Quibble about Kibble

READING TED KERASOTE'S BOOKS

 Several dog related happenings in the 'hood in September. I read several books by Ted Kerasote. Amazon offered me Merle's Door for $2.99 on Kindle. I am on their "dog" list. Merle is the dog in Ted's first book, his first dog as an adult. I read a free excerpt. Then I thought, Come on...it is $2.99! I bought it, finished it and was hooked on Ted Kerasote. I borrowed his next two books, Pukka, the Pup After Merle and Pukka's Promise. Merle had an unleashed free life in Kelly Wy. with Ted. Merle is gone now and his successor Pukka (pronounced Puck-uh, meaning genuine/first class) lives there now with Ted. Ted writes, hunts and eats elk, passionately engages in outdoor activities, researches, travels. He wants Pukka to live long and well.  How? In his latest book Pukka's Promise he explores how to do this. Here is his Facebook page so you may learn more https://www.facebook.com/TedKerasote

LIAM OUTSIDE LIVING HIS DOG LIFE

And a review of Pukka's Promise by our Twitter and Blogger friend Garth's Mom
http://theworldaccordingtogarthriley.blogspot.com/2013/08/book-review-pukkas-promise-by-ted.html

Ted presents info about vaccines (too many?) diet... is kibble the best for our dogs? Spaying, neutering, shelter dogs vs purebreds, shelters, breeding. All of this has me thinking about Liam's life...Is he living his best life? What can I do to increase its quality and prolong it? Kibble is grain based. No meats. His is a kibble only diet. I thought this the best. Now I am annoyed-about its ingredients and processing and packaging. Is it being pushed by vets? If so, why? Because it is beneficial to dogs? Quibble, quibble

And while I am reading these books a new pet store, Pet valu opens adjacent to my Starbucks...http://us.petvalu.com/ three of the Starbucks baristas apply for and secure jobs there. They will work in both stores. So we have familiar faces in both places. Many know of Liam and some read LiamLicks. I bring Liam to Pet valu for a visit and then to their Open House on Saturday, September 28. See flyerAnother neighborhood event we must attend.  Liam gets a new harness with a breast plate...he requires a large due to his-massive neck and chest.  All his 35 pounds tilted toward the front. One of my baristas on her Pet valu shift helps measure Liam and shows me how to secure him in it. He feels like a gladiator ready for battle. We sniff and lick and when done go next door to get our Starbucks supplies. I go in and announce "Liam is here." Paul and Liam stand outside and are greeted by Starbucks staff and guests. "Liam from the blog! He is outside! Come see. He is so much smaller than we thought." I enjoy the attention as much as Liam. And I am thinking. The new store's values dovetail in many ways with those espoused by Ted. They bill themselves as the Whole Foods of Pet stores. Based in Canada, this New Hyde Park location is only one of three on Long Island. Its wood floors, homey ambiance and savory smells are attractive. Like a country store.
Will it be Liam's Whole Foods? I am a Petco online shopper, convenient, efficient, ebates credits, yet Pet valu is right there and I can go to Starbucks also. Both businesses know Liam. Hmmm.

Liam outside with our reading (he does not do Kindle, too paw sensitive)
 Wondering...






Should
I switch to a no grain diet? a sometime grain diet? Liam loves to eat wild berries, dandelions, twigs, weedsAnd excess parakeet husks and seeds I toss in the yard. Seeds, really? Yes, he fights the birds for his share... and these are not wild bird seeds. Would he accept being a little carnivorous? A dog who likes acorns, popcorn and grass? I remember him snaring my turkey sandwich in one leap and swiping a short rib with a wolf worthy lunge.

Vaccines? Does he receive too many? He has a schedule.

Thinking. Do I ignore it a little...  not adhere to every reminder. Are we about to open a new door...Liam's?
One thing for sure. He will still get his latte foam licks from my daily visit to Starbucks. and maybe I will drift in to say hi to my baristas in Pet valu. And maybe I'll pick up some meaty things. Elk anyone?

PROUD LIAM IN NEW VEST HARNESS

Woof, woof