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Great Holiday Gifts for Pets


The holidays are upon us… which means celebrations, get-togethers and presents for the whole family. When that family includes a pet, our four-legged friends deserve some holiday cheer, too! Wondering how best to celebrate your pet this season? We’ve scoured the internet and picked out some of our favorite toys, treats and products to give your cat or dog. Whether you want to watch your pup unwrap a new toy or hang a kitty stocking above the fireplace, there are plenty of smart, fun options for pet owners this holiday.

Dog Overalls– For the dog who loves the outdoors year round, Hurtta Pet Collection has released a line of outdoor dog overalls. This waterproof and breathable outfit is specifically designed for long-haired dogs to protect their coat and skin from all types of weather (and to prevent the need for extra baths after playtime outside)!

DART DUO – The Frolicat™ DART DUO™ is an automatic rotating laser toy for dogs and cats. With speed and rotation variations, this double-laser spinning toy is perfect for frisky pets who love to pounce. You can even set a timer for 5, 10, 15 or 20 minute play sessions to keep your pet active long after you leave the room. This is a particular favorite in our Kitty Playroom at Morris Animal Inn!

PuppyTweets – Ever wonder what your dog is doing while you are away? Mattel’s Puppy Tweets can give you a look at your pet’s activities by sending you text messages throughout the day. A device attached to your pet’s collar can tell when your pet is napping, playing or barking, and will send messages to your cell phone “from your pet.” As silly as this gift may sound, it is also a great way to see how your pet behaves while they are left alone.

Soggy Doggy – Winter weather means leaving your snow boots at the door for humans, but for our pets, it’s not that easy. A dog who races inside from the rain or snow is likely to leave a lovely pawprint trail throughout the house. A gift to you AND your pet, then, is the Soggy Doggy Doormat, a dual-service towel and mat for cleaning pets’ muddy paws. Small microfiber “noodles” make up this super-absorbent cloth, which helps to make drying your dog faster and easier.

Fishbowl Cat FeederPut your smart kitty to the test with the PetSafe® Fishbowl! This feeding toy allows cats to see, smell and even touch their treats, but they must solve the puzzle to get them out. The toy wobbles and rolls, turning eating into a game for your curious cat. The Fishbowl feeder is available in our lobby for a perfect last-minute holiday gift, along with plenty of other toys and treats for dogs and cats!

This is just a start to the many ways to spoil your pets this holiday! What will YOU be purchasing for your pet?


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Meet the Bloggers Hop-- If My Dogs could Talk....


Meet the Pet Bloggers Hop

Here it is, time to meet the faces behind our favorite pet blogs. Our assignment was to answer five or more of the previously posted questions, to include a photo of ourselves, and to link up to the hop. Meet the Bloggers Hop is co-hosted by these fine blogs:
Go Pet Friendly
I Just Want More Puppies
Kol's Notes
No Dog About It
The Daily Dog Blog
My Brown Newfies
Cindy' Lu's Muse
Life with Desmond
Bringing Up Bella
Heart Like a Dog
Rescued Insanity
Peggy's Pet Place
NEPA Pets

And now, for the questions:

What's your favorite non-animal related book?  A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

What's your favorite non-animal related movie? Groundhog Day (okay, well that is sort of animal related!) and The Grand Hotel, It's a Wonderful Life, Doubt ...just off the top of my head.

What's your favorite non-animal related food?  Ice cream

What's one thing you have to do every day?  Wake up (and it's always difficult!)

What do you wish you were more skilled at?  Promoting my books. I enjoy writing, but I'm really bad at pitching marketing ideas, and getting out there and doing readings and events.

What's your favorite holiday? 4th of July. I love summer, sun, picnics, and fireworks.

What one word would people who know you use to describe you?  friendly

If your pets could talk, what one word would THEY use to describe you? lazy?

Other than blogging, what are three things you do that bring you joy?  My husband, my kids, my dogs. That's pretty good.

What drives you nuts about your pets? What melts your heart? It drives me nuts when, about 10pm every night, they start staring at me, jumping in my lap, barking at me, pushing their noses against my book or laptop or whatever I may have, and basically making it impossible for me to do anything else except to get up and let them out, let them in, give them a snack, fill their water bowls, throw them a ball, and try to figure out what they want.  Pretty much all the rest of the time melts my heart.








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

Join the hop!



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Hang a Pawprint Angel Ornament on the Tree

The invitation arrived with a little paper ornament with a pawprint and angel wings.











There was to be a memorial service at our veterinarian office, for pets who had crossed over the rainbow bridge this year.
My husband and I both knew right away that we wanted to attend, and honor the memory of Brooks.
First, I decorated the paper pawprint.














Then we drove up to Nassau Vet, which was decorated with lovely luminaries up the driveway.
















There was a packed house in attendance, and many of the vet staff. We hung our ornament on the tree...

























...and looked at the others...

















Dr. Shane read a beautiful story, Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant, and someone else read Cat Heaven.




















Then names were called, and when our pet's name was called, we were instructed to ring a little bell. After that, people were invited to stand up and share a memory or story of their pet. I simply told about how reluctant I was to adopt an 11 year old dog, but that the year we had together was wonderful and I didn't regret a thing. Many other people read poems they'd written, most choking back tears as they thought of their pets.




















Thank you to the staff of Nassau Vet for caring so much about our pets, and each one understanding the depth of emotion we all feel for our furry family members who have crossed over the rainbow bridge.
We love you, Brooks.










And here's to all the others who have lost a beloved pet this year.



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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Why does my dog sleep like that?



It’s bedtime and your dog curls up in a tight ball on their bed. Or maybe they sprawl out belly-up on yourbed. What makes them choose these strange positions for snoozing? Vetstreetdove into the dog mind when it comes to bedtime and found that a dog’s chosen sleeping position says a lot about their comfort levels, and not just by how fluffy their bed is.

The first reason for curling up is a very logical one – your dog is trying to stay cozy! From their wild ancestors, dogs have a tendency to curl up into a ball in order to stay warm. Wild dogs also tend to burrow into the ground first, creating a nest to further protect them from the cold. This is why you often see your dog circling and digging at the floor, couch or bed before they settle in for a nap.

Dogs in the wild also curl up to protect the weakest middle part of their bodies from any potential predators, offering them a position in which they can feel secure. Being balled-up head to toe allows your dog to feel as safe as they can be.

Does this mean that a curled-up dog feels insecure in their surroundings? Not necessarily. Although a dog who is nervous or in unfamiliar territory will often follow their instincts to curl up, a family pet who always slumbers in this position may just have a stronger connection to their wild cousins.

Dogs who sleep belly-up, on the other hand, are expressing a deep sense of security. Not only are these dogs often relaxed and easy-going breeds that may be more distanced from their wild ancestors, but they are frequently well-socialized and confident in their surroundings.

It’s safe to say that if your pooch is passed out with legs in the air, they have complete trust in you. A sprawled out dog may also be trying to cool down, as the circled position keeps in body heat.

In any position, a slumbering pup is a great companion when nighttime comes around. That is, unless they snore… 

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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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Great Giveaway Week #3- I and Love and You

It's not just "I love you."
It's "I and love and you."


















I and Love and You is a company offering a wide variety of natural products, pet food, supplements and vitamins. Founder, Brendan Synnott  is also the co-founder of Bear Naked Granola.




This is one cool company. They have an open, friendly attitude. "When we started "I and love and you" about a year ago, we set out to make it easier for pet parents to take care of their pets' entire health and well-being," wrote Lindsay, who introduced me to the company and products. She added that their raw dog food--which is grain free, with no GMOs, is very popular as well.

I told Lindsay that I'd never given my dogs supplements or vitamins, because I didn't understand what the ingredients were. She told me that they appreciated my concern over ingredients in supplements and remedies--"That's actually one of the reasons we started "I and love and you." Brendan wanted the same quality ingredients he buys for his human family to go to his pet family!"

I and love and you sent me some treats and supplements to sample.

















Also, I wondered what is homeopathy?

“Homeopathy is a natural, holistic system for healing that works by eliminating the underlying imbalance in a pet’s body that is causing unwanted symptoms. Homeopathy uses the principle of the “minimum dose.” Homeopathic remedies are made from natural substances such as plants and minerals that are highly diluted and shaken, which eliminates any toxic effects of the natural substance. It is literally impossible to overdose with a homeopathic formula, and they are generally safe for use with other remedies or medicines.”


Here's a few things I learned:
 * Nutritional supplements are produced in FDA registered, human-grade facilities
 *Food is produced in USDA inspected facilities
 * Food and treats are never, ever made in China. Nearly everything comes from the USA. 
 * Foods and treats use human-quality ingredients, never by-products or rendered meat
 * No Artificial preservatives, artificial colors or artificial flavorings
 * No additives or fillers
 * No corn, soy, by-products or un-named meats


I and love and you products include dry kibble, raw food and raw freeze dried food for dogs, chews and treats, daily supplements and natural remedies for cats and dogs. We sampled some delicious treats, Super Power Powder and My skin's Itchy.

Super power powder™ is a daily multivitamin for dogs.
















It includes a mineral and multivitamin blend that benefits digestion, joints, skin and coat. Click here to check out the Ingredients.
I tried Super Power Powder with Kelly and Ike by sprinkling a scoop on their food. I started with a small amount at first and increased gradually. Both Kelly and Ike ate the multivitamin powder with no problems. I've only been using it for a short time, so it's difficult to tell yet if the vitamins have contributed to improved health, muscle tone, or vigor.

Among the I and love and you natural remedies:
My Joints Ache
My Darn Aller Geez
My Tummy Hurts
My Skin's Itchy
My Nerves are Stresssed
My Sparkly Smile
My Sparkly Ears
Paw Armor

 Since Ike has allergies, we tried My Skin's Itchy™ homeopathic remedy.

















Check out the Ingredients.
I mixed a few droppers full with Ike's food. It did seem that his itchiness improved. We changed seasons and had a frost, so that may have contributed to the improvement as well. But Ike seems more comfortable and less itchy! And both dogs absolutely loved the treats and bully sticks!

 Now you can win some I and Love and You products for your pets! Enter the Rafflecopter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Full Disclosure: I received one Super Power Powder, one My Skin's Itchy, and one bag of treats and two bully sticks to review and a gift pack to give away. This in no way influenced my review. The opinions here are 100% my own. 


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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