January/February 08

2.22.08

Learning to be a better-adjusted Bumby

All in all, I think I’m a pretty good dog. I’m kind to cats (including letting them sleep in my doggie bed when they have a mind), don’t get into the trash, and even wait to have my paws dried off before jumping on the couch. But I do have a few, uh, shall I say, anxiety issues when I’m out walking. For example, sometimes I find people, and especially kids I don’t know, to be kinda scary and that usually makes me want to run for home. I also don’t like to be walked by anyone but my person, which makes things a little inconvenient for me when she goes out.

Martha's dog Spring also helps with my training sessions. Spring is my new best dog friend.

To try and help me get over some of these problems, I, Bumby, now have a professional trainer who visits me. My confidence coach (as I like to call her), Martha, is very kind and seems to understand lots of things about me by just watching me walk down the street. She notices when my tail is up and I’m feeling good about the world and when I start to get a little nervous. My favorite part about Martha’s visits is that she brings her dog Spring along to help me out, too. I liked Spring the minute I met her, and we walk around the block like old pals together, Spring looking for squirrels to play with, me looking for people to run from.

Martha says that next I’m going to learn something new called “stay,” which might help relieve my anxieties. Now that I’ve fully owned up to my "issues," I’ll keep you posted on my progress, but I must admit that I'm feeling like a better-adjusted dog already.

Pet Promise mission on the move update

The Conscious Goods Alliance “Veggie Bus tour” is winding up its last month of the current tour at the beginning of March, so if the bus is coming your way, be sure to plan a visit. By the time its year-long tour has ended, it will have stopped at over 100 cities, meeting people and pets around the country.

For those of you not yet in the know, the Veggie Bus runs on vegetable oil and powers its computers, lights and television with solar power. Hopefully this is a preview of the Earth-friendly way all transportation may be in the future! Pet Promise is one of the Veggie Bus sponsors for this year’s tour, so if you come out to visit the bus, be sure to get a Pet Promise sample.

I could tell you more, but it’s time to do the homework Martha gave me. Talk later.

Posted by Bumby at 11:45 a.m.

2.5.08

From with love

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. Coming as it does in mid-February, it brings us a step closer to spring and all the delights I find when my part of the world comes into bloom again. And I, Bumby, despite my brave and ferocious personality, am a real sap when it comes to love and kisses. This year, as always, my heart belongs to my kitty valentine Leilani. In return for my love and devotion, Leilani has promised not to steal bites from my dinner bowl anymore or hit me on the head when I walk by. Best of all, she may let me have the big cushy blue chair for a nap once in a while!

Leilani, my kitty valentine (who will be 'sweet 16' in April).

While I believe that Valentine’s Day is the perfect holiday (what could be better than hugs, kisses and wearing my red coat with the heart on it), there are a few Valentine traditions and some foods to mention that could get us dogs (cats, too) into big trouble:

• Chocolate: Cocoa powder and baker’s chocolate (or any rich, dark variety, for that matter) contains substances that are extremely toxic to dogs. While it might take more milk chocolate to make your pet sick, the best idea is not to share any candy with your dog or cat, especially the chocolate kind.
  
• Flowers: They look pretty and smell okay, but for curious canines and felines (who tend to eat lots of strange things), flowers can be downright dangerous. Take roses, a Valentine favorite - they have sharp thorns that can cause big trouble if ingested or stepped on.
  
  Some toxic blooms to also keep away from your pets include:
  many varieties of lilies – especially toxic for cats; tulips – the bulbs especially; chrysanthemums, and baby’s breath, which some cats are very attracted to (especially the ones I know).

• Macademia nuts (or macademia butter), which can cause all kinds of problems if ingested.
  
• Grapes and raisins, which studies have shown can be very toxic and even fatal to dogs (and probably aren’t too good for cats, either).

And speaking of long-term relationships….

While you might want to give your sweetie the perfect gift this Valentine’s Day, an adorable kitten or puppy may not be the best surprise, even if there’s been talk about getting one. Since this relationship is hopefully going to last for a long time to come, why not go to a shelter together and let your Valentine select that special furry friend?

I could tell you more, but I see the big blue chair is empty and just waiting for me to take a nap on it. Talk later.

Posted by Bumby at 1:10 p.m.

1.15.08

Green resolutions

Dogs, like people, make their share of New Year’s resolutions. And (like most people), we end up not keeping most of them. The resolutions I made last year didn’t even make it to February. By mid-January I had already chewed my share of pens (only the ones that land on the floor, of course) and still find fun in throwing all the pillows off the couch (try it sometime, it’s good exercise). This year, I’m doing something different. With the help of my person, I’m taking part in resolutions that are green. No, they are not about money, but I think they can be more valuable then gold.

Here is am with my green froggy toy from West Paw Design. All of froggy (including the stuffing) is made from recycled soda pop bottles!

Easy ways to become a greener you

Here are four good resolutions to get you started that will help make 2008 a banner year for all us ‘green’ dogs and cats (as well as their people).

• Recycle whatever you can. Municipal recycling, including methods of disposing of hazardous waste such as batteries and paint, is now done in most places. You can also often reuse paper by printing on the other side, and save paper by only printing out documents when absolutely necessary. Recycling one ton of paper will save approximately 78 mature trees and over 78 gallons of oil. (Dogs and trees are good friends, so anything you can do to save them has a four-paw backing from all the dogs of the world).
  
• Stop cleaning the house with toxic chemicals, which not only are really dangerous to us dogs (cats too), but aren’t especially good for the people in the house, either. You can use simple, natural cleaning agents such as white vinegar, baking soda and vegetable-based soaps, or go with pet- and earth-friendly products such as those made by Seventh Generation.
  
• When you walk your dog, think about using a "pick-up bag" that won’t add more litter to what we’ve already accumulated. All trash has an afterlife, and the bag from the morning walk is no exception. One alternative you might consider is a 100% recycled plastic, completely degradable picker-upper bag from the Doggie Walk Bags Company.
  
• Feed your dog or cat Pet Promise. It’s made with pure protein sources that come from animals raised without growth hormones or antibiotics and wild-caught fish. Pet Promise supports family farmers who use sustainable agriculture practices. Since 2005, Pet Promise has helped eliminate over 106 million doses of antibiotics in the food chain, and more than 18 million doses of artificial growth hormones fed to cattle. (And it tastes great!)

I could tell you more, but I have to take a nap before bedtime after all this thinking. Talk later.

Posted by Bumby at 9:32 p.m.