Bowser Beer » dogs

Dog, reunited with lost toy, loses control

admin — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:59:31 +0000

Would this headline make the Colbert Report or the Daily Show? Would Fox News give pause in the midst of all the market roller coaster reporting? Would they send John Oliver out to give a snarky interview to investigate whether dogs suffer from bereavement when a beloved toy goes missing? He would scoff and say something about how American dogs need to toughen up and deal with life’s losses. However, after seeing the sad puppy eyes, he might admit that dogs are suffering too in this economy – doghouses under water, stay-cations in the backyard, treat deprivation, increased stress from having to deal with economically shell-shocked owners, and as that cute little commercial shows… there’s no safe place to bury your bones anymore.

Recently, the much loved, much worn soft frisbee that belongs to our year old Golden Irish, Quigley, went missing. It was so much a part of his daily existence, from 6 am wake up until the last potty run of the night that he was almost unrecognizable without it clutched in his mouth. We looked everywhere for it. Despite a giant collection of toys he shares with the other dogs, his Frisbee GPS was always on and he could locate it in a minute if he sensed someone was available to play. He was visibly sad and at a loss when it came time to play. The other balls just didn’t have the same appeal. It couldn’t have just disappeared into thin air, we reasoned. We searched in every nook and cranny he could possibly have dropped it, discovering some new areas to add to our vacuuming list along the way.

Recent storms made me think that it was carried away like Dorothy’s house in a Kansas tornado. I spied over the wall at our chronically absent but impeccably landscaped neighbor’s yard. No sign of the soft, pink 8” saucer of love. Then, by chance, I discovered it floating in the pool skimmer drain trap. I was delighted to see it but unprepared for the level of joy when Quigley spied it too. Without hesitation, he snatched it up and immediately went into a frenzy of legs and paws and much head shaking, to the point where he lost his balance and fell into the deep end of the pool. This was like a little “Snap out of it” slap but only for a second. Bounding out of the pool, he proceeded to do the dog equivalent of a ‘happy dance’ and then viciously shook it, as if to say “You bad Frisbee, where have you been?”. It reminded me of the time my daughter recklessly sped down a bike path, crashing into the bushes. Her dad, watching helplessly, was both mad at her poor judgment and tremendously relieved that she was OK.

Quigley, ready for action!

So excited, can't wait for the toss.

If you Google dog addition to toys, you will find hundreds of testimonials of dogs who drag around the same toy for years, have specific preferences for certain toys, and sometimes the bizarre and funny lengths dogs will go to keep their BTF (Best Toy Forever) close to them. They spend a lot of time on their own and it’s natural to think that they would bond with something that doesn’t go to work, leave them for hours -unless it’s lost – or make them do silly tricks for treats. It’s the equivalent of having that favorite Barbie or G.I. Joe when you are little. And we all know that dogs never really grow up.

Life is good again

We could have, and almost did replace the frisbee. It wouldn’t have been the same but would have been accepted in time as it sailed through the air to his waiting catcher’s mitt of a mouth. The worn edges, frayed areas from his teeth, and good doggie smell – all would have been missed and noted. He took his prodigal frisbee to bed with him, sleeping with it tucked under his paws. In the morning all was well with the soft pink disc flying across the yard at 6 am. Like comfort food, a favorite toy soothes the psyche and restores a dog’s faith in man.

John Oliver, go fetch!

Squeaky toys in the workplace

admin — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:20:48 +0000

My earlier blog on telephone etiquette apparently fell on deaf ears in the dog world. Lots of barking and carrying on while on the phone several times this week. Not from me… the dogs. I’ve also had to stifle a giggle as my customers were dealing with barking too.

It’s been so hot out, I really can’t blame them. Dogs across America are experiencing severe cabin fever as the temperatures soar. This leads to chaos and anarchy in their napping schedule – you can only sleep so much before the urge to chase a ball takes over.

To take out their frustration, I’ve noticed an increase in interest in toys that have long sat at the bottom of their toy bins. The squeakier the toy, the more it holds their interest. To make their point, they like to share the ‘squeak’ with me in my office, especially when I am on the phone. This can be detracting when you are trying to appear professional and mature.

Would a potential investor think less of your management team if they knew that a squeaky pacifier is necessary to satisfy an oral fixation for your Director of Security? Could you suppress sheer embarrassment by asking “Pardon me, but could you repeat that? The squeaking drowned out your last sentence.” How many of you have flailed your arms in the air in a desperate attempt to make them stop while trying to carry on a normal conversation? Do dogs understand arm flailing? No, to them it says “Oh boy, she’s getting ready to throw this for me”.

Don’t try to get into a tug of war in trying to remove the offending object – it will just bring it closer to your phone. Instead, here are a couple of suggestions:

- Ban all squeaky toys from the office (Yeah, good luck with this)

- Keep a supply of treats within reach. Toss treat across the office and scoop up the squeaker he goes for it.

- Close your office door when taking important calls – scratching on the door, while more expensive to repair, is less noisy than squeaky toys

- Preface all calls with “Your call is important to us but we may experience some auditory difficulties.

- Ignore it and state “Squeaking, what squeaking?”

Feel free to share about your own Squeak-a-holics here or on our facebook page.

Telephone Etiquette for Dogs

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:36:47 +0000

This is directed at the dogs, since most people have reasonably good telephone etiquette, unless you’ve ever attempted to resolve a problem with a large company’s customer support line. Do they call it a HOTline because it makes you see RED!!!!! when you are just trying to get resolution for your issue? Sorry, I digress. . . painful flashbacks.

To all Dogs: if you share an office with your owner, there are a few things to keep in mind. When he/she is on the phone, here is a list of DO’s and DON’Ts :

DO ease up on the water consumption while a call is in process. You never know how long it might last and you may feel the urge to break into the ‘tinkle dance’, accompanied by whining and yipping. While the advent of cell phones may make your predicament more workable, your owner MAY be immersed in taking notes or negotiating a big contract that could guarantee you bones for life. You don’t want to blow the deal.

DO be courteous when the doorbell rings to the ears on the other end of the phone and to the poor delivery person outside. Who knows, it might be your neighborhood Girl Scout and then, as they say, “No cookies for you!”. I know Fed Ex trucks just get your hackles up but stick a sock in your mouth and chase your tail until the adrenalin subsides.

DON’T get into fights with your housemates. It is never ideal but no time is worse than when your owner is on the phone. To the receiver, the sounds of gnashing teeth, growls, and faux-vicious barking makes him/her look like a cousin of Michael Vicks or a bad manager who can’t control his/her employees. Apologies aside, phone impressions are lasting.

DON’T think that because your owner is on the phone, their 6^th sense will not kick in (or if it is a Mom, the eyes in the back of her head always open) and they will know if you are even THINKING of snitching schwag or tchotchke from their Promotional items bin. A certain Rottweiler was recently caught sneaking out of my office with toys meant to go overseas to military dogs stationed in Afghanistan. The boxes weren’t sealed yet and he mistakenly thought, while I was on the phone, that they were gifts for him. So they were sent on pre-slobbered, with reluctant Love from Dax.

And finally, DO continue to lay at their feet, looking sleepy and adorable. Nothing like a good head scratch while your owner chats away. Be alert to “Thank you for calling”, or “I’ll talk to you later”, as a warning that the head scratching will be over soon. When the phone does ring, consider it an opportunity to sidle up and get some extra attention. Soon, you’ll be so conditioned that the Fed Ex driver could park right in the office and you wouldn’t even bat an eyelash. Opportunity might knock for some, but it can Ring!! for you!

Next time we’ll cover: Squeaky toys in the workplace.

Dogs Under the Desk – taking your dog to work.

admin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:24:35 +0000

Quality Control workers on break.

This is a first in a multi-part series called Dogs Under the Desk – taking your dog to work.

Thousands of people take advantage of the unique opportunity to take their dog to work with them. Until now, very little has been written about office dog etiquette. Can your dog work with you all day and then come home and still want to lick your face? We will cover the highs and lows of sharing an office with your dog in our continuing series.

According to this author and her 3 Busy Dogs, the secret is having a clear understanding that pet parental bliss doesn’t always translate into career bliss. You have to go into it with your eyes open and your scents on high alert, indicates the youngest 3BD, Quigley with his many entertaining facial gestures. It may be cool to hang out with Mom/Dad all day but you’ve got to realize there will be challenges and necessary boundaries.

Show your dog your office and explain which areas are off limits, which papers cannot be chewed, who’s cube he cannot enter, and where he can park himself without tripping anyone up. Knowing when to stop or take a break is very important. If it’s just you and your dog, you might create a cord-free area under your desk because that’s where they always end up. Get used to tucking your feet under you unless he is a willing to be a foot rest.

Explain to your dog that you will be getting up and down many times and that doesn’t mean he has to jump up and follow you EVERYWHERE.

Dogs get restless and they need to know how to speak up when they have to go out, or when the urge to catch a Frisbee is climbing to DefCon 5.

At the end of the day, we turn work off for dinner, says this author. Dinnertime is sacred and dogs are very keyed into their nightly routine, followed by play or a walk. If they have been entertained all day by people at the office, they might be more forgiving if you have to work a little late. But if it’s just hanging with you, you’d better be ready to scoop some kibble because their internal clock is more accurate than anything you’ve got on your desk.

The key is not to lose sight of your personal relationship when mixing it with a working one. Signs that you might be getting too focused on your work are: incessant whining, a slight tugging feeling on your shirt, a callous paw scraping across your leg, outright barking, and guilt-inducing facial expressions (we’re talking about the dog in this case).

Here are some things you can do to maintain a successful relationship:

- Maintain your Master-Dog relationship. Letting him take over the office will not transition well at home.

- Don’t play the blame game. If he pees on your carpet, perhaps you didn’t look up from your computer or phone in time to see his tinkle dance.

- Analyze the pros and cons of taking your dog to work. If you work at home, forget it – you’re stuck with each other.

- Make your time together special. Throwing a Frisbee while chatting on you iphone doesn’t say “I’m here for you”. You don’t want your “Good dog!!” to sound hollow and insincere.

- Remember that you chose your career and he’s being the supportive of you. If he gets a little bored, remind him that there are many dogs sitting in shelters that don’t have it half as good as he does.

- Give him a good head rub and belly scratch every day!

Next time we’ll cover telephone etiquette for dogs.

Dogs don't pay mortgages but still lose their homes!

jbrown — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:08:22 +0000

Today’s blog was just going to feature a wonderful organization called Lost Our Home Pet Foundation. Founded by Jodi Polanski, a Phoenix mortgage lender, it’s made up of real estate professionals who rescue pets abandoned or left behind due to the many foreclosures. Imagine being hit with financial hardships putting you in a situation where you have to leave your pet – sometimes with just a teary note and other times with outright abandonment. Thanks to this foundation, people have a place to take their pets when they have no other choice.

This all-volunteer organization has many real estate professionals and others contributing in a variety of ways – from construction projects, to fostering/adopting, to using their social media skills to get the word out. Since realtors are out in the neighborhoods, who better to be on the lookout for abandoned pets.

But as we have seen in the news today, dogs can lose their homes in other ways, i.e. the Alaskan dog who led troopers through pitch black country roads to his burning house. He was very determined to help save his house.

It’s a heartwarming story with a happy ending in that he will have a home to return to. Dogs are as attached to their homes as we are, so when they lose them it’s devastating to them too. Home means comfort, stability, a place to sleep, get a good meal, and of course love and companionship. Having no sense of time, imagine how scary and confusing it is to be left in an empty house or turned over to complete strangers. Luckily, Lost Our Home has a loyal group of trainers and foster parents to help ease this transition.

Kudos to the Arizona Multiple Listing Service (ARMLS) for recently holding a raffle and raising several thousand dollars for this foundation. It’s so simple and a great way to show support to their realtor base.

So here’s a Bowser Beer Bark Out to any company involved with home selling, building, furnishing, etc. Raise some funds, get involved, or adopt a dog . . . what a great cause to tie your name to. Just think – you can actually provide a home for a deserving individual without dealing with short sales, mortgage modifications, or loan sharks. And dogs don’t care what your credit score is!

Who says dogs aren't gay?

jbrown — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:41:55 +0000

A recent article in the NY Times asked “Can animals be gay?” It raised many questions and pointed out that there is still a lot we don’t understand about animal behavior. Interestingly, much of the observed behavior portrayed how the same sex animals worked together and were committed to each other. But many of the reviewers dismissed the article, discounting a lot of ongoing scientific study.

Until around the mid 20^th century, the term ‘gay’ meant “joyful”, “happy”, “bright and showy”. You don’t hear that much anymore because it’s taken on a different meaning. But joyful, happy, and sometimes even bright and showy certainly describes a lot of dogs I know.

Well, who says dogs aren’t gay?

Mornings at our house, there’s no better word to describe Muggsy – recharged from sleep, he’s overjoyed with life, racing around , chasing sunbeams . . . ‘gay’ is a great word to describe his puppy exuberance. A ratty old sock toy, the smell of toast, getting his family out of bed – all makes him happy. . . he’s just a happy dog.

If you really want to know about being gay and happy (no, it’s not redundant) check out to the Phoenix Pride Festival this weekend. This 2 day event brings the LGBT community together for a weekend of camaraderie and celebration. It’s the 30^th annual event with over 30,000 people expected to attend and lots of entertainment. A good many of the attendees are sure to be dog lovers and Bowser Beer will be there so that their dogs can, as the Flintstones used to say, “have a gay old time” and celebrate life with their owners. Predicted to be sunny and hot, what better way to quench their thirst than with a nice, cold brew. Hey Ellen, bring your doggies and get some new dance moves!

Muggsy is quite happy to put on pink glasses with rhinestones and a leopard skin headband. Mom’s got a treat in her hand and she’s telling him he’s SUCH a good dog!

Who says dogs aren’t gay?

PS. We will be selling t-shirts with this image at the event. Portions of the sales will go towards a local program that helps care for pets with owners who have HIV/AIDS. If really popular we will be offering it on our soon-to-be launched online store.

The Barkery Bistro

admin — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 04:37:33 +0000

The Barkery Bistro, located on beautiful Main St in Greenville, SC, is our featured store. About 2 years ago Meghan Ludwig and her Mom, Diane, opened this upscale boutique with a serious focus on nutritious food and treats for dogs, as well as a desire to offer a wonderful shopping experience to their customers. It has since become a hub for ongoing events, parties, and community fundraisers for the canine set.

As masters of Southern hospitality, resident Bistro greeters, Bentley and Duncan welcome all visitors and lead them to their favorite spot in the store… the cookie case! And who throws a party better than a Golden?

Pictured here are snaps from their recent Mardi Gras in-store party. Taking a break from strewing beads and making sure their guest’s bowls were filled with Bowser Beer, they posed with Meghan. We can only guess that she might be saying “Take it easy guys, you have to get up and go to work in the morning!”

Bowser Beer is proud to be served at the Barkery Bistro Yappy Hours. We all share in a deep concern for the nutritional value of what we give our pets. We also want to have fun with our dogs and help those who are not as fortunate to find a home. For this we salute The Barkery Bistro.

If you are in Greenville, be sure to stop by and say ‘hello’.

Has the Rachel Maddow show gone to the dogs?

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:09:18 +0000

Last night, Rachel Maddow tackled a question that all dog owners would like to know the answer to – why do dogs get so excited at some TV theme songs? While our dogs have never gotten excited about Law and Order, our English Mastiff Maggie used to go nuts if anyone tried to watch the Colbert Report. She really, really hated the screeching eagle sound and would come running at the TV from a sound sleep. Which meant, of course, that all the other dogs would come running right behind her – not exactly what you want at 11:30 at night!

What theme songs do your dogs go nuts for? Tell us in the comments section!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Giant George wins the Gold with Oprah & Guinness

jbrown — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:58:39 +0000

Wow, talk about a medal run! Giant George, owned by David Nasser, stands 43in tall paw to shoulder, and weighs 245lb. He was just named by Guinness World Records as both the world’s Tallest Living Dog and Tallest Dog Ever.

Like Susan Boyle, four-year-old Giant George has become an overnight celebrity in his hometown of Tucson, AZ. First, he won the dog-equivalent of the Oscars and then he got invited to be on Oprah’s show. Can he handle it ?? Apparently he can.

On the plane trip to Oprah’s show, American airlines gave him a row of three seats to himself. His arrival in Chicago was met with a growing legion of adoring fans and paparazzi, and most curious to him…..snow!

But he took it all in stride, sleeping off the jetlag anywhere he wanted at the hotel(but mostly on his own mattress). We’re not sure he’s up to signing pawtographs yet but watch for him to be on someone’s red carpet.

Read about his recent adventures to Harpo studios and what it takes to feed (110lb/month!) and house this gentle giant, on George’s own website.

Congratulations George! He’s a George we can be proud of.

Snowmaggedon: 5 things to do with your dog when you are stuck inside

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:20:02 +0000

The 3 Busy Dogs team was on a trip to DC when the big snowstorm hit. 20 – 50 inches of snow is a lot for any dog so we are not surprised to hear they get ‘Cabin Fever’ too! Like kids, dogs went a little beserk in the snow and some got into BIG Tra- bull!

Tully, a 4 year old lab, was so excited, he went to romp in the snow with his friend, Balto the Alaskan Malamute and fell into a nearby pond. Firemen rescued him while his 14 year old human brother shouted encouraging words for the exhausted pup to hang on. It was a happy but frosty ending for Tully’s Adventure.

There was a Black Lab mix who fell into a storm drain after a snowplow had knocked the cover off. Again, a happy ending, but this guy needs a home and a safe lap after his ordeal. Fire fighters score another dog rescue!

And then, just when you think it’s safe to go out, a dog gets mugged for his coat! First reported by the New York Post, it happended in Brooklyn of all places - Tony, where are yous guys when we need ya? Again, Lexie got off with just a few chills and a renewed commitment of supervision from his owner.

So, the 3 Busy Dogs have come up with 5 things to do with your dog to keep them out of trouble while you are still digging out from winter. Nothing takes the place of knowing where they are at all times but here goes. . .

1. Stair Race: Need 2 people (unless you are training for the next Olympics) and a favorite toy

With one person at the top and bottom of staircase (preferably carpeted to prevent slippage), toss the toy up and down the staircase to encourage Fido to fetch it. A couple of runs will give him a good workout and naptime will ensue. It’s like monkey-in-the-middle with an elevation thrown in.

2. Peanut butter ‘n toast tea party:

Nothing gets the 3 Busy Dogs’ juices flowing than the smell of toast in the morning. The toaster is a favorite gathering place in the morning. Why not have a little tea-party with your furry friend and treat him to some PB on little pieces of toast. He’ll think he won the lottery! And maybe he’ll share some with you.

3. Hide and seek: best played with several bored children

Brush up his tracking skills by playing everyone’s favorite game. You may have to ‘help’ him get on the scent but once he catches on, he’ll want to play until everyone is found several times over. Be sure to whoop it up to let him know he found his query. He won’t mind being ‘It’ again.

4. Belly rubs in the snow followed by catching snowballs: Requires winter gear for you.

Dogs love to roll in the snow. Enhance their experience with a good belly rub and watch them go! They don’t mind a little snow on the face but watch for ice in their toes and don’t let them eat too much snow – it’s not fattening but it can bloat them. Snowballs are so much fun – you can catch and crunch in one swoop. The energy required to jump up to catch them will result in a great follow up nap.

5. Dress up

If you have kids stuck in the house also, give them some old clothes and let them have a ‘fashion show’ with their pup. It’s a great opportunity to take fun pictures and build a “Here’s what I did on my snow vacation” Flickr album.

If you have any great pictures from these suggestions – send them to us and we’ll post them on our blog!!

Have a great day inside!