There are many activities that you and your dog can enjoy together that will also make your relationship stronger and more enjoyable! Spend some quality time with your dog today and he’ll surely love it.

• Take a Day Trip. Most dogs love to ride in the car. Take your dog along if you’re visiting friends or family. For a special treat, include a side trip to do some shopping with your dog. Some dogs love to browse at pet supply stores (many of which allow you to bring your dog inside). Your dog may ask for a treat or two, or some dog toys, so be prepared to spend a little money on this outing!
• Play Frisbee. Dogs who love to play Frisbee, either purely for pleasure or in competition, are called disc dogs. Some dogs won’t allow their people to play without them! If your dog loves to play ball, you may want to buy a disc and get your dog involved in this great form of exercise!
• Go for a Hike. Though most national parks don’t allow dogs on trails, there are many state parks that do. Almost every city has trails pretty close by that you can explore with your canine companion.
• Bring your dog along on your family vacation. If you haven’t taken a vacation with your dog, give it some thought. It can be very rewarding to have your dog along on your adventure, and many hotel chains accept dogs these days.

No matter what your activity may be, be sure to bring along some k9 quencher, to keep your pup satisfied! To purchase some dogdration today, visit our online store.

If your dog loves to play tog-of-war with you or with other dogs, then he’ll love this toy that is both cheap and really easy to make!

Here’s how to make this braided tug-of-war rope for your special pet:

1. Buy some single-color fleece from any fabric store. For obvious reasons, avoid printed fleece, because you won’t be able to see the pattern once it’s braided.
2. Cut any color fleece into three or four one-and-a-half inch wide strips. Depending on the size of your dog, make the strips as long or as short as you’d like.
3. Clip the tops of each of the strips together, and begin braiding. You can either braid with the typical three strips, or 4-plait braiding, which tends to look nicer and hold together better.  But you have to be careful not to pull too hard in the beginning or your braided tug of war rope will all come undone. If you want to, you can tie the first knot before you begin plaiting.

After playing with your mutt with one of his new dog toys, reward him with a tasty k9 quencher! He’ll love you forever if you quench his thirst with a peanut butter flavored dog beverage! To purchase dogdration today, visit our online store!

Yours truly was featured on the DogTime.com dog blog Barzkilla!

“If plain ol’ water isn’t your dog’s thing, try topping up their dish next time with Dogdration peanut butter flavored pet water,” the blog states. “Dogdration was developed by Brian Fate for his chocolate labrador, Ophelia. Packed with vitamins and nutrients for ‘increased strength, endurance, and an enhanced mental state of mind,’ each serving includes electrolytes for hydration, ginseng for health, glucosamine for hips and joints, and brewers yeast for healthy skin. For an extra treat on those super scorchers, David also recommends freezing Dogdration into ice cubes, which we think is a pretty cool (harty har har) idea.”

Barzkilla is a network blog for DogTime.com, which is a site concerning all things dog! According to the site’s About page: “With DogTime, our mission is to keep dogs out of shelters and in good homes by equipping novice and experienced owners alike with all the information needed to make them, and their dogs, very happy.”

Barzkilla features helpful dog products and dog toys for the stylish and efficient dog owner! One blog post featured the BlanketID, a modern twist to the classic brass tag that is light-weight, scratch resistant, waterproof, noiseless and a lot prettier!

In other words, Barzkilla knows what’s good for your dog and for you. So take the blog’s advice.  Buy dogdration for your dog today, to keep your best friend hydrated and healthy!

When dogs and their owners play together it’s good news all around. Many of these activities provide the structure that helps people learn to better communicate with their dogs.

Your dog also has a better opportunity to learn good manners. That makes them easier to live with and less likely to be given up.

Interacting with your dog also helps you to learn about your dog, which will help the two of you to avoid problems, or to solve them in a healthy way when they do come up.  Activities provide exercise in a fun way that boosts the relationship.

The exercise, in turn, reduces boredom. A dog that exercises with its human is less likely to have behavior problems. A wonderful side benefit is that these activities can be a mental boost for humans and dogs alike.

1. Take your dog for a long hike through a forest, around a lake, in a park, or in your backyard!  Dogs love exploring, and what better way to get out and enjoy the day than a hike with your best friend?
2. Play frisbee with your dog. Canines love to play fetch, and the frisbee gives them a pretty heavy-duty workout, while you just throw it!
3. Rollerblade with your dog. Just hook on a leash to your dog’s collar, put on some roller skates and enjoy the fresh air with your dog pulling you around the neighborhood! Obviously, this activity is best with bigger dogs.
4. Take your dog to a local dog park. Search here for dog parks near you, so that you and your dog can enjoy the company of other pets and pet-owners in a safe and active environment! If you’re looking to spend a couple hours in the dog park, be sure to bring a hefty supply of dog water, like dogdraiton, and some dog toys to keep you and your pup entertained!

How can you keep your dog preoccupied and entertained while you’re gone all day, at work or running errands?

Many dog-owners run into this dilemma. But here are some simple solutions to subduing your dog’s boredom:

1. The simplest and most effective solution to curbing your dog’s boredom is to get another dog. Try picking out an energetic, friendly dog that will get along well with your current dog. However, this solution is not a option for everyone, so try the following:
2. Try buying some interactive dog toys for your pet to play with while you’re out. You can find some cheap dog toys, or go all out and find some electric dog toys that will baffle your pup! Some toys move on their own, which will keep your dog busy and entertained for at least a few hours. Or, try hiding healthy treats around the house for your dog to find while you’re out!
3. As silly as it may sound, try turning on Animal Planet or some other animal show for your dog to watch while you’re out. Dogs are usually gullible enough to believe that the images on the TV are real, but who knows what goes through their minds while they’re watching! The only downside to this tip is that it does waste energy. But if you’re desperate, then give it a shot!
4. If you’re not willing to add a new dog to the household, but you know that you’re pooch is still lonely, then ask around and see if any neighbors or friends are having the same problem. If so, then invite their dog to stay in your house or apartment, to keep your hound happy and occupied while you’re out. Make sure the dogs get along well first!
5. If you live close to where you work, try going home for lunch or any long breaks to check up on your pooch. The short break in between the hours of loneliness will make the day go by way faster for your dog, who will greatly appreciate the visit!

When you get home from work, reward your dog for his patience with some dogdration!

Leave a comment and tell us how you keep your dog happy and entertained while you’re at work!

Mountain Dog Biscuits and Gifts is Vail, Colorado’s premiere boutique, sells gourmet dog treats, specialty items and now dogdration!

This Colorado pet supplies shop just placed their first order of dogdration for the Teva mountain games, which hit VAIL yesterday and will continue on until Sunday.

The Teva Mountain games are “the country’s largest celebration of adventure sports, art and music” according to the Teva games’ website.

Mountain Dog sells products like beds, collars, dog toys, clothes for  pets, tags, travel bags, bowls, grooming products and gifts, as well as ‘doggles’ which are sunglasses for dogs to wear, to protect their eyes from the sun’s dangerous rays.

This doggy and pet store, which will be featured at the Teva Games, was started by a local Vail dog lover, “with a dollar and a dream.”

If you happen to be at Teva games this weekend, be sure to check out Mountain Dog in Vail!

If your pooch loves to play, check out these popular and cheap dog toys that your dog is sure to love!

1. Rebounce Balls These eco-friendly doggy balls are made from recycled, natural rubber.  They have a great bounce to them and they come in bright, fun colors.  These can also be used with the Chuckit! Ball Launchers (#3)!
2. The Kong Wobbler Your dog will love pawing this strong, red rubber toy around the house, to get the treats that are inside.  These rubber toys last a long time, even with big dogs that like to chew up their toys.  They also come in all different sizes, for all different kinds of dogs! Try filling these toys with your pet’s dog food, treats, or our peanut butter dog treats.
3. Chuckit! Ball Launcher This toy makes it easier for you to play fetch with your dog and not get worn out.  You can pick up a ball that your dog retrieves without even bending over, and throw it a long distance with just the flick of your wrist.
4. Nylabone Floatable Frisbee This product is one of the few dog toys that’s made for dogs that like both fetching and swimming! This floatable frisbee is perfect for the pool, beach or the lake.  These frisbees are also soft, and they won’t break like the regular plastic ones.  However, these toys are probably best for smaller dogs.
5. Water Twister This doggy toy will really rile up your pup.  Simply toss this coiled, long-lasting toy in the lake, pool or ocean and watch your pet retrieve the floating toy from the water! This toy is durable, long-lasting and comes in a variety of bright, easy-to-spot colors.

Do your dogs destroy their dog toys almost the minute after you buy it for them?  Do find cotton stuffing and limbs of their toys scattered throughout the house?

If so, it might be time for a change in dog toys.  Try some of these dog toys, which are the most durable (and the most fun) brands out there:

• The Kong Company makes durable rubber chew toys that can be found in most pet stores.  These toys, made originally for large dogs, now come in all sizes to accommodate your pup’s bite.  Dogs love them because the toys are hallow, for owners to put treats, pieces of food or smear peanut butter in them.
• Fat Cat, Inc., a small, family-owned company, also sells a durable, but soft line of dog toys.  Usually big dogs destroy normal soft types of toys extremely fast, but these toys last much longer— they can even last for several years— because they’re made of very tough and durable fabric.  Though these products are a bit more pricey (anywhere from 10 to 20 dollars), they’re definitely worth it. These toys are usually soft, fabric filled squeaky toys (another feature that dogs usually love in their toys).   They also come in fun colors and creative, silly themes, like the Mailman, the Ex-Boyfriend, the burglar and more.
• dogdration – is our premium pet water.  You can freeze it in a ice cube trays and then pop an ice cube in a Kong toy, for example, or give your pup an ice cube to play with.  There’s no clean up and with no dyes or chemicals, your carpet and furniture is protected when your dog plays with a dogdration ice cube.

Both Kong and Fat Cat toys can be purchased at major pet retailers as well as at some major department stores and online pet retailers.