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.
