• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ducks 'n a Row

  • Home
  • About
  • Affiliate Links
  • Topics
    • Babies & Toddlers
    • blogging
    • cleaning
    • crafts
    • dogs
    • Entertaining
    • Health & Nutrition
    • Kids
    • Link Parties
    • organizing
    • preschool
    • Recipes
    • tips
  • Cookie Policy

pets

Preschool Class Mascot – Gilbert The Dog

November 12, 2018 Leave a Comment

Having a preschool class mascot for your classroom sounds like a huge responsibility and it is.   A classroom pet requires a lot of care – just as much care as having a pet at home. Teachers, if you are not up to the task, there is another way to do it. Bring toy mascot to school, instead.

Plush toy animals make great classroom mascots #teaching

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

The Perfect Classroom Mascot

Recently we had a furry visitor come to our class who was absolutely no trouble at all. Gilbert The Dog is a very realistic looking stuffed toy beagle. He was easy to manage and such a good little boy.  This toy looks so real, for a moment you might even think you were looking at a real dog!

little girl with toy beagle dog

Adorable little girl with her beagle dog plush toy #AD

Gilbert was actually the classroom mascot for the first graders. One time a week, he went home with a child who wrote about what he did as a guest in their home. Eventually they ran out of children in that classroom to take care of him so it was time for Gilbert to do something new. Our preschool class was delighted to pitch in and have him join us for a day.

The children took him from place to place, petting him and showing him around. He read a book. He sat on the windowsill. He looked out the window. He joined them for circle time, too. He even watched us making our craft of the day. Gilbert had a great time in preschool and we wrote about it in a little story for the first grade class to read.

Plush toy dog Gilbert reads a book in #preschool

So, if you prefer to not have the responsibility of a live classroom mascot, I do recommend a stuffed toy that looks real. There are so many plush toy animals on the market that look very realistic, like Gilbert does.

How to have a classroom mascot with no effort at all! #kids #pets Click To Tweet

3 Ways To Have a Live Pet Visit Your Classroom

1.Show and Tell  Another idea that requires very little care on the part of the teacher is to invite a live pet to visit for show and tell, like the cute guinea pig that came to our classroom.

2. You could also arrange for a therapy pet to come by. Therapy dogs can come to your class for part of a day, managed by their handlers. It will be a wonderful experience for your children.

 

Gilbert the dog loved our #preschool #craft on his day in school

3.If you are truly adventurous, contact the local reptile store. Ask them if they make classroom visits. The reptiles can be brought in by trained handlers so everything will be safe and sound. Our kindergarten teacher did just that and it was a great success. Even the most timid child was willing to take a closer peek at those fascinating creatures.

Have you ever had a classroom pet? What kind?


Enjoy!

 

Visit the pet dept at Amazon #ad

 

Filed Under: kids, Lifestyle, preschool Tagged With: pets, school, teaching, toys

Guinea Pigs Make Great Family Pets

September 27, 2018 1 Comment

So you want to get your family a new pet. A little concerned about the commitment? Well, then, you may want to get them a guinea pig. Well, not just one – get them two guinea pigs!

Guinea Pigs as family #pets

Special note: this post is dedicated to “Wocky” (alias – “Rocky”) …. he came to our preschool class with little Miss C as her show and tell. Little Miss C is still learning how to say her R’s! LOL  His guinea pig buddy who stayed at home is named “Bullwinkle,” of course.  I was so taken with his cuteness and how much she loves him that I wanted to learn more about guinea pigs and am now sharing it with you …

What are guinea pigs?

Guinea pigs are small domesticated rodents,  originally native to South America. These little balls of fur, also known as cavies, are affectionate, fun, hearty and easy to care for. They are small. Most weigh 1.5 to 2.5 lbs.

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

Book - I Love Guinea Pigs

Did you know that guinea pigs LOVE one another?  It says so in this book! How cute ♥  #ad

So, why isn’t it right to get just one guinea pig?

Guinea pigs are very social creatures and, to have a happy life, they need at least one companion guinea pig to live with them. If they live alone, guinea pigs can become withdrawn and depressed. Happy guinea pigs always have at least one other guinea pig to be their friend. 

Important note: if they are not spayed or neutered, be sure to get guinea pigs of the same gender.

Two guinea pigs are better than one! #pets

Caring For Your New Guinea Pigs

Happy guinea pigs love their food and they eat a lot! They eat hay, special guinea pig pellets and many kinds of fruits and vegetables.*


See the articles below for specific foods guinea pigs should or should not eat. 

Good read => *What To Feed And NOT To Feed Guinea Pigs

 Good read => *Tips on Feeding Guinea Pigs

So you have made a decision and you are getting guinea pigs for your family. Now, you have to get some stuff!


Guinea Pig Supplies

Here are some of the things you will want to get for your new little fur babies:

☑️ Guinea Pig Book

☑️ Guinea Pig Bowls

☑️ Guinea Pig Cages 

☑️ Guinea Pig Hay

☑️ Guinea Pig Hay Feeders

☑️ Guinea Pig Vitamins

☑️ Guinea Pig Pellets

☑️ Guinea Pig Toys

Getting a guinea pig as your new family pet? Here are some things you will want to know #pets #guineapigs #familyfun Click To Tweet

Enjoy!

 

 

 

guinea pig


Filed Under: Family Fun, kids, Lifestyle, tips Tagged With: Guinea Pigs, pets

Letter C is for Cat Preschool Lesson and Craft

February 15, 2018 Leave a Comment

Children are fascinated by cats and my preschoolers are no exception. The Letter C is for Cat preschool lesson was super-fun.  We  learned fun facts about cats, sung about cats and made a colorful cat craft. We even pretended to be cats, meowing all the way.
Letter C is for Cat lesson for preschool and kindergarten #cats

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

I don’t have a cat. Until preparing my preschool lesson, the little I knew about them came from old movies I had seen like “That Darn Cat” or “The Three Lives Of Thomasina” … both timeless classics of the Disney variety (1960’s.)

I do know that little children are fascinated by cats and learning the letter C is so much fun  when cats are the topic!

 

Letter C is for Cat Preschool Lesson

We learned about cats in many ways. We made kitty ear headbands to wear, read a cat book, learned fun facts about cats, saw a cat video, painted faces with cat whiskers, sang a cat song and made a letter C cat craft with pom poms. Here is a simple description of the lesson with free printables plus the video for you to use.

  • Make Cat Headbands – simply attach construction paper “kitty ears” to a construction paper band, taped to fit their heads. I printed the ears on white copy paper for them to color and the students cut them out.  We wore our cat headbands all day!

How To Teach A Child To Hold Scissors Correctly

Free Cat Ears for Headband Printable

 

Letter C is for Cat preschool crafts and lesson; cat, kitten, crafts

 

  • Face Painting – we saved face painting until later in the day so that when the parents arrived to pick their children up at the end of the day they could see how cute they looked. The kids who wanted us to paint whiskers on their faces and a dot on their noses, could. I brought in a handheld mirror for them to see what they looked like. About half of my students wanted http://amzn.to/2yNASVShttps://amzn.to/3o1wPiRit and half did not.

  • Letter C Cat Craft – this craft is very colorful. I really like the one I found on Pinterest using “cat colored” pom poms but all I had were the multicolored. No problem. It was still fun to make. (Instructions below)
  • All about Cats lesson / discussion – I made a page, printed it on card stock and used it as a visual aid to talk about the different characteristics of house cats. I covered each fact with a piece a paper to tear off as they correctly guessed it. So much fun! (Free printable below) Fun Facts About Cats by Science Kids

face painting crayons

Face painting crayons are so easy to do and FUN!  #ad

What Cats Like And What They Do Preschool Lesson

CATS LOVE toys.

CATS LOVE to scratch & climb.

CATS love to eat.

CATS love to watch.

CATS love to sleep (catnap)

CATS PURR when they’re happy.

 

  • All about Cats short video – this video is a great companion for the Cats lesson. Perfect for 3 and 4 year olds. See it right here!

  • Cat story – I brought in several cat books from the library. Some were picture books and some were stories.
  • Soft Kitty Song – yes, many of us learned this little song from Big Bang Theory. Sheldon’s mom sung it to him whenever he was sick or could not sleep. Perfect song for sweet little children. Perfect for C is for Cat! We sang it again and again. (Lyrics below)

Soft Kitty Song Lyrics

“Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty,
little ball of fur.
Happy Kitty, Sleepy Kitty,
purr, purr, purr.”
 Letter C is for Cat preschool lesson, video and craft! Such a fun way for children to learn about #cats #kidscrafts #ece Click To Tweet
 
Letter C is for Cat Preschool Craft

Letter C is for Cat Preschool Craft

Supplies

Printed letter C on cardstock
Cat ears & nose cut out of colored paper
6 short pipe cleaners for whiskers
googly eyes
Pom Poms
White glue
Q Tips
Small paper cup for the glue.

Instructions

Make a sample of the craft for your students to see.
Tell your children that they are turning a letter C into a cat!
Have them run their finger tracing the letter C.
Have them glue the ears, eyes and nose on using a Q-tip dipped in glue.
Now have them glue on the pipe cleaners (they may need a little help from you.)
Glue pom poms around the C for decoration.
Done!
preschool craft

 

C is for Cat

All About Cats LESSON

Cover each section of this visual aid with a piece of paper. I used red so that the kids could not see through them. Then – on each section – I taped one side and used a paperclip on the other end making it easy to remove and reveal the fun facts about cats one by one.
Letter C is for Cat

Get your All About Cats Free Printable HERE

 

preschool craft, about cats for preschoolers

I do hope you use this Letter C is for Cat  lesson. Kids love it! If you have taught C is for Cat recently and need something else try my C is for Caterpillar Craft and Very Hungry Caterpillar Graphing Activity for preschoolers.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 pom poms


Filed Under: crafts, kids, preschool Tagged With: cats, Letter C is for Cat, pets

5 Super Simple Ways For Pet Owners To Get Organized

February 5, 2018 2 Comments

We love our fur babies, don’t we! Yes, we love them, we cuddle them, we play with them and we buy them toys. Heck, I just bought my puppy a sweater! Never thought I’d see the day that I would buy clothes for my dog but she looks so cute in it.

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

 

5 simple ways to organize your pet's stuff

With all the joy our beloved pets bring to our lives they also bring more paraphernalia to stash and lots more cleaning to do. But we don’t mind. It’s part of being a pet parent.

Just as with our own stuff, there comes a time where we need to find a place for all the gear. Organizing your pet’s things can be fun – really! Here are five simple ways to keep your puppy’s [or kitty’s] belongings organized and easy to find:

Hooks – use decorative hooks for hanging leashes, collars and dog apparel. Aren’t these little doggie behinds adorable? For those who like a subtler look, a nice pet command station may be up your alley.Hooks to organize dog stuff


Baskets – wicker baskets – and fabric ones, too – are lovely to look at and so convenient for stashing pet toys. They are perfect for Fido’s or Fluffy’s vitamins and medications, too.Storage baskets are perfect for your pet's stuff


Cleanup Pail – place a large pail just outside the door to the house or in  your mudroom that will hold their shampoo, pet cleanup bags, brush ( I love the furminator!)  and towel for those muddy paws!


5 simple ways to get your dog's and cat's stuff organized! #pets #dogs #cats #organizing #tips Click To Tweet

Doggie Travel Bag – keep a “doggie on the go” bag packed for your pooch. Whenever you want to hop in the car and take your dog with you, it will be packed and ready!

Pack a bag for your dog - perfect for families on the go! #travel


Treat Jar– make it easy for you – and not so easy for your fur babies – to get to their treats by putting them in a decorative container right on the kitchen counter. I really like this one!

Jar for dog treats #organizing


Got any great tips on how you organize for your furry friends?

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

Enjoy!

 

 


Filed Under: dogs, organizing, tips, Toys Tagged With: cats, Dogs, organizing, pet care, pets, puppies, tips

5 Ways My Dog Sadie Will Have An Awesome Summer!

June 14, 2016 Leave a Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias Inc., and its advertiser. All of the opinions are mine alone. #PawsToSavor #CollectiveBias

Pro Plan dog food, dogs, puppies, yellow labs, labrador retriever
 

 

Summertime fun is not just for people. If you are a dog owner, you know that we often plan our summers much like we do for our kids. Our precious pups need variety in their lives, too. Well, I have a whole lot of ideas this summer for Sadie. Quickly, they include: swimming, play dates, field trips, ice cream outings and toys!

Plan the best summer ever for your dog!

Click To Tweet

dogs
1. Swimming: labs love the water. They were made for it. I wish I had a lake for Sadie to swim in but her little wading pool will have to do. Her favorite floating toy is an empty plastic soda bottle 🙂 She chases that thing around and around like it’s a boat! Sometimes I shampoo her while she’s “swimming,” too. It is the perfect opportunity.

dog playdate
 
2a. Play Dates – indoors on rainy days. Look at this! Don’t you wish you could grab a broom and clean it up? What a mess! Sadie, Murphy and Troy tore apart a stuffed dog toy and had an absolute blast doing it! I knew that would happen the moment I gave it to them! LOL


puppies
 

2b. Play Dates – outdoors on dry days. Sadie has LOTS of friends! These two beauties are Indie and Bear, Sadie’s cousins. The friends on the other side of the fence are Coal and Odie.

PetSmart, Purina Pro Plan Savor Dry Dog Food
 
3. Go On Field Trips – this week we took Sadie to PetSmart to buy her Purina® Pro Plan® Savor® Shredded Blend large breed adult dry dog food. Her cousin Jake loves it so we decided to give it a try. Sadie can hardly wait to get to PetSmart. As we pull closer to the store, she gets more and more excited. As a puppy, she took the beginner’s doggie obedience class and graduated with honors! She also went to dog camp once a week while I taught preschool. Oh how she loved it and she remembers. So, when we go shopping, first thing we have to do is to stop at the dog camp window to say hello to her friends!
4. Going For An Outing- on the weekends we often go for a long drive in the country and Sadie gets to see all the sights!

doggie play dates
5. Play With Toys – Sadie has lots of toys to play with. This ball is a favorite with her and her friends.


As I said, often our field trips include a visit to PetSmart! Sadie loves that place! She has many fond memories of dog camp with her friends so we always have to go visit them before any shopping can be done!

arriving at PetSmart to shop with my yellow lab
Sadie loves doggie day camp
After a quick visit at the dog camp window, we hunted down the dog food aisles. We were looking for the Purina® Pro Plan® Savor® Shredded Blend large breed adult dry dog food. It was easy to find and, at my store, there were lots of bags in two places: on the main Purina aisle and displayed on the end of the center aisle, as well. We found it all right away.  Sadie and I looked at the flavors and selected the chicken and rice!
yellow labrador retriever, PetSmart
Since Sadie is changing dog foods, I am introducing this new Purina® Pro Plan® Savor® Shredded Blend large breed adult dry dog food gradually. First day I gave her a half and half mix and it agreed with her very well. In a few days, I will increase it to 3/4 new and 1/4 old. Within a week we will be totally switched to the new. And, guess how my “little” yellow lab (OK my 100 lb yellow lab) eats it. She eats the Purina Pro Plan FIRST! She loves the taste.

Want to know what I love about it? She gets variety with the crunchy kibble pieces along with the softer tender shredded pieces. It must taste really good. She gobbles it down! Sometimes she picks the crunchy pieces to eat first. Other times, she eats it all at once.

I trust Purina to take great care in preparing a product that is 100% healthy with balanced nutrition targeted for her needs as a large breed adult dog. It is important to me to know that she is getting the best nutrition possible. Did I tell you that Pro Plan has optimal levels of protein (from REAL poultry, meat or fish) and fat? That helps dogs maintain an ideal body condition. Makes me glad:)

dogs, pets, shopping, dog food
We had such a great shopping trip to PetSmart. Can hardly wait for the next time! And watch her eat …
dog eating
Sadie loves her new dog food!
Does your dog eat standing up? This silly girl eats lying down. Go figure!
Hey, here is something special for you: SPEND $15 on any Purina Pro Plan product anytime from 5/31-7/5. SAVE $15 on your next purchase of 10.5 lbs or larger Purina® Pro Plan® Dry Cat or Dog Food or Litter by July 31st.
 
Follow them on Facebook: Purina Pro Plan

Enjoy!

blogger
      
 
 
 

Filed Under: dogs, Lifestyle Tagged With: Dogs, Family fun, pets, summer

Cheap Toys That Your Dogs Will Love

July 10, 2015 Leave a Comment

 

Keep Your Dog Busy and Away From Your Shoes!

marrow bones for dogs; cheap dog toys; dogs; yellow lab


Dogs are natural chewers. Just watch what they do if left unattended for too long. Many have enjoyed a good chomp on a favorite pair of bedroom slippers or the leg of a dining room chair.

It is important that you redirect your dog’s natural propensity to chew to objects that he is permitted to have. Beef marrow bones are a good choice.
Raw marrow bones can be purchased from the meat department of your local grocery store or pet store. Select a bone that is the right size for your dog. Larger breeds will need a hefty sized bone. Tiny dogs needed smaller ones. They’ll need some preparation, though.
dog bones, dog toys, dog safety, marrow bones, cow bones
How To Prepare Marrow Bones For Dogs
PRECOOK THEM. Put the raw bone on a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil. Place it in an oven preheated at 350°. Bake it for about 30-40 minutes. Remove it from the oven and cool for at least 30 minutes. Then place it in a plastic bag, separating them with waxed paper to prevent sticking, and freeze for future use. You may want to prepare several at a time, to build up a supply. NEVER give a dog a hot or warm marrow bone. You don’t know how hot it may still be inside. Freezing assures burn prevention.

dog safety, dog bones, marrow bones

After your dog has enjoyed his bone, now what do you do with it? He will revisit it often, so don’t throw it away. When a time comes that you’ve run out of new bones to give to him, find a used one and stuff it.

Stuffing Used Marrow Bones
My yellow lab is a chewer. It’s hard to keep up with her. I cannot vouch for health safety on this but I do try to protect her. What I do is I wash the empty marrow bones in soap and water, rinse in very hot water and drip dry. Then I combine dry dog food with a little bit of canned dog food–I buy the organic kind. Then I stuff the dried marrow bones and freeze them.
Whenever Sadie needs something to chew, they are ready. Mind you, sometimes I do as many as 12 at a time! It is work but, especially when I do not have time to play ball with her or take her for a walk, they come in very handy!
fetch; stick; dog play

Ever Give Your Dog An Ice Cube?
Yes, ice cubes make good snacks and great toys for dogs and puppies alike. Some dogs will enjoy chomping on the cold cube. It’s especially soothing for teething pups. Others will chase the ice cube on a smooth floor like a hockey player with a hockey puck! Just watch out for slippage when it comes to people walking on the “rink.” Use caution.
Empty Plastic Bottle

Next time you empty your mouthwash bottle (large size), wash it out, firmly replace the cap and give it to your puppy. She will bat that thing all over the floor for hours of inexpensive fun. It could become her favorite toy!

Safety Precaution: with pets, as with children, supervise their play. Dogs should not be allowed to swallow plastic or other foreign objects. If a playtoy becomes a health hazard, remove it from the premises and discard it.

Intellibone
ANOTHER GREAT DOG TOY IDEA: if you are looking for a plush toy that will keep your dog busy for hours, try the Intellibone Puzzle for Dogs (unlike many plush toys that will be destroyed almost instantaneously, this toy will be around for a while!  Though the initial outlay for this toy is not exactly “cheap”, the longer life will make it a great investment in the long run.Dogs love it…and their owners do, too!

Safety Precaution: Never give a dog a chicken bone or any bone that splinters:  when bones are dangerous to dogs.

Note: this author is an Amazon affiliate. Anything purchased from Amazon through Ducks ‘n a Row will result in a small commission for me. In advance, “thank you.” …Sinea

Filed Under: dogs Tagged With: dog toys, pets

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us!

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter



Subscribe By Email – it’s FREE!