Friday, December 9, 2016

4 ways Natural Balance dog food helps you buy with confidence #WeBelieveinNB

Last week, we talked about why Lulu and Jasmine are on a Limited Ingredient Diet. We use food like Natural Balance® because the company uses simple ingredients, a single source of animal protein and no grains.

But one thing we love about Natural Balance is how well they make sure their food is OK for my dogs. It's called the Buy With Confidence™ guarantee, and there are 4 steps to it.
If you're buying dog food, make sure it's safe!

This post is sponsored by Natural Balance® and the BlogPaws® Professional Pet Blogger Network™. I am being compensated for helping to share our thoughts about why we believe in Natural Balance as a quality food for our (dog(s) or cat(s), Life With Beagle only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Natural Balance Pet Foods is not responsible for the content of this article.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Need a Limited Ingredient Diet? Buy Natural Balance with confidence #WEBelieveinNB

We are a Limited Ingredient house. Lulu and Jasmine have long been on simple formula diets with single animal proteins and no grains. And we like Natural Balance's® Limited Ingredient Diet.

The great high quality proteins in Natural Balance LID formulas are great for dogs.

This post is sponsored by Natural Balance® and the BlogPaws® Professional Pet Blogger Network™. I am being compensated for helping to share our thoughts about why we believe in Natural Balance as a quality food for our (dog(s) or cat(s), Life With Beagle only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Natural Balance Pet Foods is not responsible for the content of this article.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Pet Bite Prevention Week: 5 things you need to share

Today we're talking about something extremely important that everyone should know about. And I'm asking that you share this info with everyone you know.

How many times have we all heard: "oh my dog is a good dog. I can't believe they snapped like that?"

How many times have we all said: "oh my dog is a good dog. I can't believe they snapped like that?"

Any dog can bite.

Let me repeat that.

Any dog can bite.

Any shape, any size, any breed, any age.

Monday, May 16, 2016

"Underwater Dogs" with Seth Casteel: an afternoon in photos

Ever heard of Underwater Dogs?

The book series includes great, funny and fun pictures of dogs diving after toys under water.

The photographer, Seth Casteel, sometimes does private photo shoots all over the country.

I had the rare privilege to watch photographer Seth Casteel take some of his Underwater Dog pictures at a photo shoot in Orlando.

Check out some of the photos I took from the shoot!

Underwater dogs
Seth Casteel sets up a photo with Charlie.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

6 steps to take before you free a pet from a hot car

Summer approaches, people.

Actually, forget it. If you're in Florida, summer is already here. Temperatures are in the 80s and they will only go up from here. So will that wretched heat index.

We are now in that period where leaving your pets in the car is dangerous, maybe even deadly.

In 2016, Florida lawmakers passed a bill that will protect people who damage a hot vehicle to rescue a human or a pet from criminal liability or lawsuits. But that doesn't mean you should just go charging in, breaking windows.

Find out what steps you need to take if you find yourself in this situation.

Don't break into a hot car to save a dog until you take these steps

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Adopting or buying a pet? New site lets you review dog merchants

Rescue enthusiasts celebrated National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day on April 30 -- a day when we raise awareness about dogs who need good homes who languish in shelters.

Pure breed dog lovers celebrated National Purebred Dog Day on May 1, "celebrating the heritage, diversity and predictability of the purebred dog."

No matter what side you fall on in the debate over adopting a pet vs. buying a pet, we can all agree that you should make sure you are buying or adopting from reputable breeders, shelters or rescues.

A new site wants to help people do just that. And they need your help!

Rate rescues, shelters and breeders


Thursday, April 28, 2016

Why I will continue to hug my dog (and she'll hug me)

Confession time: I hug my dogs. 

Or rather, they seem to want to hug me. 

Earlier this month, a story by a popular writer on dog behavior threw my habit of hugging into question, as bloggers and websites everywhere treated this writer's "study" as absolutely gospel.

Well guess what? I'm not going to pay this writer any mind. And if you and your dog like to hug, you shouldn't either. 

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Wordless Wednesday: Breaking in the new car with a trip to the park

We got a new car!

This is Frankie.

Someone hit my car a few weeks ago, and we needed a new one. We got a beautiful Hyundai Elantra from Orlando Hyundai!

After about a week of getting used to her, I finally let Lulu and Jasmine check her out. So we took a drive out to Lake Baldwin Park!


Monday, April 18, 2016

7 facts about domestic violence and pets

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month.

Readers of Life With Beagle will know we take a special interest in one particular form of animal cruelty: domestic violence.

This coming Saturday, Harbor House of Central Florida, Orlando's domestic violence shelter, is hosting a walk to raise money for the Paws for Peace Kennel, a refuge for the pets of domestic abuse survivors.

Here are 7 reasons why this kennel is needed in Orlando -- and why more like it should exist all over America.




Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Barkbox and Sherlock Homes: Unboxing video

Who has a Barkbox account?

We signed up in December, and we especially love this month's theme. So much so that we are going to unbox it for you right now.


Sunday, March 27, 2016

In Lulu's words: The Easter Beagle returns

Hello, everyone, Lulu here.

Hope you are all having a wonderful Easter. As you can see, I am the Easter Beagle. Again.

This year, though, I'm not giving mom a hard time about it.

For one thing, she did try something different. She bought these giant eggs, and was going to have the cat hatch out of one.

But Galadriel wasn't in the mood, no matter how much food mom put in the egg.


Today, Mom decided to buy some plants for Easter.  Vegetables and things, she says. She was carrying this big bag of fancy dirt through the house to the backyard, and all of a sudden she screamed and dropped everything and was freaking out!

There was a bug on her. A big ugly bug. The kind Mom is really scared of.

So she had to kill the scary bug, and get the bag outside, and there was another one in the bag. So she dumped the bag in the garden and was running all freaked out. Then she jumped in the shower. She was all hot and sweaty, but she was really freaked out about the bug being on her. Which I get. I don't like bugs on me.

And now, she has a migraine. And none of us fur-kids want to play with these Peeps things she bought us at Pet Smart.

So I decided to be a good Easter Beagle this year. No complaints about the ears. Mom deserves a break. She's a good Mom, even if she is a little crazy.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Thursday, March 17, 2016

9 great dog companies we found at Global Pet Expo: Day 1

It's Global Pet Expo week!

Thousands of pet companies from all over the world are showing their new and popular products.

Here are 9 our favorites from day 1 of Global Pet Expo.


Thursday, March 10, 2016

Beagles at the ballpark: How to take your dog to a baseball game this summer

Take your dog to the ball game, take your dog to the parks!

Buy them a hot dog, no Cracker Jacks.

Grab their leash tight at the crack of the bat.

And it's AROOOOOO! AROOO for the home team

If they don't win it's a shame!

Cuz it's one, two, three strikes you're out at the old ball game!

It's baseball season! Spring training is underway for one of America's grandest past times, and the season will open soon enough.

Dogs Days at baseball games
Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Rays.
In the last few years, man's best friend has joined forces with Major League Baseball. Baseball teams have hosted Dog Days and Bark at the Park events across the country. And 2016 is no exception!


Monday, March 7, 2016

5 things to know about dogs and sleep

NOTE: Serta and Branded Pet Beds are proud sponsors of Life With Beagle's Lulu's Favorite Things campaign, benefiting Harbor House of Central Florida. The 2016 Paws for Peace  walk is this April. Join and help fight domestic abuse.

UPDATE: The giveaway ended March 15, 2016.

This week is National Sleep Awareness Week.

So how aware are you of how your dog sleeps?

Here's 5 things to know about dogs and sleep.


sleeping dogs and a giveaway

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

PHOTOS: Playing with pups at Paws in the Park in Orlando

I've been away, and I've let the blog go.

You see, back in May I was diagnosed with bulging discs in my lower back. After several months of physical therapy I was starting to feel better.

Then just after New Year's the pain flared up again. I was very miserable, and it took weeks to feel better. Then I got sick.

Between that and regular life it's been tough to get back to doing this. But I want to get back to it.

So I'm making a late New Year's resolution: from now on, three posts a week! It's a promise. And I also promise to get back to doing what I started this blog for: to tell stories about my crazy dogs.

This past weekend Lulu and I went to Paws in the Park in Orlando! The annual event benefits Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando (where we adopted Lulu all those years ago!).

Pet Alliance is an animal shelter, but it's also an organization that tries to help pet lovers in the community so that people have happy, responsible relationships with pets.

Take a look at some pics of our adventure.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Limited ingredient diets for allergy-suffering dogs #naturalbalance

When it comes allergies, diet can be everything.

Jasmine gets quite itchy when she eats things she shouldn't. Her skin also gets dry and flaky if I let it go too long. She'll scratch and scratch, sometimes all night. That's why we've been sticking to limited ingredient diet dog foods -- like Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets®.
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets available at PetSmart

Monday, January 11, 2016

Lottery dreams: How to open a non-profit for dogs

Congratulations! You've won the Powerball jackpot! You're a millionaire!

If you're like some of the many dog lovers I've met, you dream of opening a shelter, rescue, sanctuary or some other non-profit for pets. You thrill at the idea of opening all the cages at the pound and piling them into your car and taking them to a new home.


I'm sure you're also aware that it's not as easy as that.

 But if you have the cash to make your dream come true, we have the information to help you get started.