Daily Life Style

Sunday, July 13, 2025

German Shepherd food

July 13, 2025 0
German Shepherd food

 German Shepherd food

German Shepherd food is crucial for their development. German Shepherds grow into a large breed weighing between 30 and 50 kilograms (66 and 110 pounds) that is well-muscled, slightly tapered, and hardworking when fed a breed-appropriate diet.

german-shepherd-food


Adult German Shepherds need 1,300 to 1,600 calories per day of high-quality dog food for senior or less active dogs, and 1,700 to 2,400 calories per day for active or working dogs. In this blog post, we'll tell you everything you need to know about finding the right food for your German Shepherd. 


Nutritional values ​​German Shepherd food

If you choose a dry kibble diet for your German Shepherd, choose a quality formula with a protein content of around 24% and a fat content of around 14%. Shepherds require quality protein, which should come from a specified meat source. 

Grain-free kibble is also an option, but it is very high in calories and protein. This should be approached with caution, as some German Shepherds seem to have difficulty tolerating grain-free kibble and end up with soft, runny stools. For excellent insight into choosing a quality kibble for your German Shepherd.


Help prevent bloating

Like many large breeds, German Shepherds are particularly at risk for bloating (gastric dilation-volvulus) after eating German Shepherd food. 

While scientific data hasn't established a specific link between what we feed German Shepherds and bloating, it's generally agreed that grains and grain-based foods can contribute to the condition. 

Specifically, inexpensive commercial kibbles loaded with carbohydrates and formulated with grains like corn, wheat, oats, and rice can cause excessive gas in the dog's stomach, which can lead to bloating. 

Grain-free kibble uses alternative plant-based protein and carbohydrate sources like sweet potatoes, beans, and lentils and is therefore theoretically safer if you can find a food formula that's right for your German Shepherd.


Food for the active German Shepherd?

Carbohydrate and fat levels in high-quality German Shepherd foods are less important for active shepherds, but low-carb diets should be fed to dogs who are overweight, inactive, elderly, or have arthritis to keep them lighter on their feet. 

German Shepherds, like many active large breed dogs, benefit from a diet that includes supplements that provide additional assurance for their overall health and well-being.

Omega-3 helps control inflammation, reduce arthritis pain, improve mood, increase trainability, and is good for the heart and kidneys. Omega-3 fatty acids in German Shepherd foods promote healthy skin and a shiny coat and help dogs fight infections.


Amount of food German Shepherd

Adjust the amount of kibble as needed based on your German Shepherd's size, weight, age, and daily activity level. 

If you're feeding high-calorie, high-protein, grain-free kibble like Origen, you'll need to feed your German Shepherd slightly less kibble.


German Shepherd Puppy Food

German Shepherd puppies grow rapidly during the first six to eight months. For large breed puppies prone to bone growth problems, such as hip dysplasia, feeding a quality all-life-stage diet, large breed puppy food, or raw dog food is the best way to regulate growth. 

You should not feed a German Shepherd puppy, or a large breed puppy, kibble designed for medium or small breed puppies. Most puppy kibble is high in calories, carbohydrates, and has a high calcium content to help "non-large breed" dogs reach adult size within six months. 

Shop for kibble specifically formulated for large breed German Shepherd puppies, or quality formulated all-life-stage dog food, such as the brands we recommend here. It's important to let our German Shepherds grow slowly to preven.

Animal therapy

July 13, 2025 0
Animal therapy

 Animal therapy

We're all familiar with the idea that having pets can have a beneficial effect on our mental health. 

animal-therapy

With their presence, boundless enthusiasm, cuddly potential, and even their excellent listening skills, they often add a joy to our daily lives.

While all animals have the potential to benefit their humans, some are more professional in this regard. 

Examples include the guide dogs of the Mira Foundation. These animals are literally essential to their owners' independence in society.


What is animal-assisted therapy?

Another category of animals with a high welfare rating is animals trained for animal-assisted therapy. The term animal-assisted therapy can be easily misused these days. 

Indeed, we tend to use it whenever an animal makes us feel better. However, there is a definition, training, and rules surrounding animal-assisted therapy.

"Zootherapy is a comprehensive approach based on the fundamental principle that there are natural bonds between humans and animals. Zootherapy activities are designed based on the attraction that the animal exerts on the person and its ability to stimulate them."

The organization also offers their own definition of animal therapy, which is: "intervention that is carried out individually or in a group using a carefully selected and trained pet animal, presented by a qualified person to an individual with the aim of eliciting reactions aimed at maintaining or improving their cognitive, physical, psychological or social potential."


Who can be a pet therapist?

It goes without saying that not just any companion, at any time, can call themselves a pet therapy animal, and the same goes for their owner.

Indeed, in order to be a zootherapy practitioner, you must have a significant background, particularly in helping relationships, and then follow specific training focused on zootherapy.


Long live animals!

The potential for helping animals is enormous, and thanks to certain professions like animal therapy, we can truly maximize the invaluable contribution animals make to our lives.

Can you insurance a sick pet?

July 13, 2025 0
Can you insurance a sick pet?

 Can you insurance a sick pet?

Even if your dog or cat already has health issues, you can still take out pet insurance. But there are some considerations to make. For instance, some surgeries or procedures might not be covered.

Can you insurance a sick pet?


What if my dog or cat was already ill when I took out the insurance?

When taking out dog or cat insurance, most pet insurers require you to indicate whether your pet is completely healthy and/or has recently undergone surgery.

If your dog has a food allergy, your cat has had surgery for a broken leg, or your rabbit has recently had an ear infection, there is usually nothing to worry about.

However, if you have chronic and/or serious health conditions, it may have consequences for your insurance. Depending on your medical history, your insurer may choose not to accept an animal or exclude certain procedures from coverage.

Always read the insurance terms and conditions carefully before signing up. If in doubt, always contact the insurer's customer service. This way, you can be sure your application is processed correctly.

Be sure to provide all the information you need when you take out the policy! If it turns out you intentionally (or even unintentionally) provided incorrect or incomplete information when taking out the insurance, the insurer may decide to terminate the policy.


What if I didn't know my dog or cat was already sick?

Of course, it's also possible that your pet was already ill when you took out pet insurance, without you realizing it. In that case, it depends on the type of health issue and when you discover it.

If you find out about this shortly after taking out the policy, the waiting period will play a role. In many cases, procedures for diagnoses within the waiting period (usually 30 days after taking out the insurance) are excluded from coverage.

If your veterinarian later discovers a condition your pet has been suffering from for a long time, but which you couldn't have known about, it's wise to carefully review the fine print of your insurance policy. How an insurer handles this can vary depending on the condition and the company.

Saturday, July 12, 2025

Changing your life: The power of our thoughts

July 12, 2025 0
Changing your life: The power of our thoughts

 Changing your life: The power of our thoughts

changing-life-power-of-our-thoughts

It happens to all of us, this desire for change, for novelty, for freshness. To wake up one morning, faced with everyday life, faced with routine, with the same day passing by, again and again, and to say to ourselves, "It seems that today, I'm going to change my life."

It's not always something drastic, we don't have this thought and 'poof' we throw everything away, we start from scratch, we sell the house, we leave our boyfriend, we start from scratch. Of course not. 

We have mental barriers that exist to help us rationalize everything, when this thought arises, when this desire takes hold of our heart, our body, our head.

This thought often scares us too. Like a secret we must keep deep inside, not talk about it, act as if it had never crossed our minds. Guilt suffocates us, because it is our life, and so let's see why we think like this, why are we dissatisfied with what we have?

Yet, this thought is anything but unhealthy. If we take the time to consider it, without judging it, without judging ourselves, it has every reason to exist. 

Life moves fast, routine bogs us down, we forget to think about ourselves, our responsibilities take over. It's normal to have this fickle thought of leaving everything behind, starting over, experiencing something different.

Instead of feeling guilty about thinking this way, we can learn a lot about our mental state. Because when we have this image, that of "sacrificing everything," as we say in good Quebec, if we take the time to dissect it, it can offer us a multitude of avenues to improve our daily lives.

Maybe when we think: I'm fed up, I really want something else, it's because we find that the mental load isn't distributed well. We're not fed up with our partner, our children, our life, but we're irritated that certain tasks always fall on our shoulders.

When you're thinking about leaving your job because you want a new challenge: it may really be the call of novelty, but it may also be a good time to evaluate what you need in that job, in those tasks.

Our thoughts come and go, and we can listen to them; we can decide that they lead us to reflect on our lives and how to improve them. And sometimes they are just thoughts, and we shouldn't feel guilty about them, but simply accept them and watch them pass, like water flowing in a river.

The benefits of a flexible routine

July 12, 2025 0
The benefits of a flexible routine

 The benefits of a flexible routine

Many people have their own little morning routines, others have their own elaborate late-night rituals, while for some, the entire day is planned down to the last detail.

The benefits of a flexible routine

In our society, routine sometimes gets a bad rap: it's described as beige and monotonous, when in reality it has a host of benefits, including for our mental health.

Routine is also recognized as being very important for children, since a predictable environment provides them with security and a sense of confidence. For adults, it also has its share of benefits, as long as a certain flexibility is maintained in its execution.


The Benefits of Adopting a Routine

Adopting certain daily habits brings several benefits. In particular, it allows for better time management by minimizing the need to think about upcoming actions, thus allowing for time optimization and increased productivity.

Additionally, research has shown that routines have a positive impact on mental health, helping to reduce stress through the structure and predictability they provide. 

This stability also contributes to improved sleep quality, regulating the body's internal clock and therefore promoting a state of relaxation.

What's more, by establishing a routine, it becomes easier to dedicate time to activities that support health and a general sense of well-being, such as exercising or preparing balanced meals, or simply taking care of yourself.


When Routine Becomes Stifling

As we've seen, adopting a routine has benefits for both our physical and mental health. However, when we're too rigid in our routine, we can end up suffering from it rather than benefiting from it. 

We can feel stifled by the monotony of days that follow one another and are all the same, lose our motivation to accomplish our goals, or even experience a decline in creativity.

Following a routine that's too strict can also lead to a decrease in our tolerance for change. We then risk experiencing a lot of stress when an unforeseen event arises. 

Psychological flexibility, which generally allows us to adapt well to unexpected upheavals, is thus too weak, which doesn't create the right conditions to react to the situation calmly.

It is also possible that a busy routine leaves no room in the schedule for social activities and human contact, which can then lead to a feeling of isolation that is detrimental to mental health.


The key: be flexible

When you see how beneficial adopting a routine can be, you realize it would be a shame to deprive yourself of it! So, how can you implement one without falling into rigidity?

The key is flexibility. First, you should develop your daily routine, taking care to leave yourself "space." By this, I mean that it's necessary to plan empty time slots between your daily activities, little "air pockets" that will allow you to deal with unforeseen events and time overflows. 

A schedule that's set down to the last minute is more likely to go off the rails (and, in turn, cause a lot of stress) than a flexible schedule that leaves room for life's ups and downs.

To avoid becoming bored with our routine, it can also be a good idea to incorporate a little variety. For example, you could vary your routine depending on the day of the week or set aside time slots for new activities.

Also, don't forget to schedule time to treat yourself and indulge in your favorite hobbies. Having fun is essential for a healthy life balance!


A Routine That Evolves

In summary, routine, when balanced with flexibility, provides beneficial structure to our daily lives. 

However, it's imperative to reevaluate it periodically, adjust it according to our changing needs, and revisit it from time to time to maintain a harmonious balance between organization and spontaneity.

My suggestion: Take a moment each new season to examine your routine and assess what could be revised to better match your current desires and state of mind.

Well, I'll leave you, it's time for my pre-bed beauty routine!

The benefits of solo travel

July 12, 2025 0
The benefits of solo travel

 The benefits of solo travel

Traveling alone, whether for a weekend in New York or a month in Indonesia, can be daunting. Of course, there's the security aspect that puts many of us off, especially if we're women.

benefits-of-solo-travel

However, when we travel intelligently and carefully, the risks are generally quite low. No, what often worries many people is finding themselves alone, in an unknown place, and having to draw on their personal resources. 

And above all, solo travel requires you to look at yourself in the face, your thoughts and your emotions, without any artifice to distract you. It's a highly enriching experience, although full of challenges, that I recommend everyone try at least once in their life.


Travel to Reconnect with Yourself

Several studies show it: the community and connections we build around us are fundamentally part of a healthy life balance and contribute to good mental health, in addition to significantly contributing to our happiness index. 

However, to live well with others, you must first be comfortable living with yourself. Many people in our society tend to use their social connections as a way to avoid being alone with their thoughts. 

When we constantly distract ourselves with social activities, without ever taking a moment to reconnect with ourselves, we inevitably become disconnected from who we truly are, deep down. 

How can we know who we are if we are continually influenced by those around us and the pressure to conform to the social mold?

When you travel solo, you definitely end up spending time alone—probably more than usual. Sure, you can meet people there, participate in group activities for tourists, or make friends with locals, but part of the experience is solitary. 

It's a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with your true self, to discover who you are deep down when there's no one around to tell you what to think and what to love.


Gaining Self-Confidence

When you travel alone, you have to call upon some of your inner resources that you didn't even know existed. You have to organize your trip, book accommodations, take a plane, find your way around a city you don't know, talk to strangers, sometimes in a language you don't speak... In short, it's a melting pot of uncomfortable things that you have to do and that definitely take you out of your comfort zone. And it's by getting out of this comfort zone that you grow!

When we manage to do all these things, we draw on our inner strength and discover resources we didn't know we possessed. This does wonders for our self-confidence. 

We then realize that we don't need others, that we can manage very well on our own, in short, that we are autonomous and full of abilities. And then, challenging ourselves to do something uncomfortable, and overcoming this challenge, is always highly rewarding!


An Enriching Experience

Solo travel is a veritable goldmine for personal growth: self-discovery, improved resilience and self-confidence, better self-understanding, in addition to doing what we want, when we want! Yes, there is no compromise to be made, this trip is yours and you can experience it however you like.

We hope this article has inspired you to step out of your comfort zone without having to wait for anyone. Enjoy!

Allow yourself to see the small miracles of everyday life

July 12, 2025 0
Allow yourself to see the small miracles of everyday life

Allow yourself to see the small miracles of everyday life

In the relentless whirlwind of modern life, it's easy to get caught up in the stresses of everyday life.

Allow yourself to see the small miracles of everyday life


Yet, even amidst the chaos, there are moments of beauty and wonder that can brighten our lives, as long as we allow ourselves to appreciate their magic. 

These moments, which I like to call "little miracles," have the power to nourish our souls and strengthen our well-being.


What is a small miracle?

A small miracle can be as simple as an unlikely coincidence, as captivating as a blazing sunset, or as heartwarming as a chance encounter with an old acquaintance. 

These special moments, though seemingly small, are filled with beauty and inspiration that remind us of the magic in even the most ordinary aspects of life.


The benefits of small miracles on mental health

Recognizing and appreciating small miracles can have a significant impact on our mental health. These moments of grace help us cultivate gratitude, foster optimism, and strengthen our emotional resilience. 

Scientific studies have also shown that practicing gratitude and mindfulness, often encouraged by recognizing small miracles, is associated with better mental health and well-being.


How to spot the little miracles in your daily life?

Becoming aware of small miracles requires a shift in perspective. We can begin by paying close attention to the small details of our daily lives, paying attention to simple but meaningful moments, to things or events that evoke emotions such as tenderness or wonder.

At its core, it's about taking a fresh, almost childlike look at the world around us. Taking a moment to simply contemplate what's there, in the present moment of our existence, and noticing how simple things, which may seem trivial at first glance, generate all sorts of positive emotional reactions within us.

Keeping a journal of small miracles or sharing these moments with others can also strengthen their impact and foster a sense of connection with the world around us.


Small miracles and stress management

In times of stress and anxiety, small miracles can serve as a refuge and source of comfort. Recognizing the beauty and magic present even in difficult times can help us maintain a positive outlook and find moments of calm and inner peace.

For example, taking a few moments to admire a starry sky during a stressful evening, or noticing the softness of a light breeze caressing our face when we feel overwhelmed, can remind us that even amid adversity, there are moments of grace to be savored.

Additionally, small miracles can play a crucial role in mindfulness and meditation practice. By focusing on the simple yet meaningful details of our surroundings, such as the sound of birds singing or the feeling of the sun on our skin, we can anchor ourselves in the present moment and let go of the thoughts and worries that plague us. This regular mindfulness practice can help reduce chronic stress and promote a state of calm and mental clarity.


Beauty is everywhere, just open your eyes

By recognizing the small miracles in daily life, we can cultivate an attitude of gratitude and openness to the wonders around us. 

These moments are reminders of the beauty and magic present in every moment of our existence. 

By taking the time to perceive, appreciate, and share these small miracles, we can nourish our mental health and emotional well-being, one small miracle at a time.