Absolute Yorkies

From Gideon, Hope and Tinkerbell

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!  Thank you so much for reading AbsoluteYorkies.com and for loving your dogs as much as we love ours. 

We’ll be back on Monday, January 3, 2011 with TODAY’S TIDBIT.  If you have a little time to yourself this holiday season, look back into our archives and read some posts that you might have missed.  

Have a very Merry and safe Christmas and remember the reason for the season!

Cheers!

Kathryn and Marilyn

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TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Christmas is this Saturday!  Are you ready?  We are with the finale of our 2010 Christmas Photo Gallery.  Thanks again to all of you who shared your pics with us.  We just love Christmas…and dogs!

Tinkerbell

Gideon

Hope

Sadie

Sweetie Pie and Clementine

Chewie

Coco

Our Gideon

We hope you’ve enjoyed our 2010 Christmas Photo Gallery as much as we’ve enjoyed sharing it!  Be sure to join us on Friday for more Christmas fun and TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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TODAY’S TIDBIT:  It’s almost Christmas!  We’re so excited to present our 2010 Christmas Photo Gallery!  Thanks to everyone who sent in their doggy’s photo.  We’ll be featuring more doggy Christmas pics on Wednesday. 

Such cuties all ready for Christmas!  We thank God everyday for our wonderful canine friends.  Enjoy!

Dezi

Bella

Leela

Lily

Bella

Gracie

We’re sure Santa would be proud to have all of these cutie doggys as helpers!  See you on Wednesday with more Christmas photos and TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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Christmas is next weekend, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT: ***Just a reminder: today is the last day to submit your pictures for our Christmas Photo Gallery!*** We’ve received some wonderful Christmas doggy pictures so far but there’s always room for more so send your photos to kathryn@absoluteyorkies.com. We’ll start putting photos on our site this Monday.

Christmas is next weekend! The countdown continues. We’ll end the week with a few seasonal funky doggy facts.

Did you know…

• Turkey bones can splinter and get caught in your dog’s throat so dispose of bones and holiday food scraps in a receptacle away from your dog’s safe areas.
• Snow and Yorkies don’t mix. Small long haired breeds are more susceptible to catching a chill so dry your Yorkie thoroughly and keep her warm when coming in from outside.
• Keep bottled water, kibble and wet wipes in your car if you’re travelling with your pet this holiday season just in case you’re delayed on the highway.
• The animated prime-time special, A Charlie Brown Christmas featuring Snoopy the famous beagle and the rest of the Peanuts gang, has been shown on TV every Christmas since 1965.
• EcoTraction is a “pet friendly” alternative to traditional ice-melters for driveways and sidewalks made of natural volcanic material that grips into the ice to stop you from slipping.

Make sure you take a little time for yourself and your Yorkie during this busy holiday season! Enjoy your weekend everyone and see you on Monday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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I'm waiting for Santa, mommy!

Christmas Plants Toxic to Dogs:

• Amaryllis
• Holly
• Mistletoe
• Christmas tree (mildly toxic)
• Poinsettia***

*** There’s a lot of varying opinions about the toxicity level of the Poinsettia.  Many vets consider it mildly toxic and the ASPCA Poison Control Centre states on their website, [the Poinsettia is] “Irritating to the mouth and stomach, sometimes causing vomiting, but generally over-rated in toxicity.” 

Our rule of thumb is this:  when in doubt, don’t.  We don’t have any Christmas plants in our house, and the few houseplants we do have are up high and away from the Yorkies’ safe area.  If you’re unsure, leave the plants at the store.  It’s better to be safe than sorry. 

One of our readers, Rosie sent us this link to an interesting article written by the floral chain, Grower Direct giving the floral industry’s perspective on what they feel is the unfairly maligned Poinsettia.

Here are some sites that you might find helpful when considering plant toxicity:

• Dr. Jon’s article, Fall and Winter Holiday Plant Toxicity in Dogs.
• Dr. Janet Tobiassen Crosby’s article, Poisonous Holiday Plants.
• ASPCA Poison Control Centre’s site where you can search for Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants by name.

The countdown to Christmas continues!  Just a couple of quick mentions: 

• Modern Dog Magazine’s GiveAway this week is a Luxury Pets’ Double Basin Bowl.  So don’t forget to enter if you’re interested. 
• One of our readers has a 15 year old Yorkie and she’s interested in hearing how other Yorkie owners are helping with the adjustments that we need to make for our precious senior Yorkies.  If you have any suggestions, websites or books you’d like to share, please leave them in our comments section or email us at kathryn@absoluteyorkies.com.

Thanks everybody and see you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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What book do you want for Christmas, mommy?

TODAY’S TIDBIT: Our countdown to Christmas continues…it’s only 12 days away!  Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? 

I’ve inherited my mother’s love of books as well as animals so guess what I’m giving her this Christmas – no, not a dog – but a book with a down to earth heart warming story about a young woman struggling with what life throws at her and the dog whose love and loyalty gives her hope.  The book is called, “Stay” by Allie Larkin.

Books with doggy stories make great gifts!  Here are a few websites we’ve found that list some pretty terrific books for the reader/dog lover on your Christmas list:

1. Oprah’s 16 Books for Dog Lovers (my favourite list)
2. Pets Advisor Top 20 Dog Book Bestsellers
3. Amazon.com: Fiction and Non-Fiction Books Featuring Amazing Dogs
4. Working Dogs Bookstore

So many books…so little time!  Do you have a favourite dog book you’d like to recommend?  Share your comments with us. 

Remember to keep sending your photos for our Christmas Photo Gallery.  We’ll be starting to put pics on the website on Dec. 20.  See you on Wednesday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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I love Christmas, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Christmas is fifteen days away!!!  I’m continuing to get ready for Christmas this weekend as I’m sure all of you are too.  It’s Friday so we’ll end the week with some funky doggy facts.

Did you know…

• The safest place for your Yorkie in the car is in a carrier secured in the back seat.
• To stop your Yorkie from licking unsafe ice removal products from her paws after a walk, wash her paws in warm water.
• Choose toys for your Yorkie this Christmas without stuffing and no obvious removable parts that could break off or splinter and get caught in your dog’s throat or digestive tract.
• Selecting the right groomer is just as important as selecting the right vet.
• Of over 1,200 pet owners surveyed in Canada and the United States, 50% said they would pick a dog or a cat as a companion instead of a human if they were on a deserted island.

I’m decorating the Christmas tree and finishing the festive baking this weekend!  I think the aroma of freshly baked cookies is driving the Yorkies crazy…not to mention my husband!  Stay warm and we’ll see you on Monday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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I hope we win, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Who doesn’t like to get great stuff for FREE!  “Modern Dog Magazine” is giving away something “doggy” related every week until February 28, 2011.  You don’t have to subscribe to the magazine or do anything except enter to win! 

This week’s giveaway is Glenn Plaskin’s book, “Katie Up and Down the Hall” – a heart warming story about a mischievous cocker spaniel who brings together her owner and several neighbours in a Lower Manhattan high-rise.  Click on this link to enter this week’s giveaway. 

Winners will be notified February 28, 2011.  The book sounds really good!  Has anyone read it?  I might just buy it if I don’t win it from “Modern Dog Magazine.”

Thanks to everyone who has sent their Christmas Doggy Photos for the Christmas Photo Gallery.  There’s still time to send in your doggy’s Christmas pic!  We’ll be putting the photos on the site the week of December 20.  So don’t miss out!  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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I'm cozy in my long johns, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  I’m decorating my Christmas tree today which can be a challenge with three curious little Yorkies pressing their tiny faces against the French doors to see what mischief they can create.  But we keep the tree in the livingroom where the Yorkies aren’t allowed to go so they won’t hurt themselves around the Christmas tree.

I absolutely LOVE Christmas but many decorations, Christmas trees and plants can be dangerous to your Yorkies.  We have long since dispensed with using tinsel or “icicles” on our tree.  Tinsel can stick onto your clothes and you can accidentally drag it into your Yorkie’s safe area and if she eats it, she could easily choke.  And it plays havoc with the intestinal tract!

Dogs are curious and can chew electrical cords, yank the tree down on themselves, eat the tree decorations or even drink the water that some people put preservatives in that are unknowingly harmful to their pets.  Fresh water not tree water is the only drinking water for your doggy.  Even if your dog has NEVER touched the tree before, you can’t guarantee there won’t be a first time!!!

So keep your tree tinsel free and your Yorkies safely away from the Christmas tree.  It’s going to be a white Christmas here in London, Ontario…we have over a foot of snow now and expecting another 12 inches!  So stay warm and see you on Wednesday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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It's snowing outside, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  It’s Friday and the weekend is here!!!  The week before Christmas is fast approaching so don’t forget to send us your doggy in his cutie Christmas outfit.  We’ll be posting the pics the week of December 20.

It’s Funky Dog Fact Friday so here we go:

• Stem cells from a dog’s own fat have been used to help ease the pain in a dog’s arthritic joints.
• The Parvovirus is a dangerous threat to any dog – especially puppies and unvaccinated dogs so keep your dog vaccinations up to date.
• Only a limited number of dogs are allowed in the passenger section of the plane on any given flight so call your airline reservation line now to reserve your spot.
• Yorkies are more susceptible to episodes of hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar.
• The ASPCA Poison Control Centre has a Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant page on their website where you can enter the name of a plant to find out if it’s poisonous to your dog.  Very useful with all the Christmas plants out right now!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone and see you on Monday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.  Try and stay warm!!!

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