A-Door-able | Bouncing mouse, octopus, & bird cat toys

We have two 3 month old kittens, Atticus and Scout (brother & sister), who are always looking for something to play with. We've bombed with a variety of cat toys but it was a happy day indeed when my daughter brought home an A-Door-able kitty toy to amuse them.

You simply clip the (plastic coated) hanger on any door frame and let the hilarity begin! Scout and Atty went absolutely bonkers over this thing. I couldn't believe how long it kept their attention. The first time I put it up they must have played with it for over an hour.

The little toy hangs at the end of an adjustable elastic cord and makes a rattling sound when bounced. We have the mouse but I see that the octopus and bird are catnip scented. We'll have to try one of those next!

Atty and Scout attack the mouse and upon release, the elastic cord flings it high in the air in random directions. Occasionally I have to retrieve it from the top of the microwave. I kind of wish it squeaked but I suppose that would drive me crazy after about 20 minutes. It also has a breakaway safety clip which I think is an absolutely awesome feature!

We LOVE this toy! So often, it's the simplest toys the cats love the best!

You can purchase A-Door-ables for $4.99 at PetCareRX.com.

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Petmate Curvations Pet Tote

When we visited Petmate's booth at this year's Global Pet Expo in Orlando, we were like kids in a candy store. So many new products to check-out, including their latest pet carrier design, the Curvations Pet Tote. We like the hip design, the sleek look, comfy padded shoulder strap and, the removable, washable pet bed.

Our guest reviewer, Becki, had this to say, "We have a 6 lb Yorkie poo and recently tried the Petmate Curvations Pet Tote.  It has so many great features! Beyond being very cute and stylish it comes completely apart to store easily, the sides have full zippers to be able to put your dog in and take out easily, a pet bed inside, ventilation all the way around the carrier, a shoulder strap and carry handle, in addition to feet on the bottom of the carrier.  It really is very well made and designed I would highly recommend this to anyone traveling with their pet!"

You can purchase the Petmate Curvations Tote for $55.73 at Amazon.com.

Petmate | 2012 Global Pet Expo Exhibitor

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FroliCat BOLT Laser Interactive Pet Toy from My Three Cats

by Guest Blogger: Peoria Cat Tales

BOLT is one of the best names they could have come up with for this toy.  I have two extremely playful cats and when they hear me tap on the laser and call their names they come running.   They literally  Bolt from their naps and start chasing the little red pin point laser everywhere.

You can place it anywhere, turn on the timer and let it go.  I especially  like the tilt-able mirror which changes the height of the laser.  When it is on high they jump from one chair to another and on low they slide all over the wooden floors trying to catch the dot!

I really like having the option of either holding the BOLT Laser Toy in my hand to manipulate the laser dot or setting the 15 minute timer.

The only suggestion I would make would be to not place it on the floor and leave.  The cats are so curious they just want to get up close and see the laser which is not good for their eyes! It is definitely worth buying as it is sturdy enough to last forever!

 

You can purchase the BOLT Laser Toy for $19.95 at MyThreeCats.com. The FroliCat BOLT Laser Toy looks like great fun for dogs too!

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Dog Whisperer | Final Season Starts Saturday - July 7th - 8 PM ET

by Guest Blogger Betsy Hockert

We knew the day had to come...tomorrow night the ninth and final season of Dog Whisperer premiers on Nat Geo Wild, at 8 p.m. ET. What's a dog lover-in-training to do?

I just finished watching 2 episodes from the final season: "Horrible Hounds" and "London Calling," both of which were filmed in England. I've learned that  dogs are the same all over the world, it's the dog owners who add cultural "flavor" to their pet's lives.

I live in Beijing and don't get a lot of current American shows but I do get Nat Geo and am an avid fan of the Dog Whisperer show. I don't currently have a dog so when I came home to the states to visit, I was anxious to test out my best "tsst!" I was amazed that the first 2 dogs I tried it on stopped dead in their tracks and looked at me...wish I would have had a camera then!

While my daughter and I watched the new Dog Whisperer episodes for this review, Kasha (my grand-dog), was lounging on the floor. To our amazement she started watching the show! It was really funny!!! She watched both episodes from start to finish!!

At one point we turned off the DVD player accidentally. She put her head down as if finally, it's over, I can rest now. Then we started it again and her head was up watching the TV screen. We're hoping she picked-up some pointers on how to behave during a walk!

Not only do I love to watch the Dog Whisperer, now Kasha does as well! We're also looking forward to watching some celebs and their problem pooches in the final season: Kelsey Grammer and his wife, Kayte; fitness trainer Jillian Michaels; and NASCAR drivers Greg Biffle and Kevin Jarvick. Hmm...wonder if the NASCAR dogs have a "need for speed" like their super speedy sidekicks!

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Zingfling Trio by Petprojekt

BY GUEST BLOGGER JOCELYN

What a cool toy! Is it a ball?  Is it a frisbee?  No, it's a Zingfling Trio. To me it looks like a cross between a frisbee and 3 balls.

Made from 100% ballistic nylon this toy has 3 rubber balls inside. It is a very versatile toy that provides hours of entertainment.

It can be used to play several different games with your dog.  You can toss it through the air for an awesome game of fetch, or if you have a dog that prefers tug-of-war, it works great for that as well.

In my case, I have one dog that loves to play fetch and another dog that would rather play tug-of-war.  Both are completely head over heels for this toy.  They see it in my hand and immediately their tails start wagging and they start bouncing around with excitement!

The Zingfling Trio is available for $18 off the Petprojekt website.

Petprojekt | 2012 Global Pet Expo Exhibitor

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AbsolutelyNew | Squeeze Bone Treat Dispensing Dog Toy

By Guest Blogger Dustin Collins

The only thing our Lab/Collie mix, Mae, likes better than a good treat is a good treat dispenser.  At first sight, she was excited at the thrill of a new toy, but when she learned that the shiny object housed edible nibbles, she went ballistic.

AbsolutelyNew’s Squeeze Bone is perfect for our dog - it's fun, durable, and the easy screw-off ends allow us to fill it with her regular kibble or a mid-day treat.  The Squeeze Bone forces Mae to think while she expends some of her puppy energy, and the grooved chew-ends are good for her teeth and gums.

The large-size Squeeze Bone strikes a great balance between shedding enough treats to keep her interested, while still providing enough of a challenge to exercise her brain and keep her busy for a respectable amount of time. She has spent up to a half an hour pawing, clawing, dropping and shaking the Squeeze Bone.

We've noticed a couple of Mae's tooth marks in the toy's flexible plastic, so we take it from her once she's completed the puzzle by freeing the last treat. For Mae, the Squeeze Bone has become her go-to treat toy, consistently causing a frenzy of tail-wagging! 

 

We like the Squeeze Bone's quality, functionality, and the price. You can purchase a Squeeze Bone for $12.99 at AbsolutelyNew.com.

AbsolutelyNew | 2012 Global Pet Expo Exhibitor

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Global Pet Expo 2012 | Top 15 New Pet Products

The Global Pet Expo in Orlando was filled with a mixture of new pet products and some familiar favorites. One thing it never was is boring!

We've combined our daily 'top' lists into one grand slideshow of our Top 15 New Pet Products (in random order) from Global Pet Expo (GPE) 2012. So sit back, grab your favorite chew toy, and enjoy the show:

Pet Expo Day 1 |  Pet Expo Day 2 | Pet Expo Day 3

As you can see, everything from dog toys, cat toys, pet treats, pet furniture, health aids, bird accessories, fish supplies, and more were represented at our country's largest pet expo.

The Secret Shopper team is already busy planning for next year's event and we can't help but wonder what new pet products will shock and amaze us at Global Pet Expo 2013!

Stay tuned for reviews of many of these new, innovative, and award winning pet products on PetSecretShopper.com!

Global Pet Expo 2012 | Top 5 New Pet Products | Day 2

A friendlier group of folk you'll never care to meet than those who have a passion for pets! It was another great day for the at the 2012 Global Pet Expo filled with press conferences, new product launches, new friends, and lots and lots of laughter...

View Top 15 New Pet Products Slideshow

Pet Expo Slideshow Day 1 | Pet Expo Slideshow Day 3

Kittypods - 6 new designs of Elizabeth Paige Smith's clever cat habitats, furniture, scratchdecks and more. All made from recycled and organic materials. "Groove with nature!"

Stop That! - Sentry's lavender and chamomile scented pheromone spray combines noise and a pheromone mist to stop destructive and aggressive behaviors by calming and refocusing pets.

Teddy Tank - Combo nightlight, plush toy and fishtank, coin bank, candy bowl or whatever! Also available in pandas, monkeys, elephants, and more. Winner of BlogPaws Best Children's Product Award

Knobby Ball - from Petmate's new Dogzilla Rubber Treat Toys. Treat gripping toys infused with protein and vanilla to make them deliciously crave-able. Soon available in a variety of shapes.

Purity Plus Pet Water - Provides pets with essential minerals. Hydrates and detoxifies. High in antioxidants; helps reduce excess acid; helps balance pH; recommended by vets.

Planet Dog Eats | 100% natural dog treats

by Guest Blogger Cassandra Snow

The first thing I noticed when visiting Planet Dog’s website was their Portland Development Corporation Award for 2011 Small Business of the Year.  What caught my eye even more than this award was Planet Dog’s Foundation - 2% of every purchase “helps fund the training, placement and support of service dogs helping people in need.”  It even gives you the option to see that 2% in action. 

Another thing I appreciated about their site was its organization.  For many people, buying items that are eco-friendly or made in the U.S.A. is very important, and Planet Dog makes this shopping option very convenient.

The girls couldn't get enough of the Eats treats. And I have to admit, chicken and pumpkin pot pie treats even sounded good to me!  And, these bone shaped treats were the perfect size for them (they are 2cm x 4.5 cm x .5cm). 

More than anything, I use treats to reward my girls and, when broken in half, Eats are the perfect size for training and teaching them new tricks. Without prompting, they performed every trick they knew over and over again, just hoping to garner another treat. What great munchable motivators!

These treats are made by Planet Dog’s new baking partner, Polka Dog Bakery.  They are 100% natural, wheat, corn and soy free, and no surprise, they help to support our dogs’ digestion!  Some of the best ingredients include “barley flour, rye flour, chicken, pumpkin, canola oil, ginger.”

Planet Dog Eats come in two flavors: Chicken & Pumpkin Pot Pie. You can purchase a 12oz package for $9.95 at PlanetDog.com.

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Petprojekt's Bonbal | A bone & a ball in one toy

by Guest Blogger Jessica Rinehart

When we received this toy to review I cracked up at the packaging’s catchphrase:  “Is it a bone? Is it a ball? It's BOTH!” It certainly holds true, the Bonbal confused the heck out of Khloee and Zeke.  It was very humorous to watch them try to break into the Bonbal while it was in ball form as they had a hard time keeping hold it.

The Bonbal even tricked Zeke who considers himself the master of treat hiding toys. It took him a good ten minutes to crack the ball to get into the treats, and even then, it took some time for him to get them all out. The Bonbal is surprisingly tough too, Khloee our St. Bernard puppy has failed to ruin it after chewing on it for over a month now. They both just love it.

Features we like: 

• Both a bone and a ball
• Easy to maneuver between the 2 shapes 
• Made from 100% Natural Rubber
• Durable
• Bouncy
• Non-Toxic
• Comes in 3 colors and 2 different sizes

You can purchase a Bonbal for your dogs at PetProjekt’s website for just $14. http://www.otomik.com/toys/bonbal.html

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