Preparation is the key to a safe and enjoyable winter, especially if you live north of the Mason-Dixon line. The sleet and snow don’t have to get you down. With the right products and the right attitude the season can be an enjoyable one. Here are a few ideas that can make both you and your best friend more comfortable during the shorter days.

Great fitting, warm and totally waterproof, the Cloak & Dawggie new Sport Parka will keep your pet warm and dry! Available in 4 fabulous colors in 10 sizes covering dogs from teacup to very large!

Bubbles n’ Beads is the perfect cold weather product because it cleans and conditions in one go so your dog spends less time being wet (always welcome when there’s a nip in the air). It’s unique microbeads contain both vitamins and conditioners so even though you’re spending less time washing him you’re not skimping on conditioning.

After the wash it’s important to dry well , it’s easier to dry a squirrily dog with a Soggy dog Towel from FarFetched. Soggy Dog’s specially designed pockets help you get a grip on your wet, wriggly friend. Great after a muddy romp or a post-bath pat-down, Soggy Dog minimizes bath time for dogs of all sizes, short-hair or long

Of course if it’s really chilly and you want to skip a few bath times try DryDog Instant Clean , an all natural bath replacement spray. It not only helps to clean your best friend without water but also contains ordenone, an ingredient that traps and removes the bad smells that seem to flourish between groomings. TIP: Keep a rag and bottle at the door to use on after-walk muddy paws

Don’t let your little guy get a chill after bathing just slip him into a great Ruff Ruff and Meow sweat shirt . Hundreds of styles to chose from all in warm fleece and sized to fit perfectly

At some point you’re gonna have to leave the house and salty frozen sidewalks can be a dogs worst enemy. Not only do his paw pads (and nose) get cold but they’re dried out by the salt. It’s always a good idea to rinse and wipe his paws (and nose if he’s been sniffing around) when you come back in from a walk. A great product to use before and after walks is bowWow Butter Balm . Apply a little before you go out (it forms a barrier between the skin and the environment) and a little more after you come in (it will prevent irritation and heal dry skin). Note you should never use Petroleum jelly or Petroleum based products on your dogs pads; petroleum jelly contains petrolatum, which can cause gastrointestinal upset if ingested. bowWow Butter balm is all natural shea butter and is perfectly safe

Those winter nights can be cold! Give your dog a heated bed so he’ll stay nice and toasty. The All Season Snuggle Sleeper  uses the award winning Cool Bed III insert for summer cooling and the safe plush heated pillow insert for winter warmth.

If you want to be proactive in keeping your best friend healthy this year Eyemunity is the perfect product. It contains Epicor an all natural immune booster that will not only improve your dog’s overal health but also help prevent tearstains.

I know, shoes for dogs seem lame, but … if you live in an area that snows, you might think otherwise. We recommend the fleece lined variety (think ugg boots for pooches). They feature a waterproof exterior fabric, a fleece lining, self-tightening 3M reflective Velcro straps, treated leather soles and cuffs which come up the leg.

The weather outside may be frightful but with a little forethought and preparation your winter can be… delightful.

Love is in the air… or is that gas?

This is the time of year when you want to get closer to your canine companion (& backup Valentine’s date) and nothing helps that closeness more than a fresh-smelling,  gas-free dog. Happytails Canine Spa Line offers up their ‘ Be My Valentine ’ Collection  which includes everything dog owners need to get their furry friends Valentine-ready. (Believe it or not, over 2.5 million Americans buy Valentine’s Gifts for their dogs)

The Be My Valentine Collection includes four travel-sized products that eliminate turn offs such as bad breath and BO all while adding a subtle hint of sparkle, shine and eau d’ cologne.

• Is your dog’s gas making you a little nauseous? It’s not his fault; he needs some Dog Smog Remedy to get the two of you close again.  Spearmint, peppermint and fennel will freshen the breath while digestive enzymes of bromalain and papain will ease the gaseous emissions.

• Does your dog need some Sparkle & Shine to get the sizzle back between the two of you?  Shimmering Mist is a finishing spray that not only smells good enough to eat but will add significant amounts of bling to your dog’s coat so she’s ready for an evening out.

• If your dog’s coat has faded a bit over the years (and whose hasn’t?) might we recommend Sparkle & Shine Brightening Shampoo ? It will bring back the bling and refresh the shine of even the dullest coat. Pearlescent brighteners add shine, while yogurt & honey not only condition the skin but smell delicious.

• Fur Breeze (Citrus Vanilla) This freshen-up spray is a must have for the modern muttrosexual. More than just a pretty scent, Fur Breeze contains ingredients that capture and eliminate unpleasant odors leaving your better half refreshed, renewed and ready for his hectic dog-park duties.

Los Angeles-based happytails creates eco-friendly spa, grooming and wellness products for the modern dog. We use the finest (“better than human quality”) ingredients to solve the toughest problems that dogs face, like itchy skin, tear stains and bad breath. Happytails is sold and recommended by veterinarians around the world for one simple reason- they work, naturally!

Do I Really Need To Use Conditioner on My Dog?

Most people dislike bathing their dog because, let’s admit it, it’s a pain in the rear end.  By the end of the process you’re wetter than your dog, and the bathroom is left in shambles.   So for most, the idea of prolonging the  bathing experience one minute longer is not even an option.  However, that one or two extra minutes to condition your dog can really improve the state of their coat.

The case for conditioners - As we all know, shampoos by design are used for removing unwanted grime from the skin and coat. But shampooing, without sealing the coat afterwords, leaves the hair shaft open where residue can enter and oils and hydration escape. But conditioning after shampooing will close the hair cuticle and restore hydration, moisture and elasticity.

Conditioners also fill in the damaged hair that drying, brushing, dematting and petting cause. Just normal wear and tear chips away at the hair cuticle which a conditioner will restore to a smooth state and one that gives a more lustrous appearance and feel.

The most amazing conditioner I’ve used is Fur Butter (or Fur Worse) . It’s an oatmeal-based ultra rich conditioning treatment for dry, damaged and long coats. It’s very think and rich and leaves the dog super soft & silky.

So, in a nutshell it’s definitely better to condition your dog than not to condition. But some dogs benefit more than others.  To determine if your dog is a good candidate and if the extra two or three minutes conditioning your dog is worth your time, answer the following questions:

1. How long is your dog’s coat?
2. Does he/she have an under coat?
3. How often do you wash your dog?
4. Does your dog have itchy skin?
5. The cuddle factor (CF) you would like to achieve.
6. How adverse is your dog to bath time?

Long Coats
If your dog has a long coat,  then it may be prone to mattes and tangles (think Maltese, Yorkies, Afgans). Using a conditioner will not only make your dog’s coat healthier it will make your job a lot easier by helping to remove mattes and tangles and the after bath brush out will be a breeze.

Undercoat
Dog’s without undercoats will probably receive the most benefit from a conditioner. Because their hair most resembles human hair, it’s thin, easily tangles and gets dirty quickly. Dogs with undercoats usually have thicker coarser hair (like a lab) and therefore do not matte and the coat tends to repel dirt.

Wash Frequency
If you wash your dog often (more than 1x per month) you should definitely condition your dog to close that hair shaft so the coat retains moisture. To read more about how often to wash your dog, click here

Itchy Skin
If your dog has itchy skin , you may want to bathe your dog more often to get rid of allergens. And if you’re washing you dog frequently, conditioner is a good idea. Be sure to use one that has oatmeal which works wonders for itchy skin and other botanicals to help combat itchy skin. Look for herbs like aloe, burdock, comfrey and boswellia to help with inflammation.

The Cuddle Factor
Of course this is the most important thing to consider!  I have a maltese and nothing is better than slathering her with Fur Butter (or Fur Worse) Deep Conditioner. Her coat is left so amazingly soft. It immediately makes the CF go from 10 to 1,000,000.

Bath Time adversity
If your dog really really hates the water and can’t hang around in the tub for one minute longer, there are still things you can do to condition your dog. For example, there are some great 2-in-1 Shampoos and Conditioners you can check out like Bubbles ‘n Beads. Not only does it smell amazing but it gets the job done fast.  Or, get a leave-in conditioner that you simply spray into the dog’s coat after a bath. This aids with the brush out process and adds moisture into the coat. Most of these can be used on a wet or dry coat.

So there is some science to this after all, it’s not all just fluff (not pun intended) Although for most of us it will come down to unquantifiable things like the all important Fluff Factor and of course the already mentioned Cuddle Factor.

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Bubbles n Beads Shampoo & conditioner contains gentle ingredients to help remove doggie odor

Getting Rid of Doggie Odor

Few things are guaranteed to brighten my day more than a huge furry cuddle with my dogs, and I admit that I love that fresh, clean dog smell. But if your canine pal smells far from fresh, the last thing you want is a display of pet affection, so what do you do when your dog (to put it politely) stinks? Bad odor can be a symptom of many different conditions, and determining the cause is key to finding a cure.

One of the simplest, and often overlooked, causes of a smelly dog is their curious nature. Has Buddy been rolling in something you’d rather not think about? Perhaps that dead squirrel in the garden? Or has a skunk been on the defensive? Luckily, as foul as these may smell, they are easily treated by a good bath and no medical intervention is needed. A tomato juice bath is widely reputed to remove skunk smell.

Other smells may be signs of an infection. For example:

• Bad breath may indicate gum disease or dental decay, or a more serious condition such as diabetes or kidney problems.
• Stinky ears can be a sign of mites, allergies, or some other chronic infection.
• Smelly skin may be the result of a bacterial (pyoderma) or fungal (dermatitis) infection. Bacterial infections, sometimes accompanied by hair loss and pimples, are usually easily treated. Bubbles’n’Beads , a shampoo and conditioner, contains antibacterial tea tree and lavender oils to remove the odor and replace it with something more nose-friendly.
• Yeast infections, on the other hand, may be caused by allergies or a reaction to steroids or antibiotics. Finding the underlying cause is an essential part of treating the infection.

Then of course, there are those smells that are released from your dog’s other end.

• There is little mistaking the strong smell caused by blocked anal glands but a vet can show you how to safely empty them.
• Flatulence can also cause problems. Some gas may be normal but frequently occurring emissions can be caused by food allergies, in which case a change of diet will help. Some Dog Smog Remedy , a breath freshener and digestive solution added to your pet’s drinking water can aid bad breath or gas by neutralizing digestive enzymes.

Once the source of the odor has been found, you can work on getting rid of it. In the case of infection or allergy, it may take some time for treatment to work or a change of diet to take effect, but there are still steps you can take to help reduce the bad smell in the meantime. Dry Dog Instant Clean , a spray on bath replacement or dry shampoo,  offers an alternative to frequent washing, and Fur Breeze can be used to help remove smells or whenever your dog wants to smell a little fancy.

Sometimes just giving your dog a bath does the trick. If you didn’t take a bath for 3 months you might be smelly too! There are lots of opinions on how often you should bathe your dog but if you’re like me, I sleep with my dog, so I prefer to wash my dogs weekly. Many people shy away from it for fear of drying out their dog’s coat. But there are many high quality dog shampoos available that will not dry out the coat so it’s probably worth the wash to avoid the unbearable doggie smell!

Serious dog odor shouldn’t be ignored (and most of us can’t ignore it for long), but once the underlying cause has been discovered, there are plenty of treatments and products available to ensure that you are soon enjoying cuddles with your pet again.