Whats the most useful thing you got for your dog?

[JoanneF]

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I'm finding it hard to choose between his cooling coat, which just works, and his spillproof bowl.

What do you have that you can't live without or wish you'd bought sooner?

 

[ForestWomble]

That's a tough one.
I'm struggling to decide between his Kong wobbler, flexi lead and his Ruffwear harness.

 

[JudyN]

I'm afraid it was Jasper's muzzle!

He was... err... unpredictable. As my mum used to say about me, 'when he was good, he was very, very good, but when he was bad he was horrid!'

But the muzzle meant that I could walk him anywhere, usually off lead, and meant that I could relax and feel much more confident in the face of the unexpected. He was 100% happy with it - it was as natural for him as putting shoes on is for me. He could run, pant, drink, and eat a surprising array of scavenged items wearing it. If he decided to snack on horse/cow poo on walks and I had to take it off to clean it in the nearest water source, he would happily come to me to have it put back on again.

 

[Torin]

For me a lot of the 'wish I'd bought sooner' isn't so much that I held off buying it, it's that it took a lot of time and research and detective work to find out the product existed in the first place. Can't live without is thus easier!

For Cad, I can't live without his NonStop Dogwear hi viz jacket. I originally bought it in the autumn for use in the dark months, because lights attached to him weren't very visible compared to taller dogs, so I thought if he has hi viz and I have a torch then that's going to be very visible. And it is! But also it's super helpful at all other times of the year too because a small sable dog camoflauges into basically every environment, and it thus enables him to have more offlead time as it's really easy to catch a glimpse. It also means people take him a bit more seriously and don't treat him as public property when we're out and about. His current one is actually the second, as the neckline went on the first after 3.5yrs of constant use (I assume the harness rubs on it), branded having better contours to comfortably fit his shape without slipping.

For Trisk, I probably couldn't live without his Ruffwear Webmaster because of needing 3 straps and other options tried not fitting his dimensions as well. But that came with him so does it really count. Possibly his SASS bungee lead. It has bungee at the human end rather than the more popular dog end, and the traffic handle is just under the bungee rather than just where it clips onto the dog. That combination makes it really flexible for highly variable walks; long and stretchy for when that's safe, and then a short solid lead that still allows for some manoeuverability if I need him closwer.

 

[Mad Murphy]

I suppose sensibly the car cover that goes all the way from the rear headrests to the front headrests and has slots for their seatbelts to fit through.

But for Murphy I guess its his pool. Just 2 meters by 3 its enough for him to splash about in safe from algae/ broken glass/ bacteria etc found in open water.

For all of us our new house. Half the size of the old one but with a secure back garden so they can come and go as they like in fine weather. Away from the hub bub and noise of the city and of course with 90% less fireworks at new years..

 

[Flobo]

I can't think of anything that I used for Jake... He was a simple boy, collar, lead and a few biscuits in my pocket and he was happy!

For walking my other hounds, I'd say my collapsible, silicon water bowl. I carry one of these all year round and at some point on our walks we always stop for a drink.

 

[BaileyAndLila]

Definitely my flexi leads. Both my dogs can go off the lead but, thanks to living in Cumbria, a lot of our walks are in quite rural areas or even not so rural areas with livestock in the vicinity. The flexis are handy for when we aren't passing directly through fields (so don't need a short lead) but I don't want them off lead in case they end up in the livestock field. I can't handle a long line with one dog, never mind two, so the flexis are well used. I do only buy the genuine flexi brand though and Lila has the giant one to ensure it can hold her as she likes to pull.

On the other hand, I've had stuff that I thought would be useful but was decidedly not! The best was those Ruffwear dog packs. We do a lot of walking so I thought they'd be a fab idea. Even with hardly anything in, Bailey was horrified and refused to walk with it on (you expect ME to carry your stuff human? Isn't that why I bring you? ) When I trialled Lila with it she didn't care but it didn't stop her from taking a dive into a bog and the stuff in said backpack being ruined by mud. I rehomed them in the end (the bags, not the dogs )

 

[JoanneF]

I've had stuff that I thought would be useful but was decidedly not!

I think you need to open a thread on that !

 

[arealhuman]

Difficult one. Probably Rusty's harness - simple click on/click off affair, can attach his 'normal' lead or long lead when out and about.

 

[ForestWomble]

Can I include Bungos favourite snuggle toy?

He has a soft caterpillar and he adores it. It's the same length as him when he's stretched out, Bungo carries it around,, sleeps with it, cuddles it, uses it as a pillow.

 

[Buzzer777]

On a different note:
Plaqueoff (powdered seaweed)......Been using it on multiple dogs for more than 25 years, and none of my dogs have ever needed a vet's dental.

 

[pennyaustin12]

I'm finding it hard to choose between his cooling coat, which just works, and his spillproof bowl.

What do you have that you can't live without or wish you'd bought sooner?

For us, it’s definitely the non-slip raised feeder - absolute game changer for our older girl’s joints. Also wish we’d gotten a cooling mat way earlier, especially with how hot summers have been!

 

[Torin]

On a different note:
Plaqueoff (powdered seaweed)......Been using it on multiple dogs for more than 25 years, and none of my dogs have ever needed a vet's dental.

As a money-saving note, PlaqueOff is 100% Ascophyllum nodosum. You can buy this exact same algae/ seaweed species in the exact same format in bulk as sold for horses. It's incredibly easy to store, just a tub in a cool dry place. I keep bulk in the garage and then syphon off into a small tub that's in the kitchen, and refill every so often.

For price comparison, using Amazon prices vs that sold for horses which I use
£13 for 60g - same amount costs me 38p
£27 for 180g - same amount costs me £1.15
£51 for 420g - same amount costs me £2.69

It's an EXTORTIONATE markup just for advertising and a little tub.

 

[Buzzer777]

As a money-saving note, PlaqueOff is 100% Ascophyllum nodosum. You can buy this exact same algae/ seaweed species in the exact same format in bulk as sold for horses. It's incredibly easy to store, just a tub in a cool dry place. I keep bulk in the garage and then syphon off into a small tub that's in the kitchen, and refill every so often.

For price comparison, using Amazon prices vs that sold for horses which I use
£13 for 60g - same amount costs me 38p
£27 for 180g - same amount costs me £1.15
£51 for 420g - same amount costs me £2.69

It's an EXTORTIONATE markup just for advertising and a little tub.

Thank you @Torin !

I live in an area where horse ranches are plentiful, and will start finding Ascophyllum nodosum in a local feed store. In fact my Border Collie/Choc. Lab cross came from one of those ranches about 60 miles from home..

There was a vendor in the UK who sold it in bulk and shipped to the USA before the pandemic (since then has stopped shipping here). @JoanneF might still have his information from when I sent her to them.

 

[JoanneF]

Thank you @Torin !

I live in an area where horse ranches are plentiful, and will start finding Ascophyllum nodosum in a local feed store. In fact my Border Collie/Choc. Lab cross came from one of those ranches about 60 miles from home..

There was a vendor in the UK who sold it in bulk and shipped to the USA before the pandemic (since then has stopped shipping here). @JoanneF might still have his information from when I sent her to them.

As I remember, it was perhaps a supplier in Ireland. But, still nowhere as low cost as the alternative @Torin just suggested.

I just bought 1.5k for a fraction of what I've paid in the past, thank you Torin!

 

[Buzzer777]

So far, none of the local feed stores have it, but it is available online for a decent price. Will keep on looking.

 

[Buzzer777]

So far, the best price I have found is $10.99 per pound (453.59 grams) shipped free at Walmart USA, when you buy at least $35 worth of products. (otherwise $8.95 freight).
Note that the same brand from different vendors online goes as high as $25 per pound + freight.

I think I paid $75 for a 1 pound jug of Plaqueoff last time! Thanks again @Torin

 

[Gemmaa]

MY OH bought me a Dicky Bag for Valentines Day a few years ago - who said romance is dead!?

Dreadful name, but I love it! I get the air freshener discs for the inside and can't smell any poo wafting out even in hot weather.

Plus, raincoats and cooling coats for Charlie.
They're considered essential items for him, so no one comments when he gets a new one!