peeves.

A few friends and I were talking the other day about the things that really annoy us simply because they drive our dogs CRAZY. I've found that I can't really classify these things as "pet peeves", but I also can't classify them as "people peeves"... so I've settled on just calling them Peeves. Am I missing any?

1. Dogs in cars who bark out the window. Safety hazard for me and Claire!! She gets so irritated and gets all jumpy, and then I have to shield her from bouncing off the sidewalk into the street. Roll up your windows, people, or leave your dog at home!
2. People in cars who bark out the window. Yup. You're an idiot. Show some respect.
3. Small animals with tails. Squirrels. Cats. Chipmunks. Groundhogs (we saw one a few weeks ago). They should hibernate forever. Or at least exist in a wide open field so that Claire can chase them safely without me having to worry about all the traffic.
4. All the traffic. I'm sure y'all can agree, whether you have a dog or not.
5. An inability to climb trees. If she could, it would make #3 a lot easier. It would also be a huge help when the neighborhood kids play frisbee with her and get it stuck waaaay up in the branches.
6. An inability to eat chocolate. I like sharing snacks with Claire. And when I make delicious things like brownies and cookies, it hurts me to see her big brown eyes staring up at me when I know that she can't have the chocolate...
7. The depth of the PB jar. If it were short and stout like a teapot, her tongue could reach the bottom. But instead, she can only get a good half of what's left on the sides, and there's all that PB on the bottom that she just can't reach. It's such a tease.
8. Leashes. Roaming free would be much more fun for Claire, but I just tell her that she's the one taking ME for a walk, and that I'd get lost finding our way back without her. Makes me feel better.
9. Loud people. Calm the heck down!! Bring it from a 10 to a 2!! Claire is getting stressed out, and my ears are ringing!
10. Lack of personal space. Claire and I hate this -- me with strange people (airplanes give me anxiety because of this), and Claire with other dogs (aka: most puppies). Back it on up and trust that yes, we can still see and hear you from an arms' length away.

There are, of course, more things that could be added to this list. Give me some time and you may see a Part 2 sooner or later. Did I miss any big ones?

the holistic dog.

I started using doTerra essential oils about a month ago to help ease the symptoms of fibromyalgia and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Both illnesses can be hard to get under control, and sleep issues are not only a symptom but also a perpetuating cause of flares.

Because of this, I first dipped my toes into the doTerra waters by purchasing lavender and a blend called Serenity. Before bed each night, I apply Serenity to the bottoms of my feet (the oils are more quickly absorbed into the bloodstream that way) and lavender to my neck and wrists.

This stuff works, y'all. But that's a different story for a different time (email me if you are interested in hearing more).

After a few nights, I noticed that, every time I opened the bottle of lavender, Claire's eyes would pop right open and her tail would start wagging. Every time. So, I began putting some lavender on her chest and behind her ears before putting her to bed. Since I started using it on her, I've noticed that she has a much easier time relaxing and falls asleep more quickly.

I started doing some research, and it turns out that you can use a number of oils on dogs for so many different things. Claire had another bout of acute pancreatitis last week and I rubbed marjoram and lemon on her tummy and between her paw pads to help with the pain. Lemongrass and peppermint combined makes a great insect repellent, as does the Purify blend. The combination of lemon, peppermint, and lavender provide great allergy relief (and I'll be starting both of us on this regimen early next week). Clary Sage treats dry skin. Digest Zen treats nausea and vomiting. Frankincense and lavender/Serenity calm stressed out dogs. THE OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS!!

I'm really excited about this discovery of doTerra, and it's worked so well for me and Claire that I'm now a Wellness Advocate for them -- after only a few weeks of being introduced to their products. If you have any questions about what essential oils might work for you and/or your dog, let me know and I'm happy to help! It's worth a try, right?

you'll thank me for telling you about this stuff.

I was doing a little browsing last night before bed, and I have to say that I found some pretty share-worthy things - just in time for today's post! I've also read a ton of great books lately that I wanted to let you all know about, too! Grab a pen and paper, and get ready for information-overload...

• Life+Dog posted this article about how to recognize anxiety in dogs and how to help them.
• Tails Inc. featured a video that our dear friends Lauren and Dexter made - and Paige made an appearance too!
• Tatiana Garrett wrote a fantastic article for Tails Inc. entitled "Animal Lovers Must Love People Too", which I completely resonated with, as both a social worker and animal lover.
• Ashley and Winnie from Hot Diggity [one of our favorite pet boutiques back home on Cape Cod - you know, aside from The Black Dog] have started a new weekly blog featuring cool new products at their store that you should definitely check out. And yes, shipping is available!
• HuffPo recently posted an article about why dogs sleep curled up, and they linked to VetStreet's article about why dogs sleep belly up. Both are questions that I've wondered myself...
• Thanks to our friends at Dog Milk, I came across this dog tag, which is perfectly fitting for Claire. It's been added to our wish list, of course, since Christmas is just a few months away!
• I found two new sites that I quickly became obsessed with: Hugs and Inubar, which are definitely worth checking out for an assortment of toys and other designer products for your pet.

Lastly, some books that you absolutely must pick up, simply because they are amazing:

Wallace by Jim Gorant

Unsaid by Neil Abramson

The Dog Who Danced by Susan Wilson

A Dog's Life: Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin

A Dog's Journey by W. Bruce Cameron [the sequel to A Dog's Purpose]

    

we know our memes.

I've been getting quite a laugh from a couple of the memes

that are circulating around the internet these days.

It's as if these were written specifically with Claire in mind...

The picky eater:

Flashback to when she was a puppy:

Every so often she tries to bury her bone IN the couch cushion

and this is what happens:

And then, of course, we experience this EVERY DAY:

What memes out there make you think of your dog?

Leave a comment or share it on the Facebook page!

   

our bucket list.

So, by now, most of you have probably heard about this sweet story of a boy who created a bucket "lick it" list for his terminally ill service dog. When I read it, of course it got me thinking about all of the things I'd like to do with Claire in her lifetime. I have my own bucket list that consists of 90+ things that I'd like to do in my life [getting a puppy was one of them], but I decided to put together a separate list for me and Claire. Here are some of the items, in no particular order of importance.

1. Fence in the backyard so that Claire has more room to run when we're not at the dog park.
2. Go on a vacation to the beach, just the two of us - spend our nights staying at a dog-friendly hotel and spend our days playing by the ocean.
3. Share a cone of Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream.
4. Walk a 5k together [I'd say that we'd run, but that would be a nightmare because she would think we were playing a game of chase, and I would die of either exhaustion or of embarrassment].
5. Have my friend and fellow photographer Erin do a photo shoot of me and Claire.
6. Let Claire lead a walk.
7. Have a birthday party in my backyard with a cake from See Spot Eat, and invite all of her friends. Send out real invitations, hand out party favors, and have decorations fit for a queen!
8. Go for a ride in a convertible. [I'll have to hold on to her so she doesn't jump out].
9. Take a picture of Claire in a field of sunflowers. Print it on a canvas to hang up in the house.
10. Get a tattoo of Claire's paw print.
11. Get 100 followers on Google Friend Connect, and reach 200 followers on our Facebook page. [This is obviously a personal goal, but I still felt that I needed to add it!]
12. Create another masterpiece and sell copies to raise money for the Nashville Humane Society.

What should I add to this list? What's on the bucket list for you and your dog?

  

true confessions of a dog owner.

It's time for some true confessions! Are you ready for this? I put together a list of twelve truths pertaining to being a dog owner. Know that I mean no offense, so I apologize in advance if anything written is taken the wrong way. But I figured it would be fun to let you all know some of my honest-to-goodness thoughts and maybe even share some of my own bad habits! Leave a comment below with some of your confessions - I love getting the scoop!

1. I am of the persuasion that raising a dog is just as hard as raising a child.

2. Every Sunday, when I go grocery shopping, I make sure to bring back a special little treat or toy for Claire.

3. It's very likely that I spend more money on Christmas presents for Claire than I do on all of my friends combined.

4. No matter how adorable I think your dog is, I'll always think that mine is cuter.

5. I think you can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat their dog. I tend to write people off if I see them treating their dog poorly.

6. It's really hard for me to like you if you don't like my dog. And please know that "like" does not mean "tolerate."

7. I have more of a problem with separation anxiety than Claire does. She usually does just fine when she's at Bark-O-Lounge while I'm on vacation. I, however, call/text a few times per day to make sure that she's all right...

8. I have been late to work a time or two solely because I've stayed in bed cuddling with Claire for too long.

9. Sometimes when we're at the park, I yell "SQUIRREL!!" really loudly because I think it's hilarious how Claire's ears immediately perk up and she looks all around to find it.

10. There have been many times where I have slept on the very edge of the bed as to not disturb the angelic sleep of Princess Claire.

11. Claire's vice is digging, and I even encourage it sometimes because I feel like it helps file those nails ;)

12. If I believed in past lives, I would definitely think that I was a dog.
  

because sometimes people need to be trained, too.

It's National Dog Bite Prevention Week. How do I know this? Because every pet blogger is posting about it. Ah, the joys of social media! Over here at Life With Claire, we of course want to do our part to inform you of ways in which you can prevent dog bites. Your "training" will begin... now:

So there you have it. Just some helpful little tips in the form of infographics. Spread the word, y'all. The more education we can get out there about how to be smart with dogs, the better!
 
 

my attempt at an "about me".

"Tell me a little about yourself" is a phrase that usually scares the hell out of me. It's so... open-ended. I do much better with specific questions so that I can tailor my answer to whatever you're looking for. You know, like if you ask what my favorite color is, I'll tell you that it's the numerous shades of the ocean. Or if you ask what my favorite song is, I can immediately tell you that it's "Grace's Amazing Hands" by Dave Barnes. See? I like questions with direction.

I realized the other day that the only thing most of you know about me is that I love my sweet black&white dog who has added lots of color to my life. Unlike most bloggers, I don't have an "About Me" tab on the sidebar, mainly because the thought of writing about myself is so unpleasant. But I think I've hesitated long enough, which is where this little attempt comes into play. List-form seems a little less intimidating, so... here's some things about me.

• I am going to Africa in October 2012 to work at a few orphanages in Uganda with Visiting Orphans [shameless plug: if you'd like to donate to help me get there, go here, select the Uganda 2012 trip, and preference your donation to Lauren Ferzoco].
• I love all things that sparkle.
• I was born and raised on Cape Cod but have lived in multiple places along the coast of Massachusetts, and I'd love to move back someday.
• There is no better way for me to describe my emotions than to play you a song that reflects how I feel.
• I'm an outgoing introvert. And no, that is not a contradiction - look it up :)
• Sarcasm is my second language.
• I have a tattoo and have ideas for three more.
• I believe that I was made for a grand adventure. Even though I haven't quite figured out what that adventure is yet.
• Some people-peeves include: constant chatter, doctors who smoke (aka hypocrites), feeling like I'm being micromanaged, hipsters, married individuals who speak in the plural. To name a few.
• I sing, play the piano, and write songs in my spare time.
• I'm a pediatric medical social worker, but I'm also a pet lifestyle photographer [website under construction] in Nashville and I freelance for pet lifestyle magazines.
• I have a huge crush on Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother. And in case you didn't know, that's the best.show.ever.
• I consider eating to be a hobby. I'm Italian. [That should explain everything].

There is so much more that I could share but I'll stop here, mainly because this is such a narcissistic post and it's kind of making me cringe. To make me feel better, leave a comment below and tell me something about yourself, okay? Thanks, friends. :)

     

three lies and a truth.

My pal Lauren at Life with Desmond told me about this little gem of a game - which is commonly used as an ice-breaker in a variety of different environments (camp, work, etc) - and she started it on her blog today as well. I'm a "Life With" girl too, so I figured I should join the fun!

Here are four things that could be true about Claire. Your job is to guess which one is actually the truth amidst the three other lies. Within the next few days, I'll reveal which is true along with the story behind it.

1. I have taken Claire to see my chiropractor before.
2. I recently bought sheets of Egyptian cotton to put over Claire's "couch" - only the best for this sweet girl!
3. Claire's newest trick involves making me a waffle. [We were inspired by our dear friends Lauren&Paige who showcased this trick on David Letterman - watch their practice session here!]
4. I am considering adopting a kitten solely because Claire is enamored with cats.

Alright, leave a comment and let me know which one you think is true! My sis is coming into town this weekend to spend some time with me and Claire [YAY!!!!], so I'll be back on Monday night to reveal the truth and share the details!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

  

i'd just like to thank...

You know what? I'm just going to admit it: I like blog awards. But I would, because I'm all about encouragement and praise [giving it and receiving it], and a blog award falls right into that category! So thank you, Lauren and Desmond for thinking of us and passing it on! I'm excited to extend the compliment to six of my favorite blogs, too! But before I do the honors, I'm supposed to list some fun facts. These fun facts are going to be related to today and this weekend in particular, along with some other random things that are on my mind!

1. I'm spending this weekend puppysitting for Claire's friends Ollie and Darby while Erin&Jake go on a cruise. Claire hasn't seen them in awhile, so they're having a ton of fun catching up and playing hard. Rambunctious is a good word to describe the three of them right now, as I'm watching them take turns tackling each other.
2. Claire usually smells like maple syrup - hence the "last name" of Butterworth - but when we're at La Casa de Ollie&Darby, I find that she tends to smell like molasses. No complaints here! Either way, she's sweet as sugar... [I had to say it].
3. Claire's favorite treats are frozen 2" raw marrow bones. They're excellent for her teeth/breath, but I believe the cause of her pancreatitis was from giving her 4" ones. They were a little too rich for her. Note to self: 2"=good, 4"=pancreatitis. We're taking a hiatus from them altogether for just a little while. Solely because I'm nervous that the pancreatitis will flair up again without Claire taking a substantial break from all things rich and delicious.
4. I find it amazing how people learn to communicate with their dogs. I swear, sometimes Claire just looks at me, and I know what she is thinking and/or asking. I don't think one can understand this unless they've experienced it, so if you don't know what I'm talking about, you probably think I'm crazy. Go adopt a dog and then you'll see what I mean.
5. I took today off from work so that I could do some life-giving activities (including taking a long nap with Claire, which was very much needed). It made me realize that people need to live a little more of a dog's life; dogs spend the majority of their time sleeping, eating, playing. Sometimes they do work (agility, pet-therapy, rally, tracking), but they keep a good balance. Minimal stress. They've got it right. So do Europeans. [Just saying].
6. I'm considering making some homemade dog treats this weekend. You know, if I am feeling ambitious. Got any suggestions?

Okay, time to pass on the award! Make sure you check out these amazing blogs - they keep me laughing!

1. Barley&Ali - Ali left a comment on our last post, and I've been obsessed with her blog ever since! While you're visiting her blog, leave a comment for her and let her know that you're thinking of Barley as he recovers from surgery.
2. Magnolia the Therapy Dog - This was the first pet blog I ever read, and it's been so cool to follow along with Maggie's adventures. I love the way Jay writes, and his posts are peppered with adorable pictures of Maggie! He also inspired me to work with Claire as a therapy dog, and I can't possibly thank him enough for that!
3. Sage&Erin - Erin posts about once a month, but even knowing that, I find myself checking her blog every week to see if there's an update! I feel like Erin and I could be friends if we lived near each other because she's just that awesome! She started this blog to chronicle her memories with Sage, which is why I originally started my blog as well. Start reading at the beginning - you'll laugh, you'll cry, and everything in between!
4. Life with Arie - I met Katie in October at the BarkWorld conference, and I loooove her! We became fast friends. And how could we not, when we're both "Life With" girls? Her blog is a great mix of fun and helpful information. And she does product reviews, which has saved me both time and money when looking for things to buy Claire!
5. Dog Milk - This website is chock full of products (for dogs and dog lovers alike) that you can't find at chain pet stores. Each item that is featured links up to the designer's website so that you can find it easily. If I had hours of free time, I'd gladly spend it browsing this site!
6. Fido and Wino - Shauna's blog began when she was single and continued on through dating, marriage, adopting two dogs, and now... she's having a baby, y'all! This blog chronicles ALL of that. But now that a baby is on the way, she talks more about Fido and less about Wino. She's responsible like that.

Now I'm ready for some chill time with three sleepy dogs. So I'm going to go do that while you check out those blogs!

  

anatomy: dog vs human.

Claire has been acting out of sorts today, so I've been googling her behavior to try and figure out what might be wrong. [Did it help? No. Am I now afraid that she has some rare disease? Yes.] In my search, however, I found the following infographic that compares dog anatomy with human anatomy. So, while I continue to peruse the internet to try and come up with a diagnosis for Claire, I figured you all might get a kick out of this:

More stories and pictures from our vacation over the holidays will be coming within the next few days. Promise!

   

  

15 annoyances at the dog park.

I love the dog park. I really do. Sometimes I think that I love it more than Claire does - or just as much, anyway. But from time to time, people do stupid things there. Sometimes I feel like the dogs are smarter than the humans. My friends and I have this running list of things that just drive us crazy, so I wanted to share:


1.  When people pretend that they are deeply engrossed in a book or in their phone conversation while their Mastiff is getting ready to eat someone else's Pomeranian for a snack. I know that you know what's going on. Everyone knows that you know what's going on. So, unless you want all of The Regulars to call you out on your passiveness, get up and do something!

2.  When people pick up their dog because they think playtime is getting too rough. It's like dangling candy in front of a 3-year-old; they'll do anything they can to get it, and you will get hurt in the process.

3.  The people who get dressed to the nines for an afternoon at the park and then get mad when they get dirty. I want to go ahead and just tell Claire to jump all over you if you come wearing the equivalent of a ballgown. You lose another fifty points if your hair is perfectly coiffed and if you are wearing a solid five pounds of make-up. And don't even get me started on the hipsters...

4.  Bringing your toddler and letting them waddle around the park while dogs are running at full speed and wrestling with each other. What makes you think that's a smart idea?! You will NOT get my vote for Parent of the Year.

5.  People who think that everyone else's dog is the problem when all signs point to their own dog being an instigator.

6.  When people bring their dog's favorite toy to the park with them and then get mad when other dogs grab hold of it and rip it to shreds. I mean, Claire doesn't know that it's your dog's favorite toy! She just hears something that squeaks (aka: sounds like a squirrel or chipmunk) and knows that she wants it!

7.  Smoking cigarettes is always gross but it's even worse that people throw their cigarette butts on the ground. Some curious little puppy is going to try and eat that. What's your address, because I'll send you the vet bill.

8.  People who bring treats for their own dog and then get annoyed when they become the Pied Piper of the park.

9.  The dog trainer who brings his clients and their dogs to the park for training. That's just cruel for the poor dog, and your philosophy is idiotic. To bring them inside the park, expect them to pay attention to you while every other dog is trying to engage them, and then to yell at the dog for being confused is just ridiculous and uncalled for.

10. On behalf of my dear friend Amy and her dog Kingsley: all of the horse jokes that people make when a Great Dane comes in. Examples: "You need to put a saddle on that thing!" or "Look, it's Mr. Ed!" Not funny, and very unoriginal.

11. When a dog is trying to take a bite out of another dog and I see the naive owner running toward them shouting, "HE'S JUST TRYING TO PLAY, I SWEAR!!!!"

12. When people drop off their dogs at the park and leave them unsupervised while they go run errands. I'm sorry, but it's not a day care. And you are irresponsible.

13.  Children between the ages of 4-10 who run around screaming at the top of their lungs and trying to poke the dogs with sticks. I just want to yell, "WHERE ARE YOUR PARENTS?!?!" I mean, are people unaware that there are separate parks for kids and dogs?

14.  The people who try to sneak in their full-blooded pit bull by saying that it's a lab/boxer mix. Same goes for the people who try to sneak in their wolf hybrid by saying it's a purebred husky. We weren't born yesterday, and there usually won't be a problem anyway unless your dog is aggressive and out of control.

15.  I'm so glad that your dog likes to fetch tennis balls. Really. Just throw the ball to your dog in an area where people are scarce, because if your aim sucks and I get hit in the head with a tennis ball, I'm going to be furious! You know, after I shake off the unconsciousness that you caused in the first place. [Please note that I am one of those people who have terrible aim, so do not be offended if you, too, throw like a girl.]

Feel free to comment with anything that I forgot to add!

  

  

our very first blog award!

A huge thanks to Carrie at All Things Dog for sending a shout-out in the form of a blog award - this is so exciting for me! And while I get to celebrate by writing this post, Claire will get to celebrate by having a bone. Now how's that for awesome! There are a lot of people out there in the pet-blogging community (really, there are!) so it's great to be recognized!

Now, before I pass on this award to some of my favorite versatile bloggers, I am supposed to tell you seven random things about myself. Here it goes:

1. I am pretty sure that if I weren't self-conscious and didn't have morals, I would live in a nudist colony. I mean, hey, sometimes a person just doesn't like to wear pants. (However, because I am self-conscious, do have morals, and do not live in a nudist colony, I wear sundresses quite frequently.)
2. Now that I am older, I can identify a handful of people who were friends with me in high school solely because they adore my mom. She is very lovable (and makes some mean chocolate chip cookies), so I can see why they wanted to be around her!
3. I only have one vice: dessert. (Remember this will come in handy if you would like to bribe me or if you need to tell me something that you know will upset me. So take this little tidbit and store it away for future use.)
4. I have a very very long Bucket List. I try to accomplish a few things from this list each year. Only the MOST special people in my life get to know what's on it. I guess I like to pretend that I have an air of mystery about me...
5. I have watched every single episode of *Friends* in chronological order. Four times. And I am furious that the show ended. Outraged, actually.
6. Sometimes I wonder if anyone thinks that I'm as funny as I do. Seriously, I make myself laugh all the time. I find myself very entertaining.
7. I have many career goals that are quite different from one another: to be a missionary and work with children in Uganda, to be a writer, to be a professional photographer, to work for an animal rescue, and to be a rockstar.

Interesting, yes? I thought so. Alright, now I need to pass this along to other versatile bloggers! Congratulations to...

Magnolia the Therapy Dog

Ours for a Lifetime

Live Bark Love

Smart Dog

Daily Adventures of Sage and Erin

...Now go check out their blogs!


    

ten things that really annoy claire.

1) Going to the groomer. Claire has short fur, so the only reason she goes to the groomer is so that she can get her nails trimmed. I tried to do it myself but it clearly didn't work. You would think I was leading her out in front of a firing squad, the way she acts when we enter those doors. And if I stay to watch her get her nails trimmed, she becomes a bucking bronco and won't let them get anywhere near her. What really doesn't make sense, however, is that she is apparently just fine once I leave and wait outside. What's up with that?

2) The Clearview Bissell. Claire runs out of the room when she sees me with my wonderful vacuum, and then she sits on top of the couch until it goes back in the closet.

3) Riding in the backseat of the car. The only time she needs to sit in the backseat is when I have family or friends visiting. She tries to sit with them in the front seat and when she is reminded that she needs to sit in the back, she gives me one of her big sighs like a pouting toddler. Why don't dogs have any regard for safety?! Anyway, she is going to be even more annoyed when I buy this.

4) When we're sleeping and I move to get comfortable. I don't mean to disturb her beauty sleep, but when she sleeps stretched out horizontally in the middle of my bed, there is only a limit of time that my body can handle being curled up! Besides, I bought this for her to use while I'm in the kitchen, so I figure she can choose to sleep there if she is annoyed enough.

5) Suitcases. She knows that it means I'm going on vacation. Although she has fun at Bark-O-Lounge while I'm gone, she still hates that we're not together for a few days. The last time I was packing to go on a trip, she curled up in my suitcase and wouldn't move. She had to be coaxed out with a piece of sausage. I hate being away from her (so so much!), but I don't always have enough vacation time to drive to far-away destinations so that she can come with me! I am, however, planning to take an extra-long vacation next summer, solely because I want her to come too.

6) My iPhone. Whether I'm playing Angry Birds, Words with Friends, or talking to the president, she sees it as competition. And unless she is sleeping after wearing herself out at day care or the park, it is unacceptable for me to do anything else besides giving her attention.


7) Squirrels, chipmunks, birds, rabbits, or any other small animal that taunts her while she looks out the kitchen window. In her mind, the only thing they're good for is to be chased, and it frustrates her to no end when she can't go after them.

8) When it takes other dogs awhile to respond to her cues that she needs her space. Most of the time, she doesn't want to do anything besides play when we're at the park, but there is always the rare occasion that she wants to wander off, eat some grass, observe the world, and be by herself. I understand, because I do that too (except for the "eating grass" part).

9) That I am smarter than her. Don't get me wrong, Claire is brilliant, but I've got the benefit of being a human. Therefore, I know when she is trying to be sneaky about something and can stop her before she succeeds in causing whatever mischief she has in mind.

10) Saturdays. The only day of the week that I have the option of sleeping in. She is so good and will come back to bed to snuggle with me, but she is alert the whole time and just itching for play time. Lucky for her, it's been so hot during the day lately, that we've been getting up early on Saturdays to go to the dog park or the river before the heat becomes too much for both of us!

So, lovely readers, what things annoy your dog?

you know you're a dog owner when...

1. You have poop bags in the pockets of all of your coats.
2. You have extra tennis balls in the center console of your car. And more in the trunk. And more in the glovebox.
3. You carry around a Gentle Leader and some dog treats in your purse.
4. The inside of your car windows have noseprints all over them. Or drool. Or both.
5. You have perfected the art of the "baby voice" - and you don't have any children.
6. Everyone knows you at PetSmart.
7. You know where all of the dog parks are within a 50 mile radius.
8. There is a whole shelf in your freezer devoted to stuffed Kong toys.
9. Your accountant calls you to "make sure that you're aware" that a large portion of your earnings are being spent at pet boutiques, doggie day care, and trips to the vet.
10. The only books you buy anymore are about dogs (training, tips, breeds, personalities, etc)
11. You have a lint roller in your house, your car, and at work.
12. You use the term "mixed breed" rather than "mutt."
13. You keep the TV or radio on when you're not at home.
14. You love Victoria Stillwell and hate Cesar Milan, or you love Cesar Milan and hate Victoria Stillwell.
15. You get a little choked up when watching Animal Planet.
16. You are used to sleeping while curled up in a ball because your dog likes to stretch out on your bed at night.
17. You can only remember people by associating them with their dog.
18. There is a dresser drawer designated for "dog park clothes."
19. You don't trust people who don't like dogs.
20. You go to a party and get more excited to see the dog than the host.

If I forgot any, let me know!

bet you didn't know...

I have now been on Twitter for almost two months, and in that time, I've been able to connect with a lot of people who love dogs as much as I do! (If you aren't following me, you should be: lifewithclaire). One of the people I follow works for Delightfully Dog which is an online community that works to connect pet lovers. I love reading their tweets and I love their website, so you should check it out too. Anyway, one of their tweets from today was: "Fun fact #14: Dogs don’t like rain because the sound is amplified and hurts their very sensitive ears." Did you know that? I didn't know that! I was intrigued about Fun Facts #1-13, so I went to their website and found a whole long list of interesting things! Here are my favorites - along with my commentary:

4.    The longest lived dog, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was an Australian Cattle Dog, named Bluey, who lived to be 29. [I am hoping that Claire will live until she's 30 and will be in excellent health that entire time. Hey, a girl can dream!]

9.    The world’s smartest dogs are thought to be the border collie, the poodle, and the golden retriever. [And the Claire.]

17.  A greyhound can run as fast as 45 miles an hour. [Claire has been tracked by a police officer at running 30mph. Part lab and part whippet? Sometimes I think so.]

25.  Dogs are mentioned 14 times in the Bible. [I don't know about that, but you can bet that I'm going to try and find those verses after this! I'm curious as to what they say!]

29.  A dog’s whiskers are touch-sensitive hairs called vibrissae. They are found on the muzzle, above the eyes and below the jaws, and can actually sense tiny changes in airflow. [Sometimes Claire winces when I touch hers when I am petting her - such a sweet and sensitive girl!]

38.  Dogs and cats turn in circles before lying down because in the wild this instinctive action turns long grass into a bed. [And when Claire does this in my bed, she always ends up moving the blankets off of me and over to her side!]

46.  An estimated 1 million dogs in the United States have been named the primary beneficiary in their owner's will. [Primary beneficiary? I can see putting some provisions in there to ensure that your dog will continue to have a great quality of life, but as for the primary beneficiary... that's a little much, even for me.]

47.  At the end of the Beatles' song "A Day in the Life", an ultrasonic whistle, audible only to dogs, was recorded by Paul McCartney for his Shetland sheepdog. [And this song has just been downloaded from iTunes...]

58.  3 dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic, a Pomeranian and two Pekingese. [All small dogs because they were the only ones allowed on the boat? Or just because they had so much energy that they could keep swimming for hours on end?]

63.  Dog nose prints are as unique as human finger prints and can be used to accurately identify them. [Taking nose prints and keeping them on file should be a common practice then, wouldn't you think?!]

I've picked my top ten favorites and listed them for you, but if you want more, go here!

relationship between dogs and their owners.

Thanks to Facebook, I have found out some pretty great info about the relationship between dogs and their owners! One of my friends, who is a pharmacist at the hospital where I work, just posted some great facts about dogs and their owners as a status update. I thought the following was just fascinating!

Studies have found that when people interact with their dogs, oxytocin levels increase in both the person and the dog. Oxytocin is a "feel good" hormone and is related to the bonding between mothers and their babies. In other words, it is totally natural that a lot of people consider their dogs to be their "fur kids." Studies have also shown that dogs can in fact read human facial expressions; therefore, they do have the wherewithal to choose how they respond to these expressions. When Claire is being naughty, she gets The Look. And when she gets The Look, she pouts. Well, she does the equivalent to a pout: she lowers her head or rests her head on her paws and looks up at me while sighing or giving me a quick whine in protest.

My friend said, "Not only do I feel a dork for considering Bentley my child, but I can now add science to my rationalization!" Hey, all I know is that I now feel completely validated :)