Couch 184: Welcome to Zanzibar!

He looks like a lovely dog

Aww he looks very sweet Jersey!

Oh hes beautiful!!!!

My dog's paws are stinky. I know because he keeps shoving them in my face.

When my head is turned away from him, he uses the nails on one paw to hook into my mouth and the nails on the other to hook my nose to pull my head towards him. It actually kind of hurts.

Thank you everyone. It’s starting to feel like he’s my dog. Right now he’s tossing a ball around the living room so I think he’s getting cozy here.

I've bought him an obscene number of gifts for Christmas. He has a stocking full of goodies, plus three wrapped boxes of toys. And I just ordered him a t-shirt and a little jean jacket.

I love that part where they are getting cozy. I recently experienced that with my new kitty when she jumped up into my chair like okay, petting (and feeding) time! It was such a good feeling. I hope you really enjoy your new dog.

I buy my pets Christmas presents too! But not as much as you! Kit

He NEEDS all these things. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

All my dogs have stockings...even the stupid husky and my dad's dog. I got them all soft toys, jerky, bully stick, a soft ball, and a bunch of different types of cookies. They're my babies (well the 4 shelties are), and I love spoiling them!

I texted T back telling her that I'm not secure with her and I want to know that everything is okay between us (a common reassurance I ask for). She texted back saying everything is ok! I don't think, even after 3.5+ years, she understands how important that reassurance is to me. If she says everything is ok, then whatever is bothering me will be okay in the end. So to me that means come Thursday, things should be resolved.

The people in the pet store today were trying to sell me rawhide. I told them no! This isn’t my first go round with a dog. Rawhide is bad. It should be pulled from the shelves. I stick to bully-although expensive.

Same. I would never feed my dogs rawhide. Even their treats are high quality. And no greenies either!

well we didn't get a tree last night. and h just left on another long distance job so we won't be getting it tonight either. Oops. I should go buy one right now. I wonder if I can fit one in my car...

I have an artificial tree. I know most people hate those but I love them. No watering-no dragging it in and out. It goes up the day after Thanksgiving and gets taken down the day after Christmas. And it’s pre-lit!

Same here, pre-lit artificial tree! I think I have a bit of a pine allergy, at least based on previous real trees that led to respiratory symptoms.

OK, I think after Christmas you need to post of pic of him in the jean jacket!

Eh, I can think of worse things than rawhide. The dogs I know who have had intestinal blockages had them as the result of eating clothing or tampons, not rawhide. I know it's super gross, but a used tampon is both highly attractive and highly hazardous to dogs.

I give my dogs chicken wrapped rawhide rolls - they love them and have never had a problem. I also give them pig's ears, tracheas, hooves and bully twists. I don't leave them alone with those things but I do give it to them at night when we are all hanging out in the den. I also give them the thick cow leg bones (there is no way my breed can splinter those) which they gnaw on and after they clean them out, I will then put cheese or peanut butter (although most of my dogs have not been great fans of peanut butter but I had one who liked it) inside so they can spend time licking it out. I have never had a dog that had trouble with small amounts of rawhide - 1 five inch roll or strip at a time (not from china - I do check that).
It also depends on the dog - my dogs all have loved ice cubes but I have one guy right now who goes over the moon when I toss a huge ice cube block (when the ice cubes have all glommed together and are stuck together) into his water bowl. He prefers that over any chewy thing. My other guy is a fiend for the tracheas.

Also my breed is not known for being chew-happy monsters like some goldens or labs.
The boys are on either side of me chewing on their bully twists right now.

Splintering is typically only a concern for cooked bones. The ones you can buy at the store for dogs are smoked.

My dog got each of his canine cousins a beef knuckle bone for Christmas.

I cooked tonight which is a bit unusual right now unless for a specific purpose like thanksgiving. I haven't just cooked regularly since my person died. I wonder if it will stick this time.

Thats sweet! Plus im glad to see you back.

What did you cook, stopdog? I hate cooking, unless it's for my dog. Last time I cooked was at Thanksgiving. I made the dogs a dog-safe turkey and sides. It was exhausting. I've been living on Triscuits, cheese, and toast since Thanksgiving... should probably consume a fruit or vegetable before Christmas.