Spot and Dolly love to visit Bone Appétit Bakery & Boutique, the mom-and-pop pet-supply store in our neighborhood. After devouring their welcome treats, the pups settle on the floor to wait while I chat with owners Helen and Joe Goldblatt about what’s new.
On a recent visit to the store, Helen had much to show us because of the couple’s trip to Las Vegas for SuperZoo, the annual pet-supply expo for retailers and groomers. I asked her to share five of the new products they ordered at the expo and why.
1. The Horgan Harness
Designed by veterinarian Jason Horgan, this harness goes around your dog’s back legs instead of the front. Helen got it to test on Winston, Hannah, and Jenny, the three Corgi members of the Goldblatt family. “My dogs pull so much, and it looked like an interesting solution,” Helen says.
The harness, according to the product website, stops the behavior by creating a harmless sensation at the back legs, where dogs get most of their pulling power. So, how did her pups handle it? Helen says the harness did not prove the best option for their build, but she plans to recommend it for breeds with “more leg than a Corgi.”
2. Puppy Power Pellets
Spot and Dolly love these super-stinky treats from the makers of Kitty Kaviar. Also made from dried bonito, a relative of tuna and mackerel, the dog version comes in pellet form instead of flakes to serve as a teaching tool as well as a treat.
“Dogs love fish, and it’s a nice size for training,” Helen says. The pellets contain no preservatives or additives, another plus.
3. Neon Pawdicure Polish Pens
“More people would polish their dog’s nails if it were easier to do,” says Helen, explaining why she picked up these polish pens from Warren London in a variety of colors. Available last year in classic shades, 2012 brought the neon line, with colors such as Smooth the Pooch Purple, Walk in the Park Green, Paw-ty in Pink, and Orange You Glad I’m Neon.
The non-toxic, water-based polish dries in less than a minute and comes off with non-acetone polish remover or a buffing block. The felt-tip pens also make nail art for pups possible. Check out this how-to video on giving your dog animal-print nails.
4. Green Interactive Feeder
Helen put in an order for this item at my request after I heard of its existence. Dolly wolfs down her food, while Spot takes a more leisurely approach to mealtime. I wouldn’t care, except Dolly tries to help Spot also become a member of the clean bowl club as soon as I walk away from the kitchen.
According to the Company of Animals, the hard-plastic device turns eating into a challenging game that provides mental stimulation because your dog must push the food out between the many blades of “grass.” It also results in slower eating, which I hope — fingers crossed — will help both Spot and Dolly become less farty. I’ll report back once the feeder arrives.
5. The Bear & The Rat Frozen Yogurt
Spot and Dolly often serve as treat testers for the store, and they don’t mind one bit. During our visit, Helen asked us to try a Bacon Peanut Barker frozen yogurt she ordered at the expo from the Bear & The Rat.
Specially formulated for dogs, the fro-yo uses live and active probiotic cultures to aid in digestion, immune support, and nutrient absorption. The treat contains only high-quality, human-grade items such as fat-free yogurt, all-natural carob powder, organic bananas and peanut butter, and nitrate-free bacon. You won’t find rBST (bovine growth hormone), gluten, corn, wheat, added sugars, artificial colors, or preservatives on the list of ingredients. Banana Peanut Barker and Choc ‘o’ Not are also available.
Have you tried any of these products yet? If so, please leave a review in the comments for your fellow pet parents!
