New Years Resolutions

The New Year is nearly upon us and we thought we'd layout the plans for the coming year. We are hoping to carry on with some old favorites as well as trying out some new ideas.

Returning Features:
+ The Pixel Diaries - The weekly windows into Pixel's life and and everything going on at Smooth Pixelater HQ.

+ The Monthly Treat box Challenge - Each month Pixel receives and reviews a treat box. An easy way to put several products through the paces.

+ Treat vs. Treat - The highly anticipated and hotly contested competition returns to find out which treat is the best treat.

New Feature:

+ The Diet Diaries - Pixel raw in the new year and we take a no nonsense look at raw feeding and how it compares to other options. A weekly round-up.

+ Short Stories - A monthly story that features the adventures of Pixel and Friends.

+ Podcasts & Vlogs (maybe) - Something I've considered doing before and most likely would be released on an ad hoc basis. Definitely not promising anything but it is something we want to try.

So I hope this has caught your interests and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

It's Christmas!

From everyone here at Smooth Pixelater HQ, here is wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Getting Festive

It's coming up to Christmas and Pixel is here to remind us all to be festive and to stay warm.

A whole year

Pixel on his way home

First up, it's a year to the day that we rescued Pixel, and the whole adventure has been amazing.

With that in mind, let me tell you the story of how we came to rehome our magnificent moron...

Last August we looked after our friends cats while she was away. In that time Ruthie fell in love with having animals in the house, specifically those that will follow you are and generally be adorable. Once the cats went back to their owner, Ruthie realized how much she missed having them around the house.

Neither of us are "cat people" and I've always been around dogs and have expressed an interest in getting one for a long time. Without my knowing Ruthie contacted our landlord and arranged for us to be able to get a dog.

Then began the long uphill struggle to find the right dog. We wanted to adopt rather than buy a puppy, but we wanted to get a younger dog. We trawled through the numberless rehoming websites until we spotted this little apricot and white mongrel called Lightning.  We both instantly fell in love and arranged a visit to Battersea Brands Hatch.

We wandered around the kennels twice, searching for the dog we saw online. My heart broke when I realized he wasn't there. Dejectedly we went back to the front desk to inquire about the dog we wanted to see. Good news: he was still there. Bad news: he had behavioural issues and had to be kept in isolation away from the public kennels.

They took us aside into a small room. Apparently Lightning had to be homed with experienced owners. They did a short interview and then the man went to talk to his manager, he wanted to see if my previous doggy experience was suitable.  It was.

When they brought Lightning into the room, he was a twister of chaotic energy. He was bouncing off the walls, trying to climb out the windows, jumping up on to the desk, weeing on everything and doing practically anything to get to the treats. They gave us the lead, wished us luck and we took Lightning out for a walk in the area they have for people to meet dogs.

He was just boundless energy, and he barked at every other dog he met. But when we sat down in the office after the walk he laid down next to us, and we fell in love.

We went away from Battersea with another meeting scheduled for the following week, they had also set us up to meet another of the dogs that was looking for a home and was currently in a foster home. We spent the weeking weighing up the pros and cons for getting Lightning. We knew he would be a problem, we had our doubts about so many things.

The second meeting rolled around, and we were introduced to the other dog, a boxer-cross. He was lovely, well-behaved, everything Lightning could be with some work, but he just wasn't what we were looking for. We met Lightning one more time, spent 3 hours with him, walking him and playing with toys. Our minds were made up and we left with him the same day. (The other dog we met was also adopted that day by a loving family).

Lightning had been in the kennels for several months, and it was his second time there when a previous home hadn't worked out. We changed his name to Pixel and made sure he got the walks he needs. He is not longer bouncing off the walls, he still barks at other dogs, bikes and sometimes people but we are working on it. Honestly, we wouldn't change him for the world, for all the problems that the little guy has outside, he is simply wonderful in the house. He is cuddly and affectionate, and generally the most happy and delightful companion we could ever have wished for.

It still gets cold at nights... Wordless Wednesday

R2P Pet Super Plush Maxxers: Toy-Box Tuesday

I am pretty sure that the reason we buy most of our dog toys is because I think they look cool. It is a problem I have, but I am okay with it, I mean I could quit at any time if I really wanted too... Anyway, that is how we ended up with the R2P Pet Super Plush Maxxers (seriously that is a long name. From here on out we're just going to call  them Maxxers). We had gone shopping for rabbit litter or some other necessities following the move to Somerset when I spotted the Maxxers by the checkouts. Needless to say I instantly fell in love with the toys, their quirky combination of fluffy, plushy and rubber, coupled with their adorable looks made these toys a must buy. After a brief discussion with Ruthie about which of the toys Pixel would like (apparently which one I thought looked the coolest was not a good enough argument), Pixel ended up as the proud owner of the Maxxer Eagle.

Giving a new toy to your dog is always a hit-or-miss sort of thing; Pixel will play with any toy the first time he gets it but then might never play with it again. This was not the case with the Maxxer, as the eagle became one of his go-to toys from the chest. Poppy also loved the texture differences of the toy so a quick trip to the shops later and we brought home the Maxxer Shark so both the pack could happily play.

While Pixel is renowned for playing gently with his toys, Poppy on the other hand is a little monster and in her youth left a trail of destroyed toys in her wake. That said both the Eagle and the Shark have remained in good condition (aside from becoming dirty thanks to regular play), most notably the squeakers have remained in working order, quiet a feat considering that Poppy has had constant access to these toys.

I think it is pretty obvious that I think highly of these toys, as do the pack. Ultimately we went out and bought a third toy (the Parrot) that remains in Pixel's bedroom bed, far from Poppy, so that it remains relatively clean. I couldn't recommend these toys more highly, but this brings me to the major problem; finding a UK seller.

The main problem I have had with these toys is tracking them down online, they are called Maxxers and yet they have a giant "Super Plush" label on their sides. A quick Google of Super Plush will show you how hard it can be to find more. Which brings me to the second issue, finding a UK based seller appears to be an impossibility. We paid between £6-£8 a toy, and I think that that is a reasonable price. I am therefore a little reluctant to include US shipping costs to the reasonable price (except maybe in the case of the Jumbo Rex if I ever track it down).

Pixel's point of view:
Woof! I was really excited when the hoomans brought the fluffy birdy home. I liked the fluffy head and the chewy beak! Then the hoomans got me two more toys! I have to share them with Poppy, but I don't mind that except she slobbers all over them which makes them a little icky. I hopes they gets me more of the these toys soon.

Pixel tries an ice-cream.

When life gets too hot, Pixel likes to cool down like any other person does; with a delicious ice-cream shared with Ruthie.

We are back!

If moving house isn't stressful enough, the Pixel HQ moved 300 miles from Kent to Somerset. As anyone who has ever moved house knows, it is bloody stressful so we decided it would be best to take a break from  the blog and focus on settling in.

We are pleased to announce that everything is unpacked and the dog has settled nicely in his new home, so we are ready to stop tart posting again.

Expect the return of your favorite series:

• Pixel Reviews (Including Toy-Box Tuesdays and Tastey Treat Thursday)
• Wordless Wednesdays
• Treat vs. Treat (The first series ended in a no-contest as several of the treats were mysteriously eaten during the move. As such a new series will be beginning soon)

Our plan is also to branch out into making video content, posted on here and on YouTube.

More Pixel incoming...

We here are Pixel He have been a little quiet of late. Don't worry though, we've got more Pixel goodness coming your way soon.

Spring has sprung!

Hello Hoomans! It is has been a little while since I last wrote anything, my human has been busy recently but he has promised to sit down and write stuff for me so everyone can stay up-to-date with all my happenings, which I am sure we can all agree, are very important!

Spring has finally come to Kent, and in true English fashion it was very wet and windy, and then sunny and then, suddenly, it went back to being very wet and windy again! Generally my human is very good as gauging the weather, especially if he is taking me out but on occasion he has gotten it wrong and we have both ended up soaking wet!

Now that the fields are suitable for us to go walking in again (at the end of winter they all so muddy that it was had for the human with only two legs to walk). The fields are now full of yellow flowers, my human says they are oilseed rape, and it is so much fun to run down the shady burrows left by the tractors! The yellow flowers are growing up so much that it is becoming difficult for my human to walk us the ways we would normally go but I don't mind as it means we go new ways.

Last week we had to leave the flat as the estate agent had a viewing booked. So we went out to meet my other human at the pub, but it rained and I got all wet and shivery. When we got to pub it wasn't so bad, I got to eat lots of crisps and then my humans bought me wet-food to make up for me getting so wet.

With it being so hot my human has been bringing water out with us so I can drink. He has this weird water bottle but I refuse to drink from it, so he has to use this little folding bowl instead. Even when he pours the water into that, I will sometimes ignore it and try and climb into irrigation ditches or little streams for the refreshing water there instead.

The other day I got so hot outside because I was running around so much, that I made myself ill. My human has said that if I continue to do this, he will have to buy my a towel coat, I think it will make me look ridiculous but also don't want to be hot.

Until next time, Bark Bark Lick!

Barks and Bunnies: Monthly Treat Box Challenge

Edit (10.05.2015): Well this is awkward... It appears my human forgot one of the items in this box. I have made him add it to the review. I would like to thank Barks and Bunnies for offering to send the "missing" items. - Pixel



We got the Bark and Bunnies Love Them Happy Classic Box at the end of February, for the reasonable price of £16.99.


The box contained a number of interesting and fun items. Firstly it contained a Fat Cat Mini Gruntleys pig toy, which on its own typically retails at £7.99. This tough and fun toy has become a favourite of Pixel's and he loves the grunting sound it makes when he chews it. In the box there was also another toy, a pack of Kong Sports Balls which we are forever finding under our feet. We also received 60g box of Lily's Kitchen Breakfast Crunch and a 60g bag of natures:menu Treats with Lamb. I am sure that many of you know that Lily's Kitchen make fantastic, and high quality pet foods, and the natures:menu treats are deliciously meaty. To finish of the box, we also received
a bar of pure nuff stuff dogsbody soap, a fantastic dog soap that leaves Pixel's coat in an amazing condition and him smelling lovely. The whole box was topped off with a short hand-written note to Pixel that made the box feel extra-special.  Everything was sent to us in a forage box, a cardboard box that will filled with straw, so your dog has to search to find his presents. Once we had removed all the goodies from out box, we gave it to our bunnies who absolutely loved it.

Quantity

For £16.99 we received a total of five items. For the type of items that they were, it is about what you would expect for the money. They were all good brands that we would happily buy ourselves.

Quantity: 4/5

Quality

Every item in the box is of high quality. The Fat Cat Mini Gruntley toy is extremely well made and durable, the Lily's Kitchen and nature:menu treats are high quality products made from good ingredients, and while I do not have much experience with dog soaps, I cannot fault the pure nuff stuff dogsbody soap. For £16.99 I cannot complain of the quality of this box.

Quality: 4/5

Variety

This box was made up with five products, two treats, two toys and one bar of soap. A pretty diverse mix when it comes to what you can send out in a dog box. Of the treats, one of them is a pack of crunchy kibble treats, while the others were soft, chewy and very meaty.

Variety: 4/5

Value

The products we received retail roughly around the following prices:

• Fat Cat Mini Gruntleys toy: £7.99
• Lily's Kitchen Breakfast Crunch: £1.59
• natures:menus Treats with Lamb: £1.79
• pure nuff stuff dogsbody soap: £3.50
• Kong Sports Balls: £4.20

In total that would bring all the products to £19.07. However you look at it, that is pretty good value for money. The box contained useful and fun items, and everything in it we have used!

Value: 4/5

Satisfaction

Overall I think Pixel and I were very satisfied with this treat box. The items were interesting and of high quality. The fact that everything comes in a forage box is amazing, and the presence of a hand-written note does improve my satisfaction with the whole thing. 

Satisfaction: 4/5

If Pixel and I were not undertaking the Monthly Treat Box Challenge, we might have settled on Barks and Bunnies as out monthly source of treat box fun. I am certain that once we have finished the challenge, we will be ordering from them again.

Barks and Bunnies received 4 Barks out of 5!

You can find the box here!

The Monthly Treat Box Challenge Rankings

1. Barks and Bunnies Love Them Happy Classic Box (4 out of 5)
2. Woof Box (2.2 out of 5)

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Treat vs. Treat Season One Round Two

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome back to Treat vs. Treat! The most exciting Dog Treat based tournament in existence!

My name is Christopher and today I am joined by Ruthie to witness and judge the Second Round of Season One of Treat vs. Treat, available exclusively on SPWTV.

The excitement of last week still resonates in the arena, some treats have everything to lose, others have to prove themselves worthy following their defeat last week. It is too early to tell how this will go, but Pixel has just entered the ring.

Two treats enter, no treats leave.

Heat One: Purina Adventuros Boar Flavoured Nuggets vs. Bakers Sizzlers

Last week saw the Boar Flavoured Nuggets with a draw, they'll be looking for more points if they want to keep their championship dreams alive. The Sizzlers however need a win in the face of last weeks defeat. Sizzlers are one of Pixel's favourite treats and their loss won't be sitting well with them.

The treats enter the ring and Pixel waits to begin. The command is given and he dives in straight for the Sizzlers, they must be happy with that- Wait! Pixel has only eaten half the treat. He turns and devours the Boar Flavoured Nugget too, before returning to the Sizzlers! Ruthie declares this round a draw! Neither side will be happy with that, what are the chances the Boar Flavoured Nuggets would get two draws in a row.

Heat Two: Purina Adventuros Venison Flavoured Strips vs. Purina Bonio

Despite being a staple of Pixel's treat box, Bonio lost last week to the Good Boy Beef Fillets. They will be looking to win back some favour and hopefully score a few points too. The Venison Flavoured Strips however have already proven themselves to be championship material, and it would be unwise to call last weeks win a fluke.

This round was over before it even began. Pixel went straight to the Venison Flavoured Sticks, leaving Bonio questioning whether they can pull this back.

Heat Three: Good Boy Tender Beef Fillets vs, Pedigree Tasty Bites

Both of these treats scored a win last week, and they will be looking to repeat their performance. This is the first heat where both treats have formally won, so there is everything to play for. The Beef Fillets are feeling confident, jerky-styled treats are ever popular with Pixel, however the strong smell of the Tasty Bites might win this one for them.

There is a moment of hesitation as the release command is given. Pixel is deciding which treat to take first. The decision finally made, he goes for the Tender Beef Fillet ensuring that they stay at the top of the league.

Heat Four: Tesco Chicken, Beef, & Liver Meaty Rolls vs. Alpha Spirit Active Sticks

Last week the Alpha Spirit Active Sticks were involved in the surprising draw, gaining only 1 point. The Tesco Meaty Rolls are not without controversy, having nearly stolen a win away from the Pedigree Tasty Bites. 

Last week the confidence of the Alpha Spirit Active Sticks were knocked, when they could only manage a draw, this week they will be celebrating as the score an easy win, putting them back into the championship race, only 2 points behind the forerunners! Bad news for the Tesco Meaty Rolls as they remain at the bottom of the table.

The Standings

1. Good Boy Tender Beef Fillets- 6 points
2. Purina Adventuros Venison Flavoured Strips- 6 points
3. Alpha Spirit Active Sticks- 4 point
4. Pedigree Tasty Bites- 3 points
5. Purina Adventuros Boar Flavoured Nuggets- 2 point
6. Bakers Sizzlers- 1 points
7. Purina Bonio- 0 points
8. Tesco Chicken, Beef, & Liver Meaty Rolls- 0 points

We here at Pixel HQ are already planning Season Two of Treat vs. Treat. If you have any suggestions for treats we should feature, let us know on our Facebook, our Twitter or in the comment section below.

"Where do you think the path goes?" - Wordless Wednesday

Got to make the most of that Spring Sun: Wordless Wednesday

Treat vs. Treat Season One Round One

It is here, it is finally here, Treat vs. Treat is live on SPWTV (Smooth Pixelater Written Television). For those of you not in the know, Treat vs. Treat is the most hotly anticipated and brutal Dog Treat competition around. Once a week 8 treat enter the arena in the hope to prove that they are the best treat around!

The judge, Pixel, has already taken his place in the arena and it is clear that he wants to get this thing under way. Turn out has been good today, as I was joined ringside by Ruthie for the opening heats of season one.

And it looks like we are ready to kick things off!

Two treats enter, no treats leave.

Heat One: Purina Adventuros Venison Flavoured Strips vs. Bakers Sizzlers

What an exciting pair for the opening match. The arena is filled with the mouthwateringly delicious smell of bacon, and Pixel looks ready to begin the match.

And it is over already! Without a moment of hesitation Pixel goes straight for the Venison Flavoured Strips! What an upset! Bakers Sizzlers were confident of a victory heading into this but the outsiders and newcomers in the Adventuros Vension Flavoured Strips have stolen a win.

Heat Two: Pedigree Tasty Bites vs. Tesco Chicken, Beef, & Liver Meaty Rolls

Pedigree Tasty Bites have to be feeling confident heading into this match-up, their strong smell and chewy texture have always been a Pixel favourite, but the upset of the last round shows that anything can happen.,,

The round has begun and Pixel has gone straight for the Tesco Chicken, Beef and Liver Meaty Rolls, could this be another upset? A tentative lick of the Tesco's Meaty Roll and then he changes his mind and goes for the Tasty Bite.

Heat Three: Purina Bonio vs. Good Boy Tender Beef Fillets

This heat is open for the taking. Bonios are an ever present part of Pixel's treat selection but he does also have a preference for the jerky styled treats.

This round was over seconds after is began. The Good Boy Tender Beef Fillets was eagerly devoured, leaving the Bonio left in the dust.

Heat Four: Purina Adventuros Boar Flavoured Nuggets vs. Alpha Spirit Active Sticks

Following the earlier victory by the Adventuros Venison Flavoured Sticks, the Boar Flavoured Nuggets must be feeling confident about their chances. The Alpha Spirit Active Sticks still represent an unknown and anything can happen in the Treat vs. Treat competition. 

The treats enter the arena and the match begins. And that's a win for the Adventuros Boar- wait, Pixel has now picked up the Alpha Stick too! What is happening? Pixel is eating both treats at once! Who is the winner?

After some discussion with Ruthie we have agreed that Heat Four resulted in a Draw. From this point one, treats are awarded one point for a Draw and three points for a Win.

The Standings

1. Good Boy Tender Beef Fillets- 3 points
2. Pedigree Tasty Bites- 3 points
3. Purina Adventuros Venison Flavoured Strips- 3 points
4. Alpha Spirit Active Sticks- 1 point
5. Purina Adventuros Boar Flavoured Nuggets- 1 point
6. Bakers Sizzlers- 0 points
7. Purina Bonio- 0 points
8. Tesco Chicken, Beef, & Liver Meaty Rolls- 0 points

We here at Pixel HQ are already planning Season Two of Treat vs. Treat. If you have any suggestions for treats we should feature, let us know on our Facebook, our Twitter or in the comment section below.

Treat vs. Treat Season One Showcase

Welcome one and all to the Treat vs. Treat Season One showcase! Today we are looking at the 8 treats that are heading in to this competition.

My aim for Season One is to promote treats that are commonly available in Supermarkets. All of these treats (apart from two ringers purchased from a local pet store) were bought in Supermarkets, at what I consider to be a reasonable price.

I will preface this by saying that Pixel is on completely cereal free food for his daily meals, so I am not concerned about the giving him cereals in his treats. If your dog has problems digesting cereals, the majority of these treats will not be suitable.

Competitor One: Pedigree Tasty Bites

Perhaps one of the most well-known dog food brands, Pedigree Chicken Tasty Bites claim to be "delightfully crispy treats with a delicious centre...", as well as being a good source of Omega 3, Vitamins & Minerals, as well as having no artificial colours or flavours.

Pedigree Tasty Bites are 29% protean, which isn't that bad for a non-jerky treat. They are however 25% fat, which isn't so great... It does contain come cereals, and the exact percentage or type is not listed.

Competitor Two: Tesco Chicken, Beef, & Liver Meaty Rolls

Simple and cheap, these Meaty Rolls come in a pack of 15. They contain cereals, as well as some form of colouring. While being composed of 31% protean, they are also 26% moisture. With a fat content of 5%, they are pretty low in fat compared to the other treats on offer.

Competitor Three: Alpha Spirit Active Sticks

Alpha Spirit Active Sticks present themselves as being very healthy. They are 85% protean, which is amazingly high considering they are not dried meat. They are also gluten free and meat meal free, and claim to be 100% natural. Intended for high activity recovery, these treats clock in at a minimum of 8%. I wouldn't go giving these to your hyper-active dog unless you've got a long walk planned.

Competitor Four: Good Boy Tender Beef Fillets

These kind of treats are I like to give Pixel the most. I often call the Jerky-like treats because they are pretty much dehydrated and dried meats. Very little extra goes into these treats. The Good Boy Tender Beef Fillets come are almost completely made up of crude protean and moisture so you can be happy that your feeding your dog good food.

Competitor Five: Bakers Sizzlers

Our first Purina entry, Baker's Sizzlers are delicious smelling bacon styled dog treats. Bakers are often criticized for the quality of their dog food, which I admit is not great. That being said I am a firm believer that everything is okay in moderation. Baker's Sizzlers fall into the same problem as many treats, they are composed of cereals, and what kind of cereals is not listed. Coming in at 15.2% protean, which isn't bad for non-jerky treats, they also contain milk which isn't great for dogs, especially those who have sensitive digestion.

Competitor Six: Purina Adventuros Venison Flavoured Strips

Found these on offer in our local supermarket, these are soft, almost spongy treats, flavoured Venison. Ruthie declared that our dog eats better flavoured food than we do! At 13.5% protean, these treats contain cereals but no milk like the Sizzlers above. These treats are perfect for tearing up into little pieces.

Competitor Seven: Purina Adventuros Boar Flavoured Nuggets

These boar flavoured treats are the nearly identical in composition as the Venison Flavoured Strips above. These come in nugget form, perfect to giving to your dog.

Competitor Eight: Purina Bonio

Our final entry is the classic dog treat, Bonio biscuits. Coming in at a whooping 90% cereal, of which 30% of that is whole wheat, these treats have been a staple of our dog cupboard. If you are planning on feeding your dog a cereal-low diet, these are too be avoided, however most dogs love their crunchy texture and flavour.

Binkies and Barks! How to Introduce Rabbits and Dogs: Bringing the Dog Home

Disclaimer: Many breeds of dog and bred to hunt rabbits and other small animals. Introducing a dog to your rabbits can be risky. The purpose of this series is to mitigate risk as well as find ways in which you can control any risky situation.

This series is based upon my experience of introducing my dog to my rabbits. It is also written from the perspective of someone who had rabbits and then introduced a dog. They have been successfully introduced and now happily live alongside each other. If at any point you are not comfortable with the introduction, you should put an end to the encounter. It is important that you are comfortable and confident during situations that your dogs and rabbits are interacting.

I have never introduced a puppy to our rabbits, only rescue dogs, and this series reflects this. Many of the steps in later installments will crossover.

If you've just come here, you might be interested in: Part One: Selecting the Right Dog

I have not included any timings in this guide, simply because it can differ. It took us 6 months to fully introduce our dog to our rabbits. It might take you longer. It is important not to rush the process.

So, you found the dog you want. You've gone through the process of adoption or purchasing and you are ready to bring the dog home, what do you do?

Preparing the House

The first thing you are going to want to do before you bring your dog home, is get the house ready. For the process of introduction to work, it needs to be over a controlled period of time, this means that you cannot just let the dog meet your rabbits the minute you bring them home. This does mean that you might have to split your time between your rabbits and dog for a little while, at least for a short time. Your rabbits are going to have to be placed into another room where your dog is not allowed to go. 

To prevent your dog from accessing the room, you should either keep the door closed, or use a childgate (personally we used a childgate, and put a blanket over it at first so that he couldn't see the rabbits but could hear and smell them).

Once the rabbits have been moved, I suggest that you thoroughly clean the areas where they typically lived, this should hopefully prevent your dog marking when they are brought into the house.

Bringing the Dog Home

When you first bring your dog home, they are going to be very overwhelmed by the experience, They may try and mark or run around excitedly. Any attempt to get into the room where the rabbits live should be firmly discouraged (although avoid negative reinforcement).

Your dog may repeatedly try to gain access to the room, this may be because they can smell/hear the rabbits, or they are pushing against your authority. It is important not to create a negative association with the rabbit room, however if you keep your rabbits loose, rather than in a hutch or cage, you might considering keeping the rabbit room door closed to ensure the safety of your rabbits. That being said, through reinforcement, your dog should quickly learn that they are not allowed into this room. It is important at this point to ensure that this is consistently enforced.

Acclimatising your Dog to Rabbits

Once you are confident that your dog will not try to access the rabbit room, you can move onto acclimatising your dog to the presence of rabbits in the house (and vice versa). If when you opted to have the rabbit room closed off when your first brought your dog home, you should now introduce a childgate covered with a blanket to keep the dog out of the room. You should regularly go into the rabbit room, and interact with your bunnies, leaving your dog on the other side of gate. While doing this, you should ensure that your dog does not enter the room, but also praise them for being good. Through your regular interaction with the rabbits and praise, the dog should associate the rabbit room as something positive.

Once your dog seems uninterested in the rabbit room, you should remove the blanket from the childgate, so that the dog and the rabbits are able to see each other. Keep a close eye on the behaviour of your dogs and rabbits at this stage, ensure that neither are fixated on the other. In controlled circumstances you can allow your dog and your rabbit to "meet" through the bars of the gate, or in the room if your rabbits are in a hutch at the time. Ensure that such meetings are brief, and that they end in a positive manner, with treats being given to both. You want to cement the idea that such interactions are positive and should be rewarded to bring about positive association.

Next time: Binkies and Barks! First Meetings

If you have any comments, or questions, pop them below. I am always happy to help!

Zoomies: Wordless Wednesday

Poorly Hoomans & Packmate Poppy!: The Pixel Diaries

Hello hoomans! It might not have escaped your notice that we have been quiet over the last few days, this is in part because my packmate Poppy came to visit, and in part because my humans have been unwell. You'll have to forgive them for posting this on Thursday, instead of Sunday, but they have both been working and resting...

The week was quiet. My lovely coat kept me warm in the little spring cold snap that we have been having. I am still completely in love with my coat, I wear it almost every night so I don't get cold! My human has promised that a full review of the AK Creations House Coat will be coming in the future.



This weekend my packmate Poppy came to visit me from Somerset. She is my human's old dog who lives with his parents. She can be a little off with other dogs but has mostly been okay with me. We've spent plenty of time together since August, and every time we meet, we become better friends. I am always really excited to see Poppy, although I think she is not always excited to see me. At Christmas we were really close to playing inside the house, but we didn't really have an opportunity to play like that this weekend. We did have a lovely time running and playing out in the fields, and I am excited to see her again so we can run together. On the Saturday evening I even managed to cuddle up to Poppy. I hope she will let me cuddle her more when we live together.

Just sunning my self #Dogslife

I just walked into the bedroom to find Pixel like this:

He is not supposed to be on the bed when we are not in the room, but I couldn't bring myself to be mad. He just looked so warm and happy.

Fine. He can be on the bed for the moment while he suns himself.

Bag for life > Dog bed: Why my dog isn't smart

We were out of the house and on our walk pretty early this morning. Just before sunrise, it was a cool but lovely spring morning. Pixel enjoyed his chance for zoomies and was happy when we got home. I toweled him off as best I could, gave him breakfast, and went back to bed because it was still before 7am.

It took him the usual 10 minutes to eat from his Slo-Bowl, and when he was finished, he came into the bedroom, looking to come up on the bed for a cuddle. He was still damp so we told him that he wasn't allowed up.

Apparently Pixel was not happy with this decision, as he promptly dragged the bag for life onto the floor, emptied the toys that were contained within, and used the now flat bag as his bed, directly next to his memory foam mattress. He then proceeded to alternate between staring at me and ignoring me.

Eventually he gave up his pursuit of getting onto the bed, instead deciding to literally lie on the bed that he had made for himself, and clean off his muddy paws. After a while he was clean and dry enough to come up for his cuddle.

At one point he even got off the bed to go lay on the bag again. Sometime I think my dog is really bright, then he does stuff that reminds me that he isn't that smart...

Binkies and Barks! How to Introduce Rabbits and Dogs: Selecting the Right Dog

Disclaimer: Many breeds of dog and bred to hunt rabbits and other small animals. Introducing a dog to your rabbits can be risky. The purpose of this series is to mitigate risk as well as find ways in which you can control any risky situation.

This series is based upon my experience of introducing my dog to my rabbits. It is also written from the perspective of someone who had rabbits and then introduced a dog. They have been successfully introduced and now happily live alongside each other. If at any point you are not comfortable with the introduction, you should put an end to the encounter. It is important that you are comfortable and confident during situations that your dogs and rabbits are interacting.

I have never introduced a puppy to our rabbits, only rescue dogs, and this series reflects this. Many of the steps in later installments will crossover.

So you want a dog, but you also have rabbits that live inside your house? You don't have to chose between one or the other, you can have both, and they can live happily side-by-side. I've seen it with my own eyes, our Lurcher, Pixel, lives happily alongside his bunny buddies, he bows to them and plays as they binky about. But before you rush out into the street and bring in the first dog you find, there are two points I want to make, that might seem oddly contradictory.

Know your breeds

Dogs are bred to fulfill certain roles, a Border Collie is bred for herding, Dalmatians were coach dogs and Greyhounds were bred to hunt rabbits. You need to know what every breed was meant to do before you can consider whether they are going to be suitable to live with rabbits. If you want something easy, look into what breeds are considered cat friendly, these will often overlap with dogs that are also rabbit friendly. You should avoid anything that hunts by sight, such as Greyhounds or Whippets, and you should also avoid Terriers as they tend to grab and shake small animals. Also consider carefully the size of the breed, rabbits are small and some dogs are simply huge in comparison.

While every breed has the potential to harm rabbits, some breeds are more closely associated with hunting than others. Many places won't consider rehoming these breeds to rabbit owners, we were turned away from a Lurcher rescue centre in Kent because they refused to consider a household with rabbits. I think they were perfectly within their right to do this, even if we might hold different philosophies in this respect. I am a firm believer that dogs can be taught to do anything you want them to, dogs are not dictated completely by their breed.

While selecting the right breed can be very important to rabbit-dog relations, I believe the most important thing is to select the right dog...

Know your dog

Imagine this, you go into a rescue shelter and you are looking for a dog that could live with your rabbits. There are currently five dogs held by this shelter:

1. Greyhound-Labrador
2. Greyhound-Deerhound
3. Border Collie-Australian Cattle Dog
4. Whippet-Mix
5. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier-Mix

I would forgive you for thinking that of those breeds listed that only one would be suitable for living with rabbits, number 3. But the breed of a dog is not the only defining character of their temperament. Every dog is unique and different, and while the temperament of a specific breed will give you a good insight into their likely behaviour, it is not the be all and all. These are all dogs I have owned:

1. Tina- She was an accomplished and deadly rabbit hunter. She would not have been suitable for life with rabbits.
2. Lorcan- He was an amateur hunter at best, only ever catching a couple of rabbits, if any. He could have been trained to live with rabbits, his size would have been the only obstacle.
3. Poppy- She was Tina's partner in crime, ferreting out the rabbits and pushing them toward Tina. Despite this, she has had positive interaction with our rabbits and given further training would be suitable to live with them.
4. Pixel- Our current mutt is perfect with rabbits, and unlike his dominant breed, has no prey-drive whatsoever.
5. Scally Wag- This old girl was the softest dog you could ever meet. Absolutely no threat to rabbits.

So of the five dogs listed above, only one would have been unsuitable for a rabbit household.

The point I am trying to make is if you have rabbits, and are looking to get a dog, then talk to the shelter you are rehoming from and they should be able to offer suggestions. There are certain traits that you are looking for. When looking for a dog, we asked whether the dogs were considered cat safe, if they were, we considered them to be safe for rabbits (when discussing Pixel they told us he never even bothered with cats). Battersea even offered to do a controlled introduction of the dogs with our rabbits, something everyone should consider if the shelter offers this option.

What you need to know is that you need to spend sometime with the potential dog. Get to know what they are like, walk them, play with them, and interact with them. Many centres encourage people to take the dog home after one visit, no matter how tempting this might be, do not do it (advice I would give even if you don't have any other pets). Go away and think seriously about the dog's personality. How will it relate to your rabbits? Multiple visits are key to getting to know any potential dog. Before getting Tina, Lorcan and Scally we visited them three times, and for Poppy we visited twice (this is without owning rabbits). For Pixel we visited twice, with a total of 3-4 hours of contact with him before deciding that he was suitable.

Things to takeaway from this:

• Consider potential breeds to look for/avoid.
• Get to know the dog. 
• Visit the dog with your rabbits in a controlled environment if possible.
• Do not rush the process.
• Talk to the rescue centre.
• The safety of rabbit and dog is the most important thing.

Next time: Binkies and Barks! Bringing the Dog Home

I didn't cause this mess: Wordless Wednesday

Pet Munchies Chicken Strips vs. Purina DeliBakie Fishies

Fresh out of last weeks defeat, Purina DeliBakies step into the ring once more, this week with their Fishies biscuits. Their opponent? Pet Munchies Chicken Strips! Can the DeliBakies win over Pixel, or will they once again be found wanting when confronted with a more meaty alternative? Can Pet Munchies match up to the cheesy smell of the Fishies? Let us delay no longer. Let the fight commence!

Availability

As I have mentioned before, the Purina DeliBakie brand is available practically everywhere, most supermarkets stock them, as well as being readily available online and in stores like Pets at Home, typically these treats are sold for £1.25. 

The same cannot be said for Pet Munchies. I have not seen the brand in supermarkets, and neither is available in Pets at Home (I know, some people really hate this store, but honestly it is an easy way to find stuff for your dog). Pet Munchies can be found online for around £2.99. It is a shame that the Pet Munchies brand is not more available, because they are good treats, but as it stands, Purina is simply a dominant name in the market.

Winner: Purina DeliBakie Fishies

Goodness

Purina DeliBakies have a tendency to be a little fatty, however the Fishies are significantly better in this respect. A typical DeliBakie product can only be given to your dog three times a day, these Fishies allow your dog to have seven (assuming your dog is around 15kg). The problem still remains, however, that these treats are very high in cereals. Fishies are 60% cereal (and at least 55% of that total is flour which can be difficult to digest).

Pet Munchies on the other hand are 91% chicken breast. The packet claims to be high in protean and low in fat, and it is hard to argue with that. These treats are 100% natural, with no added preservatives or flavours. They are just wholesome dog treats.

Winner: Pet Munchies Chicken Strips

Taste Test

The two treats and placed into the arena and the mood is tense. In previous friendly matches the delicious Edam and Gouda Fishies have dominated their competition. Only yesterday the Pet Munchies Chicken Strips suffered a loss at their hands. The Purina DeliBakies have an air of quiet confidence, they think they have this in the bag. But anything can happen in the Treat vs. Treat arena and in a shocking upset, Pixel goes straight for the Pet Munchies Chicken Strips. The crowd is silent, unable to process what had just happened. For a second time, Purina DeliBakies have been defeated. This match-up should have been an easy win for them, but it goes to show that you cannot rely on anything here in Treat vs. Treat.

What a titanic upset here at Pixel headquarters.

Two treats enter, no treats leave.

Winner by two rounds to one: Pet Munchies Chicken Strips

The Leader Board

1. Pet Munchies Chicken Strips (W:1/L:0)
2. Tesco Sausage Treat (W:1/L:0)
3. Purina DeliBakie Fishies (W:0/L:1)
4. Purina DeliBakie Hearts (W:0/L:1)

Pixel loves his rabbit friends (sort of): The Pixel Diaries

Hello Hoomans! When my humans brought me home I tried to let them know that I really wanted to have some friends. Back in the kennels they would bring cats out to meet me, and I bow and spin and let the people know that I liked the cats, I wouldn't mind having one around. So when my humans brought me home, I was excited to smell that they had some rabbits too!

For the first few weeks of being in my new home, I could hear and smell the rabbits, but I wasn't allowed to see them. They were in another room, behind a gate with a blanket hung over it, so that I was not able to see them. Whenever my humans when into the room to feed them, I would catch a glimpse of them.

After a week or two they uncovered the gate so that I could see the bunnies. They were awesome, there was Moonpig a rotund looking French Lop, and Button, a tan and white Harlequin (he looks like me in rabbit form). At first I liked to stare at them, they were interesting to look at, but then I realised they were my friends and didn't bother after that.

After a month and a bit, my humans brought the rabbits into the front room and I got to meet them through the bars. Moonpig didn't seem to like me, but Button and I became friends, and regularly touched our noses together to say hello. Then the rabbits started to come out of the crate in the front room. At first I had to wear my lead, which was tough cause all I wanted to do with play with the rabbits. I would cry and grumble about the fact that they could walk about freely but I had to be on lead. My humans would walk me over to the rabbits so I could meet them. I liked my friends and was excited to play with them.

After six months of slow introductions, my humans finally decided to let the rabbits out while I was off lead. At first I thought it would be awesome, I could play with Button! But then I realised that without my humans to back me up, the rabbits are scary. On my first off-lead interaction with the rabbits I ran away and hid with my mummy in the bed, while the rabbits had free fun of the front room.

Eventually my dad came and got me, he said he wouldn't have a Lurcher that was scared of rabbits. He brought me back into the room, and I made mummy come with me for moral support. I realised that the rabbits weren't as scary as I thought. Moonpig ignored me mostly, but Button was binking and it made me excited and I bowed to him and spun about him! It was fun to play with the rabbit (although I am still a little scared of them, especially when they thump).

I always look forward to the next time that I can play with them.

Notes from Christopher: When we were looking to get a dog, we contacted a local Lurcher rescue centre and they said that they wouldn't even consider homing any of their dogs in a household with rabbits, and I respect that decision. I've owned Lurchers who hunt, I know what they are like and the safety of my rabbits has been at the forefront of my mind when picking a dog.

That being said, I am a firm believer in getting my dogs to do what I want them to do. We selected Pixel because he had aced every cat test that the kennels but him through. We slowly introduced him to the rabbits over a 6 month period, allowing him to get used to their presence. I observed Pixel's behaviour while outside, he did chase rabbits and other small animals, but whenever he caught up with them he tried to play. Over time I realised that he had an abnormally low prey-drive, especially for a whippet cross.

The safety of my rabbit and my dog was always at the front of my mind when we made introductions. I am glad that I did introduce them. Pixel loves his rabbit friends, and is excited to play with them (always supervised) and the rabbits enjoy finding ways to be naughty in the presence of a dog who watches on. I am extremely happy with how everything turned out, and I know we are lucky to have a dog who likes rabbits. Not every Lurcher or Sighthound can be bonded with rabbits, but if they can, they make the most loyal of friends to them.

New Coats and New Homes: The Pixel Diaries

Hello Hoomans! I am excited to announce that my humans and I will be moving to Somerset in the summer. This makes me very happy because I am going to spend a lot more time with my friend Poppy. I think Poppy is my friend, she tries to play with me and then when I get excited and spins she just runs away, but she is silly like that. Because we are moving, my humans have started packing up, and this makes me uncomfortable, I know they will not leave me on purpose, but I worry they might forget me by accident. To make sure this doesn't happen I am staying really close to them, they can't forget me if I am right under their feet, can they?

My humans have been getting rid of some of their stuff, thankfully, none of mine though. So we seem to spend lots of time just waiting for people come and pick up their stuff. But we still managed to squeeze in lots of lovely walks, and it has been warmer in the days so I have had plenty of time to sun myself. I don't mind sleeping most of the day, I quite like it actually.

On Monday my humans left me, and I got a little nervous and barked at the door when they were out, I must have knocked one of the locks somehow as I locked out my mummy. She didn't like that and found it very stressful. I told her I was sorry, and she eventually forgave me.

This weekend my final birthday present arrived. I love my brand new housecoat, it is so snug and warm. I don't need it during the days at the moment, but I love sleeping in it, it keeps me nice and toasty. I have also spent some more time with my rabbit friends, but they still scare me... But I don't mind, I like them anyways, and I am slowly getting more confident!

Pixel is told to leave a treat

Pixel new coat arrives

Pixel's brand new housecoat arrived today, custom made by AK Creations. I know we don't normally post things on Saturdays but I just couldn't resist showing you how handsome he looked. The coat is absolutely perfect and will keep him nice and toasty.

Pixel hears the rustle of biscuits...

Purina DeliBakie Hearts vs. Tesco Sausage Treats

This week two treats bravely step into the Treat vs. Treat arena! Introducing first, coming in bags of 100g, made by Purina, it is the DeliBakie Hearts! And the opponent, coming in packs of 20g (two small sausages), made by Tesco, and rich with Beef & Tripe, it is the Sausage Treats!

Round One- Availability

The Purina DeliBakie range is available everywhere, most supermarkets will stock one of the flavours from the range. They are also reasonably priced at £1.25 for a pack. It is hard to beat that kind of availability, at that price point. 

The Tesco Sausage Treats we purchased for 40p, the catch here however is the catch that we bought these when they were "reduced to clear". At this point this specific treat has been discontinued by Tesco, there are, however, other Sausage Treats available by them. Despite this, it is impossible to argue that a discontinued treat is more available that we a treat distributed by a well-known brand.

Winner: Purina DeliBakie Hearts

Round Two- Goodness

As I have mentioned previously, one of the failing of the Purina DeliBakie range is their fat content, and the hearts are no different. While the range is made with wholesome ingredients, the majority of these treats are made up of Cereals, typically used as a bulking agent. While some cereals are not harmful to your dog, and some of them are even good, there is a minimum of 30% (of a total cereals of 65%) of wheat cereal, which can be difficult for dogs to digest.

In compassion, the Tesco Sausage Treat actually has a higher fat content, but is also 95% meat, with little added additives. That is a nice high level of delicious proteany goodness. I am not going to argue that your dog should be cereal free, Pixel isn't by any means, but it is clear that some cereals can be problematic to dog digestion. With the Purina DeliBakie it is not clear which cereals you are giving your dog (beyond the known inclusion of wheat).

Winner: Tesco Sausage Treat

Round Three- Taste Test

The final around is upon us, and these two brave treats stepped into the ring without fear. Each of these treats had won a round, so there was everything to play for, and nothing to lose. The treats were ready, Pixel was summoned and prepared to give the final verdict. For Pixel, there was no doubt in his mind, or hesitation in his actions. He chose the winner, and greedily devoured the Tesco Sausage Treat in a few short bites. But he was yet unsatisfied. He turned then upon the defeated treat, the Purina DeliBakie Heart was trapped. Pixel descended and gobbled up the fallen.

Two Treats enter, no treats leave.

Winner by two rounds to one: Tesco Sausage Treat

The Leader Board

1. Tesco Sausage Treat (W:1/L:0)
2. Purina DeliBakie Hearts (W:0/L:1)

Pixel vs. The Hairdryer

Today Pixel faces his greatest foe, today Pixel battles the Hairdryer.

What does it mean to be good?: Philosophy with Pixel & Poppy

Sniff! Sniff! Bark! There are many impossible questions in this world, but today we will try and answer the one most dogs are concerned with: "What does it mean to be good?"

Our humans often praise us for being "good boys" or "good girls". But what does this mean? What have we done to receive such praise? We mean, we know that Sitting on command is good, but why is it good? And how comes when we bark at our humans, telling them to sit, we are considered bad? It is enough to confuse the brightest of Collies.

It seems to us that our humans are the ultimate arbitrators of what is considered good and what is considered bad. We are reminded of the works of the famed Greek Philosopher, Plato. He writes of the metaphysical Form of "Good". All things we perceive in this world are imperfect reflections of their perfect form. We, as mere dogs, are therefore unable to see the form of Good, presumably because it is Green or Red (or somewhere in-between). Our humans, however, are capable of seeing this form of Good and instruct us on what they see so that we may be gooder dogs.

So, it does appear that we, as dogs, will never be able to see what it means to be good, nor will we ever understand the essence of goodness. We simply must trust the words of our humans, for they are great, and able to view the (Green or Red coloured) Forms, and they are benevolent beings that share the wealth of their knowledge with us.

What does it means to be good? Our humans know, and they are good. Follow their example and so too, you can be good.

I will climb every mountain: Wordless Wednesday

Pixel locks us out: The Pixel Diaries

If you cuddle your dog more, they won't lock you out

Yesterday started out like any normal Monday, I took the dog out for a walk early in the morning, before coming home to do a little bit of housework. It coming up for my time to leave, I take the dog down to the garden, bring him back up, leave him with a couple of treats and then I am off to work.

Our front door has a couple of extra bolts, one at the top, and one at the bottom. Our neighbours have warned us about using these as they are temperamental and prone to sticking, they even told us that someone needed to call the fire brigade when one of their locks stuck. It is with one of these bolts that Pixel locked us out. At some point in the day, Pixel had gone to bark at someone outside the door and knocked the bolt's handle enough to move it across and prevent us from opening the door.

When Ruthie got home after work, she unlocked the door and went to open it. It didn't budge. For a moment she cursed me for leaving the door unlocked, she must have just locked it instead. She tries again. No luck. That's when she realises something was wrong. She pushes against the door, maybe something just fell over and could be moved with a little force. Nope. The bloody mutt had somehow managed to lock us out of our home. All the while, Pixel was crying and barking at the door. He knew Ruthie was there but couldn't work out why she wasn't coming in.

Eventually, with the help of a neighbour, they were managed to jimmy open the door, and human and dog were reunited once more, and the door didn't need to be broken down.

The moral of the story? Give your dogs more cuddles or they'll lock you out of your own house.

Treat vs. Treat

Just like the Gladiators of old would fight in the arena to satisfy the crowds of Rome, so to will these treats battle for our amusement! These brave treats will step into the modern day arena, hoping that their all-mighty Emperor, Pixelus, will grace them with his favour. Two treats, no treats leave!

Now that I've gotten that out of my system, I would like to introduce you all to our new series, Treat vs. Treat.

What is Treat vs. Treat I hear you ask? It is simple really, you get two treats and then you make them fight it out for our amusement! Treat vs. Treat will compare two treats across three rounds. The first round, Availability will assess which of the treats is more readily available and in addition to this will take into account the cost of the treats. In most cases the winner of the first round will be the treat that is either the most readily available, or the one that offer the best value for money. The second round, Healthiness will compare the ingredients of the treats, examining fat content and how many of the said treat your dog can have in a day. The final round is the Taste Test in which we present both treats to Pixel, the one he chooses to eat first is the winner.


I intend to do lots of Treat vs. Treat reviews (at least one a week), so I will be keeping running scores, so that we can all see how treats are doing in the rankings. Don't be surprised if treats appear in multiple battles.

As with all our reviews, your mileage may vary, and Treat vs. Treat is by no means meant to be a formal review, instead it is a light-hearted way feeding Pixel treats while looking at what they are.

So prepare yourselves for battles that will be sung of for centuries to come!

A Busy Week and a Homemade Snood: The Pixel Diaries

This week has been very busy, and as such we haven't been able to spend as much time as we would have liked with Pixel.

I had to work Monday and Tuesday, so Pixel spent most of these days asleep in the spare room. On Tuesday night we all bundled into the car for a flying visit to the west country. Unfortunately the journey wasn't as straight forward as we are used to and Pixel got a little travel sick and threw in the cup holder by the back seat.

Despite not getting in until a little before 1am, Pixel and I were up at 6am to go for a walk with Poppy. Every time Pixel and Poppy spend to time together they grow even closer, and this time was no exception. After a couple of hours together, Poppy was trying to play with Pixel but continually chickened out after Pixel got a little over-excited and started spinning on the spot. They were, however, very comfortable with sharing toys, neither growing jealous if the other picked up a toy that they had been recently playing with.

Our stay in the West Country was brief, and we all clambered back into the car for the journey back to Kent on Wednesday afternoon. Pixel, looking a little green around the gills, was unable to help himself and threw up once more. Next time we travel, we are going to talk to the Vets about Pet Travel Sickness tablets, hopefully these will make it a little easier for all of us.

Thursday, Pixel spent the day recuperating from his little adventure, as Ruthie and I both had to work again. I accidentally left our bedroom door open and came home to find my pillow pushed off of the bed, and our travel bag thoroughly rooted through.

Not looking to slow down this week, Pixel and I jumped on a bus on Friday and headed down to Ashford to spend some time with family. As we traveled down on the bus, we didn't a bed with us, so poor Pixel was subjected to having to sleep on the bed with us, which I am sure he absolutely hated.

I was working this Saturday so Pixel and Ruthie headed over to a friends for an afternoon of crafts. Ruthie knitted Pixel a rather fetching Snood to keep his neck warm, and we also discovered Pixel's love of napping in armchairs. Luck for Pixel then, that we should be getting an armchair in the next few months. I am also pretty sure that Pixel's Snood collection might be expanding again in the near future.

So we finally roll round to Sunday and all of us here and Smooth Pixelater have taken the opportunity to rest. As I type this, Pixel is happily snoozing on the front room bed wearing his nice new Snood.