Dogs
by Carrie Boyko, CEB
Tanner had a 5th birthday a couple of weeks ago and I found myself in a conundrum of ambiguous thoughts about our celebrations of our pets birthdays. When we stopped by our local dog park to have a romp with furry friends, everyone wanted to know how we would celebrate. I contemplated last year's photo where Tanner donned a silly fun hat and posed with Toni. It is cute, but I'm sure he would have rather been fetching it in the pool than wearing it for a photo.
Of course, Tanner does a lot of posing for product reviews and most everything I write for the blog. It's sort of his job--him and Oliver. I never ask him to do anything that frightens or disturbs him. We're just talking about playing and posing. Oh, and of course--eating! There's never any concerns over doing that activity. It even ranks above swimming and fetching.
The rest of Tanner's birthday was spent doing all of his favorite things--swimming, fetching, walking, biking, playing, and eating. I have to admit tough, this year there was not a special "birthday" cake, treat or cookie. I have a houseful of treats from various suppliers that provide them for reviews. Thank goodness for the freezer and the help of our Treat Review Team! So new and delicious goodies are abundant right now.
It was a pleasant Sunday, spent bonding with Tanner. We even took a short nap together, with Oliver joining in. I think, from Tanner's perspective, we probably did all the things that are meaningful to him. Even with no party hats, gifts or invited guests, Tanner got what he seeks out of any day--exercise, time with me, playtime with friends at the park, and good things to eat.
So what are we really celebrating when we have a "Party" for our dog? I think we're probably applying human life expectations to our dogs. Not that this is bad, of course....just not necessarily what they need. Yet when we do it, they get more time with us and probably enjoy the experience immensely. So either way we choose to celebrate our pets' birthdays, it works for them. They just want more of us--along with the yummies for their tummies.
Now that I've thought this all through, I think I'll create an assorted platter of our treats and we'll call that Oliver's birthday smorgasbord. Talk about a highly-aroused nose! I have a couple of months to think that through. Any thoughts?
Today's post is part of the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume. Feel free to enjoy visiting different sites. Rules to link up follow, as copied from Life with Dog's site on 8/10/11:
Link up your pet blog name and URL using the Linky Tool below. You only need to add your link once to be seen on all the Saturday Pet Blogger Blog Hop Linky Tools for that week. Note that if your blog is not pet related your link will be removed. Also note that only one post per blog is acceptable, and links promoting giveaways that are unrelated to the pet blogger hop will be removed. This is a community building exercise and not a promotional vehicle – please treat it as such.
Grab the “Saturday Pet Blogger Blog Hop” button on the right hand side of this site and include it in your Saturday Blog hop post so that your readers will know what is going on. *Note – posting is optional. Feel free to just link and follow.
Follow your co-hosts listed in the first 3 slots of the Linky Tool.
Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you’d like.
Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you’re from the blog hop.
Follow back when you get a new follower through the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop.
Make friends and grow. ♥
- Doggie Housing Decisions: Selecting Your New Home With Fido In Mind
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- Houdini Strikes Again: Tanner Masters Zippers
by Carrie Boyko, CEB © E. Glavin "Leave It" If you've followed any of my posts on Tanner, you may be aware that his particular talent is in being a Houdini. He has mastered our front door, child-guard-locked gates, dog park gates, doggie daycare...
- Multi-toy Fetch: Tanner's New Mental Game
by Carrie Boyko, CEB © Carrie Boyko Meet Red. Tanner's Toys Have Names! © L. Glavin Well, boss?Tanner has become so good at Fetch that I began to notice he was getting less exercise when we play. Gone are the days when he romped around the pool...
- Pups Will Play While Mom Is Away; Otherwise Known As Dad Is Pupsitting
by Carrie Boyko, CEB © Carrie Boyko Throw It Already!© Carrie Boyko Oliver's Turn to SwimI'm on the road, learning more at Barkworld to help me bring you an even better experience here. Of course, anytime mom is away, someone has to take...
- Dog Park Behavior: How Tanner's Maturity Plays Out At The Dog Park
by Carrie Boyko, CEB © Carrie Boyko Tanner Fetches As Oliver Cheers Him OnAs a youngster, arriving at the dog park was always a similar episode for Tanner--3 victory laps around the perimeter of the 5-acre park was about his usual celebratory action. ...
Dogs
Pet Birthdays: Celebrating our Best Friends
by Carrie Boyko, CEB
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| © Carrie Boyko Tanner's 4th Birthday Celebration |
Of course, Tanner does a lot of posing for product reviews and most everything I write for the blog. It's sort of his job--him and Oliver. I never ask him to do anything that frightens or disturbs him. We're just talking about playing and posing. Oh, and of course--eating! There's never any concerns over doing that activity. It even ranks above swimming and fetching.
The rest of Tanner's birthday was spent doing all of his favorite things--swimming, fetching, walking, biking, playing, and eating. I have to admit tough, this year there was not a special "birthday" cake, treat or cookie. I have a houseful of treats from various suppliers that provide them for reviews. Thank goodness for the freezer and the help of our Treat Review Team! So new and delicious goodies are abundant right now.
It was a pleasant Sunday, spent bonding with Tanner. We even took a short nap together, with Oliver joining in. I think, from Tanner's perspective, we probably did all the things that are meaningful to him. Even with no party hats, gifts or invited guests, Tanner got what he seeks out of any day--exercise, time with me, playtime with friends at the park, and good things to eat.
So what are we really celebrating when we have a "Party" for our dog? I think we're probably applying human life expectations to our dogs. Not that this is bad, of course....just not necessarily what they need. Yet when we do it, they get more time with us and probably enjoy the experience immensely. So either way we choose to celebrate our pets' birthdays, it works for them. They just want more of us--along with the yummies for their tummies.
Now that I've thought this all through, I think I'll create an assorted platter of our treats and we'll call that Oliver's birthday smorgasbord. Talk about a highly-aroused nose! I have a couple of months to think that through. Any thoughts?
Today's post is part of the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume. Feel free to enjoy visiting different sites. Rules to link up follow, as copied from Life with Dog's site on 8/10/11:
Link up your pet blog name and URL using the Linky Tool below. You only need to add your link once to be seen on all the Saturday Pet Blogger Blog Hop Linky Tools for that week. Note that if your blog is not pet related your link will be removed. Also note that only one post per blog is acceptable, and links promoting giveaways that are unrelated to the pet blogger hop will be removed. This is a community building exercise and not a promotional vehicle – please treat it as such.
Grab the “Saturday Pet Blogger Blog Hop” button on the right hand side of this site and include it in your Saturday Blog hop post so that your readers will know what is going on. *Note – posting is optional. Feel free to just link and follow.
Follow your co-hosts listed in the first 3 slots of the Linky Tool.
Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you’d like.
Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you’re from the blog hop.
Follow back when you get a new follower through the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop.
Make friends and grow. ♥
- Doggie Housing Decisions: Selecting Your New Home With Fido In Mind
by Carrie Boyko, CEB © courtesy 12th St. David via Flickr.com What Do You Suppose this Fella's Family Picked for Him? Depending on how you look at our economic situation right now, you may say that times are tough. Considering the historically...
- Houdini Strikes Again: Tanner Masters Zippers
by Carrie Boyko, CEB © E. Glavin "Leave It" If you've followed any of my posts on Tanner, you may be aware that his particular talent is in being a Houdini. He has mastered our front door, child-guard-locked gates, dog park gates, doggie daycare...
- Multi-toy Fetch: Tanner's New Mental Game
by Carrie Boyko, CEB © Carrie Boyko Meet Red. Tanner's Toys Have Names! © L. Glavin Well, boss?Tanner has become so good at Fetch that I began to notice he was getting less exercise when we play. Gone are the days when he romped around the pool...
- Pups Will Play While Mom Is Away; Otherwise Known As Dad Is Pupsitting
by Carrie Boyko, CEB © Carrie Boyko Throw It Already!© Carrie Boyko Oliver's Turn to SwimI'm on the road, learning more at Barkworld to help me bring you an even better experience here. Of course, anytime mom is away, someone has to take...
- Dog Park Behavior: How Tanner's Maturity Plays Out At The Dog Park
by Carrie Boyko, CEB © Carrie Boyko Tanner Fetches As Oliver Cheers Him OnAs a youngster, arriving at the dog park was always a similar episode for Tanner--3 victory laps around the perimeter of the 5-acre park was about his usual celebratory action. ...