The story of my life is this: Shitty things happen to me but they happen in the best possible way. Look on the bright side, right? In this case, the shitty thing is happening to Gretel. The irony is shocking here. I've been blogging for 5 years. I JUST now decided to write about Dachshund back problems and IVDD. Gretel developed a skip in her step last month. I took her to a specialist and … [Read more...]
Our Food Journey Pt. 3 – One Tiny Step Better Than Grain Free
Chester and Gretel are active dogs so it makes sense that they need really good nutrition to keep them going. However, there are many reasons to improve your pet's diet from less vet bills to helping them live longer. I felt pretty good about myself for changing Chester and Gretel's food to grain free kibble. I knew it was an improvement in the quality of their diet and one small step toward … [Read more...]
Is Hemp CBD Safe for My Dog? Is it Legal?
If you haven't already, you will probably start hearing about Cannabidiol, or CBD, treats for dogs soon. One of your first questions might be, is CBD safe for my dog? Next, you are probably wondering if it's legal to buy and posses in your state. Before I'd heard of them, I discovered "weed cookies" in a local marijuana dispensary (it's legal here so I decided to check one out). Ok, … [Read more...]
Our Food Journey Pt. 2 – The Transition from Junk Kibble to Grain Free Dog Food
Chester was my first and only Dachshund until I adopted Gretel. I knew a little about the breed but we basically lived in a vacuum. We didn't know any other Dachshunds, or dogs for that matter, so I didn't have anything to compare him too. Originally, he was my roommate's dog. I just took care of him when she was out of town for work... which was often. I had wanted a dog desperately in college … [Read more...]
Our Food Journey Pt. 1 – My Dogs Eat Better Than I Do
This year is my year to finally get healthy again.... or at least health-ier. What you put in your body - what you eat - is a super important part of being healthy. I have been keenly aware over the last few months that what I put in Chester and Gretel's body is way better than what I put in my own. People often ask me what I feed Chester and Gretel. I have largely dodged that question. Well, … [Read more...]
Cleaning Your Dog’s Teeth: Anesthesia-Free Teeth Cleaning is Not Evil
I previously wrote an article about the anesthesia-free teeth cleaning that Chester gets. My vet says that his teeth look great for his age and there are no signs that he should have a full dental cleaning under anesthesia. Due to his age (13) I prefer to not put him under anesthesia unless my vet deems it medically necessary. I don't brush his teeth though. I've written about this before too. … [Read more...]
Pooch to 5k Update: Week 1
Even though Gretel and I started our path to better fitness on December 31st, Tuesday was our first "run" of the Pooch to 5k training program. One of my goals this year is to run a 5k with her. I found over 40 dog friendly races in Western Washington! I know it's very important for people to be active on a regular basis. I can feel how important it is! I haven't regularly and consistently … [Read more...]
The Fitness Struggle: Slow and Steady Wins the Race
This post is primarily about me but, if you stick with me, I promise it will be about dogs too :) 2016 is my year! This is the year I will get back in shape! Maybe it's that this year marks the 20th anniversary since my Mom died and I am the same age that she was when her life ended. Maybe it's that I've been battling chronic back and knee pain for years and it's finally getting a bit better. … [Read more...]
40+ Dog friendly Races in and around Seattle
Dogs make great running partners. Even small dogs can do it! Every dog, no matter the size, should get an OK from their vet before they take up running and, just like people, they have to start slow and work their way up to prevent injury. You might be surprised how far they can go though. My miniature Dachshund Chester used to run regularly with me and he could go 5 - 7 miles, depending on the … [Read more...]
Are Plastic Chew Toys Harming Your Dog’s Health?
I am not afraid to admit that I wasn't a very educated dog owner in the beginning. I tell people that "I made very mistake in the book" with Chester and I am not kidding. Although I consider myself a pretty educated pet parent now, I admit I still have a lot of learning to do. There are new things that pop up every day that make me wonder if I am doing the right things for Chester and … [Read more...]
Dachshund Runs Marathon for a Good Cause
"Just because a Doxie is small does not mean they can't do epic shit." ~ Catra Corbett You know am 100% behind that statement. I always tell people, the size of the dog doesn't necessarily determine what it can and can't do. Catra's mini Dachshund, TruMan, runs with her all of the time. He recently ran a 26.2 mile marathon to help a Doxie named Sunshine that was abandoned in the cold and … [Read more...]
What Happened When We Took the Glyco Flex® Plus Challenge?
Some of you may be wondering what happened with the Glyco Flex® Plus Challenge. Back in mid-September, Chester started the 30-day challenge - take Glyco Flex Plus for 30 days and see what happens. Glyco Flex Plus was made for dogs that are showing signs of slowing down and having a harder time getting around (i.e. helps “crotchety” senior dogs).... of which Chester is one. Sort of. He is … [Read more...]
Purina Scientists Are Making Life #BetterWithPets
Honestly, I didn't know a lot about Purina last month. I knew they make some generic-quality, affordable dog foods, they make some dog foods that canine athletes and show-ring dogs eat, that several of you, our readers, feed your dogs Purina foods and your dogs are happy and healthy, and that there is a lot of controversy swirling around online about Purina. Nestle Purina recently gave me the … [Read more...]
What Should I Do When My Old Dog Starts Peeing in the House?
Chester is 14 years young and he's still "got it" in a lot of ways. He is spunky; He can out-hike a lot of dogs (and some people); and He's certainly up for mischief. However, he IS starting to show his age. He's slowed down over the years and pretty has much has two speeds - plod along or no-go. He is grumps at us more than he used to for seemingly no reason sometimes (ok... most of the … [Read more...]
Take the GlycoFlex Challenge with Us!
We've been eagerly awaiting this challenge for some time. Well, it's finally here! What is GlycoFlex® Plus? It's one of the best joint supplements I have found. The new GlycoFlex® Plus contains a whole lot of helpful stuff besides just glucosamine, chrondroitin, and MSM - the standards for joint supplements. It also contains antioxidants such as omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin E, C, and grapeseed … [Read more...]
The Easy Way to Choose the Best Pet Insurance
UPDATED: June 3, 2018 When Chester was my only dog, I waffled back and forth about the issue of pet insurance. There are two main schools of thought - get insurance and pay monthly for peace of mind and guaranteed coverage or save an amount equal to the insurance premium each month in a "pet emergency" fund. I opted to go with the save a little every month plan. That didn't work … [Read more...]
Senior Dog Joint Problems and GlycoFlex
"How hard could it be?" I said. Climbing a Colorado 14er is certainly no joke. I've hiked trails as steep but not at 12 - 14,000 feet above sea level. I, and avid hiker for years, was the one that had the biggest problem with the hike. Hubby is NOT an avid hiker but he seemed totally fine. I think Gretel would have run to the top if we had let her. I ended up getting altitude sickness. What … [Read more...]
Look Ma, We’re Running
I wasn't a runner. Then life forced me to be. Then I liked it. Then I couldn't. Now I might be a runner again. I wasn't much into sports. I grew up training to become a ballerina and, after I stopped, I wasn't into taking on any kind of sport in high school. One day I decided that I wanted to become a wildland firefighter. I was drawn to the danger, excitement and the forced camping all … [Read more...]
Backpacking With Dogs: What to Do if Your Dog Has an Allergic Reaction to a Bug Bite
Do you know what to do if your dog has an allergic reaction to a bug bite or sting when you are out in the woods? Most people assume they can rush their dog to the vet when something like that happens. The vet is not an option when you are in the backcountry like we were though. Thanks to my pet first aid certification, I was able to handle the situation without too much panic. To be clear, … [Read more...]
Walks n’ Wags Pet First Aid Classes – Fun and High-quality
As a dog walker, occasional pet sitter, a responsible pet parent, and someone who hikes in the woods with her dogs, I get certified in pet first aid. This year, I got certified through one of the most comprehensive pet first aid classes there is - Walks n' Wags First Aid. I was so happy that I did. Walks n' Wags is from Canada but there are a few instructors certified in the US. Lucky me, a … [Read more...]
