Ever since I saw the video on throwing out your food bowls, I have really reconsidered how I feed my dogs and what it's doing for them or not doing for them. We've always had plenty of interactive toys that we stuffed with treats for play times, but we only rarely used them as food dispensers. Well, I have now taken to feeding Hannah and Sam using those same interactive toys as a way of stimulating their minds and bodies. (It should be beneficial for Hannah's weight to have to work a little harder for her food) They really seem to enjoy even the simplest games, like scavenging food from the back yard after I've tossed it all over. (I'm guessing the birds enjoy the spoils of this game as well)
Our new Linkables (top shelf)
Anyway, last week we got a new toy, called Linkables, in the store and I couldn't wait to get them home. They come in three styles, an elbow, a twist and an orb. Each one has "threads" similar to a screw, so that you can connect them together easily. They're similar in concept to the Canine Genius, but easier to connect together and the openings are smaller, making them better for kibble than treats. The toys are made of a dense rubber (which I do have to say doesn't smell fantastic when new, but the dogs didn't seem to mind) I actually took all three pieces home because I wanted to challenge them as much as possible, since they're kind of old hat at interactive toys. Did they love them? Well, check it out for yourself!
Last week we got in several new Molly Mutt duvet patterns. I love the beautiful colors and patterns of Molly Mutt and I also love that the duvets allow you to re-use old dog beds, towel, clothes and so much more! In addition, they are easy to take apart and wash (although I haven't gotten a chance to test that out yet.) Today I cleaned the carpets in our house and I decided it was a great chance to re-do Hannah and Sam's beds, so they each got a new Molly Mutt duvet. Sam's has a bird on it, of course, since Sam loves birds so much. We simply put it over his old bed that we got at Walmart several years ago that had shredded after it's first washing. Hannah got the Mr. Postman pattern, which is purple with a squirrel and was absolutely too cute to pass up. We filled Hannah's with Cary's old clothes, which served a couple purposes. One, it cleaned out our closet, which was long overdue! The second is that our clothes carry our scent, and since Hannah has separation anxiety and is nervous, especially at this time of year with the fireworks, our scents help to calm her in our absence.
A little over a week ago I ask those of you with three dogs if you would recommend it. The overwhelming response was yes! So, last Thursday, Cary, Hannah, Sam and I went to the Humane Society. We let Hannah and Sam play at Murphy Dog Park with the hound puppy for a little while to try and get a feel for how they would do together. But, it was hot and the end of the day and there were lots if dogs at the park, so it was hard to get a good read. Clay was kind enough to allow us to bring the puppy, Huckleberry, home for the evening to get a better feel for the situation.
Huckleberry snoozes at the store.
Well, I am sorry to report that it didn't work out so well. I was really most concerned about Hannah's reaction, because she tends to be a little anti-social. Turns out she was fine, but Sam was not! Sam was just grumpy and growly and generally not his happy-go-lucky self. (Cassie threw her vote in with Sam, by the way)
Sam while we had Huckleberry
I think maybe given time, Sam could have accepted Huck, but I don't think he would have ever loved him. So, unfortunately, we had to return Huck to the Humane Society, which was indescribably difficult, considering he only visited us for one day. Clay said they had already had a call about him, though, and he is a smart, sweet and gentle puppy, so I know he'll find a good home. Just not with us. Maybe in the future, we'll try again. I've learned a couple things from this experience, like Sam gets along with females better than males, and any dog that's going to be a part of our family needs to be fast to keep up with Hannah and Sam. And overall, I'll try to remember not to get too attached before Hannah and Sam get their say.
Tessa the Weenie Dog (names by my daughter, Olivia)
The Bigwag and VanOrder family has a new member, Tessa the Weenie Dog. We (Brandi and two year old daughter, Olivia) was given this cute little girl last week by our uncle. Unfortunately, our uncle's house sold and had to move and couldn't take this precious little stinker with him. He called up to Bigwag and told me that he couldn't see Tessa in a better place.....and I wasn't too hard to convince. I was a little weary after losing Oliver and Precious, all within a two year period. Olivia has been asking for a puppy friend for awhile now so needless to say, we immediately went and got her and she's now here to stay! Olivia had the privilege to name Tessa when our Uncle first got her and has now added "the Weenie Dog" to her name. Olivia has named every dog in our whole family actually, like Maggie the Ferocious Beast!! Tessa the Weenie Dog loves attention so feel free to come into Bigwag to say hello and see her tricks!
This coming Friday, June 25th, 2010 is Take Your Dog to Work Day. The event is organized by Pet Sitters International and is intended to promote pet adoptions. You can find out more about Take Your Dog to Work Day by visiting http://www.takeyourdog.com/
Lana Flowers contacted me yesterday morning and told me she'd recently written an article on a local dog who got into some sugar-free gum and nearly died as a result of poisoning from the Xylitol the gum contained. This is an important warning to all pet owners. There are many foods which can be toxic to your pets and while most people are aware of chocolate, there are far more dangerous substances out there. Read Miles' story below or at First Arkansas News. Most importantly, be sure to protect your pet from similar situations by educating yourself about household dangers!
Dog Chews Ice Breakers Gum, Nearly Dies from Xylitol Poisoning
ROGERS — The plastic shopping bag was left on the floor, with a container of sugar-free gum inside.
Miles, an inquisitive puppy, investigated and consumed part of the bag’s contents. He spent a Sunday morning through a Wednesday evening at two different veterinarians’ offices, because the Xylitol in the sugar-free, strawberry flavored Ice Breakers gum made Miles deathly ill.
He even went into liver failure.
The Reiser family of Rogers, Ark., discovered Miles and his plight after they came home on a Sunday morning from eating breakfast at a local restaurant.
“When we walked in, his ears were low and he had thrown up once on our bedroom floor and and once on our bed,” said Miles’ owner, Jeni Reiser.
Above: Miles, victim of Xylitol posioning, goes for a car ride after his recovery.
Iams is recalling Iams ProActive Health canned Cat and Kitten Food due to low levels of thiamine
This recall is limited to only Iams canned cat food distributed in North America. No other Iams pet food is involved.
Early signs of thiamine deficiency may include loss of appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss. In advanced cases, signs may include ventroflexion (downward curving) of the neck, wobbly gait, falling, circling and seizures. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your cat is displaying any of these signs. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.
Consumers who have purchased canned cat food with these codes should discard it. For further information or a product refund, call P&G toll-free at 877-340-8826 (Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST).
The following Iams canned cat foods are included:
Product Name: Iams ProActive Health canned Cat and Kitten Food – all varieties of 3 oz & 5.5 oz cans
Date on Bottom of Can: 09/2011 to 06/2012
If you want to read the news release on the Iams Recall click here.
This Saturday and Sunday, June 19th and 20th, from 8am-12pm at Marchant Hills Arena in Springdale, Northwest Arkansas is hosting a UKI Sanctioned Agility Trial! I'm very excited about this event, because it's just further proof that Northwest Arkansas is home to world class events of all kinds. While Nanette Nance and Karen Valle, who have organized the event, tell me that it's a smaller than they had originally planned for, due to a conflicting event in Springfield, I think it's a fabulous step in the right direction for Northwest Arkansas. I urge you to come out and see the teams compete, because agility in person is truly breathtaking. The event is free to the public, so there's really no reason not to come out and watch. Plus it's a great place to find out about the sport and how you can get your dog involved in the future!
As you know, we carry Frontline Plus in store and we make every attempt to make it as affordable as possible. (We also carry all natural alternatives, but that's another blog) Well, recently, I've had a very difficult time getting Frontline in. It's out of stock, back ordered from the manufacturer, you name it, I've heard it... Now, I may be the only one experiencing these problems, because as a retail location rather than a veterinarian, I have to go through a distributor. And I won't order from just any old distributor, because I have to trust them and have guarantees on their products. I won't sell products that are imported from Australia or wherever else, because, well, if it isn't really Frontline, then it really doesn't matter how cheap it is.
But, I did happen across and interesting article in one of my industry magazines this month, and I'm wondering if there's a connection. The article addresses the recent EPA report on spot on flea products. It turns out that the EPA began a review of about 200 spot on products from 19 manufacturers in April 2009 and they released their findings in March of this year.
The results? They concluded that it's consumer error and that labeling and dosage instructions need to be better. They will be meeting with the manufacturers individually to discuss those changes. They also found that inert ingredients will need to be disclosed more fully. Apparently, as it stands currently, the inert ingredients could actually be toxic in their own right, but because they aren't pesticides, they don't have to be enumerated on the label.
Now, I don't know if either of these issues has anything to do with me not being able to get Frontline in the store, but I do have to say that these findings border between ridiculous and frightening in my opinion. I find it hard to believe that every instance of reaction or death was caused by misuse. Is the EPA is really saying that every death or reaction was caused because consumers accidentally put dog products on their cats or overdosing their dogs? That seems a little off when they can't even tell us exactly what the inert ingredients are. Or that the inert ingredients are even the same from batch to batch. Call me crazy, but I don't think potentially toxic ingredients should be allowed in a product, period. Let alone under the label of inert ingredients. It seems to me that the EPA is taking some much needed action, but it it took far too many serious complaints to get such a minimal reaction. And I'm not sure I believe that this action will really provide safer flea products in the end. And shouldn't that be the ultimate goal? Or is it really too much to ask for a safe, effective flea treatment?
Cary and I dropped by the Humane Society on Saturday to take the treats you donated and while we were there we fell in love with a little brindle hound puppy. Cary and I have both said previously that two is enough, but on occasion we've also seriously considered getting a third dog. The last time we found one that we were drawn to, Cary had just been laid off and we didn't feel like it was financially responsible to take on another dog. By the time he'd found a job, she'd found a home, so obviously, it just wasn't meant to be.
This time, we're in a good place. We have the room in our home and our hearts. Of course, there are still lots of things to consider before we bring another dog into our family. For example, Hannah and Sam will have the final say on whether this dog is a good match for our family. We'll have to take them out to the dog park to meet this little guy and see if they get along. Plus, we'll have to make sure this puppy would be good with cats as well.
But, the point of this blog is this: For those of you with three, what is your experience? Paul Knutson tells me that the adage "one dog is like one dog, two dogs is like two, but three is like six" is true. I've never had three dogs (my parents drew the line at two!) so I'm curious if that's everyone's experience. Plus, I'm concerned about someone being left out. What if Sam takes to the new puppy and doesn't want to play with Hannah anymore? Has anyone experienced that, or do they all get along well? And overall, I just want to know what you guys think. If you have a three dog family, are you glad or do you wish you'd stopped at two? I'd appreciate any feedback that will help us make an informed decision. Because, if anyone knows, it's you!
I saw this great article on Earthbath's blog the other day and I thought it was worthy of passing along. If you'd like to read the article from it's original source, you can view it here:
If it’s your first time heading to the dog park,
Go to the park for the first time at an off-peak time! This will help allow your dog to get acquainted with the territory without any pressure or anxiety brought on by other dogs, high excitement and activity.
Transition your dog slowly to the off-leash area, using the gated entrance.
Stay with your dog, and be alert! Take notice of the other dogs in the park, how they are playing and interacting with other dogs, and how your dog is reacting to them.
Your dog should be confident, be well socialized to other dogs and people, and reliably come when you call him.
Supervise your dog at all times and don’t talk on your cell phone or get too involved with talking with other people; this is your time to bond with your dog in a fun, dog-friendly social environment.
If there are designated areas for small dogs and big dogs, use them. These areas are for the safety and comfort of both large and small dogs; whether or not your dog is a gentle giant or fierce teacup poodle; the other dogs may not appreciate the size differential and become intimidated or aggrieved.
Be prepared to leave if your dog seems overwhelmed or isn’t having a good time.
Remember that there are as many human personalities at the park as there are canine personalities, so prepare to be patient and polite.
As always, clean up after your dog.
Though it’s a good idea to start socializing your dog to other dogs at an early age, puppies under the age of 4 months should stay home.
Yesterday after I blogged about the Crazy Critters, Cary and I were talking about interactive pet toys. He mentioned he'd seen a segment online that addressed interactive toys and how we're actually making our dogs less inelligent because we do so much for them. Being Cary, he forwarded the link to me. And although it's a little long, the overall concept of the video is pretty interesting. Who'd have thought that we're actually creating not only health problem but also mental problems for our dogs because of how much we care for them? And even better, who'd have thought that you cannot only make your dog healthier, but also smarter, simply by tossing out their food bowl?
You can check out the video by clicking on the link below!
Yesterday I had a sweet customer who wanted a tough toy for her Golden Retiever call and ask if we carried the Crazy Critters. For those of you who have yet to see the commercial, you can watch it below:
When I first saw this commercial, I thought two things: First, we carry a very similar product called Unstuffies, and immediately I thought, I should get more in stock because people would be looking for Crazy Critters. Second, I cringed at the claims that these toys were so tough. To put it simply, plush is not a tough, durable material. And although they never actually use the word indestructible, they certainly give the impression that this toy is going to be around for years to come with phrases like "super strong", "reinforced" and "durable". They even say they'll stand up to "the toughest dog."
I spend a lot of time telling people there is no such thing as an indestructible toy. It's a myth. Even our lovely, wonderful, guaranteed Planet Dog toys are not indestructible. Guaranteed, yes. Indestructible, definitely not. I have a stack of items that have been returned for a new toy sitting here next to me as a reminder of that.
I have searched the world (via the internet) for the toughest toys I could find. Because, Hannah is that dog. The dog who will chew anything and everything. The dog who ate Cary's electric razor and all of our television remotes. The dog who ate my nativity scene at Christmas time and a t-bone in three chomps (the first and last time she was ever given steak bones, by the way) So, I know what it's like to have a dog that destroys her toys. I know how sad the stuffed animals look when they have only one eye and a nub where an ear used to go. And I understand how frustrating it is to get a toy that's supposed to be tough only to have it destoyed in under twenty minutes (I'm looking at you, Walmart fire hose toy!)
So, when companies make claims about their products that are too good to be true, it makes me angry. And so after speaking with the customer looking for the Crazy Critters, I went online in search of information on the product. What I found were multitudes of reviews. And while I found some happy people, I found a lot more with comments like this:
Cassie 5 weeks ago
I gave a crazy critter to my dog this morning. In fifteen minutes he had removed the squeakers. Normally it takes less than five minutes for him to remove a squeaker, but even if it did take three times as long, fifteen minutes isn't long for it to last. Crazy critters are not as durable as advertised.
David 5 weeks ago
These reviews have been extremely helpful and have successfully prevented me from wasting my money and time. It is time for consumers to take charge and blow the whistle on companies that gain market share based on false advertisement! Kudos to those of you who took the time to share your experience.
mj 3 weeks ago
my chihuahua played with it 3 or 4 days before she got the squeaker out. I was really disappointed with the toy.
Becky 3 weeks ago
Well our dogs DID love them crazy critters but unfortunatley our big chocolate lab ripped it apart-THOUGHT THESE THINGS WERE INDESTRUCTABLE - WRONG- How can we get our money$ back?
So my recommendation? Give up on the indestructible toy. You'll be far less likely to be disappointed that way. Then, pay attention to what your dog enjoys. Does your dog really like gnawing on things or does your dog simply get bored and destroy things? We found that if we offered Hannah alternatives to chewing, like interactive toys with treats inside, our household possessions had a much more favorable fate. If your dog really likes to chew, buy things that are meant for chewing. We keep deer antlers on hand for Hannah when she has the need to gnaw. If your dog really likes the soft, plushy toys, there are tougher lines, like Tuffies Sea Creatures, but they still aren't indestructible. My advice? If you want to go for the plush, make peace with the fact that it's going to end up destroyed. Let your dog enjoy a cheap, plush toy for fifteen (or five) blissful minutes and then clean up the pieces before they become a choking hazard!
Some of the fabulous, fun volunteers from Spay Arkansas
Hey Everyone!
Spay Arkansas, a local non-profit organization that is raising money for a low-cost spay/neuter clinic is having a fundraiser in two weeks that sounds like a blast! It's called Sing for Spay: A Night for k-9's kids and karaoke with the Schulertown Band.
Spaying and neutering is the only way we'll ever solve the problem of homeless and unwanted animals and control the feral cat population. But unfortunately, not everyone is able to afford spaying or neutering, so a low-cost clinic is a real, viable solution to ending animal homelessness.
If you'd like to help raise money for this worthy cause while having a great time, check out Sing for Spay! It's going to be out at Dog Party USA on Saturday, June 19th, from 5:30 until dark. For more information, visit our Pet Events Calendar!
We are honored to be sponsoring the First Annual Arkansas Disc Dog Championship, coming Saturday, June 19th at 10am to Old Tiger Stadium in Bentonville. Matt Srum of NWA K9 Disc Club has worked very hard to organize this event and he already has 38 teams registered to compete in four events. If you are interested in participating in the event, you can pre-register online until June 17th! You can also register on the day of the event. Even if you don't have a dog that catches discs, this will be a great event to come out and watch!
Above: Matt & Draykun prepare for a demo at Dogwood Walk
I am happy to announce that Northwest Arkansas Animal Rescue is going to hold another low-cost vaccination/micro-chipping clinic at Bigwag! The one we held last year was very successful and I look forward to this one being successful as well! The information is as follows:
When: Saturday, June 12th, 10am-2pm
Where: Bigwag Dog Bakery; 2301 W. Walnut Ste 23 Rogers, AR 72756 (behind Popeye's Chicken)
Microchipping $20 (Microchips are on the 24 hour Petwatch system)
There are no appointments taken. Everyone will be seen on a first come, first serve basis. You may want to bring lawn chairs and water for yourself and your dog or cat. For more information you may contact us at (479) 631-2WAG.
I think I am possibly one of the world's worst bloggers when it comes to posting pictures with any kind of efficiency. The 18th Annual Dogwood Walk was held Saturday, May 22 on the Old Main Lawn on the U of A campus. I have to admit that when I heard the venue wasn't Gulley Park, I was disappointed, because it just seemed like it wouldn't be the same. But, the Old Main Lawn was amazing! The turnout was fantastic, the weather was great (if a little windy/warm) and we had a great time.
Congratulations to Amanda Fagg of Fayetteville, who was the winner of our $25 Gift Certificate giveaway at the event!
Our booth, complete with shiny new banner, before everything began!
Mollie & Riley worked the Arts Theater Live Booth with their mom!
Romy & Matt enjoy the festivities
Greta & Ox were available for adoption from the Fayetteville Animal Shelter. Greta is 2, Ox is 1. They told me Ox was on the short list, so I'm not sure if he's still available or not, but you definitely need to hurry if you'd like to adopt him!
Izzy had just taken a dip in the wading pool!
The sweet girl on the left is Neon. Her parents said that since she was black & white, they gave her a colorful name :)On the right is Jersey
Pebbles & Sienna had just finished the walk!
Some of the walkers who helped raise money for the Humane Society of the Ozarks
Delicious, hand crafted, fresh baked artisian treats for your four legged best friends. Human grade ingredients with no added salt, sugar, artificial color or preservatives. We believe treats can not only be good for them, but that they can taste great as well - without any "pallatability enhancers", and the proof is in our closely guarded secret recipies that dogs absolutely love. Real flavors, real dog treats. Give your dog a Bigwag today!
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