TailSpin Dog Lotto! (and giveaway)

Working in partnership with the Dog Saving Network, the Chicago based pet company Bumperpet  is holding a monthly lottery in which a shelter dog spins the wheel for the winners! You visit the link, and pick three numbers between 1 and 20 (the next drawing is July 1). 3 correct numbers is the grand prize, but the runner up (2 correct numbers) doesn't go away empty handed either!

For your edification (because I didn't know either), the Dog Saving Network is a positive reinforcement based training organization (and a 501(c)3 not-for-profit). Their goal is to help reduce the number of healthy dogs euthanized in this country every year; the statistic we often see bandied about is that behavioral issues are a top reason for dogs being surrendered to shelters. The Dog Saving Network would like to turn that around. The dogs they use in shows are rescued and have been clicker trained to perform their game show tricks.


So, not only do you have a chance to win a lottery, but one lucky Elka Almanac reader will win a t-shirt from Bumperpet.com. Their dog breed t-shirts are really neat (and include Doberman! Is it necessary to emphasize how much this thrills me?); each shirt is a silhouette of a different dog, with words spelling out the qualities. If you're not really a "dog breed" person, there's also a "cat" t-shirt and a "dog" t-shirt! They have a lot of other neat products as well, so even if you don't want to enter the giveaway, you should really check them out. Then can even do a personalized shirt from a picture (not part of the giveaway)!

So, to enter the giveaway here (to enter the TailSpin Lotto, go to http://www.bumperpet.com/lotto): in the comments, tell me about a trick you taught your dog (or cat!) to perform. Please make sure you're either signed in, or include your name; I cannot give awards to anonymous entrants! The winner will be chosen, as always, by Elkacopter. Giveaway is open from today, which is Tuesday, June 25 2013 until 11:59 P.M. (Eastern) on Sunday, June 30 2013. Good luck, everybody! I look forward to reading your answers.

Product Review: Frosty Paws

A ways back, we won the Frosty Paws giveaway from Life with Desmond. I cashed in one of the coupons awhile ago as well, but since it had been cold and rainy still, I didn't give any of it to Elka right away. Not that she really has the warm weather + ice cream correlation in her mind, but it's in my mind, and I'm the one who opens the freezer.

We had a (still rare!) warm day, and so I busted out the Frosty Paws for Elka to try.

A Dog Named Leaf Giveaway Winner!

As always, entrants names were written by moi, and selected at random by Elkacopter.

The moment of choice:

And the winner is:

Congratulations! I ask that you email me your address by contacting me at TheElkaAlmanac AT gmail DOT com.

Product Review: Rubit Clip (and giveaway!)

When I received Elka's swank new collar from my aunt, I realized that if I wanted to switch tags between collars with any kind of ease, I should probably look into getting a Rubit clip. I'd heard a lot of people mention them, and most people seem to like them. It isn't like it's a huge hassle to switch the tags, but most innovation comes from convenience, right? Right.

So, I wrote to Rubit, and they sent me not one, but three clips! A very generous surprise, I thought. So, I've used one, and I'm going to give two away!

Taste of the Wild Giveaway Winner!

Wow, guys, we had 38 entries for the Taste of the Wild giveaway! That's very exciting.

What's less exciting is my pictures of the winner selection. Elka, you see, was focusing very hard on this freaked out looking squeaky chicken that I got her from Wal-Mart. I figured, "Okay, she can do that while I write down all of these names, then I'll throw the names on the floor, per usual, and she'll pick one up and go back to chicken squeaking."

Taste of the Wild: review and giveaway!

I used to feed Elka Taste of the Wild. When the voluntary recall happened back in May, though, I jumped ship for the time being. My most recently purchased bag of food had fallen in the recall, and I was just squidged out, frankly. Well, as it turns out, no Taste of the Wild actually tested positive for the Salmonella. Which is a pretty rad thing.

Interestingly, when I was contacted by a rep to see if I wanted to sample Taste of the Wild's new flavor, Southwest Canyon, and do a (very generous, I feel) giveaway for my readers, it was exceedingly good timing. Elka, though she'd previously been happy with the Blue Buffalo switch, appears to have become disillusioned with it. Overall, Elka is not a picky eater. Back in November, I groused about how she only wanted to eat from puzzle toys, but after I'd put them away for awhile, she returned to the bowl well enough. Poking around in her mouth, she doesn't appear to have developed anything wrong in there which would make eating kibble aversive, either, so I wondered if it was time for a switch. And then I got the email.

Buddy book giveaway winner!

I know you've all been waiting with bated breath to see who the winner is of Buddy (How a Rooster Made me a Family Man), by Brian McGrory. Well, wait no longer!

Book Review: Buddy (how a rooster made me a family man) by Brian McGrory

I was given a copy of Buddy (How a rooster made me a family man) by Brian McGrory to review, and to give away to my fine readers! When I heard the title, really I just had to read the book. It's not every day we have heartwarming life lessons coming from roosters (at least not roosters named Buddy; Chanticleer from The Book of the Dun Cow [and various other tales, though I guess he's not the same exact character in every one] I guess has a pretty good track record).

A Dog Named Boo: Winners!

The moment you've all been waiting for: the winners to the A Dog Named Boo giveaway!

As has been long-standing Elka Almanac tradition, I wrote the names of the entrants on pieces of paper and threw them on the floor. Then I looked at Elka and said "Pick it up!"

She looked down (notice Gumby? He has to help, evidently)

There was a lot of consideration here. But she picked one! I told her how awesome she was, and looked down again and said "Pick it up!"

Unlike the last time, Elka had no problem with me asking her for the same cue twice, and our winners were selected.

Drumroll.....

Book Review: A Dog Named Boo, by Lisa J. Edwards

I had the honor of being approached by a publicist at Harlequin to read and review the book, A Dog Named Boo: How One Dog and One Woman Rescued Each Other, and the Lives They Transformed Along the Way, by Lisa J. Edwards. Intrigued, both because I'm a sucker for dog books and because I thought Harlequin only published romance novels, I accepted. I'm glad that I did!

To kick off Lisa Edwards' blog tour, I've read and reviewed A Dog Named Boo, and have copies for giveaway!

Dog Tag Art Giveaway: Winners announced!

Thank you very much, those of you who entered in the Dog Tag Art Giveaway! I always think that free stuff is exciting (that might be genetic) and am doubly excited when I'm the one who can provide it, or help facilitate, anyway.

Per usual, Miss Elka V is the one who presided over the selection ceremony.

Wordless Wednesday: November 9 1022, Awkward Family Pet Photos winner!

All right, I know you've waited with bated breath!

(the contestants)

(not as cute as last week's selection. Elka in fact picked up the winner and flung the paper. She had to go out.)

(the winner!)

So, Mahria, email me with your address so I can email Random House!

Book Review: Awkward Family Pet Photos, by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack (and giveaway!)

Recently, I received an email requesting that I would consider reviewing a new book, Awkward Family Pet Photos.  I was flattered, of course, to receive the attention. And then I glanced at the website and thought "oh yes, I'm definitely in".

Wordless Wednesday, November 2, 2011 & Giveaway winner!

A self-explanatory photo-essay! Congratulations to Susan Audrey, for winning the giveaway of Jill Abramson's The Puppy Diaries on CD! Please email me your address, that I might send it to Macmillan for you to get your prize!

My First Giveaway! The Puppy Diaries, by Jill Abramson, book on CD

I'm having my first giveaway. Are you excited? I am!

See, I've been reviewing books and things because well, I read books and use things. I figured putting the information out there would be useful and entertaining to people. Well, I reviewed the book copy of The Puppy Diaries by Jill Abramson the other day, and then got a very nice email from Esther at Macmillan audio, asking if I wanted to do a giveaway of the audio version!  I said, essentially, "Yes, of course!"

So, how do you enter?  Comment below about one of my blog posts that you've read.

 This is my first giveaway, so I'm keeping it simple. Depending on the number of entries, I'll write 'em on pieces of paper and Elka will pick. If it's more than I want to write (or more than I think will feasibly make sense for that kind of stunt), then I'll use Random.org to keep it fair. The contest will run from today (Saturday, October 29) 'til 11:59 on Tuesday evening (October 31).