Pet Product Reviews

Most of the dog treats in my house smell like, well, dog treats. You know what I mean -- overly meaty, with a scent that stays on your hands long after your pup has licked your fingers clean. So when I found out about the all-natural, organic treats from Big Daddy Biscuits, I was eager to try them out.

The company is named for Big Daddy, an American Bulldog who was found wandering the streets of Atlanta, sick and malnourished. He's since been nursed back to health and loves "helping" his mom, Lauren, in the kitchen while she bakes up the biscuits. They're available in a variety of flavors including Crunchy Peanut Butter, Turkey Bacon Bites and Cheese Bites with Garlic.

First, I have to note that every single biscuit smelled totally appetizing -- and I don't even eat turkey! Stickers on the back of the bag provide information on the ingredients as well as the breakdown of protein, fat, etc. There's no question there about what you're feeding your dog. Secondly, my dogs gobbled them up. This isn't unusual for Rudi, but even Holly (our newest addition who tends to be a bit more wary around treats) wolfed them down and then continued staring at my hand, waiting for more.

If you're in the Atlanta area, you can find Big Daddy Biscuits at various stores and farmer's markets. Otherwise, you can order half pound bags ($8) and quarter pound bags ($4), plus other fun seasonal treats directly from their site. You dog will be glad you did.

"Ooooh, there a car! Ooooh, there goes another car! OMG HERE COMES MOM AND DAD!!!"

While we can only guess what's going through our dogs' minds, we do know that they love looking out windows -- and in the process, can slowly destroy the window ledge with dirty paw prints and scratches.

Enter the Sill Shield. As its Web site notes, Sill Shield is a PVC slat similar in texture to outdoor siding, designed to protect your window sills. Fastened with stickers -- specifically 3M Dual Lock Velcro Coins, which are included -- it supposedly won't show wear and tear.

That's all fine and good, but would they be able to withstand Pippi, our highly-energetic dalmatian/German shorthaired pointer mix? I ordered one to find out.

The manufacturer offers Sill Shields in a variety of widths and depths, as well as custom trimming or notching. (All of the windows in our apartment were covered by the standard sizing.) I ordered a white one -- they also come in clear -- and placed it beneath our front window. It took only a couple of minutes to attach and blended in perfectly with our sill, which is also white. Most importantly, it easily withstood Pippi's assault. After about ten days of use it looks pretty much like it did on day one.

Is it worth it? Serious do-it-yourself types might be able to create something similar from parts at their local hardware store, saving themselves $12.95 per sill plus shipping prices that can cost up to $15 per order if you live on the west coast. But to the rest of us, the Sill Shield is a quick and effective solution to a perennial problem. The company also offers a "Door Shield," to keep dogs from scratching up doors.

Twitter has proven itself to be one of the most useful tools ever for time-wasting, inane chatter, and mundane observations. It's a mystery how anyone survived before following Ashton Kutcher tweets on what he had for dinner. And now, our favorite destroyer of productivity is being taken to the next level: Twitter for dogs.

According to our sister site, www.jsyk.com, Mattel is working on a device that will allow your dog to automatically update his Twitter account, no typing necessary. Called Puppy Tweets, this smart motion sensor will attach to your dog's collar and send signals to a USB receiver in your computer, which will then update Twitter with pre-written tweets such as "Somedays it feels like my paw is permanently on the snooze button."

Impressive. Not even humans can tweet while sleeping.

Now you and all your friends can know exactly what your dog is doing every second of the day, no matter how uninteresting it is. It will be just as compelling as every other tweet you've ever read. That is, unless your dog is on some kind of cross-country-traveling, Homeward Bound, Milo & Otis adventure.

If they're smart, Mattel will let users program custom tweets, and then we could have more realistic tweeting from our four-legged friends, such as the following:

"OMG another dog! OMG! OMG! OMG!"

"@fido ur butt smells wonderful"

"So excited to chew on self for next hour"

Expect to see Puppy Tweets in stores this fall for the surprisingly reasonable price of $29.99.

There are several benefits to natural pet products. Natural pet foods and treats are made from organic ingredients of human-grade quality, meaning your pet won't be eating anything you wouldn't eat. Natural grooming products are made from organic materials that are safe to use, and will keep pets from getting rashes and irritations. Natural toys, collars, and leashes are biodegradable, recyclable, and have a low impact on the environment. These five natural pet products are tested and approved by pet owners and animal experts for their high-quality ingredients, safety, and enjoyability.

Wellness Pet Food
Wellness offers lines of all-natural dog and cat foods that are made to human-grade standard. Their dog food includes dry and canned formulas that have no artificial ingredients. The Wellness dog food lines are high in protein and low calories. The cat food lines include dry and canned formulas. Wellness cat food limits the risk of urinary tract problems -- one of the biggest reason cats end up in veterinary offices.

Dr. Harvey's Herbal Protection Shampoo
Made specifically for dogs, Dr. Harvey's Herbal Protection Shampoo is sulfate-free and made from organic ingredients. The Herbal Protection Shampoo is safe to use even on dogs with sensitive skin or allergy problems because it contains no artificial coloring or fragrance. Dr. Harvey's natural pet products are cruelty-free and come in biodegradable packaging.

Most dogs outgrow the need to chew as puppies, but some have an oral fixation that Freud would find noteworthy. If Fido has jaws of steel and has started eyeing your shoes, here are five of the most indestructible dog toys on the market.

1. Nylabones. Nylabones are dog bones made of durable plastic that is made to smell like bacon or chicken. They come in several different sizes and strengths. Be sure to check the rating on the package to ensure the Nylabone is made for heavy chewing. Nylabones can last for a year or more, although be warned that small pieces can flake off during use. Cost ranges from $5 for puppy bones, up to $16 for heavy-duty Nylabones.

2. Buster Cubes. Buster Cubes are hard plastic cubes that trap dog treats inside. Dogs extract the treats by rolling the cube around the room with their noses and paws, or by picking it up with their teeth and tossing it down. Buster Cubes are often recommended by animal behaviorists because they are ideal for destructive dogs who may be bored in addition to having a strong need to chew. This is also a great toy to break out when company comes over. Fido will be so absorbed with the buster cube, he'll forget to jump on the guests. Cost ranges from $15 up to $20 depending on size purchased.