Archive for June 2008

You Me and the Dog Days of Summer

Yes it's that time of the year again, Summer. When things slow down, the weather gets warmer and our thoughts seem to drift away like a puffy cloud across the sky.

Here in Richmond Va, those summer days eventually turn into heat index, hazy, lazy days when being outside is a chore in itself. Therefore the time I can spend outside with my two pugs, Sushi and Espy are always precious.  We attempt to go down to Maymont park when the weather and heat permits, and walk around the lake and just enjoy summer breeze and outside atmosphere.

The pugs love it when we break for lunch because they know they will get an extra special dog treat. Lately they have had the benefit of one of our new products the Himalayan Dog Chews.  They truly love these treats but I can't decide if they enjoy the bully sticks more. Knowing these two pugs, they are just trying to play me to get more treats and chews.  But I love them and spoil them, and who am I to deny them of a special healthy dog treat.

As it continues to get hotter and hotter outdoors make sure that when your dog is outside that they have plenty of water, are only outdoors for a limited amount of time, and have ample shade to retreat from the sun. 

We would recommend making your dog(s) healthy summertime cool snacks like homemade ice cream or yogurt.  Make this even more fun by stuffing that ice cream into your dog's beef trachea, hollow shin bones, or toys with treat holes in them.  We are sure that your dog will appreciate this cool summertime snack. 

Trachea Chips

We are introducing a new dog chew called the "Trachea Chip"! These are flattened out pieces of our beef trachea's that are baked into a chip. The trachea chips are approximately a 4" by 4" square piece of beef trachea. This unique size and shape make them last quite a while. We would say that these last about the same amount of time as a pig or cow's ear for comparisons sake.

Remember that Beef Trachea are an excellent source of both glucosamine and chondroitin for your dog's joint health. We are positive that these new trachea chips are sure to be a winner in the dog chew market! Please also keep our other trachea dog treats in mind as well (Hollow Trachea-great for stuffing with ice cream or peanut butter, Stuffed Trachea-stuffed with brown rice and bully stick bits, and now the Trachea Chip).

Greatest American Dog

I don't know how many of you have seen the commercials for this upcoming CBS show....but it looks like it will be quite good. The show is featuring twelve dogs and their owners who will complete each week for a $250,000 prize (think about the dog treats that could buy!). The shows website says that there will be challenges each week to test the owners' ability to train their dogs and that one team will be eliminated each week.

From looking at the 12 contestants it looks to be a good mix of dogs from Chihuahua's to a Bull Dog. I think that it should be a fun show to watch as some of the dog's are from the pageant world and some have just been trained at home.

In the end, we feel like every dog could win this contest as they all have unique personalities and bring love and joy to families all over the country; just look at the smiling faces in the photo gallery!

Furminator-Best Grooming Tool on the Market

In our opinion this is one of the most exciting products to hit the pet industry in the last couple of years.  The Furminator is easy to use, quick, and good at what it does.  Whether you have a long or short haired dog, it is sure to make quick work of grooming and keep your dog's skin and coat healthy!

The Furminator is also a great way to manage your dogs shedding.  If combed regularly with the tool it can reduce the amount of shedding by up to 90%!  According the the Furminator product literature it accomplishes this by removing the loose dead undercoat without damaging the top coat.  It also works to bring out a pets natural oils and create a shinier top coat.

Lastly, the Furminator also helps with airborne allergens which are the source of many people's allergic reaction to pets .  As with anything that your dog might find annoying (brushing teeth, combing, etc...) it is always a good idea to have some dog treats or bully sticks close by as a reward!

The top dog breeds can be debated forever, but for the purposes of this list, we're going to use the top ten most popular dog breeds based on American Kennel Club breed registrations. That being said, I welcome any and all opinions on what you think should fall into the Top Ten List of Most Popular Dog Breeds.

10. Bulldogs – These lovable dogs have long held a place in the hearts of pet owners that are looking for a dog that is shorter, won't require as much exercise, but has a personality as big as its jowels.

9. Shih Tzu – This Chinese breed with its vaguely lion like appearance and attractive coat is popular as both a pure bred dog and for cross-breeding with other breeds for desired physical and temperament traits. These are great house dogs as they don't require a great deal of exercise and are perfectly happy staying at home chewing on a Himalayan dog chew.

8. Poodles – Known for their distinctive appearance and intelligence, the Poodle are most often associated with French elegance and an aristocratic nature.

7. Dachshunds – These short little dogs are a favorite of dog lovers everywhere, coming in both a short haired and long haired variety. These playful and fun dogs are great for families as they can entertain with their intelligence and playfulness while playing with toys or begging for dog treats.

6. Boxers – Originally from Germany, this stocky breed of medium size is known for their large chest and square jaw. Bright and energetic with a playful temperament, these dogs are great for active owners that can exercise with their pet.

5. Beagles – The winner of this year's Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show, the beagle is one of the most recognizable dogs, with animated dogs like Snoopy carrying the beagle image into the entertainment world. Their even temper and gentle disposition makes them great for families, and their playful nature will keep a family entertained for hours.

4. Golden Retrievers – A larger dog, the Golden Retriever are kindly and friendly, and are known for being friendly with any and all comers that are willing to give them a pat on the head. As the name implies, Golden Retrievers love to retrieve, and are great for those looking for a dog they can play with outdoors or watch tear apart a bully stick inside.

3. German Shepherd – Originally bred in Germany for sheep herding, this breed can be found doing everything from police work to working with the blind. Easy to train, these dogs make great house pets and are great for those looking for a dog to complete agility courses with.

2. Yorkshire Terrier – These tiny little dogs are known for their long coats and personality that doesn't seem to fit with their small bodies. Incredibly intelligent, Yorkies are also independent, which is perfect for those looking for a dog that doesn't have to be coddled all day long.

1. Labrador Retriever – The most popular breed of dog according to the AKC, this breed comes in a variety of colors, but is most loved for their mellow nature which makes them great house pets. Not known for aggressive, territorial, or pining behavior, Labrador Retrievers can fit into most household situations and because of this, have become highly sought after because of their gentle nature (they can carry an egg in their mouth).