Barks and kisses....

Is it milk chocolate or dark?

*** WARNING: This post may contain affiliate links. It does NOT contain nuts or mutts!***

Bark and hello! Teddy here again, just a single pup alone on the most romantic day of the year: Valentine's Day. Now, in our house we really don't celebrate Valentine's day per se. The whole month of February is really a love fest for my Mama, who has her birthday in two days. (Happy birthday Mama!) But my mama loves us all so much that even though she says she "doesn't do Valentine's Day" and that it's just a "Hallmark holiday", she always does SOMETHING special for me, my sisters, my daddy, and even my old Grammy. A special meal, a special treat, a nice walk. I love all of her ideas because they are all so nice.

I like to consider myself somewhat of an expert on the subject of love, considering the fact that I give out at least a thousand kisses a day. Also, I'm adorable. I think they should consider replacing that scary demon baby with the arrows that they call Cupid with me. I think I inspire much more love that a flying cherub with rosy cheeks. (How do those tiny wings hold up that chubby body? Does he taste like chicken? It's very confusing!) If you have your own special Valentine love pooch, you may be wondering what you can do for him or her this holiday to bring a little cheer in to their life. I have some ideas for you.

1. Eat a romantic dinner for two (or more!)

Not EXACTLY what I mean!

My mother loves to make us dog food, combining veggies and meats with fruits to  balance out the food and make it so delicious. I'm drooling just thinking about it. She might also make us a nice steak. (She did that last year....) Whatever your food preference is tonight, add some candles and some love songs and viola! Romantic dinner. Just make sure your pup stays away from the candles. Your local fire department has enough to do without your doggo's tail knocking over a few tapers.

2. Watch a romantic movie

Might I suggest Lady and the Tramp?

A lot of people don't realize this, but us dogs really enjoy watching TV, especially with our Masters. A 2013 study published in the journal Animal Cognition showed that dogs could identify images of other dogs among pictures of humans and other animals, using their visual sense alone. Like a lot of people, we only half pay attention to what's going on on the screen, but certain images and sounds attract our attention. Like humans, different dogs like different movies and shows. Personally, I enjoy cartoons while my big sister likes the news. We also enjoy licking your salty tears and comforting, so go ahead and have that single lady cry fest you were planning!

3. Have a spa night

This even looks appealing to me!

I HATE baths. But you may be lucky enough to own a dog like my sister Bella, who loves baths. If this is the case, feel free to run some warm water and let the bubbles flow! Make sure to use some great doggie shampoo and give your pups a few spritzes of spray to keep that wet dog smell from invading your romantic night. My mom likes this Lavender & Chamomile Aromatherapy Freshening & Shining Spray by Gerrard Larriett Aromatherapy Pet Care. Not only does it make us smell great, it relaxes us, which helps keep the post-washing zoomies from getting out of control. (Especially with my pit bull sister, whose zoomies can get totally nuts!)

Get your Gerrard Larriett spray HERE!

No matter what your parents' may feel about Valentine's Day, make sure you give them plenty of kisses! They might not buy you a card or a box of chocolates (because you can't eat chocolate anyway!), but your parent loves you so much every day of the year they deserve your kisses. Hopefully you'll get an extra long walk or a strip of bacon. Have a great V-day!

Kisses and wags,

Teddy

I like to brush it, brush it....

***WARNING: This blog may contain affiliate links. It does NOT contain "The Memo", but my mama wants to read it!***

Hi everybody! Teddy here. February is one of my mom's favorite months. Not because of Valentine's Day (she hates it), not because of President's Day (but she does love the President), but because it's her birthday month! Not only is February my Mama's birthday, but it's also National Pet Dental Health Month. And that's what I like to brush.... my teeth! (You didn't think it was my fur did you? HA!)

My Mama is very proud of us because when we go to the vet, she always comments on how great our teeth are. As well they should be because we chew on stuff all The TIME! Apparently chewing on things, like bones, are great for our teeth. How awesome is that? It's one of our favorite activities (one that we can all agree on) and it's actually good for us. Our teeth are always pearly white and plaque free.

See, a lot of humans think that taking care of their pup's teeth is a huge chore. Like giving me a bath. (I HATE BATHS!) It's actually really simple. Easier than brushing a baby's teeth from what I understand when the kids used to come spend the night and my mom used to fight with them about brushing their teeth. And it isn't that expensive. I mean, I really have no concept of money because I'm a dog, but I know my mom and dad are always trying to "save" money.

See my pretty little teeth?

Our number one favorite thing to chew on is bones. Now, I know this might scare a lot of your parents, but hear me out. (Hear meowt.... I kill me!) There are certain kinds of bones that perfectly okay for your doggo to eat. Namely raw bones. Cooked or smoked bones can be brittle and crack, sending splinters in to your dog's intestines and a huge vet bill. No one wants that. Raw bones (appropriately sized for your dog's breed) are actually good for your dog's not just for keeping their teeth clean, but it also restores some the natural minerals that dogs are missing from pet food that we used to get when we were still wild and free. (I'm still wild, but if I get free my Mama gets super mad at me!)

If we can't have a real bone, then we'll happily settle for a dental treat. (really, we're excited just for any treat but the dental ones are kind of tasty!) Our favorite dental treats are Dingo dental sticks. They are so yummy and convenient for my mom to hand us.

Get your doggo some Dingos here!

We're also really in to these little paw shaped treats that none of us know the name of. They came in one of our BarkBoxes one month and Bella, being the brat she is, tore the bag up so Grammy stuck them in a ziplock and stuck them way up high on the shelf, so no one can get to them unless Mama gives them to us. But we love these tiny little treats, especially after a meal. It's like a dinner mint, but for a dog. If you know the name of those, please tell my mom!

One thing that I have always wanted to try is a deer antler. I saw a lot of those on my trip to Georgia for Mama and Daddy's wedding and boy did those look yummy! My mom is a wuss and has always been afraid to give me one. (I think mainly because I might just run with it and run right in to my Grammy and stab her on accident.) But they are supposed to last forever and be so awesome. I can only imagine, just chewing for hours and hours and hours on that hard antler. I'm drooling just thinking of it.

Doesn't this guy look happy? I'm so jealous!

Here are just a few more ways to keep your dog's teeth healthy and pretty!

1. Dental sprays

2. Coconut oil

3. Tooth wipes

4. Water additives

5. Chew toys

Now don't let me get started on chew toys! That's a whole other blog. But I hope that this has helped you think of some ways to help your pooch keep their teeth and gums healthy and happy. Remember: caring for your dog's teeth is just as important as caring for your own and we can't do it ourselves 'cause we don't have thumbs! (Yum,yum,yum! I swear, I crack myself up!) Obviously I'm not saying that you should never take your pet to the vet and have their teeth clean. You absolutely should always check with your vet to make sure your doggie is healthy and happy. Having clean teeth and healthy gums is a vital part to any pet's health. 

Keep your teeth clean and your tail wagging!

Teddy