Balancing Corporate & Homesteading Lifestyles
Ingredient Splitting
Finding the right food for your dog is difficult enough, if all foods were created equal, but they aren't. In fact, some dog food companies spend a disproportionate amount on branding and marketing then the actual product that they are selling.
Ingredient splitting is one practice that companies use to make their product appear more appealing to the consumer (you and me). Add that to a well-designed package and you think you think you are buying a quality food for your dog but its really just smoke and mirrors.
What is ingredient splitting?
Ingredient splitting is the misleading practice of dividing a more abundant (inferior) ingredient into smaller portions of similar items. In other words, it's a sneaky way to elevate a more desirable ingredient, like meat, to a higher spot on the ingredient list, while lowering the spot of a less desirable ingredient like rice or corn.
Obviously, if you glanced at both labels, you would choose the bag with chicken meal ranked number one, not realizing both bags contain exactly the same product.
Keeping this in mind, don't rely on packaging claims that meat is the first ingredient. The ingredients can be manipulated to change their order.
Don’t place excessive value on claims that meat is the first ingredient. Keep in mind, the ingredients can be manipulated to change their order.
What to Look for?
When reading a label, here are some suggestions to identify ingredient splitting:
Ingredients matter. Beautiful packaging is always appealing, but it's the ingredients that matter most. Always check the ingredient list.
Don’t put too much value in the first ingredient but look at the first 5 ingredients to determine the most abundant items in any dog food formula.
Look for evidence of ingredient splitting. Be skeptical when you find multiple versions of similar ingredients clustered together near the top of the list. For example, if you find corn meal, and corn flour included in the first 5 items of a recipe, you can be fairly certain the main ingredient in the food is not meat.
Some other examples to look for when ingredient splitting can occur:
Corn: Corn gluten meal, corn flour, and whole ground corn
Rice: whole rice, white rice, rice flour, and rice bran
Potatoes: dried potatoes, potato starch, potato protein, and potato flour
For reviews on many dog foods, visit the Dog Food Advisor site. They have over 5,700 reviews.
To find out more about healthy feeding, here are some of our previous posts:
The History of Pet Grooming
Pet grooming is a common practice in our society. People don't even think twice about spending hundreds of dollars having their pets groomed and bathed by a pet grooming professional. It is such common convenience that many people forget the history of what made this profession what it is. If you look at the paintings of the Elizabethan era you will see pets portrayed in paintings that are well-groomed and clean. Who did the grooming? Was grooming a pet an actual profession back then? Was the local barber responsible for pet care as well as cutting hair and medical responsibilities? Did the local Lord or Lady have their hair cut alongside their pet There are actually paintings from that era that depict a dog being sheared while sitting on his ladies lap.
As breeds became popular in the 17th century, poodles in France received recognition for being the dog of the court. This entry also records that professional grooming parlors were open for dogs. In 1879 Shaw wrote a book called The Book of the Dog.
This book made references concerning dog grooming in England and gave helpful hints of how to clean, groom, and keep your dog healthy.
As animals became more a part of society, pets and work animals became more important so did how they looked. The animals were groomed, either by their owners or professional pet groomers. Animals such as horses were groomed by stable boys or their owners depending on the owners taste and wealth. As animal labor was replaced by automobiles and machines, the grooming of the animal took on a more personal reflection of the owner, particularly in high society. A well groomed and clean animal was a sign of wealth and prosperity.
In today's perspective of pet grooming, the animal is considered part of the family or something to show as a source of pride. Organizations such as 4H incorporate pet grooming into their program so that not only the health of the animals is displayed but also the owner's attention to the animal. Special events are organized to present current animal grooming techniques and the products of the pet grooming industry. Horses and other livestock are adorned during parades and rodeos making the animals a showpiece to the event. There are even pet grooming conventions that meet periodically around the United States and the world to present the newest techniques and equipment used in the pet grooming industry.
There are thousands of web pages dedicated to the art and fashion of grooming and as with many long-standing professions a rich history of pet grooming dictates pride and self achievement in the professional.
So next time you visit your local pet grooming expert, remember that they are not just a service, but they have been backed with centuries of expertise, refinement, and dedication to the art. The next time you drop off your animal to a pet grooming expert, remember your animal will be taken care of with pride and integrity.
You can check out this page for DIY grooming tips. Looking for a groomer? Then check out the National Association of Dog Groomers.
Choosing Healthy Food For Your Dog
Today's pet food market is larger and more diverse than ever before. While this offers a large number of choices in various types of pet food, it also presents a dilemma in choosing the healthiest food for your dog. Are generic or store brands suitable for a dog? What about familiar name brands like Purina and Alpo? Are the pricier brands that advertise specially formulated ingredients (Science Diet, Eukanuba) really living up to their claims and worth the extra money? All of these are valid questions that loving dog owners deserve to have answered.
Our Story
I'll be honest, I never thought much about dog food before we adopted Finn, our Catahoula. Although we bought the same brand of food, he would often get "sick" after getting a new bag of the food. Frustrated for Finn and having to clean up diarrhea in the house, I looked to solutions and realized that kibble was NOT our best option. I took him off commercial dog foods and starting cooking for both him and Nova, our other rescue. They now are on a raw diet and eat a variety of meats, vegetables, fruits and eggs. And problem solved. Granted, it's a little more time consuming and expensive but balances out AND I have happier and healthier dogs.
Dog Food Considerations
There are several factors to consider when choosing the right food for your dog. Different dogs have different nutritional needs at different stages in their lives. Some things to consider when selecting the food you'll give your dog follow.
The Dog's Age
Puppies have different nutritional requirements than adult dogs just as human children have different needs than adult people. Senior dogs also have different requirements than younger adult dogs. Make sure that you select a food that is appropriate for your dog's stage in life.
The Dog's Health
Does your dog have a specific medical condition? If so, the food you choose may need to be partially dictated by that condition. Diabetic dogs need low-glucose foods and dogs with specific allergies (yes dogs can be allergic to all sorts of things, just like people) may require certain foods as well. Your veterinarian can help you choose foods that are appropriate for a dog with a specific medical condition.
The Dog's Size or Body Type
Some dogs are overweight. Some dogs are underweight. Some have a natural tendency to get lots of exercise while others tend to prefer to lie around a lot.
There are, of course, small, medium, and large dogs as well as the ultra-tiny 'toy' dogs. All of these different types of dogs will have different requirements for the type of food they need as well as how much of it.
Your Budget
Dog food can be expensive, there's no doubt about it. And where dog food is concerned, the rule really is "you get what you pay for." Low cost generics and store brands will lighten the burden on your wallet, but may not be the healthiest choice for your dog as they are made with cheap ingredients and lots of fillers. You should buy the best dog food you can on your budget to help ensure your dog's nutrition.
These are some of our previous posts that you might find helpful in choose the right food:
Easter Treats For Your Pup
We are always on the lookout for fun and healthy dog treats, especially the kind that you can make yourself.
With any holiday or celebration, we always want to include our fur babies in the festivities. There are many ways that they can be included, and food is one. Since "our" food is not always the best choice for our pets, making them their own special meal is a great option.
Check out some of these fun goodies we found!
Woof Loaf for dogs and cats
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground turkey
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup peas
1/2 cup oats
2 eggs
3 hard-boiled eggs
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a bowl, mix together turkey, chopped carrots, and peas.
- Add the oats and eggs. Mix until the loaf mixture comes together. Lightly grease a loaf pan with olive oil and then add half the mixture to the pan.
- Place the three hard-boiled eggs along the center of the loaf and then cover with the other half of the ground turkey mixture. Pop in the oven and bake for 45 minutes.
- Once cooled, cut it into slices and feed it to your dog. For cats, chop it up into small pieces before serving.
Source: PopSugar
Carrot Mini Muffins
Ingredients
- 3 medium carrots shredded (approximately 1 1/2 cup)
- 1 cup sugar-free apple sauce
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour*
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
*I often use sweet potato flour for my dog food recipes and it works just as well.
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and
- Line mini-muffin pans with paper liners.
- In a medium bowl, mix shredded carrot, apple sauce, eggs, and milk then set aside.
- In a large bowl mix the flour, cinnamon, and baking powder.
- Once well combined add the wet carrot mixture to the flour mixture and stir until mixed.
- Spoon cupcake batter into paper liners until 1/2 to 2/3 full.
- Bake for 10 minutes (until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean).
- Cool 5 minutes in pans then remove and place on wire racks to cool completely. This makes 4 dozen.
Source: Thousand Hills Pet Resort
On Easter morning, you can make it a game and hide your dog's treats around the house, creating a special “egg hunt” for your fur baby. It will be a fun time for everyone! Happy Easter! And remember to keep the candy safely away from your dog or cat.
Dangers of Easter Candy For Our Furry Friends
For millions of families, the celebration of Easter includes Easter baskets filled with sweet treats galore, chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks, sugary jelly beans, and snack-size versions of nearly every candy product imaginable.
As parents, we often warn our children, "Don't eat too much or you'll make yourself sick!" At worst, a child who stuffs him or herself with chocolate may develop nausea and a stomachache.
But for our furry friends who get into the Easter goodies, 'getting sick' may be the least of it. Many of the sweet treats mentioned above can be fatal to dogs, cats, and other small animals (such as ferrets.)
As responsible pet owners, it's our job to protect our pets from harm. And though pet owners routinely give their companion animals human food, giving candy to your pet is almost always a big mistake.
Yes, many pets prefer to eat what we eat. Yes, household pets (especially dogs) like sweet, sugary foods. And yes, it feels good to pamper Fido or Fluffy by giving them "just a little taste" of what we're having for supper.
But many of the foods that humans enjoy can not only cause illness for your beloved dog or cat, they can even be fatal. And given how small a cat or dog is compared to a human, sometimes it doesn't take much.
Chocolate
Chocolate is one of the most deadly foods for both cats and dogs. Dark chocolate is worst while white chocolate has the lowest risk. It's not only high in fat, it contains two nervous system stimulants, caffeine, and theobromine. The fat can make your pet vomit or cause diarrhea; unpleasant, but usually not fatal.
If you have reason to think that your pet has gotten into the candy, call your vet and describe the symptoms. (Symptoms of chocolate toxicity are nervousness, vomiting, shaking, and overreacting to noises, touch, lights, etc.)
If your vet is closed, call an emergency vet center. If you don't have one of those in your area you can call one of the national animal poison control lines such as the Pet Poison Helpline: 1-855-764-7661. (There is usually a fee for this service.)
It is up to you to make sure that Easter candy and other dangerous foods are kept securely out of the reach of your household pets ó so your whole family can enjoy the holiday!
But it's the stimulants that sometimes cause death. Theobromine is both a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic. A dog that ingests an overdose of chocolate may be fine at first, but will probably become excited and hyperactive within a few hours. It may pass large quantities of urine and become unusually thirsty. The theobromine will cause your pet's heart rate to accelerate or beat irregularly, either of which can cause death (especially with exercise.)
You can find out more about chocolate and dogs here.
We have a few great Easter treats that you can make for your dog (or cat) and safely include them in the holiday festivities. Check them out here.
Sugary Food
But it's not just chocolate that's the problem. All sugary foods can cause dental problems, lead to obesity, and contribute to diabetes in pets, too. So be sure to keep your stash of chocolate securely out of your pet's reach.
Children are notorious for sorting and trading candy, so make sure they don't leave candy laying around. (or candy wrappers, either, which can cause choking)
And don't forget how flexible and persistent a pet can be when it smells something yummy in a trash bin.
Delight Your Dog With A Natural Treat
As dog owners become more aware of their dog's nutritional needs, they increasingly recognize the advantage of providing their dogs with natural dog treats.
Natural dog treats contain no added chemical preservatives or fillers, leaving your dog with straight nutritional value, nothing more. Natural treats also use the highest grade of edible products and processing techniques to ensure they're even fit for human consumption (and who knows, this might help if you ever get stuck in a survival situation with your dog!)
Let's examine a few commercially-available natural dog treats, and then a few treats you might stumble across in your own backyard.
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Commercial Natural Dog Treats
As odd as they sound on first blush, pig ears are a natural favorite for many of our furry friends. They contain a reasonable amount of fat, and dogs find the flavor irresistible.
Much like some humans and their love for pork rinds. Pig ear treats should be baked instead of chemically processed, and should have no added preservatives or coloring agents. Check your package label carefully.
Greenies are another favorite dog treat -- a unique variety that uses chlorophyll to naturally freshen your dog's breath. Greenies contain no preservatives, artificial flavors or extra coloring. Surprisingly enough, dogs love them, and owners swear by them when it comes to sweetening the breath in a safe and healthy way. Chewing these treats has the added benefit of helping to clean your dog's teeth.
Our Recommendations:
We recommend Dr. Becker's Bites if you are looking for some amazing organic treats. They offer unmatched liver quality from three different protein sources... Bison, Venison and Beef. All three are free-range, grass-fed organic livers free from steroids, antibiotics or growth hormones... the purest form of meat/liver you can find. Our pups love them!
Eco Kind treats & chews: 100% natural, limited ingredient dog treats and chews that contain no chemicals or preservatives, are easy to digest, and are safe for dogs of all ages, breeds and sizes.
Mother Nature's Own Natural Dog Treats
You might be surprised to realize that natural dog treats exist right in your refrigerator, or in your garden. Carrots, apple slices, and celery are all terrific natural dog treats, providing vitamins without added chemical enhancers.
Just give these treats a wash before giving them to your dogs.
For an extra-special treat, chop up your fruits or veggies, and mix with a dab of peanut butter and a teaspoon or two of raw oatmeal.
Whether commercially manufactured or straight from the garden, natural dog treats are a great way to give your dogs a dash of extra nutrition without any mysterious extras.
My dogs love their little frozen treats. We use organic baby food, pumpkin, peanut butter, yogurt and a variety of pureed veggies and meats for a perfect frozen treat. This is a cute dog bone mold that I use for both frozen and baked treats (not pictured).
Easy Peanut Butter Dog Treat Recipe
Another very easy recipe! And what dog doesn't love peanut butter (not many!)
INGREDIENT
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/3 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1 cup skim milk, or 1 cup hot water (not boiling)
- 1 egg
DIRECTION
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the whole wheat flour and the baking powder. Add the milk, or hot water, the peanut butter and the egg. Mix well, until all the ingredients are blended completely. If the dough is too dry, add some milk or water depending on what you’ve chosen for the recipe.
- I use my silicone mold for the cookies but you may use a cookie cutter if preferred.
- Bake your cookies for 20 minutes or until they are slightly browned.
- Set aside to cool completely and serve.
- Store in airtight container (we use a mason jar) in the fridge.
To learn more about healthy feeding, check out You Shouldn't Be The Only One Eating Healthy and Understanding The Fat To Protein Ratio In Dog Food.
Tips For Traveling With Your Dog
Traveling with your dog can be hassle-free with a little planning. Whether a vacation or visiting friends, there are many occasions for us to include our favorite furry companions on an adventures!
We love traveling with ours!
Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Medication & First Aid Travel Kit
It's always a good idea to carry a small first aid kit when traveling with your dog. If your pet is on medication, pack an adequate supply so you don't run short.
First aid kits can be purchased online or you can make one of your own.
Prepare Your Car
There are many accessories that you can get for your vehicle to make the trip safe for both you and your pet. Take into consideration: your dog's size and attitude toward car rides, the length of the trip, and your vehicle.
Pre-Plan Your Trip
Stop frequently for exercise, bathroom and water breaks. Having planned stops for long trips will be very helpful. A well-exercised animal will sleep and not be jumping around your car. Most highway rest stops have places to walk your dog. Follow the guidelines and clean up after your pet.
Preparing Your Dog
No one wants to think of the worst, but best to be prepared if your dog gets lost. There are some extra precautions that you can take for those "just in case" times.
Be sure your dog has proper identification on her collar. If your dog is micro-chipped, make sure the information on file is current. So, if your dog is found, you will be notified.
Another option is a GPS Tracker. We highly recommend the Cube GPS Tracker.And simply through the phone app, you can track your dog's location.
Packing For Your Dog
Bring along your dog’s food dishes, bed or pillow, and a couple of her favorite toys. Having familiar items along for the trip can help ease the stress of traveling and make the trip more enjoyable for you both.
Amazon sells some fun pet travel bags with collapsible dishes. This is the one we recommend.
Biting The Hand That Pets You (Cats)
Most cats will simply walk away when they have had enough attention from you. Others, however, will nip at your hand. Why do they do this? You aren’t hurting him, just stroking, so it can get confusing.
Some cats become over stimulated easily. The stroking gets them wound and the bite relieves some of that tension. Others just never learned that biting was inappropriate behavior. There is no consensus on exactly why some cats bite and others don’t, but there are some warning signs you can look for that may help you prevent being bit.
Watch your cat’s tail. If the end begins twitching, this is a sure sign the cat is getting irritated. Unlike dogs, cats do not wag their tails. Another sign to look for is ear movement. Every cat owner is familiar with the flattened ears of an angry cat, but by that time, it is too late and you are nursing a bite. Watch for the ears to start turning to the sides. This is an indication your furry friend is getting agitated. Stop stroking now and you can prevent getting bit.
With cats that have a tendency to bite, it is good to follow what has been dubbed the seven-stroke rule. Allow yourself to stroke your cat only seven times to start. Then stop. This is usually short enough not to create agitation. Eventually you can add another stroke and then another, but do it slowly over time. This will give your cat time to build up to being stroked.
Just as some people prefer not to be touched, some cats are also this way. Learning to recognize the warning signs will help prevent anger on your part and irritation for your cat. This will make you both happier.
Hybrid Dog: Isn’t That Just Another Name For A Mutt?
Every day we hear more about the new 'hybrid' or 'designer' dogs. Many of these dogs come with a steep price tag.
Of course, they're cute! All puppies are! But, should you pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for one? I wouldn't but I guess that's for you to decide.
Keeping in mind, the offspring of a mating between two purebred dogs of different breeds is a mongrel, a mutt. And if you have one, you should love it, train it and care for it as if it had the bluest blood of the canine kingdom.
Every dog breed and there are hundreds in the world, was "created" by humans. Each breed was developed for a specific purpose, whether that original job was guarding the flock or being the ideal lap dog. There is no reason that development shouldn't continue. If there is a need for a dog with particular characteristics, enterprising individuals will come forward to fill that need.
However, it takes many generations to 'breed true.' Compare yourself to your siblings. Do you all have the same looks, same personality, same interests, and strengths? Chances are, you don't. Each of you has some of the "best" traits of your parents. But those may not be the same traits. And each of you has some of the worst.
Two of the best-known mixed-breeds out there now are the Golden Doodle and the Puggle.
Golden Doodle:
The thinking behind these crosses is fairly obvious: wouldn't it be nice to have a Golden Retriever's personality and willingness to please combined with the Poodle's non-shedding coat and intelligence?
Puggle:
Wouldn't it be equally delightful to have a small dog without the breathing issues of a Pug, but quieter than a Beagle?
The Reality:
There is no way of knowing you won't get a high-strung, noisy, stubborn, slobbering mutt who sheds like the dickens! But then again, that holds true with most dogs.
Do Your Research:
If you are considering spending the kind of money that these hybrids are commanding, be sure to research all of the traits of the contributing breeds. You will get a mixture of the two. And an equally adorable mixture may be waiting for you at your local shelter, or rescue organization, in the size you want, with the coat you want and the adorable face that melts your heart.
If you require certain characteristics in your puppy, whether a family member has allergies, or you have a very small, or no yard, or your household requires a quiet, easy keeper, or if you wish to fully participate in the world of canine competition, consider a pure-bred animal. There are over 150 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. Research them at www.akc.org. Surely one of them is right for you.
Whenever possible, check out your adoption options as there are so many amazing dogs just waiting for the perfect family.
