If you think dogs can’t count,
try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket
and then giving Fido only two of them.-Phil Pastoret, ‘Our Boarding House’
So, we’re trying to help our overweight dog drop five pounds by watching the amounts of food he gets, and also the quality. I’ve been on the prowl for protein-rich, filler-light food for not-so-active adult dogs, AND I needed to find a puppy chow that was large breed specific (a thing I hadn’t realized existed until the vet asked if that was what Karma was eating, whoops). Luckily, sometimes the Universe (and MrChewy.com) conspire to help a blogger out.
What’s Mr. Chewy? One-stop shopping for hassle-free delivery of pet products: food, treats, litter and competitive pricing on Frontline flea and tick meds (having just been through six months of stubborn flea issues, I’m currently resigned to these as a necessary evil, sorry).
Given the chance to see what Mr. Chewy had to offer, I opted for The Honest Kitchen VERVE Dog Beef and Organic Grains Diet for Jimmy and Avoderm Natural Large Breed Puppy Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Formula for Karma. If you’re in the market for dog food, seriously, click these links and check out the ingredient lists. They are impressive.
The Avoderm is a standard-looking puppy kibble, but once I started adding it to her normal puppy chow (slowly, so as not to upset her stomach) Karma would refuse to eat the chow until I added that bit of Avoderm. I’m thinking that’s puppy speak for “where the heck is my avocado superfood deliciousness?” With an ingredient list that’s full of food names I recognize, plus avocado for healthy skin & fur, I feel pretty good about feeding this to her. Avoderm comes in wet and dry food, for cats and dogs.
The Honest Kitchen VERVE is pretty cool. It’s a 4-lb box of dehydrated raw dog food made with human-grade beef, vegetables, fruits and organic grains which makes 16lbs of dog food. You scoop out however much food you need and add an equivalent amount of hot water, wait a few minutes and voila! Healthy dinner for Jimmy without taking up a huge amount of space in the pantry. VERVE is specifically for senior dogs with (ahem) moderate to low activity levels; there are also formulas for sensitive stomachs, grain-free, gluten-free and cats.
I also couldn’t help but order them some treats. I know, overindulgent mommy. This is why he’s pleasantly plump.
Here I went with Newmans Own Organics Turkey and Sweet Potato Medium Size Heart Shaped Treat Dog Treats (say that 3x fast) and Dogswell Happy Hips Duck Breast Dog Treats (straight up dried meat, looks like jerky).
I love Newmans Own because their products are certified organic, and contain zero antibiotics, hormones, chemical ingredients or artificial preservatives, colors, or additives. PLUS, they donate their profits to charity (in the case of pet foods, those monies go to pet-related charities). Dogswell is one of the few brands of treats that Jimmy will eat, period, but he will totally break free of his usual stern demeanor to dance the meringue for these. No hormones, antibiotics, fillers or byproducts.
*totally gratuitous video of Jimmy doing tricks for Dogswell*
Mr. Chewy has a very impressive (70+ brands) selection of high-quality pet foods, treats, and cat litters— including way more organic, vegan and gluten-free options than any brick-and-mortar pet store or grocery I’ve ever been in. Options like:
- Blue Buffalo (natural, no by-products or artificial preservatives)
- Orijen (grain-free, limited carbs, more fresh meat than any other brand of dry food)
- Taste of the Wild (grain-free, real roasted meats, fruits & veggies for antioxidants)
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diet (specifically formulated for health conditions)
- ZiwiPeak (equivalent to a raw diet)
Yeah. They don’t carry that at SuperFresh. In the week since I ordered, they’ve added a bunch more (I opted in for the email updates and have been notified of brands I might be interested in).
Love the navigation choices on this site; I was able to break down by breed (cat vs dog), then age, then specialty (in this case, I wanted natural or organic + weight loss). Mr. Chewy offers an automatic subscription service that can be canceled at any time, and you save 15% off your order right now when you select that service. Shipping is free when you spend $49 or more– a significant perk when we’re talking heavy bags of food or litter.
I placed my order very very late on a Thursday night and it arrived on Saturday afternoon, which was awesomesauce. I do think it shipped from close by, though, so your results may vary.
AND, they have a kickass referral program. If someone orders using your referral code, they get 10% off their order AND $10 gets donated to a no-kill rescue or shelter. (My referral code is ROBI7330 if you decide to order. I don’t make anything off of it, just the animals benefit.)
GIVEAWAY!
I’ve got $25 to give one pet-loving SGOH reader to spend at MrChewy.com! You don’t HAVE to spend it on organic products, but if you do and let me know how you like it, I will give you virtual chest bumps and high fives. Just leave me a comment letting me know what breed you’d love as your next pet (don’t front, we all windowshop for new pets! I want an Irish Wolfhound). For a bonus entry, tweet this post and leave me another comment letting me know you did 🙂 I’ll randomly select a winner on February 12th, 2012.
This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. All prizing for MSM giveaways is handled by a third party unless otherwise noted. For this reason prize fulfillment can take up to 90 days after the winners information is received.
Thanks for sharing the video..I like watching it..Thank you for sharing..
I have allergies so I’ve always done well with poodles. The Portuguese water dogs look interesting to me, though. I hear they’re hypo-allergenic as well.
tweeted–https://twitter.com/#!/mami2jcn/status/165079975102394368
I’d love a Newfie or English Mastiff!
I would love a West Highland White Terrier but they are hard to find at shelters:)
I would get another orange tabbby cat. I’m not a dog person but this type of dog could totally convert me: http://pic.twitter.com/aUh9TgLK
I tweeted it! (@swankyforless)
i want another yorkie!
tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/MeandBells/status/165164011694981120
Most of my cats are rescues, so they’re no specific breed- we love em all! 😉 One is part Egyptian Mau, though, and he’s so cool looking, so I’d love another one of those!
I’d like to have a French Bulldog.
I love my German Shepherd! I enjoyed this post, dogs are really brilliant..
I would like to have a pug! lilsis_75@hotmail.com
Would love to have a golden retriever!
https://twitter.com/#!/shuggysmommy/status/165563228036927489
Have you checked out dog food on Amazon.com? Many of the brands qualify for free shipping. I swear that you can get anything though Amazon. Well, maybe not a car, but I have not tried that search.
I would love to get a bull dog!
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/LizzyAllen123/status/165596956549328896
I want an English bulldog. I just want to squeeze one of those wrinkly fat baby bodies and kiss it lol. Plus they are pretty lazy witch is awesome for me.
Mandatory Entry:
i wounld like a beagle!
Thanks for the chance!
Email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/#!/anashct/status/166129671308718082
Thanks for the chance to win!
email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com
i would love to get a collie next, but it will probably be a mutt from the animal shelter!
i want a Husky !
freebiegoddess03@aol.com
We currently have a lab mix. I would love to have another rescue greyhound… we had one before the dog we have now…. she was my dream dog. I loved her so much.
I’d like a border collie.
Thanks for the contest.
https://twitter.com/#!/slehan/status/166342536036745219
I didn’t know they had a referral program! I just made my first purchase a few weeks ago and will be using them in the future! I switched my dogs to taste of the wild dog food and they love it!
I have a shih tzu and would only get another shih tzu!
I would LOVE a French bulldog :]
I actually would love to adopt a scottish fold.
https://twitter.com/#!/davisesq212/status/166385797115813888
I have yorkies and would always love another one
Tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/Just_Coupons/status/166385980935380992
I would love an Italian Greyhound
I would love to have a German Shepherd
I would love a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or a French Bulldog, but my husband has his heart set on a German Shepherd:/
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/jjak2003/status/166423905425309696
Oh another beagle ! lol…they have such minds of their own. But…I love my new black lab I adopted from our local shelter on Halloween! He sure is a GREAT dog breed!
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/Ilovemybeagle2/status/166432351239405568
If I had the room I would get a neo mastiff. I think they are so amazing.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
pug
I would get a Goldendoodle. So cute! 🙂
https://twitter.com/#!/YummyBoyMummy/status/166577068908363776
I just lost my beloved Basset Hound, Jackson, in July and would love to get another one! They are the sweetest dogs EVER!
Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/Kitty32504/status/166579431001948160
Thank you so much for this pawrific review! Mr. Chewy and I laughed so hard at that adorable video – that Jimmy sure knows how to dance! Please don’t hesitate to call, chat or email us anytime if you ever have questions or need assistance. Thanks again, and welcome to the Mr. Chewy family!
min-pin
tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/darrenswife1/status/166656804749709312
I’D LIKE A BOXER FOR MY NEXT PET CHOICE!
TWEET https://twitter.com/#!/kytah00/status/166714756667940864
I would like to have a black lab.
I’d like a Russian Blue cat.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/clc408/status/166840904873807873
I have two kittens, but my fiance and I cannot wait to buy a house so we can get a dog! All I know is that it will be a rescue dog. My fiance really wants a collie, but I’m not picky about the breed as long as it is lovable and gentle with my kitties 🙂
Tweeted!
https://twitter.com/#!/CloudlessMe/status/166978439457406976
I want a Maltese
I’d like another chocolate lab
Tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/MsCarolsueA/status/167043550817697792
I would love to add a pug to my group!
Would love a bulldog!
I must one day have a Bulldog. They are so adorable!!
I tweeted this giveaway
https://twitter.com/#!/saveone83/status/167456986257043456
I would love to have a Pomeranian one day! Thanks for the chance to win!
gina.m.maddox (at) gmail (dot) com
tweet-https://twitter.com/#!/CrazyItalian0/status/167546333887082496
gina.m.maddox (at) gmail (dot) com
I love the Beagle that I have now. Not sure what my next breed will be. I love all of the breeds and I go to pet adoption and see what dog needs a home. Usually one stands out to me and I bring it home.
https://twitter.com/#!/AutismMomofSon/status/167594531745828864
I tweeted.
I have 2 hounds but would love a Chow.
my choice would be a german shorthair
We always adopt from a shelter so I never have any breed in mind. We do love our English Fox Hound, so I would get another one in a heartbeat.
We have a sweet 4 lb chihuahua, she is all we need. Next pet, prolly a fish hahaha
I really want a Jack Russell
I have always wanted a Great Dane, hopefully when the time comes to get a new dog, I’ll be in a larger house so I can get one!
https://twitter.com/#!/Hotsnotty2/status/167818185163280385
I would love a German shepherd : )
Sweetlikecandy1688 at gmail dot com
A golden retriver
I always get rescued mutts (they’re the best!), but I’d love some form of a Newfie or a St. Bernard- something really big and cuddly!
hanovertomato at yahoo dot com
I’d love a Dacshund!
I’d like a Sheltie 🙂
I would love to adopt from Illinois Alaskan Malamute Rescue Association again. We love our Kouga dog we adopted from them.
I would get Taste of the Wild dog food for my guys.
I tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/cstironkat/status/168175607966990337
I want a great dane 🙂
English Bulldog
I would love to have a German Shepherd.
Honestly, I’m just a lover of a crazy looking mutt! I’m happy with a pound dog 🙂
I really want a French Bulldog 🙂
a cute little Pug
I tweeted using your retweet button cdziuba
Right now I have 2 black labs and I love them to pieces so the next dog I would get would be … a black lab or yellow maybe.
I tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/darleneowen1234/status/168326239025766400
I would love a great dane. Thanks for the giveaway.
We have a German Shep puppy now but I am on look out for another boxer puupy
I would like to have a beagle.
I tweeted as @bmom76
https://twitter.com/#!/bmom76/status/168346461166243840
I don’t have any specific breed in mind – I like to visit the shelters and find someone who really needs a home so no telling who or what that will be!
id love a great pyrenees!
I would have to say Rat Terrier!
I love them
trippyjanet at gmail dot com
I actually just got my new puppy on Monday and he is a lab/shepard mix!! He is the best ever!!
lala8491 at gmail dot com
would like to get a basset hound!
brich22 at earthlink dot net
tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/brich2222/status/168375804240203780
brich22 at earthlink dot net
We have 2 rescue dogs a beagle and a heinz 57. I would like to get a cocker spaniel puppy. My son is our youngest and he has never been with the dogs when they are puppies so he missed all that experience with them. I had cocker spaniel dogs growing up my parents loved them.
a bichon puppy!
I’d love a King Charles Cavallier
I don’t really have a particular breed in mind … I’d rather go to the shelter and save a life. 🙂
reducefootprints at gmail dot com
I have a Boxer. I LOVE Boxers. If I could, I’d have a house FULL of Boxers!!! I’m also fond of pugs (I have a fondness for squishy-faced dogs!)
Thanks!!!
beckytag618 at gmail dot com
would love a black lab
After a lifetime of small and medium sized dogs, I think I want a golden retriever!
I’d love a Great Pyrenees but I don’t have the space.
lazybones344 at gmail dot com
id love a black chow chow
https://twitter.com/#!/klp1965/status/168459863117144065
i’d like a toy poodle
A Great Dane
tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/daveshir2005/status/168494860783984641
A Border Follies 🙂
farrah_jo@yahoo.com
I’ve had rescue Pom and Chow Chows for such a long time, so I’d love to have a medium sized MUTT with short hair!
a beagle
I’d love to have a german shepherd but I just don’t have space for a big dog.
I’ve only ever had mixed breed dogs!
I really want a cute little poodle! Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
Renee Walters
Bored2quickly@hotmail.com
pug
amy16323(at)gmail(dot)com
We have allergies and so have been having standard poodles. We are waiting for our next one-a few more weeks. Can’t wait!
I really want a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
I would love an English Bulldog.
I would like a small, mixed, rescued dog.
If I could afford one (cat) Sphinx or (dog) Komondor
Tweet – https://twitter.com/#!/willitara/status/168792018720538624
I love black labs but I’d like a chihuahua next. I’ve always wanted a Great Dane though – complete opposites, I know.
I would love an Italian Greyhound as my next pet.