September 2015 ~ Pupvacay

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Bark in the Park SloMo Video

Image: Denny, Dexter, Hugo, Rob and I spent a day at the Bark in the Park Bowmanville Pet Festival

Denny, Dexter, Hugo, Rob and I spent a day in September 2015 at the Bark in the Park Pet Festival in Bowmanville!

"BARK in the PARK Bowmanville is a fun, family friendly event where YOUR DOG is the star! We promote responsible pet parenting and would like to provide an amazing avenue to bring dogs, the people who love them and Durham Region businesses together in one place to celebrate our four legged companions while enjoying 2 full days of contests, demos, agility playground, swag bags, splash pools, interactive games, photo ops, food, toys, face painting, pony rides for the hooman kiddies, music, a wedding on Sunday, FREE giveaways, shopping, and so much more we can't fit it all in here."

We plan to have a table at next year's event - see you there!

Video by SloMo Studios

Free Tick Removal Kit

9:00 AM freebie, pet first aid, tick removal No comments

I just found a wonderful addition to our free Swag bags that I give out to all my PupVacy clients!

Have you ever worried about finding ticks on your pets? Have you ever had to rush your pet to the vet and pay to have it removed?

While I was attending a local Pet First Aid course, they showed us this wonderful little tick removal tool, and I knew this was something I wanted to give away to my clients!

How do I remove a tick?
Your main aims are to remove the tick promptly, to remove all parts of the tick’s body and to prevent it releasing additional saliva or regurgitating its stomach contents into your bite wound.

• DO start by cleansing the tweezers/tool with antiseptic. After tick removal, cleanse the bite site and the tool with antiseptic.
• DO wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
• DO save the tick in a container in case a doctor asks for evidence that you or your pet have been bitten (label it with date and location).
• DO NOT squeeze the body of the tick, as this may cause the head and body to separate, leaving the head embedded in your skin.
• DO NOT use your fingernails to remove a tick. Infection can enter via any breaks in your skin, e.g. close to the fingernail.
• DO NOT crush the tick’s body, as this may cause it to regurgitate its infected stomach contents into the bite wound.
• DO NOT try to burn the tick off, apply petroleum jelly, nail polish or any other chemical. Any of these methods can cause discomfort to the tick, resulting in regurgitation, or saliva release.

Disposing of the tick:
• Be aware that engorged ticks will contain potentially infected blood, which may splatter when crushed.
• DO NOT crush the tick with your fingers and do not allow the crushed tick or the blood it carried to contact your skin.

Click to read more about tick removal for you or your pets

Olde Tyme Unboxing

4:10 PM Denny, Dexter, videos No comments

Denny and Dexter helped to do an Olde Time Unboxing video!

We bought two great dog products with the free Amazon gift cards we got from using Swagbucks.

Olde Tyme Unboxing(e):
"This is an awesome unboxing video from Swaggernaut FrugalFreebies - she used her Swag Bucks to snag Amazon Gift Cards and then used those cards to get some Swag for her doggies!
I like the silent film vibe here - great job!" says the SwagBucks blog.

Doggy Routines Keep Your Entire Family Healthy

11:04 AM food, health No comments

According to the “Milk-Bone Human-Canine Health Study”— a survey of 3,000 U.S. dog parents conducted by Milk-Bone brand dog treats (in conjunction with Learndipity Data Insights) —pet parents who include their pups in family health routines lead healthier lives. In fact, 55% of dog parents say their lives are “full of happiness and joy,” compared to 39% of non-dog parents.

What are four tips to ensure that the entire family - including Fido - is healthy and well?

DOGGY EXERCISE:
51% of dog parents say they get more exercise because of their dog -- but 1 out of 3 pet parents wish their dog would get more physical activity

TIP #1: Turn your pups’ morning or evening walking session into a fun, impromptu workout session for the entire family, so both you and Fido will get your daily fit fix.

PUPPY NUTRIENTS:
1 out of 3 pet parents are concerned their dog isn't getting enough of the nutrients they need.

TIP #2: Start every day with a vitamin routine for the whole family. Your pup’s should include nutrients not found in most dog foods, like Glucosamine to support healthy joints or DHA to supplement overall wellness, which Milk-Bone’s Good Morning Daily Vitamin Treats provide.

PETTING SESSION CHECK-UPS:
Pet parents conduct “well puppy” check-ups, as they would with their child. If a dog is rubbing his eyes, or has oily spots or bumps in his fur, something could be wrong.

TIP #3: Use fun petting sessions to give your dog a quick look over for possible health ailments, like gently rubbing the bottom of his foot pads for sores.

A FAMILY RITUAL:
57% of dog parents who also have children involve the kids in their doggy caring care routines, with most reporting that it teaches them good life habits and responsibility.

TIP #4: Your pup needs just as much attention and care as you and your children. When it’s time for your kids to brush their teeth, brush his teeth too (or give him Milk-Bone Brushing Chews).

Making Snow Puppies! (A Bichon How-To Video)

5:36 AM Dexter, videos No comments

Dexter explains how to make snow puppies (snow angels for dogs): Dexter loves to roll about in the snow, so we decided he thought he was making snow angels - for Dexter, we call them snow puppies!

We found Dexter (a bichon frise) at the Toronto animal shelter in May 2010. Dexter had been abused by his previous owners and abandoned at the side of the road, to fend for himself.

Dexter was a frightened, skinny little dog - terrified of everyone, and did not like to be touched, and would scream if you came too close.

The shelter said Dexter had issues. Boy, did he have issues!! Dexter had panic attacks in the car, was untrainable, incontinent and he is going blind with a genetic disorder.

Three years later Dexter is a happy-go-lucky little dog who loves to play in his big backyard with his "brother" Denny, another little dog we rescued that same year.

Newcastle Purina® Walk for Dog Guides

3:50 PM events, fundraising, walks No comments

October 3, 2015 - Denny and I will be participating in the Newcastle Purina® Walk for Dog Guides on October 3, 2015 to help raise funds for the training and placement of Dog Guides for Canadians with visual, hearing and medical or physical disabilities.

The Purina® Walk for Dog Guides is organized by local volunteers and invites everyone, all ages and abilities, with or without dogs to participate. You can help by donating on my personal page, or join me by registering for the walk.

All online donations will receive immediate credit card payment confirmation and an official income tax receipt. I hope you will consider helping me in supporting this wonderful event.

Walk Details

Organization: Newcastle Lions Club
City: Newcastle, Ontario
Contact: Jean Graham
Phone : 905-987-5239
Email: jean.graham@rogers.com

Sign in: 8:00 AM
Walk Start: 9:00 AM
Location: Newcastle Community Hall, Newcastle, Ontario

Buddy doing a HAPPY DOG

11:04 AM buddy, videos No comments

My little dog Buddy (bichon Frise), always had to "help" me make the bed in the morning.

His help was to roll all over the covers to make sure they are flat and smoothed out. He keeps looking to me to see if he is finished.

Since he usually growls and moans while doing this, we call it his Happy Dog routine.

Sadly our sweet little Buddy passed away on Valentine's day 2010 at 12 years old from liver cancer.