Showing posts with label guide dog training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guide dog training. Show all posts

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Small Red Lock n' Play Interactive Adult Dog Toy

Small Red Lock n' Play Interactive Adult Dog ToyWigZi Lock n' Play Dog Toy is a fun toy that entertains my dog longer than any other toy. Fill it with peanut butter and it distracts her from thunder! She'll do anything to earn this treat! Great sturdy chew toy! I'll get more!

Friday, June 27, 2014

The Buddy System Belt and Leash

The Buddy System - Hands Free Leash - Regular Dog System - Black RegularI have two 70 lb. pit bull mixes(think 140 lbs. of goofy muscle), and I can walk them with this system and drink a cup of coffee at the same time. Prior to the buddy system, one of my girls sprained my finger when she pulled the leash off my hand to investigate a cat. It is much more difficult for them to pull at my core strength than to pull my arm. With some training and this leash, they rarely pull at all anymore.

It is excellent for running. With regular leashes, I found myself off balance as I was holding a leash with one hand and pumping my arm with the other...not a good way to run. I used to use it exclusively for running, but I found it to be such a good system that I no longer have any other leash.

It is also great security; I never have to worry about one of them getting away from me. When I'm in the pet store, I can bring them in, browse, inspect products and pay for merchandise ... all with the completely free use of my hands.

I highly recommend getting the extend-a-buddy with the system because the default leash is too short. If I want to reign them in to keep them closer, I can either take the extension out or adjust the leash.

This isn't a passing fad for me...I've used this system for 8 years, and it would be very difficult for me to go without it.

There we were enjoying the mid-afternoon hike thru the Tucson Mountains. Hands-free walk/hikes are great. Chance (my dog)was loving the smells and fresh air. I was getting exercise with my favorite buddy. And then there was a rabbit.... Out of the box my Labrador bolts and bam! The connector from not only the waist harness but also the connector from my dog's leash to the waist hook-in broke. That is correct both connectors broke. Chance ran off determined to catch this rabbit full tilt. Only the recall command made him stop and return to me. Thank gosh for my dog trainer and all of her wisdom to teach us ("Recall") that.

So if you have an 85 pound of muscular fur who evidently likes to chase rabbits I would recommend getting a hands free jogging leash that is stronger than this one.

Kind regards

Buy The Buddy System Belt and Leash Now

This style of having the leash attached to an adjustable belt is a great concept but it could use a little tweaking. There are 2 plastic clips that hang from the belt. The leash is clipped onto either of these. The clips themselves have not been strong enough to survive unexpected lunges from my 42 pound female pup. Even with the elasticized lunge buster, I have had 2 clips snap in my 1st month of use!

Other tweaking has to do with how you "store" the leash if and when you set your dog loose. The second clip, which hangs from the belt, comes with the system and allows you to plug in the collar end of the leash (or to attach a second leash, as an alternative) but when you do this, the part of the leash that is left looping in front of you is cumbersome so I wind up tucking some of it into my clothing which looks a bit weird and draws comments from others!

In conclusion, I really like the concept of this product. The manufacturer replaced my first broken leash quickly and without charge. I acknowledge my dog is very active (she's not nearly as strong a many dogs out there) but I would like the plastic clips to be heftier or better made.

Read Best Reviews of The Buddy System Belt and Leash Here

(UPDATE: 6/19/2012) After over two months of solid use, I still love this product, but not for all the same reasons as before. Here are some additional thoughts:

First, if you are a runner and want to improve your performance, I highly recommend a young Siberian Husky as a personal trainer. Boundless energy and an innate desire to pull mean you can either run faster and farther, or get dragged around the neighborhood like a sled. Yes, he has learned how much he can pull when attached to the Buddy System, and does he ever pull.

At first I was pretty disappointed, but as my own speed and endurance started to improve, I realized that he was pushing me to do better. It took me months of solo running to be able to consistently go 2 miles and still, every time it was a struggle. We now regularly go 3.5 to 4.5 miles. You can't overstate the benefit of having someone there to push you just a little further when you're running out of steam. It turns out that's true whether the "someone" is a person or a dog.

I noted in other reviews that some people have had their dogs snap the Lunge Buster. I have had no such issues and my dog has certainly tried. However, the belt does gradually work itself loose as we run, and I have to stop every 15-20 minutes to re-size it. The lead also does not always slide around the belt cleanly. When it gets stuck I have to physically rotate the entire belt with my hands to free it, which somewhat defeats the purpose of a hands-free leash.

(Original review follows.)

I have a year-old Husky mix puppy with HIGH energy. We take regular, long trips to the dog park so he can run himself to exhaustion and not be bouncing off the walls. Unfortunately, an infected spider bite has him wearing a Cone of Shame and on restricted activity -leash walks only! The first week or so he went nuts, and as a result so did everyone in the house.

He is 70 lbs and a big-time puller, so we use a Gentle Leader to walk him. He has never gotten used to it and hates it as much now as he did when he was 5 months old. But he doesn't like to walk -he likes to run. And even with the Gentle Leader this is not a possibility with a regular leash.

I ordered the Buddy System with the Lunge Buster attachment and crossed my fingers. The first time we went out with it, he tried to drag me forward, but apparently realized he couldn't pull my entire body, and immediately gave up trying. Now each time we go running, he tries to pull away once, but for the rest of the run he stays right beside me. The product works better than I could have hoped for.

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3-17-13

UPDATE

I've had this for a while now and still LOVE it. One thing to note: I quickly lost the second thingy on the belt that attached to the lead. If you are walking/running only one dog I'd just keep only one on the belt at a time.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

I am a runner and my running partner is an 87lb golden-doodle that likes to pull and when she sees a squirrel/rabbit/other dog she likes to lunge!!! I've been searching to find: 1) something that will keep her from lunging and pulling my arm out of the socket, 2) something so I don't have to hold the leash in my hand -it throws off my stride with 87lbs pulling on one side. This has been a wonderful solution!!

Here's what I like:

* The belt is comfortable to wear.

* The dog seems to sense she's attached to something heavier than just an arm and has stopped pulling the whole run. She still lunges, but with my center of gravity as the anchor, she's not able to almost pull me over!

* The way the belt is attached to the lead allows the lead to move around the belt. This is a surprisingly nice feature--not one I'd thought much about.

* You can unhook the lead from the belt quickly and easily. I've tried several other brands and when other leashed dogs approached and the inevitable "sniff dance" started the leads got tangled. With the other brands I had to unhook the waist-belt to untangle the leads--with this one I simply unlatch the lead from the belt, untangle and reattach. Or if I'm on the ball, unhook the lead before the dog approaches-I can do this with-out stopping my run. Very convenient.

* The length of the lead is adjustable. My dog has a tendency to run right in front of me. Some of the other leads I tried were too short so I'd kick her heels. This one I adjusted so she has just enough room in front of me, but not too much that the lead drags on the ground when she is beside me. (I did get the "Extend-a-buddy" extension section. The leash alone was just a tad too short.)

*This lead does not have the elastic section and I don't recommend adding it. (You can order it if you really want it.) I tried other leads that had the elastic section built in. The theory is that the elastic gives you warning time when the dog lunges and eases some of the shock. In practice I did not think the elastic did anything to ease the shock of the lunge. Plus, the springiness of the elastic caused the lead to really bounce up and down when I ran. I found that very annoying and I think my dog did too!

The only thing questionable aspect of the product is how long will the plastic clips hold up to an 87lb dog straining against them? I guess we'll find out.

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Sunday, June 22, 2014

Canidae Dog Treats, Platinum Chicken and Turkey Meal Snap-Bits Bite Size Treats, 8 Ounce Bag

Canidae Dog Treats, Platinum Chicken and Turkey Meal Snap-Bits Bite Size Treats, 8 Ounce BagMy Corgi absolutely loves Canidae Platinum. He has chronic urinary tract stones, bad kidneys, so he is on a special diet. These are the only treats he can have, besides fresh veggies and fruit.

My dog loves these!! He will do just about anything for one of these Canidae treats. I use them any time I have to do something he won't like. All I have to do is promise him a "cookie" and he will let me trim his nails or clean his ears etc. Before, as soon as he saw the nail trimmers he would go hide, now he will come to me. Nail trims and ear cleanings have become positive events thanks to these "cookies".

Buy Canidae Dog Treats, Platinum Chicken and Turkey Meal Snap-Bits Bite Size Treats, 8 Ounce Bag Now

I have 3 small dogs (weights range from 11 30 pounds) and these small bite-size treats are perfect for smaller pooches. They love the flavors and gobble them up like candy. Really love Canidae products -I give my dogs their dry and canned food as well as treats.

Read Best Reviews of Canidae Dog Treats, Platinum Chicken and Turkey Meal Snap-Bits Bite Size Treats, 8 Ounce Bag Here

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

RASCAL DOG LITTER BOX "BIG SQUIRT" WITH GRASS 24 by 24 by 9

RASCAL DOG LITTER BOX 'BIG SQUIRT' WITH GRASS 24 by 24 by 9I had purchased the Rascal Dog smaller box design for my little Yorkie and I love how easy the box is to clean. I purchased the bigger size (Big Squirt) for my mom. She has three dogs, a toy poodle, a Maltese, and a Yorkie so I bought her the bigger size litter box since three dogs would be using it. My mom was spending a fortune in wee wee pads for her dogs so I surprised my mom and bought the big box for her. My mom loves how easy it is to clean and she is thrilled to be saving money by not buying pads any more. She placed the box in the same place that she use to place the wee wee pads and her dogs starting using the litter box with very little training in two days. Great product! A money saver for my mom who is retired and on a budget. Also, really fast delivery. The box was shipped the same day that I placed the order. My mom and I are both satisfied customers.

I purchased the large size box because I have two doxies. They began using it within two days all on their own. It was great! However, I have found that this litter box is truly high-maintenance. I clean it just about every other day. It is very awkward to clean and for this past week, the dogs stopped using it. I think it's because they don't like the smell. I have been using antibacterial dish soap and that was OK until this week. I tried the scent spray that came with it to put a familiar odor back for them, but still they do their jobs on the carpet. My carpet is a mess because of the pee and poo outside of it. And my room stinks, something it never did with the potty pads (puppy training pads). I have tried leaving the grass carpet out of it but, they refuse to stand on the grid. We're going to keep trying to turn them around. It's a good product and an alternative to going out on cold snowy days, but it's not working too well for us right now. Cleaning it is still the big issue.

Buy RASCAL DOG LITTER BOX "BIG SQUIRT" WITH GRASS 24 by 24 by 9 Now

We have had the rascal dog litter box for 4 days and my lovable but very willful 11 month old bichon, Shiloh, started using it after 2 days. Today he even used it all by himself! I'm disabled and found it too difficult to take him out 3 times a day. this is a Godsend. I also found the website (where i purchased the big squirt size box along with an extra grass mat) rascaldoglitterbox.com to be very fun and informative. I'll send photo's or video when I can. I'm spreading the word, I'm very grateful doggy mommy.

Read Best Reviews of RASCAL DOG LITTER BOX "BIG SQUIRT" WITH GRASS 24 by 24 by 9 Here

I had looked all over for a canine litter box for my Chinese crested and found this to be the perfect match. It is expensive, but it is well made and versatile. It can be used in many different ways depending on what you want to provide. For example I use puppy pads, but it comes with machine washable fake grass and a grate which would keep urine in the bottom of the box. I'm very happy with it and so is my dog! No more accidental misses as the side are high enough to keep the dog from wandering of the pad! Also Amazon has the best price on it!

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I ordered this product straight from the manufacturer over a year ago (when it was TWICE the price), and although it is a well-made product, it just didn't work for us at all. As others have mentioned, although my pup started using it right away, he subsequently stopped (after about a week) because the thing began to STINK. The grass was almost impossible to clean. When I would wash it (which was DAILY), the grass kept falling out all over the tub, and then it would take FOREVER to dry, so it would still be somewhat damp (and still stinky) when I put it pack in the holder. I eventually took the grass out and tried putting just the pad in there, but my dog had been so turned off at that point, he just refused to go back in. Believe it or not, just using the wee wee pad, flat on the floor, has been most effective for us. He is 100% good about only peeing on the pad, but he does sometimes have overspill. Which is why I had bought this thing in the first place, but Oh, well.

Saturday, May 3, 2014

X-Large Chew-proof Indoor Tether for Dogs

X-Large Chew-proof Indoor Tether for DogsI am pleased with these tethers so far. They are very versatile, with a number of fastening options. So far, my dog, who chews everything, has not been able to destroy one.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Petsafe Venture Series Little Dog Remote Trainer 400 Yards

Petsafe Venture Series Little Dog Remote Trainer 400 YardsI have a very, very stubborn Chiweenie who has a terrible habit of eating animal feces. He also loves to pick up any sort of dead thing, or garbage we find on our walks. He knows the command "drop it", but when he finds something tasty, the Daschund in him goes into warrior mode, and refuses to let go. It usually ends in a wrestling match in the street, as I try to pull squirrel guts out of his throat.

He has already had Giardia once (a deadly parasite which is transmitted through feces). This almost killed him, and cost me a small fortune in vet bills.

I've tried everything with him from Dog whisperer techniques, to supplements, to clicker training, to flat out bribing him with bacon. Nothing worked. With a heavy heart, I decided to look into remote trainer. I wanted to make sure I found a product that was humane as possible, and didn't damage my dog's trust or confidance.

Make no mistake, this product is capable of delivering painful shocks in the higher settings. My boyfriend tried it out on his arm first, and he said level 3 was painful, but not unbearable. We never tried it higher than that.

In one day, I was able to break my dog's habit of eating cat feces. I always kept it one level 1 and only used the boost button twice, in the beginning.

My biggest complaint with this product is the remote. The buttons are too small and unlabeled. It's too easy to accidentally shock your dog by pushing the wrong button.

PROS:

Fast results

well build, sturdy

easy to use

can use the tone setting for positive reinforcement training

CONS:

Higher settings will cause pain

buttons on remote are too small and unlabeled

In the hands of a responsible, compassionate dog owner this is a very effective training aid. I've decided I will only use it to train him away from life-threating situations (like eating feces, or chasing).

I urge anyone who uses a product like this to do trust-building, positive training with your dog first, and only rely on the collar when all else fails.

If you have a little unruly dog, this is the collar for him/her. It will make them yelp if they tow the line at 1/2 the power level.

Buy Petsafe Venture Series Little Dog Remote Trainer 400 Yards Now

Monday, January 20, 2014

All Style, No Stink Dog Collar, 100% Waterproof

All Style 17-Inch by 21-1/2-Inch No Stink Dog Collar, Large, Tahitian SkyThe collars from Dublin Dog are awesome! They're beyond functional and super stylish at the same time. We have multiple collars from DD for our two dogs. We love to take them swimming in the lake nearby and it's so convenient to let them off their leashes and dive into the water and then literally wipe off the collar when they're done. No damp cloth collar to dry or worry about that nasty mildew smell... Works great also when they play in the woods and get a little muddy just run it under water with some soap and it wipes right off and dries with a towel in two seconds. And when I say stylish we get tons of compliments on these collars! I'm a little obsessed, but I have collars for each "season/holiday" for the dogs and get compliments every time I change the collars on them. They're a great buy as they're so durable, functional, and stylish!

Love this collar and so does my dog...heavy duty and very durable

has no smell and does not hold water

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The collar is a nice plastic that is easy to clean by just rinsing it. Another plus, is that it is great for the dog to go swimming in. The problems with the collar include that the plastic is too thick and is very bulky on my smaller dog (Jack Russell Terrier). Also the ring to attach the leash to is too small, and it is very difficult to clip on a leash. If these things were fixed it would be a great collar.

Read Best Reviews of All Style, No Stink Dog Collar, 100% Waterproof Here

Love these on my dogs! No more smelly nylon collars, simple wipe or rinse clean! They are also attention getters as the styles and collars are so unique! Very sturdy collars!

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I have this collar in pink for my young yellow lab. I like the fact that it does not stain, get dirty, or smell! However, the collar kept coming loose and almost unbuckling while my dog was swimming. I re-fastened it countless times! I also noticed it would come loose while she was running in woods, or anywhere there was a lot of brush. I was afraid that it would come off altogether and she would be without a collar. I think she will only wear this collar when we plan on taking her somewhere where her other nylon collar could get ruined. Kinda bummed!

Friday, November 8, 2013

Zack & Zoey Nylon Brite Stripe Dog Collar, 18 to 22-Inch, Raspberry

Zack & Zoey Nylon Brite Stripe Dog Collar, 18 to 22-Inch, RaspberryI'm the proud owner of a rescued female black labrador. People got confused when they saw her with a regular collar 'cause they couldn't distinguish if she was female or male. With this new collar, the confusion disappeared. Everyone knows she's a beautiful princess :)

I ordered this and the leash, both are great quality and look precious on my sweet shepherd! The large is plenty big for a 120 German Shepherd and the leash that matches is heavy duty. All metal parts on the collar ARE real metal...not cheap plastic.

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This looks spectacular on my black shepherd. The only complaint I have on it is that there is not a little clip for the tag to slip under as it leaves the buckle. Due to this the tag is constantly flapping loose rather than sitting under the ring.

Read Best Reviews of Zack & Zoey Nylon Brite Stripe Dog Collar, 18 to 22-Inch, Raspberry Here

18"-22" This collar looks very well made for it's asking price. Quality design and looks like it'll last. Came loose with a plastic barcode bearing tag, and I did expect more as far as packaging/brand/sizing info. Metal parts have very thick gauge, and are well secured. Would recommend if you're on a budget. Also, its very pretty and the nylon is heavy-weight. This one was purchased for a 20lb chow puppy as a 1st collar and my only concern is it's thickness, which will flatten her 'mane'. Would recommend.

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Saturday, October 19, 2013

Easy Walk Harness - Medium/lLarge, Raspberry Pink

Easy Walk Harness - Medium/lLarge, Raspberry PinkLove this for my american bulldog, she tends to get stubborn but then will just shoot into a sprint. This forces her to walk with me and her lil pom bro.

Plus the bright girly color help identify her gender to strangers!

We have two of these for our springer spaniels. When they wear these I can comfortably walk them both on 16-foot leashes without any problem or pulling. When they don't wear them I can NOT...I would get taken for a ride. My ONLY complaint is that they come loose on their own when the dog does try to pull...not to the extent that the dog can get out, but they start to sag on their chest, causing the leash to get tangled under their legs easily. Otherwise though, they are great, and overall I would HIGHLY recommend for dogs that pull.

Buy Easy Walk Harness - Medium/lLarge, Raspberry Pink Now

I am so glad that someone told me about this! I have a large dog and I was using the gentle guider that went over her nose,but I hated that people thought it was a muzzle and that I was a terrible dog owner haha. Apparently, my doggy hated it too as she chewed it up as soon as she got the chance. The only complaint I have is that it comes loose and I have to tighten it quite a bit, but I think that will stop once she's learned how to walk well.

Read Best Reviews of Easy Walk Harness - Medium/lLarge, Raspberry Pink Here

I am sold on the Easy Walk Harness, a gentle way to keep my powerful pup from dislocating my shoulder. Purchasing online gave me a much better selection than buying it in a pet store. My dog needed the in-between medium/large size, that I wasn't able to find locally. And I was delighted to see that it came in so many more colors than the pet store carries.

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I like the D ring on the front. I think the Martingale loop is too big, and this is exacerbated by the REAL problem: the buckles used to adjust the chest strap don't stay in place if there is ANY pull whatsoever so that by the end of the decent walk particularly one in which other dogs are encountered and there is always going to be some pull as the dogs struggle to "greet" each other the chest straps are too lose. This is really an issue and one which I wish the Premier folks would fix.

The merchant with whom I dealt, on the other hand, was fantastic.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Black 6 Way European Multifunctional Leather Dog Leash, Adjustable Schutzhund Lead 49"-94" Long, 1/2

Black 6 Way European Multifunctional Leather Dog Leash, Adjustable Schutzhund Lead 49'-94' Long, 1/2' WideI love the versatility of this leash. At its full length, my dog can wander at a comfortable distance during walks while still having the security of a leash there if the situation warrants it. The ability to wear the leash in a messenger bag position makes stops at local pet friendly stores easier. And the leather is thick and durable enough to put up easily with17lbs of at least occassional pulling.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Spray Bark Control

Spray Bark ControlFirst when I received this collar the battery was dead so they had to send me another one. I ordered this from FaactoryOutletStore.com. The 2nd one didn't work properly. It would spray sometimes but not all the time. It only sprayed if he really barked hard...full throttle. It would also spray sometimes when he would shake his head so he wasn't getting the idea that it was his barking that was the trigger. I returned the product. Maybe it would work better on a bigger dog...I don't know. I wouldn't recommend it for small dogs. I did just see one that said "made for small dogs" so maybe I'll try that one.

At first I had high hopes. It seemed to work, the dog barked less. But sadly, the failure rate crept in. After just a week, it required constant filling to keep up, then failed. An expensive experiment.

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