Twin Cities Pet Expo 2012

This year I had the pleasure of helping out at a booth at the Twin Cities Pet Expo.  Midwest Animal Rescue Services, or MARS, is a foster-based rescue located in Brooklyn Park, MN.  Helping out at the booth and raising money for their organization was a great treat and a lot of fun.

I was able to help answer patrons questions about their dogs, dog training, and the many programs MARS offers.  It was a lot of fun enticing passers-by to donate a few bucks to their local shelter and be rewarded by getting to spin a wheel and win a prize.  Everybody wins.

I was very excited to be able to meet and talk to a young woman who had recently adopted a dog from MARS.  She expressed how pleased she had been with her entire MARS experience and how helpful taking the training class was in acclimating her new pet into her home.

The Pet Expo has many wonderful things to offer, including tons of information, things to buy for all your pets, and dog demonstrations.  Add it to your calendars for next year!

The Twin Cities Pet Expo is coming up March 24-25, 2012.

I am very excited to be helping out at the Midwest Animal Rescue & Services booth.  We will be giving out information on training classes, adopting a new pet, and any other questions you may have.  Please join us at this year's pet expo and donate a few dollars to your local shelter.

Goodbye Brandy

I am sad to say we recently lost our cat, Brandy.  She was a very nice cat, and had a good, long life.  She was 17 when she died.  I want to thank Brandy for the many lessons she taught Nekita and Caravaggio as puppies on how to properly deal with cats.  She will be missed by all of us.

Breed of the Month--Bichon Frise

Bichon Frise


Color:  Solid white, some shading permissible
Height:  9-12 inches
Weight:  7-12 lbs
Life Span:  13-16 years


Breed Health Concerns:  Allergies, ear infections, skin allergies, dental problems, patellar lunation, cataracts.


Coat:  Double coat.  Dense, soft, silky, fine undercoat with corkscrew curls.  Curly, coarse outercoat.
Country of Origin:  France

Visit the American Kennel Club for breed standards and more information.

The Bichon Frise is among many small, white dogs that rose to popularity.  Its origin not exactly known for this reason.  This breed was a favorite of King Henry III of France, who carried his companion everywhere with him.  This loyal, playful breed eventually became quite popular with the more "common" folk over the centuries and his popularity later spiked in the United States in the early 1980s.

The Bichon Frise enjoys being around all kinds of people as much as possible.  This breed is outgoing and personable and enjoys entertaining his family and being the center of attention.  The Bichon Frise is  well mannered and enjoys being around children, people, other pets.

Exercise:
Although the Bichon Frise does not need a great deal of exercise, a good daily walk and some playtime are still important.  The Bichon Frise enjoys getting out some energy by following his family around as much as possible.

Grooming:
The coat of the Bichon Frise requires daily brushing to prevent matts.  Although this breed sheds very little, monthly coat trimmings are necessary.  Many people often choose to take their Bichon to a groomer for this trim.  The area around the eyes of this breed must be kept clean to prevent staining of the fur.

Training:
Sometimes house training the Bichon Frise can be a challenge.  However this breed is known for often being a trick performer and responds well to obedience training.  The Bichon Frise may have a small stature but is quite sturdy and can excel at agility as well.