BlueSuitMom's Working Mom Must Haves: Pets
By Rachael Bender, Co-founder of BlueSuitMom.com
& Beth Bogerman, Contributing Writer
For the Rugged Traveling Canine
Fishpond Bow Wow Travel Water and Food Bowl Set
This traveling food and water bowl set from Fishpond is perfect for the canine who loves to go camping. It holds 12 cups of food in the food bowl and it holds 96 oz of water. The opening is wide enough for a very large breed muzzle to fit into very comfortably. The set comes in two color options—sand or blue—and is trimmed in the Fishpond trademark jacquard print top. There is even a stake loop at the bottom of the bowl attached to the rubberized plastic non-skid base. The water and food bowl are both well worth the price tag of $18 and $20 each, as once you see the construction of these items, you will notice the quality as well.
Website: littleriveroutfitters.com or fishpondusa.com
RUFFWEAR Bivy Bowl
This ultra lightweight, portable bowl can fold up and fit into any back pocket. The red color of the Bivy Bowl is very stylish, and the slip-resistant bottom is just perfect for little wiggly drinkers who push their water bowls all around. It comes in sizes small and medium. The small holds 27 oz of water while the medium holds 51 oz. The opening is not very large, but it is perfect for dog breeds that have long noses. This dog bowl is recommended for the avid hiker, as the portability of this bowl is a great feature. It has a price point of $19.95 but is well worth the investment if you are an avid hiker with your pooch.
Website: ruffwear.com
RUFFWEAR Flophouse Foam Pad
This is totally a luxe way to go if you own a camping type of canine! The Flophouse Foam Pad is a completely portable and comfortable place for any canine to lay his/her tired head after a long day of hiking or sniffing around. It has a carrying handle to make it easy for the parents to carry, and it comes in two colors—granite gray and glacial blue. You can just hose it off if there are any muddy paw accidents on it and hang it up to dry. The material has special holes that help the water drain fast. The Flophouse Foam Pad comes in three sizes—small, medium, and large—and in a variety of prices as well, ranging from $59.95 to $99.95 depending on size.
Website: ruffwear.com
Dynamite Marketing First Aid Kit
Dynamite Marketing has developed a great all-natural first aid kit for pets. This kit retails for $49.99 and contains Trace Minerals Concentrate, Tea Tree Oil, Solace, 2 oz Miracle Clay, 1 oz Wound Salve, 4 oz Wound Wash, 1 oz Wound Balm, 2 oz Release, and a Quick Reference Card showing to use each item for various ailments. This product is amazing! After only having it for a week I had to use it to stop my doggie’s nails from bleeding at the quick. It worked fast, and I felt secure knowing that it didn’t contain any unknown chemicals that I wasn’t familiar with.
Website: dynamitemarketing.com
For the Hotel Traveling Canine
Dexas Popware for Pets
Dexas has designed a platform feeder for the pet on the go called Popware for Pets. It is a fully collapsible, dishwasher-safe pet feeder that folds down to 1.5 inches and is easy to stow away in a suitcase while traveling. This trendy feeder is available in pink or blue and retails for $29.99. This gift is perfect for anyone who travels with their best canine friend.
Website: popwareforpets.com (also available at Amazon.com)
Baby Doe Pet Carrier
Pet Flys has an entire line of cutting-edge pet carriers, but the Baby Doe design is by far my favorite. With its pretty antique tooling accents on the outside and the solid brown leather background with the Baby Doe appliqué on the door of the carrier, this is the most precious way to carry around your pet. The lining is in a soft, giraffe-print faux fur material and provides maximum snuggle comfort for your little fur baby. These carriers come in sizes Mini, Small, and Super. The Super holds a pet up to 16 lbs and retails for $154. However, if you go to www.alphadogshopper.com and enter the code BLUESUITMOM, you will get 10% off your order until Dec 31, 2009.
Website: alphadogshopper.com
The Dog Lover’s Companion Guide Books
If you love to travel with your canine friend, then The Dog Lover’s Companion Guide Book series by Avalon Travel are worth checking out. They have books for California, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Florida, New England, Boston, Los Angles, and many, many more locations. These books are full of the cool places to be seen, heard, and shop with your canine best friend. These books will make a great gift for any dog lover on your wish list.
Website: dogloverscompanion.com
For the Leash Discriminating Canine
The Perfect Leash by Just Ducky Products
The Perfect Leash by Just Ducky is made with some heavy-duty rubber in mind. It is meant for the heavy-hitting, hard-pulling canine. It has a hand-held contoured leash that makes the control of that stubborn canine very easy to manage. At just $24.99, our family has had ours for over a year and it has yet to break, stretch out, or show any signs of wear.
Website: justduckyproducts.com
RUFFWEAR Roamer Leash
The great thing about the Roamer Leash by Ruffwear is that you can be hands-free while walking your dog. It can go around your waist and allow your dog to roam while you are free to hold hand weights, a coffee, or doggy doody bags while you are walking with your dog. The Roamer Leash also has the capability to allow your dog to freely roam 3–4.5 feet farther than the standard leash length. The leash is made of nylon webbing and is available in four stylish colors: obsidian black, forest green, glacial blue, and red currant. The price is $24.95, and the leash is machine washable.
Website: ruffwear.com
For the Well-Groomed Canine
Aroma Paws Luxury Shampoo & Conditioner in One
So many dogs have allergies these days due to food additives, chemicals in medications, or just plain old allergies, so the last thing they need is one more ingredient in their shampoo. Aroma Paws solved the problem by coming out with a line of shampoo and conditioner combo sets that contain no dyes, parabens, alcohol, salt, phosphates, or synthetic fragrances. Each formulation is eco-friendly, biodegradable, and tearless for even the most sensitive puppy. I love that there are 8 fragrance options. Lavender Chamomile is my favorite, and in the 12-oz size it retails for $23.99. However, if you go to www.alphadogshopper.com and enter the code BLUESUITMOM, you will get 10% off your order until Dec 31, 2009.
Website: alphadogshopper.com
For the Sleep-loving Canine
Greener Pup Eco Friendly Dog Bed
This next year our family has decided to take on the task of becoming more ecologically responsible. So while we have been looking into this, we have decided we are going to also pull the members of our canine family into this task. The first thing we’ve decided is to start looking for more eco-friendly bedding. We were so excited when we found Greener Pup. Greener Pup makes beds with filling composed of recycled plastic and covers made from fabric samples and remnants that are completely removable and machine washable. Prices range from $39.99 to $109.99, and if you happen to have a rescue dog, you’ll get 25% off your order.
Website: greenerpup.com
Molly Mutt Dog Duvet
Molly Mutt, a company out of Emeryville, CA, was started with the idea that everyone has an old dog bed lying around or an old comforter that your dog sleeps on. Why not turn that old fashion into refashion? Molly Mutt has what is called a Stuff Sack. The concept is simple: first you take the items that you want to cover and place them in the mesh sack and zip them up. Then you choose which duvet you want, and you place that over the Stuff Sack and zip it up. Now you have a new, stylish dog bed for under $50! To change the style, all you have to do is buy a new duvet cover.
Website: mollymutt.com
petLinens Round Dog Bed and Holiday Cover Set
PetLinens is the perfect place for anyone who is looking for an upscale pet bed at an affordable price. You can purchase a medium 32” round cushion with 2 covers for this bed for only $39.95. Don’t let that cost fool you—these covers are the real deal. The stitching is superb, the satin is high quality, and the Velcro is state-of-the-art tough. I will be telling all my friends who have pets about this company. When I ordered my set, they arrived so beautifully packaged for the holidays that I almost didn’t want to open them!
Website: petlinens.net
For the Nervous Canine
Music for Pets and People: Zen Dog
If your pooch is afraid of thunder, the vacuum, or other loud noises, then this system may be exactly what you need to help you ease your little one’s woes. Zen Dog is a system that offers a step-by-step DVD that demonstrates massages techniques that help calm your pooch, a music CD that is specifically tuned to canine hearing, a comprehensive book explaining how music and massage can help solve psychological problems in your pooch, and a curry brush. My doggie is afraid of when I leave for work in the morning and afternoons, so I have started playing this CD for her and brushing her softly before I leave. I have noticed a real difference in her behavior, and she is a very hyper little soul.
Website: musicfordogsandcats.com/dogscats/zendog.html
For the Treat-loving Canine
Methow’s Dog Treats
Methow’s dog treats remind me of granola bars for dogs. I can actually see the nuts and oat clusters with the chunks of pumpkin in them. My canine goes crazy for these treats! She loves them, and it makes me feel good that they are all-natural and not filled with preservatives. These can only be ordered online at this time, but it is well worth it!
Website: Methowdog.com
Bowser Beer by 3 Busy Dogs
You know those days when you just want to crack open a cold one when you get home? Have you ever thought that maybe your pooch might want one too? Well, now the pooches can join in the fun too! Bowser Beer is a great-tasting, canine-safe beverage for pooches to enjoy on those hot summer days, when you want to hang on the porch with your best friend and just unwind or vent after a long day. Come on, I know everyone talks to their dogs, right?
Website: 3busydogs.com
For the Canine and the Parents
Pet Bumper Stickers from Big Paw Designs
I find myself wanting to express my love for animal rescue without spending a lot of money and without inundating my car with so many stickers that you can’t see out the back window. Thankfully I found these precious bumper stickers from Big Paw Designs. They have such cute sayings! “Dog Mom,” “Dog Taxi,” “Therapy Dog Mom,” “Used Dogs Make Better Pets,” and “Talk to the Paw” are examples. With prices between $4.99 and $6.99, these UV-resistant stickers are an affordable way to show your loyalty to Fido or Fifi.
Website: bigpawdesigns.com
Organic Dog Tees from Read My Paws
If you ever want to give your pooch something cute to wear instead of the average, everyday, plain t-shirt, then the shirts by Read My Paws are just the thing. They are made of 100% organic cotton right here in the USA. They come in the cutest sayings: “It’s Better to Be Beautiful Than Good,” “I Am Your Dogma,” or “Recycle. Adopt a Dog.” What is even better is that you can get a matching shirt for yourself as well!
Website: readmypaws.com
Pewter Collar Charms by Big Paw Designs
There are so many options out there for pet charms these days that it can be a bit overwhelming. However, I love the idea of having the option to maybe change one out on occasion to fit my pet’s mood or my own for that matter. I came across the perfect option for this with the lead-free, pewter collar charms from Big Paw Designs. They come in designs for either your canine or feline. Each is priced at $10, and they are made in the USA. They have precious sayings such as “Rub My Tummy,” “The Cat Did It,” “I Dig,” and “Talk to the Tail.”
Website: bigpawdesigns.com
Over the next year, we'll continue to add to the list, so if you know of something we missed, please send us an email.
