My Good Dog Blog

Question for parents really as I wonder how much parents are prepared to pay for kids party. I was wondering whether to set up as a party organiser/entertainer as where we live we only seem to have some very dodgy entertainer (old men in dodgy waistcoats) and I’m never too impressed with them.
I’ve have run some quite successful parties for my two kids (so I’m told) and wondered what parents thought.

My idea is to pinpoint a few locations in my area (ie village halls) and hold the parties at the venue of choice. I could tailor party to the child’s needs and take the stress out of organising.

My daughter wanted a puppy party and this was a great success. I made gingerbread dog bones that the kids decorated with icing/dog bone sprinkles (we had a competition at the end as best decorated ….) They took these home with them.

I bought a dog face paint stamp that you stamp on the kids faces and colour in. I also bought wobbly eyes and stuck them on with body glue (perfectly safe). No skill required.

I ran various puppy themed relay races, pass the puppy (using puppy rucksac fill with goodies), musical pawprints (using large paw prints) stickers) etc etc.

I bought cupcakes and got photos of dogs from the internet and got them printed onto sugar paper and placed onto cakes. Food served in dog bowls etc….. you get the idea???

How much would a parent pay, per child for this kind of party (food, balloons, hall hire, biscuit/decorations provided, pass the parcel and prizes provided).

My overheads would be quite high so wondered if there was a market. Live in a relatively affluent area (SW).

Kids Disco hire only in the area is around £150 for two hours as a comparison.

I am quite creative and could come up with a selection of themes for kids to chose from and tailor food, games and prizes to suit. (ie princess/pirate/animal etc etc. Could do healty snacks/food and bake own cakes etc.

Pls let me know what parents think and whether I’m the only person who thinks some child entertainers leave a lot to be desired (and expensive)!!

Thoughts appreciated.

ps. Forgot to mention, already work part-time so this would for a little extra income once my youngest goes to school next year.

Thanks xx

Most people will give you a try, at least once. After that you really have to be doing some great things to keep the kiddies happy. All you can do is make an attempt and see how it goes. Parties are always popular.

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THE DOG FOOD BRAND WELLNESS or WELLNESS CORE contains amino acids Phenylalanine and Thyrosine? tyrosine?

Ar first I wasn’t sure why you were concerned about these two amino acids but now I suspect that you feel these amino acids should be added to the dog food. It is quite possible that the protein content of Wellness and Wellness Core provide sufficient protein to provide Phenylalanine and Tyrosine.

Although this first link is a people site, the first information is just as important for dogs as people.

http://1stholistic.com/nutrition/hol_nutr_protein.htm

The second link now makes more sense as it applies to dogs and -among other things – amino acids:

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=protein

Here is an excerpt on amino acids from The Dog Food Project:
"Amino acids are divided into two groups:
•Essential amino acids: cannot be synthesized by the body in sufficient quantities and must be supplied in the diet. For dogs, these include Arginine, Methionine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Isoleucine, Threonine, Leucine, Tryptophan, Lysine and Valine. (For cats, Taurine is also essential, humans can synthesize both Arginine and Taurine.)
•Non-essential amino acids: are synthesized by the body if sufficient "building material" is available, which is usually the case if a balanced diet is fed."

If you take a look at the ingredients in these dog foods you will not see these amino acids listed but actually you can find Phenylalanine in the following foods:
Poultry
Fish
Pork
Beef
as well as Tofu, Eggs, Yogurt and Milk

Which means that it is naturally included. And that should supply a sufficient amount. Phenylalanine functions as a painkiller by preventing the breakdown of endorphins, the natural painkiller/feel good. And that might not be too bad since one also can find glucosamine condroitin present in these dog food ingredients, which means we are looking to prevent or fight arthritis…pain

Link to WELLNESS(R) pet food:

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/

From the dry dog food
"Wellness® uses real, USDA grade, "Fit for Human Consumption," naturally preserved meats including Deboned Chicken, New Zealand Lamb and Ocean White Fish."
From the chicken and sweet potato canned dog food:
"Deboned Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Ocean Whitefish, Ground Whole Barley, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Flaxseed, Canola Oil, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Iron Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Iron), Zinc Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Zinc), Choline Chloride, Vitamins A, E And D3 Supplements, Cobalt Proteinate (source of Chelated Cobalt), Copper Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Copper), Manganese Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Manganese), Riboflavin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, D-Biotin"

And lastly a link to their no wheat gluten, no meat by-products, no soy, corn, dairy, artificial preservatives, colors or flavors Core formula:

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/dog_wellness_grain_index.html

About Tyrosine…L-phenylalanine is a precursor of L-tyrosine which in turn is a precursor of L-dopa which can be converted into dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. So it’s in there too…in a way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenylalanine

The thing is there are some reasons to be concerned about additives but you are seeing the additives on the label. The rest is essentially nutrition.

I think on such a diet your dog will have a better nutritional balance than many children I have met.

If you are worried from a different perspective – i.e. that phenylalanine is in there and you are worried that it is a problem for your dog. be aware that PKU is a human issue.

The cautionary about Phenylalanine is excessive use of certain artificial sweeteners for example. In certain people PKU (phenyketonuria) is a possible risk. But that does not appear to be the case in dogs except when induced..

Helpful reading about canine nutritional requirements:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1661&aid=702

Odd reading:
Requirements for phenylalanine and tyrosine in immature beagles, an abstract:

http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/114/12/2212

PKU:

http://gregladen.com/wordpress/?p=395

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THE DOG FOOD BRAND WELLNESS or WELLNESS CORE contains amino acids Phenylalanine and Thyrosine? tyrosine?

Ar first I wasn’t sure why you were concerned about these two amino acids but now I suspect that you feel these amino acids should be added to the dog food. It is quite possible that the protein content of Wellness and Wellness Core provide sufficient protein to provide Phenylalanine and Tyrosine.

Although this first link is a people site, the first information is just as important for dogs as people.

http://1stholistic.com/nutrition/hol_nutr_protein.htm

The second link now makes more sense as it applies to dogs and -among other things – amino acids:

http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=protein

Here is an excerpt on amino acids from The Dog Food Project:
"Amino acids are divided into two groups:
•Essential amino acids: cannot be synthesized by the body in sufficient quantities and must be supplied in the diet. For dogs, these include Arginine, Methionine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Isoleucine, Threonine, Leucine, Tryptophan, Lysine and Valine. (For cats, Taurine is also essential, humans can synthesize both Arginine and Taurine.)
•Non-essential amino acids: are synthesized by the body if sufficient "building material" is available, which is usually the case if a balanced diet is fed."

If you take a look at the ingredients in these dog foods you will not see these amino acids listed but actually you can find Phenylalanine in the following foods:
Poultry
Fish
Pork
Beef
as well as Tofu, Eggs, Yogurt and Milk

Which means that it is naturally included. And that should supply a sufficient amount. Phenylalanine functions as a painkiller by preventing the breakdown of endorphins, the natural painkiller/feel good. And that might not be too bad since one also can find glucosamine condroitin present in these dog food ingredients, which means we are looking to prevent or fight arthritis…pain

Link to WELLNESS(R) pet food:

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/

From the dry dog food
"Wellness® uses real, USDA grade, "Fit for Human Consumption," naturally preserved meats including Deboned Chicken, New Zealand Lamb and Ocean White Fish."
From the chicken and sweet potato canned dog food:
"Deboned Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Ocean Whitefish, Ground Whole Barley, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Flaxseed, Canola Oil, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Iron Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Iron), Zinc Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Zinc), Choline Chloride, Vitamins A, E And D3 Supplements, Cobalt Proteinate (source of Chelated Cobalt), Copper Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Copper), Manganese Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Manganese), Riboflavin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, D-Biotin"

And lastly a link to their no wheat gluten, no meat by-products, no soy, corn, dairy, artificial preservatives, colors or flavors Core formula:

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/dog_wellness_grain_index.html

About Tyrosine…L-phenylalanine is a precursor of L-tyrosine which in turn is a precursor of L-dopa which can be converted into dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. So it’s in there too…in a way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenylalanine

The thing is there are some reasons to be concerned about additives but you are seeing the additives on the label. The rest is essentially nutrition.

I think on such a diet your dog will have a better nutritional balance than many children I have met.

If you are worried from a different perspective – i.e. that phenylalanine is in there and you are worried that it is a problem for your dog. be aware that PKU is a human issue.

The cautionary about Phenylalanine is excessive use of certain artificial sweeteners for example. In certain people PKU (phenyketonuria) is a possible risk. But that does not appear to be the case in dogs except when induced..

Helpful reading about canine nutritional requirements:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1661&aid=702

Odd reading:
Requirements for phenylalanine and tyrosine in immature beagles, an abstract:

http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/114/12/2212

PKU:

http://gregladen.com/wordpress/?p=395

I noticed a new little pet boutique that I had never seen before, so I wandered in to check the prices of their high end food. Of COURSE there were no price labels… I should have turned around and high tailed it out of there at that point. Then the clerk, who bragged that he also owned two e vet hospitals, and was a vet himself, asked what I was feeding my dog. I was already cringing when I told him I was feeding Kirkland. Certainly not the worst food, but he hemmed and hawed and went back and pulled his recall list out. "I certainly wouldn’t trust that brand, blah, blah, blah" I asked him when the dog food had been recalled. Over a YEAR ago. An entire YEAR. Then he started the dog food lecture. I didn’t really have time to hear it, so I politely told him that I *know* more about dog food then the idiots that normally grace his presence. He continued the bragging/lecture forever! I was thinking, "look buddy, I just wanted to know how much you charge in comparison to other stores I have been in!"

I wanted to beat him with the dog toys that were sitting on the floor!
Oh ya, Dobiz, he also asked me if she was spayed. I told him no… and he started in on that. Until I told him the she was a competitive show and agility dog. I had half a mind to tell him that I didn’t want to mess with estrogen imbalance, urinary incontinence and spay coat… but I left it simple.

Yes…but for a different reason!

Little history upfront…my neighbor loves her dog more than any other member of her family (that includes a husband and 2 kids). Husband sleeps on couch, cause "monster" sleeps in the bedroom with "momma". Lets call it "Fluffy" for all intense purposes….

"Fluffy" jumps on table and grabs the Thanksgiving turkey off the table, drags it through the dinning room, kitchen, and into the living room and continues to eat it on their living room rug (I’ve witnessed this one)…."Awww! What a silly wittle doggie" –> SMACK!!!!!

–"Fluffy" jumps up at you when you enter the house…leaving muddy paw prints on your work clothes. "Fluffy" is about 60 – 70 lbs, btw. "Fluffy" also has knocked down the grandparents that started showing up less and less for some reason. I’ve seen the grandmother of the kids, literally being picked up from the floor with "Fluffy" standing on top of her and licking her face. "Fluffy, Stop IT" my neighbor screams as she stands about 200 feet away enjoying her wine and cigarette and not moving an inch to stop her dog —–> SMACK!!!!

I could write a book on this one!

I noticed a new little pet boutique that I had never seen before, so I wandered in to check the prices of their high end food. Of COURSE there were no price labels… I should have turned around and high tailed it out of there at that point. Then the clerk, who bragged that he also owned two e vet hospitals, and was a vet himself, asked what I was feeding my dog. I was already cringing when I told him I was feeding Kirkland. Certainly not the worst food, but he hemmed and hawed and went back and pulled his recall list out. "I certainly wouldn’t trust that brand, blah, blah, blah" I asked him when the dog food had been recalled. Over a YEAR ago. An entire YEAR. Then he started the dog food lecture. I didn’t really have time to hear it, so I politely told him that I *know* more about dog food then the idiots that normally grace his presence. He continued the bragging/lecture forever! I was thinking, "look buddy, I just wanted to know how much you charge in comparison to other stores I have been in!"

I wanted to beat him with the dog toys that were sitting on the floor!
Oh ya, Dobiz, he also asked me if she was spayed. I told him no… and he started in on that. Until I told him the she was a competitive show and agility dog. I had half a mind to tell him that I didn’t want to mess with estrogen imbalance, urinary incontinence and spay coat… but I left it simple.

Yes…but for a different reason!

Little history upfront…my neighbor loves her dog more than any other member of her family (that includes a husband and 2 kids). Husband sleeps on couch, cause "monster" sleeps in the bedroom with "momma". Lets call it "Fluffy" for all intense purposes….

"Fluffy" jumps on table and grabs the Thanksgiving turkey off the table, drags it through the dinning room, kitchen, and into the living room and continues to eat it on their living room rug (I’ve witnessed this one)…."Awww! What a silly wittle doggie" –> SMACK!!!!!

–"Fluffy" jumps up at you when you enter the house…leaving muddy paw prints on your work clothes. "Fluffy" is about 60 – 70 lbs, btw. "Fluffy" also has knocked down the grandparents that started showing up less and less for some reason. I’ve seen the grandmother of the kids, literally being picked up from the floor with "Fluffy" standing on top of her and licking her face. "Fluffy, Stop IT" my neighbor screams as she stands about 200 feet away enjoying her wine and cigarette and not moving an inch to stop her dog —–> SMACK!!!!

I could write a book on this one!