tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80601413256902529132024-02-21T08:12:48.407-05:00DogTown LoungeRaw Food & Snacks for Dogs & CatsMugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-31448732878301198042016-06-16T08:01:00.000-04:002016-06-16T12:38:28.128-04:00Fostering The Gidget Bean<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
As many of you know, here at the Lounge, we've often fostered dogs on their way to a new
life. Typically, these dogs are very large, Livestock Guardian Dog
types, Anatolians and their mixes. Recently, I took on a puppy that was
alleged to be part Great Pyrenees, which she's clearly not. <br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJUBj38WboAO8U6ppA4U3w2QHnbCQxCwtiAp2LSgTTsAkyAhZjInhlfgtRl7hWDVVklsMof0PRD4CEX6gpeLIrPEASS5RVfFC5a9XGLAZZ27XPdXstHr6mwV5XvMuAbhbg1O8sa0SrDw/s1600/yeoldeguardpoodle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJUBj38WboAO8U6ppA4U3w2QHnbCQxCwtiAp2LSgTTsAkyAhZjInhlfgtRl7hWDVVklsMof0PRD4CEX6gpeLIrPEASS5RVfFC5a9XGLAZZ27XPdXstHr6mwV5XvMuAbhbg1O8sa0SrDw/s200/yeoldeguardpoodle.jpg" width="150"></a></div>
Here's the 7 month old puppy Fletcher & I are fostering; Ms Gidget
"The Bean" Wigglebutt. We had been looking for a good companion for
Fletcher, whose 10.5 years are beginning to show, and he's slowing down. <br>
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Gidget is not the
one he was looking for, and he's definitely still looking, so Gidget
will need to find just the right family to call home.<br>
</div><a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2016/06/fostering-gidget-bean.html#more"></a>DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296600924604769121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-86588364068963349082016-04-07T10:07:00.000-04:002016-04-07T10:08:12.388-04:00Where's the Lounge? Happy Spring! Have you wondered where to find your pet's favorite treat this spring? Some local markets have shifted, & I'm "going Mobile," so this should help sort that out: <br>
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Saturdays 8am - noon at <a href="http://www.ststephensrva.org/community/farmers-market/" target="_blank">The Farmer's Market at St. Stephens</a><br>
If you haven't been, please plan to check it out on a Saturday morning, and you'll be enjoying the shade, clean pavement, village-style layout, nice variety & selection of local vendors, all with ample parking nearby. <br>
<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2016/04/wheres-lounge.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-4658407171045680362015-09-07T13:25:00.005-04:002015-09-07T13:36:16.290-04:00Happy Labrador Day!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Hello Again! Well, it's been so long since I updated this blog, I might as well just jump right back in on the question most often heard on this lovely long weekend: "What can my dog safely chew?" As I look up into the troubled eyes of each doting new owner of the inevitably wiggly Labrador puppy in front of me, I completely understand. Your new puppy is experiencing life through his mouth, and nothing is safe from his full expression of the joy of chewing. You've got about 2 years to redirect, distract, refocus and channel that oral trait into something you can live with, and I'll be glad to help you survive them!</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br>There's some confusing information out there about which types of things are safe for your dog to chew, so I sat down on this Labor Day to offer up some links. It's not hard to find articles backing my opinions, except that they all seem to invariably end with something like this: <br><br>"Whether or not your dog has problems with rawhide chews, you might want to try a variety of chewing treats and toys, including rawhide, natural marrow bones, and hard rubber toys to fully satisfy your dog’s chewing and other needs." - from the self-referential <a href="http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/rawhide-good-or-bad-for-your-dog">http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/rawhide-good-or-bad-for-your-dog</a> <br><br>Since they'd just gone on for 2 pages about all the perils of rawhide, it seems odd that they'd include them again. I don't recommend rawhides, for all of the reasons from that article, as well as my one core belief about All Things That Dogs Can Chew, which is: <b><i>if it's not perishable, don't give it to your dog.</i></b></span><br>
<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2015/09/WhattoChew.html#more"></a>DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296600924604769121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-29714368408616366392013-10-26T06:22:00.000-04:002017-12-22T09:52:12.766-05:00Dog Years<div style="background-color: white; border-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0pt;">
Thinking this morning about the multi-faceted culture of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosuo">Mosuo</a> people, an agrarian tribe living on Lugu Lake in China. There are many reasons to study these unique people of the "Women's Kingdom,"<span style="text-indent: 0pt;"> with their special method of preserving pork, traditionally sustainable growing practices, brightly colored fabrics, and strongly matriarchal socio-political system. My mind keeps returning to a lovely Mosuo myth involving dogs. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9C0NQKzgG1YYUhrAdbpugm0R957MapmnOuRXVPGYwYM5XpwrdaQ-7KlKcPKQk4dJloNhgjj8CRDnONXstf3pN38stE-ogpCtpZf01hofMTetk4C4yTNy8ZuE_MKTvk-nZ1p5NErIjDJc/s1600/mosuopup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9C0NQKzgG1YYUhrAdbpugm0R957MapmnOuRXVPGYwYM5XpwrdaQ-7KlKcPKQk4dJloNhgjj8CRDnONXstf3pN38stE-ogpCtpZf01hofMTetk4C4yTNy8ZuE_MKTvk-nZ1p5NErIjDJc/s200/mosuopup.jpg" width="200"></a><br>
<span style="text-indent: 0pt;"> It is traditional for each Mosuo child to be formally celebrated into their 13th year on January 1st, in a feast with specific rituals symbolic of new adult rights and responsibilities. Standing at the support pole for the mother's house, one foot on pork, the other on rice, each child dons the full skirt, or long trousers, of their first set of adult clothing. They complete their step into adulthood by offering food to the household dogs; the first of a lifetime of such formally offered meals. Here is the <a href="http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_curiosity/2004-05/11/content_47041_4.htm">story</a> behind that ritual. </span><br>
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</div><a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2013/10/thinking-this-morning-about-multi.html#more"></a>DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296600924604769121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-43277024253055093742013-10-01T08:09:00.001-04:002013-10-01T08:16:44.258-04:00Moving ForwardIt's been 10 years since I first started feeding raw meat to my severely malnourished and abused rescue dog Annie. I watched in amazement as her body swiftly healed, her fur grew plush and her expression turned from fear and distrust to sweetness and affection. It took almost 6 months of research and experimentation to find just the right combination of ingredients to provide all the nutrition that her body might need, in an easily digestible and tasty recipe that she'd devour with delight. Watching her grow into a healthy, lovely, and confident companion gave me the impetus to start DogTown Lounge in the hopes that other pets might benefit from what I've learned.<br>
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<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2013/10/moving-forward.html#more"></a>DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296600924604769121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-13490250779538893992013-06-18T12:28:00.000-04:002013-06-19T08:16:40.643-04:00The Hunt for Proper Packaging...Here it is June already! Things have been rather busy around here, working hard to make sure production stays ahead of demand, while constantly on the lookout for better ways to provide the healthiest food and snacks for your family companion. By now, those of you feeding Charley Chow to your pets will have noticed some changes in your frozen food, but only on the surface. For everyone else; we've just upgraded our packaging!<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj__Iev4cSq4IPYYMYNFSoqE-DzkJhZdpSfROtyGxCEHYjOu_f_fJOVGUV5Topml8lbfoTgx8OIlSMjb4BPGcum_r0y9PbFfr64FcqAqyf62XP42xCbkwrldNQrPmUeB3psw_iS3tjFIY/s1600/newboxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj__Iev4cSq4IPYYMYNFSoqE-DzkJhZdpSfROtyGxCEHYjOu_f_fJOVGUV5Topml8lbfoTgx8OIlSMjb4BPGcum_r0y9PbFfr64FcqAqyf62XP42xCbkwrldNQrPmUeB3psw_iS3tjFIY/s200/newboxes.jpg" width="200"></a></div>
Charley Chow containers are made from bagasse: unbleached sugar cane fibers reclaimed after refining. These new lids are of the same material as the bowls, and the uniform sizes make them easy to stack in the freezer. Spike's Chicken Salad will continue to be sold in 20oz containers for a few more weeks, and then also change to the new style. These 16, 32, and 48 oz flat square containers are biodegradable, so please recycle or compost. They do break down slowly unless shredded; I let the Tasting Team do the shredding.<br>
<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2013/06/the-hunt-for-proper-packaging.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-81896375744436944922013-01-04T16:33:00.000-05:002013-02-22T10:11:59.764-05:00New Year's UpdateHappy New Year! <br>
This has been a busy winter so far, and the holidays just flew past. Here's a bit of an update on some of what we've been up to.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2zXpyXllMpRPh-uEvQ57sulADUq9uU_qtnsiRCY3lqZeECASShcSqJwXizR6oe_rC1g71DREyWTFbjjfgNPfeAF_W5w9j5OyyaPqWbmtPfwYS9OFYboyXkG_5FWZPsK7qbzOiMPfIYs/s1600/apples1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2zXpyXllMpRPh-uEvQ57sulADUq9uU_qtnsiRCY3lqZeECASShcSqJwXizR6oe_rC1g71DREyWTFbjjfgNPfeAF_W5w9j5OyyaPqWbmtPfwYS9OFYboyXkG_5FWZPsK7qbzOiMPfIYs/s200/apples1.jpg" width="200"></a></div>
Things have settled down quite a bit with our foster dog, Vela, and she's learning some new vocabulary to help her be a good canine member of the Tasting Team.<br>
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MINE, LEAVE IT, and DOWN are all new commands for her, but she's offering to lay down for treats without being asked now. Unfortunately, we're still working on COME, which she just doesn't have any reason to listen to yet.<br>
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<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2013/01/new-years-update.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-23265544633311620912012-11-09T12:39:00.000-05:002012-11-16T05:10:59.801-05:00Pumpkin FeastsHow to clean your fridge and delight your dog while warming the kitchen!<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dtHDMTjYx8Z52gkrmRg8RyJfrI-liovc9j-NvVU4c45ylYfl6NSpKlbwHnbb3Di5D1ZV3imi_7aWf8i-9oJ1dbk0i5IPtjzY71wTMfSQcbydXi-OQA9CgIr4mRJOq2XlC5AwqIbwC2Q/s1600/pumpkinfeast1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dtHDMTjYx8Z52gkrmRg8RyJfrI-liovc9j-NvVU4c45ylYfl6NSpKlbwHnbb3Di5D1ZV3imi_7aWf8i-9oJ1dbk0i5IPtjzY71wTMfSQcbydXi-OQA9CgIr4mRJOq2XlC5AwqIbwC2Q/s200/pumpkinfeast1.jpg" width="200"></a></div>
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This is the time of year when the autumn sights and smells always give me bigger ideas about wonderful ways to cook up the fall bounty than I'm able to carry out, let alone eat. Those delicious pumpkin pies, curries, soups and stews finally fill all the bellies, and I wind up with more pumpkins than I need. What a perfect excuse to make a feast for my favorite bottomless doggie belly! There is simply no way to go wrong with baking a pumpkin for your dog. </div>
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</div><a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2012/11/pumpkin-feasts.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-60318241261783102632012-10-19T12:49:00.001-04:002013-06-19T08:22:40.638-04:00Green Cleaning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCZcE8R3WJ98rm2zq9b1EnOQoawmt8yIfPMGjKktmokf3J7FkDZuCmruhi0Wtn9FFdn8mGTshmwXlD2mvElhqJ_jh4SuaOot6u2DJ2TRY68R0ZBk00iKC6A1pg2NS9XxxQS5_7_hAVvw/s1600/oct-193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="Josef sniffs a jar of citrus vinegar" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCZcE8R3WJ98rm2zq9b1EnOQoawmt8yIfPMGjKktmokf3J7FkDZuCmruhi0Wtn9FFdn8mGTshmwXlD2mvElhqJ_jh4SuaOot6u2DJ2TRY68R0ZBk00iKC6A1pg2NS9XxxQS5_7_hAVvw/s200/oct-193.jpg" title="" width="200"></a></div>
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Here at DogTown Lounge, we're always looking for ways to reduce our impact on the environment, while maintaining the highest levels of safety and hygiene.</div>
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Hypoallergenic solutions are always a bonus, so it was intriguing to find some highly effective recipes for cleaning supplies using simple, pure, common household ingredients. We've replaced nearly all our cleaning materials with varying strengths and combinations of white vinegar, lemon peels, baking soda and soap. Here are a few of the ones we use daily:</div>
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<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2012/10/green-cleaning.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-37725335048045951232012-08-13T08:58:00.002-04:002012-08-13T12:14:27.852-04:00Dog Watching<br>
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Most dogs are quite predictable, if you just pay attention to them. </div>
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Here in downtown Richmond, VA, we're lucky to be near a river that remains relatively unspoiled. (<a href="http://www.jrava.org/jrw/" target="_blank">Interactive Map of the James</a>) Herons, eagles, all sorts of birds live nearby and fly over. Raccoons, possums, squirrels, voles, bunnies and chipmunks are common sights. Occasionally a fox or coyote, and every few years some deer, take a wrong turn through the neighborhood, and Fletcher never has any trouble figuring out which of those are predators, and what degree of response is appropriate. There's one exception for a specific squirrel, but that guy is asking for it.<br>
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</div><a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2012/08/dog-watching.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-69702845653996336912012-07-27T11:51:00.001-04:002014-07-03T08:07:31.173-04:00Your Dog is Hot<b>High temperatures are harder on your dog than they are on you.</b><br>
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It's easy to forget this, because they are stronger than us in so many other ways. Generally speaking, the shorter your dog's nose, the more caution should be taken in hot weather. A dog's primary method of cooling is panting; exchanging the hot air in their lungs for cooler, dryer outside air. When the air temperature approaches the 90's, the difference between that and the average dog's 100F° breath is just not enough to help keep them cool. Add a high humidity and a steady trot alongside your brisk walk, and it's easy for them to overheat when it's hot outside. When the heat index goes over 100 - well, taking a black dog out in direct sunlight on hot pavement when the index is over 99 is risking heat stroke within 15 minutes. <br>
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<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2012/07/your-dog-is-hot.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-75694644483685864982012-05-18T12:02:00.002-04:002012-06-10T17:06:33.952-04:00How to Feed Your Cat, TooThere were complaints that I left cats out in my previous post, so here goes, but it's a long one:<br>
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Starting from the supposition that you're struggling to feed your cat, between the high cost of pretty much everything, and the risks inherent in feeding commercial foods in this era of pet-food recalls, here are some ways to provide appropriate meals without buying prepared cat food. <br>
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Everything I said about the benefits of feeding raw meat to dogs, applies to cats too, but there is far less flexibility in what cats can eat, and they need to try to get all the nutrition they need in one day, every day, so in some respects, it's easier to feed a cat. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they can only use protein from animal sources, and cannot fully digest plants, nor glean from them all the nutrients they require. <br>
<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2012/05/how-to-feed-your-cat-too.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-10876012105945857532012-05-04T13:06:00.004-04:002012-05-04T13:50:53.474-04:00It's Market SeasonThe market season has sprung, and tomorrow marks the first day of the South of the James market in Forest Hill Park. Look for DogTown Lounge's red tent on the left about halfway down as you enter, we should be in the same spot as last year. I'm looking forward to seeing all the faces I've missed all winter! :)<br>
<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2012/05/its-market-season.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-28235516302857210452012-03-02T10:29:00.000-05:002012-03-05T19:08:52.509-05:00How to Feed Your DogWhen you can't afford to feed your dog.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxX69UuDfYX_GJzQGVsrlfd2uZODsXAHL2JPoyVrdZJxokk7mWjr_re0THEFXx3QfIDtllF9eZwBITG8Ct9otKVDSQNCuaT-4XOfWB5WAppgNMuIomHH4Zaave7pH6z7Sy4FPHN3VJRU/s1600/Ros-Ryder2-26-1205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxX69UuDfYX_GJzQGVsrlfd2uZODsXAHL2JPoyVrdZJxokk7mWjr_re0THEFXx3QfIDtllF9eZwBITG8Ct9otKVDSQNCuaT-4XOfWB5WAppgNMuIomHH4Zaave7pH6z7Sy4FPHN3VJRU/s200/Ros-Ryder2-26-1205.jpg" width="200"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do click on the puppy.</td></tr>
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What a conundrum we find ourselves in, while presented with a plethora of dried kibble in bags, assurances of dietary completeness and wondrous health splashed across the commercial packaging. Is this the most efficient, cost-effective, and healthy way to feed my dog? What's ideal nutrition for an opportunistic carnivore that can survive on twigs and berries, but thrive on a rotting carcass? More importantly, how can I best mimic that ideal nutrition in a depression? How can I avoid all the scary pet food recalls, mysterious ingredients from China? Weren't dogs originally used as trash-heap cleaners, guardians of the perimeter and eater of our scraps? <br>
<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2012/03/how-to-feed-your-dog.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-80145953672615878012011-12-16T12:28:00.000-05:002011-12-22T18:59:20.538-05:00We're Famous!<div style="text-align: left;">
Well, not quite famous, but a story about DogTown Lounge was published on page 27 in <a href="http://issuu.com/styleweekly/docs/belle_nov_2011" target="_blank">Belle Magazine</a> in November, 2011, complete with a photo of the author's dog munching on a dried chicken foot. I'm thrilled at the publicity and quite grateful for the exposure. Some customers have had questions which seem to indicate that a bit of clarification is needed, so here are a few, in order of appearance in the article:</div>
<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2011/12/were-famous.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-15217465976561582742011-10-01T06:00:00.000-04:002011-10-01T06:00:04.374-04:00How to Fit a Gentle Leader<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If you've walked your dog to the DogTown Lounge booth using a Gentle Leader, chances are you've seen me check quickly to ensure that it is fitted properly, and that your dog is comfortable. I may have spoken to you about the fit, or asked if I can adjust it for you. The Gentle Leader can help keep a dog from pulling, but if it's not adjusted just right, it can make your dog fight even harder, as he tries to get it off his face. </div>
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Since there seems to be a lot of confusion over the included directions, and folks have told me that they were instructed incorrectly by pet supply store employees, I've put together a flyer with these simple instructions. Stop by the booth at the South of the James market and pick one up. </div>
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<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2011/10/how-to-fit-gentle-leader.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-43636212703343205042011-06-17T13:26:00.001-04:002011-06-21T09:58:04.480-04:00A June UpdateDespite my best intentions, there never seems to be enough time to update the blog, so here are a few announcements to catch up:<br>
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The farmer's markets are in full swing for the summer, and Richmond is graced with quite an assortment. <a href="http://www.themarketumbrella.com/">The Market Umbrella's</a> regular 8am - noon Saturday <a href="http://sojmarket.com/">South of the James</a> market and the <a href="http://www.byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com/">Byrd House</a> market Tuesdays from 3:30 - 7pm are two places to find us. At Tuesday's Byrd market look for the sign at the Faith Farms booth across from the park gate, close to <a href="http://www.victoryfarmsinc.com/">Victory Farms</a>. Frozen food and treats are available, and if you're looking for something special, just email your request before Tuesday. <a href="http://faithfarmfoods.blogspot.com/">Faith Farms</a> carries a good supply of healthy pork and beef neck bones for your dogs whitest teeth, just ask anyone at the booth.<br>
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<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2011/06/june-update.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-76574956374744811182011-03-30T14:37:00.005-04:002011-05-19T04:51:01.033-04:00A Real Life ExperienceThis thoughtful, enthusiastic email emerged from an online discussion about raw feeding, and the author has generously given permission to share it with you:<br>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><i> Cassie's a Border Collie and they are usually soooo healthy, but by 3 years old her teeth/gums were already a bad problem. She rejected dry food as best she could and couldn't have Greenie type products because she bolted them. After cleaning surgery at that young age she had trouble waking up from the anesthesia which scared me to death. </i></span><br>
<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2011/03/real-life-experience.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-27195092006685584322010-11-26T19:48:00.001-05:002011-05-18T16:45:44.710-04:00Change & A ChuckleNovember has flown by so fast, and there have been a few changes in recent weeks. The most noticeable one is the new <a href="http://www.worldcentric.org/about-us/faq#bagasse1">Bagasse</a> 32 oz containers for Charley Chow. The manufacturer discontinued the old ones with short notice, forcing me to seek a new solution amidst tight production deadlines. Fortunately, the lovely Jocelyn Tice at <a href="http://www.shopgreenduck.com/">Green Duck</a> was able to quickly find a suitable bowl-shaped container in the right size, still made from compost-able, recyclable Bagasse. The lids are much bigger now, which sent me into a mad scramble to redesign labels, but they fit better than the previous ones did. Four batches later, some of you have these new wider containers already, and I look forward to hearing how they're working out.<br>
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<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2010/11/change-chuckle.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-4692977665125884922010-10-28T14:48:00.002-04:002011-05-18T16:46:13.797-04:00Summer SeasoningIt's been a very long, hot, dry summer, and quite awhile since the last update, so let's catch up a bit, shall we?<br>
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Thanks very much to everyone who has come out to the South of the James and Byrd House markets this summer. It's been great to put faces to names, and especially to meet all the lovely dogs you've brought out to the booth. Giving a Dried Chicken Finger treat to each visiting dog has been my favorite part of the summer. Making eye contact with dozens of earnest and enthusiastic dogs provides much-appreciated validation and motivation for each batch of food and snacks made here at the Lounge. I've recently purchased a new digital camera, and have been uploading photos of all your lovely dogs to the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DogTownLounge">DogTown Lounge Facebook</a> page. They will also be added to this blog as soon as a real photo gallery can be put in place. Please don't hesitate to tag your pet on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=129984&id=180025961309">Facebook</a>, and to contact me for the high-res digital file of your pet's photo.<br>
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<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2010/10/summer-seasoning.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-53145625858470107922010-08-08T17:39:00.001-04:002012-07-27T14:18:03.494-04:00Does Your Cat 'Nip?The catnip crop has been sorely hindered by this summer's drought and heat, so this weekend's batch was snapped up pretty quickly by cat-lovers at the market. As I apologized for the limited supply, a young visitor asked how catnip works; what is it that makes cats act so crazy when they smell it?<br>
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Since I wasn't sure, I looked it up, and learned that <br>
<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2010/08/does-your-cat-nip.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-6592095853215726382010-08-01T12:19:00.007-04:002011-05-18T16:47:54.012-04:00Anniversaries & Beginnings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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7 years ago, I drove from Richmond to Roanoke to meet a skinny, frightened, abused dog I'd seen in a picture on Petfinder. The family fostering her were very generous; allowing me to sit with her until she let me touch her, and that was the moment that I decided to bring her back with me to DogTown, where she proceeded to change my life completely. </div>
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Everything that's happened here since then is directly linked to Annie's arrival in 2003, especially my conversion to raw feeding, which is the reason for the existence of Mugsy's DogTown Lounge.<br>
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<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2010/08/anniversaries-beginnings.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-31847953797784482972010-07-14T22:57:00.006-04:002011-05-18T16:48:19.099-04:00Testing for TasteEarly on, in the experimentation which ultimately resulted in <a href="http://dogtownlounge.blogspot.com/p/our-menu.html#spike">Spike's Chicken Salad</a>, I started testing a little bit of each incoming batch of meat on <a href="http://dogtownlounge.blogspot.com/p/usual-crowd.html">The Usual Crowd</a>. Or rather, with Spike, his mother Sally, Mais Ouí and Annie, who were all here in 2003. Spike turned his nose up at more than one box of chicken, and though he took an extremely dim view of lamb or beef, he never rejected any pork. At first, I was simply aiming at finding the best ingredients to keep him healthy, so really catering to his taste, but when word got out that there were samples, I had to offer some to everyone. Soon, it became a useful habit, since it's a really fast way to find out if any of the meat isn't quite right. The first slice, the first spoonful from each ingredient as it comes through the grinder, the first taste of each mixed batch - all go first to the attending felines, second to the nearest dog. <br>
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<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2010/07/testing-for-taste.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-86844047845063381192010-06-22T13:00:00.002-04:002011-05-18T16:49:04.394-04:00Two Pet Food RecallsHere is the <a href="http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm216298.htm">link for the FDA pet food recall</a> I mentioned in the previous post. Natural Balance is asking that all 5 and 28 lb bags of Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food with the "Best By" date of June 17, 2011, be returned to place of purchase for a full refund. Salmonella was found during random quality testing; there have been no reported illnesses to date. The FDA page also describes symptoms to watch out for in humans and pets who may have been exposed to Salmonella. The affected products were <b>not</b> distributed in Virginia.<br />
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Another pet food recall has been issued, this one is for Iams ProActive Health canned Cat and Kitten Food – all varieties of 3 oz & 5.5 oz cans, dated 09/2011 to 06/2012 and distributed nationwide. The affected food is deficient in thiamin (Vitamin B1), which is necessary for cats to remain healthy. Proctor & Gamble recommends that these cans be discarded. <b><i>Please do NOT donate these cans to rescue!</i></b> Symptoms of thiamin deficiency, the hotline number to call if you have these products, and more details from <a href="http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm214996.htm">the FDA</a>.Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060141325690252913.post-3675812522171256232010-06-19T06:47:00.005-04:002011-05-18T16:49:59.279-04:00A Few ThoughtsWhile gathering and loading for the South of the James Market this morning, I caught myself wishing I'd posted some things here earlier this week. This is happening more often lately, but it always seems I'm far from a keyboard when the ideas strike.<br>
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Herewith, in no particular order:
Due to the growing demand, I'm now bringing more whole chicken feet with me, and searching for more sources to increase the supply. Please bear with me while I track down more farmers willing to let go of their feet (grin) and meanwhile, the early bird gets the fresh dried tootsies.
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<a href="https://www.dogtownlounge.com/2010/06/few-thoughts.html#more"></a>Mugsy the DoorOpenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17806842782405895035noreply@blogger.com