I am excited to let my dogs try NomNom, a fresh food subscription delivery for dogs.  I am sure my dogs will love it (and I think I’m going to earn some extra “favorite human” points with them for giving them the good stuff.)

I’ve raised my dogs with a modified “no people food” mindset that the vet drilled into my mom (and me) when I was a kid.  However, common sense and researching dog nutrition helped me realize that many veggies are beneficial for my dogs. I always check to make sure a new food is not toxic to dogs.

A Purdue study found that when dogs were fed a diet that had 10% fresh vegetables, at least three times a week,  they were significantly less likely to develop bladder cancer.  Extrapolation from that study makes me think that I should give my dogs plenty of fresh vegetables.   When I chop vegetables for dinner, I make sure to give my dogs some (in addition to what falls on the floor.)  But, there are nights when we don’t cook, and sometimes we skip the vegetables. 

There are a lot of dog foods out there, but I wanted to try NomNomNow in particular, for a few reasons.

First of all, NomNomNow only uses preservative-free, natural ingredients in an FDA-approved kitchen (that’s what the kitchens for human restaurants have to be!) All ingredients are sourced in the United States, which is important to me. Because NomNomNow owns the kitchen, they have complete control of it.   

Secondly, NomNom delivers gently cooked human-grade food right to the door.  My dogs will get meals that were packaged individually for them.  Another bonus is all the packaging is recyclable. 

Having spent the last 30 years as the person primarily responsible for meals for our family, cooking for my dogs on a regular basis holds little appeal for me.  But, I love my dogs, and I want them to live long, healthy lives.

Thirdly, after years of being healthy, Theo was just diagnosed with hip dysplasia.   My husband has rheumatoid arthritis, and there is a definite correlation between what he eats and how he feels. I am hoping that Theo will feel better when he eats fresh food.

Recently I sat down and went through the ordering process.  

How NomNom Works

Ordering NomNomNow was easy. I answered a few questions about my dogs (breed, age, current weight as well as target weight, and activity level) as well as any concerns. I’m happy to say that all of my dogs are a healthy weight, but Nelly has both seasonal and food allergies.

NomNom offers four different recipes developed by a vet, Dr. Justin Shmalberg, one of the top pet-nutritionists in the United States. 

After reading the different recipes and ingredients,  I chose one for each of my dogs to have.

I chose the Heartland Beef for Theo because I know that beef is a low-inflammatory food for humans.  I assume anti-inflammatory ingredients are the same for both dogs and people; after all, glucosamine is good for humans, dogs, and horses.

Sophie will be trying the Egg and Veggie Medley. (Update:  this option is no longer available.)

I chose Tasty Turkey Fare for Nelly.  Shortly after placing my order, I received this email about Nelly.

Fauchon (NomNomNow)  Hi Beth, We are very excited to be serving Theo, Nelly, and Sophie fresh and healthy food soon! We wanted to reach out and check Nelly’s weight to ensure we are sending the correct amount of calories for a growing 5-month-old puppy. Nelly’s current weight is listed the same as her target adult weight. Is she expected to grow more than 10 lbs? Is Nelly’s current weight 10 lbs? We also noticed that Nelly is allergic to grains, and she is currently set up to receive our Tasty Turkey Fare. Our turkey recipe contains brown rice, and I just wanted to make sure that Nelly will be OK with that. If not, we can easily change it to a different recipe. Please do let us know before our weekly deadline of 12 pm PST Thursday if you would like us to adjust Nelly’s weight and recipe selection, we’d be happy to update her profile for you!  We look forward to hearing from you and excited to serve your little one soon! Best, Fauchon

It turns out that I forgot to change the year on Nelly’s information, so I wrongly represented her as a 5-month-old puppy, instead of the ten-year-old dog she is.

She’s cute, but she’s a senior dog, not a puppy!  However, most of the recipes are suitable for puppies, adult dogs, and older dogs.  The only formula not recommended for puppies is the Egg & Veggie Medley.

I appreciate Fauchon’s tact in trying to figure out the right amount of food for Nelly.    I decided to stick with the Tasty Turkey Fare because rice hasn’t been an issue for Nelly in the past.

When I showed my husband what I ordered for the dogs, he commented that they might have to share it with him.  

What Happens Next?

In about a week, I’ll be receiving a month’s worth of food for my dogs.  Each dog will be getting transition meals to minimize gastric distress.   The standard is six meals over three days (2 at 25%, two at 50%, and two at 75% before they are on the full portions. However,  you can request an extended transition period by contacting customer support. 

The food arrives fresh (not frozen.)   You can keep it in the refrigerator for eight days after delivery. Because I’m a monthly subscriber, I’ll be freezing a lot of the food when it arrives.

Get 50% off your first NomNomNow order.

You can see more of Alice’s photography by following her on Instagram.

About Alice G Patterson Photography:  Based in Syracuse, New York, Alice specializes in senior portraits, editorial, and commercial photography.

The post Trying NomNom | Fresh Food For Dogs appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

 Wayfair sponsored this post, but all opinions are my own. All photos by LovingMyCompany.  This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of the links, I’ll earn a small fee at no additional cost to you.

Benefits Of Pet Strollers

There are many situations where a pet stroller comes in handy, here are just a few.

Senior dogs– many older dogs still enjoy an outing, but for many aging dogs, walking is painful.

Injury or recovery from surgery –it is challenging to keep your dog from running around while they recover. A ride in the stroller can at least keep her nose and mind active.

Overweight or out-of-shape dogs – let your dog walk and ride as needed sometimes, a dog will get a second wind after a short rest in the stroller.

A long walk on a hot day – if the pavement is scorching, you can push the dog in the stroller to the park. (It was sweltering when we took these photos, I would have ridden in the stroller if I could have.)

Emergency Evacuation –  the right pet stroller can double as a crate in an emergency situation and is much easier to move around.

Festivals, concerts, and conferences – can become tiring for humans and dogs alike. Nelly has napped in the stroller. It also helps keep her safe from being trampled,  aggressive dogs, and eating food that has fallen on the ground. The stroller was ideal for Alice’s dog, Darla, when we went to BlogPaws.

Shopping –I’m not much of a shopper, but I want to look at the merchandise when I am shopping, not worry if my dog has found something she shouldn’t. Keeping her in the stroller lets me concentrate on my purchases. I also think people are less likely to complain about dogs being in a store if the dog is in a stroller or carrier.

I think she likes having a high vantage point.

We can always find time to pose with some lovely flowers.   A fancy collar is always fun. 

The Pet Gear No-Zip Special Edition Jogger Stroller arrived very soon after ordering.   It came unassembled.    I felt a little intimidated when I opened the box, so I handed the job off to my husband. He put it together in less than 20 minutes. 

 Pet Gear No-Zip Special Edition Jogger Stroller Features

No-Zip –I am constantly having trouble with zippers breaking, so this appeals to me. I don’t want Nelly stuck inside the stroller while I struggle with the zipper. (Note, I forgot to close this properly for the photo, it does latch.)

Drink Holders – I was a little disappointed in the drink holder. It is too shallow to hold a standard water bottle, but it works well for soda in a thermos cooler. There is room for keys and other necessities as well.

Large Mesh Windows – Nelly is very much a Mama’s girl. These windows allow ventilation and let her see me at all times.

Storage Basket –  Although the storage basket isn’t huge, it is big enough for my purposes. I can also put items behind Nelly if needed.

Hard Plastic Wheels – It traverses well on grass and gravel. But runners might prefer a stroller with a bigger front wheel for easier control and a smoother ride.

Weight Capacity –45 lbs. I can easily put any two of my dogs together in the stroller, but not all 3. However, other models can accommodate larger dogs.

The only real issue with this stroller is that it is not simple to collapse. Before you fold it, you have to unwrap two velcro flaps. It may not be difficult, but it is an extra step that I don’t want to do. (You also need to reattach them before using it the next time.)

Do you think your dog would benefit from a pet stroller? If there is anything else you’d like to know about this pet stroller, just ask!

Follow Alice G Patterson on Instagram.

About Alice G Patterson Photography:  Based in Syracuse, New York, Alice specializes in dog photography and senior portraits. She is also the founder of Loving My Company which specializes in the photographic needs of women entrepreneurs. 

The post Is A Pet Stroller Right for Your Dog? appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

Puzzle toys are great for dogs.   We’ve used them for years to help manage our dogs’ mealtimes and keep them entertained when we go out. Puzzle toys provide mental stimulation and can help prevent a dog from eating too fast.  I think they also maintain a dog from over-eating.  I’m excited to have partnered with The Company of Animals to give one away!  The winner will have a choice between two great puzzles. When we adopted Theo, he was ten pounds overweight.  We modified his diet, played active games with him, and helped him get to a healthy weight.  

He has always been a fast eater.  He gulped down his food so fast that I worried he might choke.  After he finished eating his food, he’d rush over and try to eat Nelly’s.   I figured out if I turned his bowl upside down, it would slow him down.

This trick helped considerably, but the day he received his slow feeder bowl was a real game-changer.  Theo is now the last dog to finish eating his meal, which cuts down considerably on the chaos. 

In addition to the slow feeder bowl, we have some other puzzle toys that we use, including our DIY treat dispenser.   I love watching my three dogs interact differently with the same object.  

Nina Ottoson’s Beginner Dog Puzzle really shows off their individual styles.  

Nelly first sniffs and determines if there is something under the bone if so, she digs at the bone until it comes off.  She eats whatever is there, and then finds the next stash.  Nelly is confident in her nose and will leave some bones in place if she can’t smell anything.  (I do leave some empty.) Theo also sniffs first, but he picks up the bone with his mouth and sets it aside.  Sophie turns into our little Tasmanian Devil, and frantically removes all the bones in no particular method.  In her excitement to find everything, she will often overlook a piece of kibble and always removes all the bones.  I’m not sure if it is because she is thorough, or if it is a side effect of her enthusiasm for the game.

We also have the Buster Dog Maze, which is very large for my small dogs, but they enjoy it.

The food often ends up on the floor, but my dogs don’t mind eating off the floor.  A disadvantage to this bowl (for our family) is if a piece of kibble gets far away, another dog might try and get it, and my dogs don’t like sharing their meals.  I think this would be great for a big dog who is either an only dog or doesn’t mind sharing.  It can Theo over fifteen minutes to eat breakfast out of this, compared to less than a minute in a regular bowl.

I have my eye on Nina Ottoson’s advanced puzzle toy to add to our collection.  The brown squares slide to reveal the hidden treats.  I’m curious to see if Theo uses his nose (which is what I predict, or his paws.)

The Green Slow Feeder is appropriate for both dry and wet food and is dishwasher safe.  It comes in two sizes.  We haven’t tried this one yet, but it looks like it would be great to prevent bloat.

Each of my dogs also has a Kong that I give them occasionally to keep them entertained if they are going to be in their crate a while.  I do keep them separated whenever I give them something that is of high value since they chew at different rates.

The Company of Animals offers toys for cats and dogs.

We received two products to review from The Company of Animals, but at Daily Dog Tag, we only review and promote products that we use ourselves.  This post contains affiliate links.  The Company of Animals is not responsible for the content of this post.

The post Giveaway: Puzzle Toys For Dogs |The Company of Animals appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

From Joanne:  “Kosmo is approximately 2 1/2 years old.  I got him from Helping Hounds Dog Rescue in Dewitt, New York.  He was part of their efforts to relocate rescue dogs from Irving, Texas.  I adopted him back in May, 2014.

He comes to work with me at No Fuss Accounting everyday!  If I have to go out to a client’s he stays and mans the phones with my assistant.   If people want more of Kosmo, my instagram is full of him.”

Kosmo knows how good pumpkins are for dogs and people!  But since the pumpkin is bigger than Kosmo, we got him to do some tricks for treats!

Fruitables pumpkin skinny minis are made with fruits and vegetables like pumpkin, sweet potato, mangoes and blueberries.   My dogs love them!  One of my favorite things about Fruitables is  they originate and are made in the USA.   

The pumpkin mango are chewy, smell good (which is super important to my human kids) and low in calories.  Fruitables also make crunchy treats including pumpkin banana and pumpkin blueberry.  All of the Fruitables treats are perfect for training.

It is exhausting being adorable!

Enter for your chance to win a bag of Fruitables!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Alice G Patterson Photography:  Based in Syracuse, NY, Alice specializes in dog photography, senior portraits and portraits for small business owners.  Alice is available for travel and has three dogs of her own.

This post is sponsored by Fruitables.   I received free samples of Fruitables for review, but all the opinions are my own.  At Daily Dog Tag we only feature products that we would use with our own dogs.

The post Happy Tails: Kosmo and a Giveaway! appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

Theo has been on Hills Prescription Science Diet Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution dry food  for three months and has averaged  over a  pound  per month loss.  He was doing great on his weight loss program until the mysterious “bun incident.”  A week ago we had a lovely get together with my family.  As I was cleaning up, I found an empty hamburger bun wrapper.  I thought there were 6 buns left.  I can’t help but think Theo helped himself, especially when I noticed his waist line isn’t quite as slim as it was.   However this is an isolated incident of helping himself and I feel like it the buns were simply too good of an opportunity to ignore as opposed to Theo’s counter surfing days.  

Despite the set back, I am confident that Theo will reach his goal weight .   It has been very easy on Theo and therefore on me, because Theo is happy and seems content with the food.  There is a huge difference between Theo on a diet and Theo now who is losing weight, but  not feeling hungry.

We haven’t had to do anything extra to help Theo lose the weight, except change the way we fed him.

 Little things we’ve noticed since starting Hills Prescription Diet Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution: 

•            We can feel Theo’s ribs now.
•            He has more energy.
•            He seems more comfortable in the heat.
•            His temperament is much improved from the last time we tried to help him lose  
•              weight. 

We adopted Theo almost exactly one year ago and he’s filled my heart so completely.  I can’ t put into words how much I love this dog.  It makes me feel awesome that I did something good and life changing for him besides adopting him.   Obesity presents a large range of health problems and I’m relieved to know that Theo is now out of danger for those health risks.

Theo: one year ago

If your dog or cat is overweight, I hope you’ll talk to your vet to see if Hills Prescription Diet is right for your pet.   The thought of losing Theo to something completely preventable like a weight related health condition is heart breaking.  

About Alice G Patterson Photography:  Based in Syracuse, New York, Alice is a bi-coastal portrait, event and pet photographer.  She has three dogs of her own, Lulu, Franny and Darla.  

This post is sponsored by Hill’s and the Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic Food, but Daily Dog Tag only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article. 

The post Theo Is A #HillsPet Success appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.