Warm Clothing for Dogs

Ok, here's a question post... Do dogs need a coat or jacket in the winter?

Louie is an Olde English Bulldog who has a thin coat and very little fur on his belly. I get worried in the snow and on rainy day walks that he gets cold. The only time I've seen him shiver is in the middle of night when he wakes us up by burying himself under the covers (yes, he sleeps on the bed with us!).

Louie doesn't like the rain and when we take him outside in the rain, he just shakes constantly to get the water off. If we take him for a walk in the rain, he doesn't make it very far around the block before I feel bad and head back home. Even when he goes in the backyard to potty, he's hesitant to go out and immediately runs back in when he's done.

In Tahoe, he was plowing through the snow and didn't seem to mind being cold. His under belly was quite red, possibly from the snow pounding against him as he ran around but definitely from the cold. He didn't seem to be bothered by it one bit but it worried me a little to see his color change.

While I think getting him a jacket or coat to keep him warm is more for my peace of mind, I think he might actually like going out in the rain... Well, maybe not since his head will still be exposed! What's your opinion on jackets for dogs? Yea or Nay?!

JW Pet Invincible Chains Dog Toys

Louie loves this toy!! It's the second JW toy we've purchased (see JW Ruffians Dog Toys - Fish posting). We wanted to get a durable tug-of-war toy for Louie and this looked promising. We got the large size at PetSmart for $11.99 and there's also a small size for $9.99.

It's a great toss around the house toy as it is soft and light. Louie is exceptionally strong (if you haven't gathered that already!) and to have a toy stand-up to his harsh pulls and strong jaws is almost like hitting the jackpot! Each ring/link is made of 4 parts which stretch when pulled so not one area is bearing the weight. It does get hard to hold onto when he slobbers all over it but it is comfortable to play with. He does have access to it at all times but doesn't take it out to chew on. He basically brings it to us when he wants to play.

Every dog and human need a toy that is meant to be used together and this is a great one for that. Interaction with your dog improves the bond between the two of you and is essential when training. I would highly recommend this as a tug-of-war toy for any dog. It's proven to be very durable and I am excited to see how long it lasts.

Bamboo Combat Dog Toys

We decided to get Louie a new toy before we went to the snow this year. We found this one at PetSmart and got the 'Tug N Toss with Rope' for $9.99 (featured in the middle of the picture). Had I read the reviews for it online at petsmart.com, I wouldn't have purchased it. The reviews say that it is not durable and their dogs have gone through it very quickly. Not sure which style they purchased but so far this one is holding up nicely.

It was a perfect in the snow toy as it was easy to throw, easy to see and easy for him to retrieve even when it had fallen into deep snow. While we didn't allow him to chew on it inside, he played with it for 2 days outside with no major wear or tear showing. When we brought it home from the snow however, he did have open access to it and so began his quest to untie the rope. After a few hours he was able to undo the rope and there is a small hole where it was tied-in. Otherwise, it's still in one piece with no stuffing having been removed. While it is durable, it doesn't dry-out very well. Between being in the snow for 2 days and being slobbered on inside, the smell became off-putting. It is now an outdoor toy only and is holding up well.

My only suggestion would be for it to have a larger rope attached to it. I don't think it would've deterred Louie from undoing any quicker but I think it would be nice to have it be a bit more solid. While adding a squeaker probably would have caused him to destroy it even quicker, it might've been a good feature. All in all, it served it's purpose in Tahoe and is still going strong in our backyard. It's a product I'd purchase again.

Coming Soon!

Wow, I am really far behind on this!! I am working on a few new posts (and a new blog!) so I can hit the ground running. I expect to not just post toy trials but also fun dog tips and facts to keep the blog fresh and up-to-date. Please feel free to email me any news articles or ideas that you have so I can get them up on the blog. stephanie.johanna@yahoo.com

Stay tuned as I get a post up... SOON!