Fresh Dog Food Delivery Services Compared

For some reason, we automatically assumed that Lady would not be a picky eater. I mean, after all, she couldn't be pickier than Paddington, right? 😂 Well, it looks like we have one of the fussiest Bernedoodles ever! We've tried almost everything, and so far what works is dry food (Blue Buffalo), and some type of topper/wet food. The funny part is she won't eat the same type of topper more than 1 or 2 days in a row, no matter how hungry she should be.

Since I'd really like to not be preparing three meals at dinner time (husband, kid, and now dog), I've been looking into fresh pet food delivery again. It's been a while since we've explored this an option (oh my gosh, I remember looking into the first "fresh" pet food options like 10 years ago that came frozen like TV dinners), I figured why not take a look at the market.

The great news is that there are TONS of options that have really great looking ingredients and recipes for dogs of all types. The bad news is it's going to cost you a pretty penny. 

We filled out questionnaires for THE FARMER'S DOG, NOM NOM NOW, PET PLATE, and OLLIE just to see what the average cost per meal was going to be for a 48 lb dog of healthy body shape and average energy, and here's the breakdown:

The Farmer's Dog: $64.09 / week
Nom Nom Now: $30.80 / week
Pet Plate: $53.97 / week
Ollie:  $39.33 / week

So on average that is $42.21 / week, which comes to a whopping $2,455 a year.

I did the math out and right now we spend about $800 a year on dog food, so that's a pretty substantial leap. (Lady gets her dry food, topper/wet food, and then fresh healthy veggies/fruit/meat.)

Now, if you wanted to JUST use the fresh food as a topper (which is personally what I think is the best option), only some services seem to offer that. It's still not cheap, but it does seem do-able.

I wasn't able to see what our schedule modification options unless I enrolled for the services, so I'm not sure what customization you can do. I also don't know what the in person quality of this food is like since I'm still on the fence about signing up for a free trial. I guess if Lady really loved it, it might be a worthwhile investment but I'm just not sure if cost-wise it would be sustainable.

We're going to keep investigating, but for the hassle of signing up, trialing, and then modifying our subscription on a regular basis not sure if it is worth it. What has your experience been with fresh pet food delivery services? 

XOXO 

Things We Love: BarkMade Bouquet Toy

This month's Barkbox brought us May flowers! We cannot get over HOW CUTE this dog-friendly flower bouquet is. Not only has the BarkMade Bouquet provided hours of fun for Paddy (she loved deconstructing it), but the individual flowers are perfect for indoor fetch.

While most of our flowers didn't last long (there have been some casualties), Paddy loved this toy so much we're definitely going to order a second bunch of flowers from the Barkbox store.

One set of flowers sells for $14 and includes four blooms wrapped up in a fabric newspaper.

Mark & Graham Dog Travel Bed Review

Christmas in April? Sure, why not! A belated holiday gift for Paddington recently rolled up on our doorstep -- check out this lovely Mark & Graham travel bed from Paddy's cousins Daisy, Penny and Piper!

While not really a bed (think of it as a fold-able woolly blanket), it's perfect for packing on road trips. It is thick enough to provide comfort on a hard surface, but it's definitely more of a throw versus something padded. Made from natural sheep's wool, the outside is made from recycled hemp and organic cotton, and features handles for easy toting.

Perfect for on the road… or the couch. Paddy is a lounging pro!

Available online in two sizes (small and large), starting at $145. Like most Mark & Graham products, the beds can be personalized!

We have to say, so far we've been super impressed by all of Mark & Graham's pet products. Have you checked them out?

Plush Luxe Pet Beds

So, how much is too much to spend on a bed for your furry friend? 

We ask this question, because we've got our eye on this super luxe pet bed from Plush. What makes their pet beds different is the "nestable" pillow surface inside that allows Fido to snuggle and adjust everything to his/her liking. (We've all seen our dog do that weird digging/turning/circle thing before settling down for a nap, right?)

Ringing up at $132.95 for the small, it's somewhat of an investment, but we kind of secretly know that Paddy would love it... and we are particularly enamored with the Madeleine, with its sophisticated (but girly) combo of pink and grey.

That said, Paddy has kind of a similar setup now - though by no means as glamorous, which probably cost us less than $20 which seems to be just fine.

I guess our little pup can keep dreaming :)

How much have you spent on your dog's bed? What is the most you would fork out? 

Just Right by Purina

We were recently invited to blog about the latest innovation in pet nutrition from Purina. Introducing, Just Right by Purina - a personalized dog food that combines an owners' first-hand knowledge of their dog and Purina's nutrition research to create the perfect blend to meet your dog's needs. Using information gleaned from specific questions about your dog's age, activity level, health, and body condition, Just Right by Purina then delivers your pooch's custom kibble straight to your front door.

For those pets that have grain or protein sensitivities, owners can also note this- taking the guess work out of what really byproducts could be going into your dog's food.

So, how does it work? It's super simple - head over to JustRightPetFood.com and create a profile for your pet. Next, answer questions about your dog to create your personalized blend, and voila! If you have any questions, Just Right by Purina has live experts on hand via online, chat or email to help.

As a pet parent who pays close attention to what her pup eats, I personally love the idea of knowing what -exactly- is in Paddy's kibble. We love that Paddy's specific needs can also be taken into account, and you can customize each order if necessary (ex. in winter we fight dry skin more frequently). Also, did we mention that all Just Right by Purina custom blends are made in the USA? Yup- in Iowa!

Starting at $24.99 for a 6lb bag (which is on par with the cost of most high-end dry dog food), shipping is included and owners can setup auto-fulfillment.

We are definitely looking forward to checking this out in more detail (as of now I'm traveling on the road for work a lot, so we're not going to mess with Paddy's current diet). What do you think? Is a custom blend of dog food something you'd do for your pup? 

Halloween Dog Costumes 2014 - The Good, The Bad and The Scary…

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays, but this year we are totally lacking inspiration when it comes to Paddy's costume for 2014. Cruising the web has not unfortunately helped much… it seems like a lot of what's out there is totally just phoned in, if you know what I mean…

Case in point:

Seriously? What the heck is this?

While we were really hoping to get our act together and do something homemade, with Halloween right around the corner (okay, so like three weeks), that doesn't seem likely. Thus we're sussing out what's available online, and here are some of our favorite options: 

Does your dog have a furry face? Yes? Well then this Ewok costume might be right up their alley. 

Available across the web, but we found it at Amazon.com. 

Nothing is more bizarre than animals dressing up as other animals…. thus there is a special place in our heart for this Octo-hound costume. Also ringing at less than $20 on this site, it's not going to break the bank. 

This costume, is unfortunately sold out, but is probably one of the greatest Howl-o-ween dog costumes we've seen. Yes, that's a piñata. Doubtful that t will come back into stock before Halloween, but we found it online here. For those that are crafty, there's also a great DIY post on this blog on how to make your own piñata costume if you are that way inclined. 

Sherlock Hound is just too adorable for words. A little on the pricier side, but it's pretty cute.

Personally, we've always thought Paddy would make a cute ballerina, so that's the current direction we're heading… stay tuned, we'll let you know how it's looking...

Is your dog dressing up this Halloween? What has inspired you?

January 2014 Barkbox Review

As you may know, we are long-time Barkbox subscribers. Don't ask, but I swear somehow Paddy knows when that box arrives that it's for her. We thought it might be helpful for those that are on the fence about signing up, some of the things we got in our January box.

Why do we Barkbox? While we live in NYC and there are a plethora of doggie products at our disposal, Barkbox brings all of this cool stuff to our door. Though it has been a little treat heavy for small dogs (and we've passed this feedback back to the powers that be), it's been nice to have a few new toys and goodies to change things up. ESPECIALLY since it has been freezing this winter, and Paddy has had a LOT of indoor time. (Yep, I am -that- pet parent.)

In the span of time since we got the box (aka yesterday), Paddy had already consumed the bullystick and we had lost the insert card, so we apologize that our picture isn't complete nor do we have the "official names" for one or two items. This month our small dog box contained a Harry Barker rope toy, a rubbery chew bone, Louisiana Alligator Jerky treats, and Barksters Sweet Potato & Beef Krisps (which may look so tasty that my husband may have asked to try them…).

To sign up, or gift, a Barkbox subscription, head to their website. It's also worthwhile noting that last year we spotted Barkbox subscriptions on sites like Fab.com, so keep your eyes peeled throughout the year for some additional saving opportunities! If you're already a subscriber, it's a good way to extend your subscription at a slight discount.

Oscar de la Renta Goes to the Dogs!

Um. Oh my dog. Oscar de la Renta has launched two gooorrrgeeeouss pieces of pooch apparel. Swoooon. 

via OscarPRGirl on Instagram: http://instagram.com/p/itnwIBDuUq/

While these two plaid numbers are going to set you back a hefty sum ($250 for the black and ivory, $300 for the navy and black), we have a feeling they will be flying off shelves. A blend of wool and cashmere, the coats appear to be in limited sizes so if your dog is a medium or XXL, head there now!

Available now from OscardelaRenta.com.

5 Tips for a PAWSOME Photo Shoot!

Today, we were invited to take part in a very special shoot for an upcoming issue of Pup Culture Magazine! We got to catch up with old friends and also make some new ones that we're excited to introduce you to in the near future. Anyway, prepping for today got us thinking about advice for making the most out of a photo shoot, so here we go:

Paddy on set with her snacks.

1. WATER. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! We packed one of our handy Aqua Pure Breed waters and made sure to bring an extra backup bottle that we could refill the dish with. While there are some nice portable dispensers, typically we find it hard to convince Paddy to drink out of anything that isn't bowl shaped. Also, if you have a small dog, disposable cups typically won't work since they're too deep. Another good alternative would be to save a shallow takeout container with a lid if you can't get your hands on any pre-packaged waters.

2. BREAKS. Just like people, dogs have varying attention spans. Paddy can go for about 5-10 minutes of photos before needing a quick breather. Make sure that your dog isn't getting too stressed out by giving them a chance to relax off the set. We packed a small ball for Paddy which we threw for her during breaks to keep her entertained and give her a nice break from posing. In addition to play breaks, all that hydration and excitement might mean more regular bathroom breaks than normal.

3. TOYS. Does your dog have a favorite toy? Make sure to pack a few items that will get your dog's attention behind the camera. While squeaky/noisy toys often get ears to perk in a way that is oh-so-adorable, we find that anything with noise is going to make Paddy break the pose she's holding. We typically bring one of Paddy's favorite toys or a little tennis ball to get her to look at the camera.

4. SNACKS. Low-calorie training treats make for great photo shoot snacks. We brought with us Blue Buffalo Bits Training Treats which are soft and easy to break into smaller morsels. Don't reward your dog after ever photo--use your judgment, otherwise the snack you have on hand will quickly become boring/expected. We also bring a VERY high value snack (little bits of Pupperoni), just in case. It also helps to make sure your dog does not eat/snack 2-3 hours before the shoot. If they're full, they're going to be less likely to want to work for the treats.

5. HAVE FUN! The more relaxed you are, the more relaxed your dog is going to be. Things may not go perfectly, your dog may have absolutely no interest in what's going on, but getting frustrated will only make them less likely to listen. Stay calm and use a friendly tone of voice-- the more rewarding and positive the experience they have, the more they'll be into it in the future. We use lots of positive reinforcement (treats, pats, verbal encouragement), and always try to make sure Paddy is having fun on set.

We hope that these tips were helpful and that you'll share them with friends! Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes details of our shoot! and make sure to follow Pup Culture Magazine on Facebook for info about their Fall issue.