Hallmark Channel to Premiere Who Let the Dogs Out, Season II

Tomorrow is the premiere of season II of Who Let the Dogs Out which will broadcast nationally daytime on Fridays at Hallmark Channel. Check your local listings, and set your DVR to record the entire season.

This Friday's premiere will feature two brand new, back to back episodes to kick off the season. The shows will feature the back story on how Tillman became an honorary Marine to help raise awareness of military working dogs, and leads right up to the Rose Parade that featured several military working dog teams on the Natural Balance float.

During this week's episode, Tillman goes to Dallas to attend Skyball, and the ceremony where he was inducted as an honorary Marine. The episode also features Lucca, the hero military working dog who lost a leg while on duty in Afghanistan. This is an hour of really enjoyable television, and truly honors our military working dog teams- canine and human. I hope you can check it out. I sure am proud to be a part of this program, it is inspirational and fun too. 


The following press release was issued on the wire yesterday about Who Let the Dogs Out TV show:

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Everyone's favorite canines are back for another season of the wildly popular reality show that scours the country in search of the most fascinating, jaw-droppingly talented pets. "Who Let The Dogs Out" Season II, presented by Petco and Natural Balance Pet Foods, will air weekly on Fridays from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Central/Mountain) on Hallmark Channel beginning February 1^st. Check local listings for full show details. 

Charlie Sheen, Dick Van Patten & Jimmy Van Patten in a PSA

Season II of "Who Let The Dogs Out" will continue to follow Tillman "The World's Fastest Skateboarding Dog," and his friend Norman "The Scooter Dog," along with their puppy posse as they roll across the country with their human cohorts. Each episode follows these world-famous canines as they travel the highways and back roads of America in search of new recruits, unusual places to visit and fun experiences. The show will continue to delight animal lovers with laughs and provide interesting and helpful tips for pet owners to care for the physical, mental, social and emotional aspects of their best friends' health. Viewers who thought they saw it all last season are in for a surprise when they notice that the level of canine talent has been turned up a notch, featuring more crazy antics, history-making moments, and even some four-legged bike-riding. 

This season of "Who Let The Dogs Out" will also take audiences behind-the-scenes and into the minds of the creators of the first-ever national monument for an animal: The Military Working Dog Teams National Monument. The monument, which will honor our country's canine veterans, was replicated by Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods during the 2013 Tournament of Roses Parade and will be the first national monument to go on tour later this year. The monument will be dedicated this October and will be installed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX.

With over 50 million hits on the internet and counting, Tillman was voted by TIME Magazine as one of the top 50 YouTube videos of all time. He and his pal Norman have a tremendous fanbase of Facebook and Twitter followers whom they engage with via live viewing parties.
For more information, visit www.wholetthedogsout.tv. Audiences can join the conversation on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/TillmanSkates) and Twitter (@TillmanSkates using hashtag #TillmanTV).

Just Take A Moment

Before the day passes by, just take a moment and look closely at this photo. I took this photo myself, just using my iPhone last year. I stumbled on the photo this evening and found inspiration from it. Look closely at the flower...did you notice the tiny bees? Slow down. Look and listen...you can almost hear them buzzing. The photo was taken at a special, sacred place, and speaks to me even now. I hope this photo brings inner peace and joy to you today.

Getting Better at Home in Palm Springs

Whoa, it has been a rough week. I had been winding down a cold and just had the tail end of a little cough, but nothing too bad. Then I had a bad case of food poisoning/flu, which led to bronchitis. I woke up one night having a hard time breathing I decided it was high time I went to Urgent Care. The good doctors there got me all set up on medicine and I'm on the mend. But wow did this knock it out of me. I could barely get out of bed, or keep my head up. A few days I had a headache so bad that it felt like someone hit me over the head with a cast-iron skillet (you know, like they do in the cartoons?). I think for about two full days I laid in bed groaning. I barely ate for three full days. One full day was spent shivering no matter how many layers I wore. Crazy, nasty stuff.

I'm happy to report that I am on the mend. I feel better but I get tired very easily, even a phone call wipes me out. But I'm fine- not to worry. Through it all, the one thing I can say I enjoyed was the view from my bed. I love living in Palm Springs...I've always thought it was therapeutic for me. The climate, the light, the air pressure who knows. But desert life agrees with me. I agree with this t-shirt, "Palm Springs is Paradise Found'. For me, it was comforting just to stare out the window and gaze at our beautiful San Jacinto mountain range.
So despite being physically ill, my mind has been at peace and happy through it all. Back in the '20s through '40's people with respiratory health problems would flock to Palm Springs because of our dry climate. Scores of people with various health ailments still come here to partake in the "miracle" hot springs, claiming a myriad of health benefits. I can't personally speak to those claims but I can say this, Palm Springs is a good place to recover from just about anything.

Who Let the Dogs Out returns to TV Fridays on The Hallmark Channel

Long time readers of this blog will know that I am involved in a fantastic television program called Who Let the Dogs Out. The show is about a series of very cool dogs and their travels around the country. Led by Tillman the world's fastest skateboarding bulldog and his pal Norman the Scooter Dog, they criss-cross the nation meeting interesting pets, historic sights, and doing "good" along the way. The show is great entertainment for pet lovers and families... and full of laughs too. The show found a new home on The Hallmark Channel, and starts up again, Fridays from 1:00 to 2:00 pm (12 pm Central) starting February 1st. Be sure to check local listings. Set your DVR or Tivo to record a season pass so you won't miss any episodes. The show has a website you can follow for details: WhoLetTheDogsOut.tv or WLTDO.TV

Here's the really good news: If you missed any of season one episodes of Who Let the Dogs Out, The Hallmark Channel will re-run the entire first season this year too, so you can catch up on all the fun. I'll have more details for you soon, so check back.

Video of Military Family Reunion at Natural Balance Rose Parade Float

Here is the full video clip from the 2013 Rose Parade, when a military family was reunited on the Natural Balance Pet Foods float on New Year's Day in Pasadena, CA. This is Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pazz and his son and wife. Pretty awesome, huh?

Natural Balance Canines With Courage Rose Parade Float

Rick at the Natural Balance Rose Parade Float

Once again I had the distinct honor and privilege of attending the Rose Parade, along with my company Natural Balance Pet Foods. This was our fifth year of having a float in the famous Rose Parade, and it was one of the best! We didn't set out to break any new Guinness World Records for the longest, or heaviest or biggest, but instead, we wanted to honor Military Working Dog teams. We have teamed up with Petco to help fund a new National Monument to Military Working Dog teams, so our float's theme for this year was a floral replica of the monument.

Natural Balance Rose Parade float 2013

I love this view of the Natural Balance Rose Parade float as it passed by our stands. You can see how beautiful it was with all the flowers and stars. 

Tillman is now an honorary Marine

There were several military working dog teams on the float, as well as Tillman, the world's fastest skateboarding bulldog who is now an honorary Marine. Tillman set aside his skateboard this Rose Parade to help honor and raise awareness for these true canine heroes, Military Working Dogs.

side view of Natural Balance float

 Here is a great side view photo of the Natural Balance Rose Parade float from 2013. You can see the floral replica of the bronze statues of the dog handler/soldier and the four dogs typically used in the military. I love the way the float looks in this photo against the blue sky, it makes me feel extra patriotic for some reason...and it isn't even the actual monument.

Natural Balance Rose Parade float reunion family

If you watched the Rose Parade, you might have seen the awesome surprise on live TV. It was a reunion between an active duty Army Sargeant and his family. His wife thought she had won a trip to the Rose Parade, and brought her son. When the float stopped, Army Sgt. First Class Eric Pazz came out of the stands, and the little boy, 4-year-old son Eric Pazz II went running to see his father. It was a real tear-jerker for sure. Later, at the post-parade event, I took this photo of the dad and his son on our float itself. Pretty cool, huh?

Natural Balance Rose Parade Float

There are some really incredible photos and moments from today's Rose Parade. Here is another view of our float. I have to say I am so proud of my company for this year's float. Below is an awesome photo of Tillman with Lucca, with her handler, Corporal Juan Rodriguez, stand in front of the Military War Dog Monument.

Lucca and Tillman at the bronze statues of the monument

It was an incredible day in Pasadena at the Rose Parade. I hope you enjoyed my photos!