How Do the Top Fresh Dog Food Companies Compare?

Healthy meal delivery services like HelloFresh, Blue Apron, and Purple Carrot, have exploded in popularity among health conscious families that want an easy way to eat healthy every day. These services take the guess work out of meal planning and purchasing, making them the perfect solution for busy households that want to maintain a healthy diet.

But what about the furry members of your family? Did you know there are fresh meal services for them, too? It is easier than ever to ensure your dog eats a healthy, well-balanced diet without planning, purchasing, and preparing on your part.

Why Choose Fresh Meals

One of the reasons kibble is so compelling is due to its convenience. We like the idea that we can feed our dogs a properly balanced, nutritional diet with a simple scoop. Unfortunately, most kibble just doesn’t deliver on that promise. With fresh meal delivery, you actually get what you’re looking for in a diet for your beloved dog.

• Fewer ingredients – Fresh dog food meals have around half of the ingredients of kibble. Simple is sometimes far better.
• Less artificial ingredients and preservatives – Fresh meals don’t need the artificial ingredients and preservatives that allow dry dog food to stay edible for months.
• Fresh ingredients – With fresh dog food, you can see the raw ingredients that are going into the meal.
• Convenience – Delivery services take the stress out of sourcing the ingredients and creating recipes your dog will actually eat.

NomNomNow Compared to Other Fresh Food Services

We believe that NomNomNow is the best fresh food company for your pet which is why they are the official fresh food partner of iHeartDogs. We are going to take a closer look at how NomNomNow compares to The Farmer’s Dog, FreshPet, and Ollie so you can see for yourself what makes them the best.

The Farmer’s Dog

The Farmer’s Dog uses human-grade meats and veggies for their 3 simple recipes. The meals have been “approved” by veterinarians and exceed the AAFCO standards for pet foods. Meals are made in a USDA kitchen, ensuring food safety and they are never frozen.

Meals are portioned for appropriate calorie intake based on the profile you complete for your dog. You answer questions about weight, breed, body condition, and activity level. In filling the information in for a 1 year old 35 pound female mixed breed, weekly cost came to $54.

FreshPet

FreshPet is the pet food company that you see in a fridge case at your local pet food or grocery store. They offer a variety of products from kibble to “slice and serve” tubes of mixed meat, veggies, fruits and grains that can portioned at home for your dog.  Meats are USDA certified and fruits, grains, and veggies are human grade.

The closest offering they have to a fresh meal delivery service is their Homestyle Creations line. You can buy a variety of cooked, packaged proteins and tubs of “mixers” that include fruits, grains, and veggies. With these components you can customize a meal for your dog at home. Estimated weekly cost for Homestyle Creations for a 35 pound dog is $40. It should be noted, however, that the Homestyle Creations line is not widely available.

Ollie

Ollie is a fresh dog food delivery service that uses human grade ingredients to create vet-formulated meals. They include superfoods like chia seeds to increase nutrition. Ollie packages meals based on your dog’s weight, age, activity level, and allergies. Ollie offers four meals: beef, chicken, turkey, and lamb based.

Meals are shipped to your door on a regular schedule and shipping is always free. Meals are portioned out by you from plastic containers that hold a bulk supply. With a 35 pound spayed female, weekly cost for eating Ollie for every meal ranges from $36-$41 depending on which of their four proteins you choose.

NomNomNow

NomNomNow uses whole, restaurant grade ingredients in their 5 meat based recipes as well as offering an egg based recipe for dogs with specific protein sensitivities. Every recipe has been formulated by NomNomNow‘s in-house veterinary nutritionist, Dr. Justin Shmalberg, and exceeds AAFCO standards. In addition to fresh protein, veggies, and fruits, the recipes include important supplements for health and vitality.

Meals are prepared on a weekly basis and portioned specifically for your pet based on Dr. Shmalberg’s recommendation and vacuum sealed for each serving. This makes things super simple at meal time: just open the perforated edge and pour. The profile takes into account your dog’s current and ideal weight to help move the scale for our overnight friends. Weekly cost for a 1 year old 35 pound spayed female is $50. However, the cost scales down by up to 30% by ordering 4 weeks at a time. Shipping is always free.

Better Than the Rest

Based on cost, quality, and convenience, NomNomNow comes in on top. If you want to give your pup the best fresh food, you are in luck. As our partner in fresh food for pets, NomNomNow is offering a super sweet deal to the iHeartDogs community.

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Is My Dog A Healthy Weight?

How Deep Is the Love for Our Dogs?

The connection between people and dogs is the stuff of legend.

Greece, India, Sumatra, Egypt, Scotland, Turkey, China: cultures around the world abound in cynocephalic heroes or gods, individuals with the body of a human and the head of a dog (or sometimes a jackal). The existence of a word to describe such phenomena speaks to how common they are. Though other mythical human/animal chimeras are known—the centaur and minotaur, for example—none are as widespread as those involving canines. This depiction of creatures with the traits of both humans and dogs attests to the longstanding idea that we are connected. We are, it seems, naturally predisposed to form deep connections with dogs.

Chemical systems responsible for the most powerful feelings between humans are also activated by our interactions with dogs. This means that physiologically speaking, we bond with our dogs in the same way we do with our children: through a positive feedback loop involving oxytocin, a hormone involved in many aspects of social behavior.

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behavior

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Hikers Locate Missing Dog With A Little Help From The Stars Above

Kelly McDuffie and Danny Hartung were not looking for a lost pooch when they set out on their hike, but they recognized the Golden Retriever immediately. Missing dog posters bearing Max’s photo were hung all over Shenandoah National Park.

When they stumbled upon him, Max had been lost in the wilderness for 11 days.

McDuffie told Good Morning America, “Everything just fell into place that day…the stars aligned.”

Max’s misadventure began on July 4 when he escaped from his family’s vacation rental at a nearby resort. Employees and park guests had been searching for him ever since.

The park rangers set up food traps and attempted to to track him with cameras, but after 11 long days Max was still missing. His heartbroken owners feared the worst.

Meanwhile, McDuffie and Hartung made the fateful decision to take a wilderness trail instead of the waterfall hike they had planned. Halfway through, McDuffie was sweating in the July heat when she heard the distinct sound of running water.

As they veered off the trail towards the spring, the pair noticed a patch of fresh blackberries and walked deeper into the brush to pick some. That’s when Hartung spotted Max among the leaves.

Despite her fear of dogs, McDuffie’s maternal instinct kicked in. Max was understandably frightened and growled as McDuffie approached. Luckily she was able to win him over with three boiled eggs, a fig bar, and lots of water!

McDuffie and Hartung were ecstatic to have found the missing dog, but they faced a problem. Poor Max was too weak to walk.

With two miles left in their hike it was too far to carry him so they walked a short distance to a fire road to pick up cell service.

“We called the park rangers to come help,” McDuffie wrote in a Facebook post. “While waiting, Max’s family was given our number and called us crying with joy and so thankful!”

The rangers placed Max on a stretcher and transported him back to civilization while his family headed to the park for a tearful reunion.

Max was taken to the vet that evening. Miraculously, he suffered only minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.

“It was a long day, but saving sweet Max made it all worth it!” McDuffie wrote. “He would not have made it out of that spot if not for the water source he so smartly chose to settle near, and the ripe blackberries. All of the stars aligned that day!”

 

H/T  to Good Morning America

Featured Images via Facebook/Kelly McDuffie

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The Sweetest Sheriff in America

St. Joseph County is a quiet midwestern area in northern Indiana. It’s home to families, farms and great schools, including Notre Dame University. But the biggest news to come out of this town came when the police department in St. Joseph County named a new sheriff. We think you’ll agree, he’s the sweetest looking sheriff in America.

Image Sheriff Bruno Facebook

His name is Sheriff Bruno, and he’s an American Bulldog mix. He was adopted from a shelter where he was found malnourished and in bad shape. Once he recovered, his personality was able to fully bloom and his gift for connecting with others was fully realized.

Although Bruno is in the K9 unit, he is not a patrol or search and rescue dog. He has a special job perfectly suited to his temperament. He’s a K9 comfort dog. His role is to bring comfort to members of the community in need. He attends fellow officer funeral services to support the bereaved. In fact, since being named to the force he has attended every police officer funeral in the state of Indiana. He also attends public events that connect the police department to their community, one of his primary responsibilities.

In the last week alone Bruno has been spreading a lot of love around St. Joe County. He attended the memorial service of a K9 Officer, visited the Charles Black Center in South Bend, went to see The Lion King with a group of local students and participated in a parade in New Carlisle.

Image Sheriff Bruno Facebook

Image Sheriff Bruno Facebook

Image Sheriff Bruno Facebook

Bruno’s handler is Special Deputy Joe Hamer. Hamer told WSBT 22, “He will actually gravitate toward people when they are sad. When they cry he goes to them,” says Hamer, “that is not something that we taught him. That is just him. He does all that on his own. He reacts that way.”

Sheriff Bill Redman added, “That is how he is. His demeanor brings joy immediately and that is what we want to encourage as a department to build our relationship with the community.”

It’s so heartwarming to see an outcome as powerful as this. Bruno’s future changed on that fateful day when a local police department went to a shelter looking for the right kind of dog to join their team. They hit the jackpot with Bruno and his unique qualities are helping bridge the gap between the public and the police force. The people of St. Joseph County are lucky to have this sweet, loving dog as their servant. Thankfully, his superiors give him ample time to rest while at the office.

You can follow Sheriff Bruno’s good deeds on his Facebook page.

Featured Image Sheriff Bruno Facebook

 

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20 Dog Breeds You Think You Want But Probably Don’t

We should preface this article by saying that every dog has unique gifts and challenges. The point of this information is not to bash or discourage ownership of any one breed, but rather to encourage thoughtful ownership. And don’t forget, their are many wonderful mixed breeds waiting in shelters for their forever home!

There are hundreds of dog breeds in the world, each with their own unique look, purpose and personality. While many people think they want a certain breed, they sometimes find out that the dog they thought looked really cool is actually a lot of work to live with. This is why so many trainers and rescues try to advice first time owner to avoid certain breeds. Many breeds are becoming more popular on looks alone, but end up most often in the shelter when their novice owners can’t control them. Here are 12 breeds you think you might want but should probably avoid – unless you’re truly prepared.

 

#1 – Border Collie

The Border Collie is growing in popularity in pet homes because of its popularity out in the working fields. They are intelligent dogs that need a job, so while they’re very good at cool tricks, they also need to be out herding, running agility courses or working on competitive obedience to be happy. They may be small, but their drive and intensity is a lot more dog than the average owner is expecting.

 

#2 – Belgian Malinois

The Belgian Malinois is gaining popularity after the media noted it was the breed that helped bring down Osama Bin Laden. While it’s true that the Malinois is the most versatile police and military working dog, it’s also a dog that needs a job. The breed is bred almost exclusively for protection work and its drive, intensity and aggressive tendencies make it a very poor choice for a pet.

 

#3 – Dutch Shepherd

The Dutch Shepherd is also a popular police and military working dog and shares many of the same traits as the Belgian Malinois. These dogs need jobs and will not only become destructive if left under-stimulated, but even somewhat aggressive and difficult to handle.

 

#4 – Patterdale Terrier

Patterdale Terriers are becoming more and more popular among the terrier hunting crowd and although they share some qualities of many other pet terriers, they’re much more intense dogs. Although small, they are bred almost exclusively for work and can become a major liability in the wrong hands.

 

#5 – Siberian Husky

The Siberian Husky is beautiful, but novice owners typically looking for a pretty dog to sit around all day find themselves way in over their heads with a Sibe. These dogs were bred for endurance running and without a lot of exercise and proper training, they are very difficult dogs to live with.

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The Importance of a General Wellness Exam for Your Pets

Read on to learn why the importance of a general wellness exam, and how they can bring peace of mind to new and seasoned pet owners alike.

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RECALL ALERT: FDA Identifies More Pig Ears Contaminated With Salmonella

On July 26, 2019 Lennox International, Inc., issued a voluntary recall of their Natural Pig Ears for dogs because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

To date, the company is aware of two dogs that have become ill. The affected batches were shipped nationwide between May 1 and July 3, 2019.

According to Dog Food Advisor, “these cases may be related to the ongoing FDA investigation of Salmonella illness associated with what appears to be a multiple source.” However, they did not comment on whether this case is related to the recent string of drug-resistant Salmonella cases identified in humans in 33 states.

What’s Recalled?

The affected pig ears are supplied in an 8-pack branded pouch under UPC 742174 995163 and 742174994166.

They are also available in an individually shrink-wrapped package under UPC 0385384810 and 742174P35107.

All UPC codes are located on the front label of the package.

The following low resolution product image was provided by Lennox International along with the recall announcement:

About Salmonella

Salmonella is a harmful bacteria that can cause illness in people and pets. Symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.

In rare cases, more serious ailments such as arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms may occur.

The CDC recommends the following precautions to protect yourself against Salmonella infection:

While Feeding Your Dog

• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water right after handling pet food or treats, including pig ears.
• When possible, store pet food and treats away from where human food is stored or prepared and away from the reach of young children.
• Don’t use your pet’s feeding bowl to scoop food. Use a clean, dedicated scoop, spoon, or cup.
• Always follow any storage instructions on pet food bags or containers.

Play Safely

• Don’t let your pet lick your mouth or face after it eats pet food or treats.
• Don’t let your pet lick any open wounds or areas with broken skin.
• If you do play with your pet after it has just eaten, wash your hands and any part of your body it licked with soap and water.

Shop Safely

• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching unpackaged pet treats, such as food or treats in bulk bins.

What Should You Do If You Have Affected Products?

If you have purchased Lennox International Natural Pig Ears with the above UPC codes, discontinue giving them to your dog immediately. If you or your dog have symptoms of illness, seek medical attention.

Consumers with proper receipt may return the products to the retailer they purchased them from. Or they may contact the company at 800-538-8980, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 pm, for a refund or additional information.

Consumers may also email the company at usaoffice@lennoxpets.com.

U.S. citizens can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.

Or go to https://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

Canadians can report any health or safety incidents related to the use of this product by filling out the Consumer Product Incident Report Form.

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Truly Grateful for Trupanion for Dearest Copper

Learn why these Texas pet owners were truly grateful for Trupanion when they needed medical care for their beloved dog Copper.

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Chaser Had Giant vocabulary, Giant Fan Base

Dog who knew over 1000 words has died

The dog community has lost someone special this week. Chaser, the Border Collie who knew over 1000 words, has died at the age of 15. She outlived the man who trained her, John Pilley, who was a Professor Emeritus in Psychology at Wofford College. Pilley began training her at age 75 after receiving the dog as a gift from his wife Sally, and passed away a year ago at the age of 89. Pilley’s training of Chaser revealed that dogs’ language abilities are so much more extensive than previously realized.

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people who matter

training

news

blog

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Japan’s Artful Dogs

Guardians, companions, zodiac animal—canines are a constant in Japanese culture.

From delicate Japanese Chins and foxlike Shibas to large and dignified Akitas, dogs—or inu— abound in Japan’s daily life, so it’s no surprise that they have also made many appearances in its art across the centuries.

In Empire of Dogs, author Aaron Herald Skabelund observes that dogs’ “physical mobility creates symbolic ambiguity, positioning canines between culture and nature,” a characteristic that fits neatly within the Japanese artistic tradition of showing animals in a natural context and often in association with people.

Factor in the country’s bedrock belief system, Shintoism—as old as Japan itself—with its many animals serving as messengers to the kami, or divine beings, and the prevalence of dogs is easy to understand. In fact, it’s not uncommon to find a pair of lion dog statues guarding an entrance to a Shinto shrine, where their job is to ward off evil spirits.

Tags: 

art

dog culture

events

news

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Should I Insure My Pet? An Essential Question for Pet Owners

Read on to learn more about medical insurance for pets, with a Trupanion policy, and how to answer the bigger question of insuring your pets for their lifetime.

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Husky-Mix Guides Arctic Artists

Nemo in the Arctic

The dog Nemo was on the boat as an experiment. We were 27 artists on a residency in the Arctic, sailing on a tall ship 500 miles from the North Pole to observe, learn and make art. Nemo’s owner, one of our guides/ guards, had asked if he could come along. At least, that’s what I think happened. Fifteen years earlier, I had been to Antarctica on another ship, and this trip was on the path to being an equally amazing and inspiring experience.

“You’re so brave!” people say to me. “To go to the ends of the Earth and explore must be exhilarating and terrifying.” I’ve even been asked if I was the first woman to go to Antarctica (by a fifth-grader during one of my presentations). Answer—not by a long shot, although with the exception of one or two women, this history is fairly recent.

Tags: 

dog culture

art

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Hiking Reconnects City Dogs With Their Natures

Notes from a Dog Walker: Back to Their Nature

Hiking with a pack  of dogs can be a path to self-discovery.  I don’t think I’m overreaching  by speculating that when we’re moving confidently and gracefully in unison along an ancient path in the deep woods, something primal kicks in, for both me and my dogs. The feeling is overwhelming and hard to describe, and maybe can’t be accurately, but has something to do with movement and position relative to each other. A sense of well-being comes over me and my little legion, the kind of contentment that comes with being in a place and time with no desire to  be in any others because all is as it should be. I’m a firm believer, after many such outings, in the theory that prehistoric hominids first befriended wolves, not around villages where some say garbage heaps attracted them, but on the great hunting highways where we learned from each other—us more from them, I suspect—long before humans became sedentary and wolves became dogs.

Tags: 

activities & sports

lifestyle

travel

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A 12 Hour Drive Meant The Difference Between Life & Death For This Pregnant Dog

Your Favorite IHD Products Help Give Dogs Like Clyde A Second Chance

Nosy Frenchies Get Into Food Coloring & Accidentally Dye Themselves Green

If you have ever known a French Bulldog you know they are willful, mischievous, and incredibly nosy. A pair of white Frenchies in northern Thailand recently learned the error of their ways when they got into a kitchen cabinet in the dead of night.

In search of snacks, they came across a bag of green food coloring instead.

Their owner, Yada Ornsomjit was understandably perturbed when she discovered her emerald-colored pups the following morning! Not only did Dam-nam and Sai-Aua dye themselves green, they also managed to track food coloring all over the house with the help of their two other Frenchie siblings.

“I forgot to shut the kitchen door the night before. But I couldn’t believe they went inside and made everything green,” Ornsomjit told the Daily Mail. ”My husband and I spent half a day washing them about three times, but some parts of their bodies were still green. We were really tired but they seemed not to know what they had done wrong.”

Aside from their chartreuse coloring, Dam-nam and Sai-Aua suffered no ill effects!

 

H/T & Featured Screenshot via Daily Mail

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Fire Survivor Is Training To Become A Therapy Dog For Other Burn Victims

9-year-old Taka was severely injured in a house fire in October 2018. With deep burns to his head, face, back, and extremities, he needed round-the-clock care. He found it at Care More Animal Hospital in Martinez, Georgia.

One staff member in particular took a shine to Taka. Veterinary technician, Crystal Lesley became his foster mom. There was just one problem: Taka was aggressive towards her other dogs.

Although the thought of giving him up broke her heart, Lesley could not keep a dog with serious behavior problems.

That’s when someone recommended the Canine Training Project. Despite his age and lack of prior training, Taka immediately rose to the challenge.

“[Older dogs] can be trained just like any other dog,” CTP founder, Mandy Foster told WRDW News. “Sometimes it takes a little bit longer, but in Taka’s case he’s nine-years-old and he has flown through his training. He’s brilliant.”

Taka’s performance not only means he can stay with Lesley, it also gave her an idea. Maybe something good could come from his suffering. She decided to begin training Taka as a therapy dog for the local burn center.

“He’s got the right temperament for it,” Foster said. “Of course he has the scars to show for it and he can relate to a lot of the people there so I think it’s going to benefit both him and the patients there.”

Taka goes for his Canine Good Citizen certification this week. After that, he’ll begin specialized therapy dog training. Lesley cannot wait to see what he’s capable of.

 “To see that he could be an encouragement or at least a light at the end of the tunnel for a child or anybody that has gone through what he’s gone through is what all of this is about,” she said.

 

H/T to WRDW News

Featured Image via Facebook/The Canine Training Project

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Natural Flea And Tick Prevention & Eradication: The Ultimate Guide

Smiling Dog: Harry

Dog's name and age: Harry, 4 years old

Adoption story: Over the holidays, I had to say goodbye to my senior dog after spending almost 17 years together. The loss was profound and I planned to wait at least six months before adopting again to let myself heal. I sorely missed the daily routine of life with dogs, so when a local foster group put out a request for volunteers, I signed up. I was assigned a terrier mix, Terry. Soon after, it was obvious—Terry (Harry) and I were not destined for the adoption fair circuit. We had found each other, and I was ready to commit!

More about Harry: Clicker training was new to Harry—but he caught on quickly and he absolutely loves it. It’s so much fun for both of us and we've really bonded over it. Harry is not a morning dog, so he enjoys a slow start to the day with lots of snuggles.

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smiling dogs

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Interior Designer, Sheila Bridges’ Dog-Themed Decor

Q&A with interior design legend

A century-old townhouse on New York City’s Upper East Side was the setting for this year’s Kips Bay Decorator Show House, a fundraising event for the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club, which serves more than 10,000 young people throughout the Bronx. The top interior designers selected to participate had 30 days to transform a randomly assigned room as they saw fit.

Sheila Bridges, whose work has been showcased in exhibits and museums nationally and internationally and who was named “America’s Best Interior Designer” by CNN and Time Magazine, was given a small ground-floor reception room that looked out onto the street. Adding to the challenge was that the house’s public bathroom could only be accessed by passing through this room. By the end of the month, however, Bridges was ready to unveil her Salon des Chiens, a place for canine care and enjoyment. Why, we wondered, had she chosen that theme? So we asked her.

Tags: 

art

life with dogs

lifestyle

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Paris Hilton’s Dogs Live in a Custom Dog Mansion, Obviously

His Heartbreaking Shelter Photo Went Viral, Now He’s Living Every Pup’s Dream!

When Someone Tells You “It’s Just A Dog,” Send Them This Poem!

Some people have never known the joy of loving a dog. They don’t understand how an animal can make us laugh and cry; how they make us better people in a way no human ever could.

When someone tells you “it’s just a dog,” don’t take it personally. They have never known the pain of losing a dog, but they have also never known the life-altering bliss of loving one.

“It’s Just A Dog” by Richard A. Biby

From time to time people tell me “relax, it’s just a dog” or “it’s a lot of money just for a dog.” They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time invested or the costs incurred by “just a dog.” Some of my proudest moments happened with “just a dog.”

Many hours passed being my only company “just a dog”, but not for a single moment I felt despised. Some of my saddest moments were for “just a dog,” and on those gray days, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me the comfort and reason to spend the day.

If you also think “it’s just a dog,” then you’ll probably understand phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.” “Only a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust and pure and unbridled joy. “Only a dog” brings the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

For “just a dog,” I’m getting up early, going for long walks and looking forward to the future. So for me, and for people like me, it is not “just a dog,” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the memories of the past and the absolute joy of the moment. “Only a dog” brings good in me and diverts my thoughts away from me and the daily worries.

I hope one day you can understand that it’s not “just a dog”, but what gives me humanity and prevents me from being “just a human”. So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog,” you just smile because you “just don’t understand.”

Share this lovely poem with anyone and everyone who needs to hear it!

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Book Review: Gone Walkabout

Claudia Kawczynska

Michael Brandow

Michael Brandow has been walking New York City pooches for a long time, more than 20 years and counting. He has also been commenting on cultural matters during that time along with writing several books, including A Matter of Breeding, a takedown of the AKC, and New York’s Poop Scoop Law (a title that clearly defines its topic).

In his newest, with the charming, aptly phrased title Gone Walkabout: Confessions of a New York City Dog Walker, he muses on all things canine, sprinkling nuggets of self-reflection, especially about two decades of change in NYC.

Brandow gave up a 16-year corporate gig because not only does he adore dogs and loves doting on and getting to know them, but also because he generally bonds well with their furless halves too. Besides that, shedding business suits gave him time and inspiration to follow his writing muse.

The author is not one of those “multiple walkers,” as he calls them, people who navigate with large numbers of dogs along the uptown avenues, and somehow keep all those leashes from tangling, and offer cut-rate prices that harm the more personalized dogwalking services such as he offers. He specializes in home care in his West Village studio and (as the excerpt on page 54 describes) in chaperoning his canine pals on long, out-of-city, woodsy explorations.

Being a dogsbody to dogs might have its drawbacks, but not as far as Brandow is concerned. Dog walking, he says, was the first paying job he took seriously; being “paid to be the good guy” to happy, grateful dogs has its own rewards.

In this hard-to-classify and hard-not-to-like book, we accompany him on his daily 15 hours of walking around the lower part of Manhattan with clients’ dogs as his, and our, trusty co-pilots. We stop for a few sniffs, get distracted by a chunk of something left along the curb, pick up more dogs, greet old friends, spot a few celebrities, give opinion-laced directions to tourists looking for “the village,” hobnob (almost) with the likes of Lou Reed, who turns out not to be quite the guy we had hoped for, but whose Rat Terrier, Lolabelle is a sweetie. How can it miss?

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Issue 98: Summer 2019

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Why Every Kid Should Have a Dog —a Rescue Dog

Our dog, Vector, is alive by the scarred skin of his mauled-off tail and the saint-like kindness of an organization, the Sato Project, that rescues strays from Puerto Rico’s infamous Dead Dog Beach.

He endured that hellish environment for about three years, competing with fellow canines for scraps and shelter from Caribbean heat and storms. In addition to his tail, he’s missing a toe and chunks of ear. A deep wound adorns his snout.

Vector could easily be dead, feral or at the very least deeply traumatized. Instead, he can be trusted with the life of my two-year-old son—his human brother.

And though miraculous, Vector’s story is commonplace: his transition from famine to family member is par for the course for canines.

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behavior

lifestyle

life with dogs

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“Your dog almost died today” – Why I switched to a breakaway collar and will never go back.

Trupanion Insurance for Pets: Coverage for Cujo

Read on to learn how these pet owners found peace of mind for their dog Cujo with the help of Trupanion Insurance for pets.

The post Trupanion Insurance for Pets: Coverage for Cujo appeared first on The Trupanion Blog.

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Five Game-Changing Reasons Why You Need Insurance for Your Puppy

Read on to learn how insurance for your puppy with a Trupanion policy can help prepare your family for the unexpected in their lifetime.

The post Five Game-Changing Reasons Why You Need Insurance for Your Puppy appeared first on The Trupanion Blog.

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Then & Now: See How These 10 Popular Rescue Stories Ended

Rescue Dog Rescue With Tom Holland

Spider-man actor with adoptable superhero puppies

Spider-man may be far from home in his latest film (Spider-Man: Far From Home), but the actor who plays the lead role doesn’t want puppies to be far from their homes. In fact, Tom Holland helped Stephen Colbert find homes for puppies when he appeared in “Rescue Dog Rescue.” Holland is not the first to partner with Colbert to find homes for dogs from North Shore Animal League America. Emma Stone, Nick Jonas, Bryan Cranston and Jim Parsons are among those who have participated, though Holland’s segment was the first Superhero Edition. Colbert correctly assumed that mixing super heroes with puppies would be a winning combination, and your friendly neighborhood dog adoption promoter did a good job.

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shelters & rescues

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#VanLife Dog is Their Co-pilot, Literally

The road is calling a new wave of nomads, and their travel mode of choice is a converted van, truck or camper. From baby boomers to millennials, people are dropping out and taking to the highway, leaving behind the nine-to-five grind for a life of freedom, adventure and self-discovery.

These van dwellers lead stripped-down lives in tricked-out vehicles that combine technology with good old-fashioned ingenuity —tiny homes on wheels incorporating solar power, Wi-Fi, mini appliances and a surprising number of creature comforts.

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lifestyle

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Brazilian Woman and Her Adopted Pup Rely on the Kindness of a Stranger

Maria Luiza Valcazara, a young woman in Brazil, decided it was time to adopt herself a pup. She had moved into an apartment of her very own and wanted some companionship. She found a fast friend for life in a cute black rescue named Chips. They were very happy together.

Image with permission Maria Luiza Valcazara

Unfortunately, Chips was not happy at all when they were apart. The little love suffered from separation anxiety when Maria left him home alone. He would wail and cry and howl until she returned home.

Maria hadn’t yet met her neighbors in the adjacent apartments so she was very surprised to come home one day and find a package and letter at her doorstep. At first she was a bit nervous wondering who would have left something at her door. Her worry was eased when she saw it was actually addressed to Chips and was “from” another dog, Corote.

Image with permission Maria Luiza Valcazara

Translated from Portuguese, the letter reads:

Hi, my friend. 

I’ve noticed that you’ve been crying a lot when you’re alone, and I’ve been through this phase. 

I talked to my mom yesterday and together we decided to give you these toys, so you have a distraction when you feel alone.

I’m here to make you an invitation: I live alone with Mom and, because of that, I have a room of my own to horse around in as much as I want, so you can spend some time here with me! We can do a lot of partying together!!! 

We hope you enjoy the things we gave you! 

Many kisses from Corote and of my mother Nichole.

Maria was so touched to see that not only did her neighbor Nichole care enough to bring them a package filled with dog toys, she was willing to open her home to Chips as a daily playmate for her dog, Corote. Maria quickly arranged a meet and greet with Nichole and their dogs.

Image with permission Maria Luiza Valcazara

Right away the dogs got along great, romping around the apartment together. Nichole also offered to share some pointers to Maria about easing Chips’s separation anxiety.

Image with permission Maria Luiza Valcazara

The humans and the pups hit if off so well, in fact, that they meet regularly to have playdates. And Maria has implemented some of the methods Nichole recommended and Chips is feeling more secure when left home alone.

Image with permission Maria Luiza Valcazara

This story reminds us that sometimes we should rely on the kindness of strangers. You never know. They may become lifelong friends.

Featured Image with permission Maria Luiza Valcazara

The post Brazilian Woman and Her Adopted Pup Rely on the Kindness of a Stranger appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

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