throwyourdogabone

We recently gave some of our gluten-free, gourmet dog treats to swag magenet Mike Michalowicz, the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur. As many of you know, Biscuits by Lambchop are made with 100% natural, human grade ingredients, so not only do dogs enjoy them, but many humans can’t seem to keep their paws off either — one for fido, two for me…..

Well, Mike the potty prince was kind to feature our dog biscuits in a recent video, twisting in his brand of humor at the end, but perhaps he’d better keep his day job, in lieu of pursuing a career as a dog food critic/funnyman/actor!

Silly rabbit! Tricks are for kids, and dog biscuits are for…..
…..well they’re for dogs. But we can’t help it if people like like them too!

Nevertheless, we’re happy for the help in spreading the word that our gourmet dog treats are not only healthy, but also made with real, human grade ingredients.

OAR - How To Raise Funds from Obsidian on Vimeo.

I know, interesting sense of humor right? Wait, there’s more…..

Salmon? Salmon?? With bananas? Seriously, leave the baking to us!

So what’s the big deal about ingredients in dog food and treats anyway?

There was been so much talk about ingredients since the massive recalls a few years back, which have helped put a spotlight on ingredients in pet foods as a whole, and, shed some light on all the miscellaneous grub that goes into many foods and treats. It is beyond the scope of this post but if you look up what meat (and other) “by-products” and “meal” are, you would probably be making that face at the end of Mike’s video. I think he was reading up on the garbage that goes into many dog foods at that moment!

A good rule of thumb when choosing products to feed your pet is to look for all natural, whole ingredients you can understand and pronounce. Stay away from chemicals, preservatives and so many additives they’re clearly added in because they’ve baked or pulverized the heck out of the food, depleting it of any natural nutrients it may have started out with.

Even when you do see an actual meat or whole food product in the ingredients list, remember that there are varying levels of quality in proteins or any other ingredient. If your dog’s skin, coat and nails are in poor condition; if they lack general energy; if they have frequent gastrointestinal issues, but they are otherwise healthy, look to the foods you are feeding.

We personally feed raw, whole foods, and give variety for maximal benefit from different nutrients. Even when Starlet “can use a bath”, people ask if I just bathed her because her coat is in such excellent condition!

We’re so happy to share this video with you!

Gluten Free Fox tested our treats for gluten and they tested completely clean! We knew they would, but it’s nice to see it on video by independent testing!

Be sure to watch Waylon’s Blooper’s at the end.

This week’s Bite Sized Tip: Some people who are gluten intolerant cannot even handle dog food or treats that are laden with gluten, or even inhale the dust from dry foods!

Food for thought! If you think you’ve covered all your bases but still having symptoms, check out your dog’s food and treats and check Gluten Free Fox for their investigations into gluten free dog food and treats.

Reason #1: It’s super fun!

Reason #2: All the dogs are incredibly unique and talented!

Reason #3: All athletes are receiving (virtual) Gold Medals and a (virtual) ceremony!

Reason #4: Another great opportunity to show off your fabulous, fun loving pooch with other dog lovers!

(You’ll probably even get comments, such as “Aww, your dog is sooooo cute”, or, ” Wow, what a talented dog you have”!)

Reason #5: We just LOVE your participation! Nothing warms our hearts like seeing dogs enjoying life, as only they can do!

Enter your pooch by posting their sportiest winter photos on our Facebook Fan Page. Remember, every dog’s a winner!

A Bite Sized Tip to Keep Your Canine Athlete Safe and Sound:

Help your dog avoid injuries by getting daily exercise, appropriate for their level of fitness. This will help promote long term health. Don’t let your dog become a weekend warrior, which can breed injury.

xoxo
BBL Sports, a division of Biscuits by Lambchop

Photo of Starlet competing in the cross-country nordic event courtesy of Annette Frey.

Biscuits by Lambchop is big on “community”. True, we usually help out animal shelters and other doggie do goods, but when we were invited to join in on a “people event” we thought “of course”! We can step outside of the doggie box!

On January 19 a group of 40 women entrepreneurs (myself included) descended on the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia headquarters to bring hope and inspiration to the women of Safe Horizon shelter, through stories, poems, song, art, hand made and other amazing gifts.

It was a privilege to be a part of this event and I want to share some of the images (memories for me) with you, our readers. Enjoy. And be inspired to do some good in your community!

Find more photos like this on Dreamers Into Doers — marthastewart.com

Although we set out to left these women up, we were ALL lifted up!

Find more photos like this on Dreamers Into Doers — marthastewart.com

A special thank you to the women owned businesses that answered my call to action, generously donating their fabulous wares or services!

Soire Aroma
Cecilia Wong — 54 custom organic facials

Lindie & Friends
Kara Lesondak — handmade dolls for all the children

Tees for Change
Andreea Ayers — inspirational tees & onesies

Om Aroma
Angela Jia Kim — organic skin care products

Pink Olive Boutique
Grace Kang — Pink Olive onesies & tees

Wendy Mink Jewelry
Jewelry and hair pins

Kristiana Parn Kristiana — artwork

A huge thanks to Rachel Gaffney of Rachel Gaffney’s Authentic Irish Goods for inviting me to be a part of this event, to Terry Grahl from Enchanted Makeovers for organizing and coordinating the shelter event and donations, to Jolene from Quite the Stir Bungalows for lighting the spark in the first place, to Linda & Kristine at Safe Horizon, to Alexis Tirado from Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia for the endless hours of work to make this enormous undertaking happen, to all the MSLO staff that were involved, Mitch and Monika — the super fun cameraman and photographer that followed us around for 2 days, and of course to Martha Stewart, without whom there would have been no Dreamers to come together.

For Christmas, Starlet volunteered her time, walking and playing with 2 other puppies so they wouldn’t be alone!

Here she is making sure the street is clear before they cross.

I am very lucky to have a helpful, gracious pup!

5 ways your puppy can enrich the life of another:

1) Donate some of their new (or gently used) toys or outgrown coats to a less fortunate pup or shelter.

2) Be gracious with their person’s time, so you can volunteer a few hours at the local shelter (walking dogs, cleaning litter boxes, playing with pet hoping for adoption).

3) Invite another pet into their home for foster (and share their toys, bed, cuddle time — your puppy was raised to share nicely, right). Know someone with a dog who may have trouble walking or exercising them? An elderly neighbor perhaps? Offer to bring them along on your walk.

4) Treat pups at your local shelter with fresh, delicious homemade or gourmet biscuits. Imagine the dogs licking their chops getting something extra special!

5) Good energy and manners helps set the stage for a positive experience whenever meeting, playing or walking with another. Positive training with your pup can teach good social skills with fellow dogsters.

PRIZE ALERT

K, notice anything unusual about this photo? What’s missing?

The first person to correctly tell us what is missing in this photo (by leaving a comment below) wins a 4 ounce bag of Starlets from Biscuits by Lambchop!* **

* Shipping only in the USA
** Excludes friends and family

Biscuits by Lambchop regularly donates their treats to shelters and events that support them.

The inaugural PawcuriousBlogathon for Animal Shelters was a huge success! Dr. V vowed if she reached a certain dollar amount, she would create a calendar of her precious pup Brody. Not only did she reach her goal but k9Cuisine matched donations brining the total to almost $4,500!! A-rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroooooooooooooooooooooo!

The Words to live by Brody 2010 Calendar is now available and is the gift that keeps on giving!

Proceeds from the calendar sales are going to the Humane Society de Tijuana. A great gift for any animal lover, that also gifts a shelter and their animals in need!

Can you resist this beautiful puppy face?! I know can’t! Every time I look at it I will be reminded there is another furry face in the shelter benefitting too!

Another major player in the success of the Blogathon is Janet Crosby. Also a veterinarian, and an amazing artist, she was extremely generous helping Dr. V behind the scenes. But front and center were these unique and beautiful glass beads she handcrafted especially to donate as event prizes!

After the event, we got to talking some more and before I knew it a box came to my door with something so special in it, I just have to share. A glass bead of my dear Lambchop. Isn’t it beautiful?!!!!!

There are many dog faces to choose from and gorgeous dog bones too. But don’t fret, it’s not “just a doggie thing”. She also handcrafts kitties, fish, roosters and more. An amazing gift for anyone!

A shout out to Su Smith for being so brave as to eat prescription dog food for donations! Wow! Seriously.

Last but far from least, I wanted to mention Romeo the Cat once more because it was “Romeo” that challenged everyone to do something for National Animal Shelter Awareness week and that set all the rest in motion! Thank you for all you do for the furry ones!

Lesson #1: Lights Out Can Be Fun

Trying to get your kid to sleep but they don’t want the lights out? Try this candy green dog kutelight! They’ll be begging you to turn the main lights out, just to see the doggie light up! And it’s a perfect light to read them a bedtime story by. (There’s a pink kitty and a polar bear too).

Lesson #2: Wag Like a Dog and Show How You Feel

It’s every dog’s secret to the joys of life! Wag! an adorable book by Patrick McDonnell, creator of Mutts comic strip, is beautifully illustrated and recommended for ages 4-8 years old. But we think you’re never too old to learn a new lesson from a wise dog!

What will make your child wag?!

Lesson #3: Think Outside Your Own Box (of your own home) and Think Ahead

Today Starr and I watched a friend’s one year old boy. He lives with a big, long haired dog who is really a very good boy because he lets him poke, prod and pull his hair, feet, ears — whatever! I think it’s great the dog is so patient and understanding with his “baby brother” but what about all the other dogs the child comes into contact with? Will they all be as understanding and tolerant? I wasn’t so sure about Starr’s limits but she was a good girl too. May every dog he encounters be so tolerant!

This is an interesting topic that can probably be debated widely. On the one hand, we want our dogs to tolerate any type of handling so there are never any problems but on the other hand, not all dogs will tolerate this type of handling so should your children learn it’s not okay and if so, at what age? This is a lesson you may not want a dog to teach your kids for you!

We want to know your thoughts so leave them in our comments below.

I would recommend teaching, from the get go, never to pull, poke, hit, grab or yell at a dog, even their own. Even before verbal comprehension, we learn especially by repetition. Never allowing the behavior and stopping it quickly and consistently should help teach it is not okay.

The light and book, as well as many other fun and beautiful gifts for baby and home are from one of our fav NYC stores Pink Olive.

It’s National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, November 1-7.

During this economic crisis, shelters are over-populated with the additional onslaught of pets who (along with their caretakers) have lost their homes. On top of the additional pets in shelters is a sharp decline in support and donations. Some shelters have even had to close their doors. This is a crisis and a heartbreak for many; people, their pets, and shelter volunteers.

5 things you can do to help:

1. Help spread the word

Attention needs to be brought to this national crisis so tell your friends, Tweet it, Facebook it or get creative!

2. Make a monetary donation to your favorite shelter.

3. Donate your time.

Money isn’t the only thing they need. Sign up to walk dogs, clean litter boxes, sit and pet a sick or elderly dog, or even ask how you can bring a pet home to foster.

4. Donate some of your old pet goods that are still in good shape.

Toys, coats, boots for injured paws are just a few of the things they may be able to use. Call your local shelters and ask what they need.

5. Join Dr. V @ Pawcurious for their first Blogathon! Dr. V will blog every hour for 24 hours, starting Friday evening, to raise money for the San Diego Humane Society. She will have prizes and lots of other fun stuff. This is an interactive, so check it out and help her stay awake so she can raise more donations!

Biscuits by Lambchop is donating 10% of it’s biscuit sales November 1-7, 2009, to a shelter (TBA), when you mention “Shelter Week” with your order. We are also donating treats for prizes during the Pawcurious blogathon and have a few other things in the works, which we’ll let you know about on our Facebook Fan Page as they get organized so stay tuned.

If you have any other great ideas, please share them with us. Maybe they’ll become contagious and others will join in and help shelters and their animals too!

It’s that time of year when we start seeing all the ghouls and goblins running around the streets — and dog runs! Even the dogs are so cute in their get-ups. That’s what makes it so hard to resist!

But is this for the dogs or for the people? Obviously, the people! Come on, let’s get real. Few dogs, if any, love to play dress up!

Some people even find it cruel. I am really on the fence about this but I do think there is certainly a line. When a dog has a weight on their back that their “person” has to help hold up, I find that to cross way over the line.

When do you think it’s too much? Or do you think any costume is too much? We’d love to know, so please leave your comments!

Costumes aside, halloween can be a scary and even dangerous time for our pets. Please read our safety tips below and keep your pets safe!

Halloween can be a lot of fun. However, especially for dogs, it has the potential for being a stressful day. Some dogs can be quite frightened by those funny looking people dressed up in scary costumes. They may even shy away from a dog that ‘looks unusual’ if they’re all dressed up. Any change from the everyday can cause unease.

Be sure to pay special attention to your pup’s behavior on this day. Here are some tips to help keep your pets safe on Halloween.

Remember, the candy bowl is not for Fido!

* Chocolate can be toxic to dogs. Symptoms of chocolate toxicity in dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, urination and heart rate and seizures.

* Candy and gum can contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener, which can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol sweetener can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar. Signs of xylitol poisoning include lethargy, lack of coordination, vomiting and seizures. Keep your candy bowl out of reach and of course, do not give your dog any candy. Give you pup a dog treat, their favorite chewy or bone. Of course we are partial to giving Biscuits by Lambchop & Starlets too!

* Tin foil and candy wrappers can be very appealing to dogs due to their shiny hues and scents left behind on them. These can pose a choking hazard or cause intestinal blockage. Please throw out your wrappers in a closed trashcan your dog cannot access.

* Many cities have doggie Halloween costume parades. Usually, these will be ‘on-leash’ activities. You know your dog best. If your dog finds it difficult being around other dogs and sitting quietly and contently while on leash - leave your pup home and go check out all those cute costumes on your own. If your dog is pretty good but does want to ‘meet and greet’, this might be a training opportunity to practice good doggie manners, but only if appropriate for their level of training. You do not want to stress your pup. Training should set your dog up for success!

* If you do plan on bringing your dog, or having them participate in the costume festivities, monitor their stress level and make sure all aspects of their costume are safe. Watch for cords or ties around their neck, pieces that may come loose and trip them up, parts that can get caught on something else, or pieces they may chew off that can pose a choking hazard.

If your dog hates dressing up, let them wear their birthday suit!

* For those staying home giving out candy to little ghouls and goblins at their door, make sure your dog is comfortable with all the activity, excited kids in costumes and that he or she will not try and dart out the door when opened and be sure they cannot raid the candy bowl!

* Be careful of candles in your carved pumpkins. Do not leave candles unattended and be sure to place them where your pup will not knock the jack-o-lantern over with an enthusiastic tail wag!

* Lastly, be sure your pet has I.D., either a tag or microchip or both.

Howls, wags, and a-roooooooooooooos to you and your pet!

Okay so the bees have it! Their honey that is. And we shouldn’t take that away from them. We especially shouldn’t “keep them” under bad conditions or, as I have seen it referred to, in slavery. Still, I’m not sure I completely understand why honey is not vegan. It’s not the animal, or insect, we’re eating when we eat honey right? It’s the idea that they worked for it and we took it?? I get that, it isn’t very nice but I have a hard time wrapping my brain around it being comparable to say eating meat, or even eggs.

You’re probably wondering what all this has to do with dogs or feeding or that matter. Well, I am re-branding Biscuits by Lambchop — wait until you see, so cute! But I digress. Because our treats were created to address many common canine food allergies and other conditions, we currently have a very long statement on the front of the label that says:

Free of gluten, wheat, soy, rice, corn, nuts, eggs, dairy, animal protein and preservatives. Whew! That’s a mouthful! Sometimes people joke and ask “well what IS in them?”.

So, I decided to address the top foods that many dogs have sensitivities to. I realized that the term VEGAN would cover the eggs, dairy and animal protein and that was great. I’ll write Gluten free, vegan. Someone even suggested we design our own “stamp”. Awesome! I fell in love with the idea and was seriously excited.

Then it hit me. Not really like a ton of bricks but like a slowly deflating balloon. HONEY. Starlets have a tiny bit of HONEY in them and honey is not vegan!

I’ve read all the controversy surrounding this but the Brits who defined the term vegan have gone out of their way to specify that honey is not vegan. So, I’m respecting that it’s their term and I won’t taint it, or possibly mislead anyone — and I’m not changing the recipe. I’ll live with it — and not pretend to be a bee’s bff, even if I do use raw honey from the Greenmarket.

We’re curious, what do you think about honey, the bees and veganism? Do you think honey should be categorized as non-vegan? Did you even know it wasn’t vegan?

If you have any suggestions for shortening my “free of” statement, let me know! Always open to hear your ideas!