Happy Dog Productions Mobile Grooming

03/26/2024

11/29/2023

This is getting serious! Please be aware.

05/05/2023

Congratulations Anna! I wish you all the best on your new venture! 🎉🎉🎉🐾

11/24/2022

08/17/2022

They’re just good communicators! Who knew?? 😂

THE GIFT OF THE GROWL
Why growling should never be punished and also never be ignored
Not all growls are negative. Some growls are play growls, attention seeking growls, pleasure seeking growls or frustration growls. They may all sound a little different and may be unique to the particular dog. This post is not about different types of growls, but about warning or aggressive growls.
When a dog growls, maybe even at us, the natural human response is to feel offended and maybe even angry. Surely dogs need to learn not to growl, growling is bad, growling is unacceptable, growling is a problem and needs to be punished so a dog learns it’s wrong, disrespectful and not to do it again, right?
NO, this couldn’t be further from the truth! A dog that growls has just provided us with a very valuable communication signal. In their way, they have just communicated to us how they feel without resorting to a bite. Dogs use growling in an attempt to avoid having to resort to biting, not to initiate it. They could just as easily have not even bothered to growl and gone straight to a bite.
Growling is a dog's way of saying "please stop," "stay away from me," "go away," “I’m not comfortable with this and I’m feeling threatened”. A dog that growls is trying hard to communicate and punishment suppresses this ability to communicate. Punishment doesn’t change the level of the dog's discomfort; it creates more stress and the dog will feel more threatened.
Growling is not the problem. Growling is the result of and the symptom of a problem. A dog that bites without the warning of a growl is a far more serious problem than a dog that growls but doesn’t bite.
Look for any other early warning signals that may precede a growl. Recognize and take note of what makes your dog feel threatened and create distance between your dog and whatever is triggering them.
Be grateful for the gift of a growl - it provides us with an opportunity to address the cause & prevent the bite.

06/24/2022

😂

06/01/2022

HERE’S WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ADD FRESH “HUMAN FOOD” TO YOUR PET’S KIBBLE

Today, ninety-six percent of pet owners around the globe are feeding dry commercial pet foods. Of those 96%, there is a large majority that believes dried commercial pet food is really all their pet needs and would never stop to consider the benefits of adding fresh “human food”.

(“Human food” definition in this article: clean sources of meat-based proteins and some organic plant matter, not beer and nachos 😉)

There are many reasons why some of these pet parents feel this way, however the most popular reason today seems to be the 50-year-old rumor that is in existence and still spreading.

You know the one: “Giving your animal table scraps is bad!”

How or when did this terrible rumor start?

Well, if we go back in time, research shows that shortly after the invention of processed pet foods, manufacturers were having a hard time convincing pet parents to make the switch from foods in their refrigerators to their commercial pet foods.

So in 1964, the pet food industry, along with the PFI, joined together with a whole bunch of marketing dollars and launched one of the most influential campaigns the pet world had ever seen: the “Ban All Table Scraps from your Pets’ Bowls” campaign!

Through thousands of newspapers, magazines, and news stations, the public was warned about the dangers of table food scraps or “human food” and the importance of feeding “processed” commercial pet food. From there, the giant smear campaign took off!

Not only did this clever campaign work, but it was so impactful that now, 50 years later, folks are still in fear of offering anything that is not labeled pet food.

SO IS IT A GOOD THING TO ONLY OFFER YOUR PET DRIED KIBBLE?

Not according to ongoing research it isn’t, especially with today’s cancer rates being 1 in 2 dogs!

In a 2005 study conducted at Purdue University on Scottish Terriers, the results showed that adding fresh vegetables to dry commercial kibble actually prevented and/or slowed down the development of transitional cell carcinoma (aka bladder cancer)!

In the study, dogs ate a diet of dry commercial pet food, while some got an assortment of vegetables added to the mix at least 3 times per week.

When the study was concluded, according to the researchers, they weren’t really shocked by the results.

Here’s what they found:

Dogs that ate any green leafy vegetables, like broccoli, had reduced the risk of developing bladder cancer by 90% and the dogs that consumed any yellow – orange vegetables like carrots reduced the risk by 70%!

Seriously! A lousy carrot helped smash the potential of cancer.

( http://ilarjournal.oxfordjournals.org/content/55/1/100.full ) (Raghavan, Knapp, Bonney, 2005) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16013542/

Yes, of course cats are obligate carnivores (must have meat to survive) and our dogs are facultative carnivores (carnivores with omnivorous potential if circumstances demand) so offering clean meat-based protein sources should always be top priority and essential.

However, because today’s world is ever-so changing due to factory farmed livestock being fed genetically modified grains and our planet being contaminated with every type of pesticide, fungicide and larvicide, the importance of fresh, organic plant matter to help detox the body couldn’t be more crucial.

So if the “cancer reducing benefit” doesn’t tickle your fancy enough to convince you to add any “human fresh foods” to your pet’s bowl, then maybe think of it this way:

How bad would it suck if someone forced you to eat dry processed foods your whole lIfe?!

By: Rodney Habib

"An educated, informed and well-researched community of pet owners can only put more pressure on the pet food industry to be better! When pet owners know better, they will only do better!"

05/13/2022

WHY THIS LONGEVITY HERB IS A MUST ADD TO YOUR DOG’S DIET! 🐶🍠

Cancer is considered the leading cause of sickness and death in dogs. In fact, when it comes to the golden retriever, one study found that 68.3% of golden retrievers were diagnosed with some form of cancer and 65.0% of golden retrievers had a death attributable to cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 6 million new cancer diagnoses are made in dogs each year. “Since not all pets receive medical care or a definitive cancer diagnosis, this number likely would rise if every pet saw a veterinarian annually.” 📈- AAHA

One of the world's most extensively researched and promising natural compounds for cancer treatment is a medicinal herb that so desperately needs to be incorporated into our pets’ lives. 🌿 That herb is turmeric root. Turmeric has been used for thousands of years not only as a spice but also as a medicinal herb, and now science is beginning to understand why. 👩🏼‍🔬 Its medicinal properties and components (primarily curcumin) have been the subject of over 5600 peer-reviewed and published biomedical studies, and has been shown to have anti-aging properties.

Over the years, curcumin has been studied as a potential tool to both reduce as well as possibly treat, different forms of cancer.🦠 Various studies have found that curcumin can help kill tumor cells, as well as inhibit tumor growth in test tube and animal studies. With the ability to selectively target cancer stem cells, curcumin plays a significant role in suppressing the metastasis of cancer cells.

In addition, curcumin has also been shown to help boost the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and improve cognition by making omega-3 DHA, more available in the brain.🧠 This means that in addition to improving memory, and maybe even delaying memory loss, curcumin-boosted BDNF could be effective in delaying or even halting age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

More recent research has discovered curcumin may also protect the body from oxidative stress and damage caused by advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Studies show that cooking some foods at high heat results in the formation of more than ten to hundred times of new AGEs in foods. Processed canned and kibble dog food may contain significantly high levels of these AGEs. Animal and human studies show dietary AGEs result in increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and potentially organ damage, with more than half of absorbed AGEs bound in the liver and kidney. Accumulation of AGEs in the body over time may be a significant contributor of aging. Curcumin has been shown to not only protect the body from AGE’s damage but may also inhibit the formation of AGEs in the body.

👉 Our suggested dose for dogs: 50 to 250 mg two times a day, this is roughly 2 mg per pound of body weight twice a day. *Based on curcumin's naturally low bioavailability, source a product that has been formulated for increased absorption.

As with people, the longest lived dogs often have healthy dietary habits in common. In the Herbs for Health section of our new book, The Forever Dog, turmeric is one of the many herbs we recommend sharing with your dog. We also explain how to incorporate herbs into your dog’s meals, along with how much to feed. 🐾 Get your copy now: foreverdogextras.com/pet-longevity

05/07/2022

💕🐶

04/29/2022

Tired of seeing infographs of foods your dog can't eat?

Here is a nifty printable infograph of some awesome foods found in your refrigerator that they CAN eat! :D

Created by Rodney Habib

04/26/2022

SO JUST HOW LONG DO YOUR PET’S SHOTS LAST?

Definitely longer than a year!

According to the top pet immunologist (aka vaccine expert) in the world, Dr. Ronald Schultz, Ph.D. – “ Annual revaccination provides no benefit and may increase the risk for adverse reactions.”

What the heck are adverse reactions (or side effects)?

Well according to the other rock star pet immunologist Dr. Jean Dodds:

“Side effects from dog vaccinations can occur anywhere from instantly up to several weeks or months later. Vaccines can even cause susceptibility to chronic diseases that appear much later in a dog’s life (Dodd, 2001).

Severe and fatal adverse reactions include:

•Susceptibility to infections.

•Neurological disorders and encephalitis.

•Aberrant behavior, including unprovoked aggression.

•Vaccines are linked to seizures. Distemper, parvovirus, rabies and, presumably, other vaccines have been linked with poly neuropathy, a nerve disease that involves inflammation of several nerves. (Dodds,2001)”

SO HOW LONG EXACTLY DOES YOUR PET’S VACCINE LAST?

According to the recommendations of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), (basically the dudes who set the standards for the vets): “Among healthy dogs, all commercially available [core] vaccines are expected to induce a sustained protective immune response lasting at least 5 yr. thereafter”

Here’s the breakdown of the core vaccines from Dr. Ronald Schultz:

Minimum Duration of Immunity for Canine Vaccines:

Distemper- 7 years by challenge
Parvovirus – 7 years by challenge
Adenovirus – 7 years by challenge
Canine rabies – 3 years by challenge

The moral of the story here, if you have no idea when your pet is due or has been vaccinated, then just run a titer test and this will confirm if you are due, rather than over-vaccinate your poor pet, setting the stage for future problems!

What’s a titer test?

A titer test (pronounced tight-errr) is a laboratory or in-house veterinary test measuring the existence and level of antibodies (necessary to fight off disease) in your pet’s blood. Basically, it’s a test that will tell you whether or not you actually need to vaccinate your pet.

It’s also super useful when making a decision about vaccinating a pet with an unknown vaccination history, or for determining if pets have received immunity from vaccination.

Vaccinating your pet is super important so don’t lose the overall message here: VACCINATE, JUST DON’T OVER-VACCINATE!

According to Dr. Dodds:

“Vaccines have achieved many important benefits for companion animals, and has saved more animals' lives than any other medical advance.”

Want more on titer testing? Check it out:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153271303942028&set=pb.509362027.-2207520000.1461100680.&type=3&theater

Rodney Habib

"An educated, informed and well-researched community of pet owners can only put more pressure on the pet food industry to be better! When pet owners know better, they will only do better!"

04/16/2022

Version 3 of our herbal dosage chart with some new additions! :)

Rodney Habib

04/09/2022

WANT TO KNOW WHY THE LOW-COST, NUTRIENT-PACKED "SARDINE" IS A MUST ADD TO YOUR PET'S DIET PLAN? THEN CHECK OUT THE "TOP 10" REASONS WHY!

If you're like me, you’re always searching for an herb or whole food add that will help extend the life of your furry BFF.

But if I told you one of these treasures was a small, salt-water, soft-boned, oil-rich, silvery fish that smells worse than most grandparents’ feet, would you still try it out?

Hailed as one of the richest sources of omega-3, vitamin D and vitamin B-12 (to name a few), this whole food addition (which got its name from the Italian island of Sardinia) is called the sardine!

I can hear the groaning now... "Sardines look and smell gross!” most of you are probably saying.

True, but if you check out my top 10 reasons why you should ignore the smell and fall in love, you won't regret it AND your pet will love you for it!

Check out these 10 awesome reasons as to why this is a must-add:

1.) PROTEIN PACKED

Your carnivorous dog and cat need protein for proper muscle and connective tissue development. Protein provides structure for skin, hair, joints, bones and nails to name a few! Sardines and fish, which are considered a high quality protein, are full of the essential amino acids your pets cannot produce and need from this type food.

2.) JOINT AND BONE SUPPORT

Sardines are not only one of the most concentrated sources of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA for joint health, but they are packed with a rich source of bone-building and bone strengthening vitamin D!

3.) HEART HEALTH

Sardines are an excellent source of vitamin B12, which promotes an overall cardiovascular well-being. Now tie in the DHA and EPA that are also found in the sardine and you have a cocktail of awesomeness aiding in heart health!

4.) BEATS UP ON CANCER

Studies have shown that omega-3s found in the sardine can inhibit the formation of tumours and prevent cancer from metastasizing. They do this by inducing a process in cancer cells called apoptosis. Today, science is also showing that an ample source of vitamin D, from the sardine, may turn out to play an important role in the prevention of certain types of cancer as well.

5.) BRAIN HEALTH

Studies in people show that supplementing with DHA (found in sardines), is beneficial in supporting cognitive health in aging brains. A study on beagle puppies found DHA improved cognitive learning and motor skills during the developmental stages. Therefore, sardines help sharpen your pet's learning abilities, memory, eye function and psychomotor skills.

6.) HELPS RELIEVE ALLERGIES

Research suggests that supplementing with fatty acids found in sardines, is useful in preventing atopy (allergies to inhaled substances such as pollens and molds) from developing in young animals. Also, because of the incredible anti-inflammatory properties that the sardines carry, they are a great add to help reduce the chronic redness and inflamed skin some pets experience from these allergies.

7.) CAN HELP YOUR PET LOSE WEIGHT

The rich source of omega-3s found in the sardine can activate a type of protein that turns on fat-burning genes in your pet's body! Used correctly, they can help slim down pudgy pets.

8.) POSITIVE EFFECTS AGAINST SEIZING PETS

Research shows that the omega, packed in the sardine, contains potent anti-inflammatory properties that fight the inflammation mediators in epileptic patients while increasing seizure thresholds, in other words, helping to suppress attacks.

9.) KIDNEY SUPPORT

A study on dogs found that while omega 6 supplementation accelerated the decline in kidney function of early stages of kidney disease, supplementing with omega-3 had protective effects. In human studies, it was found that people with long-term use of fish oil, like the oil found in sardines, slowed the loss of kidney function!

10.) MOOD IMPROVER AND ANTI-DEPRESSANT

EPA and DHA found in sardines, according to research, can also improve mood. EPA from marine sources like sardines can decrease cytokines associated with depression.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TOXINS FOUND IN TODAY'S FISH SUPPLY? AREN'T SARDINES POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS?

You see, sardines are a short lived fish. Therefore they don't have a lot of time to accumulate a ton of toxins from the water. They are at the bottom of the aquatic food chain as well, meaning they only feast on plankton. So they don't concentrate heavy metals, such as mercury, and contaminants as do other fish.

OK, NOW FOR THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION: HOW MUCH SARDINE SHOULD YOU FEED TO YOUR PET?

Let's go to expert and pet food formulator, Steve Brown, for this one shall we?

"The best canned sardines for dogs (and cats) are those in water with no salt added. Avoid sardines packed in soy, corn, sunflower, safflower, or other omega-6 rich oils.

Use the entire can of sardines within two days after opening it, and refrigerate the open can, so that the fragile fats do not go rancid.

Don’t overdo it! EPA and DHA, like most nutrients, provide wonderful health benefits in small amounts, and are detrimental in excess amounts or without sufficient antioxidant protection.

Here are my sardine recommendations for adult dogs.

Feed twice this much to puppies and pregnant or lactating females.

Dog’s Weight 3.75-oz can sardines
5 lbs 1/4 can per week
15 lbs 1/2 can per week
25 lbs 5/8 can per week
50 lbs 1 can per week
100 lbs 1 3/4 cans per week

A 3.75-ounce can of sardines has about 200 calories, so reduce the amount of dry food given on “sardine days” accordingly. Rule of thumb: One can of sardines in water has about the same number of calories as ½ cup of most dog foods.

For cats, no more than a 1/4 to maximum 1/2 a week.

Remember to always check with your veterinarian for specific doses, and always practice variation, moderation and balance when introducing new foods to your pets.

So go grab a clothes pin, plug your nose, and add some aquatic love to your pet's bowls. Most will love you for it!

Rodney Habib

04/08/2022

EAT & FEED BLUEBERRIES!

In a study conducted on sled dogs, blueberry supplementation elicited significantly elevated antioxidant status in the dogs.

This suggests that dogs fed blueberries should be better protected against oxidative damage. -

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16520073

Aside from being classified as antiangiogenic aka anti-cancer, blueberries contain a compound called pterostilbene, a derivative of resveratrol.

These little blue powerhouses are good antioxidants because they contain phenolics that preferentially react with free radicals.

So, offering your furry companion blueberries can help protect them against cancer!

- Rodney Habib

04/06/2022

03/18/2022

Yikes!!

ARE LAUNDRY CHEMICALS AFFECTING YOUR PETS’ SKIN & HEALTH?

If you wash your pet blankets and beds using popular fabric softeners and dryer sheets, that “just washed” fresh smell comes from chemicals called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that can negatively impact your pets’ health (coughing, rashy, itchy pets, anyone?).

Dr. Anne Steinmann’s UW-Seattle research team found more than 25 VOCs emitted from dryer vents using these products, including well-known respiratory irritants like Acetone, Formaldehyde, Acetaldehyde, but also Pentane (which causes skin rashes and upset stomach), Ethyl Acetate (on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list; causes anemia, changes in white blood cells and can damage the liver and kidneys), Benzyl Acetate (can be absorbed through the skin and is linked to pancreas problems) and Alpha-terpineol (causes headaches and nervous system disorders).

Our pets can do without having to breathe in these chemical residues or having to lay on them, so here’s our Forever Dog Tip of the day: replace chemical-laden fabric softeners with a non-toxic DIY option!

Recipe: Mix 6 cups white vinegar with 1 cup baking soda, let it fizz. When the fizz stops, pour mixture into a large glass container with a lid. Use 1 cup per load of laundry.

We highlight all of the of home chemical risks that can negatively impact your dog’s health in the The Forever Dog book, available now for pre-order by clicking here: https://foreverdog.com/about/ -window

02/26/2022

WHAT YOU USE TO CLEAN🧽🪣 YOUR HOME ULTIMATELY ENDS UP INSIDE YOUR PET. CHOOSE WISELY.

Study after study shows that indoor and outdoor home chemicals such as cleaning products🧼, air fresheners🕯, fire retardants📛 treated lumber decks🪵, stain-proofing chemicals🖌, chemicals from cooking fumes🔥, and lawn pesticides 💦are contaminating our pets' bodies.

Science has noted that most of these chemicals are considered potentially mutagenic carcinogens.

Don’t panic though; this post is meant to empower you to make changes that will go a long way to protect you and your pet. The goal is to prevent these exposures from disrupting the essential functioning of the body, impacting DNA🧬, cellular membranes, and protein.

In the most famous study to date by the Environmental Working Group : "Dogs and cats were found to be contaminated with 48 of 70 industrial chemicals tested, including 43 chemicals at levels higher than those typically found in people, according to our study of plastics and food packaging chemicals, heavy metals, fire retardants, and stain-proofing chemicals in pooled samples of blood🩸 and urine from 20 dogs and 37 cats collected at a Virginia veterinary clinic.

Major gaps in our system of public health protections allow most industrial chemicals on the market with no mandatory safety testing. Chemical companies do not have to prove products are safe before they are sold, or understand how much of their chemicals end up in people, let alone pets. There are few standards that limit chemical contamination in pet food, pet toys, and other products for our companion animals. For pets as for people, the result is a body burden of complex mixtures of industrial chemicals never tested for safety. Health problems in pets span high rates of cancer in dogs and skyrocketing incidence of hyperthyroidism in cats. Genetic changes can't explain the increases in certain health problems among pets. Scientists believe that chemical exposures play a role."

In our new book, set for release in just a few weeks, The Forever Dog – “Surprising New Science to Help Your Canine Companion Live Younger, Healthier & Longer” we give you our thirteen-point checklist to follow for cleaning up your dog’s environment, as well as a ton of other strategies to help you raise the happiest, healthiest, long-lived dog possible!

The Forever Dog book is now available for Pre-order, make sure to reserve your copy! foreverdog.com/book/

Looking for some pet safe🐾 DIY cleaning recipes?

FOR A PET SAFE FLOOR CLEANER:
Mix together in a bucket🪣-
1 litre of water
6oz of white vinegar
3oz of rubbing alcohol

FOR WOOD FLOOR:
Mix together in a bucket-
4 cups of water
1 teaspoon of Coconut Oil
1 teaspoon of Castile Soap

FOR A ALL PURPOSE CLEANER SPRAY:
Mix together in a glass spray bottle-
6oz of white vinegar
6oz of water
5 drops of grapefruit seed extract

foreverdog.com/dog-longevity-health-and-nutrition-book

02/21/2022

SUPERCHARGE YOUR DOG’S MEALS WITH THIS EASY RECIPE! 🐶🥣

Great for dogs that are recovering from GI issues, picky eaters, and older pets with declining appetites, bone broth🦴 is one of the Forever Fluids highlighted in The Forever Dog. This bone broth recipe from our book is different than traditional recipes, which can be high in histamines that can negatively affect some dogs.🐶 In addition to having a shorter cooking time, we also included several of our favorite longevity vegetables in this recipe for added health benefits:

🌱Cilantro, effective at binding heavy metals.

🌿Parsley, a natural blood detoxifier.

🍄Medicinal mushrooms (shiitake, turkey tail, reishi, oyster, etc) provide glutathione, spermidine, ergo, and beta-glucans for cognition🧠 and immune health.

🧄Garlic is high in sulfur stimulating production of glutathione for liver detoxification. Watch our FB Live dispelling the myth about garlic for dogs, link in comments.👇

Poured over your dog's food as a meal topper or fed as a treat, bone broth is a great addition to their diet! Feed 2 tablespoons🥄 for every 10 lbs of body weight.

You can find more easy recipes like this one, other types of broths, and additional longevity foods in our book The Forever Dog.
👉 foreverdog.com