Therapy Dogs

Lately I've received a lot of inbox messages with customers sharing photos of their pups in LBF gear.  Every time I see a new photo, I am a little extra giddy as I read their message.  This particular pup is not only a beautiful boxer, but she has a story to tell.

This is Martha; A name that is forever a sweet name to me as that was my grandmother's name.  Martha is a white boxer with the most adorable face.  Her mother purchased an accessory for her to wear when she went to "work".   My first image was of a pup running a cash machine and checking on customers, but clearly that's not what line of work Martha is in ;) ;)

Martha accompanies her mother at work as an occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy and READ dog.  This is something I have been more aware of lately as I have met people that also have their pups involved in one or more of these programs.  In case you are unfamiliar with this, READ dogs are registered therapy dogs that travel to schools and children read to them to gain more confidence in their reading and communication skills.  My heart instantly connects with these stories not only because I am a big dog lover, but because I was one of those kids that was a very shy reader in school.  To this day, reading is not something I enjoy, I am not a speed reader and I still struggle with finding the right words sometimes.  I think it is so great that there are dogs getting involved and opening people up to better communicate and assisting with emotional and physical needs.

Martha's mother, Nicole, shared this website with me where you can read more personal stories about how dogs can impact someone's life.  If you are interested in the READ program, you can check out more information here.

**If you have a therapy dog, work with a therapy dog or want to give a gift to one that you know, please use coupon code THERAPY and receive 20% off your dog accessories purchase from now until Thursday December 13.  Coupon code will only accepted on collar accessories.   

Let these pups know they are loved and appreciated, as well as dressed to impress when they walk in the room!

Meet Roman

How adorable is this little fur ball?!

Roman is my cousin's new puppy and her family is so in love with him.  My cousin has three little boys that are energetic and super sweet at the same time which is the perfect combination with a pup.  Roman (half yorkie half schnauzer) likes to chase the boys around the house and cuddle up when it's nap time.  Although Roman is a boy, his parents were kind enough to let me photograph a couple accessories on him when I was visiting last.  It's nice to see what my accessories look like on other breeds without short white hair like Stanlee.  The verdict was that Roman looked every bit as adorable :)

Pupdate: Anxiety

I mentioned a while ago about Stanlee's allergies and posted this photo of him the day he had his allergy testing.  It sparked a lot of interest about the jacket he is wearing and our experience with it, so I thought I would talk about that here.

Stanlee is wearing his thunder shirt in this photo.  The thunder shirt is for pups with anxiety as a way to feel more secure.  Stanlee has always had anxiety since we adopted him.  At first, it was separation anxiety.  He followed me around right at my feet the first few months we had him, while at the same time he wouldn't let me pick him up because he was scared and stiff.  Stanlee and I worked a lot on building a relationship and now it's amazing to see how far we have come.  Not only has he completely opened up to us and shows so much love toward our family, but he has also taught me to never give up on a dog that needed special attention.  

Stanlee's anxiety today is more elevated when changes occur.  When we moved, he had a little bit of a hard time with all the boxes, the moving and then adjusting to a new place.  If we have people over, I try to have his thunder shirt on to help with pacing and hiding under tables.  Or, if I notice him feeling extra sensitive for whatever reason, I put his shirt on.  Stanlee loves his thunder shirt and I definitely notice a difference when he is wearing it.  I think it keeps him warm too which he always loves.  (This pup will curl up under any blanket or bury himself in pillows given the chance!)

I'm not sure if Stanlee will ever grow out of his anxiety.  Sometimes I look at him and think it is a part of his personality.  Stan is very different than our other boston terrier, Miley, who is care free and miss independent.  Each year he gets better and better and I feel proud of how far he has come.  If your pup is like Stanlee and has an anxious personality type, I recommend trying the Thunder Shirt.  You can probably find it at most large pet store chains or online here.  

Selling Product At Three Dog Bakery

I am so excited to share with you that I am now selling at Three Dog Bakery in Columbus, Ohio!!

In addition to selling online in my Etsy shop, I am now selling in a handful of boutiques around the USA, either on consignment or through wholesale orders.  It is so much fun to see my items displayed in a store!  Something I would have never thought I would be doing a year ago...

Three Dog Bakery is extra special to me because this store tailors to dogs, and owners who love to spoil their dogs.  Plus, I used to live in Columbus and spend a lot of time in the short north area near downtown where the shop is located.  

Every time I pass through Columbus, I try to stop in and pick up a treat for my pups.  Three Dog Bakery sells all kinds of pup treats.  You can purchase food, bones, little pupcakes, buckeyes, pawlines, lickity splits, puppermints, birthday cakes and so much more.  When you order there will be two great danes there to take your order and say hello.  ;)

At Three Dog Bakery, you can find LBF dog collar accessories, dog shirts and matching children clothing.  It's such a fun environment and I am very excited to have my items for sale in their adorable space!

Funny Friday: I thought you were dead

Source: crazywebsite.com via Lyndsay on Pinterest

Pupdate: Best Seat In The House

MileyJo is such an outdoor dog.  She loves looking out windows, sitting on porches, running around outside and sunbathing on the concrete.  This is the only downside to apartment living.  I wish she had a big back yard to run wild in and explore.  Someday I hope we can have a home with a back deck and an acre of green grass and trees to run around.  But for now, a little table pushed up against an open window is the best seat in the house.  

Pupdate: Allergy Testing

Stanlee is my pup that does all the modeling for my shop.  He is super sweet, loyal, and knows how to model a bow-tie very well.  What you probably don't know about Stanlee is that he actually suffers from two things: anxiety and allergies.  

Ever since we adopted Stanlee, we knew he had some type of skin problem.  Stanlee gets pretty stinky, even after just having a bath, his skin is usually pink and itchy, he breaks out in hives and is sensitive to just about anything.  After having the little guy for 3 years, we decided it was time to get an allergy test to see exactly what it is he's allergic to.  We tried e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. and nothing seemed to get his allergies under control, and our vet visits to something less frequent than every 6-8 weeks.  So, we did an allergy test a couple weeks ago and we now FINALLY know what it is he is allergic to.

A specific type of mold.

Mold.  

That's all. 

I honestly thought the vet was going to say he was allergic to grass, pollen, wool and even his own dander!

However, when an allergy test comes back, if the dog's level is over 150, they are considered allergic to that item (and they test for everything).  Stanlee came back with a level of 1300+ for this specific mold! Yes you read that correctly, over 1300!  Talk about severely allergic to this mold.  Our next step is to give him injections every 4-5 days over the next 6 weeks and then he will go to just once a month, hopefully.

Because we have lived in four different apartments in four different cities across Ohio, the vet didn't seem to think it was a problem with our current living conditions since Stanlee has a very long history of skin allergies, and our apartment complex is brand new.  Mold can grow anywhere, but the vet explained this mold is common in old homes, basements and very humid walls.  We aren't sure exactly how this severe allergy came about.  The vet said it could be the product of his last home environment before we adopted him, and his body reacting to being removed from that environment.  Similar to a pregnant woman that eats a lot of peanuts, their baby could be more prone to a peanut allergy.  

Either way, we now know what Stanlee's allergy is, and how to treat it which makes this momma very happy.  And, seeing him in his little bandaged paw made me want to cuddle him even more than usual. How pitiful does that little paw and face look!

p.s. - Is the pregnant woman/peanut allergy thing really true?  Because if I am ever pregnant, it will be an awful 9 months of not consuming peanut butter twice a day.  

Me + peanut butter = happiness.

Funny Friday: Grocery Superhero

Source: Pinterest

The past few days I've had halloween and fall clothing on my mind for the pups.  I know, I know....clothing for the pups?  Stanlee wears a thunder shirt at times for his anxiety and actually enjoys a shirt to keep his skinny body warm.  And Miley, well she just looks hilarious in a costume.  

How adorable is this dachshund that's ready to take on the world.  

Or the grocery store.  

Either way ;)

Customer Photos

I love when customers share photos of their little ones in LBF gear.  If it's a professional photo of their pup in a collar accessory at their wedding...well that's even better!  

I would have to say that is one of my favorite things about social networking.  How easily you can share photos with each other.  There have been a lot of orders for dog collar accessories lately that will be worn by pups at a wedding, rehearsal or bridal shower.  

This makes my heart happy :)

If you want to share your photos of LBF in action, feel free to post them on my Facebook page, tweet me or tag me on instagram @LittleBlueFeathers!

Pupdate: Birthday Celebration

This weekend, Miley turned the big 5 years old.  Part of me can't believe she is five already.  Miley (also known as Mi, MileyJo and Joseph on her tomboy moments) was mine and husband's first boston terrier together, and our first pet.  It was one of those, "oh my goodness she is perfect" moments when we found her.

I think about Miley and Stanlee, and how much I love them all the time.  Isn't it crazy?!  They are dogs, and I never thought I could love a dog this way.  They have given me so much company over the past 4+ years and I can't imagine our home without them.  So, when one of them has a birthday, we celebrate!

Miley didn't just get a little pupcake for her birthday, we went all out and bought a full pup pie.  We are going to eat pie all week. (Because around here we also celebrate birth weeks, not just days).

While Miley inhaled her pie as quickly as she could, I thought about some of my favorite Miley things:

The way she has always taken her treat and runs away from people and other dogs, so they can't touch it.

Her white markings on her face, and her matching white front paws.

The way she scoops her paw and tries to move your arm over to her to pet her.

The way she is able to give me a look of, "I hate this moment" so very clearly.

Her hair color

When she gets that little spark in her and can't stop running around the house.  

The way she likes to share a pillow with you and sleep by your chest if you let her in bed with you.

How she hates having her picture taken.

There are so many things I love about this girl.  Things that are so very different from Stanlee, but that make Miley her.

Happy Birthday MileyJo!

Do you celebrate your pet's birthdays?!  Please tell me I am not the only one ;)

Pupdate: Bath Time

These pups.  They are always making me laugh.

Recently, the three of us were walking in our neighborhood when Miley and Stanlee both decided to stop and sniff the same fire hydrant.  One of them {ahem... Stanlee} decided he needed to hike his leg and leave his mark at the same time Miley tried to walk around the hydrant, resulting in someone peeing on someone else's face.  It was one of those moments when I couldn't stop laughing, yet I felt bad for Miley, especially because she dislikes bath time very much.  After laughing for a couple minutes, we walked back to the apartment and I filled the tub to bathe these two little guys.

What's funny is the way both of these pups feel about bath time. 

One pup, Stanlee, enjoys bath time.  He does a great job holding up his leg for me while I scrub and standing still.  Miley on the other hand is always inching toward the edge looking for a way to escape.  She hates being in the water.  She hates being told what to do and she hates having to be towel dried.  This last photo cracks me up because she is really great at giving glares, telling me exactly how annoyed she is at that moment.

Pups.  Aren't they great?!

Pupdate: Modeling Challenges

In our new apartment, I have a room dedicated to LBF, which is so so awesome!  I l.o.v.e it.  When we first moved in, I saw the two large windows, all the natural light that came in and the potential for great product photography in the second bedroom, which is referred to as LBF studios ;)  

Our old apartment was on the first floor and shaded most of the day leaving us in the dark and using a lot of indoor lighting which is difficult to work with.  Our new apartment is bright and sunny most of the day!  There is just one little problem...

There is a big pond right outside LBF studios.  A pond filled with ducks, geese and king fishers.  This means the dogs have a hard time focusing on anything but them when they are in LBF studios.  Especially when it is time for modeling and Stanlee gets to sit up higher on a table.  Sometimes, we end up with two pups trying to squeeze together on Stanlee's table and modeling station.  As you can tell, it's a little annoying to Stan to have MileyJo all up in his space, but clearly, MJ doesn't care because she gets to see outside.  So what.  

It can be a little tricky at times.  Trying to keep one dog down.  Trying to get the other dog to "look here" and then making sure the dog that is supposed to stay down, doesn't try and eat the treats you have waiting for Stanlee when he is done, because she is a little bit of a tubby.

Really, pup modeling can be difficult if you have a MileyJo in the room, but I can't help but love them unconditionally.

*This large golden yellow rosette flower is now available in my shop!  

Stanlee Gets Noticed

Most of you have probably been introduced to Stanlee, my Boston Terrier pup who is the face of Little Blue Feather bow-ties and collar accessories.  Incase you haven't met, allow me to introduce him to you:

Stanlee is such a unique Boston Terrier, and he has my heart for sure.  He is very loyal, loves to be cuddled and instantly turns into the best pup model when the camera comes out.  He makes my heart very happy and I can't imagine our home without him.

Recently, this pup has not only been melting my heart, he has been winning over stranger's hearts on etsy.  This past month he has been on the front page of etsy three different days, which lead us to meet some new friends in the handmade world. 

A few weeks ago, I was asked by a couple painters if they could use Stanlee as their subject for their next painting.  I was first contacted by Clair Hartmann and introduced to her amazing paintings she sells in her shop.  I was so impressed with her work and definitely agreed to let her use Stanlee as her subject.  In turn, she is also sending me a print of Stanlee for my home!  I can't wait to receive it and am blown away by how well the painting turned out of my little Stan man.

Please check out Stanlee's painting in Clair's shop and let her know how you discovered her.  She is a sweet person with great talent and I feel honored to have been asked for her to use my pup as her painting subject.  

Isn't it amazing the way an animal can touch your heart?  Even when you don't know him/her?  Stanlee is doing just that across the internet.  

I am one proud momma.

Bark In The Park

Red and white checkered bow-tie for sale here.

Pear green and white scallop stripes bow-tie.

Large felt flower collar accessories.

Small felt flower dog collar accessories.

This weekend I am participating in my second show of the year (and in May) close by here in Akron, OH.  This show is going to be really fun because the entire show is for pups!  Bark in the Park is this Saturday and I am very excited to share a booth with good friends that make handmade dog leashes.  I have really turned into a dog lover and I can't wait for Stanlee and I to make new friends at the show.  I have been adding more dog bow-tie and felt flower inventory to prepare for the show and playing with fun new fabrics.  If you live in the area, you should come out to Springfield Lake Park and people watch, dog watch and enjoy the warm weather with a walk around the lake.  It will definitely be a good time.

Also, have you ever noticed that a lot of times an owner and their dog resemble each other?  I love people watching, but if it's combined with people and their pups....well that is just even more fun!

Handsome Pups

This Christmas season, I received quite a few photos of dogs celebrating the holidays dressed in Little Blue Feather bow-ties.  I can't get over how handsome these pups are and how fun it is to see my ties on so many different breeds.

Take a look at some of these adorable little guys {and some that aren't so little} sporting their handmade Little Blue Feather dog bow-ties!

Does your pup need a handmade dog bow-tie?!!  You can purchase one in my shop!