Life With Dogs

China, my lab, is 8 years old. Since she was an 8-month old puppy, she suffered from lameness on and off. Turns out she has a rare genetic disorder that causes her to grow bone all over her body, so at times she's hurting badly. Vets of all kinds told me there was nothing to be done - all I could do was pain management and, when it got too much, to consider putting her down. She was only 4 1/2 at the time, and it killed me to think about the possibility. This started me on the hunt for alternative solutions. And I found some!

The miracle cure for her was Vitamin C. For some reason, Vitamin C started to dissolve many of the lumps she had growing along her spine and on her joints. Since then, I've found that a raw food diet has made a world of difference. Now you know why I got so motivated to find and offer really good dog supplies.

If you have a dog with joint problems, here is something that worked beautifully for China. Massage along their spine, approximately 1 inch on either side, in small circular motions from the base of the neck down through the hips for a minute or two a couple of times each day. According to a friend who does acupuncture, this stimulates all of the major energy centers in the body and helps restore balance. It's made a world of difference for her!

By the way -- if you'd like to see her now, after Vitamin C and going onto a raw food diet, click the picture to see a little YouTube video - remember - this is a dog that could barely walk 3 years ago!
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Dogs are amazing. I've become fascinated by them and have two - a black field lab and a border collie mix. Can you say high energy? Each of them brings such different qualities that I've become a much better person because of them. They are the inspiration behind The Camping Dog website.

China, a black field lab, is a driven retriever. NOTHING keeps her from her ball. In fact, I've posted a link to a clip of her playing with her favorite ball - a bright red horse ball. The joy and pride she radiates is such fun! She teaches me that it's the simple things in life that matter.

Chelsea, a border collie mix, is a love machine. She loves everyone and is perfectly content racing up to complete strangers and rolling over to have her belly petted. She is a WIFFM dog (What's In It For Me?) and has taught me tons about how to motivate through fun and love - sternness does not work in her world.

I don't know yet what this lens will be about entirely -- it will evolve in unknown ways -- but I'm sure it will include stories and lessons the girls have taught and will continue to teach me. And it will probably also include personal experiences about the joys and pains of being a small business owner.

Wish me luck! And I'd love to hear from you.