Maddy's Sixth Birthday!

Happy Birthday Maddy! How time flies...

Always the goof.

Looking pretty

Who could say no to those eyes?

Modelling the profile.

The birthday hat....which Beckett destroyed last year.

Ready for trouble.

Maddy reviews "By Nature"...

We were recently asked to review  "by Nature"dog food; I had never agreed to do a food review before as I don't plan to change Beckett,Veil and Maddy's food at this time, but after looking into the brand, I thought I would give it a try.  It's always a good idea to have a back-up.  Maddy, being the resident foodie, agreed it was a good idea too.

Maddy reporting for work.

I picked the "salmon, ocean fish and yogurt flavour".  I was happy to see there was no corn, wheat or soy.  Beckett doesn't do well on chicken either so it was ok for him to test out too.

We eat a rotation of Acana foods (well, the hounds do...but I guess you figured that one out).  That  is Acana on the left and the by Nature on the right.  The size of the kibble is quite a bit smaller.  

The ingredient list:

Naturally, nutritionally complete. With added vitamins and minerals.

Provides a single source of protein. No pork, beef or poultry.

Ingredients: Salmon Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Ground Barley, Ground Oats, Ground Brown Rice, Herring Oil, Sunflower Oil, Yogurt, Flaxseed Meal, Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavors, Alfalfa Meal, Salt, Yeast Culture, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Blueberries, Cranberries, Dried Chicory Root, Raspberries, Turmeric, Niacin Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Selenium Yeast, Sodium Selenite, Rosemary Extract, Dried Yeast Fermentation Solubles.

Maddy gives it the smell test.

I've been adding a little bit to their meals and even using it as "training treats". They love the taste.  I think if I had to change foods, I would feel confident that this is a brand that would work for us; the only down side is product availability near me, although it is available on-line.

Disclaimer:  I received one 17 lb bag of By Nature® Salmon, Ocean Fish and Yogurt Formula at no cost in exchange for my honest opinion and review.  Please be sure to research any food, toys, or products that you give or use on your pet.

Wordless Wednesday 08-14-2013

Can you see the Brindle High-Water Mark?

Black and White Sunday 08-11-2013

Vacation!

Finally got away for a vacation recently to Mactaquac Provincial Park.

We like it here at this campground because the sites are large and grassy with lots of walking trails.  

There is also a nice beach which is surprisingly quite deserted most of the time.

Beckett goes for it...

Maddy wades in...

There is also a sailboat marina at the other end.

Beckett and Veil share a private joke.

Maddy spies some geese.

 Looking a bit worried about whether he wants to get his rear-end wet...

The girls watch Beckett in the water.

But Veil still prefers the comforts inside...

Black and White Sunday 07-14-13

Thanks to our hosts of the Black & White Sunday blog hop: You Did What With Your Weiner, My Life in Blog Years and Dachshund Nola.

Wordless Wednesday 07-10-13

It may be Wordless Wednesday, but Miss Veil sure looks like she has something to say....

New Treat Recipe from Maddy Greyhound

Maddy:  I love cookies.  Any time, any where... but sometimes its nice to try out a new recipe so when I came across this one, I thought I would share it with my other cookie-loving friends.

Oatmeal Pumpkin Ginger Cookies

1 cup pure canned pumpkin 

1- 1 1/2 cup of oatmeal flour 

1 1/2 Tbsp molasses

1/4 tsp powdered ginger

2 Tbsp ground flaxseed

Mix ingredients together. Add oatmeal flour.  Roll into balls and flatten or roll out and cut into desired shape.  Bake at 175 -200 F for about an hour and a half.  Then leave in the oven to cool and get crunchie.

Mum hasn't actually made them for me, I mean us, yet.  But she did buy the molasses, so I guess that's a start....

Black and White Sunday 07-07-13

The Dog Days of Summer

Happy Saturday!

Miss Veil:  It sure is a hot day...too hot to do much more than lay in the shade!

Maddy has that activity covered!

Except for when you have company come over, like these two little bunnies.  It would be rude not to greet them.

Even Beckett took a break from playing with his birthday ball (he turned 8 last week).

I don't see the attraction he has with it... the bunny rabbits look much more fun to me!

A Walk with Beckett

How Mum likes me to walk...

How I like to walk...

Now, be honest, which one looks like more fun for me....

Wordless Wednesday 07-03-13

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day!

Collared!

I think purple is my colour!

Beckett:  Come on Maddy, let me try yours on...

Does this collar make my neck look long?

I'm always getting photo-bombed...

Wordless Wednesday 05-22-13

Fascinating Rabbits

Maddy:  I've come to save you Little Rabbit....I don't know who pinned you up by the ears, but you are safe now!!

Veil and Maddy have been fascinated this week by another kind of bunny, which seems to have called our yard their own...

The little guy appears to be in a dilemma.  This is not the safe side of the fence....

Oh Hello, Rabbit....do need help down there???

Estate Planning for Pets

Kind of a grim subject, and one that no-one ever really wants to think about, but I'm curious, have you made arrangements for your pets in case of your passing?  Working in a law firm, we do lots of estate planning for clients.  People make arrangements for their children, their homes, who they want to get their jewellery, sometimes right down to who gets what tea-cup and saucer, but rarely do I see anyone make arrangements for the care of their "pets" in the event of their death.

I've been giving it some thought lately (not because of any specific reason, mind you), just because I think its important to be able to do it now before it becomes something that "should have" been done.  No matter how much we treat our dogs (or cats, rabbits, guinea pigs or whatever) as part of the family, when it comes down to it, they are still considered property.  You can't open a bank account and give them access...although here sometimes it feels like they have direct withdrawal privileges too and you can't transfer the deed to your house to three hounds.

So the decision comes down to who will have "guardianship"?  Can you set up a trust in the guardian's name specifically for the lifetime care of the animals?  Do we really have to give them back to an adoption group for re-homing without any input in to where they go and if they stay together?  Its all a little daunting to think about, but I know I will sleep better once its done and be able to put it out of my mind.  Anyone have any ideas on the subject?


Beckett:  Sheesh Mum, that's about the most boring blog post I've ever read.  I can't even bother looking at it with two eyes...but I will salute you for worrying about us so much!