Lick it! Like it! Win it! Lickety Stick Dog Treat Giveaway

Cosmo Havanese sampled the Braised Liver flavor

Seems we've been talking a lot about overweight pets lately. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, an estimated 40 percent of all canines in the United States are obese or overweight. 


Exercise and a good diet are always a great idea to keep both you and your pet in shape. And now PetSafe has unveiled Lickety Stik,  and all-natural liquid pet treat at just one calorie for every 10 licks. Cosmo had the chance to take Lickety Stik for a test run, and now To Dog With Love readers will get the chance to win a Lickety Stik of your own! Read all the way down for our contest details.


The Scoop on Lickety Stik

• Comes in three flavors - Savory Chicken, Braised Liver and Smoky Bacon
• Each bottle dispenses more than 500 licks
• Roller-ball dispenser and twist off cap for no-mess treating
• Made in the U.S.A.
• Suggested retail price of $7.99

Math test: At just one calorie per 10 licks, how many calories does Cosmo consume here?!

Cosmo took an immediate liking to the Lickety Stik, so we decided to see if it could help motivate his weave poles! 

And now, what you've been waiting for...

Enter our Lickety Stik giveaway!

Three lucky winners will win a Lickety Stick liquid dog treat. Winners will be chosen at random, and entries must be posted by February 5, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Prizes are being provided courtesy of Lickety Stick. U.S. entries only.

To enter (mandatory):

• Post a comment on this blog post telling us you want to enter our Lickety Stik giveaway.

For extra entries (post a separate comment on this blog post for each entry):

• Like Cosmo Havanese on Facebook
• Tweet: Lick it! Like it! Win it! Lickety Stik dog treat #giveaway @ToDogWithLove! http://bit.ly/AoAJZr
• Subscribe to To Dog With Love via email (on sidebar to the right)
• Follow @ToDogWithLove on Twitter
• Join To Dog With Love with Google Friend Connect (on sidebar to the right)

Good luck!

Agility Practice with Cosmo Havanese

Left to right: Cosmo,  Gracie and Johann

We had a fun day Saturday, attending an agility run through at one of our local agility clubs and visiting with our pals Johann the Dog, his sister Gracie and mom Leslie!

A run through (or run thru) is a practice session where an agility course is set up much like you will find at a competition. It's a great place to tune up your skills before an event. Or for the team who doesn't have the desire to compete, it's a nice opportunity to get a feel for preparing for and running a full course.

Here's a look at one of Cosmo's practice runs this weekend!

When I say jump....  !

No more messy paws for Bone Jour Doormat Winner!

We have a winner! Shelley P wins the adorable Bone Jour doormat from Absolutely Floored. Congrats to Shelley and thanks to everyone for playing. More great giveaways coming up next week!

Teach Your Dog to Lay Down Like a Disney Buddy!

This month, we've been showing a series of dog training videos inspired by the upcoming release of Disney's "Treasure Buddies," available on Blu-ray and DVD on January 31.

In this video, animal Trainer April Mackin shows how to train your buddy to lay down. Read down to see how we train a down/stay everyday and how you can win your own copy of "Treasure Buddies!"



We agree that short, frequent trainings are a great way to reinforce desired behaviors. That's why, before every meal, Cosmo performs a down/stay... and then I release him with an "OK." Watch and see!



To win your own copy of "Treasure Buddies," enter our giveaway here! The contest is open until 11:59 p.m. ET on January 31.

Wordless Wednesday: Dogs and Their Toys!

Cosmo Havanese and his pal Suzie take their toys out to play! 

Hill's Million Pound Pledge and Alison Sweeney Inspire Pets to Lose Weight!

Is your dog or cat overweight? If they are, you're not alone! Even Alison Sweeney, host of NBC's "The Biggest Loser," has a pet who tends to pile on the lbs!

"One out of every two pets is overweight and my dog Winky was one of them," said Sweeney. "I started using Science Diet pet foods to help Winky lose weight and now I want to share my personal experience to inspire owners across America so they too can achieve the same success." 

Sweeney has teamed up with Hill’s Science Diet to launch the Million Pound Pledge – a national call-to-action for pet owners to help their cats and dogs lose weight and get back on track to living a happy, healthy lifestyle.

Check out www.PetFit.com  to take the Million Pound Pledge and for a chance to win tickets to “The Biggest Loser” finale! You can also find out how to participate in a live Facebook chat with Alison on January 26 at 1 p.m. ET to discuss how to manage your cat's or dog's weight. There also are cat and dog weight loss tips and rebates for Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet weight management foods.

We love the active lifestyle Alison enjoys with her dog Winky, and we do many of the same activities with Cosmo!

Cosmo carefully evaluates the fashion options at Saks Fifth Avenue in Chicago.
While shopping may not seem like a "healthy" activity, the mileage you put in walking from
Barneys to Bloomingdale's and all the boutiques in between is good for both you and your pet!

Go on, get moving! And take your pet with you!

Be the FIrst to See Petsami! First Entertainment Network Run By Pets and Animals!

Officially launching today, Petsami is a new entertainment network for pets, by pets. Like we always say, life is best viewed from the fluffier side, and Petsami provides plenty of fluffs, furs and scales to entertain any pet and animal lover! 

Tibbs

You can start with Petsami on YouTube or head directly to Petsami.com  where you'll find blogs, photos, videos, message boards and a cast of characters and shows like these:

CuteWinTail -- Get into the action and help Tibbs decide which pet video is most epic.

Ask a Tiger -- Got a question? Get the answers from the Tiger run support line.

One Minute Meerkat -- Ever wonder what Meerkats have to say? You'll find out at Petsami!

Who thinks this looks like
PerrytheBirman?!

KlipKat -- Catnip lover and Internet addict needs your help captioning the funniest cat videos. 

You'll also find our pal Preston Casanova, breakout star from Greatest American Dog, who answers the questions of pets and humans on his blog with the help of his human Laura Nativo, who's also Petsami Creative Director!

Enough talk... just head on over to Petsami.com and check out the fun!

Train Your Buddy and Win a "Treasure Buddies" DVD!

Whether your dog is an aspiring movie star or the star of your living room, training a basic skill like "sit" can prepare your dog for many situations.

Check out this video with animal trainer April Mackin and then head down to the bottom of this post to enter our giveaway for a DVD of the upcoming release of "Treasure Buddies," available on Blu-ray & DVD Combo Pack and Digital on January 31.



Want to watch more adorable pups from "Treasure Buddies?"

Enter our "Treasure Buddies" DVD Giveaway!

Five lucky winners will win a Disney "Treasure Buddies" DVD. Winners will be chosen at random, and entries must be posted by January 31, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. ET. DVDs  are being provided courtesy of Walt Disney Studios. U.S. entries only.

To enter (mandatory):

• Post a comment on this blog post telling us about your pet's favorite trick or a trick you've seen another pet perform.

For extra entries (post a separate comment on this blog post for each entry):

• Like Disney Buddies on Facebook
• Tweet: @ToDogWithLove giveaway! Win a Disney "Treasure Buddies" DVD! http://bit.ly/zEDupa
• Subscribe to To Dog With Love via email (on sidebar to the right)

Good luck!

For more great giveaways, check out the Fido's Freebie Friday blog post from our pals at All Things Dog Blog and Doggies and Stuff!

Camouflage Kitty

Can you find the kitty in this picture?

Our neighbor kitty keeps an eye on Cosmo's backyard!

Basic Training Techniques for your Dog

Whether you've got a new puppy or a dog who needs to learn good manners, training some of the simplest behaviors can make all the difference in maintaining a happy relationship with your dog.

In fact, a survey conducted by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP) revealed that 96 percent of dogs relinquished to shelters had not received obedience training. 

Basic training skills can be incorporated into your everyday routine, and it's a great idea to spend just a few minutes each day reinforcing good behaviors. One of the cues Cosmo learned early on is "watch me." We still use this when we're taking walks since Cosmo can get anxious around some bigger dogs. I get Cosmo's attention with "watch me" and then give him a treat to take his attention away from the potentially stressful situation.

Here, Debbie McKnight, training expert for PetSmart, demonstrates the "watch me" cue.



"Watch me" is also useful when we enter the agility ring and Cosmo is distracted by all the other activity, or any time you need to get your dog's attention!



Can your dog do this?! Take this simple behavioral quiz from PetSmart to find out the best training class for you and your dog!

The Numbers Are In! Iams Home 4 The Holidays helps more than 1 Million pets during 2011 campaign

Thanks to pet lovers everywhere, Iams Home 4 the Holidays found forever homes for more than 1.2 million animals during this season's pet adoption drive.  In addition, pets in need will benefit from the 5 million bowls of food that pet lovers helped to donate through efforts on Facebook, Twitter and blogs... including To Dog With Love!

Since the program began 13 years ago, Iams and founding partner Helen Woodward Animal Center, along with more than 4,000 animal organizations from across the globe have helped more than 7 million pets find forever homes.

2011 Iams Home 4 the Holidays milestones:

• Dogs win by a nose –This year, more dogs were adopted, with 651,224 finding new families, compared to 595,000 cats and 21,317 other pets (including rabbits, reptiles, horses, birds and more)
• Millions of pets now have homes – Since 1999, a total of 7,034,989 animals have been adopted through the program
• Cards for a cause – More than 1,000 cards were created and shared from the Iams Facebook page, generating thousands of meals donated

The 2012 program will begin in October. 

Angry Birds Have Landed!

Thanks to everyone for playing our Angry Birds giveway. And now it's time to announce our winner. And the winner is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Uptown Dog!

Congrats to you!

Wordless Wednesday: Dog toy explosion

Cosmo says he can't find anything to play with...

The Pet Blogger Challenge 2012

For the second year, Edie Jarolim from Will My Dog Hate Me and Amy Burkert from GoPetFriendly.com are hosting the Pet Blogger Challenge. It's hard to believe a year has passed since the first challenge, where we all took a look at our blogger challenges and goals.
So here we go again! On with the Pet Blogger Challenge, Year Two!

The Challenge Questions:

1. Provide a link to your post from last year’s Pet Blogger Challenge so we can refresh our memories.

I had to refresh my own memory... I only hoped I had done half the things I had posted in the Pet Blogger Challenge last year!

2. What do you consider the most important goals you set out in last year’s post?

Last year was our first full calendar year of blogging and one goal was to focuse on the basics -- completing an About Us section and securing our own url at www.ToDogWithLove.com. 

We also had recently returned from Italy and promised a series of posts from out trip. We wanted to share experiences that readers would find valuable and use in their own travels. There must be lots of folks considering international travel and long plane flights with their dogs, because these posts continue to get lots of interest. 

Cosmo Havanese soaks in the historic sites of Rome

3. Have you made progress toward those goals, or have your goals changed over the past year?

Yes, we've made lots of progress and our goals haven't really changed. I'd like to continue to inform, educate and entertain while building on the relationships we've built with other bloggers and companies in the pet industry. We've also had more amazing experiences including another year of BlogPaws, speaking at BarkWorld Expo, trips to Pedigree and Hills headquarters and "VIP Blogger" status at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championships!

At the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship dog show with
Best In Show bloggers, sponsors and London the Standard Poodle

4. Has your opinion of blogging on a schedule or as the spirit moves you changed? Which are you doing now? Do you still worry about lost traffic, momentum, etc?

While I think quality posts are more important than quantity, I do think an average of about three posts a week are helpful for maintaing traffic. That said, I don't stress over a few lighter weeks... as long as the quality is there, the traffic still comes. We also like to offer a variety of posts with information you can use, fun giveaways and photos to make you smile! 

5. Are you generating income from your blog? Has this changed since last year?

Creating value from a blog can take many forms, from building relationships to getting the opportunities for unique experiences to promoting a business. Do I feel the value, yes! Am I generating some income, yes!

The number of opportunities have certainly grown since last year, and I'd like to continue to look at more ways to incorporate advertising and to help companies grow their brand through spokesperson opportunities and events. 

If you are generating income, how (e.g. sponsor ads, affiliate relationships, spokesperson opportunities)?

Currently we're generating income from sponsored posts and affiliate relationships. And by working with sponsors and doing things like hosting Twitter parties, we've also raised donations for some of our favorite rescue organizations like Havanese Rescue and by our involvement with Santa Paws Drive. 

6. Have your likes and dislikes about blogging changed since last year?

No, they are pretty much the same. I'm grateful for all the wonderful experiences we've had this year, time we've been able to spend with other bloggers, and some fun interviews like this one with Edie and Animal Cafe! 

Cosmo's also had the chance to learn from the best! Here, he poses with YouTube rockstars Paige the Border Collie, center,  and Jasmine the Havanese, right, at BarkWorld Expo

7. Overall, are you pleased with the progress you made in 2011?

Yes!

8. How do you see your blog changing/growing in 2012?

Perhaps some creative (graphic) enhancements, improved photography (thanks to a new camera!), and more of the same... like activities you can enjoy with your pet and more ways to keep you and your pet healthy, happy ... and stylish! 

Cosmo hangs out with some of  The Clock Lady's
 cool custom clocks 

I'd also like to continue to evaluate advertising and spokesperson opportunities, work with some of our favorite brands and continue to bring readers some cool and unique products like some of these we discovered at local events in the Atlanta area.

I think it's super important to spend time DOING rather than all our time WRITING... so we'll continue to do agility and try more new activities -- like the lure coursing and sheep herding Cosmo experienced last year. And you'll be able to learn about the activities and how you can get involved right here!

Enough about us. Now let's read about what everyone else has been up to this year!

Train Your Dog like a Movie Star!

To celebrate the upcoming release of "Treasure Buddies" AND National Train Your Dog Month, Disney is posting a series of five dog training videos to teach you how to train your own buddy just like the Buddies movie stars!

Learn some of the same tricks the canine superstars have learned for their roles in the Buddies series of movies along with trainer April Mackin. The first training session will be posted on Disney's YouTube Channel tomorrow and you'll also be able to view the series of training videos on the Buddies Facebook page.

Here's a sneak peak at what you can expect from the training videos AND a first look at Treasure Buddies. The all-new live action feature debuts on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital on January 31, 2012.

And if that's not enough fun stuff to look forward to, check back here later this month where we'll be giving away "Treasure Buddies" DVDs to five lucky To Dog With Love readers!

Check out more fun and games with the Buddies at www.disney.com/TreasureBuddies.  

Welcome in the New Year with a Bone Jour Doormat!

While you're welcoming in the New Year, how about welcoming your visitors with a new door mat? Here's one we think is très jolie, the charming Bone Jour door mat from Absolutely Floored! And now, one To Dog With Love reader will get the chance to win your very own! 

The Bone Jour outdoor doormat:

• Is made from environmentally friendly and naturally tough coconut fibers (coir)
• Absorbs moisture, resists mildew and traps dirt
• Simply shake out or vacuum lightly to clean

The mat measures 20 x 30 inches and is made in the USA. Enter our giveaway to win the Bone Jour or check out Absolutely Floored! for additional pet friendly styles. Or personalize a doormat with your own name or initials. 

Win a Bone Jour Doormat

To enter:

Leave a comment on this blog post telling us who needs to wipe their paws the most in your household! Comments must be posted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, January 13, 2012. Shipping to U.S. addresses only. Winner will be picked at randon using random.org.

For extra entries (leave a comment on this blog post for each extra entry):

• Tweet: Wipe you paws in style with a bone jour doormat and @ToDogWithLove http://bit.ly/AxMrPQ #giveaway 
• Like To Dog With Love on Facebook
• Subscribe to To Dog With Love via email (on our right sidebar)
• Follow To Dog With Love where it says "join this site" on the right sidebar

Good Luck!

Cosmo says Bone Jour and Bone Chance!

Wordless Wednesday: Do Not Mess With My Angry Bird!

Cosmo loves his Angry Birds but he's still willing to part with a few in his Angry Birds Dog Toys giveaway!

Five (or more) ways to get fit... with your pet... in the New Year

Cosmo and his pal Susie get lots of exercise chasing a soft disc toy

It's no surprise that exercise and weight loss are among the most common New Years resolutions. Just take a trip to the gym in January and you'll see the masses who have pledged to get fit this year.

But after a few months, the newbies start filtering out -- good news for the regulars but not such good news for the fitness of our nation.

So what's a person to do? To relieve fitness fatigue consider getting out and having some fun with your pet. Cats and dogs can both benefit from a little extra exercise too. 

According to a survey conducted by Halo, Purely for Pets*, nearly 89 percent of pet parents want to help their pets get more exercise this year, with the majority (62.4 percent) planning more walks and 68.3 percent committing to play with their pets more often.

Some of the other activities that made the survey list include:

• Finding a new game to play (30.3 percent) -- Try fetching or tossing games. We particularly enjoy tossing a Jolly Ball or the Booda Floppy Disc. Both come in several sizes so you can choose the right size for your dog.
• Go to the dog park more often (20.2 percent) -- Check out this dog park guide from dogpark.com.
• Run my cat up and down stairs (15.8 percent)  -- We don't have a cat in our household, but Cosmo spends a lot of time running up and down stairs looking for his favorite toys!

Also making the list was taking a Doga class and getting into extreme sports. Here are a few more suggestions for fun activities you can do with your dog.

• Take an agility class -- you don't need to have aspirations of competing to benefit from the mental stimulation and physical exercise for both you and your dog.  To find a class near you, check your local listings of search these agility clubs from the AKC and USDAA, two of the several organizations that sanction agility trials.
• If agility sounds too strenuous, try rally -- rally is a great stepping stone to agility or obedience, but again you don't need to compete to enjoy taking a class and getting up off the sofa! Check your local listings for clubs or this list of training clubs from the AKC.

My New Year's resolution? Continue to have fun with pets in 2012! 

*In a survey conducted during December 12 - 23, 2011, Halo, Purely for Pets surveyed more than 1,000 pet parents to find out their New Year's Resolutions.