Thursday evening Kirk, Jesse and I attending the Spot Magazine Mutt Mixer at the Hotel Monaco in downtown Portland. I had been to a dog event earlier in the at this venue and was in love with the decor and the fact that they are so dog friendly! And get this…if you didn’t bring your dog with you for your stay, they will put goldfish in your room to keep you company. LOVE it!

The benefiting local rescue was Pacific NW Pit Bull Rescue and they had a white puppy there that was just adorable! Ellena Thomas who started the rescue was there to talk about advocacy and adoption of bully breed canines. I struck up a conversation with her to learn more about their organization and I couldn’t figure out where I knew her from and her the same…then we figured it out! She works at the SW Washington Humane Society where I volunteer – small world! I plan on posting more about this breed and my personal experience with them at the Humane Society.

We are happy to report that Jesse was on his best behavior. Amos is definitely our dog of choice to bring to events but with his back on the mend we didn’t want to risk it. Jesse was able to see his long time play friend Zoe and strike up a new romance with a Yorkie – she was very popular with all the male dogs!

dog kisses – pw

p.s. This was my first time using my speedlight on dogs…not my favorite but I think it all worked out pretty good. Practice, practice, practice…

Hotel Monaco | 506 SW Washington | Portland, OR

Who’s on the cover? The lovable Beagles Duncan and Arrowyn.We had a great time during their photo shoot out in gorgeous Boring, Oregon. Congrats to Christie and her furbabies for wining the 2009 Cover Model contest!

Download a PDF version here

Dog kisses – pw

Here is Terry’s (owner of Howl at the Moon) Leonberger, this would be a VERY big dog…of course I am in love with her nose!

If you haven’t visited Howl at the Moon it should be on your list! She has some amazing pet themed gift items in a gorgeous setting – it was hard not to buy more than I did. If you are looking for a gift for that pet lover or for yourself this is the place to go. I was able to do some much needed Christmas shopping and found the t-shirt that I have been wanting to get for Kirk… if you are not in the Vancouver, WA area you can find them here.

Her store was decorated for the holidays…

Dog kisses – PW

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Brushing is the best way to remove plaque from your pet’s teeth. Daily brushing is most beneficial but brushing two to three times a week is acceptable if your schedule can’t accommodate daily brushing. If you’re lucky enough (or unlucky, I have had an opportunity to observe dental cleanings at my vet) to actually see a dog with dental disease you’d run to your vet to make sure you’re brushing as often as possible with the right tools. NOTE – do NOT use human toothpaste. You’ll be able to find special toothpaste for your dogs at the vet.

In the spirit of Adopt-A-Dog month, make sure a dental check-up is on the list especially if you adopted an older dog. Some people forgot that this is equally as important as vaccinations and if your vet offers wellness exams (see Frontier Vet Hospital’s wellness plan option) then an oral examination will be part of the routine exam. Frontier Vet Hospital in Hillsboro recently offered a workshop on dental health for pet parents and the community led by Dr. Hardesty. To contact them for more information or upcoming workshops – visit their site.

Some excellent resources I’ve found include: an article on About.com and Frontier Vet Hospital has an online tutorial that discusses the importance of dental care for pets. Check these out and look inside your dog’s (or cat’s…) mouth TODAY.

Dog & cat kisses – CC

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What are some good questions to ask a potential pet sitter?

I think it’s very important to ask for credentials up front. If you’re just going to have a neighbor or friend watch your pets that’s one thing, but I think many pet owners don’t realize that anyone can call themselves a pet sitter. Make sure you are entrusting your home and most importantly your animals to someone who is a professional, make sure they are insured, have some type of certification, check references and make sure you have a consult before setting any pet sit visits up.

What is the perfect day for you?

Any day I can work with dogs is a pretty close to perfect. My favorite days on the job are when I can take a few dogs hiking or out to a lake. This probably sounds very nerdy, but I also like to spend time at dog parks and observe behavioral tendencies and instincts when dogs are playing and meeting. It’s also pretty darn satisfying when I am training and start to see the light bulbs going off!

What is your favorite breed of dog? and why?

Well, not to be cliche, but pound puppies are the way to go. I’m also one hundred percent behind the movement to call them the  All American dog. Most of the shelter dogs I’ve worked with are the epitome of the species. Every time I think about it, it blows my mind, the fact that these animals have the capacity to trust again, to be eternal optimists even after in some situations being abandoned or physically hurt by their owners. It’s one of life’s miracles and we as a species would do well to take some lessons.

What is the naughtiest deed a pet has done while the owner was away?

Wow, I feel like I’m telling a secret. Luckily, I haven’t had anything too terrible happen, honestly, the worst has been hiding and pooping! I’m sure the day will come though when I’m at someone’s house and Fifi decides to find mommies Prada shoes! That’s why there’s insurance right!

I love that you do overnight stays! personal question: do you let the dogs sleep with you? Mine want to know

Of course. I have always kept the bed open to the pups. I do sort of have to lay down the law though. It’s part of my training regimen that when dog’s start acting out or losing their place in the family, priveleges are taken away and sleeping in the bed is usually the first to go.

As a trainer, give us one basic tip for training a new puppy.

BE PATIENT!!! I think a common mistake with new puppy owners is that they are so eager they start out the gate trying to train basic obedience and recalls. Start with the basics, bonding, building trust, and socialinzing your puppy should come before perfecting a sit stay. Get your newbie into a puppy class. I would recommend Behave Canine Solutions, I personally vouch that these trainers really know what they’re talking about.

What is your travel distance for pet care?

I like to keep my work in the northeast and southeast, I don’t get downtown too much and then I have a few clients in southwest. I do make exceptions for my special needs or handicapped pets though. That’s my big passion and I’ll make it out of my way from them.

Hush puppies or cornbread? (my husband is from chattavegas)

Ha ha ha ha ha, a true southerner puts those into separate categories!! Hush puppies with your seafoods and cornbread with the homegrown veggies on sunday’s. My grandmother makes the best skillet cornbread, ok, you’re making me miss Louisiana now!

What do you love most about your job?

I love the fact that I have been able to translate my story, my passion and make it work.

What inspires you to do this kind of work?

Many many things draw me to working with dogs, but I;ll tell ya what really got me and it just happened about two years ago. I went through a really tough few years with a dog that I chose to keep after a failed surgery that left him paralyzed from the waist down. He was a big boy, you can imagine what all that entails. A lot of people that knew me were shocked by the decision and some were even mad at me for my putting my life on hold. Those thoughts never crossed my mind. What inspires me is that before I had gone through this process I would have never thought I could be so giving or selfless or compassionate. That’s when I really understood the power of dogs, that they can teach us so much about outselves and about life. If you want the rest of the story, that might be another article!

What was that one WOW moment that you knew you were doing a good thing?

I haven’t ever questioned that one. I suppose the first time I was able to give someone peice of mind. Knowing that they could go to work and that their beloved dog who couldn’t go to the bathroom by himself or that needed a bandage changed, would be in good hands and loved and safe until they got home.

Any other thoughts you would like to share?

Give your dog’s the love they give to you!!!

With the holidays approaching be sure to plan ahead the care for your pets! You can contact DogMa Care at 503.816.5009. Become a fan of DogMa on Facebook!

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