Review: Wild Calling Dog Food

In the continuing saga of feeding Remi a food that is high quality and free of chicken; I've stumbled across the Wild Calling line of dog food.

Now I don't know about you, but I find it difficult to decipher all the ingredients in dog food these days. How are you supposed to know what's actually good for your dog? Pea meal? Beet pulp? What are these things and how exactly are they affecting my dog. Questions that I ask myself all the time. I find it a little bit disconcerting that we are taking these companies at their word that our dogs need these ingredients. I'm sure that dog food companies don't deliberately set out to harm dogs, but I'm still concerned about the amount of unnecessary "things" that I put into Remi's system.

Wild Calling appears to take the guess work out of dog food. I've spent countless hours researching what each ingredient is. What the chances are the Remi will act adversely to it, discussed it with several pet experts (all more knowledgeable than me) about how it stacks up to other foods of a similar quality, and I've finally taken a chance and started feeding it to him.  

I LOVE THIS DOG FOOD. 

Remi loves this food. 

The best part is this food is a "rotational food"- meaning that the base is the same, but the proteins change and you can switch it up for your pups so they don't get bored. And there's no consequences. No upset tummies, no yucky poops to deal with. This food is grain free, and comes in protein blends as well as single protein flavours. Remi has been eating it for about two months and the difference from his old food is amazing. 

His coat is softer. He has much better poops. His breath doesn't stink. He has more energy. And he just seems to be happier overall. 

And isn't that what you want; a happy dog?

I would recommend this brand to anyone with a dog. Remi and I give it 4 paws up. 

*Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with this company in any way, shape or form, other than being a very happy customer. I did not receive any compensation for this review. 

5 Things Dog Owners in Canada Need

Sometimes it's tough being a dog owner in parts of Canada. I am located in Ottawa and winter is the roughest time for us. These are things that I use to make winter walks and play more tolerable. Remember, dogs get cold too, so limit your outdoor time and supplement your indoor play with fun mental puzzles for dogs.

1. Boots
Remi's paw were a mess before I bought him a set of boots of the winter. I use Muttluks and I can't say enough good things about them. I picked Remi's set up at Cricket & Co in the ByWard Market. Nat is super knowledgeable. I brought Remi in to try them on and she made it very easy. She is also a huge supporter of Sit With Me Rescue which is the rescue I foster and volunteer with.

2. Paw balm
Dog paws need to be looked after too. They are a good indication of the overall health of your dog. I stumbled across Purple Urchin's paw balm last year and I've fallen in love with it. It's unscented and all natural, so no worries about dogs ingesting things they shouldn't be.

3. A winter coat
I originally bought a Canada Pooch coat for Remi. It fell apart before the season was over and he didn't even play in it. So I purchased a Chilly Dogs coat based on the recommendation of a fellow dog owner. This coat is easily the best purchase I made in regards to keeping Remi warm in the winter. It fits excellently, and it keeps him toasty warm without compromising his ability to run and play. They are also machine washable which is amazing.

4. Engaging toys
Remi hates being cold and some days it's just too cold to do much more than go outside to do his business. These are the days that I'm thankful for the selection of toys that I have. My favourite is the Kong Wobbler. It's easy to fill with small treats or kibble. It dispenses the treats when it's knocked over the right way. Remi loves knocking it this way and that while gobbling up the tasty treats that fall out. It is a toy that he can figure out quite easily so I like to switch it out with other similar toys. I also like to stuff bones and freeze them so that I can readily have something to go to when unexpected company comes over or I need to keep him occupied for whatever reason.

5. Reflective Leash
Days are short here in the winter. To help me walk Remi safely I use a reflective leash. This allows motorists to know that I am walking a dog. A reflective harness or collar is also an excellent idea. I despise retractable leashes and so never recommend purchasing any kind of retractable leash, but a sturdy 6ft' leash is an excellent addition to your winter dog gear.

Mantra Monday

These words have never been more true. Especially the "change ordinary opportunities into blessings" bit. I've been writing in one capacity or another for years now. And while I like to think that I am a decent writer, it is always nice when someone takes the time to actually say the words out loud. It seems so much more real and truthful when anything is said aloud. 

This is partially how the Remi Diaries have come into existence. A few of my more dog crazy friends have been been after me to start a more dog central writing portfolio. After much prodding and encouragement, I've decided to test the waters by jumping in fully! And so my ordinariness has become a blessing in disguise. 

I'm not sure what format this will take, but I'm willing to see how it goes. This is, after all, a grand adventure for me.