Big Black and Brown Dog

Hearty Dog Pause - Puppy Love

2012-02-01T11:45:00.000-05:00

Some may remember this song by Paul Anka in 1960. While it wasn't written about dogs, it does bring to mind warm, cuddly puppy dogs. As adorable as puppies are, there are lots of reasons to consider an older dog when choosing your new sweetheart from the animal shelter. Here are 10 very, very good ones: The Senior Dogs Project.

Hearty Dog Pause - Funny Dogs Too!

2012-01-25T12:38:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for a sweetheart for Valentine's this year, you might try the animal shelter near you. Besides big dogs and little dogs, there are lots of funny dogs to warm your heart all year. Astrid models her 'Funny Dogs' bandana that comes in three different sizes so it is sure to fit whatever size new best friend you choose.

Hearty Dog Pause

2012-01-16T14:05:00.000-05:00

Today through Valentine's Day, instead of our weekly 'Fashion Paws' we will be doing a Hearty Dog Pause (Paws). So, Astrid...along with her hearty little friend...would like to say that all Valentine's sweethearts don't come in red, pink or white. The one's waiting in shelters come in brown, black and tan too. If you are looking for a new best friend for this Valentine's day, there are lots of them in a shelter near you.

National Dress Up Your Pet Day

2012-01-13T14:45:00.002-05:00

Saturday, January 14 is National Dress Up Your Pet Day. Some where, sometime you have probably come across the controversy surrounding this topic. Here is Astrid and her mom's take on the subject: It can be a source of endless entertainment for the pet parent and for the pet, as long as both are enjoying themselves equally. Our guess is that the dog (or any other pet) does not really care what color sweater was picked out for them or if it buttons down the front or the back. What they love is the interaction between themselves the people they are devoted to.

Pictured here is Sugar, a former resident of the TLC (Tender Loving Care) Rescue in Grove City, Ohio. She loves playing 'dress up'.

Fashion Paws...Big, Small or Inbetween

2012-01-10T09:27:00.000-05:00

Everyone has heard the old adage 'the cutest clothes only come in small sizes'. Well, these three are here to bark "no way!" It's all a matter of finding the cutest things in your own size. Whether you are big, small or inbetween, love the skin (and fur!) you're in!

National Bird Day

2012-01-05T10:49:00.000-05:00

Today, January 5th, is National Bird Day. There are so many wonderful ways to enjoy birds, learning about their behavior and needs. At home, Astrid is celebrating the day with little whimsical lovebirds all over her bandana.

Fashion Paws...Develop Your Own Style

2012-01-04T10:44:00.000-05:00

While following the latest fashion trends is fun, it can be more fun to develop your own style. Astrid, along with her friends Tucker, Sugar and Brody aren't afraid to get off the beaten track in their 'Boho Chic' bandanas.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T09:36:00.000-05:00

Graying With Grace

2011-12-30T09:48:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow is the last day of 2011. One of the things that means is before all of us see the last day of 2012, we will be a year older. If we are in the second half of our lives, we may be discovering some gray hair, stiff joints or other age related characteristic. Here's Astrid, peering out of her big brown eyes through rings of gray. Astrid just turned approximately age 7 a couple of days ago. She's aging gracefully, aging well. And how is Astrid's mom doing? I'm aging with gratitude that I have Astrid.

Fashion Paws...Yule Is Cool

2011-12-14T11:14:00.001-05:00

It's official! What we have known for a long time has recently been confirmed by a reliable fashion source. This holiday season, Christmas fashion is 'in'. So pet moms and pet dads, pet sisters and brothers...get out your Christmas and other holiday fashions. Dogs have always known when it comes to fashion, Yule Is Cool!

Fashion Paws...Oh, The Parties!

2011-12-07T11:49:00.000-05:00

Even being homeless didn't stop this little reveler from enjoying the party! A Christmas open house at Carolina's Veterinary Hospital last weekend gave him a chance to strut his holiday finery. He is being fostered by the facility while he awaits his forever home.

A perfect host, big or small he greeted them all.

The gala event featured the big man in red with Miss Astrid not missing the opportunity to pose.

Rounding out the day with a stop at her fave cookie bar, we found even the plastic dogs in glittering attire!

After relaxing outside of Caribou Coffee with her mom and dad enjoying an espresso while she ate her cookie, she took one more opportunity for a photo in her Christmas finery.

Stand Up For Senior Pets...Take The Pledge

2011-11-30T11:31:00.000-05:00

Today may be the last day of November which is Adopt A Senior Pet month, but it should not be the last day that we stand up for senior pets. For various reasons ranging from the economy to the death of the pet parent, senior dogs sit in shelters across the country. They wait for their second chance to be loved and to give love. Let's not forget them. Take the pledge today, but in your heart make it a pledge to keep the promise of a home for senior pets alive every month and to mention them often in your Facebook and Twitter posts and other opportunities.

Pictured here is Fred. He is an adult dog waiting at the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, AZ.

Fashion Paws...Go Big, Go Bold

2011-11-25T10:04:00.001-05:00

As has become tradition on Thanksgiving Day after her mom and dad have had their dinner, Astrid visits the local Starbucks. To be more accurate, she enjoys a few moments outside the coffeehouse near the bench while her mom and dad enjoy one of their Christmas coffees. Then she enjoys a fun stroll around the shopping plaza, looking at the decorations and people watching at the few shops that have opened their doors for business. Striking a pose in front of the plaza's Christmas tree, Astrid drew several comments such as "oh my, what a cute dog" and "I love your scarf!" Her fashion advice for this season is go big, go bold. Dressing up might be work, but it's worth it when the 'AWWWwwwww'(s) come your way.

Dogs Can Get Diabetes Too

2011-11-21T13:59:00.000-05:00

November is the month to join in the campaign to raise awareness for and help stop diabetes. Whether you know someone who has the disease or you are interested in helping you and your family avoid getting it, the American Diabetes Association website is a valuable resource. A member of our family that we don't often associate with diabetes but is as vulnerable is our dogs. The website A Dog Owner's Guide lists the causes, symptoms and lots of ideas to help keep your dog from developing diabetes.

Suddenly Senior

2011-11-19T20:44:00.000-05:00

Look who has turned all 'senior' on us! Or maybe not. Astrid should be in the neighborhood of being 7 years old. She came to live with us in 2006 at the approximate age of two. Being a large mixed up breed, some put her into her senior years around 7 to 9 years. This is 'Adopt A Senior Pet' month. Astrid...she's mine but the shelters are full of senior dogs that would make perfect pets. There's lots of good reasons to pick a senior dog....here's 10.

Fashion Paws...BIG is Beautiful

2011-11-17T11:00:00.000-05:00

When it comes to dogs, big is beautiful. Sure, all the cute clothes only come in tiny sizes but being big has it's advantages too. Go to any fabric store and you will see why. The most eye catching and colorful fabrics have large patterns! In this picture, Astrid makes it obvious. The bigger you are the more you can show off dazzling patterns and colors.

5 Fun Things You Can Do For FREE To Help Shelter Dogs

2011-11-11T11:47:00.001-05:00

1) Play 'Pet Trivia'. Purina will donate 25c to adopt-a-pet.com for each right answer.

http://www.pureloveforpets.com/

2) Play ' let's pretend' with 'Twitter A Critter'. Pretend you are picking out a new dog. Pick size, color, etc. Click on fetch. Up will come a multitude of dogs to choose from. First, reassure the three dogs sitting next to you that this has nothing to do with them. Next, pick your favorite dog on the screen. Don't fret over your choice because you can come back and do this over and over again all day. Twittering a critter will bring to the attention of thousands dogs that are waiting for their forever homes. A Twitter account is required, but you've been meaning to start one for your own dogs anyway, right?

http://www.adoptapet.com/twitteracritter/

3) Answer the daily trivia question (right or wrong!) at Free Kibble's 'Bow Wow Trivia' and 10 pieces of kibble will go to feed a hungry pet in a shelter. 10 pieces won't go far, you say? Over 64 million pieces of kibble have been donated so far…that's a lot of kibble.

http://www.freekibble.com/

4) Put a free downloadable widget on your website from Petfinder. The picture of a needy pet will change constantly and bring the clickee directly to the Petfinder page.

http://www.petfinder.com/widgets-banners/

5) Help kids find ways they can promote kindness to animals.

http://www.pleasebekind.com/candotohelp.html

Fashion Paws...Focus on Color

2011-11-09T09:28:00.000-05:00

This week's fashion paws has us celebrating the colors of the season and seasons to come. It all starts with the bright oranges of Halloween and whoosh...the flood of colors starts with the reds, greens, browns and all the others associated with Thanksgiving and the holidays to come. Like no other time of the year, the photographer in all of us comes out, preserving our joy and memories awash with color.

Senior Pets Are Special

2011-11-07T10:54:00.000-05:00

November is 'Adopt A Senior Pet' month! There are so many good reasons to adopt a senior pet...here are ten that relate to senior dogs. My favorite is number 7....what you see is what you get. On this site, you will also find several resources for locating a senior companion plus information about those participating in a 'seniors for seniors' program. What could be more perfect than a senior individual providing a home for a senior canine?

No matter the age of the dog you choose from a shelter, you'll want the best 'rehoming' situation possible. There are articles on all aspects of introducing that new dog into your household on Petfinder.

It's Nice To Be Handpicked

2011-09-29T21:55:00.000-04:00

Almost October - ...

Curated By: JewelryByScotti

ArtFire.com

Craft Supplies

Dogs of Summer

2011-09-28T09:52:00.000-04:00

Earlier this Summer, Astrid and I began playing the 'Dogs of Summer' game. For every dog she passed while out on our 6am walk without making 'much ado' over them, she got 10 points. In part, this was done in training for a Rally Obedience class that I knew we would be starting this Fall, and part of it was just for fun. This is a serious class meant for people and their dogs that are considering entering into Rally Obedience trials. A dog in a Rally O trial or even in a class really shouldn't be showing extreme interest in other dogs...they should be concentrating on themselves and their own tasks. So...the Dogs of Summer game was born and with it high stakes. Upon reaching 500 points, Astrid and me along with her dad will go out for dinner. A little while ago, North Carolina passed the law that well behaved dogs would be allowed on outdoor patios to dine providing they were welcome by the restaurant owners. Today, we passed our 50th dog of our Summer game without making 'much ado'. Now our next decision is where to go to dinner. The top picture shows what Miss Astrid has in mind...the bottom picture is more what Astrid's mom has in mind. Games like this give us both incentive to make life a game and to always play to win.

A Dog For All Ages

2011-09-19T10:36:00.000-04:00

Many older people think they can't have a dog because they can't take them for the five mile walks they've heard that they need. Or from younger days, they remember all the time and energy that their puppy and adult dog took. They'd like a canine companion, but they think they are eliminated because of their age. This just isn't true. There are many dogs sitting in shelters all across the country that need just the type of home an older adult can provide. Just like dogs, no two older individuals experience life exactly the same. The key is to find the dog that fits one's personal lifestyle.

2011-09-18T03:15:00.003-04:00

Astrid has her Autumn on.

Back To School

2011-08-22T07:11:00.004-04:00

Astrid just signed up for a Rally Obedience class. She doesn't know it yet. We are going to take her out of 'school' every Tuesday beginning in the middle of September and attend the Rally O class on Monday nights at a local dog training club. She will go back to Doggie Day Camp when the classes end in November. Change is good. Learning old things with a new teacher is good. If Astrid were human, she'd probably have her MBA by now with all the classes and 'homework' she has done. This picture is from 2006. We had adopted her just two months prior. Maybe Astrid is an overachiever. Or maybe it's Astrid's mom who is the overachiever...Astrid just goes along for the fun of it all.

Keeping Them Home

2011-08-17T07:00:00.002-04:00

We love Ian Dunbar's dog training philosophy. It differs from the clicker training that we love so much, but the premise of positive reinforcement is still there. While teaching loose leash walking, he does advocate a sharp voice that let's the dog know that a particular behavior isn't acceptable, but the second the desirable behavior returns, so does the praise and softer, even human voice. Combining training methods never confused Astrid...I feel it only reinforced what I was teaching. Take the word sit. Look at your dog and say sit. Chances are, he/she will. Sit in a chair and say sit. What happened? Body language wasn't there, hand signals weren't there...all the little nuances might be gone. Using lots of different methods, combining methods, alternating between spoken commands and hand signals and sometimes using just body language not only has expanded Astrid's abilities but the fun of training, too. Did I say we loved Ian Dunbar? Bet we aren't the only ones. There's lots and lots of free videos demonstrating his method of training at Dog Star Daily.

Easy Peasy

2011-08-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

Often times I think that if I would make the time, Astrid would stay engaged in learning new things most of the hours of every day. I tend to get caught up in trying to encourage more difficult and complicated behaviors and tricks. When I see the fun and satisfaction she gets from a simple game of 'touch', it reminds me to sometimes scale things back and let her enjoy the gratification she gets from the easier games in life. One of her favorites is 'which hand is the treat in'. She's right 50% of the time...and even when she is wrong, she is right with her second guess.

Helpful Facilitation

2011-08-01T07:00:00.004-04:00

"Helpful facilitation is much more powerful and helpful than domination" (from Simple Taoism...A guide to living in balance). When trying to teach Astrid new things, I would often talk loud and slow. Did I really think the louder I said 'sit' the better she would understand it? How many times when out and about do you see someone with their dog keep repeating the same command over and over, getting louder and louder while the dog stands there with that bewildered look in their eyes? That's why I love clicker training and shaping behavior so much. It's easier on me...I don't get exhausted trying to exert my will over hers...and with this gentle facilitation, once she's 'got it', she's got it for life.

What Kind Of Dog Is That?

2011-07-25T13:57:00.000-04:00

If you have a dog, I'm sure you have been asked the perennial question 'what kind of dog is that'. Because of media backed bias against some breeds of dogs plus the fact that lots of people really don't know one breed of dog from another, I've become quite creative when asked that question. I've replied that Astrid is an all American dog, a carpenter dog...as in does all odd jobs (herding, pointing, retrieving, etc.) and my current favorite, a mixed up dog. I feel like a traitor to the Rottweiler breed, which Astrid may or may not be part of, much akin to someone asking me my heritage and my hesitating to tell them mostly Swedish with a sprinkling of Irish. I've also played the guessing game with people. I'll take a step back, look at Astrid thoughtfully and say 'what do you think she might be?' My all time favorite reply is 'she looks like a Beagle'. My replay to that? You might be right!

4th of July Parade

2011-07-21T19:03:00.000-04:00

Every year, we take Astrid to the 4th of July parade in a neighboring tiny town. Always standing in the same spot, Astrid becomes a 'kid magnet'. These are the pictures from the parade this year and we appreciate the people in them allowing us to take them.

High Value Treats

2011-07-15T09:22:00.001-04:00

Sometimes when training intensifies or Astrid and I are just playing lots more games than usual, I might notice just a wee bit of thickening around the waist. Stopping by Petsmart or even the vet's office for a quick weight check more often than not confirms that her weight may have ticked up to just over 61#. I try to keep her at 60# always and anything over a 1# weight game is noticeable to me. Without any reason to drop that extra pound quickly, we set a six month goal. Being a strong believer in clicker training and treating for perfect behavior, I turn to a high value treat that has fewer calories....roast light meat chicken (bottom) vs. that from thighs (top). It has fewer calories and fat and has Miss Astrid back to her svelte 60# without missing a goodie.

Dog Days Of Summer

2011-07-13T15:00:00.001-04:00

Dog Days...they roll around every year and every year we are surprised at how hot and humid they are. The place for everyone, including our dogs, is inside where it is cool. It's kind of hard to just watch our usually active pup just sleep away the days until the hot streak is over, though. One idea that is easy and cool in more ways than one is a time in the afternoon that we designate as story time.

Astrid and I just happen to have a wonderful book that is filled lots of dog pictures and ideas to talk about with your dog. Sounds kind of silly on the surface but when we think about it, what better thing to do on a hot lazy afternoon then giving your dog your undivided attention as you read aloud. Our dogs love to hear the sound of our voices...and reading a book together gives us both a reason to have a conversation.

Give it a try! You might feel silly the first couple of times, but soon both you and your dog will look forward to story time..

Dog Sense by Carla Geneder was our choice today. We read about Juliette, Maggie, and Benjie the silkie terrier. We may have enough dog stories and pictures to last us until Fall...or at least until the Dog Days Of Summer are over.

Waiting Patiently

2011-05-22T15:53:00.001-04:00

Hey...I'm a size large and made for a big dog. Astrid, the dog that owns this place (our ArtFire studio), is a big dog, but she says she has some patriotic stuff of her own already and would rather someone bought me so she could send the money to her former shelter. She says they don't have all that much down in Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, AZ where she orginally came from.

Astrid agreed to slip me on for a few minutes to show you what I look like. It felt so good to be around a warm and fuzzy canine neck! Guess I'm relegated, though, to sitting on the shelf until some dog notices me and barks 'oh yeah....I want those words FREEDOM, LIBERTY and JUSTICE around my neck as the patriotic holiday season approaches.

Yes...I'm red, white and blue and will be waiting on the shelf if you want me. Not to be pushy or anything but there is only one of me left. Oh, and if your dog isn't quite as big as I am? My little sibling...same collar, was made for a smaller dog with a 12 to 14 inch neck... would be great.

Know what else would be great? If you 'liked' our page on Facebook. While Astrid's mom sells bandanas and collars raising money for Astrid's shelter shelter, that's not all we bark over there. We love training, and helping rescues get the world out about the kinds of things they are doing to help animals, as we share what is new in our Etsy shop and ArtFire Studio...and lots more.

Fido's Manners Matter

2011-05-12T09:14:00.000-04:00

That expression says it all! Miss Sugar Cookie has just read in the book Miss Fido Manners that she isn't supposed to bark out the window all the time. Your dog doesn't have to be a graduate of Miss Fido Manners school of charm to become a welcome member of the community.

Astrid is about to study her own copy of the book. She (and we!) know that learning a few 'meet and greet' skills for when she is out in public makes a big difference. Learning is a never ending fun experience.

Here, Astrid enjoys music on the patio of a very dog friendly Earth Fare store. We are lucky here in North Carolina. Restaurants with patios allow pets to dine along with their people, at the discretion of the restaurant owner of course. If the issue of dogs on patios ever comes up in your community, let your local officials know that a 'yes' vote is important to you and that you plan to vote in the next election.

Proud To Be A Canine Good Citizen

2011-05-09T09:36:00.002-04:00

We adopted Astrid on December 28, 2006 and that following May we moved to Charlotte, NC. At that point, I was totally unfamiliar with BSL - Breed Specific Legislation. When it comes to BSL and a dog's temperament, there are all kinds of opinions out there but the facts are that a dog's temperment is determined by the nurturing and training methods used.

I quickly became aware of Breed Specific Legislation when we were denied insurance for the house we rented while looking for the home we wanted to buy. Astrid had been labeled a Rottweiler at the shelter and Rottweilers were discriminated against by our first choice of insurance companies. Being unaware of the magnitude of the BSL issue, I didn't take it seriously at that point but started to do a little research. Turned out, BSL is everywhere usually starting out with a dog bite incident that is sensationalized by the media spreading fear throughout a community.

Immediately, Astrid and I took action. Yes, we absolutely understood that Astrid will be judged by her color. Even though she is a mix of 'who knows what' and about 20 to 60 pounds lighter that a Rottweiler...she will be labeled such because of her black with brown markings. Our very first course of action was to show that Astrid and most Rottweilers are good companions and community members. We discovered the AKC Canine Good Citizen program and learned the requirements. Having fun with the training required, that following year Astrid became an AKC Canine Good Citizen proving that she meets the program's standards for being a good member of her family and community.

An excellent, common sense approach to the dangers of Breed Specific Legislation can be found at 'NO BUTS ABOUT BSL...Stand Up & Help Stop Breed Discrmination.

Many dogs sport the same colors. Here's just a few that show a striking resemblence to Astrid's own colors...and no, that last picture is not Astrid. It appears to be that wonderful breed called 'All Mixed Up'.

Rawr....Our animal print bandnana was included in a member curated collection on ArtFire

2011-05-08T22:31:00.000-04:00

Let Your Wild Sid...

Curated By: HandsOfNature

ArtFire.com

Indie Design

Freeze

2011-05-05T13:49:00.000-04:00

We don't think of Astrid's concentration skills as a 'trick' but I guess in many ways it is. If our dogs won't pay attention to us, how can we ever teach them the fun stuff? This one...that we call 'freeze'...is something we play anytime and anywhere, even when out on a walk. Today, Astrid was having trouble with the number 5.

2011-05-01T09:23:00.001-04:00

Today, Astrid choose Sunflowers for her Sunday Therapy Dog visit.

It's That Time Of Year

2011-04-29T10:17:00.002-04:00

While the spring weather remains unpredictable, one thing we can always count on is Astrid's pose in front of the azaleas.

Fit For Royalty?

2011-04-29T09:53:00.002-04:00

With all the talk of the royal wedding going on, Astrid insisted I make her a new bandana fit for a queen.

A Crafter's Handmade Spring

2011-04-15T11:09:00.000-04:00

Run With The Big Dogs

2011-02-27T13:08:00.000-05:00

We created a treasury of wonderful BIG DOG items from sellers on Etsy.

Therapy Dog Love

2011-02-07T19:00:00.000-05:00

Shelter Thoughts

2011-02-02T11:45:00.000-05:00

When thinking of donating to your local animal shelter, you aren't limited to just writing a check! You can have a little fun shopping for the homeless dogs, cats and other animals, too. Food treats, collars and leashes are always welcome but don't forget the shelter staff. They are always in need of cleaning supplies, rubber gloves, antiseptic wipes and other items. The USPS makes it really easy to pack them up and get them on their way with their flat rate boxes. Astrid had a great time getting her box of goodies ready for her shelter in time for Valentine's Day. Of course, we put in a few collars and bandanas from our Etsy shop and ArtFire Studio.

Body Image

2011-01-25T10:35:00.000-05:00

We hear a lot about body image these days. Young girls and older women have problems with it, even the men are encouraged to live up to the 'buff' photos of the younger male. What we don't hear about is the body image problems of the large dark colored dog. Actually, they don't have the problem, it seems that we people...or some of us...have problems with the big darker dog. They are often portrayed as not being as cute and companionable as their smaller counterparts.

Well, we aren't here to disrespect the cute little pupsters of the world, we just want to extol the virtues, fashionably speaking, of being big with black or brown fur. One, it's easy to make a fashion statement. Two, bright colors show up very, very well! Three, it is easy to find things to fit at the Astrid Nicole Etcetera Etsy Shop and ArtFire Studio.

How best to help the big dark dogs of the world overcome their body image? Praise the virtues of the larger companion to anyone you know that might be considering the adoption of a canine friend. Laud the accomplishments of all big black dogs you know and never, ever diminish their ability to be a fashion superstar.

For Keeps

2011-01-20T11:08:00.000-05:00

Thinking of getting a dog? Why not consider adopting your next canine companion? Astrid Nicole, our Etsy shop and ArtFire Studio's namesake, was adopted by us in 2006 at the age of two. We could tell by her manners and temperament that she had been loved and trained, but some shelter dogs aren't as fortunate. An article at Petfinder.com states "Did you know 84% of shelters and rescue groups see pets relinquished because of issues that could have been resolved with the proper training and resources?" Don't let this happen to your new dog. For some advice from a Certified Pet Dog Trainer, read about the Train FurKeeps Program all to comemerate January being National Train Your Dog Month.

Limerick Contest

2011-01-03T10:33:00.001-05:00

We are so excited about Valentine's Day and all the new things in Astrid's shops, that we just have to give one away! To win your choice of a bandana or collar from our AstridNicoleEtcetera Artfire or Etsy shop, just complete this limerick:

There once was Astrid, a doggy

Whose bandanas were cuter than a froggy

She barked 'let's give one away

Before Valentine's day'

So/And .......... (you write the last two lines!)

Everyone who completes the limerick will be entered in a drawing that will take place Wednesday, January 12, 2011. The winner will receive their choice of collar or bandana from either of our shops. For a second entry in the drawing, when posting your limerick ending, tell us which new Valentine item is your favorite!

We are sorry to announce that there were no entries in our Limerick Contest! With so many storms this winter, all of our poets must have been busy shoveling their walks and drives. We will continue with future occasional contests and giveaways, hopefully in better weather.

We Visited Your Mom Today!

2010-12-19T15:20:00.000-05:00

Astrid and I are a therapy pet team. We visit three living facilities and Alzheimer's centers each month. If the thought of this makes you shudder a little, you must not have visited your mom...or your grandma or grandpa or your sister that has had a stroke lately. Depressing, dreary and waiting to die? No way.....did you know that these residents form the same kind of cliques that you remember from junior high? Well, maybe that isn't the most encouraging news you've heard lately, but our point is that the same human needs and desires don't diminish the day one enters a living center, whether it be assisted or intensive care. Here's an example......at the Alzheimer's center there is one very pleasant lady that is always delighted to see Astrid arrive for her scheduled visit. She is, EXCEPT for the days she is sitting with her best friend. On that day, like her friend, she doesn't like dogs either. This is perfectly okay with us because we understand that the friendship of this woman is daily, Astrid's visit is once a month.

People in nursing, living and rehab centers aren't waiting to die. They wake up each day to live one more day of their life. Each day, each moment of one's life is important, whether it is enjoyed in the 22nd year of life or the 92nd year of life. If you wish there was something you could do to 'give back' in life, your opportunity may be as close as your dog. Your dog doesn't need to know a million tricks or even obey your every command. Every organization has pretty much the same standards but the requirements for registration vary greatly. Our organization...Therapy Dogs, Inc....requires a simple physical test and then three visits that are observed by a qualified tester/observer. You might enjoy visiting someones mom, grandma or grandpa or sister who has had a stroke and recuperating. Save some time to listen to their stories, too, you love 'em! And don't forget to add that 'awwww' factor to your dog...a super cute bandana from Astrid's Etsy shop or ArtFire studio!

Astrid Plays Dice

2010-11-19T11:25:00.002-05:00

There are so many things to do with your dog once they have learned the simple behavior 'touch'. Simple things become quick and rewarding bonding times throughout the day. Here Astrid plays a game of dice.

A Game Of Touch

2010-11-18T10:07:00.000-05:00

When Astrid learned to play 'touch', it was really the launching pad to all kinds of fun stuff to learn and do. We learned to play the game using a clicker which makes learning so much faster and more fun. She, actually I should say 'we', never tire of the game especially on a nice Autumn morning!

Better Pictures

2010-11-01T12:19:00.001-04:00

With Autumn in full swing, Halloween just gone by, Thanksgiving around the bend and Christmas coming up shortly thereafter, Astrid and I are in 'full picture mode'. Who can ever have too many pictures of their dog, anyway? Two problems, though. Astrid is a big black dog and she's a great little poser. Action pictures are few and far between and her sweet face always looks like a blur of black. Those beautiful eyes of hers always blend right into her face in the pictures! So, I decided to turn to the internet this morning for some answers. I got really specific on this one....into the search box, I typed "how to take better pictures of my big, black dog". Can't get more specific than that. Can't get more specific than the #1 site that came up, either....How To Photograph Your Big Black Dog. Full of beautiful pictures and lots of good ideas, we've decided to give it a go. We are going to try all of the suggestions in this blog that we are able to accomplish with our iPhone camera applications and/or our still shot feature on our video camera.

First, he recommends that we don't worry about expensive equipment so much. That part is easy as we don't have a real camera, only our iPhone camera and a video camera that will do still shots. That out of the way, we moved on to the suggestion of turning on the flash, even out of doors on a sunny day. Here, we have for you the results.

Picture #1 and #2 were taken with our iPhone and the application called Camera Plus as are the other pictures shown. While I am a morning person, maybe pointing the camera east at 9am is not a good idea. These pictures were very washed out. Too bad because Astrid automatically sits and poses for pictures, so getting ones of her standing would have been a very good thing.

Picture #3 is still washed out, but I'm discovering that if I am going to take pictures at 9am facing east, getting closer is better.

Picture #4 is of Astrid having gone into 'pose' mode finally. The lesson learned in this last picture is that facing east at 9am with the flash on will defintely produce a washed out picture, but still, closer is always better. The one real improvement is that Astrid's beautiful eyes can be seen in all of these pictures.

Later this week, I'm going to continue to follow the suggestions in this blog. We will still be a morning human/dog team but we think that turning on the flash will continue to produce better results. What we will work on is our positioning. Maybe we will face west next time.

Halloween Give Away!

2010-09-22T10:38:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year. The time when we wish it would cool down a little! Maybe if we just think cool thoughts it will help. It can't still be hot on Halloween, can it? Let's think Halloween coolness and win a cool Halloween bandana from the Astrid Nicole Etcetera bandana boutique at the same time. It's simple...guess the number of beads in the little glass dish and post your answer here as a comment. Be sure to put a name that would identify you as the winner in your answer! The winner will receive their choice of a Halloween bandana or collar from Astrid's Etsy or ArtFire shop. Winner will be announced in this blog and on My Dog Space in the 'Autumn Dogs, Halloween Fun' group on Wednesday, September 29th.

Hoof'n and Woof'n Fall Festival

2010-09-12T15:01:00.000-04:00

Today my mom and dad took me to this Fall festival. Boy oh boy, I'll bark ya, when I first got there, I didn't where to look!

We started to walk around and there were tents, dogs, horses and even swimming pools everywhere.

There were even ponies...

There were dogs selling stuff...

and dogs that needed homes.

I just had so much fun! We even got this goodie bag full of dog stuff that my dad is carrying. Before we left to come home, I barked goodbye to the horses.

The Times They Are A Changin'

2010-08-25T10:12:00.001-04:00

Not quite as dire as the message in the Bob Dylan song of 1964, the message of change is already in the air. Even here in North Carolina, the morning air...much to Astrid's and my delight during our 6am walk...is much cooler. The shadows from the trees are in different locations then at the height of summer. That noise we hear at the slightest breeze is the sound of leaves already beginning to dry out in preparation for their Autumn show of color. Much to the delight of Moms everywhere, the kids are slowly trickling back to school across the country and much to the ire of morning commuters, the school buses have hit the road again.

There is also a change happening at Astrid Nicole Etcetera, Astrid's Etsy shop that benefits her shelter. In addition to the bandanas and the occasional 'people' items that we've offered, we are adding pretty handcrafted collars and collar charms. Beginning with the upcoming Halloween offerings, you will find seasonal fabric collars and matching collar charms, plus pretty and stylish colors with matching charms for your dog to wear throughout the entire year.

Pictured here are the very first of these collars and charms and to introduce them in our shop, we are offering them as prizes in our end of Summer giveaway. We've been enjoying the Groovy Summer Fun Club all summer on My Dog Space, so in honor of the fun, we've got a dotted collar with peace charm that your dog will go ape over as the first prize. The second place winner will receive the pictured 'peace out' collar charm and third place will receive the really cool dog paw charm. To enter to win, leave a comment on this blog telling us the change that you and your dog are most looking forward to in the changing seasons.

Thanks for playing our end of Summer giveaway, which in this case is really a new beginning for an added line of fun neckware for your dog to get all 'decked out' in. Everyone who leaves a comment will have their name entered in a drawing which Astrid will preside over and be presented in video right here. We will announce the winner of our end of Summer giveaway in this same blog the day after the unofficial end of Summer, Labor Day, Tuesday, September 7.

****and the winners are...***

Fire Drill

2010-08-16T00:03:00.000-04:00

Christmas In July Giveaway Giveaway Giveaway!

2010-07-16T11:15:00.002-04:00

Simply guess the number of red, green and white beads in this cup (hint: the cup is a large one), leave your answer as a comment in this blog, and win! 1st prize is this adorable 'My Dog Is An Angel' bracelet. 2nd prize is the angel charm and 3rd prize is the paw print charm.

The bracelet is strung on elastic and fits an average size adult wrist. The charms can be clipped off the key ring and used on a purse, clipped on your dog's collar or anywhere!

Contest starts today, Friday (7/16/2010) and ends Sunday evening (7/18/2010) and Astrid and I will announce the winner here in this blog on Monday (7/19/2010).

We appreciate your continued support of our Astrid Nicole Etcetera Etsy store which benefits the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, AZ with 100% net of each sale.

We have our winners of our FIRST EVER Christmas in July giveaway! The "My Dog Is An Angel" bracelet goes to....Holly and Herbie! Congratulations, you were only 2 beads away at guessing 231. Angel Girl, Jessie Lou and Sasha Louise, you win the Angel Charm Key Ring...you were only off by 17 beads. Rosie...you get the Paw Print Charm Key Ring...you were off by just 23 beads. Thanks for playing everyone! We enjoy these games soooo much and hope you do too.

Playing Indoor Games

2010-06-29T11:42:00.000-04:00

As we in Charlotte, North Carolina experience the 18th day of temperatures in the 90s, Astrid and I turn more and more to indoor games. We try to divide them up between what we call 'active' games like hiding treats and letting Astrid use her sniffer to find them, to the more passive, 'thinking' games like the one shown here, colors and shapes.

Last Sunday's Visit

2010-06-23T12:02:00.000-04:00

Following each visitation, we follow up with a blog on the Pet Therapy in the Carolina's website. This was today's (6/23/10) entry.

Astrid was really on her game last Sunday (6/20) at Pineville Living and Rehabilitation center. The reason for this was, if there is one thing Astrid likes better than visiting, it's visiting when there are other dogs there too. Pineville never disappoints! Karen and her greyhounds along with Ellie Mae made for a really fun visit.

Each venue has it's plus side, and we think the plus side to the Pineville center is that there are always so many people in the hallway to visit with as we make our way from room to room. It's hard to find places in the summer's heat to take Astrid out to for a little socialization. Roaming the cool hallways this past Sunday at Pineville was a good break for all three of us from just staying home.

This picture is from a previous week, when was taking a break outside a residents room at the Alzheimer's center, the Laurels. This particular building is home to individuals in various stages of the disease known as Alzheimer's. Each resident personalizes the entrance to their own room.

Therapy Dog Visit

2010-06-20T15:39:00.001-04:00

Astrid has been a registered Therapy Dog with Therapy Dogs, Inc. for about a year and a half. Today, we had a wonderful visit at the Pineville Living and Rehabilitation Center. Astrid was joined by three Greyhounds, all former racers that were rescued upon their retirement, plus a wonderful hound named Ellie Mae.

Play Your Way Through!

2010-06-19T12:32:00.006-04:00

Whether we've adopted an older dog or selected a puppy, the daily neighborhood walk can either be a much looked forward to event or a real hassle if your dog is reactive to other dogs or humans. Astrid can be reactive (le gasp! who knew?) to a certain, very few dogs in the neighborhood, so I've tried just about every solution I could find on the 'net. Nothing works as well as the idea of 'playing our way through' difficult situations.

Playing our way through means that Astrid is focused on me and only me no matter what the distraction. Of course, we never could attempt this play if I wasn't able to get her undivided attention, so when beginning to train, the first step was to get her to focus on me when asked. The best way I found to teach this was, while holding a treat straight out to the side, calling her name and clicking and treating everytime she focused on me, looking away from the treat. If I hadn't decided on clicker training, I could have just used a "good girl" each time we had success with her focusing on me.

Getting Astrid's attention was half the battle. To apply the 'play my way' through difficult circumstances principle, I had to have some fun activities for Astrid to do after getting her attention. One of our favorites turned out to be the step game. Astrid loves the step game and we do it often and use it when passing a dog Astrid may be reactive to or simply as a way to make our walks more interesting. Basically, from a stop/sit position, I'll say 'let's take three steps'. Walking our three steps, Astrid is told to sit. In an upbeat voice, I'll say 'let's take two steps'....we do, and again Astrid will sit. Then we'll do just one giant step followed by another sit. This is great fun for Astrid, is interactive for both of us and further cements my bond with her. You'll notice in the accompanying video, that Astrid returns her focus to me after each 'segment' of the game.

Playing our way through things is a lot more fun then the tougher, stress filled ways I formerly dealt with difficult problems that arose.

Ready For the Patriotic Holidays

2010-06-05T21:56:00.002-04:00

As we get deeper into the summer's patriotic holiday season, please remember that this can be a stressful time for dogs. Fireworks and flashing lights can be very scary. Please keep your pet safely indoors and away from the sounds of celebration!

These three, all ready for the holidays ahead, are enjoying a summer's day in their 'Peace' bandanas from the Etsy shop Astrid Nicole Etcetera where 100% of the net sale benefits the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, AZ.

Walking On The Wild Side

2010-04-17T20:50:00.003-04:00

The usually mild mannered Etsy shop Astrid Nicole Etcetera decided to take a trip down the wild side recently! Pictured here is the famous Justice the Dalmatian, modeling his bandana so aptly named 'On The Wild Side'. Thanks Justice, you are a fabulous model and we wouldn't be suprised if we didn't see your name coming up soon in Doggie Wear Daily!

100% of the net sale from every item in our Etsy shop benefits the Santa Cruz Humane Society, Nogales, AZ.

A Spring Slide Show

2010-03-26T20:29:00.000-04:00

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A Passion For Purple

2010-03-14T22:21:00.005-04:00

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Lucky Pups St Patty's Slide Show ...a group from My Dog Space

2010-03-06T20:31:00.001-05:00

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Giveaway! Giveaway! Giveaway!

2010-03-02T09:46:00.034-05:00

We aren't new to our Etsy shop giveaways, but we are new to giveaways involving our blogs. All fans of AstridNicoleEtcetera on Facebook and all members of the group "Lucky Pups" My Dog Space are invited to play...and WIN this weeks (3/2 - 3/6/10) contest! Contest ends at midnight Friday 3/5, and the winner will be announced Saturday, 3/6/10.

First, the good stuff, the prize. This weeks prize is this 'what knot' bag that will have a few surprise goodies in it. What's a 'what knot' bag? It makes a great gift bag or a cool way to store all those loose 'what knots' we don't know what to do with.

So how do you win this cool prize, you ask? It's a word jumble and it's easy and you can get up to three chances to win while you are right on this page. Here's the instructions:

WAY TO WIN #1: Look through this blog and find the green letters. See, you just got three! Told you it was easy. There will be 8 letters in all, so you only have 5 more to find now. When you figure the word out, don't give it away by posting it here...email me astridnicoleetcetera@mac.com .

WAY TO WIN #2: While you are here anyway, make a comment on this blogs.

WAY TO WIN #3: Take one more second, and become a follower of this blog. Then, you will be updated when we have more of these way cool giveaways coming up!

Your name will be written on a piece of paper each time you do one of the above, so that will be up to three papers = three chances to win that will be put into a bowl. On Saturday, I will have a short video of Astrid and I selecting the lucky winner from the bowl and that lucky winner will be announced via the video that will be posted right here in this blog.

Easy, huh? Thank you so much for playing our game.

March 6th update: WE HAVE A WINNER! Watch the video to find out who it isl

Subtle Changes

2010-02-26T12:29:00.009-05:00

It's still very cold out these mornings, but Astrid and I have noticed sure signs of Spring being on it's way. Even though for many parts of the country, it seems as if Old Man Winter refuses to loosen his icy grip, nothing is stopping the axis of the earth from leaning our hemisphere closer and closer to the sun, inevitably returning us to warmer days. Today, we stopped for just a moment, noticing how the shadows from our fence are changing position and getting longer as the sun changes position. We know they are there, but seldom do we give much thought to the physical changes that are going on in the universe, every moment of every day, taking us through the natural cycle of the seasons.

Kitties In Their Valentine Pretties

2010-02-18T14:47:00.008-05:00

At the Astrid Nicole Etcetera bandana boutique, kitties are never left out. Here you see Miss Kitty...

and Mr Kitty modeling their Valentine finery.

Many of the designs at our Etsy shop are available in sizes small enough for the littlest kitty. As always, 100% of the net sale benefits the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, AZ where Astrid made her home before coming to live with us in her forever home on December 28, 2006.

Astrid's Valentine Party At Best Friends Day Camp

2010-02-16T14:58:00.001-05:00

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Wishing Everyone a Very Fun Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T08:36:00.006-05:00

This picture of Astrid was taken last week at our therapy pet visit to the Alzheimer's Centers. Therapy pets isn't just about dogs. Any well behaved pet can have a beneficial influence on those confined to hospitals, Alzheimer's centers, living centers, schools....the possibilities are endless. Maybe therapy pet work is right for you and your pet? There are many organizations to get involved with. We have been tested and registered by Therapy Dogs, Inc.

Astrid's bandana is from our online Etsy bandana boutique, Astrid Nicole Etcetera. 100% of all net sales benefits the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, AZ. Astrid made her home at this shelter until joining us in her 'forever home' on December 28, 2006.

A Rare Snowfall In North Carolina

2010-02-13T08:33:00.001-05:00

Astrid isn't quite sure she likes this as she explores with only the
sound of the birds keeping her company.

Astrid Demonstrates Recall and Focus Abilities

2010-02-12T14:56:00.004-05:00

This video has a three second delay between frames. Catch the funny face towards the end!

Love Is All Around You

2010-01-28T21:21:00.012-05:00

Feel the love! These three can. Tucker, Sasha and Sugar, our three favorite models at our Astrid Nicole Etcetera Etsy shop are celebrating Valentine's this year 'retro' style. Love, love, love...dogs can never get enough. That's why 100% of the net sale from each and every item sold in our Etsy shop benefits the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, AZ.

Last year, Tucker, Sasha and Sugar chose a more 'traditional' look.

Your true love may be as near as your local shelter! Visit a shelter this Valentine's and spread a little love with a donation. If you are looking for a companion dog, check and see if maybe your new best friend is there waiting for you!

Our Virtual Arts and Crafts Portfolio

2010-01-26T23:43:00.004-05:00

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Please visit our Etsy shop, Astrid Nicole Etcetera, where 100% of the net sale benefits the animals at Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, AZ. You can learn more about the shelter and see the pets they have available for adoption by visiting www.santacruzhumanesociety.org .

A Virtual Christmas Craft Show

2009-12-04T19:12:00.002-05:00

A Kitties Christmas

2009-11-27T22:52:00.006-05:00

More and more cats are discovering Astrid Nicole Etcetera bandanas fit them great! Here's stylish Minn and her brother, Mister Kitty posing in their reversible Christmas bandanas.

Therapy Pet Visit

2009-11-15T13:56:00.004-05:00

Six dogs along with their people spread smiles and fun at today's visit to Pineville Living and Rehabilitation Center. This was a rather large group of very large dogs....including a German Short Hair Pointer, Astrid, a Rottie mixed up with a few other things, three beautiful rescued Greyhounds and biggest of all, a Great Dane. This month is Astrid's anniversary month of one full year as a therapy pet.

Howloween Party At Day Camp

2009-11-03T10:03:00.007-05:00

A friend of mine and I agreed the other day, Astrid's 'school experiences' are probably better than our own children's were! Actually, it's a day camp for dogs Astrid attends called Best Friends. She attended this years Howloween party as Cher...which she modeled for me several days before the actual party...hence, the difference in bandanas. The party was complete with a spooky craft and take home treats. Someone was quite creative with using the dog bones as little tombstones in the mini-cupcakes! The last picture shows Astrid, after the party....a very, very tired Astrid, still wearing her Halloween bandana.

The Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-26T22:30:00.007-04:00

Astrid and her dad and I sent to the pumpkin patch Sunday, to pick out just the perfect pumpkin, or two or three. It was a beautiful day and a little on the crisp side. Wandering among the pumpkins, Astrid drew the regular 'oh how cute' and 'can I pet her'. There was one not so bright incident, though, where a little girl of about 10 stated very loudly and not in a very pleasant tone "why does anyone bring their dog to a pumpkin patch."

Well, we do because we can. Companion pets are meant to be just that...companions, and not to just lie in the corner with nary an interest shown in him/her. I would have liked to have told her that dogs are very social creatures, craving interaction and adventure...even if that adventure is only a trip to the pumpkin patch. Well trained dogs enrich our lives, especially when we can include them in our outings and fun. I'm sure someone has told this little girl that dogs stay home, are for your amusement, and if you are lucky they will cause very little disruption to your life. I hope she learns someday the satisfaction of interacting with her dog, sharing travel, picnics in the park....and the occasional pumpkin patch...because she can. Not every dog's person can say that about them. Spend some time, interact, socialize.........and say it about yours. There's nothing like it.

Ah Autumn...

2009-10-19T11:01:00.005-04:00

We just couldn't resist these great autumn 'props' that we're outside the Living and Rehabilitation Center that we visited yesterday.

Autumn and all that implies

2009-09-22T20:53:00.001-04:00

Today is the first day of Autumn. Seems that we have an endless supply of fun holidays to look forward to this time of year, beginning with Halloween. While kids are the focus for this fun day, the pupsters in your life don't want to be left out either! Anyone who has been to a pet Halloween costume contest has probably heard the sighs of those with dogs who refuse to wear clothes. There are lots of ways to bring some lighthearted fun into letting your dog enter those contests, though, as the true focus should be the socializing that goes along with it. How about a big puff of cotton taped on their rear end and entering as a bunny, or tape that same puff on their sweet little heads, showing that they have 'their heads in the clouds'!

Of course, the well dressed pup will definitely want a reversible Halloween bandana. We have a nice selection in our Astrid Nicole Etcetera Etsy shop for all sizes. Think of flipping down the edge, and you'll have four looks in one for your dog! Best of all....our bandanas all benefit the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society in Nogales, AZ where Astrid made her home for an undetermined length of time, coming to live in her forever home with us on December, 28, 2006.

Tyler...writing a new story now

2009-08-10T12:02:00.016-04:00

This little boy's name is Tyler...smart, very cute, loving. Tyler is also a rescue. He wandered into a yard on a Thanksgiving Day and found himself a loving home. We'll never know the story behind Tyler, or any of the other pups waiting in shelters across the country but we do know one thing. In this case, one person's carelessness, cold heartedness or possibly even an unavoidable accident of life became another person's very bright spot in life!

We appreciate Tyler's mom's generosity in letting us use his picture. It helps spread the word behind the mission of Astrid's Etsy bandana boutique. Doesn't he look proud modeling his Astrid Nicole Etcetera bandana? The proceeds from it's purchase go to aiding other shelter pets who find themselves in the same straits as he once was in. At Astrid's former shelter, the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society in Nogales, AZ, all of the friends she left behind are welcome in the shelter for as long as need to be there, whether it is a day, a week or a lifetime. Hopefully they too can go from this to a happy, loved and loving boy like Tyler. If you are thinking of getting a new companion, remember Tyler, Astrid and all the wonderful pets in shelters and consider adopting.

(Later picture is Astrid, December 2006 just before coming to live in her forever home with her mom and dad.)

Such A Pretty Girl

2009-07-08T20:06:00.004-04:00

When it comes to dogs, what is a girlie girl dog? Nope...it is not a derogatory term as many would think. A girlie girl dog can be one or all of the following: beautiful, smart, loyal, loving and ALL DOG! Above, Harbor proves it all to be true as she models a very girlie bandana from the Astrid Nicole Etcetera Etsy boutique collection. She feels especially good wearing this bandana because she knows that the proceeds from all sales at the shop benefit the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society in Nogales, AZ where her friend, Astrid, made her home for an undetermined length of time.

Get Your Sparkle On! It's Almost The 4th of July

2009-06-30T10:52:00.002-04:00

It's almost that time of year when spirits run high, noise is good and we especially want to strut the red, white and blue showing our pride in the USA. As a companion animal advocate, I take pride in the fact that we value our pets so very much and the special contributions they make to our lives. Our newspapers are carrying articles about how the vast majority of us don't consider our furry friends just as 'pets', but as members of our families. Below we have Sasha and Maizy, two members of one of those loving families modeling their patriotic neckwear in anticipation of the upcoming holiday.

Their mom supported the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, AZ with her purchase. All sales at the Astrid Nicole Etcetera's Etsy shop benefit this shelter where Astrid also made her home for an undetermined length of time, coming to live in her forever home December, 28, 2006.

When adding to your family, remember the many homeless pets just waiting for that special person to walk through the door making 'happily every after' a reality for them too. Adopt, don't shop!

Dog Days of Summer

2009-06-21T14:45:00.009-04:00

The dog days of summer are almost here. During this parching period Sirius, the "Dog Star," rises and sets with the sun from mid-July until September. This period is typified by the hot, sultry weather of July and August. You have probably observed how animals instinctively deal with the heat associated with dog days. Driving by country farms, you'll notice cows and other farm animals all gathered under the shade of a tree, not moving, sharing each other's company, much the same as people used to enjoy their front porches long before air conditioning.

This time of year is also a time for picnics, strolling through street fairs and just lounging with the family in the air conditioned comfort of home. Shown are Tucker, Sasha and Sugar doing exactly that in their Astrid Nicole Etcetera original bandana designs.

Giving Back Feels Good

2009-06-10T09:56:00.002-04:00

Sunday's visitation to the Alzheimer's Center was a lot of fun. This is a beautiful center that reminds one of a luxury hotel. It consists of two buildings, with one being a locked door center requiring a code to enter and leave each wing.

So many of the residents share stories of their own pets while enjoying Astrid's visit. Astrid was showing off her repetoire of tricks and one lady remarked 'girls don't shake hands, they give wet sloppy kisses'. She then leaned forward for a few smoochies from Astrid who, when invited, will give little gentle kisses. Another lady would have liked Astrid to sit in her lap which, of course she couldn't due to size and safety.

Many of us want to 'give back' something to the world. Therapy Pet work is a wonderful way!

Therapy Pet Visits...therapy for all involved

2009-05-27T10:47:00.009-04:00

Last Saturday, we had the pleasure of another therapy pet visit to a local Charlotte living center. While all are special, this particular living center has recently become our responsibility to organize. Formerly known as Greyhound Therapy Group, our mentor and therapy dog 'tester' is growing our local program and while concentrating her efforts on a living center newly added to our Pet Therapy list of centers, has entrusted this one to our team for its organization.

Another individual that was in on the ground floor of the development of Pet Therapy, Inc. visitations in our area, Barb, just recently had forwarded a discussion on building better skills during our visitations and helping us make more of a difference to those that we share time with. Two techniques noted in this briefing that I've added to individual visits were 1) shaking hands during initial greetings and 2) a new, more effective way of talking with the residents. Shaking hands seems like a no brainer, but somehow, the value of it escaped me until reading this and working with it. Granted, there are those in these centers that may be too weak or have lost interest in physical human contact, but to those that were receptive, it improved our human connection as two individuals and a dog that would like to share a few moments together.

In this 'Building Better Skills' pamplet, it was suggested that when confronted with a situation where a resident wants to discuss their condition, share their fears, or simply ask for help, that we build on what they are saying to us. If a resident is distressed, share their concern and use the words they are using. One special lady we met kept repeating her name, several times repeating my name is Florence ****er. Florence looked into my eyes and said "can you help me". My first thoughts were that she was going to ask me to do something I could never do for her such as help her leave the center. Remember what I had just read, I simply said "what can I do to help you"? Florence, in her very weak voice, told me she would like to sit up better. What a simply request that I would have never even known of if I had followed m old ways. Of course, having no knowledge of her medical condition, I couldn't do that myself but a quick trip to the 'nursing central' brought a friendly face that DID have knowledge and had Florence sitting up and happy in a matter of minutes. Florence could have lay there uncomfortable all day. I could have felt I had done a good job as a pet therapy team, but have really missed an opportunity to make a very small difference in someone's life that day.

Deciding to become a pet therapy team through Therapy Dogs, Inc. has been a more rewarding experience then I ever thought. It is therapy for Astrid, a big, black and often object of discrimination and fear Rottweiler, as she walks the halls and enters the rooms of the residents. She is changing minds and hearts about her breed. It is therapy for the residents of these living centers who so often miss their pets of yesteryear that they could hold and pet. It is therapy for me and Astrid's dad in that every time we leave, we feel just a little more in touch with humanity and what it really means to be interconnected with our fellow humans.

There are lots of therapy pet organizations out there, each with their own special mission. We found a perfect match between our big, black former shelter dog and the Therapy Dogs, Inc. visiting group in our area.

2009-05-15T00:11:00.001-04:00

Joining online photography groups sometimes open up opportunities. Having recently joined a group called Dogs with Flowers, Astrid is discovering flowers everywhere in our neighborhood. While we once walked past them with barely a notice, we know assess the best angle, most beneficial lighting...and we are both pretty proud of what we come up with at times!

The Colors of Summer

2009-05-11T12:05:00.009-04:00

We took our inspiration from the colors of Summer, namely the colors of found in a beach ball when we created Astrid's Summer line of bandanas and collar covers. Blue, orange (our favorite), yellows....they are all there. Each is reversible to a co-ordinating color that might feature swirls or twirls of the featured color.

Originally designing only for the big dog...50# and over...requests that we include the smaller pooch were quickly obliged.

Astrid lived at the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society before coming to live with us in her forever home on Dec 28, '06. In gratitude for her care during her stay, we donate the entire amount above cost to the Society. We are currently involved in the cement slab project, which will eventually pour cement slabs in every kennel at the shelter, providing a cleaner, healthier environment for the guests of the shelter.

Astrid keeps a busy visitation schedule as a therapy pet at local senior living centers here in Charlotte, NC.

Just waiting around .

2009-05-09T23:53:00.001-04:00

Just waiting around .
Originally uploaded by astridnicoleetcetera

Sometimes you just have to wait around until someone opens the door.

Trending Colors

2009-05-07T19:36:00.008-04:00

Find me on Polyvore

Who would have thought orange would be such a fashion forward color! Everywhere we looked, we found others who must have been inspired by thoughts of orange sherbet on a summer day. Astrid looks so sweet in her bandana whether she is wearing the print side or flipping it over to the swirly pattern side. Even sweeter is that every sale from her Astrid Nicole Etcetera Etsy store benefits the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society in Nogales, AZ.

Lazy Daz

2009-05-07T07:40:00.000-04:00

After a big day at doggie day camp on Tuesday playing with her best friend Zelda, Astrid had a lay around the house day on Wednesday. We all need one of those once in a while! Zelda has been Astrid's best friend at day camp since she started attending camp at Best Friends in Pineville, NC two years ago.

A Nice Lazy Afternoon Smelling The Flowers

2009-05-06T00:05:00.002-04:00

Sometimes you just need to take time and smell the roses. We're lucky to have a long rose season here in NC, but when it does get too cold, Astrid can always enjoy the sunflowers you see on her bandana.

My Teacher, Sarah

2009-05-05T14:43:00.005-04:00

I have been going to a class on Sundays at my day camp, Best Friends, for almost nine months now. Today is the last class that I will ever have with my teacher, Sarah. She is moving to Alabama because she has a new job. She is going to develop programs that will help doggies in shelters be more adoptable. You know how when you go to a shelter and some dogs just sit in the back of their kennel and everyone passes them over even though they might have made the absolute BEST pet ever? Well, she has ideas to teach them to come to the front, say hello and have a better chance. She has lots of other ideas too, like teaching them little tricks like putting their paw up on the kennel for a 'high five' when someone looks at them. Anyway, she is moving this week, so today is my last class.

Sarah is really good at teaching tricks, and helping us dogs get ready for things like the AKC Canine Good Citizen test and therapy pet tests and just all sorts of things. I, along with my mom and dad, will miss her lots, but we know that lots more dogs at this shelter in Alabama will now find homes because of Sarah.

We are giving her a good bye present today. My mom made it and the card too. It's to carry lots of stuff in for her new job. I hope she fills it with treats for all the new doggies she is going to meet.

Astrid's Very Proud Of First Mobile Post!

2009-05-04T23:30:00.000-04:00

It's Easter Weekend!

2009-04-10T13:14:00.007-04:00

Astrid wants to update her blog and show off her Easter outfit. Of course, the bandana is another Astrid Nicole Etcetera original, available only at Astrid Nicole's Etsy store. Astrid special ordered the matching Easter basket and mom filled it with the plastic eggs. On Easter morning, the eggs will be filled with treats, freeze dried liver and pieces of Mellow Mutts, and hidden around the house. This will be a true test of the nose of Astrid Nicole!

We continue our mission with our Etsy store of giving back to the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society in Nogales, AZ for the great care they gave Astrid during the undetermined length of time she spent in their shelter. Due to the generosity of pet owner's, we have many pets out there looking way stylin' in new bandanas and collor scrunchies, while the guests of the shelter are enjoying newly poured cement slabs in their kennels. So far, Astrid's Etsy store has been able to provide funds to pour three of these cement slabs.

Visit the SCHS website and click on a few of the dogs listed that need homes. You'll find some enjoying these cement slabs! Of course, a project of this magnitude takes time, but when completed, with the help of Astrid's friends, other pet owners and simply those that want to support our cause, we excitedly anticipate the next project we can turn our Etsy shop's attention to.

We Are Getting Cleaner and Healthier With Each Sale

2009-03-02T11:07:00.010-05:00

Thanks to friends, supporters and their fashion forward canines, Astrid was able to pour another cement slab in one kennel at her former shelter, the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society in Nogales, AZ. She met her goal of raising another $175 - the price of the cement slab - and had it on it's way a few days before Valentine's Day. Because of several recent adoptions, some new canine guests of the shelter will be enjoying the healthier surfaces this will provide while waiting for their forever homes. As space frees up at the no kill shelter, dogs thought to be most adoptable are brought in from the Animal Care and Control in Nogales. Animal Care and Control is the agency charged with the rescuing of strays off the streets of this US/Mexico border community and are taken to their holding center where they stay (for 3 days) awaiting pickup by their owners or.....well, you know. More adoptions at the shelter mean lots more room and opportunities for more great dogs.

As exciting as the fashion and glamour of Astrid's Etsy store, Astrid Nicole Etcetera, is she still found time for a few additonal accomplishments. Having met the testing requirements of Therapy Dogs, Inc. back in November, she's begun a regular curcuit of visitations which include living and rehabilitation facilities along with Alzheimer Centers. Just yesterday, Sunday March 1, we spent a couple of hours visiting and talking with the residents of The Havens and The Laurels in Charlotte. Pictured above is Astrid, wearing her Canine Good Citizen bandana, waiting to leave for the ride there. The stories of the pets they have to share are such fun to listen too and we always see how pleased they are when we part ways, reminding them 'see you again very soon'.

Therapy visitations, learning at classes and Day Camp keep this big, black and brown dog along with her family very busy!

Hands and Heart for Nogales, AZ Animal Shelter - our Valentine goal

2009-01-08T12:03:00.041-05:00

This isn't Astrid, but it could be mistaken for her...they look a lot alike. This is Negra. Negra lived at the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society in Nogales, AZ at the same time Astrid did. Negra is still there, Astrid has been with us for over two years now. Notice that the floor of Negra's kennel is just rocky dirt. That's what the land is like in the high desert country where Nogales, AZ is with its elevation of over 3800 feet. Many of the kennel floors are now a nice cement slab, with gravel in the other half of the kennel. That is much cleaner and healthier for the resident dogs and much, much more comfortable. This is a story of how we are working to help the shelter make all the kennels cleaner, healthier and more comfortable.

We reached our goal of raising $175 with Astrid's Etsy dog boutique and we did it just in time for Christmas. The Santa Cruz Co Humane Society in Nogales, Az where Astrid made her home for a period of time is pouring cement slab in every kennel and each slab costs roughly $175 . To reach our goal, we sold bandanas, dog collar scrunchies and greeting cards through our online Etsy shop.

Visiting southern Arizona this Christmas, '08, we stopped at the shelter to pass out treats to the guests there and to hand deliver our check for $175. The improvements we saw at the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society in Nogales were extensive. When we found Astrid there, she was in with two border collie type dogs that had spent their entire young lives in that shelter. My husband and I dubbed them 'the bros' for lack of knowing their names, if they had any names at all. These two dogs quarreled a lot and maybe Astrid was, with their shortage of space and her even temperment, about the safest dog they could put in with them. We are so happy that, for some time now, 'the bros' have been gone. You see, the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society is a 'no kill' shelter so someone, somewhere, must have seen the hidden miracles in these two scruffy black dogs.

As in all shelters, there was, is and probably always will be, over crowding. Compounding this overcrowding problem, was a lack of seperate kennels and many dogs were kept in one large kennel. This situation has dramatically changed, too! There are seperate kennels now, with one or two dogs in each. They are seperated by fencing according to their temperament and size. Now, each kennel is continuing the makeover with a cement pad being poured in each. Helping this project to reach its goal, Astrid continues to raise money with her Astrid Nicole Etcetera doggie boutique.

We had a wonderfully successful Christmas season. This being the first year that we have worked on our Etsy for Nogales' Shelter project, we had no idea what to expect. We were kept mighty busy as people we knew from dog social networking sites bought Astrid's bandanas, collar scrunchies, and greeting cards. We were kept busy by people we didn't know, that had heard of our project, or simply liked our things and wanted to share them with their own dog or someone else's dog. Now, we are headed into 2009 with the same goal...to help the shelter continue to pour cement pads in ALL kennels at the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society in Nogales, ensuring that the canine guests there will have a healthy and clean environment while, like Astrid did, they wait for a special forever home to open its heart and doors. We'd like to reach our second goal, a second cement pad paid for by the Astrid Nicole Etcetera shop by Valentines Day. We've even given our St Valentine's Day goal a name...hands and hearts for Nogales, AZ animal shelter.

And Astrid? How is she doing? She just became a member of Therapy Dogs, Inc. She is spreading joy one touch at a time in nursing homes and alzheimer's centers in Charlotte, NC, where we all moved just five short months after she took that ride home to her forever home. She also considers herself representative of shelter dogs every where after earning her AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate. She attends day camp once a week where she spends an entire day playing with her 'own kind'. She has probably pretty much forgotten shelter life. We wish all dogs could.

90% of the proceeds from each sale are donated to the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society in Nogales, AZ. The remaining 10% will be used to buy fabric for making new items for Astrid's Astrid Nicole Etcetera doggie boutique on Etsy and to pay postage when we ship these items out. We want to help the shelter finish the cement pouring project and we want to be part of the next project, and the one after that.

This story would not be complete without this message. Please, when you consider getting your next canine companion, consider adopting, not shopping.

'Tis The Season

2008-12-18T13:19:00.013-05:00

It's about time for an update from Astrid and Astrid's mom on the progress towards the goal of pouring a cement pad in a kennel at the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales AZ. This shelter is where Astrid was a guest for an undetermined length of time, until the age of about two when she came to live in her forever home. As you've probably read, our goal is to use the proceeds from our Etsy shop to benefit Astrid's former shelter. We are now only $22.00 away from the $175.00 it takes to pour one cement slab in a kennel at the shelter. We have names like Monty, Shae, Sasha Louise, brother and sister Liberty and Justice, Sable and Chi, Augie, Dakota, Sassy while there are others we don't even know their names that bought wearables for their dogs, notes for writing and tags for gift giving from our Astrid Nicole Etcetera Etsy shop. Thank you to all and a special thanks to the Santa Cruz Humane Society that featured Astrid as a success story, spurring interest and sales that helped towards our goal.

Astrid's Etsy shop has done more than raised money to help a struggling shelter. It's taught Astrid's mom a little about internet social networking that has brought us into contact with others that hold animal welfare high on their list of priorities. It's also given us an avenue to spread information through informal channels that hopefully spread the word of care and concern, inspiring some type of action that will create a better world for pets and homeless pets.

The period of time that has passed since writing the previous 'My Goal' blog has not been without additional excitement. Astrid visited with Santa and that is what the silly picture accompanying this blog is all about. Even more importantly, Astrid has passed her Therapy Dog, Inc. test and has completed two of the three required observed visitations. After successfully completing the third visitation this Sunday, Dec. 21, we will be honored to turn in our evaluations with passing grades and become a full card carrying therapy dog team. Actually, make that teams because her dad has also tested with her and she and he are considered one team, while she and I (Astrid's mom) are considered another.

We are really enjoying visiting with guests of homes and rehabilitation centers where we see mostly the elderly. We've been told that the list of opportunities to work as a therapy team is almost infinite and includes schools, libraries and reading programs with kids, people with various challenges, etc. Right now, we think we will concentrate on gaining more experience with these centers we've visited and besides, as we we leave we always say "see you soon". Many times, this remark is met with the inquiry "when?" We don't like to dissapoint.

My Goal

2008-11-16T09:06:00.024-05:00

Astrid's words: Me and my bud Santa would like to tell you about a project of ours.

Before coming to live in my 'forever home', I lived at the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, AZ. I lived there even on Christmas, 2006, but on December 28, this person who had come and looked at me and all my friends over and over and over and...well, you get the idea...came back. She went inside and then this man came and got me and took me inside too. This person had this man with her and they were all smiley and stuff. They put this new collar on me and hooked on this matching leash. Then, we went outside and these new people asked me to get in their car. The rest is history and you can read all about it here in my other blogs, but let's get right down to business.

When I lived at the Santa Cruz Humane Society, they took as good care of me as they could. You see, the shelter is what is called a 'no kill' shelter. I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I'll tell you this...as other new dogs arrived, they stayed except for the ones that got to get in cars with people with smiley faces and new collars and leashes, like I did. Another thing you need to know is that they have always had a hard time with money. My shelter is right on the Mexico/US border. Yeah...real and true. You can take a 5 minute walk and walk right into Mexico. We were poor. Dirt poor. Literally. The floor of our kennels was dirt.

There have been lots of changes at the Santa Cruz Humane Society. My mom and dad visited when they were back in Arizona last Christmas, 2007. When they came home, they told me how there were new indoor kennels and some new outdoor kennels and the whole place was just looking soooo much better! But there was one thing...the floor of the kennels were still dirt. Now, I don't want you to feel sorry for me or anything but there's another thing I need to tell you. Sleeping on dirt hurts sometimes and it's not all that healthy, so the shelther is trying to change all that and they've all ready started! They have some money all ready and are pouring concrete into half of each kennel and having the other half be gravel. This give the guests of the shelter choices and will make it easier for the volunteers at the kennel to keep them cleaner.

BUT...they don't have all the money they need. Each cement pad costs $175, so what I'm trying to do is help them pour more cement pads. I donate ALL the money I make with my Etsy shop to them. I hope I can help more of my friends that are guests of the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, AZ be healthy and more comfortable with these new cement floors.

The end.

Astrid

Astrid, the party girl

2008-11-04T13:49:00.006-05:00

Astrid loves a good party. From PetSmart grand openings to Petco's Halloween parties, we try to take in as many as possible. One of her first was a fashion show where she wore nothing but a necklace. No high priced outfits for her! She strolled the runway self confident that her good looks would carry her through. We wish we had a recording of the emcee calling out "work it, Astrid, work it!" She walked out, twirled around once and sat when told. Of course, the prize went to one of the cuties wearing an expensive outfit bought at the Petco store, and well it should. We are there for the experience and for socialization.

Socialization. That's the very reason we attended this year's Petco Halloween party. Astrid's costume was a bunch of cotton balls stuck together and she went as...you guessed it, a bunny. It was fun to hear the store employees remember her entry in the costume contest last year when she wore only a big band-aid on her rear end. What was she? A pain in the butt, of course.

It's fun having Astrid. Without her social life, I probably wouldn't have much of one myself. I'm glad she turned out to be a party girl.