Busy Buddy Twist 'n Treat

Kirby has a lot of toys, and I do mean a lot of toys! Stuffed animals that squeak, flat animals that squeak, a monkey that talks, a dog that barks, balls of assorted sizes, plastic toys that squeak, toys made for playing tug-o-war, even a puppet animal for hand play.  These are all fun toys he immensely enjoys.

Most of his toys have a name so it's always fun to tell him to go get a certain toy.  95% of the time he does get the right one.  However, other than chewing or squeaking the toys himself, he usually needs another dog or person to play with him.

Interactive toys have been popping up all over the web and in advertisements.  Kirby is almost two years old (a teen in human years) so we felt it was time for him to move from his "baby" toys to "learning" toys.
We don't want to overwhelm him or set him up for failure so we are starting with the simple ones first. As he masters them, we will move on to the more difficult ones.  This is the Busy Buddy Twist n Treat made by Premier.

It's a 2-piece adjustable rubber treat dispensing toy that can be filled with any small treats.  It has small holes so the dog can smell the treats.  The rate of treat dispersal can be adjusted from easy to hard depending on the interest and ability of the dog.  At first we left the openings the largest to allow treats to fall out regularly.  Once Kirby got the hang of the game, we screwed the openings tighter to make it more difficult.

This toy comes in three sizes, small for dogs under twenty pounds, medium for dogs twenty to fifty pounds, and large for dogs over fifty pounds.  Because we were at PetSmart, Kirby was able to try it in the store, so even though he only weighs 14 pounds, we got the medium sized one which has worked well for him.  If your small dog is more delicate then do choose the small size.  The toy ranges in price from $9.00 to $18.00

A dog can eat only so many treats before he starts becoming pudgy fido.  Therefore, take care when using this toy.  I would suggest once a day but if you use treats for training on a regular basis then every few days.  Just adjust accordingly.  If your dog eats kibble then another option with this toy is feeding his meal in it.  This can keep him busy for quite some time.  A handy little gadget when you are busy or have company.

Here's a video of Kirby playing with his toy.  At first treats were falling out right and left.  A few twists and he had to really work on it.  A few times he looked at us as if asking for our help!  This toy is Kirby approved with 5 wags!!

Premier has several interactive toys for your dog!  We also purchased the Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug we'll be testing so check back for Kirby's review.

Interactive Dog Toys

A Dog's Purpose, A Novel

Oh my dog, how I love the book, A Dog’s Purpose, written by W. Bruce Cameron.  This tail wagging fictional story takes the reader on a journey through the successive lives of one dog searching for his true purpose in life.  Cats are supposed to have nine lives so why not dogs? 

The story begins with Toby, a feral dog, who is born and then dies at a young age only to be reborn again and again, each time as a different dog (golden retriever, German shepherd, black Lab) remembering everything he has learned from each past life.  Just as he thinks he has accomplished his life’s purpose, he discovers a new one eventually leading to his discovery of his one, true purpose.

Turning each page the first person dog dialogue made me feel I was following the thoughts and experiences of a real dog.  This dog behaved just like a real dog giving me, the human, insights into what a dog really thinks and feels.  Sometimes I laughed.  Sometimes I cried.  Sometimes I thought about my dog and wondered, “Is that what you really think?”

As the story unfolds his life experiences are filled with just about everything a dog could possibly encounter.  There is the unexplainable human/animal bonding, a bit of K-9 search and rescue, and of course the problem with cats, all intertwined in a remarkable story showcasing a dog’s great capacity to love and protect.   In case you are thinking it's all happy tails, thrown into the mix are the animal welfare issues such as well intentioned rescues, high kill shelters, puppy mills, and people who abuse or neglect animals.

I have had three amazing dogs in my lifetime: Chevas, Sugar, and now Kirby.  I have jokingly said Kirby’s purpose is me because he gets me through the dark days.  Maybe there is some truth to my statement after all.  Maybe they are the same dog searching for his one true purpose?  This book declares why not!        

This is a must read for anyone who loves, or has ever loved, a dog!  It is an amazingly believable story soon to become a classic like Black Beauty and Beautiful Joe.

FYI - Movie Insider is already reporting that DreamWorks has bought the screen rights to this bestseller and hired the author to co write the script with his wife, Cathryn Michon.  Gavin Polone will produce.

The Honest Kitchen

Kirby LOVES The Honest Kitchen Dog Food!  I love that it is healthy and nutritious for him!

When I discovered what went into commercial kibble I immediately stopped feeding it and started preparing homemade food.  This can be time consuming and confusing.  Does he need more of this or less of that?  So I began searching for a healthy dog food I would feel comfortable feeding him on a daily basis.  Finally I discovered The Honest Kitchen products and we haven't looked back!

This dog food is human grade all natural dehydrated food.  It smells fresh, not stinky like commercial kibble.  It's also simple to prepare.  Just pour one cupful in a bowl, add one cup warm water or broth, and let hydrate for about five minutes.

Kirby enjoys Keen and Force.  I usually add extras to his meal such as cottage cheese, cranberries, sardines, hamburger, or turkey.  Sometimes I just crumble half of a Meaty Muffin into his meal and mix it in.  He doesn't like it cold so I heat his food for 15 seconds in the microwave.  He has just discovered Zeal which has chunks of white fish and devours it.

Since he only eats a cup a day - 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 in the evening - a 4 lb box goes a long way so it's economical too.  When I receive the box I use the snack size baggies and place one cupful in each.  I keep the individual bags in the original box in the back of my refrigerator top shelf.  I just grab a bag and prepare his food for the day.

Has it made a difference?  Absolutely!   He's young and has lots of energy so nothing new there.  His coat, however, has improved dramatically.  He has a yorkie coat which means its only one layer like human hair.  Not only is it noticeably growing in thicker all over, the fuzzy stuff on his chest and belly is filling out with hair!

The following is exerpted from The Honest Kitchen website which explains their food better than I ever could:

By using a gentle dehydration process, we are able to maintain the integrity of our core ingredients. Our fruits and vegetables are harvested at the peak of their ripeness then gently dried. Dehydration ensures that the enzymes, vitamins and nutrients are still intact, so our fruits and vegetables are actually considered raw. Our meats and eggs are dehydrated at a high enough temperature to kill any pathogenic bacteria that may be present which essentially means that these ingredients are considered 'cooked' during dehydration.
Dehydrated foods are highly nutritious, easy to prepare and store, and light-weight to ship. It also means that you don’t have to worry about feeding your pet any harsh preservatives. Essentially, our only preservative is the lack of water- how cool?

When it comes to sourcing ingredients and preparing our food, we fell back on the simple phrase that mothers and grandmothers are mouthing around the world right now, “You are what you eat.” The same holds true for pets. Human-grade, for us, is not just a marketing term. We believe that your pets deserve the same nourishing diets that you would feed your family.

All our products are safe for human consumption, a requirement for entry into the human food facility where our products are made. Each of our diets are carefully blended to encompass a broad array of amino acids, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and enzymes to help achieve and maintain optimum health. Production occurs in a FDA inspected human food facility right here in in the USA, alongside products such as breakfast cereals and beverage mixes for human consumption.

Learn more about the ways we control the quality of our raw ingredients and finished products.

Treats

These are easy, healthy dog treats using human grade ingredients you can prepare in your kitchen.  Each one has been Kirby tested and approved!  Bone Appetit!



Cheeseburgers
Chicken Pot Pies
Harvest Pumpkin Balls
Pawpsicles
Pumpkin Cran Muffins


**** I am a pet parent not a dog nutritionist so please be sure to check with your veterinarian before changing or adding any ingredients to your dog's diet.  You should also check Foods That Harm Dogs before adding extra ingredients.

Meals

Is your dog tired of the same old kibble day after day?  These are easy, healthy, home-made recipes using human grade ingredients you can prepare in your kitchen.  Each one has been Kirby tested and approved!  Bone Appetit!

Chicken And Rice

Meaty Muffins

Terrier Tuna & Egg

**** I am a pet parent not a dog nutritionist so please be sure to check with your veterinarian before changing or adding any ingredients to your dog's diet.  You should also check Foods That Harm Dogs before adding extra ingredients.

Healthy Ingredient List

Applesauce helps calm the digestive system, has the ability to help the body absorb calcium and iron from other foods.


Bananas have Vitamins B6 and C, and potassium, adds natural acidophilus bacteria to the bowels in small amounts.


Blueberries have manganese, Vitamins B6, C, K, and fiber.


Bouillon provides a rich beef, chicken or ham flavor without the fats or bacon grease.  Use in place of store bought broths which contain extra unwanted ingredients.


Carob is low in fat and sodium, high in fiber, potassium, and calcium, and can improve digestion. It has a natural sweetness and contains very little fat, no caffeine and encourages the absorption of calcium. Even though carob looks like, smells like, and has a taste that is similar to chocolate, it does not contain theobromine, the part of chocolate that is toxic to dogs.


Carrots are high in vitamin A, rich in dietary fiber, antioxidants and minerals, low calorie, and low fat.


Cheese is high in protein and calcium.  Newer studies indicate cheese may actually re-mineralize your pet’s teeth and reduce the acids that cause plaque and lead to cavities.  Cheese also helps to protect your aging pet from osteoporosis.


Cherries contain powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins and nutrients such as beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, fiber and folate.  They are a blood builder, can assist with elimination, help remove toxic substances, help reduce inflammation which gives relief to arthritis, and reduces risk factors for heart disease.


Cinnamon aids in digestion, helps fight bad breath, and helps regulate blood sugar.


Coconut balances the thyroid, helping overweight dogs lose weight and helping sedentary dogs feel energetic, improves skin and coat, improves digestion, reduces allergic reactions, helps balance insulin levels.  Dogs with flea allergies, contact dermatitis, or other allergic reactions typically stop scratching soon after coconut oil is added to their food, and dogs treated topically for bites, stings, ear mites, ear infections, cuts, or wounds recover quickly.


Cranberries, dried, unsweetened help normalize your pet’s bladder health, contains echinacea, which is believed to stimulate the immune system, flavonoids which may fend off cancer and inhibit tumor growth, and vitamin C which is a natural antioxidant.  (Dogs may be given small amounts of cranberries but never large amounts which can cause diarrhea. Never give your dog cranberry juice which has a chemical that prevents bacteria from adhering to the wall of the bladder.)


Eggs, cooked,  contain all of the essential amino acids and are an excellent form of digestible protein containing riboflavin and selenium. are an excellent source of protein,


Flaxseed, ground, plays a significant role in canine cardiovascular health and skin and coat health since it is an important source of fiber and antioxidants, and it may have anti-tumor properties as well. omega-3 fatty acid and B vitamins, and ground flaxseed may be added in place of oils in the diet.


Garlic, in small amounts over a short period of time, is widely used as a natural flea and tick repellent and is occasionally used as a treatment for heart disease in dogs.  (I also list Garlic under Foods That Harm Dogs because large amounts given over a prolonged period can result in the formation of Heinz bodies on the surface of red blood cells which are then destroyed by the body resulting in a severe hemolytic anemia.)


Ginger is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory used to treat digestive upset, nausea, gas, motion sickness, heart problems, joint inflammation due to arthritic conditions, to reduce fever, and is also effective as an anti-infective, especially against viruses. It can decrease blood sugar levels, and increase absorption of all oral medications. (Too much ginger may cause nausea, especially when given on an empty stomach, and can affect how well blood clots. Do not give to a dog with a gastric ulcer or pregnant dogs).


Green Beans have lots of green chlorophyll and is fully digestible and packed with nutrients.


Honey contains vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, E, and K, plus calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, silicon, sulfur, potassium, manganese, copper, and iodine.  It is the best source of natural energy, a tonic for the nervous system and the heart, immediately absorbed by the blood and inhibits the development of pathogenic bacteria in the digestive.   It is said to increase the absorption of calcium consumed at the same time, help treat or prevent anemia, reduce arthritis pain, and work as a gentle laxative to help prevent constipation.


Liver (beef or chicken) is the most concentrated source of vitamin A, C, D, E, and K, zinc, manganese, selenium, iron, B2, B3, B5, biotin, folacin, B12, choline, and inositol.  It provides a source of good quality protein and the essential fatty acids, both the omega-3 and omega-6 type.  Small amounts of liver are very good for your dog (less than 3 servings a week).  Large amounts can cause vitamin A toxicity (hypervitaminosis A) which can lead to bone problems, weight loss, and anorexia.  Also, never feed liver if your dog is taking vitamin A supplements.  


Milk provides calcium, protein, B vitamins (anti-stress vitamins), vitamin A (for sharp eyesight) and potassium.  It can also protect your dog from osteoporosis and colon cancer.  I use dry milk.


Molasses (Blackstrap) is rich in B vitamins and minerals as calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron. It is a natural sweetener.


Oat flour contains healthy amounts of fiber, selenium (which fights cancer), B vitamins and iron.  I make mine by grinding whole oats.


Olive Oil contains unsaturated fatty acids, which are good for skin and coat health and as a treatment for constipation.


Oregano has high antioxidant levels.


Parsley Leaves are packed with B vitamins, C vitamins, carotene, iron and calcium.  In addition to its use for dog bad breath, it can stimulate the kidneys to filter out toxins and increase urine.


Peanut butter is high in protein, amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, calcium, phosphorus and niacin.  Peanuts are actually legumes, not nuts.  It can be fattening so feed peanut butter sparingly.  Choose natural brands that contain 100% peanuts or make your own like I do.  Roast raw peanuts in the oven, then use processor to emulsify adding peanut oil as needed.  


Pecans are a good low fat source of vitamin E.


Pumpkin is packed with large quantities of vitamin A for resistance to infections, improve night vision and keep the body's membranes healthy, potassium for good blood pressure, iron for healthy blood, and roughage to help digestion. I only use fresh pumpkin or canned pumpkin, never pumpkin pie filling which has sugar and other harmful ingredients.


Rice is a fair source of protein and a good source of vitamins and minerals with almost no fat and very little sodium. It’s an excellent complex carbohydrate with very few calories, is non-allergenic since it does not contain gluten and is highly digestible.  selenium. Both help to stave off cancer with selenium, being particularly important in preventing both lung and skin cancers.  Brown rice bran contains quite a bit of fiber.


Rye Flour is very low in gluten and contains more protein, phosphorus, iron, potassium and B vitamins than whole wheat.  It comes in various form: rye flour, whole grain rye (or groats), rye grits, rye meal (ground so that it resembles cornmeal), rye flakes or rolled rye (looks almost like oatmeal).


Safflower oil, which is flavorless and colorless, is a good source of vitamins E and K, contains omega 6 fatty acids, and may help moisturize your dog's skin.


Salmon has a high amount of protein, vitamin D and the Omega 3 fatty acids.


Sweet Potatoes and Yams are-packed with a lot of the same nutrition as Pumpkin and provides the same benefits. Sweet potatoes have even been known to help regulate blood sugar levels in diabetics. Be aware that potato peels and green potatoes are dangerous to dogs.


Yogurt provides probiotics promoting healthy digestion, eliminating unhealthy bacteria and providing healthy bacteria, it also fights such nasty germs as Salmonella typhimurium and Staphyloccus aureus.


**Always consult with your veterinarian before giving your dog any natural or herbal products.


BE SURE YOU CHECK MY LIST OF FOODS THAT HARM DOGS !

Terrier Tuna & Egg

 
                                    5 wags

• 1 can tuna in oil, undrained                             
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup bread pieces
• 1/4 cup low-fat shredded cheese

Cook the eggs in a small pan over medium heat.  Add in the tuna and bread stirring until heated through.  Add cheese and heat over low heat until melted.  Mix well.  Remove pan from stove top and let cool before serving.

If you only have tuna in water, just drain it and add a few tablespoons of olive oil.

This recipe came from Andrew Lewis.  He has a video on YouTube demonstrating how to make this meal.  It has come in handy a few times when we were visiting friends and ran out of Kirby's food.  It's easy to make and anyone should have these items on hand.

Meaty Muffins

 
          24 muffins                             5 wags

• 1/2 cup brown rice
• 1 cup water
• 1 large potato, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups frozen chopped peas & carrots, thawed
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 dash salt
• 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup regular rolled oats
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).  

In a medium saucepan, combine the rice with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, uncovered, and cook 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes. Remove from heat, let cool several minutes, then fluff with a fork and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, carrots & peas, ground beef, and eggs. Mix ingredients together using your hands or a sturdy spoon. Add salt, olive oil, rolled oats, rice, and blueberries.  Mix well.

Fill each muffin cup with some of the meat mixture, and pat down to make it firm. Bake 45 minutes, or until surface feels set. Cool on a rack 10 minutes or longer.

Refrigerate or freeze in ziplock plastic bags.            NOTE: Let cool before feeding.


This is a recipe I found on the web and modified for Kirby.  He loves them!  I make a batch and then freeze four to a bag.  He can eat one a day, half in the morning and half in the evening.  I feed it alone or mix it into his Honest Kitchen meal.

Chicken And Rice

Ingredients:

• 3 chicken breasts
• 1 cup parboiled rice

Boil chicken breasts until thoroughly cooked.  Remove breasts from pot saving broth.  Shred meat and place in large bowl.  Cook 1 cup rice according to directions to make three cups.  Add to bowl.  Mix well adding enough broth to make the mixture a desired consistency.  Let cool and serve.
This makes a lot so I freeze the extra.  Don't add any seasonings, including salt, if you plan to feed this to a dog with an upset tummy.
The same way chicken soup is good for us when we are sick, this recipe is good for your ailing dog.

Tummy Troubles

Kirby hasn't been himself most of this week.  Poor baby has been sick with terrible diarrhea and vomiting.  He eats Honest Kitchen and/or homemade food and I also bake the majority of his treats.  The one commercial product I regularly purchase are the pork and rawhide chews he loves.  We finally concluded that he was sick from eating some commercial dog chews I had recently purchased at a local store.  I'm going to have to be much more careful in the future!

A visit to his veterinarian and he is on the road to his old self.  She recommended a bland diet of chicken and rice, plain yogurt, and Pedialyte to fight off dehydration.  He is also taking half a tablet of Pepto Bismol along with a prescribed oral suspension.

I have posted the recipe for Chicken and Rice in Kirby's Barkery.  It is a nutritious light meal good for upset tummies, just like chicken soup for us.  Normally I use brown rice for Kirby but in this case I prefer to use parboiled rice which is a lighter variation.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The seeds of the rice plant are first milled using a rice huller to remove the chaff (the outer husks of the grain). At this point in the process, the product is called brown rice. The milling may be continued, removing the 'bran', i.e., the rest of the husk and the germ, thereby creating white rice. White rice, which keeps longer, lacks some important nutrients; in a limited diet which does not supplement the rice, brown rice helps to prevent the disease beriberi.

White rice may also be buffed with glucose (often called polished rice, though this term may also refer to white rice in general), parboiled, or processed into flour. White rice may also be enriched by adding nutrients, especially those lost during the milling process. While the cheapest method of enriching involves adding a powdered blend of nutrients that will easily wash off (in the United States, rice which has been so treated requires a label warning against rinsing), more sophisticated methods apply nutrients directly to the grain, coating the grain with a water insoluble substance which is resistant to washing.

In some countries parboiled rice is popular. Parboiled rice is subjected to a steaming or parboiling process while still a brown rice. This causes nutrients from the outer husk, especially thiamine, to move into the grain itself. The parboil process causes a gelatinisation of the starch in the grains. The grains become less brittle, and the color of the milled grain changes from white to yellow. The rice is then dried, and can then be milled as usual or used as brown rice. Milled parboiled rice is nutritionally superior to standard milled rice. Parboiled rice has an additional benefit in that it does not stick to the pan during cooking, as happens when cooking regular white rice. Instant rice differs from parboiled rice in that it is milled, fully cooked and then dried. There is also a significant degradation in taste and texture.

Cooked rice can contain Bacillus cereus spores, which produce an emetic toxin when left at 4-60 °C (39-140 °F). When storing cooked rice for use the next day, rapid cooling is advised to reduce the risk of toxin production.

 Original post dated November 7, 2010

Kirby Has A Merry Christmas

This year Christmas was different.  A little sad, a little lonely.  My daughter, Tara, went to Louisiana with her boyfriend to spend Christmas with his family.  I didn't like that one bit but I understand.  The time has come to start sharing her with another family. We plan on having Christmas with her and Jordan this weekend.  My son lives in Georgia with his wife and our little granddaughter so we won't see them until near the end of January.  I also miss my dad who passed away in July of 2009. 

So this Christmas it was just Doug and I, and of course, Master Kirby.  Our four legged "child" was the center of attention which I'm sure pleased him to no end.  We spent Christmas Eve at home and then traveled to South Mississippi to spend Christmas Day with Mildred, my step-mom, at her family home.  Kirby had so much fun playing with Jacks and Izzy, Dad and Mildred's bichon frise babies.

This was Kirby's second Christmas.  Let me just say he has been a very good boy this year so Santa Paws was quite generous.  A new collar, tag, and leash.  A new hoodie.  Some new toys.

Oh boy oh boy these are all mine!

 

Mmmm, this smells interesting...

One present opened!  Too bad they forgot to take a picture of my new collar and leash.

Next present!  I don't smell anything yummy?

This is not right!  Ok, so I like the color and it is warm and soft but I look like a dork.  I'm a DORKIE so would you pulease get this dang thing off my head??

Yippee, new toys!  I got a blue squeaky cat and a squeaky mouse (see it in Doug's other hand)

And another present... what is it?

It's a box!  A box of what?

They said it's a toy but I smell food!!!

I'll do a review very soon of the last present which Kirby loves.  Overall, it really was a lovely Christmas.  Check back over the next few days cos I'll be posting the gift Kirby got for Doug.  Too cute!

We hope you and your furry ones had a wonderful Christmas.  Here's hoping the Christmas SPIRIT lasts all through 2011.

Did You Say Dorkie?

Yes I did.  But it’s all in the spelling.

Dorky - to act silly, foolish, stupidly or in other words to act like a dork.  I’ve met a few of those in my lifetime.  Actually some days I can be a little dorky myself!

Dorkie - a hybrid or designer dog created from breeding a Dachshund (Doxie) and a Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie). As far as I know there are two types of Dorkies being bred: The F1 Dorkie which is a 50/50 mix created by crossing a 100% purebred Dachshund with a 100% purebred Yorkshire Terrier and the F1b Dorkie which is a 25/75 mix created by crossing an F1 Dorkie with either a 100% purebred Dachshund or Yorkshire-Terrier.  These two types are now being registered with the CKC in an effort to establish a new breed.  Are they a mixed breed?  Sure they are, however, all the purebreds began as mixed breeds so why not?  The theory is that all dogs descended from the wolves anyway!  Kirby is an F1b Dorkie since the mother is an F1 Dorkie and the father is a 100% Yorkie. 

When you purchase a Dorkie you never really know what you will get because the puppies can pull certain genes from either parent.  To have an idea you need to look at the parent breeds.  The Dachshund and the Yorkshire Terrier are similar dogs in terms of size and temperament. A full grown Dachshund weighs between 15-28 pounds while a Yorkshire Terrier will be about 7 pounds as an adult therefore a Dorkie can range between 5 and 15 pounds.  Kirby weighs 14 pounds at 17 months.  He looks like he weighs much less until you pick him up.  That boy is all muscle.

These dogs were originally bred to be hunters. Dachshunds, with their low long bodies, could enter underground dens of animals such as badgers to flush them out. The terriers were used to chase down and kill small rodents. So you will have a digger!  Kirby loves to dig but hasn’t captured any animals yet, thank God.  So far he has caught bugs, the biggest being a grasshopper.

The Dachshund has a long low to the ground body due to its stubby legs, short hair, floppy ears and an elongated nose. The Yorkshire Terrier has a proportioned body and legs, long hair, erect ears, stubby face, and short muzzle. The body of a Dorkie is long and barrel-chested like a Dachshund with longer legs like a yorkie.  Dorkies can have short to medium hair lengths, a shorter muzzle than a Dachshund, and the ears can be erect or floppy or somewhere in between. The Dorkie is usually black and tan or brown depending on the coloration it inherits from the parents.  Kirby has a long body with yorkie legs and medium muzzle.  His hair is medium length with some wave to it.  His ears are neither erect or floppy, He tends to hold them back or may have one ear up and one ear down.  Kinda dorky, huh?

The Dachshund is loyal but can be stubborn while a Yorkshire Terrier is an energetic and playful creature. Both make excellent companions.  They are actually considered to be lapdogs and enjoy sleeping near their pet parents.  Even though he has two comfy dog beds, Kirby insists on sleeping on my bed with me.  He has been known to burrow under the covers when it’s cold.  It’s not unusual for me to wake up and find him under the covers with his head on a pillow.  Does he think he’s human?

The Dorkie is a very inquisitive intelligent dog who reacts quickly to unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smell.  Kirby is practically fearless!  They are quite energetic and crave attention. Kirby can not bear to be ignored for long.  Dorkies tend to have the Dachshund's submissive demeanor diffusing situations with other dogs by rolling onto their backs in submission which contradicts the small dog syndrome.  Kirby leans toward submissive behavior but I think that is because I established myself as pack leader from the beginning.  Thank you Cesar Millan!

Original post on August 9, 2010.

UPDATE:  Kirby is now two years old and has definitely entered the Small Dog Syndrome.  He will not roll over on his back when he encounters a large dog.  He will face them head on as if to say “I want to be friends with you but if not, I’m going down fighting!”  We believe this is because the last time he was submissive he was bitten by a larger dog.  You can’t tell me dogs don’t remember!

DogTagArt Is Pawsome

Kirby has been wearing a collar with three tags - his ID tag, his rabies tag, and his AVID microchip tag.  Jingle, jingle all day (and night) long!  He is much quieter these days.  The reason?  A brand new tag with all the information on it.  It isn't just any tag, it's a fun, fashionable tag from DogTagArt.  These tags are made from an ultra strong recycled steel core about 1mm thick.  The steel is then coated with an everlasting special polymer that the graphics are then infused on and they are made in the U.S.  They are guaranteed for life but who can resist just one?

I simply logged onto their website and for only $11.99 I found the almost perfect tag for Kirby.  I say almost because I'm going back to make a new one with his picture on the front which will be perfect.

You can choose a pre-made tag from hundreds of colorful designs from funny to patriotic to quirky.  You can even design your own.  If you are really creative you can submit your own designs and get paid for any they choose to sell.  Once you have decided on the design, the next step is to fill in the back of the tag which has four lines available for any information you want to put on the tag.  These are pictures of the one I chose for Kirby.

 It's fun, it's easy, and it's inexpensive.  You know you want to get one and if you need just a little more incentive, here's a special code to save even more:  DTAFRIENDS  So come on, get creative so your dog (and cats too) can be a barkinista just like Kirbs!

Wordless Wednesday