Friday Fetch: Bike Baskets for Dogs from Hunter K9

The weather has warmed up quite a bit here in Pennsylvania, and it has me itching to get out and about with my mom and dad. Typically when it is nice out I love to go on long walks with my family, but this year I’ve been dying to go on a bike ride too! So I decided to round up some of my favorite bike baskets made just for dogs – so that your furry friend never has to be left home!

Check out these neat bike basket options from Hunter K9!

1. Wicker Pet Bicycle Basket: Maximum weight 13lbs – dimensions 15″ W x 11″ D x 9.5″ H - Fetch it for $60

2. Doggy Ride Coccoon Basket: Maximum weight 16lbs – dimensions 10″W x 14.5″L x 15″ H – Fetch it for $106

3. Pet Rider Bicycle Seat: Maximum weight 24lbs – dimensions 14″ long x 12″ wide- Fetch it for $79

4. Sporty Dog Pet Bicycle Basket: Maximum weight 14lbs – dimensions 13″ W x 10″ D x 10″ H- Fetch it for $60

Remember to always keep your pet safe by having him to wear a harness and seatbelt attachment when riding in a bike basket. Many of these options include safety devices with them as well.

Any of my readers ride in a bike basket? Which brand do you use? Do tell! 

Under Cover

Today I’m going under cover. Sometimes a dog just needs a little getaway.

Snuggled up in my favorite blankie – I’m relaxing today. No big adventures, no time for hunting bunnies in the backyard – just a day to catch up on my sleep!

ZzZzzzzzzz. 

Nose Art

I may have talented paws (check out my original paintings HERE), but did you also know I have a talented nose? Oh yes, I’ve been working on my original “nose art” (seen above) for quite some time now.

It takes patience and some long long naps on the couch to perfect my technique – and the occasional bunny outside helps a bit too.

I’ve been working on this masterpiece for a couple of months now, and while it’s looking quite swell I know there is still more to add.

After all you can’t rush genius! 

I went on a Barn Hunt

On Mother’s Day I got to go on a very special adventure with my mom (dad came too). We packed up the car and headed south to New Jersey for a Barn Hunt Practice!

Barn Hunts were created to honor the traditional role of “ratcatchers” in ridding barns and properties of vermin. Barn Hunts are open to any dog, of (almost) any size, type or breed. In a Barn Hunt competition you can earn titles and placements at various levels and degrees of difficulty.

At this Barn Hunt I met up with my Philadelphian gal pal Liebe, and we were both pretty excited to hunt for some rats! (Especially Liebe who is a city dog – and doesn’t get as many chances as me to hunt for vermin)

At a Barn Hunt you are required to go through straw bale tunnels and climb over several bales to earn a qualifying mark – all while in pursuit of a rat.

In the lower levels you are then met with various tubes, some of which contain rat bedding and one that contains an actual rat. Your goal as rat hunter extraordinare is to locate the rat and alert your mom or dad that you have found the correct tube containing it. Once found your mom/dad is responsible for telling the judge you have found the rat – in which case the time will stop (as long as you have completed the necessary requirements of completing tunnels and climbing straw bales too).

As the day progressed I got better and better at finding my rats. I even began digging at the tubes and making lots of noise once I found the tubes that contained a rat.

Mom said in the higher level classes I would even have to find multiple rats in one run – making sure to find them fast enough to not run over the time limit, many of which that are hidden under straw and in crevices. Sounds like a blast!

Liebe (who is just over a year old) even had fun locating the rats and as she gets older I’m sure she’s going to be one ferocious rat hunter just like me!

I had so much fun looking for my rats, that sitting on the sidelines while the other dogs had a turn was so hard!

I can’t wait to return again and actually compete in this fun new sport – it’s totally my kind of competition!

You can learn more about the rules of Barn Hunt and find competitions and practices local to you HERE. 

A Dachshund’s Art Gallery

Since I was just a wee pup I was instilled with a love of the arts. Not only do I paint myself, but I live with some super talented Painting Ponies! And while you might think having animal artists in the family is quite a feat, my mom and dad are no stranger to the arts themselves. My dad is a graphic designer (who spends his free time designing posters that you can purchase HERE) and my mom is a picture framer (check out the shop where I work HERE).

With a love of art spreading across my family, it’s no wonder that my home has turned into an art gallery of sorts. I thought it would be fun to take you for a tour around my home and show you some of the latest and greatest artistic treasures that are currently making my home just a bit more cheerful!

When I attended the Spring Doxie Fest this year I picked up a happy little Dachshund print from artist, Debbie Sampson. Of course mom framed him up in a happy yellow frame that makes him extra cheerful!

where to purchase: [middle] Dachshund Print – [right] Black and White Photograph of Pony

Back in November mom picked up this cute little dachshund print from Kim at Yellow Brick Home. He kind of has an uncanny resemblance to yours truly.

where to purchase:  Dachshund Print

This happy horse head was a Christmas gift to my mom and came from White Faux Taxidermy – and not to worry, he’s completely made of resin (no real taxidermy horses here).

where to purchase:  Resin Horse Head

Of course the ceramic dachshund my mom found at Home Goods last year keeps Mr. Fake Pony company in my office, because everything is better with the buddy system.

These two pieces arrived around Christmas time. One being a rendering of my home by the talented Rebekkah Seale and the other a very special original painting of cows done by the ever amazing Janis Fitch.

where to purchase:  [left] Custom House Watercolor, [right] Cow Painting

Those cows just remind me of how lucky I am to have grown up in farm country, where the smell of cattle and horses are just a few steps out my backdoor. Not to mention those yummy cow pies!

And the last little art trinket is one that just makes me giggle – this sweet little screen printed squirrel from the Land of Nod (meant to be an ornament) is happily hanging on my cork board in the living room. He may not nibble on acorns in real life, but he reminds me that there are plenty of critters just out my back door begging to be chased. Happy Hunting!

where to purchase:  Squirrel Ornament

With all these artists and artistic pieces in my home it’s no wonder that I spend most of my life with a camera in my face. Of course I like to think that I’ll always be mom and dad’s number one muse!

I’m always on the lookout for new artists and art to add to my “gallery”, so I’d love to hear which ones you are admiring currently! Post your links in the comments so we can all check out some amazing art together! Yay for artists!

*all artwork has been custom framed by my mom at Studio 3.