Some herbs we use

Remember the song “Scarborough Fair”? Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme? They are all herbs, but they do more than make food taste good.

I love working with herbs and essential oils. They are nature’s pharmacy as well as it culinary store. Parsley eaten after a meal freshens the breath.

Rosemary, one of my favorites, is an astringent and stimulant. When used in hair products, it helps to stimulate the hair bulbs and calm dandruff and scruff. In stimulating the scalp with rubbing, it invigorated the blood and oxygenation to the surface. These actions promoted healing cuts and scrapes as well. The astringent part of Rosemary helps in keeping wounds clean and germ free. In aromatherapy, it is used as a stimulant to bring the mind to a more active state.

Lavender has long been known as the “Soother”. It calms and soothes the skin and mind.
Skin irritations appear more soothed and calm in the inflamed areas. The scent is widely used to cover more medicinal aromas in many medicines.

Chamomile is another soother. It helps to relieve the pain from bruises and cuts. When used in hair products, it helps soothe the scalp from all the different stresses we put our hair through. It helps relieve the itchiness from dry skin also.

Linda

Labeling Games

How many times have we all picked up one product or another because the label says "Enriched with Vitamin E" or "100% pure Shea Butter"? If you are a label reader, as I am, you will notice the order of predominance on the ingredient panel. Somewhere, down at the bottom is listed Tocopherol. Tocopherol is the INCI name for Vitamin E. Usually used in formulas for its anti-oxidant properties, aiding in the prevention of other oils going rancid.

My favorite is the one brought to me by a customer, asking if we carry a specific product. We do not sell any commercially manufactured products. Her question was fine with me, she wouldn't know if she didn't ask. This product claimed 100% pure Shea Butter. Opening the jar I could see immediately it was an emulsion, without looking at the ingredient panel this product was indeed not 100% pure shea butter. The shea butter used in the product I'm sure was 100% pure but the finished product most certainly is not. If this were true the ingredient panel would read "Ingredients: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) fruit. Nothing more. However, this was not the case. Shea Butter being listed 7th in the list of ingredients does not qualify this as 100% pure. How sad is it that a large manufacturer has to use deceitful marketing tactics in order to sell their products? Pretty pathetic, in my opinion.

Manufacturers that use these labeling tactics are targeting an uninformed market. My daily encounters with the public leads me to believe these particular manufacturers will soon be changing their game. People are asking questions, very good questions. They are becoming more and more informed as the days pass by. Information is a powerful tool, provided you have accurate information.

To list an ingredient on the front label the only requirement is that there be a minimum of 1% of that specific ingredient in the formula. Since most of us formulate in small batches of 5 gallons or less that would be a grand total of 6.4 ounces in a 640 ounce batch. Not very much at all. Not enough for me to use that ingredient as a selling point.

The best advise I can offer is, become informed. Ask questions. If you don't feel as though your answer is satisfactory or informative enough ask for literature, research on the web, be satisfied with the information you receive and ask more questions. Information is a wonderful thing as well as very important. After all, we are talking about the health of your skin, the largest, most abused organ of the body. I spend a good part of the day answering questions and offering information that people don't even realize they want or need. I am guilty of getting a bit to technical at times but I know when I've gone that far. People get a look in their eyes, its that "HUH?" look. Thankfully, I'm quickly forgiven. I can't stress enough the importance of asking questions about the ingredients you are considering putting on your body and the bodies of your loved ones.

Elite Pet Care Products

Westminster has come and gone but won't soon be forgotten. The buzz around town right now is The Tar Heel circuit, Raleigh, North Carolina. My understanding is, it is a show lasting six days, March 20 thru March 25, with a bazillion dogs coming to town. Many of the dogs participating down there will be showing off their beautiful coats. We'd like to take credit for those coats but that really isn't possible. Our products aid the owners, breeders and handlers in achieving their desired results but we can't take credit for the breeding program of the various breeders around the world. A healthy coat is not only achieved by quality grooming products, genetics plays a very large role in the quality of the coat, as well as the food given these animals. What goes in them nutritionally, will definitely be visible in their coat, teeth and nails. Not much different than their human counterparts.

A good quality shampoo and conditioner should not only clean the skin and coat it should bring both to a top notch healthy condition. Ever notice a dog scratching not long after it has been bathed? Harsh detergents in commercially made shampoos will cause dry, flaky, itchy skin. Not much different than commercial soaps for humans. Our shampoo and conditioner is formulated using oils specifically for skin and hair conditioning properties. The botanicals and essential oils added alleviate irritation below the surface of the skin, eliminating dry, itchy, flaky skin.

The key to using our products is to remember less is more. It doesn't require a large amount of either product to cleanse and condition the skin and coat. Once you have wet the animal down good apply just a small amount working it deep into the skin, you will feel the gentleness of these products on your hands. You can always apply more product as needed. Working the shampoo and conditioner into the skin and leaving it on for a few minutes will provide greater results than you would normally expect from a shampoo and conditioner. Your dogs will feel the difference immediately and the results will show in their coat after the first use. These products are gentle enough for humans.

Before we introduced pet care products to our line it was tried and tested on humans, to their great satisfaction. One day a friend, who has a slew of dogs told me she used it on one of her dogs and could not believe the results. From that point on we went to work making minor changes to the product. We added essential oils known to relieve irritation above and below the skin and that would provide a pleasant odor while repelling most insects. After testing on many breeds and gathering feedback we have come to the conclusion that what we have to offer is one of the highest quality shampoos and conditioners available on today's market.

I cannot express to anyone the depth of my gratitude, for the clients we have that are so willing to work with us in perfecting these products.

Westminster Kennel Club

While awaiting permission to post Felicity's Diamond Jim's photo, Best in Show winner at Westminster I'd like to congratulate all that participated in the event.

Congratulations to the many of our clients that have shown at Westminster this week. The invitation to compete is an honor itself.

My favorite part of any show or sporting event is Youth or Junior Handlers as it is referred to in dog shows. This years winner for 1st place is the Eastern Shore's very own Zack Helmer, Easton, MD. In this event it is the handler that is being judged moreso than the dog. Zack showed a Petite Bassets Griffons Vendeen aka PBGV. The first time I heard this mentioned was at Salisbury Kennel Club when a handler told me what she was handling I thought for sure she said she had "heebie jeebies". Once I saw the dogs my first thought was the name is bigger than the dog. Beautiful was my second thought. Bear with me, I'm learning as fast as I can.


AM/Int CH Bendill's Wee Precious Perry received the Award of Merit in the Silky Terrier group. Owners/Breeders Mark Benson and James Dillman Handler Barbara Beissel PHA, AKC registered handler. Perry is now retired living a "dogs" life down in sunny Florida. I'm sure Mark and Jim will spoil him rotten if they can get him to leave his "mommy" Barbara. I've met the dog, his owner Mark and his handler Barbara. This little guy just loves her. I've seen him surrounded by folks, being showered with attention. Enter Barbara and Perry immediately focuses his attention on her. To say he adores her is an understatement. Perry's retirement is much deserved. His career show record is outstanding, far to long to list here, oodles and oodles of Best of Breed, and Group wins. This would account for him being America's #1 Silky Terrier and All Breed 2004, 2005, 2006. I'm proud to have met these fine people and their beautiful dog. I was also proud as well as caught off guard, when Mark was asked if he used Elite botanical pet care products, at the Salisbury Kennel Club Show and he pulled a bottle out of his bag. Thanks Mark, we appreciate the endorsement.


CH Murphy Mason Midnight Rambler received the Award of Merit in the Bloodhound group. Owners Kathy Robertson & Kathryn Reid. Breeder Susan Powers. Handler Cassandra Williams of Salisbury, MD. He is ranked the #3 Bloodhound in the country. His litter mate CH Murphy's Continental Drift also won an Award of Merit. I'm sorry to admit I don't know much about this breed other than they are BIG. He is so big I have to wonder why Cassie doesn't just ride him around the ring instead of leading him. Could be because he is a dog and not a horse, that would be my guess. I would like to link to his record, I couldn't find him on Info Dog.


Westminster is not the only show our clients are showing their dogs. The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship was held in Long Beach, CA this past December. A few of our clients dogs were invited to participate. CH Dawnwinds Masquerader is one. Marie Hammond is quite proud of her guy, he's done well for her this year. I hope she continues the success. Marie is also a great wealth of information when it comes to Silkies, and she doesn't mind sharing it, even with folks like me that admittedly don't know much about dogs.

Many breeds are using our products with great success, Cavaliers, Viszlas, Goldens, Silkies, Yorkies that I am aware. Of course there are many pet owners using the products as well stating how much they are very happy with the results they have achieved. I'll save that for another post. Take a peek at our showcase, if you don't see your dog there, send me a picture, I'll be happy to put it on the site.

Congratulations to all that endeavor to be the best.