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The Poochy Blog
Pet Product
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Posted on Sunday, February 17, 2013 1:10 PM
Shameless Cones Rehab in Style by Mary Watterson, Fort Collins Pet Sitter, Dog Walker & Trail Guide
 Bella, being highly interested in fashion, was recently searching her Haute Couture Haunts on Twitter, when she was introduced to Shameless Cones. Having had to wear an appalling plastic cone herself after an accident at the pedicurists, she immediately started Following them and they soon became friends.
Shameless Cones is a family-owned business that was bright enough to ask the question: "Why do e-collars have to be so butt ugly?" Soon afterward, their newly launched R & D Department (comprised of various and sundry dogs) came back with the answer: "They don't."
And so they launched an e-collar business they aptly named "Shameless Cones." Bella's favorite is the Sunflower design, featured below on a very happy dog!
Why, you may ask (besides them looking so cool) are colorful e-collars a plus for your dog? Well, that again, goes back to the genius of Shameless. You see, knowing both dog behavior and dog-owner behavior, they knew that owners respond emotionally to their pets. Seeing your beloved pet in an ugly, e-collar may illicit such thoughts as: "Man, you poor pathetic dog!" or "I'm so sorry I have to do this to you!" or, worse still: "It must suck to be you!" Needless to say, they were right! Our energy translates directly to our dogs.
 I guarantee if you put your dog (or cat) in one of these cool cones you'll have nothing but smiles and positive energy oozing from your body. In fact, you may even start to wag!
We hope you support our good friends at Shameless Cones. Please visit their great website to see all of their cool products. Personally, we can't wait to see what they come up with next. Bella is hoping to see a Court Jester line. Bailey wants an NFL line...
Be sure to forward this post to your vet so they too can spread the happiness. Rehab does not have to be a bummer when you accessorize it with a Sunflower Cone!
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Poochy Doos, LLC: Posted on Saturday, February 09, 2013 1:12 PM
Spot's Light Lighted Collars & Leashes By Mary Watterson, Fort Collins Dog Walker, Pet Sitter & Trail Guide
And God said: "Let there be light." And Spot said: "Make mine neon!"
 So, as many of you know, Bella handles our Twitter account here at The Poochy. The other day, she was minding her own business, when a dog named Honey started following her.
Being the friendly pooch she is, she stopped what she was doing and made friends. It turns out Honey is the R & D Director for a very cool family-owned company named Spot's Light. So, after passing some Tweets back and forth, Honey beamed Bella a package of light containing an awesome collar and leash - that light up. Too cool!
Bella, being a tiny dog of large character, gave it to her friend Bailey...a much bigger pooch, and Bailey has been sporting it ever since!
Here at Poochy Doos, LLC, we've found Spot's Light to be an invaluable tool and way over due! The collar and leash are constructed of sturdy nylon with a swivel clip and they light-up for night-time walking.
I can't tell you all the close calls we've had at Poochy Doos walking dogs at night with good drivers (or bikers) who just didn't see us or were distracted. That being said, we're not your average dog walkers. Our dog walkers are trained to be "actively scanning the horizon" for potential hazards that can threaten a dog's safety. We don't chat on cell phones, listen to i-pods or walk and chat with friends along the way. We're simply there, walking our client's dog, and paying attention to our surroundings.
This product is perfect for the average dog owner who frequently walks their dog around the neighborhood or bike trails at dusk (perhaps the poorest lighting of all) or at night. It provides a six foot lead lit-up with very bright, neon-color lights that projects your presence from several yards away. It is also reasonably priced. In fact, for the same price you'd pay for a regular collar and lead, you could purchase the added security of Spot's Light!
Used correctly, the visibility this product provides could easily help avert accidents that could otherwise occur from distracted drivers, bikers (and dog owners)!
We hope you check them out and support their great products!
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Poochy Doos, LLC: Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2012 11:27 AM
What Santa Shouldn't Put in Fido's Stocking: Rope Toys Can Kill Your Dog By Mary Watterson, Fort Collins Dog Walker, Pet Sitter & Trail Guide
Rope toys have become very popular of late. Go to any pet store, and you'll see a variety of shapes, sizes and styles to choose from. They are even touted by many vets as great "natural flossing" tools for your dogs. While that may be the case, we're hoping that this year Santa's Workshop doesn't make any. We all know that dog's have a tendency, just like kids, to put things in their mouths. Dogs will chew and swallow just about anything, given the opportunity. We also know that it's unwise to let your dog chew on string, fishing line, yarn, tinsel, etc. But we nevertheless allow them to chew on rope toys or even play tug-of-war with them. Why is that? Is it because we trust that whatever is brought to the marketplace is safe? Is it safe because vets have recommended it?
Clearly we have every reason to trust our vet. But what if some veterinarians are misinformed? What if a potential danger simply hasn't occurred to them? Well, there's one dog lover in San Antonio who will be much more careful next time around. 'Next time around' because her dog recently suffered an agonizing death after playing with a rope toy. And now she wants them pulled off the market.
Lea Robinson lost her one-year-old, pug-beagle mix "Perry" after two unsuccessful surgeries to fix severe internal injuries. You can read her story here. According to Jaie Avila of WAOI, Robinson said: "she bought a rope toy for Perry and within minutes he tore it apart." Robinson then disposed of the ruined toy and only later discovered Perry had ingested a large amount of string. According to Robinson, the toy got tangled up in Perry's intestines and acted like "a saw."
Unfortunately, Robinson's dog is not the only dog who has died after playing with rope toys. The Internet is strewn with similar tragedies related to this seemingly innocuous toys.
Mina Youssef, a vet at Becker Animal Hospital, (unrelated to Perry's death) commented on similar incidences saying: “It is very common to see that. What it does, it can cause a lot of damage and it can cause a blockage in the intestine which basically makes the intestine twist like an accordion.”
And what makes it worse, is it is not easily detectible. According to Avila: "not only can string or strands of rope cause severe internal damage to a dog, they don't show up on x-rays. Often an ultra-sound must be performed, which can make the problem difficult and costly to detect."
As with all toys we give our dogs, we have to continue doing everything in our power to make sure they are safe and harmless for them to play with. Please help spread the news that rope toys can be very dangerous.
In the meantime, please be sure to keep your pets away from all your Christmas decorations. Turning your back, even for a minute can be disastrous! From all your friends at Poochy Doos, LLC, we wish everyone a very merry (and safe) Christmas and New Year!
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Poochy Doos, LLC: Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2012 9:35 PM
Mr. Chewy "Delivering Pet Happiness" by Mary Watterson, Fort Collins Pet Sitter & Dog Walker
So, everyone knows we're huge proponents of buying local. That being said, in the face of high gas prices, it's nice to have an alternative to fall back on, especially when you're trying to conserve. Likewise, for those that live on the outskirts of Fort Collins, having pet food delivered to your door can be a godsend.
During our escapades on Twitter, we recently discovered Mr. Chewy and were blown away by their personal, prompt customer care. Mr. Chewy is a full-service, one-stop, nutritional website, offering over 100 top brands and growing steadily.
Their website is well organized and informative, making it easy to find what you're looking for while comparing similar brands. We had some problems checking out as it wasn't recognizing our debit/credit card (not the first place this has happened). However, within thirty minutes of sending an email asking for a call, I had a helpful gal call me back and solve my problem! Fastest service I've ever received online.
You'll find favorites such as Blue Buffalo, Orijen, Taste of the Wild, Dogswell, Royal Canine Veterinary Diet, Ziwipeak, Stella & Chewy and Natural Balance, just to name a few. And if that weren't enough, they offer free shipping to boot, on orders over $49.00.
We tried several yummy items but have to say our hands down favorite was the Blue Bones Natural Dental Chews, by Blue Buffalo. Bella loves the bones and we've even noticed her breath has improved!
All and all Mr. Chewy was an outstanding experience and we can't say enough about their customer service. Curious? Give them a try, you won't be disappointed!
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Poochy Doos, LLC: Posted on Monday, December 12, 2011 11:48 AM
Superman: Martin Kaufmann Bio-mechanically Gifted by Mary Watterson, Fort Collins Pet Sitter & Dog Walker
We are interviewing Martin Kaufmann of Ortho Pets later this afternoon in Denver to learn more about the facility he founded, the patients he helps, and what makes him tic.
After recently having a client of ours Tag, a German Shorthair amputee, get fitted with two orthotic devices, we continue to be amazed at his mobility and happiness. Clearly Martin and Ortho Pets have changed his life for the better.
Our daily walks with Tag are always fun, in fact, he's hard to keep up with!
Needless to say, Tag is just one of many patients who have received the gift of mobility from Ortho Pets. Check out the video of Nakio, a dog who lost all four paws to frostbite after being abandoned in Nebraska. After being adopted, he was introduced to Martin, and now is he's the only dog in the world sporting orthotic paws.
Does Martin leap over buildings with a single bound? Not quite, but pretty close. Check back soon to learn more about Martin and Ortho Pets.
Photo by Mary Watterson, Founder Poochy Doos, LLC
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