Pet Training and Behavior

Favorite Products: Undercover Mouse

The undercover mouse!  Sounds a bit like a children's book but it's actually a great new toy for your cat.  Just as it's name suggests there is a fake mouse underneath a cover that moves around in random speeds even reversing direction at times.  Think of the hours your cat will spend trying to catch his nemesis. It's great for rainy days or when you might be away for awhile and want to make sure your cat is entertained.  You can find it at your local pet supply store or check it out online at Panic Mouse!

Favorite Products: Cat Wands by Kong

Cat Toys!  I am thrilled to see some great new toys that are just for cats.  The Kong Company has just come out with a new cat toy line.  I've tried them all out on a variety of cats from my local shelter and they were a huge hit! 

Every cat found a toy that suited their needs - big cats, little cats, playful cats, not so playful cats, young, old -- you name it!  The cats went crazy for them.  Even the toys that I looked at and said "A cat will want to play with this??"  The answer was a great big Yup! 

There are new wand toys, cat nip toys, textured toys, fuzzy toys … Kudos to the Kong Company for coming out with a super variety of feline toys. 

Favorite Products: Pet Sunscreen

If you are like me, then you like to spend a lot of time outdoors.  Now, I live in Florida  – which means lots of sunshine and I wear sunscreen every day. 

A lot of us don't think twice about making sure our dogs have access to fresh clean water when we are out and about.  You should also remember that the pavement can get hot, really hot!  If the blacktop is too hot for you to walk on barefoot, don't make your dog do it.  Keep your walks to grassy areas as much as possible. 

One thing we haven't been able to protect them from until recently was the sun exposure on their skin.  Dogs, especially those with short, light fur are susceptible to sunburn.  Those cute pink noses and ear tips are also a prime target. 

There is a pet skin treatment line called Epi-Pet which makes a sunscreen for dogs (and horses).  I was impressed with all the research they had done to ensure that this is a safe and effective product for your pet.  They really seem to have done a great deal of due diligence and taken all of the concerns that I brought up into question already! 

So before the weather starts to get so nice that you forget … take some time to check out their products for yourself and protect your favorite furry friend from those damaging sun rays. 

Favorite Products: Wacky Walk'r

At the Global Pet Expo, there were more leashes than you could throw a stick at and everyone had a little something that made their leash special.  The one that stood out *for me* was the "Wacky Walk'r". 

This leash is made from the same materials as those colorful exercise bands that you'll find at your local family fitness center.  What I like best about this product is that if your dog lunges out to the end of the leash there's a bit of give to lessen the impact around his throat and neck as well as the impact at my shoulder. 

At the same time there wasn't an excessive amount of give so that your dog isn't driving away from you on a long rubber band.  It only stretches to twice its length.  It's available in a number of sizes according to your dog's weight and is available in a wide variety of colors. 

The handle is also easy to grip and won't slip out of your hand easily (even if wet).  Check it out for yourself!

Favorite New Products: Tug-a-Jug

I recently attended the Global Pet Expo where I got to see more pet products than you could possibly imagine – as a matter of fact, even after two full days I still wasn't able to see everything.  I did get a chance to meet up with my friend and fellow blogger Maggie Gallant & her dog Dixie from Pet Trends!  We spent some quality time together teaching Dixie a few things and scoping out some fun new products that we found. 

I also spent a wealth of time visiting with many vendors who had some great products to show me.  The commercial industry seems to have really caught on to the fact that our pets are members of our families and that we all want them to have long healthy, happy lives.  Over the next few days I'd like to share some of the great new products that I saw as well as some tips on how to choose the best products for your pets.  To get us started ….

The Tug-a-Jug by Premier Pet – This doggie puzzle will keep your pooch occupied for hours!  Fill the jug up with kibble and watch him bat at it and toss it around trying to get every last morsel out. 

Now, I'll be the first to admit that this isn't the quietest toy out there but my dogs love them!!!  When the last few kibbles are left my Nemo will even bring his jug over to me and drop it at my feet so that "mommy" can get them out.  Of course I always oblige him – I can't resist those big brown eyes! 

As much as I love this toy I don't recommend it for times when you aren't home to supervise.  There is a rope toy attached to it which could be a potential hazard if chewed up and ingested.  Don't let that deter you from trying it out for yourself though – This toy gets a big thumbs up!