Pedigree Dentastix® "Pupsicles"

 This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShareFunshine #CollectiveBias

My kids are counting down the days till school ends and we can officially begin our Summer fun. I can hardly believe that next week will be their last day.

But isn't Summer always better with a friend? Well I know the dogs are eager to have their playmates home during the day and I am already stocking up on fun activities and items to keep us busy and help us stay cool this Summer.

For the kids that means slushes and homemade frozen treats, but what about for our four-legged friends? We love Cooper and don't want to leave him out of the Summer fun.

Yes, I headed into our local Walmart to stock up on all our Summer favorites, and now is a great time to stock up for your family, too. First, be sure to enter for a chance to win in the Funshine Sweepstakes below.

Share a Little Funshine Sweepstakes

There was a whole section in my local Walmart for different sizes and flavors of Pedigree Dentastix®. I stocked up on both the beef flavor and original. Why so much? Well, I have big plans for these.

I also picked up some other family favorites. And while stocking up, be sure to Download the Blippar app from your Apple or Android store to scan your package and receive exclusive content.

There are so many recipes and fun activities I have planned for these Summer staples like Dr Pepper® Cherry, Skittles®, Pedigree Dentastix®, M&M's® Plain candy, and the Life Savers® Hard Candy Variety bag. Many of these products were favorites of mine growing up and have a lot of great Summer memories with them. The Pedigree Dentastix are new to me, but I have an idea that will make them a staple in our pantry this season.

All stocked up, I was ready to get started on my "Pupsicles".

Pedigree Dentastix® "Pupsicles

You will need:

• Pedigree Detastix, medium or large
• 2 c. low sodium, organic beef stock
• 1 tsp. Brewer's Yeast *optional

Grab an ice cube tray, or if you have a dog-themed frozen treat tray, grab that!

Fill the ice cube mold with a mixture of beef stock and Brewer's Yeast. I should note that you want to find a beef stock that doesn't use onions or a contains excess sodium.  It is easy to make your own with leftover bones, carrots and celery added to a stock pot. This is also a great way to keep the broth free of added sodium.

Cover with kitchen wrap and then cut a small slice into the wrap above each mold. Stand a Pedigree Dentastix up in each mold. This will become the "handle" for your "Pupsicle".

Freeze until solid. Then treat your favorite pup! Store the remaining "Pupsicles" until you are ready to use them.

This is also a fun treat to share with your neighbors and dog pals. I wrapped a few up with lollipop wrappers and tied them up with a little kitchen twine. I will store these in the freezer as well until we can deliver them to our four-legged neighbors.

And what did our furry friend think of our "Pupsicles"?

Well, Cooper might have just been polite, but he didn't waste a bit of his "Pupsicle". I keep our treats small, but on a hot day something like this is a big treat.

My kids love to share treats with our dogs while they are playing in the backyard. It is just one more way that Summertime is special.

I enjoying seeing the bond between my oldest and our family dog. Yes, Summer is about fun and friends, regardless of it those friends are four-legged or not.

Do you have any special plans to #ShareFunshine with your pet this Summer? 

Be sure to check out http://cbi.as/8v0q for Summer inspiration.  I'd love to hear which are your favorite ideas for making summer FUN!

Bringing the "Wild" Back to Mealtimes for our Dogs - #TheArtofNutrition

This post is sponsored by Wild Calling! and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the Wild Calling! Pet Food, but Adventures In All Things Food only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Wild Calling! is not responsible for the content of this article.

As I mentioned previously, our "puppy" has even more energy than I expected. He is almost full grown now, so I have a hard time calling him that. His appetite is still huge and he burns off all that energy by playing hard with our Border Collie, Cooper, and barking at all the busy tractors and machinery working around the farm. 

This time of year, as we are waiting for the strawberries and cherries to be ready to harvest, I start thinking about how important it is to me that my family is able to eat local food grown the way nature intended. We know the ranchers who raise our meat, and my husband grows the rest of what we eat.

Our four-legged family members deserve the same nutrition, right?

They definitely earned it!

So I am excited to once again share my thoughts on Wild Calling!® and the idea that dogs deserve a diet that is all natural, grain free and meat-rich diet.

Just like on our farm, it is family first and pets before profits for this company and they are proud to be creating a great product right here in the US. Here are a few more things that set this brand apart from other dog food brands:

• GlycoEdge - It is designed to provide your pup with consistent energy and a low glycemic diet. This dog food is made with Tapioca, sweet potatoes, and lentils to provide a low glycemic diet 
• Quality - They believe in using the highest quality ingredients including hormone and antibiotic-free meat, poultry and fish. 
• Meat & Protein rich Dog Food. Wild Calling! believes in grain free nutrition, and their protein is derived from quality animal protein. Rich meats help create an optimal amino acid profile to support healthy muscle growth & increased energy

Huck had not complaints, in fact, he loved the smell of  Wild Calling!®  and we didn't have to call him twice to eat dinner in his crate. He was happy to lick the bowl clean!

We tried the Rocky Mountain Medley dry and Chicken Coop wet dog foods with Huck. He transitioned over to them easily and I never saw any side effects after the switch. This food really agreed with him and I felt good knowing that the first ingredients are always meat, poultry or fish.

Doesn't that seem like the best thing for dogs?

If your pup has a wild side, be sure to feed them the best with Wild Calling! Check out the store locator to find a retailer near you.

Now you know what Huck thinks of Wild Calling, do you have a dog in your life who needs all natural, high quality protein?

Keeping Up With 2 Busy Dogs - #TheArtofNutrition

This post is sponsored by Wild Calling! and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the Wild Calling! Pet Food, but Adventures In All Things Food only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Wild Calling! is not responsible for the content of this article.

Last year I would have said confidently, we are a one dog household. Our Border Collie, Cooper, has limitless energy and I have often said he is much like my oldest son. Always active, limitless energy and always looking to play. I thought he was all our family could handle.

Famous last words, right?

You may remember that we added another member to our four-legged family last Fall. Our newest addition, is my husband's Patterdale Terrier and hunting buddy that we named Huck.

...or Huckle, or Huckleberry. It just depends on our mood.

Now we have two high energy dogs who are very active, loving and who deserve to be fed only the best high quality protein. I mean, we have fallen in love with these guys and want to have them as part of our family for years to come.

Yes, I admit it. We are definitely a two dog family.

I really enjoy watching the two of them race and play all day. But, you just know they are burning a lot of calories all day.

And now my husband has an eager farming buddy and hunting partner. Huck is still very much a puppy, he has a lot to learn... and even more growing to do.

One of the best parts of living on a farm is knowing exactly what my family eats. We eat locally, and grow a lot of it ourselves. We know fruit and vegetables, but the dogs need real meat. With a growing puppy and a mature dog, I want to ensure they both have what they need to be a healthy weight and have enough energy to play hard everyday.

Both of our dogs can benefit from Wild Calling!® and their real and honest take on dog food.

What makes Wild Calling! different?

• GlycoEdge - It is designed to provide your pup with consistent energy and a low glycemic diet. This dog food is made with Tapioca, sweet potatoes, and lentils to provide a low glycemic diet 
• Quality - They believe in using the highest quality ingredients including hormone and antibiotic-free meat, poultry and fish. 
• Meat & Protein rich Dog Food. Wild Calling! believes in grain free nutrition, and their protein is derived from quality animal protein. Rich meats help create an optimal amino acid profile to support healthy muscle growth & increased energy

I am going to be trying out the Rocky Mountain Medley this month and can't wait to share our experiences in April. So stay tuned! 

Be sure to check out the Wild Calling! store locator so you can try it for your dog.

I shared our story, now I want to know why your dog deserves Wild Calling!?

This Halloween Don't Forget the Dogs - Trick Or Treat Em

This #TrickOrTreatEm Big Heart Pet Treat shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions and experiences are mine alone.

This time of year my kids can't stop talking about their favorite treats. You know, from Trick-or-Treating, Halloween parties, the Fall School Carnival, etc. But what about our four-legged family members? I am pretty sure they wouldn't turn down a special dog biscuit or pet treat, right?

Right now it seems like more of a "trick" than treat around our house with a new puppy and kitten being added recently. There is a lot of adjustments to be made and time to be found to make sure everyone feels special.  I have been working hard with our existing pets and the kids to give everyone a little more love and be sure not to leave anyone out. So it is always nice to have a few extra bags of treats on hand for a little extra praise for the older pets, as well as positive reinforcement for our new arrivals.

Take Cooper for example.

We recently welcomed an 8-week old Patterdale Terrier into our home, and my Border Collie, Cooper, has been a pretty good sport about sharing us. One key to accepting the new puppy has involved lots of playtime together as a family and some reassuring treats with praise.

The thought to dress Cooper up for Halloween has never really crossed my mind. He is a big, working farm dog through and through. But now that I have a small terrier, I was excited to have the kids help me find the perfect dog costume for Halloween. 

Of course one big key to dressing a dog, is positive reinforcement...and making it fun.

Since my Dog 4-H days, I have enjoyed keeping treats like MilkBone dog biscuits and Pup-peroni on hand. Right now our puppy, Huck, is learning to do basic commands like come, heel and sit. For him I keep a long piece of Pup-peroni handy, and break off little pieces as needed. The scent really keeps his attention.

Of course wearing a costume is also a new thing for him. I wasn't sure how he was going to react, but he was more than willing to give it a try for a little treat.

Huck has had to warm up to treats. I am not sure they were offered before he came to live with us. Now I think he can sniff them out anywhere. This little terrier has a great nose on him. I just can't put the treats down, or he might sneak a few while I'm not looking. 

With Halloween coming, it was great time to stock back up on our favorite dog treats and select the perfect costume for our new puppy. We found a wide selection at our local Fred Meyers. There was even a display for Trick or Treat Em stocked with some of my favorites.

My favorites for training and treating still remain MilkBone dog biscuits, I like to use the small sized biscuits, and Original Beef Flavor Pup-peroni. Besides being a hit with the dogs, they are also easy for my children to use as rewards.

In order to make Halloween more fun for your your pet, here are my family's 5 tips to keep your pet happy & safe this Halloween.

1. Select a costume your pet can move in. Please be sure your dog's costume doesn't restrict movement or breathing. Since this is Huck's first Halloween we opted for a simple harness style. He can still move his legs and see easily, but he is festive and fun. 

2. Make sure your pet is visible. I went with a bright orange costume and paired it with a glow-in-the-dark leash. Another good option would be to put reflectors on the pet's costume somewhere.

3. Try your costume on beforehand. This was our trial-run with Huck's costume. I didn't want him to freak out wearing it on the big night. Also make sure your pet doesn't have an allergic reaction or becomes overly stressed. If your pet isn't up for a full costume,  bandannas can be just as fun and easily made out of scrap Halloween fabric.

4. Keep pets away from Halloween dangers like candy, glow sticks, candles etc. There are a lot of spooky temptations Halloween night. Keep a close eye on your four-legged friend to make sure they have a safe experience.

5. Be prepared. If you go out Halloween night with your dog, don't forget your leash, ID tags, water and of course, their own safe treats to enjoy. No one wants to be left out of the fun!

One thing kids catch onto fast is how the puppy will listen if they offer a treat. I love how they are all interacting with each other. 

Pets are a big part of our family and I wouldn't have my kids growing up without them. It just makes sense that we would share one of our favorite holidays of the year with our newest addition.

Huck was such a good sport and made an adorable little Jack-O-Lantern! 

To memorialize your own Trick-or-Treat pet memories, head over to http://trickortreatem.com to take their pet personality quiz, create a fun photo and frame to share on social media and grab some tasty treat coupons as well! 

Grab those treats when you are out grabbing last minute Halloween candy.

Since this is our first Halloween with Huck, I was eager to show him off in his costume. What do you think?

Doesn't this sweet face deserve to be treated too?

Will your pet be dressing up for Halloween? How will they celebrate?

Take the Purina One 28 Day Challenge - Your Dog will Thank You!

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Purina One, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #ONEDifference http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Cooper, our Border Collie, is the perfect fit for our family. He is energetic enough for my oldest son, gentle enough for the baby to pull on his ears and coat, and just loves his life here on the farm. In exchange for all the doggie kisses and deep loyalty he shows up, I want to take the best care possible of his health.

You might remember that I have shared his adoption story here on the blog. We met him in our local shelter and he was such a sweet and gentle guy that there was another Mom behind us hoping that we wouldn't adopt him. Luckily I saw him first. I walked him on the lead and let him interact with the kids and I wouldn't let him go till we had started the paperwork to adopt him. He wasn't meant to be in the shelter for long. After deciding we were ready for the committement of a dog, he was exactly what I had been hoping for.

Cooper never tires of playing with the kids. He is the happiest with our Chuck It and a big open alfalfa field. I have never seen a dog so eager to play. Fast as lightening he will jump, twist and perform acrobatic feats to get his ball. And everyday he asks to go back out. I have watched my kids learn to throw and learn to interact with their four-legged family member. It is a beautiful relationship to watch grow.

I want to ensure that he can keep up with my kids for years to come.

So the Purina One 28 Day Challenge appealed to me. I love the idea of seeing noticeable differences in Cooper's health. More energy? Well, not sure what we would do with more energy, but it would come in handy for playing fetch in the fields. Healthy coat, shiny eyes? I think there is always room for improvement there. Our dog lives and sleeps outdoors so his coat isn't always at its best.

How many times have you tried a new product and then never watched to see if it really worked? When it comes to pet food I don't think I have ever taken the time at regular intervals to check to see if there were any improvements in my pet's health. This challenge is a fun way to keep track of how Cooper is doing and see if Purina One is right for my dog.

I found info in my local Walmart in the dog food aisle. You can grab one of the handy cards with all the details, or just hop on over to Purina's site for ONEDifference.

When I opened the bag, Cooper was eager to take a taste. I always hesitate to try new foods with him because he is a picky eater. He is also a shy eater, usually waiting for us to leave or not be watching when he eats, so I was shocked to see him start eating his breakfast immediately.

Yes, he is so picky, we have only found a few treats, or dog biscuits that he will eat, let alone dog food brands. Don't worry, Cooper is amazingly polite, even if it isn't his thing. He will take the bone from me with his tail 'a wagging, but then abandons it out in the yard. *sigh*

Because we have been feeding him a different dog food, I started out mixing the old food with the Purina One Lamb & Rice Formula, increasing the Purina One over time. You can ask your vet to find out their suggested recommendations for introducing new foods. The Purina site suggest transitioning over 7-10 days.

This Purina One Smartblend Lamb and Rice blend dry dog food has varied texture, and a flavor that Cooper likes. So even after only being a week into our challenge, we have already hit the first observation along our journey, taste.

I would say that Cooper is already a pretty healthy boy. He is at a healthy weight for his breed and is very active. We have chickens he keeps in line, not to mention my 3 kids!  You can see my progress and other story photos on Instagram by following the #ONEDifference hashtag.  I will be posting update photos when I hit the midway mark, as well as complete the 28 days. Come follow me on Instagram, andrealkruse, or purinaonedog to keep up with the fun.

If you want to take the Purina One 28 Day Challenge with your family dog, grab a  $3 off coupon towards a Purina One bag of dog food. See, doesn't that sound good already? I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences on how your own challenge goes.

What improvements would you like to see in your four-legged best friend?

Dogs Make Us Smile, Care for Theirs with Milk-Bone® Brushing ChewsTM

The Milk-Bone® dog products, information and VISA gift cards have been provided by the Milk-Bone® brand. All opinions and experiences are my own.

I couldn't imagine our home without our family dog, Cooper. He is the perfect blend of high energy, gentle manners and outdoors man that fits in perfectly here. He is family.

That being said, I am not a fan of "dog breath". I try to feed Cooper well, care for him, etc. but the breath can be the difference between a welcomed dog hug and a "down boy". Here on the farm he gets into all sorts of things. Most of which I probably don't want the details on. Since we got Cooper from the shelter I wasn't able to condition him from a puppy for activities like tooth brushing.

Back as a 6th grader in Dog 4-H I remember learning about the importance of a dog's dental health. Some of my friends had AKC registered show dogs and would rub their teeth and gums to keep them clean and healthy. I, on the other hand, had a mutt... a gentle giant of a dog whose mouth I avoided. Instead we gave him treats that helped with his breath, but did nothing for his teeth.

So I was very intrigued when I heard that Milk-Bone® had a new product, Brushing ChewsTM. These are a clever and useful treat/ tool all-in-one.

The Milk-Bone® Brushing ChewsTM come in two sizes, mini or small/medium. Yes, they taste like a chicken-flavored treat, but act like a toothbrush... for your dog! Using daily, they are  are clinically proven to be as effective as brushing your dog’s teeth twice per week for reduction of tartar build-up and bad breath. Also,

• Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews^TM were developed to transform at-home dental care for dogs, so that now your dog to brush his own teeth every day – just like you!
• *When fed daily, Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews^TM are clinically proven to be as effective as brushing your dog’s teeth twice per week based on the reduction of tartar build-up and bad breath
• Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews^TM feature a specially designed 75 degree twist that helps the brushing nubs reach down to the gum line, even cleaning hard-to-reach back teeth
• Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews^TM are so effective that they have earned the trusted Veterinary Oral Health Council’s (VOHC) Seal of Acceptance, similar to the American Dental Association (ADA) seal seen on human dental products

And what does Cooper think? Well, he loves them. He is pretty shy with treats, so I didn't want to interrupt his little toothbrushing moment for a close-up. Let's just say I haven't had to shy away from stinky dog breath recently.

I imagined he would just wolf it down in two bites and that would be it. Instead he sat down in the grass and proceeded to chew on the bone. This is a dog that will chew through just about anything in no time at all. He actually took his time to work on it.

Connect and share with Milk-Bone® on Facebook, Twitter and Instragram.

Could a dog in your life use Milk-Bone® Brushing ChewsTM?

Would you like to win your own Milk-Bone® Brushing Chews^TM product and a gift card, just like I received? Well, one lucky reader here will.  Enter on the giveaway widget below:

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