Never underestimate the power of smell. If it’s powerful enough, certain scents will become part of a lifelong memory. And in the case of D.A.P. (or to the experts, Dog Appeasing Pheromone), it could be an exciting new weapon in the effort to curb destructive behavior in pets gone wild.   That’s the logic behind The Comfort Zone Plug-In, which diffuses a facsimile of the pheromone the mother dog produces as she nurses her pup. As your dog smells it, it triggers peaceful, receptive memories that calm the dog, curbing the tendency to chew, bark, pee or panic. It also works on problems such as house soiling, excessive licking, phobias and fear or aggression towards strangers.   Although particularly effective on puppies adapting to a new environment, it also works on adult dogs, which just like their owners, are old softies when it comes to missing good old Mom. But the diffuser has a range of 650 square feet and lasts for just a month until it needs replacing. Unlike moms, who last forever.

*Reduces destructive behavior in 91% of dogs.

*Stops excessive barking and whimpering in 65% of dogs.

*Curbs house soiling in 75% of dogs.

Here’s a question for you: What kind of snowball doesn’t melt? Well, the Orbee-Tuff Snowball, of course. It’s the world’s first doggie-durable, buoyant, bouncy, minty non-melting snowball ever. And they’re way more fun to play with than they are to write about.   Since there’s space to be filled and we are talking about a chew toy here, we might as well bring up Snowball, the pig in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. In a total mixed-metaphor of a historical analogy, Snowball and his buddy and fellow pig, Napoleon, lead the revolt against the farmer. But then Snowball, who is the better half of the pair, is thrown out of the farm (a la Trotsky) because of his allegiance to old-school (Karl Marx) ideology. And you thought your dog had problems.

*Non-toxic, recyclable.

*Rinses clean.

*Orbee-Tuff has gone on record saying no yellow snow was used in the making of this product.

Then again, we know that appearances can be deceiving. The Gentle Leader Complete System acts like a muzzle when you need it to be, but other times the dog can still eat, drink, fetch, bark and even, if online reviews can be believed, bite. (Okay, the biting shouldn’t happen. But the rest is good.)  The system works by putting pressure on the back of the neck, which triggers the dog’s natural relaxation response. Leash control while walking becomes much easier, as the head turns where the leash is gently pulled. The gentleness extends to the soft leather, which won’t leave any telltale marks.  No wonder they are endorsed by any number of vets and trainers who call the system a gentle yet very effective method of behavior modification. They come in all sizes and any number of vibrant colors including Hot Pink, because everyone’s got a bit of dominatrix in them.

*Head control without choking.

*System comes with a head collar, 4” lead, 10” indoor drag line and a 66-page training manual.

*Head collars sold separately, but not recommended for first-time users.

Indigo is my 10-year-old Silky Terrier. Velcro is one of her many nicknames. I wouldn’t classify her as having any measure of separation anxiety, but she is always–always–following my wife and I throughout the house, room to room, station to station.  What momentous event does she expect will happen when I walk, say, to the [...]

Here’s one for boys who like toys, and dogs who like to eat. Although most dogs seem to tug naturally, more sensitive types might need some prodding before they get the picture. And the Tug It! will make them see the light.  Blending the power of food with the joy of tug, the Tug It! is made out  of a nylon/polyester mesh and a Velcro clasp. You stuff the toy with some appetizing semi-soft food, such as hot dogs, hunks of cheese, a chicken breast, then close the snap and let the dog explore. Soon he’ll put his mouth around it and coax a few drops of liquid from the stuffed toy. As soon as he does, exert some tugging pressure of your own. The dog will mouth the toy even harder, because he doesn’t want to lose the food. Make it a game. Somewhere along the line, the food becomes less important than the tugging. Or so they say…

*Available for two levels: The Starter Tug It! for wimps and the Advanced Tug It! for manly dogs who already demonstrate an inclination to tug.

*Machine washable and American made.

*These are for supervised play and training only. Your dog will desperately want to eat what’s inside, so don’t turn your back on the Tug It! if you know what’s good for you.

The little white dog jumped out of the car and ran around the dog park parking lot, oblivious to the potential dangers as well as its owner’s increasingly frustrated voice. “Cooper (names have been changed to protect the parties involved)! Get back here!” After a few unsuccessful laps chasing the pooch around a parked SUV, [...]

The argument that we’re feeding our dogs better than our children seems even more feasible when you think about Holistic Select’s Lamb Meal and Rice Formula. Made from range-fed lamb, whole brown rice and oatmeal, it sure beats the mac ‘n’ cheese, franks and beans and pb&j we’re used to feeding our third-graders, doesn’t it?  It’s even hypoallergenic, because all the protein comes from a single source, and one that also rarely causes any allergic reactions. It’s loaded with taurine, an amino acid said to aid healthy eyes and a healthy heart, as well as the vitamins A, C, E and Beta-Carotene, all of which are critical to the immune system. To top it off, they throw in glucosamine, good for joint health.  It can serve as the only food for an active adult dog, although many vets suggest rotating it with Holistic’s other two offerings, the Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon Meal or the Duck Meal with Oatmeal. Especially, they warn, if Little Bo Peep’s comin’ to dinner.

*Each serving contains 403 calories per cup.

*Unique combination SQM System, Prebiotics, Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes aid in resolving allergies.

*Hypoallergenic because they contain only one meat meal protein source, and no other ingredients normally considered a trigger to an allergic reaction.

When it comes to poop disposal, the Mutt Mitt disposal waste system is tha bomb. First of all, it is the official removal tool of choice on Sacramento’s American River, which is the city’s principal recreational artery. For another, they’re the subject of a very flattering article in Park 7 Rec. Business Magazine. Imagine.  The reason is two-fold: First, the Mutt Mitt is 100% degradable. And unlike many other bags, Mutt Mitts use multiple degradation technologies so that the bags are degradable regardless of what recycling system is used. Also, these suckers are big, so you can fit two to three times the amount of poop in one that fits in a typical bag.  So these are perfect when taking your pet elephant for a walk as well. Also, because it’s bigger, folks like Sactown’s American River Parkway Foundation can sell advertising on the bag, and with the money they raise, give the bags away to anyone using the park and riverbed. You even have something to read while Beasley goes                                                             to the bathroom.

* 2-ply design protects hands

* Roomy pocket for easy clean-up

* Use with solids or liquids, or as a portable water bowl.

You’re not the only one who gets to fear the scale. Thanks to the Digital Pet Scale, you can track your dog’s weight too.  There’s more to it than just numbers, though.  Dogs are prone to some of the same health problems humans have with excessive weight. And many of our dogs waistlines are growing the same as their owners’, thanks to the same sedentary lifestyle and too many calories.  But there’s something else at play here too.  Products aimed at dogs, from car seats to medication, are weight dependent. So if you guesstimate improperly, these products may not be able to do their job. The Digital Pet Scale puts a stop to that. The scale even comes with four rubber-covered feet that provide stability. And since dogs don’t really care about fluctuations in their weight, they won’t stress out if they’ve gained a pound or two.

*Large digital readout for easy viewing

*Accurately measures even the heaviest dogs

*Easy-to-clean design

I have been teaching about natural health for dogs for almost 30 years, and it is so very interesting to me, that I find myself saying virtually the same things now, as I did when I began. It is not that I have not learned new and wonderful things along the way, about how [...]