And We're Back!

We've had a very busy six weeks here at The Dog Geek, so busy that I haven't had time to post about it! The dogs and I have been competing, traveling, and taking care of a whole lot of sheep. Here's a few of the highlights from July and August"

AKC Herding Trial!

We competed in an AKC herding trial at the end of June! I also helped set up and run the trial, and Zip and I helped set the sheep up for each run for the classes we weren't in.


I entered Zip in the B course class long before the trial, and two weeks before showtime I realized we had never actually done the B course. I didn't even know how? With two weeks of practice we somehow managed to get first place on our first ever B course run.


Zip brought home a first place, second place, third place, and fourth place from the trial. She is very, very talented.

Godzilla earned qualifying scores in both of her A course runs, to the great surprise of nearly everyone watching that remembered her being excused from the ring for excessive sheep biting last time we trialed. She earned her Started A herding title, which is somehow more impressive than Zip's ribbon collection.

One Year Without Brisbane

 I lost my beautiful and beloved Brisbane on August 6th of last year. He was the dog that changed everything, and I'm still adjusting to life without him. I miss his giant fluffy ear, his long silky tail, and the way he could read the tiniest cues and figure out exactly what I wanted him to do.

I will have dogs that are better bred, better built, and better raised than Brisbane, but I don't think any dog will ever influence me as a person they way that he did.

The Great American Eclipse

The dogs and I drove up with some friends to Idaho to see the 2017 eclipse in its totality. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen, and well worth the 14-hour drive. The dogs got to swim in the Boise River, and visit with some of their favorite people.

On the way home we decided to drive through Yosemite just to appreciate the scenery. Dogs aren't allowed anywhere but the parking lots, but we did get to see the Bridal Veil Falls!

DIY Dog: Homemade Bone Broth for Picky Dogs

Homemade bone broth is incredibly easy to make, and one of the few things my picky chihuahua will reliably drink. Ru is super, super picky. In an attempt to get more liquid into him, I have tried moistening his food with a variety of different things. He normally doesn't like anything at all touching his kibble, and won't eat it if there's water, baby food, applesauce, or store-bought broth or stock on it.

I started making my own broth while reading Dinner Pawsible. While I didn't stick with the recipe book, I did continue making bone broth for my dogs. It's a really cheap, really easy, and really healthy way to keep them hydrated. This is good for their bladders and kidneys, and also makes me feel like a fabulous dog owner. Or a basket case. Maybe both.

Anyway, here's my basic recipe for bone broth:

• Take some bones (any type, cooked or raw, meat on them or not, leftover steak bones from your dinner, they don't all have to be the same type of bones, whatever, it doesn't really matter).
• Put them in a crockpot. Fill the crockpot with water.
• Set the crockpot on low heat for like a day or two. Add more water if it gets low.
• Throw away the bones. Strain the broth, or not. Feel free to feed any boneless meat sludge to your dog.

Ta-da! You can throw your leftover roast chicken carcass, or Thanksgiving turkey bones, or whatever in. Maybe save them in the freezer till you have enough to fill the pot. Since Brisbane is allergic to poultry, I usually make beef or pork broth. Beef and pork feet are my favorite thing to use for broth because it ends up all gelatinous when it cools down. I usually add a tiny bit of salt, garlic powder, and occasionally herbs, but this is largely for my own aesthetic and doesn't really serve a purpose.

After a day or two, I shut off the crockpot and let the broth cool for a bit. I used to strain it through cheesecloth, but then I realized the dogs probably enjoy all the little meat bits and stuff in there so now I just scoop stuff out with a slotted spoon. I toss the bones and add the boiled meat to their dinners for the next couple of days. 

Homemade broth doesn't have much of a shelf life, so I freeze it in sandwich bags and microwave it as needed. The dogs appreciate a warm dinner, and Ru will actually drink an entire bowl of liquid with his dinner. Truly amazing. There's really not anything bad about it either, it's low in fat, high in vitamins, and doesn't have any salt unless you put some in there. It's just plain tasty goodness, and even super picky anorexic dogs seem to love it.

One Whole Year!

Brisbane's Bark Blog has officially been up and running for one year! That's a whole year of near-daily blogging about my dogs, dog stuff, dog food, dog treats, and dog training.

In the last year, Brisbane, Ru, and I have reviewed nearly 150 different products, from puzzle toys to booties to harnesses. We've been lure coursing and taken many, many trips to the dog beach. I have fostered six different dogs with varying outcomes, and done a variety of dog-related crafts and projects.

So what were we doing this time last year? And how have some of those products held up after all this time?

Product Updates

My first product review was for the Chuckit! Ultra Ball. As of last month we were still using that exact same ball, until someone stole it. I had purchased a two-pack and we're now on ball number two. I'm pretty sure these things last forever. Same with our Chuckit! Ball Launcher. Meanwhile, our Lupine beach gear is gradually getting phased out in favor of non-absorbent alternatives like our Fraggle Rock Harness and Dublin Dog Collar.

Photo by Erin Koski

I've retired a few of our food toys in the last year, while others are still going strong. The Kong Quest toys have been abandoned because I got tired of cleaning them. They didn't keep the dogs busy for very long, either. I was surprised to see that Kong expanded the product line, and I can only assume the new animal-shaped toys are for smaller dogs than Brisbane, and busier dogs than Ru. Syd the puppy would probably enjoy them.

Our Kong Quest toys went to entertain Xhuuya the Raven for a while, but the enormous task of keeping them clean meant they still didn't get used much. While soaking in a bucket outside one night, the Starpod was stolen by raccoons. We were all thinking it was gone for good, and then several weeks later they brought it back.

Photo by Erin Koski

In the last year, Brisbane has developed a little bit of arthritis in his hips. This has led me to change the way I fit harnesses on him. I've learned that harnesses that cross over the upper arm can cause the dog to carry less weight on their front end. This resulted in Brisbane being noticeably unhappy in his ComfortFlex and Rolled Leather harnesses. I've stopped using Norway-style harnesses on Brisbane, and switched to highly-adjustable ones like the Premier Sure-Fit.

Foster Dogs

Photo by Erin Koski

Josie the German Shepherd was my hospice dog when I started this blog last year. She was here to get spoiled and loved at the end of her life. Josie went to work at doggy daycare with me every day and enjoyed playing with her many friends, despite her advanced age and spinal degeneration. I love when old dogs play.

Ulysses was with us off and on for nine months, during which he learned how to be a proper dog. We're not sure what exactly happened to him before he landed in the Orange County Animal Shelter as a stray. We do know that he did not have acquired bite inhibition, and this combined with his behavioral problems made him dangerous. Uly was released from his demons in January. 

Darla and Hellin were here for a few weeks. Their primary foster mom has a somewhat rural property, and I've been helping to socialize her rescue pups with cats and tiny dogs. While they were here, Darla and Hellin were exposed to traffic, hardwood floors, and doggy daycare. Hellin has since been adopted locally, and Darla is back with primary foster mom while I work with her sisters.

Xena is an odd little puppy, and still looking for the right home. Living in the middle of town with me was pretty stressful for her, and we're thinking that she needs to be placed with someone further from the center of town. She is currently back with primary foster mom.

Syd is currently napping on my couch. We met a wonderful woman who wants to adopt her, and will be visiting the home and meeting the cats tomorrow. 

Syd and her sisters are now seven months old and seem to be topping out at 30 pounds or less. The original breed guess of "pit bull + German Wirehaired Pointer" fits less and less, and I'm beginning to suspect they are actually schnauzer mixes. They're all very low-effort, low-drive, easy puppies.

What's Next?

I have lots of plans for the next year, and some of them even involve this blog! Brisbane and I have finally begun sheep herding lessons again, and hope to enter a competition at the end of April. He is registered with the AKC, and I'm also hoping to do some official lure coursing events so he can finally earn some freaking titles. We may also begin a rally class in the spring because I miss doing competitive obedience in a weird sort of way.

Brisbane's Bark Blog will continue to bring you product reviews, food spotlights, and tasty treats. I have a bunch of new stuff to share, including Brisbane's new Sleepypod Clickit harness, a Dr. Chris Zink-approved Balance Harness, and some stuff we're trying out to toughen up Brisbane's delicate feetsies. I'm hoping to start doing video blogs one of these days, and will continue to update the Dog Food Wizard as quickly as possible. Stay tuned!