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There are literally thousands of different products for dog owners to spend their money on these days. This article gives you a pick of some newer products & ideas - targeted towards your dog's wellbeing and safety.
Innovative Dog Collars
Safety Release Collars
There is an argument that those nice sturdy looking traditional collars are dangerous. If the dog whisks out of your sight or is lost, and the collar becomes caught on something - well, its nice and sturdy, with its buckle, and it won't come off. This could lead to strangulation injuries as the dog tires to free itself... This idea has been around in the world of cat products for some time now, with many versions of a new safety release collar available that will come off if the collar snags on something. Its also evidently reached dog collar manufacturer's, because new safety release design collars are finally available. They feature plastic 'buckles' which 'snap open' if the collar gets caught or snagged on something. Look for the buzzwords 'snap open' in the marketing blurb.
Anti Choke Collars
Choke chains were such an everyday sight and everyday product for many years in pet stores. The next generation of products to replace them are anti choke harnesses. Manufacturers argue that traditional metal choke chains can sometimes cause health problems and dogs may cough, gag or, well, choke. Small dogs can also suffer collapsed trachea. The problem is felt to be pressure on the dog's neck and compression of the airways as the choke chain restrains the dog when it pulls forward. The pressure from traditional choke chains may also aggravate glaucoma. Anti choking newer designs look more like harnesses, and fit around the front legs and avoid the neck altogether. This is sounding like a boon for dogs, providing the design should not exert any pressure onto the chest or airways.
There are also new collars which put the pressure on the nose instead of the neck as the dog pulls. Similarly, companies claim they're better for the dog's health. Both anti choking harness designs and 'nose pressure' designs are generally advertised as more effective at controlling dogs that pull a lot than traditional choke chains.
Tracking collars
Losing a dog is distressing and there may nonetheless be laws where you live holding you responsible for its behaviour whilst 'away from home', depending on where you live. Tracking devices attach to or are incorporated in the dog's collar. The basic premise is the same across the differing technologies used - the devices send a signal from the dog's collar to a hand held device that homes in on the dog. The American Kennel Club works in collaboration with the Positioning Animals Worldwide Company who makes the Spotlight GPS Pet Locator. Other products use GPS or radio frequencies - with radio frequencies, the price tags tend to be lower but the range will be more limited. At the time of writing, radio frequency devices were selling online from $80 / 50 GBP with a range of 400 feet / 122 metres. The Spotlight device was around $200-$250 plus $8-15 monthly service fees, with similar or higher costs for other GPS tracking systems. Nothing, as they say, is perfect - if the device is attached to a snap open collar, it will enable you to locate the collar only if the collar has been discarded. This only serves to emphasize the importance of micro-chipping - should your dog be handed in to facilities with a reader, you will get a call so long as your entry on the micro-chip companies database is up to date. Readers are now in most shelters, some local authorise and most vets, depending on where you live.
Electric shock 'Anti Bark' collars
The ASPCA does not generally endorse their use and states the use of collars on puppies and young dogs can traumatise. Some Australian states have banned them by law. Training is obviously a more humane and less dangerous option. Online resources such as the Virtual Pet Behaviouralist from the ASPCA may help along with a good training expert - prolonged barking is a behavioural problem and can be safely overcome with kinder methods.
Dog Teeth Cleaning
Brush your dogs teeth 1 - 2 times weekly with a soft toothbrush to prevent caries and plaque build up. Many pet supply stores sell special rubber teeth brushes for dogs. Do not use human toothpaste. Do buy dog toothpaste - ask your vet to recommend, because dogs need specialised tooth paste to break down their dog-specific plaque. Use gentle circular motions.
'Dental' dog food products aim to clean the dog's teeth by using the mild abrasion action of dry foods rubbing against the teeth. Dental water additives also help plaque build up. You will still need to do the teeth brushing. There is a list of products approved by the USA's Vetinary Oral Health Council. Their 'Seal of Approval Scheme' is endorsed by the British Vetinary Dental Association and the European Vetinary Dental Association.
Pooper-scooper dispensers for your belt
These just clip onto your belt and mean you get at poop-scoop bags, without having to handle the doc lead in one hand whilst trying to scrabble around in your pockets. Good stress buster for you. The bags now come in 'antibacterial' with separate antibacterial wipes packs (like the ones you use on holiday) for you hands.
Visibility aids
There are fancy dress costumes for dogs, dog jumpers, dog coats... but a fluorescent dog coat or vest enhances safety. They act just like cyclists day-glo jackets, making your dog visible for traffic and people. Additionally, there are battery powered lights clip onto leads or you. Collars can be specially made to reflect light and some have battery powered lights built in, plus the new safety release designs.
Dog car harnesses
Like a seatbelt for the dog, the aim is to prevent the dog injuring itself or passengers in an accident. The dog also should have less opportunity to distract the driver by climbing around the car. Some types of anti choke harnesses double up as car harnesses.
Anti stress
Dogs suffer stress at times - firework season, moving home, trips to the vet... Homeopathic drops for oral administration & dog coats using body pressure points aim to calm anxious and frightened dogs.
You might also consider vetinary acupuncture. In the UK, there is The Association of British Vetinary Acupuncturists. In Germany, there is the German Veterinary Acupuncture Society e.V.. In the Netherlands, there is the Samenwerkende Nederlandse Vetinaire Acupuncturisten. For the rest of Europe, The International Veterinary Acupuncture Society may be able to help.
In the USA, there is the American Academy of Vetinary Acupuncture, or the American Holistic Vetinary Medical Association.
In Canada, there is the Association of Vetinary Acupuncturists of Canada.
Grooming products
There are far too many products to list individually - here's one not very glamorous idea which could be incredibly useful in hotter weather. 'Tick pickers' are plastic tools to remove ticks. Why? Because ticks bury their jaws into skin and then 'lock on', remaining in place to suck the animals blood. Never simply take hold of a tick and pull it out. Parts of the tics jaws and head can stay embedded in the skin, leading to nasty infections. The pickers aim to safely remove all of the tick, after which you clean the area with a dog friendly disinfectant. Tics shouldn't be left to 'drop off naturally '- they carry bacteria and can therefore cause infections. If you can't handle the gross factor, take your dog to the vet and have them do it while you look away. Your vet can also sell you tic repellent spray for prevention of infestation.
Norma De Bloom is fanatical about pets which puts her on a par with most other British people. What makes her stand out is that her commitment to finding the latest and greatest innovations for the general wellbeing of her pets has led her to build a series of sites including this one, at http://www.petsupplyadvice.com.
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