How about putting the slip cover on the dog?

Thinking of ways to change your decor in the New Year?

Well, the San Jose Mercury News has an article about coordinating your pet's needs with your household's.

"Most dogs like to stretch out on rectangular beds that keep their shape, with defined edges for hanging one's head over," says Julia Szabo, author of "Pretty Pet-Friendly: Easy Ways to Keep Spot's Digs Stylish and Spotless" (Howell, 2009).

She recommends a polar-fleece, futon-style bed by Bowser "that's tufted, so the insides don't shift. Burrowing dogs, such as dachshunds, should have a small blanket they can snuggle under. Cats prefer a round concave nest."

How exciting it is to know that William Wegman of the Weimaraner portraits has also designed illustrated fabrics for pet beds. Click here.

I particularly like the article's advice to color coordinate with your pets.

The apartment I rented in Connecticut had beige carpet in the living room and office. I religiously vacuumed once a week, but didn't realize how much Kate really shed until I moved to Poughkeepsie and had hardwood floors.

So if I truly embraced the color coordinating suggesting my life would only be beige.

Bizkit videos

Do you remember Bizkit the Sleepwalking Dog?

Well, Bizkit talks.

And Bizkit barks while sleepwalking.

And Bizkit runs in circles.

Here's Bizkit: The Horror Movie.

Just what a dog like this needs — a Bizkit helmet. What a face.

My Kate doesn't get quite this animated when she sleeps, but she is definitely "chasing rabbits."

I particularly like it when she wags her tail while sleeping. Pleasant dreams.

Sleeping

How not to get a good night's sleep

And it involves a cat.

Here's the video.

Enjoy.

Dividing one's time

Kate loves the patio. Now that the days aren't blistering, I let her stay out more.

This picture was taken on Saturday. Of course, Kate is panting, but still willing to soak up the sun. Just after this was taken, she moved into the shade.

A couple minutes in the shade. A couple minutes in the sun.

Not a bad gig.

Spring is around the corner

Ah, the first day warm enough to take a nap on the patio.

It's good to be a dog.

Please, no more photographs!

Morning sun

Kate's kandid kamera

I happened to have my cell phone handy the other day when Kate was sleeping. She started yipping in her sleep.

This amuses me to no end, and I captured it on video.



I am hoping to get some video of Kate wagging her tail while she's sleeping. That really makes me smile.

BTW, Blogger now allows us to upload videos directly into the blog, thereby avoiding having to send them to YouTube or some other service first.

Pretty neat.

Morning nap

There's nothing like cool concrete after a warm morning walk.

Lucky dog.

Are you getting sleepy?

Sleeeeeep. Sleeeeeeeeeeeeep. Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

(Turn up the sound near the end.)

Happy Kate?

So just now I'm sitting on the couch after a long day, checking emails, trying to find more fodder for this blog. We never sleep.

Kate, however, is sleeping soundly at the other end (on the specially provided sheet so as to minimize the shedding).

Sometimes she "chases rabbits" while fast asleep. I had a dog-park friend down in the city who, the first time her pooch did the running and yipping in place, thought she was having a seizure and took her to the vet.

Well, Kate isn't chasing rabbits; she is wagging her tail. A lot. Really wagging it.

Nothing makes me smile more.

She's a happy puppy, even in her dreams.