At Woofles and Meowz we spend alot of time chatting with other trainers, handlers and owners of dogs but the only interaction I have with Cat owners is to listen to what they like in the way of treats, equipment and toys so I can order for my store. In fact all the stock in my store for Cats is requested by my regulars who have 100% say in what I bring in. It makes my job a wee bit easier.
The oft asked question I get on one piece of equipment for cats is.."will my cat wear this?"
I always respond half jokingly........"what do YOU think?"
This usually gets the answer most people were looking for as the REAL question in the query is "will my cat take off my skin if I try to cram him into this $60.00 sweater and can you tell me that he will wear it having never seen my cat so to support my intent to torment my feline into wearing something even for the 5 minutes it will take to get the picture"
.....pretty much the truth in that.
"what do YOU think" always settles the matter.
This also goes for people who want to put Fluffy in a harness and go for a walk. Some will find it ok and most will not. The trick for harnesses is to put them on when they are kittens. It always seems far too foreign for older cats.
Bless all the little kitties in their own furry sweaters.
meowwwrrrrwwrwrw!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Dog life jackets.
Last year I was told a GREAT story from a family that was purchasing a life jacket for their dog.
The dog being a pug was in sorry shape for cutting through the water being the dense body type it was.....and no don't send me emails saying "all dogs can swim and pugs are great swimmers". I know all dogs CAN swim but some are better at it than others and some are actually really poor swimmers in the water.....pugs, boston terriers, boxers....bulldogs are bricks in the water!!
So, the story goes that a gentleman and his dog head off from Horseshoe Bay here near Vancouver to their home on Bowen Island in their sailboat. This was a crossing that the well seasoned boater had made several times with his dog and was well known by the locals both on Bowen and at Horseshoe bay. He was and is a good boater and a sensible one who with some foresight put a lifejacket on his Labradore Retriever (GREAT swimmers). Heading west to Bowen the boat listed enough that with a silent splash unloaded a probably relaxed dog from the deck into the water. The boat carried on and one can only assume that the boater was either below for a moment or looking the other way. The dog finding itself closer to the dock at Horseshoe Bay headed that way.
As the boat came into harbour the baiter received a call on his cell "hey did you lose anything?"
"Ummmm no...did I leave the fenders down?" A typical jab at boaters from other salty dogs is the fender jab.....never leave the floats flopping along in the water while sailing...very lazy and tacky.
"Yeah, nooo yer dog just swam, barely back up to the deck here and is having a snack" said the caller. "We watched him swim from far off in the distance thinking it was a seal and saw him exhaustedly just float the last quarter mile in"
Needless to say the owner of the dog was surprised and embarrassed but happy that the dog was indeed safe and only due to the bouyancy of the floatation device did the dog survive.
Yes, dogs are great swimmers but like any animal not born to the water heat loss, exhaustion and disorientation are all factors in an easy trip to the bottom. This Lab had all but stopped moving and the wash from the ferry had pushed it the last bit towards the shore while the lifejacket kept its head above the water line.
The best part of the story is, of course, the dog lived and indeed I had sold the lifejacket to the dog's owner not 3 weeks before the event. I knew who they were talking about and let them spill the story. Admittedly each time I hear it the tale gets a bit more heroic but in the end the equipment worked!
Super WOOF!!!
The dog being a pug was in sorry shape for cutting through the water being the dense body type it was.....and no don't send me emails saying "all dogs can swim and pugs are great swimmers". I know all dogs CAN swim but some are better at it than others and some are actually really poor swimmers in the water.....pugs, boston terriers, boxers....bulldogs are bricks in the water!!
So, the story goes that a gentleman and his dog head off from Horseshoe Bay here near Vancouver to their home on Bowen Island in their sailboat. This was a crossing that the well seasoned boater had made several times with his dog and was well known by the locals both on Bowen and at Horseshoe bay. He was and is a good boater and a sensible one who with some foresight put a lifejacket on his Labradore Retriever (GREAT swimmers). Heading west to Bowen the boat listed enough that with a silent splash unloaded a probably relaxed dog from the deck into the water. The boat carried on and one can only assume that the boater was either below for a moment or looking the other way. The dog finding itself closer to the dock at Horseshoe Bay headed that way.
As the boat came into harbour the baiter received a call on his cell "hey did you lose anything?"
"Ummmm no...did I leave the fenders down?" A typical jab at boaters from other salty dogs is the fender jab.....never leave the floats flopping along in the water while sailing...very lazy and tacky.
"Yeah, nooo yer dog just swam, barely back up to the deck here and is having a snack" said the caller. "We watched him swim from far off in the distance thinking it was a seal and saw him exhaustedly just float the last quarter mile in"
Needless to say the owner of the dog was surprised and embarrassed but happy that the dog was indeed safe and only due to the bouyancy of the floatation device did the dog survive.
Yes, dogs are great swimmers but like any animal not born to the water heat loss, exhaustion and disorientation are all factors in an easy trip to the bottom. This Lab had all but stopped moving and the wash from the ferry had pushed it the last bit towards the shore while the lifejacket kept its head above the water line.
The best part of the story is, of course, the dog lived and indeed I had sold the lifejacket to the dog's owner not 3 weeks before the event. I knew who they were talking about and let them spill the story. Admittedly each time I hear it the tale gets a bit more heroic but in the end the equipment worked!
Super WOOF!!!
Dog Bakery ...is it necessary??
At Woofles and Meowz we are hard pressed to keep up with the manufacturing. It is the best problem to have trying to do all the baking that our four footed friends seem to desire and need.
Some people might ask..."NEED"?!?? The truth is a little more complicated than a smple yes or no. Does a dog NEED an organic, hand made treat with ingredients that most average people do not ingest? The simple answer is sometimes.
Sometimes the animal has developed internal problems that require dietary restrictions of certain ingredients.
Sometimes having a place that actually makes the recipes IN HOUSE lets people know what is in the treats.
Most times department store or grocery store brands are full of fillers (acceptable or not) whereas ours are not.
Sometimes people just want to be sure that what they are giving their pet will not make them barf at 3 in the morning.
Sometimes a well made treat with probiotics and/or good ingredients can add a healing component to the dog's diet.
Sometimes people just want a pretty, cute, well made, tasty looking, good for the pooch treat.
Most times it is really hard to find that elsewhere.
Organic cheeses, Lamb, chicken, vegetables etc are really NOT that more expensive to buy so I do and am happy to use them in our recipes.
Good stuff passed on to you and your dog and/or Cat in the case of our Signature Sardines (TM) and Shaved Smokin Tuna (TM).............mmmmmmm YUMMY!!!
woof!
Some people might ask..."NEED"?!?? The truth is a little more complicated than a smple yes or no. Does a dog NEED an organic, hand made treat with ingredients that most average people do not ingest? The simple answer is sometimes.
Sometimes the animal has developed internal problems that require dietary restrictions of certain ingredients.
Sometimes having a place that actually makes the recipes IN HOUSE lets people know what is in the treats.
Most times department store or grocery store brands are full of fillers (acceptable or not) whereas ours are not.
Sometimes people just want to be sure that what they are giving their pet will not make them barf at 3 in the morning.
Sometimes a well made treat with probiotics and/or good ingredients can add a healing component to the dog's diet.
Sometimes people just want a pretty, cute, well made, tasty looking, good for the pooch treat.
Most times it is really hard to find that elsewhere.
Organic cheeses, Lamb, chicken, vegetables etc are really NOT that more expensive to buy so I do and am happy to use them in our recipes.
Good stuff passed on to you and your dog and/or Cat in the case of our Signature Sardines (TM) and Shaved Smokin Tuna (TM).............mmmmmmm YUMMY!!!
woof!
Pet safety..keeping your dog and cat safe.
We have all heard the stories of the dog that was left in a car without adequate ventelation or the cat locked in the metal shed in the intense heat and the prevention of such scenes seems pretty easy to implement. Even easier than that is the simple remembering of water.
Last weekend we were riding on a warm, sunny day out at the Iona spit near the airport here in Vancouver and we came across a gentleman with his dog that looked like a cross between a Corgi and a small Shepherd. Lots of fur and short legs on the trip out to the end of the spit (which is 4 kilometers long) saw to it that the dog was pooped and panting to the point of alarm...and there was still the 4 kilometers back. The distance did not seem to daunting for the owner or us who were lucky to have bikes but the dog was seriously in need of some relief. Lucky for me I have a thoughtful partner who after asking if it was ok gave the dog a drink from his water bottle (so thinking this man IS, I have to say)
It seemed like a simple thing but the truth is that all animals need some water on a hot day. We carry at Woofles and Meowz a great selection of water bottles that make it super easy for Fido to have a wee drink when in need............simple right?!??
Last weekend we were riding on a warm, sunny day out at the Iona spit near the airport here in Vancouver and we came across a gentleman with his dog that looked like a cross between a Corgi and a small Shepherd. Lots of fur and short legs on the trip out to the end of the spit (which is 4 kilometers long) saw to it that the dog was pooped and panting to the point of alarm...and there was still the 4 kilometers back. The distance did not seem to daunting for the owner or us who were lucky to have bikes but the dog was seriously in need of some relief. Lucky for me I have a thoughtful partner who after asking if it was ok gave the dog a drink from his water bottle (so thinking this man IS, I have to say)
It seemed like a simple thing but the truth is that all animals need some water on a hot day. We carry at Woofles and Meowz a great selection of water bottles that make it super easy for Fido to have a wee drink when in need............simple right?!??
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