Remember Me Thursday® Shine a light on orphan pets waiting for forever homes

The Fluff Dog Crew is excited to be a part of the "Remember Me Thursday Awareness Movement." We want to get the message out to everyone to talk about pet adoption, especially on Thursday, September 28, 2017.

Personally, I came into the realization of how important pet adoption is only in the last couple of years.  Now that I am more aware, I have become very passionate about helping educate other pet lovers on the importance of rescue/adoption and assisting to find fur babies find their forever homes.

How can you help too? Join us, along with individuals and pet adoption organizations around the world in over 180 countries unite to be the voice of orphaned pets. Use the hashtags, #RememberMe Thursday and #RememberTheRescue with photos of your rescue pet. Post to Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to be entered in the #RememberTheRescue contest!

Check out RememberMeThursday.org for more ways to get involved!

Follow Helen Woodward Animal Center on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helenwoodwardanimalcenter/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hwac/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HWAC

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC673jWZ8p7ogo2xnEyrbVkg?sub_confirmation=1

Pupjoy Subscription box: Toys, treats and other goodies for your four-legged friend

We just opened up our very first PupJoy subscription box! It is loaded with a ton of great quality, U.S. made, all-natural, clear labeled treats and cool toys for the whole Fluff Dog Crew to enjoy. PupJoy lets you customize your own box. There are over 28 options to specialize what comes your way! We love this because, Bijou has a lot of allergies, and a few of the crew are picky with their toys. There are choices for all breeds, sizes and types of dogs.

PupJoy offers risk free ordering and is 100% satisfaction guaranteed. You are able to cancel, edit or skip an order at any time without a penalty. Another great point is that PupJoy is the only box that offers monthly, bi-monthly, and quarterly options. 

The "Pup Points Loyalty Rewards" pays customers cash back on every purchase and renewal, as well as $20 referral rewards.

A portion of a PupJoy box purchase is donated to the BISSELL Pet Foundation helping pets in need. Want to learn more or to try PupJoy? Check them out here:

https://www.pupjoy.com

https://www.instagram.com/pupjoy/

https://www.facebook.com/mypupjoy/

https://twitter.com/pupjoy

*Mention: PUPFLUENCE and save $10

Petqwerks haul: Fun dog toys and tasty bones!

Petqwerks has been a brand that the Fluff Dog Crew has enjoyed for quite a while. Anytime a new toy or bone makes its way to our house, the girls are lined up waiting to get a chance at them.

The main crowd pleaser is the Flavorit bones. Due to Bijou's allergies, we stick to flavors that are not meat infused. The mint infused wood bone is Bijou's absolute favorite. She chews on it constantly, and I love that it helps freshen her breath.

Since her arrival, Daphne has taken quite a liking to the bones as well. As you all can see, she is eager to tear into the new BarkBones! The nylon bones (middle and right) are especially great for aggressive chewers and are dishwasher safe. Petqwerks products are made in the USA too!

Want to learn more about Petqwerks products? Check them out here:

facebook.com/petqwerks

instagram.com/petqwerks

twitter.com/petqwerkstoys

pinterest.com/petqwerks

"We have a bandana for that!" Part 2: Nulu Bandito

Bijou and I matching David Bowie garments.

I first discovered Nulu Bandito on Instagram several months back. Their bandana with the cast of Golden Girls on it caught my attention and I had to check out their Etsy shop to see what other great items they had available.

Daphne in Nulu Bandito's Seinfeld bandana.

Lucy is all "ears" in the corn on the cob design.

Cali and Blakely. Clouds and chrysanthemums.

Nulu Bandito carries some of the quirkiest and fun prints. Many are nods to pop culture and people/pups favorite foods.

Molly basically is a gummy worm.

Alexander is cheesy.

Vector knows milk is best with cookies!

Luca loves some Campbell's soup and Andy Warhol.

If you are looking for cool bandanas for pets big and small check out Nulu Bandito:

Website: https://nulubandito.com

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NuluBandito?ref=l2-shop-header-avatar

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nulu_bandito/

Email: nulubandito@gmail.com

"We have a bandana for that!" Part 1: Paws 'n' Claws Couture

The Fluff Dog Crew likes to model the heck out of bandanas. Paws 'n' Claws Couture has a wide variety of colors, sizes and styles for your fashion needs. 

Paws 'n' Claws Couture also makes collars, leashes, bows and scarves to keep your pups looking cute whether they are at home or out for a walk around the neighborhood.

Fall is right around the corner and Paws 'n' Claws Couture has begun carrying new designs to reflect the Fluff Dog Crew's favorite time of year. Halloween, leaves changing color and pumpkins among all the autumn goodness! 

Check out their super cool designs on their website and social media accounts. Enjoy free shipping on U.S. orders (they do ship worldwide) and use our code to snag a 15% discount with code: vanitycult15 and be sure to tag us on Instagram to show us how pawsome you look in Paws 'n' Claws Couture gear.

Social Sites:

www.pawsnclawscouture.com

www.pawsnclawscouture.etsy.com

https://www.facebook.com/pawsnclawscouture/

https://www.instagram.com/pawsnclawscouture/

https://twitter.com/pwsnclwscouture

From Puppy Mill Survivor to Spoiled in Suburbia: Meet Molly the Shih Tzu

Our family had never rescued before. All of our dogs had come from breeders. Some we learned later were not reputable to say the least. After being so involved on social media for a while, we were learning that the stigma of rescue and shelter dogs weren't always accurate. There are instances when best intentions don't work out, but we kept seeing so many happy stories. We found that so many wonderful fur babies had adapted and flourished when they became part of a family with love and care. We began following SASS Rescue on Instagram after I had researched for a Shih Tzu rescue here in Ohio. The work that they do for these dogs is incredible. My mother and I literally fall in love with a pup every week! I already had two dogs and was unable to have another at the time when we first saw Molly. After seeing her photo, we had to figure out a way to adopt her. She was a puppy mill survivor, age unknown, with a sweet little tongue that stuck out all the time due to her lack of teeth.

Molly went to live with my parents, brother, and Lucy their Brussels Griffon in October 2015. She was very shy and timid, but eager to embark on her new life. She still makes great strides to this day. She has become such an affectionate and sweet little girl. She loves her cozy beds and blankets, she dances for her meals and enjoys things that the first several years of her life she was deprived of. Rescue dogs are not less than desirable or irreparably damaged. They can and will become wonderful companions and family members if given the time and patience to allow them to thrive.

Our family is so grateful to SASS Rescue for all the love and hard work they put into these amazing pups.

Glamour Pup Shih Tzu: Meet Bijou

Wearing KoaBear Bandanas

For me, writing about the early days of how Bijou came to be my fur baby isn't easy for me. Bijou isn't my first Shih Tzu. Prior to her was Lola, the fluffy love of my life. Lola was diagnosed with Chronic Renal Disease at 6 months old and had passed over the Rainbow Bridge October 23, 2012 at the age of 4 1/2. To say that I was devastated is an understatement. I devoted my life to her care, making sure she was as healthy and comfortable as possible during her time with us. She was my shadow, always with me. She had to be touching me at all times. At night, I had to be facing her in bed or she would scratch at the back of my head until I rolled over! She was such a contrast from Siouxsie who is fiercely independent and not affectionate. After Lola had passed, not having that constant companionship was very difficult for me. I had hoped that maybe Siouxsie would become a little more warm towards me, but that simply was not the case.

Lola: 5/28/2008-10/23/2012

At first, I didn't think that I could possibly be ready to open my heart to another pup anytime soon. I had started on Instagram just a few months prior and because I was having such a difficult time falling asleep, I would lay in bed on my phone scrolling through Instagram until I could not keep my eyes open any longer. Even back then when the IG dog community was much smaller than it is today, I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support offered to me. These people had never met me, didn't even know me well, but they understood. The words of comfort and encouragement, and the cards and personalized gifts really helped me thorough the most difficult loss of my life.

Bijou at about 6 weeks old.

Bijou at 3 months old.

It had only taken two weeks after Lola passed that I started looking at puppies online. I felt guilty and angry that I was even looking already. Though in my heart, I knew that Lola would want me to give my love to another pup if she couldn't be physically with me anymore. At the time I wasn't as educated or aware of rescues, so for me, that wasn't really an option. I was looking at reputable breeders here in Ohio and I discovered That Puppy In the Window. There were actually 3 little females that caught my attention. One was a little red girl that the were calling, "Natasha". She would be 8 weeks old right around Christmas. She was born exactly a week after Lola had passed away. I was drawn to her and after discussing with my husband, we decided to go ahead and see about getting her.

One of her first top knots!

Watching t.v.

Bijou is a French word associated with a "jewel" or "trinket." It is also the name of a song by one of my favorite bands, "Queen." I have liked the name since I was 12 years old and thought it would be perfect for a little puppy diva. 

Bij has quite the personality. She loves people, but is very aloof with other dogs. If it wasn't apparent by her photos, she thinks she is a human girl. I truly believe that! She doesn't mind being dolled up and posing for photos as long as she doesn't have to do anything too physical. Bijou is dubbed, "the laziest lady in all the land" because she certainly is. She wants nothing more than to sleep, eat and be fawned over at all times.

FabDog Sweater

Bijou loves to chew on Whimzees and PetQwerks Flavorit bones, have me braid her luxurious hair and get back scratches from her dad. 

Fun fact: Bijou's birthday is October 30th, the day before Halloween!

Ten Tips On How To Photograph Your Dog For Social Media

This past month I finally bought myself a professional camera, (Canon Rebel t6) All the photos up until that point of the fluff crew have been produced by my iPhone. I decided to invest in a camera mainly because I am building a brand/blog/website. I still use my phone to take photos a lot of the time as well. Most pics are just what I find to be cute, mainly for Instagram. Here is a list of tips that I have personally implemented for pictures of the pups.

1) A clean and clear background is key. This can be just a plain wall, a solid sheet or wrapping paper. Just tape or tac the sheet or paper on the wall and snap away!

Bijou with a wrapping paper background.

2) Lighting is very important too. The more natural the light is, the better. I also don't use a flash. I find that the flash makes the pups eyes look strange and it also can startle them.

Natural light from window used in this pic.

3) Get down to their level. This gives your pet more of a chance to relax and for you to get the best picture of their faces.

On Lucy's "super cool" level.

4) I prefer to get in close to them as well. When I am on their level and close, I am able to get rid of distractions within the shot easier.

Up close and personal.

5) Patience is crucial. Finding the times of day that the fluff crew are calm, but not too sleepy works best. Some days I get tons of great pics, while others there aren't any. If they are getting restless or distracted- it's best to stop and then resume at another time.

Molly being calm, cool and collected.

6) I talk to and praise the girls all through our photoshoots. Sometimes I squeak toys for their attention too. It's important to make sure they know you are pleased with them and reward them for doing well at the end. I personally do not give treats throughout, but depending on your model you may need to keep those treats coming!

Sitting pretty.

7) My dogs are very lazy. They are used to and prefer to sit and look cute for their photos. If you have a more active pet, you will have even more opportunities to capture in a great pic. Anytime you can get snapshots of them running, playing outside etc. are always great.

Molly out in her yard.

8) I love props, especially if you have a fur baby that isn't keen on dressing up. I am a bargain hunter, trust me, you do not need to spend a lot of money. Here are a few of my favorite places to shop for props.

1. Dollar stores, especially Dollar Tree. Everything at Dollar Tree is truly a dollar and they are loaded full of great decor and fun stuff especially for holiday pics.
2. Target and Wal-Mart. The Target Dollar Spot is props gold! There are alway super cute items there that are inexpensive. 
3. Marshalls/TJ Maxx/Burlington. I find lots of throw pillows and blankets that are perfect for the pups to lay on or beside for a pop of color. A lot of times I get the blankets in the baby section- those are obviously smaller and they cost less too. Occasionally I will find small pieces of accent furniture, decorative boxes or signs to enhance photos.

Lots of great Halloween props!

9) Snap, snap and keep snapping. You will continue to get better and better if you keep at it. My pics have continued to get better because I practice and try to learn more about photography. I have never taken a class or had someone teach me. Keep in mind that getting a great picture rarely is the first you take. The more you snap away, the better your chances are of capturing something special.

It's a lot of trial and error to get a great photo.

10) When you have a great picture to share, be sure to crop out any distracting backgrounds . It's great to utilize the editing tools that are built into your camera and social media apps to enhance your pics too!

Edit to get the best out of your photo.

Do you find these tips helpful? Do you have questions? What other tips have you found to work for you?

Miss Molly and I.

Natural light works wonders if you don't have a professional camera!