Chewy’s Goody Box Delivers the Best of Made In the USA Toys and Treats To Your Door

I have been doing a lot of research recently on Made In The USA toys and treats (read some of my other posts here, here, and here) and was pleasantly surprised to see that Chewy has created a box specifically for this! I bought this box at full retail price and am sharing my experience with you.

First, the cost of the box was around $21 and even included free shipping! It was fast, too. The box shipped from Chewy in Paulsboro, NJ and was delivered by Lasership. It is hard to say how long it actually would take because I ordered it prior to Labor Day, so it sat with the delivery company for an extra day, but I received it in three “shipping days”.

Second, I was surprised to see how much was included. We are subscribers to BarkBox and pay for an extra toy, so there are two bags of treats, and three toys; but with the Chewy Goody Box, it includes FIVE bags of treats, and one toy.

The full list of products received in this Goody Box were:

1. 10oz Blue Wilderness Trail Treats Grain Free Biscuits Salmon Recipe
2. 6oz Zukes Mini Naturals Peanut Butter & Oats Recipe Treats
3. 4oz Dogswell Happy Hips Chicken Breast Jerky Treats
4. 3.5oz True Chews Premium Grillers With Real Steak Treats
5. 5oz Wellnes Soft WellBites Grain-Free Lamb & Salmon Recipe Soft & Chewy Treats
6. Benebone Peanut Butter Flavored Wishbone Dog Chew Toy

 

I can say from personal experience that Zukes Mini Naturals and Benebone are two favorites in this household. As soon as I had opened the carton, both dogs could smell the Benebone and followed me around while I was organizing everything.

The box you see pictures ships in a generic Chewy box, so there aren’t any labels to indicate what the contents are, so these would make a nice surprise gift.

Chatting with Customer Service, they informed me that the boxes don’t have a set schedule to change, so if you order one per month, you may get identical consecutive boxes. Additionally, you cannot set them up for the AutoShip program that Chewy has (similar to a subscription where you get regular deliveries and they include a small discount). If you would like to order a box once a month, you would have to proactively log into the site and place a separate order each time.

Overall, this box is a great value. If you value toys, then this might not be a great option because it comes with a minimum of one, and doesn’t include the option to add more, but if you like the convenience of not regularly ordering treats, then you will certainly love this because it has a great variety of old and new favorites. With 5 bags of treats, this Goody Box has more than I have seen in other similar boxes.

The Chewy Goody Box is great for a number of reasons. First, all of the contents are made by USA manufacturers, so I will definitely buying this again. Second, the price was great. There is a wide variety of products including several brands that I haven’t purchased before and am excited to try. Third, the shipping we really fast. I’m not sure why it ships separately from their mainline products, or why you can’t request an AutoShip “subscription” for it, but it was great to see how fast it arrived at my doorstep.

I keep thinking about this as a subscription box. I wrote an article about a few of the most popular subscription boxes for dogs, and can see how this can be a good substitute for a box you may already be receiving, aside from the need to request one each month.

Chewy has always been very high on my list of retailers to buy from because of their great customer service. They have agents available 24/7, and Michele P that I spoke to today acknowledged the conversation quickly and was knowledgeable on the questions I asked. Their product lineup continues to improve (in the early days it was somewhat limited), and their shipping speed has always been incredible. The locations of the warehouses that Chewy ships from is always closer and closer as they open more sites.

Overall, I would recommend giving this box a try. There is great value for your money, and I truly applaud Chewy for curating a box with American products.

 

Dozer’s Dental Chews And Other Great Made In America Dog Products

One of the values that we find in buying American Made products is that there comes with it goodwill of the country. We have an implicit understanding that the products will be high quality and the people making them will stand behind them.

Dozer’s Dental Chews are Made in the USA of eight simple ingredients, but formed in shapes and sizes to help clean your dogs teeth as they chew. The first three ingredients are potato, rice, and chicken. The chew itself is dense but not overly hard like some nylon chews can be. While the small pieces of nylon chews will safely pass through a dogs tract, Dozer’s Chews are made of food(!) so they are a great treat as well.

Why we like this:

– Made from food ingredients so they are a fun treat as well!
– Fun and stimulating shapes to interest your dog and clean all areas of their teeth
– Come in a variety of shapes and sizes for all breeds

 

Greenies Dental Chews and Breath Freshener are a household name. They are made in Kansas and came to be because “necessity is the mother of invention“; nothing like it existed! Their classic shape is almost iconic, and they now come in dozens of varieties, shapes, and formulations; perfect for every breed.

Check out current prices on Amazon

Why We Like These: The unique shape and the wide variety of flavors, along with the proven history of this company gives assurance that they deliver a safe and functional product.

King of Pups by King of Pops. This Atlanta-based creator of inspired popsicles also creates a version for dogs! They are made with yogurt, banana, honey, peanut butter, vegetable gums, and natural flavors. They are made with locally sourced ingredients and available by mail order!

 

Time to rest your paws and cool off.

Get some for your pup 👉 https://t.co/KC11ZwGJfJ

📸 via Sydneywithacamera Instagram pic.twitter.com/kqaSQwupoi

— King of Pops (@kingofpops) August 2, 2018

Why We Like This: King of Pops goes out of their way to model sustainability and local sourcing. They use high quality ingredients and haven’t forgotten the importance of the human-pet bond.

Check out this great dog treat company from Stroudsburg, PA: WhiskerBiscuits makes fun treats for dogs in a variety of flavors and shapes. They are known for their ‘Peanut Butter Poo’, and “The Big Sack” which has a variety of all their products. They also have a subscription service – The Very Important Pet club – “VIP”. Each month you will receive a shipment of their latest flavor!

Why We Like This: Subscription services such as these help to support our fellow countrymen, helping them embody the vision of the American Dream, as well as saving us time and money sourcing and buying treats for our canine friends.

Scare Away ‘Dog Smell’ With This Lavender Sachet

I am a huge fan of FreshWave. They make a complete line of all-natural home odor control products (air fresheners, vacuum beads, pet shampoo), and today in the grocery store I saw their new Lavender scent Odor Removing Packs.

All natural products are important to me as I like to minimize the amount of chemicals in the house, especially around the dogs.

FreshWave has a unique blend of  natural extracts of lime, pine needle, aniseed, clove, and cedarwood, they combine to achieve their signature odor removal.

 

Lavender Oil has long been used as an aromatherapy technique to soothe anxious dogs, and reduce their anxiety. I was intrigued to see it in a sachet that is easy to manage, is long-lasting (up to 60 days!) and from a brand that I regularly trust. I use their Pet Shampoo regularly, and pay full retail price for the products that I show here.

FreshWave Lavender Odor Removing Packs have a ‘natural’ home in our basket of dog supplies.

As soon as I arrived home from the store, I opened the packages, smelled how pure the scent of the oil is, and found a home for them in the ‘dog basket’. This basket is in the Family Room where we spend most of our time in the evening, and where the dogs spend their days while we are at work. The packaging says the sachet is designed for small rooms, but this is more of a medium sized, so I expect the scent to more more diluted than designed. That being said, the scent is pleasant, understated, and fresh. It doesn’t ‘hit you’ when you walk into the room, but you know that the room smells good.

Since one of our dogs is a shih tzu, known for being loud alert dogs, I am hoping that the mild lavender will keep him calm and relaxed. Please note that I won’t be placing the sachets in the same space as the dogs, or applying the oils directly to them. This article from Chargin Falls Veterinary Center and Pet Clinic has great advise about how to properly use essential oils around pets.

The packaging says that the only ingredient is “plant oils”, so you certainly can’t get any more simple or natural than that!

According to the Fresh Wave website, they have been making all-natural odor-removing products for over 20 years. While they source their oils from around the world, all their products are manufactured in Rising Sun, Indiana.

Speaking of lavender, I came across this blog post from Barking Botanicals what shows 6 Ways To Use Lavender In The Car To Calm Your Dog. They have some unique suggestions such as making a vehicle spray, buying a portable essential oil diffuser, and treating your dogs collar.

 

Benebone and Other Great Made In America Dog Toys

Originally started through crowdfunding, Benebone has become very popular and I can speak from experience, that my dogs love them! Made in New York of USA-sourced nylon with the flavor from real bacon, peanuts, and chicken; they are durable and highly addictive! Starting with their ‘wishbone’ shape, they have since branched off into several different models and flavors. Check out the original bacon Wishbone here.

I agree with the top reviews on Amazon that all of the Benebone products are durable even for the heaviest of chewers. They come in several sizes so be sure to select the one that is appropriate for your dog.

Pros:

1. Very durable. Will provide a very long ‘chew time’ even for big dogs.
2. Made using Real Flavors from real bacon, peanuts, and chicken.
3. Come in a variety of shapes and sizes to appeal to any dog.

Cons:

1. Can be too hard for some dogs. Make sure you select the correct size and monitor your dogs usage of this product.
2. Cost. They can be more expensive than other nylon toys, but consider the size and amount of engagement your dog will get from Benebone versus another nylon product.

Overall, these toys are great for all sizes of dogs, just be sure to select the correct format.

Another great nylon product Made in the USA is from Nylabone.

There is a reason that the Nylabone website starts with “For Every Reason To Chew, There’s A Nylabone”. This long-standing company makes hundreds of products for heavy chewers. Treats, bones, toys, and chews; they make it all. All sizes, shapes, and flavors, you will find a Nylabone product that your dog will find irresistible.

Pros:

1. Comes in every combinations of size, shape, and flavor you can imagine.
2. Products for all states of life (puppy & adult).
3. Covers all price ranges, from value to premium.

Cons:

1. Can be overwhelming to find the ‘right’ product. Be sure to use their Custom Product Finder on their website.
2. Scent can be weak or fade quickly. Some reports from these toys say that the scent can be weak. Be sure to keep the package sealed until ready to share with your pup!

Overall, the track record of this company is stellar and they are sure to have a toy to exactly match your dogs engagement level, but don’t stress over finding the perfect toy; use their product search feature to find a few your dog will like!

West Paw designs and manufactures their toys in Bozeman, Montana. Their in-house team carefully designs and tests their toys to ensure they will be loved, and loved for a long time. They come in fun colors and are environmentally friendly, and non-toxic. They have an ever-expanding list of toys available and all kinds of fun an innovative shapes.

Pros:

1. Fun, colorful, designs. Very unique shapes for fun and stimulating play.
2. Good size product range for a lot to choose from specific for your dogs play style.
3. Money back, or product replacement guarantee.

Cons:

1. Some reports of quickly destroyed toys. Be sure to take advantage of their guarantee.
2. Limited availability – mostly independent pet stores, but check for them on Amazon.

Overall, West Paw is a highly engaged company that puts a heavy emphasis on creativity and ensure long play time with their fun and durable products. Contact them if – for some reason – your dog destroys the toy quickly.

 

Brent-Wood Products has introduced small to extra-extra large Bow Wow dog houses. They are made from upcycled wood, and built in Los Angeles. The image above is their Palo-Alto model. Using the sizing guide on their website in the link above, or call them directly at 800-400-7335 and they will help you select the right house for your dog.

Pros:

1. Made in the USA using upcycled wood.
2. High-design models built buy hand.
3. Direct customer service number to plan your house with a consultant.

Cons:

1. Limited retail outlets to see models and order in person. Check out their website for the list of retailers.

Overall, this custom product will provide a stylish and spacious outdoor home for your dog.

Buying American has many benefits including ensuring that jobs are created and stay in our economy. That also has the secondary benefit of keeping money in communities where those people live. By creating products and adding value to physical goods that we modify and build here, we are increasing our GDP, a measure of our global competitiveness. Everything that we build and keep in our country reduces our reliance on importing foreign goods. When someone in your community builds a product, you know they will stand behind it and offer a high level of service after the sale. You can also know that they are aware of the components of that product and there is an increased likelihood that the output is safer than an unknown product.

Exciting “Made In the USA” Dog Products

Every pet owner is looking to provide the best and safest food and toys to their pet. With concerns about the safety of imported goods, and as we look to strengthen our economy and keep money in within the border, we look to Made-In-The-USA products to fill those needs.

These are some exciting new products that are Made In The USA. All of them are creative ways to stimulate and improve the life of our pets.

If you haven’t had a chance to read an earlier post about buying American, please take a minute to do so now. It outlines some of the reasons why it is the first choice we should be making when looking to purchase anything for our home.

Some of the links below will take you to the product pages on Amazon where you can easily complete your purchase. Most of the products feature free shipping for Amazon Prime members. These are affiliate links which means we receive a small percent of the purchase to help cover the cost of operating this blog. The price you pay is the same whether you use the links here, or go buy directly through Amazon.

Clicking on the company name will bring you to the corresponding company page.

Loving Pets make a canine dental treat, branded as Ora-Bone, features both breath-freshening ingredients, and textured surfaces to clean all areas of your dogs mouth. They are proudly manufactured in their American facility.

Dogs Love Snapeas (from the makers of Dogs Love Kale) are award-winning, limited-ingredient treats made with no animal by-products. The three current varieties are Peas & Cheese, Peas & Chicken, and Peas & Beef. Check out their fun Facebook page too!

The folks at Emerald Pet make their products in the USA from American ingredients. They have a full line of chews and toys, as well as Snug n’ Tug ultra tough toys.

 

Earth Animal make a wide variety of innovative products, no-hide chews, and treats. How better can I say it than they do: “Earth Animal™ is proud to bring you our very own Veterinarian formulated vitamins & supplements, treats, chews, Wisdom Real Food, Organic Herbal Remedies, and Natural Flea & Tick Prevention Products. Each line of our treats has been carefully and thoughtfully sourced, truly made in The USA, and manufactured in a USDA Human Facility. They are safe and ultimately nutritious for your animals. Our protein is sourced by local farmers and our vegetables are real and organic.”

The From Family operates all three of their facilites in Wisconsin from which they manufacture and test all their products. Their four lines cater to all stages of growth and diets. Customers rave about the high quality how even picky eaters will like this food.

One of their innovative products is Four-Star Parmesan Cheese treats. They are grain free and come in a resealable bag. Their Four-Star products come in a wide variety of dried, canned, and treat formats. Chicken with Peas and Carrots, Lamb and Cranberry, and Salmon with Sweet Potato, are just a few of the creative recipes they have formulated!

 

Be sure to check out the quality and durability of all these American-made products.

New ‘Made In the USA’ Dog Food & Toys

Providing the best and safest toy and food is always the most important part of taking care of our pets. Knowing the origin of the ingredients and components is one step to ensuring your pet says healthy for a long time.

These are a few new Made in the USA products I recently stumbled across, and are some that I will be checking out to see if my dogs will like them.

As I mentioned in a previous Made In the USA article, there are several important reasons to buy American. Not only do you know the source of the components, but you also help to support American jobs. Knowing that you are keeping your pet happy, and that you are also supporting your neighbors jobs, is satisfying on many levels. With domestic ingredients going into the product you buying, it multiplies the domestic benefits. Keeping money circulating in many communities.

Buying American is also great for the environment because all the products have shorter shipping distances, less fuel is needed to move it around; keeping the air clean as well.

Clicking the links below will bring you to either the manufacturer website or Amazon where you can research or purchase the products. Some are affiliate links. The purchase price isn’t higher, and the revenue from Amazon helps offset the cost of operating this blog.

One of my favorite products that I use all the time, at bath time, is FreshWorks dog shampoo. While some of their ingredients come from places outside the USA, their products are manufactured in Rising Sun, Indiana.

They have a complete line of all-natural home freshening products including dog shampoo! It has a great, fresh, natural smell and lathers just enough to manage, but doesn’t make bath time difficult.

 

The jerky products by Dogswell are each formulated for a purpose such as Hip & Joint, Skin & Coat, Immunity and Defense. They are made from lean cuts of USA-sourced chicken breast, turkey or beef and are oven-baked in their own facility. Other products also include Norwegian salmon, New Zealand lamb, and European duck.

 

RuffDawg is product line from Jefferson Rubber Works, a 50 person company in Worcester, MA creating a full line of dog toys and chews. Their Flying Fish Floating Dog Toy is fully recyclable, made of solid premium rubber, and from FDA-approved recyclable materials, free of phthalates, latex, and BPAs.

 

Evanger’s is a family owned company started in 1935 and recently introduced a super-premium line of protein-based food for dogs and cats. Buying online saves lugging cans from the grocery store, but also is available from local pet stores Pet Supplies Plus.

 

The people behind Indigenous Pet Products makes a kelp-based Dental Chew for dogs. They source USA-made ingredients, when possible, and have their manufacturing facility in Denver, Colorado. Kelp is a rich source of nutrients and is free from artificial colors and preservatives.

 

This is just a tiny sampling of products that help support the US economy, and help to ensure that we are feeding the best to our furry friends.

ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’ Unleashes Hit Pet Products

Avid followers of the hit ABC television show Shark Tank are already aware the incredible platform the show gives to up and coming companies who are looking for their ‘big break’.

Contestants on show bring their products in front of a panel of millionaire (at least!) judges, or “sharks” as they are referred to, in the hopes of landing an investment. Often times, profitable companies will appear on the show looking for the injection of knowledge and industry connections that the sharks bring, and not just a financial investment.

The panel of Sharks is comprised of a panel of investors (namely Daymond John, Kevin O’Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec, Lori Greiner, Marc Cuban; along with a few guest ‘sharks’) have evaluated business investment opportunities from every-day inventors and small business owners.

While not all of the contestants leave the ‘tank’ with an investment, some do, and go on to reap the benefits of the years of knowledge (and cash!) that the Shark/investor have accumulated.

Wondercide is a natural flea and tick and pet control products for pets and people. The company was founded when Stephanie Booth was not satisfied with the current flea and tick sprays on the market.

“I thought I was keeping Luna safe by using flea & tick control prescribed by a vet, but when she experienced devastating side effects ranging from skin issues to organ failure, I knew there had to be a better way. ” – Stephanie Booth

They were full of toxic chemicals and were mostly water. She developed a formula which was made from food grade ingredients, which was safe to use on pets, children, and around the house. Their online sales soon skyrocketed and long before they entered the Shark Tank, they were profitable. The hurdle they needed to overcome was retail stores. While their online sales were stellar, they didn’t have a retail presence. In today’s ‘instant gratification’ society, they needed to put bottles on the shelves, so customers could use the product immediately.

That vision came to fruition when Shark Lori Greiner stepped in with the expertise they were looking for. Wondercide is now available in stores across the United States and, of course, online.

Wondercide has a great post about their journey on Shark Tank, what the process was like, and how the experience impacted them. It is a great read for any companies looking to go on the show.

Looking for an update on how the company is doing after Shark Tank? Check out this great read from the Gazette Review: What Happened After Shark Tank?

ICPooch is an interesting case study. While the idea for the product was ahead of her time, it seems like inventor Booke Martin may have pioneered the wifi-treat dispensing industry. She took this idea from the early Kickstarter stages, through development, shipping, and onto Shark Tank, only to have no investors bite.

Today, however there are a wide variety of such products available that allow pet owners to not only dispense treats, but also meals, and allow them to see their pet through a device-mounted camera while away.

In another post here, I assembled a list of the Top Automated Pet Feeders. Not all of them are wi-fi enabled, or can even be considered “connected” devices, but it is a great list to start with for finding the best automated pet food dispenser.

The Ringer has a great article on the State of the Connected Pet which tries to figure out why pet owners are flocking to technology.

The ICPooch website states the company is no longer in operation, but the spirit behind it lives on.

The team behind the Himalayan Dog Chew is certainly unique. The brought their experience with this “people snack” from Nepal and adapted it to a “dog treat” in America.

The product itself is quite unique. Take some yak and cow milk boil it, add salt and lime; press it in burlap and age it for a few months. After, it is cut into strips that dogs enjoy chewing on, similar to a Nylabone, but this is edible! When your dog chews through it, leaving a small end, it can be microwaved and will ‘puff’ into a cheese treat.

Not all offers in the Shark Tank end in a deal. The creators of this product couldn’t reach an agreement with any of the sharks, but they certainly have gone on to success. Their pre-Shark Tank revenue was over $5 million and since then they have expanded their product line significantly to include Yaky Charms “dog popcorn” which you microwave like traditional popcorn; and fabric chew toys.

They have a very cute Twitter feed full of pups and cheese sticks: https://twitter.com/himalayanpet

Arguably one of the most interesting pet products to ever dare visit the Shark Tank is Fresh Patch.

This company delivers two sizes of grass segments which are used indoors as a replacement for pee pads, and synthetic grass. Their premise is that dogs naturally gravitate to peeing on real grass, and due to the location or conditions, not all dogs can conveniently make it outside to do their business on naturally-occurring grass.

The solution? Turn to Fresh Patch which will regularly send you (on a subscription model) a ‘fresh patch’ of grass. They sell optional frames for the grass to sit in; though you can leave the grass in its shipping container during use.

While the founder came into the tank with just over 500 subscribers, after the show aired, he was shipping over 1000 ever day!  His partnership with Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran has certainly paid off!

While there are several competitors offering a similar product (live grass delivered), there are also alternatives including newspaper inserts, synthetic grass, and absorbent pee pads.

 

To summarize, there are all kinds of outcomes contestants on Shark Tank can leave with. Some come in looking for money they desperately need to continue or grow their business (for example, ICPooch), others come looking for the exposure (as in the case of Himalayan dog treats), while a third group come to the show to learn from the Sharks and bring their products to new markets (Wondercide).

Its no secret that this show has certainly become a hit, and done a lot of good for several entrepreneurs which speaks to its ability to attract viewers and participants.

The best part of this show is building the Entrepreneurial Spirit of everyone watching at home. How often do we have frustration completing a task and say “there must be a better way!” Taking the lessons learned by the Sharks and by the contentions appearing on the show, we can make “the better way” a reality, and take our solution to an every day frustration and turn it into a business.

Watching Shark Tank will give you the basics of what is required for a successful business, but the Sharks have shared their knowledge in the books they have written. In those books, you can learn from a  lifetime of experience. Check out the titles below for some interesting, and inspiring! reading.

I Built A DIY Grooming Table For Small Dogs, And You Can Too! Here’s How

This month I have been looking back and how much it costs to maintain Dexter. He is a great dog, and there is nothing I wouldn’t do for him.

Being a Shih Tzu/Terrier, he requires regular grooming which ends up being the most expensive part of his upkeep. Approximately every six weeks I take him to the big box store for his appointment. This routine there include: a bath, brushing, a cut, nails clipped, teeth brushed, and ears cleaned and plucked. Its quite a process for him, and for me. The people who work there are great, and they always ensure he comes back looking wonderful, but it takes a toll on him. He is in an unfamiliar environment, there are strange dogs coming and going. His breed is ‘alert dog’, so he is constantly on point listening and watching; which makes him come home stressed.

To solve two concerns at once, I though I would try home grooming, first, to save some money, but secondly, to keep him in his own environment, with his pack.

I don’t really have a good place in my house to groom him. Neither the dining room table, the living room coffee table, nor ‘the floor’, seemed like an appropriate place to take scissors to him.

I wasn’t sure where to start, so I did some searching for pre-built tables on Amazon. There are a lot out there! So many features including shelves, non-slip pads, height adjustments, folding or not, the size of the table portion, and how heavy-duty the parts are. It was overwhelming. Also, I don’t need more things in my house. Having a table sitting in the garage or the basement that I will use once every six weeks is a waste of space. Plus, they started around $80.00. At that rate, adding about $50.00 for the cost of clippers, I would need to groom him four times to recoup the cost. I haven’t groomed him once, so I don’t know if I want to commit to four (or more) times!

Then I looked online to see if there are instructions for building your own table. Yes! There are a few good sites with materials required and instructions, but I didn’t want to invest a ton of money into the table. I have never groomed a dog before. Based on the videos I watched, it doesn’t seem too hard, but those could be famous last words. Since I didn’t know if I am going to make this an ongoing thing, I wanted to build a sturdy but inexpensive grooming table that wouldn’t take up much room.

Dexter is about 28 pounds. He is a relatively small dog. He usually fits in the “Medium” category for a walking harness, leash, size of toys, etc… so I knew the table didn’t have to be overly large. Looking at the sizes available on Amazon, and the size of the anti-slip pad I was planning on using, I knew the table would have to be about 24″x36″. I plotted the size of the dog and the table on graphing paper and the fit looked about right.

I realized I had a small, portable workbench in the basement, it is a Black & Decker Workmate “Project Center”. That got my mind going, it has a solid 24″ x 24″ foot print, holes in the surface on the top (I could bolt a larger board to the top as a tabletop), and figure out something for the grooming arm. Using the board bolted to the top would allow me to remove the grooming surface between projects, and re-attach it when necessary. I also wouldn’t need to buy legs, saving on the expense. Voila! A plan was in place!

I needed to come up with the material list of what I would need from the hardware store. I’m a huge fan of Lowe’s. I know whatever I could dream up, they could help me make.

Tools I used to build my small dog grooming table

Materials I used:

• 1 – 1/2″ x 2′ x 4′ oak plywood
• 1 – roll of anti-slip rubber surface (Kobalt brand truck box mat)
• 1 – Elmers spray adhesive
• 4 – 1/4″ x 1-1/2″ machine bolt (and nuts)
• 4 – 1″ washers, to match the bolts above
• Black & Decker Workmate (repurposed)
• A weight for stability (I chose an extra landscaping brick found in the garage)

Tools required:

• saw (I chose a reciprocating saw)
• drill with 1/4″ bit
• utility knife
• crescent wrench for the nuts
• pen or pencil

Other purchases:

• Clamp-on Grooming Arm from Amazon (I checked the price today at it was at $40.00)
• Potential future upgrade: Top Performance Tabletop Mat

All told, my shopping trip to Lowe’s cost about $30.00 (wood, bolts, and rubber). The rest of the supplies I had at home.

The grooming arm from Amazon cost about $19.00 for a grand out-of-pocket total of $49.00.

One note about the grooming arm. I found instructions here (Youtube video) which I would have eagerly attempted, but when the author started demonstrating drilling holes in the conduit, and using a vice, I knew I didn’t have the setup to do this at my home. Any cost savings of building the arm myself would be lost in purchasing the necessary equipment. While I can understand the value of having a well-stocked shop, it wasn’t what I was trying to accomplish with this.

A note about the plywood. There were several types of wood to choose from. I obviously wanted something sturdy so I went with 1/2 inch oak. It was about $5.00 more expensive than the pine, but it felt much stronger, and I wanted to ensure

The actual construction took less than an hour.

Step One: Cut one foot off the length of the board.

Step Two: Drill the holes used to attach the board to the work bench.

Mark the holes where the tabletop will be joined to the work bench

Turn over the board and the work bench. Center the workbench on the board and use the pencil to trace around four of the pre-drilled holes in the work bench, marking where the holes will be drilled in the work surface. Drill the holes.

I made sure the board was centered to keep the weight over the legs; improving stability.

Centering the work bench on the inverted tabletop

Step Three: Set everything right side up, and cut the truck box mat to fit the grooming surface. The square feet of the mat were enough, but the dimensions didn’t match nicely with the board, so I had to cut two large pieces, and configure two smaller pieces to go at the end. After all the pieces dry fit nicely, apply the spray adhesive to the board and press the mat onto the board within 15 seconds for a solid bond.

Dry fit the anti-slip pieces before gluing them down

My goal was to keep true to the 36″ length. If my grooming goes well, I may upgrade to a real mat designed for grooming; they are designed for 36″ or 48″ lengths. You could opt to cut off the last few inches so you don’t have mis-matched pieces at the end.

Step Four: Feed the bolts up through the bottom of the board and use the utility knife to score the mat; allowing the bolt to pass through. Remove the bolt and insert it from the top (through the mat, the board, the workbench), then add the washer and tighten the nut. Repeat for the remaining holes.

Make sure the bolts are fastened securely

Step Five: Attach the grooming arm. This one bolts on nicely. You can extend the top section to give more height, or remove it and insert the short end into the vertical part to get more coverage across the table. I have done so in this example.

Clamp the grooming arm securely to the work surface. The knob allows you to remove the pole or adjust the height

Step Six: Add some weight. I put Dexter up on the table and it was sturdy, he wasn’t going to tip it over; but I decided to add some weight across the base to lower the center of gravity, and add some stability. Using the scrap material from Step One, I placed it across the horizontal braces and added the landscaping brick. Another option would be to add something heavier – I had a 40 bag of soil that I could have placed in stead but based on my situation I feel the brick is more than enough.

In summary, this table meets my objectives:

• It doesn’t take up too much room; I can remove the surface and use the workbench between grooming sessions.
• It was inexpensive. As I mentioned earlier the supplies and arm came in around $49.00. I will also need to buy some clippers, but more on that in another post. Your final cost will depend on what supplies you have at home. The biggest supply expense was the board (which may be readily available to you), and the grooming arm can be built for about $10.00 in conduit (if you have the tools necessary to assemble it).
• It is safe; the work surface is solid, the base is sturdy and reinforced with the landscaping brick.

Dogs and Dog Products Swim On ABCs Shark Tank

For millions of Americans, ABC television series Shark Tank series has provided years of entertainment. Whether you tune in to see what new and exciting products are on the market or ‘coming soon to a store near you’, or if you watch just to see how brutally honest the sharks can be; there is sure to be something on each episode to keep you engaged.

Since 2009, the series has featured a panel of investors (namely Daymond John, Kevin O’Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec, Lori Greiner, Marc Cuban; along with a few guest ‘sharks’) have evaluated business investment opportunities from every-day inventors and small business owners.

Contestants on the show each stand in front of the judges, explain the business they are in or the product they have invented, and give their best ‘elevator pitch’ as to why they deserve to have the well-seasoned ‘sharks’ invest in their business.
Despite giving up some of the ownership, potential deals are worth millions of dollars in potential sales. Even if no deal is to be made, contestants benefit from the wide exposure they receive when the show hits the airwaves.

Most of the products are intended for human use, like the Squatty Potty device that puts your body in a natural position to aid in toiled use; the Scrub Daddy ‘smiling’ sponge that is stiff or soft depending on the level of scrubbing power required, and the ever popular Tipsy Elves known for their pioneering ugly sweaters.

There are, however, several products aimed at our canine (and feline!) friends that have appeared on the show. Each of them has a unique story of growing their business from nothing to something that has the potential to change lives.

Apollo Peak Wine is wine created to ‘bridge the social divide between humans and their pets. The wine is safe and enjoyable for your dog or cat and made from all-natural ingredients.

Their products come in several varieties including ‘The CharDOGnay, The Malbark, The ZinfinTail, The Doggy Mary, Cherry Blossom Pink CharDOGnay, Canine Pawrier Dog Champagne Chicken and Apple Flavor, and Pawrier Champagne Chicken and Honey Flavor. Check out their selection on their website or Amazon.

Another entrant into the Shark Tank is PetPlate, a pet meal delivery service. Similar to services like Blue Apron or Plated. PetPlate will deliver ready-to-serve Vet and Chef designed recipes which have been made from 100% real ingredients. They use only USDA-recognized suppliers and don’t use animal by-products or rendered meats. Their vegetables are natural and full of nutrients and antioxidants.
It is very simple to get started, all that is required is a quick questionnaire about your dog, and how often you would like deliveries, and from then on, a fresh shipment of meals will show up without worry.

PupBox is another subscription-based service which delivers products to your door which are curated for households with a new puppy. Each month, you receive tips, treats, and toys developed specifically for you puppy’s age and characteristics. All treats and chews are made in the USA or Canada.

One of the unique characteristics of this service is the Training and Development cards that come with the box giving you advice on Puppy Proofing hour home, the How To’s Of Crate Training, and training instructions to keep your puppy’s mind active and healthy. Any new puppy parent or owner knows that introducing a puppy into your home can cause stress and anxiety for both the owner and the dog; so having this monthly delivery can help to build the knowledge and provide the tools needed to make this a fun and enjoyable experience for all.

Speaking to treats and food, TurboPup meal bars were created by Kristina Guerrero after she took an outdoor expedition and realized that her canine hiking companion didn’t have more than treats when he needed a full meal. After lots of testing and perseverance, she created a compact bar using Made In America ingredients. The bars provide the vitamins, minerals, and omega-3s to sustain your dog. They can be fed in place of traditional meals, and are not intended to be treats. Visit their website here or check out the bars on Amazon.

TurboPup recently accepted an offer from ‘shark’ Damyond John and now they are in PetSmart stores across Canada and the United States. The day after the original Shark Tank broadcast, their sales increased by $30,000!

Do you think you have what it takes to face the Sharks in person? Do you have a stellar business that just needs some money and connections to take it to the next level? Check out the requirements and application process here!

If facing the Sharks isn’t your thing, check out these books written by the Sharks themselves to help you sharpen your business smarts:

Are pet food bags recyclable?

As Dexter finished the last portion of another bag of dog food, I wondered if these bags could be recycled? Grocery stores have receptacles for previously used, but clean, grocery bags, and our county runs curbside blue bin collection, but neither of these places takes pet food bags. That got me curious, what are pet food bags made from? According to the Purina How To Recycle website, the ProPlan bags that contain Dexter’s food are made from woven #5 polypropylene plastic.

Reading further into the site, there are a number of other types of packaging used to manufacture pet food bags; non-woven plastic (“#7 mixed materials”), lined paper (the ones with a thin coating of plastic on the inside), and unlined paper (similar to a paper lunch bag).

Purina Recycling Chart

Sadly, the lined paper bags must go to trash because they cannot be broken down in to their source components easily. Clean, unlined pet food bags can go into your curbside blue bin with newspapers and other paper. The most rare types of plastic accepted in curbside programs are non-rigid #5 and #7 plastics.

Surely something can be done about all the waste created from these empty bags!

There are a few resources online which give step-by-step instructions for creating stylish tote bags, and purses, but one can only use so many totes and purses. Perhaps you could consider starting an Etsy store to sell them. For those of us who are less crafty, what alternatives do we have?

Etsy Handmade Tote

Indestructables Pet Food Tote Instructions

Wellness Pet Food has partnered with TerraCycle to offer a free-to-consumer recycling program where you can bundle empty bags and TerraCycle will shred and melt the plastic which can be reformed into new products. That is the ultimate goal I am trying to achieve; put my plastic back into the cycle and prevent the need to use raw materials. Kudos to Wellness Pet Food, but they won’t accept my Purina bags. So whats next?

Doing more research into #5 woven polypropylene (PP), I found that large shipping bags (FIBC – Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers) are made from the same material. There are just a handful of FIBC recycling companies across the United States, and they don’t typically accept small shipments of a small number of items – they cater mainly to food processors, farms, and shipping companies who process hundreds at a time.

The process of recycling FIBC bags mirrors that of TerraCycle; bags are shredded, melted down and reformed into chips or pellets that can be reused into new plastic products.

Typically, these pellets are used to create beautiful outdoor furniture for consumers or use in public parks.

Poly-Wood Outdoor Furniture

So where does that leave me? Literally holding the bag. Maybe I can mail it to an Etsy crafter, or use it in place of a tarp to protect the trunk of my vehicle, but since my curbside program doesn’t accept it, and I wasn’t able to find a place online; it seems that while they are “recyclable” in principal, they aren’t recyclable in reality.

Please let me know in the comments if you have found a way to recycle these.

Interestingly enough, during my research I found this company called Preserve that will take rigid plastic #5 containers, such as those for yogurt, hummus, and margarine spreads and turn them into toothbrush handles, and lunchbags.

Update: Proctor & Gamble, the large consumer goods conglomerate, has developed a process to recycle polypropylene at a molecular level. They are building a recycling plant in the hopes to expand it to nine.