Tag: rottweiler

Hello Dog Box Product Review

Who doesn’t love a monthly subscription box? It’s like a present to yourself every month, or in this case a present to your dog every month…

When Hello Dog Box asked us to review their latest March subscription box, of course we were excited and wondered what our box would be filled with.

Hello Dog Box

Hello Dog Box is a monthly subscription box for your dog. It’s a box delivered to your door every month filled with fun, interactive and chewable toys that will keep your dog entertained until the next one arrives. 

Zara finally received her Hello Dog Box when we returned from our latest trip to South Africa. It was a gift I was particularly excited to give her and a gift I was excited to open! 

Zara couldn’t wait to get her nose inside this box. She busted it open and what we saw excited us both… 

dog subscription box

Inside our Hello Dog Box was a Petstages Chew. Zara loves chew toys, they’re like her after dinner treat while we watch some tv together. Although this one needed to be opened and chewed on immediately. 

petstages

There was a super awesome 2 in 1 grooming mitt. It’s no secret that Zara loves water, be it having a bath or a swim. Of course Zara had to have a bath so we would test out this new Noodle Drying mitt. I love this grooming mitt! Instead of using about 4 towels to dry Zara’s fur, the mitt did a perfect job. I just had to wring it out when it got full and heavy and then carried on. It also kind of gave Zara a massage so she really enjoyed it. On the other side is the grooming part of the mitt which I used when Zara was dry to get off all her loose fur. Such an awesome product to receive and one that will last far longer than just one month! I will most definitely use this grooming mitt during swimming season and give my towels a break šŸ˜‰ 

dog grooming

I have seen quite a few of Zara’s instagram besties enjoying their Cool Dogs Ice Cream and wondered how I could get my paws on some for her too. I didn’t do any research into it because I assumed you bought the tubs of doggy ice cream straight from the freezer, ready to serve. So you can imagine my utter excitement when I saw the tub of Cool Dogs Ice Cream for Dogs in our Hello Dog Box. Totally surprised by the fact that it comes as dry ingredients, all you have to do is add a small amount of cold water, mix it well and freeze. Zara received the biltong flavoured tub and it was a total hit. She could have easily eaten the entire tub in one go but I made sure we saved some for another day šŸ˜‰ I will certainly be ordering more Cool Dogs Ice Cream for Dogs, for Zara. 

dog ice cream

Zara also received a super cute ladybug squeaky toy to run around and have a mad half hour with, which she did! I’ll admit Zara is quite gentle with certain toys. It’s almost like she knows when a toy is slightly tougher and she can be a little more rough with it. This super cute lady bug was tossed all over the garden, got shown to the lizards and even Baby Gia had it in her mouth- haha! And it’s still in one piece… 

dog toy

There was a huge box of Probono biscuits for Zara too. She practically bit my fingers off when I gave her a taster! I think she likes them… A LOT! 

dog treat

And lastly there was a lovely red bandana. Red suits Zara, so she wore her new snazzy bandana with such pride! 

red dog bandana

I absolutely loved this Hello Dog Box and so did Zara. I love the box itself, it’s strong enough to keep its contents safe from damage. The presentation of all the goodies inside the box is lovely and neat too. I particularly loved how colour coordinated this box was, red being the obvious colour! Each item is good quality and something your dog will love. Not all the items are perishable and some you can reuse and use again which makes the box extra value for money in my eyes. 

hello dog box

It’s pretty easy to get your paws on one of these awesome boxes! They’re brought to you by Petheaven, an amazing online pet store. All you need to do is click here and decide which subscription you would like. 

Packages start from R495 per box for a 6 month subscription. I can honestly say the value of these boxes is worth way more! By clicking the link you also qualify for R100 off your FIRST box! What’s not to love… Spoil your furry love now! 

And remember, each item inside our box is available to buy online from Petheaven too… Happy shopping! 

Hello Dog Box contents

Please note that Petheaven will still be operating during the Government instructed lockdown from midnight 26 March until midnight 16 April 2020, meaning all your pet necessities will still be delivered to your door, keeping your pets happy and healthy during this time! 

Follow Hello Dog Box on Social Media | Facebook | Instagram 

And Petheaven | Facebook | Instagram ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone! We don’t typically celebrate Halloween here in Africa, but any excuse for us to celebrate makes for great fun right… 

dogs and babies

Halloween is slightly different this year because we have Baby Gia celebrating with us. One day Zara will be able to share tons of candy with Gia, but not too soon šŸ˜‰ 

I am enjoying celebrating all these firsts with Zara and Gia together, creating memories and of course taking photographs of the two of them on occasions like this. Zara has stepped into her new role as big sister like a true champion. Their bond as sisters grows stronger every single day, which makes my heart explode with pride and joy. 

halloween dog treats

It’s the end of October and that means it is seriously hot for us here in Africa. So I thought it would be fitting to make some frozen halloween treats for Zara this year, and of course I wanted to include Baby Gia in the celebrations too. I have so many creative ideas for Gia and halloween treats but I need to take it one step at a time… For now I am keeping it simple with pumpkin puree for her.

halloween dog treats
Zara’s Frozen Halloween Treats

These treats are frighteningly easy to make and Zara absolutely loved them! 

Ingredients

melted coconut oil

pumpkin puree 

melted peanut butter

silicone moulds 

popsicle sticks

Directions

Since it’s so hot here, my coconut oil was already melted so I simply spooned 3 tablespoons of the liquid into each silicone mould and froze for an hour. While that was freezing, I made the pumpkin puree. I simply steamed chopped up pumpkin from the pumpkin that Baby Gia is sitting in in the photos of this blog. Once the pumpkin was soft and cooked through I blended it into a smooth puree. Spoon the pumpkin puree over the now frozen coconut oil. The orange (pumpkin) segment needs to be the largest but be sure to leave enough space for the peanut butter layer. Place your popsicle stick in the middle and pop them back into the freezer for a few hours. Take five or six tablespoons of peanut butter and put it in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave it for 30 seconds then using a teaspoon, gently spoon a layer of peanut butter over the frozen pumpkin layer. Place them back in the freezer for another hour. Once the entire treat is frozen, take them out of the moulds and let your pup enjoy them!

halloween dog treats
Baby Gia’s Pumpkin Puree 

Since Gia has only started eating solids I needed to keep this years halloween ‘treats’ very simple for her. So I just made a yummy pumpkin puree using her Baby Bullet. Simply place steamed pumpkin into the blending cup with a 1/4 cup of water and blend until your desired texture is reached. Yum!

baby bullet pumpkin puree

Both Zara and Baby Gia enjoyed their pumpkin treats this year. I particularly love Zara’s halloween treats because they are my take on the American candy corns which are famous during halloween. But possibly the best part of halloween this year is Baby Gia sitting in her pumpkin, she actually loved it and thought it was rather funny! 

Happy Halloween to you all. Enjoy the festivities and candy but remember to keep your pets safe!

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Petqwerks FLiPST!CK

Petqwerks is without a doubt our most favourite international doggy toy company around! Not only do they constantly spoil Zara with the most amazing surprises but their toys are always interactive and extremely innovative! 

Petqwerks

I am always excited to test out their latest and greatest inventions. This time Zara and I were asked to review their latest interactive toy… The FLiPST!CK. Let’s just say I don’t know who has more fun with this toy, Zara or myself-haha! It is hugely entertaining for both of us and a serious workout for Zara. 

I particularly love the fact that the FLiPST!CK interactive toy is so different compared to any other toy Zara has. I also love the fact that it is slightly easier on her body compared to playing ball which can get quite rough. Because of her two TPLO surgeries I am always mindful when we play and never allow her to push herself too much. I rather pack the toy away and let her rest then bring it out later again for another play session. 

Petqwerks flipstick
Petqwerks FLiPST!CK

The FLiPST!CK allows Zara to literally go wild, but in a good, safe way! I love the fact that I have a lot of control over it and can bob it as hard or as soft as I like. I can keep it low to the ground so Zara doesn’t have to jump up all the time but I can throw a jump in here and there. I also cannot believe how strong the FLiPST!CK is. Zara weighs 53kg, and the FLiPST!CK sure measures up to her rottie strength. Any toy that can withstand Zara and her strength gets an extra bonus point in our ours eyes! She doesn’t quite understand why she can’t take the FLiPST!CK from me which makes playing with it more fun. 

Petqwerks FLiPST!CK
Petqwerks flipstick

We received our FLiPST!CK during our winter months so I cannot wait for the weather to warm up so we can play with the FLiPST!CK in the pool. The water is easier on Zara’s joints and will allow us to have a different kind of fun- I’ll keep you posted! 

Of course Petqwerks loves to spoil Zara A LOT so we also received TWO new chew bones! The Boar BarkBone in pork chop flavour plus the BarkBone STICK in peanut butter flavour. We’ve had a few BarkBones in the last couple of years and I will be completely honest in saying they are the best nylon chew toys around! Again they can withstand Zara’s intense chewing for hours on end. She loves nothing more than getting herself comfy and chewing. 

Petqwerks
Petqwerks

Since having baby Gia, I cannot always be there to entertain Zara. Gia is far too small right now for us to all play together so it is amazing for me to know Zara is relaxed, happy and entertained while gnawing on her favourite chews! 

Thank you Petqwerks for always making us feel so special and part of the Petqwerks family! We absolutely love testing out your new products and giving you our honest opinions. We look forward to some more fun and interesting toys… 

Petqwerks

If you would like to spoil your pooch with fun and unique toys then Petqwerks is your place to shop! Visit their website and social media pages NOW! Don’t forget to use our DISCOUNT code “ILOVESTYLISHPAWS30” to get 30% off your order….

www.petqwerks.com

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And don’t forget to tag them in your social media posts for a chance to be featured. 

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August

August is probably one of Zara’s favourite months of the year… Not only is it her birthday month but it is also the month where our weather starts warming up, which means only one thing in Zara’s mind… SWIM TIME!!

We hope you enjoy your month of August just as much as we will.

Download your August calendar here

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Dogs and Babies

On 30 September last year, we found out that we were going to be parents to a tiny human! Nothing can describe that feeling of utter happiness and excitement. That day will always be extra special to myself and my husband because that same day is Oscar’s birthday, and it will always be Oscar’s birthday! 

dogs and babies

Our biggest wish was to make Oscar a big brother, unfortunately the universe had other plans but I now understand why. In Oscar’s eyes I belonged to him and only him. My husband will even admit to that-haha. I am not entirely sure Oscar would have been able to share me, let alone get through the eleven weeks of separation. 

dogs and babies

Most of you know that we live in Zambia, but I travel to South Africa fairly regularly for various business and personal engagements. Because the medical facilities are not up to scratch in Zambia, we decided as a family that I would give birth to our nugget in South Africa. This also meant that we would all have to endure eleven weeks of separation… 

On 17 May, our beautiful daughter Gia came into this big bright world! We could not be happier and more proud of our little angel. Gia means “A gift from God” and I do believe she is our gift from God and Oscar, who is by my side making sure I look after our tiny human in the best way possible. 

dogs and babies

Zara on the other hand is going to be the best big sister we could ever have asked for. Zara is extremely intelligent, loyal and a little OTT on the affectionate side, but we love that about her. From the moment we found out about our little Nugget, we spoke to Zara and explained what was happening inside my tummy. Believe it or not Zara would just sit and listen to every word. She stopped body slamming me in the middle of the night when she jumps on the bed for a cuddle. She became mindful of my growing tummy and was careful not to bump me or push me. That’s how clever she is. 

We wanted to prep Zara for what was about to happen, because ultimately her life is about to change forever too! So here are the things we did to help ease Zara into the role of becoming a big sister… 

Baby Room Prep

We had to shuffle things around and swap the spare rooms to make Gia’s room closer to ours. While sorting through a pile of things we didn’t need anymore, Zara was right beside us! We never once chased her out or got mad because she dug through a pile of rubbish we just sorted through. After all this is a readjustment for her too. Once the nursery room was cleared out we painted and began furnishing it-the fun part! 

dogs and babies
Doll Practice

We decided to buy a doll and introduce it to Zara. We wanted Zara to get used to us holding something in our arms quite a lot. She needed to learn that sometimes there will be an extra person in the bed in the form of her baby sister, and she needed to be a little careful. At first Zara was unsure especially when the doll made a noise. But with patience and time Zara began to recognise that this little thing is quite special and lives in the newly decorated room. 

dogs and babies
Our Scent 

When I left Zambia in April, I left behind a shirt that I had worn to remind Zara of my scent. My husband says she loves sniffing that shirt! After Gia was born I sent my hubby home with another shirt that smelt like me and baby Gia. We decided to do this so Zara can get used to the scent of me with someone else. Zara is so intelligent she knows exactly what we are trying to do, I just know it! 

Zara’s Gifts

Often articles will tell you to separate your pets from your baby and to never allow pets into the nursery. We have been the total opposite with Zara and have allowed her to walk in and out of Gia’s room as she pleases. As a result, Zara now delivers one of her toys (her most prized possessions) and leaves it either on the rug, the chair or in a corner for her baby sister. When Zara gifts you with one of her toys, you know she loves you! It is something she started doing all by herself, we did not teach her to do it. So by Zara leaving presents for Gia I know that they are going to be the best of friends! 

dogs and babies

Of course this chapter is not complete yet because Zara still has to meet her tiny human. I am in South Africa until the end of June so I will be sure to post an update when Gia and I have settled back home…. But for now we continue to video chat, where Zara is most intrigued by her baby sister especially when she moves or makes a sound. 

Be sure to follow us on Instagram for all the goings on.

Thank you for reading.

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Acana Dog Food: Zara’s Flavour of the Month

I have always been a firm believer in feeding Oscar the very best dog food I could find. I looked at it from my point of view, if I were him. I love good tasty food with a variety of ingredients so why should he be given anything different. 

Oscar was an extremely fussy eater, making meal times often stressful and unpleasant for us both. It wasn’t until much later in his life that finally an amazing kibble was being sold in South Africa. From the first scoop he was hooked which as you can imagine made my heart explode with happiness! It was then that I started doing loads of research into dog food and the ingredients used. 

Enter Zara, a food guzzler from day one! I could have given her anything and she would have gulped it down in less than thirty seconds, as she did when I gave her her first Acana meal at home. It was a no brainer to feed Zara Acana kibble from the beginning. I will be honest, I did not transition her as they say you should, simply because I didn’t agree with the food she was being fed in her previous home. I believed in the power of Acana and I knew she would be totally fine. And guess what, I was right! 

acana dog food

I don’t think Zara has a favourite flavour of Acana kibble, simply because she absolutely LOVES her food no matter what. So it is up to me to read the signs of her excitement and of course look out for any physical differences I see. 

Zara’s flavour of the month is the Acana Pacific Pilchard which falls under the Acana Singles range. This means it is a single-protein food and suitable for pups of any breed or age and it’s great for pups with food sensitivities. 

Acana is a grain free diet made up of biologically appropriate foods specifically for our beloved pooches. It’s packed with nutritional proteins and fats, plenty of vitamins and minerals that are essential in your pups overall health as well as important amino acids.

acana dog food

The Acana Pacific Pilchard ingredient list is pretty spectacular to say the least, it is made up of 50% wild caught pilchard, which is an easily digestible fish, green peas, red lentils, kale, spinach greens, butternut, cranberries and blueberries just to name a few! It’s hard to believe any pooch would turn their nose up at this food… 

If you would like to find out more information on the entire Acana range, you can contact PackLeader South Africa on Facebook or Instagram or simply visit a reputable outlet. 

acana dog food

Your pooch deserves the best!

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May

May sure is going to be the most exciting month of 2019 for our family. It is the month we welcome our little nugget into the world!

Zara is extremely excited to meet her tiny human, and we cannot wait for her to blossom into the best big sister we know she will be.

may calendar

Download your May calendar here

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