Weekend Donna & My Urban Pet

From 9 to 11 November, at Fiera Milano Rho (Weekend Donna) this year will also feature "My Urban Pet". The event, designed by Italia Crea, will be dedicated to the woman. It will range from the creation of cakes, dance, DIY to the animal world.

The event is designed to entertain all the family members (don't worry husbands and boyfriends, there will be exciting activities for you too!) but it will be particularly focused on women's passions, including our beloved furry friends!

Thus, one stands on, there will be the chance for us to get advice from experts and browse through the various accessories available:

• grooming
• education
• supply
• health
• accessories

In addition, a series of very interesting events will be organized, such as "Pets in comics."

We will be there, what about you?

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Dal 9 all'11 novembre, presso Rho Fiera Milano, all'interno dell'evento Weekend Donna, da quest'anno sarà presente anche "My Urban Pet". La manifestazione, ideata da Italia Crea, sarà interamente dedicata all'universo femminile. Si spazierà dalla creazione di torte alla danza, dal bricolage  al mondo animale. 

L'evento sarà volto ad intrattenere tutti i membri della famiglia (tranquilli mariti e fidanzati, ci saranno attività interessanti anche per voi!) ma sarà particolarmente incentrato sulle passioni femminili, tra cui i nostri cari amici pelosi!
Così, tra stand dedicati, ci sarà la possibilità per noi di ricevere consigli da esperti e curiosare tra i vari accessori proposti:

• toelettatura
• educazione
• alimentazione
• salute
• accessori

Inoltre, verranno organizzati una serie di eventi molto interessanti, come per esempio "Gli animali nei fumetti".

Noi ci saremo, e tu?

Pet Shopping

Fortunately, I've never been a shopping addicted, I have never forced my boyfriend to spend whole Saturdays glued to the windows of the shops and I often go to the mall just for the air conditioning.

Since Zelda arrived however, my habits have definitely changed. I'm always looking for new gifts for her, new products to try, new harnesses, new toys. Things that are not absolutely necessary and which contribute only to make Zelda a dog even more spoiled than she already is.

But the fact is that we have to remove certain satisfactions, haven't we?
Here are some of the most delicious things I've found on the web.

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Fortunatamente, non sono mai stata una shopping addicted, non ho mai obbligato il mio fidanzato a passare interi sabati incollati alle vetrine dei negozi e spesso vado al centro commerciale solo per l'aria condizionata.

Da quando è arrivata Zelda però, la musica è decisamente cambiata. Sono sempre alla ricerca di nuovi regali da farle, di nuovi prodotti da provare, di nuove pettorine, di nuovi giocattoli. Cose che non sono assolutamente indispensabili e che contribuiscono solo a rendere Zelda un cane ancora più viziato di quanto già non sia.

Il fatto però è che certe soddisfazioni ce le dovremo pur togliere, o no?

Ecco alcune delle cose più sfiziose che ho trovato nel web:

L'ora del bagnetto - Bath time

BATHING

Every time I think about washing the dog, I think of the classic movie scenes in which it is the human to take a nice shower and the bathroom is devastated.

At least in this, I am very lucky: Zelda LOVES water and she lets me wash her willingly. If you are not as lucky as me, here are some simple tips that I hope will make this process a little 'less problematic' for you.

The skin of the dog is not like ours, so it would be best not to overdo it with too frequent washing! Two or three bathrooms per year should be sufficient!

First, it is essential to have at your fingertips everything you will need to make your four-legged friend clean and fragrant:

• Brushes or combs
• Shampoo or natural Marseille soap (absolutely DON'T use your shampoo!)
• Various products specific to dogs you intend to use before or after washing
• Sponge
• Towels
• Hairdryer
• Tasty morsels

Before proceeding, I suggest you to carefully brush your animal, so that during rinsing, he will not lose too many hairs (remember that it is normal for the dog to lose a little hair, even if not in season).

You have to decide where you want to wash your dog, whether inside the bath, in a tub that you put inside the tank or outside,...

• Start by placing your friend in the tub, maybe trying not to shake him  too much. With showerhead, pour WARM water around the body starting from the bottom and leaving the head dry. Only when the hair is impregnated with water, proceed with washing.

• Soap up thoroughly the coat of the dog, the spaces between the toes, tail and belly. Take advantage of this time to thoroughly check the condition of the hair and skin (dull coat, skin without hair, abundant hair loss,...) and if you find there is something wrong, talk to the vet!

• Rinse thoroughly the coat of your dog, taking care to remove all traces of shampoo from the hair. BE CAREFUL not to get water in his eyes or ears!

• Now switch to cleaning his head. Dogs do not particularly like water directly on the face, then with a little bit of shampoo, gently cleanse the head and neck using the sponge, and rinse thoroughly (always paying attention to his eyes and ears).

• Keep in mind that nothing in the world is friendlier than a wet dog, so wipe him with a towel and apply any products for the luster of the hair before drying with an hair dryer. If the weather permits, you can prefer to take a walk in the sun rather than "traumatize" your dog with an hair dryer. But if you have no other choice, get an appetizing morsels to use as a reward when he is quiet. Pay particular attention to the area of the tail and neck, but ALWAYS keep the hair dryer at a minimum distance of 20 cm to not burn the dog.

If you realize that during the whole process your dog is very scared, consider taking him to a professional groomer. You will avoid to stress yourself and to traumatize him. The result will be perfect.

QUICK WASH

If your dog smells or he is dirty, but it doesn't seem to be the case to give him a real bath, you can use this method to clean up its mantle surface in a natural way and remove the smell.

You will need:

• A sponge
• A tub
• White wine vinegar
• A towel

Prepare a solution of warm water and white vinegar (with Zelda I use one part vinegar to five parts water), soak the sponge with this solution. Now, using the well wrung sponge, cleanse the mantle of the animal until the dirt and the smell will be gone. Dry rub gently.

The hair is shiny and I assure you that the smell fades completely.

Try it!

Biscotti per cani - Dog Cookies

Ikea cutters - 5.99 €

Yes, I finally succumbed to temptation and I prepared homemade cookies for Zelda. All those that I used to bought contain corn or corn oil, and in this period of food intolerances, I want to be absolutely certain of the foods that Zelda puts in her mouth.
So, I armed myself with a lot of patience (I'm hopeless at the kitchen!), I bought the cutters (strictly Ikea!) and I started to mess around with the ingredients.
Here's what I've done...


INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup of bran
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons sesame
• 1 apple
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• water as needed

PREPARATION:

• Mix bran in a blender until a coarse flour
• Peel and grate the apple until you get a thick gruel
• Mix all the ingredients together until you get a smooth and homogeneous ball
• Roll out the dough until 4/5 mm thick
• Cut the dough
• Put the cookies on a baking pan covered with parchment paper
• Bake at 150°C for 45 minutes
• After baking, let the cookies cool in the oven until the next morning. The biscuits will thus become very hard, suitable for cleaning the teeth of your dog

I have to say that Zelda has much enjoyed my new recipe, she has been in the contemplation of the oven all the time.

The fact remains: I am an amateur cook! So, I smeared with egg all I could get dirty...
And while Zelda isn't a reliable taster (if she could, she would eat the legs of the table!), even Pluto, Paco and Tecla at the park have very much appreciated my cookies!

Zelda viaggia in treno - Zelda travels by train

I still remember the first time I saw a French Bulldog. It was Sunday and I was at Milan Central Station to catch the train and go to Turin. Since I did the same route every week, I knew that the first cars were full and the last empty. So, as I walked to get the car further away, I glanced at the seats crammed with people and I saw a little black monster with huge ears sitting on the lap of a guy. I thought, "God that bad! How can you get a dog like that?" and at the exact moment when I finally reached my seat, I was already in love with that little monster looking at me with his head tilted.

From that Sunday, it was an obsession. I really wanted a dog and I really wanted a small Frenchie. The problem was that I looked like the only one to desire it so much. After nine months of insistent drilled head, my dad, exhausted, finally succumbed, and April 6, 2012, Zelda has become part of my life. Already after 2 hours I had she into my arms, I began to wonder how I had done for 22 years without her.

Unfortunately for my baby, I live in Milan but I attend the University in Turin and then every weekend we back and forth on the train.

I thought it was an impossible task, however with the right organization, we became able to also handle this.

Here's what you need:

Trixie Trolley Elegance - 60/75 euros

• Read the conditions of transport on the Trenitalia website.

• A dog registration certificate (or dog "passport" for travellers from outside Italy) because if you are surprised without it, the fine is expensive and  you are forced to get off at the first stop.

• A cage 70x30x50 is not necessary, but if your 4-legged friend is fitted with, he is admitted free both the first and the second class of all classes of trains (the one in the picture is ours).

• In the event that your friend is not a small size, it is still permitted to get on on a large number of trains with muzzle and leash and paying the ticket price reduced by 50% (please refer to the Trenitalia site to check on what specific trains whether or not your dog is permitted).

Bottle - 2/16 euros

• It would be appropriate to also bring fresh water, because as far as I am sorry to say, the air conditioning on the trains is ALWAYS BROKEN. For Zelda, I opted for a simple bottle resealable you can easily find in all pet stores. They come in various sizes and colors.

• An emergency kit, because if you take a train, you go somewhere and the dog may not always be well. In our kit, there is a thermometer, anti-vomiting drops, a tablet for gastro-intestinal absorption (you never know when things can pick you up!), a couple of antibiotic tablets, vials of saline and a vial of lactic acid bacteria. Unfortunately, not all pharmacies have the necessary medicines at home, and often you need to book them and wait for them to arrive.

Travel set - 10/15 euros

• A bowl and a little of kibbles to allow your friend to have a snack just arrived at your destination. In the market there are some very funny combinations that allow you to easily carry bowls and kibble.

• An hygienic mat, especially if your dog is still a puppy and you are going to hold him on your lap (during the first travels with Zelda I did so, paying the ticket of course!).

• A toy to entertain the dog at least in the first few minutes of the trip. Dogs tend to not like to travel a lot and soon they fall asleep, but at least in the first few minutes, something familiar will definitely be useful to help him "settle"!

BON VOYAGE!

Parliamo di... Crocchette! - Let's talk about... Kibbles!

Like many other unfortunate dog owners, I had to let my dog try ​​a variety of kibble before finding the right one for us (and I'm not sure we found them).

First of all, let me explain step by step what pushed me to always seek new kibbles, different kibbles, better kibbles.

From an early age, Zelda has always scratches herself a lot on the back and on the area of the eyes and muzzle. Once we knew that it was not fleas, it has been suggested food intolerance. As you know, the meat that we eat every day comes from factory farms, where animals are pumped full of antibiotics and vaccines to "fatten" earlier. Generally, a chicken we eat from one of these farms is about 35 days, practically a puppy. When we ingest chicken or turkey, of course, we also ingest antibiotics and vaccines that, fortunately, don't have any negative effect in the short term on us. But on our animals they have, especially those a bit too delicate like Zelda. In most of dogs' food, there is just dry chicken and turkey as the main form of protein. What happened to Zelda for months, before disposing of all the chicken kibbles that had eaten, was throwing up after every meal.

I think it is important to choose only quality dog food for our friends, even better if from your own Country and from animals that have not undergone intensive farming.

In detail, just got home, Zelda ate the kibbles that the breeder had used, ie specific kibbles for French Bulldog by Royal Canin. She basically fasted until I changed them. She used to eat 6 kibbles per day and just because I fed her with my hands. There is also to say that the very particular form in my opinion is not suitable for puppies of 2 months old, too big and "edgy". Not recommended!

In desperation because my baby of 1.8 kg was not eating, I ran to the pet store looking for something different to try. Fortunately, just arrived, I realized that the store was full of stands of Eukanuba and a very kind girl filled me with samples of dry food for puppies that Zelda has literally worshiped! Right size, tasty... Seemed perfect! Too bad that after a few days Zelda has begun to spew after every meal!

So, I brought again my little baby to the vet, who advised us specific kibbles for intestinal problems by Hill's, the i/d which in theory should reduce the regurgitation of Zelda after the meal. At the fourth package, I still had not noticed any improvement so I decided to document elsewhere. Speaking with many owners of Frenchies but especially English Bulldogs (certainly more experienced than me), I realized that Zelda was probably just allergic to the chicken, so I decided to "throw" ourselves on other kind of meat.

It was just like this that we discovered Trainer and we both fell in love with it. Unfortunately, the specific line for puppies is really not supplied, the croquettes are or duck or fish, while the line for adults, in addition to having different types of meat such as horse, lamb or rabbit, is also broken down into the various problems of the dog (overweight dogs, anorexic dogs, heart problems, etc.). Since Zelda did not seem to appreciate particularly the seafood, we opted just for the duck kibbles. Zelda has stopped being sick after every meal, but it has not stopped scratching, and indeed, the itching seemed to grow more intense.

The search for the perfect kibble has become really hard, we tried again and again with more and more brands without the itching would stop. Zelda scratched more and more under the chin, around the eyes and into the ears. We tried the Extra Dry Food, both rabbit and pig without getting the slightest result (really expensive kibbles with a really bad packaging! What sense does the cardboard box around the classic aluminum bag have? Just to produce other waste?) and from the new line of kibble Natursan we tried both horse and trout. But even with these the itching hasn't stopped (I am sorry, but I couldn't find the English sites).

When we realized that these were not even beginning to produce the desired effect, we went back to Trainer, this time opting for the fish line.

After that, the surprise: a beautiful purple patch without hair right in the middle of the back between the shoulder blades! Another visit to the  veterinary (We are always to the vet!) and the good news: dermatitis!

As it is a very recent thing, we don't know from what has been caused, but it is highly likely that it is a food intolerance.

Armed with good will, we got to read all the ingredients of all the kibbles trying to see if there was any ingredient in common  to eliminate that as well. To my surprise, the corn could be the only ingredient impeachable!

So, with the help of many other unfortunate dogs' owners, we found anItalian kibble, no corn, using only fish caught and not farmed, created by a team of veterinarians, who until that moment I had completely snubbed: Forza 10 (=Strength 10).

We're using it for a couple of weeks but I've already noticed small improvements... Have we found the right ones?

PS = Many people, after hearing all this long history have asked me why I do not cook at home for Zelda. I am not even able to make a cup of coffee. The only time I tried to give her a little meat, She left it in the bowl to become dry. I would say she was very clear!

Come prepararsi all'arrivo di un cucciolo - How to prepare yourself for the arrival of a puppy

As for the arrival of a child, you need to prepare yourself for the arrival of a puppy, you have to know what to buy and most of all, you have to know how to deal with the new little fur ball.

• First, it is essential to choose a name, which should be neither too short nor too long (generally the commands that you give to the dog are single syllable, then the name should have a maximum of three syllables). It is also important to remember that the dog can recognize the sound and not the words, so you need to choose a name that doesn't resemble one of the commands that you are going to teach to your puppy (Zelda hears no difference between "Zelda" and "Elda"). On the Internet there are many pages that offer suggestions for the choice of the name.

• A comfortable bed, whether you choose to let the dog live inside or outside. With regard to indoor kennels, the choice will be very difficult, as there are of every kind: pillows, cots, wicker baskets,... The important thing is that it is comfortable and positioned in a "tactical" place. It is generally recommended to put it in a quiet place and not busy, but I have noticed that since very very young, Zelda preferred to sleep on the floor in front of the door just to monitor the house than on her warm pillow. At that point you might as well move the kennel in the living room... As regards the doghouses for the outside, it is important that they are solid and robust. You have to choose the right size, so as not to disperse heat and to allow the dog to move smoothly. It would also be appropriate to choose a removable dog-house to allow us to wash them every now and then! On the web, I saw that there are even dogshouses that are heated with the power adapter and I think this could be a great idea to protect our friend from the cold winter coming!

• With the arrival of winter, it might be a good idea to buy a cover or a sleeping bag to keep him warm on the nights of frost.

• Collar/harness and leash will be necessary to bring your new friend outside, although at least until vaccines completed, you need to be VERY careful where you let him smell! It is important to choose the collar or harness of correct size, to avoid that the dog is able to "escape" or that he can be strangled. As for the leash, the extending ones are not recommended until the puppy has learned to walk beside you and not five meters ahead.

• The medallion with the name and the phone number is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, it must always be attached to the collar or harness of your puppy because it is faster to find you through that than through reading the microchip. In the market there are of all kinds: from dices within which you write manually the phone number (prices generally do not exceed € 3) to the engraved ones in metal, depicting your favorite breed, or bones, hearts , etc. (prices range from € 5 for the simplest to € 16 for those with race on).

• A dispenser of hygienic bags to collect souvenirs of your friend, because no matter how unpleasant, in Italy if you are seen leaving droppings around, fines can be as high as € 250! Furthermore in recent years, these dispenser have been created in every shape and color, and they seem real fashion accessoriess!

• Two bowls will be needed from the very first day to allow your new friend to eat and drink. Here, too, it is important to choose well, because both models that the materials are many (and luckily!). First of all, they must be of the right size and anti tipping. The puppy should be able to take what's inside effortlessly! There are bowls made ​​of metal and plastic, design easier or more appealing. It's important to remember, however, that the plastic deteriorates with time, while the metal, in addition to being more durable, maintains the water more fresh. In the market there are also some very funny fountains that ensure that the water remains clean and fresh (and sooner or later I will buy one for Zelda). Let us remember in this context that we must always make sure that the water bowl is full and the water inside is not dirty or frozen! There are also particularly high bowls that allow dogs with long ears (such as Cocker) to drink or eat without them falling on his face all the time.

• In case you are expecting a little Frenchie, I recommend you to buy a mat to put under the bowls to "limit the damage" during the long process of watering (Zelda creates a real lake every time!).

• The choice of food, at least initially, will not be yours, because every time you go to get a puppy, the breeder provides a small package of food to which the dog is used to. If you want to change the type of food, remember that the change should be done gradually in 5-7 days! It 's always good anyway talk first with your veterinarian.

• Sanitary pads or newspapers will be used to accustom the puppy to soil where you want him to, though, from personal experience, the puppy does not distinguish a sanitary pad to a very expensive Persian carpet... So either remove all the carpets in the house, or immediately let him use the paper (although the paper does not absorb the pee but does it glide smoothly even on your floor!). There are available spray products to be used as attractants or repellents precisely suited for this purpose.

• Spray environments, because up to three months you can not wash your new friend, who surely will not come scented! If the smell is really unbearable, you can use a cloth dampened with water and white vinegar on the coat of the puppy, but only under consent vet!

• Some toys are useful, although the favorite sport of all puppies is sleeping! In the market there are all kinds: plastic, latex, rubber, fabric, beads, knots, buffalo bones,... The important thing is that the colors are different and maybe that they emit some funny sound. I think it's also important to get a KONG, ie a kind of hollow cone in which you can hide treats all kinds of biscuits, canned meat, pâté, etc... The game is to lick this delicacy Kong until the inside is worn out and in the meantime the mommy has gone to work or shopping and the puppy hasn't noticed anything! When the dog will become adept at this game, you can prepare a Kong and put it in the freezer so it will be more difficult to lick the content!

• In the event that your puppy arrives in the winter, it would be good to get a coat for the cold and a poncho for the rain, especially with dogs particularly affected by temperatures as Chihuahuas. If the puppy will come in summer, however, a nice cooling pad should be taken into serious consideration, especially if you have chosen a brachycephalic breed (Bulldogs, Pug, Boxer, ...).

• Moreover, it is almost a necessity to bring the dog in the car and therefore is well equip. You can purchase the appropriate seat belts that attach exactly like ours (I recommend to use ONLY with the harness!) Or the confortable car seats in soft fabrics and colors. 

• At a later stage, when the puppy will be a bit bigger, you may want to arrange nibbles for training and products for the care of the hair (shampoo, conditioner, brush, ...).

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR PUPPY!

Pettorina o collare? - Harness vs collar

I have to admit that I have always been one of those people who want to see the dog with the chain around his neck because they are aesthetically more appealing, but I must also admit that I've never dreamed to bring one of my dogs with the chain on. 

When Zelda was still only in my dreams, I spent hours and hours looking at pictures of French Bulldogs on Google and I really liked the photos of those wearing collars! On the other hand, the ones with the harness seemed ridiculous! So, when I entered the pet store to buy the first "layette" to Zelda, one of the first things that I had chosen was the collar. There were all kinds: leather, nylon, chain, choker with bows, sequins, ... 

I immediately removed the skin for ethical reasons, flakes and sequins because my puppy was too young to be carried to the park and I removed chains because, although I still think that they are the most aesthetically beautiful, I would have left a collar like that just to play in the garden (and never be attached to a leash!). In the end I left the shop satisfied of my nice pink nylon collar (yes, I'm fixed with pink!) imagining how it would look like on my puppy.

X-Harness

Unfortunately, my satisfaction was very little, because at the first walk I realized that the collar was not exactly what we needed! Zelda pulled more and more seemed to be choking. So, reluctantly, the next day I went to the pet shop to buy a harness. At the store there was only one type, the so-called X-harness, which I, ignorant and inexperienced, brought home.

As soon as I documented and read the various damage that this harness could cause, I had a moment of loss. With the experience I then realized that maybe certain information should be taken "with a grain of salt".

H-Harness

Why should you prefer harness to collar?

• Physical reasons: the dog pulling can bring SEVERE damage to the trachea or spine, fainting, paralysis. The conductor often tends to jerk the dog (and therefore the delicate area of the neck) to draw the attention of the dog.
• Behavioral reasons: the neck of the dog plays a vital role in the socialization (dogs usually sniff the ground to communicate with other dogs) and "controlling" this very important area we inhibit the natural behavior of our four-legged friend.

Which harness do you have to choose?

• X-harness: not recommended because it rubs against the blades of the dog causing the enlargement of the front legs (if the dog pulls, mind you!).
• H-harness: most recommended because it absolutely doesn't touch the dog's legs and moves the center of gravity back (as in an emergency case it is easier to drag away your friend).

In my humble opinion, if the dog knows how to be on a leash, you can carry around with a shoelace. Unfortunately this is not the case with me and Zelda!

Here where we live we can't find H-harnesses but only X ones, but we found a harness that is a sort of middle ground between the two and I literally love it. We like it that much that every time it becomes too small, we buy another one!

It's not the best for the center of gravity, but it doesn't irritate underarms and especially it doesn't peel off the hair! It is extremely easy to "pull up" Zelda when she has to go up or down from the car (link: http://www.pettorine-per-cani.it/leng-IT/pag-pettorine.htm).

Since Zelda is very rarely on a leash, this kind of harness seems really perfect because it is very easy to wear (ours are all pink of course, as you can see here: 

http://zeldathefrenchbouledogue.blogspot.it/2012/08/una-settimana-in-montagna.html).

Head Halter

Finally, even if it isn't a harness, there is a "head halter", which is recommended for particularly large dogs that tend to pull on the leash. This particular collar doesn't pull dog's neck, but il pulls the face and prevent your dog to carry you around the park each time you bring him out for a walk. I've never tried it, but it is highly recommended by dog training (the first time I saw one was in the Victoria Stilwell's TV show "It's me or the dog").