We are an Apple family. Between the iphone, the ipad, and the Mac, I'm constantly on the lookout for the next great app. I love Angry Birds as much as the next guy, but given my background I'm also always hunting down good pet-related products. They've been a little slow to come out compared to other categories, but I'm finally starting to see some quality apps on iTunes that I deem worthy of the bucks. For Back to School Week Wednesday, we're going high tech: Here are my top 6 iphone apps ... Read more »
Reviews
Sleepypod Yummy Bowls Review
Back to School Week continues with a stylish offering from one of my favorite designers of modern pet accessories: Sleepypod's Yummy Travel Bowls! I have a dog who, despite his low-maintenance background as a retriever, is much too fussy to actually drink water from a bottle and prefers it to be delicately decanted into a bowl. Preferably chilled. Whenever we go for a walk, this means I have to remember to bring his travel bowl. This offering from Sleepypod is my new favorite, for a few ... Read more »
Tagg Pet Tracker: Another ruffolution
I've spent the last two weeks feverishly snapping up shoes, backpacks and pencils trying to get my kids ready for school. I forgot how much thought your average six year old needs to put into deciding what kind of lunchbox she wants for the year. That is pressure, man. In the meantime, since I'm in a consumer state of mind, I decided this was the perfect week to do some Back to School reviews and previews of stuff your star pet might be interested in this autumn. So welcome to Back to School ... Read more »
The Litterbox Chronicles: Scoop Free Litter Box Review
As you know, Apollo has some marking issues that have made life rather, well, pungent. That is not a good thing. On the bright side, by following veterinary behaviorist Dr. Yin's advice to create a beautiful, austere, absolutely delightful potty palace for the cat I have been able to reduce a large amount of that behavior. So now that we're in a good place, I think you can understand why I was nervous to mix things up and try a new litter box, but in the name of technological advancement, ... Read more »
Giveaway Tuesday: Freezy Pups
Congratulations to our winner, Rachel- who won from her FB wall post! I hope Preston loves them!! With the fourth of July just around the corner, a man and beast's thoughts turn to tasty frozen treats. As anyone who saw my pupsicle post is well aware, we are all about tasty frozen treats around here. And while making such elaborate affairs is fun and rewarding, I'm the first to admit there are two main problems with making homemade Frosty Paws or similar sorts of treats on a regular ... Read more »
Giveaway Tuesday: Dog is Good IS Good!
Congratulations to our winner, Terri P! Can't wait to hear what you got! One of my favorite games to play with co-workers is Who Can Find the Ugliest Scrubs. It's a pretty easy game since there are so many options. Black cat witches on orange gingham? Check. Frolicking roly poly dachshunds on a sickly sea of seafoam green? Check check. Last year's winner was a festive holiday top featuring Westies, poinsettias, and plaid that looked like something Aunt Edna took her aggression out on with a ... Read more »
Giveaway Tuesday: Premier Pet Products!
Congratulations to the winners: Steph B, Elizabeth, and Kathy! Despite having been around for over a decade, I am still astounded by the number of people who refer to a Gentle Leader as a muzzle. It doesn't matter that it's pink, covered in flowers, and about a centimeter wide around the muzzle of a fluffy Golden Retriever, there's still always that person who kind of edges sideways and scooches by with an apologetic "I don't want to get bit." I use it as an opportunity to teach people, of ... Read more »
Giveaway Tuesday: Frolicat Dart!
Congratulations to our winner, Jason! I hope the kitties and the puppy love it!! Diet and exercise, the dynamic duo of weight loss. For us humans, the activity possibilities are endless. For dogs, there are activities as complex as agility or as simple as a walk down the street. For cats....well, good luck with that. Maybe you can dangle a feather. Maybe they'll like one of those ball in a wheel things. Getting a cat to exercise is about as simple as, well, getting a cat to exercise. ... Read more »
Giveaway: Aussan Natural Pet Care
When I was three, my mother learned the hard way that her kid had sensitive skin. They were out of our regular laundry detergent at the store, so she brought home some Tide, that chemical cornucopia in the blaring orange box. She did 5 loads of laundry and bundled me into my winter snowsuit. 5 minutes later, she found me wiggling on the floor like a caterpillar trying to escape the chrysalis. "What are you doing?" she demanded. "ITCHY!!" I wailed. So she unwrapped me like a teeny angry mummy, ... Read more »
Drinkwell 360 review and giveaway!
Congratulations to the winner, Marie Collins! I hope you love it! It's Giveaway Tuesday! My favorite day! Today we have something for all the cat owners out there, something that almost all of us have owned or have thought about owning at some point: a drinking fountain. Despite their well known aversion to baths, cats love water- as long as they don't have to sit in it. Turn on a stream of water in the sink and it's like a kitty magnet- zoom! In they come, tongues extended as they oh so ... Read more »
The Litterbox Chronicles, Part 3: The Box Buffet
While the world has been in chaos and disarray, I haven't had a whole lot of time to spend pondering the smaller issues in our household: namely, Apollo and his marking. But I have been passively conducting an experiment with the litterbox, otherwise known as the Litterbox Buffet. When you are trying to make your cat's bathroom the Happy Place, one of the key questions you need to ask is "What kind of toilet do you like?" It would certainly make it easier if you could simply present the cat ... Read more »
Woodrow Wear Power Paws Review and Giveaway!
I will sort through the many entries to the Freaky Dog People giveaway from last week and contact the winners by the end of this week. In the meantime, who's ready for another Giveaway Tuesday?? Today I'm reviewing pet socks. Go ahead and raise your eyebrows. I admit on first glance, it looks more dress-up than functional. But bear with me. I spend a lot of time on the ground with a dog paw in my lap in my line of work. Those pads sustain a lot of insult- foxtail awns poking in ... Read more »
Freaky Dog People Ultimate Giveaway!
Hooray! It's another Giveaway Tuesday!! I love a good t-shirt as much as the next person. They're comfortable, they're easy, and they work with a lifestyle of running around after dogs and kids. Whether they are fashionable, well, that kind of depends on the shirt. Many of the T-shirts in my closet are purloined from my husband, who gets them in his work in the technology sector on a regular basis. Sun Microsystems shirt- not so haute. Gowalla- maybe a little trendier, but still. I wear ... Read more »
The Well Groomed Dog: Molly Mutt Clean and the Dyson Groom Reviews!
Last week Brody descended into that category known as "ripe". You know, when you go to pet your dog, then your hand comes up in a cloud of dog essence and you have to use your foot to keep him off the bed because you don't want that stank hanging around. That kind of ripe. The timing worked well since I had a couple of items I've been waiting to try out for just such a stinky occasion: Dog shampoo from the Molly Mutt Clean line, and the new Dyson Groom vacuum grooming attachment. Wash by ... Read more »
Bathtime with Bengals
Every once in a while I come across a product so off the mark that I feel the need to write an anti-review. The last time I did it was for a product that propped the back door of your car or truck open, just enough to keep up appearances and stop the cops from busting open the window while still allowing your dog to get heat stroke in the sweltering interior. This time I'm jumping on the dog pile of vets clenching their teeth in horror at what might unintentionally be the worst dog related ... Read more »
Pawcurean Literary and Hairball Society ebook is here!
Winner! Carla and Tino! Happy Friday! As we speak there are 22 of you out there busily working on your 12 Days of Petmas posts that will be starting in a week, which is pretty much my favorite thing ever. In the meantime, I have the last of the Gift Guide items, as well as a couple of gifts for you. My Pick: The 2011 Pawcurious Calendar is here! 'Words to Live By' Volume 2 is chock full of Brody and Koa. Like last year, all proceeds will be donated. What I decided to do this ... Read more »
Howliday Gift Guide: Inside my house
For today's reviews, I chose three items I've used in the past week and one I've wished for this week. ... Read more »
Howliday Gift Guide: Haute Dogture
Being an animal lover comes with its share of stigmas and stereotypes. Perhaps there is some truth to the idea that we are more likely than our un-petted counterparts to have some stray cat hair on our clothes, for example, but to assume said clothes are more schlumpy than those of your average person is just not right. I prefer to think of it as fashion-forward: cruelty free fur. It's a revolution, actually. I would say my time in the frumpy world of yoga tracksuits had more to do with two ... Read more »
