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The Cool Puppy StyleGuide @Givebones @FrostyBowlz

After Toronto and Tokyo Fashion Weeks, fashion is on everyone’s mind. Here are three easy ways to update your pet’s wardrobe before the Spring Equinox in a few days.

1.GiveBones – http://givebones.com/shop/

Givebones has the most adorable and colorful collars for a good cause and a good price. National charitable pet company Givebones helps decrease the number of homeless and euthanized pets in the United States each year. Purchasing just ONE Givebones collar saves THREE dogs by keeping them warm and fed in a shelter for one extra day, rescuing them from euthanization. Givebones gives back 10 percent of sales to shelters and rescue groups across the country. They come in 4 sizes XS, S, M, L and in 6 fun colors.
This is my favorite! The Funny Bones Turquoise. It is sturdy, comfy, and stylish!

2. FrostyBowlz – frostybowlz.com

Dogs like to drink cool to cold water. Once water sits out all day, it gets lukewarm and your dog won’t want to drink it. This is a handy bowl that you can start using in spring all the way through the dog days of summer to keep your pup hydrated and cool. It is made of high-quality, heavy-gauge stainless-steel bowl with freezable, nontoxic core provides icy cold refreshment for 8 to 12 hours, even on the hottest days. Plate rim can be filled with water to form an ant barrier too! The bowl can also be used for food. Both plate and bowl have nonskid bottoms. Dishwasher-safe, awesome!

3. Dog Portrait – http://www.etsy.com/shop/MaritzaHernandezArt?ref=seller_info

Why not get a custom piece of art work for your dog and you to enjoy? There are numerous Etsy artists can whip up a really cool collage that looks just like your pup. With all your spring cleaning, throw out the old junk you don’t need and add a piece of art!

Author name:: Yvonne

@getbarkbox March awesomeness!

Our Barkbox got lost in mail land last month but not to worry. The March Barkbox arrived all in one piece and full of awesome goodies for the spoiled boy. This month we got some super awesome things. I know normally the best is saved for last but this time I will be putting the best item first!

1. Lollycadoodle Wool Mouse

Now I am not sure what it is about wool toys but Chino absolutely loves them. Although he destroys them to bits within the first 5 minutes he still finds enjoyment in them even after their all ripped apart. This is never the case with any other toys, once they’ve been ripped up he is pretty much over it! Not with his woolies though

2. Harry Barker’s Hemp Bone – now we all know hemp is great for our dogs and their teeth but most importantly I LOVE Harry Barker dog stuff, I will go all over the city looking for specific Harry Barker items.

3. Feel Good Treats & Little Eatz Peanut Butter Cookies – lately Chino has become quiet the diva about his treats and is all about the meaty stuff (such a boy!) so I did not bother trying to get him to try out the treats but instead shared them with his buddies who seemed to love it and give him lots of kisses for it too! Feel Good Treats are great because they do not have wheat, corn or soy which sometimes upset tummies and Little Eatz was pretty awesome because you can eat them too!

Sign up to get your own BarkBox in the mail today!

https://barkbox.com/r/8pjkq8aiva/

you can use the direct link above or enter coupon code “leashandpaws” to receive $5 off your subscription.

Author name:: Ingrid Castro

All About Pets Show!

The all about pets show is just around the corner!

When: March 29-March 31
Times: 10am-6pm
Where:
International Centre
6900 Airport Rd.,
Mississauga ON

Tickets are available at the door for $16 or online for $14 at www.allaboutpetsshow.com

Please note pets are not allowed to the show.

Author name:: Ingrid Castro

The growing trend of Pet Obesity

Continuing with the theme of Ingrid’s last post I thought I’d share some facts I heard on the Tuesday March 5th edition of the CBC Radio program “The Current”. You can listen to the podcast here: http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/podcasts/

The issue at hand is the growing trend of obesity in pets, more specifically dogs. Our canine friends are getting a little too chubby at an alarming rate. In fact it is estimated that 30-60% of pets in Canada are overweight or obese.

What are the factors contributing to dogs growing waistlines? There are a number of issues, one of which is food intake. A study conducted by the CDMA and Hills pet nutrition found that 18% of pet owners are not following nutritional label recommendations for the amount of food their dog should eat. Moreover, the same study found that 50% are free feeding and not limiting food to specific meal times. Lastly, on the nutritional front, most of us are over doing the treats, and feeding our pets too much human food. It is hard to turn away from those sad begging eyes, but we need to give a little more tough love!

Another contributing factor to dog obesity is lack of exercise. Most dog owners spend 3x more time watching television and 2x more time surfing the internet than they do walking or playing with their dog. Most dogs require at least two walks per day. Not only does exercise help keep your pet fit, but it also helps to ease behavioural issues like separation anxiety.

Having an overweight or obese dog might not seem like the worst health problem, but it can be dangerous, and obesity is the #1 health issue facing dogs today. Obesity can lead to other health concerns like arthritis, heart disease, lack of mobility and chronic pain. These are problems that can be avoided by keep your dog fit and healthy. If you think your dog might be a little on the heavy side, admitting their is a problem is the first step; 80% of people think the dog obesity is on the rise, but only 20% of owners think their dog might have a problem. Next, speak to your veterinarian. They can recommend a change of nutrition, and an exercise plan to help your pooch maintain a healthy body weight. Ideally you can avoid the issue all together by feeding your dog a proper diet and making sure they get enough exercise!

Author name:: Ashley

Your Dog’s Ideal Weight

Author name:: Ingrid Castro

February Is Pet Dental Month

Most dog owner’s do not realize the importance of keeping your dog’s teeth clean. It is of utmost important to keep their pearly whites clean as well as plaque and tarter free. Aside from the fact that dental work on a canine is extremely expensive it also has a direct effect on their heart health too!

Here are some important points we found at our local vet recently:

Make sure to have your vet check your dog’s oral health when going in for a regular check up
Check out the food and treats you feed your dog for any indications of helping fight plaque and tooth decay
Giving your dog dental treats are very beneficial because they will often get into grooves of their teeth that your are unable to get to with a toothbrush

Brushing 101

Choosing the correct brush is important, most stores sells either a large longer sized brush which is great for larger dogs and there are also small finger brushes that work great for smaller dogs and dogs who are more comfortable with having their owners poke into their mouth.
You want to make this a positive experience so that your dog becomes accustomed to having their teeth brushed and it is a routine to them. Using treats to reward them is really great and using positive words as you do so will also help.
For the first time you can use the toothbrush only with no paste on it so that your dog has a chance to get used to having something in their mouth and having their teeth rubbed
Incorporate the toothpaste slowly, some stores even offer peanut butter and chicken flavoured dog tooth paste which will help. You want to give your dog a taste of the toothpaste prior to inserting the brush with the paste into their mouth.

HAPPY BRUSHING!!!!

Author name:: Ingrid Castro

The Yellow Dog Project

The Yellow Dog Project, is an international initiative aimed at giving a little heads up to other dog owners that their pooch might need a little space. If you check out the website theyellowdogproject.com, there are links and resources for all the countries currently participating, even Canada! Personally, I think the Yellow Dog Project is a great idea! As the poster suggests there are any number of reasons why a dog might not be ready to socialize, and what a great way to avoid an awkward and potentially hazardous encounter with another dog and their owner.

So, if you see a dog at the park, or on the street with a yellow ribbon, or bandana on the leash, take the advice on the poster and give them a little room. This way we can all enjoy getting out with our dogs for some fun!

Author name:: Ashley

@drypet13 Towels

We have tried all kinds of grooming products in the past and have found our favourite shampoos, wipes, and even ear cleaners. The one thing we found difficult to find is a towel that would absorb all the water from our constantly dirty dog. Chino loves swimming in the summer and running through snow in the winter and anywhere in between where he can find mud he is in it!

Drypet towels are made of microfiber and absorb water quickly and a small towel will usually be able to cover all areas and dry off your dog before feeling like it is soaking wet.

My favorite part of the Drypet towel is that I can throw it in the washer and dryer without it loosing it’s absorbency or shrinking. I found this to be a major issue with most of the towels we previously purchased. Blow drying Chino is no longer needed because the Drypet towel absorbs all of the water.

We currently retail Drypet towels to all of our dog walking clients and recommend them every change we get.

There are now two sizes for towels
Small 26″ * 36″ $13
Large 30″ * 55″ $20
Order yours today by emailing info@leashandpaws.com

Enter our Drypet Contest today! Winner will receive a towel. Contest closes Feb 24th!

“like” drypet & leash & paws on facebook
http://www.facebook.com/drypet
http://www.facebook.com/leashandpaws
upload a photo of your dog and caption it “my dog needs a drypet towel!”

follow drypet and leash & paws on twitter
@drypet13
@leashnpaws
and tweet “@leashnpaws I need a @drypet13 towel for my dog!”

Author name:: Ingrid Castro

@getbarkbox January

Our January BarkBox did not disappoint. Chino was not home when the mailman arrived with it which is always good because this month had a bully stick and he usually rips it apart once he gets the scent of it.

1. We got a good karma rope toy by Jax & Bones. Our box had Elton the Octopus. Any type of rope is usually a big favourite in Chino’s books. This particular toy was great because it’s eco friendly and uses natural dyes. Rope toys not only provide fun but floss your dog’s teeth too (5 stars!!)

2. Barkworthies bully stick. I think this bully stick in particular is always interesting as it the stick is not a straight stick as your normally buy at the store but its twisted, this is usually a good sign for me as Chino chews through the regular ones pretty quickly.

3. Yumzies we’ve gotten in a previous Barkbox but love them nonetheless. I had to shop around to actually find and purchase them. These are great treats as they are soft and don’t leave a mess when your dog eats them. This month we got a peanut butter flavour.

4. Superior Farms lamb treats. Chino really enjoyed these and ate them pretty quickly since he’s a protein kinda guy.

Sign up to get your own BarkBox in the mail.