Vavavoom! Sporting a Canine Svelte Waistline

Romping In Fresh Snow

 My dogs get so excited when we have a fresh snowfall and they get to run through a new snow drift. Sad the fun is often short lived because sometimes this follows; slushy roads,  sidewalks covered with paw burning salt and I swear the brutal winter winds start howling in my ear "take cover - hibernate". This is the time of year I have to start getting creative to keep myself and the dogs active both physically and mentally. 

Participating in "Show Off Your Waistline Campaign" at Dawg Business. 

"Dog obesity has become a real epidemic, and we can change it! Bloggers and veterinarians everywhere are uniting to share pictures and stories of their dog's weight loss struggles and successes." ~ Dawg Business

Step One: Watch how much you feed.

Visit Dawg Business and look at the chart on what a dog's weight should be. Where does your dog's waistline fit in; underweight, just right or overweight? Kodee is a good weight for her frame and has a nice defined waist - seriously it is under all that hair somewhere. In winter I watch their waistlines and sometimes cut back their food a little if our activity level has dropped and weight gain begins.

My first dog a Labrador was not so lucky - I didn't notice the weight creep up during her senior years. Jessie developed arthritis and her hips bothered her as she aged. If I had kept her weight better managed, I think she would have had less wear and tear on her joints and been spared a lot of discomfort in her senior years.

Get Cooking!

Sweet Potato Treats
Monica Segal's Cookie Recipe
Wheat-Free Sweet Potato Chicken
20+ Healthy Dog Recipes and Books

Kodee's reaction to the first time I fed her a new alfalfa based food! She has gotten over the taste oddity now and loves it.

Step Two: Watch what you feed.
I don't like to get into the debate of whether a dog's diet should be raw, home-cooked or a high grade commercial food. Different lifestyles, economics, dog health problems will dictate what works best on an individual basis. Don't fool yourself  into thinking a svelte waist is a healthy waist.

Truth About Pet Food
5 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Dogs Commercial Diet 
Home-cooked Premixes
The Key to Balanced Homemade Diets
Raw Diets for Dogs & Cats

Keeping Busy During the Storm

Do your dogs look out the window - barking at whatever in a fit of boredom in the winter? I set out to find new ways to keep the dogs occupied this winter to help keep my sanity slightly above normal. Thin dogs on rationed diets, sitting at home all day and cuddling you at night on a couch are not really healthy dogs - physically or mentally.

Step Three: Get Moving.

I signed up for my first online learning experience at Agility-U in their course Nosework Games. I'm not completely enthralled with this type of dog sport but I am really pleased with the online learning atmosphere. I will be signing up for more courses - a trick class appeals to me a bit more I think.

Can't Get Out - Bring the Fun In!
Cyber Rally
Paws 4 Fitness
Musical Dog Sport Association Online Workshops
Do More With Your Dog - Trick Title
Dogmantics - Free Training Videos
E-Training For Dogs



We do play a gentle version of fetch or tug in the house or some fun training because they need mental stimulation too. OK no mocking me; here is their favourite indoor game. First I put the dogs in a sit/stay. Next I go hide; under a table, upstairs, behind doors and then call "Find Mommy". Off they charge to find me and the small treat I hold. It takes a brave woman to admit online they spend their days playing hide and seek with their dogs. Hey, don't knock it - when you see A. your dog's love this game B. they get a good cardio workout and C. they nod off relaxed so you can watch the next Grey's Anatomy episode uninterrupted, you'll appreciate I shared my game.



A friend taught my dog a different version of this game. Hide small treats and then release your dog with "Find the cookies". Off they charge, frantically sniffing out the goodies. Thinking it might put my Nosework lessons to good use I gave it a go. Oh boy, problem with this game is Kodee sits in the living room all day now staring at the couch, whining for me to hide a cookie. There is always hope your dogs are better mannered like my friend's and GET the game is over!


(((Kodee! Enough!)))

Go Fetch!
Pet obesity graphic produced by Matt Beswick for Pet365. Click below to see the full size version.

Are You Hurting Your Dog Without Even Knowing It?

Vaccination Dangers for Small & Medium Sized Dogs 

I know lots of information is out there on vaccination reactions and risks - still, I do come across pet owners who are not aware of the risks of over vaccinations or how to best minimize a reaction occurance. Even if you have read it before - like me often, I still found it valuable to revisit the information in this video.

A MUST watch video. Come on, it's 6 minutes that may save a dogs life. Can you spare it?

The video may be tailored to small/mid sized dogs but don't let that deter you - it has great information of risks for breeds of all sizes.

Increased Risk of Vaccination Reactions

• 1-3 years old; 35-64% increase risk of reaction
• Spayed or Neutered; 27-38% increased risk of reaction
• 3 or more vaccinations in a combo vaccination; 50% increased risk of reaction

Hey! Why Stop There

Have you read about Rabies Miasm In Dogs? Here is a clip to get you interested.

Understanding the link between individual chronic diseases and the rabies vaccine involves what homeopathic physician Samuel Hahnemann called a ‘miasm’. The miasm is an underlying disease, like the part of the iceberg lurking beneath the water’s surface. You can see and deal with the tip of the iceberg — in this case, individual disease symptoms — but the iceberg’s essence (the miasm) is submerged, unreachable and deadly.

Go Fetch!

Dr. Dodds Vaccination Protocol
Truth 4 Dogs: Exposing Myths, Lies and Outdated Information Affecting Dogs
Rabies Challenge Fund
Human Side: Why This Nurse Won't Vaccinate

~ Ramblings by Debbie

Drooling Over Doggie Muffins

Looking spiffy in our dollar store fashion accessories!
Very Prada of us don't you think?

We have been lost in summer! Isn't it great?! Part of me loves the whirlwind of activity and part of me just wishes it could slow down to savor it a bit. So what have we been up to? Well first off I finally stopped talking about it and started Rally. Big surprise is I enrolled both dogs and Kodee is surprisingly the star! More on that next week with photos and a video. 

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Purposeful Patting. OK Massage.

Do you have a dog that suffers from anxiety, trouble focusing or some sort chronic pain? I know when I suffer from stress or chronic pain, often massage helps me cope. It makes sense an animal would benefit from a little one on one too. Think of it as "purposeful patting".

About 2 years ago I stumbled across a woman giving a massage to a large dog at Woofstock, a huge canine/human social and shopping event in downtown Toronto (read our post here). The snoozing dog receiving a massage was oblivious to the fact 100’s of dogs and people were zooming past. I knew massage could benefit conditions like arthritis, tissue damage, and circulation. But knocking a dog out in a crowded noisy environment like this? Just mind boggling!
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February is Heart Month

I've been accused of finding a way to work my dogs into every conversation. So true! It drives many mad. February is no exception!  February is Heart Month; we celebrate love with Valentines, and we celebrate life with smart heart health.  Well I am not leaving the dogs out of this conversation either!

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What's wrong here. "The more dogs spay/neurtered less adopted" Hello?!

@wearethecure Thanks, for bringing my attention via your Twit on  this article. It's all about the city of Montreal, Quebec (Canada) considering a mandatory spay/neuter law. Ho hum, heard this argument so many times. It's always the same, two hot topics. Over population  is caused by irresponsible owners leaving intact dogs unsupervised. Well ya. Or the flip side, rescue groups that sanction drastically early spay/neuters (l'm talking 8 weeks people! *EEK*) possibly resulting in health complications.
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Backyard Breeders Beware!

I love my dogs and honestly can say I will NEVER be without one. Dogs give me companionship, comfort and laughter. Daily they give me a reason to get off my butt and exercise. Certainly they have inspired me to write, photograph and blurt out bits of my opinions here!

I figure, if you keep coming back here to read, you probably find my ramblings thought provoking and fun or maybe it's entertaining to watch me unload. It could be, you thrive on subjecting yourself to torture. Who am I to judge!
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Beating Canine Cancer

The Ugly:     1 in 4 dogs will die from cancer.
The Good:   50% if caught early are curable!

Cancer is on the rise in dogs. Odd as it seems, it's partially due to the fact our pets are living longer and healthier lives. Oncology drug development, pet owner health education on prevention and early detection, better breeder programs with attention to reduced inbreeding are some reasons.
[Read More...]

Periodontal Disease in Small Breed Dogs

Review: The Wagging Tail: Let’s Get to the Root of the Problem – Compliance & Pet Dental Care? By Patrick Shearer, BVMS, PhD

According to Dr. Shearer, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are number 6 in a list of breeds most likely to develop periodontal disease. What's worse is the fact periodontal disease can contribute to heart disease and that's the number one health problem facing Cavalier King Charles Spaniels; a double whammy for Kodee and Becky! [More]