Survive the Dog Days of Summer with Earth Heart All-Natural Remedy Mists!

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 Dog Days of Summer

 Summer will be upon us before we know it, and with it comes all kinds of outdoor doggy fun, family road trips, beach romps and holiday celebrations! But for most pups summer also brings challenges in the form of scary fireworks and thunderstorms, itchy rashes and bug bites, and queasy car rides. Fortunately, we’ve been introduced to Earth Heart,  makers of all-natural aromatherapy remedy mists for dogs! Earth Heart remedy mists help provide relief to dogs suffering from stress, travel upsets, bugs and minor illnesses caused by environmental irritants.

EarthHeart Remedy Mists for Dogs

Earth Heart has a long-standing reputation for designing effective natural remedies using plant-based ingredients that help dogs live happier, healthier lives. Earth Heart mists are made in the USA, packaged in BPA free containers, easy to use, and can be sprayed directly onto cloth, skin or fur without staining or leaving a sticky residue. The mists are safe to use around the entire family and many humans report feeling positive effects when using the products with their dogs! Earth Heart currently comes in 4 formulas, each designed to address specific types of wellness needs for dogs: Guard Well, Canine Calm, Travel Calm and Buzz Guard.

Guard Well helps dogs find relief from environmental irritants.

We were invited to test and review the formula of our choice, and because of Daisy’s sensitive and rashy skin, we selected the Guard Well Remedy Mist. Guard Well natural remedy mist is specially formulated to help relieve itching, swelling, skin problems and other minor illnesses after exposure to lawn or pool chemicals, environmental irritants, dry air, viruses, bacteria, or long-term use of medications. It contains pure essential oils of niaouli, ravensare and frankincense, and is easy to use. Simply spray on fingertips to massage a dog’s outer ears or abdomen, lightly mist the dog’s favorite blanket or bedding, or spray directly onto irritated skin.

Daisy itchy grass

I’ve been rubbing it on Daisy’s belly before we go outside to play and she doesn’t seem to get as irritated  by the grass and other irritants that usually bother her. I also apply it before bed time because she sleeps with us and often wakes me up with her itching. It’s helped so far, and I really like the smell at bedtime, so it’s like aromatherapy for us all! We will definitely keep using this…especially before and after trips to the dog beach, and hiking trails!

Canine Calm helps dogs relax during stressful situations.

Canine Calm natural remedy mist can help soothe dogs during thunderstorms, fireworks, parties, training, competitions, adoptions, holidays, bath time, grooming, and clinic or kennel visits. This formula contains pure essential oils, including bergamot, lavender and geranium, from plants traditionally used in remedies for relaxation. Simply spray on fingertips to massage a dog’s outer ears or abdomen, lightly mist the dog’s favorite blanket or bedding, inside a home or travel crate.

Travel Calm is a safe and healthy solution for travel shy dogs.

Travel Calm natural remedy mist is specifically formulated to help dogs find relief from restlessness and stomach upset during all forms of travel. Travel Calm contains pure essential oils for relaxation and essential oil of ginger, which is a proven natural remedy for stomach upset. The product is easy to use by spraying directly onto a dog’s crate bedding or clothing, inside the car, or massaged onto the dog’s outer ears or abdomen.

Buzz Guard helps improve your dog’s comfort during outdoor activities.

Buzz Guard natural mist (sold as Outdoor Care in Canada) helps improve your dog’s outdoor comfort during activities such as walking, camping, hiking, boating, dog sports training and competition…and just having a good time in the great outdoors. Created with safe and healthy pure essential oils and neem seed oil, it has been favorably field-treated in a variety of settings, from woodlands to wetlands, and shown to be effective in improving your dog’s outdoor comfort during daytime and evening hours. Spray onto hands to massage a dog’s outer ears, back of head, abdomen, legs and tail, or spray on a bandana placed around the dog’s neck.

To help you and your dog better survive the Dog Days of Summer, Earth Heart is offering a special deal for followers of Woof Woof Mama. Assemble your ‘Dog Days of Summer – Survival Kit’ by selecting 3 or more products from the Earth Heart website. Enter the code WoofWoofSummer at check out to receive your $11.98 discount (that’s one FREE product with your online order of 3 or more products). Offer good between now and Memorial Day. (Be sure to order by May 15th to guarantee delivery in time for the holiday weekend).

Be sure to Stay Tuned for a chance to Win a 4-Piece Earth Heart Dog Days of Summer – Survival Kit during the Summer Splash Giveaway Hop May 14-May 27!

Disclosure: We received a free Guard Well natural remedy mist to test and review for this post. We were not compensated in any way and all opinions are our own.

Product Review: Natural Balance ALPHA Grain-Free Dog Food

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Natural Balance ALPHA formula

The folks over at Natural Balance were kind enough to ask us if we’d like to sample and tell you about ALPHA, their line of premium, grain-free dog food. They’re also sponsoring an upcoming giveaway for a chance to win a GENEROUS supply of this dog or cat food so stay tuned for that, too!

Because of Daisy’s sensitive tummy her vet recommends allowing at least 4 weeks to gradually transition from one dog food to another and as I’ve mentioned before, Daisy is a very picky eater so we don’t go switching her food around very often.  I’d heard lots of positive feedback about Natural Balance and Grain-Free diets from other pet parents and trainers, so I was interested in the opportunity to  let her try it. We sometimes use different flavors of premium and holistic kibble as training treats and snacks just to give her some variety, so that’s what I decided to do with the ALPHA samples from Natural Balance.

I did some research to find out a little more about ALPHA and here are a few key facts that impressed me:
    • contains Prebiotics to help support healthy digestion
    • completely grain-free, meaning no cheap fillers and easier on dogs with sensitivities or allergies
    • contains a moderate protein level (our vet warned us not to overdo it on the protein levels but ask yours for advice on how much your dog needs)
    • uses garbanzo beans as a high quality source of protein
We received samples in all 3 varieties:

Chicken, Turkey & Duck
Trout, Salmon Meal & Whitefish
Lamb, Chicken Meal & Rabbit

Seek a treat puzzle

Daisy has let us know in the past that her personal preference is for fish so we started with the trout variety.  Rather than mixing it with her current food, I decided to use it in her Seek A Treat Dog Puzzle. She was apparently VERY excited about this and almost flipped the whole thing over trying to find which compartments I had hidden the kibble in! Here she is after she finally calmed down a little bit and could focus on the puzzle:

Daisy and looking for ALPHA

Since picky Daisy seemed to REALLY like the Natural Balance ALPHA and her sensitive tummy seemed to be doing fine after a few days of very small amounts, we decided to let her have more, and starting using it in her KONG Wobbler . I often fill this toy with kibble to keep her occupied so she doesn’t get stressed out when there is a noisy storm, or to keep her busy when she is stuck inside and getting bored. Here, we are trying out the Chicken, Turkey & Duck formula:
KONG Wobbler with Natural Balance ALPH
She tried to “wobble” all the kibble out of her Wobbler so fast that it’s all a blur!

Daisy with Wobbler and ALPHA kibble

Since things seem to be going so well, and Daisy really does enjoy the variety of flavors, I’m planning to continue using Natural Balance ALPHA this way, gradually increasing the amount and continuing to see how she does before making a decision about switching her mealtime kibble completely. I feel really good about the reputation of Natural Balance, the quality of their ingredients and the idea of a  grain-free diet for Daisy.

I also discovered that Natural Balance is so concerned about health and safety that they test each and every batch of pet food before it reaches store shelves. You can check any batch, view laboratory test results and learn more here.

Before switching pet food, there are a few things to keep in mind:
  • Speak with your dog or cat’s veterinarian for advice and recommendations, especially if your pet has special dietary, nutritional or health concerns
  • Take time to transition gradually. Never completely change your pet’s brand suddenly unless your vet prescribes it
  • Be patient and observant. Even with premium brands, some pets have personal preferences, skin allergies or are picky eaters and react differently to different ingredients or formulas. It sometimes takes a bit of trial-and-error to find just the right one for your fur baby!

Visit Natural Balance for more information and nutritional analysis of ALPHA Grain-Free dog and cat food. To connect with other pet parents using Natural Balance, view photos of their cats and dogs, and get access to coupons and promotions, visit Natural Balance on Facebook.

Stay tuned for a new giveaway starting soon! One lucky pet parent will win a generous supply of Natural Balance ALPHA Premium Cat or Dog Food!

We received the samples pictured above. I did not receive any form of compensation for this product review and all opinions are 100% my own. Remember to always seek the advice of a veterinarian or other trained professional for information and recommendations regarding pet food, nutrition, diet and pet health conditions.

10% Off All Handcrafted Elevated Dog and Cat Feeders from Coburn’s Exclusive!

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examples of Coburn's Exclusive custom dog feeders

Just a reminder that Coburn’s Exclusive has offered Woof Woof Mama blog readers a special promo code for 10% Off all their beautiful elevated feeders for dogs and cats. You can read my recent product review and see Daisy with her feeder here.

If you’d like to jump straight to their site, visit Coburn’s Exclusive here. Remember to use Promo Code WoofWoofMama2012 during check out!

Coburn’s Exclusive: Handcrafted Dog and Cat Feeders – Review & Reader Discount!

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In preparation for a RED HOT new Valentine’s Day Giveaway we are hosting, Daisy and I were recently invited to get up-close and personal with a beautiful custom-made, elevated dog feeder from the studio at Coburn’s Exclusive.

daisy enjoying her new feeder

This piece, and the complete line of elevated dog and cat feeders, are crafted by artisan Coburn Gullen. We were so impressed with his work that we asked to know more about the artist and how he came to make dog feeders.

Turns out that Coburn is welder by trade, but has always had a passion for design. He is also a passionate animal lover and after reading the benefits of an elevated feeder, he set out to find some for his dogs that were hand-made and cool. That is where he hit a roadblock. Although there are many companies out there making elevated feeders, he found it tough to find a good quality, high design dog feeder that would fit his style and budget.

A few weeks later he had his first prototypes for his dogs to try out. His dogs loved the feeders, so he decided this was an endeavor worth pursuing. Coburn along with fellow designer Jonathan Hammel began producing several standard designs along with one-of-a-kind designs as well. Some of the other custom Dog products they build include: Custom K9 Crates, Dog Transport, Custom Agility equipment and Custom Kennels.

 

examples of Coburn's Exclusive custom dog feeders

As you can see, Coburn’s Exclusive offers elevated dog and cat feeders in a variety of stylish and colorful designs. The feeder Coburn made for Daisy is the Modern Dog Feeder in Red. This particular item is available from their online store in Red or Black in a full range of heights from 4″ for teeny-tiny pups all the way up to 26″ for jumbo-size dogs. It’s important to properly measure your dog before ordering, to determine which size feeder to get. They include full instructions on the site, but basically you measure from the ground to the top of your dog’s shoulder. This is called the wither height. Then subtract 6 inches and this is the correct feeder height for your dog bowl. For pets 10 inches and shorter they suggest a 4 inch tall feeder.
how to measure your pal for a feeder

One of the special benefits of ordering a Coburn’s Exclusive is that it can be customized to fit your home design or dog’s unique attributes. For Daisy’s feeder, I wanted something that didn’t take up much space but was the proper height. Daisy is a medium-sized dog but doesn’t eat a lot at each meal so I was concerned that the standard 2-qt bowls described online would be too big. I emailed Coburn’s and they were able to customize the design and incorporate 1-qt bowls instead, while still keeping the proper height for her size.
can I eat now?

This worked out so well for us since my office is in the kitchen and to save on space, we keep Daisy’s feeder just about under my desk…it’s kind of become her office too since I started my blog! Here you can see Daisy  waiting “patiently” for her breakfast.

Speaking of being patient, by now you are probably itching to head on over to Coburn’s Exclusive and browse their gallery of fabulous feeders! Well hang on just a sec, because they are offering a special deal for all of Daisy’s pals and fans of our blog:

10% discount to all Woof Woof Mama readers!

Just enter promo code: WoofWoofMama2012 during check out!

Want to WIN a Coburn’s Exclusive design? As I mentioned, we will be hosting a Coburn’s Exclusive Giveaway especially for Valentine’s Day…STARTING TOMORROW! So check back for details!

UPDATE 2/1: Go HERE to enter the giveaway!

Note: We received a custom-built Coburn’s Exclusive dog feeder for our review; I was not paid for this review and all opinions are mine (and Daisy’s!).

BarkBox Promo Code: Treat Your Dog to a Monthly Mystery Box of Goodies…and Save!

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BarkBox monthly mystery box for dogs

Daisy and I were recently introduced to a unique, dog-centric service that feeds our craving for variety by sending out monthly boxes of new swag, treats and gadgets without breaking the bank. It’s BarkBox – the subscription-based service that helps you treat your canine companion to a monthly delivery of high quality, hand-selected goodies from $17/month depending on the plan you select…AND helps dogs in need by donating a portion of their sales to shelter and rescue organizations!

We were invited by the kind folks at BarkBox, to test one out and help spread the word about their new service. We received our first BarkBox and it was packed-full of treats and goodies! As you can see from the photo, Daisy couldn’t wait to get her nose into it!

Daisy checking out her BarkBox

The contents of the BarkBox is different every month, otherwise it wouldn’t be a surprise…and what fun would that be?!? This month was like a Spa in a Box for Dogs. Contents included:

  • Heal My Paws Moisturizer for treating and preventing dry, cracked and chapped paws (perfect for winter!)
  • Happy Paws Dog Massager for sore muscles and joints after running and playing too hard. Also helps promote healthy skin and coat.
  • Puppy Dust to sprinkle on kibble to spice up a dog’s meal and make it special.
  • Charlie Chews 100% Organic Treats made in NYC.
  • Free-Range Grass Fed Bully Sticks for a long-lasting and relaxing chew after a ruff day.

By now you are probably curious about how it all works and what plans are available so you can signup your dog for their very own BarkBox. Or maybe you have a friend who just adopted a dog and want to send them a special surprise.

You can visit BarkBox to get started. All boxes and plans include Free Shipping. Just tell them what size dog you are ordering for, and select your plan. The Best Value is the 6-month plan for $17/month but there are also shorter packages available. And rest assured that plans automatically renew and may be cancelled at any time.

Get a FREE month of BarkBox added to any plan with coupon code WOOFWOOFMAMA. (Even the monthly, no-contract plan!)

Every month you will receive a box in the mail with four or more carefully selected products and presents for your dog – anything from bones and treats to shampoos, leashes and innovative new gadgets…you never know what you will receive but you can be sure your pup will thank you! Just remember to use Promo Code: woofwoofmama when you place your order at BarkBox.com.