Bourne’s owner had wanted to adopt a Greyhound for years, but the timing was never right. This past summer they decided to take the plunge. There is a Greyhound rescue in Randleman, NC that brings in retired Greyhounds from Orlando, Florida. Working with that rescue, they looked online at the available dogs for a while, and when they saw this handsome brindle was available, they knew they had found their Grey.

Bourne came home with them the first week of August and immediately starting training again, this time for The Professional Napping Circuit. One thing about Greyhounds is that they love to sleep! Bourne qualifies for our Senior Tour and is proud to compete in this elite class of nappers.

Bourne will sleep anywhere. He has a bed placed in the bend of the sectional which seems to be his favorite spot currently. Bourne will sleep in his owners’ room on occasion. But, most often, he will just plop down near wherever his humans are gathered, such as near the dinner table.

Check out his favorite napping spot that he even shares with his cat from time to time.

Bourne is such a Pro-Napper! Look at those well-executed napping maneuvers. He is incredibly limber for a competitor on the senior circuit. What flexibility! Such acrobatic expertise! This display shows why we are proud to name him as our Pro Napper of the Month.

The post Meet Bourne! appeared first on The Professional Napping Circuit.

As you can see from his photos, Bob’s napping form is magnificent…

Especially after a little catnip infusion.

Bob’s Story is very sweet.

Bob has a beautiful adoption story.  His mom was a stray who showed up at Cathy’s residence in Missouri, looking for some warmth and shelter.  Upon seeing her, Cathy realized that this cat on her doorstep was pregnant.  She quickly set up the spare room as a nursery to let the momma cat have her babies in a safe place. Shortly after that, on March 23^rd, a healthy litter of four kittens was born.  Bob has two sisters and a brother. His twin sister Sammi lives with him, and the other two kittens live with Cathy’s daughter. This feline family has been embraced and loved by Cathy and her family.  That momma cat made a wise decision when she approached their house.

Bob is a real character. 

Bob is a real character.  He either sleeps on top of one of their cat towers or on the love seat. He has become very close to another one of the cats in the house, George.  From the time they met, Bob began to follow George everywhere.   At one point he even tried to nurse on him, which was quite a shock to George.  I would have loved to see George’s face when that happened!

Professional Nappers do take time out to play.

Bob has a fascination with water. He especially likes to play with running water. Anytime they turn on the sink Bob comes running and tries to grab the stream of water with his paws.

Like all cats, he has a mind of his own.  If you want to pick him up and hold him, Bob will growl and jump away.  But, when he wants affection, he will rub against you and sit on your lap.  The choice must always be his.

Cathy says he can be a little weird sometimes, but that just shows his unique personality.  She loves him, just as she does all her fur babies.  Thank you, Cathy, for sharing Bob’s story with us!

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Do you have big goals for the New Year?  Guess what, our pets may need a fresh start as well. Here are some ideas of how to make this year the best for both you and your pet.

Exercise your pet daily

According to PetMD, over 50 percent of pets in the U.S. are classified as overweight. Perhaps this year you should consider a new exercise regimen for your pets. Whether it is taking your dog for a walk or playing a game of stalk and catch with your cat, all pets need exercise.  This year, commit to incorporate exercise into your pets daily routine.

Measure your pet’s food every time

Many pet owners estimate the amount of food they feed their pets, often “eyeballing” the amount they pour into the bowl.  This casual measurement often results in overfeeding and weight gain. Use a measuring cup, and the recommended feeding guidelines from your vet to ensure you are feeding your pet the correct amount of food.

Choose the appropriate diet

Depending on their health, age and activity level, pets have very specific nutrient requirements. Older pets, and those who are less active, have lower energy needs than young, active ones. Choosing a diet specifically tailored to your pet’s life stage is a great way to keep them in optimal health.

Choose healthier treats for your pets

Commit to NO table scraps ever for your pets.  Along with a good quality food chose healthy treats such as green beans, apples, or carrots. These choices will ensure your pet is getting the right nutrients and not eating things that can be hard to digest or even dangerous for them.

Keep toxic substances out of pet’s reach

Every year pets are poisoned by household products, medications, foods or plants.  Commit to learning which items are harmful to your pets and commit to keep a toxin free home.  You can learn more here:  https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poisons/

Exercise your pet’s brain

Studies show that mental stimulation can help reduce cognitive deterioration in aging animals. Teaching your pet new tricks and practicing those they already know is a great way to keep those neurons firing. Puzzle feeders, which force a pet to think through a task to be rewarded with a treat, are also an excellent way to keep a pet’s mind engaged.

Spend quality time with pets

Something as simple as scheduling time for their pets to cuddle, play, and simply bond, will improve your pets wellbeing.  Studies show a little extra quality time goes a long way toward health and happiness.  So grab that blanket, snuggle up with your pet, and enjoy that latest bingeworthy series on Netflix.

The post New Year’s Resolutions for Pet Owners appeared first on The Professional Napping Circuit.

Peyton is a Chihuahua mix. Her owners rescued during hurricane Sandy, pulling her from a high kill shelter in South Carolina. Peyton is little, but she definitely lets the other girls know who is in charge. She adores her owners and is forever grateful to them for rescuing her.

Cheyenne is a 17-month-old black lab. Cheyenne is your typical lab as far as her attitude and is a super smart pup. She earned her Canine Good Citizen before she turned one! Cheyenne is a retriever through and through and will play ball until your arm falls off and will still want more. She loves to swim and be in the water any chance she gets. But, after all the playing is over, she gets to work training to be a Professional Napper. Cheyenne is one dedicated napper.

Rylan is the latest addition to this napping trio. Rylan is an 8-month-old rescue that was pulled out of a very bad area in SC. She had a couple burns on her back when her owners rescued her but they are healing well. She is adjusting to her family and is quickly becoming a part of the pack. While she is new to the team, she shows great promise as a full-time napping competitor. Rylan loves harassing her sisters more than just about anything, and she is learning to swim along with Cheyenne at an indoor heated pool. Nothing buts the best for this Professional Napper in training.

All three girls love laying in the dog beds in their morning room soaking in the winter sun. Let’s hear it for this amazing trio of nappers! 

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Leo was rescued from an abusive home 4 years ago.   As you can see from his choice of napping pillow, he knows he is blessed to be part of such a loving home.  His family knows they are blessed to have such a sweet and loving fur baby.

His favorite place to sleep is right next to one of his humans on his comfy pillow.    If they are up and about, you can find him on the couch perched on a pillow or in his doggie bed in the bedroom.

He has the sweetest spirit but is very nervous around new people because of his abusive background.  If he knows you, he cannot wait to be picked up and loved on.

Leo is a long hair Chihuahua.  Like most Chihuahuas,  he thinks he is the size of a German Shepherd!

Congratulations to Leo for making it on to the Professional Napping Circuit Wall of Fame!

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Hi, I am Loki.  Everyone says I am Odin’s younger brother, but I don’t always want to claim him. He barks a lot and tries to eat my food.  What he does not know is that I drink all the water in his crate.  He never understands why it is empty whenever he is thirsty.  Mom says I am living up to my name. Apparently, in Norse mythology, Loki was the trickster.  I like that.  Being a trickster is fun.

I guess you wonder why I am writing to you today.  Odin has an important napping convention coming up, and he is resting up to prepare.  I decided it is time you know me and my role on The Professional Napping Circuit.

I am the Chief Snoozability Officer.  My role is to ensure that every Pro Napper has the recommended level of soft pillows, availability of the death ray (aka sunshine) and staff available for belly rubs, feedings, and walks when needed.  One of the hardest parts of my job is helping the Pro Nappers train their humans.  It may be hard to believe, but there are still humans out there who are not aware of the hard work and dedication required to be a Professional Napper.

Every day, a dedicated Professional Napper must take time to soften up their pillow, to ensure it is in the proper location to take full advantage of the death ray and have a transition napping station in place for when the death ray becomes too intense. Also, they must take time to remind their humans that they need food and walks to stay in competition shape.  Professional Nappers never take a moment off from training.  Yet, for all this hard work, their success on The Professional Napping Circuit often goes without any recognition.  This is where I need your help.

Would you support your Professional Napper by bragging about them a bit?  You can do this by wearing one of the official Professional Napping Circuit tee shirts or by sporting one of our car magnets, stickers or window clings.  They are all available in our online store.  In addition, if you sign up to enter your ProNapper in our Professional Napper of the Month contest, you will receive one of our signature items for free.

Would you do that?  You can shop our online store here.

To enter your Professional Napper to be featured as our Professional Napper of the Month, fill out the entry form here.

The post The Trickster appeared first on The Professional Napping Circuit.

As with our Chief Napping Officer and Chief Snoozability Officer, I was rescued by my human so that I could bring the order and stability needed in their lives.  Humans can be so forgetful.  Luckily, my humans have me to remind them daily of the need for sustenance, both food, and treats, as well as good napping facilities.  As part of my superior intelligence, I saw the need to recognize the sport of Professional Napping.  That is why I founded The Professional Napping Circuit.

I will let you in on a secret.  My humans think they founded The Professional Napping Circuit.  I let them think that.  It is so much easier to get them to do my bidding if they believe it is their own idea.  For example, they pride themselves on the fact that they get up at 5:00 am every day. What they do not know is that at 4:55 every morning, I use my feline mind control to wake them up.  I sit on the bed, staring at them until they understand it is time to wake and feed me.  They also like to refer to my house as their house.  Silly humans, don’t they know that I just let them live here to serve me?  It’s okay though.  I am quite fond of them.

I am passionate about the plight of homeless Professional Nappers and want to encourage everyone to adopt a shelter pet.  For the month of November, 50% of the proceeds from our online store will go to Safe Harbor Farm Pet Rescue.  You can learn more about Safe Harbor Farm here.

Please support your Professional Napper by purchasing one of our signature PNC items and help raise money to support Nappers in Need.

The post You may adore me now. appeared first on The Professional Napping Circuit.

For now I want to focus on me, who I am, and how I came to live in Raleigh, NC.  I had a rough start to life. I was an abandoned dog with a damaged eye. I do not remember all the details but I do know that a kind person picked me up and took me to a medical rescue shelter called Safe Harbor. Once there, I was taken care of by a nice vet. She said my eye was too damaged to save, so they had to remove it. I have to move my head in all kind of funny ways to see everything now, but at least it does not hurt. They called me Adam. I do not know why. I do not even remember what my original name was. What I do remember is this couple coming to Safe Harbor to get me.

They saw me on the internet and wanted me. The nice vet gave me a bath and combed me so I would be handsome for them. I was excited to meet them. When they arrived, the vet suggested they look at all the animals before they took me home to make sure they wanted me. WHAT????? They came here for me. I was going to make sure that they chose me. I did my cutest playful bark and wagged my tail. I even sat up on hind legs and waved at them. But then came this dog they called Luke. He was a spoiled brat who just complained when he did not get what he wanted. He was not loveable and cute like I was, so I was not worried. Well, that Luke got into the lady’s lap and acted all sweet and loving. Boy was that an act. I knew she was smart enough to see right through him. And then I heard her say, “I cannot decide, they are both so cute”. Oh no. she fell for his act. It was time to me to put my cuteness into overdrive.

The vet gave them a couple leashes so they could walk both of us. I strutted my stuff, looking proud and happy while trying to knock the other dog out of the way. It was to no avail. I hear her ask the man “Can we get both”. He said “Sure, how much more work could 2 dogs be than 1?” So, that is how I got a brother (adopted don’t forget) and got to move to Raleigh, NC.

Our first night, they said, these names don’t fit them. The man looked at me and said, “I think we should name him Odin after the Norse god who gave up one eye for wisdom”. Wow, I liked that and it fit me perfectly because I am very wise. Then they looked at brother (adopted don’t forget) and said “Let’s call him Loki , after all he seems to be mischievous”. Ha, they did not know the half of it. But, we liked our names and soon had to figure out what to call them. They are officially our owners, but we like to call them Mom and Dad.

Life is good here. I will tell you more next time.

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My name is Odin, but I also get called Odintator, Brutus or just Tater. I am not sure why Mom and Dad have such a hard time remembering my name, but if they are feeding me and giving me ample space for napping, I don’t complain. But, my brother (adopted) sure does complain. All the time, he complains about anything and everything. His name is Loki. He is also a Pro Napper. But, I am better than he is. I can nap in many positions, even upside down and sideways.

My mom is a blogger.  She spends a lot of time on her computer, so it must be interesting. When she is not around, I log on to her computer to see what the big deal is.  Since she enjoys it so much,  I thought I would try this blogging thing out.  Stay tuned for more words of wisdom from me.

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