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 If you ask a dog owner what a Kong * is, most likely they will reply that it is a toy for dogs, not an over-sized Gorilla who wreaks havoc on Manhattan. The Kong has become one of the most well known dog toy and for good reason. Made of hard rubber, it is very durable. They even make a line for aggressive chewers (note: this does not mean it is indestructible. As with any toy it should be inspected regularly for any damage and discarded when no longer safe).
The Kong is also a great interactive toy for dogs. The center is hollow, making a great place to put food and treats for your dog to work on getting out. Most people know to insert biscuits, but many dogs quickly learn how to get them out in the shortest amount of time. I like to take my dogs’ dry food and soak it in water. Sometimes I mix in other foods (the picture at the top has macaroni &  cheese mixed in). Once it is soft, I stuff it in the Kong and freeze. I will also layer kibble and cheese and microwave for a few seconds to melt the cheese (let this cool before offering it to your dog). This keeps my dogs occupied for a little bit. You can find more great recipes to try at Kong Company . Just click on Tips and Advice for the recipe page.
This is one toy I recommend for every dog owner. It’s durability is great for the dog that likes to chew. Its erratic bouncing, keeps the dog who loves to fetch moving and its stuffability provides that mental stimulation that many dogs need.
Amazon*
Only Natural Pet Store*
 I am not too picky when it comes to choosing treats for my dogs. I only have 2 criteria for my ideal dog treat- they be healthy and they be small, about the size of a pea. Of course, my main reason for wanting my treats to be healthy is because I care about my pets’ health and I do feel that nutrition plays a big part in their overall health. Yes, I do occasionally give them treats that I consider junk food (after all, I am one of the biggest junk food junkies!), but the majority of their treats are healthy. I like my treats to be small because 3 of my dogs are small, from 15 to 28 pounds. Those calories add up if you are giving several treats a day and because I use treats for training we can easily go through a 1/2 cup in a training session.
Simon and Huey’s Soft Training Treats fit both my criteria and then some. They are small, about 7/16ths of an inch. They are healthy- no sugar added and they make them without corn, wheat or soy so are great for dogs with those food allergies. They come in 7 flavors and my dogs love them all (okay, they don’t turn their noses up at to much, but they really get excited when they see the Simon & Huey container coming out!) The flavors include – Kickin™ Chicken, Liver Mesquite, Salmon Dill, Peanut Butter Molasses, Garlic Dill, White Cheddar  and Wild Ginger.
I like the soft treats for training because they go down easier (who wants to take time to do a lot of chewing when they are having fun). Even though they are soft, they don’t break into pieces in my hands while training and they throw nice if you need to reward your dog from a distance. Honestly, I can’t find a bad thing to say about Simon & Huey’s Soft Training Treats. Next we will have to try their Bites, a crunchy treats about the same size. I don’t think my dogs will complain about the taste testing.
I found that the original makers of Simon and Hueys treats went out of business, but that Paws Gourmet purschased the recipes and is now making 4 flavors- Kickin’ Chicken, Liver Mesquite,Peanut Butter Molasses and White Cheddar.
 The name really gets your imagination moving, doesn’t it? The name really threw me off at first. I didn’t think I could like a product called “Cage Diapers“, but I was happily surprised. Cage Diapers are a heavy paper cage liner for the bottom of your rabbit’s (or any other small animal) cage. Why not just use newspaper? I always did. My rabbits have free run of a bedroom, but I have a dog crate that they can go into. It contains their litter box and water bottle and it is where I put their hay. I lined both the crate tray and the litter box with about 7 layers of newspaper. It worked fine, until clean-up time. Trying to clean-up the mess without the paper disintegrating was a challenge. With the Cage Diapers, I only have to use one for the crate tray and one for the litter box. Clean-up is a breeze. Even when being a little torn (Smudge loves to dig and scratch at the paper), it rolls up without falling apart. Made of unbleached pulp, it is okay if my rabbits nibble on them a bit (always watch for pets that will devour a lot of it. Too much of anything has the potential to cause problems). Because it is made from wood pulp, it is also biodegradable which I love since I compost! These have definitely made a difference in my rabbit care routine.
Pet King Brands
In the United States, millions of pets living in shelters and rescues are looking for someone to love them. Over 10 years ago, Petfinder.com was developed by two people, Betsy and Jared Saul, as a way to bring these pets together with people. Thanks to them, over 10 million pets have been given a second chance.
Petfinder.com allows animal rescue groups to post pictures and descriptions of adoptable pets. Each shelter also maintains their own page with information on the organization. Those who are looking to adopt can locate shelters in their area by entering their zip code. They can also search by type of pet (from dogs and cats to ferrets and mice to horses and cows) and narrow their search by breed, size, gender and age.
There is a classified section where people can post lost and found ads, pets looking for homes and they can also post if they are looking for a specific type of pet (these posts are only available for viewing to rescue organizations). If you are looking for information on taking care of a certain type of pet or how to help a shelter, there is a library of articles on the site. A community forum brings together pet lovers so they can talk about everything from general pet care to jobs working in shelters or to organize a transport train to get a pet to rescue or new home. Recently Petfinder.com joined with Animal Planet, a partnership that we can only hope increases the awareness of homeless pets.
I, personally, have found several of my pets through Petfinder. My rabbit, Smudge, Pyro, my Siamese mix and 3 of my ferrets, Spice, Sugar and Sprite all were looking for a second chance. I highly recommend this site to anyone looking for a pet.
For most of our small pets, life can be pretty boring. Sure, we may think we want to changes places with them sometimes so we can have the EASY life, but how long could you stand it? By providing different things for them to do, we can enrich their lives, lower their stress and help them be healthier.
In their natural habitat, animals spend a large part of their time looking for  food. It doesn’t magically appear in front of them. One way I provide enrichment for my rabbits is to put their veggies in something so they have to work a little bit to get them out. Sometimes, I will cut small holes in paper lunch bag and put lettuce inside, other times I use something like the Veggie Basket*. Made of wire, it is very easy to slide the lettuce leaves and parsley inside. You can even put their hay inside. Once it is hung up, they are ready to eat. Not only do they get some exercise, but they get much needed mental stimulation.
Amazon*
Some people have to get the latest and greatest electronic gadget, other  people need to wear the latest fashions. Only a pet lover would understand how I felt when the Ferret Nation Cage * came out. I wanted it. I needed it. I had to have it.
My ferrets were living in a Cat Playpen Cage *. A nice cage, but not my ideal ferret cage. The cage came with 2 not-wide-enough-to-do-anything shelves. Ferrets need more room and full levels are better. Buying additional shelves would have been to expensive, so I macgyvered the cage so there were 3 full-size levels. My ferrets liked and it worked well, but cleaning it was another thing. It has two good size doors, but I couldn’t access all 3 levels I had put in there without taking down a level. (Midwest now makes a Cat Playpen Cage with doors that provide more access.)
The Ferret Nation Cage* has everything I want in a ferret cage. You can start out with one level and add an additional 2 levels at any time. Three levels makes for a very big cage, about 86 inches high. I am 5′9″ and have to use a step stool to access the top level with 3 levels. Each level has a lot of room. All 5 of my ferrets live in the 3 level Nation and I feel I could add another 2 without compromising space (my girls are out of their cage for about 4 hours during the week and all day on the weekends). The cage is solidly built and will last for a long time. The hammertone finish wipes clean very easily. The trays sit down a bit inside the levels so they don’t move when the doors are open plus it makes it a little harder for ferrets to burrow under them (I won’t say it makes it impossible, these are ferrets we are talking about!). You can close off the levels to separate ferrets. I have to do this when I go out of town and my mom takes care of my ferrets. She can’t tell them apart so I separate Spice, my insulinoma girl, so I can be sure she gets her twice daily medication. The shelves in each level are half the width of the cage, so you can actually use them for bedding, litter boxes, what ever you need. They are also adjustable so you can move them up and down or put them on the opposite side. At first glance, it may not look like there are a lot of places to hang hammocks, but each shelf and the ceiling of each level offers a more than enough places.
The best feature of all, though, are the doors. They open completely, making it SO easy to access the inside of the cage with out having to maneuver your body in there somehow. The doors close tight and the only way to open them is by squeezing the handles together making it hard for escapes.
The only issue I have had has been with the shelf is an issue others have had. Luckily, Midwest cared enough to listen to consumers and make a change. The shelves had an area at the front where 2 bars run parallel to each each. They provide a space for the ramp to attach. Ferrets were getting their toes caught when getting off the shelf (because ferrets don’t always like to use a ramp) and many ended up hanging upside down. Luckily, the incidences I have heard of this happening (including mine) occurred when the owner was nearby. The manufacturer has changed the design and has been sending replacements to those who contact them. I do wish the ramps came in different sizes for when you adjust the shelves (they can be put at 3 different heights, but my ferrets don’t seem to concerned.
The picture shows the 3 levels of my Ferret Nation Cage*. The stand doesn’t appear in the picture. I added the Marshall Mini Mansion cage cover to the top of my Nation to provide my ferrets with a dark area to sleep. It covers the top level.
When you look at the prices of ferret cages, this one is well worth the money. It may be the last ferret cage you need to buy.
Likes-
The doors open completely up so you can access the inside of the cage with no problem
You start with one level and add more for a total of 3.
You can close off levels, making individual cages. Great for those with ferrets that don’t get along.
Dislikes
Wish they offered ramps in different lengths for when the shelves are moved. When put at their highest, the angle is very steep.
Amazon*
 My cat with a cardboard cat scratcher. In an effort to spare my furniture and wall moldings from damage, I offer my cats several different types of cat scratchers. They have a floor to ceiling cat tree with 3 shelves on it, great for sleeping on. They also have a 2 level cat condo, also a great place to hang out and sleep. Then there is their favorite, a cardboard cat scratcher* . Okay, so it’s not trend-setting and it doesn’t match my decor, but you can’t beat the price!
There are a couple different styles of cardboard cat scratchers. My cats have no interest in the cardboard scratchers that hang from door knobs, but really tackle the ones that come in the slanted cardboard holder. Basically, these cat scratcher have a cardboard frame, usually the outside is decorated. The ones I have seen also have a small hole on each side where a cat can reach inside to play with a little toy hanging inside the frame (none of my cats have shown any interest in the toy or the holes). The part the cat scratches is made up of pieces of cardboard bonded together.
Cats like to be able to really stretch and scratch and with this even my biggest cat can stand on it and use it. Inexpensive when compared to other scratching posts, the cardboard cat scratcher has inserts that can be turned over so both sides can be used. Once that insert is worn, replacement inserts can be purchased. To get your cats interested or to keep them interested, you can rub some dry catnip or use a catnip spray on the insert. My cats will use it without catnip, but I occasionally put some on it to give them some excitement!
Likes:
The cost- very inexpensive, especially when compared to other scratching posts.
Replacement inserts- very easy to replace. When my carpeted cat scratchers get trashed, there is not much you can do to revive them (unless you have some basic DIY skills, which I don’t). Since the insert is the part that gets destroyed, you can have it like new it just a few seconds.
My cats like it- A cat scratching post is worthless if a cat won’t use it.
Dislikes:
Appearance- it would be nice if someone could design a nice frame something that would look better when company comes over
Looking for a cardboard cat scratching post?
Only Natural Pet Store *
Amazon*
The dog in the picture is my Parson Russell, Ricochet, with one of his favorite toys, a Tuffys Ultimate Rumble Ring *. Can’t you just see the glow of adoration in his eyes for his toy? Okay, so that is my lousy picture taking, but honestly, it is one of his favorites and one of the most durable toys he has.
Made with 3 layers of material, 2 of those are industrial strength nylon. It has stitching across the toy and has multiple rows of stitching on the edges to make it harder for your dog to chew through. The toys also contain squeakers but because they are under the layers of fabric they are MUCH quieter making it nicer for the humans in the household. For dogs who are a bit harder on their toys, they have Mega Tuffys which are made with 7 layers of material, 3 of them PVC! They offer a Tuff Scale on their site for you to see what level of toy your dog would do best with. Check out their site to see which Tuffys toy is best for your dog.
Remember, even with all this durability built into it, the toy is not a chew toy. All play should be supervised and if you have a dog who is super destructive, it would be best for you to play with your dog using the toy rather than letting your dog play by himself. We have had the Rumble Ring that is in the picture for over 6 months and it is almost as good as new. I bought the Tuffys Junior Log  * (Tuff Scale 5) and Malarky put a hole in it the first night and finished it off a few days ago. I will probably stick to the thinner Tuffys, like the Rumble Ring (Tuff Scale 9) that don’t have as much stuffing although you never know, Ricochet really enjoyed the Jr. Tuff Log. They also have some real cool Tuffys Dinosaurs* (Tuff Scale 7) and then there is the Sting-ray* (Tuff Scale 6). Decisions, decisions….
Likes:
- very sturdy, should stand up to the activity of most dogs
-quiet squeakers, great for those dogs who have a lot of prey drive and just want to kill the squeaker, plus much easier on our ears.
- Tuff Scale, love having a guide to go by to see what toy is best for my dog
Dislikes:
-I really can’t think of any. This is the toy I would have liked to have invented to stand up to some tough terrier play.
Find more Tuffys at
Just4Pooches.com – A Unique Boutique for Your Furry Friend*
Only Natural Pet Store*
Amazon*
Hello! I started this blog to help give other people my view and experience with different pet products so they could have more information before they make a purchase. People are spending more on their pets every year. The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, Inc that consumers spent an estimated 38.4 billion dollars on their pets in 2006. Of that amount, 9.3 billion was spent on pet products and over-the-counter medications. How much of that amount did you spend on your fur family members? I know I spent a lot. Working for a pet supply retailer does not help!
Since my current fur family includes dogs, cats, ferrets and rabbits, those are the products I will be reviewing and commenting on. Since not all pets are like every other pet, I’d appreciate your comments and input as well, so let me know what you think!
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