VetDepot.com is an online retailer of pet medications and supplies. They sent me a free bag of C.E.T. Petite Pet Chews For Dogs to review (click here to link to the product). I didn’t notice a difference in my dog’s breath or teeth in just a week (they informed me before the product was sent that results often take longer than a week) but I have to say that Mr. Bennett LOVES these treats. They shipped them out very, very quickly and although their prices aren’t as great as some other retailers, VetDepot’s prices are much cheaper than purchasing through your local veterinarian.  Next time you need pet meds of any kind, head over to VetDepot.com and check them out! Thanks VetDepot!

Sorry for the lack of posting lately–I had a baby on September 23rd! Our daughter is thriving and my husband and I are ecstatic to be parents. This is an amazing journey we are on!

Shortly before Emma Penelope was born,  the folks at IN Supplements sent me a sample bottle of their chicken flavored dog supplements. The dogs have been taking them for several weeks and they LOVE them! When I hear the word “supplement” I think of nasty-tasting vitamins. Not so with IN–the dogs can’t get enough. One chewy nugget for every 5 pounds of dog, so everyday Mr. Bennett got 4 and Princeton got 10. On busy days we just add them to their food, but usually we use the opportunity to practice basic commands. The dogs totally think they are treats. No crushing, mixing, disguising or shoving-down-the-throat is necessary!

Ingredients: lecithin, rice brand, oatmeal, flaxseed, white rice flour, chicken, cod liver oil, powdered cane molasses, dried eggs, glycerin, carrot, celery, beet, parsley, lettuce, watercress, spinach, wheat germ, calcium carbonate. Vitamin supplements: riboflavin, A D3, E, B2, B12.

Great for all breeds and all ages. Prices start at $14.95 for a two pound jar. Check out the testimonials on their site. They have several different supplement options for cats and dogs as well as hip and joint supplements–check them out!

 Four paws!

The sturdy plastic ball of the IQ Treat Ball is designed to release a treat or piece of kibble when your dog pushes it around. It has difficulty settings so that as your dog learns to dispense a treat you can increase the challenge for him. It comes in a three-inch size (suggested for small dogs) as well as a five-inch size (recommended for medium to large dogs). The toy slows down your dog’s eating and makes him work for his food. The five-inch ball can be difficult to open for smaller hands especially if there is dried dog drool involved (think glue!). A 1/2 cup of kibble is all that will fit in the larger size easily. It can be a bit noisy on hard surfaces, but it will keep your dog occupied for upwards of 20-40 minutes. If your dog is lazy, older, or just not playful they might not get into this toy. But for inquisitive pups and working breeds, this is just the thing to keep them busy for a long time! Works better on hard surfaces than carpet, but often gets tossed under a couch making the human the retriver! For only $8, though, I think the IQ Treat Ball is completely worth these slight drawbacks.

Three paws!

This treat is designed to keep the dogs licking and chewing and biting for hours! The Everlasting Treat Balls fit in into the Everlasting Treat ball holder keeping your pup coming back for more. And for most it does. However some dogs manage to lick the handles until the ball pops out or just pull the ball out. Even though the Everlasting Treat Ball comes in two sizes, some  lose interest because of the difficulty in holding the small round ball. The last downfall is the price, $20 for the original ball and holder and $7 per refill ball. The refill balls can be purchased in several different flavors including chicken,barbecue, and liver!  I’ve heard some really positive things about the benefits of having an Everlasting Treat Ball–that it will satisfy the most active pups for weeks and is completely worth every penny.  If you are willing to take the plunge and purchase this treat your pups just might love it!

Two paws!

I really like the look of this elevated food dish and check out the storage underneath! A huge visual improvement to my two old blue dishes on a towel on the floor and the random toys everywhere! Giving your pet an elevated food dish has some nice benefits, especially for older pups who should watch their posture.  You do have to take out the feed dishes to open up the bin, so this would be a great place to store winter coats, new toys, and grooming equipment. Workmanship of the wood is fair for the price. As with any feeding, but particularly with an elevated food dish, wait 1 hour before or after exercise to prevent bloat.

Three out of four paws!

Orijen dog food is not sold in Petsmart and Petco (to date) so when a client of mine started using this food I didn’t know what to think. But upon reading reviews and seeing this picky pup’s food bowl empty I became a believer! This food has very high protein level and hardly any gluten at all! If you look at many popular dog foods today you will see that usually the number one ingredient is “meal” or corn—both are glutens which your dog cannot digest; just filler. Not so with Orijen! Number one ingredient is “deboned chicken”! If you have a picky eater or are concerned with giving your dog quality kibble. Check it out! Also comes in fish flavoring (with the number one ingredient as fresh fish), making Orijen Dry Dog Food a good option for pups who are allergic to chicken. It is more expensive than your average dry dog food, but for the quality of ingredients I think it’s worth it. For a cheaper dog food that is also high is quality try Purina One Smartblend.

In recent years more studies have been done on the dangers of rawhide bones and companies are rising up to give bone alternatives. Rawhide bones can splinter, expand in the mouth, cause choking and suffocation, get caught in the intestines, are swallowed in large chunks, leave residue on carpet and couch, are eaten quickly and still aren’t all that cheap to purchase. The most common alternative option for the dog that loves to chew are Bulli Sticks! They aren’t compressed, so they don’t break or splinter and they usually last several days to several weeks.  They can be expensive in the stores, but the Large Bull Sticks Dog Treats provide a realistic price for many hours of enjoyment for you dog. The biggest downfall is the smell and the ingredients. All bull sticks (sometimes spelled bulli  or bully or called pizzle sticks) are made entirely out of a bull’s penis. If you don’t mind knowing that fact (your dog certainly doesn’t care), purchasing Large Bull Sticks Dog Treats will make your dogs very happy indeed! This brand is middle of the road when it comes to odor, but the odorless variety is quite a bit more expensive, making this brand the best-selling bull sticks on amazon.com.

These are my favorite treats to use on a daily basis for the number one reason that they break easily!!  This is the best dog product to use whether you’re teaching basic obedience commands, tricks, or running an agility course, the Pup-Peroni Dog Treats are the way to go. These almost have the consistency of a Slim Jim and smell just about as good as real beef jerky. No more chopping up pieces of cheese or hard treats to use during training sessions–grab a Pup-Peroni stick and break it on the go! Try it out!

My dogs LOVE these. You can break them into smaller pieces if you wish, or give them whole (and make your dog really happy). They are made from free-range chicken breast fillets and have no preservatives or artificial coloring. There have been several complaints about gastrointestinal problems caused by chicken jerky, but my dogs have never suffered any side effects from Kingdom Pets Chicken Jerky treats.

I originally bought the Milk-Bone Marrow-Filled treats to use at agility class but soon realized that they are not the right treat for that. They are fairly large (1/2″ to 1″) and do NOT break easily. Even taking a kitchen knife to them would make them crumble. Also, if my dog ate them too quickly, he would choke due to the dry consistency. Not a fan. If you have a 150lb dog, these might work well for training, but for the average 20-60lb dog, I would not recommend them.