It is apparently National Dog Day. The official website for National Dog Day had a list of 50 ways to celebrate. I decided to take a look and see if Chopper and I were fulfilling our duties. (For the detailed original list with links to other organizations click here.)
1. Adopt a dog from your local shelter. Check - that's how I got into this mess.
2. Be prepared for a new dog by buying a book about new dogs. I did this before I got a dog - I got Dogs for Dummies or some such thing - if I was recommending a book for new dog owners though I would probably recommend a book by Tamar Gellar and then Marley & Me or some other book where the dog is a disaster. Just to be prepared.
3. Donate blankets, food and toys to a local shelter. We've done this before but need to do it again. I have a box full of toys that Chopper never used that could go to a good home.,
4. Organize a peaceful demonstration in front of a store that sells puppies. If Chopper showed up there would be nothing peaceful about a demonstration.
5. Write your Congressman to ask them to support a ban on puppy mills. Here's a link that will help you find out who your representative in Congress is for this and other good causes.
6. Assist an ill or elderly neighbor by walking their dog.
7. Have a National Dog Day party and invite your friends and their dogs. I like throwing parties but I think some of the other suggestions might be better. Plus Chopper already had a birthday party - I don't want him to be a party animal.
8. Join an online dog community.
9. Host a National Dog Day event/fundraiser.
10. Have a Witty Wocks made to look like your pet. I had no idea what this meant but it is apparently a rock painted like your pet. I will admit to having artwork with Chopper and wanting more but I don't think this is up our alley.
11. Have a portrait painted of your dog. This is on my list of things I want but I can't make up my mind about the style I want and they are pretty expensive - so it goes on the wish list.
12. Buy your dog a fun new dog toy. It just so happens that a Nina Ottosson dog puzzle is on its way to our house now. We already have two. I love these things.
13. Take your dog to a doggy play resort. I don't' know what this means either but Chopper goes to the Zoom Room for agility, scent discrimination, etc., so I think he's covered on this one.
14. There was no #14. Why? Is this a bad doggy luck number.
15. Brush your dog. We do this a few times a week. Since starting Chopper on fish oil though hardly any fur comes off anymore.
16. Give your dog a massage. I have read a little about the T-touch method and Chopper does enjoy a good rub down now and then.
17. Get your dog some leash training lessons. We are good on this (with the exception of garbage day). Next.
18. Buy your dog a new collar, leash or outfit. Hmm. I don't think he needs another collar but I think there is a brand new one in the cabinet so I can fake it.
19. Purchase a carrier for your dog. I bought a CR-V instead of a Mini Cooper - he's good.
20. Take your dog to the beach. Chopper's favorite place ever - we are frequent visitors.
21. Purchase natural cleaners. I will admit that I have not investigated this in any way. Something else to worry about.
22. Dog proof your home. This isn't an issue anymore but Chopper was a cord chewer, blind puller, book eating puppy mess so I was pretty adamant about things back then. Now he just seems to sleep and eat when I'm not home.
23. Buy your dog an accessory. We'll pass.
24. Install a care safety harness. Chopper rides in the cargo area and I've recently started clipping him in with a tie down to a hook in the car to prevent him from running away in a car accident.
25. Switch to a holistic brand of dog food. As I've shared before Chopper is on organic grain-free food that I really like.
26. Hire a pet photographer. Also on the top of my doggy wish list.
27. Pamper your dog by purchasing him a luxury item. Not sure what that means - Chopper would prefer a salami though.
28. Buy your dog a new bed. Yeah we don't need a fifth bed.
29. Take your dog on a pet friendly vacation. I think this requires further investigation. Chopper has traveled to San Francisco and Pennsylvania before so he has some experience in this area.
30. Buy matching t-shirts. We did this on Election Day 2008 - once is enough.
31. Create your dog a profile. Apparently a huge % of dogs have facebook pages.
32. Have a custom dog house built. We don't have anywhere to put that but if we did we may do it.
33. Buy a dog gate to keep the dog out of hazardous areas of the house. I have no hazardous areas and he jumps over dog gates. Next.
34. Dog proof your pool. I wish I had this problem.
35. Buy a canine first aid kit and put in car. We have a dog first aid book and I've put together a doggy first aid kit for the car. Then I have it if we're out and also if home.
36. Microchip and ID your dog. He's got both and a Blanket ID. I couldn't get rid of him if I tried.
37. Make sure your dog has all vaccines and regular health exams. Yes, yes, yes. Chopper sees his vet at least once a year for a check up (all sorts of samples are taken) and then when he needs to for something odd - usually involving his ears.
38. Wear a t-shirt with a dog on it. My mom bought me a coonhound t-shirt the first Christmas I had Chopper. I wear it to bed.
39. Switch to filtered water. We're a tap water family.
40. Teach your children not to pull on a dog's tail or ears. I don't have children but I wish other people would do this. Chopper's tail apparently calls out to children. He's been chased through a Pottery Barn by an infant trying to snatch it.
41. Pledge to walk your dog everyday for proper health and behavior management. I don't understand people who don't walk their dog. You shouldn't have got a dog then.
42. Teach your dog some obedience skills. Check, check, check. Chopper is over educated.
43. Take your dog to an elderly community to spread some love. Good idea if your dog would cooperate. Chopper doesn't seem to like the "elderly."
44. Buy your little dog doggie steps so he can cuddle in bed with you. No little dog, no cuddling in bed. Chopper sleeps on the floor on a dog bed.
45. Buy your dog a designer crate. We've taken down our crate but my mom had sewn a cover for it when it was up. Loved it.
46. Choose pet friendly fabrics. Fabrics came first then the dog - I am looking at new furniture and taking this into consideration but not as much so because he's not a puppy anymore.
47. Install a fence so your dog can run around. Another problem I wish I had.
48. Don't chain your dog up outside, let him live inside. Chopper is an inside dog.
49. Carpet stairs to reduce risk of slipping. We don't have stairs but never thought of this before.
50. Pledge to never hit or yell at your dog, be patient and give lots of praise. This is a biggy in our house. Chopper initially reacted a lot when you would tell him just "no" as a puppy - he was probably abused as a young puppy - and I've worked hard with him to try and get over all of this but when he does have a bad day he is separated from everyone else for a period of time. He has even learned to separate himself if he doesn't want attention.
Well I think we are pretty good and there are a few things we will have to try and be better about. I don't think Chopper has much to complain about though.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
Waterfront Property
A few nights ago I was getting ready to take Chopper out for his last bathroom break when I heard some rushing water. My building has had problems with pipes before but this sounded like a lot of water. I hooked Chopper up to his leash and went outside to find that we had a river running in front of our building. A pipe had burst in the community garden out front and we live on a hill so the water was literally rushing down the hill.
Chopper was not at all upset by this turn of events. He seemed to want to get in the water (it was after midnight so I was not obliging) and not come back in the house. Later (after the firemen had left but before the Department of Water and Power got there) he scratched at the door to go out again. I took him out thinking he wasn't feeling well but he just wanted to see the water. Sheesh.
Now Chopper has always loved the beach and I have joked on occasion that he needs to find a richer mommy to buy him a beach house in Malibu or Santa Monica. Apparently we just needed a pipe to burst to make his dreams come true. Sadly (for Chopper) the pipe was fixed and the river disappeared.
Chopper was not at all upset by this turn of events. He seemed to want to get in the water (it was after midnight so I was not obliging) and not come back in the house. Later (after the firemen had left but before the Department of Water and Power got there) he scratched at the door to go out again. I took him out thinking he wasn't feeling well but he just wanted to see the water. Sheesh.
Now Chopper has always loved the beach and I have joked on occasion that he needs to find a richer mommy to buy him a beach house in Malibu or Santa Monica. Apparently we just needed a pipe to burst to make his dreams come true. Sadly (for Chopper) the pipe was fixed and the river disappeared.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
A True Tale of (Un)Ticks
Chopper is the first dog I have ever had as an adult. We had a family dog when I was very young but I was certainly not responsible for him in any way. From what I remember the dog was pretty easygoing - he would get mad when he didn't get hair bows at the groomers and stole toys from my grandmother's dog - but other than that I don't remember much. I certainly don't remember having to worry about ticks - maybe there are no ticks in San Francisco.
Anyway Chopper almost immediately made me worry on a daily basis. The first few days I had him he threw up twice. The first time in the car ride home and the second time at 2 a.m. on my birthday. At that time I was still queasy at the thought of dog throw up and had to fall asleep on the couch with a cold compress on my forehead and Chopper next to me to get over it. At this point I can have doggy throw up cleaned up in five seconds flat - ten if its on a rug.
Then we went for a hike one day and he ended up slamming himself into a rock - I thought he must have had internal organ damage. He was fine. Then one night I was petting him and I pulled something off him. It was a tick - granted I had never seen a tick and was not aware that's what it was when I was pulling it off or I would have had a heart attack. We survived - that time.
A few weeks later I was again petting Chopper and noticed a tick in his belly. I tried pulling it like I had the first time but nothing happened. Then I saw another one. And another one. His whole belly was full of ticks. I kept trying to pull them off and they stayed on. I was by now hysterical so I called my friend Carrie who immediately came over to see about Chopper's tick-infested belly. She lives a half hour away so I made myself a margarita to calm my nerves (really it was a shot of tequila in some limeade -that's what I had).
Carrie is from Georgia and had seen ticks before - on her pets, on her brother and in the woods - so I trusted she would be able to solve this issue. We flipped him over and she couldn't get the ticks out either. She lit a match and blew it out and put it near his belly and they didn't come out - we tried this a lot. By now Chopper's patience had worn thin and he was not having any more poking or prodding or flames coming near him (to this day he doesn't like flames - we had to stop putting candles on his birthday cake as he would run away from it). I decided I would take him the groomers in the morning to deal with it and went to bed.
Early the next morning I dragged Chopper down to the groomer. Chopper was on to us though and wasn't letting that guy near him either. He didn't' think he saw any ticks but couldn't be sure.
So a few hours later I took him to the vet. This was our fourth visit in probably two months. The vet looked at Chopper for about five seconds gave him a treat and said to me: "Those aren't ticks those are his nipples." What!?!?! "You know male dogs have nipples just like male people - they aren't used for anything but they are just there. See how they are in a pattern and the same on each side?" Well then I did but the night before they had not resembled any sort of pattern (even before the shot of tequila) they had just looked like ticks on my puppy. I guess you learn something new every day.
Chopper's been tick-free ever since but once in awhile he will give me a dirty look when I'm rubbing his belly.
Anyway Chopper almost immediately made me worry on a daily basis. The first few days I had him he threw up twice. The first time in the car ride home and the second time at 2 a.m. on my birthday. At that time I was still queasy at the thought of dog throw up and had to fall asleep on the couch with a cold compress on my forehead and Chopper next to me to get over it. At this point I can have doggy throw up cleaned up in five seconds flat - ten if its on a rug.
Then we went for a hike one day and he ended up slamming himself into a rock - I thought he must have had internal organ damage. He was fine. Then one night I was petting him and I pulled something off him. It was a tick - granted I had never seen a tick and was not aware that's what it was when I was pulling it off or I would have had a heart attack. We survived - that time.
A few weeks later I was again petting Chopper and noticed a tick in his belly. I tried pulling it like I had the first time but nothing happened. Then I saw another one. And another one. His whole belly was full of ticks. I kept trying to pull them off and they stayed on. I was by now hysterical so I called my friend Carrie who immediately came over to see about Chopper's tick-infested belly. She lives a half hour away so I made myself a margarita to calm my nerves (really it was a shot of tequila in some limeade -that's what I had).
Carrie is from Georgia and had seen ticks before - on her pets, on her brother and in the woods - so I trusted she would be able to solve this issue. We flipped him over and she couldn't get the ticks out either. She lit a match and blew it out and put it near his belly and they didn't come out - we tried this a lot. By now Chopper's patience had worn thin and he was not having any more poking or prodding or flames coming near him (to this day he doesn't like flames - we had to stop putting candles on his birthday cake as he would run away from it). I decided I would take him the groomers in the morning to deal with it and went to bed.
Early the next morning I dragged Chopper down to the groomer. Chopper was on to us though and wasn't letting that guy near him either. He didn't' think he saw any ticks but couldn't be sure.
So a few hours later I took him to the vet. This was our fourth visit in probably two months. The vet looked at Chopper for about five seconds gave him a treat and said to me: "Those aren't ticks those are his nipples." What!?!?! "You know male dogs have nipples just like male people - they aren't used for anything but they are just there. See how they are in a pattern and the same on each side?" Well then I did but the night before they had not resembled any sort of pattern (even before the shot of tequila) they had just looked like ticks on my puppy. I guess you learn something new every day.
Chopper's been tick-free ever since but once in awhile he will give me a dirty look when I'm rubbing his belly.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Garbage Day
Every Tuesday I wake up with a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. It usually takes me a minute to realize why but then I hear the beeping and the slamming of garbage cans outside and I know: It's Garbage Day.
Personally I could care less - I have little trouble falling back asleep if something wakes me up and I enjoy that their is someone willing to take away all the garbage. But Chopper couldn't care more. I think the dog must have been a garbage can in a previous life or was put in a garbage truck as a young puppy. I have no idea. But ever since he came to live with me he has hated garbage trucks.
In the beginning I didn't really notice as he barked at everything that went by - garbage trucks, joggers, joggers with dogs, kids running, the UPS truck, the FedEx truck, buses - you name it he hated it. Since we live on a busy street there was almost always an opportunity to bark at something (for the amount of people that don't use public transportation in LA there a TON of buses.)
As I started to train him and he started to calm down this behavior was almost entirely extinguished. With one little exception - garbage trucks. My initial reaction was to avoid it altogether. I would take him to the dog park and then later to walk on the beach - every Tuesday morning. (I don't even want to mention what would happen if I dared to make an appointment for him to get groomed on a Tuesday.) About eighteen months ago I decided that this was ridiculous and we would have to deal with this issue.
Let me back up a second here because I'm sure by now we are thinking - so the dog barks - big deal. There is, however, not really a term for what Chopper does on garbage day but I will try and describe it. First, he hears the trucks before we even get up for the morning. He then will immediately go to the living room and get on the couch so he can monitor there whereabouts. There is usually at least one barking fit that takes place during this time period. Then once we go outside he is panting and pulling and looking for those garbage trucks. It's actually more like he is hunting. I am not sure if this dog would actually be able to tree a raccoon (what he's bred to do) but if there was a competition for tracking down a garbage truck he would be the winner. I can hear the garbage trucks when they are blocks away and they also echo off the canyons so I can only imagine what those ears of his can hear.
Then when he sees one coming he will stop and stare. The stop and stare can only be compared to that moment when a baby or child is all red and their face is scrunched up and they are taking an big intake of air so they can then let out a huge ear-piercing wail an instant later. Chopper is obviously conserving his energy for his version of a wail. Once the truck is within close proximity the show really starts. He barks his head off and jumps around from side to side. Anyone within six feet of him (the length of his leash) is in danger of getting knocked down as he flailing about. When the truck stops to pick up a garbage can this little scenario increases tenfold.
And this is why we went to the beach.
My major issue with this scenario was that I thought he could hurt me (since no one else was stupid enough to get close to him when this was happening) or his leash or collar malfunctioned and he actually got to the garbage truck. (If Chopper survived that particular confrontation I could only imagine the reaction to garbage trucks in the future.) So I decided to get serious about his garbage day training.
I gathered the necessary tools. First, got myself a treat bag that went around my waist and could stay open for easy access to treats. I couldn't get to treats fast enough if they were in my pocket. Second, Chopper had to wear his Gentle Leader - no questions about it (he hates his Gentle Leader, he has a whole face rub dance he does that drives me batty.) I couldn't control him very well with just a flat collar and he doesn't care about a choke chain or pinch collar (not to mention that to associate pain with this scenario would not work for him). The final piece of the puzzle - better treats. Chopper gets good treats to start with but we needed something better. I started buying red meat on Monday nights and grilling or browning it up for him.
Then as we would walk and we would hear the trucks I would make Chopper sit and he would get these little bits of red meat. Granted it wasn't that easy. Often times to get him to sit I would have to pull up on his Gentle Leader and repeat the command over and over again. Then I could not pause in giving him the treats - one hesitation and he would be jumping around. The garbage men started to notice and one even helped us out for a bit and would throw him treats from the truck. Over time I was able to increase the amount of time between the treats. Then we downgraded to hot dogs and regular dog treats.
In the last few weeks I have added another trick to my arsenal. In order to avoid the stalking behavior I give Chopper something else to do. I will throw a piece of kibble and tell him to go get it. This keeps him distracted from just listening for the garbage trucks and he's looking at me more to wait for the kibble. This seems to be the last piece of the puzzle as he has been doing exceptionally well the last few weeks. (I also think the conditioning in his Obedience Two class helped.) We had three weeks in a row with no outbursts (if we encounter the truck early in the walk he has more trouble). Sometimes I keep walking after the truck passes and sometimes we follow behind it and he gets treats for walking nicely.
This has been a long process - primarily because the garbage collection is only once a week - the whole neighborhood is the same day so we don't have that many opportunities to practice. And I can't control the garbage trucks. I can't make them stop next to us when he's calm or go down another street if he's having a bad day.
But he's getting better (slowly but surely). I do hope that one day he will be able to walk by garbage truck like all the other dogs in my neighborhood (with the exception of one feisty border collie) and not even notice it. Until then I will be ready with yummy treats.
Personally I could care less - I have little trouble falling back asleep if something wakes me up and I enjoy that their is someone willing to take away all the garbage. But Chopper couldn't care more. I think the dog must have been a garbage can in a previous life or was put in a garbage truck as a young puppy. I have no idea. But ever since he came to live with me he has hated garbage trucks.
In the beginning I didn't really notice as he barked at everything that went by - garbage trucks, joggers, joggers with dogs, kids running, the UPS truck, the FedEx truck, buses - you name it he hated it. Since we live on a busy street there was almost always an opportunity to bark at something (for the amount of people that don't use public transportation in LA there a TON of buses.)
As I started to train him and he started to calm down this behavior was almost entirely extinguished. With one little exception - garbage trucks. My initial reaction was to avoid it altogether. I would take him to the dog park and then later to walk on the beach - every Tuesday morning. (I don't even want to mention what would happen if I dared to make an appointment for him to get groomed on a Tuesday.) About eighteen months ago I decided that this was ridiculous and we would have to deal with this issue.
Let me back up a second here because I'm sure by now we are thinking - so the dog barks - big deal. There is, however, not really a term for what Chopper does on garbage day but I will try and describe it. First, he hears the trucks before we even get up for the morning. He then will immediately go to the living room and get on the couch so he can monitor there whereabouts. There is usually at least one barking fit that takes place during this time period. Then once we go outside he is panting and pulling and looking for those garbage trucks. It's actually more like he is hunting. I am not sure if this dog would actually be able to tree a raccoon (what he's bred to do) but if there was a competition for tracking down a garbage truck he would be the winner. I can hear the garbage trucks when they are blocks away and they also echo off the canyons so I can only imagine what those ears of his can hear.
Then when he sees one coming he will stop and stare. The stop and stare can only be compared to that moment when a baby or child is all red and their face is scrunched up and they are taking an big intake of air so they can then let out a huge ear-piercing wail an instant later. Chopper is obviously conserving his energy for his version of a wail. Once the truck is within close proximity the show really starts. He barks his head off and jumps around from side to side. Anyone within six feet of him (the length of his leash) is in danger of getting knocked down as he flailing about. When the truck stops to pick up a garbage can this little scenario increases tenfold.
And this is why we went to the beach.
My major issue with this scenario was that I thought he could hurt me (since no one else was stupid enough to get close to him when this was happening) or his leash or collar malfunctioned and he actually got to the garbage truck. (If Chopper survived that particular confrontation I could only imagine the reaction to garbage trucks in the future.) So I decided to get serious about his garbage day training.
I gathered the necessary tools. First, got myself a treat bag that went around my waist and could stay open for easy access to treats. I couldn't get to treats fast enough if they were in my pocket. Second, Chopper had to wear his Gentle Leader - no questions about it (he hates his Gentle Leader, he has a whole face rub dance he does that drives me batty.) I couldn't control him very well with just a flat collar and he doesn't care about a choke chain or pinch collar (not to mention that to associate pain with this scenario would not work for him). The final piece of the puzzle - better treats. Chopper gets good treats to start with but we needed something better. I started buying red meat on Monday nights and grilling or browning it up for him.
Then as we would walk and we would hear the trucks I would make Chopper sit and he would get these little bits of red meat. Granted it wasn't that easy. Often times to get him to sit I would have to pull up on his Gentle Leader and repeat the command over and over again. Then I could not pause in giving him the treats - one hesitation and he would be jumping around. The garbage men started to notice and one even helped us out for a bit and would throw him treats from the truck. Over time I was able to increase the amount of time between the treats. Then we downgraded to hot dogs and regular dog treats.
In the last few weeks I have added another trick to my arsenal. In order to avoid the stalking behavior I give Chopper something else to do. I will throw a piece of kibble and tell him to go get it. This keeps him distracted from just listening for the garbage trucks and he's looking at me more to wait for the kibble. This seems to be the last piece of the puzzle as he has been doing exceptionally well the last few weeks. (I also think the conditioning in his Obedience Two class helped.) We had three weeks in a row with no outbursts (if we encounter the truck early in the walk he has more trouble). Sometimes I keep walking after the truck passes and sometimes we follow behind it and he gets treats for walking nicely.
This has been a long process - primarily because the garbage collection is only once a week - the whole neighborhood is the same day so we don't have that many opportunities to practice. And I can't control the garbage trucks. I can't make them stop next to us when he's calm or go down another street if he's having a bad day.
But he's getting better (slowly but surely). I do hope that one day he will be able to walk by garbage truck like all the other dogs in my neighborhood (with the exception of one feisty border collie) and not even notice it. Until then I will be ready with yummy treats.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Bette Davis Eyes
I usually win a staring contest with my mom.
 |
Look into my eyes . . . you are getting sleepy, very sleepy. |
Global Pet Food Outlet: Our Favorite Place to Get Dog Food
When I first got Chopper I thought the only downside to having a bigger dog was that I couldn't find as many outfits or put him in a bicycle basket. (He still has to wear outfits that was part of the deal when I got him - he got a home, bed, food, etc., all he had to do in exchange was wear outfits. I've had to have some custom made and make some myself but he wears them without complaining.) Another downside is that I can't pick him up when he's barking at something like you can with a small dog - hence all the training. Anyway the other real downside is that they cost more - more to board and more to feed.
In terms of the feeding, when we started out I bought Chopper some real cheap food. It was six bucks for a whole huge bag. That didn't last long and Chopper now eats organic and grain free food. He also gets organic and grain free treats. I think the change is diet has been great for him - it helps his attitude, his coat and I think long-term he will be a healthier guy. The downside - it costs a lot more to keep all that bad stuff out of his dog food. His wet food was about $2.79 a can and his big bag of dry food was upwards of $40 a bag.
On top of that I couldn't find a place that sold both his wet and dry food - so that meant two different stops for dog food. I usually couldn't go after work because there wasn't enough time so that meant schlepping Chopper all over on a weekend to buy his food. Not to mention that some of the bigger chain stores in West LA seem to have the worst customer service. One doesn't even have carts. How are you supposed to get a 35 lb bag of dog food, a case of wet food and assorted treats to the cashier and then your car (forget it if you are also lugging around a 70 lb dog who is trying to shoplift the treats from the open treat bar)? It was usually a disaster.
Then a friend turned me on to Global Pet Food Outlet. They had just opened a store in Culver City (I think they've been in Torrance for a long time). This place is the heaven of dog food. They have all the good brands (we use Party Animal wet food and Before Grain dry food) and it cost so much less than everywhere else. They have carts, they are open to 9 p.m. and Chopper behaves himself in there every time he goes (this may be my doing). The treats are also a good price too. They have a parking lot upstairs and there is an elevator so you can take your cart right on up. Also everyone there is so friendly. I like to stop by before I take Chopper to a class at the Zoom Room and we can usually get in and out in five minutes.
They also seem to carry an extensive collection of raw food in the back - there is a wall of refrigerators. I don't know much about that as Chopper doesn't seem to do well with raw food so we haven't tried it. But I never seen as much variety anywhere else in LA.
Also no open treat bar so that's one more day Chopper stays out of the slammer.
In terms of the feeding, when we started out I bought Chopper some real cheap food. It was six bucks for a whole huge bag. That didn't last long and Chopper now eats organic and grain free food. He also gets organic and grain free treats. I think the change is diet has been great for him - it helps his attitude, his coat and I think long-term he will be a healthier guy. The downside - it costs a lot more to keep all that bad stuff out of his dog food. His wet food was about $2.79 a can and his big bag of dry food was upwards of $40 a bag.
On top of that I couldn't find a place that sold both his wet and dry food - so that meant two different stops for dog food. I usually couldn't go after work because there wasn't enough time so that meant schlepping Chopper all over on a weekend to buy his food. Not to mention that some of the bigger chain stores in West LA seem to have the worst customer service. One doesn't even have carts. How are you supposed to get a 35 lb bag of dog food, a case of wet food and assorted treats to the cashier and then your car (forget it if you are also lugging around a 70 lb dog who is trying to shoplift the treats from the open treat bar)? It was usually a disaster.
Then a friend turned me on to Global Pet Food Outlet. They had just opened a store in Culver City (I think they've been in Torrance for a long time). This place is the heaven of dog food. They have all the good brands (we use Party Animal wet food and Before Grain dry food) and it cost so much less than everywhere else. They have carts, they are open to 9 p.m. and Chopper behaves himself in there every time he goes (this may be my doing). The treats are also a good price too. They have a parking lot upstairs and there is an elevator so you can take your cart right on up. Also everyone there is so friendly. I like to stop by before I take Chopper to a class at the Zoom Room and we can usually get in and out in five minutes.
They also seem to carry an extensive collection of raw food in the back - there is a wall of refrigerators. I don't know much about that as Chopper doesn't seem to do well with raw food so we haven't tried it. But I never seen as much variety anywhere else in LA.
Also no open treat bar so that's one more day Chopper stays out of the slammer.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
No Sew Doggy Cape
I don't sew - I wish I did. My high school did not offer a home economics class but instead I took wood shop, stain glass and jewelery making. I wish I could add sewing to my list of skills. I thought by watching Project Runway I could learn but that didn't work.
What I can do is glue. And cut. So when it came time to make Chopper a rainbow cape for his birthday that's what I did. I used some other shirts of his to get the right length and figure out how to attach it around his next and penciled out a pattern on a large piece of red felt.
Next I just divided it up and cut out the stripes. I used felt glue (which I did not know existed the last time I made Chopper a felt outfit and this stuff is so much easier to work with than other glues I tried).
Then on his birthday I just slipped it on him. It would sometimes wiggle to one side so I'm thinking if we make another one we may need a tummy strap as well.
What I can do is glue. And cut. So when it came time to make Chopper a rainbow cape for his birthday that's what I did. I used some other shirts of his to get the right length and figure out how to attach it around his next and penciled out a pattern on a large piece of red felt.
Next I just divided it up and cut out the stripes. I used felt glue (which I did not know existed the last time I made Chopper a felt outfit and this stuff is so much easier to work with than other glues I tried).
 |
| You can see where I just glued the Velcro on in the neck closure. |
A little dry time and voila! An easy (but slightly time intensive) cape. I'm thinking I could easily make him a Super-Chopper cape next.
 |
| I had to use Chopper's stuffed gorilla as a model as he was not cooperating |
Then on his birthday I just slipped it on him. It would sometimes wiggle to one side so I'm thinking if we make another one we may need a tummy strap as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)