Keeping your pet cool on hot days!

Lately I have been trying to get in as many days as possible outside in order to get the most out of the rest of Summer. On trails and at climbing crags lately I have noticed guardians who haven’t adequately prepared to bring their furry friends outside – after years of practice running, hiking, and climbing with Koda I have developed some criteria for the different activities I do and what to bring for each and thought I might share a few things I like to keep in mind when Koda is around.

Hiking and Running:

When out hiking, I normally carry at least a Nalgene (or other water bottle) filled with water especially for Koda. If it is a longer hike I will bring more water because he is a big German Shepherd/Husky and needs a lot of water when it’s hot because of his heavy coat. Also, I like to try to plan my hikes and runs near some type of stream so that he can jump in and cool off.

When I’m running I tend to not carry things so if it’s really hot I will make sure to run in shaded areas with creeks or lakes nearby.

Climbing:

When I’m climbing I have the luxury of carrying a lot because I have a huge backpack full of gear already. Normally, I’ll bring a collapsible fabric dog bowl (like this one from RuffWear) and a big umbrella if it is somewhere I know it’s going to be really exposed during the day.

Koda, excited for another great hike in beautiful Boulder!

Keep in mind that our furry buddies can also get over-exhausted, dehydrated and even experience heat stroke – just like us. If you see any of symptoms like excessive panting, drooling, mild weakness, or stupor then your pet is too hot! Take steps to help them feel better by finding some shade for them to rest or some water for them to wade in.

Also, don’t forget to have fun!

Welcome to our OPS family, Amy’s Natural Pet Pantry!

We have added a new member to our family at Organic Pet Superfood – Amy’s Natural Pet Pantry!

Amy + Pete Schuhmann are the owners and as avid outdoor enthusiasts, animal lovers and scuba divers have devoted themselves to providing healthy, organic and holistic solutions for themselves and their pets.

As avid outdoors people and petlovers ourselves, we definitely approve!

Welcome to the family!

Summer time is a great time to adopt a new family member!

I was looking through some news on The Daily Camera, as I’ve been out of town and busy the last few weeks working on those new product releases and I came across an article that made me want to help, so I thought I would broadcast the information on our blog so that any loyal Boulder/Denverites might come to the rescue, literally!

Summer time is a busy time at animal shelters and apparently the Boulder Valley Humane Society, which is an amazing, no-kill shelter, has been filled to capacity with dogs and cats with (as of late July) 37 dogs and 83 cats up for adoption. They only have a capacity to hold 25 dogs and 50 cats, so they are strained for resources to say the least.

Bear, a Chow/Retriever mix currently up for adoption at the Boulder Valley Humane Society

If you have been thinking about adopting your first pet or looking for another pet, please visit BoulderHumane.org and take a look at any of the dogs or cats they have up for adoption!

Probably the cutest video of a pug that you will see today.

The Amazing Treat Machine

I’m pretty excited about this product and can’t wait to get one for Koda to try out! It is called The Amazing Treat Machine and what I feel is the most amazing thing is the simplicity of it.

Michael Newman was the creator of this great device when he realized that he didn’t have quite that much time to play with his dog, Hustler, when he wanted to play. The next best thing, Michael decided, was to create an interactive device that Hustler could play with by himself and be entertained by – this led to the creation of The Amazing Treat Machine. It’s a gloriously simple cardboard box with a water bottle that serves as a treat dispenser. Another great part of the design is that the entire structure is made out of eco-friendly cardboard and makes a great use for those pesky plastic water bottles that we see everywhere. Check out a video of Hustler playing with The Amazing Treat Machine here.

Can’t wait for mine!!!

Dog ‘O’ Matic: Pet Torture Machine or Ingenius Problem Solver?

So, I had some reservations about this contraption when I first saw it…

The Dog ‘O’ Matic (Their website is in French – but you can check out the videos/pictures) is a device which looks like a giant pet microwave, yet it is meant to help guardians give their pets baths without too much hassle.

Honestly, it kinda freaked me out at first…

Now, after thinking about it, I like it because the Dog ‘O’ Matic really does make it an easy, painless effort to get a pet clean. It’s not like they don’t get freaked out anyways when they are in the shower or backyard or where ever you’re trying to give them a bath. Like when I walk in to the bathroom when Koda happens to be there at the same time – he immediately leaves without looking at me because of a bath incident he had a couple years ago.

On the website there are videos of cats and dogs being washed and they don’t seem to have a problem with the machine at all.

Right now this device is only available in a small town in France, but the inventors say they are planning to expand to England soon depending on user reactions. Each wash costs around $22 – $48 depending on the size of your pet.

Seems like a good idea, but would you use it?

Worlds Ugliest Dog Competition!

So, I just came across one of the winners of the Worlds Ugliest Dog Competition, held in Pentaluma, CA. Probably one of the coolest competitions I have seen as far as dogs go because they really are cute when you get down to it…

This little guy, for instance:His name is Elwood, and he looks like the cute, dog version of a gremlin. I think he is awesome!

Apparently many of the winners are Chinese-Cresteds and some have a little Chihuahua mixed in there for good measure. The thing that really lured me over there was this website, http://www.uglyarchie.com/, where I read this amazing quote that totally caught me off guard:

“Even Chinese crested owners are a little taken aback when they find out one of their precious babies could someday evolve into the hairless sausage I have at the end of my leash.”

Which is a hilarious quote to go along with some other hilarious stories she has about her dog. Here is a picture of Archie that I got off of their website:

One of the best parts of these dogs is that their tongues seem to always hang out of the side of their mouths to accentuate their asymmetricality (not sure if that is a word, but it seems to work here).

Here is a question for you… What if the Obamas had gotten a Chinese-Crested like this? Do you think they would have experienced a surge like for Portuguese Water Dogs? I know I want one now!

So, if you’re in or around Pentaluma, California, check out their Sonoma-Marin Fair and say hi to all the little guys for us!

5 Great iPhone Apps for Your Pets!

So it’s not like I need more things to distract me… But I keep coming across more and more iPhone applications for pets – and lots are actually useful!

They’re all WAY more useful than the iPity application I just downloaded:

While the iPity application is totally awesome – every time you click him, Mr. T says another line – these are actually useful as well! Here are 5 iPhone pet applications that I recommend:

1. Pet Notebook

This is a great app that lets you keep track of your pet’s veterinary info, their pictures, and any other notes you have about them(like microchip ID#)- all in a great application! It costs $3.99 and you can get it here.

2. PetMD Finder

PetMD has come out with an app that lets you find relevant pet services in your area – whether you’re taking a little vacation with your pet or moving to a new area, this app will let you know where vital pet services are available near you (With it’s handy GPS locator or by zip code).

3. Pet Phone

For everyone that has piles of veterinary bills laying around the house, Pet Phone is a convenient app that lets you keep track of all of your pet’s vet visits along with the reason why they were there, their weight after each vet visit plus an interactive graph that lets you visually assess how their weight fluctuates, and also keep track of their allergies and medications – including dosages.

S0 instead of trying to keep all of this organized in your head for each pet, you’re much better off keeping it all organized on something as simple and convenient as an app on your iPhone!

4. Off Leash

We’re all always on the look-out for new parks for our pets to go off-leash and socialize with other dogs, and Off Leash provides an easy way to do that using your GPS location. Once it finds where you are it will give you 5 nearby locations where your dog can go sniff out!

5. All Pets Radio

If you have some spare time and are looking to hear more information and news about pets, animals and animal care – this is the place!

Hey! Sorry about the delay on posts! Lots going on here in the Organic Pet Superfood compound… We have some interesting developments coming soon, and I will definitely be back and blogging up a storm on everything natural and pet related as well as anything else I find interesting!

Hope your Summer is going great!

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month!

Yes it is! To celebrate, buildings all over the country will be lighting themselves up orange – the official color of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).  They have provided ways that you can show your support… besides donating, of course!

Hmmm… I wonder what we have around here that’s orange??? Hmmm…

Organic Pet Superfood!

1. Become an ASPCA Ambassador
Become an ASPCA Ambassador and create your own grassroots event, inviting friends and family to sponsor your efforts on behalf of the ASPCA. Whether you decide to run a marathon for animals, plan a pet parade or have an orange bake sale, your grassroots fundraising efforts will help us achieve our goal to end animal cruelty and find permanent, loving homes for America’s adoptable pets.

Once your plans are in place, register your unique event on www.aspcaambassadors.org to share with animal lovers everywhere. You’ll have the opportunity to exchange stories and photos, engage other animal lovers and raise lifesaving funds that support the vital work of the ASPCA. Then be sure to enter the ASPCA’s Community Leader Contest for a chance to win a $500 Amex gift card for you and a $1,000 grant for a shelter or rescue group of your choice.

2. Inform the Media
Write a letter to the editor of your local or regional newspaper, reminding them that April is ‘Go Orange for Animals Month’. Be sure to include a heads-up about your ‘Go Orange’ plans. You can also contact TV and radio stations, letting them know about your event and inviting them to add their unique efforts to the ‘Go Orange for Animals’ campaign.

3. Light Up Your Town
Call your city council and find out how to get prominent buildings and landmarks to light up orange—it could be your town hall, local businesses, schools, libraries, museums, baseball fields, you name it. Let them know that last year New York, Chicago and many other cities lit up—even Niagara Falls went orange. Nothing’s impossible!

4. Party!
Attend one of the extraordinary ASPCA-hosted events in the following cities:

• New York, NY: April 7, Union Square Park
• Los Angeles, CA:  April 25, Venice Beach
• Austin, TX: April 18, Zilker Park

You’ll be treated to live music, refreshments, free advice at ASPCA expert booths and a host of pet-related activities. People in the Austin and Venice Beach areas can register to raise funds in a dog walk, helping to further our mission and get their friends and family to Go Orange for Animals.

5. Pledge Your Allegiance to Protecting Animals
Can you commit to doing all that is possible to help animals live happy, healthy lives throughout April and all year long? Sign the ASPCA anti-cruelty pledge and show the world that you support the ASPCA and the pets we protect.

6. Show Your Virtual Support
Dedicate your MySpace page, Facebook status or blog to the ASPCA during the month of April and encourage your friends to spread the word about the month-long ‘Go Orange’ campaign! Keep on the lookout for a ‘Go Orange for Animals’ discussion group on the ASPCA Online Community, where you can share ideas for events. You can also join our cause on Facebook or put an ASPCA donation widget on your personal web page.

7. Inform Your Neighbors
Hang downloadable ASPCA posters (available on ASPCAApril.org soon!) in public places like your library, school, gym and office and hand out anti-cruelty information like our Top Ten Ways to Prevent Animal Cruelty.

8. Support Your Local Animal Shelter
Coordinate a ‘Go Orange for Animals’ event with a local animal welfare group or shelter of your choice and donate the proceeds and/or supplies that you collect. Be sure to alert your local media about your event! Possibilities include decorating the building orange and holding an adoption event or donation drive. To find a shelter or rescue group near you, visit our shelter database.

9. Become an Animal Activist
Visit our lobby section to find out everything you can do to raise awareness for animal rights. You can start by learning your state’s animal cruelty laws. The ASPCA has an online database of more than 580 of these laws—and their penalties—in all 50 states.

• Call or write your local law enforcement officials. Let them know that animal cruelty is a crime and investigating these cases should be a priority.
• Help fight for the passage of strong anti-cruelty laws on federal, state and local levels by joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade. As a brigade member, you’ll receive emails asking you to write letters encouraging your legislators to pass these laws—and you can send them directly from our website.

10. Give a Homeless Pet a Second Chance
Sponsor an advertisement in your community paper for an animal from your local shelter who needs a home. You can even ask to feature a photo of the animal wearing an orange bow—either real or graphically created. Make sure the ad says that you sponsored that animal for ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month’, and encourage others to do the same.