By Pamela Schmidlin, Certified Health Coach, Certified Dog Trainer, Professional Photographer and Videographer
April 29, 2013- Today, I will be introducing you to the final "business" partner and friend, a canine.
His name is Benji!
Benji, actually came in our lives through the North Shore Animal League. He is actually my parents dog, but living right next door he is considered one of the pack! He is approximately 3 years old, the youngest of the pack!
He has come to prove himself as a great training partner in my running as well.
Benji knows his place in the pack, he understands that he is the youngest and newest and knows where he stands and accepts his place and lives peacefully and lovingly with Skyler, Sandy, and Candycane.
The excitement he exudes when it's time for his daily walk is astounding! Or when it's time to "go for a ride"....he has taught me to love the simple things in life and to cherish every moment with gusto!
One of his favorite jobs to do is taste testing, he is one of the taste testers for my recipes. In the following video, you can see him enjoying some homemade Six Legged Companion Vegan Ice Cream!
The bond that has grown between Benji and my parents is great. Through this bond, he has taught me that a relationship needs to be worked on and treasured.
Although Benji is the newest Swiss American Vegan Rescue Dogs and Six Legged Companion/ Athlete, you will be hearing more from him and/ or about him, and what he has to offer in his everyday lessons.
Email me and tell me what your up to and what you want to me to blog about, at
By Pamela Schmidlin, Certified Health Coach, Certified Dog Trainer, Professional Photographer and Videographer
April 28, 2013- Today, I will be introducing you to yet another "business" partner and best friend, a canine. Her name is Sandy.
Sandy is a Cocker Spaniel/ Golden Retriver mix. She is 14 years old. Sandy came to me way of North Shore Animal League. She was approxiamtely 2 years old. It was shortly after 9/11, that she came into my life. I walked into NSAL, and our eyes met and from that point on, we became the best of friends. She rescued me from that point on. Several weeks before I had lost my dear Sammy (a sheppard mix who I got from Smithtown Animal Shelter), and although Sammy could never be replaced.....Sandy filled a void in my heart!
Sandy also had a similiar look that my dear Candy had, and once again although Candy could never be replaced she filled a void there as well. Candy was a Cocker Spaniel, who came to me through a reputable breeder, one look into her eyes and I knew that we would be forever!
Sandy came to be a Certified Therapy Dog, and had many patients who longed to see her every week at the local nursing home. She would go in and visit with her patients, and let them pet her and cuddle close to them, and get them smiling in her visits! She taught me that a kind word and smile can go such a long way. She taught me that giving someone the time of day, and having just one conversation or visit can change so much! So becoming a health coach, I keep this lesson in mind. So that I can help change the world, or someone else's world one client at a time!
Sandy has also come to be another running partner, as well as yoga or rather Doga partner. She has taught me to the Downward Dog pose, the Cobra pose (as seen in the photo to the right), and to take the time to properly meditate and to relax! Such doga poses can be seen with Sandy by my side in the video below! Enjoy!
Email me and tell me what your up to and what you want to me to blog about, at
By Pamela Schmidlin, Certified Health Coach, Certified Dog Trainer, Professional Photographer and Videographer
April 27, 2013- Today, I'm introducing to you another "business" partner, and best friend of mine, a canine. His name is Candycane.
Candycane, is a black lab/ chow mix. He is 13 years old (yet once again, he doesn't think he's older than a puppy!) Candycane came to me way of an (I must admit it as well)....I walked into a pet store, and although I HIGHLY suggest you go to your local shelter and adopt and rescue a dog that needs a home there.....I ended up with Candycane, and whether it was against my best judgement to do so or not, we have been together since he was 6 months old and ever since. And have not regretted the move since.
(Although, I do not support puppy mills! And support visiting you local animal shelters first and foremost!)
Anyway, moving on....Candycane and I have also become running partners, we ran in pack together at our local trails, and on local roadways. Candycane has even joined Skyler and myself at a few races.
Candycane, is a protector and has taught me to be discerning when it comes to who to embrace and who to be weary of. (He still is teaching me of course! Dogs have a sixth sense, oh wait that may be their seventh sense....on knowing who is good vs who is dangerous.....they can actually sniff it out, we on the other hand have to hone in our skills a bit more to do so!)
Candycane, has also helped in the dogpark establishing process.
Candycane is also part of the taste testers for all the wonderful treats that come your way. And part of the pass and move on stage! If he doesn't like the treat, until it passes his palate you will not hear of it!
As you can see from the photo above, he teaches great oral hygiene and reminds me to brush and floss after every meal. He teaches me to be considerate and playful.
Email me and tell me what your up to and what you want to me to blog about, at pamelaschm@optonline.net
By Pamela Schmidlin, Certified Health Coach, Certified Dog Trainer, Professional Photographer and Videographer
April 26, 2013- Today, I will be introducing you to one of my business partners, Skyler. One of my best friends, a canine- and someone that has helped me in so many ways while having fun. She teaches me lessons everyday about life and living a healthy one. And together with me wants to help others live that same healthy life.
Skyler is a Sheppard Mix, who is about 12 years old (shhhh...she still thinks she's a puppy though!). We found each other when she was about 1 year old. I walked into the Huntington Animal Shelter, and she saw me, gave me this look and I was taken in by her. She decided to rescue me and that day she took me home with her. Since then she and I have been inseparable!
Skyler and I soon became running partners, we would run the trails at the local park, we ran around town. After years of training together we found some races that were very dog friendly and we started racing together. (I think she has won more awards than me!) We raced thoughout Long Island (she is known throughout the Greater Long Island Running Club now!), NYC- Manhattan, and New England!
Sadly, a few years ago she literally retired from the running scene, while we were on a trail run at our favorite park, she and I were running when all of a sudden she stopped, sat down and wouldn't budge until I said "okay, we'll walk the rest of the way (we only had a mile left at that point, of a short 6 mile run)" so we walked the rest. Good news though, we still walk everyday and enjoy every step together! Her longest run to date was a 18 mile trail run!
Skyler and I were an active part of getting our local dogpark established, and after a few years of working on our own, we joined together with H-Dog (now LI-Dog, www.lidog.org) which definitely helped in making our dream a reality, the Blydenburgh Dogpark- which is now been a truly active dogpark for several years! We still enjoy the dogpark together with my other dogs as well.
Together we play ball, and come up with tasty treats to share with our YouTube and blog followers. Skyler is instrumental in taste testing my treats, if they pass her discerning palate they will make their way to you, but only if they pass!
The fact that she is respectful of her pack members, shows and teaches me to be respectful of others. The unconditional love she gives to me and others shows me that in this world we need to embrace the love and share what we can without expecting anything in return many times!
I call her a Swiss American Rescue Dog because as part of my family now, and being part German Sheppard- she definitely has the Swiss traits embedded in her (not to mention her neutrality in certain cases!).....An American being born and raised in America!......She truly is a Rescue dog in that she has saved my life, and continues to help others (human and dog alike)! Oh and Vegan, she is Vegan and going strong!
I hope you enjoyed the videos above of Skyler, the Swiss American Vegan Rescue Dog, and Six Legged Athlete and Companion. Check back tomorrow for another introduction to another Swiss American Vegan Rescue Dog!
Email me and tell me what your up to and what you want to me to blog about, at pamelaschm@optonline.net
By Pamela Schmidlin, Certified Health Coach, Certified Dog Trainer, Professional Photographer and Videographer
April 25, 2013- I thought I'd really introduce myself to you today.....the next couple of days, you'll be introduced to my "business partners", the Swiss American Vegan Rescue Dogs- Skyler, Sandy, Candycane, and Benji. (AKA the Six Legged Athletes/ Companions!)
I am someone who strongly believes in her family and roots, and wants to learn more about them. I love the fact that my family came from Switzerland and longs to learn more about the country and the customs everyday in order to incorporate them into my lifestyle here in NY!
As a vegan, I came to the lifestyle in steps. First transitioning to vegetarian then to vegan, and now I guess I would be considered an eco-vegan! I came to this lifestyle with the thought of animals, I didn't want to kill oe hurt any animals in anyway for any part of my life. I started to give up eating meat, then dairy, not wear leather, and well you get the point. Soon it became a move for not just the animals but the environment/ planet, I drove less....and walk, run, or ride my bike more than drive. I gave up using plastic bottles- I drink tap water, mostly filtered....and am once again changing the filtering system I use because I found an even better one than I am presently using!
I decided to work with my dogs because they are teachers to me as well....whether it's teaching me to do the proper Downward Dog (Yoga Pose), or teaching me to handle different situations in life, and to remain calm, or just being there to lower my blood pressure (by the way, my blood pressure is unusally low and whenever I have a checkup they are surprized to see such a low yet healthy blood pressure!). They are also my exercise partners, in the next few days you will see how each of my dogs- came to be a Six Legged Athlete with me!
If you are interested in hiring me as a health coach, I will be as neutral about your lifestyle choice as possible- you set your path BUT I will educate you on health choices you can make in your daily life to be the healthiest and happy YOU! Along with your health coaching, I offer one added bonus....your dog gets a FREE health coach along with you. (If you have a cat, bird, hamster, or any other pet- I will be there for them as well! Hey, animals need to be healthy too! And I know that the unconditional love they give in return will be immeasureable!)
Email me and tell me what your up to and what you want to me to blog about, atpamelaschm@optonline.net
By Pamela Schmidlin, Certified Health Coach, Certified Dog Trainer, Professional Photographer
April 24, 2013- With the warmer weather on it's way, I decided to make my dogs a treat yesterday, this was a perfect treat to help them cool down after a nice long walk.
This treat is all vegan, all natural, all delicious, and can be consumed by ALL! (meaning your dog and you!)
So, with all that being said......here we go.....
Six Legged Companion Vegan Ice Cream
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups of vegan yogurt (I used Amande Cultured Almondmilk)
1-2 tbsps of fresh peanut butter (my suggestion is to use fresh peanut butter and not the commercial brands, or make it yourself, it doesn't take long)
1 Banana (I use ripe bananas, those with spots as it's sweeter)
1 tbsp of Coconut Butter (I use Artisana Raw Coconut Butter)
What to do:
Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend together!
Once blended- everything should be smooth- take the mixture and pour into separate bowls.
Put the bowls into the freezer for a few hours.
Once the ice cream freezes, bring it on out and serve it up!
Okay, HOW EASY WAS THAT?
Now, you have a treat that you can make in less than 5 minutes (okay, a little longer if you count the freezing process....) and enjoy alongside your dog on those hot summer dog days of summer!
Enjoy!
Email me and tell me what your up to and what you want to me to blog about, atpamelaschm@optonline.net
By Pamela Schmidlin, Certified Health Coach, Certified Dog Trainer, Professional Photographer and Videographer
Monday, April 22, 2013- Happy Earth Day!....
Actually everyday is Earth Day to me, as I try to live animal and environmentally friendly as earthly possible! (pun intended!) Living a vegan lifestyle, I already decided to contribute to cleaner, happier, and healthier planet! But for those of us who are transitioning to such a lifestyle or live another lifestyle, what are some ways you can choose to celebrate Earth Day today (and hopefully everyday from here on out, let Earth Day be the start of new healthier habits that will have a positive, happy impact on the world around you!).
Here are some ways that you can contribute:
1- DRINK WATER.....but wait, go for filtered tap water, and use a recycleable container. Forget the plastic bottle, the plastic bottles use a lot of fossil fuels and pollute the environment. In fact, Americans buy more bottled water than any other nation in the world, adding 29 billion water bottles a year to the problem. In order to make all these bottles, manufacturers use 17 million barrels of crude oil. That’s enough oil to keep a million cars going for twelve months.
Recycling one plastic bottle can save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for six hours.
2. Recycle!....Whenever you can recycle, this means yes- any plastic bottles you may use....but it also means so many other things, from wood, metals, plastics, paper, glass, and of course biodegradable waste....
Some of the benefits of recycling are:
Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators;
Conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals;
Prevents pollution caused by reducing the need to collect new raw
materials;
Saves energy;
Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate
change;
Helps sustain the environment for future generations;
Helps create new well-paying jobs in the recycling and manufacturing
industries in the United States.
3. Composting! Recycling any fruit and veggie scraps for use in upcoming gardening is a great idea! There are so many ways to
start your compost pile today. Composting improves the soil structure, increases the nutrient content, uses less water, as well as warding off plant diseases.
4. Drive less, walk, run, or bike to your destination whenever possible. Or take public transportation whenever possible!
5. Start a garden! Whether it be fruits, and veggies or wonderful flowers, it all adds so much back to the earth! Use that compost you made from the biodegradable waste!
Skyler, Candycane, Sandy, and Benji have their suggestions for how their fellow dogs can help celebrate Earth Day today and everyday! Here are their suggestions:
1. Walk the dog more- and while on those walks use compostable poop bags. Don't use extra bags.
2. Clean your backyard of any poop regularly!
Important because bacteria, worms, and parasites thrive in the waste. And eventually can wash away into our water supply!
3. Feed your dog a vegetarian or vegan food (and watch out for GMO's in their food, and anything you or they shouldn't be eating!) www.v-dog.com
4. Buy toys and products that are animal and environmentally safe! (Including shampoos and grooming products!)
5. Be sure to spay and neuter you pets!
There are so many ways you can celebrate Earth Day today, how are you going to go a little greener today?
Oh, one more thing......here's a message from the plants themselves on Earth Day 2013:
Enjoy! (hehe....)
Email me and tell me what your up to and what you want to me to blog about, at pamelaschm@optonline.net
One of his favorite jobs to do is taste testing, he is one of the taste testers for my recipes. In the following video, you can see him enjoying some homemade Six Legged Companion Vegan Ice Cream!
