tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68436299072306421412024-03-13T00:13:37.844-03:00Charlie loves Halifax and he wants it to be dog friendly!Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-66802162813130494552015-11-26T12:51:00.002-04:002022-04-30T16:12:13.492-03:00Welcome to Charlie loves Halifax!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Charlie loves Halifax and he wants it to be dog friendly! This site is your guide for the urban dog and their owners in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. We have scoured the city looking for the best places to <a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/p/go-shopping-with-your-dog.html" target="_blank">take your dog shopping with you</a>, where <a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/p/local-parks-off-leash-and-on.html" target="_blank">all the off-leash and best on-leash parks are</a>, what are ways to <a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/p/local-fun-things-to-do-with-your-dog.html" target="_blank">connect with other local dog owners</a>, how to find the <a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/p/local-resources.html" target="_blank">best resources locally for you and your dog</a><br />
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The HRM has exploded with dog friendly stores recently as they realize that we are a demographic that likes to spend our money politically - and we want to take our dogs with us when are out doing our errands - why leave our dogs at home when we don't have to? We aren't taking our dogs into stores so that they can play with the other dogs - we have them there as our companions, as our plus-ones - they don't pee and poop inside our houses - so why would they pee and poop inside stores?<div><br /></div><div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zd5uAT3-lbIcCAVRk-o5KQpZLSaPJz_gwsFn_vSJQs3zD-_SVbEmwlx4oBUsklbyov8cFm9Th4lziIlSmJ6xrSPFmzv816_oelleeliCxXqS2N-nJm8U1cVm3g4RQKE1qPuaEqsear_TTOOkIthFb0qqtHXDSlVRmT81LIafaGFSCln_JrfkcMrB4Q/s828/279630132_674345603860547_6785375696180148508_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="828" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zd5uAT3-lbIcCAVRk-o5KQpZLSaPJz_gwsFn_vSJQs3zD-_SVbEmwlx4oBUsklbyov8cFm9Th4lziIlSmJ6xrSPFmzv816_oelleeliCxXqS2N-nJm8U1cVm3g4RQKE1qPuaEqsear_TTOOkIthFb0qqtHXDSlVRmT81LIafaGFSCln_JrfkcMrB4Q/s320/279630132_674345603860547_6785375696180148508_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></b></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>UPDATE MAY 2022:</b> I know this website is out of date - it hasn't been updated in awhile but I'm leaving it that way as a legacy website - I've had the site since 2002 and in that time the website has received millions of hits -it's helped dog owners find the resources they need for their dogs in the Halifax Regional Municipality. I've been pretty sick the last few years and that's why I haven't been doing anything with the site - but I'd like to get back at it - even if just to remove dead links.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I know that that there are so many more dog businesses out there that aren't listed on the site that should be- and for that I apologize - if you happen to find yourself on this site and you know there's a resource or website or park that you've found that I don't have listed - please email me at <a href="mailto:dogkisser@gmail.com" target="_blank">dogkisser@gmail.com </a>and I'll add to the proper page and maybe we can get the website updated for 2002 :) </span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><span><b><!--more--></b></span><div><b><br /></b></div><div>
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Two of the most dog friendly areas in the HRM that really stand out are <a href="http://www.dartmouthcrossing.com/pet-friendly-stores-and-restaurants-in-dartmouth-crossing.php" target="_blank">Dartmouth Crossing</a> and <a href="http://www.quinpoolroad.ca/pawshere" target="_blank">Quinpool Road</a> in Halifax - their business associations have even published information sheets that list all the stores in the area that are dog friendly which is AWESOME! You can find those listings - for Dartmouth Crossing - <a href="http://www.dartmouthcrossing.com/pet-friendly-stores-and-restaurants-in-dartmouth-crossing.php" target="_blank">HERE</a> - and for Quinpool Road - <a href="http://www.quinpoolroad.ca/pawshere" target="_blank">HERE</a> - if the other business areas of the HRM would do that - then I can assure you - they would get more business!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFzLhDO6F8Q/VjeiaDrsRqI/AAAAAAABcCs/eIMOsfD1hEo/s1600/1-IMG_0483.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFzLhDO6F8Q/VjeiaDrsRqI/AAAAAAABcCs/eIMOsfD1hEo/s200/1-IMG_0483.JPG" width="200" /></a>This website is maintained by one person - my name is Joan and I have four personal dogs - and my mission is for people to get out with their dogs and enjoy everything that the Halifax Regional Municipality has to offer us! I am pretty political in my belief's about being able to take my dog places with me - I don't take all 4 of my dogs out with me at once - I'm not that dog crazy! But I believe that our dogs deserve to have every flavour of life that we can offer them - on leash exercise, off leash exercise, going on errands with us - going swimming - whatever they can handle - is what we should give them. <br />
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If your dog can't handle certain things - then that activity isn't for them - but if they are social, will listen to your obedience commands, like being touched by people - then get them out in society and be an ambassador for the breed of dog. There's so much you can do, and your dog wants nothing more than to spend time with you - so get out there and do it! Living a dog focused lifestyle is a conscious alternative - and as someone who has lived that choice for many years I can tell you - it's a lot of fun! Recently this site has been under construction - so you may find some links that are bad - if you do find a link that doesn't work - of if you've found a dog friendly business that isn't listed here - email me at dogkisser@gmail.com - and I'll add it to the site - thank you for your patience while I get the site updated!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eMYp_ZJU6p0/VjejcCiqcPI/AAAAAAABcC8/8IQqcn4G9Oc/s1600/tina2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eMYp_ZJU6p0/VjejcCiqcPI/AAAAAAABcC8/8IQqcn4G9Oc/s200/tina2.jpg" width="181" /></a>What makes the Halifax Regional Municipality a dog friendly city to you? To me it's the fact that I believe there's enough space for everyone - you can walk or drive for a few minutes and be in a place where there's absolutely no one around you - you and your dog can have all the fun you want all by yourself. And if you want to be around other like minded people - all you have to do is go to one of our many parks - most of which are on-leash parks - but there's still a ton of parks we can go to. There's also a ton of organized events for us to be able to spend time with our dogs. It just seems that bureaucrats at city hall that don't want to spend one red cent of our tax dollars on dog recreation activities - like properly set up off-leash parks. It's too bad - maybe someday someone will decide that they've had enough and seek city office - and we'll have "someone on our side at city hall. That would be fabulous! If you have some view that you'd like to share - email me at dogkisser@gmail.com<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMqYN9Qt-Wk/Vjeju-VEEvI/AAAAAAABcDE/vlaiFoN90Ro/s1600/IMG_9761.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMqYN9Qt-Wk/Vjeju-VEEvI/AAAAAAABcDE/vlaiFoN90Ro/s200/IMG_9761.JPG" width="200" /></a>Is this not the cutest dog ever? This was my dog Tia - and she loves to go shopping - so if you see me out at local store - this was probably going to be the dog you're going to see me with! There are SO MANY dogs and dog owners in the HRM - and we love our dogs and are willing to spend money on them. So feel free to spend as much time as you want with your canine life companion - there are plenty of places out there who are willing to let you spend your money in their stores! <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QMSoOmSmCio/Vjeko72nhPI/AAAAAAABcDM/oe8tgWK4h8M/s1600/_MG_7874-2%2B%25281%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QMSoOmSmCio/Vjeko72nhPI/AAAAAAABcDM/oe8tgWK4h8M/s200/_MG_7874-2%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a>The best thing I ever did was to go out and get a puppy (from a local rescue!) - we have been having the best time getting out to all the off leash parks and beaches and learning about socialization and all the things that puppies are supposed to learn. Now we are heading into canine adolescence - the teenage years - so if you're out and about - and you see a middle aged woman pulling out her hair - and the most beautiful little bichon frise being absolutely disobedient - you'll know that you've come upon the author or the Charlie loves Halifax website!<br />
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One of the best things about the HRM that I've never talked about on this website before are all the absolutely fantabulous ON-LEASH walking possibilities with the whole Walking trail system that HRM has developed. It's amazing what the city has developed with the Chain of Lakes Trail, the Mainland North Linear Parkway, the McIntosh Run Community Trail - and literally, dozens of others. You can check them all out on the HRM's website at <a href="http://www.halifax.ca/rec/Walking.html">http://www.halifax.ca/rec/Walking.html</a><br />
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This is my newest dog Bodhi - you may see me out shopping with him too!<br />
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Our dogs need every flavour of experience to have a complete and filled life - and that includes lots of on-leash, as well as off-leash walks - on leash walks teach impulse control and get them to focus on the people they love the most - us - which is a super reason right there to get off the couch! <br />
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One place you might want to start looking for things on this site - is the "<a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/p/site-map.html" target="_blank">site map</a>" - it lists all the pages on this website on one page - from <a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/p/local-parks-off-leash-and-on.html" target="_blank">every park that I've gone to</a>, to a page that<a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/2015/11/food-is-something-i-continually.html" target="_blank"> talks about dog food</a>, to what to do if you<a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/2015/11/ticks-in-hrm.html" target="_blank"> find a tick on your dog</a> - to a page about <a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/2015/11/poetry-about-dogs.html" target="_blank">poetry for dogs</a>! So have a look at the site map and go from there!<br />
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We have tips on <a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/p/what-to-do-when-your-dog-isnt-dog_15.html" target="_blank">what to do when your dog isn't dog friendly</a> - and places to take your dog if they don't get along with other dogs - we also have a page to <a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/p/is-your-dog-dog-friendly.html" target="_blank">find out if you've got a dog friendly dog</a> based on what the HRM Animal Control Services thinks. If you're looking for a pet friendly apartment - one of the only places locally to get information is on <a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/2015/11/pet-friendly-apartments-and-hotels.html" target="_blank">my pet friendly apartment page</a> - and if you have a pet friendly apartment to list - you can do that on the "Charlie loves Halifax" facebook page - which is at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/charlielvshfx">www.facebook.com/charlielvshfx</a><br />
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I also have a blog if you are interested in learning about local dog politics - the blog is at <a href="http://dogkisser.blogspot.com/">http://dogkisser.blogspot.com/</a> - so go check that out regularly if you want to know what's going on!<br />
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I hope you enjoy this website - it has been a labour of love for me since I started my first website for dogs in 1998 - it is only a hobby and I've never received anything or made any money - my salary is your and your dogs enjoyment and the increased socialization of your dog - I don't think there's another website like this in North America - so please enjoy it - and if you have anything to do - don't hesitate to contact me!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">BAD NEWS FOR SHOPPING DOGS - I was at the Value Village in Bayer's Lake - and dogs are no longer allowed there - I can't tell you how many peaceful hours I have spent shopping there with my dog Buttercup in my arms and that will never happen again with my new dog Bodhi because I guess some person's dog barked at someone and that person complained to the management so now they've banned dogs from the store - PLEASE, if you are going to take your dogs shopping with you - make sure they can handle going out in public and are well mannered and are friendly, so that they don't cause scenes so that situations like this don't happen and we lose more stores that welcome us.</span></div>
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"Charlie Loves Halifax" was started back in 2002 as a way to spend more time with my once in a lifetime dog Charlie - who you see here on the left - a lab/sheltie mix who I was lucky to get from the NS SPCA in 1989. It's my belief that well socialized, well mannered dogs should be able to just about anywhere that we go - and this website is a way for us as dog owners in the HRM to facilitate that. When Charlie was younger I used to take him everywhere that I went - I called him my 100 pound pocket dog - and when he got older - I took my poodle mix Buttercup with me - who you'll also see everywhere on this website. I'm very sad to say that in June, 2011 I lost Charlie to old age - as well as the love of his life Daisy, so this website is now a tribute to them. It doesn't matter the size of the dog - they all want to spend as much time with us as possible - and that's what this site is about - being able to take them with us on our errands, going shopping - finding the best resources - being able to give our money to businesses that cater to our demographic - and giving our dogs the best quality of life that we can. And it all started with my soulmate Charlie. Everyone who comes to this website has had a "Charlie" in their life - and it's to these dogs that this website is dedicated.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Charlie loves Halifax has been on the internet since May of 2002 and has had over 3,000,000 hits from local dog lovers since then. It is a site maintained completely and solely by one (1) person and her dogs completely and utterly for her own pleasure and her personal beliefs about how she would like the Halifax Regional Municipality to become more dog friendly, and what she believes to be a lovely view of what the world is, and how what it can become. If you agree with her view of this dog-centric world - that is super-fant-abulous. If you don't - that is too bad, but that is your opinion - just as everything on this website is - the opinion and beliefs of one person. If you believe them to be anything more than that - you have been mis-informed and have given me an importance anyone would lust after, but I certainly do not covet. Thanks for reading....</span></div>
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</div></div>Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-39827061525787707872015-11-26T12:51:00.000-04:002015-11-26T12:51:02.125-04:00Mainland Commons Off Leash Dog Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mainland Commons Dog Park is located in Clayton Park and the easiest way to get to is from Dunbrack Street - you go from Dunbrack Street and turn either left or right - from whichever direction you're coming from, and then take your first left onto "Westridge" - and then you take that road to the end - and then you'll see a sign for some kind of park and that's for the dog park - you just go up a small hill and that will be the parking lot for the park - there's also a small ball field on the left that is not part of the dog park - don't go there.<br />
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There are 2 facebook pages related to this park - the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1401310673498009/" target="_blank">Mainland Commons Dog Park page</a> - which is dedicated to the big side and park issues in general - and then the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SmallDogPark/?fref=nf" target="_blank">Mainlands Offleash Commons Small Dog Park</a> which is related to all things going on in the small dogs park - if you plan on going to the park you should go join the groups, they are very active and people will post that they are going so they won't be the only ones at the park - and also post whats going on re upgrades and people who have emailed the city about ongoing conerns with the park - they are very interesting groups.<br />
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You'll see the fence for the dog park and a couple of air locks to get into the park which are quite nice - nobody can escape while you're trying to get in, which is good.<br />
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The park is broken up into 2 sections - a small dog section and a large dog section - there is a 3rd section that has a very small wooded section that you can walk some trails that are available to both the small dogs and the large dogs.<br />
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The space in it's entirety is smaller than the "Seaview Park" everybody used to go to - but as dog owners who pay our taxes - beggars can't be choosers it would seem, and it is an entirely adequate park for what it is meant to give our dogs - a place to run around and have wrestles with the dogs who are there at the same time we are - it is not a sniff and pass park like Point Pleasant Park or Shubie Park is.<br />
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It can be a very fun place to go if your dog is in to that kind of play - if he's not into it - it can be very stressful for the dog - so make sure you watch your dog carefully - and if he seems afraid or intimidated - Mainlands Common Dog Park is not for you.<br />
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One good thing about the Park is that it is very close to the Mainland North Linear Walkway - so either before or after your walk you can go for a nice long on-leash walk with your canine life companion - it can be accessed through t he parking lot.<br />
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Have fun!Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-34873505752613651952015-11-25T13:44:00.001-04:002016-07-24T22:37:38.483-03:00Poetry about dogs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Poetry about Dogs <br />
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I love Michael Ondaatje - I didn't realize that he had written so many poems about dogs until I went back and re-read some of his poetry after I got into dogs and was pleasantly surprised! <br />
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Here's some of my favourites: </div>
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<b>Postcard from Piccadilly Street </b></div>
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Dogs are the unheralded voyeurs of this world. </div>
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When we make love The spaniel shudders </div>
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Walks out of the room, </div>
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She's had her fill of children now </div>
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But the bassett - for whom </div>
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We've pretty soon got to find a love object </div>
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Apart from furniture or visitors' legs - </div>
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Jumps on the bed and watches. </div>
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It is a catching habit having a spectator </div>
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And appeals to the actor in both of us, </div>
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In spite of irate phone calls from the SPCA </div>
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Who claim we are corrupting minors (the dog being one and a half). </div>
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We have moved to elaborate audiences now. </div>
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At midnight we open the curtains </div>
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Turn out the light </div>
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And imagine the tree outside </div>
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Full of sparrows </div>
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With infra red eyes. </div>
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From Michael Ondaatje's Rat Jelly </div>
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<b>The Strange Case </b></div>
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My dog's assumed my alter ego. </div>
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Has taken over - walks the house </div>
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Phallus hanging wealthy and raw </div>
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In front of guests, nuzzling </div>
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Head up skirts </div>
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While I direct my mandarin mood. </div>
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Last week driving the baby sitter home. </div>
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She, unaware dog sat in the dark back seat, </div>
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Talked on about the kids' behaviour. </div>
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On Huron Street the dog leaned forward </div>
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And licked her ear. </div>
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The car going 40 miles an hour </div>
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She seemed more amazed </div>
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At my driving ability </div>
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Than my indiscretion. </div>
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It was only the dog I said. </div>
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Oh she said. </div>
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Me interpreting her reply all the way home. </div>
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Flirt and Wallace </div>
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The dog almost </div>
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Tore my son's left eye out </div>
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With love, left a welt of passion </div>
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Across his cheek </div>
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The other dog licks </div>
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The armpits of my shirt </div>
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For the salt </div>
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The smell and taste </div>
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That identifies me from others </div>
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With teeth which carry broken birds </div>
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With wet fur jaws that eat snow </div>
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Suck the juice from branches </div>
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Swallowing them all down </div>
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Leaving their mouths tasteless, extroverted, </div>
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They graze our bodies with their love </div>
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<b>Birth of Sound </b></div>
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At night the most private of a dog's long body groan. </div>
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It comes with his last stretch </div>
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In the dark corridor outside our room. </div>
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The children turn. </div>
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A window tries to split with cold </div>
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The other dog hoofing the carpet for lice. </div>
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We're all alone. </div>
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This isn't Michael Ondaatje, and it isn't about dogs, but it's one of my favourite poems of all time. </div>
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And it makes me very sad every time I read it. </div>
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i like my body when it is with your body. </div>
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It is so quite new a thing. Muscles better and nerves more. </div>
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i like your body. i like what it does, i like its hows. </div>
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i like to feel the spine of your body and its bones, </div>
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and the trembling -firm-smooth ness and which i will again and again and again kiss,</div>
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i like kissing this and that of you, i like, slowly stroking the, shocking fuzz of your electric furr, </div>
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and what-is-it comes over parting flesh....And eyes big love-crumbs, </div>
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and possibly i like the thrill of under me you so quite new </div>
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from & (1925) ee cummings </div>
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I found this on a website and I had to share it here: </div>
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<b>DOG HAIKU</b> - anon. </div>
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I love my master; </div>
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Thus I perfume myself with </div>
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This long-rotten squirrel. </div>
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I lie belly-up In the sunshine, </div>
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happier than You ever will be </div>
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Today I sniffed </div>
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Many dog butts-I celebrate </div>
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By kissing your face. </div>
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I sound the alarm! </div>
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Paperboy-come to kill us all- </div>
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Look! Look! Look! Look! Look! </div>
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I sound the alarm! </div>
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Mailman Fiend-come to kill us all- </div>
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Look! Look! Look! Look! Look! </div>
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I sound the alarm! </div>
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Meter reader-come to kill all- </div>
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Look! Look! Look! Look! Look! </div>
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I sound the alarm! </div>
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Garbage man-come to kill us all- </div>
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Look! Look! Look! Look! Look! </div>
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I sound the alarm! </div>
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Neighbor's cat-come to kill us all! </div>
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Look! Look! Look! Look! Look! </div>
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I lift my leg and Wiz on each bush. </div>
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Hello, Spot - Sniff this and weep </div>
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How do I love thee? </div>
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The ways are numberless as My hairs on the rug. </div>
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My human is home! </div>
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I am so ecstatic I have Made a puddle </div>
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I hate my choke chain - Look, world, they strangle me! </div>
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Ack Ack Ack Ack Ack Ack! </div>
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Sleeping here, my chin On your foot - no greater bliss - </div>
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well, Maybe catching cats </div>
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Look in my eyes and Deny it. </div>
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No human could Love you as much I do </div>
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The cat is not all Bad-</div>
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she fills the litter box With Tootsie Rolls </div>
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Dig under fence-why? </div>
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Because it's there. Because it's There. </div>
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Because it's there. </div>
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I am your best friend, </div>
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Now, always, and especially </div>
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When you are eating. </div>
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You may call them fleas, </div>
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But they are far more -</div>
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I call Them a vocation </div>
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My owners' mood is Romantic-I</div>
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lie near their Feet. </div>
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I fart a big one. </div>
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You are my stamp pad</div>
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The mud I rolled in makes nice</div>
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Patterns on white shirts.</div>
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Squirrels, birds, and cats</div>
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Run everywhere, taunting me</div>
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I must chase them all.</div>
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It is morning now</div>
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I lick your sleeping face</div>
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Wake up - play with me!</div>
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I see my human</div>
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Thus I must take wing and fly</div>
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Is my name "Down, dog!"?</div>
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Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-2575264822731559182015-11-25T13:39:00.001-04:002016-07-25T12:22:48.806-03:00Recipes for Kong Fillling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJkpdGRKrl8/VlXyMPahA4I/AAAAAAABdAs/C8706VVupws/s1600/worried_care_bear.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uJkpdGRKrl8/VlXyMPahA4I/AAAAAAABdAs/C8706VVupws/s320/worried_care_bear.JPG" /></a></div>
At one time I used a black extra large kong for Daisy that I fed her her meals in because she's not food aggressive, but she was the greediest dog you'll ever meet. <br />
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When I got her she was super emaciated and pretty much starving. She never forgot what it's like to be hungry and if there's food involved she wants it all. And she had to eat it as quickly as possible. So I put her food in a kong so that it took her longer to eat so that the other dogs had a chance to eat theirs. <br />
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It's no good just to separate her because she's right there trying to break down whatever to get at them to get the food or she was staring them down. The kong is also universally accepted as a great thing for separation anxiety because it gives them something constructive to do while you're gone that doesn't involve eating the furniture. <br />
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Here's an article by Pat Miller: STUFF IT!! Kong stuffing has evolved into a true art over the last decade, with various Kong recipes available to tempt the palate of even the fussiest canine Kong connoisseur. <br />
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The most important rule is – let your imagination be your guide. One basic Kong stuffing technique looks like this: <br />
1. Aperitif: This is a particularly tasty morsel placed directly on the small hole at the top of the Kong. Could be a piece of freeze dried liver, a dab of peanut butter, a squirt of "squeeze cheese," or? <br />
2. Dessert: Fill one-third of the cavity with tasty bits of biscuits, cheese nips, jerky treats, bacon-type strips, or whatever special goodies suits your dog's fancy. <br />
3. Main Course: Fill two-thirds of the Kong with your dog's regular dinner kibble, mixed with something tasty like cream cheese, as "paste". <br />
4. Appetizer: Top the Kong off with an easy accessible treat sticking out of the opening to give your dog an immediate reward and encourage him to get down to the serious business of Kong unpacking. <br />
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Kong Stuff Recipes, Courtesy of Kong Company · <br />
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Banana Rama: 1 fresh banana; 2 TBS wheat germ; 1Tbs plain (or flavored) yogurt. Mash banana in a bowl, add wheat germ and yogurt. Mash ingredients together, spoon into Kong set upside down in a cup. Freeze for 4 hours. Makes one serving for Medium Kong. <br />
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(Frozen Kongs – Kongsicles – are perfect for soothing the gums of teething puppies and for keeping Fido cool on hot summer days. Best consumed outdoors or on a protected floor – they can be messy when they melt!) · <br />
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Cheesy Dental Kong Delight: 3 slices of your dog's favorite cheese; Dental Kong toy. Place 3 slices of cheese directly onto grooves of Dental Kong. Melt in microwave for 20-30 seconds. Cool. Give to dog. · <br />
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Philly Steak: Steak scraps; 1 oz. Cream cheese. Place steak scraps inside Kong. Spread cream cheese in large hole to hold scraps inside. · <br />
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Fruit Salad: Apple and carrot chunks; sliced mushroom; ¼ banana. Place fruit and veggies in Kong. Mash banana and fill hole to hold fruit in place. Freeze if desired. (Possible additions and substitutions: orange slices; peach and/or nectarine chunks; celery sticks; broccoli and/or cauliflower; avocado – chunks or mashed; tomato and black olive puree.) · <br />
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Veggie Kong Omelet: 1 egg; your choice of shredded cheese; any vegetables that your dog likes. Scramble egg and fold in vegetables. Put into Kong. Sprinkle cheese over top and microwave for 20 seconds to melt cheese. Cool thoroughly before giving to dog · <br />
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Mac 'n Cheese: Leftover macaroni and cheese; small cube of Velveeta. Fill Kong with leftover Macaroni and cheese. Melt Velveeta in microwave and pour into Kong. Cool thoroughly and give to dog. · <br />
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Aunt Jeannie's Archeology Kong (by Kong-Stuffing Queen Jean Donaldson): <br />
Layer One: (deepest): roasted, unsalted cashews; freeze dried liver bits; <br />
Layer Two: dog kibble; cookies or liver biscotti; Cheerios; sugar-free, salt-free peanut butter; dried banana chips; apples and apricots; <br />
Layer Three: carrot sticks; turkey or leftover ravioli or tortellini. Pack as tightly as possible. <br />
The last item inserted should be an apricot or piece of ravioli, presenting a "smooth" finish under the main opening. <br />
Light Version: Substitute crumbled rice cakes for cashews; Caesar croutons for freeze-dried liver; fat-free cream cheese for peanut butter. <br />
As you can see, the sky's the limit. Happy stuffing!!!! <br />
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Kong Stuffing recipes from Individuals: · <br />
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I like to use a high quality kibble and canned (Like Wellness), mix them together and stuff it all in the Kong. Freezing helps it last longer too, and it feels good for teething puppies! – Tracy · <br />
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I like to take dessicated beef liver, and cut it just a bit longer than the opening of the kong. Then squeeze the kong, insert the liver, and stop squeezing. That way the liver is lodged into the opening of the kong. So, I have a very small piece of liver stuck in the opening of the kong. It is so funny when you can hear the fluffers sucking to try to get the liver out. They have to soften the liver by licking it to get it out of the kong. · I also do Natural P-nut butter with kibble and / or pieces of chicken. -Carol L <br />
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Here's what I put in the Kongs for my dogs, and I also freeze them so that it takes longer for them to work out the insides: · Peanut butter and bananas · Peanut butter and apples · cream cheese and apples · rice cooked in broth · kibble mixed with broth · kibble mixed with meat flavored baby food · canned dog food · canned pumpkin and dry treats · yogurt and apples or bananas · You can used canned pumpkin and freeze it, or you can try brown rice with a peanut butter plug. · I like stale bagels and fat free cream cheese. I find the moister the bagel gets, the more it sticks in the kong. · I like to put dog biscuits, PB, banana, carrots, wet food, pizza crusts in the kong. Also Petsmart sells doggy desert, that's always a favorite. It's fairly healthy too. Kong Dog Toys are widely used and recommended for therapy and prevention of under-stimulation, boredom, separation anxiety and other behavior problems. <br />
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Following are some simple ways Kongs can be utilized to promote good behavior in your dog. It is important for dogs to succeed at their "work". Make it easy to remove the kong stuffing at first. AS THEY BECOME MORE EXPERIENCED, YOU MAY WANT TO MAKE THEIR JOB MORE CHALLENGING - HERE'S HOW: <br />
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1. Pack stuffing tighter. <br />
2. Wedge biscuits inside the cavity using the inside rim of the opening to secure them. <br />
3. FREEZE IT! Very Popular! Try various combinations of canned food, gravy, noodles, rice and mashed potatoes mixed with food nuggets and freeze. KONGSICLES are a favorite with many hot dogs! Put a dab of peanut butter in the small end of the Kong to plug it. Turn it upside down in a cup. Fill it full of water, chicken broth or fruit juice and freeze. Cool doggies! Kongsicles are recommended for outdoor use. <br />
4. CHEESE IT! Mix cheese pieces or cheese spread with food nuggets and microwave until cheese melts. Let it cool to a safe temperature. <br />
NOTE - Use a cup to contain the Kong when freezing or microwaving. <br />
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Following are recipes created by veterinarians, dog trainers and dog lovers worldwide. <br />
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BANANA RAMA: 1 fresh banana · 2 tbs wheat germ · 1 tbs plain yogurt (can use your pet's favorite flavor as well) · Kong Toy that best fits your pet's chewing temperament In a bowl, mash up banana. Then, add wheat germ and yogurt. Mash all ingredients together and use spoon to add to Kong. Freeze for 4 hours. Makes 1 serving for Medium Kong. Double for every Kong Size that is bigger. <br />
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SIMPLE, TRIED AND TRUE: Peanut butter · appropriate Kong Toy Smear peanut butter inside the cavity of your Kong Toy. It's that easy! – by trainers and vets worldwide <br />
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TRIXIE'S FAVORITE: Trixie, a 50 pound Aussie/Springer mix, loves turkey, chicken or marrow bites mixed with slightly moistened food nuggets frozen inside her Kong. She is very clean about unstuffing - some dogs are not! - by Joe Markham <br />
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Every dog has a favorite recipe - finding your dog's will be fun! REMEMBER: Some foods are not healthy for dogs. Consult with your veterinarian first. Most of these are frozen and can be made softer or harder depending on how good the dog is at "excavating" the Kong. The frozen recipes can also be put into ice cube trays or other containers <br />
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When filling Kongs, you'll need to plug up the smaller hole if the filling is liquidy, so it doesn't fall out. You can also plug the larger hole to make it harder for the dog to get the filling out. Some things you can use to plug the holes: a grape or piece of another type of fruit, cheese, dog treats, peanut butter, veggies, or anything else that will fit. <br />
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You can also add dog biscuits, fruit, or veggies (or whatever your dog likes) to the Kong along with one of the recipes below, to make layers or mix in. <br />
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Peanutty Pupcicles - 1 ripe banana 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup wheat germ 1/4 cup chopped peanuts Mash bananas and peanut butter, stir in wheat germ. Chill 1 hour. Place in Kong, store in refrigerator or freezer. <br />
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Frozen Peanut Butter Yogurt Treats <br />
32 ounces vanilla yogurt 1 cup peanut butter <br />
Put the peanut butter in a microwave safe dish and microwave until melted. <br />
Mix the yogurt and the melted peanut butter in a bowl. Pour mixture into Kong and freeze. <br />
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Fruity Yogurt Treats <br />
2 kiwi fruit -- mashed (or jar baby food fruit) 8 ounces strawberry yogurt -- or other <br />
Mix together, freeze in Kong or ice cube tray. Serve. <br />
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Yogurt Pups <br />
16 ounces plain nonfat yogurt 3/4 cup water 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules <br />
Dissolve bouillon in water. Combine water and yogurt in blender and blend thoroughly. <br />
Pour into Kong or other small containers for freezing, cover and freeze. <br />
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Pup Pops 2 chicken or beef boullion cubes 3 cups water <br />
Dissolve boullion in water. Pour into Kong, small styrofoam cups or ice cube tray. Freeze. Serve frozen. <br />
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Frosty Paws #1 <br />
one part instant oatmeal two parts water instant chicken or beef bouillon powder (optional) large glob of peanut butter <br />
Mix and let sit for a few minutes until the oatmeal absorbs most of the liquid. It isn't even necessary to heat it. Spoon into Kong and freeze. <br />
Some other suggestions to add: yogurt, pureed liver, garlic, pureed vegetables. <br />
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Frosty Paws #2 <br />
1 banana 4 oz. plain or fruit yogurt 2 oz. water <br />
Process in blender or food processor till smooth. Pour into old frosty paws cups, Kong/s or something similar. Freeze and Serve. <br />
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Homemade Frosty Paws #3 <br />
1 quart vanilla yogurt 1 medium banana 2 T peanut butter (I use natural style) 2 T honey <br />
Puree the banana in a food processor (a blender would probably work fine). Add the peanut butter and honey and continue processing until smooth. Add yogurt and process just long enough to blend all ingredients together. Place 18 small paper cups (bathroom size) in a baking pan (one 9x13 or two 8x8 work well). Fill paper cups to about 2/3's full. An ice cream scoop or a measuring cup makes the job easier. Or fill Kongs. Freeze until solid. <br />
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Frozen Jerky Pops <br />
Bouillon Jerky Strips Water Fill a bowl with cool water and add a pinch of bouillon. Place into muffin tins or Kong, place a Jerky Stick inside and freeze. <br />
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Bananarama <br />
1 fresh banana 2 tbs wheat germ 1 tbs plain yogurt (can use your pet's favorite flavor as well) In a bowl, mash up banana. Add wheat germ and yogurt. Mash all ingredients together and use spoon to add to a Kong or muffin tin or cups. Freeze for 4 hours. <br />
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Pugs Pops <br />
1 Quart fruit juice 1 banana, mashed 1/2 cup yogurt Mix ingredients together thoroughly, then freeze. This can be eaten by people too. <br />
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Poochie Pudding (named after my dog Pooch) <br />
Stoneyfield Farms whole milk yogurt, plain or vanilla 1 banana 1 peach or nectarine (peeled) strawberries or 1 apple (whichever the dog likes) 1 dog biscuit (bone-shaped) <br />
Steps: Mash the banana and the peach/nectarine (or put in blender). Slice the apple or strawberries into smallish chunks. Push a chunk of fruit into the bottom hole of the Kong to stop leaking. Mix the banana, peach/nectarine, apple chunks or strawberries into the yogurt, then pour the mixture into the Kong. Push the biscuit into the large end of the Kong. Freeze for about 3-4 hours or until consistency of frozen yogurt. Can also be served unfrozen, for impatient dogs (warning: it can get messy!) Bone appetit! These last two are actually dog cupcake recipes, but they can be stuffed into a Kong while warm and soft. <br />
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Apple Crunch Pupcakes <br />
2 3/4 cups water 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 2 tablespoons honey 1 medium egg 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 cups whole wheat flour 1 cup apple, dried 1 tablespoon baking powder <br />
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, mix together water, applesauce, honey, egg, and vanilla. In a large bowl, combine flour, apple chips, and baking powder. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until very well blended. Pour into greased muffin pans. Bake 1 1/4 hours, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry. Store in a sealed container. Makes 12 to 14 pupcakes. <br />
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Doggie Cheesy Carrot Muffins <br />
Mix in a large bowl: 1 cup all purpose flour 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1 cup grated cheddar cheese 1 cup grated carrot Mix in small bowl, then add to above: 2 large eggs 1 cup milk 1/4 cup vegetable oil Cook at 350 degrees, 12 minutes for mini muffins, 20-25 for large muffins. <br />
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ICED KONG <br />
Plug the end of the Kong with a treat. Turn it upside down in a cup. Fill it full of chicken gravy and freeze. Try Cat food as well. <br />
WARNING - Frozen kong can get messy and are recommended for outdoor use only. <br />
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SPANISH KONG <br />
1 egg, grated cheese and any vegetables your dog likes. Scramble the egg and fold in the vegetables. Squash into the Kong. Sprinkle some cheese over the top and microwave for about 20 seconds to seal the ingredients. Cool thoroughly. <br />
WARNING - Cheese becomes very hot in the microwave. <br />
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KONG AU GRATIN <br />
Mix cheese pieces or cheese spread with your dogs usual dried dog food and press into the Kong. Microwave until the cheese starts to melt and bind the food together. Let it cool to a safe temperature. Use a cup to contain the Kong when in the microwave. <br />
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NOUVELLE KONGS <br />
Smear peanut butter or Marmite inside the cavity of the Kong for a quick and minimalist alternative. <br />
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TANTALISERS <br />
Cheese, Chicken skin, Bacon, Pate, Cooked lamb's liver, meaty canned cat food. - Use very sparingly and make sure this treat blocks the top hole so that none of your other ingredients fall out. <br />
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MAIN COURSES <br />
Small dog biscuits, bread sticks, garlic bread, pizza crusts, carrot batons - These treats should be wedged into place. Experiment with different brands of dog biscuits and look at small dog sizes which are very versatile. You want to leave lots of interesting gaps. Some biscuits should be harder to get out than others. <br />
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INSTANT REWARDS <br />
Freeze-dried liver, cat treats, Chopped sausage, grated cheese. - These need to be small, flavoursome goodies. the second your dog nudges the Kong, some of these should fall out to get him hooked. If they are all dispersed immediately, its going to be a bit dull for your dog - so make sure you shake the Kong as you're filling it so some bits end up working their way into all the crevices created by the wedged biscuits. Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-5984895359655018752015-11-25T13:28:00.000-04:002015-11-25T13:40:05.755-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Food is something I continually struggled with when it came to Charlie. He was over-weight and low-energy so I had to be careful. 2 or 3 years knocked off my life because of my weight isn't that big a deal, but 2 or 3 years knocked off Charlie's life was a significant time. I wanted him to live and be comfortable for as long a time as possible. He ultimately only lived to 12 years old, which for such a big dog wasn't too bad - but it was very sad when he left me.<br />
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What you feed you companion is SO important. And you need to do research. If you've never read anything about what is put in dog food you are in for a shock. If you can't give them home-cooked food you should feed them super-premium dog food - which has "human grade" ingredients in it. Appropriate and healthy dog food is the most important and most basic decision we make for our companions. It determines how long they live and what kind of health they will enjoy during their lifetime. A bad animal-grade dog food is almost a guarantee of bad health for the dog and you will pay in vet bills what you saved in dog food.<br />
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There is a local dog food guru that a lot of people swear to - his name is Rodney Habib and he has a food store over on Montebello Drive in Dartmouth - it's called Planet Paws and it has a lot of good highquality foods there - their website is at <a href="http://www.planetpaws.ca/">http://www.planetpaws.ca/</a> - he also <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PlanetPawsPetEssentials/" target="_blank">has a facebook page</a> that is followed worldwide by people that you can check out too - it has almost half a million followers<br />
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I won't go into too much detail but some web sites that I have found really helpful are:<br />
<br />
I also have been collecting information through Yahoo Groups and web sites about dog food and it is now about almost 100 pages worth of stuff. If you want me to send you a .pdf file of my research, email me at the address below.<br />
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I fed Charlie a combination of home cooked food, fit for human consumption kibble, and processed raw food that I got from a local distributor - you can now purchase these types of products from several local distributors that you can find on my pet food page at <a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/2015/11/pet-food-stores-in-hrm.html">http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/2015/11/pet-food-stores-in-hrm.html</a> . He looked good and lost weight! He had an allergy to wheat and milk so I have to be really careful what I feed him because he could get really sick if he got even a small amount of wheat - and almost all the normal dog kibble has wheat in it! And you'd be suprised but a LOT of dogs have allergies to the ingredients that are used as fillers in cheap dog foods - corn and wheat. One of the ways he manifested this allergy is that he became much more reactive - meaning he would become aggressive - so if we were out and he was barking at everything I started to think about what he could have been eating (or what he could have gotten into!!!) that had wheat in it and that's usually the answer as to why he was not his normal placid self - so if your dog has behaviour problems look at what you feed him in addition to how you are training (or not training) him!<br />
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You should also check out <a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/2015/11/at-one-time-i-used-black-extra-large.html" target="_blank">my page on kong filling recipes</a> too for more fun ways to feed your dog!<br />
<br />
Wheat-Free Scotty Biscuits<br />
<br />
1 cup oatmeal<br />
1 cup rye flour<br />
2 tablespoons sugar<br />
1 tablespoon melted butter or margarine<br />
1/2 cup milk<br />
<br />
Combine oatmeal, 3/4 cup of the rye flour, sugar and butter together. Slowly add the milk till a firm but slightly sticky dough forms. Scrape out dough onto a wooden board or counter. Knead in the rest of the rye flour till the dough stiffens a little. Wrap in saran wrap and chill for one hour.<br />
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough till 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes ( I like to use scotty dog cutters). Place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn off oven and let biscuits rest till cool in oven with the door closed. Store in air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.<br />
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I used to make these cookies for Charlie before I found out about his allergies - they make really good treats!<br />
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Economy Cookies<br />
<br />
3 cups whole wheat flour<br />
3/4 cup water<br />
½ cup skim milk powder<br />
1 egg<br />
1/4 tsp garlic powder<br />
1/4 cup corn syrup<br />
1/3 cup margarine<br />
<br />
1. In a large bowl, combine whole wheat flour and margarine. Set aside.<br />
2. In a separate bowl, combine skim milk powder, garlic powder, egg, corn syrup, and water.<br />
3. Add liquid mixture to flour mixture in small quantities until all is mixed and dough like.<br />
4. Roll out to fit size of Pam covered cookie sheet. Use pizza cutter to cut up into treat size pieces.<br />
5. Cook at 325 degrees F for 50 minutes. Turn heat off and leave cookies in oven for 1 more hour to make cookies nice and crunchy.<br />
6. Give to dogs whenever they need some extra love<br />
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Here's a bunch more links if you want them:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.recipesource.com/misc/pet-food/dog/" target="_blank">http://www.recipesource.com/misc/pet-food/dog/ </a><br />
<a href="http://www.dragonbear.com/rec-sind.html">http://www.dragonbear.com/rec-sind.html</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pets.ca/recipes/recipe3.htm">http://www.pets.ca/recipes/recipe3.htm</a> - Stanley Coren's Recipe for home cooked food!<br />
<a href="http://vetmedicine.about.com/msubnutri-recipe.htm?once=true&">http://vetmedicine.about.com/msubnutri-recipe.htm?once=true&</a><br />
<br />Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-6079295534898609102015-11-24T16:33:00.002-04:002015-11-24T16:33:27.231-04:00100 Ways to Help Rescue without Adopting a Dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are tons of ways that you can help out without adopting a dog - and here are 100 of them! You don't even have to dedicate your life to rescue in order to do almost all of these!<br />
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If you are looking for your next canine companion - <a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/p/tons-of-links-to-local-rescue-groups.html" target="_blank">take a look at our rescue links page</a> to see a list of all our local rescues in Nova Scotia!<br />
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1. Transport a dog.<br />
2. Donate a dog bed or towels or other bedding type items.<br />
3. Donate MONEY.<br />
4. Donate a Kong, Nylabone or a Hercules.<br />
5. Donate a crate.<br />
6. Donate an x-pen or baby gates.<br />
7. Donate a food dish or a stainless bucket for a crate.<br />
8. Donate a leash.<br />
9. Donate a collar.<br />
10. Donate some treats or a bag of food.<br />
11. Donate a Halti or Promise collar or a Gentle Leader.<br />
12. Walk a dog.<br />
13. Groom a dog.<br />
14. Donate some grooming supplies (shampoos, combs, brushes, etc.).<br />
15. Go to the local shelter and see if that dog is the breed the shelter says it is or go with rescue to be a second opinion on the dog.<br />
16. Make a few phone calls.<br />
17. Mail out applications to people who've requested them.<br />
18. Provide local vet clinics with contact information for educational materials on responsible pet ownership.<br />
19. Drive a dog to and from vet appointments.<br />
20. Donate long distance calling cards.<br />
21. Donate the use of your scanner or digital camera.<br />
22. Donate the use of a photocopier.<br />
23. Attend public education days and try to educate people on responsible pet ownership.<br />
24. Donate a gift certificate to a pet store.<br />
25. Donate a raffle item if your club is holding a fund raiser.<br />
26. Donate flea stuff (Advantage, etc.).<br />
27. Donate heartworm pills.<br />
28. Donate a canine first aid kit.<br />
29. Provide a shoulder to cry on when the rescue person is overwhelmed.<br />
30. Pay the boarding fees to board a dog for a week or two weeks.<br />
31. Be a Santi-paws foster to give the foster a break for a few hours or days.<br />
32. Clip coupons for dog food or treats.<br />
33. Bake some homemade doggie biscuits.<br />
34. Make book purchases through Amazon via a web site that contributes commissions earned to a rescue group.<br />
35. Host rescue photos with an information link on your website.<br />
36. Donate time to take good photos of foster dogs for adoption flyers, etc.<br />
37. Conduct a home visit or accompany a rescue person on the home visit.<br />
38. Go with rescue person to the vet to help if there is more than one dog.<br />
39. Have a yard sale and donate the money to rescue.<br />
40. Be volunteer to do rescue in your area.<br />
41. Take advantage of a promotion on the web or store offering a free ID tag and instead of getting it for your own dog, have the tag inscribed with your Club's name and phone number to contact.<br />
42. Talk to all your friends about adopting and fostering rescue dogs.<br />
43. Donate vet services or can you help by donating a spay or neuter each year or some vaccinations.<br />
44. Interview vets to encourage them to offer discounts to rescues.<br />
45. Write a column for your local newspaper or club newsletter on dogs currently looking for homes or ways to help rescue.<br />
46. Take photos of dogs available for adoption for use by the Club.<br />
47. Maintain web sites listing/showing dogs available.<br />
48. Help organize and run fundraising events.<br />
49. Help maintain the paperwork files associated with each dog or enter the information into a database.<br />
50. Tattoo a rescued dog.<br />
51. Microchip a rescued dog.<br />
52. Loan your carpet steamcleaner to someone who has fostered a dog that was sick or marked in the house.<br />
53. Donate a bottle of bleach or other cleaning products.<br />
54. Donate or loan a portable dog run to someone who doesn't have a quarantine area for quarantining a dog that has an unknown vaccination history and has been in a shelter.<br />
55. Drive the fosters' children to an activity so that the foster can take the dog to obedience class.<br />
56. Use your video camera to film a rescue dog in action.<br />
57. Pay the cost of taking a dog to obedience class.<br />
58. Be the one to take the dog to its obedience class.<br />
59. Go to the foster home once a week with your children and dogs to help socialize the dog.<br />
60. Help the foster clean up the yard (yes, we also have to scoop what those foster dogs poop).<br />
61. Offer to test the foster dog with cats.<br />
62. Pay for the dog to be groomed or take the dog to a Do-It-Yourself Grooming Place.<br />
63. Bring the foster take out so the foster doesn't have to cook dinner.<br />
64. Pay a house-cleaning service to do the spring cleaning for someone who fosters dogs all the time.<br />
65. Lend your artistic talents to your club's newsletter, fundraising ideas, t-shirt designs.<br />
66. Donate printer paper, envelopes and stamps to your club.<br />
67. Go with a rescue person to the vet if a foster dog needs to be euthanized.<br />
68. Go to local shelters and meet with shelter staff about how to identify your breed or provide photos and breed information showing the different types of that breed may come in and the different colour combinations.<br />
69. Go to local businesses and solicit donations for a club's fundraising event.<br />
70. Offer to try and help owners be better pet owners by holding a grooming seminar.<br />
71. Help pet owners be better pet owners by being available to answer training questions.<br />
72. Loan a crate if a dog needs to travel by air.<br />
73. Put together an "Owner's Manual" for those who adopt rescued dogs of your breed.<br />
74. Provide post-adoption follow up or support.<br />
75. Donate a coupon for a free car wash or gas or inside cleaning of a vehicle.<br />
76. Pay for an ad in your local/metropolitan paper to help place rescue dogs.<br />
77. Volunteer to screen calls for that ad.<br />
78. Get some friends together to build/repair pens for a foster home.<br />
79. Microchip your own pups if you are a breeder, and register the chips, so if your dogs ever come into rescue, you can be contacted to take responsibility for your pup.<br />
80. Donate a small percentage of the sale of each pup to rescue if you are a breeder.<br />
81. Buy two of those really neat dog-items you "have to have" and donate one to Rescue.<br />
82. Make financial arrangements in your will to cover the cost of caring for your dogs after you are gone - so Rescue won't have to.<br />
83. Make a bequest in your will to your local or national Rescue.<br />
84. Donate your professional services as an accountant or lawyer.<br />
85. Donate other services if you run your own business.<br />
86. Donate the use of a vehicle if you own a car dealership.<br />
87. Loan your cell phone (and cover costs for any calls) to someone driving a rescued dog.<br />
88. Donate your used dog dryer when you get a new one.<br />
89. Let rescue know when you'll be flying and that you'd be willing to be a rescued dog's escort.<br />
90. Do something not listed above to help rescue.<br />
91. Donate a doggy seatbelt.<br />
92. Donate a grid for a van or other vehicle.<br />
93. Organize a rescued dog picnic or other event to reunite the rescued dogs that have been placed.<br />
94. Donate other types of doggy toys that might be safe for rescued dogs.<br />
95. Donate a roll-a-treat or Buster cube.<br />
96. Donate clickers or a video on clicker training.<br />
97. Donate materials for a quarantine area at a foster's home.<br />
98. Donate sheets of linoleum or other flooring materials to put under crates to protect the foster's floor.<br />
99. Donate an engraving tool to make ID tags for each of the rescued dogs.<br />
100. Remember that rescuing a dog involves the effort and time of many people and make yourself available on an emergency basis to do whatever is needed.<br />
<br />Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-15942163431035249532015-11-20T14:31:00.001-04:002015-11-20T14:31:27.448-04:00Eating out with your dog in the HRMThe law in Nova Scotia currently says that dogs are not allowed anywhere that food is being prepared or served - so dogs are not allowed in restaurants, grocery stores, outdoor eating areas - or any place like that - but it seems to me that if places value their customers' business - there is a fine line between the outside of a restaurant and the inside of a restaurant at the edge of an eating area of a patio outside a restaurant - <br />
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Restaurants that have Outdoor Eating Areas - you can sit on the edge and have the dog under the table - I've never seen anyone kicked out for it! <br />
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I had an email from Heather and her weimeraner Caspar that down on the waterfront - that they've had particular success at the <b>Lower Deck Patio and the Triangle patio</b> - so those are 2 that you might want to start out with as being most friendly towards dogs!<br />
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<b>The Wired Monk Restaurant</b> down on Morris Street has been reported by Peter and his companion Tripper as being friendly toward the families who have canines among their members - Peter says he goes in 3-4 times a week to get coffee and muffins to go and will sit outside to eat his muffin with Tripper in toe at the tables provided outside - and they also have treats inside for his dog too. <br />
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<b>Steve-O-Reno's</b> up on Brunswick street - their outdoor patio is a SUPER spot for having a coffee and hanging out with your dog - and the staff there LOVE dogs! I had an email from Jen who is an employee there, and they keep water bowls for the dogs on the patio and cookies behind the counter for the drive-through at their Robie Street location (in the Piercey's parking lot - which is also dog friendly) - now is that super customer service, or what? <br />
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In that same vein - Ann and her dogs Haggis and Snug go to the <b>Coburg Coffee House</b> on Coburg Road and you can take your dog in with you while you wait to pick up your take-out coffee - that's miles ahead of Tim Horton's and I bet the coffee tastes miles ahead too! <br />
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As well - <b>Planet Paws</b> over in Dartmouth - it's a pet food store - but they <a href="http://www.planetpaws.ca/home.html" target="_blank">have quite a large patio</a> that you can sit at - it's on Montebello Drive in DartmouthJoan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-56754234744466459052015-11-20T14:24:00.004-04:002016-07-19T17:22:10.339-03:00Bookstores and Magazines stores in the HRM that are dog friendlyBook stores and magazine stores are pretty good for being dog friendly - I don't know why, but I've had really good luck with book stores - maybe it's because book store owners are very in touch with their clientele. <br />
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<b>Atlantic News</b> on the corner of Morris and Queen Street in Halifax. I've gone to this store for years - and they're very dog friendly - they even have a dog on their logo - they keep my favourite dog magazine - Bark Magazine - behind the counter for me Bark is a dog/lifestyle magazine that is great <br />
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<b>Book Mark</b> on Spring Garden Road. It is a non-chain bookstore that is owned locally and has lots of books by local authors. They keep biscuits behind the counter and they are open on Sunday. So it would be a great destination if you are walking around downtown absorbing the atmosphere! <br />
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<b>The Last Word Used bookstore</b> on Windsor Street in Halifax. The owner has used books piled almost to the ceiling and he loves to talk about books. I personally love used book stores, and this is one of the better ones in the city, in my opinion. <br />
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Tara and her dog Karma said that although it is not well known you can take your dog with you to the <b>Chapter's store</b> in Dartmouth - just not in the coffee shop part. Now that's good news! The Chapters in Dartmouth has hosted the SPCA's Santa Pics for a couple of years - so that's very philanthropic too! As well - the Chapters in Bayer's Lake is also dog friendly.<br />
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<b>The Book Exhange Used Book</b> store in Cole Harbour is dog friendly - it's a very cute store with lots of good books.<br />
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I was in <b>the Book Room</b> on Barrington Street in Halifax when I heard a dog barking! I asked one of the girls who worked there if it was okay to have dogs in there and she said yes it was so downtown Halifax is shaping up to being very dog friendly! I'm going to have to make up a map of all the places you can go because there are now more than 3 or 4 places! It's almost more shopping than you can do in an afternoon!<br />
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If you hear of a dog friendly magazine store or bookstore - email me at dogkisser@gmail.com so we can share the good news!Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-46711320913321886332015-11-20T14:21:00.001-04:002016-07-19T17:06:28.128-03:00Miscellaneous type dog friendly places to shop in the HRM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had an email from one of the owners of the <b>Kwik Kopy Design and Print Centre</b> on Strawberry Hill here in Halifax who wanted to let me know that their resident greeters - yellow lab Rose and black lab Gollum - LOVE to greet their customers' dogs when they bring them into their store! Isn't that wonderful? And if you don't bring your dog with you, Rose and Gollum are willing to part with a milk bone to take home to your dog! haha! Now that is dog-friendliness at it's best. So I'd say that Kwik Copy is a shining example of what pet friendly businesses are like - but the owners really understand because they have dogs themselves - and those are 2 lucky dogs! They have a website as well at <a href="http://www.halifax.kwikkopy.ca/">http://www.halifax.kwikkopy.ca/</a> Brian and Lynne's store is at 3606 Strawberry Hill and their phone number is 902-453-5151.<br />
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This is NEAT! A pet friendly laundromat - it's something that you don't realize how much this is needed until you actually start going there, and you're sitting there with your dog while the mahcines are droning on, and you think to yourself - "man, I'm so glad I can bring my dog in with me to make the time go faster and not completely waste this time while I'm here!" And we are SO lucky that some entrepeneurs have started a pet friendly laundromat right in the middle of Halifax - it's called <b>The Detergency Room</b> and it's a coin op laundry at 5572 Cornwallis St. in Halifax. "They welcome all dogs, no breed discrimination". They also offer free wi-fi and a weekend drop off service. our hours are 8am - 8 pm, 7 days a week. Praise be to DOG!!<br />
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<b>Bay Equipment Rentals</b> is dog friendly - they have 3 locations - Cole Harbour, Tantallon and Lower Sackville - you can check out their website - here - <a href="http://www.bayrentals.ca/" target="_blank">http://www.bayrentals.ca/ </a><br />
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<b>Ripsters Halloween Shop</b> in Lower Sackville is dog friendly - so if you need anything to do with halloween or costume rental - you should shop here! <a href="https://ripstershalloweenshop.ca/">https://ripstershalloweenshop.ca/</a><br />
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If you're into Golf - <b>Golftown in Dartmouth Crossing</b> is dog friendly! <a href="http://www.golftown.com/">http://www.golftown.com/</a><br />
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As well - <b>the Hallmark store in Dartmouth Crossing</b> is dog friendly! <a href="http://www.hallmark.com/">http://www.hallmark.com/</a><br />
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I had an email from Lori telling me that the <b>Neighbourhood Plus Dollar store</b> in the northend of Halifax is dog friendly - and when I read that I remembered that someone else had told me that too - and that is fabulous! It's at 3576 Novalea Drive - they also offer biscuits for visiting dogs - so you know the staff love the dogs - I think that's awesome!<br />
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I had an email from Takara and her portugese water dog that <b>TAZ records on Grafton Streets</b> is dog friendly - so if you are super cool - take your dog with you! Their website is at <a href="http://www.tazrecords.com/">http://www.tazrecords.com/</a><br />
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Tiffany and her dog Gator said that both the <b>Petro Canada</b> and Ultramar on Victoria Road in Dartmouth allow dogs, no questions asked! It's great that Dartmouth also has dog-friendly places popping up too, eh?<br />
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Pam emailed me to let me know that the <b>Irving Mainway in Clayton Park </b>- the one that's across the street from the Home Depot that's almost inside Bayer's Lake is also dog friendly - and they keep dog treats behind the counter for dogs coming in! She says it's a great way to combine a snack attack with a dog walk - I've said in other spots on my website that Clayton Park is one of the dog friendliest spots in the HRM - and this just proves it once again! haha!<br />
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Cathy says that the <b>Ultramar on Inglis Street</b> is very dog friendly - and they even have treats behind the counter for the dogs!<br />
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I had an email from Heather and her weimeraner Caspar that <b>Steele Hyundai on Kempt Road</b> is dog friendly - she's taken Caspar into the showroom and her car in for servicing with Caspar and nobody's batted an eye anytime she's been in - so they're obviously very dog friendly there.<br />
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Some Honda vehicles look remarkable dog friendly - and it would seem that their businesses are ALSO dog friendly - I remember when I had my Honda Civic and used to take it to <b>Colonial Honda on Robie Street</b> that I could take my dogs Charlie and Leonard in with me when I was dropping off or picking my car up for servicing - and I've gotten an email from Scott and his dog Rosco telling me that <b>Portland Street Honda</b> in Dartmouth is ALSO dog friendly! So if you're thinking about buying a new vehicle that's good for dogs - and that has after care that's ALSO dog friendly - you shoud buy a HONDA! haha!<br />
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I had an email from Carol that she's been to <b>Leon's</b> over in Dartmouth and found out that they're dog friendly! I know that they have dogs in their commercials - well it turns out that you can have dogs in their store too! Neat.<br />
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<b>Unique Garden Statues </b>out by Crystal Crescent Beach is great! They've got a ton of animal related statues to put out in your back yard - I bought a buddha, because they've got a ton of those too - and a very cute black poodle - once you go there once you'll be hooked! They have a facebook page you can check out at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Unique-Lawn-Garden-Statues-281369881904703/timeline">https://www.facebook.com/Unique-Lawn-Garden-Statues-281369881904703/timeline</a>Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-70323452222623312572015-11-20T14:11:00.000-04:002016-07-19T17:25:11.196-03:00Dog friendly craft type stores in the HRMThis list is pretty short - so if you know of a craft type store in the HRM that's dog friendly - email me at dogkisser@gmail.com and I'll add it here!<br />
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The Clay Cafe is on Quinpool Road in Halifax near Oxford Street. They let your dog come with you while you are working on your ceramics if they are well mannered. The owner - Nan - is a self-professed dog lover. She did jokingly mention though that if a wagging tail broke something you would have to pay for it! When one of my animals died last summer and I had them cremated the urn I got him back in was from the Clay Cafe. So my plan currently is to go to the Clay Cafe and make urns for my other dead animals that I have previously had cremated so that they all match! A little morbid I know, but it is another way to get stuff done and have your dogs with you! They also have a web site at <a href="http://claycafe.ca/">Claycafe.ca</a><br />
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Great news for dog friendly crafters - Michaels in Dartmouth Crossing is dog friendly! The Michaels in Bayer's Lake IS NOT!!! But go to the Michael's in Dartmouth Crossing - even if you don't have your dog with you - and tell them why you are shopping at that location - because you appreciate that they love dogs!<br />
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This isn't a craft store - but it's a really neat product made by Debbie Silver - they are beautiful dog beds and Debbie usually comes to town and sells them at the craft markets that we have through the year - I bought one and I love it for the dogs - what you see at left is the one I bought - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/2nd-Chance-Dog-Beds-by-Deb-322915587859209/" target="_blank">you can contact Debbie through her facebook group</a>Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-76691133609247090712015-11-19T15:35:00.002-04:002016-07-19T17:20:05.184-03:00Dog friendly pet stores in the HRM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Pet Stores - are a given. <br />
I am very political about this - Pet stores make their living from pet owners - they wouldn't stay in business if it wasn't for us - and yet some of them won't let us bring our canine life companions in with us when we go in their store to spend our hard earned cash in their facility? I don't think so! If I can't take my dog in with me - I am not going to go in there - period! Even if I don't have my dog with me - I'm not going to go! <br />
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When you talk to the owners they always have some sob stories "we have expensive items down at floor level that are always getting peed on...our store dog is always off leash running around in the store....dogs are always coming in and peeing on everything.....we have carpet in the store...." blah blah blah - well to me - those are just excuses that they think the public is going to buy because they got into the dog business because they thought they could make money - not because they actually LIKED DOGS. If you have expensive items at floor level - PICK THEM UP! <br />
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I have a whole page of tips on this website called "<a href="http://www.charlieloveshalifax.ca/p/tips-for-owners-of-dog-friendly.html" target="_blank">Tips for owners of dog friendly businesses</a>" - business owners can read that page. <br />
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I have talked to too many owners of un-dog friendly businesses now that I haven't heard all of the excuses and I can tell you - they're all bullshit. If they want my money - they had better let me bring Buttercup, or Charlie in with me. And that's that. And you should stand up and agree - because that's the only way they're going to listen - with our hard earned dollar. <br />
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Don't spend one red cent in any of our local "pet boutiques" until you can bring the animal that you are buying that product for - in with you. Period. There. I've said it. Now - on to the fabulous stores that you CAN bring the best thing in your life in shopping with you! haha! <br />
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A great local Pet friendly pet store - and one that also helps out the community is "<b>Pet Stuff on the Go</b>" which is located on Pleasant Street in Dartmouth - it is operated by mental health consumers and will deliver directly to your home top quality pet food - it's store on Pleasant Street also has a groomer as well as toys and pet food - so it's win win all around.<br />
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Patti wanted me to make sure I mentioned that there are 3 locations of the locally owned <b>Best Friends Pet Store</b> franchise - Clayton Park in the Sobey's complex, Bedford in Mill Cove Plaza, and her favorite, in the Hubley Centre in Tantallon. - they are a great locally owned pet store that people are very loyal to, and they have great product and are dog friendly - you should definitely consider giving some of your money to these chain of local Pet stores!<br />
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Then of course you have <b><a href="http://www.globalpetfoods.com/" target="_blank">Global Pets</a></b> - they're in Bayer's Lake and Woodlawn Mall in Dartmouth, and now out on the Bedford Commons out in Bedford - they sell tons of healthy type kibble food. And of course all of the stores that I've mentioned do NOT sell any live animals - which is of course requisite for shopping at any type of pet store.<br />
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<b>Petcetera</b> out in the megolithic Dartmouth Crossing is a bit iffy - they sell rats and fish too - I have had pet rats so I consider them a live animal - I don't know if I'd recommend them as a place to shop - there's enough other places to go now that you don't really need to shop at those types of places anymore, really - and the food they sell is shit. I had an email from a dog owner and his dogs Taz and Thunder though who still think that Petcetera is still worthwhile because of the fact that they are so dog friendly and the fact that they don't sell dogs or cats and that they have an adoption program with a local rescue organization - and their prices for dog supplies are way cheaper than other places.<br />
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Another monolithic pet store that has come to the HRM is <b>Petsmart</b> - they sell a ton of different types of dog food and also some cute dog clothes - I haven't noticed whether or not they sell shock collars (see my rant below) - so I do shop there - they have locations in Bayer's Lake, Bedford Commons and Dartmouth Crossing.<br />
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There is also a small petstore that I haven't been to yet in Eastern Passage, but I've heard about so I wanted to mention it here so it gets some exposure - it's called "<b>The Nauti Dog Bakery</b>" and it's an expresso coffee bar for humans and sells handmade dog products and gifts - it's in Fisherman's Cove in Eastern Passage and it sounds pretty neat! They have a facebook page at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Nautidogbakery/">https://www.facebook.com/Nautidogbakery/</a><br />
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Dog's of Pride is located in Lunenburg County - but they have a busy online business as well for people living here in the HRM - <a href="http://www.dogsofpride.com/" target="_blank">http://www.dogsofpride.com/ </a>- they have a very busy facebook group if you want to connect with them that way, and they're the exclusive Maritime dealership for a lot of super doggy stuff, so you should definitely check them out!<br />
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Greenhawk Halifax is on 477 Cobequid Road - it's a horsey type store that also caters to dogs and is dog friendly - it looks super interesting!<br />
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Another horsey type store that’s dog friendly is “Tack it Up” which is out in Bayer’s lake on Chain Link Drive – I had an email from Katherine who said that the owners are dog owners and dog lovers – now if only I could get Charlie and the rest of my dogs to not want to chase horses whenever we see them at the beach!!! <br />
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Pet Valu is, and has - opened up several locations around the HRM - they have moved here from Ontario and out - and are supposed to be a major competitor for Global. I have several reservations about them because they sell shock collars - if you don't know what they are, they are collars that you put around your dogs neck that emits an electrical shock that some people think "trains" a dog into submission. Some countries in this world have banned them - and a lot of people think they should be banned in Canada too - so until they stop selling them, a lot of people will continue to spend their money politically - and shop at places like Global Pets, Best Friends, Petstuff on Go, Dogs of Pride - and places like that. However - if you want to adopt a KITTEN at a satellite area - Pet Valu is STILL the place to go.Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-50268670973737808292015-11-19T15:31:00.003-04:002016-08-13T16:45:20.266-03:00Eclectic Type dog friendly stores in the HRM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had an email from Dave and Cass - who own "<b>Bikes by Dave</b>" up on Young Street in Halifax - they've been dog friendly for the last 14 years! Yay! I'd say they were dog friendly back when the term almost didn't exist! They always have treats and water and lots of loving waiting in the store for any dogs who happen by with their owners - so if you're in the market for a bike or any accessories - that is definitely the place to go check out first and last. They also have a website at <a href="http://bikesbydave.ca/">http://bikesbydave.ca/</a> - where they say they have the best selection of "BMX bikes in Halifax"<br />
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Such a neat store that is dog friendly! "<b>Inkwell Modern Handmade Boutique & Letterpress Studio</b>" on 1658 Market Street in downtown Halifax welcomes dogs! Yay - what a great place - I was so happy to get the email to say that they're dog friendly - they're such a great store! Their website is at<br />
<a href="http://inkwellboutique.ca/">http://inkwellboutique.ca/</a> so you can read more about them.<br />
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<b>Thornbloom</b> on South Park Street is dog friendly! I have been there and I love that store - it is awesome - I have spent quite a bit of money at that store - and someone who works there recently emailed me saying that dogs are allowed - so now that I know dogs are welcome - I will be taking one of mine with me when I go there to spend gobs of money! Their website is at <a href="http://www.thornbloom.com/">http://www.thornbloom.com/</a><br />
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<b>The Ultimate Party and Event Store</b> out in Lower Sackville is dog friendly - this is one the dogs who came to visit their store - haha! They love dogs there - especially the little ones who will fit in their shopping carts, but all dogs are welcome - you can find them on facebook at<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/theultimatepartyandeventstore">https://www.facebook.com/theultimatepartyandeventstore</a><br />
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A beer store is dog friendly! <b>Garrison Brewery</b> even keeps a water bowl and treats at the ready for dogs who may be visiting. Now that is service! I had an email from Peter and his dog Tripper to tell me about the fact - Peter also likes Garrison's use of environmentally friendly beer bottles - it sounds like <a href="http://www.garrisonbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Garrison Brewery</a> is a VERY good place to buy beer! I think I may have to start driinking liquor! <br />
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I got a super email from Vanessa who works at the "<b>Little Mysteries</b>" shop down on Barrington Street in Halifax - they're VERY dog friendly - and all animal friendly! The staff even bring their dogs to work with them! How nice is that? They are a book store that also sells wiccan and occult type stuff, but they also sell neat oddity type stuff that makes cool stocking stuffers - you should check them out they also have a website at <a href="http://www.littlemysteries.com/">http://www.littlemysteries.com/</a> - Barrington Street and the whole downtown area is becoming a really good dog-walking destination because there's a lot of dog-friendly stores down there. <br />
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Up in the north end of the city - Lori and her dog Adah have reported that the <b><a href="http://henhouse.ca/" target="_blank">Hen House</a> </b>store is also dog friendly. They sell absolutely awesome antique furniture for not too bad prices and they also sell antique linens and pillows. They used to have an old labrador retriever when their store was on South Street - but he has since passed on to the great bog of no return. They also sell super nice leather collars that are not to be missed. Take a towel with you when you go though - not for your dogs drool - but for yours!<br />
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I had an email from Steve and his dog Milo that<b> Venus Envy</b> on Barrington Street in Halifax is dog-friendly. He is the web guy for their web site and he said the owner of the store - Shelley - is a tremendous dog lover and keeps treats in the store for visiting canines! They also have a website at <a href="http://venusenvy.ca/">Venusenvy.ca</a>Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-66863206402456572752015-11-19T15:28:00.001-04:002016-07-19T17:36:25.697-03:00Clothing Stores that are dog friendly in the HRM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Clothing stores are a pretty popular store to be dog friendly in the HRM for some reason - so if you're feeling like a dare-devil - try taking your dog with you when you go clothes shopping - and if you are successful - email me so we can all go shopping at that store and then that store will be very successful because they are dog friendly!<br />
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As well - with the advent of the dog friendliness of Dartmouth Crossing - there's a lot of clothing stores in that area that are dog friendly - so I'll list those stores there as well that you can shop at with your dog<br />
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Spring Garden Road has also become very dog friendly - and I've got a list at the end of this post of dog friendly clothing stores that you can take your dog in with you as well.<br />
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Shannon and her dog Maddie have been in to the "<b>Biscuit General Store</b>" on Argyle Street in Halifax - She said it's a "really neat "vintage" store that has a little bit of everything. Clothes, artwork, books, magnets etc...all from the 50-70's era. A pretty neat shop." <br />
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I had an email from Sue and her golden retriever Clancy that <b>Cleve's out in Bayer's Lake</b> is dog friendly!! Yay!<br />
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An Outdoor Outfitter's type store that's dog friendly - and actually has a SIGN on their window saying they're dog-friendly is the <b>Trail Shop on Quinpool Road</b>! Yea! Quinpool Road continues it's trend towards being the dog-friendliest street in the city! Steve who works there emailed me to say that they love dogs there and have even had a couple resident dogs over the year's as employee's have brought their dogs' to work with them! He personally LOVES big dogs - so if you've got one and you're out shopping and you are needing stuff for your next hike, jog, or camping trip - go to the Trail Shop on Quinpool Road - and tell them you're shopping there because they love dogs! haha! <br />
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Bonnie Hebb was in <b>Myers Equipment </b>on Myers Road in Cole Harbour and they loved her dog Jules when she took him in there (they have a black lab themselves!) and she also had a great experience when she went to the Wine Kitz store in the Woodlawn Mall which is Cole Harbour as well – and is right next to Global Pets I think which is a politically correct pet store that doesn’t sell live animals! (hint…spend your money there) <br />
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Out in Bayer's Lake is <b>Winners</b> - and I have had emails from people - Ann and her dog Haggis specifically who've said that they've been there on more than one occasion when there's been small dogs in the shopping carts of customers and no fuss whatsoever has been made! So if you've got a small dog - "Winners, you should go there" (haha, that's their advertising logo!) I personally have been there with Buttercup and have had a fabulous time shopping there - it's a great place to go and spend tons of money and spend time with your dog shopping - I've had emails from several people now saying how dog friendly Winners is. <br />
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Also out in Bayer’s Lake is Value Village – it USED to be dog friendly - but it is NO LONGER DOG FRIENDLY - it now has a big sign saying that dogs are not allowed in the store - I heard that it was because of one person's complaint - a dog barked at them and they complained to management, and based on that they banned dogs from the store - a very sad comment on how easily we can lose privileges on taking dogs with us when we go shopping with our dogs.<br />
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Stephanie - who also has a dog named Charlie - says <b>Warehouse One</b> out in Bayer's Lake is dog friendly too! So Bayer's Lake is a great place for dogs - at least to small dogs, because her Charlie is a mini poodle - she's been seriously successful out in Bayer's Lake - she's been able to shop at the Aliant store, Mark's Work Wearhouse, AND Reitman's! She doesn't know what their dog policy is - but Stephanie is definitely breaking new barriers in the dog friendly world, I'd say. <br />
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Here is the list of dog friendly clothing shops in <b>the Spring Garden area</b> that you can take your dog in with you -<br />
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<ul>
<li>American Apparel</li>
<li>Better Than Her Boutique</li>
<li>Duggers Menswear</li>
<li>Halikids</li>
<li>Le Chateau</li>
<li>Lole</li>
<li>LuluLemon</li>
<li>Roots</li>
<li>Running Room</li>
<li>Sweet Pea</li>
<li>YKN Sunglasses</li>
</ul>
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So if you are in <b>Dartmouth Crossing</b> and you're looking to add to your wardrobe and you have your dog with you - even if you don't - here are the stores that you can go to -<br />
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<ul>
<li>Banana Republic</li>
<li>Echo Unlimited</li>
<li>La Vie En Rose</li>
<li>Le Chateau</li>
<li>Marhsalls</li>
<li>Pseudio</li>
<li>Roots 73</li>
<li>Sport Chek</li>
</ul>
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<br />Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-51250025058634384922015-11-19T15:24:00.002-04:002015-11-19T15:24:55.631-04:00Building supply stores in the HRM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1q8fPqUl-qk/Vk4h_nO778I/AAAAAAABc10/vP4QFdBiEJM/s1600/_MG_3881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1q8fPqUl-qk/Vk4h_nO778I/AAAAAAABc10/vP4QFdBiEJM/s320/_MG_3881.JPG" /></a></div>There are a ton of local building supplies store that LIKES dogs!!!<br />
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I had an email from Lloyd - this is what he said: "Taylor TIM-BR Mart in Musquoboit Harbour is Dog friendly, we love dogs here. We have our regular customers who bring their dogs on a daily basis. Come on in and please bring your dog." Is that awesome or what? <br />
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Alecia emailed me to say that Happy Harry's in Burnside is dog friendly - so all you bargain shoppers out there - you can be savvy - and spend extra time with your dog! They even have a sign on their door that says so - now that is an awesome store.<br />
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I had an email from Frank S. in Halifax who said you can also take your dog to Piercy's on Robie Street and Glidden Paints on Young Street in Halifax! <br />
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I had an email from dog owners Gary and Donna that the Canadian Tire in Lower Sackville allows dogs - so Canadian Tires are great places to spend money in! Canadian Tire on Main Street in Dartmouth WELCOMES DOGS! They have a sign on their door that says so! Luciene emailed me and said that and we were both very happy to see that. Business owners hopefully will take the cue and follow that business's initiative when they realize that it increases their bottom line! haha! Canadian Tire (I've been to the Quinpool Road one) - they also keep biscuits behind the counters for dogs. I don't think I have to tell you what the store is like, but I LOVE Canadian Tire money. I buy anything that I could get at Walmart of Zellers there, except that I can take my dog in with me!!! There are unfortunately a few Canadian Tires that DON'T allow dogs. Don't bother trying to go to the stores in Spryfield, Clayton Park, or Cole Harbour - you'll just be tossed to the curb there with your favourite buddy. <br />
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As well - do not even bother trying to go to ANY Home Depot - ever since the unfortunate incident down in the States where a staff person inappropriately got in a dog's space and was bit - Home Depot's across North America have banned dogs, so sad.<br />
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Kent Building Supply in Bayer's Lake - is allowing dogs again - I've had confirmation from several people that they have been successful at taking their dogs in there - so if you've been successful in taking your dog in there - let me know - and I'll continue to share the love and let people know that this store is dog friendly! As well - the Kent in Lower Sackville is also dog friendly.<br />
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Another store that I've never mentioned before but have been going to for years is Valleyfield farm store out in Sackville - they sell farm supplies - but they also sell doggy accessories at great prices - like collars, leashes and dog food - and they don't sell live animals (except for livestock like baby chickens) - and their prices are better than regular pet stores. So if you're out in Lower Sackville you should check them out! <br />
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Halifax Seeds in the north end of Halifax loves dogs! Shawn, his wife and their lab puppy Callie were out shopping and they found out that Halifax Seeds is very dog friendly and they even have cookies behind the counter - so if you're shopping for your back yard and you're in the north end of Halifax - you should definitely go there!<br />
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I had an email from Susan who gave me a TON of places in Lower Sackville that are dog friendly - Canadian Tire (Bedford & Sackville), Kents Sackville, - so that's a ton of stuff out there in Lower Sackville!Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-19367554215280301282015-11-19T15:16:00.000-04:002020-01-13T17:17:29.681-04:00Pet friendly apartments and hotelsIn this city pet friendly apartments might seem to be hard to come by!! So who you know is as important as what you know and how hard you look. Networking is super important. You need to tell everyone you know that you are looking for an apartment that allows dogs and look everywhere and keep your eyes open. <br />
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This is the text of an email I sent to a friend who was looking for an apartment and was looking for some tips - you may find it helpful (or you may feel like hitting your head against the wall!):<br />
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I'm sorry to say that there's no easy to way to find a pet friendly apartment - except that luck comes into it sometimes. One thing that I did which is really time consuming but I couldn't think of anything else is to take the <a href="http://thechronicleherald.ca/classifieds/ads/rentals" target="_blank">Chronicle Herald listings</a> and call EVERY ad that is within the geographic area/price range that I was looking for - that isn't in an obvious apartment building but that would obviously be no dogs allowed. You want a place that's a flat or a small house - you call EVERY listing and the first thing you say is - "do you allow pets" - and when they say what kind you say "a dog" - don't say you have 2 dogs - just say "one dog" for now - you're just trying to get in the door so you can look at the place. The last time I was looking I called - and this is the God's honest truth - in one afternoon I called 100 places - 3 of them said yes to a pet and 1 of those 3 said he'd have to get back to me though when he talked to the other owner. That's calling ONE HUNDRED listings in the Chronicle Herald in my price range that had no mention of "No pets". But the thing is that you only need one place to live, right? So you can call 200 places - but you only need one place to live.<br />
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Some links you can check out:<br />
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There is a local facebook group that shares pet friendly local listings - you can check it out at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/petfriendlyhfx/">https://www.facebook.com/petfriendlyhfx/</a><br />
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I had an email from the marketing director of Rentals.ca - they have a local page for Halifax that you can find listings for rentals in Halifax and they have a tab so that you can look at listings that have pet friendly listings which is pretty neat - you can find the listings at <a href="https://rentals.ca/halifax">https://rentals.ca/halifax</a><br />
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I had an email from the Marketing director of the corporation that runs these buildings that<br />
CAPREIT www.caprent.com has two dog friendly locations <a href="http://www.caprent.com/Apartments/Nova+Scotia/Halifax/">http://www.caprent.com/Apartments/Nova+Scotia/Halifax/</a> 1333 South Park st (Park Victoria) and 2334 longard plaza (Harbour View apartments) - awesome! And if you tell them that you found their apartment listing based on my website - I'll get 150 bucks! So if you do rent from them - email me at dogkisser@gmail.com - I'd love to collect on that promise! haha!<br />
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<a href="http://www.rentseeker.ca/">http://www.rentseeker.ca/</a> - is an aggregator site that with a couple clicks you can look at all the pet friendly listings they have available for the HRM - it's another great option for us locally.<br />
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I had an email about another aggregator site that looks pretty good - it's called Zumper and its at <a href="https://www.zumper.com/apartments-for-rent/halifax-ns/pet-friendly">https://www.zumper.com/apartments-for-rent/halifax-ns/pet-friendly</a> - you should check that one out too :)<br />
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I had an email from Perry who has a papillon, across the hall is a Yorkie. Below the super has 2 little guys and I know of a few other dogs. There are 96 units on Cole Harbour Rd - and close to great pet services. He lives at Belmont Court Apartments - so if you have a dog who isn't too big - or even if you have a big dog - you should check out this link to see if they have any vacancies - <a href="http://www.belmontcourt.ca/">http://www.belmontcourt.ca/</a><br />
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A great place to start your search is the Charlie loves Halifax facebook group has a discussion page where you can post that you're looking for a pet friendly rental - and people sometimes post that they have pet friendly rentals available - that page is <a href="https://www.blogger.com/at%20http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=14390&post=69426&uid=191920607416#!/topic.php?uid=191920607416&topic=14390" target="_blank">at http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=14390&post=69426&uid=191920607416#!/topic.php?uid=191920607416&topic=14390</a><br />
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There is a website called "<a href="http://prop2go.com/">Prop2go.com</a>" that lists rentals in Halifax - and in places all across North America - that when a rental is pet friendly - they list that on the information for the rental - so that's a great place to look when you're looking.<br />
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I got a tip from someone that and they said - "If you go into <a href="http://www.kijiji.ca/h-halifax/80010" target="_blank">kijiji Halifax</a> and look under apartments for rent/houses for rent...type pet friendly or pets welcome in the search<br />
box...and quite a few dog friendly places will come up."<br />
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There's also <a href="http://www.halifaxrentals.com/advancedsearch.asp">http://www.halifaxrentals.com/advancedsearch.asp</a> for you to check out<br />
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If you are a university student - they all have student organizations that have housing associations that you can go and look at postings - from other students looking for roommates - and some of them will be dog friendly - so if you're a student - you can find rental housing that way.<br />
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As well - when you're looking for apartments - the type that you're looking for are ones called "flats" - apartment buildings generally do not allow dogs - but flats are generally houses that have been broken up into apartments - and quite often they do allow dogs - and when you're calling - I NEVER say that I have 2 dogs - I always start with "pets" - and start with one dog, and then work up from there - don't even mention a second dog until you meet the person - if you're not going to get the apartment -what's the point in mentioning the 2nd dog until you've seen the place anyway? That's my philosophy - and when I was looking for apartments, what I used to do is rent places that were slightly below what I generally would have generally wanted, and then fixed the place up to what I wanted - because more run down places tend to allow dogs. And since you have dogs - people tend to not bother you anyway. And the landlord loves you because you've fixed the place up for them. So it's all good.<br />
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When I lived in the south end of Halifax and I was out walking the dogs, I'd keep an eye of for people coming and going out of flats and apartment buildings with dogs - so that when signs went up "for rent" - I gave the numbers to people looking for places. Now I live out in Spryfield - and I mostly only walk my dogs in the huge amount of woods out here - so I don't have that "in" anymore unfortunately - but if you're looking for a dog friendly place - there's nothing to lose by starting to walk your dog in neighbourhoods where you'd like to live - and if you see a "for rent" sign in a building that you think might be dog friendly - give the place a call - what do you have to lose? Nothing! And you've gotten in a good walk in a neighbourhood that you might be living in shortly - win/win!<br />
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I came upon a neat document from dal.ca - it's a "<a href="https://www.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/law/DLAS/tenant%20rights%20guide%20web%20version.pdf" target="_blank">guide to rental housing in Nova Scotia - a tenant rights guide</a>" and it's pretty good.<br />
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What it says about dogs is: <br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
THE LAW<br />
A landlord can make a rule in the lease that does not allow pets. The landlord can try to evict you or your pet, but only if the landlord proves that the ‘no pets’ rule is ‘reasonable’ during a hearing.<br />
If your pet isn’t disturbing anyone (noise, allergies, fright, etc.) or damaging the landlord’s property, you can argue the rule against pets is unreasonable and that you should be able to keep your pet.<br />
REALITY<br />
It is sometimes hard to find suitable housing if you have a pet.<br />
THINGS TO TRY<br />
If your landlord wants to evict you or your pet, your landlord will have to take you to a Residential Tenancies hearing. In order to win this hearing,you must prove that the ‘no pets’ rule is not ‘reasonable’. A rule is reasonable<br />
if it promotes safety, comfort, and well-being of all tenants or if it protects the landlord’s property from abuse. If your pet isn’t disturbing anyone or causing damages, the rule is probably not ‘reasonable.’<br />
You may try coming to an agreement with your landlord, like offering to clean the carpets before you move out to get the pet smell out of them. Usually, this is what landlords are worried about.<br />
If you are getting evicted because of your pet, fight back!</blockquote>
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Some general pet-friendly apartment hunting tip web pages:<br />
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From Petfriendlyrentals.ca there's a great page of tips at <a href="http://www.petfriendlyrentals.ca/renters/rentingtips.php">http://www.petfriendlyrentals.ca/renters/rentingtips.php</a> - which includes tips for when you're at your wits end and you're starting to think about getting rid of your pets because you just can't find a place - some of those tips are - "consider renting one of the many short-term pet-friendly accommodations, such as Bed & Breakfasts, hotels, cottages, and so forth. Ask them for their best rate for an "extended stay". This will allow your pet to stay with you while giving you the chance to find appropriate long-term housing." The link to their page of listings of pet friendly lodgings across Canada is at <a href="http://www.petfriendly.ca/">http://www.petfriendly.ca/</a><br />
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Another website that has a lot of tips is at <a href="http://www.move.com/rentals/renting-with-pets/main.aspx">http://www.move.com/rentals/renting-with-pets/main.aspx</a><br />
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Another good website to check out is from "Custom boxes now" and <a href="http://www.customboxesnow.com/library/moving_with_pets.htm" target="_blank">their page about moving with pets</a> - it's got a lot of good tips as well. Thanks to Crystal for sending me the link to that page!<br />
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<a href="http://rental-housing.com/rental/pets.htm" target="_blank">Rental housing pet pages for landlords, tenants, real estate investors and property managers</a> - a super website that has listings nationally along with some great articles.<br />
Can we help you keep your pet from Wonderpuppy have <a href="http://www.wonderpuppy.net/canwehelp/1moving.php" target="_blank">a whole section on moving with your pet </a>and how to find apartments that let you keep your animals<br />
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Pet Friendly Hotels/B&B's/Cottages:<br />
I had an email from a lady asking about pet friendly lodgings in Halifax and I thought it was a great thing to add to my resources page! I called around to several hotels and they all verbally assured me of the following things:<br />
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The most famous Dog friendly hotel in Halifax is probably the "Chocolate Lake Hotel" - because of it's resident dog "Cocoa" - it's also called the "Best Western Chocolate Lake Hotel" - it's very near the Armdale Rotary in Halifax on the beautiful Chocolate Lake - their website is at - <a href="http://www.chocolatelakehotel.com/">http://www.chocolatelakehotel.com/</a> - I used to stay there with my Mom when I was a child and I LOVED the pool - it was one of the highlights of my childhood!<br />
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"The Pebble" bed and breakfast is located in the south end of Halifax - and it's a boutique type bed and breakfast that's dog friendly. The owners have 2 west highland white terriers - they've got a website that you can go check them out at <a href="http://www.thepebble.ca/">http://www.thepebble.ca/</a> and you can contact them from. I'd say that if you're coming to Halifax and you want to be pampered - they're the way to go!<br />
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"Pampered Paws Inn" is a dog friendly bed and breakfast out in Hammonds Plains - which is actually inside the Halifax Regional Municipality - that caters specifically to dog owners travelling with their dogs. They have rooms that they let to tourists visiting with their dogs. They also have a dog daycare, and by the looks of their website - they host doggie birthday parties. You can check out their website at <a href="http://www.pamperedpawsinn.com/">http://www.pamperedpawsinn.com/</a><br />
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The Westin Hotel caters to the dog owner by having special dog beds and dog owner packages!<br />
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Holiday Inn at 1980 Robie Street - their phone number is 423-1161. There is no extra fee, weight restriction, and you don't need to keep them in a crate.<br />
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Citadel Halifax Hotel at 1960 Brunswick Street - their phone number is 902-422-1391. There is no extra fee, weight restriction, and you don't need to keep them in a crate.<br />
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Delta Barrington at 1875 Barrington Street - their phone number is 902-429-7410. They allow dogs but they must be monitored at all times and you need to let them know when you make your reservation that you are bringing a dog.<br />
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Econo Lodge at 560 Bedford Highway - their phone number is 902-443-0303. There is an extra $10 charge and you can only have them in certain rooms.<br />
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Prince George Hotel at 1725 Market Street - their phone number is 425-1986. There is a "slightly larger deposit" that you have to make and they prefer smaller dogs but the lady I was talking to described her hotel as "very pet friendly!"<br />
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Sheraton Halifax Hotel at 1919 Upper Water Street - their phone number is 902-421-1700. There is no extra fee, or weight restriction.<br />
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Marquis of Dufferin Seaside Inn in Port Dufferin Nova Scotia sounds like an awesome place to go for a vacation with your dog! They've got a website at <a href="http://www.marquisofdufferinmotel.com/">http://www.marquisofdufferinmotel.com/</a> that shows pictures of the compound - they're right on the ocean of the Eastern shore of Nova Scotia and everything looks perfect there. The owner Patricia Bennett-Criss says that they have a dog Shadow themselves and there's lots of interesting places for dog walks and lots of property for dogs to run on. Here's their information: Marquis of Dufferin Seaside Inn 25658 Highway 7, Port Dufferin, Nova Scotia B0J 2R0 Phone: (902) 654-2696 Fax (902) 654-2406 Toll free: (877) 654-2696 in North America Email us at sea@marquisofdufferinmotel.comJoan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-33720042746697866422015-11-15T20:58:00.003-04:002015-11-15T20:58:53.480-04:00Groomers in the Halifax Regional Municipality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I own 4 dogs that need to go to the groomer very 4 weeks, so I know a little about this subject.<br />
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There is a lot of groomers here and most of them are pretty good, but you've got to be careful that they don't hurt your dogs and also not do the things they're supposed to do like cut your dogs nails. I've come home so many times and my dog's nails are the same length they were they left and that makes me angry because now I've got to go somewhere else - do more trauma to the dog and get their nails cut.<br />
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Once you find a good groomer that you like - stick with them - they should be gentle - be willing to clean your dog's ears, do their anal glands (even though some groomers will tell you that's a medical procedure so they aren't allowed to do it - that's just hogwash) - they should do a lot of scissoring to get a good look to the cut - and all the eye goop should be gone from their eyes!<br />
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So here's a couple grooners from around the HRM<br />
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<b>House of Dogs</b> on Quinpool Road are also the owners of <b>Doggy Styles</b> in Enfield - they have a facebook page at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/houseofdogs/">https://www.facebook.com/houseofdogs/</a> if you want to keep up with them.<br />
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Out in Fall River is a fabulous groomer - owned by Leah Cutler called "<b>Fetching Dog Spa and Boutique</b>" - she's at 1480 Fall River Road and her phone number is (902) 576-7387<br />
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We now have a mobile groomer in the HRM! They only service the Hubbards area but that's a start! They're called "<b>At your Doorstep Mobile Pet Grooming</b>" - and they offer everything a normal groomer does except they bring it right to your door - isn't that fabulous? Their facebook page is at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/At-Your-Doorstep-Mobile-Pet-Grooming/499768446725046?hc_location=stream">https://www.facebook.com/pages/At-Your-Doorstep-Mobile-Pet-Grooming/499768446725046?hc_location=stream</a><br />
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<b>Down Home Dog Grooming </b>is on 2310 Gottingen Street in Halifax - owned by the fabulous Jennifer Sinclair - you may remember her as the manager of Bark & Fitz - she also has a really nice retail section so you should definitely check them out!! Their facebook page is at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownHomeDog/timeline">https://www.facebook.com/DownHomeDog/timeline</a><br />
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Christine Graham of <b>Wyndenfog Kennels</b> offers grooming and boarding out in West Chezzetcook for the dog owners in that area of the HRM - you can check out her website at <a href="http://www.wyndenfog.com/index.html">http://www.wyndenfog.com/index.html</a><br />
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<b>Oodles of Poodles </b>is on Agricola Street in Halifax, and by the pictures on their facebook page - they do great stuff! - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/oodlesofpoodleshfx/timeline">https://www.facebook.com/oodlesofpoodleshfx/timeline</a><br />
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<b>Nose To Tail Professional Pet Grooming</b> is in West Chezzetcook - the pictures there also look pretty good! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Nose-To-Tail-Professional-Dog-Grooming-157289391008926/timeline">https://www.facebook.com/Nose-To-Tail-Professional-Dog-Grooming-157289391008926/timeline</a><br />
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<b>Kira's Pet by Design</b> is out on the #7 Highway - so she is serving a much needed service to people living outside the city - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/petbydesign/">https://www.facebook.com/petbydesign/</a><br />
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<b>The Dog Shop</b> is a little out of the way, but it looks like a beautiful spot - their facebook page is at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/The-Dog-Shop-127073950684071/timeline">https://www.facebook.com/The-Dog-Shop-127073950684071/timeline</a>Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-17744919125719762242015-11-15T20:19:00.000-04:002018-06-26T11:02:24.365-03:00Miscellaneous Type fun dog stuff that doesn't fit elsewhere!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This page is for local dog friendly resources that don't fit elsewhere on the website - but need to be included somewhere!<br />
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Dog's of Pride is located in Lunenburg County - but they have a busy online business as well for people living here in the HRM - <a href="http://www.dogsofpride.com/">http://www.dogsofpride.com/</a> - they have a very busy facebook group if you want to connect with them that way, and they're the exclusive Maritime dealership for a lot of super doggy stuff, so you should definitely check them out!<br />
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Charles N Wentzell pine furniture makes beautiful, well crafted furniture and can make whatever you'd like - a special bed that will fit you and all your pets, pet beds, food bins - whatever - he can make it - his stuff is awesome - you can check him out here -<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CharlesNWentzellSolidPinefurniture/">https://www.facebook.com/CharlesNWentzellSolidPinefurniture/</a><br />
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Comfort Foam and Repair - Furniture Repair, Matress Manufacturing - can make you the doggy bed of your dreams - whatever size - they can cut it for you - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CFFDartmouth/" target="_blank">just check out their facebook page</a> to get some great ideas<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Diypassion/?fref=ts" target="_blank">DIY Passion is a lifestyle blog</a> by a former adopter of mine - her name is Erin Basquill and she does amazing things and she has posts about doggie ideas that are very beautiful - you should definitely check her out!<br />
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Metro Pet Crematory is pretty what is sounds like - but they are the highest calibre you can imagine and are what all the local vets use - they have very high standards and have a lot of urns to choose from - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MetroPetCrematory/" target="_blank">you can check them out at the their facebook site</a><br />
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Dogs In Gear is a local supplier of canine sports gear - they sell all the items you need for ski-joring, biking with your dog, mushing with your dog - you name it - they sell it - their facebook page is at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DogsInGearCSS/">https://www.facebook.com/DogsInGearCSS/</a>Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-43209864840941503012015-11-15T19:33:00.002-04:002015-11-15T19:33:46.221-04:00Obedience Instructors in the Halifax Regional Municipality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Who you choose to train with your dog is so important - whether you choose to train positively, force free or whether you choose to train with aversive methods will make all the difference in the type of relationship you have with your canine life companion.<br />
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Charlie loves Halifax is all about having a positive, loving relationship with your dog where you have respect for your dog and your dog has respect for you - so I am not going to talk about any trainers locally who use aversive methods - and by that I mean trainers who use shock (e-collars), prong collars, or any type of training that could scare, flood, or otherwise scare or damage your dog - even though you might think that nothing negative is going on because that's what you've been told. I'm not going to talk any more about it than that - if you want to learn more about opinions about that, you can go to one of my facebook pages about it - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dogkisserHQ/">https://www.facebook.com/dogkisserHQ/</a> and you will soon become immersed in the topic!<br />
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So on to positive local dog trainers that will help you deepen the relationship you have with your dog - and at the same time work to fix behaviour problems you're having.<br />
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The best dog trainer (in my opinion) is Silvia Jay - she works out of Truro, but she will travel to the HRM and other places as well - her website is at <a href="http://www.silvia4dogs.com/">http://www.silvia4dogs.com/</a><br />
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Kathy Krane offers the "T-Touch of Kindness" out in St. Margaret's Bay - giving behaviour modification through tellington touch - at Oakglen Kennels - which I think I may have listed on my doggie day care page as well! You can check out her T-Touch page at <a href="http://www.ttouchofkindness.ca/">http://www.ttouchofkindness.ca/</a> to see if this kind of therapy might be the kind of intervention your guy needs.<br />
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Amy (Slaunwhite) and Adina MacRae have offered everything from dog walking to one on one private in home training, in home agility training, in class obedience training, and other things too - you should check out their website at <a href="http://sublimecanine.ca/">http://sublimecanine.ca/</a> to find out more! They are also the owners of Nova Dog Sport out in Harrietsfield - <a href="http://www.novadogsport.ca/">http://www.novadogsport.ca/</a><br />
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Tristan Flynn - who owns Jollytails dog day care, also is a dog trainer, and he offers several levels of training, from one on one training to reactive groups dog classes - you can check out what he offers at <a href="http://jollytails.ca/dogtraining.html">http://jollytails.ca/dogtraining.html</a><br />
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Ann MacLean owns Flying Tails Dog Training out in Grand Desert - which I guess is some shangri-la area out near Musquoidoboit! She works with Amy and Adina MacRae from Sublime Canine and they do lots of fun stuff with agility and obedience - you should definitely check out her website at <a href="http://www.flyingtailsdogtraining.ca/">http://www.flyingtailsdogtraining.ca/</a> !!<br />
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If you're in the Mahone Bay area - there's "Ditto's Canine Learning Centre", owned by Jane Smith - she's got puppy classes, flyball classes, personal classes, semi-private classes - lots of stuff - and they're also CRAZY about flyball there! So you should definitely check them out if that's something that interests you! They're at <a href="http://www.dittoscaninelearningcentre.com/">http://www.dittoscaninelearningcentre.com/</a><br />
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Another awesome obedience trainer if you live in Pictou County is Alex Keir who has a company called "<a href="http://www.gooddogworks.ca/" target="_blank">Good Dog Works</a>". The neat thing about her business is that she puts on great seminars and brings people from away to teach them. Alex is also Regional Director of the Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers - which is the certifying association for Canadian obedience trainers . <br />
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Unleashed Pawsabilities - is owned and operated out in Tantallon by Tamara McFarland - she teaches puppy preschool / socialization classes and three levels of pet training courses using positive methods without aversives - Primary School for Pooches, Mutt Middle School and Hound High School. The classes are limited to five dogs so her clients get lots of personal attention which is always key in this kind of training. Tamara is a certified Pet Dog Trainer and a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers. Her business website is <a href="http://www.unleashedpaws.ca/">http://www.unleashedpaws.ca/</a>. She can be contacted at info@unleashedpaws.ca or (902) 431-8604 <br />
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Christine Graham of Wyndenfog kennels offers obedience classes and puppy socialization classes through the Dartmouth Veterinary Clinic in Dartmouth - she has a website at <a href="http://wyndenfog.com/">http://wyndenfog.com/</a> for you to go check out!<br />
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Susan Jordan is a "personal trainer" for dogs who has sessions that she calls "Paws in the Park" - at local parks - you can contact her at 499-7659 or js.jordan@ns.sympatico.ca - you can check out their website for more information at <a href="http://www.pawsforfamilyandfriends.ca/">http://www.pawsforfamilyandfriends.ca/</a> - by the looks of their website she's also doing one on one consultations now, as well as agility training!Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-13966146507740364392015-11-15T15:53:00.000-04:002015-11-15T15:53:00.818-04:00Health Related Doggy Businesses in the Halifax Regional Municipality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's now enough local business for me to have a section just on health related doggy businesses! That's great - people are taking the health of their companion animals seriously enough that individuals are able to get at least part of their income from their life passion - helping to make animals healthy. I think that's awesome! (the photo at right is poor Charlie after he had ACL surgery on his back left knee a few years ago - yuck) <br />
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Animal Behaviour Consultant - F. Joan MacDonald gives seminars and consultations on animal homeopathy. I personally have found homeopathy to be fascinating and very helpful with some very sick foster dogs that I've had in the past - and dogs can't tell a placebo effect or real medicine - so the stuff MUST work, I'd say! And it's got lots of neat words like tinctures! Joan islso a human homeopathic practitioner as well - she has a web site at <a href="http://pages.istar.ca/joanmacd/">http://pages.istar.ca/joanmacd/</a> - her email address is homeopathy@ca.inter.net <br />
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Bailey's Skin Rescue should be a staple in every pet owner's medicine cabinet here in Nova Scotia - not just because it's made here in Nova Scotia - but because it works! It's made out of all kinds of good stuff like essential oils, lavender, tea tree oils - things we put on our own skin - so why wouldn't it work on our dogs skin - you use it for everything - from hot spots to any kind of irritation - just about all the pet stores and health stores sell it now in their pet section - so you should go buy some! They have a website at <a href="http://www.baileysskinrescue.com/">http://www.baileysskinrescue.com/</a> - and a facebook group - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BaileysSkinRescue">https://www.facebook.com/BaileysSkinRescue</a><br />
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Susan Hirshberg is a trained academic animal behaviorist who has had a career change to become a Reiki master and Cranio-sacral therapist. Recently she has decided to combine her interests and offer her healing services to animals as well. She emailed me to say that "These modalities are very gentle and excellent for animals with chronic conditions, behavioral issues or trauma". She makes housecalls and has particular interest in working with rescue dogs to ensure their smooth transition to foster or forever homes - which sounds great to me! Her phone number is 455-0175 and her email address is susan.hirshberg@gmail.com<br />
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Some vets who are very good - and have been good to me are the Petfocus group - they are spread throughout the HRM - you can find them through their facebook page at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/petfocusveterinarygroup/?fref=ts">https://www.facebook.com/petfocusveterinarygroup/?fref=ts</a><br />
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If you live in Beford - Vetcetera is awesome - the vets there are very rescue friendly and they do great work - their facebook page is at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vetcetera/">https://www.facebook.com/vetcetera/</a><br />
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If you live in Bedford - Basinview Animal Hospital is also super - their facebook page is at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Basinview-Animal-Hospital-229285013559/">https://www.facebook.com/Basinview-Animal-Hospital-229285013559/</a><br />
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There are now 2 places that you can take your animals on a 24 hours basis - Lady Hammond Animal Hospital has opened up in Halifax and operates 365 days a year 24 hrs a day - they are on Unit # 100, 6331 Lady Hammond Rd, in Halifax and their website is at <a href="http://ladyhammondvets.com/">http://ladyhammondvets.com/</a><br />
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As well - open for many years is Metro Animal Emergency Veterinary Clinic - it is open when all of the veterinary hospitals are closed - so it's a vital service to all of us pet owners - they're located just inside the Burnside Industrial Park behind the unnecessary Pet's Unlimited at 201 #9 Brownlow Ave - their facebook page is at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Metro-Animal-Emergency-Clinic-1451720488385712/?fref=ts">https://www.facebook.com/Metro-Animal-Emergency-Clinic-1451720488385712/?fref=ts</a><br />
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Emotional Freedom Technique for dogs - I had an email from a man named Al Rodee - and here is what he sent - "Whenever I do private sessions using EFT, if there are animals around, they respond immediately. I often do house calls and end up with some big dog in my lap or under foot as I help people stimulate their subtle energy system to relieve unwanted traumas and emotions. EFT is equally successful with animals as it is for people. Dogs that have been abused, traumatized, are behaviour problems, suffer from separation anxiety or any number of things find relief with EFT as I work with their energy not their mind. I run a group (mostly for people) every Tuesday night from 7-9. I am more than happy to invite dogs who could benefit from my services as long as they come with a responsible owner. The cost is $5.00 for the dog (the owner comes for free) (no one is turned away). I also offer private sessions for all kinds of animals. The first one hour session is $25.00. Al's email address is arodee@eastlink.ca and he's got a website at <a href="http://www.alrodee.com/">http://www.alrodee.com/</a><br />
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Pet Physiotherapist - Shelly Malcolm - from Pawsitive Action Physiotherapy helped Charlie when he was limping for months. I was worried it was his hips because he is part Lab and I couldn't even figure out which leg it was that was bothering him. The vet didn't seem too worried by it so I was trying not to obsess. But Shelly did an on-the-spot assessment and could tell which leg it was and could tell it was a tricep muscle spasming and that I should massage it and this is what I should do and this is where I should do it! Now, how many $100's of dollars and how many more trips to the vet would that simple analysis have cost me? Her facebook page is at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Pawsitive-Action-Physical-Rehabilitation-Therapy-8581972748/">https://www.facebook.com/Pawsitive-Action-Physical-Rehabilitation-Therapy-8581972748/</a> - she's also helped Buttercup when she had HER knee replaced TWICE! Dogs' knees can be expensive! <br />
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<a href="http://fullcirclevet.ca/" target="_blank">Full Circle Veterinary Alternatives</a> - is a veterinary practice that offers traditional as well as alternative medicine for our companion animals and treats the whole animal in sickness as well as in health! Their website is quite substantial, so check it out! <br />
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<a href="http://www.cloverfieldbehaviour.com/" target="_blank">Cloverfield Animal Behavioural Services</a> in Brookfield Nova Scotia gives behaviour consultations for just about any kind of animal - cats, dogs, horses, goats - whatever you have they can tell you why they're being bad and how to fix it! Beware of dog trainers who SAY they're animal behaviourists - but they are NOT!<br />
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Another dog behaviour expert - who is also the best dog trainer in Nova Scotia - is Silvia Jay. I can't say enough good things about her - and her website is at <a href="http://www.silvia4dogs.com/">http://www.silvia4dogs.com/</a>Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-16848965783379580652015-11-12T13:04:00.002-04:002015-11-12T13:11:25.575-04:00Pet Food Stores in the HRM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There has been an explosion of pet food stores in the last few years with the arrival of PetSmart and Pet Valu - and we've got a lot more to choose from when it comes to buying dog food for our animals, which is a good thing.<br />
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If you've heard of the term BARF then you know a little about dog food and proper nutrition and what is in normal dog food and "kibble" and what is grocery store "kibble". <br />
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We have a lot of choice locally now what we can choose to feed our dogs - we have several options of whether we raw feed our dogs, feed them high quality kibble - and also whether we choose to politically feed our dogs - and by that I mean - when we shop for our dogs that we don't shop at stores that sell items that we disagree with them selling certain items like shock and prong collars - or whether they sell free advertising for trainers who use shock and prong collars.<br />
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For instance - stores like Pet's Unlimited and Pet Valu locally have a lot of very great and desirable products - but I won't shop there because they also sell shock and prong collars - 2 products that I am very much against the sale of - so I shop politically and won't spend any money there. Global Pet stores have business cards on their racks for trainers who use shock collars - so I won't shop there because they refuse to take those cards down - they are implicitly supporting shock collars by having those cards there.<br />
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So I only shop at Pet stores that don't shop or support shock collars and prong collars - and those stores exist - <a href="http://petstuffonthego.ca/" target="_blank">Petstuff on the Go</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PlanetPawsPetEssentials/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Planet Paws</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JollytailsInc/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Jolly Tail</a>s, local groomers, Best Friends Pet Supplies, B&R Pet Supplies - they are all fabulous places to buy your pet supplies and kibble - and if you feed raw there are also local suppliers of that as well.<br />
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One source of a raw meaty diet is the company "Raw Instinct Pet Company" at <a href="http://www.rawinstinctpetco.com/">http://www.rawinstinctpetco.com/</a> - and they actually manufacture their raw pet food locally and do it up according to your instructions and what you need and want. They do a customized meal plan for your dog(s) after a consultation with you - and deliver their product directly to your home. There is no other company like them in Nova Scotia, so it's pretty neat.<br />
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Another place to get raw food is <a href="https://www.totallyrawdogfood.com/" target="_blank">Totally Raw Pet Food </a>- they are an all-raw manufacturer and retail store (once delivering out of Truro), now conveniently located in Burnside on Akerley Boulevard. They provide a wide selection of delicious raw food blends and whole foods for both dogs and cats, which are based on the evolutionary whole-prey model -- meaning your pet gets their proper balance of 80 percent muscle, 10 percent bone, and 10 percent organ meat. All meat is human grade, hormone and antibiotic-free, and comes only from federally-inspected, local abattoirs.<br />
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At the store, you'll find very knowledgeable staff who will help you transition your dog or cat if they're not on a raw food diet yet. If they are, you'll be one more in a great community who drop by to pick up balanced blends, whole foods, ground patties, a wide selection of delicious low-temperature dehydrated treats, meaty bones, or natural health supplements, all manufactured on site. Drop by and say hello. You and your fur children will be glad you did!<br />
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If you're looking for raw meaty bones - <a href="http://www.gatewaymeatmarket.com/" target="_blank">Gateway Market in Cole Harbour</a> is a fantastic place to get them at great prices<br />
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There's a local online store that's selling high quality pet food as well - they're called "Dogs of Pride" and they're out of Bridgewater - they're also groomers, dog sitters, and obedience trainers - so they're a one stop shop! Their website is at <span style="color: #0000ee;"><u>http://www.dogsofpride.com/</u></span>- and they also have a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Dogs-of-Pride-243410538801/?fref=nf" target="_blank">facebook page too</a>. They are also a supplier of Carnivora if that's something that interests you.<br />
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There is a place called "<a href="http://petstuffonthego.ca/" target="_blank">Petstuff on the Go</a>" which is a local business that employs mental health consumers. They are affiliated with the hospital I work at, so I know it's a great place to use. They have a stand at the Farmer's Market on Saturday in Halifax and in the Penhorn and Downsview Mall Flea Market's on Sunday. They deliver stuff free to your door and they package in returnable, reusable containers when possible - which is great for the environment! They sell several types of dog and cat food and they specialize in brands that have "human consumption" ingredients in them like Excel and Pronature foods. They also sell all natural clumping cat litter in 50 lb pails. Their phone number is 464-3466. And in 2009 - they've opened a store front operation on Main Street in Dartmouth - yea! They're pretty easy to find - they are a great place to check out!<br />
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Best Friend's Pet Supplies in Clayton Park in the Sobey's complex, Bedford in Mill Cove Plaza, in the Hubley Centre in Tantallon. is a great place to buy your pet supplies if you are interested in supporting a pet store that does not sell live animals. I think it is great and really important in the ending of puppy mills that stores start taking a stand against animal abuse. Puppy mills are kept profitable by pet stores who sells their products. <br />
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Best Friend's advertising includes the line "Best Friends does not support puppy mills by selling animals in our stores. If you are looking for a dog or cat, we will gladly put you in touch with a reputable breeder or shelter." They sell a couple brands of dog and cat food that has ingredients for human consumption like Innova and California Natural. Their phone number is 457-0690 and they are located at 287 Lacewood Drive and in the big mall that's right at the Tantallon Exit on the main highway.<br />
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Another pet supplie's store that would be a bit of a drive for some people is B&R's Pet Supplies in Waverley. They are well known based on simply on the excellent word of mouth. They carry every brand of super premium pet foods including Solid Gold food. They also have the most accessories that I have seen in one store locally. They also sell frozen raw meaty bones. Their phone number is 860-3332 and they can give good directions on how to get there.<br />
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I had an email from Shirley and her dog Cody who gave me fabulous directions to the store and here they are: "It can be reached through Waverley or Lower Sackville by going up the Cobequid Road and Turning onto the Windsor Junction Road. Or from Beaverbank by going up the Beaverbank Road and then turning onto the Beaverbank Crossroad to Windsor Junction and turning right onto the Windsor Junction Road. The store is run by the "Boyd" family who have been known for years as breeders of champion German Shepherds. They have a great store with all sorts of stuff, even a dog sled at one time, and very reasonable prices. They carry materials for cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, etc. and they love visitors….Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-30815944933634705562015-11-12T12:37:00.000-04:002015-11-12T12:37:22.268-04:00Doggy Day Cares in the HRM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d01ojxASs_0/VkTANlhQYYI/AAAAAAABcbg/PdSz_6Pbc3k/s1600/IMG_4690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d01ojxASs_0/VkTANlhQYYI/AAAAAAABcbg/PdSz_6Pbc3k/s320/IMG_4690.JPG" /></a></div>You should also check out my "<a href="http://charlieloveshalifax.blogspot.com/2015/11/dog-walkers-in-hrm.html" target="_blank">dog walkers</a>" page - because some local dog walkers also do overnight boarding - if what you're interested in is overnight boarding, and not necessarily just doggy day care.<br />
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A little bit out of town in Blockhouse (near Mahone Bay) is <b>Sea Dawg Boarding </b>- run by Janet Chernin - it's an in home dog boarding - so it's cage free and she only boards small numbers of dogs - so if your dog can't handle large numbers of dogs - she's the place for you. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/seadawgboarding/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Check out her facebook page</a><br />
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</b> <b>The Chewed Slipper</b> is out in Lower Sackville - now that place sounds like a lot of fun. They have doggy socials you can go to, and they also accept every breed of dog - which is a good thing for everybody! You can check them out at <a href="http://thechewedslipper.com/">http://thechewedslipper.com/</a> - they've also got an onsite trainer, a spa, and lots more! Yea!<br />
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"<b>Bowling Farm Dog Adventures</b>" sounds like so much fun! They are located in Lower Sackville on a 65 acre farm and have a doggy day care as well as a boarding facility - they're open at 6:30am to 6:30pm everyday and you can read more about them on their website at<br />
<a href="http://www.bfdadventures.com/">http://www.bfdadventures.com/</a> - you should check them out!<br />
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The newest institutional style doggie daycare in town is <b>Jollytails Inc</b>! They are located on the Halifax Peninsula and have a huge outdoor play area - so they are destined to be super busy - The owner Tristan Flynn is also a really great positive dog trainer, so there is not one bad thing you could possibly say about the place. Here is the blurb that Tristan says about his new business, because it says everything you'd want to know - "Jollytails Doggy Daycare is located in the heart of Halifax, 5 minutes from the Windsor Exchange at 3484 Intercolonial St (off Kempt Rd). We have over 6500 square feet of OUTSIDE play area for our dogs! We run both Group and Private training classes dealing with a wide range of issues from teaching basic manners to addressing aggression issues. We also feature quality retail toys and food products that you can't get anywhere else designed with your pet's mental health in mind!" You can find out more about Jollytails <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JollytailsInc" target="_blank">at their Facebook page</a> - they have also opened a second location nearby their original location - so they have lots of extra spaces to play with<br />
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<b>Paw Prints Doggy Daycare</b> located 401 Bluewater Road Unit 4 in Bedford in the Atlantic Acres Industrial Park. Their phone number is 832-9323 and they have a website at <a href="http://www.pawprintsdoggydaycare.com/index.asp">http://www.pawprintsdoggydaycare.com/index.asp</a> In addition to being a doggy day care they also do grooming of cats and dogs - they book by appointment and their grooming shop is separate from the doggy day care so there's less stress on the dogs in the daycare.<br />
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<b>Camp Bow Wow</b> over in Dartmouth - is in my opinion the best doggy day care in the HRM - their business is at 650 Portland Street. The international company's first Canadian franchise is locally owned by John Sinclair. Dogs, or "campers" as they are referred to at Camp Bow Wow, have access to three large outdoor and three large climate-controlled indoor play areas, which include fencing, shade areas, pools and playground equipment. Overnight campers get to stay in cozy cabins with fleece bedding. Owners can even watch their dogs remotely on the net thanks to a number of Camper Cams. You can also check out their website at <a href="http://www.mycbw.com/hrm">www.mycbw.com/hrm</a> or call them at 431-DOGS. <br />
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"<b>Inn the Dog House</b>" has opened up out by the airport - they have large luxury suites and plenty of places to play outside plus walking trails, a pond, and home made treats for their guests! Sounds like a great time can be had by all at this facility! You can find out more about them by going to their website at<br />
<a href="http://www.innthedoghouse.ca/">http://www.innthedoghouse.ca/</a><br />
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I had an email from the owner of "<b>The Dog Spot</b>" who just recently opened out in Hammonds Plains and this is what they have to say about their facility - I think they're pretty proud of it - "its is an exclusive doggy daycare for small breed dogs. They have a large indoor and out door run, inheated floors, and a great doggy atmosphere. The Dog Spot specializes in small dog/toy breeds but also welcomes larger dogs. The daycare provides a spacious and welcoming environment designed to meet the needs of your four legged friends. They have friendly experienced staff, a large indoor and outdoor play area equipped cozy dog beds, dog houses, and ofcourse, toys! We are more than willing to work with the individual needs of each dog. Their phone number is - 832-SPOT and their email address is - the-dog-spot@hotmail.ca <br />
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Out in Lower Sackville - Tracy Wilcox has started a dog walking and pet sitting business - so if you're int that area - you should look her up! She's got a facebook page that you can find her at - at - "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Running-With-Ruckus-278557978834720/" target="_blank">Running with Ruckus</a>" <br />
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A doggy day care that's open in north end Halifax - it's called "<b>Happy Hounds</b>" and it's on the corner of Barrington and Young Street - their website is at <a href="http://happyhoundsinhalifax.com/">http://happyhoundsinhalifax.com/</a> - they offer overnight bookings, and partnering with the folks at "<a href="http://sublimecanine.ca/" target="_blank">Sublime Canine</a>" - they also offer obedience training! <br />
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The staff at <b>Vetcetera</b> have opened a doggy daycare - they have opened a "Doggy Stay N Play that runs Mon, Wed, Fri 7:30am-6pm." - if it's as good as their vet clinic is - it is an immaculately run, fabulous facility - that's for sure! They're located at 1144 Bedford Highway - their website is at <a href="http://www.vetcetera-vet.com/">http://www.vetcetera-vet.com/</a><br />
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"<b>Fetch Inc</b>" Canine Education Centre - is almost directly across the street from the provincial branch of the NS SPCA on Joe Zatzman Drive. They've got a website at <a href="http://www.fetchinc.ca/">http://www.fetchinc.ca/</a> and their website says they are "the new canine facility in Burnside, Dartmouth. They offer lots of experience in Doggie Daycare, Puppy Socialization and Training, Family Obedience, Agility and Rally-O. Along with daycare services they offer many types and levels of classes, events such as seminars, obedience and agility run thrus and fun matches for Conformation, Obedience and Agility. They also rent out space for training, matches, meetings and seminars. How much more could you ask for, really? <br />
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<b>Patch of Heaven Pet Resort</b> looks like Shangri-la for dogs! It's located outside of Kentville - and it boasts what I think is the first private dog park in Nova Scotia - they have a website at <a href="http://www.patchofheaven.ca/">http://www.patchofheaven.ca/</a> - and they not only have their "Bark Park", their boarding is cage free, they have a doggy day care, and they also host special events! So this place really does sound like a pet resort to me! If you're going away for a bit - this definitely is not too far to drive to have your dog live in the style they are accustomed to, that's for sure. <br />
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Also a little bit out of town is a place called "<b>Little Critter Sitters</b>". I had an email from the owner - Joan Carroll, and she takes little dogs - she's got 3 of her own and she's a cage free in home doggy day care and in home boarding place. She's in Mineville which is off highway 107 at exit 18. Her phone number is 461-7562 or you can email her at threeamigos@eastlink.ca - if you've got little dogs - she might be just the ticket!<br />
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The Pampered Paws Inn out in Hammond's Plains has a doggy day care attached to it - and the owner Wendy is a bundle of energy to be reckoned with! She also has an ice cream stand at her place that sells ice cream for dogs too! So you can tell this lady has a LOT of good ideas! But this part of my site is just talking about her doggy day care - so if you're looking for a doggy day care in the Hammond's Plains area - <a href="http://www.pamperedpawsinn.com/" target="_blank">contact Pampered Paws</a>! <br />
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<b>Petworks</b> over in Dartmouth is on Portland Street - it's a part of Petfocus, and there are several other animal related services on site. Their website is at <a href="http://petfocus.ca/petworks">http://petfocus.ca/petworks</a> - it looks like a great facility, and it offers overnighters as well.<br />
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<b>Mr. Housewatch</b> - is a pet sitting business located in the Halifax Regional Municipality, servicing the area's of Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford and Lower Sackville. They offer in home pet and house care from periodic visits to live-in services - their website is at <a href="http://www.mrhousewatch.com/index">http://www.mrhousewatch.com/index</a>.html - I've gotten feedback from Susan and her dog Clancy who says he's fabulous, very professional and she's recommended him to other people who also love him.<br />
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<b>Kamp Kanine</b> is in Upper Stewiacke - Directions to Kamp Kanine and contact information is on their website at <a href="http://www.kampcanine.ca/">http://www.kampcanine.ca/</a><br />
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<b>Country Critter Sitters</b> is a little bit outside of town - Seaforth - but <a href="http://countrycrittersitters.com/about_us.html" target="_blank">their website looks fantastic</a> - so you're planning on going away on vacation and looking for a place to put your canine life companion in a spot where they're going to have as much fun as you are while you're away - this might be the spot! They'll go for for walks on the ocean, in a cage free environment - a home away from home, cheaper than staying in any place in the city! <br />
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If you've had a good experience with a doggy day care in the HRM - email me at dogkisser@gmail.com and I'll list it here!Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-67390914194153326672015-11-12T12:08:00.000-04:002015-11-12T12:08:24.809-04:00Dog walkers in the HRM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VGWQAj00sgk/VkS5bV2ulcI/AAAAAAABcbQ/GLpMLJa92Us/s1600/_MG_8590b%2B%2528Small%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VGWQAj00sgk/VkS5bV2ulcI/AAAAAAABcbQ/GLpMLJa92Us/s320/_MG_8590b%2B%2528Small%2529.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
Dog walkers are like groomers in the HRM - they're hard to find, and once you find a good one - they seem to realize that they are made of 24 karat gold and decide to get a job doing something else - so you're back at square one trying to find another person you can trust to take care of the thing you care most about in this world! Arrgghh! Dog walkers and groomers are like gold in this city. And they know it. But don't tell them that! Because we need them desperately! So here's a few of them that I've heard of lately - but that could change on a dime....<br />
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<b>Red Dog Pet Services</b> offers group walks, individual walks, pee breaks and kitty services too! They also offer yard clean ups, kitty box clean ups and crate cleaning - so they are your one stop shop - I guess that's why they call themselves Red Dog "Services"! They don't say how far they will travel - but they are located in Dartmouth - so I'm assuming they will travel throughout the HRM - their website is at -<a href="http://www.red-dog.ca/" target="_blank">http://www.red-dog.ca/ </a>- I've had conversations with the owner Erin and she sounds awesome<br />
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<b>Sirius Dog Walking</b> - owned by Dave - who is another person I've had conversations with who sounds fabulous and is a crazy dog person - does group walks and one on one dogs - and in home pet sitting - his group walks are long adventure walks - so if your dog is the kind that needs that kind of exercise - he's the man for you - his website is at <a href="http://www.siriusdogwalking.com/">http://www.siriusdogwalking.com/http://www.siriusdogwalking.com/</a><br />
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<b>Dog Runnin</b> - is a fabulous idea! This lady will come to your house and take your dog for a run - wow! Come to think of it - I have a dog who so needs this! Her tagline is "Exercise for urban dogs" - I have to stop typing and send an email right now! Her website is at <a href="http://dogrunnin.com/">http://dogrunnin.com/</a><br />
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<b>Tracy Wilcox and her dog Ruckus</b> have started a dog walking and pet sitting business that's serving the Lower Sackville - as well as Fall River, and Beaverbank areas - she's a registered vet tech, so they have good expertise if something happens in the middle of the woods! They have a facebook page called "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Running-With-Ruckus-278557978834720/timeline" target="_blank">Running with Ruckus</a>" if you want to check them out and contact them!<br />
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Linda Townsend has started "<b>Muddy Paws Adventures</b>" which is servicing Mount Uniacke all the way to Windsor - it sounds like she is having a great time - and so are the dogs that she takes in - so if you're in her area - you are lucky! Her website is at <a href="http://muddypawsadventures.com/" target="_blank">http://muddypawsadventures.com/ </a>- you should check her out!<br />
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<b>Doggie-Pooh HRM</b> is a dog walker and pet sitter in the HRM that does a little bit of everything - they'll walk your dog, pet sit for you - and clear your yard of pooh - sort of one stop shopping - you can find out more about their services on their Facebook page at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DoggiePoohServices/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Doggie Poo HRM </a><br />
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Heather Sinclair has started a dog walking business called "<b>Tails to Trails</b>" - she offers primarily off leash groups walks (up to a maximum of 6 dogs per walk) and eventually hopes to be offering two walks per day (mornings and afternoons, Monday to Friday). Walks are 1 -1.5 hours in duration and take place at various dog friendly locations throughout HRM (including but not limited to Point Pleasant Park, Long Lake, Shubie Park, Sandy Lake). Her phone number is 266-HIKE (266-4453). Her website is at <span style="color: #0000ee;"><u>http://www.tails2trails.ca/index.php?id=1</u></span>- her email address is - heathersinclair8@gmail.com <br />
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I had an email from Kay leigh who has started up a dog walking and pet sitting services out of her home in head of jeddore, ns. She is a veterinary assistant and has been around animals all of her life. Her contact information is kayleighmills@live.com . She hopes to have a website up and running soon.<br />
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Alex Ross owns "<b>Dogs on Slogs</b>" - he's focusing his walks in Point Pleasant Park at the moment. His phone number is 431-9099, and his email is dogonaslog@gmail.com - he's recently moved here from Toronto, I think he made the right choice in moving away from such a dog hating province - and it's great he's made the choice to choose a career in dogs - good luck to him!.<br />
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Sandie who owns "<b>Positive Solutions</b>" is interested in both pet sitting (in your home or hers) and dog walking. She likes to keep the number of dogs she walks down to a very personal and manageable 4 per walk so she's pretty selective. She's been doing this on and off for the last couple of years but have decided to dedicate herself - it is the most enjoyable part of her day so she's doing what all the gurus say we should do - following her passion! Her email address is apawsitivesolution@gmail.com and her phone number is 405-0713<br />
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<b>"<a href="http://www.dogtrekkers.ca/" target="_blank">Dog Trekkers K9 Adventures</a>" </b>- call their dog walking business an "Outdoor Trekking Adventure For Your Dog" - and that to me sounds like a lot of fun for your dog! They offer different services that include off leash long runs in the woods with other dogs, or on-leash walks in your neighbourhood - and they also offer over night boarding their home - so check out their website and see what they have to offer, they're a company with a lot of energy and a true love for dogs - so you won't regret checking them out. They also offer photography for dogs - so you can go for the exercise - and stay for the great pictures - it's win/win! haha!<br />
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Amy and Adina MacRae operate a dog walking service as part of their business "<b>Sublime Canine</b>" - you can find out the types of service they offer by checking out their website at <a href="http://www.sublimecanine.ca/">http://www.sublimecanine.ca/</a><br />
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Another dog walker in HRM is a guy named <b>Steve Nichols</b> and his phone number is 209-5698. I've seen him at Point Pleasant Park and also at Long Lake.<br />
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Ashael Cooke of <b>Happy Tails Dog Walking</b> offers her services in Peninsular Halifax, Fairview and Clayton Park, you can check out her website at - <a href="http://www.happytailshrm.com/Welcome.html">http://www.happytailshrm.com/Welcome.html</a><br />
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If you're a local dog walker and you want me to include you on this page - you can email me at <a href="mailto:dogkisser@gmail.com">dogkisser@gmail.com</a> - and I'll list you here so we can all share the love.Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-62540925260455182542015-11-12T09:55:00.001-04:002015-11-12T09:55:58.178-04:00Ticks in the HRM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Pb_3TVELuk/VkSaRPf8h3I/AAAAAAABcag/_MLHLq29soU/s1600/tick_april16_2008_spryfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Pb_3TVELuk/VkSaRPf8h3I/AAAAAAABcag/_MLHLq29soU/s320/tick_april16_2008_spryfield.jpg" /></a></div>Ticks are pretty much everywhere in the Halifax Regional Municipality now and lyme disease IS on ticks in some areas - if you didn't know before, you should know now that ticks in Bedford - specifically Admiral's Cove Park have been found to have lyme disease in them for quite a while now - as they have also had in Lunenburg and Gunning Cove, and area near Shelburne. <br />
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It's believed that lyme disease entered Nova Scotia via Lunenburg years ago. Lyme disease may cause a rash, fever, fatigue, muscle aches and headaches. If untreated, it can lead to facial palsy as well as chronic joint and heart problems. <br />
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from the Chronicle Herald:<br />
TICKS TIPS: How to protect yourself when in an area known to have ticks:<br />
•Dress in appropriate clothing, including closed shoes, long sleeves and pants tucked into your socks; •Apply an insect repellent with DEET to skin and clothing; Wear light-coloured clothing, which makes it easier to spot ticks;<br />
•Check your clothes and body for ticks after spending time outdoors. Do an initial check when you return home and another several hours later;<br />
•Don’t forget to check your pets as they can pass a tick along to their owners;<br />
•If you find a tick, pull it off right away (a tick must be attached to your body for more than 24 hours to contract the disease). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HrlqeAVim38/VkSaZo9Go8I/AAAAAAABcak/wJ2Tj2oqCaw/s1600/IMG_0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HrlqeAVim38/VkSaZo9Go8I/AAAAAAABcak/wJ2Tj2oqCaw/s320/IMG_0091.JPG" /></a></div>GROSS! I used to find ticks on the dogs about once a year - and it was only when we went for walks way outside the city. I used to completely freak out and call all my friends and my parents and holler and cry and say "what am I going to do! I don't know how to take a tick off the dogs! I've never seen a tick! I'm a girl! Girl's shouldn't have to deal with this stuff!"<br />
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But then in recent years - starting in about 2008 - I started seeing more ticks on the dogs - until recently I'm getting almost one tick a week on them. <br />
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Personally - I've seen ticks in Spryfield, Point Pleasant Park, Prospect Bay (has a ton of ticks), - they're all over the place - So I've been researching around and have discovered that ticks have infiltrated the whole of the Halifax Regional Municipality. Instead of paraphrasing what the professionals have been telling me - I'm just going to paste the relevant parts of the emails that they sent me. <br />
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When you find a tick on your dog you should: The basic procedure it to remove the tick (intact), place it in a suitable container (film cannister, pill bottle etc), and include who you are, from what was the tick removed, where you found it (geographic location/ address etc), if picked up while walking, where the walking trail etc was.<br />
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If you are concerned that it might have lyme disease in it - you can:<br />
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Send, or drop off the tick the nearest office of NSDNR, the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, or mail it either to:<br />
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Andrew Hebda<br />
Nova Scotia Museum<br />
1747 Summer Street<br />
Halifax NS<br />
B3H 3A6<br />
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Local websites of interest about ticks are:<br />
As for links, your first point of entry should be <a href="http://novascotia.ca/dhw/cdpc/lyme.asp">http://novascotia.ca/dhw/cdpc/lyme.asp </a><br />
as well - there's the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation at <a href="http://www.canlyme.com/">http://www.canlyme.com/</a> which has a whole section on Lyme Disease and dogs<br />
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There is also a vaccination available for lyme disease and dogs - so if you are living in an area that has lyme disease or you go to those areas - consider getting that vaccination.Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-24954608455085949992015-11-11T22:41:00.000-04:002015-11-11T22:41:19.764-04:00"The Moose" - Silver Sands Beach in DartmouthThe Moose is a super place for walking dogs - there's no sand beach, so there's no people lying around to complain that you have your dogs there - but there's a long beach where you can walk, so that's awesome.<br />
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The place is huge. You can walk and walk and walk. The beach goes on forever. It's a super long beach and it's really open - so it's a perfect spot for dog owners like me who have one or more dogs who aren't completely dog friendly so we have lots of time to leash the dogs up before we come upon other beach revellers.<br />
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And there's also lots of different terrain - there was marsh, rocks and beach - so lots of different stuff to role in and play on - I tell you - this place is perfect. I am totally in love with this place.<br />
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There were also surfers there. The times that I visited there they were very cute - they were all lined up out in the water just waiting for waves to happen - one day when I was there, there was a line-up of about 6 of them out there just waiting for a wave to happen. The waves were pretty good though. It's probably a good spot for them. <br />
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Here's some pictures of the perfection that I found:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u662i-N_yis/VkP70dMq8QI/AAAAAAABcZI/TIvjiTLczvg/s1600/Img_00017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u662i-N_yis/VkP70dMq8QI/AAAAAAABcZI/TIvjiTLczvg/s320/Img_00017.jpg" /></a></div>The first view you see when you walk down from the parking lot<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6fZV2rh_gKs/VkP76MnsNLI/AAAAAAABcZM/z8CDmZbuHHQ/s1600/Img_00026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6fZV2rh_gKs/VkP76MnsNLI/AAAAAAABcZM/z8CDmZbuHHQ/s320/Img_00026.jpg" /></a></div>What you see when you look to the left<br />
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I'm also trying to get the perfect picture of Buttercup running toward me - I haven't done it yet, but hopefully I'll get it soon - you wouldn't believe how cute it is when she's doing it - it's indescribable - the joy of it:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20veYqhAkiM/VkP7-4o8pJI/AAAAAAABcZQ/nFcWu2aao9I/s1600/buttercup_running.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20veYqhAkiM/VkP7-4o8pJI/AAAAAAABcZQ/nFcWu2aao9I/s320/buttercup_running.jpg" /></a></div>Here's one try <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aPEmCD0waCw/VkP8EIcxTII/AAAAAAABcZc/K2fnfTiKQN4/s1600/buttercup_running1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aPEmCD0waCw/VkP8EIcxTII/AAAAAAABcZc/K2fnfTiKQN4/s320/buttercup_running1.jpg" /></a></div>Here's another<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2xAlgfNo05U/VkP8LGje84I/AAAAAAABcZk/3F7peKHVU5U/s1600/buttercup_running3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2xAlgfNo05U/VkP8LGje84I/AAAAAAABcZk/3F7peKHVU5U/s320/buttercup_running3.jpg" /></a></div>God, if only this one would've come out clear! It was after this that I upped the pixels on the camera! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zNNv_oHFFVg/VkP8SFwXrFI/AAAAAAABcZo/CFLrjey0Uxg/s1600/Img_00321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zNNv_oHFFVg/VkP8SFwXrFI/AAAAAAABcZo/CFLrjey0Uxg/s320/Img_00321.jpg" /></a></div>Here's a picture of the moose statue that I took a couple weeks ago when we first visited the beach:<br />
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"We just call it "The Moose, ManJoan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6843629907230642141.post-87066789730226499362015-11-11T22:29:00.000-04:002015-11-11T22:29:46.761-04:00York Redoubt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zGc6FVdmVUU/VkP5JXWLrYI/AAAAAAABcYo/k8lJVVBbkiY/s1600/york_redoubt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zGc6FVdmVUU/VkP5JXWLrYI/AAAAAAABcYo/k8lJVVBbkiY/s320/york_redoubt.jpg" /></a></div>York Redoubt is about 5 minutes out the Purcell's Cove Road (which you get to by going through the Armdale Rotary heading towards Herring Cove but you take the left hand turn at the lights). <br />
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You turn left onto Ferguson's Cove Road (there is a sign with an arrow saying "York Redoubt" so it's impossible to miss. It is a beautiful spot. <br />
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I was there on a sunny Saturday in June and it was lovely. All the yachts were out on the water and you get a fabulous view from inside the fort. There is a huge parking lot and lots of picnic spots. The only drawback is that there isn't any beach for you types who like to throw sticks in the water for the dog to retrieve. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HUhsybX4IFo/VkP5kEeo5VI/AAAAAAABcY8/36IibwhtW54/s1600/Img_0041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HUhsybX4IFo/VkP5kEeo5VI/AAAAAAABcY8/36IibwhtW54/s320/Img_0041.jpg" /></a></div>It is all rocky all the way along, but it makes for some great wave crashing noises. There are several trails that are easy to find and get to. One spot you don't want to miss though is inside the fort if you walk left and go up the stairs there is an absolutely beautiful view of the harbour and McNab's island and the lighthouse over in Eastern Passage (that is where the picture above was taken).<br />
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The terrain for walking is almost exactly like at Point Pleasant Park except for the fact that there aren't near as many trees that fallen down/been cut. There are a lot more explanations and empty war type stuff and guns though which is interesting. While we were there there were several other dog families there and all were off-leash - although it is a federal park and dogs are supposed to be on-leash, so it's up to your discretion. It is definitely worth the drive to give your dog(s) some variety, and yourself a lovely view!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6k0wyW_yG9Y/VkP5OSotBUI/AAAAAAABcY0/SQ3nGDkNK4c/s1600/york_redoubt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6k0wyW_yG9Y/VkP5OSotBUI/AAAAAAABcY0/SQ3nGDkNK4c/s320/york_redoubt2.jpg" /></a></div>This is an example of the shore line at York Redbout! And it was a steep walk down to this point!Joan Sindenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04457437859009705213noreply@blogger.com0