The resident guy of the team, Pete has been doing wonders with the Springbrook backroom since July of 2011. He made it through the Christmas shipping and receiving madness and came through the other side only slightly more jumpy than before.
Pete plays dad to Cash the Boxer, Diesal the Min Pin (spelled that way on purpose- Diesal prefers it), Subie the Chihuahua, and Frank (the tank) black cat. Pete loves giving his guys Himalayan Dog Chews, and they love playing with the Hide A Squirrel. Peteʼs favorite thing about working at Two Bostons is, “How rewarding my job is. How I get to help improve petʼs lives daily. And work with really cool people.” He knows that the DC universe of comics is far superior to Marvel, but if it came down to it, Superman would win in a fight against Batman.
Jen joined the Two Bostons team in July of 2011 and is the resident singer at the Springbrook store. When sheʼs not singing along with the music in the store, sheʼs usually talking up the benefits of the Himalayan Chews. Hunter, Jenʼs Australian Shepherd mix, loves to chew on them in between his agility and flyball courses.
Jenʼs ideal dinner party guests would include NASCAR legend Terry Labonte, Confederate general Robert E. Lee, and actor/beautiful man in general Ryan Gosling. And (no surprise) her favorite movie is ʻThe Notebook.ʼ Next time you are at our Springbrook store be sure to say hi!
Hi again. I wanted to talk to you today about walking well with your pet. I’ve already spoken to you about the importance of the ID tag, but there is a lot more to walking your dog than you think.
Walking. It sounds so simple. And most of us do it on a daily basis.
But, we know that when it comes to walking your dog, a large number of you have, shall we say “challenges”.
Sometimes they pull, and sniff, and chase squirrels.
You like to walk straight.
Right.
Like any good relationship, walking your dog involves a bit of preparation, a bit of of compromise, and a bit of perseverance.
Here’s how you start:
1. Start out by finding the right collar and leash for our pooch.
You want a collar that is an appropriate width for size of your dog. You also want a leash that is easy for you to hold on to and handle. Retractable leashes are viewed by many as giving more control; however, they often do the opposite. If your leash isn’t locked, your dog may startle you by taking off after one of those squirrels I mentioned before. You should invest in a sturdy standard leash. You will have better control.
If your dog is a large dog, or one that pulls, you may wish to consider a harness.
I use the Sporn Harness for Diesel (that’s the harness, but not my dog) which has allowed for his walks to be led by my 8-year-old son who weighs approximately 40 pounds less than Diesel. If you have a puller, you really want to check this out. Saved my walks.
2.The next thing you are going to want to do is prepare your dog for the weather.
There is snow on the ground right now. Where there is snow, there is usually salt. You really have to protect your dog’s paws from the salt. There are a number of really easy ways to do that. Boots are a great option. Musher’s Secret or Muttluks Pawstick work really well too. Both of these products are a balm that you put on your dog’s paw pads prior to going outside. Cocotherapy is another great option as you can use that on paw pads too.
You also want to make certain you dog is protected from the wind and cold with a warm coat…especially if you have a toy breed or one without a thick coat.
Yes, it’s true that dogs and wolves have lived for a very long time without wearing coats; however, the breeds of today do not necessarily have the same type of fur coats their ancestors possessed. It’s safe to say that if you are anticipating spending time outdoors with your pet, you should consider investing in a warm winter coat.
3. Next, you’ll want to consider a portable water bottle.
Hydration is key…people normally equate the need during the warmer months; however, it is just as important in winter to stay hydrated.
4. Finally, the last thing you need to consider is poop bags.
Because, let’s face it, it’s just the right thing to do. Nothing puts a damper on a day like an unexpected pile of… well, you know.
I’m going to be showing you some really great options for all of the items I’ve mentioned over the next couple of posts. Feel free to stop by either of our stores and have a team member help you out if you need the information sooner.
Now you are ready to open the door and head out on your first of many walks.
This time of the year is often a time to reflect upon what we’ve accomplished and what we’d like to improve upon. According to a recent question we posted on our Facebook page, the most popular New Year’s resolution (at least among those who answered) is to lose weight or get in better shape. This thought extends to our pets as well. So, in that vein, my next series here is going to be one on fitness and health for your favorite pooch.
So let’s begin with the basics. We all know that exercise and diet are very important to physical fitness. And a great exercise for both you and your pet is walking. All you really need is a leash and you’re off…well, almost. One crucial, and often overlooked necessary piece of equipment is this:
The dog ID tag.
What? The dog ID tag? Yes, the dog ID tag.
Why? No one likes to think about their beloved pet getting away from them; however, it is a reality that we should all be prepared for.
And, It’s simple really. Your dog can’t talk. This tag will do the talking for him.
Even if your pooch is micro-chipped it is wise to invest in one of these. In my experience, I find it easier to approach a stray dog wearing a tag because my automatic assumption is that he is someone’s family pet. Also, I’ve always been able to return the dogs I’ve found who have been wearing an ID tag. It is a simple matter of calling the owner’s number on the tag and waiting for them to come pick up their lost pet. Microchips are wonderful to have; however, ID tags should not be overlooked as a simple and cost effective way of ensuring your pet’s safe return should a separation occur.
Head on over to this page here and check out all the fun designs. There is sure to be one that matches your dog’s personality. It can often be the overlooked items that can aid in success. So here’s to starting the new year off on the right foot. Happy walking!
Brittani came on board at Two Bostons in April of 2011 and is most often at the Springbrook store arranging and re-arranging the bakery case. Brittani is completely in love with Toby, her half Yorkie, half Shih-Tzu mix.
What Brittani loves the most about working at Two Bostons is, “the fact that I can share my love of dogs with other people who feel the exact same way.” One of Toby’s favorite Two Bostons’ product’s it the Dragon by Go Dog. He has a green one named Henry and a blue one named Franklin. (Yes, Toby’s toys are named…ALL of them.)
When sheʼs not at Two Bostons, you can find Brittani in the classroom, working on her Bachelorʼs degree in Psychology. Being as busy as she is, Brittani appreciates “me” time and often indulges with a good manicure. She can often be found going out for dinner & drinks with her family and boyfriend too.
A child of the 80′s (yes, she calls that decade old school) she loves the old Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys music…BUT she hates Michael Jacksonʼs music (sorry MJ fans). She’s seen the Sex and the City movie more than seven times, and knows that Batman would obviously kick Supermanʼs butt in a fight.
Next time you’re at our Springbrook store be sure to say “hi”!
Ok, here it is…the last post on canned dog food. Today I am opening Beef Tripett by Tripett.
What is this particular type of food? Well, it is green beef tripe. No, it isn’t the color green…it just means that the tripe is pure and unbleached. Tripett contains the highest quality human grade sources of tripe and, honestly, if your pet was a wild animal, this is what he or she would instinctively want to feed on.
What are the benefits to feeding your pet Tripett?
- Cleaner teeth
- Better digestive system
- Healthy skin & coat
- Improved eating habits
- Rejuvenation of older dogs
- Healthy & nutritious for growing puppies
- Solution for sensitive stomachs.
I’m going to be completely honest here, the scent of this particular canned food is NOT for the faint of heart. AdreAnne warned me, and boy oh boy, she was not kidding. There is a strong and distinctive aroma to this particular food. That being said, Diesel WENT WILD when he got a whiff of it and I almost couldn’t finish taking pictures because he kept trying to get the food.
It’s also not the prettiest food I’ve shown you. It is certainly a solid consistency and easy to break apart; however, you will want to do that quickly and walk away. But, it does have my favored pull top tab opener, so at least opening the can was a snap.
One of the most amazing things to me about this product was that I couldn’t even get an action shot of Diesel eating it. By the time I adjusted my camera, he had licked the bowl clean. So, in terms of the aroma, at least is was very short lived in my house.
Although this could certainly be mixed with kibble, it wasn’t as wet of a gravy as some of the other cans I’ve opened for you. It was solid enough to feed as a stand alone, and clearly from his reaction, I am going to have to rotate it into his diet.
I certainly hope this series has been informative for you. If you have any questions, please feel free to either post them here or stop by either of our Two Bostons locations and our team members can get your dog on the right food path.
Chelsea, aka Chels, aka Cat Lady, is the resident cat owner at Two Bostons. You will find her more often than not at our downtown store. Not to fear, she still loves dogs, but she shares her home with Lulu (a Torti) and Hunter (a Siamese/who knows mix).
LuLu and Hunter both love anything that Stella & Chewy’s make, first playing with it and then devouring it.
About working at Two Bostons, Chelsea says, “I am very passionate about animals, and so is everyone who works at Two Bostons.” When not munching on puppy kisses for herself (no joke!), Chelsea is a full time student at College of DuPage.
She loves ice cream, but not the gross flavors like pistachio, and she secretly dreams of being a transformer. Next time you’re at our downtown store be sure to say hey.
Hello Mel,
I have a question regarding training. Every time I take my dog to the park she gets overly excited when she sees other puppies or dogs. I believe she thinks they all want to be her friends but that is not always the case. Other dogs will bark at her and she’ll be wiggling her tail thinking they want to play with her so she’ll pull me very hard and try to go play with the dogs. I try to calm her down, and tell her to sit down or rub her neck and say Relax. She’ll sit down but then get right back up and start pulling. Is there any tips you might have on how to control Kitana at the park around other dogs?
Sincerely,
Jessica – Pit Bull mommy 
Hi Mel, I have a cocker spaniel girl, Cora, who is a year and a half. She is very affectionate and sweet, but when we go on walks, if we see other dogs she growls and pulls at the leash very hard. It is getting embarrassing since she is so small compared to other dogs, not to mention it makes our walks stressful instead of peaceful. When we go to the dog park, she is fine with other dogs, never aggressive towards them. She plays with my mom’s Australian Shepherd fine. How do I stop this pulling/growling behavior on the leash? I tell her ‘no’ and keep her on a close leash but that doesn’t seem to help. Any thoughts are welcome!
Thanks,
Laura
I have a 2 year Boston terrier, and she is a wonderful bundle of energy. I was just wondering if you had any advice or tips for getting along with other dogs. Although Zoe loves to play, play, play she gets almost too excited when she sees other dogs. She barks and jumps and pulls on the leash, and when I try to calm her down it’s like she doesn’t hear me. I know she just wants to play, but other dogs are usually not as eager to roll around with her.
Thank you
Sam
Hi Jessica, Laura, and Sam and Respective Fur Kids,
I’m answering all of your questions together because the stories are so similar. It’s so hard to contain one’s self when other puppies are just waiting to be played with!! All of you have mentioned issues on leash when it comes to reacting to other dogs. Leashes are a necessary evil in our society, as most places have leash laws that mandate you can not walk down the street with your pooch unless they are tethered to you. Because none of you have mentioned any issues with your pups playing with dogs off leash, I’m going to focus on you working with them on the leash.
Picture this…someone ties you to a rope and takes you to a place that you are not comfortable with…a bad neighborhood, for example. You have no choice to be there with them, but you also are not able to go up and meet people and introduce yourself or run away if you feel the need. This is like being on a leash for some dogs, and some dogs can get a bit claustrophobic when something is interfering with their normal doggie intro routine and their fight or flight response. Their solution to that is to do a lot of the behaviors that you all mention above.
There are a couple of tricks that you can use, but all of these should be tried and mastered prior to using them around other dogs. Gotta walk before you can run!
–Watch Me Command. This one is easy and your dog will think it’s great. Take a little tasty treat, have your dog sit, and then hold the treat up to your face. (I hold it by the tip of my nose out of habit, about two inches from my face.) Show them the treat, say “watch me”, and bring it in front of your nose. Most dogs will stare right into your face hoping, hoping, that you will let them have their cookie. Try this in the house and in situations your dog is comfortable in first, then you can take it outside and in more public settings.
–If you know that your dog is fine with other dogs off leash, chances are the stuff I described above is coming in to play. (BIG NOTE: ALWAYS make sure that if you are going to work with another dog, that dog (and owner) are tried and true and you know them well…you don’t want to take any chances with dogs or owners you don’t know.) Try using a long lead instead of a leash when your pup meets another dog, and make sure that the leash is slacked (i.e. that you are not pulling on the dog). Sometimes just the feeling of being pulled in the other direction is enough to make your pup get a little beside himself.
–I have two words for you folks…GENTLE LEADER. Oh, how I love the Gentle Leader and how I sing its praises. There are a number of uses in dog training for this magical item, and this is one of them. Even if your pup is great on leash but tends to get over excited when it sees another dog, child, bike, car, mailman, etc and you feel like you need a bit more control, the GL will give that to you without having to resort to those nasty choke chains and prong collars. The head halter acts like a horse halter, and prevents your pup from getting out of hand. It is ONLY to be used for giving mom and dad a little more control at the greeting…it is not Auntie Mel’s recommendation to let a dog play or run free or in the house with the GL on at all times. Check out your friendly Two Bostons store for a demo of how to fit and use one properly.
–RELAX! Sometimes mom and dad relaxing instead of tensing up and anticipating the Dog-Dog Craziness can keep Fido from picking up on the anxiety. If mom and dad don’t have anything to worry about, then hey…maybe Fido doesn’t either!
Last but not least, your pup has things that he gets excited about, just like we do. For me it’s shoe shopping and chocolate, but for Fido it’s things like walks, playing ball, and yes…meeting and playing with other dogs. As long as he’s under control and not displaying truly aggressive behaviors, it’s ok.
Happy playing!
Mel
Hey there! I’m back again today and opening two more cans of food for you to see. Today we have samples from Taste of the Wild and Merrick Whole Earth Farms. Both of these cans are grain free and contain healthy proteins and fruits and vegetables for your pooch.
Let’s start by opening the can from Taste of the Wild. As you can see, we have my favored nifty pull-top tab. (I honestly don’t know what my aversion is to the can opener…I think I’m just a sucker for a time saver.)
I have the High Prairie Dog variety here today. It has a mixture of protein sources, such as bison, venison, and lamb; along with a variety of fruits and vegetables mixed in.
As you can see, the first ingredient is the protein source…which I love.
Here is the inside of the can:
You can see all the gravy and, yes, those are chunks of potato. The odor was slightly gamey and a bit stronger than some of the other cans I’ve opened; however, I can assure you that did not detract Diesel from chowing down on this food.
And here it is in the bowl. You’ll notice that the meat pieces are whole and not like a pureed at all. Though, the pieces are very soft, so if you have an older or smaller dog, there should be no problem chewing these (but that is just my opinion, you may wish to cut them a bit smaller if you think you need to.)
This would be a great option to feed solo or mixed into a dry kibble to add some moisture. The gravy seems to add a nice “juicy” quality to the food.
Moving on, I’m opening this can from the Whole Earth Farm line by Merrick.
Again, we have the protein source as the first ingredient.
This product mixes protein sources as well. We’ve got some chicken, duck and buffalo with a whole lot of veggies.
Again, we’ve got a pull top tab to get into the can and here’s what it looks like inside:
The first thing I noticed was that the protein sources are a little more blended in this can. It was deceiving, because I didn’t think there would be much in the way of chunkiness when I put it in the bowl. But when I did, this is what I got:
Although the meat was considerably more blended than the previous can, the chunks of veggies were still in there. I think this added a nice texture to the meal for Diesel. This can was slightly less “wet” than some of the other cans I’ve opened and I think it would make a great stand alone meal. You could certainly mix it in with kibble too; however, it may end up being a bit more clumpy (again, that is just my opinon.) The smell of this can was slightly pungent, but not offensive. Diesel really liked it too.
Well, there you have it. Both of these options are a great choice to add into your dog’s diet rotation. I have one more can coming to you in the next post and then we’ll be moving on to another type of food for you to see. Please feel free to stop by either of the Two Bostons stores and ask any questions you have on any of the posts you’ve seen.
Kate has been with the Two Bostons team since 2009 and can be found primarily in the stockroom working on inventory at the downtown store.
Kate with Remy
Remington, Kateʼs Beagle mix she rescued, loves chewing on bully sticks and snacking on Purebites. What she appreciates most about working with Two Bostons is, “the knowledge Iʼve gained while working here about dogs, their health and behavior. I learned about gluten here first, just before finding out I was intolerant myself.”
Kate loves all the Land Before Time dinosaurs, penguins, and wonʼt ever karaoke due to a traumatizing karaoke incident that she doesnʼt want to talk about. Ever.
