Living La Vida Holoka


Hunter’s 5 Favorite Store Bought Dog Treats

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Today is apparently International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day and I can certainly tell you that Hunter appreciates his treats!  So I thought I would share some of Hunter’s favorite store bought treats.  He gets small training treats as rewards during the day and also dental treats as part of his daily routine.  Unfortunately for us, it seems like the stinkier the treat is, the more Hunter enjoys it!  Salmon is definitely his favorite flavor, but he’ll pretty much eat anything!  

BLUE Wilderness Chicken Trail Treats

We’re big fans of the Blue Buffalo brand!  They have plenty of grain-free products available and they’re made with real ingredients.  We discovered these BLUE Wilderness Chicken Trail Treats during a visit to the pet store.  We started Hunter off with the salmon variety, but he loves the chicken treats, too!  They’re a soft, natural treat that’s easy for Hunter to chew and enjoy.

GREENIES Crisp Apple Breath Buster Bites

You cannot even say the “G” word in Hunter’s presence.  He’ll dart to the kitchen and bark at you if you don’t get him a Greenie fast enough!  We’ve made Greenies part of Hunter’s everyday dental routine.  Because he also loves apples so much, I was happy to find these Crisp Apple Breath Buster Bites to put in his stocking over the holidays.  They smell like real apple and are small enough to give Hunter a few.  They’re not too hard, but also have a great brush-like shape to give pups clean teeth and freshen their breath!

Merrick Turducken Power Bites

Want to know how I get Hunter to sit so well for pictures?  Bribery.  I keep these little star-shaped Merrick Turducken Power Bites in my pocket.  Hunter knows that if he sits pretty for me, he gets a treat.  These treats are relatively small, so I can give him one after each photo without feeling like I’m loading him up on snacks.  If you’re like us and love to take your dog hiking and for walks in the park, keep some of these treats on hand with a treat pouch for easy rewarding!

Alaskan Salmon Jerky Dog Treats

We first discovered these Alaskan Salmon Jerky Dog Treats through a subscription box.  Remember how I said the stinkier the treat, the more Hunter likes them?  Well, these treats definitely stink!  But they’re a soft jerky type treat that Hunter couldn’t get enough of!  Plus, they’re good for his skin and coat.  Thankfully, Amazon has a three pack available!  It’s a pretty good deal compared to the price they were individually sold at on the subscription box’s website.

Thinkers Chicken Sticks

Even the pickiest dogs in the family are big fans of these Thinkers Chicken Sticks!  I got a bag of them for our family’s Bichon Frise, Beau, for Christmas.  He’s such a picky treat eater, but he absolutely loves these treats!  Hunter doesn’t really discriminate when it comes to his treats, so I knew he’d love these, too.  These chicken sticks are a pretty big treat, so I would recommend breaking them up into bite-size pieces for smaller dogs.  They’re easy to break into pieces and have a soft meaty inside your dog will love!

Believe me, since we got Hunter a few years ago, he’s been spoiled with a wide variety of different dog treats.  These are definitely a few of his favorite, go-to snacks!  We’ll continue to buy these again and again for Hunter.  Not only does he enjoy them, but we’re glad that they’re grain-free and made with beneficial ingredients to keep him happy and healthy!  

What’s your dog’s favorite store bought dog treat?

Celebrate the Year of the Dog with Homemade Dog Biscuits

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Celebrate the Year of the Dog with 20 homemade dog biscuits to make for the Chinese New Year!  Every pup loves a treat and you’ll love that these are made with beneficial ingredients for your dog!

Happy Chinese New Year! 2018 is the Year of the Dog according to the Chinese Zodiac.  Of course, I like to think that every year is the “Year of the Dog” around here.  Hunter is definitely the king of our castle!  I thought about making a special dog treat recipe to celebrate the Chinese New Year, but Hunter has so many treats in the house already.  Thankfully, there are plenty of other homemade dog biscuit recipes for you to make to celebrate the Year of the Dog.  Which one of these recipes will you be making for your dog?

  1. Healthy Dog Biscuit Recipe for Sensitive Tummys – H2O Bungalow
  2. Cheesy Tomato Basil Dog Treats – Big Bear’s Wife
  3. Simple Homemade Dog Treats Recipe – Close To Home
  4. Homemade Peanut Butter Cheerio Dog Treats – Bitz & Giggles
  5. Easy Homemade Peanut Butter Pumpkin Grain-Free Dog Treats – Urban Bliss Life
  6. Bacon Cornmeal Dog Biscuit Recipe – Ann’s Entitled Life
  7. Homemade Dog Treats – The Cottage Market
  8. Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats – Munchkins and the Military
  9. Blueberry Dog Treats – Two Little Cavaliers
  10. Homemade Pumpkin Oatmeal Dog Treats – Bitz & Giggles
  11. Peanut Free Pumpkin Spice Dog Treats – Simply {Darr}ling
  12. Easy Homemade Dog Treat Recipes – Must Have Mom
  13. Bacon Cheddar Dog Treats – Munchkins and the Military
  14. Oatmeal Banana Homemade Dog Treats Recipe – A Magical Mess
  15. Homemade Dog Biscuits – I Should Be Mopping the Floor
  16. Peanut Butter Dog Treats – Feeding Big
  17. Easy & Tasty Vegetarian Dog Treats Recipe – DogVills
  18. Homemade Dog Biscuits – The Seasoned Mom
  19. Apple Cinnamon Dog Treats – Two Little Cavaliers
  20. Peanut Butter, Bacon and Oatmeal Dog Biscuit Recipe – ConservaMom
Check out my “Pet Friendly” tab for more DIYs and recipes to make for your pup!

5 Time Saving Tips for Pet Parents

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It’s seems like puppy love is everywhere these days!  If you’re a new pet parent, today I’m going to share a few time saving tips to help you as you welcome your fur baby into your home.  Hopefully these tips will save you a little time, money, and help you keep your sanity.  Most of all, I hope it allows you to spend more time hanging out with your new best friend.

I’m going to be real with you.  My husband and I decided a long time ago that becoming parents wasn’t in the cards for us.  But Hunter is basically our kid.  Puppy training is exhausting and I honestly wasn’t sure I was going to make it through the first few weeks of having Hunter home with us.  I remember feeling beaten down from cleaning up accidents in our once pristine house, dealing with Hunter’s stubborn streaks and late night whining, and telling my husband, “Maybe this was a mistake.”  Turns out, getting a dog was a lot more like having a kid than I thought it would be! 

Rule #1: don’t get discouraged.  It gets easier by the day and, soon enough, you’ll find your groove and won’t be able to imagine your home without a pup in it!

Keep a daily schedule

It’s funny how Hunter doesn’t miss a beat and knows when it’s time to eat or head out for his walk!  He’s gotten accustomed to his daily routine.  First thing in the morning, he knows it’s time to go outside.  Then, he’s eager to get back inside to eat his food.  If I’m in the office working, he’ll come remind me that it’s time for lunch.  And if he doesn’t, you can usually find him sitting in front of the door where we keep his food in the kitchen.

Keeping a schedule also helps with training your new puppy.  Give them a scheduled time to go outside, or use scheduled crate training (we used this method and it worked like a charm), and before you know it, your pup will catch on to their daily routine!

Stay organized with storage bins and treat jars

You guys know I’m on my minimalism kick.  Right?  I’ve been getting rid of the clutter and using storage baskets and bins to keep organized.  That also means keeping Hunter’s share of toys, treats, and food organized, too.  We keep his treats in a treat jar on our kitchen table.  Hunter knows that he gets a treat from that container when he goes outside to do his business.  We also keep his food in food storage bin along with a measuring cup so we can scoop him the right amount of food when it’s time to eat. 

Not only do these storage bins and containers keep food and treats organized, they’ll keep them fresh, too!  Want to time on refilling treats and dog food?  Consider signing up for a subscription delivery service.  Most services offer a discount for repeat delivery.  Plus, if your dog’s anything like Hunter, they’ll love getting mail just as much as you do!

Have a walking station

If you say the word “walk” in Hunter’s presence, he’ll dart to the door immediately.  So we keep his leash and waste bags right next to the door!  If your dog gets excited when they hear you say the word “walk,” you might want to make a simple DIY Pet Storage Station (pictured above) with hooks to keep your dog’s leash or waste bags handy.

Make your own pet toys instead of buying them

I’m all about upcycling.  If you want to treat your dog to a new toy in a pinch, take an old t-shirt and turn it into a new toy!  Hunter has a thing for my husband’s shirts (especially his sweatshirts).  A few years ago, I turned some of my husband’s old shirts into new dog toys.  Just cut an old t-shirt into strips and knot them or braid them into a fun, new rope toy!

Protect your furniture

Hunter was really good about only chewing up his toys as a puppy. I don’t think he ever went to chew our furniture, so we never had to bother with any bitter sprays.  The only thing we worried about was Hunter’s paws on our leather couches.  So we simply covered them up with comfy pet blankets!  The only thing you’ll have to worry about is washing your blankets every now and then! 

Plan on traveling with your pup?  You can cover up your car seats, as well, with a stylish car seat cover!  Hunter loves going for car rides!  To get where we’re going faster, my backseat is protected with a car seat cover and I keep Hunter’s harness buckled in and ready to go!  You also might want to keep treats and waste bags handy in a travel pocket, too, for rewarding and cleanup on-the-go!

What’s your best time saving tip for pet parents?

 

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New Year, New Pet Gear from Geopetric

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At the end of the year, I was introduced to some really amazing pet brands.  So Hunter was definitely spoiled this Christmas with new toys, treats, and pet gear!  His old collar was getting a bit worn out, so I got him a personalized collar from Geopetric.  Geopetric’s geometric designed pet products are colorful, modern, and make your pet look stylish!  We loved that the collar looks great on Hunter and is purposeful, too!

Each product on Geopetric’s website is eco-friendly and cruelty-free.  If that’s not awesome enough, 10 percent of Geopetric’s sales are donated to a different animal shelter or organization each month.  You’re not only getting your pet some great new gear, but helping animals in need, too!  We loved Geopetric’s mission so much that Hunter is now a brand ambassador!  


I don’t know about your pets, but when a package comes to the door, Hunter immediately thinks it’s for him.  When the package is actually for him, he’s beyond excited to see what’s inside!  That was the case when his new collar came.  We gave it to him early so he’d have his new collar on for Christmas.  You’ve got to love that Hunter was even excited to put his new collar on!

I picked out the Waggy Personalized Dog Collar design for him.  The collar has a gray, blue, white, and red zig-zag design with a vegan cork-leather engraved plate.  I loved that I could get Hunter’s name right on the collar!  It’s such a fun, personalized touch! 

I mean, I’m pretty sure the entire neighborhood already knows Hunter by name.  He’s like a local celebrity around here!  But just in case he meets new friends during his walks, his name is much easier to locate on the collar than on his engraved name tag.


So check it out, Geopetric doesn’t only cater to dog lovers. They have collars for our feline friends, too.  Their selection of products doesn’t stop at just collars either.  They’ve got cooling bandanas, bow ties (totally getting Hunter one of these next!), leads, harnesses, and items like keychains, hats, and more for pet lovers!

Give your dog (or cat) a fresh look for 2018 with some new, stylish pet gear!  There are so many styles of personalized products to choose from.  And don’t forget!  Your little fur buddy is going to get some awesome new gear, but you’re also doing good for animals in need, as well.  It’s a win for everybody.  Especially if you use the exclusive code below!

Grab some new pet gear for your dog (or cat) on Geopetric and save 20% with the code HUNTERGEO20!

 

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Did your fur buddy get any new pet gear during the holidays?