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!

Time Has Come to Name and Shame

   In contrast to my list of wonderful everyday dog products that I can't live without, there are a few items off the bat that I want to point out as having a number of fatal flaws.  These were items I was excited about at the time of purchase, but that upon use were clearly not up to the job and some were even dangerous.


1. The Premier Eco Line
    Now a days, everyone wants to believe that they are doing their part for the enviornment and like most people I subscribe to the 3 R's (reduce, reuse, recycle).  In theory, Premier has done a good thing by attempting to source materials from recycled sources for their Eco line.  I have to admit what drew me to this selection of products originally were the bright colors (especially the granny smith green) as opposed to the more muted shades of the traditional line.   I was to be disappointed on many fronts.
   Firstly, a cursory look at any of the Amazon comments will lead you to see that many people are upset with the quality and durability of the product.  It is very light weight, but not strong enough to stand up to any pulling dog.  It also stretches to a degree that makes it useless for traditional Obedience training (stick with leather on this front).  It won't withstand even the lightest chewing.  Worst of all, I took it to an agility class (because it was light enough for a puppy to drag) and before we got in the door a squirrel sent Cassie on a tear and ended up costing me several bandaids worth of cut fingers and blisters.  The leash sliced right through my skin and basically ruined our evening before it had begun.  I know that some pain may have been caused by any leash when a dog takes off full sprint, but the thinness of the leash mixed with the material acted almost like a knife.  This has never happened with any other leash I've owned (even the cheap ones from Walmart).  I wouldn't by the Eco line from Premier in any form or for any function.  It just isn't worth the money (or the pain).


2. Target's Fold 2 Go Travel Pet Bowls 

I bought these to take to class and to take hiking so that I would have something easy to pack and then fold up when we were done. The first time I used the water bowl was on a hiking trip.  I filled it, the dog drank out of it, I zipped it and put it back in my bag and an hour later all of my field books were soaked.  I thought this might just be a problem I was having, but other reviewers have commented on the same problem.  The food bowl, I never used so I can't comment. Both bowls ended up in the trash a few weeks later.  A cheap and useless product that causes more harm than good.

    

Welcome to American Dog Shopper

Lilly & Cassie

    I'm here to answer your questions about the latest and greatest (and the worst) dog products on the market today.  I'll tell you what I've bought, how it performed and give you tips on the best ways to play with your canine companion.  I'm no expert dog trainer, my dogs don't hold a million titles and I would never call myself anything more than an enthusiastic owner of two the sweetest and orneriest dogs in the USA.

Tobey

     This blog came about mainly from my own desire to share my thoughts and feelings about dog products and the treatment they received from my less than gentle Australian Shepherd puppy Cassie, her older sister Lilly and my mother's little boy Tobey.  I won't often write about dog food (there are some really great sites for that already) though I will discuss certain treats and chews on the market.   I will also try to avoid links to obscure products that I don't think the average dog owner will enjoy.  Most of the items I'll bring before you can be purchased at your garden variety mega-mall pet stores (Petco, Petsmart etc) or online from Amazon.  When I do direct you to something outside of the general market it will only be because it was wonderful and I think your best friend will really enjoy it.  
      Whether you own a 100 lb ball of energy or a 5 lb snoozer (or any combination in between) you'll find  info here on the best and worst of what is available to dog owners on the market today, as seen through the eyes of my own furry friends.  Feel free to send me questions about products that I don't have up and I will let the trouble makers try them out and let you know what to expect before you shell out anymore cold hard cash on a toy or harness or bed that isn't fun, doesn't work or is way too easy to destroy/hard to clean.