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Planning a hiking trip with your pooch? If you're the type who loves outdoor exploration with your dog, then you'll LOVE the KURGO Wander Pack! This hand pack will keep you prepared for those trail hikes and trips around town. The Kurgo Wander Pack is built strong to withstand rugged outdoor conditions yet functional for a day trip. It's a perfect solution for your travel essentials such as food, treats, toys, first-aid supplies and travel bowls. Just because our pups have paws instead of hands, doesn't mean they can't bring their own gear along! J
Check out this great product here: http://www.furrytravelers.com/m7/3111--kurgo-wander-back-pack.html
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Those in search of canine companionship without the commitment of fulltime ownership can reach a happy medium at the Aspen Boarding Kennel and Shelter's program Aspen, Colorado. The program offers travelers and citizens of Aspen the opportunity walk dogs and even take them on overnight trips. The program is the No-kill shelter's attempt to provide better quality of life and ultimately increase adoptions but can also serve as a fun activity for tourists.
Labeled a “dog paradise,” The community of Aspen is a prime location for the program. Whether its water bowls outside many retailers or a mailman equipped with dog treats for neighboring dogs, the program thrives in the dog-friendly atmosphere.
While walkers and caretakers get in their fix of canine companionship, the dogs become more socially acclimated and have a better chance at being adopted. Some walkers use the program to ease themselves into pet ownership and others use it as a way to meet the dogs prior to adoption. The flexible policy requires the dogs to be leashed for liability reasons. Temporary owners are able to take them on daily errands, home to their yards and even weekend hikes!
If you are in the Aspen area and miss your dog or want to hang out with one when you finished with a day at the slopes, consider the Aspen Boarding Kennel and Shelter's Program. Visit www.dogsaspen.com for more information.
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Many of us will be taking our furry ones on road trips this Thanksgiving. Here are some ideas for vehicle accessories that make traveling with pets easier.
It is so important to keep your pet's safety in mind while on the road. While many like to have them on their lap or see them enjoying the breeze in their face, this can be very dangerous in the event of an abrupt stop or accident.
To keep your pet secure, we recommend a safety harness or, for smaller dogs, a booster seat with a tether to attach to their harness. Some pet carriers such as the Sleepypod can be secured in place with your car's seat belt. These items will prevent your pooch from jumping around the car and keep them in place in the event of a sudden stop.
Car seat covers and hammocks are a worthwhile investment as they protect seats from water, snow and muddy paws. They come in a variety of sizes, colors and styles and are very easy to install.
Proper hydration while on the road is important to your dog's health and comfort. The To Go Bowl is a water bowl that is designed to fit into a car's cup holder - in the front or back seat - and allows your dog to drink whenever he wants without stopping the car.
Stay organized by using a seat back organizer or cargo organizer for your pet's toys, leashes, treats, etc.
If your dog gets anxious in the car, try a calming remedy or anxiety wrap. We have heard from many happy customers, including one of our own Furry Travelers, that they really do work!
Just for fun, you can personalize your vehicle with a cute magnet or license plate cover.
See all Furry Travelers automotive accessories here.
Wishing you and your Furry Travelers safe travels!
(Look for more travel tips from Furry Travelers during the holiday season.)
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We recently found a company in California that bakes all natural dog treats in some very unique ways with healthy ingredients.
Here is the scoop:
Sweetie Pies are a healthy dog treat made of free range chicken and sweet potatoes. Research has shown that sweet potatoes are one of the top 10 healthiest foods you can eat! They are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Even better, dogs love them!
The chickens and sweet potatoes are both from small local farmers. They are slow baked to preserve their goodness. Dogs can't say no to these treats! Break pieces off to use as training treats or as a nutritious low calorie snack.
I had always heard of dogs that had a "tooting" problem, but this has become a recent issue with Cookie and I can't wait to try these! We sold out of them too soon for me to try with our first order, but now that we have more, we won't waste any time getting her started on them!
Enzymes are the catalysts for every metabolic process in the body and the foundation for good digestion and overall health. Better digestion means less gas. Digestive enzymes are added to these treats so they are easily absorbed.
Fart Busters are made from pure whole free range chicken with a proprietary blend (human grade) of digestive enzymes that can aid digestion and help with those "aromatic" moments. These are all meat treats, manufactured in California. Chickens are from local farmers and are raised without the use of antibiotics or animal by-products and are fed a vegetarian diet.
Cookie and Katie both have tried - and go crazy over - Bark Stix. What a great idea - dog treats that look like bread sticks! They are made with organic whole wheat flour, beef liver, water, rolled oats, carrots, bacon, parsley and baking powder.
I am very happy to be able to offer healthy treat options for your Furry Traveler. Give one or all of them a try while they last!
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Product Review - Bark Stix Organic Dog Treats
FurryTravelers.com was started to help pet owners travel with their pets safely and easily by offering the best pet travel products. Once in a while, however, we come across non-travel related pet products we think are so great that we add them to our product line-up.
I don't recall how we originally found Bark Stix (maybe they found us), but after speaking with the owner a few years ago and hearing about the company, I knew I needed to test them on my own dogs, Cookie and Katie. They loved every type of treat I gave them! What I love about them is that they are 100% organic, nutritious, and made in the United States.
Here are three of our favorites:
Sweetie Pies
Sweet Potatoes are considered by nutrition experts to be one of the 10 healthiest foods one can eat. That goes for dogs, too. Sweet potatoes are packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. And dogs LOVE them!
Ingredients: Sweet potatoes, chicken liver, potato flour, honey and sea salt.
Sadie's Big Stix and Lucy's Short Stix
These fun, nutritious stix are shaped like a bread stick and measure 9-10 inches for Sadie's and about 5 inches for Lucy's - a best seller.
Fart Busters
This all meat chicken treat is made from whole Free Range chicken with a proprietary blend of digestive enzymes that can aid digestion and help with those 'aromatic' moments that come between dog and guardian. Like all of our treats they are manufactured in our facility in Northern California. The chickens are locally sourced from small farmers and raised without the use of antibiotics or animal by-products and are fed a vegetarian diet.
There are several varieties of Bark Stix dog treats. To see all Bark Stix Treats, click here.
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As the end of the summer nears and early fall approaches, regulation of pets on the beach are eased and beautiful early fall weather beseech you to take your furry friend outdoors to the nearest body of water to play. Here are a few tips for keeping your dog safe around water.
1) While some dogs live to swim, others may be unable to or simply hate being in the water. Be conscious and considerate of your dog's preferences and skills. Don't try to force him or her to swim if your dog seems afraid or averse; many dogs will never feel comfortable in the water.
2) If you're taking your dog swimming for the first time, help coax him into the water by starting off in a shallow area. Try calling his name and creating a fun environment by using dog toys and/or treats to play with.
3) Swimming is very hard work, making it easy for your dog to overexert himself- especially dogs that are drawn to the water. Keep track of the time and evaluate your dog's level of effort to keep your dog from overdoing it.
4) Never throw your dog into the water. Doing so may cause your dog to feel anxious or fearful of going into the water in the future. Also, since some dogs have large bodies and short legs, they are not built to swim for enjoyment and therefore may be traumatized by the act.
5) If taking your dog swimming at the ocean, be careful of strong tides. Never let your dog swim far enough out to be swept away by the current. Use a doggy life jacket as a safety precaution.
6) Moisture in a dog's ear can cause nasty infections if not cleaned properly after swimming. Ask your vet or local pet store for the proper supplies and a demonstration to make sure you are thoroughly ridding his or her ears of the nasty bacteria found in ocean and lake water.
7) Never leave your dog unattended in water. If you have a pool, make sure to invest in adequate safety products, such as a baby fence or pool alarm to alert you if your dog falls in. Train your dog to know how to exit the pool by teaching him/her to locate the steps or ramp, and providing a refresher course on exiting at the beginning of each swimming session.
8) Be careful of taking your dog swimming at night. Dogs' vision dramatically decreases after nightfall as well as with age, so swimming in the dark may be extremely scary for dogs, even those who normally love to be in the water.
9) Just like humans, dogs are equally susceptible to getting hypothermia in cold water. Unfortunately, they may not understand that the water is what's causing them to feel cold, making it easier for an accident to occur. If the water is cold enough to prompt you to get out, it is safe to say your dog is at risk to getting cold as well and should be brought out of the water to regain warmth.
1 Never let your dog drink the pool water, which is filled with chlorine and chemicals that can make your dog sick. Salt water from the ocean and bacteria found in lakes can also be harmful. To prevent ingestion of contaminated water, keep a clean water bowl nearby for your dog to drink from.
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Does your dog LOVE playing fetch? Most dogs do! Don't let an achy arm and slobbery ball stand between you and your dog's favorite pastime! The Flik-It™ arm pivots to increase throwing power and accuracy, extending range while reducing joint and muscle strain. In short, it helps you send the ball soaring without getting sore. The Gravity-lock™ slider naturally falls into place to secure the arm for easy, slobber-free ball pickup. During this game of fetch, your dog will tire out long before you do! http://www.furrytravelers.com/m7/8499--dog-games-flik-it-launch-a-ball.html
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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
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We lost our dog Sammy earlier this year. We had to make the difficult decision to put her to sleep. She had been suffering for years from serious back problems related to major surgery she had 10 years earlier. She also had recurring eye problems caused by a paralyzed facial nerve.
We did all we could to make her life happy over the years. This included building homemade ramps for 4 rooms of the house so she could sit and sleep with us, taking her for walks in a stroller so she could get fresh air, putting carpet runners throughout our tiled house so her little paws wouldn't slip out from under her while she walked. We gave her supplements, a radiant heat lamp, acupuncture treatments. She was truly a loved member of our family and we spared no expense or effort to make her happy and comfortable.
At 15 years of age, she was no longer our happy-go-lucky Sammy. She seemed uncomfortable and the only excitement she showed was at mealtime. Other than that, she didn't wag her tail or even want to be in the same room with us. Given her health history, we discussed that we would not put her through another surgery, should that need arise.
When she developed another serious eye problem requiring surgery, we discussed the situation with her doctor. Our wonderful vet assured us that these were all signs she was ready to move on. She was no longer enjoying her life. I heard another vet once say that it is better to end a dogs life too soon than to risk ending it an hour too late.
While this made our decision easier, it did not make the loss easier. For all but the last few months of her life, she was the happiest, friendliest dog we had ever known.
(This blog entry started out to be about a pet product and I'm not sure what got me on the subject of Sammy, but I am going to leave it in case someone out there is needing to make a similar decision about their beloved dog. Talk to your vet. They can help you decide what is best.)
The loss of a pet is tremendous and the sadness sometimes overwhelming, but it does get easier with time. Let yourself be sad, cry, go through the grieving process. They are members of your family and most likely loved as much as your two legged family members.
Finally, don't be afraid to eventually get another pet! I have spoken to so many people whose dog passed away years earlier. When I ask why they haven't gotten a new one, they say because they don't want to ever go through that type of loss again.
I can't imagine being a dog lover and choosing to be alone rather than have a dog bring you love, companionship and joy for so many years. Don't be afraid! It can help you overcome the grief and bring you years of happiness.
Just be careful not to expect your new pet to "replace" the old. Dogs, as people, are all different. One thing that stays the same, is the unconditional love and wet kisses you only get from a dog.
Our little Sammy
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Need some help convincing your boss to let you bring your pet to work with you? Research has found that taking your dog to work has numerous benefits for the employees and work environment. Below are several noteworthy reasons you can offer your employer to sway their policy on pets.
1) Reduces stress. You may have heard that dogs and cats help reduce their owners' stress, but did you know that benefit can carry over into the workplace? In a study published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, stress levels lowered amongst employees who had their dogs by their side throughout the workday in comparison to employees who left their pets at home as well as with non-owners. A study by the American Journal of Cardiology has found that people with pets had hearts that adapted to stress better than non-pet owners.
Stress is a major contributor to the degradation of employee morale and burnout. By buffering the impact of stress during the workday by having one's pet by their side, employees are more likely to be resilient, productive, and satisfied.
2) Promotes health. There have been numerous studies backed by the American Heart Association that have proven a connection between pet ownership and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, data shows that pet ownership plays a part in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In comparison to non-pet owners, people with heart issues that own a pet have a higher likelihood of surviving a heart attack.
3) Increase Camaraderie. Research indicates that having a dog present leads to more conversations with others and helps people feel socially connected. Therefore, bringing your pet to work can help strengthen work relationships and facilitate team-building in the office. Feedback from employees note that working amongst coworkers with their dogs helps increase cooperation in the group.
4) Increase Productivity. According to a study that incorporated both small and large companies, those that allowed pets in the workplace had employees who worked longer hours and had a lower rate of absentees. Without having to run home to be with one's pet, people are more likely to stay later to finish up their work.
If you do decide to bring your four-legged friend to work with you, remember to pack enough food and water to last them the entire day, and make sure you've pet-proofed your office space to ensure a healthy, safe environment for both your pet and fellow employees.
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