After a lot of thought as to what I should post about first, on Cup of Dog’s new, improved layout, I figured a life changing apparatus, also known as the Busy Buddy Toy was the way to go.

Like many dogs, Louis, my beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, suffers from a the common canine malady of separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is often exhibited through barking, destructive behavior and even self-mutilation when the dog is left alone. Scratching at the door, hysterical barking/howling and vindictive bowel movements are a part of Louis’ plot to try and lure me back to his side. Dog people work tirelessly trying different techniques to avert this behavior, for the benefit of the dog, the house and the neighbors!

As much as I would love to be with Louis constantly, this is not realistic and it’d probably be damaging for us both. We have tried many techniques to sooth his anxiety. Long walks to tire him, hiding yummy tidbits around, fresh chews, homeopathic remedies, alternating available toys and even the companionship of puppy #2 (Ella Bean), but nothing seemed to work.

After much thought about what Louis might possibly love more then his mommy, I knew food was the answer. The Busy Buddy Toy is a two part, rubbery device that can be filled with treats and yummy tidbits. The trick is, unlike hiding treats around Louis’ area, this toy requires him to work for his reward. Once filled, we swivel the toy closed and toss it too him and Louis works tirelessly to release his treats. In order to succeed, he has to randomly drop, push, flip and turn the toy until a treat might find its way through one of the holes.

Success! We fill the toy before leaving the house, while Louis watches with anticipation, salivating at the yummy goodness. After tossing it to him, we calmly leave and he is so focused on the task at hand, I don’t think he even notices we are gone! A relaxed, happy Louis plays until he passes out and now we come home to find him sound asleep, relaxed and happy.

An added note: Ella Bean’s gentleman caller, Stanislaw, informed us (see comments) that he was able to shred this toy in mere minutes. If your dog is a REALLY strong chewer, you may want to consider trying a hardier treat dispensing toy. Thanks for the tip Stan!

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I love being a dog owner. I know plenty of other people who also love canine companionship more then words can express. It’s not that we mind our precious pooch’s constant desire for attention, it’s just that sometimes, while say, eating, reading, paying bills or participating in other activities that don’t involve the pup, the only way to achieve the quiet necessary to focus is to distract our pal with something tasty.

One teeny treat won’t do it, that buys a mere few seconds and most chews only last a short time, lack nutritional benefit or are a choking hazard. My darling Louis is a real chewer and can tear through a substantial chewing stick (fit for a 50 lb. dog) in thirty minutes or less. It’s actually impressive - though sometimes I feel a bit silly buying the extra large chewy stick with my little 10 pound Louis in tow.

Enter Antlerz. Antlerz, produced by QT Dog, LLC., of Dallas, Texas are a 100% natural dog chew made from naturally shed deer antlers gathered by ranchers during the natural yearly process in which deer shed their antlers. After being cut, cleaned and packaged, what’s left is the Antlerz brand dog chew. They hold up substantially longer then other chew products, don’t splinter and contain nothing artificial.

By the way, I thought it would be really cute to post about this product around Christmas time and make some tie between Christmas and reindeer and antlers or something, but I really wanted to see how this thingy actually held up. Well, six weeks in and Louis is still chewing on it. He returns to it each evening, attempting to make headway, slowly grinding away on it. Its not the least expensive chew on the market, but compare the price to what you spend on chews that last for a few hours, which are usually bought in multiples to maintain a supply to keep Fluffy happy. Its worth it.

Chewing is a natural canine behavior that serves to relieve anxiety, combat boredom and release energy. Puppies chew because they are teething. We can utilize this natural behavior when we need a little time out from canine parenthood. Even better when we can get that break by making our dog happy, save a buck and support a product that comes from a completely renewable source.

Keep on chewing!

Check out www.qtdog.com for more information.

Available at Louis favorite store in Miami!

The Dog Bar, Inc.

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1. I will not eat my own poop

2. I will stop unrolling the toilet paper from the bathroom and toilet papering my apartment like a frat party

3. I will stop sleeping directly on my human’s faces

4. I will stop shredding every single toy I receive

OK, let’s face it, those are my New Years Resolutions that I wish for Louis - but the reality is that the year ahead will undoubtedly bring many more challenges and joys of canine parenthood. He has been a member of my family for six months now and we can’t imagine life without him.We have transitioned him to a raw diet, made by the company Primal Pet Foods, Inc, which has completely resolved Louis’ poop problem and I am learning as much as possible about raw feeding so as to most accurately discuss the benefits of this diet before blogging about it.

Looking forward to 2008!

Image courtesy of Haute Diggety Dog, Dog Perignon is available for purchase at www.trixieandpeanut.com.

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Louis has always enjoyed bathtime. He has even been known to hop into the shower uninvited on occasion. Recently, he developed dry, flaky skin around his neck. In addition to adjustments we are making to his diet, we decided to try a shampoo and conditioner formulation specifically for dry and itchy skin. While on a recent excursion to pick up some beauty products for myself, I came across an Oatmeal dog shampoo and conditioner made by the super cute brand Harry Barker.

Created by a fashion model, Carol Perkins, this line is committed to being environmentally conscious (sustainable packaging, biodegradable materials, etc.) while maintaining the quality of the product. The brand also assists a range of fantastic charities benefiting pets and people.With all the above accolades and endorsements from publications like InStyle, it was a bit trying to wait for Louis to get dirty enough to warrant a bath. After a week of romps through mud puddles and messy meals, we decided to give it a go. Both products are concentrated and must be diluted before use, unlike the previous products we were using. It was helpful to use an empty bottle to mix the products with water. A bonus of diluting means that these 16 ounce bottles will last a long time. The shampoo had a great lather effect and rinsed easily, a major plus. The conditioner was thick and coated his fur with little effort.

Post bath, he smells fantastic, feels soft and his coat is shiny. His previously flake-ridden neck is clear and smooth. Even his rough paw pads are soft and smooth! All in all, another fantastic product.

Harry Barker Oatmeal Shampoo and Conditioner available at www.harrybarker.com or Brownes & Co., Miami Beach.

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Today, while on a quick errand to get his nails clipped at DogBar, Miami Beach, we decided to get Louis a new dog toy. The pseudo-Rastafarian colors and the dog with dreads were funny enough for me to say yes to this ‘Aniseed’ bean bag. Then I noticed the display.

“DogNip! Like CatNip for dogs!”I looked in disbelief at the knowledgable staff.It was explained that while it wouldn’t make a dog act hyper, the way catnip can hypnotize a cat, it would ‘chill a dog out.’ Since Louis operates on two speeds, on and off, and I trust that DogBar only stocks safe, well made products, I decided to go for it.Louis was in a dead sleep when I decided to try it out. It smells like licorice and almost immediately, Louis was at my feet sitting anxiously, waiting to receive his new toy. He immediately started chewing it and playing, while I waited.Was my dog stoned? Well, lets just say that I have never before seen him in the pictured position and after this photo, he fell asleep. He is still asleep two hours later. Another major bonus? His breath smells like licorice! We will definitely try this the next time Louis decides that playtime should be at 4 AM!

For more information or to order, please visit aniseedog.com

Available at Louis favorite store in Miami!

DogBar, Inc. Miami Beach

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