July 2015 BarkBox Review

I am a BarkBox subscriber.  I am not asked to do these reviews.

We received our July BarkBox last week!  Click HERE for reviews of previous and/or current BarkBoxes.

This month's box has a circus theme.

The Goods

BarkMade Circus Elephant.  Retail value $11.00.  Cute, plush, squeaky toy.  Neeko has already enjoyed playing with it.  I didn't give it to her to play with, she helped herself to it from the box the night I received it...She enjoyed it.

Encore Firehose Dog Toy.  Retail value $15.00.  Click here for a similar toy.  Triangular shaped toy made in the USA of firehose material.  Circuses frequently feature "firemen."  This is a durable, waterproof toy that can be used for tug, toss, or water play.  It's shape means that it can also be thrown much like a frisbee.  I am happy with it, but wish it were just a bit larger.

BarkMade Chicken Biscuits.  Retail value $8.00. These are custom made for BarkBox by Healthy Dogma.  Made in the US with relatively limited ingredients, these treats are wheat, corn, soy and yeast-free!  I am sucker for packaging, and love this container, complete with it's circus-like feel.  I am sure my crew will enjoy these.

 FeelGood Trail Blazin' Bitz.  Approximate retail value $5.99.  We have received treats from this company in the past, and they were well received.  Canadian company which prides itself on how it sources it's ingredients.  These hard biscuit treats contain simple ingredients, and are liver based.  My dogs are fans of anything liver, so I am sure these will go over well, and I look forward to offering them to my crew.

6" Trachea Chew. Stated retail value $3.00.  We received this same chew in the January BarkBox.  I am a fan of dehydrated "meat" treats, and this certainly fits the bill.  Trachea is a natural source of chondroitin.  Neeko has actually already enjoyed this, once again helping herself to it.  She at least brought it to me to remove the wrapping.  

I am pleased with this month's BarkBox.  Some meat-based treats, a nice chew, and two decent toys. To try BarkBox for yourself, and receive a free month added to your subscription, click HERE.

Black & White Sunday

Wordless Wednesday

Recent Raw Meals

After the break are photos and examples of raw meals for dogs.  I feed mostly prey model raw, but do occasionally use some dehydrated raw and premade raw.

These are just a few photos of some of my dogs' meals over the last two weeks, in no particular order.

My crew mostly eats the same meals as each other, with the same portion sizes.

I feed as much cut and protein variety as possible, though they ate quite a bit of beef heart and chicken the last couple of weeks.

For additional photos of raw meals for dogs, click HERE.

Useful links:

How **I** Feed Raw

Raw Feeding Resources

Black & White Sunday

Neeko and Bruce.

Zuke's Supers-a Superfood Treat and a Super Giveaway

Zuke's kindly sent us their Supers line of treats to try out.  Three different treats with varying formulas containing a variety of fruits and vegetables, and other antioxidant rich ingredients.

They are corn, wheat, soy, and yeast-free, which is always a plus in my book.

From left to right-Super Greens, Super Berry, Super Betas. 

 The Super Greens formula contains alfalfa, spinach, green beans, broccoli, asparagus, cabbage, kale, and kelp, amongst other ingredients.  Not only are all these veggies nutrient-dense, they also contain various phytonutrients, chlorophyll, and anti-inflammatory properties. 

The Super Berry formula contains beets, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cherries.  Blueberries are widely haled as perhaps the best superfood around, containing more antioxidants than any other food.  It is recommended that humans eat a diet with a wide variety of colors, so I am guessing that color variety for dogs is a good thing as well.

The Super Betas formula contains pumpkin, sweet potato, carrots, butternut squash and apricots.  Beta carotene, like all carotenoids, is an antioxidant, and a precursor to vitamin A.  Some research suggests that it may slow cognitive decline, along with many other benefits.

All three formulas contain cinnamon, rosemary, and turmeric.  I am a huge fan of turmeric, for a variety of reasons.  Cinnamon helps to regulate blood glucose levels, and rosemary has antiseptic, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.  

The Taste Test

Faolan is a notorious treat snob.  He will sometimes sniff and make funny faces that don't meet his approval, or sniff and walk away.  If a treat is SUPER appealing to him, his little butt instantly hits the ground, and he sits there with his tail wagging before going into a down-stay.

Little boy LOVED these treats.  All three formulas.  He actually began demanding them during the initial taste test, by barking (like a brat) at me.  They are that good.

All three dogs love these treats.  I consider them high-value, and have already went through 1.5 bags of them.

The Giveaway!

Enter using Rafflecopter widget belown.  Giveaway open to residents of US excluding where prohibited by law.  Zuke's is responsible for giveaway and delivery of prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post and giveaway are sponsored by Zuke's.  Zuke's is not responsible for the content.

Wordless Wednesday-It was a good toy

July 2015 Pet Gift Box and Coupon Code

We received our July Pet Gift Box over the weekend.  Reviews of previous and/or current Pet Gift Boxes can be read HERE.

Pet Gift Box starts as low as $17.99 per month!

This month's theme is "Bark-B-Que."

The Goods

PhotoReel Burger Buddy toy.  Approximate retail value $6.99  Cute plush, squeaky toy, that Neeko has already enjoyed playing with some.  It made for a couple adorable photos, too!  Goes really well with this month's theme.

Grill-icious Chicken Treats.  Approximate retail value $7.39.  We have received similar treats in the past by this company, and my dogs loved them.  Two ingredients-chicken and sweet potatoes.  You know I love limited ingredient products!  I am sure these will be a hit with us!

Petchup, BarkBQ, and Muttstard supplements.  Approximate retail $8.97.  "Condiments" for dogs, that contain glucosamine, prebiotics, and omega fatty acids.  Made in the USA supplements that are beef, pork or salmon-based.   Kind of cute.  These do contain yeast, so I cannot offer them to Bruce.  The packaging suggests pouring over food, adding to water, or freezing package for a frozen treat.  My dogs love frozen goodies, so I will probably do just that!

Hot off the Grill toy.  Retail value $4.99.  Lamb chop shaped squeaky toy.  While I am sure my dogs would love to play with this, I will be donating it or gifting it, as it is too small for my particular dogs.

Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Treats.  Retail value $7.99.  Clever marketing.  Like regular hot dogs, these do not contain the greatest ingredients, though the first two ingredients are beef and beef heart.  My dogs don't always eat perfectly, and I am sure they will enjoy these, so I will enjoy offering these to them.

Sausage Rope Toy.  Retail value $5.99.  So cute, so whimsical, so silly.  I love it!  Neeko and Faolan both love rope toys, and a good game of tug.  Until Neeko slaps Faolan in the face with said rope...

I look forward to watching them play with this!

To save 25% off of your first Pet Gift Box, use coupon code myrottendogs.

I was provided with complimentary product.  All opinions are my own.

Chew(y) on This-I and Love and You Bully Sticks

I've long been a huge fan of bully sticks.  They are natural, digestible, provide dental health benefits and mental stimulation.  Plus, my dogs LOVE them!

Chewy.com sent us some I and Love and You No Stink! Free Ranger bully sticks.  I like this company, and regularly feed their dehydrated raw to my crew for breakfast.

Bully sticks and a strong scent go hand in hand.  Some people find them intolerable.  Some companies, including I and Love and You, sell reduced odor/"odorless" bully sticks.  

Out of habit, and since it was a nice day, I offered my dogs these bully sticks outside.

They come five to a pack, and are 6 inches in length each.  They are neither skinny nor exceptionally thick, but a nice medium thickness bully stick.  They are from free range cattle, which I appreciate. When I sniffed one (yes, I sniff dog treats) I noticed a trace bully stick odor.  The dogs were definitely excited about the smell and sight of them.  

These lasted a respectable amount of time, which is one the big dog and owner pleasing factors about bully sticks.  Big boy Bruce finished his first, which is no big surprise, followed by Neeko, then Faolan.  

I highly recommend these, and knew I would do so before even offering them to my dogs.  They are natural dog treats from a company I like, made from free range cattle.  Nice.

Black & White Sunday

Taking a cue from Dachshund Nola and sharing camera settings.

Nikon D3200
18-55 mm lens
1/160
f/6.3
ISO 100

Wordless Wednesday-Produce

Recent Raw Meals

After the break are photos and examples of raw meals for dogs.  I feed mostly prey model raw, but do occasionally use some dehydrated raw and premade raw.

These are just a few photos of some of my dogs' meals over the last two weeks, in no particular order.

My crew mostly eats the same meals as each other, with the same portion sizes.

I feed as much cut and protein variety as possible, though they ate quite a bit of beef heart and chicken the last couple of weeks.

For additional photos of raw meals for dogs, click HERE.

Useful links:

How **I** Feed Raw

Raw Feeding Resources

Black & White Sunday-Happy Gotcha Day Faolan

Three years ago today, I drove to a local shelter to meet a dog whose photo I had seen two days earlier in some serendipitous chain of events.

As most know, few rarely ever end up "just looking at" or "just meeting" a dog.  I brought home Faolan, then named Dante, that evening.

In the last three years, he has blossomed from a scared, "reactive" older puppy who demonstrated the gamut of submissive and fearful behaviors to a friendly, outgoing dog who loves most everyone he meets.

Having him has impacted me, changed me, moved me.

Happy gotcha day, little boy!


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June 2015 Expenses

I'm one day late with this post.  I do these posts to hold myself accountable for dog related expenses, and to provide a fair estimate of what it costs to care for large dogs in the Midwest.

June 2015 Expenses

Food-$245.12
Health-$102.62
Grooming-$12.00

Total-$359.74

A fairly average month.  No complaints here.  Food expenses included some THK that was on sale at Pet Supplies Plus, chicken from the grocery store, beef kidney from an Asian market, and an order from a raw food supplier. Health expenses were Bruce's prescription, and some Nexgard for Neeko and Bruce.  Grooming was a DIY bath at a supplies store for the princess.

Wordless Wednesday-Stay Classy Jasper