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Hooray for Family Day!

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Happy Family Day! If you live in Canada you’ll know what we’re talking about. If not, let us explain! Today is an official holiday set aside specifically for families to enjoy some uninterrupted time together. And since our beloved pets are an important part of the family pack, we thought we’d share some of the activities that we, the PAWSH team, will be busying ourselves with on this wonderful day off.

1.  PawsWay Pet Discovery Centre

We’re a big fan of this delightful centre that welcomes human and canine friends alike and on Monday the PawsWay will be hosting a jam-packed day of fun and games. Take in some lively dogshows, skating, bouncy tents, live music and more! And be sure to bring your pet friend along for the ride! Free admission and lots of treats! Woof! (To learn more about the PawsWay Pet Discovery Centre, click here).

2. Sgt. Woof and the Woof Troop

Come down to Toronto’s waterfront to visit with the K9 Safety program, including Sgt. Woof himself! Entertaining demonstrations in canine sports, obedience, dancing and agility will be running all afternoon, providing a great way to educate little ones about proper pet care and safety. A wonderful outing for the whole pack!

3. Take a Bath

Washing the dog may sound like more of a chore than a fun family activity, but many dog behaviourists believe that grooming rituals are a terrific bonding activity. Give every member of the family a job during the process. For example, a different person could be in charge of shampooing, lathering, rinsing, toweling and brushing. Your dog will revel in hands on attention and their quirky nature around water is sure to elicit laughter from the whole family!

Oh, and we’d recommend using an eco-friendly shampoo such as Earthbath. Gentle on canine skin, nourishing to the coat and good for the environment!

4.  Hide and Seek

Games are always a good idea in our books; hide and seek especially so! Not only does this game encourage a dog’s natural ‘hunting’ and obedience instincts, but it also reaffirms the bond between a dog and its pack. To play simply have your pooch sit and stay while slowly backing away. Once you are hidden, call your dog’s name and wait into they find you! Of course, not all dog’s are great at the ‘stay’ command, so it might be helpful to have one family member distract your doggie detective while the other family members hide. They release the hound and wait for the giggles!

5. Bake Cookies!

Spending time in the kitchen is an amazing family activity and baking treats for your pup automatically includes them in the hustle and bustle. There are numerous recipes suitable for your dog, a lot of which are organic and healthy! Check out The Poop Pantry (trust us, the name is very misleading, but the recipes divine!) to find a flavourful that is especially delicious. Oh, and don’t forget to pick up a cute cookie cutter or two for the special occasion!

From Dog Like Nature
Happy Family Day! May it be filled with good times and great memories! What is your pack getting up to today?

High Paw for PAWZ

It may seem silly, but dogs do in fact need boots in the winter. Especially urban dogs who have to trudge through mounds of salt scattered along icy sidewalks every morning. The combination of freezing temperatures, harsh salt and hard concrete can be damaging to a dog’s paws, often drying out the pads and causing pain. But PAWZ Dog Boots are designed for the safety and protection of furry feet, and go above and beyond the call of duty. The best part is, they stay on even the fussiest of pups!

Resembling little balloons, these elasticated boots latch on to the foot in question so that they remain in place for the duration of any walk or run, but then slide off easily when pulled from the toe. In a word, brilliant! Plus, the lightweight design means that most dogs don’t even notice they’re sporting some flashy footwear.

But the benefits don’t end there! These rubbber boots are ideal for rainy seasons and extreme heat in the summer (concrete can get a little hot underfoot). Oh, and they are also a great idea for use in the pool, because they prevent sharp claws from tearing up the liner.

Biodegradable, reusable and inexpensive are three other things that make these booties a sensational choice! Available in teeny-tiny to super-duper sizes!


Clothes Encounter of the Knitted Kind

COACH Legacy Striped Sweater
So you have finally decided that an extra layer is a good idea for your pet this season. After all, frigid temperatures and unforgiving winds are enough to make even you shiver when bundled up to your eyeballs in a parka, scarf and hat. You’ve scoped out some brands, picked out a few cute wardrobe choices and proudly shown them off to your chilly dog. But no matter how much you try your little fur-ball refuses to put their sweater on. What do you do? Don’t sweat the sweater jitters! Just follow these tips!

Of course, most dogs would prefer to run around in the buff if given the choice. Alas, the Canadian climate doesn’t allow for that luxury and the all too real risk of frostbite makes teaching your pup not to fear their new coat very important for their well being.

The first thing to remember is that you must have patience. Your dog won’t understand why you’re trying to pull a strange cozy-knit something-or-other over his head, no matter how stylish it may be. So remember, make the introduction to clothes a gradual process, padded with lots of praise and delicious treats.

Gently ease your pup into his new duds, speaking in a calm soothing voice and handing out treats along the way. Pause if he starts to get nervous and wait until he is comfortable again before proceeding. Be warned, this may take some time, so be sure you have a clear schedule without distraction. Once you have successfully slipped the jersey on, embark on a game with your dog. The happy distraction will help him forget about what he’s wearing and thus by-pass the natural urge to fight it off.

It’s a good idea not to leave the sweater on for too long the first time. Ten minutes is long enough for a first encounter, especially if your dog is apprehensive about the whole clothing concept. Be sure to remove the garment in the same manner you put it on — calmly, slowly and with lots of treats. Over the next few weeks repeat this process, prolonging the actual ‘wear time’ each progressive day. If you are consistent with this process, your dog will soon enough be a clothes-horse and able to enjoy the crisp winter air without freezing their whiskers off!

RAWR Hoodie from Eco-Pup

Oh! And keep in mind that there are thousands of jacket, sweater and jersey styles available for winter! You can find any sort of style and fashion to suit your pup’s personality; everything from a couture Coach Legacy Stripe Dog Sweater (opening image) to the uber-cute dino-spiked RAWR Hoodie from Eco-Pup — a luxury organic and eco-friendly clothing line for dogs!

Valentine’s Party!

Rather than just wish you all lots of love and well wishes on this happy holiday (which we do!), we thought we’d share with you this oh-so fabulous Puppy Love Party blogged by the wonderful folks at Hostess With the Mostess and originally created and styled by Courtney Dial of Pizzazzerie.

Drenched in style and doused in rouge this party flawlessly combines all of our favourite things: pets, style and good times! From a vintage gumball machine choc-full of dog bones, sugar cookies for the human guests, luxury ‘doggie bags,’ a large glittering heart centerpiece and gorgeous baby red bows accenting absolutely everything, this gorgeous get together makes us swoon with delight! To learn about the complete party details, visit Pizzazzerie. Happy Valentine’s everyone!

Love love,
PAWSH
xo