Dublin Dog GIVEAWAY

Alright animal lovers, I know the largest following of folks to this blog is horse folk, but with horses comes a menagerie of other animals into our lives, too. This giveaway is focused around our best and loyal animal friend when we are away from the barn: our dogs!

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I'm really excited to introduce y'all to Dublin Dog, a new[er] company who is providing some really kickass products for our canine companions.

Their products are handcrafted in the USA, and their line of no stink collar is unlike any I've found before! Endurance riders, you know the importance of biothane tack and how terrific it is in our active lifestyle with our horses - it rinses easily, is durable, and doesn't hold stench - well, these collars are the same kind of thing for dogs! Additionally, if you peruse the All Style No Stink, you'll notice they've really added some flair to the collars. Things that really will match up with your dog's personality - or your own.

Y'all have seen Kenai sporting his Dublin Dog Reflx orange with reflector stripe collar on the blog already. His collar is just one of many that they offer!

Brook trout design on a collar!
Aurora, your fishing husband will love these fish collars!

I absolutely adore their line of fish collars; they're modeled after the scale patterns on both freshwater natives and saltwater fish species. These collars, like many of their others, are also no stink! Huzzah!

But wait! Collars aren't the only part of the Dublin Dog line, they also carry leashes, toys, beds, and gear like travel bowls and their Buddy Beacon that snaps onto your dog's collar for those nighttime adventures so you can keep track of where your friend is exploring.

Kenai's Nomad Pad has been featured on the blog some, too. I absolutely LOVE this thing.

I was so close to trying to sew a ghetto version of this from some blankets and a tarp when I noticed that Dublin Dog had basically come up with a pro version of my piddly idea! The Nomad pad has a fleece topper, some polyfill to provide cushion, and the bottom is a rubberized polymer to provide waterproofing and some protection against wear and tear of a tougher surface. Oh, and the kicker? The whole thing rolls up and velcros easily into a bed roll complete with a handle for carrying or providing easy attachability to a backpack!

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 PRIZES:

THREE  lucky winners will get the choice of the following prizes:

-  ANY collar + leash combo

-  a T-Shirt

-  a pint glass with the Dublin Dog logo

I'll let the winners - in the order that they are drawn - choose which of the above prizes they would like. The second winner will get to choose from the remaining two, and the final winner will get the remainder. Fortunately, all of the prizes are pretty kickass, so no one will be missing out on some awesome!

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HOW TO ENTER:

This giveaway will be managed through rafflecopter. I'm certain most are familiar with this, but in case you aren't: read the directions below for what to do/how to enter. When you have *completed* your method of entry, visit here:

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE DUBLIN DOG GIVEAWAY

This will keep track of who has entered and will be what I use to choose random winners at the end.

Mandatory entry:

+1  -  Visit DublinDog.com and leave a comment on this post sharing a product or products that you would love to try

Additional entries (x1 for each) can be obtained by doing the following:

+1  -  "Like" Dublin Dog on Facebook
+1  -  Follow Dublin Dog on Instagram (@dublindogco) or Twitter (DublinDogCo)
+1  -  Share this giveaway on some form of social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)

That's it! And yes, you read correctly, you have an opportunity to enter four times!

So, once more:

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE DUBLIN DOG GIVEAWAY

The giveaway ends on July 4th and I'll announce the winners that weekend!  

The Husky Aquatic

Several weeks back, my dad set out to teach me the ins and outs of boat operation/maintenance. We've got a motor boat whose engine was repaired last year, and now we are determined to use it more.

In preparation, I spent pieces of free time during the spring going through the WV Boater's Safety certificate process to get licensed to operate watercraft in the state. With certificate in hand, dad and I planned a trip to the closest lake - Mt. Storm - for a training session. We chose this lake not only because of its proximity, but also because it is the warmest lake in the state due to the power plant that sits along its shore that uses lake water circulating through pipes to cool its operations.

So on a beautiful Saturday, my dad, my friend T, Kenai and I all loaded up and headed for the lake so I could learn how to operate the boat a bit more intimately than I had as a kid.

Kenai had been in a motorboat briefly several summers ago at Summersville lake, but that was after a long day of climbing and riding around in a whitewater raft. Additionally, Kenai has been in a shredder (small whitewater craft) on the Youghigheny river through whitewater before. I wasn't greatly concerned about how he'd handle this experience, but I was excited to see how he would take it.

At the put in, I decided to go ahead and lift Kenai into the boat prior to launching it into the water. I wasn't certain how he'd handle being lifted into a boat once it was launched and in the water! I set Kenai and his Dublin Dog Nomad Pad into the boat. He settled on the pad pretty quickly, knowing that to be "his spot" through this time of uncertainty.

Kenai awaiting the put in.
Sitting on his Nomad pad.
Also wearing Dublin Dog Reflx Collar
and his NRS dog PFD

Dad backed the boat into the water with T, Kenai and I aboard. I backed it off the trailer and out into a very choppy lake (wow, wind!) while dad parked the truck and trailer.

I had a bit of a time driving the boat (first time in this boat in YEARS) and dealing with the wind/choppy water conditions. After shrieking and fretting a little bit, I did manage to successfully navigate the boat to the dock where we could pick my dad up.

I was surprised when Kenai jumped right out of the boat when we reached the dock! He took off for a grassy area despite my calls. I realized immediately when he ignored me that he just had to use the bathroom and didn't want to do so on the boat! Good boy.

Kenai finished his business quickly and sprinted back across the gravel lot, darted across the dock, and leaped right back into the boat, happy as a clam!

Investigating the water

In no time, we were all loaded into the boat and headed out to explore the lake!

Kenai very quickly showed interest in wanting to ride in the very extreme bow area of the boat. I was concerned that the porpoising motion of the craft over the water would toss him out for an unexpected swim though, so I tied him up so he couldn't reach the bow while we were moving.

During the quieter, slower parts of our outing, Kenai wandered the boat untied, standing on the bow mostly. He served as a great compass for wherever the closest point of land was the whole time, though he never stress panted or whined in a manner to show distress over being in the boat.

A happy husky!

When T and I jumped into swim in the lake (an impressive 79°F for a late day in May in high elevation WV!) Kenai got quite concerned for my well-being. He yipped and yodeled and whined and barked, eying my every move from the boat.

I laughed at him and goaded him into the water, first from the stern where he used a small platform to gain access to the water, and then from the bow on his second go where he launched into the water like a dog dock - albeit with less grace.

Once waterlogged, Kenai would swim to me, and then I'd guide him back to the boat where dad would help him in.

For our final ride to the dock, Kenai got to sit in the bow area with me holding him a safe distance from the edge. He loved being in the front with his face in the wind for that final trip!

It was a great outing for my water husky. He was so well behaved all day, and I think he really enjoyed the change of scenery and activity. Good boy, Kenai!

Always pointing out the closest piece of land.

Kenai, Atticus, Hodor

Because my life couldn't be busier right now (work is crazy, I've been on travel for work for 3 weeks in 3 different places, I had the club ride to prep for and help put on, the OD is this weekend...), I'm going to schedule a series of posts with some backlog media from the past week or two for your viewing pleasure.

Always guarding his food because he is convinced the cats will take it.
He goes in his crate with the door open *just to be safe*.

Om nomnomnomnommmm. Mike was making Atticus be a "show cat". Atticus took the time to eat fingers.
Kenai photobombed.

Hodor! HODOR. HODORHODORHODOR. hodor.

This is how Atticus likes to sleep with me. By sitting on my chest/neck/face. Le sigh.

Hodor had JUST moved his paw off of Kenai's. <3

What's that? You're trying to cut this to prep it to make a saddle cover?
Oh, let me HELP. -_-

Strange sleeper....

Cuddling SO HARD.

I'd placed Ashke's halter-bridle out for

Kenai just doesn't get it.

Kenai at the office with me sporting his new Dublin Dog collar.

And his Dublin Dog nomad pad. This thing has a rubber/plastic polymer bottom and rolls up like a sleeping pad.
IT IS AWESOME.
You all can expect a Dublin Dog giveaway on this blog in the near future...as soon as my life calms down a little bit. :-)

I got up in a hurry one morning, a flurry of things I needed to complete before rushing out the door.
 I didn't have time to let Kenai out *immediately*. So in the 2 minutes I was out of bed doing a couple things, he stole it.
This is so very UNLIKE my husky dog that I couldn't help but laugh and take photos.