Fresh Dog Food Delivery Services Compared

For some reason, we automatically assumed that Lady would not be a picky eater. I mean, after all, she couldn't be pickier than Paddington, right? 😂 Well, it looks like we have one of the fussiest Bernedoodles ever! We've tried almost everything, and so far what works is dry food (Blue Buffalo), and some type of topper/wet food. The funny part is she won't eat the same type of topper more than 1 or 2 days in a row, no matter how hungry she should be.

Since I'd really like to not be preparing three meals at dinner time (husband, kid, and now dog), I've been looking into fresh pet food delivery again. It's been a while since we've explored this an option (oh my gosh, I remember looking into the first "fresh" pet food options like 10 years ago that came frozen like TV dinners), I figured why not take a look at the market.

The great news is that there are TONS of options that have really great looking ingredients and recipes for dogs of all types. The bad news is it's going to cost you a pretty penny. 

We filled out questionnaires for THE FARMER'S DOG, NOM NOM NOW, PET PLATE, and OLLIE just to see what the average cost per meal was going to be for a 48 lb dog of healthy body shape and average energy, and here's the breakdown:

The Farmer's Dog: $64.09 / week
Nom Nom Now: $30.80 / week
Pet Plate: $53.97 / week
Ollie:  $39.33 / week

So on average that is $42.21 / week, which comes to a whopping $2,455 a year.

I did the math out and right now we spend about $800 a year on dog food, so that's a pretty substantial leap. (Lady gets her dry food, topper/wet food, and then fresh healthy veggies/fruit/meat.)

Now, if you wanted to JUST use the fresh food as a topper (which is personally what I think is the best option), only some services seem to offer that. It's still not cheap, but it does seem do-able.

I wasn't able to see what our schedule modification options unless I enrolled for the services, so I'm not sure what customization you can do. I also don't know what the in person quality of this food is like since I'm still on the fence about signing up for a free trial. I guess if Lady really loved it, it might be a worthwhile investment but I'm just not sure if cost-wise it would be sustainable.

We're going to keep investigating, but for the hassle of signing up, trialing, and then modifying our subscription on a regular basis not sure if it is worth it. What has your experience been with fresh pet food delivery services? 

XOXO 

Dog Rocks - did they work for us?

 

So being new to the whole home-owner/having a lawn thing, we never had really given much thought to "burn spots" in the yard. As any seasoned lawn caretaker/dog owner will tell you, dog pee is the instant destroyer of beautiful, green, happy grass 😂 And Paddington, bless her, is not very creative about where she pees - choosing the same poor little patch every time (until she kills it, ha...).

Having spent a fair amount of time cruising the internet for solutions, we stumbled upon Dog Rocks. As per their packaging, the claim that these rocks added to your pet's water source will filter out impurities like tin and nitrates, which cause your dog's urine to be so caustic. Simply add them to your pets' water and let the rocks do their magic.

So... did they work? Well... not so much. Unfortunately after 8 weeks of us, our lawn is not looking any better and we have some new yellow spots. While the rocks never claim to fix dead grass, we were disappointed to see new spots pop up when Paddy moved onto greener areas of the lawn. There is a disclaimer on the package that warns that if your dog has a high protein diet these may not work, so we're curious if that could be what happened in our case.

That said... after we spoke to our lawn care company who recommended the best (and really only) thing you can do for keeping your lawn healthy is to douse the area after your dog pees with fresh water to dilute the urine. Sighhh... of course it couldn't be as easy as just adding rocks to your dog's water.

If you're still interested in checking out Dog Rocks, you can pick them up at your local Petsmart, or websites like Amazon and Chewy.com. They are a little on the pricey side ($27.54 currently on Chewy.com 😱), especially as they need to be replaced every two months.

What do you do to keep your lawn healthy with dogs in the home?

Yup You Stink Shampoo from HOWND!

Image provided by HOWND PR

While Paddington may consider herself a city dog, she has had her fair share of time out in the countryside. There she has discovered all kinds of delicious (i.e. DISGUSTING) smells to roll around in - including, but not limited to deer urine/poop, rakish water/mud, cow poop, and I'm pretty sure other stinky animal byproducts. If you've ever had a dog that has rolled in something gross, you know how next to impossible it is to get it out of their hair no matter how many times you shampoo.

That's why we were so intrigued to get an email about HOWND Yup You Stink Conditioning Dog Shampoo. This all natural product was designed to eliminate truly awful odors like skunk spray or fox poop (which I can only imagine must be really rank). Their formula contains eucalyptus and cedarwood essential oils (naturally flea and insect repelling) as well as argan oil, oatmeal extract and aloe vera leaf juice and contains gentle odor neutralizers.

Originally from the UK, stinky pups in the US can now purchase their products in the US from Amazon. It looks like they also have a wide range of hemp based treats and other goodies include a bowl wash and in-between bath spray!

Since it looks like most of their formulas are cruelty-free and vegan, we're definitely curious to check this one out! What are your favorite ways to get rid of really stinky stenches?

Does your pet eat better than you?

p.s. Almost 13 years old and still killing it! #QueenMorkie

If you are a pet parent and use social media, odds are you've been served up an ad at some point in time for a company that offers home delivery of fresh pet food. From The Farmer's Dog to Nom Nom Now, getting healthy, ready-to-serve meals from your pet is now easier than ever. With recipes that are prepared with human-grade ingredients and less preservatives/artificial stuff, there's no question in our mind that these businesses are ushering in a new area of pet dining!

While we are HUGE fans of serving Paddy food that is less processed, we have yet to find a service that meets our needs. Since she's so tiny, getting weekly or bi-weekly deliveries is a little bit overkill - especially as the portion sizes they recommend are way too much for our 7lb doggy. We did stumble up on Grocery Pup, which offers a la carte 3lb bag options, but we've got to figure out the freezer storage situation first (plus $70 is a lot for 6lbs of food).

Do you have a pet food delivery service that you love? We would love our readers to share any recommendations that they may have.

BARK x Target: Picnic Time Toys & Treats!

 

Spring is soooo close, and we cannot wait for warmer weather! On our most recent Target run we spotted some new seasonal goodies from the folks at Barkbox - check out these awesome picnic themed toys and snacks! 

While Paddy's toybox currently overflow-eth, we were so tempted to pick up the little ants on a leaf and the cheeseboard. Also, make sure to check your local store - most of the display featured buy one, get one 25% off for all marked BARK toys and treats.

 

Seriously, how yummy do the Blueberriest Pie and Charcuterie Board treats sound?! 

Hunt These: Rae Dunn Dog Bowls & Canisters

Here are two of our favorite finds which go perfectly with our Pioneer Woman doggy cookie jar! 

If you're an avid TJ Maxx, HomeGoods or Marshalls shopper, you are probably no stranger to Rae Dunn and her line of iconic white ceramics decorated with large letter writing. While these items rarely last more than a day on the shelves before they are snatched up by "Dunnies," we have had good luck lately finding pieces from her pet line!

Here are tips for how to get your hands on some of these super coveted pieces:

• Head to your store right around opening time.  No joke, there is often a line outside of our stores at 9:30 and we have seen people sprinting to the Rae Dunn section. In good news, the pet themed stuff is normally with the pet accessories (including the pet mugs!), so make sure to hit that area up first!
• Check your local buy/sell/trade sites. Though things are often marked up there, it will give you an idea of what's hitting in your area and if you should be looking out for new things. 
• Swing by the clearance section! While Rae Dunn stuff is super hot right now, the pet things don't seem to be as popular and we've found some good pet bowls marked down.

In addition to cute "Dog Mom and Dad" mugs, we've also managed to find some really cute dishes and canisters for Paddington. And fear not - if you're a cat person, she also offers cat themed mugs and bowls.

Check out the TJMaxx website regularly as sometimes her products show up there, otherwise head to your local store's pet section to see if you can score some of these beauties. Are you a Rae Dunn fan?

Chicken 'n Waffles Treats for Dogs

Who doesn't love chicken and waffles? Maybe you've seen it already, but Post has introduced a Chicken and Waffles flavored cereal! And now even your furry friend can indulge, thanks to new Chickn 'n Waffle Bites treats from Rachael Ray's Nutrish line. Made in the USA, these treats feature USA farm raised chicken and zero gluten, fillers, or artificial flavors/preservatives/colors.

Currently available from Chewy.com for $10.99 for one bag.

While they're probably best sized for medium to larger dogs, we're tempted to pick up a bag and see what they're like! How cute are the little waffle and chicken pieces?

How often do you try new treats for your dog?

For the dog who has everything.... Tiffany Pet Accessories

Stumped when it comes to the perfect present for the dog who has everything? This holiday season Tiffany has introduced some brand new pet presents that are sure to delight your furry friend -- after all, who doesn't love a little blue box under the tree? While these presents are on the $$ side, Tiffany's prices are pretty much on par with what we've seen from Louis Vuitton, Henri Bendel and other luxury shops. Not sure what the in-store availability is, but most of these items are currently in stock on their website.

 If stainless steel isn't going to cut it, these bone china dishes come in small ($125 and currently sold out), and large ($175). The inside features a bone with Tiffany written on it. 

Leashes and collars in Tiffany's colors are sure to get your doggy noticed at the park. Available in small ($200), medium ($225), and large ($250), each collar has the iconic "Please return to Tiffany" hardware. Leashes in small ($275) and large sizes ($300).

What do you think? Splurge or skip?

2015 Holiday Gift Guide: Frontgate Faux Fur Jacket for Dogs

Image via Amazon.com

It's that time of year again... Oprah has just released her holiday gift guide, which this year, includes several picks for the furry friends in your life. While in general we agree with O's taste, we can't decide how we feel about this faux fur jacket for Fido from Frontgate. While Paddington definitely does need a coat when it gets cold outside, we can't decide if it's fabulous for a pet to wear faux fur or not. It does look delightfully cozy, albeit a little odd....

If this piece of pet couture tickles your fancy, it's available with Prime shipping from Amazon for $39. Sizes range from small to XL and the coat is offered in either chinchilla or channeled mink (our personal pick).

What do you think? Would your pet accessorize with a faux fur coat?

Henri Bendel Canine Collection Fall 2015

Henri Bendel has expanded their canine collection and introduced a few new goodies for fall.

The pièce de résistance of the collection is their new Luxury Pet Carrier, which is crafted from Saffiano leather and folds down into a play mat. Featuring a terry cloth pad/cushion, it can hold up to an 11 pound doggy fashionista. (We were a little bit surprised that they went with a terry cloth pad vs. something more plush, like a fleece or sheepskin.)

While it will break the bank at $448 + tax, you can add your own customized monogram, which got us thinking what initials we'd roll with... after all, we've never given much thought to Paddy's middle name... Anyhow. Besides the price, our other concern is weight - while I'm not too familiar with the leather in question, that could make the bag a little on the hefty side to start with without your bestie inside.



On the more budget friendly side ($48), HB also is offering their take on the poop bag holder, "The West 57th Dog Baggie" in pink or black which hides your doggy's bags inside a chic looking pouch. We love the look, but probably not the hassle of having to unsnap the container each time we need a bag. It's also not clear if the roll snaps into anything inside the pouch or if it's just loose, which could spell disaster. (Seriously... who designed this?)

If we were to indulge ourselves in anything from HB's Fall Collection, it would be this Packable Dog Bowl, which folds up into a nice little wallet sized thingy. Though expensive (again $48... that seems to be Henri Bendel's magic number), it is compact and definitely very cute with their trademark brown and white stripes. The outside is leather and the inside bowls are coated canvas. 

What luxuries do you indulge your dog in?

Three Dog Bakery Ice Cream Biscuits!

Three Dog Bakery is known for the indulgent dog treats, and just in time for summer have introduced a new ice cream themed line of biscuits! While they offer tasty flavors like Rocky Road and Mint Carob Chip, the two that caught our eyes are their Cookie Dough Ice Cream and Neapolitan!

The Cookie Dough contains a mix of vanilla and cookie dough flavored wafers, while the Neapolitan includes carob, strawberry and vanilla! Yum!

Also, how cute is the packaging!?

Available now from the Three Dog Bakery website for $7.99 each.

 

Hipster Dogs Rejoice!

Urban Outfitters is now the purveyor of a good number of products for the stylish, yet laid back, canine. While checking out their site, we recently stumbled upon a rather eclectic, and expensive, selection of products for the discerning dog. Though we haven't shopped at Urban Outfitters since our university years, we are definitely excited to see them branch out and curious to see whether they'll continue to expand their offerings.




Does your dog need a tent? Well, you're in luck! Urban Outfitters actually has several dog tent designs for you to choose from. While they will set you back almost two Benjamins - these American-made, handcrafted tents, come in a variety of fabrics, including denim.

Growler Goods Saguaro Dog Tent ($178)

Any camping inclined canine is going to need a coat - fortunately, Urban Outfitters also carries Billy Wolf jackets. Waterproof on one side, these reversible coats are available in several lumberjack friendly patterns. We're particularly partial to the Elliot which definitely screams "Americana."

Billy Wolf Camp Dog Coat ($70)

Mark & Graham Doggy "Business Bags"

Every dog owner has one. Yep. I'm talking about the iconic bone-shaped bag holder. You've probably got one hanging off of your leash, right?

While we've had ours forever (and are oddly, somewhat attached), two things:

One: We frequently drop it on the floor, which I'm pretty sure our downstairs neighbors hate (sorry...)
Two: It's really not the most chic way to tote your bags.... preferably we'd like one that is a little more subtle about its purpose

Fortunately, for the discerning canine and owner duo, Mark & Graham have an introduced a stylish alternative. Their "Business Bag" is crafted from Italian leather and comes in a variety of colors (our favorite is the orange!). Smaller than a medium Milkbone, it easily clips on and off your leash and can be monogrammed (yay!). While it's a little pricier than the plastic alternative ($39), can you really put a price on style? Well... I guess you can, but we think the cost is worth it :)

Plush Luxe Pet Beds

So, how much is too much to spend on a bed for your furry friend? 

We ask this question, because we've got our eye on this super luxe pet bed from Plush. What makes their pet beds different is the "nestable" pillow surface inside that allows Fido to snuggle and adjust everything to his/her liking. (We've all seen our dog do that weird digging/turning/circle thing before settling down for a nap, right?)

Ringing up at $132.95 for the small, it's somewhat of an investment, but we kind of secretly know that Paddy would love it... and we are particularly enamored with the Madeleine, with its sophisticated (but girly) combo of pink and grey.

That said, Paddy has kind of a similar setup now - though by no means as glamorous, which probably cost us less than $20 which seems to be just fine.

I guess our little pup can keep dreaming :)

How much have you spent on your dog's bed? What is the most you would fork out? 

Dog Gift Guide 2014

Stumped on what to get the very deserving pup in your life? Check out Paddy's 2014 holiday wish list for a little inspiration! At this rate, she's going to need a bigger stocking….

For the four-legged foodie: Peppermint Bark Biscuits from Bocce's Bakery

What could be more delicious than a bag of biscuits from Bocce's Bakery? Featuring all of the wholesome ingredients they're known for, and made in small batches, these treats notes of apples, cranberries and of course, peppermint! $9.50 for a bag, $15.50 for a tin, available from Bocce's Bakery's website. 

For the puppy princess: MacKenzie and Childs Ridiculous Pet Bench

The name really says it all. This ultra luxury pet bench features a super soft and fluffy cushion for optimal napping and lounging. $2,975, available from MacKenzie and Childs website. 

For the frequent bather: Gerrard Larriett Aromatherapy Pet Spa Package

Available in delightful scents like Lavender and Chamomile and "Happy Jasmine," this set contains everything you need to create a day at the spa for the pampered pet in your life. Includes Shampoo/Conditioner, an aromatherapy candle, and an in-between bath spray. Available in a variety of scent sets ($39), and as individual products from PupLife.com. 

For the technology hound: FitBark Fitness and Activity Tracker

While it doesn't include a GPS, FitBark is a FitBit for your pet. Track and monitor your pup's fitness and activity, measure their progress and behavior against other similar dogs, and get real-time updates sent to your phone via their mobile app. While it has yet to hit shelves, you can pre-order yours now from FitBark's website for $99. 

For the playful pooch: Walter the Rabbit

 

There are very few toys in the Barkzilla residence that have stuck around for more than a few weeks. Walter the Rabbit is one of the much loved. Though he has since lost his squeaker, his seams have held up during many hours of tug of war and fetch. Walter and his friends are available for $19.99 from Barker and Meowsky.

Travel Tails: Our New Sleepypod Air!

As you can see from the photo on the left, Paddy is SO over this Polar Vortex business. Currently, she is dreaming of palm trees, sunshine and counting down the days until our move. While we have yet to figure out all of the logistics, we DO know how she's going to be getting from coast to coast-- enter the awesome folks at Sleepypod and their awesome Sleepypod Air, Warmer and Yummy Bowl. Can we talk about how gorgeous the packaging is? AND- we are SO into the fact that the Sleepypod stores flat.

Even though our move isn't until later this year, it's looking like Paddy might be taking her 2nd plane trip a little bit sooner… stay tuned! In the meantime, we can't wait to get Paddy acclimated to her Sleepypod and test out the new gear- keep your eyes here for more detailed reviews!



Disclaimer: Sleepypod provided the above mentioned products for the purpose of review. For more information on our review policies, please click here.