This is the BreezeGuard installed in the window.

Sue Stipanovich, owner of MuttManagers, had the same concerns and she decided to do something about it. She developed the BreezeGuard in 2004 as a way for dogs to travel safer in the car.  She contacted me about reviewing the BreezeGuard and as I do whenever someone contacts me, I check out the product on their website.  I’ve seen little plastic window vents that go on the top of the window glass and haven’t been impressed.  They just didn’t look sturdy enough to handle what could happen to them.  But after spending some time reading about the BreezeGuard on Sue’s site, I will say I was very impressed so I told her yes.

The BreezeGuard is made to fit your specific make and model of car, so I let Sue know that I had a 2003 Chevy Malibu.  Because of how it is installed, it can’t be used on cars that don’t have a frame around the window.  Because each BreezeGuard is custom-made, most orders take about 2 weeks to ship.  I was impressed when I received mine in 2 weeks.

BreezeGuard strap that goes around the window frame

The BreezeGuard is a powder-coated welded wire mesh screen and installing it was easy. It has 2 anchors that go on the bottom between the glass and car door and 2 velcro straps at the top that go around the window frame.  The only part I had problems with during the installation was getting the gasket pulled away from the window while installing the first one (second one was no problem). I used a credit card as recommended in the installation video and couldn’t get the card in between the gasket and window where I wanted to place the anchor.  I found I had to insert the card from the end of the window and slide it to where I wanted the anchor. Other than that it was simple.

The BreezeGuard anchor goes between the window and the car door at the bottom.

Once in, you can adjust the BreezeGuard around a little bit.  I liked it so the screen was out a little, but found I couldn’t close the window well, so I pushed it back a bit.  Once I had it in, I got into the car and tried pushing and pulling on the screen to see if a dog could move it and escape.  I’m happy to say other than the wiggle-room that allows you to adjust it, the BreezeGuard wasn’t moving.

The screen is pretty strong.  I tried punching it and while no one has to be afraid of my golden fists, the BreezeGuard  held up to my punch and barely moved. Driving with the BreezeGuards in was no problem, They stayed in place and didn’t move even when I was driving on the highway.  I was able to open and close the windows with no problem, just some noise as it closed over the BreezeGuard near the top of the window.

Ricochet, my Jack Russell, enjoying the BreezeGuard.

Even though it held up to my tests, MuttManagers does not recommend leaving your dog unattended with the screens.  Though they are sturdy, I can see someone very easily removing the screens from the outside of the vehicle.  Plus though not much can get through the 1/2″ screen openings, you never know what someone may put into your car that your dog may eat (there’s that pet owner paranoia again). Another thing to consider especially if you live in an area of the country that gets hot like I do is that your car will still get VERY hot even with the screens in.  While they do allow some airflow, the temperature inside the car can still go too high to risk your dog’s life (check out “How Hot Do Cars Get“).

All in all, I love the BreezeGuards!  They’re sturdy, better than anything even remotely similar on the market. They keep my dogs safe while they enjoy their ride.  They’ll keep people from making me feel guilty at stoplights.  If your dog spends a lot of time with you in the car, they are worth getting.

For more information and to purchase the BreezeGuard visit the manufacturers website-  MuttManagers, LLC

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So to help keep my wallet happy, I stay on the hunt for toys that will last a little awhile.  When I saw the new toy by Kong, Kong Braidz*, I thought it looked like it might have what it takes to stand up to some rough, tough terriers and a spaniel.  A visit to my local store brought Mr. Zebra home with me ( I can not be the only one who names my dogs’ toys, can I?).

Mr. Zebra is one of the large Kong Braidz* (Jack Russells think big), it is about 15 inches in length including his back legs(the head and body part are about 10 inches).  He is made out of fleece  and has a stuffed head with a squeaker, 4 legs which are also stuffed and a tail.  The body is braided (thus the name!).

I wasn’t even home 5 minutes when Mr. Zebra was discovered in my bag.  I removed him from his packaging and handed him over to Ricochet, my chief toy tester (seniority rules!).  Ricochet loves toys and gave it a good work-out shaking it and squeaking it (and squeaking it and squeaking it…).  Once he was done, Mellie took over and after that, everyone took turns.

Mr. Zebra became a favorite toy, they thought it was great for playing tug with each other or having me throw it for them to fetch.  Sadly, his squeaker only lasted about 2 days before someone did a craniotomy and removed it along with the stuffing.  His appendages have lasted  longer.  The picture to the left was taken about a month after Mr. Zebra was given to the dogs. He actually looks pretty good except for the deflated head and being covered in dog fur.  He did lose one of his legs shortly after the picture was taken.  (Note: The manufacturer recommends that the toy not be played with if worn, loose or torn pieces occur.  I agree with this and watch my dogs closely to make sure there are no issues.  Your dog may need to have the toy removed sooner).

I liked the Kong Braidz* and felt it was worth opening my wallet (I’ve seen it priced from $7 to 12$.  If they could make his head sturdier, maybe make it out of a tennis ball (Ricochet would think he was in heaven if they added a tennis ball) or thicker material, this toy would be just about perfect.

Amazon*

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The Shabby Dog Collar with the bone charm that's included.

When The Shabby Dog contacted me and asked if I was interested in trying a Hands-Free Leash, I checked out their website ( which not only features the Leash, but also designers tees, beds and more for your dogs) and I’ll admit it now, I was a little doubtful about it. Images of being dragged down the street by my wrist popped into my head (I guess while I’m admitting things, I’ll admit, my dogs are not as well trained as they could be).  Maybe I’ve spent too much time watching out of control dogs in the vet office waiting room and in the training classes I’ve helped with, I do have a vivid imagination. Even with those visions in my head, I said sure. A short time later, I received the Hands-Free Dog Walking Wrist Cuff, the Leather Dog Leash and a medium size Leather Dog Collar. These are made of genuine Italian leather and they are NICE! The set I received had pink stitching and the edges of the leather were hand-painted to match the stitching. The Cuff has heart shaped studs on it; hey, you could even wear on its own as part of your outfit. The leash is convertible; leave it hooked and use it as a regular leash or unhook and attach the leash to the cuff for a hands-free option. And a cute little pink bone charm came on the collar.  Not only is the Hands-Free Leash practical, but it’s fashionable.

The Shabby Dog Wrist Cuff (this style has heart-shaped studs on it).

Well, with all the pink, the hearts and the charm, this was definitely an item for the girls to try out (they do have a variety of colors and styles  so there would be something for my he-man boy Jack Russells to wear).  I put on the Cuff which even fit my skinny little wrist and then put the collar and leash on Mellie before hooking it to the cuff. Because I was leery, I decided we would stay in the backyard while using it.  We walked back and forth several times down the length of the yard (my neighbors already know I am nuts, what’s one more thing) and it actually went nice. The cuff wasn’t irritating to my wrist and the leash was right there if I needed to grab it which surprisingly (Mellie was on her best behavior) I didn’t.

The Shabby Dog Leash hooked to be used as a regular leash.

Since the yard worked so well, I decided to use The Hands-Free Leash when I took Malarky for a 2 mile walk along the river dike.  The collar was too big for Malarky so I attached the leash to her harness.  I was meeting up with a friend and her 3 dogs and since Malarky is not really too keen on other dogs, I was curious as to how this would work.  Well, Malarky surprised me by being well-behaved and I was definitely glad to have the Hands-Free Leash because it was 40 degrees, cloudy and damp out.  Not only did the Hands-Free Leash work well but my hands were able to stay warm in my coat pockets! Nice!

This shows the convertible leash attached to the Cuff for "hands-free mode"

I think The Shabby Dog Hands-Free Leash is a great product. It worked better than I expected although I wouldn’t recommend it for someone with a boisterous, not well trained  dog just because I am the cautious sort. The only drawback for me is the price. With the collar running from $36-$52 depending on size, the wrist cuff at $40 and the leash at $88, it is out of my budget that is for sure.  Even for me to purchase just the Wrist Cuff would require a great deal of thought (I could always put the dogs to work, hmmm….). But if you’re looking looking for high quality, fashionable (for you and your dog) and practical, The Hands-Free Leash may just be what your looking for.

The Shabby Dog

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Everyday Isle of Dogs Violet + Sea Mist Replascents

When Isle of Dogs sent me some products to try and review they included their Violet + Sea Mist Repláscents.   Repláscents is part of their Everyday isle of Dogs product line, a line that also includes “Care to Get Closer” products  like shampoos, conditioners, brush sprays and natural dog treats. Repláscents is safe to use as an air freshening spray in your home as well as a deodorizing spray on your dog.

To test the deodorizing effect on my dogs, I first sprayed Mellie.  She is a field-type Springer Spaniel (which means not much hair; actually none of my dogs have much hair).  The weather is getting nicer and for my dogs, that means they get to spend more time outside and I get more exercising getting up to let them in and getting up to let them out. The day I sprayed Mellie was one of those in-out days. With going outside and it being a grey, damp day, I was curious as to how the scent would hold.  Even with being outside for awhile, I could still detect the scent about a 1/2 hour after spraying it.  I thought that was pretty good considering the conditions outside.

I then decided to test the deodorizing effects when the dog stays inside, after all, you’ll most often be using this when you are going to be close to your dog.  Ricochet stepped in to be the testee (facing humiliation from his earthdog brethren) and got a nice spray.  After an hour I could barely smell the Repláscents, but you could definitely tell that he smelled fresher.

Then the house got to test it.  After someone decided to make a mess in the foyer (What is up with that guys?  You’ve been in and out all morning with plenty of time to empty. I understand doing things in the name of testing products, but that means I have to clean it up!) I sprayed the Repláscents into the air and it did a real nice job covering up the accident odor.  Thirty minutes later while I couldn’t smell the Repláscents, I also couldn’t smell the odor from the mess. Just what you want a deodorizer to do!

I also wanted to see how long the scent would last when sprayed on furniture, etc so I sprayed my desk chair and just to see, my own sweat shirt (I swear it was on purpose!). The scent of Repláscents lasted for about 45 minutes  on my desk chair (and sweatshirt).

I thought the Repláscents did a good job with it’s air freshening and deodorizing efforts.  I did think it was a little too alcoholly smelling when first sprayed which I didn’t really like.  That just seemed to get into my nose.  But it does mellow out after a few minutes which made me like it more. Also you really don’t need to spray that much. At first I was a little trigger happy on the spray which I am sure did not help with the alcohol smell.

Violet + Sea Mist would probably not be my first choice for a scent either, but that is just me. I like fruity scents better.  According to their catalog they are going to be introducing Repláscents in Sugar Cane + Grapefruit and Red Berries + Jasmine (this one sounds like the one for me! Well, not me but my dogs..and my house) so keep an eye out for more fragrances soon.

If you are looking for a nice deodorizing spray especially one with a dual purpose (house + dog) , I would say put Everyday Isle of Dogs Repláscents on your list to try.

Isle of Dogs

Amazon*

Petco

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I admit I am anal when it comes to keeping my dogs at a good weight. Having spent 9 years working in vet hospitals, I’ve seen the effect of obesity on pets and figure that is one area of their health I can control. I do a lot of training and use food as a reward so I am always looking for healthy, low-calorie treats to use.

Charlee Bear Dog Treats are treats I’ve used for years. All my dogs’ have loved them. And they are a favorite of mine for several reasons.

• They are low calorie. They only have 3 calories per treat. Compare that to a small Milkbone which has 20 calories or a Snausage which has 25 calories (according to Pet Weight and Treats). My smaller dogs who run around 20 lbs need about 400 calories a day while my larger one who is about 40lbs needs about 600 calories a day. They get about that much just from their food (Food and Calories) so anymore than that and they start putting on the pounds. This makes low calorie important to me.
• They are small. The picture above shows a few of the Charlee Bear’s with a dime. Small means I can give my dog several of them without the calories adding up. My dogs don’t really care about the size (they seem to eat everything at the same speed no matter the size- fast). They just love getting treats and love getting more of them.
• They use simple ingredients which are sourced in the US. My dogs love the flavors (we haven’t tried the Turkey Liver & Cranberries yet).

LIVER: Wheat Flour, Liver (poultry liver preserved naturally with vitamin E), Salt (1 tablespoon per 100 pounds), Garlic Powder

CHEESE & EGG: Wheat Flour, Cheese & Egg (preserved naturally with vitamin E), Salt (2 tablespoons per 100 pounds), Brewers Yeast, Garlic Powder

TURKEY LIVER & CRANBERRIES: Wheat flour, Turkey Liver, Cranberries, (preserved naturally with vitamin E), Salt (1 tablespoon per 100 pounds), Garlic Powder

• They are readily available. I can find these in almost any pet store in my area. Plus they are available online.
• They don’t taste gross when you them put in your mouth. Okay, this reason may sound a little weird unless you have trained dogs for obedience. There are some dog trainers who keep food in their mouth to spit to their dog to help teach them to look at the trainer’s face. A lot of people will make liver to use. I like liver, but not enough to keep it in my mouth so I tried the Charlee Bears and they work fine for me. Plus, I can spit them. Spitting is not a talent I perfected as a child, but these I can get a decent distance. hey, some people actually try all their dogs treats before giving them to their dogs to make sure they are good. I don’t do that (after all my dogs have exotic taste for things like cat poop) so I figure that puts me slightly lower on the weirdo scale.

Charlee Bear Dog Treats are a staple on my list of goodies I give my dogs and one I highly recommend.

You can find Charlee Bear Dog Treats at many local pet stores as well as online at retailers like-

Amazon*
Entirely Pets*
Clickertraining.com*

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When the collar arrived I looked it over and was happy at how sturdy it was. I remember buying a “fancy” designer collar once for one of my dogs and it was just made out of cotton material. It didn’t last 2 weeks; it broke when my dogs were playing. Sam’s Wardrobe collars are made using nylon webbing as a base so it’s not going to break with my dogs’ play. They also have the plastic quick clip making it easy to put on and take off. After years of working in a veterinary hospital/ boarding facility, the quick clip collars are my favorite.

I replaced Mellie’s old collar and the collar testing began. Thanks to Pennsylvania weather, she has worn it out in the rain and the snow and it still looks great. I even ran it under the faucet because I wanted to make sure the colors didn’t run. Not a problem, the color stayed. I hooked the leash on and we went for a short walk. It’s as strong as any other collar I’ve used.

So if you are looking for a new collar and more of a choice than just the single color collars available, I can recommend Sam’s Wardrobe.

You can view the design choices and places to buy on Sam’s Wardrobe’s website.

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I was sent an Accuwalker to try. The packaging was nice and I was glad to see easy to open. I inserted the 2 AA batteries it requires and opened up the Owner’s Manual that comes with it. Setting up the time and date was no problem, it reminded me of setting a digital watch. Once that was done I moved on to playing with the message feature. I followed the instructions and recorded a quick message . I did have some issues when I tried to play back the message. The instructions said to press the Play button, but nothing happened. After thinking I didn’t record right and playing with it a few minutes, I found you had to press and hold the Play button. Other than that The Accuwalker worked fine!

The Accuwalker comes with 2 options for mounting- wall mounting tape (for leashes under 2lbs) or with hardware. I went with the tape option and quickly mounted in near my side entrance and hung a leash on it.

The Accuwalker works by a micro switch that detects when the leash is removed, records that time and starts a timer. When you place the leash back on the hanger, the timer stops. This information is kept stored in The Accuwalker for 40 walks and can be reviewed by just pressing the Review button. This will enable you tell when your dog was walked and how long he was walked each time. The screen lights up when the leash is removed, when the leash is replaced and by just pressing the light button making the information easy to view.

The Message feature is nice, it allows you to leave about 15 seconds of instructions or other information that the person walking the dog might need. Once a message is recorded A Speaker icon appears on the screen to alert the user that a message was left. This icon disappears once the message is played. I think this is the only thing I would change if I could. With all the numbers that already appear on the screen, my eyes missed the Speaker icon. I would find a light, maybe a flashing light, near the button panel more eye-catching.

Everything about The Accuwalker worked just fine. I think it would be a great help to those who want to make sure Fido gets the attention and exercise he needs. It seems with life being so hectic, sometimes walking the dog gets pushed down the list of things that need to be done. With pet obesity on the rise, not getting enough exercise can impact your dog’s health. While I don’t use a dogwalker or a household where everyone is off in different directions, I will admit to being a bit lazy when it comes to taking the dogs out for a walk. Using The Accuwalker gave me the chance to set the amount of time I wanted to make sure the dogs got walked each week and a way to be accountable and keep track of our walks. My dogs appreciate it. I’m sure yours will also.

You can purchase The Accuwalker directly from Too Cool Pets.

Thank you the Accuwalker Giveaway has ended.

The makers of The Accuwalker would like to send one to a lucky reader. If you would like a chance to win The Accuwalker, just leave a comment below on how you think it would make your life easier. The winner will be chosen randomly from all the comments left by 6pm EST Monday, December 28th. They will be contacted by email in order to get their contact information to forward onto Too Cool Pets. Sorry, giveaway is only open to those in the US.

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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*

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