I’ve been surfing the net for fun Holiday gift ideas and I’m blown away by how many cool items are available for the dogs and dog lovers in our lives.  I’m excited to share 6 holiday gifts for dog lovers from BlogPaws that will thrill dog lovers and the dogs they love.  These are items I’ve seen online and in the pet store that would be most welcome in our home; I’m certain that you’ll love them as well.

6 Holiday Gifts for Dog Lovers

Thundershirt

Fireworks are legal in our city this is the season to celebrate with a Boom!  In exchange for the noise, dog owners get to live with nervous dogs.  Whether it’s a nervous cat or a frightened dog, a Thundershirt will help relieve their stress and anxiety.

With its patent-protected design, the Thundershirt’s gentle, constant pressure has a dramatic calming effect that has already helped tens of thousands of dogs with anxiety problems.  The product is also used and recommended by vets and trainers worldwide.  Anxiety experts believe that pressure has a calming effect on the nervous system and may release calming hormones like endorphins or oxytocins.

Where to Buy:  The Thundershirt for Dogs is available in sizes XXS to XXL, and is sold in Heather Grey, Blue Polo and Pink Polo. The Thundershirt for Cats is available in sizes S, M and L, and comes in Heather Grey. Suggested retail is $39.95. Both products can be personalized with custom embroidery for an additional charge.

Holiday Offer:  For a limited time, the company is offering a FREE personalized stocking and a squeaky toy for holiday purchases! Simply use code GIFT12 at checkout and be sure to type the name you want embroidered in the “Gift Notes” box.

Shop at http://www.thundershirt.com

Social Media Links:  Online | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

FURminator DeShedding Tools

In a house with three dogs and two cats, pet shedding is part of our life (and our home).  A FURminator deShedding tool will help reduce shedding while improving our pet’s skin and coat health.  And BONUS, helps reduce hairballs too!

If the pet lover on your list has allergies – the FURminator deShedding tool can also reduce potential allergy problems.   Pet hair, while not an allergen, can collect dander and harbor other allergens like dust and pollen.

Your pet looks better, your house is cleaner, and every family member – including the fur-kids – is healthier and happier.

Used and recommended by professional groomers and veterinarians, FURminator deShedding tools are guaranteed to reduce shedding better than any brush, rake or comb.  By reaching deep beneath the long topcoat to gently remove undercoat and loose hair they reduce shedding up to 90%.  Tufts of hair that previously were on couches and scattered over the floor will be gone.

And you’ll be able to give a customized present with no guessing involved.  FURminator has products for a pet’s specific hair length, and body size.

Where to Buy:  FURminator products are sold at pet specialty stores, professional pet groomers, veterinary practices and rescue organizations, and are also available online.  Retail price: MSRP $34.99 to $72.99

Social Media Links:  Online | Facebook | Twitter

PetHub

What all dog lovers want is for our fur kids to feel loved and safe.  What better way to give your furry family members that security than by giving them the gift of PetHub powered protection?

Each PetHub QR tag links to a comprehensive pet profile that includes multiple contacts, critical medical information and more.  Every tag includes our 24/7 Found Pet Hotline number, where operators are available around the clock to help lost pets get home fast.

In addition to the most powerful identification tag available, PetHub’s Premium Services include Instant Email Notifications w/GPS Mapping, a nation-wide Shelter Alert System & $3000 of Emergency Medical Insurance.

Where to buy:  Available online at PetHub.com.  Silver Subscription and tag is regularly $54.95, with the holiday special, just $39 and with the additional coupon discount, it’s only $29.25!  Gold Subscription and a tag is regularly $ 64.95, with the holiday special, just $49, and with the additional coupon, only $36.75

Holiday offer:  This holiday season, PetHub is offering a FREE Limited Edition Holiday QR tag with every new or renewed Premium Subscription (you also have the option of a FREE basic tag instead).  And, as a special exclusive offer to our readers, PetHub is offering 25% off all Premium Subscriptions.  Use code HOLIDAYBLOG25 to get great savings…and superior pet protection.  Follow link for offer: http://shop.pethub.com/choose-your-protection-level.html

Social Media Links:  Online | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Jones Chews (Sausage Sticks)

When walking 3 dogs leash free on a 5+ acre field with other dog walkers, it’s handy to have a solid recall.  It’s even more handy to have a training treat dogs love and dog owners know are safe for our fur kids.

Jones sausage sticks make great training treats.   They are made of USA all-natural beef and are about 5-5 ½” long that break into little pieces easily.  Sausage sticks are oven baked with no artificial ingredients added.  These are great treats for all size dogs.  All Jones products are 100% grown and made in the USA.

Where to Buy:  Find a retailer near you at Jones Natural Chews.  Retail price: MSRP $34.99 to $72.99

Social Media Links:  Online | Facebook | Twitter

Cool Blue Dog (Hoodies)

Rodrigo and Sydney are too big for clothing (or so they’d like to think), but Blue is the perfect size and the Cool Blue Dog hoodies would be perfect on him.  He’s not a Pug, French Bulldog, or Boston Terrier, but I think he can still rock this style!

Just in time for the cooler temperatures that come with winter, dog owners of short-haired, smushed-faced breeds can take comfort that Cool Blue Dog Apparel has got them covered, literally! Cool Blue Dog Apparel just launched their new hip hoodie line which will be perfect for keeping our Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, French Bulldogs and other hard to fit breeds warm, comfortable and in style! CLICK HERE to see them now.

Where to Buy: Check out the Cool Blue Dog Apparel site and shop the online store.  Retail price $56-$58.

Social Media Links:  Facebook | Twitter

Soggy Doggy

Three Dogs + Pacific Northwest = WE WANT A SOGGY DOGGY RUG!!!

Our dogs leave the house dry and clean and return moments later soaked, with muddy paws.  The Soggy Doggy doormat is made of super-absorbent, durable, microfiber chenille!

The microfiber chenille blend allows the Soggy Doggy Doormats® and Super Shammys to soak up water and dirt like a sponge! The doormats absorb 5x more water than regular cotton doormats and the Super Shammy can hold up to 7x its weight in water! The material is exceptionally hard-working and goes right in the washer and dryer! But the chenille also makes it velvety-soft and gentle under delicate paws and bellies.

The doormats are velvety soft, fast-drying and odor free plus machine washer/dryer friendly.  Not to mention they come in a variety of colors and sizes so we can get one to match our home decor (or get a little creative).

Where to Buy: Check out Soggy Doggy’s online store; retailing for $34.99 – $84.99, depending on size.

Social Media Links: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Disclosure: This is a sponsored posts.  BlogPaws compensated me for sharing the above holiday gifts for dog lovers; however I would never share products with my readers that I wouldn’t purchase for our own dogs.

The post BlogPaws Share 6 Must Have Holiday Gifts for Dog Lovers appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

The wonderful people at Target were kind enough to give me and Keep the Tail Wagging’s community a sneak peek at the Target Holiday Look Book to see what’s coming for our Fur-Holidays (I should trademark that! – it’s probably taken – LOL).

The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays makes me happy.  I start warming up to the cooler weather, I love the Nutcracker theme that plays on commercials, and I even love Black Friday (although I spend most of that morning at pet stores).

When I went through the Target Holiday Look Book, I chose items to share with you based on our love of animals and what we as dog parents would find most useful and fun…

Check out my Fur-Holidays Pinterest board to see more of my holiday wish list items!

If you’re like us, you let your dogs on the furniture. We don’t want our house to look tacky with random blankets tossed here and there so I love the idea of these throws.  Anything that can stand up to paws, the occassional smell dog, and a weekly washing great!

If the fur throws aren’t your style, I love these cable knit ones.  Our home has a country feel wth the wrap around deck and I love it.  These throws would look amazing on our furniture; dressing up a room while protecting the furniture is always a win win.

It’s always a great idea to stock up on winter gear for the dog park.  I dress in layers, choosing my boyfriend’s warm hoodies to wear beneath my winter coats.  I even double up on gloves on the really cold days.  The dogs aren’t as bothered by the cold weather as I am.  In fact, those freezing temps seem to energize them, which means that we’ll be walking 3-5 miles.  I’m cold just thinking about it!

I love taking pictures of our dogs.  I have an entire Flickr set devoted to them, because they are so darn adorable.  A good camera is a great investment and I think all dog owners should treat themselves to a camera that can give them quality images of their fur babies.  Nowadays, you can turn those images into paintings, postcards, holiday cards, and more.  Love it!

So far everything has been for the fur parents; so here are a few things for th fur kids.  Kitty toys, because if you have dogs, you might have a cat too.  Dog toys (the stuffed toys with no eyes for our fur kids to swallow – smart move Target), and the craft ornaments (the dog is my favorite).

So that’s it for now.  When I find new ideas from my favorite stores, I’ll share them with you.  Hopefully, I’m saving you a big headache by giving you these great gift ideas!

Happy Holidays!!!

The post Here’s a Sneak Peek at the Target Holiday Look Book, #Target appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

At first it was funny.

Then it became a challenge.

Now it just annoys the heck out of me as I think of all the other things I could have spent that money on.

Sydney’s not the problem.  She’s great with toys, mostly taking one to the sofa and sleeping with it.  But Rodrigo and Blue are beasts with their toys?  Is it the Border Collie?  Is it the Cattle Dog?  Whatever it is, they destroy toys in under 10 minutes.

I have found a few toys that last a lot longer in our homes; there’s something about certain brands (Kong, JW Cuz) that make them last a lot longer in our home.  Durable dog toys are important for us, because…

• they give our dogs an outlet for their need to chew, rip and tear
• they keep our dogs from being bored
• they’ve been wonderful in helping us train our dogs on what to chew and what not to chew
• they make our dogs happy
• durable dog toys give us a much appreciated peace in our home

With the holiday season approaching, Keep the Tail Wagging (which is me) will be posting lots of holiday gift ideas and I thought I would get it cracking with something that we need for our dogs.  Tough, Durable Dog Toys.

I reached out to dog owners and asked them to share more toys that are great for dogs who are extreme chewers like our Rodrigo and this is what I got back…

Kong Dog Toys ~ Kimberly, Fur Parent to Rodrigo, Sydney and Blue

JW Cuz Dog Toys ~ Kimberly, Fur Parent to Rodrigo, Sydney and Blue

West Paw Design Jive Ball ~ Lindsey, Fur Parent to Rudy

Sqwuggie by Katie’s Bumpers ~ Teresa, Fur Parent to Mugwhy (gotta love that name)

Nylabone Big Chews for Big Dogs ~ Nicole, Fur Parent to Kostas

Hear Doggy! and goDog products ~ Ashley, Fur Parent to Murray

Alleged tough, durable dog toys…

Whenever I seek input from the pet community, a few businesses will share their products.  I call these “alleged tough, durable dog toys,” because I haven’t tried these before, so I can’t guarantee that our dogs won’t destroy these, but I don’t see any harm in giving them a shot.

Kyjen Bottles Buddies Squeaker

Kyjen Hard Boiled Softies

Kyjen Invincibles

Kyjen Dog Games Seamsters Weave Bone

Now it’s Your turn!  Please share your favorite tough, durable dog toys.  I need some Christmas gift ideas!

The post Tough, Durable Dog Toys for Dogs Who Can Destroy a Toy in Minutes appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

Did you know that the pet stores participate in Black Friday too?  The first Petco Black Friday was last year and they’re getting ready for Black Friday this year too!  I stopped having a traditional Black Friday when a woman shoved me at Target.  Yikes!  What’s next?  Hair pulling?

After that situation, I vowed never to go near the stores on Black Friday again.  Those people are nuts.  Of course, the year following, I couldn’t stay away (what if I missed a $1 laptop?).  I showed up after the long lines and missed out on every deal!  I headed home with nothing; then I remembered that we were running low on kitty litter and that’s when I discovered that pet stores have a Black Friday.  I cleaned up!  Black Friday at the pet stores is a great time to stock up on food and supplies to get you through the holidays.

This year, Petco was kind enough to let me roam the store with my camera to start our Petco Black Friday Wish List, which includes our dogs’ favorites as well as a few things we need.  Check it out and see how many things are on your list too.

Check out my Fur-Holidays Pinterest board for more Wish List items for the Holiday Season

Halo Pets Kibble, Canned Food and Treats

Merrick Canned Food 

Nature’s Balance Food

Our three favorite foods.  I love to stock up on dog food for two months.  Why 2 months?  Because I always want to make sure that our dogs are getting food that is still fresh.  Between manufacturing, travel time and shelf time, the food is already several weeks old, I don’t want it to be 6 months old when our dogs are dining.

Did you know that Nature’s Balance can be given to our dogs as food or as training treats?  We use it to add a little extra to their meals and it’s been fantastic when working on recall with the dogs.

Petmate 2 Door Elite Retreat Wire Dog Kennel, 43″ L X 29″ W X 31″ H

Blue sleeps in a kennel at night.  Partly to keep the escape artist in the yard (and away from coyotes) and partly to give Sydney and Rodrigo a break from his high energy.  He likes the kennel and curls up in there willingly when it’s time to go Night Night.  He’s still a growing puppy, but we don’t imagine that he’ll get much bigger than he is now.  A roomy kennel is on our Wish List for him.

Extra Large Dog Beds

Our favorite dog beds are the Ortho Bliss beds by Pet Dreams.  These are sold online.  The best dog beds we’ve found in the store are ones made by Kong.  What I love about them is that they’re huge, sturdy, and comfortable.  Great criteria for dog beds.

Petco Tennis Balls

The Petco tennis balls are an affordable treat for our dogs.  They love them.  When Blue was attending puppy class at Petco, he received a ball after each session and it was the highlight of the day (for me) to watch him go nuts for his new ball.

Kong Dog Toys

Kong dog toys are our favorite, because they’re sturdy enough to stand up to our dogs’ teeth.  We have strong chewers in our house and they met their match in Kong products.  And knowing how to stuff a Kong toy is a must for all dog owners.

Elevated Feeders

Have you read the article about bloat and dogs?  Some feel that we can avoid bloat by feeding our dogs from elevated feeders.  We have a set for the dogs’ room and need another set for inside the house.

Petco Gravity Waterer

Planet Petco Leashes and Harnesses

Fresh Pet Ready to Bake Cookies

We are huge fans of Fresh Pet’s ready to bake cookies.  We had the opportunity to review this product earlier this year and I ended up baking all of the cookies for our dogs to enjoy.  It’s a yummy treat for our fur kids.

Bully Sticks

Bully sticks were banned from our home.  Until I came home early with a cold and fever and then bully sticks became my best friend, because they occupied our dogs for 30 minutes, giving them the opportunity to calm down and then nap with me. Whew!

Brushes

John Paul Shampoo & Conditioner

I buy this shampoo in bulk (not really, but I do buy several bottles at a time) and I love it.  My favorite thing is that it hasn’t been tested on animals.  It’s a great product and I love that I can pick it up online or at Petco.  My favorite scent is the oatmeal.

I’m not sure what’s going to be on Petco’s Black Friday list or not, but I will be prepared to bring a few of our Holiday Wish List items home.

Not it’s your turn!  What’s on your dog’s holiday wish list?

The post Our Petco Black Friday Wish List Sneak Peek, @Petco @HaloPets appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

photo: mararie

Making a List, Checking it Twice:

PetSmart^® Unveils Pet Parents’ Top Holiday Picks for Their Pets

PHOENIX – November 8, 2012 – Pet parents have voted for the top 10 holiday pet gifts available at PetSmart(NASDAQ: PETM). From a treat maker that lets you make delicious, bone-shaped treats for your dog and an incredibly soft blanket that helps save the lives of homeless pets to cozy pajamas and a stylish sock monkey sweater, these are the gifts you’ll want to get your paws on.

“We wanted to put together a list of the hottest gifts under the tree this year to make Christmas shopping a little easier, so we turned to our 1.4 million fans on Facebook to ask the experts – pet parents,” said John Alpaugh, PetSmart’s chief marketing officer. “The response was great, as they ‘liked’ their favorite products ranging from apparel to toys, narrowing it down to 10 special gifts for pets and pet lovers.”

The top 10 holiday gifts, as selected by PetSmart fans, are all priced below $30 and are available in stores and most online. The list is also featured on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PetSmart. The must-have items this year include:

1.        Sunbeam® Gourmet Dog Treat Maker ($29.99) – Make your own holiday treats for your dog. Available in stores only.

2.        Luv-A-Pet™ by PetSmart™ Ultrasoft Microplush & Sherpa Blanket ($29.99) – When it’s cold outside, keep your pet warm with these soft throws. Ten percent of the purchase price is donated toPetSmart Charities to help save homeless pets.

3.        PetHoliday™ by ToyShoppe™ Plush Rudolph Reindeer ($6.99) – Let Rudolph be your dog’s guide for holiday play.

4.        PetHoliday™ by ToyShoppe™ Bumble Plush Dog Toy ($6.99) – Your dog will love this Abominable Snow Man under the tree.

5.        ToyShoppe™ Grinch Plush Rings ($6.99) – Tug-and-pull fun for your dog with your favorite Grinch character. Styles include Max, Grinch and Cindy Lou.

6.        PetHoliday™ by All Living Things™ Holiday Gingerbread Chews ($1.99) – Include your small pet in the Gingerbread making with these great chews! Available in stores only.

7.        Martha Stewart Pets™ Pajamas ($19.99 to $21.99) – Your pet will be picture perfect on Christmas morning in these festive pajamas.

8.        Martha Stewart Pets™ Holiday Intelligence Penguin Toy ($14.99) – Dogs will have hours of fun finding the penguins nestled in this plush igloo.

9.        Grinch Christmas Tree Dress ($15.99 to $17.99) – This dress will have the whole family singing around the Christmas tree.

10.      Top Paw™ Sock Monkey Sweater ($19.99 to $21.99) – Your dog will monkey around in this sweater.

“Knowing exactly what to get for the pet or pet lover in your life can be overwhelming,” said Alpaugh. “With the top 10 most ‘liked’ holiday gifts chosen by pet parents, now it it’s easier to pick the perfect present.”

As the largest specialty pet retailer in North America, PetSmart has gifts and services for every type of pet and holiday-themed apparel, toys and treats to ensure every pet is merry this year. For more information about holiday products available at PetSmart, as well as store hours, visit: http://www.PetSmart.com/.

About PetSmart

PetSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM) is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. The company employs approximately 50,000 associates and operates more than 1,249 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, over 194 in-store PetSmart^® PetsHotel^® dog and cat boarding facilities and is a leading online provider of pet supplies and pet care information (http://www.petsmart.com). PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products; and offers dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp ^SM day care services and pet adoption services. Since 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc., an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization and the largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North America, has provided more than $165 million in grants and programs benefiting animal welfare organizations. Through its in-store pet adoption partnership with PetSmart Charities^®, PetSmart has helped save the lives of more than 5 million pets.

Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart  

Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetSmart

See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

The post PetSmart Unveils Pet Parents’ Top Holiday Picks for Their Pets appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

Happy Monday.  It’s Jaffrey again and I have to tell you that my whiskers are in a twist this week and Cats vs Dogs is ON this week.  There is a new addition to the upstairs Feline Suite (aka Master Bedroom) and I’m flabbergasted…

The image is lovely.  Mother is super excited about it and can’t stop looking at it.  It was a gift from Paint My Doggy and they did an amazing job.  Even in my frustration and anger, I have to admit that the likeness is uncanny and the painter is obviously talented.

And since it is Sydney, our favorite heathen, then I’ve refrained from giving it the kitty claw treatment.  But what has my whiskers all wrapped up is the fact that I’m not looking at a painting of myself.  I’m stunning, gorgeous, regal, and A CAT.  I can think of endless images that Mother has captured of me where I look amazing.

What about this one…I’m gorgeous, right?

Mother explained that since this is Keep the Tail Wagging and that the painting was provided (as a gift) by Paint My Doggy and not Paint My Kitty, that it was only fair that Sydney got to shine in the spotlight.  And I agree, because she is the best of the trio, completely sweet and undemanding.  But still a heathen.

If you’re considering a painting for your pet loving friend, then definitely check out Paint My Doggy.  I overheard Mother telling the Dutch Man that the process was simple (she emailed a link to an image in her Flickr photostream), and then received a painting in the mail.  Sounds easy to me.  The artist is definitely not a cat.

Mother is now considering have more paintings made of all of us.  Maybe I’ll be next.  If Blue is next, all hell is going to break loose.

What do you think of the portrait?  Pretty amazing painting, right?

The post Cats vs Dogs | Where is the Paint My Doggy Portrait of the Cats? appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

photo: weeta

When Mother and The Dutch Man fostered their first dog, Morgan, Mother got a kick out of dressing him up.  I watched, appalled, as this little dog allowed her to put him in t-shirts, jackets, and sweaters.  He actually seemed to enjoy it.  I turned to Cosmo and growled.  Cosmo responded “we’re next.”

Morgan has left our home and Mother hasn’t played dress up with us, yet.  She has been chattering with The Dutch Man about “outfits” as she stares at her notebook while some wicked guy named Google sends her image after image that causes her to trill “isn’t this cuuuttteeeeeee????”

I thought my new found respect for The Dutch Man (he agrees that Slumber Party Sleepover Night isn’t a great idea) would be solidified when he laughed off her idea of dressing us – but that traitor actually thinks it’ll be hilarious to see us dressed up.  I wonder if he thinks the present I plan to leave in his shoe hilarious.  Yes, laugh it up Dutch Man.

photo: jess2284

Fortunately for us, Mother saw through The Dutch Man’s glee too and decided to spare us the humiliation of Halloween costumes this year.  The slobbering dogs weren’t so lucky…looks like in this battle of Cats vs Dogs, cats win again.

Here’s your chance to win a Halloween costume for your dog!  There are 5 prizes (one per winner) and it’s very easy to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Cats vs Dogs | Dressing Up Dogs is Cute, Dressing Up Cats is Not appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

As you know, we have three Australian Cattle Dog mix pups and Rodrigo is teaching Blue how to properly and efficiently dismantle a toy.  When we shop for toys, we keep our big dogs in mind and shop for tough toys.  But tough toys for small dogs – wow, I had no idea that this was a necessity.  So I’m thankful for this guest contribution sharing tips for those of you with smaller fur kids…

photo: ClickFlashPhotos / Nicki Varkevisser

Do You Have a Toy Monster?

My dog Ein is a monster. He isn’t a movie monster or even a cookie monster; he’s a toy monster. For the first few years of Ein’s life, he destroyed almost every single toy I bought for him—often in very clever ways. If he didn’t destroy something, it was because he didn’t like it. Kongs? Boring. Rope toys? He unknotted and then unraveled them. Nylabones? Boring. Tennis balls? He de-felted them. Ein did things to stuffed toys that would make a serial killer cringe, and he had those “tiger tested” tough toys for about 15 minutes before triumphantly making the first hole. He’s. A. Monster. He’s also a corgi.

You’re Not Alone

What is it about small to mid-size dogs that makes them so tenacious about toys? One might think only terriers would be so focused on play-thing annihilation, but a vast number of my fellow toy-destructive dog owners have other breeds as well: beagles, daschunds, English bull dogs and—of course—corgis. And those dogs seem to be bored by Kongs and Nylabones too. What’s a dog owner to do? Not buy toys?

Through careful research and product testing (complements of Ein and some of his cohorts), I’ve come up with some general rules that may help you in the quest for acceptable tough toys. They’ll at least save you some of the money I spent learning these lessons.

What You Shouldn’t Buy

If it’s fabric, of any sort, DON’T BUY IT

I’ve heard people sing the praises of those stuffing-less toys. I’ve also seen Ein gleefully de-fur and then shred them. If it’s made from ANY type of fabric or cloth, it’s going to be destroyed, period. Even tough fabrics have seams and that’s exactly what the dogs go for. Smaller dogs have a nose for finding weak spots.

Regardless of material, if it has small, easily graspable parts, DON’T BUY IT

I bought Ein a sturdy rubber toy that looked like a stick, complete with a few little branch nubs. The first thing he did was chew on one of the nubs until he chewed it off and then tried to swallow it. Toy-destructive dogs do not like to give up their prizes, so save yourself the trouble of having to turn your hand into an endoscope and avoid anything where a dog can get a good grip on a small part.

Regardless of material, if it has holes bigger than half an inch, DON’T BUY IT

One thing Ein has managed to keep around so far is a specific type of rubber ball (more on that later). Feeling high off of this success, I decided to buy him one of those treat balls—the ones that require a hole large enough to accommodate treat-stuffing. That hole was big enough for him to get a few teeth in, and he chewed and chewed until the inch-wide hole was a ragged opening about three times its original size. He would have happily chewed more, but this was about the time I discovered him and removed what was left of the treat ball.

Picky dogs will detest anything harder than rubber, DON’T BUY IT (unless you need a chicken-flavored paper weight)

Nylabone and other brands have created a line of super durable “chew” toys. I write “chew” because these toys are about as “chewable” as a piece of marble. Your picky dog will take a few sniffs of this plastic rock, give you a disgusted look, and then trot off to see if he may have missed any pieces of the last toy he eviscerated. Dog toys need that have at least a little give.

What You Should Consider Buying

So what should you buy? You’re pretty much going to have to take that on a toy by toy and dog by dog basis, but definitely follow the above suggestions. I can also tell you what has worked for Ein.

Certain Orbee balls (made by a company called Planet Dog)

These balls are tough, bouncy, smell like mint, and have a small enough hole that Ein can’t destroy it from the inside out. Avoid any of the ones that have raised designs on them; Ein ripped those off in two days and then continued to worry the hollows created by the designs’ absences. The diamond plate ball, however, is still going strong after a year.

Sturdy, rubber-only, tug toys

I picked up a thick, all rubber, two-handled tug toy from a chain pet store. I washed it, showed Ein how to use it, and we’ve played with it ever since. Just make sure the tug toy is sturdy. This rubber toy has some heft to it—so I have to be careful about where I throw it–, but I’ve seen plenty of bright, more plastic-like toys of this type that I know a toy-destructor would turn into tug-toy crumbs.

A good pen and clearance plush toys

I know. I told you not to buy ANY fabric toys, but nothing seems to bring Ein more pleasure than de-squeakering, de-stuffing, and destroying cuddly toys. I like seeing my dog happy, so whenever I’m anywhere that sells dog toys and has a clearance section, I nose around. If I find something suitable (it has to be dirt cheap and look like it will give him at least five minutes of entertainment), then I take it home, put Ein in his pen, and let him have at the toy while under my watchful gaze. When it appears Ein is in danger of ingesting any part of the toy, I take it away and clean up the area the pen encircles. Ein stays safe, I stay happy, and the rest of the house stays clean.

Do you have a thirty-pound, picky yet merciless toy-destroyer? What have you found that works?

About the Author

Ronald Hinde is an environmentalist and animal lover (despite his fear of snakes!). On the weekends you’ll have to explore a forest area around his home to find him. During the week Ronald researches animal related subject matter as a CA Biodiversity Council supporter and develops his site PetsLess.com, a discounter of popular pet supplies.

The post Guest Post | Buying Tips for Tough Toys for Small Dogs appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

I’m finally accepting that I coddle our dogs way too much.  Although I order our food and treats online, I can be found at the pet store, strolling through the dog toy aisles for surprise for my babies and there are just too many things.  With the pet food recall scares, it takes a little longer, because I want to make sure the toys are sturdy (Kong), great quality, and affordable.

Needless to say, I’ve left the pet store without a toy many times.

Introducing Postal Puppy

What if we didn’t have to bother going to the pet store? What if we could save time browsing for a clever toy?  I recently discovered Postal Puppy, a subscription based service that will send dog owners premium pet products every month.

“For $12, receive an assortment of dog products to sample with your furry friend. Postal Puppy lets you try new products before spending time AND money on the wrong products.” ~ Postal Puppy

What is Postal Puppy?

It’s easy to sign up.  Go to Postal Puppy, sign up to become a member and select your plan.  You can cancel at any time.  At the end of each month, Postal Puppy will send you 4-6 premium pet products directly to your front door (you’ll receive your surprise package in a week).

I love the idea, because I can try out new products and stop wasting time and money on products that just don’t work for our family.  I can’t tell you how many puppy wipes we went through until we found one that didn’t dry out within a couple of weeks (the entire box!).

Postal Puppy will go a step further and provide great information about each product and include coupons and discounts if you’d like to buy more.

What’s great about a subscription service?

When I first heard of this idea, I thought it was GREAT!  But then I started thinking about it more and I thought “no one is going to pay a subscription for a pet product service.”  But as I researched more, I thought “why not?”  $12 a month is a lot cheaper than what I actually pay (I’m too embarrassed to share the dollar amount).  If I don’t like a product, I can give it to a friend as a gift (most of my friends are dog lovers like me) or I can give it away to a Keep the Tail Wagging follower.  All of that for $12 a month?  I think this is a fantastic deal!

It’s a fantastic deal if Postal Puppy delivers.  I haven’t received a gift box yet so I have no idea what the premium products include.

Postal Puppy makes it easy to sign up

Today, I logged on to Postal Puppy to check out the membership sign up process.  New members are able to choose our dog’s size, sex, and age.  What I didn’t see was an option to select multiple dogs (we have three, 2 adults, 1 puppy; 2 boys, 1 girl), however, dog owners can select multiple plans.

Postal Puppy uses Amazon.com to process payments.  I love this, because I trust that site and don’t have to re-enter my payment information.  This is a month-to-month subscription, so we can cancel at any time, and shipping is free.  The question I have now is when will members receive the first package.  In a week?  The site says “77 more members are needed to activate this subscription.”

How do you feel about a subscription service? Is this something that you would take a chance on?

The post Dog Lovers Can Receive Premium Pet Products from Postal Puppy appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.

I was going to wait to do this review until the political races heated up  more, but these toys are just took cool to sit on!  The creator of these wonderful toys has an Etsy store, Throw Them to The Dogs, where you can order these amazing dog toys.  What I love about them is that with every news story about the politicians, I get a chuckle at the memory of one of our dogs chewing on their head or feet.

Throw Them to the Dogs are dog toys made in the USA.  The dog toys are made from all natural ingredients, the art work is spot on, the quality is amazing.  You would think that these are being mass manufactured, but not the case.  I love my set so much that I took them back from the dogs and they now sit in a place of honor in my home office.

Well made, fun for the dogs, even more fun for the humans.

Politicians honored with a dog toy made in their likeness are:

Mitt Romney – Mitt for Mutts

Barack Obama – Bow-Wow Barack

Rick Santorum – Ruff Rick

Newt Gingrich – Old Dog, Newt Tricks

What’s cool as these are great gives for dogs and humans.  You can even give a Republic to a Republican or to a Democrat.  You can give someone all four.  These are just fun and cool gifts that any dog lover who also follows politics will get a kick out of these well made dog toys.  I took them to work (my day job) and they got a lot of attention and people were floored that I didn’t get these from some big company.  Nope, I got these from a dog lover I met online who is fast becoming a great friend.  Who doesn’t love dog lovers with a fantastic sense of humor?

When Annika contacted me about her toys, I warned her that Rodrigo tends to hoard the toys and he tries to destroy them inside of 15 minutes.  I think he’s trying to beet his personal best.  She was willing to allow her toys to be tested out on his jaws and I have to say that I sat shocked for 20 minutes while Rodrigo (on the right) just chewed on the toy and ran around with it.  He didn’t once try and tear it to pieces.  Annika sent me the picture of a dog enthusiastically pulling on Ruff Rick this weekend.

I wanted to share these with you, because they’re such a neat, clever idea.  How many people do you know who would love a Throw Them to the Dogs toy?  I can think of 6 immediately, give me a few minutes and I bet I can triple that number.

The post Throw Them to The Dogs | Dog Toys Made in the USA Get Political appeared first on Keep the Tail Wagging, An Online Magazine for Dog Lovers.