Product Review: Super healthy dog treat

There are lots of treats on the market which I would think twice about giving to the girls, mainly those which don't seem very good for dogs at all. Some treats do seem the dog equivalent to crisps and biscuits for humans which there is nothing wrong with having once in a while as long as there is a balanced healthy diet along with exercise.

One treat which I have no problem giving the girls is the Paragon Vegetable range. These treats are 100% vegetable, low in fat and really are a great healthy alternative to rawhide treats. This may not apply to other dogs but my girls tend to lose interest in rawhide treats quite quickly. Unlike other treats designed to clean teeth these last a while as they take longer to chew and can keep my girls quiet for up to an hour. Also I must admit they smell quite nice.

'Nom nom nom..'

Cassie and Morgana typically don't have the white and green versions of these, but we have noticed it is pretty easy to tell when they have had one of these treats as when its toilet time that's what colour their poop is (fibre isn't digested so tends to just pass straight through). This may not apply to the other colours but we just have a preference. They also come in a range of shapes and sizes which all help clean those hard to reach areas.

Available as;

Crocodile [£1.46]

Eurostar Stick [small: 40p]

Hedgehog [£1.80]

Mini toothbrush [100: £9.62]

Product Review: Nina Ottosson Interactive Toys

When Morgana was a puppy, we had a problem which we brought up with the vet when popping in during walkies. Morgana was ALWAYS hyper, she loved her sleep like most chihuahuas but twice daily walks, the park, and typical games of tug of war and fetch didn't seem to burn off any energy. Considering how small Morgana is it is strange to think that a family of five were exhausted on the sofa whilst Morgana was having zoomies all over the house.

The solution? Looking back now it's pretty obvious but Morgana wasn't being stimulated enough mentally. The vet recommended buying dog trick books (see this book) as well as considering some Nina Ottosson Interactive Toys. Watching Morgana learn these tricks and play these interactive games it was crazy to see how intelligent she was even as a puppy. The Nina Ottosson Interactive Toy range has grown over the years to include lots of different types of games to challenge a dogs problem solving skills. Not only are these toys a challenge, they are easy to clean, tough and suitable for dogs of all sizes.

See how much Morgana loves her Nina Ottosson toy!

The first toy from this range we bought was the Dog Brick [£25.73], this one levelled puzzle involves your dog sniffing out the treats hidden under the bones. Once your dog has managed to remove these bones, they then have to push the sliding covers where even more treats can be hidden. The difficulty can be increased by hiding treats under only a few covers so they really have to use their nose.



Nina Ottosson Interactive Toy
Dog Brick



Even though with the Dog Brick we saw results pretty much straight away with Morgana (along with the new dog tricks), we decided to also buy the Dog Tornado [£23.82] to add some variety. Compared to the Dog Brick the Dog Tornado was more of a challenge and seemed to involve more skill to find the treats. The Dog Tornado is a multi-levelled interactive game where the levels can be turned around to reveal hidden treats on the different levels. To make the Dog Tornado more difficult bones can be added which need to be dislodged in order for it to turn.



Nina Ottosson Interactive Toy
Dog Tornado

These interactive toys are available here...
Puppy Dog Supplies [£23.82 - £25.73]
Amazon UK [£14.50 +]

Top Tip: Pocket Pet Wipes

Besides carrying around the obvious poopie bags and treats when going for walkies, one essential item is the Petkin Pet Wipes To Go. Most dog owners will experience their little furbaby finding something nice smelling in the park and deciding to roll in it like the world depended on it. Other dog owners, especially those owning long haired dogs, get to experience the poop stuck in hind leg hair issue. Dogs get dirty, its pretty much a fact, even if they don't like to be dirty... Morgana, or if they just can't help it ... Cassie. The Petkin Pet Wipes To Go are the easiest solution.

These moist wipes come individually wrapped so you won't be taking a massive pack around with you if you are worried about a little mess. The wipes are around 20cm x 18cm (7" x 8") but are folded nicely into a little pack that fits into the middle of your hand. On top of being pocket friendly the wipes are also mildly scented but still gentle enough to use daily. They really are great to use on walks, in the park, day trips, in the car and while you're travelling. The wipes can be bought in packs of 12 individually wrapped packets.

Available here:
Pet Head

Product Review: Hygiene Pants for Dogs

Hygiene pants are great for females in season, yet to be trained puppies and incontinent dogs. Some owners may opt for actual diapers/nappies [£6.99] but you can find yourself going through quiet a few of these if you aren't using them temporarily. There are a range of different hygiene pants out there for your little girl but each have their own pros and cons. Morgana went through a few hygiene pants, tis was before she had her operation (see chihuahuas & pyometra), until we found some that were right for her.

Hygiene Pants for Bitches on Heat by Mikki

The first hygiene pants we bought were the Hygiene Pants for Bitches on Heat by Mikki [£4.99].  Mikki also supplies little liners [£2.00 for around 10 liners] which can be used inside these pants. These pants stay on using a metal clasp which determines how tight the waist is. Although these pants do the job I didn't think Morgana was that comfortable in them (the material seemed to irritate her skin) and she managed to pull on the excess elastic from the waist band and she also managed to get Cassie to pull on it to try and get it off.

Puppy Angel Polka Dog Panties

Next we tried Puppy Angel Polka Dog Panties [£11.23]. These were definitely more comfortable compared to what she had previously tried but getting them on her was pretty hard especially compared to how quickly she managed to get them off. Definitely very cute but I guess Morgana was just too clever for them!

season diaper pants

In the end we bought these season diaper pants [£6.99-£7.99] from ebay. They were amazing when it came to comfort and actually staying on. There are over 20 different colours to choose from and are so easy to put on and take off compared to the slip on pants. You just need to pop in a panty liner, yes you can use a human panty liner which makes things a lot cheaper (£1.65 for a box of 34 panty liners compared to £6.99 for 12 doggy diapers), and your little fur baby is good to go! The pants are made from super soft fleece material and they aren't just for little dogs, because they are hand made they also cater for larger dogs and they can even make the pants to the measurements you supply them with.

For other hygiene pants for dogs see...

http://www.petzcrazee.com/acatalog/Panties.html

http://www.petlondon.net/shop/acatalog/Heart_Pants.html

Doggie Paw Moisturiser

One of my favourite 'luxury' dog products is dog paw moisturiser. Depending on where you live the pavement and weather can really take its toll on paw pads. During the winter Cassies paws tend to dry out quite a lot so we use Shaws Paws Wax, not only does it do the job but it also smells sweet like honey which me and my sister love. (The girls also love it because it means they get a foot rub in the process.)



Shaws Paw Wax is easy to apply and gives your dog extra stability through gravel, asphalt, ice, snow and on a variety of road surfaces. It is usable all year round. You can be rest assured, no more slipping!

Don't let the tin fool you it is actually a quality product. The moisturiser inside is solid but it is pretty much like vaseline for dogs. You also don't have to worry about those little troubles who like to lick and groom themselves as this is perfectly safe. You can either just rub your dogs paws onto the wax or apply a thin smear onto their paw pads which is advisable for dogs with long hair.

This product definitely transforms your little troubles cracked dry paws into soft healthy paws in a matter of days. However, I'm not too sure about preventing slipping, both Cassie and Morgana slip as much as they did before on our wooden floors.

The great thing about this is that it is pretty cheap compared to other products (Shea Butter & Avocado Paw Balm [£12.00]) and lasts for ages, it is available at...

Groomers Online [£3.46]

Seapets [£3.39]

Pets at home [£3.59] 

Petplanet [£3.39]



Short leads vs extending leads

Both short and extending leads have their advantages and their disadvantages. I believe the kind of lead you use is totally up to what type of dog you have on your hands. Morgana and Cassie are the yin and yang of doggie world, so we have had two completely different experiences with both of these troubles. Morgana took to walkies straight away and walked perfectly but Cassie (check out the harness post) was a different story. However, when in the park Cassie would return if called but Morgana responded better to visual instructions and usually becomes too absorbed in trying to chase pigeons.

The extending lead has the advantages that there is increased freedom in which the dog can walk whilst also having some control compared to having your dog off-lead. There are certain limitations to the extending lead in that a dog can cover distance if you don't have quick reflexes. Also you have to be aware of friction burns if the cable is pulled across skin. These situations can be completely avoided if your dog doesn't suffer from poor lead manners, where it is actually quite dangerous to use an extending lead. To put simply I wouldn't have Cassie on an extending lead but Morgana uses hers frequently.

There has been an increase in some very pretty flexi leads, for Christmas my lovely mother bought me this gorgeous pink and black flexi lead and different styles are becoming available. Compared to the previous versions these flexi leads don't have a cable but something that resembles a normal lead that is retractable, so if you manage to get wrapped up you won't experience the same cable burns.

 

Flexi Lead

Pretty short leads can also be found, one of my favourites is Pet London, where you have the choice to purchase a matching lead with some of the harnesses. Urban Pup also provide cute collar and lead sets. For those who really want something that stands out you should take a look at the Fabuleash.  These are available in the UK now at stores such as Pets At Home and for under £10.00.

Fabuleash

Product Review: Dog Litter Tray

Everyone knows about cat litter trays but litter trays for dogs are less well known. These litter trays aren't meant to replace walkies but to give an area for little bladders who can't always hold it in long enough. All dogs vary in the amount of times they need to visit the toilet, smaller dogs tend to go more often- anywhere from 3-5 times a day (larger dogs can probably manage about 2-3 times a day).

Initially we bought our dog litter tray because Morgana LOVED running off with the puppy training pad. At first we looked at the Simple Solution Puppy Pad Holder [£12.49], but this seemed pretty flimsy and to be honest didn't look like it would last very long. If you are only going to be using this for a puppy who will be growing into a big dog quickly this is perfect for you as it is only temporary and a lot cheaper than dog litter trays.

 

Simple Solution Puppy Pad Holder

We then found the UGODOG Indoor Dog Litter Tray [£34.99] where the puppy pads could just be placed under a grate. We personally use puppy pads as they are the more absorbent than news papers and it doesn't smell as much. This tray is indestructible as its the only thing we have bought that has lasted 2 years. It is also one of the bigger dog litter trays out there measuring 67cm x 49cm (26.5"L x 19.25"W).



UGODOG Indoor Dog Litter Tray

Since then a lot of other prettier trays have come out, such as the Nugi Indoor Dog Litter Tray Medium Olive & Cream [£37.99]. The difference between the Nugi and the UGODOG, despite the nicer colour, is that the Nugi comes with a reusable pad that is placed in the bottom of the tray which you can be rinsed clean and left to dry before using again (maximum of 50 times). This sounds great but I do get the feeling most people will just end up sticking newspaper or puppy pads underneath anyway. Refill pads come in sets of two for £15.99. This tray is slightly smaller measuring 47.5cm x 54.5cm x 3.5cm (18.75"W x 21.5"D x 3.5"H)

 

Nugi Indoor Littery Tray

The latest addition to the dog litter trays is the RASCAL DOG LITTER BOX "LITTLE SQUIRT" [£50.00-£70.00]. If I didn't already have a litter tray I most probably would have bought this one. Besides being the prettiest tray, it also has fake grass which makes the litter tray nicer on little paws. Even though Morgana and Cassie have never had an issue with the UGODOG I do like the idea of fake grass. The grass has holes in it which drains the wee, under the grass is a support grid, when cleaning you can remove the grass and grid and simply tip the wee down the toilet, give it a rinse and its good to go. The grass is also machine washable and with high walls, if you have a little boy, its the best dog litter tray for you.

RASCAL DOG LITTER BOX "LITTLE SQUIRT"

Simple Solution Puppy Pad Holder [£12:49]

UGODOG Indoor Dog Litter Tray [£34.99]

Nugi Indoor Dog Litter Tray Medium Olive & Cream [£37.99]

RASCAL DOG LITTER BOX "LITTLE SQUIRT" [£50.00-£70.00]

*Please remember these trays are not meant to replace walkies*

Paw prints on my mobile!

My new mobile phone cover has arrived today! My lovely mummy bought me a Samsung Galaxy Ace for christmas (which is an amazing phone) but when trying to find a nice cover I was pretty stuck. Ideally I wanted a chihuahua mobile cover or one I could personalise easily but it just didn't happen then I found the perfect cover on amazon *wiggle*. Even Morgana likes it!

This cover is available for under £4.00 at Amazon, they also have it for blackberry and the iphone!

Samsung Galaxy Ace Paws Cover

Blackberry Curve Paws Cover

iPhone Paws Cover



Book Review: Best dog trick book?

Our vet actually recommended buying a dog tricks book to teach Morgana some tricks when she was a puppy because chihuahuas are such intelligent dogs and can get frustrated if they aren't mentally stimulated. She already knew the basics; sit, down, high-5 etc. and she caught on very quickly. So we did some shopping around and I was a bit sceptical about how good some of these books were; I didn’t want to get a book where she already knew most of the tricks or would find them too easy.

Eventually we came across this book...

If I had to say which book to do with dogs was the best I would definitely say this is THE book to have. The book covers the traditional favourites, obstacle course, jumping, dancing, chores and many other cute tricks which you and your little furbaby will love. Morganas favourite trick is peek-a-boo, where she runs up behind me and jumps through my legs to surprise me.

My favourite thing about this book is that in the top corner it states whether the trick is easy, intermediate, advanced or expert, so you have some idea of how hard it is. The tricks are presented in a step-by-step format. It even includes pictures of what to do, the verbal cue and visual cue (as some dogs respond better to visual cues compared to verbal). The book also has a troubleshooting section so if your little furbaby isn’t getting the hang of the trick there are suggestions of what may be going wrong and what you should do instead.

The only down point about this book is that little dogs won’t be able to do absolutely all of the 101 tricks listed in the book such as ‘turn off the light’ but the majority can still be done and the book is definitely worth it for all dog owners.

Check out the book:

Amazon.co.uk - 101 dog tricks

Waterstones - 101 dog tricks

Dog harnesses: when should you use them? Which are the best?

If you have seen the video of Cassies first walk (http://youtu.be/SxASFg6vYI4) you can begin to understand the problem we have when it comes to walkies. Morgana, being the chihuahua she is, was just naturally a little lady and went to the toilet where she was supposed to and walked perfectly outside but Cassie... that was a different story.

Cassie walking? She would be like a horse and pull you along the road, instead of you taking her for walks it would be the other way round. She is deceptively strong. Cassie and Morgana had the same harness as puppies (one in pink and the other red as seen in the video) and Morgana never had a problem with this harness but we noticed when Cassie pulled it caused her to wheeze because of the pressure around her neck and we knew this was hurting her and her neck.

So we did a little research and we found some good reviews about the 'non-pull dog harness'. The harness was easily to put on and worked straight away and stopped Cassie from pulling almost completely and her panting and wheezing stopped. It might not be the prettiest harness ever but it was a miracle. It works by gentley tightening across the chest when the little trouble pulls.

 
Some people might want to use a 'choke' collar to prevent pulling but I personally believe the non-pull harness has the same effect without the distress. I have recommended this harness to other owners who are taken for walks by their little monsters and I have heard nothing but praise about this harness. Now that Cassie walks with hardly any pulling at all we don't use this harness as much, so we have managed to buy her some pretty harnesses.

So to conclude, the luxury furplast dog harness is perfect for dogs who do not pull (though the little diamonds do come off quite easily). If your dog pulls please give the non-pull dog harness a go it may work for your dog, it could be your quick simple solution too.

Please use a harness if your dog pulls, has a short muzzle or is a small dog as their windpipes are more delicate than the larger breeds.

Check out these links for some harnesses:

Non-Pull Dog Harness from PetPlanet

Padded and Puppia Dog Harnesses from Pet London

Product Review: The Puppy Pen

When buying a puppy there is the typical list of things to get before you bring your little furbaby home.

The obvious list includes;

The essentials

• Puppy food- it is best to stick with what they have been weaned onto because what you will come to realise is that puppy tummys can get upset easily. So ask the breeder or who you are getting your little bundle of joy from what food they are currently eating. If you want to switch its best to wait a while and slowly introduce the new food mixed with the old over a period of a week or so, that means slowly increasing the new food and decreasing the old.
• Bowls- water and food bowls are very important. Remember that the puppies and dogs have to have access to water at all times.
• Puppy pads- the little cutie will need to go to the toilet somewhere and until they have all their jabs no going outside!
• Puppy bed including blankets

Should you buy a crate?

Now most breeders and pet shops will recommend that you buy a crate when you buy a new puppy, I personally do not like the idea of crates. When we got Morgana she was placed in a crate and my heart nearly broke seeing how terrified she was inside it so she was never put in one again. To be honest my hamsters cage is bigger and much nicer than some of these crates. However, this meant that when we got home Morgana could run rampage in the living room. If you're interested to see what she got up to check out her first night at home http://youtu.be/iAdfp3OkIbE. So everyone went into overdrive trying to find something that could work. So we found the perfect solution: the puppy pen.



The PetGear Puppy Pen can also be collapsed so it is portable, it comes with a bag to put the collapsed pen in, as well as a waterproof base in case of any little accidents. There is a zip panel for access in and out for the little pup. The pen is big enough to put a bed in with some space to move around and unlike a crate this would keeps warm during cold weather. 

I think Cassie liked her puppy pen

This pen is perfect for puppies and small dogs. I would definitely recommend that all owners looking for a way to enclose their new puppy to get a fabric puppy pen.

There are a few on amazon...

Pet Gear Portable Pen Pink

Medium Portable Play Pen