Category Archives: Luke

Thankful Thursday

image

Luke is here to say thanks to everyone who spread the word about and took part in yesterday’s Beer Paws fundraiser for Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation.

10 bottle opener orders came through, from places near and far.

20 percent of the proceeds will go to the Alliance, to support efforts against puppy mills and other inhumane practices in Missouri.

You guys are awesome. Thanks so much!

And if you ordered Beer Paws, be sure to share a picture of your dog and bottle opener over at the Beer Paws Facebook page!

If you missed the flash sale, you can still give back through your purchase. As of today, ten percent of sales are back to supporting Midwest Adopt-a-Bull dog Tessa.

Click to shop!

Picture1

Nice Day for a Ride

image

Not everything is right in the world – particularly if you happen to live near the tornado path in Oklahoma.

But today in Kansas City, the sun is out, the breeze is sweet, and (in spite of some troubles of our own) we have plenty to be thankful for.

This little scene of two smiling dogs in a car will be repeated this morning, as I chauffeur Luke and Scooby to Kennel Creek Pet Resort.

I’m so glad they will be taken care of on a day when my plate at work is sure to be overflowing.

What are you grateful for today?

 

What Are Beer Paws?

image

I have been obsessed with the idea of bottle openers for dog collars for quite a while now.

I first encountered a dog with bottle opener bling on the set of the Pet Pops video.

The notion amused and impressed me so much that I eventually outfitted Luke with a bottle opener.

golden retriever with bottle opener

At your service!

Then, it occurred to me that creating a line of bottle openers intended to be used by dog lovers would be a great way to spread around this fun idea while also supporting my personal projects and raising funds for animal rescue.

Voila! Beer Paws were born.

Luke Beer Paw

I officially founded the company with the state of Missouri this week.

The first round of button style bottle openers were a hit at the Cinco de Mayo Chihuahua parade, and I’ve already had some out of state orders.

Beer Paws bottle opener

Shiny collar bling for your dog.

At 2.5 inches, this particular style is a little big for small dog’s collars.

But it works great at the end of a leash, or even attached to your own bag or keys.

Reilly and Willow look good with Beer Paws!

Reilly and Willow look good with Beer Paws!

Eventually, I see the Beer Paws brand encompassing a little bit more than just bottle openers. But for now, that’s where I’m starting.

The official Beer Paws website will soon go live. In the meantime, please Like the Beer Paws fan page on Facebook.

Place your orders via the Wayward Dogs shop on Storenvy.

If you’re in Kansas City, you can also buy Beer Paws directly from me or from the following purveyors:

Kennel Creek Pet Resort

GoodDog2Go

I’d love to hear what you all think of this idea. Please share your thoughts in the comments or send me an e-mail!

Benefit of a Buzz Cut

Luke said c’est la vie to his golden locks.

golden retriever gets a buzzcut

Luke’s imitation of a goldendoodle.

In the hopes that the weather will soon get warm and stay that way, Luke recently got the shortest haircut he has ever had.

My goals with this ‘do were:

  1. To reduce summer shedding
  2. To lengthen the typical time between grooms
  3. To limit his opportunities to accumulate debris (especially the thorny kind)

But getting Luke shorn extra short also came with another benefit.

The groomer found a stray staple in one of the scars from his recent lump removals.

Apparently, the vet missed this staple on the follow-up visit. It may be why the swelling around that particular incision site never completely subsided.

All is well now, though. The vet removed the staple, and Luke is now living proof that regular grooming is good for more than aesthetics and comfort. Regular grooming can help uncover health issues before they become a problem.

Big thanks to the groomer at Kennel Creek Pet Resort for being thorough with our Luke!

Has your groomer ever discovered something strange on your pet?

Beer With Their Breakfast

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right?

image

Yes, Luke. Yes, it is.

But it doesn’t matter, your beer is alcohol-free, and it doesn’t even require that nifty bottle opener you wear on your collar.

So, go ahead, guzzle some Bowser Beer. Lap it up at the beginning of a hard day. Use it like gravy, even, on your kibble.

The other guys are doing it, too.

image

I’ve known about the dog-friendly Bowser Beer for a while, but I had not run into any locally until last weekend’s Dogs on the Lawn event at the Nelson-Atkins Museum.

For just a few dollars, I grabbed a bottle of the Beefy Brown Ale for my boys to try.

According to the label, the suggested serving size is one bottle for medium to large dogs and half a bottle for small dogs. However, even the proprietors of the food truck for dogs where I bought it said they don’t give their two labs that much beer.

They suggested a splash here and there, maybe drizzled over some kibble. Just refrigerate after opening, they advised.

I broke out the bottle the very next day. Before pouring some in a dish for the dogs, I tasted it myself.

I found it watery and slightly sweet, not so beefy.

image

Scooby tried it next. Although puzzled at first, he soon lapped it up eagerly.

Luke then had pretty much the same reaction.

Finally, Charlie “Chetty” Machete got his portion. He was least impressed of all, licking at the bowl and then looking up at me, as if to say, “Where’s the beef?”

image

The next morning, I poured a little Bowser Beer over everyone’s dry food. That did seem to make mealtime significantly more exciting.

Although I don’t see us buying Bowser Beer by the case, I think it’s a brilliant item for a dog-oriented food truck to stock. I’m sure Good Dog 2 Go will do great business  at pet-friendly races and other summer events.

Besides the novelty, one reason someone may want to give their dogs Bowser Beer is for the glucosamine.

Bowser Beer

Glucosamine HCL is the fourth ingredient on the label, after water, beef and malt extract. The only other three ingredients are common preservatives: citric acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate.

I could also see how incorporating Bowser Beer into a dog’s diet – regularly or as an infrequent treat – could help boost a dog’s water intake or help make liquid medicine go down a little easier.

Bowser Beer is made in the U.S.A. with all domestically-sourced products. You can learn more at BowserBeer.com.

Would you let your dogs try Bowser Beer?

I have no affiliation with Bowser Beer. I simply bought some and wanted to share my experience!

Sowing the First Spring Seeds

It’s been quiet around here lately.

image

No lie – I’ve been trying to cut back on the daily computing.

I’ve been needing to get outside.

Luckily, the weather was warm over the weekend, so we headed out to the garden for some peace – and hard work.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I would plant much this year. I’ve felt so bad about neglecting last year’s garden that I haven’t even started any seedlings yet this spring.

But when I knelt down by our carrot patch, where that crisp orange smell still lingers in the soil, I knew I had to raid our little seed bank.

image

As usual, I sowed ’em thick – two rows of traditional carrots, one row of purple carrots, one row of beets and one row of root parsley.

Over the past couple of years, our gardening experiments have taught us that root vegetables – from sweet potatoes and carrots to turnips and radishes – are easy.

And the dogs tend to love tasty roots as much as we do.

image

I’m hoping for a bumper crop of root veggies this summer.

In the meantime, the fruit trees are full of buds and dozens of onions are just begging to be trimmed as garnishes or dug up for roasting.

And there are wild things to harvest.

Come back tomorrow to learn about the weeds we’ve been eating and a recipe!

Have you begun gardening yet this spring?

Dogs in Boots: A Tragedy

After the first round of snow blanketed Kansas City, I suited up Luke and Charlie Machete in their winter weather gear.

Due to his propensity to get ice balls stuck between his toes, I recently began putting boots on Luke during snowy walks.

As with most things, the golden retriever tolerates the boots. And as long as they stay on, they do keep his feet dry and clean. Sadly, he lost one boot in deep snow five minutes after this video was taken.

golden retriever in snow shoes

Pro tip: Dog boots are not so good for trudging new paths through snow drifts.

This was first time I ever managed to get boots on Charlie Machete. He seemed so uncomfortable, however, that I did not make him wear them out of the house.

I am pretty sure if I had, a certain snide little elderpin would have never let the black lab mix live it down.

Let me know what you think of this video. Scooby’s cameo is my favorite part.

Have you ever put snow shoes on your dog?

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

It was a rough week, but it’s almost over now.

golden retriever smile

Ah, yes. It’s Friday!

Luke is ready to play in the snow some more before it all melts.

What’s on your weekend agenda?

How to Eat Leftover Birthday Cake

My mama made me a two-layer German chocolate cake for my 31st birthday.

I eat it for breakfast.

image

You know what tastes great with absolutely any chocolate cake? Coffee!

In case you’re wondering, the specific coffee in question is coarsely ground fair trade Guatemalan coffee from Kansas City’s own the Roasterie. I French-pressed it myself this morning.

I also eat my leftover birthday cake after dinner.

kona brewing company beer

You know what goes great with German chocolate cake in the evening? Hawaiian beer!

I am totally obsessed with this beer right now. I discovered Kona Brewing Company back when my friend Kenton and I visited Maui in 2008. In just the past month, the brand has become available at our neighborhood liquor store.

There are three other varieties available, but the Aloha Series Koko Brown is my favorite. It is brewed with toasted coconut.

Clearly none of the decadence on this page is suitable for canines to share.

But the non-screw beer caps do require the help of party dog Luke and his super handy bottle opener DIY collar accessory.

golden retriever with bottle opener

At your service!

What sort of decadence are you indulging in today?

Executive Orders

After celebrating my 31st birthday all weekend, it seems my break from the daily grind has been extended.

presidents day dog meme

Secretary of Defense Charlie Machete and Vice President of Waywardness Luke Jones delivered the message for their boss.

president's day camo miniature pinscher meme

The Wayward Dogs hope you have a relaxing President’s Day!