Posts Tagged ‘holidays’

Happy Howlidays! Gifts for your four-legged BFF’s

Monday, December 23rd, 2019

Happy howlidays dog lovers! Holiday shopping can be ruff (pun intended)… Fighting crowds at the mall, wrapping presents, and finding just the perfect gifts can leave you reaching for some spiked eggnog. Your dog is definitely a gift worthy family member and surely wouldn’t want you stressing out over what gift to give him. If only dogs were better at dropping hints about what they’d like to receive, right?  And what if the dog in your life already has an overflowing toy box?  Keep reading for easy and unique dog gifts that will make tails wag well into the New Year.

Subscription boxes: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Subscription boxes for humans have been blowing up over the past few years. FabFitFun, BoxyCharm, Winc, and Loot Crate have been introducing customers to unique products at deep discounts on a monthly or quarterly basis. Whether you’re interested in makeup, horror films, wine, or even spices, there’s a subscription box out there for you. Thankfully now your dog can get in on the action and receive their own surprise packages! Companies like Bark Box, BullyMake, PupBox, and Pooch Perks are curating subscription boxes that contain unique items your dog will love. The pooches in your life will be excited to receive a special delivery every month filled with new treasures.  You’ll love watching them discover their new favorite treats and toys long after the holiday season is over!

Make It Personal: Custom Gifts

While it’s true that most dogs can’t read, we think they will still love getting a personalized holiday gift! Thanks to websites like Bad Tags, Etsy and Amazon Handmade, there are thousands of dog toys, beds, clothing and ID tags that you can customize specifically for your best friend. Heck, you can even get a custom pet painting of your dog to put over the fireplace! We love the creative possibilities with personalized gifts and believe that all dogs (and their people) would love to receive a one of kind present made just for them.

C is For Cookie

Most dog owners know that the fastest way a dogs’ heart is through their stomach. Dogs adore delicious treats, especially ones made from scratch with love. Why not shower the dogs in your life with holiday cheer by baking them some howliday cookies (not to share with Santa of course)! All you need are various holiday shaped cookie cutters and a few ingredients to make a dogs howliday season festive and delicious. Dogs on the “nice list” will love recipes like cranberry cookies, gingerbread men, and peanut butter candy canes.  Ditch the wrapping paper and instead consider gifting your treats in a custom homemade treat jar!

Tech Toys

We bet that you have someone in your life that loves tech gadgets…and it’s probably not your dog. However, that could change when they realize how fun dog-centric tech toys are! Not only will your dog love these gifts, but they can also make your life more convenient and even provide peace of mind. For example, are you worried that your dog isn’t getting enough activity? You both would love the iFetch Interactive Ball Launcher and the FitBark activity and GPS tracker. If you want to be able to check on your dog while you’re at work and remotely give them a treat, consider the Furbo Interactive Pet Camera. The GoBone is a roving bone that can be chased and chewed, providing hours of play for your dog while you’re doing housework or running errands. If you have problems remembering to feed your dog, then the Arf Automatic Dog Feeder will take the guess work out of meal time. There are dozens of innovative tech toys that would be a great addition to both you and your dogs life. 

Home for the Howlidays: Survival tips, treat recipes and more

Tuesday, November 14th, 2017

There’s no place like home for the howlidays…until it gets crazy, that is.  If you’re like us, one of your favorite things to do this time of year is throw on some warm PJ’s, settle in with a good book or movie, and pretend like your shopping expedition to the mall never happened.  If we get stressed, it’s no surprise that the holiday season is stressful for our pets too.  From a house full of guests, new and potentially unhealthy foods to be tempted by, and generally being a little off their game, here are some tips on keeping Fido calm and collected this Christmas.

Crate Training 

A dog’s crate can be its best friend and a much needed safe haven from all the hustle and bustle.  Crate training is actually quite easy if broken down into easy to manage steps (and be sure to use lots of positive reinforcement and treats!).  Unlike the crates of yesteryear, there are some cool ways you can incorporate these pet-friendly spaces into your home without it screaming “crazy dog person”.  The Humane Society of the United States has some helpful tips on training here, but this is the gist:

  • Keep the training short and sweet to start off.  Lure Fido in by dropping some high value treats inside, give them tons of praise if he goes in and allow him to come right back out.  We shouldn’t have to say this, but we will: People, do not force your dog into the crate, use it as punishment or leave them in there all day.
  • Transition to feeding meals in the crate and close the door while they eat.
  • Gradually increase the time spent in their crate and continue to give praise and biscuits.  The crate is a happy place, right?

If you notice your dog getting stressed, check out some of the most common signs here, make sure their crate is in a quiet location and tuck them in.  Caveat: Some dogs don’t like crates.  At all.  A bathroom, bedroom or some other confined, secure space can make a huge difference though.  Make sure they have a cozy bed to curl up in, and some classical music can help too – there are even dog specific soundtracks on Spotify you can play.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland 

Daily exercise – good for us and good for our pets.  Studies show that having a pet helps to lower blood pressure, manage anxiety and depression, and when you add walking or running into the equation, it’s a win-win! According to PetMD, most dogs should get 30 minutes to 2 hours of exercise each day.  This of course varies by breed, age, health concerns, etc and can be anything from chasing a ball, nosework, playing with a flirt pole (our Great Dane LOVES this), or an indoor game of hide & seek – you’re looking to get the heart rate up a bit and also some mental stimulation.

For regions that see snow and ice, please keep in mind that it’s really important to protect those sweet feet.  Grooming the fur in and around the pads will help prevent ice from forming which can lead to chapping and even cracking.  You can make or purchase paw balm to prevent and heal those cracks, or go all out and buy a snazzy pair of booties.

We love the Freedom No-Pull Harness for our office dogs; it has the traditional loop on the back and also one on the front which is helpful when walking a dog who would prefer to be dragging you.  The additional pressure (safely distributed) across the front of the chest slows them down significantly.  It also features a velvety soft lining on the inside to help prevent chafing on their delicate undercarriages.

Scooby Snacks 

‘Tis the season for counter surfing! Unfortunately, this is a busy time of year at emergency vet clinics.  Pancreatitis from overindulging, choking from a bone, eating poisonous plants or chocolate – the holidays can be downright dangerous.

You can help keep your pet satiated with some healthy, easy-to-make treats and dog food toppers.  Here are a few favorites:

Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream (you could eat it too!)

Slow Cooker Dog Food

Bacon & Peanut Butter Glazed Biscuits 

Turmeric & Fish Treats 

And some breath fresheners after indulging in those fish treats…Frosty Breath Dog Treats

 

Here’s to a healthy, happy, stress-free (or at least manageable) holiday season! Woof woof! 

 

A Holiday Feast for the Hounds

Tuesday, December 16th, 2014

dog-thanksgiving-turkey-480x320

As the holiday season starts to wind down (can you believe Christmas is next week??), we wanted to send out a friendly reminder to make sure and include your furry family members in the celebration!  From pet stockings filled with toys, to a new leash, a fuzzy sweater and much more, there are a million ways to spoil your pooch.  BUT, if your dogs are like ours, the way to their heart is through their stomach!

Here are some healthy (and tasty!) treat ideas:

*Squash and Sweet Potato Mash:

This is not only yummy (for both humans and dogs) but is easy for your pooch to digest and is full of beta carotene. Either roast or microwave the potatoes and squash (we love Kabocha & Acorn), then mix together in a large bowl.  Be sure to set aside a portion for Fido before you add all of the extra goodies like butter, cream and seasoning.

*Poultry/Ham/Lamb Treats:

Once you’ve roasted your main course to perfection, carve a few small pieces (minus the seasonings, fat and/or skin) for your dog’s enjoyment. Just remember to feed snacks like this in moderation!

*Veggies:

It isn’t a proper holiday meal unless all food groups are represented. Some of our office dog’s favorite treats include fresh, crunchy carrots.  They also enjoy green beans, peas and asparagus all of which are packed with healthy vitamins and antioxidants.

*Peanut Butter & Yogurt Pupsicles: If you’re having dessert, don’t leave out the dog! Just mix one 32 oz container of low-fat vanilla yogurt with a cup of melted peanut butter.  Pour into small, lined muffin tins or these cute paw shaped molds and freeze.

And finally, no matter how hard your pooch begs, there are a few things to avoid: 

*Onions & Garlic: Bad breath aside, both of these can lead to anemia in dogs if given in large quantities or over an extended period of time.

*Cooked bones: Although most dogs love a meaty raw bone, once they’ve been cooked the bones become brittle and can shatter causing painful splinters or something even more serious such as an obstruction.   Please note: Supervision is a good thing here!

*Yeast/Bread Dough:  ‘Tis the season for baking…and dogs whose sense of smell gets them into trouble.  If you are going to be baking with yeast, be sure to keep the dough well out of reach so it can rise safely on the counter (or up on top of the fridge for hungry giant breeds), and not in their bellies.

*Gravy, and other items with a high fat content:  High fat intake can lead to pancreatitis, a painful and sometimes fatal inflammation of the pancreas.  If you’d like to treat your dog to some gravy, a good principle is to keep the quantity small. A tablespoon or so watered down before adding it to their kibble can be a tasty and much healthier option, as can some low sodium stock or broth.  Less is more…and their noses are so good, they won’t know the difference!

From all of us at Dog-ON-It, have a wonderful holiday and be sure to support your local dog parks!


Made in the USA
Member of NRPA, WRPA, WMFHA, & NAA
Click here to access Dog-ON-It-Parks’ design files including cad drawings, specifications, videos and related documents. The CADdetails program is developed specifically for design professionals with the goal of getting manufacturer-specific product information into their working plans.
© 2008-2024 Dog-ON-It-Parks. All Rights Reserved.

Cirkuit: Best Ecommerce Platform