Friday, October 31, 2014

Did You Win the Personalized Rainbow Bridge Bracelet?

Congratulations to
Terra Toby

She was selected at random by Rafflecopter from 1,500 entries
and will receive this Rainbow Bridge pet memorial bracelet.
The bracelet will be custom sized and include one personalized charm.

Thanks so much to everyone
who entered the giveaway!

Didn't win but you'd like a bracelet just like this?
I have one still available
Other styles of Rainbow Bridge jewelry are available, too.


We have 1 other giveaway going on right now, but it will be ending soon!

Don't miss Wag 'n Woof Pets Three Days of Happy!  One of my WOOF dog bone pendants in a prize in one of their prize packages (there are two).  Enter Now!

Want to make sure you know about all of our giveaways?

Fetch our Talking Dogs Giveaway Page or our 
For Love of a Dog Giveaway page and follow us on Facebook
That way you'll be the first to know about our 
October giveaway of a piece of For Love of a Dog jewelry.
Plus, we'll be celebrating Rosie's birthday in November
with another very special giveaway from Dog is Good!


Of course, you don't have to wait for a giveaway to enjoy a piece of my handcrafted jewelry!  Shop For Love of a Dog!

Happy Halloween from Talking Dogs and For Love of a Dog Jewelry

Have fun and stay safe this Halloween
and remember:  ADOPT

Happy Halloween from all of us at
Talking Dogs blog and

Thursday, October 30, 2014

New Dog Lover Necklaces at For Love of a Dog Jewelry


I haven't had a whole lot of time to spend in my studio lately, but I've tried to make the most of it.  I think I succeeded with some new dog bone necklaces.  They contain three of my favorite colors:  pink, turquoise and black.

I'm a pink girl, so I had a lot of fun creating the lampwork dog bone necklace shown at the top.  Love that fat foiled glass heart pendant!  I surrounded it with some sweet double sided white dog bones with pink paw prints.  Then added some rose pink based swirling bubble and white based pink polka dot lampwork beads.  A one of a kind creation for a dog lover who loves pink and gold.


Similar in design, the turquoise WOOF dog bone necklace shown above, is all about turquoise blues and is one of a kind.  Gorgeous, very fat, foiled turquoise glass heart pendant matches the other lampwork and crystal beads.  These artisan lampwork beads include a swirling tan based raise turquoise flower beads, a deep turquoise blue based bead with lighter "bubbles," ad another with a elongated polka dots and raised bumps.  Of course, they all accent a hand crafted porcelain WOOF dog bone.  Pretty spectacular, if I do say so myself.


A more natural, earthy take on this design, the WOOF dog bone necklace above begins with a chubby black onyx gemstone heart.  The necklace includes black obsidian gemstone beads with some beautiful artisan lampwork beads in swirls of black, caramel, and soft sage green.  Once again, the real focal point is the handmade porcelain WOOF dog bone.

Though I have some other color combinations of beads laid out to play with, I got distracted by some custom orders this week.  Hopefully, I'll be able to have some more fun studio time soon.

These necklaces join other unique dog bone themed jewelry at For Love of a Dog.  Perfect pieces ready for gift giving since they come in festive packaging.  Plus, For Love of a Dog offers free standard shipping to US addresses. 

Remember, almost all of my items are unique and one of a kind.  When they're gone... they're gone!


Do yourself a favor and enter my For Love of a Dog October Giveaway!  You could be the lucky winner of a personalized Rainbow Bridge pet memorial bracelet.  Hurry, this giveaway ends today!  Enter now!


Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Are You the Winner of the Paw Street Barkery Gift Certificate?


Congratulations to
Jason Diehl

He was selected at random by Rafflecopter from 1,075 entries 
as the winner of the Paw Street Barkery Giveaway
and will receive their $25 gift certificate.
I'm sure his dog will love these gourmet organic treats!


Thanks so much to everyone
who entered the giveaway!

We have 2 other giveaways going on right now!

You might be the winner of this personalized Rainbow Bridge bracelet in the For Love of a Dog Jewelry October Giveaway.  Enter Now!

Don't miss Wag 'n Woof Pets Three Days of Happy!  One of my WOOF dog bone pendants in a prize in one of their prize packages (there are two).  Enter Now!

Want to make sure you know about all of our giveaways?

Fetch our Talking Dogs Giveaway Page or our 
For Love of a Dog Giveaway page and follow us on Facebook
That way you'll be the first to know about our 
October giveaway of a piece of For Love of a Dog jewelry.
Plus, we'll be celebrating Rosie's birthday in November
with another very special giveaway from Dog is Good!


Of course, you don't have to wait for a giveaway to enjoy a piece of my handcrafted jewelry!  Shop For Love of a Dog!

Sunday, October 26, 2014

A Talking Dogs Ghost Story | Monday Mischief


When another pet blogger put out a call for spooky pet ghost stories, it reminded me of Tucker's story.  Though not really scary, it certainly adds some Halloween flavor!

You may remember Tucker as the original Talking Dog.  Though he lived here in Missouri, he spent most of his life with us in southside Virginia.

We spent a few years restoring a 256 year old three story plantation manor house there, then enjoyed it for quite awhile.  Including visits from former residents.  Very old former residents.

We had been there about a year when we realized we weren't always alone.  When "they" were visiting, we'd be in the kitchen (first floor).   Usually it began with the faint whiff of pipe tobacco odor.  Then we could very faintly hear music (flute or recorder) and it was Colonial era music.  Sometimes we could hear voices, clinking of glassware, all very soft in tone.  All of this was coming from the original dining room (right above where we were.)

When these incidents began, Tucker would become quite excited and race up the stairs.  He might pause on the second floor for a bit, but would then madly skitter up the next flight of stairs to the third floor.   Always to the large room that was the children's bedroom in Colonial times.

We could then hear him racing around and playing.  The times we followed him, we'd find him happy as can be.

There was never, ever an evil feeling or vibe about any of this.  It never felt threatening in any way.  I always liked to think the former residents of our home liked what we were doing to their house.   They obviously liked Tucker and the feeling was mutual.

Thank you to Snoopy’s Dog Blog, Alfie’s Blog, and My Brown Newfies for hosting Monday Mischief! 
Keep the Tail Wagging

Adopt Ava a #Pitbull #AustralianShepherd Mix Dog @WaysideWaifs in Kansas City


Lovely Ava is a 3 year old Australian Shepherd Pitbull mixed breed dog.  Just look at Ava's beautiful eyes:  one blue and brown eye - one brown eye! 

Ava was picked up as a stray in Grandview, Missouri and is now at Wayside Waifs animal shelter in Kansas City, Missouri.  It was a hard life on the streets as a homeless stray and Ava had the cuts and scars on her legs to prove it.

Ava is a shy gentle soul and here's her adoption letter:
Hello there, my name is Ava! I'm so glad you are reading about me, I am ready to find my forever home and I know I am in the right place here at Wayside to do that. I want to tell you all about myself in hopes that you are the right person for me!

I am a 3-year-old Australian Shepherd, Pit bull mix. I am told I have the most beautiful and unique eye coloring; I have one blue and brown eye and my other eye is brown. I am a gentle soul, and I can be a little shy and slow to warm up to you. Once I do you will see how sweet and loving I can be.
I came to Wayside when I was picked up as a stray in Grandview, MO. I am still a little confused and scared because I don't remember how I ended up getting lost and being homeless, but I do remember how lonely I felt! I was tired, not feeling good, and I didn't know whom to trust. I'm so lucky that I ended up at Wayside and got the help I needed so much! When I first got here, I was really sad and scared. I had some small cuts and scars on my back legs and tested positive for heartworms. I am on medicine now and my small cuts are starting to heal too! I don't like to think about those scary times now, because I am ready to put them behind me.
I am looking forward to a home with a patient family, warm bed and lots of belly rubs. I'll just need a little time to get used to my surroundings once I go home with my new family. I know they'll be patient while I get settled in and warm up. I'll need a home without kids under 5 years old. I hope someday I'll be fine around small children, but for now, I think this is best. Since I am still unsure of strangers, small children might startle me. I am working on trust so I hope in the future I can be around all kids. Please bring all dogs and human family members out to meet me; just to be sure everyone gets along before we go home together.

I promise I will be the best snuggling buddy ever! Once I warm up in the home, I would love to continue training just nice and slow because I am one laid back girl. I tend to pull a little on my leash just because am I so excited to walk around with my human friends. I might need a refresher course on house training, but I know we can work on it together.

Do you think we might be meant for each other? If you think so, please don't wait another day to come out to Wayside to meet me!!! I have your hug waiting for you!

Love,  Ava

Take a look at Ava's adoption video and then give Wayside Waifs a call at  816-761-8151.  Ava's animal ID number is 23494258.


BARKING GOOD NEWS!  Azalea has been adopted!


Wayside Waifs is Kansas City’s largest no-kill animal shelter.   They are an independent, 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit humane society and animal welfare organization established in 1944.  Wayside Waifs is committed to finding homes for all adoptable pets. Wayside is the largest pet adoption center in Kansas City, placing over 5,400 animals each year in loving forever homes. Wayside does not euthanize adoptable animals, and there are no time limits for animals in our care. Only animals suffering from significant medical issues or those that pose a danger are humanely euthanized. Wayside Waifs is proud to be a part of Kansas City's no-kill community.  

Talking Dogs blog is participating in the Tuesday's Tails blog hop hosted by Dogs N Pawz and Talking Dogs. This is the blog hop that features shelter pets.  Find a pet at your local animal shelter or rescue and join us!
Tuesday's Tails blog hop participants can post any day of the week and link up with a fresh blog hop linky every Tuesday.  Though targeted at adoptable pets, we also welcome blog posts regarding pet adoption, rescue organizations and adoption events.Fetch the new Tuesday's Tails Facebook page and give us a like! Please help spread the word about these beautiful animals via social media and let's find them forever homes!

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Happy #PitBulls #PharrelWilliams Style #PitBull Awareness Month | Dog Song Saturday

Celebrate National Pit Bull Awareness Month with a very special music video for Dog Song Saturday at Talking Dogs.

You do not want to miss We are Happy Pit Bulls - Pharrell Willians Style!

Created with Milwaukee, WI Pit Bull dogs and their families and produced by Karen Erbach, this music video demonstrates the true nature of Pitbull and pittie type dogs, set to the hit song Happy by Pharrell Williams.
Stereotypes are like shadows.
Shine a light on them and they disappear. 
Here's a good one: "Pit Bulls" are vicious dogs.
I'm sure you'll appreciate that this video was approved for dog loving audiences by the Ittie-Bittie Pittie Committee of America.  BOL

Grab a dog.  Get up and get happy!  Then fetch more dog songs here at Talking Dogs.  You'll find some barking good tunes, doggie music videos, and several are about Pitbull dogs.

Friday, October 24, 2014

#RainbowBridge Pet Memorial Jewelry on Sale Now @ForLoveofaDog


Many animal lovers find comfort in the story of the Rainbow Bridge and believe their best friends are waiting there for them.  That's why I create pet memorial jewelry - to celebrate those special relationship.

At For Love of a Dog Jewelry you'll find necklaces, bracelets and earrings in themes of the Rainbow Bridge and angels for both cat and dog lovers.

Many of these jewelry pieces can be personalized
 and right now they are all on sale!

Shown at the top is a Rainbow Bridge bracelet for a cat lover.  Check out that adorable cat head and dimensional mouse toggle clasp.

This pet lover Rainbow Bridge bracelet can be personalized with a hand stamped charm and it suitable for both dog and cat lovers.  Adorable paw print lobster claw clasp!

Rainbow Bridge necklaces are available in silver and in gold like the one shown above.

Of course there are many ways to where your beloved pet close to the heart, including my handmade cat jewelry, dog breed jewelry, dog bone jewelry, and mixed breed mutt dog jewelry.   Any of these would make a very thoughtful gift for someone who has lost their beloved pet.

Shop my Rainbow Bridge pet memorial jewelry now while it's on sale to snag a bargain.  Remember, standard shipping to US addresses is always free and the jewelry will arrive in cute gift box packaging.

Plus, be sure to enter the For Love of a Dog October Jewelry Giveaway
  

Thursday, October 23, 2014

October For Love of a Dog Jewelry #Giveaway Personalized #RainbowBridge Bracelet

It's time for the October giveaway of a piece of my For Love of a Dog jewelry.  Enter now and you could be the lucky winner of this personalized Rainbow Bridge pet memorial bracelet.  Perfect for dog or cat lovers.

The legend of the Rainbow Bridge gives me some comfort when I'm reminiscing about pets I've lost.  I like to think about the big greeting committee that is waiting for me and the reunion we'll have in spirit.
The story of the Rainbow Bridge tells of a green meadow located this side of Heaven. According to the story, when a pet dies, it goes to the meadow, having been restored to perfect health and free of any injuries. The pet runs and plays all day with the others, there is always fresh food and water, and the sun is always shining. However, it is said that while the pet is at peace and happy, they miss their owner who had to be left behind on Earth.

When their owner dies, they come across the Rainbow Bridge. It is at that moment that their pet stops what they are doing and sniffs at the air and looks into the distance where they see their beloved owner. Excited, they run as fast as they can until they are in their owner's arms, licking their face in joy while their owner looks into the eyes of their pet who was absent on Earth, but never absent in their heart. Then side by side, they cross the Rainbow Bridge together into Heaven, never again to be separated.
Whether you believe in the legend of the Rainbow Bridge or not, remember and honor your special furry friend who is no longer with you.

 I used a series of brilliantly faceted fat crystal rondelles in rainbow 
colors for this bracelet.  Each bead is accented with silver filigree bead
caps and hand wire wrapped with silver jeweler's wire.

 A silver double sided heart with wings charm hangs at the clasp.
The clasp is a sweet double sided paw print lobster claw.

One of these charms will be personalized and added for the winner.  
Hand stamped with the name or nickname of the beloved cat or dog.

Barking good jewelry for the dog or cat lover and another fun bracelet from my Rainbow Bridge pet memorial jewelry collection at For Love of a Dog.  Don't like to wear bracelets?  Enter to snag this to give as a gift to a special dog or cat loving friend!

Giveaway Rules:
1. There will be one winner (chosen at random by Rafflecopter) and they will receive this Copper Dog Bone Bracelet from For Love of a Dog Jewelry.  

2. This giveaway is open worldwide.  However, those of you who live outside the US must agree to be responsible for all Customs/VAT fees.

4. The winner will be announced on October 31 here on this blog, plus the winner will receive an email from me that morning.   If I do not receive a response to that email within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be chosen.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter misbehaving?  Sorry about that.  It happens sometimes.  Make sure you're looking at this individual blog post and then try refreshing the page.  OR click on the linked phrase "a Rafflecopter giveaway" (just above this paragraph) and you'll be taken to the entry form.


Heart Like a Dog
We're participating in the Thursday’s Barks and Bytes Blog hop hosted by 2 Brown Dogs and Heart Like a Dog.  The Barks and Bytes hop is for anything at all and all bloggers are welcome. You don’t have to be a dog blog to join.

We're also joining the Fido's Freebie Friday blog hop hosted by Dog Tipper, All Things Dog Blog, Doggies and Stuff and To Dog With Love. If you have a giveaway on your blog, join us!

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Gourmet Organic Dog Treats #Giveaway from Paw Street Barkery | #TastyTuesday

Any day will be a party with pet treats from Paw Street Barkery!  Jeffie, Rudy and Rosie were delighted to be asked to taste tests some very tasty dog treats from this organic pet bakery.  


You can try some, too, if you're the lucky winner of a Paw Street Barkery $25 gift certificate!

Founded in 2009 with the name The Barkers Dozen, Paw Street Barkery is on a mission to provide homemade organic pet treats. We'd say this Chicopee, Massachusetts company is doing just that.


Paw Street Barkery brand organic dog treats use the highest-quality, human-grade organic ingredients and are made in a variety of shapes and sizes to satisfy any furry friend. Their gourmet dog treats are made on demand and in small batches to ensure the freshest product possible for their customers, without using artificial preservatives. The fresh-baked treats are then packaged in eco-friendly renewable or recycled materials.

As part of its culture of social responsibility and to give back to its local community, Paw Street Barkery employs staff from the Aditus group, a non-profit that helps those with special needs to be able to enter the work force. In addition, the company donates a portion of its profits from every sale to two animal shelters in its local market.

Gourmet dog treats from Paw Street Barkery
We received three different dog treat products to taste test and review:
  • Blueberry Bone-anza Gluten Free Organic Dog Treats
  • Carob Peanut Butter Cup Dog Treats
  • Big Dipper Dog Treats
Blueberry Bone-anaza, Carob Peanut Butter Cup, Big Dipper gourmet organic dog treats from Paw Street Barkery

Blueberry Bone-anza Gluten Free Organic Dog Treats  - retail price $7.99 for a 4 oz bag
Made from organic and all-natural ingredients, these Blueberry Bone-anza Gluten Free Dog Treats are made of such base organic ingredients that they can be eaten by those dogs with even the most sensitive of stomachs and gluten allergies. These treats are the latest in Paw Street Barkery line of gourmet dog treats, and came out as the preferred flavor by a panel of doggie taste testers.
The new Blueberry Bone-anza treats are made with organic, human-grade ingredients, just like the rest of Paw Street Barkery portfolio of baked goods for dogs. 

What separates this flavor of treats from the rest of the company’s varieties is that it is gluten-free, meaning it does not contain wheat flour or products. This ensures that dogs with allergies or sensitive systems can enjoy wholesome, gourmet dog treats, and their owners can provide them with confidence. The new flavor of dog treats contains no artificial flavors or preservatives, and the treats are baked on-demand to ensure freshness and quality

Ingredients:
  • Organic Blueberries
  • Organic Bananas (as a binder)
  • Organic Steel Cut Oats
  • Vitamin E
Guaranteed Analysis:
Moisture 8.24%
Crude protein 11.4%
Crude fat 4.18%
Crude fiber 0.79%



Organic Peanut Butter Pup Cups  retail price: $6.49 / bag of 4

These treats are made with organic peanut butter covered in rich carob, complete with fun paper wrappers!

Ingredients:
  • Organic Peanut Butter
  • Carob
  • Organic Canola Oil
Guaranteed Analysis:
Moisture content 1.3%
Crude protein 7.3%
Crude fat 36.3%
Crude fiber 14.5% 



The Big Dipper Organic Dog Treats  retail price: $3.49 / bag of 4 cookies
These are made from the same organic ingredients as their Signature Chicken Bow Wow Treats and then dipped in natural carob. Note:  From May through September, carob-dipped treats and products containing carob (like this one), require special overnight shipping to prevent them from melting on the journey to the lucky puppy recipient.

Ingredients:
  • Organic Wheat Flour
  • Organic White Flour
  • Organic Chicken Stock
  • Carob
  • Organic Canola Oil
  • Yeast
  • Vitamin E
Guaranteed Analysis:
Moisture content 7.36%
Crude protein 16%
Crude fat 0.83%
Crude fiber 1.60%



What we loved about these dog treats:
  • Organic, human grade ingredients
  • Gourmet "fancy" dog treats
  • Taste - the dogs loved them!
Though I admit I would not give my dogs fancy treats like the Carob Peanut Butter Cup and Big Dipper dog treats every day, they'd make very festive special occasion treats.  The Blueberry Bone-anza dog treats are in an adorable fire hydrant shape and are small enough to be a very tasty training treat.  Jeffie really loved these.

Paw Street Barkery also has some barking good gift pack and sampler assortments including:  doggie cakes, adoption gift boxes, and you can even create your own custom gift baskets.   What a great idea for a special dog birthday, Gotcha Day or other special event.

What's not to like?!  

Our verdict:  Barking good! 

Enter the giveaway now for a chance to receive a Paw Street Barkery $25 gift certificate!

Giveaway rules:
  1. There will be one (1) winner chosen at random by Rafflecopter to receive a $25 gift certificate for Paw Street Barkery (to be redeemed at their online shop.)  *Does not include shipping for the items selected.
  2. This giveaway is open to US residents only.
  3. The winner will be announced  October 28. The winner will be notified by email that morning.  If I do not receive a response within 48 hours an alternate winner will be chosen.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Rafflecopter misbehaving?  Sorry about that.  It happens sometimes.  Make sure you're looking at this individual blog post and then try refreshing the page.  OR click on the linked phrase "a Rafflecopter giveaway" (just above this paragraph) and you'll be taken to the entry form.

* We received three packages of organic dog treats and a $25 gift certificate to giveaway to our readers from Paw Street Barkery in exchange for our honest review of the product and service.  Talking Dogs is the official blog of For Love of a Dog Jewelry.
We're joining the Tasty Tuesday blog hop today.  This is a blog hop that celebrates good food, sponsored by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Kols Notes.  


We'll also be joining the Fido's Freebie Friday blog hop hosted by Dog Tipper, All Things Dog Blog, Doggies and Stuff and To Dog With Love. If you have a giveaway on your blog, join us!

Monday, October 20, 2014

The Greedy Girl Torments Rudy | Monday Mischief


You may remember the big excitement when the Talking Dogs finally saw their first squirrel.  Since then Rudy has spent a lot of time watching the yard and the trees for that pesky critter.  Without a whole lot of success.  Oh, well, right?   

Figuring the heck with real tree rats, I got Rudy a new Chuckit! Flying Squirrel toy for his birthday.  It's pretty cool and even glows in the dark.  All three dogs loved it.


However, a certain girl dog decided it was HER toy!


 She wasn't about to give it up to the birthday boy.


Rosie may have wanted it, but 
Rudy was determined to bring it back to Mama.


No way was Rosie letting go of Rudy's new toy!  
Look at her eyes! LOL


Rudy had never seen her move so fast.

 Rosie totally threw Rudy off his fetching game.

It's mine!  Rudy tried to tell the greedy girl.
 Over and over again.

Victory!




Thank you to Snoopy’s Dog Blog, Alfie’s Blog, and My Brown Newfies for hosting Monday Mischief!