Would you buy your dog this?

We all tend to spoil our dogs to some degree.  Maybe it’s an extra treat or maybe it’s the $500 you parted with to make sure Fifi had the biggest, softest, pinkest bed around.  It’s your money, and you can do whatever you want with it…but (and this is just in my opinion) here are some of the more stupid dog related products you can waste your money on.

Do-Rite Disposable Dog Diapers (www.do-rite.com) 

Ok, so doggy diapers are already about the most demeaning thing that you can put on your pup.  I mean, even a child running around in just a diaper seems embarrassing – put some clothes on that kid!  (Of course, do realize that some older dogs really do need diapers to keep their owners from going crazy.  Unfortunately, most people who use dog diapers are just plain lazy.) These Do-Rite diapers have to be the worst….they come with suspenders.  SUSPENDERS!  The real reason they caught my eye in a trade magazine I was flipping through, though, is that they just came out with a “Sizzling Summer Collection”.  Now you can get dog diapers in colors like “Caribbean Aqua Blue” “Screaming Lime Green” and “Watermelon Red”.  Nothing says summertime like a dog in a diaper!

Healthy Baker Lawn Protection Treats (www.petedge.com)

These treats claim to do exactly what it sounds like – protect your yard from unsightly yellow spots by balancing the pH in your dog’s urine.  I guess the ingredients are a secret, because though I checked several websites, the only info I could get was that they have “real peanuts” and that they have “no added soy, sugar, or artificial flavor”.  The main problem as I see it (besides the fact that I seriously doubt that these things work) is that it doesn’t prevent other dogs from peeing in your yard!  Plus, if you were really worried about dead grass due to dog pee, you probably shouldn’t have gotten a dog in the first place.  Ok, I lied.  The REAL problem with these treats is that you can’t feed these to your dog if you reside in New Mexico, Indiana, or Idaho.  What?!?  So they have something in them that makes them illegal in these states, but they are fine for my pup in Texas?  Hmmm…..

Flag-A-Poop’s flags (www.flag-a-poop.com)

Visit the Flag-A-Poop’s website, and you will quickly understand the entirety of their mission statement – to “keep poop off your shoe.”  Their product – which is literally little flags with cartoon poop drawn on them – are easy to use.  Here’s how they work: (1) You take your dog outside to do his/her business (2) He/she does his/her business of the #2 variety (3) DON’T PICK UP THE POOP NOW!  Use one of these handy flags and stick it in/by the poop. Seriously?  I wonder how long it will take before your home owners association will get called because of all the poop – and neon yellow flags with pictures of poop – in your yard.

I really couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried!

Cute Dog Pics!

Back by pup-ular demand….cute dog pics!

(I am also still really loving Instagram!)

Have I also mentioned lately how much I love my job?

Also, don’t forget about ourcontest to win FREE DOG TREATS!

Oh…and if you would like your own pooch to be featured in a cute dog pic blog post, email us a picture at blog@wagsandwhiskershouston.com.  (Feel free to include a name and a bit of info on your supermodel pup as well)

YOUR DOG LOVES TREATS! (and we are giving them away FREE!)

We here at Wags & Whiskers – the blog, the dog walkers, and the bakery – are SO excited about our new dog treats!  No really, I don’t think you understand.  We spent weeks perfecting our recipes to make sure that the treats were nutritionally perfect and deliciously munchable.  After trial and error (and lots of big messes in our kitchen) we have put two varieties – Love Bites and Peanut Butter Pumpkin Bones – on Etsy for you to purchase.  We’ve had a great response from our current clients (who are the best in the world, thank you!), but we are now looking to expand to all of you (you being the dog lovers outside of the Houston/Cypress area!)

So here is what we are going to do: We are going to give out our treats for FREE!  Yes for FREE (no shipping and handling, no processing fees, no nothing!)  Absolutely FREE!  We do need your help, though. Here is what you have to do:

In the next two weeks (July 24-Aug 7) help spread the word about our new treats!  There are two ways you can do this:

• “Like” our brand-spankin’ new page on Facebook: Wags & Whiskers Houston Facebook Page.  Post something on your wall (just click Facebook button on the bottom of this post) for an extra chance to win!

• Tweet a comment, a link  to our Etsy page(http://www.etsy.com/listing/77815836/love-bites-dog-treats or http://www.etsy.com/listing/77814833/peanut-butter-pumpkin-bones) or a link to this blog post (just click that little birdie at the bottom!) Make sure to include @WandWHouston in your tweet so we can see what you have to say!

You can enter up to three times per day (if you want to like our page, write on our wall, and tweet!)  We will then assign each comment about our treats and each “like” a number (based on the order they were posted) and use a random generator to pick TWO winners the week of August 8th.  We will also select  (at least) 5 other people (depending on how many yummy treats we have!) to receive sample sizes of our goodies.  We will contact you (via whichever social media site you posted your comment on) to get the address where we should send these whisker lickin’ bites.  (and NO you will not then be on a mailing list where we send you loads of junk mail!)

If you have any questions about the contest, please email blog@wagsandwhiskershouston.com  Unfotunately, we can only ship within the United States.  (sorry!)

All right….who wants some FREE DOG TREATS?!

You Fed Your Dog WHAT??? (We can help!)

                                               

We all want the best for our dogs.  That is why you are reading this blog….why you reading tweets about what is going on in the dog world…why you bought your pup that toy yesterday knowing that he has 50 like it at home (but he doesn’t have the blue one!)  You make sure your dogs get their daily walks.  (Or you hire a dog walker to do the job!) You take Spike to the vet, you take Suzanne to the dog park, you let Rocco sleep in the bed.  But what is your dog eating?

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) establishes the rules that dog food companies must adhere to in the United States.  You would think that an organization with such an official sounding name would have regulatory power similar to the Food and Drug Administration.  Not so!  The AAFCO is not affiliated with the government, and at the end of the day, really has no legal authority to regulate what your pooch is chowing down on.  Sure, they analyze foods, but even within their loose guidelines for pet food companies, there are huge loopholes. 

In a perfect world, you would have the time (money and energy!) to keep your dog on a raw, homemade, natural diet.  This, for most people, is just not do-able.  I’m guessing you don’t do this for yourself either.  (Everyone has to eat fast food now and then, right?  And I’m sure that Hamburger Helper I made for dinner last night was REALLY healthy!)  You can, though, make small changes to your little furbaby’s diet that can go a long way.

Treats!  That’s a place to start!  How many do you give your dog a day?  I recently decided to read the ingredients in the treats I’m feeding my own little lady.  The front of the bag had claims like “fortified with 12 essential vitamins and minerals.”  Well, maybe that’s true, but the list of ingredients was as long as my arm!  With words I didn’t even know how to pronounce (yum – Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex!), things that I wasn’t even sure what they were (sausage flavor?  how does one get “sausage flavor”?), and things that even I – I’m no nutritionist – know cannot be good (Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Red #40).  Yikes! 

So, I decided to do what everyone wishes they had the time too – start making homemade treats.  After many failed batches, tinkering with recipes, and lots of taste tests – Wags & Whiskers is proud to offer them to you!  I made sure to include ingredients that are healthy and will keep your pup (and their tummy) working as it should, even if you don’t buy that boutique, organic (aka SUPER expensive) dog food.  

The biggest shock for me – dogs can actually TASTE THE DIFFERENCE.  And they want the healthier option! (Unlike me!  I usually want to eat the thing with the unpronounceable ingredients!)  Dogs really do go nuts for these things. 

Take a look and see what you think.  We have tried to keep them at a reasonable price so everyone can have the luxury of keeping their dog as healthy as they already are happy.  If you have any questions, comments, suggestions; please email bakery@wagsandwhiskershouston.com. 

Best of all – to make sure we spread the word, we are going to be giving out LOTS of FREE samples.  I want to make sure as many pups and possible taste these and give them wags of approval.  Check back here and on the website for details on contests and give aways.

Buffy LOVES them!