10 Must-Haves for Your Canine Companion.
What a wonderful place the world would be if we all had the heart of a dog<3
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We are blessed with four fur babies, our children before we had a child. If you’ve got fur children of your own, then you know, you always want whats best for them.
But what is best for them?
It can be hard to navigate the hundreds of options, and if you’re anything like me, decision making is not your strong suit… Seriously I am THE WORST at choosing anything.
But, you’re in luck! I have decided to put together a list of our favorites. From treats, to toys, to a few things that just make mom and dads lives easier, these are the winners in our house! Some of our canine companions must-haves.
KONG Stuff-a-Ball
If you’re like me, you’ve got doggos that need constant stimulation. Well, actually, lets edit that to **you’ve got a Nova that needs constant stimulation.
Jasper dogs only must-have is a comfy couch.
If you’re lucky enough to have a dog on your hands that is always looking for something to occupy their time, look no further! Seriously, this thing is a life saver. I fill the slots with peanut butter or small treats, fill the middle with larger treats so she has to work at it a bit and boom!
It keeps her busy for HOURS!
Filled Femur Bones
What dog doesn’t love a good bone? Especially one filled with yummy bacon or cheese filling? Our dogs go crazy for these!
They are great for keeping dogs busy and do wonders for dental health by helping to remove plaque and tartar build up!
My favorite thing to do once the filling is gone from the middle? Refill it with peanut butter and stick it in the freezer overnight! It keeps even my German Shepherd busy:)
Kong Extreme
When you’ve got a chewer like our shepherd, Kong is really your only hope. And this Kong Extreme is no exception, it is incredibly durable. One of the only things she hasn’t chewed through in a matter of hours. I also love Kong because they are so inclusive with sizing! They’ve got toys large enough for even our 115 pound mastiff!
This is another one that I fill with peanut butter and a few of her favorite treats, pop it in the freezer, and you’ve got hours of entertainment!
A Nice Big Rope for Tugging
Dogs just love to tug. It is a great way to burn some energy, especially on days when the weather is icky and going outside to play isn’t really in the cards.
If I get my dogs playing tug of war with each other, I know a nap will come shortly after!
Now we have extra large dogs, so we buy extra large ropes, but they come in all shapes and sizes! I’m gonna go ahead and link another one of our favorites below, if you’ve got large dogs, you should totally grab one.
Colossal Rope Ball
You guys, this thing is awesome and ridiculous all in one, you could probably knock someone out with it. It will give your dog a work out while simultaneously saving you a trip to the gym for arm day.
A No-Pull Harness
The day I started using a harness instead of just a leash when I took my dog out and about, was life changing. Especially with our Nova, who’s leash walking skills leave something to be desired.
A harness is a must if you’ve got a puller or a jumper, but a no-pull harness, you can’t beat it.
It has not only the classic loop on the back to hook up a leash, but it also has a loop on the chest. That chest loop is amazing for redirecting that pulling instinct. It works wonders for us.
Training Treats
Dogs never get too old to stop learning. And if you have a dog like ours, a refresher course is also necessary every so often. Manners are something we are still working on, practice makes perfect right?
We love Zukes. They are low in calories, which make them perfect for training, contain real meat protein, and are nice and soft, which both our dogs love!
Greenies
Our dogs absolutely LOVE their daily Greenies, almost as much as our toddler loves demanding they sit down so he can hand them out.
Now I don’t know about you guys… but I am terrible about brushing my dogs teeth… I know, here come the haters. I don’t brush my dogs teeth. But I do give them Greenies, and so far they have done a great job at keeping any plaque build up at bay.
A Treat Jar with an Air Tight Seal
This “must-have” is a win win for doggy parents and doggys alike. You get to choose a cute treat jar that actually matches your decor, instead of having bags of random treats sitting on the counter. And the dogs always get nice fresh treats!
I also believe in having multiple kinds of treats open at once… which drives my hubby insane. But I wouldn’t want to eat the same snacks every single day for a month! I like to give them variety! This allows me to open 2 or 3 types, dump em all in the jar, and we are good to go!
Deshedding Blade
This thing, is one of my all time favorite things. It is AMAZING! A dear friend of mine introduced me to these types of brushes and I’ve never looked back.
I have always had large dogs, malamutes, shepherds, saint bernards, most of which have been crazy shedders. And let me tell you, I have NEVER seen a brush do such marvelous things. It so strangely satisfying to brush out an entire animals worth of hair from your dog, knowing it wont end up on your couch or your black leggings.
Do yourself a favor, get one.
Comfy Orthopedic Dog Bed
As our furry family members grow older, their comfort becomes more and more important to us. If you’ve got large breed dogs prone to hip and joint problems, an orthopedic bed can make a world of difference.
Take it from our mastiff, who is an expert on sleeping, a good quality bed just can’t be beat.
XoXo,
The Beautifully Mediocre Dog Mom
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