dog food

As all my followers will know, Poppy is our gorgeous West Highland Terrier. When it comes to food, Poppy is a typical female and can be very picky. A few years ago, in addressing a common West Highland Terrier skin condition, we put her on a veterinarian Hypoallergenic dog food, which helped to regulate her eating habits whilst also addressing her skin condition. We found that each meal time, we had to entice her to eat her food by adding a few nibbles of either meat or raw vegetables, and you would never dare to add the same thing for more than one meal in a row - how dare you!

Anyway, we take Poppy to a special Westie groomer half an hour away from her home - we figure it is worth the extra travel for a groomer that treats the dogs well and doesn't stress them out. This particular groomer also grooms show Westie's, so we have full confidence that he knows what he is doing when it comes to the haircare of Poppy. On our last visit, he introduced us to a New Zealand brand of dog food he was importing that is so good, I just had to tell you all about it!

It is called Ziwi Peak, and it is the perfect gluten free, dairy free and sugar free food FOR YOUR DOG! We buy the air-dried dog food which comes in three flavours: lamb, venison and venison + fish. As I mentioned before, Poppy has always been a picky eater, but since feeding her Ziwi Peak, she has become a real foodie! As soon as she hears the jar which we store her food in being opened, she comes racing in. We no longer have to add anything to her dog food to entice her to eat, just give her the Ziwi Peak and she is a happy Westie.

The only way I was able to take this picture of Poppy looking up at me was to dangle some Ziwi Peak in front of her, hehe

So what is so special about Ziwi Peak?

1. 1=3...Gently air dried to lock in great nutrition. Their unique, gentle air-drying process preserves the goodness of raw meat, organs and fish. 1 portion of air-dried ZiwiPeak = 3 of raw meat.
2. No preservatives, fillers or carbohydrates from grains. Only natural ingredients go into ZiwiPeak. It's totally free of any nasties, added sugars, salt, glycerines, antibiotics, hormones or preservatives.
3. Over 90% meat content. With over 95% digestibility rating, ZiwiPeak ensures your pet gets almost all the nutritional benefit or raw feeding.
4. 100% of all ingredients from New Zealand. From trusted pastures and clean oceans, safely and conveniently, to your pet's food bowl.
5. Wild-prey diet...A completely  balanced, natural, wild-prey, meat diet.  Exactly what your pet's digestive system has evolved to thrive on.

Some of my friends have complained that ZiwiPeak is more expensive than other brands of dog kibble. And it is, but it is still affordable at around $150 for a 5kg bag. You also no longer need to add anything else to their food to either entice them to eat or in an effort to give them a more rounded diet; just feed them ZiwiPeak alone - they never get sick of it and it provides them with all the nutrition they need! Plus, can you honestly put a price on your dog's health and well-being?

For more information and stockists, go to http://www.ziwipeak.com

coconut water

As the weather is very slowly starting to warm up, I thought it was fitting to talk about coconut water. When I feel like I need an energy pick-me-up in the warmer months, or when I have a beach volleyball training session or match, I drink coconut water. Not only does it taste great, it contains 5 key electrolytes and is very hydrating. Here are some handy facts about 100% pure organic coconut water:

1. Coconut water is a liquid naturally present in the centre of a young coconut
2. It is clear and contains no fat or cholesterol unlike coconut milk and coconut cream which is derived from coconut flesh
3. There are no preservatives, no colouring and no additives
4. It is naturally rich in 5 key electrolytes - potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium and phosphorous
5. Being rich in potassium (more than four bananas), coconut water can help reduce muscle cramping during exercise
6. It is a natural isotonic beverage with the same level of electrolytic balance present in human blood
7. It is more hydrating than water, being a great natural sports drink
8. It has fewer calories, less sodium, and more potassium than a sports drink
9. It boosts your immune system naturally
10. Contains chemicals that counter fatigue
11. Increases metabolism and weight loss
12. Aids in circulation
13. Detoxifies and fights viruses
14. Fights against stress
15. Balances body pH
16. Clears complexion
17. Is a great hangover cure
18. Is best served cold