A Day At The Huntington Dog Beach

When the hubs asked me what I'd like to do for my birthday (last week), I instantly said "go somewhere where we can take Gigi with us". There was no way I was going to celebrate my birthday while she sat at home in her crate. It just seemed wrong.

What can I say, I'm a sucker for a cute furry face.

The original plan was to head to San Diego for a few days, we found this amazing hotel that specializes in human and dog guests. However, we didn't have the moola to head that way so we opted to a fun day at the local dog beach.

If you've never been, I highly suggest you make a trip to Huntington Beach for a fun day at the Huntington Dog Beach. Dogs can run free off the leash, without judgment, make tons of new friends.

You may notice in the photo's  that G's on her leash, and it's not because we're being mean, truth is this girl runs faster than a jack rabbit and doesn't like to come back when called. Yeah, we still have some training to do.

Leash or no leash, she (the hubs and I) had an absolute blast.

Huntington Dog Beach is located on PCH, between Seapoint Ave & 21st Street.
If you want to enter an address into your GPS, use 100 Goldenwest St. Huntington Beach, CA
Hours: 5 am - 10 pm / open 365 days a year.

*Note: There's tons of parking on PCH but they have meters so take plenty of change (no credit card meters). If you don't mind walking, there's usually lots of parking in the residential area across PCH - but it's about a 2-3 block walk.

Adorable Personalized Dog Tags

I've recently found myself being very picky about something as simple as a dog tag for Gigi. I know, it's not supposed to be anything fancy, just something that tells people who she is and who to contact if she's ever lost.

But with all these adorable choices...how can I possibly make a choice?!

beautiful mutts / custom pet tags / critter bling

island top custom tags / the made stamper / kippy and co

shop mimi green / shop mimi green

marlon brandleather

monogram frenzy / monogram frenzy

I think I'm leaning towards the collars with the tag info on the clip. Very cute and I never have to worry about a tag falling off or irritating her. Super cute though, all of them.

February Is National Pet Dental Month

Just like you, your pet needs a clean mouth. Not only is it a good idea because it'll help curb that stinky doggy breath but also because it can keep your pet healthy.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month so head to the store, grab your pet a toothbrush and get brushing those pearly whites. I bought Gigi a combo pack (2 headed toothbrush & toothpaste) at Walmart for around $5.

It's important to brush your pets teeth several times a week but don't freak out if you haven't done so...today's a great day to start.

In addition to bad breath, poor oral health can lead to kidney and heart disease. The bacteria in the mouth can build up, entering the bloodstream via the gums. This puts extra work on the kidneys to filter out bacteria. And these bacteria can set up house in a dog’s heart valves, potentially leading to a condition called valvular endocarditis.

According to her previous owners, Gigi usually had her teeth brushed at the Vet but since we don't have that kind of moola, we do it at home. Don't worry if your pet is resistant at first, it takes a bit to get used to but will quickly become routine.

TIPS:

• Brush teeth daily.
• Squeezing canine tooth paste on your finger and putting it between their cheeks and gums will help get them used to the taste.
• As they lick the paste, praise them constantly.
• Keep initial brushing sessions to a few gentle seconds. Remember to always praise them as you brush.
• Once your dog is used to having his teeth brushed, do so for about a minute daily.
• Giving them a treat afterwards may help.

Other items and treats can help canine oral care, such as dental chews and rawhides which promote chewing and mechanically remove plaque. 

Natural Ways To Soothe A Dog's Upset Stomach

The other day G woke up with what seemed like an upset stomach. Her poo was runny, she was mopey, and wouldn't eat (something that very rarely happens).

If she had been a human, I'd of made her some chicken soup and served it with saltines. Crazy thing is, it's not too far from that, according to many vet websites. Here are a few food items that may help soothe a dog's tummy:

Plain Rice

Boiled Chicken (boneless, no salt)
*save the broth & you can pour over the rice

Banana Baby Food 
(if you can get your dog to eat it. G hates bananas.)

100% Pure Pumpkin
(NOT the pie filling stuff)

Plain Yogurt
(try mixing a bit of the pumpkin into the yogurt...yum)

and ALWAYS provide plenty of

If your dog has serious diarrhea it may be a good idea to have them fast for 10-12 hours, depending on their size. After this, stick to a light diet for a few days. 

Important: If you're dog is showing serious signs of illness, call the vet or take them to the nearest pet hospital. Also, don't give your dog any meds without speaking to your veterinarian first.

Everyone Deserves Kisses

The hubs and I don't technically celebrate Valentine's Day but that didn't stop the love from being spread around in our place.

It just so happened I received a pretty awesome Valentine's Day package from a blog swap buddy on V-day, and it included a cool sock money. The hubs thought for sure it was going to be his but Gigi had other ideas...

*please ignore the fellas talking in the background of the video...it's my loud bro & hubs