the honest kitchen grants our wishes

Thanks to chewy.com for providing me with a sample of The Honest Kitchen's Wishes to review. I only share information I feel is relevant to my readers. All opinions and ideas are my own. 

N.A.S.H.A. and I love it when we see the FedEx delivery dude approaching our door with a box from chewy.com because we know that delicious healthy treats are on their way. As I've mentioned before, N.A.S.H.A. is extremely picky when it comes to treats. We agree that the treats should be pure...for some reason she typically only enjoys treats with one ingredient, and I don't like to feed her things loaded with chemicals and preservatives. I'm a picky label reader, and she is quick to turn her nose up to anything not up to standards. Yeah, yeah...we're snobs. When I recently heard about The Honest Kitchen's Wishes treats, I was pretty sure they would meet our approval. We already love their healthy dehydrated dog food and know about the high quality of the ingredients, so we were anxious to try these treats.

these pure, simple treats grant our wishes

Wishes only have one ingredient: pure dehydrated all natural human-grade Icelandic haddock fillets. They were created for cats and dogs to equally enjoy. What's so great about them?

• low in fat

• high in protein

• great for pets with more common protein allergies

• large pieces easily break apart, so treats are great for pets of any size

The Honest Kitchen is also conscious about environmental impact. They explain on the box that "our haddock is caught in the cold, pristine waters off the coast of Iceland using a hook and line, not trawlers, to reduce impact on the ocean's delicate eco-system." Wonderful!

is there anything not to like?

Not in N.A.S.H.A.'s opinion. In fact, she begs for these like crazy on a daily basis. Perhaps because, as put by The Honest Kitchen, they are so "aromatic." I don't personally mind the smell of fish, but if one is bothered by that, these might not be the treats for your house. They are definitely aromatic, but, thankfully, the interior bag seals tightly for storage.

Scratch and sniff?

Scratch and sniff?

Yes, I eventually let N.A.S.H.A. try Wishes, and she loved them! Since she's small, we broke apart one of the large pieces and found just the right size for her.

Our first taste-test. I think she's wishing the piece was bigger.

Our first taste-test. I think she's wishing the piece was bigger.

I'm so happy to have found a nutritious, pure treat to add to our arsenal of snacks N.A.S.H.A. likes. I'm pretty sure any dog would dig these, and if both dogs and cats share their home with you, even better! 

What do you think your pet would think of Wishes?

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is it okay to bed-share with my pet?

This article, written by me, originally appeared on Brie Brie Blooms. It appears here with minor changes, with permission.

While some pet owners wouldn't dream of allowing their pet in the bed, there are just as many who wouldn't dream of sleeping without their furry companion, most commonly a dog or cat. Bed sharing with pets is quite common. In our household, it's more of a family affair. Just this morning, I woke to find my son in-between my husband and I, our dog, N.A.S.H.A., next to him with her head on the pillow, and my daughter curled up at the foot of the bed. She must have been last to arrive to the party, and with my husband rolling his eyes behind me, I have to admit that it's not the first time this has happened. We have a big bed and a small dog, so it works (mostly) for us.  My philosophy: If everyone in the bed is comfortable having the pet in the bed, it's fine! The kids? You're on your own.

Web M.D. states: 

according to a recent survey of pet owners by the American Pet Products Association, nearly half of dogs sleep in their owners' beds. The survey found that 62% of small dogs, 41% of medium-sized dogs, and 32% of large dogs sleep with their owners. The survey also found that 62% of cats sleep with their adult owners, and another 13% of cats sleep with children.

It is actually a compliment to you if your pet likes to sleep with you. Dogs and cats will only sleep with people and animals they trust. There can be benefits and drawbacks to sharing a bed with your pet.

What are some of the drawbacks? When might your pet not be a good candidate for sharing your bed?

An aggressive dog should never be allowed to share your bed until the problem can be resolved. This may include growling or biting, and often occurs when one spouse enters the bed after the other (and the dog) are already occupying the bed and the dog feels possessive over either the person or the territory. This situation is one that can be fixed with training.

One needs to be very cautious about allowing a dog or cat who startles easily into the bed. bedmates, whether human or animal, inevitably touch or sometimes kick one another during the night. If your pet startles easily and is reactive, this may lead to unintended aggressive behavior, such as biting or scratching. 

Babies in cribs should not sleep with animals. The animal may feel trapped, or the baby may not be able to move out of the way for safe breathing and sleeping. Babies and animals should never be left alone. 

People with allergies should probably not allow their pet to sleep in the bed. Not quite as critical a case as an aggressive or reactive pet, but still poses a health risk. Even if the allergy sufferer is not triggered by the animal, itself, pollen and other environmental substances the pet brings in from being outside can exacerbate allergies.

If cleanliness is a concern to you, you may not want your pet in the bed. Pets can track in dirt and often shed fur and dander. If you have a particularly smelly or oily dog, this might be more critical. But, if you don't mind, then go for it! Some people even have a special blanket for their pet in the bed. Your pet can be trained to stay on his own blanket. 

A puppy who has not yet been house trained is not a good candidate for sleeping in the bed. Puppies will often get off the bed to eliminate somewhere in the house, or–even worse–someplace in the bed that they deem far enough from their snuggle spot. 

If you share the bed with your partner and having a pet in the bed interferes with intimacy, the situation may need reevaluation. Some couples don't mind the pet in the bed during these private moments, while some will kick the animal out or provide a distraction, such as a chew treat. Regardless, both partners should be in agreement about whether the pet sticks around for the show. Since I'm not a marriage counselor, I'll leave it at that.

If you have a particularly large breed dog such as a Mastiff or Great Dane, you may want to provide an alternative sleeping space. Remember that large breed dogs don't start out as big as an adult human. As puppies, their size is completely manageable in the bed. But if you allow the puppy in the bed, he won't understand why he can no longer sleep with you as he reaches full-size. Whatever you choose, starting as you mean to go on is the best policy, if possible.

If your pet disrupts your sleep, you may want to reconsider allowing her in the bed. Dogs, in particular, are notorious for snoring, tooting, scratching, and licking throughout the night, which can be very disruptive to your sleep cycle. Since Fido sleeps most of the day, anyway, he doesn't care that you have to get up for work in the morning. If your pet sleeps soundly and quietly, you got lucky! Our dog, N.A.S.H.A., has always slept with us. She's a bit older, now, and although we let her out right before bed, she now usually has to relieve herself at some point during the night. I realized she started doing so on the floor (on the tile, thank goodness), so, somehow I started to hear her disembark during the night. Now, as soon as I hear her paws hit the floor, I'm up and at 'em, opening the slider for her. Sometimes as changes occur in our pets, we are forced to adapt. It's disruptive, but better to me than cleaning up the mess in the morning if I stay in bed. (My husband could sleep through a tornado, so he's no help.)

If jumping on or off the bed risks injury to the pet, they should not be doing so. This can happen with older pets or pets with special needs, or long-bodied dogs, especially if you have a tall bed. Thankfully, they now make bed stairs and bed ramps for exactly this purpose. If you choose to lift your pet into the bed, be certain she doesn't risk injury by jumping off independently. 

But it's not all bad.

If the issues above don't apply to you or you aren't bothered by them, sleeping with a pet can actually have health benefits.

People who sleep with pets sometimes find the animal's breathing patterns to be soothing, reporting that they fall asleep faster if their pet is around. Sleeping with pets can also make people feel safer and calmer, which may also help sleep. It can be psychologically comforting to know that your dog is ready to defend you if need be or just having the companionship of a snoozing cat. People have slept with their pets for centuries, often using them for protection and even warmth. Do you know where the phrase "it's a three-dog night" originates? It's accepted in academic circles that the Chukchi in far east Siberia originated the term to describe how cold conditions were. A "three-dog night" was a night that required three dogs to snuggle in order to keep warm. So if you suddenly find yourself without heat, grab a dog or three!

Every situation is different. What about you? Does your pet sleep in your bed?


wholesome, healthy treats #giveaway from happy tails barkery

Whenever I pick up a bag of N.A.S.H.A.'s favorite dog food at my local Pet Planet, I have to take a peek at their wide selection of healthy pet treats. I love that they are constantly searching for new products, so there is always something new and interesting to check out. This past week, I noticed offerings from Happy Tails Barkery for the first time. The packaging caught my eye because it has a big "Made in Arizona" stamp, and I love to support local businesses. 

I decided to contact Happy Tails Barkery to see what they are all about. Owner, Holly Pace, seemed genuinely thrilled that I would contact her. She invited me to come see her and her full line of dog treats at the Gilbert Farmers Market. I'd never been before, so I gathered the family, and we headed out so see her and the other local vendors. 

I learned a lot from Holly about her line of dog treats, which are homemade. Homemade might scare some people off, but Happy Tails Barkery treats are analyzed for quality and nutritional analysis by RL Food Testing Laboratories and are AAFCO compliant, something that sets them apart from other homemade treat companies. They print the nutritional analysis for each treat right on the bag, something you don't get with other homemade treat companies. So not only are you getting treats made with love, you can rest assured that they are safe and healthy. 

Happy Tails Barkery specializes in grain-, gluten-, and GMO-free dog treats made from human-grade ingredients sourced 100% in the U.S., and they also offer vegan options. They value local products just like I do, so they team up with local farmers and ranchers to source many of their ingredients. Just one look at the short ingredient lists lets you know that you're getting quality. The packages say "no corn, soy, preservatives, fillers, added salt or sugar, food-dyes, or yucky stuff." That's exactly what I look for in a healthy treat for N.A.S.H.A. In addition to being informative, Holly was super, super nice. My kids were excited about all the different treats she offers, so she hooked us up! We walked away with quite a few bags of treats:

Bacon Cheezy Bites: garbanzo flour, bacon bits, cheddar cheese, low-sodium beef broth

Chop Lickin' Chicken: hormone- and antibiotic-free chicken breast

Muddy Paws (HTB's Dessert Treat): oat flour, all-natural peanut butter, carob powder

P-Mutt Butter Hummus: garbanzo flour, all-natural peanut butter

Sweet Potato Jerky: sweet potatoes

Some of HTB's offerings at the Gilbert Farmer's Market.

Some of HTB's offerings at the Gilbert Farmer's Market.

It means a lot to me that HTB uses a limited number of ingredients. HTB's mission statement is "to provide the highest quality gourmet treats using all natural human grade ingredients." They are homemade with love in small batches "from farm to treat jar," they like to say. 

Just like Holly hooked us up, she wants to hook you up, too! Now, don't worry, even though she lives here in AZ, she'll ship these quality treats anywhere in the U.S., so go ahead and let your pooch get addicted. Holly warned me that they call their "Chop Lickin' Chicken" treats "puppy crack." She advised "don't give those to your pup first, because she may not want anything else." She was right. Those Chop Lickin' Chicken treats quickly became something that N.A.S.H.A. will regularly punch me in the leg to get. She gets her message across. 

N.A.S.H.A. exhibiting the many faces of HTB Chop Lickin' Chicken "puppy crack."

N.A.S.H.A. exhibiting the many faces of HTB Chop Lickin' Chicken "puppy crack."

Holly is offering our readers a chance to win one "HTB Pound Pack," a whole pound of their luscious, healthy dog treats! Trust me, your pooch wants you to enter.

Well Minded was not compensated monetarily for this product review. HTB provided samples for the review. We only share information that we feel is of interest to our readers.

10 reasons being a dog's mom is better than being a kid's mom

Some of us choose to be dog moms, some of us choose to be kid moms, and some of us (like me) choose both. Have you ever considered the similarities and differences or stopped to consider what you got yourself into?

A few days ago, I had lunch with my friend, Amanda, of Dog Mom Days. It was the first time we'd met in person after following each other's blogs and then realizing we lived close to one another. Since we bloggers are often buried in our computers, it was nice to take our "online relationship" to the next level–so to speak. She brought her dog, Wynston, along, mostly because I told her the date was off if she didn't. The three of us had a fabulous lunch, and Amanda and I chatted afterwards while Wynston occupied himself by staring at the man with the chicken salad at the table next to us.

Amanda of Dog Mom Days (left) and me (the other one).

Amanda of Dog Mom Days (left) and me (the other one).

Aside from the fact that Amanda is intelligent, a talented writer, and a lot of fun to talk to, one of the things I like best about her is that she's unapologetic about the fact that she chooses to be a dog mom rather than a kid mom. Wynston is her "son," and she does much of what we do for our human kids with Wynston, such as providing him great care, many toys, and a variety of extracurricular activities. Wynston likes modeling and agility class. And staring at strangers with chicken salad.

Amanda's son, Wynston is hard to resist.

Amanda's son, Wynston is hard to resist.

So in honor of Amanda and the other dog moms out there, I was inspired to jot down a few reasons why being a dog's mom is better than being a kid's mom just in time for Mother's Day.

10 reasons being a dog's mom is better than being a kid's mom

1. No pregnancy, labor, or delivery. (Are you sold already?)

2. If they barf, they usually eat it, so cleanup is minimal.

3. You can cuss in front of them without fearing they'll repeat it.

4. If you have more than one, their arguments are usually quick and dirty, so there's no need to referee.

5. If they think you're fat, they keep their mouths shut.

6. They come the first time you call them for dinner, and they clean their plates with no expectation of dessert.

7. After six months of age, they never outgrow their clothes.

8. They don't hog the electronics.

9. You can put a leash on them without looking like a total parental failure.

10. When they get older, they still kiss you, even if their friends are watching.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the dog and kid moms out there! What's your favorite thing about being a dog mom?