My Life Is a Journey Made Better With Dogs

People say that life is a journey.  It's not a race or a destination, it's a journey to be enjoyed and experienced.  I don't know where my life's journey will take me, but I'm ready to go down any road as long as my dogs are with me!

If you're anything like me, your pets are family and they make life better in so many ways.  My dogs, Icy and Phoebe, are a huge part of my life. They make me laugh with their adorable antics, cheer me up when I'm feeling down, and motivate me to get up and experience life's fun and adventure, even when I feel too lazy to get off the couch!

Our dogs are family, loyal companions who love us unconditionally.  For that devotion, they deserve premium 100% natural treats, like True Chews® Dog Treats!

On my life's journey, three things I can't do without are; Tail wags, Sloppy kisses, and Treats.  Lots and lots of dog treats, preferably All Natural Dog Treats!  Nothing but the best will do for my pups, so I only give them premium treats like TRUE CHEWS® Dog Treats.

I partnered with TRUE CHEWS to share my journey with Phoebe.  Life wasn't always easy for her, but together we worked through it to give her the best life!

This post is sponsored by True Chews® Dog Treats and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about the True Chews line of all-natural dog treats. but Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. All statements made reflect my true opinion of the product.  True Chews is not responsible for the content of this article.

I have a close bond with both my dogs, but Phoebe and I share something extra special.  Our journey together didn't start off easy, though.  In fact, when I first adopted her she was so filled with fear that it prevented her from embracing life.

I first met Phoebe at the animal shelter where I was volunteering.  I wasn't looking for another dog but she was so adorable and sweet, I fell in love with her immediately and adopted her that day!  I had no idea she was harboring extreme fear issues that would prevent her from enjoying life.

In this 2 minute video, I share the story of my journey with Phoebe.  I'm so proud of how she transformed from terrified shelter dog to a happy, confident member of our family!
(NOTE: To turn on video sound, click on the sound icon at lower right to remove the x, OR right click on the video and select Unmute)

Now Phoebe wakes up happy each day, embracing life with joy and anticipation of what the day might bring!  Weather it's a road trip, a hike, or an outing around town Phoebe is up for it!  

Dogs give us their unconditional love, 100% of the time.  That kind of love deserves the very best we can give them.  The folks at True Chews feel the same way!  That's why they created True Chews all natural Dog Treats.  

Here's what I love about TRUE CHEWS dog treats:

👉 They are 100% Natural dog treats, made using only natural ingredients

👉 They are both Made and Sourced in the U.S.A.

👉 They are Made with premium cuts of meat, which are always the #1 ingredient listed

👉 They contain NO meat by-products, artificial flavors or preservatives

TRUE CHEWS dog treats were created by pet parents for pet parents.  They're committed to making Wholesome, 100% Natural dog treats.  The best part? My dogs love them!


On a recent shopping trip to the pet store, Phoebe pondered which True Chews dog treats she likes best!  I think she wanted to buy one of every kind but we stuck with the Chicken, Duck, and Beef Premium Jerkey Cuts!  Delicious!!

Hmmm, which of these fabulous TRUE CHEWS dog treats do I love best?

Treat Them Well!

Life's journey with our dogs is special.  Make it even more special with TRUE CHEWS 100% Natural, Made in the USA dog treats.

When we hit the cafe, I have a snack for myself, and Phoebe gets a special TRUE CHEWS treat!

You can find TRUE CHEWS dog treats at pet specialty stores like PetSmart, Petco and online at Chewy.com.  

Connect with TRUE CHEWS by visiting their Facebook Page  

Is your life's journey made better with your dog?  Tell us about it in the comments!

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

Artisan Inspired Dog Treats and a Giveaway

We first met the folks from Vita Bone® at the BlogPaws Conference in 2015. Each year since then we've enjoyed visiting their booth at the conference and seeing what new treats for dogs they have. 

Vita Bone® Artisan Inspired® soft dog treats

Vita Bone® has  Artisan Inspired® soft dog treats. I love the healthy ingredients and the artisan inspired style of these treat flavors.  In addition to their Dog Biscuits and Chewys, these new Artisan Inspired® treats are SOFT dog treats.  I think the soft treats are a great addition to their line of dog biscuits and other snacks for dogs.   

Vita Bone® Artisan Inspired® dog treats are made with:
➤ Wholesome grains 
➤ Real Vegetables & Fruits 
➤ Real Meats, like Turkey, Chicken, and Bacon!
➤ They're Sourced and Made in America
➤ Vita Bone® Artisan Inspired® dog treats Do Not contain artificial flavors, corn, or soy   

Enough TALK, when are we gonna EAT them!?

Vita Bone® Artisan Inspired® Treats are thoughtfully crafted in five kitchen inspired flavors. 

🍖Country Biscuits, Sausage & Gravy Flavor
🍖Turkey Pot Roast & Red Potato Flavor
🍖Maple Bacon & Blueberry Flavor
🍖BBQ Chicken & Sweet Potato Flavor
🍖 Turkey Stuffing & Cranberry Flavor

They're great as an everyday reward, training treats, or a special treat for your dog just 'cause you love each other so much!

This post is sponsored by Vita Bone®. I am being compensated to help share information about Vita Bone® Artisan Inspired® soft dog treats. We only share information about products we feel are relevant to our readers. 

Icy and Phoebe put Vita Bone® Artisan Inspired® Soft Dog Treats to the test.  They tried the Country Biscuits, Sausage & Gravy Flavor and the Turkey Pot Roast & Red Potato Flavor.  You can see the results in our video:

Vita Bone® Artisan Inspired® Soft Dog Treats are a hit!  Icy and Phoebe give these treats a PAWS UP!!

Other Vita Bone® dog treats, dog biscuits, and chewys you may like:

Vita Bone® dog biscuits and treats for dogs are available nationally at Walmart and grocery stores.  Use the Vita Bone store locator to find a store near you that carries Vita Bone products.  


Vita Bone is a family owned business that has been making dog treats in Utah since 1972.  They are proud sponsors of the American Red Cross and Pet Partners. Both of these charities are near and dear to my heart.  Icy and I are a Pet Partners Therapy Dog team, volunteering in our community to help people in need.  I've been a supporter of the Red Cross for many years.  They always seem to be the first ones to step in to help when a disaster strikes, anywhere in the world!  I love companies that give back to their communities, like Vita Bone!

FOLLOW VITA BONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA!!

FACEBOOK        TWITTER        INSTAGRAM

Vita Bone makes several different kinds of delicious dog treats, you can read about them here: Vita Bone's other delicious dog treats.  

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 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!!

DIY Frozen Yogurt Peanut Butter Dog Treats

I love making treats for my dogs when I can, but I usually don't want to spend tons of time on my DIY dog treat projects.   I like my dog treat recipes easy and quick, while still being a delicious and special snack for my dogs!

Here's a really simple DIY dog treat that takes very little time and uses just two ingredients:

PEANUT BUTTER YOGURT DOG TREATS:
5 Tbsp. Yogurt (I used Greek Yogurt)
2 large scoops of Peanut butter

THAT'S IT!! 

Dog Treats: Frozen Pineapple Yogurt Jerky Puppsicles

When the weather is hot, everyone likes a tasty frozen treat.  Dogs are no different, they love a cool refreshing dog treat too!  I made these delicious frozen Pineapple Yogurt Jerky Puppsicles for Icy and Phoebe.

As you can see from the photos, my Puppsicles were a barking mad success with Icy and Phoebe!

Yum!  Icy loves the taste of pineapple and yogurt.  The jerky stick was an extra  tasty surprise at the end!

Celebrating National Pet Week

We've been celebrating NATIONAL PET WEEK!  National Pet Week® celebrates the bond we have with our pets, and all they give to us.  It encourages pet owners to be certain they provide their best friends with all they need for a happy, healthy life every week of the year!

NATIONAL PET WEEK was Created in 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Auxiliary to the AVMA.  The first week of May is designated as National Pet Week, and is dedicated to celebrating America's more than 200 million pets. 

Bil-Jac^® pet food company is supporting National Pet Week by sharing 8 Ways You Can Be a Better Pet Parent with dedicated pet parents everywhere! Keep these important tips in mind all year long.

 

Our pets enrich our lives in so many ways, every day of the year. 

NATIONAL PET WEEK reminds us to celebrate our animal companions and encourages responsible pet care. 

ABOUT BIL-JAC
Bil-Jac is a family brand that has been in business for over 60 years.  In the early 1940's two brothers, Bill and Jack, were in the armed forces serving in World War II.  After returning home, they set out to fill a gap in pet food nutrition by creating what they felt was a much needed  "great improvement" in the pet food that was being offered to the consumer.  It's easy to see how they came up with the company name, they simply combined their first names, dropping the last letter off each name, and in 1947 the pet food company Bil-Jac was born!


NOTE: In exchange for sharing their 8 Ways To Be A Better Pet Parent with my readers, Bil-Jac  offered me a bag of delicious Bil-Jac treats. 

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training with Vita Bone treats

Dogs work hard for us during training, don't they deserve a reward?  Treats are like a big fat paycheck for doing their best during training sessions!



Phoebe's licking her lips in anticipation of delicious Vita Bone treats!

Vita Bone® Dog Biscuits and Chewy sticks are made with natural ingredients, so they're “Deliciously Balanced”, striking the perfect balance between great taste and nutrition.  My dogs absolutely love them!

We first found out about Vita Bone dog treats at the amazing BlogPaws  Conference in Nashville in 2015.  We had so much fun meeting the Vita Bone guy at the conference.  At first Phoebe was perplexed by this giant "dog biscuit", but after tasting her first Vita Bone biscuit she was hooked!




At first, Phoebe was a bit dazed & confused by this giant dog biscuit!

Both my dogs love Vita Bone Biscuits and Chewy sticks.  I use them as treat rewards during training and as a fun treat just to show them how much I love and appreciate them!

Vita Bone biscuits are both delicious and nutritious.  They're made with natural ingredients and contain:

** Natural Whole Grains, and 23 essential vitamins & minerals for IMMUNE SYSTEM SUPPORT

** Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids for HEALTHY SKIN and a BEAUTIFUL, SHINY COAT

** Glucosamine from natural sources like chicken & salmon oil to promote JOINT HEALTH

** A crunchy texture that promotes CLEAN TEETH & FRESH BREATH

I'm being compensated by Vita Bone to help spread the word about Vita Bone dog biscuits and Chewy sticks, but Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them only shares information we feel is beneficial to our readers.  Our product reviews are based on our own experiences with the product.

Vita Bone dog biscuits Come in Small, Medium, & Large sizes and Wheat, Chicken, Vegetables, Cheese, Beef and Liver flavors.



Vita Bone biscuits come in Small, Medium, & Large sizes and 6 delicious flavors!

I use yummy Vita Bone biscuits while practicing our training with Icy & Phoebe.



Icy and Phoebe SIT/STAY, anticipating delicious Vita Bone biscuits!



Icy and Phoebe in a DOWN/STAY awaiting their Vita Bone reward!

Reward Time!  They've earned their Vita Bone biscuits!

Boy was that Delish!  Wonder if we could score some more Vita Bone biscuits!

At the end of our training sessions, I like to give my dogs what I call a "Jackpot Treat".  They've worked hard and given me their all.  A Jackpot Treat should be something that's not only delicious but something they can really savor.

A tasty chew stick is the perfect Jackpot Treat.  Vita Bone Chewy sticks are just the thing to end our training sessions on a super positive note! 



Tasty Vita Bone Chewy sticks are easy to break apart for training sessions or a great snack!

Vita Bone Chewy sticks are made with real beef, chicken, pork, and lamb.  They come in beef, chicken, lamb and bacon flavors. YUM!! 

Give Vita Bone Biscuits and Chewy sticks a try, I know your dog will love them as much as mine do!  Click here for **Valuable Coupons**


Check out Vita Bone's series of positive, reward based Training Videos!  You'll find great advice & tips from expert trainers, including Certified Animal Behavior Consultant Steve Dale!

GET SOCIAL WITH VITA BONE ON 
Twitter  Facebook   IG   YouTube  Google +

ABOUT VITA BONE:

Vita Bone, a family owned company, has been dedicated to providing delicious and nutritious dog treats for over 40 years!  They are a company that knows how important it is to give back to the community and that pets have the power to change lives! That’s why they support PET PARTNERS, a non-profit organization dedicated to training and providing therapy animals to people in need. 

Therapy animals bring smiles, affection and comfort to people in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, disaster areas, and more.  Pet Partners teams help veterans with PTSD, seniors living with Alzheimer’s, students with literacy challenges, patients in recovery, people with intellectual disabilities and more.

 

Their support of Pet Partners is especially near and dear to my heart because my Siberian Husky Icy and I are a Pet Partners Therapy Dog team!  You can read about the volunteer work we do through Pet Partners in the Therapy Dogs tab on my blog’s Home page.  Thanks to Vita Bone for supporting Pet Partners!

Give The Gift of Healthy Dog Treats #NaturalBalance

I always get really excited after Halloween because I know it means the holidays are right around the corner!  The holidays are such a fun time.  I love to decorate the house inside and out, shop for just the right Christmas trees; one inside and one on the front porch, visit family and friends, and do all the fun holiday activities around town.  One of the things I really enjoy is making homemade holiday treats for my family and friends.

This post is sponsored by Natural Balance, and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word the word about Natural Balance Treats, but Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Natural Balance is not responsible for the content of this article.

A hand crafted treat jar is the perfect gift for dog loving friends and family members, it shows you care about them and their precious pooch!  It's a truly personal gift, hand crafted by you specifically with their dog in mind.  You don't need to spend hours in the kitchen baking homemade dog treats, you can create a DIY (Do It Yourself) treat jar filled with healthy dog treats from Natural Balance® Pet Foods!  Natural Balance has a wide selection of healthy treats for dogs you can fill your treat jar with. 

My treat jar was easy to make.  A trip to the craft store and some delicious Natural Balance treats was all I needed for this project.

I chose a plastic container with a tight seal on the lid, it's not breakable and it will keep the treats fresh.  I decorated my jar with holiday and pet related embellishments.  I use a lot of stick-on embellishments in my DIY projects, they make things much easier and there's no need for messy glue guns!  I love bling and I wanted a rhinestone bone or paw on the jar.  I bought strips of rhinestones but I have to admit, they were not easy to cut!  That's why my bone isn't exactly perfect.  But that's what makes it personal right!?  Perfection is not the goal, I just wanted it to be thoughtful and heartfelt. 



I decorated the back of my DIY treat jar with colorful stars and black paw prints

A treat jar hand crafted with love and filled with healthy Natural Balance dog treats you've selected for their dog's unique personality will make anyone feel special.  It will look great in their home and make their dog drool with anticipation of tasty rewards!



Icy and Phoebe were so excited about the yummy Natural Balance treats we got for my DIY treat jar.  I hate to break it to them that the treat jar is a gift for our neighbor's dog!

DOG TREATS SHOULD TASTE GREAT BUT THEY SHOULD BE HEALTHY TOO!

> Natural Balance Treats are made with premium-quality proteins and don't contain any artificial ingredients or colors. 

> I love that Natural Balance offers a wide variety of treats that come in different sizes, types of treats, and flavors. 

> Natural Balance treats were created by expert nutritionists.  They're available in grain free as well as limited ingredient and low calorie treats.

These are the delicious, healthy Natural Balance dog treats I filled my treat jar with:

Dental Chews, Fresh & Clean Formula - These grain free treats are scientifically formulated to encourage your dog’s natural chewing instinct, to help support healthy teeth and gums, helps reduce tarter and help freshen your dog’s breath.







Belly Bites - Delicious grain free semi moist treats, Chicken & Legume formula.









Burger Bites - Gourmet treats that look just like burgers! I used the lamb formula.  Delish!

Mini Rewards - These delicious treats are small and have only 5 calories!  My dogs love the duck flavor.  I like treats this size, they're great for rewarding and motivating my dogs during training sessions without adding too many calories.

Oh No!!  It looks like someone's raided the treat jar I made for our neighbor's dog, Cooper.  Oh well, I guess I'll need to make another treat jar!

Natural Balance also offers L.I.T. Limited Ingredient Treat® varieties for cats and dogs with food sensitivities.  These treats are designed with just one protein and limited carbohydrate sources.

We all love our pets and want them to have the best pet treats available. Give the gift of nutritious dog or cat treats from Natural Balance!

Natural Balance proudly stands behind their products, they're even backed by their Feed with Confidence guarantee!

To find stores and online retailers that carry Natural Balance natural pet food and treats click Here

Get social with Natural Balance!!

Natural Balance on Facebook
Natural Balance on Twitter
Natural Balance on YouTube

BlogPaws Contest Mania!

Check out all the cool stuff Mama bought us at PetSmart!  She was one of the lucky winners of a PetSmart gift card in the BlogPaws #PetTravelContest on Instagram! 

Look at all the yummy stuff we got! 

How adorable is this PetSmart gift card!?

Mama says we have to give some of these yummies to an animal shelter where she volunteers.  I'm happy about that 'cause that's where I came from, one of the animal shelters mama volunteers at, in Phoenix.  As long as she doesn't give away our DENTASTIX dental chews or our Busy Bone chews we are OK with it!

You can hardly see me in this picture, my big fat sister is photo-bombing me!  Grrr!

Guess what?  Mama says there's still some money left over on the gift card!  I hope she'll buy me a pretty new collar.  I think I deserve it considering how much I help her on the blog, don't you?

How about you, do you participate in the many fabulous BlogPaws photo contests and Twitter chats?  They're so much fun and there are always great prizes to win!  And we love prizes!  Leave us a comment, we always love hearing from you!

THIS IS THE FRIDAY PET PARADE BLOG HOP! 

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