tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43672931278638459212024-03-18T03:19:21.188-04:00The Husky ReviewHonest reviews on everything from toys to cleaning materials from real Siberian Husky, Malamute, and Northern Breed OwnersShmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-82132563929672665392023-02-05T14:08:00.004-05:002023-02-05T14:14:43.476-05:00Bissell Pet Stain Eraser PowerBrush Plus Portable Carpet Cleaner<p> Yep, here we are reviewing yet another Bissell product.</p><p>Honestly, out of all the manufacturers, Bissell seems to know things about pet accidents, and has a whole line of pet products that actually work. They also donate money to pet causes, so woot.</p><p>Anyway, we've all been there with puppies, or dogs that horka on the carpet, and we've been there during the senior years of accidents. </p><p>You could drag out the big steam cleaner, fill it with water and the fluid stuff, drag it to the spot and suck that mess up.</p><p>You could also drag the spotbot to the spot after you fill it, put in the cleaning solution and let it do its thing... but... all of that is a lot of overkill for a small pee spot. Unless your pet Oxen unleashes gallons of pee on your carpet, you just need a fast and easy way to suck about a half cup of pee and spray some cleaning solution on it (and suck that up) so here's the tool:</p><p>CORDLESS URINE SUCKER!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc31g-5BVwd3CA5FO3mR5XAsFOYm1EN90xYv-apl_JLJmLQE7rf6EI4diJPziAsthu9h4qVkKXdJ3BV53uGmn-wBZMQTjcWPKXJNKmxKMDkIndNJkDhRqLAgfKYFO9FTWeTxt9PW0gRiLYHjrmdFNLm2RI1rmX-pQlGX62DgoRHHd_fX1YmHsbrYEDBA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1346" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc31g-5BVwd3CA5FO3mR5XAsFOYm1EN90xYv-apl_JLJmLQE7rf6EI4diJPziAsthu9h4qVkKXdJ3BV53uGmn-wBZMQTjcWPKXJNKmxKMDkIndNJkDhRqLAgfKYFO9FTWeTxt9PW0gRiLYHjrmdFNLm2RI1rmX-pQlGX62DgoRHHd_fX1YmHsbrYEDBA=w400-h321" width="400" /></a></div><br />The Bissell Pet Stain Eraser Powerbrush Plus!<p></p><p>Did I mention it's CORDLESS!!!!</p><p>Yep, you plug it in and let that sucker charge up, grab it when you need a clean up, dump it out, plug it back in. It holds enough charge to get at that pee spot jiffy quick, done in seconds. Even has the little rotating brush thing on it to get that deep down urine sucking.</p><p>Keep it upright, it will leak out the top (that's enjoyable), and cleaning out the pee container is a bit... yuck, but what steam cleaner isn't a joy. It's really easy to deep clean the bits, parts come off easily and go back on easily once you read the manual. </p><p>Totally saved our sanity this puppy-time around, and will be there for the senior years if it meets Bissell's usual lasts forever business model.</p><p>TOTALLY worth it for the cord free thing. Just grab it and go, suck, dump, done.</p><p>Even works for those times you dump a full cup of coffee on the carpet, not that we've ever done that... ever... nope, not us.</p><p>Buy it. Just BUY IT!!!</p><p>Available of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bissell-Stain-Eraser-PowerBrush-2837/dp/B08HDKZKHK/ref=sr_1_3?crid=QFMQW9G8QGJO&keywords=bissell+pet+stain+eraser+powerbrush%2C+2837&qid=1675624055&sprefix=bissell+pet+stain+er%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-3" target="_blank">Amazon</a> (of course)</p><p>HIGHLY Recommended.</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128242608427038658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfSA0gyRBKdpY7ZPufi0YcA_3cxo5_TzQgUoUjuG505lc1CdAzh9WgDXU5gTP0p_bqmouWFN3OrIc1REyJlDTrvTYOSn89u4SGL3UlNrCPipLVtosTdL-BdWKw8F1Jz7qEf5yoB8pSI3H/s200/4+paw.jpg" style="color: #0000ee; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></p><div><br /></div>Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-6054668549471828892017-01-13T10:38:00.002-05:002017-01-13T10:38:49.847-05:00100% Waterproof Mambe Furniture Cover for Pets and People Looking for a cover for your bed, sofa, or a dog bed to help with life's little spills?<br />
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For kids, clumsy adults, or pets with issues, you kind of want something other than putting plastic on all of your furniture to keep stains and stink off of expensive things, so what do you buy?<br />
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We've had great success with the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Mambe-Furniture-People-Buff-Camel/dp/B00J5Q0VP4/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1484318396&sr=8-8&keywords=mambe%2Bblanket&th=1">Mambe Furniture covers.</a> <a href="https://mambeblankets.com/">Mambe</a> has a full line of different blankets and covers that can be used to cover beds, couches, or dog beds that are stylish, liquid-proof, and don't make your furniture look dreadful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySId1dbfBqR9w6HFA8b3S1dniI-RiOxpEA6syB_5f31sy6AzOINsS84rfviByqltb18juhZIl1UXBooyMOe6qDWNGzxs9yp8glXyzzU1tJbvdurTMpmqHWIJaRcgjdueBI9V6VsRuudb4/s1600/FurnitureCover_Brown_Tan_Sofa_363c071c-7440-48d2-a854-23b94d808fc9_1024x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySId1dbfBqR9w6HFA8b3S1dniI-RiOxpEA6syB_5f31sy6AzOINsS84rfviByqltb18juhZIl1UXBooyMOe6qDWNGzxs9yp8glXyzzU1tJbvdurTMpmqHWIJaRcgjdueBI9V6VsRuudb4/s400/FurnitureCover_Brown_Tan_Sofa_363c071c-7440-48d2-a854-23b94d808fc9_1024x1024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Some liquid-proof covers have plastic innards that crackly and aren't comfortable. They also tend to slip around the outer soft blanket and end up all crumpled up and just plain stupid.<br />
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The Mambe doesn't crinkle, slide around, or get plain stupid. Its like a normal blanket.<br />
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Machine washable and you can throw it in the dryer as well. Easy to clean, easy to use, nice to look at.<br />
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From experience, unless you have an industrial sized washer and dryer, you should avoid the King size blankets. They are rather HUGE and take forever to dry.<br />
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Mambe blankets are made in the USA and guaranteed for life.<br />
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Comfortable, stylish, liquid-proof, easy to wash and dry. We've had three of the Twin/Loveseat size for years and they show absolutely no wear or tear. Well worth the price.<br />
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Available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Mambe-Furniture-People-Buff-Camel/dp/B00J5Q0VP4/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1484318396&sr=8-8&keywords=mambe%2Bblanket&th=1">Amazon</a> and from the <a href="https://mambeblankets.com/">Mambe</a> site.<br />
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Highly recommend<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXn6NCkX2RD19Hkx24rSPMSG92mH5lIMecOZREwVIiCnHUh_gM0uW7nhmOT7_oel3-_KzcG_3zMn7bzA24tebqFiYPXRV6s_PLzWpTbC5oo0BY5-v-BqnnfcyClPyzQC6fjWGwi8hw_thB/s1600/4+paw.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXn6NCkX2RD19Hkx24rSPMSG92mH5lIMecOZREwVIiCnHUh_gM0uW7nhmOT7_oel3-_KzcG_3zMn7bzA24tebqFiYPXRV6s_PLzWpTbC5oo0BY5-v-BqnnfcyClPyzQC6fjWGwi8hw_thB/s400/4+paw.jpg" /></a><br />
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<br />Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-52169505444777954962017-01-13T10:13:00.000-05:002017-01-13T10:13:00.461-05:00Serta Orthopedic Dog BedsIf you are like me, you've purchased about a zillion dog beds. If your dogs are like my dogs, they've probably hated most of them.<br />
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From the cheap, to the extremely expensive, there's just something wrong with them (according to your dog) and they end up thrown in a back room or tossed out. Money down the drain.<br />
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There has been only one dog bed that has lasted about 10 years in our house and hasn't lost it's comfort level, is easy to clean, and the dogs fight over it... so now I have three of them.<br />
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The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Serta-Orthopedic-Quilted-Pillowtop-Large/dp/B014SS8SEY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484319501&sr=8-1&keywords=serta%2Bdog%2Bbed&th=1">Serta Orthopedic Dog Beds</a> have been nothing short of the PERFECT dog beds in our house.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnx-n5BZSI5ToI2U-A5neFqGy1I7I9G_lhYYHooi5TFw_Jnzl4uzuSxggpaBXfYm4BVUIPjSNltsLlmtggBYrmi4HPKS3ydPi5QAV_Q7o-GY71WNnynjxdgjDy-o0HPet3526G2L2oMUBx/s1600/Serta+dog+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnx-n5BZSI5ToI2U-A5neFqGy1I7I9G_lhYYHooi5TFw_Jnzl4uzuSxggpaBXfYm4BVUIPjSNltsLlmtggBYrmi4HPKS3ydPi5QAV_Q7o-GY71WNnynjxdgjDy-o0HPet3526G2L2oMUBx/s400/Serta+dog+bed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>The cover is removable and machine washable.</li>
<li>The foam is very supporting and comfortable (I've even slept on the X-Large when one of our dogs was very sick)</li>
<li>The large size will fit a 60lb Siberian Husky. The X-Large will also fit a 60lb Siberian Husky stretched out to full length, and a 5' 6", 130lb human</li>
<li>The Pillow top is very comfortable and allows the foam to breathe</li>
<li>If you follow the washing instructions, it won't shrink. If you don't follow the drying instructions and throw it in the dryer on low, it'll dry faster and still won't shrink (just sayin).</li>
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Even after all of these years of hard sleeping by very dedicated sleeping huskies, the foam hasn't developed the usual squished down look, its as springy and supportive as the day we bought them.</div>
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The beds provide good support for orthopedic issues or creaky old dog issues. You can even cover them with incontinence blankets or pads for dogs with leak issues. The padding is thick enough to keep a rather large amount of urine from absorbing into the pad if caught early.</div>
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Serta has a wide variety of their orthopedic beds, even some that look like a couch. They are available from a wide range of places, even <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Serta-Orthopedic-Quilted-Pillowtop-Large/dp/B014SS8SEY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484319501&sr=8-1&keywords=serta%2Bdog%2Bbed&th=1">Amazon</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOseFGxQRlHLgyBK7J4zgKRxdnHQ_JKntb65WeQAnrTLAbRILL0aZClZo_o-MWZTkXC11E0B2vs02wb5ZpD5sOD0YBdoYMd2ecZMboUme0p3vpQh2bslLPjytMVv4isvsThcK3YGhPY0RL/s1600/Serta-Orthopedic-Quilted-Couch-Dog-Bed-500x261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOseFGxQRlHLgyBK7J4zgKRxdnHQ_JKntb65WeQAnrTLAbRILL0aZClZo_o-MWZTkXC11E0B2vs02wb5ZpD5sOD0YBdoYMd2ecZMboUme0p3vpQh2bslLPjytMVv4isvsThcK3YGhPY0RL/s400/Serta-Orthopedic-Quilted-Couch-Dog-Bed-500x261.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My dogs HIGHLY recommend these beds!</div>
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Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-86372117820816351222016-11-24T10:05:00.001-05:002017-12-28T11:29:20.002-05:00AerodawgWhile I hope you never need one, at least you now know of an aerosol chamber that actually works!<br />
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Recently one of our Gimpy Dogs members needed to administer aerosol medication to her pup and purchased an Aerodawg Canine Aerosol Chamber from Amazon.<br />
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<a href="https://www.tmimd.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/e/aerodawg-flow-vu-in-use-v3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="800" height="238" src="https://www.tmimd.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/e/aerodawg-flow-vu-in-use-v3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sarah L writes:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"I don't know that there are many people on here with dogs who have respiratory issues, but I ordered this last week and it is perfect. I was afraid it would be flimsy, but it is just as sturdy as the one I have for myself and the seal around the inhaler is snug. A little desensitization training, lots of treats, and Bandit is getting used to it quite quickly.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Bandit has COPD and recently got kennel cough, which has been difficult to deal with. Thankfully the inhaler is helping a lot.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The directions are easy to follow, but it is exactly like a chamber for a human to use. The inhaler goes in one end and the mask goes over the dog's nose or nose and mouth. You depress the inhaler and hold the mask in place for 6 or 7 breaths.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">There are pills you can give that help open the airways, but they do not act quickly and can't really be only used as needed. This stops the coughing fit within just a minute or two. I am asthmatic, so I know how quickly an inhaler works and thought it was a better choice long-term for Bandit."</span><br />
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Because it is a sturdy, medical grade aerosol chamber, we are giving this item 4-paws up.<br />
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It can be purchased from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/AeroDawg-Canine-Aerosol-Chamber-Dogs/dp/B009KPLO4M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1480000004&sr=8-2&keywords=aerodawg+canine+aerosol+chamber+for+dogs+-+small">Amazon and comes in different sizes.</a><br />
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<br />Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-70793179036807609352016-11-24T09:43:00.001-05:002016-11-24T11:04:09.998-05:00DuralactinIf you own older dogs, you are probably always on the look out for supplements that may give those creaky old bones some relief.<br />
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There are a lot of supplements out there, most contain Glucosamine and/or Chondroitin, but a friend of mine happened to be looking at a product called Duralactin. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.duralactin.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.duralactin.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/logo.png" height="60" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.duralactin.com/">Click here to go to their site</a></td></tr>
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I hadn't hear a lot about it, so I asked on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/152832664728441/">Gimpydogs Facebook group</a> to see if anyone had tried it, and of course a few had!<br />
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As with all supplements, some may work for your pup, and some may not, so the view expressed here are from people that have used it, and have had success. Your experience may vary.<br />
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Janine L writes:<br />
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"When our Pepper was declining with spinal stenosis, her vet at the time suggested Duralactin. I just thought they were trying to selling me something else. But in speaking with their receptionist who had a very old poodle that could barely walk and now was walking thanks to Duralactin, I said I would think about it. <br />
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I went home and ordered it on line. It took several weeks to work, but she started to show improvement and after several months she was moving a lot better. We had her on it for years. She was 16 when we had to euthanize her. <br />
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It is a milk product, so dogs who can't handle milk products won't be able to use it. It smells great, vanilla flavored. Pepper loved it."<br />
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Karen K writes:<br />
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"I used this for Dave when he was very senior. It seemed to help. I was able to give it to him because unlike so many other products, it was safe to "mix" with his other drugs. Also, as it was at a stage where it was hard to get him to eat, he liked them. Frankly, the chewable tablets smell like really good vanilla ice cream."<br />
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We're going to give it a 4-paws up based on user experience. It seems to help, it's tasty, and it doesn't appear to cause any harm.<br />
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<a href="https://www.chewy.com/s?query=Duralactin&nav-submit-button=">Duralactin is available from Chewy.com</a><br />
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<br />Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-14647830924258685582016-10-14T09:16:00.000-04:002016-11-05T11:22:45.539-04:00EZWhelp Fab Whelping System<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 18px;">
We were asked by <a href="https://www.ezwhelp.com/">EZWhelp</a> to review one of their new FAB Whelping boxes. Our goal is to bring honest reviews based on buying and using the actual product, but since I don’t have any “expecting” dogs, I reached out to a reputable non-profit that raises and trains service dogs. One of the people in their breeding program agreed to provide a review and in return EZWhelp gave this person a discount on the FAB system.
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<b>Overview of the FAB System Whelping Box:</b></div>
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Designed for professional breeders, the system is totally modular, expandable, and easy to clean, fold up, and store. The box itself replaces the tried and true “kiddie swimming pool” that most breeders use for their litters. Additional components can be purchased to add on to the system include an internal rail, add on room (for when the puppies can get out of the box, but you don’t want them running loose), even a corner seat, <a href="https://www.ezwhelp.com/products/fab-system-whelping-box">as well as other components</a>.
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<b>Review by the breeder:</b></div>
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The FAB Whelping box and pen were very easy to set up. I put the whole system together without looking at the instructions, except for the cloth sides, which did require guidance from the instructions. The instructions themselves were easy to understand, and in large print, which was very helpful during the setup process.
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We love the height of the pen for stepping over as opposed to using 2-3 foot tall puppy fences to contain the puppies. There have been so many times where I’ve had my hands full, and been sleep deprived and nearly tripped and fell while stepping over the puppy fences. Additionally, the FAB system is well-made with heavy gauge metal, so there’s no worry about puppies knocking over the pen, like there is with puppy fences or baby gates.
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We appreciate the easy-to-open gate that only requires one hand to open and close. While it is closed, it contains the puppies and mother, but it can be left open to allow entrance and exit of the mother, and the puppies when they are big enough to get out on their own. The gate can be left open, and is designed so that once opened, a puppy can’t become trapped or stuck behind the gate.
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We love how seamlessly the whelping pen and the additional pen go together. <span style="color: black; float: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We may purchase another pen to give us the ability to have an add on pen for the waste pads and a</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">dditional</span><span style="color: black; float: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> play area. We also like the weight and sturdiness of the corner seat, and will be ordering another seat since we can use it for shelves when we are in the pen to keep items we need out of their reach.</span>
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The whelping pads are of good quality (Editor note: <a href="http://huskyreview.blogspot.com/2015/04/ezwhelp-washable-whelping-pads.html">please see our extensive review</a> of the whelping pads when used as senior dog incontinence pads. If they can withstand 60lb old huskies, then puppies will not be a problem)
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Unlike a kiddie pool, the FAB simply lays flat for storage with just a pull of the long pin, which we LOVE. We are looking into finding a Rubbermaid™ storage box that the system will fit into for storage and keep it dust and dirt free until the next use. It would be nice if EZWhelp carried such a storage box in the future.
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<b>Overview of Review</b></div>
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The breeder’s only listed con was that a baby pool wouldn’t fit in the box structure, and she felt that it may be difficult for others to move away from the “tried and true” use of them. <br />
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The breeder is expecting a litter of puppies in a few weeks and plans on using only the EZWhelp FAB system for this litter and provide additional insight on her experiences. <br />
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This review will be updated once we get her feedback.<br />
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<b>24 October 2016</b><br />
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The EZWhelp FAB box, now with puppies!<br />
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Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-57240494371436396152016-08-21T15:22:00.000-04:002016-08-21T15:22:49.683-04:00Rug Doctor Spot CleanerRemember when I was reviewing all of the Bissell spot cleaners and bemoaned the lack of other manufacturers jumping into a pretty lucrative and much needed spot cleaner market?<br />
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Well, look who threw their hat in the ring.<br />
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Known for their high end (and very heavy) professional rental machines, Rug Doctor seems to be going into a more affordable home version of their popular steam cleaning equipment. Will the downsize (and lower price) affect its cleaning capability? <br />
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The timing couldn't be more perfect, as the <a href="http://huskyreview.blogspot.com/2015/04/bissell-spotclean-pro.html">Bissell SpotClean Pro </a>that was pretty amazing, died a horrible death from a severed suction hose only a year into using it (I swear I don't beat these things, or swing it by the hose, or do anything other than suck up foul dog mess) but the general time of death for these things seems to run about a year.<br />
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I happened to find the Rug Doctor Spot Cleaner on Amazon and bought it... along with a two-year warranty... just in case.<br />
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Right off the bat, who designs the containers? Most people are only born with two hands, so creating containers that don't stand up on their own makes filling with water, pouring the cleaner in, then screwing the top on a task that even circus performers would have difficulty with. The clean water/soap container is pretty large, holds a lot. The dirty water container has two holes at the top, so don't tip it when you walk to dump it out. Let me repeat that in bold <b>DON'T TIP THE DIRTY WATER CONTAINER IN ANY DIRECTION WHEN WALKING THROUGH THE HOUSE TO DUMP IT</b>. <br />
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The bottom of the dirty water container unscrews for easy cleaning. The instructions say you can stick your whole hand in there... if you have small hands. I have small hands... I'm not sticking my hand in there, so use a bottle brush to scrub it out (and make sure you store that someplace else so you don't wash your bottles and glasses out with it... euw).<br />
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There are two "on" switches. The top switch turns the suction on. The switch on the wand turns on the little massaging brushes that will massage the ick out of your carpet. You use the wand like any other spot remover wand, squeeze to spray, slowly back up to suck. For dog people, the massaging brushes really do pull up that fur!<br />
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For convenience, the machine has a handle to carry it, but it also has wheels and a telescoping handle (like for luggage) to drag it around if you can't carry it. The cord is pretty long, and the wand and hose loop around the handles easily and stay in the cradle nicely.<br />
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I've used it for new "spills" and it only takes one or two swipes to suck everything up. I've used it on more set in stains and it takes a few more swipes to get it up, but overall it does a great job spraying and sucking up the liquids. I'm using the <a href="http://huskyreview.blogspot.com/2016/08/bubbas-super-steamer-carpet-cleaner.html">Bubba's Steam Cleaner fluid</a> in it.<br />
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If I had a choice between the Bissell SpotPro and the rug doctor, I would probably go for the Rug Doctor, even though the SpotPro had better flat bottom containers. Of course, if the hose rips or it dies in a year, I may change my mind. Cost is about the same for both, so I guess I have to wait to see just how long it lasts for a full review, but right now, based on the pros and cons, I'd still give it:<br />
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4 Paws up.<br />
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<br />Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-12475265464581982402016-08-21T10:53:00.000-04:002016-08-21T10:53:19.053-04:00Bubba's Super Steamer Carpet CleanerHaving puppies and then senior dogs has its challenges and those challenges come in the form of bodily functions.<br />
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Whether housebreaking a young pup, or dealing with senior dogs who forget their training, just can't hold it, or have mobility and/or memory issues, there will be lots of cleanup involved.<br />
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Most of the urine removers on the market require you to apply it and let it set until it dries. That's not a problem, but if you read the fine print, it warns you to keep your pet off the wet spot until it dries. That's a problem! You don't want something bad for them just sitting there for hours and hours, so it's not the best solution in the world.<br />
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Another problem is that typically you have to spray the solution on. That gets tiring (hand crampy, cranky, half the time the solution starts spurting out of somewhere it isn't supposed to spurt) and in my experience, a lot of these solutions smell worse than the problem its supposed to solve.<br />
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Now what?<br />
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Here's what!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSN01MOeB3LLebpdZvc9Ejs13A1wGVABnRg49jMMm9nK9KGdOK7TrOUEuH15STXGnaG6Cx_TmHG-KvzbF-OTNc1dXY_Iu5VsLabMCgdM0scsGb7TYWntqo5D-pyiKu69pbUxUmkO90nFZ/s1600/Bubbas+steamer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSN01MOeB3LLebpdZvc9Ejs13A1wGVABnRg49jMMm9nK9KGdOK7TrOUEuH15STXGnaG6Cx_TmHG-KvzbF-OTNc1dXY_Iu5VsLabMCgdM0scsGb7TYWntqo5D-pyiKu69pbUxUmkO90nFZ/s400/Bubbas+steamer.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.bubbasrowdyfriends.com/">Bubba's Rowdy Friends</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.bubbasrowdyfriends.com/products/super-steamer-carpet-cleaner">Bubba's Super Steamer Carpet Cleaner </a><br />
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Oh sure, I was dubious about this having spent a ton of money on other steam cleaning liquids that merely masked the smell with another smell, so I shelled out some bucks and got it from Amazon. <br />
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It comes in a 32 oz bottle and I figured "how long can that last" but actually you only put in 1-3 oz (3 for those really bad smells, stains, and ick) and steam clean like normal. This product is like those others where you need to let it dry on its own, but hey, you're steam cleaning, so of course the carpet will be somewhat damp when you are done, so that's fine and dandy. Even better, the only warning on the bottle is to not let children drink the solution. You and your pets can walk on the wet spots without fear of injury or illness, just don't chug the bottle.<br />
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It has a smell, but its not overly flowery, or overly chemical laden and the aroma fades quickly.... along with the stink you are trying to remove.<br />
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It's not like a normal carpet shampoo, so don't expect any foam, but it does clean, it does remove most stains, and most importantly it removes the stink.<br />
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You can also use it in Spot Bots and the soon to be reviewed Rug Doctor spot cleaner for quick clean up.<br />
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I also purchased the <a href="https://www.bubbasrowdyfriends.com/products/pet-stain-odor-terminator">Pet Stain and Odor Terminator spray</a> to use on pee pads. Once the dog pees on the pad, you spray the Terminator on the pee pad, then throw it in the wash. It helps remove the smell, get rid of stains, and when used with your regular washer detergent, your incontinence pads come out clean and fresh smelling.<br />
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Use the Pet Stain and Odor Terminator when you first discover the accident, then follow up with the Super Steamer Carpet Cleaner, and your house will smell great.<br />
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I highly recommend the Bubba products, and give them both 4 paws!<br />
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<br />Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-68195850405239894662015-04-25T15:05:00.000-04:002016-08-21T09:33:46.202-04:00Bissell SpotBotYes, yes, it's another Bissell review. Well, if the other companies made a device to clean up pet gunk, we'd review it, but I haven't even seen anything by another company that claims to be "just for pets" like the Bissell products, so those companies are totally missing out on a lot of customers. (if you have a device you want reviewed, then send me your review... I dare you).<br />
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Anyway, the husband loves the concept of anything that will remove pet ick without actually dealing with it, so the obvious choice was the SpotBot.<br />
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This unit allows you to clean nasty messes in two ways: set it and forget it, or use the wand.<br />
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The tanks are a pretty good size, but the clean water tank is large enough to do about 2 cycles with the "Surface Stain" setting, and 1 cycle of the "Set Stain" setting. There's actually some cleaning liquid left after 1 "Set Stain" setting, which drives my OCD crazy.<br />
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You fill up the clean water tank with water and then with cleaning solution. This product only uses the small cleaner fluid. NEVER use the full size cleaning fluid in this. Husband destroyed a Little Green Steam Cleaner by putting the full size cleaning fluid it in, which foams more and we had a LGSM that had foam coming out of everywhere, including the motor... it wasn't pretty, but it was funny.<br />
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Once you have water and cleaner in the clean water tank you simply plop it on the spot in question, plug it in and select the surface stain or set stain button and walk away. Little brushes start scrubbing the area and dispensing cleaning liquid, sucking it up and rinsing as it goes. The surface stain setting takes about a minute or so, the set stain takes longer and uses a lot more cleaning liquid. Once it is done, it beeps to let you know it's done.<br />
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We had an older model that would beep forever if you didn't hit the "Stop" button. While it is handy to be reminded about it, the non-stop beeping made you want to beat it with a ball bat. The newer models only beep twice. It is a three beep... wait... three beep reminder. I'm guessing too many were beaten with ball bats, but from a capitalist point of view... more sales.<br />
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Once it is done, you dump out the waste container and you are done.<br />
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The bad things about it:<br />
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It has a little rubber gasket in the waste container that you have to clean each time. If you don't, then dirt and waste and gunk build up and before you know it, it will start to leak. If it leaks, you'll have to clean up nasty stuff where the the container sits and it doesn't suck as much water up. Also, the tanks don't have flat bottoms so you have to hold them to fill them and clean them. The gunk tank only has a small opening, so it's difficult to clean entirely, you have to fill it with hot water and swish it around... and when you do that, make sure the gasket stays on or you'll have another mess to suck up.<br />
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It does seem to not suck up the water very well. It leaves a perfectly round wet spot where it was working. You can actually use it, then use the onboard brush and suck up more water. The older one didn't do that, but the newer model seems not to have the same mighty suction power to it.<br />
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The onboard brush is lacking. It uses the same hose, which means there is residue in it when you unhook it, so you're probably going to get ick on your hands. It does have a handy little storage spot onboard for the wand, so it's easy to find. You click the brush on the end of the hose and select the hose button and you can spray cleaner and suck up the mess. It doesn't seem like it has as much power as the Little Green or the SpotClean Pro.<br />
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Overall, if you're looking for a cleaner that you can plop down and it does the job for you, this is a good item. Just know that it will leave a damp round spot, and the gasket needs to be cleaned.<br />
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I'm giving it three paws because it does the job, it's handy that you can just leave it and go about your business until its done, but it's not perfect.<br />
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<br />Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-26578204203557329042015-04-25T14:44:00.001-04:002017-12-28T11:32:16.441-05:00Bissell SpotClean Pro<b>Update: The unit lasted about a year before the plastic tube ripped in half. The replacement hose attachment cost almost as much as a new unit, so it went into the trash. Based on its "life span" we've revised the review down to three paws.</b><br />
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When you have pets, you have accidents in the house. Happens with kids and adults too, so having a handy, portable steam cleaner is probably a must in all homes, and a necessity in pet homes.<br />
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We've reviewed the <a href="http://huskyreview.blogspot.com/2007/10/bissell-little-green-steam-machine.html">Little Green Steam Machine</a>, and will be reviewing the SpotBot soon.<br />
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This review is for the Bissell SpotClean Pro and compare it to the Little Green Steam Machine.<br />
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I just wanted to throw in that we seem to be reviewing a lot of Bissell products and no, we aren't receiving kickbacks (although if they want to throw in some free liquid, hey, we're all about that), it's just that the other companies really don't have spot cleaners, and if they do, they are REALLY expensive.<br />
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Now that we've covered that, while my husband likes the convenience of the SpotBot (set it and walk away while it does its thing) I prefer having more control over cleaning up an accident.<br />
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Who hasn't had a dog pee and walk? Or firehose diarrhea with a mad dash through the house. No, it's not something you'd admit to at a party or anything, but I can see you nodding your head.<br />
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Cleaning that up with a SpotBot would take FOREVER.<br />
<br />
So I was all about to buy a Little Green Steam Machine (had one years ago until it finally gave up the ghost, that's when we bought the spot bot), when I happened upon the SpotClean Pro.<br />
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Ok, I'm interrupting again because I can hear all of you say "but.... but... the SpotBot has a hose and spray attachment thing so you can use it like the LGSM or SCP". Yes, but it's a pain in the butt and I don't think it works well at all. The suction isn't as good, you get the funk on your hands while you're putting the hose away too. Now stop interrupting me!<br />
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The SCP claims to be a "pro" version. Ok, that sounds impressive. When I hear "pro" I'm thinking this thing would suck a gopher out of its hole. Ya know what? I'm pretty sure it could (but don't do this at home, the gophers aren't amused).<br />
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The tanks are absolutely HUGE compared to the LGSM and the best part... they sit flat! This is a huge deal when you are filling them. The LGSM tanks you have to hold to fill. Yes, yes, first world problems, but I can just imagine you getting all angry as you stand there and fill the tanks, then your hands get a bit of the cleaner on them and get slippery, then you try to screw the tank cap on them... don't curse, I warned you.<br />
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Another bonus is that the dump tank where all of the ick goes into, the lid opens up and there's a large mouth to dump the ick out and actually get in there and clean it out if you need to. With the LGSM there's only a small hole in the opening, so easy to dump out, but if you need to clean it, that means shoving a bottle brush or something in there and trying to swish it around... oh, and did I mention that you'll have to hold it to do that? Yep, because the bottom isn't flat... but the SCP has a flat bottom. Easy clean up without holding it. You can even shove your whole arm in there (if you have reasonably sized arms).<br />
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Does it suck? Heck yeah it sucks! It is loud, but no louder than the LGSM but it sucks up a lot more gunk. I noticed that it has a small tube inside the hose. the LGSM I had back in the day didn't have that little tube in it, so all of the gunk was sucked into the hose... and tended to drip back down when you turned it off. Don't know if they fixed that or not, but that seems to make the unit less stinky and have more suction power.<br />
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One thing I don't like is that the air vent seems to pick up the stench of the drain container. If you don't clean that out once in a while, you'll get a lovely aroma of funk filling your house. You can stop that from happening by just spraying the cleaner liquid on the spot and then sucking it up, or by keeping your drain container pristine clean. <b>UPDATE: The fool proof way to keep the funk from blowing out is to dump it, rinse it, then spray some Febreze in the tank and put the lid on.</b><br />
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The hose is pretty long, the power cord is very long. It comes with two types of wands (there isn't a storage spot on the SCP to store the one not in use, which is aways an issue in my house because I put them someplace and can never find them).<br />
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This unit takes the liquid for the large steam cleaners, and it only takes a little bit of that fluid.<br />
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So, you can add a lot of cleaner for multiple jobs without having to fill it up all the time. The tanks have flat bottoms, making it easy to clean, fill, dump. The hose is long, the cord is long, it's pretty lightweight.<br />
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The SCP is about $40 more than a LGSM, but honestly, it is worth it. Just the flat bottom large tanks alone make it worth spending more, and the extra suction and the fact that you seem to spend less time dealing with filling, dumping, and using it.<br />
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I give the Bissell SpotClean Pro 3 paws up based on its life span of a year.<br />
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<br />Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-24216020034548459202015-04-24T19:40:00.002-04:002017-12-28T11:34:38.542-05:00Wash 'n Zip Pet Bed *UPDATED*<b>Updated on 5/25/15 NEW Comfort Cushion and NEW Fabrics and caution about drying Comfort Cushion!!!</b><br />
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Just throw your pet beds away and go buy the <a href="http://www.washnzippetbed.com/">Wash'n Zip Pet Bed</a>!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFL498J-P3nmhuZEuTYAxqNHx2YyaLhG_Ry60Zu2RA3_FK8Tq5OvzZ9PUHiuj9t7DriDQ8BwVZHZRlOy3zAp9rCDKoGy_2Q78IbsdhPdV6McSYmjl-8a9wbw0Kzo_WlbFgdZTAx3zp19A1/s1600/1064065_10201613143194278_1530563360_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFL498J-P3nmhuZEuTYAxqNHx2YyaLhG_Ry60Zu2RA3_FK8Tq5OvzZ9PUHiuj9t7DriDQ8BwVZHZRlOy3zAp9rCDKoGy_2Q78IbsdhPdV6McSYmjl-8a9wbw0Kzo_WlbFgdZTAx3zp19A1/s1600/1064065_10201613143194278_1530563360_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our professional model: Meeshka</td></tr>
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Yes, yes, I know, you clicked on the link, saw the price and thought "Holy Mother of all Holies, do you think we're made of money???"<br />
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No, I don't think you are made of money (but if you are, come on over to my house, I'll make you dinner), but I also know that you've probably gone through a LOT of dog beds and they aren't cheap.<br />
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Look at the prices of regular beds (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dog+bed">click here for a search on Amazon of "Dog Bed"</a>)<br />
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Most dog beds are made out of fabric and foam rubber. They say they are "washable", but that usually means that you take the cover off and wash it, but if there's an accident, that stuff is going to leak into the foam rubber stuff and there's nothing you can do about it. NOTHING!!! You are stuck with a stinky foam rubber bed that reeks to high heaven and the only solution is to throw it out and buy another bed. By the way, if you are all smarty pants and say "yeah, but I can buy foam rubber and cut it to fit inside the cover", I say to you: Have you priced foam rubber lately? It's the price of the dog bed, that's why dog beds are so expensive!!!! Derp.<br />
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Anyway, when the Wash'n Zip people say it's washable, they mean THE ENTIRE BED! This bed is genius!<br />
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Not only can it be a dog bed, but it can be a furniture cover, or a car seat cover, or it can be a blanket for your dog (also <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8oAQOvOEXY">a hat, a brooch, a pterodactyl</a>) It does everything except clean itself!<br />
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I was skeptical (having been screwed over by a zillion "washable" dog beds, but had friends that tried them and raved about them, and when I got it I thought "the dogs will hate it"<br />
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They don't hate it, they love it. Meeshka loves it and she hates everything!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2RY4Nq7e06R7BaUbmvwWiExLIm5ipHhysp4DUIeyfKwGYHGOeX2HwDDDqadJRXPqVW9lqt0jMXsF7Iot05BIWXjYcr44C9JZprsGCeB1BsYiI1zCdC3_jGlzTGW8vMu7QpcGXNbxJgXc/s1600/1071585_10201612957949647_1148163345_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2RY4Nq7e06R7BaUbmvwWiExLIm5ipHhysp4DUIeyfKwGYHGOeX2HwDDDqadJRXPqVW9lqt0jMXsF7Iot05BIWXjYcr44C9JZprsGCeB1BsYiI1zCdC3_jGlzTGW8vMu7QpcGXNbxJgXc/s1600/1071585_10201612957949647_1148163345_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comfy</td></tr>
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What is it? It's pretty much a really thick quilt with a zipper all the way around it. You can unzip it into a blanket and use it for a couch cover, or a car seat cover, or a dog bed blanket. You can even cover up an orthopedic dog bed with it. That way if there's an accident, just throw the Wash'n Zip in the washer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVGYCbVmCfeQGHyBRJcEB04gxw4qRmNinQouIxqHyebcljNcWLqOt_ImZtP71mPkgSO7gtoeTiJ6VOkQjIGLF4yAEuTtoD7NRPDo6YTK4CGfUIRmZKDLW6OKFcYeDlsEedb4U2PwJAMyf/s1600/IMG_1521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVGYCbVmCfeQGHyBRJcEB04gxw4qRmNinQouIxqHyebcljNcWLqOt_ImZtP71mPkgSO7gtoeTiJ6VOkQjIGLF4yAEuTtoD7NRPDo6YTK4CGfUIRmZKDLW6OKFcYeDlsEedb4U2PwJAMyf/s1600/IMG_1521.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unzipped and covering an orthopedic bed</td></tr>
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I'm not going to vouch that the liquid won't soak through to the foam, but the fabric is pretty heavy so it probably won't.<br />
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<b>Update: If your dog is a 60lb Siberian Husky who is deathly afraid of thunder and stores up 50 gallons of pee rather than go outside during a storm and instead piddles Lake Erie on the Wash'nZip Pet Bed and you don't notice for a while, then yes, it will soak through a little, but it also did an amazing job of absorbing a lot of it.</b><br />
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I have the large, so it just folds in half, zip it up and cushy dog bed:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4Eac2QbUdDuXP8H-5dol2DGUkmFixJ0_XWWLsWydA6AINt_oJwLx2o7gZhxGXf7sdxRjuBVMPLLAxpUDZRsuE59ixk8hVxko599U8CdZYWqK9lhLTev4ahojqccOjJq9Nzm2_IXFFdr-/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4Eac2QbUdDuXP8H-5dol2DGUkmFixJ0_XWWLsWydA6AINt_oJwLx2o7gZhxGXf7sdxRjuBVMPLLAxpUDZRsuE59ixk8hVxko599U8CdZYWqK9lhLTev4ahojqccOjJq9Nzm2_IXFFdr-/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It isn't zipped in this picture because I'm too lazy to zip it</td></tr>
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You can zip it so one side is the fleecy side or one side is fabric:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiUWrXBuRhbVJIhwRHz2SPXPUi12FosMDuw1GKnWflEL5m3EmQS4DGA3G6mM9B9qyIFxvo7OnRCRPTD4YYU4giBYQ3uqLUqrboS7r0XghUjXZgqB1x9peFVfI_jDrfffCm9sZxmpxyIg_/s1600/IMG_1523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiUWrXBuRhbVJIhwRHz2SPXPUi12FosMDuw1GKnWflEL5m3EmQS4DGA3G6mM9B9qyIFxvo7OnRCRPTD4YYU4giBYQ3uqLUqrboS7r0XghUjXZgqB1x9peFVfI_jDrfffCm9sZxmpxyIg_/s1600/IMG_1523.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fleeeeeeeeeecy side</td></tr>
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<b>Some people have asked "um, it looks a bit flat, how can that be comfy" Well, it is a bit flat, but it's very comfy the way it was, but if you are looking for something a bit more fluffier for dogs with creaky bones, they now carry the <a href="http://www.washnzippetbed.com/?option=com_miwoshop&route=product/product&manufacturer_id=1&product_id=41&page_id=1619">Wash'n Zip Comfort Cushion!</a> It's like the perfect pillow insert!</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSzxvWVr4OE2WJ313_DElnR6xDZrTF6rxKEd3jw0gabZcvKXujYxDEgI37up3tyFUfizVj5bAn4ArHW2GefALUljtxfkCW7MKGJtsUToktYvrawH89_rDzSxLHMjVHAeH491HR6h-cjAN/s1600/IMG_1546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSzxvWVr4OE2WJ313_DElnR6xDZrTF6rxKEd3jw0gabZcvKXujYxDEgI37up3tyFUfizVj5bAn4ArHW2GefALUljtxfkCW7MKGJtsUToktYvrawH89_rDzSxLHMjVHAeH491HR6h-cjAN/s400/IMG_1546.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>This little gem fits right inside the large (there's also an extra large) Wash'n Zip bed and IT'S WASHABLE!!!! So no more buying and cutting foam, or putting other things in there to make it more comfy, this cushion does the trick! I initially thought that the cushion would be too thick and make the bed bulgy, but it's JUST RIGHT!</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcKIetUb6KM5Vujqe_SqRNGlPG187l_XDzTDZYFZmP9bdGXMPLUGI5-Xi2etGefm9sTufJGQnegWuJd5wjozRP-TajFSWRGWv_Cs4THF3TcDixf3mTb-GyrTKgQKK4kXUYS-n9QvfRJ_x/s1600/IMG_1554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcKIetUb6KM5Vujqe_SqRNGlPG187l_XDzTDZYFZmP9bdGXMPLUGI5-Xi2etGefm9sTufJGQnegWuJd5wjozRP-TajFSWRGWv_Cs4THF3TcDixf3mTb-GyrTKgQKK4kXUYS-n9QvfRJ_x/s640/IMG_1554.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, this IS comfy, I really REALLY like this</td></tr>
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About that throwing it into the washer thing, you just unzip it and throw it <b>(and the comfort cushion) </b>into the washer and then the dryer! That's it. The large bed <b>(and large comfort cushion)</b> fits in a regular washing machine with plenty of room left. No more washing the cover, drying the cover, finding out the cover shrank then trying to shove that stinky nasty foam back into the now too small cover!<br />
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<h3>
<u>
UPDATE: Dry the Comfort Cushion on low or no heat. Stan and Jen are working on getting a fabric that's more sturdy, the current fabric cover will degrade in heat!!</u></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJovjlrnCXVCHBZHhDzZcWTF2WlVjROw6HzP-oezAzAi4yB_CRl1atSlrmlzKShtZB932S5yxW4XXa_SH_m66fHg7Oc22Ow0q73QLmLF4_wUHciiJX0t0sxki95Z0a4ntBuzvNDmYm4v2/s1600/IMG_1545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJovjlrnCXVCHBZHhDzZcWTF2WlVjROw6HzP-oezAzAi4yB_CRl1atSlrmlzKShtZB932S5yxW4XXa_SH_m66fHg7Oc22Ow0q73QLmLF4_wUHciiJX0t0sxki95Z0a4ntBuzvNDmYm4v2/s400/IMG_1545.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large bed with comfort cushion in a Whirlpool Duet dries just fine</td></tr>
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If it gets muddy, toss it in the washer. Peed on? Throw it in the washer. Poo? Washer. Reeks? Washer. So simple, so easy, one time expense.<br />
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<b>There is also a new fabric! You can choose between Pearl Gray (shown below with Comfort Cushion inside) or Chocolate Brown.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9jFl22K0OdoGtgrb3SrEocnH1crRUhyphenhyphenhpG5IGQ-26hAhyphenhyphenOp8y3WYuaYIlqAsuIRkoNG66lekJrgrX2Nn_IpMnAptypMYbAas5ahyphenhyphen70Wz5kdWQeuXRX7YmB8fr-LpyaRYkEPkORC8W1ni/s1600/IMG_1547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9jFl22K0OdoGtgrb3SrEocnH1crRUhyphenhyphenhpG5IGQ-26hAhyphenhyphenOp8y3WYuaYIlqAsuIRkoNG66lekJrgrX2Nn_IpMnAptypMYbAas5ahyphenhyphen70Wz5kdWQeuXRX7YmB8fr-LpyaRYkEPkORC8W1ni/s400/IMG_1547.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>The Pearl Gray and Chocolate Brown are a velour-like fabric, which I thought would be the perfect material to collect 50 pounds of husky fur, but amazingly enough, it doesn't! I also had my doubts about how it would hold up to stains. </b><br />
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<b>Full disclosure, the wonderful people of Wash'n Zip sent me the Pearl Gray large bed and Comfort Cushion to test out. They certainly knew a good place to test it was the home of fur-laden, bodily function issue Siberian Huskies, and that would be my house.</b><br />
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<b>It didn't take long for it to receive a christening of various bodily fluids and it sailed through its maiden washing without a hitch and no stains. The Comfort Cushion even seemed to be a bit more fluffier afterwards.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwn2enJViSFWMTxrWiDdn_ScxuErdmaRvzHdHzwnJgfpX-PHP5Gk3viw1pQs_jfUzSra0AAPABvRnth10ZUneAeAGohXokeii0QKJsBGdhMQ90sr2j1JCKgYOiJxo70_ODY3o6IAqQ12G/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwn2enJViSFWMTxrWiDdn_ScxuErdmaRvzHdHzwnJgfpX-PHP5Gk3viw1pQs_jfUzSra0AAPABvRnth10ZUneAeAGohXokeii0QKJsBGdhMQ90sr2j1JCKgYOiJxo70_ODY3o6IAqQ12G/s400/IMG_1549.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, it certainly seems fluffier to me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You may be asking: yeah, but how many times can you wash it before it starts to fall apart?<br />
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Well, I've had mine (I have two, one is the emergency spare in case there's a spillage at night and I can't wash it) for... geez... nearly forever now, and I've washed them both about a bazillion times because I have "special needs" dogs that have "issues"of the peeing a lot variety, and Meeshka's bed is a prime target. It's been puked on, peed on, pooped on, had coffee spilled on it, was used as a towel when the dogs got washed (they rubbed their wet husky bodies on it), in the washer it goes, comes out perfect. No fraying, no zipper issues, and oddly enough, no stains. Kinda wish my clothes were made of this fabric. <b>I've had the new fabric version for just short of a month, it's only needed one wash so far and it came through the wash cycle like new.</b><br />
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Need another excuse to get one? The company donates a portion of their proceeds to animal causes! Check out their site to find out which place gets the donation because they rotate places. I KNOW!!! Isn't that cool!?! Plus they are super fabulous people to deal with. Very quick shipping and they back their product 158%. <b>They've also recently updated their entire Web site, so it's even easier to navigate, order, and find things. The new site is beautiful and the online shop is very user friendly!</b><br />
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Go watch the video, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WashnZipPetBed?fref=ts">friend them on Facebook</a> (they're very nice), and for heaven's sake get one of their beds because it will truly be the LAST pet bed you ever buy... seriously!<br />
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<b>You may have a new problem, and that is who gets to sleep on it</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRL3WqxU39zHPQTZK9EZDVzCWmk2z7Aa9xcVVFKjOrwJLyttECpUJWN4y4Pwy_LnrXNx4h0OUTeecFSkC9lTfvF6nuXOrYpDL4o3vwVjYBlXBynIxpak2F8Y1a5AuKil29z-B80WhD3tf/s1600/IMG_1556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRL3WqxU39zHPQTZK9EZDVzCWmk2z7Aa9xcVVFKjOrwJLyttECpUJWN4y4Pwy_LnrXNx4h0OUTeecFSkC9lTfvF6nuXOrYpDL4o3vwVjYBlXBynIxpak2F8Y1a5AuKil29z-B80WhD3tf/s400/IMG_1556.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excuse me, I'm sleeping here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We give this fantastic bed 4 paws up!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQavmKP3uoPr-i9pfsBKUuSZw7BzpAAAV3fkkaratFbyaHynYH-aXs5hSwxScFkL4Gs2vV5qFkufTa5OcTE1FwLuT-5SUqp3_XlZ5HRG5v8hUu14QU7SnHA_ycYOsBYE4W_lYCRlTyTup/s1600/4+paw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQavmKP3uoPr-i9pfsBKUuSZw7BzpAAAV3fkkaratFbyaHynYH-aXs5hSwxScFkL4Gs2vV5qFkufTa5OcTE1FwLuT-5SUqp3_XlZ5HRG5v8hUu14QU7SnHA_ycYOsBYE4W_lYCRlTyTup/s1600/4+paw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-10118275332834207332015-04-24T17:02:00.003-04:002015-04-24T17:02:57.435-04:00PetFusion Elevated Pet FeederI recently reviewed an elevated pet feeder that was meh. Very flimsy, too lightweight, bowls flopped about, and it has been relegated to the official water bowls of the Gimpy Dog household.<br />
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As our female husky, Meeshka, was having issues eating from her bowl on the floor I did some online research and found the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JK0C9VO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">PetFusion Elevated Pet Feeder</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.hauspanther.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PetFusionFeeder3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hauspanther.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/PetFusionFeeder3.jpg" height="215" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ok, yes I know that you clicked on the link and went to see how much it is, probably fainted, threw up (or both) and said "aw no way", but I'm telling you: WAY! Now pick yourself off the floor and I'll tell you why it's a great elevated feeder!<br />
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I bought the "Tall" version for a 60lb Siberian Husky (yes, she's on a diet, she's not fat, she's fluffy and big boned or something).<br />
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Everything about this feeder is well thought out. <br />
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Where the cheaper one was flimsy, this one is made of Anodized (whatever that is) Aluminum and while not heavy, it's solid and not flimsy at all.<br />
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Where the bowls of the cheaper one were lightwight and would fling out of the bowl when they licked it or spin around, this feeder has little rubber things where the bowls fit into the holes that keep it from bouncing around, spinning, or clanging.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRC0OpX82CjXUY50nACHTeNXwNLhK_w4QjI75183CfFoXSyFCEBkujF64sLXMHE8BUkuA2Jf71_zsBS-rC4M78AnMND9r8SMb9viPAra3xnDrSdttprsxjYwgTQn16g8rHUiVz5kXqCENb/s1600/IMG_1520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRC0OpX82CjXUY50nACHTeNXwNLhK_w4QjI75183CfFoXSyFCEBkujF64sLXMHE8BUkuA2Jf71_zsBS-rC4M78AnMND9r8SMb9viPAra3xnDrSdttprsxjYwgTQn16g8rHUiVz5kXqCENb/s1600/IMG_1520.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have three huskies, so stop judging all the fur you see!</td></tr>
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The package came with little rubber feet things that adhere to the bottom and keep the whole thing from walking its way across the room when they eat. <br />
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It will NOT tip over, even if you trip on it (which we do a lot because it's near a door) unlike its cheaper counterpart that will fall over at the slightest touch)<br />
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The size is perfect. The cheaper counterpart came in small or large, the small being TOO small and the large being what I bought and almost being too tall for my dogs to use. This is just right.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu35OSGlyt0erMw_Z2wE1pu-FLX5qveYqKLhlFJJtlVnN7mBkCSq3iQKwLYeehAGH6KPz2oSNTXtgEjKlRYtUqjbJXpM7WL42ZA1iVq2f059HN08W8SD-9aohxBc8Ub4ZUge22QAW1o84/s1600/IMG_1519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu35OSGlyt0erMw_Z2wE1pu-FLX5qveYqKLhlFJJtlVnN7mBkCSq3iQKwLYeehAGH6KPz2oSNTXtgEjKlRYtUqjbJXpM7WL42ZA1iVq2f059HN08W8SD-9aohxBc8Ub4ZUge22QAW1o84/s1600/IMG_1519.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I swear I do vacuum!</td></tr>
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Meeshka approves (and if you knew her, you KNOW that's the seal of approval for everything), and now enjoys her meals without hurting her neck or leg or whatever it was that was bothering her. Who knows with her, she may have just wanted to think she was eating off the table, but since we gave it to her, she's back to enjoying her food and water.<br />
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Pricey? Yes, yes it is, so get it on amazon because it's a lot cheaper. <br />
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Worth it? Yes, yes it is if you are looking for a perfect, long term, no clanging, no falling over, no spinning, no clanging, no walking across the floor elevated pet feeder.<br />
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Meeshka approves giving it 4 paws up!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQavmKP3uoPr-i9pfsBKUuSZw7BzpAAAV3fkkaratFbyaHynYH-aXs5hSwxScFkL4Gs2vV5qFkufTa5OcTE1FwLuT-5SUqp3_XlZ5HRG5v8hUu14QU7SnHA_ycYOsBYE4W_lYCRlTyTup/s1600/4+paw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQavmKP3uoPr-i9pfsBKUuSZw7BzpAAAV3fkkaratFbyaHynYH-aXs5hSwxScFkL4Gs2vV5qFkufTa5OcTE1FwLuT-5SUqp3_XlZ5HRG5v8hUu14QU7SnHA_ycYOsBYE4W_lYCRlTyTup/s1600/4+paw.jpg" height="96" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-15183225375160346842015-04-24T16:31:00.001-04:002016-10-02T10:21:19.234-04:00EZWhelp Washable Whelping PadsEverybody knows (or should know) that most incontinence pads are "pee proof" because the bottom lining is made from a plastic or plastic-like material to keep the pee from soaking through onto the carpet or floor.<br />
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What happens when you put such a material on the floor (carpet, wood, vinyl, tile) and step on it?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqNOgimr4irQ98LtkCulK8DX2lB0D_xPbtPJWf0XPg5_MU-6DXsqPaejOfX7O0-HA6I6m50fvw1RAJ6Xo6P3GH3KL4QA969mPotgdQmLp0EN5kJDxvwu5yi7KghHt9x4RKzj5yhPah2C1/s1600/pee+pad+slide.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqNOgimr4irQ98LtkCulK8DX2lB0D_xPbtPJWf0XPg5_MU-6DXsqPaejOfX7O0-HA6I6m50fvw1RAJ6Xo6P3GH3KL4QA969mPotgdQmLp0EN5kJDxvwu5yi7KghHt9x4RKzj5yhPah2C1/s1600/pee+pad+slide.png" width="362" /></a></div>
Yep, been there, done that, not fun.<br />
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So what do you do?<br />
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We have a store bought brand of washable incontinence pads with the very slippery backing and while they hold a LOT of pee and don't leak, the dogs refuse to walk on them (defeating the entire purpose of them) because they slide all over the place.<br />
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Well, you need to go buy the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/EZwhelp-Washable-Whelping-Puppy-Pad/dp/B003B3S3TS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1429904929&sr=8-2&keywords=whelping+pads">EZWhelp Washable Whelping pads</a>!<br />
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They come in a variety of sizes for whatever size you need, are reasonably priced, and the best news: they aren't very slippery!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaIalErNPHdj8z1cyEkDaqiYdkraJmT9JHdoID7ZjB8XKnGZsHg0uP4YfPqi8PwDDzWH2PPBrBQFSafUbVtvzE-8GOU4DzpMr3a80y6n0FQ7QaBFpsrnuQcFKsaSQD1rO8hhN-nb6ti68/s1600/IMG_1517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaIalErNPHdj8z1cyEkDaqiYdkraJmT9JHdoID7ZjB8XKnGZsHg0uP4YfPqi8PwDDzWH2PPBrBQFSafUbVtvzE-8GOU4DzpMr3a80y6n0FQ7QaBFpsrnuQcFKsaSQD1rO8hhN-nb6ti68/s1600/IMG_1517.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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The backing is made with a felt-like material that keeps it from being a launchpad on most surfaces while keeping your floors dry no matter what size the accident is.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB39RC353OnXeRnJIdMyshUxvP5ZwbsnpIAUZ_PB_JnAiu7JxiqK7_5sXTc1HvzcwyMAt-mMxblueRhUItqIVjoC4nCmGZzRSSPu7irn_ev34k2Zvs7H3XO0IuGmrw97-yGjZJ7niCViZ8/s1600/IMG_1518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB39RC353OnXeRnJIdMyshUxvP5ZwbsnpIAUZ_PB_JnAiu7JxiqK7_5sXTc1HvzcwyMAt-mMxblueRhUItqIVjoC4nCmGZzRSSPu7irn_ev34k2Zvs7H3XO0IuGmrw97-yGjZJ7niCViZ8/s1600/IMG_1518.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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They still have a slippery tendency on tile and probably wood floors, which is why I'm recommending that for use on tile, wood, and vinyl flooring that they be used with the <a href="http://www.carpetsaver.com/pets-carpet-floor-protector-rug-pad.htm">CarpetSaver floor covering</a>. To read the <a href="http://huskyreview.blogspot.com/2015/04/carpet-saver.html">review of the CarpetSaver</a>, go here.<br />
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When they've been used, you simply throw it in the washer (I use the quick wash cycle, no fabric softener) and in the dryer to dry (no fabric softener sheets) and they're ready for the next use. Remember: fabric softener and dryer sheets affect how fabrics absorb liquid, so don't use them.<br />
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I have found that the pee pads with the plastic backing tends to "contain" the spill, not absorb it, so there have been times when I've lifted them and the liquids drips out of them. That doesn't happen with the EZWhelp because all liquid is absorbed into the fabric.<br />
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I have quite a few of them, some to have on the floor, some to have as spares, and those that are in the washing cycle. Inexpensive, easy for your dog to walk on without slipping, and absorbent. <br />
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Another use for them is to slip them inside your dog bed covers, or even on top of them. The EZwhelp pads are very soft, almost like a blanket. If your dog has accidents on its bed, you know all too well what that does to the bed foam underneath the cover. Sure you can wash the cover, but what do you do to clean that foam? Slipping an EZwhelp pad between the foam and the cover keeps the urine (or other icky fluids) from soaking into that foam. When you remove the cover to wash it, you remove the EZwhelp pad as well and wash them both. No more stinky foam! If your dog will accept the bed with an EZwhelp pad on top, even better, just put the soiled pad in the wash and put another on the dog bed.<br />
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For the sake of my sanity, laundry, floors and carpeting, I give the EZWhelp Washable Whelping Pads a four paws up must have!!!<br />
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<br />Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-79911424786267765852015-04-24T15:59:00.000-04:002015-04-26T19:46:49.930-04:00Carpet SaverDo you have a special needs dog and slippery floors? Well, this item is for you.<br />
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Do you have a special needs dog with incontinence issues and slippery floors... well, this item MAY be for you.<br />
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<a href="http://www.carpetsaver.com/pets-carpet-floor-protector-rug-pad.htm">CarpetSaver floor covering</a><br />
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While searching for a no-slip solution for our kitchen floors for our 14 year old spine issue, incontinence challenged mess of a Siberian Husky (Sam), I came upon this company.<br />
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They were saying all of the right things: affordable, cut it to whatever size and shape you want with scissors, machine washable, non-slip, comfy, pets love it, no slipping, no adhesive, no nothing but put it down and there will be harmony and peace in your home (ok, I added that last part in).<br />
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I ordered a few feet of the 30 inch variety and then paced until it arrived, which didn't take long.<br />
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I was immediately concerned because it felt like an empty box, but there it was when I opened it. Very light! It's a very light microfiber with a sorta foamy underside to it. From what their site says, the foamy backing creates a static bond with the floor and keeps it from moving around.<br />
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Ok, so I cut it to fit in the kitchen and then shuffled my feet to see if it moves. It looks so flimsy, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that it stuck like glue to the floor.<br />
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Ok, so then I retrieved the brokeback dog and forced him to walk on it. I was concerned that it was so thin that he couldn't get traction on it or feel slippery to him. <br />
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Nope, he trotted on it to get to his bowl (that had a goody in it for a reward). Sam had no problem navigating on the carpet saver. He turned around on it, stomped on it, sauntered over it and it didn't move.<br />
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This stuff is fabulous for dogs in general, dogs with special needs that need a little something to keep them from slipping... but now the downside.<br />
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The Web site says it is absorbent. Yes it is... but it isn't going to keep accidents from soaking into your floors. We found that out almost immediately after the test when Sam had an accident on it. Soaks right through. Sigh.<br />
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Good news is, they are machine washable! DON'T use fabric softener in the wash cycle. Remember, the little foamy lining keeps it stuck to the floor, so you'll defeat its magical powers if you use fabric softener. DON'T use dryer sheets. Once again, you'll thwart its magical powers. But you can dry it on a low setting, or just hang it up to dry (doesn't take very long, but if your definition of long is a day, then it takes long).<br />
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So, this is a HUGE HIGHLY recommend for people with special needs dogs (or just any dog) who need a no-slip floor cover for slippery floors. They would be great to give your dogs a firm footing, but probably cut down on tracking in dirt and mud, with the added bonus of being able to toss it in the washer and quickly wash and dry.<br />
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For dog owners that have incontinence issues, it would still be a great thing to have if used in conjunction with the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/EZwhelp-Washable-Whelping-Puppy-Pad/dp/B003B3S3TS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1429904929&sr=8-2&keywords=whelping+pads">EZWhelp Washable Welping Pads.</a> Most incontinence or whelping pads have a backing that won't allow the fluids to leak through, but that also makes them slippery. The EZWhelp pads have a backing that would be slippery on slick floors, but don't slide around when you put them on top of the CarpetSaver covers. Instead of buying expensive rugs or runners that may be washable, but weigh a ton, take forever to dry, you can just use the CarpetSaver and the EZWhelp pads and throw them all in the washer and dryer at the same time if anything leaks through or they miss the pee pad. <br />
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<b>Update: And, the owner of the company reached out to me and thanked me for my review. His father created the product in the 80's. Andy has a senior Lab, and is fostering an emaciated Pit Bill for his local shelter, so they're really nice people, use their own product to help their pets get around without slipping and they make a great product!</b><br />
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Lightweight, simple, easy to cut if needed, machine washable and dry, we give the CarpetSaver 4 paws!<br />
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<br />Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-59665473947907095902014-10-18T11:13:00.001-04:002014-10-18T13:18:54.576-04:00Top Paw Elevated Double Dog FeederToday I'm reviewing the Top Paw Elevated Double Dog Feeder.<br />
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This item was purchased in order to give our spine issue Siberian Husky, Sam, a bit of relief while eating. He's been having issues eating from his bowl due to back problems, so we felt that giving him an elevated bowl would give him relief and allow him to eat without pain or discomfort.<br />
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I purchased the 11 inch version, as it was the closest to a comfortable height for him.<br />
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It's pretty flimsy, as far as design goes. Very thin plastic, but it seemed as though it wouldn't tip over during licking of food out of the bowl. Sam is a rather voracious eating and tends to "walk" the bowl trying to eat.<br />
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It comes with two stainless steel bowls that are a pretty good size, but not very heavy, so I would say they are average type of bowls if not low end. There is a small cut out where you can put your thumb to lift the bowl out without spilling the contents, such as water.<br />
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The moment I placed it in Sam's eating spot and filled one of the bowls with water, the other dogs had to give it a try and actually started migrating to that water bowl over their other water bowls.<br />
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For a 50lb husky, the height was a little higher than I would have liked, although Sam didn't appear to have any trouble eating out of it. The problem comes when the dog is eating, the bowls actually clank around and spin inside their compartments. At some points, I thought the bowl would actually fall out of the holder, and I actually held the bowl to keep it from flying out and spinning.<br />
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Needless to say, I wasn't too thrilled with the whole thing, and Sam wasn't either.<br />
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For years we have used a homemade elevated stand. It was actually a wooden step that someone made for us, but we found that if we put a non-slip shelf liner on it (easy to replace when dirty), it made for a very good elevated water bowl holder... all of the dogs prefer to drink out of this bowl rather than the other one that's on the floor.<br />
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I decided that since the other dogs seemed to like drinking out of the Top Paw, I moved the Top Paw Elevated Dog Feeder over to replace their two water bowls, and moved the homemade elevated stand over to Sam's food spot.<br />
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This has actually worked out very well as the non-slip shelf liner keeps Sam from "walking" his bowl all over the place while he eats, all of the dogs (including Sam) like the new water bowls, so that's a win-win.<br />
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Overview: As a feeder, it totally sucks if your dog eats like a dog. The bowls are light and spin and bounce (and will probably careen out of the holder) while they're eating. As a water bowl stand it works out pretty well. <br />
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Because it doesn't actually work as a food/water station, I'm only giving this item 1 paw.<br />
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** Update: Here's another great idea to make your own, cheap elevated bowl. Simply get a bucket, remove the handle, cut a hole in the bottom and plop your dog bowl in the hole. Thanks to Victoria Ball for the great idea!<br />
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<br />Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-76973740127982769122012-07-29T12:23:00.001-04:002012-07-29T12:23:47.471-04:00Smarty Paws LeashesAs any Northern Breed owner knows, their dog has a specific escape gene that challenges them to find a way out of any situation. That includes leashes.<br />
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One of the most helpless and frustrating feelings in the world is that sinking pit of the stomach realization when your husky is racing off into the distance while you hold a leash that had a clasp, hardware, or other type of failure.<br />
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I have bullsnap leashes that came with the seatbelt system we purchased years ago (before the company's craptastic customer service forced them to close), but the leashes are much too short if used with a walking belt. Four feet just don't cut it when tethered to your waist.<br />
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I recently went to the local mega-pet store looking for longer, sturdy replacement leashes and stood in front of the myriad of crappy leashes in a variety of colors. Most were nylon leashes with a wimpy snap at the end that any self respecting husky could twist out of in mere seconds.<br />
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Designer leashes that were meant for tiny little pocket dogs.<br />
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One rope leash that was about 2 feet long, crappy snap, a rubberized handle that spelled disaster in its construction.<br />
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Thankfully I happen to know a very talented leash maker who not only owns Northern Breed dogs, but knows exactly what people are looking for in leashes.<br />
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Lori started making leashes for herself because she couldn't find any that were actually functional. Pretty soon all of her friends were begging her to make leashes for them, and that's when she started Smarty Paws as a small home-based business.<br />
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After my trip to numerous pet stores, trying to find what I wanted online, and finding NOTHING... I begged Lori to make me some leashes too.<br />
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Lori gave me several different types of leashes so that I could not only review and try out some new designs for her, but figure out which one best fit me and my dogs.<br />
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I will be reviewing several different types of leashes that contain different types of clasps. I have already picked out the one I want, and will be commissioning Lori to make me two more of them... the rest I will be donating to a rescue.<br />
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The first is a rather thick shorter leash made from nylon.<br />
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Made with nylon webbing with batting inside to make it thicker, this type of leash would be great for those with gripping problems as it is very easy to hold on to. As with all of Smarty Paws leashes, the "handle" is actually a ring that is woven into the leash itself that you clip the clasp to. This means that not only do you have a handle, but you can also just clip the clasp into a walking belt. It also allows you to wrap the leash around a pole or small tree to secure your dog while you are picnicking or running into a store. This leash is about 4 feet long, very flexible and VERY strong.<br />
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Another thinner and longer nylon leash is below <br />
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Also made of nylon, this leash is very long and thinner, but still easy to grip. This leash is designed the same as the larger pink one above, but with more loops woven in to allow you to have a loop handle, or wrap it around you for a hands-free leash, or connect one end straight to a walking belt.<br />
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This leash uses a loop clasp that is very secure. Also note that the hardware isn't connected using metal that can come away from the leash... all of the Smarty Paws leashes have their hardware woven into the actual leash. That's not simply a knot at the end holding the hardware one, it is back woven so the entire leash would need to unravel before the hardware would come off. Very secure!<br />
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Here is a close up view of how the loops are also woven into the leash<br />
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I asked Lori to make me a ridiculously long leash and boy did she ever!<br />
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This leash has to be a good 10 feet long and is woven from paracord.<br />
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Soft and supple, this leash could loop around you and walk two dogs if you are sadistic enough to try it! It would be perfect for long walks in the woods where you want your dog to have a bit more room to run around you and sniff things. This leash has an actual woven loop part that gives you something more to grip, and features bullsnaps on both ends for the ultimate in escape proof clasps.<br />
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Once again all hardware is actually woven into the leash, which means it is NOT coming loose without the whole leash unraveling. Lori uses high strength paracord that would probably hold a mack truck, and her special weave makes it even stronger. Of course, it isn't chew proof but it might take them a while.<br />
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This one is my all time favorite perfect leash!<br />
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6 foot long, made from woven paracord with batting inside to give it a bit more bulk, armed with brass bullsnap clasps and rounded hoops. It could still be used to wrap around you as a hands-free leash, but I use my walking belt so it is long enough so that you aren't tripping over your husky, but short enough to maintain control of them when needed.<br />
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It also has the ability to loop into a handle like the others, and all hardware is securely woven into the leash.<br />
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I've used this leash several times with my dogs during vet visits, and general get around trips and it is PERFECT! At the vet, I simply unsnap the leash from my walking belt and snap it into the hook and instant handle to give to the vet tech. I particularly love the bullsnaps used because there is a small shelf that sticks out that makes it easier to open than bullnsaps that you have to pull open with fingers and thumb.<br />
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Very secure, supple, and strong. This leash held back a 70lb husky that wanted to escape the vet, and another that wanted to chase a squirrel, it is easy on the hands for holding, and large enough that you don't need a knot to keep your hands from slipping.<br />
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The best part is, you work with Lori to design your perfect leash. No more standing in front of a display of similar crappy nylon leashes of the same size and cheap clasp deciding if you want the neon pink crappy leash, or purple crappy leash.<br />
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Her leashes usually run around $30 depending on the length, type of snaps, etc, but are WELL WORTH the cost of having a functional, strong, and reliable leash that is tailored to what you want to do. Whether it's just walking in your neighborhood, or hiking in the woods, these leashes will give you the piece of mind that your Northern Breed is secured to you and secured on the leash.<br />
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I highly recommend Smarty Paws leashes!<br />
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To contact Smarty Paws and Lori, you can e-mail her at <a href="mailto:aldenl88@aol.com">Smarty Paws</a> <br />
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<br />Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-19805315061063982712012-07-22T11:28:00.001-04:002012-07-22T11:28:36.541-04:00Ruffwear Web Master and DoubleBack HarnessesWhether you have a dog that is getting old, a "tripawd" from amputation, one that suffers from hip dysplasia, arthritis, spine issues, or balance issues, at some point you may be thinking of finding some way to help them get around and still enjoy life.<br />
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Not long ago, the only solution to most pet owners was the tried and true towel support method. It was easy, cheap, and most everyone has a towel they can use to help support and provide mobility for their special needs dog.<br />
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Thanks to innovations on fabrics, straps, clasps, and a customer base that wanted a better solution to help their best friends move around and enjoy life, companies are now creating harnesses and support solutions that make it easier, more convenient, and more comfortable for dogs to enjoy their lives despite their disabilities.<br />
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But which harness is best and better yet, which harness is best for your dog?<br />
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Out of necessity, I will be reviewing two harnesses produced by <a href="http://www.ruffwear.com/">Ruffwear Performance Dog Gear</a>. Although manufactured more toward allowing active dogs to participate in their owners' outdoor recreation and sport, these harnesses have proven to be beneficial in providing support and mobility to special needs dogs as well.<br />
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In my case, I needed a reliable, safe, and comfortable way to help my 11 year old Siberian Husky, Sam, navigate up and down stairs. Sam is a medical mess. Born with deformed hips, the right hip floats away from the socket in a natural <a href="http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/fho.htm">Femoral Head Ostectomy</a> (FHO). At 9 months of age, Sam underwent a <a href="http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_hip_dysplasia.html">Total Hip Replacement</a> (THR) of the left hip. At 6 years of age, Sam <a href="http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_intervertebral_disk_disease.html">ruptured the T13/L1 disc</a> in his spine and underwent surgery to repair it. At 8 years of age, Sam completely tore his left <a href="http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_ruptured_anterior_cruciate_lig.html">ACL</a>. I also need to mention that Sam is also lopsided, one side didn't grow as much as the other side. Sam is a very expensive dog and well worth it.<br />
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Because of his past medical issues, Sam isn't able to jump up on the bed, is a little "loose" in the back end (imagine an 18 wheel truck turning the wheel very fast on ice) and his back end isn't as strong as it should be. We live in a split level house, so going down the stairs for Sam means pretty much flinging himself down and bunny hopping along the way and hoping for the best. Because of some missteps, Sam doesn't like going down the stairs... or up for that matter.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam in 2007 after his spine surgery</td></tr>
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In the past, we used our walking belts to loop under him for support while he was recovering from his various and sundry surgeries. This was a fantastic solution because the walking belt had a secure snap that made it easy to get it around him, was easier to hold than two ends of a towel, and are machine washable for those times when he would let the pee fly before we could get the belt out of the way. You can find out more information on the walking belts we used <a href="http://huskyreview.blogspot.com/2008/01/walking-belts.html">here</a>.<br />
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Although fantastic as a support when walking around the house or yard, it wouldn't provide the support or security of helping him go down the stairs. One false step for either of us would be a disaster.<br />
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So, I turned to the <a href="http://tripawds.com/">Tripawds Website</a> to see what they recommended. This great group of people provide information, advice, and assistance to owners of animals who have undergone amputation and are ALWAYS a good, reputable, informative, and very friendly source of solutions. I highly recommend them.<br />
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Tripawds has a few mobility devices listed, and I ordered the <a href="http://gear.tripawds.com/2009/09/16/help-three-legged-dogs-with-ruff-wear-harness/">Ruffwear Web Master</a> harness from them, and later the Ruffwear Double Back harness, which I purchased from Zappos, but is also available from Tripawds.<br />
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<h4>
<b>Ruff Wear Web Master Harness</b></h4>
Used by avalanche rescue teams, the harness is very lightweight and deceptively small looking. One of the key features is that it is so secure, dogs can't back out of the harness and the manufacturer site even touts its secure design made especially for "Houdini dogs", which is the typical description of Siberian Huskies.<br />
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Even though I had measured Sam according to the sizing instructions on Tripawds, the harness didn't seem to fit right, there wasn't enough strap to go around his chest area. I was slightly frustrated and e-mailed Tripawds to let them know that the harness didn't fit. Apparently this is a common issues, because Rene from Tripawds quickly e-mailed me back with additional clarification on the straps.<br />
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Yeah, duh... I had mistakenly thought that the strap that was tucked into the padding was suppose to stay that way.<br />
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You simply pull the strap with folded flap (designed to keep it from coming out of the clip) through the padding and there is PLENTY of strap to go around him now.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of strap to adjust</td></tr>
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There are 5 points on this harness to adjust to make comfortable. Make sure you adjust the nicely padded breastplate to fit on the breastplate. If not properly adjusted, your dog won't be able to lower its head without getting strangled.<br />
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Putting it on is pretty easy, just lift the right front leg, head through the neck part and strap them in (see the <a href="http://gear.tripawds.com/2009/09/16/help-three-legged-dogs-with-ruff-wear-harness/">demonstration video provided by Tripawds</a>).<br />
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Securing the body supports is as easy as a click with the secure and padded clips.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwBhauHC-ySB0iDkd6n0Xqv7-Ui0a5P8641pzO6nDvC7-lWsezpzT6VOZgC-thfT15Ip8Cifmw7F9edlrz7CmkPaHD03pHGYl3ZsvOxAybRvB6E8nWXPda7S2nRDbkcsLX2ODoUs4SU-X/s1600/DSC03465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqwBhauHC-ySB0iDkd6n0Xqv7-Ui0a5P8641pzO6nDvC7-lWsezpzT6VOZgC-thfT15Ip8Cifmw7F9edlrz7CmkPaHD03pHGYl3ZsvOxAybRvB6E8nWXPda7S2nRDbkcsLX2ODoUs4SU-X/s640/DSC03465.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The extended harness pad helps keep that wayward fur from getting snagged in the snap</td></tr>
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Here is Sam proudly wearing his Ruffwear Web Master harness.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTr_ap8AUpDuGks776J2CXx_tpjjcHYUfvSCvfZLQE9Secta9PnPOpuusD0RNkc1_uAGnWUDk2RJuTQ5TPRpkDr_OYIm8LrAYDMlBOZyTbLZWzzuZxp9Z_gBsDON6OMoV_1hDlgE3UO7bP/s1600/Sam+Harness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTr_ap8AUpDuGks776J2CXx_tpjjcHYUfvSCvfZLQE9Secta9PnPOpuusD0RNkc1_uAGnWUDk2RJuTQ5TPRpkDr_OYIm8LrAYDMlBOZyTbLZWzzuZxp9Z_gBsDON6OMoV_1hDlgE3UO7bP/s640/Sam+Harness.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yes, I know I need to wash and repaint my walls :)</td></tr>
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My biggest concern about the harness was that for dogs with limited rear leg mobility, would the handle be far enough back to give them the back end support they needed. I would definitely say that for paralyzed dogs, or dogs with extreme rear limb mobility, this would not be a harness for you. The <a href="http://gear.tripawds.com/2009/11/02/ast-harness-helps-three-legged-dogs-get-a-grip/">Get a Grip harness</a> may be more what your dog needs.<br />
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The Web Master will allow you to help your dog up from a laying or sitting position with ease. It has also proven very handy helping Sam go up and down the stairs at a more controlled speed safely. The handle is very comfortable and sturdy and allows you to securely guide your dog down the stairs slowly and safely.<br />
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One thing about Sam that may or may not apply to your dog is that he refuses to eat, drink or poop while it's on. I'm not sure if he doesn't like the pressure of the chest plate when he leans down to eat or take a drink, or if lowering his head causes uncomfortable pressure on his back. He also has a rather unique method for pooping that requires him to actually balance on one front leg, and I think the underbelly straps either throw his balance off, or once again causes pressure on his spine.<br />
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Regardless, it is very fast easy to put on and take off, so generally I'll put it on him when he needs to go downstairs to go out, and take it off before he goes out the back door, then put it back on him when it's time to go back upstairs, then take it off again.<br />
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The first time he went down the stairs wearing it, he was pretty scared, and I felt bad for literally dragging him over the top of the stairs. He also wasn't quite sure how to walk down the stairs with me helping. Be prepared to be patient and train your pup with plenty of positive reinforcement and praise until they get use to it. After only a few times going up and down the stairs with my help, he now actually waits at the top of the stairs for me to put the harness on, and the same thing going back up.<br />
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The harness has a d-ring at the top to attach a leash or dog seat belt strap to it, making it perfect for using on rides, walks or hikes, and as I stated before, the harnesses construction won't allow them to back out of the harness. I have a specialty seatbelt system that I will need to see if this is functional with, but will work out a solution for that if not.<br />
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I give this harness two very big thumbs up for its design, construction, and ease of use. Very simplistic, and yet very functional and helpful.<br />
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<h3>
Ruffwear DoubleBack Harness</h3>
Because of my concerns about the Web Master not being far back enough to help dogs with limited rear leg mobility, I also purchased the Ruffwear DoubleBack Harness, which seemed to have some additional rear functionality that the Web Master harness did not.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1B-dtCNNZWxZj4lhbzZqGDxohj3EL6vvyMHH9aKhTPzFEd3H_8miguay7P0-E9eNK4mEpQkNZmz-g0QR0MmN9TuU8S2o2UMBNCLFxvcwZMok4J2_GNqHighf0jzXWgya0YXSQVSa29yU9/s1600/DSC03463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1B-dtCNNZWxZj4lhbzZqGDxohj3EL6vvyMHH9aKhTPzFEd3H_8miguay7P0-E9eNK4mEpQkNZmz-g0QR0MmN9TuU8S2o2UMBNCLFxvcwZMok4J2_GNqHighf0jzXWgya0YXSQVSa29yU9/s640/DSC03463.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DoubleBack Harness with back leg straps stored</td></tr>
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This harness is made specifically for climbing and mountaineering with your dog. Unlike the Web Master, the DoubleBack harness has a larger belly support strap, metal buckles instead of plastic snaps, and a back leg support system that folds and stores in a pouch at the back of the harness.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKQrGhZrIHyRczz5yxvGnqckdTxGQ01xOkX9iyc8TT2tfeviFxWclPCoXbWoyeFk-xgksURLQodbuYdYzS2uIPqCI41j3W0hTpq0o98klAMSjFoxXp-z80tBR1R2zrrK3DPae8gItyIpU/s1600/DSC03467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKQrGhZrIHyRczz5yxvGnqckdTxGQ01xOkX9iyc8TT2tfeviFxWclPCoXbWoyeFk-xgksURLQodbuYdYzS2uIPqCI41j3W0hTpq0o98klAMSjFoxXp-z80tBR1R2zrrK3DPae8gItyIpU/s640/DSC03467.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DoubleBack Harness with back leg straps out</td></tr>
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Like the Web Master, it is pretty light and has a 5-point adjustment. Unlike the Web Master all of the buckles are made of metal and it has a bit more padding.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_4PQNGwVXWi_D6qJk5rANKhor7hjmOpTaAWPN1R0cCho5Gc3I0W8Zp2Q0fL_-q9tjs4adRQlKF4v8yxjfBk8yue04Wr50bN5xF429m_EC7M-Sif9o7HqCHidMiSSCQZtaxLdYmOIEVxo/s1600/DSC03464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_4PQNGwVXWi_D6qJk5rANKhor7hjmOpTaAWPN1R0cCho5Gc3I0W8Zp2Q0fL_-q9tjs4adRQlKF4v8yxjfBk8yue04Wr50bN5xF429m_EC7M-Sif9o7HqCHidMiSSCQZtaxLdYmOIEVxo/s640/DSC03464.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metal buckles instead of plastic snaps</td></tr>
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It was a little more difficult getting Sam's front right leg through the leg strap because of the larger one piece underbelly strap. It flopped and twisted around a bit and was a bit of a hassle dealing with it while trying to lift the neck strap over his head, but once on, the harness was very well fitting.<br />
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With enough treat bribery, Sam stood still and wagged his tail while I threaded the ends through the buckles and tightened them. Not as easy or as quick as the snaps, but since this harness' function is to rappel down mountains with your dog connected to you, I can see where having secure buckles would be a bonus. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogG99xibe0w5ojm7RoNVjR7sYTdpmnw7GvCVFnFnFGys6dpk3PpljDbhGsByi1TiHUEMb7N21T981bsRu7TMl-oGURLNWlA3OTKnqlfCK0QMplaSdUMKiD1PUKb1CxmYINNeLwHb6pS0z/s1600/DSC03468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogG99xibe0w5ojm7RoNVjR7sYTdpmnw7GvCVFnFnFGys6dpk3PpljDbhGsByi1TiHUEMb7N21T981bsRu7TMl-oGURLNWlA3OTKnqlfCK0QMplaSdUMKiD1PUKb1CxmYINNeLwHb6pS0z/s640/DSC03468.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam wearing the DoubleBack with rear leg supports draped over his back</td></tr>
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Sam seemed just at ease wearing this harness as he did the Web Master, so it is apparently comfortable for him. You will notice that the general design is the exact same as the Web Master except for the more secure buckles and metal. The handle is also a bit more padded on the DoubleBack.<br />
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Once again, the harness is designed for rappelling, so the back-end support is made for dogs without back end issues, and also where my love affair with the DoubleBack ended in its current design.<br />
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The back leg harness is designed to loop under the dog's legs. I didn't EVEN try that on Sam, let alone try to lift up. I can only imagine what possible damage I could do lifting him up with pressure on his hip sockets, especially with a stainless steel hip on one side and floating hip on the other.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDz89y32Zo6RgyHjnYMPP-IOdBVXT3xqApnsvRyeoINnavuteOBH0nywUNFkYwm3ADQUZ8r5jglkM7j-Un9HFEOcuWOuv8EiwmyFSqHceVif-ApGGkXwggIevDL6V-Gh_RjNQoIwV-7Qx/s1600/DSC03471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDz89y32Zo6RgyHjnYMPP-IOdBVXT3xqApnsvRyeoINnavuteOBH0nywUNFkYwm3ADQUZ8r5jglkM7j-Un9HFEOcuWOuv8EiwmyFSqHceVif-ApGGkXwggIevDL6V-Gh_RjNQoIwV-7Qx/s640/DSC03471.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I would not recommend using the back leg straps for dogs with dysplasia, or had hip replacement for fear that it would pop the ball out of the socket. I would like to have seen a strap that went under the dog's belly toward the rear, and had even contemplated whether I could simply loop one of the straps underneath. The problem with that is that the padding on that strap wasn't sufficient, the strap too thin, and that when lifted, the balance would be off to one side or the other.<br />
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Another issue is that when the leg straps are folded back into their zippered compartment on the rear, it creates a pretty large bulge that presses down on Sam's back.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlq76iCU81ZiXIOPH8QWl9am6DT-ZcXiFwpfV8nnwwAKjEHNcw0Eo1menN3fcknNqoBKujPgb6bNW3KGGr3oLZwmqkOrC1bEPSCDF6dwQ-_3exhH733MGxUzjF4Tix2fO1TRDMu6fc49h/s1600/DSC03474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlq76iCU81ZiXIOPH8QWl9am6DT-ZcXiFwpfV8nnwwAKjEHNcw0Eo1menN3fcknNqoBKujPgb6bNW3KGGr3oLZwmqkOrC1bEPSCDF6dwQ-_3exhH733MGxUzjF4Tix2fO1TRDMu6fc49h/s640/DSC03474.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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He was perfectly comfortable and fine wearing it with the rear leg straps out, but when I folded the straps into the compartment, he showed visible discomfort because of the pressure on his back.<br />
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In my real world scenario of putting the harness on him to help him down the stairs, taking it off so he could do his business, then putting it back on again to help him upstairs, the buckles would mean taking much longer to get him in the harness and out of the harness, then back in and out of the harness. Taking that much time to get Sam out to pee is too long, since he has some flow control issues when he REALLY needs to go out. I'm guessing that before I got him all strapped in, he would have peed all over and not have to go out anymore.<br />
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So, overall, it is a fabulously designed harness for dogs that go rappelling and mountaineering with their owners, but not so fabulously designed for dogs with rear leg issues. <br />
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<h4>
Recommendation</h4>
I would highly recommend the Ruffwear Web Master harness for dogs with mobility issues, whether front or back end. While not a full back-end support system, if your dog has hip or back leg issues and just needs support getting up, walking, or going up/down the stairs, this harness provides them with enough support to get around with your help. Could also be used with a back support strap if needed, but handling two straps may be a bit problematic going down the stairs.<br />
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I also recommend purchasing your harness from the <a href="http://gear.tripawds.com/2009/09/16/help-three-legged-dogs-with-ruff-wear-harness/">Tripawds gang</a> to help support their great cause, and they won't laugh at you when you can't figure out how the straps work.<br />
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For use with dogs that have mobility issues: <br />
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Ruffwear Web Master<br />
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Ruffwear DoubleBack<br />
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<br />Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-30014966892383523042010-04-18T10:08:00.007-04:002012-07-20T11:56:35.729-04:00Bissell Pet Hair Eraser<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCO54HhbAZYvf9hKbpuA2GjZhIfg-F4K0uPAIZW2CB82f6LyzlQ0yg9vHdOezFxLEdRNlEydLTmjpe6cEl56LZ8N_oUHr3Fi4N-spL1DN-9su7t6FfBZ3DbdQW406I0NlRbzqTeDM9Fn8_/s1600/IMG_0174.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461479377167248674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCO54HhbAZYvf9hKbpuA2GjZhIfg-F4K0uPAIZW2CB82f6LyzlQ0yg9vHdOezFxLEdRNlEydLTmjpe6cEl56LZ8N_oUHr3Fi4N-spL1DN-9su7t6FfBZ3DbdQW406I0NlRbzqTeDM9Fn8_/s400/IMG_0174.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 300px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
I saw this at Best Buy, and figured I'd give it a shot. As an owner of three huskies, we're always looking for something that will make all of the fur a bit more manageable, and easier to suck up.<br />
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One thing I liked about this at the store was that it was corded. From experience, anything battery operated or rechargeable usually doesn't have a lot of power. Additionally, nobody remembers to recharge the batteries, or put the thing back in the charger, let alone finding an available outlet for the myriad of various and sundry chargeable, battery operated things in the house.<br />
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Got it home and decided to try it out on the stairs. Although we have a Dyson (and love it) sometimes its a bit of a pain to drag it down the stairs to the landing and use it on the stairs. I also thought it would be handy to use to vacuum out the trucks.<br />
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So, after about a week of not vacuuming, I gave it a go.<br />
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The unit is ready right out of the box, no assembly required. Very short instruction book on how to use it (nice), plugged it in and turned it on. Its pretty powerful, and the rubberized tip does seem to get into the carpet well, and suck up the fur.<br />
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It filled up halfway down the stairs (5 of them) and stopped sucking. Getting the dirt container off was a bit difficult, you have to put it on a flat surface and remove it, the filter keeps the dirt and hair from spewing out all over.<br />
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Here is a picture of the hair it sucked up:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9V9kAr0RzovDUwf50EqtVx-xJr2iYLTIHA4XuzN3m68P5LhYJB1cGe3r6ejU9vNH6Qy2mKeCsw9Rt4WNfZgYyM_Kj9YasXBvbmj8suwWp_baoJrV5lo0n9Lx2ZqZfGvFYKPie88YGLQk/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9V9kAr0RzovDUwf50EqtVx-xJr2iYLTIHA4XuzN3m68P5LhYJB1cGe3r6ejU9vNH6Qy2mKeCsw9Rt4WNfZgYyM_Kj9YasXBvbmj8suwWp_baoJrV5lo0n9Lx2ZqZfGvFYKPie88YGLQk/s640/IMG_0177.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwH_8BnTvcrcDJFygALhR5wnfDsGVUtCxXR0PDFmJWTChnXbd-jviEWSs8rz6MDAJO2m8-jwRic9IG09rc0P5_0NU-uc-QjngrCg2ZHyNpGWDb-OBJ-ZVuQ_LgO8KPPsT4ZgYkVXgm7EY/s1600/IMG_0178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwH_8BnTvcrcDJFygALhR5wnfDsGVUtCxXR0PDFmJWTChnXbd-jviEWSs8rz6MDAJO2m8-jwRic9IG09rc0P5_0NU-uc-QjngrCg2ZHyNpGWDb-OBJ-ZVuQ_LgO8KPPsT4ZgYkVXgm7EY/s640/IMG_0178.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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A pretty good size clump of hair and dirt, but just to double check, I got out the Dyson to see what it would get out:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AP6P4_5v7mfqGtrikIzw4pAhPu4YWErdtf4KSEMUZbAF2PCoQ5Isd2fu47EUNU9ykGjqMgauOcdvaf1EvrUTPU5U0BhSFqHzIfEyNH5uISqHsWaBz_H-8viIRjsGXt-pA_8Cy3QSH6O_/s1600/IMG_0179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AP6P4_5v7mfqGtrikIzw4pAhPu4YWErdtf4KSEMUZbAF2PCoQ5Isd2fu47EUNU9ykGjqMgauOcdvaf1EvrUTPU5U0BhSFqHzIfEyNH5uISqHsWaBz_H-8viIRjsGXt-pA_8Cy3QSH6O_/s640/IMG_0179.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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So, although it seems to pick up a lot, it actually leaves a lot left behind.<br />
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Overall, I probably wouldn't use it in the house on a regular basis, but as I mentioned before, it'll probably make a halfway decent car vacuum.<br />
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I'd give it 3 claws.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLLYUVvNYXspvOZc8EaIXYgDdSFZpjCiLNJmFGsJPvhixMT13zVrVFX4QM4LoAF5uC1BBQVaIZukLy87YTQ8cztwO0vL7jIdgRlHUlAfVjUGmDEC3dA_uZuMunkcwSHzPy1Ssk8jLRL86/s1600/3+paw.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461483553727893362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLLYUVvNYXspvOZc8EaIXYgDdSFZpjCiLNJmFGsJPvhixMT13zVrVFX4QM4LoAF5uC1BBQVaIZukLy87YTQ8cztwO0vL7jIdgRlHUlAfVjUGmDEC3dA_uZuMunkcwSHzPy1Ssk8jLRL86/s200/3+paw.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 50px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 160px;" /></a>Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-84100352867683408132008-09-21T15:58:00.002-04:002017-12-28T11:43:16.389-05:00Doggie Dooley<br />
We have been using the <a href="http://www.doggiedooley.com/">Doggie Dooley</a> for one month. I heard about it on a pet podcast and thought it sounded interesting. Then I went home and checked the price and decided that for $89.95, I could continue putting the poop in plastic bags! A few months later, I found the Dooley on Costco's website for $37.99, including an extra one-year supply of enzymes. I decided to give it a shot.<br />
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I purchased the Model 3016D, which is said to handle 2 large pets or up to 4 small pets. So far, I have been very pleased with the product. It handles the waste of my two Sibes just fine. The instructions recommend depositing poop daily, but I have gone as long as three days before scooping and haven't had any problems.<br />
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Every time you deposit poop into the Dooley, you also add one gallon of water. Even if I've gone more than one day between poop scooping, I still just put in one gallon of water and it works fine. Once per week, you add some of the enzyme digester powder. The enzyme powder breaks down the poop and then the water washes in down a pipe and into the ground for absorption, just like a septic system.<br />
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The installation was a pain. The instructions say to dig a 4-foot deep hole. I think at 3-feet, we gave up and went ahead and put the Dooley in the hole. So far, no problems. The Dooley it's self is only about 15-inches deep, so there is still plenty of open area under the Dooley for the water to wash out.<br />
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The Dooley instructions say that it's not suitable for use in clay soil or when the ground temperature is less than 40 degrees. I would also add that if you have very rocky soil, you may have an even harder time digging the hole for installation and perhaps not want to purchase this product.<br />
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One more note: The company sells the enzyme digester powder in 6-month supply quantities. That's 6-months for one dog. With two dogs, we have to add twice the amount of digester powder each week, so the 6-month supply is really 3-months. Just something to keep in mind.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfoEW9v8UVrQpZj-dDRiCbxyf13-WP2O7lTBpK9qLoYNeQyp2ZtoVF_FZXWW7M_AtrT08h2AFYChVbUNbWZpgRRKwgsf01IhOa3GIkceBu3IQG2HSN-qy6Gvxj0gq2Itg9R1GOsxHfJW0/s1600-h/3+paw.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248566922904258914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfoEW9v8UVrQpZj-dDRiCbxyf13-WP2O7lTBpK9qLoYNeQyp2ZtoVF_FZXWW7M_AtrT08h2AFYChVbUNbWZpgRRKwgsf01IhOa3GIkceBu3IQG2HSN-qy6Gvxj0gq2Itg9R1GOsxHfJW0/s200/3+paw.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a>I'm rating the Dooley at 3 Claws. It performs just fine, but may not be suitable for some huskies, such as those in colder climates or with rocky or clay soil. It's also a pretty pricey poop disposal system and I'm sure some people don't mind just throwing the poop in the weekly trash pickup for free.Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-14144844198397963152008-08-16T11:58:00.005-04:002012-07-22T10:37:05.102-04:00Chris Christensen Brush ReviewOk, before I go into the review, I wanted to give everyone an idea of my history of brushes to prove that brushes are not created equally.<br />
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Fur control in a husky is vital to the sanity of the household. While vacuums and swiffers, and brushing won't keep husky fluff from becoming a condiment, or stuck to everything (including people), it does go a long way to keeping the fluff at a manageable level. Therefore, brushing will help in the long run... unless you have a 70lb, extremely fluffy, very headstrong husky that hates to be combed or brushed. Finding the right instrument is vital, as combing or brushing such a husky is a battle of wills and Olympic rated wrestling, not fun for pup nor human.<br />
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Finding a brush that will actually put a dent in the densely packed undercoat is a challenge. While the <a href="http://www.furminator.com/">Furminator</a> (see below) is a wonderful tool for getting out that deep down fluff, its not a day-to-day type of brush.<br />
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I also found that it makes the coat of a red husky very brittle if used too much. So, while good for getting out the undercoat during a coat blow, its not something you can use daily.<br />
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The Rake (pictured below) is also good for getting that deep down fluff, but at a price. Its sharp tines are not good for the sensitive underbelly fluff, it apparently gets irritating after a few strokes (based on the reaction from my pups) and generally, after a few uses, the dogs would run for cover and refuse to let me come near them with it.<br />
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The shedding blade (pictured below). Yeah, notice how the cover is still on this thing? That's because it was used only once (with nearly disastrous results) and never used again. The shedding blade has an actual blade in it, it cuts the hair. While the tines are good for getting deep down fluff, you don't want to use this on a daily basis (or at all if you try using it on mine), and you have to use it with care, as it can cut the dog or irritate the skin.<br />
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The next set of brushes are what I deem "the worthless wastes of money" brushes (pictured below).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1E6P1KuvQAvJhwslqzc2w4_DaSPca8Spj1N01hfroLJaR-8DTorV4h6LstGt5X1pw4c5CGp3InMWftia-0CQ2GMhf6shBWqMtQdwvgBiuPmbkuzNb1QC0fTL8106MbNKGrvn7rgUV3vb/s1600/DSC02968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1E6P1KuvQAvJhwslqzc2w4_DaSPca8Spj1N01hfroLJaR-8DTorV4h6LstGt5X1pw4c5CGp3InMWftia-0CQ2GMhf6shBWqMtQdwvgBiuPmbkuzNb1QC0fTL8106MbNKGrvn7rgUV3vb/s400/DSC02968.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieR9VS6D5RDYWpL8ONt5tfasybQVyicG4GheBe7vh-AkMh6ACQ3Am9aovmCSyOTQxlcEE0h0ciz_R2_70Updbncm4SV30mlSFGB4cU7hVDDPqw7vs5EgYYlZP7yvOC0YpIgxINy7tgIcAO/s1600/DSC02969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieR9VS6D5RDYWpL8ONt5tfasybQVyicG4GheBe7vh-AkMh6ACQ3Am9aovmCSyOTQxlcEE0h0ciz_R2_70Updbncm4SV30mlSFGB4cU7hVDDPqw7vs5EgYYlZP7yvOC0YpIgxINy7tgIcAO/s400/DSC02969.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The slicker brush fills up with fur on one swipe, so you are forever cleaning it out, plus the sharp tines irritate the skin and pull the fur. The pin brush on one side, regular brush on the other. the regular brush is worthless and the pin side has sharp pins that pull and stab. the other brush is a pin brush with regular brush bristles mixed in with the pins... so it fills up with fur, is impossible to clean out, and the pins poke the pups. While the Kong "brush" is good for getting out the loose hairs, it doesn't get that deep down shed.<br />
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So, after all of that, when a friend told me about the Chris Christensen brushes I did what only came naturally... laughed hysterically. Sure a pin brush that not only gets through husky fur, but the dogs actually enjoy the brushing and its easy to clean the fur out of it. RIIIIGHT!.<br />
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Before I blew the money, I waited for others to get the brushes to see what they had to say. When they started raving about how wonderful the brush was, how their dogs loved being brushed now, how easy it was, quality, fantastic... I thought they were only saying these things to get me to buy one and try out, so I did, being the lemming that I am.<br />
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You know what... it is an amazing brush! (see below)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tcbkMI4GtLoIMWodoEYM9P-rE8YRiGrCdqK7rqmmOcEtWAv-ezMoldFKRwrq8wOoNaycTsJN_Sqr2N-TAyAe_zFkB0NkhuQ5a670zbxZY2m09CxrUbE7rPhzOUMzjhgHXXtHcnnPzkDo/s1600/DSC02972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tcbkMI4GtLoIMWodoEYM9P-rE8YRiGrCdqK7rqmmOcEtWAv-ezMoldFKRwrq8wOoNaycTsJN_Sqr2N-TAyAe_zFkB0NkhuQ5a670zbxZY2m09CxrUbE7rPhzOUMzjhgHXXtHcnnPzkDo/s400/DSC02972.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Pictured above is the 20mm Fusion Brass Oval brush from <a href="http://www.chrissystems.com/brushes.htm">Chris Christensen systems</a>.<br />
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Pricey, yes, but worth it? HECK YEAH!!!<br />
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I ordered mine online and received it quickly.<br />
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I tried it on Meeshka, who runs away whenever a brush of any kind is in my hand. I let her sniff it, the started brushing her back with it. At first she was squirmy, but then just stood there, eyes half closed. Hmm. I moved my brushing down toward her sensitive belly. I thought for sure this would be the deal breaker, but to my surprise, she actually allowed me to continue brushing and even spread her legs a bit so I could get all of her belly. DANG!<br />
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She then moved into the living room, and I thought that was it, she's telling me enough, but I followed her with the brush and watched her flop down and give me belly up. Are you kidding me? Yep, she wanted me to brush her belly while she lounged. Even got some itchy leg action going when the brush hit the itchy sweet spot.<br />
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All of the dogs love this brush. It gets the loose fur, its easy to clean and the added bonus of the brass fusion model is that it doesn't make the fur all static filled, so its very VERY easy to clean out with just one hand in a nice mound of fluff that doesn't stick to you.<br />
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This brush simply is amazing. The dogs like it, it gets the fur out, its easy to clean, and no static fur flying all over.<br />
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You can order online. Shipping is pretty fast.<br />
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I (and my dogs) give this brush 4 paws and highly recommend it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiMkhWBfi5m-Vnw1KrFW6p-FDEtumOP4InB9qZX0QDj_LUmbQcsn6B-kJd_GaMDHcmlfP2kLqhQBfhiKgMRQzWLN2vQztnbeQHTfk62O-A5j6Vu_qj1kkY_Hovyd4sK98bUZYOAQFpOD8/s1600-h/4+paw.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235153678563961570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiMkhWBfi5m-Vnw1KrFW6p-FDEtumOP4InB9qZX0QDj_LUmbQcsn6B-kJd_GaMDHcmlfP2kLqhQBfhiKgMRQzWLN2vQztnbeQHTfk62O-A5j6Vu_qj1kkY_Hovyd4sK98bUZYOAQFpOD8/s200/4+paw.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a>Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-2841077530312383332008-07-20T15:18:00.008-04:002008-07-20T15:47:39.477-04:00Fur FighterThere's one thing that Northern Breed owners know, and that's FUR! Its everywhere and can overtake a house, ruin a business outfit, and fly freely throughout a vehicle if left to collect, and typically, "collect" means one day without vacuuming.<br /><br />Northern Breed owners keep sticky rollers in cars, work desk drawers, at home, and some carry them in their bags. No matter how carefully you vacuum or clean... its always there. So<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98Maq4WonCKAnfjalDtK8hldWkEQXnBqfYh5-z5OLQO2cIfImjn8TR-tSPKzl7mn9P9xfLG-4667RWth-eWIC8-iy17nYdQ4DlZ-wz3MU7NsxpgjbG5HLTF0fBsXJdSBpYUOxFicNvrBH/s1600-h/fur+fighter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98Maq4WonCKAnfjalDtK8hldWkEQXnBqfYh5-z5OLQO2cIfImjn8TR-tSPKzl7mn9P9xfLG-4667RWth-eWIC8-iy17nYdQ4DlZ-wz3MU7NsxpgjbG5HLTF0fBsXJdSBpYUOxFicNvrBH/s200/fur+fighter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225184015883569922" border="0" /></a> when I, and several other Northern Breed owners saw the ad for the new <a href="http://www.3m.com/brands/scotch/furfighter/index.html?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=Scotch_fur_fighter">Scotch Fur Fighter</a>, that promised "amazing results... removes EMBEDDED pet hair!" we all laughed hysterically.<br /><br />The Scotch Fur Fighter claims<br /><ul><li>to pick up over 3 times more pet hair than a lint roller.</li><li>remove embedded pet hair that vacuum cleaners leave behind</li></ul>We laughed some more, then went out and bought one using the $4.00 off coupon I found online.<br /><br />The first test was performed in the back of a 2003 Toyota 4-runner. The upholstery in the back of a 4-runner seems to capture Northern Breed (Siberian Husky) guard hairs and weave them tightly in the fabric. No amount of vacuuming, scrubbing, or scraping has removed these guard hairs, so that seemed to be the perfect test for a product that claims to remove embedded pet hair with amazing results.<br /><br />The product had a sheet already on it, so using the instructions that simply state: "brush over<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Dn5aDj298S3ZgwtiUc6NwgfzbfPli7Zp6y7cR9oin5_80TlnPlQgwsQC6mvITqg15cdGr9_bUpGTAn-P9Sfmug7xUNoqkt5ELF2SEDcxdtl3QIGFw7n9rH1aCVnyPHkFD3XrlB3_ejI3/s1600-h/DSC02915.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Dn5aDj298S3ZgwtiUc6NwgfzbfPli7Zp6y7cR9oin5_80TlnPlQgwsQC6mvITqg15cdGr9_bUpGTAn-P9Sfmug7xUNoqkt5ELF2SEDcxdtl3QIGFw7n9rH1aCVnyPHkFD3XrlB3_ejI3/s200/DSC02915.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225184249354853970" border="0" /></a> furniture in any direction to pick up pet hair" I did just that... it picked up NOTHING. It did deposit some of its yellow bristley things on the truck upholstery though. I scrubbed a bit harder, then scrubbed lightly with the same results: it mainly brushed the guard hairs into a nice uniform line, but did NOT remove the embedded hair.<br /><br />Since it was hot out, I gave up on the truck and brought the product into the house and tried it on a blanket that we had on <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywURf7CnyjRgy-xGmL8cPmnib7UE_RWluQlTdDzqZ9cy-rzEco11k3AleJ-tw2iIrrPaDoaimrZJnEWWcsYC6jpupVh4arX0AUSrzuuxzdujCJO57te_y-eR4j4KhCLuemTmHBfJZeo-k/s1600-h/DSC02919.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywURf7CnyjRgy-xGmL8cPmnib7UE_RWluQlTdDzqZ9cy-rzEco11k3AleJ-tw2iIrrPaDoaimrZJnEWWcsYC6jpupVh4arX0AUSrzuuxzdujCJO57te_y-eR4j4KhCLuemTmHBfJZeo-k/s200/DSC02919.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225184478160694226" border="0" /></a>the bed. Please note that this blanket had been washed the night before, so it only contained a small amount of Siberian Husky fur (about 5 lbs).<br /><br />Once again, I brushed the product over the blanket and it did pick<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGn0QeF-w0EDFI3lAMndAOI6ihKNm33OfuCirftMM6mexJQptxjfs5jqpjsgvgQ_W_vv3VHG8Lz49t9_i9qPoTZd4euwxohdRJsgz42EExWO5gXC_uEckeGlVaJ40pCcS-JI71axvcKZ7w/s1600-h/DSC02920.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGn0QeF-w0EDFI3lAMndAOI6ihKNm33OfuCirftMM6mexJQptxjfs5jqpjsgvgQ_W_vv3VHG8Lz49t9_i9qPoTZd4euwxohdRJsgz42EExWO5gXC_uEckeGlVaJ40pCcS-JI71axvcKZ7w/s200/DSC02920.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225184666938217218" border="0" /></a> up quite a bit of fur, but after brushing over a 8x11 sized area a few times, it became clogged with fluff and merely pushed the rest of the fur around into a clump.<br /><br />As a joke, I put a new sheet on and brushed one stair with it that <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0poy9yd1-_lBwdEjFDL-M2NSzziIN2Wa4PMSbr0_k9sMkSmihEsShoHbYaATSjebtI_5gExGwy1PcMDcuzaI03fOpTUCvhFlU2Il740cr3Uc3LAIDC_nCzBPHgviAsTnUBJdPIk9NlDy/s1600-h/DSC02918.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0poy9yd1-_lBwdEjFDL-M2NSzziIN2Wa4PMSbr0_k9sMkSmihEsShoHbYaATSjebtI_5gExGwy1PcMDcuzaI03fOpTUCvhFlU2Il740cr3Uc3LAIDC_nCzBPHgviAsTnUBJdPIk9NlDy/s200/DSC02918.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225184830671875074" border="0" /></a>had collected about a week's worth of husky fluff. It filled up on the first stroke, then clumped the fur into a bundle.<br /><br />I found the Fur Fighter less effective than a regular adhesive lint brush, and the price of the sheets would drive me into the poor house in no time.<br /><br />In comparison to a lint brush:<br />Costco pack of 5 lint brushes, 400 sheet total: $8.89<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE803eI3VdJ3sQ5aKjjBcenxsAcxgyr_OM9TJ6tOCXjpo9MUmsVZYuV3gqqR-eq0mK1mQaOLOmzqviYH1uObVxmXT4URQaV9yuMWO74brnzlm2BwNtRsOQcRNaLhZHttjTPgh5nzoJHTU/s1600-h/DSC02921.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE803eI3VdJ3sQ5aKjjBcenxsAcxgyr_OM9TJ6tOCXjpo9MUmsVZYuV3gqqR-eq0mK1mQaOLOmzqviYH1uObVxmXT4URQaV9yuMWO74brnzlm2BwNtRsOQcRNaLhZHttjTPgh5nzoJHTU/s200/DSC02921.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225184985511779106" border="0" /></a><br />Fur Fighter refill sheet pack, 8 refill sheets (equivalent to 24 lint roller sheets) $4.99<br />This price doesn't include the initial Fur Fighter tool kit for $9.99, which comes with 5 sheets.<br /><br />Save your money and keep buying lint rollers.<br /><br />We give this product<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWg47MAS1MQQuIrIg4ZOiTyASeKcv8k3TwawRjeYJJUCZuqTHunKAm1Fh0fTQf0z77cWhbNMfdJUygzwMLkxCJQyVRk5PrCNN-0RXEBc83y1Mt7zIraaHDhKOIT4VRNeLxsOYuNRvck6HD/s1600-h/1+paw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWg47MAS1MQQuIrIg4ZOiTyASeKcv8k3TwawRjeYJJUCZuqTHunKAm1Fh0fTQf0z77cWhbNMfdJUygzwMLkxCJQyVRk5PrCNN-0RXEBc83y1Mt7zIraaHDhKOIT4VRNeLxsOYuNRvck6HD/s200/1+paw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225185218690413634" border="0" /></a>Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-86657484794025931012008-03-07T15:07:00.000-05:002008-03-07T15:09:02.294-05:00Bereavement ItemsAlthough I hope you NEVER need these, here are some <a href="http://sleddogcafe.com/memorials.html">recommended items</a> for when your beloved crosses the Rainbow Bridge.<br /><br />Thanks to Nancy P. for her recommendations.<br /><br />Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-64906086296550018202008-02-16T18:47:00.005-05:002008-02-16T18:50:48.558-05:00Triple Crown Collar<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLI7b9hmsPOYtwa1FHSsjYaGne3HN9Ca0nh_hNomVlagEOYgAJlo6CBcClSEvcbGSgB3VHAbQ0fx7cy7Cs0epDmlg_HM0h2mvyNWYLr5lMSrolMiZOtyRSJC0vaji8nRDzvERITdKmuhbr/s1600-h/Starmark+Collar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLI7b9hmsPOYtwa1FHSsjYaGne3HN9Ca0nh_hNomVlagEOYgAJlo6CBcClSEvcbGSgB3VHAbQ0fx7cy7Cs0epDmlg_HM0h2mvyNWYLr5lMSrolMiZOtyRSJC0vaji8nRDzvERITdKmuhbr/s200/Starmark+Collar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167729062256408402" border="0" /></a>Kerry writes:<br /><br />“I saw this collar at my local holistic pet food store. I was intrigued because it had a German Shepherd on the package, and the package said the plastic links were made of high-strength polymer. The store said I could return it if it didn’t work, so I decided to try it.<br /><br />You are not supposed to slide the collar over the dog’s head, you are supposed to undo a link to put the collar on and take it off. That takes some practice, so practice doing this before you actually put the collar on your dog. It is trickier to undo a link, so make sure you can do this fairly easily. When removing the collar, it's easiest to unlink the end piece that says "Triple Crown"<br /><br /><a href="http://www.aboutdogtraining.com/panel.php?5">The packaging refers to a website which has a lot of information about this product</a>, including a free training video you can view online, information about properly fitting the collar, and product reviews.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVbZnnTkclY50GrUez_SYutP6XGjmbkOAcJ4KWBgcFzCg7X1XP3vULDzMDWNhyP-Laaqu0456CV3Yjj6KrYnTdppOkiaXE4MUftxS4KS5H7T1BTLrzJ_akkRAs7WFWGnZrUPaFB4W4HZ6/s1600-h/Indy+snowy+face+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVbZnnTkclY50GrUez_SYutP6XGjmbkOAcJ4KWBgcFzCg7X1XP3vULDzMDWNhyP-Laaqu0456CV3Yjj6KrYnTdppOkiaXE4MUftxS4KS5H7T1BTLrzJ_akkRAs7WFWGnZrUPaFB4W4HZ6/s200/Indy+snowy+face+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167729212580263778" border="0" /></a>Once you get the hang of fastening and unfastening the links, the collar is really great. It’s a nice alternative to metal collars. One major advantage over the metal prong collar is that the polymer links won’t bend and become worn and fatigued like the metal prongs. My Husky’s last prong collar lasted about a year before it just fell off of him. Thank goodness, we were inside at the time.”<br /><br />Kerry Gives the Triple Crown Collar:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIUQbBYN2S3IiwnzZZf9-mvjO1pf5K2xsJTy863D3BC-0f539dcrc0zE3NPa6N2xlpnwFoWBf6M_ATDC596bDyDjNrGH0osateB1n9uB7f4dPVzVZ1lpk_2O26b5mwJPyCH6N31Syz-Al/s1600-h/4+paw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIUQbBYN2S3IiwnzZZf9-mvjO1pf5K2xsJTy863D3BC-0f539dcrc0zE3NPa6N2xlpnwFoWBf6M_ATDC596bDyDjNrGH0osateB1n9uB7f4dPVzVZ1lpk_2O26b5mwJPyCH6N31Syz-Al/s200/4+paw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167729337134315378" border="0" /></a>Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-68406827165060392182008-01-13T12:11:00.000-05:002008-01-13T12:44:51.823-05:00Walking BeltsA few years ago during a rainstorm, a leash slipped out of our hands and we spent several frantic minutes (that seemed like hours) chasing down a very happy, playful, running siberian husky puppy who kept looping closer and closer to a busy highway at the end of our street.<br /><div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><br />Happy ending, we finally tricked the happy puppy into running toward us, she was nabbed and we shook for about 2 hours afterwards thinking what could have happened.<br /><br />This was the beginning of the perfect (hopefully) anti-husky escape walking device.<br /><br />As previously reviewed, our huskies all don the <a href="http://www.champk-9.com/CCSS.htm">Champion K-9 Seat belt harness system</a> with the bullsnap leash, so the next logical step would be to connect them to us in some way where a leash couldn’t be dropped, jerked out of a hand, etc..<br /><br />On someone’s recommendation, we checked out the <a href="http://www.whitepineoutfitters.com/catalog_page_detail.cfm?queries_index=index10&recordno=3&Product_CatalogID=170&ProductNumber=MBS-L&ProductCode=4&ProductSubCodeID=146&NewProduct=0&title_bar2=High%20Sierra%20Walk%2DA%2DBelt&title_bar=HIGH%20SIERRA%20WALK%2DA%2DBELT%3Csup%3Etm%3C%2Fsup%3E%20Heavy%20Duty%20with%20Carabineer">White Pine Outfitters High Sierra Walk-A-Belt</a>, which seemed to stock exactly what we were looking for, and we purchased 2 of<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.whitepineoutfitters.com/images/high_sierra_walk-a-belt_hd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.whitepineoutfitters.com/images/high_sierra_walk-a-belt_hd.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> them. Immediately upon receiving them, we determined that the caribineers that came with the belt were puny and not husky-proof. We purchased some high end climbing caribineers that came with a twist lock mechanism and used those instead.<br /><br />The walking belts are very comfortable, come in different sizes, and are very adjustable so that in the summer you can snug them up, or let them out in winter to go over a coat. You simple attach the leash loop to the caribineer and your husky is safely attached to you. No more worrying about dropped leashes or losing grip on the leash, you will be dragged along with your husky if they make an escape attempt.<br /><br /><strong>Multiple dogs</strong><br /><br />You may be wondering how the belt would hold up to multiple huskies attached to it. I (unfortunately) had the occasion to test out the multiple husky theory when my neighbor’s house caught on fire. As our houses are relatively close together, I got all three of mine into their harnesses (in record time) and hooked up by three leashes to the White Pine Walking belt and out we went. The belt held beautifully to three huskies all straining to go in three separate directions and all hooked into the heavy duty caribineer. The belt also held wonderfully as I was dragged down the street on my butt by three huskies who wanted to go play with the firemen. Its very durable, strong and can hold its own with multiple huskies... if you can.<br /><br /><strong>Care</strong><br /><br />The walking belts are machine washable, which comes in very handy when used for other purposes (see below). I put ours in a pillow case and toss it into the washer and then dryer. The reason for the pillow case is to dull the clanking of the attachments on the washer and dryer. Even after multiple washings, everything holds up very well, with only minimal shrinkage in some areas that doesn’t detract from the whole belt purpose.<br /><br /><strong>Other Uses<br /><br /></strong>The Walking Belt makes a WONDERFUL sling for a dog recovering from spine surgery. We found this out after our husky ruptured a disc and had surgery. We had to sling his back end to<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCQDGYnwBmCpOdQQW7r4pdxyEZzDf8o7u0QqWcUwTcjuwcf0xt2lbopXEVH9Itdn2VoNpO2UfocM0L6s6ye_qmkQENi9C7qphZLJxCHfK_J0dhyNa0D4HdCOw0wS3AkgKjb8wFZKwpp1Y/s1600-h/Sam+Sling.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCQDGYnwBmCpOdQQW7r4pdxyEZzDf8o7u0QqWcUwTcjuwcf0xt2lbopXEVH9Itdn2VoNpO2UfocM0L6s6ye_qmkQENi9C7qphZLJxCHfK_J0dhyNa0D4HdCOw0wS3AkgKjb8wFZKwpp1Y/s200/Sam+Sling.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155018326200756770" border="0" /></a> steady him during his recovery, and the slings in the stores were pretty much worthless.<br /><br />Easy to get around the dog, you just clip it together and have a sturdy and strong loop to hold the dog up while it walks and does its business. The width of the sling also is handy for male dogs, as its small enough to fit behind the penis so it isn’t being peed on, and even if it is, just toss it in the washer and dryer. The walking belt was a lifesaving for us during our dog’s recovery period, making it easier for us to sling him, easy for him to walk supported and do what he needed to do without constant shifting.<br /><br /><strong>Rating<br /><br /></strong>We would not recommend the White Pine High Sierra as a belt to use for skijoring or other athletic types of exercise. While strong and secure, the skijoring belts and other types of sports belts are better developed for those sports and are made to cushion the human during those events. Use the proper belt for the proper activity.<br /><br />We do highly recommend the White Pine High Sierra (with heavy duty caribineer) for every day walking and for use as a sling for recovering dogs.<br /><br />We give it:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2PwThuCu0PHSxNwnCXJD9jkxayF73zhdxOw31kzowN_qsLI0FVaJQ7_UU0Bp7nbRdIR_zwR3qoYgMvd439WpsM8ufisn-Hk_-UtU2Pk12xxm6gNKXHENiCIxuAtKwsA5WwiSmTLAKsfU/s1600-h/4+paw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2PwThuCu0PHSxNwnCXJD9jkxayF73zhdxOw31kzowN_qsLI0FVaJQ7_UU0Bp7nbRdIR_zwR3qoYgMvd439WpsM8ufisn-Hk_-UtU2Pk12xxm6gNKXHENiCIxuAtKwsA5WwiSmTLAKsfU/s200/4+paw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155016097112730130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div>Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4367293127863845921.post-84112042348200294462007-12-26T17:13:00.000-05:002007-12-30T16:58:00.810-05:00Primo Pads<span style="font-weight: bold;">Dog Beds, the Conundrum:</span><br /><br />I happen to think that one of the most difficult things to purchase for a husky is a bed that they don’t consider to be a giant squeeky-less toy to rip up. You either end up with a room full of torn up fluff or a bed that is never been touched. They either hate them or love them so much they don’t live.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Practical or Stupid:</span><br /><br />Another issue that I have with most beds is that they do indeed come with a washable cover, but the fact that they are made out of foam, and the washable cover is in no way water or liquid-proof, you can wash the cover all you want, the liquid soaks into the actual foam and reeks. Another festive part of washing the washable cover is that they usually shrink and won’t go back over the foam. The downy top of the cover is fantastic for collecting mounds of dog hair. If you do throw it in the washer, I hope you have a filter in your washer to collect all of that fur.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cost:</span><br /><br />Dog beds are EXPENSIVE. The “orthopedic” versions that we have in our bedroom cost $70. Our dogs have managed to squish them down just by laying on them so I can’t imagine they can be very supportive or orthopedic at all at this point. Once again, its a removable cover that covers foam, nothing special actually.<br /><br />Other, cheaper dogs beds have met violent fates, especially if they were left laying vulnerable on the floor somewhere. Invariably it would go ignored for a long time and then suddenly it must have made a threatening move because it would end up in pieces all over the living room.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Use:</span><br /><br />Since my dogs hog the bed at night with us, and we had the two orthopedic beds on both sides of our bed (and you have no idea how tempting it is for me to just move down there and get more room than I do on the bed) the real challenge was finding a bed that would fit in their crates that wouldn’t be destroyed. Sam is infamous for destroying beds in his crate, although after surviving his spine surgery and subsequent recovery spent mostly in his crate, he will now keep a sheepskin pad in his crate without destroying it. Meeshka and Loki will rip anything to shreds that’s in their crates and not edible.<br /><br />I also wanted to find something that would give the dogs more support than the slippery hard plastic crate liner. Nobody seemed to sell a comfortable, non-slip crate liner type of pad, which is very handy when traveling with a dog in a crate. If you’ve ever transported a dog in a crate with just the liner, you’ll recognize the skittering, scratching noise of them sliding all over the crate with each turn or stop. This was a HUGE concern for us when we were transporting Sam to therapy and vet appointments after his spine surgery.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://primopads.com/images/LoRzTanCratePadDupLighter.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://primopads.com/images/LoRzTanCratePadDupLighter.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Lo and behold some members of Sibernet had found <a href="http://primopads.com/">Primo Pads</a> and were brave enough to give them a shot. The following review is based on my and other husky owners’ experience with <a href="http://primopads.com/">Primo Pads</a>. While the manufacturer guarantees the <a href="http://primopads.com/">Primo Pad</a>, that in no way should be interpreted as “indestructible”.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stand Alone Type of Bed</span><br /><br />Those who purchased <a href="http://primopads.com/">Primo Pads</a> and used them out in a room as a regular bed found, for the most part, that they were either ignored, or summarily ripped to shreds. In one case, the owner decided to wait and present the new <a href="http://primopads.com/">Primo Pads</a> to her dogs for Christmas and left them in their shipping container. Her huskies found the cardboard container, ripped that to shreds and chewed through the corners of the Primo Pads.<br /><br />If you have VERY destructive huskies, or would like a stand alone type of bed, we don’t recommend <a href="http://primopads.com/">Primo Pads</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Crate Bed</span><br /><br />Those of us who have purchased <a href="http://primopads.com/">Primo Pads</a> to use in the crates of our huskies have absolutely nothing but praise for the product. I purchased three Primo Pads for three 28X42 Midwestern crates. The pads are a perfect fit for the crates, sitting on top of the plastic tray liner and is level with the top of the tray liner. The pads are very supportive and soft, they also provide great footing for the dog when they enter and exit the crate.<br /><br />A very welcome added benefit of the Primo Pad is the fact that they are completely waterproof. Any accidents on these pads are easily sopped up, and then wiped clean. I use Simple Green as a cleaner for the pads if there is an accident. Another benefit is the fact that fur does not stick to it. A simple white with a paper towel will clean fur off.<br /><br />It is quite apparent that the dogs prefer their crates better with the Primo Pads, as they’ve taken to napping in their crates, which is something only one of them ever did before I purchased the pads.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdmdkYh3gjxGaHTzjsEENs4W7GSWQ1Rodk3IF0q4c6Tr4RJoBrwr_86Bpzo-CNaIhCd4PSxy_NPDXX8RecaE6klQ9PcszQpsO1y2r66m-ktDpyz1P-XpK-DBxqafbv7ntXpGLwMCyZMQs/s1600-h/Indy+Primo+Pad.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdmdkYh3gjxGaHTzjsEENs4W7GSWQ1Rodk3IF0q4c6Tr4RJoBrwr_86Bpzo-CNaIhCd4PSxy_NPDXX8RecaE6klQ9PcszQpsO1y2r66m-ktDpyz1P-XpK-DBxqafbv7ntXpGLwMCyZMQs/s320/Indy+Primo+Pad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148409724446910866" border="0" /></a><br />Indy's owner reports that Indy needs to be bribed before he'll come out of his crate now that he's got Primo Pads. As we see in the picture to right, Indy enjoys his Primo Pad so much that he hates to leave his crate and runs back into it if he “has” to get out of it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cost:</span><br />I paid $30 a piece for the 28X42 sized pads, plus $10 for shipping for three waterproof, easy to clean, and guaranteed Primo Pads. Considering that I paid over $140 for two orthopedic beds that aren't waterproof, are virtually impossible to clean if they are soiled with stinky liquid and collect fur like crazy... a great price and well worth it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Customer Service<br /><br /></span>I can’t say enough good things about Gary, the owner of Primo Pads. The instructions on the site said that if you wanted to order more than one pad then e-mail for better shipping rates, which I did. I e-mailed on a Sunday morning and almost immediately I received a real response from Gary asking for my number so he could take my order. We exchanged numbers and finally got ahold of the other and had a very pleasant conversation about the pads and the guarantee.<br /><br />If the pad is ever damaged by every day use, the owner simply has to send a picture of the damaged pad to Primo Pads and a replacement will be shipped out. Remember, they guarantee it for every day use... don’t throw one in a wood chipper and expect a replacement.<br /><br />After placing my order on Sunday, I received the pads on Wednesday by noon and paid minimal shipping, thanks to Gary. The dogs immediately checked out their new beds and I left them with their usual afternoon kongs and returned to work, hoping I wouldn’t come home to pad carnage upon my return. No such thing, they were fast asleep on the pads when I returned and seemed a bit hesitant about coming out, which is unusual for them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other Reviews</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Susan H writes:</span><br /><br />I love them!! They are after all "crate pads" - not dog beds! They are fantastic in a practical sense - east to clean, durable, cushy. Many vets are now using them in their clinics. I talked to the owner of the company at the Cleveland shows last week. He even suggested not letting your dog see you put the pad in the crate. He stated that many show dog owners and handlers have discovered that this helps keep down on the chewing corners. Our breeders have used them for over a year with great success. I have a friend with Gordon Setters who have destroyed all the plastic crate trays she could find - they are doing fantastically with the Primos. Honestly, if used properly, I think they are tops! And Gary, the owner, manufacturer of the company is sincerely interested in providing the best customer service anywhere. You might want to e-mail him with concerns and get his response. I guarantee you that he truly cares about his product and stands behind everything he sends out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Julia M writes:</span><br /><br />I would definitely give them a paw 4, not a 3. You have to take into consideration that some of our sibes might be more destructive than others. And for one person who has two sometimes destructive dogs (depending on what the material is), my two are sleeping like babes at night and during the day! Unusual for them. Spirit still likes to re-arrange things in his run, but that may be more looking for treats under the pallet. Can't be sure! But while he moves the primo pad, he has not chewed it or done anything destructive to it. We are highly impressed with how long and well they sleep, which is unusual for these two. When we leave and come back, they don't have their noses pointed out the window when they hear the car drive up. They are asleep and don't wake until we open and slam the doors. They 'used' to wake up when we drove up! Seems like small things, but they are big things for these two dogs! They love those pads!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nancy P writes and includes a picture as evidence:</span><br /><br />Remember last June when we got Max and learned he was a crate hater? (crate screamer, he<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8ITXvT6Tef7M6jnl-f_kNt4iB91J_HnS9fb67fs4rTd_5LBN-gX11i_2P2OeBwH7gx73rEFd-TBSpSESPnb2PdD4KHZ5qXVWXOwfoAN7wkM7h7PDt-fPW_N45grHQt5F3eciOxP2aKAQ/s1600-h/crate-lover+primo+pad.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8ITXvT6Tef7M6jnl-f_kNt4iB91J_HnS9fb67fs4rTd_5LBN-gX11i_2P2OeBwH7gx73rEFd-TBSpSESPnb2PdD4KHZ5qXVWXOwfoAN7wkM7h7PDt-fPW_N45grHQt5F3eciOxP2aKAQ/s320/crate-lover+primo+pad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149888258348624306" border="0" /></a> surely was about to die in there :-)<br /><br />Well, we keep a webcam in the boys' room when we leave them home alone - and last night we caught Max sleeping in his crate with the Primo Pad! The photo isn't very good (it was a webcam *and* at night)... but you can see Max in the back crate rolled up on his red Primo Pad, and Cisco up in the left front crate on his purple Primo Pad.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Conclusion:</span><br /><br />Once again, if you have major shredder huskies or want a stand alone type of bed, the Primo Pads will probably not be for you.<br /><br />If you are looking for a great crate pad that is comfortable for the dogs, waterproof, easy to clean, tough, and provides them with solid footing, we HIGHLY recommend the Primo Pads.<br /><br />When used as a crate pad, we give the Primo Pads:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PdCZ5gEAk-dUXtdtJ5bhtR0sE0yLTz579j_UwdSDfVOk-aXO7ipkNC-v1j99d2MoHDPVnssp3EZ2IGb_qPSs9m7Z0o1W2y0xPdy0guFqzwCGNpnsxO-9Rvvjn7FoA2XugL7QrR1xzmDH/s1600-h/4+paw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PdCZ5gEAk-dUXtdtJ5bhtR0sE0yLTz579j_UwdSDfVOk-aXO7ipkNC-v1j99d2MoHDPVnssp3EZ2IGb_qPSs9m7Z0o1W2y0xPdy0guFqzwCGNpnsxO-9Rvvjn7FoA2XugL7QrR1xzmDH/s200/4+paw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148410072339261858" border="0" /></a>Shmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01290170566232915521noreply@blogger.com32