All Things Dog Blog

Fido's Freebie Friday Starts Right Here:
Flush Puppies: The Way Doodie Was Meant to Be Handled
Top 10 Tell-Tail Signs of TLC (True Love of Canines) at Your Accommodations

Fido's Freebie Friday Starts Right Here:

Posted: 16 Jun 2011 12:30 PM PDT

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Are you ready to do some hopping? How about shopping? Or maybe you're a blogger looking for a way to promote your giveaways. No matter the reason that you've arrived today, we've got something for everyone. We launched this new event just two weeks ago, very softly. Careful not to make too much hoopla until I was sure all the kinks were out, I'm glad now to say that the plumbing appears to be working quite well.
Doreen of Doggies and Stuff will be joining me as co-host to make sure that you get ample opportunity to find fun pet things here, or to promote your blog's giveaways. We'll be getting the word out to the pet community soon, so expect to see a bit more participation each week as this event continues to gain momentum.
Feel free to pass the word, Fido's Freebie Friday is out to be 'Giveaway Central'. Also, for a limited time, I'll be posting many of the giveaways to my own FB page, as well as Tweeting them to my followers, so you'll be getting extra promo. How can you pass that up?
Without further ado, let's get to it. There are just 2 rules for link ups:

The Fido's Freebie Friday Blog Hop is open to posts about giveaways, drawings, prizes, and freebies for pet products or services only, including pet-related items for owners.

Please post the badge or a link to this post in your Fido's Freebie Friday blog post and invite your readers to visit their hosts, All Things Dog Blog and Doggies and Stuff. Comments are encouraged!
The Fido's Freebie Friday Blog Hop will open each Thursday afternoon by 4 PM and close at midnite on Fridays. During these hours you may add your pet related giveaways to the hop with a link directly to your giveaway post at your blog. This blog hop is ONLY for free pet products or services. It may include any contests that involve a free, pet-related prize (photo contests, guessing games, etc). If you have multiple giveaways, feel free to post each of them.

Winners to Be Announced Friday

If you're checking in to see who won the 4 dog-themed handbags, this announcement will be made tomorrow. Entries close at 5 PM Thursday, June 16. Good luck!

Before I close, you'll also find this post linked up to:

A Mommy's Sweet Blog Design Friday Blog Hop

Flush Puppies: The Way Doodie Was Meant to Be Handled

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 09:15 PM PDT

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

I've mentioned this company before on several occasions. Flush Puppies makes a water soluble doodie bag that is destined to save the landfills. I like their terminology; doodie bag sounds better than poop bag, don't you think?. I was excited to meet the Florida folks that created this neat product at Global Pet Expo and finally to get to try their bags.

Although my expectations were low, I wasn't much happier about the so-called biodegradable poop bags that I've found elsewhere. Have you checked out your brand to find out how long it takes to biodegrade? It will shock you. That's why the idea of a water soluble bag--one that biodegrades in water--was so fascinating to me.

I was curious. When I asked Josh about time frames I got just the answers I was looking for. "It all depends." It depends on the temperature of the water vs. dry compost, for instance. Big difference ranging from instantaneous in hot water to more than 90 days in dry compost tests in a lab. Since Flushpuppies are made specifically for use in septic or sewer systems, their materials (PVA and organic matter) lend themselves well to breakdown at a fast pace in this bacteria rich environment. Perfect!

According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), "Pet waste can be a major source of bacteria and excess nutrients in local waters. . . Flushing pet waste is the best disposal method. Leaving pet waste on the ground increases public health risks by allowing harmful bacteria and nutrients to wash into the storm drain and eventually into local waterbodies."

Flush Puppies bags are designed to dissolve in the water of our sewer systems. You might be interested in reading their FAQ page here. Without tying a knot, you simply drop the bag into a toilet and flush.

Here's the high points that we've discovered when we use Flush Puppies:

No more smelly trash cans full of poop bags until trash day. This is definitely the best asset. Yay!
No more 'biodegradable bags' clogging up landfills for dozens or even hundreds of years.
No more struggling to tie a knot in doodie bags. It's best to flush the Flush Puppies bag without tying a knot.
The product is a surprisingly substantive feeling material that resembles a heavier plastic bag than most poop bags. That was clearly a big surprise to me.
Less trash to haul to the street on trash day.

You're probably wondering, "Do they really dissolve?" Well, my scientific curiosity had me testing one of these bags in a bucket of water--better than using a toilet! I wanted to remove it and see what the results were. As I suspected, the bag does not disappear upon contact with the water. That would be bad if your pup had one of those embarrassing moments that might call for Petpto-Bismol, if were us.

Actually, I had the opportunity (ack!) to experience this very scenario. After Tanner ate a cookie from the kitchen counter ledge, his 'output' was less than solid. I tested the bag to see how it worked, wondering if I would end up with a messy hand. Although I did notice a softer feel to the bag, no breakdown was noted and the bag was deposited safely in the bathroom facility--aka, the john.

Now let's change directions. Are you asking yourself if Flush Puppies will fit into your cute little poop bag dispenser? The answer is yes. They even sell an adorable, bone-shaped one of their own that you can order from their site at this link. Flush Puppies provides bags in rolls and in wallet form (all folded up) for your preference. I can see how some folks may like the wallet style better for back pockets, if a round dispenser is not attached to your leash. Lucky for us, it's a take your pick situation.

So, if you can't wait on the giveaway, you can order direct from Flush Puppies, check for other retailers here, or you're welcome to order here through Amazon:

If you're in Florida, you're in luck. Pet Supermarket is picking up the Flush Puppies line. It is expected to be available at many stores in our state by late June. Check the store locater here to find a location near you. Be sure to call first to determine availability. Thanks for considering the environment when Fido's duty calls.

Now, shall we offer a giveaway to let you test the product out? I've got 12 prizes consisting of 2 wallet packs each, ready to go to the winners of our drawing. Here's how to enter, and please pay close attention to the minor changes in my methods, if you're a regular here:

First and foremost, leave us a comment here on the blog. We'd love to hear your thoughts or questions. Just click the COMMENTS link at the bottom of the post.
Print an image from this All Things Dog Blog post and add a message: "We love Flush Puppies". Take a photo of your pup with this and send it to AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com. This will get you 3 entries into the drawing, and may be posted either on our Facebook page or on the blog. Email entries will be accepted ONLY if you are sending a photo of your pup. Please leave a comment telling us you have sent an email entry. (Sometimes these stinkers find their way into our spam)
Send us a Tweet to @AllThingsDog, and be sure to tell us you're entering the Flush Puppies giveaway. Then leave a comment here, letting us know you've Tweeted us. We sure don't want any lost entries.

Don't forget to leave us a way to notify you if you win (Twitter handle, email, website or blog URL) and please stop by our Facebook page to "like" us, so you won't miss out on any of our news. We run weekly giveaways of pup products to solve many dog owners' woes. Hope to see you again soon. Entries close at 5 PM on Thursday, June 23. Winners will be announced on Friday here on the blog. Happy tails!

Top 10 Tell-Tail Signs of TLC (True Love of Canines) at Your Accommodations

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 09:01 PM PDT

By: Carol Bryant, Social Media and PR Director
FIDO Friendly magazine

You make the decision to travel with your dog. It's vacation time, weekend warrior time, and/or overnight adventure time, but what should you look for? Outside of the basic questions to ask the front desk (weight limits, breed restrictions, pet fees), FIDO Friendly has compiled a list of things that make a dog-welcoming getaway extra special. Think of finishing touches that we humans look for: mint on the pillow, comfy thread count sheets, the staff welcoming us and knowing our names. These are some of the things we look for and wanted to share with All Things Dog Blog readers when booking a FIDO Friendly vacation. We also have a special contest getaway at the end of this blog post.

So what are the extra touches that make our legs twitch and roll over for tummy rubs?

10. "More than a patch:" Ample grounds upon which to walk with Fido is always a bonus, especially at midnight when nature calls and the dog answers.

9. "Waiter, I'll have the sparkling water:" Well-behaved dogs who are welcome to dine al fresco with their human family members gets four paws up from team FIDO Friendly. One such example is the MacCallum House in Mendocino, California.

8. "Talk about a doggie bag:" A menu of food items dedicated to dogs makes guardians feel the extra pampering is there for Fido, too. Homemade biscuits for dessert are a delectable finishing touch.

7. "Are we there yet?" A printout upon check-in of surrounding Fido-friendly attractions, shops, dog parks and things to do with dogs is always appreciated and welcomed.

6. "Teacher's Pet:" A chalkboard or sign in the lobby personally welcoming any canine guests arriving that day scores major tummy rubs. When the staff remembers the dog's name and says hello, our leg twitches, too.

5. "Turn it Down:" And we don't mean the in-room television. More and more BandB's are offering free turndown service and a late night snack (biscuit) for Fido. Having personally experienced this, major wags to those offering the service.

4. "Rut Roh, Raggy:" BandB's that provide towels to canine guests specifically for wet paws and sheets in the event Fido is allowed on furniture are forward thinkers. Preventing wet and/or muddy paws from tracking the carpeting is a win-win for everyone.

3. "Bowl Me Over:" Many properties offer Fido the use of size-specific in-room bowls during his or her stay. In case you forget to pack yours or just need an extra, this added amenity is a thoughtful gesture.

2. "Can Rover Sleep Over?" Offering canine guests the use of in-room pet bedding is a fun feature many BandB's add to their amenity package. Knowing if Fido is a tiny terrier or a slumber clumber prior to arrival means the right sized bed will be available.

1. "Leave No Dog Behind®:" Receiving a copy of the latest FIDO Friendly magazine upon check-in tells guests that Fido is not only allowed but welcomed and a part of the family. Wag-tastic!

Getting ready to celebrate our 50^th issue and 11 years strong, for more FIDO Friendly content, subscribe to the magazine at www.fidofriendly.com and visit our blog at http://blog.fidofriendly.com.

While there, enter our 3-day 2-night getaway to Nantucket for you and your dog (with lots of extra goodies, too!): Bow WOW FIDO Friendly Nantucket Getaway

Doggie Bok! Bok!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

All Things Dog Blog

All Things Dog Blog

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