With Valentines Day just around the corner, I thought I would round up a few of my favorite things that would be perfect to gift your one true love (your dog of course!)
1. Washed Red Stripe Scarf from Oh Tiny Heart
2. Trout Bum Jacket from Orvis
3. Harry Barker Dog Treats from Landsend
4. Benny Basic Dog Toy by Waggo
5. The Good Bowl by Ono
Who’s your Valentine this year? (it better be the dog!)
Disclaimer: this post is brought to you by Martha Stewart Pets. All opinions are my own and I only share products I think you and your dog will love.
So I hear that this weekend is Valentine’s Day. A day to spend time with those that you love, and show them that you care.
So when I got wind that my old fling, Amira, was back in town I knew I was going to have to do something special on February 14th.
So I popped over to Petsmart to snag Amira a gift from the Martha Stewart Pets line and set out to profess my love for her.
Only Amira is a bit high maintenance…..
….and she just rolled her eyes and said “You better bring me some more toys, because one is not enough for this lady.”
Sorry Amira, no girlfriend is worth sharing all my Martha Stewart Pets toys…. you’ll just have to get your own!
Would your dog do the same? Happy Early Valentine’s Day everyone!
Disclaimer : This is a sponsored post and giveaway brought to you by Sleepypod.
After checking out the Sleepypod Yummy Bowls a few weeks ago Trooper and I are back to share another Sleepypod product – the Clickit 3 Point Safety Harness.
Now if you’ve never heard of the Clickit, you mainly need to know one thing. It’s the HIGHEST rated dog restraint for the car in a crash test performed by the Center for Pet Safety last fall and the only 3-point car restraint for dogs on the market. Now that’s saying a lot!
You can check out more about what makes Clickit so safe here.
Trooper and I of course always wear harnesses and restraints when riding in the car and we’re sticklers for making sure that all passengers (dogs included) are buckled up, so we were excited to test out the Clickit.
Now the Clickit is designed to not just be a car harness, but also a walking harness too. You’ll notice though because of the width of the chest piece that it’s much more suited for walking bigger dogs in, as it was a little too wide for me to go for an average walk in. If you have a very small dog Sleepypod recommends using one of their travel carriers to restrain your pet safely in the car. I was teetering on the cutoff to being too small for the Clickit, but I was relieved when the extra small seemed to fit me properly.
P.S. you’ll notice in the above picture that mom forgot to tuck in the straps after she adjusted them for me. She realized later that you can tuck all the access webbing into the harness so it looks nice and clean.
Now what makes the Clickit different from other car harnesses is that the back has a unique criss-cross design so that your dog is safety belted into the car in 3 separate points. The top collar part has a ring for attaching ID tags or a leash for walking.
All those straps may look complicated to put on your dog at first, but it’s actually quite simple to attach. You can check out this handy video from Sleepypod on how to put it on your dog.
Before Trooper and I could set out on our maiden voyage mom had to attach the included tethers to the latch anchors in the backseat of mom’s car. (Latch anchors are installed in any car manufactured after 2003, but even if your car doesn’t have them you can get them installed.)
So Trooper and I loaded up in the car and got ready to travel safely!
With the Clickit you attach the tethers to each of the side rings, and run your car’s seatbelt through the criss-cross on the back of the harness. This gives your dog three points of attachment, and makes sure that they would stay put in the event of a crash.
Trooper and I both had no problem laying down in the backseat for our ride. Here’s a fun video of our first voyage with our Sleepypod Clickits:
You can also watch this on youtube.
Trooper has been wearing his Clickit every day in the car for the past month, and loves it!
Now some of you may be wondering about my booster seat, which has always been my preferred method of travel in the car….
Now while Sleepypod can’t recommend using the Clickit any other way than it was designed (for the best safety), I just couldn’t give up riding in my Booster seat! So mom attached one of the tethers to the seatbelt inside my booster seat.
And then hooked the tether to the criss-cross in the back of the Clickit. While it’s not going to be as safe as attaching with the 3 points, I just couldn’t give up riding in my Booster – but mom still believes this harness is much safer in the car than the standard walking harnesses I used to use.
Mom plans to maybe add a metal ring to the harness (by sliding it through the webbing) to make attaching the tether easier in the future.
So if you are looking for the best way to keep your pet safe in the car I highly recommend the Sleepypod Clickit. Because you can’t put a price on being “too safe” with your pet’s life!
And now for the best part….
ONE Lucky WINNER will WIN a Sleepypod Clickit!
(winners choose size + color)
Here’s HOW TO WIN:
For this giveaway I will be using, Rafflecopter. We only use the information you provide to contact the winners and we never share it – so not to worry. Winners will be chosen at random and you will be contacted via e-mail to claim your prize. All the winners will also be announced on this blog post once the giveaway ends on 6/24/14 12AM EST. Open to US Residents Only. Winners must claim their prizes within 48 hours of being notified or prize will be forfeited. Good luck!
Disclosure: This a sponsored post by Sleepypod, all opinions are my own.
P.S. Don’t forget today is the last day to enter my Lasso Leash Giveaway!
Disclaimer: This product review & giveaway is sponsored by Kurgo and contains affiliate links.
I don’t know about you, but I can hardly keep my tail from wagging with the thought that Summer is just around the corner!
One of my favorite summer activities is to spend time at the Marsh Creek Lake with my family – swimming, paddleboarding, and kayaking…..there are so many fun activities on the water to look forward to.
So when my friends at Kurgo sent me their Surf n Turf Life Vest for Dogs to test out I couldn’t wait to get my paws wet!
One of the perplexing problems with life vests for dachshunds is that it’s very hard to find ones the accommodate our deep chests. As you can see I’ve sort of maxed out the velco capacity in the front, but thankfully Kurgo’s vest comes with an extra long buckle so I don’t have to worry about it not staying on!
The Surf n Turf comes with lots of extra handles and hooks on the top so that you can easily grab a hold of your dog in an emergency or attach a leash to one of the hooks. As a bonus the back ring even doubles as a bottle opening, how cool is that!
The underneath buckles have plenty of length to fit dogs of all sizes and I liked how it didn’t have any extra bulk underneath which made it easier to swim in.
I really liked how padded and secure the Surf n Turf was as opposed to the vest mom and dad had purchased me a few years ago.
But you can’t truly give a review of a life vest without first hitting the water…..
So a couple weekends ago I hit up the Brandywine River on one of our unseasonably warm days for April.
I must admit that water was bit colder than I would of liked, because you may be surprised to know that I actually really enjoy swimming…..but especially when the water is really warm.
Even though it was chilly, I still braved the water because I’m an expert product tester and couldn’t give you guys my honest opinion if I didn’t take a dip in it myself!
The Surf n Turf held it’s own in the water and kept me happily floating ABOVE the water like it should. A little known fact about me is that as much as I enjoy swimming I won’t swim unless I’m wearing a life vest. One can never be too safe (no matter the size of the dog) and I feel much more at ease braving the waters with my vest on!
So if you’re looking for a life vest to keep your small, big or in-between sized dog safe around the water this summer I highly recommend the Kurgo Surf n Turf Life Vest.
You can even use code KURGO20WIN for 20% off your entire purchase at Kurgo!
And now for the best part…..
ONE Lucky WINNER will win Kurgo Surf n Turf Life Vest for their dog
Here’s HOW TO WIN:
For this giveaway I will be using, Rafflecopter. Winners will be chosen at random and you will be contacted via e-mail to claim your prize. Don’t worry, we never share your information! All the winners will also be announced on this blog post once the giveaway ends on 4/29/14 12AM EST. Open to USA or CANADA residents only. Winners must claim their prizes within 48 hours of being notified or prize will be forfeited. Good luck!
Don’t forget, today is the last day to enter my Penn + Pooch Giveaway!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Kurgo, but all opinions are my own.
Valentine’s Day is almost here, so just incase you’re still looking for that perfect Valentine gift I thought I would share a few of the treasures currently available in my online shop.
I’ve got some fun Valentines, perfect for giving to the ones you love!
I’ve even got some happy little notepad and dachshund pen sets in lots of fun colors!
And incase you’re looking for something a little more hands on, make sure you check out my Valentine’s Day DIY of a Heart Collar Accessory for your dog!
If you really can’t get enough of the love, make sure you check out my past adventures with the language of love!
Shop for more Valentine’s Day goodies in my shop! xoxo,
Last week we got not one but two snowstorms in Pennsylvania! Did you know that I absolutely love snow?
It might be cold and wet, but nothing beats plowing your way through the white fluffy stuff.
I wore my Noodle & Friends coat, my sparkly holiday collar from Mattie & Margot (for holiday cheer purposes), and I even slapped on a pair of Pawz booties mom had found at goodwill for me to test them out in the snow.
The Pawz boots may not have really kept my feet any warmer, but they did keep out any snow or salt. Plus they just looked cute because they matched my jacket!
And as you can see they didn’t slow me down any in the snow!
Does your dog enjoy the snow as much as I do?
Just like last year I’m going to be celebrating the 12 Days of Cheer starting today! What is the 12 Days of Cheer you ask? Why only the most awesome, spectacular, fantastic celebration of all things Holiday on the internet!
So grab a hold of your candy canes for 12 days (monday through friday) of awesome holiday DIY’s, cheerful Christmas photos, holiday freebies, dog friendly gifts and so much more. It’s going to be so much fun!
Some days I’ll even be posting more than once, so make sure you check back often!
And if we’re lucky maybe I’ll even get to peek inside some of my own presents sitting under the tree!
*Santa if you are reading this I’m just kidding, I would NEVER peek at my Christmas gifts, I’m always a well behaved angel!
Anyway, I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the 12 Days of Cheer, because it wouldn’t be as much fun without you!
Disclaimer: This review is brought to you by Noodle and Friends.
If you have are owned by a dachshund then you know how hard it can be to find items to fit them. And even sometimes when you can find something that fits – it’s not always the most flattering of outfits. My friends, it doesn’t have to be so, because my pals at Noodle and Friends have just what you need.
Noodle and Friends makes functional and fashionable gear with little dachshund bodies in mind!
Sweet Noodle (and her friends) sent me over some of their super cute coats to try, and boy were they just what I needed to keep me nice and toasty this winter season.
This Red Blizzard Parka with Thinsulate is the ultimate in doxie warmth. It’s got a waterproof and windproof outer layer as well as an internal layer of Thinsulate insulation.
One of the great things about these Noodle and Friends coats is that they are designed to completely cover and protect us dachshund’s sensitive underbellies. Nothing like running through the mud at the farm and keeping your tummy nice and dry!
Speaking of the farm, I wasted no time in taking my new Blizzard Parka to the barn, mainly to show-off how stylish I looked to all my pony friends.
Mom says she likes the bright red color too, because now that it’s hunting season in Pennsylvania I have to make sure I stand out everywhere I go. (not that my dazzling good looks didn’t do that already).
I can’t wait to test this baby out in the snow this winter!
Red Blizzard Parka with Thinsulate
Features:
– Dachshund-specific length
– Broad coverage of the dachshund chest area
– Adjustable quick and easy velcro closures to ensure perfect fit
– D-ring and storm-flap covered, finished harness hole for easy and fast lead attachment
– Waterproof and windproof 2-ply Taslan nylon exterior
– Semi-permeable waterproof-breathable membrane backing the Taslan absorbs and evaporates away any internal moisture
– 150 gram high-loft Thinsulate insulation layer
– Water-resistant microfleece lining
– Lined functional pockets with easy velcro closures
– Decorative buttons and topstitch finishing detail
I also took for a spin this Reversible Peacoat in navy blue. I felt like I was ready for the open seas (if I only had a ship) with this trendy jacket, the buttons even featured cute little anchors on them!
This 100% wool peacoat was super warm as well, and I’ve been having fun wearing it to work since it’s a little dressy for the farm!
One of my absolute favorite things about the Noodle and Friends coats is that they all have extra strong d-rings sewn into the jackets. You have no idea how nice it is to not have to put on a harness UNDER your coat. But should you choose, there is also a hole to hook a leash to your harness as well if you still want to wear one.
Another fun feature is their coats include pockets that are actually functional. You can store extra dog bags, cookies, or if you are super cool like me……you can carry around your own business cards.
The Noodle and Friends Peacoat is also reversible, so you can get two looks for the price of one!
Features:
– Dachshund-perfect length
– Broad coverage of the dachshund chest area
– Adjustable quick and easy velcro closures to ensure perfect fit
– Two-coats-in-one reversible design
– D-ring and finished harness hole for easy and fast lead attachment
– Warm 100% wool exterior
– Water-resistant microfleece lining
– Lined functional pockets with easy velcro closures
– Decorative buttons and topstitch finishing detail
Noodle also sent me a fun little squeaky toy, which I had a blast annoying mom and dad with. BEST DAY EVER. 🙂
The only thing extra I wish these coats had was a label sewn into the coat with washing instructions (although they do come with instructions in the packaging) – mostly because my mom is super forgetful and tends to ruin clothing when she throws all my stinky barn wear into the wash. So make sure you mind the washing instructions for these coats, as some of them may need to be hand washed!
So if you’re looking for something extra special to keep your dachshunds warm in this winter, make sure you check out Noodle and Friends. Their coats come in a variety of sizes (I am wearing size medium, and I weigh about 17 lbs), and are lovingly made in the USA.
Which coat is your favorite?
Noodle & Friends [Website] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Youtube]
Disclosure: I received products in exchange for a review. All opinions are entirely my own, and I tell it like it is!
Yesterday I shared my homemade Halloween costume for this year, and today I thought it would be fun to share some of the details from my annual Halloween Party!
As you know I dressed as Raphael from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but for the party I added an extra special accessory. My red mini glowdoggie was the perfect accessory, and as a bonus it kept me safe too.
One year during our annual Halloween party I happened to escape out the front door, but thankfully I was wearing my Glowdoggie, so I wasn’t lost in the dark for long. So now every time we have a party my Glowdoggie is a necessary accessory!
I was so excited to show off my costume to all my friends, but of course everyone was fashionably late!
My dad dressed as Mr. Clean, even going as far as to shave his head! Now that’s Halloween dedication.
Mom was Inspector Gadget, and I was just really bummed that her go go gadget helicopter didn’t actually work!
We were all decked out and ready as the first party guests started to arrive.
I was excited to see my pal Trooper showed up dressed as a soccer player, but I really couldn’t figure out why he kept screaming GOOOOOAAAALLL all night long when the soccer ball was tied to his own back!
Trooper loved my costume and was convinced I had pizza hiding under my turtle shell, so all night long he kept checking!
As more and more guests started to arrive I was excited to see that we even had a horse guest! Now the party was really getting started!
We partied and partied and then partied some more, but wouldn’t you know, my pal Trooper was the first one to hit the floor. He just can’t hang like I can!
As my guests headed home for the night the spooky figures in the front windows of my house waved goodbye….I’m pretty sure some of the party goers had nightmares!
I’m sad that the Halloween season is coming to an end, but I’ll have one last hurrah tonight as I bark at all the trick-or-treaters!
Happy Halloweenie!
Make sure you check out what my pals, the Painting Ponies, dressed up as this Halloween!
Disclaimer: This review and giveaway is brought to you by Voyagers K9.
Voyagers K9 Apparel is a company that I am already pretty familiar with – having owned two of their custom made coats for several years now. So when I got the chance to test out one of their raincoats, I did a little happy dance (in the rain of course).
The unique thing about these coats are that they can be custom made to fit your dog, and not just pure breeds – ANY BREED OF DOG. So I sent in my measurements and pretty soon there was a package waiting at my doorstep with this spiffy new red raincoat that fits me oh-so-perfectly. I mean just look how tailored it fits, which is no easy feat for an oddly shaped dachshund body.
Unlike their winter and cold weather coats, this raincoat is light weight with a mesh lining – meaning even though it’s summer I don’t have to worry about getting overheated in it.
I love the attached hood as it is the perfect for keeping my little ears dry, but I also have the option to unvelcro the front and fold it over too.
The coats from Voyagers K9 Apparel also come with holes to attach a leash to a collar and optional ones to attach to a harness as well.
And my final test of my spiffy new raincoat was to see how it faired in the rain – which as luck would have it a storm was rolling in on the farm!
I started off slow – testing my new coat inside under the drops of rain that were bouncing into the barn.
Each drop beaded up on my coat and kept me perfectly dry underneath, but the true test would be romping in the puddles outside! Check it out for yourself in my instagram videos below:
My new raincoat even kept me dry enough that I wanted to take a potty break outside in the rain – now that’s saying something!
The fact that I didn’t even need a bath afterwards is proof that this is one of the best raincoats out there! And if it’s anything like my winter jackets from Voyagers K9 (which have lasted me for over 3 years now), then you know it will hold up to the rigors of farm life!
So now onto the super awesome news for you!
ONE Lucky WINNER will WIN a $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE to VOYAGERS K9!
– so you too can get your own custom coat!
Here’s HOW TO WIN:
For this giveaway I will be using, Rafflecopter. We only use the information you provide to contact the winners and we never share it – so not to worry. You’ll also get bonus entries for liking Voyagers K9 on Facebook. You are welcome to leave a comment on this post as well, but comments will not be counted as entries. Winners will be chosen at random and you will be contacted via e-mail to claim your prize. All the winners will also be announced on this blog post once the giveaway ends on 7/27/12 12AM EST. Open to US Residents & International Residents! Good luck!
Disclosure: I received a raincoat from Voyagers K9 Apparel to review. All opinions are entirely my own.