The Darling Dog Company

Great toy for a rainy day

I'm always on the look out for great interactive toys for different clients and this is one that I really like the idea of. It is so simple and if you have a dog that likes looking for its food then this could be a great addition to your repetoire.

The idea is that you use the toy to scatter feed their treats or meal allowance and they have to sniff them out and retrieve them from the plastic strands of grass. Which is why its a great toy for a rainy day or even for a day when you fancy a bit more time on the sofa!

Great mental stimulation game for your doglet

I love mental stimulation games for dogs, it really does enhance a dog's life and it provides entertainment whilst also teaching them some independence as its a solo game. Unless you fancy searching for your supper in this way too!

So if you have a sniffy terrier, a food loving working breed or a dog that just generally likes to be doing something, give this a go. To order follow this link, at the moment its retailing for £25.

Genius cooling toy for dogs

I've long been an advocate of using water in play with dogs, they love it and when its hot like this, they need it. So you can imagine my happiness when I stumbled across this toy the Hydro Ball They have others in the range but this is the one that is most appealing to most dogs. A ball with holes in it and a foam core hidden inside. So you can either fill it with water so that when playing with the ball it keeps your dog cool or best of all you can freeze it.

Hydro ball with holes for water to come out of when playing

A brilliant cooling dog toy and if you have a puppy that is chewing, its a cooling teething ball too. The ball is only £6 from Pets at Home which I think is quite reasonable.  Plus when not full of water its a normal rubber ball that your dog can happily chase. Dual purpose, thats what I like to see!

A Little Something for All you Terrier Lovers

There has been a huge surge in ownership of Border Terriers, Jack Russells, Fox Terriers, Welsh Terriers and Boston Terriers in London so I thought this post would be for you all..

Check out Forever Foxed a great little Etsy shop selling lovely, stylish and doggy cards, magnets and other bits and bobs. Take a peek.

Heres an example of one of their cards

And some Border Terrier magnets

See, aren't they beautiful. No ugly imagery in site, just stylish products that you can appreciate.

 

The Fabulous Barbour Jacket for Dogs

We all know that Barbour jackets are wonderful for being out and about in the cold and the rain. So its a wonder why its taken them this long to create a beautiful but useful jacket for the dogs in our lives. But here it is, the 'Barbour Union Jack Coat for Dogs'.

Now I'm not a big believer in clothes for dogs but I do agree that occassionally there are times when a warm layer is useful, such as when it drops to -10! Or when your dog is shivering.

John Lewis are stocking the jackets which start from £40 onwards

So if you want to invest in a practical but stylish coat, here is the one I would suggest. Just remember, if your dog is racing around and having fun, it probably doesn't need a jacket on. I only use an extra layer for when we get in the car and its freezing so the dog will be sat still or for the walk to the park, to warm up. Dogs have fur and its there for a reason, to keep them warm.

Enjoy.

Genius Idea for Puppies & Elderly Dogs

I've just come across this online and thought some of you might be interested. Its a genius idea. If you have a puppy looking to nestle into some warmth or an elderly dog that feels the cold, this could be a great solution.

From what I can gather its an electric heat pad that goes underneath the bed to keep the dog warm. For puppies it may help settle them when they are getting used to sleeping alone rather than with their litter. And for elderly dogs who suffer from stiff joints or feel the cold, it could really benefit them.

Plus its on sale in some outlets like here

Dog Cone Lamp

I thought some of you might appreciate this lamp that I found online. It is £95.00 and you can click here for more details on the funny dog themed light. Simple but genius idea!

Delectable Dog Treat Jar

When you own dogs you end up with a lot of stuff to store; treats, leads, collars, long lines, food and so on. And I like to have things that I like to look at to store those items and I'm fairly certain most of you do too. So I thought you might like this lovely Alessi dog treat jar that I found. It is the perfect present for a dog owner or for your dog (but really its for you!!)

Alessi Dog Treat Jar

And here is my one with a red lid and storing the last of the dried chew treats. It has a rubber seal so it keeps whatever is in it nice and fresh.

You can buy them from various shops including the likes of John Lewis and Amazon.

Balloon Dog Christmas Decoration anyone?

I just found these online, perfect for the dog lovers Christmas tree!

You can buy them here

Brown Paper Packages tied up with String...these are a Few of my Favourite Things!

I thought I'd start to add on here items that I have used and love for dogs that I work with, dogs that I foster and my own dogs. As each and every dog is different but hopefully some of these items might be of interest as we go along.

As some of you know, my car was stolen on Friday and a couple of these items were in the boot, where the dogs go. So it just reminded me how much I like these things and now I need to replace them. So somewhere these items have been dumped or there is a lucky dog enjoying it all!

The first one is the Tuffies dog bed. It took me a number of years before agreeing that Tuffie's are best and getting one. I always wanted something that looked pretty but eventually all the beds have died a death and the Tuffie one stands the test of time. It is waterproof so you never need to wash the inside and as a result it doesn't go lumpy and bumpy but best of all you don't get that dog smell. I had one of the large ones in the boot of my car and when I bought it in the house I just covered with clean blankets to make it cosier (and prettier!). If you have a doglet that loves comfort & cosiness but is a proper dog (dirty, smelly and loves water) then this is a great addition to your home.

Plus an example of my dirty, smelly, wet dog that loves a bit of comfort!

The second item is something that every single car needs - the Road Refresher dog bowl. It miracously keeps the water in the bowl so that your dog always has access to it when you are travelling. What I love most though is that on the hot days we had I placed a frozen cold pack under it to keep the water chilly. Its a good investment for anyone that takes their dogs out and about in the car.

I know that everyone rants about Kongs (the one that you stuff with food) but I personally have one that I much prefer as a problem solving, food dispensing toy. It's the Planet Dog Orbee Tuff toy - Cookie Dog loves this toy and amazingly Mr Happy Henry hasn't destroyed it because it isn't as sturdy as the Kong ones. However it is more flexible and it acts like a great item for big breeds to retrieve. Plus it comes in pretty colours!!

I plan to keep adding to this list as there are loads of products I've tried, chucked, kept, hated, loved and if I can save you some cash, hooray! There are links to be able to buy the items so check them out and see what you think. Let me know..

Picture of Henry playing in the water and fetching his Orbee toy

 

You can Never have enough Treat Tins!

Whilst looking for a cheap and cheerful dog bed for current foster dog Henry, who is rather on the large size. I came across this lovely jubbly treat tin for dog owners. I thought I'd share it in case you like it too?

It is only £8.00 from Cath Kidston and is the kind of thing that would at least look attractive on the kitchen worktop! Its not really big enough to fit treats in for Henry Dog but perfect for some of Cookie Dog's treats and tit bits!