LOL gotta love 'em...
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Big Bites
We're out of raw food again. Bah.
I went back to the pet store yesterday but this time I had the Whole Dog Journal's 2008 Approved Grain-Free Dry Dog Food list in my hand. Every February, the Whole Dog Journal puts out an approved list of dry dog foods. This year, they included the grain-free dog food list in their March issue. It's fabulous. All the information I need in the palm of my hand.
In order for the dog food to make the list, they have to meet certain criteria, such as:
- All foods must contain high quality animal proteins. The first one or two ingredients must be an animal protein.
- No foods can contain meat by-products or poultry by-products. Yuck.
- No foods can contain fat or protein that is not identified by species. That means no road kill!
- All foods must contain whole food ingredients.
- No foods can contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Vit E, C, and Rosemary extract are all natural preservatives.
- No foods can contain added sweeteners. They don't need those nutritionally empty calories
In light of the recent mass pet food recalls, the Whole Dog Journal has also done a lot of the leg work in asking pet food companies to provide full disclosure on their products. That means they called all the companies and asked them to disclose their food's manufacturer. And if they were unwilling to disclose or didn't bother to respond, they were highlighted in the "Won't Disclose Origin of Manufacture" list. Haha. There's no hiding guys. What was even more suspect to me was some companies wouldn't disclose the manufacturing location. Makes you kinda wonder why huh?
So here's the grain-free list:
Artemis "Maximal Dog"
Champion "Orijen"
Dick Van Patten's "Potato & Duck"
Solid Gold "Barking at the Moon"
Petcurean "Now!" and "Go!"
Canine Caviar "Venison & Split Pea"
Diamond "Taste of the Wild"
Natura "Evo"
Nature's Variety "Instinct"
Taplow Feeds "FirstMate Potato & Fish"
Honest Kitchen "Force" and "Embark"
Wellness/Old Mother Hubbard "CORE"
I first looked at Songbird's recommendation of Wellness CORE. We wanted to see what Miss Molly has been eating. We liked the high protein and liked even more that they were local (Tewksbury!). But the original variety is mostly poultry and I don't care to smell the fishy Ocean formula so unfortunately we had to pass on CORE this time. The Bernerbuddy gets goopy eyes with poultry. So we looked for something with more red meat. And we found it.
Evo's Red Meat Big Bites. And the prices at the pet store were practically the same as what I found wholesale on the internet. In addition, Evo gets two more thumbs up for being the very first pet food company, in 2005, to manufacture and market a grain-free kibble, as well as providing a complete nutrient analysis for each of its foods on their website. Now that's thorough!
So we went with a 13 pound bag. The Whole Dog Journal also highly recommends switching foods regularly. Since several dog foods can all be considered "nutritionally balanced" no two dog foods are alike. Some foods are low in some nutrients but high in others. And other foods are vice versa.
"Imagine that a dog is given a lifetime diet that is a bit low in some nutrients and a bit high in others. Over time, fed a diet solely comprised of that food, the dog's body will become a figurative model of those nutrient levels, for better or worse. This is exactly why humans are told to eat a variety of healthy foods - to prevent this very scenario!"
-From the Whole Dog Journal, March 2008
For now, Sabrina and Riley will get Big Bites, courtesy of Evo.
I went back to the pet store yesterday but this time I had the Whole Dog Journal's 2008 Approved Grain-Free Dry Dog Food list in my hand. Every February, the Whole Dog Journal puts out an approved list of dry dog foods. This year, they included the grain-free dog food list in their March issue. It's fabulous. All the information I need in the palm of my hand.
In order for the dog food to make the list, they have to meet certain criteria, such as:
- All foods must contain high quality animal proteins. The first one or two ingredients must be an animal protein.
- No foods can contain meat by-products or poultry by-products. Yuck.
- No foods can contain fat or protein that is not identified by species. That means no road kill!
- All foods must contain whole food ingredients.
- No foods can contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Vit E, C, and Rosemary extract are all natural preservatives.
- No foods can contain added sweeteners. They don't need those nutritionally empty calories
In light of the recent mass pet food recalls, the Whole Dog Journal has also done a lot of the leg work in asking pet food companies to provide full disclosure on their products. That means they called all the companies and asked them to disclose their food's manufacturer. And if they were unwilling to disclose or didn't bother to respond, they were highlighted in the "Won't Disclose Origin of Manufacture" list. Haha. There's no hiding guys. What was even more suspect to me was some companies wouldn't disclose the manufacturing location. Makes you kinda wonder why huh?
So here's the grain-free list:
Artemis "Maximal Dog"
Champion "Orijen"
Dick Van Patten's "Potato & Duck"
Solid Gold "Barking at the Moon"
Petcurean "Now!" and "Go!"
Canine Caviar "Venison & Split Pea"
Diamond "Taste of the Wild"
Natura "Evo"
Nature's Variety "Instinct"
Taplow Feeds "FirstMate Potato & Fish"
Honest Kitchen "Force" and "Embark"
Wellness/Old Mother Hubbard "CORE"
I first looked at Songbird's recommendation of Wellness CORE. We wanted to see what Miss Molly has been eating. We liked the high protein and liked even more that they were local (Tewksbury!). But the original variety is mostly poultry and I don't care to smell the fishy Ocean formula so unfortunately we had to pass on CORE this time. The Bernerbuddy gets goopy eyes with poultry. So we looked for something with more red meat. And we found it.
Evo's Red Meat Big Bites. And the prices at the pet store were practically the same as what I found wholesale on the internet. In addition, Evo gets two more thumbs up for being the very first pet food company, in 2005, to manufacture and market a grain-free kibble, as well as providing a complete nutrient analysis for each of its foods on their website. Now that's thorough!
So we went with a 13 pound bag. The Whole Dog Journal also highly recommends switching foods regularly. Since several dog foods can all be considered "nutritionally balanced" no two dog foods are alike. Some foods are low in some nutrients but high in others. And other foods are vice versa.
"Imagine that a dog is given a lifetime diet that is a bit low in some nutrients and a bit high in others. Over time, fed a diet solely comprised of that food, the dog's body will become a figurative model of those nutrient levels, for better or worse. This is exactly why humans are told to eat a variety of healthy foods - to prevent this very scenario!"
-From the Whole Dog Journal, March 2008
For now, Sabrina and Riley will get Big Bites, courtesy of Evo.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
How Fair is Fair?
Before the arrival of Miss Precious, I attended a dog training workshop called Barks and Babies. One of the many important lessons I learned from the workshop was to teach my dogs that life isn't fair. Especially after a baby arrives.
After a baby arrives, the daily schedule that your dogs have grown to learn and expect, goes haywire. Meals don't arrive on time. Bathroom breaks are irregular. Walks are less predictable. And nothing is fair. This new little being gets to sit by the dining table and stare at the food. This new little being gets to lay on our laps and bellies. This new little being always gets to go in the car and go wherever we go. Now, all of our coos and smiles aren't just for the dogs and it's hard for them to understand.
So the presenter at this workshop told us to go home and teach our dogs that sometimes life just isn't fair. Sometimes give one dog a treat and not the other. Sometime call one dog over for snuggles but not the other. At the time, I thought this made sense. Then the dogs won't think that they were entitled to something and anticipating their fair share when the baby came home.
But the more I think about it, do dogs really understand the concept of fairness? Do they remember that- Hey, last time Sabrina got the extra treat. How come she always gets the extra treat? Do they really understand - One for me, one for her...ah, ah, ah...you gave her an extra one! I mean, come on. I think it's really one more way we humanize our dog's behaviors into emotions. Wouldn't dogs have to have the ability to understand the concept of "one" or perhaps even be able to count to really know that fair is fair? Now, my dogs are pretty bright, but I can't say they can count.
After a baby arrives, the daily schedule that your dogs have grown to learn and expect, goes haywire. Meals don't arrive on time. Bathroom breaks are irregular. Walks are less predictable. And nothing is fair. This new little being gets to sit by the dining table and stare at the food. This new little being gets to lay on our laps and bellies. This new little being always gets to go in the car and go wherever we go. Now, all of our coos and smiles aren't just for the dogs and it's hard for them to understand.
So the presenter at this workshop told us to go home and teach our dogs that sometimes life just isn't fair. Sometimes give one dog a treat and not the other. Sometime call one dog over for snuggles but not the other. At the time, I thought this made sense. Then the dogs won't think that they were entitled to something and anticipating their fair share when the baby came home.
But the more I think about it, do dogs really understand the concept of fairness? Do they remember that- Hey, last time Sabrina got the extra treat. How come she always gets the extra treat? Do they really understand - One for me, one for her...ah, ah, ah...you gave her an extra one! I mean, come on. I think it's really one more way we humanize our dog's behaviors into emotions. Wouldn't dogs have to have the ability to understand the concept of "one" or perhaps even be able to count to really know that fair is fair? Now, my dogs are pretty bright, but I can't say they can count.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Hey Hounds, Mama's Back!
I kept wanting to write a post of my recent magnificent accomplishment but it wasn't really Bernerbuddy related. It was more about Miss Precious and I really wanted to keep this blog focused on my furkids. And then this morning it hit me. This absolutely has to do with the furkids!!
My recent magnificent accomplishment is.....(Thunder Drum roll please.......) Miss Precious is sleeping in her crib!
YA-Hoo.
Double YA-Hoo. I had to do it. The alternative was just killing me (and ruining my back). Just for background information on why this is such a monumental event...Miss Precious is going to be 4 months next week and since her birth, Mommy has been her food, her pacifier, and her bed. That means out of a 24 hours day, I had about one hour to myself. URGH.
So we have "Ferberized" her. Something I never thought I would ever do to my child. It was a simple behavior modification technique similar to what I might have used on my furkids. And it took two days. I'm sure we will continue to have new challenges ahead, but for now, my hands are free to hug, wrestle, and scratch my dear furchildren. I indulged each of them yesterday just to try and make up for lost time-if that were possible. They're the best. No hard feelings, no resentment. Just glad Mama's back!
My recent magnificent accomplishment is.....(Thunder Drum roll please.......) Miss Precious is sleeping in her crib!
YA-Hoo.
Double YA-Hoo. I had to do it. The alternative was just killing me (and ruining my back). Just for background information on why this is such a monumental event...Miss Precious is going to be 4 months next week and since her birth, Mommy has been her food, her pacifier, and her bed. That means out of a 24 hours day, I had about one hour to myself. URGH.
So we have "Ferberized" her. Something I never thought I would ever do to my child. It was a simple behavior modification technique similar to what I might have used on my furkids. And it took two days. I'm sure we will continue to have new challenges ahead, but for now, my hands are free to hug, wrestle, and scratch my dear furchildren. I indulged each of them yesterday just to try and make up for lost time-if that were possible. They're the best. No hard feelings, no resentment. Just glad Mama's back!
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Our Home is Their Home
This past weekend found the Dogfather and I busy with home (decor) improvement projects. I have always envisioned my home to reflect the type of person I am: colorful, refreshing, relaxed, and warm. I want people to feel like they can come over and enjoy our home with us.
We have lived here 5 years now and we are still decorating. It's expensive! Considering it took the Dogfather two years before he agreed to put some paint on the walls, I can only accept that this will be an ongoing process. Over the weekend we put delicate periwrinkle print drapes up in Miss Precious' room, printed out photos to replace our photo collage frames, and the Dogfather put in non-skid mats on the two hardwood floor staircases.
Mats, you say? Yes. Nice, sturdy, rubber-backing, mats. Up the back stairs and up the main staircase. They are not the most decorative pieces we have ever put in our home but one of the most necessary. These mats are for our Riley-Roo. He has fur that grows out from between the toes of his paws. It gets long and is very slippery on the hardwood floors. Especially when there is a race to get down the stairs while the black fury (aka Sabrina) is tumbling behind you.
We have considered time and time again how we should dress the stairs but every option just didn't seem right. Long runners up and down the stairs seemed too formal. Separate carpet squares only came in ugly colors and seemed too permanent as they required nailing. The mats we got are just charcoal. Simple, thin, and CHEAP! The Dogfather simply took each mat (they are sold as doormats) and took an Exacto knife down the middle of each one. Whoala. It took a little coaxing and special treats to teach Riley to actually walk on them (he actually tried to walk around them) but now he gets it. Ah! They did this for me!
Yes, my dear Bernerboy, this is your home too.
We have lived here 5 years now and we are still decorating. It's expensive! Considering it took the Dogfather two years before he agreed to put some paint on the walls, I can only accept that this will be an ongoing process. Over the weekend we put delicate periwrinkle print drapes up in Miss Precious' room, printed out photos to replace our photo collage frames, and the Dogfather put in non-skid mats on the two hardwood floor staircases.
Mats, you say? Yes. Nice, sturdy, rubber-backing, mats. Up the back stairs and up the main staircase. They are not the most decorative pieces we have ever put in our home but one of the most necessary. These mats are for our Riley-Roo. He has fur that grows out from between the toes of his paws. It gets long and is very slippery on the hardwood floors. Especially when there is a race to get down the stairs while the black fury (aka Sabrina) is tumbling behind you.
We have considered time and time again how we should dress the stairs but every option just didn't seem right. Long runners up and down the stairs seemed too formal. Separate carpet squares only came in ugly colors and seemed too permanent as they required nailing. The mats we got are just charcoal. Simple, thin, and CHEAP! The Dogfather simply took each mat (they are sold as doormats) and took an Exacto knife down the middle of each one. Whoala. It took a little coaxing and special treats to teach Riley to actually walk on them (he actually tried to walk around them) but now he gets it. Ah! They did this for me!
Yes, my dear Bernerboy, this is your home too.
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