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!?

Creating a Good Life - 10 Essentials for Adopting an Adult Cat

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. This cat food shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser. All opinions and experiences are my own. #goodlifepet

One of the best things our family decided to do was to take in an adult cat named Chloe. Growing up around cats, I have experienced my fair share of kittens... but also have fond memories of an adult cat we adopted, when I was in high school, named Leo.

Leo was a very friendly, soft and snuggly cat who entered my life as a confident adult. There were no shredded items or tiny paws snagging my ankles at every turn. He arrived and then promptly took a center position on the couch and our laps.

Though kittens are adorable, with my own young children I didn't want to deal with the boundless energy of a tiny terror, sharp little milk teeth and litter box training. No, I opted to take on an mature cat and it is a decision I have never regretted. You could say that Chloe and I have provided each other a mutually beneficial good life.

In my experience, kittens are often impulsive decisions. Based on looks and tugging at heartstrings, kittens come home and are flexible enough to take on a new family and experiences. The truth is, the patience a kitten would require is currently being sucked up entirely by my 3 young children. Adult cats require more forethought and planning, but also come with great benefits.

• Mature cats do not demand as much time as raising a kitten
• Already litter box trained
• Often spayed, neutered and fully vaccinated
• You know what to expect in the way of temperament, size, coat, etc.
• Are a better fit for children and older adults

Of course, once you decide a mature cat is a good fit for your family's needs, you will need to prepare for bringing them home. Having everything in place and ready to go when they start to explore their new home will help reduce the new family member's stress.

I have compiled a list of 10 essential items to get you started and prepared for your new friend. Believe me, your new cat will thank you.

First lets look at the general items you will need.

1. Carrier or travel box for vet visits and coming home. An older cat will require more vet visits and having a carrier will make travel easier and safer. Make sure it is well ventilated and your pet may appreciate being able to see you there.
2. Identification. You can find an I.D. engraver in most large pet stores and there is even one in my local Walmart. Make sure there is a way to contact you if your pet becomes lost or injured. A newly adopted pet may wander off before they become accustomed to their new home. I like to keep an extra I.D. handy because cats have a talent for slipping out of their collars.
3. Brush or Grooming Supplies. Depending on your cat's coat, you may want to get a grooming glove or brushes to keep your pet's coat at its best.
4. Treats. Treats are a great ice breaker with a new pet and a great way to build trust. I also keep some handy for Chloe when I want to introduce a new peice of cat furniture or entice her into her carrier.
5. Flea & Tick Prevention. Growing up we used flea collars, but now I use an easy treatment to keep parasites away. It only needs to be reapplied every few months. This helps to keep fleas down on my indoor/outdoor cat as well as in my carpet.

Then you will need to make arrangements for a cat box. I like to find an out of the way place to put my cat's litter box but that is also well ventilated. It needs to also be in an area where I will remember to keep it scooped and changed. For us, the laundry room was the perfect place for these items.

6. Litter Box. This should be clean and free of scratches that can harbor smells and bacteria. I like to change the box itself once a year.
7. Cat Litter. There are so many choices out there for litter - clumping, scented, all natural...your choice.

Not essential, but an item I have grown to enjoy is a Litter Genie. This has helped  keep the litter box cleaner and has cut back on the indoor cat smell.

An older cat may be overwhelmed by the excitement and activity in their new home. When Chloe first came to live with us she found a quiet place to rest during the day and safely explored our home in the evenings. Eventually I created a little area for her in our laundy room. It seemed like the perfect place after I found her curled up on top of the dryer several mornings. The laundry room has a baby gate on it so she can retreat from small grabbing hands. She has a bed, and everything she needs in this room. Some days I still find her hanging out in the laundry room shen she needs a little break from the three children or there is company in the house.

8. A Safe Place. We put up a bed and the blanket she came with to create a   safe area with familiar smells. The window also lets in enough light that she can warm up on Winter mornings.

And then, last but not least, you need a place for fresh, clean water and food.

9. Food & Water Dishes. I prefer a self-waterer and gravity style feeder since we are busy and I don't want Chloe to run out of food. She doesn't have a problem with overeating so this has worked best for us.
10. The Right Food. I chose GOODLIFE™ dry cat food Indoor Recipefor Chloe because she primarily lives indoors. It is available in my local Walmart and reasonably priced. Chloe enjoys the taste and I appreciate that chicken is the first ingredient on the bag.

There are 3 different recipes, Indoor Recipe, Real Chicken Recipe and Real Salmon Recipe, all available at Walmart. Chloe spends much of her day inside, enjoying the good life, so the indoor recipe made the most sense for her. The protein contect is a little lower (but, she isn't as active, either) and it contains added fiber to help control hairballs. That is really important when you have a long haired cat.

None of the GOODLIFE™ brand recipes contain corn, soy or wheat. Either chicken or salmon top the list of ingredients. Yes, its a grain free cat food option. You can get nutrition information, see how other leading brands stack up and even score a $1 off cat food coupon for GOODLIFE™ Cat food on the brand site.

 

If adopting a cat is in your future, give adopting a mature cat some thought. Ask around because a cat you know may need a new home.

How did we find Chloe? After posting a humorous "Cat Wanted" letter on Facebook, a old high school classmate responded by saying that her growing family had one too many cats. Over a direct message photo of Chloe, we knew we had found our cat. She has proven that mature cats have just as much love to offer a new family as a kitten.

I would even say, she has more.

Do you have cats? Have you ever adopted an adult cat?