The Chicken Soup for the Soul book series is known for providing heartwarming stories and My Very Good, Very Bad Dog is a wonderful example of that tradition. If you are looking for a book that’s guaranteed to make any dog lover smile and is easy to read in between your hectic schedule, then Chicken Soup for the Soul’s My Very Good, Very Bad Dog by Amy Newmark is the perfect choice.

No matter the breed or personality of your dog, you will find stories in this book that speak directly to your experiences as a dog owner. You’ll find reassurance that other dogs can be as mischievious as your naughty pet. Your heart will warm with the tales of the human-animal bond. And as you read, you’ll be cuddling closer with your own pets, cherishing the smiles they bring to your life.

I also really enjoyed all of the interesting facts before each story. Did you know there’s a dog collar museum in England? Or that when a dog chews on your shoe, he or she is trying to learn about where you go when you’re not home? And that the Shar-Pei and the Chow are the only two dog breeds that don’t have pink tongues? (Their tongues are a blue/black color in case you were wondering.)

Another heartwarming aspect of this book is that part of the proceeds are donated to charity! All of the author’s royalties from Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Very Good, Very Bad Dog are donated to the American Humane Association. The animals thank you, Amy Newmark!

With the crazy, unpredictable weather lately, this book is the perfect choice to read to the family by candlelight when the power goes out. You’ll have everyone laughing and smiling, forgetting about the stress of the world for a few precious moments.

Chicken Soup for the Soul’s My Very Good, Very Bad Dog is available at Chewy.com, along with many other wonderful books in the series.

This post is part of the #ChewyInfluencer blog hop.

I received a free book from our friends at Chewy.com in exchange for my honest opinion about the product.

Here are my top five reasons why the Puppy Bowl is better than the Super Bowl:

One tool frequently recommended by dog training professionals is the treadmill. Especially useful during the Winter months, you can use a treadmill to make sure your dog gets enough exercise and burns off excess energy, all from the comfort of your own home. The treadmill is also extremely helpful for dog owners with mobility issues, who can’t physically handle the kind of walks and exercise some dog breeds require. But not everyone has the space or money for a treadmill. Sadie has not had a chance to try a treadmill yet, but she’s created her own daily exercise that makes me think of a treadmill every time she does it.

In these photos and videos, Sadie is playing with one of her little squeaky balls. She likes me to hide the balls so she can try and find them. One place I typically hide her ball is under a pillow. Sadie knows the ball is under the pillow and all she has to do is move the pillow to get it, but Sadie likes to do her treadmill exercise first. Every single time I hide a ball under a pillow, Sadie tries to frantically dig through the pillow to get to the ball. She gets some great exercise, working her little front paws for a few minutes, and when she feels like she’s done that enough, she just pushes the pillow aside and takes her ball. After a few good minutes of squeaking, Sadie will put the ball next to the pillow and stare at me expectantly, ready to start her “treadmill” exercise again.

This post is part of the Thoughtless Thursday blog hop hosted by Ruckus the Eskie, Love Is Being Owned By a Husky, and M.K. Clinton.

This post is also part of the Thursday Barks and Bytes blog hop hosted by 2 Brown Dawgs and Heart Like A Dog.

Have you ever wondered exactly which breed(s) of dog you have? Did you know that your dog’s DNA can give you important information about the health of your dog? Many dog breeds are prone to specific genetic conditions, and knowing what to look out for can help save your dog’s life. The Wisdom Panel 3.0 Canine DNA Test by Mars Veterinary can tell you all that information and more!

The newest Wisdom Panel 3.0 Canine DNA test recognizes over 250 dog breeds and varieties and can be used on purebred, mixed-breed, or designer dogs. Your dog’s DNA sample is compared to over 10,000 genetic profiles in the Wisdom Panel database! The test provides breed information for three prior generations, meaning you’ll find out which breeds were your dog’s great-grandparents! This information is particularly helpful when training your dog, as many breeds excel at specific types of activities. It can also help you understand some of your dog’s instinctive behaviors, which can be greatly influenced by a dog’s breed ancestry.

The DNA test results will also include a projected weight profile which will explain the typical weight for your breed of dog. This can be very useful in helping your dog maintain a healthy diet. You should share your DNA testing results with your dog’s veterinarian, who can use this information to provide better, more specific care for your furbaby.

Also included with this new DNA test is MDR1 Genetic Mutation screening.  MDR1 stands for multi-drug resistance 1. This condition, which is especially common in herding and sighthound breeds, causes a problem with absorption of certain medications into a dog’s body. Dogs with this genetic condition can have severe reactions to some common drugs. By getting a Wisdom Panel DNA test, you can find out if your dog has this genetic mutation and can discuss the situation with your veterinarian to be prepared if your dogs needs medication. Click here to see a list of medications and dog breeds most affected by MDR1.

A Wisdom Panel 3.0 at home testing kit includes instructions, DNA cheek swabs, drying inserts for the swabs, and a prepaid return shipping box. You need one kit for each dog you want to test. The process is simple: you just swab along your dog’s gum line for 15 seconds, mail in the sample, and wait for the results. It typically takes two to three weeks to get your results once the lab receives your dog’s cheek swab.

To find out more about the Wisdom Panel 3.0 Canine DNA Test go to wisdompanel.com. Or visit Wisdom Panel on YouTube for testimonials about the Wisdom Panel DNA tests. You can purchase the at home kit online for $84.99. You can also follow Wisdom Panel and Mars Veterinary on social media for news, updates and special events.

Or you can speak to representatives from Wisdom Panel in person and get great discounts at the following events throughout 2015:

(In person DNA testing is offered at the discounted price of $39.99 and at home kits can be purchased at these events for $49.99.)

• GoPRO Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado
• Amazing Pet Expo in Austin, Texas
• Mars Pet Adoption Fair in Franklin, Tennessee
• Amazing Pet Expo Holiday in Los Angeles, California

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Mars Veterinary Wisdom Panel 3.0.

This flashback photo shows Sadie, my Yorkipoo, as the stereotypical designer dog.

What is a designer dog?

When some people hear about designer dogs, they picture celebrities’ little pampered pooches, wearing clothes most people can’t afford and snapping and yapping at anyone who comes near them and their owner. But the term designer dog actually has more to do with the animal’s dog parents than with their human parents. Designer dog refers to the offspring of two purebred dogs from different breeds, mated together specifically to produce offspring with a mixture of genetic qualities from each parent. Designer dogs get their breed names from the combination of both purebred parents’ breed names, such as Yorkipoo, a combination of Yorkshire Terrier and Poodle. Click here to see the full list of designer dog breed names recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club. The term designer dog is interchangeable with hybrid dog and crossbred dog. A designer dog can also be called a mixed breed or even a mutt, although these other terms more often refer to dogs without purebred parents, who were conceived unintentionally, without the orchestration of their human parents. Another common misconception about designer dogs is that they are all tiny. This is completely false. Just like with purebred dogs, if the parents are large breeds, the offspring are large. If the parents are from a small breed, the offspring are small as well.

Why would you want a designer dog?

Designer dogs were originally created to solve the problem of how to give seeing eye dogs to blind people with allergies. The first official designer dog was the Labradoodle, half Poodle, half  Labrador, bred in Australia with the hope of creating a smart, family friendly, hypoallergenic guide dog. While no dog is entirely hypoallergenic, designer dogs that are half Poodle have a lesser chance of initiating an allergic reaction. This particular trait is why I chose to get a Yorkipoo. I’m highly allergic to any dog that sheds fur, but my Yorkipoo has hair that does not shed at all, and therefore does not spread allergens around my home. Another benefit of breeding designer dogs is the lessening of hereditary and breed-related disorders. Because designer dogs contain the genetic material from two different dog breeds, they are far less likely to develop many of the diseases and disorders that often affect purebred dogs.

In general designer dogs are like all other dogs – they come in many different sizes, colors, and temperaments. You need to research both parent breeds before deciding to bring a designer dog into your family.

This post is part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.

Check out Slimdoggy‘s blog hop below for other pet bloggers taking the challenge with me!

This post is part of Dolly the Doxie and Dogthusiast’s Throwback Thursday blog hop. Check out all the cute puppy pictures below!

Thanks for liking us! Sadie and I really appreciate all the love!