This year celebrates Woofstock’s sixteenth year of cuteness overload happening on May 25th and 26th at Woodbine Park in Toronto.
What is Woofstock?
Woofstock is the largest festival for dogs in North America, drawing tens of thousands of dogs and their humans together.
16 years ago, Woofstock launched in the Distillery District in Toronto’s East End, but quickly outgrew the limited location. It transitioned to the St. Lawrence Market neighborhood but outgrew that too. So, Woofstock chose Woodbine Park in The Beaches for their new location in 2013: Toronto’s most dog-friendly area in the city.
“We’re the leader of the pack,” says Teanna, one of Woofstock’s CEO’s on dog festival trends. “We’re recognized in Canada and abroad. The word is out that this is the place for ‘all things canine!’”
What can you expect?
Hundreds of vendors with all things dogs: from pet treats, accessories and products to doggy-training services and volunteer opportunities. From practical to frivolous you’ll find everything in between.
Ever wanted to dress your pooch up? This would be the weekend! You’ll see hundreds of pups and their parents in matching costumes.
Does your pup have what it takes? Woofstock boasts dozens of wacky contests, races, and fashion shows. Also, there’s a ton of cash prizes so you can splurge on your pet.
Celebrity Meet & Greets! This year introduce your pup to insta-famous dogs from across North America like Manny the Frenchie, Pom Pom Chewy and Dean the Basset.
Bullwrinkles has been a long time supporting of Woofstock. Make sure you stop by our booth to say hello!
On April 27th we celebrate World Vet Day, in honour of the men and women who dedicate their lives to helping us keep our pets and animals healthy, happy and safe.
Are you in search of a new vet? Maybe you’re thinking of adopting a pet - or recently did!? If you google “vet” you’ll probably find a ton of options at your fingertips. Choosing the right one is a little harder. So, we thought we’d share with you a little about the process of finding the right veterinarian for your pet.
The best way to assess the suitability of a vet or vet clinic for your pet is by going there yourself. Bring your pet so they can get a feel for the place, and for them to meet their potential new veterinarian. Below are the five things you should consider when choosing a veterinarian for your pet:
1. Environment
From the first call you make to book an appointment to when you and your pet walk in the door, feel out the environment. Start with reading online reviews of the facility - and then use your own judgment. Are the staff friendly? Informed? Professional? Does your pet get stressed meeting strangers? Consider how calm or boisterous the staff is. Is the vibe right for your pet?
2. Philosophy
There are some touchy subjects when it comes to pet health that can set people on edge, like euthanasia, chronic disease planning, to spaying and neutering. It’s important to make sure your philosophies are in sync, or you’re willing to hear altering perspectives. Asking your vet questions about these things can be difficult, but are a necessary part of choosing the right vet for your pet.
3. Availability
While a quiet clinic may mean free openings for all, it might not be a good sign. Empty clinics can suggest poor quality of care - so we’d opt for a busier clinic with a strong reputation. Usually, busy clinics have extra staff on-call for emergencies, so your pet won’t be unable to get care - it just means planning ahead for general check-ups or scheduling procedures.
4. Pricing
While every pet deserves the best care, not all of us can afford exuberant pricing. Ask your vet for general pricing or a price list, and inquire about payment plans. Of course, always be sure to purchase pet insurance in case of an emergency.
5. Your Pet
Don’t forget the most important consideration: does your pet like this vet? Introduce them and let them hang out for a little bit. Pets are usually a great judge of whether this new human is right for them or not. If they get along and meet the criteria above, you may just have found the person who’s going to help you keep them happy and healthy for the rest of their life.
Did you know dogs have eighteen different muscles controlling the movement of their ears? - and cats beat that number with thirty-two! By comparison, humans have only six. All of these muscles let their ears rotate and tilt, which helps them pick up more sound waves, more efficiently. They can even swivel independently of each other!
Speaking of ears, have you heard puppies are born deaf? They don’t gain the ability to hear until they’re about three weeks old.
Read more here!
It’s finally March which means it’s nearly spring and we’ve survived another long winter. At this time of year, a lot of people start “spring cleaning,” which means emptying out the garage and taking a scrub brush to the deep corners of our homes. Speaking of cleaning, March is Pet Poison Prevention Month and you know what is very dangerous for your pets? Cleaning products.
Pet Poison Prevention month is dedicated to keeping our furry friends safe - a time when vets and animal organizations remind us it's our job to keep our pets safe - and without making your home puppy proof, your pet could end up very sick or worse.
At Bullwrinkles we take pet prevention month very seriously because thousands of dogs are hospitalized each year by accidentally ingesting household poisons. Educating yourself is the best way you can keep your pet safe. The Pet Poison Helpline is a really helpful resource for both helping you keep your pet safe and also helps you recognize signs if your pet may have ingested something dangerous. Check them out here: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/
Here are a few things that are very dangerous for your pet:
For a full list talk to your Vet or check out the pet poison list here: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poisons/_
In honour of Pet Dental Health Month, we’ve put together some things you should know to keep your furry friends’ teeth clean and healthy.
1. Did you know full grown dogs have 42 teeth? All the more to love you with! But with many teeth comes many potential problems. A mouth that is full of plaque and tartar can lead to unhealthy teeth with a build up of bacteria that can actually enter the bloodstream and hurt your dog's heart and liver.
2. Take your dog to the vet to check out their teeth at least once a year. When you plan your own dental check up, think of your best friend’s too.
3. If your vet recommends a professional dental cleaning, it should include cleaning, any adjustments and potentially fillings or extraction if required. Get it done as soon as possible. Just remember your pet probably won’t complain about their teeth until it's far too late.
4. Between check ups, you can help keep your dog’s teeth healthy with treats and bones designed to help clean like Bullwrinkles Pork Flossers.
5. If you ever smell anything rotten in your dog's mouth, schedule a dental checkup right away.
If you take care of your pet’s teeth, they’ll keep smiling. Well, as much as dogs can smile. :)
Whenever we think about dog ownership we think about all the TRAINING that goes along with it. That is the ONE thing most people are deterred from with pet ownership, but it is so important to have a trained pet as it will make or break your relationship with them.
Here are a few reasons why you SHOULD put the time and effort into basic training:
Dogs thrive on routine. They LIVE for it! A typical daily routine for your pup usually includes eating, sleeping, and playing. Pretty great isn’t it?! Sleeping and playing are pretty straightforward, but a feeding schedule is something that has a few variables.
Typically, adult dogs are fed twice daily; once in the morning and once at dinner time. This usually correlates with most people’s work schedules and keeps an adult dog full throughout the day.
If you are the lucky one to be bringing a puppy home – congrats! Since puppies’ metabolisms are much higher than an adult dog and they have LOTS of growing to do, it is ideal for them to be fed 3x daily. In the morning, afternoon and dinnertime. With a working family, some choose to feed in the morning, after they get home from work, and closer to bedtime. This way their nutrients are split evenly throughout the day. (This is also a great way to feed a highly active dog as well!)
Some dogs aren’t big eaters and will pick at a bowl of food throughout the day. This is fine as long as their daily amount is measured out each day and the food is changed frequently to avoid it getting stale.
Meal feeding is helpful for digestion. The key here is that your dog’s DAILY amount of food DOES NOT change, it just is split into however many meals they will need. Lastly, be sure to provide fresh water at all times for your furry friend!
