The Bark

Thank you, thank you, thank you to The Bark Magazine.

They consistently put out a great product but this month warrants special accolades.

I'm an unknown author who worked incredibly hard to advocate for my students and urban dogs all over the country. The problem with being an unknown author is...being unknown.

For The Bark to select Considerations for the City Dog for a review in their coveted winter issue (they only produce 4 issues a year!), I'm beyond speechless.

The Bark not only speaks for dogs, but they speak for the unknown author, indie author or authors of small publishing houses that might get overlooked by the Bigger Publishing Houses (tm).

Interestingly enough, I'm not the only Boston area author in this review section. Fellow New England Dog Training Club member (and longtime author), Susan Conant, is also reviewed in this particular issue. It's like I had a buddy along for this ride, and I'm so happy to see NEDTC represented in a few genres in such a great magazine.

Thanks for looking out for us, Bark, in the same way you look after dogs.

If you're looking for something special to read for your holiday travels, feel free to pick up this issue of The Bark - I hear they have some pretty great books in their reviews section!



Happy Thanksgiving,
 -M3

Slobbr!

This is awesome.

I'm over Kickstarter for so many reasons but every now and again a project catches my eye. However, this one slipped through the cracks and I do love this particular little app-to-be. Yes, I'm biased - my friend Michelle is the brainchild, but I promise, it's not why I love it.

SlobbR

I love it because this will help all dog owners find dog friendly EVERYTHING! Hiking, dog friendly hotels, restaurants, good trainers, good vets, and encourages people to get active with their dogs. I love everything about it, including the owner. 

 Even if you can't contribute, think of every time you have left home with your dog and needed to find a dog run, or a vet. Think of that time you moved across the country and needed an "in" for a dog walker or find the quietest hiking trails. If this is you, then all I'm asking is that you share this. Contribute if you like, because that's the best way to help, but at the very least share this so more people know about this app for local dogs and traveling mutts alike. 

Even Boston Magazine agrees, which is really pretty sweet. 

 Either way, get outside and love life with your dog! 

-M3

Santa Paws at Charlestown Durty Harry's THIS SUNDAY

I'm a fan of getting in the Christmas spirit and receiving holiday cards with dogs on them. I also prefer if my money also goes to a good cause.

Luckily, my friends at Durty Harry's feel the same way. They are hosting their (I believe) 4th annual Santa Paws. If you haven't heard of it before, let me tell you that it's the bees knees.

A photographer takes your dog's photo with Santa. For a $10.00 donation, you get your photo to use as a Christmas card, or blast everyone on Facebook with how cute Fluffy is on Santa's lap.You spread the holiday spirit, while all of the money from the event goes to Audrey's Rescue Angels. 

Additionally, I'll be there selling my Little Dog Long Lines, Little Dog Leashes, and Off-Leash Leashes, with a portion of the proceeds going back to support responsible rescue groups in time for the holiday season. Even if you're not quite ready for the holidays, feel free to swing by and say howdy!

-M3

Shop, Take 2!

Hi everyone!

 I found a different platform that I think I like better for dog sports and dog training apparel through Spreadshirt.

My Shop can be found here
.


If there is something you'd like to see, let me know and I'll whip it up!

Currently, the following sports are featured, but I can certainly add more:

 - Disc 
 - Agility
 - Nosework (tm) / Tracking/ Find It Games
 - Rally Obedience

Let me know what you think or if you'd like a different sport highlighted!

 Get outside and play with your dog. In Somerville, we have the Pet Palooza in Assembly Square on August 2-3, and the Somerville Dog Festival on September 14th!

 It'll be a good time to wear your sport dog swag, or put your dog in a bandanna requesting space (for training, or space sensitive dogs) or requesting a sit (for puppies learning to sit, or exuberant jumpers!)

Happy Summer!

-M3

Where the Rubber Meets the Rawhide

About 5 months ago, Kyjen Toy Company sent me a toy for Zeppelin. I told them I would write up a review of this toy. Then, Christmas happened, as did 5 months of morning sickness (so we're going to have to look for good toys for small humans soon!) - and I am JUST now getting around to writing their review! Thanks, Kyjen, for being so patient!

For starters, I will openly state that Kyjen has long been one of my favorite vendors. The innovation is brilliant, the product quality is top notch, and did you know that they are behind Outward Hound products? I openly recommend their Kyjen Tail Teaser at every opportunity, especially for high drive, city dwelling dogs that need aerobic activity. 

So when they offered to send me a toy for review, I was pretty excited. They sent me a large version of their new Seamsters Line , which combines Rubber with Rawhide, mental stimulation with added bonus of making the rubber toy into a puzzle toy as well.

Both dogs got to try this toy, though the Border Collie rather "helped herself" to the Seamster after the Greyhound had his fun.

First, the Greyhound:
Zeppy really doesn't get into toys. He likes Kongs, as long as they aren't too challenging. He does, however, like to chew on things. Bully sticks, rawhides, and once, my glasses. When we presented him with this toy, he got really excited, took it from me, and went to his bed to chew. I figured he'd be done in just a couple minutes, but he worked on this toy for a solid half an hour. I took the toy away from him, presented it to him the next day, and he worked on it until the rawhide was done. He loved it - it was durable enough for him, and he really had a good time!

Second, the Border Collie:
Let me first start off by saying, I strung this toy together incorrectly. The toy comes with a rawhide refill - basically a strip of rawhide that you soak for a few minutes so it becomes pliable, then you thread it through the loops to put the pieces of the toy together. I didn't have to thread anything when Zep was working on the toy since it came pre-strung. When I threaded it, I got confused and went the wrong way, which later would prove to be a bad move on my part.

Zeppy got bored with the toy when it was threaded wrong, so he left it alone after a few minutes of frustration. Sadie, our BC, decided to give it a shot. Sadie's basic coping mechanism for anything challenging is to run through it, tear through it, or throw it into the ground. She started by throwing the rubber toy into the ground (which works for her Linkables), and it didn't work. So she decided to chew through the rubber rungs that held the rawhide in place, which was rather impressive. By the time I realized that she was chewing THROUGH the outer rings of the toy instead of chewing the rawhide (she had her back to me, and chewing rawhide looks very similar to chewing tough rubber!), it was too late for part of the toy. However, I will say, that she had a rather good time, and looked really happy while she was destroying the only toy that has ever given her "brother" any joy.

It wasn't until after this had happened that my husband noticed that the threading was incorrect, which explains everything that happened above.

In Conclusion:
I really do like this toy for dogs that love rawhide, and also need mental stimulation. As stated earlier, for one of our dogs, this was the only toy that has ever given him the mental stimulation that he needs, in a fashion that he enjoyed. He's not a destructive chewer, but does love to chew on rawhides and other animal bits. However, for more destructive chewers, or dogs that have maybe chewed through other types of rubber toys as a coping mechanism, the rubber rings on the outside of the toy might not hold up over time.

I loved how innovative the toy was - taking dense rubber and threading rawhide through it to make a Super-Toy. It's definitely one that I'm going to continue to recommend to my students (puppies will get a kick out of this!), but do keep in mind that there it should be supervised to make sure the dog doesn't chew the wrong parts of the toy. I think threading the toy incorrectly (my fault, entirely!) also contributed to the destruction, but if I messed up the threading, anyone can mess up the threading, so it's something to keep in mind.

Shopping for The Dog (or People With Dogs)

It's that time of year again! Whether you shop from the comfort of your own home, or you're masochistic enough to go trudging behind a slow herd of angst filled teenagers at the mall, here some out of the box things for dogs, and their people, this holiday season.

You can't pay me enough.

For The Dog You Love; The Owner You Might Not Love So Much:


I used to work in a coffee shop. Every Thursday, around 8pm, a woman came in with a child who was about 4 years old. I thought for the longest time that this was her own son. She would usually buy him a steamed milk with raspberry syrup in it (it really is a good drink for a cold night). They would play a game of checkers, and leave.

One evening, she got him a large hot chocolate with a shot of espresso in it. I must have had a "WTF" thought bubble over my head - because she explained that this was her sisters kid, and they had a fight earlier that day, and this was the most creative way she could get back at her. She thanked me, left me a $5.00 tip, and went to play checkers with her nephew.

This toy is EXACTLY THAT. The dog will love it. The humans will hate it after a few trials. All will be right with the world.




For The Dog Who Is Too Smart For Their Own Good; People Who Love To Make Things Difficult For Their Dogs Because It's Fun To Watch.

Many trainers, like myself, like to recommend food dispensing toys or stuffable toys to keep high energy & smart dogs busy for longer periods of time. Additionally, if you have a dog that gulps down their food faster than a Mercedes can hit 60mph, then you might also want to investigate these options.


  Aikiou Dog Feeder: This feeder has 14 compartments. The middle circle spins, exposing one compartment at a time. The 4 "toes" are 2 compartments each, and the dog has to push the sliding mechanism to expose more food.

Aikiou

Kong Wobbler:  This is the dog version of the Punch Me Clown.  You unscrew the bottom of the toy, put kibble or treats inside, screw the bottom back on, and leave it on the floor. The dog has to push the toy with his nose, dispensing a kibble. We have a version of this at home and we use it all the time.

Kong Wobbler

Other Options:  SitStay.com has a great list on their website of other toys, including the Linkables that I've mentioned once or twice. Riverdog in Union Square also has a variety of affordable puzzle toys for dogs, so shop local if you can!


For Dogs Who Love To Hike; People Who Love Bags

Yesterday, I inquired about a bag, and several of you emailed me back or posted in the comments bags that work for you. There were three that stick out -

One is the Osprey, found at REI. It has lots of exterior pockets for soggy tennis balls, and easy access to treats/poop bags, and can hold a collapsible water bowl, water, a long line, and plenty of room for a light coat if you need an extra layer/don't want to wear around an extra layer. It looks small, lightweight, and really functional.

Osprey Talon 11

My dog walking friend, Jordan, recommended the Timbuk2 Messenger Bag (Medium).  Here is her review:

Just wanted to add that I've used my Timbuktu messenger bag with quite a bit of success on walks.  I have the medium size I think--bought it several years ago for a different job.  I'll often put an umbrella or extra shirt in the main pocket, and then use the smaller pockets for whatever else I need.  The inside is lined with a waterproof material, which is great.  There are also several spots where you can easily clip keys.  It has two snaps/buckles where the flap folds over the rest of the bag.  I've slid a Chuck It into this part before and never had a problem with it falling out.  I like that you can adjust the straps so that the bag rests anywhere you'd like on your side or back.  The fabric is really durable, and you can custom design on their website.  I adore Etsy too, but I do appreciate how well made the Timbuktu bags are.

I think that says it all, from someone who works outside with dogs all day long. 

Lastly, I found this gem, which is exactly what I was looking for as someone who just wants a small, compact bag to sling over the shoulder, have easy access to a chuck it, and have poop bags readily accessible on the chest on the strap (there is a hidden nook for plastic poop bags so my leash doesn't have to wear anything bulky anymore). I also hate loosing my keys, so the small key pocket looks like it is really handy, too. I think I'm going to purchase this bag, and I'll give a full review later.

The Urban Dog Walker Sling Pack

For: The Dog for Whom No Toy Goes Un-shredded; The Human Who Hates Cleaning Up The Fluff From Shredded Toys


The Pogo Plush from Premier is a god-send for anyone who has a "shredder". This is a toy within-a toy. BRILLIANT! And, the best part is when your dog DOES shred this toy, there is no stuffing anywhere that you have to clean up.

Essentially,  it's 2 toys in one, and the first one is MADE to be destroyed. How clever!

For The Fashionista; Dog Without A Collar

Found on Etsy: Seller "Davir"

If you love (or know someone who loves) stylish accessories for their pet, look locally, or through Etsy. Sure, the big companies have some great collars and leashes, but I'm a fan of browsing Etsy, or shopping local to find just a little something for my pets, when I can. Some of my favorites include Davir on Etsy, Beez Louise (I usually purchase at Durty Harry's in Charlestown), and Dublin Dog (they offer a collar that is "no stink" - waterproof for dogs who swim all summer, comfortable, and easy to clean. AMAZING product, and functional!)



For: The Breed Enthusiast; The Silly; The Bumper; The Walls.

I've known about Obey the Purebred for awhile, but I keep forgetting to mention them here.

 They have tons of different breeds, and it looks like they have expanded to cats as well



So, what do you think? What are some other items that are your gift list, or that you are gifting to others this year? Leave a message in the comments with your favorite gift for dogs, or dog people.

Help: Looking for Good Dog Walking Bag

We recently moved to an area with a LOT more green space than our previous apartment. In the old place, I'd keep a milk crate outside our front door with Sadie's toys, and use the Chuck It* at the end of the street. If we did go somewhere, I'd just pack it up in a back pack, take Sadie to a field, and have fun.

Seriously. Best outdoor toy made for dogs who love fetch, and human shoulders that can't throw.

But now, I'll take the 2 dogs for a walk around the neighborhood, stop at the green space, and play with Sadie and let Zep just sniff around, pee on things, and grunt. The problem is with two dogs, getting the toys out of the back pack off of my shoulder is cumbersome and awkward. I also have this moment of panic each time I take the bag off that I dropped a leash. It's a worse feeling than those nightmares where you think you lost all of your teeth, or show up to school naked.

I tried a tote bag for easy access, but I keep loosing my keys at the bottom of the bag. So I switched to one of the cheap drawstring backpacks, but the straps keep falling down over my shoulders, when the toy is in use.

So what do you use for walks/exercise with your dogs when you're out walking? Dog walkers, what do you use that is convenient, lightweight and durable? Ideally, something that would fit a Chuck It, water bottle/collapsible bowl, and has a place for slobbery tennis balls? I'd love some feedback!

Rain Rain Go Away!

Urgh - what a terrible week for going outside with the pups! How on earth do you keep your sanity and get your dog(s) exercised when it's been raining for a week?


Food Dispensing Toys
There is NO rule that a dog needs to eat out of a food dish. In our house, Sadie eats every meal out of a food dispensing toy. Zeppelin doesn't need the same amount of mental activity, so he eats out of a raised dish. A few examples of food dispensing toys are listed below!

Kibble Nibble by Premier

One of the toys suggested by every dog trainer is the Kibble Nibble. It's an "easy" dispensing toy. You put an allotted amount of food/treats in the toy. The dog has to roll the treat ball around, and the food dispenses out of a tiny hole on one end of the toy.

Kong Extreme for heavy chewers

Kong toys are another must-have in every household with a dog. They come in a variety of sizes and chew strength. You can put fat free yogurt, peanut butter, soft dog food, cheese, meat, anything that your dog loves, into this fantastic interactive toy! For a longer lasting experience, you can put the Kong with the stuffing of your choosing, into the freezer!

Premier Linkables - my favorite toy of last season!

The Linkables have been a LIFE-SAVER in our household. The dense rubber is difficult to chew, but soft enough that when Sadie tosses the toy around, it's not disruptive for our landlords who live on the floor below us. The brilliance of this toy is you can make it as easy or difficult for your dog as needed! You buy each piece separately, and configure the toy in a variety of ways to keep your dog interested and busy at meal times. I mix up the food dispensing toys at each meal, but at least once a day, she gets her Linkables set to the most difficult setting for 30 minutes of mental activity without adding extra calories.

Long Lasting Chews

Bully Sticks: A tendon of a bull, and not a cow....

First and foremost, I have to suggest the Bully Stick.  Yes, they can be a bit expensive, but they are really worth it. I have one friend that calls them "Sanity Sticks" and for good reason! They are a dense tendon that keeps even the most persistent chewer busy longer than most other chew sticks.




Marrow Bones are no longer recommended by veterinarians due to higher incidents of fractured teeth on the indigestible bone. Similarly, antlers, horns, and other bones-of-former-animals are not advised.

Interactive Toys & Games:

Tail Teaser: I was a bit uncomfortable google searching for this.

If you have a higher energy dog, especially one that loves to jump and chase, there is the Tail Teaser from Kyjen. It's a wonderful interactive toy that allows you to play with your dog (which is what they really want!). It's also a great way to teach "Take It", "Drop It", and other useful commands. It also is an aerobic activity which will help burn off all the energy your dog isn't able to get out otherwise.

Tennis Ball: Tried and True

Not exactly a novel try, but an old favorite. Play fetch with your dog using a tennis ball in the house! Easy peasy! If you have a stair case in the home, sit at the top of the stairs, drop the ball to the bottom, and have the dog fetch. With all the running up and down the stairs, you'll get more energy burned in a shorter amount of time!

Tug of War: I wrote an entire article on Tug of War. Tug can be a great way to teach great skills (drop it and take it) and  still burn energy. Check that posting if this is something you're interested in!

New Toys
We all love our dogs, so why not get them a new toy? I'm including a link instead of a photo because this is my favorite toy of this year. It's another Premier toy, but is a great toy for shredders. They are not filled with stuffing, so they don't get fluff everywhere. Instead, they have a rubber mesh ball on the inside with a squeak inside, so when they shred the exterior, they still have a functional toy on the inside. BRILLIANT!

Training and Tricks
Play "find it" games, which engages a dogs mind and keeps boredom at bay. Put your dog in a "stay", hide a treat, and have the dog "find it". It works on impulse control, engages their mind, and is an interactive game between owner and dog. Win, Win, Win!

Teach your dog a new trick! "Spin", "Roll Over", "High Five", "Shake" or any number of party tricks.

One Last Tip: 
 Many people leave dog toys out all the time. Instead, invest in a doggy toy box. If that seems absurd to you, get a hanging fabric shoe rack, put a couple of your dogs toys in each shoe slot, and rotate toys daily! This will keep the clutter down, and keep your dog interested in the toys!

A nice way to keep your shoes cleaned up AND your dog toys cleaned up!

Best of luck this very rainy week. It's been a tough one. Hopefully these tips can help you out until the sun comes out again!

Top 10 Odd Holiday Gifts for your Pup

I'm a personal fan of the beer-opener-dog-collar....

Cliec Here for the Dogster Article!

NECN - The Secret Life Of Animals : Glow In The Dark

I was invited last Wednesday to showcase some glow-in-the-dark products for dog owners. Click Here for Segment. We went over glowing leashes, collars, light ball collar piece, Frisbee and light up rubber ball. All products are safe, but should always be used with supervision. Also, the ball fits nicely in a Chuck-it.

It's always a pleasure to go out to work with the crew at The Secret Life Of Animals - they are so much fun and are dedicated to showing the more interesting sides of animal life. Watch The Secret Life of Animals, Sundays at 11:30 am & 6:30 pm on NECN.

New Doggy Boutique in Charlestown!

Introducing Durty Harry's, the newest metro-Boston DIY doggy bathing, grooming, and pet-boutique! I haven't been there yet, but it is getting 5 star ratings on Yelp, and for those in the Somerville, Charlestown area, this may be a convenient option. I'm looking forward to bringing Sadie in for a visit. Judging by the puffs of fur clinging in every corner of the apartment, we'll have to go soon.

Happy New Year!

A very happy new year to all Muttstuffers.

I was doing some research today for a client on winter care for your pets, and as always, looked right to the Humane Society website.
Click here for good tips!

Also, I find that, at least with Sadie (see right side panel), her paws get cut up by the rock salt used on the sidewalks in the urban environment we call home. Our vet recommended we use booties for protection - and it took me awhile to realize that though the thought of putting boots on my dog for the winter seemed silly and kitchy, she really was having problems. Last year she needed stitches they were cut so badly by the salt. It was then that I realized pride(and aesthetics)had to be put on the back burner. When we ask our dogs to live in a city, there are certain precautions we have to take into consideration that you may not have to think about in a more natural, country setting when it comes to our dogs. They aren't built for concrete and pavement, but we ask them to live with us- and they do so happily.

It's been 3 years of lost boots, awkward boot fittings, cuts, slices, limping, and open wounds due to salt on sidewalks. Finally, we came across Pawz Dog Boots. They are sold in some Boston area locations - but I found the locations on the Somerville/Cambridge side of the river tend to be fairly limited in their size selection. I just ordered them through Amazon.com, and they arrived in 2 days (arrived Christmas Eve!)

I like them because they are disposable, biodegradable, and really easy to use. It's basically an inverted balloon- no ties, velcro, or complicated stuff. Plus, they don't fall off. They could be a bit more durable, but they do come in a pack of 12 at about $1.00 per boot. If your dogs nails are too long, they will cut through the rubber, but it's good incentive to keep their nails short. They aren't built to keep the feet warm - but just safe from debris and water, which is really all I needed! I haven't used them, nor do I think I will, on winter hikes. They don't protect from the cold, and they would tear on the rocks/sticks. They do wonders for the salt, and she hasn't had a cut yet this year (knock on wood).


For the record, a small is a hair too small, methinks, for a Border Collie's foot, however, the medium (which we got for the Greyhound) is just a bit too big for her. The mediums fit Zeppy very well.


So happy wintering, and stay tuned for more winter tips!

Dogma Makes the Daily Candy!

If you are looking for the perfect way to spoil your pet through the holiday season, the Daily Candy put out a list of Boston Specific places you can check out. I must admit to being a tad biased to Dogma, as I work there, but this list is top notch!

Daily Candy's Give Paws

and some more Daily Candy Wag The Dog

Daily Candy is a daily email subscription list to help locals find out about the city around them. If fashion is more your style, or you want to know where the best new place to eat would be, you can sign up for those subscriptions. They are totally free, and I get a couple of them. Gives great weekend ideas on the cheap, which I'm sure everyone is a fan of these days.

If you happen to have $11,000 to spend on your pet...

...then this little number is for you

An $11,000 gilded cage that is 22.5 karat gold. Now that's one pampered pooch!

Snuggle Sacks

A friend of mine in Littleton sent me this link: SnuggleSacks dot com. Apparently, his BT Guapo LOVES this new sleeping sack. There are some nice kennel covers, and harness covers on this site, as well.

Makes a wonderful gift, and can be personalized as well!

Dogma (and Catma, too!)

Dilys finally opened Dogma today! Feel free to check out the official website: DogmaCatmaToo.com

I am so very excited for her new store. She has plenty of humane walking aids for the pulling dog, all natural toys for dogs and cats, Planet Dog toys (really excellent company that produces durable toys from recycled materials), and my favorite for the households with Felines: Laser pointers. Seriously- my cats have never been so excited or energetic over a toy before. This little red light literally had one of the cats running up the wall as high as the light switch. There will be video of this later.

Dogma will have self-do bathing, training by Zen Dog (where I will be teaching Tuesdays and Thursdays- I think I'm still teaching at Crate Escape on Sundays), and doggie daycare in the near future.

The place was packed solid today, which was the Grand Opening. Do stop by if you're in the Cambridge/Boston/Somerville area. It's a great store, a perfect location, and by far the most complete "all things dog and cat" place I've seen in Boston. She also does a better job of conjoining multiple business-ideas-into-one-location than I've seen in a very long time.

So congratulations, Dilys and "Dogma, and Catma, too!". I have a feeling you will have great success in Union Square. Somerville has needed this for a very long time.