Dog Product Reviews

When we humans get ready for the day in the sun, we make sure we’re ready. We don’t want our skin to burn, so we pack our sunblock. To keep our eyes and noses protected from the glare, we bring sunglasses and hats. We wear light, fresh clothing and fill several bottles full of water …

Like so many dog lovers all over the planet, I’ve always loved bringing my dogs with me to explore the outdoors. Whether we’re doing grueling mountain hikes or long river-floating trips, it’s always been fun to have a dog’s companionship. But something I have always worried about is this: how do I most effectively bring …

Making sure our dogs are comfortable as possible seems to be one of the most important things about the relationship with animals. When looking at different options for not only just crates, but for everyday relaxation; price, size, comfortness and durability are usually details that are most important. Dogs in general love to have something …

Dogs know how to swim, right? It’s in their nature! You pop them in the water and, boom! They take off. Well…that’s not quite true. First of all, some dog breeds simply aren’t designed for water. Those with wide chests tend to flop forward and even sink; those with short muzzles can’t keep their heads …

Have you ever leaned over your food — and eaten it in that hunched position, too? It’s not comfortable. The food goes down, but your body has to work harder. That’s why most people eat in an upright position. Yet we feed our dogs in bowls on the floor, and for bigger dogs especially, this …

Dogs are often hailed as great stress-relievers for humans. Along with getting lots of sleep, good food, regular exercise, and the occasional massage or spa therapy, we humans get all kinds of advice on how to keep our stress levels down. Add dogs to the mix and you get a super-relaxed human: research shows that …

We all love our dogs, but if there’s one thing that freaks out most dog owners – it is worms. Finding worms on your dog or in their feces can be stressful for any pet owner. When it comes to treatment, there seems like there are millions of choices for deworming options. None of the …

Even though I was only ten years old when we got my German shepherd dog, Clancy, back in the early 2000s, I knew early on that you could NOT leave Clancy’s food bag open. Even though we stored her food in the garage, a place she rarely went, we had to be careful because Clancy …

There are tons of doggy products on the market these days. From doggy footwear to canine fashion, we’ve seen it all. But is clothing really necessary for dogs? I mean, haven’t they been taking care of themselves for centuries now without keeping warm with sweatshirts and stuffing their paws into sneakers? While the short answer …

As fellow dog owners, we’re always worried about our dogs safety and happiness. And when it comes to the quintessential activity of fetch, there’s no better way to keep our dogs engaged, frolicking around and happy. My dog can sniff out a tennis ball from a mile away, but given a minute with them alone, …

We all know that dogs don’t like Band-Aids. I mean, how can you even keep one on a furry pup? You can’t! That’s why wound sprays are such a genius invention — especially the ones tailored specifically for canines. There are two reasons I started looking into wound sprays for Eira: first, it’s summertime in …

There’s nothing like a soft, green lawn for you and your pups to relax on together on warm summer days. You can spread your picnic blanket on the grass, settle your pooch in next to you, and enjoy a meal together. Say you did this and one day you noticed unsightly yellow spots on your …

When I was a teenager, all I wanted was a CHI straightening iron. All my friends had one, but they cost a hundred bucks — a lot of money for a teenager who worked at McDonald’s to pay her enormous texting bill. So, I never got a CHI iron, and as the years slipped by, …

Chewy.com is an online pet supply shop with the tagline “where pet lovers love to shop”. Their aim to be the most trusted and convenient online store for pet owners. In this honest review of Chewy.com, we’ll explore the experience of shopping with them and see if they might be a helpful resource for you. …

For as long as we have shared our lives and our homes with dogs, they have featured in our stories as well. The best dog movies tend to range from heart-warming cuteness to emotional tearjerkers that remind us just how much we value our beloved canines. They combine adventure with emotion, capturing the hearts of …

When my 11-year-old Doberman female, Sadie, started walking a little funny, I cringed. I’d owned enough large dogs to know the score. Sadie had shown no signs of hip dysplasia when she was young, so it was likely plain old osteoarthritis (OA) that was bothering her. According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, OA …

Pet camera systems that allow you to watch your dog from literally anywhere may seem like an extreme gadget for the overly canine-obsessed. But the range of useful and fun features on these cams make them ideal for both practical and passionate pet owners alike. Pet cams make it easy to keep an eye on …

Because I’ve always had big dogs, I’m well versed in how to handle heavy, energetic dogs who love going on multiple walks a day. But this week, I’m visiting my in-laws in California. They have two toy dogs: Walter, a Maltese; and Rosemary, a Yorkshire terrier. These dogs are tiny—Rosemary only weighs 3 pounds! And …

On the car ride to pick up my new puppy from the city of Anchorage, Alaska last November, I played soft Christmas tunes over the radio. “We’re going to get our new puppy!” I told my toddler, barely able to contain my joy. I’d picked out a special name for our Alaskan malamute/German shepherd puppy: …

Let me make a confession first: I never even knew dog diapers were a thing before this week. Puppy training pads? Yes. Fresh patches of grass for dogs to pee on? Yes. But after recently finishing two and a half years of diaper-changing days with my toddler, I thought diapers were out of my life …

Have you ever found yourself out on a walk or hike with your dog, only to suddenly realize you brought plenty of water for your dog—but nothing for them to drink it out of? For the longest time, I relied on cupping my hands and pouring water into them. My German shepherds, Clancy and Bella, …

Back when I lived in Montana, I used to go jogging early in the winter mornings, long before the sun came up. I often took my one-year-old German shepherd, Bella, with me, and I wore a reflective vest and a headlamp. Bella didn’t have a vest. One morning, we were running in the darkness past …

When I was ten years old, I begged my parents for a dog. So when we got the dog—our German shepherd, Clancy—I was assigned the task of pooper scooper. That means I’ve been scooping poop for over sixteen years, and I have a lot to say about the job. It may be gross, but it’s …

Growing up with two German shepherds meant that I had to find plenty of ways to keep them active, because with German shepherds, activity equals happiness. Neither of my German shepherds wanted to stick around for hours to cuddle. Instead, they’d bring sticks, twigs, even leaves sometimes, and drop them at my feet and then …

On a recent trip to visit with friends at Alaska’s well-known Red Eagle Lodge—which is near the United States’ largest national park, the 13-million-mile Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve—I found myself in a conundrum. I’d brought Eira on the trip because she’s part of our family and deserves to relax and play away from …

When a close friend loses a pet, it can be hard to know what to say or do. Those of us who have lost a dog know that it can feel like losing a member of the family. Dogs ingratiate themselves in our lives; they’re there for graduations, first dates, weddings, vacations, and first steps. …

Does your dog hide in the bathtub during thunderstorms or bark excessively when guests enter the house? Or do they spend most of their day trembling and looking for dangers behind every corner? If so, you understand the hardships of living with an anxious dog. The destructive behavior. Accidents in the house. Maybe even a …

Subscriptions boxes are a wonderful way to try out new products, such as different treats and toys, and something that you and your dog can look forward to. We first started trying out Barkbox over a year ago and it’s something that my Boston terrier, Nickel, has happily dove into. My family and I have …

Ah, puppies. When I brought my Alaskan shepherd, Eira, home as a two-month-old, I couldn’t wait to cuddle up on the couch with her snuggly self. And at first, that’s exactly what we did a lot of: sit on the couch together, letting her get used to my toddler and to her new home. But …

The best qualities of big dogs—their love of play, their strength, their protectiveness—also make it difficult to find toys that suit them. You can’t just hop over to the grocery store and grab a couple of fluffy stuffed toys. The moment your big dog gets ahold of them, they’ll be destroyed. That’s where Kong comes …

Nothing feels more amazing then cuddling up on the couch with a soft blanket. We snuggle ourselves in, get comfortable, and embrace that familiar sense of safety and security. We aren’t the only ones who like to get our snuggle on. Our dogs do too! Dogs like to feel at home just like we do, …

As an apartment dweller, I needed a solution to let my dog relieve himself without a trek down the street to the grass. This was even more important when he was a puppy requiring a safe, non-communal area. To solve this problem, I started looking for grass delivery services. Enter: Fresh Patch. Fresh Patch offers …

It’s natural to want to keep our furry friends with us forever — they make us smile, jump with excitement (even though we just saw them five minutes ago), and comfort us during times of grief — but the unfortunate reality is that we are only given a short time with them. Luckily, there are …

While not all of our dogs shed with the same intensity, we dog owners all need to take active measures to prevent our cars and homes from being coated in dog hair. We love our dogs, but that doesn’t mean we want to be covered in their hair. So, what is the best dog hair …

We’ve all seen celebs trot out their pooches in designer label outfits complete with matching booties. So as a pet parent, you may be wondering: Do dogs really need boots? The short answer is yes. Like our own footwear, dog boots offer protection to our canine companion’s paws. So what is the best dog footwear? …

Snow days can be great fun for you and your dog, but dealing with consistently harsh and long winters can take its toll.  If you have to have your dog out in extreme snowy conditions regularly, then there are certain bits of kit that will make walks much more enjoyable for you both. We have …

We are advocates of positive dog training techniques.  Teaching your dog using force-free, scientific and positive methods has been shown to be much more effective and kinder than harsh and aversive techniques and it also helps to create a stronger, happier and more trusting relationship between you and your dog. Food rewards can be great …

The world of technology is expanding rapidly and there are now a whole host of gadgets that are available for those tech geek dog owners too.  Even if you are not a collector of all the latest gadgets there are some extremely practical and useful products out there that could really benefit both you and …

Looking for the best vacuum for dog hair? Believe it or not, though, a shedding dog breed can create a ton of excess hair in your home every day, no matter how frequently you groom them.  Having a hoover that can handle the rigours of cleaning up after your dog can become a big deal. …

It can often be a challenge coming up with gifts for dog lovers. Birthdays and other special occasions.  If you have a friend or family member that is a dog owner and dog lover, fear not, there are lots of unusual, quirky, practical and distinctive gift ideas out there. We have pulled together a list …

Dog supplements are a huge business these days.  There are all sorts of vitamins and minerals that can serve as a supplement for dogs available in pet stores and online, and some make claims of miraculous healing and preventative properties.  For owners that may have a sick dog or one with a particular ailment, sometimes …

The dog chew market is BIG business.  There are lots of great chew toys out there but it can be hard to know what the best thing to give to your dog is. What is safe, what is good for them nutritionally, what is best for their tummy and your purse?  In this article, we …

In a world where looking out for the environment and being socially responsible is becoming increasingly important, we as consumers are starting to become more aware of the importance of buying ethically.  This is starting to trickle down into the world of dog products and we are beginning to see more and more companies providing …

I owned and ran a specialist dog shop in Edinburgh in Scotland for ten years and muzzles were frequently discussed but often in embarrassed, secretive tones or, if a dog was wearing a dog muzzle, other dog owners would dramatically retreat out of the shop in a hurried fashion. There are a lot of unfair …

You have just got a new dog and you head to the pet store to buy a few essentials.  You head to the aisle with the dog bowls. Who would think that something as seemingly simple as a dog bowl could turn up so many questions? There are hundreds of different dog bowl options. Which …

Whether you are peak bound or park bound, the best dog backpack can be very handy for you and your dog. With the advancements in our own back strapped rigs comes also the advancement in packs for our dogs. Your dog’s back is a finely tuned structure. It requires ergonomic structuring that differs vastly from your …

Dogs make fabulous adventure partners — they are resilient, rugged, and up for anything. But that doesn’t mean that accidents, mishaps, and illnesses won’t occur. If you share your home with a dog, you can prepare for minor and major emergencies with a bit of knowledge and a well-stocked dog first aid kit. Here are …