Goodbye 2016, Let's Ring In A New Year!

WE HOPE YOU ALL HAD A MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKKAH, AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN CELEBRATING THESE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM DOGS LUV US AND WE LUV THEM!
Happy Holidays from Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them!
SANTA WAS GOOD TO ICY AND PHOEBE.  THEY GOT LOTS OF PRESENTS AND PLAYED 'TIL THEY DROPPED, ON CHRISTMAS MORNING!


Dogs' Christmas Presents!
Santa was really good to Icy and Phoebe this year!


Christmas with Icy and Phoebe
Santa had quite a haul for Icy and Phoebe this Christmas!
AS USUAL, ICY TRIED TO HOG MOST OF THE PRESENTS, BUT DON'T WORRY, PHOEBE SNUCK IN AND SWIPED A BUNCH FOR HERSELF TOO!

Icy is a bit of a toy hoarder!
Icy, attempting to hog all the Christmas presents!
A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL, BUT PHOEBE FOUND THE ENTIRE ORDEAL EXHAUSTING.  SHE HAS DECIDED TO NAP UNTIL NEXT YEAR (which is in 2 days)!

Phoebe is a pooped pooch after all the Christmas fun!
Poor Phoebe is exhausted after her Christmas!

ICY, PHOEBE AND I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO VISIT US ON THE BLOG, SHARING OUR ADVENTURES WITH US AND BEING A PART OF OUR LIVES.  YOU ARE THE BEST!

Happy New Year from Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them!

WELL, CHRISTMAS AND HANUKKAH ARE OVER AND THAT MEANS ANOTHER YEAR HAS COME TO A CLOSE.  2016 WAS NOT THE BEST YEAR.  WE LOST A LOT OF INCREDIBLE PEOPLE, BELOVED MUSICIANS AND ACTORS AMONG THEM.  WE SAID A TEARFUL GOODBYE TO DAVID BOWIE, GLENN FREY, PRINCE, GEORGE MICHAEL, ALAN RICKMAN, CARRIE FISHER & HER MOM DEBBIE REYNOLDS THE VERY NEXT DAY, HARPER LEE (AUTHOR OF TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD), NANCY REAGAN, DORIS ROBERTS, PATTY DUKE,  GENE WILDER, FLORENCE HENDERSON, AND OTHERS.  TOO MANY TO MENTION HERE.  MANY OF THESE VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE LEFT THIS EARTH WAY TOO SOON!

WE HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED, TOTALLY INSANE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THAT DIVIDED NOT ONLY OUR COUNTRY, BUT FRIENDS AS WELL.  I CANNOT IMAGINE LOSING A FRIEND OVER POLITICAL VIEWS.  FRIENDSHIP SHOULD TRANSCEND CRAP LIKE THAT, DON'T YOU THINK?  AS WE'VE SEEN, LIFE IS WAY TO SHORT FOR THAT!

My sweet Mama, not long before Alzheimer's took her from us at the age of 94.  I love you to the moon and back Mom, I miss you terribly.

I HAD MY OWN PERSONAL LOSS IN 2016.  I LOST MY BELOVED MOTHER IN MAY.  I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE HAD BOTH MY PARENTS WITH ME UNTIL THEY WERE IN THEIR 90's.  I KNOW I COULDN'T REASONABLY ASK FOR MORE THAN THAT.   I AM NOT ONE TO GRIEVE OUT IN THE OPEN, SO I'LL JUST SAY GOODBYE AND GOOD RIDDANCE, 2016!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
MAY 2017 BE A WONDERFUL, PEACEFUL AND HAPPY TIME FOR US ALL!

So tell us, are you happy to say goodbye 2016 and ring in a New Year, welcoming 2017, or are you sad to say goodbye to 2016?  Leave us a comment and share!

FIND ALL YOUR PET SUPPLIES AT GREAT PRICES AT     PetSmart

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Is it Christmas Yet??

ICY IS WAITING FOR SANTA IN A PLACE SHE KNOWS SHE CAN'T MISS HIM, RIGHT UNDER THE TREE!!

Icy is Waiting for Santa
Some of our other Holiday Posts you may enjoy:

Why a Puppy Can Be the Worst Gift For Someone Else!
Getting a puppy or dog?  Please Adopt! Breed specific rescues for every breed of dog
How to Help Shelter Pets Through The Holidays
A Thoughtful Gift From the Heart, a DIY Treat Jar for the Holidays!











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Do your pets like to snooze under the Christmas Tree?  Leave us a comment & tell us about it!

Join us on the BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday BLOG HOP!!

100 Places to See With Your Dog - A Dog Friendly Brewery in Northport, NY

There's a really FUN trend that's starting up around the country, the Dog Friendly Brewery!  I was so thrilled when I discovered SAND CITY dog friendly brewery in the town of Northport, in Long Island, New York.  It's the town right next door to where we live in Huntington, Long Island!

A Dog Friendly Brewery, Long Island New York
Icy, hanging out at Northport, Long Island dog friendly Sand City Brewery
Even though I don't drink beer myself, of course I had to check this place out!  My husband is a bit of a beer connoisseur, at least that's what he tells me.  We decided to go last Sunday afternoon, taking Icy along with us.  Northport is a lovely, quaint town.  While many of Long Island's towns have become highly commercial and lost their old fashioned charm, Northport is one of the few towns left on Long Island that has maintained it's quaintness.  That's the thing I love most about Northport.  That, and the fact that it sits right on the water, overlooking the Long Island Sound.

One of two big, beautiful Christmas trees right at the water's edge in Northport, Long Island.
If the town's charm and beautiful water view don't win you over, the fact that they have a dog friendly brewery certainly will!  The SAND CITY BREWERY is a very unique place.  It's one of only two dog friendly breweries on Long Island, that I could find anyway.  Since they don't serve food, dogs are allowed INSIDE the brewery.  If they served any food, NY state law would prohibit dogs (other than service dogs) to enter the establishment.  It's standing room only, there are no chairs in the place.  They don't serve any food or soda, and they don't serve any alcohol other than beer.  This is truly a place for beer lovers!  (Oh, and Dog Lovers too!)

Icy and I head down the alleyway to SAND CITY BREWERY!
SAND CITY BREWERY is located at 60 Main Street but it's actually down a long alleyway, so you've got to look for it or you might miss it!  We thought it was pretty cool heading down an alley to get to the place.  If you or your pooch need some fresh air, they have an outdoor deck with benches along the fence you can sit on.  This time of year, there's a Christmas tree out on the deck too.

Me, John, and Icy getting some fresh air on the outdoor deck.
There were a couple of other dogs there as well.  Icy greeted them and they were all on good behavior, enjoying the attention they got from the humans.

Icy doesn't understand why this "dog" won't talk to her!  Hey, buddy!  Why won't you talk to me - what's the matter, cat got your tongue??

Although there are no chairs or stools to sit in, it's a fun place.  John and his friends tell me their beer is great too!

There are lots of great little shops and places to eat in Northport, Long Island.
Icy and I took a stroll down main street, window shopping and going inside some of the shops to say hello.  We walked in the park next to the water and took a stroll down the pier to take in the sight and smells of the water.  It was such a wonderful afternoon, we can't wait to go back!

Ahhhh, smell that beautiful salty air!!
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Have you ever been to a dog friendly brewery?  Are there any in your area?  Leave us a comment and let us know!!


Natural Balance Pet Food's Buy With Confidence Promise #WeBelieveinNB

Our pets are so important to us.  Many of us consider pets to be part of the family, I certainly consider Icy and Phoebe to be family!  I love them with all my heart and soul and take great care of them.  I always want the best for my dogs, especially the food I feed them.  Just like people, dogs are what they eat.  The food they eat has a huge impact on their health, so I give my dogs the best high quality pet food I can.

You can buy Natural Balance Pet Food with confidence, their Buy With Confidence Promise proves it!

I completely trust Natural Balance® pet food.  Their food is made with Premium Quality Ingredients; High Quality Proteins, Vegetables, and Fruits!  

What's NOT in the food is just as important as what is in the food.  There are NO Artificial Flavors, Soy, Wheat, Corn, or By-Product Meals in Natural Balance pet food. 



This post is sponsored by Natural Balance® and the BlogPaws® Professional Pet Blogger Network™. I am being compensated for sharing our thoughts about why we believe in Natural Balance as a quality food for our dogs, DOGS LUV US AND WE LUV THEM only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Natural Balance Pet Foods is not responsible for the content of this article.


I have a special relationship with my dogs.  They love me unconditionally and enrich my life tremendously.  Icy and I are a therapy dog team and together we give back to our community.  When people meet Icy for the first time they can't help but smile and be comforted.  "She's so sweet!" is a comment we hear often when she meets someone for the first time.  What better way to give back to the community than with your pet by your side?

Our long walks, adventurous hikes, and bike rides are also part of the special time we spend together.  It gets me off the couch and keeps us both active.  It's also a great way for us to strengthen our bond and have FUN!

With such a full and active lifestyle, Icy needs to stay healthy and strong.  She needs a high quality food that's made with premium animal proteins like Chicken and Salmon, two of her favorites, as well as fruits and vegetables.   Here are some of the Premium Quality Ingredients in Natural Balance Pet Food:


Premium Quality Ingredients in Natural Balance Pet Food

The best quality pet food isn't just healthy and delicious, it's SAFE.  That's extremely important to me.  I'm very careful about what I feed my dogs.  Not only do the food and treats I give them have to be of high quality, I have to know it's safe for them to eat.

I know I can trust the quality of Natural Balance pet food.  In addition to premium quality ingredients, they go the extra mile in Safety Testing. They test every batch of food and treats in their state of the art lab, an ISO 17025 Accredited Laboratory, one of the most technologically advanced labs in the industry.  

They don't just do a one-and-done test, Natural Balance performs multiple safety tests and makes their test results available online! I'm confident about the safety of Natural Balance pet food, and grateful to have that piece of mind.


Here's a list of the things Natural Balance tests their food and treats for:


You can see the test results of my bag of Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets (L.I.D.) dog food, Sweet Potato and Fish flavor in my earlier blog post.

Of course, in addition to quality ingredients and safety, the food I feed my dogs has to be DELICIOUS!!  As you can see Icy can't wait to get her Paws on her Natural Balance dinner!


Icy can't wait to get her paws on her Natural Balance dinner!

Give premium quality Natural Balance pet food a try.  If you're not sure which formula is best for your pet, one of the Natural Balance Nutrition experts can help.  You can phone, email, or Live Chat about your pet with one of their Veterinary Technicians.  Their Veterinary Technicians are highly trained and have a background in Animal Health Science.  They are well versed in the unique nutritional needs of pets and are committed to helping you find the perfect food for your pet!

GET SOCIAL WITH NATURAL BALANCE ON:




You  can find Natural Balance pet food at other premium pet stores.  Your dog will thank you for it!  

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Natural Balance. The opinions and text are all mine.

Santa is Coming To Town!

Santa Paws is coming soon!  Have you been Naughty or Nice ??


Oh Crap.  I probably shouldn't have chewed Icy's blanket up in July.  I hope Santa has a short memory!

A puppy may seem like the perfect holiday gift, but getting a surprise puppy or a dog for someone else is often a the worst gift idea if you don't put some careful thought into it.   

Remember, there's a breed specific rescue organization for nearly Every breed of dog or cat out there!  Please Adopt Don't Shop whenever possible.


PetSmart


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WHY A PUPPY CAN BE THE WORST HOLIDAY GIFT

It's that time of year again, the holidays are upon us!  Thinking about giving someone a puppy for Christmas? Think again! It's a big decision that needs careful consideration. 

At this time of year we carefully consider holiday gift ideas for the people we love.  We rack our brains trying to decide on that perfect gift, a special gift, one that demonstrates how much we love them.

A puppy for Christmas, Christmas dog, Christmas gifts, Rescue dogs, Puppies
A puppy or dog may not be the best holiday gift! 

This holiday season many peoples' thoughts will turn to giving the ultimate gift that keeps on giving.  The one that can actually love you back - that's right, a puppy!   Before you say "Yeah, that's it I'll get the person I love a puppy for Christmas!"  HOLD UP!  Sure, it sounds like a great idea, but have you put enough thought into whether or not a puppy might give a little too much?  Will a puppy be more than the recipient is able to handle?

Everywhere you look they're tugging at our heartstrings!  Puppy stores, dog rescues, and animal shelters are full at Christmastime, and online ads for puppies kick into high gear all through the holidays.  Even at animal shelters people are often there to adopt a puppy or a dog for someone else

It seems like the perfect gift idea, you're so sure it's the right gift for that special someone. It will bring them so much joy, right? Probably, but it will also bring huge responsibilities, including financial responsibilities, to the new puppy owner!  

There's a lot to consider before you bring a puppy or dog into a home.  Even if someone constantly talks about how much they want a puppy and it sounds like they're on the verge of getting one, they may not be prepared for the responsibility at this time in their lives. So before you decide that a puppy is the perfect gift for someone else, be sure their lifestyle will support the lifelong commitment of owning a dog. 

> If the person you are giving a puppy to travels frequently it may be an issue.  You need to spend time with a new puppy!  They have to bond with their new owner and family and the pup needs training.  Who will care for the dog while they are at work or traveling?


> If the they live in an apartment complex or a neighborhood with a Homeowners Association (HOA) there may be restrictions on the breed or size of dog they can have.


> If the person lives with someone else such as a roommate or their parents, those folks must all be consulted before bringing a new pet into the home.  

> Are there other animals living in the home already?  If so, that is a big consideration. You don't want to upset the dynamic of the home.  A new pup has to be a good fit for existing pets and must be properly introduced to resident pets when you bring him home.

> Assess the ability to afford ongoing costs of dog ownership, especially vet bills every year; annual vaccinations, checkups, and visits to the vet for occasional illness or injury.  What if they need to spay or neuter the dog themselves?  That can be a significant expense.  Are you willing to pick up the tab for that?  

> Training for both a puppy and an older dog are essential. Training can be expensive!  Including a gift card towards training is an excellent addition to your gift of a puppy or dog.

> Make sure  no one in the household is allergic to dogs!  Even the so called "hypo-allergenic" dogs can be an issue.  There really is no such thing as a totally hypo-allergenic dog.  Many breeds have hair rather than fur which is helpful, but some people are still allergic to them.

> Everyone in the household should be on board with adding a new dog, and responsibilities for pet care should be clear and realistic.  If the recipient is your own child, make sure responsibilities of caring for the puppy are well thought out and that it’s the right time to add a dog to your family.  Caring for a pet is a great learning experience but don't expect a 7 year old to walk and feed a dog on a daily basis!


Although it sounds magical, I'm not a fan of surprising someone with a puppy or dog as a gift. A dog is a living being that will require lifelong care.  Bringing a dog into your home is not something to be taken lightly.  

Once you've gone through the above considerations and you're reasonably sure a canine companion would be the right gift, help them make the right decision about what kind of dog to get.  It will be just as wonderful a surprise to thoughtfully gift wrap a stuffed animal dog, an animal shelter gift card, a photo of a cute puppy, or even just a leash.  Watch their eyes fly open wide as you tell them that right after Christmas you’ll be taking a trip together to pick out a dog! 

Spend a cozy evening together with a hot cup of cocoa deciding whether to get a puppy or an older dog, and what type of dog would best fit their lifestyle.  


Their excitement will continue to build as they prepare to add a new furry member to their family.  Make an adventure out of searching for just the right puppy or dog together. Visit a pet supplies store together, or shop online, to select all the basic things needed for a new puppy or dog.  The time you spend searching for their new best friend together will be a gift in itself, and a treasured memory
!

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Why a puppy can be the worst Christmas gift   Should I get a puppy for Christmas? Christmas dog, Christmas gifts, Puppies, Adopt a dog
Puppies are irresistible, but is a puppy the right Christmas gift?



Please Adopt rather than Shop if possible, or be sure you select a dog from a reputable breeder.  Avoid online ads for puppies and do some research to help ensure your puppy isn't from a Puppy Mill!



Did you know there are breed specific rescue organizations for just about every breed of dog?  What better gift than not only giving a dog, but saving a life in the process!



Visit our 2022 Holiday Gift Guide for Dogs and Dog Lovers to find the perfect gift for all the dogs and dog lovers on your Christmas gift list!




What you need to know before bringing home a new puppy or dog 






Have you ever given or received a pup as a gift?  Leave us a comment and share your experience and advice!


PetSmart

How You Can Help Homeless Animals Over The Holidays

The holidays are around the corner!  You may think not much goes on at animal shelters and rescues because of the holidays.  Not true!  Animal shelters and rescue organizations across the country may need your help this time of year more than ever.  It's the season for giving, and while monetary donations are always needed and always welcome there are other ways to help animals this season as well.  


If you're short on cash or would like to do more than write a check, here are some other things you can do to help homeless animals

DONATE MUCH NEEDED ITEMS
Shelters and rescues are always in need of food and other supplies.  Contact a local shelter or rescue and ask what's on their current donation "Wish List".   

Food is always a good donation, especially canned food.  Young puppies and kittens usually need canned food and cans are not always as available to the shelter as dry food.  In addition, pets that are ill and in Isolation are often unable to eat dry kibble.  Dogs with kennel cough are just one example of that. 

Blankets and towels are another great item to donate.  Those ratty blankets and towels sitting in the back of the linen closet?  Donate them to an animal shelter!  Winter is nearly here and the nights can be cold, any type and size blanket is welcome.  Kennel floors are often made of concrete and can be very cold.  The little ones are especially prone to the cold.  Give them a blanket to cuddle up in, it will make they more comfortable and may help prevent them from getting sick.  

Towels are also much needed, they are used not only to help stay warm but shelters go through a ton of towels following spay/neuter and other surgeries.  Blankets and towels can get worn out quickly so there's always a need.

If you don't have many blankets or towels to donate yourself, check with friends, family, neighbors, or even your coworkers.  Ask them to gather blankets and towels for you to bring to a local animal shelter or rescue.  Most people are happy to help out.  It helps them get rid of old stuff easily with your help, and they can feel good about helping homeless animals.  Kids especially love being involved in this type of activity, it's a good learning experience for them as well.  It helps foster empathy, kindness, and respect for animals and shows them how easy it can be to give back and be part of the community.


Icy and I dropped off a bag of blankets and towels for BIDEAWEE, the shelter we do our therapy dog work through.
I'll share a true story with you.  My good friend Gene helped me out with this a couple of years ago.  He went into work and asked his coworkers if they had old blankets or towels they no longer wanted.  Days later I went to his house and picked up bags full of blankets, towels, and soft pillows!  The county animal shelter was thrilled to have these items.  It happened to occur just before a cold front was coming in.  We literally dropped off these much needed items hours before the temperature plumetted that night!  It was so heartwarming to place those blankets inside the kennels.  Immediately, the dogs all hopped onto their blankets and snuggled right into them!  It was a beautiful sight.

Another fun idea is to organize a small donation party among your friends, family, or coworkers (Be sure to ASK the Boss if it's ok first!).   One of our friends hosts parties at her home a couple times a year.   Instead of bringing something for the hostess, she asks each guest to bring a bag or can of food or other item to donate to the local animal shelter or animal rescue.  Everyone has fun at the party and the next day she loads up the donation items and brings them to the shelter!  

Alternatively, you can ask each person to bring a small monetary donation.  Perhaps each person brings $5.  You can then either pool the money and give the donation directly to an organization that helps homeless animals, or you can shop for items on their WISH LIST.  If you and your guests are comfortable with the idea, this makes it easy for everyone.  Except you of course, because you need to do the shopping!  Personally I love to shop for items on the shelter's wish list, it's so much fun, even more fun than shoe shopping!

If you shop on Amazon, and really who doesn't these days?!  You can sign up for AmazonSmile and a donation will be made to the shelter(s) or other charitable organization of your choice when you shop!  It won't cost you any more and can help a shelter or rescue organization you feel passionate about. At this time, Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases.  The Director of a shelter I volunteer at asked volunteers and employees to consider doing it for them.  OMG, why hadn't I thought of that myself!?  I have since signed up for the program!  You can choose when to use it.  You can shop using the AmazonSmile program or not, it's your choice every time.  How can you not Love that??

Another simple way to give is to Sponsor a shelter pet's adoption, where you pay all or part of the pet's adoption fee.  This can help promote adoption by reducing the overall costs involved when you first add a pet to the family.  It just might help tip the scales in favor of someone adopting a pet that day!


You could even pay for medical services the shelter can't afford.  This is my foster, sweet Dusty, continually passed over simply because he had cherry eye.  I sprung for his surgery and within 48 hours he got adopted! 
If you want to go BIG, organize a larger scale event to raise funds such as a doggie fashion show,  a holiday luncheon at a club or restaurant, or an outdoor event such as a walk or run.  Anything that can get people together to help homeless pets!  You may be able to partner with a local pet store or other business to gain sponsorship.

DONATE YOUR TIME
Instead of donating money or items, you can also give your time.  There are lots of ways to give of yourself while helping animals in need.

You can organize a volunteer event at the shelter.  There are SO many things a shelter needs help with.  Everything from walking or playing with dogs and kitties to helping sort donation items, decorating the place for the holidays, or tidying up play yards.   Many shelters welcome groups from companies, social groups, religious organizations, even kids from groups like Eagle Scouts or Girl Scouts.  At the Phoenix shelter, we once had a fabulous Eagle Scout group construct Welping Boxes for expectant dog mothers and their soon to be born puppies!  

Volunteers can get dogs or cats out of their cages to walk and play with them.  This helps dogs get fresh air and exercise and stay well socialized as well as healthy.  It also burns energy so they're not bouncing off the walls when adopters walk through.   Playing also helps cats stay healthy and socialized.  These things contribute to the dogs and cats being more appealing to potential adopters.  


You can foster a dog or cat in your home.  Some shelters have Day Foster programs where you can get a dog out of the shelter just for the day.  It may not seem like a lot, you may even think it's mean to take a dog out for a day and bring him back to the shelter.  But believe me it's a much needed break that helps the dog more than you might think.

Some shelters offer Home for the Holidays events where families offer to host an animal in their home through the holidays.   This is a fun option if you have the time and don't plan on having a house full of people over the holidays.  



If you can do it, becoming a permanent foster would be a wonderful gift to a shelter or rescue.  They are always in need of fosters.  I foster animals in my home, and I know first hand that Fostering Saves Lives!

Offer to take photos of adoptable animals for a shelter.  Shelter staff are usually super busy with the tasks of taking in new animals and caring for the ones that are already there.  They are not always able to spend time getting a good intake photo of every animal that comes in.  Ask a local shelter if they need some help photographing their adoptable pets.  Provide a few props such as a holiday blanket, toy, or santa hat and take some great shots for the shelter to post online.  Bring along a friend who can provide assistance.  If the dog or cat doesn’t have a name, make one up!  A name can forge an emotional feeling and place a name to a face.  People can identify more with the dog or cat when he's not just a number. 

Get on social media and help spread the word about animals that are available for adoption.  Work with a shelter or rescue organization to post photos of their adoptable dogs or cats with compelling details about the animal and links to their site.  This may be a bit of work keeping up with each pet, but it's so helpful.   Cooper is a lovable Golden Retriever mix.  She loves walks and playing fetch!”   Then Share, share, share your post on social media and ask your family and friends to do the same.

Do you have other ideas on how we can help shelters and rescues?  Please leave us a comment and Share your ideas!
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PetSmart

A Holiday Treat For Your Dog

The Holidays are upon us and all the big preparations have started.  One of the things we give the most thought to are the FOOD we'll be serving.  Turkey with all the trimmings, pumpkin and apple pies, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and more.  Lots more!  While we are stuffing ourselves to the gills, our dogs are drooling on the sidelines.  Isn't it time we gave them a taste of Turkey with all the Trimmings too?  No, I don't mean table scraps (heaven's NO!).  I mean....

Vita Bone's Artisan Inspired Turkey, Stuffing & Cranberry flavored Dog Biscuits!


Vita Bone's new Artisan Inspired Turkey Stuffing & Cranberry Flavor dog biscuits
Vita Bone's Artisan Inspired Turkey Stuffing & Cranberry Flavor dog biscuits
I am being compensated for helping to tell people about Vita Bone's new Artisan Inspired Turkey Stuffing & Cranberry Flavor dog biscuits.  Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.  Reviews are based on our own experience with the product.
These dog biscuits are made with wholesome ingredients:

REAL TURKEY
REAL CRANBERRIES
NO ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS
NO CORN

Lots of good "stuffing" in these Vita Bone dog biscuits!
It's about time someone made a dog treat our dogs can enjoy so they can STOP drooling over the turkey, don't you think?!

You know how guests love to sneak the pets some table scraps at holiday meals, right?  Well, now you can put out a plate of Vita Bone's Turkey Stuffing & Cranberry Flavor dog snacks and let guests indulge your dog in a holiday Turkey with all the trimmings treat made just for them!

Phoebe and Icy both loved these Turkey Stuffing & Cranberry Flavor dog biscuits!
It bears reminding that so many holiday foods contain items that are hazardous to our pets.  Many of these are used in the cooking of foods and may not be very obvious.  For example, I drench my turkey with a butter & garlic mixture.  Butter and garlic are not good for pets and can even make them sick.  I don't give my dogs any of our holiday turkey, only dog friendly food & snacks!

Some other common holiday foods that can be hazardous to pets are:

CHOCOLATE
ONION & CHIVES (EVEN ONION POWDER)
GARLIC
GRAPES & RAISINS
MACADAMIA NUTS (& SEVERAL OTHER TYPES OF NUTS)
ANYTHING THAT CONTAINS THE SWEETENER XYLITOL
COFFEE & CAFFEINE
ALCOHOL
SALTY SNACKS (THE HIGH SALT CONTENT IS HAZARDOUS)
GUM (IT CAN CAUSE CHOKING OR BLOCKAGE)
PITS AND SEEDS OF MANY FOODS CAN BE HAZARDOUS

This is only a partial list of foods that can be harmful to pets.  For more complete listings, check out the Humane Society's list of Foods That Can Be Poisonous To Pets and the ASPCA'S People Foods To Avoid Feeding Your Pets 

Many of these may not be obvious, they can be included in food, stuffings, gravies, desserts, and food gift baskets. Please make sure your kids and guests are aware of these dangers to your pets and offer an alternative like Vita Bone Artisan Inspired Turkey Stuffing & Cranberry Flavor biscuits!

Please enjoy the holidays safely and joyously!

Try all of VitaBone's Artisan Inspired dog treats!
Vita Bone makes more than one kind of treat, read about Vita Bone's other delicious dog treats.  They make great training treats too!

What are your holiday pet safety tips?  Leave us a comment and share!!


A Natural Dog Food We Can Trust #WeBelieveinNB

With all the nasty pet food recalls we've seen recently and concern about where pet foods are sourced and made, it’s critical to get our pet food from a trusted source.  

I'm an avid pet food label reader, I make it my business to research what's in my pet's food and where it comes from.  I've always trusted Natural Balance Pet Food®.  I've been feeding Icy Natural Balance Pet Food for several years now.  Their food is made with premium quality ingredients like fruits, vegetables, and high quality proteins. Most importantly, I know it's safe for my pets. 


I want only the best quality pet food for my dog Icy!

This post is sponsored by Natural Balance® and the BlogPaws® Professional Pet Blogger Network™. I am being compensated for helping to share our thoughts about why we believe in Natural Balance as a quality food for our dogs, but Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Natural Balance Pet Foods is not responsible for the content of this article

I first discovered Natural Balance at a Pet Festival when Icy was young. I liked what they had to say about their commitment to the Quality, Nutrition, and Safety of their pet food, (and I've always liked Dick Van Patten!), so I took a few samples to try.  Icy, my finicky eater loved it, she scarfed down every morsel!  Icy is definitely a Natural Balance Dog, she loves every formula and variety of their food!  I've never found a Natural Balance formula that didn't impress me, or one that Icy didn't go bonkers for!

Natural Balance knows that the best pet food not only has to be healthy and delicious, it has to be SAFE.   With Natural Balance pet food, I know I'm feeding Icy high quality food that's safe for her. They even stand behind their food with an outstanding Feed with Confidence™  promise!  If you're not 100% satisfied with the Natural Balance pet food you've chosen, one of their Nutrition Experts can help you find the Natural Balance formula that's just right for your pet, OR they'll refund your money.




You have to see their Feed With Confidence promise, it's so impressive!  This is a company that really Get's It.  They have such a strong commitment to Quality, Nutrition, and Safety! That's what I want for my pets and I know it's what all of you want for your pets too.

Natural Balance believes so strongly in safety testing, they perform 9 different safety tests on every batch of food and treats in their state-of-the-art laboratory before it goes out the door.  They take it a step further by sharing those test results.  You can actually enter the Product Date Code Information from your bag of food online and get the test results!   How many pet food companies do THAT?? 


Natural Balance's test results for one of my bags of Natural Balance Pet Food, the L.I.D. Sweet Potato & Fish dog food!  This is a snapshot from the actual test results report!


Why do I believe in the quality of Natural Balance Pet Food so much?  Let Me Count The Why's!

** PREMIUM PROTEINS like Salmon, Chicken, Venison, Lamb, & Duck

** NUTRITIOUS VEGETABLES and GRAINS like Sweet Potato, Brown Rice, Peas, & Garbanzo Beans 

** NATURAL PRESERVATIVES and INGREDIENTS like Flax Seed, Taurine, & Salmon Oils


What you'll NEVER find in Natural Balance pet food are Artificial Flavors, Chemical Preservatives, Soy, Wheat, Corn, By-Product Meals, or other undesirable ingredients!


Visit the Natural Balance web site for more details about the wonderful high quality, nutritious ingredients in their food!  Once you do, you'll definitely want to try Natural Balance Pet Food!

Natural Balance dog food fits perfectly into Icy's healthy active lifestyle.

I want Icy and I to continue taking walks and hikes together for a long, long time.  I do everything I can to ensure she stays healthy and active.  We are what we eat, so feeding her high quality food is essential.  With an active lifestyle, she needs the premium proteins and healthy vegetables & grains in Natural Balance Pet Food!


WHICH NATURAL BALANCE FORMULA DOES ICY EAT?

On a daily basis, I feed Icy the Limited Ingredient Diets (L.I.D.) formula. I like that the L.I.D. food has simple formulas with limited ingredients.  It contains a single source protein and limited carbohydrate sources.  The L.I.D. diet helps her maintain a healthy digestion.


Icy loves all things sweet potato so I usually choose the Chicken & Sweet Potato or the Sweet Potato & Fish flavors.  I also like to mix the corresponding L.I.D. wet food with her dry food.  I like the variety and the extra moisture my dogs get with wet food.



Natural Balance makes so many varieties and formulas of pet food, you're sure to find one that's perfect for your dog.  You can even chat live with one of their expert Veterinary Technicians for help in choosing the perfect formula for your dog's unique needs and preferences!


Psst!!  Tell your friends about Natural Balance Pet Food! 

FOLLOW NATURAL BALANCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND STAY UP TO DATE ON ALL THINGS NATURAL BALANCE!



The holidays are coming!  One of the best gifts to give a pet lover is a handmade treat jar.  I made one for my neighbor last year and filled it with Natural Balance treats.  I loved it so much I made a second one for my own dogs!   

DIY Treat Jars are a thoughtful gift for pet lovers!

Have you tried Natural Balance Pet Food ?  Leave us a comment and share your thoughts, we LOVE hearing from you!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Natural Balance. The opinions and text are all mine.