The Mom Buzz received some samples to check out and I thought they were just cute. Not only will my dogs enjoy the large dog toys, but the kids will get a kick out of playing with the dogs with their new Angry Bird toys too! The complete new line includes 6 dog toys and 4 cat toys, with additional collections coming in the future. The items we saw were:

• Hartz^® Angry Birds^® Two Heads™ – This dog toy is longs toy, created dumbbell style and featuring Angry Bird characters on either side. At 17” long from end to end, this will be the best stocking stuffer your pup will receive this Holiday Season! Also available in a 7” version for smaller dogs.
• Hartz^® Angry Birds^® Hard Heads™ – Dogs will appreciate the long-lasting, fun chew experience with these three Angry Birds characters. Each latex toy is equipped with a squeaker and will entertain your pup for hours.
• Hartz^® Angry Birds^® Birds Gone Crazy™ – Our most popular Hartz Angry Birds cat toy, Birds Gone Crazy will give your feline companion the opportunity to swat, chase, and hunt little angry birds and green pigs, while the bell inside will make your furry friend keep coming back for more.
• Hartz^® Angry Birds^® Catnip Heads™ – Catnip heads are small plush Angry Bird characters filled with catnip. They can be refilled and will definitely be a treat for a good kitty this year!

As a former cat owner and the current owner of two dogs, I really liked the samples I saw. My cats would have gone nuts for the Catnip Heads, since catnip mice were always one of their favorite toys. Easy to flip, toss and roll. And the Birds Gone Crazy come in a set of 6, which rocks since you know the cats will immediately chase them under the couch and behind the fridge.

As for my dogs. They LOVE plush toys. So the double sided Two Heads will immediately be tossed and thrown to each other in the backyard. The 17″ long one is perfect for labs, boxers, rotties and other medium to large dogs. The 7″ would be for smaller lap dogs. And the squeaky Hard Head is actually not as hard as the name implies. It is pliable and will form to the shape of their mouth. But the plastic material isn’t so thin that it will rip with the first throw.

You can purchase these Angry Bird Pet Toys at Amazon, CVS and Walgreens. I am supplying Amazon links below to make ordering easier for you.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contestsso you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The MomBuzz did receive the products above for review.

I used to feed my Shar-Pei indoors, mostly to keep an eye on her when she was a puppy. But she was SUCH a messy eater. Food everywhere. And don’t get me started on how she drinks – my mom comments on it all the time when we visit. The Shar-Pei doesn’t know “how” to drink water like a normal dog, so she actually dunks her whole muzzle in the water and gulps, then whips her head out to breathe with water dropping from her furry face.

(Side note for anyone thinking of getting a Shar-Pei: They are sweet dogs, but CRAZY! She is smart -can open glass doors , a talker, strong-willed and a messy drinker.)

Anyways, so since she was a messy eater and drinker, I put the food outside. But it’s hot and muggy outside and she can’t eat and drink when she’s inside, which is inconvenient. I wanted to move her back indoors for mealtime, so in comes the Neater Feeder.

The Neater Feeder is available for both cats and dogs. For dogs it’s available in Large, Medium and Small. There is just one cat size. And for dogs, you can even add Leg Extensions to make it higher for taller dogs. I received the Large one, since my Shar-Pei and Boxer are both 50 pounds. (Yes, I have a boxer too! She is OLD. A very good dog. Beautiful. Not the brightest. More looks than brains. You see her munching in the photo above.) The large Neater Feeder is for dogs in the 40 + pound range. It can hold 8 cups. It is meant for pets who are between 15 – 21″ at the shoulder. If your dog is taller at the shoulder, then you want to use the extensions. The extensions make the eating experience more comfortable  and HEALTHIER (digestion, back issues) for taller pets.

Now, WHAT MAKES THE NEATER FEEDER DIFFERENT. I mean, we had a dog bowl that was “high” before and you could store dog food in it. But it was still messy. The Neater Feeder is actually a 2-part system. The space from the bowls to where the dogs stand is deeper with grooves. So water and crumbs will go down the grooves into the “holding area”, instead of on the floor.

Also, it has little rubber soles on the bottom, so as dogs eat they can’t scooch the bowl around, which causes sloshes and tipping – more mess. And it is practically mess-proof against humans too. If you pour the water, it will slosh into the “groove zone” instead of the floor. And if your kids pour the food rambunctiously, it will end up in the bin, not the floor. LOVE IT!

Love it so much, that I want to get a second one, so the dogs don’t have to share this one indoors. (They still have separate outside bowls, too.)

The Large retails for $59.99. With extensions it is $65.98. Pricing for the Neater Feeder starts at $34.99. They currently are available in bronze or cranberry. You can purchase the Neater Feeder at a retailer near you or online at NeaterFeeder.com.

One winner will in a Neater Feeder in their size preference.

FIRST: MANDATORY ENTRY:

• Tell me about the pet you are trying to win this for!

SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add theMomBuzz to your Twitter
• Share this contest on your Facebook page – Link it to @theMomBuzz – Here is the text:

Win a Neater Feeder for Messy Pets @theMomBuzz – Give-away ends 10.12.11 http://themombuzz.com/?p=18223

• Tweet the contest. Here is an example – can be done daily:

#win a Neater Feeder for Messy Pets #theMomBuzz – Visit http://themombuzz.com/?p=18223

• Leave a comment on any other post/contest on theMomBuzz
• Stumble any review or post on theMomBuzz.com (Please don’t Stumble Give-aways). Let me know what you Stumbled!
• Add the Mom Buzz to your blogroll (Feed: http://themombuzz.com/feed/)
• Put the Mom Buzz button on your site! See code for bottom on footer of theMomBuzz.com (2 entries, leave 2 comments)

Contest ends 10/12/11. This is open to the USA. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received a product sample. Neater Feeder is not responsible for choosing the winner or promoting this reader give-away.

Silverfish make GREAT pets (according to me) - you know they can live without eating for over 1 year!

My house has two dogs – a boxer and a Shar-pei. (And they are both super protective kind of dogs, so don’t you dare EVER try to sneak into the Tales residence). They are good dogs and the boxer is very patient with my excitable, energetic 3 year old who tries to ride the poor dog all the time. My 3 year old is just over 30 pounds, the boxer around 50. She is VERY patient – like Nana from Peter Pan, practically.

But, you know how it is. Those are “family” dogs. And lately my three-year old has been showing a lot of compassion mixed in with his craziness. So I thought it was just so sweet when my three year old found a huge silverfish bug (see picture to the right if you don’t know what a silverfish is) in my garage. I helped him move it into a bucket, where he carried it around the house, showed it off, and would even pet it. I really didn’t worry too much about the silverfish in the hands of my three-year old, thinking if it got squashed … it was just a pest. But I was surprised that in mere minutes my son actually thought of it as HIS pet to care for.

So of course the inevitable happened. No… he didn’t squish it. He let it out of the bucket to play and it scurried off into some dark corner where we couldn’t find it and it will probably meet its doom from Mike our pest control guy. So, my husband and I decided maybe a little personal pet wouldn’t be so bad for him.

First we went to Pets Mart to look at the Hermit Crabs, but they were kind of sad looking and puny. So then we moved to the reptiles, but I thought any animal that needed special lighting and rocks to help control their body heat just wasn’t the right pet for the kid. I looked at the small mammals – but Guinea Pigs are too big for what I am wanting right now. And instead of fancy Teddy Bear hamsters, they had dwarf hamsters, which I am just not keen on. They are too mouse-like for me.

Source: Kevin

So we left petless and went to the mall, where they WERE selling Hermit Crabs for a few months. That’s actually what planted the hermit crab idea in our head originally, since we used to always stop and look at them. But alas – no more Hermit Crabs in the mall. So we distracted my son with a book from the bookstore instead.

But wouldn’t you know, I was out with my son today running errands and he said, “We need to get my pet crab.”

Awwww. Dang -it. So now I have to find a decent place to pick up that Hermit Crab. I am thinking maybe the Easter Bunny can deliver one this year – much better than the Easter Bunny delivering a real bunny or chick for our family dogs to eat…er, meet.

So what about y’all. At what age did you let your kids have their own pet? Or is a family cat or dog the only pets you will ever let them have? What about you – did you own turtles, hamsters, rats, birds, etc. growing up and how will that affect you letting your own children have a pet?

This is peek in the life of Erin T.

When you have a small home, you have to really organize to make everything fit. This doesn’t just go for you and the kids – but also your pets. It amazes me how much room my dogs treats, bones, meds, leashes and toys take up. And when you don’t have a place to keep everything, nice and neat, then usually the leashes just get tossed on a bench, collars end up under the train table and meds get pushed behind other items in the cabinets.

Now, though, I feel uber organized with a snazzy Hanging Organizer for Dogs. It comes from YepYup.com, which sells an array of pet accessories and organizers to make your pets (both cats and dogs) feel pampered and you feel organized!

Currently you can purchase a long (49″ length) pet organizer, which is part of the Heliotrope collection. It is 10.5″ wide and is perfect to hang in your pet’s sleeping area, laundry room or behind a door. It’s attractive enough to be displayed in the open. I love the sturdy canvas they use, which can be spot cleaned as needed. It has 17 pockets in various sizes, which can be used for collars, toys, leashes, brushes and more. There is even a hangar specifically for a leash, so you always know where to find it – and soon your dog will figure it out too! To further personalize the Hanging Organizer, you can put a photo of your own dog in the frame at top.

Heliotrope Pet Organizer

I use mine to keep both my dogs organized. I hang it by the calendar in my kitchen, right next to the garage door.

This attractive hanging pet organizer retails for $59.00. If you follow YepYup on Facebook, you can take advantage of the discount codes they share with their fans throughout the year!

Other Small Home Fix Posts:

1. Storage Ottomans

2. Choosing Furniture that Fits

3. Granite Paint for Countertops

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

The article below was supplied to theMomBuzz.com from Black Belt Dog Trainer Robert Cabral.

Fireworks are the most thrilling aspect of the Fourth of July for people while at the same time terrifying dogs.  The danger signal fireworks send to dogs — and the reaction it stimulates — can be lethal. Nationwide, animal control services cite a 30 percent increase in lost dogs reported between July 4th – 6th and an increase in chained dogs left outside that have inadvertently strangled themselves in reaction to loud fireworks.

“Loud sounds are a trigger for dogs to run or panic,” says Robert Cabral, a Malibu-based dog trainer / behaviorist known for his “Black Belt Dog Training” and for his national nonprofit organization Bound Angels.org.

Other reactions, Cabral adds, include dangerous stress levels and out-of-control panting. “The reality is that fireworks are part of the holiday celebration so it is incumbent for dog owners to know how to prepare and deal effectively with the situation.”

Here are Cabral’s 10 Tips for how to help your dog cope with Fourth of July Celebrations:

1.      Do not leave your dog alone, especially outside during fireworks displays. If you absolutely must leave your dog, leave a TV or radio playing.

2.      Do not coddle or hug your dog if your dog becomes scared or distressed – this tends to make dogs think that their actions are justified.  Be strong, talk in a normal tone and remain indifferent to the noise.

3.      Do find an alternative to the noise, be it playing an instrument, listening to a news program or playing an entertaining DVD.  This can serve as a positive distraction for your dog.

4.      Do keep all windows and doors closed to keep the sound out.

5.      Do not take your dog for a walk during fireworks celebrations.

6.      Do feed your dog long before the time for fireworks.

7.      Do give your dog a special toy to play with during fireworks.

8.      Do make sure your dog keeps a normal schedule the day of the fireworks.

9.      Do plan to keep your dog away from strange dogs or dogs that may excite him during the fireworks.

10.     Do keep your dog away from unfamiliar people before and during the fireworks.

With proper planning, says Cabral, the Fourth of July can be a safe and fun holiday for pets and their owners.  For more information, please visit www.blackbeltdogtraining.com

Robert Cabral is a professional dog behaviorist and trainer with a background in Japanese Martial Arts.  He applies many of those principles in his Black Belt Dog Training, a Zen-like approach to transform dogs with difficult behavior patterns.  In addition, his passion is the nonprofit he founded called Bound Angels (boundangels.org and boundangels.tv), which is dedicated to giving a voice to animals, in particular those living in our nation’s shelters at risk of being killed: some for bad behavior, some just because they are no longer wanted.  Robert has worked with countless shelter dogs, and as a result of his work, these animals have found loving homes.  He also serves on the advisory board for K9 Connection in Los Angeles where he tests their dogs and speaks to at-risk teens and those in foster care about animal behavior.

I am sure many readers have seen my Shar Pei, Sookie, on my site before. She is a quirky, smart little dog who snorts and eats like a pig. I never really paid too much attention to her food and eating before. I would give her a cup of dry kibble morning and night with fresh water and she’d scarf it down. I have another dog, too, so I am sure they eat each other’s food when the opportunity arises. If Sookie looked skinny, I’d give her more. If she looked chunky, I would keep a better eye on her to make sure she wasn’t snatching too much extra snacks from the kids.

But just like people, our furry friends need proper nutrition and calories for their size. And wouldn’t you know, there is a company that specializes in a custom nutrition plan for your dog? Just like your family needs veggies and less processed foods, your dog can benefit from a hearty chicken and vegetable stew, a blend of gently dehydrated fresh fruits and vegetables, along with a portion of premium quality holistic dry food.

I had Sookie on this diet from Proportions for a few weeks now. To get started you have to answer a few questions about your dog, which includes their breed, age, activity level, weight and some other important factors. After you complete that it will tell you how many calories your dog needs a day. Sookie needs around 645 calories a day. Minus snacks, that would make her two meals around 305 calories each. These meals come in three parts described above – chicken and veggie stew, dehydrated fresh fruits and veggies and holistic dry food.

153 Calories – Crunchy Blend
SmartPak LiveSmart – Chicken & Brown Rice – Adult Formula – 3/8 cup

145 Calories – Stew
Chicken Stew – 150g

10 Calories – Harvest Mix
Fruits and Vegetables

Component Packs

Each meal would cost $2.10. I can give Sookie 56 meals (a one month supply) for $117.88. They do send a 10 day starter kit for free, which helps transition your dog over. Sookie did have some tummy problems for 1 day when I was making the switch.

Now, there are three parts to every meal. So that means I have to open three packets per meal. I am fine with that, although I wish it was easier to get the stew out of its pack. Customer service suggested adding water to get all the remains out.

Sookie LOVES her meals. She enjoys the dry kibble and LOVES the stew. I don’t think she even noticed the dehydrated veggies and fruits.

Even though I thought the caloric intake wouldn’t be enough for her, her coat is glossy, her activity level remains high and her weight doesn’t fluctuate as much as when she was on the other dry kibble. So, Proportions was right on with the suggested serving for her.

Overall, I do love the new food. If I only had one dog to spoil, I would definitely go this route. I would also highly consider it if my dog had allergies or health problems, anything to keep them healthier with less visits to the vet, right?

Order a Risk Free Trial of Proportions to see what you think!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received a month of Proportions to sample.

The Mom Buzz is helping Purina spread the word out about recycling pet food containers with their new “Together We Can Recycle” initiative. I never thought of it until this week, so the initiative came at a great time. But I have started recycling not just aluminum pet food containers (like Friskies and Fancy Feast), but also cardboard packaging that comes with some pet foods.

Purina has teamed up with Keep America Beautiful on this and is asking pet owners to take a pledge to recycle these products! Every little bit can make a difference!

$200 (ARV) worth of merchandise from the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy’s. Prizes may include merchandise in any of our four main categories: bedding, bath, dining and entertaining, and kitchen.

MANDATORY, FIRST ENTRY:

Cat-Owners (and dog owners can take this cat-like pledge too!), take the pledge to recycle pet containers!

Non-Cat or Non Pet Owners: Check out www.togetherwecanrecycle.com and tell me something you learned!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per day is allowed)
• Blog about the contest – add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
• Become a Fan of the Mom Buzz on Facebook!
• Add the Mom Buzz button to your site or add the Mom Buzz to your Blogroll

Contest ends 5/14/09. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this post. The sponsor will be handling prize fulfillment.

Petcentric is hosting a Treasure Hunt! During this fantastic, fun, free game you “dig around” for treasures a pet would love (tuna, sticks, treats, mailman), sniff them out and try to win HUGE PRIZES, including:

• 1st Place – Trip for Two to NYC & Spa Package: This grand prize package includes hotel accommodations for one night in New York City, round-trip airfare, and two complimentary spa treatments.
• 2nd Place – Pet and Owner Spa Package: You and your pet are in for some pampering with this prize package.
• 3rd Place – Pet Gift Basket: This swanky basket is filled with blankets, apparel, bowls, grooming tools, gift certificates and other special treats for your best friend.
• 4th/5th Place – Professional Pet Portrait: Reader’s Digest is giving away a day at the spa in preparation for a photo session with a professional photographer. From facials and pedicures to grooming and buffing, you and your pet can make sure you look your best in the portrait print that you’ll receive.

HOW TO PLAY:

Step 1: Sign in or sign up

Step 2: Search for images (you can see the complete list of images here: http://www.petcentric.com/Fun-Games/Treasure-Hunt/Default.aspx)

HINT: Where will you find these images? Search all around and take part of the action. You never know what you might find as you register, upload a photo, enter a contest, adopt a pet, etc.

Step 3: Click on the images to add points to your total!

Good to know: This Petcentric Contest ends 5.7.2010

I think the contest is fab and fun! And Petcentric is always up to fun new things like this, really building a great pet-owner community! So stay up-to-date with this and other promotions through Petcentric’s Twitter and Facebook page!

To make it more fun for the Mom Buzz, they’re offering one Mom Buzz reader a Martha Stewart Living prize pack, which contains, $200 (ARV) worth of merchandise from the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy’s.  Prizes may include merchandise in any of our four main categories: bedding, bath, dining and entertaining, and kitchen.

SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add theMomBuzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per DAY is allowed)
• Become a Fan of theMomBuzz on Facebook
• Become a Friend on Google Friend Connect (Right side sidebar)
• Fan Petcentric on Facebook
• Follow Petcentric’s Twitter – Tweet them saying you saw them @themombuzz!
• Add the Mom Buzz button to your site or onto your blogroll (Feed: http://themombuzz.com/feed/)
• Leave a comment or entry on any other post here at theMomBuzz.com – let me know where!

Contest ends 4/22/10. This is open to the USA. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. Purina is handling prize fulfillment.

The Winter Games arrived in Canada when the world’s most athletic dogs competed in front of hundreds of animal lovers at the first-ever Winter Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Whistler-Blackcomb. To find out who were the medal winners, check your local listings between March 20th and May 2nd, or checkout www.petcentric.com for specific times in mid-March. You can also view the video below!

Disclaimer: This buzz came in the form of press. I just shared it since it had talented dogs. The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz.

Recently As They Grow Up introduced me to petcentric, a fun pet-lovers community hosted through Purina . You can read stories, Learn to Speak Dog, share and view pet pics and pet videos, read the dog and cat blogs of featured and furry writers, and even discover pet resources near you!

I love the Fun & Games section. That’s where I learned to “speak dog”. With that interactive game, you type in a few simple words and the dog will act it out in a video. It’s pretty cute and simple. I also was able to find out which dog was perfect for my lifestyle, straight from the dog’s muzzle! I will tell you I own a Shar-Pei and  boxer … according to Petcentric’s Pooches, a mixed breed would be my perfect match. And when I say that the dog tells you what breed is perfect, I am serious. The mixed breed pooch told me why he would be perfect for me with a little animated video. Cute!

And there are SO MANY PET WIDGETS that you can put on your personal sites or desktop, like Name Taggers, Weather Widget, Animal Antics and more. Here is an example:

If you like the site and all it has to offer, be sure to Fan Petcentric on Facebook, so you can stay up-t0-date on the latest pet news!

Also, have you heard about Purina ONE Tour for Heroes? The Purina ONE Tour For Heroes is helping pets in need from coast to coast. From February 3 – 26, 2010, Purina ONE® brand Pet Food is traveling across the country, stopping at local animal shelters to help pets in need with temporary food banks and adoption events.

If you live near one of the tour stops listed on the site, please go and visit! If not, you can still help out. Just visit MarthaStewart.com/pet-adoption between now and March 31, 2010, find an adoptable pet using our search tool, and click to share that pet’s profile with your Facebook friends. Each time you do, Purina ONE will donate $1 worth of pet food to food banks across the country to help feed pets in need (up to $50,000 worth of pet food). You’ll be doing your part to publicize these animals’ urgent need to find a loving home, and help keep other needy pets in their homes and out of a shelter.

(2) Two Winners will receive Everyday with Rachel Ray Faves. Every Day with Rachael Ray tote bag is filled with pet-friendly products that have been featured in the pages of Every Day with Rachael Ray Magazine.  The approximate retail value (ARV) of each prize pack is around $40)

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Petcentric then come back here and tell me one of your favorite pet photos from the site

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add ErinTales to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per day is allowed)
• Fan Petcentric on Facebook!
• Blog about your puppy/dog and tell me why they need new toys – add a link to this Mom Buzz contest and Petcentric! (3 entries, leave 3 comments)
• Follow Petcentric on Twitter - tell them you saw them @themombuzz
• Share an adoptable pet on your Facebook page – who’s picture did you share?
• Subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail
• Enter to win a trip to Orlando from Suave!
• Leave a Comment on my Frigidaire Post
• Enter the YooHoo & Friends Contest

Contest ends 2/19/10. This is for the US only. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz will receive an appreciation prize, the same as the give-away, for this buzz. UPrinting will satisfy prize fulfillment.