Petmate Roopers Line Growing

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Meet Tanner's New Friends

Petmate's Roopers rope toys may look like tightly wound rope toys, and they are. But they're more. I learned from my friend Kelly at Petmate that Roopers are a popular desk ornament of their employees and pet lovers. What's more, Roopers are available in a number of other species: squirrel, cat, rabbit, and mice.  These guys are pretty cute :)

courtesy PetmateMilo the Squirrel

Unlike your typical rope toy, Roopers not only have a style that's fun for owners, but they are wound tightly to last longer and live through your super chewer. With all that personality and durability built in, what's not to like? Tanner has selected his 3 faves to give away. Of course they're dogs!

This giveaway will be open for entries until March 8 when the winners will be announced. You'll find other giveaways at our sidebar listing, and also in the menu bar at this link. Finally, don't forget to watch for Fido's Freebie Friday each week, when pet bloggers link up their giveaways to turn this place into a shopping mall of great freebies for you and your pets. We're open 24/7. Click the link in the left sidebar to find the post.

courtesy Petmate
Walter the Dog

To learn more about Petmate and their full line of pet products, visit them on the web, Facebook or Twitter. Be sure to let them know that All Things Dog Blog sent you. They'll be happy to answer your questions and tell you where to find products you're looking for in your own area.

Are you ready for a Roopers giveaway? You know you want one, so today's post is designed to offer a bit of basic assistance for newbies who are baffled by the Rafflecopter form we use for entries. Call this an instructional giveaway--LOL!

1.  If you already know how our giveaways work, skip all the instructions and go right on to the form to begin entering. Remember to keep it fun and only enter using the methods you enjoy :)
2. If the Rafflecopter is a bit befuddling for you, you're here at the right time. The first step is to click on the title at the top of the post to call the Rafflecopter out of hiding. It will then appear at the bottom of the post.
3. You can use your Facebook or email account to sign in, which will speed up the process by collecting your name and email from those accounts so you won't have to fill them in for us. Cool, huh?
4. Scan the entry options and you'll see you have multiple choices. You can pick and choose or do them all; it's completely up to you. As you select an item, be sure to read the instruction enclosed as some require you to return with a small bit of information.
5. The "Tweet this Message" entries may be done daily to increase your chances of winning, while also telling more of the Twitterverse about this giveaway. 
6. Don't have enough time to do all you wanted? No worries! You can come back as often as you like, as long as the Rafflecopter is open, to make additional entries.
7. Questions? Drop me a note to AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com. I'll be happy to answer your questions.

Good luck and remember to enjoy the journey!

Petmate Dog Toy Winners

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllthingsDogBlog.com
Sad Tanner Losing Toys :(

Posing with these Petmate toys that float, fly and make perfect Fetch Master companions, Tanner gave me the look. You know the one. "Mom, Do I really have to give these up?" Poor fella. 

Tanner's not lacking for fetch toys but there is something special about a new one. And particularly a new one that floats. His favorite Fetch game is played in the pool.

I suppose it's time to dig out a new toy to put a smile back on that sad face.

I'm happy, though, to announce the names of the winners of these toys.  They are Jeanette S, Melissa V, and Kelly T. I'll be in touch with each of you early today to notify you of your win and request information for shipping. Watch for an email from AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com. If you don't see one, please check out your spam file or just give me a shout at that account.

We hope you all had a wonderful Valentines Day and that you will stop by and visit Fido's Freebie Friday where you can find other great pet products to learn about and possibly win. Happy tails,

The Petmate products in this giveaway were provided by Petmate as a promotion. I did not receive a review sample and was not compensated for sharing my thoughts or organizing this giveaway.

Petmate Fetch Toys: Great Giveaway!

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Bribery Works Sometimes

If you know anything about my Tanner, it's probably that he's Fetch crazy. This dog would play Fetch all day if my arm was up to it. When these Bonkers arrived, he had his eye on them.  He sniffed and prodded and gave me that look. You know; the one that is pleading for me to toss the toy into the pool to give him permission to Fetch it.

Now that you know that, you're probably wondering how I managed to get a smiling shot, right?  Well, the answer is bribery. After he picked one of the toys up and I got a very willing "Drop It" from him, I treated him to reward this behavior. 

With his interest piqued, I decided to grab a shot while he was eager to please. Holding that treat in front of my forehead, he happily posed with the prizes. Three fun toys for 3 lucky winners to Fetch the day away. 

Want a Petmate Bonker for your dog? You can enter to win one here, or get the sure thing version by buying your own. Visit the Petmate website to locate the toy of your dog's delight and then touch base with them at Facebook and Twitter to learn more, answer questions, follow the conversation and find out where to purchase the toy in your area.

Enter to win here in the Rafflecopter form below the post. If it's not appearing down  there, you'll need to Fetch it by clicking on the post title. I promise it will appear at your feet immediately. Good luck!

These Petmate samples were provided as a giveaway by the company. My comments about them were not prompted by material written by them and I was not paid to share my opinion or run this giveaway.

No Dog Doodie at this House: Clean Yard Kit Winner

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Carrie Boyko
The Clean Yard Kit

Who knew that you guys would respond so well to a title that says "Pawsome Pet Poop Prizes". I mean seriously, we're sounding like the mommy blogs who have mommies flocking to get diapers. Doesn't that make you BOL! It certainly does me. 


I don't know what I was thinking when I conjured up that title. Today I have redefined it as the Clean Yard Kit. That sounds a bit more sanitary. Sigh.


I do hope this winner has an appropriate need for great supplies. Mary J. has won this Clean Response bin and rake from Petmate, along with a nice supply of Flush Puppies to do her job at caring for our Eco-system. 

Add caption

Flushing is definitely preferable for our Earth than trash cans, yards and plastic poop bags that will live on forever in our landfills. 


For those of you who have not yet managed to win any of our Flush Puppies giveaways, fear not. There will be more coming. As of this week, Flush Puppies is now a sponsor of All Things Dog Blog, and we intend to keep them happy. We love this product that dissolves in our sewer system, allowing its contents to be treated in a system that was intended to do just that. 

In a hurry to try them? No problem. Click this Flush Puppies link and you'll be magically taken to their website where you can order your own selection. They have dispensers, wallet packs and rolls, so grab what you like and enjoy the great green feeling you'll have in using them. Happy tails!

NOTE: Flush Puppies are also available at many Pet Supermarkets. Check the Store Locator for other retail locations.


Full disclaimer: The Clean Response system and Flush Puppies in this giveaway were provided by Petmate and Flush Puppies as a promotional courtesy. No purchase was necessary to win. Complete Giveaway and Contest Rules are available at this link.

Petmate's Luxury Curvations Makes for Comfy, Soft-Sided Travel

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Carrie Boyko
This is My Carrier?

I'm about to confuse Oliver for sure. He has posed for this picture, thinking this funky looking pillow thing next to him is.....what? He's not sure. I know I love the animal-inspired print of soft pink and brown--not too girly, yet really fashionable.

© Carrie Boyko
Upside Down--Starting to Unzip

Let's open it up and see what's inside. Zippers around the side separate the top from the bottom, which will reassemble into the respective top and bottom of the ultimate carrier. Come along with me and see how it works.

© Carrie Boyko
Here's the Carrier's Sides

A firm, foam material is used to make the underlying product, with beautiful fabric covering it for a savvy look. Unzip and open up to reveal what will be the sides of the carrier, stored inside, all folded up. The whole thing weighs just ounces and is ever so much more attractive than the typical carrier that may have only 2 or 3 mesh windows. This siding allows for much better air circulation than the typical mesh siding on many common carriers. Let's see how we put it together:

© Carrie Boyko
Pop Up the Walls
The Door is Screened

After unfolding the walls, they pop up like this picture at left. As you can see, the door is screened and has double zippers. I was especially impressed with the hook closure (zipper to zipper)to assure that a tiny snout doesn't press through a small opening to make a quick escape.


Inside, a washable, padded liner makes for soft bedding for Fido. Now you simply zip the bottom of the carrier to the liner, just as you would a jacket zipper. Same thing with the top. Viola!'

© Carrie Boyko
Assembly Complete in a Jiffy

Tanner has decided that this must be a handbag or some such silliness for me. We'll have to let Oliver inspect. I unzip the door and invite him to check it out. 

Would your pint-sized pup enjoy this beautiful carrier? It's perfect for any small pup up to 15 pounds like a Yorkie, Chihuahua, Pomeranian, or any similarly sized dog. In case you're wondering, Oliver is a 10 lb. Papillon.

What do we like best about this carrier? The 360 degree air circulation is great for travel, when sometimes carriers may be crowded among other baggage in a car, airline seating, or even up against a cargo area wall in an SUV. All around air assures that your pup can  have visibility and fresh air from whichever direction is needed. I also appreciate the security door clasp, as Tanner has an occasional habit of playing Houdini. When he gets bored, he'll sometimes help Oliver escape his crate, so they can explore together. 

© Carrie Boyko
 "This Works for Me, Mom!"

Of course the stowaway design, allowing the carrier to be collapsed when no longer needed, is a big advantage when you just need a carrier for travel from point A to point B. Storage space is always at a premium; this design was highly creative.


For dogs that are happily crate trained, this carrier can also serve as his home away from home--a retreat from a busy household or just a quiet, safe place to nap, where he's out of the way of traffic. 

© courtesy Petsmart.com

If you're planning a getaway with your toy-sized dog and think this carrier suits your style, you can get a closer look at Petmate's site, ask questions at their Facebook page or online at Twitter. You can order one from Petsmart's online site here. Don't you just love the girly color?!!!




Anybody out there want to win one of these adorable Luxury Curvations Pet Carriers by Petmate? I have one up for grabs and one lucky reader can win it with a few quick clicks of the mouse. Today we're testing out a new method of entry. Unlike my other drawings, these entries will remain open till midnight on Thursday, August 18th. Leave me a comment if you'd like to let me know how you enjoy this new Rafflecopter entry route. NOTE: The first 12 hours that this Rafflecopter entry form was on this post, there was a little glitch. I've fixed that now. The first entry method is mandatory. After that, you can pick and choose.

Please remember to leave a method of contact in your blog post:

Twitter handle, email, blog URL.

Dog Toy Giveaway: Petmate's Floatimals Find 5 New Homes

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© S. Gilbert
Skipper  Shares his Enthusiasm

Tanner and I had a such a great time running this Floatimals review that he's been making a daily plea to have more Floatimals time. And I've been giving in. We've also enjoyed watching the reader show. Between Skipper's adorable photos and all of your fun Tweets, I have had a blast this week, and Petmate is simply thrilled with your excitement over their pool toys.

© Carrie Boyko
Tanner Loves his Floatimal

Before I announce the winners of this drawing, I'd like to take a quick moment to thank my photographer and friend, Elizabeth Glavin, for photographing our Fetch game. Elizabeth's blog, 20something Saver, is a terrific place to learn how to save money with your dog expenses, and life in general. Thanks again, Lizzi; we love our photos so much that we'd like to leave our readers with that link, so we can all go back and enjoy the show again.


I also have one more picture of Skipper to share, for those of you who missed it earlier this week. I'm sure we're all enjoying Skipper and his brother Schooner as they share their humorous antics with us through their photos. Thanks to their mom for sharing her creativity with captioning.

© S. Gilbert
Skipper is a Winner!

I couldn't give it away, but now that the cat's out of the bag, I'll pass along the winners' names: Skipper, The Niffs' dog, Roxy, Lola, and Zora. I will contact each of you personally. You can can reply with your address by email to AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com. If you have not yet received an All Things Dog Blog bandana, please share your dog's breed and weight so we can provide an appropriate size bandana for your Fido. Photo thank you's would be most appreciated, and we will try to share all on our Facebook page. Happy tails!


One last very important point....if you'd like to order a Floatimal online for your dog, please visit Valley Vet, where you can currently pick up fireflies, gators and monkeys at reasonable prices. Thanks again!




Full disclosure: Petmate provided us with a Floatimal to review. Tanner loved it bunches and continues to enjoy playing with it daily. We were not paid to give you a review and our opinion is strictly ours....or Tanner's. :)