Archive | A Few of My Favorite Things RSS feed for this section

Evermore In My Belly

21 Sep

I am always trying to sniff out new delicious yummies to fill my ever hungry belly up with. Even though I really am a The Honest Kitchen dog at heart, sometimes you just need a dash of something different. I happened to find that extra something special in a brand of pet food called Evermore.

Don't you just love the packaging?

I stumbled nose (and mouth) first into Evermore, and one of the co-owners Hanna Mandelbaum, at this years Woofstock. It didn’t take my mom, nor I, long to realize that Evermore foods was something unique. As their company motto states: Evermore believes in feeding dogs the way humans (at least the non fast and junk food eating ones) feed themselves. All of the dog food made by Evermore is human-edible food (Hanna assured me that both she and the other member of the Evermore team have eaten all of the food they make) made out of high-quality ingredients, it is cooked gently to help maintain all the beneficial nutrients sometimes lost during the cooking process, everything is made in the USA as well as FDA inspected, and there is absolutely none of that by-product, filler, corn, soy, potato, wheat, or salt stuff. But check out what Evermore (more specifically the beef) does contain: ground beef, beef hearts, beef livers, yams, free-range eggs, carrots, parsnips, apples, kale, wild blueberries, safflower oil, alfalfa, organic barley, and more! Put this stuff up against most of the other commercial dog food on the market and you can literally see the difference.

See what I mean?

After trying a sample of both the chicken and the beef (those are the two current “flavors”), my mom decided to go ahead an buy me a small box of the beef to mix it up a little. As it’s sold frozen, the first time I ate it for a meal, I had to wait for it to thaw. Longest wait of my life! It was definitely worth it though. I scarfed a whole portion down before my mom could even snap a photo (I was already asking for seconds while her camera was focusing). If that doesn’t say a complete four-paw approval, I don’t know what does!

As we run on a very tight budget in this household (silly humans and their money), Evermore is a bit too expensive for an everyday type of food. However, at the suggestion of Hanna, it will definitely become a great stuffer for my Canine Genius and will be occasionally added into my diet for variety purposes!

For more information, please check out the Evermore website. They also have a list of retailers that sell their food which you can find here (both Loyal Biscuit locations carry Evermore pet food, by the way!).

Happy tail wags!

Source: Evermore

Woofstock 2011

12 Sep

I love raising money for animal shelters and rescues. It is up there with squeaking a brand new toy and eating chicken. Of course, helping out animals in need is even more fun when you get to hang out with other like minded humans and dogs. This weekend I got to do exactly that! Saturday marked the 6th annual Woofstock festival presented by The Animal House. Woofstock is festival that celebrates the pawesomeness of being a dog as well as all those pooches (and kitties!) looking for their forever homes. This year, there were 17 rescues and animal shelters from all around New England that benefited from the proceeds raised through the “Pay What You Can” admission fee, pet items yard sale, silent auction, 50/50 raffle, for-profit vendor fees, and what ever money is raised by the shelters and rescues themselves through items sold or services rendered at their booths.

Some of the rescues is attendance

There were also tons of vendors selling everything from collars, toys, treats, pet shampoo, and dog clothes. My pug friend Jenny and I (we attended the event with Marie, Jenny, Angelica, and Leo) were in doggy heaven from all the delicious samples being doled out by the likes of TriPom Chews, Zelda’s Biscuit Bakery, Nature’s Variety (where I met one of my facebook friends!), Stella & Chewy’s, Barkwheats, Merrick, Evermore Pet Food, and more. Leo wasn’t all that interested in the treats because he doesn’t eat in public. Some of the other vendors included Mutt Nose Best, a natural pet care line made in Maine, Uncommon Paws, a shop and maker of collars, leashes, pet clothes (who also happened to have a display of blanketIDs!), Classic Hound with their beautiful collars, the Maine POM Project, and so many more.

Mom, myself, Angelica, and Leo

There were also some really fun dog demos to watch. We happened to catch a bit of the agility demo where a few pups ran through tunnels, jumped over hurdles, and generally made me jealous that I wasn’t a bit more athletic. Even Jenny and Marie got into the action when they volunteered to help out during the freestyle demo.

This is Jenny's patented "Sniff for Treats" move

Honestly, one of the greatest things about the Woofstock was being able to meet so many different dogs and humans. Dogs from giant (and I’m talking at least a four poop bagger kind of giant) Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds, to itty bitty Chihuahuas as well as every breed or mix of breeds in between were their in their furry glory. I sniffed butts of dogs with three legs, dogs who needed carts to get around, even a deaf Border Collie. There were long haired dogs, short haired dogs, some dogs in dire need of a hair cut. I even got to finally rub noses with Finch, the foster dog turned adopted dog of the humans behind Barkwheats (and a puppy that my mom has been obsessed with ever since seeing her photo on the Loyal Biscuit facebook page), as well as Oscar, a me-look-a-like whom Angelica and Leo kept running into around Rockland.

This Great Dane's head was bigger than all of me

 

The adorable Finch!

 

Oscar, my look-a-like and I

All in all, it was a terrific day that was spent helping out 17 terrific shelters and rescues. We all came away with the satisfaction of knowing we helped many pets in need of homes, lots of new friends, and so much swag! 

So much swag!

As I didn’t want to make this post too picture heavy, I’ll be posting the rest of my Woofstock photos on my facebook page later today. 

Happy tail wags!

Peaceable Kingdom Essentials

8 Sep

One of the things I appreciate about having a human who is very active in my health and wellness, is that she’s not quick to throw unnecessary medication at something that could very well be taken care of in a more natural and a possible more pleasant manner. While there is always a time and place where pharmaceuticals are appropriate, I believe that pets, not to mention humans, are often overly medicated. Because of this philosophy, I was really excited when I was asked to try out a few products from Peaceable Kingdom Essentials, a company specializing in herbal remedies for pets, as well as herbal teas for humans.

Started in 2010 by Cindy Wenger, an animal communicator and certified herbalist, Peaceable Kingdom Essentials prides itself in their 100% USDA Certified Organic and earth friendly pet products. Each batch of their tinctures are made, by human-hand, in small batches instead of mass produced in large amounts. The herbs used are never sprayed or irradiated. Peaceable Kingdom Essentials sells tinctures to help ease problems from incontinence to boosting a dog’s immunity. They also have other products including catnip, brewer’s yeast, and flea repellent powder.

The first product I got to try was an external spray called Reliever Achiever. Reliever Achiever can be used to help soothe and heal minor skin problems such as hot spots, irritations, and abrasions. Now, my mom has recently been using coconut oil on my skin itchies, but there are some times when she just doesn’t feel like scooping out the coconut goop and getting it all over herself and I. This spray has been great for those lazy days. All you do is shake it up and spritz it on your dog’s itchy skin. You can also spray it on you hand and rub it onto the itchy spots (sometimes the spray bottle can’t reach all the itchy spots, like the ones on the belly). Obviously it’s hard for me to verbalize to my human whether or not a product is working for me, but there was a decreased amount of itching and scratching on the spots that had been sprayed. And, in an act of itchy desperation, my mom even sprayed the Reliever Achiever on a very irritating bug bite. It took the itchiness away within a few minutes! She also likes the fact that the spray has a pleasing orange smell (due to the sweet orange essential oil), though I’d rather smell like a dog and not fruit.

I was also sent a one of the internal tinctures called Paws a Moment. Paws a Moment is used to help calm easily stressed and high anxiety animals through the use of herbs such as Valerian root, skullcap, passionflower, and more. It seems to me like Cindy has been reading my blog as I often write about my issues with pooch anxiety. As the rule of thumb with herbal remedies is two weeks on, one week off, I’m slowly working at getting the Paws a Moment into my system. My mom, however, has seen a marked calmness in my demeanor. In fact, yesterday, during a trip to TJ Maxx, I was calm and comfortable enough to greet a human I have never met before with a kiss, something that I have always been too anxious to do.

If you are interested in seeing what Peaceable Kingdom Essentials has to offer, please check out their website. There is also a very informative bit of information on the page about the tinctures that talks about everything from appropriate dosage to things to keep in mind when using an herbal remedy. And, as always, it may be a good idea to discuss the use of herbal tinctures with your pet’s vet if you have any concerns.

Happy tail wags!

(FTC disclosure: I was sent both samples free from Peaceable Kingdom Essentials and their PR company for the purpose of review. No other compensation was involved).

Wordless Wednesday: Last Beach Day of the Summer Edition

24 Aug

College Bound Update

23 Aug

It is officially three days until I’m headed to the University of Maine. I feel like it was only yesterday that my mom received her acceptance letter. It also seems like I’ve been preparing for this every minute. Crate training has been the biggest feat of all. As a young pup, I was contained to a crate during my housebreaking period. I have since become really rusty at the whole not having an entire room to myself when no one is home thing. Not anymore! I am officially re-crate trained (though it’s not my favorite thing). So obviously this photo is older because A) it was taken at the apartment (we officially moved into my GG and Gramp’s house) and B) I’m wearing a sweater (it is definitely NOT sweater weather). But Prudence, you may be asking yourself, how can you teach an old dog new tricks? It was actually easy! First my mom would give me treats for just sniffing and exploring around the crate. After a I was comfortable around the crate (meaning I didn’t jump if my mom touched it or if one of the cats jumped on it) she put some really high value treats progressively further and further into the crate until I would walk into it with no problem. I even ate a few of my meals inside the crate a few nights to help my brain assimilate that the crate means good things (and food is definitely a good thing!). I started liking my crate so much, I would go in there for naps when my mom was milling around her room. When I would do this, my mom would shut the door and then walk in and out of the room so I would get used to her not being around all the time. More recently, I’ve been spending an hour or less in the crate while my mom runs errands. I whined at first, but now I just take a nap.

Other than that, mom and I have also been working on keeping a schedule with my walkies and dinner times that we can translate over to when we move to school. This stability in routine will help me to transition faster in a new environment. That way I won’t have to adjust to both a new environment and a new schedule.

Even though I’m experiencing all this preparation, I am still a little nervous. The humans say this is normal, but I can’t help but be worried. I’m also going to miss the humans that won’t be moving with me, like nanny, aunty, GG, Gramp, Angelica, Marie, Heidi, and of course my doggy friends Leo, Jenny, Chuck, and Fenny, but mom promises we’ll come back to visit (plus we’ll be home for all the major holidays). It’s going to be an adventure, not matter what happens!

Happy tail wags!

Crack the Coconut

17 Aug

A few posts ago, I discussed the large case of the itchies I’ve been experiencing lately due to fleas (thankfully we finally seem to have the flew problem under control; bite on wood). One of the things I mentioned in the post was the suggestion by Aubrey at The Animal House to use coconut oil both topically and in my food. Ever since then, I’ve been getting coconut rub downs on my extra itchy spots as well as a small spoonful in my lunch, and let me tell you, not only do I smell a little tropical, but my itchiness has diminished to almost being completely gone. So what gives? Why is the coconut such a magical seed (yep, that’s right, a coconut is actually a seed!)?

The oil of a coconut contains fatty acids, the most important being lauric acid. Not only are these fatty acids a quick burning source of energy, but, lauric acid in particular, are similar to the fat found in breast milk that has been shown to strengthen the immune system. The reason coconut oil works so well when applied to the skin is because the lauric acid is anti-bacterial as well as anti-viral and anti-fungal, so it’s perfect for rubbing on small cuts and abrasions. Plus, it’s perfectly safe for your dog to lick. In fact, when eaten, coconut oil can help maintain a healthy metabolism as well as the cardiovascular system. And, just like omega-3 fatty acids, it can make a dogs coat and skin glossy and healthy. It has even been known to clear up skin conditions your dog may have like contact dermatitis, eczema, and flea allergies (like me). As if that’s not enough, coconut oil can also (when given regularly) reduce the risk of your dog getting diabetes as it regulates and balances insulin levels, reduce weight in an obese dog (when given with a reduced diet), prevent and treat yeast infections, help the mobility issues of dogs suffering from arthritis, and can even be used a toothpaste for those of us pooches suffering from human-dreaded doggy breath. Seriously, this little nut does it all!

The coconut oil my mom has been using on me is produced by a company called The Wholistic Pet.

(photo source)

It’s 100% certified organic, non-GMO, unrefined, and made from fresh coconuts. It’s so yummy, my mom has to restrain me from licking it right out of the container every time she opens it. As a word to those who have never used coconut oil before, when we first opened the container, it was completely liquid (most likely from sitting in the car). The second time we opened it, the oil had solidified. That’s completely normal! The oil will liquify at 76°F. Below that, it is solid. Typically, if I’m going to have some rubbed on my itchy spots, my mom will just scoop a little on her hand and let it soften, or, if it’s for my food, she’ll just scoop it right into my bowl. As you can also cook with coconut oil, my mom is anxious to try it in a few recipes for me.

If anyone else has tried coconut oil for their pets, or even themselves, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Happy tail wags!

Source: The Honest Kitchen, The Wholistic Pet, Dogster

2011 Boatyard Dog Trials

15 Aug

It’s that time of the year again for the annual Boatyard Dog Trials put on by the Maine Boats, Homes, & Harbors Show (read my post about last year’s competition here). As it was last year, I wasn’t able to attend due to the “No Dog” rule (other than the dog contestants, that is), so I sent my ever adventurous human reporter (my mom) to go and take some notes for me (and have fun obviously!).

This year the competition was extra special because my Labrador friend, Fenway, and the co-owner of The Loyal Biscuit Co, Joel, were one of the five competing dog-human teams. The other dog contenders were Grace O’Malley (the pirate queen), Oskar (the skilled jumper), Lyla (the crustacean queen), and Pixel (the facebook celeb. You can find Pixel’s facebook page here)

Fenway, the black belt!

There are three parts to the trial that every dog has to complete. The first part is an obstacle course involved bait buckets and lobster traps, the second is entering and exiting a tippy dinghy, and third, a freestyle routine. In addition to the different parts of the competition, there are usually only two rules in the competition (1. Either the dog or the handler must be completely soaked at the end of their 8 minute or less routine and 2. Not only is cheating allowed, but it is incredibly encouraged) but this year an extra rule was added! The third new rule was that, somewhere in the freestyle routine, a rubber ducky had to be included. In this, every contestant excelled. There were duckies included in everything from a raft of ducks used for fetching, to a ducky float stuffed with bribes for the judges.

Layla

There were two teams that my mom found incredibly impressive. The first was Fenny and Joel, the former of which was dressed in a karate gi, the later in his police officer uniform. Not only did Fen handle the obstacle course with ease (even through the temptation of the stinky bait bucket), but she was also in an out of the dinghy as if she had been doing it her entire life. The greatest moment happened during the freestyle when, after going through a few obedience commands (and Joel rolling around on the dock in an attempt to make Fenway roll over), Joel tried to entice Fenway with a rubber ducky when he “accidentally” fell off the dock. Fen jumped in not too soon after. You can see the entire performance here (mom tried to get video, but the judges’ boat kept getting in the way. Oh, and if you listen closely, you can hear my mom shouting “Fenway’s a SHE” in the background). 

And double points for BOTH contestants being soaked

The other impressive team was former shelter dog, Pixel, and her “Posse.”

Shelter pets DO rock

Pixel performed an impressive trick when she and her human attempted to board the dinghy. Her human laid down and became a living gang plank, connecting the dock with the dinghy. After a few faulty starts, Pixel boarded the dinghy with finesse. Then, during her freestyle, she not only jumped over a jump covered in duckies, she also donned a swim cap and rode a skateboard. Her human, in a matching swim cap, also rode a skateboard, except she rode it right into the water.

Pixel during her freestyle

Of course, through out all the fun, the Boatyard Dog Trials is a judged competition. So after all the bribes, doggy gymnastics, and cheers, the judges tallied their votes and awarded Fenway with the championship and Golden Bowl trophy!

Even though there had to be a chosen winner, in truth, all the dogs were winners in the spirit of having a good time.

Happy tail wags!

The Animal House

10 Aug

Even though the humans have been so very, very busy with the move to GG’s and Gramp’s, they have somehow found the time to take a few day trips. On one of these occasions, it was decided that not only could I come along, but that we were going to visit a pet supply store called The Animal House.

(photo source)

A few months ago, my mom was able to visit The Animal House, but didn’t have me along at the time. I was incredibly excited that I would get to come along this time around, especially since I had been talking to Aubrey, the co-owner, a lot on my facebook page. So not only would I be able to sniff out a new pet store, but also meet one of my facebook friends!

Anyway, The Animal House was established in 2005 in Damariscotta, Maine. As their website states, The Animal House understands “that your cat or dog is much more than just a pet, they are a cherished member of the family.” All the products that they carry reflect that philosophy. You will not find a single junky or unhealthy ingredient in the foods and treats that are found on the shelves of The Animal House. Nor will you walk out of the store empty handed! The shelves are so full of so many different products, you could spend hours just looking at the different types of food, let alone all the treats, toys, supplements, clothes, shampoos, and beds. The Animal House and their knowledgeable staff also dedicate a lot of their time to help animals in need. In fact, the store acts as a satellite adoption center for the Humane Society of Knox County and they often hold adoption events for rescue organizations like the Maine Greyhound Placement Service (one of the reasons I visited The Animal House, but that’s for another post!).  There is so much more to The Animal House that it may just take me a week to get it all down in a single post. The Animal House is more than just a store. They offer grooming, nutritional help, and online store, and there is sometimes even an in house vet that takes appointments. It was definitely worth a long, tedious drive in the car to visit Aubrey and The Animal House! It will probably be awhile before I will make another trip, but I’ll be crossing my paws that it happens sooner than later.

If you’re ever in the Damariscotta area of Maine, you’ll definitely want to check The Animal House out!

Happy tail wags!

 

Celtic Celebration

22 Jul

Last weekend, I was very fortunate to attend (along with Leo, Angelica, and my mom) the Maine Celtic Celebration in Belfast, Maine. It’s very rare that I get to go to any sort of outdoor festival, mostly due to the crowds and heat. This time around, the celebration was hosting a whole afternoon of dog activities, not to mention happened to be hosted in the same town as a pawesome dog park and the new Loyal Biscuit location, so my mom felt a little more than obligated to bring me along.

One of the day’s events was a parade and show of Celtic breed dogs. While we were a little late for the parade, many of the attendees were still wandering around enjoying the free agility course and just having a ball canoodling with the other four-legged festival goers.

Some were even dressed for the occasion

 Thankfully the revelry wasn’t specified only for those of Celtic origin, so there were dogs of every breed (and mix of breed) enjoying the sun and attention.

Like Bagel!

 The biggest draw of the afternoon was watching a flyball demonstration by a Maine-based flyball team known as the Flyball Maineiacs.

One of the flyballers in action

Flyball is a form of racing that matches two teams of four dogs who race relay style over a 51 foot course that features jumps and a pressure-released ball box. Each dog races down the jumps, hits a box which releases a ball, grabs the ball, and returns back through the jumps. Once the first dog returns, the second dog is released to run the course. Because the event was so thrilling to watch, I made sure my mom grabbed a video!

All in all it was a very fun and incredibly exhausting day. I was very appreciative that my mom came prepared with plenty of water and let me rest (or in one case take a snooze on a stranger’s lap) when I became a little too hot and tired. Even Leo, who is usually nervous and scared in crowds and unfamiliar places, seemed to enjoy himself.

Happy tail wags!

Joss & Main

16 Jul

I would like to see a paw raised for all of you that don’t like to save money. I have a feeling there would be very few, if any. Even I, a dog who has her own walking wallet that I kindly refer to as “mom,” like to save if it means being able to get more stuff (I just love stuff! Especially if it’s edible). On my romps around the internet searching for pawesome stuff to share about here, I’ve noticed there are a lot of those “exclusive” websites that are invite only. These invitees are able to receive massive discounts on designer items. Sadly, I haven’t seen to many of these exclusive sites that cater to the four-legged and furry crowd; until Joss & Main that is

Joss & Main is the place to find unique items for the home for upwards of 70% off the regular price. Of course, it’s not 100% pet stuff, but they often host sales of pet items like beds, cat towers, collars, and more. In fact, tomorrow is the start of the Bowser pet products sale. Bowser is a company that sells quality pet furniture, collars, and even raised feeders.

The Bowser Eco+ Orbit Bed

Bowser Collar

 And for those of you looking for the kittier side of things, July 31st is the start of the Kittypod(makers of some adorable kitty furniture) sale.

Kittypod Geodome

 (photo source)

So how do you get in on these pawesome deals? I have an exclusive invite just for my readers! All you have to do is click here. Now, for full disclosure, for every human who clicks that link, signs up, and then makes their initial purchase, my mom (remember, she’s my walking wallet), will receive a $15 credit. You too can receive credit if you invite your friends with your own personal link (see the Joss & Main site for more details).

If any of you make good on any of these deals, I would love to see photos on my facebook of your dogs or kitties enjoying their new steals and deals.

Happy tail wags!

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 39 other followers