Toby Time - A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Blog

Laying Low

2011-09-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

Toby just wanted to mention that he's still here.

Toby – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Oil Painting Portrait

2010-12-11T17:48:00.001-08:00

Well, Toby sure hasn’t posted a new blog entry in awhile! As you can see, he has been busy posing for this custom painting!

If only his tail stayed that majestic in real life.

Memorial Day Weekend: Montrose Dog Beach!

2010-05-30T07:31:00.001-07:00

Toby finally got his City of Chicago Dog Friendly Area permit, so this weekend we headed straight for Chicago's number one dog park - Montrose dog beach!

Toby knew something fun was in store when his usual Puppia harness was replaced by his dog tag collar, and he headed straight for the car. Because he has recently taken an interest in puddles after it rains, and especially likes to bite the bubbles in the water, I thought he might like to experience Chicago’s largest puddle – Lake Michigan!

Toby met some new friends…But about that lake…

Hmmm…not so sure about this…

Even though the waves were intimidating, Toby displayed the typical Cavalier bravery!

Can a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel swim? We still don’t know, because Toby never went out far enough for his paws to leave the ground. His face sure has a look of determination, though!

And he was extremely proud of himself when he got back!

Hey guys, why don’t we come here more often?

Showing off his wind-swept fur.

Summer Haircuts for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Other Dogs and Cats – Do It Yourself with These Helpful Tools

2010-04-04T08:29:00.001-07:00

Summer is almost here. That means Toby is soon going to need a trimming to avoid his fur getting clogged with weeds, burs, and tangles. And the cat, Sedgwick, has just gotten her summer shave since she is such a furball and sheds like CRAZY once the temperature rises above 60 degrees! Here are some of the tools and resources I like to use when trimming the pets:

Andis 23585 Super Deluxe Pet Clipper Kit with DVD: Kitchen & Dining

Price: $39.97

First, you need to get an electric shaver designed for pets. It may seem cheaper to use an electric razor designed for humans, but trust me, for some reason this doesn’t work. Many years ago I tried to shave a pekingese with a regular shaver and it died before the dog was half-done! I also recommend getting a set like this one, that has multiple different attachments. Especially if you have never groomed your dog yourself, you can’t really be sure what kind of attachment will be best for the texture of the dog’s fur and the length you ultimately want it to be. Buying a set like this really doesn’t cost any more than just buying the shaver, and it lets you experiment a little or have the fur on some areas of the body longer than on other areas. Oh, and it may seem easier to just shave the dog without an attachment, but don’t try it – this will result in a nearly BALD DOG!!

This set is also nice because it includes scissors and a comb. It’s nice to have a dedicated set just for the dog. And it’s amazing what a difference a nice set of trimming shears makes!

Oster Titanium 45-Tooth Blending Scissor, Pink: Kitchen & Dining

Price: $158.53

On the topic of shears, one thing that I am considering investing in is a set of blending scissors. I got this idea at MY latest haircut, and I think it would be perfect for feathering a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s ears and the fur on the backs of the legs. These special scissors result in fur (or hair) that is a variety of lengths instead of one blunt line. Both from experience and seeing other Cavs out and about, the one most obvious tell-tale sign of home haircuts on a Cavalier is the blunt cut line on areas of the fur that are naturally feathered. A set of blending shears would make the cut MUCH more professional.

That said, when I searched for blending shears for dogs, this is what I came up with. Now, it is nice and all, especially the pretty pink color, but that price seems outrageous! Maybe if you are a professional dog groomer it would be a worthwhile investment, but unlike in the case of the electric razor, I think here it is best to borrow a tool intended to be used on human hair:

Tweezerman Stainless 2000 Thinning Shears: Health & Personal Care

Price: $22.50

Twenty bucks – that’s more like it! And it is a trusted brand, Tweezerman. You can get even cheaper shears, but like I said before, really nice scissors make a big difference when cutting hair (or fur).

The Stone Guide to Dog Grooming for All Breeds (0021898054036): Ben Stone, Pearl Stone: Books

ISBN: 0876054033
Price: $25.05

Finally, I think a dog grooming book may be helpful, especially if you are really trying to get a trim that looks the way a Cavalier is supposed to look according to breed standards. Also if you have multiple breeds and want to know different techniques for trimming each breed. Now, a Cavalier is only supposed to have minimal trimming, so I think the advice in a professional book like this would be useful to avoid going overboard. And other breeds require much more complicated cuts, making a guide like this essential.

Hopefully this information helps you get all your pets ready for summer! Pictures of Toby and Sedgwick with their new haircuts are, of course, forthcoming!

Springtime at Toby Time

2010-03-31T18:04:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone! Toby hasn’t made a new blog post in awhile! He’s still here, though, doing fine. The weather is finally starting to warm up in Chicago, and this weekend Toby will go to Schaumburg for Easter. Hopefully it will be a beautiful day and he will be able to play in the yard!

Today he just got back from Pooch Hotel where he had daycare and an aromatherapy bath! As you can see, he is quite exhausted after the ordeal.

Toby’s First Haircut

2010-01-18T08:35:00.001-08:00

Because a Cavalier’s fur is supposed to be left untrimmed, I had been trying to avoid giving Toby a haircut. A trim here and there to remove matted fur is all he has had so far. Unfortunately his ears keep getting really gross because he dips them in his water fountain, in his food, in the mud, etc. Instead of resigning myself to giving him multiple baths per week, I finally trimmed his ears. He looks pretty ridiculous now, it’s true, and I’m not sure if I’ll do it again when they grow out, but for now at least he requires a bit less maintenance. I imagine getting baths in the winter must be pretty unpleasant for a dog anyhow.

Really, I don’t appreciate that you did this to me.

So embarrassing!

Toby just has a really goofy expression in this picture!

Toby fetches a dog bed

2010-01-11T18:07:00.001-08:00

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels love to fetch. At least, Toby does. He is able to fetch something approximately his size; in this example, his dog bed.

More helicopter

2010-01-06T09:30:00.001-08:00

The helicopter is back to terrorize Gamera. Gram’s new companion (i.e., the “Knitten Kitten”) is obviously a Christmas present.

Oh good, it is going away…

Or maybe not. I better get out of here.

Sedge cannot see the helicopter, but knows that it is there.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T18:13:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year from Toby and Disgruntled Background Cat.

Toby’s Strangest Search Keywords of 2009

2009-12-31T06:44:00.000-08:00

Toby Time is slowly but surely gaining popularity (Go Toby!) and probably the best part is seeing all the strange ways visitors make their way to this site. Here are some of the strangest things people searched for in 2009 that led them to Toby Time:

can cavalier king charles wear a harness

Toby’s response: Yes, they can. In fact, they should!

cavalier king charles pumpkin

It is strange how many times people found Toby through variations of this search, including: cavalier dog pupkin, cavalier king charles spaniel pumpkin carving, cavalier king charles spaniel pumpkin carving template, cavalier king charles dogs in pumpkins, and can dogs eat pumpkin stem. Toby’s response to that last one: Yes, and apparently to no ill effect – see my Halloween blog post for proof!

how much is it to get king charles sprayed

I’m not sure what this person is trying to do, but I know this particular cavalier does not particularly like to be sprayed! On a related note, the person searching for Toby spray should know that Toby smells rather bad most of the time and any spray derived from or inspired by him would most likely be less than desirable.

1st birthday king

I hope this person was able to find what they were looking for on Toby Time.

bison and king cavalier spaniels dogs

I like to imagine Toby romping through a grassy prairie with a friendly herd of bison.

cavalier king charles spaniel heart problems how old can they vomite with this

Oh dear.

cavalier king charles spaniel puppies named toby

Well, this person is very specific about what they want. At least they came to the right place! Similar, but stranger, was the person who searched for: dog that looks like toby. What were they hoping to find?

holistic organic king charles cavalier spaniels

Mmm, that makes Toby sound tasty.

my cavalier king charles spaniel eats socks

Congratulations?

psychedelic spaniel

Surprising. Understandable, but surprising.

when did king charles the first have ice cream

This person obviously got terribly lost on the Internets. In case anyone else is similarly lost: “Ice Cream, as a dairy delight, first came into popularity in the 1600’s. The story goes that Charles I of England's cook had acquired a Chinese recipe for ice cream and presented it as an after dinner desert [sic.] at a state banquet. Charles I was so impressed that he wanted this delicacy to be served only in his palace, and offered the cook 500 pounds a year to keep the recipe secret. However, this didn’t happen. Charles I was soon beheaded after coming under some serious unpopularity, and the “secret” recipe of ice cream was out.” See here.

Top Three Training Books for Dog Owners

2009-12-30T07:43:00.001-08:00

How to Housebreak Your Dog in 7 Days (Revised)

This is the book we used when housebreaking Toby. It’s a quick read and it seemed helpful for us because we had never housetrained a dog before. Now I hear about other dogs who still have accidents in the house even though they are over a year old and it seems hard to believe because Toby is so perfectly housetrained.

Good Owners, Great Dogs

I got this book to help with having a dog because I am a cat person by nature and wanted to make sure I didn’t wind up with a really badly behaved dog due to my own ignorance of how a dog should be treated. Growing up we always had pekingese dogs that were allowed to do whatever they wanted and they would always bite us and make messes all over the house. If I was spending so much money on a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel primarily to get the well-mannered, friendly personality, I certainly didn’t want to ruin it by not knowing how to take proper care of him! I think this book was really helpful because now numerous people have commented that Toby is the friendliest dog in the world. He has proven himself around cats, random children on the street, strangers, and even pet rabbits. This book teaches you to be a confident owner without resorting to over-the-top Caesar Milan “pack leader” dominance tactics.

101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog

This book should probably be the next one purchased for Toby. He does know a few tricks: sit, lie down, stand up (on his hind legs), wait, and jump. However, he only does them when he wants to do them, and he is overly food-motivated. His attitude is definitely “What’s in it for me?”! I think he is smart enough to learn tricks, and he definitely wants to please people, but being so full of energy it is hard for him to concentrate if there isn’t a treat involved.

The Weather Outside is Frightful

2009-12-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

With the holidays, work, job searching (ugh!), etc., etc., Toby has not had an update in awhile! The weather here in Chicago predictably turned miserable, but unlike last year, this year Toby was fully prepared with new winter coat and dog boots.

Tell me again why I have to dress in this ridiculous outfit?!

Oh, right. Blizzard.
Toby’s new winter coat fit perfectly in length and strap size. However, the back strap was placed a little too far back and had to be adjusted. Before it was adjusted, I took Toby for a test run outside in the coat. He went to his usual spot and just looked up at me like “You really want me to go with this thing on? Well, ok, but you are REALLY not going to like the result!”

For Christmas one of Toby’s owners got a remote controlled helicopter. It has been terrorizing all the animals ever since.

Seriously, do not fly that thing over here.

Tiny Cushion

2009-12-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

This cushion is actually part of a larger dog bed, but of course Toby removed it. He has been trying for an embarrassingly long time to balance himself on this tiny cushion, and finally, success! He does seem a little annoyed. It's not like you don't have five other beds and blankets, Toby!

For example: the Sinister Cat Bed from Ikea:

Annual Vet Visit for the Whole Menagerie

2009-12-03T08:21:00.000-08:00

A cavalcade of animals went for their annual vet visit the other day. Toby, being the young one, was unexpectedly the healthy one of the bunch. Of the cats, Sedgwick's weight seems to be spiraling out of control, even with its diet. She must be doing some secret eating on the side. Her main problem was an ingrown claw that she never lets us clip. Fortunately it was not infected. Gamera still weighs more than Sedgwick but is a bigger cat, and she has made some progress and lost a little weight. Her surprising new health problem is the development of a grade 2 heart murmur. A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owner always expects the DOG to develop the heart murmur, not the CAT! Gamera is getting pretty old though, so it may be related to that. The plan of action right now is to wait three weeks and get a new examination when Toby gets his booster shot.

Toby's Health Update

Toby's heart sounded excellent, which is a good sign for a Cavalier. His hips and weight are also fine. He did have a small ear infection in one ear, which of course required a $43 tiny bottle of ear medication. Toby, being a sensitive type, of course hates getting shots, so we were going to go with a 3 year rabies vaccine. He ended up not getting it that day because he needed another vaccine that required a booster shot in 3 weeks. So he'll get the rabies vaccine then.

Importantly, the vet said that they are seeing increasingly high occurrences of Leptospirosis in dogs in the Chicago area. Surprisingly, these outbreaks have not been confined to large dogs or dogs in rural areas; they are affected all breeds and sizes of dogs from all over metro Chicago. Leptospirosis is a disease that dogs usually get from coming into contact with infected wildlife, so it is strange that urban dogs and smaller breeds that don't go hunting, etc., would be exposed to it. Unfortunately the disease can also be transmitted to humans. It affects the liver and kidneys and can be quite serious, even fatal in 10% of canine cases.

So, if you are in the Chicago area, definitely consider adding the lepto vaccine to your dog's annual regimen, even if you think he is never around wildlife or in situations where he might be infected. The vaccine requires one shot up front and then a booster shot three weeks later.

Toby Joins Dogster

2009-11-24T10:29:00.000-08:00

Today Toby got on the social networking bandwagon and created a Dogster profile! Visit Toby's profile here! If your pup has a profile, send us a pup pals request. Otherwise just leave Toby a bone!

Toby's Puppia: Finding the Right Size for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

2009-11-19T07:59:00.000-08:00

Because of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's unique potential health problems, it is very important that they wear a harness instead of a collar on walks to relieve pressure around their necks and backs. Toby has personally gone through every single variety of harness sold at Petsmart as well as a large variety of harnesses ordered online. His problem? He eats them. The minute a harness goes on Toby he becomes a world class contortionist, able to twist himself into whatever position is necessary in order to chew off the plastic snap closure, destroying the harness. It isn't even that he doesn't like having the harness on -- he couldn't care less! No, this escaping talent is more of a leisurely activity. He lounges around, contemplatively chewing that bit of plastic, probably thinking about dog parks or riding in the car, without a care in the world. Finally, tired of buying Toby a new $20 harness each week, I modified the latest one he had broken with a metal closure. This solved the problem but I have never had much faith in my sewing abilities so always feared he would escape the harness while outside. Also the modified harness was a little unintuitive and tricky to get on and off. Once he even came back from Pooch Hotel wearing the harness completely backwards!

So it was obvious that Toby needed one last harness, the Ultimate Harness. The ultimate harness being Puppia brand. I had heard good things about this brand online, how it was well-crafted, durable, and perfect for Cavaliers. The only problem was the sizing was really strange. Some reviews said their Cavalier fit into a size medium, some said large. I couldn't imagine Toby wearing a size large anything, so I measured him. Multiple times. And looked at the little chart Puppia has on their website. And measured again. To no avail: the numbers just made no sense. We would have to take Toby to a brick and mortar pet store to try on the harnesses.

Having searched through most of Chicago's boutique pet stores (Puppia not being sold at Petsmart), we were unsuccessful at even finding Puppia at most places, and the one place we found the brand only had sizes large and extra small. At least I was able to ascertain that Toby is NOT, in fact, a "Large".

Finally I decided to just buy a medium online to try it out. Fortunately, it fit perfectly! And the plastic clip seems to be in a spot even Toby can't reach. The benefits of Puppia so far: the harness doesn't pull his fur out (other harnesses were giving him a bald spot on his front and behind his front legs), he can't chew it, it is very well-made, it is easy to take on and off (way easier than any other harness we have tried), he doesn't pull so hard in it that it makes him cough, and he looks so fancy wearing it!

I would suggest that most Cavalier King Charles Spaniels should try a size "Medium" first. Toby is not fat but the "Medium" on him is fairly loose and has a lot of room for expansion. The main issue is the size of the neck hole, which is not adjustable. However, Toby has plenty of room to spare so unless your Cavalier has an abnormally huge head, the Medium should be fine even if he or she is a little pudgy. If you are still wondering whether your Cavalier and Toby are approximately the same size, or close enough to wear the same size harness, I have provided this hopefully helpful reference shot of Toby sitting next to a common cinder block.

Not counting his head or tail, Toby is about as long as a cinder block, as you can see. And from above, I'd say he is about 2-3 inches shy of cinder block width.

Now that you know what size Puppia harness to buy, I would strongly recommend buying from Amazon instead of in a traditional store. Why? Because every place we found Puppia harnesses in person, they were at least $26.00. Price at Amazon? $15.25! And, unlike any store I have visited so far, IN STOCK!

Puppia Soft Dog Harness (Mesh) Black Medium
Price: $15.25

The Main Disadvantage of Floor to Ceiling Windows

2009-11-16T15:08:00.000-08:00

Toby's favorite window for growling at the dogs walking by outside...

...and at squirrels, and the garbage truck, and joggers, and trees, and airplanes, and plastic bags blowing in the wind, and...

Product Review: Isle of Dogs Coature No. 63 Detangle Conditioning Mist for Matted Dog Hair

2009-11-11T07:35:00.000-08:00

After Toby's bath yesterday we tried out a new conditioning spray from Isle of Dogs. Lately Toby has been getting sticks and burrs stuck in his fur when we go for walks, especially in the long fur on his ears. This has been causing him to get gigantic mats (think golfball-sized!). I trimmed the largest of the mats but it's obvious Toby is going to have to get used to being brushed on a regular basis. I thought this spray would help because it is supposed to untangle the mats in a dog's coat and make the fur smooth so that new mats don't form as easily.

This spray is a little expensive, but wow, what a difference! Toby has never been so smooth and silky, and I can brush his ears out without having him think he is being severely punished for some unknown indiscretion. The spray nozzle is nice because it emits a very fine spray that Toby barely notices, instead of large water drops which all animals seem to hate. Also good is that the spray is not the kind that makes you (or your dog) cough when you inhale it, which is always annoying and doesn't seem to be very healthy. In other words, if it is possible for being sprayed to be a pleasant experience, I think Isle of Dogs detangling mist comes pretty close. Toby may disagree, but overall he doesn't seem bothered by it.

I sprayed him a little last week to test it out before his bath, and I even think it kept him smelling good for days afterward, which is quite a feat when it comes to Toby! After just using this spray 2 times I can highly, highly recommend it. When this bottle is gone I think I will get the 1 liter size to save money.

Isle of Dogs Coature No. 63 Detangle Conditioning Mist for Matted Dog Hair, 8.4 oz.

Bath Time for Toby

2009-11-09T12:21:00.000-08:00

The nice thing about a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is they are small enough to give them a bath in the sink. Toby does not think this is a particularly nice thing.

Toby, are you ready for your bath???

Oh great, I know what's coming when they put me in the sink...

BATH TIME

I seriously don't know why I put up with you guys sometimes...

But after his bath, Toby goes CRAZY:

Shaking around...

Slamming his head on the floor...

All the while with a crazed look on his face

Check out his huge smile because he looooves shaking the water off.

And the best part? The only reason Toby puts up with baths at all? When he's done, he gets to play:

KILL THE TOWEL

Avoid Toxic Winter Sidewalk Salt: Dog Bootie Roundup

2009-11-08T16:07:00.000-08:00

While we have had unseasonably warm weather in Chicago this weekend, before we know it the snow and ice will be here and the sidewalks will be covered with salt. Unfortunately for Toby, his paws are very sensitive to ice and salt. Last winter, when Toby was just a baby Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy, we tried to go for walks when the sidewalks had been salted and he would quickly start whining and limping around, trying not to touch the ground with ANY of his paws. He was so confused! "Hey, usually I can walk around without any trouble, but suddenly my paws are being bitten by invisible adversaries!"

Now, arguably Toby needs to toughen up a little, but not only is sidewalk salt (or rock salt) painful to walk on, but it is also poisonous to dogs. According to Drs. Foster and Smith, "Sidewalk ice melters like salt, magnesium, or calcium chloride can cause irritation to paws and are toxic when ingested causing stomach upsets, and if enough is ingested, nerve damage." So it is a good idea to keep this stuff away from dogs. That is why we bought Toby some winter booties to wear outside. However, after a year of wear and tear he is ready for a new set. Here are a few that we have been thinking about getting:

Pawz Dog Boots (Small)
Price: was $18.99, on sale for $13.99

These Pawz Dog Boots are like little balloons. They come in packs of 16 or so (so 4 sets), making them somewhat disposable so it doesn't matter if your dog loses one or two while on your walk (this was a big problem for us last year, Toby would get back inside wearing only 3 booties and I'd have to go hunt down the missing one). The reviews suggest they stay on the feet really well, too, since they are stretchy. And because they are rubber, they are waterproof and salt-proof. $14 seems like a really good price for them too. For these reasons they are at the top of our list. However, I'm not sure I like the way Toby would look walking around with balloons on his feet. He is such a vain dog.

Watson's MyPaws All-terrain Dog Shoes
Price: was $29.99, on sale for $24.99

These look like some serious boots! They have solid rubber soles that would again provide excellent protection against mud and salt. Further, because they are rigid in the soles, a dog's paw is protected against sharp shards of ice or glass (you seriously never know what you are going to find on the ground around here and Toby is guaranteed to find it by stepping on it, eating it, or getting it stuck in his ears). These are touted as being easy to take on and off, with two velcro straps to adjust the size to fit your dog. They also have reflective tape on the tops so a dog would be easier to see at night. They also say: "Will not retain odors." If only we could say the same for Toby!

Small Fleece Lined Muttluks in Red
Price: was $39.99, on sale for $33.99

These are really cute because they come in rain slicker yellow as well as red. Muttluks are the gold standard for dog booties. These feature a leather toe cover for larger sizes and a Cordura Nylon toe cover for smaller dogs. They also have the reflective tape to increase visibility at night. The sock-like stretchy cuff looks super comfy and would work for dogs having short or long legs.

Hott Doggers, Red, Itty Bitty
Price: $12.95

These simple booties are the most similar to what Toby currently has. They worked pretty well for us last year, though I would prefer the nonstick surface to go all the way around because the booties keep twisting around on Toby and he ends up with the fleece part down. For some reason, Toby doesn't mind wearing booties at all and has never tried to tear them off. I guess that is one of the benefits to having an easy going Cavalier!

Dog Food Sale of the Day: 10% Off at Wysong!

2009-11-03T10:03:00.000-08:00

By now you know what a fan Toby is of natural, holistic food (well, and garbage he finds on the ground) and what a fan his owners are of ordering dog food online. The only problem is it tends to be a little more expensive online than in the store. Here is a coupon I found to help defray the costs on one of the most respected brands for natural dog and cat foods, Wysong:

Save 10% off your first order of Wysong all-natural pet food today!

There doesn't seem to be an expiration date on this coupon, and no code is required!

Top Organic and Natural Dog Treats - Toby's Picks

2009-10-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

Let's be clear: Toby is not a picky eater. He is constantly trying to eat whatever garbage he sees lying on the ground on our walks, including sticks, rocks, wood chips, pieces of food, glass, plastic...you get the idea. To distract him from all these "treasures" requires a good treat. You know, the kind that is actually edible. Here are Toby's Top 3 Picks of the day for dog treats (with an emphasis on organic or natural treats that are actually healthy).

Wysong DentaTreat: Toby loves the kind of supplements that are flavored like liver or chicken to be extra tasty and can be sprinkled right on his regular food. It's like a special seasoning! This DentaTreat supplement provides the added benefit of helping to maintain a dog's teeth and oral hygiene. Toby is always jumping around so much it would be pretty much impossible to brush his teeth, even though I know you are supposed to brush your dog's teeth to keep them healthy. This seems like a good alternative for in between vet dentals. (Hint: use coupon code CJ10 at checkout to save 10% on your order).

Greenies® - Petite Bones: What is it about Greenies that dogs love so much? They don't smell like anything, they don't really look like much, and they don't have the satisfying crunch of dog biscuits. Yet I've never met a dog that didn't love Greenies more than any other treat. As an added bonus, Greenies are also supposed to be good for a dog's teeth. Greenies used to be a little hard and seemed like they might be a choking hazard, but they now have a new formula that makes them much more flexible with the same mysterious allure for dogs they have always had.

Merrick Delicous Lamb Filet Squares: Dog treats are often made of weird ingredients. These are made of lamb lungs, apparently. Toby thinks they are made of delicious slices of heaven. Whatever you say, Toby. The lamb ingredient seems like they would make these treats ideal for pets with allergies to chicken or beef.

Toby Has the Hiccups

2009-10-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

Do dogs get the hiccups? Yes! Toby has them right now. He is sleeping curled up in his little bed (which he always flips upside down and inside out for some reason) making little hicc! sounds every few seconds. It is totally normal for dogs to get hiccups sometimes. Toby's never last very long. It is only when the hiccups last a long time that you should consider taking your dog to the vet to get him checked out.

How Much Should a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Weigh?

2009-10-28T09:34:00.000-07:00

This morning I got curious and decided to weigh Toby. According to our scale, he is 14.8 pounds. This was a little surprising to me for a couple reasons. Although Cavaliers are known to gain weight easily, Toby is far from a fattie. In fact, he is probably the skinniest Cavalier I have seen on our walks in Chicago. Second, Toby is also the shortest Cavalier in the neighborhood. Most are at least 3-4 inches taller than he is. Maybe we just live in a neighborhood with really tall Cavaliers? I guess it isn't so surprising that Toby weighs that much. He is pure muscle, always jumping and running around and taking a long walk every day to the park.

After weighing Toby, I went online to see how much a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is SUPPOSED to weigh. We have an agreement with the breeder that Toby should not get more than 25% overweight, so I wanted to make sure we are still on the right track. It turns out the standard weight for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is 10-18 pounds. So Toby is right in the middle! Fortunately, he doesn't gobble his food down quite as fast as he did when he was a puppy, so hopefully we won't have much trouble keeping him at his ideal weight!

Toby Eats the Halloween Pumpkin! (Or at Least the Stem)

2009-10-26T15:08:00.000-07:00

Here is our Halloween pumpkin, about to be carved. It looks like something's missing...

The stem is gone!

Guess who is responsible?

You guessed it, Toby!

Dogs are well known to love pumpkin. But pumpkin stem? I guess so!

Who knew pumpkin stems could be so delicious...

Ok, Toby, you can stop chewing on our pumpkin now. It's getting weird.

Here he is, proud of his handiwork.

I don't think that is how you're supposed to carve a pumpkin, Toby!

Chicago Boutique Pet Stores: Toby's Search for a Winter Coat Continues

2009-10-25T14:04:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Toby discovered a new favorite pastime: shopping! We previously spent some time online searching for a new winter dog coat, but I just don't trust myself to get his measurements correct and oftentimes, even when the coat should fit, his long legs make actually getting him into the coat impossible. And Toby is rather small for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, so going by breed recommendations doesn't work very well. So we decided the only thing to do was to go to some brick and mortar Chicago pet boutiques and get properly fitted for a winter coat and a new harness (more on the Puppia harness later).

Toby quickly decided that he LOVES going to pet boutiques. He gets to ride in the car and explore a new Chicago neighborhood. This weekend we visited pet shops in the South Loop, Ukrainian Village, and Wicker Park. Toby pretty much knows everyone in our little section of the West Loop, but in these neighborhoods everyone was new and eager to compliment Toby and generally shower him with attention. He is probably embarrassed of his rather awkward owners who don't know how to respond to everyone rushing up to pet him!

From Toby's perspective, the nice thing about boutique pet shops, as opposed to say, Petsmart, is that the toys and treats are often at a dog's eye level, so he gets to check everything out. Also, the owners of these shops give him tons of attention and free treats (well, maybe not quite free, he DOES have to do a trick or two to earn the treat!). Toby gets so excited in these shops he whines and whines. He is also very good about trying on dog clothes--what a little fashionista he is turning out to be! Anyhow, here is where we went on our quest to find a new winter coat at a Chicago pet boutique:

Doggy Style Pet Shop: 2023 West Division Street, Chicago, IL

A word of caution: every boutique pet store in Chicago has to have a clever pun for a name. This is all well and good except for when one is writing up a review of the place for one's blog and naively googles for "Doggy Style" to find the street address. Owww, my eyes!!! Lesson: always remember to include "Pet Shop" in your search phrase, folks.

The people at this shop were very friendly and Toby found a number of high quality coats that fit him perfectly. However, Toby is not allowed to buy a coat that costs more than his owner's coat, so we unfortunately had to pass on a couple of the nicer coats in this shop. They have a lot of other nice things, too. Their selection of collars, harnesses, and leads seemed to be particularly expansive. They were out of Toby's size in the Puppia brand harness, but said they were expecting a new shipment shortly, so we may be back later.

Spotland Yard: 907 N. Damen, Chicago, IL

We didn't actually get to go into this shop because they don't open until noon on Sundays, but it looked nice from the outside and Toby really liked walking around in this neighborhood (Ukrainian Village). If you want to check it out, be sure to print out the coupon above to receive a free dog treat!

Kriser's: 1103 S. State, Chicago, IL
Everyone in this pet boutique was really friendly and helpful as well. They offered to order any coats we liked if they didn't have Toby's size, and they gave Toby plenty of free sample treats. They were having a Halloween costume party for pets this afternoon, but after all this shopping, Toby is too tired to go. This shop seemed to have the best selection of unique, high quality dog treats. After checking them all out, Toby decided on some peanut butter banana treats, Northern Biscuit Little Prints Copacabana Mini Bites (the name is quite a mouthful!).

"Should I Get a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?" Some Helpful Advice

2009-10-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

So you have heard that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is affectionate, loyal, intelligent, and good natured. You may have heard that the Cavalier is a large dog in a small dog's body - that it doesn't bark a lot like many other small breeds. It's true! That the Cavalier is great with both kids and cats and is not by nature aggressive? Also true! And they have the beautiful, soft face of a spaniel, with large, round, dark eyes full of soulful emotion. So what is stopping you from running out and adopting one today? Here are a few things to consider about the breed before you take the plunge:

Separation Anxiety: Yes, cavaliers are affectionate and want nothing more than to be close to their human companions. However, this could actually be a bad thing if you work long hours. For example, Toby hates it when we go to a different room if he can't follow. He would especially hate being left alone all day without us. To remedy this, we make sure to give him lots of attention and trips to doggie daycare if we won't be around for long hours.

Health Problems: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is known to have many health problems, including syringomyelia, heart mitral valve disease, and hip dysplasia, to name a few. Almost all cavaliers exhibit some or even all of these health problems unless you buy from a very reputable breeder, and they result in expensive vet bills and short lifespans - definitely NOT something you want to be thinking about when you are getting your new puppy! To avoid these pitfalls later on, research BEFORE buying a cavalier: http://www.cavalierhealth.org/.

Finding a Reputable Breeder: When we were looking for Toby, finding a reputable breeder who was alert and responsive to the breed's health issues was probably the hardest part! Most ads we saw in the newspaper ended up being from puppy farms, and even breeders who seemed to be health conscious would often get defensive when asked questions about the steps they were taking to ensure their dogs were healthy. Tip: if the breeders response to your questions about SM and MVD is "I do NOT breed GARBAGE!" look for a different breeder. You will eventually find one that is proud of the steps they have taken to breed healthy dogs and will be happy to discuss the health issues with you.

Expensive: Sure, you can find ads for Cavalier puppies for as little as $300. You may think you can save some money up front-- after all, why buy a super expensive Cavalier when you can get one that looks just as cute for much cheaper? The answer is there is much more to a Cavalier than cuteness, and you especially have to keep this in mind when you are looking at pictures of cute little puppies. These cheap puppies will end up costing you much more in the long run if you choose to properly diagnose and treat their inevitable problems. And if you choose not to treat them, chances are your Cavalier will not live a very long life!

Obesity: Cavaliers are known to gain weight very easily. You have to watch what your Cavalier is eating very carefully or he will become obese. Obesity often causes the health problems mentioned above to show up earlier and to get much worse than they would be if your Cavalier were in good shape. You have to decide whether you are prepared to keep your new puppy on his diet!

Keeping these things in mind will help you know whether this breed is right for you. In the end, is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel still a good choice as a family pet? You bet!

Jealous but Patient

2009-10-19T08:27:00.001-07:00

This is an excellent illustration of why the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is famous for having the best personality! How many dogs do you know that would sit patiently while a lowly cat eats their dog food?! A cavalier should never be aggressive, even in the face of such glaring insults! Perhaps Toby just recognizes that their roles are usually reversed: it is usually Toby sneaking bites of Gamera's cat food.

Speaking of pet food, our little menagerie happens to have a host of dietary restrictions. For example, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is notoriously prone to being overweight or obese, so to keep Toby's weight in check he needs a very high quality food. Gamera, being officially labeled "obese" by the vet and a victim of frequent urinary tract infections, needs a grain free food and lots of water. Sedgwick is sensitive to many kinds of food and will vomit if she is fed something that doesn't agree with her stomach. All three are fairly finicky eaters, too, so their food has to taste good. And of course we don't want to go broke feeding the animals.

With this whole list of requirements it has been quite an ordeal to find the perfect foods for each of them. Ideally, Gamera and Sedgwick should be able to eat the same kind of food, otherwise they steal each other's food and the whole point of their special diet is lost. Finally, after extensive searching and research, I have found a brand that they ALL like and that meets ALL their requirements: Taste of the Wild. Dogfoodanalysis.com rates Taste of the Wild dog food 6 stars - the highest possible rating. It is grain free, contains no meat byproducts, and has only fruits and vegetables that are appropriate and digestible (some of the healthy or tasty sounding ingredients in other foods actually don't serve any purpose because the animal can't digest them!). Most importantly, all the animals love it! Finally, it is cheaper than pretty much any premium dog or cat food I have found, especially ones advertised as grain free and containing premium meats.

The only downside is that Taste of the Wild is hard to find in stores unless you happen to live by a gourmet pet food boutique (which we do, but even that store doesn't carry Taste of the Wild). The solution I have found is to order from Amazon. It's actually a lot more convenient because the UPS guy carries the 50 pounds of food directly to my door, though I'm sure Toby would rather make a trip to a pet store and sample some gourmet dog treats. However, ordering this food online doesn't mean Toby has to go without treats. In fact, the first time I ordered Taste of the Wild online it arrived with a free sample of some star-shaped minty dog treat that was supposed to freshen Toby's bad dog breath. I'm not sure it worked at that (hey, let's not expect miracles!) but he enjoyed it. Since then there have always been free sample bags of cat treats included in our order, which Gamera and Sedgwick appreciate.

There are a few different flavors of dog food, but so far Toby has most enjoyed the Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Formula with Roasted Bison and Roasted Venison.

As for the cats, there is only one flavor available, but they both really like it: Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Formula with Roasted Venison and Smoked Salmon.

Give it a try if your pet has dietary restrictions or is just plain picky when it comes to food.

Fall in Chicago

2009-10-15T10:55:00.000-07:00

The leaves are starting to change color here in Chicago. Here I am, enjoying the view from my favorite window. It's my favorite because it is the perfect height to look right out and bark at cars, delivery trucks, dogs, joggers....

How many pictures are you going to take of me in front of this window?!

Here is the view of the runners in the Chicago marathon from our balcony. Looks like there's even a dog down there watching the race!

Free "I Love My Dog" Mug

2009-10-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

...and on the topic of buying pet supplies online, Gamera told Toby that if you spend $50 at Sitstay.com and use promo code "MUGSHOT" you get a free "I Love My Dog" coffee mug! Use Promotion Code "MUGSHOT" and get a free I Love My Dog mug. Order must be over $50.

Winter Dog Accessories: Coat and Jacket Roundup

2009-10-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

Casual Canine Base Camp Parkas - Green & Orange
Price: was $17.99, on sale for $9.99

This dog coat seems like it would be perfect for Chicago winters: some days we get snow, some days wind, sleet, rain, well, you get the picture. This one looks warm, has a cute hood, and you can't beat the sale price! Comes in orange and green or blue and white. Lots of sizes, too.

Fido Fleece, Argyle, Size 8
Price: $15.35 - $34.85

Look at the colors on this one! And fleece would provide a lot of extra warmth for Toby and other Cavaliers who have silkier rather than more cottony coats.

Lil' Stinker Dog Costume
Price: was $19.99, now on sale for $14.99

A Halloween costume! Ok, so this probably wouldn't keep Toby very warm, but it would be useful at warning people that he becomes a very smelly dog when he hasn't had a bath in awhile!

Casual Canine Pawprint Corduroy Coat
Price: $25.99

Toby is usually a pretty laid back guy, but this would be great for a designer pooch! The nice thing about this coat is the velcro belt, which makes it much easier to get the coat on at 6:30 in the morning before you've had your coffee!

Heartgard day!

2009-10-12T08:42:00.000-07:00

Today is Heartgard Day! Once a month I get to eat the most delicious treat, and it is very good for me too. How could medicine be so delicious? Every dog knows that Heartgard "treats" are the most delicious treats of all. I only wish I could eat more than one!

The only problem with Heartgard is they are so gosh darn expensive! We got ours from our vets office, but looking online it seems that you can buy them MUCH more cheaply from stores like EntirelyPets.com - we've used this store before for toys and harnesses, so we know they are legit! They require a prescription but it seems easy enough to enter the vet contact information so they can take care of all that. Best treats/meds ever, for the best price, and saving a trip to the vets office? I think we will try this next time!

12 MONTH Heartgard PLUS Blue for Dogs up to 25 lbs
Price: $42.99

Trip to the Pooch Hotel for Doggie Daycare

2009-09-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

This week I get a new treat: doggie daycare! It is like going to the off-leash dog park except ALL DAY! At Pooch Hotel, I get to play in the small dogs play area all day, and everyone who works there already knows my name. Usually I am always a ball of energy, but when I get home after a long day of playing, I am exhausted. Fortunately, I have just enough time most evenings to take a small nap in each of my dog beds and blankets as well as on the couch and lounge chair. Maybe even a small nap on the rug, if there's time.

Favorite Toy

2009-09-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

"Why, hello little Squirrel."

"What's that? You say you are trapped in this furry tree trunk?"

"Never fear. I will pull you out."

So the brave, helpful dog pulled and pulled at the squirrel...

At last, he successfully freed the squirrel.

Toby, Hero to Squirrels

Toby's own version of sit and stay

2009-08-20T07:42:00.000-07:00

Ice covered the floor of the cave, and the penguin said, slide. Without any effort, we slid....

I have been acquiring a small repertoire of practical but impressive tricks. For example, when a treat is involved, I can sit, lie down, and jump up on command, as well as perform any combination of those three commands indefinitely (as long as I can SEE the treat). More impressive to most onlookers is that before I have any meal, I know to lie down and wait for the food bowl to be presented, and then wait until someone says "Ok!" before going to it and starting to eat. However, lately I have gotten it in my head that "lay down" (sic) means simply "do not stand up" rather than "stay in one spot." That means I can still move around as much as I want, as long as I don't stand up! I slide all across the room, out the door and down the hallway. No one can tell me it is wrong, because they are all laughing too hard! Moral of the story: a dog can do whatever it wants as long as it is super cute while doing it!

Toby Reminisces About Puppyhood

2009-08-13T07:20:00.000-07:00

Now that I am over one year old, make no mistake, I am a very brave dog. I do not hesitate to jump in the face of even the largest rottweiler. However, like any pup I, too, went through a phase of being very suspicious of the unknown. Take, for example, the following video. I had accidentally knocked an optical mouse onto the floor. Having never seen anything like it before, I was admittedly terrified. However, I tried to be brave (just because I am a cavalier doesn't mean I can't be a guard dog!):

Psychedelic Spaniel

2009-08-11T11:35:00.001-07:00

Toby's Favorite Things: Cardboard Edition

2009-08-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

Oh sure, I have a lot of toys, a whole box full. But I can't deny the guilty pleasure of destroying cardboard. Paper towel rolls, boxes, miscellaneous packing material, it does not matter.

So satisfying!

What are YOU looking at??

Toby's First Birthday!

2009-08-08T20:37:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to me! I am one year old today -- my birthday is extra special because I was born on 8/8/08! We did a lot of fun things today and I got to eat a lot of treats that I don't normally get, like a taste of ice cream.

The day started off with a trip to Petsmart to pick out some new toys and treats. I tried out a few toys before deciding on this Kong squirrel. Kong seems to make the only toys that are virtually indestructible. I tear the stuffing out of any other toy in minutes. This toy doesn't even have any stuffing.
Then we went to Greene Valley Forest Preserve in DuPage County to see their off-leash dog park area. It is about 40 minutes outside of downtown Chicago. This is a good dog park because it has over seven acres to play off-leash and there is a separate area just for dogs under 20 pounds. There weren't as many other dogs there as I had hoped, probably because it is very hot in Chicago this weekend! Fortunately I had my own water bottle and bowl so I didn't get thirsty.

The only bad part was when I was stung in the foot by a bee! I am a good natured guy though and promptly forgot all about it.

Some new pictures

2009-07-11T16:26:00.000-07:00

Please fill my Kong toy with peanut butter!

How photogenic I am (dare I say--majestic?):

Summer Treat

2009-06-09T16:17:00.000-07:00

Nothing says summer like a cool treat. Watermelon is one of my favorites.

Don't worry, watermelon is safe for dogs, according to the ASPCA. Also don't worry I didn't eat that whole melon myself!

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are the Most Cheerful Dogs

2009-04-06T16:33:00.000-07:00

Meet the Feline Roommates

2009-03-06T16:24:00.000-08:00

Gamera the Gray and Sedgwick the Blind are my feline friends...at least I THINK they are my friends...sometimes they do not seem to appreciate when I follow them around and try to lick their faces. Somehow they are able to jump on the table and counters where I can't reach them. They can even jump right over my dog fence! They sure like to show me who's boss!

But I know they are secretly....EVIL:

Snow! Salt!

2009-01-06T16:13:00.000-08:00

I have recently learned that I love snow! However, at around the same time, I learned that I hate sidewalk salt! It gets stuck in my paws and makes me whimper and whine and run around the person walking me until they are completely tangled in the leash. As a result, I have been given these strange black booties. I'm not sure I understand them yet.

Guys, are you SURE this is necessary??

Now I'm getting the hang of this...

Ready to leap mountains of snow in a single bound!

Christmas Wishlist for Cavaliers

2008-12-24T09:26:00.000-08:00

Greenies Treats for Dogs Treat-Pak, 12 oz package: Greenies are my favorite dog treats. I go through them unbelievably fast. And they keep my teeth clean too -- no dog breath here!
Bags on Board Biodegradable Bags: No walk is complete without doggie bags, and these are a good size for us Cavaliers and biodegradable to boot.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Formula with Roasted Bison and Roasted Venison: Taste of the Wild is my FAVORITE dog food. I was very picky about eating dry dog food until the pack leaders bought me this kind. I can't get enough! Plus it is grain-free so I can maintain my boyish figure!
Kong Wubba: This chew toy is amazing, I can shake it around and fetch it all day long and it is so durable it still looks like new (I have a bad habit of un-stuffing any stuffed animal toy in about 30 seconds). Plus it squeaks!
FURminator deShedding Tool for Cats: Believe it or not, I don't shed! However, my 2 cat friends shed like crazy. Fortunately a regular brushing with the Furminator keeps the cat-fur tumbleweeds to a minimum!

Housetraining Troubles

2008-12-15T07:05:00.000-08:00

Oh no, I just peed by the elevator! Boy, is the pack leader embarrassed. But it is not my fault, I live on the fourth floor and the elevator is soooo slow! I just got too excited about going outside.

Toby's Top 5 Places for Dogs in Chicago

2008-12-05T06:59:00.000-08:00

Well, here I am in Chicago! I must say, all the cars, people, bicycles, and other dogs are truly fascinating! Unfortunately I am always on my leash outside, or I would make friends with everyone and would never want to go back inside.

Now that I have been here awhile, I am starting to get to know all the cool places for dogs to go. Here are my Top 5 Places for Dogs in Chicago (or at least, within a couple blocks of my home--don't call me unadventurous, I'm just a little guy and can't go for long walks yet!):

1. Skinner Park. I like this park because there are so many dogs and people to meet. And there are always sports games going on--people are so funny sometimes! They even have these doggie drinking fountains. I couldn't figure out how to drink from them, but the pack leaders turned the fountain on for me and a huge dog came running over and started to drink, so I got to meet a new friend!
2. PetsmartWe went to Petsmart to pick out some new toys and check out the doggie day care. I can't play with the other dogs in the doggie daycare yet, they said I am not neutered yet. What does that mean?!

3. Arrigo Park
I love this park. It is bigger than Skinner Park and you can see the Chicago skyline! There aren't as many dogs here though.

4. Schaumburg
This place is great! Busse Woods Forest Preserve is a great place for us city dogs to get back to nature. And this Chicago suburb is where I go to vacation when the pack leaders are out of town. It is fantastic, I get a big backyard to play in, a multi-level house to run around in, and they even let me lay on the furniture!

5. Pet Vets Animal HospitalWhat can I say? I love going to the vet. Everyone tells me how cute I am and I get to meet other dogs in the waiting room. The only thing I don't like is getting a shot! I sure do yelp when that happens! Fortunately I quickly forget all about it, because I am an easygoing guy.

Introducing Toby!

2008-10-07T17:14:00.000-07:00

Here I am at 7 weeks old! As you can see, I am a beautiful blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Born in rural Missouri, I am moving to live with my new owners in the big city — Chicago!! I can’t wait for the dog parks, gourmet pet food stores, and meeting all the other dogs in my new neighborhood, the west loop. It will be so exciting. I am the sort of fellow who never stops running, jumping, and having an all-around good time, so I just know everyone in the city is going to love me!

Aren't I a cutie?!