Natural Balance's New Belly Bites

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

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© Natural Balance
Belly Bites in 3 Great Flavors

I have to be honest. My dogs are not happy campers right now. While Tanner is finally healing from the hole in his head that he sustained while running through the recently-trimmed bushes, he still has a large circle shaved across his forehead--not exactly a pretty photo opp. You get to see the Belly Bites without a dog today :(

Hi Five, Tanner!

Where's Oliver, you're wondering? Well, Oliver had a little mishap at the beach. It took up a week to figure out what was wrong and he quickly ended up in emergency surgery. He's home now and unfortunately will not get the joy of tasting these Belly Bites because he's on a totally soft diet. Tanner, however, gave his impression with a big high five and is hoping to get more opportunities to taste test soon.
Let's get on with this intro to the newest member of the Natural Balance treat team--Belly Bites. They sound delicious, even before you read the information on the website or news release. These semi-moist treats come in 3 flavors that are all paired up with legumes, offering adequate protein and fiber paired with grain-free goodness. Legumes are the dried beans like Garbanzo beans and Peas that are high in protein and fiber. 

Belly Bites come in Duck and Legume Formula, Chicken and Legume Formula and Salmon and Legume Formula.  With 14% crude protein from the primary ingredients and the legumes, these treats sound like they're ready to power your dog through a day at the races. We also love that they are made with natural flavoring and natural preservatives, as well as skim milk--all healthy ingredients that we love to get behind.
And guess what? For a limited time, you can grab a $1 off coupon at each of the links above, just click here for one. That's right! Save $3 when you buy 3 bags of these nutritious, delicious snacks. That opinion, of course, came from Tanner. He got to taste test the Chicken formula and is really looking forward to trying the Duck version. After all, he is a Golden Retriever; his DNA speaks duck!
These moderate-sized treats are easily broken to adapt to the size of the dog and the frequency of treating. We recommend you watch Fido's waistline by treating moderately. Watch for a giveaway coming soon. 
Meanwhile, I want to share with you some info on the photo contest going on over at the Natural Balance Facebook page. Through Monday, November 25 Facebook fans can submit the funniest photo of their dog begging for a treat. Don't forget to include your best caption for Fido's image which you visit the Get in My Belly! Photo Contest.

Winners? You bet! The top 20 vote-getters will score a basket full of Belly Bites, enough to share with their playmates at the dog park. Isn't it wonderful that they'll have energy enough to run and play and socialize! That's what healthy snacks are for--fueling the adventure. Enjoy! All Things Dog Blog shares Natural Balance news and information in a sponsorship program as an NB Insider, in which we receive paid participation in industry events and food for our pets.

Keep Pet Supplies in Purrfect Order

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Typical Catitude to Anything New

Vapor Vault's name did it for me. What a perfect name that is for this accessory to the Purrfect Order, a litter accessory organizer made by The Petlinks System.  It was immediately clear what the product was intended to do, given that I was already aware it had something to do with cat litterboxes.

This handy organizer allows you to pull all your kitty's litterbox necessities together in one spot. Whether you keep baking soda on hand, bags, small whisk broom, sticky roller, or other supplies, you'll find it will all fit nicely in this cleverly arranged setup that all clicks together for ease of use.

As you clean kitty's box or as Meow creates little litter messes outside her box while she endeavors to do her cover up job, all the swept up and scooped up solids can be easily stored in the Vapor Vault until the bag is full and disposed of. This is the perfect way to assure that Meow's scent does not call out to guests or to your dogs.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Bonding Time at Last

Further, a clean litterbox is the best way to make sure your kitty continues to use it respectfully. Cats are finicky about their boxes, and as so can be fussy about smell, mess or misplaced litter or soil. Keeping her area neat, clean and orderly will help to assure she is successful in hitting her target.

You can find products in the Petlinks System, including the Purrfect Order, at these retailers: www.petsmart.com, www.petco.com, www.petvalu.com, www.wag.com, and  www.onlynaturalpet.com

Would you like to get your kitty's belongings into Purrfect Order? I'm giving away 2 of these terrific organizers, and the #LitterChat Twitter Party will be giving away 2 more on behalf of @SwheatScoop natural litter. Here's 2 ways you can win via #LitterChat:

• RSVP at this link to join us at the party. Our Grand Prize will include one of these nifty setups. 
• PreTweet according to the guide at this link, for more chances to score a Purrfect Order!

You can enter to win my giveaways using the Rafflecopter below. If its being a little catty today, just click on the post title and it will give up its snippiness and be nice. Entries will be accepted through midnight July 11th. Winners will be announced on July 12th. Good luck!

This product was reviewed and given away by me on request of the maker. I was not paid to review it and the comments above are my own.

Fetch Flings Soar with Wishbone Flyers

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Hurry Up Brent! Let's Fly!

A Wishbone Flyer arrived at All Things Dog Blog for review during Winter, the perfect time for outdoor fun in Florida. Without the cold or the heat, we were able to enjoy some Fetching fun with Tanner as our 'reviewer'. Needless to say, Tanner was very excited. Are you getting that impression from this photo?

As my son prepared the Flyer and took a few sample flings, we both were amazed at the distances that could be achieved. Before we actually played a real game of Fetch, I had to get Tanner calm and ready for the command. No taking off before the ball was released from the Wishbone Flyer.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Ready to Fly?

With Tanner settled and Brent ready to give this baby a real test, he loaded up the Flyer and gave the command. Tanner took off like a rocket, ready to reach the Moon in a matter of seconds. Powered by Natural Balance's Organic Formula, Tanner's energy and stamina is a sight to see. As one dog owner put it:

"D***! That dog is fast!"

I had an entire dog park group watching behind me as Tanner returned time after time, dropping the ball and taking chase once again,  

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Go Fetch!

with the ball easily flying 75 feet or more. Thankfully we chose a very large dog park for this expedition, or we probably would have been scaling the fence to retrieve lost balls. There's tip number one for Wishbone Flyers users. Choose a large area!

Tip number two is that you'll need to scout out a post with a flat top to strap the Wishbone Flyer snugly in place. We learned from experimentation that a square post works better than a round one; although, as you can see, we were able to successfully have a great time flying off a chain link fence.Before you purchase a Wishbone Flyer, do your homework. Know you have a spot to attach the flyer where there is plenty of space for Fido to run safely. The

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Tanner Returns the Ball for Round 2

actual flinging mechanism needs to stick out above the post, so a light pole or other very tall structure will simply not work. 

As you can see in my photos, we used a dog park fence for this shoot because we wanted a large, enclosed area to assure that Tanner would not be lured away while we were preoccupied with the photo shoot details. A chain link fence is not your ideal post; however the corner post seen here did work relatively well. 

The Wishbone Flyer folks are very clear to share that their product was designed to attach to the top of decking such as that seen in the video below. Enjoy the show that this German Shepherd puts on, but realize that your balls may go farther, so choose a location that will allow for the long balls to be retrieved safely.

courtesy Wishbone Flyers

The video tells the story for Tanner as well.Tanner got a great workout and it was easy to use the flyer, once an appropriate post was located. Once again, I will recommend that you try to find a square post that allows you to strap on the Wishbone Flyer at the top, exposing the flinging mechanism above it, as shown in this photo at left. This will get you the best possible action, and a terrific exercise session for your Fetch-crazed dog. Tanner gives this tool a 4 out of 5, merely because locating a useful post can be challenging, although it is well worth the effort. Enjoy!

Want to learn more about the Wishbone Flyer? Check out their website at the link above, or visit them on Facebook or Twitter. If your dog is anything like my Fetching fanatic, he'll love this great tool that won't wear out your arm. Tanner is always a willing subject. Watch for a giveaway to come shortly.


Tanner wishes to thank the folks at Wishbone Flyers for this sample we reviewed at no cost to us. We were not paid to share our thoughts, take these photos or run our fannies off, and these comments are completely our own. 

Puppy Training Tips: Part III

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Make Crate Time Great Time

Today we're going to toss out some tips for potty training/house training your new puppy or rescued dog.The more consistent you are the more successful you will be:

• Choose a crate that will grow with your puppy. Too large of a crate will allow your pup to sleep in one corner and use the other corner as a bathroom. The crate should be large enough for him to stand, lay and turn around, but not much larger. As he grows, the movable panel can gradually grow with her, allowing more space as needed. Eventually, the panel will likely be removed when the pup grows into the crate.
• Crate your puppy frequently throughout the day for short periods, allowing her to become acclimated to spending time there. Praise her when she rests peacefully without making a fuss, as well as when you remove her to take her outside. As she becomes more comfortable with these rest periods, you can begin to leave her for short outings to test her comfort level and staying power. This will take time; go slowly.
• While at home, keep your pup near you and under your supervision constantly. If you move around from room to room, tether him to your belt or waist using a leash, so you can keep an eye on him in case he begins to show the tell-tale signs of needing to go.
• Know those signs: pacing, circling, sniffing at a certain spot or in a circle, squatting (oops, you're too late)
• Make a habit of always taking your pup out immediately after sleeping, eating, playing, exercising, drinking, or anytime you see the above signs.
• Having selected the spot you'd like your pup to always use, don't waver by allowing her to drag you around. THIS is the spot; wait there until he gets the idea and takes action. The scent of his prior visits will build up and eventually give him a faster-acting release. Give him your encouraging words, such as "Go potty!" and treat immediately when he is successful.
• Once action has begun or immediately upon completion, praise sweetly and gently. Don't make too much of a fuss or you may interrupt the important event :)
• Call your puppy to his potty spot with the same sweet voice and special words each time, so he'll begin to associate these with this action. 
• If your puppy exhibits a behavior that becomes a natural signal of her need to go out, encourage that signal to alert you. Praise and treat her with your training treats as a way of encouraging this behavior that notifies you when it's time for a visit to the grass. Any signal that is acceptable to you will work: a woof, whine, scratch at the door, nose bump on your hand, ringing of potty bells that hang on your door--whatever works for your dog and you to communicate.
• Young puppies and toy dogs often have trouble house training in larger spaces. They may quickly become averse to using rooms they spend time in as a bathroom; however, other rooms may sometimes take on that role for these smaller pups. I've learned that one way to prevent this is to allow them to spend time in each of these otherwise less-frequented areas. This may be inconvenient for you while you supervise him there, but hopefully you'll find a way to accomplish a task while giving your dog time to bond with this area of your home that he rarely spends time in.
• If you catch your pup in the act of pottying indoors, scold quickly while immediately taking her outside to her special place, spending a few minutes to allow her to remember this is where she should have taken action. Do not rub your puppy's nose in his business or swat him, as he may become fearful of pottying altogether.
• If your puppy is left in a crate too long and has an accident, don't correct her. It's your fault, not hers. Simply clean her and the crate up and don't make a fuss.
• Same goes if you've left the pup alone too long in the house and you find a mistake. Often they will leave their deposit at the door or near a window, indicating their effort to get outdoors.
• If you've chosen to keep your puppy in 1 room, not using a crate, you'll want to use potty pads or a dog potty with faux grass included, in order to protect the floor, as well as to help your pet know where you want his deposits to land. It's nice to know where you can and cannot step when entering the room :) This target training is important to eventually working your way outside, if that is desirable.
• Once your pup is regularly hitting the puppy pad, you may choose a long weekend when you can spend several days working with him on the transition. Begin moving the pad gradually toward the exit, keeping your eye on the pup. It's imperative that you throw a big party every time he locates the pad and uses it. Lots of praise and a treat will help him understand that following the pad is exactly what you want.
• Once you reach the exit door, begin cutting away small sections of the pad, or closing the door over an area of it, reducing the available amount. The idea is to help Fido understand he needs to assist you with knowing what he wants--verbally or with some sort of noise or action. Many pad users will place potty bells right where the puppy is likely to bump them while using the pad, helping you to be aware of his actions. Praise and treat your little one for ringing the bells as well as using the pad. You're on your way!

Keep in mind that rewarding your trainee each and every time he tries to get it right will be continuously building a more reliable behavior that you'll be happy to see. Zukes

courtesy Zukes

Mini Naturals are a terrific, tiny treat for rewarding good behavior, and one that your pup will love. These healthy, natural treats are made in the U.S.A. with no wheat, corn or soy, ingredients that many owners try to avoid due to possible allergens. You'll find a Store Locator at this link so you can take a personal peek and see what your local retailers are stocking of the Zukes varieties.

In less than 10 days, Event Barkers will be officially announcing a Twitter Party for Zukes. Yes, you heard it here first! While you're waiting on details, you can go ahead and check them out online at their website and on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Watch for more details  soon...and a giveaway coming shortly!

All Things Dog Blog and our Event Barkers partner, DogTipper, will soon be announcing a Twitter Party promoting some of Zukes products, including the Mini Naturals reviewed here. Soon you'll be learning about more of their hard working treats so stay tuned to our sites for additional details.

Petco Wedding Fashion Fun

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Beautiful Wedding Accessories

With fun Fido wedding events going on in the blogosphere, Petco decided to get in on that action. Our latest review package is a fashion show for the wedding party--the bride, groom AND the guests!

courtesy Petco.com
Harness/Dress

You can pick up the goodies you find in this review at Petco stores near you. You'll find a Store Locator at the top of the page at this link. If you'd prefer not to brave the traffic, simply buy online. Check out this adorable dress that I wish I had a female dog to wear.

Jacque is helping out with modeling duties today to show off a stunning poncho in gorgeous Spring colors. I believe this accessory is appropriate for a male dog, almost as well as a female. Doesn't Jacque look handsome?

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Jacque Sports a Poncho for Wedding Day

Petco's assortment of accessories and clothing is second to none with everything you can imagine. I especially enjoyed the sequin hat and plaid tie in beautiful Spring colors, just perfect for the bridal party or your rehearsal dinner ensemble.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Pool Front Wedding Venue

Don't forget the bride and groom and their required impeccable appointments. Black tie is appropriate for grooms at evening weddings, and this selection is completed by beautiful cuffs with matching black cuff links. A collar accessory we have included shows off an adorable black mustache.

The bride's veil made of net attaches with a thin rubberband which we found can be placed under the chin and behind the ears for perfect invisibility. The veil includes beautiful detail! Pick a few wildflowers outdoors, tie them up with a ribbon and your Fido will have her dream wedding.

We created a wedding aisle with appropriate rose petal dressing to make the mood just perfect for this happy, happy day.

Petco has asked us to share these wedding and Spring accessories with you, offering our comments. We have not been compensated to review these items and all items will be given away. The opinions and wedding scenario are all my own.