Wags, licks and lessons
Diary of an Alpha Female

Okay I’ll admit it. I’m a label lover. And my dogs are no different. From their Hermès collars and Burberry winter coats (when we lived in Toronto, of course) to their Martha Stewart food bowls and Coach beds. . . Tequila and Remy both strut in the footsteps of their fashionista mummy. My dogs do indeed live the life. They’ve got a running appointment with their groomer, and if you’re wondering, no, they don’t use off-the-shelf shampoo but rather a luxury line of pet care grooming products. Store bought kibble? I could see them turn up their noses now. They eat raw meat and have been for many years.

Sounds unbelievable, right? But, the pet industry is a billion dollar industry; and this lifestyle of luxury is more common than you think. From designer dogs to organic food, from personalized pet services to holistic pet healthcare, pet parents spare little expense for their fur-ball kids.

Last February, the fashion world lost one of its trailblazers when famed designer Alexander McQueen passed away. The deceased designer made headlines again when it was discovered that he left a substantial portion of his $26 million dollar estate to his pet dogs and two British animal charities. Anthropomorphism is alive and well. The dogs are set for life! But what if you don’t have this kind of cash to bequeath yet you want to give your animals the best? How can you provide a life of luxury for your canine kid without going broke?

I’ll tell you what’s au courant; then I’ll give you my pocket-friendly version.

Here’s the deal with generic food versus organic (or raw) food

I am not one of those owners whose dogs wear diamond tiaras while being fed foie gras from mummy’s good china. My dogs eat raw meat. They are carnivores, after all. I admit that this sort of feeding is expensive yet it can actually save you more dollars in the long run.

The dog food industry is a multimillion-dollar one. But commercial dog food was created for only two reasons: convenience for the dog owner, and profits for the dog food industry.

Have you noticed how many dogs incessantly itch or have awful breath? Most times their owners are clueless as to why. This happens because many dogs are actually allergic to the wheat and fillers used in kibble or chow. These fillers are made to fill tummies, rather than provide any substantive nutritional value. Then there are all the additives, preservatives and dyes to contend with.
Try soaking some chow in water for just a few minutes and tell me you don’t end up with a bloated mess. And that ‘real meat flavor’—I’ve discovered that that so called flavor is often a chemical additive that’s sprayed onto the kibble!

Your dogs can gain many benefits from a raw diet as opposed to a processed or store-bought diet: they’d eat and drink less, skin allergies would disappear, and they’d have glossier coats and better breath. Bottom line—they would live longer, healthier lives.

Many think that buying kibble in those gargantuan bags would save you money; but the reality is that it may actually cost you more in the long term. A visit to the vet alone to treat digestive problems or skin issues can run you hundreds of dollars.

Personally, I buy a huge cut of beef (you can buy whole chickens or raw, meaty bones) and have my butcher grind it. When I get home, I portion it out into single bags and freeze them. In the morning, before I head out the door, whatever I’m having for lunch is defrosted right alongside ‘Quila and Remy’s baggies. They also eat apples, peaches, carrots, garlic, organic oatmeal, and egg yolks from time to time. Once you begin feeding your dogs this way, you would be amazed at how much time, money and effort is saved.

Exercise

I’ve actually run the gamut here, from having a treadmill for the dogs in my office to joining a dog walking group. There’s little I won’t do for my dogs’ health.

My preference on exercise though has always been the simple walk. Woman and beast, connected by a primal need to explore the great outdoors—alright, it’s really just the few blocks around my neighbourhood—stepping in time, scenting new territory, relaxing, enjoying, bonding. There’s nothing like a good walk and it’s free.

My take on Toys:

Okay, here’s the thing. My one indulgence used to be spending money on the dogs for all the big holidays, but especially for Christmas. I’d go overboard buying them the cutest clothes, accessories, toys . . . you name it! But I’ve learned that these toys are simply doggie distractors: something to occupy their time and prevent boredom creeping in when mummy or daddy isn’t around. Yet, I’ve seen smiling, rambunctious dogs make more mischief and occupy themselves for hours by chasing a simple plastic water bottle. It must be that they like the noise the bottle makes and the rolling action. My advice: pricey, high-end gadgets do not matter to the dog; sharing your attention, time and space with them, does. So whatever you choose to do, spend crazy money on toys or improvise with what’s around, make sure that you play with your dogs.

Pet Grooming

You don’t have to resort to store bought shampoos or pay ‘salon’ prices for good grooming products. Here are my secrets. Get a great shampoo. ‘Quila and Remy use Tumbleflump Luxury Line. With names like Ginger Pear, Sugar Cookie and Adorable and notes of orange blossom, nutmeg, green tea and peony...heck, I’m tempted to use them.

Next, find a reputable groomer, who can come in at least four times a year. Be sure that they are experienced in areas like nail cutting, gland expressing and teeth cleaning. In the ‘between time’ bathe your own dog every two weeks. Brush them every other day. Dogs love being brushed from under the neck to the upper chest area.

Use homemade flea and tick repellents like rosemary-steeped water, lavender essential oil, apple cider vinegar or lemons instead of those pricey and harsh flea drops. Also make sure that when you and your dogs are outside, that they are also protected from those vicious mosquitoes. If you’re in a garden, simply hang some cotton balls infused with essential peppermint oil on any tree or plant to keep those bugs away from your pooch.

So there you have it: my pocket-friendly advice on giving Fido a healthy lifestyle. But after all is said and done, dogs share many similarities with their humans. A dog’s happiness comes not from toys, treats or trinkets but just like people, they yearn for our attention, kindness and love. And like so many of the best things in life, money cannot buy these!

- Salisha Baboolal, CEO, ImagEngineer