Good Bloggie!

..if a Frenchie could chip wood?

For the past few months, one of our out-of-state Frenchies has experienced mysterious hot spots and allergy issues he didn’t here in Texas. (A big surprise as we live in the area not-so-jokingly called “Allergy Capital of the World.”)

He was breaking out on his face and back, and his strange maladies had his owners, his new vet, and us puzzled. Then one day his family mentioned the landscaping wood chips in the backyard. Light bulbs went off! Could it be the wood chips? Wood chips can contain dyes, bug repellents, or anti-fungal agents. The wood chips were cleared out and once they were gone, the strange breakouts and hot spots were gone within a couple of weeks.

Wood chips must have been popular with the builder for landscaping, because other neighbor’s dogs who ate the chips, were getting sick from them, as well.

The amateur sleuth conclusion: there must be a chemical or preservative in those chips which was making all these dogs sick.

Did a little wood chip research:
• Wood chips with Black Walnut can be toxic to horses, plants, and humans.
• Some dogs can have allergies to cedar chips, which is often used in pet bedding.
• Stachybotrys mold can grow in wood chips.
• And of course, avoid Cocoa Mulch. (The same dog-dangerous chemicals found in chocolate, theobromine and caffeine, is in Cocoa Mulch.)

So if you use wood chips in your landscaping, check carefully for wood chips which aren’t treated or dyed. Could save some head scratching for both you and your dog. (And some vet bills, too!)

Here’s a place for you and your Frenchie to check out: Michael’s Frozen Custard. They worked with a local vet to formulate a frozen custard for their canine customers called K9 Custard. It’s a low-carb, sugar-free version of the custard they make for their two-legged customers.

Michael’s has two in-house mascots: Jack the French Bulldog and a yellow lab named Biscuit. (Though Jack seems to take the job more to heart.) The custard was originally created for their pug, Noah, who passed on last year.

Read the full story/interview here:
Isthmus | The Daily Page

Our crew is looking over my shoulder and wondering if they ship overnight. Sorry guys. Think it would be custard soup by the time it got here with the summer Texas temps. How about some tasty ice cubes instead?

What happens during a drug raid? Can you believe the confiscation of fourteen French Bulldogs? Well it happened and it happened here in Texas.

Two of the fourteen have been adopted out, leaving “The TX12″ looking for new, less high-profile homes. Some are puppies and will be in foster care for several months before they are ready for their new home. Now is a good time to get on the approved wait list!

To read more about the TX12 and to see their mug shots (their only crime is being too cute!). Or to help out while they wait for their new home, visit their webpage on a French Bulldog rescue site:
FBRN TX12

While digging through old photos, came across puppy snapshots of our Cocoa. She was around 4-weeks-old when these were taken. A cutie then and now!

Cocoa checking out peach blossoms.

Cocoa playing peek-a-boo.

Last year we did an entry about Canine Freestyle (Doggie Dancing) and discovered a human/Frenchie team exists. This team stars Sarah Stoodley and her Frenchie, Jubilee. They’ve been practicing and are now dancing their paws off in competition, representing Frenchies everywhere.

Sarah contacted us and said she and Jubilee did their first competition and footage will be on Animal Planet December 13th, 2008, 9PM ET.

In the meantime, you can catch a quick glimpse of Jubilee (and Sarah’s feet!) here:

Canine Freestyle in Providence

Or catch their whole act at this site. (Scroll down the page, past the top box. Look for the “NBC 10 Video Center.” At the right is a scroll box of videos. You are looking for “Web Extra: Dancing Dogs.” Sarah and Jubilee are the first up.)

Channel 10 Providence • New Bedford

Way to go Sarah and Jubilee!!!