HomeGoods Swimmers Giveaway

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© All Things Dog Blog
Ready for a Swim?

Haven't won any dog giveaways yet? Don't you worry, there's still plenty to come. Now I have even more awesome HomeGoods dog products to give away! Do your dog's like to swim?!? Well there's never a better time to get your dog interested in swimming than when they have a brand new HomeGoods dog wet suit, towel, and shampoo. Tanner absolutely loves his doggie wetsuit, and is always excited to hop in the pool. In fact, it's always a challenge to his training to get him back out once he's in. He loves it when I swim with him too. It's great bonding and exercise for me and him.

Now that the water is cooling down, this wetsuit is the perfect transition for allowing Tanner to continue to swim, even on chilly days. He, of course, never thinks it is too cold to swim. I have a different set of rules, though. It's the mom in me, I suppose. As you can see, the wetsuit is a snug fit, as it should be to retain body heat around the most important organs. Tanner is 70 lbs. so this should give you an idea of fit for your dog. I do not have other sizes, so please enter this giveaway only if you have an appropriate use for this wetsuit. Let's make sure it finds a good home where it will protect its new owner from hypothermia.

Oliver on the other hand is another story entirely. He would be much happier sitting on the pool deck. Well, not so much sitting as keeping a safe distance, standing, and barking at me while Tanner and I splash around in the pool. He tends to get very concerned and barks loudly as if to say, "Get out Mom, you'll drown!" But, don't fret, he always manages to calm down, and assist me with rinsing and drying off Tanner.

© All Things Dog Blog
Oliver Comes Prepared!

Love these awesome HomeGoods dog products. Now they can be yours! One winner will receive each of these two prize packages: (1) Wetsuit for a 70-lb dog and (2) Shampoo and a microfiber towel for Fido. Enter in the rafflecopter below for your chance to win. Be sure to increase your odds by doing as many entry options as possible! Check out their Facebook and Twitter to see more great products!

Entries may be made on the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of this post. If you don't see it, simply click on the post title to refresh and it will magically reappear beneath the post.

Entries will be accepted through Sunday, November 25 and winners will be announced late on Monday, November 26. Good luck!

HomeGoods has provided these prizes as a promotional courtesy. I have not been paid to provide this giveaway or to highlight these products. No purchase is required to win.

Pet 'n Shape for Healthy Snacking

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

While you may not have seen much of the Treat Review Team lately, they have been busy providing input. For a while, we had so much to review that I was worried about their waistlines. Fortunately it is the New Year and we're now focusing on that--more exercise and a healthier twist to our snacks.

When fresh snacks are not always in stock in the fridge, it's nice to have something with a shelf life around to take up the slack. Many of the packaged treats you'll find at pet stores are lacking in healthfulness, while overloaded in calories. Just as you would for your own choices, be sure to read the label and be conscious of the nutritional value you are purchasing.

© courtesy PetnShape.com

Today's product review, Pet 'n Shape, has some features that are hard to say no to. Just three ingredients on the list is always a good sign of a less-processed snack. For example, the flavor we tested is Chicken Liver + Peas and Carrots. You probably guessed that they are high in protein--50% of the treat's nutritional makeup is protein. The veggies add a hearty 5.5 % fiber to encourage healthy digestion. As with all treats, always be sure your pup has access to fresh water when when serving.

© Carrie Boyko
No Fresh Carrots?
Try Pet 'n Shape

These tiny treats are perfect for training and rewarding;  break apart easily for the tiniest of pups, and they are small enough that you won't need to worry that they will pad your pup's belly. They're also made without added junk like food coloring, preservatives, or additives of any kind. You know that's all I will recommend here, right? 
These freeze dried treats have a long shelf life and an aroma that will grab your Rover's attention quite readily. I don't even have to call Tanner and Oliver when the package is opened; they smell them and come running. 
Since Tanner and Oliver are busy engaging in a new grain-free diet, this treat fits right into their new lifestyle--no wheat, corn or soy. No grains at all! If that interests you, be sure to check out our grain-free choice here.

© courtesy PetnShape.com

So let your Fido know that it's time to eat his peas and carrots, and he'll be happy to indulge you when you offer this yummy snack full of wonderful chicken liver too. When it's time for a little something special, my dogs enjoy fruit, as well as their standard meat and veggies. Pet 'n Shape offers two varieties that we can get behind: Pumpkin and Apple sounds like Autumn dessert time, while Banana and Kiwi is an apparent tropical delight.
If you have questions after you peruse their website, you can find them on Facebook or toss out your query at Twitter. I'm sure you'll find some answers there. You may even locate other users that can tell you what they think of these treats. Tanner and Oliver simply want to tell you, on behalf of the whole All Things Dog Blog Treat Team, that they give these yummies 2 paws up. 

© PetnShape.com

Wondering where you can find Pet 'n Shape near you? Try their store locator at this link. I tested it and found 5 stores within 10 miles of my home. That's pretty good coverage for locating a product.  You can also purchase online at a multitude of sites that you will find at this link. And before you run off to shop, be sure to print out their coupon here. Good luck with your 2012 Fido fitness plan. Watch for a giveaway coming soon, right here!

Today we're joining a blog hop at Dogtipper called Rover's Reviews. You may find some other interesting products here, as well. Enjoy some shopping:




Full disclosure:  A sample bag of Pet 'n Shape was provided as a review sample by the PR firm representing Pet 'nShape treats. I was not paid to write about or review them, and the comments included here are my own.

Petmate's Floatimals Make Water Play Fun

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© E. Glavin
I'm Sitting. Fetch Please?

It seems this is water week for reviews at All Things Dog Blog. Of course you know the rule: Have Retriever; must swim!  At our house the words "Swim", "Porch", and "Fetch" probably all mean about the same thing to Tanner, our water dog. At a very young age we discovered that he would quickly take most any opportunity to indulge himself in the wet stuff if we didn't intervene when necessary.

© E. Glavin
Good Manners. Ok, Let's Play

Now that Tanner knows the rules (No swimming without permission) he's much like any other kid around the pool, meaning that he enjoys his pool toys. We have experimented with all sorts of pool toys over his nearly 5 years, and I'm beginning to get a clear idea of his favorites. When I spotted the Floatimals in Petmate's display during Global Pet Expo, I knew I had found a winner. 


Today Tanner got the Dragonfly for his first test run. Thanks to my friend Elizabeth for running the camera, as a fetch game is tough to participate in, while also photographing. Didn't she do a great job? Thanks Lizzi!

© E. Glavin
Look Mom. I Got a Dragonfly!

Tanner's first plunge was met with great pleasure--a marshmallow-soft fetch toy was unexpected. What fun!


Now I'll make him work a little harder. He has to bring the toy to me for the next pitch, dropping it at my feet again, as a way of offering good sportsmanship--manners.

© E. Glavin
Good Boy Tanner

As usual, Tanner brings the toy all the way to my knees, rubbing it against me as if to be sure I know it is there. My resulting wet clothes are nothing more than an endearing way that he assures me he has returned the toy. How can I complain about that?


Let's "Fetch" again. This time a little harder task. I'll ask him to "Leave it" after I toss it. Let's see what happens.

© E. Glavin
Not Yet, Mom. I'll Be Right Back!

Tanner got a round of applause from me when he successfully waited till I gave permission to Fetch. That said, he also decided he wasn't ready to return it immediately. He's no dummy! After climbing out of the water he headed in the opposite direction of me and took another dip:

© E. Glavin

Tanner enjoyed a naughty round of the pool, knowing he was supposed to return the toy to me, but I tolerated his fun in favor of more photos. Normally that sort of misbehavior would result in the toy going back on the shelf and the end of a game. :(

© E. Glavin
Oliver Watches from the Window
As I Tease Tanner with the Floatimal

Now it's my turn to tease him. I flaunt the dragonfly in front of him, but he holds his Sit. Good Boy. 


I thought Oliver's interested spectating might distract Tanner, but his eye was on the prize.  I'm sure he was saying, "C'mon mom; please throw it again."


Okay, let's go again. This time you'll have to find me in a different spot to return Dragonfly. Go Fetch!

© E. Glavin
Go Tanner...

I think you probably get the idea by now, huh? This is a great pool toy that is enticing and different. It's not your typical, hard rubber tube-type toy. Tanner enjoyed the squishy, water fun and I appreciated the durable neoprene fabric that it's made of, despite the fact that I got doused. It's part of the fun, and besides, I got cooled off too.

© courtesy Petmate.com

Petmate's Floatimals come in a variety of critters including ladybugs, monkeys, snakes, bees, and gators. Whatever your dog's favorite chase is, they're likely to have something to fill his fun-factor.


Speaking of fun factor, I think we should share the love. Petmate has shared 5 Floatimals for a giveaway, so start your engines. You can win a Floatimal with your comments here on the blog. Here's a bunch of ways to enter, so join in the fun. Go Fetch a Floatimal for your Fido!

• You may enter the giveaway once daily per method, but you must use a different Tweet, comment, photo, etc. each time. 
• COMMENTS are the primo form of entry--super simple since you're already here. Visit the bottom of the post to find the COMMENTS link and click.
• Winners will be selected from comments here on the blog that include a method of contact (URL, email, Twitter handle, etc). All Tweets and emails must be followed up with a comment here to be entered in the drawing. Random.org will be used to select the winners.
• For 3 entries, post a photo of your pup to my Facebook page with a sign that says "We Love Floatimals". You can print a picture from this post and write the note on the photo for an extra entry. That's 4 entries right there! You can also post your photo to  Petmate's Facebook page and it may be featured on our blog if you email it to me at AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com. 
• Leave a comment here saying "I Like All Things Dog Blog and Petmate on Facebook" for another entry.
• Likewise, follow  @AllThingsDog and @PetmateProducts on Twitter and leave a comment here telling me you've done this.
• Subscribing to our blog by email using the dog house subscription box at left is a great way to keep up with our posts, giveaways, Ask the Vet and Trainer columns and more. Leave me a comment for one entry, saying "I subscribe to All Things Dog Blog." RSS subscribers may use this method also. Click this link for more info on RSS.
• And of course, hit that Tweet/Retweet button at the top of the post, and then leave me a comment telling me you Tweeted/Retweeted this post. Leave your Twitter handle for verification and we'll be thrilled to give you another entry.
• Entries will close at 5 PM sharp on Thursday, July 28th. I'll report the winners on Friday, July 29nd.

If you're not the patient sort, preferring to just go ahead and buy your own Floatimals, you can find them online at this page on Valley Vet. At least that's a sure thing, but it's not near as much fun as entering our giveaways! Hope to see you all in the comments list. Happy Fetching!

Related Posts:Teaching Your Dog to FetchTeaching "Go Get the Newspaper"
Full disclosure: The Floatimal seen in these photos was provided to me for a product review by Petmate. I was not paid to provide my opinion. The thoughts shared in this article are my own.