Category: Pet Products Review

Review of the latest dogs and cats products on market.

05/14/2013

Friendly Collars – Won’t Let The Dogs (and cats) Out

Most pet owner experienced at least once the fear of loosing their dog, if by escaping from the backyard, or through the space between a fence rails.

Some dog breeds (like our Tong, a Shiba--inu, for example) just have that characteristic embedded in them, and they’ll take any opportunity to go on an adventure outside all alone.

Preventing escapes can be tricky and expansive. New fence or filling the digging areas won’t solve it, as they’ll dig again. We added extra fence on top of the existing gate from the ground up to the middle. Ha, it did not help.

Max, our Maltese, not to be outdone, found a way under the gate door to go and roam the neighborhood too.

Since they love the outdoors, they spend a lot of the time in the backyard, more than we can baby-sit them.

The last time Tong escaped, we got a phone call from the police saying they have our dog. He said that this time he is giving us only a warning, and next time it’s a fine.

Now, we need to find a creative solution to block all options for these two cute but wild 4 legged from running away, once and for all. (We are against the invisible fence, it needs to be a pet friendly solution.)

And so we did. We found out that the Puppy Bumper Collar actually works!! That is why I decided to have it on 4-legged boutique available for all.

This simple solution for indoor and outdoor use, in your backyard, balcony, or wherever you have a gate for safety. Lightweight, easy to wear, cotton cover with polyester fiber fill stuffing collar. Available in 3 sizes and color / print options. It is machine washable and looks great. Worried about rainy days? There is one made with canvas cover for those rainy days. Prices are from $29.99 for regular small and medium large +$2. The rainy bumpers from $29.99 for small and medium, large +$2.

Simple solution for big problem.

Visit our pet boutique 4-legged.com for more great pet ideas and products.

05/08/2013

Safe Car Traveling With Pets

While traveling, whether it is a short drive around the block, the vet or a cross-country road trip, it is recommended to keep your pets occupied and comfortable. (unless your dog is the driver:)) Now, that the weather is warmer, and summer almost here, most are traveling more. Hence, it’s time to prepare all we need to make our travels safe and enjoyable.

Car Seat – best way to travel with your pet is by using a car seat. designed for your dog, and fits the dog’s size. A car seat is comfortable for the pet, it includes a seat belt to attach it to the car and belt for your pet’s safety. While driving he can not distracts you and in case of emergency stop or an accident, he’ll stay in the chair safe. Materials, colors and size differ. Price range for car seats - between $57.00 up to $209.00. for a car seat that can occupied two small dogs.

Carrier / Soft Crate is second option– should be closed tightly, but yet easy to open and close. It should be roomy enough for the pet stand or lie down. The reason for using crate in the car is to minimize any potential distraction, or pet opening and leaving the carrier. You can also put his favorite toy or blanket, to make him feel good. Starts at $54.99 For our crate collection

Both in one (or more) – If you travel often, an economical and space saving decision would be a carrier or stroller that is a car seats too. Two in one (or more like air line approved and backpack) starts $73.80

See our all in one pet car seat carriers

Safety Harness – allows pet to sit or lay down on the car seat while safely secured to vehicle seat belt. Padded chest for maximum comfort. Some harnesses are good for use in car and for walking too. Available in Red, Black, Brown, Beige Price starts at $22.99 depending on the dog size and manufacturer.

Car Seat Covers – protects your car seats from shed fur and dirt your pet might have picked up along the way. They are easy to install and clean. There are covers for SUV, covers for rear bench, for front seat, hammock. Choice of colors, prints and materials. From $54.99 and up

Car Safety Barriers – if your pet tries to jump over through your bucket seat from the back seat, you may find the car barrier helpful. Barriers made of steel or mesh so the pet can see you and you can see him. Door guard shield for keeping car door from scratches, from $39.00

Ramp – very useful for elderly pets, disabled pets, large pets that cannot be lifted, or too tiny to jump into the car. In addition, it saves the pet owner the backbreaking work of lifting their pets. They are light, foldable and portable for use at home or outside. size when fully open - 42″, 66″ and 71″. From $84.00 on sale. Go to ramps and steps page

Food/Drink and Bowls – when you are on a long trip, always bring a good amount of food treats and drink for the trip. You may bring some extra so you will never fall short. Also, for added convenience you may include the Lookout Travel Rack that allows your pet to have food and water while on the go.

Remember

Collar/Tags – keep them on your pet throughout the whole trip. There is always a chance of your pet running off during the trip.

Never leave your pet in the vehicle unattended. Pets can die from heat exhaustion in a short time in hot weather, even if you park in a shade. If you have an emergency and need to leave the car, take your pet with you.

For all pet’s car travel accessories visit our 4 legged boutique

10/19/2012

Dog Sweaters To Wear or Not To Wear

Since the ladies fashion conquered its place in the pet fashion industry the debate if its good for the dog or not is just growing.

I’ve heard strong opinions in favor and against, and the main argument against is that dogs have their own fur that do the job just fine. In general it’s true. But we need to consider more parameters.

Pets like humans suffer from the elements.

Some breeds handle the cold better than other breeds mainly because their thick fur, but others, especially teacup, small breeds and short hair dogs do not handle cold so well.

Teacup and small dogs usually suffer from cold weather much more than large breeds.

Most small breeds have fine fur. Their coat may be some time longer but it does not do the job of warming the body.

Senior dogs and puppies are also affected by cold weather.

The short-coated breeds and thick furred breeds are equally vulnerable and have tendency of developing sensitivity to harsh weather.

The winter clothe first choice should be the ones which are designed to close-in warmth while protecting him from harsh weather. A warm sweater to cover his body or If you own a short-haired consider investing in a dog coat. Make sure it covers the dog from the base of the tail to the neck,

The selection of dog sweaters is huge with material, colors and pattern options. Not long ago you could not find a dog sweater for the very large ones. Today we offer sweaters, coats and shirts for dogs up to 5x-large who weight around the 90 lbs. The collection includes all colors plain or patterned, cotton and wool, even the luxurious alpaca wool. Argyle, cable knit, shawl collar and animal prints or even animal ears, Christmas and winter theme, turtleneck, hooded sweaters and the list goes on and on. Every dog (or owner) can find the perfect match to best fit their taste.

In order to find out the right size of clothing that will fit your dog you need to take accurate measurements.
What is the correct way to measure your pooch:
Make sure your dog is standing, and use measuring tape as follows:
* Measure pet’s back length from the base of the neck to the base of the tail
*Measure neck circumference
* Measure the broadest part of the chest
Then, check the measurement of the manufacture for each clothe.

Usually there is no need for all measurements. Some manufacturers design clothes to be fit by length only and others weight and breed. Always check the sizing chart carefully. Never buy a small outfit, as it will uncomfortable for him. If he is between sizes, always go with the larger size.

Remember:

Pets suffering from the cold weather just the way we are. Dog clothing don’t just look good, but they also have a purpose.
Even if you do not like to dress your dog, it is essential to help dogs cope with cold and snowy weather by providing protection for your pet against harmful elements. Make sure the clothes fit the dog comfortably. Keep them secured in place even in the most rigorous activities.

Take them out only for a short time when it’s too cold outside.

Clean paws when back at home to keep them healthy and dry.

Have a healthy and warm winter

08/16/2012

Easing On Senior Dogs with Medical Or Physical problems

Pet as human live longer than they did in the past. Unfortunately, living longer sometimes mean health problems. Lately, some new senior dog products reached the market to help and ease pain and other disabilities.

1. When looking for the pet food bowl, look for the raised one to fit your pet height. That way the pet stands upright in a more relaxed, healthier position. Especially advantageous to older dogs with arthritic joints and spine.

Raised dog food table to ease older dogs

2. Massage your dog to relieves stress and muscle soreness. Especially benefits for senior pets with issues such as alleviating pain and discomfort or lack of mobility. You can find suggestions on the internet on how and to massage your pet.

3. Magnetic Therapy has been used for thousands of years. It is believed that magnets can help increase blood flow to sore or diseased tissue, supplying more nutrients and oxygen to the affected area, speeding the healing process. Now it is available as a Magnetic Therapy Dog Collarand comes in 3 sizes.

4. Bamboo Charcoal - has a high mineral content including potassium, calcium, iron & sodium. When it reacts with your pet’s body heat it produce FAR infrared rays. These rays are known to relieve aches and pains, reduce stress, and speed recovery. Other benefits may include joint relief and improved circulation, energy and flexibility. Now it’s available in Throws – mats and bed covers.

5. The bottoms up rear harness designed to help senior dogs to have the daily walks and to promote regular exercise. The harness supports the pets behinds and ease the walk.

You can find more useful products for older dogs and dogs with health problems. These products was created to ease and help dogs live a normal life as much as possible.

07/25/2012

New Safety and Fun Pet Items You And Your Pet Will Enjoy

The 4-legged boutique is busy looking for new and innovative pet products. Lately we came across some interesting dog items that for our opinion worth check.

1. Keeping lawn healthy without those burned patches.
We have Libbi, a cute female dog who loves the backyard. The problem is that the lawn doesn’t love her back. We have all around burned patches. I was trying all those crazy suggestions i found over the internet like “pour lots of sugar on that are” or clean the area of the dead lawn and just water it for so and so. Well, nothing worked and i did not want to give her those PHP pills.
Now help is here and it’s called the Dog Rocks. Natural rocks found in Australia. All you have to do is place them in your dog’s water bowl with the drinking water, and they will remove nitrates and other unwanted ingredients found naturally in water. The water will be a cleaner, healthier and a happy good looking lawn. Price is reasonable and each pack lasts about two months.

100% Natural Dog Rocks Stop Lawn Burn Patches

2. Giving pills to the dog and he’s asking for more.
I am sure most of pet owner had to struggle, open his mouth and pushing your fingers deep in your dog’s mouth just to give a small pill. How many times he laughed at you and and spit it out??
Now help is here and it’s called Pill Pocket. Small chicken or duck treat that had a pocket in it. All you need to do is push the pill in it and Voila, give it to Fido and he’ll ask for more.

Natural Pocket For Dogs Pill - Chicken or Duck — Natural Pocket For Dogs Pill – Chicken or Duck

3. High-tech goes to pet id tags non- invasive, no monthly fee.
Yes, i know, Microchiping our pets is important and i did it with my dogs in case they’ll decide to go on a vacation without me. BUT, and for me it’s a big but. From statistic done by the ASPCA only very low percents of lost pets find their way to a near shelter or a vet. As far as i know they are the only who have the microchip reader. That is why you must have an ID tag with your info on it. BUT, yes i have another but. Let say your dog ran away, people who don’t know him may be afraid to touch his collar or even come too close, and here is the solution. It’s the QR ID Tag. QR stands for “Quick Response” it’s a unique code you create in a minute, with any information you like to put in and it can be read with any Smartphones using a Barcode reader app that can be downloaded for free. No need to touch the pet, just open the app and scan the QR and all info will pop-up. Available for cats and small dogs and for medium and large dogs.

4. Rain bandana, fun solution for unexpected rain.
This one is genius in its simplicity. The cute rain bandana on dogs neck is converted to a water-resistant raincoat when needed. When the rain ended, just roll it back. That’s it!!

For more innovative pet products see our 4-legged pet boutique

05/30/2012

Why Dogs Need Life Jacket?

The first question that comes in mind is don’t all dogs know how to swim? Well, from asking around the answer is NO. There are small breeds that have problem in the water, older dogs even if they know and love to swim, can have sudden issue while in the water. And what about dogs who are afraid of the water (like my Shiba Inu that is afraid even from the rain). Dogs, especially with short fur can suffer from the cold water. Even if your dog loves the water they can get fatigued, especially small and older dogs get tired quickly. Fear and anxiety in the water caused from unexpectedly fall (for example from a boat), wave, undertows or currents can hamper his ability to swim.

That is why the life jacket is needed. Although there are no design or performance standards for pet life jackets, here are a few points for you to consider before ordering. The handles of life jacket or vests are one of the most important for the safety of your dog. It makes lifting safer and easier for you and your 4 legged. The dogs life jackets are designed to float the pet in a swimming position without interfering their ability. The constructed to provide warmth and comfort in cool water. Remember that Hypothermia can be a threat to some breeds of dogs when they are unduly exposed to cold water.

Playing with Fido near or in shallow water looks safe. But you know dogs, if they love the water you can unexpectedly find him in the water. Running after a ball or whatever other reason he decides it’s swim time.

When on a boat, humans must have life jackets. Although there is no law for dogs, it can save live, and it is recommended to put on the life vest at all time.

05/15/2012

Losing A Beloved Pet

It is heart breaking to lose a pet. Most people say it’s like losing a close family member or a best friend. Coping with the grief is not easy, but there are many ways to ease the pain.

First you need to accept that not everyone understand the bond between a pet and their parent. You have the right to grief, to feel pain, to cry, to miss your pet. It’s totally normal to go through these emotions and it helps to handle the loss. Sharing memories can be very helpful for some, while other prefer writing a poem in the memory of their beloved dog or cat.

You can talk with friends, family members or you can search the internet for pet loss support group, where all members feel and understand what you are going through. Sharing brings relief and helps with the healing process. One site that i found is petloss.com where you can chat, read articles, light a memory candle and do a lot more.

Another wonderful option is building an online page in memory of your beloved pet. You’ll find websites on the internet that will offer you this option without any charge. Post photos, share your pet’s story and how wonderful he or she were.

Some people cremate their pets and keep cremation in urn. Some keep them close to their heart in a memorial locket where they can add photos, cremation, hair lock or even a tooth. Many choose to place an engraved memorial stone in the yard or keep a framed photo in the house.

Don’t let your emotions rule you, find a way to assist you heal.

06/10/2011

Soft Pet Crates- Do I Need It

Pet crate is one pet item you need to consider adding to your list. Whether you furry family includes cat. dog. ferret or other small animals.

If you are asking why i think so…then i’ll tell you why

Last year we had that horrible storm during winter. Snow, trees are down and no power for 6 days. As i am a summer person i always suffer in cold weather, but with no heat it was intolerable for me and my four cats. At the second day we were the only family in the area that stayed home. The reason was that i had no crate to carry the cats with me. Only had 2 pet carriers but it was unrealistic to squash them into these small carriers.

The first thing i did when we got the power back is buying 2 soft folding pet crates.

I found them to be quick and easy to ensemble (even for me). they are roomy enough for the use of two cats in each, portable and easy to carry. If they are not in use it takes just seconds to fold for storage.

Personally, i do prefer the soft crate on the metal crate/cage/kennel or what ever name they call it. If i can give my pet a nice, soft, quit crate so why not. They love to stay in it, and sometime use it for their nap.

The benefits of soft, folding, portable pet crates.

- As above: folds for easy storage. You can take you pet with you in the car, my cats are indoor cats but i do take them out to the backyard in the crate and they LOVE it. They feel secure, protected from the sun or rain, they have the water bowl in it for them.

- Most of the pet crates have a shoulder strip for easy carry.

- If you have more then one pet you can choose bigger size (most crates have 3 sizes) and carry them all in (as long as it’s not to crowded). For me the vet visits are so much easier now since i need only one trip carrying them all with me at once.

- Use it indoor or outdoor. Some pet crates are water resistance so choose the one that most fits your needs.

- The pet crate is wonderful when car traveling. Secure the crate using the car safety belt.

- When you stay over night somewhere, outdoor, at a family or friend house they’ll have a familiar place to rest with secure feeling and warmth.

I am sure you’ll find additional benefits, if you do please let me know so i can add them to the list.

Click the image to see Crate Folding Sequence

07/30/2010

Pampering My Pet (Dog & Cat) Pampering Myself

According to the 2009-2010 National Pet Owners Survey number of U.S. Households that Own a Pet (millions)

Cat 38.2
Dog 45.6

Total Number of Pets Owned in the U.S. (millions)

Cat 93.6

Dog 77.5

For 2010, it estimated that $47.7 billion will be spent on our pets in the U.S.

It looks that we love to pamper them. We bring them wherever we go. Surprise them with new toy, treat, bed, and we buy them holiday presents. They are our babies! Our Family!

As it is with our human products, we are looking for new items beyond traditional necessities from high-end items to high-tech items.

Isn’t Grooming enough…
Today’s grooming is not just haircut, quick bath and, nail trim. Dental solutions, mouthwash, dental wipes, toothbrush, ear wipes just to mention few, are routine steps in a beauty session for some pooches. Oh…do not forget the sun block spray. Colognes and hair dye gels for finishing touch, and we have more spa and health pet products

The dinner Dish…
Today’s pet foods are wholesome natural ingredients oriented. I spend more time choosing my pets food then I do for my family. You have food formulas for puppies and kittens, for diets, and for senior pets ensuring long and healthy life for our furry companions.
The plastic bowl…we do not have one. Our pooch and kitty food dish are Pet Friendly, Comfortably Ergonomic. Pets now feed in relaxed upright positions, reducing the strain on their muscles and joints caused by feeding directly on the floor. Big selection of designer pet bowls in various colors made from acrylic glass, ceramic, porcelain, stainless still, hand painted, personalized, one of a kind. Endless options to compliments your kitchen décor.

We have them all – the pet food dish selection for cats and dogs.

Pets go hi-tech…
If the small guy stays at home alone while the pet owner at work, no worries, the automatic feeder and waterer will take care of his needs.

During cold winter days the self warming pet mats and during summer the cooling pet mates, bandannas and jackets will do the trick.

Enrichment classes…

e1vy847k You’ll find the old and cute plush toys and outdoor toys. But play time can have benefits like the dental Dog Toys, chewer friendly – Remove Plaque while satisfying Chewing needs, and promote Dog Healthy Teeth and Gum. The new style is interactive toys that eliminate boredom and develop a dog’s intelligence. Puzzle for solving skills, Great to focus pet attention and an excellent outlet for energy and spend quality time with you.

Bed time…

Pet Beds – pet owners can find big selection of beds and accessories to match their home décor and special needs of the pet.

Selection of couches, bed sets with pillow and blankets. Memory foam beds, designer beds, customize the fabric to match your home décor. Beds for older or with health issues pets, sleeping bags for traveling with us.

On the go –owner and pet
Dog Clothes like – Faux mink coats, designer plaid jackets, wedding dresses and tuxedo, matching hair bows and jewels, leather collar and leash sets, Halloween costumes, and Christmas outfits keep pets in fashion throughout the year. Upscale leather carriers to keep the pet owner in style as well.

For travels we keep our pet safe in the car with car harnesses, booster seats and car seat covers with nice prints. Senior dog gets help with the pet ramp, easy access to higher places. Being a biker doesn’t mean fido stays home. Trailer and jogger and bike baskets keep owner and pet inseparable. Car and bike accessories

Ok. So we are pampering our pets. And why shouldn’t we. Really, who wants a pet bed or bowl set that doesn’t complement their decor? Pet products Designers has taken this concept all the way with an impressive lineup of products any pet owner would be proud to place in their homes.

Using thoughtful design and high quality products to incorporate the lives of animal companions into their human’s living environment