Woofles and meowz pet bakery

Today its gonna be a baking day here at Woofles and Meowz with "Bis-Scotties"....get it?!?!? on the roster to make....yes I know...I am too funny! At least the dogs are happy with the results.
Today is timely as we are making two different types. One is a peanutbutter, banana and carob and one is an applesauce, pumpkin, banana and spice.
It is timely because usually after Christmas and this year is no exception dog owners are concerned with any and all chocolate consumption by their dogs.
Almost everyone has the story of how Fido ate a box of black magic chocolates or a dairy box of chocolates off the coffee table while they were out well....

Everybody has heard the old story....chocolate is poisonous to dogs. The fact is THIS IS TRUE! Chocolate contains significant levels of a substance known as Theobromine as well as caffeine (drug class: Methylxanthines) which are extremely toxic to dogs (and cats to a lesser degree). These substances are present in all types of chocolate although the darker the chocolate the more theobromine present. In dogs this substance can cause vomiting, nausea, hyperventilating (accelerated breathing) and accelerated heart rate. In more severe cases it can causes seizures and even death. Even small amounts of chocolate given over a long period of time can have detrimental effects to certain organs (eg, liver). The only way to prevent any harm being caused is to ensure your dog has no chocolate whatsoever unless it is specially formulated for dogs. Although even this can lead to problems such as obesity and tooth decay if fed in too large quanities or if fed too frequently.

Sweets/candy can also pose a threat to your pet. This is not due to the sugar content (although this can cause the usual health problems if fed in unsuitable amounts: obesity, tooth decay, diabetes etc) as most mammals are suitably adapted to process sugar efficiently (dogs and cats DO HAVE A PANCREAS! and it works very well) the main problem is that most of the sweets available today contain various sweetners as well as sugar and, like theobromine in chocolate, these sweetners contain some substances that are fairly toxic to dogs and cats many of which can have a profound effect on the central nervous system leading to symptoms similar (if not more severe) to those of chocolate toxicosis.

The simple answer is DO NOT FEED CATS AND DOGS candy or chocolate.

natural sugars are so much better for both people and pets with people being able convert them better than animals. Carob, bananas, apple pieces and pumpkin are great alternatives to any and all sugary treats you may be tempted to give your pooch.
IF you think the dog or cat has got into some chocolate and it is displaying any of the above symptoms...I would take a quick trip to the vet.
and save the treats for yourself!

Granville Island goes to the dogs.

Granville Island sees a lot of our furry friends on a normal day but since the Olympics have started there is a lot less traffic ( I think there is a rumour that Granville Island was closed or that there was no parking...both of which are not true) the walking traffic is starting to get pretty busy though and along with that comes all our doggy friends.
In this blog I have to tell you that there is a new hot toy on the market which is marketed by the name of Orka. This product is super tough but also has just enough give to prevent a tooth going through the product easliy. The thing is so tough that I tried to put a nail through it and there was almost like a self healing property to the material. This makes it a really good toy to use as a retrieval item.
As I have said before many times there is no such thing as a "chew toy" but there are toys that are routinely chewed in the course of play. This ORKA toy is one that works well in this regard.....come on by and check it out.
On the CAT TOY front there is big news in a new line that I have got in the store that is super popular and made rerally, really well by a lady on the Sunshine Coast. These products use sheep fleece, replaceable feathers and tisal fibres attached to smooth and safe bike wires. These products ROCK!!!...made by a lady named Linda Buckingham and very well!
We carry the whole lineup so ask for them when you come in.
WOOF and MEOW!

Rain coats for dogs.

Ok, yesterday or so I was looking out the window and fully expected an ARK to float by! It was not helped by the fact that the overhang of the KIDS MARKET was barely handling the rain pouring off the roof. It was pretty darn wet...a type of weather that we actually rarely get here on the coast.
It was the type of rain that I have experienced in Alberta or Ontario. Here when it rains it is that misty type stuff that unless you are wearing a fur coat it does not actually soak through......fur coat......nice segue huh?!??
Of the many people here in the pet store I would have to say that most were in the market for a good rain jacket for their dog.
We carry a variety of styles and from my searches around the other stores we carry a HUGE selection. Two of my favourites come from one of my favourite suppliers that make the METRO SLICKER (a rip-stop nylon shell with a rubber polymer coating that is both tough and flexible while being pretty stylish to....this one lasts forever and I know as I never, ever washed my dogs Metro slicker in several years and it looked pretty great! The other one is a fabric with Gortex type technology and a fleece lining......super warm and waterproof to cover all the bases for short haired animals or those is other provinces or in the interior.
We seem to be the main supplier for people from Edmonton and Calgary......literally 1000s of warm weather items go there from our store on Granville Island.........and we and the warm, dry dogs thank you for it!!

Granville Island and the oasis that is Woofles and Meowz.

Lately I have been experiencing severe tennis elbow in my right arm and was wondering what the heck the reason is.
It came to light recently when my sister mentioned that i am making thousands of biscuits, cookies and other treats in our organic fresh baked line here at the store.
What a lovely problem to have!
Added to the roster of biscuits this past month is one that I cannot keep in the store and make fast enough and that is the organic bison and bacon biscuits. Now, I admit that these smell pretty darn yummy when I am baking them so it is no surprise that they are going fast...almost too fast suggests the pain in my arm.
Again. a pretty nice problem to have. I am always looking for new directions and suggestions when it comes to the treats so if anyone has an idea I welcome the input.
Until then I will keep making the 20 or so menu items and wear the wrist and elbow brace...and try to not complain about it too much..
all my problems should be so deliscious!

Martingale Dog collars and the benefits of good equipment.

Recently a woman came into the store here at Woofles and Meowz and was browsing our selection of "soft" harnesses.
I asked her what type of dog she had, after a quick info shpiel on the benefits of using that particular type of harness, and why she was wanting a harness.
She said that she was presently using a strap harness on her 3 month old dog and I asked her why she wanted a soft harness...."I dunno" she shrugged with a wry smile.
"Ok what is the concern with the other harness?" I asked her with a knowing smile.
"I dunno..I just don't like it" was her response.
"Do you prefer a harness over a collar?"
"I'm not sure" she gave with a bit of a flip of the head.
*sigh*
".............ok, well, harnesses don't work as well as a collar with walking on a lead" I started
"but it CHOKES!"she blurted.
".............um...............yes.....to a point...........that..............it how................the dog...........learns that you ..........want...........them to mind you" was all I could get out as she scowled at me.
Needless to say the rest of the exchange was less than productive though I did try to explain that I would like her to know that I often talk people out of buying items that I think they would not use or need to use............she would have none of it though as there was a bit of a quietly defensive nature I was dealing with so I just let it go. Sometimes you just have to do this.
Now, at this point I knew it was a lost cause....this type of person was the same type that I used to see in dog class who would refrain from doing ANY kind of behaviour control and WONDER why their dog was so misbehaved.
The blog could go on for several more paragraphs on the proper exchange of intent in teaching dogs but in this blog I would like to focus on one thing that she was sorrowly lacking besides good sense and that is good equipment.
Harnesses while great for some things are NOT great for teaching proper lead control and sitting, staying techniques.
As harnesses distribute weight throughout a larger area the dog is uncertain to what you need he/she to do when a simple,short,twitch is used to correct behaviour.
We are NOT talking about choking or mangling a dog's neck we are talking about getting their attention.
A MARTINGALE collar is a great tool in this regard for a few reasons...one is that it gives a gentle squeeze to the dog when and only when the dog pulls excessively.
Two is that it does the same thing when a a quick jerk of the lead is used and it releases immediately.
Three is that the chained kind rather than the "soft" Martingale gives a clicking feel and noise that indicates after a while not to pull.

********
Martingale Dog collars are also known as Greyhound, Whippet or humane choke collars. The Martingale dog collar was designed for Sighthounds because their necks are larger than their heads and they can often slip out of buckle collars. These collars have gained popularity among other breed owners in the recent past with many trainers now recommending them instead of choke chains or buckle collars.
Martingale Dog Collars are fitted to the exact size of the dog's neck when the collar is pulled closed. Properly fitted, the collar will be comfortably loose when not in use. When the Martingale control loop is pulled, the two slides (hardware on the small control loop of the Martingale Collar) should pull close together but the two slides should never touch otherwise the squeezing is not effective.

THIS is what the woman should have been using on her dog but somewhere, somehow, someone told her that her pooch should not have anything around its neck....that it was a bad idea. She was ans is ill informed and unfortunately will not be able to control her dog as well as she should.
The right tools used in the right manner have always produced results and this is so true with dog equipment as well.
Cheers and WOOF!!!!

Interbred dogs.

Recently and more frequently I have been introduced to bizarre and baffling diseases that animals have that are coming into the store. People have been telling me that their carnivors cannot eat meat..that they are unable to take stairs or run or wear a collar for fear of choking.
With a perplexed mindset I started looking up the major factors to why there is such a problem with animals bred for the "doggy set".
I admit that I had and have my own suspicions with so many years of dog and cat connections but I was enlightened beyond what I expected.
To sum it up in a nutshell.....and without fear of making an overly broad statement I have to come to the conclusion that we have, in the past 100 years, overbred certain "pedigreed" dogs to the point that they have unusual and debilitating physical problems.
Recently it was passed in the UK that breeding standards were to be changed after pressure from the BBC which broadcasts the major dog showing there.
The BBC pulled out of the dog show after it was embroiled in the row over the welfare of pedigree dogs, leaving the event untelevised for the first time in 40 years.
Pedigree Dogs Exposed, a BBC1 documentary last year, claimed some of the Kennel Club's standards were effectively encouraging dog owners to breed ill-health into their pets.

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It revealed that decades of inbreeding has caused epilepsy and cancer among some entrants at the event, described by a leading vet as showcasing "a parade of mutants".
The corporation subsequently suspended coverage of the Crufts dog show in 2009 after The Kennel Club refused to comply with the BBC's demands that 14 'at risk' breeds be excluded from the competition.
Crufts attracted 150,000 visitors last year and an average of three million television viewers each day.
The Kennel Club has now said it will change the standards – the ideal which show dogs must try and match - to ensure that all dogs are "fit for their original function". It will also ban the breeding of close relatives.
There are a number of breed specific amendments, for 78 breeds.
They have been revised so that they will not include anything that could in any way be interpreted as encouraging features that might prevent a dog from breathing, walking and seeing freely.
Under the "strict new rules", the standard for Shar Pei dogs will no longer include exaggerated folds of loose skin across its neck, skull and legs and breeders must stop encouraging "excessive weight" in Labradors.
Owners of Clumber Spaniels will be banned from "exaggerating substance" – the size of a dog's body and muscle – so that they would be fit for their original purpose of working in the field.
Marc Abraham, Kennel Club veterinary advisor, said: "The changes that have been announced today will leave breeders and judges in no doubt about their responsibilities to safeguard the health and welfare of dogs, first and foremost."
The Kennel Club denied suggestions that the new guidelines were bought in as a result of the BBC decision to suspend coverage of Crufts.
The Kennel Club is tied into a contract with the BBC until 2010, meaning it cannot offer the rights to a rival broadcaster. The BBC pays an annual six-figure sum to the Kennel Club for the television rights and could face a legal battle if it decides to suspend payment for the coming year.
Concerns raised by the documentary have already led to the withdrawal of Pedigree, the main sponsor, and the RSPCA. The animal charity welcomed the BBC's decision, describing current breed standards as "morally unjustifiable".
Mark Evans, the RSPCA's Chief veterinary adviser, said watching Crufts was "like seeing a parade of mutants".
He said: "Many characteristics which are considered desirable in pedigree dogs – as defined by the breed standards which the Kennel Club promotes – are actually shocking deformities which affect the welfare and quality of life for hundreds of thousands of dogs.
"There are now recognised to be more than 450 inherited diseases suffered by pedigree dogs and we believe the intentional breeding of deformed dogs and close inbreeding is morally unjustifiable and must stop."
Kennel Club spokesman Caroline Kisko said: "We said in the autumn that a new review standards would be bought out, long before the BBC pulled out of Crufts. As far as we're concerned, we're looking for different broadcasters. We're currently under BBC contract, whether they choose to broadcast for the next year or not."
The revised standards will be used to judge dogs in Crufts 2009.
A BBC spokesman said Crufts would not be shown in March. He added: "We remain open to the idea that Crufts will return to the BBC and this is an interesting development."

Here in Canada we are not too far behind the ill breeding of pets but for a slightly different reason. Traditionally, dogs were bred to do certain tasks and bred into those dogs were physical traits that warranted doing the work asked of it. Here in North America primarily we are seeing physical traits of dogs that are only useful for simple esthetics. Super small dogs called teacup this and teacup that and superfat, long eared breeds that would certainly not be able to attack any task asked of them. The excellent nose on certain hounds are only as good as the short time it takes for the overly fat and loose skinned dog to become too tired to continue. Overheating on dogs unable to breathe through the folds of their nasal cavities simply because someone thought the face should be flatter is beyond comprehension!
Because dogs in the UK have often been bred in pedigreed kennels from Mother to Son and sibling to sibling bad traits are often exaggerated.
Here it seems to be an uneducated eye (read backyard breeder) that "tries" breeding a separate lineage into a family and finds unwanted results and therefor not truly "pedigreed" dogs being sold for serious dollars.
Interestingly enough.......the mixed breeds (NOT the designer dogs..ie:puggle,everything-doodle, etc) are living healthier lives because the right genes are taking up the stand and creating less health related problems.....yay!
Now.......I loves me all kinda dogs....whether mixed breeds or so called pure breeds...I just want to see them live for a loooong time without pain, health problems or chronic digestive issues.
Be careful what you ask for!
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!

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?!??

Woofles and Meowz getting some print time!

Recently the fine folks over at the Province Newspaper did an article in the "money" section that covers small businesses. As most of my friends and customers were asking about it I thought I would show a link to it below.

http://www.theprovince.com/Life/Bakery+truly+project/1268606/story.html

Since this small article came out I have noticed a huge boost in our already large sales of organic treats and I got some very valuable feedback to what people are looking for in fresh made items.
One of the things that I was reluctant to make was Birthday cakes for dogs as the ingredients used were usually either second rate or simply ones that people could do up in their own kitchen(like the popular use of mashed potato for icing) for much less money that is being charged at other locals.
Now, I understand the benefit of time saved being money saved as well so I have decided to add to our line-up of hand made organic treats...a "BIG BONE BIRTHDAY COOKIE".
This is an item that we will be able to personalize with a half hours notice (we prefer a call the day b4) to say Happy Birthday Fido or something like this.
The cool thing about this item is the lack of mess and the ability to dole out only parts of it as needed and it will be much better priced.
Fresh, storeable, great ingredients, organic, and totally yummy!
One more item for the part of us that is the Woofles and Meowz dog bakery now I just have to figure out how to make a delish sardine roll for the cats!


http://www.theprovince.com/Life/Bakery+truly+project/1268606/story.html

Easter Eggs on Granville Island.

Woofles and Meowz is simply the coolest train caboose converted into one of Vancouver's first Pet bakery. Things have changed in the past few years as it was first opened as a Pet Deli that sold raw food for dogs and cats waaaaay ahead of the trend. Later it stocked toys and treats baked right here in the caboose and since I have bought it I have packed it with equipment, toys, treats, gifts and products for both cats and dogs. I love that we sell items for both cats and dogs as I sometimes think with all the purse doggies purchased in the past few years that retailers have forsaken our feline friends....not so here!
This morning another animal was busy at Granville Island and especially around the Kids Only Market and that was the EASTER BUNNY!!
As I left the parking garage to head to work I noticed a whole slew of easter eggs all over the island tucked into nooks and crooks. It was the most charming sight and one sorely needed on this very rainy day!
I could not help but open up one of these colorful toys so see that there was a wee sticker and a cute saying inside.
Whomever did the work for this project I have to say a BIG THANK YOU!!!! It was the sweetest thing and watching the young'ins laughing up a storm while searching for them was wonderful!

Happy Easter everybody from Woofles and Meowz.

Dog bakery..Pet bakery....its all good!

Theres NEW things baking at Woofles and Meowz here on Granville Island. Now that we are the closest bakery for the Kitsilano crowd we have decided to expand our already great organic baked goods line to include...Birthday Bones that say "Happy Barkday" and given enough time...usually an hour or so...we can put the doggy's name on it as well. As we use only organic ingredients we like to use a yogurt and cacao mixture to write with instead of the potato mixture some others are using.
mmmmmmmmmmmmm Dog bakery at its finest!