Pet Products Review - Happytails Bubbles 'N Beads Shampoo & Conditioner 9oz

The pamplet that came with the product sample sent to me by Happytails Canine Spa Line says: "Inside every mutt there's a mutrosexual just dying to get out".  So I figured what better day to turn my Sheltie Champ into a "muttrosexual" than New Years Eve. With that we tried Happytails' Bubbles 'N Beads Shampoo and Conditioner.

Baths are baths, the experience is never quite fun.  Although this was the first time I've ever used a product with beads in it.  I don't know what the beads do, but it was interesting to watch them dissolve.  The pamphlet says they are "microencapsulated conditioner" which is pretty fancy.  So, the bath is not fun, but the results are.  They should have called Bubbles 'N Beads the "Fluffinator" ! OMG! after Champ dried off, he was a gigantic cute and fluffy monster.  He certainly was clean and his hair very soft.  One thing I liked was that the shampoo did not have an overwhelming perfume as so many of them do.  My one regret was that I did not have a bottle of Happytails' Shimmering Mist to give his bath that extra glimmer.

So as a shampoo I totally recommend Happytails Bubbles 'N Beads.  For ordering, go to www.happytailsspa.com.  At $17 for a 9oz bottle, this is a luxury pet spa product.  But knowing that Happytails at a company only uses the very best ingredients and upholds the higest possible environmental, social and ethical standards, and made in the USA, its worth it.

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Pet Products Review - Greenies Smart Biscuit, Double Green Chunk

Ever have your dog greet you with a warm loving lick and snuggle?  Isn't it great?  But wouldn't it be so much nicer if his breath was fresh, clean and inviting? The people at Greenies sure think so, and so do I.  They've created a new product called Greenies Smart Biscuit.  Its different from other Greenies products in that it is a crunchy daily treat, a biscuit. 

Now, I've found the traditional Greenies products to be a bit hit or miss with dogs and cats.  Either, they lover them and consume with shear delight, or the green chips go against all canine and feline forces of nature.  The later is the case with my dog Champ.  The Greenies Smart Biscuit however is different.  Champ likes the biscuit.  And when I gave a sample to our friend Max the Golden, he loved it too.

What I like about the Greenies Smart Biscuit is that it comes from a company that values the importance of your pets' dental health, so much so, that that's all they do.  The Greenies Smart Biscuit is not designed to clean teeth, but rather make the breath fresh.  Ingredients like gluten free corn meal, apple and honey, and most of all Chlorophyll give the biscuit its intelligence.  What has stayed the same is the distinctive greenies shape and color.

Greenies is very generous with free samples.  Go to www.greenies.com and get your free samples today.

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A FIST-BUMP... of course!

At the very least a Presidential Pup needs a Presidential Paw Shake.  SHAKE is one of the first tricks I teach in class.  Its a great way to get the stress of "obedience" out of the way so that everyone can learn.  The dogs easily pick up this fun trick and it can quickly be used to prevent jumping and can also be used later as a reward for complying with obedience commands such as sit, down and stay.

TEACHING YOUR PUP TO RAISE THEIR PAW

Make sure you have a marker word that means:  "You did it!"

Choose a tasty treat -something that will fit in your fist.

Leash your pup.

Prevent your pup from wandering off, step on the leash.

Grip the treat in your fist.

Hold your fist in front of your dog's nose.

Allow your pup to sniff and nuzzle at your fist.

If your pup nibbles at your hand, pull your hand away and hide it behind your back for 3-5 seconds.

Present your fist again and continue to allow your pup to nuzzle and sniff at the treat in your fist.

WATCH YOUR PUP'S PAWS!

The moment your pup lifts a paw, MARK IT!  Use a clicker or your marker-word and then Treat your dog.

Don't wait to long, or set your expectations too high!  Take the first little, itty-bitty attempt your pup puts forth.  Even if all your pup does is lift a paw ever so slightly.  Mark it and pay your dog with a HUGE, TASTY TREAT!

Repeat this until your dog lifts her paw the moment you present your fist.

When your dog is consistently lifting her paw then you change the game...

Don't mark the paw-lift!  WAIT.

Raise your standard.  Use your marker-word only if your pup lift her paw up higher than she had been doing in the past.  

AND, if your pup slaps your fist with her paw, MARK-IT and TREAT!  Use a fantastic treat or lots of yummy treats given al at once.

Expect to teach this trick over several sessions.

Pet Products Review - RapidBath Pet Bathing System by HydroSurge

Today you're in luck because my post is one with two opinions.  The good people at Hydro Surge a division of Jarden Consumer Solutions asked me to sample their new RapidBath Pet Bathing System.  I was excited to try this product because I trust the famous brands and products of Jarden.  They seem to know exactly the appliance that makes my life easier.

The RapidBath Pet Bathing System is an interesting contraption in that it aims to give you the power and convenience afforded to professional dog groomers.  RapidBath allows you to wet, wash and rinse in one hand-held unit. Designed to bath in 3 minutes or less, the RapidBath system cuts the time, hassle and mess out of bathing your pet.

The manufacturer writes:  "The system includes a dog grooming sprayer and adapter that connects to any standard home shower or outdoor faucet, allowing the versatility of indoor/outdoor use. The sprayer functions in just one hand and features 3 settings: low, high, and bathe. Hidden inside the handle are integrated shampoo cartridges which automatically draws and distributes highly concentrated shampoo while you bath your pet. The result is easier, less messy baths for both you and your pet."  The cost of the RapidBath Pet Bathing System is $69.99 and can be purchased at www.petsmart.com or any PetSmart location.

Well let me tell you, I had a very hard time finding a shower or outdoor faucet that actually fit the RapidBath system. It did not fit my shower nor our outdoor faucet.  Finally I ended up trying the unit in my building's laundry utility sink.  I have to admit the system did not quite fit that faucet either and I'm sure it negatively affected the RapidBath's performance.  Althought I found the using a 10' hose connected with a water diverter to be easy and convenient for washing a dog, I did not find the soap to lather to my satisfaction.  Also knowing I can go to a hardware store and get the same hose and diverter material for only a few dollars, made it hard to justify a $70 price.

But, being a New York City urban dweller, we know that not every product is designed for city use and works better in an actual home.  With that, I gave the RapidBath System to my friend Tom to try.  Tom lives on a country estate outside of Albany and had a beautiful American Foxhound named Fiddler.  Fiddler being a country dog is always getting into something or another and more in need of frequent bathing.   Here is Tom's verbatim:

Ease of use.....9
Installation......8
Overall impression....8

I have a relatively large American Foxhound named Fiddler.  Put simply, hounds and water don't usually mix.  I've attempted to use shower sprayers, sponges, etc. but make it difficult to keep the dog in the tub while still using them.  The rapid bath system alleviated a number of those issues.  The installation was fairly easy.  Having the right tool to remove the shower head toughest part.  It's great to be able to leave the diverter attached to the shower and still be able to use the rapid bath when needed.  The major benefit of this system is the ability to have everything in one hand.  Using simple knobs and buttons on the hand held unit, you can change from soap to rinse and turn the water on and off with just one hand.  This allowed me to keep the other hand on the dogs collar to keep him in the tub.  Overall a good system.

Disadvantages:  must use soap cartridges from rapid bath system.
Potential improvement: I wish the head of the sprayer had some rubber nubs on it to use to massage in the shampoo.  I had to put the unit down to suds the dog before rinsing.

So back to me... my recommendation is, if you have multiple pets, dogs, horses, cats, goats, whatever, and keeping them clean is important to you, buy the RapidBath Pet Bathing System.  Your frequent use and time saved will justify the price.  But do make sure you test the compatibility with all of your faucets and like any larger purchase, keep the receipt in case it does not work out.

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HARD-EYES vs. SOFT EYES

What do these terms mean?

The following photos show the same dog on the same couch.  However, in one photo the dog is comfortable and not showing signs of aggression.  In the other photo the dog is clearly uncomfortable.  Trainers that are working on aggression issues often use a technique called Desensitization & Counter Conditioning .  To do this effectively, the dog needs to be kept BELOW THRESHOLD.  The appearance of any stiffening, in either body or eyes, is a sign that the threshold has been brushed or plowed over.

In the photo below Eddie's eyes are soft and his body is relaxed.  The white of the eyes are showing evenly around the whole eye.

The following photo shows Eddie giving clear signs of discomfort with a person or thing (or the person/thing's action, movement, or proximity).  In this photo the head and body are stiff, the eyes are hard (also known as whale or shark-eye).  Notice the clear presence of the white crescent on the inside of the eye.  Eddie is also puckering his mouth and starting to snarl (raise the lips).  His threshold has been breached!

Eddie is a couch guarder.  The first photo was taken only moments after I asked him to get on the couch (not his yet because he just got there).  The second photo was taken after I walked away (relinquished shared possess of the couch) and then returned 10 minutes later (he had enough time to get comfortable and claim the couch as his).

The treatment for Guarding is NOT punishment.  I would not want to teach Eddie that my return to the couch predicted punishment or other yucky things.  This is bound to start a vicious cycle.  Instead, the treatment for a guarder like Eddie is to teach him that my approach to the couch is safe (did not breach his threshold) and followed by good things.  Desensitization & Counter-Conditioning should be done by a certified trainer who can advise you on management options to be followed in between training sessions.