Shark Bites, Bubbles For Your Dog + More Summer Pet Stuff

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It’s the weekend…finally! And it’s a great time to snag some deals on fun and outdoor-friendly toys, gear and products your pets will love. Here’s a few suggestions you and your fur kid might like now that the weather is warming up and summer fun has begun:

bubbles dog toy

2-Pack of IncrediBubbles for Dogs $10.99 ($14.98 reg) + Free Shipping

Blow long lasting bubbles for your pup to chase and pop! Incredibubbles will keep your dog active for hours on end! Each bubble dries in the air and lands on the ground intact, just begging for your dog to pounce. Available in delicious peach flavor (non-toxic), you and your dog will have a blast!

palm balm for pets

Wagberry Moisturizing Paw Balm for Dogs & Cats $9.99 ($18.99 reg) + Free Shipping

Our pet’s paws need some tender loving care every so often and too much summer sun, sand and salt water can irritate our dog’s paws. Even just playing at the park or going for walks can dry out your pet’s paws. Wagberry Balm moisturizes and protects dry paws while helping the paws to heal when necessary. Made from 100% natural and organic ingredients.

shark bites dog treats

100% Natural Shark Bites Dog & Cat Treats $8.95 ($15.99 reg) + Free Shipping

Hopefully these treats are the only type of Shark Bites you and your fur kids will get this summer! Made from the highest quality ingredients. the shark cartilage and meat in the Shark Bite comes from a non-endangered shark species from Australia. They are under the strict guidelines of the Australian Fisheries Authority so you can feel good about giving them to your dog or cat.

Longshot Ballistic Moondoggie Dog Toy Set

Longshot Ballistic Moondoggie Dog Toy Set $10 ($18.85reg)

Great for outdoor fun, these ballistic nylon toys are designed specifically for this launcher to be launched 50-100 feet! This is great item to get your dog some exercise and also provide a higher level of interaction. The toy is made of ballistic nylon, a material that has greater durability per weight than most other materials used in the manufacture of soft pet toys. Not unlike a slingshot, simply hook the Moondoggie onto the Longshot, pull back and let it fly!

reflective dog collar

Reflective Velcro Dog Collar $9.99 ($19 reg) + Free Shipping

Perfect for hot summer nights or a day at the beach, these reflective dog collars come in assorted sizes and collars and have velcro for easy off and on. Designed for safety and visibility at night, but look cool during the day, too!

Want to find even more great deals for dogs, cats and pet lovers? Be sure to go HERE to signup for the Coupaw.com Pet Deals newsletter and be the first to know about each new sale!

 

Summer Pet Safety ~ Why Your Dog Needs a Life Jacket

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dog h2o jackets

Everyone knows that dogs can swim, and most dogs LOVE swimming so much that it can be difficult to get them out of the lake/ocean/pond/pool when it’s time to towel off and call it a day. So then why do they make life jackets for dogs?

Well, it turns out there are several very important reasons why your dog might need a life jacket. Now that Memorial Day is behind us and things are starting to heat up, be sure to take a sec for this important pet safety info.

your dog needs a life jacket

Why Get a Life Jacket for Your Dog

  • Some dogs can’t swim: It’s a somewhat well-kept secret that certain breeds of dogs are NOT build for swimming. For their own safety, you’ll want to make sure they are wearing a life jacket whenever they are near the water. Bulldogs are one example, but check with your professional trainer or veterinarian if you aren’t sure.
  • You’re on a boat: This one seems like a no-brainer but I’ll mention it anyway. Every family member needs their own life jacket whenever you are out on a water craft and that includes your dog. If your dog accidentally falls overboard, there is an emergency or accident, a life jacket could help save their life.
  • Your dog is elderly or disabled: Swimming can be both enjoyable and therapeutic for dogs of all ages and abilities. By putting a life jacket on your dog, they will be able to play safely in the water with their pals, regardless of their limitations.
  • Dogs get tired: Have you ever accidentally swam out so far from shore that you were almost too tired to get back? Luckily, most of us have learned to float or tread water, but dogs don’t know what to do if they get tired. In fact, most of the time, dogs are having so much fun that they won’t realize when they’ve become overly tired and might not be able to swim back to safety on their own. If your dog is going to swim and play in a large body of water where they might get distracted and swim out too far, consider putting a life jacket on your pup.

Regardless of whether or not you decide to get a life jacket for your dog, it’s absolutely essential that you never leave your dog unattended in or around the water.

If you do decide you’d like to get one, here are 3 top-rated life jacket brands for dogs:

  1. Paws Aboard makes life jackets and other aquatic products for dogs, including the super CUTE Lifeguard dog water jacket pictured at the top of this post. Go HERE to view all the sizes and styles.
  2. Kyjen makes several products for the active and outdoor-loving dog including the Kyjen Outward Hound Life Jacket for dogs. It comes in bright colors for great visibility, and in sizes for dogs from 11-90 pounds.
  3. Kurgo also makes a popular life jacket for dogs, the Surf n’ Turf Red Dog Lifejacket and Coat

$200 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

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Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

What would YOU do with $200 to spend at Amazon.com??? Maybe spoil the fur kids with some new toys and treats, or a new bed and fancy feeder! Whatever you decide, now is your chance to dream BIG because we’ve joined forces with an amazing group of bloggers to bring you this fabulous giveaway. One lucky person will win a $200 Amazon Gift Card!

 

Enter to win a $200 Amazon Gift Card

Complete the tasks below to earn entries into this giveaway.

Refer your friends using your unique link to earn even more chances to win.

Open Worldwide.
Ends at 11:59pm EDT on June 3rd, 2014.

Top Interactive Feeders and Treat Toys for Pets

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interactive treat toys and dog feeders

Happy Tasty Tuesday everybody! This week, we’ve put together a round up of some of our favorite interactive treat toys and feeders for dogs plus a couple that cats will enjoy too. Interactive toys and feeders are a really great way to keep your pet active, engaged and entertained while you are away, or to just get them motivated to work for their food or treats rather than just giving it to them. Many trainers recommend this and some call it the “no free lunch” concept. They are also really helpful for slowing down pets who tend to eat too quickly, which can lead to big health problems.

My main reason for using interactive treat toys and feeders is to keep Daisy as busy as possible so that she doesn’t get bored while I’m working, or anxious when I’m first heading out the door. I’ve found by watching her on the PetCam, that as long as she’s happy and busy with treats for the first 10 minutes she’s left alone, she’s usually fine! Plus, she really seems to enjoy the challenge…you should see her tail wag when I get out one of her favorite feeders or toys.

Most of these products can be used for either feeding or treating your fur kid, and have been Daisy Tested & Approved for fun and durability. It’s important to observe your pet with the toy or feeder a few times before leaving them alone with it, since some dogs can break anything and that can be a safety issue when left unattended.

Interactive Treat Toys and Feeders to Keep Your Pet Busy

filling kong wobbler

KONG Wobbler Treat and Food Dispenser Dog Toy: This toy is definitely one of Daisy’s top favorites! It’s one of the ones we’ve had the longest, and I love it because it’s held up really well, despite the tooth marks where Daisy has obviously tried to open it rather than “wobble” the treats out on occasion. You put treats or dry kibble inside and your dog bops and paws at it til the treats come back out through the little hole. They’ll bang it all over the place, and usually spend a good 10 minutes or so working to get the goods. Made in the USA. Comes in Small and Large. I think cats would enjoy this one too, since they love to bat at stuff!

how to use green feeder

Interactive Green Feeder for Dogs (and Purple Feeder for Cats): This is one of the newer interactive feeding toys that Daisy has come to love. You just pour down the kibble or treats and your pet has to find and retrieve each piece from the blades of “grass” that make up the feeder. It really helps to prolong meal time and slows down your pet’s eating so they don’t get sick from bloat or eating too quickly. This one is great for staying in place, and difficult to tip over or bang around. It was larger than I expected, but turns out to be the perfect size! Getting all the food or treats should take anywhere from 10-25 minutes depending on how fast and hard your pet works. Read all the great 5-star reviews!

Aikiou Interactive Pet Feeders for Dogs and Cats: Aikiou (pronounces IQ) makes a super fun feeder for dogs that is a puzzle toy. You can fill every compartment or leave some empty and then let your dog go crazy figuring out where the food or treats are and how to get into each spot. They also offer an interactive feeder for cats that is designed based on kitty’s hunting drive, with tubes to put food or treats in.

daisy puppy kong

KONG Classic Stuffable Dog ToyDaisy has had a KONG Classic since we adopted her! First the Puppy KONG for teething puppies 15-35 pounds, and then the larger red one that you might recognize. They are almost everyone’s favorite because they are extremely durable, and super versatile. You can stuff them with peanut butter, bananas, greek yogurt, pumpkin puree…just about anything you can think of. You can also freeze them, which makes it even more fun for your pet and takes even longer for them to get everything out! Check out this ASPCA tip sheet on How To Stuff A KONG.

These are just a few of the interactive treat toys and feeders out there. We’ve tried several more that we really like, but we’ll save those for another list! Does your dog or cat have a favorite? Have you ever tried using an interactive treat toy with other pets (rabbit, hamster, guinea pig, etc)? Let us know by leaving a comment below. We’d love to hear from you!

Tips To Keep Your Dog Happy and Healthy #LiveFree4Life

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Daisy and her pal Fin are two happy dogs!

As pet parents, it’s our job to help ensure that our dogs are healthy and well-cared for. That also means giving them opportunities to play and enjoy life! Because our pals over at Dogswell are dedicated to helping all dogs live happy long lives, they’ve sponsored this post to help us share some great tips for you and your dog:

Tips To Keep Your Dog Happy and Healthy

 

Daisy and pals at the Dog Lake

  • Socialize your Dog: Socialization is one of the keys to a well adjusted pooch. Check your community for local dog meet-up groups, visit a dog park, or schedule a doggy play date with pals. Since Daisy sometimes gets anxious with too many new dogs at once, we love play dates the best so everyone can feel relaxed and have FUN!

dogs being dogs

  • Let Your Dog Be a Dog: Let your dog enjoy nature, outdoor activities and the freedom that comes with being a dog. That means getting dirty playing in the mud with friends, running free in a safe off-leash space, or just frolicking in the grass with a favorite toy. Embrace your fur kid’s playful, uninhibited spirit—these are the things that make dogs special.

relaxing with Daisy

  • Cuddle With Your Pup: According to research, pets improve your heart health, decrease stress levels and help improve overall mood. Petting and cuddling up with your dog is good for your blood pressure and they love it, too!

livefree nutrition

  • Good Nutrition: Providing your dog with healthy food is the best way to ensure their nutritional needs are met. Choose food made of healthy, high-quality ingredients to help dogs live a long, happy life like Dogswell’s LiveFree line of holistic food for dogs. The ultra-low glycemic recipes are made without grains and potatoes and are packed with protein to align with a dog’s natural diet. The dry food contains DigestiBits that contain pumpkin, eggs,prebiotics and 11 antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to deliver digestive fiber. Dogswell’s LiveFree products are available in a variety of recipes including chicken, lamb, turkey and salmon.

  • WIN Free Dog Food For Life: imagine how happy both you AND your dog will be if you win them a lifetime supply of Dogswell’s new LiveFree holistic dog food! Contest ends 4/15 so hurry. It’s super easy and fun to enter:  just post a photo (to Facebook or Instagram) of your dog cutting loose, living free and doing fun dog stuff. Be sure to use the hashtag #LiveFree4Life to be eligible AND to check out all the other entries! CLICK HERE to visit Dogswell’s LiveFree sweepstakes page on Facebook.