Big Daddy from Unbreakoball

by GUEST BLOGGER JOCELYN

Is your dog a ball fanatic like mine? I swear, my dog goes through more balls than my kids go through toys.  Seems like every few days I have to find him something else to play with.

His favorite balls to play with, you might be wondering, are tennis balls and soccer balls.  I often wonder what is wrong footballs, basketballs and baseballs, but that is a mystery I may never figure out. 

Like I said, my dog chews through the balls I provide him with rather quickly and often turns to the kids toys.  In attempt to prevent this from happening and save myself some money I often try new products that claim to be durable or indestructible. 

On one of my many quests I came across the Unbreakoball. A ball made of a thick plastic that would be next to impossible for a dog to chew through.  Since my dog loves soccer balls so much I went with the Big Daddy Unbreakoball, it's 10 inches in diameter which is just a little bit bigger than a size 5 soccer ball.  The Unbreakoball is durable, weather resistant, 100% recyclable and if your dog breaks it within 90 days of purchase they will replace it at no charge!

I must admit that it took my dog quite some time to get used to this ball.  I am sure that the several feet of snow we had which caused a few gaps in playing with this toy didn't help. Now that he has figured out exactly how to grip the ball he LOVES it.  I should also mention that the Big Daddy was left out in the snowstorms that we had and came out good as new.

You can purchase Unbreakoball products via their website.  The Big Daddy runs about $30 plus S&H.

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Video Review | Booda Balance Ball Cat Toy by Petmate

The moment we placed the Balance Ball in the center of the living room floor, Buddha was hooked. There's something about the cluster of feathers with jingling bell, bobbing up and down, that Bu finds bewitching.

The Balance Ball is weighted so no matter how hard our cats swipe at it, knock it down, drag it away, lie on top of it or shoot it across the floor, it always lands on its "feet." And even after several days of Buddha putting the Balance Ball to the test, the toy is still intact!

Watch Buddha's video review of the Booda Balance Ball

 

There came a point during Buddha's rigorous review when we wanted to take a break, so we put the cat toy up, out of reach (or so we thought), but little Buddha-boy managed to knock it back down to the floor to continue his Balance Ball love-fest. Of course Buddha also has an affinity for the brand name. We love it!

The Booda Balance Ball comes in two color combos: green and purple, or yellow and pink, and can be purchased at Amazon.com.

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Motz Tiny Wooden Pet Speaker for iPhones, iPods & MP3 Players

Having been fascinated with anything miniature for as long as I can remember, I was immediately drawn to the Tiny Wooden Pet Speaker when I spotted it online. Only 2.6 inches long and 2 inches high, this puppy certainly packs a wallop.

Surprisingly big, clear sound from such an itty-bitty speaker! My daughters and I couldn't believe the quality of the sound that came from this petite Terrier!

The Pet Speaker is made from cut apricots, comes with a USB connector (for charging) and a standard jack for connecting to an iPhone, iPod or MP3 player. The rechargeable lithium battery (hidden inside), amplifies our tunes for around 5 hours before it needs recharging.

I can toss this pocket-sized darling into my purse or use her leash to attach her to my key ring. I have an overwhelming desire to make clothes for her...must be the Barbie-loving kid in me!

If you think the tiny dog speaker is cool, check-out the picture to the right - a Motz Tiny Wooden Acorn Speaker with a built-in FM radio! Simply amazing!

Quality construction, excellent performance and incredibly unique. What a great gift for pet-lovers! We pawsitively adore it!

You can purchase the Tiny Wooden Pet Speaker ($39.99) and the Tiny Wooden Acorn Speaker/FM Radio ($49.99) at PyramidDistribution.com.

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American Digs | Classic Canine Apparel

by Guest Blogger Cassandra Snow

There are quite a few things that I appreciate about American Digs after looking at their website.  One - I admire any person or any organization that gives back.  Not only do the people of American Digs give their time, but their dogs do too!  They support such organizations as Developmental Pathway, Animal Protection and Rescue League, and The Pets for the Elderly Foundation. 

Two - considering I was born in Colorado, I love that American Digs was founded in Denver, Colorado.  And three, their products are 100% American-made.

Like any parent, I think my dogs are the most beautiful dogs in the world.  So, I have the best time dressing them up in different apparel!  I tried out three American Digs products:  the Murphy Polo, the Beach Party Bandana and the Sadie Scarf. 

What I liked about these products was they made my dogs really stand out!  I mean, how many dogs can you say you’ve seen wearing scarves?  And, for those of you who know how to tie different knots, you can really play with the scarf’s or bandana’s look.  It’s the details that really bring out these items (the bandana has a sharp checkered pattern and the polo has a contrasting white placket with buttons that completes it)!   

Their company’s promise is “quality, classic, no-frills styles worthy of your best friend.”  And they deliver just that.  Both the dog polo shirt and dog scarf are made with an incredibly soft and lightweight jersey material that feels great to the touch (so you know it feels good to our dogs).  And, the dog bandana is made of 100% cotton. 

I tried the polo on our yorkie and I swear, he knew how good he looked in it because he wore it with pride!  Plus, the fit of the shirt allowed for his active personality.  These products gave my dogs a classic look all while never getting in the way of their playful lifestyles.   

There’s nothing I didn’t like about these products!  They’re even machine washable!

All three products can be found on their website in a variety of colors:

Murphy Polo Shirt ($37) | Beach Party Bandana (for $14) | The Sadie Scarf ($16)

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Nat Geo WILD's new series Philly Undercover | The war on animal cruelty

The City of Brotherly Love has declared war on animal cruelty with the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA) Task Force, a highly specialized crime-fighting unit, on the front lines.

We were given a sneak peek of Nat Geo WILD's new 6 part series, Philly Undercover, in which the Undercover crew shadows the PSPCA as they infiltrate Philly's criminal underworld to battle dogfighting, cockfighting and other extreme cases of animal abuse.

In the first episode, "Fight Night,"  we meet the team and follow them on a 2 day stakeout ending in the biggest dogfighting bust in Philadelphia's history. As we watched, we were struck by the level of danger faced by the officers. These undercover heroes literally put their lives on the line as they clean-up their town, one loathsome animal abuser at a time.

While the images can be tough to watch at times, the series shines a much needed light on the darker side of the human condition. If you want to join in the fight, it helps to know what and whom you're fighting. We plan on tuning in for the rest of the series.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Mahatma Gandhi

Some facts about the PSPCA Humane Law Enforcement Team:

• The PSPCA handles 41,000 animals a year, including cats, dogs, horses, reptiles, snakes, tigers, crocodiles and more.
• In 2007, the PSPCA conducted more than 7,000 investigations and made 75 arrests.
• The headquarters animal abuse hotline receives up to 80 calls a day.
• In addition to cases of animal abuse, the team is dedicated to eradicating dog fighting rings, puppy mills, the abuse of carriage horses, illegal exotic pets, and the abuse of racehorses.

Video Review | Petprojekt's Bumpi

by Guest Blogger Lindsey Hockert

Petprojekt has done it again! Betsy had a great time playing with the Bumpi! It’s color is definitely a big plus for our snowy home in Denver, Colorado. We never lose the Bumpi in the snow, therefore it has become our go-to snow toy.

Betsy chewed at the Bumpi like crazy but low and behold, it remains intact, impressive! There are small holes in the Bumpi that allow for a little treats to be inserted into  the ball. This is my favorite thing about it - I put a treat in there and Betsy still hasn’t gotten it out - it's my personal, free, dog sitter :)

Make sure your pup has a big enough mouth to handle the Bumpi! Sometimes Betsy has a hard time keeping the ball in her mouth when running around - though it sure doesn't stop her! 

Watch Betsy with her Bumpi

This is one of Betsy's favorite toys, and for $14, it's one of my favorites too! Two paws up! You can purchase Petprojekt's Bumpi at Otomik.com.

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I Can Has Cheezburger | Notepads, greeting cards, travel mugs and more!

I must be the last web browsing, pet lover to have heard of I Can Has Cheezburger, LOLcats and LOLdogs. I've seen the cute photos with the hysterical, misspelled captions but had no clue there was an entire community of kitty pidgin and doggy dialect devotees.

Thanks to stumbling upon Madison Park Group's website (and an LOLcat translator), I KNOE WUTS GOIN ON AN I HAS TEH CHEEZBURGER GOODIEZ 2 PROOV IT!

The Madison Park Group offers-up a charming collection of LOLspeak novelites: Notepads, greeting cards, magnets, labels, stickers, sticky notes and travel mugs. And these goods are not just cute, they're top quality too (the notepads are much heavier than the thin ones I purchase at local retail stores).

The images and captions featured on the Cheezburger line of products are all user generated and were voted the best by tens of thousands of Cheezburger viewers.

A couple of my favorites are the (insulated, BPA free) travel mug with the photo of a grumpy kitty and the caption, "don't talk to me, I hasn't had mah coffee" and the sticky notes that feature an adorable pup, looking quite irritated, with the caption, "diz week's hapee iz on backorder." I can relate to both!

The fact that The Madison Park Group donates a portion of their profits to animal rescue and shelter organizations makes me love their products all the more.

A great way to brighten your day or that of a pet loving co-worker or friend. U CAN BE HIP AN KEWL WHILE HELPIN HOMELES PETS!

Visit the I Can Has Cheezburger "Where to buy" page for a retailer near you.

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The Night Owl Reflective Collar by The Life of Ryley

by Guest Blogger Lori Smith

A must for the dog owner who strolls with their pet in the dark!  Early morning or late evening walks with my dog Stella are routine due to long hours at work.  Safety when walking my dogs is always a concern and that’s why the Night Owl Reflector Collar by The Life of Ryley is a must! 

Whether dusk or dawn, this collar reflects lights of oncoming cars, ensuring that both Stella and I are seen on our stroll.  There’s nothing better than having a trendy dog who’s also safe! 

I've found similar collars skimp on quality, but the Night Owl Reflector has durable canvas and a strong metal buckle.  It helps that it’s also trendy and looks adorable on Stella!

 What I Liked:

Wide reflective band covers the circumference of the collar
Charm encased in rubber silencer means that I can leave the collar on and don’t hear the jingling of dog tags
Sturdy metal buckle
Durable canvas and trendy colors

Would I recommend to other pet owners:

Absolutely…especially those who walk their four-legged pets at dusk, dawn, or dark!
I like the collar so much that I have considered purchasing the matching leash.

The Life of Ryley Night Owl Collar can be purchased online at www.thelifeofryley.com for $28.00.

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Video Review | Aroma Paws Luxury Dog Shampoo & Conditioner

by Guest Blogger Cassandra Snow
Aroma Paws offers an incredibly impressive selection of products on their website, www.aromapaws.com, ranging from luxury spa shampoos, vegan conditioners, organic washes, odor neutralizing solutions to soy candles (just to name a few). 

I tried two of their shampoo and conditioner products (the honeysuckle jasmine and the coconut papaya).  Aroma Paws’ goal is “to provide Eco-Friendly Grooming Essentials using earth derived ingredients, essential oils & botanical extracts to benefit animals and the world they live in.”  And after looking closely at the ingredients, that statement could not be truer. 

My sister and I used these products while giving our four dogs baths.  I still can’t get over how wonderful they both smelled and how each of them lathered up perfectly!  With the soothing scents and the relaxing massaging, these products made the baths more enjoyable for both the dogs and us!  Also, after massaging the products deep into their skin, they each rinsed away with no trouble at all!     

Enjoy our Aroma Paws' video review

 

As I’ve mentioned before, I LOVE how these products smell.  Both of them smell absolutely amazing!  My dad, who is not the biggest fans of dogs, even unintentionally paid a compliment afterwards by saying that dogs should not smell that good! 

The honeysuckle jasmine has a dry skin and dandruff relief formula consisting of honeysuckle oil, Indian jasmine oil and sweet violet oil.  The other, coconut papaya, has a sensitive skin formula consisting of coconut oil, papaya extract, vanilla bean oil, and seagrass extract.  The scents are incredibly soothing and relaxing.    

Each of these shampoos and conditioners were great.  I’ve had Luci for 8 years and I have never smelled products this good in all that time.  Even the look and style of the bottle is sharp.  What I loved also was the two-in-one shampoo and conditioner because honestly, I usually just shampoo my dogs.  That won’t be the case anymore thanks to Aroma Paws.     

You can find these products, and many others, on the Aroma Paws website (Honeysuckle Jasmine Shampoo & Conditioner and Coconut Papaya Shampoo & Conditioner) for $14.99.  You can also receive free shipping and handling for any order of $49.

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M&J Dog Essentials | Holistic grooming products

by Guest Blogger Lindsey Hockert

M&J Dog Essentials is a line of truly luxurious grooming products which I whole-heartedly recommend for any dog owner who loves to pamper their pooch.  

We reviewed the HollyWOOF Essential Dog Gift Basket ($85) which includes: Nutrient Fusion Pre-Bath Treatment, Purely Clean Shampoo & Conditioner, Show Dog Shine, Simply Soothed Herbal Rinse, a dog bath sponge, tote bag and reusable washtub. 

We followed M&J's signature 3 step grooming system:

1. We started by pampering Betsy with a pre-bath massage using the Nutrient Fusion ($20 for 6.76 oz). She loved this step! This loosens up dirt, providing a more effective starting point for the shampoo and it contains vitamins that promote a healthy coat and deter dry itchy skin.

2. Next, we lathered her up with the Purely Clean Shampoo and Condition ($18 for 6.76 oz).  We loved the fresh scent, the fact that it didn't produce a ton of suds, and that it was easy to rinse out.  

3. Finally, we applied the light-weight, Show Dog Shine - Leave-In Conditioner ($22 for 6.76 oz) with Avocado and Karanja oils for a shiny, coat and a yummy-smelling pup!

Betsy absolutely loved the entire spa process. Her fur is shiny and soft, and she smells great! It also helped with her little dandruff problem. We love M&J Dog Essentials!

M&J Dog Essentials get two paws up and two thumbs up from Betsy and her dad, Patrick!

Check out the pampering process in this video:

 

The M&J Dog Essentials grooming products were provided to the Secret Shopper team courtesy of Distinctive Assets as part of their HollyWOOF celebrity swag bag.

"Distinctive Assets is a niche marketing company offering celebrity placement, product introduction and branding opportunities within the entertainment industry."

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