Silly Pup

I was trying to teach Vilas to balance something on her head the other day.  It was tough.  She kept tipping her head so it would fall off.  Maybe I shouldn't have started with something she loves so much (rawhide, baby!).  It was fun trying, and I did capture this photo. . .

Isn't her expression too cute?  I love how she is trying to look up at it. It's like she is thinking Puh-leeeease can I just have it?

Pupsicle!

So the husband and I were working on a rain chain project last weekend.  The weather was warm, but not terribly hot so it was a good day.  Vilas was wandering the yard.  She usually checks the perimeter and then spends a lot of time sniffing under the deck.  My theory is there may be some bunnies living under there. But then Vilas hit the point where she plans on being a stinker.  

You can almost sense that she is thinking about how to be naughty in this photo.

That's when she started eating grass.  She does this occasionally, and we haven't figured out why.  Maybe she is part cow?  Anyway, it's not too concerning as we don't use chemicals on our lawn.  Plus, Vilas is one of those rare dogs who doesn't vomit after she eats grass.  The grass passes right through her digestive track.  On the other hand, it's not exactly a behavior we want to encourage.  

I remembered I had made a special treat for her a few days back.  This seemed like a good idea to distract her from grass-eating.  It's a frozen item so I thought this might keep her busy for a while.

You can see some sad-looking carrots sticking out of her toys.  Vilas loves carrots (I only love them with some sort of creamy dip).  So I put some snacks in her toys (the pink toy has some peanut butter stuffed in it) and put it in a plastic container.  Then I added liquid before freezing the whole deal to make a huge pupsicle! To make it more alluring, I added a little something to the water ...

Sultry Summer Days

Though summer was a bit slow coming, it is certainly warm these days.  We've been near 90 degrees with lots of humidity and not much of a breeze.  We go outside in the mornings to do some light gardening (me) and to check the perimeter (Vilas).  Even though it's morning, it's already warm out there.  Vilas is panting within 10 minutes.  I've tried a couple things to help keep her cool during these dog days of summer.

MINI-POOL: I like to call it the hot tub, but it's really just a rain barrel (whiskey-barrel) liner that never got put to use. I fill it with water, and Vilas drinks out of it.  She must think it's the biggest water dish ever.  After a bit, she decides to stand in the pool.  She usually ends up digging in the pool so water goes flying everywhere, which usually makes me laugh!

Digging away!

I suppose I should get her a bigger pool.  They are probably all on sale at this point in the summer.

What? Why are you looking at me?

FROZEN TREATS: I have been freezing various things to give to Vilas on hot days.  Sometimes it's applesauce cups (no sugar added).  Occasionally I will add some sliced bananas or blueberries to the applesauce before freezing.  I've also frozen a few different baby foods (squash, chicken).  She likes them all!  I put the goodies into small plastic containers and pop 'em in the freezer overnight.  Of course, I keep an eye on her while enjoying these frozen treats so that she doesn't get overzealous and try to eat the plastic. You can also let the goodies thaw just a bit so you can pop them out of the container before giving to your dog. I've tried that, but Vilas can eat that up rather quickly.  When frozen hard, she has to lick and lick and lick.  She seems to love it; she often closes her eyes while enjoying her treat.

Enjoying the frozen applesauce

What have you done to help keep your pup cool on hot days?

Bubble Attack!

After a long winter and a chilly spring, we finally got a warm weekend in early May. Vilas had quite a bit of energy so I busted out the bubble machine. We hadn't gotten out the bubbles in months and months so I wasn't sure if she was still a bubble fan.  

She is! She chased those bubbles and popped as many as she could. I had fun capturing photos of this bubble frenzy.

We had bought the bubble machine over a year ago after learning from the doggie daycare staff that Vilas and another vizsla were avid hunters of bubbles. We had to find out for ourselves so we started blowing bubbles in the house. Vilas was so good that we couldn't keep up, hence, the bubble machine was purchased.

She was one tuckered out pooch after all that fun!

Dognola: A Healthy Dog Treat

chicken and carrot dognola

In the dregs of winter, I spend my fair share of time sitting on the couch and roaming the internet. A couple months ago, I discovered a recipe for homemade dog treats - a super easy recipe. A week later, I made them.  Vilas was VERY interested in the process. She kept her nose right at the edge of the counter the whole time. I think she may have aspirations to become a baker when she grows up.  

5 oz chicken baby food
1 1/4 cup of rolled oats
1 carrot, grated

Combine ingredients. Roll into 1 inch balls.  Be sure to roll into firm balls. Otherwise you will end up with bits breaking off too easily. Bake @ 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. I used parchment paper when baking though I'm not sure I needed to. 

This recipe made about 50 treats. I stored them in a sealed container in the fridge. Vilas absolutely loves them. She quickly realized these treats were in the fridge (unlike her other treats over on the counter) and did not miss a trip to the refrigerator. She would stand with her nose right next to the container while I grabbed the milk (or cheese or leftovers). Maybe she thought I forgot where they were and needed to point them out.

The great thing about this recipe is that it is versatile. You can use different baby food options - beef, sweet potato, anything safe for dogs. You could grate some apple or forgo the fresh fruit/veggie altogether.

Here is the link where I found the recipe. You'll see I made my own modifications and my treats don't look like the ones on the site.  http://dog-milk.com/doggiy-easy-two-ingredient-homemade-dog-treats/?utm_source=dogmilk&utm_medium=sidebar&utm_campaign=badge

Vilas: Split Personality

 Hiking in SW Wisconsin

Swimming in Lake Superior

Vizslas have a reputation of being very energetic.  In our dog's case, this can be true.  Vilas likes to go on hikes with us, no matter what the weather.  She loves to get her sniffer going.  She also has crazy tons of energy around other dogs.  I believe her intention is to show them how cool she is by dropping into puppy play-bows or doing some hip checks.  If that doesn't work, she will do a bit of trash talking, which is a cross between a growl and a howl - odd.  Her absolute favorite activity is fetching a tennis ball.  She can go and go and go!