My dogs love Lucy Pet Dog Food Rolls

Adele and Ellie love these new beef dog food rolls from Lucy Pet Foods. As soon as I cut a slice they come running to the kitchen and start licking their lips in anticipation. They are perfect for training, great for picky dogs, senior dogs, or just for a reward and variety in snacking. 

We make the Lucy Pet food rolls right here in our own plant in Irwindale, California at our Breeder's Choice Pet Foods facility. I'm happy to say they are now available online at the LucyPetFood.com website.

Sheldon the K9 Product Development Assistant

Sheldon was my trusty assistant for the taste-test panel

This has been a busy year so far, with no end in sight to the fun and interesting projects in my world of pet food. I've just completed a product development project of our new Lucy Pet Hip to Be Square™ dog treats. Sheldon, Ellie and Adele all helped with the formula development and taste testing. They all have such discriminating taste buds, so it took us time to get the formula just right. We make our dog treats right here in sunny Southern California. They are meaty, chewy, semi-moist natural treats. We insisted in using premium ingredients from the US, such as duck meat, wild Alaskan salmon, or free range chicken as the first ingredients of each treat. 

The first batch of treats are made!

We blended in some pumpkin for some fiber and a delicious taste. Since our Hip to Be Square dog treats are grain-free and Limited Ingredient Treats, they are an excellent choice for pets who have sensitivities to grain. 

Like everything we do at Lucy Pet, these are 'Products with a Cause', so proceeds help animals through the Lucy Pet Foundation. I couldn't have done it without my faithful poodle pal Sheldon Gryffindor, who is still going strong at nine years old. I should have asked him to be in this ad for the new treats! Oh well, next time, Sheldon.

Two Poodles and a Labradoodle!

Together with the kids!

This is one of those rare photos when all three kids are together in one place, standing still. Sheldon, Adele and Miss Ellie were all smiles last night at the townhouse. Two standard poodles and a labradoodle, all living harmoniously. When I think it has only been five weeks since Adele was adopted, she has truly done very well adjusting to her new life. All three kids are taste-testers for the new Lucy Pet dog food. 
 
Yesterday Sheldon went to work with me and taste-tested our Lucy Pet Salmon, Pumpkin & Quinoa Formula for Life dog food. He even let me me Tweet out this photo of him next to the bag!

#Dog Speed Dating in #DNCE video #KissingStrangers feat Nicki Minaj

Long time readers of this blog know that I love my dogs. Sheldon, Miss Ellie and Adele bring so much love and happiness. Anyone who has a dog in their life at one time or another has envisioned their dog acting almost human-like. We tend to project human traits and mindsets on our pets, perhaps to relate, but it is also just good old plain fun.
There is a new music video "Kissing Strangers" by the popular dance-rock group 'DNCE" that features dogs in a speed-dating type event. They are all having fun, being silly and enjoying life. The song is catchy and has a good beat. DNCE consists of members Joe Jonas, Jack Lawless, Cole Whittle, and JinJoo Lee and features Nicki Minaj.

The connection here is that in this lyric video, DNCE gave Lucy Pet some cool plugs throughout with some banners and things like that. Its a lighthearted easy song and fun to imagine what dogs would be like on a speed date. I especially like the pink standard poodle who catches the eyes of all the male dogs in the video. That pink poodle is supposed to be Nicki Minaj, which you will see as she starts her vocals in the song. Dog lovers especially will enjoy this music video:

Two Members of the Lucy Pet Taste Test Panel

Mr Sheldon, me and Miss Ellie

Today we had a little photo shoot at work, so naturally Mr Sheldon and Miss Ellie joined in. I try to take my four-legged kids to work every day so they are now regulars at the Lucy Pet offices. They are part of our official "taste test" panel, and give their opinions on our food and other products in development. Incidentally, my "Poodle" and "Doodle" both gave us two paws up votes for the new Lucy Pet Formulas for Life food. They started on the early feeding taste test panel for our Duck, Pumpkin and Quinoa formula and switched to it completely now.  Life is good for these four legged kids of mine.

Adventures of Sheldon: Acupuncture Saves The Day

It has been quite some time since an installment of The Adventures of Sheldon appeared here, but this week qualified as blog-worthy.  On Monday, March 16th, I noticed Sheldon was not his usual happy outgoing self. He was quiet, not moving around much and didn't have that spring in his step. He is aged seven, which technically makes him a "senior" in dog years, but this change in behavior was sudden. It wasn't until later that evening when I returned home from a dinner that I noticed Sheldon was breathing heavily, in a still position and did not want to go out for his nightly walk. I knew something was amiss. I watched, waited, spoke to him, gazing into his eyes in a desperate attempt to try to get a glimmer of insights to what was wrong. Dogs have an amazing tolerance for pain and adapt exceptionally well, out of necessity he kept his body stiff and still. 

Sometime around 9:45 pm I decided I couldn't wait any more, and brought Sheldon to an emergency after hours veterinary hospital. When I arrived, it was packed. No good things are happening at an emergency vet hospital. Virtually every dog or cat is in some sad situation, and their human parents are nearly always weepy, stressed and visibly concerned. I was intermittently in those states the entire 3 hours we waited for his turn to be seen. We waited in my car for most of the duration, where Sheldon would be more comfortable and not around all the other sad people and sick dogs in the waiting area. 

Midway through the waiting period, I asked the vet to just perform a quick X-Ray to ensure there was not internal blockage or life threatening risk, such as bloat where minutes matter. The X-Ray ruled out bloat or anything where an immediate surgery was obviously required. This was some consolation to me, and we continued to wait our turn. Eventually as the wee hours of the morning approached, I met with the Veterinarian who diagnosed Sheldon with back pain, due to narrowed disk space between several vertebrae. The pain he was suffering was very real, and was now limiting his movement. The Vet administered a dose of the narcotic Buprenex through IV to help with pain management. He was prescribed a series of other meds and anti-inflammatory pills, as well as Gabapentin to treat nerve pain. Sheldon was finally released with strict orders for two weeks of very limited movement-- no playing, walking, jumping and suggested confinement to a kennel or crate. I was mentally exhausted and drained from a long evening of waiting and worrying. Close to 2:30 am I brought my best friend home, carefully carrying him into the car. He was under slight sedation, drooling heavily from the meds and just out of it. He slumped into the back seat and barely moved.

Back at home, I placed Sheldon into a spot on the floor with a soft blanket (he could not go onto my bed as usual). Stroking his head and body, I wept for hours as I watched my best friend in the whole world lay helplessly in pain. I slept on the floor next to him all night long to be with him. For the next 24 hours Sheldon barely ate or drank much water. He took his meds but had no desire to do much else. I consulted his regular doctor, who advised getting Sheldon some acupuncture treatment as soon as possible. I did not know any acupuncture vets but decided to search for one in the next day or so. By an interesting happen-stance, that very evening, while having a glass of wine with a friend, I chatted with someone who mentioned in conversation--with no knowledge of Sheldon's situation that she had brought her cat to an acupuncturist earlier that day. Ah-ha! It would seem the Universe was bringing me what I needed. She shared the vet's name and contact info and the very next morning I managed to get a same-day appointment for Sheldon.
Taking Sheldon to a certified, Holistic Veterinarian seemed perfectly reasonable to me. I am a believer of a combination of Eastern and Western medicine practices, particularly Eastern methods for preventative care and wellness health programs. In this case, I felt that just treating Sheldon's back pain with drugs to manage pain were nothing more than a short-term solution and would be bad for his liver and kidneys long term. He certainly needed those to get relief and enable his body to rest and heal, but once he was past the severe pain, a holistic approach to address the nerve and vertebrae pain points made sense. Upon meeting the doctor, I immediately warmed to her bedside manner. After reviewing his X Rays and giving a physical exam, she explained the treatment he would need. Acupuncture, laser light therapy and a massage, with a bit of aromatherapy to relax him. He would also begin a regimen of herbal medicine to help his organ functions. We began treatment immediately, with some aromatherapy oils and a massage to relax him as much as possible.

A series of acupuncture needles were placed along the spine at specific intervals and along his head, neck, hips and hind quarters

The treatment went for 15 minutes, and Sheldon was totally calm and relaxed.

Relaxing music filled the treatment room, and Sheldon was very relaxed in a Zen-like mood. He didn't mind the needles at all. When the acupuncture treatment concluded, he then had the laser-light therapy which he also seemed to enjoy very much. Here is a quick video clip of Sheldon while he had the acupuncture needles in him. You can see how relaxed he was from this video...

Sheldon slept so well that night!

The holistic doctor explained that Sheldon would likely sleep well later and be very relaxed. When we returned home, that is exactly what he did! Sheldon's facial expression was very calm and happy,
he had a great night of sleep that day. He will have several more acupuncture and laser therapy treatments to help him heal, but he is definitely feeling and looking better. 

In the meantime he is not allowed to climb stairs, run or jump, just to be sure his back has a chance to heal. I've been supplementing his normal dog food with some home cooked ground turkey with pumpkin and green peas, just for love. Additionally, I started Sheldon on Cosequin D5, maximum strength for proper dose levels of Glucosamine/Chondroitin, to help lubricate his joints. To help boost his bodily functions, he is now on

These applicators make it easy to squeeze the correct dose!

Caninedophilus, a pharmaceutical grade refrigerated probiotics gel made by Natren, the probiotics experts. While the probiotics are not intended to help his back, I believe that proper gut and digestive health will ensure his organs function optimally, which will help his entire body's immune system and reduce toxins and ultimately be able to minimize inflammation. Sheldon is on the mend...he is benefiting from the great treatment by the regular vet and the holistic vet, along with proper diet and supplements to help boost his system. None of us- human or canine can live forever, but my hope is that we live our lives fully and as healthy as possible. That is what I intend to provide for my best friend in the world, Mr Sheldon Gryffindor. These Adventures of Sheldon were a bit more dramatic that I would have preferred, but looking back on this past week, it was indeed an adventure.
As a reminder, this is not a paid post, despite my product mentions here, I wrote this entirely of my own desire to share what I believe is helping Sheldon return to good health.

PS- I wish to thank all the pet bloggers, who shared positive energy with our #pawcircle prayers. It made a difference for Sheldon.

Morning Coffee Routines with Mr Sheldon

One of the things I've always appreciated about the similarity of humans to dogs is how we are both creatures of habit and like familiar routines. As a Standard Poodle, Sheldon is intelligent and studies every move I make. He knows my routines and how they affect him. In the mornings when I brew some coffee, he usually waits in the kitchen with me, and then the moment I pick up my mug, dashes out to the patio ahead of me, sits down by one of the chairs and waits for me. (Having four legs, he gets there several paces before me.) Usually I read the morning news from the usual websites, and Sheldon gets his news...so to speak. He hops up on one of the chairs-- or an ottoman, and scans the world from his vantage. All the comings and goings must be carefully observed and monitored. 

Sheldon is a good pal... he humors me when I read a headline or recant some story to him, particularly if it is a dog story. He turns his head toward me, listens intently and when he tires of my meaningless words he looks away in boredom, dismissing me ever-so-gently. Of course periodically he gets riled up about something and barks his opinion to tell off some dog, or to tell me that he smells another dog walking by.  He isn't one to bark often, so I let him blow off his steam and then circle back to me huffing and puffing a bit, until he settles back down by my feet.

Breakfast on the patio is a routine he also enjoys, as there is always the distinct possibility something could go flying off the table and require canine cleanup service. I always say it is a side business he runs called "Sheldon's Canine Clean Up Service" but it doesn't get much business in my home, as I'm not a sloppy eater. But its certainly reassuring to know that I never have to worry should I drop a piece of toast.

Sheldon also seems to know that I have two mugs of coffee, and no more. When I finish the second mug of coffee, he leaves his post and heads to the master bathroom, as he knows I'll shower and get dressed. I enjoy having my morning coffee with Mr Sheldon, he is my best friend and a perfect roommate.

Westminster Dog Show Day 1

Presently I'm in New York attending the 139th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Monday was the first of two nights of the formal group competitions, as well as the first of two televised broadcasts of the venerable Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden.  I don't intend to provide a complete summary by breed or group here-- there are plenty of other blogs who will do a much better job than I would anyway. Although I am no longer actively working within the pet industry, Westminster has been my passion for the past 18 years, so I made the trip once again to enjoy all the festivities with the dog show community.

Over the past 18 years, some of my dear friends have been in either in dog rescue, shelter groups, dog show judges, groomers, dog handlers, trainers and responsible dog breeders who share the passion for various breeds. It is such fun to be around "pet people" and the actual dogs themselves, naturally. 

Additionally, I'm old friends with the folks at Purina Pro Plan brand dog food, who is now the title sponsor of the Westminster Dog Show, so it is nice to be back to cheer on the sport of show dogs once again this year. Sadly, we've lost a few of our old show dog friends over the years...time marches on I'm afraid, and such is life. But I remember all those we've lost fondly.  Being at Madison Square Garden this evening was a thoroughly enjoyable event. The event is always first class- well produced and organized to perfection. Everyone in the audience are passionate dog lovers, cheering on their favorite breeds and cordial to one another. It is an exhilarating experience I recommend to all dog lovers!

It was also fun to participate in the live social media conversation, from those in attendance to those at home. Using hashtags #WKCDogShow made it easy. I also added on the #PetChat hashtag to connect to my pals there as well. It made it more fun for everyone. One tip: the WKC has a really good smartphone app worth downloading to follow along the show.

If you are not familiar with the Dog Show world, each breed is classified into a type, and the breeds compete within their groups. You can learn all about dog shows from WKC by clicking here.

image credit:Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show social media post

The breed types, in the USA are defined and/or utilized by both the American Kennel Club and Westminster Kennel Club, and are as follows:
1. Working
2. Terrier
3. Hound
4. Toy
5. Sporting
6. Non-Sporting
7. Herding
As a proud poodle parent, I was cheering on the poodles Monday night at the show. There are three types of poodles: 1. Standard Poodle 2. Miniature Poodle and 3. Toy Poodle. Believe it or not, despite their size differences they are all considered the same breed type. My two poodles, Sheldon and Duncan are the "Standard Poodle" size, so naturally, I was very happy when the Standard Poodle won the Non-Sporting Group. Once all the other individual groups complete their judging, the Best in Show competition is the final judging event tomorrow night. I'll be rooting for the Standard Poodle to win Best in Show.  The Westminster Dog Show is televised live on the USA network and CNBC. For streaming and Broadcast info click here.

As requested...an update on the kids

Since I resumed blogging, a few faithful readers from years ago have asked about Sheldon and Duncan. So today, as requested here is a quick update on the kids.

Sheldon and Duncan have grown into fine adult poodles, well mannered, smart as heck and total charmers. Like any self-respecting Standard Poodle, they enjoy their multiple residences, and travel effortlessly between Palm Springs, Burbank and the Los Angeles area. Duncan is as mischievous as ever, but is a very sweet natured boy. Sheldon is an absolute lamb...except when he torments his brother and chases him around the house, running, bobbing and weaving between tables, side chairs and plants like total maniacs.

All joking aside, Sheldon and Duncan are best pals and love being together. They go hiking in the foothills, and also love the bike/pedestrian jogging paths to take in all the sights.

Having standard poodles in your home is  like having a housemate. They are not quite the same as having just any pet. They view humans as their equals (and I'm OK with that). They are thinkers--even listen to conversations and respond/react in their own manner. I joke with some of my human friends that I don't need to watch TV or read because these two keep me plenty amused. One of my famous friends recently remarked to me: "I think Sheldon is listening to our conversation." (As we chatted on the sofa, Sheldon was seated next to us listening and eventually turned his head away). I replied to my famous friend, "Of course Sheldon is listening, but I can tell he is bored by you now." At that exact moment, Duncan who was laying on the floor exhaled deeply and sighed, making a loud groaning noise. My famous friend joked that thankfully Sheldon and Duncan didn't buy movie tickets. 

The kids are quite well, even if the are bored by celebrities, they find plenty of entertainment in their dad everyday.

Adventures of Sheldon: The Demise of Reindeer Antlers & Snacks

Today I stopped by the Petco store in Palm Springs to pick up a few snacks for the kids. Sheldon and Duncan like Roll-A-Rounds because they are crunchy slices and Tillman's Treats because they are soft and smell delicious. No matter which one I bring out, they promptly sit up straight and wag their tails. It is so cute to see how much happiness a little treat brings them. In my travels today I bought a pair of reindeer antlers and had Mr Sheldon try them on before giving him a snack. Once the photo session was over, I rewarded Sheldon, and his brother Duncan with a few Roll-A-Rounds. He took the slices from my hand, brought them to his favorite sofa cushion and proceeded to devour every morsel. Five minutes after this photo, however Sheldon decided to play with his antlers...

Needless to say, they didn't last long. The plastic part that sits on top of his head had broken and was all just floppy, no longer identifiable as antlers. Oh well, at least they lasted for the one photo. So it was the end of the treats and antlers, all in less than 7 minutes. That's OK, he's worth it. I can always get more plenty treats for him anytime.

The Adventures of Sheldon: Help Pets in Need this Season

Sheldon Gryffindor took some time to relax by the Christmas tree this morning, to reflect on the season a bit. Sitting n his favorite side chair in front of a roaring fireplace Sheldon contemplated the fate of millions of homeless pets in the world. Being just one poodle living in Palm Springs, he understands that he alone can't change the world. But he also knows that one poodle can make a difference for another pet in need. That's why Sheldon wants to help homeless pets in shelters, and is asking for your help too. There is so much you can do: consider adopting a pet at your local shelter. Visit your local shelter and donate some food, or perhaps donate a few dollars.
Sheldon knows about the Tree of Hope fundraiser to benefit the Petco Foundation. He made a donation while visiting a Petco store yesterday in fact. 

Sheldon also wants you to know that you can make a donation to help homeless pets in shelters easily without spending a penny. All you need to do go to the Natural Balance facebook page and "like" them. For every new "like" they get by December 24th they will donate $1 to the "Tree of Hope" fundraiser, which helps local shelters all across the country. Tell your friends too. 

Make a difference for a pet in need this season. Sheldon thanks you for your help.
PS- you can follow Sheldon on Twitter @SheldonGryffin

The Adventures of Sheldon & Duncan: Photos with Santa

Our Photo with Santa at Petco

Today I brought Duncan and Sheldon to the Petco store in Palm Springs to have their photo taken with Santa. From the moment they saw the front door of Petco, they were excited...they know that means good stuff for them! We made our way to the area where Santa was, conveniently in the Natural Balance food section, which is what they eat, of course :-) Duncan was eyeing the Duck and Potato dog food rolls, which he **loves** as a snack in between meals. Fortunately I got them both to sit like good boys, long enough to snap a few photos. 

Sheldon Gryffindor drives to Petco

After the photos, Sheldon used his own Twitter account 'SheldonGryffin' to upload and share his photo with Santa. He has been building a nice base of followers. We also posted the photo on Petco's Facebook page, as they were running a photo contest. As you might imagine, Sheldon is quite the social poodle, and loves to go for rides around Palm Springs. You can tell how much fun he was having by the smile on his face in this photo above. It was a great way to get into the Christmas spirit, so "thanks" Petco, for hosting the "Photos with Santa" event today!

The Adventures of Sheldon & Duncan: Before & After The Groomer

Before the Groomer Visit

The Adventures of Sheldon and Duncan continue once again with a fresh installment. It was a perfect Autumn morning in Palm Springs, bright sunshine, yet cool enough to run around in the yard like total maniacs. Duncan raced out the door to go potty, Sheldon just inches behind. Their usual spot for morning relief was waiting as always. Duncan's favorite lamp post received its daily does of yellow rain. Sheldon was still searching for just the right spot. There was no time to dawdle. I had things to do and places to go, but I know better than to rush Sheldon Gryffindor. All in his own sweet time. Something in the pencil tree caught my eye, so my attention was diverted from the poodles for a few moments. Suddenly both of them came charging around the corner smiling broadly.


I asked them both, in my best pitch if they wanted to go the grooming salon today. Their ears perked up as they cocked their heads in unison. Tails began to wag hurriedly, as they made their way back into the house. Just the jingling of my keys was all that was necessary to rally them to the front door- they were ready to head out. They climbed into the car and waiting impatiently- stomping their front feet in expectation of a day of fun and frolicking at the groomer's with all the other dogs. Take a look at the photo of them above, neither were too shaggy, but both needed a good brush and fluff. When we arrived at the salon, they quickly disappeared behind the counter and quickly forgot all about me, opting instead for their canine buddies.

riding home after the groomer's

After work that day I returned home to pick them up from the salon. I waited to hear a report card from Pat, the salon owner. Pat loves both Duncan and Sheldon, she's a poodle person anyway. She proceeded to inform me that Duncan spent most of the day sitting on her lap or table platform as she groomed other dogs. He likes to be the center of attention, so that was a good place to be I suppose. She told me Duncan even knew to stand up when smaller dogs needed to walk past him, the really tiny dogs were able to walk underneath him as he stood up, then returning to a seated position once he saw the small dogs in place. 

After the Groomers, all clean & fluffy!

They were both thrilled to see me when I walked in, which always makes me feel better than the abandonment when I drop them off. They were supercharged--feeling clean, fresh and fluffed, and they knew it. Sheldon in particular paused to admire himself when he passed by the mirror. That dog has quite a personality. Maybe that's why he has his own Twitter account @SheldonGryffin . 

Back home, they charged into the house, where Owen scattered as he heard his brothers galloping in the foyer. Everything was back to normal at home, once again.

Everything is Back to Normal Again...

Well my most recent mysterious world travels are complete...for now anyway. I'm happy to be back home in Palm Springs with Sheldon and Duncan. (Owen is inside staring out the window at his brothers, but that's fine with him). One of my favorite routines everyday is to watch the sunrise from my patio with a nice cup of freshly brewed cawfee, with the poodles at my side, of course. It brings so much joy to me. Plus, it is so peaceful to watch the sun's rays on the San Jacinto Mountains, it a perfect place to meditate. 

Over the next few days I'll begin sharing a few photos from my travels. I'm being more cautious than years past because I know from my web tracking software there are a few people who follow this blog that "may not have pure hearts", shall we say. Nothing sinister, but I think you get my drift. That's why I've been quiet on the blog of late. So enough of that let's get ready for some new installments of Rick's Roadshow! See you soon...

The Future is Here with Skype

I've always considered myself somewhat of an "early adopter" of new technology and such. I like to try things to see how nifty they are, or more important, if they offer more convenience. Skype is one such technology service. I've been using Skype for years. It is an amazing service that allows people to communicate easily for free via the internet. It is sort of like Star Trek or the Jetsons. In my prior career I had a remote employee who lived in another state. I used Skype to "meet" with that person every day, and would even bring my laptop to other meetings so the remote person could be part of meetings in our main office.

But Skype also comes in handy for private use. I use it to talk to my nieces who live 3,000 miles away. Being so young, it is nice to be able to see them as they grow and develop. When I visited the Harry Potter Wizarding World in Orlando, FL recently, I used Skype on my iPhone to call my niece and give them a live, inside tour of the park. It was a real hit with them! 

Since I travel a fair amount I use Skype to stay in touch with the goings-on back in Palm Springs. Namely, the poodles. I log into Skype from either my laptop of iPhone and, and the both Sheldon and Duncan recognize the sound of the Skype "ring". While in Asia recently, I called home to chat, and while Sheldon and Duncan were each on Skype, I took a snapshot of the Skype window. Here are the photos of each one on Skype:

As you can see, they know enough to come to the laptop screen to look at me. The funny thing is watching them sniff the air, in the direction of my face on the screen. Dogs use their sense of smell more than just sight- so despite hearing my voice, and seeing my face, they instinctively want to detect me by my scent as well. Sheldon has been known to look behind the laptop screen, to see if I am there, which if awfully cute, don't you think? It makes me happy to be able to see the kids and talk to them. So for that alone, Skype has become a valuable communication tool in this age. What about you? Do you use Skype much?

The Adventures of Sheldon & Duncan: Time to be Neutered

The time finally arrived. Young Duncan Diggory went to the vet for a procedure. We waited much longer than we did for Sheldon, to see how big he would get. Turns out, Duncan is bit longer and taller than Mr Sheldon but he is skinny as a rail, so in all just five pounds heavier. The Adventures of Sheldon & Duncan continue, as it was Time to be Neutered. Considering the procedure, Duncan handled himself rather well. He came home all groggy and woozy, wearing the e-collar cone on his head, to prevent him from licking the stitches. Oddly enough, Mr Sheldon was initially spooked by his brother's cone. Quite characteristically, Sheldon growled at Duncan when he approached, and would run away. Sometimes Sheldon would stand around the corner and watch nervously to see if Duncan was in the area. To show Sheldon it was still just his brother, I removed the cone for a few hours so he could "see" that it was OK and that Duncan hadn't turned into some kind of scary monster. Fortunately that seemed to do the trick, and soon they were back to their normal playful poodle selves. Before I went to work this morning, the boys sat in the kitchen, politely asking for a treat. They seemed to deserve a Tillman Treat, don't you think? Well, I thought so anyway.

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The Adventures of Sheldon & Duncan: Out for Exercise

It has been awhile since I've written of The Adventures of Sheldon & Duncan, and then yesterday I found inspiration for a new episode. The weather forecast for Southern California was menacing; threats of rains, wind and record cold temperatures. I envisioned a weekend being locked inside with the poodles unable to go out to play. Being young, large and energetic dogs, they need their daily exercise. Normally they go out several times per day to play- and burn off some steam. With the forecast of a long rainy weekend I decided to take them out a few times before the rains arrived. They love going for walks, especially when we get to one particular spot where it is safe to let them off-leash to run. Here is a short video clip of them out for exercise:

As you saw from this video, standard poodles are pretty good athletes. They love to run at high speeds and chase each other, taking turns at who leads in the game. It warms my heart to see them happy like this, enjoying their free time. It also serves as a reminder that some breeds need to run, and if paired with a home lifestyle that cannot offer that outlet, dogs can become unhappy and do naughty things indoors. So there is my PSA to urge folks to do your research on the needs of a breed before bringing one into your home. Meanwhile, both Sheldon and Duncan had another adventure while out for exercise. As it turned out, the rain was short-lived in the desert, and Palm Springs was spared most of the wintry-weather that fell on Southern California. So in the end, the poodles had access to their usual exercise adventure, repeated just like this video above. Indeed, it is good to be a poodle in my home.

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The Adventures of Sheldon and Duncan: The Christmas Portrait

For those of you with pets in your home, no doubt you will appreciate this post. As we're in the final stretch of the Christmas holiday week, I felt it was time to post this holiday photo. It was supposed to be better than it turned out, but the challenge is the subjects of the photo. This brings me to another installment of The Adventures of Sheldon and Duncan: The Christmas Portrait. I am a bit of a traditionalist with things like holiday photos and like everything just so. Both poodles went to the grooming salon for a bath, brush and fluff. Even Owen was clean, fluffy and ready for his close-up. I set the stage with a roaring fire, switched on the Christmas tree lights, and had the lighting just so. I positioned the kids in front of the tree, and on cue, Owen sauntered over to the fireplace and sat on the hearth next to his brothers. 

Sheldon sat up especially straight- he always tries very hard to please- so much so that he had a serious expression on his face. Duncan, on the other hand was smiling non-stop, and looking around. There I stood, giving all sorts of instructions and commands to the three of them, as if they actually understood my direction. They looked left. They looked right. They switched places. I kept clicking away, hoping for the one perfect photo. After a few minutes they became impatient, and just wanted a break. I insisted we try a few more shots. I could see tails wagging excessively, as if they had all they could do to hold back their excitement. 

Then the damn burst. Duncan couldn't hold it in any longer; he darted toward me, tail wagging, smiling broadly. "No-no, Duncan, SIT, SIT" I shouted. He looked at me bewildered. Sheldon remained sitting, but noticeably perturbed by his brothers outburst of emotion. Owen became squirmy and began grooming himself. I fetched some semi-moist dog treats to tempt them into submission. Both dogs were repositioned yet again, and while holding a treat in one hand I began snapping photos. Then the clock chimed- Duncan turned his head. Then an airplane flew overhead- Sheldon looked out the window. It was hopeless. I reviewed the photos captured thus far. Several were blurry. Several were just plain awful. One good one didn't have the kitty in it. One had all three of them, but no one was looking at the camera. ::sigh::

I looked back at my three children and realized they are the best pets for which a guy could ever ask. I smiled at them and called them to me. They were overjoyed with the calling and bounded toward me, licking my face in appreciation. It was then, at that moment I felt the Christmas Spirit. All was well, regardless of who was looking at the camera. We are a family, sharing our own Christmas joy.
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Sheldon and the Nervous Waiter

Yesterday I had a business lunch meeting and decided to bring Sheldon along. He is so accustomed to being with me all the time that I hated to leave him alone all day. I phoned ahead to the restaurant to be sure the patio would be open (it was). Sheldon pranced right on into Mimi's patio as if he owned the joint. My business colleagues arrived shortly and were thrilled to see Sheldon, more than me I think. Our server wasn't a dog person- I could tell. He kept a far distance from Sheldon as he greeted us and took our orders. I'm always a bit taken back when I meet someone who doesn't like animals. 

I understand that there are dog people and cat people, and some cat people really don't like dogs.  Some dog people really don't like cats. But I rarely meet someone who has a physical aversion to an animal. I don't expect everyone to LOVE animals like I do, but it just seems strange when someone reacts so oddly around a dog. Now, keep in mind I'm talking about a standard poodle, not a pit bull or rottweiler or one of those breeds of which some people are leery. Well anyway lunch was fine, and the server was pleasant enough but by the look on his face, his darting eyes and the physical distance he kept from Sheldon I knew he was uncomfortable. I held Sheldon close to me when I saw the server approach, out of courtesy. But now really, could Mr Sheldon really be all that scary??
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The Adventures of Sheldon & Harry Potter

Regular readers are familiar with the occasional mini-series of The Adventures of Sheldon which started in 2008 or later the Adventures of Sheldon & Duncan which started in 2009. It has been a month or so since the last episode, so its time for a fresh installment! I can't think of a better night than to be at home relaxing with the poodles. Both Sheldon and Duncan are happiest when we're all home together. Today brings The Adventures of Sheldon & Harry Potter. It all started when I settled down in the media room to watch Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Mr Sheldon curled up on the black leather sofa next to me while Duncan Diggory chose to sit on the floor at my feet. As the movie started, Sheldon instantly perked up. We have surround-sound speakers in the media room that provide for excellent sound quality. Sheldon was drawn into the story in no time.

I first noticed in one of the scenes when there was a Quidditch match with kids flying around on their broom sticks. I watched Sheldon's head movie side to side as he watched the action on the big screen in front of him. I was amused by his interest in the film. 

Shortly thereafter there was a scene when Harry meets Professor Slughorn whilst snipping tentacular leaves through a window in in Professor Sprout's greenhouse. The magical tentacular plants are moving around wildly in their pots while the Professor attempts to snip a few leaves. For some reason, Sheldon was fascinated by this scene and watched intently. Maybe it was the sound and the movement of the plants. Sheldon leaned forward, to have a closer look at the screen. His ears perked up and he watched intently. I managed to snap the photo of his profile at that exact moment. I had no idea he enjoyed Harry Potter movies as much as I do. Sheldon watched the entire movie with me. When it was over, he got up, stretched out, yawned and walked to the bedroom to go to sleep. Another busy day in the life of Sheldon Gryffindor Rockhill.

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