my splash pool? I want to cool off without having to paddle. Toss a few toys in and I'm good. Oh, wait. Could you bring out some of those Pupsicles we had last week? 

The Calm Canine: Mom's New Weapon

by Oliver

My mom has this new music she's been playing for us. It's sorta like 'elevator music' and it puts me to sleep. Tanner too. (Xena sleeps a lot already; it's a senior citizen thing) Mom's new trick is to play it before we leave the house to go to the dog park. She's trying to get us all sleepy so we're not excited when we arrive at the park.


Sorry, Mom. If I have anything to do with it, I'll still be awake enough to alert the rest of the pack that the park is near. That's my job, after all. I'm the observant one. I always know where we are going before we get there.


Okay, so I did snooze off that one time. But I'm not going to let it happen again. Scout's honor! Okay, so I'm not a scout. I am a CGC, though. CGC's honor! That should work.


PS. Just in case you're interested in this music, mom will be writing about it over at All Things Dog Blog real soon. It's a conspiracy to make all us pups take a nap. Ugg.

Hello Dog Lovers: Lost Your Best Friend? We're Planning a Memorial

by Tanner and Oliver

Dr. Pat and our mom had a sad day yesterday. One of their readers at All Things Dog Blog lost a Chihuahua rather suddenly. We're sad too, just to know that we've lost a cousin. After all, aren't all dogs related?

Mom and Dr. Pat decided to start a memorial webpage, for families that have lost a best friend. If you miss your beloved dog and want to have a place to go to remember him or her, you can get in on this too. Just send your pup's photo to LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com and put "Memorial" in the subject line.

Us dogs are getting pretty good at hitting the forward button to make sure Mom gets your mail that she needs to see. She will love sharing your companion's photo on the memorial page, and we'll announce the website name as soon as it is ready to go. You'll be able to visit as often as you like.

For now, you can send 1) a photo of your dog, 2) your dog's name, 3) age at death or years of life, and 4) if you like, you can include a few words such as your dog's philosophy in life, a sentiment of your own, or a special quote that suits your friend. Mom will work hard to get your pet's picture and information on the memorial page. She's busy setting up beautiful music and a Rainbow Bridge story, so you can enjoy this while you look at your best friend's memories. Good memories are good karma.

Dog Embarrassments and Natural Solutions

by Xena

It's sorta embarrassing to think that there is some dog out there with diarrhea. Whenever I have that problem, I find a private place way out behind a bush to take care of matters without onlookers watching.


Dr. Pat seems to have lots of new ideas for fixing this little predicament; she wrote about them at All Things Dog Blog today. 


Apparently, Jagger is like Oliver. He likes to eat whatever unsavory things he finds. Oliver's favorite outdoor treat is dried worms that didn't make it across the sidewalk in the hot, Florida sun. Yuck!


Not me, I'll stick to my organic kibble, thank you very much. Good luck, Dr. Pat. Hope Jagger feels better soon.

Calling all Fidos: Time for a Frozen Treat Party!

by Tanner

My mom is the coolest. She's been trying recipes for dog goodies that people are sending her. It's pawsome! If you're one of the readers that sent in a recipe, I thank you.


Today at All Things Dog Blog, she's sharing some recipes for great stuff, so be sure to pay a visit over there. You don't want to miss Pupsicles, Broth Bombs, Ground Beef Medallions and more!


Of course, Oliver and I got to taste test some of the yummies. Xena slept through the chow call, and turned up just as we were cleaning up the scraps. Sorry, Xena! You better skip those naps when mom is cooking.


Maybe we should get one of those ice cream truck songs to play when the frozen treats are ready. Would that wake her up?

Woo Who...A Rescue Dog?

by Oliver

Mom's RESCUING ROVER column is back again at All Things Dog Blog, with a story from a lady in the Netherlands. We're getting pretty international over here, with readers visiting from more than a dozen countries now. 


This nice lady, Niki, rescued a little dog named Allie Woo Woo--funny, huh?!


Some folks say my name is funny because it isn't cutesy enough. But that's the way Toni wanted to name me. Mom liked silly names like Furbie and Gizmo, but Toni was having none of that.


Personally, I don't care what my name is as long as they don't forget to call me when dinner is ready. I have my priorities. 


Hope you enjoy Allie Woo Woo's story. It made me well up, and I have a hard time admitting stuff like that. It's a guy thing.

Canine Cookbook Taste Testing has Begun

by Xena, Tanner and Oliver

Today we're all three here to help mom call out the cooks. She had an idea to start putting together a cookbook for pups; you know, the kind that has dog chow ideas in it. Yes!

We're especially excited to try all the submissions, since we get to be the judges for the winners. All of your doggie recipes will be included, along with your pup's picture and your name (if you like), so let's get cooking!

Ooops! We forgot to mention the other two prizes. Sorry. We're pretty focused on the food. It's a dog thing.

Apparently this cookbook needs a name, so mom's taking ideas and the winner will get a prize too. Along with this, she'll need a great cover photo. Does your dog like to pose at the stove, wearing an apron, or stirring a pot? If not, Photoshop works for us. 

Mom's going to dig up prizes for at least 5 categories:

• Best overall recipe
• Best home-cooked meal recipe
• Best treat recipe
• Cover photo winner 
• Cookbook title idea winner

Send your submissions of all types to LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. We'll be collecting and testing for a while, but don't let any grass grow under your feet. Dig up those yummy recipes and send 'em in quick. We'd hate for you to miss your chance to get published.

One final thing. If you're a doggie business that would like to get some promotion, we're looking for prize donations. Anything that can be shipped will work great. We have readers all over the world, so we'll be looking for gift certificates or small, lightweight items that can be shipped relatively inexpensively. If you can donate a prize, I'd love to hear from you at the email above. We'll be sure to give you some free advertising in exchange for your generosity.

Okay, chefs, cooks, and cleanup crew; it's time to get busy cooking. We're looking for a few good recipes--chop! chop!

I've Got the Show Dog Prance!

by Xena

Apparently I have a natural talent. Folks have always commented on my lady-like prance. I am a lady, after all.


Today, the trainer at All Things Dog Blog, is giving some tips to a reader whose dog doesn't have the right moves. I'm sure his Saluki will figure it out. Doesn't walking come naturally to us dogs?


If you're interested in showing dogs, there's a lot of help in this article. Me, I think I'll go take a nap. Then I'll be trying to get the early bird special (wink, wink....early dinner!). See ya next time.

Take our Poll!

by Xena and Tanner

Shhh! We're playing a joke on Oliver. He doesn't know that we're doing it, so hush, hush!


He's been all puffed up about his CGC (Canine Good Citizen) certificate coming. Well, we're not so impressed. So we put a poll over in the left column, at the top, for you to take. What do you think we should do with his certificate?


We had a few ideas, so we listed them. You can pick. Got another idea? Write to us at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com.

Green Lawns make Nice Play Yards

by Tanner

Boy, does our grass smell good. You should come give it a sniff. The organic lawncare folks just left and we love it when they come. They put worm guts and fish emulsion on our lawn for fertilizer, and it smells better than Thanksgiving dinner--wonderful! Oliver and Xena and I could spend all day outside just smelling the grass, if mom would let us.

Today, Mom wrote about creating an Eco-friendly yard for your dog on her blog, All Things Dog Blog. We like being green dogs; our yard is safe to play in all the time.

Within a few days and after a few rains the yummy smell goes away and we end our extensive exploration of our yard. Bummer. It was really fun to explore every inch of grass to find all the great smells.

Mom says our natural fertilizer is better for us and for our family. It doesn't contain chemicals that cause sickness and stuff like that. We're glad cuz we really like our life. Have you tried natural lawn care? Here's some articles my mom has written to help folks understand about natural lawncare. Your dogs will love it too--no more waiting inside for a day after the yard chemicals are put on the lawn:

All Natural Pest Control for Your Yard
Green Lawn Care: A Tale of Two Families
Excited About Organic Lawn Care

Our New Veterinarian Has Tips on Sun Protection

by Xena

I just heard about Dr. Pat's first ASK THE VET column over at All Things Dog Blog. Sounds like there are lots of dogs wearing sunglasses and needing sunscreen. Thank goodness I'm 25% Chow Chow and have a thick, black coat. Even at 14 1/2 I still have a thicker coat that Oliver or Tanner will ever have, and it's black. Well, sorta.

At my age a girl's fur can change colors a bit. I'm getting some red highlights that I prefer to think of as part of the aging process, rather than a product of being in the sun. I've taken quite a few walks in my day, so it adds up. Let's see 365 X 14 1/2 = ummmmmm... You do the math; I don't have enough toes. That's a lot of walks in the Florida sun.

If you have a thin coat or are very fair, Dr. Pat has some tips. Couldn't hurt to go check 'em out now, while you're thinking about it. It's good to take care of your appearance so you can stay as good looking as me, when you're old too. Is that modest enough?

Before I go, say hello to Hank in the photo up there. He belongs to Brian. Thanks for sharing Hank's picture, Brian. We think Hank is a hunk! LOL

(c) photo copyright Brian, full name on file for privacy