On dog boots and dog socks

Winters in Canada can be quite harsh, not just for humans but also pets. Think about it for a minute, we wear insulated boots with grips when we walk the dog. Our furry friends have...paw pads. That’s fine most of the time, but when it’s -20 degrees Celsius or colder? When you’re walking on paths covered in non-pet and non-child friendly de-icing mixes? The concept of dog footwear - dog boots and dog dog socks - doesn't seem so strange after all.

Maestro really loves this dog jacket by Bailey & Bella. Photo by R-M Arca.

Dog boots for winter

I discovered dog footwear when Maestro was just a few years old. At first, I balked at the price of Muttluks dog boots and bought him a cheaper brand name. They didn't stay on very well. In the end, I bought Maestro Muttluks  (approximately $50 CAD). He doesn't keep them on all the time but at least they don’t slide off as often as the knock-offs did.

The soles are leather, which is great when it’s below freezing. It’s a completely different story when the snow is melting. Those boots get soaked - fast!

Since buying the Muttluks, different models have come out. You can now get the leather sole, but you can also buy the fleece-lined model and the all-weather model.

On a recent visit to Pet Valu, Maestro and I watched a Corgi try on a set of Ultimate Trail Boots by Canine Equipment ($70 CAD). This is, by far, the best set of dog boots I have ever seen. There are grips on the soles and the hind paw boots are sized differently from the front paws’. Unlike the Muttluks, CE’s dog boots are water resistant, yet still breathable.

This company makes good quality dog accessories with thoughtful designs. Our family has several dog accessories by Canine Equipment, including the Ultimate Trail Pack, a harness and walking collar. Guess what Maestro is getting for his birthday?

Help! My older dog keeps slipping on hardwood floors

Maestro has always slipped a bit on hardwood floors, but when we visited relatives this Christmas, I saw that he was having a harder time standing up and moving around. He was more stiff than usual and oftentimes, seemed to plant himself in one spot and his expression clearly said, “I’m not moving. You’ll have to pick me up if you want me to move.”

I remembered hearing that other dog owners purchased dog boots or dog socks because their dogs kept slipping on hardwood floors. From the recesses of my memory, I recalled seeing dog socks with grips, so went to Pet Valu in search of these. We first tried Pawks by RC Pets ($10.99 CAD), primarily because I balked at the price of the Pawz dog boots ($19.99 CAD).

I went with medium because that was what was recommended. That was a failed experiment. One of the other dogs in the family tried (successfully) to pull off Maestro’s Pawks. They really didn't stay on well. By that point, Maestro stained the Pawks so I couldn't return them. That meant that I had to go and buy a small set of Pawks. They stay on better than the mediums, but he occasionally pulls off his hind ones when he sits.

In the end, I also broke down and bought Maestro a set of Pawz. I appreciate that there are three sets of reusable dog boots in the package.

Seriously, I need to remember not to go with the cheapest solution. I usually wind up spending two to three times as much.

Anyway, Pawz are ideal for the hardwood floors. Maestro has great traction when walking hardwood. They are also perfect at the vet’s office and pet stores. He gets decent traction on snow.

They stay on pretty well, too. The other dogs don’t try to pull them off, while Maestro rarely pulls them off when he sits on them.

The only thing is you can't keep them on for long periods of time. Remember, dogs "sweat" through their paws.

Where to buy dog boots and dog socks

Most pet stores carry at least one type of dog footwear. However, if you are looking to buy online, check out my affiliate links:

Muttlucks on Amazon

Ultimate Trail Boots on Amazon

PAWks Dog Socks on Amazon

For your first set, I strongly recommend that you buy locally. Bring your dog in so that he or she can try on dog footwear for correct sizing and fit.

Having canine arthritis, Maestro will always move with some stiffness. It varies depending upon the weather. At least I can make his life a bit easier by putting on his dog boots or dog socks so that he can walk on hard surfaces and stand up from a prone position more easily.

Gift Ideas for Older Dogs

Looking for gift ideas for your senior dog? Here are seven Christmas gift or birthday gift ideas that Maestro and I recommend for the older dog in your family:

Snoozer Scalloped Pet Stairs for Canine Arthritis

Available on Amazon.ca, the Snoozer Scalloped Pet Stairs is at the top of our list ($57.50 CAD and up). Maestro used to have the Pet Gear Easy Step II Pet Stair ($37.56 CAD and up), but once he was diagnosed with canine arthritis and I.V.D.D, the stairs had to go. The impact was too hard on his joints.

Maestro's old stairs had to go once he was diagnosed with Inter-vertebral Disc Disease. Photo by R-M Arca.

The Snoozers are so soft (yet firm). It's much easier on his joints:

This Snoozer Scalloped Pet Ramp is easier on Maestro's joints. Photo by R-M Arca.

A Dog Ramp to Ease Joint Pain in Dogs

If you are crafty, you could make your own dog ramp. Just make sure the angle isn't too steep.

If we didn't have the Snoozers, we would have purchased Mr. Herzher's Smart Ramp Jr ($72.99 USD at PetSmart). There is a full-sized version of Mr. Herzher's Smart Ramp  on Amazon as well as PetSmart ($143.99 USD and up).

If you need a pet ramp for your vehicle, check out the Pet Gear Full Length Tri-Fold Pet Ramp. It's also available on both Amazon and PetSmart ($129.99 USD).

A Dog Jacket or Sweater

Just like us, older dogs have achy joints. Keeping them warm helps immensely!

When we experienced that cold snap a few weeks ago, Maestro refused to let me remove his plaid Bailey & Bella jacket from Pet Valu:

Maestro really loves this dog jacket by Bailey & Bella. Photo by R-M Arca.

Believe it or not, I had to go back to Pet Valu to order him a second jacket. The first one is currently in the wash.

A Therapeutic Dog Bed to Soothe Aching Joints in Dogs

When he was younger, Maestro loved his dog crate. Now, he needs more room to get settled and a softer, warmer surface.

If money were no object, I'm sure Maestro would love an infrared Thermotex Therapeutic Dog Bed. It retails between $178 to $238.80 CAD. In the summer, I bought us a Thermotex Infrared Therapy pad. Sure, it costs more money ($249 CAD), but at least we both can use it:

There are alternative therapeutic dog beds. At PetSmart, you can check out the Precision Pet SnooZZy Round OrthoAir Mattress Dog Bed ($99 USD) and Canine Cushion Orthopedic Fabric and Fleece Dog Bed  ($20 USD).

Amazon has a variety of therapeutic dog beds. They range between $32,85 to $86.06 CAD.

Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews for Dogs

Gum disease is common in older dogs. Bottom line, they need to clean their teeth, but the treats must be gentle on their sensitive gums.

Maestro really likes his lamb pizzles from Pet Valu. His second favourite go-to dental chew are his enzymatic oral hygiene chews that we get at the vet. You can also find them on Amazon.

Wheat-free biscuits for Arthritic Dogs

Wheat is bad for dogs with arthritis. Lately, Maestro has been enjoying think!dog Crawfish Dog Biscuits:

He gets his fruits and veggies too. Our usual go-to wheat-free dog cookies are Fruitables Crunchy Dog Treats and Nutro Natural Choice Crunchy Dog Treats. Really, any dog cookie that is wheat free is fine for the older dog in your family.

Paw Protection for All Dogs

If you live in a cold climate, paw protection goes a long way at preserving your furry buddy's paw pads. All the dogs in our family own a set of Muttluks:

They retail for $50 CAD and above. The major pet stores in Canada sell them, although you can also find them online at Amazon or PetSmart.

Recently, I picked up a FouFou Pet Fou Stick Paw Balm for Pets. If Maestro isn't out for too long, it's a lot easier to slap on the paw palm than it is to put on his dog booties!

Whether your are shopping for Christmas gifts or birthday gifts for you older dog, we hope this list gives you a few ideas to check out. How about you? Do you have any gift ideas for older dogs that you'd recommend for Maestro to try out?

My First Otafest Aurora - Part 2

As mentioned in Part 1 of My First Otafest Aurora, it has been a few years since I attended an anime convention in Calgary. There was a lot to see and do. Unfortunately, it was impossible to see everything, so choices had to be made.

Messy Ramune at the Otafest Aurora Maid Cafe

I hooked up with my friends Poohkiez and Krimson Gray to check out the Maid Cafe at around 1:30 p.m.  Along the way, we ran into Index, so of course I (as in Misaka) had to have my picture taken with her:

Index looks so happy that Misaka is about to fire off a railgun. Photo by C. Kohl.

We sat with four people from Medicine Hat. Half of us ordered the Ramune Combo, while the other half ordered the Deluxe:

It was their first time to try Ramune. When I demonstrated how to push the marble in, I made a big mess. Perhaps I shouldn't have demonstrated with so much gusto? I still have to give my camera a deep cleaning! >_<

The desserts were delicious, however. Afterwards, we made crafts. Good times.

Later, Krimson said, "I miss the dance routine from Main but the space wasn't there." He echoed my sentiment when he said: "There should be a rule that they have at least one trap. The cross dressing maid guy just makes any Meido Café feel complete."

THWOMP Hosts 'How Do You Cover Video Game Music?'

THWOMP delved into music nerd land by discussing the evolution of video game music, as well as the process of transforming 8- and 16- bit music into a rock band arrangement. It was fascinating to hear about how the retro game composers had to get creative scoring with only four channels.

In early games, the same track that was used for percussion was also used for sound effects. That explains why the drums cut out once in a while.

Originally, video game music had to be transcribed by ear, pencil and paper. It was a time consuming process. Now, music can be transcribed with the aid of a music emulator.

On the Photo Booth and Wandering Aimlessly

I had to run to the Cosplay Pageant Awards. They were just giving out the Best Group Award when I arrived. The judges commented on how impressed they were that all entrants worked on their costumes. Not a single entry was a ready-made costume. Congrats to all the winners!

Afterwards, I wound up at the Christmas Cosplay Photo Booth. I had a delightful chat with a crossplaying loli. He had a tough time finding his swanky white boots.

There, I also met Lag from Letter Bee:

I was told that "Lag's" sister made the costume in under a month. Putting the bee insignia on the cap was the most time consuming part. Lag gave me a cute letter.

Aka Maple took the photos at the Cosplay Booth. I can't wait to see mine. The photographer informed me that everyone's photos will be posted on Otafest's Facebook Page.

The Otafest Mixer and Mingler (A.K.A. "speed dating") got off to a slow start. The room was packed with much younger folk than I, with no drinks in sight.  Hopefully, the drinks weren't too far behind. I, however, decided to keep moving.

Next stop: An Introduction to Ballroom Dancing. That was pretty popular too.

Back to THWOMP for the THWIMP Jam Session. The band took some requests and gave a sampler of group's upcoming CD. The new album will be released in the spring.

I left early to catch "How to Survive Cons", which unfortunately, was cancelled. I asked Gareth Lypka, Otafest Public Relations, about it. Either the notice was posted after I left or the information didn't get to organizers in time. Gareth explained further: "The majority of our panels are run by our fans and this sometimes they bail on us. We are usually pretty on top of making sure the schedule is updated but sometimes there are misses. It's just a part of running a event." He added, "The majority of our panelists are pretty dedicated to their craft and are very reliable."

The Otafest Aurora Gala and Eating in the Dark

Krimson and I stuck around for the Gala and bit Poohkiez good night. We made some new friends over a great discussion about various facets of otaku culture. In the dark. The lighting was extremely dim. Most of my tablemates and I took a photo of our plate to help identify where everything was on the plate.

Perhaps, had the lighting been better, we would have noticed that someone stole our Kiku's entire place setting. It was all sorted out in the end.

Dessert, tea and coffee was served in the lobby while organizers transformed the hall into a dance floor. We wound up chatting more than dancing.

Here is the video from the Otafest Aurora Cosplay Showcase by OTL Productions:

Otafest Aurora - The Verdict

Organization, for the most part, was really good. Two of my companions reported that the on-site registration was "easy". Both Krimson and I pre-registered, so it was really easy for us. My guess is that Del arrived later than the rest of us and got caught in a wave.

I liked how the events were spread out over five floors. That was done to minimize crowding issues. However, my companions and I all noted that the Vendor Room and Artists' Alley were congested throughout the day. We agreed that it would be nice to have larger area for these places in future conventions.

Poohkiez summed it up nicely: "I liked the fact that there were a variety of presentations and things to do, from anime to 'So you want to go to Japan' to the Maid Cafe to the Gala."

Perhaps Del has voiced the sentiments of several otaku: "It would be great if the convention was just a bit longer," she said. "One day conventions are a bit too short and sweet for my taste. If it were longer, it would provide more for the attendees to do and frankly, I believe it would generate more interest in the con overall."

All in all, Otafest Aurora was a great anime convention in Calgary. Short and sweet.

Part 1 of My First Otafest Aurora | My Otafest Aurora Review on Examiner.com | My Otafest Aurora Photo Album

My First Otafest Aurora - Part 1

I must confess, it's been a three years since my last anime con. When I became a Calgary Events Examiner, I decided that now, I have an excuse to attend every music geek, pet geek and geeky geek event that I can squeeze into my schedule. So now, it IS my job and my duty to other geeks to go and report it! First up: Otafest Aurora. A huge thank you is in order (as well as full disclosure is required in these matters). I did purchase a general admission ticket and asked Gareth Lypka of Otafest Public Relations to let me know if anyone had a gala pass they had to get rid of. Well, one did become available and I was given a Gala Pass. どうも ありがとう ございました ("doumo arigatou gozaimashita") to the Otafest Staff for my reviewer's pass.

For those of you just tuning in, Otafest Aurora is a one-day Calgary anime convention. This year, 1,176 otaku attended the event on Saturday, November 30, 2013 at the U of C's downtown campus. That's twice as many as last year's anime con.

Otafest Aurora, formerly called "Otafest Lite" is a chibi version of the main Otafest Convention, held on the May long weekend. This is the second year that Otafest Aurora has taken place.

First Stop: The Otafest Aurora Vendor Room

When I arrived at 11 a.m., the Vendor Room was a happening place. There were 40 vendors at this year's anime con. It was a little cramped at times, so it was good to go a couple of different times.

My first stop was to say hi to Cindy, my classmate from the Calgary Japanese Language School. Her booth was extremely busy. Cindy-san said that didn't have a chance to get all her merchandise on the tables when the first wave of customers came.

I was good. Really good. I didn't buy much and I didn't break the bank. However, I did buy items that I know I'll get a lot of mileage out of.

At the Nerd Loft, I purchased a Shingeki no Kyojin Survey Corps patch. I was debating over whether to get the full set in anticipation of a SnK cosplay, but after speaking with several of the SnK cosplayers, decided that an Attack on Titan cosplay is beyond my time and abilities to put together.

I picked up a pixelated Charizard and Bulbasaur for a Christmas gift. Note to self, I must contact Chelsea Kerr of Pixel Clips to commission Volpix and Squirtle.

My biggest purchases were my Fullmetal Alchemist Watch set and my Otafest Aurora hoodie. I've wanted an FMA pocket watch for ages! It really didn't take much to convince me and the otaku after me to buy a set each. Arigatou, Random Array!

My Otafest Aurora Hoodie is so warm. It's perfect for a week like this one. Gareth said that the hoodies are American Apparel, so they are very good.

My final purchase was a fuzzy Domo-kun tote bag. A steal of a deal at $10.

Cosplay and More Cosplay

I saw some incredible cosplay throughout the day.  The fact that so many were hand made was simply incredible. These are some of the cool cosplay outfits I saw:

Travelling to Japan with Jessica Roh

Jessica Roh from Anything Goes, gave an informative presentation on 10 things we need to know before we travel Japan. In actuality, her tips are good for travelling anywhere:

1. Plan and prepare: Do your research. Ask yourself the W5 (who, what, where, when, why, how)

2. Get immunized

3. Be early for everything

4. Pack less

5. Protect your important documents

6. Learn key phrases in Japanese (or the native tongue of your destination)

7. Arrange for someone trustworthy to take care of things at home

8. Pre-book your accommodation

9. Book tours in advance

10. Document everything

This is just Part 1. Click on the following links to check out the rest of my first Otafest Aurora experience: Part 2 of My First Otafest Aurora | My Otafest Aurora Review on Examiner.com | My Otafest Aurora Photo Album

Our Growing Collection of Geek Dog Products

Maestro and I like to check out both local and online stores for fun dog fashion and accessories and geek dog products. We even jumped onto the DIY wagon and designed a few dog shirts on Zazzle. Although Maestro received many compliments, he didn't really like his Doggles:

Maestro at the Calgary Folk Fest

On the other hand, we both like his Ultimate Trail Pack. Due to his back problems, Maestro can no longer carry his own pack. However, we still bring it with us on day trips and visits with family and friends.

We both prefer walking with the Dogmatic FreeLeash. This useful dog accessory enables me to carry other items without worrying about where Maestro is.

Another useful item in our geek dog product collection is his Waste Manager Disposal System. With it, we can feel good about taking care of the environment, one poop at a time.

The latest addition our dog fashion collection is the Star Wars R2-D2 Dog Collar, which was ordered from ThinkGeek. The reaction has been pretty consistent: "What a neat collar....[person takes a closer look]...Hey! Star Wars! Cool."

One of the ladies from the Canine Aquafitness Centre hopped onto ThinkGeek's website after Maestro's laser appointment to order geeky Christmas gifts for her entire family.

Here's Maestro showing off his new newest geek dog product: