Despite having almost no ears (someone cropped his ears too short before we adopted him), Hugo’s ears get really dirty. And although he had no interest in letting me take a photo of his icky ears, I can assure you that they are pretty gross. Here’s the best photo I could get:

Hugo's Dirty Ear

So when Spot Organics sent us their Organic Ear Cleaning Pads, we were pretty excited! The organic pads are thick pads treated with organic aloe vera, lavender and witch hazel hydrosols, organic apple cider vinegar, and pure essential oils of lavender, naouli, and bergamot. They smelled clean and fresh – no alcohol smell like some cleaning pads.

Spot Organics Ear Cleaning Pads

I started by cleaning the inside of Hugo’s ear, gently wiping working my way to the external ear (or what’s left of it.) The wipes were pretty gross and did a good job of cleaning out any loose dirt, wax and stray hairs. I used a clean pad for each ear. Hugo sat patiently and was phased at all by the pads. He really enjoyed having his ears rubbed while they were secretly being cleaned as well. Here’s how well the pad worked:

Ear Cleaning Pad - After

We really loved the fact that the ear cleaning pads were natural and had a pleasing smell. Hugo loved the process of having his ears cleaned. We would highly recommend Spot Organic Dog Ear Cleaning Pads!

As some of you know, our dog Hugo was diagnosed with a Mast Cell Tumor back in April. Since his initial diagnosis and surgery, the MCT returned. He has been on chemo since September with three more treatments to go and is doing well. We had a scare a few weeks ago when his liver count increased pretty significantly.

Worried that the cancer was within a vital system or an internal tumor had surfaced, we took him in for an ultrasound and a liver aspiration. Although the treatment wasn’t cheap, we were happy to find out that he had a slight gall bladder infection and that was likely causing the elevation. No tumors or systematic anomalies were found. Now, he is on antibiotics for the infection and his liver count is slowly decreasing. As a 6-year-old, 120lb. mastiff, he is doing pretty darn good and we hope that once the chemo is over we won’t have to deal with the “c” word again!

Incredible sushi boat at Yamafuji

I have to admit that when I heard about Yamafuji, I thought, “Sushi? In Front Royal? Um…no way.” But, Yamafuji has made quite a name for itself in the hearts and taste buds of the folks of Front Royal and the surrounding areas. After reading a few reviews on the new Japanese restaurant and setting my skepticism aside, my husband, my friend Bob from Miami and I headed over for dinner.

Our friend, Bob, is an avid traveler, a connoisseur of fine foods and only eats fish. He’s eaten at sushi joints across the country. So if anyone was going to have a “beef” with Yamafuji, it would be him. Well, all I can say is WOW. Yamafuji was just what we were looking for.

With a full stock of the freshest sushi I’ve ever had, Yamafuji is a gem in our local restaurant community. I typically order octopus (or “tako”) and I’m here to say, I’ve had some bad octopus. The octopus at Yamafuji was tender, not fishy at all and incredibly tasty. Bob has a tendency to eat to order unusual things off the menu and I tend to follow suit. We ate salmon roe, flying fish roe, sea urchin roe (or “uni”) …and it was all fantastic. We’ve also ordered pot stickers and other cooked foods – all delicious.

A few weeks later we came in for the “Tuna Festival” which consisted of about 60+ pieces of tuna sushi prepared several different ways. The tuna was very fresh and delicious. Although this was an “all-you-can-eat” type of festival, we couldn’t possible eat more than what was offered (even though our sushi chefs tried to serve us more!)

After a couple of visits to Yamafuji, I sat down with general manager, Marcus Doe, for a chat about the restaurant, the challenges of serving sushi and what was next for this great Japanese restaurant. Here’s what he had to say.

Sushi rolls at Yamafuji

Q: You’ve been holding sushi classes at Around Your Kitchen in Front Royal. What can folks learn during these classes?

A: We basically teach the simple task of making sushi. Our beginner’s class included how to make different types of rolls. The intermediate class was about making Nigiri sushi. And our advanced class will be teaching how to make different types of sushi. It’s very hard to find fresh fish so we’ll be selling fish to class participants. That way they don’t have to worry about illness or bad raw fish.

Q: You’re going to be rolling out a program for bringing Japanese food to seniors. What’s that all about?

A: Anyone over 65 can come in and eat Japanese food for free on specific days.

Q: You have these great hibachi and barbecue tables in the dining room. Will you be using them for your fall and winter food specials?

A: In the winter we’re going to try to serve more hot food. We have four hibachi tables, so we’ll probably use two for traditional hibachi and the other two for Odin soup which is fish cake dipped in hot soup.

Q: You’ve had a couple of sake festivals. How did those work out?

A: The people that came to the sake festivals really enjoyed themselves. Everyone learned about sake, how to taste it  and even bought some for themselves.

Marcus Doe, General Manager and Me

Q: Why is your fish so fresh?

A: We order it and the next day its delivered fresh.

Q: This space has been several different restaurants, including most recently, an Asian restaurant. What are the challenges of being a new restaurant in a traditionally failing space?

A: A lot of people had a bad experience with the old restaurant that was in this space (Samurai). So, they think this is still the same type of restaurant. But, when people come in they are very surprised that this isn’t at all like Samurai. They are spreading the word about Yamafuji and want the restaurant to stay.

Our other big challenge is that there are not many Japanese restaurants in Front Royal so not many people have experience with Japanese food. They’re afraid of trying raw fish.

Q: Do you find that you are promoting cooked dishes more than sushi because customers might not come in for raw fish?

A: We have three barbecue tables, so I’m offering barbecue. Customers can cook the marinated meats themselves.

Q: What are some surprises that you have faced here in comparison to your restaurant in DC?

A: We didn’t have a lot of surprises. We do notice that not many people come out when the weather is bad. In DC everyone is in the city when the weather is good or bad.

Q: What is the future of Yamafuji?

A: Once we get past winter, a lot more customers will know about Yamafuji.

Yamafuji |241 Chester St., Front Royal, VA 22630| Phone: (540) 631-3454

by Beth J. Bates

When we bought the new house, it came with a bidet in the master bedroom. We’ve never owned a bidet and would never have installed one, so for about eight months it sat sad, lonely and unused. Then I had an epiphany. Hugo drinks a lot and I was constantly filling his dog bowl. And he had often been caught drinking out of the toilet (yucky and unsanitary). What if we just filled up the bidet and let him drink out of that? It’s not like we were using it.

So, one night I filled it up…low and behold, Hugo loved it!

Hugo loves his bidet.

Hugo likes to be discreet about his fancy water bowl.

It’s easy to clean, easy to fill and easy for him to get to. I’m glad that we could put this thing to use!

Can’t wait for TechAdventure DC on 8/29 @ Rappahannock Cellars. We are “putting the social back in social media” by venturing out to wine country to breathe the fresh air, have some great wines and mingle. OK, so I get to breathe the fresh air every day, but not with my DC friends! Tickets are going fast, so if you are looking for a fun Saturday with cool peeps, register and join me!

by Whitney McKim

The people over at Clicker Leash sent us a great sample of their flagship product, the Clicker Leash! This is the same product that received National attention when it was selected as one of the “perfect pet products” to be sent to the White House when the Obama’s got their first puppy. So this cute little Canadian company suddenly got rocketed to stardom!

Magnolia tested out our Clicker Leash while taking a little hike on the C&O Canal. We decided to test it out on one of our regular walks since we encounter a number of exciting things that can always use a little extra clicker training!

Where we walk on the C&O Canal Towpath, the trail runs parallel to both the Potomac River and the MARC train line. The trail is relatively peaceful, but it can get a bit noisy when a train is passing by. Magnolia has no issues with loud noises, so we don’t need to click/treat confidence, but she is particularly interested in the wildlife, so we were working “Leave It” and walking with a loose leash. I was armed with the Clicker Leash and a bunch of Magnolia’s favorite Honest Kitchen treats. The Clicker Leash made it very easy and convenient to train while we were walking, but I noticed a couple of things. First, the “click!” was quite a bit softer sounding than a traditional clicker. Magnolia’s a bit hearing impaired (she’s deaf in one ear) and it seemed that she completely missed hearing the click all together when there was a lot of ambient noise around (i.e., the train was passing by). When it was calm and quiet she certainly heard it, but when it was noisy she looked surprised that I was offering her a tasty treat!!

The design of the Clicker Leash appears to be created with ease of use in mind. The handle where the clicker is located fits nicely in my hand, and is connected to the leash portion with very sturdy metal hardware. The leash length that was shipped with our Clicker Leash was the standard 6′ length, which I found to be a bit long. When Magnolia was walking nicely on a loose lead the 6′ leash often dragged the ground and I found myself holding up the slack, which was awkward. However, the Clicker Leash people are awesome because they sell various different lengths! It’s no problem to find the perfect length for you and your pooch. Replacement lengths in different sizes range from as little as $3.95 to $9.95.

The Clicker Leash starter kit contains the Clicker Leash handle, a 3′ leash length, and a “quick start” guide to get you started on your way to clicker training your pooch! This retails on their site for $39.95. You have your choice of Black, Blue, Red, or Brown (to coordinate with your pooch’s favorite color).

All in all, Magnolia and I were impressed with the quality and construction of the Clicker Leash. She and I both wished that the sound was just a tad louder, and we’ll be investing in a shorter lead to make sure that Maggie doesn’t get tangled up the next time we head out for a hike!

by Beth J. Bates

It’s hot and my dogs are constantly panting…and looking for a treat. Frosty Paws, sold in your grocer’s freezer with the ice cream, is a frozen treat that is safe and tasty for your dogs. According to the Frosty Paws website, the treat is “fortified with protein, vitamins and minerals that dogs need” and has “no added sugar, artificial flavors or colors.” Admittedly, it doesn’t look or smell great, but my dogs love it! In fact, I have to take it out of the containers and put it on paper plates as the big dogs will inhale the frozen treat WITH the plastic container. Frosty Paws come in two flavors – original and peanut butter. We tested the original flavor, but I don’t think it would have mattered. The treat was gone in a matter of minutes.

In the photos above, my Jack Russell Terrier, Katie, enjoys her treat. She has only a few teeth so it took her longer than the others to down the tasty, frozen goodness. It’s quick, it’s easy and your dogs will love it! FROSTY PAWS!!

by Beth J. Bates

What can I say? Willy is NUTTY for Best Bully Sticks! When I initially gave him the tasty natural treat, I knew that he would enjoy it. I also had the camera ready to roll as I knew it wouldn’t last long. As predicted, Willy snatched the Bully Stick out of my hand and scampered off to his crate – the safest place, in his mind, to enjoy his treat.

He gnawed on the stick and growled each time he thought I was going to take it away. That means it was GOOD and he really didn’t care to share it with me.

When the stick got too small, I did take that last little chunk away as I didn’t want him to choke on it. Treats like bully sticks should always be enjoyed while under “adult supervision”. Bully sticks range from 4″ for small dogs to 36″.

According to BestBullySticks.com their bully sticks are “a great, all natural choice for your dog. Our  bully sticks are inspected and approved by USDA/FDA and national food inspection authorities. And they come from free range, grass fed bulls.”

Willy would agree! He gives Best Bully Sticks two paws up! =)

by Whitney McKim

The is the second of a three part series! Part 1 is a review of the K9 Bike Jogger, a useful little, universal bicycle accessory to make biking with your pooch safe and easy. Part 2 is a review of RuffWear’s Bark ‘n Boots Grip Trex and their Bark ‘n Boot Liners. This final installment is Magnolia’s review of the Urban Trail Harness by Alpine Outfitters.

This is the final installment of Biking with your Pooch. After reading this fantastic review by Magnolia, you should be all ready to take your pooch out for a ride! Just don’t forget the water!!!

I can’t remember exactly how we found Alpine Outfitters, but it was a short time after we started biking several years ago. Magnolia was a little miffed about how her harness would rub when she was running next to the bike. No matter what we did to adjust the sizing, we just couldn’t keep the harness from sliding around, back and forth across Maggie’s back. There’s nothing worse than having your harness chafe your glossy coat as you’re running next to a bike. So we started googling harnesses for biking. And without too much work, we stumbled up on Alpine Outfitters’s Urban Trail Harness.

The regular Urban Trail harness is a custom fit harness, so you’ll need to measure your pooch pretty well (measure twice to make sure that you’re sure of the sizing). And while the thought of measuring a squirming fur-kid might seem daunting, Alpine Outfitters has a page that takes out all the guesswork of what measurements they need. Their instructions are clear and have some great pictorial diagrams to make it even easier to understand.

The thing that makes the Urban Trail Harness stand apart from others on the market are the extra D-rings that are situated on the sides of the harness. What we observed from Maggie’s other harnesses is that all the sliding around happened because the bike leash was attached to the topline of the harness. Since the bike leash is stationary, it tended to pull the harness to the side. Magnolia and I were thrilled to find a harness that already had the D-ring on the side! Having the connection point between the harness and the bike leash on the side keeps the harness from sliding around on the dog, completely eliminating the chafing issue!! Alpine Outfitters have thought of everything and made sure that they put a D-ring on the left and the right side as well as on the top so that you can connect your dog on either side of your bike (or on both sides if you have two dogs!) and then you can use the one on top when you’ve finished with your ride and want to have a “normal” harness to connect your leash to.

But if the side D-rings aren’t enough, Alpine Outfitters have tricked out their harness even more! All of their Urban Trail harnesses (both the custom fit and the adjustable versions) and their Flyball harnesses come fully padded with plush polar fleece like material. This keeps the sturdy webbing from rubbing, and generally makes the harness more comfortable. Additionally, you can add reflective tape for added safety, the harness can be personalized with your dog’s name embroidered on the webbing, you can choose from a wide range of colors for the webbing, and you can also choose to have the D-rings only on one side if you know which side of your bike you want to connect your dog to.

For growing dogs/pups or for dogs who might loose and gain weight (*cough*Magnolia*cough*), you might decide to go with the Adjustable Urban Trail harness. It has all the same great features as the regular Urban Trail Harness, but it allows more flexibility in the sizing. The mid-rib section can be completely replaced if it’s too big/small/whatever and the harness itself doesn’t require terribly precise measurements like the custom fit Urban Trail Harness. The Adjustable Urban Trail harness is what Magnolia’s been using, and it’s a thousand times better than any harness that doesn’t give the option of attachment on the side. The adjustable version retails for $42.00, while the custom fit version retails for $32.00 (if you add the reflective tape, it will increase the price on either harness by $3.00). My only criticism with the adjustable harness is that the top “T” strap seemed a bit long for Magnolia (you can see that it wrinkles up a bit in the pictures). I tried several different adjustments, but couldn’t seem to get it to lay flat. I feel sure that a custom fitted harness would solve this problem. Magnolia often has difficulties getting “out of box” items to fit her since she has such an athletic body.

I hope that you’ve enjoyed our segment on Biking with your Pooch, and Willy and all the gang would love to see some pictures or video of your pooch’s biking adventures! Please post them to our “Bad Dogs Unite!” Flickr pool!!

Note: The Flyball harnesses are available in 1″ webbing (for dogs 30 pounds and over) and 3/4″ webbing (for smaller pooches); they retail for $41.00, either size. The flyball harness is a modified Urban Trail harness with a “quick catch” handle and a topline metal D-ring for leash attachment.

by Beth J. Bates

A new “pet only” airline – Pet Airways – has just opened its wings offering more comfortable travel arrangements for your pet. With Pet Airways your pets fly in the main cabin, NOT in cargo and seems like a great idea for folks with travel-friendly pets.

Pet Airways currently flies between several major hubs including Washington D.C., New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, but are adding new routes shortly. Animals are housed in a fully lit, climate controlled, pressurized cabin. They are monitored by a trained pet attendant every fifteen minutes during the flight and are securely housed in pet carriers.

While it predominantly houses dogs and cats, Pet Airways is capable of transporting any domesticated animal with proper notice.

This is probably a wonderful service for people with pets that are used to flying. I personally think that all of my dogs would be a handful for the “pet attendants” to deal with. I’d love to hear from folks who had used this service. Does it work as well as it seems?