Archives for October 2015

A Fluffy Halloween

October 29, 2015 2 Comments

Halloween is only a few days away – are you ready?

I certainly wasn’t until we received the most awesome package from our pals at PetSmart. The package was full of Halloween themed toys and COSTUMES! Eep! I was so excited to see that one of the costumes was Olaf from Frozen (if you haven’t seen it, get it asap). So we have toys, costumes… and what are we missing?

TREATS!

How can you have Halloween without treats? I’m pretty much it’s impossible. So I ran out to PetSmart to get Mauja and Atka some Halloween/fall themed treats.

Here’s Mauja and Atka’s trick or treat haul:

Fruitables Pumpkin Mango Skinny Minis – These little treats are one of my absolute favorites for training! I’m kind of lazy and don’t like having to cut/tear their treats apart into small bites. These are a perfect size – yes, even for my giants! (Mauja and Atka ~~definitely~~ might disagree)

Zuke’s Mini Naturals Ghosts – These bite-sized treats are Turkey & Pumpkin flavored and perfect for training as well. Bonus that they are shaped like adorable, little ghosts! They’re definitely Caspers, not scary ghosts 😉

Bocce’s Bakery Spooky Pumpkin – A crunchy biscuit with only four ingredients: oat flour, pumpkin, peanut butter, and cinnamon. I like to give Mauja and Atka pumpkin, but they refuse to eat it plain. I have to sneak it in using treats!

Blue Buffalo Boo Bars – These biscuits are made with pumpkin and cinnamon and smell delicious! These are always a hit with Mauja and Atka.

Okay, now for the best part; the costumes!

When I got the costumes out, I quickly realized that I was much more thrilled than they were. Mauja and Atka don’t wear clothes, so they aren’t used to the sensation. Side note: if your dog isn’t comfortable, don’t force them into the costume. Treat treat treat to create a positive association and go slowly.

Mauja got to wear the hamburger costume (which I think made her look like a ninja turtle) and Atka wore the Olaf costume. Just so you’re aware if you have a giant breed, the XXL costumes did not fit either of them. I’m going to get some long velcro strips so the straps go the entire way around their bodies. I still think they looked cute (even though I’m sure they ~~hated me~~ didn’t agree).

We're celebrating Halloween Great Pyrenees style with toys, treats, and costumes from PetSmart! — Yep, Mauja is not pleased at all.

So… my pictures definitely aren’t the best. I will be the first to admit that photographing two giant, pouting dogs on your own isn’t easy. Excuses excuses, I know. I’m going to work on that and see if I can get better pictures over the next few days!

Right now I’m sucking up with all the delicious treats I got them. That should work, right? I’m sure they are devising a way to humiliate me the way I did them. They’ll probably poop on the Wing Commander’s lawn or something. Perhaps I should avoid that street on our walks for awhile… 😉

Are you prepared for Halloween? If your dog is going to wear a costume, what will it be?

Disclaimer: PetSmart was kind enough to surprise Mauja and Atka with the costumes and toys without any expectation. We decided to share the products because we thought they were ADORABLE. The treats were not a part of the package and were purchased on my own.

Fluffy Crawl & $1000 in Prizes #TrickorTreatDogs

October 22, 2015 65 Comments

First, let me say I am SO EXCITED to be a part of this fantastic giveaway hop! Big, fluffy shout out to Jessica and Luna at Beagles & Bargains and Jodi, Kolchak, and Felix at Kol’s Notes for putting this fabulous event together!

The Trick or Treat Giveaway Hop is a sponsored by Lionel Trains, the Art of AJ, pawTree, Dr. Harvey’s, Jones Natural Chews, Puppy Style Treats, Clear Conscience Pet, Whimseez, Loving Pets and Weruva. It’s Dog or Nothing only shares information we believe in and feel you would enjoy.

How Does it Work?

From October 19th – 31st, some amazing dog bloggers will be sharing their favorite trick and hold a treat giveaway! Get it? Trick or treat! Well, maybe trick AND treat? See what I did there? 😉 Here’s an awesome list so you know where to go and when!

Make sure you hop from blogger to blogger to learn all of the fun tricks and enter each giveaway. Best part, every time you enter you will also receive an entry for one of the Three (3) Grand Prizes. These include a Peanuts Halloween Train & Trick or Treat Gondola from Lionel Trains, $300 in dog treats from each of the Trick or Treat Giveaway Hop sponsors, and a Custom Halloween Pet Portrait from The Art of AJ!

The Trick

Guys, I’m not going to lie. I had totally planned on doing “speak” for this video. I taught this to Mauja when she was a puppy and it’s hilarious. She whines and yips – you really have to hear it. However, being a typical Great Pyrenees, Mauja was not into speak when I was trying to record. She absolutely refused. If I moved the camera away, she did it. When I brought the camera back out, she stopped.

Stinker.

So instead, we’re teaching “crawl” today! Mauja and Atka used to be really good at this trick, but it’s been awhile since we’ve worked on it so they needed a bit of a refresher. Check out the video below to see the fluffies crawling and see just how ridiculous training a Great Pyrenees can be.

Guard Dog + Trick Training + Noises = Distracted Fluffy

The Treat

Mauja and Atka LOVE so many of the products from Dr. Harvey’s, so we’re thrilled to be hosting a giveaway for Dr. Harvey’s treats! Enter below for a chance to win the Coconut Smiles and Sweet Potate’r Chews (giveaway open to US only). Two great treats as you teach your pup to crawl! Don’t forget to follow Dr. Harvey’s on Facebook and Twitter.

What trick do you want to teach your dog?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I Thank My Great Pyrenees for Barking

October 19, 2015 54 Comments

Yes, you read that right. I thank my Great Pyrenees for barking.

Let me explain.

When Mauja first came home with us three years ago (has it really been that long?), I knew that Great Pyrenees barked a lot.

No, a ton. They bark a ton.

I started to research ways to manage her inevitable barking. Bringing her inside, telling her it’s okay, teaching ‘quiet’, and various types of bark collars were all suggestions.

I don’t believe in any kind of bark or correctional collar, so that was out. I taught her ‘quiet’. I tried telling her, “It’s okay, it’s just Uncle John”. I tried bringing her inside.

The last option was the most successful, but I hated bringing her inside. I didn’t want to keep her cooped up when she obviously wanted to be outside.

With Atka finding his voice more recently and Miss Barky Pants Mauja, I decided it was time to try a different tactic. I decided to start thanking Mauja and Atka for barking.

With any dog, it’s important to find a way to work with their instincts. Great Pyrenees are guard dogs so I wasn’t going to try and stop their barking. That would be an endless battle that would leave everyone frustrated.

Why not thank them for doing their job? Barking, afterall, is a part of their guard dog duties.

We have a 30 second bark rule in our house. If Mauja and Atka have been barking for more than 30 seconds, someone goes outside to quiet them. We don’t want to be *that* neighbor.

For the past several months, we have been trying the “thanking” technique. When Mauja and Atka bark past their 30 second limit, I go outside with them. I look around to try and figure out what they’re barking at.

Sometimes it’s obvious (a biker, dog, etc), while sometimes I truly have no idea what they hear or see (probably a sketchy-looking fly).

In the cheeriest voice I can muster I say, “Thank you! You’re good puppies. Good girl, Mauja. Good boy, Atka. Thank you for letting me know! It’s okay now.” I continue to thoroughly praise them for as long as I feel it’s necessary.

Not only does this end the barking, but they both happily prance toward me with their tails wagging. They both come up to me and lean in for some pets and love. Many times I have treats for them as well. I continue to thank them and then go back inside.

While no technique will ever be perfect for a Great Pyrenees, I have had great success with this one. I’m able to end their barking more quickly and overall they are barking less frequently. I’m not exactly sure why they are barking less frequently, but I’m guessing they are realizing I am taking their warnings seriously.

The problem with this method is that not everyone is going to be willing to get up every time their pyr barks (basically every 5 minutes). I just like to think they’re helping to keep me in shape! They don’t want me sitting for too long 😉

I’m always telling my weight loss clients, “Use your brain for you, not against you.” I believe the same thing is applicable to dogs.

Use their instincts for you, not against you.

[tweetthis]Use your #dog’s instincts for you, not against you. #GreatPyrenees #PositiveReinforcement[/tweetthis]

Yes, I thank my Great Pyrenees for barking. I swear I have a good reason.

Do you have an unconvential way you handle a behavior problem or other issue?

The Trick or Treat Giveaway Hop!

October 16, 2015 2 Comments

A Stuck Great Pyrenees

October 15, 2015 11 Comments

Great Pyrenees are typically more routine-driven than other breeds, but I’m not sure exactly why. Maybe it helps when they are livestock guardians? It would be easier to be a good guard dog if you knew exactly when things were going to happen, where your livestock is supposed to be, and how the day is going to go.

Mauja and Atka both get upset if their routine is changed, but Atka just can’t seem to handle it. I have never seen a dog get so stuck in a routine!

Here are a few things that happened recently that really upset Atka:

I had to wash his favorite blanket so it wasn’t in it’s usual spot. Atka stood by his spot and looked at the floor, looked at me, looked at the floor, looked at me, looked at the floor and then laid down staring at the blanket spot. When it was finally done in the dryer, I put it down and he immediately got up, took a step forward, turned around, and settled in for a nap.
Normally, our SUV is parked along the sidewalk rather than in the driveway and it’s always in the same place. Someone had parked there, so I had to park up two spots. Atka ran to the car that was in our usual spot (not even close to the same size) and stood there waiting for me to open the back for him to get in. It took several minutes and luring him with treats to get him to walk to our car.
Speaking of getting into the SUV – it used to be parked in our garage. Getting Atka to go out the front door after saying, “Do you want to go for a ride?” proved to be quite challening. He still wanted to go to the garage door.
We also normally come in the front door when we are out. Recently, the front door was locked, but the garage was wide open. I eventually had to go inside through the garage myself, unlock the front door, and let Atka in that way.
Atka always sleeps in the same spot every night. I thought I would move the cooling pad to that spot to keep him cool overnight. He stood there and stared at the cooling pad until I moved it out of his spot.
We used to have Mauja and Atka’s feeding spots separated by a baby gate. Eventually, I wanted to rearrange that room so I removed it and changed the eating arrangement. Atka went from his bowl being on the door side to it being on the back wall. For several weeks, Atka sat facing away from me while I put his food down behind him. It’s been months and I only have him sitting sideways at this point! We’ll see how long until he turns the entire way around.
We got a new water bowl – he refuses to drink out of it.
When I get home after being gone awhile, we always greet at the same spot – on the ottoman. If I don’t immediately go sit on the ottoman, he goes there and waits for me to come there. He won’t greet me unless I’m there!

I’m sure there are many other things I can’t think of at the moment, but there’s a few things that show how Atka likes routine. Such a sweet, goofy boy 🙂

Does your dog get upset if you change the routine?

5 Hiking Safety Tips + a Fluffy Adventure

October 12, 2015 10 Comments

Nick and I love to get out on hikes with Mauja and Atka. We’re not the “spend all day hiking through the woods” kind of people, but we like to hit up trails that will have us hiking for a few hours. Mauja and Atka absolutely love putting their double dews to work as we hike through new terrian with interesting smells.

This past weekend we took a fun family trip before Nick leaves town for training. We took the pups to a dog-friendly farmer’s market, on a hike, and to PetSmart to get some birthday toys for Atka (PS – he turns 2 tomorrow!).

Hikes can be a great way to bond with your dog and offer him some stimulation to keep his brain and body youthful. However, there’s more to hikes than just grabbing your pup and hitting the trails. Here’s a few tips to ensure a safe experience:

Ensure your dog is wearing a well-fitted collar with tags. You can never be too careful when you’re out hiking with your dogs. In case the unthinkable happens and you get separated from your dog, you want to make it easy for him to get back home.
If your dog isn’t 100% reliable, use a leash. An off-leash pyr is a “disapyr” so Mauja and Atka are never off-leash for our hikes. Not to mention there are just too many unpredictables. We live in Montana with all sorts of wildlife that the fluffies might be too interested in warding off. We want to “keep the peace” in the woods. Plus, I always worry about poison or ledges that they wouldn’t be paying attention to.
Pack the essentials. Pack plenty of water, poop bags, and a basic first aid kit. If your pup is used to wearing a backpack, he can help carry the load! Kaeto loved wearing his backpack for walks – it gave him a job to do and helped him mellow out.
Keep your dog’s fitness level in mind. Just because your dog enjoy walks through the neighborhood or zoomies in the yard doesn’t mean he’ll be ready for a hike. Start slow and gradually work up to longer hikes as you and your dog feel comfortable.
Tell someone your plans. Let a friend or family member know where you’ll be hiking and when you expect to be back. In case something happens and you’re out of cell service, someone will know if you need assistance.

If you plan ahead and prepare for your hike, you and your dog should have a fantastic time. Do you like to hike with your dog?

Using a Gentle Leader for Loose Leash Walking

October 8, 2015 5 Comments

Training any dog to walk on a loose leash is difficult, let alone a giant breed. Without proper walking skills, a giant breed could easily drag you down the street. Not to mention two giant breeds – yikes!

Mauja and I began working on loose leash walking the day she joined our family. She was doing wonderfully with our training until she turned a year old; that’s when the pulling began. At a year of age, Mauja was already over 100 pounds and very strong. It was difficult for me to hang on to her, but I also hated the pressure on her throat. I worried about potential throat damage down the road.

I was having a difficult time keeping hold of Mauja and juggling the treats, so I started to look into my options.

I had used a Gentle Leader for my first dog, as he was very reactive, and my family’s dogs growing up so I was familiar with the tool. I really, really didn’t want to use it because of how people act when your dog is wearing a Gentle leader – most people think it’s a muzzle and assume your dog is aggressive.

I never quite understood that since it’s obvious the dog can open its mouth, but that was the reality.

After a failed attempt at using a no-pull harness, I caved and purchased a Gentle Leader.

The Gentle Leader has been invaluable in training Mauja and Atka. It is absolutely essential that you give your dog time to get used to the leader before attempting any walking with them. Lots of treats and praise will help make the leader exciting rather than upsetting. If you don’t desensitize properly, you could have a dog constantly attempting to paw or rub the leader off.

For me personally, I don’t train a perfect heel for our typical walks. I feel it is much too difficult for a young dog to maintain and I prefer to allow Mauja and Atka to enjoy their surroundings rather than focus on heeling.

Instead, when we hit the pavement for our hour (or more) long walks, I focus on loose leash walking. As long as the leash remains loose, they can sniff as much as they like. They know that they can sniff that flower, but they better move on before the leash tightens because I’m ahead of them. This strategy has worked very well for us.

After about 6 months with the Gentle Leader, Mauja was able to switch to a no-pull harness for our walks. Atka used the leader for the same amount of time, but has graduated to a traditional buckle collar.

Loose leash walking is not an easy skill for dogs. Practice and patience will go a long way.

An Explanation and Thank You

October 7, 2015 3 Comments

Friends, these past few months have been a bit rough. For the past 8 years, I’ve been struggling with a lot of symptoms that lead to a “diagnosis” and/or surgery. Unfortunately, none of these “explanations” solved my problems and more mysterious symptoms started arising.

Fast forward to about a month ago when my doctor began to suspect Celiac Disease even though I had a negative blood test last year. He wasn’t convinced (the Celiac blood test can be highly inaccurate) so he ran a few more tests and put me on a strict gluten free diet for 30 days.

Those 30 days brought really high highs and really low lows, which apparently is completely normal as your body begins to heal. Celiac is an autoimmune disorder and when a person with Celiac ingests gluten, an immune response damages the villi in the small intestine. It can take months or even years for the small intestine to heal.

My life got turned upside down as I had to completely tear apart my kitchen and purchase new pots, pans, and cooking utensils. It has definitely been a process.

In addition, I have a full-time job, am in grad school full-time, have this blog, help run the Great Pyrenees Rescue, Montana, volunteer for Big Dogs Huge Paws, and am in the process of starting my own business. None of these aspects of my life have been getting the attention they deserve recently.

Because of that, I got really backed up in my sponsored posts and have been trying to catch up on those while still providing the usual posts – obviously, I have not been the most successful with that. I have finally caught up and am going to try to return to my original posting schedule.

Thanks for bearing with me while I try and get my life back in order. I greatly appreciate your support as It’s Dog or Nothing wouldn’t be where it is today without you.

So many fluffy thanks,
Kelsie, Mauja, and Atka <3

5 Benefits of Bully Sticks + Raw Paws Giveaway

October 6, 2015 14 Comments

Bully sticks are a staple in the fluffy house. We always have a large stash and Mauja and Atka are not pleased if they don’t receive their evening chew. Currently, bully sticks are my favorite treat to give the fluffy butts and I’m sure they will be for quite some time.

Why Bully Sticks?

Bully sticks are natural. Bully sticks are a natural treat free of preservatives, chemicals, and dyes and fully digestible – a must for anything I give the pups.
Bully sticks help maintain oral health. They can prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar and stop cavity formation. They also help prevent periodontal disease and gingivitis. I definitely notice a difference in Mauja and Atka’s teeth when they don’t receive bully sticks frequently. I do brush their teeth, but hey – we’re all human and I do forget sometimes! Bully sticks help fill the gap.
Bully sticks relieve boredom. Bored dogs can get into a lot of mischief since they don’t have a proper outlet for their energy. A bully stick can help alleviate boredom and stress through chewing.
Bully sticks are high in protein. A high-protein, low-fat treat is great for overweight dogs and healthy weight dogs alike. Bully sticks also contain vitamins and minerals such as calcium and magnesium for strong bones.
Bully sticks come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. There definitely isn’t a “one size fits all” approach for bully sticks so it is easy to find one best suited for your individual dog. They can be small, long, braided, or even a ring. I like to mix up shapes and sizes to keep it interesting.

Why Raw Paws?

I was first introduced to Raw Paws Pet Food at BlogPaws back in May. I’m really not interested in feeding the fluffies raw, so I overlooked the company at first. After a wonderful chat with a member of the Raw Paws team (I don’t remember much – the weekend was a whirlwind!), I pulled up the website to see what they had to offer, fully expecting to see a site full of things I wasn’t interested in purchasing.

I was definitely wrong.

Raw Paws has an entire line of high-quality chews and treats. From antlers to bully sticks to freeze-dried treats, they have it all! Mauja and Atka are chomping on the 6 in Jumbo Bully Sticks, but you can also get standard thickness, 12 in, or bully rings. Most importantly, all products from Raw Paws Pet Food are free of anything artificial, USA raised, and USDA inspected. This gives you peace of mind in what you are feeding your beloved furbaby.

If you are interested in raw feeding, I highly recommend stopping by the Raw Paws site for some information and guidance. They make raw feeding easy and affordable for pet parents. You can also schedule a free consultation or have the Raw Paws staff help you create a custom meal plan for your dog.

For those of us not interested in raw feeding, there are several high-quality products we can purchase from Raw Paws Pet Food.

[tweetthis]Bully sticks are a great natural #treat for your #dog. @RawPawsPet has you covered![/tweetthis]

Want to try Raw Paws Pet Food bully sticks for your dog? Enter the giveaway below!

+a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: It’s Dog or Nothing was compensated to help spread the word about Raw Paws Pet Food. Don’t worry – an advertiser will never influence the content of this site and It’s Dog or Nothing only shares products we believe in and feel you would enjoy. Thanks for supporting It’s Dog or Nothing!

About the giveaway: No purchase necessary. Giveaway is open to US residents only. Giveaway will run from October 6, 2015 through October 14, 2015. A single winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter (powered by Random.org) and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim the prize; failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the prize. Facebook and Twitter do not sponsor, administer, or endorse this promotion. Participants must read and agree to Rafflecopter’s Privacy Policy before entering and participating in this promotion.

Archives for October 2015

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The Trick

The Treat

Why Bully Sticks?

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