The trip to California is planned. Two dogs and a Mom and a bit of art work in a Honda Element – google maps says 1,555 miles. Wahoo!
So I make a list of things to pack. I know what I need to set up the artwork. But traveling with dogs… that is where I begin to feel concern. I want to be prepared. So I have been shopping. I hate buying stuff that I will not use.
These crates look awesome!? Two would fit so perfectly in the back of the Element. But would wire be better? They would rattle, I would think…
So time for a give away! Here is your question:
“What is your favorite item you have purchased for your dog(s)?”
One 6.5 x 8.5 inch oval “Eat, Sleep, Run” tile to the winner.
To enter the contest, answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post or comment on this post on my studio’s page on facebook.
Please, one entry per person. No entries after 9:00 pm Pacific Time Sunday, July 25. Winner will be chosen at random. I’ll announce the winner on Monday morning. Have a great weekend!
, 
, 
, 
and 
.
While showing my Borzoi girl at the benched shows in Detroit one year I picked up a “decorate it yourself” collar for her. It was black patent leather and I got beautiful rhinestone letters that spelled out “B – I – T – C – H” for on the collar with a little rhinestone star at either end. She is a white zoi and it showed up against her fur clearly. As we walked around the show with her proudly wearing her “bling” – everyone stopped to comment on what a pretty girl she was, then read the collar, then looked at her, looked at me and said “uhm…OH. Nice dog.” and promptly went on to pet another.
On occasion I borrow her collar myself
A very simple and inexpensive HUGE loofah dog toy. . . .bright neon pink. It”s the toy of choice among our 3 muttskis. They argue who gets to drag it around, who gets to carry it to the door, who gets to offer it to unsuspecting guests, and most of all, who gets to parade around the yard with it. When we go to the vet, Pinkie comes with us. When we go to the dog park, Pinkie rides along (altho the toy is not allowed to be IN the park). The poor toy has had its squeakers replaced, its ears chewed off, and been dragged through mud and underbrush, but it continues to give the dogs lots of joy and their humans lots of laughter watching to big males race around the yard, a bright neon pink loofah toy tugging between them. Best spur of moment $5 ever spent, IMO.
PS. On those crates – yes they are wonderful & quiet in the car. But don”t really provide much protection to the dog. If you have a way to secure the crates in the car, that should help stabilize them better. Lots of show folks use those crates, and they”re always jerry-rigging them for safety. Good ventilation, less chance of physical harm (wire crates can actually snap after wear and tear), but still, need to be stabilized.Have fun on your trip – and I don”t think you”ll have any problems selling your art. You are so fantastically talented!
I agree with Beverly on the crate issue, Sarah. However, if you have the regular hard plastic kennels they will provide more protection than what you have in the photo and not rattle, though don”t allow for much air flow. If you are not going to set them up in the car, then using the wire crates would be better….though if they are for outside use the ones above would help keep out insects ..my hounds don”t like flying ”things” and react to them when they fly into the wire crates. The crates really don”t give them room to ”get away” from the flying thing.
I think it all depends on exactly what you will use them for, in the car as well as when you are set up some where and how tolerant they are of the things that will affect them when in the crate. Wow…what wonderful help my opinion is!
Favorite thing I”ve purchased for my hounds… so many things, of course I love getting them each their custom collars, so many hounds, so many collars now rest in my lost loves shrine. I think the recent favorite toy is the ”WHOA!” stuffy. It is a current favorite around here and it is pretty funny when they are playing with it.
My favorite purchase for my dogs has been Ruff Wear Web Master harnesses.
I bought the first one for Theo my ancient Weimaraner who was having problems standing, and it gave me a great handle to give him a boost to stand or climb the stairs. He didn”t mind wearing it, and it worked better than some of the “lift” devices.
The next one was for my precious Basia (whippet/Doberman mix) as she had Wobblers disease and sometimes needed an assist around the house. She wore it proudly, and liked the help from her momma.
I currently use one with Sabrina, my Greyhound who had slipped out of her collar in her adoptive home and was missing for 19 months. This harness ensures that she can”t slip away (again) if spooked, plus I believe that feeling it on her gives her added confidence to face new/scary situations. She wears it to her “shy dog” obedience class each week.
I like these so much I have bought different sizes so I can use on any dog that I may have.
A stuffed green frog, that was well detailed and life-like (not cutesy or smiling). Instead of the usual squeaker it had this hard “can” for lack of a better word with some kind of weight/bladder combination. Not really sure exactly what was in it… but the slightest motion and it would make a deep bleating sound “rrhhh”. The sound was loudest when Frog was flying though the air. A greyhound stepping on it, causing the noise, would be the signal for hijinks to ensue!!!! Ears shot up and odd stares with cocked heads were given when it landed and became silent. The noisemaker eventually wore out and I could not find another one. RIP – Frog…
That”s tough to choose just one, but I would say my favorite item for my dogs have been a toss-up between the Buster Cube which provides lots of joy for the pups when they roll it around and are rewarded for their efforts with a treat, or the Furminator which makes their coats look amazing! Or now that I think of it, the Bowser”s donut bed they each had which was comfy and washed up like a champ.
It”s a sleeping bag .. yes sleeping bag .. and can fit two whippets. I puchased an extra large (from Hound Tog/Erin Campbell) thinking ”cool, two whippets in one sleeping bag”. Well, my whippets DO NOT want to share the sleeping bag. So I purchased another one !! The boys like it all year around and in the summer time, Boo and Bandit — in their own sleeping bags — start out in a tight little ball, then during the night they are stretched out but their butt is still in the sleeping bag.
Hummm, deciding which purchase is MY favorite item is much different than what they”d say was THEIR favorite. Since both of our greyhounds turned 11 this year, once again I”m deferring to them ??
For Daniel, it”s the stuffed carrot- minus the squeakers- that”s been thru the wash dozens of times. And for Little Bit, it”s the leopard print throw that she snuggles with in winter and summer.
So many things that it is hard to pick one but with travel in mind, one of my favorite purchases are the two x-pens that I bought. They fold up & fit in the trunk of the car so I am able to take them to picnics or gatherings & the hounds can relax on a blanket without being tied to a leash. I also have used them to set up in my front yard……which is not fenced…..and the hounds can be outside with me, relaxing, while I do yard work……I should say they are supervising! LOL!! Have a safe & fun trip!
Best item purchased depends on what use is needed. For dog showing/traveling either an xpen(use ALL the time) or soft crate. However if the dogs aren”t used to an xpen a collapsable soft crate is a must. I like mine as they are easy to collapse and travel with. Throw blankets over top and dogs can lay on them. No extra car room needed. Easy to get to the show and set up. Dogs are comfortable in them and they are very roomy and can circulate air.
One other must have travel item is a dog bag. Carry their show collars,leashes,poop bags, treats, regular collar and leashes, etc. Is a real PIA to get to the hotel and have to start digging around the car for all the items needed to get the dogs out.
Can”t wait to me you in Lompoc. Should be a fun time.
We”ve gone through tons of “favorite” toys over the years… and blankies are always well loved… as is one clearance dog bed that has lived with us in 4 states now and almost always has one critter or another in it… but the item that i recommend to people more than any other, seems silly, but its these little things:
http://www.bigpawdesigns.com/tapettagho.html
I”ve only ever seen them sold at petco, before just now looking for them online to show you. They”re tag holders, that can be easily unclipped from one collar and placed onto another. Or onto your belt loop/keychain/crate/etc if you dont want the tags ON the dog atm, but want them handy. Duke has worn his for about 3 years now and its still in great shape, we often switch it between his collar and the harness he wears when hiking… I liked the handiness of it so much that when Derby came into my life, I had to hunt one down for her too! Such a simple little device, but one of the best dog purchases ever!
I would say the best purchase for my dogs, on the whole for home and travel, has been a set of water resistant blankets. They are printed heavy duty cordura-type nylon on one side, and water resistant(coated) nylon on the underside. They are huge, about 4 foot x 6 foot. I got a pair of them at the GCA southern specialty this year in a beautiful turquoise print. They fit the back of the van and keep crumbs and hair and spilled water bowls off of the carpet. They can be shaken out and taken into the hotel for the dogs to lay on. They work equally well outside in the x-pens to keep the dogs clean and comfy. Washable, dryable. I also have some that are furry…but water resistant on the backside. They”re called Snoozies. You can check them out at Lompoc, I”ll be there too!!! Cannot WAIT to meet you.
Oh, and x-pens. Indespensible, with 100 uses. Very worth while purchase.
My favorite dog products are the Tuckered Out Dog Beds by West Paw Design. Not cheap but mine are still going strong after eight years of travelling in my pickup trucks. They wash beautifully and are a cozy shape for the hounds to cuddle in. Even more good stuff, the company uses recycled and organic materials in many of their beds and they are made right here in Montana, USA!
http://www.westpawdesign.com/catalog/dogs/dog-beds/luxury-dog-pillow-beds/tuckered-out-dog-bed
Difficult to decide on fav thing, so many collars, toys, etc. I think their favorite is when I bought body pillows to put behind their beds so they can rest their precious little heads on them
or be more comfortable when roaching!
The favorite item I purchased for my dogs is something I call the “Kelpy”. It”s a boiled wool toy that was apparently made in Tibet and the proceeds went to a Tibetan group. It”s at least 6 ft. long, is brightly colored, has a loop handle on one end and a ball shape at the other end with 2 in. wool “spikes” coming of the bottom of the ball. It reminds of the long kelp ropes you see at the beach, hence the name “Kelpy”. I hold the handle and drag and swirl the end around and they go nuts running, spinning and jumping trying to get the end. It”s so fun! I got it at a dog show and after I realized how much Zephyr loved it I bought another at a different dog show. I didn”t want to risk being without a Kelpy for a long time. I have to keep the “Kelpies” hidden otherwise I come home to find things a little messed up in the house from them playing with them.
Caron
I”ve bought so many things it is hard to choose. I really like my crate fans. They keep the air flowing & the dogs cool. If I need to I can shoot some water from a spary bottle at them (or wet them down) & the fan keeps them even cooler. I also love my ex-pen & crate cart (worth its weight in gold !).
I like wire crates. They are sturdy, have great air flow, I can see what”s going on, the dogs can see out, they fold and the dogs are safe in the car or out of the car. If you do not like the noise, just put a towel inside the crate under the crate pan. Been using them for over 30 years. I don”t care for the fabric crates. I saw a Grey moving one across the show grounds like a hampster in a ball once.
Although my dogs are good traveler, on the rare occasions when I don”t have a crate in the car, I prefer to crate them for safety”s sake. I don”t want my dog tossed out on the highway which can happen even in a little fender-bender if a door pops open (happened to a friend of mine).
Sheila
Dremel rotary tool!!!
I can quick and easy get the kids nails down to good length. They dont mind the sanding, they hate the clipper.
Cant wait to see you and mom and the kids!
Drive carefully
Tess
Have a safe and fun trip, Sarah.
My favorite purchase for my dog, Ally, was her new buddy, Parker. Ally”s best friend of 11 years died a few months ago and poor Ally was sad and just couldn”t seem to come to grips with being alone. So, I brought a new boy home for her and she acts like a puppy again and actually wears Parker out with all of her playing. It”s the best thing I”ve ever done for my girl.
Kim
The favorite thing I ever bought for my dogs were those Chopppers made by Red Barn. I think they are dried beef lung but whatever they are my dogs practically inhaled them. I don”t like to give commercials for products (except Sarah”s of course) but those Choppers are great.
My favorite purchase for them was the Toyota 4Runner! They love it, as do I. I open the back and they immediately jump in. Seriously, it was purchased so I could take them more places in a safer manner than in the back of the old Toyota pickup truck. They are much more comfy in it and they now have AC vs open windows. 2nd favorite purchase for them was the sofa. They graciously allow me to occasionally share it with them.
Woohoo – can”t wait Sarah! We have the dog beds, blankets and stuffies in the car for them at all times – Gus travels better with a toy in his mouth, goofy boy. The best thing that I have bought for both him and Gracie is a harness – makes me feel so much better for when we stop to potty. Especially as excited as Gus can get about meeting everyone and exploring everywhere – he”s not quite so crazy when he has his harness on – he seems to know that he has to behave more, lol. Safe travels, see you all soon
The Ford van is probably the best thing we got for the dogs! It sucks gas like it is going out of style but with the AC blasting while driving through central valley CA in 100+ degree heat, it is priceless.
I built a little platform in the back for the spoiled brats with fenced back gate so I can leave them in the car with the doors open when we park at shows/ coursing.
I am so looking forward to see Annie and Sage! and meet you and your mom.
Sebastian
The favorite purchase is easy. In the 1970”s I bought four dog hammocks where the frames were made of 1/2 inch steel tubing that bolts together. I have been sewing new canvas hammock covers for them now for more than thirty years. The dogs not only sleep on them, they like to vault across the room to land on them like trampolines. When I learned that Beth Anne had one of the same frames I begged until she gave it to me. I have even considered taking one to a tube bending shop to have more made for fear that these will wear out before I do.
Those crates look pretty neat! Have a lovely trip. We love to travel with the hounds.
My favorite item I have purchased for the dogs is the to go bowl. It is perfect for traveling in the car/van and works great at meet and greet events. It is light weight, portable, easy to clean and fits in a vehicle cup holder.
We travel all the time, as you know. I”ve never crated. Dog beds and blankets. I own the soft crates and hard. The soft is nicer, IMO, but you need dogs who like their crate and won”t try to get out. Crate will be mush otherwise.
Use those reflector tags and traveling water bowls you got at the Gathering. if you can”t find them let me know and i”ll get some in the mail to you.
I always carry Neem Spray for fleas and ticks, which Utah doesn”t have. I have my holistic emergency kit as my foundation of first aid. Just used it yesterday for a sprain while Trav was running on the beach. Used it on me when i fell off a horse I was riding. Of course, some Nature”s Miracle & paper towels should an accident occur. But it only happens with Izzy and her incontinence. so i carry incontinence pads for her. Sheets to cover the bedspread in hotels. I bring extra collars, should they lose one while running. Attachable poop bags to leashes. Poop bags stuffed in all the car doors etc. Small glass cleaning spray bottle for the windows their noses are always against.
Ok – that”s a start.
Happy driving. Stop in kanab for a rest
Probably could come up with a bigger list.