Did you know that April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month? Having a pet is a lot of responsibility, from being prepared for those unexpected vet visits and taking care of your dog or cat’s health needs to training your animal. Bil-Jac, maker of dog food and treats, shared some ideas with me to help with the latter matter – tips from Joel Silverman, a dog trainer. The sheet I received included 5 steps for training your dog, including building your relationship with your dog and setting goals. Check out some videos with dog training ideas here!

In addition to the doggie training tips, Bil-Jac also sent along a couple of bags of their dog treats for review. We took these over to Grandma’s house for her Labrador, Bob, to taste-test. When we walked in the door and set the bags down on the kitchen counter, guess who immediately peeked through the window without any prompting?

I had the sneaking suspicion that Bob might have been just a little bit excited about his new treats!

There were two varieties for Bob to give his expert opinion on: Little Gooberlicious and PB-Nanas.

We gave Bob a few of each to taste, and he gobbled them up instantly. We tried to find out if there was one he preferred, but he approached both of them with an equal enthusiasm so I have to say it’s tied! Another two paws up from Bob!

Changing the litter box is one of those not-so-pleasant parts of being a cat owner – so anything that can breathe a little “Fresh air” into the process is welcome, am I right? One lucky Contest Corner reader will win a box of Fresh Air Cat Litter, so read on!

Now, as you may already be aware, I do not own a cat. However, my BFF is a self-proclaimed “Crazy cat lady”, so when I received a complimentary box of Fresh Air Cat Litter to review, I asked her if she would like to be a guest reviewer and see how this litter held up to her legion of nine cats! So please extend a warm welcome to today’s guest writer & photographer:

Fresh Air Cat Litter Review
By Jess

“As a Crazy Cat Lady of 9, I am always at a shortage of cat litter which is why I rejoiced when I received a trial box of FRESH AiR from Super Coupon Girl. On the box it read ‘Eliminates urine odor and fecal odor’ so of course I had to try it in my most stinky of cat boxes. As I prepared the cat box I found that FRESH AiR was far less dustier than my usual brand name litter, which for an allergy sufferer like myself, was a blessing. I also noticed that FRESH AiR had a nice, pleasant flowery smell. Not to mention, it was light and easy to use! No 40 pound workout to refresh the cat box.”

“As I replaced the my brand name litter with FRESH AiR, the kittens were instantly determined to be the first to play in the sand. They swished it about, dug, and and eventually put it to proper use. I really liked the fact that this litter stayed mostly where it was supposed to be- in the cat box, rather than in my bed. However, after a week with my high-volume kittens, (and possibly two older tabbies) the litter didn’t hold up for as long as I’d hoped. As it is non-clumping, after only 7 days, the flowery scent was gone and the litter and odor pad were saturated beyond rescue. I had to switch it out. With such heavy use the litter hadn’t had time enough to dry out.”

“I feel if I hadn’t put it in my most high-traffic cat box that the FRESH AiR would have lasted much, much longer. For example, had I placed it on the front porch with only one cat, a litter change would still be a dream away.
All in all, I highly recommend FRESH AiR for single cat homes, especially if you have a stinky boy cat in your family!”

Thanks to Jess and her cats for this thorough review and photos!

One lucky Contest Corner reader will win one box (a 2-month supply) of Fresh Air Cat Litter! Entry is easy via the Rafflecopter form below:

Rules, regulations, and other important stuff: Giveaway is open to residents of the United States, 18+, and ends on November 22nd 2012 at 12:01 AM EST. Winner will be chosen through Rafflecopter the same day and notified via email. Winner has 48 hours to respond to our notification email, or a new winner will be chosen in their place. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. By entering this giveaway, you are releasing Facebook and understand that you are providing information to Contest Corner and the giveaway sponsor, not Facebook. Contest Corner is not responsible for late entries or entries lost due to technical malfunctions. Please see our Privacy Policy and Disclosure for further details on our site’s policies. A sample was received to facilitate this review.

During the holidays, many humans show their cheer by donning a Christmas sweater, necklace, or other fun accessory. So why not let your pooch get festive, too? Enter Moe’s Place, a fun company dedicated to bringing stylish, fun dog bandanas to pet parents! Moe’s Place offers a variety of styles and prints, from camo to flowers. And of course, they wouldn’t forget the holiday season: Check out their Christmas Cheer bandana, a reversible accessory bearing fun Christmas characters like reindeer and snowmen on one side and penguins on the other. The bandana has two snaps, which attach it around your dog’s neck. I received a complimentary bandana for Grandma’s dog Bob to review, and it was easier to put on than we thought. Check out the photo of Bob above – doesn’t he look dashing? We thought it was a really cute accessory and fun way to show a festive spirit during the holidays.

The Christmas Cheer bandana is available on the Moe’s Place website for $15.99.

Holiday-themed jewelry and accessories are a common sight this time of year. Who doesn’t love a fun pair of snowman earrings or a Santa scarf? Well, why not get your pooch into the festive spirit, too?

Collars2Switch are a unique line of dog collars that utilize Velcro to make a changeable, versatile collar whose design you can change based on your mood. Whenever you’re ready to change Fido’s’ look, just remove the Velcro top and attach a new one!

The Christmas/Hanukkah/New Year’s collar designs are perfect for the holiday season, with a variety of festive looks. I received a complimentary collar with three removable design strips: The first strip is glittery gold, reminiscent of tinsel or Christmas baubles. The second strip is covered with green and red candy canes on a white background. The third strip integrates a fun doggie Christmas theme, with a repeating pattern of sticks and bones tied in ribbons – in other word’s, your pooch’s dream present!

I think these are a really cute idea for fashionista dog owners. It adds a touch of personality to the collar that is really cute – I could definitely see these going over well in a dog owner’s stocking. Or, if you’re like a lot of people I know, in your dog’s stocking! The only thing I would look out for on these might be the Velcro wearing out or bunching up; however, I haven’t gotten a chance to use these long enough to find out. The collar I received will be a gift for a smaller dog, as Grandma’s Bob is a big boy who needs a larger collar!

Collars2switch’s dog collars are available for $19.99 and come with 2 changeable designs, with additional holiday design swatches running $3.99 – visit Collars2switch.com to get yours today!

Looking for a present for your pooch? How about a pair of cozy doggie socks to protect Fido’s feet? THREE lucky Contest Corner readers will each win a pair of Power Paws dogs socks of their choice from Woodrow Wear, so read on!

If you’re a pet parent, then I’m willing to bet that you pick up something special for man’s best friend during the holidays as well as for your human companions. Many people I know put together fun little stockings for their pets, or gift them a new toy on Christmas morning! Well, I have a very cute gift idea that would be great to tuck in poochie’s stocking – or to gift to the dog lover on your list! Woodrow Wear offers a unique line of dog socks/slippers, designed to be non-stick. In addition to looking extremely cute, these can serve the practical purpose of offering protection for your pet’s feet. I received a couple of pairs of these socks in fun, festive Christmas patterns, and passed them on to relatives to try on their dog who had suffered a stroke. They said that although the dog wasn’t crazy about having something on its paws, it did help it to walk on their hardwood floors better after its stroke. For dogs with health issues, I think these could be quite helpful. And with the variety of seasonal patterns, you can also make a festive fashion statement!

Woodrow Wear offers dog socks in 11 designs with 8 sizes, including specialty options for certain breeds. Click here to visit their online store – most styles are available for $19.99, and there is also a clearance section.

THREE lucky Contest Corner readers will each win a pair of Power Paws dog socks from Woodrow Wear, in their choice of design and size! Entry is easy via the Rafflecopter form below:

Rules, regulations, and other important stuff: Giveaway is open to worldwide entrants, 18+, and ends on November 8th 2012 at 12:01 AM EST. Winner will be chosen through Rafflecopter the same day and notified via email. Winner has 48 hours to respond to our notification email, or a new winner will be chosen in their place. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. By entering this giveaway, you are releasing Facebook and understand that you are providing information to Contest Corner and the giveaway sponsor, not Facebook. Contest Corner is not responsible for late entries or entries lost due to technical malfunctions. Please see our Privacy Policy and Disclosure for further details on our site’s policies. A sample was received to facilitate this review.

I’m always on the lookout for new dog treats that I can take to Grandma’s dog, Bob. I was recently introduced to a new-to-me brand called SmartBones, who make rawhide-free chewy snacks for pooches. They sent us some complimentary samples for Bob to taste-test: Peanut Butter SmartChips and Chicken SmartSticks. We took them over earlier in the week to see if they would get “Two paws up”!

Bob is a Labrador, and if you are at all familiar with this breed, then you will know that they are obsessed with playing fetch. If you are holding a tennis ball in your hands around Bob, there is literally nothing else he can think about except that ball. So when we brought over the treats, Jai thought he’d throw the ball a few times to make Bob happy. The dog could think of nothing else….until he noticed the bags of treats in Jai’s other hand. For the first time ever, Bob completely dropped the ball and started getting really excited about whatever we had in those bags!

Bob is licking his lips and drooling and we hadn’t even opened the bag yet!

Jai always has Bob sit and stay before he gives him a treat, but Bob was getting so excited he kept jumping up! He could barely contain himself!

Bob is enjoying a SmartStick in this photo – you can see how much he was drooling over it! This was a great little snack because not only was it tasty, but it gave him something he could chew on for a moment. I kept trying to get a photo of him eating a SmartChip, but he swooped in on them so quick that he had gobbled it down before I could even get the camera to focus!

So, I think it’s fair to say that these were a huge hit! Obviously Bob liked them, and Grandma was happy to have another handy treat to keep on hand – chewy treats are an especially great one for him, so in all I thought this was a big success!

If you’re a doting pet parent yourself, you can buy these unique and delicious doggie chews online by visiting SmartBones.com.

This post is brought to you as a part of the Dog Days of Summer Campaign, hosted by the folks at dog training collars. Remember, a healthy dog is a happy dog!

Summer is less than 2 weeks away, and this is a time of the year when people start to think more about their health and bodies. After shrugging off the chill of winter, many people may be hitting the gym in anticipation of swimsuit season, or slathering on the SPF to protect their skin from harmful UV rays; others may be concerned with making sure their kids get enough exercise during the summer school break. Yes, there are a number of health issues for families to think about during the summer months – but don’t forget about the furry members of your family! Dogs face their own unique health issues all year long, and there’s a number of preventative steps that their human companions can take to make sure that their pooches stay happy and healthy:

6 Ways to Avoid Common Dog Health Problems

• Walks:

  Taking time to regularly walk your dog is an important way to ensure that your pooch gets the exercise he needs and provides an outlet for all that canine energy so that you have a happier and better-behaved pet. Cesar Millan swears by it and your vet will, too! With everyone’s schedules being as hectic as they are, it may seem like a big time investment, but even a few minutes walking the dog around the block are good if that’s all you have. Plus, walking is good for both canine and human health, so think of it as an efficient way to combine your exercise routines!

• Play with your pooch:

  On days where a walk simply isn’t possible, you can burn off some of your dog’s nervous energy by playing with him – try a tug of war with a dog toy, throw a ball or Frisbee, or surprise him with a new squeaky toy!

• Watch what your dog eats:

  Our furry friends are so adorable and sweet that it can be tempting to ply them with treats, feed them your scraps, or give them an extra helping of dog food. But overfeeding your doggie can cause a lot of unintended problems: Amazingly, pet obesity is becoming a more and more common occurrence in the developed world. As you can imagine, this poses the same sort of health risks for animals as it does for humans. Also, some smaller breeds, such as dachshunds, can be susceptible to back problems if they begin to gain weight, so it’s important to know what a healthy weight for your breed of dog is. Check with your vet to determine the appropriate dog food portion sizes and best feeding schedule for your pooch. Of course, an occasional treat is perfectly fine – just like humans, dogs need all things in moderation!

• Take care of your dog’s emotional health, too:

  It should go without saying, but dogs need love and attention from their owners. With our world being so chaotic, it’s easy to neglect relationships in your life, including those with your family pets. Make a point to have a time in every day where you can spend a few minutes petting your pooch and giving him some loving attention – maybe when you get home from work, or after you drop the kids off at school. I don’t think this is a challenge for most pet owners, but it can be good to have a routine in place for those crazy days when you’re hardly home!

• Do your research:

  Each dog breed has its own quirks, needs, and common health conditions that it can be susceptible to. Spend some time researching your dog’s breed online, through books, or even by watching a few Dog Whisperer episodes! This way, you’ll get some insights into your dog’s personality and what challenges it may have that you can address. This is an especially important step to take before getting a new dog, so that you can get a pooch which is a good fit for your family.

• Vet visits:

  Finally, the most important thing you can do to maintain your dog’s health is to consult with a veterinarian with your questions, issues you encounter, or whenever your dog starts to appear under the weather.

By taking simple preventative measures, you can help ensure that your dog will be happily involved in your family’s summer activities for years to come!

As you may recall from my post earlier in the month, I recently made a gift basket for Bob the dog packed with Milk Bone, Pup-Peroni and Milo’s Kitchen dog treats. He’s been loving his new snacks over the last few weeks! If you’re planning to buy these treats for your pooch as well, then you’ll want to know about a new $1.00 off printable coupon, good off any one bag of of Milk Bone Trail Mix, Pup-Peroni Mix Stix or Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Grillers Chicken Recipe with Natural Smoke Flavor. To print yours, click here to visit ILoveMyK9.com.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric #iLoveMyK9

Regular readers of this website are probably familiar with Bob, the loveable Labrador that Jai’s Grandma owns. She got him as a puppy a little less than two years ago, and he’s quickly become an important and adored member of the family. Grandma loves and dotes on him so much, and he gets incredibly excited when visitors come over to see him!

Over the last few months, I’ve received various samples of doggie foods for review that I’ve passed on to Bob for his expert opinion. Grandma frequently mentions how much she’s appreciated me bringing over these items for Bob to enjoy. So when I was recently invited to participate in a project called “It’s a Good Day to Be a Dog” from my friends at Collective Bias, it seemed like the perfect fit. The concept was to head to Walmart and create a fun gift basket of dog treats for your favorite four-legged friend. Not only did I know that Grandma and Bob would love to be surprised with something like this, but it was also the perfect thing for someone as obsessed with making gift baskets as I am. I love to put together my own custom gift baskets for holidays or special events like weddings and bridal/baby showers. I look for something practical to use as the gift basket itself – like a pretty laundry basket, quality Tupperware, bathroom caddy, or something similar that fits the theme of my basket – and I get a real kick out of packing it full of useful items arranged in an attractive manner. I’ve never made a present like this for a dog before, so I couldn’t wait to make a special canine gift basket!

We headed over to the Walmart in Woodburn to run a few errands and pick up supplies to make the gift basket with. My concept for this basket was to take a cute dog food bowl and pack if full of the things that Bob needs most. I wanted to load it up with dog treats because I know that Grandma buys those frequently, and I thought it would be fun to pick up a few new squeaky toys that he could have fun playing with.

There was a big selection of dog treats to choose from! I had a few coupons for Milk-Bone Trail Mix that I had printed from MilkBone.com, and I also had two coupons for Milo’s Kitchen Homestyle Treats that I found on Coupons.com. I picked up two bags of each brand, as well as three bags of Pup-Peroni Mix Stix. I also grabbed a tug-of-war tennis ball and squeaky toy to round out the gift basket, and packaged it in a metal food bowl with a cute paw print motif which I lined with a small red towel. Bob loves to roll around in wet grass, and Grandma has to towel him off before he can come inside the house – so I thought it would be nice for her to have a dedicated towel just for him!

After we got our supplies and finished our other projects in Woodburn, we packed up the car and headed home. To see a full recap of our trip and shopping experience, click here to view my Google+ album.

We gave Grandma a call and told her that we were coming over to bring Bob a little gift, and she was delighted. Here I am on my way to deliver it to her!

Grandma loved it, and we couldn’t wait to take the gift basket outside to show Bob and see what he thought.

Bob was so happy to see us! He kept jumping up as Jai tried to take the picture – he seemed to think our camera was also a squeaky toy.

As soon as Jai gave Bob the tug-of-war ball toy, he went crazy with excitement trying to wrestle it away and then ran all over the yard with it.

He also loved the squeaking toy, and jumped all over the place pouncing and chewing on it. Check out this action shot as he runs towards his goodie basket, ears flapping!

We put the gift basket on the ground to see what Bob would do, and he was well behaved – he didn’t tear up the treat packages, even though they contained delicious snacks. He sat and stayed like a good boy, so his patience was rewarded with a Pup-Peroni snack – MMMM! (Jai said the Mix Stix smelled so good that he was almost jealous of Bob…hahaha!)

We had a great time visiting with Grandma and it was fun to see Bob go so crazy with excitement over his gifts. As we left, Grandma told us thank you and that “Bob thanks you from the bottom of his little heart too!”

For those of you who are social hounds (Get it?), you can keep up with the latest information and offers by following Pup-Peroni on Twitter and keeping up with the Milk-Bone Facebook and Twitter pages.