Friday Things
1. We had an awesome little snowstorm last weekend that dumped a total of about 6 inches into our backyard. I got some stuff done around the house, and even baked up homemade pizzas. Einstein and Duke loved running around and playing in the snow. Duke will sit with his head tilted back, mouth open, trying to eat the snowflakes. I love these guys! :)
2. EXCEPT… Duke has developed the awful, awful habit of snacking on poop. Ugh! Bleh, bleh bleh. My mom’s dog does this and I’ve always thought it was disgusting. I’ve counted my blessings that Einstein never developed that habit, but it’s come around to bite me in the butt. This is a recent development, so I don’t know if it’s because they’re frozen and he sees them sort of like “sticks”, but oh my, it must stop! We’ve seen suggestions about mixing pumpkin into food (didn’t help), sprinkling hot sauce on the poop (only works if you can see it and it’s not buried in the snow!), and mixing steamed broccoli into food (haven’t tried that yet). Does anyone have any recommendations? We need HELP! Ew! Bleh! Gross!
3. Confession: Don’t hate me, but I fist pump when I get winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings on my phone. I just love a good snow storm! So cozy and pretty! My Chief Culinary Consultant and I were just reminiscing about the blizzard of 2010; he was living outside of D.C. at the time, and we were snowed in all weekend. LOVED IT! This is what one of the streets near his apartment looked like (we ventured out once it stopped snowing; it was SO quiet – there are some cars buried under that snow!):
4. While I love the snow, the insane cold weather this year has left my skin a total wreck. My face has been SO flakey. Literally, within 10 minutes of putting on moisturizer, my forehead is covered in dried skin. I’ve always used the same skin care products year round (a hydrating formula), but I finally broke down and bought some products that were winter-specific. After using them for the bulk of this week and not seeing a single speck of dry skin on my face, I wanted to share my recommendations with you!
I’m a very loyal Bobbi Brown customer (disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Bobbi Brown, just love the products!); her skincare totally works for me, and I love, love, LOVE her makeup, so I naturally turned there when I needed more oomph in the moisture department. Below are the items I added to my winter skin care arsenal:
- Extra Balm Rinse (top L): I’m now using this to wash my face in the morning (I’m still using the same cleansing oil in the evening). I had tried a sample of it a couple of years ago, so I already knew it was fantastic. It leaves my skin feeling super clean, but not parched at all.
- Extra Repair Serum (top R): This was admittedly a splurge, but I was desperate! I’ve been putting a thin layer on (a tiny bit goes a REALLY long way) underneath my moisturizer morning and night. It’s silky with a bit of a milky texture, and it almost acts as a sealant. It feels wonderful!
- Extra Repair Moisture Cream (bottom R): I’m now using this as my daytime moisturizer. What a HUGE difference from my regular hydrating moisturizer. I can layer makeup on top of this, and when I go to wash my face at night, there isn’t a single fleck of dried up skin on my face!
BobbiBrown.com was running a special when I ordered, so you could pick two skincare products to sample along with your order. I got the Extra Repair Moisturizing Balm (middle) to use as my nighttime moisturizer, and the Extra Eye Repair Cream (bottom) since I was getting some flaking around my eyes, as well. I am loving both of these products, and will plan on purchasing them when the samples run out, although a little goes a long way, so they might last me through the winter!
Here’s to softer, hydrated skin!
5. I just caught wind a few days ago that some companies were releasing their Super Bowl ads early. The Clydesdales have always been among my favorite ads, and I saw that Budweiser had a new ad out this year… one with a puppy! In case you like to be surprised, I won’t embed the video here, but you can watch it on Adweek. After watching that, I followed the link to the ad from last year, which I somehow had not seen… And then I cried.
(Also, I’m a sucker for Fleetwood Mac.)
6. Are you planning a Super Bowl party this year? If so, what’s on your menu? My father-in-law’s birthday is Monday, so we are taking him out to lunch on Sunday, and then having snacks and birthday cake for the Super Bowl!
7. Rebecca tweeted this picture earlier this week:
I immediately forwarded it to my mom and sister. Back when I was in middle school, my family went on vacation to Virginia Beach. One day, we took a cruise around the Chesapeake Bay. I had my trusty camera with me, snapping photos like a good little tourist. My sister was next to me, and apparently she made some sort of movement, like getting up on her tippy toes, standing at the (ahem, very high) balcony. My mom naturally saw this movement as totally life-threatening and went into mom panic mode, ran over to my sister, arms flailing, to pull her away from the balcony. In the process, she managed to knock the camera out of my hands and… plop, right into the water below. I threw a fit, my sister threw a fit, and I’m pretty sure my dad walked away and pretended not to know us. My camera sits at the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay to this day (or it washed ashore and someone has pictures of an awkward 12-year-old’s family vacation).
We’ve laughed about that story so many times since then, but oh man, when I saw that diagram, it was the first thing I thought of!
8. Be forewarned, the following is a sad, sad story… Earlier this week, a Pittsburgh police K-9 dog, Rocco, was brutally stabbed by a suspect during an arrest. He was badly, badly injured, and in the day or so that followed, required two emergency surgeries. He lost nearly all of his blood, and the local news got word out that the vet hospital where he was being treated (PVSEC), was in need of canine blood donors. I called as soon as I heard, and was going to bring Einstein to donate, however they said their needs had already been met by an overwhelming response.
They did tell me, though, that they have a blood bank onsite and that you can bring a dog to donate at any time so they have supply in the event of an emergency. I wanted to share the story because I didn’t know that blood banks existed for dogs. Apparently, this is the only one of its kind in the Pittsburgh area. If you have a healthy dog and are interested in donating blood, call a veterinary emergency center near you to find out if they have such a program and how you can help.
I cried last night when I found out via Twitter that Rocco didn’t make it :( Â Einstein and Duke got a lot of extra hugs and kisses.
Rest well, Rocco, and thank you for your service. I hope you’re dashing through an obstacle course somewhere warm and sunny.
9. As you can tell, I’ve been rather weepy over dogs the last few days, between the Budweiser commercial and Rocco. Sheesh! I’m pretty sure my Chief Culinary Consultant is ready to ban me from Twitter and YouTube. It’s a good thing I’m planning a carbalicious dinner for tonight (cheesy meat lasagna!). That should help, and I’ll top it off with some chocolate :)
10. TGIF! Hug your friends (furry or otherwise) today!
Hi Michelle
I came across your blog looking for a gnocchi recipe (which I am definitely going to try) here in South Africa, and haven’t stopped going through your site for 2 hours now LOL. Wow, Really love your site.
Where eating poopoo is concerned it is all good and fine to make the poo taste bad so that he will stop but you need to look at the underlying problem.
Eating Poo generally means some mineral deficiency. He is lacking something in his diet and this needs to be seen to. Maybe try a doggy multi vitamin. in SA we have Bob Martins. I’m not sure if you have over there but they are excellent for keeping dogs happy and healthy.
Well this is Wednesday and I am just now reading your Friday Things! What a crazy schedule I have had the last week! Your blog is always a delight to read :)! I couldn’t read the story about Rocco, it would be on and in my mind for a long time so I couldn’t bear to read it Michelle. I think anyone who is cruel to innocent little animals should be locked up for a long time! I too have had some really dry skin lately, I recently tried Clinique’s moisture surge and it feels like a huge drink of water for my skin. I apply it at night before bed and in the morning my skin is still soft. I simply love it! I love SNOW!! I know it’s been a cold winter and everyone I know is complaining about it but personally, I prefer a cold, snowy winter anyday over a hot, steamy, humid summer day. I hate the heat. I live in Maryland and it gets very humid here. The humidity just drains me of my energy, the cold on the other hand does not. I sure hope the this summer is a cooler one! You have the two cutest little guys there. I hope Duke gets out of that habit soon…good luck Michelle, you’ll find what works!
I love snowstorms too! I live outside of D.C. as well. That blizzard was a doozy. I luckily didn’t have to drive in it, but some of my husband’s coworkers did. It took many of them 12-15 hours to go from the Tyson’s Corner area to Arlington.
I, too, love a good snow storm. Now, as an adult, it’s like God’s/Mother Nature’s way of saying “Hey guys, it’s time to slow down, take a break from your hectic schedule and look around at what I’ve created.” It is so peaceful and quiet. You really don’t realize how much noise we are around until something like that happens to make every thing stop. I get that same effect inside when the power goes out.
I was born in Minnesota where, as a kid, I thought those big piles of snow were just an exaggeration and now living about an hour away directly east from you in Ohio, I love it. Would rather have the snow than a rainy winter.
I heard that the poop eating is a result of a potassium deficiency and to feed him bananas.
Your snow photos are killing me with envy. I’m stuck in the midst of a torturous summer, tomorrow is going to be 102F and the rest of the week is much the same. Looks like the perfect weather to hide inside and cuddle the pups (maybe not immediately after the poo-eating though!).
My dog is a blood donor at PVSEC. He had to take a break due to losing a kidney last September (treated by Rocco’s surgeon) but he has recovered and should be back to donating in a month or so. They take great care of him and he does not seem to mind donating at all.
My younger dog eats poop in the winter too – and only in the winter. It must be a poosicle to them.
Did you notice if he only eats Dukes? As far as I can tell with my dogs, Cleo (the younger one) only eats Ariel’s (the older/dominate dog), which from what I read can be a submissive thing. Regardless, I think I’m going to look into the pineapple so many people mentioned!
*does Duke only eat Einstein’s?
Hi Kristina, I’m not sure to be totally honest with you!
As you are an animal lover, I was disappointed to read of your choice of Bobbi Bown skin care…did you know they test on animals? They claim not to …”except where required by law”…and that means in China where it is still required to do so. I hope you will consider other brands. I have given up on my old favourites Estée Lauder who also make Origins, MAC and I believe Bobbi Brown in favour of companies like The Body Shop and other local companies here in Oz who don’t animal test.
I actually was not aware of the “fine print” in their language, thank you for bringing it to my attention!
I LOVE YOUR DOGS VERY VERY MUCH!!!
Our now four year old Golden was a poop eater when she was a puppy. We tried everything and resorted to just picking it up. She stopped after awhile. But for some reason, she’s back to eating the frozen turds. I think she thinks of them as poopsicles. Hopefully when it warms up, she’ll stop again.
Ha- I pump my fist at snow warnings, too. Expecting a heavy dose this weekend, and I have my kitchen stocked for some cooking!
Michelle – I was so sad to hear of Rocco’s passing. It looked like he was going to pull through, and we were so sad when he didn’t. It was comforting to see the human and K9 officers accompany Rocco home.
As for the poop eating, the cold weather may be a factor. Our lab mix doesn’t normally show any interest in other dog’s poop (although bird droppings are a different matter!) However, the other day he nabbed what looked like a local outdoor cat’s “payday” out of a snow pile. He likes cold things like ice, so we figured maybe he couldn’t resist a smelly frozen treat. Good luck – that’s a gross habit for such a cutie to get into!
The stick figures over the railing are STILL
Cracking me up. OMG
Hi Michelle – no dog advice. Just wanted to tell you I discovered your blog last week, made the dark chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting for my daughter’s birthday and have your spinach dip recipe ready for Super Bowl Sunday!, LOVE your blog! So excited to have found it:)
Hi Linda, Welcome to the site! Awesome to hear you’ve already enjoyed a recipe! Happy birthday to your daughter! :)
I love the snow pic of your babies! I, too, am a snow lover, too – surrounded by folks who DON’T like it. But, I live in Arkansas and we don’t get much, so it is always a treat. Sorry about the poop eating – ew gross – I second! My dog (now deceased) loved to go outside in cold weather and collect cat poop that our cats left JUST FOR HER. Yes, indeedy, GROSS! Hopefully you can get this nipped in the bud!
Love the Clydesdale/Puppy ad! But really, last year’s was my very favorite, even though this year’s is so precious.
Have a great Super Bowl weekend! We are having chicken quesadillas with all the fixin’s! And, a yummy layered salad.
Our 7 month old Mastiff is always in the poop too. I dont know if he likes to play with it or eat it but its gross. I am for sure trying some of theses. The other day he came back inside and it was smeared all over his nose.
I am a vet and this is a very good article that explains the basics of poop-eating: http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/its-me-or-the-dog/training-tips/dog-eats-poop.htm Forbid is a feed-through product that my clinic uses and has had some success with. Read the article and you will understand why it is only ‘some’ success.
Regarding blood banks: My clinic is in a small town, but we are the ‘big’ clinic in the area. Despite not being an emergency clinic, we do keep blood on hand. We also keep large dogs of our own, who frequently end up being our blood donors. So don’t just ask at the big clinics – your local clinic may need to replenish their supplies as well. And the vet’s dogs will appreciate the break – I’m not certain they always like it when their owner turns into a vampire!
And definitely get on this – the sooner you break this new habit/game, the easier it will be. It isn’t always possible to stop once it is a confirmed habit.
Haha! I can’t stop – vets love to share info and have a captive audience! Even though you feed grain-free, are the turd small and compact or are they fairly large and smelly? If it’s the second, it isn’t the right food for your dog(s), even though it is likely quite expensive! Large, soft, smelly turds are a sign that your dog’s digestive tract doesn’t appreciate what has been coming down the line.
Basically, give some of these suggestions a try – and give each suggestion a trial of at least a week, but preferable several. (I know, that kind of contradicts what I said about getting on this, but you can’t expect diet changes to have an immediate effect). Then head to the vet – there are tons of variables that can be in play, and talking directly to your vet about your specific situation while the vet can look at your dog is the best route to fixing your dog’s problem! Good luck!
For the poop thing Ive heard to give the pup bananas and to pick poop up before he gets a chance to eat it and turn the action into a habit cause then it becomes more difficult to stop. Ive been crying a lot too lately over animals. I just sent a shipment of pups yesterday to the US for a chance at finding good homes. Im relatively new at the “pet rescuer” thing and all this felt somewhat traumatic for me and the pups. Also just this morning i woke up crying about my Kater tots who i lost early in december. I had a dream that she appeared at my door all messed up. Katy was poisoned by an evil neighbor as well as my kitten Mia, my bfs cat Dirk and my neighbors cat david and another neighbors chihuahua. I just never had closure cause i didnt find her body. Its common for people here to “eliminate” animals they dont like and there is pretty much nothing pet owners can do about it. Even most authority officers in puerto rico think that kind of behavior is ok.
I have the worst dry skin, but haven’t had issues with it (or my lovely adult acne) since I started using the oil cleansing method a few months ago. It’s amazing, and you should consider giving it a shot. The Crunch Betty website has a couple great posts on how to get started (no, I’m not in any way affiliated with the site).
Also, I’ve always heard that if you sprinkle Accent or other no-salt seasoning on the dog’s food, it will prevent taste-testing the poopsicles. It’s so, so gross when they try to bring them into the house.
Happy Friday! I am with you on the snow! I am still waiting for the REALLY good one…..the one that says ” hey, settle in—you ain’t goin’ anywhere!”. Now on the subject of skincare. I live for YONKA. I have used this line of products for MANY years. You live in a metro area so you should be able to find a spa that gives Yonka facials. You need to run not walk and get one of these……they are heaven. I go as the seasons change and my skin is good to go! Let me know if you decide to check it out!
My sister’s dog ate poop like crazy! She took her to the vet and they prescribed a supplement to put in the dog’s food so it would be undesirable. It totally worked and the bad habit is no more.
You can buy a powder from your vet that you mix in their food which makes their poop smell bad so they don’t want to do that.
Since moving to Pittsburgh I am flaking away. I will have to try some of the creams, I too am desperate.
So sad about Rocco.
I always love reading your “Friday Things” blog. They seem to have a calming effect at the end of the week! Thanks for sharing you life with us! :)
Lynn, I feel exactly the same. Love Friday mornings – I always read Friday Things when drinking my coffee before heading into work – great start to the weekend.
We have a rescue dog that was already older when we got her. She has the same habit as Duke. While we find it rather unpleasant, the vet indicated that there really is little health risk to you or your dog that comes with this habit. That being said, it isn’t exactly desirable! Our vet indicated that you may never be able to train your pet out of that habit. We tried pills, cleaning up after EVERY potty (which is hard because we aren’t home during the day), pineapple, pumpkin, pepper, cheese, etc. . . none of it worked. Part of it is that there is a small difference between that and food in the eyes of dogs, but the other part of it is habit and urge so if you can work to pick up his droppings immediately (even in the snow) he should move away from the habit. No scolding, no emotion, just walk over, scoop, throw it away, reward. I’d get on this NOW as the longer he does it, the harder it will be to stop. Our next step will be trying to clicker train our dog away from the habit, but it will be a long road.
Heartbreaking story about Rocco so many give the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe…..dogs and humans.
Over the years we have a pup now and then eat their poop…..we always got something from the vet to sprinkle on their food that makes it taste horrid to them……it didn’t take too many times for them to get over it…..key here is not letting it go on as to make a bad habit out of it…….Our neighbors Rot
is six and still doing this they literally stand behind him with a shovel to get it before he does. Thanks for the skin care tips Bobbi Brown rocks…..
MY MOMS BLACK LAB ATE POOP, VET SAID ITS QUITE COMMON BE CAREFUL WITH PUMPKIN WAS TOLD TO GIVE TO DOGS AND CATS FOR CONSTIPATION BY MY VET
I’m sitting here at work during my break, with tears in my eyes. I should not have read this till I got home. Gave my German Shepherd, Rex extra hugs , kisses, and treats. Love your Friday doggie pictures best Michelle. Take care.
Hi
our dog used to eat poop too, they are coming too short on egg whites in their diet. Mix a raw egg into their food every day and you should see improvement.
hope this helps
I’ve seen that pineapple in the dogs food should make the poop not taste good after. I’ve never tried it…just seen it on It’s Me or the Dog! Haha
I’ve heard that dogs that like to snack on poop often need potassium, so bananas are a good substitute. Unless it’s an obsession thing, then training. Like being super aware and saying NO or DROP IT at the exact moment they start nibbling. There are a lot of horses around here and my dog has periods where she eats and plays with the horse droppings.. not cool. She rarely listens to NO in these situations but when I say: spit it out she does it immedietaly.. weird.
Hey there,
As a former trainer and behaviorist, I can tell you that 9 times out of 10, eating poop is a nutritional issue. Take a look at the ingredients he’s getting. Sometimes it’s behavioral, but to be honest, the only way to nip that in the bud is to make sure you pick up their poop. You have to be REALLY careful with them eating poop because they can get giardia and repeatedly infect themselves by doing this. Check out dogfoodadvisor (dotcom) and read up on the importance of a grain free diet for dogs (especially important for breeds like goldens!!!). Usually going grain free removes the desire to find nutrients elsewhere.
Good luck with the munchkins!!!!!!!!!
-Donelle
Hi Donelle, Thanks for the suggestion. I actually do feed them both grain-free (have been doing so for Einstein since he was about 6 months old), so I’m not sure. It only started recently, once everything was frozen, so I’m wondering if that has something to do with it. More of a “play” thing.
My pug, Lucy, used to do it too – very gross! I tried everything you mentioned, plus sprinkling Accent on her food – supposedly tastes bad when it comes out the other end. Nothing works and I finally gave up. I had to love with all her good and bad habits…
Oh boy, I am standing here at work crying over the bud ad. Hopefully nobody looks at me. I am the office crybaby when it comes to dogs and horses!
Oh gosh, my heart is just broken over Rocco! What a loyal companion. Dogs truly are mans best friend. On a much different note, our youngest dog is also a poop eater. More so in the winter. I think it has to do with the fact that it is frozen and more “fun” to gnaw on. Gross. I’ve been reading the other comments in hopes of finding a remedy!!
I heard that sprinkling Adolf’s meat tenderizer on their food helps with Duke’s new ‘bad habit’. But I also think that picking it right up will stop that also. Several dog books also mention that it is best if they do not see you picking it up. Good Luck with that.
Ps…broke my heart after reading about Rocco. :(
Rest in Peace Rocco! I’m crying into my bowl of oatmeal.
I look forward to seeing the pictures of Duke and Einstein every Friday. I have a 2.5 year Golden and its crazy how similar their characteristics are!
I just clicked on the link to the story about Rocco and I am now weeping. We had a beautiful long haired German Shepherd growing up and I have a special affection for the breed. Rocco was such a handsome boy.
I found the Budweiser puppy ad on line and have watched it way too many times. It is so adorable…makes me smile every time.
Our doggie is (was?) a poop eater, too. So nasty. The only thing we’ve found that actually works was to pick it up, immediately. Not so much fun when you have to take her outside in a polar vortex!! Ugh. I totally feel for you!
That’s what I say too. Picking it up is really the best thing to do. No worries over strange things to put into dogfood then. Bonus though-either way you don’t have to worry about stepping in it.
Unfortunately, eating poop is pretty common. Dogs evolved from wolves and the eat their poop all the time. It’s disgusting but it won’t hurt a healthy dog. The best thing to do is when you see Duke going in for the kill, redirect him with a toy or something. If you freak out, he my think you’re getting excited and think “hey, she thinks this is cool too!”
So sorry to hear of Rocco’s passing. What brave animals these K-9 dogs are. I also watched the commercial with the puppy and the horse. How special is that? OMG, love these commercials. I gave my Great Dane special treats yesterday and big hugs too. Thank goodness I do not have a poop eating dog. Good luck to you in finding a solution. BTW, love your blog.
I bought a product called Forbid. You sprinkle it on the dog’s food. It worked! Hopefully that will help with the poopsicles
Hi again!
Just saw the pills in the Drs. Foster and Smith online email catalog! They really work great!
Good luck!
My little pup did the same thing! I bought pills for this..at our pet co…work like a charm…no more poop eaters in our house! Or ever!
Check with your vet but years ago, we had a problem with a poop eater also and our vet told us to lightly sprinkle and mix in a tiny bit of meat tenderizer (we used Adolph’s) onto our dog’s food. It makes the stools taste bad.
That is the one that worked for our poop eater. It only took a couple of days of putting it on his food. Plus his breath smelled much better.
Ditto on the meat tenderizer. Worked like a charm. Only took a couple of days.
Don’t grieve for Rocco; he’s crossed over the Rainbow Bridge and is healthy and happy again. Hugs to Einstein & Duke!
Loved the commercial. Just sorry the dog who had been stabbed did not make it.
Yup–been crying all week since I saw the new (Best Buds) ad and re-watched the ad from last year. Clydesdales and puppies tug at my hearts strings. So sorry to hear about Rocco. Since we have 3 kitties, I will nuzzle them several additional times today,and please give E. & D. some extra hugs from us. Stay warm this weekend and good luck on the “poop patrol” ~_+
I dream of snow…..currently in the midst of our second heat wave in two weeks. At the moment it’s 115 !!!!!!!! A blood bank for puppies is a brilliant idea, truly brilliant. Loving your puppies …….makes me miss my own golden retriever Indy….4 years ago today I lost my 15 year old best friend. Hugs and scratches to your puppies xo
I’m not sure but I hear pineapple does the trick to dogs not to eat thire poop. But make sure with the vet 1st. But I think it was in animel planet that I saw it.. Show call its me or the dog.. The dog trainer suggested to mix it in the food.. But again I’d check with the vet 1st to be on the safe side of things..
When our dog wants to eat poop, we start giving her a spoonful of cottage cheese each day until she stops. We read someplace that the poop eating has to do with some deficiency, but I have no idea if that’s true.
We have a hoard of purse size pups and they eat poop so we feed the pineapple every other day and it actually works if Im at the grocery store I generally buy the jarred or precut fresh stuff but when I get busy pineapple fruit cups packed in juice with no added sugar will do for 10lbs and under dogs just a human bite or two works not sure about a bigger dog!
Hi,
we fed our dogs some extra stinky cheese about once a week. Maybe it helps with Duke, too.
I am devastated about Rocco as well. I also called to see if my Lacey could donate, but they were already ok. PVSEC is an awesome hospital that both of my dogs have frequented for emergencies. Mine got extra hugs and treats today too!