Embrace Pet Community blog

Show Us The Love! Canine Cupids Giveaway

Love is in the air, but what else is new when you're a pet parent, right? 

We're calling all of you doggie moms and dads to send us photos and "show us the love".  We want pics of you snuggling, cuddling, hugging, "embracing" and smooching your pup.  Need inspiration?  

How about Roscoe, the handsome Basset, and his mum Ilene:

Is there anything cuter than kids and puppies? Sarah's new puppy, Rocky, is a super snuggler!

Dog people, now's your chance to participate in the "Show us the Love" giveaway!  Post photos of you and your canine cupid to our Facebook wall.  We'll pick one dog photo at random to win a crunchy rawhide heart from PetSmart. What are you waiting for?  Start snuggling!

Contest details: Photos submitted to Embrace's Facebook wall during February 2012 will be considered for entry. Winner will be contacted by Embrace Pet Insurance for prize fulfillment via sponsor. Embrace staff and families not eligible to win. Must not have won within last 90 days. Good luck!

Show us the Love: Good Cat Giveaway!

My cats caused as much trouble around the house as my dogs ever did.  I'll never forget waking up to find my birthday cake half eaten by my childhood cat, George.  Our Russian Blue was food aggressive--he'd growl and stash his canned food in a room off of the kitchen. I won't even go into the stories I hear about litterbox issues and cats scavenging on the counter tops.

Feline behavioral problems are far from rare--quite the opposite.  While we seem to hear so much about canine training, it's refreshing to see that nationally renowned animal behaviorist Steve Dale is here to help cat folks too.  His new e-book, "Good Cat" tackles all of the pesky issues I just mentioned, plus:

• Feline aggression toward people and other pets
• Feline anxiety
• destructive scratching behaviors

The book offers practical advice and insight into your cat's logic, helping you to train your cat through reinforcement and enrichment.

Our giveaway copy of "Good Dog" was a hit, so now's your chance to get a free e-copy of "Good Cat". 

We want to see how you "show the love" to your "good cat".  Post photos of you and your cat snuggling, snoozing and sunbathing to our Facebook wall.  We'll pick one cat photo at random to win the e-book. 

We're anxiously awaiting your photos!  (Don't worry dog people--your turn is coming tomorrow!)

Contest details: Photos submitted to Embrace's Facebook wall during February 2012 will be considered for entry. Winner will be contacted by Embrace Pet Insurance for prize fulfillment via sponsor. Embrace staff and families not eligible to win. Must not have won within last 90 days. Good luck!

 

 

DoggyLoot: Deal of the Day!

I can't believe I haven't seen this site until today, but this bargain is too good to pass up.

DoggyLoot is like LivingSocial or Groupon for dogs--you get an e-mail, decide if you like the deal, and then buy and redeem.  

Today's deal happens to be 3 antlers (5-8 inches long, 2-3 inches wide) for $27. It says this deal is normally a $43 value, but I've seen single antlers for $20+ up.  So, I'd say it's a steal!  Plus, if you click this link you get a $5 referral bonus, dropping the price down to $22.

I've been price shopping antlers a lot lately as Kayden's superpower seems to be destroying the toys Lyger has had for over a decade.  The antlers do last, they have no odor or residue, and dogs LOVE them.  You'd better believe I bought this one!

Looking to get a deal on your karma: buy and have the antlers shipped to your favorite shelter or rescue.  The gods dogs will thank you for it.

Loving the Rescue Buzz

It seems like rescue groups are all a buzz, particularly on the tail (no pun intended) of the Weego Superbowl Ad. (Nice work, Bud Light!)

PetSmart Charities would also like to remind you that their first National Adoption weekend of the year is coming up.  Feb 10-12 you can visit any PetSmart to meet cats and dogs from local rescue groups.  Additionally, PetSmart Charities is offering a $35 rescue grant for each adoption.

Did you adopt via a PetSmart store or adoption event?  Tell us your rescue story!

Stay tuned for our upcoming Valentine's Day contest where we'll ask you to "Show us the Love"!

The Places Product Reviewing can take you: SpotBot take 2

Yesterday afternoon I was on my way to Aldi's but about two blocks before I hit my destination, I came across a stray Pit Bull running around in traffic. Concerned that her frolicking between cars was not smart, I did was most of us "dog people" do: I parked the car, put on my blinkers and got out. She made eye contact, I opened the hatch and asked her if she wanted to go for a ride. Girlfriend jumped right in my car.

I'll spare you the rest of the details, long story short, while I was in the shelter talking to the folks she had an accident. And then happy danced in it. And then jumped all over all of my car seats. It was like finger painting...but awful.

My first thought: Go get the SpotBot from the office. I'd just been reviewing it last month, so it was still handy. I took it home, loaded it with the oxyclean and water, and set to work with the hose feature. 2 hours of spraying and scrubbing and vacuuming later--but the SpotBot spared me a $150 car seat shampoo and helped me suck the water back up to get the seats dry so that it was ready to drive the next day. It only took two refills on the water reservoir to clean the entire fronts of all four seats.

It's one thing for me to test the SpotBot on a single accident on industrial carpeting. It's another to put this machine to the test on car upholstery, complete with grooves, crevices and embroidery. Rarely will I re-review a product, but this was one of those times when I realized just how much a lifesaver this little 'bot can be.

P.S. The shelter was only a short distance from where she was found and does not discriminate against Pit Bulls.  This dog will be in good hands until her owner claims her or until she's adopted to a new family.

Elmer and the Kong Groom Tunnel

Embracer Jen's cat, Elmer, LOVES the Kong Groom Tunnel that PetSmart sent over.  The tunnel is smallish, not ideal for ginormous cats, but helps to catch loose fur that your cat needs to shed.  Besides, Elmer doesn't even realize he's being groomed.  He's too busy loving the feather toy inside:

 

The tunnel was recently marked down to $20.99.

Embracer Cat Moms are pleased with some of the other Kong for Cat products too:

Scratch and Groom Post
Kitty Kong

Dia de los Muertos Pit Bull Necklace

I love getting stuff in the mail, especially when it's my new Dia de los Muertos Pit Bull necklace!  Etsy seller The Ring Leader handcrafts these and other pieces, while donating $5 from each sale of this rad pendant to Villalobos.  I saw this piece before Christmas, but it stuck with me and I just had to have it.

The chain and pendant are lightweight and styled in that vintage tattoo fashion.  It's amazing what wearing a little bit of color will do for your mood come mid-winter.  Then again, maybe it's just because I'm a sucker for floppy ears and big Pibble grins.

Walking Jacket from JoyKatz: day 1

Laura is featuring pet behavior this month at the Embrace Pet Insurance blog, but we wanted to make sure you got to follow her reviews of her cats' new walking jackets from JoyKatz.  She's posting videos and reviews of the process in training your cat to walk on a leash.  Check out Rocket and Rosie as they are introduced to their cat jackets for the first time:

I'm totally envious of that leopard print pattern!  These, as well as other leather jackets and custom pieces are all handmade at JoyKatz. 

What We're Reading: Good Dog, Practical Answers to Behavior Questions

Every dog has their quirks.  You might be aware of your dog's leash pulling or growling at strangers.  Perhaps you think it's cute, just ignore it, or don't even realize that it's rude and even dangerous behavior.

Certified Animal Behavior Consultant Steve Dale bring us Good Dog, Practical Answers to Behavior Questions, an e-book in Q&A format to discuss everything from introducing a new baby to your Yorkie to problem solving your Lab's inappropriate chewing.  Dale works with other Canine Behaviorists and Trainers to solve problems that many of us think are just part of living with a dog.  Do any of these behaviors sound familiar?

• leash pulling
• excessive barking
• exhuberant greetings and jumping up
• sharing issues with toys
• separation anxiety 

Don't feel bad.  My dogs have all of these problems.  That doesn't mean we can just ignore them.  Dale's e-book is just $2.99 available for most e-readers here, and the articles are straight to the point and written with practical pet parents in mind.  (You can also check out the weekly free excerpt on Facebook.)  It's a nice price for some good advice and improved canine-human balance in your home. 

Steve Dale is offering up one free e-copy of this book.  To enter,

Step 1: Visit author Steve Dale on Facebook and tell him Embrace sent you.

Step 2: Go to Embrace's Facebook and tell us what bad behaviors your dog has.  (Photos of your Good Dog gone bad are a definite bonus!)

Comments submitted to Embrace's Facebook wall during January 2012 will be considered for entry. Winner will be contacted by Embrace Pet Insurance for prize fulfillment via sponsor. Embrace staff and families not eligible to win. Must not have won within last 90 days. Good luck!

 

Clean Slate Contest: Bissell SpotBot Giveaway!

We had a tremendous (and sometimes funny!) response to the Bissell SpotBot Giveaway last month. Congrats to our winner, Ragan B. who wrote:

"Oh Bissell! I have double the trouble with my bad boys, Elvis and Vegas! They are 3 year old twin shepherds who find it their purpose in life to get a bath and find the closest muddiest spot possible to run through and then leave evidence of their "fun" all over the house. Their cuteness might keep them out of the "dog house" so to speak (let's be real...these 2 don't even know what a dog house is they're so spoiled!) but it certainly doesn't clean up their messes...can you!?"

Good luck with that one, Ragan! Now, to give you all a second chance:

To enter:
Step 1: Go Like Bissell on Facebook and tell them that Embrace sent you.

Step 2: Hit up Embrace Pet Insurance's Facebook wall to tell us how you plan to start your pet's year off with a clean slate! Are you grooming her daily? Taking her for more walks? Scheduling more time at the doggie spa? Share!

We'll select the winner on February 1st and Bissell will help you get 2012 off to a clean start.

We use our office SpotBot weekly, *ahem*. I think some dogs are having accidents just to give us a chance to play with the cleaning robot! The SpotBot and other nifty Bissell products are available at Bissell.com.

Comments or photos submitted during January 2012 will be considered for entry. Winner will be contacted by Embrace Pet Insurance for prize fulfillment via sponsor. Embrace staff and families not eligible to win. Must not have won within last 90 days. Good luck!

UPDATED: Steam Cleaner Controversy

I've been a long time Swiffer user, for my vinyl and hardwood floors (no carpet in my furry house), but I've always noticed that it left a lot of streaks and a sort of filmy appearance on my white kitchen tiles. So, when Buckley the Beagle's mom, Kate, mentioned that she was pleased with her SHARK STEAM MOP I was intrigued.

Kate said that the mop got dirt that she didn't even see, and then she just washed the replaceable mop heads. No disposable pads or special cleaner bottle needed, so it's definitely more eco-friendly than my swiffer. It's only $69 at Amazon, though I noticed there are a lot of people concerned about the quality and usability of the device. Most people say the handle is flimsy. One reviewer did a very detailed comparison of several steam mops, and finally endorsed the Eureka Envirosteamer.

The Eureka is actually cheaper ($64.99), heats water to a higher temperature, has a longer cord and larger water storage tank. And as some reviewers noted, the tank is just above the pad, not up on the handle, so it's helping to push down on the cleaning pad, not causing resistance to your pushing motion.

So, why would I buy the Shark, when the Envirosteamer seems so much better? What mop should I buy to clean up those muddy paw prints that are coming with the Spring showers? Do you have a steam mop and would you recommend it to other pet parents?

**UPDATE Jan 2012**

I just realized I've been loving my Envirosteamer all this time, and never updated this post. We got the steam mop in Spring 2011 to combat the muddy paw prints, and it's made cleaning my kitchen easily one of my favorite household chores. The steam mop cleans without any residue or sticky fluid buildup of a cleanser. The floor looks remarkably clean--almost new, once I'm finished.

My only advice: don't wash the pads in very hot water, or they'll shrink to the point of almost not fitting in their grips. I may need to buy replacements, but it's probably time to do that anyway.

2012 Pet Resolutions

Halo, Purely for Pets surveyed more than 1,000 pet parents to find out their New Year's Resolutions.  Do any of these spark New Year's Resolutions for you?

Exercise....

88.7% of pet parents plan to help their pets get more exercise. Here's how:
62.4% - more walks
68.3% - play with them more
30.3% - find a new game to play
2.9% - take a Doga class
1.9% - get into extreme sports
20.2% - go to the dog park more often
15.8% - run my cat up and down stairs

Weight loss....

45.9% plan to help their pets lose weight in 2012. Here's how:
44.8% - feed better quality food
35.1% - feed less food
34% - give fewer treats
33% - give more nutritious treats
68.7% - get more exercise
10.9% - plan a program with their vet

New tricks

48.1% plan to teach their pets new tricks this coming year

Healthy Eating.....

69.4% plan to feed their pets higher quality food

Grooming....

86.8% plan to groom their pets more regularly. Here's how:
68.1% will trim nails more regularly
52.7% plan to bathe their pets more regularly
80.3% are going to brush their pets more regularly
35.5% will start giving their pets supplements for their coat and skin
50.1% plan to brush their pet's teeth more often
33.2% are going to start using natural grooming products

Philanthropy.....

94.1% plan to help pets in need. Here's how:
11.5% - adopt a new pet
11.5% - foster a pet
69.8% - donate to a rescue or shelter
45.5% - play Freekibble.com or Freekibblekat.com 65.6% - continue what i've been doing!
Other open-ended answers include helping feral cats, joining unchain dogs organization and others!

We also loved some of these touching and personal resolutions people mentioned:

Take them to the beach
Hand making toys and cushions for them
More rides in the car
Buy a new scratching post
Visit hospitals and retirement homes to make people happy
Make sure he drinks more water
Build new cat trees
Train dog to ride to the dog park in his Harley side car
Bring them with me more places
Open her own savings account for vet emergencies*

*We'd suggest Pet Insurance, of course.

The biggest response: Pet parents would like to spend more time with their pets and love them even more than they did in 2011!

My resolutions:

• Teach Kayden a new trick a month--we're working on "bang, you're dead!" right now. 
• Get my boys out for more walks and trips to the park
• Spend more time with Lyger individually--he doesn't come to work with me as often, so I need to focus on him at home more
• Pet my dogs for just a moment at bedtime each night.  It is nice for them and relaxes me too. 

 

12 Days of Kittenmas: Scooter

Day 12: Scooter, an adoptable lovebug in Denver, CO.