Shanti, at 9 months old, on guard for deer

We got Shanti at just 4 weeks old and slowly mixed in kibble made with Vegedog (using the growth measurements). By the time she was 7 weeks it was all Vegedog and we haven't looked back. It's a good thing too, since we often see her littermates and can see what a remarkable difference Vegedog makes in vitality, energy, and looks. Shanti weighs 36 pounds but her sisters weigh 20 pounds more, although being about the same height!

Her lineage is 3/4 border collie and 1/4 Australian shepherd. As a working dog she takes her job seriously. This is the first year we've managed to keep the deer from eating our 20 thuja trees bordering the front yard, all due to her wonderful diligence, especially during the nights.

She loves her food. We feed her textured soy protein (reconstituted with hot water) mixed with garbanzo beans (done in a crock pot). The garbs are mashed right in the crock pot as soon as they are finished cooking and before they cool off. The masher is a potato masher (a disc with holes in it with a handle to hold it). At that time extra virgin olive oil and tamari are added as well, along with a little crushed garlic. At meal time the Vegedog is added, as well as yeast and Prozyme Vegan. Lucky dog and lucky us!

Of course her favorite treat is Vegedog kibble. It really gets her attention for training as well as rewarding her for coming or obeying commands. In between meals she'll often get raw cauliflower. She eats it carefully and slowly to make sure that it gets chewed well. On her 9 month birthday she found a ripe avocado (on her own) and when we discovered her she'd consumed the avocado completely without eating any of the peel.

She loves apples and especially pears from our new little pear tree. Recently we acquired a Vita-Mix blender and now she gets blended green smoothies as well.

She hasn't walked on water, or flown, but sometimes I wonder. She stands on her hind legs and checks out the kitchen counter for escaped food morsels. One day she flew up onto the counter. How did she do that? It happened so fast that I thought she levitated. She was reprimanded for that and now keeps earthbound.

Since we live off a creek, in summertime she loves to swim and fetch sticks in the water.

She was born in January and was a snow baby. She loves snow and I can hardly wait for it to snow again and see her response. We don't have long to wait since it's getting very cold again here in Northern Montana.

James