Finding Balance for Your Furry Friends and Your Fronds

2020 has left a lot of people looking for companionship. Many have adopted dogs, with several animal shelters reporting their kennels empty because of massively increased adoption rates. Others have decided to liven up their spaces with houseplants, which have been making their way into millennial homes at rapid rates. If you’re anything like us, you credit both your pets and your plants with helping you survive this difficult year!

If you’ve got a green thumb and you’re eager to add a dog to your growing family, we say go for it. Likewise, if you’ve got a full fur family and you want to add some fronds to the mix, you should! All it takes is a little planning and forethought to make sure both your pets and your plants stay healthy and coexist peacefully. 

Put your dogs’ health first

Your dogs’ health should always take priority in your houseplant considerations. Why? We’ll put it this way: Most plants can survive a few torn leaves or broken stems and keep on growing without issue. However, treating plant-related illnesses and injuries on your dog brings a great deal of stress, discomfort, and even pain for all involved parties. 

Know your dogs’ behavior before you introduce houseplants to their environment. If you’re just bringing a dog home for the first time, we recommend keeping your plants far out of reach until you know how your dog interacts with them. Most dogs show minimal interest in houseplants, but certainty never hurts. 

Understand which houseplants are toxic

If you find that most houseplants you research are listed as toxic to dogs and cats, don’t fret: there’s a much smaller list of plants that can cause serious health issues. In your houseplants’ defense (literally), toxicity is a defense mechanism against herbivores and omnivores who find themselves in the mood for a salad. Most often, these plants will cause upset stomach, lethargy, vomiting, or diarrhea in dogs. 

If your dog is uninterested in your houseplants and respects the boundaries you set, you should have no problem safely growing common tropical plants in your home. However, if the risk seems too great, there are a number of nontoxic plants you can choose, like: 

Ferns are beautiful nontoxic houseplants, perfect for homes with dogs.

• Ferns

• Calatheas

• Spider Plants

• Hoyas

• Peperomias

It’s still important to discourage them from eating your plants, since any foreign material can upset their stomachs.

You should avoid certain plants entirely, especially sago palms, foxgloves, and dieffenbachias. These and a number of other plants cause more severe reactions when ingested and can occasionally be fatal, according to the Pet Poison Helpline. 

Know what to do if your dog digs up trouble

If your dog is a little too curious one afternoon and munches on a houseplant, it may be a good idea to give your vet a call; certain plants cause problems that don’t appear for a few days. Keep an eye out for any of the above symptoms we mentioned, namely gastrointestinal problems. 

We mount and hang our plants or perch them on shelves so that they’re well out of reach of our dogs, and everyone has been happy and healthy. If you’re a dog owner with plants, we want to know your tips: what plants do you have around your home? How do you keep your dogs safe? Send your pictures and stories to us on Facebook.

As you probably know if you’re reading this blog, we’re big fans of bone broth for dogs. We currently have one senior dog at home and have cared for other senior dogs before him, and bone broth is a godsend for an old dog that doesn’t feel like eating. It also provides benefits for dogs at every other life stage, from improving gut health to keeping their joints supple and their coats clear and smooth. When it’s incorporated into your dog’s regular diet, it can increase their vitality, their alertness, and put a little extra pep in their step.

Not everyone shares our enthusiasm for bone broth, however. While browsing online, we’ve seen a handful of misconceptions about bone broth going around, including these ones:

Misconception 1: Cooking bones destroys all nutrition

It’s a fact that some vitamins and minerals are vulnerable to heat and leaving food in its raw state is better for their absorption. However, bone broth is chock full of nutrients that can be delivered to your dog’s system in a short amount of time when compared with the effort they would need to make to chew up an entire raw bone. Bone broth is a nutritional powerhouse, full of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that help keep your pup happy and healthy.

Misconception 2: Any old meat or vegetable stock will do

You should only feed your dog with safely-prepared bone broth that has no additives and nothing extra for flavor. Store-bought chicken and beef stock are often boosted with sodium, an excess of which can lead to weight gain and stomach issues in your dog. Stock is also usually made with vegetables like onions and garlic that can be toxic to your dog. Pawsitively Pure’s bone broth is specially formulated for dogs, with nothing but wholesome nutrition in each pouch.

Misconception 3: It will be impossible to get my picky dog to try bone broth

The amazing and convenient thing about bone broth is that you can add it to your dog’s regular meal as an extra tasty treat. Bone broth mixes well with dry food and wet food alike, and can even encourage your dog to chow down on their dinner if they don’t seem to want to eat. Give it a try -- warm up a little bone broth in a bowl and serve it to your dog at their next mealtime. We bet it won’t take much encouragement for them to try at least a few slurps.

Bone broth is such a versatile nutritional supplement that it makes sense to add it to just about every dog’s diet. Whether you give it to them on its own, use it as a topping for their dinner, or even freeze it as a cold treat in a Kong toy, bone broth is a delicious and nutritious way to keep your dog healthy. To learn more about Pawsitively Pure’s bone broth for dogs, head over to our store page or contact us here. 

We use kennel training as a key component of our dogs’ overall training regimens here at Pawsitively Pure HQ. Kennel training helps give our dogs a sense of independence, which is important in helping avoid attachment and separation anxiety behaviors. It also helps establish a routine and provides them with a space to feel safe when they’re stressed, like when company arrives or fireworks are going off outside. 

It’s important to keep in mind that your dog’s kennel should never be used as a punishment! Establishing a crate routine is an effective way to build trust between you and your dogs and should be treated as their own private little happy place. Here are a few ideas to help you make your dog’s kennel as comfortable as possible. 

Get a properly sized kennel

The first and most important step should be obtaining a kennel that’s a suitable size for your dog. You don’t want your dog to be crammed in; after all, you probably wouldn’t get excited at the prospect of spending hours in a cramped cage, either! Make sure the kennel is large enough for your dog to turn around in. It should also give you enough space to set up whatever accoutrements you want to give your dog the ultimate comfort.

Set up the kennel in a comfortable space

You should never leave your dog in a kennel in a space that’s not temperature controlled. That includes garages and outdoor areas. Set up your dog’s kennel inside, preferably in a space they’re already comfortable in. As the seasons change and the ambient temperature of your home shifts, you may need to set up nearby fans or small space heaters as appropriate. Also, keep an eye out for errant sunbeams that may produce uncomfortable heat spots!

Include items that make them comfortable

Many people start their crate training journey by lining their kennel with an article of clothing with their smell on it. Familiar scents are a source of comfort and anxiety relief for dogs, so dogs often become more at ease in their kennels with this trick. Besides that, you should include a soft bed or a blanket, as well as your dog’s favorite soft toys. Bones, chewies, and puzzle toys help wile away anxiety as they become used to their new space. 

We love the way kennel training makes just about every other aspect of training easier. Some people have a difficult time adjusting to the idea of putting their dogs in “cages,” but if you make their kennel extra lush and comforting, it will be easier for both you and your dog to adjust. It’s important to give your dog healthy treats as rewards for good behavior during kennel training. To get some of Pawsitively Pure’s gourmet dog treats, visit our shop page!

It’s hard to believe that the holidays are just around the corner, isn’t it? It seems like just yesterday we were writing about how to keep your dogs’ paws safe on hot sidewalks during the summer. While the holidays won’t be as crowded this year--we’re sending our greetings to out-of-town relatives via snail mail and FaceTime chats--we will definitely be indulging in some of our favorite holiday traditions. 

For many people, those holiday traditions involve indulging in delicious, seasonal food and treats. While chocolates and holiday spices and delicious seasonal coffees are on our “favorite things” list most years, we can’t say the same for our dogs. There are some common holiday treats that your dogs should avoid at all costs. 

Caffeine

Who doesn’t love going to Starbucks for a pumpkin spice latte or a peppermint mocha frappuccino when the season calls for it? Unfortunately, though, all sources of caffeine are no-gos for your dogs. That’s everything from coffee to energy drinks and even tea. Caffeine can affect your dog’s heart and nervous system. Think about it: if a cup of coffee can give you the jitters, just think about how negatively it will affect your dog’s system. 

Alcohol

We know that we’ll be raising our glasses to a better year and to each others’ health this holiday season. However, your dog should not partake in these festivities. It should go without saying, but keep alcohol away for your dogs. Intoxication can cause seizures or respiratory failure in your dogs. Many holiday treats are baked with alcohol in the recipe; while you shouldn’t be feeding your dog cakes and pastries anyway, make doubly sure that you’re not giving them a taste of something that’s been soaked in liqueurs. 

Spices

Some common spices, like turmeric, can be beneficial to your dog’s health. But before you start administering items from your spice rack to your dog, make sure you know which ones are on the no-go list. Nutmeg ranks as the top spice to avoid, as it can cause extreme fatigue, seizures, and extreme stomach upset. Garlic and onion should also stay away from your dog’s dinner, as they’re known culprits of serious stomach upset.

There are so many great ways to involve our dogs in the holidays with us, but inviting them to the dinner table isn’t one of them. The best treats for your dogs are the ones that will ensure they’ll stay happy, healthy, and active for years to come. To get your dog started on a high-quality, human-grade diet, browse through the Pawsitively Pure Dog Food shop. Click here to get in touch with us!

Did you know that September is National Service Dog Month? The first service dogs were trained in the 1920s, and since then, they have been important support systems for people with disabilities, military veterans, and many others in many different ways. In fact, you may remember the team of service dogs that arrived in Orlando in 2016 shortly after the Pulse tragedy to comfort survivors and their families and friends. Dogs are incredible companions, and when they’re trained to carry out a duty, they perform it to the fullest of their abilities. 

Service dogs provide incredibly important services for individuals and groups around the world. Here are just some of the reasons why they deserve to be celebrated this month and every month.

Service Dogs Serve as Alert Systems

Many people with epilepsy and other such conditions that may leave them incapacitated have service dogs who act as monitors and alert systems. Some dogs are trained to lay in certain positions to help stabilize their owners during an emergency; others know how to alert other humans in the house if their owners are in trouble. Incredibly, dogs have the innate ability to sense a seizure before it happens, so they are able to alert their owners ahead of time so they can position themselves away from danger.

Service Dogs Serve as Extra Hands

Service dogs are also steadfast companions for people struggling with injuries or chronic illnesses that make walking a difficult task. Dogs can be trained to provide stability if falling is a pressing concern. They can also help pull or carry items that their owners are unable to handle on their own. Some dogs can even carry out more complex tasks like operating light switches, fetching specific items, and opening and closing doors. For people with limited mobility, they’re helpful friends to have around.

Service Dogs Offer Emotional Support, Too

While the AKC has had strong data about the physical support abilities of service dogs for a long time, the emotional benefits of service dogs have only been a topic of discussion in more recent years. In surveys conducted by the AKC, they found that service dog owners reported higher levels of confidence, “a higher overall quality of life and better emotional, social, and work or school experiences,” according to the AKC study. 

We know that non-service dogs make the best companions; likewise, service dogs provide loving companionship for those who are differently abled. Life just wouldn’t be the same without dogs, and we think they deserve to be celebrated today and every day! Do you own a service dog? How has your life changed since they joined your family?