Ocean Trips

I keep thinking I'll get a post up about our ocean trips every single time we go... and I never do!
The Rottrover kept telling me how much the ocean changed Otto Rotto and I can honestly say it's changed Macy Blue as well. 

Macy with "her boys," Otto and Wizard, on her first trip to the ocean.

I must admit, I was a bit afraid of taking her. She hates the pool in spite of several of her friends coming over to enjoy it this brutal summer. Could she / would she swim? And more importantly, how would a dog who had been ignored and abused react to the expectations of her staying with the pack? And coming when called?

The little girl dove right in like she had been an ocean dog all her life. I've since realized, she prefers to barge headlong into things she knows nothing about. Oceans, ponds, cactus or the hallway, she needs to be in front, figuring it out as she goes. Even if that means she struts along looking behind her for some indication on my face as to where she should be going! OY!



But with Otto and Wizard to show her the ropes, she was, for the most part, fine. Otto is teaching her to play. And Wizard reminds them both to be kind to smaller dogs in his own gentle way. He herds the herding dogs! I've also learned that Macy is a very social dog... she wants to meet every dog on the beach - whether they want to meet her or not!  So, she spent a lot of that first trip on her leash, longing:

Oh was she ever tired that first day!  I've got a whole series of beach hangover pictures!  But by our third trip, her three day hangover was down to one!  That tells me our daily walks, and good food are getting her in great shape! What a fine hiking buddy I'm going to have!

She was  a bit more relaxed and listened much better by her second trip, above and below.

And the ocean makes her so very happy:

These next few are from our most recent trip. I just love Wizard's hair flying:

 This trip, she listened and generally came when called! I was so proud of her! Macy chasing Otto:

My happy girl running toward - not away - from her pack:

After this last trip, I feel like I brought the wrong dog home. She looks like Macy and comes to that name but she's affectionate!  From the day after that trip on to this, The little blue girl comes up to me and demands pets and gives me generous kisses. I'm still only allowed 30 seconds of cuddling on the floor with her at night... but morning cuddles and bedtime cuddles have gotten longer.

It occurred to me that as of the date of this trip, Macy Blue had lived with me as long as she was in doggie jail. I think that maybe, she's starting to realize this new life is here to stay.

Chewy Product Review: Natures Variety Instinct Grain Free Biscuits

Macy Blue, supermodel, here. Hello to all the kind pups and peeps of Blogville.  I'm back to review Nature's Variety Instinct Grain Free Biscuits for Chewy.com/

Here's the nice big package Chewy.com sent me. Ignore Mom's thumb.... Geesh! We got the Lamb and Carrot kind...

These were delicious! Does Mr. Chewy sell anything that is not???

I volunteer to try all the treats to answer that burning question!

Eyes on the prize!!!

  

My Momster always likes to mention the ingredients! Ingredients! Inschmiedents! 

OK, Mom... here's your list. The Nature's Variety Lamb and Carrot Biscuits contain: Lamb Meal, Tapioca, Garbanzo Bean Flour, Carrots, Pork Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Pumpkinseeds, Natural Vegetable Flavor, Dried Egg Whites, Montmorillonite Clay, Guar Gum, Spearmint, Inulin, Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product.

Happy now???

Creekhiker here: As a matter of fact Macy Blue, I am NOT! While these are not the limited ingredient treats that Nature's Variety also makes... I was confused by the use of Montmorillonite Clay. Why would clay be in a dog treat?? Why does it need to be???

I had to do a bit of research. I found a dog blog that states: The FDA currently recommends that all clays or anti-caking agents used in animal feeds be tested for dioxins. She also states that Nature's Variety also refused to confirm if they test for dioxins and dioxins can have toxic effects in animals.  I phoned them as I was writing this but...no one answers. Just a recording promising to return calls in 24 hours.

In the same article, she states that the clay is used to absorb aflatoxins which is even more toxic so maybe the clay is a good thing. Aflatoxins grow when grain is stored in humid conditions. But... these biscuits are grain free... so again, I ask, what is Montmorillonite Clay doing in my dog's treats???

We've had so many wonderful treats from Chewy, with good healthy ingredients that I don't have to Google.  So while Macy Blue clearly loved them... these will not be on my buy list.

 

 Macy Blue here:  Gee Mom, I guess there's a lot of things for pet pawrents to think about when they buy our treaties...not just whether or not we like them.  I really liked them and if your peeps don't have issues the way my crazy loving Momster does, maybe you guys can get some!

Nature's Variety Instinct Grain Free Biscuits gets Four Paws up and Two thumbs down from Macy Blue and Creekhiker respectively.

Neither Creekhiker nor Macy Blue were compensated for this review. Mr Chewy sent one box of Nature's Variety Instinct Grain Free Biscuits for Macy Blue to devour... or not.

My Man Always Keeps Me Waiting

...but there is no point in complaining when he treats me so nice!

 Photo by my Auntie Rottrover

Just look at how he looks at me! I'm a lucky girl!!!

One day, I'll get the Momster to put up some pics of us in our special place!

Manipulating the Human: the Macy Blue Version

Good people and pups of Blogville, Macy Blue here.  Apparently, my angel sis, Mabel Lou had some legendary skills when it came to getting humans to do what she wanted. Well, she's been whispering in my ear! Check me out:

This is what I do when Mom wants to take a nap. I do NOT cross that threshold into the bedroom until cookies are offered! It ALWAYS works! BOL!!!

Another Example of a Vicious Rottweiler!

Doesn't he look dangerous???

 

 
NOT...BOL!
 
Macy does not play with toys and our pal, Otto Rotto is SO playful!! And so are his sibs, Bart and Ruby. I have a ton of toys that aren't exactly "Macy -sized" and even if she became a playful dog tomorrow, they simply wouldn't work for her! 

So when he came over for a swim, I brought all the big toys out to see what Otto thought...he LOVED them! He couldn't decide which to play with first.

Oh... the baby rotten! The OCTOPUSS with all the squeakers! No wait...the strawberry makes a weird sound...but l@@k at that giant bone!!!!

He played with them all and I told him they were his to share with his sibs! One for each and one to fight over! LOL! (Cause I AM an evil auntie!)

You should have seen him trying to leave...He would pick one up and take it so far and return for another! I finally told him to just help his mom to the car and I would get all the toys. He was ecstatic when they were placed on the set with him!

A good time was had by all the rottrovers but I'm sure that story will continue on their blog!

And, as a footnote, my confounding little black mini rott always chases lizards when I'm in the pool, even though it's midnight. She has started lying beside the pool to wait for me. And to entertain herself... she chews on Otto Rotto's pool toy!!!! (Shhh! Don't tell him! He might attack another toy!)