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How Chewy.com Simplifies My Life

February 4, 2019

Disclaimer: I am a Chewy.com Partner. However, My Kid Has Paws only shares content we believe our readers will find valuable. There are affiliate links throughout this blog post which we may benefit from financially. 

Chewy.com arrived in our lives a few years ago, and I have recently identified a few ways this platform can make my life a lot simpler by saving me time, allowing me to leverage automation, and lastly, accommodating my natural procrastination tendencies (I’m looking at you two-day shipping).

In light of the New Year, I have spent significant time assessing my goals and evaluating the amount of time I waste. Specifically, I’m looking to exchange wasted time for more efficiency, automation, unencumbered free time, and time spent working on my goals. In addition to finding and “fixing” inefficiencies, I evaluated the opportunities, habits, and tools that already make life more simple, that I could leverage even further. One of the the pet-related platforms I identified as an opportunity to make my life more efficient is Chewy.com.

How Chewy.com Simplifies My Life

Helping Manage Responsibilities 

To be clear, I love the responsibilities that are associated with pet ownership; the dog-walking, the exercise, and the companionship, not to mention the constant reminder to spend time in the present. But sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the other responsibilities that tend to take up space in my brain. When I feel overwhelmed, the thing that makes me feel better is to immediately look for inefficiencies, and subsequent opportunities, to create new habits, add new tools, or somehow improve our current way of doing things so that we can spend more time outside with Rooney.

After taking a look at Chewy.com, I wanted to share with you some of the ways we as pet parents can leverage this awesome platform to make our lives easier:

  • Food automation: That’s right, you can set up a reoccurring food delivery on Chewy.com so that you don’t have to rush to the store before/after work to pick up your dog’s brand of dog food. Rooney eats a combination of Petcurean and The Farmer’s Dog. The Farmer’s Dog actually has it’s own reoccurring delivery option since the food is made fresh. However, Petcurean is only in a few stores in the Bay Area, so it’s soooo much easier for me to order directly from Chewy.
  • Treat Automation: Rooney gets treats in a Kong every time we leave the house to distract him from the fact that we are leaving. Therefore, we can’t run out of treats. I also recently discovered that the price of the treats we buy for Rooney was more affordable on Chewy.com, which helps us stick to our monthly budget.
  • Poop Bag Automation: Rooney poops approximately 2-3 times on every walk/hike/beach trip. He will poop in total 2-3 times a day without those activities, but if you take him out of the house he will 100% poop at least 2-3 additional times, it’s uncanny. Meaning, we can’t leave the house without poop bags, and we can’t run out either! Chewy thankfully carries the Earth Rated poop bags which are our favorite because they are compostable and lavender scented.
  • Supplies: Last year my family was hit with a few unpleasant surprises, and it was really helpful to be able to order for my family member’s dogs whatever they needed directly through Chewy. If they needed more food, treats, poop bags, dog toys, dog ramps, dog booties, you name it, I could order it and have it delivered to their house, providing me a quick and easy way to help my family.

How Chewy.com Simplifies My Life

Accommodating the Procrastinators

I don’t want to be a procrastinator, and trust me, I am working on it! It’s actually been a lifelong project to stop procrastinating on the stuff I know I need to do. However, with Chewy.com by my side, and their amazing ability to ship the items I need within 24 hours, I am able to quickly place orders and know that the items will be at my house within 2 days. This feature is particularly convenient for pet parents who are already used to Amazon Prime.

What about the Local Shops?

I didn’t write this whole blog post without thinking about the local shops and small businesses. Supporting local shops and small businesses is important to me as well. I intentionally visit local pet shops in the Bay Area and buy Rooney new treats and dog toys to try. Honestly, most treats and dog toys don’t last that long in our house, so while we are never without them, I do switch it up and buy from local pet shops when the opportunity presents itself.

Additionally, I try to make decisions where I can to support local and small businesses. For example, Petcurean, which can be purchased through Chewy.com, is a family-owned Canadian business, and The Farmer’s Dog is a growing startup based in New York.

I wrote this post because I know overwhelm is inevitable for people, no matter what. My hope is that if people can relate to feeling overwhelmed, they can find some useful ideas in this post so they can spend more quality time with their pets.

Do you use automation or Chewy.com to make your life easier? If so, would you mind sharing how you make your life easier in the comments below?

How to Reduce Your Dog’s Barking

March 19, 2018

Barking is a common topic of discussion among pet parents. It’s also a complex behavior that can determine the quality of a relationship between a dog and their human.

An over simplification of this topic would indicate that most pet parents want their dogs to bark as infrequently as possible and only under very specific circumstances. Reality would tell us that barking is a vocalization technique that all dogs use for a variety of reasons. Additionally, the frequency and pitch of every dog’s bark changes with breed and individual. Therefore, there is often a gap between expectation and reality, which causes many dogs to be re-homed. In an effort to reduce this scenario, and improve the human-animal bond, we put together this blog post.

Our goal for today’s post is to improve your understanding of why dogs bark, and provide you with some tips on how to reduce your dog’s barking behaviors, while also sharing some of my personal experience.

Breaking Down Barking as a Form of Communication

Neutral versus Stressed

In the book, “A Dog Who’s Always Welcome”, Lorie Long describes “Vocalization Behavior” in two categories: Neutral and Stressed. Neutral barking is described as “Silent, playful barking, or moderate alert barking”, and Stressed is described as “Whining, barking, growling, snarling, howling, or keening”.

To better understand your dog’s barking and communication requires a two-part effort. Firstly, you will need to understand why and how your dog is communicating, and understand what your communication is telling your dog.

“Verbal and visual signals based on human methods of communication only tell your dog the state of your emotions. There is no information about what you want him/her to do.”

Different Barking Scenarios

In Tracy Libby’s book titled, “High Energy Dogs: A Practical Guide to Living with Energetic & Driven Canines”, she describes barking in the following scenarios:

  • Protection: which will include a deep bark
  • Barking to Get Attention
  • Boredom
  • Frustration
  • Excited Behavior
  • A Release of Excess Energy

In a book titled, “Dog Lover’s Daily Companion: 365 Days of Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Living a Rich Life with Your Dogs”, Wendy Nan Rees and Kristen Hampshire describe barking in 10 different ways, accompanied with phrases that I think can help pet parents understand the different types of barking. Here are 5 that I hear used most frequently:

  • Warning Bark is characterized by a deep loud noise as to say “Hey, Mom — look out!”.
  • Request Bark is characterized by something not too loud or pitched as to say “Hey, please come get me. I want to go out”.
  • Whine Bark, a friendly reminder of basic needs as to say, “Hey I have to relieve myself right now!”.
  • Happy Bark “Come play with me, — let’s go to the park”.
  • Anger Bark “Hey, look at that squirrel! I must go get it!”.

Now would be a great time to pause and assess the different scenarios in which your dog barks the most. Which of these would you like to reduce?

For example, with Rooney I would like to reduce the whine bark or the “Barking to Get Attention”. I don’t mind that Rooney barks in other scenarios, because to be honest, they are rare. But when Rooney wants attention, he vocalizes until he gets it.

Addressing the Barking

In her book, Long describes some of the Canine Calming signals that dogs use to communicate with each other, and how you can use them with your dog. Here are some of the signals specific to barking:

  • “Sliding the eyes to the side and looking away, turning the head away: When an upset dog barks at you, turn your eyes and head away.”
  • “Sitting or lying down: If your guests make your dog nervous, ask them to sit down. When Chase wants Dash to stop asking him to play, he lies down and turns his head away.”

In addition to the tips mentioned above, Long also mentioned the importance of speaking softly and with encouraging language when your dog is completing a behavior you want. In this case, encourage the “non-barking” behavior with positive language. When we are at work and Rooney is being quiet, I often check in randomly and provide him with positive verbal praise or a treat.

How to Reduce Your Dog's Barking

Additional Advice

While I think the above tips will definitely help reduce an unwanted barking behavior, I wanted to learn a bit more about how to address what Zak George calls, “demand barking” which seems to be very common among the more boisterous breeds like Corgis!

I’m super excited that he made this video with a herding breed, because I think that made it a bit more relatable for me as a Corgi parent.

What I learned from Zak’s advice:

  • Give the reward during times of silence
  • Get their attention on you and reward for compliance
  • Acknowledge small victories
  • Set up training scenarios to work on and be consistent on your training (for this dog specifically, Zak recommended 3-4 weeks of daily training sessions that are at least 5 minutes each).
  • If your dog is energetic they are likely brilliant and very trainable
  • Don’t forget about daily exercise! This plays a significant role is dog behavior.
  • Mental stimulation is important for intelligent breeds, don’t forget to integrate it in your dog’s daily life!

Have you struggled with, or achieved, reduced barking behavior with your dog? Share your experience in the comments below!

14 Ways to Prepare Your Pet for Winter

December 31, 2017

This blog post was made possible by Petcurean Pet Food. 

Winter is officially upon us.

While many Californians are lucky, our hearts go out to the many people and pets who can’t play outside right now, no matter where you live, winter can pose a danger to your pet. Therefore, today I would like to share with you some tips for preparing for the winter season. Specifically, we will focus on how to keep your pets safe, happy, and healthy until Spring.

A post shared by Petcurean (@petcurean) on

Winter Safety for Pets

Petcurean, the food we feed Rooney every day, is recommending the following precautions to ensure safety for your pets throughout the winter:

Use a humidifier

Cooler weather usually brings dry air, so using a humidifier will help to keep the noses and throats of our dogs and cats from drying out. It’s the same for their coat and skin.

Taking care of your pet’s coat, skin, and feet might take some extra effort this winter. If you notice that your pet’s skin and coat are extra dry, talk to your veterinarian about switching to a soothing shampoo this winter, as well as changing the frequency of baths for the season. In addition to looking after your pet’s skin and coat, be sure to check their paws (especially if they are running in the snow) for irritation and cracking.

Use pet-friendly snow melters

Choose pet-friendly ice and snow melters that won’t irritate paws or stomachs, especially if your dog or cat licks its paws after being outside. 

Paw protection

Protect your dog’s paws with a wax product designed to protect their paws that forms a dense, breathable bond, which helps prevent snow buildup during outdoor exercise. After walks, wipe away any snow or ice from your dog’s feet, legs and belly.

For extended periods outside, you can purchase boots for your pup’s paws. The first time you put them on your dog, there may be a comical reaction. Some dogs decide they simply can’t move with those things on their feet. Others walk around lifting their feet up exceptionally high like a prancing pony. But don’t worry, it doesn’t take long to get used to the boots! Distract your dog with treats or a fun activity while he is wearing his boots and soon he will forget all about them. You could also try putting socks on your dog before you introduce the booties so he feels comfortable with something on his feet. Make sure the boots don’t fit too tightly so as to cut off the circulation and invite frostbite.

via GIPHY

Be safe and alert when walking at night

Poor weather and decreased daylight may cause limited visibility for drivers at night, so take extra precautions when walking your pets and make sure you use a leash. Nowadays there are all kinds of reflective aids to help drivers see you in the dark. Reflective collars, leashes, harnesses and vests for both you and your dog are great ways to stay visible.

When we walk Rooney at night, we are always sure to remain as visible as possible. We prefer to use reflective leashes and collars. I would also add that it is important to be very visible in the early morning hours as well. Specifically during the colder months when most people’s windows are still frosted.

Coat or no coat?

If you live in a particularly frigid zone, you may want to consider a jacket for an extra layer of warmth for your pup while outside. Cats generally don’t fare well in jackets but dogs who don’t have a ‘double coat’ may benefit from wearing a jacket while outside for their walks. There is a huge variety available, from a simple sweater to a full-blown waterproof jacket with hood. However, do reserve the wearing of such warm apparel only for when you are outside.

Rooney has a few different jackets. One is for the snow that we hope to use on a trip to Tahoe next month. However, we usually stick to a light weight fleece jacket for Rooney’s walks when it’s cold.

Gold Paw Fleece is the perfect solution to keep your dog warm through the Fall/Winter

Provide shelter

Some pets spend a lot of time outside, either by their own choice or by necessity. I used to have a Border Collie whom I would find outside in the worst weather, soaking wet or covered in snow, despite the fact he had several warm cozy places to choose from! His preference was to always be outside, regardless of the weather. No matter what the reason, a warm, dry, cozy shelter is a must for dogs who are outside on their own in frigid temperatures, rain or snow.

Place the shelter out of the wind, under shelter if possible, and up off the ground. Provide some type of bedding; old blankets or even a deep layer of straw will help insulate. It is key to check the bedding in the shelter daily. Wet bedding will only make your pet colder. Fresh water is also necessary and if the water freezes where you live, inexpensive water bowl heaters are available.

In addition to the awesome advice shared by Petcurean, I would like to add two more safety tips that the veterinarians from Trupanion recommended:

Mushrooms

Keep your pets from eating mushrooms that pop up on lawns, under trees, in fields, and on logs. While some won’t make your pet sick, a few are deadly. If your pet accidentally eats one, especially if they seem to have a reaction to it, or you know the mushroom is toxic, go to your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Because our winter season is also our rainiest season, many grassy areas in our neighborhood become overrun with mushrooms. On night walks these mushrooms are difficult to see, therefore, I am diligent about where Rooney sniffs at that time.

Car coolants

It’s important to note that our cars leak substances that can be highlight toxic to pets. Specifically, coolant and antifreeze are highly toxic to pets. Trupanion recommends cleaning up any spills immediately, keep any remaining new coolant or antifreeze out of reach, and dispose of used coolant or antifreeze. Additionally, multiple sources urge you to consider switching to a propylene glycol-based coolant or antifreeze — while not completely nontoxic, it’s significantly less toxic than other engine coolants.

Winter Health for Pets

Keep them inside

Lastly, if it is cold enough outside that YOU don’t want to be out in it, you should assume the same for your pet, especially the very old, the very young, or the sick. Keep them inside with you.

How do you know when it’s too cold outside for your pet? PetMD recommends assessing multiple factors before taking your pets outside:

  • Coat Type
  • Coat Color
  • Size
  • Weight
  • Conditioning
  • Age & Health
  • Windchill
  • Dampness Outside
  • Cloud Cover
  • Activity

Each of the above factors change whether your dog should be outside on specific days. If you aren’t sure, check with your veterinarian. Many veterinarians even offer guidelines you can reference for extreme whether. For reference, I want to share with you this chart from PetPlan pet insurance:

14 Ways to Prepare Your Pet for Winter

Indoor Exercise

One of the biggest challenges for both humans and pets is the decrease in exercise we all experience in the winter. Most of the year we spend time outside with our pets in the form of daily walks, hikes, runs, or even visits to the park. Unfortunately, extreme weather can really damage this routine. A few extra pounds on your pet in the winter may not seem too bad, but can be very difficult to loose and cause strain on your pet’s joints. A few years ago I wrote a post for the Guild of Collies & Shepherds titled Top 5 Indoor Activities for Your Athletic Dog. Here, I outline 5 different ways you can provide your dog with exercise without having to leave the house. These activities can help you battle winter blues and extra pounds on your pet.

Allergies

Trupanion recommends checking your pet for signs of allergies this time of year and I must agree. Rooney has been very itchy this whole week and I have managing his allergies to keep him from getting hot spots or each infections.

Just like people who have seasonal allergies, your cat or dog may also react to pollen, dust, or other allergens. Pet allergy symptoms can be similar to ours — sneezing or coughing, runny nose, itchy skin, ear infection, and itchy, red, or watery eyes. If you think your pet might be suffering from allergies, call your veterinarian to discuss testing and treatment plans best suited for your pet’s needs.

If your dog is new to you and you aren’t sure if your pet has the wonderful gift of allergies yet (that’s joke of course, allergies can be miserable), Trupanion outlined the 12 Dog Breeds Most Prone to Allergies:

Top 12 Dog Breeds Most Prone to Allergies

  • English Bulldog
  • French Bulldog
  • West Highland White Terrier
  • American Bulldog
  • Basset Hound
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback
  • American Pit bull Terrier
  • Shiba Inu
  • Bichon Frise
  • Boston Terrier
  • Miniature Poodle
  • Yorkiepoo

The flu season is not just for humans

Canine flu and bordetella, or “kennel cough,” are both airborne diseases. If you see a dog that is coughing, keep your own dog away and avoid cross contamination. If your dog develops a cough or high fever, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Additionally, make sure that your dog is up to date on their bordetella vaccine. So many pets are boarded during this time of year, which can increase exposure.

Winter Happiness for Pets

Show them extra love with Tasty Treats

The holidays are all about showing love and appreciation so give your cat or dog some extra belly rubs and treats to make up for the chilly weather and any cold shoulders you may receive due to holiday travel. Petcurean’s SPIKE treats for dogs are great because their packed with superfoods like Chia Seeds, Pomegranate and Kale, plus they’re portable. For Cats, try Petcurean’s new NOW FRESH Stews and Pates, you can feed these as a complete meal, but they’re also perfect as a topper or served as an extra treat. Added bonus – they’re made with 100% human grade, fresh ingredients including turkey bone broth, sweet potatoes, peas and carrots, and feature zero grains, gluten, wheat, beef, corn or soy.

We reviewed the new NOW FRESH Stews last month, and I can’t say enough how much Rooney loves these things! We even used them as an extra treat to get him used to his CleverPet Smart puzzle. You can read more about that here.

SPIKE Treats Stocking Stuffers with Petcurean

Spend Extra Time Training & Grooming

I would add that the winter can provide an opportunity to spend quality time with your pet. While you may feel a bit stir crazy at times, chances are your pet is feeling the same way. Take this as an opportunity to practice training and basic commands. Training your pet can strengthen your bond and provide your pet with a challenge.

Additionally, if your pet doesn’t mind a little grooming, take the time to brush them thoroughly and perhaps give them a bath and trim their nails. When Rooney wants additional attention, I use that as an opportunity to spend time with him and brush him (with treats of course).

We would love to hear how you are preparing your pets for the winter season! What precautions do you take? Do you make any changes to your routine? Let us know in the comments below!

Disclaimer: I am a Petcurean blogger advocate. I was provided with food and compensation so that Rooney and I could provide our honest opinion. However, Petcurean is the food we feed Rooney every day and My Kid Has Paws only shares reviews we believe benefit our readers.

Main Photo Credit from Unsplash:

Kate

Weekend Inspiration

November 4, 2017

This weekend, I have a bunch of things I would like to share with you, including some feel-good stories and items on the internet I think you and your dog might like.

Unleash the Hounds Bandanas

I have followed Unleash the Hounds on Instagram for quite some time and always admired their designs. A few weeks ago, I finally bought two of their bandanas for Rooney and I love them! I love them for multiple reasons, 1) they have buttons, so they fit well and stay secure on Rooney, 2) their designs are amazing and beautiful!

 

A Family Gets a Sign From Their Dog

I am an avid listener of the Chris Loves Julia podcast, and I love their blog! Almost a month ago, I was very saddened to learn about the passing of their dog Charly. She was definitely a huge part of their family, and made many appearances on their blog. This week, they shared on their blog how Charly led them to open up their hearts to a rescue named Willow. You might want to break out the tissues for this one.

Chewy.com Halloween Costume sale!

We ordered Rooney’s Halloween costume this year from Chewy.com, and we loved it! I was on their site this morning and naturally, their Halloween costumes are on sale! Definitely a great time to grab a few costumes for next year.

Fidose From Reality Shares the MOST Important Information for Pet Parents

Recently, Carol Bryant from Fidose of Reality faced most pet parent’s worst fear when her dog Dexter was in critical condition at the emergency room due to IMT (Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia). In her Facebook live stream, Carol shares how she discovered that something was wrong, and how other pet parents can protect their pets by knowing what is normal for their pet. Carol shares even more information about IMT on her blog Fidose of Reality.

Chances are, we have a lot in common. I would love to know,  what’s is inspiring you this weekend?

Disclaimer: We are Chewy.com influencers, but we only share information from sites that we feel our readers will enjoy. 

Dogs & Football: Chewy.com Giveaway

September 10, 2017

I’m a huge sports fan! I grew up playing sports and have always really enjoyed watching sports on TV, but football season is my absolute favorite!

As Week 1 of the NFL season comes to a close tomorrow night, I thought it would be fun to host a little giveaway to find out what teams you and your pets root for during the football season!

Bentley wanted to wish me luck as I grabbed my bags to get on the bus for tomorrow’s game

A post shared by Kirk Cousins (@kirk.cousins) on

Photo Courtesy of Kirk Cousins – QB, Washington Redskins

Since my husband and I like different NFL teams (my Oakland Raiders, his San Francisco 49ers), we keep Rooney’s sports fan collars and leashes specific to college football and Notre Dame. Luckily, Chewy.com has both NFL and college football gear and toys for our pets.

By leaving a comment below about who you root for during the football season, you can enter our $10 Chewy.com Gift card giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please keep our friends at Chewy.com in your thoughts and prayers as they brace for Hurricane Irma. To all of our friends who have been affected by the recent hurricanes, please let us know how if and how we can help. We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

Disclaimer: I am a Chewy.com Influencer, but My Kid Has Paws only reviews items we believe our readers will enjoy.

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