The collies share a review for #NationalDogDay

It's not a secret that dogs love the taste of peanut butter, and the collies are no exception.  And you've read our previous product reviews, I am sure you have noticed the trend, the collies love treats!  This month our friends at Chewy.com offered Bil-Jac Gooberlicious dog treats for a product review, and I was excited because I already knew the collies love them.  This is actually one of their favorite treats, so I jumped at the chance to have them do a review of this product.

What makes these treats so special?  Well, they are small, and very soft, and apparently they are highly addicting....if you are a dog!

Their small size make them ideal for training, and the peanut butter flavor always gets the collies drooling.  Maizie used them to practice her "leave it" this morning, which was a challenge for her as she loves these so much!

Ryder practiced "leave it" at the Nursing Home today, just look at that concentration!

You can check out the ingredients here:

Chicken Liver, Chicken, Chicken Meal, Wheat Flour, Glycerin, Phosphoric Acid, Salt, Potassium Sorbate and Citric Acid and Mixed Tocopherols and Calcium Propionate and BHA (preservatives), Titanium Dioxide Color, Natural Peanut Butter Flavor, Rosemary Extract.

And here are the Key Benefits:

• Scrumptious, tantalizing treats feature real fresh chicken liver and chicken as the first two ingredients, along with natural peanut butter flavor.
• Soft, chewy morsels are an ideal positive reward training treat and the perfect bite-sized bits for small breed dogs.
• At less than 3 calories each, these tasty treats are a great-tasting, guilt-free way to let your best friend know how much he means to you.
• Bil-Jac has been made in the USA since 1947; never contains gluten meals, soy or added rendered fat.
• Resealable double-zipper pouch helps keep the irresistible aroma, taste and texture fresh.

Since today was National Dog Day, we took these treats on our walks and to the Nursing Home, as today was a day to spoil our best friends.  But you don't need a special occasion to buy these for treats for your dogs, because every day should be National Dog Day!  Just click right HERE to order some for your best friends!  The collies swear these are one of their favorite treats, and would those faces lie?

We were sent this package of Bil-Jac treats in exchange for our honest opinion.  The collies were not paid for this review!

I and Love and You...and your dogs will too!

I love my collies dearly, they bring me joy and happiness every day.  So when I choose a dog treat for them, I want the company making those treats to put quality ingredients into every bite.  We love doing product reviews as it helps us discover new foods, treats and toys, and allows us to share them with our readers.   Chewy.com knows that pet bloggers are a great way to reach pet owners, and it helps new customers find products they can trust.  That's just one of the many reasons we are so excited to be part of the #ChewyInfluencers campaign.  This month Chewy sent us packages of dog treats from I and Love and You, a company that really cares about our pets.

I and Love and You Jerky treats come in multiple flavors, and our friends at Chewy.com sent us a three pack, so we could try them all!  I loved this idea, because for those with picky eaters, they can try a couple varieties to find which one their finicky friend will love best.  Now, it's no secret that the collies are not choosy, they love most varieties of dog treats.  But I was curious, would they show a preference for one of these flavors of jerky treats?

They loved them all!  I could not discern if they found one variety more tasty than the others, they seemed to find them all to be drool-worthy!  Check out the ingredient list, and key benefits:

Key Benefits

• With three recipes made with real meat as the first ingredient, including beef, lamb, chicken, duck, and salmon.
• Tender and chewy treats are perfectly bite-sized so they’re great for dogs of all sizes
• Perfect for training or anytime your pal deserves a tasty, high-protein, all-natural treat.
• Made with premium, handpicked ingredients like New Zealand lamb and North American beef.
• Lovingly made in the USA with never any fillers, grains, or artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.

Ingredients
Chicken + Salmon: Chicken, Salmon, Glycerin, Brown Sugar, Salt, Natural Mesquite Smoke Flavor, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative).

Chicken + Duck: Chicken, Duck, Glycerin, Brown Sugar, Salt, Natural Maple Smoke Flavor, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative).

Beef + Lamb: Beef, Lamb, Glycerin, Brown Sugar, Salt, Natural Hickory Smoke Flavor, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative).

Our friends at Chewy.com sent us these treats in exchange for an honest review, we were not reimbursed for this post.  The collies really did love them, and they were the perfect size for training or for taking into the ring at dog shows.  I think they will make a yummy treat for any dog, no matter if they are big or small.  You can order yours, by clicking here!

A (not so) Wordless Wednesday

Last month our good friends at Chewy.com sent us a surprise in the mail!  It was a box full of Summer fun!

Kori begged to be the one to show you what we received.  And Kori has the "collie pleading" look down to an art form, so of course she got to be the collie model!  I think she looks awesome in her new shades, don't you?

In the box there was also a pretty blue bowl and a new toy, both with the Chewy logo.

And there was one more item....a new hammock!  Winter didn't want to miss out on all the fun, so she snuck onto the hammock.  She thinks it's awesome!  Thanks Chewy.com for thinking of us, we sure appreciate your thoughtfulness!

Summer days pass so swiftly...

I always plan to write more posts, but it seems like the days are just racing by and time is fleeting.  I walk by my computer, and I remind myself I need to post about this or that, and then I get caught up in some other activity.  So this is going to be an update on what has happened this summer.  As you probably all know, we lost one of our sweet seniors, Holly.  She was the Queen of our collies, and ruled over all the others.  But she was also sweet, and smiled all the time, and brought so much happiness and joy into our lives.  She is so missed, and has left a hole in our family.  I wrote about her here and also here, and when a little more time has passed, I will share more memories of our Holly, the Happy Collie.

Over the 4th of July week we attended a 4 day dog show.  We had Scarlett, who is already a champion, entered in Best of Variety so she could earn points towards her Grand Championship.  She won Select Bitch two of the days, and Best of Variety another.  The Best of Variety gave her a 2nd major towards her Grand Championship, she needs 3 majors all together.  And we also had Maizie and Winter entered, as they are working towards their championships.  They took turns winning, both winning Winner's Bitch and earning points. (I'm sure the other handlers weren't too happy with us winning four days in a row!)  Usually my daughter handles our collies at shows, but with three girls entered, I had to step into the ring as well.  And one of the days I won Winner's Bitch and then went on to win Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Variety with Maizie!  I was pretty nervous, but it was exciting to show Maizie myself and watch her win from inside the ring instead of watching as a spectator outside the ring.

Scarlett, proud of her Best of Variety ribbon

Scarlett, napping before going to the Herding Group

Early this month we attended a Scottish Festival with Ryder, Scarlett and Winter.  We were there with friends and their collies, to represent the collie breed.  As collies originated in Scotland, you couldn't have a festival celebrating all things Scottish without them!

And this week I went to Washington DC, for the first time, for a work conference.  I spent a few days there, and visited some of the historic sites.  It was quite an experience and I think every American should get to visit at least once in their lifetimes.

This weekend was The Gathering at Sunnybank.  Long time readers of our blog may remember my previous posts about Sunnybank, but if you haven't read them, then please check them out by clicking on the links below.  Sunnybank is a very special place to us, and to collie lovers all around the world.
Sunnybank
Sunnybank-revisted
Books and movies for dog lovers
It's that time of year again
Sunnybank, Then and Now, Always Beloved
A collie named lassie, and a place called Sunnybank
The Gathering at Sunnybank

Ryder took his Therapy Dog test at Sunnybank two years ago, and has been doing a wonderful job ever since.  I had decided to get one of our smooth collies tested this year, as so few people know about the smooth collie breed.  I figured it would help the people we visit and it would also help educate the public about these special dogs.  I signed up both Scarlett and Sophie for the Therapy dog test.  Scarlett just loves people, and with her happy nature, people are drawn to her.  So I knew she would be a good choice.  She is beautiful, and greets people with not just a wagging tail, her entire butt wags in greeting!  And Sophie is unlike any of our other collies, she lives for attention.  All our collies are very sweet and love people, but Sophie takes it to a different level, in that she needs it more than food and water.  If she is sitting next to me, it's not enough, she has to be touching me.  If she is touching me, it's not enough, she has to be kissing me.  And she makes prolonged eye contact with me and other family members.  And when she stares at me, all the love in the world is shining in her eyes, she is so devoted!  I couldn't decide which one to get tested, so I signed them both up.  And yesterday, they both passed the test with ease, which shouldn't surprise me, as my collies are always willing to do whatever I ask of them.  It's just one of the hundreds of things that make this breed so special.

Scarlett, on her long down-stay, with her eyes on me the whole time.

Sweet Sophie, the day before the test, maybe dreaming about becoming a Therapy dog?

Sophie's brother, Finn, also took the Therapy Dog test and the Canine Good Citizen Test, and he passed them both as well.  I know his family was very excited when he passed the tests.  It was a very proud day for me, as their breeder, to see three of my collies achieving their goals.  Sophie and Finn aren't the only ones accomplishing their goals, their brother Nigel is well on his way to becoming a service dog, and their brother Gibbs has already earned herding titles on sheep.  And of course Maizie is working hard towards her championship.  This is a post that contains videos of Sophie and Finn, along with their litter mates, when they were just little pups.  I worked hard to socialize and train them, and I think it's evident in all they have accomplished.

Today, Ryder and I visited our local Nursing home, and told all his friends that his sister and niece would be visiting Therapy dogs soon.  They were so excited, but made me promise Ryder would continue to come visit them too.  This summer has been bittersweet, with some very sad moments and some very happy ones.  But I guess that pretty much describes life, and my collies make it a good one.

Seniors sometimes need a little extra...

Senior dogs have special needs that younger dogs may not have.  As they age, dogs may suffer from problems with their joints.  With this in mind, we always look for treats that are not only tasty, but also that are healthy for our collies.  This month our friends at Chewy.com sent us a package of Earthborn Holistic, Earthbites dog treats in the Hip and joint formula.

Every day with a senior dog is a gift, and keeping them moving means trying to help them maintain their joint health with Glucosamine and Chondroitin.  Earthborn has many varieties of treats, but for senior dogs, their Earthbites Hip & Joint formula is an excellent choice.  I also loved seeing apples, blueberries, carrots & spinach in the ingredient list!

Key Benefits:

• Contains turkey meal, molasses, honey & maple syrup
• Fortified with glucosamine & chondroitin sulfate
• Antioxidant-rich (Vitamin E and C) plus vegetables & fruits in every bite
• Peas, apples, blueberries, carrots & spinach in every bite!
• Balanced Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids help play a vital role in healthy skin, hair coat and immune function

Ingredients:

Turkey Meal, Peas, Cane Molasses, Tapioca, Vegetable Glycerin, Honey, Maple Syrup, Canola Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Egg Product, Flaxseed, Apples, Blueberries, Carrots, Spinach, Cranberries, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, L-Carnitine, Chondroitin Sulfate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product.

If you are looking for a healthy treat to supplement your dog's diet with additional Glucosamine and Chondroitin, you should take a look at these treats.  The collies loved them, and they are available right here at: Chewy.com.

We were sent this package of treats for free, in exchange for our honest review.

A new Blue review!

This month we reviewed Blue Buffalo's Holiday Red, White and Blue Bars for our friends at Chewy.com.  Since this is also the month we celebrate our Nation's Independence day, the collies felt this was perfectly patriotic!

These dog cookies are made right here in the USA, and we couldn't wait to check them out.  Let's look at the Key Benefits:

• Crunchy patriotic biscuits.
• Shaped like the American flag.
• No corn, soy, wheat or chicken (or poultry) by-products.
• Nutritious ingredients enhanced by vitamins.
• Baked with pride in the USA!

Ingredients:

Oatmeal, Barley, Oat Flour, Yogurt, Apples, Flaxseed (Source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Cane Molasses, Carrots, Salt, Canola Oil (Source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Calcium Carbonate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Cinnamon, Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Oil of Rosemary, Vitamin E Supplement.

Oatmeal, apples, carrots, cinnamon...they sure sound delicious!

And we thought they were adorable, they look just like the American Flag!

So I gave my approval, but how did the collies like these cookies?  Let's just say they didn't last long in our house!  

The collies thought these crunchy treats were yummy, and didn't want to give me back the bag!  So if your patriotic pup is looking for a new treat to try, the collies definitely recommend these Blue Buffalo, Red, White & Blue Bars sold at one of our favorite online retailers, Chewy.com!

We were sent these treats for the collies' honest opinions, they were not paid for this review.

Sad news...

I wanted to update the blog with our sad news, but words are inadequate to express our sorrow, so I wasn't sure what I would write.  Those of you who have lost a dog (or beloved pet) will know our heartbreak.  We have lost one of our senior collies.  Holly, who turned 12 years old this past Christmas, had been having some health problems the last two months.  She had a stroke, and recovered.  But her heart, kidneys and liver were starting to fail her.  And even though he was doing better, she suddenly had a stroke and a pulmonary embolism in the middle of the night, and we had to make the decision to let her go.

Holly as a puppy.

She was such a special collie, with a fun and loving personality that always made us laugh.  She was my daughter's junior handling collie, and best friend.  She slept on my bed every night, and took long walks with me.  She lived for dog shows, and her joy in competing with my daughter was evident to all who watched them.  Her loss has left a huge hole in our lives, and the other collies miss her too.

This past year she just couldn't walk as far as she used to, as she had bad arthritis.  So we would bring her cart along, and when she grew tired, or started limping, she would ride in the cart the rest of the walk.  She loved going for walks with us, and we wanted to make her happy.  Dogs bring so much joy and love into our lives, but they sure break our hearts when they leave us.  If you have a senior dog, please give them a hug for us.

The collies have spoken...

Collies are a vocal breed, and as such, they love to share their opinions.  This makes them perfect for writing reviews!  Our friends at Chewy.com sent us a package of Stella & Chewy's Dandy Lamb Meal Mixers, and as always, the collies were excited to try something new!

With all the new articles raising concern about health problems being caused by dog foods, it's hard to know what food  is safe.  But Stella & Chewy's has a good reputation, and we have tried some of their other products in the past, so we felt confident that this was a quality dog food.

But let's look at the ingredient list:

Lamb, Lamb Spleen, Lamb Liver, Lamb Heart, Lamb Kidney, Lamb Bone, Pumpkin Seed, Organic Cranberries, Organic Spinach, Organic Broccoli, Organic Beets, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Organic Blueberries, Fenugreek Seed, Potassium Chloride, Dried Kelp, Sodium Phosphate, Tocopherols (Preservative), Choline Chloride, Dried Pediococcus Acidilactici Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Longum Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Taurine, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid.

I was impressed with all that real meat, and no "lamb meal" like we see in so many other dog foods.  And I loved all the organic fruits and veggies!  Check out the key benefits:

• Made with grass-fed lamb raised without hormones or antibiotics and 100% organic-certified fruits and vegetables.
• Real raw nutrition in the convenience of freeze-dried nuggets; can be served as a complete meal or mixed with dry kibble to add variety with a nutritious boost and help entice a picky eater.
• Formulated to mimic a canine’s natural diet; never contains grains, gluten, fillers, artificial preservatives or colorings.
• Complete and balanced nutrition is enhanced with probiotics to aid in healthy digestion—perfect for the pup with a sensitive stomach.
• Proudly made in the USA with ingredients responsibly sourced from trusted and reputable suppliers.

The lamb is grass-fed, and free of both hormones and antibiotics.  And it's made in the USA, and all the ingredients are responsibly sourced.  This is definitely something we love to see when choosing a dog food or treat.

The collies really love the taste of Stella & Chewy's Dandy Lamb Meal Mixers, and I really love the ingredients.  So this is one product we highly recommend.  Now with all those quality ingredients, it can be a bit pricey for those of us with multiple dogs, which is why this food is perfect for "mixing" in to your regular kibble, to boost your dogs' nutrition!  We also use the small pieces as training treats, as the collies will do whatever we ask for these freeze-dried raw food nuggets!  But don't just take our word, the collies want you to give them a try for yourselves!  

Disclaimer:  We were sent this product for free, from our friends at Chewy.com, in exchange our our honest review.