opt to adopt!

Looking to add a new member to the family??......perhaps a four-legged friend?

well.....you should.

More than 63% of homes have pets and many of them are considered full-fledged family members......if you own a dog and are looking for a play mate or a new baby of your own, check out these places to find the perfect pup for you! 

5500 pets are born each hour. 415 humans are born each hour. Check the math! More than half of those pets end up in shelters and so many never even get the chance to leave!! Please! Please ! don't support breeders and continue to raise these numbers. Breeders are in a business, they produce the most amount of product (puppies and kittens) for the highest dollar. They could care less where these babies end up. Breeders are in it for the $$$, please don't support them---

Many people think breeders are the only place to find a purebred. Hmmmmm....so you want to race your dog?? Is your dog going to be a contestant in the Westminster Dog Show? Do you want to frame your papers? If you answer no, then ask yourself why you are after a purebred.... And if you still decide thats what you want, check the shelters--there are thousands upon thousands of purebred babies waiting for a home. go get them.

Please, please, rescue a dog or cat. They have no idea why they are sitting in that wire cage; they just wan't to go home.

Heres where you find your new best friend: If you wan't to adopt but aren't looking forward to the unsettling trip to the shelter, then go online--adopt your face off without leaving your house! www.petfinder.com at Petfinder, you can type in the breed you want, the size and the age--from pups to grandpa's-they are all there!! Petfinder then sets you up with thousands of pets right in your area ready to go!

Looking for a smaller breed? check out http://lldogrescue.org -

LL Dog Rescue if where I found little Pilot. He was rescued from a puppy mill in Missouri.....he had two sets of upper teeth from in-breeding and was not in good shape, now, he is one hell of a happy puppy and we're pretty happy with him too. 

Other more mainstream shelters in the Kansas City area include www.waysidewaifs.org and www.animalhavenkc.org, also check out your local humane society which desperately needs to adopt out to make room for new intakes, www.hsgkc.org and heartofamericahs.org. also check out www.nmhpkc.org

Good luck! You're saving a life! 

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."--Roger Caras

In Your FACE! (book)

ARF! Come check out "Candid Canines" on Facebook:  candid canines -upload pics of your own pups, check out my four hotties, swap playdates, compare dog food, whats trash and where should you spend your cash?? get advice, check out articles and share stories!!! .......and see all the dog events here in K.C......tons of summer fundraisers.....like....Bark the K! with your pooches in August at Kauffman: Bark! at the K or spend and evening with rover and some wine and and art show to entertain: Art Unleashed, and of course there is Dog and Jog, Strutt with your Mutt, Wines with Canines..........the list goes on! I will keep you posted with all the details ! until then checkout our facebook page "candid canines" <3 <3 <3 <3  Candid Canines on Facebook

Run! Forest Run!

so many of you know.....yesterday was a bad bad day....Baxter (our little Doxen) snuck out the door on my way to class without me knowing...... His breed is notorious for being onry (ummm...spell check??) lil' fockers so really, it was no surprise. 

I was in class when my phone buzzed with the words "um....Baxter is missing." that was about all it took for me to speed home. My mom, brother, Kenny and our neighborhood mailman all joined the search party looking for the 10 pound weiner dog. (Since we moved into the new house three weeks ago, I was sure he wouldn't find his way back) After some serious searching, Adam and my mom headed to Kinkos to make signs......I headed to local animal hospitals to see if he had been admitted. (we live pretty close to Antioch so I imagined the very worst had happened.....)
I ran into Cherokee Animal Clinic and to my surprise they said that in fact the little guy had been found by a lady an hour ago...sure enough trotting down 99th and Antioch. !0 minutes later he was in my arms again. Sounds a little dramatic, but who else do you know blogs about their dogs? so yes, there is definitely some serious love for the little pooch. So, my plan is to get him micochipped (which is like a GPS that tucks nicely away under their skin) and since he doesn't wear a collar this is a great option for us.....http://public.homeagain.com/
glad he's back!!!
Here is some info regarding microchipping if you're interested............

"Millions of dogs become lost each year. Tragically, few are reunited with their owners. Many lost dogs end up in shelters where they are adopted out to new homes or even euthanized. It is important that your dog has identification at all times. Collars and tags are essential, but they can fall off or become damaged. Technology has made it possible to equip your pet with a microchip for permanent identification.

How it Works

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice. It consists of a tiny computer chip housed in a type of glass made to be compatible with living tissue. The microchip is implanted between the dog's shoulder blades under the skin with a needle and special syringe. The process is similar to getting a shot. Little to no pain is experienced - most dogs do not seem to even feel it being implanted. Once in place, the microchip can be detected immediately with a handheld device that uses radio waves to read the chip. This device scans the microchip, and then displays a unique alphanumeric code. Once the microchip is placed, the dog must be registered with the microchip company, usually for a one-time fee. Then, the dog can be traced back to the owner if found.

Things You Should Know

• Microchips are designed to last for the life of a dog. They do not need to be charged or replaced.
• Some microchips have been known to migrate from the area between the shoulder blades, but the instructions for scanning emphasize the need to scan the dog’s entire body.
• A microchipped dog can be easily identified if found by a shelter or veterinary office in possession of a scanner. However, some shelters and veterinary offices do not have scanners.
• Depending on the brand of microchip and the year it was implanted, even so-called universal scanners may not be able to detect the microchip.
• Microchip manufacturers, veterinarians and animal shelters have been working on solutions to the imperfections, and technology continues to improve over time.

No method of identification is perfect. The best thing you can do to protect your dog is to be aresponsible owner. Keep current identification tags on your dog at all times, consider microchipping as reinforcement, and never allow your dog to roam free. If your dog does become lost, more identification can increase the odds of finding your beloved companion." --check out more @ http://dogs.about.com/od/toyssupplies/a/microchipping.htm

Royal Blue

Ever been to a Royals game at the K?? 
Ever been to a Royals game with your dog??
yes, my dream has come true: baseball, beer and dogs 
we fired up our 2 ft tall grill, popped the top on some Busch light cans (Mich Ultra for the ladies....)and dusted off the washers in our trunk......and, grabbed the dogs????
yes. the dogs.
The stadium offers a fundraising event at the end of each season called "Bark! at the K" you can bring the pups to a Royals game and you and your furry friends can watch a game of baseball and chow down on some nachos! There are tons of vendors and things to do if sitting in the stands isn't your thing!

Charley, Hanna and Baxter all got to come join the fun at $25 bucks a ticket/pair (for human and canine) we geared them up in royal blue ...........

......and grabbed some front row seats (or a few rows back.....) 

can't wait for this seasons game! to get details and tickets, check out: https://secure.mlb.com/kc/ticketing/bark_at_theK.jsp

got your floaties on??

It's almost Memorial Day weekend...........pools around the country will be opening their gates to the public, hundreds of thousands will be soaking in the rays, kids will be doing backflips off the highdive, and string bikinis will be in abundance. I plan on loungin' in a baby pool with a beer and a pair of shades on.
looks like Baxter and Hanna are ready as well for the weekend as well..............

Hanna Banana Birthday

So, yesterday was my birthday and as I enjoyed my Dunkin Donuts holes (yes, their grand opening just happened to be on my birthday, coincidence?! I think not.......) I was giving the doggies some bites of the powdered sugar balls of deliciousness and it got me thinkin of Hanna's first birthday, October 13th, 2009.

Hanna got over $40 in gifts--no friggan joke from mom and dad and of course grandma and grandpa...............
Delicious doggie cakes:

and some cupcakes for the 2-legged species                                                                                 










and one pooped little girl.....

easy, breeeezy, beautiful, covergirl

Doggie Depot

We love cruisin' with mom to Home Depot...................

   Pet-friendly businesses in Kansas City................
The following restaurants and stores are more than happy to welcome your four-legged furry friends! 


Patio fun:
*The Blue Moose (Prairie Village)
*Californos ( Westport)-----our favorite place to go!!!!
*Blue Bird Bistro (Kansas City)
*Murray's Ice Cream and Cookies (Kansas City)
*Fric & Frac (Kansas City)
*Cafe Augusta (Lenexa)
*Cactus Grill (Prairie Village)
*McCoy's (Westport)
*Chipolte (any location)
*Ingredient (leawood)
*SPIN! Pizza (Overland Park, Olathe)
* Re:Verse (Plaza)
* The Classic Cup Cafe (Plaza)
*The Brasserie (Westin Crown Center Hotel Lobby)
* The Roasterie (Brookeside)
*Baskin Robbin's
*M&S Grill (Plaza)


Shopping:
* Lowe's (any location)
* Home Depot (any location)
* Anthropologie (Plaza)
*The Body Shop (Plaza)
*Kinko's (any location)
*Three Dog Bakery (Plaza)
*Petco (any location)
*Petsmart(any location)
*Michaels Craft Store (any location)
*Hobby Lobby (any location)
*Brookeside Barkery and Bath 
* Doggie Style Bowtique (Westport)
* any store that sell pet supplies................


Special Events: (non-pet related)
*Brookeside Art Fair
*Plaza Art Fair
*Prairie Village Art Fair


***Note: your dog needs to be vaccinated and be free of rabies, and not bite small children
***Note #2: any restaurant, store or event has the right to refuse pets in their business-
***Note #3: if I missed any, please leave a comment and add it to the list!!
***Note #4: don't forget your dogs must be on a leash 

Dog N Jog (09)

Last summer, the  Humane Society of Greater Kansas City held their 22nd annual Dog N' Jog event (one of my favorites) Baxter, Charley and Hanna arrived in luau gear and I am a proud momma to say Baxter won Runner-up in the cutest dog competition!!!  Baxter and Hanna gave up about a mile and a half in and needed to be toted around and Charley was pretty much over it---This year I'm bringing out the shiny red wagon!!!

Picture Me Pretty

Lets get up close and personal................

Flippy Flops N' Dog Walks

 S-P-R-I-N-G !!!!! Yay spring is here. My favorite time of the year. flippy-flops n' dog walks!

Rollin' wit my homies

Cruisin with my Canines

It's the little things in life....................
Baxter...........

Hanna Banana enjoying the breeze...........(and looking back for a nice photo opp for mom :)

Hanna and Pilot...................(Hanna looking a bit "blown away" here.....)

Food Matters

 Finally America's fat ass is catching on to a health "trend"  With movies like Food Inc. and best selling books, Food Matters, The Kind Diet, Skinny Bitch and Skinny Bastard,  (just to name a few) America is revealing the true identity of mass production in the food industry. Don't think your grocery store-pet food is off the hook, In fact, all the crap we can't eat (FDA regulations) gets tossed in a bag of Kibble for our best friend to eat. not cool.


Always check the ingredients BEFORE buying that beautifully marketed bag of kibble and know that "meat-by-products and bone meal," "animal fat," "xxx-meal," and "corn" should not be on that list! A food may also be labled "duck flavor, beef, etc." and may not even contain such ingredients, that's a red flag for a no no! When you consider healthiest food for dogs, find products that offer 40% meat, 50% vegetables and 10% carbohydrates. These are the best nutritional ratios for a healthy dog diet. And mix it up, dogs have tastebuds too, how bad would it suck to eat the same thing over and over and over again? (One of Hanna's favorite foods is cooked broccoli--no lie.) Something I have discovered with my dog food obsession is by spending more for the good stuff, you are spending less in the end. The healthy stuff ensures your dog is getting what he needs and he wont have to find it elsewhere. Check out, http://www.healthydognutritionsecrets.com/ Remember, you get what you pay for............that is increasingly being found true with food products, both dog and human-So next time you see a cheapo- bag of kibble, know it's cheap because the food is crap--poor Fido.
Check out these links for help on finding the best food for your four-legged friend :)


http://www.squidoo.com/10-Best-Dog-Food
http://www.barfworld.com/html/learn_more/barf_pups.shtml
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/pet-treats-beef-bison-liver.aspx

A shout out to Charley!

Happy 4-Year Birthday Charley! 

Dog and Baby

So, I very recently was emailed a "dog in need of home" emails............ I get a lot of those but this one was different. The dog was being given up because he was snapping at their young child--who was admittingly being "rough" with the dog. "A child needs to be taught how to play and handle their puppy or dog. They need to be taught that a dog is not a toy or doll and shouldn’t be handled roughly." (Dogs and Small Children--Advice and Education) I am by no means excusing their dog's behavior! Bad dog! Bad!! .....And I know the owners are heartbroken over this matter, but "Children have to be taught to understand how dogs react in different situations. They must learn that a dog has feelings too and they don’t like to have their tail or ears pulled on. They might get mad and snap or bite." (Dogs and Small Children--Advice and Education)
It is a very sad situation. I feel bad for the owners and the dog. I can only imagine how confused the dog will be when adopted off to a new home (or considering the "urgency" of the email, a shelter....) I hope they can resolve the situation.  I know they are just devastated.
One way to hopefully avoid this situation is to begin with the right breed of dog, check out The Best Family Dogs-10 Breeds For Homes With Children. (cited below) and remember kids: all living things deserve respect.  
Check out what Cesar has to say:
http://www.cesarsway.com/askcesar/phobias-and-fears/Babies-and-Dogs
Sources and links :


To avoid dog bites in the home here is some advice: 

1. Properly socialize your puppy. BEFORE the age of 16 weeks, your puppy must encounter all of the things he'll see in his adult lifetime. If he doesn't, then, in all likelihood, he'll be terrified of those things later when he encounters them. You must introduce him to friendly adults, children, old people, noisy teenagers , disabled people, people with beards, hats, bald heads, abnormal gaits, canes, cars, bicycles, veterinarians, loud noises, other animals, toddlers, stairs, water, noisy kitchen instruments and other strange things. If the dog is not afraid of it, he won't try to attack it to defend himself. A well-adjusted dog is not a biting dog. Dogs must learn to use teeth properly as part of behavior development. Dogs normally learn bite inhibition by 4 and a half months of age.Bite inhibition is a learned response in which the dog consciously inhibits the full force of his biting ability. When pups bite while nursing, the mother dog will train them by standing up and walking away. When pups bite too hard during play with siblings, the bitten pup will yelp and stop playing with the rough pup or knock the rough-housing pup over with a loud bark or growl. This teaches a puppy that playtime ends if he bites too hard. People can use the same idea to teach their puppies bite inhibition. No matter how hard you try to socialize a dog to people or other dogs, there may be times when it is not sufficient. For example, someone shuts the dog's tail in a door, or your dog is attacked by another dog. In these cases, your dog will instinctively respond by biting, whether it's out of provocation or self-defense. Whether or not your dog does damage depends on the level of bite inhibition that was established, usually before he reached age four and a half months. 

2. Teach your children to respect life. Show them how to properly pet, and handle a dog. Young children should not be allowed to carry puppies. They want to, because they see you doing it, but they don't know how to yet, and they lack the coordination to properly support the dog and keep him from falling. This terrifies the puppy, and if you want the puppy to grow up thinking, "When I get my adult teeth, kid , you’re MINE!" You must teach the child that handling the puppy in this way is not comfortable for the puppy, and the child must not try to hurt the puppy. 

3. NEVER leave a young child alone with your puppy: No matter how good you think your child is, when you're not looking, the child wants to do all of the things you won't let him do when you're around. The child is usually "low man on the totem pole" in the household, and if he can have control over the dog, it makes him feel less powerless. This means poking pens into him, pulling his tail etc. You may not realize your child is pestering the dog until the day he comes running to you, dripping blood, saying, "Doggie BITE!" At this point somebody's in trouble, and its usually the dog. He can't defend himself and he didn't have witnesses. 

4. If you have toddlers, create a safe "haven" for your dog. Create a place where the dog can escape to when the dog does not want to be bothered with the child. If the dog is not able to get away from the thing that terrifies him he will try to make the child go away by lip lifting, growling, snapping, or biting, all of which are proper social signals to avoid REAL aggression, by communicating that the dog wants to be left alone. However, children do not understand this language, so it's important to give the dog a place to go where the child absolutely cannot follow. 

5. Don't tie your dog out. Tied dogs are frustrated dogs. This tends to make them hyper and testy. A child entering the area where a dog is chained could be easily knocked down or bitten. If one or more of your neighbor’s ties a dog out, don't let your children go near these dogs. They are an accident waiting to happen. 

6. Some people think it's cute to tease dogs by pretending to beat up another family member in front of them, or by playing "games" like "slap-boxing" ,wrestling or tug-if –war with the dog. These mindless ways cause the dog to become aggressive, or at the very least, teach him to snap at hands. He won't always understand the difference between play and real-life situations. 

7. Establish yourself as the leader and teach the dog a few commands. You can have him "go away” or "lie down" when company arrives, so that he doesn't go into a barking frenzy at the door. Stop your puppy from chewing your hands and teach him that gnawing on your body parts is "off limits." Do not allow guarding behavior to develop. Resource guarding means the dog might growl at someone walking near his food dish, or might not let you take a bone away from him politely, or might even guard YOU so that other family members can't get near. Start looking for a trainer where you will desensitize your dog to the things that are "triggering" his behavior now. 

8.Get your dog used to having you touch, groom and restrain him at an early age. If your dog does not allow you to touch him in certain ways or in certain places, this problem must be addressed. He may only be warning you with a growl, now, but if you let it be, there will come a time he's liable to bite. From an early age , accustom him to having you hold and touch his paws, stroke him and hold him on his side. By teaching him that this contact is not-threatening and not harmful, he will accept it without a second thought. 

9. DON'T pass on your fears to a child. Don’t gasp, cry out, or shriek when you see a dog; children learn by example, and these behaviors can startle or frighten a dog into snapping or biting. DON'T ever allow your child to tease, hurt, confine, challenge, growl at, bark at, or otherwise confuse, frighten, or threaten any dog, including your own. Many "unprovoked" attacks on children are in fact provoked by the cruel or at least ignorant and behavior of children to dogs. Do not allow children visiting your home to treat your dog this way, even if your dog will tolerate it; the next dog the child meets may not. DO teach your child to approach a dog in a calm and friendly manner. Children and dogs are naturally friends, and letting them get to know each other in a quiet, gradual way is best
When do the stray dogs bite? When the females are on heat and the male dogs stray outside their own territories and into other territories following the smell of the female. In the excitement of their frustration and the heat generated by the fear they have by stepping into unknown territory, a dog may (and even then its very rare) bite a human being that threatens it. 

The second reason is when the female dog has had puppies and is scared of people killing them. Anyone who comes near , specially children , whom she knows from experience , will harm her or her puppies will first be warned by her snarling. If they get closer she will bite.
Sterilisation does two things -- 
a) a sterilized animal has been seen to live a longer and healthier life. 
b) spaying prevents male animals from getting into fights with each other. Sterilized animals show no aggressive behavior due to frustration either to female animals or to humans. Local administration of a city and the colony associations must understand that the solution is not killing them because more will come, but in sterilisation. 

Spay or neuter your dog. Dogs who have NOT been spayed or neutered are three times more likely to bite than are dogs who HAVE been spayed or neutered

Maneka Gandhi
Gandhi, Maneka. "Living With Street Dogs--To Avoid Dog Bites in the Home." Web Log post.People For Animals PTA. Web. 29 Mar. 2010. 

"Dogs and Small Children--Advice and Education." Web Log post. Pets Education Online. Web. 29 Mar. 2010. .

"The Best Family Dogs-10 Breeds for Homes with Children." Web Log post. Dog Reflections. 5 May 2008. Web. 29 Mar. 2010. 

I need a Nap

Belly Fat Cure

As Spring time approaches, I know I have to start to lose those extra pounds put on by holiday foods (and winter excuses to eat those foods), however, I didn't know Charley felt the same way...................

Before pic......................

Behind the Wheel With Baxter

Driving tips from Baxter:
Tip # 1:  Keep your hands (paws) on the wheel at all times

Tip 2: Check your mirrors, scan your surroundings

                                 Tip #3:  Keep your eyes on the road

  

                                                               and remember kids............don't text and drive!

Taste of Freedom

 Celebrate like someone forgot to close the gate!!!!

I'm A Cheerleader

KU vs. KSU

Hanna, who's your pick??

good girl.