The Wanted Company, Vancouver, BC (2024)

05/02/2024

FOOD AS LOVE🫶
A couple of months ago we made a post highlighting the many ways we show our dogs love; specifically when we prepare their meals daily. Yes, food is definitely nutritious (we all want our dogs to live their best, fullest, and longest life) but food is also much more than just vitamins and minerals. It’s about emotional connections, building and strengthening bonds, and feeding our pups can even be a vehicle for creativity.

Today, we are featuring the creativity of Bruce and Diesel’s mama, Kelly. We’ve been absolutely loving how she integrates fresh fruit and veg, kibble, and topping it off with fun treats into her boys’ meals— we just had to share it with you all!

We often get questions on how to spruce up kibble bases and if kibble works just as well in slow feeders. The answer is yes, absolutely; and the inspiration is from lots of everyday stuff, green beans, carrot ribbons, or kefir. Nothing has to be perfect or crazy expensive, ever. Remember to have fun in the kitchen and keep exploring your creativity.✨✨

📷 credits: and .dogge🐶
Feat. The Ollie (restock soon- stay tuned 👀)
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04/29/2024

We literally do these things all of the time and wanted to share how we use enrichment to help build our rescue dog’s confidence!

These tips are for all of our anxious dogs, fosters, and newly adopted dogs out there! (And for the parents, of course).

Swipe through our three tips:

1️⃣ Lickmats aren’t just for meals or snacks- we always use them to calm our dog down from those kinds of walks (iykyk). You know, those hot summer-like days when everyone and their dogs are out, all of the skateboards, bikes, squirrels, everything. Those days are glorious but if you have a reactive or fearful dog, this usually is a challenge to navigate. Providing that licking comfort of a little treat at home will help release dopamine and endorphins— all that natural good calming stuff 😉.

2️⃣ Nervous dogs might be on the lookout when they are on walks or in unfamiliar environments. We want to get them to sniff more because sniffing is kind of like a yoga or meditation session for your dog. It releases dopamine as well and is an enriching activity on its own. They gather information, feel calm and secure, and get to know the world around them. To encourage sniffing outdoors, we hide different treats in toilet paper rolls, cotton balls with dog-friendly essential oil, and dog-friendly herbs in our Duos and Nutty Pods! More on this later ☺️

3️⃣ We learned this boss move from who has shown us that when guests come over, using a spoon with PB or any doggie spread can build positive associations and bonds with new people. Sure, treats are good but the spreads are a level up with the lick. If your pup is really nervous, they may not take it but slowly work up to it and let us know how it goes.

Anyway, that’s it! Let us know how it goes if you try any of these ✨

Follow for more tips and chats! Share with us your tips- we can’t wait to hear from you☺️

03/19/2024

👩🏻👨🏽‍🦰This one goes out to all the doggie parents out there…

🍿You worked hard to exercise and play with your pup and want to watch some Netflix at the end of the day... only you notice your dog won’t settle and seems to have even *more* energy.

Well, it's not necessarily because they are still wanting more exercise but it may be because of overstimulation... OR maybe they actually are needing more. 😵‍💫 Wish they could just tell you exactly what they need, right? Well we're here to help!

We collaborated with our very own dog behavior consultant, on what the boredom and over-stimulation spectrum can look like and what enrichment to use and when!

✨🐕Let us know in the comment if you've experienced this and what you usually do!

03/17/2024

🌾🌿 SPRING SNUFFLE + PUZZLE SALE 🌿🌾

If our dogs had a choice, every waking moment would be spent in the forest, sniffing everything in sight. 🐕

With a sense of smell 100,000 times more sensitive than ours, scent work and foraging are deeply satisfying instincts.

🌳Unless you live in the forest, adding a little extra sniffing and searching in the home is deeply enriching.

✨ Did you know that you don't need to use treats in a Snuffle? Yes, you heard that right! In a recent study by Binks et. al., they found that scents including coconut, ginger, and vanilla resulted in reduced vocalization and stress in dogs in rescue shelters. (Dog-friendly scents only! More on this in a future post 😊)

⌛For the next 72 hours, we are offering 30% off our Snuffle Buddy and Pawzzle Hunts and we'll include bonus treat for all of the snufflin' fun!

🛒 Use code SPRINGFLING at checkout.

03/01/2024

The Noshpad is the most multi-textured lickmat around- perfect for new food introductions and the best for a relaxing and long-lasting food enrichment activity.

Each of the 4 quandrants have different textures giving tonsss of options for food play.

1️⃣ The honeycomb quad gives your pup a challenge- trust us, it takes quite some time for all of the noms to get licked up from this one!

2️⃣ The groovy waves quad is great for broths, milk, and liquid supplements. It can be also used for chunky treats, fruit pieces, and kibble! The deep grooves can handle it all.

3️⃣ The dotted quad is great for a wet spread or your pups favorite sticky butter (peanut or almond without additives are great!)

4️⃣ The circle quad is our favorite for new introductions- fill one, on day, two, on the next, etc. etc. to slowly introduce new foods to your pup. Also works well with the wet stuff!

All of our lickmats and slow feeders are...
⭐ FOOD GRADE silicone
⭐ DISHWASHER safe
⭐ FREEZER safe
⭐ BPA free

Now, for a secret 🤫:

If you’re a caption reader and made it this far, use code ‘nosh’ to get it for 20% off 😉

02/22/2024

If I'm being honest, sometimes, (especially when I'm having one of those weeks), I'll default to a feeding puzzle rather than a much-needed social enrichment sesh for my pup. Even though I know social enrichment can do wonders for her confidence, I get anxious, too- and that's totally okay.

Social enrichment for Olive definitely has it's challenges. We think it's not easy to socialize a reactive dog but let me tell you, it's 1000% possible and it doesn't have to make you (too) anxious either. (BTW, all dogs are unique and they all have different triggers. You know your pooch the best so make adjustments/ pick and choose as needed!)

1️⃣ On a rainy day (or any day), I'll take Olive with me to the store. Short trips to the bookstore (Indigo), Home Depot (she loves the garden center), Homesense/HomeGoods during off-peak hours is best. There is tons for her to sniff, to explore, and she usually feels good about it because the aisles are nice and big. I usually keep it to 5-10 minutes max if it's a new store but after she becomes familiar with a store, I can actually start doing some browsing and shopping.

2️⃣ If we're going over to a friend's place, we will take Olive with us with a tiny treat feeder/mat. We've noticed a huge difference when she takes the time to adjust to a new place for a little longer time (not walking around). Sometimes, we've organized time when she will go over to her aunties' place for a few hours on her own 🥲

3️⃣ Playing hide and seek is a great game for bonding with you and others-- either at home or out. We bring a small handful of treats and sprinkle it around the home, behind doors and nooks, or in a big and quiet park, in the grass, while she's on a long line. In the park, sometimes other dogs will walk by and as long as we have our space, this has helped her being around other dogs.

(Continued in the comments below!)

02/18/2024

✨FOOD AS LOVE🫶🏼
There are so many ways we show our dogs love; through cuddles and kisses, from butt scratches to patience (reactivity training, anyone?), when we choose the treats we think they'd love, and when prepare their meals every single day. In this series, we share the journeys of our friends in the community who inspire us with the love they have for their pups through food.

Food is so much more than nutrition but it's also how we bond. We also understand it's a journey- finding out what works and what doesn't- whether it's raw, kibble, or a combination- we are here for it all. 💙

Here, we are featuring the artistry of Kai's mama of . You might have seen her creations in our stories and how Kai jumps so high out of excitement for his dinner 😂- we live for this! Her journey with Kai started with kibble but after discovering his allergies, she gradually transitioned to raw food and now Kai is thriving. Check out their page for beautiful bowls and so much loving content. Promise it will make you smile 😊

📷 credits: 🐶

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01/27/2024

We haven't formally introduced you to The Duo so this is it!

This little gem can be used in a couple of ways- which keeps the pups entertained. Whether you feed raw or kibble or a combo, the duo has got you covered!

🍡For all of our kibble pups out there, fill the pod up with a snack or treat for a good roll! The pups use their nose and paws to roll the goodies out and you can trust us, they'll be busy, they'll have fun, and they'll be tired for sure 😂

🥩 For all of our raw feeders out there, the duo can be filled and frozen with a meal, with those quail eggs, fruit and veg and whatever you've got on hand! (Just a little warning though, because of the holes, liquids like goat's milk and broth can be a little tricky).

💙 Rescue tip: we give our rescue pup The Duo to lick and play out of when we have friends over. This has helped us tremendously and she has learned to associate a little extra noise and people around as a fun play time!

🌯 Let us know what you fill your duos with- we would love to hear and see it!

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01/17/2024

❄️❄️ fresh snow, fresh packaging! ❄️❄️

We wanted to share our new look for the Ollie... and a pic of the girl who inspired it all. 💙

01/04/2024

🍢 Enrichment might be cute (and gorgeous. I mean, have you seen some of those spreads out there?!) but there *really* is a reason behind the frenzy of slow feeding, puzzles, long sniff walks, games, and so on. So, let's talk about mealtime enrichment. 🍱

In today's series, I break down why it's healthy, fun, and enjoyable for your dog to have different methods of feeding and ditching the old bowl from time to time.

✨Scroll through to learn more!

🗣️Oh, and we also love chatting with all you folks out there so feel free to send us a DM! We love chatting about recipes, toys, and recently, about parallel walks 😊😆

01/02/2024

💟MEET RUBY💟 AKA Ruby-doo, Kangarooby, Rupret (dirty rotten scoundrels reference), Rudadooot-doo (Andy from the Office reference) & Awoooooby -- our first ambassador (along with her sister, Winifred- story coming soon)!

In May of 2020, Ruby was saved from a backyard breeder at 7 weeks old for $8.00. Someone had told her soon-to-be parents about her so they went to visit the litter. She was the runt of the bunch and her parents fell in love with her stumpy legs and chunky little potato body. When they adopted Ruby she had a heart murmur (still monitored to this day) and an extra front tooth. Her dad thinks it’s cute and always has. Her papa still thinks it’s weird and is physical proof of her backyard breeding. At the time, Ruby was fed a low-quality adult kibble, which her dad attributed to her potato body. She was left all day long in a playpen where she and her siblings would have their bathroom, feeding, and sleeping time.

At first, Ruby was very anxious when her parents brought her home. She was very unsure of her new family and the fact that she no longer had to fight for food or space. She was also confused because she wasn’t constantly in a bedroom.

With a lot of reassurance and encouragement, a proper diet and feeding schedule, she soon became a very excitable pup with lots of energy, a ton of love to give to her people, and displayed so much more confidence than fear. Her parents are still working with Ruby every day to keep her anxiety down and build her confidence even more 💙.

🍦Some things that make Ruby feel comfortable are her dad, her squishmallow bed, and snuggles at bedtime ❤️

12/11/2023

🐾 Introducing… The Pawzzle Hunt!

This interactive puzzle is not just a game – it's a mental workout 🧠. It's a great tool for rescues who have tons of energy, have rainy or really chilly Winters, or who need to build confidence 🥹.

How, you ask? For dogs, the act of searching and foraging for food can be more of a thrill than the actual act of obtaining the food itself.

🕵️‍♂️ Once your dog figures it out, you can use the adjustable paws to increase the difficulty as needed.

We love filling each compartment with a variety of dry and spreadable treats. Pro tip: if you're adding liquid or a spread, you can put it in the freezer so it takes extra long to finish each section.

✅ Reasoning skills
✅ Fulfillment
✅ Newfound confidence

🦴 And by the way, did you know dogs love to forage for their food rather than eating from their bowl? It’s actual science and called contrafreeloading! More of this to come in future posts if you follow 🐾

12/01/2023

Introducing... The Wobbowl! 🐾

We love sharing many things with our dogs, but personal bowls? Let's keep it exclusive…

The Wobbowl adds a playful twist to your daily enrichment or mealtime.

Did you know the texture in the Wobbowl creates extra nooks and crannies for an eleveated sensory experiece? This means your dog will spend more minutes playing so you get extra you time.

Get creative by spreading a layer of cottage cheese, peanut butter, strawberries, and blueberries, or customize it with toppers.

Swipe right to check out our latest creation 🍓🧀

Double-tap if you want to see more of our favourite recipes!

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11/24/2023

🌰 Introducing... The Nutty Pod!

This little multi-functional puzzle encourages our pups to lick, sniff, search, and play. How you ask??

👅Use a tacky spread on top like peanut butter or even frozen yogurt would be great to stimulate your pups senses.

🛴 Fill the pod with kibble, so your pup can enjoy their meal by sniffing and pushing around the pod to get the kibble out!

❄️🍨 Remove the cap and use the base of the pod for a frozen treat! Or even use the cap (lots of texture on the underside) to create a mini snack!

Follow us for more ideas and recipes!

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11/24/2023

Since the early 20th century, animal researchers have studied the effects of enrichment on animal behavior. It's been found time and time again that enrichment activities, whether environmental or food-based improves quality of life. We looked into this research that looked at how shelter dogs behaved before and after a 3-week enrichment program.

Swipe through to learn more!

11/20/2023

Our mission is simple 😊

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11/19/2023

🐶 Today our good boy is featuring... Chuy!✨

This sweetheart was rescued over a year ago from Mexico and has since made Vancouver his home 🏡 He loves his food and when he's not playing, eating, or sleeping, he loves to sit back, chill, and cross his paws 🥰😆😍 (it's the cutest. Thing. Ever. Obsessed).

Oh, and we also heard he loves his Ollie! 💗 Thank you, Chuy!

11/16/2023

🌟 Introducing... The Ollie! 🐾

Named after our sweet little angel Olive, The Ollie is more than just a cute little addition to your pup's routine – it's a game-changer when it comes to stress and anxiety relief and slowing down digestion.

How does it help us?

🍽️ Slow Down Meal Times: Does your pup inhale their food like there's no tomorrow? There are reasons rescues do this and are super duper food motivated (We have a post for this!) Turning mealtime into an engaging challenge, not only encourages pups to slow them down but promotes healthier digestion, increases nutrient absorption, and lets be real, less vomit to clean up 😅

🎉 Routine Enrichment: Give your pup something to look forward to! The Ollie isn't just a treat; it's a mini-vacation for your dog's senses. Let them relax and enjoy, providing a much-needed break for their nervous system and also for you, too 🙃

🛁 Perfect for Grooming: Bath time, grooming, or nail trimming doesn't have to be a struggle anymore. Stick The Ollie on the wall with a dog-friendly spread, and voila – an instant distraction while you get to work.

👫 Socializing Solution: Is your fur baby anxious around new faces? We get it! The Ollie is our secret weapon when friends come over. Providing your dog with a little treat that lasts will help ease them with their environment! Even though they are home, doesn't mean they always feel safe when new people come over.

🌟 Limited-Time Offer: Grab The Ollie and enjoy 20% off! Just sign up at thewantedcompany.ca and get your own code! ✨🎉

11/15/2023

🐶 Meet beautiful Jesse. She's a super sweet and loving pup who was recently adopted just two months ago.

Here she is playing with The Wave. We hope you love it! 🤩

Thank you to Jesse and family for the continuous support ❤️

11/14/2023

✨Enrichment feeding and the benefits for your rescue (or actually, any dog)✨

If you didn't know, now you know...

10/12/2023

🐾 Why enrichment is so important for rescues 🐶

Unfortunately with rescue dogs, there's often history of abandonment, neglect or abuse. They may carry the weight of high anxiety, low confidence, and a struggle to trust.

Enrichment can be massively beneficial!

🧠 Puzzle toys, snuffle mats and bobble toys provide relief from anxiety and spark cognitive growth, fostering confidence and adaptability.

🌅 Decompression enrichment offers calming effects, reducing cortisol levels, allowing them to relax, sleep better, and slowly mend past wounds.

Our rescue loves using her nose in snuffle mats to sniff out treats.

What's your go-to method for enriching your dog's life?

Let us know in the comments!

Follow for rescue focused enrichment inspiration