I got the term from Jimmy DiResta (a Youtube guy who makes really cool videos). His shop cat, Spike, looks a lot like yours. Spoiler
My sister has a little plastic treat-dispensing ball for her pooch... it has an internal treat reservoir that allows a piece to drop out after it's been rolled around the right way: IQ Treat Ball. Not sure if Piggy (love that name) is the type to say screw it and just try to tear it open like Buck would, but it's the first thing that comes to my mind as a cheaper alternative to the Cleverpet. This shop dog here is a fearless hunter in the field but vacuums are his kryptonite, so he scoots upstairs whenever I flick the dust collector on. Otherwise he's always around to provide moral support or stand-in as a scapegoat for my screw-ups, and forces me to keep the floor clean lest I want wood chips and loose carbon fiber strands tracked into the rest of the house.
Apparently shop cats are a thing? I thought mine was weird for liking to be around saws and crap. As soon as I start building something she's right there all up in everything. Cat is completely black, scares the crap outta me at night when she jumps down from trees trying to dive bomb me in the yard. I'll put up a picture when I get the chance.
This is SO COOL. I want to learn how to make things like that. Here I was thinking I spoiled my cat because I give him cardboard boxes turned on their sides to hang out in. P.S I acquired a turtle last year. I renamed him Notortious B.I.G. Here he is with my cat, Miro, when we took over my roommate's room last weekend to bask in sunlight: Spoiler: Big(gie) And here he is in his dinosaur costume I made for him because I am too cool for my own good: Spoiler: Big(gie)
Buck is so handsome! His sad droopy face reminds me of Buddy's. We actually have that exact toy already. Piggy loves it and it is good for about an hour of interaction. The only downside is that we have hardwood floors and she makes a huge racket when she plays with it. We figured out how smart she was after she got it stuck under the TV cabinet three times. She now keeps it away from the TV and if it starts rolling in that direction, she bats it to the opposite side of the room. Buddy wants to please us more, but she is about 2x as smart. No prey drive, though.
And here's another one because I can't resist. They are so cute! Here they are after getting woken up from a nap.
took my dogs to work with me because the cleaning lady is afraid of them, they have no fucking boundaries.
New dog, KT, the Euro-Hound. She was a sled dog, got one of her premolars knocked out by a mule deer doe kicking her, got her butt ripped up [literally just her butt, but quite a few slashes to it] by a male coyote who attacked the whole team of dogs and died in the attempt trying to protect his den in vain during a spring ATV running. She's six now, and still moving around just fine. A good dog, off-leash or on, she gets angry at other dogs if they don't know how to be polite in play, and gets along with my cat Augusta just fine. She also is a better mouser than her. [She eats squirrels, voles and mice and keeps trying to convince the feral cats and rabbits at the park they need to leave or enter her digestive tract in bite-sized pieces] Likes riding in the car, likes meeting people. A damn fine exercise and hiking companion. And a bonus of my friend Travis's dog, Grey Wind.
I know this is random but since it came across my "honey do" list figured I'd toss the link up if anyone else needed it: The best fucking dog collar ever. The dog who I just re-ordered that for, she's crazy active but also every other collar she's had has chaffed the shit outta her neck. We tried every material out there, neoprene, leather, microfiber, all rubbed the hair off her. But those spiffy dog collars for whatever reason have never caused her a problem and best of all doesn't smell. Never washed it, just take it off when we give her a bath and toss it back on. Had to re-order one only because the other one is starting to look a little rough after a few years. No, they don't pay me or anything, but I love my animals and good finds are good finds.
My dogs have some bald spots on their necks. Buddy had them since we got him, but he may have been an abandoned pet who used to have a collar. Are those usually from their collar? Side note: I bought a pair of expensive ass flea collars and Buddy was allergic to his. Over a couple months time he developed red welts all over his belly. I was giving him benedryl every day because I thought it had to do with the grass and pollen (he has had skin issues before). Nope, no dice. I took the collar off and his skin cleared up in about a month. I put it back on: welts. Took it off, they went away. Does anyone know how long these collars last if they are not on a dog? Piggy is fine with her collar, but these things are supposed to last 8-9 months and cost around $45 a pop. I'd like to use his on her when hers is expired but I am worried that the efficacy is fading once it is open, period. Anyone know?
Have you tried a drop on the back of the neck brand, like Revolution? It's expensive, but it also stops flea tick and heartworm all in one shot. None of my dogs have ever reacted poorly to it, and Abraham tends to get itchy paws if anything is amiss.
I did, but it was the cheap stuff and was always only for flea and tick. I wasn't crazy about the grease streak, but it was cheap and effective until we got Piggy, who was infested terribly with fleas and all bitten up. Spoiler: Flea rant ahead We didn't realize how bad it was and the initial things we did were half measures, like flea baths and monthly treatments. The fleas ended up getting on Buddy too, who has never had them. I ended shit about 9 weeks ago by going on a tear: I gave flea baths, washed all bedding and blankets, put on Serestro flea collars, used Vet Kem Siphotrol for the entire yard, bought 12 doses of Capstar, applied Diatamaceous earth for the patio and cracks and corners, applied Vet's Best Natural flea spray for carpets, upholstery, piles of shoes, and bedding's inside foam. BOOM! I better not see another flea or I will seriously lose my mind. Buddy has been on Heartgard monthly chewables since we got him. I am hesitant to switch to a topical application because I am worried that I am not applying it correctly with enough getting directly on the skin, or that the subsequent bath 3 days later would make it somehow less protective. I don't want to take a chance when it comes to heartworms. I am being paranoid, right? I am in the south and heartworm infections are common.
We had a really scary accident on Saturday with Buck on a busy street... let's just say we're really fortunate it wasn't worse and feel like we got a second chance with 'ol Bucky. The cone will be around for a couple of weeks until his stitches come out. Fortunately he's already pretty much back to his old self, just a little slower as he heals up. Lesson learned, don't get complacent with safety. A leash would have avoided all this trouble and I don't want to make that mistake again. While I'm at it, here's a couple of neighbor doggies. Gus here, known by everyone as Gus Gus, is a cocker spaniel who was found roaming North Minneapolis not long ago. They are guessing his age at 6-ish and the poor guy has a bunch of health issues after being neglected for a long time but his condition has been improving very rapidly since he's been taken in and he will take all the loving you will offer. Gidget the Great Dane is Buck's neighborhood girlfriend. They sit and stare at each other across the alleyway until given permission to play. I'm not yet convinced she isn't just a miniature horse, as her back comes up to my waist and she weighs 170 pounds.
TIB meet Stella McCartney. She's been mine for almost a year but I just found the best photo of her that I've ever taken.
Mine always sleeps like that too. Her body doesn't seem designed for it because she is sort of shaped like a salami: