Grande Prairie Expert on Dog behavior, Grooming & Pet Food - Rebecca Hayes-Copeland

http://theexperts.ca/blog/2016/06/08/grande-prairie-expert-on-dog-behavior-grooming-pet-food-rebecca-hayes-copeland/

Let's talk about Perception versus Reality. Which do you think is stronger? Is a threat real if I perceive it to be, or is it only real if it actually causes me harm?

What do these questions have to do with dogs? Well, the truth is that perception is always more important than reality. If I perceive a threat, I will be ready to act accordingly to protect myself. Does it matter that the 'threat' that I am perceiving is actually not a threat at all? Will that make me less likely to protect/defend myself? No.

The same is true for dogs. It doesn't matter if you know that your dog's behaviour is really 'just his way of being playful' or 'friendly'. If my dog perceives it as a threat, he will act accordingly when your dog approaches. This is why it's important to work with my dog to teach him a truly dog friendly way of approaching. Calmly, no direct eye contact,

relaxed and non threatening. If a dog perks

up, and charges straight at a dog – no amount of yelling “It's OK, he's friendly” is going to make my dog not see a threat.

Let's take that same scenario and look at it from a person's point of view. You are out shopping at the mall. Cruising through the crowded halls, you look up and make eye contact with a complete stranger. They suddenly turn towards you, staring at you as they pick up speed coming straight for you. Is this a threat? Does it make you uncomfortable? What do you do? You try to turn away and avoid eye contact – but that person is still coming towards you through the crowd in a straight line. They're getting closer and almost upon you. Now what? How are you feeling? Try yelling at the person to stop and back off as loud as you can. They didn't listen. They're still coming. How do you feel now?

That same person has now gotten to you, grabbed you and pulled you in for a great big bear hug. You still have never met this person before. You don't know who they are. Are you feeling more calm and relaxed because they only hugged you? Or, are you still on edge? Have you stiffened up at this invasion of personal space with a complete stranger and absolutely no encouragement on your part?

How would that scenario really make you feel? Do you see how allowing your “friendly” dog to run at other dogs and charge right into their space can make other dogs perceive a threat? The next time you feel the need to yell out “It's OK, he's friendly” take a step back and realize – you knew that your dog was making the other dog and people uncomfortable, or you wouldn't have had to qualify your approach with that statement. And, more important, every time you allow your dog to approach like that, you are risking that the other dog is going to fight back – hard and fast – because they are perceiving a threat and they are going to react accordingly.

Even if your dog is friendly, it's important to teach them a polite approach to other dogs. Allowing them to charge up means your friendly dog is now wearing the perceived mantle of a threat. And remember, perception always trumps reality.

Need help teaching your pup how to approach other dogs – give us a call at 780-513-4074. Or sign up for our Furbaby or Manners classes at PartnersNaturally.ca

Grande Prairie Expert on Flooring- Mitchell Kachnic

http://theexperts.ca/blog/2016/06/08/grande-prairie-expert-on-flooring-mitchell-kachnic/

Nothing compares to the soft, luxurious feeling of carpet under your feet. Carpeting provides a safe, comfortable spot for kids to play and may even reduce the risk of injury during a fall. Sure, carpet requires a bit of extra maintenance compared to vinyl or tile, but there's simply no substitute in terms of sound absorption, warmth and overall comfort.

With so many different colours, materials and designs available, it can be difficult to choose the best carpet for your home. Some materials may require frequent cleanings that simply won't fit into your busy schedule, others come with a high price tag and some may even have an effect on your health. The wrong carpet may wear out quickly, fade or show stains that stubbornly resist your best cleaning efforts. Protect your investment and choose the best carpeting for your home.

Carpet comes in many styles, including plush, Saxony, Berber, textured and frieze. These terms apply to its pile, which is the surface you see, created from yarn tufts that are either folded over into loops, cut straight across or both. While each style has a distinctive look, that shouldn't be your main consideration. Instead, look at how well your lifestyle meshes with a particular carpet style. Plush carpeting, for example, is made from tightly twisted pile, and is thick, soft and inviting. But it also shows footprints and vacuum tracks, and can develop something called “pooling,” or areas that appear shaded because the normal direction of the carpet fibers has been reversed. Saxony, the most common type of carpeting, is similar to plush. These carpet styles work best in low-traffic areas like formal living rooms and master bedrooms.

One of the best ways to ensure you'll be satisfied with your new carpet is to stick with carpeting you can maintain easily. Homeowners with young children or dogs and cats may want to avoid hard-to-clean shag or high-end rugs. Stain-resistant carpets can eliminate the frustration associated with spills and may cut your cleaning time.

Ask us about cleaning and maintenance requirements before you commit to buying. Find out how often you'll need to clean and what special equipment or products the manufacturer recommends. Skip carpets with extensive maintenance requirements unless you have the extra time to perform these tasks.

Even the most luxurious carpet doesn't have to cost a fortune. Shop around to find carpet that fits your lifestyle and budget. Always request separate pricing for materials and installation so you can make an “apples-to-apples” comparison among different suppliers.

Make the most of any budget by choosing the best carpet for each room. For example, stain-resistant products may be worth the splurge in your busy family room, but more affordable low-traffic carpeting may be just fine for your guest rooms.

Grande Prairie Beds Expert - Michael Gakan

http://theexperts.ca/blog/2016/06/08/grande-prairie-beds-expert-michael-gakan/

To live a healthy and successful life, it is important for each one of us that we should take good and comfortable sleep. When you work hard all day long, then you must come back home and sleep on a comfortable mattress. If comfort is the main quality, which a mattress should possess, then nothing can be a better option than a memory foam mattress. This unique and innovative foam is designed by utilizing the latest technology, which makes sure that each and every single person, who sleeps on it, gets the most comfortable sleep. Basically, it was designed for those, who are working with NASA. In order to make sure that NASA pilots get comfortable and relaxing sleep, they were provided with memory foam mattresses. Now, they have become extremely common and popular among common people.

You will find them available in most of the well known mattress shops and stores. If you don't want to suffer through sleep aches and pains and really want to keep yourself fresh every time, when you get up in the morning, then you should immediately buy a memory foam mattress. When you will lay down on it, then its shape is going to transform just like your body's shape. Each curve of your body will be supported by it, which will ultimately let you sleep in the most comfortable way. When you will get up early in the morning, then your body is going to be stress free and you will be all set to spend your entire day in a positive and fresh way. You must have an idea that your sleep plays vital role in making your healthy or unhealthy. If you will sleep on an uncomfortable and hard mattress, then you are never going to get up fresh, which will spoil your entire day.

Come in and see us today! 780-814-7161, www.bedshoppe.ca.

Grande Prairie Funerals Expert – Tina Wolfe

http://theexperts.ca/blog/2016/06/08/grande-prairie-funerals-expert-tina-wolfe/

A Tale of Two Funerals

Although we have changed the names and details to respect the privacy of the families involved the circumstances are real and actually occurred several years ago. Let's call the first family the Joneses and second family the Smiths.

Peter Jones was 76 years old with heart disease, and even though Peter knew he was very sick he refused to make final preparations.  He resisted any discussion when his wife or adult children made any attempt to bring up the matter. He retorted “talking about death will make it seem like I am giving up”. Peter believed in the myth that talking about death makes one die suddenly – and refusing to talk about death allows people to live longer. Three months later Peter died, leaving his family to make some difficult decisions all at the worst possible time.

His wife and children were divided on whether to bury or cremate Peter, whether they should have a visitation, strong feelings were put forth by both sides.  Emotions were running high amongst the entire family, a family that had always been close.

Ronald Smith was a 73 year old retired truck driver who after, being diagnosed with terminal cancer, he came to meet with us here at Oliver's to pre-plan both he and his wife Jeannie's funerals.  Ron arranged so that his family could have a visitation if they wanted, then cremation, followed by a memorial service in our chapel, and a reception in our tea room.  Ron selected the songs to be played, the honorary bearer's names, even the verse to appear on the memorial card. He then selected a cherry wood urn that reflected his hobby of wood-working, along with a custom image of his tractor trailer he drove for many years burned into the front of the urn.

Ron died a year and half after pre-arranging his funeral.  We met with his wife and adult children to finalize the date and time of the visitation and service, we also reviewed the selections Ron had made in advance, when doing so the children would simply smile and say “Yup that's something Dad would have wanted – simple and to the point”.

Back to our first family, the Jones. Since Peter's funeral, we have met with two of his adult children and their spouses to plan their own funerals.   They knew that they did not want their own families to go through what they had to.

We strongly encourage you to sit down with us and learn more about the many benefits and options of pre-planning your funeral arrangements – your family will thank you.

Our promise to you….

780.532.2929, www.oliversfuneralhome.com.

Grande Prairie Pizza Expert – Sam Saab

http://theexperts.ca/blog/2016/06/08/grande-prairie-pizza-expert-sam-saab/

Pizza may seem simple to make but many who partake in the process will attest to the fact that there is an art to the process. You can make this hot, aromatic dish with any number of ingredients to get a variety of flavors. It all depends on where you start and where you end up.

Pizza begins and ends with the dough. When you are preparing for cooking it you start with laying out your dough and when you are finishing a slice you end up with the crust. So as far as dough is concerned there are several options, and it probably causes the most strife amongst family members. Some prefer thin, some prefer thick Chicago style, and there are wheat, cornmeal, vegetable infused, and New York style foundation of crust. Dough is only one piece to the puzzle, but each piece is so important to each and every bite.

Next is the sauce for your pizza. Some connoisseurs may argue that the only sauce is tomato sauce. Meanwhile, a lot of people have moved past only tomato and enjoy varieties such as garlic oil, or pesto, for example. Just as the dough is only a piece of the puzzle, the sauce adds to the mixture of flavors in your mouth. Tomato will always have its significance but other flavor combinations are awaiting this food presentation.

Last but not least are the toppings of choice. Now this is the point when the pizza can take an even sharper turn for preference. It can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner. We can all recognize the pepperoni, seafood, and veggie lovers' toppings, but why not move outside of the box and find new toppings that suit your mood instead of always going for the same old thing.

A food like this shouldn't be enjoyed with freedom of experimentation. Yet another appealing alternative would be for you to invite a few friends over and try a few of their favorites because once you say that you're ordering in they won't turn you down. All day delivery! 780.532.2222, www.pizzaplusgp.ca.

Red Deer Alberta Legislature Expert - Ric McIver

http://theexperts.ca/blog/2016/06/09/red-deer-alberta-legislature-expert-ric-mciver/

An Ideological Debt Situation

Recently- in the Legislative Assembly, I moved an amendment to the NDP government's Bill 10. This bill among other things takes the lid off of the amount of debt the government can legally assume on the behalf of Albertans. The government has included in their budget the clear intention to run Alberta's debt up to nearly $60 billion by the next election with no intention to make a single payment against the principal until at least 2024. They also admit annual interest payments on this debt will reach $2 billion by 2019 and that's without paying one on the principal. Within an hour of the NDP voting down my attempt to keep a cap on borrowing Standard and Poor's downgraded Alberta's credit rating yet again, this time from AA+ to AA.  The NDP's ideological commitment to uncontrolled debt in the name of providing services is in stark contrast to what Alberta families do. Families control spending and pay their bills.

The Official Opposition's finance critic on the other hand advocates for no debt at any time for any reason. By this logic, we would have to teach our kids under a tree and do surgery in the parking lot until we could pay cash for schools and hospitals. This ideological extreme does not serve Alberta very well either.

Our PC caucus has been trying to inject common sense conservative principals into the discussion. We believe debt is a tool to be used responsibly. Borrowing for a school, hospital or seniors home over 20 years is okay if the infrastructure will last at least twice that long and a credible plan is in place to pay back all of the money. Further it is a very conservative principal that those who pay for the infrastructure are the ones who can choose to use it. That is like living in a home while paying the mortgage. Just common sense.

This latest credit downgrade will mean additional borrowing costs for every municipality in Alberta, farm credit facilities and the government itself. We hope it will not damage ATB as well. Please join us in encouraging common sense fiscal policy for Alberta.

For more information on our efforts and how you can help, please go to www.abpcmla.ca

Red Deer Sewing Expert - Rolly Cowan

http://theexperts.ca/blog/2016/06/09/red-deer-sewing-expert-rolly-cowan/

It's Sew Easy!!!

Every now and then I talk to someone who says, “You can't sew to save money anymore, so why would anyone sew?”  It shows you the mindset of a generation ago, when the prime purpose for sewing was to save money.  You may have grown up in a sewing family where everything that you wore was made or remanufactured by mom or grandma.  Sometimes these memories evoke warm fuzzy feelings, but there are also horror stories of embarrassing projects that made you the butt of cruel jokes.

Home sewing has evolved from a primarily functional activity into a way to show your creativity.

One facet of this is the quilting industry, and it certainly has become a big part of sewing today.  If you are fortunate enough to have one of grandma's quilts, you'll notice that it is probably made from many pieces of scrap fabrics, sometimes matching and sometimes not.  The purpose of that quilt was to keep you warm, and, if it actually looked nice, that was a bonus.  Now, there are stores that sell nothing but quilting products (fabric, thread, machines, etc.) and many of the quilts made today never make it onto a bed because they become works of art with hundreds of hours and many dollars invested in them.  There are also many clubs, retreats, and shows devoted solely to the purpose of sharing the creativity of quilting with others.  Everyone from children to great grandmas are participating in this activity and it is very contagious.  You will seldom find a quilter who has only made one quilt.

Another emerging interest in sewing is crafting.  Many stay-at-home moms have discovered that they can supplement their income by making scarfs, neckwarmers, mitts, tops, etc. and the list is only limited by their creativity.  While the children are sleeping or in school, the spare room is transformed into a beehive of activity, and the weekend market becomes the destination for many of these products.  Many, though, are happy just to create one of a kind articles for special people in their lives.  There is nothing quite like a gift that is made for you personally, and many of the computerized machines can even monogram.

For those of us who think more practically, almost everyone needs a sewing machine for the day-to-day chores around the house; shortening drapes or pants, sewing on buttons, mending tears, fixing that toddlers favourite blankie or stuffed animal, etc.

If you've been thinking of sewing from only one aspect, open up your imagination to the many possibilities that are available to make “It Sew Easy” , plus fun and creative. Call us today at 403-346-2597!