Archive for May, 2007
If you ask a dog owner what a Kong
is, most likely they will reply that it is a toy for dogs, not a over-sized Gorilla who wreaks havoc on Manhattan. The Kong has become one of the most well known dog toy and for good reason. Made of hard rubber, it is very durable. They even make a line for aggressive chewers (note: this does not mean it is indestructable. as with any toy it should be inspected regularly for any damage and discarded when no longer safe).
The Kong is also a great interactive toy for dogs. The center is hollow, making a great place to put food and treats for your dog to work on getting out. Most people know to insert biscuits, but many dogs quickly learn how to get them out in the shortest amount of time. I like to take my dogs’ dry food and soak it in water. Sometimes I mix in other 
foods (the picture at the top has macaroni & cheese mixed in). Once it is soft, I stuff it in the Kong and freeze. I will also layer kibble and cheese and microwave for a few seconds to melt the cheese (let this cool before offering it to your dog). This keeps my dogs occupied for a little bit. You can find more great recipes to try at Kong Company . Just click on Tips and Advice for the recipe page.
This is one toy I recommend for every dog owner. It’s durability is great for the dog that likes to chew. It’s erratic bouncing, keeps the dog who loves to fetch moving and its stuffability provides that mental stimulation that many dogs need.
May 31st, 2007
My quick picks are products that I have used or became familiar with through my work and recommend to people. Please feel free to add your comments on the products as well!
Scented Pooch Pick-up Bags
If you see me out with my dogs, you can pretty much guarantee that I will have dog treats and poop bags with me. It’s part of being a responsible dog owner! The Pooch Pick-up bags are just the right size and they tie nice when you are done. Check out the scented and the bio-degradable versions.
Swizzle BirdÂ
I confess. I am a lazy pet owner. While I would love to run around all day and play and entertain my crew, I don’t. To conserve my energy, I love using teaser toys like the Swizzle Bird and Swizzle Mouse for my cats and ferrets. I get to sit in one place and move it around, while they chase it and get some exercise. They don’t seem to mind!
Hay Tumbler 6-1/2″ x 6″
Like the Vegetable Basket, the Hay Tumbler helps provide enrichment by letting your bunny work for his food. Made of safe to eat cardboard, your bunny can chew or throw the Tumbler around to get the hay. When it empties, just fill with more hay.
Hanging Ferret Nap Sacks Cotton Twill
The Hanging Ferret Nap Sack is a paws down favorite among my fuzzy crew. I’ll usually find one or two curled up in it. They like it because they are enclosed, I like how it has stood up through repeated washings.
May 19th, 2007
I am not too picky when it comes to choosing treats for my dogs. I only have 2 criteria for my ideal dog treat- they be healthy and they be small, about the size of a pea. Of course, my main reason for wanting my treats to be healthy are because I care about my pets’ health and I do feel that nutrition plays a big part in their overall health. Yes, I do occasionally give them treats that I consider junk food (afterall, I am one of the biggest junk food junkies!), but the majority of their treats are healthy. I like my treats to be small because 3 of my dogs are small, from 15 to 28 pounds. Those calories add up if you are giving several treats a day and because I use treats for training we can easily go through a 1/2 cup in a training session.
Simon and Huey’s Soft Training Treats fit both my criteria and then some. They are small, about 7/16ths of an inch. They are healthy- no sugar added and they make them without corn, wheat or soy so are great for dogs with those food allergies. They come in 7 flavors and my dogs love them all (okay, they don’t turn their noses up at to much, but they really get excited when they see the Simon & Huey container coming out!) The flavors include - Kickin™ Chicken, Liver Mesquite, Salmon Dill, Peanut Butter Molasses, Garlic Dill, White Cheddar and Wild Ginger (for ingredients, visit Simon & Huey).
I like the soft treats for training because they go down easier (who wants to take time to do a lot of chewing when they are having fun). Even though they are soft, they don’t break into pieces in my hands while training and they throw nice if you need to reward your dog from a distance. Honestly, I can’t find a bad thing to say about Simon & Huey’s Soft Training Treats. Next we will have to try their Bites, a crunchy treats about the same size. I don’t think my dogs will complain about the taste testing.
You can find Simon & Huey’s treats at Pup Life Healthy Dog Food & Treats
May 10th, 2007
