Grain Free Dog & Cat Formulas

Interested in hearing some interesting stuff about Grain-Free dog and cat foods? Check out this short video from Dick and Jimmy Van Patten:

Natural Balance Alpha Formulas with Dick and Jimmy Van Patten from Natural Balance on Vimeo.

Tips to Help Prepare Your Pet for Disasters

The recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan reminds us that its more than just people and buildings impacted by natural disasters. Pets and wildlife too, are affected in many ways. It always breaks my heart to see animals scared, lost, injured- or worse after any disaster. They don't understand what happened, and can't communicate with people. In the case of Japan, the added problem of nuclear exposure to people and pets is another complication. I was happy to see that the rescue teams in Japan were even scanning pets; this Shiba Inu is held as they scanned him for possible exposure to radiation. Hopefully this poor Shiba is OK. (I had a Shiba Inu a few years ago and still miss little Koshimi.)

All this got me thinking about the need to remind folks of basic things you can do to prepare your pet to help them survive should a disaster strike your area. Check out these simple steps:

• Be sure your pet always wears identification tags, even if it is an indoor pet. 
• Keep recent photos of your pet online where you can access them if your home were destroyed and your pet is lost. 
• Keep a supply of pet food & treats stored safely at all times. 
• Have a pet carrier and pet first aid kit available.
• If your pet is prone to stress (while away from home, etc) buy some stress-relief supplements and have them stored.
•  Keep a "to-go" bag somewhere in the house with non-perishable supplies (brushes, chew toys, bottled water, canned food, etc) that you can grab in a hurry if needed.

I remember a few years ago when the fires in Southern California forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes. Many went to a shelter or hotel but didn't have a pet carrier. They sat with their pets for days on end with nothing to help the pet remain calm- some didn't even have a leash. The Petco Foundation distributed chew toys, beds, food, and all sorts of supplies to help people keep care for their pets.


The current situation in Japan is of course, much more tragic than the San Diego fires a few years ago, but it still underscores the need to be prepared. Having a pet is a big responsibility even when times are good. Being a good pet parent also means being responsible to consider the pets needs as well as your own in the event a disaster strikes. Aside from the peace of mind that you helped save your pet, they can also provide enormous comfort if you still have each other when everything else is lost.

Tweet

ALPHA: Grain-Free Nutrition for Dogs & Cats

***Please note: this is NOT a paid post.

Regular readers of this blog know that I work for Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods. We make what I believe are the finest quality foods and treats for dogs and cats. I'm excited about a new product line we just launched called 'Alpha'. I helped work on this, which is why I'm so psyched to see it now at petco stores. It is all-natural, completely grain-free line of food, with moderate protein levels using high multiple quality protein sources. Each formula includes prebiotics to maintain optimal digestion. In addition, we use garbanzo beans, which are an excellent source of protein, rich in fiber too.

So why am I writing a post on my personal blog about a product? Well because I am EXCITED ABOUT IT and also love working for a company that is genuinely interested in making all-natural pet foods that can help dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives. 

If you didn't already know, we have a well-respected zoological division that makes specialized diets for large cats, carnivorous birds, reptiles and other animals. Our team of nutritionists work closely with zoos and reserves to keep animals healthy and well nourished. If we're trusted by zoos and reserves, imagine what our pet foods can do for your dog or cat! I'm continually impressed that our company has this zoological expertise on nutrition too. I don't know of any other pet food company that has that expertise.

So yes it is true that I am writing this post to help spread the word about our newest grain-free formulas; I'm also doing it because I helped work on this project and an excited to see it finally online at petco.com and in petco stores nationwide. If you have a chance, check it out and let me know what you think! Or better yet try a bag for your dog or cat. Click this banner below to read more:

Tweet

Book Review: Barkonomics, tips for frugal fidos

Working in the pet industry for the past 14 years, I've had direct experience with just about every category of pet supplies and pet foods on the market today. I've worked closely with manufacturers, nutritionists, vets and experts who develop, formulate and bring some amazing pet products to consumers. I know first hand the development costs of such endeavors, and I can tell you it can be very expensive to bring a product to market. That's just one reason why the cost of pet supplies can be surprisingly high when you have your first experience shopping for a new pet. 

Shelters and animal rescue groups do great job explaining the potential costs to care for a healthy pet annually. Depending on the size of the pet, it can range anywhere from $400 to $800 per year, at a minimum. For some pet parents that can be a burden. Shelters disclose that so newly adopted pets are not abandoned when the consumer realizes how much the basics can cost.

There are a number of great books available about caring for your pet. One relatively new title is 'Barkonomics: tips for frugal fidos' written by Paris Permenter and John Bigley, the team from DogTipper.com


When I attended BarkWorld Expo last year I saw first hand how well revered DogTipper.com is among pet bloggers and passionate pet parents. I've been following Dog Tipper on Twitter for some time, when they announced their new book it caught my interest. I wrote to one of the authors and invited her to be a guest on The Palm Springs Savant & Co radio show. (In full disclosure, they provided a complimentary copy of 'Barkonomics' to read before the show.) My radio show tends to attract a number of pet people, so I knew that the topic of finding ways to save money to better afford pet care would be a popular segment.

Barkonomics is a handy reference book, boasting more than 300 ways to save money in pet care and supplies. It includes everything from Do It Yourself ideas, finding coupons in e-newsletters form your favorite pet retailers, to stretching your pet shampoo. 

The one chapter I diverge from is on making your own dog food. It is a popular topic among message boards and many blogs, so I fully understand why they included this section in their book. While dog food is not rocket science, in my opinion it can be risky to feed a dog a homemade food long-term. Regular readers of this blog know that I work for Natural Balance, so of course I am partial to recommending our brand of dog food. A home made meal snack here or there is fine, but in my opinion- for your dog's primary meal, feed an all-natural, complete and balanced, nutritionally complete pet food available in a pet specialty store. I believe it is the best way to know it has everything your dog will need to remain healthy. To their credit, the authors provide tips on how to find deals on pet food, so you can still save money if you are a smart shopper!

Barkonomics has a well organized Table of Contents and Appendix that make this a valuable book to have on hand. I especially liked the section on Training and Exercise.

I applaud the authors for taking a responsible stand offering the 'Five Dog Expenses to Never Cut', which are: 1. Spay & Neuter, 2. Quality Dog Food, 3. Core vaccines, 4. Heartworm Preventative, and 5. Annual Health Exam.

Barkonomics is available for purchase on Amazon.com, other online bookstores or through DogTipper.com or local independent bookstores.

Tweet

Simple Pleasures of Being Home

This morning I woke up with someone's paw sticking in my back. Sheldon had stretched out like a person during the night and made himself completely comfortable. His arms were out straight across, reaching toward my spine. Duncan, in the meantime had also extended his legs the length of the bed and had his head on the pillow. His face was turned toward me, ears spread out lavishly, with his eyes closed. Then there was Owen, curled up at my feet, snoozing away. A collection of their favorite plush toys were strewn haphazardly on the bed; they must have brought them to bed when I had fallen asleep earlier- so cute, I thought to myself. I was sort of stuck into a position in my own bed, but when I glanced at the three of the kids all happily resting together, I realized once again how good it was to be home. I gazed out the window watching the palm trees sway in the gentle morning breeze. The first light of sunrise was breaking on the beautiful San Jacinto mountains, spreading hues of pink and orange. I smiled broadly and counted my blessings for the wonderful life I have, grateful that I recognize the simple pleasures of home.
-Rick Rockhill

Westminster Dog Show 2010

For the past few days I've been attending and participating in the events around the Westminster Dog Show. I've been a regular here for a number of years and just love being around all these terrific dogs. The show itself was broadcast live on the USA network Monday and Tuesday nights, for the Best in Group judging, with the Best in Show as the big finale on the second night's broadcast. What you don't see on TV is all the individual Best in Breed judging that takes place during the daytime. There, in Madison Square Garden are the champion show dogs within each breed standing around waiting for their moment to strut their stuff. It's actually pretty cool to walk around and spend time with the various breeds and watching their personalities.

above: Madison Square Garden is where all the action takes place!

above: I took this close up photo from the jumbo-tron of the Yorkie, she was cute.

above: here is "Walker" the toy poodle who won Best In Group for Toy dogs.

above: within the Non-Sporting Group, both the Miniature and Standard poodles were in competition, but did not take the Best in Group.

above: on the second night, an aerial view of the final round of judging for Best in Show. These are the seven best in group dogs lined up for the final moment...

above: the lights in the garden were dimmed for the dramatic moment. Spot lights swirled around the show floor as the announcer's voice boomed....

above: Sadie the Scottish Terrier who won Best In Show. She was favored to win from the start. Sadie not only won the Westminster top award, she also racked up Best in Show at the National Dog Show back in November and the AKC/Eukanuba Championship in December, making her a Triple Crown Winner! I met her owners and handlers at the Show Dogs Awards the Saturday prior. Sadie is a really sweet dog, she looked so happy when the realized she had been picked! It was another great Westminster Show, I'm glad I was here to experience it once again.
-Rick Rockhill

Show Dogs Awards Night In New York

Here's a bit of fun and frivolity. I'm in New York for a few days on business, in part to attend and participate in the Westminster Dog Show (which runs Monday and Tuesday); and surrounding events. I've been going to Westminster for the past 6 years, and I look forward to it every year. As Americans, we are not alone in our love of dogs and the sport of showing dogs for competition. Dog shows are amazingly popular here in the US and many countries worldwide. The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a venerable institution, with all the pomp, circumstance and good fun too. They promote responsible breeding practices. Most people involved in dog shows love dogs and enjoy spending their lives learning, loving and living with their favorite breed, usually because of the personalities of a particular breed. Breed enthusiasts are really into their favorites. I have my own favorite...with two standard poodles, I now consider myself a "poodle person". I'm sure this will attract my usual share of nut-job extremists who will leave a comment chastising me for not rescuing dogs, bla bla bla. Well of course there are plenty of GREAT dogs in shelters that deserve homes. And the last time I checked, this a free country, so I would tell those extremists to chill out and recognize that people are free to enjoy pure breeds and appreciate dogs of any variety. Since I do happen to care, I may as well mention that if you are so inclined to add a dog to your life, do consider visiting a shelter. You can find both pure and mixed breed dogs who need someone's love, affection and a good home. There, I said it. OK now back to the fun stuff. So last night was the 55th Annual Show Dogs of the Year Awards, an evening to recognize the top judges, trainers, breeders, handlers, and owner teams. It is a rarefied group of the exalted within the dog show world. It is a fancy black tie affair- a good excuse to pull out all the stops and have fun. Oh by the way, the top photo above left is me with friend Michelle.

above: the statuettes are lined up waiting for the awards ceremony.

above: in the center of each table were beautiful arrangements of roses, and copies of Dogs in Review magazine for 2010.

above: I'm partial to poodles- so I snapped a photo of these two posters. There were breeds for each dog group, but I conveniently forgot to take photos of them!

above: dessert was dark chocolate "purses" of chocolate mousse, topped with white chocolate dog, so delish!
Fabulous After Party Entertainment
After the awards, a small group of us went to a lounge called the Carnegie Club, where they featured "Sinatra Saturdays", right up my alley...

above: The Stan Rubin Orchestra was already performing when we arrived. I love the big band sound, it isn't common to find places that still feature this style of entertainment anymore.

above: we made our way to the mezzanine lounge, where I took a few photos of the orchestra, and the lead vocalist who was channeling Frank Sinatra.

above: I just like this view of the bar below, with the orchestra in the distance. This was like a 1950's lounge. It was filled with pleasant aroma of cigar smoke and swell music.
Check out this groovy video from the club:


above: once we had our champagne, we decided it was time for cigars...

above: I'm not a smoker by nature but once or twice a year I enjoy a good cigar.

above: The atmosphere, music and company made for a perfect way to wind down a great night in Manhattan. New York, the city so nice they named it twice.
-Rick Rockhill

Snowboarding Bulldogs Train for the Olympics

You're seen them here before, demonstrating their amazing abilities on skateboards and snowboarding on the world's longest parade float at the Rose Parade. Now Tillman, Rose, Lyle and Sully are training for a special competition at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Sponsored by Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods (my employer) they are training at the Mountain High slopes in Wrightwood, California. Tillman and Rose continue to attract a great deal of media attention. This week, the video of their training was featured in the UK. Soon they are headed north to Vancouver to join the Olympics festivities, which should be fun. Check out this FUN video of them all training and having a blast. Enjoy~

When Dogs Snowboard from Mountain High Resort on Vimeo.

The News....Part II

A few days ago I wrote a post entitled The News...Part I. Today is the follow up: "The News...Part II", rather appropriately entitled, don't you think? Anyway, now for the rest of the story, as they say. News of my departure from Pet Co spread quickly within the pet industry. My phone rang all weekend long with calls from a variety of well-wishers, and some folks just curious about the rumor of me leaving. I can honestly say that over the past 25 years of my retail career, I've enjoyed working in the pet industry the most. Although, I really do miss the confectionery (chocolate) industry a great deal, but let's face it, having a dog or cat in your life is far more fulfilling than a box of chocolates. As I mentioned in Part I, the nifty part of this transition is that although I am changing employers, I will remain part of the pet industry- in particular the pet specialty industry. Pet specialty stores are the best place to buy food and stuff for your pet, so remember that the next time you need something for your kitty cat or dog. Don't be fooled by those slick brands in the grocery store or giant mart store, they don't carry foods that offer the best nutrition. Speaking of nutrition, perhaps its time I share the news of where I am headed. I am excited to share that I will be working for Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods. Now if you followed my posts about the Rose Parade, you may recall that Natural Balance is the company who had the cool float with the snowboarding bulldogs. Don't worry, I won't turn my personal blog into a advertisement for Natural Balance. But I won't be shy about it either. Honestly there are a lot of really great quality natural pet foods, if you ever want my personal opinion for your pet's diet send me an e-mail. I know just about every brand there is, and I'll give you my objective opinion. I'm excited about going to work for Natural Balance. I'm excited to carry on the mission of promoting the highest quality natural foods for dogs and cats. You may have noticed that I am passionate about the topic of feeding pets the best food possible. I sincerely believe that being passionate about what you do makes all the difference. That is my big lesson learned over the past 25 years of my career. Whatever you do- be sure you LOVE IT. It has made all the difference for me. Demonstrate your passion everyday and smile. It's amazing how your energy, passion and positive attitude will affect and influence others. But here is the real secret: it can change the course of events in your own life. You may recall from The News...Part I that I mentioned reading The Mental Equivalent by Emmet Fox. I learned that when you think positive thoughts and exude positive energy, it will bring good luck and good karma. I hope you can apply these little tips to your life.
-Rick Rockhill

The Adventures of Sheldon & Duncan: The Cracker Calamity

The past few days I've been quite busy entertaining at home. Nothing huge, but a few nights in a row I hosted wine and cheese type thingies for friends and business associates. Needless to say I went through the house each day cleaned, tidied up and made sure everything was immaculate. After Friday's reception, I wrapped up the remaining cheeses, veggies and placed them back in the refrigerator. The miscellaneous crackers seemed best in a gallon zip lock bag, to keep them fresh for the next night when I was expecting another group of folks for wine and cheese once again. Saturday afternoon I ran a few errands-taking me out of the house for an hour or two at most. When I returned home I discovered what shall henceforth be known as The Cracker Calamity. No doubt you recall other such adventures, such as The Spanish Moss Incident, The Paper Towel Massacre, The Hapless Happenstance, or even The Mud Bath Muddle.

The poodles were trying to greet me, bouncing all over the place- that is until I gazed upon the sofa, which was covered with crumbs of crackers. It seems that I forgot to "poodle proof" the kitchen before I left, and one of them managed to pull the gallon zip lock bag of crackers off the counter and proceeded to shred the bag to get to the crackers. I yelled loudly at Sheldon and Duncan as I stood in front of the sofa. They knew they were in trouble, and sheepishly walked over to the sofa with their heads hung low. I spoke loudly and firmly, addressing them with the rhetorical question: "WHO DID THIS?". Without missing a beat, Duncan stepped forward and sat down in front of the sofa and looked up at me. Sheldon stayed far behind his younger brother. I could almost hear Sheldon thinking "This one is all yours Duncan, don't get me involved". Owen, the kitty sat even further away, and he was thinking: "I told you, I told you not to touch those crackers." As I inspected the shredded plastic bag, I realized most of the crackers were still in the bag. I guess they didn't care for the crackers...of course they must have been dry and flavorless to the poodles!

above: its difficult to see it in this photo, but there were cracker crumbs all over the floor as well..

above: Duncan and Sheldon stared at the evil vacuum cleaner as it whirred and hummed. Owen remained safely under the bar stool where errant machines with suction could do no harm to furry little kitties. In not time at all, The Cracker Calamity of 2010 was but a distant memory.

Rose Parade this Friday- Watch and Win!

OK so I should let you know in advance that the next few days I'm going to be posting a fair amount about the Rose Parade and Tillman the skateboarding bulldog. I'm doing this for a few reasons: First, I'll be attending the Rose Parade Friday morning in Pasadena, CA and will be in the viewing stands along with everyone else. Second, my company is participating in the fun and will be giving away some awesome prizes to people who follow along online or on the parade route. Finally, I'm going to write about it because I'm psyched about seeing the World's Biggest Parade Float (a rendition is above). The float will have a ski slope- with active chair lifts so four different bulldogs can snowboard down the slope during the parade. Tillman, the famous skateboarding bulldog will be joined by Rose, Lyle, Niki and Tank all of whom love to snowboard! It's really quite amazing to watch these dogs in action.

above: they took the float for a test spin last week. Right now they are busy covering it with all the flowers for Friday's Tournament of Roses Parade. Check out this video below:

KTLA 5 Morning News Interviews - Natural Balance Part 1 from Natural Balance on Vimeo.

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN WIN PRIZES ON FRIDAY:

I copied the following information directly from my company blog:

My company is bringing the experience live to all of you through the company blog, twitter, and facebook and giving away over $1000 in prizes. There will be many chances to win BIG—as BIG as Tillman’s fan base, as BIG as the total number of kibbles that Natural Balance makes every year for our pets, as BIG as the float itself! It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for since the announcement, how YOU can win!

Follow these 3 steps for your chance to win:

1) Follow us on Twitter, Fan us on Facebook:

• PETCO Facebook: www.facebook.com/petco
• Generation Natural Pet Facebook: www.facebook.com/GenNaturalPet
• PETCO Twitter www.twitter.com/petco
• Generation Natural PetTwitter www.twitter.com/GenNaturalPet

2) Keep a close eye on our social sites during the parade and Tune in to the Rose Parade on your television on New Year’s Day on one of the following networks (Check Your Local Listings for exact air times):

• ABC
• Hallmark Channel
• HGTV
• KTLA (Tribune)
• NBC
• RFD-TV
• Travel Channel
• Univision

3) We’ll be asking questions and announcing ways where you can win on our social sites. Watch and watch closely. There will be some clues in tomorrow’s and Friday’s blog posts (wink, wink)!

Attending the parade in person? Make a sign that says “Tillman Shops at PETCO” with your twitter username. Hold it high above your head as the Natural Balance float comes by. If we see your sign, we’ll tweet you live from the float and you could win big time!

Now on to the goodies! What can you win? How about a year’s supply of Natural Balance FoodNew Tillman Tips Treats? Limited Tillman and Rose Plush Toys? Or A PETCO gift card to spoil your pet’s in any way you’d like? (yes, an entire year of food for your pooch or kitty)? The

Dogs Make Work Better

From time to time I'm asked to represent my company to speak about pet nutrition. It ranges from being a guest on a radio or TV show, contribute to an article, or address a conference. The folks at work who manage these things wanted a few fresh photos to accompany the bio about me they provide to external groups. Apparently all my usual personal photos with a martini glass in hand are a bit over the top if I'm supposed to speak about pet nutrition (I guess I can understand that). Hence the new photo you see here. Its one of a series of photos with me and Sheldon. Duncan was being squirmy that day so he didn't make it in as many shots.

One of the benefits of working at our company is we can bring our pets to work with us. Let me tell you what a HUGE benefit that is, too. Having one of my dogs with me curled up at my feet all day brings such comfort and joy. It helps release stress if the day gets a little crazy too. Sometimes if I'm in meetings for an hour or two and return to my office, I'm greeted by my dog with such enthusiasm that it makes me smile and all the stress just drains away. So for me, having my dog at work makes me enjoy being at work even more. It's also not a problem when I need to work late, I just take Sheldon or Duncan out for a walk and go right back to work. Of course, the floor in my office has dog toys and chews scattered everywhere, but I don't mind a bit. So yes, it is true, dogs do make work better. Anyway so back to the new photos. Aside from the ones taken with Sheldon, a few were taken of just me, but I much prefer the ones with my canine co-workers.

above: This one was taken at my desk, and looks rather official, don't you think? The books make me look like a professor.

above: here is one with both Sheldon and Duncan. This was taken a few weeks ago, when Duncan was still a bit smaller. Today's he's nearly Sheldon's size. So the question is, which photo do you think is best to be used with my bio when I am representing my company? I'm looking for your honest opinion...so go ahead, leave a comment with the brutal truth.
-Rick Rockhill

Free Pet Nutrition Workshop Sat 11/14

NOTE: At work, I've been involved in the development of these pet nutrition workshops, so I decided to add a post about it on my personal blog. I hope you can attend. Just go to any PETCO store nationwide. We have over 1,000 stores in 50 states, so it shouldn't be too hard for most of you to find a PETCO store if you live in the US.

.
.
.
.
.
All PETCO stores nationwide will host a free pet nutrition workshop facilitated by specially trained in-store nutrition experts on Saturday, November 14 at 2 p.m. During the 30-minute workshop, pet parents will learn about the nutritional needs of their dogs and cats, have a chance to discuss the benefits of good pet nutrition, receive an assessment of their individual pet's nutrition needs and understand the difference between basic, premium and natural pet food categories. Pet parents who attend the event will receive educational materials and free food samples from food suppliers Natural Balance, Wellness and Halo.

WHEN: Saturday Nov. 14th at 2 p.m.
WHERE: All PETCO locations nationwide
WHY: Your pets deserve the very best nutrition to help them live longer, be healthier and happier too!
I hope you can attend this Saturday.
-Rick Rockhill

Tracie Hotchner, Author and Talk Show Host

Many of you know I've been working in the pet industry for quite awhile. In fact over the past 13 years I've had the opportunity to work with a number of truly interesting people. For example, folks like Harrison Forbes, host of the syndicated radio show Pet Talk and author of pet book Dog Talk. Or Andi Brown, author of The Whole Pet Diet and founder of Halo, Purely for Pets. Or recently when I was a guest on Marc Marrone's show "Petkeeping" on the Martha Stewart Living channel, he was an interesting figure. Right now I have the opportunity to work with Tracie Hotchner, author of the Dog Bible and Cat Bible, who is also host of radio shows "Dog Talk" on NPR and "Cat Chat" on Martha Stewart Living Radio at Sirius/XM radio. Tracie is an interesting person with a terrific personality, and she also is very knowledgeable about dogs and cats. I've started listening to Tracie's radio program after having read her Dog Bible book. If you aren't familiar with Tracie, check out her website, or listen to her radio show on Sirius XM Radio. Maybe I can have one of these folks write a guest blog entry here one day with some pet advice for you. I enjoy reading these kinds of books and getting to know people within the pet industry like Tracie and others who help people learn about caring for animals. Do you have any favorite pet books or authors? I'd love to hear from you, maybe one day I'll write my own book about the pet industry or animal nutrition!
Here are the books by two of my other famous author friends:

If you are looking for a few good pet books, these are all some of my favorites. And if you ever want an personalized, autographed copy, just let me know.
-Rick Rockhill

Helping Your Pets Live Longer

Today my company's blog posted an article about our Pledge to Premium Pet Nutriton. This is part of a larger goal to educate consumers about why feeding a high quality pet food can really make a difference in the quality of life of a dog or cat. As is the case with people, what you put into your body has an impact on your health and well-being. That’s why choosing a high quality premium or natural food really makes a difference over the life of your pet. Pets lives are too short as it is, so if better nutrition can help my pets live longer and have fewer health problems, I’m there! Last December it was so hard for me when we had to put down my beloved Koshimi, but he lived a long life (16 years), mainly because we always fed him a really good natural food. Which is why I feed Sheldon, Duncan and Owen one of the best quality foods available so they too can live a long life. How do you know if your pet's food is high quality? Well, just read the ingredient panel on the bag.

It should start with high a specific protein, like chicken, lamb, salmon, turkey, duck, venison, etc. Never buy a food that says something generic like “poultry” or “meat”. You should know what kind of specific protein is being used in your pet’s food.


The next ingredients should be things you recognize and understand. Look for other specific proteins, like a fish, egg, pea protein, etc. All good foods also have fat to provide energy. Most have a carbohydrate source such as rice, or potato, etc. Look for other ingredients you recognize such as flaxseed, blueberries, cranberries, tomato, eggs, etc. Most pet foods will also contain some vitamins and minerals toward the end of the ingredient list. Those help ensure it is nutritionally complete and balanced. A really high quality food should never contain any artificial preservatives, colors, flavors or chemicals. There has been lots of controversy around ingredients such as wheat, corn and soy. Unless a vet has diagnosed a specific food allergy, most pets aren’t allergic to wheat corn or soy. Technically those are not bad ingredients, but in my personal opinion I prefer a specific meat or fish protein in the first few ingredients. Anyway, that’s my opinion for those of you interested. If you want to know more, check this out.

Furry Friends are Fun

This morning I was watching the two poodles and cat run around the house like complete maniacs, chasing each other, playing and having an all-around great time together. It made me smile seeing them so happy together.At times it was like a high speed train, just blur of fur whiring past, with the occasional squeal, elongated me-ows and gentle barks as the three of them ran back and forth. Whenever I thought it was getting a bit too rowdy, I’d shout out their names and tell them to calm down. They would slam on the brakes and stare at me as if I were crazy. I could almost hear them say “Aww dad, we’re just playing!”. Just a short while later, the three of them were curled up together asleep, resting in total bliss, content with the companionship of each other. It reminded me how important companionship really is throughout the animal kingdom. Most people, dogs, cats, birds, baboons, whatever- all seek companionship. I can’t imagine our lives without a pet. When things get stressful, there is nothing like a kitty asleep in your lap to calm you down. Or being greeted by a wagging tail by a grateful dog to see you again. The stress just drains right out and makes you feel grounded again.



If you don't have the companionship of a pet today get one. You'll be amazed how much they enrich your life. The shelters have so many dogs and cats that need a good home right now, there are plenty from which to choose to meet your lifestyle and home. So don't be lonely or bored- do what the rest of the animal kingdom does, find a furry friend and snuggle!
-Rick Rockhill