2015 Holiday Gift Guide: Sleepypod Cloudpuff Blanket

Greetings! We hope you and your families had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

It's getting chilly here in So-Cal (okay, so it's in the 60s…), which is why we are EXTRA grateful for Sleepypod's new Cloudpuff Blanket and it is a MUST-HAVE for our 2015 Holiday Gift Guide!

Featuring one super-soft and fluffy side and a micro-suede backing, the Cloudpuff comes in two shades of brown and two sizes (medium and large). The medium is definitely sized for smaller dogs, and it fits very comfortably inside of our Sleepypod Air.  It did not take up too much space when laid flat on the bottom, and we also really liked how it could be easily folded up to double as a bolster or pillow.

While the Cloudpuff is intended as a travel accessory, we've also been bringing it with us to pilates (yes, Paddington comes with us to pilates…), as a cozy place for Paddy to sit and do her yoga stretches.  Our pilates studio has hard wood floors, and the micro suede side of the blanket prevents it from slipping around which is nice.

The Cloudpuff is also surprisingly easy to clean: we put ours in the washer on the hand wash cycle and then air-dried it, and it came out looking and feeling like new!

With the holidays right around the corner, this would make the perfect present for any road warrior pooch in your life. Available now from Sleepypod's website for $29.99.



Disclaimer: We received this item in exchange for a fair and honest review. For more information about our review policy, please visit our disclaimer page.

Pet Holiday Travel Packing List 2015

Like many folks, we are hitting the road this holiday and venturing cross-country to celebrate Thanksgiving with family. Since Paddington will be joining us (of course!), we wanted to share you our favorite travel must-haves and packing list. 

1. Pet Carrier. An airline approved travel carrier. We are HUGE fans of the Sleepypod Air. We also own a Sleepypod Atom, which we prefer for shorter trips, but since we'll be taking a long plane ride want to make sure Paddy has more space to stretch out. You can read our review of both carriers here. 
2. Travel Blanket. While Paddy actually doesn't mind traveling in the Sleepypod without any extra padding, since we're headed to colder climates, we're definitely going to be including the Sleepypod Cloudpuff Blanket, which is a new product for the brand. Our full travel review will follow, but we love that it is compact, snuggly, and the perfect size to put inside of our Air. 
3. Travel dish. Though you'll have to purchase water AFTER security and you'll probably want to limit your pup's snacks and drinks while in transit, a travel bowl is very handy. We love this collapsable bowl from Good2Go, which we picked up at our local Petco. 
4. SNACKS! We always try to pick in-flight travel snacks that will not leave Paddy searching for water, so nothing too salty and no chews. This trip we're packing the Zuke's Mini Naturals Pumpkin treats we recently reviewed (obviously, it being Thanksgiving and all), and these I Love and You Venison and Lamb bites. Love that both packages are re-sealable and can pack pretty flat. Don't forget to also pack enough of your dog's regular food for when you get to your destination! 
5. Wipes. Messes can happen. We received these little travel-sized wipes in a Barkbox and love that we can attach them onto Paddy's carrier for easy access. 
6. "Quiet Toys" - Normally we try to pick something that is not fluff-filled or going to disturb our in-flight neighbors. While Paddy doesn't typically play with them while in transit, she'll often use one as a pillow and I think likes to have something familiar with her on the road. We picked up this cute Thanksgiving themed toy from the Barkbox Shop though I think it is now sold out.
7. Leash, harness + poop bags. The basics, obviously. When you take your dog out of their carrier to go through security, it's a good idea to have them leashed just in case. We typically un-harness and un-leash for the actual flight itself (since she's in her carrier), but you're definitely going to need all of these accessories when you walk pre and post flight. 

Hope this packing list is helpful-- safe travels this holiday season!

Did we forget anything? What is in your dog's travel bag? 



Disclaimer: We received some items mentioned in this post for the purpose of review. For more information regarding our review/sample policy, please visit our disclaimer page.

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 :)

Pet Travel Tips 2014

This is how we roll: Sleepypod Air and Found My Dog Leash

It seems like more and more dogs are flying the friendly skies these days! Paddy is now officially a member of the canine jet-set and done the cross-country trip twice! Traveling with your pooch for the first time can be a bit harrowing, so we thought we'd share a few tips in the hopes that they'll be helpful for others.

- An airline friendly, comfy carrier is a must. We absolutely swear by our Sleepypod Air (you can find our review here). Not only does it provide excellent ventilation and visibility, but it also comfortably fits under the seat in front of you, even if you're stuck in a middle seat (sighhh). Because Paddy is only around 6.5 lbs, there is also ample room for her to move, stretch and sprawl. The Sleepypod also comfortably fits over the handle of a rolling suitcase, which is extra handy when you're juggling tickets, bags and an ID at the airport.

- Lookup your airport's pet relief areas in advance. We went all 1990's and even printed them out. Seriously, so clutch.

- Lookup your airline's pet restrictions/rules/regulations. Fact: if you are flying first class on planes with lie-flat seats, your dog CANNOT sit next to you. This may cause both you and your pup anxiety… thus it's a good idea to check this out in advance.

- Make a reservation for your pet. Most airlines require you to call in advance and make a reservation for your pet as there is a limit to the number of animals allowed in the cabin.

- Treats. We selected some of Paddy's favorites to keep her happy on the journey, just make sure to choose something that does not create a huge mess, or generate a lot of thirst.

- Hydrate. While guzzling water before a 6 hour flight is probably not a great idea, make sure to pack a little travel bowl to help keep your pup comfortable.

- Wipes, extra bags, etc. We filled a giant ziplock with extras/backups of things that we may need in case we got delayed. Keep it in your carry on bag.

- Toys and Blanket. The floor of the plane can sometimes get a bit cool, especially if the plane is blasting AC. We packed a little hoodie for Paddy along with one of her favorite blankets, as well as her toy bunny (which she used as a pillow, no joke). Things that smell nice and familiar can be soothing :)

And finally, it never hurts to talk to your vet. If you are nervous about your dog traveling for the first time, or know that they're not fans of the road, your vet may be able to help prescribe something to keep them calm.

How often do you hit the road with your pooch?