Santa, This Adorable Puppy is on My Wishlist!

Puppy Love Quick Tip

Hugo Says, "Accidents do happen and I guarantee your new puppy WILL pee on the floor! Be prepared, and follow this quick tip to help save your carpets and your sanity."

Meeting your new puppy is an exciting time, but is likely to be stressful for you and the pup. Keep in mind the pup most likely has lived with his parent and siblings in an area where he eats, sleeps, plays and 'does his business.' Your job as his new owner is to train him to 'do his business' in an acceptable manner in your home.

One simple but very effective tip to help you both with this transition period is to ask the breeder, a few days ahead of your pickup date, to put a newspaper in the puppy's play area.

By bringing home the newspaper which already has the puppy urine smell, it will make training your pup much easier.

Be sure you have a supply of puppy pads on hand and put one in the area where you and your pup will be spending play time. Put a sheet of the newspaper right on top of the puppy pad and your pup will immediately be attracted to that spot which already smells correct to him. Remember - it must be very close to the play area because when you gotta go, you gotta go!

Your pup will be naturally drawn to the smell of urine on the newspaper & will know where to pee immediately. He will run to that spot if it's close enough. You will have to replace the newspaper but that is simply done by dampening a clean piece of newspaper in your puppy's urine.

Every two or three days, move the placement of the puppy pad further away from your living area towards the door to the outside where he will ultimately 'do his business.'

Praise, treats and consistency in action and words will help your new best friend do his utmost to please you!

Hugo Goes Clam Digging

Hugo loves digging for clams and picking up oysters on the beach. He actually chews at the shells until they pop open and he slurps up the fruit of his labor!



Hugo knows how to show his appreciation to his new friend Linda. WHO has oyster breath???

Dog Shampoo

I remember the sweet, new puppy smell of Teddy Bear Hugo. He was the most adorable pup in the world and stole my heart.



Hugo is nearly 4 years old now and my best friend. I would be lost without him, but sometimes I wish he would just GET LOST! He loves to go play on the beach, dig in the mud, rocks and even the salt water to find oysters and clams. He carries them up to the grass, chews until he cracks the shells apart then slurps up the yummy, RAW, 'delicacy'. I prefer mine with no bits of shell, washed with clean fresh water, battered, breaded and fried beyond recognition! But, not Hugo - the smellier, saltier and grosser, the better he likes it.

Does your dog suffer from itching? Does he scratch continually and sometimes stink beyond belief? I have to tell you Hugo does, especially after being in the saltwater and he hates bathtime, making me feel guilty about his suffering. Since bathtime is a daily chore with Hugo when we're at Egmont I worry about his skin getting dry and itchy and hate to use a dog shampoo that doesn't wash out easily. I don't think dogs were meant to be sweet smelling all the time, but since Hugo sleeps with me I don't want that dirty, wet dog smell in my bed!

An all natural dog shampoo 'Dogosuds' ® made by Dinovite, sounds ideal to me to keep Hugo clean, and to keep his skin and coat healthy.

Here are the benefits of 'Dogosuds':

• Makes your dog smell CLEAN and WONDERFUL for a long time.
• Lathers beautifully ... and RINSES EASILY!
• Contains 100% pure, therapeutic grade essential oils that have natural, healing properties
• Gentle soothing shampoo works well for sensitive skin.
• Is a NATURAL FLEA DETERRENT
• Contains NO CHEMICALS, NO PERFUMES, NO FILLERS, nothing to irritate or dry your dog's skin!
• Also works great to remove SKUNK odor!

I had to laugh at the thought of the last benefit. We do have skunks around Egmont and I'd hate to have Hugo run into one of those! If Dinovite makes a product to remove the skunky smell of a dog who got on the wrong end of a skunk, it sounds perfect to me.

Hugo Loves Boating

5 of us went oyster picking and clam digging yesterday. Just as we were about to untie and leave the dock, Hugo jumped right in the boat. There was no way he was going to be left behind!



He's so darn cute and everyone loves him so much, no one had the heart to tell him to get back on the float. He enjoyed every minute of his boat ride and digging clams on the beach.

Hugo Says... Look at My New Chew Toy!

This new ball is bigger than Hugo!

Hugo dragged this hard plastic buoy off the beach where it had settled on high tide. It was full of huge rotting mussels. When I realized Hugo was starting to smell like a gigantic rotting mussel from chewing on them, I took it away from him and put him in the bathtub. Couldn't get that nasty smell off his face and his breath was terrible for 3 days.

I think he's forgotten about now and is back to chewing sticks and picking up oysters on the beach to gnaw on!

Snarly Cat

Sylvester is a mild mannered cat, usually!

I was sitting outside taking photos of Hugo playing in the grass with his a piece of rope he found under the porch. Sylvester came outside and jumped up beside me, wanting attention. He has long fur and sheds so I didn't let him sit on my lap but started snapping shots of him because he had the sun on his face and was looking so darn cute.

After a few shots where he squinted his eyes, I finally captured him telling me he wanted my FULL attention NOW!

Super Chameleon!

BUTTONS: The New Toilet Cleaner

Hugo Says, "This is simply too much of a time saver not to share".

1. Put both lids of the toilet up and add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl.

2. Pick up Buttons, the cat and soothe her while you carry her to the bathroom.

3. In one smooth movement, put Buttons in the toilet and close both lids. You may need to stand on the lid.

4. Buttons will self agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises that come from the toilet, Buttons is actually enjoying this.

5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a 'power-wash' and 'rinse'.

6. Have some one open the front door of your home. Be sure there are no people between the bathroom and the front door.

7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can and quickly lift the lid.

8. Buttons will rocket out of the toilet, streak through the bathroom and run outside where she will dry herself off.

9. Both the toilet and Buttons will be sparkling clean.

Hugo's Friendship Friday BRATZ Giveaway

Hugo loves Friendship Friday and has an awesome contest to tell you about! Actually Hugo loves every day if there is a bone to chew, a toy to squeak or a prize to give.



Friendship Circles are continuous and to show his love for his loyal friends and readers, Hugo has an awesome BRATZ KIDZ Music Stars giveaway.

1. You may win this adorable prize by signing up at SocialSpark. You must 'claim' your blog and become a member of the TEDHeads crew. If you need help, Hugo says his Grandma will be glad to assist you with the details. Be sure to leave me a comment here when you sign up.

2. Now, if you want to double your chances (you must do step #1 first), tweet out this message on Twitter:

"Enter Hugo's contest to win a BRATZ KIDZ Music Star http://bit.ly/2bTQ7d Pls RT"



This giveaway ends Friday, May 1 2009 at midnight PDT. Hugo will mail this prize anywhere in the US or Canada.

Want to enter more contests or list your own contest to take part in this fun giveaway? Check out the Friendship Friday Contest Carnival for more FUN!

Animal House

Hugo Says, "It's an Animal House!"

Lovin' the Lady Chicken

Petting the Smiling Dolphins

Hugo has friends all over the world! You can read all about his Dolphin buddies at Dolphin Bubbles and be sure to watch the video of them blowing bubbles and popping them, putting on quite an underwater show for the little kids (and big kids too of course) at SeaWorld.





Have you entered the contest to win airfare, hotel, SeaWorld tickets for 4 people? You should! Here is a link to follow:
Manta Mania 3 . Go right on over there and enter now - some lucky family is going to win this prize - I hope it YOURS!

Shamu Kicks the Winning Field Goal!

Hugo says you will be amazed at Shamu, the killer whale, at Seaworld Orlando kicking a field goal in this video! Please watch - it's very short and totally awesome!



Be sure to enter this contest to win airfare/hotel/2days at Seaworld/MantaMania and MORE for FOUR people:



Manta Mania 3

Chew it Until it Comes Apart!

Image via Wikipedia

Hugo has an enquiring mind and always wants to know where and how his toys and household items are made.

The easiest way of course is to chew until the item comes apart, and we all find the inside gears and plastic tracks scattered on the floor, up the stairs and under the furniture!

Hugo is a very smart dog and never swallows the bits and pieces - even the tiniest plastic parts.

Hugo's Hero

Hugo says... please watch this video to see his hero:



What an incredible dog!

Hugo Likes Smart Girls on the Amy Poelher TV Show!

Do you know the answer to this question: If I write you a check for a million dollars on a piece of paper, can you cash it?



Amy Poehler's TV Show on Cozmo TV is all about smart girls who are changing the world by being themselves. The widget is easy to share on all your social media sites and is very inspiring to watch - funny too.

What is your favorite Barbie memory? Hugo's Grandma says her favorite memory is the hand made Barbie clothes her Mom made as a surprise birthday gift - one was a satin wedding gown and Grandma still has it.

Hugo says his Grandma still has her Barbie too, from 1963 and has kept her in very good condition along with all her clothes and accessories. Okay, well maybe the egg flipper or pot holder from the barbecue set is missing... but most of the outfits are complete. She never let her brothers cut Barbie's hair or pull her arm out of the socket - and no one wrote on her in ink! She was pretty smart!

Smart girls do have more fun and Amy Poelher showcases lots of smart girls who do amazing things, have very busy schedules and try to help others! They are very talented girls whether they are involved in singing, dancing or the arts.

Be a 'Smart girl' right now and get your own widget here to embed on My Space, Facebook, your blog and tons more sites - in one simple click!

Bloggy Giveaways Winner of My Little Pony

Congratulations to:

Karen of A Blog of Goodies

Karen is the lucky winner of Hugo's 'Twilight Twinkle My Little Pony'.

Thanks to all the entrants and especially to Bloggy Giveaways for hosting this wonderful Contest Carnival!

Hugo Says be sure to come back to enter his next contest!

Dear God,

TO: God

FROM: The Dog

Dear God: Is it on purpose that our names are the same, only reversed?

Dear God: Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another?

Dear God: When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it still the same old story?

Dear God: Why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit, but not ONE named for a Dog? How often do you see a cougar riding around? We do love a nice ride! Would it be so hard to rename the 'Chrysler Eagle' the 'Chrysler Beagle'?

Dear God: If a Dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad Dog?

Dear God: We Dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID's, electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand?

Dear God: More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.

Dear God: Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?

Dear God: Let me give you a list of just some of the things I must remember to be a good Dog.

1. I will not eat the cats' food before they eat it or after they throw it up.

2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.

3. The Litter Box is not a cookie jar.

4. The sofa is not a 'face towel'.

5. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.

6. I will not play tug-of-war with Dad's underwear when he's on the toilet.

7. Sticking my nose into someone's crotch is an unacceptable way of saying 'hello'.

8. I don't need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm under the coffee table.

9. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house - not after.

10. I will not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt.

11. I will not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my crotch.

12. The cat is not a 'squeaky toy', so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it's usually not a good thing.


P.S. Dear God: When I get to Heaven may I have my testicles back?

Win 'My Little Pony Twilight Twinkle' or Serious CASH!

The WINNER of My Little Pony is: Number 138 - as chosen by Random.org.

THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED - THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED. THE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON!


The Bloggy Giveaways Contest Carnival is ON!

Now is your chance to enter to win hundreds (maybe thousands) of prizes being given away by various bloggers taking part in this Carnival. All participants are listed and linked on the Bloggy Giveaways site!

Hugo Say you may WIN 'My Little Pony Twilight Twinkle' part of a 2004 collector series:


Leave your name and email address in the comment section below and you are entered to win - yes, it's that simple!

I will ship this prize anywhere in the world :)


* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Now comes the really, really exciting part TWO of this contest. You may enter to win some serious, cold hard CASH by following the directions below!

Follow these directions exactly and you will be entered to win $50.00 CASH - via Paypal only - so you must have a Paypal account:

If you are ready to earn money for blogging about the things you love, display affiliate links or display sponsorship links on your blog, read on!

You must have a personal blog written in English or Spanish to enter. Basically, your blog must:

* Be at least 90 days old, with at least 20 pre-existing posts written in the last 90 days.
* Contain content that is original to you and the blog.
* Be a blog, meaning no message boards, websites, IM, emails or other similar services.
* Not be a blog kept primarily for making money. Read the SocialSpark Terms of Service to be sure your blog qualifies. If you qualify, complete these easy steps:

1. Join SocialSpark.
2. Have your blog approved by IZEA (takes a few days).
3. Claim your blog in SocialSpark.
4. Join the TEDHeads.
5. Leave a comment here.
6. Leave a comment on the TEDHeads FB Group, saying you are in the process of joining SS and are a new member of this awesome group.

This will take a little more work on your part, but think of it this way - your odds of winning the $50.00 are much higher, the fewer people who complete the steps!

The contest runs from January 26 to January 30 (noon PST) and I will select one winner of the $50.00, randomly, from all new SocialSpark/TEDHeads members once all blogs are approved by IZEA.



Be sure to leave a comment with your name and email address in the comment section below this post.

Good luck in the Bloggy Giveaways Contest Carnival!

Be sure to enter my other two contests!

Win a 2 GB DiskGo Edge Flash Drive

or

Win a Nascar Dana 1:24 Scale Stock Car or $50.00 CASH

The Grandma Test

Image by Dylanfm via Flickr

I was out walking with my Grand daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that.

'Why?' my Granddaughter asked.

'Because it's been on the ground; you don't know where it's been, it's dirty, and probably has germs,' I replied.

At this point, my Granddaughter looked at me with total admiration and asked,

'Grandma, how do you know all this stuff?? You are so smart.'

I was thinking quickly and said to her. 'All Grandmas know this stuff. ? It's on the Grandma Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Grandma."

We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information.

'Oh.....I get it!' she beamed, 'So if you don't pass the test you have to be the Grandpa".

Hugo, the Cover Dog

Hugo loves boating and regularly accompanies us aboard our 5288 Bayliner during the spring and summer boating season in Beautiful British Columbia.

In June 2008 we left Egmont aboard the Jervis Mist to attend the Bayliner Rendezvous at Roche Harbor in the San Juan Islands, Washington State. Kent likes to run the boat at 9 knots as it makes for a very comfortable ride while being fuel efficient. 9 knots is a comfortable travel speed but made for an eleven hour trip each way.

As we entered the Strait of Georgia after clearing Merry Island the wind was blowing South East 26 knots and the seas were ugly. We were comfortable enough as the Jervis Mist is well equipped to handle that much weather. As long as I'm able to blog and Hugo is able to nap we're happy little boaters - and Captain Kent loves to be at the helm.

Our friends Jack and Roberta were waiting for us in Point Roberts and once we loaded them aboard, we were off, heading for Roche Harbor where the Bayliner Rendezvous Luau was awaiting us. Many dealers were set up with information booths and we enjoyed chatting with them.

Hugo met many doggy friends on the docks and our walks, while we stopped along the way to speak to new boating friends and old. Many of the boats were decked out Hawaiian style and people were always ready to party with a Mai Tai while listening to Don Ho's 'Tiny Bubbles'.

Roche Harbor is an historic town with an interesting past and we enjoyed the retiring of the colors at dusk, accompanied by cannon fire and fireworks.

Dino Publishing was covering the event and the photographer snapped a few cute pics of Hugo, asking me to sign a release in case they chose to use Hugo's photo at a future time.

Today, the Editorial Director of Dino Publishing, Randy Hess, phoned to talk to Hugo, Kent and I, asking questions about our boating lifestyle, our trip to Roche Harbor, how we enjoyed the event and explained he was creating an article for Magalog, the February advertising issue for Bayliner and Maxxum, and that perhaps Hugo would be featured.

Who knows - perhaps Hugo will be a 'Cover Dog'!

Here is an excerpt from Dino Publishing's press release detailing the new Magalog for US Marine, the parent company of Bayliner and Maxxum:

"Readers will learn new ideas on how to boost their boating enjoyment. The magazine section of Bayliner celebrates the family fun and adventure possible through Bayliner ownership, while the catalog section makes it easier for customers to find information about specific models."

Hugo and I love to share our 'family fun' aboard the Jervis Mist!