November 2010 Newsletter
- RedMoon's Most Beautiful Pet Photo Contest
- RedMoon Now Has Treats!
- New at RedMoon: Cesar Millan and RedMoon Team Up
- Real RedMoon: Two Corgis. Zero Problems at Chow Time.
- Canine Counsel: Leash Training at Any Age
- Kitty Corner: Catnip Crazies
RedMoon's Most Beautiful Pet Photo Contest
Whether it's your Persian languishing in a sunbeam or your Bulldog's endearing under-bite, RedMoon wants to see your pet at their most beautiful. With runner-up prizing, monthly draws and participation prizes, there are tons of ways for your pet to win. So get your canine or feline friend ready for their close up!
How to Enter
When you create a RedMoon Pet Profile and upload your pet's photo, you'll instantly be entered into the contest. Creating a Pet Profile is easy and can be done through your free RedMoon Account.
The Pet with the Most Votes Wins
You can upload as many pictures as you like, but your pet has to get the highest number of votes to become RedMoon's Most Beautiful. Once a pet photo is uploaded, you'll be ready to start passing your pet's link around to friends, family and the RedMoon community so they can cast a daily vote in your favour.
Contest runs from October 31, 2010 to January 31, 2011.
Prize Information
There are plenty of prizes* to be won!
*All prize winners have the option of donating their RedMoon's Most Beautiful prize to an animal at the shelter/rescue centre of their choice.
Grand Prize
The most overall votes wins:
- A year's supply* of RedMoon Custom Pet Food
- A $500 Visa gift card
*Year's supply will be based on winning pet's nutritional requirements.
Second Prize
The second most overall votes wins:
- 3 bags* of RedMoon Custom Pet Food
- 20% off RedMoon Custom Pet Food orders for 1 year
*Bags will be based on winning pet's nutritional requirements.
Third Prize
The third most overall votes wins:
- 1 bag* of RedMoon Custom Pet Food
- 10% off RedMoon Custom Pet Food orders for 1 year
*Bag will be based on winning pet's nutritional requirements.
500+ Prize
ANY pet photo that generates over 500 votes wins:
- 5% off RedMoon Custom Pet Food orders for 1 year
Monthly Prize
When you create a new Pet Profile with a photo, or upload a new photo to an existing Pet Profile, you'll be entered into the monthly draw for:
- A 27-pound bag of RedMoon dog or cat food
It's time to start collecting the votes that will make your pet RedMoon's Most Beautiful!
RedMoon Now Has Treats!
RedMoon is excited to introduce a new line of dog and cat treats now available for order in Canada. We will be bringing these treats to the USA as soon as possible, we promise! While these moist and chewy morsels will taste like candy to your pet, these treats set a new standard in health and nutrition, just like our food.
To add RedMoon treats to your pet's nutritional regime, just create a RedMoon Custom Pet Food order and add the treats to your cart during checkout.
Fresh, Local and All Natural Protein
Despite the name ‘treat', RedMoon is still focused on delivering quality nutrition. A RedMoon treat guarantees your pet a delicious reward that is low calorie and made from locally sourced, fresh and all natural animal proteins.
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Tips on Treating Your Pet Right
Treating your pet has many advantages, but the most important one to your pet is variety. While RedMoon Pet Food is delicious, the chance to enjoy a different flavour keeps your pet's life interesting and enjoyable.
Whenever you bestow a treat on your faithful companion, have these two rules of thumb in mind:
Small portions are key: Our pets' digestive systems are complex and sensitive. Giving one time, large treats can be difficult for your pet to digest and can cause a big interruption of their daily digestive cycle. Improperly sized treats also have the potential to disrupt your training sessions; a large treat that takes too long to consume will distract your pet from the task at hand. RedMoon treats come in small pieces so as to not upset your pet's feeding schedule, tummy or training time.
Keep it low calorie: Just like humans, too many treats can result in weight gain. While an active pet won't be as affected, treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog or cat's diet. Treating regularly with a bite-sized, low calorie RedMoon treat is a great way to reward your pet without compromising their health.
Cesar Millan and RedMoon's Canadian Road Trip
World-renowned dog behaviour specialist, Cesar Millan, has brought his sell-out UK tour to Canada, and RedMoon had the privilege of coming along for the ride. We proudly sponsored Cesar as he taught Canadians how to be the calm and assertive pack leaders their dogs need in these cities:
- Toronto
- Ottawa
- Edmonton
- Calgary
While our time with Cesar has come to a close, his cross-Canada tour isn’t over yet! Visit the Cesar Millan Live website for additional cities and dates.
Lucky RedMoon Customers Won Their Way to the Show
We’d like to extend a big “Congratulations!” to all our customers who won tickets by ordering RedMoon Custom Pet Food in October and by following us on Facebook. We hope you enjoyed the show and the Q&A with Cesar afterwards.
Be Our Next Big Winner with Free Pet Food for One Year!
RedMoon’s Most Beautiful Pet Photo Contest is giving you more ways to win. One fabulous feline or cute canine will win the Grand Prize of:
- A year's supply* of RedMoon Custom Pet Food
- A $500 Visa gift card
*Year's supply will be based on winning pet's nutritional requirements.
There are even more prizes to be won, and entering is as easy as uploading a pet photo.
Two Corgis. Zero Problems at Chow Time.
Adora (left) and Rhun are all smiles in the sun.Kimberlie in Edmonton, Alberta wrote to tell us the great news that her two Corgis are doing better than ever after switching to RedMoon. Check out this Real RedMoon Success Story.
Issues Before RedMoon
Adora was a picky eater, usually needing a bribe at mealtime. As well, Kimberlie was finding it challenging to manage both Adora's and Rhun's weight.
RedMoon Results
The second Kimberlie gave Adora a taste of RedMoon she ate it up instantly! Adora's fussy eating days are now behind her, and both Corgis are having no trouble maintaining a healthy weight on their new RedMoon regime.
Adora and Rhun's Custom Mix
Base Formula: Chicken & Yellow Pea Medley (Moderate Protein)
Energy Level: Normal Activity & Weight
Supplements: Spring Step Joint Reviver and Digest-Aid
Tell Us Your Real RedMoon Success Story
It could be your furry companion featured in next month's newsletter!
Leash Training at Any Age
Walking your dog should be a fun, pleasant experience and a time for bonding. However, for many dog owners it becomes a fierce tug-of-war as their dog strains at the collar attempting to catch a whiff of a new smell, meet new dogs and chase cars. Allowing your dog to pull you around on the leash is uncomfortable, not to mention dangerous on crowded sidewalks and in high traffic areas.
A little leash training can drastically improve the quality of your walks, and dogs can benefit from it at any age. Here are some tips to have your dog walking obediently at your side before the icy weather sets in for the season.
Six Leash Training Tips
- To get your dog used to wearing a new leash or head collar, start by attaching it during RedMoon chow time and leave it on for a wander around the house. This creates an association between the leash and something enjoyable - food.
- If you have a dog that goes crazy with excitement before you can even get out the door, stand still and wait patiently for them to calm down. Next, walk slowly around the house until your dog realizes that you're not going anywhere without a demonstration of good behavior.
- When your dog tries to pull you forward during a walk, make a clockwise turn and begin walking the opposite direction, forcing the dog to turn quickly to catch up with you.
- In high traffic areas, train your dog to sit at every curb you come to before you cross the street.
- Rewards, rewards, rewards! Give your dog plenty of pats, praise and delicious RedMoon dog treats as positive reinforcement when they obey your commands
- Never shout at your dog or use the leash for punishment during training. Patience is key.
Training Tools
Using the right equipment can help make training more effective. Most pet stores carry a wide selection of training aids. Here are a few RedMoon favorites:
Non-Retractable Leash: During leash training it's advisable to use a plain 4-6 foot leash made of leather or nylon rather than a retractable leash. Save the retractable leash for dogs that are well-behaved walkers; it can give dogs in training mixed signals about their boundaries.
Head Collar (a.k.a Gentle Leader, Halti): This special collar is commonly used to train dogs that pull. It fits over the nose and back of the neck of the dog, giving the owner more control over the dog's head. Dogs wearing head collars can still open their mouths to eat, drink and play fetch. This collar also takes the pressure away from throat of the dog, eliminating choking and gasping when they pull away from you.
Harness: This training aid, which wraps around a dog's body, is preferable for smaller dogs to protect their fragile necks, and for bigger dogs with small heads that easily escape a normal collar.
Catnip Crazies
Catnip has provided countless hours of fun and entertainment not only for cats, but for owners as well. Every cat lover enjoys seeing their feline friend turn into a furry ball of frolicking energy. So why is it that cats go crazy for catnip? The answer is in the scent of the catnip leaf.
What is Catnip?
Catnip is a perennial herb from the mint family that induces a euphoric high in most cats. The plant is native to Europe, but is now commonly found in Canada and the United States.
The active ingredient of catnip, found in the oil of the plant, is called Nepetalactone and is easily released into the air. Scientists believe that the chemical may imitate the effects of cat pheromones, the smell of which cause wild behavior changes in cats.
Catnip can be bought fresh, dried or in liquid form, and even toys infused with catnip are available at most pet stores. It is also easy to grow at home.
Crazy Cats
Catnip can turn the most lethargic cat into a playful kitten. Common effects include rolling in and rubbing their cheeks against the catnip, twisting into acrobatic positions, running, jumping and tumbling around the room. The catnip “high” lasts from 10-15 minutes. Wait a couple of hours and the experience can start all over again.
Unfortunately, some cats can't join the fun. Sensitivity to catnip is a genetically inherited trait and just over 50% of all cats have positive reactions. The age of the cat can also be a factor as catnip does not usually affect kittens under five months old, and the reaction to the herb often diminishes in elderly cats.
A Harmless Habit
Even though the effects of catnip are similar to a drug, it is not addictive or habit forming for your cat. In fact, if cats are overexposed to the herb they can become immune to the euphoria it produces.
Four Uses for Catnip
- To stop your cat from scratching your sofa or carpet, try spraying or rubbing catnip oil on a scratching post.
- If your cat is very sedentary or overweight, catnip can be a great exercise stimulator to help them shed a few pounds.
- The regular use of catnip can help keep your cat from eating other plants in your home.
- Use catnip to draw your cat's attention away from unpleasant experiences, such as a trip to the vet.