Raise a Green Dog!

Happy International Composting Awareness Week!

2012-05-10T09:52:00.002-04:00

Happy International Composting Awareness Week! It's a great week to bring positive attention to the possibilities that composting can provide to communities.

This special week is sponsored by the US Composting Council (USCC) who works to advance composting and promotes compost use to enhance soils and provide economic and environmental benefits for their members and society. They, like us, believe that the recycling of organic materials is central to achieving healthy soils, clean water and a sustainable society.

One of the most important and valuable ways that dogs can help the environment through composting is with their waste! Did you know that a typical dog excretes three quarters of a pound of waste per day, or 274 pounds per year! That's a lot of doo. And leaving that doo lying around can be very harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly.

According to the EPA, "when pet waste is improperly disposed of, it can be picked up by stormwater runoff and washed into stormdrains or nearby waterbodies. Since stormdrains do not always connect to treatment facilities, untreated animal feces often end up in lakes and streams, causing significant water pollution."

They go on to say, "decaying pet waste consumes oxygen and sometimes releases ammonia. Low oxygen levels and ammonia can damage the health of fish and other aquatic life. Pet waste carries bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can threaten the health of humans and wildlife. Pet waste also contains nutrients that promote weed and algae growth (eutrophication). Cloudy and green, Eutrophic water makes swimming and recreation unappealing or even unhealthy."

So what's a dog to do with the doo? We and the EPA both recommend that if you live in the city that has a city water treatment program and facility that flushing your dog's waste is the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of your dog's poop.

But if you live in the country and have your own septic tank, it's just not feasible to flush your dog's waste and fill up your septic tank unnecessarily.

You can, however, compost your dog's waste through a dog waste composting system and help keep your and the planet's environment the healthiest it can be. To learn how to build your own dog waste composting system, visit our recent blog post, 'Our plan to build a homemade dog waste composter!' to learn how.

And if you do live in the city and are interested in looking into a new alternative way to compost your dog's waste through vermicasting (which is worm poo composting), click here to find out more information.

Does your dog love water from the garden hose? Be careful, there may be dangers lurking there.

2012-05-03T09:39:00.000-04:00

Does your dog like to play with or drink water from the garden hose?

I know my sis Gracie does, it's one of her favorite summer activities, besides agility of course!

But there are dangers lurking in some of the garden hoses on the market that you need to know about.

The Ecology Center, a membership-based, nonprofit environmental organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, conducted a recent study of toxic chemicals in gardening products.

They found "high amounts of lead, phthalates and the toxic chemical BPA were all found in the water of a new hose after sitting outside in the sun for just a few days," according to researchers at the Ecology Center. They also indicate that "such chemicals have been linked to birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, premature births and early puberty in laboratory animals, among other serious health problems." Read more about the study.

So what's a dog to do?

1. Purchase only PVC, lead free and drinking water safe hoses available on the market that won't harbor dangerous chemicals. We've added a few options below.
2. Let the water run for a about 15 seconds before drinking, since the water that sits in the hose contains the most unwanted elements and be sure to store your hose out of the sun and heat.
3. Find more tips on safer hoses from HealthyStuff.org.

Be safe, be safer!

Drinking Water Safe 1/2in Diameter Hose 50ft
Drinking Water Safe Coil Hose 3/8In Diameter 50ft

Earth Day, a day to take action to help the environment and your dog!

2012-04-19T08:24:00.001-04:00

Earth Day, Saturday, April 22nd, is a very special day. One of our absolute favorite days of the year!

Although we celebrate Earth Day every day here at Raise A Green Dog, this day is the one day of the year that lot of two and four leggers salute our amazing planet and brings awareness to it's needs.

Our planet Earth is very special...it's where we live, eat, sleep, play, laugh, smile, work, and most importantly, love! And it's where all the generations to come will do the same.

That's why taking care of our planet is so important. So that we, and generations that follow us, can enjoy it, healthily and happily now and far into the future.

On past Earth Days we've shared tips on how you can be more green, be more healthy, and help join in the efforts to help sustain our planet. You can read the links below for past Earth Day tips and info.

For Earth Day this year, we want you to make just one simple change in your dog's life that will help them live a happier, healthier life; so they can be with you as long and happily as absolutely possible.

This one simple change doesn't have to be a big change, it could be a simple, easy change. But change we encourage, and change we support!

Visit our prior year Earth Day posts listed below for lots of tips and information about how to bring positive, green, healthy change to your dog's life. And, then come back here and leave a comment about how you are working towards a healthier, happier pup and environment. Share your pawsome ideas with other great, green dog families!

2008 - Today is Earth Day! 2009 - Happy Earth Day - a day to celebrate and learn! 2010 - Little things you can do to help the environment and your dog on Earth Day 2011 - Happy Earth Day!

For more ideas, you can visit our website's "Learn to Be Green" section.

Happy Earth Day every one and every pup!

It's time to get your National Park on and enjoy the great outdoors with your dog!

2012-04-17T19:43:00.010-04:00

Next week is National Park Week!

Starting Saturday and continuing all next week, April 21-29, all 397 of your national parks offer free admission, all week long!

Our national parks are a great place to enjoy a fun day with your dog out in the fresh Spring air!

Here are a few important tips and bits of info:

Find a National Park near you.
Make sure that your local national park allows dogs. Click on the park near you from the map link above and click on 'plan your visit' and 'pets' to see if dogs are allowed. (Sadly, some National Parks do not allow dogs :(.
Be sure and follow the guidelines set out for dogs in your park. Most require dogs on 6' leash, under control, and be sure and pick up the doo to keep our Parks clean and environmentally friendly!

To learn more about hiking comfortably with your dog, read our blog post on how we hike the green dog way!

Make your own healthy, safe chicken jerky treats for your dog!

2012-04-11T08:38:00.004-04:00

As many of you know, there are some very dangerous treats still on pet store shelves that have been making dogs sick and, in some cases, have reportedly caused death in some dogs

The FDA has released warnings about these treats for the past four years, however they have yet to recall them. In addition, the manufacturers have not issued recalls either, despite the fact that 100's of dogs have reportedly been affected.

The treats that have been identified as the most dangerous are:

Waggin’ Train or Canyon Creek Ranch jerky treats or tenders, both produced by Nestle Purina PetCare Co.; and Milo’s Kitchen Home-style Dog Treats, produced by the Del Monte Corp.

These treats have been found to be jerky treats that come from China. We encourage everyone to please check and recheck the source of the treats and foods that you purchase for your dog and avoid any products from China. It has yet to be determined what the cause of the adverse reactions are in dogs. So please be safe and check the packages! If your dogs has experienced an adverse reaction to any treats or foods you canreport them to the FDA here

So, what's a dog to do when they love, love, love jerky treats? Have your Mum make them for you, at home with safe, healthy ingredients; and you know you'll be healthier and safer for it!

Here is our favorite recipe for making chicken and turkey jerky at home. It's easy!

Preheat your oven to 200° F
Lightly oil (olive oil is best) a baking sheet, a stainless steel one is best for healthier cooking!
Select organic chicken breast (or turkey breast if you'd like) and remove any fat.
Slice the chicken (or turkey) with the grain in very thin slices, about 1/8" to 1/4" inch thick.
Place the strips on your stainless steel baking sheet.
Bake for about 2 hours. (Baking times will vary due to difference in ovens, temperatures and meat size. When baked at two hours the treats should be firm and dry, not soft. It's best to increase the time to be sure they are dry and firm, if needed).
When cooled you can cut the strips into appropriate feeding pieces, or take a full strip and break off for a nice rapid reward treat!

These treats will last for about 2 weeks if stored in a nice air tight container. And they can be frozen for up to six months if needed.

For additional flavor you can sprinkle the chicken breasts (or turkey) before baking with just a little organic parsley, sage or ginger for added flavor.

Enjoy!

Photo credits: Charkrem & Ryan Dowd

Update: Take our 'I Will If You Will' challenge for Earth Hour and help dogs devastated by the tornado outbreak in Southern Indiana!

2012-03-28T20:34:00.005-04:00

On March 2nd of this year, tornadoes ripped through many areas of Southern Indiana and Northern Kentucky leaving a path of destruction in 11 counties.

Even though I now live in NE Georgia, I was born in Indiana and it's where we lived when my Mum adopted me. So we have a lot of friends there and this tragedy really hit very close to home for us.

The area has been devastated by the destruction with many families now homeless and struggling financially. In addition, many dogs, and other pets and animals, were lost during the storms.

The Southern Indiana Animal Rescue is one of the organizations networking with other animal shelters and rescue organizations to help lost pets get back with their families. In addition, they are also helping pet loving families with veterinary care, pet food and other supply donations to help them keep their beloved pets with them as they struggle to rebuild their lives.

Our "I Will If You Will" Earth Hour challenge will help those affected by this disaster and we hope you will help!

If 100 dogs commit to learning how to turn off the lights for Earth Hour, the great folks at Castor Pollux Pet Works will donate 1000 meals to the Southern Indiana Animal Rescue to help the dogs and dog families with healthy food as they struggle to recover.

Earth Hour is a global grass-roots movement encouraging individuals, businesses and governments around the world to take positive actions for the environment, and celebrate their commitment to the planet by switching off their lights for one designated hour.

So here's my challenge to you!

Helping your dog learn to turn off the lights is really a lot easier than you think! And you don't have to make a big commitment, just take the challenge and do the best you and your dog can do while having a really fun time together!! Here are a couple of videos that may give you some ideas of fun ways you can help your dog learn to turn off the lights:

How to teach your dog to turn off a floor lamp switch.

How to teach your dog to turn off a wall light switch.

Help us help the pups in Indiana! Take our Earth Hour Challenge by clicking here.

(Dog and volunteer photo courtesy of the Southern Indiana Animal Rescue.)

Today is World Water Day!

2012-03-22T08:00:00.001-04:00

Today, March 22, is World Water Day!

International World Water Day is held annually on this day as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. World Water Day 2012 is coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Water is the most important nutrient for a dog's healthy life. And we need lots of it. An animal can loose all of its fat and half of its protein and survive, but only a 10% loss of body water causes serious illness. Read our important post about how to keep your dog's water safe and healthy!

It's important to keep one of our most precious resources clean, healthy and running fully for the benefit of every human, every animal, and every plant on our great Planet Earth. Read more from the World Water Day website to learn how water affects all aspects of life and how you can help.

We dare you! 'I Will If You Will' Challenge for Earth Hour!

2012-03-20T08:01:00.002-04:00

March 31st is a big day! At 8:30 PM all over the World people, and dogs, will be turning off their lights for Earth Hour!

What is Earth Hour?

Earth Hour is a global grass-roots movement encouraging individuals, businesses and governments around the world to take positive actions for the environment, and celebrating their commitment to the planet by switching off their lights for one designated hour.

This year is a special year for Earth Hour. As part of the "I Will If You Will" challenge, Raise A Green Dog is teaming up with Castor Pollux Pet Works!

If we get 100 dogs to commit to learning how to turn off their lights for Earth Hour, Castor Pollux will donate 1000 meals to dogs in need!

Here's our challenge, watch it if you dare:

If you'd like to help your dog learn how to turn off the lights for Earth Hour and take our challenge, here are two great vids to help teach your dog to turn off the lights, be more eco-friendly, save energy, reduce your carbon pawprint, turn your dog green, and participate in this Worldwide environmental movement:

How to teach your dog to turn off a wall light switch. How to teach your dog to turn off a floor lamp switch. So get pawin', turning off the lights is a great green skill for your green dog! And don't furget to take our 'I Will if You Will' Challenge! Click to take the dare!

Spring: The best time to care for your lawn the healthy, safe way!

2012-03-19T10:04:00.001-04:00

Spring has sprung! Time to get out there, play some fetch, do a little agility in the yard and enjoy your lawn!

Did you know that Spring is the very best time to get your lawn in shape? It is!

And did you know that it's very important to make sure that your lawn and your garden are free from chemicals, insecticides, herbicides and pesticides to keep you dog and you the healthiest possible. Why? Because there are dangers luring in those nasty chemicals and they can be very unhealthy for dogs, other pets, children and adults.

Here is some information about why it's important to use healthy and safe products for your lawn to keep it looking and feeling it's best:

You've seen them...the advertisements from the big lawn companies with pets and children running around having a great time in the lawn. But did you know that all those commercial lawn care chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and insecticides that millions of people put on their lawn every year are very unsafe; the fact is, these chemicals have been linked to grave illnesses in dogs. These chemicals kill bugs and weeds and if they do that, what are they doing to children and pets?

A very respected report and DVD "The Truth About Cats, Dogs and Lawn Chemicals," funded by Newman’s Own Foundation, has tons of information for you to learn about the unhealthy effects of lawn chemicals on your pets.

BeyondPesticides.org, another respected site, has a lot of facts and figures related to the use and affects of pesticides, herbicides, unnatural fertilizers and insecticides on humans, pets and children. Their studies have shown "that dogs exposed to herbicide-treated lawns and gardens can double their chance of developing canine lymphoma, and may also increase the risk of bladder cancer in certain breeds by four to seven times. " (xvii)

You can however, have an amazingly beautiful and safe lawn for you and your dog. We know! And an organic lawn can even be easier and less work than you may think. Here are our top tips to keep a healthy, organic lawn:

Adjust the your soil pH through amendments (like acidifiers, lime, or kelp, that are organic, natural and safe for your dog). Test your soil pH, see what's missing and then see our resources for great products to help.
Utilize an organic fertilizer on your lawn to feed it well with the nutrients it needs.
Overseed and mow high! This works very well to choke out unwanted weeds.

A beautiful, organic lawn may not happen overnight, but you really can have a very nice, safe and chemical free lawn for your entire family to enjoy.

We have a very favorite book to help you achieve an amazing lawn and garden that's very safe for your dog and you! It's written by our friend Tom Barthel. Tom is a Master Gardner and includes a wealth of information about how you can keep your lawn and yard safe. He was even kind enough to include us in his new book, "Dogscaping, Creating the Perfect Backyard & Garden for You and Your Dog ." You can get it in an ebook too!

So, how do you get started this Spring? Here are our top tips for getting your lawn in tip top, safe shape to enjoy throughout the year:

Get out there and clean up all the poo after the spring thaw.
Rake up any leaves and debris, this will help cut back on fleas and ticks!
Mow if you need to.
Then wait for a good rain, and pull up those weeds.
Over seed with a good non-coated grass seed (like K9 Yard Patch) appropriate for your area. Coated seed contains unwanted hormones and chemicals, so check the label, K?
Wait a few days and then spread a good organic fertilizer, like spray Fish Emulsion, Worm Poo (these fertilizers won't hamper the growth of new grass seed). We like sprays because they are not as attractive to dogs once they have been on the lawn for a few hours. You can also look into a good organic fertilizer that's pellet based, like Lawn Restore, or Espoma Brand organic foods. We don't use these because Gracie likes to sniff them so much, she gets a runny nose. Even if they are perfectly safe for her, we don't want her to have a runny nose :)
Also put down on your lawn our favorite weed preventer, a product called 'corn gluten' that is safe around pets. If you use it, however, you need to put it down before the forsythia blooms (that's now in the South, and usually in early April in the North. We recommend that you water in the pellets completely before letting your pet in that area, just to keep them from eating or sniffing them up. Dogs are very attracted to eating corn gluten and although not poisonous, in large quantities can upset tummies.
Continue to pull unwanted weeds after each good rain (they are much easier to pull, and you can be sure to get the entire root if the soil is moist.)
If your lawn is in very poor shape, continue to reseed until the hot parts of summer and fertilize with a safe organic fertilizer every 6-8 weeks.
To keep crawling insects at bay in and outside your home, like ants, fleas, rolly poly bugs, spiders and more, sprinkle food grade Diatomaceous Earth in the area (inside or out). We use it a lot. Just be sure to have your pets out of the area and wear a mask when spreading. The product itself isn't dangerous, but you don't want to breath in the dust it manufacturers when you spread it. Once settled, it's a very safe form of pest control for humans and pets.
If you have insects (like aphids) that like to eat your plants try some safe eco-friendly dish washing soap, mixed with water and spray on the bugs and plants.

If you follow these tips, you are sure to have a great lawn by Summer!

Here are additional resources:

D/EARTH - diatomaceous earth (12 oz)

~~$10.99~~ $7.99

Store: EntirelyPets

Brand:

Plant Guardian TM Houseplant Insecticidal Soap

$9.95

Store: Gardens Alive!

Brand:

NaturCut Classic HD reel lawn mower

~~$281.00~~ $219.00

Store: Garden.com - CLOSED

Brand: People Powered Machines

Espoma Dried Blood 17 Lb

$42.99

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Espoma

Espoma Lawn Food 20 Lb

$20.99

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Espoma

Espoma Natural Lawn Food

$26.99

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Espoma

Espoma Hollytone 8 Lb

$9.49

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Espoma

Espoma Garden Gypsum 5 Lb

$6.19

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Espoma

Espoma Bone Meal 24 Lb

$30.99

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Espoma

Espoma Kelp Meal

~~$18.99~~ $16.14

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Espoma

Espoma Organic Seed Starter Mix 8 qt

$17.95

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Wetsel

Espoma Organic Weed Preventer and Lawn Food

$25.95

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Wetsel

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth (de) 50lb. Bag

$39.95

Store: Sears.com

Brand: Perma-Guard

Lewis Rocket Weeder

$37.04

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Lewis Tools

Ames 1941600 36-in Long Handled Dandelion Weeder

$19.93

Store: Sears.com

Brand: Ames

Radius Garden Weeder

$13.95

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Radius Garden

Nrg Pro Weeder

$39.99

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Wetsel

Reel Mower Sharpening Kit

$13.99

Store: Sears.com

Brand:

Fiskars 6208 17-inch Staysharp Push Reel Lawn Mower

$338.03

Store: Sears.com

Brand: Fiskars

American Lawn Mower 1204-14 14-inch Deluxe Hand Reel Mower

$145.65

Store: Sears.com

Brand: American Lawn Mower

Villa Rain Barrel Plus 50 Gal Solid Sherwood Green

$124.95

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Desert Plastics Llc

50 Gallon Rain Barrel

$89.95

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Suncast Corporation

The Worm Factory Composting System 4 Tray Black

$104.95

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Ture's Footprint Inc

Presto Products Gkl0951-6 Geobin Composting System

$61.88

Store: Sears.com

Brand: Presto

Organic Lawn Fertilizer 8-3-1 5000 Sq Foot

$31.07

Store: Sears.com

Brand: Jonathan Green Inc

St Gabriel Chemical Milky Spore Lawn Spreader Mix 20 Lb

$34.96

Store: Sears.com

Brand: St Gabriel Organics

Bradfield Organics 9-0-0 Luscious Lawn Corn Gluten, 40lbs

$39.99

Store: Sears.com

Brand: Bradfield Organics

Ringer All Natural Lawn Restore Fertilizer 40 lb

$44.99

Store: TABcom - Garden.com

Brand: Woodstream

Meet Recycle Kitty!

2012-02-22T11:10:00.005-05:00

How fun is this! It's Recycle Kitty! The kitty that leaps tall recycle containers in a single bound!

And don't miss our Three R's post from a year or so ago - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - it's still relevant today, just add - Repurpose - to the R system and you'll be doing all you can for our favorite planet - Earth!

GMO's and how they may affect your dog's life

2012-02-12T19:44:00.000-05:00

Even though they've been around for years, you may have been hearing a lot more about GMO foods in the news lately.

What are GMO's?

GMO stands for genetically modified organisms. GMO "refers to techniques used by scientists to modify deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or the genetic material of a microorganism, plant, or animal in order to achieve a desired trait," according to the FDA. "In the case of foods, genetically engineered plant foods are produced from crops whose genetic makeup has been altered through a process called recombinant DNA, or gene splicing, to give the plant desired traits."

What does this mean?

It means that "the initial objective for developing plants based on GM organisms was to improve crop protection," shared the World Health Organization. "The GM crops currently on the market are mainly aimed at an increased level of crop protection through the introduction of resistance against plant diseases caused by insects or viruses or through increased tolerance towards herbicides."

As an example, insect resistant seed is created by incorporating a gene for toxin production from the bacterium bacillus thuringiensis, or BT. BT is used in conventional agriculture as an insecticide. By creating a genetically engineered seed with BT the idea is that the seed will produce a crop that is insect resistant.

According to a recently New York Times article, "last year, (the) Department of Agriculture (reported) about 90 percent of all soybeans, corn, canola and sugar beets raised in the United States were grown from what scientists now call transgenic seed. Most processed foods (staples like breakfast cereal, granola bars, chicken nuggets and salad dressing) contain one or more transgenic ingredients, according to estimates from the Grocery Manufacturers Association, though the labels don’t reveal that. Common ingredients like corn, vegetable oil, maltodextrin, soy protein, lecithin, monosodium glutamate, cornstarch, yeast extract, sugar and corn syrup are almost always produced from transgenic crops."

Why GMO's?

Some people believe that GMO's are a means of helping to ease world hunger, while many believe that they are unsafe and unhealthy. GMO foods, once re-engineered, provide the promise to be more disease, pest and drought tolerant, as well as provide additional nutritional benefits.

However many believe that these promises are not being fulfilled. And not only are the foods now genetically modified, but spraying of herbicides and pesticides has actually increased over the years with GE (genetically engineered) crops.

The potential health risks.

According to the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, "several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food consumption including infertility, immune dysregulation, accelerated aging, dysregulation of genes associated with cholesterol synthesis, insulin regulation, cell signaling, and protein formation, and changes in the liver, kidney, spleen and gastrointestinal system," and they have shared their sources for such information found around the World.

Research by French researcher Dr Gilles-Eric Seralini, from the University of Caen, and reported by The Dai ly Mail, UK indicates, "animals fed on three strains of genetically modified maize created by the U.S. biotech firm Monsanto suffered signs of organ damage after just three months." The report also goes on to say, "the findings only came to light after Monsanto was forced to publish its raw data on safety tests by anti-GM campaigners. They add to the evidence that GM crops may damage health as well as be harmful to the environment."

In addition, some studies are now showing that "streams throughout the midwestern corn belt are receiving insecticidal proteins that originate from adjacent genetically modified crops. The protein enters streams through runoff and when corn leaves, stalks, and plant parts are washed into stream channels."

According to the NY Times, "(GMO's) are arguably different, but more important, people are leery of them. Nearly an entire continent — it’s called Europe — is so wary that G.E. crops are barely grown there and there are strict bans on imports. Furthermore, most foods containing more than 0.9 percent G.M.O.’s must be labeled."

Here in the US the FDA does not require foods that are genetically modified to be labeled with GMO as an ingredient. On top of that, foods with GMO ingredients can be labeled as 'all-natural'. As an additional challenge, although organic ingredients may not be genetically engineered, there is still a risk of cross contamination, through pollination and/or during manufacturing. That risk is so high that even some organic foods may still contain GMOs. However, sourcing only truly organic is the only way to prevent or reduce exposure to GMO foods or ingredients.

How your dog's food is affected.

Many pet food manufacturers (other than those labeled as organic) source their meats from a wide variety of farms across the country, with many of them sourcing from factory farms. The main feed for cows and chickens in factory farms is corn and soy, which we've already learned that 90% of the corn and soy grown in the US is GMO corn and soy.

In addition, raw meats or cooked meats that aren't labeled organic are sourced from cows fed with GMO corn or soy and most likely laced with a variety of pesticides and herbicides.

That means, through the food chain, unless your dog is eating an organic source of kibble or raw meat they are effected by GMO's in their food, which is passed on through the meat source, i.e., cow, chicken, pork and other highly utilized meat source.

What you can do!

The only way to avoid and/or reduce your exposure to GMO's in your dog's food is to source organic, pure and simple. Organic raw meats, organic fruits and vegetables, and/or organic super high premium kibble.

We've always subscribed to the practice of whole foods are the most healthy foods for your dog's body. Anything processed, genetically modified, or cooked 'to death' we believe will lead to less nutrition and effect the health of your dog.

If you have a garden, source your seed from a reputable heirloom seed company. They have been growing and saving seed for years and provide the purest form of seed available on the market.

Support non-GMO, pesticide, herbicide and anti-biotic, hormone free organic products. Not only will you be supporting local, organic farmers, but you'll be helping to keep your dog healthier and help the environment too.

Also support companies that are committed to remaining non-GMO. You can find a list from the Non GMO Project.

Tell the FDA you want truth in labeling of GMO products. Visit JustLabelIt.org to lend your voice, we have a right to know.

Sources: SustainableTable.org Huffington Post - Guest blogger Alberto Gonzalez, founder and CEO of GustOrganicshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif JustLabelIt.org Organic Soul NY Times True Food Now Cambridge Information Group American Academy of Environmental Resources

Photo credits: USDA

Winter Boredom Busters for your Green Dog!

2012-01-12T18:56:00.000-05:00

Winter can be a stressful time for dogs. It's cold, it's icy, it's just not fun to go outside and get all the exercise we need everyday.

We live further south and it has been raining for five days now! Winter weather can be challenging and makes for some bored dogs; just ask me and Gracie.

So what's a green dog to do with all that pent up energy? Have fun with some great green dog boredom busters you can enjoy indoors!

We have several categories of ideas to help your dog cope with the winter boredom blues - everything from homemade interactive activities and toys, to tricks, to green, healthy and eco-friendly interactive toys and games. So let's get started!

Indoor Games

Gracie and I love to play indoor games! And on days that it's super cold or very rainy, we play for our breakfast and/or dinner. It's not only super fun, but we get a little exercise, and the best part is we work our brains, which can tire out a dog almost just as much as physical exercise.

Here are some of my favorite indoor games.

Hide and Seek - Mum puts me in a sit stay downstairs and then she hides a target (we like to use a repurposed large container yogurt lid, BPA free of course!) with some of my dinner on it. You can usesuper high premium kibble (like Earthborn Holistic), or a nice little raw chicken neck (big enough that I won't choke). We like the ones from RAGD Partner Dogma O nline). Then she gets about half way between me and the target and says 'find target!'. That's when I go to work, searching throughout the cabin to find my prey. In the beginning, you may want to try this with shorter distances until your dog gets the hang of it. It's super fun!

Tricks - I love to learn new tricks and so does Gracie! Mum keeps a nice list of tricks stuck to our refrigerator that she wants to teach us, so she always has good training material on hand.

Just the other day Mum taught me to get in a suitcase (great for smaller dogs). And she taught Gracie to get in a larger box with a lid. We had a great time. If you're looking for ideas and great ways to teach tricks, visit our YouTube channel. And we recommend clicker training, which you can learn through some of the great resources on the Internet. Here are additional resources:

An introducti on to clicker training from Karen Pryor
Fun Dog Tricks - a blog with lots of videos and links to get ideas on tricks for you and your dog.
Dog Trick Academy - a great site with trick ideas and a forum to interact with other dog trick lovers.
My "Fun Games" YouTube channel for lots more ideas on tricks and games.

Homemade Interactive Games and Toys

Throughout the years we've been fortunate to learn lots of great ideas for making fun homemade, interactive games and toys from friends. Here are our favs:

Muffin Tin Game - this is one of my favorite games (see video below, it's how we learned it). Just make sure that you use a muffin tin that's stainless steel and tennis balls that are safe, K?

Hide the Treats - You can play this fun game a variety of ways. One way is to hide treats under an old cotton towel; or you can reuse some old toilet paper rolls and hide treats or organic peanut butter in them, adding another layer of difficulty.

You can also do some fun nose work type of exercises by hiding treats under just one of three small stainless steel bowls (or small boxes) and let your dog work to find the treats or dinner. And you can get a nice BPA free safe water bottle, cut safe holes in the side, add high quality kibble/treats and let them work to get the good stuff.

Look around your house, we know you can find lots and lots of hide the treat materials, just remember to utilize safe and healthy materials, K? And for ammunition? You can find some great treats from RAGD Partner Simply For Pets, even ones that will keep that doggie waist line nice and trim - and they break up in smaller pieces to go further too!

You can also visit this great site for lots of ideas to make your own intelligent, interactive, and fun games for your dog! (It's in German, but you can see and get a lot of info from the photos).

Interactive dog puzzles, toys and games

Sometimes after playing with our homemade toys, we are ready for more challenges! That's when we turn to the pawsome interactive and intelligent dog toys on the market. Happy Dogs Play, one of our Raise A Green Dog partners, has independently tested and recommended safe dog toys and puzzles, including the plastic Nina Ottosson dog toys and the Aikou.

You can also find more safe, healthy toys from RAGD Partner Pets Head to Tail - they have the Kong Wobbler, Seek-a-Treat, Linkable, and Genius lines of toys.

And Uncommon Paws, another pawsome RAGD Partner, has the Bebo line of treat dispensing toys, and the Nina Ottosson Dog Pyramid.

Eco-Dogs one of our first RAGD Partners, carries the West Paw Tux, which is a great toy for treat dispensing, the line of Busy Buddy toys, and several of the wooden Nina Ottosson Interactive Dog Toys and Puzzles. And they have a very cool P.L.A.Y. Tunnel (we have one of those) which can make for lots of indoor fun, especially when you combine it with a quick down on the ottoman (good practice for agility).

Those are a few ideas to help you and your dog have more fun indoors during the super cold, wet, wintery weather days.

And remember, when it gets warmer, get out there and have a fun walk or hike. Some of the best hiking we've experienced is when there were a few inches of snow left on the ground from a big storm and it warmed up to 45 degrees with sun!

Help your dog be more green and healthy in 2012!

2012-01-01T11:20:00.003-05:00

There's no better time than the New Year to make a commitment to being more green and healthy!

And the best part is it doesn't have to be difficult. By doing little things you can make a big difference in the life of your dog and you!

Here are just a few of our top 5 things you can do in 2012 to have a healthier, happier pup and help the environment at the same time!

Take a hike, literally!

Get out there and enjoy our great, green Earth! Taking a walk, or a hike, with your best bud is not only good for your dog's health, but good for yours too! It can also really help maintain your and your dog's weight and physical fitness, as well as help your dog with boredom related behavior issues.

Just be sure to avoid contaminated areas, like chemically treated golf courses, retention ponds that harbor lawn chemicals, contaminated rivers and streams in farming country; and stick with your local and national parks where chemicals and treatments are banned. Also during the winter take care to avoid salted roads and walkways, and take extra precautions when it's colder outside.

It will be healthier and safer for both of you!

Clean up your water.

Water is a very important element to a dog's life and to yours. So resolve this year to clean up your water.

Take the time to research drinking water filtering systems that take out the bad stuff; install a filtering system on your shower and dog bathing area; investigate ways you can treat your swimming pools without chlorine and other damaging chemicals; and install a water filter on your outside faucet.

By cleaning up your water your are minimizing the damaging chemicals in your life and your dog's, for a happier, healthier life.

Go organic and healthy for you and your environment.

Look for more organic options for your dog's diet and for yours! By minimizing the unneeded and unhealthy antibiotics and hormones from you and your dog's meats, as well as pesticides, herbicides and and insecticides from your shared fruits and vegetables you can eat the way food was meant to be eaten, wholesome, fresh, and real.

Real food is much healthier and can minimize disease!

Clean it up the healthy, safe way.

Make an effort to clean up the other chemicals in your home and environment, inside and outside!

Look into healthier cleaning options, organic lawn care and more to create a more healthy environment and minimize your and your dog's exposure to unnecessary and unhealthy chemicals.

Give back.

Part of being a green dog, or even a green dog parent, is giving back to your environment, your community, to your friends and family, and to those in need.

Resolve to do something kind for someone each and every week - that's 52 acts of kindness and giving back! Just imagine if everyone in the World did something nice for someone just once a week, how it could build more community, and kindness and generosity in the World. In these tough times all people and animals need a little more help in their lives. So Paw it Forward!

These are just a few tips to help. You can visit our Learn to Be Green section an find more tips and information! We at Raise A Green Dog hope you have an amazingly healthy, green and happy 2012!

If you have ideas on how to make you and your dog's new year, healthier and greener, feel free to leave your thoughts in our comment section and share them with everyone!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-24T12:03:00.000-05:00

Paw it forward this holiday season, today and everyday!

2011-12-20T09:36:00.001-05:00

This is JayJay, one of many, many dogs looking for their furever home.

JayJay was rescued by the Southside Animal Shelter in Indianapolis in April of this year, after being dragged behind his former owners car. The great folks at the shelter nursed him back to health and he is now a well adjusted, happy, loving lab/shepherd mix ready to join a loving family!

Living a green, healthy lifestyle includes giving back to our planet and those that inhabit it. What better time to give back to those less fortunate than this Holiday season?

With so many homeless and shelter/rescue bound dogs that don't yet have their furever home; we've put together our top 10 list of how you can help dogs in need:

1. Gather up some gently used collars, leashes, toys, beds, unused crates and more dog related items and donate them to your local shelter or rescue. You can find worthy rescue and shelter organizations through Petfinder.com.

2. Shelters and rescues are always in need of household items to keep them running and reduce operating costs. Consider donating old towels, cleaning supplies, office supplies (like paper, pens or even an unused computer), blankets, laundry supplies, rugs and more.

3. Have a few hours available? Why not take a trip to your local animal shelter/rescue and take some time to play with the dogs or take them for a much needed walk.

4. Contact your local shelter/rescue and find out what type of food and treats they provide, pick up some at your local pet store and donate what you can!

5. Provide a much needed monetary donation in the name of your pet to help ease their financial burden.

6. If your local shelter/rescue sells items, why not buy locally from them for your gift giving this year.

7. Consider donating your time and making a regular, monthly commitment to help your local shelter/rescue organize fundraisers.

8. Why not sponsor a dog in your local rescue and give them a better chance at getting the help and new furever home they desperately need. Or if you can, consider fostering a dog in need.

9. If you are online, have a blog, or participate in social media, help your local shelter/rescue get the word out about the animals they have available for adoption.

10. Several organizations online have 'Click to Give' programs that help animals in need. Visit them everyday to make a difference. Learn more about Click to Give programs. Visit the Animal Planet R.O.A.R (Reach Out. Act. Respond) website, type in your zip code and find local shelter/rescue organizations that need your help.

And last, but most importantly, if you are considering adding a new 'green' dog to your family, consider adopting from your local animal shelter. Shelter pups make pawsome pets, just ask my Mum. I was adopted from the Southside Animal Shelter, a no-kill shelter in Indianapolis back in 2004. (That's me on the left in the photo above :).

'Paw it Forward', today and everyday, and take the time and effort to help a dog in need, and help their life be a happy one!

A pawsome winter stew for your dog!

2011-12-14T09:56:00.007-05:00

It's starting to get cold outside! Time to take in a treat and take the chill off!

After a a good Fall hike, a nice romp and fetch in the snow, a little sledding with the family; who doesn't want to come home to a nice pot of stew. I know I do!!!

Every year and sometimes several times a year, Mum will whip Gracie and I up one of our favorite Fall/Winter stew treats. So we wanted to share our recipes with you.

We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!!!

Marrow Stew

Raw marrow bones are one of my favorite chews, along with deer antlers. The marrow in the bones is super healthy for us dogs and contains some pawsome health benefits. They are an excellent source of amino acids and essential fatty acids. To mix it up when Mum gets a good quantity of marrow bones, she likes to whip us up some Marrow Stew!

Ingredients:

Marrow bones (we get our marrow bones from Whole Foods. If you can't find marrow bones you can use chicken or turkey parts, necks and backs are are very good for this recipe!)
2 cups brown rice (pre-cooked)
A nice handful of each:
Green Beans
Carrots
Zucchini
Kale
2 tablespoons olive oil
Water (filtered is best!)

Directions:

Cut the vegetables into chunk sized pieces. Put all the ingredients into a big 'ole stainless steel pot and fill with filtered water to cover. Cook on low heat for a couple of hours.
Once cooked, remove the bones and extract the marrow and add back into the stew. Then throw out the bones, 'cause cooked bones aren't good for us pups!
Pour into a stainless steel bowl and you've got a great Fall stew. And you can add a dollop of pure pumpkin puree, we love that!

Chicken Stew Here's another one of our favorites, 'cause we love chicken:
Ingredients:

Whole chicken
Nice big handfuls of coarsely chopped:
Carrots
Sweet potato
Zucchini
Yellow squash
Green beans

And any other veggies you'd like that are healthy for us pups (but be sure and do your research, not all veggies are good for us!). You can add in a cup of brown rice if you'd like too - cook it first, then add water - filtered is best!

Instructions:

Add all the ingredients to a big stainless steel pot, and add enough water to cover everything. Bring to a boil, then simmer for a couple of hours. We like to add the veggies about an hour in, so that they aren't cooked to death, and carry more nutrition. BOL!!!
After it's all cooked, let it cool a bit, then remove the chicken and debone it ('cause, remember, cooked bones aren't good for us dogs!
Once you have all the chicken deboned, throw it back into the pot, and serve!

You can freeze these little stew treats for later. We bet that even your pawrents will like it too - both are great Fall/Winter treats you can share together!

Your Green Dog Holiday Shopping Resource Guide!

2011-11-24T18:53:00.000-05:00

Wheeee!!!!! It's that time of year...time for family, fun, gifts and giving!

So we wanted to put together all the great resources to help you find great, green, eco-friendly, holiday gifts, gear and treats for your green dog!

All of our Raise A Green Dog partners are smaller, independent businesses that not only have pawsome green dog items, but they all, in some way, help those pups that are less fortunate. We hope you'll support them this Holiday season and pick up your green dog something special!

Earth Heart specializes in natural remedies using plant-based ingredients to help dogs live a happier, healthier lives. They're products include Canine Calm, perfect for helping your pup cope with the business holiday season; Travel Calm, to help your dog be more comfy on those long holiday trips; Buzz Guard, a great product to keep the nasties at bay, and Guard Well, an all-natural remedy mist to help keep the immune system boosted. Receive one free product with your online order during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Nov 23-27. Just enter code: 'RGD Thanks 2011' at checkout!

Earthborn Holistic produces delicious, natural food for your pet, while creating awareness about the environment and practicing reduce, reuse, and recycle in their company practices. They are a super high premium kibble that's great for travel, training and anytime! You can pick up Earthborn Holistic at your local independent pet supply store, check out their website to find a store near you or online.

Farm Dog Naturals creates Relief Pet Urine and Eco Cleaner that neutralizes dog urine and odors, perfect for those holiday oopsies. And their Salvation Salve heals those crusty noses and cracked paws you can get in the winter months, while their Restore Salve which stops itching and heals wounds from ouchies!

TheDogmaOnline is a pawsome resource for all your raw and healthy dog food needs and they have an amazing deal of free shipping for all their raw food packages, Bravo, Primal Raw, and Northwest Naturals. While you're there pick up some pawsome treats and use "PAWS1" when checking out to get 5% off and Or use "APR2" when checking out and you get 5% off and help donate 5% to PawsAtlanta.Rescue.

Eco-Dogs.com provides all natural, grain free dog and cat foods, and eco-friendly pet products with the end result of 'leaving smaller carbon paw prints. And the best part is Eco Dogs is offering 10% off any items for the Holiday Season. Enter "Happy Howlidays" at check out!

Like to cook for your dog? Are you looking for a completely balanced, organic, whole foods, fresh cooked canine diet with no additives, sulfites, preservatives or fillers? Here's a great resource - West Coast Canine Life offers human quality, organic, whole foods dog food, a fresh cooked diet for your dog's optimum health.

Happy Dogs Play is the safest place to buy dog toys on the internet. They offer organic, natural, green toys, completely and independently tested to make sure they are non-toxic and lead-free. And they have a pawsome selection of really fun toys and other dog gear!

From clothing to toys to health care and grooming products, PetsHeadToTail.com offers discounted, eco-friendly dog and cat accessories and solutions for environmentally-conscious owners. From now until Christmas they are having a Countdown to Christmas sale! Each day they will have a selected dog product at up to 25% off! And Black Friday (Nov 25th) only receive free shipping on any $25 order. Use the code 'BlackFriday' at checkout.

Simply For Pets creates specialized treats for dogs with special health issues. Their Kanine Krispies is a line of all natural specialty treats for dogs with allergies, diabetes, arthritis, nutritional and more. They even have one with Ginger to help with those holiday upset tummies! Kanine Kollections is a line of pet beds, blankets and travel accessories.

If you haven't checked out Uncommon Paws we surely recommend you do! They provide interesting, unique, high quality products made with the best, sustainable, natural materials on the market. Be sure and check out their knitted wool dog sweaters and amazing handmade collars!

And don't forget to check out all the great green dog companies in our Raise A Green Dog Directory!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T14:15:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

We sure are thankful for you, and all the green dogs that help keep our pawsome Planet Earth the healthiest it can be!

Have a great green holiday....safe travels and we hope you get some healthy eats and treats!

-- Gracie and Johann and Leslie

Healthy, homemade sweet potato chews for dogs!

2011-11-16T08:16:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year...time for sweet potatoes! If you are out shopping for Thanksgiving dinner, be sure and pick up some extra sweet potatoes to make a homemade, yummy, healthy treat for your dog!

I love sweet potatoes, they are a super yummy and really good for me; and they are a great alternative to rawhide chews, which you may not know are not very good for dogs.

Not only do they present a choking hazard, they don't digest very easily and could become lodged in the intestines creating a dangerous health hazard. In addition, many rawhides are processed with chemicals which aren't good for dogs either.

So what's a dog to do? Have your Mum make some yummy homemade sweet potato chews!

Here is the recipe we use, courtesy of The Dog Treat Kitchen:

Sweet Potato Chews for Dogs

Wash a sweet potato (organic is best and we like to peel them).
Cut down the middle lengthwise.
Then cut long lengthwise slices about 1/3 to 1/4 of an inch wide and place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet (use a stainless steel, for healthier cooking).
Put in the oven at 250 degrees for about 3 hours.

This leaves them kind of chewy, but you could also bake them a little longer (about 20-30 minutes) to get them crunchy. Keep them refrigerated for up to three weeks. You can freeze them for up to 4 months.

Oh, and you can waffle cut them for more fun. Enjoy! And let us know how your dog likes them!

Bamboo: A sustainable material used to make dog products healthier, greener and safer for dogs!

2011-11-14T08:29:00.000-05:00

Look bamboo!

We found this growing down the road from us and stopped to take a photo. The folks that are growing it were chopping some down that day and stripping it a bit. We saw they had used them as stakes in their garden. Wonder what else they are using it for?

Bamboo is really interesting stuff. Classified as a perennial evergreens, bamboos are some of the fastest growing plants in the world; some growing as fast as up to 100 cm (39 in) within a 24 hour period. (Bet that was another type than the ones we saw, but wow!)

Bamboo has been used for centuries in building materials in Asia and the South Pacific regions; and more recently in materials in other countries. It's sustainable in that it's a very renewable source, since it grows rapidly; making it a desirable material for the eco-friendliness.

New shoots are used in Asian cuisine and also used in Chinese medicinal herbs concoctions. In it's mature form, it's also used in clothing, shoes, furniture, water processing, landscaping, paper, kitchen utensils, flooring, fences and even as construction for bicycles. And that's just the beginning!

Bamboo is now also used in a wide variety of dog products, too!

Our Raise A Green Dog Partners carry some of the most fun, unique, healthy and interesting dog products made of bamboo.

Eco-Dogs.com carries the Doggone Smart Bed which is made of 100% organic cotton/bamboo fabric dyed with all natural vegetable dyes. It provides a soft feel and durability; making it one of the world only fully biodegradable bed.

They also carry the every pupular Wagging Green line of dog collars made with a double layer of our super soft 100% organic Bamboo fiber; and very handsome, soft collars too.

Their very cool and healthy Bamboo Bowls are made from bamboo and cooked rice husks. A much better choice over plastic bowls that can leach chemicals and harbor bacteria.

And this uber cute (great for the holiday season) Apple Red & Thyme Green Dog Knit Sweater, Apple Red stripes are made out of a mix of Viscose from Bamboo and Wool. Looks warm!

Raise A Green Dog Partner Uncommon Paws carries the very cool Planet Dog Wood Chuck with Orbee-Tuff RecycleBALL, engineered with sustainable Bamboo and Cork Scraps. It's a sleek take on other ball-tossing devices, Wood Chuck® bamboo core offers strength and maximum chuck-ability with an ergonomic cork handle for comfort and grip-ability throw, after throw.

PetsHeadToTail.com, another one of our pawsome partners, carries the OurPets Double Bamboo Bistro with Drawer - a very stylish and eco-friendly feeder that will look great in any green home! Designed with eco-friendly and attractive bamboo, Bamboo Bistro feeders are perfect for medium and large breed dogs and will look terrific in any home.

And our newest RAGD Partner - HappyDogsPlay has a very cute and loveable Organic Precious Pat Dog.

So you can see bamboo is a very eco-friendly, safe, healthy and sustainable material that can be used in a wide variety of products for your home, life and your dog!

Free one year digital subscription to Animal Wellness Magazine!

2011-10-26T12:30:00.000-04:00

Our good friends at Animal Wellness Magazine have provided you, our readers, with an amazing offer - a free one year digital subscription to their pawsome healthy magazine!

It's easy to sign up - just follow these instructions:

Step 1: Click the image and follow the link to the sign-up page
Step 2: Choose '1 Year Animal Wellness Digital Subscription'
Step 3: Fill in your details and create your login information
Step 4: Enter the coupon code - C3012 - in the ‘Coupon Code’ field at the bottom of the payment page and continue
Step 5: Start viewing the current magazine and our library of back issues

We hope you enjoy your subscription! And big, big thanks to Animal Wellness Magazine for providing this great offer to our readers!

Make your dog a Halloween Doggie Smoothie!

2011-10-24T11:49:00.000-04:00

"Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse...nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips;"

There's just nothing better than a nice healthy sip after a long hike, a day playing in the leaves, or out trick or treating with the neighbor pups!

So why not make your dog a Halloween Doggie Smoothie! It's organic, healthy and super yummy.

"Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting...lizard's leg, and owlet's wing."

Here's our recipe:Gather all your ingredients...

1 cup kefir - low-fat, plain, organic is best
A few oz. organic, unseasoned chicken stock
A nice slice of cooked liver
1/4 Lightly steamed organic (large) carrot
A dollop of canned pumpkin (make sure it's pure pumpkin, K?)
A splash of apple juice
A few slices of banana
Tsp of flax seed
Small spinach leaf.

"Double, double toil and trouble....fire burn, and caldron bubble!"

How to make it:

Throw all your 'creepy' ingredients into a blender (except the sprinkles and spinach leaf, add those after) and mix well. Serve immediately in a stainless steel dish, or chill for an hour in the fridge for a cooler treat. Sprinkle with crushed flax seed and a small spinach leaf.

Refrigerate any small amount of leftovers and use within 24 hours.

Remember, you don't have to use all the ingredients, the basics are the Kefir, fruits, veggies or meats. Don't forget to check what foods are safe for us pups if you decide to vary the recipe.

And as with all things - moderation is key, so start your pup out with smaller portions to begin with (about 4 oz.). Hope they enjoy their doggie smoothie!

From Macbeth! Some of the phrases used in this post are from Williams Shakespeare's play 'Macbeth." The phrases used are at the beginning of Act IV, Scene 1 of the famous play. Read and learn more about "Macbeth".

We're presenting Daily Green Dog Tips for Dogster!

2011-10-20T08:19:00.000-04:00

We are super excited!

Starting this past Monday we are providing Daily Green Dog Tips for Dogster website visitors and email subscribers.

This week's focus is on organic lawn care. And we have lots of great green tips planned in the coming weeks to talk about including disposing of the doo, handmade and repurposed gifts for the Holidays, and lots, lots, more to help your dog go green for a happier, healthier dog and environment!

We're also sharing our daily tips on our Raise A Green Dog Facebook page every day, so head on over and 'like' us, K? We hope you enjoy the info that we'll be sharing over the coming months.

It's Halloween...make it a green!

2011-10-18T21:27:00.000-04:00

It's almost time for Halloween!

Halloween is a great time to have fun with your dog...so we thought we'd share some of our great green Halloween tips and ideas to make this Halloween the best ever for your dog!

Costumes

I don't usually mind, but some dogs just don't like to dress up for Halloween and that's OK! But if your dog doesn't mind, here are some great green ideas for whipping up a cool costume.

One of our absolute favorite costume ideas is this handmade spider costume that Martha Stewart made for her Sharkey. Make it green by using some old black and orange material from a sweatshirt or sweatpants! For more fun make-your-own pet costume ideas visit MarthaStewart.com.

Be creative and have fun finding reusable materials around your home as substitutes for suggested materials. Like this cute costume dress from an old t-shirt and some lace!

Here are a couple of patterns from McCalls that may help give you some sewing help. And for some other pawsome ideas, check out these:

If your dog is shy about wearing a costume, maybe all you need is a super cool orange bamboo collar, like this one from Eco-Dogs.com!

Treats! Did someone say treats?

Nothing goes with Halloween more than pumpkins and apples! Here's a great healthy, natural Halloween dog treat you can make for your pup (courtesy of eHow):

Applesauce Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients:
Oven cookie sheet
1½ cups whole wheat flour
3 tbsp. (organic) applesauce
2 eggs
3/4 cup pure pumpkin (not pie filling)
1 tbsp. molasses
¼ cup water

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and grease the cookie sheet.
2. Combine all the ingredients in a large-sized bowl, then mix together. The mixed batter should resemble the consistency of cookie dough.
3. Depending on how big you want the cookies to be, use a teaspoon or tablespoon to drop the dough onto the greased cookie sheet. Drop them approximately 1 inch apart.
4. Bake for 14 minutes or until the cookies are firm.
5. For crunchier cookies, turn the oven off and leave the cookies in the oven to cool for one to two hours.

This recipe makes approximately two dozen cookies, depending on how big you make them.

If you need other ideas, try these Ginger Spiced Treats and Apple Dog Biscuits! Or just something as simple and yummy as a little Organic Sweet Potato from Eco-Dogs.com!

Toys, oh yeah!!

Holidays mean presents and that means a new toy! Toys can be expensive, so why not try making your own from reused items around your home? Here are some great green ideas!

Make a dog tug toy from recycled jeans and an old orange sweatshirt!
Create a Sock Monkey Dog Toy from old black and orange socks!
Got an old fleece blanket? Make a dog toy!
Make a great dog toy with an old sock and water bottle, cool!
Got some old socks and old tennis balls? You've got even more toys!

And if you're short on time, try one of these pawsome Halloween toys from PetsHeadToTail - Pumpkin, Bat, Ghost, Boogey Man!

Have a Dog Howl-o-ween Pawty!!

Halloween is a great time to have a dog party! So how do you plan a great green dog party? Check out my lens on Throwing a Great Dog Party, and utilize some of the tips you've learned from Raise A Green Dog to make it green!

Stay calm!

Halloween can sometimes be a scary time for dogs. With all the activity, visitors, door bells rings, treats, and scary human costumes, you're dog may need some help to get through all the activities.

We like Canine Calm from Earth Heart. Just a little spritz on the belly, and rubbed on the ears and it may be just the key to help your dog cope a little more easily with all the Halloween activities.

Another great idea is to pick up some Ginger Krispies from Simply For Pets. They are specially made with ginger to help dogs cope with tummy upsets from travel and from stressful activities.

Be Safe!

Halloween is a fun time, but it can also be a scary time for dogs! And dangers lurk in many more places. Take care with these safety tips, so your dog can have the safest, happiest Halloween ever!

1. If you're dog doesn't want to dress up, respect the pup! There's nothing more scary than having to wear something that makes you uncomfortable. Try a nice orange collar or bandana instead. And only costume a dog that's agreeable, or has been properly introduced to the idea. If you do dress them up be sure the costume is safe. Sometimes those weird outfits can get caught and cause choking or even worse, so be safe!

2. Those bowls of human candy can be very tempting for us dogs. Keep the bowl safely away, so we aren't tempted to get into the chocolate, candy with xylitol or other bad for us stuff.

3. Lots of guests and visitors can be overwhelming for us dogs. So if your dog isn't used to all the commotion, secure them safely in a quiet room until trick-or-treating time is over. And if your dog does like all the visitors, make sure your dog is leashed up and wearing their tagged collars just in case; and take care to keep us from escaping through an open door. Safety first!

4. Halloween decorations can be tempting if we haven't seen them for a year. Take care with your dog around electrical cords and lights, and other decorations. With all the stress, we just may be tempted to chew 'em up!

Here's to a safe, happy and green Halloween!!!! Have fun!

Our Top 10 Tips for Hiking the Green Dog Way!

2011-10-09T20:25:00.000-04:00

Mum, Gracie and I just love to hike!

We live in the Mountains of NE Georgia, so we get to hike a lot and see some pawsome scenery, meet other fun hikers, and enjoy our time in the fresh air and great outdoors.

We've learned over the years that there are some tips to hiking with dogs...tips to keep us comfortable, happy, healthy, enjoying our day and leaving no carbon pawprint.

We wanted to share our tips with you!

1. Are you and your dog ready? Make sure you and your dog are prepared for the hike you are undertaking. Not all dogs (or humans for that matter) are suited for 7-8 mile hikes like we enjoy. And we sure didn't start hiking seven miles in the beginning; nope we started with about a mile. Gracie and I are agility dogs and are well conditioned for active, high level fitness, but your dog may not be ready. So be sure and start with short hikes if you've never hiked with your dog, and build to longer hikes.

2. Pack it up! Mum has a pack that she takes with us on our hikes. Our pack contains everything we need for a fun, healthy and environmentally friendly hike. Here's just a quick list of our pack contents:

BPA free bottles of water and bowl if needed
Biodegradable poop bags
Recycled tissues
Camera
Cell phone - with our Endomondo hike tracking app and our TrailNote safety hiking app
GPS - with satellite connection because we hike in really dense forests on scantily marked trails with no cell signal sometimes
Snacks - for us and Mum
Vet wrap, alcohol wipes, Traumeel cream, tweezers and spare dog boots or socks for what if
Long line - for when we get to go in the river.
Trail map

Some dogs like to take their own packs and we think that's great! Some dogs are suited for carrying packs, and some aren't. Be sure that your dog is prepared for carrying a dog pack; that they are strong enough, can handle the extra weight and are used to carrying a pack. You can gradually get a dog used to wearing a pack by trying it at home first, giving lots of treats when the pack is near, then placed on their back, then strapped, then gradually increase the time your dog wears it around the house. Be sure and give lots of treats as you train them to wear the pack.

3. Leash up! Hiking trails are unpredictable. You can encounter a wide, wide variety of things on your hike - cliff drop offs, other hikers that may not like dogs, stray and other off leash dogs, deer, squirrels, wild turkeys, snakes and even bears! That's why it's important to stay leashed up. Yes, it's super tempting to let your dog loose on the trail, but it's important to follow the rules and to be safe; most all national and state parks require that your dog is leashed on the trail.

We have a leash system which we love. Mum has nice, tough and durable harnesses for both me and Gracie, that allow us all kinds of freedom of movement and flexibility. Then we have six foot leather leashes that we've had for well over six years, that we still use today! Mum can have both of us on leash in one hand very securely and even take photos with the other. It's a great system that works well for us. Find a system that works for you for a happier hike!

4. Keep hydrated! Keeping both your dog and you hydrated on the trail is sooo important. We have a several water containers that we take with us. One of them is stainless steel with a BPA free lid that also acts as a water bowl for me and Gracie. The other two are BPA free Nalgene bottles for Mum and for our refills. At least every mile when it's cooler and more often when it's hotter, we stop for a nice sip of water, and take a little break, check the paws and pads and do a little stretching. Oh and it's a great time to give Mum some licks to thank her for a fun day!

5. Snacks! Hiking burns a ton of calories, especially if you are out for four to five hours like us on some hikes, climbing up 1000 foot elevation changes. So every few miles or so, Mum will give us a few treats to keep us energized, and she'll snack on some trail mix as well! We have a couple of favorite snacks we like on our hikes - Zukes Mini Naturals and Dr. Harvey's Power Patties; they are both great energy suppliers, and healthy, safe snacks for us.

6. Pick up the doo! I can't tell you how many times, even on the most remote trails, that we have found the remnants of another dog on the path. So please, please, pick up your dog's doo when you're out hiking. Keep it green and leave no trace! Mum takes some very strong, durable biodegradable bags when we're out hiking, and yes, she adds them to her pack when used; then deposits them either in a trash bin at the end of the trail, or if there isn't one she takes them home with us to add to our dog poo composter.

7. Watch the temps and the weather! Before we plan a big hike, Mum will check the Weather Channel. Being in the mountains, weather can be a bit unpredictable. Mum wants to make sure it's not going to be too hot or too cold for us and wants to make sure that Gracie and I (and her, of course) are dressed for whatever weather we may encounter.

I'll never forget one of our favorite hikes last year. It was one day after we had seven inches of snowfall. But the next day it was sunny, 45 degrees and still had about four inches of snow on the ground. We didn't need a warm coat for that day, but Mum did make sure that we stayed out of the creek, because of the icy water. So be prepared! Have your dog wear a dog coat if it's going to be too cold; and delay your hike if it's going to be too hot.

8. Those enticing waters! Those rivers, lakes and streams can be very enticing to us dogs. First sign of water and I'm wanting iin there! But Mum makes sure to take extra precautions when we're near bodies of water. She only lets us sip out of nice flowing mountain streams in national and state parks where there are no farms or plants nearby; and keeps us out of creeks and ponds that are stagnant.

Why? Because there can be some really nasty stuff in some of those creeks, ponds and lakes. Everything from checmical run off from farming, to giardia in creeks from other dogs and wildlife. So encourage your dog to drink from the filtered water you bring on your hike, and steer clear of drinking from water sources that are unfamiliar or questionable.

8. Take breaks! I giggle, because my Mum needs more breaks than I do. She knows, however, what to watch for when we're out hiking and I, or Gracie, may be tiring. What do I do when I'm tiring? Yep, I start lagging (sure doesn't happen very often, but it does on occasion). If I'm not out in front, pulling Mum up and down the trial, that's when she knows I need a good break.

9. Check the pads! There are all sorts of things you can encounter on a hike, pine needles, broken glass, stickers, small stones, burrs and lots more that can reek havoc with a dog's paws. Mum makes sure to watch us for any slight limping, and when we stop for a water break, she always checks our paws and pads for any foreign material or abrasions.

10. Body check! After the hike, check for ticks, fleas, burrs, and well, all kinds of things us dogs can get into. After every hike Mum will spread us out on one of our beds in the cabin and start rubbing all over us, checking for anything that's not supposed to be there. But the best part? I get a nice rub down after my hike too! Love those rub downs.

Have fun!!! The best part of hiking with my Mum and sis Gracie is having fun. No stress, quiet, serene times, great exercise and just being with my pack...we love that! Take the time to have a fun day with your dog, 'cause us dogs can really show you how to have fun!

Happy Hiking!