1st Halloween without Old Furbro

by Jackie Nippers Corgi

Grrreat pumpkin monster looks sad this Howloween season 2014.

Meezer kitty luvin Mum's pumpkin soup. But our 1st Howloween without Tilin Corgi be kind o' solemn. Everybuddy missing old furbro.

Tilin always confurronted scary pumpkin monsters and kept us safe on Howloween. 'Ere is brave Tilin confurrontin' pumpkin monster in October 2013, hiswoofself's last Howloween with us.

Myself has got to be brrrave corgi now!

Put ta bitey on scary monsters!

Ooooops. . . . Turns out ta scary alien invaders twere not dangerous. Ackchewlly just cookie monsters wot Mum made spawcifically as Halloween dog treat for mywoofself.

Furry simple recipe, Mum sez:

ALIEN INVADER DOG TREATS
Preparation time 10 - 15 minutes. No cooking involved. Recommended for slim, healthy dogs.

12 Pretzel Rods - allowing one or two rods per dog
(Use fresh pretzels, and preferably organic, e.g. Newman's Own Organics brand.)

6 oz. tub freshly ground, pure Peanut Butter 
(Grind your own PB at local gourmet grocer or food co-op!)

12 pairs Candy Eyeballs
(Look for Wilton brand candy eyeball decorations, which are approx. 0.43 inch diameter.)

Jars or cups - sufficient size and number to hold finished Alien Invaders without touching each other.

• Scrape salt crystals off pretzel rods. Try using fingernail as a scraper. Don't worry about removing every last salt crystal. (A dog should get a bit of salt in her diet -- unless the dog is on a no-salt diet for health reasons.)
• Coat about half the length of each pretzel rod with peanut butter: The coated end will become the alien's head. Dip rod into peanut butter and twirl to coat surface. Or use a tablespoon, dipping it into the PB and spreading it on the rod. Cover the pretzel surface, but don't create a thick PB coat. 
• Press two candy eyeballs into the peanut butter "head" of each pretzel rod.
• Stand finished Alien Invader "head up" in jar so as not to touch other treats. 
• Refrigerate jars of treats right away if not serving immediately. Should be eaten same day.

Paw note: Dogs usually insist that Alien Invaders be attacked and nommed immediately!

LAST WOOFS OF DEAR OLD FURBRO

Mum sez: These are Tilin Corgi's last woofs to the world. He knew that his dogbody was failing. I suggested that he say goodbye. We thought it was a good time to leave. And that, it was.

by @winecountrydog Tilin Corgi

Late Fragment

And did you get what
you wanted from this life even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.

- Raymond Chandler

~~

Distance between us
You’re no longer there
But we watch the same sunset
And breathe the same air

- Judy Dyble

~~

Tis time for young furbro, Jackie Nippers, and Meezer to take offurr paw-writin' and tweetin' and other furriendly activities.

My ancient woofself twere hangin' round till everybuddy got da hang of dooin' walkies in this whirrled without myself. Now myself avin' to go big walkies o'er the Rainbow Bridge.

When you sometimes think of mywoofself, pawleeze remember da causes wot ave been dear to myself:

Loving furriends unconditionally;

Rescuing those who are in trouble;

Lending a helping paw and fostering;

Feeding furriends da healthful fresh whole foods;

Supporting humane treatment of "food animals";

Advocating for preventive + integrative veterinary care;

Barking loudly about animal cruelty + crimes like dogfighting;

Pawin' out info + evac shelter locations for animals + people fleeing disaster;

Visiting wineries + woofin' bout grrreat wine ('specially ones Mum really likes).

Mywoofself been furtunate to doo long good life. Almost seventeen years. Till time to say goodbye, able to doo walkies and nom like two big dogs. Always kept da trim dog figure and enjoyed da homemade raw organic meals.

Grrreat longevity and health, against all odds.

Wot a deep closeness and love myself and Mum ave been avin for so many years. Mum would not, could not (and did not) ask for more from myself than wot ourselves did ave. Twere all good, all pawfect.

Doo not be sad. OK to sulk sometimes. Prefurr you humans doo LOL. . . . Myself will listen from o'er da Bridge for echoes of your human laughter.

Mum told mywoofself to enjoy lot o' laffs o'er da Heavenly Bridge. One BOL after 'nother. You doo know myself twere preceded in death by many comedy makers. Hopin' furry much Mr Robin and Ms Joan will doo their stand-up shows nightly.

Heaven got to be da funniest gig in town. . . . See you at a show sometime?

Vacay Pawt II: Barkday Brambleberry Banana Split

by @winecountrydog Jackie Nippers Corgi

Wot did you doo on your summer vacay? ... Did you nom frozen desserts?

On mywoofself's barkday, Staff (aka Mum) served Brambleberry Banana Split. Organic blackberry ice cream with organic banana slices and sprinkles of probiotics.

Our Ani Meezer loves blackberry ice cream too. Hermewself does not eat ta banana.

Ourwoofselves are not only ones eating ice cream in July -- "National Ice Cream Month." Ta ice cream biz is over $10 billion a year in the States. Mostly industrial farm dairies, not humane dairy farms where cows are treated like special, honored furriends.

Blackberries get high rating as antioxidant and have got other health-confurrin' properties as well. Smart wild furriends such as foxes, coyotes, deer, and birds love nomming ripe wild berry fruits in season. Humans like picking berries from wild bramble bushes or buying 'em at markets wot sell local organic berries. If your Staffs like to pick berries, tell 'em to avoid bushes by roadsides. Tis not good to eat berries wot have been sprayed with agrochemicals or berries wot have absorbed pollutants from motor vehicles on roadways.

A bowl of homemade real blackberry ice cream is a wonderfur treat. Dependin' on howl much dairy food you are allowed to nom, you could enjoy ta blackberries in ice cream, frozen yogurt, or sherbet. Or if no dairy at all, have ta sorbet or fresh berry ice treat made in blender.

Sometimes our Staff serves frozen dessert wot is homemade. Sometimes not. Staff likes wild blackberries on pre-made organic vanilla ice cream. On myself's barkday, Staff got organic blackberry ice cream. Howly berry! No icky synthetic stabilizers or preservatives!

Ta furry idea of ourwoofselves and Meezer eating dairy or sugar does upset some pet owners and vets. Not to worry, pawleeze. Our bodies doo fine with bit of organic dairy foods. Our weights are normal. Our digestive systems are strong 'cuz our daily homemade diet is fresh whole foods. Ourselves doo not have problems with ta allergies or ta insulin or lipid metabolism or hyperlipidemia.

Ourwoofselves (not Meezer) doo eat fruits a few times a month -- more often in summertime -- with no ill effects from ta fruit sugars. Ourwoofselves and Meezer get food treats wot have refined cane sugar only a few times a year. You doo know occasional bowl of organic real ice cream with sugar is better 'n most pet snacks. There is nothing healthful 'bout "treats" like pet jerky or many of ta other packaged snacks. Furriends, you be better off eatin' tablespoon of organic ice cream! Our woofly ancestors 'ave been eating ice cream since ta first British ice cream recipe twere published by Mrs. Mary Eales in 1718.

Tis fine for healthy, normal-weight dog or cat to have high-calorie, high-dairy-fat treat like organic ice cream once in ta while. Howlever, ourselves not suggesting ice cream for furriends who are overweight or insulin-troubled or who have got skin problems, candidiasis, or ta chronic unidentified digestive problem.

Doo ask your Staffs to give you only homemade or organic brands wot contain no synthetic or artificial ingredients. Make double-doggone sure is ice cream sweetened with organic cane sugar, fruit, or honey. And ask Staffs to add some good probiotics such as ta Pet Dophilus.

Ta caveats:
~ Doo not serve ice cream to pets with history of dairy intolerance. Non-dairy sorbet and fruit ices would be good alternatives. ...
~ Doo not confuse berry types: Raspberries, red and black, or even blueberries or strawberries would be OK substitutes. But elderberries are toxic to cats. ...
~ Doo not ever feed xylitol-sweetened frozen desserts to pets! Xylitol, an artificial sweetener common in many foods, is extremely toxic to dogs and cats.

Tis helpful for Staffs to talk to vets whose pet feeding experience includes diets that go "beyond can and kibble." Also, Staffs can learn a lot 'bout wot foods agree or doo not agree by observation: Watch a dog's or cat's behavior for a period of time after he eats diffurrent foods. Reactions to foods should not cause lethargy, hyperactiveness, urgency to doo the doo or to pee, and certainly not diarrhea.

- - - - - - - - - -
Comments from Mum:
Buying pre-made ice cream? Ice cream is a subject that involves much discussion about food politics and food technology. The ice cream learning curve, in terms of how it's made and the range of ingredients that can be used, is rather steep -- an icy, slippery slope, if you will.

When you've got to choose a commercial ice cream, stick with brands containing only the following ingredients:

• Organic milk and cream;
• Cage-free egg yolks as primary emulsifiers;
• Organic cane sugar, honey, or real fruit sweeteners;
• "Natural flavors" from extracts or essential oils of fruits, vegetables, or other plants; 
• "Naturally-derived" emulsifiers and stabilizers (citric acid, guar gum, gum from carob or locust beans, tapioca starch, pectin, soy lecithin, xanthan gum).

Some of the ice cream stabilizing and emulsifying ingredients are added in very small amounts. Does this make them all safe for people or pets? Maybe not. After reading about the emulsifier carrageenan in research cited by Dr. Weil, I decided to avoid ice creams and other foods that contain it.

Generally, the imported gums and other extracts are neither organic nor fair trade. When they're used in a certified USDA “Organic” food product, they cannot make up more than 5% of the total ingredients, and also they must appear as "Allowed" on the USDA-approved “National List" -- as substances that can't be sourced organically but are "needed" in food processing.

I like making most of our frozen desserts from scratch. But I'd like to find a commercial ice cream with 100% organic, fair trade stabilizing ingredients. If you know of one, please let us know the brand!

If ourwoofselves paw-wrote wills ...

by @winecountrydog Tilin Corgi and Jackie Nippers Corgi

Wot a lovely idea for beloved dogs like ourwoofselves, both lucky rescue dogs, to leave behind best wishes for other dogs and cats who need lovin' homes.

A Dog's Last Will & Testament

Before humans die, they write their last will and testament, give their home and all they have to those they leave behind.

If, with my paws, I could do the same, this is what I'd ask.

To a poor and lonely stray, I'd give my my happy home, my bowl and cozy bed, soft pillow, and all my toys; the lap that I have loved so much; the hand that stroked my fur; and the sweet voice that spoke my name.

I'd will to a sad, scared shelter dog the place I had in my human's loving heart, of which there seemed no bounds.

So, when I die, please do not say, 'I will never have a pet again, for the loss and pain is more than I can stand.'

Instead go find an unloved dog [or cat], one whose life has held no joy or hope, and give my place to him.

This is the only thing I can give . . . The love I left behind.

Written by Anonymous Dog and posted at RescuePledge.org

Ere is wot Mum sez, quotin' from a poem:

"We'll shelter him with tenderness and love him while we may,
and for the happiness we'll know, forever grateful stay.
And when the angels call for him, we'll brave the bitter grief,
but know that deep within our hearts he will only feel relief."


Sunset walkies on Sonoma Coast beach.

Egg-citing new year

by winecountrydog Tilin Corgi and Jackie Nippers

Looking furward to new year of walkies and fresh foods from farmers' markets and food co-ops!

Ourselves love neffurr-ending variety of fresh whole local and regional foods. Tis healthful diet. Furrmly based on certain principles. One principle for a meat eater is to have calcium source. If not, da meat, high in phosphorus -- includin' da steaks and other muscle and organ meats we dogs and cats luv to nom -- will leach calcium from bones and teeth of our pawsonal systems.

Our fave vet sez, "All meats are higher in phosphorus than calcium, but organ meats are proportionately higher in phosphorus than muscle meats. Unless raw bones are part of a meat meal, you need to adjust the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio by adding a calcium source."

Da lack of calcium and other minerals is one reason that pawpular "cooked chicken and rice" is not good doggie diet. Lacking bone minerals. Pawleeze take calcium supplement at least. 

One of pawrimary sources of calcium in our diet is eggshell. Ourselves can digest whole pieces of shell from fresh local cage-free eggs. Some of you get ground eggshell with meals? We doo know many staff use instructions in good book by veterinarian Dr Pitcairn, saying to wash, dry, and grind eggshell.

Our staff (aka Mum) sez, "I don't want to add the task of grinding eggshells to my kitchen routine. I make my companions' meals every day, and I'd lose my mind if I didn't keep pet food preparation fast and simple. But I would turn to grinding eggshells if one of my animals lost the ability to digest fresh shell pieces."

Furtunately ourwoofselves and our Meezer kitty doo have super strong digestion. We love nomming eggshell pieces. Meezer will leap onto kitchen counter and nick eggshells if Mum not looking. BOL

Our furriend Palette Corgi gets to eat whole egg! Howl egg-citing! Wot a wonderfur game herself gets to play, bitin' on shell and lickin' out da insides and rollin' da egg around on plastic mat. 

Palette sez "Here is me eating whole egg. See? I love egg and I eat egg shell too! Nom,nom,nom..."

Palette Corgi is one of few furriends we know who doo eat amazing variety of fresh foods.

In olden day, before mid-20th century 'splosion of processed pet food industry, dogs and cats did eat almost all parts of prey animals, cooked or raw, and also nommed scraps of humans' foods. Palette Corgi is lucky to have staff (herself's name is Yassy) who does know about diffurrent foods. Palette noms some foods that most modern dogs neffurr even get to sniff: fur example, chicken feet and tripe. Nommy!

Our staff is not so thrilled about tripe. BOL

Tripe or no tripe, Mum is longtime health researcher who did learn how to promote good health and strong digestion. You might notice Mum is always watching us ... seeing not only wot goes in but also wot comes out other end. BOL

Impawtant: Doo not assume that you can digest whole eggshell or big shell pieces. If your digestive system is used to handling only processed foods (kibbled or canned), you will likely need to build up digestive vigor first, before nomming da big shell pieces. 

Enjoy your new year. Hope your life is filled with walkies and fresh foods from your local and regional humane farmers.

Paw-note: Dr Pitcairn's book, Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, is 'stremely useful for dog and cat owners. Howlever Mum, who is furry knowledgeable about complementary and "natural" medicine, does not follow Dr Pitcairn into homeopathy. ... To each her own modalities eh.

Calcium caveat from winecountrydogma for dog and cat owners:
A fresh whole food diet for dogs or cats includes several ways to provide calcium and other minerals with meals. However, there are risks involved with excessive calcium supplementation, particularly for puppies and young dogs, and especially for growing large-breed and giant-breed dogs and pregnant bitches, and also for dogs or cats with certain health conditions. Regardless of the type of diet you feed, homemade or commercial, please don't simply add a daily calcium supplement without first determining a safe level of calcium intake for that dog or cat. Ask your veterinarian to help you calculate the amount of calcium you can give, and how to provide it in a good calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.

Happy holidays! Tribute to a dog

by winecountrydog Tilin Corgi, with Jackie Nippers

"The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is the dog.

"A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince.

"When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens."

-- Senator George Vest, 1870

Paw-note: Senator Vest's wonderfur nineteenth century tribute to ourwoofselves is quoted in Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, 4th ed. 2007.

Keep dogs safely away from powerful Pacific surf

by winecountrydog Tilin Corgi, with Mum

Heard round the world is the story of the three Kuljian family members who were drowned off the Humboldt County coast, near the Northern California community of Arcata, on 24 November 2012.

We offer this post to honor their memory and to support Olivia Kuljian's wish for "people to stay out of harm's way."

Here is a summation of reports about this tragedy:

Howard Kuljian and his wife, Mary Scott, and teen son, Gregory ("Geddie"), and teen daughter, Olivia, were out walking on an overcast morning at Big Lagoon beach. They were playing fetch with the family dog, Fran.

The family tossed a stick that took the dog down to the water's edge, and in an instant, a wave swallowed Fran the dog, setting off a nightmarish scramble.

"Everything kind of snowballed from there," said U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Bernie Garrigan.

Sean Ledwin, a senior fisheries biologist with the Hoopa Valley Tribe, said he was walking along the beach at Big Lagoon with his dog and girlfriend when the tragedy struck.

"The dog was kind of getting rolled in the waves," Ledwin said.

He said the teen boy, Gregory Kuljian, went into the water and grabbed the dog's collar, but it fell off. Then Gregory got swept up in the waves.

The father, Howard, then went in after his son. But Howard got swept up.

The two became separated in the surf.

Ledwin said his girlfriend called 911, as he and the mother, Mary Scott, and the daughter, Olivia, and also a female friend of Gregory's stood on the beach, watching the water and waiting to see if there was an opportunity to grab hold of the father and son.

"They were getting rolled in the ocean, in a circular motion," Ledwin said.

Mary Scott went in to try to grab her husband and son. She made an attempt to grab her son, in shallow water, but she got pulled in too. Olivia tried to pull her mother out, but the current was so strong that a bystander had to pull Olivia to safety.

Those remaining on the beach, including Cal State Park Ranger Greg Hall, tried to track where each of the three people were in the water.

By the time first responders from the U.S. Coast Guard and fire departments arrived at the beach, it was too late to save anyone.

But Fran the dog had been able to climb out of the water shortly after Mary Scott had gone in.

In a statement released later, Olivia said that her family members were in only mid-calf deep water when they got swept in.

"The events were not a case of the family thoughtlessly rushing into the ocean after each other. Rather, they were attempts from shallow water that were overpowered by the hidden strength of the ocean."

All dogs love walkies on beautiful and wild Northern California beaches. The smells are intoxicating. But the surf is dangerous. The beaches on many stretches of the California, Oregon, and Washington coast get unexpected surges from sneaker waves and rogue waves, and also have strong undertows and rip currents that pull you in.

Mum sez, "You don't mean to throw the ball or stick into the ocean, because you know your dog will chase after it. But it's easy to misdirect your throw, or for a ball to roll down a steep sand bank into the water. And sometimes your dog doesn't hear you when you call him back.

"On beaches with rip currents and undertows, or where large waves suddenly appear without warning, playing near the water can lead to disaster. If your dog gets sucked in, you know you're going to run in and try to pull him out. It looks so easy to do in shallow surf. Besides, that rush of adrenalin catapults you into action, and you'll do whatever you can to save your dog. Then, in an instant, you're both lost.

"You just have to stay away from the water on beaches like this. You've got to believe that rip currents and big waves can take you or your dogs by surprise and wash you out to sea. And even if you're a strong swimmer, the coldness of the northern Pacific water quickly saps your energy. You can't last long out there."

Please follow these tips to stay safe when playing on the beach.

• Never turn your back to the water when you're walking or playing with your dog on the beach.
• Don't walk your dog near the water's edge on beaches that are unfamiliar to you or have warning signs of rip currents, sneaker waves, or strong undertow.
• Keep off jetties, rock formations, and cliffs near the water's edge on beaches posted as dangerous.
• Play 90 feet (27 meters) away from the water's edge on dangerous beaches. Learn to estimate distance by measuring with strides.*
• Train your dog to come when you call. This will help you stop the dog from running after an object that's gone into the water.
• Respect the "hidden strength of the ocean" and remember Olivia Kuljian's wish that everyone stay out of harm's way.

*You can find instructions on how to estimate distance in the out-of-doors on Brian's Backbacking Blog.

Read about beach safety issues on the Pacific coast at the California State Parks website and the U.S. National Parks website. The NOAA Weather Service website also has useful info on rip currents and how to swim out of them.

Paw-notes: Thanks for the use of photos and quotes. We do not profit by their usage. Our aim is to honor the Kuljian family and to help spread beach safety awareness.

Welsh corgi dog scene from Elvis movie Blue Hawaii

by winecountrydog Tilin Corgi

Mum told ourwoofselves that the first Welsh corgi she ever saw was when she was taken to the theatre to see an Elvis movie called Blue Hawaii.

Mum sez she had been too little to understand the silly movie let alone know what a corgi was. In dog-honest-fact, sez Mum, herself didn't remember the movie or the corgi till Blue Hawaii was on TV a couple of years back.

Doo you think Mum could have been left with a subliminal corgi image from very early childhood? Is the image what caused her pawsitive response when she saw a corgi again years later? . . . Who does know.

Anyhowl this is youtube of the corgi scene in Blue Hawaii.

That corgi was a smart fella eh!

RIP Lennox dog

by winecountrydog Tilin and family

Today, 11 July 2012, Lennox dog was destroyed by Belfast City Council.

Lennox was not a 'dangerous dog.' He was a victim of humans who had the power to apply BSL in the cruelest way possible.

We hope that Lennox's legacy will be to galvanize solidarity for BSL repeal. May there be a new era of dog laws that focus on curtailing 'dangerous owners' rather than on banning dog breeds.

We will remember Lennox always.

Condolences to Caroline and Brooke Barnes.
RIP Lennox.

To search for a lost dog

by winecountrydog Tilin Corgi

Howl we doo luv this narrated cartoon video about a zany rescue. Tis the story of trying to catch "Jarhead," a stray dog running loose in New Orleans with a jar stuck on his head. Wot a wonderfur storyteller author Julie Klam is!



Another kind of dog search is the (ongoing) search for lost dog Andy Corgi. Andy went missing in Fairfield County, Connecticut, when he got scared by some fireworks.

Andy Corgi's owners and their 'Bring Andy Home' search teams have learned howl to apply grrreat tools, tactics, and technology. Furhaps other searchers will benefit from studyin' their methods.

"I rescued a human today"

posted by Tilin Corgi and Ani Meezer and Jackie Nippers

"Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor, peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid.

"As she stopped at my kennel, I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy, and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

"As she read my kennel card, I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I have only the future to look forward to, and want to make a difference in someone's life.

"She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and the side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship.

"A tear fell down her cheek, and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened. Her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms.

"I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

"I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

"I rescued a human today."

~ Author unknown
---
Paw-notes: The human we rescued feels fortunate to have us, and we are so grateful for her. ... Woofin bout gratitude, this day marks the third anniversary of Tilin Corgi's "disc blowout" and successful surgery. Tilin does continue to luv walkies arfully much.

RIP beloved Molly Murray ~ landlady of Tuscany, lover of dogs

by winecountrydog Tilin Corgi

RIP beloved Molly Murray ... aka @Amalari.

Molly's last-ever twitter bio reads: "X UK & USA Freelance journalist, author. Politics, music, animals, food, photography, history. Green. Sinfully lazy."

Aka @Amalarian, her previous twitter bio reads: "Freelance journalist, author, idler, landlady of Tuscan vacation house. Politics, books, food, animals. Not selling anything"

Aka our beloved twitter friend of three years, a grrreat friend to dogs, a superb writer, an insightful and moving photographer. Armed with great intellect and wit. Ruff on the outside when necessary. Kind beyond measure. Always helping the underdog. Radiating a mischievous energy, revealed by the twinkle in her eyes.

Molly spent a grrreat deal of time during her last year taking a photo a day and posting to her blipfoto journal. If you read through the hundreds of comments on Molly's last blip photo, a photo of Luigi dog, you know that Molly became as beloved in the blipfoto community as she was by her twitter followers.

Below is a copy of one of Molly's last dog photos, in which she does capture the sweetness and intelligence of a young Italian pupster.

Molly titled this photo simpawly "Tuscany: Puppy in profile."

Read wot a fellow tweep of Molly's has to say bout twitter friends, refurring to her friendship with Molly:

"The thing about twitter is, some people you just click with straight away ... you feel you are real friends with someone you have never met, but feel you know them. And how easy it is to talk to people you can't see."

To know of someone here and there whom we accord with, who is living on with us, even in silence—this makes our earthly ball a peopled garden. ~ Goethe (Quote contributed by our Mum.)

"Why the world likes dogs"

by winecountrydog Tilin Corgi

What better loveliness to think about on St. Valentine's Day than the wonderfulness of ourwoofselves!

We thot to post the following homage to dogs cuz mum has been reading us a 1937 book called Training The Dog. This book was written by William Lewis Judy, aka Captain Will Judy, an early 20th century "icon in the sport of dog shows," born in Pennsylvania in 1891. He did become the publisher of Dog World in 1923, after buying the magazine.

Mum has read several sections of Captain Judy's dog training book to myself and furbro Jack. Our impawression is that Captain Judy was a great dog lover and a great human being. Howlever, his thinking bout dogs' position in the animal kingdom suffered from the same kind of compawmentalization that mum calls "typical of 'modern' 20th century westerners who have seen themselves as separate from and above Nature."

While one does not like to dwell on negatives, one does infurr from some of Captain Judy's word choices that he did not see ourwoofselves as sentient beings. Fur example, he does refurr to us dogs as "things" and does talk bout us as "serving" humans.

Wotever, tis not our pawpose ere today to critique the old beliefs. Wot we doo prefurr is just to present the homage below in consideration of our moral pawfection.

Why the World Likes Dogs

The most unselfish living thing in the world is your dog. If you are in danger, your dog needs only to hear your cry of distress to rush to your aid, without thought of his own life, fearless of guns and enemies.

The most patient thing in the world is your dog, waiting for hours at the top of the stairs to hear the sound of your footsteps, never complaining however late you may be.

The most grateful thing in the world is your dog. Whatever you give him, whatever you do for him, he never is guilty of ingratitude. To him you are the most powerful personage in the world and beyond censure; you are your dog's god; you can do no wrong.

The most friendly thing in the world is your dog. Of all the animal kingdom, he alone serves man without whip, without compulsion, glad to be by the side of his master wherever he may be, whatever he may do, and sad in heart when his master is away.

The most forgiving thing in the world is your dog. The one virtue most humans lack is forgiveness. But your dog carries no grudge and no spite. Punish him even undeservedly, and he comes to you, nudges his moist nose into your hand, looks up at you with pleading eyes, and wags his tail hesitatingly as tho to say, "Oh, come on, let's be pals again."

The most loyal thing in the world is your dog. Whether you come home from Congress or from jail, whether you have lost your fortune or made a million, whether you return dressed in fashion's height or in rags, whether you have been hailed a hero or condemned as criminal, your dog is waiting for you with a welcoming bark of delight, a wagging tail and a heart that knows no guile.

The world likes dogs because dogs are nearest to moral perfection of all living things.

--By Capt. Will Judy, Editor of Dog World magazine

Paw-script: This howliday is myself's 14th Valentine's Day with mum, who did attach a heart to my collar last week as a symbol of er grrreat love. ~ Tilin Corgi

Happy Year of the "Doggie Moms"!

by winecountrydog Jack Nippers

The human in the video below is New Yorker Karen Biehl. She is a dog lover who feels that she and her Chihuahua furriend, Eli, are "like soul mates" and that they "have a purpose together."

Call the sense of purpose far-fetched if you want. But we doo see nothin wrong with Karen's devotion to her rescued dog furriend.



If you watch telly, furhaps you can meet Eli and Karen and the other "Doggie Moms," on their reality series. It begins airing in February 2011 exclusively on NYC Media (nyc.gov/media). The series entails five women navigating New York City with their dog furriends. They go to gallery openings, Yappy Hours, costume pup-day parties, red carpet events, and lots of other pawlaces they doo manage to get into.

Wot a grrreat face and pawsonality Eli the Chihuahua has! And wot grrreat commitment the "doggie moms" have to raising money fur local charities and animal groups, and fur raising awareness bout animal rescue, pet adoption, and responsible pet guardianship.

Bodega Bay Birthday ... My Big 13

by winecountrydog Tilin Corgi

My 13th birthday! Lots of pawtying fur two weeks, from mid-November till the end of the month. An extra-long barkday pawty covers all my pawsible birthdates.

Nobuddy knows my real birthdate, only that I was rescued as my six-week-old puppyself at New Year's 1998.

My favorite pawty event was a trip to Bodega Bay on the Sonoma Coast. Furbro Jack and mum did keep me company.

We did run on the beautiful long beach and then watch the sun set.

A little contempawlation of Nature was in order. ...

I noticed that the tide kept coming in and trying to get us. Howl does it doo that? BOL!

Furbro Jack was feeling pawsitively peaceful in the sunset glow.

When we got back to the doghausmobile after sundown, I was feeling arfully peaceful. Wot a swell Bodega Bay birthday!

Paw-note: Thanx woofs to mum fur keeping me going strong fur my 13 years! As only mum and myself doo know, we have had to get me thru some arfully ruff times.

"Onaka ga sukimashita!"

by winecountrydog

We dogs never thought it would catch on.

In 2002, Japanese toy company Takara sold their first Bowlingual Voice™ device fur computer-based dog-to-human language translation.


We doggiggled. Cute idea, but what human would buy it?

Fast forward to last week, when twitter pal @hollygomadly sent us the link to the Youtube below, which shows Japanese dogs sendin' Bowlingual messages to their humans.



"Onaka ga sukimashita!"

Nothin' new 'bout that. Ha howl!

That demo of Bowlingual Voice is one of the funniest things we dogs have ever seen. I'm sure that Meowlingual is just as funny.

The Bowlingual device is called a "translator," but it's really an emotion analyzer. It categorizes dog barks into one of six standardized emotional categories and then provides a phrase to represent that emotion.

Bowlingual and Meowlingual are "for entertainment purposes only." Of course our dog and cat communications cannot be translated easily into words, if at all. Howlever, barks and meows can be intuitively translated by discerning humans.

Now, what's needed in the dog world is a device fur humans to wear that analyzes their thoughts and emotions, and then translates them into something that makes some doggone sense consistently.

Suki desu ka?

Paw-note to dog-ma: Jack, Meezer, and I wish you a happy B.D.

Paws for Love at Foppiano Vineyards

by winecountrydog

I hurried through the vineyard to the Paws for Love event at Foppiano winery on June 6th. The event, called "Painting Paws and Petite Sirah," was a fundraiser benefit for animals in Sonoma County, the North Bay, and beyond.


Below you see the Paws for Love "Vineyard Barrel Dash", a unique canine agility course that was created from wine barrels especially for this fun fundraiser.


We sat-stayed and watched clever dogs go 'round the agility course. I didn't doo the course 'cuz of my back pawblem. And Jack Corgi didn't doo it 'cuz he's shy. But we compawletely enjoyed watching and meeting all the dogs on the sidelines.


What a beautiful setting fur a get-together! This is one of California's oldest family-owned wineries, founded in 1896. Foppiano is well known fur its old vine Russian River Valley Estate Petite Sirah.

In the background you see some of Foppiano winery's beautiful old vineyards. In the distance, you see fluffy clouds hangin' over hills to the northeast, beyond Healdsburg.

Doo you notice, below, that wine barrel hoops were hung fur dogs to jump through? Such a pawfect activity fur a wine country event.


Below we see handsome Java Schnoodle, winner of the agility event, with his human, Heather, and her mom, Audrey. Sitting and talking to Java and family is none other than pioneer California winemaker Louis J. Foppiano!


Truly, Lou Foppiano is a living resource of wine industry history. Howlever, my favorite story is about Lou Foppiano the great dog lover: It's said that he always had Chihuahuas around him while he was working, and that the dogs would crawl up his arm and sit on his shoulders. Howl I love that!

Java Schnoodle really appawreciated meetin' Lou Foppiano!


I overheard humans at the event say they enjoyed tastin' the Foppiano wines. (Appawently the Cabernet was especially well received and tasted more than once by the same folks.)

After the agility event, Paws' founder, Ms. Ellyn Boone, did painting with dogs on the winery's front lawn. Well, not directly on the lawn — that'd be silly. The dogs made their paintings on paper, so that their humans could frame their works of art.

Howl can I adequately convey to you what a great time was had by all? I'm not just woofin' this to be nice. I've never been on a more enjoyable, dog-mellow outing. And fur such a great cause!

The Paws for Love Foundation provides resources and funding to shelters, rescue groups, and individuals who impawrove the health, welfare, and adoptability of unwanted and abused animals.

High paw fur Ms. Boone!

Paw-note: Congrats, Java! I hope I see you at the next Paws agility event.

Is wine going to the dogs?

by winecountrydog

Look at lovely Violet! She's a Pom/Chihuahua at the tender age of six months.

"I met her on a Saturday and my heart stood still.
Da doo ron ron ron,
da doo ron ron.
Somebody told me that her name was Violet.
Da doo ron ron ron,
da doo ron ron."

You don't remember this song by The Crystals? Oh howl.

What a beautiful March day it was for seeking out dog-friendly wineries in the Russian River Valley. More than 120 wineries were on the map for the Wine Road barrel tasting event in the valleys of northwestern Sonoma wine country.


I warmed up my olfactory sensitivities in the midday sun at rustic Battaglini Estate Winery, a small family winery that makes Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah.

'Tis I here, below. And in the background is Jack "pawlitico" Corgi. The bottle of wine's not ours. Dogs don't drink wine. We socialize.


Young Violet, very vigilant, alerted Andrea to the fact that her wine glass was empty.


Sometimes a canine wine tourist would like a chew. We're entitled.


I get distracted by all the socializing. That's how I furgot to point out the old Zinfandel vines to Violet.


It'd be arfully nice if Violet were to come back and visit so we can talk about chewin' on things next year!

NY and CA dog riders on the storm

by winecountrydog

Does anybody know this beautiful NY sheepdog whose pic has become popular?


. . . A lucky dog! His or her human carried him or her through the snow on the Upper East Side of New York on March 2 — the day that the East Coast of the U.S. had a big, big snow, wind, and rain storm.

The very same day we had a big, big rain, wind, and snow storm here on the West Coast.


It was so wet that we northern California Corgis rode in the car and only popped out fur a mini-walkie.

Jack Corgi and I used up extra towels in the backseat fur dryin' off.


We don't mind the rain. But we'd like to see some snow down here.

We do mind high winds. Hope they're done makin' those arful scary noises.

Bark and ring in the new!

by winecountrydog and pawlitico

It's a new dog year! We corgis continue to bark and ring it in.

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind. . . .

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace. . . .

You've been reading the words of Victorian poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who lived from 1809 to 1892 and was UK Poet Laureate.


Tennyson was very fond of dogs. Tennyson had several, one of which was a Siberian Wolfhound called Karenina.

You can see Tennyson's dog in two sculptures of them together. One sculpture is to be found at Watts Gallery, Compton, Surrey, England. The other one, shown in the image above, is found at Cathedral Green. This photo was taken by Lincolnian and posted on flickr along with other beautiful photos.

The yappiest of New Year wishes for 2009!