pups the magic labrador…

an interview with Paula Kidney and Pups

Paula J. Kidney is 38 years old, married, lives in Michigan and works for a law firm. Her love for animals started at a young age. She loves Labrador Retrievers and has a Black Lab named Garth Milo. Paula is married to Gregg who is a retired Engineer and they both love boating and traveling. Paula and Gregg have a cottage on beautiful Houghton Lake, Michigan and Pups was thought of one day while boating. Paula found Pups at a small boutique. She had never seen a lab so cute in any store before. Then she came up with the idea of “Pups the Traveling Labrador.”

After keeping Pups at home for a time, she began taking him sailing. While discussing his many adventures with fellow members of a low-carb lifestyle website – a forum with over 75,000 subscribers – Paula found that others enjoyed hearing about Pups as much as she enjoyed the outings. Soon the dog received invitations to visit others all over the world and experience different adventures. Demand is now so high the wait list is six months!

Oh…did I mention that Pups is a stuffed black labrador dog?

Pups is currently working on his own series of books called “Pups the Traveling Labrador.”

Each person that hosts Pups gets him with his suitcase. They host Pups for about a week or so. They take Pups out on adventures, famous places and he poses for the camera. Pups usually stays about week. Then, each host sends a short story of his adventure to me along with his pictures and I post on his website, myspace and facebook pages. Then they contact me with Pups next destination and they ship him off to his next stop and it goes on from there. He has been traveling for about 3 1/2 years…

1) tell me a little about you and your dog (Pups) and how you started your
travel dog business and dog blog…

Pups website is http://www.pupsthetravelinglabrador.com

Paula J. Kidney was shopping one day and found a cute black labrador in a small boutique. She decided that he should travel the world. Paula has a black Labrador named Garth Milo and he is the inspiration for Pups. Paula decided that Pups would be called “Pups the Traveling Labrador”. Paula posted the idea on a low carb forum with over 75,000 subscribers and soon so many people wanted to sign up to take Pups around their city and state and he could pose at famous places and sites and pose for the camera, he soon had a waiting list of six months.

Pups adventures continued to grow and he began traveling all over the world. He has been to Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Canada, Barbados, St. Kitts, Caracos, Antigua, San Fransisco, Seattle, Kansas, New York, Wisconsin, Texas, Connecticut, Disney World, Epcot Center, Florida, Tennessee, Iowa, Jamaica, Cozumel, Dominica Colorado, Boston, Alcatraz, Chicago, New Jersey, Connecticut, England, Canada … So many places to list!

His adventures keep continuing with more and places to visit and see. He will be going to Russia and Poland in September 2009.

He has also attended A Relay for Life Race, a Wedding, I even applied at Harvard Law School, taking flying lessons over Florida’s alligator-infested swamps, witnessing the birth of a baby girl in Missouri, meeting Reba McEntire’s sister at Rodeo Daze in Texas. Pups recently attended the AKC CGC testing with dog Trainer Jay Barman and Pups passed and received his Canine Good Citizen certificate from the AKC.

2) When did you start your blog, and what inspired you to get into blogging?

Pups started traveling the world about 3 1/2 years ago. Paula decided that he needed a website to keep up with his adventures and his pictures of his travels. http://www.pupsthetravelinglabrador.com

3) What’s your favorite thing about blogging?

I love to share Pups adventures and post his newest pictures so that people can travel through Pups eyes!

4) Have you noticed a shift in attitudes towards dogs, dog
travel?

yes, I have noticed that more and more people are traveling with their pets and also airlines are accommodating for people traveling with their pets. People love their animals and want to be with them as much as they can!

5) What are some of your favorite blogs ?

dooce.com, labradorsworldwide.com, moddogblog, and of course, celiasue.wordpress.com

6) If there was one tip that you would recommend that
pet owners and/or pet business owners or pet bloggers follow, what
would it be and why?

I feel that pet owners should share all that they have about their pets on their blog and tell the stories as if the dog was telling the story. (Note: cici and I do not agree)…

7) How do you cope with juggling all of the various balls you’ve got
going in the air?

I prioritize each task as to its importance and go from there.

And don’t forget, today is August 1, you have only 14 more days to submit your Shaggy Dog Tales/Photos to WIN the contest, right here at Have Dog Blog Will Travel !