Best Pet Supplies

If you have a small dog, you know how difficult it can be to find a collar that fits properly. Many of them will slip right off your tiny dog’s neck! Even if you do find the right size collar, it can hurt your dog’s neck when you pull on the leash. The solution? A comfortable, adjustable harness made especially for small dogs.

A small dog harness fits around your dog’s chest, belly and back so that when up pull on the leash, it stops your dog by putting pressure on his chest, not by choking his neck. Since there is much more material on a harness than on a collar, you can make a fashion statement by choosing a harness in a fun color or print. Look for one with simple snap or Velcro closures in a fabric that is easy to wash and dry. Your small dog will thank you for saving him from the pain of a choking collar and making him look fashionable all at the same time!

When the weather starts to warm up, most long and shorthaired dogs will start to shed their winter coats. It’s a real pain to need to vacuum all the time due to a shedding dog or dog, thus, when the weather starts to warm up, it’s best to break out the dog grooming supplies. There isn’t a lot needed to groom a dog, in fact, most often it can be done with just a standard brush. However, for certain dogs, it might also be necessary to have scissors and a rake, which would be used to address mats or large clumps of hair that need to be removed. For some dogs that have a lot of fur, there are also tools like electric clippers which can be quite useful for grooming.

Grooming can be stressful for some dogs, so don’t forget to let them loose once in a while. For example, brush for about ten minutes, then throw the ball for a couple, then begin brushing again. This ensures that the dog doesn’t become stressed out and will also be much more patient when being brushed. Make sure to get outside and enjoy the weather as well! Grooming indoors can be messy and require a lot of clean up, so groom on a porch, deck, or patio instead.

I think most all dogs and puppies love ice, I know mine do!  Everytime they hear me open the freezer door, they’re right there behind me waiting for that nice cold ice cube! The only problem is, the cube is too big for them to chew and they usually end up melting on the floor leaving a mess!  The resuable Kyjen fill and freeze kit takes care of that and they make bone shaped frozen treats that your pet can easily chew and enjoy and there’s no end to what you can use to make your best friend a frozen treat during this hot weather!  You can use any kind of broth or juice or you can use my dog’s favorite treat Frosty bones.  All you need to do is mix a large container of yogurt with ground carrots, apples or lightly cooked ground liver then fill the Kyjen fill and freeze and when frozen, your dog will wonder how he got so lucky to deserve such a wonderful treat!

There’s nothing worse than having a home full of dog hair, and right before summer is the time when dogs shed their winter coats. During the last month of spring, it’s important to brush dogs often to ensure that their winter coat winds up in the trash or compost bin, rather than on carpet, furniture, and clothing. Instead of regular grooming, some owners opt to have their dogs shaved right before summer, which isn’t a bad idea, but some long haired dogs can look a little odd without their regular coats. Instead of shaving, make use of a dog grooming comb a couple times per week. Brushed on bi-weekly basis, it should only take about fifteen minutes per day to ensure that a dog’s coat is smooth and free from shedding. However, some breeds with very long hair, like Collies and English Sheepdogs, might require more combing and brushing.

For tangled hair and mats, it’s best to take a three step approach with a rake, scissors or clippers, and a soft brush. First, untangle the dog’s hair a little bit with the rake, then take the scissors or clippers and cut out the mat or clump of tangled hair, afterwards, brush the area with a soft brush or comb.

Through the years, tee shirts have become very popular with people of all ages.  Tee shirts can be casual or make a statement and make the wearer look cool!  (remember James Dean or John Travolta and many others?)  Your dog can look cool, too!  There are so many different styles of tee shirts for all dogs from the tiniest poodle to the biggest Great Dane and all in between.  You can find cute tee shirts with sayings such as Daddy’s Little Girl or you can really make your dog rock with tee shirts that make a statement such as Top Dog or Diva Dog!  If you like camo designs, you can even find those for dogs and puppies!  No matter what your preference is,  you can find all kinds of dog tee shirts for all size dogs and puppies in any style, color, or logo that your dog will love wearing and showing off in!

Warm weather is finally here!  It’s time to get outside and have some fun with your best friend and get rid of that cabin fever!  There are so many things that you and your dog or puppy can do outside whether it’s at the park, the lake, or even in your own backyard.  Now is a good time to teach your dog to play fetch if they don’t already know how or to play their favorite game of tug o war or just about anything.  There are lots of high quality dog toys that are made especially for outside play and even toys that float in the water so your dog can have hours of fun playing in or out of the water

So be sure to have lots of different outside dog toys to ensure you and your dog or puppy can enjoy the nice weather together and to get that much needed exercise that’s good for both of you!  You’re dog will love spending the time with you and the attention that you give him.

While there are a lot of products that can wait a few days before purchasing, puppies will need some essentials right away.  It’s important to have a supply of puppy food on hand because most puppies need to eat several times during the day.  It’s also a good idea to have a dog collar and a leash for potty training.  While most puppies won’t be able to control their bladder and will pee on the floor for the first couple weeks, it’s best to get them in the habit of using the outdoors to relieve their bladders.  For those people doing crate training, it’s best to have the crate available right away.  Puppies need to start associating their crate with their home at a young age.  The first night with a new puppy is often the worst; they will bark and bark and probably keep you awake.  But as time goes on the barking will start to decrease.

Having these essentials available when you pick up a new puppy will help them and their owner to be much happier.  Make sure to play with your puppy often too; human contact is essential for their development! 

When it comes to dog toys, you can’t be too careful with those purchased for your dog.  Despite the manufacturer’s best intentions, some dog toys can be more dangerous than others.  While most people think dogs love to eat bones, it’s important to remember that most bones become quite sharp at a certain point.  Eventually the dog will eat away at the bone and it will become a small object with numerous sharp edges.  When this happens, it’s best to take the bone away to prevent the dog from swallowing it and hurting their stomach.  Instead of bones, consider a soft rubber dog toy.  While dogs might not have as much fun chewing on rubber, these dog toys are safe and are also great for catch and fetch.  Herding breeds will love soccer balls and other large balls which they can herd around in open spaces. 

Dogs do need to chew on bones now and then to strengthen their teeth and fulfill their dental needs, and there are numerous bones that will dissolve in the stomach even when swallowed.  For those times when your dog does need to chew, make sure to purchase safe bones. 

Dogs love to sleep on the furniture around the house even when owners would prefer different.  It can be hard to discourage the dog to keep off the furniture, especially if you’re sometimes lax in the regulation.  Dogs can’t reason that it’s okay and not okay to be on the furniture during certain times of the day or when you’re present versus not present.  However, dogs are creatures of habit, and will tend to want to sleep in the same places around the house.  You can discourage your dog from sleeping on the furniture by giving them their own dog bed.  When a dog sleeps at a certain location several times, they will begin to associate that location as their own.  If you have a dog bed and scold your dog when they sleep on the furniture, they will start to either sleep on the floor or in their dog bed. 

It’s not so much necessary that a dog bed is crafted out of a specific material as it is that the dog bed fits your dog.  Dogs won’t be liable to sleep in a dog bed where they don’t fit, so make sure it’s comfortable for them and that they like it! 

A collar and leash are the two most important things you should buy  for your dog or puppy.  The collar is most important so that if the puppy or dog should run off, people will recognize that the dog or puppy belongs to someone and tags also help to identify the dog and it’s owner.  There are all kinds of collars and leashes for every type of dog.  Buckle collars are the most popular and best for puppies and smaller dogs.  If your dog loves the water, the nylon collars are best since they are very durable and washable and come in a wide variety of colors, styles, and sizes.  Leather collars are usually the best for the bigger dog because of their durability.  Don’t forget the dressy collars!   You can find just about any dressy collar that fits your personality and that of your pet.  Harnesses are also great for very active dogs and puppies as they virtually eliminate the possibility of your pet gettting choked by tugging hard on the leash and it gives the owner better control if the dog decides to go in a direction you don’t want them to.  Harnesses also come in a wide variety of colors, styles, and sizes.  Basically, the collar is so important for many reasons and when selecting the proper size, place two fingers between the dog’s neck and the collar.  There should be no more than the width of those two fingers between the neck and collar or the collar could slip over our dog’s head.  Make sure you check the fit of your dog’s collar and check for any redness or hair loss under the collar.  You should check puppies frequently to make sure they aren’t growing out of their collar causing undue tightness around their neck.