What I got for Christmas

Hi everyone! It's a snowy day here and so I am looking for things to do inside. I didn't get a chance to tell you how much I am enjoying my Christmas moose. I had one last year just like it but Francesca and I got a bit rough with it and, well, you know....

So I'm happy to have an intact, squeaky moose to play with today.

Here I am telling Francesca to back off and leave my toy alone!

Wordless Wednesday: How to Win at Tug-O-War

You might think we are evenly matched.
Well, I know how to win at this game.
I just shake the toy until she gets tired of being wapped in the face and lets go!

I get into MORE Mischief!

Here's the squirrel toy. Looks real, doesn't it?

Today my owner had to do errands that took up THE WHOLE CAR! So I wasn't invited to ride along.

Instead, since we cleaned up the garage, I was ushered to the garage to stay while she was gone. It wasn't too bad. My bed was there, freshly draped in a blanket. My crate was there and a ball to play with (A MEASLY BALL!). I didn't get too upset because I had a plan.

Once she drove away, I checked out the bags and boxes that were left in the garage after our move. I was on the hunt for something good. No food was found.

But in the back, near the Christmas decorations I found a VERY INTERESTING BAG! Inside the bag was something very clearly meant for ME! Now, I can tell the difference between dog toys and other things. I'm very smart that way. And in this bag were TWO DOG TOYS!

I got so excited! I pulled out the squirrel looking toy and chewed on that for awhile. It squeaked. Then I went back to the bag and pulled out a large floppy toy. I shook it. I chewed on it. Boy was that fun. TWO NEW TOYS!  Life was good, even if I was locked in the garage.

Here I am with my new toy.
Notice I am keeping an eye on the squirrels outside while I play with it!

When my owner got home she took one look at the toys and let me in the house to play with them. Then she told me. THOSE WERE MY CHRISTMAS TOYS! I found a bag with my gifts. They weren't wrapped yet.

Now I feel bad. I wonder if this means I won't get anything for Christmas!

Love, Cinnamon with two new toys

Cinnamon Goes Shopping

We had an equipment emergency here at the Country Cousins' yesterday. One of the lumpy balls was broken (by Indy) and we only had one left for THREE dogs to play with!

Since exercise is so important for these geriatric dogs, part of my duties as chief dog-sitter is to make sure we have all the equipment we need.

So, even though it was raining, I hopped in the car and we went shopping for MORE TOYS! Luckily Petco is not far at all.

Here's our local Petco

So I jumped out and went right in. You see, they allow dogs at Petco and APPRECIATE OUR BUSINESS! First I walked through the food section to see what was new and then we stopped and looked at pink collars (because I want one some day).

After that, we got down to business and looked at each and every toy. There were fuzzy toys, little dog toys, flying toys and Kong toys.

Here I am checking out the Kong toys. You can put treats inside them!

I really wanted something like a ball but it had to have a squeaker. And, it had to be the right size. And it had to be pretty strong to withstand chewing.

On the last aisle I found them. Hard, round, squeaky balls... and two sizes. I got three. Two big ones and one little one.

We were in the store a long time. I had to look at each and every toy.

So we drove home and put the balls on the counter for Indy and Remi to look at. They were very excited. We spent some time taking the tags off and making sure there were no strings or things poking out.

Here's what I bought. I think they will last awhile!

Then we headed out to the pasture to PLAY BALL! These balls are heavier so we have to be careful when we throw them. Other than that, they were a BIG HIT!

Love, Cinnamon the shopper

Free Shipping and Save 20 % on Everything in My New Pet Products Shop

I recently signed up and was approved to have a Coonhound Tales Shop on my website. It is powered by the reputable Inside Warehouse and most all pet products are represented. Now I, Cinnamon, don't really send these things to you. The program works with an entire network of suppliers who are going to be doing the shipping to YOU!

Here I am shopping in a regular store.
I much prefer shopping in my new online store!

I wanted to let you know that I tested it out myself. I ordered my favorite dog food, Merrick, in a 30 pound bag. I know what that costs. I have ordered it from several places. Let me tell you... I saved over ten dollars (off any cheap price I have EVER seen) and it is going to be delivered to my door. So it works.

Since it is a new program for me and I want it to succeed (I get my toy and food money from my income on my blog.. and treats too!), I am sharing the 20% off coupon code with you. You put it in at checkout. The coupon code is: COON-LAUNCH-20  This code gives 20% off the shopping cart amount (adds up to other existing discounts). I can only use it 20 times or 30 days from now (whichever comes first). There is no minimum amount for an order to apply this code. Oh yes, since I just ordered, there are 19 uses left. First come, first served!

Now you have the code. To find your preferred pet products you click on the Pet Supply Shop tab on my blog or on the Coonhound Tales Shop (on the bottom of any page), use the search or just browse. When I put in Merrick, all their products came up, even ones I didn't know existed!

Please try my shop. Both you and I will benefit!

Wordless Wednesday: Chewy Time

On a warm summer day, sometimes I just enjoy lying in the grass chewing on a blue toy!

Cinnamon Loses the Game of Lumpy Balls

Hi, it's me, Cinnamon. I'm here at the Country Cousins' house taking care of the two geriatric dogs. Usually they are pretty easy to fool, they sleep a lot and aren't much trouble at all. But yesterday Indy surprised me. Indy beat me at a game of "Lumpy Balls!"

Lumpy Balls are just that... round balls that have lumps on them. I think the Country Cousins got them on sale or something. They squeak and they throw OK but they fall short in the rolling department. Lumpy Balls.... good for certain games.

So Indy invited me to play a game of Lumpy Balls. The object of the game is to have both the balls in your possession. The dog with the most Lumpy Balls wins the game. Other than that, there are no rules... well, except, no biting!

Here's how things went:

Indy has the yellow and I have the blue. Let the game begin!

This is getting boring already. I wonder who will make the first move?
Maybe she'll just fall asleep and I can grab her ball?

Hey Cinnamon... there's a squirrel over there. Go get it!

Now that was easy! Score 2 for Indy and 0 for Cinnamon!

What? How did this happen? She must have cheated!

Please Indy. Can we try it one more time. Wasn't that just a practice round? Pleeezzz!

So that's how the game went. Indy tricked me! I didn't see that coming at all. I guess there is one benefit to being a geriatric dog... experienced at playing Lumpy Balls!

Love, Cinnamon

Wordless Wednesday: The Ball

I love my squeaky, nubby ball.

Another Gorgeous Hound is a PetBox Winner!

Now before you say anything.... there is no favoritism here. The winners of my contests are fairly chosen. I don't get to pick the winner at all!

Believe it or not a very cute Black and Tan Coonie won the PetBox from my contest. His name is Charlie and he looks a lot like me. He might be a distant cousin or something. (NO! I DIDN'T CHEAT AND GIVE HIM THE BOX!).

Here's Charlie opening the PetBox (lucky dog!)

You never know what is going to be in a PetBox. I just love the duck toy that was in mine. I tore it up a bit and I am waiting for it to be repaired. It might be a long wait!

Here's Charlie looking to find the best thing in the box.

Here's what Charlie's family wrote:

"We got the PetBox last Thursday!  Charlie loved it and we loved it because it had a furminator for short haired dogs!  I have attached some pictures of him with the box.  The second one is him chewing on the water buffalo ear that was in it.  Thank you so much for your giveaways and we love following Cinnamon and her adventures!"

Rachel, Michael and Charlie

Here's Charlie with that gourmet Water Buffalo Ear. He really likes it!

I'm jealous of Charlie. I didn't get a Water Buffalo Ear in MY box!

Love, Cinnamon

 

I'm an Official Clark County Washington Dog

Today I got some mail. It was a shiny blue tag from Clark County. It was my official license. It means I have officially moved and settled in Clark County, Washington.

Here's my new dog tag. Do you think it coordinates well with my orange collar?

Clark County is known in the pop media as a redneck kinda place where people shop at Walmart and Old Navy. It is also a rural place where people farm, go hunting and the like. I live in the suburbs so I am not sure what to do.

This is the only picture I could find of a dog shopping at Walmart.
I don't like vests.

Now I hunt squirrels and scare frogs. I don't shop much except online. So I really wonder if I will fit in.

I am trying to figure out how to be a real Clark County dog. Should I brush up on my hunting skills. I think that would help me to fit in. What do you think?

Come on... let's practice hunting with my Duck Duck toy, ok?

Love, Cinnamon... Official Resident of Clark County, WA

Cinnamon's Duck Toy

I got this from my PetBox a couple of months ago. Wanna play? Please?

Cinnamon Gets an Edible Christmas Card!

This has been a week of treats and surprises. I LOVE CHRISTMAS! Yesterday I got a red envelope in the mail addressed to me!

This is what came in the mail TO ME!

It looked like any normal Christmas card but when we opened it, there was something special inside... it was a Christmas card that I COULD EAT! Well, play with, anyway.

It was from my #1 fan in Arkansas. She is so good to me. She's the one that sent me my special Doggie Quilt. So I was given the card to play with (and chew). Crunch Cards are 100% natural rawhide and non-toxic ink. But it does say that dogs have to be supervised so they don't swallow big chunks of the card or anything.

This is one card I am allowed to chew on!

So when my owner left the room she put my Christmas Card up on the counter. She was upstairs and I sat in front of that counter and barked for it! So she came back down and let me have it for awhile more. It is a real treat. My teeth are getting a good work-out.

So #1 Fan.... Thank you for this really neat Christmas Card!

Wordless Wednesday: How about this for a new play position?

Toys are more fun when you are on your back playing!

Cinnamon Gets Mail!

Look what I found on my bed! It's a box that arrived in the mail just for me. It is a PetBox!

So why put the box on my bed if I'm not supposed to open it yet?

I am going to tell you all about this soon.  But for now let me tell you I was one excited hound when I opened it. I don't know what else is in the box, but I grabbed this Duck Toy as soon as I saw it and ran with it. It was then that I was told I wasn't supposed to have the box until Thursday.

What do you mean I'm not supposed to play with this cool duck toy yet! I'm sorry! (not really!)

Whoops! Just don't tell anyone I opened it early, OK? And be sure and read my blog on Thursday so you can find out all about this great PetBox and learn about my PetBox giveaway too!

Family is about GIFTS!

See how I hold my Nylabone with my paws?

I love visiting the Country Cousins. I always will have both dog and people company there. I always get excited when I get to their door.

So I was equally excited when a box arrived with GIFTS FOR ME! Inside the box were Nylabones! I never thought I'd like a bone that wasn't a bone. But when I was visiting my cousins, they had so much fun chewing these things that I got into the act. They were rather patient with me and shared their bones.

So when Auntie Glenda sent me NYLABONES I was excited. I have been chewing on both ends of my bones ever since. I hold one end with my coonie paws while I gnaw on the other end. Then I switch ends so my bone is even on both ends. It works for me.

Thank you Auntie Glenda for making my day.

Stay tuned for the exciting BED DELIVERY! It's icy outside so I sure hope the delivery truck can get through.

Cinnamon's Picks for Holiday Dog Gifts

Cinnamon believes in Santa

It's Christmas time and I'm making out my list for Santa. Last year I got two toys. This year, I'm hoping for MORE DOG TOYS! And, just to be nice, I'm looking for some gifts for my Country Cousins. After all they invited me over for Thanksgiving. Don't they deserve some great dog gifts?

I decided to check out the SitStay online catalog because they have things organized into categories for gifts... Under $10, Under $20 etc. Hey, and they are all wrapped with special holiday sacks so I don't even have to worry about finding wrapping paper. And, they include a personalized holiday card so when you give the gift to a dog friend it has their name on it! 

SitStay is known for providing healthful, enriching and good-dog approved treats, supplies AND GIFTS! It's an ideal place to go for my holiday shopping. Here's a little video about their Gift Guide.

When I was shopping for my bed, I went all over... to big box stores and doggie boutiques.  I got kinda tired and overwhelmed with all the choices. I just ran out of steam. So ordering online is a great way to go!

Of course, you know me, I am the most important, so first I chose a toy for my list. It was hard to choose. There were toys and treats. I almost got interested in some of the treats but had to remind myself that I WANT DOG TOYS! I saw a really freaky squeak toy that looks like a lamb with octopus legs. Hey I'd love to prance around with that, shake it a bit and squeak the squeaker. It was in the "under $10" section, too. Santa, PLEEZ?

Here's the toy I want. It's called Slap Happy Holidays!

After getting all excited about the squeaky toy, I decided to check out ONE GIFT I could buy for my TWO Country Cousins. (I'm on a budget, you know!) So I found a great "under $20" gift that had TWO stockings filled with Bully Sticks. Those are beef chews made in the good ol' USA! I think Remi and Indy would enjoy chewing on those. 

Bully Sticks for the Country Cousins. Good Idea???

And then, what to get the homeless dogs down at the shelter? Well, I found this meaty gift set. I'll bet those poor dogs will enjoy the gourmet meat treats for Christmas! I never got anything this wonderful when I was in the shelter!

Any dog would love this meaty gift pack!

So my shopping is just about done. But the most important gift WILL BE FOR ME!  If I get that toy I want for Christmas,here's what I'm gonna do!

Please Santa. I REALLY REALLY WANT THIS TOY!
I've been a good Coon Hound ALL YEAR!

To help you with your holiday shopping, my friends at SitStay have a money saving code for YOU! SitStay created a 15% off discount for MY readers! The discount code is good on anything in the HolidayGift Guide! The code to use is ENJOY15

If you want to know more about SitStay, consider liking their Facebook Page and following them on Twitter.

I, Cinnamon, have written this post on behalf of BlogPawsPet Blogger Network for SitStay. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about SitStay , but Coon Hound Tales only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Wordless Wednesday: Toy #3 Green Toy

Green Toy - It Squeaks!

You see this squirrel toy? This is a subliminal hint. I want this toy for Christmas!


Love, Cinnamon

Worldess Wednesday: A Toy is Always a Toy

This is what is left of the toy I received from Chaser.
I still love it even though I destroyed the rest of it!

Wordless Wednesday: Squeeeeek!

When I get all wound up, this is my fav toy!

Amazing Book! Chaser: Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words

I'm going to give you the coon hound perspective on a soon-to-be released book, Chaser: Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words by John W. Pilley. It is a book that made me think. 

I hadn't really taken time to sit back and think about how I learn things... I just learn. And I don't think my owner thinks about how she teaches me things... she just tries to teach me things. Sometimes she confuses me by using two different words for one thing and being inconsistent with the treats. I don't think she's the greatest teacher but I know she loves me. So I was really glad to go away to the Doggie Country Club and have time to read this new book about a border collie who learned 1,000 words. In fact, it was so easy to read it took me only three evenings, alone in my cabin, to read it. And I LEARNED A LOT!

I have been with my owner since I was four years old, much older than Chaser, the border collie in the book, when she came to her family. She was just a cute puppy with soft fur. They had lots of time to teach her things. Another thing they had going for them was that Chaser's owner was a retired professor of psychology at Wofford College and he needed a post-retirement hobby. He had lots of time on his hands. Instead of traveling like my owner does and boarding Chaser, he made it his project to teach chaser words and behaviors from the get go. He knew how animals learned and he had worked with dogs before Chaser. He kept up with the research on animal behavior.

He had read about a dog that knew a measly 200 words. He decided that his dog, Chaser, would learn at least 1,000 words.He had a plan and Chaser was at the center of Pilley's big project. And know what? Chaser loved it. I wish I had all the attention Chaser got every day. Play was the way Pilley taught Chaser. Play and compliments as positive reinforcement were the way Chaser knew if she had done what her owner wanted her to do. Chaser couldn't get enough of it. She didn't like to be idle. She always wanted to play and learn. In fact, Pilley had to teach her words like "time out" so he could do a few things for himself like watch a TV show. Now, I "time out" all afternoon sometimes. Maybe this is why I don't know 1,000 words. Ya think?

In general, border collies are really smart. They are bred to herd and they are bred to listen to the farmer, or sheepherder. Pilley had a head start because border collies naturally attend to their owners and what their owners say. Now, I have heard that border collies are even considered to be the smartest dogs in the world. So here is this man with an eager to learn puppy and time on his hands. And, to top it off, he had the theoretical knowledge to do the best teaching job possible (notice those BIG words I just used?)

I believe that coon hounds are very smart too. But we were bred for tracking and most of our smarts are in the connection between our noses and our brains. I've got Chaser beat when it comes to recognizing smells. I've got Chaser beat when it comes to following interesting animals through the woods by sniffing their trails. But, don't let my jealousy show here.... I really do think Chaser and her owner were pretty talented.

Chaser: Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words takes you through this marvelous story of a relationship between a man and his dog and how that relationship, and good teaching practices, produced a very happy dog who also knew 1,000 words. These weren't just names of things. Chaser eventually learned words for 1,000 toys and could retrieve them when asked to. She could understand full sentences and learned new behaviors by imitating her owner. Oh yes, and she could overhear words and learn them that way too. Oh yes, and she eventually demonstrated deductive reasoning. This was supposed to be impossible for nonhuman animals." WOW!

Here I am with some of my toys. I only have FIVE!

I was amazed at what Chaser ended up doing, especially how she put words together. She could understand names for things, sure, but she could then understand what to do with them. She had hundreds of toys and could tell them all apart. ME? I ONLY HAVE FIVE TOYS! NO WONDER I DON'T KNOW MANY WORDS!

Now before you think Chaser was some sort of lab animal... she wasn't. She was a beloved member of a family. And, her owner made sure she also got to do what she was bred to do... herd sheep. She learned that too! NOW I DON'T GET ENOUGH CHANCES TO TRACK ANIMALS AND HAVE NEVER TREED A RACCOON! Chaser had it made.

I enjoyed Chaser: Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words. I think dogs, dog owners and even psychology students would get a lot out of reading the book. And, with the holidays coming up, what a great gift idea!

I found out how dogs learn when I read Professor Pilley's book. I am glad my owner is reading it too. I am sure she'll have a few tricks up her sleeve to help me learn more words (BUT FIRST I NEED MORE TOYS!).

This book will be released on October 29, 2013 and will be available for sale on the publisher's site.

Note: As is common in the pet blogging industry, the writer was provided with a complimentary book for the purpose of review. It is a sponsored review through the BlogPaws Network.  While it has not influenced this review, the writer believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.