Tag Archives: Natural Foods Expo West

Spring, Easter and New Beginnings

FullSizeRender-2Happy Easter People!  I’m beyond excited this week as it was the beginning of spring, Easter today and the garden is in full form!

Well the parental units have been busy as usual so that they forgot to let the bunny know where my Easter basket was.  However, they did do me right by letting me have a few treats – healthy dog treats vs. the peeps I’ve heard humans like. Then again, I will take any treat I can get away with.

Mom and Dad went to church and I got to stay home and rest…but we know how that goes.  I never rest except after 6 and only if I’ve had a proper walk – after all, a dog needs to get his 10,000 steps in, right?  And I DON’T even need a fitbit or an iWatch to track my steps!

I finally got to try the new snack Mom got at the Natural foods Expo by Pet Naturals called Hip and Joint treat.  Of course I had to pose but I don’t mind as long as I get treats.

The Santa Monica weather has been amazing this week as it was quite a pleasant 73 degrees today when Mom and I had our walk and Dad even joined in as well.

With spring in full swing, the garden is beautiful and the birds and squirrels are making me a little crazy, but hey that is part of my story and backyard…Perry’s playmates.

Enjoy all the wonder life has for you right now!

Love Perry

Perry missed the Disneyland Drive-by

IMG_3178So the parental’s went to the annual Natural Foods Expo West in Anaheim and didn’t even take me for a drive by of Disneyland. I was a little upset, but got over it as they did not forget about me. As usual they were good parents and brought home some treats and products I could enjoy.

However, as usual I had to “pose” with the treats but soon afterward Mom let me rip into my new Buckley Jerky treats complete with some types of supplements I don’t understand to help all my joints.  They even have ones for the immune system, which we all know I need help with.

Mom only gave me ONE and then hid them on the counter so while they were eating dinner I tried to “steal” another one since they were REALLY yummy!  We all know I love treats but these were beyond exceptional. However, she was ON to me and hid them on the top of the refrigerator since not even I am tall enough to get up there.  I’m bummed but will have to have them doled out. I guess I have been known to steal whole bags of treats and as Dad says under his breath “just when you think you can trust Perry, you can’t.”

Otherwise, we are hanging out with a little chill and sleepy eyes with cooler weather.

Daylight savings time hit last night and as usual we know that messes up my chow time but it’s okay since it drives Dad crazy – something I live for!

Until next time,

Love Perry

 

Challenging Weeks AND Treats

IMG_2586This week I learned something new which made me realize just how precious life is.

Our neighbor lady, Ann, passed away after 92 wonderful years of life.

Although she was cranky at times, for the most part she was a kind and thoughtful woman who was never afraid to leave a conversation without saying “I love you.”

When Dad brought me over to meet her when I was just a pup, she was so happy and welcomed me into her home. She was lucky in this day and age to able to finish out her life in her home.

You will be missed Ann and always thought of with love.

Last weekend we missed our blog so sorry I have been out of contact. We were all a bit more than challenged since Dad was working hard dealing with the flooding in our back yard and Mom was way challenged trying to get o Arkansas to speak.

Since it hardly eve rains in Santa Monica, when it does, it creates a lot of issues with our back yard and garage but Dad dealt with it and were okay and saved our books.

Mom’s flight from Dallas to Arkansas got cancelled and she was stranded at the airport with no options to get to her speaking engagement. She told me she met some really nice people, one man in particular who was an angel and he offered to drive her and another woman to Arkansas in the snow, a 330-mile trip.

Since Mom and I are alike in that we are not really “car people” I was surprised but it seems Mom’s life this year is about new adventures so she’s taking it in stride.

Mom did her annual thing this weekend going to Natural Foods Expo. Dad and I stayed at home waiting for the new items while Mom and Victoria waded through the masses of excited foodies and you can see her new finds on her blog.

I am always excited to see what she brings ME home and this year I got to have a new treat from Riley’s Organics.  The nice man named Grant gave Mom TWO bags of treats for me – the Apple and Peanut Butter dog biscuits.

Not only do they taste amazing, but more importantly they all organic, wheat, corn and soy free with no additives or preservatives. We all know what happened to me when I was given a dog treat at daycare that had wheat and preservatives – I almost died and had to go on all those drugs so I’m happy Riley’s is healthy for me.

I needed a new fun tasty treat since Mom has been busy and remiss at making me the homemade one’s from A Healthy Baker’s Dozen – remember my picture and dog biscuit is featured there.

So it’s that time of year ending Daylight savings where you “spring ahead” and I know the parentals love this as I sleep in a little more.

It’s almost spring time and I can report a really lovely 75 degrees in Santa Monica today. I know – we have nothing to complain about compared to our human and canine friends in other parts of the country. My friends Katherine and John in Boston are having to make a practice of cleaning snow off their roof each weekend and I’m not so sure the parentals would ever be up for that so we’ll stay on the west coast for now.

Peace!

Perry

I Have My Freshnesses on With Organic Oscar

photoIt’s been a long week People. Dad has been working nonstop with school and lots of clients and I’ve been hanging out with Mom more which is okay…but not nearly as fun since she’s always writing all those blog things.

I’m not sure why they are important since the only thing she really needs to be blogging about is ME!

I’ve gotten myself into a little bit of trouble with digging up the patio blocks and was not quite as clean as Dad likes SO I got a bath. Dad used the new Organic Oscar Shampoo the parentals got at the Natural Foods Expo West.

I was wondering what was taking them so long so I started itching more this week since I read (yes, I do read sometimes) this was the itch relief one and I was very excited about trying it. I’m game for whatever will help my skin since you may not be aware but skin issues are common with us Weimaraners.

Here I am resting after my nice bath!

I was a little sad since I did not get to see the babies this week at Harvest Home but Mom said maybe soon if I’m good like I was last time.

The most fun I had this week was when Uncle Andrew came over so Dad could take pictures of him and Sonya for a school class. They were engagement pictures but I’m not sure why they needed them since they are already married but I didn’t care. The only thing I cared about was seeing Uncle Andrew since he was the first person I met after coming home when I was 7 weeks old.

Oh – and of course it is a beautiful, crisp 63 sunny day in Santa Monica. I know we need the rain since we are in a drought but then I would get dirty. Dad likes it when I have my “freshnesses on” as he famously says almost every day.

Till next week – Peace People!

It’s National Puppy Day!

photoHello Campers!  As you all are aware every day is a special day for me and I am in control of life and its pleasures. However, today is even more special because it is National Puppy Day. OK, so I am not a small puppy but a guy can still try to be a kid…look at Dad as he is perpetually trying to remain a kid.

The best part of my day was receiving a big surprise box from Michael from Central Garden and Pet whom the parentals met at the Natural Foods Expo West in Anaheim a few weeks ago.  Mom told him I love pumpkin and Salmon so he sent me AvoDerm grain-free Salmon food and Pinnacle Salmon grain-free formula to try out.  I was so excited I was trying to rip open the package since they both smelled REALLLLY good.

Mom made me sit and wait for the picture which I am NOT happy about as you can see – I want to eat it, not sit in front of it and watch it.  The parentals aren’t all that smart sometimes – have you noticed that?

Anyway, we know how much I’m up on my nutrition since I know Salmon is high in omega 3’s and sometimes I am not great at taking the oil so this ensures I get what I need. More importantly they both have my FAVORITE food, which we know is pumpkin.   Pumpkin is high in the phytochemicals beta and alpha carotene.  Both of these formulas are a no brainer for me since it helps my brain (pardon the pun people).

_MG_0444 copy 2Anyway, we are still slightly in lock down at no fun Casa de Perry. Dad is pretty busy with finishing up school and organizing his clients, while Mom’s Motivational Interviewing workshops are starting to take off again. I heard the parentals talk about all the things we are doing for the next 6 months. I get the lucky part of the stick, as maybe I will be able to go visit some cool place or go back to the country.

The one fun thing I got to do this week was go to Harvest Home with Mom for the nutrition class she teaches there.  I was really good with the pregnant women and behaved as good as I could and got lots of loves, hugs and pets as we know I can’t get enough of those.

So all you fellow Pups and puppy lovers out there have a great, safe weekend…and I almost forgot it’s a cloudy 63 degrees in Santa Monica.   Here’s a puppy picture for nostalgia!

Peace out!

Perry

They Went to The Natural Foods Expo West 2014 Without ME!!

photoI guess I should start with the good since being grateful is what it’s all about, right?  We got some much-needed rain – remember I now am the Weather Weimaraner so this is one of the first things to report.  Our yard is greener but apparently we still need more rain.  I’m just happy since it’s sunny today and 82 degrees in Santa Monica – how’s that for some post Daylight Savings time weather?  We did have a very small earthquake but it did not affect my Perry world so it was fine.

The thing I am NOT so happy about is the parentals got to go to the Natural foods Expo West in Anaheim.  Mom has gone for the past 15 years, Dad apparently does not like to go because of the crowds but Mom makes him and I WANT to go but canines are not allowed.  Can you imagine?  The biggest food show in the WORLD  and I the biggest dog foodie is NOT invited or allowed?  Close to 4000 food booths with endless treats are at that show.  I guess I should be GRATEFUL (there’s that word again) that the parentals thought of me and tried to find me some new healthy treats.

photo-2The humans at Castor & Pollux were apparently the nicest and recognized the large breed that I am and gave Mom a big bag of their Organix Jerky Chip Cookies made of oatmeal and chicken.  All I can say is double YUMMMM!!!  Here I am trying not to attack the bag and then Mom finally opened it for me.  As she’s scripting my blog for me right now I’m at her feet trying to be ultra good to get another one – the good behavior I must have for treats is unimaginable.  I know they are trying to make me a respectable dog but it’s Sunday afternoon and I need a day off.

Later People and pray for more rain in our region of the country.  I don’t want to have to contend with a brown yard since I might be camouflaged!

“Naked” Food?

photoMom went to the Natural Foods Expo West last week and got lots of treats for Dad and finally I got to try one of MY treats.  It’s called “I and love and you” dog food.

What an odd name but all I have to say is I LOVE IT!

It says it’s nude food since it has no additives, preservatives, and the one I tasted was made from grass-fed meat, something Mom is always talking about so I guess now I know why she likes it!  She also told Dad it has no GMO’s whatever that means.

They let me have a free go at it and then took it away – so NOT fair!   I even sat and waited patiently hoping they would notice how good I was being.  Finally Mom noticed gave me some extra since I had already had my dinner.  Why not more?  I can always eat since I’m a foodie.

After all,  I don’t write this healthy eating puppy blog for nothing!  I’m always up for a snack and since Mom only lets me eat healthy treats and food I’m happy when I find one that really suits my fancy and this one sure fit the bill.

Maybe I’ll get to try another of the new treats tomorrow since after all, it is St. Patrick’s Day.  I think I’m too big to go to Aunt Chris’ party this year since I’m about 60 pounds more than last year but maybe Auntie Chris will send some scoobie snacks home for me.

From Home School to Puppy School

What a day, I don’t know if I should be doing flips or just lay my head down and sleep.

It all started as a normal day.  I start to stretch and make my usual noise around 5 right about the time Mom gets up and puts on my most favorite play toy, the white squishy things she puts on her feet.  Then Dad opens up my door and takes me out for a quick pee in the cold and then we go back inside to sleep another hour.

Then something odd happened and I was not pleased about it.  During breakfast  (which I did not get my full share…that is another story and believe me I was not happy) Dad was cooking something that smelled AMAZING.  I was so hungry and this smell was making me crazy – I later found out it is called bacon.

I was not fine without my usual food AND the smell of this new food so I started lounging toward my Dad’s feet and biting him.  That will teach him to starve me.

After a time out, he got the blue vest thingy he always puts on before we go out the side door.  I saw him put MY food in a little bag that I am not allowed to touch.  Then the blue leash came out (I call it the controller) and we were out the door and in the car.

When we were driving he mentioned that odd word with such passion, “today is your first day at puppy kindergarten”.  What is he talking?  Hey – I’m starving, you have me strapped into the controller and taking me to some strange place.

We finally get to the new place and I see another set of parental units with two very hyper dogs that run up to me.  Darn the controller will not allow me to get away.  They were all up in my business smelling me and just being in my personal space.  This puppy kindergarten doesn’t sound fun.  I don’t know if I like other dogs.  Mom says I’m shy but I just like being at home where I’m trying to be the King.

Next thing I know I am off the controller and 10 dogs of all sizes are running around, drooling and smelling.  The only good thing about this was I was getting lots of pets and attention from the humans.  I heard them saying I’m young and cute so of course I’m a magnet…but these fellow dogs do not impress me one bit.

Then all of a sudden I saw the clicker lady.  She came up to me and asked how I was doing.  “Not well right now clicker lady…I am hungry and want some food”.  Then came the understanding what kindergarten is all about.  Dad put out the mat and I had to sit on it with the controller back on.  For the next 30 minutes it was clicks, lay downs and the dreaded stay.  The only part that was good was the snacks.  Oh the snacks…remember the bacon – I finally got to have some so maybe this was going to be okay.

After about 15 minutes of the clicking and commands I was done – I am way too smart for this. However, the best thing of my morning happened.  During playtime all the other dogs were running wild I just hung out with the people.  As dad was standing there, one of the big dogs went behind him and  peed all over his leg.  Now that is what I call a beautiful first day of school.

Later that evening mom finally came home.  I heard she had gone to something called “The Natural Foods Expo.”  Not that I care about names, but she brought home some SNACKS and most of them were for me.  Mom told me we are going to start trying some of them since they were “healthy for me’ whatever that means.

Healthy or not, I’m tired and want to get some sleep.  Hopefully tomorrow will I will get my usual breakfast and no kindergarten.

Paws,

Perry