Valentine's Day

Astrid is really getting excited about Valentine's Day. It's one of our faves. Maybe it is yours too? We got Astrid's assortment of Valentine bandanas up in her Etsy shop a couple of weeks ago. This week, even though it is still January, Astrid wanted to get a little decorating done. Astrid's best friends, Sugar, Brody and Logan, gave her a tree a little while ago. Standing 3 feet tall,  we decorate it year around for seasons and holidays. Strung with purple lights which seem to glow with a nice pinkish tint, we added crochet hearts, plastic fairies, and a bright red tree skirt on which not one, but two, fairy princesses stand.

We'd like to share the easiest crochet heart pattern we have. It is all done in the very first stitch (away from the crochet hook). The picture marks the fourth stitch where all the stitches are done. This pattern is so easy, you can whip up as many as you want while enjoying your favorite TV show.

Crochet Heart Pattern

1 H/8 5mm crochet hook
Small supply of worsted weight yarn in desired colors. This project is a great stash buster as each heart only requires a small amount.

Chain 4.
Work 3 triple crochet in first chain. (That would be the first chain away from your crochet hook, not counting the on on your hook.)
Work 3 double crochet in first chain.
Chain 1.
Work 1 triple crochet in first chain.
Chain 1.
Work 3 double crochet in first chain.
Work 3 triple crochet in first chain.
Chain 3.
Slip stitch into center hole in heart, pull through leaving as much of a 'hanger' as you like, snip off yarn leaving a few inches.
Gently tie the two loose ends of yarn together two or three times, snip close.
Have fun!

Mistfit or a Match For Life?

Are shelters full of misfits? Of course they are! There are high energy dogs taken home by mellow, homebodies. There are dogs that would like nothing more than to lie at your feet all day but end up in a house full of children that want to dress them up. There are dogs that love to 'work'. By that, we mean is they love to learn, learn, learn new things! They may find themselves in a home that wanted a dog that was just content to be there. And there is nothing wrong with any of these dogs in and of themselves! But the harsh truth is that they are labeled. Labled "odd ducks", "square pegs", "odd balls" and many other defamatory words included the worst, 'returns'. This....all because the word that could really describe the situation was 'misfit'. A situation that didn't work. It didn't work, it wasn't right and it all could have been avoided from the beginning with a little bit of help. First, one needs to make the right fit between dog and potential family. Once assured that the match is right,  the rest is called 'rehoming skills' and there are lots and lots of books written about it. Tons of info on the 'net, too!

So, when adopting a dog, make a list of what you want from your new family member. Want a dining companion? So did we! And here she sits. Astrid Nicole, social butterfly and you can tell, she is a little 'older'. And so are we.

Great Pictures Boost Shelter Dogs Chances

No matter how broad minded and informed we might think we are, the picture of a shelter dog in a beautiful setting will elicit an awwww and draw our interest. Take that same dog and tie him to a door, taking his picture while he stands there nervously and that awww will turn to a pitiful one, probably with the thought that we hope someone overlooks his surroundings and gives him a second chance at a good home anyway. The saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" is especially true when applied to shelter dogs. Shelters know that they just often are too busy tending to each new dog that arrives at the shelter often at a frantic pace. Often shelter workers are over worked, under paid (if at all) and emotionally drained from the sight of one beautiful animal after another that has been thrown away at a human's whim and ending up at their shelter.

Pet Finder, along with the Center For Shelter Dogs are teaming up and are currently taking a survey on Pet Finder's website to see what makes a picture most appealing. We are really looking forward to how they are going to use this information to better the chances of finding a forever home for shelter dogs. Until their new information is available, Astrid (alumnus of Santa Cruz Humane Society) and I hope that everyone, whether you are considering adopting or going to share a photo of an animal in need, will look past the background of a picture and look to the soul....and all the other things...size, temperament, age (Senior Dog Rocks!), etc., etc., that will help you make the decision of whether that dog in the picture might be right for your family.

Marina

Marina is awarded a ribbon at AKC obedience trial! Maybe not yet, she is still in the Santa Cruz Humane Society. A few years ago winning a ribbon for anything at all would have been impossible but not today. Years ago, Marina would have been disqualified not for her lack of ability but for her lack of documentable ancestry. 

Marina loves to try new things and already knows that walking on a leash is a good thing. Sit, stay, come when called, leash walking...we imagine she could learn them all easily. Someone who always wanted to be involved in dog sports like obedience might have a head start with Marina. Just getting in the obedience trial ring is no longer first contingent on a dog's heritage. Mixed breed dogs can go paw to paw in all events now. 

Sunrise At The Shelter

This fictitious story is told through the eyes and mind of a shelter dog. The picture is an actual unaltered photo taken by me at a shelter in 2009. 

The sun is coming up and it's another day at the shelter! I like it when it gets to be daylight because it is more fun around here. Humans come and go more. My name is Dog 1836. My dad used to call me Ace, but when he left me off here, I guess they thought I needed a new name. Up until yesterday, I had a friend in this kennel with me and his name was Dog 1832. That's when a man with a really nice voice came to the shelter, walking all around looking at every one of us. He came back to the kennel Dog 1832 and I were in and told the young woman that always carries the keys around here "that's the one (pointing at my friend). He's perfect. I'd like to take Sunny home with me today." I guess he didn't see the sign that had my friends name on it. The man with the nice voice handed a dog collar and a leash to the young woman that always carries the keys and said "I'll meet you inside and fill out the paper work". Then he walked away and the young woman that always carries keys opened the kennel and put the new collar on my friend named Dog 1832. My friend and the woman then walked out of the kennel and she turned and lock the door. Shortly after that, Dog 1832 and the man with the nice voice came walking out, got in the car and drove away. So, it's just me in this kennel today but the sun just came up and people will start to come and go and everything will be more interesting. Maybe even some man with a nice voice will come and point at me saying "he's perfect". It is even okay if he wants to change my name.  

Misfit or Movie Star

A widely held misconception is that dogs in shelters are misfits. The unfortunate truth is that many....maybe even most...are the casualty of humans who didn't have the time, patience or know how to help them to become well behaved members of the family. That's Astrid on the left in 2006, still in the shelter. And that is Astrid on the right. Neither a misfit nor a movie star (except for staring in her own movies) there are thousands just like her in shelter's across the nation. Looking for a specific breed? There are shelters that are specific to breeds or try a mixed up dog like Astrid. German Shepherd, Mastiff, Border Collie? Yes, you can have it all...it's in there.

Hearty Dog Pause

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. 

Fashion Paws...Oh, The Parties!

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

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.

Suddenly Senior

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. 

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

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

Dogs of Summer

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

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.

Keeping Them Home

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.

Fido's Manners Matter

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

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'.

For Keeps

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.

We Visited Your Mom Today!

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's Valentine Party At Best Friends Day Camp

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Love Is All Around You

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!