This post is sponsored by Petcurean, but all ideas are my own.
IKEA has a new pet line!
IKEA has been a staple in many people’s homes for quite some time. Famous for providing the best small space solutions, IKEA has now expanded their products to include a brand new pet line!
So far, products you can expect to see in the line include pet beds, leashes and collars, brushes, and of course, pet furniture.
So this weekend we took a trip to our local IKEA to take a look around and see what the new pet line looks like. After some deliberation, we picked a new bed for Rooney as well as a reflective collar for night walks since it gets dark so early now.
So far, Rooney seems to really like his new Lurvig Cushion dog bed. He would rarely sleep on the old one we had in our room at night, and often would opt for the floor instead, but the past few nights he seems to have spent the whole night on his new bed. Therefore, the bed seems comfortable, but not so big that it takes over our room. We live in a small townhouse so we don’t have a lot of extra space for dog beds (although Rooney has at least 3 in the house!).
Additionally, the bed has a removable cover that is machine washable, which is so crucial since we picked out the white one. I think this bed could work well both as a crate bed, or a bed that fits in your pet’s favorite resting spot. If white isn’t your color of choice, this bed comes in 4 other colors, the dark gray being my second favorite.
The Lurvig Reflective Collar
We also had a chance to pick up a Lurvig Reflective Collar for any night walks we will be doing this season. In urban areas, its really important that cars can see you and your pets clearly. I highly recommend taking the necessary steps to update your walking gear for walking in the dark.
In the photo you can see that Rooney is wearing two collars. This is for two reasons. 1) Rooney’s ID information is engraved on his leather collar, so in case of emergency, we need him to have that on when we leave the house. 2) The inside of the reflective collar is a smooth material, making it very comfortable for Rooney, but also a material I would worry about slipping off if, for whatever reason, Rooney decided to back up suddenly. Therefore, we kept his leash secured to his leather collar that we use all the time.
Have you seen IKEA’s New pet line yet? Tell us what you think for a chance to win a $50 IKEA Giftcard and 3 Months of Petcurean pet food (three 25lb bags of dog kibble or three 16lb bags or cat kibble)!
In addition to being compensated for the IKEA items, Petcurean was nice enough to send us a collapsible water bowl and bandana. I tried to take a cute picture of Rooney with both, but when I put the bowl next to him, he wasn’t very pleased that it was empty, and then proceeded to run away with the bowl. I had to capture that moment because Rooney always makes me laugh…
Disclaimer: We are part of the Petcurean Blogger Advocate program. However, we feed Rooney Petcurean every day. My Kid Has Paws only shares information about products we like and we believe our readers will enjoy.
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.
A post shared by JULIA MARCUM homebody 🏡 (@chrislovesjulia) on
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.
This year we celebrated Halloween this past Saturday as part of a fundraiser for Canine Companions for Independence! Rooney had so much fun hanging out with his BFF Wes and other dogs while supporting a great organization that provides assistance dogs to people with disabilities free of charge!
Today, we are celebrating Halloween with Chewy.com! This month has been crazy (you may have noticed the lack of blog posts), so I didn’t get a costume for Rooney until last week. Thankfully, Chewy’s delivery turn around is amazing, and we ordered Rooney’s costume from them along with some Pumpkin Spice Greenies last week, so that Rooney could indulge in a bit of celebration today!
Meanwhile, we will be celebrating at home by catching up on Stranger Things.
As many of you know, my husband and I adopted Rooney almost 6 years ago from a Northern California Corgi rescue, and he has brought SO MUCH joy to our lives every day since then. Today, in honor of Adopt a Shelter Pet Month, I would like to discuss if you are ready to adopt a Corgi.
Recently, we had a chance to attend CorgiCon, which is a very large gathering of Corgis in the community at Ocean Beach in San Francisco. Queen’s Best Stumpy Dog Rescue, which is a Corgi specific rescue in California, had an owner surrender at the event. This post from QBSDR really resonated with me because lately I have been thinking about the recent popularity of Corgis and the number of people who are likely ill-prepared to have a Corgi. You might be thinking, “Rachel, why are you telling people they are ill-prepared, if you are trying to get people to adopt Corgis?”. Great question! It’s because those people who have purchased a Corgi and are ill-prepared, might give them up for health reasons (see below), and those Corgis are going to need AMAZING forever homes. Forever homes require a certain amount of preparedness and research. So, let’s outline the things you need to consider before adopting a Corgi.
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Herding Breeds & Behavior
I am putting this as the number one thing you should consider because adopting a herding breed is not the same as adopting a non-herding breed. (I think I just heard a bunch of dog parents nod their heads in agreement!).
While Rooney is outgoing and wonderful, he also needs a lot of exercise, training, and mental stimulation. I love every quirk in Rooney’s personality (it reminds me of mine), but not everyone finds him as charming as I do.
Herding breeds are meant to work. If you don’t give them the mental stimulation and exercise they need, they might end up taking it out on your furniture, or your shoes, or other expensive items in your home.
However, if you are looking for a sturdy dog to keep you company on your hikes and other outdoor activities, then a Corgi might be the right dog for you. Additionally, if you don’t mind seeking out training classes, you may have found your breed.
Personality: Loyal, affectionate, and smart; even-tempered, never shy
Energy Level: Very Active; Athletic, rugged herders with a love for the outdoors, Cardigans thrive on mental and physical activity
Trainability: Responds Well
Barking Level: Barks When Necessary
Genetic Diseases and Common Injuries
Unfortunately, Corgis are prone to a certain number of aliments mostly having to do with their back. I was highly aware of the risks and costs associated with a slipped disc and subsequent back surgery when we adopted Rooney, therefore, I purchased pet insurance.
Rooney slipped a disc in his back in 2014, and fortunately, he didn’t need surgery and only had to spend one night in the emergency room. However, it is likely we haven’t seen the end of Rooney’s back injuries. While we do everything we can to keep him lean and healthy, we know that another slipped disc is a possibility. If you are considering adopting a Corgi, I HIGHLY recommend pet insurance. If you have any specific pet insurance questions, I am happy to answer and share my experience, feel free to email me at mykidhaspawsblog@gmail.com.
Pembroke
While the AKC didn’t explicitly state any diseases associated with Pembroke Welsh Corgis, I can say from personal and professional experience that all Corgi parents should know what the symptoms of a back injury and degenerative myelopathy look like.
Cardigan
According to the AKC, here are some of the specific health concerns associated with the Cardigan Welsh Corgi:
Hip Dysplasia, a malformation of the hip joints that causes arthritis and pain
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), which causes blindness
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
Lifestyle Alignment
This one is easy…
…can you deal with shedding?
If your answer is no, please consider adopting another breed.
Okay, okay…I’m sort of joking, but seriously, Corgis shed all the time.
If you are considering any breed, you definitely want to discuss things like shedding, drool, and how you want their tiny little legs to weave into the fabric of your life. Will they sleep on the couch? Will they be around kids? Do you have cats?
While the two sections above are more specific to the Corgi breeds, this section is really about finding the right individual dog for you and your lifestyle. Take your time and think about the things you are willing to compromise on, as well as the characteristics that mean the most to you. One of the best things about adopting a dog is that their personalities are already developed and the rescues and shelters usually have some insight into their behavior.
For example, when we adopted Rooney I had never had a dog who liked to swim. When I asked the rescue group they weren’t sure if he did like to swim or not, so I just had to wait until that summer to find out. I wish you all could have seen the look on my face when Rooney waded straight into the lake one summer and took off swimming, I was so happy! Now, Rooney goes swimming with me whenever I get the chance to swim in a dog-friendly pool, and we have had the opportunity to visit a few lakes and oceans for swims as well.
This is something I can’t stress enough. How ready is your family for a dog?
Has everyone in your family had a chance to voice their concerns and requests?
Having the whole family involved is definitely a key to success for helping a dog find their forever home with your family. If you aren’t sure if your family is ready, I highly recommend pet sitting and/or fostering a dog to see if your family members are ready for the responsibility and adjustments.
I would love to hear from other Corgi parents how your Corgi came into your life and if there is anything I forgot to include.
Petcurean would like to provide a Giveaway to celebrate Adopt A Shelter Pet Month! Tell us the story of your rescued or adopted pet in the comments below!
Disclaimer: I am a Petcurean blogger. 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. I am also a Chewy.com influencer. My Kid Has Paws only shares reviews we believe benefit our readers.
Recently we discussed the difference between Obesity and Hypothyroidism in Dogs and what pet parents need to know to identify when their pet is suffering from Hypothyroidism. But when you dog isn’t exhibiting signs of hypothyroidism, but you know they have gained weight, it’s time to consider that you might need to make some lifestyle changes for your pet so that you can help them live a long and happy life.
Have you ever carried a few extra pounds? How did your joints feel? Did you find that you were breathing heavier? What was your energy like? I am not a proponent of anthropomorphism, however, I do think we can relate to how our pet’s feel when they are overweight. It’s so important that we make the right lifestyle changes so that our pets aren’t carrying extra weight throughout their life.
Therefore, today, I have teamed up with Petcurean to share with you some of their recommendations for managing your pet’s weight.
According to Petcurean:
“Did you know that 22-44% of pets weigh more than their ideal body weight? Obesity can contribute to major health problems for your pet including diabetes in cats and decreasing the lifespan of your dog. The negative side effects of being overweight can start to appear within just a few weeks of the onset of obesity. As pet parents, it’s our job to keep our furry kids happy and healthy, especially if that means helping Fido shed a few pounds. Here are some helpful tips from Petcurean on how to manage your pet’s weight.”
Evaluate your pet’s current weight:
“Weigh your pet at the vet’s office or with your home bathroom scale and check it against this Body Score chart to help you determine the current status of your pet’s weight.”
Taking your pet by your vet’s office for weight checks is a great way to keep track of your pet’s weight and show them that not all trips to the vet include shots (i.e. desensitization)!
Diet:
“An important rule you should keep in mind when managing your pet’s weight is restricting treats and resisting the urge to give them table scraps. These items make it hard for you to regulate what your pet is eating. For dogs, you can feed them a weight loss recipe with reduced calories. This option allows your pup to eat the same volume of food they’re used to eating, but with less calories. Petcurean’s GO! Fit + Free makes a great diet feeding option with a protein-rich, lower carb recipe. Alternatively, you can simply cut back on the amount of food you’re currently feeding. To ensure your dog still feels full after these smaller meals, you can add canned pumpkin or green beans as a fiber-rich and healthy topper. Cats do the best on low carb canned recipes since the wet food not only promotes weight reduction, but also helps cats feel fuller. GO! Fit + Free also offers canned recipes for cats.”
Whenever you are making changes to your pet’s diet, make sure all family members in the house are onboard and aware of your pet’s plan. While working at the veterinary hospital, there were several times that pet parents knew there was someone in the house who was feeding their pet extra food and treats and making their dieting efforts fruitless.
Physical activity:
“Decreased food intake should be accompanied by increased physical activity. Track your pet’s weight through weekly weigh-ins. A rapid decline in weight can be harmful to your pet. As you monitor their progress, continue to check them against the body score chart. That will tell you when your pet’s weight goals have been reached!”
One recommendation I would make is to not be a weekend warrior with your pet. Meaning, don’t try to take them for a 5 mile hike when you haven’t walked them all week. As with humans, consistent exercise is going to provide excellent strength, balance, and endurance for your pet, so that they can live a healthier life. One of the ways to achieve consistency with your dog is to include them in the plans and exercise you already have in your schedule. Here are some ways I provide Rooney with exercise:
Take them for a walk as a pre-run warm up or post-run cool down.
Walk to run your errands and take them with you (if you also have someone to watch them while you are in the store. I wouldn’t recommend leaving your pet outside a store).
Check out doggy daycare, or coordinate with a local dog walker so that your dog can get extra exercise while you are at work!
How do you manage your pet’s weight? Leave your best recommendations in the comments below and win a chance to receive a 6lb bag of Petcurean GO! Fit+Free from Chewy.com!
Disclaimer: I am a Petcurean blogger. 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. I am also a Chewy.com influencer. My Kid Has Paws only shares reviews we believe benefit our readers.
