Imagine.

The centerpieces are perfect, stylish and creative. The appetizers (does anyone know how to spell horderves?) wait on silver trays, the perfect temperature and flavor. The radio is playing Buddy Guy or Shakira or Etta James, and your hair is blessed by the gods, not too frizzy or flat or confused. A bottle, several bottles of wine, rest on the immaculate counter.

You sigh a content sigh, the kind that tells the world nothing can go wrong.

And sure enough, the peace is shattered by a bark. Its coming from the ground. You look down and there is your 3 month old puppy, eager to play.

Parties can be a lot of fun for people, but don’t forget about your dog. Doing so can be a nightmare for the both of you.

I spent the last couple days helping celebrate my friend’s wedding and amidst the chaos, the dog was definitely overlooked. It’s her first dog and her first wedding. In between the two, I’m sure she learned a lot
of valuable lessons. As an observer, I did too. Enough, in fact, to be inspired to make a list of tips. What should the dog owner keep in mind when throwing a party? Cats are easier. They can hide under the bed for even longer than most five year old. Dogs, however, are curious, mischievous, and yet still overwhelmed by large groups of laughing humans.

1) This is probably the most important tip. Make time before the party starts to take your pup on a long walk or to the dog park. Let him get plenty of exercise. With any luck, he’ll sleep through the whole thing.

2) Place his kennel in a quiet room away from the noise.

3) If your dog is well behaved and enjoys strangers, allow him to come play. But, make sure your guests know the rules you try to maintain. (no jumping on the furniture, begging, etc.)

4) Party foods are often rich and greasy. Make sure your guests know what they can and can’t share with your dog. Keep an eye on the floor, making sure that there are no toxic crumbs.

5) Stick to your guns about obedience and training. It’s easy to get lax at a party, but its’ also very important that your dog listens to you in a chaotic environment.

6) Explain to any children present at the party that your pet is not a toy. It is a living creature and should be respected. (No throwing things at the cat!! or Waking the dog so you can play with him!)

And lastly, if you don’t think your dog will be well taken care of (too many children, too much to do) find a friend he can stay with for the night.

K9 Cuisine has really beat the odds by its success and growth.  It’s not easy being a small online retail business, but I am proud to say K9 Cuisine has not only survived but thrived!  Ultimately though, it’s not that much of a surprise when you consider the incredible passion that Anthony runs his company with.  I mean that.

Success Story:

” Being small is hard enough. But being small and in retail? That’s like having two strikes against you before the game even begins. From setting up relationships with banks, to finding trustworthy suppliers, to building a loyal customer base, being a small retailer is a challenge many businesses can’t meet. And if you’re an online-only small retailer? Well, that adds a whole new set of pros and cons into the mix.

K9cuisine.com is one such business that’s so far been able to meet all the challenges of being a small, internet-only retailer. The nine-employee company sells premium pet foods and accessories from a warehouse in the remote town of Paris, Illinois — about 100 miles west of Indianapolis and 200 miles south of Chicago. Owner Anthony Holloway launched the company in May, 2007, because he was frustrated with trying to find quality dog food locally and online. After opening K9cuisine.com, he learned there were a lot of other pet owners sharing his frustrations. “Our business took off quickly and has grown at the rate of 50% each month for the last year,” Anthony says. The web site, he says, currently gets close to 5,000 unique visitors per day, and has generated about $2.5 million in sales in the last 12 months…..”

Read The Rest

When asked if she will ever have children, Oprah replies that she already does.  A chocolate cocker spaniel named Solomon and two golden retrievers, Luke and Layla.  She has lost two dogs.  Sophie, a 13 year old cocker spaniel, died of kidney failure.  Gracie, a 2 year old golden retriever, died by choking on a small ball.

The Flamingo Plush Squeaker:

I really want to get this for Stranger because I think they would make a beautiful pair.  Black fur + pink flamingo = very striking play time, at least until it gets gory for the flamingo.