Best Dog Product Purchases

Today’s Matt’s birthday and I was going to share how I’m celebrating his 30th birthday, but maybe I’ll do that for 30+1 next year when we get to actually do something way more fun than going out to dinner. I’m thinking we should do a trip somewhere fun…

Instead I wanted to talk to all the dog parents out there (or dog aunts and uncles and those hoping to be dog parents soon) about some of the best products I’ve found. I’ve gone through my trial and error of products for my almost 100lb dog, Moose. Here are some of my tried and true products over the last few years. Some great products for your dog, or gifts for friends and family’s dogs.

Outdoor

• Leather Leash, 6ft. – Honestly – this might be the best purchase yet because I’m just realizing now that we’ve had this leash for 3 years without any issues. I love this leash SO much. Leather leashes tend to be easier on your hands (at least I think so,) and they’re way less likely to snap or tear. This one has a little bit of padding on the handle so when I wrap it I don’t have to worry about my hands. Moose has snapped a leash right off when we first got him (the one we got when we adopted him, just a normal black nylon leash). This leather one has been A+, highly highly recommend.
• Sloppy Chops Co. Martingale Collar – We went with a martingale collar because we wanted something adjustable that wasn’t going to be uncomfortable when he was sleeping, and was easy to put on and off. These collars are beautiful, you get to pick your color and hardware, and made with love in Colorado. They also have a lifetime guarantee.
• Biodegradable Poop Bags – We’re not rude around these parts, and always, always clean up after Moo. I do suggest though making sure your bags are bio-degradable especially since each person probably uses around a couple poop bags PER DAY PER DOG. That’s SO much plastic.

In the Car

• OneTigris Tactical Vest – This vest is so badass. We use it on walks where we know he’s too hyped up and needs some extra security, on hikes, and all the time in the car. This is also so great for riding in the car because I can buckle him into the vest instead of his neck (helps knowing he wont get choked if we ever got into a car accident). We had an older version with metal clips from a few years ago, they now have thick plastic hardware, but nonetheless this vest is amazing. Super high quality, no tears at all after years of use, and looks badass. I love that you can add velcro patches on there as well. I should also mention I’ve removed the patches and thrown it in the washing machine and hung to dry multiple times with no issues. The vinyl lining inside tends to get greasy after a while.
• Valstar Double Pack Seatbelt – BUY THESE RIGHT NOW. This is major! Honestly, if you get anything out of this post get these and make sure your dog is safe in the car please. These are under $10 and you get a 2-pack. I have one in the backseat of my car, and one in Matt’s backseat so we always know Moose can be buckled in. It literally snaps right into the car seat belts so it’ll fit any car, and the length you give your dog can be adjusted if you don’t want them moving around too much. It’s so convenient and I don’t have to worry about him climbing out the window or into the front of the car while we’re driving. It’s a game changer having the peace of mind that he’s safe back there. Tip: If you, a friend or family member gets a new dog get them this as a congrats present. So awesome.

Sleeping

• BarksBar Orthopedic Bed – This is one of, if not the best, purchase I’ve made for Moose yet. I’ve purchased 3-4 dog beds so far and Moose has ripped up every one of them digging through the lining and into the cushion. He’s had this one a few months and has yet to even try to rip it. I think he loves it as much as us. It’s that good. Highly highly suggest if you have a dog that likes to tear the fluff out of beds. Apparently his older beds we’re soft enough, the boy just wanted orthopedic.
• JoicyCo Dog Crate Mat – We bought this because Moose had been lying on the floor a lot lately under my desk and I wanted him to have something comfy to lay on. It’s not too thick, and he absolutely loves it. I could definitely seeing us bring this to a friends house as well for something easy for him to lay on, or camping, or really anywhere because it’s so thin and easy.

Toys + Bones

• Tuffy Dog Toys – I’m passionate about these toys because they’re the only thing outside of thick ropes that have lasted in this house. These are the best toys we have EVER purchased. There are SO many different kinds. We have like 7 of them around the house and he plays with them all daily. Moose usually rips apart all toys, even the “made for chewers”, “made for big dogs”, “indestructible”, blah blah blah toys. These are legit. They have squeakers, I feel like that’s important to note, but they’re hard to push down most of the time unless they’re really biting down or you’re forcing it when you’re playing. Just sayin’ these are worth the money and will last. They have a few at Target too if you’re there for under $15. We pretty much will never buy other toys.
• Bully Sticks – I know bully sticks are expensive, but it’s worth it when you know it’s not bad for your dog. I apprecaite that he’s not going to be chipping teeth or eating poison. That’s why these are expensive. Throw away your bleached rawhide please. We learned the hard way. Moose was started to get head tremors and we had no idea what was happening. We threw out all the essential oils and candles in the house. We stopped giving him treats, started giving him filtered water, etc. We stopped giving him the rawhide and he hasn’t had a head shake in months. They are legit poison, google the ingredients and you’ll see. I’m so mad that they’re still even on the shelves. So, buy bully sticks, your dog will love them if they love bones.

Please let me know some of your favorite dog products because I’m always on the look out for good quality products! Hope you find one or more of your favs or new favs in here, and make sure to get your dog a seatbelt!!

x k (+ Moose)