I visited New York City for the first time last week. It was a business trip - a media event showing the latest unique pet products. (I will post pictures when they become available).
While it is quite a distance from SE Florida, I decided to drive so I could bring a variety of products to show at the event. Cookie came along for the ride and also to be our model.
The event was held at the New York Barclay Hotel in midtown Manhattan. They recently became pet friendly, and I must say, Cookie felt very welcome by everyone that worked there as well as other guests.
What we didn't realize, unfortunately, is that while New Yorkers love their dogs, unless your dog is a "city dog", you might have problems. Being a professional "Furry Traveler", I thought I was prepared for everything. There were a few items I had wished I brought, however.
Of course we took our To Go Bowl on the trip so Cookie could drink whenever she wanted while in the car. This bowl was then brought into the hotel and used on the floor for her water bowl. I had brought a folding travel bowl for her food, but this didn't work well for us. Since she is a small dog and I didn't need to put a lot of food in the bowl, it would start to fold down when she put her face into it. She didn't like that and I ended up hand feeding her. The Kurgo Collaps-a-bowl would have been better. It stays rigid until you manually collapse it. The Little Buddy Lunchbox would have been convenient, too. I could have stored her dog food in it, as well.
Then there was the "potty" issue. I knew NYC was not known for its lush landscaping, but I thought there would be grass somewhere. There was - Central Park - about a 20 minute walk from the hotel. Of course I have seen it on television, but it truly is a beautiful, gigantic park, with street vendors and performers, ball parks, outdoor (pet friendly) restaurants... We had a great time exploring the park and Cookie had blocks and blocks and blocks to find the perfect spot to go.
The next morning we tried a closer dog park, just a couple blocks away. While it didn't have a lot of grass, it was fenced and right on the Hudson River. A great place for dogs to run and have fun. We walked back on a different block that did have some grassy patches. I guess a city dog doesn't need grass and I'm sure Cookie would eventually adjust if necessary. Next time I will bring our Pup Head, though. This would have made things so much easier!
I took many of the products we sell to make the trip safer and more convenient. One necessity is the Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Harness. It kept Cookie safe while driving and then when we stopped, I clipped her leash to it for a quick walk. It is padded, so nice and comfortable for Cookie, and easy for me, as it simply slips over her head and clips around her chest. Of course Leash Luggage, the Bow Wow Bag, waste bags, reflective collar are other items that made traveling more convenient.
We also took Cookie's stroller. This made it easy to maneuver in the crowds, get on the hotel elevator, eat at the cafe. It was hot in NYC last week so I think all the walking in the hot weather would have been too much for the little one.
And no trip is ever made without her EBD Carry-All bag. I love this bag! It has a pocket for everything so it is easy to stay organized. Cookie is our Furry Travelers model, so she her share of supplies we bring on each trip and needs her own bag in which to carry them.
I wish we had been able to stay in New York City longer and look forward to going back in the future!
For see all Furry Travelers products, visit www.FurryTravelers.com.
I haven't done a product review for a while. It certainly is not because there is a shortage of products to review. I just don't know where the time goes!
We recently started carrying Thundershirts. It sounded like a cool product but almost too good to be true. We immediately began selling them but it wasn't until last weekend's dog show that I personally heard from customers how great this product actually is. The Thundershirt was "flying off the shelf"!
One woman, however, was very skeptical. She said her dog gets so frantic when it thunders that she was convinced nothing would help him. She had tried everything else on the market with no success. She did decide, however, to give Thundershirt a try.
On my way home from the dog show, I received a call from this customer. She said it started thundering as soon as she got home and she immediately put the shirt on her dog. She couldn't believe it! Her dog had NO symptoms of fear or any type of anxiety. She was so happy!!! The next morning she ordered another for a friend of hers.
I have been lucky. None of my dogs have ever been bothered by noise or thunder so I am unable to test this product myself for that purpose. Since it helps all types of anxiety, I do plan to try it on my next trip with Cookie, though. She gets very stressed out when I leave her alone in the hotel room. I'll let you know how that goes!
More info on Thundershirt
With the summer months rapidly approaching, vacation season will soon be here. We all need a little time away from the monotony of an everyday routine, so as you get ready to retreat, it’s important to know how to care for your four-legged friends traveling with you. Most of us travel by car or plane, but each option brings certain drawbacks for pets.
Car travel is usually less stressful on pets because it allows Freckles and Champ to be close to you, so you can monitor their well-being and come to their aid when needed. If you choose to drive to your destination, here are a few helpful hints to make the trip more enjoyable.
Motion sickness: It’s common for pets to experience motion sickness while traveling in a car. To help avoid an upset stomach, don’t feed your pet a large meal before travel. Cracking a window to allow fresh air to circulate through your vehicle also helps. If Champ is prone to motion sickness or if Freckles’ sensitive stomach acts up again, you may want to put them in the front seat next to you. Riding up front helps because less motion is felt in the front of the vehicle.
Bathroom breaks: While Champ may snooze for the majority of the trip, it’s still important to give him frequent bathroom breaks. Traffic is unpredictable, so if it has been more than a couple of hours, stop and give your dog a chance to relieve himself and stretch his legs.
Sedatives: While sedatives may make your pet seem less stressed during car trips, these medications also have a tendency to dull the senses and lessen your pet’s ability to react to the environment, which can be dangerous in an emergency. When traveling by car or by plane, avoid giving your pet any type of sedative. If you think Champ or Freckles really needs a sedative to travel, talk to your pet’s veterinarian before your trip.
For people, flying is often quicker and easier than driving, but flying can be a more stressful experience for your pet. If you decide to travel by air, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
Cargo travel: While you’re snacking, reading, and sleeping in relative comfort up in economy seating, Champ is usually traveling in the cargo area below, subjected to temperature fluctuations and loud noises. A cat or small dog may be allowed to travel in the plane’s cabin, as long as the pet is kept in a crate and the crate fits underneath the seat. Check with specific airlines for more information about cabin travel for your pet.
Check on your pet: Make sure to tell the plane’s Captain or flight attendant that you have a pet on board. If the flight staff knows about Champ in cargo, they are better able to check on him for you, especially if an unusual situation occurs, such as an unscheduled landing, extended taxi time, or long layover.
Walk your dog: If you and Champ have a connecting flight, try to walk him before that connecting flight departs. Many airports provide dog parks just outside the terminal. A bathroom break and a short walk will help Champ relax and stay calm during the remainder of his journey.
Crate your pet: During flights, most pets are housed in pet crates provided by their owners. It’s important to prepare your pet’s crate with safety in mind. Pet crates should provide ample space for your pet to move around and should also meet the requirements set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) and the International Air Transportation Association (IATA).
When your pet is crated, remember to include:
Be Prepared: If you plan to stay in a hotel while traveling, contact the hotel ahead of time to make sure it is pet friendly.
Before your trip, research veterinary hospitals in the city or town of your destination in case of a pet emergency during the vacation.
Hawaii and Abroad: Traveling outside the continental United States with your pet requires advanced planning. For international travel, contact the appropriate country’s embassy or consulate at least 4 weeks before your trip. Different countries may require different documentation for your pet’s entry. The state of Hawaii also has entry requirements for arriving pets.
For more information about traveling with your pets, please check the following Web sites:
Susan Lanci designs some of my favorite products. The Sport / Travel Sling is one of them.
The Travel Sling is made of lightweight, breathable material that can hold as much weight as you can. Cookie weighs about 9 pounds and does get heavy after a while, but the sling holds her with no problem. I have sold them to owners of heavier dogs, but I would say the ideal weight to be between 4 – 9 pounds.
The Bow Wow Bag is a great product to hang on your favorite leash. Available in 3 sizes, there is room for your pick-up bags, keys, cell phone and in the Medium and Larger bags you can even include a dog toy. Not only that, but if carrying your dog's "packages" isn't for you, you can put it in your Bow Wow Bag until you find a trash can.
The Bow Wow Bag is a great way to keep things handy, whether on a daily walk, at the park or traveling.
More info
I never thought of myself as one that would use a dog stroller, but I have become a big fan. I use a dog stroller for two different reasons.
One, I have a 15 year old Bichon Frise (Sammy) with major back problems resulting in her inability to walk for any distance. Putting her in the stroller while I walk our other dog, Cookie, gives her the opportunity to be a part of the family, get some fresh air and sunshine. Once I started doing this on a regular basis, she seemed to become a happier little dog.
I also use a dog stroller for Cookie when I work at dog events. Cookie is my "assistant" at these shows and I have found the stroller to come in handy both when setting up and breaking down our booth because I can roll her around in it and not worry about her leash getting tangled as we set up, as well as throughout the day to give her a break from the activity.
And I'm sure everyone has seen dog strollers while shopping. While I haven't done this (yet), it is a great way to take your little one with you when you go to the mall.
We have two models that have been popular at Furry Travelers: The PetZip 3 in 1 Stroller, and the Pet Stroller XL. The images below are of the 3 in 1 Stroller (including Cookie at a trade show in Atlanta).
This 3-Way Stoller covers all your needs. Along with it being a dog stroller, it conveniently converts into a car seat as well as a carrier. Holds up to 30 pounds. Available in Red or Navy Blue.
The Pet Stroller XL is another great stroller and one I have used for almost 2 years now. This stroller has really worked hard for me and has held up just great! It also holds up to 30 pounds and it is long enough and tall enough to hold more than one dog, or taller dogs. It easily collapses to fit into your trunk. The colors are great, too. Tangerine and Lime.
So which stroller is for you? If you don't need the car seat, my vote is for the Pet Stroller XL. If you like the 3 in 1 concept, you can't go wrong there, either.
For more information on all our strollers, click here.
Leash Luggage is a convenient way to take the important stuff with you on walks with your furry friend.
Designed to fit onto any type of lease with Velcro straps, Leash Luggage has a compartment for bags (you can use rolled bags or recycle your plastic grocery bags) and a separate compartment for your own things (driver's license, hotel card, money, etc.). It also comes with a special key holder.
I use Leash Luggage all the time. I especially like it when I travel because I can put my car keys and room card in the second compartment for easy access. It is lightweight, easy to add bags to, and keeps me organized without lugging around my purse.
For more information, see www.FurryTravelers.com/m7_view_item.html?m7:item=3114
"They are so cute", is what I hear most often about this product. This is true, however they are also extremely practical!
Two stainless steel bowls come with this travel set. They are small, but do hold a full 1/4 cup of food or water - perfect for traveling with your little Furry Traveler. They come with their own travel pouch made of Ultrasuede with a Swarovski paw print on the front and a draw string keeps everything safely inside.
The travel pouch is the perfect size to hold the bowls plus your cell phone, money, keys, room card, credit card...
Best of all is that you can easily carry these bowls in your pocket or purse and always be ready to give your pup a drink or some food without. They are made in the USA and are available in several colors!
Read more about the Susan Lanci Stainless Steel Travel Dishes or place your order here.
The American Pet Products Association (APPA) is having their 2nd Annual APPA National Children's Pet Poetry Contest through their public awareness campaign, Pets Add Life (PAL).
Third, fourth and fifth grade students are invited to write a unique poem about their pets, what they love about them, the joys they bring, and then post it online at www.petsaddlife.org or mail their final poem and submission form to: Pets Add Life, 45 Winter Street, Reno, NV 89503. The deadline for submissions is February 15, 2010 at 5:00pm EST.
Two students from each grade level (6 total) nationwide will win a $250 gift certificate for pet products, and a "by-line" in a nationally circulated publication. In addition, the six winning students' classrooms will each receive a $1,000 scholarship to spend on pet related education.
I recently started using the Guardian Gear Collapsible Crate at the suggestion of a dog trainer I met at a pet expo. I mentioned to her that I travel with at least one dog, Cookie, regularly and while she is almost always with me, there are instances where she might need to be left in the room for a while. Cookie does not like being left behind and is very vocal about that, to say the least. Because I don't need to crate her at home anymore, I never thought about doing it when I travel.
Good idea! Now Cookie feels like she is in her own den rather than a strange hotel room, and I don't have to worry about her being stressed out or barking while I'm away.
I love this travel crate for several reasons. First of all, it folds to just 2 - 3 inches wide so it is easy to store when I'm not using it. It is also very light weight at just over 7 pounds, making it convenient to carry. It is also easy to assemble. You just unfold the sides, unzip the top and slip in two poles into the frame and you are done! It is just as easy to fold up again, with clips to hold it all together and a convenient pouch to store the bars on the bottom.
As it turns out, we now leave the crate in our family room all the time. Our 15 year old dog, Sammy, likes to go in there on days she's not feeling well. I also use it in the car when driving anywhere with Sammy, as she has turned into a nervous traveler in her old age and she is also safer in the crate.
A few tips:
Click here for more information or to place order.
