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.
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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.
The Puplight is one of my favorite products. In fact, when selecting products to add to our website, this was one of the first I chose.
If you walk your dog while it is dark, you will love this product. The Puplight is an LED light attached to a comfortable elastic collar. It illuminates up to 200 feet ahead, allowing drivers to easily see your furry friend. Three AAA batteries last at least 150 hours and its unique design keeps the light out of your dog's eyes.
The elastic band fits neck sizes from 8" to 26" and can either be buckled on or slipped over the head. It can be worn along with your dog's own collar or the light can be attached to the existing collar. It only weighs 2 1/2 ounces, making it comfortable for the smallest dogs.
Keep your dog visibal at night - to both you and traffic - by using Puplight. You can find more information here.
I came across an aritcle recently (from Cars.com) that listed the pet friendliest cars on the market and thought I would share the information. A few of these brands will soon no longer be manufactured, but can be a useful if you are looking for a pre-owned car.
As a pet owner, we want to keep our pets as safe and comfortable as we are. Volvo was found to do the best job of offering products for pet owners, however many automakers offer features and options that are pet-friendly, even though not all of them were specifically designed for pets.
Volvo:
Saab: The 9-3 SportCombi and 9-5 SportCombi (wagon) include a cargo space divider, cargo mat, cargo apron and cargo guard in the back; the 9-5 SportCombi also has a trunk tray.
Saturn:
The Vue has a cargo management system.
Volkswagen:
The Jetta and Passat wagons offer cargo partitions, while driver accessories include a VW Beetle squeaky toy, air freshener and squishy pillow. Other VW gear includes heavy-duty floor mats and cargo liners.
Nissan:
A Pet Guard Divider accessory that helps keep pets secure while in a vehicle's cargo area.
Other features that can make traveling with pets easier, and a few cars that have them, include:
(Sources: Cars.com)
We are all in the habit of using our seatbelt whenever we drive. Most pet owners, however, do not think about using a safety harness for their pet. It is time we do!
According to the American Automobile Association, unrestrained pets cause more than 30,000 accidents annually. That's thousands of fatalities and injuries that could have been avoided with the use of a simple pet restraint, harness or crate.
Bark Buckle-UP founder, Christina Selter, warns that an unrestrained dog can be dangerous to everyone in the vehicle. "In a 30 MPH accident, a 60-pound dog can cause an impact of more than 2,700 pounds, slamming into a car seat, windshield or other passenger."
And let's face it, any one of us would be heart-broken if our dog was injured, or worse, killed in an accident because we were too rushed or lazy to buckle them into a safety harness. (Hint - leave the seat belt attachment in the car at all times so it is easy to snap onto your dog's harness. It will be one less thing to remember as you leave home, too!)
So...let's make a New Year's Resolution to buckle up our pet every time we go for a drive - no matter how short the distance. To make things easy, I am going to review a few of the travel harnesses we carry on our website:
1) Kurgo Tru-Fit Safety Harness: This is probably the easiest harness to put on your dog that I am aware of. Once adjusted for size, you simply slip it over your dog's head and then buckle the strap around its chest. That's it! It comes with a loop that you put your seat belt through and attach to the harness to keep your Furry Traveler in place while you drive. It is made of high-quality automotive seat belt materials and has a broad padded chest plate for extra protection and comfort. Good for dogs over 10 pounds. Price: $22.99 - $28.99.
2) The PetBuckle Seat Belt Harness provides protection in a standard vehicle by using the vehicle's seat belt, LATCH bar system or cargo area to securely restrain a harnessed dog. Just slip the seat belt through the web loop on the harness and buckle up. For dogs over 15 pounds. Crash tested for safety. Price: $49.99.
3) For the more fashion conscious, we offer a variety of comfortably padded safety harnesses in a variety of colors and patterns. Many of these styles snap right into your own car's seat belt buckle - very easy to use.
Whatever your choice may be, just remember that having your dog restrained is one less distraction for you and so much safer for your Furry Traveler!
To view all our safety harnesses, visit www.FurryTravelers.com.
Happy New Year from your friends at Furry Travelers!
Source: Adapted from the ASPCA
Is chewing a destructive behavior? Here's the simplest answer: Only if he's chewing on the wrong thing. So give him something that's okay to chew.
Puppy chewing is an important part of the teething process. As adults, dogs often chew for fun, or to relieve boredom. Chewing or tearing things up (like paper) can also be a displacement behavior, a way to release pent-up energy or stress.
Puppy- and dog-proof your house. As with any type of behavior you wish to change, one of the most important things to do is manage the environment. We are all familiar with "puppy proofing" our houses - we learn to put shoes in the closet, and put pups in the crate when we are not actively supervising them. But we often forget that many adult dogs need the same type of management to keep them out of trouble.
Give him a chew toy instead. If your dog attempts to chew on an inappropriate item while in your presence, simply interrupt the behavior and re-direct him to an appropriate chew toy. It can be helpful to have a stuffed Kong toy in a Ziploc bag in your freezer - so you can quickly produce it when needed. Many pups have certain times of day when they are more likely to chew, so you can head this behavior off at the pass if you choose this time of day to give the dog an approved chewie.
Use bad-tasting repellants and sprays. You can keep puppies and adult dogs away from some items by using impersonal correction, preferably where the "environment" does the correcting. For example, spray items with Bitter Apple spray or Boundary dog repellant, or use a Scat Mat at the edge of a countertop, to stop counter surfers. This type of training operates on the same principle as a child touching a hot stove - if something is particularly unpleasant, most likely the child or the dog will make the decision not to repeat that behavior.
Give him plenty of exercise. Exercise is vitally important for dogs prone to inappropriate chewing or other destructive behaviors. A tired pup will be less likely to get into things. Exercise also produces endorphins, which have a calming effect. In fact, it is these endorphins that are stimulated by chewing, so if your dog is not getting enough exercise, he may unconsciously be seeking to replace needed endorphins by releasing pent-up energy through chewing.
Make sure it's not separation anxiety. Occasionally chewing or tearing things up is a symptom of a more serious problem, such as separation anxiety. If you suspect separation anxiety, the first thing you need to do is schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.
Be gentle! A few training books are still on the market that advocate inhumane methods for stopping destructive behaviors, such as putting duct tape around a pet's mouth or physically hitting a dog. Needless to say, there is no excuse for such corrections. Not only are they extremely unfair, they're ineffective. The use of proper management (for instance, cratung a dog when he is not under your direct supervision), along with proper exercise, takes care of 99 percent of destructive behavior problems.
