Check out the new leashes we are carrying from Surf’s Up Dog. These waterproof leashes are perfect for active dogs and active owners. They are perfect for jogging (or simply walking) with your dog because they will never trip you or your dog up. These leashes are so much more convenient and safer than the retractable leashes you will find at many pet stores. I especially love the neoprene comfort handle. Great Colors to. Learn More here
It’s that time of year again. With temperatures already hitting 100+ in Texas and around the country, it is more important than ever to make sure we are taking precautions to prevent heat stroke in our pets. Please make sure your pets have a place to stay cool and make sure they do not overexert themselves in the extreme heat. My dog Parker has 2 modes – fast and sleep; if I let him he would run until he passed out, regardless of the temperature. When I am out for shorter periods of time in the heat I sometimes put him in a RuffWear Swamp Cooler dog cooling vest to help make it bearable.
Another problem for dogs in the extreme heat of summer that many owners unintentionally overlook is hot surface temperatures. Before taking your pups out for a walk, please take a moment to feel the surface with your hands to make sure it is not too hot. You might unwillingly be harming your dog’s paw pads by walking or running them on a surface that is too hot. Remember, the best time to take your dog for a walk in the summer time is in the early morning or in the evenings when it has cooled down. Always be sure to bring along water for your pet. You might also consider using paw pad protection such as a natural wax like Musher’s Secret or even protective boots in extreme terrain conditions.
If you are using one of our bike leashes and your dog likes to run, keep in mind that you will need to keep an even closer eye on paw pad wear. Start off riding shorter distances and at slower speeds. If possible, mix up the terrain you ride on so that it is not solely pavement. Check pad wear after each ride and apply Musher’s Secret if necessary. Dog’s paw pads are tougher than human feet, but it is still important to allow the pads to build up strength slowly over time – especially if your dog is not used to running on pavement. If you notice any blistering or cracking, be sure to allow them to heal before continuing to run or bike your dog. By taking the right precautions you can prevent paw pad injuries all together and ensure a safe fun summer for you and your best buddy. For a cool place to lie down after coming in from the heat you may consider looking into a durable dog cooling bed.
If your dog is not a fan of boots, there is another option for protecting their pads from the harsh winter elements. Learn about Musher’s Secret all natural paw pad wax. There was a great write-up about it recently in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. See it here.
We just got another shipment in directly from Canada and have availability in the 60gram and 200gram size cans. Our winters in Texas are not harsh, but I still use Musher’s Secret on Parker’s paws to keep them conditioned and from getting cracked since we bike together often. Order here
We just started carrying a great line of dog coats and jackets from RuffWear. We also now carry the all new RuffWear PolarTrex dog boots which are the best dog snow boots we have ever seen. Check out the video below…
As I am writing this it is 105 degrees in Austin Texas. Fun stuff – especially when packing up orders mid-day in our garage! I’m not complaining though – please keep the orders coming My latest way to beat the heat when packing orders is to soak a tank top in cold water. I really need to get a picture or video of the shipping setup we have going right now – I think you would all get a kick out of it. Just know that nothing will keep us from getting your orders out to you the same day they are ordered
Speaking of soaking a tank top in water, let’s talk a little about the Ruff Wear Swamp Cooler™ dog cooling vest for keeping your dog cool in the summer heat. It is obviously a more advanced version of my wet tank top method, but the way it works is similar. It all comes down to a concept called evaporative cooling.
First let me start off by saying that the swamp cooler™ dog cooling vests really work – otherwise I wouldn’t be carrying them. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical at first (it is hard to imagine putting something extra on your dog would really cool them down), but with these temperatures I was willing to try anything for my pups – especially since they both have thick black fur.
So what exactly is evaporative cooling?
Technical definition – Evaporative cooling is a physical phenomenon in which evaporation of a liquid, typically into surrounding air, cools an object or a liquid in contact with it.
Think about when you get out of a pool and the cool feeling when your skin hits the air. This is evaporative cooling. Sweating is another example of evaporative cooling. When sweat evaporates, people cool down. For dogs it is not as easy to cool down because they only sweat through their paw pads. They cool down mostly through panting, but this is a much less efficient way to cool down. We humans have it made compared to dogs, so if you think you are hot just know that your dog is much hotter. This is where the swamp cooler cooling vest comes in. It artificially creates the sensation of sweating for dogs by letting evaporative cooling take its effects on the core of their bodies.
The Swamp Cooler cooling vest works just like an “on-dog” cooler. By soaking the vest in cool water, wringing it out, and placing it on your dog, you are helping your dog to “sweat”…allowing evaporative cooling to take place as the cool water is exposed to moving air. The water heats up, vaporizes, and the surrounding air is chilled…noticeably cooling your dog. No more dashing from tree to tree seeking shade. No more hiding when the leash comes out. Your dog can beat the heat more comfortably.
P.S. For those of you that are wondering how our dog Parker is doing after his back injury from thinking he was Superman and leaping off a ledge after a squirrel….he is doing much better and is back to his crazy ways
I got an email yesterday that really made my day and helped confirm that we are selling the best dog bike leashes on the market. One of our Bike Tow Leash customers, Amanda and her dog Ranger are competing in the United Kennel Club Top Ten Invitational right now. Amanda writes:
“Last year my dog Ranger was ranked #8. In March of 2010 I got the Bike Tow Leash from you and started running him to improve his physical condition, for the show ring, for his competition in weight pull, and just for fun.
Well, today Ranger not only got 5 points toward his advanced Weight Pull titles, he won the Best of Breed Top Ten–the best of the best. I know he would not have gotten this without the conditioning he got by running with my bike. The Bike Tow Leash has made our training easier, safer, and a lot of fun. I get a lot of comments and questions about the BTL while I’m out in the park, and people regularly stop to watch us as we go by.
Ranger is one win away from his UKC Grand Champion title, and we have three tries at it this weekend. Hopefully all the running will pay off and he’ll get that last win.”
I will miss your slobber and nose butts to the chest. You were one HUGE dog, but always a puppy at heart. I’m glad you didn’t have to suffer.
Diesel was our good friend Ross’s Russian Great Dane that lost a battle to cancer yesterday. He was a goofy sweet dog that wagged his tail until the end. We will all miss him so much.
We recently began carrying the Ruff Wear Web Master™ Dog Harness. This harness is one of the highest quality dog harnesses on the market in my opinion. It is made of extremely durable materials, yet is comfortable for your dog. I have been using this harness with Parker for almost two years now and recently switched him over to the latest edition of this padded dog harness. The thing I love most about it is the fleece-lined padding on all the straps and on the chest plate. This prevents rubbing and chaffing of your dog’s skin – a problem with many cheaply made harnesses out there that you might pick up at the big chain stores. The Ruff Wear Web Master™ is a multi-use dog harness that is great in a variety of scenarios – walking, hiking, biking, mobility assistance, rehabilitation, etc… It is so comfortable that Parker doesn’t even seem to realize he has it on and it has zero limitation on his range of motion. Check out my video review of the Ruff Wear Web Master™ Dog Harness below and see it up close in high definition. We are proud to carry the Ruff Wear line in our store.
Here is what one of our customers said about the Ruff Wear Web Master™ dog harness:
“Moses is doing great with the new harness. I adjusted it and he actually likes it. This has got to be the best thing I bought this year. I feel like I have a new walking partner. I told my UPS driver about it he has two labs that like to pull him when walks them. I hope he buy’s one from you.” – George
We went down to Galveston last weekend to get away. A little chilly, but that didn’t stop Parker from charging into the water like a bull. We always have so much fun in Galveston and I love going to the beach. I grew up there and something about the smell and sound of the ocean just brings me back. Enjoy the video – we had fun making it!
I just wanted to share this video that one of our past customers Art Hoffman sent in. He has set a record for ‘the fastest 1/4 mile bicycling accompanied by a dog using a safe restraining device’ and posted his video to The Universal Record Database. Looks like my dog Parker has some competition Way to go Art and Chenji!!!
Notice that Art is using a padded dog harness with the WalkyDog bike leash. Please never attempt this using a normal leash. Art is also in an area with no traffic and is riding at the pace of his dog.
My latest way to beat the heat when packing orders is to soak a tank top in cold water. I really need to get a picture or video of the shipping setup we have going right now – I think you would all get a kick out of it. Just know that nothing will keep us from getting your orders out to you the same day they are ordered 
