fromm's chicken with carrots and peas recipe treats for dogs are the real deal

Chewy, "where pet lovers love to shop" recently gave me the opportunity to try a new dog treat. You might think I'd jump at the chance without a second thought, but my pet is not a guinea pig–she's a dog–so I read the ingredient label before giving them the go-ahead to send it. U.S.A.-made Fromm's Oven-baked Chicken with Carrots and Peas Recipe Treats for Dogs were on deck, and this is how the label read:

INGREDIENTS: chicken, pea flour, potato flour, tapioca, whole peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), tomato pomace, cranberry, sweet potato, carrot, apple, split peas, green beans, green bell peppers, celery, beets, parsley, lettuce, watercress, spinach

Everything good and nothing bad? We're in!

While we waited for our treats to arrive, I did a little research about the Fromm Family Pet Food company. They declare themselves "the world's first and oldest family-owned and operated premium pet food company," which seemed a bold statement to make, but they have the history to back it up:

LOVE the vintage logo and packaging! Image courtesy of Fromm.

Since 1904, The Fromm Family has maintained a tradition of quiet innovation dedicated to the health and nutrition of animals. In the 1930's, The Fromm Family introduce the first canine distemper vaccine. In 1949, we introduced the concept of premium pet food to the public. As the country's first and oldest premium pet food company, we have earned the reputation as an industry leader, producing only the highest grade pet foods with the finest natural ingredients.

Based in Wisconsin, Fromm Family Foods is now in its fifth generation of being family owned and operated. We take great pride in this family commitment, as it ensures that our customers will continue to  receive superior pet food products now and for years to come.

For more than four generations, the Fromm Family has brought together veterinarians, biochemists, research specialists and food production engineers to formulate our pet foods.

N.A.S.H.A. was very excited when the package arrived. I verified the ingredients on the package and cracked it open. I knew immediately that they would be promptly rejected by my dog. She is the pickiest thing ever, and she won't eat crunchy treats. Hard kibble is fine, but her treats must be soft. She feigned interest. 

Great ingredients, and they sure do look good, mom!

She tried, but, like other crunchies, she left on the tile, which was a bummer, because these are some seriously healthy treats that I would love for her to love. Luckily, this week I've had a few other friends around to help me, and they gave these awesome treats their seal of approval. Check it out:

Darby's review. Blurry dog=excited dog. Treat consumed in 1.3 seconds.

Layla's review. Sitting pretty and being polite in hopes of having seconds and thirds. Treat consumed in one swallow.

Gypsy's review. Treat consumed along with a portion of my finger. 

Three out of four stars ain't bad, and I'm guessing that if I had more canine friends around, the positive reviews would keep rolling in. Bottom line, N.A.S.H.A. has odd taste. Don't listen to her. 

I would highly recommend Fromm's dog treats. This variety we tried was grain-free and made in the U.S.A. The treats contained high-quality, healthy ingredients, and are a great size. Not too big so your pooches can maintain a healthy weight while feeling indulgent. Isn't that what it's all about?

You can purchase Fromm's Oven-Baked Chicken with Carrots and Peas Recipe Treats for Dogs at Chewy.com along with other healthy Fromm pet foods and treats. Chewy.com offers a huge selection of healthy brands and offers free shipping with their convenient autoship service.

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Chewy.com provided me with a package of Fromm's Oven-Baked Chicken with Carrots and Peas Recipe Treats for Dogs in exchange for my honest opinion. Well Minded only reviews products that we think would benefit our readers. All opinions are my own. 

life after goldie and crystal: the happy ending

If you've been following our betta fish saga, then you know I left you hanging regarding the state of affairs. First my daughter Campbell lost Goldie, her fish of two years, and then she lost her new betta, Crystal, less than 24-hours after bringing her home. When I woke up early that morning and made the discovery, I had no idea what to say to her.

I had only moments to gather my thoughts. She came down the stairs, wrapped in her Mimi, ready to greet her new fish.

I intercepted her.

"Campbell, come here, please." I lifted her up and sat down in the dining room, putting her in my lap. I gave her a big hug and some kisses.

"What, Mommy?" she asked. "What's wrong?"

"I have some sad news, Cam. Some really, really sad news."

"What?"

"I'm not sure what happened, but Crystal died during the night." 

"WHAT?" she cried. "Oh, no!" She jumped off my lap and ran over to the shelf where she expected Crystal to be.

"I moved him over here, Cam, because I didn't want you to see him before I had a chance to tell you." I indicated to his tank on the kitchen counter.

"But..." she said, looking at him. 

"I know, baby. I looked online, and it seems that the baby bettas require a lot more care than the guy at the store told us. They are really fragile." 

Campbell was just super sad. She went through the whole mourning process, again, the same as before, so if we didn't clog the toilet the first time, we had a second chance. Once Cam settled down, I had a moment to deal with my own feelings. Not only had we inadvertently killed a creature, my child now would have to go through the morning process a second time. I was pissed.

But I decided to be polite when we returned to the store. I asked for the manager. I told him the whole story, though I didn't know what he could possibly do to make it better. "I would have preferred that your associate tell me he didn't know rather than this, " I explained.

The manager was kind. He apologized briefly to me and explained that he would speak to all of his associates about it, then went on to address Campbell. "What's your name?" he asked.

"Campbell."

"Well, Campbell, I'm really sorry for your loss. You must be very sad."

She nodded.

"I don't know if you're ready, but if you'd like to choose another betta fish, you're welcome to take any one you choose. I'll go over the care with you and your mom in detail so we make sure things work out this time."

"Thank you," she said. She set off to the betta display, and the manager escorted us, explaining about all the different types of bettas and their characteristics. He left us alone to deliberate, and my only rule was "no babies." Campbell thought and thought and looked at every single fish. She finally and decicively settled upon a "Rose Petal Male" with a silvery-turquoise body and large, crimson, petal-like fins and tail. The complete opposite of Crystal. The manager told her she made a fine selection. "That one's a $20 fish," he announced. She looked at him, confused, and though it wasn't the point, I still felt a slight bit of satisfaction in that.

When we got into the car, Campbell asked "is 'Roosevelt' a boy's name?" 

"Not only is it a boys's name, it's the name of two of our past presidents!"

"Really?! Then his name is Roosevelt, 'cause he's a rose petal fish." 

"That is the perfect name," I said. 

Roosevelt made it home safely with us, and he's been thriving on our betta shelf for a couple of weeks. Every morning when she wakes up, Campbell assesses his health. "Whelp, it looks like Roosevelt is doing great," she'll declare with a smile. Adult bettas are definitely easier to take care of than baby bettas."

And that, folks, is the moral of the story that finally seems to be having a happy ending. 

Roosevelt, our happy ending. 

If you missed the first part of our tale: 

goodbye, sweet goldie: losing my child's pet

life after goldie: a harsh lesson in betta care

life after goldie: a harsh lesson in betta care

As you know, my daughter, Campbell, lost her betta fish, Goldie, a couple of weeks ago, and then promptly asked when she could get another fish. In an attempt to cheer her up, I took her the very next day to choose a new companion. 

She looked and looked at all the options and considered which ones were looking at her longingly and which ones looked half-dead already. She declared that she'd like a baby betta. A red flag went up in my mind. Though we've successfully cared for adult bettas, we'd never tackled a baby, and I wondered what additional care might be involved. I told her that we'd need to speak to someone about it before she made a final decision, so the lady at the register sent someone over.

"How may I help you?" he asked.

"Well, my daughter has her heart set on a baby betta. Before we choose one, I want to make sure we can care for it properly. We've done well with adult bettas...is a baby much different?"

"Oh, no. Aside from feeding them one pellet per day rather than 2-3, the care is just the same," he answered.

"So we just feed it less, and we're good to go?" I confirmed.

"Yes, exactly. Let's set out all of the babies so she can choose the one she wants." 

Sounded simple enough to me, so we proceeded with the selection process. And–bonus–the babies were a mere $1.99. I could find that in my couch. Campbell selected a silvery-white baby and declared him a boy and named him "Crystal." She also selected a new pink plant and disco-style multicolored gravel for his dwelling.

We went on our way, and Campbell made sure to keep Crystal very still in the car. She took her mommy skills seriously. 

Crystal 

When we got home, we gave Crystal a chance to get used to his shelf, then transitioned him into his new little tank with all the trimmings. He swam around and seemed very happy. Campbell asked me how to spell "I love Crystal," and proceeded to decorate his shelf with paper cutouts of the phrase, along with some other cute ornaments. It was love at first sight, and my girl seemed really happy about the new addition.

Before going to bed, she tucked Crystal in and told him goodnight.

The next morning, Big and I were up at 4:00 a.m. for some such thing. "Oh, you got home late from work last night...you didn't see Crystal, yet." I was excited.

"I'm calling him Billy Crystal, by the way," Big announced as we walked over to the baby fish. "Oh, BLEEP," he said. "Please tell me he's sleeping." 

I made my way over to Crystal and gave the tank a little tap. And then I broke into tears. This could not happen again. "What do I tell her?" I cried. He didn't know. Crystal was on his side at the bottom of the tank.

I relocated the tank so Campbell wouldn't go right to it when she woke up and I'd have the chance to break the news to her gently. Then I hopped on the computer and Googled "baby betta care." What I found was not at all what the man at the pet store said. 

Betta Care Central said:

Unfortunately stores such as PetCo often times sell "baby betas" properly called betta fry. The reason I say this is unfortunate is that these fry are too young to be sold, most people do not know how to take care of them properly, and baby bettas have a weak immune system making them more prone to illness and disease. Baby betas have special requirements."

Betta Adventures said:

Like every other animal, babies are more high maintenance to take care of and require extra attention...

And so on. You get the point.

Though I should have done my own research before taking on the baby, I felt confident that the people helping us in the store would give us correct information. The gentleman who helped us seemed confident and gave no indication that I should seek other assistance. I felt angry. But I could deal with that later.

There was a more pressing matter at hand: how to break the news to Campbell.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

keeping your pooch hydrated with viva coco #review and #giveaway

The summers here in Phoenix, AZ are harsh. They're akin to extreme winter conditions elsewhere. Basically, everyone hibernates in their air-conditioned homes, and if we do have to go out, outdoor activities are kept to a minimum. It can be 120º + during the peak of the season. 

Keeping well hydrated in these conditions is essential. We're basically constantly sweating for three months of the year, so we have to be careful about dehydration. My family drinks coconut water as an alternative to regular water, so when I learned that such a wonder as coconut water existed for dogs, I was very intrigued. It's called Viva Coco, the all natural coconut water dog beverage. Aside from providing dogs with something a bit more exciting to drink than plain water day in and day out, the benefits of coconut water for dogs are akin to those for humans:

• 100% natural

• contains essential electrolytes for hydration

• supports a healthy immune system

• supports healthy bones and joints

• supports skin and coat health

I also love the fact that Viva Coco contains no GMO ingredients or artificial preservatives or flavors. Plus, it comes in powder form, which means it's convenient, environmentally friendly, and doesn't cost a boat-load to ship. Awesome.

But then, I wondered, would my picky dog go for it, or would she become ironically dehydrated in protest? When I mixed the powder into her water, I grew even more concerned. My girl refuses water if there's a tiny piece of food in it, so I didn't think for a million years that she'd drink this cloudy water. (Just like regular coconut water, this stuff is cloudy.)

Boy, was I wrong! She sniffed it, backed up, looked at me, and then went right for it! She told me by her enthusiasm that she was happy with it. I happened to have a client pooch staying with me at the time, so after N.A.S.H.A. drank half the bowl and walked away, our visitor went up to bat and finished it off. Taste test successful! 

I'm especially excited about Viva Coco because it would be a fantastic beverage to bring along our frequent hikes at South Mountain, which can be taxing even in the cooler months. I can feel good about giving it to my dog because it's natural and environmentally friendly, plus provides the essential electrolytes that plain water doesn't have. Good stuff, all paws up!

Viva Coco is generously offering a full pack of their coconut water powder to three well minded readers ($19.99 value each). Please enter for a chance to give it a try (open to U.S. residents only).

Cheers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Disclaimer: Viva Coco provided me with samples of their all natural coconut water dog beverage in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own. 

10 dogs who should not attend a pet expo

The littles and I had a fantastic time at the Phoenix Pet Expo yesterday. I spoke to several companies I was really excited about. Overall, I'm so happy to see the pet industry taking a more natural route. I learned more about products I'd seen before and got to speak to knowledgeable entrepreneurs about brand-new concepts. And, of course, we got to "dog watch," which is one of the best parts of going to the expo. There were majestic horse-like creatures (one we saw even had a saddle), scroungy little rat-like cuties, and everything in between. Some exhibited how well-trained they could be in such a chaotic environment. And some others...not so much. 

I know you can bring your dog to the pet expo, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should. I left N.A.S.H.A. home because it would have been selfish to bring her. She's gets pretty nervous in crowds, so she seems to attract dominant dogs, which only makes her more nervous. Sure, it would have been a blast to bring her and let her sample the new natural treats and try on tu-tus, but that would have been for us, not for her. She was much happier taking her siesta at home on the couch. I hate to dwell on the negative, but here are ten other dogs I saw at the expo that should have stayed home.

10 dogs who should not attend a pet expo. slogan source: Phoenix Pet Expo

the darter on a long leash–I didn't come here to get clotheslined. Rein it in.

the guy who was pissing on everything–And I mean everything. I've manned booths at pet-friendly events, and I always wonder why you allow your dog to lift his leg on the table cloth upon which I am displaying my information. Or worse, yet, on someone's leg. Yes, that happened yesterday.

the one who attacked another dog–The mobile veterinarian told me about this one. She attended the event to provide information and show off her complete office-on-wheels. She didn't bargain for severe wound care, but thank goodness she was there.

the one taking all the samples–It's simple sample etiquette. One sample per person. Not all dogs get that. Shame on the pet parent who thought it was cute to allow your pooch to devour the entire bowl of samples.

the one splashing all of the water out of the bowls–It was 104º yesterday. Sure, we were indoors enjoying the AC, but some of those pooches needed a drink. Don't let your dog be an a-hole and knock over all of the beverages.

the two in the stroller who would. not. stop. barking.–I don't like to stereotype based on breed, but you know the type. Little Napoleons brave within the confines of their screened-in box on wheels. I mean, seriously. I'm trying to have a conversation with someone, and there they are...yap, yip, yap, yip, yap, yip, yap, yip, and so on. I don't even know how they kept up their oxygen levels. And the owner did nothing. Perhaps he was deaf. 

the one who was jumping on all the kids–To be fair, he was probably jumping on everyone, but I noticed the kids because I saw two of them go down.

the one who was cowering–It's just cruel. Why don't you leave the poor dear home where she's comfortable?

the one who was aggressively lunging at every other dog–There were a couple of these, actually. I realize that not all dogs get along, and a couple of squabbles are to be expected in such an intense environment, but when there's one that's not getting along with anyone at all...well...perhaps there should be a bouncer at the pet expo. 

the one with diarrhea–Sure, maybe it caught you by surprise upon arrival, but maybe it's time to go. Like, now.

I blame the pet parent in each and every case. If you're going to bring your dog into this type of situation, you need to be able to control him, and he should be comfortable. Not all dogs are meant to be placed in a large crowd with lots of other dogs, people, noises, and temptations. It's a shame that so many people are too selfish to recognize that in their own animal.

At any rate, there were still plenty of well-behaved animals to interact with. And I swear I saw a few of them roll their eyes at the dogs that should not have attended the pet expo.