Tricks for Treats

Hi Everyone,
Who likes treats?  I do for sure.  They say if you do something you love, you never have to work a day in your life.  Well, I have the perfect job.  I am the Product Tester at www.laurelmtbasket.com I get to test all of the treats that go into our Pet Gift Baskets. Of all the product I get to test, I like testing cookies the best.
Recently we got a package of treats from Healthy Dogma(www.healthydogma.com) in Michigan.  Because I am such a good product tester they asked me if I would try them and give my opinion.  OMG!   They make the yummiest cookies ever!  I got to test the nutty apple barkers.  Peanuts and apples together! An amazing combination that is so delicious.  Of course they have other good stuff in them like whole grain oats, olive oil and other stuff mom cares about.  But they don't have any wheat, corn or soy which is stuff mom doesn't like to have in my food.
It says right on the package that they are "For good dogs only" which isn't a problem for me.
I also got to test their amazing apple crisps.  Amazing is part of the name and boy, did they name these treats right.  Does your mom bake?  You know that nice smell when she bakes an apple pie?  Well, these treats taste just like that.  The amazing apple crisps are great for all dogs but they could be especially good for those of us who are watching our girlish figures.   They are low calorie and have dietary fiber in them which is all good.  They also have antioxidants and vitamin C.  I don't know where they hide all that good stuff because all the ingredients say is apples and cinnamon.
Healthy Dogma has lots of other great treats I am going to ask my to get for me.    I'm thinking the blissful banana crisps will be pretty good.  I wonder if they taste like banana cream pie.  And there are a bunch of barkers that sound yummy too.
All this talk of treats is making me hungry.  I'll have to go see if there are any nutty apple barkers left.
Be a good dog and maybe your humans will get you some Healthy Dogma treats too.
Your friend,
Zeva

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Dog vs Bear

A very terrible thing happened in Northampton, Massachusetts a few nights ago.  A dog, a nine year old golden retriever, was attacked by a bear.  The dog had to go to the vet but is going to be okay.  The policeman said it was probably a mama bear and a cub and that the mama was protecting her baby.
This sad story is not that unusual.  Thankfully this one had a good ending.  What upset me more than a dog getting hurt by a bear was the way people responded to what happened.
Some people blamed the dog (the nerve of some people).  They said it should not have barked at the bear.  Sorry but barking is what we dogs do.
Others blamed the bear.  They said it shouldn't have been in the yard and said they hoped it got shot.  And still others blamed the dogs humans saying they should not have let the dog outside without being on a leash.  It was the dogs own back yard.
I blame the people who come from the city to live in a nice woodsy area and don't know anything about the animals who also live here.  Our house is only a few miles from Northampton, a city of about 30,000 people.  Our yard is mostly woods and there are lots and lots more woods in our neighborhood.  All kinds of animals, including bears and coyote live in the woods.  I have a nice fenced in area of grass to play in but we know that a coyote could easily jump over the fence if it wanted to so we are always careful.
One morning, not long ago, on our way to work we saw a half dozen trash bins knocked over and garbage spread all along the road. Yup, bears love to pick through garbage.  It's easier to knock over a garbage bin that's just sitting there than to go hunting for food.  And bears must have good memories because once they find a place with free food, they keep going back.
Bird feeders are another favorite place for bears to find yummy food.  We have bird feeders at our house but only keep them up in the winter when it is hard for the birds to find food.  Once it starts to get warm, we take them down.  Birds can easily find food in warm weather.  Other people think it's good to feed the birds all year round because they like seeing the birds.  They get angry when a bear climbs up and steals the bird feeder.
Some people think the bears that live in the area are like the ones they see in zoos.  They think it's okay to just walk up and take pictures.  It is not okay.  It is dangerous.
I love where I live.  It's a very pretty place.  My humans and I also know that we need to respect the wild animals who also live here and do what we try to make sure we are all safe while we enjoy our homes.
Please, if you like living in a nice woodsy area, remember the animals were here first and be their friend by giving them space.
Your friend,
Zeva

STOP! THIEF!

We've been seeing alot of posts recently about dogs that have been stolen! Figuring out which pets were stolen or simply lost is not easy.   According to the American Kennel Club 224 dogs stolen during the first seven months of 2011, that's 49% more than the same period in 2010.  In 2008 there were 71 cases reported.  WOW!

Some people say the economy is to blame for the increase in dognapping.  They say that stolen dogs are being sold over the Internet, are being held for ransom or that because people don't have the money to get a pet from a shelter, they are stealing other people's pets.  Yorkies, Pomeranians and other small breed dogs are especially popular breeds of dognappers since they are easy to snatch and hide.

As if that's not scary enough, really, really, really bad people are stealing dogs to use as bait dogs.  Bait dogs are used to train fighting dogs.  They use dogs that are stolen from happy homes and teach other dogs to kill them. Remember the Michael Vick story?  Yeah, I belive he has been rehabilitated.

Here are some things people can do to help protect their dogs from dognappers.

1.  Don't leave your dog unattended.  It only takes a minute to untie the leash from a parking meter or post outside of your favorite coffee shop.

2.  Heatstroke is not the only bad thing that can happen to a dog left unattended in a car.  They can get stolen.

3.  Never let your dog roam free in the neighborhood.

4.  Don't leave your dog in a fenced in yard when you are not home.  It only takes a minute to open your gate and walk away with your pet.

5.  Make sure your dog ALWAYS wears a collar and they id tags. 

6.  Microchip your pet and make sure you register with the proper agency.  A microchip that is not registered is useless.

7.  Keep proof of ownership papers handy.  They can simply be the paperwork that you got with your town tags or from your vet.

8.  Keep a recent photo handy.


If your dog should go missing.  Report it immediately to the local aurhorities and shelters.   Print up fliers and post them around your neighborhood.  Post a photo and other information with on line rescue services.  And most importantly  NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give up hope.  Sometimes it takes months or even years for us to find our ways back home.  We depend on you to keepus safe and if we do get lost or stolen, to keep on looking for us.

Be safe,

Your friend,

Zeva

What's In Your Bowl?

You've heard about the chicken jerky snacks coming in from China that are making dogs sick and evening making some die.   Boy, that's scary. I understand that every once in awhile an alert goes out and some dog foods are taken away because they have bad chemicals in them.
I have been eating Wellness brand food since I was a baby and I like it well enough.  I would prefer people food or dog cookies but I don't get a vote.   Mom thinks I'm getting a little chunky.  I am so insulted that she thinks I have a fat butt!   Anyway, since SHE thinks I am putting on weight, she  put me on Wellness Core grain free.
 How can anything that tastes this good be good for you?  I LOVE IT!  It tastes like our kitchen smells on Sundays when the humans roast chickens and other good stuff for their dinner.  Breakfast at the Studio or dinner at home, as soon as my dish is full, I'm all over it.
Mom likes it because it's grain free and has good stuff in it like deboned turkey and chicken meal and some other great stuff like sweet potato and my favorite vegetable, broccoli.  There's also some antioxidants, phylonutrients and Omega 6 & 3.  I'm not sure what an antioxidant looks like but it sure is good tasting.
Mom says raw or home cooked is best but since she is not a great cook and does have lots of other things to do to make us have a happy life, we try to feed me the best we can.
If you eat dry food, what brand do you get?   I'm always looking for tasty, high quality food just in case I get to be a finicky eater.
Chow down!
Your friend,
Zeva

Chocolate Bunnies Are Better

Hi Everyone,

It's me, Zeva.  We're pretty busy at the Studio these days.  Easter is only a couple of weeks away and we're busy making lots of Easter Baskets.  We put all kinds of interesting toys and treats in our Easter Baskets and of course we have lots of fluffy bunnies in all sizes and colors.

Not living bunnies of course!  Bunnies are great pets but they are high maintenance so we don't think live bunnies are a good Easter gift for children.  Like puppies and kitties, bunnies grow up quickly and have a life expectancy of about 10 years.  Depending on the breed, a full grown bunny can weigh 10 to 12 pounds.  Like puppies and kitties, bunnies chew stuff around the house and like puppies and kitties, they need to be fed and they pee and poop on the carpets.

If you are thinking of getting your child a bunny for Easter this year, please think about a cuddly plush one or a yummy chocolate one, like the ones in our Easter Baskets.  If you still want to adopt a bunny, check with rabbit rescue services in a couple of weeks.  Unfortunately, there will be a whole bunch of cute baby bunnies needing new homes.

Your friend,

Zeva

Thought I Was Going Bald!

I'm shedding!  What a relief!  My hair was falling out and I was afraid I was going to be bald like my friend Jason.  Jason is a human and bald looks good on him but I've seen pictures of Xoloitzcuintli and I think I look better with my pretty white coat.
Shedding means that I'm losing my heavy winter coat and my shorter, lighter summer coat is coming in.  I'll shed again in the fall when my summer coat will be replaced with a warmer one for winter.
Seasonal shedding is normal for many breeds but some kinds of shedding are not good.  Non seasonal shedding can be caused by skin allergies, parasites or from not eating healthy.  Your vet can tell if you have allergies or parasites and help you get better.
Brushing and combing gets the hair before it gets on the floor or furniture and also helps spread good oils into the coat to make it shiny.  My humans like to brush and comb me so I don't go to the groomer like some of my friends.  Groomers also give baths.  If you don't go to the groomer, you can enjoy a SPA treatment at home like I do with one of my Spot's SPA Gift Baskets.  It has everything for a nice afternoon of pampering.
Spring is here and if shedding is what it takes to get our new summer coats, it's well worth it.
Happy Spring Shedding,
Your Friend,
Zeva

How Much Exercise Does A Dog Need?

How much exercise does a dog need?  The answer is, it depends.  It depends on the age and breed of the dog.  Puppies need lots of exercise while older dogs may not need much.  Like humans, dogs need to exercise every day.  Thirty to sixty minutes a day is a good average.
I come from a long line of working dogs.  I am part Border Collie so many of my cousins work on ranches and farms, herding sheep and cattle.  Some of my other cousins are Labradors who spend their time hunting birds.  They work hard and get plenty of exercise. 
My job as product tester for the pet division of our gift basket company and greeter at our store keeps me inside most days so we make sure that I get some type of exercise every day.  When we can't go for long walks, we play inside.  We play catch, fetch, tug-of-war and hide and seek.  I have dogs friends that I get to play with too.  We play in our yards or at the dog park.  I really like it when I get to go to day care and spend a whole day playing with all of the other dogs.  I am so tired after a day at day care, I fall asleep on the way home.
When dogs don't get enough exercise we find ways to entertain ourselves that can get us in trouble.  We find fun things to do like chew on shoes or furniture or dig holes or bark a lot.
Remember, a tired dog is a good dog so help your dog get lots of exercise every day.
How much exercise do you get every day?
Your friend,
Zeva