Puppy Play groups!

Starting June 12 I will be hosting a "Puppy Playgroup" at my home! 

Cost is $10 per week - Every Wed night from 6:30-8:30

So bring your dog out to romp and play and get to know other pups in the safety of my home - I have a large fenced in back yard!  Also providing the opportunity for socialization with my dogs (3 sizes!) and cats! 

Call or email now for more information!

A little more about nutrition...

We have been intermingling kibble and raw feeding for a while, to get the dogs ready for summer trips and hiking.  Yesterday I returned 2 cans of Blue Buffalo Wilderness dog food.  Why is this important? Well, because BB is a "high quality food" and it's Wilderness line is touted even higher.  I use to agree with this.  Until 2 weeks ago, anyway.  You see, when I feel kibble - knowing that it is a way too dry substance and dogs have a lower sensitivity to their thirst recognition than people - I try to top it with a wet food too.  I like to rotate, to keep my dogs' digestive systems open to recognizing new foods, just in case I have to make a fast change or something.  So, I give my pups their Evanger's kibble (which they have been on for weeks) topped with wet wilderness and merely a half hour later we are pooping puddles!

Max, who always tends to be slightly constipated, is having what would in other dogs be considered normal poos, while the 2 girls are squirting rivers.  Needless to say, they did not get anymore Wilderness, and were given probiotic yogurt for the rest of the week.  The runs lasted for about a week and a half - they were otherwise eating and drinking normally, so we didn't visit the vet (believe me, had they been doing otherwise, or lethargic, or otherwise acting strangely we would have been right off to the vets' office. But other than the chocolate shoots, all was normal).

So,  I don't know if BB changed their recipe, or if it was just a bad can - but we're not taking any chances.  Blue Buffalo has been scratched off our safe list.

Here is a good list of foods from best to worst, from a vet who seems to know what she's talking about:

I also wanted to remind you that M&T Pro Pet Services is working with local No-Kill shelters!  When you purchase a 3 month package, 10% of that purchase goes to help local animals in need.  Our current shelter is the SPCA in Danville.  You can see who needs a good home see who needs a new home here!

Spring Has Sprung!

Now that we are all looking forward to the weather getting nicer, we are drawn to be outside more.  So are our pets!  Here are a few things to remember before things get too crazy!

1) Treat your yard for fleas!  Do it now, before they get out of hand.  First, make sure you mow (and rake up) your grass -- this will help to limit any hiding places.  Get some Diatomaceous Earth (food grade -- NOT the stuff made for swimming pools!) and cover your lawn with the floury white stuff.  Done.

2) Make sure you are watching what you plant!  Some plants that are toxic to dogs, cats and rabbits include (but are not limited to)

• Azalea
• Bittersweet
• Caladium
• Clematis
• Crocus
• Day Lily
• Death Camus
• Easter Lily
• Ferns
• Foxglove
• Hyacinth
• Iris
• Lily of the Valley
• Morning Glory
• Oleander
• Rhododendron
• Tiger Lily
• Tulip

Remember, fertilizers and weed killers are poisonous too! Keep an eye on your pets when outside.

3)Does pollen make your eyes water?  It may do the same for your furry friend!  That's right, dogs and cats can suffer the same allergies as humans -- be it food, dust, pollen or plants.  Symptoms may be as docile as sniffling/sneezing, life-threateningly serious anaphylactic shock!  If you suspect your pet is suffering from allergies, please visit your vet asap!

4)Those birdbaths look cute, and I'm sure the birdies love them, but then again, so do the mosquitoes! Standing water is where these bitey bugs lay their eggs, and this includes flower pots, trashcan lids, gutters, ditches, and ponds.  "So my dog will be itchy for a few days, no biggie, right?" Wrong! Mosquitoes carry HEARTWORM!! (Dun dun dun!!)  So, other than ditching the stagnant H2O, what can you do?

• Place plants around your yard to deter the mosquitoes from entering:
  Marigolds, catnip, Rosemary, Citronella grass and Mosquito Plants (kind of a duh, hmm?) all have mozzy repellant properties, and they look nice to boot!

• K9 Advantix II (not safe for cats - suggested to not allow contact between treated dogs and cats for 24 hours after use)
• Keep them indoors during mozzy's most active times - Early morning and Dusk
• Spray a DEET free mozzy repellant on a bandana and tie it around your pup's neck for while it's outside.  Make sure your dog is use to wearing a bandana first, so it is not biting at it and risking ingestion of the toxic chemicals.  DO NOT SPRAY PESTICIDES DIRECTLY ON YOUR DOG.

Get outside and enjoy your dog!  And don't forget the sunscreen!

PS - Happy first birthday Stella!

Keeping Your Dog Entertained

Let's face it, sometimes we get bored.  Well, sometimes our dogs get bored too!  How do you know when your dog is bored?  Well, generally they sleep when they're bored (Did you know that dogs can sleep 18 hours a day?! Whoa!).  But some dogs (especially puppies) tend to act out when they are bored.  This is where counter-surfing, cupboard raiding, tearing up your important papers and digging up your yard come into play. 

So, how do you stop this atrocious behavior?  You give the pup something to do!  The best option is working on training or going for a nice long walk, but if you are working or otherwise  busy when your dog needs something to occupy his mind, there are lots of things out there to help you out!

A favorite in our house and the one I generally fall back on, is the Kong toy, which can be found in most pet stores.  I fill them up with their food (make sure you measure so you can subtract it from their daily serving.  All calories count!)  and then seal it in with some natural peanut butter.  Pop it in the freezer for a bit so the PB hardens and... TADA! Instant free time -- uh, I mean playtime.  Yeah.  Also, these bounce really funny and go all over the place, so they make "ball" more interesting, fyi.

There are also many interactive dog toys popping up on the market recently, such as:

• Nina Ottosson
• DogIt Mind Games

I have not tried the 2 above, yet.  But I will review them as soon as I do.

What are your favorite Interactive Dog toys?

But I have a yard!

I hear it over and over:  "I don't need a dog walker, I have a yard my dog can run in."  It seems logical.  Heck, even my partner had this ideology when we first got together.  If you have a good sized yard (comparable to the size of your dog) then the dog should be able to get all the exercise (s)he needs, right?

The truth is, no matter how much acreage you have, most dogs won't take the opportunity to exercise on their own until they have so much energy pent up that they are doing zoomies in the yard.  Or they expel that energy by digging or hunting anything and everything that steps foot into "their territory."  Max use to be this way.  He had 2 acres to roam, mostly wooded.  He spent all of his time (okay, when he wasn't sunning himself in the driveway) patrolling the line looking for groundhogs.  We had a fresh carcass in the yard several times a week, at least.  Fun. 
Maggie, though she had the same 2 acres to roam, would lay on the back porch until someone came out to play ball with her. 
Stella will run circles like a crazy if she doesn't get her daily walk - which is cute, because she's little, but I know that it is a sign that she has way more energy than she can handle, and we didn't walk long enough today. 

Then there are those dogs who only get let out in the yard, and so they bark at everything.  Constant yapping and snapping, because it is their only outlet.  Then they get yelled at and ill spoken of from the neighbors, when it is not their fault!  They are just trying to release the built up energy any way they can!

Try it!  Take your dog for a nice long walk.  If they are coming home and running circles you did not walk far enough.  See the difference in their behavior and willingness to listen.  It is mind blowing!

A walk isn't just about exercising the body, you are allowing your dog to experience new things, and actually learn.  By walking your dog (properly) you are actually making him/her smarter!  New experiences cause new brain wrinkles, which allows more neurons to fire and brings the whole body to a new level of existence! 

It is truly amazing what an hour a day will do!

Schedule your FREE consultation today!

The Flexi-fail

Today I passed a woman out with a beautiful Springer Spaniel.  The dog was weaving around her, stopping to sniff where he chose, and then running to catch up -- to a full 6 feet in front of her.  He bounded about as he please and overall looked to be having a smashing time.  When he noticed us he rushed forward, nearly taking the woman's arm off along the way.  When he reached the end of the small retractable cord attached to his collar, not only was the woman nearly jerked off her feet, but the dog was obviously choked as well.  This was their fun walk...

I will never suggest a flexi-leash (or retractable leash) to anyone under any circumstance.  It gives a false sense of control.  I have many times been told "but I want my dog to feel free and enjoy her walk."  Let me tell you, your dog will find no joy in their walk when they have been hit by a car because they "felt free" enough to rush off the sidewalk and get hit because the locking mechanism gave out.  Gruesome, I know, but it happens more often than you want to admit.

Then of course, your dog gets to "feel free" enough to run circles around you, and then dart after a squirrel, leaving you with something like this:

And that's mild.  I've heard of lost fingers -- and worse, lost dogs.  Though we don't want to believe it, not all dogs are dog friendly!  Your dog rushing up to them mouth agape and eyes wide with excitement is actually really bad manners in the dog world.  And, while you are shouting "don't worry, he's friendly!" you are probably not hearing the owner of the other dog yelling "She isn't!" And while it is easy to say "well why are you out with an unfriendly dog!?" think about how you why that dog deserves to not get the needed exercise, due to other dogs not being properly trained or controlled.

So unless your dog is ALREADY trained on a proper BOMBPROOF recall, heel, and is respectful of the space of others, leave the flexi in the store.

Amazing!

The video above shows 2 "high drive" or over excitable dogs who have been trained using ONLY positive reinforcement techniques.  Impulse control is No.1 important (I admit, I am still working on this with my dogs... we're getting there)!  It's so cool to see how well trained dogs can behave!

The Training Twister

There is a lot of controversy out there right now about "what is the best way to train" and "what is the most effective technique" and even "where is the line on humane treatment?"

Before we get too far into things here, lets clarify a bit on behavior shaping. 

There are 2 ways that you can shape behavior:

                               Positive: when you add or give something

                               Negative: when you remove or take something away

 

Just in case you didn't notice: 

Green = good, gentle and confidence building

Red =  scary, hurtful and possibly dangerous

Go Green today!

.

Pardon me if this post is a bit shitty...

So, I have a confession to make -- Stella LOVES poop!  Bunny berries, doggy doos, kitty krunchies, you name it.  It's her favorite snack. She even dug down under the snow for some poopcicles! And I thought I would have some time off from running around the yard trying to pick the piles up before she did! HA!

Stella's "condition" is not uncommon, it's called Coprophagia.  And, while LOTS of dogs eat poop, no one can say why for sure.  My personal opinion is that she is helping me keep things clean :D  (hey, I can dream, can't I!)  Luckily, my Stella only goes after familiar poop... That at least eases my mind on the issue of worms a bit.

People have come up with many ideas over the years to try to deter this behavior - garlic (toxic), tobasco (toxic), changing food (didn't help here), feed more (just made her poop more), Pumpkin/pineapple/spinach (didn't help), Meat tenderizer/MSG (toxic) --  I found it easiest and most successful to just keep the yard clean!

If you need help keeping your yard clean, Marty Walks Dogs is now offering waste management services -- so in essence, if the cat box needs changed or your yard is full of poop, now there is someone else to do it for you!

Call today for an estimate (based on job size and frequency)!

Happy Valentine's Day

Here's a great Vday treat for your pups:

Beefy Grain-Free Treats
You can make these large or small and even feed them in place of a meal.
Ingredients:

1/2 pound ground beef—uncooked

1/4 cup chicken broth

1/3 cup black beans, cooked—mashed

1/3 cup cottage cheese

Directions:
Mix ground meat and chicken broth in a bowl. Add the black beans and cottage cheese. Mix all of the ingredients together thoroughly. Shape the mixture into bones or squares and place on a cookie sheet. You can make them big or little. Bake for 45 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Let cool.



Why wouldn't you want your dog to eat grain?
If grain allergies drive your dog bonkers you would want to keep this out of his diet.
Symptoms of allergies are incessant scratching, gnawing at the same place and lots of hair loss. But don't jump to conclusions too quickly, these are symptoms of many ailments.

Do you have any great treat recipes? Share them in the comments below!

Tuesday is Product Review Day!

Hello Poppits!  I wanted to let you in on a little secret - I love stuff! I am all about trying new things and finding what works (and what doesn't) for my family.  So, from my furfamily to yours, here is today's product review --

 

Ziwipeak - Air Dried Dog Food

As per the website:

Looking for the best 100% natural dog food, the best 100% natural cat food? You’ve found it!

Welcome to ZiwiPeak, a fresh, natural, raw meat, just air-dried for convenience or canned with sealed-in moisture. All from the cleanest, greenest New Zealand pastures and oceans. Nothing added but goodness in vitamins and minerals. It’s what dogs and cats would – if they could – call perfect. It’s what we call unconditional love.
ZiwiPeak is as close as it comes to a raw, natural, wild diet, without freezing and thawing. So it’s made for your lifestyle as much as your pet’s. We use no preservatives, fillers or grains. Nothing artificial. Just real meat, heart, liver, kidney, cold-washed green tripe and bone, hoki fish and green-lipped mussels, with selected vitamins and minerals. With over 95% digestibility, your pet gets every morsel of goodness. And you’ll use less than most foods. The result? Healthier, longer-lived, thankful pets.

Now, I know what you're saying "Marty, you just told us you feed Prey Model Raw!"  And I do!  However, there are times when raw meat is just not practical -- say, when you're hiking, or you've been gone all day and just can't muster the energy to cut through a giant turkey bone with a pair of quickly dulling poultry shears... 

That being said, the furkids LOVED this food, even if their stomachs didn't feel full from the tiny portion sizes needed.  I loved that it is real meat, minimally processed, and easily digestible. There was minimal change in their poop, mostly just in color. Ziwipeak looks like little strips of beef jerky, so it stores in your cupboard (it does come in a wet variety as well, but I have not tried that) and travels well.  Once it got down to where there was no longer enough to go around I started using it as training treats.

I definitely recommend this food, especially if you only have 1 dog, or only small dogs, as it is pricey.  I will likely keep a bag on hand for traveling and occasional lazy days, but since to feed soley Ziwipeak would run my family about $500 per month (remember, I have 2 large dogs, 1 small dog, and 2 kitties) using this food all the time is impractical for my family. That does not mean it's impractical for yours :)  

4.75 paws (only because of price) 

www.ziwipeak.com

PS- I have not been paid for this review, if you contact the company, they will send you a free sample. 

NILIF

In my home we follow the Nothing In Life Is Free (NILIF) model.  This means that my furkids (yes, I am working on this with the kitties as well) get nothing without payment -- be it laying down for their dinner, or shaking to go outside.  I want my dogs to MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES, so I allow them to make mistakes (to a point -- nothing that would endanger them or others, of course). 

People forget that dogs are ridiculously intelligent (moreso than many people I know) and they WILL learn from their mistakes, IF THEY ARE ALLOWED TO! Fear and domineering do not help a dog learn -- just the opposite, actually.  How clearly do you think when you are scared?

Read the History and Misconceptions of Dominance Theory to learn more.

On a lighter note :)

Aww

This is Lily! Isn't she beautiful?

She is a great little girl! She and Stella loved to play and walk together.  Unfortunately Lily has moved away.  This means that there is an opening in my schedule for a new pup! Could it be yours?

Contact me today to set up your FREE consultation!

And just for your enjoyment here's a pic of Stella doing her Cyborg impression:

Feeding Raw - my experience

I've had a lot of people asking recently about how I feed my dogs.  I figured it would be easiest to answer here, and just put it out there for the world to see.  I FEED MY DOGS RAW!  There, I said it.  The secret is out.  My cats also get fed raw. 

Prey Model Raw, to be exact.

What does this mean?  Well, it means that when I, a vegetarian, go to the grocery store, I end up spending a majority of time in the meat section.  Yay...

It also means that I have to mop  my floors every day.  And I have to space my dogs and cats apart to try to keep them from stealing each others' food.  Not to mention, I get to spend time inspecting poop to  make sure that there's nothing off and they're getting the proper ratio of nutrients.

On the other hand, I know exactly what is in their food.  My pets all have sparkling white teeth.  My chocolate lab is actually chocolate colored, as opposed to the sandy color she was before we changed her diet.  Also, poops are much smaller (like, 1/3 of the size) and dry out very quickly. 

But, Marty, you may be asking, isn't that ridiculously expensive?  
 I never realized before the switch, just how expensive meat is... I don't eat it, I tried to avoid that section of the grocery at all costs.  It helps that my bf hunts, and there always seem to be people cleaning out their freezers that don't know what to do with all that meat that's been in there for the last decade or so.  (Believe me, the dogs don't care if it's a touch freezer burnt.) 

But Marty, you say, what are the proper nutrients?  
  Well, I try to get in a ratio of 80/10/10 - which means 80% meat, 10% bone, and 10% organs.  This doesn't have to be the ratio every day.  Some people make sure they get it worked out throughout the week.  However, I have found that my dogs tend to do better when they have a little bone every day.  Bones are not bad! Well, okay, cooked bones are bad.  But raw bones are actually necessary to balance the phosphorus in the meat - calcium. 

That sounds too difficult.
Yeah, my bf thinks so too.  But he's not the one who feeds them, so he doesn't have to worry about it.  Actually, once you get it down, it's not as difficult as it sounds.  It's not an exact science (hence the having to inspect the poop part). 

I stand by it.  I also accredit it with nearly knocking ringworm out of our house with no medication in less than 2 months (I am the only one who still has it... :/  but anyone who's dealt with it knows that it can hang around for months at a time.  That little fungus is a bugger to get rid of!).  Also, since switching, my ~7 year old lab mix who was always standoffish and suffers with joint issues from lyme disease has been boisterous and playful -- even wanting to play with his sisters!  Booyah!

Do it!

So many truths here :)

Happy New Year... and an Aargh!

First off Happy New Year to all of you!  I hope that 2012 treated you well and 2013 will be even better!  I look forward to seeing you all as life begins to stabilize and we get back into our normal grooves again. 

On another note, in the battle between the washer and the cell phone, the score ended up washing machine 1, cell phone dead :(   I will be getting a new phone in a few days, but until then the best way to reach me will be by email.  I will still be checking my phone messages and returning calls as soon as I can, but it will not be as often as I will be able to check email.  I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.