flowers – YourDesignerDog

It’s Spring… sort of…

yourdesignerdog — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 04:15:02 +0000

Today is the first official day of Spring! Unfortunately Sadie and I haven’t gotten to do anything fun or Spring-like outside yet because we are still dealing with the snow that fell on the last day of Winter… yesterday. I know we have some beautiful Spring flowers trying to bloom – we just need the snow to get out of the way. So this is the best we could do for a Spring photo – Sadie with the Spring garden flag that we can’t put outside yet because of all the snow.

The Get It Off Me Game

yourdesignerdog — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 08:15:45 +0000

Whenever Sadie and I are leaving the house, I signal to her that we are going out by getting her collar. I typically put on her collar and jacket or harness dress and then go get my jacket and shoes on. Sadie has invented a game during that brief window of time that she finds very amusing. It’s not very funny to me, especially when we’re running late. I call it her “Get It Off Me” game.

The Get It Off Me Game begins when I close the last Velcro strap, buckle, or zipper of Sadie’s jacket or harness dress. She doesn’t start the game when her collar goes on – that would be too soon. But as soon as that jacket or harness is on, Sadie runs to one of a variety of cushioned objects. Sometime she runs to the couch, sometimes it’s my bed, sometimes it’s her dog house, or just a dog bed. Regardless of which she chooses, Sadie runs full speed and then leaps onto the convenient cushion. Then she rolls around trying to get the jacket or harness off of her. Sometimes she is able to undo the Velcro against the side of the couch or bed. Sometimes she gets one leg or her head out of her outfit. She’s even ripped off buttons and decorative flowers from her dresses or jackets during this game.

All of this occurs only in the time it takes me to get my shoes and jacket on. If I’m ready to leave and open the door, then I’ve won the game and Sadie happily accepts her defeat and heads down the stairs. If she doesn’t come to me when I open the door, then I’ve lost the game. Sadie has won by at least partially removing her outerwear. I then have to put down my purse and whatever else I’m inevitably carrying and resecure Sadie’s jacket or harness so we can safely leave the house.

This post is part of the Pet Parade blog hop hosted by Rascal and Rocco, Bionic Basil, Love Is Being Owned By a Husky, and M.K. Clinton.

Pretty and Poisonous Poinsettias

yourdesignerdog — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 08:30:27 +0000

Poinsettias make beautifully festive holiday decorations at this time of year. Unfortunately for pet owners, poinsettias are also a dangerous toxin for dogs and cats. To avoid any potential risk to Sadie, I choose not to bring poinsettias into my home. Instead, I use decorations with poinsettia designs to bring some of their festive beauty to my holiday décor.

But many of you may still want an actual poinsettia plant or may receive one as a gift. This post is just a reminder to all of you pet owners to make sure your fur babies stay away from this toxic plant. Keep poinsettias well out of your pets’ reach and make sure that dead leaves/petals don’t fall onto the floor. When visiting friends or relatives with your pets, double check that no poinsettia plants are within your pets’ reach. You should even be careful during walks at this time of year, as many people use poinsettias to decorate front porches and stairs. Lastly, you need to be cautious when disposing of your poinsettia at the end of the season. Don’t just throw the plant on a mulch or compost pile that your pets can easily reach.

Click here to see which other flowering plants can pose a danger to your pets!

And to help you remember other holiday dangers to keep an eye out for, here’s a handy infographic courtesy of PuppySpot.

This post is part of the BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday blog hop.

Bloopers in Bloom

yourdesignerdog — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 18:00:41 +0000

This post is part of The Lazy Pit Bull‘s Pet Blogger Bloopers Round-Up.

Wildflowers or Weeds

yourdesignerdog — Wed, 18 May 2016 06:30:53 +0000

While out for a walk, Sadie and I noticed some tiny yellow flowers scattered in the grass. Sadie and I weren’t sure whether these cute little yellow blossoms were actually wildflowers or weeds, but either way Sadie and I thought they were a nice spot for a rest and some photos. I think this quote from Eeyore of A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh sums up my feelings nicely: “Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.” It doesn’t matter to me whether botanists would consider them wildflowers or weeds, those little yellow blossoms brought a smile to our faces and showed us some beauty in an unexpected place.

This post is part of the BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday blog hop.