Furminator Dual Brush

Shed season is approaching.  I count myself lucky in that my dogs are not year-round shedders.  They blow coat once a year, in the Spring.  Bruce and Faolan both have "typical" northern breed type coats.  Neeko has an odd coat-long, wavy guard hairs, and a very thick undercoat that is a cross between the fur a Great Pyrenees and a plush coated GSD.

Chewy.com kindly sent us a Furminator Dual Brush for use.

Big girl obviously needs a good brushing.

Neeko is not yet officially blowing coat, but needs regular brushing because of fur length and texture.

The Dual Brush has two sides.  The pin brush side is perfect for gently detangling her long coat, before mats have the chance to form.  The length of the pins also allow a bit of undercoat to be brushed out as well, without any pulling.

After use.

 The bristle brush can be used on any coat type, and I suspect it will work well on both boys to quickly and gently pick up any loose fur once they start blowing coat.

None of my dogs are huge fans of being brushed.  What I like most about this brush is that it is gentle, does not scratch the skin, and does not forcibly yank fur out.  Once Neeko starts her yearly shed in a few weeks, this brush will get a workout on a daily basis.  It will be perfect for loosening and detangling, and I will then use a rake on her to remove dead undercoat.

That fluffy butt...

I have huge dogs (Neeko is 31" at the shoulder) so I wish the brush were just a tiny bit larger.  But I have no complaints about it, and am very happy to have it.

Let the shedding begin!

12 Paws Up for PawPack! (PawPack Review)

Soooo...I am slightly addicted to dog subscription boxes.  But it's ok, we all have our guilty pleasures.

PawPack is a recently introduced subscription box, aimed at providing high quality, all natural treats, toys, and grooming products for dogs and cats.  The boxes can be customized, or a complete surprise.

I LOVE that 10 percent of their proceeds go to the care of rescued animals.  That's pretty awesome.

PawPack generously sent us a box of goodies with some of the awesome products they offer.

The Goods

Planet Dog Orbee Tuff Double Tuff toys.  Chew toys that can be easily stuffed with peanut butter, ground meat, or canned food.  What dog owner doesn't love this type of toy?  Not only that, they smell deliciously minty!

Ore Pet Fetch! toy.  A seriously funny canvas toy with a squeaker in it.  Doesn't seem super tough, so it probably won't hold up to my crew.  But it is really unique, and I am trying to choose which dog that I know who would enjoy this the most.  

Jax and Bones Good Karma Turtle.  Jax and Bones rope toys are some of Neeko's favorite toys.  Ever.  I am super excited about this, as is the princess.  These toys are all cute, and incredibly durable.  Like other toys, it should be played with under supervision.

Ore Pet Bag Clip.  It's a heavy duty bag clip, with a hole in the middle.  While I won't use this for kibble, I can think of plenty of other uses for it.  I'll probably put it on a bag of pretzels to start.  There's no shame in my game.  A magnet on the back would be awesome, and I think I am going to glue one on to it.

New Angle Gulpy Pet Water Dispenser.  We actually used to have a product similar to this, and it is a great idea for small dogs or dogs who don't drink 24 ounces of water at once (Bruce...)

A belt can be rant through the hole, or a carabiner attached to it for hands-free carrying.

Cloud Star Original Soft & Chewy Buddy Biscuits.  Small, soft treats that are made with peanut butter.  Three important (in my dogs' opinions) criteria met when it comes to treats.  These are yeast free, so even big Bruce can enjoy them.  And picky turd Faolan has already proven that these please his palate, so they are a win-win.

True Chews Chicken Premium Jerky Cuts.  Chicken jerky that is made in the US, so I am comfortable giving it.  These types of dehydrated meat treats always go over well, and I am sure that these will be no exception.  These treats can be cut with scissors to make them stretch even farther, or to be used as training treats.

Harry Barker Natural Refreshing Spray.  A between bath refreshing spray that is said to leave the coat feeling silky.  While I am not a huge fan of the scent, Les likes it, so it is a personal preference.  Knowing what he would do, I sprayed some on the rug to watch Faolan scent-roll on it.  Watching him scent-roll is always entertaining, and it typically means that he really likes the scent of something.

SnoutStik.  Chapstick-sized tube of nose balm for dogs.  The ingredients are good, and it smells good, so it is very hard for me not to try this on my lips.  This will come in handy in the winter, if any pups get dry nose.  I am thinking it would also work well on dry, cracked winter paws.  

Happy Tails Ear Wipes.  These lavender scented pads are made in the US, and designed to gently cleanse a dog's outer ear.  I always wipe out Neeko and Faolan's outer ears after they have been swimming, and will start using these pads to do so.  

Round Tree Organics Doggie Bar.  This vegan soap, with organic ingredients, smells amazing.  The label states it is gentle enough to use on your body, hair, and face, and I will probably do so.  Sorry, doggies, but I think I am keeping this one for myself.  There is just something so pampering about yummy smelling, good soap.

I am very impressed to the selection of products that PawPack sent us.  Most of them we have either never heard of or never used, which is great because I really enjoy trying out and learning about new products for my dogs.  There was a nice variety of toys, treats, grooming, and miscellaneous products, all of which seem to be very high quality.

PawPack subscriptions start at $32 per month, with free shipping.  International shipping is available for $5.  Check out PawPack online, on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Tell them Rebekah from My Rotten Dogs sent you!

Do you subscribe to any dog or human subscription boxes? What is your favorite?

Disclaimer-I was provided with a complimentary PawPack.  All opinions are strictly my own.

December 2013 Happy Dog Box Review

It is a fact that I am a sucker for dog subscription boxes, like BarkBox.  I recently read a review of Happy Dog Box (on a makeup blog, of all places) and found a coupon code for it, so I decided to order one.  Happy Dog Box tailors toys and treats based on the size of one's dog, so of course I selected large.  We received it today!

The Goods

Cain and Able Between Baths Spritz and Shampoo.  Approximate retail value $12.47.  A conditioning shampoo and full-size bottle of smell good spritz.  These products smell really nice, a peppermint essential oil smell.  I sprayed some of the spritz on the floor, and in true to them fashion, Bruce and Faolan rolled on it, so they both smell nice and minty.

Kyjen Tuff Ones Candy Cane Approximate retail value $7.32.  Kyjen is well renowned for their tough toys, and for less "destructive" dogs, I am sure they are great.  We have received various Kyjen toys in the past, most recently in our October Spoiled Rotten Box.  That pumpkin, while cute, lasted approximately 6 minutes with Bruce.  This will go in the bag of goodies to donate to the shelter.

Jolly Pets Monster Mouth Dog Toy Approximate retail value $9.24.  A very cute, durable rubber toy that is meant to have treats inserted in it.  I like Jolly Pets, and their Jolly Balls are an all time favorite toy here.  This seems durable, and I will definitely let my crew play with it supervised, one at a time.

Flush Puppies  Approximate retail value $0.99 (?)  A sampler pack of two flushable, compostable poop bags.  What dog owner doesn't need poop bags.  Kind of a clever idea, I guess.  But I have always read that dog poop, unlike chicken and goat poop, is not compostable.  These will be used, but not necessarily flushed.

Wigzi Tasties Treats Approximate retail value $10.74.  Anything peanut butter is always loved in my house.  These simple ingredient treats are grain, potato, and yeast-free.  They are made in the USA.  I love them by the label information alone.  A portion of Wigzi's proceeds also goes to rescue groups.  I am 100 percent comfortable and feel good about offering these treats to my dogs.  I am sure they will be readily accepted.

Barkworthies Lamb Loin Strip Treat We seem to regularly get chews from this company, not that I am complaining.  All natural dehydrated chew, that I am sure will be greatly enjoyed by the lucky dog who receives it.  I don't think it will be a particularly long-lasting chew, however.  It seems thin and flexible.

Barkworthies Curly Bully Stick  Approximate retail value $7.48.  I will NEVER complain about receiving a bully stick.  Happy with this, indeed.

 Unfortunately I threw away the wrappers from these darling treats after feeding them to Neeko and Faolan, who enjoyed them greatly.  They had decent ingredients, and are super adorable.  I couldn't resist sneaking a tiny nibble of one, and got mostly icing, which was very tasty.  These are very cute!






I am quite impressed with the Happy Dog Box.  We received NINE unique products, though some were single serving/sample size.  I am always happy to receive dehydrated chews/treats, and the spritz spray smells wonderful.  The cookies were adorable, and greatly enjoyed by Neeko and Faolan.  I am going to get at least one more month of this box before deciding whether or not to continue it.

Disclaimer-I am a Happy Dog Box subscriber.  I am not affiliated with Happy Dog Box, nor was I asked to do a review.  All opinions are strictly my own.

August 2013 Spoiled Rotten Box Review

Yesterday we received our August Petflow Spoiled Rotten Box!  We also received our August BarkBox.  Previous month's reviews can be read HERE.

The Goods



 Sea Mobility Mini Chicken Jerky Squares\.  Approximate retail value $5.99.  We received a similar product in our March Spoiled Rotten Box.  They were a hit, and I chose to give them mostly to Neeko, who seems to have joint issues at times.  I am excited to receive these, as we have received other treats/products from Ark Naturals in the past, and I was pleased with them.

 Bamboo Combat Triangle Tug.  Approximate retail value $9.99.  What seems to me a flimsy, stuffingless toy that is quite small.  While it might be appropriate for a 40 lb dog, it is not appropriate for most 90 lb dogs.  Supposedly can withstand hours of vigorous play, but they have not met my dogs.  This will be going in the bag to be donated to the shelter. 







GRANDMA LUCY'S Organic Baked Cinnamon Treat for Dogs.  Approximate retail value $7.76.  These smell AMAZING.  Like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.  Good ingredients, organic, yeast free.  Neeko and Bruce gobbled theirs right up when offered, and Faolan turned his nose up at it.  I've come to expect this from him, so I am overall pleased with these treats, and their apparent quality.  Now to keep myself from sampling one...

 Smokehouse Pork Pizzle Twists Dog Chew-- (2).  Approximate retail value $0.49 each.  Bully sticks made of pork, as opposed to beef.  I am sure they will be a hit with the two lucky woofers who get to enjoy them.  What dog doesn't like a bully stick.  They are small, and thin, so I don't expect them to last long, but I am tickled to have received a variation of a bully stick.

Earthbath Hypo-allergenic Grooming Wipes .  Approximate retail value $4.99.  Hypoallergenic, scent free wipes in a convenient travel pack.  I have heard good things about this company, but have yet to try any of their products.  I am pleased to receive these.  I still have plenty of paw and ear wipes from previous subscription boxes, but these will definitely be put to good use.

Overall I am pleased with this month's Spoiled Rotten Box. With the exception of the toy.  I do realize that my dogs are larger than average, but more toys that are appropriate for large, aggressive chewers would be great.

Disclaimer-I am a Spoiled Rotten Box subscriber.  I am not affiliated with Petflow, nor was I asked to write these reviews.  All opinions are strictly my own.

The Stages of Grief (when bathing a dog)

This morning, I took Neeko to a nearby park. On our way, we stopped for coffee. I ordered her a pup cup.







Great weather, and we had a nice time on our short hike.















Towards the end, she thought it would be fun to roll in something nasty. I'm convinced it was deer poop.
Doing so earned her a trip to PSP for a bath, which she hasn't had since October.

The Stages of Bath Grief

Despair/sadness. This was just prior to starting the actual bathing process, after convincing her to jump in the tub and then clipping her in. Have you ever seen such a sad face?



Bargaining. Upon realizing a bath was inevitable, she sat down, and sought help from another lady bathing her dog and a PSP employee, by woo-wooing and barking at them in a pleading/demanding way.



Acceptance. Notice the complacent, relaxed face. This is only because she is mostly dry, and we are finished.



I am amused that a dog who loves water as much as Neeko hates baths so much.
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