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Ernest and Petey love having their very own special napping places. We have several beds both upstairs and down. They always like trying out new ones, too.



We were invited to review a dog bed from Smiling Paws Pets. They carry pet beds for cats and dogs, along with other pet supplies. Would your dog like a new bed? We're giving away one free dog bed in the Rafflecopter below. So be sure to enter!


We received the Modern Dog Bed in size Large. The bed was too small for our adult golden retriever Ernest, but 9-month old Petey took to it immediately. It was actually on the small side for him too, but he loved rolling over atop the super-soft sherpa fabric.



Some of the pluses are that the bed is attractive, with a striped exterior and a brown sherpa interior. The bottom is a waterproof, slip resistant fabric. On the negative side is that the bed is more lightweight than I expected and the sides are not as sturdy as I thought they'd be. This hasn't detracted from Petey's enjoyment of the bed however.  He returns to it often for a cozy place to relax.




I think this bed is nice for the home or good for a lightweight travel bed. I haven't washed it yet, but it appears that it would machine wash well. P.S. If you don't win the dog bed, or if you want to check out one of the other products on the site, use this code to get 15% off your entire order. One per customer, valid until March 5th: Peggy15
So are you ready to win a Smiling Paws Pets dog bed of your own?!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Full Disclosure: We were provided one Modern Dog bed to review and one to give away in exchange for my honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion. Opinions expressed here are 100% my own.  

Are you looking for a book to help you connect more to nature AND get more out of the holiday season? Then check out All Creation Waits by Gayle Boss ...I'm giving away two copies of All Creation Waits here today, so you too can enjoy this wonderful book.


















All Creation Waits is a unique and thought-provoking book about the advent season which depicts how wild animals of North America adapt when cold and darkness descend. Each day for 24 days you'll discover how the Painted Turtle, Whitetail Deer, Chipmunk, Raccoon and many other woodland animals endure the long, dark days of winter. At the end, the author helps us to see how these winter preparations can help us prepare our hearts for the spiritual gift of Christmas.

Today I'm pleased to have the author, Gayle Boss, join us here at The Writer's Dog:


 TWD: Your book is about animals and the Advent season. What does Advent mean to wild animals?

GB: Now is a time in the Northern Hemisphere when it is getting very dark and very cold. Animals' food sources are becoming depleted and they need more energy. They don't deny the dark and the cold--they've adapted to get through the season. There are 24 different animals in the book, and 24 different ways they adapt.

TWD: How can this help us prepare for Christmas?

GB: All the pressure to shop, decorate, turn up the music, and keep busy can make us physically sick. The animals are a metaphor--they can provide guides to handle the season in a healthy way by learning how the animals adapt.


















TWD: What are some specific ways we can adapt?

GB: We can resist what the marketplace wants us to do (shop, get busy, do, do do). In response we can be more quiet. We're not always connected to nature, but nature still affects us. There are things we can do in our technology-ridden life to reconnect. For example, I go shopping and get everything done before Advent so that I can focus on the season. Instead of stringing multiple Christmas lights, we have just four advent candles, and we gather around them every night.  We spend more time being quiet and reflecting.

 
TWD: What do you want readers to take away from your book?

GB: Enjoy and embrace quiet. Match your own rhythms to the rhythms of all creation.

TWD: That is wonderful. Thank you for sharing about your book. Now I'd like to know a little bit about your pets. You have a dog. How do you celebrate the holiday season with your dog?


GB: We have a 15 year old Corgi, Jessie. She has a big, thick coat and she loves the snow. I don't like the cold, but because she loves it, I go out. I bundle up and three times a day we go out for a 30-45 minute walk.
 
TWD: One last thing. How can we help our wild animal friends in the winter?

GB:  I feed the birds and the squirrels in the winter, but just enough to supplement. I want to make it easier for them but I don't want them to become dependent on me, so I put out a small amount each day. I'll put out more when it's very cold out. In especially hard weather I put out corn or apples in the woods for the deer. I also make a brush pile in the back and possums, rabbits and other animals take shelter there.

 TWD: Thank you, Gayle, for this enlightening interview, and for sharing your wonderful book with us. Two lucky winners will also get a copy of your book to enjoy!

















I absolutely love this book, and highly recommend you add it to your holidays. Prepare for Christmas this year with with muskrats, chickadees, black bears, raccoons and other wild animals of North America. Lyrical and unique, this is an adult book that you can also share with children.

You can also order All Creation Waits in e-subscription. What a wonderful way to enjoy the holiday season. When you subscribe, you'll get one animal reflection in your inbox each day of Advent, starting December 1st. 
Enter here to win. I'm giving away two copies of All Creation Waits!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
"Each of the beautiful creatures in this little book is a unique word of God, its own metaphor. . . they announce the Good News of Advent: that through every dark door the creating Love of the universe waits." — Richard Rohr, OFM

 All Creation Waits   ISBN 978-1-61261-785-5   $18.99
 http://www.paracletepress.com/

Full Disclosure: I was provided with one copy of All Creation Waits to review, and two to give away. This in no way influenced my opinions. Opinions expressed here are 100% my own.

Do you wear a FitBit or other activity tracker? You know they're helpful in managing your activity goals. But have you ever wondered if your pet is getting enough exercise?

Petey, photo by Roy Gumpell

Are your walks together long enough? Is he running around in the yard or just laying in the sun? When you leave the house, is she actively playing or is she sleeping on your bed? If only you could have a FitBit for your dog!

Now you can, with the Poof activity tracker. AND, we're Giving Away Two Poof Activity Trackers at the end of the blog!!













Poof sent us two activity trackers to sample and review, and two to give away. We tried out the blue Bean for Petey, and the green Pea for Ernest.

Setting Up
At first I was a little intimidated because there seemed like a lot of parts. But the instructions are really clear and simple, and the parts are very straightforward.

















THE BEAN- uses a USB cable to charge.
THE PEA- uses a battery

So the first step would be to determine which you would prefer, to charge or change the battery. Also, the Pea is a little bigger than the bean. The pea battery lasts up to 6 months and then you need to purchase a new battery. The bean charge lasts  6-8 weeks, then you need to recharge, which takes 4 hours to get a full charge--but you don't need to purchase anything additional. So, Question #1- would you rather have the convenience of a battery that lasts longer? Or, the cost-efficiency of recharging, but you have to remember to do it more frequently?

Getting Started
Once I put the pieces into the holders and attached them to the collar, it was time to download the app. You simply sign into the app, then hold the phone near the Poof on your dog's collar, and it connects! Easy peasy!


 



















Reading the Data
Checking the data is quick and easy. I was able to enter multiple dogs on the same app, and could easily toggle back and forth between Ernest and Petey.  At the top was the activity level for that day, broken into hours, and a graph to show light, moderate and high activity levels. Below that was a graph to show light and deep sleep.  Then there as a bar graph showing calories. You can even enter feeding information to determine calories consumed and calories burned.


Uses for Poof
Poof is a great tool for
*helping manage your pet's weight.
*monitoring sleep patterns
*determining if they're active or sleeping when you're out of the house
*discerning if the pet sitter/walker exercised your pet for the appropriate time
* realizing if your pet is active at day care
*understanding changing activity/sleep patterns that can indicate health concerns
 *In addition, Poof has a cool feature that maps your pet's location. Plus, Poof can send out alerts for your lost pet.
 Question #2- Which way would you find Poof most helpful with your pet?

The Results
I've been having fun observing the difference in my senior dog Ernest's activity, vs. my puppy Petey's activity level! As you can imagine, Ernest has many periods of deep sleep, and mostly light activity. Petey, on the other hand, has fewer periods of sleep and a majority of high intensity activity! So far I have enjoyed seeing that my dogs basically sleep the whole time I'm out of the house, and sometimes they are awake and active in the middle of the night when I think they're sleeping. lol. It's a lot of fun to check the Poof app at the end of the day and see how they're doing!






















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 Would you like a Poof  activity tracker for your pet? I'm giving away one Poof bean and one Poof pea! Just enter the Rafflecoptor below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FULL DISCLOSURE: Poof sent me two Poof trackers to review and two to give away. This in no way influenced my review. Opinions expressed here are 100% my own. 

To be a pet parent is to have a car with:
Smudgy nose prints all over the windows.
Muddy footprints on the upholstery.
Drool down the back of the seats.
Dog hair flying everywhere.
And that ewwwww stinky dog odor.
















Does this describe your vehicle? It does mine! Ernest and Petey have lent a paw or two to make sure our car has that lived-in look and smell!

It's time for a total car clean-up. Luckily, I was sent a set of high performance car care products to review....and because I think they're so fantastic, I'm giving you a chance (below) to win  a set of five  Meguiar's car care products!























We take Ernest and Petey in the car to go to the vet's, the park, training classes, visiting Grandma, and we recently took them with us on vacation. So they've certainly left their mark on (and all over!) our CRV. The trouble is, actual human beings have to ride in that car too. Most of them prefer not to sit in a rolling dog bed. It would be nice, just once, not to exit the car with dog hair all over the seat of my pants too. So we sampled and tested five items to shape up our car inside and out, and I can tell you that it's never been cleaner or fresher, except for the day it rolled off the lot. Best of all---usually you need a lot of elbow grease to make a dent in the gross dog muck, but I was pleasently suprised at how easy these prodcuts were to use, and how effective they were with very little effort from me.
















Here's what we got:

Ultimate Interior Detailer -- Helped clean up mats and interior surfaces such as dashboard, vinyl handles, and seats. It really only took a swipe of the cloth to see a noticeable improvement.

Meguiar’s ®Perfect Clarity Glass Cleaner--  What do you know, I can see out the windows again! Quite helpful when driving! No streaks and smudges, either. This is my favorite of all the products.

Ultimate Waterless Wash and Wax --  For touch-ups and a quick cleaning on the exterior, no need to get out the hose and bucket. Simply mist on this product and wipe away with a microfiber towel to remove drool and road grime. It also adds a layer of protection to your finish. What's not to love?

Meguiar’s ® Whole Car Air Re-Freshers-- I notice that Ernest and Petey's doggy smell lingers, even after my pups have left the car. This great air freshener's "odor-eliminating technology" took care of that. Scents include sparkling berry, spiced wood, spring blossom citrus grove, summer breeze, and new car.  
  
Meguiar’s ® supreme shine microfiber towels--  These are the softest, car clean-up towels ever! Why use quality cleaners if you don't use a quality towel too?






















Now for the fun part. You can win a set of Meguiars products too-  Just fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter. Good luck!
Prize consists of:
1 3-pk microfiber towels
15.2 oz Ultimate Interior Detailer
24 oz Perfect Clarity Glass Cleaner
26 oz  Waterless Wash and Wax
1 whole car air re-fresher












a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Full Disclosure: Meguiar's sent me these five car care products in exchange for my  honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion. All opinions expressed here are 100% my own.

When is dinner time also play time?
Answer- When you're a dog!
I've long promoted products that help stimulate dogs' curiosity and give them a puzzle to solve, while also slowing down food consumption time. (Ike can gulp his meal in 2 seconds flat!) When I learned that a new company was providing "environmental enrichment for dogs through thoughtful product design" I had to find out more.

Paw5 Rock 'n Bowl

“Dogs are incredibly intelligent and social creatures that need ways to think, work and be active. By adding environmental enrichment to mealtime, a routine part of every day, we believe we’ve made enriching dogs’ lives easier for busy pet parents,” says PAW5® Co-Founder, Dennis O’Donnell.

Paw5 sent me their product to review...and at the end, I'm giving away two Rock 'n Bowls to lucky readers!! Be sure to enter, because you're going to want one of these for your dog!

Rock 'N Bowl™ builds off dogs’ natural behaviors and instincts, and turns mealtime into an enriching and rewarding challenge. Made to look like a standard dog food bowl, the Rock ‘N Bowl’s unique structure encourages thinking, problem solving and fun. The design allows food to be poured directly into the top, as easy as a normal bowl, and then funnels it into a hidden compartment, requiring dogs to paw, nudge, and play their way through mealtime.

Pour kibble into the top.

Kibble comes out one of the holes at the bottom.

I was curious to see how my two senior dogs would do with Rock 'N Bowl™.

THE REVIEWERS:

Kelly, 14, is intelligent and clever, but lately has been a bit off her food, leaving some in her bowl.

Ike, 9, is an avid eater, a gulper, and extremely food motivated, but he's not a great problem solver.

REVIEW
Filling the feeder is simple, just dump your kibble in the top just like you would any other bowl. If you have lifted the bowl into a counter-top or something, you have to be careful or food will spill out onto the counter or onto the floor as you move it. So I would suggest having the bowl in place and filling it there.

Both dogs were curious about the bowl and had no problem solving the puzzle. While it may not be challenging, both dogs had fun.

 Kelly seemed to purposefully nudge and tip the bowl to get food to fall out:


 Ike seemed surprised that there was kibble on the floor! Where did that come from?

Food does spill out all over your floor, but if your dogs are like mine, they will waste no time in cleaning it up.

I was delighted with the Rock 'N Bowl™ . It wasn't too difficult for Ike, and both dogs seemed interested and motivated. The bowl is sturdy and attractive, top shelf dishwasher safe, BPA and phthalate free, and made in the USA!


















Enter to win a Paw5 Rock 'N Bowl™ here. Two winners will be selected at random.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

A few weeks ago, Ike and Zeke were playing and Zeke somehow managed to get Ike's collar off. This has happened several times before.

They play rough, but it's all in good fun. What wouldn't be in good fun is if Zeke got severely tangled in Ike's collar and as the two struggled, the collar tightened around Ike's neck.


There are an estimated 26,000 collar strangulation accidents a year. This week is Collar Safety Awareness Week. Toni Mark, KPA-CTP, MA, Training and Behavior Education Specialist for PetSafe (R) brand, explains that collar stangulations not only occur during play, but also the collar may get caught on furniture, crates, fences, bushes, trees and heating and cooling vents. "By launching Collar Safety Awareness Week, we hope to help reduce the incidence of these tragedies."

To help, we're giving away one PetSafe (R) KeepSafe (R) Breakaway Collar.





The way this collar works is the buckle releases when pressure is applied or it gets caught on something, allowing the collar to fall off harmlessly and reduce the risk of strangulation or injury to the pet. Here I am putting the collar on Ike and demonstrating the way it breaks away when pulled.



But what about when you're walking, you ask? You don't want the collar to come loose by accident and have your dog run off into the street. The answer is the double D ring. Hook your leash snap into the double D ring, which overrides the breakaway buckle, and you can securely walk your dog.



Now, here's your chance to win a PetSafe KeepSafe Breakaway Collar. There will be two winners! Enter here. Open to U.S. Residents only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Full Disclosure: I was given one breakaway collar to review, and two to give away in exchange for my honest opinion. This in no way influenced my review. I only post reviews I think will be of interest to my readers. 

 Are you ready for some fall fun? Here's an awesome way to show us a beautiful fall picture of your dog, and you could win a $50 (USD) PetSmart gift card! Here's how to enter

1. Follow all the hosts on Instagram: @kolsnotes @Heartlikeadog @Talesfrombackrd @cindylus @pfrezon @petproductreview

2. On Instagram, post a photo of your dog having fun and tag it with #dogfallfun
The contest is open to those living in the US and Canada. The contest ends at 11:59pm(EDT) on September 28, 2015. The winner will be chosen at random from all Instagram photos featuring dogs tagged with the contest hashtag using Random.org and announced by the hosts on Instagram. Winner has 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Here's an older picture, but one I like of Kelly, and dear Brooks, in the fall.






















This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered, or associated with Instagram, Inc. or PetSmart. By entering, entrants confirm they are 13+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram’s term of use.

Can't wait to see your photos!