K9 Kamp- The Challenge

Welcome to K9 Kamp, sponsored by Peggy's Pet Place and Kol's Notes! We're so excited that you've joined us. K9 Kamp is open to EVERYONE, and we're going to have a great time!

Each year we've issued a fitness challenge for you and your dogs, and we have to admit they've gotten pretty creative. This year we've decided to make our challenge just as fun, but more flexible. We believe that fitness should be an everyday focus, but it means something different to everyone. You should do the things you and your dog love to do together. But we won't let you off THAT easy!

THE CHALLENGE:
 Get active with your dog in the way of your choice, 30 extra minutes at least 3 times a week*
AND Our THEME for you to focus your challenge activities around is summer sunshine! The weather is turning nice (when it's not too hot!) and it's a perfect time to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and boundless possibilities with your dog.

Possible Activities:
Walking
Running
Agility
Swimming
Training exercises
You name it!

(*Please consult your veterinarian if you have ANY questions about your dog's health or fitness capacity. Adjust times to you and your dog's needs...for some senior dogs or dogs with certain conditions, it may not be safe to get active for as long, while dogs who are already active may require more.)

C'mon Mom, let's get moving!

Okay so simply decide upon your activity or activities, keep track of your progress, and report in on ANY FITDOG FRIDAY and link up to let us know how it's going. Then, on June 21 come back on the last day of Kamp and share your results. How did it go? What worked for you? What didn't work?

What else is going on?
*We'll feature posts on fitness and nutrition to keep you going.
* 14 Featured Bloggers will also be posting about their Kamp experience on their blogs
* We'll introduce you to our 14 Featured Bloggers in longer interviews throughout the year!
* Our Official Trainer, K9 Fit Club, will offer exercise instruction How-To's for you to follow along
* Don't miss special tweets and tips that might pop up on social media
*Oh yeah, and we have a great prize package valued at more than $200 including:

An EzyDog Vario6 Leash & Fold-a-Bowl

A NiteIze LED glowing fetch ball & collar charm

A Natural, chemical free pest tag (can be used on its own or in conjunction with a traditional flea/tick preventative)

A copy of my book Dieting With My Dog

A bag each of Kol's Veggie Snacks & Green Bean Crunchers

An assortment of active toys, such as ball, frisbee, tug etc.
How do I enter the contest?
JUST VISIT OUR RAFFLECOPTER ON OUR K9KAMP PAGE TO ENTER!


Those Featured Bloggers Must be pretty special. Who are they?

Pocket & her Dad from Small Tales: the big adventures of tiny terrierists

Pamela and Honey from Something Wagging This Way Comes

Snoopy & Annette from Snoopy's Dog Blog

PupFan, Bella & Tavish from I Still Want More Puppies

Pam & Oskar from Pet Blogs United and the Daily Oskar

Jodi, Sampson & Delilah from Heart Like a Dog

Liz and Daisy from Woof Woof Mama

Steve, Jack & Maggie from SlimDoggy

Diane and Rocco from To Dog With Love

Jackie & Rita from Pooch Smooches

Cinny, Baby Pom & JR from Whirlwind of Surprises

Jessica, Chester & Gretel from You Did What With Your Wiener

Beth & Gizmo from Terrier Torrent

Emma and her Mom from My GBGV Life

We love getting fit and healthy with our dogs. We're looking forward to an awesome K9Kamp this year. Hear that whistle blowing? Time to get moving! Feel free to leave a comment and let us know why you are joining in, and what activity you are planning on doing to keep fit?

Want pawsitive pet tips, good news, and special bonuses? Content not already on the blog? Subscribe to my free newsletter.  Kelly and I can't wait to see you there!

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Banish the Bites - Tick and Cicada Pet Safety

People and pets alike are all through the roof about the nice weather, but with warmth comes many tiny bugs that can lead to not-so-tiny problems. According to the Montefiore Medical Center in New York, more than 90 percent of Lyme disease cases from tick bites are reported in just ten northeastern states. New Jersey falls in the top half of this list, and tick numbers are expected to hit extreme highs this summer in our state. For a month or more this summer, we can also expect cicadas, allegedly harmless bugs that can actually pose a threat to our pets. What can you do to help protect your pooch?

Dogs are extremely susceptible to tick bites and the resulting illnesses, including Lyme disease. If tick bites are hard to spot on humans, finding out if your dog has been bitten is even more difficult. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that signs of tick-borne illness may not manifest for 7-21 days or more after your dog is bitten. Even then these signs, which include change in behavior or appetite, can be very subtle. The best thing you can do for your dog is to take preventive measures to avoid ticks and tick bites.

The CDC suggests that in order to reduce the chances that your pet will be exposed to ticks and tick-borne diseases, you should:

• Check your pet daily for ticks, especially after spending time outdoors.

• If you do find a tick on your dog, remove it immediately. For tips on how to properly remove a tick that may already be attached to the skin, you can read step by step instructions at the Lyme Research Alliance website or treatthebite.com. 

• Reduce tick habitat in your yard by trimming tall grasses and brush, mowing your lawn regularly and treating with pesticides.

• Have your groomer do a thorough tick check during routine grooming appointments. To schedule your pet for a full groom, call us at Morris Animal Inn at 973-539-0377.

• Most importantly: talk with your veterinarian. Have your vet conduct a tick check every time your pet has an exam, ask about common tick diseases in your area, and talk about tick preventatives for your pet.

The best method of preventing Lyme and other tick related diseases is to prevent the ticks themselves. A pesticide product that will kill ticks that attach to your dog is an important step towards giving your pet the proper protection. Protecting your dog will help keep you and your family safe as well; though you cannot catch Lyme disease from your dog, ticks that attach to your pet and are then carried into your home can put you at risk. Speak with your vet about finding the right product.

But what about those pesky cicadas? These underground nymphs emerge sometimes as infrequently as once every 17 years, and though they will not bite or sting your pet, they may prove dangerous if your pet decides to do the biting. Cicadas will shed their shells, an exoskeleton that can look like a crunchy treat to dogs, but these shells are not digestible.

The Humane Society warns that though cicadas and their shells may be appealing to pets, ingesting too many can cause vomiting, choking or even an allergic reaction. It’s best to watch your dog while outdoors for signs of interest in these bugs, and prevent your pet from munching on them whenever possible. If your dog shows adverse reactions after eating cicadas, consult your vet for proper treatment.

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Natural Balance Fat Dogs free bag giveaway

When Natural Balance contacted me about their new Fat Dogs dog food, they couldn't have approached me at a better time. These past few months I've been focusing on pet health and fitness, with our new FitDog Friday blog hop, the upcoming K9Kamp starting tomorrow, and my forthcoming new book, The Dieting with my Dog Guide to Weight Loss and Maintenance, full of tips and fun activities for taking off the weight and keeping fit, for people and dogs!

I had a fat dog, our yellow lab Hudson, so I know how challenging it can be to keep a dog in shape. And when Kelly started to gain weight, right along with me, I knew I had to take steps to get us both fit and healthy. One of the steps I took was to take a close look at the food I offered and the ingredients to make sure they were nutritious, healthy, and low in fat. Natural Balance pet foods has a new line you might like to consider. Recently Natural Balance ran a Lovable Fat Dogs and Fat Cat contest and selected two winners and six runners up to help with the process of losing weight. They also feature Fat to Fit videos on their website.

Fat Dogs and Fat Cats:
    is Natural Balance's lowest calorie formula yet
    provides a balanced diet of protein and fiber
    helps pets lose weight while maintaining lean body muscle
    contains added fiber to help keep pets feel full
    can be fed for both weight loss and weight maintenance

Natural Balance sent us a sample bag to try, a measuring tape, bone-shaped pedometer, a voucher for a free bag, and one to give away. They provided this strategy for weight loss:

Step 1: Determine whether your pet is at a Healthy Weight.
Check! At 32 lbs, Kelly is at a healthy weight for her (mixed) breed. I'll feed her for maintenance to keep the weight off.

I measured her waistline and it's 21 inches. Good girl Kelly! She's at a good size right now.

Step 2: Weigh your pet regularly

Step 3: Check Feeding Table on the back of your dog food bag for serving size.
**I consult with my veterinarian and consider activity level and other factors to determine feeding amount. For Kelly, it's 3/4 cup twice a day.

Step 4: When introducing new food, transition it into existing food slowly.
We tried the sample bag, and Kelly loves the taste of Natural Balance Fat Dog!

Step 5: Incorporate Exercise. Walk, run, and play with your dog. Also, K9 Kamp is a fun way to exercise too!


Would your dog or cat like to try Fat Dog or Fat Cat? Enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win a free 10 lb bag!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



About Natural Balance: Natural Balance is a family-owned pet food company and we make super premium, holistic, natural pet food with high quality ingredients for cats and dogs. And because we’re also pet parents ourselves, safety is our number one priority.

*Full Disclosure: We were provided with a Nautral Balance Fat Dog kit including dog food, measuring tape and pedometer and one dog or cat food voucher to give away. This in no way influenced my review. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own. 


Want more, pawsitive pet tips, good news, and special bonuses? Content not already on the blog? Subscribe to my free newsletter.  Kelly and I can't wait to see you there!

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Are you in?

We're so excited! Koly and Kelly's K9 Kamp starts in just two more days! We can't wait! This Friday visit here at Peggy's Pet Place and at Kol's Notes for your first challenge. With our first ever official K9 Kamp trainer- K9 Fit Club! No need to sign up. No need to travel anywhere. K9 Kamp is open to EVERYONE and their dog (cat, rabbit?), any fitness level or degree of experience. We're going to have fun together, motivating each other to get active and get fit with our dogs. We have instruction, support, fun, 14 fantastic Featured Bloggers, and prizes! Do it in your own time, in your own home, but as Nike says, Just Do It! See you Friday!!

"Anyone for some baseball? I'll be catcher."

Want more, pawsitive pet tips, good news, and special bonuses? Content not already on the blog? Subscribe to my free newsletter.  Kelly and I can't wait to see you there!

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Learning about Life Through Frankie's Eyes

 Please welcome Barbara Techel, author of Frankie the Walk 'n Roll Dog books and her new memoir, Through Frankie's Eyes. I'm honored to be the wrap-up stop on her book tour, and had the pleasure of posing the following questions:

Me:   I like the idea of seeing ourselves through our dog's eyes. What are some things you think dogs want us to understand about them?

Frankie the Walk 'N Roll Dog's Official Photo

BT: Of course, I can’t really know what they think, but if I had to guess…I think they’d want us to understand that they are quite content with quality time we can give them, walking, playing or just sitting with them. I think just like humans, they’d also want us to know that they need their alone time.
Having had two disabled dachshunds now, I really believe also that they would want us to understand that they don’t like the word pity and what it implies for them if they are disabled. I saw none of that with Frankie, and now Joie (pronounced Joey). Feeling sorry for themselves just seems to not be part of their demeanor, no matter what they are up against.
I think as human’s it is hard for us to see what we perceive as suffering such as an animal that may be disabled. But I honestly think animals don’t think twice about it. I’ve seen this with my dog, Cassie who had terminal cancer, as well as in both my disabled dogs.

Me:   What are some things you'd like your dogs to understand about you, if they could see "through Barbara's eyes?"

BT: Oh wow, what a great question! I personally think dogs see us as we truly are and that they don’t really need to see through our eyes, because they already do.
It reminds me of a quote, though I’m not sure of the exact wording, but something like this:   I want to become the person my dog thinks I am.  We human’s need much more work in accepting ourselves for who we are because it seems that our dog’s already do.

Joie, with Kylie in the background

 

Me:    I think it's important to understand a dog's individual needs, and how each dog communicates those needs. Although your dog Joie also uses a wheelchair just as your Frankie did, how are her needs and wants different from Frankie's? How does she communicate those needs with you?

BT: It’s funny, because I swear it is a dachshund thing, but Frankie, and now Joie does the same thing when it is close to dinner time. Like clockwork, about a half hour before it’s time to eat, if I’m working in my office, Joie is on what I call “stand-by.” If I move an inch towards the door she scrambles toward it. I barely even move my eyes and she is taking off for the door!  I swear both her and Frankie could tell time.

Joie is only my second dachshund and I’m sure they are all different, but I’m amazed by the similarities between Frankie and now Joie in regards to her needs and how she communicates them. If Joie wants to be picked up she will just stare and stare until I pick her up and hold her. She can pretty relentless with this. Or perhaps I’m just a softie. LOL!

She also sleeps in a soft sided kennel next to my bed each night and does well in it. Frankie hated being in a kennel and would cry and whimper. But come morning time, Joie starts this little clucking noise for me to wake up as she wants out of her kennel and wants to eat. Now! She will quiet down if I tell her to, but like a snooze alarm, 10-minutes later she is at it again.

Another things she does which is very endearing is that about two months ago she started this special ritual with my husband, John. As I’m making dinner or when we are playing Yahtzee (which we love to do on the weekends), Joie has to snuggle between John’s feet.  The minute he sits down at the kitchen table she scampers as fast as she can and he knows he better get his feet ready. She slips her little body between them and hooks her front paws around his feet. It is the cutest thing! Sometimes she just sits there, and sometimes she falls asleep. We now call it her “papa time.”

Me: What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your experiences?

BT: One of the reason’s I wrote Through Frankie’s Eyes is I want others to be open to what our pets can teach us. They have so much to offer. When we try to open ourselves to their world, I believe it can only make our own lives stronger, as well as create this amazing, deep bond.

Also, being a woman, I’ve struggled with what I feel is mainly women’s issues, such as lack of self-confidence and worrying so often what others thought of decisions I made for my life; though this can be the case with men too as I’ve heard from many men who have resonated with my book. But because I’ve learned to move through these feelings of inadequacy to a place of much more confidence and sense of peace in my heart, (mainly because of Frankie and what she taught me), I just had to share my story. I want to encourage others to find their “Frankie,” whatever that may be, and pay attention to what it is they can do to live their lives with more meaning and joy.

I also have another reason for writing this book and that is to continue the work I began with Frankie bringing positive awareness to Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) and dogs in wheelchairs. I want to encourage other pet owners to educate themselves about IVDD and understand it is not a death sentence should it happen to their dog. I also want to encourage others to consider adopting a pet with special needs. They provide so many blessings and they need to be loved just like any other pet.

Me:  What is one thing readers of your book will be surprised to learn about you?

BT: That I am not rich!  LOL!  Though seriously, I have someone who knows of me, but does not really know me personally. But she thought I had lots of money. I talk about some financial struggles in my book and it came as a surprise to this reader.

Interestingly enough, that was one of the hardest parts of the book for me to write about. Mainly because I think we are conditioned to think a certain way in how we should live our lives, have a fat savings account, IRA’s, etc. We are not taught to follow our hearts and search for our purpose. Instead many seem to work their whole life for what we are conditioned to believe is the American dream. But many people seem so unhappy doing just that.

While I don’t know all the answers, and yes, I sometimes worry about the future, I know my heart is happy with where I am with my life right now. When I find myself feeling concerned, I ground myself by being with my dogs and tuning into what is truly important to me. Dog’s have this unbelievable magic in bringing me right back into the moment and reminding me to live each day as it comes.

Barbara Techel

BIO: Barbara Techel is a passionate advocate for dogs with Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) and dogs in wheelchairs. She is also passionate about helping others see their challenges in a positive way. After her dachshund, Frankie suffered a spinal injury she was custom-fitted for a wheelchair and Barbara realized the beautiful opportunity she had to spread a positive message that animals with disabilities can and do live quality lives if given a chance. Her newest book is an inspirational memoir, Through Frankie's Eyes. She is also the award-winning author of the children's book series Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog which are true, inspirational stories about her paralyzed dachshund. In August 2012 she founded National Walk 'N Roll Dog Day in memory of Frankie and in honor of all dogs in wheelchairs. She also started the Frankie Wheelchair Fund which helps dogs who need wheelchairs whose families may not be able to afford them, or for dogs in rescue. To date she has helped fifteen dogs get wheelchairs. She loves spending time with her new “walk ‘n roll dog” Joie, her English Lab Kylie, and husband John.

www.joyfulpaws.com  website and blog

www.facebook.com/joyfulpaws

www.twitter.com/joyfulpaws

www.facebook.com/nationalwalknrolldogday

www.twitter.com/walknrolldogday

https://plus.google.com/106468508651315381885/postsGoogle+

www.pinterest.com/barbaratechel

http://www.youtube.com/user/barbtechel/videosyoutube

Thank you Barbara for these honest and heartfelt answers. All of us dog lovers agree that a dog can bring us direction, happiness, healing, and of course love. Best of luck with your new book.


Want more, pawsitive pet tips, good news, and special bonuses? Content not already on the blog? Subscribe to my free newsletter.  Kelly and I can't wait to see you there!

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This Interactive Feeder is A-Mazing!

Happy Memorial Day!

Kelly and I are taking time this weekend to remember those lost in service to our country...men, women and Kelly says don't forget military dogs too.

Memorial Day weekend also marks the beginning of summer, picnics, bbqs and summer fun. This weekend Kelly got into some fun of her own.

A-Mazing
We were sent a sample of the Buster DogMaze by The Company of Animals, and Kelly couldn't wait to try it out! All you do is drop a few morsels of kibble in the tracks, and watch your dog work to get it out.




Kelly didn't take too long to master the maze, and sometimes she was able to get the food out without working it through the tracks. Maybe a dog with a bigger nose would have more trouble. I tried different size treats to see if it made a difference.



A Four Paw Review!
Even though it isn't difficult, Kelly clearly enjoys the DogMaze. She gets excited when she sees it, and wags while she works. This is definitely a fun toy. It's also a great way to engage her mind in a problem-solving activity.

Don't Inhale Your Food
Another great use for the DogMaze is to slow down feeding time for dogs who gobble and gulp their food. Food gulping can lead to problems such as burping, indigestion, choking and other digestive issues.

We highly recommend Buster DogMaze for any dog!

For more information:
www.CompanyofAnimals.us
Company of Animals on Facebook
Company of Animals on twitter


*Full Disclosure: We were provided with one Buster DogMaze to sample. This in no way influenced my review. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own.

Want more, pawsitive pet tips, good news, and special bonuses? Content not already on the blog? Subscribe to my free newsletter.  Kelly and I can't wait to see you there!

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National Dog Bite Prevention Week: Understanding Your Dog's Signals

It’s National Dog Bite Prevention Week, and you can help the cause by learning to understand your dog’s warning signs. This week was established by Doggone Safe, an organization devoted to promoting education that can help prevent dog bites and providing support for dog bite victims. The ultimate goal of this week is to help us, the humans, properly understand and communicate with our dogs in ways that can help prevent biting. 

As Doggone Safe acknowledges, we often misunderstand our pups. When a dog bites, we interpret this behavior in negative human terms, when to a dog, biting is a relatively normal and primal behavior. By learning to understand why dogs are motivated to bite in the first place, we can help reduce the risk that our pet will respond to situations with a bite or other threatening behavior.

Basic knowledge of your dog’s physical behavior can take you a long way towards preventing biting. Our sister organization, Morris K9 Campus, published a blog post in honor of Dog Bite Prevention Week about canine body language and how to read the signs that may lead to aggression.

Watch out for:

• Tail between the legs
• Whites of eyes showing
• Ears back, head down, or teeth bared
• Excessive yawning or licking
• Furrowed or tense brow

You can also help prevent biting or lashing out by avoiding situations that often make dogs uncomfortable. Avoid surprising your dog, especially while they are asleep, as they may react instinctively and bite. Do not approach a tethered dog or a dog that is chewing on a bone; even if you know the dog well, they may become defensive. Also avoid forcing your dog into a submissive position.

By keeping your dog comfortable and watching for these warning signs, you can help prevent your dog and others' pets from biting. Though they may be subtle, these signs are a dog’s way of telling us how they are feeling. If you watch for them, you can become more in tune with your dog’s likes, dislikes and overall well-being.

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FitDog Friday - Time to Get your Wiggle On

FitDog Friday- cohosted by Peggy's Pet Place, Slimdoggy and To Dog with Love, is a great way to highlight positive activities you're doing with your dog.
So, are you ready for K9Kamp this year? It's an exciting online blogging event co-hosted by Peggy's Pet Place and Kol's Notes to promote fitness and bonding with your dog. Here are ways you can participate:

1. Read our challenge next Friday 11/31 and leave a comment saying you accept the challenge! Then participate at home on your own time.

2. Enter our Rafflecopter (coming soon) to win great prizes

3. Link up to the K9Kamp Blog Hop on 6/28 to share your results.

4. If you can't participate at this time, check out the others participating on our blog hop, and cheer them on!

5. Check out our Featured Bloggers (we've got 12 great ones you'll love) and our new K9Kamp Official Trainers K9Fit Club! 

Is it time for you and your dog to think about getting in swimsuit shape for the summer? Check out these dogs who dared to step onto the scale for my video book trailer!

Please join us today and every Friday for FitDog Friday! Also, everyone who joins the hop or leaves a comment on one of the host blogs is entered into a drawing for great prizes. This week we have a SlimDoggy t-shirt, Dieting with my Dog bookmark, engraved pawprint collar tag from A Pet's Life (U.S. only), and waste bags, dispenser and bandana from Pruven by 3M.

Want more, pawsitive pet tips, good news, and special bonuses? Content not already on the blog? Subscribe to my free newsletter.  Kelly and I can't wait to see you there!

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Dogs Spin the Wheel for Animal Rescue Causes

What is so cool about the new, exciting game Tail Spin?
1. Adorable trained dogs spinning a giant wheel
2. Display of positive training techniques
3. Awareness for rescue animals
4. Chances for you to win great prizes
5. (p.s. We also have a a chance for you to win a BumperPet dog breed tshirt of your choice at the end of this post!)

Tail Spin is a project by The Dog Saving Network, a group with the goal of improving the lives of dogs through positive reinforcement training, and BumperPet, a designer and manufacturer of products for pet lovers like you and me. Niki Crowe CEO of Bumperpet, says that the company works closely with nonprofits and pledge a portion of every sale to animal rescues. “Tail Spin is just another way we can help raise awareness about a cause we strongly believe in. Plus, it’s totally adorable.”

Each week, you can go to Bumperpet.com and pick three numbers. (No purchase is necessary.) Then, check back on Friday to see one of the adorable trained rescue dogs spin the wheel to pick the winning numbers! Look at Freddy pick last week's winning numbers!!



If you like the work they do and you want to help, you'll have the opportunity to donate to The Dog Saving Network. If you can't donate, you can always share the Tail Spin link and help spread the word about the good work they do. And don't forget to play every week for 7 more weeks and visit the Tail Spin Facebook page,

Here's the rest of the fun! I'm excited because BumperPet gave us a cool t-shirt to review and they're offering one  t-shirt to each of two lucky readers of this blog!! These t-shirts are one of the nicest I've seen. The fabric is super soft cotton, and the design is a dashing silhouette of a dog with words specific to that breed. For instance, pug contains such words as "Sturdy," "Charming," and "Playful."   I chose a golden retriever, with words such as "Loyal," "Friendly" and "Active." There's also a generic dog, cat, bunny and horse.

Enter here to win your choice of one BumperPet graphic breed design t-shirt! (Two winners)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Full Disclosure: We were provided with one t-shirt to review and 2 t-shirts for giveaway. This in no way influenced my review. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own.

About Bumperpet
Bumperpet is an Chicago, IL based designer and manufacturer of products for pet lovers, including breed and pet specific Tshirts, sweatshirts, decals, magnets, pillows and prints, all 100% sourced and made in the U.S.A. Since being founded 2011, Bumperpet has proudly donated a portion of every sale to animal rescue causes. For more information, visit www.Bumperpet.com.

About The Dog Saving Network
The Dog Saving Network (DSN) is a positive reinforcement based training organization committed to raising awareness and finding solutions to the problems faced daily by unwanted dogs in our country. For more information, visit www.dogsavingnetwork.org.





Want more, pawsitive pet tips, good news, and special bonuses? Content not already on the blog? Subscribe to my free newsletter.  Kelly and I can't wait to see you there!

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Wednesday Pet Roundup 5-22-13

Hi and welcome to Wednesday Pet Roundup!

*This month is pet cancer awareness month. Since losing Brooks, we are becoming aware of just how many pets are touched by this disease. According to the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 30% of older dogs succumb to cancer. But there is some positive news. Read these success stories for breakthroughs in cancer research.  

















 * Here are some signs of cancer to watch for in your pet. Know that there are sometimes no clear signs. Brooks was eating and acting mostly normal up until his last day. His only sign was hesitancy to walk or take the stairs.

*If your dog has been diagnosed with cancer, check out these canine cancer support groups on the web.

* More than 10,000 people and dogs turned out for the Million Paw Walk in Perth, Australia to benefit vet services, re-homing programs, pet comfort,  programs to fight cruelty to animals and education programs of the RSPCA.

*If you have a fat cat, you'll like this video from CBC News...now a treadmill for cats!

* Finally: winners of the flea and tick comb from The Company of Animals are: Jodi Stone, Gizmo, and Ann Staub. There were also two winners on Peggy's Pet Place's Pawsitively Pets newsletter:  Danielle Murgia and Gina Daw. Thank you everyone for entering and may your days be flealess and tickless!

*Check back tomorrow for a giveway of  two great tshirts from Bumperpets!

Want more, pawsitive pet tips, good news, and special bonuses? Content not already on the blog? Subscribe to my free newsletter.  Kelly and I can't wait to see you there!

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Hug a Dog Day

What happens when a bunch of college students are facing the pressure of the end of a school year and the stress of exams? Well, at Rensselaer Polytechnique Institute last week, they got the opportunity to relax with a very special group of therapy dogs.

 

 My friend Sally is the organizer of certified therapy dog visits at universities including the State University of New York at Albany, Main campus and East Campus, Russell Sage, and RPI. She invited me to go along and help out at an event at RPI, held at Theta XI Fraternity.

About 16 dogs were available for hugs and cuddles. Students crowded in all day, and some stayed for hours. I was impressed by how the students made themselves comfortable on the grass and visited with the handlers, asked questions about the dogs, and talked about their own dogs they missed back home. Some of the dogs performed tricks for groups of students, who laughed and clapped.

 

Other students enjoyed one-one-one time to hug and spend quiet time together.

 I was impressed with the students, their openness, kindness, and respect for the dogs. I enjoyed watching their smiles as they spotted that special dog they wanted to get to know--from little white dogs with bows

to huge, furry, working dogs.

I'm delighted that I got to see this program in practice. Therapy dog visits for college students is an excellent program, as anyone can tell after seeing all these happy students relaxing and smiling, all because of the unconditional love of some special dogs. Just check out the rest of these pictures of the students and dogs:

Want more, pawsitive pet tips, good news, and special bonuses? Content not already on the blog? Subscribe to my free newsletter.  Kelly and I can't wait to see you there!

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Announcing the 3rd Annual K9 Kamp!

Welcome to FitDog Friday! What goes hand in hand with FitDog Friday better than our annual, exciting, super fun and healthy Koly and Kelly's K9 Kamp! Many of you have participated in the past, and we're gearing up for lots more to join in the fun this year!

What is K9Kamp? A blogging event to motivate and encourage exercise and bonding with our dogs (and yes, at least one cat has participated in the past too!)  There's no packing your bags, no traveling to Kamp--it's all done online and you can do it in your own comfort, in your own time. It's easy--we issue a fitness challenge, and you and your dog participate on your own. Then come back and blog about the results. (Open to non-bloggers too. We'll tell you how.)

























When is K9Kamp? This year we're trying something new. Instead of four intense weeks with a different challenge each week, we're hosting K9Kamp a few times a year, with more time to complete one challenge. Our first K9Kamp is Friday May 31-Tuesday June 25. You'll see us all over Blogville!

What are Featured Bloggers?  Everyone can join in the fun, without signing up or any commitment. In addition, each year a dozen or so brave bloggers volunteer to commit to the challenge and share their results on their blogs through our K9Kamp blog hop.
 This year, in addition to your hosts  Peggy's Pet Place and Kol's Notes we welcome these fantastic Featured Bloggers:
Small Tales- Foley Monster and Pocket
Something Wagging This Way Comes
Snoopys Dog Blog 
I Just Want More Puppies
Pet Blogs United
Heart Like a Dog
Woof Woof Mama
Slimdoggy 
To Dog with Love
Pooch Smooches  
Whirlwind of Surprises
You Did What With Your Wiener
Terrier Torrent
My GBGV Life

We are also beyond thrilled to announce our new Koly and Kelly's K9Kamp Official Trainers:
K9Fit Club!

Are there prizes? You bet! Prizes for blogging and for participating, with an exciting package of leashes, toys and more worth more than $200! Stay tuned to learn more.

Are you joining K9Kamp this year? Our challenge will be announced on FitDog Friday, May 31st. Don't miss it!



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