The phrase “Trick OR Treat” implies that you’d better give a treat or else someone will do a trick on you.  That’s usually a negative consequence, EXCEPT when it comes to dogs.  Dogs excel at tricks and they are good tricks for the most part.  Not counting the counter surfing trick, or [...]]]>

Happy Howl-O-Ween!

The phrase “Trick OR Treat” implies that you’d better give a treat or else someone will do a trick on you.  That’s usually a negative consequence, EXCEPT when it comes to dogs.  Dogs excel at tricks and they are good tricks for the most part.  Not counting the counter surfing trick, or the shoe chewing trick or the hiding my car keys trick, most dogs do entertaining tricks that we are conditioned to reward for.  Sure, that’s how we get more tricks.  “Will Trick for Treats” is the motto of most dogs I know.

At Halloween time, please go easy on the treats, otherwise  you will be buying a holiday gym membership for your dog instead of a stocking full of toys.

Here’s the Top 10 reasons why dogs love Howl-O-ween.

1. Dogs LOVE to howl with their outside voices.
2. Au Natural dogs can laugh at all the ones forced to dress up.
3. Owners drag them to party after party – full of treats!!
4. If they eat too many treats, they won’t be able to fit into their costumes anymore (sad puppy look – smirk – sad, sad puppy eyes)
5. Grazing opportunities increase ten-fold for bowls of goodies left at snout level.
6. Chances of finding appetizers on coffee table increase with start of holiday party season.
7. Candy!!  Do I smell candy?
8. OK, I’ve been eating carrots, apples, and grain-free biscuits all year, now gimme that brat!
9. They look good in orange, especially brown dogs.
10. Extra long walks so their owners can walk off their sugar highs.

Drink and treat responsibly with your dogs and Happy Halloween!

Now, at the end of a long day this dog deserves a beer! Bowser Beer of course. For those of you out there looking for a job, changing careers, or just getting over yet another rejection letter…. Take heart! Here’s how one seemingly useless, never-amount-to-anything shelter dog is making an impact on an entire [...]]]>

Now, at the end of a long day this dog deserves a beer! Bowser Beer of course. For those of you out there looking for a job, changing careers, or just getting over yet another rejection letter…. Take heart! Here’s how one seemingly useless, never-amount-to-anything shelter dog is making an impact on an entire population of endangered killer whales.

Too hyper for a family, rejected as a drug dog, terrified of water, Tucker’s prospects of a happy life outside of a shelter seemed dim. But Dr. Sam Wasser and his graduate assistant Katherine Ayres of the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington, saw a glass half full in him. They made lemonade out of his ‘lemons’. His energy was channeled to finding whale scat, informally known as whale poop, his fear of water assured them that he wouldn’t get too distracted by water play, and with his renowned sense of smell and natural playfulness they trained him to track a scent and be rewarded with his favorite ball.  His ball is his currency and he’s cashing in and earning his ‘salary’. For the full story and pictures check out this slideshow , and the above links.  It’s a heartwarming story.

Is Tucker is a metaphor for a segment of our population who are finding themselves without a career direction or feeling of belonging? While Tucker didn’t go to any job fairs, or submit an application to get where he is now, his skills were recognized and enhanced by some very out-of-the box thinking researchers. Don’t we need more people to think like that — not to see a glass half empty in someone out of work, but to realize the experience and innate ability this person could bring to a job? Those job searching should take a hard look at their skills and brainstorm on how they could use them in various ways. Entrepreneurs are great examples of this –they may recognize it in themselves and hire themselves to do something completely different than what they have done in the past. They realize that the same skills that worked for one career can be applied to a different one. I offer myself as an example: degree in Biomedical Engineering, now making dog beer. Who knew?

So the next time you are at a cocktail party and someone asks, “So, what do you do?”, at least you don’t have to say “I track poop”.   But surely, you can think of something equally creative.  Like Tucker, take it and run with it.

Bowser Beer was featured in an article called Pooch Hooch on pg. 34.  The online edition is not up yet, so run out and pick up a copy.

The article pointed out that it’s tempting to sneak some beer to [...]]]> Our friends at Beer Magazine were kind enough to put us on their front cover!!

Bowser Beer was featured in an article called Pooch Hooch on pg. 34.  The online edition is not up yet, so run out and pick up a copy.

The article pointed out that it’s tempting to sneak some beer to your thirsty pals but there are safer alternatives… like Bowser Beer for dogs.  Nicely done, Caitlin!

Earlier in the month, in honor of Beer Day (March 1 for those not aware of it), Chicago NOW ran an article on the 15 most bizarre beers around.  We were listed in the #3 slot.  So, we are proud to say we are both bizarre and legitimate!

Seriously, now that summer is fast approaching, dogs need hydration.  Sometimes water is just not enough.   Their appetites may be affected by the heat so make sure they get enough to drink.  And beware of those puppy dog eyes pleading for your beer!