Things I Learned While Being Sick

 

Natalie Dee knows what's up.

Things I've learned from being sick...

Corvus is the best nurse, ever. He is gentle, and kind, and very watchful.

Ditto doesn't give a shit. You will PLAY WITH HER, or you will get NO rest. 

If you don't eat your soup right away, and instead, you sit it on the coffee table and fall back to sleep, it will NOT still be there when you wake up. And someone (read: someone whose name rhymes with SHIT NO) will have a soup ring around their muzzle from where they stuck their chubby little snout down into your bowl but got said chubby little snout STUCK. 

You will have to hide from Ditto to blow your nose. If you don't, she will bark and raise hell at you while you blow your nose because while it may mean one thing to you, it is clearly the opening anthem of PLAYMAGEDDON 2014 to her.

Vick's Vapo Rub is kryptonite to Corvus. He won't even look in it's direction. You will have to hide it from Ditto, because she is a pit bull...and thinks that all non-edibles are delicious. 

When you fall asleep with your mouth open because your nose is too stuffed up to breathe through, you will be violated. You will wake up to the knowledge that at least one of the dogs now knows what your tonsils taste like. You will try to gargle enough salt water to get the knowledge that someone has licked your tonsils out of your head, but it will not work.  

You will be tempted to rent a hotel room next time you are sick.

Anticipation

I am the world's worst at waiting for goodies. I have two goodies that are being made for the creeps right now, and I'm beside myself waiting for them.

The first one is a leather collar from Bully Mart. I got it during their auction for a helluva steal. I'm pretty sure it's going to be for Corvus, even though he's a jerk and likes to scratch his collars. If he scratches at this one, I'm going to put socks on him for the rest of his life. Or, in the interest of everyone's sanity, it will just go to Ditto. I LOVE that they have the same neck size. 

This will be my first Bully Mart collar, so I'm excited to see how well made it is and how it holds up to Corvus and his abuse.

Corvie's new collar. Can't wait to get it. LOVE.

 My next goodie is a The Walking Dead inspired tag from Aggie's Anvil. I LOVE her tags, I've just not bought any yet. This one was awarded to Corvus for his Walking Dead themed photo that was posted on the Aggie's Anvil Facebook page. Yay! I can't wait to get it. I already have plans for the next several tags I want to get the dogs.

How awesome is this?!?!

So, it goes without saying that I'll be checking the mailbox like crazy in the coming days. Can't wait to get my goodies. Next up, Christmas collars and tags. I just have to make up my  mind on what I want to get. I'm pretty sure Corvus will be using a Grinch theme. :P

First World Problems: Dog Coats and Weird Shapes

It's fall, and the cool air has come to kiss our cheeks and tickle our skin with a hint of winter. While I am enjoying the cooler temperatures, Corvus is not real thrilled with the chilly air. He is a boy who LOVES to be warm. Ditto, thankfully, is a bit more warm blooded, but even she has her limits.

Recently, Hurtta coats have been everywhere - Marshals, TJ Maxx, several shops online, etc - for RIDICULOUSLY low prices. I've heard as low as $6.50, even! Being that I live in an apparent black hole for good deals on awesome dog stuff that everyone else in every other city can find, I had to resort to online shopping to get mine.

Which leads us to my little gripe. Actually, there are two gripes. Let me just get them over with.
1) Why does every sizing guide ever made for pet clothing NEVER work out for my dogs? I am fairly certain I'm following the measuring instructions, but it never fails. I can't size my dogs properly according to anyone's sizing charts.
2) Why is Corvus shaped so oddly? He has the weirdest proportions. Things that fit his chest and neck are far too big in the body. Things that fit his body correctly are suffocating for his neck and chest. Blargh !

Anywho, using the Hurtta sizing chart, I ordered a size 24 for Corvus and a size 22 for Ditto. I now have a size 24 for sale, and Ditto is cold.

The coat I ordered for Ditto sort of fits Corvus. It will do in a pinch, but I can tell by the design of the coat, no size would fit him properly based on his weird ass proportions. That's terribly sad because these coats are AMAZING. For now, it fits him great on the front half of his body...but takes on a shady Superman cape type appearance in the rear. He's not really digging the whole "Swish Swish Swish" the flappy parts make when he walks.

Exhibit A: Seriously, awesome coats.

I've sort of figured what I will do is order Corvus a Made By Meadowcat fleece coat that will be made CUSTOM, to suit his measurements. He'll probably wear that 24/7 because our house is old and drafty, and Stinkface likes his warms. Then, I can throw the Hurtta on top of that for outside us on really cold days or rainy days.

I'm still coming up with a plan for Ditto. Maybe she'd be content with just a fleece.

I think this is what people mean when they say "first world problems" but hey...if Corvus ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! If anyone has any stellar ideas or recommendations for custom coats, or pit bull friendly coats so I can get something for Ditto too, please feel free to leave me a comment below and I will check them out.

Happy Almost Gotcha Day, Ditto

I am notorious for forgetting things. Like, Ditto's upcoming "Gotcha" day. I know it's coming, but I also know that I will inevitably get busy and then a few days past it remember suddenly with an exclamation of "OH SHIT!"

So....even though it's a few days early, here's to you, Ditto, and the year that you've been in our lives. My little heartbeat on four feet. My little wrecking bull. My little flying potato. 

When the opportunity to bring you into our lives presented itself, we were fresh with grief from the loss of our Hannah - our 8 year old great dane who we put to sleep a few months earlier - and unsure about the big step of bringing another dog into our home. After all, we had Corvus. The Land Shark. The Dark Lord Of Concord. The jerk dog..

Oh, but our cranky guy was lonely. We could see it in his eyes, and tell by the way he moped that even though he was known for his other dog intolerance, he needed a companion. So, we mulled it over. Jokingly, at first. "What if" we brought Ditto home? "What if" we had two dogs again. Do we dare?

We dared. One sunny fall morning in late October, I got into the car and headed to meet my best girl. It's a decision I could never possibly regret. Ditto is amazing. It was love at first sight, and even though Corvus was hesitant at first about this new creature being in HIS house, his desire to have a buddy he could play with eventually won over his skepticism. 

So, here it is, almost a year later. Ditto is the most affectionate being this planet has ever known. It is physically IMPOSSIBLE to not laugh when she is around. She is the perfect balance to Corvus' seriousness. Together, they make up both halves of my heart. I am complete with them. 

Happy One Year, Ditto. And here's to many, MANY more! 

Review: Collar Mania

Corvus gets so excited for his new Collar Mania collars, he can't keep his tongue in his mouth.

Through trial and error, I've discovered that there are lots of collar makers who make pretty collars. There are lots of collar makers who make functional collars. There are not a ton of collar makers who make pretty AND functional collars that are suitable for strong and determined dogs.

Collar Mania makes, hands down, THE best fabric and vinyl collars around for rough and tumble dogs who like to tear things up or bust the hardware. 

Lisa, the owner, is wonderful. She is helpful, prompt, and a perfectionist. Each collar I've purchased from Collar Mania has been nothing short of awesome. I have ZERO fear of gear failure when I'm out and about with my two in their Collar Mania collars.

Also, she is amazingly affordable. Besides her very reasonable costs, she also hosts sales quite often. And, recently added to her website is a "Wish List" function, which allows you to go through her vast fabric and material sections and design your collars for purchase even if you're not ready to purchase quite yet. (We won't discuss what my Wish List looks like at any given moment. It's absurd.)

If you've never bought a collar from Collar Mania before, all I can ask is "What are you waiting for?!?!"

Review: Ella's Lead

Ditto wearing a customized Stagger Lee with turquoise stones and a tortoise concho. 

Corvus wearing a Nebula collar. ("He" named it, so he got the prototype!)

Corvus wearing his I Hunt Walkers collar.

Where do I even begin in saying how much I love Ella's Lead? If I had a million dollars to spend on collars and leashes alone, I could do it. All in one place. And that place is Ella's Lead. Not because her collars and leashes are expensive; they're actually quite reasonable. I could spend that much because every collar design she comes up with is a MUST HAVE. Ella's Lead just keeps getting better and better. I love every new design more than the last. I have a serious wish list building up on her site right now.

Let's start with quality. AMAZING quality. I don't even know how to expand on that. Let's just say I don't trust every collar or leash maker out there to make collars that are strong enough and durable enough to safely walk my dogs with. I think I've explained that my dogs can bust hardware on collars like it's a joke. Well, not Ella's Lead collars. From the seriously durable stitching on the collars, to the heavy duty awesomeness of the hardware they use, to the amazingly strong yet soooo comfortable leather they use, these collars and leads are the real deal. 

See, when Rebecca and Ben first started Ella's Lead, they owned Ella, the company's namesake. Ella was an American Pit Bull Terrier who, like many of her breed, didn't get along with other dogs. To safely walk Ella, Rebecca and Ben needed strong, yet fashionable, gear. Finding out that there was a shortage of such on the market, they set out to fill that void. AND BOY, HAVE THEY EVER! 

Besides quality, there is the UNBEATABLE customer service they provide. Rebecca and Ben will go above, beyond, and back again to help you out. If you need help making a decision about something, they are there to help you. If you have questions about something, they'll help you. If your dogs are jerks and dig the pretty spots off of their collar (not naming names or anything :coughCorvuscough:), they will help you with that.

If you're in the market for the best quality, most unique, affordable leather collars and strongest leads out there, head on over to Ella's Lead. You won't regret it.

Pit Bulls; The Boogie Man Theory and Why It's Wrong

As the owner of an American Pit Bull Terrier, I hear the rhetoric all the time:

She's going to turn on you.
They're dangerous.
My friend's friend's step-daughter's friend was killed by a pit bull.
They have locking jaws so they're more dangerous.
They were bred to kill!!
Kid's aren't safe with a pit bull in the neighborhood!

Whoa, whoa whoa....let's back up a bit here and discuss some of these claims.

"She's going to turn on you." 

Dogs don't just "turn" on people. This is the whole Cujo thing blown way out of proportion. Cujo was rabid. (And fictional...but carry on). Rabid dogs don't really fall into the whole American Pet scenario, but okay. Let's assume a dog, not just pit bulls, but any breed "turns" on someone. There is typically a medical (rabies, underlying health issue that is causing pain that the owner may be unaware of, etc ) explanation for the sudden change in temperament. Or, you could be dealing with a dog that has been pushed beyond his boundaries and the human's are not noticing the signs. (Kids pulling a dog's tail, pestering a dog when it's trying to eat, etc) Every dog has a breaking point. Most cases of a dog "turning on" someone is simply a dog that has given warning signs that have been ignored and it has escalated to biting as a defense mechanism (fault of the human) or it is medically unwell.

"They're dangerous."

Really? So are every other breed of dog out there then. They all come with the same equipment. There are even recorded fatalities of children caused by Yorkshire Terriers and Pomeranians. You are 55 times more likely to die from a hernia than a dog attack. 

Everything has the potential to be dangerous. Stop watching Nancy Grace. Stop being paranoid.

My friend's friend's step-daughter's friend was killed by a pit bull /
Kid's aren't safe with a pit bull in the neighborhood!

Statistically speaking, a child is exponentially more in danger of being killed by a step-parents, birth parent, or guardian than a pit bull - to the rate of almost 500 per year. Who's the real danger?

They have locking jaws so they're more dangerous /
They were bred to kill!!

The locking jaw thing...just  NO. If you believe in that myth, go ahead and slap yourself for me. Pit bulls do not have locking jaws. Physiologically speaking, they have the same skulls as your little lap dogs. Don't believe me, here's a quote from Dr. I Lehr Brisbin of the University of Georgia (He's a scientist, and actually says things based on research, studies and FACT, not hyperbole...): Dr. Brisbin states, 

"The few studies which have been conducted of the structure of the skulls, mandibles and teeth of pit bulls show that, in proportion to their size, their jaw structure and thus its inferred functional morphology, is no different than that of any breed of dog. There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of any kind of 'locking mechanism' unique to the structure of the jaw and/or teeth of the American Pit Bull Terrier."

And about the whole bred to kill thing.... Sigh. Animal Aggression (AA), which the potential is there for in ALL terrier breeds (yes, including your little Schnauzers), does not equal Human Aggression (HA). If you own a cat, chances are it would kill a bird or rodent given the chance, no? Does that make you scared of your cat? Okay...apply that same principle to dogs and stop being such an alarmist.

Fear breeds ignorance, and ignorance breeds fear. Stop watching Nancy Grace, stop reading that stupid blog that I refuse to name because I don't want more people to end up there, but every fellow pit bull lover knows which one I'm referring to (rhymes with: hogs fight dot blorg), and really educate yourself on what a real American Pit Bull Terrier is and isn't. Here's your first lesson:

THIS is a Pit Bull:

These are NOT pit bulls.
Unless you work for the media. Then, they are pit bulls. (Except no, they're not and THAT LITTLE BIT OF TRUTH IS IMPORTANT but all too often neglected because "mutt bites kid" doesn't have the same flair and scare mongering that "PIT BULL MAULS CHILD" does..)

New Collars Have Arrived from Dogs By The Bay!

Nothing makes me, the human, more excited than getting dog related goodies in the mail. Even though they are for the dogs, I feel like a kid on Christmas morning. 

This latest package arrived courtesy of Dogs By The Bay. 

Let me just start off by asking: "How ADORABLE are these collars??" Well, let me answer myself: "Pretty damn adorable."

For starters, the packaging was so pretty. I know, there are no pictures of said packaging. Why? Because I'm like an animal with no restraint. I ripped into those pretty little individually hand wrapped packages like they were full of diamonds. I have no shame. 

Each collar was carefully wrapped in tissue paper, tied with twine and had a sparkly "Thank You" tag attached. Even the "Thank You" tags looked handmade. So crafty!

After I tore through that packaging, I was in for the next treat - the collars themselves. WOW are they pretty. They are very well crafted, and you can tell that they were made with care.

Customer service was pleasant, turnaround time was two weeks, I got exactly what I ordered - (3) 2" martingales and (1) 1.5" martingale made with the heavy duty durable fabric - and I have no complaints about my experience with Dogs By The Bay. She even threw in some chicken jerky treats for the twerps to enjoy while looking fabulous in their new duds.

It is worth mentioning that these collars are made with a lighter weight hardware than I am comfortable with for my dogs. But, Ditto and Corvus are jerks who have been known to hit the end of their leashes and need super strong hardware that most good dogs don't need. (I kid......Ditto is a good dog. It's just Corvus who is a jerk.) For decorative purposes, and around the house wear though, these are magnificent.

I will update in a couple weeks with a note about how the collars hold up to everyday life with two Wrecking Ball dogs. In the meantime, I'll leave you with these: 

Meet The Wrecking Crew

Ditto and Corvus - The Dogs Behind The Blog