Friday, May 31, 2013

Fun Photo Day

Note: All the pics are unedited, because my internet is being spazzy. So I apologize if they aren't centered, since I couldn't crop them.

Today was warm outside, without being too warm, so I decided it was a great day for pics!

Buddy:






My favorite shot of the day







Coco (my grandmothers dog):








Random:


Fun fact; We recently had new neighbors move in, who've never seen me take pics before. The looks I got when I laid down under the tree and started doing half-yoga poses to take pictures were priceless.






Thursday, May 30, 2013

Boomerang Pet Tags: Review

Today, Buddy and I are reviewing two products from Boomerang Pet Tags--A stainless steel tag, and a CollarTag, also stainless steel.

The stainless steel tag; Good size, easy to read, lots of information fits on it. I got the bone shape, large. I had Buddy's blog name, Buddy the Mutt, on the front, and my phone and email address on the back. I've been using it for a little over a week now, and it's not fallen off and it's still easy to read, something that I was worried about after the short lifespan of my Pet Depot tag. Buddy and I have swam, hiked, and played in the mud in the last week, all without issue.




The CollarTag; 5 lines of information on it (Buddy the Mutt, my number, and my email) and considering the only available surface for engraving is the front, I was sufficiently impressed. I hadn't expected it all to fit. I didn't like the quotes around Buddy's name, which I wouldn't have like even if the rest of his blog name hadn't been under it--seems like you're saying the name isn't real or important--but with the rest of his blog name under it, it really didn't make sense to add the quotes. Not a true con, just a personal thing. Ditto the above about not falling off, and getting very dirty this past week.

My camera couldn't focus on the tag, so this was the best I could do.



Boomerang Pet Tags No Quibble Guarantee:
If, after receiving your tag(s) you don't agree they are as nice, or nicer, than any Pet ID Tag you have ever seen, you are welcome to return it/them for a complete "no quibble" refund. You can't beat that.What we do GUARANTEE:We guarantee your satisfaction with any tag you purchase from us.We guarantee our plastic tags will last for two years from the date of purchase and will not break or come apart due to a manufacturering defect. However, we cannot guarantee tags to be "chew" proof.We guarantee our CollarTags™ will remain "functional" for the life of your pet. We will replace a tag free of charge if they ever become unreadable. (Please see below regarding our collars.)Please note that a free replacement tag will have the same exact information as that which was engraved on the original tag. (On a warranty replacement tag, changes are not allowed to the pet name, phone number, et cetera.)What we do NOT guarantee:We do not guarantee tags or collars against loss.We do not guarantee the instructions you send us to be correct. When you place your order, please carefully double-check that you are ordering the correct type of tag, size, and that all of the text (phone number, etc) is correct. If the order was placed incorrectly, please place and pay for another order to obtain a corrected replacement.We do not guarantee collars we sell against wearing out: Dogs are very hard on their "things." We offer collars as a convenience to our customers, and we have endeavored to find the best collars available. We cannot guarantee the collars we sell against anything, they will not last indefinitely. Eventually, the collar you purchase from us (or anyone else) may wear out and a new collar will need to be purchased. However, we DO guarantee that any CollarTag™ will not wear out nor fall off of the correct-width collar. Remember that a CollarTag™ can be moved to a new collar whenever your pet's current collar inevitably does end up needing to be replaced.

I was impressed with the company and quality of the tags they provide, and will definitely be buying more tags from them. 5 out of 5 treats! So head on over, and tell 'em Buddy sent you!


Tip: Dogs are messy, so it stands to reason that your tag would get a little smudgy as well. I know mine did, especially after swimming. You can buy a microfiber cloth and some lens cleaner for cheap at the eye department in your local Wal-Mart, or any store that sells glasses-related things. (Loving my descriptions yet?)  I wear glasses, so had it just laying around. A quick spray of cleaner and a wipe with the cloth, and your tags will be shining like new!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Wisdom Panel 2.0 Dog DNA Test: Review

Thursday, May 16, I went out on the porch to discover my Wisdom Panel had arrived!! I excitedly brought it in, read the instructions--and promptly crated Buddy for the two hour wait, since he and Sophie share a water bowl. I gave him water in the crate for the two hours, and watched him, to keep from him eating anything or drinking shared water, as per the instructions. I didn't want to contaminate the test. He was unhappy with me when I crated him--He was even more unhappy with me when I started swabbing his mouth!

Buddy is not amused


On Tuesday, May 28, I received an email telling me my results were in! *Drumroll* He is a Chow Chow/Siberian Husky/Labrador Retriever/Great Pyrenees mix! If you don't think that's a mouthful, say it a few more times and watch your tongue magically twist itself into a knot.



Now, when asked to guess what my dog was, everyone seemed to get the same idea; Chow, Lab, and a plethora of unrecognizable breeds. The woman who gave him to me told me he was a Lab/Husky cross. So, while Great Pyrenees never came up, I can definitely believe it.

They estimated his adult weight as 42-67 pounds, intact. At 48 pounds, he's on the lower end of their spectrum, but at least he's on it!

So would I say the Wisdom Panel test was accurate? Yes. Would I recommend a friend try it? Without a doubt. Would I take it again for a different dog? Definitely.

I'm not using my go-to pros and cons list, because their are no cons!

I say give it a shot. 5 out 5 treats! Head on over, and tell 'em Buddy sent you!

Monday, May 27, 2013

What a Day

Our day started bright and early at 7am. Too early!



We loaded into the car at 8am, headed to the animal shelter an hour away to look into getting Buddy a new friend--one his size, who could play with him without having to worry about their entire head being swallowed.

Buddy doesn't see a problem with the size difference!


So we met with this pretty girl, aaand Buddy didn't like her, one bit. Unfortunate, because I fell in love three seconds after meeting her. But it was his choice, and he was giving some very clear no signals.




We loaded back into the car for the drive home. We stopped to drop my father off at his house, and Buddy got out of the car, sans leash and courtesy of a door left open by my dad. A pack of little strays jumped him, luckily not doing any damage before I got in between them. Well, Buddy has a little scratch on his back, but given that there was three or four of them and one of Buddy, it was a good outcome.

Then it was off to a Memorial Day cook-out, which we originally planned to bring Buddy too, but after his run in with the mini-cujos at my dads, we decided to let him cool off in his crate for awhile. Now? Now I think I'm going to take a nap.

Happy Memorial Day!

Friday, May 24, 2013

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Sewin' by the Sea Braided Cotton Toy: Review

Buddy got some more mail today--This time it was a homemade braided cotton toy from Sewin' by the Sea in Sitka, Alaska. They even threw in a portable water bowl, which will come in handy when we're hiking!




Little things like this are appreciated!




One thing I didn't like was that the toy had a lot of strings on it that I had to cut/pull off before letting Buddy play with it. Understandable, but still a bit of nuisance.

It was worth it, however; Buddy loved his new toy! And it's still intact after a hard day of play, which is a great thing in a homemade toy.





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And as for the water bowl--It's cute, and it holds water without leaking, although the water does bead up on the outside of it. Which means that your pocket/bag will probably get a little wet when you use it and carry it back with you. Which is probably to be expected, when you carry a water bowl in your pocket!



Pros:

  • Toys are a hit!
  • Recycled
  • Great customer service
  • Durable
Cons:


  • Lots of strings
  • Pockets will get wet with water bowl


All in all, I give Sewin' by the Sea and their doggy products 4 out of 5 treats. Head on over, and tell 'em Buddy sent you!