A Guide to Elevated Pet Feeders: What Size for your Dog

Upcycled Vintage Pepsi Crate Dog Feeder  

Recently For Love of a Dog Jewelry & Gifts began offering eco friendly elevated pet feeders configured from vintage crates, as well as handcrafted original dog feeding stations.   When one of our own dogs was first diagnosed with arthritis, we began looking into elevating Lucy's food and water bowls so she could be more comfortable. 

Many vets and dog experts agree that one of the simplest things the dog owner can do to help maintain or improve their dogs health is to give it an elevated feeding station. Here are some of the reasons:

• Promote better digestion: By eating from an elevated surface air swallowing is minimized which can lead to gastric discomfort. This is especially true in dogs who are fast eaters. Elevated surfaces also reduce the incidence of bloat. Dogs with megaesophagus also benefit as gravity helps in swallowing.
• Promote better muscle and joint health: Eating from an elevated surface reduces the stress and strain on muscles and joints caused by years of eating from the floor. It can be especially helpful in arthritic dogs or others who have other painful orthopedic ailments by improving their posture while eating.
• Cleanliness and Hygiene: Because an elevated surface is up off the floor there is less chance that dirt, hair or other debris will get into the food.

Elevated feeding stations save a lot of bending and stooping to feed your dog. They are also easy to clean. You will feel better knowing you have provided your pet with something that will improve its wellbeing.

WHAT SIZE FEEDER IS RIGHT FOR YOUR DOG

The height of your elevated feeder is important. Most experts say to start by measuring the height of your dog at the whithers (from the floor to the top of the shoulder). From that measurement subtract 3 to 6 inches. The taller your dog the more you subtract. Below is a breed guideline for table height, however you should observe your dog as you know it better than anyone. We have a friend with a dog who is 30” at the whithers and an 18” table is just right. 

• Very short dogs measuring between 5 and 10 inches would require a table height of 3 to 5 inches.
• Short dogs measuring between 11 and 14 inches would require a table height of 5 to 7 inches.
• Medium dogs measuring between 15 and 18 inches would require a table height of 7 to 10 inches.
• Tall dogs measuring between 19 and 22 inches would require a table height of 10 to 18 inches.
• Extra tall dogs measuring over 23inches would require a table height of 18 inches.

 Fetch some eco-friendly elevated dog feeding stations from For Love of a Dog.  Each comes with free UPS delivery!
   

Talking Dogs Won Another Blogger Award

We are thrilled to announce that we've won another blogger award!  We are so grateful to Harlequin for singling out Talking Dogs.

It's always exciting to win something, but especially to be singled out in the blogging world.  And one reason we are so excited about this award is that it was bestowed upon us by a blogger in the Czech Republic.  More often than not, the world seems incredibly large... but dog lovers and their love for all things canine remind me that we are a global village with more in common than otherwise.

Here are the rules for passing along this award:

• Winners must post the award with rules on their blog.
• Winners must include a link to the person who gave them the award.
• Winners need to nominate 6 blogs for the award.
• Winners must leave a message on those 6 blogs to let them know they've won.
• Winners must describe what they dream or wish for most in the world.

I read a lot of blogs about a lot of subjects.  Some more regularly than others.  It will come as no surprise when I say that dog blogs are among my favorites.  To single out only six is truly difficult and I've given this a lot of thought.  (With apologies to Harlequin who has been patiently waiting for me to get this post together already!)


Finally, I've narrowed my faves down to six blogs that I try to never miss one single post.  Here they are:

The Chronicles of Cardigan
 Dewi and Jon Farleigh are the Cardigans and their adventures make me smile, laugh (sometimes ruefully accompanied by sympathetic head shaking), relax and eagerly look forward to the next one.
I Still Want More Puppies
If the motto of this blog says it all:  Puppies = Serenity Now.  No Frown Friday is required reading for me, plus Bella's cute mug at the top always makes me feel good.
Bailey Be Good
One look at Bailey the Belgian Shepherd mix puppy and I'm smiling.  A paragraph or two later and that smile is a full blown grin.
Sugar The Golden Retriever
Sugar gives me my necessary daily dose of sweetness, including great dog treat recipes and a positive thought to contemplate.  Good for my soul.
Brown Dog cbr  
Hawk is the Brown Dog and his daily adventures are told via beautiful photographs that include gorgeous fauna and flora.
Nanny McFur
You will find dogs here, but lots of cats, too.  Our cat, Skeeter, insists this is a a necessary balance in our very canine focused lives.


Okay, my dream or wish for the world.  This is difficult.  I have too many.  However, since I write a dog blog...   

I wish for a world in which cruelty to animals does not exist.  No puppy mills.  No Michael Vicks.  No breed bans.  No abandoned pets.  No horror stories of pets suffering at the hands of humans, directly or indirectly.  Where each pet has a forever home with a warm bed, healthy food, regular vet care, and lots and lots of love.  I wish for a world where humans emulate dogs, giving unconditional love and acceptance of all things.

Puppy Mills: Canadian Pet Store Chain Says No More

According to the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation, PJ's Pets, a large Canadian pet store chain, announced that they will no longer sell puppies in any of their 41 stores. As of September 1st, their focus will be to support pet adoption services in an effort to find homes for thousands of pets in local animal shelters and rescues across Canada. 

This is a very positive development for the welfare of dogs. It will not only help alleviate the homeless animal problem in Canada but will also help alleviate the suffering of puppy mill dogs here in Missouri and other Midwestern states. PJ's Pets has for years acquired many of their puppies from commercial dog breeders in Missouri. 

Hopefully, as more retailers and consumers become aware of the source of pet store dogs, namely puppy mills, demand for such puppies will wane and there will be a resultant decrease in the number of commercial dog breeders who mass produce dogs in often substandard conditions. 

Public awareness combined with better laws and regulations, along with increased enforcement efforts, are making a difference in the plight of dogs in Missouri's puppy mills.

Dog Song Saturday: Bluehound Greyhound Gone

Hey!  It's Saturday, so you know its time for a dog song at For Love of a Dog.  Today's dog song is an original  country tune called Bluehound Greyhound Gone by Cheaniss.  I don't listen to a whole lot of country music and every time I stumble onto a song like this, I wonder why.  Such great storytelling!

Bluehound Greyhound Gone tells the story of a dog who packed his bags and left because he didn't get walked enough (among other things.)  The video is fun, but its the lyrics that are really wonderful.

You know the drill:  grab a dog!  Sit.  Stay.  Relax and enjoy Bluehound Greyhound Gone.  Then scroll down below and fetch some barking good dog blogs, because today is a Pet Blogger Hop.

Play Golf - Benefit Animals in Leavenworth Kansas

Leavenworth Bar Association Golf Tournament

Friday, September 16, 2011 from 12 am - 6 pm

Trails West Golf Course, 306 Cody Avenue, Fort Leavenworth, KS

Love to play golf?  Love animals?  sign up now for the Leavenworth Bar Association Golf Tournament.

This 4 person scramble has a shotgun start at 1 pm.  The fee is $90 per player and includes:  Green fees, cart, beverages and range balls.  There will be lots of contests with fabulous prizes.  You can register individually or bring your friends for a team. Lunch and Barbecue dinner (Oklahoma Joe's) are also included.  

A portion of the proceeds frm this event benefits Wayside Waifs, the largest no-kill animal shelter in the Kansas City area.

For more information call Wayside Waifs at 816-761-8151