Benefits of Adding Supplements to Your Dog's Diet

Many people benefit from the use of supplements in their diet to get all of the nutrients they need to optimize their health and it's no different for animals. In fact your dog may greatly benefit from additional nutrients added to their diet.

I get asked many times what I feed Bentley and an vital part of her diet is Krill-Oil, Mutli Vitamins, corn free dog food, lots of exercise and even more Love. I believe that in order to optimize your dog's health and increase their vitality there are certain steps you can take just as you would for your own health.

First off I want to discuss the Krill Oil which I find to be a great addition to any dog's diet. Krill Oil is one of the most important things you can add to your dog's diet and the reasons are plenty.

What is Krill Oil?

Krill Oil comes from a tiny shrimp like animal and it contains Omega-3 Fatty acids which is an essential fat that is very important but not one that the body can make on its own so it is important to add it to your diet. Most commercial pet foods contain high levels of Omega-6 but not enough Omega-3, which is far more beneficial, due to cost levels.

Benefits of Krill Oil

• Reduces inflammation

• Supports healthy skin & coat

• Supports healthy immune system

• Provides cognitive and joint support

• Aids with dry skin and dander

• Reduces autoimmune diseases including: Arthritis, Heart disease, Kidney disease, and Brain disease

I give Bentley 2 Krill-Oil Omega-3 Soft Chews daily.

Multi-Vitamins for Dogs

If you are like most people and do not home cook your dog's meals then you can benefit from adding a Multi-Vitamin to your dog's diet. Cheap dog food doesn't contain enough of the vitamins and minerals that your dog needs to thrive. Some of the benefits of adding a Multi-Vitamin to your dog's daily diet include:

 

1) Healthier Skin and Coat

2) Increased Energy

3) Strengthened Immune System

 

Essential Vitamins Your Dog Needs

• Vitamin A: Essential for eyesight.

• Vitamin E: Helps body create red blood cells.

• Vitamin B-12: Promotes cell growth.

• Calcium: Strengthens teeth and bones.

• Vitamin D: Helps body absorb calcium

• Iron: Helps transport oxygen throughout body.

• Potassium: Heart Health

• Vitamin C: Boosts immune system

I give Bentley 1 Multi-Tabs Plus Vitamin/Mineral Supplement daily.

My Results

Since putting Bentley on a healthier path with the addition of Krill Oil and Multi-Vitamins I've noticed that her coat is shinier and she has more energy to burn as well as her endurance. She last longer on walks and hikes and doesn't tire as easily as before. I thought I would share an exclusive offer with my readers since so many of you have asked me to share my tips with you.

Want to try Supplements for your Dog?

I've teamed up with HealthyBreeds to offer my readers an exclusive deal of 10% off any Supplement for your dog with code: bentley10 until August 30th 2015. Take advantage of this offer and try adding supplements to your dog's diet and see the results for yourself!

Disclaimer: As with any new diet it is best to consult with your Veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns and if your dog suffers from allergies make sure you read the ingredients list carefully. Supplements work to help your dog's immune system but do not act to cure any existing disease but may act as an aid so please do your research. Vitamins should not be substituted for a lacking diet but instead added to a balanced diet to promote optimal results. I am not a doctor, I am simply sharing my results and these may vary from person to person.

 

Let me know your results!

How Social Media Affects Pit Bulls

There has been a major movement as of late on social media accounts that has swept the nation. The dog community is showing its love in a major way with an influx of dog lovers creating accounts showing off pictures and statuses of their beloved pooches. This has been something that the Pit Bull community has drastically needed without even knowing the impact it would have.

For years, the Pit Bull has been touted as the most dangerous and aggressive of all dog breeds and hopes of eradicating these so called beasts have been on the high. Any and all dogs that resemble the 3, that is American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, are stereotyped and boxed into one category that is under attack by Breed Specific Legislation.

The problem with the negative classification is that such a massive number of dogs and families are targeted. Not only are the above mentioned 3 affected but so are Boxers, Dogo Argentinos, Presa Canarios, Mastiffs, Cane Corsos, and American Bulldogs to name a few.

What happens in areas where these harsh legislation are in effect is nothing more than atrocious. Thousands upon thousands of dogs are being taken from their homes and killed at the hands of government policy. The people who are supposed to love these dogs forever are being forced to let go of them because they appear to have the characteristics of an aggressive dog.

Now what exactly does an aggressive dog look like? How can you discern one from another based only upon appearance?

If we used this approach when dealing with humans, by basing their right to live in certain areas and not others due strictly upon their appearance or race, now would that not be morally inhumane?

BSL affects our rights to own a certain type of dog because of the assumption that he, along with all others that fit a broad description. This of course is completely untrue to the thousands upon thousands of families who own sweet Pit Bulls or the alike.

Pit Bulls impact their families in such a positive way and the saying that lives strong in the Pit Bull community is that they are "Lovers not Fighters". Don't take my word for it though, just see what these people shared on their Instagram accounts when asked the question:

"What makes your Pit Bull a Lover?"

"(Bronson) loves giving slobbery kisses and he always lets other dogs eat/drink from his bowl." - @deedeetantan

"This face. This sweet little derpface that looks at you like you're the best thing that's ever happened (when in fact it's the other way around)." - @tuff_sausage

"She's a lover because every morning she wakes me up with kisses and cuddles." - @tuf_n

"Gatby is a lover because he helped my fiance propose to me, of course I had to say yes!" -@puppiesandprs

(Check out the tag. It says "Marry my Daddy!")

"Boomer is a lover because he protects his mom while daddy is away and always give kisses and cuddles to his beagle sister Briar." - @mollieelmore

"This is Lucy. Lover of all, big and small. From her kitty buddies to her bulldog big brother. She's the bell of the dog park. She loves making new friends, momentarily sharing her toys, and Greek yogurt." - @smudgelife

"(Stella) shares food with babies."- @panamhunter

The positive message that these, along with the vast amount of other Pit Bulls owners gives off by sharing pictures and stories of their dogs is truly a wonderful thing in the fight against BSL. Showing the true nature of Pit Bulls is exactly what the movement needs. Pictures of beautiful, smiling, happy dogs interacting with their humans, proving that a dog can bring pure joy and companionship no matter the size, colors, and most important of all, BREED.

Social media is a blessing for spreading advocacy and shedding light on this delicate topic. The more people keep sharing pictures of their Pit Bulls in their element through the facets of social media, the more good is done for these dogs as a whole.

It is a known fact that the majority of dogs in shelters at any given time are Pit Bulls and what does that mean? It means an imminent death due to overpopulation. With sharing through social media, more and more Pit Bulls are being adopted.

Petitions have been signed and BSL has been overturned in certain areas due to awareness made possible by social media shares. The more the issue is spread and awareness is made, the more people will sign petitions and do something to change unfair policies.

Think of BSL as a giant wall. Every positive post brings us closer to the end goal of demolishing this wall. Every victory and banning of legislation knocks out pieces of the wall but without the help of the masses the wall will stand strong.

Keep taking those pictures of your Pit Bull snuggling up with you or playing in the snow. Keep taking pictures of them playing with your children, eating bubbles, or swimming in the pool. Keep taking pictures of them basking in the sun, smiling, or running down the beach. Keep taking pictures of them in human clothes looking ridiculously cute.

These dogs are beautiful inside and out and deserve to be shown for what amazing and loyal creatures they truly are. They deserve to be fought for and shown off. Keep proving the nay sayers wrong that believe that a Pit Bull cannot be trained or that he will attack your children. Show them why you have fallen in love with these dogs and maybe, just maybe, you will change someone's mind, and that makes it all worth it.

Peaches n Creme Frozen Dog Treats That You Can Eat Too!

On a hot summer day, there is nothing better than a nice cool popsicle to beat the heat. The only problem is that store bought popsicles are pumped full of sugar and are not necessarily the best options for your dog, or you for that matter.

This recipe is super easy and a healthy option that your dog will love and that everyone in your family can enjoy!

Ingredients

12 ounces of Vanilla Yogurt (Subsitute for Plain if you don't want added sugar)

2 Peaches

½ Cup of Water

Pretzel Sticks

Directions

Cut peaches into small pieces and mix into vanilla yogurt. Add water. You may blend if you want a smooth texture or leave it as is to enjoy chunks of peaches with every bite. 

For Dogs:

Pour the mixture into an ice cube tray and place a pretzel stick into each slot. Freeze for 2-3 hours.

Tip: If the pretzel doesn't stay put, place the ice cube tray in the freezer for a while and stick the pretzels in when the solution has thickened a bit. 

(Bentley loved these treats, especially since the weather has been in the 100s these past few days)

 

 

For You:

Pour the mixture into a popsicle tray. Freeze for 2-3 hours. Enjoy!

(My daughter insisted on holding the popsicle herself. She loves anything cold so I let her enjoy it on her swing.)

Tip: You can use any fruit you like. Here is a list of fruit that is okay for dogs to eat however if your dog suffers from allergies it's always best to consult your vet before feeding him anything you're unsure of. 

 

 

Fruit Dogs Can Eat 

 Apples

Strawberries

Raspberries

Blueberries

Bananas

Watermelon

Cantaloupe

Pears

Mangoes

Apricots

Peaches

Pineapple

Now you can make all sorts of frozen fruit and yogurt combinations. If you REALLY want to indulge, use---> ICE CREAM! Hey throw in something fudge or caramel while you're at it. It will be worth the extra calories, trust me! 

 

Enjoy!

DIY Dog Art For Under $3

If you're like me and you're a bit obsessed with your dog and a huge DIY lover then you will absolutely love this easy project that cost me less than $3 to make. Yup that's right, less than $3!

This literally took no more than 10 minutes and now I have a wonderful picture of Bentley to hang in my home. 

Supplies

2 Pieces of thick colored paper. (I found some at Jo-ann Fabric and Craft Store for .79 each )

1 Picture Frame ( Got this one for $1 at Dollar Tree)

Scissors

Glue

Directions

The first thing you need to do is find or take a good picture of your dog with a white background like this one I took of Bentley.

Then you need to take the picture and use any photo editing software either on your phone or computer to make the picture Black and White.

(On my phone I use the app Aviary and on my computer I use  BeFunky . Both are very easy to use.)

Now that you have your black and white picture it's time to choose your color scheme. I chose a bright pink and neon green for a pop of color. I decided that I would like my background to be green and my main subject, Bentley, to be in pink.

Put the paper color which you chose for your subject into the printer and print out the black and white picture onto it. 

Now grab those scissors and cut out your subject and glue the peice onto the background.

Now the hard part is done. All that's left is to place your image into a picture frame and Voila, you are done! Easy Right? Now you'll be able to create all sorts of fun art to hang all over your home!

Artisinal Food for Fido plus $300 GIVEAWAY! #InspiredByCrafted

This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Crafted™, but My Pit Bull Friend only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

Don't you just LOVE Giveaways? Well we have an amazing one for the special dog or cat in your life that you won't want to pass up so Keep Reading!

For the last couple of months, Bentley has been reaping the benefits of a new and improved lifestyle #InspiredbyCrafted. Ever since she started her new diet of Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Crafted™ dog food, things have been on the up and up in all departments of life, and mine too. Not only is she eating healthier food and staying active but I too have been inspired to eat healthier and be more active with her; I've even gotten my family members involved in this new healthier lifestyle. We've been going on more walks and outings to the dog park as well as monitoring her daily activity with a special app on my phone.

Being consciously aware of what I feed Bentley has made me do a double take on the things I eat as well. When I learned of all the healthy ingredients in Hill's Ideal Balance Crafted dog food, I knew that it was time to ditch her old dog food that contained corn and stick with this more balanced option that features Ancient Grains and thoughtfully sourced Proteins.

The things that I love about the Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Crafted™ dog food are that it is:

• Made in small batches

• Made in the USA

• Contains Natural ingredients

• Contains No wheat, corn or soy

• Contains No artificial colors, flavors or preservative

• Available in Grain free varieties

The small batches means that Ideal Balance Crafted dog food is made just the way you would- one very special batch at a time. As a matter of fact if you didn't catch one of my last blog posts, I showed a recipe I tried out that was actually inspired by some of the very same ingredients as is featured in Ideal Balance Crafted dog food, like the Ancient Grain Quinoa.

You can check it out recipe here: Ancient Grains for Your Dog and You #InspiredByCrafted

 

Now here's the best part, YOU have a chance to win a $300 gift card to PetSmart to purchase your very own Ideal Balance CRAFTED products for your dog or cat!

GIVEAWAY RULES

This Giveaway is hosted by the BlogPaws Professional Blogger Network and sponsored by Hill's Ideal Balance CRAFTED. There is no purchase necessary in order to be eligible to win and is void where prohibited. This Giveaway is open to anyone that resides in the United States and is over the age of 18. Employees of Pet360, Inc., Hill's Pet Nutrition, PetSmart and their immediate families are ineligible. This Giveaway will be open from 6/9/2015 to 6/30/2015 at 11:59pm ET.

Winner will be notified on or about Wednesday 7/1/2015 and will have 24 hours to respond to the email before forfeiting their prize.

The $300 gift card to PetSmart will be mailed to the winner approximately 4-6 weeks from acceptance.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!

"Puppy Transit" A Children's BOOK (Win a Free Copy!)

Puppy Transit is the story of a boy named Freddie who finds an abandoned puppy named Denver on a cold rainy night. He discovers that the puppy is homeless and takes him in. From there on out, Freddie learns what he needs to do to care for a dog. The two form a team and even start their own business driving other dogs around on their very own transportation system rightfully named the “Puppy Transit.”

Puppy Transit is children's book written and illustrated by by two sisters, Susan and Nancy Wu. Their inspiration behind this book began with their very own dog – Denver.

Meet Denver the Inspiration behind Puppy Transit!

The sisters adopted Denver, a Siberian Husky and German Shepherd, in March of 2014. Until then their only real experience owning a dog was limited to their special stuffed animal dog, Pupo.

“The idea for Puppy Transit started partially because we are crazy dog ladies. Our previous experience with dogs was limited to this:”

The sisters with their first dog Pupo, a stuffed animal dog!

This book teaches compassion for animals, responsibility, and a drive to help others. The Puppy Transit was created by Freddie and Denver to take dogs to and from work.

“Since Denver is neither small nor a service animal, he is not allowed to ride the bus. But wouldn’t it be awesome if all dogs were allowed to take the bus?!  Thus, Puppy Transit was born. We wanted to create a world where dogs with different jobs could commute to work and back home.”

If you would like to win a FREE COPY of the book keep on reading. We are holding a Contest on our Instagram page. Here's how to enter:

CONTEST RULES:

1. Follow all hosts:

@puppy_transit

@mypitbullfriend

@carterandtoby

@ziggythehavanese

@fenwaythelabradoodle

 

2) Like this Instagram post ---> "Puppy Transit Contest"  and tag 1 of your friends in a comment.

 

One Winner will be chosen at random and announced via Instagram on June 10th 2015. The winner will receive a Free digital copy of the book. 

Share this with anyone that would Love this.

Good Luck!