 If you follow us on Instagram, you may have seen what a nightmare our vacation had turned into.
While walking on the beach, a South African Mastiff got out of his harness and attacked my dad's dog Toby. With 4 people trying to pry the mastiff's grip off Toby, he just wouldn't let go. When he finally freed little Toby, he had broken his back and most ribs. And ultimately killed Toby. Toby passed away at the local vet. We were there for his last minutes. We got to say thank you and love you one last time. This is a blog dedicated to our Tober. Toby helped me overcome depression after my mom passed away from cancer. I was sixteen when my mom lost her battle with pancreatic cancer. Being an only child, the house was so quiet without my mom. I wanted a companion and started looking online. I saw Toby's little face and I felt like this little rat had to be mine. I drove and picked him up without getting my dad's permission. It was an act of rebellion. Instantly, Toby filled up our home with love. I thought Toby would be a great cuddle dog, but I was wrong. He didn't like the cuddles. He was so odd and funny that he made me laugh at a time I needed it the most. He liked to get stuck in between clothes hangers, loved chasing rabbits and loved walking the neighborhood. When it was time for me to go to college, my dad was so upset. Toby and I will be embarking on a new adventure together. But my dad begged and said, "not Toby too." And I knew then, Toby was not my dog. He was my dad's. Coming home on school breaks to see Toby and my dad became such a treat. He became so attached to my dad and would get upset when I came home because that meant he had to share my dad's attention. Toby was my brother and we had the funnest brother/sister relationship. If my dad and Toby were sitting on the couch, I would go and sit in between them. Toby would always chase me away because his spot was closest to my dad. And I had so much fun getting him back. If he went outside to pee, I would find my dad and make sure I was the closest one to my dad and chase him away. This game continued till the end. He not only helped me overcome my depression, he helped my dad overcome his. He mended our hearts. He was a good dog. He didn't deserve to pass away like this. My dad didn't deserve to see his best friend die in this vicious way. But we can not change that. What we can do is count our blessings that Toby was our dog. He will forever be our dog. And he will be forever missed. I love you Toby. <3 Rest easy my little rat.
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Today I hosted a pup party for Levi's first birthday.
I know, I'm THAT dog mom. This was our first dog party at our home and it was SO much fun. Great time for pups and humans to laugh and socialize. This won't be our last. Here are my top 5 dog party essentials:
Happy Birthday my Levi! I hope you had a great day with all your friends! <3 Think of a frozen lake covered with snow... beautiful mountains in the background... and the sun shining. But it's not snow its SALT. Welcome to Bonneville Salt Flats.
Bonneville Salt Flats is a densely packed salt pan on the border of Utah and Nevada. The flats are famous for the Bonneville Speedway. People from all over the world come to the flats to try to break land speed records. The flats are open to the public year round and pups are allowed! Where can you find the flats? The flats are easily accessible off of I-80. There is a truck stop and most enter the flats here. Others enter the flats through the Bonneville Speedway. What can you do? These flats are a perfect location for photoshoots! You can take photos, walk, mountain bike, ATV, watch speed races, race cars and drive around. How long should you stay? 1-3 days. Depending on what activities you are doing. We stayed 2 nights at the KOA in the neighboring city of Wendover. Wendover has a lot of restaurants and even more casinos! What should you bring to the Salt Flats? (the salt flats have no facilities including no bathrooms)
REMEMBER: When you get home, WASH YOUR CAR if you drive on the salt. The salt is very corrosive! AND WASH YOUR PUPS if your pups walked on the salt. This place is a must see. The pups and I will be coming to this location again for a day trip! For more info on Bonneville Salt Flats visit: utah.com/bonneville-salt-flats Happy traveling<3 THE NEWS IS FINALLY OUT!
@mybenebone has released a Benebone Puppy Pack. @mybenebone contacted us a few months back, and asked if Levi could test their puppy Benebones. Of course, we said YES. These puppy Benebones are slightly softer for the growing puppy teeth. The Puppy Pack comes with one dental and one wishbone chew. The chews are bacon flavored. Levi, the taste tester, approved of these bones instantly. Have a puppy? BUY @mybenebone Puppy Pack today! Check out Benebone on Instagram Username: @mybenebone Shop Benebone at your local pet stores, Amazon, and Chewy. <3 Do you like coffee or tea?
Do you love dogs? Well than @barkandbrewcoffee is for you. @barkandbrewcoffee is a brand new coffee and tea company. This company strives to provide great products, with some of the proceeds going to dogs in need. Every month @barkandbrewcoffee chooses a new rescue organization to donate to. The coffee names are dog inspired: Beagle Blend: Decaf Roast Golden Retriever Blend: "light roast with hints of sweet peach, nectarine, and green are prominent with heavy lilac and lime zest present." Frenchie Blend: "dark/french roast with hints of dark chocolate, bright red apple, and a honey sweet finish." Bulldog Blend: "medium roast with hints of cherry, grape, plum, chocolate, cane sugar and a round acidity." @barkandbrewcoffee also offers mugs, tumblers and clothing! All items are great quality and adorable. Let's help save some dogs by sipping on some delicious coffee. Check out Barks + Brew coffee on Instagram: Username: @barksandbrewcoffee Shop their website: barkandbrew.coffee/ and use code: GPBULL for 15% off. Thank you @hypnoticdogco for sending Ro a beautiful handmade Triple Stack Wooden Beaded collar.
@hynoticdogco is a small business that handcrafts "wooden, ceramic, semi-precious bead collars." The dogs have never had a beaded collar. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I must say I am pleasantly surprised. This collar is so durable and looks beautiful. @hypnoticdogco collars easy slip on over your dog's head. And they are both waterproof and durable. The cool thing is these collars don't look like collars. They look like stunning necklaces. Imagine this collar at a wedding?! These collars are great for our furry friends and I highly recommend. Find Hypnotic Dog on IG Username: @hypnoticdogco Shop Hypnotic Dog here: www.etsy.com/shop/hypnoticdog <3 Thank you @kingkanineofficial for sending us some products to test out.
@kingkanineofficial is a company that "promotes pet wellness inside and out." They create all-natural alternatives that help the health of our pets. We were sent King Klean Pet Bed Spray and King Kalm 600mg CBD oil. The King King Pet Bed spray is a refreshing spray for your dog bed. Dog beds get stinky so fast, and with this spray your pet's bed will continue to stay fresh. It's "designed to kill 99% of the bacteria that causes those unwanted smells by penetrating deep into fabric fibers." The King Kalm 600mg CBD oil comes in a 30ml bottle and syringe. Simply look at the dosing chart, and administer the correct amount to your pet via syringe. CBD oil has been used to treat seizures, nausea, stress, anxiety and many other health issues. Ro is so scared of thunder and CBD oil has calmed her during these storms. And with fireworks on July 4th, CBD will be a lifesaver for many. Don't like the oil? @kingkanineofficial also offers CBD treats and topicals. Check out King Kanine on IG: Username: @kingkanineofficial Shop here: https://kingkanine.com/ and use code: BULLDOG15 for 15% off your order. <3 @getmomeo is a company that creates beautiful star maps.
Each star map is personalized by you. First, choose the location, time and date. I chose Utah and the date we moved into our new home. Then select what style and color you'd like. Lastly, check if you'd like to show grid, constellations and location of planets. After those 3 steps, you are now looking at your new star map. Your personalized star map can either be downloaded or printed with @getmomeo. @getmomeo also has options for framing! They make stunning homemade frames. These star maps are a great addition to any home. Check out @getmomeo on Instagram: Username @getmomeo Shop Star Maps here: mymomeo.com/ and use code: ANYA15 for 15% off your order. <3   Bear Lake is a natural lake located on the border of Utah and Idaho.
It is known for its turquoise colored waters and surrounding mountains. As we were driving down Highway 89, we saw our first glimpse of Bear Lake's beauty. I couldn't stop saying "wow." It is just a breathtaking place. Bear Lake has endless activities to do. From boating, swimming, tubbing, jet skiing to hiking, adventure parks and biking. We rented a small motorized fishing boat and had an absolute blast on the water. I highly suggest enjoying these blue and crystal clear waters on a boat! Bear Lake Marina offers so many water rentals including: Mastercraft, Jet Skiis, fishing boats and more. This lake is 109 square miles, miles of beautiful beaches. We drove around the whole lake and every inch has a view. During summer, Bear Lake can get crowded. However, we were still able to find a beach to ourselves. The dogs absolutely LOVED swimming in the lake. It was Levi's first time in a big body of water and I was so glad to see that he is a water baby. My suggestions for a great dog friendly experience in Bear Lake: 1) Find accommodation that is pet friendly. During my research, I found that most of the places in Bear Lake are pet friendly. I usually book KOA's as they have dog parks! 2) Beach it with the pups. Enjoy the clear water and the bright sun with your best friends. 3) Walk Bear Lake Blvd in Garden City and try some shakes. Bear Lake has many restaurants and is known for their famous raspberry milkshakes. Most places have seating outside and are pet friendly. 4) Go on a hike. I highly suggest doing the Limber Pine Nature Trail. We went at 7 am. Not one other soul on the trail, just lots of squirrels and rabbits. It took us 45 minutes and it was so worth it. 5) AS ALWAYS BRING ENOUGH WATER AND A PORTABLE WATER BOWL. Visit Bear Lake. Bring your best friends. Have fun, relax and take in the views. For more information about Bear Lake: https://utah.com/bear-lake-state-park Where should we travel to next? <3  Moab, Utah is a magical city in the middle of stunning red rock formations. It has been on my list of places to explore for some time now, and finally this weekend the pups and I did just that. I’ve got asked these 3 questions by many people so I thought, I would revolve this blog around that! 1) What to do in Moab? Moab is a gateway for Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. Great hiking, mountain climbing and biking, jeep safaris, horseback riding, river rafting, and fishing. Moab also has a lovely downtown with great restaurants and dessert places! 2) Are dogs allowed in the National Parks in Moab? If not, where do you take dogs in Moab? Yes, they can go where cars can go on a leash. They can not walk the trails inside the National Parks. But don't worry, there are plenty of cool dog hikes. (I'll get to that soon) On Saturday, the pups stayed in the trailer while I hiked up to the Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. This hike is 3 mile round trip, but quite steep. It took 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete this trail. It may be steep but it's worth it. The views from up top are stunning. If you are not wanting to do this long of a hike, Arches National Park also offers a Delicate Arch Viewpoint. This walking trail will take you only 10 minutes! Arches National Park offers many amazing hikes, including The Windows, Balanced Rock, Tower Arch, etc. I suggest visiting their website; so you can plan and see what hike/s you would want to do prior to arriving. Moab Dog Friendly Trails: *Generally in UT, state parks and recreation areas allow leashed dogs.* A popular dog hike is Corona Arch. Sadly for us, this trail was just too long for the bulldogs to be in the hot Moab sun and its quite technical. So instead, we hiked The Fisher Towers. This hike is relatively easy and offers 5 miles of beautiful scenery. Again, it was too hot for a bulldog to do, so we were just happy walking half of a mile and taking photos in front of the towers! We later did a sunset hike at Sand Flats Recreational Area. Slick Rock Trail is their popular hiking and mountain biking route. We didn’t follow a route and just walked along the big rocks! This is a prime spot for sunset watching! 3) How do you keep pups cool in the hot heat? TIPS: Always keep enough water on you and carry a collapsible water bowl. I generally bring water bottles that I use to wet the dogs down while on hikes. Luckily for me, my pups love water so they are happy when I do that! Purchase a cooling vest, this vest helps keep pups temperature down! Or a cooling mat! Hike in the mornings, or in the evenings for cooler temperatures. I quickly realized that Moab had way more to offer than my expectations, therefore we weren’t able to fit everything we wanted to do in our schedule. I highly recommend staying in Moab for at least 3 nights! Friends, go to Moab. It is magical. For more information about Moab: www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm Thanks for following our adventures <3 |
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