Max's Vegas Pawty was Pawsome!

Max's 3rd Birthday was a great success! All of his bestest puppy buddies in the Bay came to visit and play. This year, as most of you know, it was Vegas-inspired and fabulous!

Cuddling the Birthday Boy!

Max was lucky enough to have a floral dog created and donated by Geraldine's Event Planning in San Jose, California. As you can see, the floral dog was a dealer at the poker game. It was perfectly adorable!

Maxy and his Flower Doggie

We also had a Vegas buffet and everyone's favorite, pupcakes! Pupcakes are a spice cake base with carrots and a yummy cream cheese icing! Who can say no to those!

Max Visits Sausalito, California

Hi everyone! I know it has been a while, but we are back to blogging :)

A couple weeks ago we took Max to Sausalito, California for a day trip. Sausalito, which means "little willow" is situated on the northeast end of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County. It is a beautiful little town that combines hillside with shoreline, and best of all, Sausalito is very dog-friendly!

Max, enjoying the view

We had lunch on the shore and Max enjoyed watching the birds. It is a great weekend getaway for anyone who is visiting the Bay Area.

After a fun-filled day in Sausalito, Max had a date with Lilo, the maltese.

Maxy and Lilo

They played and wrestled for hours!

Sausalito was a nice getaway and I am sure we will be heading back soon. Have you been to California? What is your favorite California spot?

Party Planning for a Vegas-Themed Birthday Pawty

It's almost that time again... MAX'S BIRTHDAY! Which means, let the party planning begin. Max loves to throw fun birthday parties which include playtime and great treats and gift bags for the puppies, and food and fun for the humans as well.

In the past, we have had luau and cowboys & indians pawties. This year, we're going Vegas, baby! Casino Royale!

This year Max is turning 3 in doggie years, which means 21 in human years. So we have decided to go with a Vegas theme for our little high roller!

Does anyone have ideas as to what goes into a Vegas-themed paw-ty? We are planning a Vegas-inspired buffet dinner and Paw-tinis for the humans.

We will definitely make pupcakes for the puppies. Can you think of any decorations, food, or other goodies that are a must???

Max, getting ready for his 2nd Buckaroo Birthday Bash!

What should he wear to his Casino Royale night out on the town???

Which Celebrity Is Your Pet?

Just found this fun little quiz on Dogster.com...

Wow, Maxy is Mick Jagger!

A Rock Star

A super-trooper who gathers no moss, Max is rock and roll legend Sir Mick Jagger!

The ePETome of someone who knows how to have a good time, Max is a mover and a shaker, onstage and off. His luck with his lady friends is legendary and Max has obliged many of them by giving them a little shelter. Known for his unique bark, Max relishes his time in the spotlight and loves to let loose and give his audience what they expect. Unable to get satisfaction, he and his pals still paw away at the prize, clinging to the memories of the past as he continues to churn out the hits that made him a leader of the pack.

This is pretty funny and a bit coincidental due to the fact that Max was a rocker for his 1st Halloween!

The pink mohawk finally washed out by this picture!

Which celebrity is your dog?

Summer Safety Tips for Your Pet

As summer quickly approaches, there are a few tips to keep in mind to keep your pet healthy and happy.

Never leave your pet in the car. Though you may only be running a quick errand, it only takes a few minutes for your pet to overheat. Even if it feels cool outside and your windows are down, the sun can raise the temperature inside your car to over 120 F in a matter of minutes. I know it is difficult for those of you who, like me, like to take your baby everywhere with you. However, your pet will be much happier and safer at home in a temperature controlled environment.

Maxy says, "Are you leaving me in here?!?" No way, Maxy!

Provide ample water. Water should always be accessible to your pet. Even if you only put out food once or twice a day, be sure to always have water available. We always have at least two water bowls available for Max just in case. And if you plan to go on a car trip or other outdoor activity, don't depend on alternative water sources. Be sure to take your own water and bowl. Pets are often more comfortable drinking out of their own dish and will be more likely to stay hydrated.

Be careful when cutting. Before you get your dog that "high and tight" summer haircut, talk to your vet or groomer to determine if your pet is likely to get a sunburn. Some pets, particularly those with light skin and hair, are prone to sunburns. Sunburns effect pets in the same way they do humans: pain, peeling, itching and even the increased likelihood of skin cancer. If you decide to go with the short cut, as we do with Max, you may want to layer him in a light-weight shirt when going out in the sun.

To avoid sunburn, Maxy opted for a tee while sightseeing

Don't let your pet overdo it. Though exercise is important to all pets, make sure your pet doesn't overexert himself. This could lead to your pet being overheated, and thus a heatstroke. So long as your pet is a healthy weight, this shouldn't be much of a problem. But if your pet begins to pant uncontrollably, then it is time to rest. If your pet does have a heatstroke, place cool, wet towels on hairless parts of the body, such as the belly, and call your vet immediately.

Max is taking a break... he doesn't want to overdo it!

Does anyone else have a summer safety tip? If so, please add it to our list!

Happy summer, everyone!

Tornado Takes Life: Tragedy Befalls Sweet Daisy

This past weekend Max and I jet-set to Missouri to surprise my mom for Mother’s Day. She was fabulously surprised and we had a wonderful time spending time with our family, pet and humans alike. That is, until tragedy struck.

As some of you may know, Spring is also tornado season in the Midwest. On Saturday afternoon, an F4 to F5 tornado blew threw Missouri and Oklahoma killing 23 people and injuring hundreds. In fact, it wiped one entire town off the map!

Our dear friend, Kendra, (who you may remember from our January Pet Puff recipe post) was out of town and had boarded her two dogs, Daisy and Diesel, at a local boarding facility. Kendra and her family rushed back home to check on their dogs, sadly to find that the boarding facility was destroyed by the tornado!

Daisy and Diesel cozied up together

Kendra found Daisy and Diesel and rushed them to the emergency room. Diesel, the miniature poodle, was only a little bumped and bruised. However, sweet Daisy wasn’t that lucky. Daisy had swelling around the heart from the trauma of the twister.

Sweet Daisy

The next morning Kendra woke up to find Daisy in an even worse condition. She phoned her mom and the two headed to the emergency room. But before they could make it, sweet Daisy died in Kendra’s arms.

Daisy was deeply loved and will always be remembered

In an effort to send our caring thoughts to Kendra, I am organizing a card drive. I am hoping all of our fellow bloggers can help by sending a card to Kendra from you and your pet.

If you are interested in helping out, just send an email to apolston [at] hotmail.com with the subject “Card Drive” and I will email you back with her address.

Kendra and Daisy

Paw-tography: How to Snap the Best Pictures of Your Pooch

Go Digital - Digital cameras are the best! You may have to take 30 pictures before you find that one that grabs your eye. Keep snapping! Go for quantity... there is bound to be a good one!

This photo took several shots!

Lighting - Use natural lighting when possible, be it indoor or outdoors. The flash generally causes most animals to have red eye, which is nearly impossible to correct (even in Photoshop). Avoid the entire problem by using natural light. This will also capture the truest color of your pet's fur, while not frightening with the flash.

This karate kid's tone always looks best in natural light

Shutter Speed - Set your shutter speed to a fast enough setting to capture a moving animal, as we all know movement is inevitable when taking pictures. Check your camera manual to determine if you have a setting called "AI Servo AF." This setting will continuously re-focus on the subject as it moves. After setting your camera to AI Servo AF you then focus on your moving dog by pressing the shutter button half way down. Keep the AF point on the dog and the focus will remain continuous. Sometime the candid photos are the best, and you certainly don't want to miss out on that jump, spin, or roll!

Caught in a cute roll!

Location, Location, Location - Choose a location where your pet is comfortable. If your pet is use to spending most of his day inside your home, then try for an indoor photoshoot. If your dog loves the backyard, shoot outside. Sometimes the best photos are when your pet is the most comfortable and relaxed. Don't force it... it just won't work!

Max feels the most comfortable on his pillows

Go to Them - Since you can't expect your pet to know what is going on when you start pointing a shiny metal device at them, you certainly can't expect them to know what to do. Go to your pet. So many times we only think to snap the shots from the easiest position for us, standing up. If he is sitting on a chair, try getting down to eye level with him for a good close up. Even try to shoot from down up. Work with different angles to get the dog's eye view instead of just the bird's eye view.

Getting some face time with Max

Use Basic Commands - If your pet knows basic commands like sit and stay be sure to use these commands. If there is a trigger word that your pet knows, feel free to use it too... just don't over do it or your pet will ignore you in the future. As for Max, when we say "Do you wanna..." or "Outside?" his ears perk up and he tilts his head to the side, which we think is pretty cute. However, this only works for a few shots. Otherwise, he realizes "these people aren't taking me out, they are tricking me!" At which time, he totally tunes us out.

Eye contact and perky ears... Max is definitely ready to go outside!

Treats - When your pet starts to tune you out, you can always use the treat technique. Request a command, with treat in hand. If you are trying to get eye contact, simply hold the treat near the lens and the photo will appear as if he is looking straight into the camera. This is especially helpful when using a prop or posing your pet. Just don't overdo this one either, or your little guy will end up with the tummy ache!

As a puppy, treats were the initial allure for Max's interest in photography

Plan it Out - Try to pick a time when your dog is relaxed. After Max's baths he is wild and crazy. This would be the worst time for us to try to snap a shot because he just doesn't stand still. Rather we pick a time after a walk or play group when Max is relaxed and maybe even a little sleepy.

Maybe a little too sleepy for this photo shoot!

Be Patient - Not only do you have to be patient, but you have to be prepared. Some days I wish I could just have my camera in hand all day because I want to catch a shot of him jumping or yawning. You can't exactly force your pet into posing, but you can be ready for his next cute move.

Finally, the wind blew in his hair as Max gazed into the distance