Naughty or NIce? Holiday Treat! #Product Review

Looking at these two, (Bolt and Champ, who do you think is naughty and who is nice?  These two fur babies are actually very nice this year so we are rewarding them with goodies.  It's funny, I asked them to wear a tie  so I can take pictures of them and they  did not move so I guess that was their  approval of me  putting these ties on their neck lol.  

They normally don't like anything on their neck bu this time, they played along with me.  My daughter wasn't feeling good when I  took these photos.  I told the dogs that we have to do something that would make the little lady feel better.  She actually  laughed when she saw these two with ties on and i started taking photos.  

We love talking to our dogs.  It's hilarious to see  how their eyes and ears reacts to what you say.  Champ would usually  put his ears up and down when he hears  "walk", "play", and "ball" then he wiggles his tail.  

When we talk to Bolt, he usually respond  with  bark especially if he hears the word "food".  When he is guilty of something, he doesn't look at us, his eyes  moves  like avoiding to  look at you.

I got them a dozen of this Merrick Classic Grain-Free Venison Holiday Stew Recipe canned dog food  from Chewy and they are loving it.  If we  deserve to have a little extra eat during the holidays, our fur babies deserve some holiday treats as well and this venison holiday stew is just perfect for them. It is full of venison, red jacket new potatoes, carrots, zucchini, peas and red delicious apples .  

Another thing that Champ is looking forward in getting is this KONG Holiday Jumbler Football Dog Toy.  Of our  two dogs, Champ is the playful one.  He always love to play.  He loves  playing with rubber balls.  So the moment  I  squeeze the ball and it made noise,  he was on it.  

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This  KONG Holiday Jumbler toy is just what we  need to get Champ in the holiday spirit!  Winter is not only hard for us, people, but it is also hard for  pets because they don't get to do the things that they love to do outside.  They are  indoors most of the times so this jumbler toy is perfect for our Jack Russel Terrier.   It's is a 2-in-1 ball toy for twice the interactive fun. The interior tennis ball and loud squeak entice play, while the handles make pickup and shaking easy. The Jumbler stands up to tough play, making it ideal for games of fetch.   It has the ffestive colors for the holiday season, available in red and green.

Champ actually love to open gifts on Christmas so we decided to wrap this toy for him to open on Christmas day.  It was funny when my daughter was wrapping it in her bedroom, Champ wanted to get inside the room lol.  Below is the short video I recorded of Champ when he was trying to get the ball.

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the product/s mentioned  to help me  facilitate this review but  opinions are my own.

Reasons Your Kids Deserve A Dog

What parent doesn’t want the best for their kids? What parent wouldn't do anything to help their children be healthier and happier? Of course, every Mom and Dad would do all they could. And if you knew there was something that you could do better, would you do it? Absolutely, Well if you don’t have a dog then you could be doing more! Studies have shown what dog lovers have known for years. Dogs are great for people but they are even better for kids.

Dogs make kids healthier

Even babies benefit from having a dog around. Studies have been showing that babies who are growing up with a dog in the house have less coughs, runny noses and ear infections. It is also being shown that even babies who have allergies are overcoming them when they are around dogs.

If someone had told you that dogs could cure eczema would you have believed them? They’d be a miracle cure. But it is true. Children who have dogs in the house are showing less tendency towards eczema and other skin diseases. It would seem that these pooches are boosting the immune systems of children they come into contact with. Children around dogs recover more quickly from illness.

Dogs make kids happier

From the scruffiest mutt imaginable to the most adorable white labrador puppies. Dogs are changing children's lives for the better. Dogs increase good mood factors and playing with their dogs helps children feel less stressed. When a child interacts with a dog something magical happens. That relationship blossoms and fills the child with increased self esteem.

Dogs teach kids well.

Encouraging a child to take care of a dog gives them a greater sense of responsibility.They learn about trust and also about giving. A dog is without judgement, totally loving and filled with loyalty. Children pick up on that and they understand it. They learn to recognise and value these qualities in themselves. A dog is a great infinitely patient teacher. A dog displays selfless commitment, loyalty and patience. When you think about it this is a list of virtues we’d all love to instill in our kids. A dog is all of them personified.

Dogs make children fitter.

Well dogs make us all fitter, but children have a wonderful energy. The opportunity to play with a dog brings it out again and again. Playing with dog toys, walking, running, jumping, fetching, throwing, getting wet and getting muddy. A dog is a brilliant play pal for a child. When a child is given responsibility for a dog they become part friend, part teacher and loyal buddy. Training your dog makes a relationship for life.

Dogs protect children

It has to be said, a dog is loyal without question. A dog would give its life for your child. It will protect it and guard it. Your child is safer with a dog around. Your home is safer with a dog around.

Dogs are great for kids and that’s a fact. Actually I’m not sure I can think of a single reason our kids should not have a dog.

Love Naut

My kids  call our guinea pigs Love Nauts.  They hated each  other at first but now, they starting to co-exist  with each other  even in one cage.  We still separate them every night but we let them  get to know each other  during the day in a big box.  

 Penelope  ks a long haired  perivian guinea pig so we get to  ix her hair with stuff.  As long as you are gentle, she's fine with it.

Dunkin seems to enjoy his companion now.  He still get jumpy at times but he is  getting better withdealong with Penelope.  I still miss  our bunnies  but  these guinea pigs are good replacement for them especially for the kids.  They were devastated when our ast bunny died because Wubzy was a very good pet who love to hang out with us.

How You Can Help Improve Animal Welfare From Your Own Home

Here at Pets & Critters Nook, our biggest concern is always making sure that animals have the best quality of life they can. Obviously, we believe that all pets should have a loving home and family of their own. And we do what we can to make sure that's the case. Do you ever find yourself wishing you could help out in some way too? That's fantastic! It's always great to have more people on board, so here are a few of the ways you can do your bit to helping our furry friends.

Sponsor

I'm sure you've all seen the commercials pleading with you to sponsor an animal today. But how often do you pay attention to it? The thought of pets needing that kind of help can be troubling, so maybe we tend to block it out. You shouldn't bury your head in the sand, though. If you want to make a difference to an animal's life, this can be a great place to start. You can adopt a cat, dog or any other pet, and it's such a rewarding experience. You'll get regular photos and letters from your sponsored pet through the post and see how they're doing. It's really great to see what your money is doing to make a difference to their lives.

Donate

There are literally thousands of charities in the world that are dedicated to providing the best care for animals. And truthfully, though we don't like to think about it, it's needed! Every donation, no matter how small, goes a long way to helping these organizations function. And without them, I dare say a lot of animals would be less fortunate than they are. If you can spare any money, donating is a great way to helping these charities continue to do their great work.

Rescue

If you're in the market for a new pet, you are likely scanning the area for local breeders. A lot of the time, we like to get our pets from a young age. Puppies and kittens in their infancy are for more common to buy than older pets because they offer longevity. It shouldn't be forgotten, though, that there are many animals that need a new home and loving family. For whatever reason, be it abuse or the loss of their owner, they're homeless. If you want to get a new pet, try looking at local animal shelters to see what they offer. Care should be taken, however, if you have young children in the home. Sometimes abused animals can be a little bit temperamental, but that shouldn't put you off. It's also much cheaper than buying an infant pet, and you won't need to have all the standard procedures (i.e. neutering) done either.

However you choose to support animals all around the world, it's clear that they need your help. Even if you can't afford to dig deep into your pockets, there are things you can do. You might even consider volunteering at a local animal shelter, for instance. Whatever it is, we're thankful that you wish to play your part.

Our Guinea Pigs: Penelope and Dunkin

Introducing Penelope, our newly adopted  guinea pig.  She is a peruvian kind of guinea pig.  The first  one that we have has short hair while  this one has a long hair.

A friend asked me if we would like to adopt a guinea pig.   Since we already have one male guinea pig, we wanted to have a female so he would have a companion.  Besides, my son wanted one too  since his siter got one for her  birthday.  We were going to  buy him one too but we lucked out when my friend gave us the female one that her friend is  giving away for adoption.  

Penelope reminds us of our favorite bunny, Wubzy.  We all cried when he died because he was a very good pet, very social and friendly.

When we first brought her home, we did not know what to expect when we introduced her to Dunkin.  At first meeting, Dunkin was very  affresive and was chasing her around and doing this loud purr sound that they do.  However that changed when Penelope   fought back and said "Enough!"

Now, when we  put them  together in a vry big box so they can get acquainted, Dunkin  gets very nervous when Penelope stare at him.  We put them in each own cages  at night time.

They are getting fasmiliar with each other now and get along a little bit.

We included them in our family picture this year.

As you can see, they seem to like each other now unlike the past first week, they really  did not want to be together lol.

A friend of mine who had guinea pigs before told me that it takes time for them to get along.  I am glad they are starting to acceot each other.  At least  from what I can  aww when I put them together in play pen.

How To Keep Your Dog Healthy & Happy

Dogs are more than a pet, they are part of the family. As such, it’s every dog owner’s wish to give their pooch the best life possible.

Treating the dog in the best way will enable it to live a long and happy life. More importantly, it should help the pet stay healthy and avoid any major discomfort. That’s the least that they deserve after all the love and joy they bring into our lives.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Nutrition

Good nutrition should be considered the foundation for any living being. The dog should certainly be no different. Ensuring it eats well is vital to keeping your pooch in the greatest shape possible.

There are many do’s and don’ts to consider when it comes to a dog’s nutrition. Your dog will give you clear indication whether things are right or wrong. Apart from its appearance and shape, excrement should let you know when a problem arises.

It’s also important to encourage good eating routines. If nothing else, this should help the dog’s behaviour.

Active Lifestyle

As with humans, a dog’s health sees nutrition come as part of a package. Regular exercise is vital for the dog’s muscles, organs and joints. Ultimately, this will promote a long and happy life.

Dogs are natural explorers too, so an active lifestyle will encourage better development. You should try to mix up their favourite spots with new locations to ensure they get the best of both worlds. As these guides at http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/10-brain-games-to-play-with-your-dog show, you can also use their eating routines as a way to develop their brains too.

Keep the dog stimulated both mentally and physically at all times. In return, you should be blessed with a healthy and happy pooch.

Treat Health Issues

Like us, dogs will suffer the odd illness from time to time. That’s just nature. However, our furry little friends will need a little help to get over those issues quickly. Early treatment is key.

Mange is a particularly uncomfortable condition for the pet to suffer. Every dog owner should visit http://www.homeremedyshop.com/13-home-remedies-for-mange-in-dogs/ to find out more info on this problem. Meanwhile, it’s important to look out for issues with teeth and gums as well as joints.

There are various supplements that can help prevent certain conditions. Most importantly, you must be prepared to accept when a vet is needed. Sometimes, the experts are the best people to find the right solution.

Encourage Better Relationships

Apart from being healthy, your dog requires one thing more than any other: love. Dogs are very affectionate creatures, and they will become a central part of your family’s DNA. So you must encourage good relationships all round.

This doesn’t only include relationships with humans, though. Integrating the dog into a home can take some work. But improving those connections with existing dogs or other pets is crucial. It’s not only the dog that will benefit; it’s the entire household.

Ultimately, that loving family atmosphere is all your dog ever wants.