Archives for February 2015

Polar Bear Day

February 27, 2015 3 Comments

Every time we’re out someone yells, “Wow, look at those polar bears!” I never knew the fluffies were taking that to heart until I was browsing the internet and came across this page…

The fluffies were very excited and wondered why I didn’t have party hats, treats, and a special dinner for them today. After all, they are polar bears!

We all had to sit down for a long, heartfelt conversation. Feelings were hurt as the fluffies faced a little bit of an identity crisis.

Mauja facing confusion — Mauja feeling confused

I felt terrible and decided we need to have a day to celebrate Mauja and Atka. Should it be Great Pyrenees Day? Fluffy Day?

How do you think we should celebrate Mauja and Atka?

February PetBox

February 24, 2015 9 Comments

It’s February and that means… time for a new PetBox and a review from some PetBox Spokesdoggies!

PetBox is a monthly pet subscription service that brings your pup (or kitty!) the latest and greatest products. Simply chose your desired plan, fill in some information about your pet, and wait for your box to arrive. If you want to be more involved, you can choose which products come in your monthly box.

Let’s dig in!

February PetBox Food & Treats

Old Mother Hubbard Bits of Love – These adorable, heart-shaped treats are perfect for Valentine’s Day or any time you want to show your pup some love.
Pet Greens Treats – These treats are made with wheat grass, which provides chlorophyll, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. These treats are also free of gluten, grains, fillers, and artificial ingredients.
Evanger’s Super Premium Beef Dinner – The fluffies love a good wet food added to their dinner every now and then and I love when it’s a healthy addition.

February PetBox Toys

ZippyPaws Toy – This toy is pretty small in comparison to the toys I usually get the fluffies. This toy has crinkle paper in it, which is a fluffy favorite!
Topsy Turvies Fetch Toy – An adorable little toy that I’m sure Mauja and Atka will destroy, but they’ll have a lot of fun doing it!
Petstages Dental Twist – This rough and tough toy is doing a great job of standing up to chewing. The toy is twisted with rubber which helps to massage your dog’s gums.

Would you purchase a PetBox subscription for your pup?

Help! My Dog Swallowed a Rock

February 23, 2015 33 Comments

I don’t have any rock eaters (as far as I know), but I know this is a far too common problem. Consumption of rocks by your dog is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Check out this x-ray of a Labrador Retriever that swallowed 11 rocks. The $1500 vet bill will certainly be a topic of conversation for years to come.

What should you do if you see your dog swallow a rock?

Call your vet. You can never go wrong with calling your vet and keeping him/her in the loop. Most likely, your vet will ask you to follow the next few steps, but always check with your vet first.
Watch your dog’s activity level. Is your dog acting more lethargic than usual? If so, take your dog to the vet immediately.
Look out for digestive discomfort. Be aware of any vomiting, diarrhea, or repeated coughing/retching to signal that your dog isn’t feeling well.
Check your dog’s stool. Yes, I know… it’s gross, but it’s the only way to make sure your dog eliminated the rock.
Head to your vet. If you are sure your dog swallowed a rock, but he hasn’t eliminated it, head to your vet. Your vet will most likely discuss the possibility of x-rays to examine the situation further or surgery to remove the rocks.

Why did my dog eat a rock anyway?

There are a number of possibilities that range from medical to behavioral. Chewing rocks may be one way for an attention-starved dog to get noticed. In this instance, the dog may even be acting out of boredom, anxiety or frustration.
– PetPlace

There’s no singular reason as to why dog’s consume rocks. The behavior, called pica, includes consumption of any non-edible object. [pullquote width=”300″ float=”left”]Pica is the persistent eating of nonfood items.[/pullquote]Pica is particularly common in small children and animals. There are many medical and behavioral issues can lead to pica in your dog. It’s important to consider your schedule to determine if your dog could be bored, anxious, or frustrated. A trip to your vet can rule out any medical reasons, such as nutritional deficiency.

How can I prevent my dog from eating rocks?

The best way to prevent your dog from eating rocks is to remove the rocks from your dog’s environment. Replace rocks, pebbles, or pond stones with dirt, sand, or large rocks. If possible, remove them completely from your landscaping. When you are out and about with your pup, keep your dog leashed to prevent any snacking.

Has your dog ever swallowed a rock? What did you do?

It’s Throwback Thursday

February 19, 2015 14 Comments

It’s Throwback Thursday and I’m feeling a bit nostalgic today. Want to hear the story about how Atka came to be a part of our family?

I thought so 🙂

A few months after our first dog, Kaeto, passed away, Nick and I started to consider adding a second dog to our family. Our hearts were ready to add another family member and Mauja was becoming noticeably lonely. We both started looking through PetFinder and a few of the rescues I follow for pups that would be a good fit. When we started our search, we weren’t looking for another Great Pyrenees. We were looking for a Great Dane.

After a lengthy screening process, we were approved to adopt from a giant breed rescue. Months of waiting lists later, we found a Great Dane that we thought would be perfect for our family. Unfortunately, he was not keen on Mauja and everyone agreed that he would do better with a dog of a similar energy level and personality. Our search started again.

Shortly after I found a post for a deaf Great Pyrenees in Salt Lake City. Something about his picture captured our hearts and we knew we had to meet him. It was 8 hours away, but we were more than willing to make the drive. I contacted the rescue only to find that he had another interested adopter that was coming to meet him that weekend. If it didn’t work out, we were next in line. This sweet pyr stole the first family’s heart and they took him home immediately. I’m so happy he found a loving home.

At this point, we were starting to get a bit discouraged. We put in an application for another large pyr rescue that had several dogs we were interested in learning more about. I’m not sure if our application got lost, but we never heard back and I had a very difficult time contacting them.

Nick and I were about to put our search on hold until we found out that Mauja’s breeder was planning a litter in the next few months. We hadn’t planned on going the puppy route this time, but we decided to consider the option.

After many, MANY conversations we decided that we really did want another puppy. I love the responsibility and work that a puppy requires and was ready to take on the challenge. We placed our deposit and eagerly awaited the puppies’ arrival.

The momma birthed 11 beautiful, healthy puppies, 7 of which were male. By placing our deposit early, we were able to have first pick of the male puppies. When the puppies were 5 weeks old and their personalities really started to develop, we were able to make our selection. After hours of talking with the breeder, playing with the puppies, and watching them interact, we had made our decision.

Tune in next Thursday when I will talk about Atka’s first night with us and meeting his new sister, Mauja <3

My Dogs Make Me Smile When…

February 17, 2015 11 Comments

Atka makes me smile when…

he attempts to catch his favorite ball
he prances through the house with toy in his mouth
he pounces on a toy like a dopey puppy
his big, droopy jowls flop around
he kisses with just the tip of his tongue

Mauja makes me smile when…

she takes over Nick’s spot on the bed
she snuggles up on the couch
she grumpy barks (aka talks back)
she sleeps belly up
she zoomies around the yard

I decided to limit my list to only five things per fluffy, or it would be an endless list! Mauja and Atka make me smile me smile each and every day. They are my fluffy, mood lifters.

What does you dog do that makes you smile?

Responsible Animal Guardian Month

February 16, 2015 29 Comments

Started by In Defense of Animals, February is Responsible Animal Guardian Month. During the month of February, we remind people to be a guardian, not an owner.

What makes a responsible animal guardian?

[pullquote width=”290″ float=”left”]A responsible animal guardian looks out for an animal’s physical, social, behavioral, and psychological needs.[/pullquote]

Grooming to ensure healthy skin and coat
Training to have a happy, stress-free life without behavioral issues
Regular vet visits to keep tabs on health
Healthy, nutritious food
Daily, breed appropriate exercise
Microchipping
Adopting only through responsible rescues/shelters and ethical breeders
Tending to emotional needs
Always treating with compassion
Reporting suspected abuse

Some fun facts about animal guardians:

97% believe their pets understand them
78% imagine what their pets would say and speak for them
53% have taken off work at least once to take care of a sick pet
70% of people sign their pet’s name on a greeting card
58% include their pets in family/holiday portraits
78% think of their pets as children
84% display photographs of them

The use of the term “guardian” will ultimately end so much cruelty and abuse, and save so very many lives. – Dr. Elliot Katz, Founder of IDA

For more information about why you should be an animal guardian rather than an owner, watch the brief video below.

Convinced? Take the pledge to be a guardian and then comment below to tell me what makes YOU an animal guardian.

Pet Theft Awareness Day

February 13, 2015 13 Comments

We all know that February 14th is Valentine’s Day, but did you know that it is also Pet Theft Awareness Day?

Pet Theft Awareness Day is a yearly ‘holiday’ that was started by the Last Chance for Animals campaign in 1988. The National Association for Pet Sitters estimates that an average of 2 million pets are stolen each year. Dedicated to February 14th, the day brings awareness to pet theft and highlights ways to prevent theft of your beloved furbaby.

Here are a few ways to protect your pet from theft:

Microchip your pet. It’s the number one way to make sure your pet makes it back to you.
Organize your pet’s information. Have all of your pet’s medical information and recent pictures in a handy file.
Ensure your yard is secure. We actually have a padlock on the gate in our backyard to prevent anyone from opening our gate. I’m sure the fluffies would love the adventure, but I disagree!
Never leave your pet unattended. Don’t leash your pup outside a store while you run inside. So many things could go wrong.

How else can we prevent a horrible incident of pet theft?

Valentine’s Day for You and Your Dog

February 10, 2015 33 Comments

Valentine’s Day, the day to spend with those you love, is right around the corner.

(Did you forget? Don’t worry, I know people. Try these cards… or maybe these!)

Of course, a popular Valentine’s Day activity is cooking a meal for your special someone. I know I’ll be cooking something special for Nick on Valentine’s Day, plus I’ll also be adding something extra tasty to the fluffies’ meal. Then I thought, wouldn’t it be better if I could cook something for my human AND my puppy loves?

Presenting…

The Adorably Delicious Heart-Shaped Bell Pepper with Egg Whites

(Just go with it…I can’t name things. I’m not a food blogger for a reason.)

As the name implies, this breakfast is adorable, delicious, healthy, and incredibly simple. Come on, does it get any better?

What You’ll Need

Red bell pepper
Egg whites (or a whole egg if you don’t care about color)
Nonstick spray

What You’ll Do

Cut your bell pepper to resemble a heart. I just sliced through the pepper and cut out the bottom to make a ‘v’. Use a toothpick to hold the pepper together.
Spray your skillet with nonstick spray (or olive oil… whatever you fancy).
Place the heart shaped peppers in the pan and cook until just tender.

Add your egg whites to the interior of the peppers.
Now this step takes a little work. Use your spatula to ensure the pepper heart stays closed and egg does seep out.
Allow egg to cook until almost done, then flip to cook completely.

Ta da! Now, don’t forget to snuggle up with your furbabies and enjoy breakfast together!

We’re joining Kol’s Notes and Sugar the Golden Retriever for Tasty Tuesday!

Prevent a Litter Month

February 9, 2015 25 Comments

February is National Prevent a Litter Month. Since it’s such an important topic, I’m very glad we have a month to bring it into the spotlight.

Everyone knows that the absolute best way to prevent a litter is to have your pets spayed or neutered. I’m not going to get into the spay/neuter debate as some animals cannot be fixed and current research suggests waiting until maturity to fix giant breeds. So how else can we prevent unnecessary litters?

Understand female heat cycles. A heat cycle lasts anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks. Learn the signs that your dog is going into heat.
NEVER allow a female in heat to be unsupervised outside. Never means never. Not even in your fenced backyard. Males are capable of jumping over, digging under, or chewing through fencing to get to a female in heat.
Check your fencing. People with intact male dogs also need to be vigilant. Can your dog escape your fencing?

For the vast majority of people, fixing your pets is the BEST way to prevent a litter. Having intact pets requires a lot of work, time, and knowledge. If the cost of fixing your pet seems daunting, check your area for a local spay/neuter clinic or talk to your local shelter. Preventing a litter is only one of many benefits to having your pet fixed.

How else do you think we can prevent a litter?

Archives for February 2015

February PetBox Food & Treats

February PetBox Toys

[pullquote width=”290″ float=”left”]A responsible animal guardian looks out for an animal’s physical, social, behavioral, and psychological needs.[/pullquote]

Convinced? Take the pledge to be a guardian and then comment below to tell me what makes YOU an animal guardian.

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