Lola's Dad at Westminster and in the News

Tashi in the Ring at Westminster

We were excited to come across this article featuring Lola's dad Tashi, Grand Champion Moonrize Doubleshot Espresso.

NYC Hotel Pampers Four-Legged Guests During Westminster Week

 New York — Hotel Pennsylvania in Manhattan played host this week to the most pampered of all pedigreed pooches as they prepared for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

This hotel in the heart of Midtown is host to many of the poodles, dachshunds, hounds and other breeds that arrive with their owners to compete for top honors.

“It is like the Super Bowl and Miss America with dogs all rolled into one,” said Jerry Grymek, doggie concierge in charge of “pooch relations” at the hotel.

When the furry guests arrive, Grymek is there to greet them in style. He ushers them in with a cookie, and stands ready to cater to their every need.

“We get interesting requests from guests for their dogs,” Grymek said. “This includes a red carpet roll-out for the dogs upon arrival. Last year, we had an opera singer that serenaded a dog here in the lobby. This dog was here sitting, enjoying the music. He had closed his eyes just to listen to the opera singer serenade him.”

One of the most impressive parts about a dog's stay at Hotel Pennsylvania is the doggie spa and gym. Dogs can hop on the treadmill to work on muscle balance, receive a stress-relieving massage and get groomed.

Raleigh competitor Joyce Killinger was there with her 8-year-old Tibetan terrier, Tashi, who worked out on the treadmill. Tashi is a veteran competitor, but this is his first trip to Westminster.

“It takes me a good two hours to groom him from start to finish,” Killinger said. 

Tashi – whose full competition name is Grand Champion Moonrize Doubleshot Espresso RN CGC -- has two coats of hair and gets bathed every four days. The bath includes a shampoo, condition, blow dry and a good brushing.

To get a leg up on the competition at Westminster, dogs must look their best. From bouffant poodles to glammed up toy breeds, many of the Westminster cover models make a visit to the hotel’s spa.

“We have a doctor on site to help stretch and distress the dogs because, again the competitive spirit, there can be a little tension in the air,” Grymek said.

Despite all the pampering, Killinger said, Tashi doesn’t let the attention go to his head. Back home in Raleigh, he’s a regular family member.

“He runs in the yard, he chases birds and enjoys being a family dog, part of our family,” she said.

Jessica Chastain's Vegan Chia Seed Pudding

The folks around our house love Jessica Chastain.  And now they love her Chia Seed Pudding recipe.

It's fresh and light and really good for you.

Tasty and slightly sweet, it's perfect topped with fresh berries or sliced bananas.  Sometimes they have it for breakfast instead of oatmeal.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chia seeds
• 5 cups water
• 2 cups soaked cashews, (soak on counter 4-6 hours, drain)
• 3/4 cup agave nectar
• 1 tbl vanilla extract
• 2 tsp almond extract
• pinch salt

Directions:
Soak chia seeds in water, on counter, for at least an hour -- make sure to stir often for the first 10-15 minutes so it doesn't clump (I use a potato masher, which we'll probably need over the holiday anyway). It will become very gelatinous.

In blender, mix remaining ingredients until very smooth, then stir into chia.

Bodey and Bob

Bodey and Bob

We heard from Roxie's pup Bodey the other day.  Well...actually...from his new mom Shelly.

Bodey loves to go to the office with Shelly and loves her co-worker Bob.

"He is my beautiful Bodey," writes Shelly.   "Great personality and a real clown.  Never take him out that someone doesn't stop me to see him.  I am so lucky."

Chocolate Cupcakes

Hurry-Up Chocolate Cupcakes

Do you remember our recipe for Hurry-Up Chocolate Cake?  Probably Not.  Well, you should!  It is the best chocolate cake ever.  Today we made Hurry-Up Chocolate Cupcakes.   So easy and so good.  Click Here for the recipe

Wet Snow = Snowballs

A wet Rufus made some snowballs.

We got some fresh snow and some relatively warm weather - just at the freezing point.  You know what that meants....WET SNOW.  We go crazy in the snow and when it is wet it gets caught in our coat and creates snowballs.   It drives dad crazy cause he has to put us in the sink and wash off our feet with warm water each time we come in.   It's the fastest and easiest way to get rid of snowballs.

Tibetan Terrier Saves Pub

Mark and Harriet Jenkinson with Jasmine

UK pub owners Mark and Harriet Jenkinson have praised their dog for raising the alarm after a fire broke out in their upstairs flat.

Jasmine, a 14-month-old Tibetan terrier, broke down a stair gate and ran down the stairs at The George Inn, a pub in England.

The pub was packed with more than 50 customers during the lunchtime service on Saturday, January 26, including a 90th birthday celebration.

Mrs Jenkinson, 37, went from the bar to find out why Jasmine was barking and within a minute the smoke detector went off.

The pub was evacuated and fire crews from Chippenham, Calne and Swindon put out the flames and ventilated the flat of smoke.

The fire was caused by a fault in a fridge in the couple’s flat.

The pub was closed for a couple of days while repairs were made to the dining room after water came through the ceiling from the fire crew’s hoses.

Mr Jenkinson, 50, said: “When Jasmine barks it’s usually because she wants to go outside for a wee but this seemed a bit more frantic.

“She was upstairs and she either heard something in the kitchen or smelled the smoke before the detector started. She managed to break down the stair gate and alerted us by her barking.

“Our staff were brilliant and we got everybody out of the pub. I tried to see if I could put the fire out but I couldn’t get into the kitchen, it was too smoky.”

A couple of customers took Jasmine home with them to Calne while the fire brigade were there and she was reunited with Mr and Mrs Jenkinson the next day.

Mr Jenkinson said: “Jasmine is a very good guard dog and is calm. The customers are not surprised at what she did, she is such a good little dog. She was the none the worse for wear by the fire.”

Those Sneaky Dogs

Dogs will steal your food if they think it's dark enough for you not to notice.

Take 84 dogs. Put each one in a room with food on the floor and instruct the dog to leave it alone. Try it in a dark room and a nicely lit room. What will happen? According to a study in the journal Animal Cognition, “the dogs were four times as likely to steal the food — and steal it more quickly — when the room was dark,” National Geographic reported. The study leader, Juliane Kaminski of the University of Portsmouth in England, explained how this shows us that dogs know a thing or two. “It implies dogs understand the human can’t see them, meaning they might understand the human perspective,” she said in a news release.