Dave Schroder

My aunt's preferred dog food

Proper nutrition is important for the health of your family, including those of you who have furry four-legged members in (or outside) the home.  This information is of vital importance if you care about the canines in your life:  processed and mass produced dog food, (especially dry) can actually negatively impact canine health.

Growing in popularity with dog owners is the BARF diet (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food).  Here is a list of the Top 50 questions about the diet.  Many breeders and pack leaders swear by it.  Yes, it can be more expensive than the dog food that you may be familiar with, but according to my Aunt, you can save more than that amount in annual Vet bills for various health complications.

In the Edmonton area there are several places to get high quality raw food specifically designed to meet the biological and nutritional needs of your dog.  Global Pet Foods have several locations as well as Tail Blazers.

If you don’t own a dog and have been thinking about getting one, please consider adopting! There are several rescue agencies in the Edmonton area that have a wide range to choose from and lots of information available.  Our family, just recently adopted a dog for my grandfather out on the farm, and had a lovely experience with WHARF.  Also worth checking out are  HART, Rescue For Life, and Second Chance!  They are always looking for Foster homes for dogs as well, even if you’ve got a pack already; it can be a great socializing lesson for your other dogs.

Either way, before you bring your adopted companion home be sure to dog proof your house.

Please forward this link to other pet lovers!

Offers of purchase and sale on a home are often contingent on a satisfactory home inspection.

That means the buyers have a period of time to hire a qualified home inspector to do what his or her title suggests: inspect the property top to bottom and inside and out.  Based on the results, the buyers can either confirm their intention to complete the purchase, or negotiate repairs or compensation for identified deficiencies.

How do you select a home inspector? Your REALTOR® can give you some recommendations.

Typically, you want someone who is certified with a recognized professional association, such as the National Association of Home Inspectors (U.S.) and the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors.

It’s also advisable to choose a home inspector who has several years of experience inspecting the type of property you’re considering buying. And, of course, ask for references.

Shopping for a home doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. In fact, with a little planning, you can make the entire process fun for everyone – even if there are kids involved.

Here are some tips for doing  just that:

• Get the whole family involved in deciding what kind of home you should consider. The more everyone, especially kids, feel a part of the process, the more likely they are to adjust well to the idea of moving.
• Bring healthy, light snacks and drinks with you when viewing more than a couple of homes in a row. It’s difficult to have fun when your energy level is low.
• Easy does it. Don’t see too many properties at one time. Feeling burnt out after viewing the tenth home on a Saturday afternoon will impact your judgement. Your fatigue might cause you to pass on a property that is actually a good fit.
• Kids often enjoy the first viewing of a new home, but are generally less interested in the second and third visits. So when you’re going back to take a closer look at a property before you submit an offer, consider leaving your children with a babysitter.
• Look for a good fit, not for perfection. You probably have an idea in your head of your perfect home. There’s nothing wrong with that! Just keep an open mind when you look at what’s available on the market.
• Work with a REALTOR® who can make the entire process of searching for an buying a home go smoothly for you.