Times I've Been Led Astray

   Though by-and-large I actually do like most of the products I end up bringing (or having delivered) home, there are always those few items that go even more quickly than they came.  Here are two examples that I've either thrown away or returned in the last few months:

  1. The Inflatable Collar
          Around Thanksgiving time Cassie had some pretty extensive surgery along with a general spay.  This left her looking like a Franken-puppy and because of her history as a fixated licker, she was forced to wear a pretty uncomfortable cone to bed for about two weeks.  The basic plastic cone that the vet sent us home with was a bit awkward to get on and a little uncomfortable for Cass, but seemed to do the job.  That is until one morning when I came down to find that she had somehow gotten it off and spent a good portion of the night chewing on it.
          In desperation, I headed to our local Petsmart where instead of getting another cone I picked up an inflatable collar that claimed to do the same job with less stress on the dog.  It wasn't cheap (around $30) and more annoying was the fact that it took ages (and all of my cheek strength) to get the darned thing blown up.  Cassie adjusted to the inflated collar fairly quickly, but she always seems to be ok with wearing most things (the cone did take a little while).   Unfortunately, she adjusted to the new collar a little too well as she immediately lay down on the rug and started licking her stitches.  So, after almost 20 min spent blowing the thing up, it didn't work at all.  I put it back in the box, got back in the car and handed it back to the same woman I had purchased it from a few hours before.  When I explained why I was returning it she said: "Oh, this is the 2nd one that's been returned today.  That person said the same thing."
    The message I took away was this: These inflatable collars must work for some dogs, but clearly dogs with longer snouts (most shepherds and hounds) will be able to reach right past them.  Stick with tradition in this case and deal with fitting the cone.  Oh! And Petsmart are very good at taking returns without giving any grief.

  2. Bottle Buddies
      Bottle Buddies are basically just a soft shell on the outside of a plastic bottle, so your dog can enjoy the bottle without threat of injury.  I bought this one from Clean Run on the recommendation of one of my trainers who said her Frenchies loved it.  Cassie and I had a go in Tricks class with the trainer's Buddies one night and she did indeed seem to find the crunching and crinkling sounds a joy and continued tugging away all through class.
      I purchased one from Clean Run the next day (though I bought a fox shape that doesn't seem to be available anymore).  I knew Cassie already like foxes, because she loves the plush stuffingless Crazy Critters foxes you can get a Petsmart, Petco, Target, etc.  I was right, she really liked the Bottle Buddies!  So much so that it was in pieces within ten minutes, after which the bottle that came inside was out and being chewed as well.
     Granted, my dog is a super chewer and has a history of being tough on plush things (beds, blankets, socks, soft toys), but the company claims it is supposed to be able to stand up to chewing due to it's "durable ballistic nylon" lining.  All and all, I paid $7 + shipping for Cassie for it to go in the trash within minutes.  Not a toy for dogs that chew.  Boo hoo.

The Mat of All Mats

    One of my favorite secret gems of dog training equipment sites is Clean Run.   You can find everything you need to perform dog sports at any level, but you can also find some high quality and fun toys and equipment for the average dog owner.  I've spent so much money at Clean Run it's really not funny and my favorite all time purchase (and something Cassie uses on a daily basis) is the Mutt Mat.

    The Mutt Mat was developed to act alongside the training style of Control Unleashed creator Leslie McDevitt.   One of Leslie's founding principle's is the use of mat-work to give your dog a safe place to stay in public, to develop longer down stays, and to help reactive or sight-stimulated dogs control the impulse to run.   Cassie and I have used the mat to gain better focus in Obedience classes (down stays are hard for energetic puppies), to give her a solid and comfortable place to stay when I am taking instruction during class and as a place to hold and stay when guests come to our house that don't particularly like dog kisses.
    Leslie's program is amazing and totally positive, but the mat has been the biggest take away for us.  The Mutt Mat is made of a soft, but strong material that, while not chew proof, has stood up to Cassie.  They are sleek, come in a variety of colors and fold up like a half-sized yoga mat with a drawstring for convenient transport.  I can also attest to the fact that the mat stands up well to machine washing, as I've washed it over a dozen times and it still looks like new.  My friends Jack Russell even peed in the middle of it and it washed out with no discoloration.  Even if you don't want to go through the Control Unleashed process you will still benefit from having a transportable mat for you dog when you leave the house, because you are giving your dog a safe place no matter where you go.  It's a great trick indoors and out, from a very useful site.  So get your mat-work started!