Welcome to "At home with the Hiltons!" a blog to keep you up to speed on the daily lives of our 5 chihuahuas;
Buffy Prada, Rafferty Yves, Monroe Versace, Lily Armani & Lola Dior!

07/12/2011

The Organic Pet - coming out T.O.P!

I've bought so much stuff for the girls over these past 3 years of having them that it takes quite a lot to get me truly excited when it comes to pet products. Most things seem to be re branded copies, ridiculous and useless, horrendously overpriced or poor quality, which isn't acceptable even if they're -just- for pets. (Just, ha.)

So when I stumbled across The Organic Pet I must admit I did get rather excited! 


I don't tend to give my girls treats too often, they wouldn't be treats if I did but when I do I try to keep them natural and organic. We've tried other treats in the past but they never went down amazingly well, some obviously weren't too tasty and some stank the house out!

We're always up for trying new things though, so we went ahead and placed and order on The Organic Pet's UK website.
(They sell their products at a really amazing price and no, the usual e-tailers can't beat it!)

The Organic Pet company stand by their name and keep every ingredient organic and as nature intended, they don't use any wheat gluten, soy or dairy in their treats and avoid all additives and preservatives. The don't use any added salt or sugar. They explain it all on their nutrition page.



T.O.P have 3 sizes of treats; minis, bites and jumbo. They also do some pretty cool selection boxes. The selection boxes would make a great doggy gift! -hint hint- ;)

We opted to try out all their flavours, 5 in the minis form and 1 in the bitesize.

(Click to enlarge.)

L-R Banana, Carrot & Apple, Cinnamon & Honey, Mint & Herbs and Sun Dried Tomato, Spinach & Herbs.

 
Banana and Peanut butter. 

Don't the flavours sound delish? The human Hiltons might have to have a sneaky nibble too, just to test them of course ;)

So onto what we thought! 
Well, firstly their website is great, it looks good, has great service and prices, we cannot fault them as a brand at all. When the treats arrive, they're beautifully packaged in good quality materials, they're actually nice to look at, the cover bodes well for the book! (Never judge a book by its cover, except for here, here you can.)

The treats themselves are a good size and they smell amazing. We tried the girls with all the flavours and they went down swimmingly, with the Cinnamon & Honey being the favourite so far. 

With the quality ingredients and the fact that the girls really seem to enjoy them I can see these treats being in our cupboards for good!

Oh and did we mention how much we love their motto!?!


Says it all really doesn't it?

Bon Appétit!
Love & licks,
Rio, Jonny, Buffy, Rafferty, Monroe, Lily and Lola.
xo

01/12/2011

'Tis the season to be jolly...

Indeed it is the season to be jolly! It's also the season to be safe and although Christmas brings a lot of cheer, it can also bring a host of doggy dangers... It's not all bad, you can take the following simple steps to ensure your Christmas is a happy one!

1. Out comes the tree, up go the lights, yum goes your pup! Be aware that dogs, young and old, will find these shiny, twinkly ornaments are fascinating as you do. They'll show their appreciation with their teeth though, so it's wise to never leave your dog alone with your tree. It's worth avoiding real trees too - the needles will hurt gums and paws alike and never, ever hang chocolate decorations anywhere your dog goes.

2. Lighting candles creates a lovely cosy atmosphere, but that atmosphere won't extend to the vets office if your pup gets burnt! Make sure candles are high up and on a sturdy base.

3. At Christmas food plays a huge role, look out for stray bones and any fruits/vegetables that aren't dog safe. You can find a pretty comprehensive list here, but if in doubt always check with your vet.

4. Unwrapping presents is the highlight of the day for many, including your dog. Indulging in their game is fine and we certainly let them open their gifts, just be sure to take away all the pieces of paper as soon as it's open - they should want their new toy/treat anyway! :)

5. Another decoration to keep an eye on are those festive plants we bring in around this time of year, I'm looking at you Mistletoe! While there are some myths, many plants are still very dangerous to dogs, so getting clued up is wise. You can check here to learn more.

6. Mulled wine. Or any 'adult beverage' as it happens is definitely not Fido friendly! If you want your dog to have a bit of extra Christmas 'cheer' then a nip of the doggy safe good stuff will do ;)

7. Christmas is a time for family and like us, you may get your share of visitors. Be sure to educate them about what is and is not okay for your dog to have. Ignorance is bliss until it makes the family dog sick, so being clued up is key.

8. If you're the ones doing the visiting this year, then don't forget that where your pup usually stays while you're out may no longer be suitable! The kitchen will have a bounty of forbidden foods and your living room a toy the size of a tree! (Okay, it is your tree, but your dog won't know that). Crates can play a huge role in keeping your pet safe while you're out.

9. A lot of doggy stockings have the right idea, but sometimes the wrong products. Rawhide is practically a staple in these common gifts, but it's not always as innocent as it seems... The lowdown on rawhide!

10. Last but not least, don't forget that while your dog wants to be involved, sometimes putting them in their crate is for the best. During the cooking a dog running under your feet could be a disaster, so let them take a break from the action.

Christmas is about having fun with all your family, furry ones included, so be sure to fit in lots of fun stuff for your pup too. Supervised present unwrapping, a family walk in the snow and their own dog friendly dinner will give your dog a day to remember :) Even the countdown to Christmas can be fun with a doggy advent calender!

We hope you have a very 'Merry Christmas' and come back soon,

Love & licks,
Rio, Jonny, Buffy, Rafferty, Monroe, Lily and Lola.
xo