Labor Day Weekend Activities for You and Your Dog!

Here we are again.  The end of another summer and the last big holiday weekend to let us know it is the end of the summer.  I thought I would have a little fun with this blog with some ideas that you can do with your dog for this long weekend.  Remember, it is a holiday for your dog too anytime they get extra time with you!  Here is a list of things you might like to do.

1.  Bring yourself and your dog to a pet-friendly beach and let them play in the water.  What better way to enjoy the outdoors and still stay cool.  You can check out pet friendly beaches in your area through PetFriendlyTravel.com.  They do have listings for the U.S. and Canada.
2.  Bring your dog to a doggie park where they have a lot of room to run around and play with other dogs.  The social interaction with other dogs is great!
3.  You can go on a camping trip for the last long weekend of the summer.  It gives you and your pet a break from the norm and you get to be outside.  Again, if you visit PetFriendlyTravel.com you can find a nice listing of pet friendly campgrounds in the U.S and Canada.
4.  Take your best friend for a nice stroll around the neighborhood and let them spend a little extra time sniffing every blade of grass, lol.  Or, you can take on a little bit bigger adventure with a nice hike.
5.  Create a special dessert or main meal for your dog that is healthy but different from their every day food.  I have used the website allrecipes.com more times than I can count and they have some great and easy recipes for dog food and dog treats.

What do you think?  Not a bad list right?  Do you have any ideas that you can add to the list of things that you can do with your dog this Labor Day Weekend?  Please share.  We would love to hear from you and your ideas.

Pool Ladders For Dogs

Have you heard of the PoolPup Ladder?  This particular ladder was designed by a couple of dog breeders who were concerned about dogs being around pools and spas and is an excellent idea for anyone wanting to try and prevent dog drowning accidents.  Just as you would child proof a pool or spa area to prevent infant or child drownings, you should do the same for your dogs.

The PoolPup Ladder is a discreet addition to your pool designed to allow your dogs an easy escape in the event they fall into a pool or just need an easier exit from the pool.  The ladders are built sturdy with slip proof material on the steps and no small holes that could cut or harm your dogs.  The ladders are also easy to remove from the pool for cleaning or storage and are chlorine resistant.

Again, the Poolpup ladders are yet one more tool in a long line of tools that can help you with safety with your dogs and give you piece of mind.  The only disadvantage with this product is that it is up to 50 pounds so is not for very large dogs.  At Bad Dog Supplies we carry the Poolpup ladder as well as many other great dog products.  Please come by and check out our store so that our family can help your family stay safe and happy with your dogs!

Dog Backpacks

We recently returned from a trip up north where we were fortunate enough to do a lot of outdoor activities.  That gave me an idea to make sure that people are aware of a couple of great products that are out there for you and your dogs.  One of those great ideas is the dog back pack which I will discuss today.

As I stated, we were outside doing a lot of outdoor activities on our trip including hiking.  We were able to hike one trail that was shorter and not as steep and much more compatible for dogs and one that was not so much dog friendly.  On our hike we had a back pack for ourselves to carry some essentials like water, snacks, etc.  Now, wouldn't it be a great idea if your dog was also able to carry their own essentials on your hikes?  I think so!  That is one great purpose for the dog back packs.  Not that you want to overload them but you can take some of the strain off your own back pack if they are able to carry their own essentials in their own back packs.  These back packs are designed for dogs.  So they are designed with their ergonomics and comfort in mind.  Many of the back packs are also water resistant and also have either reflective material on the top or sides of the bag or reflective strips to help make the dog more visible.  You can get dog back packs in any size depending on the brand and some are fancier than others.  So, when looking for your dog back packs just know ahead of time what purpose it is going to serve so you can find the options and size that you need.

At Bad Dog Supplies we carry a wide range of the dog back packs.  Come on over to our website for your dog back packs and any other dog training products that you might need.  We are here to answer your questions on products that we carry and will strive to earn and keep your business.

Have You Heard of Doggles?

Doggles!  What is or who is Doggles?  Great question!  You may have heard or seen them on Regis and Kelly, CNN, Good Morning America, or The Today Show.  Doggles has been quite a rave for some time.  They are the manufacturer of the first and only goggles specifically designed for dogs.  That's right folks, FOR DOGS ONLY!  What a great idea!

I am sure that with all of the blistering heat and sun we have been having for the last couple of weeks that we have had to break out our own eye sun protection on more than one occasion.  Did you also take into consideration your pets eyes when you don your own sunglasses?  There eyes can be sensitive and harmed by the suns rays just like ours.  That is why the Doggles products are so great.  You can buy the original goggles in multiple sizes or colors or go for the sunglasses for dogs again in multiple sizes or colors.

As dog lovers, I know that there is not much we wouldn't do to keep our dogs from harm and to keep them healthy and happy.  Keeping their eyes protected from the sun's rays is just one more way we can do that.  The Doggles products are very resistant to any abuse your dog may put them through.  That being said, things can happen and just like our own sunglasses, the lenses may end up getting scratched over time.  However, the nice thing is that you can get the Doggles replacement lenses.

At Bad Dog Supplies we do carry a wide range of the Doggles goggles and sunglasses designed for dogs.  So, please, come by and check out what we have to offer.  Our prices are very comparable to others out there plus we can offer you the fast, friendly, personable service that others are lacking.

Dog Cooling Vests and Cooling Bandanas

I think we are all definitely feeling the heat of summer.  So many people are feeling the effects of record high heat across our country.  Now imagine how your dog or dogs feel as they carry around that extra layer of fur!  I live in a warm climate year round so although it can still feel pretty uncomfortable during the summer, we know that it is coming every summer so you just get used to dealing with it and doing what you can to stay cool.  I have seen all kinds of ways that people use to keep themselves cool while outside in the summer heat.  But, what are people doing to help their dogs also beat the heat?  I have a couple of excellent options for you.

Dog Cooling Jackets made for small, medium, or large dogs are one of the great options you have to help keep your dogs cooler.  These wonderful jackets use water absorbing polymer crystals sewn into the fabric. The jacket works by using the evaporative process to transfer the heat from your dog to the jacket, therefore keeping them cool and comfortable.  The other nice thing about these jackets is, although we are not thinking about it now, it can also be used when the weather turns cold to keep them warm.

The other great product you can use to help your pets beat the heat are the Cool It Bandannas.  They also come in multiple sizes and use polymer crystals like the jackets in order to keep the dogs cool.

Both the Dog Cooling Jackets and the Cool It Bandannas can be at least hand washed and come with reflective strips to help with visibility in the event you are out walking in the evenings.

We are all trying to beat the heat this summer, including Fido.  So, give your best friend the extra comfort and ability to stay cool through the rest of the summer with a cooling vest or cooling bandanna.  At Bad Dog Supplies we carry both of these great products.  If you have any questions or concerns about these products or any of the other great products that we carry then please let us know.  We are always here to help in any way we can.

Happy Fourth of July!

So, it is here.  Probably one of the most dreaded days of the year for a large majority of the dog population, lol.  I hope you have all had time to prepare for today to enjoy yourselves with your families, including the four legged family members.

From our family at bad dog supplies, we hope that you all have a very safe, and happy Fourth of July!

Safety First this Fourth of July for Your Dogs!

Let me be the first to wish you all a happy Fourth of July!  The Fourth of July is a holiday for many people.  Therefore, many people take full advantage of that with plans with parties with family and friends.  Many times those parties include large groups of people as well as fireworks.  However, before attending or throwing that Fourth of July party yourself, take a time out to think of your dogs.  You may love the Fourth of July but most of the time, your dogs do not share that same sentiment.  There are many things about the Fourth of July celebrations, including those loud fireworks that seem to start in the early evening hours and last throughout the night, that your pet is not a fan of.  So, I have put together a few steps that you can take to ensure safety first for your dogs this Fourth of July.

1.  Leave Fido at Home:  Don't get me wrong.  I am one of those people who would take my dog everywhere if I could.  However, if you know that you are going to participate in festivities that are going to either include you observing or setting off fireworks yourself, you may want to leave your beloved dog at home rather than exposing them up close and personal with the very thing that scares them the most.

2.  Consider a calming shirt:  I have a previous blog that discusses what the calming shirt is so I won't go into detail about it here.  However, if your dog is like one of mine, who is very scared of thunder or fireworks, the calming shirt may be a wise investment.  It may not make them lie down and go to sleep but just may give them the calming edge they need to get through those firework displays.

3.  Be sure that the items you have for your fireworks display or fun is safe for your dogs.  We all know the burns you can get from the simple sparkler.  So, be sure if you are using these for entertainment that your pet is kept well clear of them.  Also, glow sticks are another fun item that are toxic to your dog if he or she should happen to get a hold of it and chew on it.

4.  If you have a dog that uses a crate then this may be a good place for him or her during the festivities as many times the dogs will feel more secure inside their crate or kennel.

5.  Be sure that your dog has up to date contact information on their collar ID in the event he or she does try to escape your home to find a safe place to hide.  My sister's dog was terrified of fireworks and when she let her out to use the bathroom one evening around the Fourth when people were setting off fireworks, the dog ran two blocks and showed up on our doorstep.  She was lucky that the dog came to our house.  Some people may not be as lucky and that is why it is so important to maintain proper contact information on their dog tags.

Now, I know that this list is no where near an all inclusive lists of things that can or should be done in order to get your dogs ready for the Fourth of July.  But, hopefully it gets you thinking ahead so that you can be ready in a few days.

If anyone has any other tips or ideas that they would like to add to this list then please do.  We would love to hear from you.

Happy Fourth of July!