Apple's First Haircut!

Yesterday, Steven and I finally gave Apple a much-needed haircut! 

Apple's coat had gotten pretty disgusting. Because he is (basically) a Labradoodle, he doesn't shed his coat, and it continues to grow even longer. In the 9 1/2 months that we have had Apple, we have never had him groomed outside of bathing him and brushing him ourselves. Lately, his long curls started turning into dreadlocks, and they could not be brushed out, so I knew a haircut was unavoidable.

See those nasty dreadlocks on his legs?

Experts and breeders suggest that Labradoodles be professionally groomed every 4-6 weeks. Topics like this make me feel guilty and sad, because we simply cannot afford that kind of lifestyle for our dog. It would cost $70-$100 to have Apple groomed only once, which would have been an investment for us. Luckily for us, Steven's dad has his own do-it-yourself dog clippers, which we used to groom Apple ourselves for free!

I was afraid to groom Apple myself for a few reasons. I didn't know if he would sit still, or if it would be hard, or if his coat would look terrible when I was done. Luckily, Apple was very good and did exactly what I needed him to do! His coat did look a little choppy right after I was done, but after I bathed him, it was much less obvious.

He looks a little choppy, but he feels really nice!

 He is so much softer now and I am sure that he feels better as well.  I didn't realize that Apple is at the stage in life where he is losing his puppy coat, so it was really important to groom him and get rid of the dead coat! I hope to keep up with brushing more often to prevent him from getting matted, but I know it will be a while before we clip him again for a few reasons: his hair is so short now that it needs time to grow out, and my amateur grooming is really for starting over, not for maintaining a longer coat. I realize that Apple will not look like a "breed standard" Labradoodle, but that is okay with me.

I plan on posting more about the challenges of raising a dog in a difficult financial situation, although it is a hard topic to address. Although Apple doesn't have all of the things a dog in a wealthy family might, he is definitely in a home full of love and attention, and I like to think that is what matters the most!

Dog Park Reviews: Zilker Park

This past Saturday was my mother-in-law's funeral. I've been posting a bit less than I would otherwise.

My parents and my four younger siblings all came up from Victoria to attend the funeral, and of course, Apple had to spend a lot of time at home alone on Saturday. So, between the service and the family dinner that night, I thought it would be fun to take Apple and my three youngest siblings to Auditorium Shores. Am I right?

Wrong! It was so crowded people were illegally parked underneath the bridge and in the grass. There wasn't even room for me to park illegally if I wanted to! So, since we were short on time, I decided that instead of turning around and going to Onion Creek, we would go try out Zilker.

I have attempted to take Apple to play at Zilker park a few times, and only one of them was moderately successful. Every time we go, there have been people playing soccer on the Great Lawn (one of the areas designated for leash-free play) and no dogs in sight. The only time we actually played there was when the Great Lawn was being set up for ACL (Austin City Limits Music Festival) and we played with another dog in the grass across the street.

I hoped that on a Saturday, there would be plenty of dogs out, and that we wouldn't have to worry about the pick-up games. When we arrived, there was so much traffic that it was incredibly difficult to park, and I actually drove into a ditch that I couldn't see in front of me trying to park on this make-shift parking lot. There were plenty of dogs, but there were even more people, and it was completely insane.

This was taken during ACL, but this is pretty much how crowded it was!

 Taking your dog to play on the Great Lawn at Zilker is like taking your child to play in a playscape at a bar on a Saturday night. Children might be allowed (in my hypothetical bar) but the bar is certainly not meant to be enjoyed by children. Almost all of the dogs here were just lying on blankets with their owners, not playing, while frisbee golf, volleyball, and flag football games were scattered around everywhere. People are having picnics on the ground that will attract your dog! If your dog is not incredibly obedient, they could easily get lost or hurt. Apple listened to me really well, so we didn't have any problems, but the whole experience was not fun and just felt dangerous.

We left after about 20-30 minutes and it took us about that much time, if not more, just to get home because of the traffic. We could not find a trash can so we had to take a poop bag home in the car. I can't believe I didn't lose track of my dog or one of my siblings because the entire environment was just....frenetic. That is the best way I can explain it. 

Zilker is a great park. But I wouldn't recommend taking your dog there! (Unless he is old and only wants to sit on a blanket and not steal your food while you have a picnic.)

1 out of 5 Paws...only because I actually had fun that one time before ACL

There might be great area in the park that I just haven't discovered yet. Forgive my oversight if such is the case.

Apple's 1st Birthday Cake!

Today is Apple's "presumed" first birthday, chosen because he was estimated to have been born at the end of January, and we found him on May 29. In honor of the day that he came into our lives, we chose his birthday to be today, January 29!

Because I am a very committed Dog Mom, I wanted to do something special for his birthday. A few months ago, I attended Austin's Dogtoberfest with my husband and Apple, and I learned about many Austin dog bakeries that offer birthday cakes for dogs.

I instantly thought that having a birthday cake sounded like a great idea! So, when I got home, I Googled "dog cake recipes" and found many different versions. I wanted the cake to be for all of us to share, so I didn't want anything that sounded too disgusting or was made with meat (I'm a vegetarian!)

I eventually settled on this applesauce cake recipe, because of Apple's name, and the fact that it seemed to be the most healthy recipe I could find. Dog cakes are low in baking soda because it is bad for dogs, but this one didn't have any, so I figured it was a good bet. It also came with a very easy recipe for cream cheese icing.

Here is the recipe:
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 
 2/3 cup hot water
1 cup whole rolled oats
3 eggs (I only used two and it worked.  Lower in cholesterol!)
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 cups unbleached flour
1/2 cup granola 

The un-baked cake posing with its ingredients

 I also added a bit of sugar because upon tasting it I realized it was not sweet at all! Sugar isn't great for dogs, but it won't hurt them like chocolate, and I added a very small amount, just to make it taste a little better for the humans!

The icing was literally just 2 packages of cream cheese and 1/2 cup of shortening. I decided to add food coloring (I checked to make sure it was safe) to make the cake decorating festive and to save money (the original recipe called for carob to make decorative icing). I also added a little sugar and a bit of applesauce to the icing because it was just plain cream cheese and it needed to be a little sweeter!

The cake is baked and is surrounded by 3 colors of cream cheese icing

Apple LOVED his cake, and my husband and I both ate it and it wasn't bad. It tasted VERY healthy and would make a great breakfast. Apple ate 4 pieces, but he would have eaten the whole cake if we would have let him. We ate half of it between the three of us, and I saved the leftovers for tomorrow!

Ta-Da!

He likes it!

It was fun to bake a cake from scratch and decorate it for my dog! I think he had a great birthday. I know it was great for me!

To My Dog's Mother, on His Birthday

To My Dog's (Biological) Mother, on His Birthday,

I don't know very much about you, but I think about you all the time. I often wonder about the circumstances of Apple's birth, and those mysterious 4 months that he lived before he found his new human "parents." I wanted to dedicate a special post to you today, on Apple's "birthday;" although I don't know the exact date, I know he was born a year ago on a day very close to this one.

I know you are half-lab because of the DNA test. I always picture you as the Labradoodle for some reason...I don't really know why. I also don't know what color you are; Labs can give birth to yellow, chocolate, and black puppies regardless of the parents' colors, so you could be any color, but I always picture you as a yellow, creamy Labradoodle.

Like this, but with a multi-colored litter

Like this one!

I know that Apple probably didn't get to stay with you very long. The vets think that he was taken away from his mother before 12 weeks of age, because he didn't properly learn bite inhibition and some of the other things that puppies learn from playing with their siblings and mothers. Were you sad when your puppies were given away? Most websites agree that dog mothers don't miss their puppies when they go, but I have read stories of dog mothers who became depressed when their puppies were taken away. It makes me sad to think about it!

I wish you could tell me what happened to lead up to having Apple's litter. I hope you had a family who took care of you and that you weren't pregnant on the streets. I don't think you were. Was Apple's father a street dog?  Where did he come from? 

My best guess is that you got out one day and got pregnant and your family found you and continued to take care of you. I think they gave the puppies away for free at 8 weeks, the soonest age they can be separated from the mother. I think that your owners were well-intentioned, but they didn't take much care to make sure the puppies ended up in a good home. 

I think Apple's owners took him in, and when he got too big and "messy," they left him to fend for himself. Did you ever think any of your puppies would become homeless? I hope the rest of his siblings ended up in good homes. I wonder where they are and what their lives are like. Was Apple the only unlucky one to be abandoned? Being that Apple was alone, I think that he was with a family separated from you and his siblings.

As sad as it is to think about him being abandoned and to wonder about his early months of life. I am thankful that it happened the way that it did, because had anything been different, Apple would have never been my dog. Just know that I am thankful to you for bringing him into this world so that I could eventually have him, and I hope you are having a good life.

Happy Birthday to all your puppies, wherever they may be.

Dog Dating?

While I pride myself on immersing myself in Dog Mom culture, there is one element of this culture that I am not in the position to experience: Dog Dating.

Just Google "Dog Dating." This pic came from an article about it.

 Although many Dog Moms (like me!) are childless married women, using their dog as a "practice" baby, or caring for them in place of a child they cannot have (or do not want), a great number of Dog Moms are single women, giving their all into raising their dog, and maybe, even hoping that he or she will lead her to "The One."

The introduction to Dogs and the Women Who Love Them offers great insight into the world of Dog Dating. According to a 2005 study, 70% of the surveyed women with pets reported that they would be more likely to date or marry a man who has a pet. In order to help single Dog Moms (and Dads!) make a love connection, several online dating sites centered around dogs have sprung up, such as Petpeoplemeet.com, Datemypet.com, Perfectmatch.com (Dog Lovers), and Lovemelovemypets.com.

Many women feel that their dogs will act as good judges of character for potential mates, and the book mentions quite a few stories of women whose dogs have helped to make or break a potential relationship.

So, even though I am already happily married and don't need to use my dog to play matchmaker, it doesn't stop men at the dog park from showing interest in my dog (and me?) while Apple and I are out playing without "Daddy."

Interestingly, the only time I have encountered men who seemed interested in Apple and I beyond typical dog park encounters has been at Onion Creek Park. However, I do often venture to this park alone as it is the closest one to our apartment and is better for a shorter visit. On three occasions, I have met men who might have been flirting with me, but with the exception of one very overt man, it is hard to really know.

The first guy had a really cute King Charles Spaniel, and Apple played really well with him. He was really friendly and told me his name really early on (something dog owners hardly do...we always exchange our dog's names) and he was even commanding my dog and playing with him more than a stranger at a park normally would. 

Now, I know it takes a village to raise a (fur)child, but I can't help but think any bystander at the park might have thought we came together. Or that we were together. Of course, I was nice and I enjoyed hanging out with him and his dog, but I made sure to keep my distance enough that he or anyone else around wouldn't get the wrong idea.

The second man was really flat-out weird. He came up out of nowhere at the creek and instantly my sweet, sociable dog was barking at him and guarding me. He kept trying to talk to me and I just felt creeped out! As he walked away after talking to me from a distance for not even 2 minutes, he told me his name (I didn't tell him mine!) and asked if I was single! WEIRD! Then I told him I was married and he walked off scoffing that the "good ones always are."

Later on that same day, I was relieved to actually meet a normal guy with a Pit Bull mix. Once again, our dogs played really well together and he talked to me for a long time. There isn't anything really suspicious to say about this encounter, except that he and the first guy gave me an "I'm single" vibe and seemed really interested in my dog....I just have to wonder if it's just my dog!

As I'm writing this, I am thinking about another guy I met at a dog event when I was by myself. He was interested in getting our dogs to hang out at another time and wanted to get my phone number, which made me nervous until his wife came up with the phone! I feel bad because I keep thinking I should call them to hang out...but I keep forgetting!

Probably some of the best advice I could give to "all the single ladies" out there would be to get a dog and go to a park! You could probably easily meet some men that way. And if the book (and my own experience) is correct, he will steer you away from the bad ones, so your dog can be the perfect wingman! Maybe your dog could find a love (or just a best friend) of their own, too.

Dog Dating: That's how Pongo and Perdita met!

DIY Dog Mom

In addition to being a Dog Mom, one of my favorite hobbies is crafting. I love to scrapbook and I also really enjoy sewing--and I think I'm pretty good at it! I got a sewing machine for Christmas in 2011, and since then, I have made three dresses, a tablecloth, and three curtains for my living room windows, in addition to repairing many things, including Apple's harness.

This Christmas, my mom gave me a book called 101 One-Yard Wonders, which contains patterns and instructions for, you guessed it, 101 different projects you can make with only a yard of fabric. For my first project, I chose to make an apron that I could use instead of a purse or bag to hold Apple's things and my personal belongings at the dog park!

I chose "Granny's Clothespin Apron" as the pattern I would use for my dog apron, and picked a paw-print fabric out at JoAnn's Fabrics for only about $3 or $4! (They are re-locating and had a great sale!)

The pattern I chose from 101 One-Yard Wonders

The pieces all cut out!

It took me about 4 hours to make and I am very pleased with the final product! It is comfortable, and very spacious. It could easily hold 4 or more tennis balls, and can hold Apple's entire leash without a problem. Now I can play with my dog without the hassle of carrying a bag and I won't have to worry about getting my bag wet or dirty! This apron can be easily laundered, so getting it a little messy is not a problem!

The final product!

I will be the most stylin' Dog Mom at the park.

I can't wait to make more things out of my book! I had some leftover fabric (can you believe it?) so I think I'm going to make a coordinating camera strap for my new Nikon 1. Maybe I'll come up with ways to make more of the projects dog-related!

Dog Park Reviews: Auditorium Shores

One thing that I especially love to do with my dog is to take him to leash-free dog parks. As a puppy, and a large one at that, he has a lot of energy that he simply can't get out at our apartment complex. We are very fortunate to live in a city that has many offerings for dog parks, though I wish we had more. My first dog park review is also of my favorite place to take him:

Auditorium Shores at Town/Lady Bird Lake

Auditorium Shores really has it all. Dogs run freely everywhere, and they are consistently well-behaved and of great temperament. The dog owners pay attention while they are there (honestly you have to, there are no fences, and plenty of bikers and joggers) and are very friendly. The dog owners at AS often act like it is a play group and are the true definition of pet parents, especially if you go during the typical work day. You can't beat this place on a weekday morning, especially Friday. We go at least once a week, and almost every Friday morning you can find us here.

This park really has something for everyone. As long as your dog is obedient enough to not run away (haven't seen it happen here) you should definitely check it out. There are long stretches of grass for running and fetching, trails for jogging alongside your dog, and plenty of water to swim in with a distinct shoreline that makes entering the water much easier for those shier dogs. Dogs can go for a full on swim and retrieve balls from the middle of the lake, or they can just splash around near the shoreline if they are too nervous to take the plunge. Our dog loves the water, but he wouldn't actually swim until he was 8 months old. Today, he is still nervous about leaping in, so having the nice shoreline really helps!

Apple swimming for the first time!

Other than the occasional person/tourist wearing a suit at the park and not understanding the concept of wet, sandy, leash-free dogs, the only downside is the parking. Good luck trying to go to this park in the evening or on the weekend. Luckily, my work schedule allows me to have some mornings free when most other people are working, so parking isn't a problem. The city also uses the park for other events as well, such as Fun, Fun, Fun Fest, so sometimes a special event can throw a wrench into your park schedule.

I think the fact that we go during the day is related to the good behavior of the dogs. The mornings are when the hardcore dog-moms come out to play. I'm so serious when I say that some of these women stay at home with their dogs...but watching them play is like watching kids on a playground, rather than rival gang members in a brawl.

All in all, I give Auditorium Shores four and a half out of five paws. It is pure doggie heaven. If only we could add more parking spaces!

4 1/2 out of 5 paws for Auditorium Shores!