PrimoPup

Many of us take vitamins and supplements to ensure we are getting our nutritional needs met. But what about our dog’s nutritional needs? Is their kibble really enough?

You can enhance your dog’s health at any age from puppy to senior by providing a daily health supplement. As our dogs age, their needs change. So be sure to choose the formula that is right for your dog’s stage of life. Not sure which formula is ideal? Then talk with your veterinarian. It’s always a good idea to make any health related decisions for your dog together.

When it comes time to choose a supplement, consider PrimoPup. Their products are made with human grade quality ingredients and are extensively tested to ensure their safety. All supplements are formulated and recommended by veterinarians and carry the National Animal Supplement Council Seal of Approval. And your dog will love them!

And keep up with important information with the PrimoPup blog. You can never learn too much about your furry friend.

Pet Insurance U

Pet insurance can be confusing. Is it worth it if my dog is young and healthy? What do plans cover? Are there deductibles?

When it comes to pet insurance, one size doesn’t fit all. If you are interested in learning more about it, the website Pet Insurance U specializes in making your decision easier.

They have done the work for you and pulled together information from the top rated pet insurance companies. Compare different policies at a glance with the comparison chart and read reviews for all top 6 rated companies.

Be sure to also review the 5 things you must know about dog insurance.

Vet costs are rising in the US. Instead of fearing for the day your pet may need extensive medical treatment, maybe it’s time to consider pet insurance. Get all the facts and then you can then decide if pet insurance is right for you.

Toronto Dog Walking

Walking is essential for your dog. It provides much needed exercise, allows him to smell until his heart is content, get out and see the world, meet new people and other dogs. Your intentions are good but there are times you may need some help due to a sudden illness or business trip. Or maybe you just want to make sure your pooch gets out and has some fun while you are at work every day.

If you live in the West end of Toronto you are in luck!
Toronto Dog Walking is a dedicated and professional team of friendly care providers that offer a wide range of services that cater to the well being of your dog. If you need regular one or two hour walks for your pooch or adventure hikes on trails, they offer both. You can have walking provided at a regular time or can call on short notice if you have to. The team is flexible and will do their best to accommodate the needs of you and your dog. Your pooch will have his own online diary where you can easily amend or cancel his walks.

They also have home boarding or will care for your dog in his own home. Or maybe you need a ride to your vet; they also provide a pet taxi.

If you think any of these services could benefit you and your dog, use the contact form and set up a consultation at your home.

Check out some of their cutest customers! And keep up to date with important information on their blog.

Don't Forget to Reward What's Already Good

I assume there will be cookies for wearing red balloons on my feet?

Our dogs are the very best teachers. In the time I've had Ruby and Boca, I've increased my knowledge of dog training and behavior and how both relate to their very different personalities. I think back on my previous dogs and wish I'd known what I know today - our relationships could have been even richer. 

I got a valuable reminder from Boca last week to reward behavior that's already polished. When we have training goals or challenging dogs, it's easy to get caught up focusing on constant improvement. If something seems like it's solidly understood or accomplished, sometimes reinforcement falls by the wayside. Affable dogs are wonderful but can make us lazy trainers. This is what happened with Boca's red squishy booties.

Boca has especially sensitive paws and in the winter my townhome complex is very generous with the de-icer. The sidewalks are festooned with salt, and poor Boca has, on more than one occasion, just laid down and given up on life once it starts to sting her paws. I quickly learned that no matter how short or quick the walk, she had to wear her Pawz booties when it was snowy and icy. We've had snow and ice on the ground now for a solid month, it seems. 

When a dog is as cooperative as Boca, signs of stress can be missed. I felt terrible when I realized that Boca had started to dread getting her boots on. Her tail was tucked between her legs and she would curl up with resignation when she knew it was time to go for a walk on the salt crystal road. She never gave me any trouble when stretching the awkward balloons over her feet, and I never thought to go through the process of CC/DS (counter-conditioning/desensitization) which creates a positive association for what might otherwise be a scary experience. 

Ruby is skittish and suspicious around nearly every novel object, so I always have to start at the very beginning of the counter-conditioning process with her, but I realized that Boca's easygoing nature led me to skip steps. I swiftly remedied this as soon as I registered her discomfort by breaking out the treats along with booties. Boca now gets a treat for each paw, and her attitude toward the red squishy boots has already changed dramatically. Positive reinforcement is a great way to ensure that things that aren't broken stay that way, as long as we remember to use it! 

SHINY & NEW: I've compiled some of my favorite training posts on my revamped Positive Reinforcement page. 

Accountability and Inspiration with Online Dog Training

I mentioned in my Year in Review post that after talking about it for far too long I was finally going to apply for Ruby's first trick title through Do More With Your Dog. I learned about a free online class that walks you through the weekly tricks necessary to apply for each level of title, and thought it was the perfect way to achieve my goal with Ruby. January just happens to be National Train Your Dog Month, so the timing couldn't be better!

For now I'm going to focus on getting Ruby's Novice and Intermediate titles, but while Boca doesn't have the same enthusiasm for tricks, she's proven herself quite capable of learning. One of my trick training goals with both girls was to have them sit pretty in unison, with enough distance/duration that I could get good pictures. Boca had no balance to start with, and now she is sitting up as long the treats are coming! We still have a ways to go in order for me to phase out my luring with Boca, but she is starting to offer sit pretty regularly. 

Each week, the tricks are assigned along with tutorial videos. Members are encouraged to post their video progress before Sunday of that week. By the end of the class the dog will have learned the requisite number to achieve the corresponding title. Yesterday we submitted our first video to our Novice Team on Facebook. It's been so fun to see all the dogs' styles and get pointers from the instructor, Sara Carson, and the members. I highly recommend joining in if you have any interest in trick training! Filming and watching our video showed me just how much polishing we have to do even on the things Ruby knows already. 

Our Week One tricks are:

Sit

Stay

Spin Circles

Touch

Muffin Tin Game (we skipped this one for two reasons: first, Ruby is very cautious with novel objects so I knew it would take extra time to get her comfortable with a muffin tin; second, I consider this more of a puzzle toy than a trick)

Bonus: Play Dead (I don't like the connotation of shooting my dog, so we call this one "Relax.") 

None of these tricks were new to Ruby but it was obvious that the return to basics will do us good. We have been practicing "sit pretty" so much that Ruby forgot how to just plain "sit!" She can also spin both directions but we call the other way "twirl." Ruby's nose touch needs work as well - she tends to touch me with an open mouth of teeth instead of her nose. The Heroic Sparks group is going to provide the motivation, inspiration and accountability to stick with our trick training on a regular schedule all while propelling us to our first title. 

I plan to update here with each week's tricks, and as a special treat for Positive Pet Training Week I'd like to show off one our more complicated tricks that has been in the works for a long time. We call this one "march," and I'm just not sure Ruby can be any cuter than this:
 

A video posted by Lara Elizabeth (@2gingerdogs) on Jan 3, 2016 at 11:21am PST

 
This post is part of the Positive Pet Training Blog Hop, hosted by Cascadian Nomads,Tenacious Little Terrier and Rubicon Days. This month's theme is National Train Your Dog Month and the next hop begins on February 1st. The hop happens on the first Monday of every month, and is open for a full week - please join us in spreading the word about the rewards of positive training!

 

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The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth is Comfort Food for Dogs

I love to liven up The Ginger Sisters' kibble dinner, and am already a fan of turmeric for dogs so I was excited to try The Honest Kitchen's new Bone Broth with Turmeric, especially now that we are having some cold weather. I think the girls appreciate something warm and soothing when we come in from a wintry walk. 

Consistent with their other products, the bone broth is made from simple, wholesome ingredients. Just four, in fact: beef bone broth, parsley, pumpkin, turmeric extract. It's easy to mix up with hot water and can be fed on its own or mixed with kibble or dehydrated food. Boca was grumpy with me for making her model with the cannister before the taste test!

We tried the limited edition Winter Warmers last year and I think they like the new bone broth even better. Ruby and Boca both eagerly cleaned their plates and it made me feel good to give them something healthy and delicious.

Boca loves her dinner with @honestkitchen Bone Broth! #yum #dogs #bonebroth #turmeric #healthyfoodfordogs

A video posted by Lara Elizabeth (@2gingerdogs) on Dec 14, 2015 at 6:52am PST

Disclaimer: I was provided The Honest Kitchen Bone Broth in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and I only publish reviews for products I feel comfortable using in the day to day life of my pets.

Turdlebag Makes Dog Poop Less Embarrassing + Giveaway

Dog poop is an unavoidable part of life with dogs. It's gross, it's stinky, it's embarrassing, and as responsible dog guardians we have pick it up whenever and wherever they go. Turdlebag promises to make this job a little easier with their poop bag carriers. Not only do they hold a roll of bags, but they are secure and roomy enough to hold a full bag until you reach the nearest waste bin!

This post is sponsored by Turdlebag. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Turdlebag dog waste bag holders, but Rubicon Days only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Turdlebag is not responsible for the content of this post.  

We have many different kinds of bag carriers that clip to leashes or belt loops, but when The Ginger Sisters do their "business," I'm always stuck with a stinky green bag swinging at my side. We are lucky to have many waste bins placed strategically around the complex, but if we venture farther afield the options for pitching the offending parcel grow scarce. 

My dad -  who joins us for walks but leaves all bagging duties to me - cracked me up recently by telling me that it's more embarrassing for men to pick up and carry dog poop. He may be right, because I can't remember the last time I was embarrassed by cleaning up after my dogs, unless you count the mortifying occasions I've been caught at the end of a roll. At least when my neighbors see me with the telltale bundle, they know I'm not one of the rude people leaving their dog's mess on the lawn, lurking under the newly fallen leaves. 

My dad was a great sport about trying the Turdlebag, which turned an awkward chore into a more dignified task. He said he would no longer be embarrassed by Boca's call of nature, since it could be swiftly tucked away in the sturdy Turdlebag. It's so important for pet parents (and pet parents' parents) to set a good example in the neighborhood to ensure our dogs can continue to enjoy public spaces and hopefully be permitted in more places. 

The Portland, Oregon company seems to have thought of everything when it comes to picking up and packing out what our dogs leave behind, with practicality and a sense of humor. The bags come in three colors to match almost any dog-walking ensemble. The red matched Boca's harness and leash while blue fit for Ruby. Leashes are passed though an elastic sleeve on the back of the bag and then secured again with a snap so the bag doesn't flop around. 

The wide opening at the top of the bag accommodates its expected contents (one Turdlebag could hold at least two pit stops from my small and medium dogs), then rolls and clips closed until you are ready to dispose of it. The handle on the bottom allows you to empty the bag directly into a bin. 

The bags dispense smoothly without unspooling into a poop bag banner as I've had happen with other holders, and the Turdlebag is machine washable. It's hard to forget you're carrying a bag of dog poop when it's dangling conspicuously from your hand, but Turdlebag puts it out of sight and out of mind until you reach your disposal destination. They transformed us into happier picker uppers! 

We have dog waste stations at fairly short intervals on our usual route close to home, but I think the Turdlebags will be great to have on hikes. I don't want to be that person who leaves their bag on the side of the trail - meaning to retrieve it on the way back - and I look forward to having these on outdoor excursions next summer. 

Turdlebag is offering one bag in winner's choice of color to one lucky reader. Entrants must be U.S. residents and respond to notification email within 72 hours. Additionally, from December 5th to December 20th, 50% of all sales at the Turdlebag store will be donated to 501c3 animal charities!

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