Christmas stories

I love reading Christmas stories, they always touch my heart.  One of my favorite stories was recorded, and they did such a good job I always share it each holiday season.  I hope you enjoy it.

Treat Simple

This month we were sent a pawesome new product to review, it's a Trail Mix for dogs!  The product is made by a company called Treat Simple.  I am very excited to be doing this review, because I love this company!  The company was started by three women, who wanted to produce dog treats that are healthy and contain only simple ingredients!  I love supporting women-owned businesses, and I love companies that actually care about providing quality, healthy dog treats and foods!

The company website explains why they created their company, and I agree wholeheartedly:  "Dogs are considered man’s best friend for a reason. They put all their trust in us, are always there to greet us, and remind us to take in life’s simple pleasures. They are not considered just a pet, but a part of the family. That’s why we felt it was important to treat them with delicious, beneficial nutrients."   Treat Simple dog treats contain only five ingredients, so you know exactly what is going into every bite.  They only use ingredients from the USA, and use only the highest quality human ingredients!

Their Trail Mix dog treats have quickly become a favorite of my collies.  The crunchy biscuits contain only Oat flour, blueberries, kale, coconut oil and honey.  And each bag also contains baked apple slices and banana chips.  These treats are wheat free, corn free, soy free and contain only non-GMO ingredients.  My collies love these treats, but I can't tell which they love more, the biscuits or the dried apple and banana chips!  What I love is that they are the perfect snack to take along on a hike with my dogs.

They are also a nice snack when we are visiting Nursing Homes to do Therapy Dog visits, as that can be exhausting for a dog and a little snack helps keep them focused and energized.

You can actually see the blueberries and kale baked into the cookies, and the apple and banana chips look so good you might be tempted to snack on some yourself.  But my collies would not share, as they knew these were made just for them!

If you are looking for a healthy snack for your dogs, these treats are perfect for hikes and walks, or just as a reward for all the happiness they bring into your life!

You can order these treats, and many others, directly from the Treat Simple website by clicking here.  They also have a link to help find a local retailer.  While you are doing your holiday shopping, don't forget your best friends, give these a try!  And the collies will be reviewing some of Treat Simple's other products, so come back next week to see our next review!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Not everyone knows that people who have blogs are actually members of a community.  There are those who blog about a particular dog breed, those that blog about a particular dog sport, those who blog about cats, those who blog about rescue, and the list goes on.  Our community is called "Blogville," and the members support each other, help each other, and we share a passion for writing and for our pets.  I'm thankful to be a part of Blogville, and for all the friends we have made over the years.

Abby, enjoying Thanksgiving at my sister's house today.

As many of you know from our recent posts, our Abby has been struggling.  She recently turned 12, and the veterinarians are doing everything they can to help her.  But she was not having a good week, and we had made the decision that it was time to let her go.  The arrangements were all made, her veterinarian was going to come to our house this evening, and then yesterday she rallied once again.  While she isn't back to full mobility, she is once again walking and seems more like her old self.  So we are deeply thankful for more time with our special girl.  Every day is a gift.  Thank you all for all the kind comments, thoughts and prayers.  Your words mean so much to us, and the support is appreciated.

Gifts for Dogs

Psst - did you hear that tomorrow is Thanksgiving?  And that means that the next day is Black Friday, the official start to the holiday shopping season.  With just two days to get ready, people are already planning their Christmas shopping lists.  When you are busy deciding what to give your loved ones, it's so important to make sure you don't forget to include your furry family members!  That's why we were excited to get the opportunity to review Blue Buffalo Santa Snacks for our friends at Chewy.com,.

Blue Buffalo created their Santa Snacks dog treats for our best friends, knowing that they get just as excited by the holiday season, and deserve to find something special under the tree.  These are dog treats made with oatmeal and cinnamon, and they are the perfect howliday cookie for your best friend!

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Check out the Key Benefits:

• Oven-baked holiday biscuits with oatmeal, cinnamon, barley, pumpkin, flaxseed and carrots.
• Natural treats with added vitamins & minerals.
• Made with wholesome whole grains, fruits & vegetables.
• No chicken/poultry by-product meals.
• No corn, wheat, or soy. A perfect holiday treat for pups prone to food allergies!

And the cookies come in such cute little shapes!  There is a Christmas tree, a gingerbread man and a star, all the perfect size for both little and big dogs to enjoy.

Ingredients:

Oatmeal, Whole Ground Barley, Ground Whole Oats, Pumpkin, Cinnamon, Flaxseed (Source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids), Cane Molasses, Carrots, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Salt, Calcium Carbonate.

I love that these treats, contain oatmeal, pumpkin, cinnamon and carrots.  And these treats smell really good, just look at Scarlett and Ryder's faces, they couldn't wait to try these cookies!

As so many of the holiday foods and desserts we indulge in each holiday season are not safe to share with our dogs, it's great to have treats made specifically for them.  So if you are searching for the perfect treat for your dog this Christmas, head over to Chewy.com and order some Blue Buffalo Santa Snacks.  The collies all agree, this a treat not to be missed!

The collies were sent these delicious cookies in exchange for their honest opinion, we were not reimbursed for this review.

Another Abby pupdate...sad news

You may have noticed that we haven't been updating the blog much in the past week or so.  I had shared the news on this post about my Abby.  The laser therapy and acupuncture were working, along with a variety of medications.  They gave my sweet girl a few good weeks, but this past week they have stopped helping.  We are working with her veterinarians, trying to find something to help her, but at 12 years old there isn't much left to try.  So please just keep our girl in your thoughts and prayers, and hug your seniors close.

Zignature canned dog food review

This month our good friends at Chewy.com sent us something that had the collies drooling!  They sent us Zignature Lamb Limited Ingredient canned dog food!  The collies always enjoy doing product reviews for Chewy.com, but the way to their hearts is definitely canned food, so they are very excited!  I love that we get to try new products, and get to share info about those products with our readers, they love that they get yummy canned food to try!

Zignature Limited ingredient canned food is a great option for many dogs with food allergies, as it is grain free, contains limited ingredients, and contains no chicken, corn, potatoes or soy.   Zignature just provides healthy food, which helps your dogs thrive.  It gives them the nutrition they need for hiking and playing, or competing at their favorite dog sport!

check out the Key Benefits:

• This grain-free, limited ingredient formula is made with one protein source and only a handful of other ingredients, creating a clean recipe with ingredients you can count on.
• Made with Lamb from the farmlands of New Zealand.
• A staple source of complete protein, Lamb provides Vitamin B6, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus and Manganese, and is rich in Vitamin A and B12, Riboflavin, Niacin, Iron, Zinc, Copper, and Selenium.
• Free of the most common potential canine allergens: corn, wheat, soy, dairy, and chicken, making this recipe ideal for pups with sensitivities and picky eaters.
• Wholesome peas and chickpeas round out the recipe with powerful antioxidants and fiber-rich, low-glycemic carbohydrates.

I was pretty happy when I read the ingredient list too!

Ingredients:
Lamb, Lamb Broth, Lamb Liver, Peas, Carrots, Chickpeas, Lamb Meal, Calcium Carbonate, Agar-Agar, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Salt, Suncured Alfalfa Meal, Potassium Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate, Cranberries, Blueberries, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid).

Lamb is actually the main protein in our kibble, so I knew this wasn't going to upset their stomachs.  But Zignature has other varieties, if your dog cannot tolerate lamb.  They also offer their limited ingredient canned food in turkey, kangaroo, duck, pork, venison, salmon, goat, guinea fowl, and many others!  You can find all their varieties right on Chewy.com by clicking here!

I also love how adding Zignature canned dog food to the collies' dinners gives them some extra flavor to their food.  The collies always enjoy finding something new in their bowls!

The collies and I all agree, this is a great food, and it's a great way to treat your best friend to a tasty dinner!  And looking at their sweet faces, and all the love and joy they bring into my life, I think they are worth it!

Chewy.com sent us this canned food in exchange for our honest review.  We were not paid for this or any review featured here on the collie blog.

Weekends go by so fast!

We had another beautiful, busy, fun weekend!  On Saturday and Sunday we took two of our girls to the dog show.  And our pretty little Winter won both days!  She is turning out to be such a beautiful little collie.  We had to rush home both days, because my daughter was dog sitting, so we didn't get any show pictures.  But I wanted something to celebrate her wins, so I took her for a hike at a local lake, and caught this perfect picture...

On Friday evening, to get ready for the show, my daughter and I took our two girls who were entered, for baths.  And then on top of going to a dog show on both Saturday and Sunday, we squeezed in a hike, dinner with my mom, and a Therapy Dog visit.  I also took one of the other girls for a hike, and then a bath as she got a bit muddy.

3 baths, 2 hikes, 2 dog shows, 1 Therapy Dog visit....no wonder I was exhausted this morning!    But it was all worth it, we had a wonderful weekend!

We also met this sweet little family during our hike.

It was a dark, cold night...

The night wind was blustery and cold, and the sky was dark and full of clouds.  I walked down the road, the wind pushing at my back, hurrying me along.  It was getting late, and I had considered asking for a ride, but only had a mile to walk until I reached my home.  The Halloween party had been fun, and it had been a while since I had seen my friends, so I lingered longer than I had planned.  Shivering from the chill in the air, I considered taking a short cut across the cemetery, but hesitated.  "Isn't this the perfect scene for a horror movie?" I asked myself.  Glancing to my right, I studied the gravestones, looking for any sign of movement.  There was nothing there to disturb the silence, only an empty stillness.


I quickly made a decision, hoping over the knee-high fence, I jogged across the cemetery.  While I did not believe in ghosts or monsters, I did have an active imagination, so I moved as quickly as I dared in the low light.  I was about half way across the grounds when I heard a low, pain filled howl.  Pausing, I turned to stare into the shadows, looking for the source of the sound.  Was it just the wind, flowing through the trees that created the mournful sound?  Or was I not as alone as I originally believed?

I took a step, to continue my progress across the graveyard, when I heard it again.  This time it was louder, a wailing lament full of loneliness.  A shiver of fear ran down my spine, while tears filled my eyes at the sadness in the ghostly sound.  No one should be so sorrowful, I knew I couldn't ignore a cry that was so full of despair.  Telling myself I was crazy for lingering in a cemetery late at night, I pulled my cellphone out of my pocket and turned on the flashlight.

Hearing the low moaning again, I made my decision.  Slowly, with equal parts dread and determination, I made my way towards the sounds.  The wind continued to blow, tossing my long, brown hair into my eyes, making it difficult to see.  Passing through the rows of gravesites, I stared into the darkness, looking for the source of the heartbroken cries.  Suddenly, off to the left, I could swear I saw a shadow moving, low to the ground.  I headed in that direction, unsure of what I was about to find.


Passing through another row of graves, I finally discovered who was mourning in a cemetery alone at night!  Gasping, I fell to my knees!


Not sure I could believe what I was seeing, I was frozen in shock.  Lying there on the cold ground, his eyes full of pain and grief, was a rough collie.  He was a beautiful creature, and he looked so out of place curled up next to the old, grey headstone.  As I stared at him, he softly whined, begging for help, for someone to care.  I slowly reached out to him, and ran my fingers through his long fur.

"Are you okay?  Are you lost?" I softly asked him.  He whined in response and stared at me, with a tilt to his head and a gentle acceptance in his eyes.  I glanced around us, and seeing no one, I turned back to the collie.  "I can't leave you here alone, do you want to come home with me?"  He slowly stood up and walked towards me.  Placing my hand on his furry mane, I encouraged him to follow along at my side.

We soon reached my home, and the collie walked inside, as if he had always lived with me.  I brought him into the kitchen and grabbing a bowl from the cupboard, I poured him some water.  He quickly drank his fill, while I searched for something to feed him.  "You must be hungry, let's see what you can have to eat." He just sat down and waited patiently, as if he understood my words.  Looking in the fridge I spotted left over chicken.  Grabbing it, I cut it into small bites and fed them to him.  He took each piece so gently, I could tell he was well trained.

Basic needs met, I decided it was time for bed for both of us.  "Come on big guy, you'll sleep in my room.  I can't have you wandering around my house unsupervised.  In the morning we will try to find your family."  He once again followed me, and watched as I made him a bed of blankets on the floor of my bedroom.  "You can sleep here, you sure are a good dog," I told him as I stroked his beautiful fur.  With uncanny intelligence, he laid down on the blankets with a sigh.  He looked happy and grateful to have a soft, warm place to sleep, and his little pink tongue gave my hand a kiss of thanks.  "Good night handsome collie."  I got ready for bed, and fell asleep listening to the quiet sounds of the his breathing.

When I woke up the next morning, it took only a moment to remember my guest.  Looking over to the bed of blankets on the floor, I realized the collie wasn't there!  Looking around my room, I didn't see him anywhere.  My bedroom door was still shut, so he couldn't have left.  Sinking to my knees next to the bed I had made for him, I stared in confusion, wondering if it had all been a dream.  But later when I spotted the bowl of water on the kitchen floor, and the missing chicken from the fridge, I knew he had really been there.

How he disappeared from my room, and where he went, will always be a mystery.  I did return to the cemetery, to the spot where I had found him, but I never encountered the lost collie again.  Was he a lost dog, lonely and looking for companionship?  Or was he something more, perhaps a weary soul wandering through the night?  I can only hope the comfort I gave him allowed him to continue his journey knowing he had a friend.  I still think of him from time to time, and wonder if my ghostly visitor ever found his way home...