I wanted to share with you a few of the best products that Bailey, Roxy & I can't live without. By clicking the links I provide, you'll be helping my website earn a small commission to go towards the cost of website fees & hosting. As an Amazon Associate I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Breathable dog muzzle - for preventing foxtails!
Roxy is like a goat, when she comes across grass she eats and eats. She used to get foxtails up her nose or in her mouth constantly, and it is very dangerous and can lead to very expensive vet bills. During spring and summer trails are covered in foxtails and it's impossible to keep her away from them. Even when we go on neighborhood walks she is able to find garbage and eat it in the blink of an eye. I've tried several things to help with no luck, but finally found this breathable dog muzzle. It's mesh and larger than her muzzle so she can even open her mouth to fully pant and sniff the ground, but the mesh barrier prevents her from eating anything or getting foxtails sniffed up her nose. We've had it for a few months now and she wears it on multiple walks every day. The first week I gave her a treat before and after wearing it each time, and she got used to it and doesn't seem to even mind it. It stays on well because there are multiple adjustable straps as well as a velcro muzzle adjustment. Roxy is a size medium and our larger Pitbull is a large. For less than $15 it's the cheapest, best solution I could find and solves all our foxtail problems.
Roxy is like a goat, when she comes across grass she eats and eats. She used to get foxtails up her nose or in her mouth constantly, and it is very dangerous and can lead to very expensive vet bills. During spring and summer trails are covered in foxtails and it's impossible to keep her away from them. Even when we go on neighborhood walks she is able to find garbage and eat it in the blink of an eye. I've tried several things to help with no luck, but finally found this breathable dog muzzle. It's mesh and larger than her muzzle so she can even open her mouth to fully pant and sniff the ground, but the mesh barrier prevents her from eating anything or getting foxtails sniffed up her nose. We've had it for a few months now and she wears it on multiple walks every day. The first week I gave her a treat before and after wearing it each time, and she got used to it and doesn't seem to even mind it. It stays on well because there are multiple adjustable straps as well as a velcro muzzle adjustment. Roxy is a size medium and our larger Pitbull is a large. For less than $15 it's the cheapest, best solution I could find and solves all our foxtail problems.
Pet Car Restraints
If you're traveling with you dog, I cannot stress the importance of having your pet restrained. It's not just for your dog's safety, but also your own safety. A 60-poud projectile flying at you is going to cause some serious injuries. If you had a child, you would have a car seat, so you need a restraint for your dog as well. Don't risk both of your lives. All restraints are not created equal, and you cannot pick one based on Amazon reviews. Subaru sponsored crash tests conducted by the Center for Pet Safety and found that some brands lack quality control. You do not want your cheap harness failing during an accident, or your crate to fly apart upon impact. I have linked the top performers below:
Pet Light
I purchased one of these lights years ago, and it's one of the best products I've ever used. It's inexpensive, it lasts a long time, and we receive a lot of compliments on the light and its changing colors. It changes to red, blue, green, yellow, white and purple. It's bright enough to use for night walks, and it's even saved me while camping, as Bailey follows me around and works as a personal hands-free light around the campsite. It clips directly onto your dog's collar and is less than $7:
I purchased one of these lights years ago, and it's one of the best products I've ever used. It's inexpensive, it lasts a long time, and we receive a lot of compliments on the light and its changing colors. It changes to red, blue, green, yellow, white and purple. It's bright enough to use for night walks, and it's even saved me while camping, as Bailey follows me around and works as a personal hands-free light around the campsite. It clips directly onto your dog's collar and is less than $7:
Pet Waste Bags
You probably go through pet waste bags pretty fast. I try to re-use bread bags and produce bags, but I always need more. I received a huge box of rolls of bags as a gift, and they’re the best bags I’ve ever used. They used to be sold as “biodegradable,” but unfortunately I don’t think they are anymore. However, these bags are strong, leak-proof, and you can buy up to 2,200 at a time for a very reasonable price:
You probably go through pet waste bags pretty fast. I try to re-use bread bags and produce bags, but I always need more. I received a huge box of rolls of bags as a gift, and they’re the best bags I’ve ever used. They used to be sold as “biodegradable,” but unfortunately I don’t think they are anymore. However, these bags are strong, leak-proof, and you can buy up to 2,200 at a time for a very reasonable price:
Raincoat
I know, I know, a raincoat? Ridiculous, right? No. I purchased one of these this year for a winter hike on a road trip, just hoping it would help keep Bailey somewhat dry and keep some of the mud off of her and so that my car wouldn't get destroyed. I figured for $10 I couldn't lose, but it's one of the best $10 I've spent. It's lightweight and folds up into a small, compact square, so I just keep it in my trunk in case of unexpected rain. It keeps Bailey's entire back dry, which is where her thickest and hardest-to-dry fur is located. The hood does not stay up, but it covers the rest of her and straps securely on. Bailey also doesn't mind wearing it once we're out on the trails, which is surprising, because she usually doesn't like to wear anything. Bailey wears an XXL:
I know, I know, a raincoat? Ridiculous, right? No. I purchased one of these this year for a winter hike on a road trip, just hoping it would help keep Bailey somewhat dry and keep some of the mud off of her and so that my car wouldn't get destroyed. I figured for $10 I couldn't lose, but it's one of the best $10 I've spent. It's lightweight and folds up into a small, compact square, so I just keep it in my trunk in case of unexpected rain. It keeps Bailey's entire back dry, which is where her thickest and hardest-to-dry fur is located. The hood does not stay up, but it covers the rest of her and straps securely on. Bailey also doesn't mind wearing it once we're out on the trails, which is surprising, because she usually doesn't like to wear anything. Bailey wears an XXL:
Dog Food
I mentioned in the "about us" section that when I first adopted Bailey, she had a lot of stomach problems. I started by making her chicken and rice based stews for every meal, which proved to be very time consuming. I then spent about a year slowing integrating different dry dog foods into her diet, combined with rice, but a lot of them did not agree with her. I tried just about every expensive grain-free dog food on the market: Blue Buffalo, Avoderm, Taste of the Wild, Orijen...you name it). Prescription Science Diet worked for her, but was very expensive. I stumbled upon some reviews for Purina Pro Plan, and I didn't initially think much of Purina, but I tried it and am never going back to those other dog foods. Bailey no longer has diarrhea or spits up, so it's given me peace of mind and it's been easier on my wallet. Amazon has it at a great price (often less expensive than even the pet store sale price), and free shipping with Amazon Prime, so it couldn't be easier for us. All dogs are different, but if your dog has similar stomach problems, I hope this works for you too.
I mentioned in the "about us" section that when I first adopted Bailey, she had a lot of stomach problems. I started by making her chicken and rice based stews for every meal, which proved to be very time consuming. I then spent about a year slowing integrating different dry dog foods into her diet, combined with rice, but a lot of them did not agree with her. I tried just about every expensive grain-free dog food on the market: Blue Buffalo, Avoderm, Taste of the Wild, Orijen...you name it). Prescription Science Diet worked for her, but was very expensive. I stumbled upon some reviews for Purina Pro Plan, and I didn't initially think much of Purina, but I tried it and am never going back to those other dog foods. Bailey no longer has diarrhea or spits up, so it's given me peace of mind and it's been easier on my wallet. Amazon has it at a great price (often less expensive than even the pet store sale price), and free shipping with Amazon Prime, so it couldn't be easier for us. All dogs are different, but if your dog has similar stomach problems, I hope this works for you too.
Paw Protectors
I originally purchased these because Bailey cut her foot and had an open sore. We both still wanted to go hiking, so I bandaged it up and put one of these booties on to protect the bandage. At first Bailey walked awkwardly and didn't like it, but once she got out on the hiking trails she forgot she was wearing it. These came in very handy during another hike, when I underestimated the distance and weather conditions. We left at 5 A.M. but were not able to get back to the car before the sun began heating up the trails. Bailey started doing a "dance" on the trails because they were so hot that they were burning her paws. I put these on her and we were able to safely get back to the car. I like that these booties stay on well, they have a thick pad to protect the paw, they're easy to put on, and they can also be used in the snow. Although they're not the cheapest option, they also won't fall apart like other booties, so in my opinion, they're worth the price tag.
Inflatable Solar Lantern
I was given this as a gift, and it's become a permanent fixture on my backpack. It weighs virtually nothing, so you can leave it on your backpack (attached by a carabiner) all day to charge in the sun. It inflates quickly to create a large lantern that you can hang from your tent, lasts for hours, and has settings to adjust brightness, and even to blink red. This has saved me many times when I end up stuck on a trail at dusk, and I even use it when I'm walking Bailey late at night.
