Friday, 27 June 2014

A puppy is a boy's best friend: Amazing photos show the bond between toddler and his dog... and now they have more than 5,000 Instagram fans

Carter and pet Toby are inseparable and have been part of each other's lives since before the youngster was born

Parents Devin and Jake Crouch have been documenting their progress on the picture sharing site since 2012

Toby would lie next to Devin while she was pregnant because he could tell 'something was going to change his world'

The couple rescued Toby in 2011, and welcomed Carter into the family home 16 months later

They say dog is man's best friend, but not many owners can say the bond began before they were born.

Toddler Carter and his pet Toby have developed a special relationship at their home in Indianapolis, Indiana, and become virtually inseparable.

Parents Devin and Jake Crouch have been documenting their progress on Instagram and now have more than 5,000 followers.

Their chemistry began when Toby would curl up to Devin while she was pregnant to keep her safe, knowing 'something was going to change his world.'

Scroll down for video

+15

A boy's best friend: Carter (left) and his loyal pet Toby have been inseparable ever since the youngster was welcomed into the family home

+15

A glimpse of the future? Carter's parents Devin and Jake Crouch have used the Intsagram account as a journal for the boy, and have set them up in a number of poses

+15

Close: Mother Devin, 26, who set up the account, says: 'The bond that Carter and Toby share is absolutely incredible'

Devin, 26, who has no previous photography experience, said: 'The bond that Carter and Toby share is absolutely incredible.

'The first Carter and Toby photos started the day Carter came home from the hospital, when we noticed how protective Toby was over him. Toby stayed close to his new brother and would follow anyone who would hold Carter.

'We realised that the two of them would always have a special relationship and we thought an Instagram account would be a great way to document their lives together.'

The couple rescued Toby in June 2011 and Carter was welcomed to the family 16 months later.

Devin said: 'This bond between them was evident to us even before Carter was born. While I was on bed rest, Toby, who was not allowed in our bedroom at the time, would sneak up and lay at the end of the bed to make sure I was okay.

Heartwarming moments between Carter and Toby

+15

Special bond: Carter plays with cards while Toby lies on the laminate floor of their Indianapolis home behind him

+15

Sharing: The youngster, relaxing in the sun, offers his dog a slice of watermelon. He responds by sticking out his tongue to taste the fruit

'He could tell that something was going to happen that was going to change his world.'

Devin says the bond between Carter and Toby only grows as time passes.

She said: 'It continues to amaze us as parents. Toby is incredibly loyal and patient, as Carter is the centre of his world.

'Carter loves his "puppy brother" and always wants to be right next to Toby. As Carter has gotten older, their relationship has evolved from Toby being his protector, to Toby being his play companion and best friend.'

+15

Surprised: Carter looks shocked standing next to Toby in the bath tub. The Instagram account now has more than 5,000 followers

+15

'Puppy brother': Devin said the social media account gives them an opportunity to share their 'special moments' as well as promote animal rescue

+15

Impromptu nap: Surrounded by toys, the pair crash out on the floor to catch a few winks following an eventful playtime

Animal-lover Devin first started the Instagram account to shed a positive light on the adoption of animals.

But as the number of followers steadily increased, the couple decided to use the account as a photo journal for Carter.

Devin said: 'It feels great to be able to share these special moments with the world and to promote rescues.

'We look forward to giving Carter the journal so he can see the photos and incredibly kind words from complete strangers. We feel very blessed that it has given us the platform to shed positive light on the adoption of animals.'

+15

Getting older: The pair enjoying a day out in the country run side by side. Toby was rescued in 2011 and Carter was welcomed into the family home 16 months later

+15

Gazing out of the window: Carter and Toby stare into the garden after getting fed up of playing with a set of toy trucks

+15

Comfort: The pair relax together on the sofa. In the future, Carter's parents will show him the photos, as well as the kind words written by 'complete strangers'

+15

Upset: Toby looks around at Carter who, despite wearing a Superman t-shirt, has started crying

+15

Bunny ears: The pair look at the camera from top and bottom. Devin and Jake have said their antics 'continue to amaze them as parents'

+15

Shattered: One of the first photos of the pair reveal their special bond, which began when Carter was in the womb

+15

In the car: While Carter is sound alseep in his car seat, Toby stoops down and watches over him

Herbed Feta Dip

photo by Charles Masters

yield
Makes 1 1/4 cups

ingredients

6 ounces feta
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill, plus torn sprigs for serving
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil

preparation

Blend feta and a splash of water in a food processor. Transfer to a medium bowl and mix in parsley, mint, and chopped dill; season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with oil and top with dill sprigs.

Saturday, 21 June 2014

18 things you didn't know about dog paws

We all swoon for puppy-dog eyes, cocked ears and a wagging tail, but it would be a mistake to give your pup's paws short shrift.

Behold the amazing dog paw! (Photo: Edoma/Shutterstock)

While the eyes, ears and tails of your dog may get most of the attention for their expressiveness, don’t underestimate the power of paws! Aside from just being awfully sweet, the paws are wonderfully designed appendages that enable canines to perform their feats of doggie derring-do. Whether slender and elegant, bold and athletic, or floppy and furry, a dog’s trotters are a fascinating study in anatomy and adaptation.

Consider the following:

1. Of the 319 bones, on average, that comprise a dog’s skeleton, a handful of those (so to speak) are dedicated to the paws. Along with bones, dog feet include skin, tendons, ligaments, blood supply and connective tissue.

2. Paws are made up of the following five components:

For your pleasure: illustrated with the paw of a 4-week-old puppy. (Photo: Eric Isselee/Shutterstock, text by MNN)

3. The digital and metacarpal pads help work as shock absorbers and help protect the bones and joints in the foot. The carpal pads work like brakes, of sorts, and help the dog navigate slippery or steep slopes.

4. Paw pads have a thick layer of fatty tissue that insulates the inner foot tissues from extreme temperatures, as it doesn’t conduct cold as quickly. (Think whales and blubber.) Meanwhile, as the paw gets cold when it hits the ground, arteries transfer the chilled blood back to the body where it warms up again. Because of these traits, scientists believe thatdomestic dogs first evolved in colder environments before spreading out into other climates.

5. The pads also offer protection when walking on rough terrain. Dogs that are outside a lot and exposed to rough surfaces have thicker, rougher paw skin; dogs that stay in more and walk on smoother surfaces have softer pads. The pads also help the dog distinguish between different types of terrain.

Paw pads are surprisingly multi-functional. (Photo: Emily Skeels/Shutterstock)

6. The inner layer of skin on the paw has sweat glands that convey perspiration to the outer layer of skin, which helps cool a hot dog and keeps the pads from getting too dry. But paws can also exude moisture when a dog gets nervous or experiences stress; dogs get sweaty hands, just like we do!

7. Dogs are digitigrade animals, meaning that their digits — not their heels — take most of their weight when they walk. Because of this, dogs’ toe bones are very important.

8. Dog’s toes are equivalent to our fingers and toes, although they are unable to wiggle them with the ease that we do.

The exuberant dewclaws of the Beauceron. (Photo: Dora Zett/Shutterstock)

9. Dewclaws are thought to be vestiges of thumbs. (Imagine if dogs had evolved opposable thumbs? The world might be a very different place!) Dogs almost always have dewclaws on the front legs and occasionally on the back. Front dewclaws have bone and muscle in them, but in many breeds, the back dewclaws have little of either. (Because of this, dewclaws are often removed to prevent them from getting snagged. However, opinions on the necessity of this procedure are mixed.)

10. Although they don’t provide much function for traction and digging, dogs do use their dewclaws; for example, they help the dog get a better grip on bones and other things the dog may like to chew on.

11. That said, Great Pyrenees still use their rear dewclaws for stability on rough, uneven terrain and often have double dewclaws on the hind legs. Among show dogs, the Beauceron breed standard is for double rear dewclaws; the Pyrenean shepherd, briard and Spanish mastiff are other breeds that have double rear dewclaws listed for show standards as well.

The Newfoundland takes the prize for paws. (Photo: Erik Lam/Shutterstock)

12. Breeds from cold climes, like St. Bernards and Newfoundlands, have wonderfully large paws with greater surface areas. Their big, floppy paws are no accident; they help them better tread on snow and ice.

13. Newfoundlands have the longest toes of all breeds, and Labrador retrievers come in second. Both breeds also have webbed feet, which helps make them excellent swimmers. Other breeds with webbed feet include the Chesapeake Bay retriever, Portuguese water dog, field Spaniel and German wirehaired pointer.

14. Some breeds have what are called “cat feet.” These have a short third digital bone, resulting in a compact feline-like foot; this design uses less energy to lift and increases the dog’s endurance. You can tell by the dog's paw print: cat feet prints are round and compact. Akita, Doberman pinscher, giant schnauzer, kuvasz, Newfoundland, Airedale terrier, bull terrier, keeshond, Finnish spitz, and old English sheepdog all have cat feet. (But don’t tell them that.)

The elegant hare feet of the greyhound are responsible for the spring in their step. (Photo: Marianne Perdomo/Flickr)

15. On the other hand — er, paw — some breeds have “hare feet,” which are elongated with the two middle toes longer than the outer toes. Breeds that enjoy hare feet include some toy breeds, as well as the Samoyed, Bedlington terrier, Skye terrier, borzoi and greyhound. Their paw prints are more slender and elongated.

16. And then there’s “Frito feet.” If you notice the distinct smell of corn chips emanating from the feet of your dog, resist salivating. Because when you find out that the source of the aroma is due to bacteria and fungi, you may become mightily grossed out. Generally this doesn’t lead to complications for the dog.

17. Do you love having your hands massaged? So does your pup! According to the ASPCA, a paw massage will relax your dog and promote better circulation. They recommend rubbing between the pads on the bottom of the paw, and then rubbing between each toe.

18. Although the exact etymology isn't known for sure, the word "paw" appears to come from the Gallo-Roman root form "pauta," which is related to late 14th century Old French "patin," which means clog, as in the type of shoe. And with that in mind, we leave you with the following photo of a pup in boots (which we're guessing he jumped out of immediately after the picture was taken):

Photo: Javier Brosch/Shutterstock

Monday, 16 June 2014

SecretSafeBooks.com

4 hrs ·

“A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.”
~ William Styron, Conversations with William Styron

Photo by Burcum Baygut ~ http://500px.com/photo/4439808/mould-by-burcum-baygut