MAKE A SPLASH INTO SPRING!

RUFF WEAR's K9 FLOAT COAT 

SPRING IS HERE...IT IS TIME TO PREPARE FOR SWIMMING & BOATING!

WE PULLED INFO FROM GREAT RUFFWEAR POSTS ON LIFE JACKETS & HAVE REPOSTED IT  BELOW.  IT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT H20 SAFETY!

 

Think buoyancy is the only safety factor to look for in a dog's lifejacket?
True, buoyancy is a key factor in water safety, 
but buoyancy without proper fit and features is just no good!

Here are a few features to consider when buying a canine lifejacket:

1.  Fit. A properly-fitted lifejacket prevents a swimming dog from being bogged down by extra bulk and friction.  Following the fit instructions carefully and choosing a size that fits snugly around your dog will prevent the coat from limiting mobility of the dog’s tail, hind legs, and front legs.  Sometimes, getting the right fit means the belly panels and neck pieces do not touch even though the straps close–that’s okay.  It is better to have a gap between the belly panels than to size up and have the coat be too big.

2.  Visibility. While you may love “Ocean Teal”, keep in mind that some colors are more difficult to see in the water.  Given a dog’s low profile position while swimming in the water, bright colors are ideal for visibility.  In addition, reflective trim on the top and sides of your dog’s flotation device keeps them safe from other boating and paddling traffic, and helps you spot them in low light.

3. Flotation. More buoyancy does not equate to better flotation.  Good flotation will work with the dog’s natural swim ability; maximizing, rather than hindering, their mobility in the water.  Too much flotation, or flotation in the wrong areas may cause the dog to flip over, or put them in an un-swimable position.  Ruff Wear’s lifejackets were designed with more than 12 years of research and development time invested in finding a good balance of fit and flotation on the belly, sides, and back–maximizing comfort and floating them in a natural swim position.

4.  Handle. A heavy-duty, reinforced handle is a must for any float coat.  Handles make it easy to lift the dog up and out of the water, especially in an emergency scenario where the dog is unable to help itself out the water.

5. Low Profile. At first glance, pockets, zippers, leash attachments, and other accessories may seem like a blessing, but they are all things that could get caught on rocks or floating debris.  Low profile handles, strap keepers, and hidden leash attachment points (Ruff Wear’s leash attachment is located on the underside of the the handle) help keep everything in its place, avoiding potential snags.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPANIES OUT THERE...SOME SELL GOOD PRODUCTS, BUT MANY DO NOT!  BUYER BEWARE - OTHER FLOTATION DEVICES CAN LIMIT MOBILITY, WEIGHT A DOG DOWN, CAUSE THEM TO FLIP & POOR CONSTRUCTION CAN LEAD TO THE PDF CATCHING ON OBJECTS IN THE WATER!

SAFTEY FIRST!

OTHER LIFEJACKETS FROM OTHER COMPANIES.

RECALL UPDATES

PLEASE CHECK THIS UPDATED LIST IF YOU FEED ANY DIAMOND PET FOOD:
Diamond Pet Foods has expanded their list of recalled dry dog foods—due to possible Salmonella contamination—to now include nine different kinds.

Included products:

* Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
* Country Value
* Diamond
* Diamond Naturals
* Premium Edge
... * Professional
* 4Health
* Taste of the Wild

The Kirkland Signature products included in the recall are:

* Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Formula
* Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Formula
* Kirkland Signature Super Premium Mature Dog Chicken, Rice & Egg Formula
* Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Dog Formulated with Chicken & Vegetables
* Kirkland Signature Super Premium Maintenance Cat Chicken & Rice Formula
* Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Cat Formula
* Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon Meal & Sweet Potato Formula for Dogs

Other dog foods currently recalled for possible Salmonella contamination:

Solid Gold Health Products for Pets, Inc.

* Solid Gold WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food
* Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Dog Food

Wellpet LLC

* Wellness Complete Health Super5mix Large Breed Puppy

Canidae Pet Foods

* Canidae Dog, All Life Stages
* Canidae Dog, Chicken Meal & Rice
* Canidae Dog, Lamb Meal & Rice
* Canidae Dog, Platinum

Apex Pet Foods

* Apex Chicken and Rice Dog, 20lb and 40lb bags

Natural Balance Pet Foods

* Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog
* Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog
* Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog
* Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog
* Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Large Breed Bites
* Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed Bites

For more details, and to stay up-to-date on all pet food recalls,

visit the FDA’s Recall & Withdrawals website.

GIVEAWAYS, ENTER A DOG TO WIN

DAWGDOM GIVEAWAY - COATS TO DESERVING DOGS!

1x Large  Girth: 32-40 Weight: 65-85

1x XLarge Girth: 35-48 Weight: 80-135

WE ARE LOOKING FOR ENTRIES!  

ENTRIES OF A DOG WHO NEEDS A COAT & HAS A STORY!

RUFFWEAR'S OVERCOAT'S KEY FEATURES:

• Recycled fleece insulating liner enclosed in a durable, recycled polyester shell
• Elastic stay-fit webbing and autolock buckles adjust for a custom fit
• Integrated chest panel insulates the belly and keeps the coat in place while your four-legged friend is in motion
• 3M Scotchlite reflective trim for enhanced visibility

ENTRIES CAN BE ENTERED BY:

POSTING ON DAWGDOM'S FB PAGE or EMAILED TO: info@dawgdom.com

*MUST INCLUDE A PHOTO*

(please only size appropriate dogs)

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN MARCH 15TH

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

Our talented friend at HEATHER BOHM-TALLMAN PHOTOGRAPHY 

has partnered with  

Smile For A Cure to help raise funds for The National Canine Cancer Foundation. 

For any doggy session that takes place between 2/13 - 3/13

100% of the session fees will be donated to the NCCF!
In order to participate the sessions MUST BE BOOKED BY FEB 29th 2012.
Please contact HBT Photo and book your session today!

IT IS A GREAT CAUSE & A GREAT OPPORTUNITY!

AND THE WINNER IS!

DAWGDOM FB Gift Certificate Giveaway has arrived!

$25 GC, every month, all year long!

We will be announcing a new fb fan winner at the beginning of every month via blog and fb!

Tell your friends to Fan DAWGDOM for their chance to win!

And May's winner is....Christianne Smith!!

Come on down to the store and pick it up and while your at it shop and redeem it!

Congrats and enjoy!

CHEEEEZ PLEASE!

          PIP HIGH ON HIS CHEESE...WATCH AND SEE

FEEDING FRED

Fred here,  I'm on a diet right now and thought I would blog about nutrition since food is on my mind pretty much all the time!  Here is An intro to Dog Food, What should be in it, What shouldn’t:

Understanding dog food labels and using that information wisely can make the difference between choosing a good quality dog food or settling for a dud.

MAIN RULES TO FOLLOW:

1. 1st Ingredient must be a Specific Meat.

2. NO Wheat, Corn or Soy. Preferably No Grain at All.

2. No Mystery Meat (Unidentified “meat”)

4. No Unnatural dye

How to Really Read Dog Food Labels:

Dog food packaging usually includes three sets of information: the front panel, the guaranteed analysis, and the list of ingredients.

A typical guaranteed analysis provides information about crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, and moisture. You will sometimes see guarantees for other nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, omega fatty acids, or glucosamine. Knowing these other nutrient guarantees can help you compare foods or find a food that meets your dog’s specific needs. The guaranteed analysis, however, does not address the quality or digestibility of the ingredients. To get a sense of the quality of the food, you need to look at the list of ingredients. In the United States ingredients are listed in order based on weight, so items at the top of the list are the main ingredients. A good-quality dog food will have meat listed as the first ingredient.

Another way that ingredient lists can be deceptive is through the practice of “splitting.” If an ingredient list read “Rice, meat, etc.” you would know immediately that there is more rice than meat in the food. However, if the rice content is split into several ingredients, the company can legitimately list meat as the top ingredient, thus: “Meat, ground rice, rice flour, rice bran, etc.” When added together, these grains may actually be present at levels that are higher than the meat.

Other items to note when reading the ingredient list: food dyes, flavorings, and preservatives.

Remember that higher levels of nutrients aren’t always better; there is an optimal percentage depending on your dog’s requirements and lifestage. Most dog foods are formulated to slightly exceed your dog’s nutrient requirements. When choosing an adult dog food, pick a food that has at least 18-28% protein as listed on the label, unless your dog has other specific requirements.

Both canned and dry dog foods are designed to provide a complete and balanced diet for your dog. One 421mL can (13 oz) of dog food has approximately the same caloric content as 1 cup of kibble. Canned dog food must contain about 80 percent water to allow for proper canning, so you will often find water or broth as the second or third ingredient on a can of food. The process of canning preserves the food, so there is no need to have preservatives in canned dog food. However, the high moisture content in canned food also means you are feeding (and paying for) a lot of water. When choosing a dog food, look for one that has a whole meat listed as its first ingredient (e.g. deboned chicken) to ensure adequate protein levels.

Stay away from “mystery” meat (e.g., unidentified-species meat and meal). An ingredient list should always state the species of meat (e.g., chicken, turkey, trout, etc.). If it doesn’t, it is using a mixed source of meat, which can be of questionable origin. Plus, the mixed source will not be consistent from batch to batch and this may upset your dog’s stomach.

Coloring is there to make the product more marketable to you—the dog owner. Choose foods that do not have a lot of dye in them.

Dog foods, like people foods, will spoil over time. To prevent this, preservatives are added to kibble to allow for a longer shelf life. BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are synthetic preservatives and vitamin E (tocopherol), and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) are natural preservatives. Multiple studies have shown that consumption of preservatives such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are not associated with cancer. In fact, some studies have indicated that they may, in fact, be protective against cancer. However, there has been concern that some dogs may develop allergies to synthetic preservatives. If you are concerned about your dog consuming synthetic preservatives, choose foods that have been preserved with vitamin E or C.

If you are choosing to feed a commercial dog food, one of the best ways to improve your dog’s health and well-being is to feed an appropriate amount of a good-quality dog food. With a good diet, your dog will live a longer, healthier life.

Here are two dog foods we stand behind.  There are other good ones out there, but many more aweful ones so be aware and make smart decisions with what you feed your Fred!

ORIJEN DOG FOODS

BY NATURE, DOGS OF ALL BREEDS AND SIZES ARE EVOLVED AS CARNIVORES — BIOLOGICALLY ADAPTED FOR A DIET RICH AND VARIED IN FRESH MEATS, WITH SMALLER AMOUNTS OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND GRASSES.

Formulated to match your dog’s natural diet, ORIJEN ADULT is loaded with the protein-packed meat ingredients (80%) that Mother Nature intended all dogs to eat — including free-run chicken and turkey, whole eggs and wild-caught fish that are farmed or fished within their region of Canada by people we know and trust.

SOJOS NATURAL DOG FOOD

Simply water to one of their natural pet food mixes and you have a fresh, homemade pet food in minutes. Some mixes require the addition of a protein.

Sojos foods offer the superior nutrition of naturally- occurring vitamins, minerals and enzymes that you cannot get from a cooked, processed food. No preservatives. Nothing artificial. Just natural, human-quality ingredients.

MORE QUESTIONS?

GIVE US A CALL @ DAWGDOM

518.306.6600