REVIEW: NEW! 'Beams' Dog Treats from The Honest Kitchen

*This post was written by Tracie Berger, pet correspondent for Petite Planet. See Tracie's previous pet-related posts here.

At Casa d’Canine, we like to keep our environment stress-free, “Zen” and happy. A few months ago, Miss Kira (being the typical Labrador she is) gave me a heart attack that would have sent the Dalai Lama running for the hills. She swallowed a 6-inch bully stick whole and almost choked on it.

Kira enjoying her Beams treat

Once you’ve reached down your dog’s throat in sheer panic, there’s a bonding that takes place, and vows are born. Your dog vows to dodge your presence for a month, and you vow never to purchase treats larger than a quarter or trust her chewing instincts EVER again. That is, until the company you’ve adored for years devises a delicious, healthy alternative for your furry babies to snack on.The Honest Kitchen® recently introduced Beams™, and to say we are huge fans is an understatement. My girls Nina and Kira LOVE fish, and this ingenious product is made from just one healthy, pristine ingredient….Icelandic Catfish Skins. Beams™are made from pure, wild-caught Atlantic Catfish skins from the clean ocean waters of Iceland and dried into savory, chewy sticks that break down easily but still afford a great chewing sensation. (Atlantic Catfish is a marine fish, which is different from domestic freshwater catfish found in the United States). Not only are Beams™ a safer alternative to tough bully sticks or chicken jerky imported from unknown places, they are an excellent source of lean protein, are grain-free and don’t contain any artificial ingredients, preservatives or fillers.

GREEN DOG TOY REVIEW: Eco-Friendly Wood Chuck from Planet Dog

This post was written by Petite Planet pet correspondent, Tracie Berger.

With the recent addition of an actual “retriever” to our pack 6 months ago, we’ve been on a constant search for new balls and toys to keep our little Lab girl happily fetching. I'm so glad we came across the Planet Dog Wood Chuck, an innovative ball-tossing device that’s not only comfortable and fun to use, but eco-friendly as well.

Since 1997, Planet Dog has been known as the industry's leading socially responsible, values-based design house, bringing people and dogs together for fun and mutual support. Planet Dog’s mission is to “amuse, explore, support, innovate, create, educate, celebrate and philanthropate... all in the name of the dog.” They "romp the romp" by providing financial resources to those in need, by educating consumers about canine-related issues, and by creating an array of non-toxic and recyclable products.

The Wood Chuck's bamboo core makes this device strong yet pliable, and the recycled cork handle provides a soft, comfortable grip for repeated throws. The 4-pronged claw at the head of the Wood Chuck is the perfect size to “grab” one of Planet Dog’s Orbee-Tuff balls. We opted for the Glow for Good Ball, since our games last well into the evening and it glows in the dark! The Glow for Good Ball is just about the bounciest ball we’ve ever used, and it holds up to little puppy mouths like Kira’s, who likes to take chew breaks in the middle of games. All of Planet Dog’s 2.5” Orbee-Tuff balls can be used with the Wood Chuck, just look for the Wood Chuck friendly toy icon to ensure a perfect fit.

Check out all of Planet Dog’s toys and Orbee-Tuff products at www.planetdog.com. Your pack will love them!

REVIEW: The Honest Kitchen - Natural, Human Grade, Dehydrated Dog & Cat Food

This is a guest post written by Tracie Berger, mom of rescue dogs Nina and Kona.

In the last two years, I’ve taken a serious interest into what goes into both human and canine food, and unfortunately I have learned that the pet food industry can be just as deceptive as the human food industry. Even the most expensive, so called “holistic” brands are not what they say they are.  More than half the ingredients on some dog food labels are “code” for unhealthy fillers. “Dried beet pulp” sounds like a vegetable, right? Wrong. It is a byproduct resulting from the extraction of simple sugars in the manufacture of table sugar. Many pet food companies are subsidiaries of human food companies, pumping leftovers and byproducts from our food into our pets’ food to minimize their waste.

Nina, Kona and I took a temporary reprieve from “sit” and “stay” in our obedience class last week to talk with the trainers regarding some rather scary facts about what we’re actually feeding our beloved pets. Thank goodness we did, because they opened our eyes to a wonderful company called The Honest Kitchen, operating right in my hometown of San Diego and truly the most “honest” pet food company I’ve ever come in contact with.

The Honest Kitchen was founded in 2002 by Lucy Postins, (above) who enjoyed making home-prepared raw meals for her Rhodesian Ridgeback, but wanted to find a more time-effective alternative. Lucy devised a way to dehydrate the healthy, raw ingredients so that water could be added to each meal to turn it back into “real food.” Lucy’s and The Honest Kitchen’s principles are simple: “We will only produce our pet foods using the gentle method of dehydration to remove just the moisture from our whole food ingredients. We will always raise the bar in choosing our raw ingredients and never leave procurement to anyone else. We’ll respect our planet by choosing organic ingredients whenever we can and always choose sustainability over cost – like our free-range chicken and line-caught wild haddock, fair-trade quinoa, non-genetically-modified produce and recycled, compostable packaging. We continue donating a portion of our profits to charity every month.”

Among my pups’ favorite products from The Honest Kitchen is “Keen”, a low–gluten dehydrated dog food featuring hormone-free USDA turkey, organic oats, potatoes, carrots, apples and honey. Now, at first glance, dehydrated dog food can be a bit strange, but trust me… add the water and watch the very obvious ingredients come to life!  What a concept – actually serving a dog food that I would eat too!  I didn’t get the bowl to the ground before Nina and Kona were jumping up on me to bask in the smell of the new sensation.

Another great product from The Honest Kitchen are “Pecks,” hand-made, bite-sized buffalo and blueberry cookies. I use these tiny treats during our training class, they fit perfectly in my pocket and my stubborn Nina REALLY pays attention to my commands when Pecks are the reward!  “Pecks” consist of 100% human grade barley flour, filtered water, molasses, buffalo, organic coconut oil and blueberries and they contain no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors.

Kona and Nina

 My favorite product from The Honest Kitchen are the versatile “Ice Pups.” They can be served three ways – as a warm, nourishing broth, a cool beverage, or as frozen treats!  “Ice Pups” are made from dehydrated chicken, turkey, whey, dandelion, asparagus, watercress, honey and parsley. I bought an ice tray, poured the liquid into it and have some “Ice Pups” freezing as we speak.  It should be very entertaining to watch Nina and Kona enjoy them! I’ve even heard cats are a fan of the “Ice Pups” too!

Bottom line is, I want my pets to eat a grain-free, whole food diet that I believe will enrich their lives and keep them with me as long as possible, and The Honest Kitchen’s products are truly that – honest.  The Honest Kitchen’s website is a wealth of information about their wonderful product line, amazing ingredients and sincere commitment to people, pets and the earth. I am now a fan and customer of theirs for life.

Eco-Friendly Puppy Shampoo & Grooming Wipes from Earthbath

This post was written by Petite Planet pet correspondent Tracie Berger.

Springtime at Casa d’Canine means lots of outdoor activities for Nina and Kira… which also means lots of baths. From relieving annual allergies to washing up after a romp in the swimming pool, I’m always on the hunt for the best shampoos and products to keep my girls’ coats shiny and healthy. Now that we’ve discovered Earthbath, we need to look no further.

Paul Armstrong founded Earthwhile Endeavors, Inc. in 1995 after a chance encounter with three buddies in San Francisco who had developed a natural, effective pet shampoo but didn't know what to do with it. Well, Paul knew a great product when he saw one (as did his cat Miles), and he was determined to share it with pet lovers everywhere. From the beginning, Earthbath has been developed and manufactured in California with only the safest, finest ingredients from nature. From humble roots and a local following--based on the principles of purity and efficacy -- Earthbath has grown from four shampoos to a comprehensive line of totally natural shampoos, wipes, spritzes, and grooming foams that are sold and used by conscientious animal lovers across the nation and around the world.

Earthbath's comprehensive line of totally natural, soap-free shampoos, grooming wipes, and spritzes offer heavenly scented solutions for the unique needs of your pet, including everyday cleansing and coat conditioning, relief from itching or hot spots, skin sensitivity or allergy, odor relief and more. Their formulas include heavenly scented natural essential oils that will make your pet look and smell better than ever before while naturally solving your pet's most pesky skin problems.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that Earthbath’s Grooming Wipes are the single greatest invention I’ve ever seen for a pet. These wipes safely and easily wipe away dirt and odor between baths and allow you to handily clean dirty paws, undercoats and unmentionables from little bottoms! We use the Puppy Grooming wipes, which are extra mild and pH balanced for young pups, and contain Hawaiian awapuhi, aloe vera and vitamin E to moisturize skin and coat. They are amazing to use after the dog park where drool and dirt are the norm, and are so convenient to take anywhere. Several tubs are always on hand in the car! Mild cleansers freshen and deodorize while the wild cherry essence leaves a heavenly scent.

For the times when a full bath is in order, Earthbath’s divine smelling and rich lathering Puppy Shampoo is our favorite. Naturally tearless and pH-balanced for puppies' sensitive skin, this luxurious shampoo contains only nature's finest blend of natural cleansers, aloe vera and a dash of baby-fresh, cherry essence. It won’t wash off topical flea applications, is safe for all animals over 6 weeks old and is soap-free.

Last but not least, Earthbath’s Ear Wipes are a fast, convenient way to keep your pet's ears free of wax and discharge which can cause odor and infections. Not to mention, both Nina and Kira actually enjoy getting their ears cleaned with these wipes as opposed to a liquid earwash. There’s no more resisting or running away! Earthbath’s Ear Wipes contain witch hazel, a natural cleanser and astringent, plus a sumptuous mix of nature's finest plant extracts with gentle therapeutic and deodorizing properties. Safe for all dogs, cats and other furry pets over 6 weeks old and naturally fragrance-free.

Earthbath’s products are simply the best smelling, most natural and gentle line of products I’ve found to keep Nina and Kira healthy, happy and smelling like they just came from the groomers! Visit www.earthbath.com to see their entire line of natural, soap-free heavenly scented products.

Gold Paw Series' Cozy Eco Fleece Pullovers Will Keep Your Pooch Warm this Winter

This post was written by Petite Planet pet correspondent, Tracie Berger.

With fall here and winter approaching, I needed to find a comfy, cozy, lightweight but warm jacket for my Dalmatian Nina. Being a single-coated breed, Nina isn’t exactly a fan of cold weather and she is often found slightly shivering in weather below 80 degrees! That’s why the Gold Paw Series Stretch Fleece is a great find. Made with recycled polyester, this popover fleece jacket is a superb year-round option to keep Nina snuggly warm and happy. With a high neck and spacious armholes, the Stretch Fleece hugs Nina in all the right places and fits perfectly. Read on to learn more about this fantastic coat for dogs.

Planet Dog's Orbee-Tuff Mazee Is A Recyclable Dog Toy That's Full of Fun and Treats

 This post was written by Petite Planet pet correspondent Tracie Berger.

At Casa d’Canine, puzzle toys reign supreme! Kira LOVES pushing her puzzle toys around the yard to work for her treats, and she has several that we use to slow her eating down (Labs!). We’ve always been huge fans of Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff™ balls and bones, so when we heard about their new puzzle toy, the Orbee-Tuff Mazee™, we had to try it!

The Orbee-Tuff Mazee™ is a pliable ball on the outside and a tough inner maze on the inside. On the top of the ball is a large hole for stuffing Planet Dog™ eats or any small to medium sized treat. Kira was instantly engaged with it, first pushing it across the lawn with her nose and then taking time to work her brain and make the treats slide around the inside maze. Treats don’t simply fall out of this ball… your dog is stimulated to really work to get those treats out!

Planet Dog's Orbee Tuff Cosmos Balls Offer Endless Fun for Canines

If you share your life with a ball-obsessed dog like I do, then you know how challenging it can be to find toys and balls that are indestructible and last through countless hours of “fetch” and dog park play. We actually have to put balls in drawers to hide them from our Yellow Lab, Cash, who thinks it’s his sole purpose in life to run around like a maniac chomping, snapping and barking at balls. Thank goodness there’s Planet Dog to satiate Cash’s ball obsession. We’ve been fans of Planet Dogproducts for years, and they always invent new products that are fun and challenging for our pups. Cash’s newest infatuation is the SOL™ ball, one of three awesome Orbee Tuff Cosmos™ balls from the socially responsible, sustainable company.