fetch & win a freebie!

I've always found it interesting how some dogs have zero interest in playing fetch while others would literally walk over hot coals to retrieve a ball and bring it back.

Sure... those delightful retrievers are hard-wired to fetch. My perfect Labrador Retriever was a certified fetcher - he should've had some kind of laminated card he could whip out that said "Every tennis ball returned within one minute or your next throw is free." If there was a ball within a one mile radius, he would find it, and he couldn't focus on anything else until the ball was located and then dropped at my feet.

But what about those dogs that aren't tried and true retrievers? I have a Pit Bull that will almost jump a six foot fence trying to get to a tennis ball that has gone awry. But the other Pittie in the household will go fetch it a couple of times and then look at me as if to say "Been there, done that. What's next lady?" And then of course there's Mona Mae who's definitely more Labrador than anything else and she couldn't care less about a ball. Retrieving is sooo beneath her. My hound mix is kuh-razy about playing fetch, but my Dalmation mix is hit or miss depending on what day it is (or perhaps it just depends on which one of his wires is loose that day).

In my "fruit basket turnover" of a doggie household, I have a canine at pretty much every point on the Fetching Spectrum. DNA obviously plays a big role in how ball-crazy a dog will be... And there are ways to train even the most ball-ambivalent dog to fetch. But I just think it's an interesting discussion.

So let's hear it guys - do you have a crazy fetcher in the family? Leave a comment telling me all about it and you'll have a chance to win the stylish set of Harry Barker tennis balls above (maybe Mona Mae would fetch if I bought her cute tennis balls). They come in two different sizes so even the little bits can play.

Deadline to enter is Saturday, October 2nd at noon ET. TIME'S UP!

One winner will be picked at random and announced sometime Friday late afternoon. Good luck everyone!

The winner is Stella Louise! Congrats... Please email me here so I can get your address. Thanks so everyone for participating!

EmersonMade

I have long been obsessed with EmersonMade. They started out making handmade flowers (which of course makes them kindred spirits), and they recently branched out with a clothing line and additional accessories that are so awesome it almost makes me shed a tear.

Do y'all see how fantastic that clutch is? Someone pass me my wallet STAT.

turkeys r cool

Just added my one and only Thanksgiving collar to the shop... Ted is his name, running from Farmer John is his game. Ted can rest easy though since we're vegetarians round these parts... check him out here.

dog-friendly beaches round-up

Coastal Living has a great round-up on their web site of dog-friendly beaches around the country. While my fave didn't make the list (Sullivan's Island, SC), there are plenty of great options so make sure to check it out.

dogify the kitchen

Any Bulldog or Berner fans out there? Hang one of these on the oven door and you'll smile every time you're in the kitchen. It'll make emptying the dishwasher a little more cheerful.

entourage

Awesome. Requires a dog with plenty of swagger to pull it off.

gone fishin'

Not really... but for those of you that visited my shop in the last couple of  days, I'm sure you noticed that all of my collars were missing. I had an issue with the online shop, but it's back up and running now. Thanks to all of you who were concerned about my whereabouts!

And now that I'm back in business, I've added my 2010 Halloween collars to the shop. So go check 'em out.

friday frog legs

Frog legs make that bone taste better... you didn't know that?

these creatures

So when you have five dogs, you have dog bowls EVERYWHERE. I only have two dogs that can happily eat together side by side... the other three have to be fed in completely separate locations in order to keep the peace. But if I didn't have that problem, I would be all over these hanging feeders from these creatures.

Here's a dog doing his thing... I love the fact that it would keep a dog that likes to flip her bowl over from doing so (ahem, Matilda).

I'm particularly fond of the Pit Bull style... I swear, it looks like Quincy secretly went and modeled for it.

early fall

I've got a girl crush... and her name is Olive. She makes me happy.

Just added a few new "early Fall" items to the shop. And yes, I know it's not quite fall, but I'm so ready for cooler weather, falling leaves and COLLEGE FOOTBALL baby! Go Tigers!