Tag Archives: #dogtreats

December has arrived

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TGIF !!!!!!!!!


December has arrived and we are having a warm one, no rain which is something we desperately need.


Over Thanksgiving weekend I had Trippe stay with us, Madam did a bark and growl but in the end settled down LOL. He is an adorable Tripawd but afraid of going outside so the walks with him were quick ones, and Madam took me on the long ones. It was so great having him and what I thought was really cute was him bringing his toy to me to play with him which is something Layla never does so I was really spoiled.


The only problem Layla had with him LOL was he loved to sleep in her bed and she was not happy, as soon as she moved he was into her bed like a bullet. He had his bed here but was not interested. 

At night they both hogged my bed and I slept dangling from the corner of my bed but in a nutshell I loved it.


Other than that San Francisco is going back to strict lock down so once again our outdoors will be limited to walks and some park time if I can do social distancing which sometimes is not easy plus Madam loves to walk around visiting others on their blankets and not everyone likes it.


December means the holidays are upon us, Hanukkah starts next week and I will share our Doggy Latke recipe on the blog, Layla gets spoiled for 8 days so I am not doing Christmas for her.


So at the moment it is quietish in the Layla Neighborhood, we are taking each day as it comes but am relieved she is healthy, happy and eating like a pig. Something new I have started with is giving her freeze dried kibbles as treats and she loves them. She now has a snuffle mat and loving it, keeping her busy sniffing all the time hoping something might be there.


Have a great weekend, be safe 

With love from Layla 

National Senior Pet Month

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Happy Friday everyone !!!


This month is National Senior Pet Month and am going to talk about living with a senior as Layla is 14 years old and aging.


Since she was ill in June I have noticed many changes in her which I am learning to adapt to but there are days that I find it hard as it is taking its toll on me also. 


We have been going through the past month or so her allergies so I against my will as I try not to give her medications put her on Apoquel as she was tearing at herself and thank goodness we have avoided hot spots, phew. I am also bathing her weekly which is helping with the scratching. 
Another issue I am dealing with is her not wanting to sleep. She is up and down all night  and if I can get her to sleep 6 hours without interruption I am happy, she is getting CBD oil to calm her down which seems to be helping. I need sleep at the moment LOL.


She otherwise is acting herself but a new issue is her barking at me when she wants to go out so off we go at all times of day and night, and Madam when she wants to walk we can walk which I do not mind but I do not like doing the side streets at night as it is not safe and that is where the arguments start LOL.


Today she is going to the vet, phew I managed to get an appointment as someone had cancelled as her left eye is very red, we have tried medications but they are not helping so the vet wants to check it out again.


Last Sunday, a good friend of mine took Layla away from me for a couple of hours to give me a break, they went to a different dog park, she took the backpack with her just in case but Layla did not want it. It was hard for me to be without her but on the other hand it gave me a break which was really needed as it helped me relax which I needed to do. She was very happy to see me when we met up again.  Thank you Alice as always.


She also got spoiled this week with a parcel of South African treats by a company called ROAM, they sent her freeze dried venison, Crocodile jerky and Cape Ostrich jerky and she is loving them all. In South Africa you can buy Ostrich or Buck Jerky in all the stores and it is delicious.


And she got a new bed, the reason is she sleeps under the bed LOL so wanted her to sleep on something so I bought her a crate bed which fits under there perfectly so she now has her fourth bed. I am hoping with winter coming she will be warmer and it will help her to sleep.


So that is what is happening here, we are both aging slowly and learning to adapt to it all.


Stay safe everyone 

With a woof and love from Layla 

Pets in Shelters

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Happy Friday to all our friends, the week is over and the weekend is beginning phew.


As most of you know I am doing at the moment a workshop to become a Domestic Violence Advocate and as this month is Domestic Violence Awareness month I want to discuss having a pet in a shelter.


This is a subject that I have seen discussed on many groups on Facebook, and how important it is for a survivor to have her pet with her in the shelter so am going to share my story here.


I was fortunate to be able to take Baby into the shelter with me towards the end of my stay, before I moved over to another shelter and then transitional housing.


It was fantastic having her with me again and I was really blessed but people also need to understand Shelter policies also so I do understand why shelters say no. They are not being selfish but in a way practical and this is why :


01.There are children in shelters who are going through trauma and might be afraid of pets 

02. Allergies from pets

03.  The shelter staff are overloaded already so if you are running around sorting out your life you are adding another burden to the staff as your pet is in your room.

04. Shelters have curfews so if your pet needs to go potty at night you cannot take him/her out.

05. Not all shelters can you give you a single room so you might be sharing with someone who does not like pets.


When I was in the shelter with Baby I took her out just before the curfew started, I had my own room which made it easier but her food and water was in my room, she was not allowed in the public areas because of the reasons I listed above, when we did go out she was on leash and was on leash when we got back till we got to my room.


This is food for thought and that is why in so many ways I feel there should be some kind of program for the pets to ease it for everyone and I do know that some shelters are slowly opening their doors to pets.


Would love to hear your input on this.


Last Friday Layla and I with friends went for a picnic in Golden Gate Park. It was a beautiful evening, relaxing, good food and lots of laughs. It was just what we needed and a beautiful start to a weekend.

What I did for Layla’s food was instead of taking her home made food I took with me Freeze Dried Kibbles which she thinks are treats from Raw Paws Pet Food – she loves them. The flavor I had was Beef and then I had with me as a treat their Freeze Dried Minnows which she cannot get enough of.

You can see their awesome products on their website plus you have a coupon for shopping : Layla15 – Happy Shopping

https://www.rawpawspetfood.com/


This weekend our plans are to go to the Shih Tzu Meetup which I am really looking forward to as it is a different park and I love that park as it is so big you can do social distancing.


Have a wonderful weekend everyone, be safe

With a woof and love from Layla

Its Pride Weekend plus a Give Away

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Happy Friday Everyone.


We have cabin fever do you ? 


Update on Layla. After three visits which are hard as you cannot go inside with your dog they have come to the conclusion that she has degenerative arthritis in her spine so is now on a third medication. My goal is to keep her comfortable and not in pain so we are working on it and she is sleeping most of the time.
They wanted to put her also on an opioid patch but I said no as it would mean more medication plus it would mean me taking her every second day to get a new one and they are costly – 64 dollars each.  So during the day or at night if I see she is uncomfortable I am giving her Hemp Oil.


The oil I am giving her is from a company called Blossom and is fantastic, she is alert and like her normal self when she gets it which relaxes me a lot. It is grown in Colorado but made in California and what could be better than supporting a local company. 
What is good about their oil is it is instrumental in building and repairing tissues plus it has the two primary essential fatty acids — Omega 3 and Omega 6. 


Blossom Info: They craft all of their full-spectrum hemp oil using proprietary strains of hemp, thoughtfully grown on our Colorado farms. Each batch is lab-tested on-site to ensure the highest consistency and quality in every bottle.

Pets come in all shapes and sizes, that’s why blossom does too. Their simple and easy to read serving guide takes the stress and guesswork out of administering hemp oil to your furry family member.

Presidio Natural Pet: We love making treats, but its solving problems through better ingredients and recipes is what gets us out of bed in the morning.

Below you can find the links for the Hemp Oil and Treats which is our Give Away this week :

https://blossompet.com/

https://presidiopet.com/

So the gift box will have the following :
Cat sushi (if you have a cat) Tincture of Blossom, Pill Buddy Natural treats, Off Leash Mini Trainers, Off Leash soft Bake treats


I have been sponsored with this giveaway and the age limit to enter is 18 years old. It is for the USA only

To enter click on the link below :

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7d1ec19c51/?


This weekend is Pride weekend, 50th anniversary, but because of the lock downs San Francisco cancelled the entire event which I am sad about as I enjoy it every year so decided to share some old photos of Layla at the Dyke March that we have done. plus one of the Bikes on Dykes videos so we can all enjoy and hopefully next year we will be doing it again. Layla has been doing them with me every year since I got her, my mini dyke I call her LOL so we are going to just have to watch different events on TV this year and enjoy Pride that way.



And last but not least one of my favorite photos of Layla from one of the Dyke Marches we did.

The Dykes on Bikes

https://www.facebook.com/rochelle.smith.56211/videos/vb.100007051925495/2165784706999906/?type=2&video_source=user_video_tab


So to all our friends out there that celebrate Pride – Happy Pride, have some fun and of course wear a Rainbow which always brings a smile to my face.


Have a wonderful weekend

Layla and Me 

Life in the Layla Neighborhood

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Woof friends,
How are you all ? 
Last weekend Georgie and Gidget came to visit, they caused havoc in the house and I just went to hide in my box and sleep but did keep an ear open just in case treats arrived although I must say Mom is good and always makes sure I get some.


I did remind them that I was here with a growl when they tipped the water bowl over and it nearly wet my blankie, that would have made me mad. BOL I watched Mom curse them as she mopped up the mess and then put a towel underneath the bowl for safety when it was refilled.

https://youtu.be/6SWdtQp0oGM

We have had a heat wave the past couple of days and it has been really hot so Mom has taken me to the park to sit under the trees where it is cooler than the house which was fun although I just slept of course. Mom said she needed the fresh air and I actually think it did her good. I also did find time in between napping with a good smelly roll, and I stunk Mom said so she bathed me to get the smell out. I hate bathing but for once I enjoyed being wet because of the heat, it really cooled me off. I am also one lucky girl to have a cooling vest which really helps and I think Mom needs one too. 

Today the weather is cooling down, the fog is showing slowly and I am happy but so is Mom. They are also talking about rain this weekend, can you believe it. 
There is no dog sitting this weekend at this moment so it is going be a Mom and Me weekend which I am really looking forward to.


Our lock down days are becoming a bit more of outdoors which I am happy with, my appetite has returned which is great and I think that we are a lot more relaxed and finally in a new routine. Mom is also spending less time on social medial and now tries to go off line by dinner time so we then cuddle and play which is lots of fun. She hid my favorite toys from Gidget and Georgie so they cannot ruin them like they did with others so my favorites are all in good shape.


OH ! Before I forget one of my uncles got me a mask, it is a cute color so I can be safe although I do not like it BOL, but if it is necessary then will wear it. Mom is being good and wearing hers when going out and shopping although she says she cannot breathe BOL.


There is a Jewish Holiday today, Shavuot which Mom calls Cheese Cake holiday as you eat dairy products and one of them is Cheese Cake. Mom was telling me that in Israel the children stand in the streets and throw water bombs at everyone which sounds like so much fun although I do not like getting wet. So am praying at this moment I will get some cheesecake from Mom and will let you know next week.


So that is what is happening in the Layla Neighborhood, I cannot complain as Mom is being great, spoiling me lots so I am one happy camper.


Chag Sameach, Happy Holiday to those that celebrate,Have a wonderful weekend 

With a woof and love from Layla 

May is nearly over

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TGIF !!!


How are all you of you doing ? 


We are sorry we did not blog last week but I needed a break from social media which was really good for me, plus Layla was in her element as I was with her all the time.


This lock down has taught me a lot, it has not been easy triggering things inside me that I had buried, but worked through them, plus I have also realized how in a funny way I think Layla misses me dog sitting and having the other dogs in the house, although she does not play with them it is more the companionship and I really noticed it when Gidget came to spend a couple of hours with us last weekend and although Layla does not play with her, she was happy to see her, and they were lying and sleeping next to each other, which of course was adorable.

Layla is aging and I am noticing it more and more lately, she does not want to do long walks, I carry her into the park as she is afraid and if a person claps or any other odd sound she tries to run out, and this is worrying me. I now leave her leash on in the park as it is easier to catch her plus sit as far away as possible from others so she will relax. Once relaxed she sleeps LOL.


I also am noticing that she is not eating as much as she did in the past, treats yes, her food no so am trying to figure out what to add to her food to make it more appetizing. She loves her gizzards but needs more than that. 

That is what I am working on at the moment and if anyone has any suggestions am open to them.


With the sun shining today I did take her to the park, but it was good for both of us to be outside for an hour, I do not stay long as it starts filling up and I am really keeping social distancing as much as possible. Plus Layla will this week be getting her own mask, a friend of mine got her one so will post a photo with her wearing it next week, cannot wait.


Nothing else exciting happening in the Layla Neighborhood. Like everyone, we are going day by day and praying life will get back to normal one of these days.

I am happy that groomers are opening and maybe next week will see if I can get her an appointment which she desperately needs as I have been cutting away matts as much as possible.


We hope you have a great long weekend,


With a woof and love from Layla 

The weekend has arrived

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TGIF !!!!!!!


It has been a long week and phew thank goodness the weekend has arrived. I just hope there will be no more tremors and I can relax a bit. Yes I did check my earthquake kit again LOL.


Last Saturday we went to Bark in the park K9 Heroes event in our park which of course Madam sat in her backpack and I did the carrying. She was not happy with all the noise especially the jets flying over head so on Sunday we just lay low and relaxed in the house which she was happy with. I had the Jazz going to keep it as calm as possible plus to block out the jets. So I spoiled her with lots of treats.

Talking about treats we got some new goodies to try out. They come from one of our favorite local stores – Jeffrey’s Natural Pet Food Store. What she got was some frozen raw chicken necks and I must say she is going to town on them. Loves them and sits on the bed moaning to get more although I am only giving her one a day.

Madam will not  sit still for anything when she gets one so sorry
 about this pic


Jeffrey’s is a local raw pet food store, they prepare their food daily in San Francisco sourcing local ingredients, quality ingredients: fresh, raw, quality meats, free from hormones and antibiotics, fresh organic vegetables, and their own vitamin mineral mix. They make food for both dogs and cats.

You can read all about them on their website https://www.jeffreyspets.com/

I also had to compensate Layla big time as she got punished LOL with a bath this week, lying in the park with all the leaves falling had made her dusty and itchy, so it was needed and she was happy to come home and chew on another neck.




As you all know October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month we are sharing important info all the time to remind everyone to be safe, both humans and animals.


So that has been our week, Madam as usual being spoiled and me working hard to keep her happy, what a perfect balance.


Have a wonderful weekend all,With a woof and love from Layla

October is a busy month

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TGIF !!!!! 


As you know October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month where we pray for all the victims, both humans and animals that they will be able to get away from the abuse safely.


So before I start with what has been happening in the Layla Neighborhood I want to remind everyone what to do if your pet is threatened. It is so important to remember this as this way you will know you have proof that your abuser abused your pets too which will make it easier for you to get them away.

October is a month where I think and miss Baby a lot as she was part of that dark chapter of my life but another reason I miss her is because October is filled with so many Halloween events which I was never able to do with her so I try to do as many as possible with Layla, and I often question myself am I doing it for her or out of guilt not being able to do it all with Baby.


Last weekend we went to a great Halloween Event held by one of the Paw Barkeries in San Francisco. It was so much fun with so many dogs and costumes I could not keep up with them all. Of course there were loads of treats so Layla had a party munching away all the time LOL.

I am putting up some of the photos here of some of the costumes.

There were also different vendors and an introduction to insects from a non profit that is trying to save all insects.

As I always do I used a backpack for Layla to keep her safe with everyone pushing and walking around. This is a new backpack that I received from the company called Mr. Peanut’s Pet Products. It was so comfy to carry Layla in, she was so happy and one thing I really loved about it was that when I sat down to have coffee I could lie it on its side and she could lie down and have a nap. 

The backpack is PETA certified, made of vegan leatherette and faux fleece bedding pads. It is a great backpack, light weight, weighing only 2.4 lbs, waterproof which is great for when it rains, has really great ventilation with breathable mesh on 3 sides, removable fleece travel bed and compartments for treats, poop bags or medications. It comes with a 2 in 1 feeder travel set, 12 oz duel sided collapsible bowl and an amazing 20 oz Water Bottle. It is also airline approved which for those that fly with their pets it is just perfect.


They also have a program that pays forward so when you shop from them you are supporting a shelter also, and businesses that do that for me are a winner.

For more information about their products which are socially aware, ecologically produced and safe for your pets you can visit their website : https://www.mrpeanutspremiumproducts.com/

And before I forget to all our cat friends their products are for cats too.


While I am typing all this there are jets flying over head practicing for Fleet Weekend, I personally think a waste of money which could be used for so many non profit organizations that are struggling. It also reminds me of the October 1973 war when I was sitting in school with jets flying over head protecting Israel. 


So as you can see October is full of memories for me, but am at this same time trying to make great new fun memories which will not wipe out the bad but helps make the month look good instead.


Have a wonderful weekend everyone,With a love and woof from Layla


Aging Gracefully

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TGIF and Woof it is a long weekend. What are your plans ?


Here in the Layla neighborhood we have been taking it slow as Mom has been running around sorting out personal things plus going for interviews for more Hebrew tutoring so it has been a little chaotic.


In between all that she has been trying to take me to the park wherever possible and then grrr she punished me with a bath. I hate them and those should be banished from us plus put on the animal abuse list. Who agrees with me ? I know she says I need them as I roll and get stinky but I like those smells better than the ones from the shampoo which makes me smell fruity. 

So Mom and I had a discussion this week about us growing old together. She told me that I need to stay healthy and that is why she took me to the vet on Tuesday for my Bi-Annual check up. She explained to me that she does it also.


Well bless my vet. I have been seeing him for 8 years now, he is so funny also but very serious too. It is the same vet that looked after my sister when she was very ill and passed away, R.I.P. Baby. When Layla arrived from the Shelter he was the vet that checked her for me and I just adore him.

He calls Mom a typical Jewish Mom and I agree with him.  She worries about everything and needs to slow down a bit. 
The breakdown from the vet visit is like this :
01.  I am a very healthy 12 year old girl. 

02.  I have allergies but he said a lot of the dogs have at the moment so nothing to worry.

03.   He wanted to give me a flu shot and Mom said no it is not necessary as there is no flu here in San Francisco at the moment. Mom does not get them either.

04.  My cataract on my left eye – I still have some vision so we are not worrying about that and as Mom joked with him she does not have good vision at all in her left eye either – so we are two peas in a pod.

05. Teeth – all good phew.

06. Weight -perfect

These are the changes we discussed as with age adjustments are made :
01.  Food – He said the diet I am getting is awesome and the only change there is Mom must stop with apples as it is too much sugar for my teeth.
This is the recipe :
Boil a whole chicken, gizzards, chicken livers with a tbsp of apple cider vinegar, vegetables : carrots, peas, kale, spinach, apples, green beans, brussels sprouts, broccoli, pumpkin or sweet potato, zucchini, cauliflower. When cooked, I cool it down, then shred the chicken without the skin and bones, I make a smoothie of the veggies using the broth as liquid, I mix all together and put in containers and freeze. When I feed her I put these supplements in her food so she has a balanced diet – Raw Paws Organic Hip and Joint Green Lipped Mussel Powder and Raw Paws Organic Sea Kelp Daily Supplement.
This is the website of Raw Paws Pet Food and I swear by their products :

https://www.rawpawspetfood.com/default.asp

You can also use ground turkey or beef instead of the chicken.   

There is a 15% discount with the coupon Layla15  

02.  He wants me to get more fish oil so Mom is researching at this moment plus we have the Bay Area Pet Fair in two weeks time so Mom said she will see what is going on as there are loads of booths.


03.  Hemp Oil – He agrees with Mom giving it to me daily to keep me calm as lately I have become afraid of all kinds of things, part of growing old.


04.  Me not wanting to go out at night for my last walk – he said that could be because of my sight and if I do not want to go out then just to leave it. I am very smart telling Mom when I want to go out especially BOL when she is sleeping.


On the way home from the vet Mom popped into Trader Joes and got me some chicken jerky for being such a good girl. 


So you all see, age is just a number as I still act  like a puppy and full of energy which keeps my old Mother on her toes and I love it.


And now of course is siesta time as the dictating is very hard, I am going to have a snooze while Mom finishes off here. I have also ordered her to see what events there are this weekend so we can do something especially as it is a long weekend.


OY before I start my siesta I want to send prayers to all those that might be hit by the hurricane in Florida, our thoughts are with you and please be safe PLUS do not forget to take your pets with you as they are family.


Have a wonderful weekend everyone, enjoy the quality time with your families and please keep your pets safe.


Woof with love from Layla



Hide the Fireworks are Coming plus Give Away

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Good Morning All,
Me the social butterfly has been really busy as always but it is keeping Mom and I young which is what i keep telling her.


I went to the vet last week as my eyes were really red and Mom was concerned, I hate that place. Anyway my favorite vet was there and she checked them and told Mom I have really bad allergies and dry eyes, so she gave Mom some ointment to put in my eyes and I think it is working cos I am less itchy. 


On Saturday we went to the Shih Tzu Meetup which is one of my favorite events as there are lots of dogs my size and they are all fluffy. It was loads of fun, the weather was fantastic and also being in a different park always makes things more interesting.


In the evening we met up with one of my favorite Aunts who was here in the city for 2 days. She is a very special lady as she runs a Fospice for pets by rescuing the seniors that have been dumped in shelters so that they can live the rest of their lives with love. You can read about her Sanctuary on her Facebook page.

This is the link to her Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/dreamsanctuary/

Sunday we just relaxed, Mom says she had no energy for anything so I took control and made sure we did lots of long walks. I am not interested in her being tired as I do not have a computer and need to check my pmail.

NOW as you all know 4th of July is around the corner, the nightmare for many pets because of the fireworks. It is so important that we, the parents keep our pets safe in the house and this is what I have found works for Layla.


I put a bed in the shower, water and some toys, making it comfortable for her if she needs it. I also keep music on, give her last walk at about 7 before the chaos starts and most important of all is I give her Hemp Oil. I am a firm believer of the Hemp Oil as it keeps her calm, relaxed and less worrying for me. 


The Hemp oil I use is from a company called Restorative Botanicals and swear by it. What I love also is that they have products for us also which makes a difference and when I am stressed out I drink their delicious coffee which keeps me calm. A must for us coffee drinkers.


This weekend we are going to Pride in San Francisco which is exciting although I hate the noise of the motor bikes so Mom will be giving me the Hemp Oil to stay calm, actually with age I am getting scared of many noises so this product is really easing my life in a big way.  

You can read all about them on their website :

https://www.restorativebotanicals.com/?rfsn=2263342.782237

GIVEAWAY TIME

So we decided to leave the BEST NEWS for last and that is Mom surprised me this week with some wonderful new treats, chicken jerky yummm and raw turkey necks to chew on especially on 4th of July which will keep me busy as I am inside more than normal plus what could be better than chewing away on something good.


What is the give away ??????? 


Freeze Dried Wild Caught Minnows. They are a single ingredient treat for both cats and dogs. This single source treat is perfect for pets on a limited ingredient diet, who have food allergies or stomach sensitivities. Minnows are easily digestible containing no grain, gluten, artificial flavors, additives, or preservatives. Sourced and packaged in the USA. 
I, Layla personally puts my paw of approval on them, they are delicious and I strongly suggest you enter to win as they are a must for the treat jar. I am also excited as once again I am sharing for both cats and dogs so everyone can enjoy.

You can find them on the link below and remember if you do shop there you have a discount of 15% with the coupon Layla15.

https://www.rawpawspetfood.com/Default.asp?sscid=51k3_szat

We have been sponsored for this give away by the company. It is not open to Canadian residents only the USA.

All you have to do is enter on the link below :

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7d1ec19c49/?

Before I log off here for the week we must NOT forget that 5th of July is the busiest day in shelters as they are saving and keeping all animals that have run away from the fireworks safe, so to all my fur friends everywhere, both domestic and wild, please be safe, try to stay calm and remember the stupid humans are to blame for us being scared on 4th of July.


Happy Pride to those that are celebrating this week and Happy Safe 4th of July Everyone.


With a woof and love from Layla