This week, the BH writing department has decided to shake things up a bit and do something a little unorthodox with our blog. A list of the best dog parks in Toronto is always welcome and useful, but a list of the best dog parks in Toronto composed by dogs who frequent them is even better. I have asked the Bone House resident dogs – Sam, the ever-alert-always-up-for-a-wild-game-of-cat-and-dog, pug, and Jones, the most welcoming and auspicious co-worker I’ve ever had the pleasure of co-working with – to put in their two cents and help us compile a list of their favourite dog parks in the neighbourhood. The title of this blog does suggest that the list will be Toronto wide but in fact, we are focusing mainly on the Leslieville/Riverdale parks, which, let’s be honest, are probably the best in Toronto anyway. Eek, too much? I don’t care! WE LOVE LESLIEVILLE!

BoneHouse: Sam, may we call you that? What is your favorite outdoor activity?

Sam: (snorting…heavy breathing…eyes closing…)

BH:  Sam?

S:  Hmm? Oh, favourite outdoor activity? Probably smelling stuff. Just whatever, really. Looking as stuff, smelling stuff, you know. Being a dog, I guess.

BH: Right, being a dog, I guess. And do you have a favourite dog park in the Leslieville?

S: I tell you, it’s Cherry Beach, bar none. Despite my top-heavy physique and propensity for inhaling water up my nose, I do love a good swim. There’s nothing like the smell of dead fish in Lake Ontario. And the very best part is when you actually find a dead fish and your human is a little ways away and you can just roll your entire body in that dead fish and it feels like you are made of magic.

Jones: May I interject here? I have to agree with Sam, there’s nothing quite like riding home in the car, with your head hanging out the window after a good romp at Cherry Beach and knowing that, at least for that car ride, you can enjoy the eau-de-poissons you have rolled in.

BH: Okay, then. I guess what we’ll take from those responses is that it’s lovely to take a dip in the cool water on a nice hot summer day. And that there are usually lots of dogs present and ready for a good game of chase-the-other-dog-now-chase-me. And that there is a wonderful mix of shade and sun, surf and sand, forest and trail. And that it’s quite nice to catch up with other dog people who frequent the park. Jones, is it safe to assume that Cherry Beach is also your favorite dog park?

J: It is. I love swimming and getting dirty more than anything. But there are lots of other places to get dirty in Leslieville too; Gerrard and Carlaw, Jimmy Simpson, Greenwood Dog Park, Riverdale Park, even Hide-Away Park sometimes has puddles and stuff.

BH: Great! Do you have time for a quick pros and cons list?

J: I do. Gerrard and Carlaw pros – it’s shady and you can always count on lots of pooches to welcome you, cons – sometimes there are a few too many pooches welcoming you and it can get a bit ruff (**tee hee). Jimmy Simpson pros – really great crowd, morning, noon and night. Also it’s great feeling like an outlaw and hiding from the leash police. This brings us to cons – the leash police. Greenwood Dog Park pros – great rodeo grounds, I could really let loose chasing some squirrels there…

S: Uh, Jones, I’ve been there. No squirrels.

J: …cons – pee scented gravel pit. Actually, that’s sort of pro too. Riverdale Park pros – the baseball diamond!! I love running the bases with my best mates, I’m kind of super fast so…, cons – sometimes you have to share the field with humans playing really awesome ball games like cricket, baseball and stuff and they get pretty rattled when you try to join in.

BH: Nifty. Well, I do believe this has been far more informative than one would expect from interviewing dogs. Thank you both for your time. Treat?

And here Sam both dogs run through their repertoire of tricks – sitting, lying down, spinning, bowing, speaking – and scarf down a couple of biscuits like they’re going out of style. Silly dogs, so distinguished and mature until the “T” word is uttered. Not to point any fingers here, but Jones was actually pretty calm during the whole reward process, it’s Sam that seems like she’s never been fed. Ever. 

We hope that was helpful, have a great weekend!

Hand-drawn fleas - significantly sillier than the ones who will try to make your home their home

1. Thou shalt spray Fido with a natural bug repellent. Always. Every time he goes outside henceforth.

2. Thou shalt sprinkle brewers yeast onto the dogs dinner for this will create an environment in which fleas will not wish to set up camp.

3. Use not a chemical flea collar but a plain bandanna soaked in natural oils such as rosemary and eucalyptus.

4. Use also rosemary and eucalyptus leaves in hims bedding. Thy dog shall not only smell like a dream but be free of the afflictions of itch and scratch.

5. If thou doest protest the smell of eucalyptus, thou can use citronella, for not only do mosquitoes dread this scent, so does the flea.

6. Sprinkle ye regular house-hold table salt around your home – probably just outside unless thou  can deal with the feeling of salty soles (of your feet that is).

7. Wash thee your dog regularly with a natural shampoo that will repel the insect. This ye will find useful for not only the flea but also the tick, the mosquito and the black-fly. This ye will find at     The Bone House (we keep it next to the bug spray. Huzzah!).

8. Be thou especially diligent about prevention when frequenting the beach for as much as your pup loves the sand and water, more still does the flea love the sand and your dog.

Right, so we ended up with 8 rules to live by this summer. Arguably they are written in a confusing mix of old English, old testament and bizarre quirk so if you have any question please do pop into the shop and we will help you out with both prevention as well as eradication. Because sometimes, even when you have taken all the preventative measures you can google, you may find yourself and your pets living not-so-harmoniously with fleas. Remember, it’s not your fault – while you are busy at work and making dinner and running a household and keeping up a semi-regular social life, the only responsibility of a flea is to land on your best buddy and breed like it’s going out of style. They may be persistent but they will not win. We’ve got your back in this battle.

Commandment #8: This dog is probably at the beach for he looks itchy.

Hold the phone, you haven’t even read the (second) best part. The cookies come in two delicious flavours – liver for those meaty guys and dolls out there and peanut butter for our furry friends who love their legumes, all natural and Canadian made. We are offering a refill program with these scrumptious morsels so you can keep that beautiful glass jar, which by this point has undoubtedly made itself a nice home on your counter top, and help the environment one refill at a time. And the very best part: your 10th refill is free, from our hearts to your dogs’ rumbling tummy.

Here are some photos so you can share our zeal over these brand new beauties

Let’s be honest, who isn’t in love with mason jars these days? Not only are they versatile and durable but timeless and elegant. Like a good wine….no, like diamond earrings…wait, no. Like, well like a mason jar, I suppose.

Kind of… though our hearts have been open to our cat friends for some time (always), we have opened our doors as well and now carry a small yet thoughtful selection of feline goods. In addition to healthy food for indoor and outdoor cats (Acana, Orijen, Wellness and GO) we have brought in salmon cans, cat nip, litter and cat toys of the cutest variety. For those of our loyal customers who run an inter-species household we thought we would make shopping for your zoo just a little easier.

And because we believe that dog lovers can be cat lovers too, here are some more photos of dogs and cats living in harmony. To be fair, the cats and dogs are sleeping in most of the photos I found but still, these are pretty cute, right?

Just nuzzlin’. Is that even a word? It is when it comes to cats and dogs.

This is a cute kitten with a cute puppy, so…

And this is a cute cat sleeping with a cute dog.

Cute dog licking cute cat. Just cute all around.

And what is happening here? Not too sure but it’s pretty silly.

]]> http://thebonehouse.ca/index.php/2012/04/the-feline-invasion-has-begun/feed/ 0 http://thebonehouse.ca/index.php/2012/02/paw-sonalized-dog-collars-are-on-their-way/ http://thebonehouse.ca/index.php/2012/02/paw-sonalized-dog-collars-are-on-their-way/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:50:35 +0000 thebonehouse http://thebonehouse.ca/?p=640 …get your orders in now while you still can!

The Chelsea Collar from Harry Barker is now available with your dog’s name and phone number embroidered right on it. These beautiful collars are super eco-friendly, petro-chemical free and made from 100% certified recycled plastics. Not to mention stylish as all heck and free of that obnoxious jingle-jangle of his tags.

Here is how it works: you ask and we get it. But more specifically, if you you pop in to place your order by March 15th, it will arrive in store by early April. Or you can call us, mostly we have pretty good phone skills.

Pricing is as follows: Medium (fits 8″-14″, 12″-20″) is $35 with personalization, Large (fits 12″-20″, 16″-26″) is $38 with personalization.

Each collar fits 20 characters, including spaces. If your dog is named Bojangle-Riot Club, it probably won’t fit with the phone number. Lots of other names will fit though. Maybe you could just put “Bo”. Or “B-R Club”. Think about it, we’re here to help you with new nicknames if you want.

A stinky mouth not only affects the frequency of those kissing sessions your dog is so serious about but also their confidence and ability to attract a suitor. Seriously, dental health is a bigger and more serious issue than you may think.  Roughly 70-80 percent of cats and dogs develop periodontal disease by the time they are three years old. You might be thinking “So what? Dogs are supposed to have doggy breath,” but here’s what – poor oral hygiene is also linked to shorter life span. Yikes.

Raw meaty bones are an excellent and delicious way to keep your dogs mouth healthy, not to mention keep him occupied while you dive into that pile of laundry that you’ve been meaning to do for days. Bones have been a staple food for dogs for centuries but most dogs these days rarely get a real raw bone, probably because people are concerned over bacteria. But when was the last time you came home to find your dog standing at the stove with a spatula?  Dogs don’t cook their food in the wild; with shorter digestive tracts than humans, their bodies are made to digest raw food. As long as you the owner practice safe food handling you should feel really good about tossing Rover a bone. In addition to the nutrition, raw meaty bones help develop strong muscles as they pull and tear the meat off the bone and keeps the dog mentally stimulated, chewing the bone rather than your favorite pair of shoes. The chewing of the bone after the meat is gone cleans away tartar and freshens breath – nature’s toothbrush! Plus your dog will LOVE bone day and it’s way cheaper than dental surgery!

If you are still unsure about  raw bones or think you may have difficulty dealing with the mess (although it isn’t that messy! Just teach your buddy to stay on his bone mat or towel and then wash it, no big deal),  start making tooth brushing part of the quality time you spend with your dog. Starting regular tooth brushing can be challenging with an older animal that is not used to it but if you are consistent and help your dog make positive associations with brushing (read, lots of treats) he will eventually thank you for it. Here is a link to a video where Dr. Sheldon Rubin shows you how to get your pet used to the idea of oral hygiene. I bet this would work on kids too.

How to brush your pet’s teeth with Dr. Sheldon

If you are still having trouble getting your dog to readily accept the toothbrush there are some products that can help with the tartar build up. Tartar Buster bones are a smoked patella that is crunchy and scrapes away at the plaque while your pup looks at you with gratitude for dropping the brush. Nature’s Dentist is a pro-biotic that you add to your pet’s food. It works by introducing good bacteria that helps to combat the bad bacteria that causes plaque and tartar build up – it’s really a great product.

If you do notice any of these symptoms it may be time for a dental check up.

- abnormally bad breath.

- difficulty chewing and eating

-the color of gums change to red.

- intestinal and stomach upset due to the presence of bacteria.

- teeth have become loose or fall out.

- pawing at the mouth.

- sudden and abrupt changes in the dogs behavior. Many tend to be nervous or depressed.

Do check inside your dog’s mouth regularly and try to prevent gum disease as much as you can. You know the old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a bazillion dollars in vet bills,” or something like that, right?

We here at the Bone House would like to send everyone who participated in our holiday fundraiser for Ugly Mutts Dog Rescue a serious thank you from the deepest parts of our hearts. Yes, it may seem just a tad late (holiday season?! what?!) but we in fact kept the drive going into the month of January, just for kicks. And because we know how things get around the holidays and a lot of you probably couldn’t remember to put your shoes on when you left the house, let alone remember to donate your gently used dog items so we thought we would give you another chance.

Your support was overwhelming and there was a ton of great stuff donated to the rescue including clothes, treats and even a couple of dog beds – wildly generous! Not to mention the money that was raised in our fancy gold-wrapped box. We couldn’t be happier with how the drive went and look forward to next year when we do it again. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, no?

In case you did not have a chance to check out the Ugly Mutts website, here is the link again. You never know when your household will be ready for another dog. Or perhaps you know someone looking to adopt a furry friend?

http://uglymutts.com/

Honestly, look at Archie’s face!! All of them really, I have yet to meet a dog that I haven’t immediately fallen for.

In conclusion then, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, and be sure to save your used doggie stuff for next year when we do this again.

Enjoy the snow!

The Nebo  ball (what’s that? it’s the NEBO!!) is not only oh-so-cute to have kicking around your house – it has a smiley face, come now – but is a treat dispenser made from 100% recycled materials that smells like vanilla aka deliciousness. And the Beba (what’s that? it’s the BEBA!!)  has the same cute factor present in our friend Nebo, is a treat dispenser AND has a squeaker. Indeed, best of all worlds.

Hold the phone, we haven’t even scratched at the best part! As part of Dura Doggie‘s on-going campaign “Chews Your Cause”, the company donates 20% of it’s profits to a cause of your choice based on the colour of the toy. Let’s break it down here: buy a blue toy and they will donate 20% of the profits to animals requiring some extra love. Specifically, their donations assist no-kill shelters in the decline of unnecessary euthanasia. When you buy a green toy Dura Doggie donates 20% of those profits to groups that help do great things for our planet such as tree planting and tree hugging. 20% of the profits from the pink toys goes to helping fight breast cancer and 20% of the profits from the orange toys goes to helping find a cure for diabetes.

Welcome to the BoneHouse, Dura Doggie, we are proud to have you on our roster.

Check them out here. Or at The Bone House!

The holidays have come and gone and we hope that everyone had a magical time with their loved ones. If you didn’t get everything you asked for from Santa Claws (that’s the cat version of Santa, she brings toys to all the dogs in Ontario, Saskatchewan and parts of Winnipeg. I’m not sure who is responsible for the rest of the country, but i think you can probably google it), never fear, we are still rocking our Boxing Week Sale bodies – very different than our post-holiday bodies.

We’ve got leash and collar sets, Dublin Dog collars (great for slushy days in the winter), travel gear, snowsuits, rain jackets and warm winter jackets, sweaters, t-shirts and d-i-y beds, all on sale for the rest of the week! It’s definitely worth stopping in.

What’s that? You need boots for your guys and dolls? No problem, we’ve got those too.

Stay warm, friends, winter isn’t kidding around anymore.

We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to everyone who came out to support our first Moosonee Puppy Rescue Adoptathon!!

The day was absolutely amazing – the puppies were hilarious, sweet, snuggle-bugs, perfect as far as puppies go. We had a fantastic turnout and the support from the neighbourhood was really heart-warming (not to be too love factory about it but it is the holidays and i’m feeling sentimental). The three wonderful ladies volunteering with Moosonee Puppy Rescue Laurie, Yvonne and Jan, did a wonderful job making sure the day ran smoothly and doing home visits for people interested in the puppies. We cannot thank them enough for their efforts. Sharron and Paul (the amazing couple who runs the rescue) have done such a great job cultivating a following for their rescue and placing hundreds of puppies who would otherwise have likely been killed into warm and loving homes.

On Sunday, 2 of the puppies from our store found their forever homes with wonderful families. Derby, renamed Gilmore, and Wenceslas have joined their new human packs and will undoubtedly live happy and healthy doggy lives.

To see photos from the day - courtesy of Ian Macdonald of Majesteas, the one and only - please check out our facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bone-House/115837433255

If you have your own photos from the day and would like to share them with us, please do, we would love to see them!