If you have a short-haired dog like I do, you may have trouble finding the proper brush for their coat. Or if you have a long-haired dog, it may be hard for you to get to the shedding undercoat. The Zoom Groom brush, by Kong, is a great brush for all dogs. I tried the Zoom Groom rubber brush on my puggle Maggie and got amazing results.
The Zoom Groom is a natural rubber brush that helps promote healthy skin and coat. Flexible rubber fingers gently collect loose hair like a magnet on wet or dry coats. My dog loves this brush...its fingers massage her while I am brushing. She happily sits there for as long as I need her to, to get all of her shedding fur off. It helps to stimulate healthy skin and fur, too. And it is easy to use for me, too. There is a spot for your hand to rest, and you can go in a back-and-forth motion and easily capture all of the fur.
Currently on sale for 50% off at Amazon (for $5.29), be sure to pick up one of these great brushes for your dog!
If your dog is anything like my dog Harold, after 10 minutes playing outside he smells like he spent the afternoon rolling around in a dumpster. Either I put him in a protective bubble when he plays outside or bathe him weekly. (Although a dog in a bubble would be hilarious, weekly baths prevailed.)
Of course with so many baths I worry about dry skin. I tried a dog specific shampoo but after multiple baths his skin was dry and itchy. When Harold is itchy he rolls around in the grass to scratch his back making him smell even worse. To avoid drying out his skin I found that Johnson and Johnson's Baby Shampoo works best. It is gentle on his eyes and it gets him clean as well. Even though baby shampoo moisturizes his skin better then dog shampoo, during the winter his skin can get extra dry. After baths I brush in a spray on dog hair conditioner by EFA Hylyt. I originally purchased it from the Vet but you can also find it online.
The combination of Baby Shampoo and leave in conditioner keeps his hair soft as well and moisturizes his skin. No need for fancy dog shampoo that leaves the dog smelling like flowers. Even if your dog isn't as smelly as Harold, try Johnson's Baby Shampoo, it's cheaper then dog shampoo and smells great.
Still looking for a Halloween costume for your pup? Check out Funny Fur for some of the cutest costumes out there and get a great deal too! Trick or treaters at your door will be delighted by your swanky pup's unique and stylish costume. Even if you already have an outfit picked out for this year, prep for next Halloween and take advantage of this awesome sale. My favorites are the football fever and spirit paws costumes.
Just enter the code TRICK25 at checkout to receive the discount and start shopping while sizes are still available!
I absolutely love my dog's collar. It is so stylish, comfortable for her, durable, and wasn't too expensive. It's this adorable pink and brown spotted ribbon collar from Lindsay Designs.
Lindsay makes collars of all sizes for all types of dogs (and cats, too). There are tons of ribbon styles to choose from in all colors, including polka dots, preppy stripes, and fun novelty prints. The collars are adjustable (so if you have a fat puggle like me you can increase it as her neck gets thicker!)
Also, check out her cool harnesses and leashes to complete the look for your dog.
Now through October 31st, all of her collars are at least 10% off. Plus, she is giving away fabulous goodie bags with each and every order, including a scratch-off card for a discount on your next order! Check out the options for your big dog, mid-sized dog, or toy dog and shop away!
Do you ever look into those big brown eyes of your dog and wonder just what in the world he is thinking? You are not alone! Most people have no idea what their dog is thinking considering we do not speak the same language. In Stanley Coren’s book How to Speak Dog he helps break down this language barrier to give us humans insight into what’s going on in that furry little head.
This book is very well written and a great resource for the average dog owner with lots of examples and a handy translation section in the back. It breaks down dog communication into barks, growls, howls, whimpers, body language and ear, eye and tail signals so you can decode the noises that come out of your dog and the body language he uses. Not only is this book a great resource and tool, it can improve your relationship with your pooch since you will better understand what he is trying to tell you.
For example, my un-cuddly sheltie Buster would often turn his face away from me and yawn when I would get down on the floor to snuggle with him. Now, thanks to Stanley Coren, I know he is not just getting ready to take a nap but basically telling me he is uncomfortable and to go the heck away. I am pretty sure Buster is happy I finally got the point and your dog will be glad that you understand him too once you learn how to speak dog!
Looking for a dog toy that will make you laugh and keep your pup happy? Meet Earl! He is a crazy rubber chicken toy for your dog featuring flaming shorts, a tattoo that says “Mom”, some bling around his neck and an Elvis hairdo (did I mention he makes a fart-like noise when squeezed?).
This toy was a hit with my dog (the noise made him nuts) and my friends, who got a big kick out of watching my pooch drag him around. Earl comes in two sizes so dogs large and small can enjoy this crazy toy. Earl is not for rough chewers unless you supervise or do not care if he gets destroyed quickly since it is made of hand-painted, poly-filled latex. My dog ate Earl’s face off after about 10 minutes but since then has taken to playing fetch with him instead of going the destructive route. If you like Earl, check out his “chick” Henrietta (she is a bit more lady-like and does not fart).
After using this Puppia soft harness on Raul, a Boston Terrier, for about a month I was extremely happy with it. It is made of a soft mesh material so it was gentle on his shoulders and looks very cute at the same time. I dressed him in a red one to match his coat but it comes in a wide variety of cool colors and patterns as well, making it more stylish than the average harness. It was also very easy to take on and off of him with an adjustable chest belt and quick-release buckle and he did not mind wearing it for long periods of time (so it must be comfortable)!
If your dog is a puller this will certainly be gentler on their chest and shoulders than the average harness, but it does not offer any features to help train your dog to stop pulling. Also, if your pooch is a little Houdini when it comes to slipping out of harnesses this may not be as secure as you need, though with the average pooch this should not be a problem. I enjoyed using the Puppia harness on Raul and we got many compliments and people asking about it when he wore it. If you are looking for a soft, comfortable harness for you pup this may be the right choice for you.
I bought this Ultimate Touch 2-in-1 Brush with Shedding Blade for my Sheltie Buster after getting sick of hair flying off of him every time I pet him. Those that have long-haired breeds or dogs with undercoats can sympathize with the amount of hair that comes off of my dog everyday and usually winds up stuck to my clothing, furniture and carpet. Since brushing Buster with this brush though the situation is finally getting under control.
It features a wire brush on one side and a shedding blade on the other with a comfortable rubber handle to grip. I felt the rubber handle was an especially important, since I wanted to have a good grip when working with a “blade” near my pup. I had no idea how to use a shedding blade before getting this brush but it was actually very easy to use after googling instructions and was delighted to see how much dead hair it removed. There is also a manufacturer’s guarantee on the brush, which always gives me peace of mind when buying a product. I highly recommend this brush especially to those who have serious shedders, but if your dog has short hair or does not shed much this brush may be a bit too heavy-duty for you.
My dog stinks. Really. She smells awful! I don't know what she does outside but when she comes back in my whole house starts to smell. And visitors comment on how stinky she is too! So every 2 weeks or so I stick her in the shower with me and I give her a nice long bath.
I have been bathing her with the same shampoo since she was a puppy because I absolutely love it. It's called Puppy Love Shampoo by Veterinary Formula. Not only is it gentle for my dogs eyes and skin, but it smells great and is easy to dispense when things get a bit messy in the shower. It is also well-priced at around $7-8 per bottle.
I had a lot of problems with my dog having sensitive skin when she was a puppy. This shampoo (and matching conditioner, made with oatmeal) have never irritated her skin or caused her any problems.
When I use the shampoo and conditioner her coat is so soft and she smells wonderful. When people come over and I hear a lack of smelly comments, I always ask them to smell Maggie. Initially afraid, they bend down and find a pleasant, clean smelling dog (at least for a few days!)
Currently it is on sale at Petco for $8.09. They are also having a great promotion right now where you get free shipping and a free 20-page album from Shutterfly when you spend $60 or more. So stock up on some items for your pets, pick up some shampoo, and enjoy this great deal!
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Sincerely,
Allie and Jen Founders of Swanky Pup and Fellow Dog Lovers
If you have a short-haired dog like I do, you may have trouble finding the proper brush for their coat. Or if you have a long-haired dog, it may be hard for you to get to the shedding undercoat. The Zoom Groom brush, by Kong, is a great brush for all dogs. I tried the Zoom Groom rubber brush on my puggle Maggie and got amazing results.
