Power Paws

As regular readers of The Amazing Blog will know we have the elderly and much loved Tibetan Spaniel Mojai as a regular member of staff. He recently turned 15 (that’s 105 in human years) and I’m very conscious that his mobility is lessening (due to arthritis) as his little back legs are sliding around on all shiny floor surfaces. Mojai doesn’t have a bad life, he eats better than I do (always organic chicken no less), has a larger array of food/joint supplements than I do (including my Vital Greens) and definitely has more cuddles and compliments than I ever do! So that’s why it’s only the best for my dear one – which is where I hit upon Power Paws.

What I love about these Power Paws socks is the fact that they are really easy to put on. As all dog owners will understand, I generally get the filthiest of looks and a torrent of verbal abuse if I ever fiddle with Mojai’s feet, and so I was most concerned that this was going to be a bit of a mission.  However, Power Paws went on quickly without too much fuss. As you will see from the photo they are gripping the floor as they have a rubberised paw shape where the pad is which helps to give traction. I like the stylish black socks  (click on the greyhound image to see the variety of colours) and they also come in blue, pink and even a festive Christmas themed pair!

The thing to remember is that these socks are elasticated so will need to be snug fitting and not oversized, as they will simply roll on the foot or slip off.  The correct fitting sock will stay on without slipping and will allow one finger's room into the cuff. Power Paws come in a choice of 8 sizes and in packs of 4.   For Mojai I went for a ‘small’ which is a snug fit – curiously I notice that he has smaller back paws than the front! I cannot recommend these highly enough for anyone who has an elderly dog, as they now mean that I can leave him alone in the kitchen without worrying that he will slip and not be able to get up when I’m not there. These socks are machine washable and in my view are a very reasonable £16.99 and they have certainly given ‘power’ back to Mojai’s paws.

Pet Water Bottle

On our walks and journeys in the car during the hot weather I always have the conundrum of how to transport water for Mojai – even on short our commute to The Amazing Blog offices. Although as a sophisticated London dog, who frequently joins me to dine in the finest gastro pubs (and the odd dog-friendly restaurant) he has learnt to drink from a glass. Yes he happily laps away from any human’s glass - what a clever doggy he is! However, the point is I need a container for our trips and of course only the best will do for my pet.

Thankfully, I was recently introduced to the stylish The Pet Water Bottle it is made of the finest stainless steel It has a large opening making it easy to clean and refill.  Both the spout and the cap are made from a BPA free, food-grade quality, FDA specified polypropylene, meaning it's healthy for your dog and for the environment. It also has a unique patented floating ball that releases just enough drinking water for a single sip – so it reduces waste. I had my doubts whether my old boy would be able to master such a thing (i.e. you can’t teach an old dog new tricks…) But he soon mastered the bottle cheerfully licking away (see above photo). This Pet Water Bottle currently has 11 different designs, it conveniently hooks onto a belt or handbag and comes in two sizes 500ml and 750ml, prices start from £12.99 and they are available at The Pet Water Bottle. They are doing a Giveaway on their Twitter so please follow when they reach 100 followers they will select a winner.

Little known fact: Did you know that when dogs drink that their tongue curls backwards and under? This is how they cleverly ‘hook’ the water into their mouths without wastage – i.e. if their tongue curled upwards.

Mojai gets his rocks off!

It’s very hard to keep a nice lush looking garden when you have an elderly fluffy dog who likes nothing better than to spend hours having a potter. Mojai (fellow team member of The Amazing Blog) just loves to snuffle and truffle in and amongst the flower beds ‘marking his territory’ as he goes. Thus all my hard work primping and preening my postage stamp sized garden goes completely to waste... After a long conversation with a trusty friend (and dog owner), about Mojai peeing on and killing all members of plant life in the garden; she then enlightened me with her secret Dog Rocks.

Dog Rocks? How interesting, but how could some simple stones thrown into the dog’s water bowl really help my scorched grass and plants? Dog Rocks are 100% natural and are mined in Australia. The purpose of the rocks is to filter out impurities from the dog’s urine, such as tin, ammonia and nitrates, which are responsible for ‘burning’ the grass when the dog pees on it. Each pack has approximately 2/3 stones in it, and after giving the stones a little rinse, they are placed in the dog’s water bowl. The stones last up to 2 months, then they need to be replaced. Marvellously easy! Yes and they do make a difference, but at £10 a pack they’re a bit of a commitment. But if you’re a pet owner and like me you do battle to try and keep a green and fragrant garden – then these Dog Rocks are definitely for you. Available here.

Cool Your Canine

It seems like a distant memory, but it wasn't too long ago that the sun was shining on London, but while us humans are happy to bask in the sun, it may not be so pleasant for your pet. Even in the colder months, your dog might struggle with the heat - after all, they are permanently wearing a fur coat. And the same can be said for my darling dog Mojai, as a Tibetan Spaniel he has a very thick coat - great for Tibet, not so great for London. So in my quest to make Mojai comfortable, and spoil him rotten, I found the Canine Cooler, and he couldn't love it more. The Canine Cooler is designed to cool down your furry friend at any time of the year. Whether they're too warm because of the sunny weather, or in the winter from indoor heating, Mojai now cannot be without his Canine Cooler. As Mojai is designed to keep warm in cold climates (he has two layers of fur) he often has trouble getting cool and staying cool. The cooler is designed to absorb heat from the dog's body, and stays cool for ages, in order to keep your pup cooler for longer. You simply fill it with ordinary tap water, the water is then absorbed into the foam core, which helps it maintain the cold. And don't worry, the Canine Cooler is comfortable and flexible, so even the most unsettled dogs will be able to make it work for them. It fits perfectly into Mojai's dog beds, and it only takes a minute for him to settle into it. They're great for indoors, but I can imagine that the Canine Cooler would be brilliant for long car trips as well. Whilst some people have milk and eggs as a permanent staple in their fridge, currently taking up residency on my shelf is the Canine Cooler, it means that Mojai can be cool at a moment's notice. Not only does the Canine Cooler help cool down your dog, but it's also useful for canine complaints such as hip dysplasia and Cushing's disease. The coolers come in three sizes, small, medium and large, so whatever size your dog is, there's a cooler for them.

So weather it's hot sun or a hot radiator heating up your four legged friend, pick up a Canine Cooler, starting at £55.

Born In Sweden

“….Born is Sweden” I hear you say “is this about Abba?” Eh no think ‘Aves’ (the scientific name for birds). After a long search, we at The Amazing Blog  are going to tell you about our latest find - the slickest and most stylish city bird feeder ever; thought up and created by those brilliant boys Pascal Charmolu and Kim Vejsholt at Born in Sweden best known for their innovative, stylish and multi award winning products.

My quest began when the weather turned cold and I realised that I needed to replace my rather weathered and falling-apart bird feeder.  This was thanks to one hefty pigeon too many who’d tried to precariously balance on the small rectangular ledge of the feeder – with disastrous consequences.  What I loved about this particular feeder was that it had clear Perspex sides and attached to my kitchen window.  So as sipped my morning coffee I witnessed close up my feathered friends feed and socialise, all blissfully unaware of my existence.

Enter my replacement, the award-winning Born in Sweden Bird Feeder. What a clever little thing this it is… Magnificently spherical and manufactured from recyclable clear plastic, it can be mounted onto any smooth window pane, all thanks to an innovative double-sided suction cup. These carefully selected materials can cope with extreme temperatures as well as UV rays. It is designed for small birds, with a diameter 11.5 cm, so there’s absolutely no room for any hefty pigeons… It also features a drainage hole at the base of the bowl - so it doesn’t flood and make the bird food soggy. It’s available from Amazon at a very reasonable price of £14.15 and mine is now mounted on the outside of my kitchen window. Friends frequently stop and admire it but keep warning me that I’m feeding the mice (a perennial problem for us Londoners). However, I would defy even the most dexterous mouse to try and shimmy up 8 feet of plate glass to enter this snug little bubble – unless of course it’s auditioning for Cirque de Souris.