Tips to Bring Balance to You and Your Dog's Life

Sometimes, I look at my dog and think - "I wish my life were as simple as yours!". It can be hard to find the perfect balance in life when you're trying to juggle kids, pets, blogging, cooking, cleaning, etc. Thankfully, my dog is there to help me see the simpler side of life and she's a great comfort whenever I need a little pick-me-up. And I'm there for her as well. 

Purina ONE kindly sent us a kit to help learn about balance in our lives - both mine and Shiner's. So today, we are going to share some tips about how to keep you and your dog happy together. Life can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be. Especially if you have a dog! Just take it from Shiner... 

• Dogs help reduce stress. It's a proven fact that pets help to reduce blood pressure. So take some time to sit down and cuddle with your pup. If you want to help de-stress your dog, spend 10 minutes a day to give them a nice massage. It will help increase your bond with your dog too. 
• Stop and take a deep breath. Dogs remind us to stop and breath. Just take a look at your dog when your out in the yard enjoying time together. Notice how your dog is never to busy for a good sniff? Dogs have a keen sense of smell and can benefit from aromatherapy to help with their own stress. Lavendar and chamomile oils have been shown to produce relaxation behaviors in dogs. Check with your vet before trying aromatherapy with your dog. 
• Get up and get moving. Having a dog helps you be more active. According to a 2006 study from the University of Victoria, dog owners are more likely to participate in mild to moderate physical activity than those without pets. Giving your dog a job during your walks can increase his focus and sense of purpose. Try giving him a harness pack to wear on walks. 
• Be inspired to eat smart. Sometimes, when life becomes stressful we overeat or indulge in comfort foods. Instead of digging into that tub of ice cream or cake, take a break to pet or play with your dog. The resulting endorphin high is a healthy substitute for unhealthy snacks. 

The infographic below from Purina has some more great tips on keeping your and your dog's life balanced. 

Shiner's tips for living a happy, healthy, and balanced life are simple: 

Get plenty of beauty rest. 

Wake up from your naps every now and then and have some fun playing!

Be sure to eat good food!

Shiner got to try out some different flavors of Purina ONE SmartBlend wet dog food and she thought they were delicious, as you can see in the picture above. 

The SmartBlend wet entrees have a balance of ingredients that are made with real meat or poultry and include real vegetables. They have a balance of vitamins and minerals - 2x the AAFCO recommended minimum for antioxidants. Finally, they have a balance of taste and nutrition. Shiner agrees with the tasty part!

We have some coupons for Purina ONE SmartBlend wet dog food that we'd like to share with YOU. These coupons are good for $1 OFF 3 cans of this food. Two readers can win 4 coupons each. 

We're also giving away one Moleskine Dog Journal to help you balance life with your dog. The cute journal, which is pictured below, is a great way to keep up with your dog's life. It has a special place to keep your dog's friend's information, record your dog's meals, walks, grooming, training and more. You can also make traveling checklists and include dog friendly facilities. Along with the journal, you will receive 2 coupons. 

The giveaway is open to US readers only please. It starts now and ends October 9th. To enter, please just leave a comment and then enter the Rafflecopter form. There are some other optional ways to gain more entries in this giveaway, but they are not mandatory. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Pawsitively Pets was provided these products free of charge. All opinions expressed here are our own and we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers.