Nashville Here We Come!!

So, many of you follow our regular posts over on Instagram and Facebook but just in case we are down somewhere on someone’s RSS feed….I thought I’d post a quick update.

We will be in Nashville for BlogPaws 2015! It is my third year, and since it’s close enough to home…I’m dragging Daisy along for the ride. I really have loved networking and learning the last two years at BlogPaws. I almost decided to go to a conference for my job this weekend but in the end I couldn’t pass up a chance to catch up with my blogging friends.

Some things have changed since Daisy and I showed up for our first BlogPaws in Washington DC. I’ve pretty much quit blogging (although I maintain this site). I now really enjoy the Instagram/Facebook (and some Twitter) interactions. I just seem to be able to follow and keep up there more than I could here. Rather than one long post with multiple pictures explaining my week, Instagram allows me to snap a pic, caption the story and move on with my busy life. I think I’ll still get a lot of value from the conference. Who knows, maybe it will spark new interest in long form blogging.

If nothing else, I’m going to look into getting some cards made that have my WHOLE coonhound family. Molly Brown doesn’t deserve to play third wheel in the family this year!

Right now I’m reading the linky list for the blogs that are going to the conference this year and I’m psyched! Can’t wait to see everyone again!

Whoo Hoo! Blogpaws 2014

I’m super excited to be at another year here at Blogpaws! For those of you who might not know it is a great conference dedicated to pet blogging. Last year I left here with a lot of information and motivation surrounding my blog. I have really been active on some of the Micro blogging sites and hope to learn how to build my audience there. Of course, I also want to get better at remembering my long form blog as well.

This year’s conference is in Las Vegas so the girls had to stay home. Don’t worry though-Grannie is busy spoiling them as you are reading this to be sure.

As I believe in providing some entertainment….here is some video from our winter from hell. Where we live normally has about 5 inches of snow in an entire winter season, this year..I have no idea how much it ended up being but there was one 24 hour period where we had 12 inches! Spring has been so nice.

Tasty Tuesday-A Product Review

One of my goals at Blogpaws was to be able to meet and interact with companies in order to bring new products to my readers. I met Travis, founder of the treat delivery service Be Pawsitive. He was really nice and he was there talking about this new service/company he was starting. I got home, and thankfully he wrote to see if I wanted to try his treats!

Be Pawsitive is a treat subscription service. You pick a plan (click here for pricing) and yummy, small batch baked, organic treats are delivered right to your door. There are seven varieties being made right now. We received a bag of the original flavor.

 

Now, you may be asking…why do I want a treat delivery service when I can buy treats at my local store? One answer is that there is a little something extra every month. For June it was a gift card to Rover.com and a vinyl Be Pawsitive car decal. That would be enough for some people to sign up, but what if you need something more? The thing that really sets Be Pawsitive a step above other companies is their “one for one” model. This means for every box of treats you purchase and have delivered to your home, Be Pawsitive will donate a box to a shelter or rescue organization. These organizations rely on donations and I love that this is such an easy way for me to make a difference!

The girls love that the treats taste good. Daisy was my official tester and by the drool on her chin I’d say she gives the treats two paws up! Overall, I think this is a great service for your dogs, and for rescue pets everywhere.

Disclaimer: I was provided with June’s box from Be Pawsitive in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Hot Beach Babe 2013!!

Look at this hot babe I saw out on the beach!!

Oh wait, this isn’t what they meant by search engine optimization at Blogpaws? Oops…Guess I need to go review my notes again! I thought I was supposed to use a catchy title that people would search for!

I’d like to let you in on a little secret place I found that is a nice little getaway and dog friendly to boot! It’s the Mystery Location I teased you with on Wednesday.

This is funny looking driftwood.

Jekyll Island is one of the “Golden Isles” of Georgia. As one of the barrier islands in the coastal region, there is a diverse ecosystem for those folks who enjoy getting out with nature. We were there on a weekday so it wasn’t too crowded-I’m sure come summer the beaches will be hopping! The coolest part is the beaches on this island are dog friendly all year long! Many Georgia beaches are either not dog friendly at all, or have restricted dog access during the summer months. Jekyll Island has a typical “sand and waves” type beach but that isn’t where we visited. If you plan your trip during low tide I would recommend driving to the north side of the island for a walk on Driftwood Beach. It is just beautiful and only a short walk from the pier.

Did you really tie me to this??

If you ever consider taking a vacation in this area there is fishing, horseback riding, a water park, and TONS of history. This area was active in not just the Civil War, but the Revolutionary War as well. If you are into golf…they have you covered! You can rent bikes and ride on the trails as well.

It can be hard to find activities to share with Bella due to her anxiety. The loud waves made her a bit nervous but overall I think she had a good time. The beach is full of new and potent smells (rotting horseshoe crab anyone?). The picture from the Wordless Wednesday post is us looking with the beach to our back…it is a salt marsh. During high tide the area fills with salty water and feeds many animals that live in the muck.

Wow! This is a fascinating smell!

No Bella…you may NOT roll on that!!

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Should I Bring My Best Friend to Blogpaws?

Happy Memorial Day. Thank you for those who have served.

So, if you didn’t know, Daisy was in front of one of the pillars at the World War II Memorial. I had not been to Washington DC since it was built. If you have the chance, definitely have it on the list of things to see while you are in town. The fountain in the middle provides a very calming effect in an otherwise bustling area and it is a beautiful tribute to those who served our country. I think it’s the best set of photos for Memorial Day tomorrow.

Now onto learning about Blogpaws… One of the first things you might need to consider is-should your dog/pet come with you?

My very clear answer? Maybe. Yeah, that is the best I can do if you want a short answer. Keep reading for the nitty-gritty.

 

There are some things to ask about your animals. You need to be very honest with yourself. This will ensure you have a great Blogpaws. We all love our pets and making sure they are the right fit for this environment is important.

Does your pet enjoy people, and being in large, noisy, crowds with other people and pets? Randomly petted and cooed over by strangers? Although I personally found many of the pet owners at Blogpaws to be more aware of potential issues than say, dog owners at a community festival, there are still times where you will have to be very close to other dogs, cats, and other assorted animals. At times, it can be very loud. People are meeting for the first time and bloggers are catching up with old friends. Basically, a party.

Is your dog reactive, fearful, or nervous in any way? If the answer is yes to any of these, Blogpaws is not a good fit for them. The environment is just too crazy. It can be near impossible to find a space that is pet free and calm-even outside.

Do you want to possibly give up your favorite and most looked forward to session in favor of a potty break? Yes, this happens. If you are the type to be upset about it-either bring a friend with you that can help take care of your pet or leave them at home.

Can your pet be left alone in a hotel room without destroying it or barking continually? You might have decided your pet is perfect for Blogpaws, then get there and find out they are just exhausted or overwhelmed. Can you leave them in the room to relax on their own, or will you have to miss some of the great sessions to stay with them? Remember the hotel will be a strange place for them which might increase their anxiety (or excitement).

I thought I knew Daisy pretty well, but I learned a lot more about my sweet girl during this trip.

I went into this knowing Daisy is friendly but aloof. Being aloof with strangers is a normal trait for black and tan coonhounds. You are much more likely to get her to be friendly if you have food. Some folks interpreted her behavior as ‘shy’. It was really that she had no interest in you once she knew you didn’t have a treat. No big surprise here for me. I kind of like her aloofness. Personally, it is easier to deal with than a dog who must say hello to everyone.

Daisy has always been my go-everywhere, bomb-proof dog. I learned that even though she was sleeping in sessions the constantly being “on” around everyone was exhausting for her. She needed breaks even when I didn’t. Luckily, she is a dog that has no issue being left alone in a strange hotel room-this was not her first experience in a hotel. In fact by the end of Thursday sessions she was DONE! She didn’t want to walk anywhere, meet anyone, or see anything. She wanted dinner and bed. She was so tired she couldn’t curl up in her normal ball-she just laid flat-out on the bed.

In the later days I made sure to see that she got enough rest. How I did this was by getting up, taking her to breakfast and the early morning sessions. This allowed housekeeping to clean my room. Then for lunch and at least the first afternoon session she was up in the room napping. In the evening I went and brought her down. She’d go outside for some playtime and we’d enjoy the evening activities.

I also learned that a room full of screaming, cheering people with cowbells is terrifying to my poor Daisy. Well, the cowbells are. She was under our table panting. I felt horrible! As soon as the Nose to Nose Awards were over, I took her up to the room, fed her, and let her go to bed. I went back down to enjoy the party and dinner. Next time she goes we will go and have pictures taken on the red carpet-she loved this part. Showing off is in her blood! Then back up to the room she will go while I stay and party.

By the way, have you seen where next year’s Blogpaws Conference is? Vegas baby! It is SURE to be a party!