Pets are spending more time alone as the economy is requiring many pet parents to work longer hours and spend more time away from home to make ends meet. Regular exercise and mental stimulation, socialization and interactive play are all part of a daily routine for a well-adjusted, happy dog. Here are some fun and functional dog products that your pet will enjoy:Innovative products to beat Bowser boredom
1. For tough chewers: The Kong Wobbler
Make mealtime or treat time a fun challenge with the new Kong Wobbler — one of my new favorite new dog toys! This super durable three-in-one toy sits upright until pushed with a dog's paw or nose, then wobbles, spins and rolls, dispensing treats through a kong-shaped hole near the top. Dogs quickly learn that motion causes treats to fall out, but the unpredictable movement keeps the toy challenging, even for seasoned Wobbler users. (Price: $16.49, Petco.com)
2. For tough chewers: Kibble Nibble Activity Ball
Fill the Kibble Nibble with your dog’s favorite treats or kibble and let the good times roll! This super durable toy encourages dogs to work for their food and it mentally stimulates them by appealing your dog’s natural prey and stalking drive. Dogs simply nose/ roll it around and it intermittently disperses kibble. (Price starting at $22, visit Premier.com for retailers.)
3. Nina Ottoson “Tornado” interactive dog toy
An engaged and stimulated pet makes for a happy pet! Nina Ottoson and the folks at Interactive Dog Games designed this clever dog toy to engage your pet’s brain and brawn. The toy has a unique mechanism that requires mental as well as physical dexterity to work through the challenges and reveal hidden food rewards. The toys can be set to differing levels of complexity to satisfy all ages and breeds of dog. (Price: $32 at Amazon.com)
4. Biscuit bouncer toy
A great toy to keep an active pup busy! This ball mentally and physically stimulates dogs by appealing to their natural prey and stalking drives. Great for indoor dogs that need more exercise. The treat trapper firmly holds your dog's favorite treats for a fun and positive challenge. (Price starting at $7, visit Premier.com for retailers.)
Eco-friendly pet productsInnovative, earth-friendly finds to reduce your pet’s carbon paw print!
1. Crunchy, crinkly fun: Bottle Buddy Dog Toys
What dog doesn't LOVE playing with random household items, in particular, empty plastic water bottles? This creative, eco-friendly dog toy provides a fun and efficient way to recycle water bottles that might otherwise end up in our landfills. (Price: Around $13, find the Bottle Buddy water bottle dog toy at Muttropolis.com)
2. Nice recovery: Molly Mutt Duvet Dog and Cat Bed Covers
Want to fashionably update the look of your dog's existing bed without buying a whole new bed? With the Molly Mutt Dog Bed Duvets you don’t have to toss your old dog beds, you just re-cover them. Simply fill a duvet with old clothes or bedding you might have lying around the house and create yourself a sharp-looking new bed.
This innovative product helps keep textiles out of our landfills and the fully-washable, modern and clean duvet designs add a nice pop of color to any room in your home. (Price starting at $20, see the whole collection at Muttropolis.com)
3. Cycle Dog Collars
Every year millions of bike tire tubes are thrown into landfills. The green-minded folks at Cycle Dog repurpose old bike tire tubes into innovative and super durable dog collars. Brilliant! Water resistant, quick drying and soft to the touch for both pup and person, CycleDog dog rubber edges won't fray like traditional webbing construction. Be sure to check out their Pup Top model that features a dual-function bottle opener leash attachment. (Price starting at $25, find them at CycleDogs.com)
4) Clean and Green Eco Wood and Tile Cleaner
Clean and Green are eco-friendly aerosol pet odor and stain remover products. Made from organic and biodegradable ingredients and packaged so you can recycle the container — now you can clean green! For green pet cleaning, use effective, nontoxic, organic home cleaning supplies and keep an environmentally friendly home — with pets. (Price: $7.99 at Odorandstainremover.com)
5) Biodegradable Poop Bags and Poop Pick-Up Kits
Why not reduce your dog’s carbon paw-print with these environmentally friendly biodegradable poop pick-up bags? (Around $8 a box at Poopbags.com)
Organic, natural grain-free treat ideasJust as we demand high-quality, natural and organic ingredients in our own foods, why not provide your pet with the same quality ingredients for their health and well-being? Grain-based pet foods and treats can be hard for some pets to digest and cause allergies in others — so here are some high-quality, grain-free treats!
1. Dogswell Happy Hips or Dogswell Breathies
All-natural chicken breast strips. (Price: $8.99 at Dogswell.com)
2. Muttropolis Grain-Free Mutt Munchers
Grain-free and made with all human-grade ingredients. Made with garbanzo beans instead of grain, which are high in protein and a good source of dietary fiber. (Price: $7.99, available at Muttropolis.com)
3. Stella and Chewy’s Carnivore Kisses
Freeze-dried dog treats by Stella and Chewy's are all-natural, all-meat, diced dog treats. These delicious freeze-dried treats can be given whole as a training reward, or crumbled over food at mealtimes for added flavor and nutrition. Contain no preservatives, dyes or colorings, no sugar or salt. (Price: $11.99, find them at StellaandChewys.com)
Learn more about Janet’s favorite pet trends and pet product picks at The Daily Treat at AnimalPlanet.com.