Talk softly and Carry a big Cup of Coffee...

Coffee is my comfort food.  

I adore it at any time of the day.  I enjoy the smell of freshly ground coffee beans (or even grounds right out of the can).  I am not remotely picky about my coffee (I prefer a dark roast, but mostly I will drink whatever is on hand).  I would say that I am a lazy coffee lover.  I prefer my coffee black with no added frills or flavor shots.  

I typically skip Coffee Houses, but I am a sucker for a Mom & Pop shop that will serve me coffee in an actual mug (no paper or Styrofoam, please).  Mostly I brew my coffee at home, because it is just easier that way (and more economically and environmentally sound).

But, as much as I love a good mug of coffee...I find myself needing to transport said coffee with me when I run errands or find that my typical duties take me away from my home base.

Enter my Klean Kanteen...

Sadly, that is just the background on my computer not and
on-location pic from a glorious vacation.

I purchased this Kleen Kanteen years ago, after several failed attempts to find travel mug that suited my needs.  It is Stainless Steel (No plastic is a MUST...hot beverages in Plastic is not a good mix...don't do it) all except for the cafe cap (which can be purchased separately), which can be closed to prevent spillage.  The double walled design keeps the coffee hot for HOURS (if 16oz can last me the whole day, my coffee will still be warm at the last sip) and it's double walls also keep cold beverages cold, without pesky sweating.

Kleen Kanteen makes multiple sizes and an charming array of colors (I just love the way the green pops on the white).  pssst....I also adore the River Rock and the Coyote Brown.  

Having a reusable option not only lets me take coffee with me, but I can also use this to reduce the amount of waste I create by refilling it when I do happen upon a charming coffee shop that doesn't serve coffee in a reusable option.  I picked up this tip from a fabulous website, Zero Waste Home, that has so many wonderful strategies to live better all while reducing your waste.  

My home is far from Zero Waste, but we are striving to drastically reduce our footprint.  I have found that the small step of carrying my own coffee or keeping my kleen kanteen on hand and available when dining out is so easy and makes a big different in the amount of trash I make.  

Realistically, anything that gives me access to coffee throughout the day is something I am willing to invest in.  Consider making your own reusable investment:

Ms. Kucinich Goes To Washington with Plant Power

Very rarely do I get excited about D.C. Lobbyists.  Okay, I can't remember ever being excited about any Political Lobby ever...but that changed with the announcement that there is now a Lobby that is comprised of Companies that craft Plant Based Foods. (*NOTE: Not all Companies represented by the Plant Based Foods Association are solely plant-based.  This does not upset me in the least.  I think reducing strain on Environmental Resources, increasing Human health and well-being and reducing the suffering of Animals requires cooperation and inclusion and not fanatical absolutes.)  

This new found representation for Vegetarian/Vegan Companies on Capitol Hill is not only proof that the American Public is adopting more plant/planet-friendly practices in their own lives, but this will also bring even greater visibility to the Plant-Based Lifestyle.

The Plant Based Foods Association will be represented by Elizabeth Kucinich, who has been a longtime champion of plant based diets, as well as, an outspoken advocate of Human and Animal Rights, Health and The Environment.  She is no stranger to Washington politics as she is married to Dennis Kucinich former Congressman and former Presidential Candidate; however, Ms. Kucinich is a powerhouse in her own right commanding the Director position of several policy organizations such as The Center For Food Safety, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and the Rodale Institute.  Ms. Kucinich was also instrumental in the creation of "The Veggie Caucus", which is what the Congressional Staff Vegetarian Association calls itself when its at home.  (She has also produced award winning documentaries related to Food Safety and the Environment.  Elizabeth Kucinich is an all-around bad ass and I have a bit of a girl-crush on her.)

The news of a Plant Based Lobby in Washington is good news, to say the least.  This will insure that companies that strive to provide protein sources alternative to the Big Beef and Dairy Lobby will have a voice in policy making as it pertains to Food Safety, The Environment, Public Health and even policy related to School Lunches.  

While Political Lobbies often have negative connotations, I enthusiastically welcome The Plant Based Food Association and hope to be hearing more about their works in the near future.

Take me to your Gentle Leader...

I would like to start by saying...I used to hate the idea of a head collar. 

I would see people walking their lovely dogs wearing a head collar and I would automatically think "Yikes! Why is that dog wearing a muzzle?" and then I would proceed to turn around and walk in the opposite direction.

I was woefully uneducated. 

But, even when I witnessed the fact that the Gentle Leader Head Collar is absolutely not a muzzle (dogs can eat with a Gentle Leader on, they can even catch a frisbee if they are aerially-inclined enough to do so), I was still a little appalled and very hesitant. 

The whole idea of a contraption around my Mutt's face seemed cruel. I couldn't exactly explain why I thought it was cruel, and the very thought of strapping a head collar on him made me uneasy.

Look at this FACE!  How could I ever strap one of those things(?!?!) on this face.

...and then I found myself being talked into purchasing one after witnessing the monumental change in my own dog's behavior on the leash while wearing (a borrowed, and bright pink) gentle leader.

The Mutt, himself, in a harness.

Before we get to all that, I would like to say that The Mutt came to us as a sweet and (mostly) polite and calm dog.  However, on walks he would pull and was slightly reactive (in an overly playful way) towards other dogs. 

With our Mutt in a harness (which we thought would be most comfortable for him) he could pull us anywhere he wanted to go...mostly he pulled up towards trees so he could pee on them...or in the presence of another dog, pull us over to the dog where he could make his own overly excited introductions whether he was invited to do so or not.  We were at his absolute mercy and we had to accept that he could effortlessly tug us down the street if he wanted to.  

Not because he is an ill-behaved dog or because my family or myself have poor dog handling skills...it is simply because:

Harnesses were made for pulling!

Pulling sleds, pulling heavy travois...and pulling you all over the neighborhood

(it's not you, or the dog, it is the harness).

So, in comes the borrowed, bright pink gentle leader (sorry, no pictures of that...but trust me, The Mutt looked amazing in it...pink just might be his color).

As soon as the Dog Trainer put the head collar on him and pranced him around our local PetsMart, there was no pulling.  My dog naturally walked by her side and did not attempt to introduce himself to any of the dogs that happened to be shopping nearby.  I figured his change in behavior was due to the Trainer's years of experience...but no, when she handed me the leash his behavior stayed the same and I continued my perusing and,eventual purchasing, at the store with ease.  

Yet, I was still hesitant.  I still felt like it looked like a torture device and secretly detested that I was talked into it.  I no longer feel that way...here's why:

Kind is, as kind does.

My lovable lug of a Mutt not bothered by the Gentle Leader in the slightest.

If you use the Gentle Leader in a gentle manner, then it is an amazing tool that can teach your dog leash limits, naturally calm your dog by using its own anatomical calming mechanisms in your favor and insure that your dog is not (in any way) choked if it does happen to pull.

But...

If The Gentle Leader is used to yank a dog around in an attempt to subdue a dog into compliant behavior...then, of course, it is dangerous and harmful; however, that is highly contrary to the intended use.

I should also mention, that I am not one who uses any type of pulling back on the leash as a form of leash correction.  I think it's rude and regardless of collar type-- Yanking on the leash seems counter productive and potentially dangerous.  I very much advocate Positive Training and Teaching with Kindness...(check out Victoria Stilwell for more information about Positive Training).

The Gentle Leader comes with an Instructional DVD (WATCH IT!).  It will give you advice for properly fitting the Gentle Leader for your dog, as well as, tips how to slowly acclimate your dog to wearing the head collar (some dogs find it weird, at first).  The DVD also provides excellent advice on how to properly walk your dog while it is wearing the Gentle Leader.  It is a short, information packed DVD, well worth the watch.

Once your dog is fitted and accustomed to their Gentle Leader, you will be amazed at the difference.  You might even find that the Gentle Leader is only necessary until your dog learns leash limits/manners and then you can graduate onto another type of collar (no choke or prong!).

I made my hesitant purchase well over 6 months ago and I love the Gentle Leader now; although, we rarely use it.  The Mutt only wears his head collar in new situations where minding his manners and remaining calm are absolute necessities.  He does not wear it on daily walks anymore, because he has since graduated to a regular martingale collar.

Now I understand The Gentle Leader is an effective and gentle training tool.  I am grateful that I could see past my original misconceptions and give my (much-loved) dog the gift of daily, stress-free and highly enjoyable walks.

*NOTE:  I am interested in  Front-Leading Harnesses. I would like to see The Mutt's take on the front-leading harness as another meaning of no-pull training tool.  Stay-Tuned for a future post and review regarding the Front-Leading Harness.

Mutt Approved Money Tips-ETFs for Animal Lovers

We here at Mama & The Mutt are new to the ins and outs of the Stock Market, but being aware of your own personal financial information and investments is a must, especially in light of the current volatility of the Market.

We have set down our own rules for investing:

1.  Know Your Value
         Understand the current worth of your portfolio and the amounts you are currently investing and make sure you are not over or under invested.  Be aware of your contributions.  If you are putting money aside for retirement (which you should be), make sure it is actually working for you.

2.  Do Your Research
        Know where you are putting your money and if you are getting assistance through a Financial Adviser, make sure you are asking questions.  Research your investment options. Don't be intimidated into not learning about your own Financial Future just because the workings of Wall Street are not second nature to you...pssst....you don't have to be Gordon Gecko to make your investments work for you.  You can find ways to wisely invest according to your comfort level, whether you want to actively manage your own portfolio, or if you would rather leave that to more capable hands (but that doesn't mean you should take a backseat to your own financial security). If you use a Investment Brokerage to do any active trading, understand their fees and always make sure to include the cost of fees into your buying and selling strategies (don't let the fees cut into your profits).

3.  Stay Involved
       Do not let Tax Time be the only time you check your Portfolio.  There are plenty of Guides for Lazy Investors hanging around on the internet.  Seek them out if you are interested in being more laissez-faire, but don't be so far removed that you are not following the first two rules...always know your value and always do your research.  It does no good to have investments if you aren't able to capitalize on the Market's massive up swings...or staunch the bleeding when things start to go south.  Warren Buffett's age old advice might be, "The best time to buy is whenever you have money; and the best time to sell is never."  But, let's face it, most of us aren't Warren Buffett and we can't hope to become anything like him, if we aren't willing to stay involved in our own Financial Investments.
So, why is a dog blog focusing on Financials?  

Simple.  

The Companion Animal industry is BIG business.  Americans love their pets and are forking over a lot of money for their creatures' comforts.

The American Pet Product Association (The APPA) has estimated that Pet Lovers spent a whopping $60.59 BILLION on their animals in 2015, which is up from $58.04 billion in 2014.  The amount of money spent each year has grown steadily in a trend that suggests that this area of the Market is recession proof.

No one should be surprised by these numbers...we all love our animals and we all spoil them.

Investing in Animal related stocks seems to be a pretty wise financial strategy.

Common investment knowledge suggest that Consumer Staples (items that we ALWAYS needs regardless of the economy, like food & beverages or other everyday household items) are relatively safe investments because people will always need these items, therefore, money will always flow into these companies. Stocks related to Animal Care should also have similar overall resistance to Market fluctuations, because no matter what Fido needs to be fed and go the the Vet.

Animal Pharmaceutical and Animal Healthcare companies can be a good place to start researching. Companies such as Zoetis INC. (NYSE: ZTS) and VCA Antech (NYSE: WOOF) have steadily made overall gains and could be a welcome addition to any Pet Lovers Investment Portfolio.  Springboard your research inquiries with this helpful link.

The Neogen Corp (NYSE: NEOG) deals directly with Pet Food safety and quality and is also likely to experience continued economic growth due to its position as an industry leader.

PetMed Express (NYSE:PETS) has been referred to (by this article) as the "Amazon of the Pet World" and Amazon is a pretty strong stock to own.  While PetMed Express has shown a bit more fluctuations in its performance, the overall trend is upward and is worthy of researching.

At Mama & The Mutt, we like the good old-fashion ETF approach to investing.  ETFs  (Exchange Traded Funds) allow investors to benefit from multiple stocks in a more succinct manner or at least spread investment dollars to bet on multiple horses in hopes of capitalizing on a series of gaining stocks and temper potential losses.

We are currently watching Market Vectors Agribusiness with the very appropriate NYSE symbol MOO as a potential investment ( However, this investment comes with a warning due to personally held concerns related to the environment being at odds with Monsanto being one the holdings and being at odds with our more Vegetarian/Vegan leanings with Tyson Food being another one of the holdings.)

Forgive that brief aside, and know that all of this stresses the importance of researching your options before making investments and doing what makes sense according to your own Financial/Ethical Values.

We would love for you to weigh in.   Let us know your opinion on investors following their heart/conscience or strictly paying attention to the bottom-line.

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