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

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Spotty Training Place Replacement Grass

Spotty Training Place Replacement GrassUPDATE SINCE ORIGINAL REVIEW:

THE ROYAL PET COMPANY THAT MAKES SPOTTY DOG HAS BEEN EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE AND PROVIDED EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY ARE EVEN CHANGING THE PACKAGING. For now if you receive an originally packaged and rolled product you can flatten in out with you hair dryer OR soak in hot water in the tub. It worked perfectly and I can't say enough about how well the Spotty Dog Training Place works.

I love my Spotty Dog Training Place that I originally purchased! Everything was well made and fit together perfectly. The plastic coiled turf layed flat and perfectly fit the intended tray. I could not of been more thrilled, until, I ordered a replacement mat.

These are packaged folded in half lengthwise and then rolled almost like a throw blanket you see rolled and packaged. They then put a cardboard belt around it and staple it to be sent to retailers.

Herein lays the problem. Because the replacement mat is made of plastic coils it has a shape memory. Upon taking my spotty dog replacement mat out of its packaging it was a crumpled stiff folded mess. It was holding and memorizing the shape it traveled in. I imagine it sat in cold warehouses etc and further memorized the rolled and folded shape.

I was pretty discouraged because I love the actual original Spotty Dog Training Place and how true the fit was of all the elements. I decided to take my replacement mat and put a piece of plywood over it and the set a rubbermaid container FILLED with BOOKS about the same size as the mat on top of it to flatten it out.

After 72 hours of constant pressure by weighted plywood it was more flat but not completely. The center line fold was still apparent and the edges curled and a few wrinkles remained. It would not fit nicely on the training place.

I called the manufacturer who has asked for photographs. Oh good. No offer to send me another one right out or refund any money. Just given a task of photographs, which I will do.

Best Solution: Finally I took my hair dryer on high and held it close to the mat and heat flattened for about 15 minutes. This did work. The fit is still not as true as the original mat that came with the training place but with continued work I am sure I will get it right.

So in short, this potty system is fabulous but the replacement mat leaves much to be desired in how the product actually arrives at your home or retailer.

I hope others find this solution of heat flattening their replacement mat helpful and do not have to throw out something they paid good money for.

This puppy pad is coiled rubber rather than fake turf. They work well and our dogs like them better than the turf type that seems more soiled and harder to clean. Liquid runs through the coils into a pad placed underneath. Solids sit on top for easy pick up and disposal in the toilet. The dogs do not chew it. They are easy to rinse off and drip dry quickly. We have several on hand so some can be drying after washing.

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I was happy with the product itself in terms of size and pricing. However, I purchased it to replace some faux grass that we used to train our puppy. The texture is not very similar to grass and our 1 year old will not use iteven though we placed it in the same bottom container and in the exact same spot as the previous faux grass. The package boasted that it is sprayed with a product to attract dogs, but we haven't found that to be the case.

Read Best Reviews of Spotty Training Place Replacement Grass Here

I got these for my mother-in-law. Her dogs actually use them (and won't use other brand pads), and they clean well.

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I placed these on top of puppy pads as My dogs are trained to puppy pads already, wanted to transition them over, I like the potty grass, easy to clean and helps with odors...

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Best Fit Dog Muzzle

BestFit Mesh Dog Muzzle 01300-BLK07This muzzle is perfect. My dog can pant, eat and drink when it's on.

Fit perfectly, and the lenght is short and fabric is tough. The dog seems to like it more than the other ones i bought.

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The BestFit Mesh Dog Muzzle works well but was a little large. It seems to be a humane way to muzzle a dog.

Read Best Reviews of Best Fit Dog Muzzle Here

If you value your dog this product is not for you. I followed the instructions on the package, my dog ended up in a fight and the buckle on the strap loosend and was off of her head in a matter of seconds. Two dogs were hurt and two people were bit thanks to this muzzle's failer.

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My dog can not open his mouth and get a drink this was a waste of my money.

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Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Sporn Pet Simple Control Hns Small Bk

Sporn Pet Simple Control Hns Small BkI originally purchased one of these harasses in a local store for my dog who, despite his normally docile disposition, hated bicycles. On walks he would pull against the leash so hard when a bike went by that he'd choke himself on his collar to the point of coughing. As a small, terrier mix I was concerned about him possibly crushing his trachea so I switched to this harness. It is very easy to put on and doesn't require lifting paws the neck loop slips over the dog's head and the belly strap unlatches on the side so that you can easily put it around their middle. Plus, it effectively reduced the strain on my dog's neck when those evil bikes passed by.

I came to Amazon to find one for my mother who has a Jack Russel terrier that loves her walks. Unfortunately, she loves her walks so much that she can't sit still while you put on a regular harness, making the process of putting excited paws through a harness very difficult. After trying my harness, my mother asked where she could get one. I couldn't find them locally in the store anymore and Amazon turned out to be the only reputable online retailer to carry it.

We're all (owners and pets) happy with our purchases.

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

FieldTrainer 400 - SD-400 by SportDOG

FieldTrainer 400 - SD-400 by SportDOGI bought this when I was running out of patience with my 9 month old German Shepherd mix puppy.

Even after I got this thing, I didn't use it right away. The biggest reason for this is the included instruction manual. It is an extremely well written handbook for training dogs, and it emphasizes several things:

1. Your dog must know the basic commands like No, Sit, Stay, Come, Down, etc.

2. Try a different type of leash such as the suggested "Wonder Lead"

3. Use the collar sparingly and as a supplementary instruction tool, not a full replacement training tool

The manual was great and I found it to be more instructive than the numerous dog training books that I had already purchased. I continued working with my dog without the collar, and I bought the "Wonder Lead", a very simple nylon noose-type leash that relaxes immediately after the dog stops pulling. I like the lead very much it functions better than a collar that I bought called "The Illusion Collar". Both serve the same purpose to put pressure high on the dog's neck for considerably more control. But the Wonder Lead is simpler because it is easier to adjust and it relaxes quicker since the nylon is stiff.

Until I bought this collar, my dog was impervious to everything. He was terrible on the leash. He would lunge at other dogs and would make such a scene that people would glare at me or my wife, as if to say "What's the matter with you, thinking you can just walk a vicious animal around in public like that?". He knew all the basic commands like Sit, Down, Come, No... but only if I had a treat in my hand. Outside of the house he was a different dog.

Rewards or punishment... nothing seemed to get through to him. My wife and I decided one night that we'd take a relaxing stroll up to the ice cream shop. We took the dog with us. We found a table on the sidewalk in front of the store and sat there eating our ice cream, and I sat the dog next to me and scratched behind his ears because he likes that. Everything was fine until another dog showed up, and our puppy suddenly transformed himself from happy cute puppy to vicious attack dog. People actually jumped back because he sounded so bad. It was downright scary and not only were we concerned, but we were also terribly embarrassed. I felt silly for bringing the dog up there just assuming it would be okay. We got the heck out of there as fast as possible.

But I didn't give up on the walks. I've watched every episode of Dog Whisperer I could catch, man. I've tried everything Cesar says, and I've walked that dog for miles and miles, I've said "heel" a billion times, I've used treats, I've used a pinch on the neck, I've tried ignoring him, and he still pulls and lunges and growls at other dogs. I'm convinced there is a lot of training going on that doesn't make it to the final cut of the TV episodes because I've tried everything. I'll ignore him and it works about 50% of the time. I'll yell at him and it works about 30% of the time. I'll reward him and it works 100% the first time, 0% the next time because he just wants a treat and throws a fit until he gets one. The only thing that ever seemed to get a result was that if he was being bad, I would make him lay and firmly hold the scruff of his neck until he stopped panting. Then I'd slowly release him until he was laying quietly by himself and I could walk away. That was a Cesar trick I saw and since it was the only one that worked, I was beginning to fear I would wear it out. But that's a dumb way to try to be the alpha. It's impractical, no fun for you or the dog, and half the time the dog probably doesn't understand why you are mad anyway. I had to find another way. I'd take him out to rural areas and let him run it out. He would be happy, and I'd keep him nearby with a tennis ball or a bone, and lure him back to the car with treats and happy voices. But I still had to "master the walk" as Cesar says.

Again and again I would take him out for a walk, and I just couldn't trust him with other dogs. And it began to get worse, where even fast-moving kids on bikes would set him off. I was using the new leash with him at that point and it was only a marginal improvement. I worked with him daily, trying to teach him to heel and walk by my side. Finally one day when a dog was passing by, I thought I'd try something new and just relax and let it go, thinking that maybe my tension made it worse. So I let the dogs do what they would. The two dogs sniffed each other, and then my cute little puppy turned into Mr. Hyde. At that point I couldn't take it any more because I couldn't trust him with other dogs, kids, and my wife couldn't take him for walks any more. I was starting to get a sore shoulder from constantly correcting him and restraining his lunges during walks. With this last dog fight incident it was the last straw, so I marched him home, put the collar on him, and took him outside for his new phase of training.

The first thing I did was try to get him to associate the "beep" on the collar with "No". I did not use the shock yet. I was hoping that by instilling the fear of the beep, I would only have to use the beep later to teach him. Like everything else, the beep was generally ineffective. So we were out on the leash again, and he was tugging and being obnoxious as usual, and here I was saying "No" (beep) "No" (beep) "Heel" (beep) like an idiot. With no other ideas I sat him down, took off his leash, and said "Stay".

So he started to wonder off in leashless bliss. I told him to come. He would not. He kind of looked over his shoulder with a look that said: "See ya." So I said "No!" emphasized by the beep, but there was no response. So I hesitantly set the collar on two, told him to come, and when he did not obey I hit the button.

He didn't even flinch.

Now I had tested this thing on my forearm the day I got it. I knew that 2 and 3 were nothing more than an itch on your skin. But 8 gave me a surprise. It made my hand involuntarily clench, but the effect of the surprise was most evident for me it wasn't painful, just surprising.

So I moved it up to 3. I commanded him to come, and when he did not I hit the button. It did not phase him at all, and at this point I was wondering if the collar was working. The same process was repeated until I was all the way up to 8. Finally he jumped a bit and gave me a look like "What the h*ll was that?". He hesitated, but when I told him to come, he continued on. He continued to disobey my command so I gave him another jolt and he looked at me again, this time with a bit more concern. But still he disobeyed, and by now it was obvious that 1) I was angered with him and 2) he did not care. With one last command to come, I used the button again. He let out a little yelp and came running back to me and sat down. I was elated but I tried to restrain myself. I put his leash back on, hoping to just walk him home and be done for the day.

On the way back, I was lost in thoughts about what I should do with this new power because I was also struggling with causing him pain. One of the reasons I love this dog is because he's got a lot of spirit and spunk (he's a brat but he's a fun dog), and I didn't want to scare it out of him. It bothered me greatly that I had obviously hurt him. But, just then, my thoughts were interrupted by another dog encounter and my dog's instantaneous growling and lurching. Panicked, I used the collar and simultaneously yelled "No!", forgetting it was still set on 8. But holy cow did I get instant conformance. He went silent and immediately lay down. Meanwhile the other dog was going crazy. At that point I ran home with him to get him in the house and out of trouble.

That was about 2 months ago. These days I do not have to use the collar often, and per the suggestion of the manual, I never let him associate the collar with bad things. I put the collar on him when we go play fetch. Sometimes I'll put it on him for no reason in the house and let him wear it all day and never turn it on. He thinks it is me that has the Magic Invisible Command From A Distance and I don't think he knows it is the collar. I am at the point now where I regularly walk him without a leash. I let him wander as he pleases but he never goes farther than 10 feet or so. If he sees another dog all I have to do is mutter "No" and he comes back to me and sits. I think that is the greatest gift this collar has given: the dog understands "No" better than he ever did, and now we both enjoy going for walks much better. He has more freedom now than he did before when I was tense and trying to reel him in with a tight leash. Now he can roam free as he pleases, and he doesn't get into trouble any more. On the rare occasions the collar is required, I have never taken the collar above 4 since that first day, and these days I can take him for short walks even without the collar or a leash and he is generally well behaved. He obeys command, and even though he isn't a perfect leash dog, he is manageable and my wife can now walk him comfortably. We took him out in the crowds on the 4th of July at the local festivities, and despite kids and dogs, his worst offense was sniffing the butts of other people passing by.

On occasion I still use the collar for corrective measures, but 3 seems to be adequate and it is only a reinforcement of the word "No." I hope that in a few months I will not need the collar at all.

I am very happy with this product but I think its effectiveness is completely dependent on the user. I do not think my story is the ideal way to handle a dog. I have made many mistakes with him but finally he is learning from me and I am learning from him. The collar is really one path of many to take to eventually build trust between a dog and owner. He still jumps, barks at the cat, and makes a bee-line for the door if it is open, but he comes to me when I call him, doesn't terrorize the neighborhood any more, and finally understands that when I say "NO", I mean it. Perhaps I could have obtained the same results with other methods, but I am thankful for what progress I've made.. He's a different animal now and he hasn't lost any of his spunk he just listens better. I think that's all that was required the collar gave me a way to get through to him.

The Sportdog Field Trainer 400

is a mid level collar, it's better than the Innotek and PetSafe but not as good as the TriTronics. It has a decent range, small, easy to hold transmitter, and will get the job done. The DVD is also useful.

I find the stimulation a bit sharper than the TriTronics but if you have a hard dog that may be an asset. The single charger charges the transmitter and the receiver and the charge lights flash to let you know it's charged from solid when the charging starts.

It's solidly built and won't fall apart on you. A convenient holster can be purchased separately which is more convenienty than a lanyard. It looks

to be waterproof though I haven't tested that.

Buy FieldTrainer 400 - SD-400 by SportDOG Now

It took me over a year to finally try this with my dogs. I was worried I might hurt them or change their personality (one a rescue terrier mix, the other a Soft Coated Wheaten). Furthermore I baby and pamper both of them and consider them family and I felt guilty even thinking about trying this method of training. Dogs rule and Dog is God spelled backward at our house. Both dogs have successfully participated in traditional obedience classes and agility training in the past. Both are very intelligent, but stubborn and a bit feisty. They also love to chase after other animals. I live in a rural area, and while my dogs were obedient in a confined area, or when on a leash, they would not return when outdoors off-leash if they were distracted, chasing other animals, or far enough away to know they could ignore me when called. Mostly I pleasure-walked them on extra long flexi leads, seldom letting them roam free because of worries they would run off and tangle with coyotes or other dogs in the area. When off-leash, they understood what I wanted, but they knew when they were free, and would come only when they felt like it. Actually the first time I bought the stimulation collar, I sent it back because I couldn't bring myself to use it. Finally, I ordered it again (Cabellas had a better price at that time with a coupon). Sorry Amazon, I love you and consider you the best and always my first choice unless it is significantly cheaper someplace else. Back to my experience with the collar. This time I ordered and kept the collar. I tested it on my own head, neck, and hand at all the various settings. I started with my 2 year old male (the one that loved to bolt as soon as he could get out of arms reach), He caught on immediately at a very very low setting (2 and 3), and I think I only used the stimulation control 2 or 3 times. After that it was buzzer only if needed, but mostly he just comes when called, and comes very fast. Like I mentioned, I live in a rural area, and I am talking about using it outdoors around our farm and on long hikes at home or in parks where it is OK for the dogs to be only in eye sight. I can't begin to tell you how much more I love hiking with my dogs, and they get way more exercise on a regular walk because I allow them to run ahead, etc. until I call them back. I started with the SportDog 800 model, because I wanted to make sure the range was adequate. In a few weeks I wanted a 2nd collar for the other dog, a very intelligent, but very stubborn 9 year old female. She is alpha dog, she is princess. I wound up ordering a 2nd complete unit, both collar and receiver, but I went with the SD400. I chose this because I learned that by adding a 2nd collar to the 800 I would loose the beep only function on both collars. With better planning I probably would have started with a higher model that would have supported beep only on 2 collars. I wrongfully assumed they all had this capability. Oh well, not a big problem, because I find that having 2 remotes works for me. The 2nd dog, Mila, was a bit more stubborn and she ignored me unless I cranked the stimulation up higher. But she only required getting the stimulation a few times. Now she comes when called or occasionally requires beeped only. Both dogs come running gleefully in the house to get their collars on because they know they are going out for a walk. Any fears I had about the collar being cruel or hurting them were unfounded, and I truly love the collars, and feel they have helped the dogs have much more fun and get much more exercise. I have not tried to use the collars for any other type of training. My only goal and purpose was what I described. I didn't mean to write so much, but I know this type of training is very controversial. I did a lot or research on the Internet and much of what I read scared me off at first. But this system has really worked for us and our use. I think it's worth every penny and then some. I am very glad I made the decision to try this. Again I emphasize my dogs were adults, had training, and understood my commands before I used this method. I hope this helps somebody else who might be in a similar situation Happy hiking.

Read Best Reviews of FieldTrainer 400 - SD-400 by SportDOG Here

The product works as advertised. After a few weeks of careful use, Maizy learned that coming was no longer 'optional'. It has greatly increased our ability to control her outside, so that she can now spend more time out with us off-lead. Both owner and dog are happier with this. At this point, we still have her wear the collar when she is going to be out for an extended time, but corrections are rarely required any more.

The product has held up well after two months of regular use.

Battery life is fine. At least 12 hours of use per charge. Might last longer, but I've never let it go that long.

Range is at least 100 yards. I have not tried it past that.

Waterproof the few times she has gone swimming with it. I usually take it off before she swims.

I wish they packed a second collar with it in a different color.

This is a professional quality product. I've not used any of the less expensive ones out there, but I feel like I got the quality I was looking for.

Some tips for use:

Make sure the collar is snug. If you don't have it snug, you won't get any shock, or worse, it will work intermittently which is confusing for both you and the dog.

Follow the directions for getting the dog used to the collar. We had her use it for a week before I even turned it on.

I've found that Maizy would ignore nicks (very brief shocks) up to level 4, but even a half-second continuous shock at level 3 always gets her attention. Now that she is trained with it, even a nick is enough of a reminder to get her to respond.

Update 1 year later: We are still really happy with this collar. It's held up really well. Battery life is great.

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The Sportdog brand training collar is magical. It can transform a snooty, self-important, brazen, obnoxious, delinquent standard poodle into a perfect canine citizen.

I used to call my wife to see how her day was going. Her response was frequently a passionate, "I HATE her!" She was referring to our dog who's hi jinx ranged from bolting during a walk on the leash pulling my 110# wife off her feet and scraping her knees, to a two hours long dog chase when the little dear got off her tether and refused to come back, to the dog jumping up on a little girl in the park causing the frightened child to cry.

Sure, I was reluctant to shell out the cost of a fancy, 400 yard radius training collar. But, it was getting so we weren't enjoying our pet. We resented the heck out of her, actually. And that was after having taken her to obedience classes for 12 weeks. It wasn't great for the dog either. The dog loves to run and we could never take her off the leash. She loves to walk but we didn't enjoy the walks much because she'd try to drag us around.

I've never gotten greater satisfaction from a purchase. (Well, maybe when I got my Porsche -but that's pretty hard to beat.) Anyway, I'd definitely buy the training collar again. It does everything claimed and more.

Now, our dog comes whenever she's called. She sits when introduced to strangers. She walks calmly next to my wife when on walks. Occasionally, she still needs a little level 1 jolt to get her attention but that little reminder is enough. The Sportdog collar is effectively the equivalent of having performed a successful exorcism.

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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

PetSafe Training Systems Probe Pack

PetSafe Training Systems Probe PackBe aware that this probe pack doesn't fit the Petsafe PIF-275-19 Wireless Radio Collar, even though it "implies that it does."

Just under item's description there is a section, "Frequently Bought Together." This has the PIF 275 in that section suggesting they can be bought together. It's obviously an over site and only a $3 one at that but it's not worth the effort....

The black plastic plates that fit under the probes are NOT SLANTED like the PIF-275 requires. I hope this helps someone not to make the same mistake. I wish someone had put this in the reviews earlier.

I should have read the reviews before buying, but I couldn't imagine why this product wouldn't fit all collars since it states it on the description. If you have the collar with the slanted washers, this pack will NOT work with it. Returning the product today.

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I also have the angled washers and the collar probes are black plastic cones Witt the metal contact at the very end.

Luckily, I had to purchase a new collar, and found a customer service number on the back:

800-732-2677. M-F 8am-8pm/ Sat. 9 am5

I spoke to someone who identified the correct part I needed. The pack came with two probes and two washers. Hooray!!!!

Read Best Reviews of PetSafe Training Systems Probe Pack Here

Cheap fix for an expensive collar. None of the prongs were the same length as the original, but the short set work fine and are probably more comfortable for my awesome pooch Woody.

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PetSafe Training Systems Probe Pack

Very happy with this item! Has an ample amount of different size probes so you can use for any type dog as needed. Great price too!

Friday, April 4, 2014

SportDOG Add-A Beeper Accessory, SD-AB

SportDOG Add-A Beeper Accessory, SD-ABhave tried other brands out there and this one works the best and can handle the abuse from a dog that never wants to stop hunting

I got two, one for each of my britts. even when set to the same sound the beepers sound slightly different so I can track them easily. easy on off, only used one season so can't say how durable yet

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Does not have an option for a beep while running and then a hawk scream while on point. Beeper collar is very loud. I had to stuff the speaker with cotton balls and cover with tape. Overall good quality , but really wanted the beep while running and the hawk scream on point. Have not been able to see where this is available.

Read Best Reviews of SportDOG Add-A Beeper Accessory, SD-AB Here

bought this for my husband to use with our WPG. It works great. no complaints. he can keep track of her at very far distances without worry of not finding her when she's silently on a point.

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Thursday, April 3, 2014

the Pet Loo Kitty Kat 20-4/5-Inch by 17-2/3-Inch Pet Toilet

the Pet Loo Kitty Kat 20-4/5-Inch by 17-2/3-Inch Pet ToiletSince most of the reviews I've read of this product are from dog owners, I wanted to make sure to provide a perspective from a cat owner. My cat has kidney cancer and recently stopped using the litter box due to difficulty walking and getting in and out of the box. I thought the Pet Loo might work for her, and took a chance on it even though it's pretty expensive. When it arrived and I saw it in person, I wasn't sure she would actually use it. To my surprise, she used it the first night I had it out and has been using it ever since. It's so much easier for her, and much more convenient and clean for me to deal with than a litter box. I have it in the bedroom where she stays and there are no issues with odor or mess. She's not going to be with us much longer, but I'm very happy I bought it, since it's making her life better during her last days.

I have 4 dogs and accidents have been common place. I have purchased 2 other similar products but this one was the best. The clean-up is very easy and the dogs really use it. One of my dogs doesn't use it all the time, but not all dogs are as easy to learn as others. Please note that I have never trained my dogs to use them. No time. I have simply put this out. It is the only one I have purchased 2 of. It is sturdy, not too low to the ground and well designed. Clean-up is even better than the one which uses washable pads as there is no intermediate grate for the urine to linger on.

Buy the Pet Loo Kitty Kat 20-4/5-Inch by 17-2/3-Inch Pet Toilet Now

I worked hard for weeks with my cat to get him to use this. I even sprinkled his urine over the top and left some in the tray. I left it by the litter box for days, I sprinkled his fav litter ontop. I placed it so he had to crawl over it to get to the litter box. I tried praise, training, treats and encouragement. I tried leaving him alone to figure it out. He will use it to lay on, he will use it as a launch box to climb onto the counter, but he wont pee on it. This would probably work better for a dog who can more easily be trained in bathroom manners. Dogs have owners they wish to please, Cats only wish for their owners to please them. This was a fail for me.

Read Best Reviews of the Pet Loo Kitty Kat 20-4/5-Inch by 17-2/3-Inch Pet Toilet Here

We purchased the Kitty Kat Loo for our Chihuahua puppy and he used it without fuss from day one. He started to chew on the fake grass layer after the first week while we were at work. So, we bought four giant river pebbles to weigh down the corners and haven't had any issues since.

If you don't flush the Loo and empty the tray every night, the smell can get a bit much. To combat this, I'm now experimenting with bags of activated carbon etc that you can get from aquarium stores.

Overall, great product. Really light so it's not too much of a drag to perform weekly cleaning.

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Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Pet toy - Rubber Ducky

Dog toy - Rubber Ducky-YellowI ordered the camo rubber ducky as a gag gift for a white elephant party (it made sense to everyone there), and was so disappointed to have a plain yellow ducky arrive in the mail instead. The box was addressed to me, but the invoice inside was for someone in PA. I'm assuming she got my duck instead of the yellow one she ordered. I requested them to overnight the camo ducky to me, but they were unable to do so, so refunded my money. I improvised by makin a cape out of camo fabric for the yellow duck and the gift was a huge success in the end.

Supposed to be a dog toy. I bought it for the newest grandchild. I love the fact that it squeaks.

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Great toy. The other person who reviewed this took off points because they said it wasn't tough enough to stand up to their dogs.

I didn't see the word "tough" anywhere in the item description, but this thing is plenty tough enough for conventional uses. I mean, regular duck stuff. Like swimming, and playing around the river!

Read Best Reviews of Pet toy - Rubber Ducky Here

I read the reviews of this toy on another sight since there were no reviews here but it was the same toy. I always read reviews before purchasing toys since my puppy is tough on her toys . I was under the impression that it was a tough toy. Boy was I wrong she chewed right thru it within a half hour. I wouldn't recommend this toy if you are looking for a tough toy.

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Thursday, January 23, 2014

100 pack GRIDLOCK 23" x 22.5" Puppy Dog Animal Training Wee Wee Pads

100 pack GRIDLOCK 23' x 22.5' Puppy Dog Animal Training Wee Wee PadsBest pee pee pads on the market. Have been using them for over a year now. My whole family has switched to these pads.

I will start off by saying I do not have a puppy, I have a 5 year old chihuahua and these are by far the best wee wee pads I've ever used. Would not think of using any other brand ever again.

Buy 100 pack GRIDLOCK 23" x 22.5" Puppy Dog Animal Training Wee Wee Pads Now

I have a seven year old 25 lb dog that is puppy pad trained by a previous owner. These pads are by far the most absorbent and reduce Oder a great deal more than any others. Occasionally I purchase a different brand because the are on sale or new to the market. I always regret it, end up tossing most of them and come back to these.

Read Best Reviews of 100 pack GRIDLOCK 23" x 22.5" Puppy Dog Animal Training Wee Wee Pads Here

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Natural Choice Dog Crunchy Treats with Real Carrots

Natural Choice Dog Crunchy Treats with Real CarrotsNot only I appreciate the bite sized treat for my dog, but my dog enjoys these crunchy treats and they are great for training and small rewards for general good behavior.

I bought these products at Petsmart on sale and I thought these would be great for my lab mix for treats and training purposes. He loves these! They have lasted me quite some time, due to treat rotations, and come in a resealable bag. Definitely would buy these again!

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Thursday, December 5, 2013

DT Works Harness, Ask To Pet, Black/White, Large - Fits Girth Size: 34-Inch to 47-Inch

DT Works Harness, Ask To Pet, Black/White, Large - Fits Girth Size: 34-Inch to 47-InchI have a German shepherd and she doesn't like people just sticking their hands in here face. This puts out a warning that she doesn't just accept anyone to pet her.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Leather Brothers Italian Basket Dog Muzzle

Leather Brothers Italian Basket Dog Muzzle, Tan, Size 1Great product. Highly durable and dependable. No more dog bites. The only thing that I would consider a negative for this item is that it is advertised as leather when the face mask is hard plastic.

We live in south Florida and if you are familiar with Bufo Toads then you know how dangerous they are, the poison they sequestrate out their glands on their back will kill a dog in minutes. My mother has a American Water Spaniel puppy, who lunges at everything so this is keeping him safe as he learns. Great quality.

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Don't leave these where your dog can get it, but when wearing it it provides safety for all. My vet recommended this as well as a trainer and friends who have also used it. Keeps dog safe as she trains to behave. It saves lives!

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Monday, November 4, 2013

SportDog SD-425 Camo WetlandHunter

SportDog SD-425 Camo WetlandHunterI love this collar system. I only received it this morning but I love it so much I thought I needed to review it based on my initial impressions. Also, seeing as there are only 2 other reviews (as of 4/3/13) I thought another review would be helpful for prospective buyers.

I have owned an SD-400 for about 2 years. It is a great product and I loved it, but always wished it would vibrate instead of beep. When I got a new puppy I wanted to add a collar, however, if I did so I would lose the ability to use the tone feature. I saw this SD-425 Camo and was sold! This is basically just an updated version of the SD-400.

Pros:

Vibrate feature as well as tone. With only one dog you essentially have 4 features you can do. Tone, continuous, momentary AND vibrate.

Small compact receiver

Light weight transmitter. Only 2.2 oz. I thought it was defective at first because it was so light. I thought they forgot to put my battery inside!

Li Ion batteries!!! Used to take 24 hours to charge the SD-400. Now, only 2!!!

50-70 Hours of use on single charge according to my manual

Cons:

Outside of transmitter is very slick. My SD-400 has a rubbery feeling to it which I think is better than the SD-425 Camo

Ability to add-a-dog but the additional collars are almost as expensive as an entire system

Not pros or cons:

The lanyard is redesigned. I like how it has a quick detach buckle, however, I liked the old ring and metal clasp. Combine the old lanyard with the new and they will have a winner.

All in all, I love this and am excited to start training my new pup. Based on my experience with the older SD-400 I would recommend this to a friend. If anything changes I will update my review.

Great collar with effective range, multiple settings give great options for different activities and environments. Highly recommend this product to others!

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I didnt have the older wetland hunter SD model, but this one seems to work great. Have not had any issues yet. I got this after waterfowl season, so we will put it to the test in another 10 months.

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Monday, October 7, 2013

Innotek UltraSmart Contain and Train

Innotek UltraSmart Contain and TrainThis is a great item. Make sure you follow the training steps for using the fence though (I thought my dog was smart enough to skip a few....I was wrong.) This product really is great. It is pretty simple and easy to use.

The remote trainer is great too. I have never actually had to shock Jeb (my black lab) with it. It has a great "tone only" button and that is all he needs to hear to realize it's time to listen. He learned from the fence that the tone means the shock will arrive shortly if he doesn't do what he's supposed to.

In a nutshell: Excellent product.

Details: I recently adopted a large dog who is very sweet, but also very headstrong. He had the habit of chasing and tackling people and would also to fail to obey when he had other ideas in mind. I worked with him using traditional training methods with success in several areas, but he continued to tackle small children and to get onto furniture and into our trash whenever we weren't watching. Also, despite our having a very good fence around our yard, he learned how to squeeze under the gate. When my husband and I had to chase him down our busy road, it terrified me into seeking a solution.

I asked friends and acquaintances who have large dogs, especially those with breeds known for stubbornness, for advice. Many mentioned training collars. The Innotek brand was specifically mentioned by two. I did some online research, and decided to purchase the Innotek Contain & Train.

This system has worked a miracle with my dog. The indoor zone keeps him off of furniture and out of the trash. The outdoor containment keeps him from going under our gate into traffic. The training remote (following the easy to understand instructional training video) allowed me to teach my dog to sit and stay on command. I initially had to reinforce the command with the correction, but he immediately associated the tone with the correction. After a couple of corrections, only the tone was needed to remind him to listen. Also, I would like to note I have only had to use the correction on the level "2" setting. (The collar has settings 0 9, with 0 being tone only and 9 the strongest correction). To make sure the device was humane; I tested the collar on my bare leg. The level 2 felt something like the weird tingling feeling you might experience if you touch an electric appliance with wet hands. It was not exactly pleasant, but far from painful. When he initially received a correction, my dog would perk up or twitch his ears and look around. Once he figured out obedience stopped the sensation, he would immediately obey with just the tone. I combined the training with verbal commands that he now follows without correction. To be honest I think my dog is now under the impression that I have supernatural powers!!

After working with the system, our dog has become a much better behaved pet. When our preschool nieces came to visit I was able to assure he would be under control. Friends and family who came to visit before we bought the system and have since returned have remarked that he is like an entirely different dog a very well behaved one that they are able to enjoy being around.

This product has worked like a small miracle for me. I hope you will have the same success.

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I recieved the product and it worked great! Unfortunately, I lost the remote control and Innotek would not sell me a new one. Innotek told me that I would have to buy the whole system again. Now would sony or panasonic make me buy a new TV if i lost my remote. I am extremely upset and disheartened by this company. I will never to business with Innotek again.

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Innotek tells me that Amazon is not one of their authorized dealers, so they will not honor any warranty. I bought one of their collars and it stopped working after two months. No warranty service if you don't buy from one of their authorized dealers.

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One must take the time to sift through reviews of marginal relevance. If someone purchases a product, installs it, uses it for an hour, a day, or a week, can that person deliver a valuable review of said product? I do not purchase items with the expectation of them lasting a short period of time. What follows is a long term commentary on Innotek's Contain N' Train inground pet fencing system.

We purchased this exact model in 2008. The reviews describing unacceptable battery life are correct. Additionally, this company's technology is unreliable. At first the collar and remote operated as advertised. After about 2 weeks we noticed the collar would not operate once removed from the charger the red light would stay on. The manual states this is a self test failure just need to place back on charger and then remove to reset. This became very frequent, sometimes would not be corrected by placing back on the charger, and was not acceptable. I called the company Innotek, and they admitted it was faulty and sent a new one I had to send the faulty one back. Everything was fine until another 5-6 months had passed. The new collar started to do the same thing but was much more sporadic would not work once every few days and would correct itself if placed back on the charger. I thought great, this product is malfunctioning AGAIN. Also, the collar was requiring charging more frequently than when brand new, so I knew the battery was developing a problem. Originally, it required charging every few weeks as I recall, but now was requiring it once per week. The fencing itself seemed to functioning as intended. I would periodically check it to ensure it was working. The dog only went through the fence a couple times and was shocked as he ran through it. He learned to respect the boundary. Most problems encountered by this time were with the collar itself.

We then had a baby. Well, the dog (cavapoo) was given to a relative because it started peeing and pooping on all of the baby's items. We tried showering it with attention, then discipline, etc but still was occurring after several months. The relative took the collar and remote. The remote's red button had poor durability. After about one year from the original purchase, the plastic covering over the button had broken; the button still worked but the housing was cracked and looked poor. Also, I noticed that the range of the remote was significantly less than when it was new. This was even though NEW batteries were placed in the remote and several different brands were tried in an attempt to improve range. The battery in the collar itself was lasting only about one day before indicating a recharge necessary. I had followed the instructions regarding recharging explicitly in an effort to avoid developing "battery memory". I only charged it when the light glowed red indicating a charge was necessary (never charged when the light was amber which indicates 60-20% charge remaining). The relative was instructed on this as well. Long story short, the collar and remote were completely kaputt in less than 18 months. Completely unacceptable for a product costing north of $325. This company is not ready for Prime Time; I will not be purchasing another Innotek product.

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Sunday, September 22, 2013

Pet Buddies PB10115 Pooch Wobbler Toy (Medium)

Pet Buddies PB10115 Pooch Wobbler ToyThis wobbler is a great interactive toy! I would definitely recommend it for supervised play though, as it is not designed as a chew toy & therefore isn't as durable as other toys designed for that purpose.

For a larger version of this same toy, check out Pet Buddies Pooch Wobbler Toy

My puppy can't get enough of this toy. He loves how it bounces in strange ways. It is super soft and he plays with it for hours on end.

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Saturday, July 20, 2013

Purebred DNA Test Kit

Purebred DNA Test KitI adopted a year old Border Collie a few years ago from Border Collie Rescue of Norther California. He seemed like an odd looking Border Collie to me, but they felt certain about him. After living with him for a couple of years, he seems obviously Border Collie in both looks and behavior, with the exception that he is a couple inches taller than normal breed range and weighs more. He has the relatively more rare white with black coat, but the markings (half black face, large black patch on back) are completely consistent with that type.

The test came back indicating that he is a Border Collie. However, he fell on the very edge of the range on many of the specific analysis they do, which is entirely consistent with the fact that he is a very unusual looking BC. While the vast majority of the report spoke in support of the fully BC heritage, they did allow that the fact that he was on the edge in some tests could me either that he is from a more unusual line (which would be less represented in their database) or that something else was mixed in at some point.

I purchased this test solely with a sense of curiosity, knowing full well that it had it's limitations, and I approach it primarily for it's entertainment value. I was not at all dissatisfied in any respect it was amusing, informative and while it didn't answer the question definitively, I was proud that it confirmed my intuitive sense of my dogs ancestry. Fun stuff.

og,

I sent away my DNA test for my mixed breed 5 month old puppy very anxious to get the results. When I received the email, I couldn't have been more disappointed! My test results indicated that my dog is a 50% Chinese Shar-pei and 25% Whippet and 25% other mixed breeds and gave me 5 different breeds that ranged from a basset hound to a terrier for the remaining 25%. Well that is just so unbelievable to me. My dog has blue eyes, and also webbed feet, and brindle like coat which are all very dominant traits. I emailed Wisdom asking if we could redo the test because the results just don't make any sense. Wisdom Panel gave me all kinds of suggestions as to why my dog doesn't look anything like the breeds they are telling me he is. Then they asked me for a picture of my dog, which I was hesitant to give but I did. They then explained how his image does relate to their suggestions and then they changed and added Huskey in the mix. Long, long story short I got no where with them. I asked for another test to try again, and I then asked for a refund and they denied both. I later got in touch with the lady who had the litter of puppies and found out his Mother was a PitBull/Lab mix and Father was a Huskey/German Shepherd mix. Makes perfect sense! I've seen maybe reviews which are positive, but unfortunately my experience was bad.

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Easy to use and quick turnaround response with detailed information....good buy. It cleared up the mystery of what kind of dog I had!

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I was very happy with the speed & communication. They e-mailed me when they rec'd the DNA sample & less than 3 weeks later I had the results of my rescue Rottweiler.

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Turn around time was great. We have a dog that we want to check

the ancestry on, She came to us as an abused pup. We have grown

to love her and we would like to see if she is purebred.

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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

PoochieBells Classic Dog Potty Training Doorbell in Chocolate Brown, Cold Nose Warm Heart Wording

PoochieBells Classic Dog Potty Training Doorbell in Chocolate Brown, Cold Nose Warm Heart WordingI bought the hanging door bells to replace a set one of my neighbors had given me to make the door look a little nicer. My neighbor had given me a string of bells that she'd picked up from the dollar store and she took off all of the bells except for the bottom one. I'd added some string on it and hung it on the door with the string. The dollar store version actually rings louder with just one bell than this item does with 4 bells. The dollar store's bell is a little bigger and gives a lower pitched ring whereas this device gives a high pitched ring that can be a little harder to hear. Also the strap is little more than ribbon. I was expecting something more around the thickness of a thin dog leash, not the case.

I think you could do about the same or better with some pretty ribbon and some dollar store bells from Christmas. It looks nice but could be made a lot better.

It's not working for my dogs. I have two, a 12 year old Cocker Spaniel who is bright and quick to pick up new tricks, lessons, and the like, (I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to run her through feldjager training when she was a pup, so she's very bright and well trained). And a 9 month old Min Pin, who is a little slower, but still bright.

I got the bell for the Min Pin mostly, she was trained on potty pads by her previous owner, I don't do that here, my dogs use the outdoors. So, it was for the purpose of retraining for her, and for giving my Cocker Spaniel a signal for me. Previously she'd just sit by the door, silent, and wait for me to notice her, until sometimes I swore her eyes were crossed. That's no good, if I'm in another room, I need to know so she isn't just waiting on me to walk by.

It's been nearly a month of doing exactly what the instructions say, potty time isn't play time anyways here, and my Cocker is an on command pottier anyways. So I'm not abusing the bells and letting them play when they should be associating it with potty.

Neither of them have yet to ring the bell on their own. My Min-Pin would rather potty on the floor, than ring the bell, and my Cocker would rather wait on her potty breaks, or sit at the door and wait for me.

:(

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Blaze is still attempting to get over the fear of the bells. He is still in the middle of potty training, so we have noticed that he has been attempting to use them occasionally and hope that it becomes a habit. They are adorable and I believe well worth it in the end!

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I did not buy this doorbell dog bells for the dog but to put on the outside doors in the house so I was aware if the door was opened by my husband. I was able to get to him before he got out of the house as his sweet mind change in the end of his life. I still have them on the door as it is still a good idea to know if your door is opened. Also, if you have a little one you can know if they open the door.

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Love it when our furry girly rings her bells! Even better to hear it with no prompting or questioning. Cute. Thanks for a great training tool.

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