Pet Products Review: Isle of Dogs Canine Grooming System

So, if you've been reading my blog, Champ and I have a fancy weekend away in the Hamptons.  Since its our first social beach weekend we want to look our best.  Today, Champ's groomer Barry came over for brush, comb, massage, bath and clip.   Lucky for us, Champ and I get sent a variety of samples to choose from.  And lucky for Barry, he has so many clients he's always looking for the just the right grooming brand for each of his canine clients.  As you may know, dogs like people all have different hair types, so some products work better than other.  Also every product has its own signature fragrance.  Barry and I decided on Isle of Dogs Canine Grooming System.

Now as you know, grooming is costly.  Besides the price of the groomer, the products can be costly, so you want to make sure you pick products that have ingredients and qualities you like.  I chose the Isle of Dogs Canine Grooming System for this session because their system is based on all natural primrose oil.  Because Champ is a Shetland Sheepdog, he has a tendency to have hair of many different textures that grows long.  I wanted his hair to be as silky as possible with out being too greasy.  I read primrose is a very light oil so I figured it might be just the right grooming system.

Another important grooming consideration for me is lather.  I'll be honest, I want shampoo that lathers up.  Also, I like conditioner that washes out quickly and does not have an overpowering smell.

Well Isle of Dogs Shampoo no. 10 and their conditioner no. 50 had what I was looking for.  I'm not an expert, but the combination of the two products met my needs.  Champ is clean, clean, clean and smells fresh and natural.  Now if you want your dog to smell very fragrant, this is not the product for you.  Isle of Dogs Canine Grooming System leaves a completely au natural scent.

After the clipping and cutting we applied the no. 60 Grooming Spray.  Now I use the grooming spray to add luster and mitigate the drying flaking skin.  But the shampoo and conditioner alone worked so well, its hard to give an assesment on the no. 60 Grooming Spray.  I do wish Champs hair was more silky.  But then again that could be his breed.

All in all, I'm happy with today's grooming session, and the Isle of Dogs Canine Grooming System.  I went to their website www.iodogs.com and was impressed with the information on the site, and especially impressed with their shop by breed selection.  Also impressive, however, were the prices.  To buy the Isle of Dogs Canine Grooming System of the 3 products I tested no. 10 Shampoo, no. 50 Conditioner, no. 60 Grooming Spray all in 250 ml bottles would set you back $60.

I do recommend the products but go to their site.  Again, its www.iodogs.com.

If you've got a product you think will pass the Secret Shopper Test, send an email to SecretShopperBlog@gmail.com

Pet Products Review - TrueBlue Pet Products: Safe and Sure Eye wipes

This week I received the most pleasant box of samples from TrueBlue Pet Products.  The box was stocked with luxurious grooming products.  I can't wait to dig in.  But, I'm holding off right now because this weekend, Champ, my Sheltie and I are off to the Hamptons.  If you know what that means, we have to look our best!  So our friend Barry, who is a top groomer in New York City is going to stop by Saturday morning and give Champ his makeover using TrueBlue Pet Products.

But.... I couldn't resist.  I had to try something from the box.  My choice the TrueBlue Pet Products: Safe and Sure Eye wipes.

Now every pet gets those tear stains.  Champ is not so bad because he's sable colored.  But my cat Stinky gets them.  Both got to test the product today.  Now, what I was expecting was a huge fight, especially from the cat.  And yes, there was some initial discomfort.  But both the cat and the dog after the first few seconds let me wipe the areas around the eyes gently without resistance.  This I found amazing.

But you know, all TrueBlue Pet Products, including the Safe and Sure Eye wipes are made with only the purest botanical ingredients.  There is nothing harsh, or perfumed in these wipes.  And I actually think the lavender and cucumber gave the cleaning an air of relaxation.

I highly recommend this product for pets of light color, especially those poor little Maltese and Poodles prown to tearing.

Go to www.truebluepets.com for locations near you that sell the products.  I found them on www.OnlyNaturalPetStore.com one of my favorite eRetailers:

http://search.onlynaturalpet.com/search.aspx?avs|Manufacturer=TrueBlue

If you've got a product, you think will pass the Secret Shopper Test, send an email to SecretShopperBlog@gmail.com

Pets Product Review - Cloud Star Provenance dog treats

The good folks at Cloud Star sent Champ and me a box of their new grain-free dog treat called Provenance.  Yes, like the name, Provenance is premium with great star shaped cookie design.  Provenance means in French "a point of origination" so the treats are based on the "fundamental sources of nutrition as nature intended."

Well I can see how mother nature intended our canine ancestors to eat grain free, wheat & corn free, no sugar foods, but she also gave us tastebuds that make us seek foods we enjoy.  Sorry Cloud Star, I  love ya, but the Provenance brand treats are really bland.  I gave samples to nearly a dozen dogs.  They all enthusiastically accepted my treat offer, sometimes they carried them in their mouths for a bit.  But ulitmately they ended up on the floor with one bite taken out. 

Now I thought this was weird so I took a bite, just a small one.  Well, they taste exactly as I imagined, like dried potato with essence of chicken.  It was very dry. 

Don't get me wrong, the company is great!  Cloud Star makes all their products in the USA; that's a huge point from me.  And they give 10% of the net profits to non-profits that help animals; 2 points! but when it comes to taste.... give us a little sizzle.

You can buy Cloud Star Provenance on their website at www.CloudStar.com a 16oz box will cost $7.95.

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Pet Products Review: BowHausNYC Coral Daisy Carrier and Travel Bowl

This weekend Champ and I have been invited to East Hampton.  We can't wait! Its our first weekend in the Hamptons.  If you're from the New York area, you know, that's much more than just a drive, it comes with responsiblity.  The responsibility is to be ever-stylish.  So, Champ will be bringing his stripped travel bowl from BowHausNYC.com

Now, Champ is a 30lbs, sheltie and we'll be traveling in my SUV.  But, Champ was a companion dog, and if I was going by Hamptons Jitney we would be caught in nothing less than the BowHausNYC Coral Daisy Carrier and Travel Bowl ensemble.  I always say, if you're going to travel, travel in style.

Let me tell you, not only is BowHausNYC's Coral Daisy Carrier and Travel Bowl stylish, its super-durable 100% cotton canvas and trimmed in natural leather.  The complete ensemble of Coral Daisy Carrier and Travel bowl are less than $200.  Style + affordablity = BowHausNYC.

Get yours for the Hamptons at http://bowhausnyc.com/Daisy-Carrier

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Wind is a tricky thing. While most breezes don't seem strong enough to lift a dog off its feet, a strong, forceful gust just might sweep away a small pet.

Sounds unbelievable, right? It happened last weekend in Waterford Township, Mich., when Tinker Bell - a six-pound Chihuahua owned by Dorothy and Lavern Utley - was literally swept up, up and away by a 70-mph wind gust. Kind of like Dorothy and Toto from "The Wizard of Oz."

According to the Detroit News, "witnesses last saw the dog airborne, heading south over the Dixie Highway." Yikes!

Dorothy Utley contacted a psychic, who advised her to look for Tinker Bell in a wooded area about a mile from where she was last seen.  More than 50 searchers helped look for the dog.

She was finally found Monday, about three-fourths of a mile away, dirty but happy to see her owners.

"That dog was so happy," said Dorothy, 72, who is pictured above with her husband and Tinker Bell. "She just went wild. She was so hungry, and we had to bathe her."

From now on, I'm holding on to Sadie, our seven-pound Dachshund, on windy days.

(Photo: Detroit News)