Dog Food

'We are what we eat', they say. Most of us know what a healthy diet is, even if we don't always put that knowledge to use. The same goes for dog food! Have you ever read the ingredient list on your dog's food container? If you have, do you understand it? I admit, I didn't do this until a couple of years ago when I got my newest addition, Maeby. She didn't tolerate the well known brand dog food I was buying at the time. My vet informed me of the importance of the ingredient list, and if you can't pronounce an ingredient, it probably isn't good. A friend and myself quickly started researching online to learn what other options were out there. We finally found a very helpful tool: Dog Food Advisor.

Dog Food Advisor categorizes dog food brands into star ratings; 1 star - 5 stars, 5 stars being the best. I discovered that the brand name dog food I was buying only had a 2 star rating. The website also breaks down each ingredient and tells you how it may benefit or harm your dog. It is very informative! You'll quickly learn what ingredients are wanted and what ingredients to avoid.

Because of this helpful website, I now buy a 4 star dog food at the same price I was paying for the 2 star dog food! It's amazing! I would buy a 5 star dog food, but it is simply a matter of price. I'm very content knowing that I have doubled the quality of my dogs' food without having to spend any more than I was. There seems to be a big price gap between the 4 star and 5 star dog foods. I will say, I tried a 5 star dog food for a couple of months, but my dogs simply didn't enjoy it. They're like me; they need a little junk to maintain a level of happiness.

I encourage all of you to check out this website and at least review the dog food you're currently feeding your pups. Who knows? Maybe, you can increase the quality of your dog's food without spending more. I hope you can!

Kingsley and Maeby

Since I will be talking about my two wonderful dogs quite a lot, I thought I should formally introduce you.

This is Kingsley, my first dog.

Yes, he chewed/scratched that windowsill.
No, we haven't fixed it, yet.

Kingsley just turned 4. He's a Shepherd/Lab Mix. We rescued him from Pulaski County Animal Shelter when he was just 5 weeks old. He was found abandoned when he was only 3 weeks old, so he has some social setbacks. He loves nothing more than to play ball. Second to that, he loves gazing out our second story window that looks over his yard, watching the squirrels, cats, birds, dogs and kids who cut through our yard to get to school. (We need a fence.) He's becoming more affectionate and less anxious, but it's taken a few years and some patience. I love him, but he's mostly Daniel's dog.


This is Maeby, my loving inspiration for the blog.

Maeby is a spry 2 year old. She's a Weimaraner/Giant Schnauzer Mix. We rescued her from Pulaski County Animal Shelter, too. She was the last of her litter, and it was her last day to be adopted when I went to see her. We're so glad we added her to our family. She's very affectionate and loves to cuddle on the couch. She also loves to chase Kingsley while he plays ball, then she tries to sneak away to the neighbors' trash. She's a shy girl who is easily intimidated by strangers, but we're working on that.

It's a pleasure for me to introduce you to my quirky, goofy and fun-loving pups. Unfortunately, they're still in training when it comes to their social skills. I'll be sharing some stories of their progress.

I'm sure many can understand our predicament.  We live in a smaller town with no dog parks and almost no dog-related events. I'm happy to say we got our first store to which we can take our dogs just last month, PetSense. So, my husband and I are trying harder to get our dogs out of the house and socialize them more. I cannot take them to PetSense yet, but we are going to a local park that allows leashed dogs every weekend. They still associate a car ride with either going to their second home (my husband's parents), vet or groomer. We're hoping to break that mindset soon and make every car ride an adventure.

To see some of my other dog photography, check out my facebook page: www.facebook.com/ashleystroudphotography

Walking the Dog

I hear all the time how important it is to walk our dogs regularly.  They need the exercise, and it doesn't hurt me, either.  During a recent dog walk with both the dogs and my husband, I realized that the sizing system for dog leashes are all wrong!  Of course, Daniel wasn't bothered by this as much as I was.  The current system (leashes for small dogs are short and leashes for large dogs are long) just doesn't work. Let me explain.  It only makes sense that the small dog leash should be longer; they're little bodies are further away from us and closer to the ground.  On the other hand, my large dogs do not need a long leash.  It only allows them to get too far ahead of me, and on one occasion, pull me over!  The distance between my hand and my big dog is not 6 feet!  That's why I started the search for appropriate leashes for my big mutts.

Leashes

The first is a leash I use with my Shepherd/Lab mix.  EzyDog makes great athletic dog products. I have both the leash and the harness.  They're great for dogs that don't have a strong tendency to pull.  The shock absorbing (stretchy) leash allows for gentle pulling and correction.  See the best deal I've found for this product by clicking the caption below.

EzyDog Mutley

The second is a product I've recently discovered on www.Etsy.com  FYI, Etsy is a great place for custom ordering of any kind!  This leash is not a custom order if you have a big dog that needs a shorter leash, however, you can request a longer leash from most shop owners.  I haven't yet ordered this product, but it's on my list.  It's made from climbing rope, so it's durable.  I love the ergonomic design, too!

AlaskaLeash on Etsy

Harnesses

I have to throw into the mix some collar alternatives.  Attaching the leash to the collar may eventually cause neck damage, especially to those dogs that pull.  Harnesses are a great alternative for small dogs or dogs that don't have an urge to pull.  See this WebMD link for more information.

Like I mentioned earlier, I use an EzyDog harness for my Kingsley.  I chose the EzyDog, because it it lightweight, reflective, and very easy to get on and off - just one snap!  There are also other great harnesses!  If you have a short-haired dog, check out Puppia.  They can be too warm on a dog with long hair or a dog with an undercoat. I have linked the best deal I've found online for Puppia harnesses.

For my baby, Maeby, I have to pull out the big guns.  She's a strong puller and easily distracted when I'm out of breath.  With her, I use a padded head collar.

Petmate Head Collar

Unfortunately, she broke the Gentle Leader head collar.  It was still useable, but I couldn't size it properly.  So, I found a padded head collar that was more durable (shown above).  They are NOT a muzzle.  They can still eat, drink, pant, bark, lick and fetch while wearing it.  It takes the pressure off of the dog's throat/neck while walking and prevents pulling and lunging.  Maeby stops pulling almost immediately.  She's a little testy, but even she responds to the head collar.  FYI I do not recommend the shock absorbing leash with a head collar.  The shock absorbing leashes are too heavy for a head collar.

If you find any of these products for a better deal, please, leave a comment.