Great Giveaway Week #4- Wag 'n Load

Here on FitDog Friday, we know the benefits of getting out and walking our dogs.

No Kelly! You need to walk for exercise!!

We also believe in cleaning up after our dogs. But there's a problem.
Problem: What to do with your fully loaded poo bag as you continue your walk?
Solution:
a. Just carry it and ignore the looks of everyone who knows what's inside that thin plastic bag.
b. Stuff it in your coat pocket and vow to run to the dry cleaners immediately after.
c. Drop it in a neighbor's trash can along your route and hope they don't notice.
d. Wish that someone would invent a better way!

Well you don't have to wish any longer. Check out Wag 'n' Load, a new, convenient, discreet and sanitary way to take care of your dog's business.

 
Wag 'n' Load is a nice, nylon pouch you can carry hands-free by either clipping onto your dog's leash, or your belt loops. You can attach a poo bag dispenser on one side, and hand sanitizer on the other. (ugh! I can't tell you how many times I've needed hand sanitizer after cleaning up after my dogs!)

We were sent two samples to try out and review.
PROS:
* attractive
* the velcro attachments hold fast. The bag didn't slip down the leash!
* convenient
*durable. Nicely made, thick material, lined pouch
* washable
* a great solution to this problem!

CON:
* the bag, especially when "loaded," adds weight to the leash that can feel a bit awkward

(update: The designers note that if you attach the velcro through the loop at the top or very bottom of the leash, the extra weight is not noticeable.)


Although the Wag 'n' Load bag is a bit heavy on the leash, there was something kind of satisfying about having my dogs carry their own business!
It can be attached to your belt loops instead. As an alternative, I would also like to use the Wag 'n' Load with a long, over the shoulder strap.

Overall, Wag 'n' Load is extremely well-made and designed. This is an awesome product that every dog walker should have. We really like ours, and consider it an essential dog walking tool.

Would you like to win a Wag 'n' Load of your own?
Just enter the Rafflecopter below! TWO lucky winners will each receive one Wag 'n' Load dog waste bag carrier! And if you don't win, here's a GREAT DEAL--you can order one here for 30% off through December 20th.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

FitDog Friday blog hop is co-hosted by Peggy's Pet Place, Slimdoggy, and To Dog with Love. Join our hop!

Want more positive pet tips, good news, and special offers? Fetch my free newsletter, Pawsitively Pets. Kelly and Ike hope to see you there!

 

Full Disclosure: I received two Wag 'n' Loads to review and two to giveaway. This in no way influenced my review. The opinions here are 100% my own.

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Keeping Up with K9 Kamp- Walk this Way

This month's Keeping up with K9 Kamp activity was to do something new with your dog. This could be as elaborate as geocaching like Gizmo and kayaking like Honey or something as simple as trying a new route when you walk.

For us, it involved walking...but with a twist.


Since we adopted Ike this month, Kelly has had to learn to walk nicely together with him. And that has been a real challenge!

So this month we've been practicing walking nicely with another dog along for the walk. Kelly always wants to get ahead, and gets anxious if Ike walks faster than she does. Or they get tangled up in each other's leashes. Or he wants to play or run and she wants to boss him around.

We usually start off with Kelly in the lead, but Ike is a bigger boy and walks faster, so sometimes he moves ahead. When Kelly gets anxious, I usually ask her to "sit" and distract her. If I pick up the pace, it only seems to heighten her anxiety. They key seems to be to keep her mind active. Sometimes we take an unexpected turn or change direction. Sometimes we jog for a stretch and then slow it down and walk.

Now the two dogs are doing nicely walking together. Ike is learning not to pull on his harness. Kelly is learning to share the sidewalk. We all take a nice morning walk, and an evening walk, and sometimes one in between as well. This is just one way of getting fit, healthy....and tired dogs.

Kol’s Notes and Peggy’s Pet Place and You Did What with Your Wiener are the official co-hosts of K9 Kamp, a fitness challenge aimed at fighting pet obesity. K9 Kamp happens a couple of times  year, however, we believe that canine fitness should be something you work on year-round. This is where Keeping Up With K9 Kamp comes in. Check out Keeping Up with K9 Kamp for a challenge on the first Friday of every month, and check back in with your results on the last Friday of every month.

FitDog Friday and hosted by Peggy's Pet Place, Slimdoggy, and To Dog with Love. Join the hop!

Want more positive pet tips, good news, and special offers? Fetch my free newsletter, Pawsitively Pets. Kelly and Ike hope to see you there!

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Pampered Pooch Party

Eileen and some of the products on display.

You know those parties, like Tupperware and Pampered Chef? Well, I went to a Pampered Pooch party! My pal Eileen, mom to adorable golden retriever Zak, held the party which featured products by DogGone Stylish.

Eileen was so nice, making sure everyone was comfortable, playing a few games, and offering adorable prizes wrapped in cellophane bags with ribbons. She also had adorable snacks!

And, she invited me to bring my books, and I even sold a few too! Thanks for everything, Eileen!

We had a lot of fun at the party, looking over handmade custom collars and leashes, and even bows to adorn the collars. The host explained how everything was made and the quality materials she used.

Doggone Stylish

I ended up ordering a 4' coupler, to allow me to walk Kelly and Brooks and hold onto just one leash.

The coupler is very well made. I had my choice of a multitude of designs and colors. The hardware is quality and secure. I love the clips that-- unlike the usual kind that could be forced open accidentally-- fit together and overlap securely. 

 

 Kelly, Brooks and I went out to test our new leash coupler. Note:  I was using regular buckle collars at the time I tried the coupler. Now I'm using a harness with Kelly. I've not yet tried the coupler with the harness.
A couple of issues--
1. I ordered the 4' coupler because I figured Kelly is small and Brooks is large, so we'd need the extra length. This turned out to be a mistake. The coupler is much too long to work effectively. I should have ordered a shorter length. For now, tying a messy knot in the coupler helps to shorten the one I have.

2. There is a large ring to attach the single leash. I'm not sure why the ring is so large. It wasn't really a problem, I just thought a smaller ring would suffice.

Did the coupler work for Kelly and Brooks? Yes and No (through no fault of the actual product...just my finds in using a coupler).
Pros-
* The coupler allowed the dogs to walk nicely side by side, and prevented tangled leashes. This worked nicely most of the time.

 Cons--
* When one dog stopped to sniff or do his business, the other dog suddenly got jerked. I am sensitive to the dogs being jerked on their necks, especially through no fault of their own. So I had to be extra attentive to make sure no dog's neck was being hurt.

* Similarly, if one dog decided to pull to the side, lunge at a cat, visit the other side of the sidewalk, etc, the other dog got jerked. This was not right for the dog who was walking nicely and I definitely worked hard to make sure that didn't happen again.

* I felt I had a lot less control with the leash connected to the coupler. If I wanted to direct one dog away from the fallen crab apples by the side of the road, I couldn't adjust without tripping over the other dog. There was no way to really feel the dog's activity through the leash.

Overall, the coupler is a product that I like for when I want the dogs to walk nicely side by side, but not for when I want to allow them a little space to sniff and explore on the leash. I do feel I had less control with a coupler, but maybe a shorter coupler would help improve that situation.

The Pampered Pooch party had lots of pretty, classy, fun and classic designs you could mix and match. Please visit Doggone Stylish website to see the selection!

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How to Walk Your Dog without Pulling and Choking

What is this new Walk in Sync system, Mom?

If your dog's a tugger and a puller at the leash, it's not just a nuisance for you. Consider this: her neck is getting pushed and pressed upon, jolted and--if you use a choke collar--pinched and squeezed. That can't be a comfortable way to walk. 

That's why I was really interested to learn more about Walk in Sync, the "humane dog walking and training system."

Kelly used to walk beautifully when it was just one. But now that we've added Brooks to the family, she pulls and tugs to get ahead of him, beside him, under him--it doesn't matter. Our nice leisurely strolls are a series of frustrating outings. So when Alecia of Walk In Sync offered us a sample to test out for ourselves, I was excited.

The product arrived in a neat brown pouch. The harness and leash comes in black, brown, red and turquoise. We chose turquoise. I slipped Kelly into the system and off we went to test it out!


*The harness and matching leash are made of top quality materials. I immediately liked the weight and feel of the product. All latches are strong and secure.

* I was worried about the ease of getting in and out of the harness. Turns out, the harness slides on quite easily. And removes easily too!

* The supporting documents and website provide detailed information and give me confidence in the product. Plenty of pictures and videos to help you with fit and training, anything you need to know!


* While the website gives clear sizing measurement parameters for neck, girth and weight, Kelly's measurements spanned across several sizes, making determining a size confusing. THE GOOD NEWS: Customer service is excellent and helpful, and if you end up with the wrong size, correcting the problem and  receiving a different size is simple and speedy.

See how the leash clips to the front.

* The method for walking without pulling is simple--just clip the Accu-grip leash to the ring in front of the harness (at the chest). Walk forward. When you feel tension on the leash, simply stop and wait for your dog to take the pressure off the leash on her own. Reward!

* The website has multiple instructions including text, drawings and videos to show you the proper way to fit the harness, attach the leash, and walk your dog. Despite that, I still managed to put it on her upside down! Once I got it on correctly, we set off. Kelly could tell something was different right away. The first few times she felt a tug on the harness she stopped, and then sat and refused to budge. She just looked at me as if to say, "What do you mean, I don't get to run around and have my own way?" Then, after just a little coaxing, she pranced right at my side. She looked up at me in a way I took to mean she was seeking my direction, rather than having her way and leading me on a merry chase. And, the change was almost instantaneous. She really did respond beautifully to Walk in Sync. What a difference!

Don't I look cute in my turquoise harness?

From the Walk in Sync Website:
The #1 reason dogs pull is because they have been taught that they can. The tools that we use in training them have not only failed the dogs, they have failed to assist their people in giving them proper tools that are easy to understand and really work.
The Walk In Sync™ Humane Dog Walking and Training System is truly as easy as 1-2-3. Our training system eliminates pulling, even from the most determined pullers and assists you in becoming the calm, clear leader your dog has been begging you to be in minutes.
In Walk In Sync™ 3 Easy Steps it is so easy that even a 6 year old can do it. (Watch our Lexie and Rosie) We will walk you through how to end the pulling habit forever and humanely train your puppy without ever having to choke them.

No more choking!

 I highly recommend Walk in Sync. Even if your dog isn't a tugger, imagine the benefits of removing the collar from around his neck when you walk, and changing instead to a more comfortable, non-choking alternative. If you do have a dog who tugs at the leash, I feel confident Walk in Sync will work for you. It worked for us! Check out Walk in Sync website and view the many videos of 5 minute manners makeovers!

*I was provided with a Walk in Sync system for my review. The opinions are 100% my own.

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Walkin' the Streets...which is your dog's style?

Notice tail up and tail down?

My husband and I take Brooks and Kelly on two or three daily walks together, and I've noticed certain differences in their styles.





















Kelly:

Kelly walks, nose down, sniffing excitedly. Her tail is raised like a flag, and wagging the whole time. She prances excitedly, always wanting to be "first." She meanders and weaves left to right, as if she always thinks there's something better on the other side. She can walk politely if reigned in and reminded, but still frequently gets tangled in her leash and I have to straighten her out. Most often I don't insist she heals, because I like her to relax and explore. However she tugs and pulls whenever she sees something exciting and barks and whines at other dogs. When she has to do her thing, she always moves to the grass on the side of the road to take care of business.

Brooks:

Brooks walks with his nose in the air, looking out and around. His tail is down and relaxed. He stays by my side without any tugging, and automatically adjusts his pace to mine. He enjoys running if I run, but is just as content strolling (more often, in my case!). If his leash becomes tangled, he simply steps out of it on his own. He might tug if he sees a cat, but is easily brought back by just my calling his name. The one odd thing, whenever he has to do his thing, he just stops and takes care of business right there in the middle of the sidewalk!


What do you think these behaviors say about my dogs?
What is your dog's walking style?

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Everyone Walks on Sunshine

Dad's helping with the dog walking. (Notice Kelly, nose down!)

Have you been k9kamping with us? If not, it's never too late! You can join in at any time. Just look for our next challenge, tomorrow, and then complete the exercise on your own time over the course of the week.

How did Kelly, Brooks and I do this week?
Great! We love Walking on Sunshine! Despite some rainy weather, we were able to get out and walk between the raindrops. At our best, we walked 3 times a day: in the morning with Dad before he went to work, the 3 of us mid day, and with Dad again after work. At the worst we got in one rushed walk around the block in the rain ("Hurry up guys, I'm getting wet!") but hey, it was at least a walk.

The dogs love walking together.
When I walk the dogs alone, sometimes I get a little tangled. But mostly they are good walkers. Brooks walks well on the leash, steady pace, head up, straight line. Kelly skitters here and there, sniffing everything, wrapping around a pole or my feet. Her nose is always on the ground. I could insist she heels nicely but, as long as she's not bothering anyone else on the sidewalk (and she reels in nicely when I ask her to) I think she deserves the chance to explore and sniff. She obviously loves it! We spiced things up by interspersing a little jogging here and there. We also changed up our route every other day.

How did our Kampers do? The results are in! Check out how Coach Koly and his mama did this week!
And, click on the links and see how our Featured Bloggers did on Week 1.

     

        

 And, if you were joining in at home too, link up and tell us about your experience. We want to hear!

Don't forget, we've got fantastic dog and fitness prizes too! It's super easy. Just follow the link to enter to win great k9kamp prizes!
Join the blog hop!



get the InLinkz code

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Top 10 Things I Learned at K9Kamp Blog Hop

Top 10 Things I Learned at
Koly and Kelly's K9 Kamp 


10. I can't blame Kelly for my laziness...she likes to exercise!

9. Technically, it's still a game of Fetch even when the dog won't return the stick. But, that's something I'd like to work on with Kelly. (Me: Kelly drop it!  Kelly: Make me!)

8. You can burn more calories walking if you let your dog lead you around. Kelly has a different idea of how to navigate the neighborhood than I do, and it often involved side routes and trails off the beaten path.

7. Never jump over obstacles with your dog while trying to capture it all on camera at the same time. Unless you are much more coordinated than I. (My knees still hurt!)



6. Always reward your dog with a belly rub for a job well done.

5. Kelly loves spending time with me, and working out together means we're doing something good for our health as well.

4. I have no upper body strength. None. 

3. I used to think I was doing a great thing by getting off my butt and walking the dog once a day. Now I see that we both really need more, and it's so beneficial to get more active every day.

2. I don't have to just walk with my dog for exercise. There are many other activities that are great exercise and lots of fun too.

1. Dogs make the best fitness buddies!

Join our Blog Hop! Just click here to find the directions and Link on Up! And see what our featured bloggers were up to on their last fitness challenge.









Also, see what our k9kampers did this last week of our challenge!

Life With Lulu

Well, I am very sad to say that I could not physically complete this week’s challenge.  I have some very painful knee issues that inevitably flare up with the change of the seasons, so a fast-paced game of chase was not an option for me.  We did a lot of work on heeling at a walking pace, so maybe that counts?  I wish I could have done more, but it’s been painful just to walk at a normal pace and if I push myself too hard, I will regret it!

I Still Want More Puppies

"Well, this week's challenge was a fun one - we finally had some nice weather, so we were actually able to spend some time outside instead of doing our challenge inside hiding from the rain.  In order to get Bella to chase me around, I had to rely on the rope bone.  I suppose it was only fitting.  It's the common thread that connects each of our weekly challenges, after all."
 

Pet Blogs United

Check out what Pam and Oskar have been up to! If I know Oskar, he's been begging for bacon, but Pam won't let him get away with that without completing his workout first!

My Brown Newfies

Oh how I wish this challenge took place last week when temps were in the 40's! However, temps this weekend were in the 80's, and running with a Newf in temps like this is not the best idea! So we attempted to do this challenge at dusk when the temps were cooler. When we first started Sherman looked at me like I was crazy. Seriously he did, he sat down and watched me run around the yard like I was a crazy lady. (I think he thought that I had finally went over the deep end!

So after many minutes of running around the yard with him staring at me I finally got the hint that my approach was not working. So I went and grabbed his favorite tennis ball, showed it to him and THEN hid it in my pocket and ran around the yard! Sherman, being totally obsessed with his tennis ball came chasing after at me and at first I thought he was going to tackle me but then I quickly reminded myself that this was Sherman NOT Leroy, and Sherman has manners and he would NEVER jump! It was hilarious to watch Sherman get so excited and while we didn't do a full 60 minutes of "Chase Me" we did so much running that  we were both left huffing and puffing and one point I thouhgt Sherman was going to have to give me mouth to mouth!

Foley Monster and Pocket

It was cold, for that one day, and the wind was blowing in my face. We were using the flexi leash which we never use but Daddy kept me on a short leash which I think is illegal and against the purpose of the flexi leash. We got to the circle and Daddy said that he was going to run and I had to catch him. I nodded. Daddy released the lock of the flexi leash and he began to run.

And I ran right along side him. Daddy wanted me to jump on him and catch him but he never wanted me to do this before and I didn't know if this was a test. Then I saw something darting to my left which was bad because Daddy was on my right. I ran right in front of him. He tripped over me and stumbled forward but didn't fall down. I kept running after this object on my left and jerked Daddy to see the side when I reached the end of the leash.. But he still maintained his balance. And I saw that the object of my affection was a blowing piece of newspaper.

Daddy looked at me with that look saying we were not getting the Travelocity Gnome. "You have to run straight Pocket, even if you don't catch me, we have to run straight."

"Roo-ray" I said

We ran to the other side of the circle and when we got to the end Daddy clapped his hands and I jumped on him and he said that counted for catching me. Oh boy! The trip to Arruba was within our grasp.

Then something terrible happened. We ran in the other direction and a leaf blew across the road. I crossed in front Daddy again and he kicked me like a soccer ball. I yelped and rolled and Daddy stumbled and dropped to his knees and picked me up and let me lick his face. He told me I had to stop crossing in front of him.

He tried running with me again but I wasn't feeling right from the kicking and rolling. He then picked me up and I trembled like I do when Foley and I are being left alone.

He patted my head and told me that it was all right. We were done with K-9 Kamp for the year. But what about meeting Phil at the mat? The Travelocity Gnome. Is the dream over?
 

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