Sarah Lukemire – Page 3 – Lola the Pitty

June 15, 2015June 16, 2015

Pooch Party Packs Subscription Box | Review

I’m sure you’ve seen ’em around. And maybe have even ordered one for your pooch (or yourself).

Subscription boxes.

They’re all the rage and for good reason. Goodies delivered to your door filled with surprises. Because who doesn’t like getting mail? And trust me, your pups are no different – ours smelled the aromas wafting from the Pooch Party Packs box as soon as our FedEx lady dropped it at the front door. And opening it was like Christmas for these two.

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty. What was in the box?!

‘May Sweets Menu’

PrideBites ice cream cone plush

I was excited to see a PrideBites (great company!) toy in our box and although it’s no longer ‘living’, it was fun while it lasted. Plus, it resembled an ice cream cone which is perfect for summer.

CRACK Bar (cheesy bacon) from Bubba Rose Biscuit Company

I had to laugh when I saw these treats. They are a small, hard, breakable treat good for those mid-afternoon snacks ;). I liked these biscuit bars because I could break them into as big or small of a piece as I wanted. My only complaint was that there wasn’t more.

Puppy Scoops Ice Cream Mix (peanut butter flavor)

This stuff is great! I’ve never seen this product but here’s the scoop (pun intended):

Add water > freeze > voila.

Lola and Rio LOVED this product and I’d buy it again if I found it in stores.

Ice Cream Cone by Multi-Pet

This little toy smells good and is Lola’s new fave. It was actually quite hilarious because Lola started licking it versus chewing on it when I first handed it over. And while it says for tough chewers, I always make sure they’re in my sight with the toy because I don’t want them to break off and swallow a piece. It’s soft, latex material is good for their teeth and gums and Lola enjoys just gnawing on it.

Locomotion Sweet Apple Pet Treats

These are a small crunchy cookie-like treat that honestly smell good enough for me to eat. Lola and Rio, of course, loved them. I don’t have very picky taste testers here, ha.

I have to say, I’ve received a few different subscription boxes and this one had quality products in it, they feature and support a small business in every box (Locomotion treats) and I adored the ice cream theme. Well thought out.

Lola’s name was even wrote with marker on the front of her box, so it made a little more personal. For me, of course. I’m sure she didn’t even notice ;).

A little more about the company

Family-owned and operated by a husband and wife team. Kudos.
They have a sheltie (or two or three?). Bonus points. (I grew up with Shelties)

I also took it upon myself to look up what it would cost me to buy everything in this pack, and everything separate more than the cost of the box – so overall, it was a great value. Thanks, Pooch Party Packs!

Sign me up for Pooch Party Packs!

This is a sponsored post. All opinions and thoughts are honest and my own! If you have any questions about the Pooch Party Packs you want to ask me – feel free. Let me know in the comments below.

June 8, 2015June 16, 2015

Wondercide Review & Giveaway

A while back we gave up chemical-filled flea & tick treatments for the sheer reason that they scare me. I started researching a lot about flea and tick treatments and the results were rather disturbing. Finding a natural solution though has not been simple. We even started a list of natural flea and tick preventatives that I’ve tried (and work).

Well we’ve found a new (new to us anyways) solution from Wondercide. Read about our honest review of each item and enter to win this package for yourself and your pup!

Wondercide Evolv™ Flea & Tick Spray

Being that we live in Colorado, we deal with ticks all the time. Fleas aren’t as much of a problem but you can still get them. We’ve used this flea and tick spray before going on hikes or anywhere they may be exposed. While it doesn’t repel all insects all the time – it works just as well as those harsh chemical-filled products, so I’ll take this natural option in a heartbeat. Lola and Rio don’t care for the smell or being sprayed but they tolerate.

It comes in a 16 oz container with a spray bottle and has an okay scent (heavy smell of cedarwood, someone mentioned it smelling like a clean gerbil cage, and I think that’s pretty spot-on). What I liked about this vs. other natural options I’ve used is that it’s not too oily and is easy to spray on your dog in a few squirts (and leaves a nice sheen) and lasts a couple days.

It also has a mosquito repellent in it which has come in handy because approximately 9 million little skeeters hatched in the past week in Colorado with all the rain we’ve been getting. It directs to apply every 2-3 days or as needed to kill and repel fleas, ticks, and mosquitos (can use daily if needed). I would buy this product again and think this will be our go-to flea & tick product.

(Note: I don’t think Wondercide is calling this product Evolv anymore but just “Flea & Tick Spray” as I couldn’t find Evolv on their website)

Wondercide Fresh™ Deodorizing Spray

Honestly, I did not care for this deodorizing spray. It does not have a fresh scent to me and Lola and Rio literally rolled around on the carpet trying to get it off when I sprayed it on them. It must be the neem scent no one cared for because lavender and lemongrass were further down on the ingredients list and typically smell amazing. Also, even after the scent faded, I didn’t notice either dog smelling any better than they did pre-deodorizing spray. Skip.

Insect Repellent (for people and pets!)

I liked this product. It’s in a small, 2.7 oz container but since I don’t use insect repellent all that often it should last me a while. I’ve only actually used this on myself as I’ve been using the bigger bottle for Lola and Rio. The scent is very similar to the Flea & Tick spray. It’s small enough you could keep it in your purse or dog bag (What? You don’t have a dog purse?) so you don’t forgot to bring it when you need it most.

Other great selling points for Wondercide:

Made in U.S.A.
No Toxic Chemicals
Founded in 2008 by dog lover, Stephanie Boone

So…who’s up for another great giveaway? It’s good to be a fan of Lola the Pitty, isn’t it? Enter below. (Note: by entering your email please be assured it will not be sold, spammed, or added to any lists without permission!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to U.S. Residents. Good luck!

May 28, 2015May 28, 2015

My Pittied Life | May

Seriously, do you remember when you were a kid and adults would say, “Life is short…” and all you could think about was, “No it’s not! This school year has lasted forever”…and then all of a sudden you’re 30, done with high school, done with college, and yeah. Your parents were right.

Well that’s kind of how I’ve felt this past year. It’s June (practically). WTH. I totally missed last month’s issue of My Pittied Life because well, life was a little crazy.

So what’s new!? We’ve been rained out in Colorado for pretty much the entire month, but still sneaking out to the trail or park when we get the chance.

Did you see Rio’s new collar? We love Amy over at Karma Collars – talk about talent. By the way, if you have a collar obsession lik I do, check out the Collar Stands we started selling on our site and Etsy.

Life and Flyball

If you follow us on Instagram (@lolathepitty), you’ve probably seen this photo taken on the Sheep Draw Trail in Greeley. Lola was a little surprised at the mooing coming out of these ginormous dogs. Hence the hackles raised from shoulder to tail…She cracks me up.

We’ve also been practicing our flyball skills (or lack thereof). I’m losing confidence that we’ll make a good flyball dog and we’ve experienced a lot of change – new team, new trainers, new environment which I think has come into play. But as of now, we’re not running in the tournaments here, rather just doing “warm-ups” and then I’ve been running an adorable Border-Staffy for a teammate of ours. Fun, but not quite as fun as running your own dog.

And on top of that (just to keep things interesting, ya know) Lola started yelping and biting at her back (mid spine) when we were getting ready to release her. We pulled her off the track for the day and I’ve been in contact with the neuro department at the CSU vet school to make sure she doesn’t have an injury. Right now, it looks like nothing, but we’re keeping at eye on it. Oh Lola…

Soggy Doggy Promo

In other news, there’s just a couple short weeks left with our Soggy Doggy promo code “LOLA15”. Make sure to take advantage of that sale before it’s over. Visit SoggyDoggyDoormat.com (best dog mats, shammies, etc).

Website makeover.

I almost forgot – since I missed last month’s inside scoop, I did a little website makeover. Maybe you noticed, maybe you didn’t. Thoughts? Every once in a while I get the itch for change. Any feedback appreciated.

We’ll make sure to keep everyone updated on our adventures, things might slow down a tad bit here due to some life ‘adventures’ in our horizon, but stay tuned.

-Sarah, Lola, and Rio.

May 19, 2015May 19, 2015

How to Reduce Shedding + A Giveaway!

Tips to reduce shedding in dogs | lolathepitty.com

It’s no lie when I say that every single thing I own is covered in dog hair.

And it doesn’t help that most of my clothes are black and Rio (the main offender) is 95% white.

I’ll be honest, we have never groomed our dogs’ coats much. After all, they’re short-haired dogs and I never believed they needed it that much. And while we can get away with not brushing or combing their coats (it’s not like we have to deal with matting or tangles), it dramatically affects how much they shed, or don’t.

I was always hesitant to purchase one of these FURminator deshedding brushes due to the cost and so I previously settled for a cheap, $5 brush that is now sitting in a Rubbermaid bucket full of other worthless dog products. Well the picture above is the hair that came out after just a couple strokes down Rio’s back…I can tell you this rake-style brush will be well worth your purchase.

I couldn’t believe that Rio had as much undercoat as he did. I’ve already noticed a decrease in the amount of fur that ends up on our floor, bed, clothes, etc. (everywhere).

And the coolest part, yes I’m easily amused, is the little button that ejects the fur. Fly away, fur, fly away.

Tips to reduce shedding:

Brush your dog often (daily if you can) using the correct brush for their coat
Feed your dog a high quality diet
Add flax seed, coconut oil, or an omega-3 supplement (these can help improve skin health, reducing dandruff, and improving coat quality)
Regular baths

Well today is your lucky day because Chewy.com (my favorite online dog store) and I have teamed up to bring you an awesome giveaway with not only this brush, but with a large bag of Zuke’s Chewy Salmon Treats. Happy pup, happy owner.

Enter the giveaway below and check your email often! Good luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Open to US residents only. Winner will be notified via email and has 24 hours to respond.

May 8, 2015April 17, 2017

7 Must-Have Products for Your Puppy

It’s been a while since we’ve had a puppy in the house, but looking back there were several must-have items that made our life that much easier.

I’ll never forget the first time we brought Lola home and in less than 24 hours, she had diarrhea in the only room that had new light carpet (amateur move on our part) – twice, plus peed on the floor a few times. Incase you’ve forgotten, puppies pee just about every 30 minutes. Or at least it seems that way and I can assure you I’m not too far off.

As you can imagine, paper towels were a necessity, which brings me to our list:

1. Paper towels + pet stain and odor remover spray

A true necessity. That little puddle of pee seems not so small once you tear off three paper towels and then find yourself going back for more paper towels at least two times. And I highly recommend a pet stain/odor remover spray. Followed by a shampooing after your pup is potty trained. Or wood floors.

2. Poochie Bells

Some of you may be asking yourself, “What are Poochie Bells?”. Well…they’re a potty training doorbell for your pup. We used them with Lola and Rio and they worked like a charm.

Before we would go outside, we would tap Lola’s paw on the bell and immediately run her outside. We did that every single time we went outside. A week later? She rang the bell by herself. Hearing that bell was like music to my ears. A week later, she was completely potty trained. I kid you not. Rio on the other hand, well – I guess boys are more difficult. Lola took about two to three weeks before she was completely accident-free.

And they’re even great post potty training because no matter where you’re at in the house, your dog can get your attention by ringing the bell. Not to mention they have the CUTEST designs and my favorite, the premium leather.

These are just a few of their many designs, check out the Poochie Bells website for more!

3. Dog Crate

We bought a large crate, or kennel, when Lola was a puppy and let her grow into it. It was packed with blankets (all of which are now shredded) and it was her own cozy little place. I’m sure this prevented MANY accidents as she would refuse to pee in her crate. Besides being challenging at times, Lola was really an easy puppy.

4. Training Treats

Since training is a constant activity with dogs it’s always nice to have a bag or two (or five) of small, soft training treats. I personally bring treats on walks with me when I want to work on heeling or any type of training.

5. Leash/Collar/Harness

This is obvious. But they are a necessity. We prefer to use a standard 6 ft. leather leash – they last forever. Don’t even get me started on collars; I may have a slight obsession.

6. Toys, Toys, Toys

Puppies will be puppies. And by that, I mean they’re bound to chew up something of yours. To prevent that, give them their own things to chew on. Life for a puppy is really about what you can chew on and what you can’t. One of our favorites? Our Kong’s; endless entertainment and one of the only toys that the dogs haven’t destroyed.

7. ID Tag & Microchip

This is a great reminder, especially after catching Turbo, a stray dog I found last month. The tag saved me a trip to a vet or shelter to see if he was microchipped (and got him home that much faster). Microchipping and making your dog wear a tag ensures that if anything ever should happen, they have a much greater chance of making it home.

Notice I didn’t list puppy pads in here? Yeah…name one time you came home and that pad wasn’t shredded in a million pieces. They were more work than they were worth. For us anyways.

Now…of course you need a good food, bowl to eat and drink out of along with a trusty vet, but what else can you think of that your pup needs?

May 1, 2015April 17, 2017

Tips for Catching a Stray Dog

It doesn’t seem to matter where I go, I run into stray dogs. It’s been a while since my last ‘rescue’ but today as I was driving home from getting my hair cut, a dog ran almost directly alongside my car on a busy street. Luckily he turned back in and ran down the less-busy residential street.

There was a gentleman in a wheelchair that was trying to catch him as well but it was apparent that the dog was not only frightened of strangers, but also the wheelchair. There was an elderly lady that kept saying, “He’s aggressive…be careful”. He was barking at strangers, but it was apparent from his body language that he was fearful and frightened. You can use your instinct here, but it is also very helpful to study dog behavior and this will help you a lot when dealing with a stray.

Many times, women are less intimidating that men, but again it all depends on the situation and the dog.

Long story short, Turbo, the dog pictured below is safe and with his owner. It took a lot of patience and analyzing to coax him but it worked.

I’ve dealt with dogs that are much easier to catch and once, with a dog that I was not successful in catching the first day, but that was eventually caught a few days later.

Here are some tips that I’ve learned along the way:

Please remember these are all dependent upon the dog and to use your best judgement when dealing with a stray.

1. Never chase.

As bad as you may want to, please do not. This is intimidating and a dog that is lost is already out of their element.

2. Be prepared.

Probably the most important part. I have dogs of my own, so I almost always have treats, a spare leash, and ball in the car. This is how Turbo was caught. In fact, I had a long lead and a tug in the car, so I looped the two together so that I could slyly sneak the lead around his neck when I could get him within a comfortable distance.

If you have a ball or tug (these are great because they can’t run off with it), try playing with the dog or getting their attention. Squeaky toys work great to show them you’re here to have fun and just want to play with them! I began squeaking the ball and immediately Turbo perked up. I was suddenly becoming interesting and he wanted to follow me – but wouldn’t get within five feet of me still…

3. Refrain from shouting or calling the dog

Lost dogs are quite often afraid, in flee mode and on guard – shouting at him to “come” or calling him may make him even more frightened. Try these tips below…

4. Crouch or Turn your back to the dog

If the dog seems like he’ll come up to you, try kneeling down and toss out treats to gain trust and show the dog that you just want to help him.

If the dog seems extra skittish – with your back turned, begin tossing out treats to get the dog to trust you. Simply sit on the ground and throw treats out a good distance away from you, slowly moving the treats closer and closer.

5. Introduce another dog

With Turbo, we could tell by the way he would interact with the other dogs behind the fences that he was not dog aggressive so a neighbor brought out his dog and just sat on the porch with him. Be very careful with this situation and never introduce a dog much smaller than the stray. Turbo immediately started wagging his tail and the other dog play-bowed. This was a great sign.

This is what enabled us to catch Turbo (and a couple other strays I have caught). When he was playing with the other dog, he was not as worried about my every move anymore and I was able to slowly loop my long lead around him and before he knew it he was in my care.

6. Try to lure the dog into a backyard

Or garage, house, etc. If neighbors are around and witnessing, ask them if you can try to corral the dog into their backyard. Again, you have to be careful here because you don’t want to corner a dog and scare them but at least this gives you a safe area to build up trust with the dog.

Once we did finally catch Turbo, he was still scared and tried to back out of his collar a couple times but luckily we had him on a lead that was cinched so he was unable to escape. I kept treating him along the way – beginning by just throwing them on the ground because he still didn’t have the trust to take them directly from my hand – plus you want to be careful with a new dog as you never know how they’ll act.

7. Move the dog away from traffic

In our case, we were near a very busy street. Turbo was obviously afraid of strangers, cars, etc. We used this to our advantage and walked a large circle around him, up toward the street and he naturally ran down the less-busy residential street which was our goal. From there, I worked on building up my trust with him.

If you’ve tried everything you know and are unable to catch the dog and you know the dog has been hanging out in the same area for several days, consider contacting a local rescue or shelter and setting up a live trap. Set out food and water and leave the area – if the dog is staying in this area, chances are he’s up roaming a bit but staying in the same general proximity and you don’t want to scare him out.

Other good resources: Lost Dogs MN

Have any tips you’d like to add? Share in the comments below!

April 22, 2015June 16, 2015

Soggy Doggy Super Shammy

When I was contacted to do a review about Soggy Doggy’s new Super Shammy I was pumped because we already have a Soggy Doggy “doormat” which is conveniently in the back of our SUV. Needless to say, we love it.

I’ll be honest, the only thing keeping me from getting one sooner was the price – they are a little on the steep side (or so I thought) and it wasn’t until we received our Chuck & Don’s bucks that I bought one. And I wish I would’ve sooner. The mat itself is about a year old and looks brand new. None of the little things have came out, got snagged, or anything like you’d see on a cheap substitute rug. You pay for what you get and this mat is worth every penny.

But we’re here to talk about this shammy – a newer product of theirs.

Anyone else get this look when you whisper the word bath and get out the shampoo?

Sorry, Lola. You’re cute, but I’ve gotta try out this new shammy.

This shammy works much better than a traditional towel. It dried both Lola and Rio. And I can tell you it holds a ton of water because it was quite heavy after both dogs were dried.

The main difference I noticed was how dry the dogs were after using the Soggy Doggy Shammy. Usually it takes a while after patting them off with a regular towel for them to dry completely but not with this!

Tip: these also work great to clean off wet and muddy paws (when your mat is being used in the back of your car).

Now, please let me entertain you with adorable pics of these two hams:

You’ve probably figured this out, but I’m pretty particular about my dog products and you won’t see something on this site that I don’t support or believe is a good product. Just thought I’d throw that out there.

You have to check out the Soggy Doggy story. My favorite part:

“The true story of the Soggy Doggy Doormat. Four un-trainable children, one messy dog, and a simple idea.”

Enough said.

Now, I need another doormat to actually place by the back door. Enjoy this special discount below for our readers!

Enter the code LOLA15 and receive a 15% discount through June 15th on Soggy Doggy!

Details on the shammy:

Size: 31 x 14″
Quick drying & odor free
Convenient hand pockets
One size dries all
Machine wash & dry

April 6, 2015April 18, 2015

Gold Paw Fleece Jacket Review

I think I’ve found my favorite dog jacket, ever. And I’ve got a good assortment to compare it to.

The first time I saw a Gold Paw dog jacket was in a Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet. And because I have to touch pretty much everything I see in any store, the first thing I noticed about the Gold Paw fleece was how dang soft it was! Seriously, even my own fleece jacket has nothin’ on Lola’s…

Isn’t the sunflower color stunning? As you can tell, I’m on a yellow kick. The collar, the jacket…

Did I mention we’re giving one of these away? Keep reading. But first – why you need this Gold Paw fleece dog jacket in your life:

Fits like a glove (we used Gold Paw’s measuring guide and it was extremely accurate)
Super soft (do they make these for people, I think I need a jacket, too)
Comes in a variety of sizes. Including medium-dog sizes which always seems hard to fit. Gold Paw offers a range of 13 sizes from Chihuahua to Great Dane (and even custom sizing).
The fleece does not bead-up after washing. You know how it goes. It looks good for the first couple wears, then starts getting tiny little balls of fabric that build up and you’re constantly “plucking” them off.
Stretches without losing its shape
Easy to put on and pull off
Warm and stylish without being over-the-top
Made in the USA

You have my word! Gold Paw Series’ Stretch Fleece is an awesome year-round popover jacket. Especially in Colorado. All last week it was 70 degrees. And yesterday? It snowed. Hence why we broke out this jacket!

About Gold Paw Series

Founded in 2006, Gold Paw Series is a family-run dog-wear company dedicated to improving the lives of dogs and their owners with thoughtful, practical solutions to everyday problems. All of their products are proudly sewn in the USA, which is also where many of the materials are sourced.

The company is also firmly committed to finding new ways to reduce the impact of products on the environment, from raising the percentage of recycled materials in their textiles to using biodegradable packaging. But delivering exceptional customer service is where the company really shines. Gold Paw Series is so confident of the quality of their products, they offer free repairs for life. Check ’em out! GoldPawSeries.com.

What do you say? Let’s win one of these!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

April 4, 2015April 18, 2015

Dog Fighting Awareness Day 2015

The very thought that dog fighting is going on in my city, your city, and everywhere around us is downright scary and makes me sick to my stomach. Something needs to change. We need to help these innocent dogs that have no choice. Harsher penalties for those involved need to be in place. That’s why once again we’re taking part in National Dog Fighting Awareness Day (NDFAD) to spread the word and build awareness. Join us on Wednesday, April 8 and use the hashtag #NDFAD and #GetTough.

4 simple ways to get involved?

Read our article on ways that you can help stop, recognize and report dog fighting
Download a #GetTough on dog fighting toolkit which includes a printable sign, Facebook & Twitter cover image, and digital shareables.
Take a photo with the #GetTough on dog fighting sign and post on social media.
Ask the Department of Justice to #GetTough on dog fighters by creating harsher sentencing guidelines!

According to the ASPCA, law enforcement has divided the most common types of dog fighting into three categories: street fighting, hobbyist fighting and professional dog-fighting:

Street fighters engage in dog fights that are informal street corner, back alley and playground activities.
Hobbyist fighters are more organized, with one or more dogs participating in several organized fights a year as a sideline for both entertainment and to attempt to supplement income.
Professional dog-fighters often have large numbers of animals (50+) and earn money from breeding, selling and fighting dogs at a central location and on the road.

– Not all dog fighters treat their dogs the same; street fighters may starve their dogs to increase aggression, unlike many professional fighters who invest a lot of time and money in conditioning their animals. The dogs are commonly given quality nutrition, steroids and muscle supplements. Narcotic drugs are also commonly used to increase aggression and mask pain or fear during a fight.

Join us and help spread the word. Follow us on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

April 1, 2015April 18, 2015

My Pittied Life: March

The months are flying by; I can hardly believe it’s been two months since we moved. I also didn’t realize how much I had missed Colorado…it’s so good to be back home. The dogs are completely settled into their routine and so are their humans.

Did you read my post on Tips for Moving with Dogs? Check it out!

Let’s see. What the heck did we do this month?

Hiking the Poudre River

The second week of March we went up to the Dunraven Trail by the Poudre River with my dad and step-mom. The dogs had a blast and although the trails were still snow-covered, it was 70 degrees and we put in a five or-so mile hike. An added bonus? The dogs were able to play in the river and were both crashed out before we hit the main road back to town.

The Flyball Adventure Continues

A different environment. Different trainers. Plus a different team. But Lola is settling in and the training continues. She challenges me at times (okay, most of the time) but we’re making progress. A lot of her success falls back on me, I truly need to take more time during the week to train, train, train and work on her issues. A never ending process.

Exploring Northern Colorado

I’m seriously in love with Colorado and I think I’ve convinced the dogs and boy that I was not exaggerating when bragging about the weather. We’ve had more 70-degree days than not. Plus, we live about a half mile from a beautiful paved trail that covers about 20 miles of countryside and growing towns. Biking, jogging, taking the dogs for walks – you name it. Plus, right off the trail is a large dog park which we’ve made a few pit stops for on our walks. This trail alone is helping the dogs get into tip-top shape, not to mention myself.

Lola the Pitty is a “Pet Blog to Watch”!

We we’re honored and thrilled when Victoria Stilwell listed us as one of the top 10 Pet Blogs to Watch! It’s so much fun to watch my blog grow and meet new friends along the way. So if you’re reading this – thank you. It means a lot to us.

Dog Collar Stands

If you didn’t know this, my dad is an extremely talented woodworker. And I am extremely good at giving him ideas of things to make. Including this collar stand for one of the other things I’m really good at: collecting dog collars. Check ’em out on our Etsy shop!

Until next month…