Getting Fit with Fido: Exercise You’ll Both Enjoy

By Lisa Mason

Now that summer is officially here, it’s time to head outdoors with your dog! Going for walks and changing up the pace is a great way for both you and your four legged friend to get some exercise. However, there are lots of other ways you and your dog can get fit and have fun in the sun at the same time.

Dogs love to play fetch. You can throw a ball, a toy, a Frisbee or a stick and they will happily chase it down and bring it back to you. That’s great exercise for the dog, but you are just standing there waiting for him to come back. Change up the rules and race your dog to the object you throw. He will catch on pretty quickly and will run faster to beat you to the prize.

Build a “walk the plank” structure in your back yard. You will need four or more concrete blocks and a sturdy board (at least 6 feet long and 2 feet wide). Place the board on the concrete blocks spaced evenly. You don’t want the board to sag from you or your dog’s weight. Step up at the end and walk across the length and step down at the other end. Encourage your dog to do the same thing.

You may have to walk along beside him at first, but soon he will be hopping on the board and quickly moving across it. Teach the dog to run back to the other end and go again. Is he gaining in speed and agility faster than you are? Keep at it!

Swimming is another great way to get fit and have fun with your dog. Some people fuss about allowing the dog into the family pool, but if the dog is kept clean and groomed he shouldn’t leave doggie dirt behind. Dogs actually enjoy swimming and you should encourage your dog to follow you around the pool. Keep a close eye on a small dog as they may tire easily.

If you really don’t want your pup in the family pool, find a beach that allows dogs to come along and swim. Some campgrounds also have lakes that they allow swimming in. Invest in a day pass so you and your dog can go take a swim whenever you want.

Remember that in addition to exercise for keeping fit, your dog needs healthy food (just like adults). A premium quality food like CANIDAE All Life Stages dog food will give your dog the balanced nutrition he needs to stay healthy. You can also get some meaty-licious CANIDAE dog treats for in between meals and for training and snacks. You can trust that your dog is getting the healthy, balanced diet he needs to stay fit right alongside you.

For related reading, check out Can Your Pooch Help You Lose Your Paunch?; Running with Your Dog; Canicross – Head Cross Country with Man’s Best Friend.

Top photo by Anne Hornyak
Bottom photo by John Leslie

Read more articles by Lisa Mason

Ready for Dating – Single Brown Dog Seeks “Alicia Keeshond”

By Bruin, canine guest blogger

Thanks to CANIDAE natural pet food, I'm well on my way to achieving my weight loss goal.  I still have at least 10 more pounds to lose until I do justice to my speedo, but I have been thinking about entering the dating scene.  Since I'm currently unemployed, not attending classes, don't spend much time in religious facilities (rules, rules, rules, everybody has their rules) and don't like hanging out at bars, I thought perhaps on-line dating might be the answer.

I'm really not interested in the stud service sites since I have a three-date rule (see what I mean about everybody having rules – I guess I'm just as guilty).  Since I haven't been successful in finding a suitable site, I was thinking I might have to start one on my own.

Although I'm over 21 (in dog years), theoretically I should be able to do as I please.  My mom and dad tell me that as long as I live in their house I have to follow their rules (ack, there it is again – rules).  I think their concern is that I'll open myself up to meeting all kinds of bitches.

Right now I spend most of my free time lying by the pool and working on my tan. Since I have no lions to hunt, just the occasional kitty cat, I do enjoy the excitement (NOT!) of bird watching.  The kitty cats actually have the audacity to use "my place" as their litter box.  Believe me, my dad is not a happy camper when it's clean-up time.

Speaking of those annoying little rascals, I was thinking of naming my dating site, the CAT'S' MEOW.  I'm a little concerned about the name, because I wouldn't want to attract the wrong types.  While we're on the subject of type, I want you to know that I have very simple tastes.

The dog of my dreams doesn't have to sing like Cher Pei, Alicia Keeshond or Shirley Bassett Hound. She doesn't have to dance like Jennifer Greyhound (though I do like 4 longs legs that go way, way up) and she doesn't have to look like Collie Robinson-Peete. I'm really not into the Brittany Spaniel Spears personality, but almost anything else is fine.  I'm looking for someone extremely well-groomed, as hygiene is very important to me.

She should enjoy good food like CANIDAE Life Stages (Chinese and Italian doesn't do it for me, but a nice juicy steak is within the realm of possibility).  Working dogs are OK, but she should know that I'm unable to have pups so she has to be willing to adopt.  Obviously, I would not consider someone in her menopausal years as too “mature.”

If she prefers, I would not be averse to meeting in a public place such as a park where I could unleash my animal magnetism if the opportunity should arise.  Of course, it would have to be consensual.  I wouldn't mind meeting up with a gentle Afghan who would be welcome to wrap herself around me.  I know, I know; I said I have a three-date rule…but remember, some rules were made to be broken!

Love & Licks,
Bruin

The Role Carbs Played in the Evolution of Dogs

By Linda Cole

Scientists are still trying to unravel the mystery behind how wolves evolved into dogs. It happened so long ago, the only evidence scientists have to work with is in archaeological research into how humans evolved and fossilized teeth and bones of early canines. Researchers have a basic understanding of the approximate time when humans and wolves began to interact. New discoveries are occasionally found which adds another piece to the evolution puzzle; hopefully one day we’ll have a complete picture of how dogs became man's best friend.

The scientific community is still debating whether wolves approached humans first or if it was the other way around. A partnership between man and domesticated wolves would have been a beneficial relationship; wolves could help bring down larger game with enough meat to share between humans and animals. With no refrigeration or knowledge of how to preserve meat, leftover kills wouldn't have stayed fresh for long. Women were gatherers, collecting edible berries, roots, nuts, green plants and smaller animals. A tamed wolf would have given them protection as they searched for food.

The more likely scenario that led to domestication, however, was a mutual relationship of “you leave me alone and I won't bother you” agreement between man and animal. With an advancing Ice Age, humans were forced to turn to other sources of food. Larger plant-eating animals began to die off as cooler temperatures caused their food source to become scarcer. Early humans were nomads following Mammoth and other large game because it didn't make sense to carry a kill long distances. When their main meal, the Mammoth, became harder to find, humans were forced to turn to other sources of food. They gave up their nomad life about 10,000 years ago, settled down in small villages, and turned to agriculture for a food supply.

With the introduction of grains, the human digestive system began to evolve to better digest carbs, and scientific evidence shows the wolf's digestive system also evolved at the same time and for the same reason. Modern dog has 10 genes that aid in digesting starches and breaking down fats. Scientists found changes in three of the genes, which is what makes it possible for dogs to split starches and absorb sugars. Today's wolves can't process starchy food, and that's one thing that sets them apart from modern dogs. This discovery, however, has nothing to do with when dogs became our best friend.

When man settled down in permanent villages, garbage dumps piled up on the outskirts of their encampments. Wolves have good reason for being wary of man. Prehistoric wolves interacting with humans would have also kept their distance, but garbage dumps would have been too tempting to ignore and provided easy access to food for the more adventurous animals. Bones, animal carcasses, grains and vegetables were gobbled up by hungry wolves drawn to the dumps. These animals are the ones that would have hung around communities. As their fear decreased, they became more tolerant of humans, at least at a distance. It wouldn't have been hard for them to figure out that getting along was in their best interest, especially since the more aggressive wolves would have been killed. The friendlier ones would have also been more tolerant of humans interacting with their pups.

Less fearful wolves snuggled next to outside walls of crude homes at night for warmth from fires within, and would have protected their territory from other animals or human strangers. The animals were still more interested in the food dumps than the humans. Early man discovered that wolves hanging around garbage dumps kept rodent populations under control, ate rotting food which controlled odors, and gave them advanced warning of intruders. It was a relationship that benefited both parties.

The timing of when the domestication process began is debatable, as well as what part of the world it began in. It's possible there were multiple attempts at domestication in at least three, and possibly, four different regions of the world. Bits of evidence continue to be unearthed as scientists try to fit fossilized discoveries into the evolutionary puzzle. Scientists believe dogs and wolves began to grow apart over 100,000 years ago, but so far, the oldest known fossil of modern dog dates back to around 36,000 years.

Based on the evolution of their digestive system, modern dog isn't a true carnivore. That's why it's important to feed your pet a high quality food like CANIDAE Life Stages which is made to meet the dietary needs of dogs, providing the right balance of protein and carbs. Every canine's dietary needs are different, however, and some dogs thrive on a grain free food. For those dogs, the CANIDAE super-premium pure formulas are an excellent choice.

Top photo by RikkisRefuge Other
Bottom photo by Rusty Clark

Read more articles by Linda Cole

CANIDAE Life Stages: New Look, Same Great Food!

New Packaging Highlights HealthPLUS Solutions™ – a Powerful Trio of Nutrition that CANIDAE Applies to Every Kibble After Cooking

The next time you purchase CANIDAE Life Stages dog food, you will notice something different. CANIDAE is introducing exciting, redesigned bags for its line of Life Stages dog food, and very soon the fresh new packaging will hit retail shelves. While the outside of the bag may be different, rest assured that what’s inside remains 100% the same. These snappy new bags are still full of the same carefully selected natural ingredients, the same trio of micronutrients applied on every piece of kibble, and the same formulations. And of course these foods continue to come with the same commitment to quality that has always gone into every product CANIDAE Natural Pet Foods makes.

HealthPLUS Solutions in Every Bite™

Part of this packaging change is to make pet owners aware of the powerful trio of nutrition that CANIDAE applies on every piece of kibble after it is cooked. CANIDAE has always added these micronutrients but has only now given this unique process a name – HealthPLUS Solutions.

This precise trio includes Probiotic ForLife Cultures to support healthy digestion, Powerful Antioxidants to help maintain a healthy immune system, and Omega 6 & 3 Fatty Acids to help provide a beautiful skin and coat.

Since that's a lot of healthy benefits in every bite, you can see why CANIDAE chose to give all three micronutrients a simple, easy to remember name!

Because all of these healthy nutrients are applied to every piece of kibble only after cooking, your pet gets healthy benefits in every single bite. It’s all part of the CANIDAE commitment to A Healthier Today for a Longer Tomorrow™.

Why did the packaging change?

In addition to communicating HealthPLUS Solutions, CANIDAE listened to suggestions from you, our customers, for their new packaging. If you’ve ever interacted with CANIDAE customer service, you know how easy they are to communicate with. They make themselves available through their sponsorship of this blog, where you are encouraged to leave comments. They are also available via their lively Facebook Page, a virtual Suggestion Box and a contact form on their main webpage.

Through these avenues, CANIDAE picked up helpful recommendations which resulted in new consumer-friendly, informative packaging that offers eye-catching shelf appeal in the store, along with easy-to-read product features and benefits for consumers.

What makes CANIDAE Life Stages dog food so nutritious?

* Protein rich recipes comprised of carefully selected, high quality natural ingredients, without the cheap fillers found in lesser quality food.

* A special blend of ten skin and coat conditioners proven to produce a healthy, luxurious coat.

* Guaranteed levels of two of nature’s most powerful antioxidants – Vitamins E and C – help support a strong immune system and protect healthy cells.

* Whole grains, fruits, vegetables and herbs provide a nutritious blend of natural ingredients.

* A powerful trio of micronutrients at guaranteed levels.

* Guaranteed levels of probiotics (1 million CFU).

* Highest levels of Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids and digestive enzymes.

* Essential vitamins and chelated minerals.

* Brown rice provides whole grain goodness packed with B vitamins and minerals.

* Flax seed provides Omega 3 fatty acids for skin and coat health, and it soothes the stomach, too.

Highest standards of quality and safety

CANIDAE is a family-owned and operated business with its own research and development center and manufacturing facility. All CANIDAE products are made in the U.S.A. with only the highest quality natural ingredients. What you won’t ever find in CANIDAE pet food is corn, soy, wheat, fillers, antibiotics, hormones, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

So while the CANIDAE Life Stages packaging has a fresh new look, rest assured that the kibble inside the bag remains the very same nutritious, premium-quality pet food it's always been.