Did you run out of time to send your holidays cards? Have no fear, our New Year cards are here!

If you're like me, you've got a million and one things to do, especially during the holidays!  Now, I design stationery, so it is a must for me to send out holiday cards, right?  Right.  This year, sales picked up (woohoo!) and work got busy and I could foresee that I would not be able to get my Christmas and Holiday cards out in time.  So, I decided this year I would do New Years cards!

Last year, my friend requested a design for New Years cards featuring a Jack Russell terrier, so I decided to make more color choices and an additional design for those of you who, like me, got a bit busy this year!  I've listed all the designs in my Etsy shop and would love for you to stop by and have a look around.  Also, please feel free to let your friends know if you think they might like them as well!  The site is www.etsy.com/houndandthistle

The cards are blank inside so you can write a note to your loved ones and send your good tidings and wishes for 2011.  As you know, I have drawn over 100 dog breeds in silhouette (plus a few cats and a horse), so we can put your breed on the cards.  If you'd rather leave off the silhouette, we can do that, too.  We aim to please here at Hound and Thistle!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and if you haven't gotten  your cards out, there is still time...If you can't get your New Years cards out, don't fret, I've got some Valentine's Day designs in the works!  ;)

Remember to Spay, Neuter, and Scoop the Poop! - Megan

Can Writing a Thank You Note Be Good for Your Health?

I just read an article on MSN.com called, "12 Little Instant Health Boosts."  Number 4 on the list is "Pen a Thank You Note".  Of course this caught my eye since I not only write thank you notes but also design and sell note cards.  In this day and age, it seems everyone is texting, emailing, and tweeting...everything is digital.  In fact, it seems many people would rather do the above than actually call someone on the phone, let alone actually write a note with paper and pen!  Sometimes I wonder if children who are growing up now will actually have good penmanship since it seems they know how to type before they can write!

According to the article written by Alyssa Shaffer (http://health.msn.com/health-topics/depression/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100265404&gt1=31036),  people who wrote notes of gratitude (and actually meant it) were happier. 

Some other benefits of writing according to the article may be improvements in:

• liver function
• lung function
• immune system
• reduced blood pressure
• well-being

A benefit that I think one gets from writing is the knowledge that the recipient of your note will be so excited to receive an actual hand-written note in the mail.  It seems the only things we get in the mail these days are bills and junk; it's always such a treat to see an envelope with a real stamp and your friend or family member's handwriting on the front.  When you see a note like that in your mailbox, you know something good is inside and can't wait to sit down and read the thoughtful note inside.

So, take a moment to grab some note cards, make some tea (another healthy item on the list!), and write a note or two to those you care about.  It will make you feel better and I guarantee, it will make the day of the ones you love!

Boxerstock - What A Blast!

We had an amazing time at Boxerstock presented by the Atlanta Boxer Rescue.  It was a great event with lots and lots of boxers...and a few other breeds for good measure!  ;)  I think the final count was 1200 people which was fantastic - a lot of great folks came out for a great cause. 

I learned a few things at Boxerstock:

• Check your boxer for lumps as boxers are prone to cancer.  Even if they are young, you should pay attention because if caught early, most cancers can be treated.
• Some breeders "put down" white boxers as they are seen as "undesirable".  Wait, what?!  Why not find them a home like the lovely ones I saw at Boxerstock?!  I realized I hadn't seen a white boxer before and I now knew why.  They are so pretty!
• Many people are not cropping the ears anymore...these guys are so cute with floppy ears!
• There's not as much barking at a boxer event as there is at a terrier event!  ;) 

We had a really good time and will definitely plan on being there next year!  Our thanks to everyone who came out and supported us!

O Magazine article - Megan and her border terriers!

Hi Everyone!

Sorry it's been so long since I've written, I started a second blog called Dog Friendly Spots (www.dogfriendlyspots.com) and have been super-busy!  Alas, I don't want to neglect this blog either, so I think I'm back on track.

For those of you who have been following this blog, you know that I had the honor to be trained by Victoria Stilwell for the October issue of O Magazine.  The magazine is out and the article is great!  They were really truthful and I hope the article will help other dog owners who have similar issues.  I cannot stress how wonderful Victoria was and how her positive methods of training really work. 
Here's a photo of Riley from the shoot...yes, she's on the kitchen table, and no, it wasn't a staged photo! ;)




Photo courtesy of Christopher T Martin.


Here's the link to the article: http://www.oprah.com/relationships/How-to-Train-a-Disobedient-Dog

Check it out and let me know what you think! 

By the way, I'm prepping for Boxerstock next Sunday 10/24.  If you're in the Atlanta area, come check it out!  It benefits the Atlanta Boxer Rescue and is sure to be a great day of live music, great vendors (including Hound and Thistle!), and great fun!  It's at Jim R Miller Park from 12 pm -  7 pm.

Take Care, Megan

Working Terrier...In A Tree!

Check out this video...This is a border terrier who is quite a hunter!  We were watching it with Riley (yes, she watches TV) and she went nuts!  Now, if she could only be that intense at an earthdog trial...

John Paul Pet

We have border terriers and the proper way to groom their coats is to hand-strip them, not use clippers. When Finlay was a pup, our breeder recommended a gentle shampoo like Johnson's Baby Shampoo which worked really well. One day, we found a dog grooming salon that had a groomer who knew how to hand-strip, so we made an appointment. Finlay's coat is softer and fuller than most border terriers and it took us forever to strip his coat. We were excited that we found a professional who could help us!



It turns out, it took a lot longer than the groomer anticipated because of Fin's coat, but he looked great! That evening, we noticed bumps all over his skin and he was rubbing all over the sofas, scratching constantly. Since he smelled 'perfume-y", we bathed him with the baby shampoo and also put him in an oatmeal bath to soothe his skin. After a few days, Finlay was feeling better and we realized that we had to make sure to bring our own shampoo when we got him groomed.



Fast forward a few years and a colleague of mine gave me two bottles of a new shampoo her husband was representing, John Paul Pet. Yes, this is related to the famous human hair care line, Paul Mitchell; the founder is John Paul DeJoria (CEO and Co-founder of the Paul Mitchell brand). Now, I am not a frou-frou person and my dogs are not frou-frou dogs, but it was free and it looked and sounded good! Because of Finlay's sensitive skin, I was hesitant to use it, but after reading about it, decided to give it a try, after all, the kind she gave me was "oatmeal". We tried the shampoo and not only did it clean well, but more importantly, it was not irritating to our dogs' skin. What we love even more is that the company's mission is to promote proper care of all pets and they support several outreach programs for pets.



If you're looking for good shampoos for your pets, make sure to check out John Paul Pet. You can visit their website at http://www.johnpaulpet.com/ to see where to get their products.

Dachshund Saves Owner!

I am a sucker for dogs (but you already knew that) and a sucker for heart-warming stories. Today, a story is circulating that's both heart-warming AND features a dog. Woo-hoo!

A dachshund in Oregon saved its owner! Yep, you heard me right, a dachshund saved its owner! You may wonder how such a little dog could save the life of its owner. I've attached an article from www.widetrends.com for the full story and a photo (love those wrinkly little legs!) of sweet Missy, an 11 year old hero, um, I mean heroine.

Missy's owner collapsed so, like any dog would do (or as we would hope any of our dogs would do), Missy went next door and stayed in the neighbor's yard (he was gardening) until he followed her back to her house where her owner had collapsed inside. Paramedics were called and luckily, Missy's owner is recovering. In case you're wondering, her owner had recently had heart surgery and suffered vertigo, hence the fall.

Stories like this are not only fun to read and heart-warming, but they also provide evidence about dogs' intelligence and bonds with their owners. Dogs are amazing creatures and give us so much that we need to remember to give them all the love, companionship, and stimulation they deserve. Think about your relationship with your dog. Can you improve it? Does your dog need more playtime, more walks, or a fun exercise like agility or flyball? We are responsible for our dogs and in saying that, we are responsible for giving them fulfilling lives. Don't just be a dog owner, be a responsible dog owner, it's amazing how it will enrich your life and strengthen your bond with your dog.