…and for more amazing stories like this one.

Here’s the link to an article from The Dogington Post about this woman’s discovery with some additional detail:

Oklahoma Tornado Survivor Finds Dog Buried Alive During Interview

When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.                                                                            ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

You may remember that my friend Melissa and I took Teton and his bestie Biju to the San Juan Islands a few weekends ago.

I could go on and on about how cute our accommodations at the Snug Harbor Resort were or how great the weather was, or how many cool views, beaches, and wild animals we saw, but I think the smattering of photos that I have will take care of that for me. All I can say is, whether the weather is nice or not, a trip to the San Juan Islands with your dog is something you must do!

If you follow Her Dog Blog on Instagram (which you should! ) you may have already seen some of these photos. Either way, enjoy!

Check back soon for a new toy review. Have a wonderful night!

It’s not that oral hygiene isn’t important to us, but T was getting a dental chew a day and a raw bone on occasion, so that was keeping his teeth and gums pretty clean.

Part of the not brushing may have been laziness on my part.

So, we’re back to it.

Teton doesn’t love it, but it’s not as bad as getting a bath, so he does all right when I pin him down and brush the ol’ pearly whites 3-4 times a week.

If you haven’t already given brushing your dog’s teeth a shot, I encourage you to do so. Regular brushing will prevent gum disease, tooth decay, gingivitis, and…bad breath.

What do you do to keep your dog’s teeth clean?

So, if you follow Her Dog Blog on Instagram you may have already seen some of these photos, but here’s what we’ve been up to lately.

Teton is over the animal shaped chews. Nope. Not interested.

He is, however, happy that we’ve stocked up on some of the essentials. Zuke’s Hip Action and Himalayan Dog Chews.

He’s also happy that he’s been spending lots of time with his bestie, Biju, at the dog park.

Biju’s mom and I are taking the boys on a little weekend trip to the beach. Biju sent Teton a text to confirm how amped he is for the trip.

So, Teton sent Biju a text. But it doesn’t really hold a candle to Biju’s.

The weather has been beautiful these last few days so we’ve gone on a lot of walks.

And since the sun is still shining, that’s where we’re headed now.

Happy almost-weekend!

You’re dead to me, Mom.

On the bright side (for Teton) he didn’t have to have a bath today.

(Teton after his last bath. Note ’80s crimps on chest.)

But, if he did, I would have used my new favorite doggie shampoo from Cloud Star.

Buddy Wash Dog Shampoo in Lavender & Mint

Teton’s had some dandruff issues in the past so we’ve always used Hilton Herb’s Coal Tar, Neem, and Tea Tree Shampoo which works wonders. He’s moved past the flaky stage (knock on wood) so I was on the hunt for a shampoo that would keep his coat and skin smooth, shiny, and healthy and make him smell like baby.

This caught my eye at Mud Bay a few months ago mainly because of the packaging but when I opened it up and took a whiff, well, there was no turning back.

I didn’t smell the other scents (Green Tea and Rosemary) but I’m sure they’re equally as amazing. All I can say is that I would wash my hair with this. That’s how good it smells.

An especially nice attribute of this shampoo is that it’s actually shampoo plus conditioner. Which, for Teton means that his hair has a little extra shine and softness to it.

While I’m much more comfortable dissecting treat ingredients, I can tell that this short and all-natural ingredient list indicates the strength of the product.

Teton’s luscious locks love this shampoo. (Is that a tongue twister?)

If you need a new shampoo for your dog, I highly recommend Cloud Star’s Buddy Wash Dog Shampoo. After they’ve gotten so fresh and so clean, you can reward your pooch with some Itty Bitty Buddy Biscuits. I’m shocked that I haven’t done a review on these treats yet because they’re fabulous. I’ll add it to my list!

Have a great weekend!

Here are some of my most recent dog-lover goodies. Any one would be perfect for that dog-lover in your life. Heck, they’d be perfect for you if you’ve been especially good lately and deserve a treat.

Dog is Good Promise to My Dog tee

Dog is Good I Cannot Live Without My Dog tee

The Polka Dot Dog Company’s You Are My Sunshine frame

The Polka Dot Dog Company’s Dog Definition frame

Paw Print Muffin Pan

Wild Moon Design’s What Dog Hair necklace

Threadless’ Please Pick Up After Your Pets bowl

Have a great weekend!

Long story short, I stare at Excel spreadsheets on a computer screen all day long and most of the time I just really want to unplug at the end of my work day. But, that doesn’t mean that HDB isn’t still insanely important to me and I’m going to up my game in the ‘ol posting department.

Also, if you are Instagram-obsessed like me, follow herdogblog! Most of what I post will be dog-related of course, but I also post photos related to food, movies, CrossFit…

Give me a shout-out if you’re on Instagram, as well! I’d like to see what you’re all about.

Teton says hello and that he’s missed you. He had a bath the other day.

Our favorite dog park treat these days has been Max and Ruffy’s Banana & Coconut Mini Bites.

I got them a while back at this hippie vegan store in Seattle and think they are the bees knees.

No, Teton is not vegan and neither am I. But, these treats are! And that’s cool with this guy.

I chose the Banana & Coconut flavor because I know from previous experience that Teton likes coconut and he doesn’t get a ton of bananas so I thought it would be nice to mix it up. Max and Ruffy’s has 7 different flavors and they all look and sound awesome. (Pizza flavored dog treats? Heck yes!)

These Mini Bites have just a few healthy ingredients including banana, coconut, and cinnamon.

They’re also made in the US. Hooray!

I opted with the Mini Bites because they have just 2 calories per treat and allow me to easily give them as rewards on walks and while training. Max and Ruffy’s also offers the same 7 flavors in a larger size.

Itty bitty.

The 5 oz bag that I bought (which has approximately 255 treats in it according to the packaging) was $5.99. I’m cool with that. Good ingredients, fun flavors, perfect size.

The only downside to these treats is that I haven’t seen them anywhere but the hippie vegan store that I spoke of earlier, which I don’t frequent often. So, when we run out we’ll have to hunt them down. Me? Go to an inordinate amount of pet stores just to find one treat and get multiple new treats along the way? Sounds awful.

I’ve got some new dog-lover gift finds coming your way later this week, so see you then!

At the pet store last weekend, I noticed this on the shelf near the shampoo and immediately thought, “Yeah, that probably doesn’t work for crap.” But, after picking it up, reading the packaging, and noticing the price ($7.95), I thought, “Why not give it a try?”

My local pet store has a great return policy, so that made buying this that much easier. If you don’t like the way something works or if it doesn’t work for your dog, you simply return it for a full refund.

The Pet Sponge (I can’t find their official website, but Google them if you’re interested) is literally a sponge. It’s pretty thick and (in my opinion) the perfect size for an adult-sized hand.

To use the Pet Sponge, simply wipe whatever surface you want to remove hair from in a sweeping motion. Hair will ball up in chunks and you can pick them off and dispose of them either as you clean or after you’re done.

Yesterday I cleaned Teton’s couch cover. I took a photo of the cover, covered in hair, but it doesn’t do the sheer amount of hair justice. So, take my word for it.

After using the Pet Sponge, the couch cover was clean and hair-free and the sponge looked like this…

Nasty, right?

I’m super impressed with the Pet Sponge. It’s cheap, it’s easy to use, and it really works. I’m one of those people who have a million lint rollers in their house (and one in the car, at the office, etc.) to remove dog hair. That’s not only horrible for the environment but it’s an expensive habit, as well.

This guy, with his flowing locks, needs the Pet Sponge in his life. Ok, so maybe it’s me that needs it.

Before I go, one last thing. Do yourself a favor (I promise it’ll make you smile!) and click on this link…

The Tale of the Three Brothers

Have a great night!

I’ve missed you, bloggies.

Teton went to back to daycare a few weeks ago.

That’s him and his bestie, Biju. Daycare is much more tolerable when your bestie is with you. Most things in life are.

Of course, Teton still pretty much just stands in the middle of the room while Biju nervously paces back and forth, but I think they’re both getting more used to it.

If you’ve been considering doggie daycare and have a friend who has a dog who is friends with your dog (there’s got to be an easier way to say that), see if you can take them both. I think it’s helped Teton get acclimated more quickly.

I like the daycare that we’ve chosen for a few reasons.

1) I can watch Teton on a webcam at any time during the day from my phone.

2) The staff are attentive, knowledgeable, and kind to both dogs and their owners.

3) They go the extra mile and seem to really care for each dog who attends daycare.

I had to snap this photo last time I was there because I think it’s so cool that they post the photos and names of each dog for staff members.

I know, I know. Crazy dog mom.

The daycare that Teton attends is $30 per day, but they also offer package deals. Teton does not go to daycare every week. In fact, he generally only attends a few times a month. I like to take him every now and again so that he can socialize with other dogs/people and so that he is exposed to a different form of exercise. $30 a day can definitely add up, so if your dog needs a more consistent daycare routine due to anxiety or lack of exercise, take that into consideration. It’s easy to get caught up in the “every day is a daycare day” routine, especially when your dog is wiped when you pick him/her up and seems content with just laying around all evening.

Case in point, these sleepy eyes after a long day playing at daycare.

If you want more information on finding a doggie daycare, Google “what to look for in a doggie daycare” and you’ll find everything from CNN articles to ones penned by Cesar Millan’s people.

Before I jet, I wanted to pass along the link to this recent dog treat recall:

Kasel Associated Industries Recalls All Products Manufactured at its Denver, Colorado Facility from April 20, 2012 thru September 19, 2012 Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

This recall includes many Boots & Barkley treats, which are found at Target.

Ciao for now!

This guy does.

Ok, so that’s a harness, but he really does have a lot of collars. Too bad you can never see them with all that hair.

Before I get into collars, I really should mention that the harness Teton is wearing in the photo above is the best harness on the market. Period. It’s the Premier Easy Walk Harness and it is a brilliant product. It’s changed the way we walk and I’ll never take The Little Blogger out without it again. I promise to post a full review of it at some point. I’ve slacked because it’s really hard to get good photos of Teton with collars, harnesses, etc. because he has so much dark, thick hair.  If you have any issues walking your dog currently (pulling, stopping constantly, refusing to walk) try this harness. It’s incredible.

When Teton isn’t wearing his Easy Walk Harness you can find him in either his Spiffy Dog Air Collar

or his Buckle-Down Death or Glory collar.

When I’m at pet stores, I always check out the collar section. You never know when you might find a fun print that you (I mean, your dog) can’t live without. Here are a few cool designs I’ve had my eye on.

“Good Dog” Dog Collar available at Sundance

Mustache Dog Collar from Dogologie Designs

Star Wars Dog Collar from Funky Mutt

Little Stinker Dog Collar from You Had Me At Woof

Or the more manly Bad to the Bone Dog Collar, also from You Had Me At Woof

Another mustache option – Mustache Dog Collar available at Muttropolis

Bat Signal Dog Collar available at Belts Direct

Sew Retro Dog Collar from Silly Buddy

Silly Buddy made Teton’s custom collar/bow tie for our wedding and it is adorable.

Hmmm. Just realized that most of these collars are very boy dog specific. Next week I’ll find some collars for those sassy lady dogs!

Have a wonderful evening!