Tag Archives: #dogpark

Thanksgiving fun

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TGIF!!!!!

We had so much fun over Thanksgiving weekend and Mom really messed up with her dinner BOL although I lucked out because of it.

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving we went on adventure with Moms friend and her two rescued dogs Thomas and Coco to Golden Gate Park. We got there with a picnic and of course treats for us and in the middle of the place we were going to sit in the sun there were two yellow chairs, we are not sure who they belonged to but of course the hoomans had to sit on them and we had the blanket to ourselves. Laura brought a delicious picnic for her and Mom and they used my stroller as the table BOL,

Watching, sniffing and enjoying the outdoors

There were lots of gophers popping up and down from their holes and lots of new smells so it was loads of fun to be there plus the weather was perfect, So the hoomans were talking about Thanksgiving dinner and Mom was saying what she wanted and had done no shopping BOL so Laura said I will take you to fetch a dinner, When we left the park we went to Costco and Mom got what she wanted and came home, both of us happy, relaxed and looking forward to Thursday, me for turkey of course, yummm

Peek a boo guess who

On Thursday we went to the dog park to enjoy the sun and all Mom could think about was her dinner, so when we came home for dinner and guess what !!!! BOL !!!!!! The turkey was not cooked, everything else was, plus Mom could not find the gravy so we ran to the supermarket across the road to get some. Mom then sliced some raw turkey and cooked it in the air fryer BOL and when cooked ate it with the rest of the food plus of course she gave me some.

BOL Mom really messed up with her dinner but the best part of all was when she was putting the food in plastic containers she found the gravy also so for once I can laugh at Mom for her silliness.

Since then we have been spending time outdoors till yesterday when the rain has arrived so no more park at the moment but I am making Mom take me for strolls in my stroller, cannot complain cos my paws are not getting wet but Mom is BOL.

I am now off to sleep, I need my beauty sleep,

Have a wonderful weekend everyone

With love, Layla

 

 

 

Mommy got me a stroller

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Happy Friday everyone, the weekend has arrived which I hope will be full of lots of fun and treats.

Mom has been crazy busy this week, but she is being good sticking to schedule and taking me to the park once a day which is so much fun.

Watch my video below :

https://youtu.be/-HFY9CzfFpA

Last Saturday Mom took me to get my stroller, from Muttville Senior Rescue (Thank you Sherri) https://muttville.org/ which is so much fun to ride in and now I am an official princess. All I need is a crown. The reason Mom got one is she cannot carry me on her back anymore, I weigh 15 lbs. and the backpack weighs about 2 lbs., and it was getting too hard for Mom. Plus, I love to go shopping with her and it was getting too heavy, so I now go in the stroller.

My new chariot

Mom is still making me walk on our daily walks which I love as I love sniffing everything plus it is healthy to get exercise but when we go to the park Mom wheels me cos as she says she does not have to carry all the things we need for the park.

So, my friends as you can see, I have Mom wrapped around my paw which is pawsome BOL, I always say Mom is my slave and I am the Boss.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, please be safe, cool and hydrated,

sleeping in the grass

With a woof and love from

Layla

 

 

 

 

 

 

Woof its weekend

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TGIF!!  Summer is here, sun is shining and thank goodness it is not so hot in San Francisco but having the sun out with no fog is a treat for us, so we are taking advantage of it as much as possible.

Contemplating

I need my park sleep

Smelling the grass and wandering around :   https://youtu.be/VVFmtLZr1Fo

This weekend is going to be busy, woof. On Saturday we are spending the morning in my friend’s garden which I love. Its good for me to sit on a chair and kvetch over tea with him while Layla wanders around sniffing and of course napping in the sun. Perfect way to spend Saturday plus there is shade if its too hot for all of us.

On Sunday we are going to the Annual Three-legged Dog Meet in our park which is also for blind dogs. It is their 11th meet up and its fun just to sit under trees, chat with other dog parents, and just chill. I will be meeting a close friend there also who Layla adores so I am excited.

Otherwise, I am busy as always, keeping the Madam healthy and trying to get to the dog park daily so that she has freedom to roam around and I do not have to worry about her bumping her head or anything else. Plus we must not forget the snuffle ball which keep her happy and busy in the house LOL.

I must admit it is so fantastic that events are starting to start again and life is getting back to normal phew, it is so healthy for all of us to be outdoors doing things and not stuck indoors.

What are your plans this weekend? Share with us!

Have a wonderful weekend, make sure you stay hydrated and cool,

Hugs and love from Layla

 

 

 

 

The Challenges of living with an Aging Dog

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Friday is here, week is over, although a short one it has been chaotic as always. Life is never boring here.

Layla and I are both seniors, we are aging gracefully together but its hard to see your baby age and facing new challenges each day.

Layla is now blind, her halo is fantastic, but I think the harness for the halo is hurting her back so am not walking with it all the time and trying to figure out if I can attach it to her regular harness. I have noticed the difference in so many ways. I look at it as trial and error till we find the balance. I am concerned about her back and neck, and I need to keep that in mind as I do not want to her hurt her. She is as stubborn as always and its either her way walking or no way so we have our arguments LOL.

With her loss of sight, she has become a barker, standing, and barking for attention and it has got out of control in many ways and exhausting me so its another challenge I am dealing with. If I give her the snuffle ball, she quietens down till she has got everything out of it and then we start all over again. I have turned her into a snuffle ball monster LOL. (The reason her food is there and not where it used to be is she is  having problems eating from the raised bowl as she knocks it over so this is the solution I found for her food)

Her eating has not changed, she is eating well, getting all her supplements and I feel the mushrooms have done a lot of good for her plus because it has Vitamin D which increases her appetite.

 

Food or Snuffle Ball, which should I choose, Layla

 

One of our new routines is instead of walking her at noon each day I am taking her to the park where she can wander around, sniff and get fresh air and I can get some fresh air also plus balance myself out. It seems to be helping as she loves that freedom and I sit away from all the crowds.  The plus with the park is there is nowhere she can bump her head when wandering around. These are the times I wish I had a garden.

On guard

Shnoozing on the lawn

Otherwise, her happy personality has not changed, she is a healthy happy girl, bossy as always and I would not change it for anything in the world, even the sleepless nights when I check to make sure she is breathing LOL. I cannot believe she is 15 years old, it seems like yesterday I rescued her, we are aging together, crossing the bridges together, and living our lives as best as possible.

Before we go for a walk this is a reminder that July is National Pet Hydration Awareness Month, please keep your pets inside from the heat and make sure they are hydrated with lots of fresh water.

July is Pet Hydration Awareness Month, please make sure your pets are hydrated

So that is the life in the Layla Neighborhood at the moment,

Have a safe wonderful weekend everyone

With a woof and love from Layla and Crazy Dog Mom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are Mushrooms Magic?

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TGIF !! Another week over and the weekend is starting. I cannot believe how fast this year is going it is scary in a way or maybe I am just aging LOL.

Last Friday we had a picnic in the park with one of my closest friends, it was the first time Layla was in the park in months as she has become afraid of them, but she surprised me and was totally relaxed, wandered around a bit, and then went to sleep. It was relaxing for me to see her that way and not worry so have decided that am going to try it again today for a couple of hours. I think it was because the park was not full.

As you all know Layla is aging, it worries me big time and having lost her sight has made walking hard as I am so scared of her bumping her head, so I got her a halo which is arriving today. I am praying it will make outings less stressful for me as she will be able to walk on a longer leash and I will not have to keep pulling her in before she hurts herself. I think the pulling on the harness is hurting her back poor baby.

I have also been doing research on mushroom supplements for her and now am trying one on her.  She seems to be more energetic with it which is fantastic. What it is a capsule with 5 different mushrooms in.

A breakdown of the mushrooms and benefits below :

Reishi : have antioxidant properties to nourish, detoxify and protect the liver. It can also renew liver cells, strengthen the liver and improve the detox process.

  • Shiitake :
  • High Fiber Content Supports Digestion
  • High in B Vitamins. …
  • Contain Vitamin D. …
  • Protect Oral Health. …
  • Help Immune Function. …
  • Contain Cancer-Fighting Compounds. …
  • Good For Heart Health. …
  • Promote Healthy Coat And Skin.
  • Turkey Tail Mushrooms: Boost The Immune System.
  • Support The Digestive, Urinary And Respiratory Tracts.
  • Provide Phytonutrients.
  • Protect The Liver.
  • Increase Longevity In Dogs With Hemangiosarcoma.
  • Fight Other Forms Of Cancer.
  • Reduce Side Effects of Chemotherapy.

Maitake means “dancing mushroom” in Japanese.

  • Preventing cancer.
  • Supporting the body during chemotherapy and other cancer treatment.
  • Helping manage diabetes.
  • Supporting dogs with liver problems.

Chaga Mushrooms

Some of the earliest uses of chaga mushrooms were for ulcers, stomach pain, and inflammatory bowel disease. It’s believed that the immune-stimulating traits of chaga help balance the gut bacteria and ease ulcers and gastritis. Chaga mushrooms can help regulate blood sugar levels for animals with diabetes

I approached an Organic Mushroom Company – RealMushrooms.com to get a bottle for a review as they have one capsule with all 5 in and I can open the capsule and mix in her food.

I am giving her their 5 Defenders Organic Mushroom Blend Capsules for Pets.

 

 

Their customer service has been fantastic, they have answered all my questions and I would recommend them to any other dog blogger who is interested.

I have not changed Layla’s diet or other supplements but adding the mushrooms have given me peace of mind that I am controlling her body health wise inside and out.

If you are interested in learning more about them this is their website :

https://shop.realmushrooms.com/?ref=488

So, on this note as I pack to go to the park to relax a bit which I need, I want to wish everyone a wonderful safe weekend with lots of fun, stay cool and hydrated,

With a woof and love from Layla

 

Happy Friday the 13th everyone

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Smile, its Friday the 13th everyone be safe. My great granny was very superstitious and would be spitting on her hand and touching her head BOL.

The weekend has arrived and we had a great fun weekend last week till Madam hurt herself but thank goodness she is fine and back to being the sassy Madam.

Last Saturday we went to Stern Grove Dog park which for me is heaven, it is a beautiful park near the city with lots of trees and a lake at one end. For me sitting next to water is the best way to balance myself and watching the ducks and turtles was just awesome. There are Coyote warnings all over the park but there were a lot of dogs and people so felt very safe, plus I kept Madam on leash most of the time. Rather be safe than sorry.

Beautiful Stern Grove

Layla watching the ducks but making sure her paws do not get wet

Walking back to the entrance of the park, Madam started slowing down and then hopping with her back left leg in the air. She has always hopped with that leg up but it was more than usual so I was concerned.

As I have lousy eyes and hardly can see I immediately called my neighbors so that I would have two sets of eyes checking her foot for foxtails or something else. They could not find anything so I emailed my vet and he told me to monitor her and give her gaberpentin. I did that and she was thank goodness eating, drinking, no moaning or yelping so kept an eye on her. When it did not clear up by Wednesday I called her groomer who is not far from me and asked her if she could cut her nails and check her paw for me.

Bingo !!!!!!!!!! She has a burr in the fur of her paw, Tomo, my groomer immediately removed it, and Madam is back to Piss and Vinegar. I am so relieved that we did not have to do a vet visit as I did not want to stress her out too much plus sit outside the vet waiting for our turn.

I am also trying a new Dr Harvey’s flavor with her, the Allergy Turkey flavor and she loves it, gobbling down her food like a little pig LOL. Madam with age has become a little pig and me being the Jewish Mom am loving it, the healthier she eats at her age the better.

It has all the veggies she needs plus turmeric and other supplements and so she is eating a really balanced diet.

You can find it on their website :

https://www.drharveys.com/  

Plus Layla is reminding everyone there is a coupon : Layla10 to get 10% off.

she cannot eat it fast enough

So on this note I am going to eat dinner while watching her slurp her dinner down,

Have a wonderful safe weekend

Layla the Boss

National Senior Pet Month

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Happy Friday everyone !!!


This month is National Senior Pet Month and am going to talk about living with a senior as Layla is 14 years old and aging.


Since she was ill in June I have noticed many changes in her which I am learning to adapt to but there are days that I find it hard as it is taking its toll on me also. 


We have been going through the past month or so her allergies so I against my will as I try not to give her medications put her on Apoquel as she was tearing at herself and thank goodness we have avoided hot spots, phew. I am also bathing her weekly which is helping with the scratching. 
Another issue I am dealing with is her not wanting to sleep. She is up and down all night  and if I can get her to sleep 6 hours without interruption I am happy, she is getting CBD oil to calm her down which seems to be helping. I need sleep at the moment LOL.


She otherwise is acting herself but a new issue is her barking at me when she wants to go out so off we go at all times of day and night, and Madam when she wants to walk we can walk which I do not mind but I do not like doing the side streets at night as it is not safe and that is where the arguments start LOL.


Today she is going to the vet, phew I managed to get an appointment as someone had cancelled as her left eye is very red, we have tried medications but they are not helping so the vet wants to check it out again.


Last Sunday, a good friend of mine took Layla away from me for a couple of hours to give me a break, they went to a different dog park, she took the backpack with her just in case but Layla did not want it. It was hard for me to be without her but on the other hand it gave me a break which was really needed as it helped me relax which I needed to do. She was very happy to see me when we met up again.  Thank you Alice as always.


She also got spoiled this week with a parcel of South African treats by a company called ROAM, they sent her freeze dried venison, Crocodile jerky and Cape Ostrich jerky and she is loving them all. In South Africa you can buy Ostrich or Buck Jerky in all the stores and it is delicious.


And she got a new bed, the reason is she sleeps under the bed LOL so wanted her to sleep on something so I bought her a crate bed which fits under there perfectly so she now has her fourth bed. I am hoping with winter coming she will be warmer and it will help her to sleep.


So that is what is happening here, we are both aging slowly and learning to adapt to it all.


Stay safe everyone 

With a woof and love from Layla 

Pets in Shelters

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Happy Friday to all our friends, the week is over and the weekend is beginning phew.


As most of you know I am doing at the moment a workshop to become a Domestic Violence Advocate and as this month is Domestic Violence Awareness month I want to discuss having a pet in a shelter.


This is a subject that I have seen discussed on many groups on Facebook, and how important it is for a survivor to have her pet with her in the shelter so am going to share my story here.


I was fortunate to be able to take Baby into the shelter with me towards the end of my stay, before I moved over to another shelter and then transitional housing.


It was fantastic having her with me again and I was really blessed but people also need to understand Shelter policies also so I do understand why shelters say no. They are not being selfish but in a way practical and this is why :


01.There are children in shelters who are going through trauma and might be afraid of pets 

02. Allergies from pets

03.  The shelter staff are overloaded already so if you are running around sorting out your life you are adding another burden to the staff as your pet is in your room.

04. Shelters have curfews so if your pet needs to go potty at night you cannot take him/her out.

05. Not all shelters can you give you a single room so you might be sharing with someone who does not like pets.


When I was in the shelter with Baby I took her out just before the curfew started, I had my own room which made it easier but her food and water was in my room, she was not allowed in the public areas because of the reasons I listed above, when we did go out she was on leash and was on leash when we got back till we got to my room.


This is food for thought and that is why in so many ways I feel there should be some kind of program for the pets to ease it for everyone and I do know that some shelters are slowly opening their doors to pets.


Would love to hear your input on this.


Last Friday Layla and I with friends went for a picnic in Golden Gate Park. It was a beautiful evening, relaxing, good food and lots of laughs. It was just what we needed and a beautiful start to a weekend.

What I did for Layla’s food was instead of taking her home made food I took with me Freeze Dried Kibbles which she thinks are treats from Raw Paws Pet Food – she loves them. The flavor I had was Beef and then I had with me as a treat their Freeze Dried Minnows which she cannot get enough of.

You can see their awesome products on their website plus you have a coupon for shopping : Layla15 – Happy Shopping

https://www.rawpawspetfood.com/


This weekend our plans are to go to the Shih Tzu Meetup which I am really looking forward to as it is a different park and I love that park as it is so big you can do social distancing.


Have a wonderful weekend everyone, be safe

With a woof and love from Layla

Quirky Layla’s week

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TGIF !!!! 


Good morning everyone,


The days are getting longer, the weeks are going fast and living in lock down is slowly taking its toll on me.  That is one of the reasons I took a break from blogging last week also.


I lost all my work so am sitting here figuring out daily what to do and like many I think I am driving myself crazy. BUT thank goodness for Layla she is keeping me on my feet and amused especially as she is back to being her funny normal self.

Layla has some new quirks which are amusing but on the other hand not sure where she has picked them up or do they come with age ?
She now sits at the door barking when she wants to go out, telling me to get ready to go and does not let up till she sees the leash. This is a dog that has never barked unless someone knocked on the door and I have to laugh although it can be aggravating also.  She has become a really bossy little girl.


I was very fortunate and a friend of mine, who grooms his dog did Layla for me last week so her fur is short and with the heat I am sure she is a lot more comfortable. It is not perfect but a lot lot better plus she got a bath. 


Last Saturday we did a professional photo shoot in our dog park with a great photographer who took some amazing photos. Unfortunately towards the end some idiot decided to set off fireworks in the neighborhood and she freaked out but thank goodness I had her backpack with me so I put her in it and she started relaxing. As soon as I get the photos I will share with you as some of them are really adorable.

Our adventures have become nothing as such which is sad as I miss them and am sure she does also and like me getting bored of the same walks and dog park so I decided that as they are having a ShiTzhu meetup this Saturday in another park to take her. There will not be many people, the park is enormous so great for social distancing and for both of us it will be mentally good to be somewhere else for a couple of hours.  Yes I will be wearing my mask and have hand sanitizer with me.


So as you can see we have slowed down here, our routine is not exciting and praying for it all to be safer so that we can start out adventures again.

Be safe everyone, have a great weekend 

With a woof and love Layla 

Life is back to normal

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TGIF !!!!!!!!!  


I do not know why I say this lately as every day seems to be Friday and cannot wait to get back to working / dog sitting which hopefully will happen soon.


Thank goodness the 4th of July is over, the fireworks were like a war zone here and I cannot believe how people went crazy, from 7 in the evening till 3 in the morning my studio was shaking from all the booms. It was totally insane and what a waste of money. Thank goodness Layla was on her meds as she slept through them all but on Sunday morning she did not want to go out I think from fear.  They are still setting them off in my area but not as bad but still just insane.


Layla is off her meds, second day now, doing really well and back to being Miss Piss and Vinegar, bossing me around and keeping me on my toes. It is great and I cannot believe how she has healed although I do have meds in the house for an emergency and the hemp oil of course. I am not allowing her to jump on or off anything although have caught her here and there jumping on the bed.  She is eating really well which is good and drinking too. So I am totally relaxing here now. It was a month of hell but I can put it behind me now.


On Monday I took her to the park which is good for both of us. She had a great time and even made a new friend, they followed each other all over the place and it was really cute. I am doing things slowly now she is off her meds plus carrying her backpack just in case I need to use it although she hopes she will be carried all the time LOL.





Our weekend plans are to spend outdoors as much as possible, just relaxing safe distancing in the park with mask on of course plus I go to the park at odd hours when I know there are less people.


So that is what is happening in the Layla Neighborhood at the moment , be safe everyone and have a wonderful quiet weekend,


With a woof and love from Layla