Love of Dog Pet Nutrition and Training

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Love of Dog Pet Nutrition and Training

Mindful Training. Meaningful Enrichment. Nourishing Nutrition. All for the Love of Dogs. Learn more at www.loveofdogarizona.com
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08/29/2026

Honoring Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day with one of my favorite pictures of the friendship that started it all.

I miss you, sweet Leila 🌈

08/22/2026

Check out last night’s visitor! 🐸

This is a Sonoran Desert Toad (Incilius alvarius), sometimes also called the Colorado River Toad. They are one of the many amazing species we see here in Fountain Hills, especially after rainstorms near washes and other water sources.

They are also one of the most interesting and dangerous species around.

Those bumps behind his eyes? That’s not just a part of his exceptionally handsome physique - they’re actually called parotoid glands, and they serve a very important purpose to our amphibious friends. They are his defense mechanism. When threatened, these glands release a toxic, defensive secretion.

Here’s where things get ✨ trippy ✨ … one of the many active compounds found in Sonoran Desert Toad secretion is 5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), which - you guessed it! - is a psychoactive compound. They are the only animal known to produce this compound, and scientists still don’t know how they do it!

This chemical protection mechanism keeps them safe, but is genuinely dangerous to humans, dogs, cats, and most other species. The toxins can cause severe drooling, vomiting, lethargy, abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, and more, including death. So despite my desire to admire this guy from a close but safe distance, Winnie absolutely had to be put inside first. Thankfully I was able to find him again after putting her inside, which was when I was able to grab these pictures.

This guy wasn’t trying to hurt me, Winnie, or anything else (except the unlucky cricket or two). He’d much rather be left alone to wander the desert in search of food and mates than waste biological energy in defense mode. So, after admiring him and taking some photos, he got to enjoy the rest of his night in peace without a big scary human making googly eyes over him.

I love the Sonoran Desert. There’s always something interesting everywhere you look... Sometimes it happens to be a giant psychedelic toad 🐸 🌈

07/23/2026

Happy birthday Zeus!!

We celebrated by taking Zeus for a training session at Bass Pro Shop and then stopping for a treat at Pure Pawsitivity on our way back. Of course he was a perfect gentleman and truly seemed proud to be wearing his birthday hat 🎉😂

07/21/2026

Pet Safety and Arizona Summers

What does “safety first” actually mean when it comes to our dogs? 🧐

Living in Arizona with a young, highly active working breed means you have to get a little creative with physical exercise while still prioritizing safety. One of Winnie and my favorite ways to beat the heat is heading down to Saguaro Lake for an early morning or evening adventure. She gets to swim, sniff, splash, explore new environments, and burn off energy while staying cool in the water 🌊

Before we even leave the house though, we have a little safety checklist.

For the drive there:
- A mesh soft-sided kennel to keep Winnie safely contained and comfortable (a crash-tested kennel would be even better, but can be cost prohibitive for many families)
- RYOBI TOOLS USA portable fan on high with a fully charged battery clipped to the kennel to help keep air circulating
- Cooling gel crate mat for an extra layer of comfort
- Plenty of cold water packed for both of us
- A collapsible water bowl so she has easy access to fresh water throughout our adventure

Once we get to the lake…

🥾 Protective booties
Arizona isn’t exactly gentle on paws. Blazing hot ground temperatures, sharp sticks, cactus, fishing hooks, broken glass, and rough terrain are all things we can run into. Quality, well-fitted booties are a must-have to prevent serious injury to the paw pads. We got these ones from Pure Pawsitivity and I am so impressed by how well they stayed on!

🛟 A properly fitted life jacket
Even dogs that love the water can get tired, panic, or find themselves in deeper water than expected. I specifically chose one with chin support, which helps keep Winnie’s head above water if she ever became exhausted. The sturdy handle also makes it much easier to help her back onto the paddleboard or shoreline. This one is from GF PET.

📍Fi GPS collar
Hopefully I’ll never need it, but if Winnie were ever to get separated from me, having GPS tracking could make all the difference.

🏷️ Updated ID tags
Technology is wonderful, but batteries die. A simple ID tag with your current phone number is still one of the fastest ways to reunite a lost dog with their family.

🧡 20-foot Boss Dog Biothane long line
One of my favorite pieces of training gear. Winnie gets the freedom to sniff, splash, and explore while still staying safely connected to me. Plus, Biothane is waterproof, easy to clean, and doesn’t become a muddy, tangled mess. I found this awesome leash at Furrballz Healthy Pet Center!

💛 Bright, high-visibility colors
Bright colors make Winnie much easier to spot - for me and others - in the water, on shore, and around other people enjoying the lake.

🎾 High-value treats
Training doesn’t stop just because we’re out having fun! Every outing is an opportunity to reinforce recalls, engagement, and choosing me over distractions. I almost never leave home without treats (and if I do, it’s probably an accident).

🌶️ Pepper spray
Hopefully it stays clipped to my pack forever. It’s there strictly for emergencies whether that’s an aggressive off-leash dog, wildlife, creepy weirdo, or another situation where creating distance is the safest option. My goal is ALWAYS prevention and avoidance, but I like having another layer of protection available as a last resort if everything else fails.

Could we probably get away without some of this? Probably.

Will I take that chance? Nope.

Being prepared doesn’t take the fun out of adventures: it gives me the confidence to let Winnie be a dog while knowing I’ve done everything I reasonably can to keep her safe.

Train for freedom, but always prepare for the unexpected.

What items are on your dog’s adventure checklist? I’d love to hear your must-haves! 👇

07/14/2026

Winnie’s Dinnie!

Today’s bowl includes:

🐐 Carna4 Synthetic-Free Pet Food Goat – a minimally processed, whole-food base that’s naturally rich in nutrients, prebiotics, probiotics, digestive enzymes, and other beneficial compounds.

🐖 Smallbatch pets Lightly Cooked Pork – a gently cooked, moisture-rich protein that’s highly digestible while retaining the benefits of fresh food.

🐄 Lotus Pet Food Raw Green Tripe – packed with natural digestive enzymes, beneficial bacteria, and highly palatable for even the pickiest eaters.

🐇 Cooled Homemade Rabbit Bone Broth – adds extra hydration while supplying collagen and other nutrients that support joints and connective tissues.

🐓 Answers Pet Food Fermented Chicken Foot – naturally provides collagen, glucosamine, and chondroitin, plus beneficial probiotics from fermentation.

🥦 Flora4 (with Broccoli & Chia Sprouts) – an easy way to add fiber, phytonutrients, antioxidants, and whole-food variety.

🍄 Real Mushrooms 5 Defenders – a blend of functional mushrooms that support immune health and provide antioxidant compounds.

🐟 Veterinary Recommended Solutions Fish Oil – a high-quality source of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids to support the skin, coat, joints, brain, and healthy inflammatory responses.

☀️ Summer bonus: Goat, rabbit, and pork are often considered “cooling proteins” in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), making them popular choices during the hotter months for some dogs. While TCVM is different from conventional veterinary nutrition, many integrative veterinarians use these principles alongside evidence-based medicine.

The most important part?

Feed the dog in front of you.

Some dogs do best on dry food.
Some thrive on wet food.
Some need therapeutic diets.
Some benefit from fresh food toppers.
Some require complete homemade recipes.

There isn’t one perfect bowl, there’s only the bowl that’s right for that individual.

That’s why nutrition consultations aren’t about finding the “best food.” They’re about finding the best nutrition plan for your dog. Because every dog deserves a bowl built just for them. 🐾

Learn more about nutrition consultations at: https://www.loveofdogarizona.com/services/nutrition

07/11/2026

Zeus loved his enrichment session last week and was totally wiped after!

I just adore this big handsome guy..

07/10/2026

Please join us tonight as we toast to honor the life of my beautiful mother, Jill Keefe, co-founder Good Living Greens, at P39 Apothecary & Gifts here in Fountain Hills.

06/21/2026

Isn’t my new friend Zeus just adorable?! He was definitely ready for his glamour shot 📸 If he had hair it would definitely be blowing in the wind like a supermodel’s!

His dad - who is a photographer - took this great picture of him at beautiful Fountain Park and has kindly allowed me to share it with you. It’s just too cute not to!

Zeus is a big lovey meatball and I’m really enjoying training him. He has so much love to give but definitely has NO idea how big he is…. We’re working on it 😂

Good boy, Zeus! ⚡️

~~~

06/07/2026

Jinkies! Our pets can feel like total mysteries when it comes to their quirky behaviors, decoding food labels, finding an enrichment routine that works, and everything in between.

Well we’re not splitting up for this one, gang! We’ll solve this mystery together!

Learn more at https://www.loveofdogarizona.com

06/01/2026

Happy Pride Month! 🌈

You are seen, heard, welcomed, safe, and loved here.

No exceptions. Ever.

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Fountain Hills, AZ
85268-85269

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https://www.loveofdogarizona.com/

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