« January 2008 | Main | July 2008 »
That's right, meet Randolph and Harry for free! We're giving away 2 copies of the first escapade in the "Bull Moose Dog Run" series: A Dog About Town. Contest closes July 15, 2008. Drawing to be held July 17, 2008. Limit one entry per day.
Include "Randolph" in the subject line.
Enter Now - ENTER HERE
I feed my dog's a homemade diet. It's balanced, it's complete, it gets a little boring to them sometimes, I think. So on days when they've been especially good, or there's something exciting on sale at Knight's (the best butcher shop in Ann Arbor, in my opinion) I throw together a special meal for them, off the cuff. Today it's a pork loin roast with fresh plum sauce, potatoes mashed with farmer cheese and fresh rosemary, and applesauce. Sounds good, huh? It's probably not balanced, but then, it's a special day and they'll love it. They even have desert. Carob, peanut butter, and soy milk pupsicles. Tomorrow they'll go back to their regular diet.
Feeding a homemade diet is, frankly, time consuming and a little expensive, but to me it's worth it. Keep in mind that I feed 300+ lbs. of dogs every day their meals are not petite, but every time we have another pet food "incident" I'm glad I do it.
You don't have to jump into the homemade diet thing headfirst though. There are lots of easy ways to improve your healthy dog's diet, and still have a life of your own.
Start with the highest quality kibble you can find. There are quite a few of them out there now. We won't go into the laundry list of dog food ingredients here, suffice to say that you want a good protein listed as the first ingredient. Avoid foods that use "meal" (ie chicken meal) as their primary protein source. Also watch for foods that list different forms of the same grain (wheat, wheat bran, wheat gluten). Reason being, this food may actually contain more grain than protein. Breaking the grain down into individual components means they enter the weight of each component separately. These may, in fact, total more in weight than the protein. That's the first step. Really good kibble.
Because most dog foods are created following AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) guidelines, there are more than enough nutrients to allow you to safely substitute up to 1/3 of your dog's kibble with fresh food. What should you use? Well, it can be really easy. Throw an extra piece of chicken or a burger on the grill, chop it up and add it to your dog's food. Cook an extra egg in the morning (studies have shown that cholesterol is rarely a problem for dog's, they can eat lots of eggs, which provide an excellent, easily digestible protein source), grate or finely chop some fresh fruits or veggies and add them. Yogurt, cottage cheese or other grated cheese is also an excellent addition. Pretty much any food you're eating you can share with your dog. Below is a list of common foods which are toxic to dogs:
Here's an easy recipe for a kibble topper you can make and store in the refrigerator, to add to your dog's meals. This recipe can be reduced if you have a small dog, it can also be frozen.
Kibble Topper
1 lb. ground chuck
2 cups cooked rice (converted (ie Uncle Ben's is fine)
1 lb. bag frozen mixed vegetables, or 1 lb. of fresh or frozen, chopped fruits and/or vegetables
1 lb. cottage cheese or yogurt
We process the vegetables to make them more digestible. Dog's, with their short digestive tract, get more from fruits and veggies if the cell walls are broken down. Remember that these dietary additions are for healthy dog's only. If your dog has any health issues, consult with your favorite veterinarian before changing your dog's diet.
Ah, Petco. Is it that they don't know, or just plain don't care, that rats and birds spread a wide variety of diseases, in addition to just plain dirt (and worse)? I'm thinking it's the latter, because I'm sure they were informed during the FDA's April inspection that they needed to clean up their act. Did they? No. A subsequent inspection in May found food still in filthy and unsanitary conditions, At this time, the FDA requested that the US Marshal's office seize all food at Petco's Joliet, Illinois facility which was slated for distribution in 16 states, including Michigan. No illnesses have been reported from consumption or handling of the contaminated food as of yet, we can only hope it's a trend which continues. The FDA is advising consumers to wash their hands with hot soapy water after handling bags or cans from this distribution facility, and to wash any containers which may have come into contact with the bags. Personally, I say just throw it out! Why take the risk? If you feel your pet may have become ill from eating this food, contact the FDA consumer complaint coordinator. Here is the complete FDA news alert.
Every time I see one of these alerts, I'm just a little happier that I don't feed my dog's commercial dog food, and the time I spend cooking up their food becomes a little more worth it. If you would like a complete, balanced diet formulated for your dog, please contact us. We'd be happy to help you out.
OK, so maybe Teddi isn't the most adventurous spirit out there. That's fine, she has many other wonderful qualities! Keeping in mind that Leonberger's are a water breed, Teddi has been eyeing the ankle deep water in the kiddie pool for a couple of months now, and finally, just last week, decided it might be safe. With some trepidation, she approached the edge, lifted one paw, and oh-so-delicately placed it in the pool. Thought for a minute. It didn't seem to be trying to suck her in. Maybe one more foot would be OK. She took a little slurp. It didn't burn her tongue. Everything seemed safe, so far. Maybe it was time for the final big steps - all four feet into the pool. While it wasn't the most graceful move she's ever made, she did manage it. Walked around a little bit. Decided it was a good thing. One more positive experience for Teddi, who has come so far since her days in her old "home".
This is Teddi last weekend, feeling very comfortable in her little pool. Unfortunately, she's blowing coat, and I don't think she's ever been brushed, but she'll be ready for the catwalk soon! This weekend...the lake!
As an aside, when Teddi arrived here, pulling the camera out immediately sent her running to the next room. Here you see the result of "shaping" her with a clicker and treats to look right at the scary thing in my hands!
Sampson is a both a wonderful dog to have around, and a Boerboel (a South African Mastiff). At 10 months old, and 130+ lbs., he's one big boy. Sweet and handsome, Sampson is a very entertaining guy, and, when he's not racing around the yard trying to keep up with dogs who have a much smaller turning radius, he takes time to savor the finer things in life, as you see here...
Now that summer heat is here, keeping our buddies cool can be a chore. They've still got energy to burn, but it's just too hot! Here's an easy way to entertain your dog while keeping her cool at the same time. I tried it as an experiment with my daycare dogs last week, and it was such a hit I've been making a couple of them every day!
Take a plastic container - for my big dogs and the daycare dogs, I use a small plastic bucket. Deli containers are a good option for single dogs or those of a more petite variety. You just need something with straight sides so your dog can roll it around. Toss in a kong, squeak toy, or, if your dogs are like mine, some fruit. Fill the container with water, diluted apple juice, or diluted chicken stock. Place in the freezer until frozen solid.
Once your giant ice cube is completely frozen, unmold it (you may need to run a little hot water on the outside or just let it sit out for a few minutes). Take your dog and her cool new toy outside. Set the ice cube down on the ground. Let your dog give it a nudge with her nose. You may have to give it a little nudge, too, to get the fun started. Chances are very good that within a few minutes your dog will be licking and rolling her cube around, trying to get to the good stuff, having a great time, entertaining herself, and, most importantly, keeping her cool while wearing herself out!
My poor blog, hanging out in cyberspace gathering dust while my life goes crazy around it! Well, luckily things have now settled down and I will be writing regularly again.
Teddi, my foster Leonberger is still here, and still waiting for just the right home. While still somewhat shy, she has progressed remarkably quickly, and is a much happier dog now. I'm hoping that she will soon have a family of her very own.
The daycare has been hopping with lots of new dogs coming in, and I've also been busy baking treats and putting together a new line of canine skin care products.
Now that I'm back, I hope you will be, too.
