DIY Pet Project: Make Your Own Fetch and Tug Dog Toy!

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Maize and Blue Dog Tug Toy, DIY Pet Toy

Here’s a fun and easy DIY Pet Toy project you can do with your kids or grandkids! I got the idea from Modern Dog Magazine and emailed Daisy’s Grandma with the link since she is always on the lookout for fun craft ideas to do with my niece (who I call “Little-A”) when they hang out together. Less than a week later, look what arrived in the mail addressed to Daisy, with the SWEETEST note from Little-A herself!

Letter to Daisy

While the original project used old t-shirts, my mom took the concept a step further and used inexpensive fleece fabric strips in Maize & Blue (University of Michigan team colors) for Daisy’s toy, and also made one for Daisy’s cousin Cody!

I think the fleece material will be more durable than t-shirts but you can use any old fabric you’d like to recycle (blankets, jeans, sweatpants, etc.) or watch for sales on holiday-themed fabrics and make some to stash away for stocking stuffers! You basically just twist or braid strips of fabric and knot it all together at the ends.

Playing Fetch and Tug with your dog can be a fun way to teach or practice skills and obedience commands including Sit, Give, Wait, Drop It and more. Check out these Tips on Teaching Your Dog Tug from the ASPCA Virtual Pet Behaviorist for info and advice! 

Daisy Tug Toy You can view the original DIY Dog Toy instructions here. As you can see, Daisy loves hers! Thanks Grandma and “Little-A”!

68% OFF American Kennel Club DVD Board Game – Now $11 ($35 reg)!

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AKC DVD Board Game

Here’s a fun new deal for dog lovers of all ages! Become a dog handler in this AKC DVD Board Game. Players collect doggy treats and race around the game board trying to be the first to get their dog to the finish line! The game board incorporates aspects of the AKC such as ‘Agility Obstacles’ and ‘Best in Show’ competitions. Regularly selling for $34.99, get this American Kennel Club DVD Board Game for $10.99 while it’s on sale here!

Some spaces on the game board will ask players to interact with the DVD. When interacting with the DVD, players may be asked to take a ‘Name that Breed’ challenge, collect or lose ‘Doggie Treats’, have their dogs perform tricks or pick up ‘Dog Daily News’ cards where they are given amusing dog-scenarios. This family DVD Board Game gives kids and adults the opportunity to learn interesting facts as you play!. For 2-4 players ages 8+. Read more and start shopping here!

$169 for Dyson Air Multiplier Bladeless Table Fan ($299 reg) with Free Shipping!

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Dyson bladeless table fan

Check out the COOL deal on this Dyson Air Multiplier Table Fan at Groupon. It’s bladeless, which makes it safer to use around pets and children, and it also looks really great with its sleek, modern design! It’s almost HALF OFF at only $169 ($299 reg) with FREE Shipping included.

Since there are no blades it’s also easy to keep clean, and blows more gently and efficiently to save you up to 20% on your energy bill when used in conjunction with air conditioning. Don’t miss out on this end of summer deal from Groupon! Deal ends Midnight CT tonight!

ASPCA Kids – Free Printables, Games and Resources for Kids Who Love Animals!

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ASPCA Website and Resources for Kids

Recently, I’ve been tweeting and sharing news on Facebook to help spread the word about the ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge where for the third year in a row, shelters around the country are in a race to save more animals’ lives by competing for grant prizes. That’s all very important, and I hope you’ll help spread the word, too, but it’s also a fairly grown-up concept. I thought it would be fun to share some ways to get the kiddos involved, too.  It’s never too early to start teaching children about being kind to pets and helping animals in need and ASPCA has a special website just for kids, called ASPCA Kids!

free games for kids at ASPCA                     ASPCA Kids Dog Cartoon

When you visit ASPCA Kids, you will find all sorts of fun tools and resources to help teach children about pet care, animal adoption, pet safety, and more! There’s a section about Cool Animal Careers, cartoons about Pet Safety, cute photos and fun games too!

Sprout, kids printable, free aspca kids printable

I also found cool stuff like this FREE Sprout Printable for Kids that you can download with activities about being kind to animals and pets! There’s also free kid-appropriate videos, and stories about Kids Who Rock. Read about  Mimi Ausland’s story and other inspiring articles about kids who are making a difference in the lives of animals and ways your kids can help, too! It’s all free, and there’s no signup or registration needed. Just visit http://www.aspca.org/ASPCAKids to access all the fun and helpful kid-friendly resources!

 

Giveaway: Win a Baby Cargo 300 Series Stroller! #babycargo300

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BabyCargo 300 Series stroller, baby stroller
In addition to great giveaways for pets, Daisy and I also love to bring you chances to win something special for your human little ones too! We’ve teamed up with a great group of bloggers to bring you this fantastic giveaway from Baby Cargo! The Baby Cargo 300 offers many features of a full size stroller in a compact package. It’s a stylish ride with wipe-clean fabric, is suitable for babies from birth, and it will fit kids up to 50 pounds. You can read the full review of the Baby Cargo 300 Stroller over at Eco-Babyz.

  • Cup holder and rain cover
  • Soft and easy to clean fabric
  • Adjustable footrest
  • Reclining seat, suitable from birth
  • Self-locks when folding
  • Weighs only 14.9 pounds
  • Holds kids up to 50 pounds

You can buy the Baby Cargo 300 Stroller for $179.99. The Baby Cargo 200 is available for $149.99 and the 100 Series for $109.99.

Win One Baby Cargo 300 Series stroller in your choice of Simply Taupe, Eclipse, or Blacktop.