How to get your pet parent to unplug

Life as Toby the Dog's eyes....

Photo Source: TheOriginalTeamToby.com  Photographer: Ealanta Photography

I don’t know about you but I don’t like it when my pet mom goes on to the computer to do her work. I never know if she is writing more books about me, Tweeting, Facebooking or checking her email. 

All I know is that her attention is not on me, I can’t easily get eye contact, and sometimes I notice she needs a break, especially when her computer freezes…. The big sigh is the clue.  

Here’s what I’ve been doing when she goes on to the computer.

• Nudge her arm gently under the elbow. Then smile that “puppy love” smile. It is a showstopper.

•  Your pet parent will probably scratch your ears, smile, say “who’s a good boy. Are you a good boy?” (in that “weird voice”) and turn back to the computer.

This is where you need to ramp it up!   

Show your pet parent you are really wanting their attention…. Here’s what works for me. Knock garbage can around, put chin on desk (adorable and gets attention), put a paw on his/her lap. Last resort? Booming bark.

At this point you probably get put on a time out. Or, you pet parent will do what our trainer Gila from Dog is Good is teaching mom and dad. Mom brings up my blanket and some treats (YUM!). 

Then she tells me “On Your Mat Toby.” Of course I go, there’s a treat involved, and I love making my human parents happy.  Then “Toby Settle, Stay.”  Tongue out, big smile, wait… and … I get the treat.  Then she makes it a longer time between treats. Eventually after a few little treats (by the way, she cuts one small treat into little pieces, I am so onto her strategy), I go to sleep. It’s all about getting caught up on sleep so I can play fetch longer when she is done on the computer. Hint…sleep with one eye open just in case your pet parent finishes off on the computer early. You never want to miss fetch time.

Until next time,

Have a PAWsome day!  Help your humans be the person you know they are!

Toby! 

Team Toby is on a mission to Improve Lives by Teaching Kindness, Acceptance and Respect.  To find out about Toby's books, 

      

Toby’s children’s book series (Toby And His Hospital Friends, and, Toby Says Be a Buddy Not a Bully) has been named among the best in family-friendly media, products and services by the Mom’s Choice Awards, a Mom’s Choice Awards® Gold Recipient.

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Toby the Dog's Bully Prevention Book wins Gold Medal

My pet parent Charmaine is posting on my blog about all my PAWsome exciting news!

For more information, contact:

 Christopher Alcock- Top Dog & Team Lead, Team Toby

780-798-2426 (Canada)

760-560-3715 (US)

info@TheOriginalTeamToby.com

The Mom’s Choice Awards® Names Toby the Pet Therapy Dog children’s book series

among Best In Family-Friendly Products.

The Mom's Choice Awards® has named Plamondon Alberta author, Charmaine Hammond’s Toby the Pet Therapy Dog children’s book series,  among the best in family-friendly media, products and services. The series includes, Toby the Pet Therapy Dog Says Bea Buddy Not a Bully, and, Toby the Pet Therapy Dog and His Hospital Friends, both published by Kendahl House Press.

“We are thrilled to have received this seal of approval for Toby’s book series,” says author and professional speaker Charmaine Hammond.  “We saw firsthand the power of the animal human bond as Toby the dog and I traveled North America speaking to schools, businesses and animal organizations. Our mission at Team Toby, and through Toby’s books, is to improve lives by teaching kindness, acceptance and respect. In 2014, we launch our Toby Be a Buddy Classroom curriculum, presentations to schools and a 10 city North American speaking tour.” The timing of this award couldn’t have been better as October is Bully Prevention and Child Abuse Awareness Month, and Adopt a Shelter Dog month, all themes that relate to Hammond’s books.

The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) is an international awards program that recognizes authors, inventors, companies, parents and others for their efforts in creating quality family-friendly media, products and services.  Parents, educators, librarians and retailers look for the Mom’s Choice Awards Honoring Excellence seal of approval when selecting quality materials for children and families.

An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of PBS’s Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times best-selling author, Priscilla Dunstan, creator of the Dunstan Baby Language; Patricia Rossi, host of NBC’s Manners Minute; Dr. Letitia S. Wright, D.C., host of the Wright Place™ TV Show; and Catherine Witcher, M.Ed., special needs expert and founder of Precision Education, Inc. MCA judges are bound by a strict code of ethics which ensures expert and objective analysis free from any manufacturer association. The evaluation process uses a propriety methodology in which entries are scored on a number of elements including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal and cost.

To be considered for an award, each entrant submits five identical samples of a product. Entries are matched to judges in the MCA database. Judges perform a thorough analysis and submit a detailed assessment. Results are compiled and submitted to the MCA Executive Committee for final approval.  The end result is a list of the best in family-friendly media, products and services that parents and educators can feel confident in using.

 There were more awards this month for Toby!  Reader’s Favorite awarded Toby’s children’s book Be a Buddy Not a Bully with a Gold.

Here I am.... Toby Jr (TJ).... Rockstar with my medal.

Toby’s books, published by Kendahl House Press, are available through Amazon, Chapters, and are sold in most bookstores.

For more information on Toby’s books, and Team Toby, and to arrange an interview with Charmaine Hammond, and Toby the Dog, visit www.TheOriginalTeamToby.com  You can also visit Toby on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and You Tube. 

For more information on the awards program and the honorees, visit MomsChoiceAwards.com