The House of Two Bows 雙寶之屋

Petrography

M.C. — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:00:21 +0000

For months now, someone(s) at one of the local parks has been building towers out of the junked concrete and rocks by the water.

They build them. I just take pictures whenever I come across a new formation.

Don’t ask me what any of it means.

I speak the language of pets, but not petrography.

REVIEW: Orijen Alberta Wild Boar freeze-dried treats

M.C. — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:00:05 +0000

Product: Orijen Alberta Wild Boar singles freeze-dried treats
Manufacturer: Champion Pet Foods
Quantity: one pouch, 2 oz. (approx. 45 pieces) [also available in 3.5 oz packages]
Price: $7.99 via Chewy.com
Ingredients: Wild boar liver, boneless wild boar
Guaranteed Analysis:

Crude Protein, 40% min.
Crude Fat, 50% min.
Crude Fiber, 1% max
Moisture, 2% max

Country of origin: Canada
Company Information: Champion Pet Food; 11403-186 Street NW; Edmonton, Alberta; T5S 2W6 Canada
Web Presence: ChampionPetFoods.com, on Facebook

Champion Pet Foods, the makers of Orijen and Acana, have quite a reputation for making what they call “biologically appropriate™” kibble with a surplus of whole prey ingredients that is supposed to mirror what dogs and cats would eat if left to fend for themselves in the “wild.” That part of their marketing platform has always been less impressive to me than their claims of sourcing “authentically fresh regional ingredients” that come from named, sustainably farmed sources. They are generally brands that the Bows do well on (Acana, specifically), though they’re priced beyond our capacity to feed them exclusively.

Knowing they’ve got a solid foot in the market for high-end pet consumers, Orijen has boldly trotted out a new freeze-dried treat. This product is so new, I didn’t even know this was in the works until alerted by the folks at Chewy.com, who gave me the opportunity to review from the selection which includes single-protein blends of beef, bison, duck, lamb, or wild boar, as well as three blends based on some of their popular kibble recipes, Regional Red, Tundra, and Orijen Original.

from the Champion Pet Foods channel on YouTube

(Call me weird, but I actually seek out company-produced PR videos to get a sense of how the company markets itself and what kind of information they think is valuable for others to know. I do, however, take their presentations with a healthy sense of skepticism and intent to read between the lines, wherever I can.)

For this review, we chose the wild boar recipe, primarily because there are very few completely pork-based pet foods on the market. I’m already favorably disposed to this line of treats for offering novel proteins catering to pets with protein sensitivities (as seems to be the case with so many dog people we know)

Upon receiving the 2 ounce bag in an oversized box from Chewy.com, I admit thinking… this is it?? as I shook the lightweight package before the Bows. Freeze-dried products tend to be very porous, so it’s hard to feel like you’re making a satisfactory purchase at the outset. It’s one reason that I’m not a huge fan of this type of food processing. Previous experiences have left me feeling that the crumbly mess that often accumulates at the bottom of the bag makes it a particularly un-economical way to feed.

These treats, however, aren’t quite as crumbly as others we’ve tried. Chewy.com’s protective packaging seems to help ensure that you’re not getting a pouch full of crushed bits.

Lightweight they may be, freeze-dried products tend to be pretty rich — though these are less than 7 calories per treat. At any rate, you really don’t need to feed many of these at a time. The Bows, however, were completely taken by the novelty of the smell, taste, and texture.

They glommed so close when I busted out these treats that I realized this would be the perfect incentive for practicing more “difficult” maneuvers. They’re a good size, not particularly messy, and totally irresistible. I don’t do much complex training with the Bows, but I do frequently take them off leash in high distraction areas, something which neither Shiba Inu nor Basenjis are known to be good at…

Okay, so the Bows are already accustomed to off-leash walking on vast acreage, and this is only one lesson of “Off Leash 101,” so my video may very well simplify the process and exaggerate the efficacy of these treats… What is unusual, however, is the way that both Bows remain underfoot and jump up like unruly Compsognathus, Jurassic Park style. Point is that this is a special treat, as confirmed by the Bows’ responses!

Given how effective these are, I think the price point is just right, at least relative to other freeze-dried dog treats on the market. I’m not willing to spend more than $10 on a pouch of treats that will be finished off in days or a handful of training sessions, but Chewy.com’s price for the small pouch is fair for the quality of this product.

I’ve yet to see these at my local pet stores, so I don’t know how normal retail price compares. We are grateful that Chewy.com provided us with a free sample in exchange for our honest review.

Final Grade: A

You know my bite is so much better than my bark: Dog songs mix 5

M.C. — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:00:16 +0000

Wow, it’s been almost 10 months since I last posted a mix of dog songs! I’m really slacking, especially now that I have a regular bi-weekly radio show again and have been accumulating all kinds of must-share tracks for several running lists of themed mixes.

So I still don’t know a better legal venue other than 8tracks.com for curating and disseminating my compilations online:

You know my bite is so much better than my bark: Dog songs mix 5 (click to open mix in separate window)

The Cure: Shake Dog Shake
Firewater: Three-Legged Dog
Excavacations: Dogs From Under the Bed
Lindstrom Tool & Toy: I Had a Little Doggy
Nancy Sinatra: Leave My Dog Alone
BU☆LI: Cattledog (キャトルドック)
The Del Counts: Bird Dog
Slim Gaillard: Serenade to a Poodle

If you feel like dropping by to check out my particular brand of freeform radio, I’m DJing on air as The Native Disinformant this Sunday night and every other week from 1800 ~ 2100 Pacific Standard Time. Catch me while you can, via local broadcast or internet live stream. This slot is good for a while, and I won’t be posting archives. What comes from the ether stays in the ether at KALX 90.7 FM.

Sighting: Guess the mix (UPDATE behind cut)

M.C. — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:00:46 +0000

The other half of this mix struck me immediately upon seeing her face…

Do you see it, too? Her owner says that most people only get the more fluffy half.

Hey, you guys are good! This is a Golden Retriever + Shar Pei mix. Would that be a King Pei (“Golden” coat)? I’m afraid I forgot her name and her age, but she’s an old lady here. Looked to me like she had entropic eyes, a genetic condition to which Shar Pei are prone. I didn’t confirm this, and I’m certainly am not claiming to diagnose by sight, but nearly every Shar Pei I’ve ever met has had this or corrective surgery to fix this. So that was my giveaway, along with pert, folded ears, and overall balance of the head.

WTF, Elanco?

M.C. — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:00:49 +0000

I’ve mentioned before how Bowdu’s allergies compel me to keep him on year-round flea medication. The drug I’ve chosen for the task is Comfortis, despite some concerns with their customer service I’ve posted about in the past. They typically offer a mail-in rebate, which we’ve cashed in each time we’ve been eligible.

This is the letter I received in response to my latest rebate request.

Thank you for submitting your request for the Trifexis® (spinosad + milbemycin oxime), Comfortis® (spinosad), or Elanco product rebate offer.

We appreciate your interest in this offer. However, we are sorry that we are unable to process your request at this time due to the following reason(s):

Package stamp(s) not included. Required package stamp(s) appear on top of product box. UPC Barcode from flap of product box is not the valid package stamp to receive rebate. Package Stamp Example: [example]

If you need to request a new rebate form, please call our rebate customer care center at 1-800-983-9993.

To resubmit your rebate request (if applicable), please return this letter along with any missing or correct information within the next 2 weeks to … [address]

Please allow 8 – 10 weeks to receive your check after re-submission.

Sincerely,

Elanco

Dear Customer “Care” at Elanco, the makers of Comfortis® and Trifexis®,

Your rebate processing staff is either incompetent or dishonest, or quite possibly both.

Attached, you will find a copy of the original rebate form which I mailed the week of March 18, 2013. You will notice on my photocopy that the original package stamp you have requested was stapled to the form. Just to make it even MORE obvious than it originally was, I’ve circled the staple in blue highlighter.

I kept this photocopy for my own records because this isn’t the first time your rebate processing department has botched a seemingly simple request. Since your office lackey couldn’t even spell my name or my city correctly, I’m pressing my luck expecting them to not misplace my package stamp in the 12 seconds it takes to input my data into whatever antiquated rebate processing system you’re using. I mean really — in 1982, it might have been acceptable to take 8 to 10 weeks to get my check in the mail, but your people can’t even communicate what the hell happened over the phone, let alone track what happened by e-mail (though you’ve required me to give it with the sole purpose of spamming me…).

So as you can see, I can’t send you the “missing” information because I had already sent you the correct information in the first place.

Get your act together and give me my ten bucks already. I need it to buy myself some more chill pills because ineptitude like this makes me want to storm your office with a staple gun. Luckily you’re in Kansas and I’m in California and I don’t actually have a staple gun.

Top 5 Dogs in Tim Burton movies (guest post by Anubis, the Barkless Dog)

M.C. — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:00:06 +0000

The House of Two Bows is truly honored to feature this guest post from a canine star and horror aficionado, Anubis the Barkless Dog. Anubis first caught our attention with a short video circulating on dog lists and forums, entitled Paranormal Activity. True to her Basenji nature, this petite pup packs some potent star power. Anubis is currently cultivating her acting and modeling profile, built upon an extensive background in the study of canine horror stars.

Without further ado, I hand today’s post over to Anubis.

Top 5 Dogs in Tim Burton movies
By Anubis, http://www.facebook.com/anubisthebarklessdog

Anubis, the Barkless Dog (photo courtesy of Anubis’ mum)

Many filmmakers are huge dog fans (my mummy is certainly one of them), but few have showcased their love the way Tim Burton has over the course of his extraordinary career. His first live-action short film, Frankenweenie (1984), recently remade into an animated feature (2012), is the most remarkable example of Burton’s passion for us dogs, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg.

“That sort of unconditional love that only dogs can give, people can’t do that,” Burton said in an interview; “but yes, that sort of thing where it’s very powerful, it’s kind of your first love and your first real relationship.”

Here is my homage to five of Tim Burton’s most fantastic canine heroes.

5. Scraps, The Corpse Bride (2005)

Kickstarting the countdown is part of a popular Burton sub-genre: the undead dog. Scraps is the childhood pet of Victor, the hero of the film, and is reunited with him when Victor visits the underworld. It’s a lovely scene, and a recurring theme in Burton’s work…

“I had this strong connection with a mutt we had named Pepe,” Burton once explained, “and it was a good connection. The dog was not meant to live very long because of a disease he had, but he ended up living quite a long time. So you have this strong connection, and then you think: ‘Well, how long is this going to last?’ You don’t really understand those concepts of death at the time.”

4. Poppy, Mars Attacks! (1996)

Not only did Poppy play the part of the Chihuahua whose body is switched with his owner’s during horrifying alien experiments in Mars Attacks!, he was also Tim Burton and then-partner Lisa Marie’s real life doggie. He put in a strong dramatic performance despite his lack of formal training.

Besides his film work, Poppy served as a model for numerous photos and drawings by Burton, who also often posed with him in interviews. You’ve got to admire his patience. I would have chewed these antlers right off.

3. Abercrombie, Vincent (1982)

In Burton’s first short film Vincent, Abercrombie is the titular character’s partner-in-crime. Little is known about him, but his look is really cool, and these wonderful verses are about him:

He likes to experiment on his dog Abercrombie 
In the hopes of creating a horrible zombie 
So he and his horrible zombie dog 
Could go searching for victims in the London fog

2. Zero, The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Zero the ghost dog belongs to Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King. Though his home is a kennel grave in the cemetery, Zero is inseparable from his owner, who uses his own ribs to play fetch with him…

1. Sparky, Frankenweenie (1984; 2012)

Sparky is brought back to life by his young owner Victor after being run over by a car.

Although played by a bull terrier in the original short film, Sparky is meant to be a mutt, and to represent the very essence of a dog: loving, innocent, and utterly loveable. In both films, Victor and Sparky make little films together, like my mummy and I.

The animated version is adorable, but I have a soft spot for the original Sparky, who did really well with a challenging and emotional part.

Click to view slideshow.

Screencaps and promotional photos courtesy of Anubis’ mummy. Extra screencaps for Frankenweenie supplied by the House of Two Bows.

Thanks again to Anubis (and mom) for sharing their knowledge. Look for more Anubis on a screen near you…

The House of Two Bows keeps a running index of movies blurbed on the site, annotated by breed. If you’re interested in writing a guest blog for a dog film, contact for details.

West Coast foxtails

M.C. — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:00:25 +0000

The lovely foxtails that glint and wave in the late afternoon light of April…

… dry up into evil spikes and fields a-prickle with danger in May.

Around this time, we see lots of local dogs wearing these field masks to prevent against accidental — and very expensive — foxtails snorted up the nostril or lodged in the eye. It’s not the most photogenic accessory, but it works, especially for pet owners who have already had to shell out something in the vicinity of $600 to extract errant foxtails from their sedated dog’s nasal cavity, as I have heard from a few who’ve lived to tell.

Thus far, the Bows have been sensible enough to keep these things out of their orifices (knock on wood). But sometimes even smart dogs have dumb luck. It’s another seasonal hazard, like winter driving or summer typhoons.

Curly tails are infinitely preferable to foxtails.

Bowpi vs. little fluffy dogs

M.C. — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:00:45 +0000

Bowpi seems to play best with the fluffy toy breed types that are approximately her size. They tend to have just enough zing to keep up, but aren’t large enough to completely overwhelm her.

Well, some of those puppies can still propel themselves with quite a bit of force!

REVIEW: Bugsy’s Box pet subscription service

M.C. — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:00:55 +0000

Product: Bugsy’s Box pet box subscription service
Quantity: One big box of treats, toys, and accessories
Price: $29/box for a single month, as low as $19/box for a six month plan, shipping to US or Canada included*
Ingredients and materials: All kinds
Company information: 1320 State Route 9 72228; Champlain, NY 12919
Web Presence: Online at Bugsysbox.com, Facebook, Twitter

Everybody’s doin’ the box… the subscription box, that is. We’ve gotten a chance to try out several pet-specific boxes now (see the list under “Mail Order and Other Services” on our reviews tab). The latest to pass through our mail slot is Bugsy’s Box, named after the company owner’s 3-year-old pug who, in their words, “simply takes our breath away while hanging around the office daily.”

How did Bugsy’s Box stack up?

Not very well, I’m afraid.

Disapproving pug is sad that his fellow pug brethren could not do better!

A typical assortment from Bugsy’s Box contains “5 to 7 items which are a variety of high quality, hand picked, well reviewed dog treats, toys, care items, healthy supplements, accessories and more surprises such as coupons which are often included as a bonus” (Bugsbysbox.com front page). Included in this month’s offering was the following:

Barking Bus animal cookies by Exclusively Dog, 1.5 oz box
YumZies mini training treats by Nootie, Barbecue Chicken flavor, 6 oz. pouch
Animal Safari soft toy by PetLou, 9″ size
Lightweight Loofa stuffingless plush by MultiPet, 12″ size
Fetch and Glow Ball by American Dog Toys, Size Medium
Incredibubbles by PetQwerks, Peach flavored 3 oz. vial
EcoDogPlanet Doggie Bags, 20 count box
Carob flavored wafer cookies by Exclusively Dog, 3 count sample pouch

The box seemed very full, with a descriptive preview card printed on nice paper, making a great first impression. I zipped off a quick note to the company representative acknowledging receipt, and let him know it could take us a few weeks to adequately try out everything before formulating our honest opinion.

Well as it turns out, our turnaround is much faster because there are several items in the box that do not make it past this human’s quality control checkpoint.

I’ll start with the edibles, always the most coveted prizes here at the House of Two Bows, and three of the eight items in the box. I was initially intrigued by the Barking Bus animal crackers in cute retro packaging. However, on closer examination, I was rather dismayed by the ingredients:

wheat flour, sugar, vegetable fat, corn syrup, salt, natural vanilla flavor, cornstarch, sodium bicarbonate, lecithin, garlic powder

The sample pouch of carob flavored wafer cookies, also made by Exclusively Dog, did not fare any better with maltodextrins, sugar, dextrose, and caramel color on the list, ingredients that I find to be completely unnecessary in dog treats. Despite the assertion that Exclusively Dog treats use “wholesome, natural ingredients” that are even kosher, I take issue with how they are NOT truly “specially formulated for dogs,” as claimed.

We’ve seen a similar trend of dog cookies that look (and smell) cloyingly like junk food for people at PetCo. Exclusively Pets doesn’t appear to use the same formula, but the physical products look awfully similar and follow the same concept.

Top: Exclusively Dog Barking Bus animal crackers; Bottom: PetCo Animal Friends bulk cookies

So this may not be the same thing, but it’s not exactly “hard to find at your local per [sic] store,” as the insert card claims. Since at least one of my dogs already has a hard time battling plaque and tartar, which is fueled by sugar, I would rather not feed these cookies at all.

It turns out that the highest quality edible in this box is the pack of YumZies training treats, of which there was a generous pouch. However, we’ve had these before, and unfortunately, we didn’t think much of them …

Okay, so maybe Bugsy’s Box finds its strengths in other categories. Even though the Bows don’t usually take much interest in toys, perhaps there’s something there to redeem the box. Four out of eight items, after all, are of this category. Let’s see which ones my dogs would choose first!

Since Peepsy likes to shred towel-like items, she must want the Loofa SMILE! plushy! Yes?? *dangle dangle*

Erm, no. Apparently I was misprioritizing her sleepytime by asking her to help review these items. It’s just as well that she didn’t care to put anything in her mouth, as both plushes, with their brightly colored dyes and embedded squeakers, are made in China. Like many conscientious pet owners, we have concerns about purchasing any Chinese-made goods that could possibly be ingested. Perhaps I’d be less adamant about this if the Bows were still teething pups ripping through a dozen toys a month or if we didn’t have other options for mental stimulation, like hiking and other outdoors activities.

The IncrediBubbles and Fetch and Glow ball fare marginally better, being made in Taiwan (a separate country from China with better manufacturing oversight). However, the irony is that the glow ball comes from a company that calls itself American Dog Toys (headquartered in Minnetonka, MN). This reflects badly on Bugsy’s Box when they claim on their insert that “our treats, care items and essentials are all made in the USA or Canada!”

Someone either forgot to edit the placard or didn’t screen the products carefully… At least all the food items, questionable ingredients aside, are made in the USA.

On a more positive note, the specially formulated, pop-resistant IncrediBubbles were so superfluous as to be endearing. I had never considered bubbles as an interactive toy before, let alone a light calorie treat! I mean, they’re peach-flavored, after all! Anyway, Bowdu was surprisingly interested.

… for a while.

I’ll definitely pull these out again for another photo day. It’s rather hard to blow bubbles and take pictures while trying to keep the soapy residue off my equipment. The PetQwerks site assures consumers that the formula is “non toxic,” but it does leave a sticky film that should be considered inedible, given how long it persists. Even an hour afterward, I found intact bubbles sitting on the lawn, and I was plucking plasticine bits off Bowdu’s fur the next day…

Speaking of persistent plastics, we’re down to one last item — poop bags from tapioca-based plastics, made in Indonesia, from Eco Dog Planet.

Dog owners always have a need for poop bags, so this is not a gift to be taken lightly. We like these because they are truly practical and ecological… but not particularly economical, at least not as the most worthwhile item in the entire assortment. For a $29 box (which is the month-to-month price), I expect to be wowed by more than a roll of poop bags that will be used up within a week in our two-dog household.

The overall value of this box, based on generous retail calculations, would be approximately $50, though it could be as low as $27 based on lowest Amazon prices and my estimates. Let’s compare to their going subscription rates (shipping included with all prices):

Month-to-month, single box rate: $29
3-month subscription: $23/box = $69
6-month subscription: $19/box = $114

So one would have to commit to at least a three-month gamble for this to make economical sense, if you like everything in the box. Alas, our experience based on one box does not make us very optimistic. Was this a fluke? I really don’t know. I do know, however, that there are several competing subscription pet boxes offering better deals at each price tier.

Bugsy’s Box has its work cut out if it wants to catch up with the competition.

FINAL GRADE: C+

* Note: The House of Two Bows received one box in exchange for our honest review. The opinions contained are entirely my own.

On Sunday evening, I e-mailed the company contact, who is apparently the founder, a summary of my criticisms, and offered to publish his response to accompany this review. I have received no acknowledgment as of the Friday morning that this review was posted. Lack of communication factored into my final assessment. Though this review may very well be buried by the search engines, we do not take the task lightly. We always prefer to see companies with demonstrable evidence of their good intentions or desire to improve, and I’m sorry we had very little to go by here.

The cost of things: April 2013 + Packlove.com invites

M.C. — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:00:30 +0000

This is my third year of tracking our pet finances here at the House of Two Bows. This is an ongoing effort to get a practical sense of what it costs to keep two 20 ~ 30 pound adult dogs in an area of the US with relatively high costs of living. Previous posts in this series can be found under the category of finances.

The Cost of (Pet) Things for March 2013:

Food: $66 [previous month, $72]
Treats: $11 [previous, $9]
Grooming: $7 [previous, $8]
Accessories and misc: $0 [previous, $0]
Vet & Medical: $0 [previous, $265]
TOTAL: $84 (running average for 2013 ~$162/month)

Kibble-wise, we seem to be swimming in a constant stream of Fromm’s. It helps that I’ve accumulated quite a few nice coupons, including the latest one for a free 4-pound bag of Salmon Tunalini with the purchase of any 12-pound bag. This happens to be my favorite Fromm formula (see review), so we stocked up on sixteen pounds of this grain-free, fish-based kibble.

I am intrigued by Fromm’s new grain-free Pork & Peas recipe, which we’ll probably try with the next coupon I’ve reserved. This month, I made the mistake of purchasing a small bag of the new Taste of the Wild Southwest Canyon formula, which hypes the Wild! Boar! in the recipe. In my mind, I had cleared it as a “pork-based” kibble, when it’s really no such thing. You’ve got to get through beef (first ingredient) and lamb meal, as well as several other ingredients, before you even get to the wild boar…

Wild boar mentioned 3 times. Beef, lamb, ocean fish, etc. not mentioned at all until list of ingredients.

Though it’s my fault for not looking carefully, I hate it when pet food companies do this. Grr…

Not that the Bows have been complaining. I’ve been feeding it in low ratios, generously cut with Salmon Tunalini. What a ridiculous protein medley though! The Bows usually don’t get beef at all (except a bully stick or some tendon every now and then, and some buffalo kibble for training). So far, their digestive response has been okay, so maybe this will work after all… but I still wouldn’t use it for our regular rotation.

Some yogurt, raw organs, and turkey parts rounded out the food purchases this month, as well as treats for the dehydrator. Also bought some Zuke’s dental chews that were half off on clearance. These are the first commercially produced treats I’ve purchased all year!

The most important, though slightly overpriced grooming item this month was this tick key.

After years of hiking, sometimes even in deep woods, and only two ticks in all our years, we ran into three ticks in the course of two days — one on Bowpi, one on Bowdu, and one on RJ. When I saw the first one, I drove directly to the nearest pet store and picked this up. It really does do the trick with minimal fuss, which was particularly important for Bowdu. Hopefully now that I have one, I won’t have reason to keep using it.

In other news, looks like the floodgates have been opened on Packlove.com, a new design-oriented social network for dog lovers. Lots of people are handing out invites lately. We have quite a few left too, so if you’re interested, just leave a comment with your e-mail filled out in the form (the e-mail will only be visible to me), and we’ll send you an invite ASAP!

The House of Two Bows can be found at:

http://packlove.com/Bowdu

http://packlove.com/Bowpi

Bowpi is also planted on the site somewhere other than her profile. Did you spot her yet?