The Puzzle Toy

What the heck is this?!? I thought you two might enjoy eating your supper from a puzzle toy.

Awoo! Nooo!!! Dinner is meant to be served, not worked for!

Last week I bought Toby a puzzle toy. When I got home I broke up a biscuit and hid the pieces for him. He was so thrilled to “hunt” for his treats that his tail wagged the whole time he played with it. Then he tried to pull it apart to see if he could find more food inside. (He reminded me of a kid at Christmas returning to the tree in case more presents had appeared.)

The next day I decided to hide his kibble diner in the puzzle. While he was willing to go along, I could tell that Toby wasn’t happy about having to work for his meal. It made me wonder what our coyote neighbors might think if they saw my spoiled boy.

Is there any sadder sight than a puppy with an empty dish?

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Looking to do your holiday shopping early? Then consider giving the gift of sweetness and joy with Dream Our World! Inside, my puppies visit the museum of their dreams and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun. The book is an adventure for children and adults alike.

Dream Our World and many other fine gifts are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.

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Trade

At first there were two socks.

Then this….

Toby didn’t think I would notice that he traded his tiger for my sock.

(He stole the underwear to instigate a game of chase, though.)

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What’s in a Name?

Oh geez, Toby. What is Peppermint going to think? Her name is Zelda...or maybe Priscilla...and we're soulmates!

According to this tag, her name is "Fernando".

These two have spent so much time together that they are starting to look like each other.

Toby and new stuffed girlfriend looking off into the distance.

I do worry about Peppermint, though. I’m sure her feelings are hurt.

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Tell them you love them without saying a word! (Right, Toby?) Give someone you care about this stellar pillow with an E.T. hand signing “I Love You”. Not only is it a loving reminder, it is also a great conversation piece.

Alien Hand Pillow is available from my shop.

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Chili Out?

Si.

Smiling chili pepper toy.

Hola!

Toby told me he head to pee, so I clipped his collar and leash on and headed toward the door. Before we stepped out, he cried “Wait!” and dashed back into the room to grab his new stuffed chili pepper.

Cairn terrier allows his stuffed chili pepper toy to go pee.

Whenever Toby has a toy that he likes, he fusses over it like a good papi. He likes to take his toys out to give them a chance to relieve themselves.

Cairn terrier peeing.

Aw, Mom, don’t show that one! I was standing like a girl.

Once Toby and the toy were done, he picked up his little one to bring back inside.

Cairn terrier approaches his stuffee chili pepper toy.

Cairn terrier touches his stuffed chili papper toy.

Cairn terrier carries his toy chili pepper.

Cairn terrier gazes off into the distance while hoding his stuffed chili pepper toy.

I can hear the wild chili peppers

calling off in the distance!

As always, Toby was extremely cooperative when having his picture taken. He stood perfectly still so that I could capture his portrait in perfect detail.

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For a clear picture of your pet, consider having his or her portrait done! Visit my website, L Bowman Studios, to see examples of my work and price lists.

Pet portraits make great gifts including birthday gifts and healing tributes. Since I work online, you don’t need to worry about wearing a mask while doing business.

Hope to see you soon!

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Toby’s Valentine’s Day Surprise

A Valentine's Day heart shaped box of colcolate rests next to a bottle of wine and a single red rose.

Toby, do you have something you want to tell me? No.

Toby sends a Happy Valentine’s Day wish to all those star-crossed lovers out there. Don’t let what others say discourage you. Follow your heart (no matter what the consequences)!

When push comes to shove,

you’ve gotta do what you love

even if it’s not a good idea!

…to borrow a line from Futurama.

(A refresher on Toby’s ill-fated romance.)

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To learn more about Toby’s first love, pick up a copy of Poopiter.

Cover of the book Poopiter

Poopiter follows Bitey and Toby during their first year together.

Poopiter is available from Amazon.

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If Only Abbot and Costello Had Known

Remember this guy?

Mumy Loofah dog poses for mug shot.

Look what happened to him.

Unstuffed mummy loofah dog.

If only Abbot and Costello had known that small terriers can destroy mummies, they may have lived much happier lives.

When Geordie was younger, he destroyed stuffed toys all the time. It seemed the greater his social anxiety, the more toys he tore up. Toby has been pretty gentle with his stuffed toys and still has most of them.

On this particular day he was admonished to “SHUT UP ALREADY!!!” after barking at the school bus. Evidently his pride was wounded, and Mummy Loofah paid the price. I suppose that until now, Toby lived such a perfect life without getting into trouble that he didn’t need to destroy his toys.

Better watch out, Sextopus.

Stuffed squid with six arms. Sextopus.

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If you haven’t had a chance yet, pick up a copy of Dream Our World. Inside, Bitey and Toby go on an imaginative journey through the museum of their dreams where they look at the world of art from a canine perspective. A very sweet book loved by both adults and children.

Dream Our World is available from Amazon.

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Toby…I Mean Blue Puppy…Strikes Again

Last week I had two jobs come in. My boys absolutely hate when I have to work and my attention is taken away from them. Toby, I mean Blue Puppy, had a bit of a meltdown over this.

Tipped over trash can.

Naughty Cairn terrier tears up trash while his toy Blue Puppy watches the carnage.

Blue Puppy lies amid the trash can carnage.

As you can see, Blue Puppy tipped over the trash can and ripped up all the papers while Toby innocently looked on. At least this was slightly better than when Toby got into the laundry and paraded around the house with dirty undies.

Toy kitty with stuffing ripped out of its head.

Humpty Kitty also fell victim to the carnage. All of that stuffing used to be her brains. I guess now she is Zombie Humpty Kitty.

Humpity! Humpity! Humpity!

How did Humpty Kitty get her name? I dunno. Maybe we should ask Englebert Humpamint.

Given how miserable today was, I am going to hurry and sign off so I can get some work done while the boys are sleeping. It’s funny, they are my muses, yet they keep me from getting absolutely anything done.

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What might Virtual Toby and Geordie do as they nap in front of the TV?

They go to the museum, of course!

To read more of their adventures, pick up a copy of Dream Our World.

They are available at Amazon.

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Off to the Moon

Blurry pic of puppy playing with toy.

Has anyone seen my red shirt?

Here I am, all ready for space! I have my helmet, my bag of biscuits and my squeaky ray gun.

Hole on. Before you go, I have something for you. A new shirt? Thanks! Make sure to wear it on all your missions.

And here are some pictures of your girlfriend. I have a girlfriend? Wow!

Not that Geordie is always trying to get rid of Toby or anything…..

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To see what my fellas were up to before they headed to the museum, pick up a copy of Poopiter. Poopiter is an illustrated chronicle of my boys’ first year together.

As you can see, the stories and ideas inside my books often come from real life – including the moon.

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Mr. Boombalatti Hides the Evidence

Dog dish half hidden under carpet

To Toby’s great dismay, I have had to put him on a diet for Lent. Geordie’s pickiness over food has given Toby ample opportunities to become roly-poly by eating his brother’s leftovers. The other day I found this going on in the kitchen. In the background, I was pretty sure I could hear Shaggy singing, “It wasn’t me…”

Dog photobombs picture with dish and toy in background

I’m telling you, it was Blue Puppy who ate all the food!

As you can see, Toby clearly blames his little blue puppy for getting into the dishes and then trying to hide the evidence under the rug.

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Watch Out, Peppermint!

Toby and new stuffed girlfriend looking off into the distance. Isn’t this cute? The two of them are even starting to look like each other!

Watch out, Peppermint. Someone new is after your man.

This is Toby’s new “girlfriend”. You may recall from Poopiter that my boy has a particular fondness for his toy peppermint. Now, though, there is a new lady in his life. This little gal doesn’t have a name yet, but I think she needs one. Any suggestions?

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