With six dogs and allergies my husband and I simply could not live without  air purifiers. Our dogs are also washed frequently, so the pups are generally very clean and well groomed. I also sweep up dog hair and and mop the dog room floor daily up with a strange concoction of cleaning fluids, one of which is skunk shampoo, just to make sure we have no doggy odors. And still, I occasionally catch a whiff of Eau de canine. I wondered what other multiple dog families used? Any great ideas out there?

Most of us can’t be home 24-7, though our pets would prefer us to be. In fact, some pets are downright insistent upon it, acting out, barking and engaging in destructive behaviors when we leave them for even a short time. Many veterinarians and animal behaviorists believe that soothing music and sounds special to pets can help minimize separation anxiety and curb destructive behaviors.

The While You Are Gone DVD for Dogs features a virtual walk through the woods with sounds only dogs can hear, and the auto-loop function allows it to play all day. There are also CD’s for both dogs and cats with soothing music and special sounds designed to appeal specifically to pets.

And now this; looking for a new ceiling light? Here are some beauties…

Yesterday I planted several pots of flowers for the nursing home courtyard, I’m hoping against hope that Weenie girl leaves them alone. She’s a compulsive digger! Last year I planted four flats of Impatiens, the phone rang and I ran inside the house. Five minutes later I returned to the garden to find dozens of little pink and green bodies strewn across the yard. Weenie had not only un-planted the Impatiens, but virtually destroyed every one of them!

Dog owners understand this dilemma. We love our pets but at the same time we crave a lovely yard…must dog ownership and lovely yards be mutually exclusive? According to the authors of Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs, the answer is NO.

Dog Friendly Gardens claims that they will show dog-owners how to design their garden with their dog in mind as well as being the dog owners guide to dog-friendly training efforts. I admit I have not read the book nor tried it, but the idea sounds great to me and to others as well, check out the reviews…

And now this, want to jazz up your ride? How about a Ford grill?

The weather is starting to get nice and we’re hoping to able to hit the walking trail more regularly. Beans is still too fat, though she would disagree. She could probably benefit from a treadmill during the winter months, but then so could my husband and I. She has lost about nine pounds and has the beginnings of a waistline. I would like to get her one of those doggie vests, with pockets for soda or weights, since she tends to wear me out long before she’s winded.

We all know that pets can have a calming effect on humans, they can help lower our blood pressure, pulse rate and have many other beneficial effects we may not even fully realize yet. But sometimes live pets just aren’t an option, as in hospitals, dormitories, at your workplace or in cases of extreme allergies, etc.

The ZZZ Animals are adorable little fluffies, handcrafted of super soft synthetic fur and powered with two D batteries so that they actually appear to “breathe”. Each pet comes with its own bed, collar, adoption certificate and pet carrier. Choose from a Puggy, Shih-Tzu, Schnauzer, Golden Retriever, Chocolate Lab, Sheltie, Beagle or King Charles Spaniel. There are even two kitties for those cat lovers out there.

While nothing can compare to the joy of interacting with a real dog or cat, the ZZZ pets may be just the thing for those times when a live animal simply isn’t an option. Check out the site and while you’re there take a look at the other great products like motion sensor lights.

The girls had a rough day! First we were awakened at around four-thirty by a big boom, followed by a long low rumble and lots of shimmying and shaking. The dogs were pretty freaked out and the rest of the morning they stuck close–every time I stopped, either Beans, Ginger, Weenie or Wishbone or all four ran into the back of my legs. When I went to put my check into our savings account, they waited right by the gate until I returned. Then the two little fuzzies sat in my lap while I worked on the computer. About the time they all got settled down we had a really strong aftershock. These southern Illinois dogs just aren’t used to earthquakes!

This evening it suddenly blew up a nasty storm, the sky turned black and the wind was so strong that the rain came down sideways…all the girls really hate storms, so now our chicken-littles are sticking to the back of my legs again. I hope it’s not going to be a six dog night…

Do you love to garden? Are you a dog lover as well? Now you can indulge both of your passions with these whimsical dog topiary frames! These life-sized frames are made of heavy gauge wire with a double-layer epoxy coating. Frames
can be filled with sphagnum moss and covered with vining plants such as ivy for a unique garden attraction. Six dog breeds to choose from; Pug, Weenie dog, Poodle, Labrador Retriever, Jack Russel and Bassett hound. These adorable leafy canines are sure to lend a light-hearted fun and games mood to any landscape!

Are you a dog or cat mom and proud of it? Then show the world how much you love your fur-babies! These adorable and colorful tees dog/cat mom tee-shirts may be just the thing! These machine washable 100% cotton tees are available in sizes small to 2XL.

This cute dog mom necklace is the perfect gift for any dog loving mom! The sweet sentiment is made of sterling silver, with a 17″ sterling chain.

Here’s another hint, do you like to dress up your fur-babies? When my little pommie developed alopecia I began buying her preemie tee-shirts and little jackets and gowns,  children’s clothes are often much less expensive than specialty pet wear!

We left for Peoria on Wednesday, so Weenie girl has not been to work in four days. Well, tomorrow it’s back to work for us lazy girls! I think Weenie really misses the residents over the weekend, since she can barely wait to get inside the building…

It’s been a nice weekend. I finally got to spend a day at home. The weather was even nice, though unfortunately, I spent most of the day inside cleaning the house. I really hate having so little time to get things finished!

My husband spent his day cleaning out the van. It needed it after the trip! He also had two new tires put on. apparently ours were on a recall list. If only the engine was on a recall list…Coming home I noticed the odometer was at 160, 000!

And now for this message: Looking for quotes or information on car insurance? Here you go!

I have asked by several readers about the nail covers shown on Logan, my daughter’s evil, blog-invading, kitty cat.

They are called “Soft Paws” and they were developed by a veterinarian. Soft Paws are vinyl nail caps to which adhesive is applied, the caps are then slipped over your dog or cat’s toenails. They are completely safe, even if you pet manages to chew them off and swallow the pieces. Soft Paws can help protect hardwood floors, screens, doors, furniture, bedding and guests from the damage inflicted by razor sharp toenails.

They also help protect your pet from excessive scratching which can lead to sores, hot spots and so on.