Slobber, Licks and Zzzzz captured on Animoto

Happy Monday!  As you all know we have TONS of funny pics of Chunyo.  This weekend while on the computer I finally visited Animoto to create a cute collection of Chunyo’s photos. Our boy has SO many funny faces. Here it is: http://animoto.com/play/ybhS0Y0kC93V41tL6jFquQ   SUPER EASY! All you have to do is create an account and  you can create short photo video (30 seconds/12 pics) for free!  You can pay a small fee ($5 for the month/$30 for year) if you want to create a longer version.  We added some Latin tunes in the background to keep you early birds awake 😉

I know lots of you have a nice collection of photos – so I suggest you check it out.  Whenever I get a chance I want to make a longer version of some special events and travels.  Would definitely recommend it to others – they have a collection of songs that you can insert in your video or you can add your own MP3 version.  Enjoy!

Have you ever tried Animoto out?  Thoughts?

Pssst!!  Don’t forget to sign up for Cesar Canine’s Cuisine giveaway  – its ends this Thursday!

Happy Monday! 🙂

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Woohoo! Time for a giveaway..

Chunyo is one lucky dog!!  He recently got really cool gifts in the mail.  Cesar Canine Cuisine was generous enough to send us a package in the mail filled with food and treat samples and a super cute, bright colored t-shirt.  Unfortunately or fortunately (whichever way you look at it) the t-shirt was not for Chunyo but for ME!!  Woohooo!!

The goods..

The package included a t-shirt, 2 bags of Softies Medley treats and 7 meals in the following flavors:

• Grilled Steak & Eggs flavor
• Filet Mignon flavor
• Chicken & Liver
• Beef
• Grilled Chicken
• Chicken & Veal
• Chicken & Cheddar Cheese Souffle

Now on to the good news (drum roll, please)! We received two packages – one for us and one for a lucky reader.

A few details and how to win?

• Giveaway begins Thursday, July 14^th and ends Thursday, July 21^st..  Winner will be announced on Friday,
  July 22^nd.
•  Winner will be selected using www.random.org
• “Like” Chunyo’s Corner Facebook Page (if you haven’t already)
• Follow Chunyo’s Corner on Twitter (@chunyoscorner) (if you don’t already)
• Leave us a comment on this post. Tell us what type of dog food you buy for your pooch.
• Spread the word.
• Open to U.S. entrants only

Which is Chunyo’s favorite flavor? Although he was a little suspicious of his bowl at first (first time having wet food) he quickly got over it. We mixed it with his food to avoid an upset tummy. His fav? Paws up to Chicken and Veal.

Hmm.. This is good..

Oh and the treats were a hit too!  They come in super cool shapes.

Chunyo’s Corner has not been compensated in any way for this review. Opinions are all are own.

Healthy or not? Which is it?

I will be the first to admit that about five years ago, I didn’t spent too much time thinking about healthy ingredients, fresh air or toxic chemicals.  Thinking back, I can list the reasons why – too busy hanging out with friends, on weekend getaways and weekly happy hours, etc. (The list could go on and on but I will spare you). Those were the days (I kid).

How could you not want the best for this face?

Today, I try to eat a lot healthier and am more aware of what we (including Chunyo) breathe and buy. SO yes, I have to admit (proudly I guess) that today, I read labels, buy organic, support local farmers’ markets and surround us with “green” cleaning products whenever possible.  I am guilty- I have become one of those people that I once had no interest in becoming.  Call it age or just too much information (which I swear gets me every time).  Once I learned about all the bad stuff we eat and breathe, it was hard to go back.  And yes, the budget reflects it (that’s the bad part). I still have YET to understand WHY it is more expensive to live a healthier life?  A blog post for another day…. But if someone can explain, go for it!   

SO – back to this post…  For those of you who might be interested, I found this great website – HealthyStuff.org. They research toxic chemicals on a whole bunch of stuff related to kids, cars, house stuff (even those Christmas lights from last year – yikes).  But for the sake of this blog – I am focusing on the pet stuff. HealthyStuff.org tested over 400 pet products, including beds, chew toys, stuffed toys, collars, leashes, and tennis balls. You can search by Brand, Type, Level of Concern, etc.  Take a peek – it’s kind of cool.

AirKong Squeaker Ball

I tested it out to see if anything that Chunyo has is on there.  Lo and behold, I found the AirKong Squeaker Tennis Ball.  I know some of you out there own a few.  Well, breathe easy…  There is a low level of concern.  Pheww!! I was going to have to run outside and collect tons of tennis balls (don’t ask!).

HealthyStuff.org toxic level key

If you feel like checking out some of the things you already own or if you want to investigate a future purchase, visit this site.  

Do you ever check out products before you purchase them?  Curious minds want to know..

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Side note: A birthday shout out to one of our readers  – Feliz Cumpleaños Ivan! 😉

Max and Ruffy’s Giveaway

It’s Wordless Wednesday but we have plenty to say 🙂 We are happy to announce that Chunyo is participating in his first giveaway (details below).

Some of you might remember that we reviewed Max and Ruffy’s Five Star Blueberry mini bites a while back.  We love this product because of their healthy, organic ingredients.  Chunyo is also quite the fan!

Max & Ruffy’s is an ethical dog treat company based in the DC Metro area.  Their goal: to bring dogs everywhere healthy dog treats! Committed to the health and well-being of your dog, Max & Ruffy’s uses only 100% organic human-grade ingredients.   Their passion for:  high-quality, a drive to lessen the enviromental footprint, and their committment to customer satisfaction, make them an excellent choice for your dog’s snack source! 

 

Max and Ruffy’s has generously agreed to send a winner two boxes of their treats.  They are giving away a box of their Five Star Blueberry mini bites  and a box of Powerhouse: Sweet Potato and Alfalfa (original size). 

 

Five-Star Blueberry (Grain Free) – These healthy dog treats are packed with antioxidant-rich blueberries, and blended with extra-virgin coconut oil to lend to your dog’s shiny coat and healthy skin.  We then add a hint of ginger to create a grain free dog treat that dogs love.

 Powerhouse: Sweet Potato & Alfalfa (Grain Free) –  These sweet potato treats are a fusion of two nutritional powerhouses, sun-cured alfalfa and sweet potatoes. Loaded with beta-carotene and dense in trace minerals, this nutritious dog treat packs health benefits and irresistible flavor!

 

A Few Details and How to Win?

• Giveaway begins Wednesday, May 4th and ends Sunday, May 8th.  Winner will be announced on Tuesday, May10th!  Winner will be selected using www.random.org
• “Like” Chunyo’s Corner Facebook Page
• Follow Chunyo’s Corner on Twitter (@chunyoscorner)
• Leave us a comment on this post. Tell us your dog’s favorite treat.

**Bonus Entry** 

• Visit Max and Ruffy’s website and answer the following: When did Max and Ruffy’s begin making their dogs treats?

Thank you to Max and Ruffy’s and Good Luck!  

Max and Ruffy's treats are yum!

  P.S.  Head over to www.blogpaws.com for Wordless Wednesday’s pics.

A deal that couldn’t be passed up..

Barking Deals recently featured a personalized koozie for $1.99. Cheap, right?! I couldn’t resist the great price and another chance to show off one of Chunyo’s pics. I can never resist his little face 😉

BUT the great thing about this purchase (that I learned when I opened the package) is that the koozies were actually processed by We Can Too, an opportunity center that provides people with disabilities meaningful work in Ohio. Always great when you can help support a good cause.  Is there anything that you buy because it supports a good cause?

Chunyo's koozie - Pic 1

Chunyo's koozie - Take 2

Side note:  In case anyone is wondering –  the beer above from Trader Joe’s (we are regular shoppers) is pretty good.  Light and refreshing for the summer.

One of my favs!

Tug, Shake, Squeak and Snuggle…

Like our pal at According to Gus, we recently ordered something from Barking Deals.  And what a deal it was – we ordered a KONG® Tugger Knots toy for $6.99 (with free shipping). This toy is great – dogs can tug at it, shake it, make it squeak and snuggle with it too. 

Diagram of Tugger Knot (See link for more details)

Unfortunately, Chunyo has a bad track record. He destroys some of  his toys (and beds too). But this one, I am happy to report has survived his rough antics.  In fact, he often spends time snuggling with it (which probably defeats the purpose) – but I guess he and the monkey have bonded 🙂 Whatever makes him happy, I say!  

You mean I can shake, tug, squeeze and lay with it?!? Now, that's what I'm talking about!

So based on our experience – it’s a winner. Of course, the 50% off from Barking Deals definitely made it worth a try! If you aren’t signed up already, try it out.  

Oh, did I forget to mention - I can use him as a pillow too :)?

Staying out of the dog house..

Have I mentioned how smart brilliant Chunyo is?  Too smart, really! I could give you a list of examples but I will spare you.  So just take my word for it.  Our little canine is sharp!  The downside – he gets bored easily and tends to get himself into a little bit of trouble from time to time. 

Over time we have tried several toys to keep him out of the dog house (no pun intended). We have bought him squeaky toys only to have him kill the sounds within minutes (apparently he doesn’t like noise), other indestructible toys (I question these titles often) which were quickly destroyed and last summer, we even bought him a soccer ball.  Well he squeezed the life out of that ball in an instant. I think I might still be a little bitter about the $10 we wasted. SO at the recommendation of our trainer (who I can’t say enough nice things about) we turned to interactive food toys to make Chunyo work for his food.  We don’t use it all the time, just when we sense he needs to work off some of his attitude steam. 

Kibble Nibble Feeder Ball

We have used two types of toys.  The first one, Kibble Nibble Feeder Ball did not last long; I wouldn’t  recommend it for larger dogs.  One, the holes were too big for his little kibbles and two, Chunyo quickly caught on to the fact he could pick up the ball (defeating the whole purpose).  See teeth marks in the rubber.  So if you have a medium or larger pooch, I would steer clear of this one.

Kong Wobbler

The second one – the Kong Wobbler was the winner!!  (Thank you to the pet store salesperson who recommended it). Chunyo can’t destroy it!  And because of where the hole is placed, it can take quite a while for the food to come out on the side. This helps to keep Chunyo busy.  You should see him wobbling that bad boy around the house. It’s hilarious! No kibble will go untouched!  Of course, some of you neat freaks should be warned, you will have food on the floor until your pooch is done.  This is also probably not the best toy to have around if you have small kids around unless your dog eats in a confined area. But other than that, if you are desperate need some extra help to keep your pooch from getting bored, this interactive toy might be worth the purchase!!

Let me have some..

Mission Accomplished!

Where’s my refill?

Wednesday nights are usually American Idol nights (yes, I admit it we are Idol fans).  In case anyone is wondering, lots of great singers this season. Some dramatic ones, too (but I’ll save that conversation for another time). As we were watching and critiquing the contestants, it occurred to us that a little someone was feeling neglected.  Out of nowhere, Chunyo grabbed his Bento Ball and bolted towards the couch to make his presence known. 

Of course, I quickly reached for my phone to share his madness with you all.  Sorry, they are a little blurry. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Bento Balls, they are great.  You can buy different refills (we use chicken flavor) and they last for quite a while.  And best of all, dogs still like them without the refills.  In fact, Chunyo was playing with his empty Bento last night.  It could also be that he was trying to remind us that he is in need of a refill.  🙂

Here I am!! In case, you hadn't noticed.

Make room for me and my Bento please!

Think I need a refill.. Maybe this weekend?

Chilly Bones – Gone in a Flash

Chunyo recently received a great gift  – Chillin’ Bonz.  Chillin’ Bonz are bone shaped frozen treat trays.  They are really cool and super easy to make treats with.  The package also comes with easy recipes too. I used the Peanutbutterbone recipe but it also comes with a number of other recipes (e.g., Kiwiberry Yum, Barking Wild Fruit Treat). Great treats for the warm weather!  

Here is the front of the box

The actual trays

 The pink part is great because it makes it easier to take the frozen bones out.  

Pic of the recipe we used

We used left over peanut from the organic peanut butter from treats we made for Chunyo.  We used half of a small container of organic plain yogurt instead of vanilla yogurt.

Peanutbutterbone mix

 This is what the mix looked like. I ended up adding just a little more yogurt than I expected. I do get curious about Chunyo’s taste buds sometimes, so I tried a bit.  Human opinion:  Good  – not that my opinion is what matters 🙂

This is what it looks like in tray

Perfect Shaped Bone!

Delish!!

Walaa!!  Dog’s verdict:  Delicious! Bone gone in a flash….

Perfect Distraction!

Beef Chew Strips!  We have bought different types over the past year or so.  And yes, they were starting to cost us a pretty penny ($$). So at the recommendation of a friend, we ordered a box from Pet Guys. They last quite a bit and Chunyo is a fan!

Well, well.. What do we have here ?

 

Yum..