canines

Dog Lovers – You Will Love this Book Giveaway – “Biscuit for Your Thoughts?”

Posted by Barbara Techel

BiscuitBook3Dm1

Update:  Congratulations!!… to Cindy Lee, winner of Biscuit for your Thoughts? and Through Frankie’s Eyes.  Cindy, I sent you an email for your mailing address.

One of the perks I love about having my journal online, talking about dogs, among many other things, is that I get the opportunity now and then to review books.

When this one popped up in my inbox, I was excited to see it. This little book of adorable, funny, and wonderful photos will no doubt put a smile on your face. You will giggle, you will say awe, and your heart will grow a little bigger after perusing the pages of this well done book.

Here is the review I wrote for Amazon where you can also purchase the book (also on B & N).  Truly makes a fun and wonderful gift for a dog lover on your Christmas list!

I laughed one moment, then felt my eyes fill with tears in the next, and overall, I felt my whole insides ooze with happiness for the love of dog.

The captions all fit so perfectly with each amazing, sweet, silly, or endearing photo so brilliantly and beautifully captured by photographer Andrew Darlow.

Truly, a touching and fun gift to give any dog lover!

AndrewDarlowTeekeeBy_WhiteyWarnerAndrew Darlow is a photographer, author and digital imaging consultant. He is the former Editorial Director of Digital Imaging Techniques Magazine, and the current editor of The Imaging Buffet (ImagingBuffet.com), an online website that covers news and reviews from the photography and video industry.

10% of all royalties from the sale of this book will go to pet-related causes.

So how can you win a copy of this adorable book?  It’s easy!  Just leave a comment below by Friday, Dec. 19th midnight cst. And a bonus I have for you? I will throw in a copy of my memoir, Through Frankie’s Eyes: One woman’s journey to her authentic self, and the dog on wheels who led the way. Open to US residents only.

When you leave a comment, please be sure I have an email in which I can contact you if you are the winner. I will choose a winner using random.org

Good luck… and now go hug your dog! They are such great friends we are so lucky to have in our lives.

***Special & Important Note: Beginning in 2015 all book giveaways I have will be done via my newsletter. So if you want to stay in the loop of future book giveaways, please be sure to sign up for my newsletter today. You will see the sign up box in the upper right hand corner of my website.***

Kylie and Me. A Lesson in Acceptance.

Posted by Barbara Techel

 Kylie and her polka dot pal

Kylie, my almost seven year old English Labrador Retriever was supposed to be a therapy dog. That didn’t work out due to Frankie becoming paralyzed and due to the fact Kylie was not meant to be a therapy dog.

Someone also forgot to give the Labrador Retriever list to Kylie about what “real” Labs do. For instance:

  • Play fetch.
  • Go for walks pulling your owner down the road.
  • Hop with all gusto into the back of the car.
  • Jump in any water you may see, no matter where you are.

This is the list I think she got, or err, rather made up herself:

  • Chase that little round thing and bring it back to you?  Why?  I’m perfectly comfy sitting here at the end of the driveway gawking at all the neighbors.  Look Mom, I don’t even have to pant.
  • Why would I want to pull you down the road when I can walk at my own snail’s pace  20 ft. behind you and eat disgusting things before you turn around to see where I am?
  • Ahhhh, no way, no how, am I getting into the back of that car…. It.  Is.  SCARY!  You and papa are just going to have to muster up all your muscles and heave me in as it’s the only way I’m going in.
  • Don’t you dare spray that hose on me… aim it back towards the flowers, Mom…. I mean it, or I’m outta here!
I remember being so frustrated realizing about a year into having Kylie that she had no desire what-so-ever to do all the “normal” Lab things.  But like accepting Frankie being bound to a wheelchair for the remainder of her life, I’ve also learned to accept and love Kylie for who she is.
I remember reading that the English breed of Labs are more laid back and have more of an even temperment– but geesh, this is quite laid back if you ask me. But again, it is what I asked for if I remember correctly. And I do love her dearly.  Kylie is not all that easy to connect with as I did with Frankie, but I am trying.  Our best bonding time together is when I brush her, so I try to do that often for her. Kylie is also very independent, and I suppose she has just had to get used to that because of the more than usual care I had to do for Frankie.
Now that it is just her and no other dog, I sense she may be relishing in this one on one time a bit more.  Though I have told her, “Don’t get too used to this.  There WILL be another wiener dog someday that you are going to have to put up with.” But I also promised her to continue to accept her for who she is and that we will have plenty of moments under the big tree brushing her to her hearts content.