*This dogs shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DogsLoveNutrishDISH #CollectiveBias
Most who follow and read this blog know our family are lovers of dogs.
See the youngest member of our family is our 3 year old golden retriever, Elsa.
Elsa just celebrated her 3rd birthday this past March. The weather here was still downright chilly and nasty around the time of her birthday.
But now we are finally beginning to see the light of day and spring has indeed sprung in the last few weeks.
Elsa doesn’t seem to care about the temperature though. However, she isn’t a fan of windy rain for some reason.
But snow doesn’t seem to bother her. However, in the snow and cold, I am the last person to get out and keep her active. Don’t get me wrong she goes out in our backyard during this time of the year, but by herself.
Now that weather is indeed warming up, she finally gets to have the family join her outdoors.
During the spring and summer time, we spend lots of time outdoors with Elsa. So much so we do our best to help keep her active, as well as ourselves. Plus, we try to keep her eating healthy with awesome deals, such as this..
What are some ways, we help Elsa get more active and healthier in the spring months?
1. Get our walking on.
During the colder months, there really is no need to walk Elsa as she is trained to use our backyard. But once the weather warms up, I happen to love walking to exercise. So, I try often enough to have her join me on the walks.
2. Kick the soccer ball around.
My oldest plays soccer and her dad just happens to be her coach. So, they will sometimes practice in our backyard together. Of course, our dog loves to get in the action with them. She will run around while they are playing and sometimes even nudge the ball with her nose, too!
3. Feed dogs only the best.
So, I happen to shop at Target quite often and usually in my shopping trips here is when I tend to replenish dog food for Elsa.
During a recent trip, I decided to try, Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® DISH Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe.
See our dog, happens to enjoy Chicken & Brown rice blends. So, I happily thought I’d give Nutrish DISH Chicken & Brown Rice a go for her.
While I do tend to switch brands sometimes and even the blend, when I do so I also make sure to gradually introduce the newer food by incorporating it into our current dog food over the course of 7-10 days.
But why Nutrish DISH?
Because Nutrish DISH uses Real U.S. farm raised chicken and/or beef as their first ingredient. Plus they use the world’s whole best ingredients that are safely USA cooked for all dogs.
Now you can Save $4.00 on DISH. This coupon is good through this year and can be printed 2 times. But please note it is Not applicable online and must be redeemed in-store ONLY.
4. Play go fetch with them.
Our dog loves to play fetch and has finally mastered the notion of dropping her fetched item to actually play along. We have used tennis balls, toy bones, frisbees and more. But dog toys can be costly if you are continually buying. Because let’s face it, dogs (at least ours) loses or destroys her toys with her rough play often enough.
So, I have come up with a clever and inexpensive way to play fetch with her.
See we drink bottled water here. I go through enough bottles weekly. Plus, socks seem to lose their mates often enough, too. So, I have learned to re-purpose those mismatched socks and old water bottles.
How?
I cover the used water bottles with mismatched socks to make the perfect DIY Recycled Dogs Toy to play fetch with our doggie.
Make it yourself…
DIY Recycled Sock Dogs Toy
Supplies
Water Bottle
Old mismatched sock
Instructions
1. Dry out used water bottle.
2. Take one old mismatched sock and slide the water bottle inside the sock.
3. Double knot the sock.
4. Go outside and play fetch with your dogs.
5. Enjoy!
How do you get your dogs in shape and active in the warmer weather?
Share in the comments with me…
Meredith Spidel says
What sweet ideas! My dogs are my babies so thanks for all the tips!
Janine says
Aw, my pleasure and I know our dog is truly like our baby, too 🙂
Cynthia says
Hiya, friend!
You already know I LOVE this post! Haha. I’m so glad it’s spring – doggie and I have been walking and walking and walking…he’s going to help me train for the walking marathon. He knows he needs to lose a little blubber. Tee hee.
I love all these tips and I can’t believe Elsa is already 3!! I remember when you got her as a puppy! WOWZA!
I hope you have a wonderful week and I hope it warms up nicely over there very, very soon! Sending you hugs and wishes for a *wonderful* Monday! xo
Janine says
Thank you Cyndi and hoping it does indeed warm up nicely very soon here now. Happy Monday and wishing you a wonderful rest of the week, too!! Hugs xoxo 🙂
AnnMarie John says
We feed our dogs a different food but once they get tired of it I’ll be sure to give this one a try. It does sound like one they’ll like. I also love that sock idea. My Bentley chews through EVERYTHING so that might be a good idea for him to have DIY toys.
Janine says
Elsa is similar to your dogs with food and chews through toys, as well. So this is truly great idea for both reasons in my opinion 😉
Kathy Radigan says
Great ideas!! I love the DIY sock toy idea, I just may do that for my fur niece and nephew!!! Thanks!
Janine says
Thank you once again, Kathy and hope you can try this out for your fur niece and nephew soon now!! 🙂
Diane Roark says
Janine,
I printed the coupon to try Rachael’s dog food. You already know over the past year and a half we lost both of our toy poodles. We still have a 5-year-old lab and now we have a 7-month-old lab. The 7 month old is not really our baby but belongs to my oldest daughter Carly. After completing medical school, she moved back in with us to save some money until she goes to Residency in June. She got a dog to keep her company. He is so smart and adorable but has some stomach issues. I am going to try this food and see how it does.
Thank you for this post.
Blessings,
Diane
Janine says
Aw, I love that you are helping with Carly’s dog and hope the food works for her dog, too. Let me know totally!! 🙂 🙂
Tamara says
Aw! I can’t believe she’ll be three. Athena is three too.
We use Nutrish, as you may know! She seems to really love it.
Janine says
I can’t believe Athena is also three and that she loves Nutrish, too 🙂
Mary says
I want a dog bad bad bad bad bad. But I live in an apartment, I do work from home so it wouldn’t get lonely, but I travel often so I have to wait a couple of years to get a 4 legged bestie. I love all the tips, Janine 🙂
Janine says
Thanks Mary and I hope you can get a dog soon, too 😉
ShootingStarsMag says
These are all great ways to keep your dog healthy. Thanks for sharing! That water bottle/sock idea is great. I know a lot of dogs really DO like playing with water bottles. 🙂
-Lauren
Janine says
Thanks Lauren and I agree with you on dogs and water bottles, too 🙂
Jen says
Oh my gosh Elsa has gotten so big! Where did the puppy go? She grew up right alongside the children! That is a brilliant idea for a chew toy. Our Eddie is a chewer and unless we have toys he will search out things we don’t want him shewing on. I love this one!
Janine says
Thanks Jen and I know still can’t believe Elsa is already 3, as well!!
Aunt Gloria says
What a good idea to make the toy to fetch with a sock and an empty water bottle! Elsa is a lucky dog! You all take good care of her and give her lots of love. xxoo
Janine says
Aw, I will and thanks always, Aunt Gloria!! Xoxo 😉
Leslie says
Awww! Elsa is so cute. And I love that homemade dog toy. We have so many mismatch socks it makes me wish that we had a dog of our own. Maybe we should make one of these for my sister’s dog instead Elsa is so cute. And I love that homemade dog toy. We have so many mismatch socks it makes me wish that we had a dog of our own. Maybe we should make one of these for my sister’s dog instead. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Janine says
Happy to share and hope you can make for your sister’s dog, too 🙂
Nellie says
So basically you just exhaust them right?! Sounds like me lol. The girls look so cute with Elsa!
Janine says
Aw, thanks so much Nellie 😉