A Much Better Video

I finally worked out the problems I was having with Windows Movie Maker!

You can expect to see ever-improving videos of Gracie on this blog in the future.

Below is a video I made using footage I shot two weeks ago. Most of the footage is new to this blog. A little bit was shown shown in the video I posted February 9 ("Gracie Playing in Icy Snow 2-7-11"). I couldn't use all the footage I wanted to then, as Windows Movie Maker kept crashing every time I made an edit. Now that it's working for me, I can appreciate what a great program it is. The audio makes this video of Gracie really fun. Turn up your volume!

I'm sharing this video to show others how healthy and active an almost 12-year-old, home-fed dog can be. Gracie THRIVES on homemade dog food --- and lots of love too, of course.

Blueberries

I started feeding Gracie blueberries as an occassional snack. When I was eating some blueberries recently, one fell off my plate and rolled across the floor. Gracie gobbled it up and made it clear she wanted more.

I never felt inclined to include fruits in Gracie's Doggie Chef meals. I think they contain too much sugar for regular consumption. Yet I know Gracie thinks some fruits taste really good (she loves dates). And many fruits, like blueberries, are considered health-enhancing superfoods. So blueberries are now on Gracie's occassional snack food list (click here to see a post about other snacks Gracie enjoys).

I did some Internet research and didn't find any reputable sources claiming blueberries are bad for dogs. In "Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats (see my review of that book here)," blueberries are recommended for occassional snacking. Any produce I give Gracie (or eat myself) is thoroughly washed first. When I share bluberries with Gracie I give her no more than three or four.

Video --- Gracie Playing in Icy Snow 2-7-11

We have so much ice-covered snow on the ground! As you can see in the video below, it hasn't stopped Gracie from wanting to play outside.

When I took this video clip, both of us slipped and skidded on the ice numerous times. Even though dogs are close to the ground, they can stumble and fall too. At one point Gracie scraped and cut her leg (a tiny cut) on the sharp ice, but she didn't want to stop playing. I had to promise her a treat to get her to come inside.

This week I received a letter from Gracie's veterinary office. Apparently the staff reviewed patient records and noticed Gracie's age (12 this year), and the fact that she hasn't been in since early last year. The letter stated how important proper and regular veterinary care is for elderly dogs, as they can develop the same types of problems as elderly humans.

When I watch my lively, rambunctious, almost-12-year-old dog playing hard in cold, snowy weather the term "elderly dog" doesn't seem to fit. I know Gracie is "old" in years. I respect that fact by monitoring her hard play carefully and keeping a close eye on her health and well-being. Yet I'm so thankful that she still seems to be young at heart, and young in body. I'm sure Gracie's homemade dog food is helping her live so well, for so long.

It takes some extra time and effort to be a Doggie Chef but the results are definitely worth it!

Chicken Dinner 2-2-11

Roast chicken

Roast sweet potato

Roast carrot

Whole wheat bread

A little bit of rice-almond pilaf