AD space
News Latest
AD space
Reviews
As a society we have become very aware of the food we eat. Fast food chains and restaurants have labeled the calorie count on all their food items to give people an idea of how many calories they are consuming with their everyday snack or meal. We are constantly reminded of the dangers of artificial foods (food’s whose ingredients sound more like a chemistry quiz than a recognizable food item) and their risk to our health. There seems to be a push for getting back to the way things used to be: more pure, simple and homegrown. No trans-fats, no added sugar, no artificial flavours and, of course, all natural are all advertisements we enjoy seeing on our food packaging. So, it is not a huge leap to think that if we are becoming more aware of the things we are consuming for ourselves, that we would also consider what we are feeding our furry BFF’s. It is an old rule that if you can’t pronounce the ingredients in your food, you probably shouldn’t eat it (what is corn maltodextrin anyway?). From canned foods to packaged snacks, it is important to read the labels and know where your food is coming from; both human and doggie alike.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with 
Crumps’ Naturals power couple in the dog treats industry Joe and Margot Crump. The Crumps realized that there wasn’t much by way of single ingredient healthy pet treats and decided to hone in on the important ingredients that make a brand successful; quality, proximity, family and, of course, opportunity. Having started small in their Caledon garage, Margot chopped, cooked and packaged liver endlessly when she wasn’t working as a full time mother of four (and yes, it IS a full time job and it ONLY pays in hugs and thank you’s), while Joe ran the sales side of the business. With only a 20’ cube van truck, one commercial oven, refrigerator and meat slicer this duo began on their entrepreneurial adventure. Dashing from trade show to trade show across Canada and the US, they began to build their name in the pet food industry. Low and behold their name and their order size grew, and so did their need for a larger facility. Their garage grew larger in order to accommodate the “pup-lic’s” need for tasty, healthy snacks! In 2010 they moved production from home to a 6000 square foot facility. In just two years they renovated their facility to meet the best in safety standards. In 2014, they obtained a Global Food Safety Certification, which is uncommon for small businesses. They pride themselves on keeping food safety as the cornerstone of their pet food philosophy.
Another push in today’s society is eating local to support our local farmers and our economy. That’s why I appreciate the fact that Crumps’ Naturals ingredients are sourced in Canada and the United States and are processed here in Brampton, Ontario. They have employed 65 local people working hard to ensure the highest in pet food safety.
If they had opened a “Mom and Pop’s” style restaurant for pups, this would have definitely been a pooch eatery favourite! Having added new products over the years such as sweet potato, chicken and lamb, the Crump’s cook everything in small batches to ensure the freshness and quality of their tasty treats.
Little is left to waste at the Crump factory. Excess food that doesn’t get packaged is donated to non-profits who support dogs in need. Their generosity and compassion however, is not “pup” sided. They haven’t forgotten the human community’s struggles and are aware that people’s needs do not just occur around the holidays, but all year round. The Daily Bread Food Bank is just one example of the charities they donate to.
Over the years the Crump brand has grown in assortment and volume but the one thing that won’t change no matter how big their facilities get, is the close family feel within the company. Even the Crump kids are helping to bring healthy treats to K-9’s! It’s obvious that the Crump’s company not only has passion for pups, but also has a warm heart at its core. They pride themselves on keeping the close family-led vibe of their once small operation, in their booming business, as well as to their community and their love of pups!
Have you ever used TeleHealth Ontario? It’s a great resource that allows nurses to triage you health needs over the phone and give you advice and direction on those pesky things that come up in life that makes you say “Hey, what do I if…?” Three years ago when I became a mom for the first time, my family physician, obstetrician, emergency doctors and nurses and other new moms recommended TeleHealth. When you’re a newbie everything seems like a big question mark, mostly because you never had to think of it before or have never been put in that situation. Clever system, really, as it reduces visits to the emergency department, long waits to see your family doctor, and it gets you answers and direction fairly quickly from the comfort of your own home.
TelePet?
If you’ve ever had a pet, or this may be your first time having a fur baby, (Congratulations!) you may be just as panicked about the unknown – and you’re not alone. I love the old Portuguese saying “No one is born knowing everything.” That phrase has gotten me through some anxiety ridden moments, let me tell you. But, the one thing that can ease the not-knowing is knowing. Figuring it out. Having someone guide you to the answer. It’s going to be okay.
Wouldn’t you know it; I came across a new, wonderful service for pet parents in Ontario. A company called healthypets.io helps pet owners avoid unnecessary, and often costly, trips to the vet when all you need is some good advice. The inception of this company came from the frustration, time, energy and money spent on taking a sick puppy, with a lot of issues, to the vet up to once a week! Soon to discover, however, that not all visits were absolutely necessary and all this pet mom really needed was some good advice. But where can one find legit veterinary council without having to go to the vet? Well, Emma Harris, founder of healthypets, thought there has to be a better way and set out to answer this very question. Just as TeleHealth has qualified nurses answering the phone, she envisioned real, live veterinarians waiting to answer your concerns. Your questions may be as simple as, “My dog ate a sock. What should I do?”, “My dog has a dry nose, should I be worried?”, or (and I kid you not) “My dog rummaged through my purse and destroyed my tampons… I don’t even know what question follows this because I can’t imagine what could happen, but what do I do?” (Shout out to my Berner Titan for this fine example!)
As a company, healthypets.io, has a very simple algorithm; their 1-2-3 “Don’t Sweat It”, “Hmmm, lets monitor this”, and “It’s serious” approach. After your triage if you fall in the first two categories, you’ve likely saved yourself a trip to the vet – and the bank. However, if it is serious, they will direct you to the vet, recommend one if you don’t have one, and, if you loved the service you got, you can keep the same vet when you actually need to take your pet in for a visit. This is a great tie-in with the “Got a Pet, Get a Vet” initiative through the SPCA. If this is your first contact with a veterinarian, it’s a great time to get one! You never know how much you need a professional until you realize you don’t have one.
Pricing
K.I.S.S. Muah – keep it simple stupid – another “words to live by” favourite of mine and healthypets does a good job of it in the pricing department. You can pay $35 per 15 minute call or you can subscribe to a yearly package for $19.99/month. Yeah, TeleHealth is free (well, not really we pay taxes for it), but we all need to make a living! Speaking of health care in Ontario, I’m going to mention my plug in for OHIP pet insurance here. It could be an optional tax for pet owners – just think about it Justin!
So, if you are a new parent to a four-legged companion and you have the first time jitters, maybe healthypets is a good place to start. I haven’t used the service myself, but I never used TeleHealth before I became a mom either. Like anything, it’s nice to know it’s there.
Would you use healthypets? Let us know what you think of their idea as a pet parental support service for the health of your furry BFF.
If you would like to receive updates on healthypets.io please fill out the form below and we will notify you ASAP.
[thrive_leads id=’982′]
It’s a fast paced world and we all have many commitments. Careers and family life take its toll and for many of us the relief from all this stress comes from enjoying the friendship and loyalty from our furry four legged friend. That’s why leaving them for any length of time can bring on the guardian guilt. How can I go on a work trip or vacation and know that my dog will be well taken care of? Have no fear. Toronto Dog Spot recently caught up with a dog daycare facility in the city that may make your vacation look drab! Your dog may never know you even left once they’ve stayed at Park9. We had the privilege of speaking with Staci Lerner at the Distillery location. Staci is part of the senior management team and has played a pivotal role in the opening and operations of all three locations; Pearson, Distillery District and their new edition in Liberty Village. Rest assured there are no mixed feelings with leaving your pup here! Park9’s philosophy is catered right for you – the busy Torontonian who has a four legged loved one.
A Safe Environment for your Dog
With over 14,000 square feet to play, rest, lounge and socialize your dog is entertained, well cared for and supervised in this safe facility. Dogs are screened to ensure they would be a good fit with the rest of the boarding community. All dogs are in an open leash free environment and so each dog goes through an assessment and evaluation to ensure they are a good fit. They will look for vaccinations, neutering, personality, habits and training history. Dogs are put together with like personalities, so if your pup is high energy or just likes to lounge, he will be comfortable with his new like-minded friends. But, like people, even amongst a group of friends, there may be some disagreements. Don’t worry though, the dogs are not just sent out to pasture – there is constant supervision at all times and prevention versus intervention is the philosophy at Park9.
The Sandals of Dog Resorts
Want to ensure the ultimate in doggy daycare? Have them board at their Pearson location, which is the epitome of a doggy resort, complete with private, rooms, pools, aroma therapy and salon and spa. Extra add-ons include one on one time just to make sure he’s getting all the love he needs. It all sounds pretty dreamy and your guilt is nearly washed away, but either way you’re going to miss your pup greeting you at the door and giving that belly rub. At Park9, the lines of communication are always open. Call, Skype, log on to see how your dog is doing via webcam and get updates at any time!
I love this testimonial from Amy who says:
“We have been going to Park9/UrbanDog for many many years…and our boys love it there! Park9 is part of our extended family and the boys’ second home. Whether it is daycare or overnight, we never feel guilty or have to think twice about leaving them there, it is Disneyland all the time for them!”
Disneyland! If my daughter and I felt that going to daycare was like going to Disneyland, our morning routine (and my sanity!) might go down a little easier. For all the pet guardians out there, you know I’m not too far off the mark. Little Titan, our Bernese, is just as part of the family as our biological bundle of joy. They are a handful because they have the same capacity for following directions at the moment, but we love them regardless, true? Human or canine, routine is key and will be adhered to as much as possible. Be prepared to provide food, toys and other “feel at home” things to ease the transition. Like my daughter’s “Mimi” – her confidant and loyal stuffed sheep…it somehow makes life and daycare bearableJ
Make sure to check out Park9’s website to get to know how to become part of this great community! A big thank you to Staci for your time and opening up your world to us – yes, we (and our pets) can have it all
As always we’d like to hear about your experiences with other boarding/daycare providers. If the company you use is in our directory please leave a review. Let us know what’s been great and not so great so that we can all learn from each other and provide the best for our pups!
Have you ever left your dog in a dog daycare or worked with Staci and Park9?
We are only one day away from the the doors opening at the Canadian Pet Expo! In keeping with Toronto Dog Spot tradition we interviewed a fellow attendee of the show. Luckily for us, the team from the world famous 3 Furry Beauties were available for an chat.
We spoke with Elise, who manages the 3 Furry Beauties had a great wall post on her Facebook page:
“Life is too short to wear boring clothes. Dress like you’re already famous!”
Her pups are real live pooch models that look amazing! They strut, model and pose to show off their stuff and we can’t wait to see them at the Spring Canadian Pet Expo this Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Come and see Sage, Mitsy and Foxy, the ones who started it all, on the red carpet. Want your pet to look sassy and sensational? Visit Elise at the show and she may be able to give you some tips to turn your pooch into a diva too!
When the gowns and crowns come off the 3 Furry Beauties, what is left is spunk and personality. I’m getting better at spritzing myself up but life is busy, and I still may not put on make up everyday, but, even if I’m just wearing scrubs, I can still BE amazing and strut my stuff! Thank you to the pooches for the perspective!
If you’d like to have the 3 Furry Beauties at your event please contact the team on their Facebook Page or Email: threefurrybeauties@hotmail.com
When our family goes out on road trips to dog festivals, they are usually in more rural parts of the province. Ahhh… away from it all, lush green grass and properties surrounded by green acres, trees, farms and a lot of quiet. It would be a dream come true for me to nestle into peaceful surroundings blogging away with a warm cup of coffee in hand. Dreams are merely thoughts that one can try to live up to and turn into reality. As we drive by all the different houses about the countryside, I can never seem to decide which style of house I see myself settling into; the sprawling bungalow, the beautifully antiquated century home, a large modern two story, a new modernized log cabin type or a small bungalow with a cute flower garden. My décor tastes have always streamed along the modern-classic genre but I’ve always appreciated anything that was hand-made. To me that always screamed quality. Some of my furniture pieces have come from Amish furniture businesses and they are my most prized “fancy” pieces located in parts of the house that are usually off limits to children and, of course, Titan, lest my cherry bookcase becomes a very expensive chew toy. In saying that, there are fine hand crafted pieces for pups that can assimilate well into your home décor adding that natural flare or accent piece.
Dustin Bice is the founder of Northern Pine Customs 
and is a great example of quality in pet furniture and so much more. If you like hand made, original pieces made from natural refinished wood this is your guy. A young apprentice to his father, he helped build decks and picked up a knack for carpentry. He recently purchased a 1984 Ford F350 and completely redesigned the back to sport a carriage out of wood. He drew a lot of attention as he built it in his driveway. But, as I say, quality will not go unnoticed! People began asking for original pieces. As for his doggie line of furniture? Dustin happened to work in a dog friendly place (see, good pup karma will always follow you) and he notices that these pups were helping themselves to food and water out of margarine containers! Well, as you know, that is just not acceptable for our pooches and something needed to be done. Low and behold, Dustin created raised dog feeders for his working four legged colleagues and it was a hit! What makes his work so special? He uses 18th century wood from old barns and the wood used was cedar, pine, hemlock and spruce. The wood is refinished, sealed and stained to produce the art that you see posted here and on Facebook and Instagram. A picture truly is worth 1000 words – what beautiful work! Needless to say, through the magic of social media and word of mouth, Dustin has produced 600 custom orders world wide in less than a year!
Need a raised feeder for your cousin’s Christmas present in Alberta? He ships them! Nearby? Pick it up! These wood pieces go from $80-$150 depending on what you ask for. For an extra $15 your besty’s name will be showcased. For these reasonable prices, everyone should have a nice piece for their pups!
Check out Dustin’s work on Facebook (Northern Pine Customs) and Instagram @northern.pine.customs. Already have a piece by Dustin? Send us a pic and let us know how your pup likes his personalized furniture.
Still need one? Call Dustin at (289) 338-2464 or email at northernpinecustoms@gmail.com and mention Toronto Dog Spot to receive 20% OFF your next order. Titan has been a good boy this year…perhaps he’ll find a little something under his stocking 🙂
If you’re a fan of the Marvel Universe than you surely know Iron Man. His exoskeleton suit gives Tony Stark superhero powers and makes him practically indestructible. But while Hollywood focuses on saving humanity at every turn, Jasmine Montreuil, inventor and owner of The Iron Pup jacket is out to save our little pooches from their arch nemesis’, they coyotes.
Like every great invention, The Iron Pup was born out of necessity. Living in a heavily wooded area, Jasmine feared the coyotes would one day attack Abby, her eight-year-old Cockapoo. Every night, the daunting howls of the coyotes hunting in the nearby farmers fields would be a constant reminder of the dangers of the outside world, leaving Abby shaking in fear. Having only a life jacket to defend her dog, a light bulb went off to develop a jacket for dangerous encounters with the enemy.
The Coyote Issue
If you think wildlife is something of a myth in urban life, think again. In T.O., there are sightings every summer of foxes, deer, and, yes, coyotes. There have been over 500 coyote encounters in Ontario alone over the year. As with many animals, the combination of the search for food and urban sprawl on their territory is making them less and less fearful of human contact, and making small and medium sized pups an easy treat. No one knows this better than Torontonian Elle Andrews who writes, “I live in the Beaches and I can’t believe how many coyote sightings and attacks there have been. I’m so thankful that this product is available!”
The Coat
To fight back, this made-in-Canada suit of armour is made of two layers of correctional grade Kevlar (same as our police officers use), an outside polyester water resistant shell, foam for added cushioning and protection, a cotton lining and spikes on the neck to protect from the initial kill bite of the coyote. It may not have an arc reactor, but it certainly does the job.
Testimonials
Our dog, Marzie, ran across the creek behind our house and then out of sight behind some willows. Bill heard her yelp as he followed. When he went around the bushes, he saw Marzie by a coyote. She ran back towards him and the coyote loped away. Bill did not see the interaction between the dog and coyote, but the coyote hairs that got stuck on the patch of her iron pup are evidence that there was contact. Thank you! We are sure that the iron pup prevented a bad outcome. – Rina, Arizona
If you want to find out how you can protect your pup, or purchase an Iron Pup life saver, check out Instagram, Facebook, Etsy, and, of course the website. Now there’s a way to turn a defenseless pup into an Iron Pup!
Have you purchased an Iron Pup? Share your experiences and let us know how it worked out!
Being from a healthcare background, I must say that I was very excited to write this blog. The entire health care team is so vital to the care and recovery of a person’s health and that team includes the patient and their families. It’s not all machines, drugs and diagnostic tools. It may not be very scientific to say, but I believe that there is more to healing than just healing the physical body; there are some diseases and traumas that we go through that take more than just an antibiotic or a surgery to help us heal. Some illnesses we get over quickly and some linger on and others we don’t shake off at all. It’s these illnesses that we need emotional support, the love of our family and friends, and, of course, our furry friends, to get through the stress and ups and downs of physical ailments. We have mentioned before that there is scientific evidence that states owning a pet will increase longevity as well as the act of petting a pup can decrease your blood pressure and bring on those happy endorphins. When science, metaphysics, and pups combine, the result is a calmer, happier and healthier person, and this is where the Therapeutic Paws of Canada shine.
We had the privilege of speaking with the Director of Team Leaders of Therapeutic Paws of Canada Michele Peddle who talked to us about this fantastic volunteer non-profit organization. We all know owning a pet can do wonders for your health because of all the joy they bring, but the breadth of service these calm, social, well mannered pups bring to the community is remarkable. Dogs (and cats, actually!) are brought to those in need including hospitals, residences, nursing homes, schools, libraries, prisons and even courtrooms to provide comfort to both adults and children. I found it unreal the niche these pups fill for people in the community who would benefit from simply petting a pooch for fifteen minutes such as children with severe disabilities, autism, behavioural issues and paralysis. A new use for therapy dogs includes having a dog present in court while a victim of sexual assault or human trafficking can be calm enough to tell their story. Amazing. In Brampton, “Gordon” the court dog will be receiving an award for his services. Gordon is featured in the main image of this post.
During our interview, Michelle made a statement that blew me away. Michelle noted “dogs don’t judge people”. Despite our best intentions and willingness to help, as humans it is sometimes difficult to overcome our ego as well as our tendency to judge others. It happens. Someone comes into the emergency department because they hurt themselves driving drunk. You don’t understand why a young, intelligent girl just committed suicide over a boyfriend or why a woman who is addicted to cocaine is having her third child. I bet you judged a few times just reading these sentences. We may be caregivers but we are not without our innate flaws. We may be damn good at our jobs but sometimes we hit a wall when it comes to compassion. No matter the circumstance, a pup just feels that there is a person in need be it a child, a prisoner, a person with physical limitations or just a lonely soul. They are pure in their intentions. This may not be a medical marvel, but it surely is a gift.
Therapeutic Paws of Canada is a registered charity with over 600 volunteers in six provinces who enlist themselves and their pups to spread the love. How does this all happen, you ask? Just like a prescribed medication or a surgery, it is not taken lightly. These animals are meant to have an impact on our health and therefore the pups that come on board are rigorously screened for their temperament and capacity as a therapeutic dog. Dogs and their handlers who are interested in joining this great charity go through a phone interview and an evaluation. Reference checks and police records report must be submitted; they are a necessity due to the demographics the team (master and pooch!) will be working with. The next step is a series of monitored visits and lastly, if all checks out, the pup will be certified and insured. There are various breeds of four-legged furries that do this great work – it’s all about their temperament. If you’ve been moved to take up with Therapeutic Paws of Canada as I have, check out their website at www.tpoc.ca and contact a Team Leader for your city – you don’t need a medical degree to help turn someone’s life around.
If you are interested in meeting Therapeutic Paws of Canada, they will be at “Bark in the Park” on August 26th and 27th from 10:00am-4:00pm in Bowmanville! We will be there with Titan in toe ready to blog another amazing summer puptacular event! Hope to see you there!
If you’d like to donate to Therapeutic Paws of Canada please click the donate button below.
Would you like share your success story?
Featured Product
AD space
Partners
