May 2014 Bark Box Review

May 2014 Bark Box Review

Bark Box Rating: 4/5

Approximate Box Value:$63.21

I am sorry this post is so late, but this month the box came in a week later than usual . It is the first time I have had issues with the shipping and I think it is due to the May 24 holiday weekend. I was disappointed that this month`s box only had four items but they were good quality items that I am happy to have. You will notice the box's rating is 4/5 this month, that is due to the shipping issues and number of items in the box, if my rating was based on item quality alone it would get 5/5 rating.

This month`s message
Fetched fresh from the farm: playing with your food is A-OK!
The arrival of warm weather means sunshine, picnics, and an abundance of produce. One of our favouite places to stroll with our pups is the local farmer`s market, where fruit, vegetables, meat and freshly baked bread are aplenty - and let`s just say our pup are equally interested in edible wares as we are!
This month`s BarkBox celebrates healthy (but still delicious!) eating, inspired by the finds from our favourite greenmarkets; we kept a particular eye out for organic, GMO-free ingredients and paired them with eco-friendly toys that can be enjoyed outdoors!
So let your pup pawpick from our garden of goodies and pardon the vegetable puns... we know they`re a bit corny! Enjoy your BarkBox, we`ll see you next month!
Team BarkBox

Loopies Rozcoe the Corduroy Kitty: The second I opend the box Khazi grabbed the stuffed toy and ran off.  She is in love with it and has started taking it to bed with her. She has a select few toys that earn that honour so the Stuffed Kitty gets a top rating in my book and Khazi`s. The card says ``Rozcoe the corduroy kitty is squeaky, deceptively sturdy, and perfect for rough n`tumbling with your pup. But get this: BarkBox test pups were just as likely to wrestle with them as they were to use them during snuggle time and nap time!`` This toy costs a whopping $31.23 USD plus shipping on Amazon.com, I`m sorry but who would pay that for a simple squeaky plush toy?!

 JW Pet Megalast Ball: The other toy in the box was a large JW Pet Megalast Ball. The ball is made from  non-toxic super tough Megalastomer I have not tried our ball yet but I do have experience with them as they are the fetch balls used at the training facility I work at. I really like the balls and so do the dogs. I played with a few of these balls on Tuesday and the dogs chew them up like crazy, while the balls do show wear and tear they look great for the amount of abuse they take. They are easy for the dogs to pick up and catch because of the hole and rivets. They have a fantastic bounce and it does not take much effort to lob. Khazi is not too much of a ball dog but she does have some ball drive from our fly ball training days. I am excited to see how she likes it. When we do use it I will add an update here. The card says `` Made in the USA in an eco-friendly facility that utilizes solar power, the Megalast Ball from JW Pet is inspired by spring shapes and colours! Durable for chewers, made with recyclable materials, and extra bouncy for long-lasting fun.`` These balls cost $11.99 on Amazon.ca

Update: I got try the ball with Khazi today and she really liked it. It was not an obsession or anything but she had fun and then I lost it. I am not sure where it bounced to but it is somewhere in my basement, she was upset that she couldn't find it so that shows she was enjoying her playtime.

Snicky Snaks Apple Cobbler Treats:
The box also came with two types of treats. The first type were Apple cobbler cookie treats. Khazi is strange about harder cookie treats, she either can stand them or would do anything for them. Thankfully Khazi seems to really like them, in fact she `Said her Prayers` for the first time in order to get one. The card says `Made in the USA with 100% organic, GMO-free ingredients like molasses, eggs, cinnamon, and apples, and with minial carbon footprint. Snicky Snaks are good for your pup... and the planet! I couldn`t find the price of these treats listed any where but I have heard the average price is about $10

Nootie No Grainers BBQ Chicken Jerky Chews: These are a nice soft chew and they smell great. These treats would be perfect for training, stuffing in a treat filled tug, or just giving as a loving gesture. Khazi responds very well to these treats and will work hard to get one. I like to break them up and use them for agility training they are a very high reward treat. The only problem with these treats is that they contain chicken liver, something Khazi is sensitive to so I can`t give her many in a day. The card says `Jerky has always been a favourite of humans on the go - we think pups will appreciate a portable snack too! Nootie`s BBQ chicken jerky is made in the USA and can be broken into bite-sized bits - plus, we think the smoky barbecue scent is reminiscent of outdoor markets! They cost $9.99 on Amazon.ca

Update: Today I discovered that you can fill out a survey and let the people at BarkBox know how you felt about the monthly items and make suggestions about future box items.

Home Agility Course: Tunnels

Home Agility Course: Tunnels

I feel like I have been such a slacker lately, not keeping up with my posts but I have been so busy working my blog has taken a back seat. Today's post will be the first of a series on creating your own agility course. I am not sure if I have mentioned it before but a few months ago I started my dog trainer's apprenticeship teaching agility.I took agility classes before I started teaching them so I have been doing agility with my dog for about nine months now. Khazi isn't exactly an agility super star but I love running with her and I feel with a bit more practice she would do much better. I have been wanting a home agility course for quite a while now and three days ago I took the first step and bought her two regulation standard tunnels. Tunnels are the one piece of equipment I was not going to make at home because while I had a plan, it was extremely complicated and probably wouldn't have worked anyway. You can find tunnels online that aren't too expensive but they are not standard size and my dog would never fit in them. If you have a smallish dog and you don't care too much about meeting standards you can use a children's play tunnel or cut the bottom out of a collapsible laundry basket. As this wasn't an option for me I started looking online for actual tunnels, unfortunately the best price I could find was about $300 plus a substantial shipping fee for a 10ft. tunnel. That was way too expensive for me so I talked to the head agility trainer and she told me about a place in Milton called Bauhound Haus Inc. A few days ago mom and I decided to go on an adventure and take the long drive up to Milton. Bauhound Haus was a cute little store on Main Street. At first we were worried there would be no parking because it is on such a busy road but we found there was ample parking behind the store you just had to loop around. The store is a lot like most specialty pet stores, there were a lot of toys, training equipment, and various accessories. I was happy to find doggie dumbbells there as well as I am trying to work on Khazi's mouthing tricks. I had to ask about the tunnels because they are kept in the basement. I should have called ahead because there were only two tunnels left and they were both the same colour. I had gotten in touch with the owner through their Facebook page and he said there were many colours available, unfortunately, they take the tunnels to shows so they were not in the store. If you decided to go definitely call first. My trainer suggested that I get tunnels different colours because if I ever compete in the future, my dog would be more likely to accept equipment that is different than what she is used to. The training facility I work  at uses green, red and yellow tunnels so I wanted any other colour. I got two royal blue tunnels with yellow coiling. I really wanted a blue and a different colour but hey, at least she has never used a blue one before.


The tunnels I got were 10ft. long with a six inch pitch (the spacing between the coils) I don't know how wide the opening is but it is standard size. They cost about $150 each and I was very happy with that price, it is the cheapest I have seen them. If you are interested in buying agility equipment I highly recommend their tunnels. I would like to point out that the tunnels do not include any weights so you will have to buy sandbags or make them yourself like I will be doing.

Khazi seems to really like having the agility equipment at home and she seems more interested in doing work here than she does at the facility. She didn't have any problem switching to blue tunnels but just to be sure she wouldn't have issues, I introduced it to her the same way I did the first time she used a tunnel, only much faster. She really didn't mind the new colour, she had more issues the first time she went through the green tunnel at class. Here she is, pooped after our agility training session.

 As for the rest of my course, it is all going to be homemade. I found basic instructions online and I will be adapting them to meet the AAC regulations. I would love to say I will be posting a tutorial every week but I don't think my course will get built that quickly. I need help with this project so I will have to make it work with my parents schedule as well and they are busy renovating the basement, all by hand. Hopefully, if all goes according to plan, my course will include one or more of the following: single jump, high jump, broad jump, chute, A frame, teeter totter, dog walk, pause table, tire jump, weave poles and of course my tunnels plus the sandbags I have to make. If and when that all gets done I will be including my training schedule, various handling exercises and some course layouts for both games and more standard runs.

XOXO J and Khazi

All About Pets Show 2014

This post is so very late, I went to this show over the Easter weekend but I didn't actually post it because I was going to add pictures, then I lost them, it was a whole big thing. If I ever find them I will add them to the post, anyway here it is, enjoy!

Last weekend I attended  the All About Pets Show for the first time ever and I have to say I am never going to miss one again. I am going to talk about all the products I bought and the different shows I saw but first here is just a little personal note on my experience.
 There were some really great vendors and shows today but I have to say, the best part of my day was being surrounded by people who are happy to talk about dogs all day long. At home it's just me, nattering on about my dog and all the interesting facts I have learned and I can see my family trying their best to be interested but they just aren't. Today I talked nonstop to everybody I met about their dogs and my dogs and that is something I would NEVER usually do (the talking to people thing). I finally found my people, and they are the hard core dog people. I learned a lot today and it was really cool to be able to tell all these people all about my Bernedoodle. I would say about 99% of them had never heard of the breed before. I took my tablet with me to the show specifically because I was hoping people would want to see pictures and I am happy to day I whipped that thing out every ten minutes.

The facility was split up into different sections for dogs, cats, horses, reptiles, various farm animals, kangaroos (that was a very small section but awesome nonetheless), birds and fish. Within those sections there were subsections to cater to the various needs of the animals like health and nutrition, grooming, various supplies, as well as the animals themselves. I spent most of my time going through the dog section (of course) looking at the various dog breeders and breed specific rescues (they didn't have any regular city rescues represented). Hardly any of the dogs there were actually buyable or  adoptable the breeders/rescues brought in the best of the best which were usually either their own family dogs or the dogs they use to breed. Like I said I talked to everyone and I probably met every dog in the building. My favourite dog that I met was a rescue Grey Hound, I fell in love with it. It was actually one of the tallest dogs I have every seen, it even made the Grate Danes look short.

I love to learn every thing I possibly can about the different breeds of dog so I asked a lot of questions. I mostly asked about size and behaviour because when I read up on the facts I only get generalizations and I wanted to know the specifics. Like when you research Pit Bulls you get all the aggression nonsense but if you talk to a breeder or an owner you will get the real deal about their temperament and behaviour (I didn't actually actually meet any Pit Bulls, I was just using a very basic example). I made sure to talk to the Bernese Mountain Dog Breeders obviously because I LOVE them but also because I had some questions about behaviour as Khazi seems to be more Berner than Poodle in that way. I was a little upset the other day because I was wishing that Khazi would be cuddly but she isn't at all. When I asked the breeders if their dogs were cuddly they all said yes but they also said that their dogs were not cuddly when they were younger, they all became cuddle monsters around the age of four. OK now,  if anyone reading this owns a Berner, please let me know, were your dogs were cuddly from the beginning, did it developed with age or would they rather not be cuddled. I know every dog is different but it gives me some hope.

There were a lot of fun shows to watch and I saw all but one of the dog shows. They had the Super Dogs perform but they used a different name. I know they were the Super Dog performers though because I recognize a lot of them and because the owner actually lives across the street from me and I saw he and his son there. I actually found watching the show much more interesting now that I do it with Khazi and work as an apprentice trainer in agility. Watching the different techniques the trainers use and the way they communicate with their dogs is awesome. I also saw what a small tight community the world of dogs sports really is. After the show I went to ask one of the trainers a technical question and his dog happened to be a Frenchie. I told him the trainer I work with also did agility and other sports with her two French Bulldogs (she also has two Boston Terriers and a Border Collie who compete as well) and it turned out he knew her very well. I really liked him, his Frenchie Sabba (that could be wrong the building was really loud) was his first dog ever. His daughter moved in with him  for a few months and brought her Frenchie along, he fell in love with the dogs and when she moved out he decided he needed to get one of his own. I think it's awesome that he started later in life and is totally excelling, I would have loved to have heard how he got started in sporting.

On a side note, the superdogs are the reason I got Khazi into agility. When I was really young, a few times a year I would see the massive trailers pull up to my neighbours house and tons of dogs would get out. Their property would be covered in dogs. Over an acre of extremely intelligent, adorable dogs, it was like my heaven. I only ever watched from afar but I wanted so badly to run over there to play with them and learn how they taught their dogs for myself. Eventually, after a few years they stopped having the dogs come to the house, I was so sad. They only ever had their own dogs there after that and funnily enough their son's dog, Bungee - a Jack Russel I think (it was a long time ago)- was always running away. I brought Bungee back countless times and it always made me laugh that a guy who's dad owns the Super Dogs has a dog that runs away at every opportunity.

Now back to the shows, after the Super Dogs they had, get this, the Super Goats! Yes you read it right, goats! I did not know Goat agility was a thing, I mean I was surprised when I found out cats could compete in agility. The goats were amazing, they could do everything the dogs could do and just as well, there was just more "accidents" on the field. The trainers also has massive treat bags. One of the goats was only like four months old but that one was very intent on running away after doing a trick, hmmm sounds like my dog :P . After the goats we met up with some the two little girls my family helps look after (Zeda, 8 and Leigh Lynn, 6 months) and their mom.Next there was a dock diving competition. There were three tiers, the juniors, seniors and the masters. The junior group jumped 0-4 Feet, the Seniors jumped 5-12 Feet and the Masters jumped 15-27 Feet. Most of the dogs were great but there were three dogs who were scared and I felt so bad for them. The announcer said that it is normal for a dog to be fearful of indoor venues because the lights reflect off the water and the dogs think if they jump in they will land on something other than water. Two of the dogs made me kind of sad but one just made me laugh, rather than standing in the ready jumping position trying to get the courage to jump like the others it stood there barking at it's toy in the water like he was telling it to come back to him so he didn't have to get wet. Those three dogs were all actually natural water dogs they were a Yellow Labrador Retriever, a Golden Retriever and a Nova Scotian Duck Tolling Retriever . There were many different breeds of all sizes, even a tiny American Eskimo Dog who could jump very far. The three farthest jumpers were 1. Bearded Collie 2. Belgian Mallinois 3. Unknown Mix. The fourth farthest jumper was a Austrailian Cattle Dog who refused to get out of the water until he had sufficiently hearded his toy by swimming around it in the water, Oh ACDs.

After the dock diving semifinals had finished there was a break in the show times so it was time to do some shopping. Some of the vendors were expensive, they were mostly the people selling homemade dog products. It makes sense that they would be more expensive but I couldn't justify spending money on products I know I can make easily. The one item I did consider buying was a bowtie collar made out of Frenchie fabric. The collars were $20 each so there was no way I was going to buy them but they were really cute and I thought they would be the perfect gift for my two coworkers/friends who have Frenchies. I found the fabric on Etsy if you want to check it out Click Here. There was one vendor that was far better than any of the others and I am so happy that I decided to wait until I had seen everything before I went shopping because I found everything I wanted for a tenth of the price. The guy running the little shop actually supplies pet stores so everything was under $10. I found so many great toys, most of them cost about $20 retail and I spent $1-$3 on each toy.

The big purchase I made was a $20 Frisbee. I was looking at the Frisbees and I started talking to the lady who designed the toys and asked her about increasing toy drive. Khazi is not an easy dog to get going because she is not food or toy motivated so I try as hard as I can to make her want to embrace her playful side. It was a great, informative talk and she helped me find the proper product for my dog as well as showing me how to introduce Khazi to Frisbee play.

I went to see the dog breed parade by myself and I found it very enjoable. I am fascinated by the different dog breeds so I spend a lot of my free time researching and taking dog breed quizzes. I was so proud of myself, I knew every dog breed before they announced the type. There were more rare breeds than the everyday breeds and I loved being able to see them in person rather than in a book or online. I understand the host of the show was famous but the name Beverly Mahood (?) means nothing to me. Let me know if you know why she is famous. After that was over we all went back to the dog shows after for another round of agility and the dock diving finale.

I went to this show specifically to see the grooming seminars and I missed all of them. We finally found the grooming center when there were five minutes until closing. I was happy to find the Chris Christiensen booth as I have never seen their products in person. I didn't buy anything from them because the prices are very high and buying any of their products would involve a lot of thought. If I had money I would probably have bought that place out. The product I wanted most was the Andreas Boar/Nylon brush because it would be perfect for Khazi's hair but it cost $70. Instead of buying anything I just took a catalog unfortunately I found later that there are no prices listed.

Congratulations for making it all the way to the bottom of the post, I know this was kind of rambily. I can't help it, that is the way my brain works when I am happy and excited. I highly recommend going to the show if you are ever around the area in April. I know I will buying next year's tickets as soon as they become available. If you do want to attend just know that you are not allowed to bring your dog with you to the show unless you are a vendor or performer. If you want to take your dog to an event like this try Woof Stock as it is pet friendly. I hope to be attending on May 24 so expect another post like this next week (if I can get my act together).

Have a great Victoria Day Weekend,

XOXO J and Khazi

April 2014 Bark Box Review

April 2014 Bark Box Review

Bark Box Rating: 5/5

Approximate Box Value:$43.19

Today I got my second Bark Box, yay! Khazi was excited too. The theme of this month’s box was “spring has sprung” Ha that’s a laugh, there was a major snow storm yesterday. Anyway I thought I would include everything the card that comes with the box says so you can get a feel for the company. 

It is really quite fun to open the box every month and the card adds to that. Here is the monthly message from Bark Box:

 Spring has Sprung, Bark Boxers: time to get outside!

This month calls for canines and humans to head for the hills and take a hike! Whether it’s a casual stroll along rolling meadows or trekking up inclines so steep they’ll make any pup pant, there are base tans to build (per our most lazily carefree pupscribers, sunbathing counts as an outdoor activity), wildflowers to sniff, and trails full of wild critters to chase. We’re certain that Bark Boxers are up for the Challenge!

Even after the sun sets and it’s time to set up shelter, we've packed some of our favourite all natural goodies for your pup to enjoy around the campfire. So get off the couch and prep those daypacks – nature beckons!

Enjoy your Bark Box (and Mother Nature!) We can’t wait to see you next month!

THE GRAND OPENING

 Loopies Specter Toy: The first item I pulled out of the Bark Box was the toy. It is the Loopies’ Specter here is what the card has to say about it “No campfire is complete without a spooky story, and the Specter from Loopies is the perfect companion! With long legs for tugging and a tennis ball head for chewing and retrieving, Specter is a versatile toy that’s bound to keep your pup entertained.” Khazi found this toy very exciting, as you can see she was ready to play from the second she saw it. The problem with is product is that it is made in China, it does however seem to be well made and durable. I read a review on amazon and it said it only lasted two days for their dog but I think this toy will last a long time for Khazi. This is another product that can’t be found on amazon.ca but it can be found on amazon.com for $14.39 USD. Bare with me, there are a lot of pictures of Khazi playing with her new toy, it was so cute I couldn't decide which pictures to post.

 Bocce Bakery Beef Bourguignon Treats: The second item was Bocce’s Bakery Beef Bourguignon dog treats. Here is what the card has to say about them “The ladies of Bocce’s Bakery were inspired by the highest quality meats and produce that NYC has to offer. Premium beef, sweet carrots, and savory parsley and turns it into quality low-fat, post-trail treat- nothing like a healthy indulgence after a workout!” They are made with organic rye flour, hormone free beef, carrots and parsley. These treats are not available on Amazon.ca so I got the pricing through their website. They cost $9.50 USD and they do not ship to Canada.

Dogs Love Kale Peanutty Treats: The other bag of treats included in the box are Dogs Love Kale Peanutty Treats. I will not be giving these treats to my dog personally as I am allergic to peanuts. She will still get these treats but probably when I am away for work rather than on a daily basis. The card says “Riley’s Organics enables pup parents to feed their furbabies with food they’d eat themselves! Made with human-grade ingredients, these treats are free of corn, soy, wheat, sugar and preservatives.” The bag itself gives some info on the benefits of

kale and here is what it says “Kale is a super antioxidant that contains essential vitamins including: beta carotene, calcium, vitamin K, vitamin C, and lutein kale & flax seed aid in making your dog’s coat softer and shinier, with healthier skin underneath. Flax seed also provides fiber in your dog’s diet” Sounds good to me! These cost about $11 on Amazon.com (seriously, Amazon.ca is letting me down this month)

 Mr. Barksmith’s All Natural Carrot Cake Cool Treats Smoothies: The next item is Mr. Barksmith’s All Natural Carrot Cake Cool Treats Smoothies. This is a really cool (no pun intended) idea, it is a tray of apples, bananas and carrots that you can freeze and give to your dog. This product isn’t usually sold individually but Amazon.com sells a 6 pack for $12.13 USD so they cost about $2 each. 

 Barkworthies Bully Stick: The final item in this month’s box was a Barkworthies  bully stick. I give Khazi bully sticks on a regular basis so I was very happy to see one in the box. This stick is pretty thick and should last longer than the ones I buy her. I like to give Khazi something to do while I groom her so it is a more enjoyable experience for her and this is perfect. She wanted the bully stick so badly it was hard for me to keep it away from her while taking pictures. Even after she left the room she tried sneaking back in. Usually Khazi will listen to the “leave it” command without question but not today. Apperently beef bladder in stick form is too good to pass up. Here is what the card had to say “ Made with 100% beef bladder, Barworthies junior bully sticks are a Bark Box subscriber favourite. Pups find them both long lasting and delicious! No chemicals or preservatives are used, making them a clear winner over other chews like rawhide.” The Barkworthies website lists the price at $6.30 plus tax and shipping.

Ren's Pets Depot Haul

I finally went to Ren's Pet Depot and it did not disappoint.  It was a great experience and I was able to get everything I needed for great prices.  I joined their free membership program and I will definately go back whenever I am in the area. 

Universal Slicker Brush $7.99

I got this slicker brush because I wanted a larger square one for her bigger matts and this one was a good price. This brush is much firmer than my first slicker because the pin pad does not have much give. This is good for the matts on the outside of her legs but when using a firmer brush you have to be very careful not to give your dog slicker burn.

XXL Muttluks $46.99

I was very excited to find these muttluks, it is near impossible to find boots to fit her massive paws. Most pet stores do not carry sizes over Large, I have never seen anything XXL before. These seem to be big enough, I really hope they fit her because I doubt there is a bigger size. They have leather soles, waterproof nylon exterior, fleece inner lining, self tightening reflective straps, Stretchy leg cuffs, and they come with a reusable cloth mesh bag for storing and washing. I wish I had these earlier as the last five months has had almost non-stop snow storms. Khazi loves the snow but I didn't want her to stay out in the cold for too long. She would have had more time in the snow if she had these boots to wear with her winter coat.  A few days this winter there were extreme exposure warnings and staying outside for more than five minutes would result in hypothermia.  Khazi is normally an extremely active dog, she was not happy those days. 

Q Sensitive Area Slicker Brush $8.79
I really wanted to get a triangle slicker brush because I like the idea of only putting the pins exactly where they are needed. Slicker brushes actually leave microscopic scratches on the hair follicles which can cause frizzy, damaged hair in the future. This brush will help you avoid unnecessary damage anywhere on the body and a smaller area of pins means it is more gentle on skin in sensitive areas.

Outward Hound Treat n' Train Treat Pouch $6.99
This is a large treat bag that can hold treats, a ball and/or a clicker. The trainer I work with swears by this brand, plus it is my favourite colour. I bought this so I could always keep one pouch in my training bag and this one for home training so I never forget to return it to my bag.

Lola & Finnegan's Beef Jerky $9.99

These treats are all natural and made in the USA. I have never tried this brand before and when I asked a worker they said she had never heard anything bad about the brand. I bought these because Khazi is currently eating a similar soft jerky type treat and while she loves it, it costs $7.99 for 6 oz. and this is $9.99 for 16 oz. I will be ripping up these treats and using them for agility training.

Doggles Insect Shield $10.99
I was so excited when I found this product because I never knew it existed. It is insect repellent  bandanna that is totally safe for dogs and all you have to do is tie it around their neck. It protects from mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges and lasts through 70 washes. People can wear this too, it is safe for every member of the family. It uses Permethrin as the repellent ingredient and nothing else. The bandanna contains .52% Permethrin and the other 99.48% is fabric

Show Season Face Time Face Wash $15.98 for 2
This is the one product I knew I was going to buy before going to the store . Khazi's beard tends to smell, she is a messy drinker so her beard is always wet. Her wet beard then gets bacteria in it and it starts to stink, at least she doesn't drool . I have made wipes with the past to help with the problem (you can find the instructions HERE) but when I found out there was such a thing as dog face wash I wanted to compare it and maybe find a way improve my recipe. I bought two bottles because they were on sale. To use it all you need to do is to pump out a ball of foam, dab it on the face, rub it in and wipe it clean. It brightens, removes bacteria, slobber and stains and leaves a fresh papaya scent. You don't need to rinse it, it is tearless and contains no bleach or peroxide. 

Starmark Pro-Training Clicker $5.39

I have used this clicker before and I love it. It is great quality, easy to use and is nice and loud, I gave my first clicker like this to a client so I wanted to replace it.

Dyno Meaties Tartar Buster Bone $2.99

This bone was $1 cheaper than than I usually pay for a tartar buster bone so I pinked one up. I like to give Khazi a bone like this while I groom her as a special treat, that keeps her busy.

Spot Lit LED Collar Light $11.99

I walk Khazi a lot at night in the summer because it is too hot during the day. Khazi is mostly black so she is hard to see in the dark, hopefully this light will help. The light attaches to the collar and glows or flashes red. It is water proof and will last 20 hours before having to replace the batteries.

Dubl Duck Ultra Gold Shears $62.97
The shears were another difficult purchase, but after thinking it through I made the right decision to buy them. I currently own three pairs of shears and I bought them all at pet smart, the reason I have three is not because I wanted a variety in shear types but because none of them work very well. Before I went shopping I was reading a groomer's blog post about her shears and she said she had used the same pair of shears 27 years. This woman had her shears for 27 years and mine couldn't even last a few months. I am well aware that shears need to be properly cared for to extend their life but I hardly use my shears and they pretty much stopped working by the second grooming session in which I used them. The shears I bought from Pet Smart probably cost me $60.00 or more so I figured buying good quality shears would save me some money. Plus these shears were on sale, they were regularly $89.95. The leather pouch has a metal clip on the back to holster them to your pants for easy access, they are also extremely sharp.  

Nylabone Tartar Control Toothpaste $6.99

This toothpase is a replacement for my old toothpaste as it is almost finished. It is the same brand, the difference is that when I bought my previous toothpaste I accidentally bought a formula for senior dogs. I don't really think it made any real difference but I bought the correct formula (adult) this time around. It is USA made and Vetrinarian reccommended. It cleans teeth, freshens breath and reduces plaque and tartar. I am not sure what flavour it is but Khazi seems to like it.

Whal 2 Way 8" Finishing Comb $10.49

I LOVE this comb. It was the first item I used when I came back home because I was so excited.  Combs can sometimes just make a dog frizzy instead of fluffy but this comb fluffed Khazi beautifully. It was easy to work through minor matts and I finished Khazi's daily brush out much more quickly and efficiently than usual.  With this comb you just have to be careful not to comb right into the skin as the teeth are slightly pointed (don't worry I am extremely cautious and I would never do anything to hurt Khazi)

Invisible Boot $7.99
This product is 100% natural and made in Canada. Apply this product before going out with your dog to protect their paws from the hot, cold, salt and ice then simply wipe it off when you get home. It is also supposed to be great for moisturizing as it protects so your dog will have smooth crack free paws.

 Metro Air Force Commander Dryer $169.99
This is my last really big ticket item and I am happy to say I feel no buyers remorse. I have wanted a dryer for Khazi because it was the only piece of grooming equiptment that I was missing to have Khazi properly bathed at home. We used to take Khazi to Pet Value for a self serve bath because it was fairly cheap ($25),  and Khazi could be dried off and stay warm. When summer was over it got cold very quickly and we couldn't air dry her anymore. She would stay damp too long and it wouln't be fair to her. Then my mom told me she would rather that Khazi be bathed at home at all times because it is easier for us and Khazi is more comfortable. I was fine with that but there was still the problem of drying. Even if it was warm out I would stll prefere Khazi be dried with an actual dryer. Dog's matts will get tighter when they are wet and even if the dog is tangle free before a bath they can devolp during the bathing process, espesially a doodle. Khazi's curls tughten and if I don't brush out and blow out her hair she becomes a giant knot. Buying a dryer was the simple and proper solution for both Khazi and I. This also means I can dry her completely rather than being under a time limit at the self serve bath station. I figure I only have to use the dryer 6.8 times before I get my money's worth. This dryer however did not come with a box and I am worried that I am missing a piece so I will have to do some research and maybe contact the store if I am correct.

Andis Easy Groom Clippers $29.99

These Clippers were on sale because they are part of Andis' old collection, therefore not compatible with the attachment combs now available. I bought this clipper for sanitary clips, and in between paws, so I am hoping I will not be needing more attachment combs. It comes with the cordless clipper and recharger, 6 attachment combs (1/16", 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", and 3/8"), Stainless-steel shears, blade cleaning brush,barber comb, lubricating blade oil, protective blade guard, instructional DVD, and a durable storage case.

Greenies Large Breed Dental Chews $45.99

This was the hardest purchase I made because it was expensive and it will only last 24 uses. I also realized after I opened them that I got the wrong size, these are for 50-100 lbs dogs and Khazi well exceeds that. The real reason I bought these treats is because I found out, when writing my Orapup review, that 80% of all dogs have signs of gum disease by the age of three. I used to give my dog Denta Stix (She would do ANYTHING for one) until I found out they have chemicals in them that can be harmful to dogs over time. I have never really been a fan of Pedigree products anyway so a switch made sense. This time around I wanted to make sure to buy a product that is approved by the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council). If you want to learn more about the VOHC click HERE. Greenies are meant to fight tartar build up, fight plaque, maintain healthier gum and teeth and naturally cleans teeth. It says to feed daily for best results and that is what I would like to do but if I were to use 1 box a month (as an approximation I know that you would need more than 1 a month) It would cost more than  $658.88 a year... ouch. That's a lot of money but it is still cheaper than what my friend, whose dog has dental issues, pays per year for her dog's vet bills. Khazi enjoyes the taste of the chews and unlike Denta Stix they are low calorie and take Khazi longer to eat.