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.

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.

After the flood: Keeping your pets safe

Much of the Tampa area has been under water! Check out the latest story from Bay News 9.

It rain for over two weeks non-stop. Many neighborhoods are flooded. The water is starting to recede, but you may still find places a bit waterlogged. And with snakes and even gators found all over the place, it's important to be safe when you go outside and when your pets go out.

Traveling with dogs? Practice summer road trip safety

We do love to travel!

Lulu loves car rides. Jasmine does too, though not as much. And what beagle doesn't love to sniff out new places.

But if you're going to travel with your pet this summer, there are some things you need to know to keep your pets from getting lost.

After all, the question "how did they spend their summer vacation?" should never be answered with a tragic story.

July is Lost Pet Prevention Month! 

#SummerofPets: Cool pet products and Pet 360's summer pet tips

The Dog Days of Summer are upon us -- which has nothing to do with dogs and everything to do with Sirius the DogStar.

And while for many of you the summer is half over, in Florida the summer goes on... and on... and on...

So how can you keep your pet cool and safe this summer while everyone is having fun? We've got a few ideas.

PET COOLING MAT

Time for a ride, but do you find your car is a bit hot?

The inside of a car is always hotter than the outside during the summer. Other surfaces can be hot in summer too, like maybe your pool deck, for instance.

The Cool Pet Mat is from the Green Pet Shop. The light blue pad has a non-toxic gel inside that, when pressure activated, cools you down. It lasts up to four hours, and it recharges itself once you're done. It doesn't need to be refrigerated, though you can put it in the freezer if you need recharge it faster.

The dogs weren't quite sure what to make of it at first, but eventually Jasmine sat on it. The pad comes in several sizes, and are great for cars, crates and other areas. I'm thinking of getting one for myself. Cars are hot for people too!

You can find the Cool Pet Mats at PetSmart, Amazon.com or on the Green Pet Shop website.

PAWZ

If you're like me and you have no choice but to take your dogs out between noon and two every day before work, you know that pavement can get pretty hot. Plus, when you're dog is outside on grass at parks or other place, lord knows what they can trod on.

 
PAWZ is a rubber bootie that looks like a balloon and slips on your dog's paws. I've tried other boots and Lulu was able to kick them off in seconds. But the PAWZ founder put them on Lulu at the last Global Pet Expo and ran with her. She didn't love them, but she couldn't get them off either.

They come in a lot of colors, and they can be reused over and over. But they are also disposable.

You can find PAWZ in most stores. 

KUMFYTAILZ

I've reviewed the Kumfytailz harness before.  It's a great harness designed to keep your pet hot or cold, depending on what you are needing.

The harness is designed with a pocket that comes with an ice pack that can also be heated in the microwave. The pouch is situated over the dogs chest, because that's where the dog's core is.

This year Kumfytailz improved their design, and it's even a better fit than it was before.

You get a Kumfytailz harness in a variety of sizes and colors. Head to the Kumfytailz website for more.

Now -- there's more to summer than just keeping cool. Pet360.com has created a great infographic with some helpful reminders:

 Head to Pet360.com for more tips PLUS -- they have a great giveaway going on with summer products for both dogs and cats. ENTER TODAY!

Happy Halloween! Giveaway winners and safety tips

Happy Halloween everyone!

First, the winners of the Go Dog Zombiez giveaway:

• Doris Humber
• Stefani Joi Heller
• Lori Anderson-Watkins

Congratulations! I'll be emailing you guys soon!

Now, as you guys know, I had Lulu dressed up this weekend in Halloween pictures:

But tonight Lulu will only be wearing her Thundershirt.

Lulu barks every time strange people come to the door, and that will especially be true on Halloween.

So here are some tips to keep your pet safe this spooky holiday, courtesy of ASPCA! Click the infographic to make it bigger.

How to protect your dog (and your stuff!) at the dog park

Last Thursday I took Lulu over to Dr. Phillips dog park. I was surprised to find window glass on the ground in the spot I parked in.

On Saturday I learned why.

Park people brought around slips of paper with crime prevention suggestions and urged people to lock up their valuables in their car.

Apparently there have been a number of car break-ins at Orange County's parks, In fact, there was a break-in at Dr. Phillips Park that Saturday morning before I got there.

Thieves are breaking into cars at parks across Central Florida, but especially at presumably affluent parks. They are looking for purses and personal items like GPS systems and iPods. People often leave these sorts of things in the car because they can be cumbersome to carry at a park -- especially if you're with your dog or or kids.

Here's what the slip of paper from the Orange County Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Unit says to do:

• Keep all valuables out of plain view
• Lock all automobile doors and windows
• Always use your anti-theft device
• Always let a family member or close friend know your plans and when you will return
• Always have a charged cell phone with you

Seems like common sense, but you would be surprised.

I would also add to the list:

• Take only the most basic items with you when you come to the park, which are easily storeable in pockets or a small bag
• Keep an eye on your dog at all times

 Why watch your dog? Also seems like a no-brainer. But parks are big, and when there are lots of dogs and people at the parks, you can't trust who is there. I am often amazed how many people walk into dog park areas who do not have dogs. Some are well-meaninged, but you just don't know.

This young stranger is petting Lulu, to Lulu's joy. But I'm not far behind.

People often ask why I follow Lulu all over the park. I don't tell them I don't trust them, but that's the reason. And with dog-nappings on the rise across the country, I take no chances. 

Here are some things I suggest:

• Keep the leash handy. Many people hang it up on the fence of the park. But if you need to extract the dog quickly, you need it nearby.
• Keep the leash short. Most parks require you keep the dog on a six-foot leash outside off the off-leash area. But make sure the dog doesn't get too far ahead of you, especially if you are using one of those extendable leashes. It's a lot easier for someone to get away with your dog.
• Don't go anywhere alone that's dark or not well-lit, even with your dog. Parks can have lots of wooded areas and bushes. Who is lurking behind them?
• Take pictures of your dog at the park. It's the last place you may see the dog. Not only does it give you the latest pictures of your dog, but police may be able to use those pictures to help find possible witnesses -- even suspects.  
• Never be too far away. Some people let the dog loose, and sit and do homework or talk on the phone. But where is the dog? Do you know?
• Mind every entrance. Dr. Phillips Dog Park only has one entrance into each off-leash area. But that's not the case for every park. Sanford's Paw Park, for instance, has at least three entrances, with a parking lot at each. That's a lot of entrances to watch.
• Make sure your microchip info is up-to-date.

American Dog magazine offers some more great tips to protect your dog at home in 2013. Click the link for more.