On the deck in Bend, Oregon

Hello everyone,

I thought you might be interested in hearing about my latest road trip with my humans! We all piled into Dad’s SUV and headed to Bend, Oregon, about a three hour drive from our home. My humans, being extremely safety conscious, of course had me seat belted in and I enjoyed the luxury of a soft blanket to lay on and my favorite toy. Since they always keep my comfort in mind, they brought water, a small bowl, a towel and wipes in the car (don’t want to ruin their nice leather seats with my muddy paws). The hotel we stayed in was pet friendly (we checked beforehand) and they brought my kennel along…a very good idea on their part, since that is where I like to sleep at night and it is my “safe haven” when they are not in the room with me. Of course they remembered my food and some of my favorite toys to play with in the room. We went on lovely walks, were greeted by snow the very next morning and had a lovely visit with friends (I am, of course, a very well mannered house guest).The trip was wonderful and I loved being with my humans. I am already looking forward to the next road trip…maybe the beach?

There are many different causes for itchy, dry skin. If your dog is scratching constantly, it is important to find out what the cause is  and a trip to the Vet may be called for. Try not to scratch your dogs itchy spot for him. Believe it or not, scratching the itch, will only make the dog more itchy. 

Some of the worst offenders are:

1. Fleas and flea allergies

2. Airborne allergens like pollen

3. Parasites, such as ear mites

4. Skin infections caused by bacteria

5. Ticks and lice

6. Food allergies

7. Fungal infections, including yeast infections

8. Seborrhea

9. Contact allergies

There are several things you can do to ease your dogs itch while you try to figure out, with the help of your vet, what is causing the problem. The following products from Happy Tails can help your companion feel himself again:

1. Bathe the dog regularly in cool water. Warm or hot water will only make the itch worse. Use Comfy Dog Colloidal Oatmeal Shampoo. Comfy Dog contains colloidal oatmeal and botanical extracts of peppermint, burdock and comfrey. These all natural ingredients make your itchy dog’s life much more comfortable. For easy rinsing, the shampoo doesn’t overly lather (shampoo residue can be a terrible skin irritant), it’s very gentle and will leave your dog not only feeling great but also smelling fresh and minty..

Colloidal oatmeal is one of the few all natural ingredients that has been approved by the FDA for use in helping dry skin, insect bites and itching. It makes Comfy Dog a great, all natural first step if your dog is having skin issues. 

Helps Relieve:

Swelling and inflammation
Hot spots
Dry, itchy or irritated skin
Insect Bites

Comfy Dog contains no SLS or Parabens, uses a coconut based surfactant…and of course, is cruelty free

 Price: $14.00 for 9oz

2. After the bath, use Fur Butter – Ultra rich, colloidal oatmeal conditioner for dogs with dry, itchy skin.  
If you want your best friend to go from ho-hum to wow! this is the product for you.This ultra-rich deep conditioning treatment will bring back remarkable shine and softness to even the most damaged coat.

All natural Fur Butter will leave your little buddy super silky and easy to brush, but the effects are more than just cosmetic; Shea butter moisturizes and conditions the fur while colloidal oatmeal heals dry and itchy skin. Add great things like comfrey, callundula and aloe and you have one amazingly effective product.
Fur Butter:

Is ideal for dogs with dry, damaged or long coats
Leaves coat super silky and easy to brush through
Creates an intense shine
Helps control itching and irritation
Has a fresh clean scent (Rosemary Peppermint)

Fur Butter contains no SLS or Parabens, and of course, is cruelty free

 
Price: $19.00 for  8oz

3. After a great shampoo and conditioning, try  Itchin’ for Relief - Relief right where you need it! Our unique “nozzler” spray gets this soothing formula through the fur directly to itchy and irritated skin. No muss, no fuss, no wet dog or wasted product. Every drop of this all-natural product by-passes even the thickest coat and attacks the problem at the source.

Itchin’ for Relief contains a blend of Neem, Oat Extract, Litchi and Aloe to soothe irritated skin while Boswellia Serrata & Calendula help to reduce inflammation. We’ve also included Grapefruit seed Extract to prevent both bacterial and fungal infections.
Exclusive “Nozzler”…fast acting, the all-natural formula brings immediate relief but it’s also economical …the “nozzler” allows you to use only the amount you need

Itchin for Relief:

Eases the discomfort of itchy skin caused by minor irritations and insect bites

Helps relieve hot spots

Combats inflammation

Has powerful antioxidant-like properties

Price: $17.00 for 7.6 oz

Itchin’ for Relief contains no SLS or Parabens..and of course, is cruelty free

If you would like to order any of these products, or have any questions, send me an email at Ursula@ecodogpack.com

All products are shipped promptly via Priority mail and 5% of the proceeds will be donated to World Vision for the Haiti Relief Fund.

Thank you for looking and have a great day!

Hello everyone! I thought you might like to meet the rest of my pack…these are my humans! My pack leaders are Dennis and Ursula, and I couldn’t ask for a better family. We go everywhere together, well, almost . In this photo we are at the Doggie Dash in Portland last Spring, raising money for the Humane Society. It was a beautiful day, a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed meeting the hundreds of other dogs, but I think my humans were a little frustrated with my puppy antics. I am older and wiser now and hopefully this year I will do better. I can’t wait to get out there again and strut my stuff! Stay tuned for more info about this exciting challenge and  this worthy cause. Ruff Ruff

I am happy to announce that we are now carrying a spa product line from Happy Tails! Happy Tails is a Los Angeles-based company that creates eco-friendly spa, grooming and wellness products for the modern dog. They use the finest (“better than human quality”) ingredients to solve the toughest problems that dogs face, like itchy skin, tear stains and bad breath. Happytails is sold and recommended by veterinarians around the world for one simple reason- they work, naturally! I will be posting their product line here soon…stay tuned!

Check out my earlier blog in the shopping mall on the Poo Pal, my original, stylish tote to carry pet waste bags! Not only does the Poo Pal attach to any leash or belt loop, but it comes in an almost limitless variety of fabrics. Shown here are just a few of the choices I have on hand…the actual choice is limited only by your imagination. Feel free to contact me with any questions you have. Happy shopping!

So you have a new puppy…so cute and cuddly… and now she is chewing everything in sight, piddling every 45 minutes and in general changing your life into a whirlwind of cleanup. Cheer up…there is a light at the end of the tunnel!  Here are some tips to help you get through that puppy phase, but the most important thing to remember is that the training you begin now will lay the foundation for the relationship you and your dog will have for the rest of its life. So:

1) First and foremost, be a pack leader. As cute and cuddly as she is, she is still a dog. Not a baby or a toy. Dogs are pack animals and will only respect and follow a pack leader so learn to become your dogs pack leader.Your puppy’s mother was its first pack leader, teaching it to wait for food, setting limits and giving discipline. Now you must take over that role in a positive, clear manner. Some ways to accomplish this is by making her wait for her food, sit and wait by the door so you can go through first, and in general show her that YOU make the rules.

2) Dogs need structure and boundaries. In the early stages of puppyhood, make sure she is kennel trained. That will become her “safe place” . Start by rewarding her with a treat when she goes into her kennel. This can be a special treat only used for kennel training. The kennel can be used at night, when company arrives, to give her a “time out” or any other time that you feel she should not have the run of the house. It can also be used for potty training.

3) Only use positive reinforcement and gentle correction. Your puppy is just learning what its boundaries are. Make sure you show her those boundaries in a positive, nurturing way. If your puppy nibbles on your fingers when you try to play with her then stop the playing, say  ”no” and wait until she stops biting, then reward her with a treat and continue playing with her again. She will figure out that playing gently gets her a reward while playing rough does not.

4) Give lots of love! Now this one sounds pretty easy doesn’t it? Who wouldn’t want to give loves to that cute little ball of fluff? But loving your furry companion means so much more than the cuddles and kisses you give her. Since she is a dog, and dependent on you for all her needs , loving your dog means giving her food, shelter, discipline and exercise. The most important things in a dogs life.

5) Don’t let her become bored. Dogs are eager to please and also need a purpose in life. If not given a “job” to do she will soon turn to other pasttimes which are much more destructive (chewing on furniture, barking, etc.) Make sure your puppy has lots of toys to occupy her time, both interactive toys and chew toys, that will keep her away from the furniture. Play games with her…fetch and find the ball are some good ones. But when she is very young, stay away from tug of war…her baby teeth can’t handle it and you don’t want to teach aggression at this early stage, there will be plenty of time for those types of games when she is older.

6)Watch your attitude! If you are frazzled, frustrated or upset, she will pick up on that. Take a deep breath, remove yourself from the situation for a little while and come back to her when you are in a calm state of mind.

Enjoy your puppy and the wonderful companion you have added to your family!

My Graduation!

I just had to share my latest Graduation picture…cute, aren’t I? Yes, on January 27th I graduated from my Advanced Training Class and I am so proud of my accomplishment! 8 weeks of training, lots of practice at home and lots of treats…now I am on my way to becoming a well trained dog. Even though I graduated, I need lots of positive reinforcement and of course the learning never stops. So, to all you young pups out there, it can be done and it can be fun!

It’s winter and if you live in a part of the country where getting outside with your furry companion is a challenge (like the Pacific Northwest), read on. In an ideal world, we would all walk our dogs twice a day, both of us getting lots of exercise and Vitamin D. Unfortunately, the world we live in is not always ideal; in fact, it’s sometimes downright inconvenient! When circumstances make it difficult  to venture outside for physical exercise, don’t despair! There are activities that you can enjoy with your dog right in the comfort of your own home.

Treadmill – The treadmill is a  very convenient way for your dog to get  exercise without leaving home. Although not a full-time replacement for the walk, the treadmill can be used to supplement daily exercise.  Remember to take it slow and always allow enough time  for your dog to get accustomed to the treadmill before leaping right into a running regimen. Get him used to the machine first by encouraging him to stand on it, then eventually you can start the treadmill on slow. Once your dog has the hang of it, don’t be surprised if you enter the room one morning to find him sitting expectantly, waiting to be allowed to play with it! 

 Basic Commands Training – Your dog’s physical needs aren’t all that requires fulfilling. He has psychological needs, too! One activity that doesn’t demand a lot of room to move is the practice of basic training commands. Giving your dog a psychological challenge that forces him to focus and keeps his attention can be a very effective way to drain his energy and strengthen the bond that you share. Basic sit, down, stay commands are a good start. Remember to keep a bag of his favorite treats on hand as a reward for his correct behavior.

Toys and Games – There is a wide range of toys and games for dogs that have been carefully engineered specifically to engage and improve cognitive functions. Most of these toys involve an incentive, like a treat,to keep the dog interested and to reward him for playing. Check with your local pet retail stores and online for the kinds of toys you can use to make keeping your dog psychologically fulfilled into a game!

Use the Stairs – A stairway is a great place to give your dog a physical challenge. You can begin by having one person at the top of the stairs and one at the bottom. Each of you can call him and reward him for making the trip. You can also toss a favorite toy up the stairs and have him run up and bring it back downstairs. Make sure it is clear when the activity begins and ends. You don’t want your dog to associate the stairway with excitement or it can lead to accidents down the road.

Hide and Seek– You can play this with family members or treats. Ask your dog to use his nose to find the hidden items or people, and reward him. This can be a fun way to get bored kids involved. Treats with different smells can be hidden under cones (or cans with holes poked through them) and when he chooses the correst treat he gets the reward.Again, be clear when the activity begins and ends. When you decide the game is over, it’s over!

Grooming – As simple as it sounds, a brushing session is a wonderful activity for a day spent inside. Any kind of grooming, done with care and love, is a kind of affection, and sharing that affection can bring you two closer together. Be sure to satisfy exercise as much as  possible beforehand, though, so your canine companion is in a calm state of mind before the grooming begins!

We can all get “cabin fever”,  and wintertime blues at this time of year and our canine companions are no different. Hopefully these activities will help give you some ideas to battle boredom and enrich the bond between you and your pet.

Everyone these days is doing their part to be more green. A lot of  animal lovers are especially keen in making changes to be more eco-conscious with their pet products. We all know the importance of picking up our dogs waste, after all, no one wants to take a walk in the park and step in dog poo. But which bags should we use? Grocery bags are convenient and in plentiful supply, BUT…it takes one plastic bag approximately  1000 years to degrade! That’s 1000 years to fill up our landfills, get into the oceans,  kill marine life and pour petroleum into the air in its manufacture.To be truly “green”, bio-degradable pet waste bags are the  bag of choice. Now, how to remember to take those bags with us when Spot is barking at the door, anxious for his walk? The perfect answer is the PooPal…a convenient, accessible and attractive tote to hold those pet waste bags! Each Poo Pal is handmade from high quality fabrics (most are 100% cotton), are large enough to carry one full roll of bags, have a slit at the bottom to dispense one bag at a time, a velcro closure to keep the bag closed and a sturdy snap on the handle so it can be attached to a leash, purse or belt loop. The fabric has been treated to be water repellant and is washable. The choice of fabric is limitless…anything from skulls to hearts to that perfect plaid to go with your Burberry coat. Get a Poo Pal to match your dogs leash or coat, or to match yours. Don’t settle for those plastic containers, the dog bone shaped ones  that come with some bags, the ones that break after the first or second use, get your own PooPal…the stylish way to be eco friendly!

Hello Everyone,

It’s time for the big holiday season! With Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, and all of the other December holidays right around the corner it is time to get back to basics and promote some of the very best sellers.

Stay tuned for our own “Poo Pals”, “Holiday Glam” and “Kitty Krinkles! The mystery will soon unfold as these products become available! Check back frequently!Until then, the Dog.com Holiday Shoppe has some of the very best of holiday themed dog supplies including dog toys, treats, beds, clothing, and more. Use this link to  the Holiday Shoppe, – Shop Dog.com’s Holiday Shoppe for Toys, Treats and More!

Check out these great products:

- Season’s Greenies Treat-Pak 27 oz. (492032)
- Dingo Goof Balls Value Pack (133473)
- Frontline Plus 6 Months (150930)
- Bully Sticks Case (130662)
- Cosequin DS Tablets (220012)

And throughout the entire holiday season, don’t forget Dog.com gift certificates – take the guesswork out of gift giving!

Finally, we are introducing a brand new coupon, valid the entire month of December. Customers receive absolutely FREE shipping on all orders of $49.99 and over, with no additional weight charges and no limits!

December Coupon: Free Shipping on Orders of $49.99 or More at Dog.com

Happy shopping!