Challenge: Focus on my Dog's Priorities

By Luisa

Many of us lead very busy and stressful  lives. In fact, as adults, we often have different roles and responsibilities such as being a spouse, a parent, an employee, and so on... 

The pressure to do it all, affects our environment more than we can imagine. 
On the other hand, our pets also experience stress, which is very similar to the type of stress children experience.  For instance, they wonder about things such as:

“Shoot, I need to pee!”

“Where did mommie go? Did she abandon me?"
" I want to play!"
"I am bored!"
                                  
                                          What is Luppo doing: view

Have you noticed how happy your dog/cat is when you get home?

Of course you have! And doesn't it make you feel special?   Can you imagine your boss being this happy to see you tomorrow morning? Joking aside, I came to realize that I need to implement zen practices at home. It is important that I take some time to appreciate my dog and show him how much I love him.

I challenge myself to start the following:
1. Date night. Take a walk with my dog and tell him how my day went.
2. Improve his nutrition. Buy better quality food.
3. Buy him toys so he can play during the day.

4. Buy special treats for him.

5. Get him a professional massage (I heard Brandy's offers massotherapy for dogs).

Can you give me tips on how you make your dog/cat feel special? 

Thanks for your comments!

Cheat Day Saturday!

By George

After 6 days of counting carbs and calories, it feels so comforting to just indulge in some sweets. But if most of you are like me, I always feel guilty afterwards. So I did some exploring and found healthier alternatives to cheat day snacks, and I would like to share them with all of you. And just so that your furry friends don’t feel left out, I also put together a short list of healthy treats for them.

          SNACKS FOR YOU

Dr. Oetker Organic Cake Mix
Available in Vanilla, Chocolate, Marble, and Lemon

One serving of marble cake mix alone 39g = 0g of Fat, 33g of Carbs, 19g of Sugar, and 1g of Protein for a total 140 Calories

GoGo Quinoa Vegan and Gluten-Free Cookies

Comes in Chocolate Chip and Orange Essence

2 Chocolate Chip Cookies 36g = 1g of Fat, 23g of Carbs, 2g of Sugar and 5g of Protein for a total 110 Calories

Nocciolata Organic & Gluten-Free Hazelnut Cocoa Spread

1 serving 28g = 10g of Fat, 18g of Carbs, 17g of Sugar, and 2.5g of Protein for a total 170 Calories

SNACKS FOR YOUR FURRY FRIEND

  

Buddy Biscuits All Natural Dog Biscuits

Comes in Bacon And Cheese and Peanut Butter

Bag Weight 454g

Retail price $6.99 CAN

Muttos All Natural Corn-Free Dog Treats

Comes in Blueberry, Cranberry and Turkey

Bag Weight 454g

Retail Price $7.99 CAN

Natural Balance L.I.T. Limited Ingredient Dog Treats

Grain-free and easily digestible without corn, soy or wheat

Available in Sweet Potato & Fish, and Potato & Duck

Bag Weight 0.88 lbs

Retail Price $6.99 CAN

My Labrador Retriever, Max, really likes the Buddy Biscuits and the Natural Balance treats. I picked them up at a holistic pet shop called Brandy’s right here in Montreal (they also deliver to the greater Montreal area).

I would really like to hear what you guys think, so please share your own list of healthy snacks and treats for cheat days by posting your own message and/or replying to this one. This way, we can all discover new snacks and treats together :)

Enjoy!

Walking, Jogging & Rollerblading… with Your Furry Friend!

By Amanda

Do you love getting out and being active with your pet? I know I sure do! There are so many great (free) activities that you can do with your dog that keep both yourself and your furry friend physically and mentally fit. Some of these activities include: ball fetching, biking, Frisbee, jogging, rollerblading, soccer & walking.

           

And as you can guess, exercise offers the same benefits to your pet as it does for humans: tones muscles, helps prevent obesity, strengthens the cardiovascular system, strengthens bones, improves sleep and mood, enhances mental alertness and promotes health. Outdoor exercise also provides socialization opportunities!

           

While some dogs need much more exercise than others, all dogs of any age benefit from daily activity. One way to ensure you both get enough exercise is to exercise together! You are both a source of motivation for each other!

Ball Fetching: Fetching a ball or favourite toy is great exercise for your dog,  but it may not bring much of a workout to you as you stand there and toss. So while playing fetch, try doing some lunges or squats while you wait for your pet to bring the ball back. Try to avoid using tree branches or sticks, as they can hurt your companion’s mouth. You’ll also want to teach them the “release” command as well as how to bring the ball back to you. 


Biking: In order to start biking with your dog, it may require some special training in advance. You’ll need to teach your dog to run beside the bicycle without pulling or yanking. You may want to attach the leash to your bike with a special force absorber called a Springer. That way, if your dog tugs some of the shock gets absorbed and the impact on you is diminished. Also, you will want to keep a close eye on your dog, to ensure she doesn’t get exhausted while your on wheels.

Frisbee: offers a classic canine workout. You can play a relaxed game in your own yard or join a formal team. Participating in competitions may give you and your dog greater motivation to practice regularly. It is a fun sport for the both of you. Goal-oriented sports are great because they allow for continued behaviour training while simultaneously contributing to the pet-owner bond.

Jogging: is a fantastic way to keep you and your pal in shape. Build up to a regular routine by commencing with a five minute warm-up, a twenty minute light jog and then finish off with a five minute cool down. These are important steps to follow as you do not want to fatigue your friend. Great places to jog are around the block, a hiking trail and the park.

Rollerblading: Like biking, rollerblading poses a risk of being yanked off the road by your companion every time she spots a squirrel. To safeguard against this, proper training is required beforehand. That way you both know what to expect and enjoy this activity safely. A good way to help train her is to give her treats when she runs right beside and does not tug the leash. After several times, this behaviour should become routine to her.

Soccer: What a fun activity for you and your pet to engage in! I recommend that you get a soccer ball made for dogs as it softer made of hard plastic and come in different sizes to suit your particular breed. You kick the ball and your dog tries to pass it back to you either with her nose or paws. A great place to play is in the backyard or at the park.

Walking: a classic activity for you and your pet. Brisk walking is an ideal exercise for both you and your pet alike. Great for bonding with your four-legged friend as you sightsee. Walking is easy and relaxing and more fun when shared with your furry friend! Learning how to train dogs is also a fun, challenging and a very rewarding activity.

Do you and your pet engage in any other great pet exercises or activities?

Gym Buddy

By Elle

Lately I’ve had absolutely no motivation to hit the gym. Seems like I’d rather re-tile my bathroom than climb onto the elliptical. I find my gym enthusiasm usually goes hand in hand with a goal; bikini season, a trip to LA, looking fantastic in case I bump into my ex... you know... the healthy reasons people shape up. The thing is, even that list isn’t getting me going these days. The winter blues were getting the best of me and my scale is indicating scary numbers. When my alarm rings in the morning, my automatic succession of reactions is: hit snooze, pull the covers over my head and attempt to not lose the climax point of my dream. This has been routine behavior for the past 3 months, until Alvin’s last vet appointment a couple weeks ago. 

I thought I would be in and out as usual. Seeing how my dog has always been a healthy rottie mix, it never crossed my mind that my laziness could affect his fit frame. The vet told me he had gained weight, and not the healthy kind. Fat.  He's just slightly over his healthy weight, but I can't help but feel responsible. 


First things first, I needed to switch up his food, something healthier. Secondly, I was determined to become his motivational trainer, his “gym buddy”. I need him as much as (if not more than) he needs me. I was feeling terribly guilty for letting Alvin gain those extra pounds!! So I did some research and found Brandy's a holistic pet food shop, in the Montreal Plateau area, that carries a wide range of balanced pet foods. So I decided I would jog all the way from my hood, Saint-Henri, across the mountain to pick up his food at least once a week.


After a couple weeks, I'm back in the groove of a regular workout schedule. The jog to Brandy’s is a solid workout, plus we usually stop to play on the mountain when it’s nice out. 

Alvin motivates me better than my personal trainer at the gym would, maybe because he doesn’t cost me $30/hr. But seriously, his happy smile with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth after a great workout is so rewarding. I’m reaping the benefits of training with him and we get to spend more time together.

So now in the morning, I try and alternate between a jog with Alvin and training at the gym. 

Rescued Tail

By Suzanne

I adopted a dog from the SPCA in December 2010. I had been volunteering at the SPCA as a dog walker and was taking all the large dogs out (Pit Bulls, Great Danes, Boxers, etc.). At the end of my shift, I decided to take one of the little dogs out. His tag said he was a Yorkie.


When I approached his cage, he was staring up at me with his lost little black eyes. He got soooo excited when I led him outside. It seemed like he hadn’t been on a walk in a LONG time. My heart went out to him. Once we got outside though, it was another story. Not sure if it was the cold or the salt, but he lifted his little feet up and looked up at me to let me know they were hurting. I scooped him up to carry him back to his cage, and kissed his little head.


When I got back in, I pet him and scratched his little body. He had so many itches! He kept leaning against me and turning around so I could get to them all.

I led him back to his cage, but I didn’t want to leave him! I called my boyfriend, and after he saw that little face, we decided to adopt him. I had to wait until the next day, and it just broke my heart to leave him alone in that cage for even one more night.

The next day, I took him home, wrapped up a little blanket so he wouldn’t get cold. His fur had been cut very short when he arrived at the shelter because he was so dirty and matted. He also had a cough, and was a bit overweight. I was very excited not only to provide him with a good home, but to become his personal trainer, and to help him become fit and healthy.

I started to exercise him regularly and monitored his food intake, but soon discovered that no matter how fit he gets, his body will always be shaped like a little football!

Share your own story about rescuing a pet in the Comments for others to see!