Between the yard being a mess of frozen paw prints, sharp ridges of ice and night shift, it was time. Time to buy more antlers.
Of course, with a pack, I can't just buy one or two. That's not fair. It's not really fair that two antlers, in the size we require, cost $19.99 either. I'll save you the math, it means that antlers for everyone cost just over $70.00. Throw in a bag of kibble that lasts two weeks and say good-bye to almost two hundred dollars. Sigh. Have I told you lately how much I love them? They are worth it - every cent of it!
It always makes me think about the fact that none of the pack work. They could I'm sure. I'll have to give that some thought over the next few nights at work and see what I can come up with. Meanwhile, they are enjoying the antlers.
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| Hiker saving hers for later. |
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| Azule on the couch |
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| Bill keeping his antler safe while napping |
Forest spend a couple of hours with an antler and concentrated on a flat section of it. By the time he finally gave it up to go outside for a pee break, he had chewed out a section as you can see here with Callie.
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| Callie |
The oval is where Forest was chewing and after it was passed around that day and into the next, it came apart and there are now two highly desired pieces.
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| Forest |
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| Breeze, standing as she often does |
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| Brook |
I think I should look further into mail order antlers. Companies in the USA that have great bulk prices can't/won't ship to Canada. There is a local chain-store that sells antlers cheaper but there is no indication of where they come from. The label indicates a distributor and nothing more. The ones I buy are Canadian and I'm willing to pay more to know where they are from.
At least antlers last awhile...
ReplyDeleteXXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
We have one and it looks like no one's chewed it.
Yes, that's why I buy them, because they last a while. Get chewing! Oh wait, I know...it's too nice outside to be inside chewing when you can be swimming instead!
DeleteA old friend of ours in Texas owned a small ranch and fed the whitetail deer every evening at dusk - literally dozens of them! It was something to see - does, fawns, and bucks with tremendous racks appearing magically from scrub to eat, then magically disappearing again. He collected shed antlers by the dozens, too. Once he gave us a big box full, because I had some idea of making my own antler chandelier, lol. We never did anything with them, and eventually gave them away - boy, am I sorry now that I a)have dogs, and b)would like a few for holiday decorating...
ReplyDeleteThat would be amazing to see! Often times on my way into and home from work I see small herds of deer.
DeleteIn all our hiking, camping and backpacking adventures we have never seen any shed antlers. Just think, if you had made that antler chandelier, you would have dismantled it by now to give it to the dogs!
I didn't realize you were in Canada. I've ordered from Yellowstone Antlers (http://www.yellowstoneantlers.com/), but don't know if they can ship to Canada. Wrigs loses interest in antlers very quickly. Looks like your dogs really enjoy theirs.
ReplyDeleteSusan and Wrigs
Yup, we're Canadian, eh! Actually, the interesting thing is, only one of the pack is Canadian and that's Callie. All the others are from the USA (the joys of the internet!).
DeleteI checked the website for Yellowstone Antlers and they have a disclaimer about import laws. So, I think we're out of luck. Oh well. You're right, the pack LOVES their antlers. Since they last a while (except for the one that Forest spent so much time on!) they are a worthwhile investment and supplemented with hooves every couple of months too. What does Wrigs like to chew?
Wrigs likes to chew on bones, but unfortunately I haven't been able give him those since his IBD and lymphangiectasia diagnoses nearly four years ago. Is it illegal to import antlers into Canada? The Yellowstone Antlers disclaimer just says it's up to you to know the law.
DeleteI've looked at the government website and it's not really clear, one screen leads to another and that to another which is why I haven't ordered any. I'm going to look again and also try and contact the Canadian company that supplies the pet supply store where I shop.
DeleteI didn't know you were in Canada! I was going to suggest ryanspet.com
ReplyDeleteWe have yet to try antlers... I'm worried they will just try to devour them! That's what happens with raw bones in our house. I realize it's not the same thign but it makes me nervous
I would highly recommend antlers! I am much more comfortable offering them since unlike bones there is no breakage, no splinters and no mess. One of the marketing tactics is that the antlers have no smell. Well, watching three blind dogs sniff them out...there is some smell. Nothing that a human can detect though.
DeleteI've heard that antlers make a fantastic chew but have yet to bring myself to spring for the price tag! I really have to sometime; I get most of my dry food from the Petsmart dumpster (medium-quality food, slightly damaged packaging) so I could afford to indulge in better chews and moist foods :)
ReplyDeleteDo it - antlers are great! We gave one as a gift to our neighbor's dog as a thanks for letting the pack outside and since he's not a big chewer, I got one that was split. He really likes it and he's had it almost a year with very little wear. The pack are are very aggressive chewers and of course with seven, the antlers do wear down after a couple of months.
DeleteI wish my dogs liked them more. We have a bunch of untouched antlers lying around:( Your pack looks too cute enjoying their new treats.
ReplyDeleteDo they like to chew in general? I have heard of putting a light smear of peanut butter on the antler to get dogs interested. It's so funny when I have something for the pack - they all sit so nicely in a group, on their best behavior, grab whatever the thing is and if it's not immediately consumable, off they go their spaces, the couch, the chair, the blanket on the floor.....
DeleteThanks for visiting Stumpy's blog! We've been having real trouble with google/blogger for over a year now and I am unable to add any blogs to my reading list. Lots of times I don't even have a reading list! Or ANY blogs! Grrrrr! So frustrating!!!
ReplyDeleteAnyways, your my new hero with 6 adopted ACDs! 6 ACDs with "issues"!!! I hope I can keep up with you!
What are the risks of antlers that you don't know where they're from? (I heard once that antlers are shed naturally by deer - is that right?
ReplyDeleteOh, hi, I'm Cocoa. My hooman Melon, who has been following your blog since - well, I don't know if it's really been since last October but I know she read from the beginning so it sure feels like it we've shared the blog journey with you! As you can see, though, we've fallen behind and are still catching up!
So hi acd pack (including Breeze of course)! Nice to meet you!
P.S. I hope you guys don't have a high prey drive because I'm a guinea pig! :P
Well hey there Cocoa, thanks for commenting! From what I have been able to read, yes, antlers are shed naturally. I am very concerned about the origin of the antlers and therefore spend more to buy the ones that are from Canada.
DeleteLet's just not talk about the whole prey drive thing, okay? It's just better that way. : )
Are the risks like diseases that could be spread or something?
ReplyDeleteJust curious. ^^
Melon