Showing posts with label pet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pet. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Hands Free Dog Leash



I received the Hands Free Dog Leash through a promotion by Family Bulliez. 

Product Info:
  • Goes around waist
  • Adjustable in size (26" to 48")
  • Stretchy and sturdy bungee leash
  • Reflective material
This hands free dog leash is comfortable to wear and is holds up well.

I was a little worried at first to see how sturdy and well this leash could hold up. The leash did impress me.

The waist area is easy to adjust. The waist can be adjusted to 26" to 48". It's made to fit adults. The buckle seems like it'd be the most fragile or the area most likely to come undone, yet I could pull on it with as much force as I could manage and it wouldn't come apart. I have not had it come undone when walking my dogs no matter how much they pull on the leash.

The bungee portion of the leash reminds me of a paracord. It's sturdy and holds it's shape well, yet it's also stretchy and allows movement. The only issue I have with the length of the leash is that it can be a trip hazard if the pet walks beside you or hangs back.

I did notice that if the hooks are put to the outside and the dogs pull on the leash, it could cause your hip to be yanked in a certain direction. It could hurt or cause injuries over time. If the hook is placed in the front, it balances the pulling to the center and reduces stress on the body.

Pros:
- Sturdy
- Reflective material on leash
- Adjustable waste 
- Bungee leash
- Hands free

Cons:
- Leash can be trip hazard 
- If hook isn't centered, could cause stress on body 

Check out what others have to say on Amazon.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Dog Nail Grinder by Luvao



I received the Premium Dog Nail Grinder by Luvao through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Durable
  • Quick grinding 
  • No longer than 5 seconds per nail
  • Easy to clean
  • Takes 2 AA batteries (not included)
The nail grinder from Luvao is a decent dog nail grinder. It worked better than I expected the nail grinder. I was expecting the nail grinder to not do much or to take a long while to get their nails filed down.

The wider open part of the cap is for medium to large sized breeds. The smaller opening is for small pets. My dogs are both smaller, so I used that side to be sure to only do one nail at a time.

Before ever trying the nail grinder on my dogs, I tried it on a few of my longer nails. I wanted to know how it felt before I even dared put it near my dogs. 

I could feel the grinder move across my nail and quickly filing it. The feeling wasn't painful. It felt more like a quick vibration and some what tickled. The grinder did give me smooth edges on my nails without splitting them.

This grinder isn't exactly mute. There's still a vibrating sound that the grinder gives off. It made my dogs nervous about having the grinder near them. 

If dogs are not calm around the grinder, it could take more than one person to help keep them still. 

The nail grinder isn't what I'd consider 100% safe for a pet. There's still a risk of human error if the grinder is put on the pets nail too long and accidentally grind their nail too short, making them bleed. 

If you don't rotate the nail or grinder to different angles of the pet's nails, the nails could get sharper than they were before. 


The nail grinder is easy to clean and to take off the cap. The directions are included on the packaging.

One thing that I did notice is that the description and the packaging did not tell you what kind of batteries needed.

Pros:
- Quick to use
- Easy to clean
- Different sized openings

Cons:
- Vibration noise can still scare pets (Not mute)
- Can make nail sharper if not used properly 

Check out what others have to say on Amazon.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Yogi Bear Dog Toy



I received the Yogi Bear Dog Toy through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Designed for aggressive chewers
  • Works for all sizes of breeds
Although this dog toy claims it's for aggressive chewers, the amount this toy sheds it's fuzz makes me question how durable it truly is. There are some areas where the thread is showing. There's enough space where the pet can get it's teeth under the threads and break them. This toy isn't the "best" for aggressive chewers.

The toy has a variety of parts to the bear that's different sizes. The different sizes allow the toy to be used for pets of all sizes. My toy breed dog is able to carry this toy around. She just can't fit her mouth around where the tennis ball is.

My dog has yet to break the toy for one main reason. She doesn't like to play with it. The bear doesn't make a lot of noise. There's no squeaky toy to this bear. My dog prefers toys where she can squeak them and make plenty of noise. The toy just seems to bore her more than anything. I can get her to play with the toy for less than two minutes at a time before she gets bored and quits fetching or playing tug-a-war.

Pros:
- Cute

Cons:
- Easy to pull out fuzz
- Threads are noticeable and breakable
- Not durable
- Boring toy (Doesn't make noise)

Check out what others say about this product on Amazon.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Happy Circle Cat Toy



I received the Happy Circle Cat Toy through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Ground & Air Prey
  • BPA free plastic
  • 10" x 10"
  • Allows for chasing and swatting 
This cat toy can be fun for any young or active cat. The toy allows them to chase or swat at their prey. Most of which can be done with the cat laying or sitting down. Others may be more active with this toy.

As fun as the cat toy looks, the quality did disappoint me. When I hear a product is made with the "highest quality," I expect the entire product is made that way. I felt like some parts of this cat toy wasn't made completely with the highest quality materials.

The base of the cat toy is okay in design and colorful. The holes on the top make it easy for cats to get their paws in and play with the ball. The openings on the side is big enough that the ball can pushed out of the ball track.

The ball is just two different colors of hard, cheap plastic glued together with beads inside.

The white mouse on the spring is really cheap. It feels like a thin plastic that's shaped into the body of a mouse with white fuzzy fabric over it. Even the tail is just a thin strip of fabric that can easily be pulled out of the body.

The spring is thicker and bounces back to the upright position. I tried bending the spring with my hands and found that if I bent or folded the spring in half, the spring wasn't as sturdy as it looked. The spring went back to the upright position with a slight kink in the spring. But then I noticed something that really bothered me about this product.

The spring was leaving silver flakes of paint on my hands. Why would I or any other consumer want a toy for our pets that would end up flaking paint and having them ingest it? Not to mention if a young child got a hold of the toy flaking paint...



Pros:
- Colorful
- Holes on top for paws to fit through to get to the ball
- Ball rolls around in track nicely

Cons:
- Mouse is cheap
- Fabric (such as the tail) of the mouse can be pulled apart
- Ball can be pushed out of track
- Ball is cheap
- Spring flakes silver paint 

Check out what others have to say on Amazon.

Monday, February 1, 2016

Bully Stick & Beef Tendon Combo Pack



I received the Bully Sticks and Beef Tendon Combo Pack through a promotion. 

Product Info:
  • Promotes healthy cartilage in joints with chondroitin & glucosamine
  • Keeps pets occupied 
  • Good for keeping teeth clean and gums strong
My two dogs are obsessed with bully sticks. I don't buy them. It's a treat they surely enjoy. 

These bully stick and tendon mix did not disappoint them. They recognized the bully stick smell right away. The sticks were a bit big for them, since my dogs are categorized as toy breeds. The bully sticks kept them entertained for hours. It helps keep them active and their gums strong. 

The bully sticks lasted much longer than normal raw hide chew sticks. Although, the bully sticks do have a bit more smell to them. It's not bothersome or too noticeable unless you get close to the stick. 

The tendons grossed me out. The appearance of them wasn't appealing to me. Thankfully, it wasn't going in my mouth. My dogs had no problem with the tendons. They prefer the bully sticks to chew on. The mix gave my pets a chance to try something different. 

Check out this mix on Amazon.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Bear Dog Hoodie



I received the Bear Dog Hoodie through a promotion. 

Product Info:
  • Warm, fuzzy fleece
  • Bear design
  • Sizes: XS, S, M, L, & XL
The dog hoodie has a very cute bear design that is amusing and adorable.

The fleece material of the hoodie is very soft to the touch. It reminds me of fuzzy fleece blankets. The fleece material does hold in their body heat. It's great for on winter nights when they have to go out into the snow and cold.

If warn for several hours, the pets could get too warm, especially if they're in doors or warmer weather, because of how well the fleece holds in they're body heat.

I did notice that the tail ball is just glued onto the fabric. It's easy to pull off or have it come loose. If a pet is a chewer, like mine, it will be ripped off the hoodie quickly.

The size of the hoodie runs very small. My dog normally wears a small in dog clothes and sweaters. She usually enjoys dressing up, especially in the winter time because it keeps her warm. My dog is a Shih Pom (Shih Tzu mixed with Pomeranian), which makes her apart of the toy breed.

Originally, I tried a small with this product and it was way too short her for. It was too short by several inches.

I had to get a large because the smaller hoodies would not fit her in length and I figured the medium still wouldn't fit due to the design of the small. The larger size didn't fit her in the chest area, which also made the hood too big for her. It annoyed her each time the hood would flop over and cover her face.

The back portion of the hoodie bothers my dog. She's not used to something rubbing near her tail or pushing it down. I could tell by the way she was walking and laying down that she did not like the hoodie at all.

I do like that the chest and length that each size is made for is listed in the description of the product, but the chest vs. length size does not seem proportionate or fitting for all dog breeds.

If this product was sold as a two piece with the bottoms (back legs) and top (chest, front legs) of the hoodie separated, the sizes would have been more to portion with how most dog clothing fits. It could also create more satisfaction for the pet if they only like a certain half of the hoodie.

Pros:
- Cute
- Soft fleece

Cons:
- One piece
- Length size is too short
- Runs very small in size
- Tail is just glued on 
(Pets who are chewers will get this removed easily)

Check out what others have to say on Amazon.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Shed Ninja 2-in-1 Shedding Brush



I received the Shed Ninja 2-in-1 Shedding Brush through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Helps reduce shedding
  • Works on short & long hair dogs/cats
  • Detangles hair and removes loose hair
  • Stainless steel blade
  • Reaches beneath top coat
  • No sharp cutting blade
  • Rake side designed for thick or heavy coats
The shed ninja 2-in-1 brush works well to help reduce shedding and get rid of some of the loose hair on dogs. 

The handle is a nice, comfortable size. It feels natural to hold.

The blade part of the brush isn't as sharp as some of the other blades I've had on other brushes. It's sharp enough to remove some of the loose hair, but it doesn't pull on the pets' hair has much. My dogs usually do not tolerate the de-shedding blades because they pull on the hair and it irritates them. My dogs don't exactly enjoy this blade, but they do sit still longer when I'm using the shed ninja blade compared to others. 

The rake side of the shed ninja is what my dogs do enjoy. My dogs usually do not like wire or metal brushes. This is the second rake brush style that my dogs enjoy. They will actually sit still for me while I brush their hair. The ends of the rake are rounded and smooth. They don't scratch or irritate the skin. The two rows of the rake are two different sizes. One is shorter and the other is longer. This helps detangle the hair and get the top and under coats at the same time.

A part of the brush stood out to me. I noticed the head of the brush swivels or moves. It's attacked by a rounded connection that allows the brush to move while it's going against a surface. It moves in the direction I'm going, yet it moves to adjust to the pet's body. It feels like it's putting an event amount of pressure and curves with their shape.

This flexible head connection doesn't feel the sturdiest. I'm afraid to put too much pressure with it in case it breaks. For my long haired, small breed dogs, this brush works fine.  For larger dogs, it may take more effort and time using this size of brush. Note: I have the small-medium sized brush. 

Pros:
- Flexible head
- Rounded ends on rake
- Rake rows two different sizes (gets top and undercoat)
- Nice handle
- Not a sharp blade

Cons:
- Flexible head connection doesn't feel sturdy 

Check out more about this brush on Amazon

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Stainless Steel Dog Bowls



I received the 32 oz Stainless Steel Dog Bowls through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Rubber bottom to reduce slipping
  • Made with stainless steel
  • Dishwasher safe
  • 32 ounces 
The stainless steel dog bowls are a nice size for if you have several pets or larger pets. 

The bowl holds 32 oz. of food or water, which is quite a bit. The bowls' sides goes up several inches. For small dogs, such as toy breeds, these dog bowls would be too big or high for them. My dogs, who are a smaller breed, don't really enjoy these bowls because the bowls hit their necks if the food or water is low. It bothers them when they're trying to drink or eat. When the food or water is towards the top, it's not a problem. 

The bowls have a rubber bottom on the edges to help reduce slipping. It can still slip or slide if a pet pushes the bowl. If the bottom metal part would also have a rubber bottom to it, it might work better to reduce the slipping.

The bowls are easy to clean. Using water and soap works for a quick clean. The bowls can also fit into the dishwasher and is dishwasher safe. 

Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Size for bigger dogs or lots of pets

Cons:
- Still can slip and slide on floor
- Size for smaller (toy sized) breeds

Check out these bowls on Amazon.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Esky Retractable Dog Leash



I received the Esky Retractable Dog Leash through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Extends up to 13ft 
  • Works for large dogs up to 45Ibs and smaller
  • Ergonomic Handle 
  • Braking and recoil system
  • Nylon tape 
The Esky Retractable Dog Leash is the first retractable dog leash I've used that is made with a nylon tape rather than a thinner cord. I had expected the dog leash to be heavier than the other ones I have at home due to the different style of rope. The dog leash is about the same weight, if not lighter, than my other retractable dog leashes. The smaller handled dog leashes weighed about the same as the Esky leash. The Esky leash happens to be lighter than my bigger handled dog leashes, even though the Esky leash is similar in size. 

The ergonomic handle on the Esky dog leash is wider and very comfortable to hold. It feels natural and almost weightless in my hands. It makes walking and controlling the dog easy. 

The braking and recoil system is easy to use. Pressing the button allows you to stop the dog. Pushing the lock in place while pressing the button locks the leash in place. Unlocking the leash doesn't allow the dogs to room free automatically. It holds the rope in the locked position until part of the rope feels slack or goes back into the leash, and then the rope will be unlocked and able to extend to it's full length again.

The length is about 13 ft long. It allows the pet to room free or stay close to you.

Beyond the ergonomic handle, my next favorite thing about this leash is the rope or nylon tape. My youngest dog has the habit of trying to bite the cords or ropes of her leashes or the other dog's leashes. I always worry that she might hurt her teeth or jaw by doing so with how hard and small that rope is. The nylon tape feels much softer and has more give if my dog tries to bite it and pull on the rope. 

The leash is durable and comfortable to use. The rope feels very smooth when going out of the leash.

Note: This leash was tested on two small/toy sized breeds (about 5-8 Ibs each). Larger pet owners may have a different experience with this leash. 

Pros:
- Lightweight
- Ergonomic handle
- Locking and braking system
- Smooth rope
- Durable 

Cons:
- When rope is rolling up, it doesn't always go all the way in the first try

Check out this leash on Amazon

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Deluxe Pet Booster Seat



I received the Deluxe Pet Booster Seat through a promotion.

Product Info:
  • Easy to clean exterior 
  • Liner can be removed for washing 
  • Front pocket zipper for extra storage 
  • Collapsible design for easy storage 
  • Strap around headrest and around back of seat 
  • Easy to install
  • Leash to hook up pets & keep them in seat
  • Made with a metal frame
  • Size: 14" W x 12" L x 7" D
  • Holds pet up to 20 Ibs



One of my dogs tends to try to climb all over the place in a moving vehicle. Often, she tries to climb into the driver's lap to stare out the window.

This booster seat helps keep in her one stop and stops her from becoming a driving hazard. The safety leash, that helps keep the dog int he booster seat, does wonders for her. The leash is connected in the booster seat by fabric and two metal hooks. I've tried pulling and yanking on it. The leash held up to all my abuse to it. It left me reassured that she's not going to yank on the leash and get free.

The booster seat does help keep them from becoming a distraction to the driver or getting down by the driver's feet. It's safe in that matter, but it may not hold up in a car accident, depending on how the accident is. The leash is short, but if they're turned around or twisted with the leash when the driver slams on the breaks, it may choke them a bit. My dogs wear harnesses, so there's no collar around their neck. There's less risk of them choking that way. Having the booster seat in the backseat can be safer than having them in the front if the booster seat fits there.

The booster seat fits best with a seat that has a headrest. Only my front seats have that, so that's where I tend to put the booster seat. The strap around the head rest keeps the booster seat up about 4 to 6 inches from bottom part of the seat. When the bag is in the air like that, the booster seat will unfold and keep upright. The booster seat is the perfect size for my pets. They're a Shih Tzu and Pomeranian mix, so they're small to toy breed in size. My dogs can sit or lay down within the booster seat. They prefer to sit, so they can stare out the window. The added height to the booster seat allows them to do so without standing up on the edge of the booster seat or an armrest.

The booster seat can be wiped down to clean or the fuzzy, soft lining can be taken out to be washed. The booster seat is made with a metal frame, so it's likely to break easily or get torn. It holds up against monster chewers like my one dog. The extra pocket for storage works for holding doggy poop bags or other small pet essentials when traveling.

Although this booster seat allows the collapsible design to be stored nicely and take up less space, my one dog refuses to allow me to put it away when it's not in the vehicle. Anytime I go to put it away, she sits on it and refuses to budge. It's now become her second bed for when I'm sitting near the computer.

Check out this booster seat on Amazon