You’ve prepped your house and your wardrobe -- now it’s time to get your furry pal ready for winter. Transitioning from fall to winter can be tough for dogs, so here are 8 winter must haves for dogs from Timbercreek Communities are simply essential.

Dog sweater

If your little guy is prone to getting little shaky in the winter, a dog sweater is a great idea. You can find a cute dog sweater at pretty much any pet or department store, but why settle for ordinary when you can find something unique? For the stylish pup, check out Etsy’s online selection of handmade dog sweaters. 

Waterproof dog coat

Dog sweaters are perfect for indoor holiday parties or family gatherings, but when it comes to outdoor festivals and events, you’re going to want something more water resistant or your pet will quickly become cold and uncomfortable. Teckelklub is one of the best brands of dog coats in Canada, specializing in waterproof winter coats that hold warmth in.

Dog boots

Road salt, puddles, snow and ice are just a few of many great reasons to protect your pup’s paws this winter. The dog boots you choose should meet this basic criteria. Dog boots need to have excellent traction and water resistance in order to be worth the expense, let alone the hassle of actually putting them on your dog.  

Dog blankets

Give your best friend a cozy blanket to warm up with on cold winter nights. Dog blankets are a great buy this time of year and, if ordered online through Amazon, impressively affordable. 

Safety light

A safety light is easy to overlook, but this accessory can go a long way in guaranteeing your dog’s safety during cold, dark winter days and nights. We love the GoDoggie-GLOW light for its seven colours, five sizes and brilliant LED bulbs that also flash. Best of all, the safety collar can be conveniently recharged, saving you an inconvenient trip to the store for batteries.

Paw balm

When cold, dry weather leaves your poor pup’s nose and paws cracked, a little paw balm is in order. Try making your own this winter, starting with this Homemade Natural Dog Paw Balm recipe. 

Self-warming pet mat

If you love to spoil your pet, add this self-warming pet mat to your list of presents. The mat will soothe your pet’s aching muscles, relieving tension and restoring heat after a snowy day playing outdoors.

Pet carrier for icy days

If and when the weather truly gets ugly, don’t risk your pet’s safety. Keep a pet carrier in your closet or the back of your vehicle for when you need to transport your pet through ice and snow to your destination.

Help your pet thrive this winter by investing in a few must-haves for the season. For more information about dog-friendly Timbercreek Communities, please visit our website today. 

With the holidays fast approaching you may be considering buying a pet as a gift for someone you love. This is not a decision to make casually. The new pet should be well suited to the lifestyle, home and surroundings of the new owner. Timbercreek Communities hopes you will consider these 5 things before you purchase a pet as a gift this holiday.

Give A Pet As A Gift, Not A Surprise

If you have decided you are going to give a pet as a gift, please resist the temptation to give it as a surprise. Of course, a new puppy or kitten with a bow on it is cute, but if the person you are giving it to is unprepared for a pet, it can be stressful for the pet and the new owner. Your loved one may not have any of the necessary pet supplies on hand -- like food, a leash, a good place for the pet to sleep, or a litter box. Also, the animal is in a new environment and all the excitement of the holiday may be too much for the little guy. The SPCA recommends giving an accessory (such as a leash) as the wrapped gift, along with a gift certificate for an adoption. Once the holidays are over and things have quieted down, the recipient can choose their own pet and give them the direct attention their new pet needs and deserves.

If You’re A Parent, Are You Prepared To Look After The Pet?

If you are a parent and have decided to buy a pet as a gift for your children, you need to be prepared to look after the new addition to the family. Having a pet can be a great way to teach your kids about responsibility, but there can be a learning curve that takes some time. Your new pet doesn’t have time for your children to learn how to take care of it. It needs proper care, right out of the gate. Be prepared to care for your new pet yourself, at least at first.

Are You Educated About What Caring For An Animal Entails?

Being prepared to look after a pet requires some education. If you are getting a pet for your children, you need to know how to take care of the new pet. Obviously, different animals will require different care. If you are giving the pet to another household, discuss it with the owners-to-be before you buy the animal so they have time to educate themselves.

Adopt A Pet In Need

Once you have decided to buy a pet as a gift and you have discussed it with the new recipients, you need to decide where to purchase the new pet from. There are tens of thousands of pets in shelters and animal rescue organizations across the country. Why not adopt a pet in need?

Have You Thought About The Cost?

There’s more than just the cost of adoption to think about. Before you give a pet as a gift, and before you discuss it with whomever you’re planning on giving the animal to, you should think about the cost of keeping a pet. There are veterinarian bills for vaccinations and parasite prevention, the new owner’s may not have time to properly walk the animal and may need to pay someone to walk them, or if they travel, will there be boarding costs? You should also know the expected life span of the new pet. Indoor cats and smaller dogs can easily live well into their teens. Whomever you’re giving the animal to must be prepared to commit the lifespan of the new pet.

Pets can be a great way to enrich someone’s life. Be sure you have looked at it from all the angles and consider these 5 things before you purchase a pet as a gift this holiday season.

For more information on Timbercreek Communities across Canada, please visit our website.

Living in Canada means dealing with harsh winters. You can’t press pause on life just because the snow won’t stop falling. If you are moving into a new home (or one of our rental communities) this winter, Timbercreek is here to help with 5 tips for moving in the colder months.

Hire Movers

If you are moving in the winter, hiring professional movers is the way to go. The best part about hiring movers is that you don’t have to ask your friends and family to help you move. Your best friends will say yes, but that doesn’t mean they want to do it, especially in the winter. Hiring movers means that you can have help packing. Another big reason to hire pros is that your belongings are insured. That will bring you peace of mind. Professional movers have more experience moving, and tend to use heavy duty wrapping and plastic covers so your personal items are less likely to be damaged in the first place. If you’re not used to driving a rented moving van in the dead of winter, in an unfamiliar neighbourhood, hiring professional movers means that you can avoid the stress. One upside to moving in winter is that it’s the off-season for moving companies, so you can expect their lowest prices.

Protect The Floors

You’ve finally found the perfect home for you, make sure you keep it perfect by protecting the floors. Moving in the winter means tracking in dirty, slushy, salty, wet footprints. You may want to lay down some cardboard or plastic sheeting in high traffic areas. You may even want to invest a few dollars in a some disposable shoe booties. Apply furniture sliders to heavy furniture, even after the movers have left, chances are you’ll need to move the dining room table or the sofa from time to time, the sliders make heavy items easier to move, and protect your new floors.

Bring Warm Drinks

On a cold winter day, hot drinks are a lifesaver. You don’t want to make time consuming coffee runs all day long, so fill a large thermos (or two) with your favourite hot beverage and bring some paper cups to share the warmth.

Keep An Eye On The Weather

Moving is hard and moving in the winter is harder. Make things easier on yourself by keeping an eye on the weather. If it’s freezing out and you can’t reschedule the move, dress appropriately. Being cold makes everything more unbearable. Dress in layers so you can adjust your attire with any temperature changes throughout the day.

Winterize Your Belongings

Moving in winter requires taking a few extra precautions to protect your belongings. Place anything that can fit in boxes into reusable plastic containers. It only takes a little snow on your mattresses or upholstered furniture to create a mold problem, so invest in some plastic covers. Investing a few extra minutes before you take your belongings out into the cold, wet world will save you money at the end of the day.

We understand that moving in the winter can be unpleasant. With a little extra planning and these 5 tips for moving in the winter, you can make the experience more manageable.

For information on Timbercreek communities for rent across Canada, please visit our website.

Let’s be honest -- winter can be depressing. Few of us enjoy the frosty temperatures and lack of sunlight. Staying fit in the winter can be a real challenge when many us would rather hibernate under a warm blanket and wait for spring to arrive than go outside. Timbercreek has a few fun suggestions for how you can stay fit during winter.

HIIT Workouts You Can Do At Home

HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training. HIIT workouts feature a series of intense intervals and relaxed intervals. You go all out for a short burst, then you recover for a short period, then repeat. This 10 minute plyometric workout video requires no equipment and works your whole body at once. If you don’t have 10 minutes to spare, you can still get a killer workout in (in half the time) with this 5 minute whole body workout. If 5-10 minutes seems too short, step up your game with this 15 minute Tabata workout. The Tabata protocol consists of 20 seconds “all out” followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated 8 times, for a total of 4 minutes per set.

YouTube Yogis We Love

Yoga is great way to improve your flexibility, focus and to burn calories. YouTube has attracted many yoga experts who share free videos. Choosing the YouTube yogi who’s right for you can be daunting. Our favourite YouTube yogis include Yoga with Adriene. Adriene uploads new 30 minute yoga videos every Wednesday. Tara Stiles is another great choice, especially for those with no time to workout. She provides 10 minute yoga sessions for all skill levels. For a more intense 30 minute fat-burning yoga program, we love the yoga videos provided by fitness guru Jillian Michaels.

Take The Stairs

Did you know that climbing stairs burns more calories per minute than jogging? Stair climbing is officially classified as vigorous exercise. It’s a great form of cardio training and an excellent exercise for building core strength. It effectively works your quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, abs and calves. Skip the elevator and take the stairs!

Ski Or Snowboard

If you don’t mind the cold too much, we recommend exercising outdoors in the winter from time to time. It’s a great way to get some vitamin D and have some fun during the colder months. Skiing and snowboarding are fun outdoor exercises to try this season. The amount of calories burned per hour will depend on your intensity level and body weight, but skiing can burn approximately 500 calories per hour and snowboarding will burn approximately 450 calories per hour.

Go Ice Skating

When was the last time you laced up your skates? Skating is a great way to stay active in the winter. Its also a great excuse for pending time with friends, sipping hot chocolate and is a relatively inexpensive family-friendly activity.

Timbercreek hopes these winter activity suggestions will help you stay fit during the winter and make the most of the season. If you would like more information about Timbercreek Communities, please visit our website.

Finding a delicious high quality treat for your pet can be difficult. With all the additives, preservatives, fillers and byproducts in store-bought treats, it’s hard know what you’re getting. Timbercreek Communities is here to help with some homemade pet treats you can make in the comfort and convenience of your kitchen.

Peanut Butter Dog Bone Cookies

These Peanut Butter Dog Bone Cookies are easy to make, and won’t stick to the roof of your dog’s mouth. They feature simple ingredients you likely have on hand -- a little flour, oats, chicken broth, parmesan cheese and of course, peanut butter. They only take about 10 minutes of prep time and another 20 minutes in the oven. They can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week, though your dog probably won’t let you keep them that long.

Bacon Flavoured Biscuits

Save that bacon fat from your next big breakfast. -- your dog will love you for it! Put it to good use in these Bacon Flavoured Biscuits. With about 20 minutes of prep time, you can make a simple dough of flour, water, milk, eggs and bacon fat. Bake the dough for about 40 minutes and store whatever your dog doesn’t devour in a covered container in the fridge of your Timbercreek home. The recipe makes about 25 biscuits.

Paw Print Dog Treats

These simple Paw Print Dog Treats will put a smile on your dog’s face. They are easy and wholesome treat for your pet -- made of flour, brewer’s yeast, wheat germ and a little chicken stock. The recipe yields about 2 dozen treats that can be stored at room temperature for up to a month. They are a perfect portable treat for walks.

Chicken Treats for Cats

Show your cat how much you care with these Chicken Treats for Cats. This crunchy mix of organic spinach and chicken will have your kitty purring your praises in no time. All you need to do is steam some boneless chicken (or fish, if that’s your cat’s favourite) and blend it with some spinach, flour, egg and a little catnip in a food processor. Form the treats into bite sized pieces and bake them for 20 minutes. This recipe yields several dozen small treats.

Catnip Biscuits

In less than 10 minutes you can prepare Catnip Biscuits all you need is dough of flour, water, milk, wheat germ, honey and of course, catnip. With 20 minutes in the oven and a little time to cool off, your cat’s day just got a lot more delicious!

Timbercreek Communities hopes you give these healthy homemade pet treats a try!

Please visit our website for more information on Timbercreek Communities and our pet-friendly rental properties across Canada.