New Study Shows Sleeping With Pets Can Improve Your Sleep Quality

New Giant Mattress is 12 Feet Across, Perfect for All Pets and Their Humans

According to new research by the Mayo Clinic, snuggling with your pup all night might improve the quality of your sleep. I couldn've told them that! I've slept with my dogs since my first canine family member, Siesta, came into my life when I was five-years-old. That ugly looking chihuahua mix lulled me to sleep with her snores and kept me warm on cold nights throughout my childhood. Today, my beautiful Australian Shepherd Seven sleeps in bed with me.

The study included 40 adults with no known sleep issues, and their dogs, six months and older. Each person and their dog were affixed with an accelerometer which measured sleep time and sleep efficiency in both participants.

“Today, many pet owners are away from their pets for much of the day, so they want to maximize their time with them when they are home,” said sleep center specialist and study co-author Dr. Lois Krahn, M.D. in a Mayo Clinic statement. “Having them in the bedroom at night is an easy way to do that. And, now, pet owners can find comfort knowing it won’t negatively impact their sleep.”

The Ace Collection makes sleeping with your pets a breeze with a giant mattress and bed frame that spans 12 feet across. The Ace family size mattress was made when a client wanted a bed big enough for her children to cuddle in while reading a bedtime story. But all I see is more space for my four-legged family members.

The Ace mattress comes in three giant sizes: the Ace Size, Ace Player Size, and the Ace Family Size with prices ranging from $2,250-$4, 054 depending on size and firmness. They also sell hypoallergenic 200-250 thread count bedding, from flat sheets to pillow cases to duvets, in order to fit their extra-wide beds. Woof!!!

Did You Know February 20 is National Love Your Pet Day?

Tomorrow is National Love Your Pet Day! This holiday is a day set aside to give extra attention to and pamper your pets. This is a good day to focus on the special relationship that you have with your dog. What are you going to do to celebrate your furry family member? Here are some excellent ideas:

1) Bring your pet a special treat.
How about ordering some yummy all natural treats or a fun new toy! from PrizedPet.com? Seven LOVES these Blissful Biscuit's. Besides being made in the USA, these treats are carefully crafted with cheese, bacon flavor (Seven's favorite food) and spent grains from local breweries. Or an adorable Lamb Chop Plush Dog Toy - 6 Inch might be the ways of showing you care. Seven plays with his Lamb Chop all the time! Take 20% off all orders online until midnight on February 21st using code LOVE.

2) Take your pet for an extra long walk.  
Dog owners enjoy numerous health and social benefits by walking their dog a few times a week. Benefits include improved cardiovascular fitness, lower blood pressure, stronger muscles and bones (built up by walking regularly), and decreased stress. A regular walk is vitally important for your pet's health too.

3) Take your dog on a bike ride.
There are many dog biking accessories that make riding with your pooch a breeze! Here are some from Amazon to check out. Be sure to train your dog to run alongside your bike before you head out. It's easy, Just hook your pet up and walk your bike. Get them used to the idea. I use the Walky Dog Plus Hands-Free Dog Bicycle Exerciser Leash.

4) Take your dog with your to a pet-friendly restaurant.
BringFido.com has a list of dog-friendly places to eat across the country. Some even offer dog menus like Seven's favorite, Lazy Dog Restaurant.

5) Take an Agility class.
Dogs gain confidence, release energy and learn how to stay focused while in high spirits. Google sog agility to find a class near you.

6) Plan a day trip for you and your pet.
Most dogs love to ride in the car. Take your dog along if you’re visiting friends or family. For a special treat, include a side trip to do some shopping with your dog. Some dogs love to browse at pet supply stores (many of which allow you to bring your dog inside). Your dog may ask for a treat or two, so be prepared to spend a little money on this outing!

7) Spend the afternoon at your local dog park.
Off-leash dog parks are becoming more common in many cities. Most are securely fenced, have safety signs posted with park rules, and require that you clean up after your dog (take some bags in case they’re not provided). Social dogs enjoy meeting new dog friends and returning to see them time and time again. You might make new friends as well!  For more information, visit www.dog-play.com/dogpark.html.

8) Dance with your dog.
Freestyle musical dance is a choreographed set of moves, performed to music, done by dogs in partnership with their handlers. If you have not seen this new “sport” in action, you will be amazed at the level of expertise that can be achieved through teamwork, focus, and practice, practice, practice. For more information, visit www.dog-play.com/musical.html.

9) Teach your dog to play Frisbee.
If your dog loves to play ball, you may want to buy a disc and get your dog involved in this great form of exercise. One word of caution, however: This sport involves a lot of jumping, so consult with your veterinarian before starting your dog on a vigorous Frisbee training program. For more information, visit www.dogplay.com/Activities/disc.html.

10) Take a hike.
Though most national parks don’t allow dogs on trails, there are many state parks that do. For more information on finding dog-friendly trails in your state, visit hikewithyourdog.com.

11) Plan a doggie vacation.
If you haven’t taken a vacation with your dog, give it some thought. It can be very rewarding to have your dog along on your adventure, and many hotel chains accept dogs these days. To find dog-friendly lodging, visit www.dogfriendly.com, a website that also lists dog-friendly restaurants, parks, beaches and other attractions. The website called www.petfriendlytravel.com includes vacation rentals, such as cabins, condos and B&Bs. If you want to take it a step further, look into dog camps, the ultimate vacation for you and your dog. They provide games, training opportunities, and plenty of other dogs to interact with. For a list of dog camps, visit www.dog-play.com/camps.html.

You may be like me and believe every day is the perfect opportunity to love your dog. If that's the case, just keep doing what you're doing. Our furry friends are worth it!

Happy Love Your Pet Day!

A Healthy and Happy Dog Starts With a Healthy Gut

Millions of dogs and cats suffer from chronic digestive disorders including my boy Seven. So when I heard about a company that's doing something about the problem, I had to find out more. According to AnimalBiome, gut bacteria known as microbiome are vital to your pet’s health. From chronic digestive disorders to mental health, the microbiome affects almost every aspect of your pet’s health and happiness.

The microbiome explained

All animals on earth have unique collections of thousands of different types of microbes in their digestive tracts, collectively termed the gut microbiome. Bacteria in the microbiome are crucial for digestion and for obtaining nutrients from the food they eat. When these gut bacteria are out of balance, digestive disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease can occur. Beyond digestion, gut bacteria impact a broad spectrum of biological functions and have roles in developing allergies, diabetes, and even anxiety.

When the bacteria in your dog or cat’s gut are out of balance, the microbiome can trigger intestinal inflammatory responses. This inflammation left untreated will lead to chronic illnesses. In Seven's case, he suffers from loose stools on a good day and major diarrhea on a bad one. He's had this issue since I adopted him when he was only ten months old. It scared me from the get-go. I've been down the road of stomach issues in the past. My beloved Puli Baldwin suffered from Pancreatitis. I spent thousands of dollars to make him feel better and in the end, he died from Pancreatic Cancer.

Since I became Seven's guardian, I've been treating his gut with medications along with white rice and pumpkin but nothing seems to cure him. So when I read about AnmalBiome and the possibility of curing Seven's gut, I jumped at the chance.

It's easy. Just sign up on the AnimalBiome website and they'll send you a kit. All you have to do is follow the directions and send back your pet's stool samples. AnimalBiome will run tests and give you comparison tools to see how your pet’s gut bacteria rank among benchmark healthy and sick pets.

As the company learns more about the different types of bacteria in your companion’s microbiome, they will keep you informed of the latest research. The mission of this AnimalBiome is to use science to improve the lives of pets. The company applies what they learn from your dog or cat’s sample to identify and develop solutions to digestive disorders.

In my case, the company did find some issues in Seven's gut and suggested I add Psyllium husk powder to his food. He can have one teaspoon in the morning and a second at night but I've had to start slow to give him adequate time for his system to get accustomed to it. Its only been a few days but I already notice a difference in his poops and that makes me, and Seven very happy! Woof!