Countdown to Global Pet Expo -- Snack21 Sushi treats

We are counting down to Global Pet Expo -- this week in Orlando! And we are talking about our favorite products.

When Lulu got her Wag-in-the-Box, there were two particularly intriguing items.

 One is a package of Salmon Sushi Rolls by Snack21.

The other is a curious bone.

It's a fish skin bone!

What curious treats!

Even Beth Halloran, founder of Wag-in-the-Box, said she wasn't entirely sure about these, but she says they were a big hit in January.

I can see why. I mean, when you open that bag of Salmon Sushi Rolls and get that first whiff of fish, you're not entirely sure.

But Lulu loves these. They are nice and crunchy, and I think that's part of the reason. I also like them because they are loaded with Omega-3 fish oils, so they are good for her skin.

Lulu was more suspicious of the fish skin bone. The other issue we were having -- Galadriel the cat liked the smell too. This led to some fighting. When I left for work, the bone was still on the ground. When I came back, it was gone. I don't know if she hid it somewhere or destroyed it -- but I haven't smelled fish yet!

Pros:

• Good for dog's skin
• Nice and crunchy

Cons:

• Fishy smell
• Attracts kitties

Want your own Wag-in-the-Box? We have coupon promo codes you can use on their website:

Head to their website, purchase your subscription order. You can buy by the box, or purchase three-month or six-month subscriptions. In checkout, just add one of these codes:

• 5WagsFurLifeWithBeagle - $5 off 1-month membership purchase 
• 10WagsFurLifeWithBeagle - $10 off 3 or 6-month membership purchase

This discount is only for first-time customers.

 Check out these treats on Amazon.com:

Countdown to Global Pet Expo -- Natural Balance treats

We are counting down to Global Pet Expo:

We've talked about Lulu's love of Natural Balance's food rolls.

She can eat that whole roll in one sitting. It's very annoying, but can be extremely useful in training.

Lately we've expanded into Natural Balance's treats line.

Tillman's Treats are great for training. They are small enough so you don't have to worry about breaking them up. That can be a problem with the food rolls. They are also nice and sturdy, so they can be used in Lulu's orbee-mazee treat ball.

These are Lulu's new favorite treats: Natural Balance Jerky Bars. These are limited ingredient treats. They come in multiple flavors.

Lulu's really enjoying these. They are nice and big, but soft and chewy. A bag is $20, but every time you buy one, the money goes to help build a monument to military working dogs.

Why do I like Natural Balance? They have natural ingredients. For instance, here's the ingredients list for the Tillman's Treats Beef and Vegetable:

• Beef, Rice Flour, Maple Syrup, Potato Protein, Glycerin, Barley Flour, Potato Starch, Guar Gum, Cane Molasses, Carrots, Peas, Salt, Natural Smoke Flavor, Phosphoric Acid, Sorbic Acid (natural preservative), Mixed Tocopherols.

It's a lot better than the ingredients in your average Milkbone. And especially during training, if she's getting a bunch of these I feel better about how many I'm giving because they're at least healthier.

So:

Pros:

• Natural ingredients
• Taste good to the dog
• Helping a company that helps the community

 Cons:

• Price -- Natural Balance can cost a bit more than your standard treat, but they are better for them.
•  Your dog will become addicted and want to gobble them up, like Lulu does. I have to keep them far away or they will not last long!

Find Natural Balance treats at your local store, or on Amazon.com:

Countdown to Global Pet Expo -- Thundershirt

We are counting down to the Global Pet Expo, which is next week in Orlando!

Some of you may have remember my Diary of Lulu in a Thundershirt. Read that link if you haven't. Lulu and I spent a week trying the Thundershirt -- not to see if it would stop her barking at thunder or fireworks, but to help her calm down and refocus when we are on walks and things.

Lulu in her Thundershirt the day she graduated from first class.

How does it work? Thundershirt says works with the same method as swaddling a baby, or methods used to help people with autism. It provides a level of safety and security for the animal, so they don't get as anxious.

It's been about a month since we first began that experiment. 

Since then, we've had some progress. She still barks at dogs when she sees them on our walks. But I have an easier time controlling her, for the most part. It depends on the dog we run into.

It's also easier to get her to do things like this when we are out and about. Normally she would be too distracted by what's going on around her to sit so well. We took this at Paws in the Park in Downtown Orlando.

So we still like the Thundershirt. It's not a perfect solution, but this, combined with training should make things easier as we move forward. I really want her to eventually be able to take the Canine Good Citizenship test. I also want to take her to Barkworld later this year without her causing raucouses.

So, Pros:

• Slightly calmer, less distracted Lulu
• Better able to refocus her
• Made for all sizes
• Made for cats too

Cons:

• The price is $40
• It's machine washable, but it doesn't always clean easily
• It needs to be put on right, otherwise it doesn't work

DISCLAIMER: I received my Thundershirt from my trainer on a loan. I did not get one from the company.

Product Review: Wag-in-the-Box

UPDATE: Wag-in-the-Box has gone out of business.

Lulu is starting to get excited when things come in the mail.

I surprised her with this package from Wag-in-the-Box a couple of weeks ago when I came home from work.

What is Wag-in-the-Box? It's a subscription service, similar to BirchBox, except this is for pet stuff.

Every month, Wag-in-the Box sends a box like this filled with pet products -- from toys and treats to shampoo and dog poop bags.

Beth Halloran, founder of Wag-in-the-Box, says she came up with the idea after getting a BirchBox subscription.

At the time, she was researching the best ways to care for her senior dog, and found there was a lot of information out there.  She was looking at the best ways to learn about products, and the best ways to help other pet parents learn what's out there.

"One of the things that I am very particular about is that I want this to be a business that helps dogs live a better life," Halloran said.

Halloran and her team launched Wag-in-the-Box in Sept. of 2012. She's not the only pet subscription service out there. In the same year, Barkbox and Pawalla came out. But she says her customer base has doubled.

How does it work? Well every month, Halloran and her team pick four to eight products centered around some basic themes.

For instance, January's box centered around what is helpful for pets in cold weather -- items with lots of omega-3 in it, to help with their skin and coat:

• Full bag -- Isle of Dogs Skin Soft and Chewy Dog Treats
• Snack21 Salmon Skin Bone
• Snack21 Salmon Sushi Rolls Dog Treats
• Organic Oscar 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner

 And Flush Puppies in honor of National Dog Walking Month.

Halloran says the cost of the products in the box equals out to about $30.

"We do four to eight products... many full size, but sometimes we use samples," Halloran said.

To get her products, Halloran works with both national pet product boutique companies, and local companies and experts in her hometown of Richmond.

But it is not only about profits. Wag-in-the-Box also helps charities.

"Our original concept was to donate a monthly portion of the boxes to dog causes," Halloran said. But she decided not to force customers to share with a specific charity.

Intstead, she joined with a program called PlanG. For every box you buy, a dollar is put into a PlanG account. Then you can choose what charities you want to share it with.

Halloran is looking toward the future now -- and the future includes plans for a product store where you can buy some of the products you try in the box, for a limited time.

Countdown to Global Pet Expo -- Litter Genie

We are counting down to the Global Pet Expo, the largest pet product trade show in the country.

When I first heard of the Litter Genie Cat Litter Disposal Odor Free Pail System, I joked that I would need to have a shower so I can get one.

But while at first glance it may seem silly, but it actually makes a lot of sense.

This unit includes a handy slotted scoop for the poop.

This insert goes inside the unit.

And now you are ready to place your pet's... um, deposits inside, just like a regular Diaper Genie.

Now, I know what you're thinking: why is a dog blogger talking about something for a cat?

Well you can litter train dogs. Animal Planet has a how-to page on training your small dog to use the litter box. And, there are companies that sell dog litter boxes and even litter for dogs.

But, suppose the litter box is for the cat. I don't know about you, but one of the most disgusting things my dog does is... hunt... for buried treasure... in the cat box, if you know what I mean. So here's one way of getting the poop out of Lulu's way.

I suppose you could just scoop the poop up and put it in a plastic bag. And I suppose you could flush it down the toilet too.

Except, Galadriel doesn't like scoopable litter, and you shouldn't flush the other stuff down the toilet. Using the Litter Genie, we can also use fewer bags to hold the poop. Better for the environmennt. One refill lasts two months if you have one cat.

So:

Pros:

• Keeps poop away from tempted pups
• Holds scoopable and non-scoopable litter
• Uses fewer bags

Cons:

•  Doesn't weigh much, so could easily be knocked over
• The refills cost around $8

 The Litter Genie can be found in pet stores, and on Amazon.com:

 Disclaimer: I received my Litter Genie from the company for this review. 

Countdown to Global Pet Expo -- Trixie Gambling Tower Dog Toy

We are counting down to the Global Pet Expo, the largest pet product trade show in the country.

Almost a thousand exhibitors will be showing products of all kinds. So we are taking a look at some of the companies we might see at the expo, and their products.

Trixie Gambling Tower. Photo courtesy of Amazon.

Trixie Pet Products is an American company with a global line of products. When I saw the Trixie Gambling Tower, Level 1 on Amazon.com, I liked it so much I added it to my Holiday Gift Guide for 2012, and bought one for Lulu.

The tower works best with small treats. I am using the animal crackers from the Petco treat bar here.

The listing on Amazon.com comes with a good video showing how the dog should get the treats. The dog should pull the white strings to get the slats out, making the treats fall through the tube.

Lulu, however, doesn't do it that way.

As you can see, Lulu uses her paws to pull the slats out. It works, however, it may not work as easy once I actually bolt it together. I haven't done it yet because I want to show this to the folks at Trixie at the expo, see if they can give me some tips.

You'll notice the red and yellow holes on the base.

Treats put under the cones, and the dogs are supposed to pull the cones out to get the treats. Lulu can sniff out the treats well enough, but she can't seem to get the cones out with her mouth, so she keeps trying to pull them out with her paws. I want to talk to them about that too.

Still, I see a lot of possibilities for training and getting the dog's mind active with this toy. Plus, it gives you a reason to give your dog treats. Just because Lulu doesn't have it down like in the video, doesn't mean another dog won't get it better.

Pros:

• Lots of ways to design a puzzle for the dog
• Good for scenting
• Very sturdy

Cons:

• Tougher than it appears
• You need treats that fit, or you have to break up treats to fit
• Has to be bolted together

Trixie has a full line of puzzle toys, and other pet products. You can see the full line of Trixie Pet Products on Amazon.com.

Florida Bloggers Blog Hop -- Week 4

Welcome to Florida Bloggers Blog Hop, Week 4!

Before we move forward with our featured blogger of the week, I want to ask a quick question:

Is this blog hop working for you? Would you prefer a different day? I am not getting more than 10 people at a time, and I would like to see what I can improve to get more people involved. Please comment below.
 
 And now, on to our featured blogger: Claudia Mundlos of Sanford 365!

Claudia and her husband in Downtown Sanford.

1. When did you start your blog?
   I started Sanford365.com in September 2008. 
2. What made you get into blogging?
   My blog started more as a personal project: I wanted to take a 365 challenge of taking a picture a day to improve my photography skills and just appreciate my surroundings more. 
3. Your blog is about Sanford, Florida. What made you choose that topic?
   After determining the 365 challenge theme it kind of made sense to me to focus on the city I live in. In the beginning though I wasn’t necessarily only taking pictures in Sanford but just of something I did on that particular day. Once the challenge (i.e. the first year) was over I decided to keep the blog alive, possibly even continue to take a picture a day. But since that was at times rather exhausting I ended up not sticking to it. At this point I am blogging exclusively about events and things to do in Sanford. I am trying to show the world what life is like in Sanford FL. 
4. Is it hard to have fresh content for such a hyperlocal blog?
   Not at all! In fact, it makes it even a bit easier since I have a very specific topic. It’s also easy since my husband and I are out a lot in the area (not only for our job, we are both Realtors, but also to socialize). There is always a new business coming to town or an event I can write about. I also love to visit new restaurants in Sanford and make people aware of all the different ways they can get involved in the community.  
5. How has blogging helped you?
   Blogging has in fact helped me to become more aware of my surroundings and the community I live in. I have come to really love the city I live in! Despite all the challenges, I believe in Sanford and in a great future for Sanford. People have also been very kind and supportive of my blog and especially my facebook page that keeps growing daily. I want to help our community to become even better and it is a really good feeling to know that you have a voice that can positively impact the community you live in! 
6. My blog is a pet blog. What are some great places or events in Sanford for dogs to visit?
   Sanford has a great dog park that was actually voted #2 out of the Top 10 Dog Parks in the US (Paw Park of Historic Sanford on 427 S. French Avenue). There is also the beautiful Riverwalk where you can walk your dog and have a very idyllic view of Lake Monroe. Sanford in general is also a very dog friendly town. Just take your furry friends out to any of the restaurants along First Street to sit outside on their street patios and they will be happy to serve you and provide your dog with water.

So, it's now your turn. Join the Florida Bloggers Blog Hop and tell folks outside your blogging world what your blog is all about.

Instructions to join the Hop can be found here on this page. But here are the basics:

1. Enter the Blog Hop at the link on the bottom of this page.
2. Fill out the handy form.
3. Then, click on the link that says get the code at the bottom of your most recent post (which doesn't have to be about anything in particular, because we want people to see what it is you do regularly).
4. Add that link, and then -- start hopping around the blogs on the Blog Hop list and meet your fellow Florida Bloggers.
5. New rule for Wordpress users:
   If you are using Wordpress.com, you need to do follow the instructions on the following handy picture I have added.