Home Decor for Dog Lovers from Minted.com

This post is sponsored by the online stationery store, Minted.com. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the art collection, but Rubicon Days only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers; minted.com is not responsible for the content of this article.

If you're anything like me, your love of dogs extends to your clothing, accessories and home decor. I have canine coffee mugs, art work and t-shirts and unique items with dogs on them always catch my eye. I was recently introduced to Minted's new art collection, offering a variety of prints from a changing collection of artists. I will of course be focusing on the dog-themed art, which ranges from contemporary to whimsical, from photography to painting, but they have art in many categories to suit every taste. I found something for every room of my dog-friendly home! 

For my guest bath, American Idyll 2 by Annie Seaton. I have an ocean theme with retro-style surfing postcards and I think this would fit in perfectly. I love the textures and the quiet moment between the girl and her dog on the beach. Prints are available framed or unframed in a choice of sizes. 

For my kitchen - Pit Stop by Misty Hughes. We all know not to leave our dogs in cars in the summertime, but we'll imagine this a cool day and the owner is coming right back with some tasty diner food! I love the colors and the vintage nostalgia of this photograph. 

For my bedroom, Fox Shadow by Natalie Groves. The Ginger Sisters always remind me of foxes, and I love the unique perspective and soft colors of this wild cousin of theirs, slipping elusively out of sight. One of the coolest things about the art from Minted.com is the option of customization - you can choose your paper, frame, and some of the designs even come in different colorways! 

For my living room, Runny Bunny by Eve Schultz. I have a purple sofa and Ruby is a member of the local bunny patrol, so I think this would be a perfect fit. I think the symmetry and simplicity of the design give it a very modern appeal. I would frame it with the distressed charcoal stain. 

I think that Play Date by Michelee Scott - an uplifting scene of dogs playing on the beach - would look great on my landing. I have an ongoing bird theme throughout my house and think the flock in the sky and the shadows on the sand are both striking and serene. 

It would be difficult to choose just one, and they are adding new designs all the time through crowdsourced design competitions with artists from all over the world submitting their work. Minted's new art collection can be viewed here. Along with art prints, minted.com also has darling personalized stationery, customizable pet holiday cards and dog walker business cards! Check them out Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.  

Adopt a dog easily, the right decision

Dog Adoption.

Dog adoption is one of the most popular name in dogs world. Everyone like to get beautiful dog and brilliant puppy and dog as pets. But it's very expensive to buy new dog from market, it can be same kind hard thing for American, European, Asian or Australian dog buyer. But dog adoption make it easy for old buyers, the can simply take a new puppy or dog by return old one. Dog adoption facility providers also enjoying benefit too. Thousands of dog store in NYC and other US cities supporting dog adotion option by some extra money, but it's makes happy all buyers of them. If you really going to adop a dog, ghen you need to know well about your new dog's bevabior and brilliant knowledge and dog food for new dog, it's very important during dog adoption. There are thousands of dogs store providing dog adoption, but you need to make sure about their service after deal or you may suffer much and you can bring problem with new dog. Choose a good provider and make a good dog adoption deal.

Loving My Little Life With Two Wonderful Dogs

A room full of dogs and books is my idea of happiness.

Happy Ruby Tuesday! While I don't do it on a weekly basis, my aim with the Ruby Tuesday updates is a more "old fashioned" blog post of the journaling type. Back before blogging became so popular, I had a LiveJournal account where I shared thoughts, poetry, pictures and travelogues. My account is still active, in fact, and while I don't write there regularly, I love having more than ten years of my life chronicled there. Some of my very favorite blogs lean toward the wordy, honest and personal, and so I like to have an element of that here, where I can look back on the daily details of life with Ruby and Boca, these two precious dogs that have been with me through some of the most difficult times and also at a time when I am doing some serious introspection.

Recently I said to a friend, when asked what my big life dream was, that I thought I would like to move to Spain and rescue dogs. She looked momentarily surprised, and I realized that wasn't what most people expect, especially now that I am single. No babies, no weddings, nothing very ambitious or extraordinary, but something very definitely including dogs. I'm incredibly grateful that I live in a time when that is becoming increasingly acceptable, and increasingly normal. Lately I've been simplifying, reevaluating. I'm finding that some things that used to be important to me (like fancy shoes and late nights out dancing) have fallen by the wayside, and some things I thought I'd never want (like living somewhere rural) have become suddenly intriguing. While  I occasionally hear things like I'm too wrapped up in my dogs, the great majority of my friends and family are supportive of my somewhat solitary, but personally satisfying lifestyle, and they get it when I just want to stay home with my dogs. (Either that, or I make a point of surrounding myself with only people who do).

During the week, life is largely routine, especially when incorporating the care and feeding of The Ginger Sisters into the few hours between waking and work, work and sleep. I find comfort in this routine, and waking up as I did this morning to find Ruby laying on her back, nestled into the crook of my arm and gazing up at me, is often the best part of my day. Right now my dad is living with me, and I'm blessed with knowing my dogs have company while I'm at work and can spend these warm afternoons sunbathing outside. The weekends are when the real fun happens: sitting on the patio playing ball with Ruby, making them special treats like the frozen goodies pictured above (Freezy Pups mix and Merrick PowerBites treats), walking through our little slice of wild marshland between the light rail station and the town house complex, photo shoots and silly trick training sessions, trips to visit family, outings to new places, or blissful reading breaks on the guest room daybed in the best light.

The girls are doing splendidly overall. Ruby has had some great moments (passing people fairly close on walks and not barking) and some not-so-great moments (going berzerk over horses on TV despite my efforts to DS/CC with peanut butter). I took her out for a training walk this weekend and she did very well with checking in and maintaining focus on me (which is a huge deal for her). My secret was using some of Boca's "pill cheese" - more on that in a moment - good old processed American cheese product. Her reactivity means a lifetime of management, but when I look at the big picture, I can see some remarkable changes. She is never relaxed outside, but I am seeing little moments when we are close to home where her body becomes looser and even get a tail wag once in a while. She solicits pets every evening (with very particular requests: inner thigh and back scratches).  Her relationship with Boca is beautiful to watch, and while they can get carried away sometimes with their play, I see a lot of really sweet, gentle interaction, too.

Boca remains her delightfully easygoing and goofy self - she is the first dog I've had who can happily take a nap at the vet's office. Unfortunately, we've still been spending quite a bit of time there. We had only a short reprieve from the Ocular Ordeal before she started developing an opacity in the other (left) eye. At this time it is not causing her any problems or discomfort, but the ophthalmologist is still unable to determine a cause. We are trying a long course of doxycycline in hopes that it will slow down any progression if there is a bacterial component. I'm not as stressed out about it as the first time, because at least we know the treatment/surgery route to go if it does get worse. After our appointment on Saturday, Boca and my dad and I discovered a pretty park full of little lakes and streams. It was refreshingly serene even though it was in the middle of town, and a place I could safely bring Ruby, especially on one of my Fridays off. We even spotted a huge turtle in one of the ponds!

Time seems to go by faster and faster - just like people are always telling you it will - and I want to make the most of this summer. Everything is gorgeous and green right now following our more than twenty consecutive days of rain. This weekend I hope to get a lounge chair for my patio, so I can read out there while the girls sleep in the sun. I have planted marigolds and tomatoes in containers and I am going to plant some herbs and lettuces as well. I want to scout out more places to take Ruby - taking Boca first is a perfect way to do so, and also gives me the opportunity to have some one-on-one time with her. I am hoping to attend BlogPaws in Phoenix with Boca next year, and need to be sure she is comfortable in more busy and crowded situations. We have some fun events coming up - a potcake fundraiser at a sports bar and a graduation party at a local park - which will be perfect practice! It's my favorite time of year (from now until October), and I'll be spending it with my two favorite girls.

What little things about life with dogs make you the happiest?

Simple Tips for Training Multiple Dogs

I have to admit that I did a lot more training when I only had Ruby. She excelled at trick training and quickly developed an impressive repertoire. Boca was able to attend a basic obedience class and did wonderfully, but we haven't gotten very far beyond that. Training more than one dog can be tricky and it can be hard to find the time to work with each dog individually. Here are some things I have learned that can make it easier and keep it fun. 

Keep It Simple 

When working with multiple animals it's important to remember that they can be a distraction to one another, and you may not be able to work on complex behaviors. A dog may find it more difficult to do some things in the company of another; for instance, Boca is overexcited when there is food involved and can tend to leap around and make Ruby nervous, so Ruby won't necessarily do some of her behaviors that put her in a vulnerable position, such as rolling over or "relax." I know I have to ask for simpler things such as "sit," "down" and "paw." I increase the challenge by asking for these behaviors from both dogs in unison, and the results can be pretty amusing. 

Get Creative

Training two dogs can open up some delightful possibilities if you draw on each dog's strengths. Ruby loves to jump over things. Boca loves to sprawl out on the floor. Naturally, I've taught Ruby to jump over Boca! Our friend Lauren taught her adorable lookalike girls to "kiss" and it's just about the cutest thing ever.  Dai Aoki of Positive Dog Care Sydney does some incredible stunts with his two border collies, Holly and Ace.

Utilize Mat or Crate Training

When you want to focus on one dog, it can be tough if the other is vying for attention, barking or whining. I'm so glad that Ruby has a great mat work foundation as it is the perfect solution for short training sessions when I have both dogs in the same room. I can place Ruby on her mat and work with Boca, or ask Boca to go to her kennel while I work with Ruby. I haven't done any mat training or the Relaxation Protocol with Boca, but sometimes we play our own variation on "crate games" where I will take turns sending them to their kennels and release them separately.  This is a great way to practice impulse control. 

Consider the Individual

What works for one dog may not work for another, and even if you are working with more than one dog at a time, you may have to fine-tune your training for each. They may require different kinds or rates of reinforcement, different lengths or intensities of sessions. Ruby is easily frustrated and Boca can be too food motivated so I have to take these things into account and adjust for them.

Remember that every interaction we have with our animals is teaching them something, and even if one dog is waiting its turn for formal training, it is learning! Ruby and Boca have taught me so much about positive reinforcement, often picking up on things so much faster than I expect. Training multiple pets comes with its own challenges, but I think the rewards far outweigh them. 

This post is part of the Positive Pet Training Blog Hop hosted by Cascadian Nomads, Tenacious Little Terrier and Rubicon Days - join us on the first Monday of every month to promote positive pet training and share advice and experiences. The hop is open all week long! The next hop begins July 6th.

Five Ways to Save Money on Dog Food

I love to feed The Ginger Sisters the best quality food I can afford and spoil them with yummy, healthy treats. I also love saving money when I can! The following are five ways I've found to keep the pet pantry stocked without breaking the bank:

Feed a Rotation Diet 
This is my favorite, because not only do I believe it is the best way to feed my dogs, offering variety and not solely relying on one brand, but it allows me to introduce new, high-quality foods into their diet as well as stock up when things are on sale. Because they have always been fed this way, they have never had any problem adjusting. They always have The Honest Kitchen for breakfast, but I rotate recipes sometimes adding canned food for a special treat, and I feed a variety of kibble brands for dinner, rotating by the bag.

Shop Local
You would be surprised at the lower prices that some smaller, local businesses offer in addition to their own loyalty programs. My local Kriser's offers a Buy 10/Get 1 program for their dog food and also sends me monthly coupons!

Online Loyalty Programs
Many brands and online retailers offer loyalty programs in which you can earn points with every purchase or by sharing on social media. I have saved money on shipping and gotten discounted or free products this way from One Dog Organic Bakery, The Honest Kitchen and Sit Stay.

Enter Blog Giveaways
I have had the best luck entering giveaways hosted by my fellow bloggers and I love hosting them here at Rubicon Days. I just won an Only Natural Pet gift certificate from Keep the Tail Wagging and used it to stock up on some my favorite products! This is also a great way to try something new.

Utilize Social Media
By following brands you like on social media, you can stay up to date on any flash sales or special offers. Facebook groups are another way for people to share discounts and coupon codes - I belong to a wonderful one called Dog Food Nerds of Facebook.


DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links - by clicking on them I may receive a small commission or discount. 

How My Dogs Led the Way Through Grief

There has been a great deal of loss in my life in the past five years, seeming to culminate after the big one - my mother's death in 2010 - with the deaths of a childhood friend, both of my old dogs and the letting go of my illustrious dream of a young dressage horse to bring up in 2013. I tend to have a delayed emotional reaction to things, which helps to explain why the end of 2013 into early 2014 were an especially dark time for me, and at which point my long-term relationship also disintegrated. Chance, fate, the universe - what have you - gave me two gifts around that same time. The first was Cheryl Strayed's book Wild, which I'd had on my shelf for years but was drawn to read as my fourth Mother's Day as a motherless daughter approached. While I was in no position to abandon my life in Denver and seek out identity and solitude in an existential wilderness expedition like the author, what the book gave me was permission to still not be okay, as Strayed hiked the Pacific Crest Trail four years after losing her mother to lung cancer. Our lives were different, but our mothers were radiant forces whose absence could not be quantified and which defined our unwillingly transformed selves. I clung to her words with such desperate gratitude, and the book and subsequent film remain deeply important to me.

The second gift was a red and white gremlin-eared dog with an endearing smile from a tropical island who had suffered hardship and loss of her own. I truly did intend to love her and let her go in order to continue fostering more dogs, but Boca's nurturing presence was an incredible comfort to me and from the beginning she seemed to know she was already home. In the way she intuited when I was having an especially difficult or lonely night and fit herself against me and pressed her chin to my heart, she offered a kind of mothering I had been missing. She was a perfect counterpoint to Ruby's intensity and whether hiking with both dogs or taking Boca on a solo walk, her cheerful untroubled personality was a balm to my anxieties. Boca was the sugar to Ruby's spice and the honey to my tea - she completed us in a way that made me feel sorry for who we were without her. The timing of her arrival into Colorado - into my life - was almost uncanny in its significance. I had no idea how much I would need her, how much I had been needing her.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss my mother in ways vast and mundane. I wish she could have met Ruby and Boca and that we could have seen Wild together. It's incomprehensible sometimes that I still have to live the rest of my life without her. Surviving her loss prepared me in a way for the ones that inevitably follow and the ones that blindside in the midst of spring, but each one references the last until sometimes it can feel too much to bear. What keeps me asking, reaching, loving is the promise of two delighted faces every time I come home, two sweet warm bodies curled next to me every time I go to sleep. Every day, we walk and play and share and rescue each other. They've been witness to the discovery of strength I didn't know I had, wells of devotion to other living creatures I'd only ever skimmed the surface of before. The weight of loss is something I'll always carry, but with the journey flanked by two remarkable dogs who have taught me so much about love, acceptance, resilience and joy as well as forming my own small family that my mother would have been proud of, the weight is a little bit lighter.

Five Bad Things That Boca Does

You might not believe this, but the Potcake isn't entirely perfect. She does a few naughty things, but with a face like that, it's pretty easy to overlook them...

She barks at my dad. Even though my dad has been living with me almost as long as Boca has, she is still fairly wary of him. She solicits petting from him and he usually walks her on the evening dog walk, but he's not able to get her harness and leash on when I'm not home, and she barks at him at times we can identify, and others we can't. She considers herself a sort of sous chef in the kitchen, and barks when he is chopping things or bending to get something out of the oven. She barks when he is wearing a hat. She is offended by one particular tie-dye shirt that he has. She barks at him when Ruby barks at dogs or horses on TV. She's usually wagging her tail while doing this barking, and while I've tried all sorts of things and encouraged my dad to dole out the treats liberally, I honestly believe at this point that Boca just thinks it's fun. 

She chews on my bedding. Boca does this odd flea-biting thing with her front teeth to the edges of my sheets and blankets. It luckily doesn't cause damage for the most part, and I think it's a self-soothing behavior since she usually does it before falling asleep. I haven't had much success in curtailing it, other than gently taking the bedding out of her mouth and then praising her. 

She eats rabbit poop. There is an increasingly large rabbit colony overtaking my town house complex that causes undue strife to the guardian of a terrier with a high prey-drive. It's spring which means they just had another batch of babies. The babies are cute, but soon they will just be a new crop of troublesome rabbits. Boca is more interested in chasing squirrels, but she does think that rabbits are magical creatures that leave her trails of delicious spherical snacks down the sidewalk. We definitely need more work on the 'leave it' command. 

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I couldn't come up with five things..Boca Face is a dream to walk on the leash, a lovely house-dog and snuggling companion. She is easygoing and a joy to be around. She's pretty close to perfect!