What, I ask you, is more alluring for a city dog, than a roll in the verdant green grass of one of the Big Apple’s sprawling parks?

Theodore would answer: A bucket of fried chicken, forgotten on a brownstone’s stoop.

However,  Theo’s bestie, Fern, can think of no better sunny-spring-day-treat than getting cozy with some of Mother Nature’s carpeting.

But what to do about Battery Park’s prohibitions, marking all grassy areas: DOG FREE?

Well, Ferny is an open minded, independent thinker, and has decided to interpret the DOG FREE signs as code for: RUN FREE, BE FREE, FREE YOUR MIND.

Isn’t she clever? Theodore concurs that a bit of canine rebellion is a good thing, at the right place and time.  And apparently, these two pals felt that a perfect May afternoon was precisely the right place and time.

So, our epic 4+ hour stroll about downtown Manhattan was cheerfully capped off by a rule-breaking act…though we asked the dogs to take their tummy tickling fix at the edge of the lawn, lest the park rangers find themselves compelled to fine us and our furry scofflaws.

If you’d like a lesson in the fine art of the Back Scratch + Roll, please do take a close look at these photos.  Fern was more than happy to demonstrate her technique.

In fact, she was going to explain all the fine points and stages of the roll, but as you can see, she’s fallen asleep. On the grass. In the DOG FREE area.

Man, I love that Ferny Fern Fern.  Endless entertainment.

There are a few things that Theodore dreads in this world, and wind storms top the list.

A particularly loud morning storm is usually accompanied by a request from Theodore to join his humans in bed.  He makes this request by resting his pointy nose on the edge of my side of the bed, his ears pulled back while proffering his most mournful look.  And despite the overall prohibition: ‘No Dogs On The Bed’, at moments like this, I cannot refuse.  Lucky for Theo that his Other Favorite Human finds him as charming as I do.

So, a few, blustery mornings ago, as Theodore cuddled up to me, finding the perfect position to keep the scary wind monsters at bay, my heart melted into a puddle of warm goo, and I thought about the symbiotic nature of our relationship.

We take turns soothing and protecting each other; we rely on one another to remain grounded. He comes to my aid, placing his head in my lap, whenever I feel out of sorts or anxious. In turn, I talk him through long, bumpy car rides and confrontations with wildly flapping banners and other unsettling disturbances.

And as Theodore hunkered down for his late morning snuggle, tucking his long limbs under his narrow frame, he gazed up at me with the sweetest, most grateful expression, and I found myself musing about what it is that makes our bonds with dogs so strong.

Why have I, and so many of my friends and loved ones,  felt such an intense affinity for dogs and animals for as long as we can remember?

What is it that made us into dog people?  In my case, it seems that from an early age, dogs provided for me a sense of safety, calm and belonging.  This is powerful stuff for a child yearning to establish a sense of independence, but not wanting to feel alone in the world at the same time.  And for me, once that bond was formed, it could never be broken.

A recent New York Times article by the pediatrician Dr. Perri Klass entitled ‘Can Fido And Whiskers Enrich Children’s Lives?’ explores current scientific studies seeking to document the ‘emotional and psychological effects of pet ownership’.

“There is evidence that some individual kids seem to benefit from their relationship with these animals,” said James Serpell, director of the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society at the University of Pennsylvania. “Everyone wants to know what the mechanism is.”

While I applaud that researchers are using scientific methods to explore these questions, my pet owning friends and loved ones have a preponderance of anecdotal evidence to support the belief that pets are beneficial to our health and our emotional development and well being.  And, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that quite a few may not be interested at all to know ‘what the mechanism is’ but would prefer to simply enjoy the profound benefits of that pet-human relationship.

Not long ago, I took a walk with my close friend, Kiersten, and as we pondered this topic together, the stories began to flow. For Kiersten, her love of dogs began when she was just a little tyke.

Her first doggy soulmate was a yellow Lab named Sandy.

The two met one summer on vacation in Northwestern Connecticut. Kiersten’s siblings were all considerably older, and there were few kids her age near their lake home who were eligible for playmate status.  So, she was naturally and magnetically drawn to the neighbor’s retriever, who spent her days tethered to a run.

Kiersten would sit and talk with Sandy for hours on end. Can you imagine the fascinating conversations they shared?

Kiersten describes the scene this way:

I think in part I spent a lot of time with Sandy because I felt that she must be lonely being tethered outside most of the day while Darby (her sibling) roamed the neighborhood (usually turning over a lot of trash cans in the process).  But she was also the easiest kind of friend for me.  It’s an uncomplicated relationship with dogs, you never feel any judgement.  With dogs I always felt an immediate connection, and empathy.

I definitely had a hard time socially, particularly with other kids, and I was quite shy until I felt comfortable around someone since making friends was not that easy for me.

But I think more than that, it was that I always preferred the company of dogs.

My memories of Sandy are not so much fresh, in that I don’t remember what I would talk to her about and such, but I remember feeling connected to her, even at night when she would go inside her house and I would go inside mine.  Her owners were lovely people, and cared about their dogs, but I still worried about Sandy.  I wanted to be with her all the time.

I love this image of Kiersten and Sandy.

When I think of Kiersten sitting in the summer shade, chatting away with her best friend, I’m reminded of the feeling that comes over me when Theodore is reading with one of his young friends at the library. They’ll take his paw in one hand, and turn the pages of the book with the other, and I’m so touched by their connection and the trust they share, it’s overwhelming, in the loveliest way.

Like Kiersten, my earliest and fondest recollections are also dominated by dogs.

I have a vivid memory of visiting family friends in a small apartment, who kept an enormous Great Dane in the kitchen behind a baby gate.  My sister tells me I was an infant, far too young to remember such things, but, indeed, I can see that majestic fawn beauty with her cropped ears, gazing at me from behind that gate as if it were yesterday. She stood much taller than that old fashioned collapsible barrier. A giant compared to me.  And yet that memory, the first visual memory I can recall, registers no fear, only curiosity.

I’ll never forget my father taking me to see a litter of Labrador pups one hot August day. It was my 4th birthday and it seemed I’d wanted a dog FOREVER.  I was mesmerized by the yellow and black furballs, romping and playing, their pipsqueak barks were music to my ears. I wanted to take every one of them home.  I relished the idea of my own pack. But forced to choose, I picked out a sweet and rambunctious black pup whom we promptly named Cougar. His coloring didn’t match his name, but what did I know? I liked the sound of it.

Not long after, while he was still in his adolescent stage, he nipped me hard in the bum, and I wailed and cried, and my Mother put me in a warm bath to soothe me. But I forgot the bite as soon as I was out of the tub and back on my feet.  I knew he hadn’t meant to hurt me.  He just hadn’t learned proper manners yet.

I loved that dog.  In my mind, he could do no wrong.

As I grew older, my interest in dogs (and horses, but don’t even get me started on that ) didn’t wane, it bloomed.

To shore up my knowledge as the family dog trainer, I watched the Brit dog expert Barbara Woodhouse on PBS religiously,  I read The Monks of New Skete, Mordecai Siegel, and even the AKC Dog Breed Bible…from cover to cover.  I memorized every dog in the book so that I could name even the most obscure breed with just a quick glance at a photo.  Over the years, before I went off to college, we had three beautiful dogs: that legendary Labrador, a Beagle (Shiao Dee) and a Keeshond (Dutch Boy).

Working to communicate with these canine family members, learning to comprehend each other’s language, was far more alluring than playing with dolls or toys.  And when there was chaos in our house,  my furry best friends offered comfort and protection.  I’d sequester myself and the dog in my room, and along with my books, paints and sketchbooks, I had all that I needed to feel secure.  It was my dogs who taught me how to be comfortable and happy with being quiet, on my own.  I was understood. I was seen. And most brilliant of all, with my dogs I could be alone without being alone.

From an early age,  I rarely succumbed to peer pressure, and I credit my unflinching ability to be my own odd self to the example set by my confident, expressive mother, never a shrinking violet, and to my dogs, whom I knew would befriend and adore me unconditionally.

How could my parents have known what a tremendous influence having dogs in the house would have on me?  I don’t think they could have possibly predicted how much these animals would shape my life, my perspectives, but I couldn’t be more grateful…

Years ago, when I was struggling to put an end to an unhealthy romantic relationship, I found the clarity I needed when my beloved shepherd mix, Mei Mei, died at the age of 15.  Mei had seen me through some of the most dramatic changes in my life…I could not bear to lose her.  With her at my side, I felt that I could tolerate anything, handle anything.  And indeed, I did. She’d protected and comforted me for so many years…But the instant I said goodbye to dear Mei, I felt so desperately alone and unsafe. Without her companionship, there was no longer a buffer between my relationship misery and myself, and I finally realized that I’d tolerated far more than I ever should.  It was a revelation.  I could see that it was a double edged sword, that sense of safety Mei had provided.  I had been safe with her, but not in the relationship.  Still, I had no regrets. I knew that I’d needed to experience it all: the good and the bad, in order to be who I was meant to be.  It all made perfect sense.  I moved to act and finally cut that pitifully frayed cord, and began the journey to create a wiser, stronger, more joyful me with the memory of ebullient, steady Mei as my guide.

Protection, understanding, a sense of belonging, comfort, unconditional love…

These are the gifts of the human-canine bond.  Some may say that it’s going too far to anthropomorphize dogs in this way, but in talking to my friends and loved ones, I know that’s not true.

Whether that dog-love germinates in our early years and blossoms into something grand and beautiful, or the connection with our canine friends begins later in life, it is an unbreakable bond, expansive and transforming. Dogs teach us humility, presence, patience, fairness and how to love.

I look at my beloved friend Kiersten, so gorgeous and grounded. Sensitive and kind. Wise and radiant.  Kiersten will tell you that Fern makes her a better, happier person, (and there’s no doubt that her husband is equally devoted to their sweet, furry kid.)

I understand what Kiersten means. Dogs have helped me to be the person I want to be for as long as I can remember.  They have helped me to stretch and evolve.

I can only hope to give back to Theodore and all the other dogs I know now and will come to know in the future, that pure love and devotion they’ve so willingly and enthusiastically shared with me.  And I vow to try my best to never to take my soulmates (furry or human) for granted, because they are blessings of the most glorious kind.

‘Like’ or ‘Share’ this post on Facebook and then share a photo and caption describing your dog’s favorite Sunday activities on our City Dog Country Dog Facebook Page for a chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate for pet food and supplies furnished by www.MrChewy.com.  The winner will be chosen by our fans!

All entries due by Wednesday April, 13th, Midnight, Eastern Time.

Mr. Chewy stocks over 80 popular brands of dog and cat food, treats and supplies at competitive prices and offers free, fast shipping with orders $49 and over.

Mr Chewy also offers a fantastic Referral-Donation Program. For each friend you refer who places an order, Mr. Chewy will offer a 10% discount on your friend’s first order and will donate $10 to a partner charity.  Current partners include Bide A Wee, North Shore Animal League, and Best Friends Animal Society.

Click HERE to visit Mr.Chewy to view their whole product line and learn more about their Referral-Donation Program.

and

Click HERE to visit our City Dog Country Dog Facebook Page to post your photo!

Lately, we’ve taken to food metaphors for Theodore’s benefit, since he sees most everything through his food loving lens. And in that vein, when describing this voracious canine’s idea of a perfect Sunday, we’d say it’s like a pot au feu: a vibrant mix of hearty and good-for-ya ingredients infused with delectable spices.

More specifically, his ideal Sunday stew includes:

1) Quality time with Me and his Other Favorite Human.

2) Experiencing something new.

3) Making new friends.

and

4) Eating something memorable.

If Theodore had written the list above, he might have considered re-ordering the list to place ‘Eating’ in the Number One slot. (In fact, in the photo above, Theo finds himself lamenting why literal pot au feu is not made available to him on a daily basis. But I digress)

In the end, for Theodore, his Humans win out over food. Most of the time. Depending on the food in question.

Recently, we took our little circus (along with our friend Efren) across the bridge to Brooklyn, lured by the news of the Keith Haring retrospective at the Brooklyn Museum.

But we first took a detour to a Prospect Heights resto we’ve since dubbed Taco Town, because it’s so good, we wished we lived there. The joint’s real name is Gueros  and the fare is Tex-Mex and terrific.

Between the three of us, we chowed down on a wide array of tacos including Grilled Hanger Steak with Avocado and Cilantro Cream, Fried Shrimp with Slaw and Chipotle Mayo, Fried Chicken with Refried Beans and Jalapeno Buttermilk, and Fried Avocado and Jalapeno with Fried Pickled Jalapenos.

In addition to their regular fare, fans flock to Gueros for Breakfast Tacos served Saturdays and Sundays until 4pm.  And though the nice folks tending the place made hanging around long enough to rest, digest and order up another round of crispy, tasty, taco goodness so very appealing, we decided to mosey on and make our way to the Brooklyn Museum for the second half of our quest.

Keith Haring: 1978-1982 is a wonder. For me and countless others, I’m sure, Haring’s work is a memorable visual marker from the wild 80′s, and to see so much of his work collected here is invigorating.

There are over 155 works on paper, 150 archival objects and a number of videos on view and the punk and New Wave soundtrack buzzing throughout the exhibition space sets the mood quite nicely.

It’s his early work, including collages, sketchbooks and early drawings that we found most captivating, since much of these works were unfamiliar to us until now.

The exhibit greatly expanded our perspective on Haring’s work. He was so many things: a social commentator, a cartoonist, a video artist…not one term could possibly define him. Strolling through the exhibit, you get the sense that these paintings and sketches might just come alive, their characters leaping off their canvases, dancing through the gallery space.

The imagery was so dynamic That Theo found it necessary to take calming-cuddle-breaks as we moved from gallery to gallery, which he likes to think of as soothing palate cleansers for the eyes.

And in a stroke of interactive genius, the museum even set aside a nook where visitors could use erasable tablets to create their own Haring-esque works.

The exhibit is well worth the trip from other neighborhoods and cities, however far flung. And the Brooklyn Museum always has a wide array of other exhibits to capture visitors’ attention as well.

Out on the terraced lawn of the museum, Theodore made a handful of new friends, including Lisa Jean Moore and her adorable daughter Greta. Lisa, a professor at Purchase college fascinated us with tales of her soon-to-be-released book about urban apiaries. She has many stories to tell about beekeeping in the city and we listened with rapt attention.

Theo also took a shine to a lovely young woman named Shayna, and her sweet friend, whose name, sadly we did not note. Theo always puts on his best smile for the ladies…

…But never forgets to spread the love, as he does here with Efren.

Our pot au feu complete, we headed back to Manhattan, but not before downing some doughnuts at the Doughnut Plant in Chelsea.

What’s a weekend without doughnuts, I ask you?

‘Like’ or ‘Share’ this post on Facebook and then share a photo and caption describing your dog’s favorite Sunday activities on our City Dog Country Dog Facebook Page for a chance to win a $50 credit for pet food and supplies furnished by www.MrChewy.com.  The winner will be chosen by our fans!

All entries due by Wednesday April, 13th, Midnight, Eastern Time.

Mr. Chewy stocks over 80 popular brands of dog and cat food, treats and supplies at competitive prices and offers free, fast shipping with orders $49 and over.

Mr Chewy also offers a fantastic Referral-Donation Program. For each friend you refer who places an order, Mr. Chewy will offer a 10% discount on your friend’s first order and will donate $10 to a partner charity.  Current partners include Bide A Wee, North Shore Animal League, and Best Friends Animal Society.

Click HERE to visit Mr.Chewy to view their whole product line and learn more about their Referral-Donation Program.

and

Click HERE to visit our City Dog Country Dog Facebook Page to post your photo!

More Information:

* Keith Haring at the Brooklyn Museum until July 8, 2012

200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11238

www.brooklynmuseum.org

*  Gueros Brooklyn

605 Prospect Place, Brooklyn, NY 11238

www.guerosbrooklyn.com

I’m a New Yorker (by way of Kansas City) after all. And New Yorkers learn to develop a kind of insult – deflecting carapace. To counterbalance the force field one must throw up as an antidote to the city’s harsh realities, it’s best to emanate Midwestern warmth, too.

Overall, most days, I manage fairly well.

But oddly, an insult directed at Theodore is what draws my ire.  Weeks ago, as we were taking our afternoon stroll, a man, unsteady on his feet, mostly likely soused, cried out in a derisive tone as we passed:

Whoa! Dude! That’s an OLD dog!

Truth be told, Theodore’s a healthy boy and walks with a spring in his step, but he’s indeed growing increasingly grey.

Now, if that stranger had called me old, I would have brushed his comment off without a thought.  I love birthdays and I’m grateful for every day I have on this earth.  But I won’t deny that the thought of Theodore’s aging provokes anxiety in me because it reminds me that he won’t be around forever.  If I were a devoted Buddhist, I’d likely possess a firmer grasp and a deeper acceptance of impermanence and non-attachment.

But I’m not. So, sadly, I don’t.

My way of coping with Theo’s inevitable aging is to keep him as happy and healthy as possible.  And that’s what brings me to today’s topic: Food.

Over the years, my approach to feeding my dogs has continued to evolve, just as my own eating habits have changed.  Many moons ago, I lost my beloved Labrador Cole to cancer at the age of eight.  Not long after, I happened upon an article about canine nutrition, and later found myself researching how I could improve the nutritional landscape for Mei Mei, Eardog Productions’ first mascot, who subsequently lived to the ripe old age of 15.  Certainly, genetics counts for a lot, but I felt better knowing that I was doing my best to feed Mei Mei the most nutritious diet I could afford.

So, now, in honor of Theodore’s birth month, we’re sharing some of the links and information we’ve found helpful re: doggie nutrition, and we hope to hear your feedback too with details about what’s worked best for you and your furry friends.  (It’s worth noting that since Theodore came home from the shelter, he’s had a sensitive digestion, so I’ve gone to great pains to find a diet that suits his needs. But what works for him may not work for others.)

Through a great deal of reading and talking to various holistic vets, we learned that a healthy dog’s diet includes a high proportion of quality animal protein, fats and water. But many commercial foods and dog treats contain a nutrient makeup that is the very much the opposite: heavy in difficult to digest carbs, suspect meat by-products, allergenic grains and chemicals.

It quickly became my habit to read labels with a critical eye, rejecting any food whose ingredient list began with corn, other grains, animal by-products, unidentifiable meat sources, and included chemical preservatives and artificial colors. (Ingredients, by USA law, are listed in descending order of prominence by weight.) More recently, we’ve learned to select only foods and treats that are Made In The USA.

Independent websites like www.DogFoodAnalysis.com and www.DogFoodAdvisor.com list the ingredients of most commercial dog foods and their corresponding reviews.

Last year, a good friend sent us a link to Dr. Karen Becker‘s video about how to choose the best food for your pets, which further deepened our understanding of how to evaluate pet foods properly.

Click HERE to watch Part 1 of her pet food video series. Click HERE to watch Part 2, in which she addresses foods and treats to avoid. She doesn’t favor any particular brand, but takes a close look at the ingredient lists of a wide range of foods. We strongly recommend viewing both of these videos.

In the videos mentioned above, DVM Karen Becker thoughtfully takes viewers through a list of options from Best to Better to Good, and provides ample information to help dog owners to make the best choices for their budgets. She emphasizes feeding a varied diet and checking labels to insure that at minimum the first two ingredients listed are whole meats, not meat by products, not fillers nor grains, and discusses which ingredients commonly found in commercial dog foods can cause problems for our pets and why. (Dr. Becker does make an exception for raw, dehydrated foods re: the ‘first two ingredient’ rule. See more at the video links.)

Check out the ingredient list of one of Purina’s top sellers, Beneful, and note the first three ingredients and the chemicals listed:

Ground yellow corn, chicken-by-product meal, corn gluten meal, whole wheat flour, beef tallow preserved with mixed-tocopherols (source of Vitamin E), rice flour, beef, soy flour, Minerals (tricalcium phosphate, salt, potassium chloride, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), sugar, sorbitol, water, animal digest, phosphoric acid, sorbic acid (a preservative), L-Lysine monohydrochloride, dried peas, dried carrots, calcium propionate (a preservative), choline chloride, Vitamins [Vitamin E, Vitamin A, niacin, Vitamin B-12, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, biotin, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Vitamin D-3], added color (Yellow 5, Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 2), DL-Methionine, glyceryl monostearate, garlic oil.

And here’s another ingredient list for a Science Diet food often recommended by professionals. Not a budget food by any means, and yet the ingredients are not much different from the much cheaper pet foods found in the grocery store. It also contains the toxic preservatives BHA and BHT.  Ethoxyquin and propylene glycol are two other chemicals commonly found in pet foods that could be harmful to your pets.  (Click HERE to read more about toxic preservatives in pet foods via The Whole Dog Journal.)

Corn meal, chicken by-product meal (including white meat, dark meat, liver and other internal organs), animal fat (preserved with BHA, propyl gallate and citric acid), dried beet pulp, vegetable oil, dried egg product, flaxseed, preserved with BHT and BHA, minerals (potassium chloride, iodized salt, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), vitamins (choline chloride, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin, thiamine, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement).

For most dog owners, feeding the best food must be balanced with the realities of one’s financial means. But with some research, a high quality food for a wide range of budgets can be found. (We’ve heard great things about the Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Dog Foods which is an affordable choice for many.)

For the past few years, Theodore has done very well on Merrick‘s line of canned dog foods mixed with EVO‘s Grain Free Canned varieties.

Here’s an ingredient profile for Merrick’s Cowboy Cookout canned food. Note the first 3 ingredients.

Ingredients: Beef, beef broth, beef liver, fresh sweet potatoes, fresh carrots, fresh green beans, fresh granny smith apples, potato starch-modified, beef meal, egg, dried blueberry, olive oil, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate, natural caramel color, flax seed oil (for omega-3), Yucca schidigera extract, choline chloride, salt, lecithin, zinc amino acid complex, mixed tocopherols, iron amino acid complex, vitamin E supplement, manganese amino acid complex, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin A acetate, copper amino acid complex, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin D3 supplement, niacin, riboflavin supplement, biotin, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, thiamine mononitrate, sodium selenite

His coat is shiny, he has boundless energy and his immune system is hearty. We mix in non fat greek yogurt (which he loves), add an Omega 3 Fatty Acid Pill, as well as a probiotic pill to keep his intestinal flora balanced. On occasion, we’ll add chunks of plain fish, poultry or red meat, too, but never shellfish. Shellfish and Theodore DO NOT AGREE.

Theo outright rejects most freshly cut veggies and fruits, (raw or cooked) so those sadly aren’t options for him.

During the videos mentioned above, Dr. Becker explains how a raw food diet is ideal for dogs because the meats contained in these foods are in their natural, unprocessed state. Indeed, we have at least two good friends who feed their doggies fresh raw food diets, and their dogs are the picture of health. (Click HERE to see a blog post about Oscar the Ridgeback. And HERE to see another post about Leo the Boxer. Both dogs eat a well balanced raw diet.)

Unfortunately, a fresh raw food diet is impractical for Theodore since we’re so often on the road. However, a dehydrated raw food diet suits Theo’s dietary needs and my logistical challenges as well. So we’re now experimenting with The Honest Kitchen line of foods, mixing them in a little bit at a time with Theo’s regular food, gradually changing the proportions to ensure against digestive upset.

The Honest Kitchen is a family owned company that makes dehydrated raw, human grade natural dog and cat foods and Theo has responded very well to their inclusion in his meals.

Check out the ingredient list of the highest protein variety of The Honest Kitchen, called ‘Love’ which is free of gluten and grains.

Ingredients: Dehydrated hormone-free beef, sweet potatoes, potatoes, organic flaxseed, organic coconut, parsley, dandelion greens, papaya, cranberries, pumpkin, honey, rosemary, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, zinc amino acid chelate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, potassium iodide, potassium chloride, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate.

At the moment, we’re mixing in small amounts (about 1/4 cup total, per meal, before rehydration) of Love, alternating throughout the week with Zeal, (two of the highest protein varieties) and Keen (low in gluten and excellent for sensitive dogs). The latter is lower in protein than Love and Zeal, but it’s also one of the least expensive varieties. If all goes well, we’ll continue to try out other ‘flavors’ of The Honest Kitchen, in order to keep Theo’s diet varied. And we’ll likely change the proportions, too. Given the news about Bisphenol A, a hormone disrupting chemical found in many canned goods, the humans in our family are cutting back on our consumption of canned goods and will do the same for Theodore, as well. (Click HERE to read more about Bisphenol A at Rodale.com.)

In addition, early in the morning, midday and before bed, Theodore is treated to a  Stella and Chewy’s Raw freeze dried dehydrated food disc. It keeps the acidity in his belly down, and the mad-hungry attacks at bay.

As we draw closer to Theodore’s 8th Birthday, I’m happy to say that he’s full of buoyant Border Collie energy and our vet gives him a clean bill of health. He advises us to keep him lean, which should help to protect him from arthritis and prolong his life in general. In the meantime, Theo is happy to strike a vogueish pose, and declare all this chatter about food and what-not terribly boring. But that’s just fine with me. He’s happy to leave the feeding up to me and I’ll leave the goofy antics up to him.

Please do feel free to share in the comments below or on our City Dog Country Dog Facebook Page (the link sits on the upper right corner of this page) your thoughts about what foods work best for your doggies. And watch this space (and our FB page) for our next blog post and more info about a $50 Giveaway from Mr. Chewy’s Online Pet Food Delivery Service!

So that’s when I say:

Theo has the SOFTEST ears. They’re like velvet! Come see for yourself!

With great care, the child will draw closer and that’s Theo’s cue to lower his head and fold his ears into some random, intriguing, origami shape and await the light touch of a small and sometimes shaky hand.

The ears are magic!

With a few strokes of a silky, furry, flap,  fear transforms into trust, and from trust flows mutual affection.

I love Theo’s ears (and all dog ears) for so many reasons, not least of all because they delight the kiddies and telegraph his every mood.  We call these myriad ear-arrangements: Ear’Do’s.

Like a hairdo. With Ears.

Below is Theo’s Outdoor Face (ears fully erect) worn uncharacteristically indoors in this photo. Usually Outdoor Face is preceded by a squirrel sighting, but perhaps Theodore heard the food delivery man approaching when I snapped this shot…

With their shape shifting ears, dogs are the ultimate performance artists.  In an instant, they can transform from regal to ridiculous…though Theodore might dispute the latter half of that claim as he prefers not to acknowledge any sentence that combines his name with the word ridiculous…or words of its ilk.

In this photo, with ears pulled back, Theo demonstrates his defiant refusal to be portrayed as silly in any way.  We call this charming Ear’Do: You Do Know What Dog Spelled Backwards Is, Don’t You?

You may balance a stuffed polecat on my head, but I will remain dignified, and undeniably dashing, despite your childish efforts, because I am DOG.

When we’re standing outside the Shake Shack at Madison Square Park, waiting for our burgers to arrive…

…Ears Akimbo combined with Poor Puppy Face come in very handy. This deft pairing ensures that certain dogs won’t be left out when the noshing begins.

Finally,  to round out today’s list of Favorite Ear-Do’s, there is this version of the Genuine Outdoor Face, combined with the Inquisitive Upward Noggin Tilt.

This is the Ear’Do that says:

Brooklyn, I Love You and Your Bridge, and Your Cobblestone Streets and the Preponderance of Gigantic Dogs Who Live Here…In Fact, I Have Never Seen More Stunning, Exotic Mastiffs In One Place in My Entire Life…and Isn’t That The Smell of Fresh Cookies Wafting My Way, and If So, Where May I Locate The Nearest Bakery?

Do you see what I mean?

One Ear’Do is worth a thousand words!

]]> http://eardog.com/blog/2012/02/paean-dog-ears/feed/ 1 http://eardog.com/blog/2012/02/ai-weiwei-sunflower-seeds-mary-boone/ http://eardog.com/blog/2012/02/ai-weiwei-sunflower-seeds-mary-boone/#comments Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:29:39 +0000 Eardog http://eardog.com/blog/?p=3748 If you want an unfiltered perspective, untainted by diplomacy, consult a dog.

To that point, witness our recent visit to view Ai Weiwei’s Sunflower Seeds installation at the Mary Boone Gallery in Chelsea. Given the artist/activist’s reputation, our expectations were high.  (Time Magazine included him in their Persons of the Year issue. Click HERE to read that interview.  And Art Review declared him the art world’s most powerful figure. Click HERE to read more at Art Review.)

Sunflower Seeds had been on display previously (in a much larger form) at London’s Tate Museum and was composed of over 100 MILLION hand-painted porcelain sunflower seeds. To create these numerous mini sculptures, Ai Weiwei employed a great many of the residents of Jingdezhen, the Northern Chinese City made famous for crafting the finest porcelain for over 1800 years. Ultimately, it took 1,600 helpers to turn Ai Weiwei’s concept into reality.

'Sunflower Seeds' installed at the Tate Modern. Photo:Tate Photography

This video, featuring an extensive interview with the artist, reveals his painstaking and detailed process and can be viewed by clicking HERE. It’s fascinating, heartfelt and gives great context to the work.

Here’s what the Tate had to say about the installation:

Sunflower Seeds invites us to look more closely at the ‘Made in China’ phenomenon and the geo-politics of cultural and economic exchange today… Each piece is a part of the whole, a commentary on the relationship between the individual and the masses. The work continues to pose challenging questions: What does it mean to be an individual in today’s society? Are we insignificant or powerless unless we act together? What do our increasing desires, materialism and number mean for society, the environment and the future?

Installed at Mary Boone, here in Manhattan, the exhibit was not an interactive one as it was in London, where visitors were allowed to walk on the sprawling carpet of seeds. Toxic ceramic dust was a by-product of that interaction, so in NYC, visitors were allowed only to gaze upon the seeds, which were shaped into a gravely carpet with sloping borders, monitored by a watchful guard.

While we were struck by the beauty and detail of these three million seed replicas, all assembled in a tidy fashion within the space, I must admit that we didn’t experience an emotional response to the work.

And apparently, neither did Fern and Theodore.

Despite the formal atmosphere and hushed tones of the gallery, the dogs made their opinions of Sunflower Seeds crystal clear.

First, there was the eye rolling…

…then, obvious declarations of boredom

and then, finally, submission to the lack of interest, segueing into utter fatigue.

It’s not that the dogs don’t revere Ai WeiWei and his accomplishments, but works of art featuring whirligigs, chaseable animals and other kinetic attributes are more likely to result in pricked ears and full-on attention.

I don’t know if anyone else has ever fallen asleep in the exhibition space at the Mary Boone, but perhaps Theodore and Fern felt it was important to contribute to the work in their own special way. The humans were simply grateful that snoring wasn’t part of their performance.

Regardless of the dogs’ response, and their humans’ lack of emotional connection to the piece as well, we still have a tremendous respect for Ai Weiwei. Watching the video (link above) about the evolution of the piece and his thoughts behind the concept make the artist’s vaunted status in the art/activism world clear.

He’s a visionary with a purpose, and that’s something we’ll always admire.

Blustery weekends characterized by a wintry mix of rain, snow and occasional sunshine, call for a rejiggering of the routine. So, when friends Natalya, Sumin and Kiersten paid us a visit in Vermont with dogs in tow, we decided to try out a new game for the dogs which we have lovingly dubbed, Smell My Feet.

Smell My Feet is our crude attempt to get the dogs interested in scent tracking. My clever dog-training-competition-winning-cousin Wendy, once advised me to rub the soles of my shoes with Vienna sausages and make tracks in the grass for Theo to follow. But since there were no Vienna sausages on hand (and let me tell you there were grumbles of displeasure amongst the dogs when the larder was declared devoid of said sausages) we used dried beef and liver morsels instead.

While the dogs waited in the distance, we dropped treats to the ground in a straight line, Little Red Riding Hood style, proscribing a short, straight, 6-10 foot path after shuffling the earth flat with the bottoms of our boots.  Here’s Fern at the ready, paw raised in anticipation, poised to point the way….and Theo, with his big schnoz in the air, hoping to memorize the position, olfactory-style, of each tasty bit dropped on our make-shift path.

I must say, it’s much easier to conduct a game of this kind when the grass is short and green and the treats stand out in sharp relief.  We found ourselves declaring in exasperated tones: Now, WHERE does the path start? I’ve forgotten! But the dogs had a ball sniffing about, their noses wiggling excitedly as they tracked down those tasty snackables.

Later, we took a hike up the mountain…with three SLR cameras among us and multiple iphone cameras at the ready.

What a bunch of photo nerds we are.

We spied this smiling creature, (below) along the way, as she dashed about the mountain path. Isn’t that a sparkling smile? She looks like a laugh riot and a bundle of love!

As the day wound down, we retreated indoors, and Natalya sat sketching the pooches in various pensive states…

And not long after, Oscar turned in for a nap. Here he is, sweetly covering his muzzle, which somehow seems to improve the quality of his sleep. I wonder if this is a bit like sucking one’s thumb. It looks so comforting, doesn’t it?

Theodore took one last snooze in front of the Sparkle Tree. We were sorry to relegate our aluminum Tannenbaum to the basement once again…

But onward and into 2012 we go, as surely, there will be more games ahead before Winter beats a hasty retreat!

For several months, we searched far and wide for a truly different, well constructed leather ‘lurcher’ type collar which is wider in the back (about 2 inches) and then tapers under the chin. This style is particularly appropriate for dogs with narrow heads like the greyhound…or greyhound mixes like Theo!

It’s not easy rounding up a unique leather lurcher collar that’s embellished in a way that’s not excessively girly, but our hunt for a new collar turned up El Hor, based in Dortmand, Germany.

El Hor handcrafts both lurcher collars and regular, straight collars, in a full array of designs.  Each and every one is a a work of art. Layers of intricately cut leather are sewn on a soft, padded base to create a collar that is both distinctive and striking.

*** Click HERE to view El Hor‘s full range of beautiful layered, studded, embellished, embossed and beaded collars. The many choices are mind boggling!

We chose this red/black combo from the company’s Ornament Collection. The Original style of Theodore’s collar (#0308) is made with red leather over a white background.  But we requested silver leather to replace the white and El Hor obliged! They’re incredibly agreeable folks who will advise you regarding the best size for your dog and suitable color combos, as well.

An El Hor collar from the Ornament Collection may not be the best choice for extended swimming and aggressive tearing through the brambles-sessions. The collar is made of soft, not rigid leather, and the padding is a nice touch that lends comfort to the collar, but I don’t recommend getting it thoroughly soaked with any regularity.

An El Hor collar will cost you around 82 Euros, or roughly $110, plus 6 Euros (about $8) for shipping.

I should note, too that the hardware is not brass (which is what I would have preferred on a collar of this quality and price) but it’s fine for wear that doesn’t involve lots of rough play or exposure to serious downpours or dunking.

When the collar first arrived, we found it shifted around on Theo’s neck, such that the main emblem would tilt to the right or left when viewed from behind. In time, the padding has softened and has conformed to Theodore’s neck, so the emblem sits more squarely. But if you’re particular about such things, do consider that this shifting will occur to some extent and will be much more noticeable on a collar like this which has a ‘center point’ than one with consistent decoration across the entire breadth and width of the collar.

For his more wild-jaunts in the country, Theodore will sport his rough and tumble Ruffwear Top Rope Collar.

But, for sheer beauty, city living, and leisurely country strolls,  El Hor‘s collars fit the bill.

One other important consideration to make before ordering from El Hor is that purchase is most convenient and economical via a PayPal account as direct-to-merchant credit card payments are not accepted at the time of this writing. Other modes of payment include international bank transfers, Western Union and the like. But we researched all of these other modes and found the service charges to be unacceptable given the relatively high price of the collar itself.  Our solution: we requested that El-Hor open a Pay Pal account to make it easier for customers outside of the EU to pay.  And El-Hor very kindly agreed.

To order, simply email the company with details about your design requests and questions, and once you settle on a collar, they will send you a Pay Pal invoice. If your order and special requests are complicated and very detailed, you may want to use Google Translate to send your request in German, unless you happen to speak the language well.

I found the folks at El-Hor accommodating and most helpful. And Theo couldn’t be more pleased with his new collar. Thanks El-Hor!

El Hor Leathergoods

Website: www.el-hor.de

TO DON AN ELFIN COLLAR:

THIS FACE:

(photo below.)

This face, if you’re not familiar with it, is the face that says:

“Oh, my dear humans, how tedious you’ve become. Can you not derive your humor from something that doesn’t involve accessories meant to make me look adorable?

I am not adorable, people.

I am DOG.“

…But then, behold the unexpected discovery of giant snow cones!

How convenient when one is being tormented by one’s humans

with a jingly neck garment!

And, what’s that? Lo, in the distance! Scurrying about the fields!

Rodentia taunting the Jingle Dog with bushy tails and chattering teeth!

But how can one chase squirrels while wearing an elfin collar?

Alas! An opportunity for doggie hijinks is dashed,

and then disappointment turns to…

…Resignation to one’s fate.

In which case, the dog in question might as well provide a nice view of

his ‘good side’.

“Yes,” he says, “I am THAT GOOD.

I can make even this ridiculous bib,

or collar

or whatever it is,

look dignified.”

But what’s that we see?

Is that The Glum Face morphing elegantly into

The Embrace of the Holiday Spirit?

How did it happen Young Theodore?

It’s the Tinsel Tree?

Well of course! Theo can’t resist the sparkle of the Tinsel Tree

and the sight of wrapped presents beneath its silvery boughs!

He remembers now:

Santa will soon be on his way!

In which case posing as an elf might prove VERY beneficial.

Joy!

It seems, in a delightful turn of events, Theo rather likes his Elfin Collar,

and once again,

our home is filled with the light of the holiday season!

You may all return to your Holiday Shopping now,

wherever in the world you may be…

…And Theo will be most happy to provide the soundtrack to your efforts,

with his every jingly step.