Past PBF Favorites posts:
Today I am following up a request I received from a few of you for a post all about Sadie’s favorite dog toys, food and products. Ask and you shall receive!
Yep, it’s all about Sadie around here today! (But isn’t it always?)
Sadie’s Favorite Dog Toys, Food and Products
I’m pretty sure I’ve recommended this harness to no less than 50 people when I’ve been at the dog park or just walking or running around with Sadie outside. Anytime someone complains about their dog pulling them on a leash, I immediately suggest this harness. It’s gentle but incredibly effective at getting a dog to behave on a leash. It goes around Sadie’s belly and shoulders, leaving her neck free and doesn’t seem to bother her a bit. If Sadie tries to pull, the harness basically makes her walk around in a circle. It makes walking or running with Sadie a lot more pleasant!
Ryan and I first started using this frisbee to play with Sadie after my mom got one for her to play with whenever we visited my parents’ place. It ended up impressing us so much that we bought one to have at home since it’s way more durable than the other dog-friendly frisbees we’ve used with her. Sadie chews the frisbee and basically goes crazy with it and it can handle the heat!
Sadie is a finicky eater. She free feeds (meaning she has access to food 24/7), and some days she’ll eat everything in her bowl while other days she’ll just nibble. At first this really concerned us since both Ryan and I had only ever been around dogs who inhale their food. The one dog food that Sadie really seems to love (and we’ve tried a bunch) is Orijen. We feel good about the brand and quality of the food as they place a heavy emphasis on local, sustainably raised ingredients that are “biologically appropriate.” She’s been eating Orijen dog food for the past several years and it’s been great!
If you have an energetic dog who loves to play fetch, chances are you already own a Chuckit, but if it’s not on your radar, it definitely should be! It allows me to throw a ball for Sadie 10,000 times farther than I otherwise could. When Sadie sees me reach for the Chuckit on our way outside, I swear she starts foaming at the mouth!
When we moved to Ocala, Ryan and I slowly began to notice Sadie get crazier and crazier with each thunderstorm that rolled through town. Ocala is known for having its fair share of thunderstorms and Sadie’s attitude during the storms slowly morphed into something rather frantic. In an effort to soothe her, we tried out the Thundershirt! The shirt is supposed to “hug” a dog and soothe it, much like swaddling often soothes a baby. It definitely made a big difference. She seems slightly less panicky and while the shirt didn’t “cure” her of her storm anxiety, it certainly helps!
Sadie is a big-time water dog! She absolutely loves swimming in the lake or the ocean. While we don’t worry too much about her swimming around in the lake or ocean from the beach, we started to get a little nervous when she began swimming around in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico when we used to take my parents’ boat out in St. Pete. Enter the Paws Aboard Doggie Life Jacket! Though we obviously still watched Sadie carefully, this life jacket gave us a little more peace of mind when she’d swim around and around. Plus, the handle on the back made it super easy to pull her up into the boat when we were done!
- Pig Toys
I’m sharing this one just for fun! When Sadie was a puppy, the first toy we ever gave her was a stuffed pink pig we found at Target (the one second from the right).
Now she has a bit of a collection of pig toys thanks to her grandmothers who like to spoil her! The first toy we bought her from Target remains her favorite and though I cannot find it online, I have still seen it in stores somewhat recently. The original toy has been replaced a few times because it’s not the sturdiest, but she sure does love it.
Question of the Afternoon
- Pet owners: What are some of your pet’s favorite things?
***
Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored in any way, nor have I worked with any of the above companies in the past. The products above are simply some of Sadie’s all-time favorites. Affiliate links are included in this post and, as always, I really appreciate your support!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
I’m a little confused about the nature of these type of posts. I feel like lately there’s been an abundance of favorites/things I’m loving/things I’m looking forward to that have all kinds of affiliate/shop style/Amazon/whatever link. It’s almost like fit as many affiliate links in as possible in as many different kinds of posts. I feel that it’s a sneaky way to make money off curious readers when you’re already making money by having them click on and read your blog.
Who cares? If you don’t like it, just don’t come visit and read.
I’m sorry you feel that way! That is truly not my intention. I actually started the “Favorites” series to address questions I receive frequently and figured it would be a way to share things I love in a genuine way since it’s not sponsored and no companies can pay to be a part of it. Yes, affiliate links are included and always have been on my blog, as that’s part of the reason why I am able to focus on blogging as my job. I also have a disclaimer on my homepage that states that I do use affiliate links and in the past two “Favorites” posts, I directly mentioned the use of affiliate links. I simply forgot this time but will add it immediately and apologize if you felt mislead! Also, I always share “Things I’m Loving” posts on Fridays, so if you dislike them, I would definitely steer clear of the blog then. I truly do appreciate your readership and feedback and will immediately edit this post with a disclaimer about affiliate links. It truly was just an oversight!
I appreciate that you took the time to respond/explain and not simply tell me to find another blog to read. I appreciate that as I have been reading your blog for years. My comment was to give a viewpoint and feedback from a not-so-click-happy long time reader. I enjoy seeing new things I may not know about, its just the link thing that turns me off, so I avoid clicking. Thanks again.
I totally understand and definitely appreciate your feedback, especially as a long-time reader (again, thank you so much for reading!!). Thanks again, M, and thanks for replying to my response as well!
Oh please really? “M” She is simply sharing cool stuff that she and her hubby have personally tested and approved for others who may be interested. No one says you have to like it, or read it for that matter. Your comments were neither constructive or warranted.
Love this post! Thanks for sharing.
Cobalt, my 6 year old great dane, enjoys his Kong (http://www.kongcompany.com/products/for-dogs/rubber-toys/classic-rubber-toys/classic)…every night we fill it with peanut butter and beef jerky.
It’s like his after dinner dessert (just like us humans). He’s such a “routine” dog, if he doesn’t have it, he freaks out.
We tried the Kong with Sadie but she wasn’t a fan… Even when we filled it with peanut butter which surprised me!
Our lab loves Dentastix, and Nylabones! Those bones are the only ones she can chew that she won’t destroy in two seconds! She also has a harness similar to Sadies, and I love that it puts the pressure on her shoulders and not on her neck!
So cute!!! Sadie has the funniest expressions. My fiance and I have a three year-old Beagle named Ella. This dog has an abundance of toys, but she always runs back to Mr. Bill (yes, from SNL). He’s a stuffed toy that says “Oh noooo!” anytime you squeeze him. She is OBSESSED. Mr. Bill goes everywhere with her. We’ve had to replace him twice because she doesn’t understand how to be gentle.
It’s hilarious to be sleeping at night and then suddenly here “oh nooooo!” from the living room. Hahaha. 🙂
Ha!! Thank you for making me laugh out loud. “Oh nooooo!”
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/mr-bill-reg-plush-pet-toy/1016690937
Ridiculous, right? 🙂
Love hearing about Sadie! I also love the Easy Walk harness and am always recommending it, I wish I had known about it from day 1 with my Golden. As for the toys, I find they are just personal preference. It was nice to hear you also have a picky eater like us, she won’t even eat most treats! But she’s active and at a healthy weight so we try not to worry!
…and I like these types of posts. It exposes me to other brands, options without having to go out and buy stuff.
Thank you, Randi. 🙂 And I’m so glad you’re a fan of the Easy Walk harness, too!! It really was such a great find for us.
The photo of Sadie with the stuffed pig is absolutely adorable! I’m a sucker for puppy pictures. I grew up with a poodle and a German Shepherd and they both loved the Kong toy, which is a grooved, hard rubber, red ball that comes in different sizes. It’s great for two reasons: 1) It bounces really far when it hits the ground, and 2) it has a the hole in the middle that allows you to put a spreadable treat in there (like peanut butter). My dogs would spend a really long time focused on getting every drop!
I’m sorry, do you run this blog? is your name Julie? You spelled it wrong if so.
I’ve been reading it for years and I feel like these type of posts are just using my readership to make more money, not to solely share information, bring people together and show how to live a healthy and fun life, which I thought was the original point of healthy living blogging. Not just to get free stuff and make money in every single little way possible.
Thanks though for your response! Have a phenomenal day commenting on other comments on blogs.
“Have a phenomenal day commenting on other comments on blogs.”… Isn’t that exactly what you’re doing now on my comment?
And I meant “who cares” if she makes money WHILE bringing people together and talking about her healthy and fun life? How does that really affect your life if she adds a few links here and there? I don’t click them and you aren’t forced to either. Obviously, she is doing a good job at sharing information, bringing people together, and keeping reader’s interests for a long time. If she happens to make some money while accomplishing that, more power to her! I wish I could.
My husband and I swear by the gentle leader harness for our black lab! It works like a charm!
It’s the best!!
Funny story about that life jacket: Our dog had a wound on her back that she would not stop scratching at (she could reach it with her back leg so a cone wouldn’t help). We tried putting socks on her feet and putting a shirt on her, but nothing helped. So we ended up buying her that life jacket since it was thick so she couldn’t scratch it. It actually worked perfectly, although she was not too happy about wearing a life jacket around the house!
Ha! I like your creative thinking!! 🙂
my dog Cooper loves practically ANY toy out there. He usually prefers our daughters toys now, luckily he doesn’t destroy them!
We have tried the easy walk harness too, I loved it.
If Sadie loves water, fetch and frisbees you should definetely try Chuck It’s amphibious frisbee (http://www.amazon.com/Chuckit-Medium-Zipflight-Colors-Vary/dp/B001AQZDSW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1414609249&sr=8-2&keywords=chuckit+frisbee). My springer spaniel, Boone, loves it. It floats and it’s soft so he can catch it without a problem. Ryan and I have even played catch with it ourselves. Love it!
Awesome!!! Thanks for the recommendation. It sounds like the perfect fit for Sadie!
Baby Sadie with that pig is just too much!! My Sadie LOVES stuffed toys more than anything, but she tears them up in less than a minute :(.
ahhaha so cute! I love the pig toys!! My dog LOVES all squeaky toys…. we sure don’t, haha! They get annoying… FAST!
Does the thundershirt alleviate a lot of Sadie’s anxieties? My little cockapoo is extremely anxious and I’ve considered buying one for her, but I haven’t known anyone to use it. Thanks!
Yes! It’s definitely not a “cure” but it really does help. During a storm, Sadie would pant like crazy and try to crawl all over us and it absolutely made a difference. Again, it’s not a “miracle worker” but we’ve been impressed with it so far!
So I actually appreciate this, even as someone with no pets, because some of these items will make great gifts for my dog-loving brother and friends!
Yay! So glad to hear this! 🙂
Hahaha too funny about the pig toys…we have a beagle lab mix called Hunter and he is OBSESSED with all things pig. But it terrified of monkeys lol he is a strange one. We also recently adopted a dog and the easy walk and thunder shirt have been lifesavers for our crazy boy!!
First off, I love your variety of posts.
I have two dogs, Sadie and Dallas- both pitbull mix rescues. Dallas will actually only play with sticks- refuses to play with regular toys. Sadie, on the other hand, is OBSESSED with anything that squeaks. We usually get those long stuffing-less plush toys that have a bagillion squeakers in them.
I may have to try this Easy walk harness. Sadie can easily pull me all over the place and Dallas just like to go side to side to mark his territory on everything single thing he sees outside.
I’m definitely going to get this life jacket. Sadie is our big swimmer and would swim until she couldn’t move her legs anymore if we let her.
We also have this duck thing that sling shots into the water for the pups to go retrieve. It is super sturdy. I would recommend it for your pup! Here it is:
http://www.bestbullysticks.com/hyper-pet-flying-duck-slingshot-dog-toy?gclid=CjwKEAjwoMKiBRDHwoaQ0dzn0UwSJAAUk5JiAShvtBkpUKEqJkEOGJQBkffqRNkSKdcVCeuiLC-4RBoCnXjw_wcB
Thanks so much for your posts! Your Sadie is absolutely adorable!
Thank you so much for rescuing!! If/when we get another dog, it will be a rescue. <3 And that duck toy looks PERFECT for Sadie. Thanks for the recommendation!
I have a pitbull mix rescue too (lab/pit mix the best we can tell). I use the easy walk harness with her and it works wonders. She is such a strong dog, and it really helps me keep her in control. I’ve actually had people compliment me on how calm she seems while we are out on walks, because she isn’t pulling me halway down the street!
We also have the kong wobbler for her – its a giant red plastic kong that is weighted on the bottom and has a hole in it where treats/food can come out when the dog hits the kong with her paw/nose. Since she is home alone during the day, I put part of her morning meal in it, and she is entertained forever hitting it all over the house to get the rest of her breakfast out. Its also really good for dogs who eat too fast – it forces them to eat one bite at a time.
That Kong thing didn’t work for our dogs. They just got over trying to get to their food and went on to something else. I will for sure try this harness out for them! They can pull me all over due to their ridiculous strength! Thanks!
Our 8 month old Aussie has a stuffed crab that she carries with her everywhere! We also have a gentle leader for her which helps SO MUCH with the pulling on walks. She loooves bully sticks, and they keep her occupied for hours! The Chuck-it Flying Squirrel toy is also a big hit.
Her newest toy is this food puzzle: http://www.chewy.com/dog/nina-ottosson-dogbrick-plastic/dp/103260 It makes her use her brain when she eats and really challenges her!
I love this post! We’re always looking for new toy ideas now that we’re puppy obsessed!!
I just posted the same series over on my blog yesterday (I’d love you if you checked it out)! Great minds think a like! Lando loves his chuck it! as well and thank goodness he isn’t a picky eater, he’s more of the garbage disposal type 🙂
Does Sadie have a favorite tough, stuffed toy? Our 8 month old Vizsla puppy, Ripley, can tear apart a stuffed animal in no time!! He loves stuffed animals but it’s hard to find one that will last more than a week 🙂 Thanks!
Have you tried the Tuffy brand toys? Although Lando isn’t a super tough chewer, we’ve had great luck with them and recommended them to friends with great success as well 🙂 You can find out more about it at this link: http://www.lemonlimelife.com/2014/10/28/lando-loves/
Thank you Brittany. I have seen those, I just didn’t want to pay so much for something that may not last long. But I need to just bite the bullet and try one. Maybe you get what you pay for? I hope!! Hopefully we’re almost through this super chewy phase…..
You can find ones without stuffing. My nine month old dog also destroys stuffed toys. She likes her toughies, bit plays a lot with a toy that used to be a squirrel sans stuffing, but now looks like a piece of fuzzy scrap fabric. I will eventually get her a new one, but she seems pretty happy w the scrap!
I got a kick out of that last one because my dog Roxy loves little pink pigs! I can’t resist them now when I’m at the store bc Rox looks so cute with all her little pig friends gathered around her:)
I love any post about Sadie! She is so cute 🙂
My little pup has a no pull harness and it is a lifesaver because she likes to pull. I really like the nylabones, they keep her busy and I feel like it helps keep her teeth clean.
my little yorkie’s favorite toy is not even a dog toy, it’s a plush heffalump from Disney world. it’s his best friend. lol.
he also loves his Bergen dog carrier. it’s his safe place 🙂
Anyone that has a dog loves to see little Sadie! I have an English Golden Retriever and we LOVE that harness on him! It certainly makes walking so much more enjoyable (for human and dog!). I, too, constantly rave about it to friends!
Unfortunately, my golden can’t have plush toys hanging around-he puts holes in them within minutes! 🙁 Lots of nylabones and kongs filled with peanut butter! He also loooves deer antlers (can’t put a hole in that!). They can be pricey, but I found a company online (somewhere out west) that sells them for cheaper.
So cute that Sadie loves pig toys! My dog is obsessed with stuffed chicken toys. He has other stuffed toys that he plays with, but he treats the chickens like they are his “babies.” We feed him Kirkland “Nature’s Domain” from Costco–I am pretty sure it is Taste of the Wild, rebranded.
I have the easy walk harness but I’m not a fan of it at all. I have a very strong and energetic pit/boxer mix and it did not work well for us. Every time we used it and he pulled we would end up in a tangled mess and him pulling even harder. He would never end up facing me like the harness is supposed to do when he pulls. His legs would just get tangled in the harness and leash and he would get frustrated and pull harder. It is very possible that this was due to operator error so if anyone has any suggestions I’d love to hear them, since we still have the harness, but for now it isn’t one we use.
I use the harness with my pit mix, and I also keep the leash pretty short. I have just a regular 6 foot-ish leash, and when I walk her, I have the loop around my right wrist, and have my dog walk on my left. I use my left hand to hold part of the leash, so that she generally only has a foot or so to work with. It takes some practice, but that has taught her to walk right on my left hip. Of course, if she needs to go to the bathroom or something, I give her a lot more slack so she has space to wander around in the grass. Hope that helps!
Our bulldog, Bernadine, loves pretty much anything! Outside, if you pick up a stick, it’s hers until we pick up another stick, then that’s hers, and so on… Her favorite hard toy are her keys, then maybe her strong nylabone. Soft toy are frog and stuffed bulldog. Unfortunately, she keeps putting holes in them and I keep sewing them up. She’s incredibly spoiled! One of my good friends is getting a Vizsla puppy this weekend, so I will definitely look to your list to pick out a new puppy gift!
OMG that picture of Sadie as a puppy with the pig is the cutest ever!
For a treat that I guarantee any dog will go nuts over, I recommend Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Dinner (we go with the chicken variety). Our golden puppy literally would not touch her food (we found out later she had a wheat intolerance), and the sales clerk in the store referred to this food as “puppy crack.” He was spot on! We crush up half of a patty and sprinkle it on Honey’s breakfast and dinner to make sure she eats every last bite! I highly highly highly recommend trying it!
Awesome!!!! We will sometimes put wet dog food on top of Sadie’s food when we feel like she’s being extra finicky — love this idea!!
We have a cat, and my step-daughter has a YOUNG chocolate lab. We’ve bought toys for both – they each have a toy basket they pull their favorites out from to play with. Sadly, of all the toys we have bought them …. they both LOVE old socks. Which is great, when we have a missing sock – we just throw it in a basket for the fur-babies to chew on. My cat doesn’t shred the socks like Mya (dog) does … so Blinker the cat has his favorite sock that he plays with EVERY day. (they’re both crazy!)
Love this post and love hearing about Sadie! (side note: I for one have absolutely no issues with you using links, etc. whether they are affiliate or not. I love your content, always, and you do a great job of keeping your blog personal & genuine while also sharing stuff you love. So link away, girl! Haters gonna hate 😉 )
I have two Puggles who are obsessed with any toy that squeaks. Annoying for me, but they love it! I definitely need to try the easy walk harness, because they pull a lot, too! Glad to hear it works well for Sadie, I’ve gone through a ton of harnesses–will definitely check this one out! Have a lovely evening, Julie!
Sadie has the BEST facial expressions. What a peanut!
I’m ordering that harness right now! Our 15 month old vizsla is awful at pulling on the leash and I feel like we’ve tried everything. I’m really hoping this does the trick!
You will LOVE it!! (At least I really, really hope so! It totally changed our walks with Sadie for the better.)
Thanks for sharing 🙂 Sadie is too cute!!
My dog Louie, who is a boxer, LOVES this football shaped pillow I have had for years. When he was a puppy he did some less than appropriate things with it. After he had the big snip he basically started dating the pillow instead of being inappropriate with it. He snuggles it, bites it, rolls on it, sleeps on it, it’s his comfort item for sure.
As far as toys go, he loves anything that squeaks or rolls. He treats his toys like they are prey and will put them up on our living room furniture, then walk away, come back prowling on the floor, then jump/attack them. It’s ridiculous and hilarious every single time. He also does this with bones.
As far as the comment above about your favorite things posts, I happen to enjoy them. Also, I get that affiliate links can be somewhat annoying BUT as a fellow blogger I fully understand the need for them both from a constantly getting asked where things come from perspective and from a money making perspective. Blogging is not the most lucrative business, make money any which way that you can girl!
For some reason, my chihuahua LOVES to fall asleep next to one of my huge Agatha Christie mystery novels. It’s easily bigger than her!
Our vizsla’s first toy was a pink elephant (the Kong brand)- she still has it to this day! LOVES it- still her favorite toy. I love the Kong brand of the stuffed toys- they hold up the best against all of our dogs teeth!
I tried the easy-walk harness with Riley- but she still pulled- someone at her dog day play recommended the “gentle leader” and that works wonders!
This post couldn’t have come at a better time! We are in the process of adopting our first dog and am definitely on the lookout for some recommendations. Thanks Julie! 🙂
Cat lady here but enjoyed your suggestions for my brother and his dog. Thanks!
What ever happened to Sadie’s Twitter account? I know you’re super busy but I thought it was great! Of course, I’d also be down for an all-Sadie Instagram. So many faces!
Aw! I just kind of stopped one day… I should start it back up. It was fun!! 🙂 Thanks for showing Sadie some love! <3
I love that Thundershirt idea! My pup suffers from extreme thunderstorm anxiety (ironic as his name is Thunder) and I think this might help him a bit. he’s a big ‘ol thing (90 lb. yellow lab) so I might have a hard time finding one his size but it’s worth a shot! 🙂
My dog loves Whimzees and wildlife toys sans stuffing. We got a whimzee as a free sample once and my dog can’t get enough. They are edible and you can give them 1 a day, but we usually pull them out when we are trying to distract her for a while. http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=whimzees&tag=googhydr-20&index=pets&hvadid=42727090737&hvpos=1t2&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10973152487614500590&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=t&ref=pd_sl_55tk846zml_b
Hi Julie,
I love your things I’m loving posts and actually have a question if you could do one with a topic of wedding gifts. We’re getting married in December, but we live together for three years and have the most of basic house things.
We live in Germany and wedding registries are not very popular here, but a few friends had asked us to say our wishes. I see that you attend qite some weddings ( of the people who already live together), so maybe you could give some ideas :).
Yes!!! I actually have a blog post all about this in the works. Some of my girlfriends are weighing in with their favorite gifts as well. It will be up soon!
Our boxer Farley is getting older and has arthritis, we recently bought him a big barker bed. He loves it. Pricey compared to big pet supply stores, but worth it.
We use that same life jacket for our pup (pink polka dots and all)! She doesn’t need it to swim but we love it for getting on/off the boat safely. She tends to back-flip off the side of the boat in excitement and without it she panics when she hits the water! The handle is super helpful for getting her back on the boat too!
& that harness is seriously a life saver. I tell everyone about it!
Aw— I can just picture the excited backflips! Too cute. 🙂
I love your “things I’m loving” and “favorites” posts… Keep them coming!! I love the easy walk harness as well and my 80 pound rescue lab loves elk antlers… The only ” toys” he can’t destroy!
Such a cute post idea! My dog loves her Kong toys, where we put treats or peanut butter in to make her work for her nightly snack. 🙂
My labs love the Chuck-It! They could play fetch for hours. They love their toys too but lately for some reason they can’t live without my socks! They don’t tear them apart they just place it inside their mouths. Guess they like my stinky feet smell! lol
I just started using a harness with my lab recently (she’s 12). It’s so awesome for pulling, and I wish I discovered it when she was younger! I feel like I have to tell everyone at the dog park with a pulling dog about them.
My dog literally rips everything 🙁 I wish we could use those fluffy toys but they’d be nothing but torn up cotton when he’s down with it!
Thanks for the harness recommendation! I’ve been looking for a while now, but was hesitant to buy one because I’ve never used one before. But my dog Charlie pulls like crazy on the leash, and it is only getting worse. I went ahead and ordered the one you mentioned. I hope it works as well for me and Charlie as it has for you and Sadie. Thanks again!