Cold and Flu Season - Are You Prepared?

It seems the big scare each year is the dreaded three letter word……..FLU. Most folks get a flu shot, which challenges your immune system in an attempt to “prevent” the flu. Getting a shot is not a 100% guarantee you will not get the flu. Looking at it from a holistic point of view means you want to support your body’s ability to respond and to promote healing when germs come along to challenge the immune system. The key is to respond at each stage of a challenge to your immune system. Read more...

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The Dominance Controversy

The Dominance Controversy
Sophia Yin, DVM

Virtually everyone who started as a dog trainer over 15-20 years ago started out using traditional dog training techniques: similar to those used by Cesar Millan (National Geographic's The Dog Whisperer). This is how most dogs were trained back then. As a result we have first hand experience as to why and when such punishment-based techniques might work, the pitfalls, and why and when other techniques work better.

Traditional training techniques are based on the idea that we must become the dominant leader and rule our pets the way a wolf would rule a pack. That is, they assume most misbehavior in dogs is due to the dog trying to be dominant and then they employ techniques that they think a wolf (since dogs are seen as having a social structure similar to wolves) would perform in a wolf pack. In order to evaluate whether this reasoning is valid, we must first understand what dominance is.
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Cat Treats for Healthy Skin/Coat

Dr. Jane believes that healthy skin and a strong, resilient coat begin on the inside and that is why she formulated Life’s Abundance Gourmet Cat Treats For Healthy Skin & Coat. These savory nuggets are feline-friendly, and they feature a deliciously appetizing flavor that will delight even the most finicky of cats. Try our veterinarian-formulated Life’s Abundance Gourmet Cat Treats For Healthy Skin & Coat today. Click here for more info...

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Nature's Fresh Home Pack

Have a clean home and a green home with our new Nature’s Fresh line of natural cleaning products. The Home Pack is a convenient way to purchase the entire Nature’s Fresh product line at a great price!

The Home Pack includes one each of these products:

1561-5 Laundry Soap
1563-2 Fabric Brightener
1566-6 Dish Soap
1567-7 Dishwasher Gel
1565-4 Surface Cleaner
1564-8 Dryer Sheets
1549-7 Enzyme Spray
Plus 2 packets of 1568-3 Silver Shield Surface Wipes

Click here to order and to view all sale items

Robin's Note: I have used all of these products and am so impressed with each of them. I like that they are safe for me to use around my pets and that they are good for the environment. Buying this Home Pack is a great way for you to get to try out each of the products!

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Dog Breath!

Dogs’ Breath Can Sometimes Be Worse Than Their Bite
By Sophia Yin, DVM, MS

While a dog’s or cat’s breath will never smell like a bed of roses, if it carries a stench that could wilt a dandelion, something's amiss. That means it's time for a visit to the vet.

The most common cause of bad doggy or kitty breath is a losing battle with the bacteria or tartar in the mouth. Read the entire article

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Dental Treats that are good for your dog!
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Dr. Jane Foundation Update

We at Bandit's Buddies are so proud to be able to offer the Life's Abundance product line to our customers knowing that Dr. Jane Bicks foundation uses proceeds to help those in need. We are particularly inspired by the recent contribution to the Better Days Animal League. Better Days plans to use the Dr. Jane’s HealthyPetNet Foundation donation to help implement low-cost spay/neuter and medical care programs during the first few months of 2011. We find it very heartwarmng knowing that every purchase made helps needy pets! Click here to read more

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Kroger - pet food recall

The Kroger Co. said today it is recalling select packages of pet food sold in some of its retail stores because the products may contain aflatoxin, which poses a health risk to pets.

Kroger stores in the following states are included in this recall: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

The recall also includes Dillons and Gerbes stores in Kansas and Missouri; Baker's stores in Nebraska; Food 4 Less stores in Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana (Chicago area); and Jay C, Hilander, Owen's, Pay Less and Scott's stores in Illinois and Indiana.

Stores the company operates under the following names are not included in this recall: Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, Smith's, QFC, City Market, Foods Co., and Food 4 Less stores in California and Nevada.

Read the entire article

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Two puppies or one?

Are you getting a new dog and thinking of adopting two puppies at once? Would that double the pleasure? Could they be company for each other when you’re not home? Does it seem a good way to settle competition between human partners or the children in the family over who gets to play with the dog? More dogs, more to go around—does that plan work? Read more...

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My Best Buddy Dog Training Site

Our new site is up and running! The mission of My Best Buddy Dog Training is to effectively teach dog owners how to build a positive relationship with their dog so that they may train them in a positive and non-punishing way to promote success. We achieve this mission through customized training that is: positive, motivational, balanced, challenging, fun and rewarding for both humans and their dog.
Check us out!

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Holiday Gift Idea!

Getting a puppy or a dog for the holidays? Start them off right! Is a family member or friend getting a puppy or dog? Here's a great gift!

Each Pack contains:

* Life's Abundance Premium Health Food (8 lb. bag)
* Life's Abundance Wellness Food Supplement (30 tablet bottle)
* Antioxidant Health Bars (12 ounce jar)
* Tasty Rewards Training Treats (4 ounce bag)
* Small Porkhide Bones (5 bones in a bag)
* Ear Care Formula (4 ounce bottle)
* Revitalizing Shampoo (12 ounce bottle)
* Bath Fresh Mist (8 ounce spray bottle)
* The Truth About Pet Food DVD (FREE)

Click here to order!

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Stress at the Holidays

The holidays put a lot of stress on everyone involved (pets included), some of it good and some of it bad. Our pets have to withstand any number of unusual circumstances that might be novel each year because they don't have the chance to get used to them. I keep a bottle of Distress Remedy on hand at all times and use it when our dogs or the dogs we foster for our humane society act stressed. I have also taken it for times of stress or anxiety or when I struggle to fall asleep at night.

Flower remedies have served well in several key areas of pet therapy and care, including: Aiding in learning, cognitive skills; Fears, phobias, anxiety; Confidence and enjoyment of life; Obsessive/compulsive disorders. Read more...

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Cold weather tips.

The holidays are fast approaching and, amid the hustle and bustle, many people choose to adopt a new puppy into their homes during the holiday season. If you are the proud pet parent of a brand new puppy, here are some great tips on how to best take care of your new bundle of joy during the cold-weather months. Read the entire article

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Holiday Gift Idea! Meow!

Healthy Holiday Starter Pack for Cats

There’s no better way to start your feline’s lifetime of health on the right paw than with the Life’s Abundance Healthy Start Pack for Cats. Premium care for your cat begins with one 6.6 lb. bag of Life’s Abundance Premium Health Food for Kittens & Adult Cats, one bottle of Wellness Food Supplement for Cats, one 4-oz. bag of Gourmet Cat Treats for Healthy Skin & Coat and one 32-oz. bottle of Biodeodorizer to eliminate litter box odors. The purchase of this pack saves you 15% off the regular Retail price and 13% off the regular Autoship price when items are purchased individually. Click here to order!

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Courteous Canine Class

Our next Courteous Canine Class begins on January 5, 7 pm at Doggie DayCare of Fayette. Cost: $100.00 which includes a clicker! Please call or email to sign up!

COURTEOUS CANINE CLASS:

The Courteous Canine is a basic manners class, with training techniques for puppies ages 9 weeks and older and adult dogs. We teach basic skills in a fun, force-free environment, building the bond of trust. Classes are small to allow for individualized attention.

We focus on gaining attention, building confidence, calming, impulse control and settling-down. Behaviors learned include loose leash walking, “sit”, “down” and “stay” and good house manners.

This class is suitable for dogs that have never taken a class before or for dogs needing to brush up on some skills. Courteous Canine Training classes are for people-friendly and dog-friendly dogs and are not a class to address serious behavior problems.

The class is taught on-leash until we are certain that all dogs are people-friendly and dog-friendly and safe to play with each other and train off-leash. If your dog is reactive toward other dogs, is fearful or unfriendly to people you will be best suited to have private instruction.


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Agility - new and improved!

In addition to Agility’s current health-promoting ingredients, such as MSM and glucosamine, the new and improved formula features hyaluronic acid and other effective joint-health ingredients. Hyaluronic acid helps to keep cartilage strong and flexible to better cushion joints. Because the added nutrients work synergistically with the other ingredients in Agility Formula, you can now provide your dog with an even more effective, multi-action joint-health formula.

The new price for the 60-count bottle is $39.95, with an Autoship price of $32.25, representing a $1.60 retail savings and $1.00 Autoship savings compared to the original formula!

Agility is also available in a 120-count bottle for $69.95 with an Autoship price of $56.95. That's a $7.55 savings comparied to purchasing two of the new Agility 60-count bottles! Click here for more information

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Second Hand Smoke

ScienceDaily — It has been in the news for years about how secondhand smoke is a health threat to nonsmokers. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that secondhand smoke is attributed with killing thousands of adult nonsmokers annually.

If smoking is that harmful to human beings, it would make sense that secondhand smoke would have an adverse effect on pets that live in the homes of smokers, said Dr. Carolynn MacAllister, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service veterinarian.

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Loose Leash Walking

Teaching Dog Not to Pull on Leash
www.aspca.org

Dogs have to be taught to walk nicely on leash. They’re not born knowing that they shouldn’t pull ahead or lag behind. Teaching leash manners can be challenging because dogs move faster than us and are excited about exploring outdoors. Leashes constrain their natural behaviors and movements. Some dogs are determined to run around as fast as they possibly can. Other dogs want to stop, sniff and urinate on anything and everything in their paths. To teach your dog to walk without pulling, it’s critical that you never allow him to pull. If you’re inconsistent, your dog will continue to try pulling because sometimes it pays off.

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ASPCA Cold Weather Tips

Cold Weather Tips
Dog with sweater

Brrrr…it’s cold outside! The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips. Read more...

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