A Day in the life of the furry
Funny River Russell family
This is Rojo, our Rhodisian Ridgback at 9 weeks old snuggling up with our baby Jacks
We take great care to assure the health and safety of our four legged family members just as we do our children.
Each of our dogs have their own crate with a specially made waterproof bed for easy cleaning and maximum comfort were they spent their nights (unless they are sleeping with the kids) and they lounge throughout the day in the house or outside depending on the weather.
We start our day at 6:30 A.M. and every dog knows it! I dish up breakfast for them as my coffee is brewing, feed them and let them out for their morning potty break. I feed softened Iams for the adults and softened Iams Smart Puppy for the wee ones. Soaking their food helps with digestion and they eat less because their body is able to absorb more of the nutrients rather than passing it on which results in less pooper scooping!
I let 2 to 4 dogs out at a time and rotate them throughout the day so that everyone gets plenty of socialization and individual attention.
Everyone gets to go outside and run around on our four acres of lawn (or snow depending on the weather) every couple of hours, or all day if the weather is nice. Some of our dogs prefer a simple potty break and come right back in while others like to lounge around outside in the sun or help me in the gardens.
Dinner is at 3pm and they know the routine... Every dog to their crate and out after their meal.
The puppies also get maximum attention as our children are always ready to snuggle up with the babies and watch them play. Throughout the day. Our five year old daughter Lexi rotates the pups and makes sure they all get lots of kisses and pretend time for their rapidly growing minds. Most of the time she thinks she is a puppy too. She loves to get scatched behind the ear and tummy rubs are the best ;-)
We socialize and play with all dogs individually prior to bed time. This is when I check everyone to see if they need anything such as nail trimming, brushing, ear cleaning, a good belly rub, or just some extra cuddle time. Bed time is at 9 p.m. and every dog gets love before they go in their crates to snuggle up for the night.
I provide my dogs with plenty of chew toys, tug a ropes and bouncy balls for their entertainment and ours! My favorite chewies are... pig hooves. They smell funny when they are chewed well but they last for a long time, give the dogs extra calcium and nutrition, help the puppies loose their baby teeth and keep their teeth clean for minimal expense. The Kong toys are great entertainment stuffed with treats and closed with peanut butter. I use the extra tough black Kongs for the avid chewer. Raw hide chips are good, inexpensive, teeth cleaning chews as well.