Rebel Blog

We want to get up close and personal with the pups you love so much, and let those pictures face off in an all out best-photo contest. So start snapping and show up those portrait worthy photos. When the contest ends one lucky winner will win a hand drawn portrait of their pup! Let the face-off begin. 

How to enter: 

• Follow us on Instagram, @crazyrebels

• Upload a photo of your dog from the neck up on your Instagram feed and hash tag #crazyrebelsfaceoff

Contest will run from February 11, 2013 until March 11, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Winner will be contacted via Instagram and announced on March 12, 2013.

Rules and conditions: All photos entered must be original photos and must belong to the entrant. You may enter one photo per pet, per day. Contest is International and open to anyone. 

Each day we will select and post one Face-off Entry of the day on our Facebook wall, so check back often and be sure to share this awesome contest with all your dog-loving photo-crazed Instagram-obsessed friends. Ready, set, strike a pose fido!

 Over the weekend we said good-bye to a dear extended family member, at almost 14-years buddy the Beagle went to heaven. Although he had grown old in age, in our minds eye he was, and always will be, a puppy so full of life and love.  He was my aunt’s dog and he was oh so loved from the day she brought him home.  

He adored walks in the woods by his house and playing in his big backyard. He loved cuddling by the fire and cookies before bed. He was our little Buddy and we will always remember him that way. We miss you little guy! Rest in paradise sweet boy.

 So for this week, we thought we might watch All Dogs Go To Heaven in his honor. Because all dogs do go to heaven, and we know he’s up there eating a feast right now.

Movie Monday: All Dogs Go To Heaven

Genre: Family

Year released: 1989

Breeds in movie: Cartoon characterizations of a German Shepherd/ Collie mix, Dachshund, Irish Setter, Whippet, Bulldog, & a Collie

Notes: All Dogs Go To Heaven is an animated family movie portraying a lesson about honesty, loyalty, and love. Almost musical in nature, there is a great deal of lively singing and dancing as only animated caricatures can pull off. The movie tells the story of a vivid German Shepherd Collie mix named Charlie who is murdered but returns from Heaven to avenge his death. Along with his best friend, a Dachshund named Itchy, an orphan named Anne-Marie, and a whole host of colorful characters their adventure unfolds.

Paw rating: 4 paws up 

On an ordinary Tuesday we decided to head to the nearest mountain town for a day of snow play. Not one of the five dogs in tow had experienced snow before, so we bundled them all in rebel hoodies and let them go crazy. We're not sure if they had more fun running wild, or if we had more fun watching this snowy situation go down. 

The first couple of minutes consisted of a lot of slipping and sliding, but once they got the hang of it, it was optimum entertainment for the humans. Pork Chop, the English Bully of the crew, is perhaps the most hilarious to watch as he always appears to be in his own little glorious bulldog world. His favorite activity was making snow angels, and at one point he succeeded in "sledding" head first down the entire face of the mountain as we watched and cheered.

Diesel and Dakoda, our two black Dobermans, played high speed tag for most of the day. While Deogi, the Vizsla, spent her time mountain climbing and tracking scents. Stella, the red Doberman, was the ever perfect model and stood patiently in the sun as we snapped endless pictures of her beautiful dobe stature.

Rebel Hoodie is Rebel approved: After a day of rough play in the cold snow, these five agreed that the rebel hoodie is officially cleared for use in the snow and cold-weather approved. These cozy hoodies provide comfort and style while keeping each pup super warm. The wide array of sizes offered ensures each dog finds his perfect fit, and the construction allows for easy on-and-off. Because after all, the life of a dog is pretty busy, there's really little time for inconveniences like getting dressed.

Get your Rebel Hoodie, right here!

We admittedly spend most of our time working on Crazy Rebels and playing with our dogs. But in the evenings we love to (dog) pile on the couch and watch movies. The littlest rebel curls up pretty much wherever she feels like it and the two Dobermans sprawl out in one of their many bed choices as we all settle in for a cinematic adventure.

On our last trip down the movie aisle at Target we may have ended up with dozens (yes dozens) of dog movies in our cart, even the cashier commented on our themed assortment of canine flicks. In honor of watching movies while cuddled with our dogs we are launching a movie Monday, dog edition. Every Monday we will share a dog related movie on the rebel blog and be sure to point out all the dog breeds in each. We let Dakoda choose the first movie to watch and she went with the original Doberman movie, the The Doberman Gang.

Movie Monday: The Doberman Gang

Genre: Action

Year released: 1972

Breeds in movie: Dobermans, English Bulldog

Notes: While this movie is older and the plot is a little slow, if you love Dobermans and/ or dog training, you will enjoy this movie. The way they whistle train individual dogs is incredible, and of course, the overall plot is awesome (a pack of rad Dobermans holds up a bank!). We also loved realizing the origination of the spiked collar, which was first constructed using a leather dog collar and… nails.

Paw rating: 4 paws up  

The weather is creeping into tick season, but don't freak out. Proper precaution such as monthly flea and tick medication, or tick spray before hiking, can help prevent these pesky little guys from bothering your dog. If you do find a tick on your dog with a little caution they are easily removed. Ticks live in wet, dark, brushy areas, which subsequently dogs love to run through.

We hike several times a week with our pack and we never let the threat of ticks keep us indoors, even when it’s raining. We’ve encountered and removed plenty of ticks, we just make sure to check and prevent often.

Prevention: If your dogs are on a monthly flea and tick control such as Revolution and Frontline this can help to prevent ticks. If your pet is not on a monthly preventative, there are tick sprays which you apply before hiking to help repel ticks.

Check: Be sure to do a thorough check of your dogs after hikes and outdoor playtime before getting back into the car or coming inside. Pet your dog from head to tail, paying close attention to crevices, the ears, under each leg, and between the paw pads. If you do find a tick remain calm and follow these simple steps.

How to remove a tick:

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible.

2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. You want to pull the entire tick out in one try. Don't twist or wiggle the tick; this can cause the mouthpart to break off and remain in the skin.

3. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area with antiseptic and wash your hands well. We suggest killing the tick by placing it in a bowl of rubbing alcohol. Before disposing of the tick keep it for a couple days, in case your pet becomes sick you can bring the tick to your veterinarian.

Things not to try: Do not try to smother the tick with alcohol or burn it out with a lighter, you risk killing the tick, which will leave its head inside the skin. Because ticks carry lots of nasty diseases using your bare hands is not a good idea, wear latex or rubber gloves when removing the tick. Do not attempt to hold the tick at gun point, they don't tend to like that either.