THE CHOCOLATE DOG BLOG

Vacuums that don't suck (but they do)

2008-05-27T10:52:00.000-03:00

Pet hair can be a pain when trying to keep the house looking clean. I know in our house with a long haired cat and a short haired dog, the build up only takes a day or two. Endless sweeping and vacuuming sometimes just does not seem to work.

Is it the actual vacuum cleaner that sucks (or not in this case)?

Well there is a website that lists all of the best vacuums for pet hair so you don't have to wonder anymore.

I am sure when you go to buy one you just read what is on the box and assume it will work. A sales person may even say for sure that it works. How do you really know without testing them?

This site has done the testing for you.

They show the best ones ranked at the top with all of the info needed and of course the price.

How simple is that?

One feature I noticed that was cool is that it even lists if it is good for allergy sufferers. That must mean it really sucks the hair out of the carpet and air.

If you are looking for a new vacuum cleaner and have to think about your pets, I suggest hitting this site and at least compare brands. It is certainly eye opening at how much more hair you could be picking up with a better cleaner.

Use WikiShop to find the best deals

2008-04-11T10:40:00.002-03:00

There is so many places to shop online for dog products that it can be confusing where to go at first.

What if it was as easy as using something like google to find what you want to buy? Well now it can be.

It is called ShopWiki.

ShopWiki is revolutionary for shopping since it actively seeks out every store on the internet in a similar way that Google finds every web site, by crawling the web. You type in what you want and the site will go and find it.

Traditional online shopping sites will only show you stores that have paid for placement and that can really limit the scope.

ShopWiki will give a shopper everything regardless if they can earn anything on it or not. That will certainly level the playing field I would think.

For a shopper, this means you can find anything and everything for sale on the web very easily and fast.

I gave it a try and it was faster than a blink of an eye.

I typed in Dog Toys and right away the screen was full of dog toys that were all listed at a very low price.

You really need to try this out.

There are buying guides located on the right hand side and there are categories on the main page for every kind of pet you could think of.

If you are looking to buy something for your dog at least try out this site and at the very least you can see what something costs on sale. I bet the bargains are out there and now you have the means to find them.

Happy shopping.

EuroXciser

2008-03-14T15:21:00.002-03:00

This is for all the horse people out there.

There is a great website that offers something that not a lot of us probably think about on a daily basis.

How do you give a horse some good exercise beyond just what they might do with open space on their own?

Well check out the EuroXciser, a state of the art horse exerciser!

Considering that most of sport or race horses stand in their stalls for 23 hours aday, any real horseman can see the benefits the EuroXciser can bring to their horses with better and easier conditioning, health and mental development!

You have to see the size of this thing, I hope you have a big back yard.

How a EUROXCISER horse walker device is going to save you some cash

The EuroXciser allows you to work four to six horses at one time. (More than 6 horses not recommended)

It will be there every morning unlike your exercise riders.

It is the SAFEST way to get your horses in shape before you send them to training.

Since a fit horse is less likely to have injuries it will save you unnecessary vet bills.

On top of it all this can be achieved along with great savings in time and labour costs!

Sounds perfect to me.

I don't have horses but this device is very cool, I wonder if they have one for dogs?

Check out all of the horse walkers they have today.

Labradoodle- doo. The dog for you?

2008-02-13T14:38:00.001-04:00

I am a Lab guy of course based on the dog I own but what about a dog that is part lab? Can't be that bad right?

Well that is where the mixed breed of a Labradoodle comes in. They are very popular today and are becoming pretty common.

Labradoodles were originally a cross between the Labrador Retriever and the Standard Poodle, now they are a breed of their own. I have seen many around and they are an awesome dog. I have never been a big fan of the poodle but you toss in some lab and I am ready to go.

Labradoodle-Dogs.Net is currently the largest breeder directory in the Internet dedicated to the Labradoodle breed! This site is committed to helping Labradoodle breeders and owners connect in a safe and secure environment.

So if you are one of the many Labradoodle owners out there you probably have seen this site. If you have not I would suggest checking it out.

You can find out just about everything about the breed and where you can get one. It is the safe way to go instead of risking getting a dog from an untrusted source.

Are you a doodle fan? Check out all of the great Labradoodle T-Shirts and other items they have for sale.

This site is a hit and I learned a lot more about this interesting breed. Go and find a litter of labradoodle puppies that could become one of your own.

Dog beds, dog toys, pet toys

2008-01-10T14:42:00.000-04:00

This is a sponsored post.

Dogs love new stuff as we all know!

If you have any money left from the holidays and are looking to get your dog yet another toy I found a new website you may want to check out.

It is Petago and they have everything you could want for your dog all in one place.

I checked it out and have to say they have a lot of cool stuff to buy.

They have toys, chews, bones and treats just to name a few.

The site has all kinds of clothing, collars and leads and they even have bedding and blankets.

It is like going to one of the bigger pet stores but you can do it from the comfort of your home.

In the top corner of the site they also have an ad promoting free shipping on any order over 25 dollars. Sweet!

Now keep in mind this is not only for dogs. Whatever type of pet you have in your life, this site has it all.

I have been looking at dog bowls for Bosco for some time and this site has some really nice ones. I will have to look into this further and who knows, I may pick one up.

These kind of sites are very exciting because up until recently I have found the pet stuff websites to be very poor. Not this one.

Check it out.

Coupons for pet owners

2007-12-20T02:21:00.000-04:00

Remember the old days of clipping coupons from the paper before heading to the grocery store? I never did it but I know a few people who did. I did not see the point of going to all the trouble to save 30 cents on cheese.

With the Interent the act of clipping coupons has changed and many more people are saving a lot on products. If you are looking for the best of the best when it comes to coupons you should head over to Couponchief and see all the great companies and products they offer discounts on.

I had no idea that there was so much value to find at stores and I certainly never see these offers in flyers or even in the actual stores.

Places like Best Buy and Target and Dell offer great discounts on all kinds of products. Personally I am always looking to save on pet products and sure enough they have online coupons for Petco.

That is where a pet owner clean up on savings.

I am going to have to give this site a better check over and make an attempt to try out a lot of these offers. Who knows how much I can save from just clicking around in my free time.

The have easy to find lists of companies and offers and list the most popular links as well. Amazing deals!

Couponchief offers great value for people looking to buy products over 50 dollars its seems. That is a great incentive to shop online as well. I know you can't get that kind of deal going to the store.

Give the site a check and I bet you will find a deal that you can't turn down.

The best vacuums for dogs

2007-12-18T13:44:00.000-04:00

Do you have trouble getting all that dog hair out of the carpet? I am pretty lucky that Bosco has short hair but it still makes a mess. I can only imagine what those of you with long-haired dogs must go through.

Are you in the market for a new vacuum and can't find the right place to get it?

Check out the website, Wize and you will be very happy with what you find.

Wize lists vacuum reviews and rates the best vacuum cleaners on the market today to help you make the best choice for you.

The list prices, all the stats and specs and most importantly an overall score out of 100.

Pretty easy for everyone to find what they are looking for. There is even a handy compare feature so you can see the ones you may want all in one list.

I never knew there were so many brands, styles and types of vacuum cleaners out there. For us dog owners it is an important tool in keeping the house clean (well trying to).

I took a look around the site and found what I wanted pretty easy and the pictures really help me to imagine what I would be getting.

We are pretty happy with our current vacuum but if they ever changes, this website is the best place to look for a new one.

Dog beds

2007-12-16T10:03:00.000-04:00

Sponsored post for http://www.mammothoutlet.com

Christmas is fast approaching so for all the dog lovers out there I want to suggest a good present you may not of thought of.

Did you ever think of designer dog beds as a gift for your little guy or gal?

How much would they love a new place to sleep that was totally their own? My dog has so many places to sleep but most of them are not his own bed. Maybe if we got him his own bed he would stay there?

Bosco and I want to direct you to Mammoth dog beds for all dog bed needs and information.

Not only are the prices really good, they have every size and style you could think of. It is not like going to a department store or pet store where they may have only a handful of sizes and styles. This site has so many I did not even look at them all.

Since Bosco is a large dog I checked out the large breed section and was amazed and all the choices I had.

Mammoth offers a superior quality dog bed. The beds are durable and mold to your dog's body. They are composed of a removable inner pillow for travel, and a cozy ring for support.

It is the softest orthopedic bed available and is sure to be enjoyed by the biggest and heaviest of breeds.

Bosco would feel so spoiled with one of these!

If you want to get your dog something special for Christmas or anytime of year I highly suggest checking out Mammoth dog beds. They look awesome.

Better dog food news

2007-12-13T11:33:00.000-04:00

This is a sponsored post

All of us who have dogs are always on the look out for new kinds of dog food and new places to get the best food for the best price. How much thought do you put into what you feed your dog? Well if you are looking for more information and some tips on how to choose the best food you should check out Dog Buffs.

Dog Buffs is a website that offers practical tips from dog experts for all of us to learn from.

It is amazing to read about the most simple things that you would assume you already know. I buy my dog the same food all the time and because he eats it and seems happy I just keep buying the same thing. Can I do better and offer my dog more enjoyment and a better quality without spending a fortune?

The site touches on such topics as how to compare brands, the best nutritional choices, a better balanced diet and they list any news of pet food recalls.

No matter what kind of food you are already buying or want to buy in the future you will be able to find something on it.

I will certainly be using this site to try and improve the food that Bosco eats everyday and I bet a lot of you will do the same.

Dog Buffs is a great resource for all dog owners and you can tell it is made by dog lovers as well. Check it out and you will be happier and your dog will be eating better.

Bosco says give this site a chance

2007-11-25T06:43:00.000-04:00

Have you heard of New Jersey Aid for Animals? Well if you have not they have many great volunteers who are trying to get the word out and I thought I would help out as well. The NJ Aid for Animals blog is a great place to learn about the program and read all about success stories posted by other dog owners. The main focus is all about dogs that have been saved and when you start reading some of the posts or watch some of the videos all you want to do is help. Please go check it out because there is most likely a similar program in your area. We can all help out and make a difference no matter how big or small. Stopping animal abuse is something that is important to me so I hope by passing along this site to everyone I can do my part.

Cat art from a rearview perspective

2007-08-24T07:15:00.000-03:00

I was sent a site that has nothing to do with dogs but still very funny. The website is Mad Frank's Cats. It is a cat owner selling a number of cat lover products with unique cat graphics on them.

The really interesting thing is that theme of most of the items has to do with the cat's ass. Endless pics of a cat's behind on anything you can think of.

I think the art work is great and if this guy ever does stuff from a dog's rearend perspective I may pick up some.

If you are a cat lover and have a different sense of humour, you will enjoy checking out the items for sale.

Mad Frank's Cats has all kinds of cat art, funny, original cat gifts, for yourself or to give, like cat apparel and household housecat decor, gifts for deperate housecats and kittens, pet humor, cat ass gear, and gifts for men who love cats.

You can place orders right from the site and sign up for a newsletter.

Go and have yourself an ass-tastic time and check out all the products of Mad Frank's Cats.

The Chocolate Dog Blog has moved

2007-05-03T13:36:00.001-03:00

The Chocolate Dog Blog has moved

CLICK HERE FOR NEW SITE

We are all set up at our new home so please check out the new digs

Could you all please:

update your bookmarks
RSS feeds if you suscribe
let me know if I missed your link in the blogroll
let me know how you like the new look
continue to be part of the best fans out there

Thank you!

I would also like to add another friend to Bosco's crew. A big warm welcome to Lucy's Dog House!

Puppy Classifieds worth using

2007-05-03T11:57:00.000-03:00

The following is a paid review:

Years ago when I was thinking about getting a puppy I really did not know where to begin. I have always heard bad stories about pet stores so I did not want to go that way.

The newspapers where my next choice and I did luck out this way but really how do you learn anything from a little blurb.

Looking back the best route to go would of been the Internet but there were not sites that made me think that was the best way to choose.

Well now there is and the site is called Puppy Classified.

They offer premium puppy classifieds to both individuals buyers and serious breeders looking for a classy and well advertised website. There are plenty of sketchy sites out there offering the same service, but Puppy Classified strives to set stand alone with quality services and premium traffic.

The site also offers an ever-growing selection of dog related articles meant to assist the readers and are written specifically for Puppy Classified.

I gave a look around the site and found it very easy to navigate and to find what you need to. There are simple buttons to click on and everything is clear to read. The layout is stylish and simple and is not cluttered with all kinds of ads.

You can sign up as a member or just view the site as a guest. Either way there is a great deal of information to read about and I would say that if you are in the planning stage of getting a puppy this site is perfect.

Of course if you are a breeder or seller you can advertise your dogs as well and I would say that Puppy Classified sells itself as a great business to deal with.

All in all I would rate this site highly for those who want to search for their new dog and to learn about various dog news.

Please, Bosco would like your help

2007-03-06T14:00:00.000-04:00

The Chocolate Dog Blog has moved

CLICK HERE FOR NEW SITE

We are all set up at our new home so please check out the new digs

Could you all please:

update your bookmarks
RSS feeds if you suscribe
let me know if I missed your link in the blogroll
let me know how you like the new look
continue to be part of the best fans out there

Thank you!

I would also like to add another friend to Bosco's crew. A big warm welcome to Lucy's Dog House!

Moving pains

2007-03-06T00:39:00.000-04:00

We are in the process of moving the CDB over to wordpress so please be patient. Bosco is a slow packer so odds are good we will be here for a bit.

Once we move to our better digs, we will update the links etc. so don't worry. Everything will be as good as new in a few days. Feel free to stop by for a housewarming here.

Pleasant park walk

2007-03-04T10:03:00.000-04:00

Yesterday the weather in Halifax was amazing and after a long winter it was too good to pass up. It was sunny and 10 degrees Celcius so that meant a great chance to take Bosco on a fun walk.

Katie wanted to practice her driving so we decided to pack up Bosco in the car and take him to Point Pleasant Park.

It was very muddy and slushy so that meant it was going to be a fun trip for the Boss, he just loves to get dirty.

Once we got there, it was clear the rest of the city had the same idea as us, there were a lot of dogs there already.

We walked around for 30 minutes or so, let Bosco run wild thanks to part of the park being off leash and got some much needed fresh air.

We were trying to keep track of how many times Bosco went #1 but I think we lost count at 11. He drinks a lot of water!

Highlights of the walk were running crazy in the trees, chasing other fun dogs, sloshing around in the snow and of course finding some nice sticks to chew on.

As always here are some pictures to check out. Hope everyone else is having a super weekend.

Wishing, waiting

2007-03-04T10:02:00.000-04:00

Here is a classic picture of Bosco waiting to go for his walk in the morning. How can you even try to ignore that? Talk about non-violent action.

Lost Dog

2007-02-28T14:05:00.000-04:00

From Tv Squad

Vincent the Dog had better not run afoul of the law anytime soon, because another dog has been added to the Lost cast. Lulu, an Airedale Terrier mix, is an adopted pet of Jack Bender, an executive producer and director on the show. The dog, who was adopted locally from the Hawaiian Humane Society, has quickly become regarded as the show's mascot due to her frequent visits to the set.

Lulu's addition to the Lost cast came about through a technicality. Since animals are not normally allowed on set, Bender "cast" Lulu in an upcoming episode so she could come to work with him. Bender did not reveal the episode in which Lulu will make her acting debut. Vincent, however, will be seen in this week's "Tricia Tanaka is Dead." Rumor has it that Vincent will reappear on the beach with an unusual surprise for Hurley.

Video repost

2007-02-28T09:43:00.000-04:00

Bosco's Snow Patrol - video powered by Metacafe

Just some pictures of Bosco's first winter in Halifax. Snow Patrol's Eyes Wide Open is the song. I first posted this way back in November but since it is winter now it seemed like a good repost for those of you who may of missed it.

Catching up

2007-02-28T09:25:00.000-04:00

I must apologize to all Bosco's fans, it has been a busy few days and the ideas have not been flowing. It would also help if Bosco could post updates for himself sometimes.

So I have some time today so I am going to try and get the blog rockin again and get the chocolate news out and about for all to read.

Let me try and catch everyone up on the Bosco happenings since we last blogged.

Saturday

A brisk walk around town and a stop at the vet. Had a weigh in and Bosco is down to 76 lbs. No winter fat here.
Lazy afternoon as the humans went to Bridgwater for a drive and did not take the chocolate car dog.
Cozy evening laying in the chair while the basketball game was on TV.

Sunday

Went for a jog/walk with Bosco. He really loves it when he gets to go running. It can be a pain though we he wants to stop to chew sticks.
Did a lot of sleeping.
Enjoyed some tasty food and the smells of what the humans cooked for dinner.

Monday

Back to work for everyone so Bosco enjoyed a quiet day at home. Most likely did a lot of sleeping and reading.
Went for a dinner time walk with Katie and then spent the evening sleeping in the chair.

Tuesday

See Monday but change evening walk to annoying evening walk because Bosco was hyper and trying to smell everything as the mild weather adds a lot of new smells to the air.

Today

I am off today so Bosco will get a nice, big walk to the park and get to chase the ball for a bit. Then the usual routine will set in. Yep a dog's life really is not that exciting.

Remember to try and stop by Tomorrow, we are going for 500 views, so click, click, click. Bosco will be so happy.

Bosco can walk on water

2007-02-23T09:50:00.000-04:00

Okay it is a little misleading but yesterday Bosco and I did in fact walk on water. The water was frozen but technically it was still water. What am I going about you ask?

I took Bosco for a car ride out to Long Lake for a winter adventure. It has been awhile since Boss has gone for a car ride and the weather was so nice so I figured why not.

We got their and Bosco of course knew where we were, all the open wilderness and roaming dogs got him very excited. I had not been there yet during the winter so I was excited myself.

As we approached the lake I could hear a lot of people but they seemed far away. So I looked out where I thought they would be and of course they were 100 yards or so further out because the lake was frozen.

It was a giant open field of snow and Bosco instantly ran like there was no tomorrow. In a few seconds he was out in the middle of the lake meeting other dogs and saying hi to new people. I was a bit worried at first but I figure if there are all those people out there already it must really be frozen.

We stayed out there for a bit and played and once the other dogs left we continued on into the woods. Bosco likes to turn in what I call Adventure dog where he has to leave the trail and check out every little thing in the woods.

We went pretty far in and just enjoyed the great day and fresh air. Once around the bend of the lake a bit we turned around and walked back on the lake. Bosco was slipping and sliding all over the place. I will always get a kick out of watching that, yes it is mean of me.

I took a bunch of pictures of course so here are a few for your enjoyment. I tossed in one of the lake from the summer so you can get an idea of what it is usually like.

The chocolate one slept for the rest of the day and I think he really appreciated his winter adventure.

What are you looking at?

2007-02-22T10:28:00.000-04:00

Posh dogs get a 5-star kennel

2007-02-22T10:26:00.000-04:00

Those crazy Brit's. Check out this story from the Manchester Evening News. IT'S the ultimate in dog care - a luxury kennel with central heating and padded beds, linked to an outdoor run with a machine blowing liver- or peanut-flavoured bubbles.

The five-star dog hotel offers a choice of standard luxury kennel, with full uPVC windows instead of bars, or a double-sized kennel suite, with a stunning view over the 14th hole of Harwood golf course near Bolton.

And, rather than feeling guilty over leaving their precious pet in a boarding kennel while they jet off for a five-star fortnight, the more discerning dog lover can now recline on their sun lounger knowing the pet pooch is also enjoying life in the lap of luxury.

Life Just Got Sweeter for Dogs

2007-02-22T10:21:00.000-04:00

Dolce Vita or the "sweet life" has long been used in Italy to sum up the good things that make life pleasurable and fulfilling. Now the 74 million dogs and 90 million cats in the United States can begin enjoying the sweet life with the launch of a new therapeutic comfort bed specifically designed to meet the health and wellness needs of our four-legged friends. ColdHeat(TM), a leading developer of products featuring patented high-efficiency heating and cooling technology, introduces Dolce Vita(TM) Therabed(TM) pet beds, a complete line of heated pet beds in a variety of shapes and sizes for dogs and cats.

The Therabed Pet Beds feature an evolutionary, patent-pending Flat Screen Heater(TM) heat-spreading technology that evenly distributes heat throughout the bed to eliminate hot spots, and a proprietary thermal control that limits the heat to keep your pet's body temperature in its normal range (101 degrees Fahrenheit for dogs). The heat feature can also be turned on or off for comfort year round.

All Dolce Vita Therabed pet beds come with a wall adapter for use at home, the office or virtually anywhere there is a standard electrical outlet. The 12-volt DC power adapter plugs into any cigarette lighter or accessory outlet so you can take it along in your car, truck, boat or recreational vehicle. The optional mobility pack is available for several models and includes a rechargeable battery that provides up to seven hours of cord-free operation at home or on the go.

Contest to pass along

2007-02-20T19:56:00.000-04:00

Celebritydogwatcher.com is having a dogtastic contest for all dog owners. The winner will receive a $75 gift card to FunnyFur.com and a luxury spa pack of fur-care from AJ Baci.

Sounds like it would be worth checking out, Bosco could use some winnings.

Click here for all the details.

From the vaults of youtube

2007-02-19T14:02:00.000-04:00

No this is not Bosco but he pretty much does the same thing.

Misbehavin

2007-02-19T13:49:00.000-04:00

Good monday to you all, it is snowing like mad over here in Halifax today. Lucky for me I already took Bosco for a walk and he is currently passed out on his bed.

Do you ever have days when it is like your dog just woke up stupid? Today was one of those days and Bosco seemed to of forgotten everything I thought he knew.

He was not interested in playing fetch today, not listening to me and just being a difficult dog. He has these days from time to time and you can totally tell he is just being a teenager. Ignoring and doing his own thing just to bug me. That is all fine and dandy but it is hard to put up with.

I usually get very strict and remind him how things work and he has to listen. Making him sit before every toss, making him come straight back without stops for sniffs. Anything to reassert to him that I am the boss and he is not. Seems to snap him back into it after a bit and Bosco is a big kiss ass when he knows he is in the dog house. So now I am sure he will be the best dog ever for the rest of today and lets see what dog wakes up tomorrow morning.

Bosco cam

2007-02-16T10:26:00.001-04:00

He's back!

2007-02-16T09:24:00.000-04:00

The 2007 Westminster Dog Show

Well guess who is back, it is Bosco returning from the Westminster dog show. He is just unpacking his blanket and toys and then he is going to get to all his stories. So good to have him back, with the crazy winter weather I am glad he made it home so easily.

While he collects his things lets go over the show itself.

Final 2007 results.

BEST IN SHOW
BEST OF GROUP RESULTS
BEST OF BREED RESULTS
BREED RESULTS
JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP RESULTS

Pictures from Day 2

Okay finally he is settled. So his two days in New York was the best ever. He met a lot of new friends, got to wine and dine with some of the dog world's elite and he even got to do some of the tourist spots of NYC. Bosco's only disappointment was the poor showing by Labs at the dog show although he seems to think it was fixed. How can a Lab not be the best? Bosco thinks they just choose to not give Best in Show to Labs because they are the New York Yankees of the dog shows. It is boring when the same team keeps winning year after year.

Bosco spent a few too many hours at the local pubs but he did meet some wonderful new friends. I just hope they all don't come to visit him here, we have room but not that much room.

The flight there and back was very pleasant for the Boss and he got to try out his new passport since you now need one to travel to the US and back.

Bosco wants to try out for the actual show next year but I already told him I don't have the time or the patience for that. Besides Bosco would jump up and lick the judges face and it would all be over. I really think Bosco just wants to go back to NYC for another sample of the best pizza ever.

So until next year's show Bosco will just have to settle for being the Best in Show of our house. He is an award winner every day in my books.

Ouch, this is hard to read

2007-02-15T23:13:00.000-04:00

Dog Groomer Accused of Cutting Dog's Ear Off and Gluing It Back On

GIG HARBOR, Wash. — A Gig Harbor woman says she was "freaked out" while giving her dog a bath when its ear floated away.

The woman, Anni Sheriffius, told KIRO-TV that she believes a groomer cut off the dog's ear and tried to glue it back on with super glue.

The dog named Jasimin, a shi tzu, was treated for an infection.

Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer says investigators are looking into possible charges of animal cruelty. But the pet grooming shop has shut down.

Some people!

Let us make Mar. 1 a special day

2007-02-15T14:30:00.000-04:00

This is a test in the theory of passing on a good thing and trying to get people to unite. On March 1, 2007, Bosco wants to try and push his page view total over 500 for just one day. It has never been done but I know with everyone's help we can do it.

So please on March 1, come by and check us out, tell your freinds and their friends and let's do this for Bosco.

He has given so much to all of us, it is not too much to ask.

So remember , March 1, click on by the CDB.

Please, just one more day

2007-02-15T14:28:00.000-04:00

So Bosco's flight was delayed due to all the snow in the States. So he had to spend the night at the airport in New York.

I talked to him on the phone and he had a great time down at the Dog Show. I am sure he will have many stories to share once he is back and settled in.

It has been quiet the past few days without the big guy around but I am happy he will be back soon.

So check in tomorrow, I know he will be back and as chocolate as ever. Thank you for your kindness.

Happy Valentine's day

2007-02-14T10:52:00.000-04:00

Every Valentine's day is much better with a lot of chocolate. Bosco sends all his love to everyone.

Bosco breaks down day one of Westminster

2007-02-13T06:37:00.000-04:00

Well if you did not know, the 2007 Westminster Dog show is going on right now. Bosco has gone down to NYC to report back on all the happenings.

Since I have not heard from him yet I am only to assume he got lost or he can't email his report to me.

So as we await his post, here are some pictures of day 1.

Check back later and let us all hope that we find Bosco soon!

Bosco says check out this site

2007-02-12T07:20:00.000-04:00

Got a cool post telling me about a new site that is dedicated to providing independent information on dog food. Now that is pretty cool since we all have to buy food for our dogs. It is called Dog Food Corner and is a very tasty treat.

From the site:

During the lifetime of your dog, you will likely spend several thousand dollars on dog food. In addition to the cost of the food itself, there is the fact that the type and quality of dog food affects your dog's health and happiness (and perhaps its veterinary bills). Consequently, the choice of dog food is an important investment. This site aims to provide information relevant to this decision.

So Bosco says check out this new site and hey it may even help you out.

Dog Quotes - Real or Nonsense?

2007-02-10T10:56:00.000-04:00

Over at the Big Paw Blog today they have an entertaining list of dog quotes.

Dogs have been the focus of many sayings and quotes over the years. Some are funny, some are silly, and some just make sense. They take a much closer look that make for a good read.

Here is a few examples but please go read the full list here.

A Barking Dog Never Bites

Okay, how many people believe this? Technically, a dog can't bite someone while he or she is in the middle of a good, solid bark, but what's to stop teeth from meeting skin when the dog is finished voicing displeasure? Call me crazy, but I'm betting that the barking dog is in fact the one most likely to bite you in the butt.

Barking up the Wrong Tree

How many dogs have you seen bark up the wrong tree? It does happen, but most dogs on the chase are pretty good at locating the subject of their barking. Now, as applied to humans... but that's a different story altogether.

Some people should not have dogs

2007-02-08T16:43:00.000-04:00

Add this clown to people I do not like. I already knew Ron Artest was a loser but this story just takes the cake.

Associated Press

Dogs owned by Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest have spent a total of 77 nights at the pound since July because of poor care by their owner, costing the NBA star $1,942 in boarding and impound fees, county records show.

Placer County animal control officers have gone to Artest's five-acre estate seven times in that period in response to callers' complaints about dogs being loose or not being fed.

Allan Frumkin, president of the Sierra Ridge Estates Homeowners Association at the gated community where Artest lives in Loomis, about 25 miles northeast of Sacramento, said some neighbors stepped in and cared for the dogs themselves.

``It became general knowledge that he wasn't taking good care of his dogs,'' said Frumkin. ``One neighbor fed them and bought a watering machine for them.''

The latest incident came last Sunday, when animal control officers took Artest's Great Dane, Socks, saying the animal wasn't being fed.

``This dog was a rack of bones,'' said Rosemary Frieborn, president of Friends of Placer County Animal Shelter.

In an e-mail to The Sacramento Bee, Artest said he hopes to get Socks back and has hired a new caretaker for the dogs. He blamed Socks' condition on the fact that another dog, an American bulldog, ``dominated all the food.''

He said the situation ``got out of hand'' when he was gone for a seven-day Kings' road trip. ``Then we got back and got a handle on it.

``I have a new professional doggy watcher from out of state that will help me train my dogs better,'' he wrote. ``I'm horrible at that.

``I love my dogs and think they should be able to live (as) freely as possible.''

Artest has had as many as seven dogs on his property, but at least two have been killed and others have been sent to live in Indiana, he told the newspaper.

Puppy Bowl

2007-02-07T11:30:00.000-04:00

I don't know if anyone saw it but on Sunday there was some alternative programming for those not interested in the Super Bowl. It was called the Puppy Bowl and was on Animal Planet.

Puppy Bowl is like watching a traffic camera trained on one corner for three hours. Puppies come. Puppies go. Puppies drink water from a see-through bowl with a "water cam" attached to its underside. This year, Puppy Bowl included a Puppy Tailgate party and a Kitty Halftime Show to spice things up, but mostly, it really is just puppies running around in front of a handful of still cameras for three hours. It's the most adorable film ever.

Some of the behind the scenes details are:

- Puppy Bowl is edited to prevent viewers from seeing any "inappropriate touching." There is no puppy ball-licking, puppy butt-sniffing or puppy humping in Puppy Bowl.

- You can adopt Puppy Bowl players after the game by contacting petfinder.com. The entire Puppy Bowl promotes puppy adoption and puppy population control.

- Puppies are chosen based on availability, breed and age. Youth counts here, folks. It's like American Idol for the puppy set... except Puppy Bowl competitors must have had their shots.

- There are no plans to costume the puppies. "That would be funny - but the puppies are so adorable we wouldn't want to cover them up!" Good point. No fear of "wardrobe malfunctions." Here is the intro of the show.

Dog Surfing

2007-02-07T10:21:00.000-04:00

What do you know, I leave my computer for five minutes and guess who I caught surfing the web! I hope it was for important stuff and he was not in some doggie chat room.

Remember keep your eye on your dog. They know how to use the Internet.

Book day

2007-02-06T15:31:00.000-04:00

I recently posted about some books to check out all about Genevieve.

They were so kind that they sent me one of the books for free and it came in the mail today. I just wanted to say thanks and when I finish reading it I will post a little review.

It may take some time though as I picked up a few other books at Chapters and taking care of a Bosco can cut into reading time.

Thank you so much and I would recomment to all to check out these books.

Super Bowl Bosco

2007-02-05T10:52:00.000-04:00

Okay so it is the day after the big game and Bosco is still a little sad that his Bears did not win. I took him for a car ride to try and cheer him up and we played in the snow at the park. He seems a little better but a loss like that can sting for sometime.

I took some pictures of how Bosco spent his Super Sunday and figured you would like to see them. Hope it is snowing where you are, it sure is fun!

Let it snow

2007-02-03T07:58:00.000-04:00

The snow returned yesterday and Bosco was sure happy!

Here is a look at some of the fun.

The even better news is it is still snowing and I am off today! Car trip maybe??

Petaholica.com; Bosco says check it out

2007-02-01T09:20:00.000-04:00

We at the CDB like to help out all the other dog sites and blogs on the net to form one giant and unstoppable dog gang. This week's site that is a must see is called petaholica.com and I just had the chance to give it a read.

It is marketed as The Newsletter for Savvy Pet Owners and there selling point is:

Pamper you pets! Get the scoop on pet luxury, designers, new products, reviews, deals and sales - sent out every Monday and Wednesday of each week.

This is an awesome way to find out what is hot and happening in the dog world when it comes to ways to make your dog's life that much better.

The Pet Products they cover is a wide range of subjects that I am sure has something for everyone.

Art/Culture/Events Beauty/Fashion Design Gadgets Random/Fun Services Travel

The clean and easy to use layout is appealing to the eye and it does not take too long to find what you are looking for. You can fill out a form to get the newsletter sent to you automatically and it is nice to know that part of the money goes to a charity.

A donation is made to “Casa De Los Ninos” for each new subscriber. To learn more visit www.casadelosninos.org.

You can even check out their demographics and see what other people are reading this magazine. I doubt that would have any influence in your choosing to read but it is a nice feature.

Petaholica.com, because they know their market is pet owners, want to hear from you as well. They offer the chance for feedback and I am sure this is a valuable tool for how they improve and maintain the site.

I will certainly be checking out this site more in the near future to keep up on the coolest things in dogs and I think you should to.

This site is Bosco tested and Bosco liked.

Speak Up for Park Pooches in Halifax

2007-01-30T17:42:00.000-04:00

From the Chronicle Herald

UNDERSTANDABLE if Halifax residents lately feel like they need to be old, big-lipped multi-millionaire rock stars to use some of the city’s best green space for a simple Sunday afternoon frolic, especially if it’s with their best four-legged friend.

Currently in our vast regional municipality, there are only two parks where we can take our pooches and legally let them off their leashes — Seaview Park and some areas of Point Pleasant Park.

The Common — a lovely bit of green in downtown Halifax — forbids leashless doggies, though many of us have been known to take our drooly wonders for an untethered twirl there, too.

To the city’s credit, however, municipal staff are talking seriously about possibly opening up more off-leash dog park areas by 2009.

It seems a long way off, but now is when dog owners need to step up to the food bowl.

The municipality is currently holding public information sessions at various locations. Two sessions have already been held, but there are still four left.

Click here to read how you can get involved.

Chew chew chew

2007-01-29T19:42:00.000-04:00

Picked up a new chew bone for Bosco today. Needless to say he worked on it for four hours before I took it away from him. He should learn to save something good for another day as well.

Featured Blog: Puppies and Life

2007-01-29T09:59:00.000-04:00

I have been exchanging emails with one of Bosco's biggest fans so I thought it would be nice to try and direct some more readers her way. Natalie over at Puppies and Life has been a long time follower of Bosco and always leaves nice comments for us to read.

She has her own blog to take care of, do the school thing and all the other things that come along with being a 19-year old. There was a picture that was posted on her site that I just had to share because it made me think of how dogs (Labs) seem to have more than one personality. So please go check out her work and say hi. Her and her crew of dogs will really appreciate the attention.

Bosco says hi by the way and wants to pass along a well wishing to Toronto. We both miss our walks in High Park.

Another Monday, another Bosco picture

2007-01-29T09:53:00.000-04:00

Just getting this week going so I thought it was only right to start off with some pictures. Here we capture Bosco waking up with the sun beaming in on him.

Woof Woofington Needs Your Help

2007-01-29T00:19:00.000-04:00

Woof Woofington has been nominated for a blog award! Yes, it's true. And I am the only dog in the whole set of categories of the 2007 Bloggies, which I am told, apparently, are the blog equivalent of the Oscars. This is pretty amazing and a great opportunity to get the dog blogging message out there - a vote for me is a vote for dogs! Well, that's how I see it.

It would bring me great joy (and maybe even big presents from the Mistress) if you would take just 2 mins to keep my tail wagging and boost my blogging ratings with a simple click and vote. The Bloggies are voted for by the public so every vote counts. Literally!

If you feel you can let your paws do the talking, here's what you do:

Go to http://2007.bloggies.com/

You need to choose three finalists and here's a tip - obviously you click the button for Woof Woofington in my category. Scroll down to the various categories:

Best-Kept Secret Weblog

Woof Woofington

Some books to check out

2007-01-26T16:58:00.000-04:00

Got a nice email from the publisher of these books, might as well share the wealth.

Cold day in Halifax

2007-01-26T16:54:00.000-04:00

The bone chilling weather is back today so the boys layed low and stayed warm inside. I figured it was a good moment to capture.

Dutch brewers launch dogs' beer

2007-01-22T16:47:00.000-04:00

A small brewery in the Netherlands has launched a new beer designed to bring cool relief to thirsty dogs.

Kwispelbier, marketed as "a beer for your best friend", is made from a special brew of beef extract and malt.

The beverage is a creation of pet shop owner Gerrie Berendsen, who wanted her dogs to share light refreshments with her after a day's hunting.

The beer is non-alcoholic and fit for human consumption, but costs four times as much as a Heineken.

"Kwispel" is the Dutch word for wagging a tail.

Ms Berendsen, who lives in the eastern town of Zelhem, commissioned the small local Schelde brewery to make and bottle the beer.

"Once a year we go to Austria to hunt with our dogs, and at the end of the day we sit on the verandah and drink a beer. So we thought, my dog also has earned it," Ms Berendsen told the Associated Press.

Dog-owners 'lead healthier lives'

2007-01-22T11:26:00.000-04:00

Well I read a very interesting and promising article today on the BBC website.

If you want to live a healthier life get a dog, research suggests.

The companionship offered by many pets is thought to be good for you, but the benefits of owning a dog outstrip those of cat owners, the study says.

A psychologist from Queen's University, Belfast, said dog owners tended to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

Writing in the British Journal of Health Psychology, she says that regular 'walkies' may partly explain the difference.

Dr Deborah Wells reviewed dozens of earlier research papers which looked at the health benefits of pet ownership.

(Full story here)

As my friend who sent me the link said, I must be one healthy guy! I would like to think so and Bosco has a big part in that. It is exercise and stress relief for sure and knowing he is always there when I get home, needing me for something.

Bosco also suggests checking these out:

Children with pets 'more healthy'

Hospitals should allow pet visits

Pampering pets for profit

Gassy Bosco

2007-01-20T10:32:00.001-04:00

I apologize for the graphic nature of this post but the story must be told. Katie has told me about one of Bosco's habits but I had never seen it until the other day. Now of course I see it all the time.

Bosco has this thing where he always gets out of a chair and does kind of like a downward dog yoga stretch and over half the time as he is stretching, he will let off a little toot. It is kind of gross and funny all at the same time.

Does anyone else have this issue with their dog? I guess dogs have gas as well and need to let off some steam just like people. I would try and get a picture of this but I am sure you can all visualize it well enough.

Anyways that is all that is going on with Bosco these days. We are in the midst of the winter blahs so I will try and step up the blog work soon.

Thanks everyone the numbers are way up and I appreciate the readership.

Bosco likes Borat

2007-01-18T17:48:00.001-04:00

The Thursday happenings

2007-01-18T09:57:00.000-04:00

Good morning everyone how is the dog barking today? For the second day in a row the temperature is very, very cold in Halifax and it has made for a lot of inside time for Bosco. I know he does not mind laying around and sleeping all day but that makes for a chubby dog and as you know from a previous post, I don't want to get charged one day haha.

But seriously Bosco is in no danger of being over weight since at his latest weigh in the other day he is down to 76.8lbs. So really he is just getting fitter and fitter by the day. Great job Boss, looking lean and mean and ready to take on the world.

On the walks we have been taking it has been a fun week because we keep running into other fun dogs who also like to play in the snow. I do not know what it is about snow but it certainly makes dogs go crazy with excitement.

I picked up a few chewy bones at the store the other day to keep Bosco busy on these snow days and of course he chews on them for hours and then falls asleep. Perfect I say.

Today is very icey and just now when Bosco went out for his morning pee, he was slip sliding all over the place. I have to admit I was watching in the window and laughing to myself. Such a graceful chocolate guy haha.

Anyways things have been good and I don't see that changing any time soon. Here are some pictures from the last few days. Hope you all are having a fun winter whereever you are and it has been great to hear from all of you.

America's top dog

2007-01-17T11:20:00.000-04:00

America's most popular pooch is once again from Canada's eastern-most province.

American Kennel Club officials confirmed in New York City on Monday that the Labrador retriever was the most popular purebred in 2006, a title it has maintained the past 16 years.

The retriever represented about 124,000 registrations, or 14 per cent of the club's total last year.

Labrador retrievers evolved over the last 1,000 years, descendants of the dogs European fishermen brought with them when they visited the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, says Sonny Allinson, spokesman for the Canadian Kennel Club.

"Many of them were left to run free on the island when the fishermen went back. So whatever dogs that came from Europe interbred," he told CBC News Online.

According to researchers at Memorial University in St. John's, the dog does not come from Labrador as its name suggests. The confusion arose when British breeders gave the dog the name Labrador to differentiate between it and the Newfoundland dog, also descended from the fishermen's dogs.

Pudgy pooch lumbers home

2007-01-13T12:01:00.000-04:00

Read this one in the paper today, could you imagine getting charged for having a chubby dog?? Maybe it is a good idea.

Owners fined for cruelty after Lab ballooned to 70 kilograms

LONDON — Two brothers were convicted Friday of causing unnecessary suffering by letting their dog become obese, prompting fears among pet owners that they could be prosecuted if they let their animals put on too much weight.

In an unprecedented case, David and Derek Benton were prosecuted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals because Rusty, their pet Labrador retriever, tipped the scales at 70 kilograms, more than double the weight he should have been. They denied causing unnecessary suffering to the 10-year-old dog but were found guilty by magistrates in Ely, Cambridgeshire, eastern England.

(full story)

Robber thinks twice about holding up vet

2007-01-12T17:51:00.000-04:00

This is Bosco's vet just down the street from us.

A man ran away empty-handed after trying to hold up the Halifax Veterinary Hospital on Thursday night.

Halifax Regional Police said officers responded to the robbery at the Quinpool Road clinic at about 7:50 p.m.

Watch commander Sgt. Dave Reynolds said a man walked into the animal hospital, threatened staff with a handgun and demanded cash. ,P> However, "it appears as though the suspect panicked and fled before obtaining any money," Sgt. Reynolds said.

No one was injured.

(full story)

Maybe they should hire Bosco as a guard dog. Well that would not work unless they wanted to steal the treats jar. Still kind of alarming to think we could of been there having a checkup or getting a weigh in.

An unsolved mystery

2007-01-12T17:39:00.000-04:00

So there is a mystery on Kline Street that even Robert Stack would have a hard time solving. Maybe we should call in the CSI's or something because Katie and I can't 100% confirm what happened even though we think we know.

It all stems from a missing chocolate terry's orange. You know the one you smack on the table and it breaks into wedges. Well Katie had a mint one that was half eaten and it has vanished. Could it of been Bosco?? Well that would be what makes sense but it is hard to pin it on him. There was no foil paper laying around and he never takes stuff off the coffee table. There is always candy and stuff sitting there, so why the chocolate egg?? There have been no signs of him being sick or hyper from the chocolate so who knows.

I guess this one will go down as a mystery unsolved and in Katie's case, a chocolate orange uneaten. Don't worry Katie we can get you another one and keep it up higher in the house. As for Bosco he has a great poker face so he won't be fessing up anytime soon.

Chocolate chill

2007-01-11T15:07:00.000-04:00

Today the cold weather returned in Halifax. It is not a suprise really because it is January but the last few weeks have been so nice it got us all a little spoiled. Bosco had a good time playing in the park but even he has found it a little chilly in the house today. Do you think this is a hint that maybe we should turn up the heat?

Finders keepers

2007-01-10T12:15:00.000-04:00

Bosco found an orange hockey ball today. He carried it all the way home and is currently deciding on whether to keep it or destroy it. I will let you know the outcome at a later date. Good luck to you orange ball.

Bosco says not cool

2007-01-10T09:58:00.000-04:00

Last night on the local news there was a story about animal cruelty involving puppies in rural Nova Scotia. I cannot find a link to the story but it went down like this. A box was found in a ditch that had nine puppies and the mother in it. Sadly two of the puppies died from drowning in some water and the mother was dead as well. Police believe she had been hit by a car.

Two local women found the pups and quickly got them to a vet and they are doing great and ready for adoption. This act of cruelty just makes me sick and I can't imagine why someone would do this. They are trying to track down who did it because it is against federal law to dump animals like that.

Local vets said that there were a few calls from someone looking to put down nine dogs so that is who they are checking into. I guess vets said no and of course they would. Most vets would rather just take the dogs and try to find them a new home.

Puppies are part of what you sign up for when you get a dog. IF you get a female dog and don't have her fixed then it is your responsibility to take care of those pups if and when they happen. In my experience it is not hard to give away cute pups, there are always people who want one.

I hope they find the person and put them in a box and dump them on the side of the road and let them see how it is.

Just wanted to pass along this story because it made me really angry with people.

Spa day

2007-01-09T15:10:00.000-04:00

Just finished giving Bosco a brush and a mail clip and thought I would mention some tips on nail clipping. I know it is not one of the most pleasant things for both dog and owner so here is how I go about the whole process.

The most important thing that pays off in the long term is getting your dog used to it early. I cut Bosco's a lot as a pup even if it was a little but just so he would get used to it. I read how you should play with their feet and ears a lot so later in life they won't get freaked out.

Now Bosco just rolls over and lets me do it, even though I know he hates it. But hey he does get a treat after. The hard part with Bosco is he has black nails and it is hard to see the vein. So it is important to take small clips off a bit at a time. I have done too much before and he did bleed a little. No big deal, it stops quickly and that big slobbery tongue fixes the rest.

I also think it is important to invest in a good pair of clippers so it does a good job. They run about 10 bucks and just ask for whatever kind the vet or store uses themselves. Seeing as vets and other places charge anywhere from 10-30 bucks to do this 2 minute task I think learning how to do it yourself can save you a great deal of money. You can then spend the savings on toys and food for the dog instead.

Don't forget to keep those nails trim so it doesn't scratch up your floor.

The mood of Bosco

2007-01-09T09:52:00.000-04:00

Can we go outside soon??

Ahhh that is better

Celebrity chuck it

2007-01-08T04:36:00.000-04:00

Jessica Alba pictures at the dog park. Talk about a dog park to check out. I would get a dog just to go to that park. Anyways here are pictures of the event. She likes to use the chuck it as well, cool stuff.

What Bosco did today

2007-01-08T04:20:00.000-04:00

Figured you would all want to know what Bosco got up to today. Here is the scoop.

woke up around 7am and realized it would be a few hours til any body would be around to feed me, went back to sleep.

Heard Michael come home just after 9am, raced downstairs to see him
ate, went out, back in.

slept some more til Katie got up and I followed her around making sad faces in hope that she would take me for a walk.

Finally got to go play in the park and chase tennis balls. There was another dog there, it was fun.

Afternoon nap on couch as Katie watched a movie.

Michael got up and fed me, went out, back in to play with octopus.

Slept in chair, moved to couch, back to chair and then upstairs for some peace and quiet.

Wanted to watch TV but the humans kept flipping.

Went out, had a treat, went to bed and called it a night.

A site to check out

2007-01-07T05:37:00.000-04:00

Came across this site tonight. It is called Cute Overload. Go there and click on pups and it gives you years worth of cute puppy pictures. This one I think will be enough to draw you in.

Christmas wrap up

2007-01-07T04:34:00.000-04:00

As you have read already Bosco had a different Christmas this year. Katie and I were in Toronto and Bosco was not able to make it. Flights are pricey and Bosco prefers to travel in first class so we had to make alternate arrangements.

Luckily for us, there were many offers to watch the chocolate guy. Sara, a friend of mine was the fortunate winner of the bosco babysitting sweepstakes and her entire family got in on the act. So here is the wrap up of what it was like to watch chocolate.

A Chocolate Christmas

Doesn't that face sum up what Christmas is all about? I've opened up all my presents, now leave me alone... I'll be on the coach all day until I'm called for dinner. Yep, it didn't take long for Bosco to adapt to our family motto of exerting as little energy as possible, especially at Christmas.

It was a brief visit, but I'm pretty sure I would have developed some sort of seperation anxiety if he'd stayed any longer. What can I say, he makes an awesome foot warmer! But seriously, it was a pleasure having the big guy around over the holidays (that's Bosco, not Santa... no offense Santa). And I'm pretty sure he liked the attention from all the ladies i.e. myself, my mum, and two sisters... who still ask how he's doing when they call. So I tell them, visit his blog... he's like the most famous chocolate dog in the world!!!

All the best for 2007,

Sara

Talking dogs

2007-01-06T07:53:00.001-04:00

I am very happy Bosco does not talk, I am sure he would have a lot to say.

Tempting chocolate

2007-01-06T03:59:00.000-04:00

It is video clips like this that really make me want to get another labby to go with the Boss. I am sure Katie would have something to say about that.

Weighty issue

2007-01-06T03:38:00.000-04:00

Was just checking out the blog world seeing if there is any dog news out there. I see the FDA has approved a new diet pill for dogs! Now that would be handy if Bosco was still a fat chocolate like he was just over 10 months ago.

Bosco lost all his weight the hard way with lots of exercise and a strict diet and now he is a svelt 77 lbs as of yesterday.

Katie even commented on how slim and trim he looks although he still seems to take up just as much room in the house.

This is the time of the year Bosco tends to put on his winter fat but so far so good on that front.

It is funny that he is as light as he has been in some time and I have taken to calling him Jelly as a nickname.

Don't ask me why I call him that, I go through stages of calling him various names and he always seems to like it. The other night Katie was calling him to go out before bed and he did not move from his bed. I yelled down that he won't come unless you call him Jelly. Sure enough Katie calls for Jelly and he came running down the stairs. I guess it is true that even dogs like to feel cool and have pet names.

Doggy day care in doghouse

2007-01-03T16:45:00.000-04:00

Canine Casbah operator fights charge of violating city bylaw

This is a local doggy daycare that is just down the street from me. Bosco has stayed there once and they do a great job at taking care of your dog. If you live in the Halifax area I suggest checking it out and helping out in anyway you can.

from the chronicle herald

A Halifax woman who runs a doggy day care out of her west-end residence is hoping to work with the city to amend a bylaw that makes it illegal for her to care for animals in her home.

Janet Chernin opened Canine Casbah on Oak Street in early 1996 after calling the city to check what regulations existed for running a pet day care.

She said she was given the go-ahead to start up and now cares for as many as eight dogs on top of her own four furry friends, Oreo, Ursa, Pickle and Sassy.

It wasn’t until someone filed a query into the legality of her business in July 2005 that the 51-year-old entrepreneur found out she may be in violation of municipal bylaws.

"I was under the presumption I was legal," Ms. Chernin said Tuesday.

read the full article

do you Labradoodle??

2007-01-03T14:52:00.000-04:00

Came across an interesting site today all about one of the oddest dog breeds going. Labradoodles is a site all about the wonderful world of one of the newsest breeds going. Labradoodles were originally a cross between the Labrador Retriever and the Standard Poodle, now they are a breed of their own!

The site has everything you could ever want to know about the breed and I for one learned a few things I did not know about.

One of the cool features of the site is it helps you find a local breeder just by typing in your Zip code. That can be helpful to locate someone breeding these new and popular dogs. Being a Lab owner myself I would think this breed would be a perfect pet for anyone. I am sure the poodle part is okay as well haha.

The site offers featured dogs each week and has some tee-shirts to buy. All in all if you are looking to take a Labradoodle into your home this site can be a great starting point. From there you can also check out other dog breeds and even join a Labradoodle webring to meet and keep in contact with other owners.

Reunited and it feels so good

2007-01-03T14:30:00.000-04:00

I forgot to update everyone on how the farm (Boss & Mercy) are doing now that things are back to normal after the holidays. I think Mercy had the rougher time away from home as it sounds like he just spent his time under a bed.

Bosco had a blast and as always was the center of attention wherever he went. Talk about tales of two pets.

Well now they are back together again just like Tom and Jerry or Butch and the Sundance Kid. It took almost no time at all before the two were doing their usual thing of acting like they are not friends when we all know they are. In a funny way Bosco represents some comfort to Mercy I think because the chocolate is part of the norm.

So life goes on and hopefully Mercy won't have to get stuffed into his cat carrier anytime soon. Bosco on the other hand can't wait for his next trip.

Muddy Waters

2007-01-02T11:14:00.000-04:00

Well all the snow has melted with the day of rain. So of course when Bosco came in this morning from doing him business, the floor showed signs of the muddy yard. I wish Bosco knew how to use a mop and bucket.

2007 the year of Bosco?

2007-01-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

Happy new year everyone!! 2007 is here and Bosco is ready to dominate in the post. He is trim and fit and as smart as a whip. There is no telling how far Bosco can go this year. The holiday season was a time to relax and refresh for a new year of blogging about everyones favourite Chocolate Dog.

There are a lot of good ideas in the hopper for the coming weeks and I hope you will continue to come and check us out. Nothing inspires us to blog and talk about Bosco more than knowing we are providing you with some great reading during your day.

The parties are over and Bosco is ready to shine in 2007. There will be many stories of walks, new toys and funny moments. There will be endless pictures of the cute guy doing his thing on the east coast.

The goal is to bump up the readership by 100 by mid-year and go from there. Can we do it? Who knows but if you don't have a goal you don't have something to shoot for.

Pardon the mess as well because we have to get the holiday decorations down at some point. I am pretty lazy when it comes to taking down the holiday cheer. If only you could leave it up all the time, now that would be festive.

Enjoy the day and start the year off right by spoiling your dog with a long walk or a new toy. I am about to go and take Bosco out to play in the snow. Bye for now.

Chocolate wishes

2006-12-30T05:55:00.000-04:00

Happy 2007 to all those who made the CDB what it is. Without you it is just an ordinary blog.

Bosco also wants you all to remember to party hard but party safe and please don't give your dog any of the bubblee at midnight. Stick to a big sloppy kiss.

Bosco's top 10 of the year

2006-12-29T04:44:00.000-04:00

Well the time has come, with only a few days left, Bosco finally rolls out the top 10 moments of his year.

#1 All of you, the readers! Thank for from the bottom of Bosco's big chocolate heart. You are what makes this blog work.

#2 The big trip to PEI for Thanksgiving. This by far was Bosco's fav trip ever. Lots of car rides and open running. The fresh air and ocean swimming left Bosco tired and happy everynight. I remember his face when it was time to leave, it was one of are you serious?? Why do we want to leave. Don't worry Bosco we will go back many times.

#3 Everyone reading Marley & Me. This book was a great read and for all those who read it who know Bosco, could not help but think of the chocolate guy. It made the book even better having a Bosco to compare everything too. With all the stuff Marley got into, Bosco is a prince.

#4 All the friends and readers Bosco has helped in whatever way he could. I know it seems weird that a simple blog about a dog can actually affect people but I would like to think it is true. You have all read about our friend from India and I am sure there are many more who have taken something joyful from Bosco. He is a special dog and even though we all say that about our own, his powers are truly magical. He is a sure thing smile no matter what kind of day is happening. Bosco does not like to brag but he is very proud of this.

#5 Getting advertising. Bosco has become used to a certain lifestyle and now that we have some advertising going on, I may be able to afford that chocolate life. Ha ha I ma kidding Bosco is pretty low cost other than food and the occasional toy. That first year I did pump a lot of money into him so I guess you could say Bosco is paying me back with the tales of his life.

#6 The growth of the blog. I know I have mentioned this already but one of the highlights of the year was watching the site grow in readership on a daily basis. At this point we get about 100 views a day and have a solid following. I really hope to make that grow in the new year and I hope the core 100 will stay with us. Thanks again to all who read and love the Bosco.

#7 Point Pleasant Park. A few times this year Bosco got to go to the biggest park in Halifax and enjoy the off leash dog trails. One time in June when my parents were here visiting we took Bosco and Brodie to the park and they had a great time. I know this will be a fun adventure again and again this coming year as well.

#8 Being on Youtube for everyone to see. This past year Youtube has taken the World by storm and Bosco got in on the act a few times. Thousands of people took a peak at pictures of Bosco doing various things. Seems silly but man you can certainly get a message out to the peeps of the universe.

#9 All the BBQ's we had in the backyard this summer. Bosco loves to hang out in the cool grass with the smell of meat in the air. We had many great cookouts this past summer and Bosco was always a part of it.

#10 This past week when Katie and I went to Toronto for Christmas, Bosco stayed with Sara (coworker) and her family. From what I hear Bosco has a blast and certainly came home tired. I am so glad I can give Bosco to someone to watch and he behaves. Christmas 2006 will always be remembered by the Chocolate guy.

Time to rest

2006-12-28T16:49:00.000-04:00

It has been a long week of partying and celebrating and we all need some time to rest up and catch up. Here at the Chocolate Dog Blog that is the same. So here is a picture of Bosco from today as he is resting up for New Years. Please be patient as we get back in the swing of things and getting the blog rockin just like always.

Be on the look out for......

2006-12-26T12:58:00.000-04:00

The return on chocolate!!

I am in Toronto and have not seen Bosco since Friday. I miss the big chunk but I know he is having fun back in Nova Scotia.

Looking forward to seeing him on Wednesday and getting the blog rockin again.

It has been a great holiday season so far here in Toronto and actually nice to get away from the computer for a few days.

Stay tuned for more and I promise no more vacations for a little while anyways.

Hope you and your doggies had a great week.

Top 10 Christmas songs for Dogs

2006-12-21T02:09:00.000-04:00

Not everything is as it seems

2006-12-21T01:58:00.000-04:00

Get your very own Bosco Christmas card

2006-12-20T05:27:00.000-04:00

Playing catchup

2006-12-20T04:38:00.000-04:00

Okay I know I have fallen behind on the countdown, you have every right to be mad. It has been a busy week and as you know Bosco can't type to well so he is really no help.

Now where were we.......

#11 Bosco gets published. On this day Bosco was featured in an online publication called Doggiewire. Thanks to the good folks for giving us a little bit of fame. Too bad it went to Bosco's head for a few weeks.

#12 Chocolate tube. Thanks to Youtube now we can all share video of our dogs and anything else we want. I have used this site many times to showcase my own work and other peoples videos. On this day we showed a bunch of videos of cute chocolate puppies.

#13 The many pet stories that were written. Of note the famous Pet Prison Break where Mercy tried to bust out of the house with some help from Bosco. It is worth a read for anyone wondering what their pets do when they are out. I hope to have some more tales in the New Year.

#14 The blogs 100 post. It was about crazy dog mixes. I don't know who would ever mix and match these breeds but a little change is always good. I kind of think all dogs should have a little chocolate mixed in for flavour.

#15 The day Bosco became a Haligonian! We went to the vet and got him an official city tag. Now that is snazzy. Nothing like a dog with shiny bling.

#16 Bosco's review of Marley & Me. Now that was a good book despite being sad. I took a lot out of this one and have passed it on to everyone I know. Funny enough they all picture Bosco as they read it. A must read for any dog owner young or old.

Spears Dogged for Poor Pet Ownership

2006-12-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

Apparently, Kevin Federline wasn't the only warm-blooded being Britney Spears ousted from her home this year.

Once the proud owner of pampered pooches Bit-Bit, Lacy and Lucky, Spears ended the year dog-less, a feat that earned her the title of World's Worst Celebrity Dog Owner in an online poll of readers of Hollywood Dog and New York Dog magazines.

"Britney was the overwhelming choice," editor Hilary O'Hagan said in a statement. "She once had three Chihuahuas and never left home without at least one of them on her arm. As soon as she met K-Fed and had kids, they disappeared."

In an interview with Teen People in September, Federline admitted that he and Spears had decided the dogs no longer fit into their lifestyle.

"We gave all the dogs to friends of ours," Federline said at the time. "It's just too much with the kids and all these dogs running around all over the place. It just wasn't really working."

Shortly thereafter, Spears decided it wasn't really working with Federline either and filed for divorce.

Click here to read the rest of the article

Christmas wishes

2006-12-19T01:49:00.000-04:00

Bosco got a Christmas card!

Person of the Year?

2006-12-17T11:50:00.000-04:00

More like Dog of the Year!! Okay I am very bias but hey Bosco is very deserving.

Site to check out

2006-12-16T11:49:00.000-04:00

This site is pretty cool and has lots of stuff about dogs. With everyone having some extra time off coming up I figured it was good to check out.

Bulldogs are cool

2006-12-16T11:32:00.001-04:00

O' Bosco brown, O' Bosco brown

2006-12-14T10:43:00.000-04:00

Good morning everyone, how is the preparation for Christmas going? I have been running around the last few days taking care of my shopping and therefore the blogging has taken a back seat. So please forgive me for not keeping up with the countdown.

#17 The day we met Tyson. Okay I know Jay will be like, what we only rank 17th! Well that is just the kind of year it was for Bosco. Meeting such a cool dog only gets that high on the list. Tyson is one crazy guy and the stories I have heard from him only make me think he should have his own blog. I hope in the new year the two can get together again for a rumble or two. Merry Christmas T and I hope you have a happy new year.

#18 Hearing from a fan in India. I got an email that was pretty amazing and touching to read. It was from a women in India and she was telling her tale of being a lab owner. Her lab shadow was stricken by cancer and reached the third stage in a matter of months and he passed away in May of 2005, (euthansia) he was just 2.5 years old. What a sad story to read about. Anyways the reason I am telling you is her email also told how blogs like this one helped her heal. That was pretty amazing to see what power Bosco had with others. One of the best moments in 2006 for sure.

Christmas is close!!

Here is a shot of Bosco as he waits for me to decorate the tree.

Here is a little clip of our tree getting decorated. Bosco had nothing to do with this but I wanted to share.

Food for thought

2006-12-14T10:29:00.000-04:00

I came across an interesting site that covers a lot of topics I have not really thought of before so I felt it was important to pass it along to you. The site is Petfriendlyhealth.com and of course it deals with the health and well being of pets.

What I found interesting was this drug called Diaxol and it is for pets that have been diagnosed with diabetes. This is a huge problem for people and I know many who deal with it everyday of their life but I never thought about pets having the same thing.

Here is a quote from the site. "You've arrived here because your beloved pet has been diagnosed with diabetes. You're very upset… and for good reason. Currently diabetes occurs in approximately 1 out of 400 animals. The average life expectancy of diabetic pets is only 2-5 years. Diabetes is a disease that without effective action, only gets worse. Pets that have diabetes are more prone to infections, seizures, coma, blindness, and even death!"

This really grabbed me and I read a lot more about it and it really opens your eyes. So what is Diaxol? Well I will not go into great detail, you can read more about it at Petfriendlyhealth.com, but basically it is the only organic mineral complex that can effectively reverse diabetes quickly and effectively…ONCE AND FOR ALL!

Petfriendlyhealth.com provides all the information you could possibly need if you have a dog or pet with diabetes. There are testimonials of how it worked for others and it provides all the scientific information so everyone can feel comfortable about using it.

You can order it right from the site and they even claim to have a Pet Friendly Health™ Iron Clad Guarantee.

Before checking out Petfriendlyhealth.com I really had no idea this was something many people have to deal with. I am just glad that Bosco does not have to. At least if that changes one day I know there is an alternative to helping the problem. I suggest you give this site a read, even if it is just food for thought.

Lets get this shopping started

2006-12-12T10:55:00.000-04:00

Today the plan is to get the shopping started and before I do that I have to take Bosco for a walk of course. He is a patient guy but he certainly likes to give big hints. Here is a picture of Bosco right now as I sit at the computer. Maybe he is looking for Santa? Nah he just wants to get outside and have fun.

#19 The day way back in January when the blog hit 1000 views. This was a great moment for all and we knew it was the start of bigger things to come. That first 1000 always is special and it is hard to imagine that in less than a year we have hit 20,000. It is great to have so many loyal visitors and fans and to be part of the dog blog community. Who knows what is in store for 2007. Bosco says onward and upward and more chocolate for everyone!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2006-12-11T05:31:00.000-04:00

Boy this countdown thing is getting hard. I have a lot of good memories to use but I want to save them as we get closer to the end. It does not help that my brain is not awake and I can't remember too many things from Bosco's year. If only he could type, I just know he would have a lot of stories to share. But no, he is sleeping and enjoying life as a dog right now. Okay the countdown must go on.

#20 The day we launched the new look of the blog. Back near the end of the summer the blog was having some technical issues with comments and the overall look was suffering for some unknown coding problem.

Because Bosco is such a perfectionist when it comes to his blog he demanded it be fixed so a whole new look was formed. It is the look you see today. The new theme, header and style. Since then the numbers have really taken off and there are even some really cool advertisers joining in on the fun. Way to go everyone at the Chocolate Dog Blog.

By the way big props to everyone as well as I see we just crossed the 20,000 hit mark. Wowsers for a tiny little blog that started just over a year ago.

Let it snow let it snow

2006-12-10T05:25:00.000-04:00

So we had more snow on Friday in Halifax so Bosco is all happy again. He sits by the door all day in hopes of going out to play in it. I try to let him as much as possible but I think he may just want to live out there.

I have been busy doing Christmas stuff so I was not able to keep the countdown going yesterday. Good news, today you will get 2 moments from Bosco's 2006. So here goes.

#21 The day Bosco killed his Booda. Well most of you by now know Bosco had a toy cow named Booda. He has had it since May and Bosco never went to far without it. Well in September while we were away, Bosco decided it was time for Booda to become many Booda's. Bosco had destroyed his toy while he was playing with someone in a battle of tug of war. Booda had been killed. Here is a pic of the outcome, please look away if you have a weak tummy! RIP Booda.....you were a good.

#22 The first time we met Colleen Jones in the dog park. It was last winter and we were playing when her and her lab Brutus came over. They live right across the street and they are there quite often. She is a pretty quiet person considering how we all know the loudness of her hurry hard commands! Brutus is a fun dog as well even though he is a few years older than the Boss.

TGIC - Thank God Its Chocolate

2006-12-08T15:22:00.000-04:00

#23 Car rides! Bosco has been on car rides before, in friends cars, rent a cars and cabs. This year however he has a car to call his own, kind of. When we bought our first car in August Bosco quicky claimed the backseat as his and freaks out anytime I pick up my keys.

He is so calm in the back seat, just looking out the window and being quiet. You forget he is there half the time. Now that is the perfect car dog ain't it?

Thursday chocolate

2006-12-07T13:47:00.000-04:00

#24 Spending summers in the backyard. This was Bosco's first summer with a backyard with actual grass and gardens to play in. We spent a great deal of time out there bbq'ing and hanging out at the table. Bosco always wanted to be out there chewing sticks or just laying in the grass getting some sun. Who would of thought a piece of chocolate like him would want to lay in the sun all day??

Movie news

2006-12-06T22:50:00.000-04:00

MGM fired the Lion today and hired Bosco. I hope you enjoy seeing his face before your favourite movie.

Blue salt

2006-12-06T13:32:00.000-04:00

Good day everyone, well winter has hit the maritimes as you may know so that means a lot of ice and snow. Bosco is enjyoing himself as always but it also means it is time for the mass amounts of salt being tossed around.

Salt hurts doggie's feet and dries them out. So if you can find it I highly recommend this blue salt you can buy that is pet friendly. I was also told that cat litter is good to use as well. Who would of thought of that!

Today we went for a walk over to Sara's place. She is the one who is going to be looking after Bosco over Christmas. They are going to get along just fine and I know I won't have to worry about a thing.

Bosco is taking his afternoon nap so I guess that would be a good time to think of another memory.

#25 The weekend Bosco spent with Paul. In September Katie and I went to Ottawa for the weekend to go to a friends wedding. A friend of Katie's stayed at the house and took care of Bosco. They had a lot of fun because it was frosh week and Paul is a student at Kings. I bet they went on keggers and a lot of other parties but Bosco won't tell me a thing. Oh well I guess I should just be happy he was still there when I got home.

A weighty memory for today

2006-12-05T09:49:00.000-04:00

Well I mentioned yesterday all the rain we were getting and around 1pm yesterday it turned to snow and then more snow and in the end we got a few inches and the city not being ready was shut down to a crawl last night. We had a power outage for a few hours and there is still a lot of snow on the ground today.

So this meant Bosco's first snow dance for the season and as soon as his paws hit it he was running around crazy for 10 minutes. He just loves snow, running in it, rolling in it, everything about it. I did not have the camera going but I have enough pics of him in the snow I was not too worried.

That brings us to the next 2006 memory and this one was a real weight off of Bosco's shoulders, and hips and feet.

#26 Early in the year we had him checked out at the vet and learned he was over weight. So I started working him hard with runs, cutting back on food and we made it our effort to get him to his target weight of 80lbs. Starting at a whopping 99lbs this amazing race was accomplished in 6 short months. It was a proud moment to see him step on the scale and see it dip just below 80lbs for the first time. Way to go Bosco!

Just to update you, we went to the vet yesterday for a weigh in and he was at 80.6 lbs, so 5 months later Boss man is keeping that weight off, that is sweet news to everytone.

Monday rain

2006-12-04T11:52:00.000-04:00

Good day everyone. It is cold and rainy in Halifax today but I guess that is better than snow or is it? I am kind of ready for some snow on the ground and I can bet Bosco is too considering how much he hates rain. I am sure it is only a matter of days before their are some flurries.

Should get out and take him for his walk so here is today's 2006 memory.

#27 The Rolling Stones came to town to play on the Commons. This giant park/field is one of Bosco's favorite places to go for running around with other dogs and having a lot of space to do whatever he wants. It is one of the great things about living in this city and it was a really big event when the Stones played there. Next time a giant rock band comes town Bosco has asked if he can actually go and soak up the music. I think that can be arranged as long as he is a good Lab.