My dogs are great at destroying so-called indestructible toys. Once they destroy them, they feel the need to eat them…stuffing and all. We’ve found the hard way that this stuffing is far from digestible. So, when I was approached with this unique product, I was more then happy to give it a try.

The deer antler is the best one I’ve found. My dog loves chewing it, doesn’t get sick, and it’s all natural. The chew toy lasts for a long time. It naturally wears down so there is nothing that the dog will vomit later as he chews it down (sorry for the graphic thought).

Here is the product description:
Deer Antlerz are a 100% natural, mineral rich, long lasting dog chew. The new chew is made from a natural material that is rich in minerals, does not splinter and comes from a completely renewable source – Deer antlers! Wild deer shed their antlers once a year as part of a natural process, after which the deer re-grow another set.

To purchase the product, check out http://www.specialforpets.com/site/1562782/page/858186

No Fluff Zone

Dogs love to play with their toys, not the stuffing inside, so SPOT Pet Products showed their stuff by getting rid of the stuff(ing) to create unique and easily identifiable pet toys called Skinneeez. Reflecting the recent trend toward more floppy pet toys, Skinneeez have a more realistic appearance that is more attractive to dogs, and brings out the hunter in domesticated companions.

Skinneeez toys are easy to distinguish from other pet toys on the market because of the way they look – they appear to be soft-sculpture toys that have not yet been filled with polyester fiberfill. But that is by design – Skinneeez toys are flat, easy to grab, hold and carry for any dog or cat, and despite their super-soft fur-like fabric exterior, Skinneeez are amazingly durable and last longer than regular plush dog toys, because of the lack of stuffing. Realistically made to look like favorite backyard critters and have the mouthfeel of real prey, Skinneeez allow dogs to indulge their inner hunters, an instinct that never goes away, regardless of how domesticated they are, reminding them of a day in the field and why fetch games are so much fun.

Skinneeez reflect on the recent trend in pet toys towards floppy toys, but Skinneeez takes this trend a step further and leaves out all the stuffing, creating a toy that flops even more than some toys designed to be floppy with more room inside for squeakers in the head and tail. The lack of stuffing also means that there won’t be any bits of fluff for the owner to pick up. Also, unlike most fiberfill stuffed toys, Skinneeez are washable, and have securely sewn-on eyes, ears and tails for added safety.

Skinneeez for dogs come in two sizes – regular and mini – and several different varieties, including Mallard Duck, Chicken, Jungle Cat, Pink Flamingo, Ostrich, Beaver and Flying Squirrel.

The SPOT brand of pet products is a division of Ethical Pet Products, a Bloomfield, New Jersey company dedicated to serving pets and pet lovers since 1952. SPOT’s product line includes innovative dog and cat products, such as toys, dishes, waste management products, apparel and other dog and cat accessories. SPOT is committed to providing its customers with the best value and service in the pet industry, while keeping quality, safety, honesty and humanity in mind. SPOT pet products are available at retailers nationwide.

Hamster Toys

Check out this article about the various types of Hamster Toys from the Hamster toys blog.

We don't talk nearly enough about the growing popularity of 'pocket pets' and this is a good overview of some of the popular hamster toys you should consider.

"Retro" Pet Fountain

Petmate's radically 'retro' stainless steel Fresh Flow Pet Fountain is trying to make fashion waves. These refillable waterers (if that's even a word) promote health by encouraging pets to drink more. The purifying pet fountain is ideal for homes with multiple pets.

I haven't tried it out, but if you have one, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Poop Claw

One of the things I enjoy about being a blog writer is coming across interesting concepts and products. One that I saw recently in a magazine is the Poop Claw.

According to the ad, it eliminates unwanted handling of your pet's droppings, and uses standard plastic grocery bags. Just put the bag over the claw, and scoop the poop....No More Warm Touchy Feeling!

Would you consider using one? For me, walking 2 dogs is tough enough. I don't have enough hands to carry the claw...I guess I'll just have to keep getting that warm touchy feeling.

Pet Driver's License

So maybe your cat isn't the best driver in the world....that's ok! This is a driver's license that you don't need a test to get!

Pet Driver's License ® products feature your pet on the state license of their choice. Issued for fun, the Pet Driver's License® is also a way to keep your pet's photo and information close at hand or on the pet if they stray from home.

Products are printed in full color, directly on PVC plastic. The product is not laminated and uses a hi-tech dye-sublimation printing process which makes it durable and long-lasting.

Every Pet Driver's License ® product has the Pet Project seal of authenticity. Visit www.petdriverslicense.com

Bottled Water for Dogs

In the "Do we really need another one of these" category, Century Foods International has released its Hero Dog Water. I've written about dog waters before, and yet another company is trying to get humans to buy bottled water for their dogs...I guess my water isn't good enough for my pups?? According to Century Foods, this is much better.

Hero Enhanced Dog Water is "fortified with nutrients to help keep dogs of all ages healthy and active and flavored for tastes that dogs love," according to its producer. The retail price of Hero Dog Water is $2.29 per 32-ounce bottle, which provides two servings.

Launched in early 2008, Hero Enhanced Dog Water is available in three formulas: Exercise Recovery, Hip & Joint and Healthy Aging. The first one is designed for quick rehydration of active dogs -- it includes potassium citrate and sorbate, sodium chloride, crude protein, niacin, thiamine and other ingredients. Hip & Joint, designed to help optimize joint function and mobility, includes the common arthritis supplements of glucosamine and chondroitin as well as other ingredients; and Healthy Aging includes vitamins A, D and E, zinc, selenium, niacin, thiamine and others.

The manufacturer uses a triple-filtered, reverse-osmosis purification process to remove impurities and additives such as chlorine and fluoride, according a statement at its Web site, www.herodogwater.com.

And to think, many dogs are just as happy drinking from the toilet.

Poop Patrol Bags

Ok, so picking up poop isn't the favorite subject of anyone, but it's something we all need to do, right? The No Trace Waste Bags by Pet Nation make clean up a snap. The bags are stronger then most others on the market. In fact, the manufacturer claims it is 5x stronger then any other comparable bag.

One-hand easy-pull dispensing makes clean-ups a breeze. Adjustable strap dispenser attaches to any leash and safety reflectors are ideal for nighttime walks. The holder might be a bit cumbersome on the leash of hyper dogs, as it is a bit heavy to have attached to the leash. But the bags are still really good. They are bio-degradable and packages contain 25% more bags.

When you order the dispenser, you'll also receive 3 refill rolls of bags.

Available in pink, blue, or gray.

This product can be found at most retailers and is part of the PetSmart favorite things promotion. In the promotion,
Online shoppers can save 15% with this link and their PetSmart card.

Greenies Pill Pockets

Items come along that are so thoughtful you wonder why you didn't think of that first. Greenies pill pockets are one of those items.

When I first tried giving pills to my dogs, I tried to give it to them as just another treat. But, apparently the pill didn't taste like chicken, because after the first couple of times, they knew exactly what it was and wouldn't take the pill.

So, then I had to hide it in peanut butter, which is quite messy. With Greenies Pill Pockets, all I have to do is stick the pill in the little pouch, and the dogs don't even know the difference. No mess, no fuss. The greenies are made for both dogs and cats, and have a variety of flavors.

It's easy to use. Simply hold the pill pockets treat with thumb and forefinger, and insert tablet. Pinch the top of the pocket to secure the treat inside, and give your pet their pill, consealed in the pocket. It's great for small pills. If you pet needs to take a larger pill, trying putting two of the pockets together, one on each side of the pill.

This product can be found at most retailers and is part of the PetSmart favorite things promotion. In the promotion,
Online shoppers can save 15% with this link and their PetSmart card.

Dog Pause Bowl adds Matching Water Bowl

I recently wrote a .review on the Dog Pause Bowl The bowl is made to slow down your dog's eating pace. Now the company has released a matching water bowl. The water bowl doesn't do anything to slow down your dog, but it does match the food bowl. Here is some of the press release:

DogPause (R) Dog Bowl adds matching water bowl to product lineup
EVERGREEN, Colo.--(Business Wire)--
Long Tail Pet Products, LLC, of Evergreen, Colo., parent company of
DogPause® -- The Healthy Dog Bowl -- has begun selling a matching water
bowl product based on consumer demand and feedback from online dog
communities.

"When launching our DogPause® Dog Bowl, we reached out to many influential
bloggers to get their and their readers' feedback on our product. Fortunately, their
response was overwhelmingly positive, wanting more, which is why we are now
adding a great-looking water bowl product to our lineup." says John Funk,
president of Long Tail Pet Products.

Hydration is just as important as the way your dog eats. Without proper
hydration there cannot be proper digestion. When customers started asking for a
matching water bowl, the company started working another product that helps
with canine health and meets customer needs.

The DogPause water bowl has the added benefit of being dishwasher safe to
help prevent bacteria and allows for easy cleaning and care. Also it is a durable
high grade food safe plastic so customers know that they are giving their dogs
only the best. Together with the DogPause food bowl, this is the only proven
effective slow feeding system with aesthetically matching food and water bowls.

The Dog Pause food and water bowl is each available online at
http://www.dogpausebowl.com for $17.95. For a limited time, visitors can
purchase any two bowls for only $29.95. Both offers include free shipping

Children's Book Review - CRASH

For those of us who grew up with pets, we can relate to the boy in author Mayra Calvani's new children's book, "CRASH."

Describing it as the happiest day of his life, five year old Marcelo instantly bonds with his new Golden Retriever puppy. He bathes his puppy, plays with him, and learns the responsibilities that go along with puppy ownership.

There is one major issue for Marcelo, finding a name for his puppy. After several suggestions from his parents, the name he ultimately picks surprises them, but in reality, is the perfect name.

I can relate to Marcelo's plight....naming things, especially pets, was never my best talent. I had a brown dog named...Buster Brown. I had a calico cat named....can you guess?....that's right....Cal.

Luckily, Marcelo's character has more imagination then I ever did!

For more information on the book, you can check out the blog's website, http://www.crashthepuppy.blogspot.com/.

Plus, 50% of the proceeds will be donated to Almost Heaven Golden Retriever Rescue Organization.

Water Bottle Toys

Does your dog like to play with your empty water bottles? Apparently, Fat Cat, Inc. figures if you can't stop them, might as well make it safe. Since dogs can't resist the crunch of the bottles, they've created Water Bottle Crunchers.

Sized for empty plastic bottles 20 oz and smaller, all you have to do is place your plastic bottle in the cruncher. And when it's all crunched out, just take out the old bottle and put in a new one.

The set of two toys above cost $21.95. I haven't actually tried them to see how they handle my toy-destroying dogs, but for that price, I'm not sure if I want to take a risk. However, I admire the invention. If anyone has tried them, let me know what you think.

Transitioning Your Cat To New Litter System

This was written by the makers of the new Breeze Litter System that I recently reviewed. Every cat is different, and the first tip can be applied to any type of change in litter.

FIRST:
Before setting up your new BREEZE Litter System, sprinkle 1-2 cups of the BREEZE Litter Pellets on top of your existing litter in your OLD box(es). This gradual introduction of the BREEZE Litter Pellets
mixing with the existing litter in the OLD box(es) helps ease the transition for your cat(s). Note: If you feel your cat(s) needs it, you can add up to a full bag of pellets to your existing litter to help her adjust.

SECOND:
Once your cat(s) is faithfully using the old box(es) with the mix of BREEZE Litter Pellets and the old litter, place the BREEZE Litter System next to the old litter box(es). Place a BREEZE Cat Pad in the
drawer of the BREEZE Litter System, soft side up, and slide the drawer into the base. Fill the top portion of the BREEZE Litter System with one package of BREEZE Litter Pellets. If the old litter box is NOT high-sided or hooded, remove the BREEZE™ sidewall piece. (Once your cat
has successfully adjusted to the new system, replace the sidewall.)

THIRD:
Stop cleaning the old litter box(es). Cats like to keep clean. This step will encourage them to use the new system by making it the only pleasant litter option. In the short-term, the old litter box may look
and smell gross, but this is an important step in helping your cat(s) switch to the new system. The long-term benefits of BREEZE™ definitely outweigh the short-term discomfort!
When your cat(s) starts using the new Litter System for both pee and poop, remove the old box(es) and continue using BREEZE™ as directed.
Remember, every cat is different, and these are only tips to help with a transfer to a new system.

New "Breeze" Litter System from Tidy Cats (Product Review)

I'm always a fan of new and unique items that can help your pets. Tidy Cats has introduced a new kitty litter system that separates the solids from the liquids. This makes clean-up a 'breeze' and helps reduce odors since the liquids and solids are both easily removed.

Since I don't have any cats, a relative of mine (with 3) did the testing for me. The initial reviews on the Breeze system are good - It works like the company describes.

The litter box is a relatively attractive looking system, and can be placed where ever you would normally put your litter box. It's easy to set-up and comes with its own scooper.

Here's how it works: The cat does "#1" - the dehydrating pellets passes the urine to the "pee-pad" that sits underneath the litter. When your cat does #2, the odor absorbing pellets help control the smell, and then you can scoop away the solid waste and flush it or dispose of it how you wish. And, for the most part, the breeze litter pellets stay in the box, and don't get tracked all over the carpet like many other litters do!

Based on our trial - The pellets dry out the waste fairly quick and make scooping extremely easy. In fact, the pellets usually don't stick to the waste.
And for the pee-pads - It really does work to keep the urine smell down. Plus, the pads are easy to remove and replace, and if you do it on a regular basis, you'll have no drips or leakage.

Although you do have to replace the pads at least every week (more often if you have more cats), the litter can last from 2 - 4 weeks, saving you some hassle and maybe even some cost in the long run.

Remember, introducing a new litter system takes time. Not all 3 cats took to it right away. One is more daring and went for it with out much issue, but the other two weren't so sure. Don't force your cats, and check out their website for more information on the product, transitioning, and a fun, descriptive video on how the system works, http://www.breezeforcats.com/demoVideo.html

Dog Eats Too Fast? Try DogPause Bowl

For more information, check out http://www.dogpausebowl.com/.
Health professionals always say that it's best to chew your food thoroughly and eat your food slowly. Unfortunately, I've always been a fast eater. So, it was only fitting that when we adopted our second dog, Kelso, last summer, he was a fast eater too.

Since it's not healthy for humans to eat fast, I figured it can't be good for dogs either. That's why when the makers of dogpause contacted me about checking out their new dog bowl, I was more then happy to oblige.

It is important to note that dogs who eat fast can suffer from vomiting, gagging, choking, flatulence and belching.

Kelso has had the occasional vomit after eating too fast, and cleaning it up is never an easy task. And it's usually later that night, or the next morning when it happens.

So, we were more then happy to try the dogpause bowl. The result - It definitely slowed him down. And the design of the bowl is so simple (see picture). Four separate compartments, that are deep enough that the dog has to work a bit for the food. To me, it seemed as though it made it tougher for Kelso to take the big bites he's used to taking. Rather then having the food in a big bowl where he can fit as much in his mouth as possible, he instead could only take in a little bit of food at once.

Kelso still eat everything in the bowl (as always), but it took him at least 2-3 minutes longer. It may not seem like a lot, but since he usually eats his food within 2-3 minutes in a regular dog bowl, this essentially doubled the amount of time it takes him to eat.

The bowl itself is sturdy, strong, and easy to clean and comes in two different colors - blue and red.

After trying the bowl out, I checked out their website on why the bowl works. And everything they said about why it's better proved true in my little trial.The DogPause dog bowl works to slow down the pace of eating and aid with portion control in the following ways:
-Divides the bowl into 4 feeding zones
-Each feeding zone is 1/2 cup in capacity and designed to "block" the dog from putting his full snout into the bowl; this slows down eating pace as your dog needs to use his tongue for each bite -After your dog finishes each zone, he must re-position himself for the next zone
-The bowl is designed to slide a little on the floor, further slowing down the dog as he needs to re-position for each bite.

They aren't sold in major retailers, so check out their website for details.

Pet Social Networking Site

Calling themselves the "facebook for pet lovers" All About Pets http://www.allaboutpets.org.uk/

has been developed by The Blue Cross, Britain's Pet charity since 1897, to give pet lovers a new way to communicate, and a place where they can meet like-minded people to share experiences or advice about their pets. To date, the social network has attracted nearly 2,000 members.


All About Pets is completely free. For us in the states, their might be some reluctance as this site is UK based. But, the site offers a lot more then just networking.


According to the site, the advantage of All About Pets over other social networking sites is that it works as an authorative and reliable information directory - there is a strong emphasis on the site being used as an information resource. The Blue Cross has produced over 80l eaflets on all aspects of pet care which are available to view, print or download free from the site. Pet owners with specific problems or those with advice to share can also set up forums and social groups to discuss ideas across the entire network. Members can create profiles for themselves and their pets, upload photos or links to videos and showcase their pet's talents. They can also view other people's pets, photos and videos and even rate them.


Members can take part in discussion forums and polls on topical subjects, promote their own events or find out what is happening in their area, and get the latest in pet news.

New Product - Taste of the Wild Food

I recently wrote about the different, unique, pet foods on the market, all trying to find their niche. This particular brand recently caught my eye. Not so much for their product itself, but because of the marketing aspect describing why it is such a good product.

It's grain-free products "feature high quality, unique protein sources such as bison, venison and wild fowl. Combined with fruits and vegetables for added vitamins and antioxidants, Taste of the Wild gives pets a balanced taste of the diets on which their ancestors thrived. "

Now, how do we really know what our pets ancestors thrived on? I don't imagine the wild food they were eating was fortified with extra vitamins and antioxidants. But, I give the company credit for coming up with a unique product name and marketing idea. Still, there is something about feeding my dog food made from wild animals just doesn't appeal to me. If you disagree, or want to check it out, visit http://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/

Doggie Sushi

If you're a sushi lover, then why not share that experience with your dog? Full Petential, Inc. recently introduced Doggie Dance Doggie Sushi - sushi-styled pure chicken breast treats encased in a fish wrapper. The product claims to use a low-allergen chicken and fish formula as a protein base. Plus, the fish wrap contains healthy omega fatty acides, which research suggests helps dogs maintain a healthy heart, coat and skin.

I haven't tried them on my dogs yet, but if you're interested, visit http://www.fullpetential.com/

New Product - Pet Tents

Although I haven't actually tried this product, I came across it recently. According to the manufacturer, when your pet enters the tent and lie on its buckwheat hull-filled pillow, they will feel safe, secure and special.

Many of the tent designs allow owners to use closable doors to replace their pet's kennel. Each is lightweight and easy to move and assemble. They can be found on www.pettents.com.

Pet Oral Care Product

In continuing the theme of pet dental awareness month, the Healthy Pet Company (www.healthypetcompany.com) mentioned a relatively new oral care product to the market. It's called PetzLife Oral Care and comes in sprays and gels.

According to the company, PetzLife Oral Care Spray & Gel
"are revolutionary award winning products that
thousands of satisfied customers agree not only remove
plaque and tartar but also kill bacteria on contact,
the main cause of bad breath in cats and dogs!"

The products "kill bacteria on contact" while improving kitty and dog breath. There is also a version that contains omega-3 fish oils to not only clean teeth, but help promote a healthy coat.

The convenience of the gel is that if you have dogs (like mine) who don't let you touch their teeth, you can put the gel on their lips and they'll lick it up.

Now if they could just make one like that for humans, I'd be all set :-)