1. Peanut Butter - I listed this one first since it is my personal favorite.  Peanut Butter is a great source of protein; it has healthy fats, vitamin B, vitamin E, and niacin.  You can put peanut butter in a West Paw Tux and it will keep us entertained for hours.  Please use unsalted peanut butter which is the healthly kind of peanut butter that we use in the bakery for Peanut Butter, Monkey Bones, Finn’s Chocolate Dream, and garbage dog treats.
2. Eggs - Another good source of protein.  Of course you will find eggs in all the dog treats at the bakery.
3. Pumpkin - This is a great source of fiber and beta – carotene. Pumpkin can really help if your dog has digestive issues.  Of course we have a Pumpkin dog treat.
4. Carrots – Another high fiber food that is also low in calories. Carrots are found in multiple One Lucky Dog Bakery dog treats.
5. Chicken - Many dog owners use this as a replacement for dog food if they run out of the regular dog food.  This is another great source of protein.  Since Knight loves chicken Mum had to name a dog treat after him, Chicken MacKnight (since he is Scottish).  This treat also has carrots.
6. Cheese - If your dog is not lactose intolerant this is a great food for dogs.  Duffy, a One Lucky Dog Bakery regular loves cheese so we had to name a treat for him, McDuffin.  We love you Duffy.
7. Yogurt – This food is another great source of protein and also calcium.  Make sure you feed yogurts without artificial sweeteners or sugar.  Now that summer is almost here we plan on having frozen pupsicles at the bakery made with yogurt and fruit.  Stop in after you visit Lemonberry in Medina and of course bring your dog.
8. Bananas - As long as you don’t feed these in excess (more that 1/day) you will find that your dog loves the smell and taste of bananas.  Bananas are a good source of vitamin K and potassium.
9. Apple Slices - Good source of vitamin A and C plus will help to clean your dogs teeth.
10. Good fishes like Atlantic Mackerel or wild salmon – We dogs love foods with a great smell and taste and fish is perfect.  The added heath benefits of omega 3 fatty acids will keep our coats heathy plus support our immune system.

There you have Finn’s top ten people foods for dogs.  If you read our ingredient labels on our dog treat bags you will find all these foods.  If there is an ingredient on our treat bag that you do not understand please ask Mum to explain the health benefits of that ingredient.  She did a lot of research to make sure that every ingredient had a health benefit plus would also keep the treats tasting and smelling great.

Thanks.

Finn

Although we can’t play basketball or baseball and install a new floor or deck we are many times playing or simply laying on very hard surfaces and we dogs get those same scrapes on our paws and legs.  Here are Finn’s tips on stopping scrapes before they start and for fixing them after they occur.

1. Just like our owners we need a soft place to lay and I can tell you that I really appreciate a nice soft dog bed and if you have seen me at the store you know it has to be a large dog bed.  If you don’t have one or yours is really getting old my suggestion is check out the Heyday Bed from West Paw Design.  These great beds from a great USA company are in our store.  They are easy to clean, are stain resistant, are machine washable and dryer friendly, and of course they are made in the USA.  Stop at the store or check this dog bed link to view them at  our website.
2. If your dog gets a scrape or develops a callus you should:
   1. Apply warm compresses three times a day.
   2. Apply petroleum jelly or a product we have at the store called Paw Rub.  The product must be safe because you just know we are going to lick the area if we can.
   3. Watch for infections and if one develops you need to get an antibiotic from your Vet.

Of course since we are feeling bad from the scrape it is really a good idea to make us fell better with a wheat free dog treat from One Lucky Dog Bakery.  Sweet Pea & Mint tastes great and is also great for a sweet smelling breath.

Thanks for your time.

Finn

If we aren’t feeling well  I’m sure your owner has never sat in front of you to ask, where does it hurt?  If you are going to properly care for your dog you have to be aware of some health signs and what you should do to help us.  Here are Finn’s top three dog health issues and the signs you need to look for.

1. Vomiting and Diarrhea - These occur because of an infection or because we ate something we should not have.  This could be your shoes, clothing, toys, paper, carpet, or whatever is available. Because we will eat just about anything you can expect an occasional problem with vomiting or diarrhea.  If these problems occur often or last for more than a day you need to get us to the Vet.   Allergies are another issue which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.  Many times the allergy is from something in the dog food such as wheat or corn.  In recent years dog owners have to be more aware of dog food recalls because bacteria in problem dog foods can really cause us problems.  There is independent help out there on dog food issues.  I like Dog Food Advisor, you can click this link to see the dog food recalls for 2013.  This is also a great link to see how your dog food is rated.
2. Obesity – Just like humans this is a big problem for dogs and being overweight can cause us all kinds of health issues.  Looking at us from above you should see our waist just before our hips.  You should be able to feel our backbone and ribs without pressing hard.  If your dog is overweight you need to walk/run your dog more often and you will need to cut back on our food intake.
3. Heartworms - Heartworms is a very serious disease where parasites infect the dog’s heart and arteries.  Dogs are exposed to the disease from mosquito bites and if the disease is not controlled the larvae will develop into large worms.  The symptoms of heartworm disease are coughing and depression.  The disease can cause heart failure and death.   This disease is easily prevented with injections or a once a month pill.

I did not list my top three in any order, they are all serious and dog owners need to be watchful.

All this serious talk has me hungry so I think it is time for me to see if Mom has a Finns Chocolate Dream dog treat for me.  I’ll use my sad face on her, it always works.

As you also are aware we dogs have a very keen sense of smell and certain smells really get us excited.  The smell of coconut is divine to me.  Mom uses Burts Bees coconut foot cream and one day when she was in the kitchen baking I ate two tubes of it.  As you might suspect Mom wasn’t very happy but she was also very concerned for my health.   No problem, it takes more than two tubes of Burts Bees to get this Deerhound down.  Problem is I haven’t had any lately, I think Mom stopped using it.  I wonder why?

Of course my love and need for coconut didn’t stop.  Mom loves to bake Christmas cookies for family and friends and one Christmas she was making coconut macaroons.  I thought I was in heaven as the smell of these wonderful cookies awakened me from my resting place in the living room.  I convinced Knight to distract Mom (Knight is very good at distracting Mom) and I did my best Navy Seal impression and got to the kitchen while Knight convinced Mom there was a real problem in the bedroom.  Mom was in such a hurry to find out what was wrong with Knight that she forgot to block the counter and the prize was mine, 12  coconut macaroons.  I was in heaven.  Mom was not very happy and to this day she hasn’t  made coconut macaroons.  I think friends and family are not very happy with me.  Mom was really worried about me getting sick but it takes more than 12 coconut macaroons to get this Deerhound under the weather.  I must admit that Mom found a big block of coconut pooh in the yard that night.

If you stop by the dog bakery in Medina Ohio you will probably see me relaxing in the back.  If you smell and see some dog treats cooling on the counter I would really appreciate it if you would get involved asking Mom about dog collars or dog food and I’ll do my Navy Seal impression.  Please try not to laugh as you see me grab a few dog treats.

Thanks!

Finn

Last year we tried a new product in the Bakery, Myristin, and If you have a dog with joint issues I can recommend it highly.  The main ingredient in Myristin is Cetyl Myristoleate and it provides the most natural joint supplements to reduce inflammation and lubricate the old bones.  It also serves as an immune system modulator. Vets have been using Myristin for dogs, cats, and horses since 1996.

My personal experience with Myristin is after taking it for two weeks the swelling in my joints was reduced and I could run and play with Jane, Knight, Cookie, and Fergus just like the old days.  I can even get to my favorite spot on the couch next to Mom with ease.

Mom feels the only reason she has the Bakery is to make life better for as many dogs as she can because “It’s all about the dogs.”  Stop in and talk to us about your dog problems and I’m sure that Mom can point you in a positive direction.

Do dogs have different barks?  The research says yes and if you listen closely you will probably agree.  Here are just a few that I know.

1. If you grab the West Paw throw toy and head for the field your dog will probably get very excited and this excitement will be reflected in the type of bark you hear.    
2. If your dog is a guard dog and a stranger is knocking at your door the type bark you will hear is an angry one not the excited bark you heard when the dog knew you were going to play.
3. I’m sure you have driven by a dog tied to a pole or a tree and the bark you hear from this dog will be different than the first two, it will be a bark of an anxious, possibly distressed dog who is asking for attention.
4. If you have a rescue dog who was mistreated this dog may bark whenever a stranger approaches and it will not be the guard dog bark.  The bark you will hear from this dog is one of fear.
5. Sometimes barking is due to the dog just having too much energy.

What can you do if you have a dog who barks too much?  Here are a few things to try.

1. Try using a special sound or a look to stop the barking.  You will need to be patient because he may relax at first but then his brain tells him to start over.  Give the sound or look again and again until your dog submits.
2. Constant barking can be very stressful and you need to remain calm and patient.  Remember your dog will mirror you and if you are upset the result will not be good.
3. If you think the barking is due to too much energy maybe it is time to go on a long walk.
4. Another way to challenge your dog is to get involved in agility or obedience training.

I almost forgot, some dogs bark when them come in the store.  I think it is the great smell of the dog treats that are baking.  You probably noticed that I never bark for dog treats, it might have something to do with the fact that I can reach them on the counter whenever I want.  It is great to be big.  Stop in to see me, I am at the store almost every day.

1. Look at the first 5 foods on the label and if you see any of the following look for another dog food.

a. Corn, corn meal, any meat by-product, animal fat, any grains if your dog has allergies.

2. If you see BHA or any food coloring look for another dog food.

3. Check the label for the feeding rate for your dog.  Calculate the cost per day and compare it to $1.59/day for a 22# dog on Orijen which I believe is one of the best dog foods you can buy.

Step three is really important because many dog foods use a lot of fillers like corn meal which means you have to feed more per day.  You will probably find out that feeding the best dog that will give you a healthy dog only costs 10 to 15% more per day or less than a quarter.  This is a really small price to pay to ensure that you have a happy healthy dog, just like me.

As you know another thing that makes me happy is a dog treat from One Lucky Dog Bakery.  Time for me to do some counter surfing.

• Nylon, Hemp, Rubber, and Cotton collars with quick release.  Mom stays away from buckles because two of her dogs got connected at their buckles while playing and she fears if she wasn’t there to get them apart the result would not have been good.
• Martingale Collars – These are great for dogs like greyhounds who can lower their head and slip out of a normal collar.
• Leashes to match each collar in various lengths.
• Harnesses – Bring your dog to get properly sized.
• Slip lead leashes which serve as collar and leash for those quick runs to the car.
• We can even supply flowers for the girls and bow ties for the boys that attach to the collar for that special occasion.
• Collars that glow in the dark for those dark night walks in the winter.
• If you or your dog has a tie to England, Scotland, or Ireland we have some beautiful collars that really stand out.

Stop in with your dog to get properly sized and to make sure the color is perfect for his or her coat.  It will also give you an excuse to pick up some dog treats.  My favorite is Finn’s Chocolate Dream which are coming out of the oven right now.  Time for me to do some counter surfing when Mom is waiting on a Customer.  Wish me luck.

• Wheat
• Corn
• Food Coloring
• Soy
• Yeast

All of these are very common allergens for dogs and and are the primary reason why the only dog foods that are sold at our bakery do not carry these ingredients.  Stop at the bakery and talk with Mom about the problem and I’m sure she can help you and your dog.

It is also possible that the shampoo you are using is drying out the skin of your dog.  You should change to a natural shampoo that has mild cleansing agents and thus will not dry the skin and strip the coat of its natural oils.  The shampoo should also contain conditioning oils to make the dogs coat shiny and smooth.  Check out the shampoos that we carry at the bakery, use these and your dog will thank you after you have a lot of fun at bath time.

The last thing you need to think about is your dog treats.  These should not contain wheat, corn, soy, food coloring, yeast or preservatives.  There is a fresh batch coming out of the oven and it is time for me to do some counter surfing.  These batch is Chicken MacKnight and I love the white meat chicken and carrots in this one.

I hope that I have helped with the scratching.