What's In My Bag ☀️ Summer Edition ☀️

Hi Friends!🐾With summer in full swing, it’s the perfect time to make sure you and your pup are fully prepared for all your summer adventures!☀️This summer, my pups and I are going to Colorado to enjoy the beautiful weather and hikes. As a parent with two senior dogs, I’ve always got a bag filled with things that my dogs may need while we’re out on our adventures. If you’re a new pet parent and just got a puppy during the pandemic [also known as pandemic puppies!], or maybe you’re looking for new recommendations, here is a list of products that I’ll be having in my bag for this summer!

PRODUCTS MENTIONED
• My Dog Nose It Sunscreen Body Spray
• Canada Pooch Cooling Vest
• Canada Pooch Cooling Bandana
• Kin & Kind Flea & Tick Spray
• Earth Rated Compostable Wipes

Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! While we talk about how important sunscreen is for our skin, it is just as important for our dogs! My chihuahua, Diego, has a few bald spots on his back due to old age. I initially wasn’t sure how I could protect his skin until I discovered My Dog Nose It Sunscreen! My Dog Nose It! comes in two forms: a body & coat spray and a balm. This sunscreen in both of its containers has UVA/UVB Sun Protection, is non-greasy, not oily, alcohol free, pH balanced, and is made in the United States. The best thing about this sunscreen is I can use it on both of my dogs! This sunscreen is highly recommended for dogs with no coat, low coat, or light colored coats.  My other dog, Zoey, is a Border Collie mix with a majority of her fur being white. I usually apply the sunscreen by spraying it into my hand and rubbing my dogs down before I put on their harnesses to go outside. You can use this on their faces by spraying it directly into your hands and avoiding their eyes! For a more gentle application, you can use the My Dog Nose It Sunscreen Balm for their face. I find it easy enough to simply use the Body + Coat Spray!

After I’ve applied sunscreen on my dogs, I’ll start to put their gear on which includes their collars with their ID tags, their harnesses, and the Canada Pooch Cooling Vest and Cooling Bandana. My dogs need different things due to their size and their activity levels. Diego, my chihuahua, wears the Canada Pooch Cooling Vest, while Zoey, my Border Collie mix, Canada Pooch Cooling Bandana.  Like most parents, I often worry about heat stroke, especially having two seniors. I was skeptical of the Cooling products initially, but now after walking them multiple times in the heart of New York City during peak sun hours, I am confident to say that these products are fantastic! While I recommend minimizing your dog’s time outside during peak sun hours (around 12pm to 3pm), dogs still need to go out for potty breaks and exercise. When using the Cooling Vest and Bandana, I found that I could take my dogs on longer walks before they started panting and signaling to me that it was time to go home. On one of my walks in 90 degree weather, Diego was wearing the Cooling Vest and didn’t even pant. That’s how effective they are! The Canada Pooch Cooling Vest and Canada Pooch Cooling Bandana are also really easy to use. Both products use an evaporation cooling effect, which you can activate by soaking the garments in water. While the instructions recommend wringing both the vest and the bandana, I found that on hotter days, not wringing them out kept my pups cooler for longer! To put the vest on, you simply slip the head hole over your pup’s head and adhere the clips on both sides of your pup’s ribcage. For the bandana, you tie it on like a normal bandana, with the knot being underneath your dog’s chin. You then secure the bandana by utilizing the two clips located at the tips of the bandana. These cooling products are definitely a game changer for the summer!

Once my dogs are prepped and ready to go, I like to spray them down with one last thing...Flea & Tick spray! I am no stranger to pulling ticks off of my dogs - they’re just the worst. It is important to always check your pup for fleas and ticks after coming back from an adventure. Both insects can carry dangerous diseases such as Lyme, which can cause lasting effects and impact your dog’s future. The spray I prefer to use is the Kin & Kind Flea & Tick Repel Spray. Kin & Kind uses plant-based essential oils such as lavender, castor oil, rosemary oil, and peppermint, which discourages fleas and ticks from latching on. All of Kin & Kind’s products are veterinarian tested and formulated, so you can rest assured that these products really work! They’re also cruelty free and their employees are paid a responsible, living wage in their certified USDA organic facility. To use, I generously spray my dogs’ bodies, especially their legs and tails. If you want even more protection, Kin & Kind offers a Flea & Tick Shampoo as well! Just as a warning, you will smell the oils so while you know that it is working, I would not recommend this product if you or your dogs are sensitive to strong smells.I’ve been using the Kin & Kind Flea & Tick spray for two summers now and so far I have not found any fleas or ticks on my dogs, even after long hikes!

After my dogs and I have gone on our adventures, it is important to me to wipe down my dogs! I love usingthe Earth Rated Compostable Wipes.These wipes come in lavender and unscented, and I have to say I really do enjoy the lavender, especially after smelling my dogs after walks.The Earth Rated Compostable Wipesare, as the title suggests, compostable!It is important to note that these wipes are compostable, NOT flushable. Please do not flush these down your toilets!They are also USDA Certified 99% Biobased, hypoallergenic, vegan, and are alcohol, paraben, and sulfate-free, making this a really gentle product for dogs with sensitive skin. These Earth Rated wipes are made with Aloe Vera, Shea butter, chamomile, and cucumber. To use, simply wipe your dog down with a wipe while avoiding their eyes and ears. They are safe for all of the body, especially their paws! These wipes are also safe for cats as well 🐱

And...that’s all I got for you! I feel confident going out with my dogs with these tools in my bag. If you have a pack for your adventures, let me know what products you use and have loved. My pups and I hope you have a safe and happy summer!

For more pictures of the products mentioned or any tutorials,
you can check out our Instagram! 

-----

PRODUCTS MENTIONED
• My Dog Nose It Sunscreen Body Spray
• Canada Pooch Cooling Vest
• Canada Pooch Cooling Bandana
• Kin & Kind Flea & Tick Spray
• Earth Rated Compostable Wipes