Good Bloggie!

Wishing everyone a great and safe Fourth.

Below is a picture of four-week-old Vivian and her two brothers, Argon and Monty, taken two years ago. Funny to think she once fit in the palm of our hand.

Last year, discovered a French Bulldog character created by Yuko Shimizuc, the designer/creator of the Hello Kitty line. The character is called Rebecca Bonbon. Interestingly, she shares the same November 11 birth date with the Hello Kitty character.

Couldn’t find anyone who carried products in the US and recently revisited the topic. Here’s the news: representation of the Rebecca Bonbon line has been acquired by FremantleMedia, who is looking for licensing and franchising opportunities in the US, Europe, Canada, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand.

More story available at Global License!

Right now, products with Rebecca Bonbon imagery is only available in Japan. Looks like two new additions have been added to the line since last year: Baby Rebecca Bonbon and Men’s Rebecca Bonbon. Perhaps once someone strikes a deal we’ll be seeing Rebecca in US stores?

What the heck is IKEA hacking? It’s taking an IKEA product and repurposing it to a new use. So little did we realize that when we repurposed some IKEA products for our crew, we were part of a whole new movement. (At one time, this might have gone by the word “ingenuity,” but everything seems to need a logo attached these days.)

Below is our IKEA hack. We took some pop-up storage containers, cut out the bottoms, and made mini-sized agility tunnels. Using the already existing tabs, they can be strung together to form a longer tunnel. All this for less than $5!

While this does not guarantee an agility Frenchie, it’s a hoot to watch, great fun for them, and another way to expand experience and exposure to new situations.

But we’ve yet to find a toy, at any price, that can match the sheer joy of the empty paper towel roll. A single thump still has the power to wake up, and bring zooming across the house, all Frenchies, young and old.

With all the creative reuse of IKEA products, you have to wonder: have these products become the grown-up version of LEGOs?

Here’s links to IKEA hacking blogs:
IKEA Hacker
www.instructables.com

And here’s some with dog-related hacks:
bee’s nest Blog
Jarrett House North
IKEA Hacker - Pet Furniture

An interesting postcard was in the Denton show catalog. It’s advertising a Summer Day Camp for kids and their dogs. What a great idea.

Sniffcerely stated by Millie, the child and dog will experience “A week full of FUN!!” as top professionals coach them how to do things such as: basic obedience (assuming for the dog!), agility, Canine Freestyle, and even preparing to compete in events.

If you live in the Denton/Dallas/Forth Worth area, this would be worth looking into. Or perhaps there is a facility in your home town offering similar Day Camps?

The number to sign up is (940) 765-8980 and here’s the link to the place offering the Day Camp:
Bed Biscuit and Beyond

And found this link offering more info about the Day Camp and what to expect:
Bark Here!

If you’d rather attend a one-day event, the AKC offers one-day Education Matches, which are organized through local clubs and are for for adults and kids.

Check here to see if one is scheduled near you. Or contact your local kennel club and see if they have one cooking or express your interest in attending one.
AKC Education Matches

Saw this on a fellow blogger’s site. Too good not to share.

This robot/machine created by Boston Dynamics, MIT is so good, and animal-like, it’s downright spooky!

Now if they will only make them Frenchie toy-sized…

And must give credit to our fellow blogger for posting about it:
Johann the Dog.com