GrouchyPuppy® Blog | Dog Lovers Source

Sept 15 is Responsible Dog Ownership Day

How do you make your dog's health a priority? When we first adopted our dog, I simply fed her the way my mom had fed our dogs when I was a child. Like many people, I copied what my parents did before I began to learn about my dog's individual needs and personality. As we got to know her, we figured out what she liked, but we also figured out what she needed. As she has aged, and her nutrition needs have changed, because we took an active role in what she ate, Cleo has managed to live a pretty healthy and active life.

Cleo cleans her plate

September 15 may be called Responsible Dog Ownership Day, but we see it as "being responsible people because we have a dog day." If you know Cleo, then you know we could never "own" her. We're lucky to have her.

Send Us Your Young Adult "Teenage" Dog Nutrition Questions

Do you have a "teenage" dog? We want your nutrition questions! This Thursday, September 13, we’ll be with a handful of bloggers participating in The Nutro Company's NATURAL CHOICE® Young Adult Interactive Chat with celebrity veterinarian, Dr. Jeff Werber.

Dr. Werber on the Dr. Oz Show

Nutro is launching an entirely new pet food specifically for dogs between six months and one year old. As a dog grows from a young pup into an adult their developmental needs change with them. Cleo is a senior dog but some of you may be interested in information regarding this lifestage -- Email me your questions to ask Dr. Werber: grouchypuppy@yahoo.com.

Friday Find: Nutro MAX® Pet Foods Coupon

These days, getting an instant savings at the check-out is always a nice treat. Finding my size is on sale and available makes me happy. Stretching a dollar is smart, and so is downloadable coupons. Our Friday Find is a $3 coupon that can used on any of the nine types of Nutro® MAX® dry dog food.

Interview: Meet Musician Mark Alan. Learn How His Dog's Passing Produced The Album "Little Sun"

Almost a year ago I went to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary with my LIFE+DOG publisher. I had the chance to share some toys in both Dog Town and Cat World, which made me very happy especially because it was prior to the holidays. Touring the facilities, having a quiet moment in Angel's Rest, and meeting the dedicated employees left such a positive impression. We even enjoyed lunch with volunteers and staff alike, while listening to various sanctuary success stories. Three months later, one of the founders of Best Friends, Faith Mahoney, joined in my Influence Positively Interview series. Hard to say, but maybe this series of small serendipities might be behind a long time staff member at Best Friends introducing me to the Los Angeles-based musician Mark Alan, and his latest album Little Sun.

Happy Coincidence. Through Grouchy Puppy, I'm dedicated to sharing stories, interviews, cute photos, and generally any content that I believe educates others on the human-animal bond. With my older dog's health issues, I'm sensitive to every moment we have together, and how time is precious with her. Maybe it was a happy coincidence, but reading about Mark Alan's dog Dingo, the close bond between them, and ultimately how it inspired this album resonated with me.

Alphanaut. When you hear the emotion within the lyrics, to me, Little Sun, could've also been called "little son." The clear bond between Mark and Dingo comes through. Every song is a chapter in Dingo's story, some told from Dingo's perspective. Mark says, “These songs are not intellectualized, they are pure emotion – the cycles of life: births, deaths and the joys and heartaches in between.” 

Mark Alan considers his music to be a mirror of his personality, “Introspective, passionate and politically-minded.” Animal rights and environmental awareness are among these essential passions. In the midst of moving, and promoting Little Sun, I was fortunate enough to get Mark to pause, and answer some questions about how Dingo influenced his life, and music, and how this little "warm ball of light" gave fearlessly. Read Mark's heartfelt interview, and learn how you can help the National Canine Cancer Foundation:

PEDIGREE Recalls 3 Varieties of their Weight Management canned food

Today, Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall of a limited range of three varieties of their PEDIGREE® weight management canned food products due to a potential choking risk. The issue has been identified and corrected at their manufacturing facility. Please note, no other PEDIGREE® products are affected, including any other variety of wet food, dry dog food, or dog treats.

The full press release with information about the three canned food products affected and information on how pet owners can check to see if their can is one of the products in voluntary recall is available at www.pedigree.com/update. Pet owners can also call 1-877-720-3335.

Your Pet Could Win Treats for Life in the first #GreeniesAwards

Does your dog have talent? Do you like to take videos of your uber-cute dog, as much as we like to take photos of our dog Cleo? This is your chance to show off your dog's cleverness, and win a lifetime supply of GREENIES® products!

What would your dog do for a GREENIES?? Now through June 29, enter your best pet video to win The GREENIES® Awards, a new online video contest where you compete for a chance to win a lifetime supply of GREENIES® chews or treats for your pet.

"This is an excellent chance to celebrate those magic, everyday moments that make being a pet parent so special," said Tim Blankenbaker, Senior Brand Manager for The GREENIES® Brand. "The exuberance pets show when they're about to get their favorite treat is something any pet parent can relate to."

Shamrocks and dog collars

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Are you wearing green? I've seen some cute dogs this rainy weekend wearing green coats. The closest Cleo got to green today, was eating some grass on our walk. My dog doesn't like to wear anything, so I made her a four leaf clover -- out of dog cookies.

 

 

Cleo must be a wee bit Irish because I think she was hoping her liver cookie treats..would be Dublin! (Thank you, I'm here all week!)

 

 

Hope you're having a great weekend enjoying the festivities.

5 Steps to a Happy Dog Starting with Squash

How do you make a happy dog? First you wake them up with belly rubs, then take them out for a morning constitutional then serve them foods that are tasty yet easy to make, and easy on the wallet.

It's win-win when you both are happy with what is in their food bowl. Follow below to see how we made Cleo a very happy dog, starting with squash.

Step 5 - Get approval from customer and happy dog

Windham High School Student Launching Pet Food Pantry

via www.keepmecurrent.com

Keegan Van Ness, a freshman at Windham High School, holds one of the family’s five cats, Emma.  (Photos by Rich Obrey)

WINDHAM – Reports last year of abandoned dogs and kittens along area roads so disturbed 15-year-old Keegan Van Ness that the Windham High School freshman decided to do something about it most folks wouldn’t have the vision or courage to try.

Keegan and his mom, Suzanne Van Ness, shown in the background above, are planning to open a pet food pantry in the Windham Mall in February.

Feed Store is a Canine Disneyland

via santarosa.towns.pressdemocrat.com

Although not its main purpose now, or when Larry and Lou Bertolini opened it in 1967, Western Farm Center’s retail shop is a canine Disneyland. And stocking pet food did play a big role in its history.
Today’s canine customers always find a big bowl of water outside the door. From an early age, dogs recognize if they put front paws on the counter and look beguiling, cookies will be coming their way. And, of course, it’s a gloriously scented place with bags of feed, dog treats at nose levels, other dogs to meet in the aisles, birds in cages for excitement, toys that squeak and roll and all sorts of different sorts of feed.
“From the beginning, we just really wanted to help people and give people good advice for their animals and gardens,” Larry Bertolini, 84, said. “I saw a need in the community for products and information for the small farmer. It became a wide spectrum of items for all animals and their needs.”

Nestlé’s new weight loss program pairs pets with owners

via www.nestle.com

Pets and their owners can get online help with the battle of the bulge. The Purina pet food company and the Jenny Craig weight loss plan are behind the effort.

Project: Pet Slim Down offers exercise tips, a weight loss tracker and place to share photos.

Dogs and Holiday Meals: Start with your ABCs

We just came back from a walk with our dog. Once again, a nice encounter for our dog and a few kids and senior folks. However, once more I was surprised when a clearly smart woman, didn't know the chocolate in her hand, was poisonous to our dog.

This encounter was a reminder for us to pay close attention as the holidays begin. Starting with the ABC's of what to avoid, be aware of, and watch out for, especially if you plan to have people over. The holidays bring out happy and well-intentioned guests, and isn't better to be safe than have to make a trip to the emergency room?

Let's begin with the ABC's...

Appetites, Good Smells, Senior Dog Wellness

September is Senior Wellness Month and since my dog Cleo is an older girl now, there are lots of relevant topics to cover here this month. After the Senior Dog Seminar at the San Francisco SPCA last weekend, my mind has been full of ideas about how to make these golden years the best for Cleo.

Senior dog appetites. I have written previously about our trips to the vet and a specialist to uncover Cleo's allergies. We have her on a restricted diet to remove the foods she's allergic to now. Recently her morning appetite has diminished some. She isn't interested in digging in right away, she sometimes leaves a little behind and she has even walked away once or twice.

Given how much we cater to her needs, yes we love on her a lot and she is our only dog, we weren't sure if Cleo's recent behavior was in reaction to something we were doing. She does have dental issues so I have been concerned and watchful regarding her actual consumption of food as well as her play time with squeaky toys. However nothing has really struck me as out of the ordinary yet.

Deciding to see a Vet Specialist

When is it the right time to see a Vet Specialist? 

Just like with people doctors, you need a referral to see a specialist. We don't have pet insurance, though I doubt our visit, and any future meds that came as a result would have been covered anyway. We clearly love our dog, and will do everything we can to keep her safe, happy and healthy. Like many people though, we sometimes struggle with our decisions where she is concerned. Do we treat her like a dog or a baby? Do we go overboard with our care and attention? Are we helping or exacerbating the situation?

Vet specialist visit or self-treatment? Honestly it took us awhile to go through the thought process. We love our dog but at the same time we don't want to take her to the vet for every little anomaly. I'd like to consider myself a competent pet parent.

Given our love for Cleo, I could see myself overreacting to a bump or new behavior. But how do you know when you are actually not being overreactive, but are being preventative in your decision to seek professional help?

Considering Cleo is my first dog as an adult, I'm sure my worries are normal and commonly heard by experienced vets. Like people doctors, most of the vets we've been to nod their heads a lot and say, "uh huh. yep. uh huh. okay. let me make a note of that in her file. uh huh."

 

Pedigree Delivers to The Amanda Foundation

One way social media helps animal rescue is through campaigns like the Every Dog Deserves campaign from Pedigree. During June, Pedigree is donating 1 lb of food for every Like, post or tweet. Every social media engagement counts.

Step forward. Pedigree shared this sweet video as it delivers its first 10,000 pound pet food donation to The Amanda Foundation in Los Angeles.

The Amanda Foundation

In Latin the name “Amanda” means worthy of love, so our charity is named not for a person but for our philosophy towards our Dog and Cat companions. They are worthy of our love and protection. For over 30 years our mission has been to rescue as many loyal pals from the shelters and then find them loving new homes. At the same time we endeavor to educate the public about the importance of spay/neuter in order to reduce pet overpopulation.

The Every Dog Deserves Campaign is full steam ahead with its goal of delivering 100,000 pounds of dog food to shelters across the nation. As the June campaign continues, this 10,000 pound food donation is just the start!

Remember that Pedigree is donating 1lb of food for every Like, post or tweet in the month of June. So spread the word!!