Wednesday, October 30, 2013

October BarkBox ~Happy Halloween!~

It's that time again: Bark Box time! Jesse and I grabbed our leash, poop bag, and mailbox key; then headed off to the mailbox~

The crisp Autumn air makes for a beautiful walk and some playtime at the park. I brought Jesse's favorite pink racquet ball with us; taking a pup stop for a game of fetch with my little man.
 
Usually racquet balls only last a play session, but this one has been with us since 2009; when we bought it in New York City when we appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman's "Stupid Pet Tricks" segment.
I have still yet to find a racquet ball as good as this one =o)
 
After collecting our Bark Box from the mail, we were both excited to see what was in this month's box!
 
Jess helped me open it (he always loves opening up his packages).
The October Bark Box included a Chevron bear, Mutt Meatball Mix, Baker's Best Treats, a Fruitables share pack, and Lamb ears.
 
The first item was a chevron bear from Pet Qwerks. I can tell this toy will be able to stand up to play sessions and still be soft enough to snuggle. The bear is made of a durable material that would be easy to clean if it gets dirty.
 
The next item was a Fruitables share pack; the perfect treats for giving out on Halloween! I had never seen this idea done before, and was very impressed with how cute the individual packets were.
Jesse would be the perfect door man to hand out treats to the canine trick-or-treaters. =o) (He has had some practice from last year's Halloween where he gave out Nylabone goodies to his doggie pals)
We usually make our own homemade doggie party favors for special events, but will definitely look into Fruitables for next Halloween too.
The third item was Lamb ears from Superior Farms. At first glance it looked like one ear, but upon further investigation there were two packed into one.
Lamb ears are one of Jesse's favorite chews. He will carry them around when I give them to him, and find the perfect spot before setting down to eat his chewie.
 Lamb ears are also good for dogs with sensitive tummies or allergies. They are lower in fat than pig ears, and just as yummy with their airy, crunchy texture.

The fourth item was a bag of Autumn Harvest Treats from Baker's Best.
I am always looking for unique treats that are both delicious and healthy for Jesse, and these treats were a hit! Being made with pumpkin and cranberry, these are perfect for Fall. Jesse loved these treats, and gladly offered cute tricks for more. =o)
"Oh no, I've been hit!"
The last item was a Mutt Meatball Mix made by Your Dog's Dinner. This was by far Jesse's absolute favorite item from the BarkBox this month!
To make our very own Mutt Meatballs, we needed to collect a few ingredients:
~1 egg
~1 lb of Meat (we chose Beef)
~1 Package of Mutt Meatballs Mix
"Beef, Egg & Meatball Mix-CHECK!"
We put all the ingredients in a bowl, then mixed them together really well.
"Stirred, what's next?"
Then we made them into little teaspoon sized balls, and spaced them apart on a cooking sheet.
"All ready for the oven!"
We cooked them for 30mins in the oven. Jesse knew these special treats were for him; he stayed near the oven while they were cooking.
Once they were cooked and cooled; Jesse couldn't wait to try one! Boy did these smell delicious! Jesse gobbled one up, and licked his lips; gazing at me with his soulful eyes asking for more! (He might of got seconds-or thirds ;o) ) 
I'd say the October BarkBox was a big hit! Jesse sure is a Fan =o)
You can find purchase a BarkBox for your dog, or find out more by going to their Official Website.
~~~Happy Halloween!~~~~
 
Stay Happy and Healthy!
~Heather and Jesse~
 

Saturday, October 19, 2013

A Canine Chase Game with Jesse and Lucky

Play is the best way to make friendships and strengthen bonds; and I can't say how important that is for our canine companions too. Not only is playing games with humans and canines important, but it is also beneficial for our dogs to be able to play with their canine buddies.

Dogs who live in the same household benefit greatly when they get to enjoy many activities together, rather than being segregated or simply co-existing. They learn a lot about each other through play, daily activities, and group rituals; which help each member become part of the family.
 
Remember the cute little puppy from Jesse's Christmas Video last year?
From day 1, Lucky wanted to play with Jesse. He would wag his tiny tail and bounce around when he saw Jesse, but Jesse wasn't too thrilled with a little ball of fluff chasing him around, playing with his tail, and sometimes trying to suckle from him. He would give me that look of "Really mom? You want me to play with THIS!?"

Of course, all that changed when one day I caught Jesse playing with Lucky. They were cuddling and play wrestling, but as soon as I got my camera, Jesse would pretend he wasn't even looking at Lucky. As Lucky grew bigger, and started joining in on Jesse's other activities, Jesse started to let Lucky do the little brother activities he had originally walked away from.
One of the games that these two play is the chase game. It is always entertaining to see who will chase who, and how they will incorporate the room into their game. Lucky likes to use the environment to his advantage, and Jesse will try to find the shortest way possible to reach Lucky.
Here is one of the many games Jesse and Lucky play: The Chase Game
 

I also have some really cute footage of these two wrestling, and will make a future video of their adorable antics.
Lucky is also quite the talented little guy, knowing many tricks as early as 6 weeks old. Not only is this little guy smart, but he is a well-rounded, sweet, and sociable pup.
 
Here is a short video of some of his talents:
 
I love watching Jesse play. It is fascinating to me that he will accommodate his style to whichever dog he is playing with. His play style is much different when he plays with Kaine than with Lucky. This always makes play interesting and fun. =o)

Don't forget one of the most important and simple pleasures of life;
Get out there and Play with your Dog!

Stay Happy and Healthy,
~Heather and Jesse~
 

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Midnight Launch for Pokemon X Game! :)

Went with my Momma to pick up the Pokémon X Game at Midnight :)
If there are any Pokémon fans who would like to battle in the future, I'm sure my Mom would be game ;)