Whistle: The App That tracks Your Dog's Activity !

 

Whistle is the new innovate dog monitor that tracks your dog's daily levels of activity and rest. Whistle features a device that slips on to your dog's existing collar and is tracked onto an app that you can download onto your smartphone. Once you've downloaded the app, you sync the device to your phone for your dog's data to be collected 24/7.

 

Once you're synced it's time to make a profile. Simply answer a few questions about your dog and you're ready to get started.

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The next thing you want to do is your dog's activity level. I have Bentley's set at 40 minutes a day at the moment but this can be changed anytime you like.

 

The Whistle app shows you peaks when your dog is active and it even shows you a timeline so you can see the detailed breakdown for yourself. You are able to see when and for how long your dog has rested as well. The best thing is that you have 24/7 access to your dog's profile now matter where you are. That means that you can check up on your dog during your lunch break at work or while your on a business trip you are able to see if your dog's caregiver has been providing adequate amounts of play and walks.

 

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I have been using the Whistle now for almost 2 weeks and I was able to see how Bentley's activity changed on a daily basis. She reached her 40 minute goal 4 out of 7 days the first week. This tells me that she is less active on days when I am gone most of the day.

I also noticed that Bentley likes to run around the backyard late at night. The blue peaks represent her activity levels and on this particular night she was active between 12 and 1 am. I always thought that she slept throughout the night but now I know that she most certainly does not. 

 

Overall I am quite please with the device and the app. First off I must say that I found the actual device to be sturdy. I thought for sure that it would come off with rough play with other dogs but it didn't budge. It is also waterproof which is great because it rained and Bentley likes to play in water.


Another plus is that the battery life is great. It lasted 9 days off of the first initial charge and the app notified me as soon as the battery started to get low.


 

 

I feel that this app has actually helped me to better understand my dog. I see that since she is much less active when I am not around (which I thought was the complete opposite), I can make up for it and take her on longer walks.

 

By helping her hit her activity goal I can also help myself reach my own. I can specifically track our walks together throughout the week. This is great and can be a great motivation to those needing a little boost to get active. This way you can be active with your dog and it is beneficial for the both of you.

 

You can click this link to go directly to the Whistle website and get your own for 15% with an exclusive coupon code we have gathered just for you.

Just type " BENTLEY " at checkout to receive the discount!

 

 

Tell us how much you like Whistle in a comment !

 

 

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Ancient Grains for Your Dog and You #InspiredByCrafted

This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Ideal Balance® CRAFTED, but My Pit Bull Friend only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

 

Ancient Grains have been on the rise as of recent and it's no surprise why. They are packed full of nutritional value and can be used as an alternative to gluten in human and dog food.

Quinoa has been touted as a superfood in the food world because of its many health benefits. One cup of cooked Quinoa contains about 17-27 grams of fiber which is much higher than other grains. It is also very high in protein and can lower blood sugar and triglyceride levels.

Since I want the best for my family, I'm always on the hunt for healthy food and snacks and that goes for my pets too. When I discovered that the Hill’s® Ideal Balance® CRAFTED line has Ancient Grains in their dog food I was ecstatic because it's nice to see dog food with the same ingredients you would see in high end human food.

Hill’s® uses quality ingredients like thoughtfully sourced proteins and vegetables and in distinctive flavors like quinoa to create unique flavorful recipes. Their dog food is made in small batches made just the way you would make it if you did it yourself.

I became inspired by this Artisan Crafted dog food that I watch Bentley enjoy daily and decided to make a healthy meal for my family with some of the same ingredients and came up with a nice little recipe for Stir Fry Quinoa.

 

Quinoa Stir Fry with Grilled Peppers and Chicken

Ingredients

 

1 Tbsp + 1 tsp vegetable oil
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped                                                                                                                                                        1 medium yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
1/8 tsp mild red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp fresh black pepper
4 oz cooked chicken breast, sliced
2 scallions, chopped
2 Tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
Juice of 1/2 lime  
                                                                                                                                                                                              1 large egg, beaten

 

Directions

Cook the quinoa in a rice cooker, or on the stovetop according to package directions. Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok or large nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the bell pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened slightly. Add the garlic, and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Stir in the red pepper flakes plus the black pepper.

Remove vegetables from the wok and set aside. Return the pan to heat, and add 1 teaspoon of oil. Add the quinoa and egg, and stir-fry to cook the egg, 30 seconds. Return the vegetables to the pan along with the chicken, scallions, soy sauce and lime juice. Stir to combine, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 minute.

Serve hot, or at room temperature.

 

 

When it comes to my family, health is number one so I will continue to be #InspiredbyCrafted when it comes to making responsible choices for mealtime. The fact that I was able to prepare a meal inspired by Hill's dog food truly shows that they take the time to create some wonderful food that you won't feel bad about giving to your pet because it's made of the same foods that you can eat. Now that's what I call a win win situation!

 

 

Have you been #InspiredbyCrafted yet?

 

 

 

 

 

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May Paw Pack Review with Coupon Code

We have been receiving Paw Pack for 8 months now and I can honestly say that it is like Christmas morning for Bentley every time she sees that pretty turquoise box. Believe me when I tell you that she knows exactly what it is and gets extremely excited to see all the goodies it holds within.

If you aren't familiar with Paw Pack, it is a monthly subscription box for dogs and cats. Why I love it is simple:

It contains quality products that are all natural, grain free, and Eco friendly.

This means I can get new products delivered right to my door each month and trust that they will be GOOD for my dog. They do all the research and put together a wonderful array of products in a pretty turquoise box (which I keep to store what I haven't used yet). I am a busy person so this is the perfect way to keep my dog happy and give her new treats and toys each month without even leaving the house!

This month is the May box and here's a look at what's inside:

The first thing that caught my eye in the May Paw Pack was this Freezy Pups ice tray. It was literally 93 degrees when I opened up the box and as you as all may or may not know, Los Angeles, especially the San Fernando Valley where we reside, gets pretty hot. I was so happy to see this and I know we will be getting many uses out of this.

The next thing that caught my eye was this delectable looking Canine Caviar Buffalo Paddywack. Fancy right? Bentley loves Buffalo treats so this is a no brainer. What made me happy to see was that the Buffalo used to make these treats were not treated with hormones or antibiotics.

Side note: If you aren't aware, the majority of animals that we eat are pumped full of antibiotics since it was proven that it causes rapid growth and because by using antibiotics, farmers are able to keep a large number of animals in very small and extremely dirty conditions. Basically, cows, for example, do not have free range and don't have the freedom to graze on grass, they just stand side by side in their own feces waiting for imminent death while being fed corn, hormones, and antibiotics. Gruesome I know but this is the reality.

These Cycle Dog treats are Grain free and 100% Beef and they come in a pretty color (I'm a girl, I like pink). I love that there is only 1 ingredient. It makes the task of looking through the ingredients list a burden I no longer have. Thanks Paw Pack for doing all the work for me. SCORE!

Bentley has had these Sliders treats before and she just loves them. It's actually pretty funny because she has a little routine that she does. She takes the treat sticks outside to her favorite spot in the backyard, under a tree, and quietly chews on them, reappearing only after she's done, with her tail wagging, ready for more. These have (or I should say lack) the 4 G's : Gluten free, Glycerin and GMO free . This is another healthy choice as a dog treat.

Doggy version of Popcorn but grain and gluten free! Need I say more? Yaky Charms rock!

Of all the toys Bentley has ever had, the ones that squeak will always be her favorite. The perk of the ears and widening of her eyes; it's like doggy heaven. This Ecolast ball is great because it floats and we will be doing some swimming since the heat is already real in Southern California folks.

 

If you have been looking for a monthly pet box subscription, look no further. I absolutely love Paw Pack and can't say it enough. They go above and beyond to find healthy treats and fun, durable toys. Paws down the best box all around. Don't take my word for it though, check out their Instagram to see all of the happy pups and kitties who get their Paw Packs each month.

 

If you would like to try Paw Pack you're in luck. We have a special promo code exclusively for you to take 10% off your purchase. Just enter MYPITBULLFRIEND at check out.

 

 

Have a Paw-some day,

 

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Hulk, The Giant 175 Pound Pit Bull !

A Pit Bull named Hulk has been making headlines because of his massive size. At only 18 months he is a staggering 175 lbs and he may quite possibly be the BIGGEST Pit Bull in the World! Now that's an amazing record to hold.

This big boy is not meanie though. Here he is gentle as ever with his 3 year old human brother, giving him a ride on his back.

Hulk lives in New Hampshire with his family and is a great example a peaceful Pit Bull with his calm demeanor and loving soul.

Here is a throwback of baby Hulk in all of his cute, chubby, puppy, irresistible, goodness!

His family, the Grannan's, had this to say about Hulk "My hope is that we can stop ignorance and change people's minds about Pit Bulls in a positive way with all this attention".

Would you add a Pit Bull to your home after watching this gentle giant in action?

 

Finally, Artisan Crafted Dog Food has Arrived #InspiredbyCrafted

This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Crafted™, but My Pit Bull Friend only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

As a dog owner, I want the best for my dog and that means staying healthy. To ensure this we go on walks and hikes together regularly and stay as active as possible. A healthy lifestyle is very heavily based upon what you eat. You know the saying "You are what you eat", well it rings true for dog's as well as humans.

When it comes to food, I love a nice home cooked meal and sometime prepare food for Bentley but I don't have the time to make my own dog food daily so she usually eats dry food. As of recently, I've noticed that Bentley has been neglecting her food bowl and this has prompted me to go on the hunt for a new dog food.

On my quest for this new dog food I started reading the ingredient list of many different brands of dog food and noticed that the number one ingredients in most brands was corn. (Corn is readily available and cheap so it is used in a lot of animal foods) I do not want to feed my dog a product that is mostly corn and a little bit of by-product meat. I have read the negative effects and don't want that for my dog. No thanks!


Well after discovering Hill’s® Ideal Balance™ Crafted™, I got really excited because this is exactly what I was looking for plus some. This dog food does not have any Corn in it but better yet it also doesn't  have any Wheat, Soy, Artificial Colors, Preservatives, No Chicken-By Product Meal, Gluten Free, and it's Oven Roasted.


Bentley tried some and she loved it so it's safe to say that she won't be neglecting her bowl anymore. I occasionally bake dog treats in the oven and they remind me of this dog food. What I like about it is that when you look at the kibble it looks homemade. You can actually see the small pieces of herbs used in it and the color is natural, not red or green as some other brands.


Hill's Ideal Balance Crafted is an Artisan Crafted dog food made in small batches in the USA using quality ingredients like Ancient Grains and crafted with care, which is perfect if you love that home cooked meal style. The master chefs add the herbs to each batch by hand and knead the dough to make sure it's just right, then they oven roast the dough to lock in all of the deliciousness, home style, made the way you would!

 

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I'm excited to continue the journey for a healthier lifestyle for Bentley so that she will have many many more years to spend with my family,

because pets are family too and family is the most important thing!

 

 

 

 


We will post another  review soon to show you how the Hill's diet has been going, but in the meantime check out this video:

 


 

Happy Eating,

 

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I'm a BlogPaws Best Pet Microblogger 2015 Finalist!

I have recently been informed of some exciting news: I have been nominated as a finalist for the BlogPaws 2015 Nose-to-Nose Award for Best Pet Microblogger for my Instagram @MyPitBullFriend !

Yay! I’m so happy and truly humbled that I have not only been nominated to begin with but I am a finalist. This is amazing considering that there were over 1000 entries and I am 1 of 4 finalists in my category.

The Best Pet Microblog is Judged on:

“The overall look and feel, audience engagement, and the blogger’s participation in the conversation. Is the page effective in its design and its use of the platform? We are looking for active engagement, sharing, consistency in purpose, original blogger content, creativity and visual appeal, where appropriate.”

Last year’s winner was Deaf Dogs Rock https://twitter.com/deafdogsrock Christina Lee”


Take at look at Finalists in all 12 categories:


Best Cat Blog Finalists:

Chronicles of Zee & Zoey

Cat in the Fridge

Glogirly

Island Cats


Best Cause Blog Finalists:

Animal Shelter Volunteer Life

Deaf Dogs Rock

Conservation Cub Club

Shelter Cats


Best Pet Blog Design Finalists:

You Did What With Your Weiner

Chronicles of Cardigan

Deaf Dogs Rock

Dogthusiast


Best Dog Blog Finalists:

Ammo the Dachshund

My GBGV Life

You Did What With Your Weiner

My Brown Newfies


Best Pet Humor Blog Finalists:

My Brown Newfies

Humane Society Silicon Valley

Chronicles of Cardigan

Pepper and Teddy


Best Pet Microblog Finalists:

Yogi000008: Instagram

Pepper and Teddy: Facebook

My Pit Bull Friend: Instagram

Ruckus the Eskie: Instagram


Best New Pet Blog Finalists:

Dog Mom Days

True Story of a Not So Crazy Cat Lady

Live Wag Bark

Puppy Leaks


Best “Unconventional”/”Other” Pet Blog Finalists:

Horse Journal

Pets Weekly: Horses

Horse Trotting

Our Whiskey Lullaby


Best Pet Blog Photo Finalists:

Ammo the Dachshund

Basil’s Travels

Cat Chat with Caren and Cody

Oh My Shih Tzu


Best Written Pet Blog Post Finalists:

Amy Shojai: Fake Service Dog Credentials

Mel Freer: Loose Dog

Ann Staub: How Important is Credibility

Janea Kelley: Diabetic Cat


Best Pet Blog Video Finalists:

Cat CATastrophes: A French Cat Looks for Love in America

AdvoCat! Episode 2

Paranormal Cativity by Kitty Bungalow

Save 90: Volunteers Work


Best Use of Social Media by a 501(c)3 Finalists:

Riverfront Cats

Best Friends Animal Society

Feline Rescue Inc

Deaf Dogs Rock


The winners of all 12 categories will be announced on Saturday evening, May 30th in Nashville Tennessee. You can register on BlogPaws and gain information about the conference if you wish to attend.


I started my Instagram @MyPitBullFriend when there weren’t as many Instagram accounts dedicated to Pit Bulls. I was going through a difficult time and found an outlet in creating a stronger bond with my dog Bentley. I started really getting into dog training and thought it would be a fun idea to upload some pictures of Bentley to my Instagram. I immediately started to see that there were people that actually could relate with me so I continued and it just grew from there.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Bentley and my daughter Camille featured on my Instagram page. 

 

My followers are a community of Pit Bull supporters and have shown so much love and support and I am truly grateful for this. There has been an immense influx of dog Instagrams and many of them are Pit Bull owners who understand the struggles associated with negative stereotyping. Having this community that supports each other has been a truly wonderful experience. It is encouraging to not only have an audience that likes what you do but that is engaged in this amazing way that is all thanks to social media.

 

I wish the best of luck to all the finalists in each category and even if I don’t take the winning title, it feels great to know that what I do is being recognized and seen in a positive light. Thank you!

Truly,

 

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