TORI VS TOY

As the Eukanuba challenge continues and is now in its third week, here’s what we’ve noticed:

• Tori appears to be slimming down somewhat! Her waistline is no longer expanding. We may just be winning in the battle of the bulge!
• She has more energy and seems more eager to go for her walks. She practically springs up in the morning!
• Her ears look healthy and clean and I’m confident Eukanuba is helping her to maintain her pearly whites.
• Her bowel movements are regular, she seems to have more stool since switching to the weight control formula.
• One thing is for sure, Tori has never had the freshest breath. Yet it seems to be improving with this Eukanuba formula!

Since we started this challenge I have been thinking of Tori’s diet and eating habits more like I do my own.  One morning this week, I put down Tori’s Eukanuba as I usually do. I noticed that within seconds Tori was actually snorting while she was eating.  She was eating so fast and furiously that she was making all kinds of piggy noises. 

This made me question whether she was really enjoying her meal?  We are all taught to take our time, chew for extended periods of time, and focus on our food so we can savor and enjoy then taste and ultimately feel satisfied and full.  Tori, on the other hand, was definitely not having that experience as she snorted up her food like a canine vacuum cleaner.

I started to think how I could make feeding time more of an experience for her with her quality Eukanuba food.   Then it dawned on me that there are many dog toys available that will slowly dispense food for dogs as they play with them.  Tori was never much of a toy-playing dog, so adding the food element would entice her to play as well as slow down her eating process.  She would also be stimulated mentally and physically while slowly completing her meal.   Great idea right?!  

Ok, so maybe we were expecting too much.  Don’t worry, we did take time to show her how to get the food.  After several minutes of her frustration and annoyed barking, we fed Tori with her regular bowl.   However, we are not giving up and will try again. Till next week!

ROUTINE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME (WEEK 2)

Week 2 and Tori's love of food and desire for her Eukanuba meals is particularly strong!

Being in the pet care industry for so many years, I have learned the importance of routine and that “being regular” is a good sign of health.  With a change in food, it is not uncommon for a dog to experience some issues.  I am happy to report that even after changing foods, Tori is still on a “regular schedule.” Her silky coat has been maintained, her appetite as big and enthusiastic as ever!

Routine is the name of the game.  Every morning, Tori waits for the light to go on  and the leash to click.  6:30am sharp we head out for our daily walk whether it's raining, snowing or the sun is shining (although it is pretty dark at 6:30am this time of the year).

We have a regular route and make stops at our favorite spots along the way.  There is one particular area where Tori loves to frolic. It is in a small patch of vines and pachysandra that I am sure other critters have visited, making the area quit enticing.

Once the walk and her “business” is taken care of, we head inside.  Tori performs her spirited dance, filled with not-so graceful spins and barks until her Eukanuba food drops in the bowl.  It takes her a very short time to eat every morsel. There are occasional snorting sounds and this morning I truly believe she licked the bowl!

Once she gobbles all her food up, it’s time to take a little break!  Tori heads right to the bedroom, jumps on the bed and cuddles up with the kids until the alarm goes off for school.

What a life….

TORI MORRIS TAKES ON THE EUKANUBA CHALLENGE

(Morris Animal Inn Vice President, Joanne Morris and her dog, Tori, take on the Eukanuba 28-Day Challenge.)

For more on why we are taking this challenge, read our first blog post on the topic.

We just completed Week 1 of our Eukanuba 28-day challenge.  I’m not sure that my seven-year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Tori felt it to be much of a challenge.  She has been eating some form of Eukanuba food since she was a wee puppy.  Tori LOVES food, so eating has never been a problem for her which is why we wanted to participate in order to try a new formula, specifically the Small Breed Weight Control.  As the New Year approached, we realized that our dear little King Charles was getting round in the middle.  We were all resolved to the fact that her purpose in life was to sit comfortably next to us on the couch so we can snuggle with her or eat!  It was time for a new mind set and a new Eukanuba formula for Tori.

Eukanuba's packaging is no doubt eye-catching. Colorful, bright and pink, somewhat reminscent of Pepto-Bismol, it does jump off the shelves attracting the average consumer with it's vibrancy and promise of "100% High Quality Nutrition."

Since Tori's love of food has contributed to her pudgy figure, we decided it was time to tackle the issue and start trimming her waist line. First off, I appreciated the fact that the food was less in fat and I have always been a fan of the dental benefit Eukanuba offers. The texture, appearance and smell was exactly what I expected from a Eukanuba product. There is no doubt Tori loved her new food! Just watch our video to see her dance around like a little ballerina!

Watch as Tori tries her new weight control Eukanuba dog food.

(When it comes to food, patience is not one of Tori's virtues.)