Fun and Free Activities for People and Pets

I’ve heard it said (and said it myself): a bored pet can be a destructive pet. Many animals are happiest when they have a job, be it herding sheep or performing tricks. But if your pet isn’t “employed” you can still keep him or her entertained. The best part is that it doesn’t have to cost a penny. Here are some fun, free activities for you and your pets! Grooming. Many pets like being brushed — it’s just a matter of finding the right brush and the right spot. My dog Moose, for example, is happy with any brush on … Continue reading →

Are You Ready For “Pig Brother”?

If you’re a fan of reality television, you’re probably familiar with Big Brother — the show where strangers are put in a house together for the world to watch. Cameras capture every move as one by one, the contestants are voted out of the house. In preparation for the third annual Speck-Spektakel in Helfenberg, Austria, the town is hosting their own version of Big Brother — featuring four piglets. “Pig Brother” stars Piggy, Lilly, Pauli, and Fredi competing for the title of Super Pig at Helfenberg’s Speck-Spektakel (Bacon Trade Fair). Between now and the June festival, you can watch the … Continue reading →

File Under “Poor Decisions”

I was out walking the dogs before work the other morning — it’s just about the first thing I do after I get up every day. On this particular day, I spotted a cat with strange markings. (Thankfully, the dogs did NOT spot the cat.) The cat was a brown tabby with a white belly and white socks on three feet. The fourth leg — the back left one, if you want to be particular about it — was white all the way to the hip. But after I noticed the coloring, I noticed the way the cat was walking: … Continue reading →

Calcium for Canines

Strong teeth. Strong bones. Calcium isn’t just good for humans — it can be good for our four-legged friends, too. If you’re making your own dog food, you should be concerned about calcium. Dogs with a calcium deficiency may show signs of lameness or have an increased risk of fractures. And yes, dogs can develop osteoporosis! So how do you make sure your dog gets enough calcium in his or her diet? Raw (uncooked) meaty bones contain lots of calcium. Not feeding raw? That’s okay — try ground/powdered bone meal. You can also cook bones until they’re soft enough to … Continue reading →

Treats for Pets with Dietary Restrictions

When it comes to food, my two dogs are very different. Lally is the sort of dog who will only eat when she’s hungry; I could leave a bowl of food out all day and she’d regulate herself. Moose is a chow hound; he’ll eat until there’s nothing left and then eat some more. I can’t leave food out for him, because he’d never stop eating! It’s very hard to manage Moose’s weight when he never turns down food. The vet suggested that we avoid chewy snacks — they generally have a higher fat content than crunchy, dry snacks have. … Continue reading →

Foods You Might Not Think of Giving to Dogs

For a while, I was making my own dog food. Check out the basic recipe here if you’re curious. Moose and Lally LOVED it, but it was taking a lot of time, effort, and money to keep it up. Gradually we switched back to dog food, but from time to time I like to supplement their kibbles with some healthy human food. Some of my favorite add-ins are: White or brown rice or oatmeal cooked in chicken broth Shredded lean chicken or turkey Mashed vegetables like carrots, peas, and string beans Plain yogurt (especially when Moose has an upset tummy) … Continue reading →

Animals Bring Out the True Altruists

Yesterday I was reading a copy of Woman’s World. They always have this “What’s Does X Say about Your Personality?” section. If you’ve never seen it, basically they pose a question and give you five or six options to chose from. For instance, sometimes it’s what does your handwriting say about you? Then you pick which style most closely matches yours. Or which color do you prefer? Again, you pick and read what it says. If You Give Holiday Gifts to Animals… This last one was “What does your holiday gift giving style say about you?” One of the selections … Continue reading →

Breed-Specific Dog Food

I was paging through an issue of Dog Fancy magazine and saw an ad for Royal Canin’s new line of breed-specific foods. Interesting idea, huh? Instead of just tailoring foods to dogs of a certain size or age group, they’ve developed foods for specific breeds. It makes sense that puppies would have different nutritional needs than adults or seniors… but what about dogs of the same age but different breeds? Royal Canin — backed by years of research — says that dogs of different heritage have different nutritional needs. Generally speaking, dogs all need the same things. Protein, carbohydrates, vitamins … Continue reading →

Are Dogs Taking Over Hollywood?

Recently I’ve noticed something that I don’t think I’ve ever seen happen before: an upsurge in the release of dog movies. I’m not exactly sure what’s going on, but all of a sudden it seems like dogs are taking over Hollywood. Take a look at what I mean. Since October, look at how many dog movies that are either already out or are soon to be released: Beverly Hills Chihuahua When I first saw the previews for this movie, I did what I think a lot of people did: rolled my eyes and said, “Oh my goodness, they really will … Continue reading →

Catalog Gifts for Cats and the People Who Love Them

Yesterday I listed some gifts for dogs and the people who love from a couple different catalogs. Today I’m going to do the same things for cat people. From Femail Creations Catffeinated Mug: If you’ve got any cat lovers who also happen to be coffee lovers on your holiday shopping list, they might get a big jolt out of this cup. $14. You Can’t Own a Cat decoration: This caught my eye because it looks like something from times gone by. (Like something from the turn of the 20th century perhaps.) But then I looked closer and saw the quote: … Continue reading →