Who Cleaned Up at #SimpleSolution Twitter Party!

We had so much fun at today's Event Barkers #SimpleSolution Twitter party, full of great cleaning tips for pet parents and prizes from Simple Solution! We co-hosted the event along with DogTipper and CatTipper, and if you missed it, we've got some great ways you can still take advantage of all the great info that was shared!

During the party, we shared a 40 percent off coupon code that’s valid only through Thursday! Use coupon code SpringClean40 for 40 percent off AND free shipping! The coupon expires at 12:30 pm ET on Thursday so shop SimpleSolution.com now!


We also shared a great new e-book from Simple Solution that we think we solve many of your special cleaning problems in your pet household. Be sure to download your free copy of “Top Tips for Getting Tough on Pet Stains and Odors: A Step by Step Guide to Cleaning Tough Pet Messes” — and get your spring cleaning started!

Rocco gives Simple Solution a high paw!

Rocco says, "Simple Solution makes clean up fast so you can enjoy more time outside!"

List of #SimpleSolution Winners

Congratulations to all our winners! Simple Solution will be shipping the prize packs to you directly. Happy spring cleaning, everyone!

• Pre-party winner: @MariasMusings
• Prize 1 winner: @abbynaverysmom
• Prize 2 winner: @Middlefairy
• Prize 3 winner: @joell51868 
• Prize 4 winner: @LoriLeal1
• Prize 5 winner: @coralrae21
• Grand prize winner: @ESSEXMA

This party was sponsored by Simple Solution. All prizes will be fulfilled and shipped by Simple Solution.

Upcycle and Sleep in Style With Molly Mutt Pet Beds & Giveaway

Rocco looks great on his Molly Mutt duvet cover

What's cuter than a sleeping dog? A sleeping dog on an adorable dog bed!

And what's even better than that? An eco-friendly dog bed duvet that allows you to upcycle your old things while easily changing the look and feel of your dog beds to suit your design tastes of the day!

I'll admit, I'm a dog bed fanatic. It's hard to pass up a new bed with a cute design that will look perfect in (name the room/corner of the house).

But what if you could buy machine washable duvets and simply cover your old dog beds? Or better yet, stuff your old things into the duvet to give your pup that comforting, familiar smell... of you! 

One of the adorable Molly Mutt duvet patterns

I think duvet covers for dog beds are brilliant. So when we discovered Molly Mutt, makers of quality, washable duvet covers for pet beds, we were all over it! 

We had the chance to try out a Molly Mutt duvet cover in this adorable plaid pattern. There are so many cute patterns we had a hard time choosing just one. But what's great is that at $19 (for the small size duvet that Rocco is reclining on) you can get multiple covers. While one's in the wash, you'll always have a fresh one handy!

Rocco strikes a pose and has plenty of room on the small Molly Mutt duvet cover

What's all this about upcycling?

Molly Mutt's bedding business is built on the concept of upcycling -- using fabrics from around your home to fill the beds, thus saving them from the landfill. 

Upcycling is about giving new life to your useless or unwanted items with no additional energy required. And because you are repurposing your items rather than discarding them (or even recycling them), upcycling ultimately means reduced air pollution, water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and costs associated with recycling and landfill management.

You can read more about upcycling on the Molly Mutt blog.

What we love about Molly Mutt

In addition to the eco-friendly benefits, we love how easy it is to transform any old thing laying around the house into an adorable pet bed with Molly Mutt.

The Molly Mutt duvet covers are machine washable and of course so is the stuffing when you fill it with your own machine washable items. 

You can find lots of cute accessories at Molly Mutt, too, like this pillow pack that can be added on to any dog bed. 

Check out the crate covers and collars and leashes too. We love all the designs!

Win a Molly Mutt Duvet and Pillow Kit Combo!

Enter via the giveaway widget below for a chance to win a Molly Mutt Pillow Pack Kit!  This includes a duvet cover in the size and design of your choice,  a stuff sack and pillow pack! 

All you need to do to enter the giveaway is enter your name and email on the giveaway widget below. Then follow the instructions to tell us in the comments below about the Molly Mutt pattern that best fits your dog's personality.  In the giveaway widget, you'll find more ways to earn even more chances to win. 

Good luck!

This giveaway is sponsored by and will be fulfilled by Molly Mutt. All opinions expressed herein are our own.

Entry-Form

Enjoy Your Spring With These New Time-Saving Pet Products #PetTales

We'd rather be out hiking than cleaning!

This post is sponsored by the Bramton Company, a division of RPG Innovations. I am being compensated for spreading the word about new products launched at Global Pet Expo, but To Dog With Love only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Now that it's officially spring, we'd much rather spend our time outside. So we need pet-care and cleaning products that are simple to use and give us more time to enjoy the great outdoors.

RPG Innovations,  which includes the OUT! Pet Care, Simple Solution and Vet’s Best brands, recently introduced a new lineup of products that we think are perfect to have on hand for any pet home.

Check these out!

Keep it Clean with Simple Solution

No matter what cleaning challenges you face, Simple Solution has four new stain and odor products to meet every type of pet-related cleaning need, including those nasty hard-to-remove lingering odors.

• Simple Solution Urine Destroyer Stain & Odor Remover breaks down urine proteins hidden in carpets to permanently remove urine smells and stains, helping to prevent repeat markings and neutralize tough odors fast.
  
• Simple Solution Spring Breeze Extreme Stain & Odor Remover. Three times more
  concentrated than the original, the stain and odor remover harnesses a unique blend of Pro- Bacteria and enzymes to organically remove the toughest pet messes while also removing odors, leaving rooms smelling of the new scent, Spring Breeze.
  
• Orange Oxy Charged Stain & Odor Remover. The triple-Oxy formula quickly removes the toughest stains, such as feces, blood, vomit, grass and wine and Orange power leaves the room/area smelling fresh and clean.
  
• Simple Solution Disinfectant Stain & Odor Remover disinfects as it cleans and kills 99.9% of germs: Escherichia Coli, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, and A H1N1 virus.

All Simple Solution products are safe for use around pets and children and are safe to use on carpets, upholstery, hard surfaces, cement and other water-safe surfaces.

The new Simple Solution Urine Destroyer Stain & Odor Remover, Extreme Spring Breeze Stain & Odor Remover and Orange Oxy Charged Stain & Odor Remover are available now at PetSmart and online at www.SimpleSolution.com. The new Simple Solution Disinfectant Stain & Odor Remover will be available at independent pet stores later this year. 


Keep it Dry With OUT! Dog Pads



We like to keep a supply of dog pads on hand, in case of emergency (like a bad thunderstorm that keeps us inside) and they're also a staple for us when puppies are in the house! 

OUT! Pet Care has introduced new  Heavy Duty Quilted Dog Pads, which are 50 percent stronger and 25 percent more absorbent – and the XXL size is 75 percent larger – than regular pads. OUT! also has redesigned its best-selling Odor Control Quilted Dog Pads.

Both pads offer triple protection against leaks, quicker absorption, advanced odor control and include an advanced dog attractant to help train pets where to go potty. 

And, if you have a dog who like to shred things, the new, stronger Heavy Duty Quilted Dog Pads help reduce pad tearing and shredding! We sure needed those when Rocco was a young pup.

OUT! Odor Control Quilted Dog Pads and OUT! Heavy Duty Quilted Dog Pads are available now at Walmart and online at www.OutPetCare.com. 

Keep it Heathy with Vet's Best Soft Chews

Now that you've saved time on spring cleanup, you'll have more time to play with your pups! Vet's Best has a new line of seven health supplements for dogs with simple, once-a-day dosage to make it easy to give your pup the right health supplements for their specific needs.

• Advanced Hip & Joint Soft Chews offer advanced support for healthy joint function and mobility
  in older dogs. Ingredients include Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM and Boswellia.
  
• Proactive Hip & Joint Soft Chews offer proactive support for joint, cartilage and connective
  tissue health. The chews are rich in Glucosamine, Perna Canaliculus, MSM and Hyaluronic Acid.
  
• Comfort Calm Soft Chews help reduce the effects of normal environmental stress, supports
  balanced behavior, and promotes relaxation. The chews are formulated with a soothing blend of Tryptophan, Thiamine, Valerian Root and Chamomile, plus Ginger Root to help manage motion sickness and stomach discomfort.
  
• Multivitamin Soft Chews offer balanced daily multi-vitamin and mineral support for optimal health and well-being. Formulated with 20 synergistic nutrients.
  
• Probiotics Soft Chews offer proactive support and maintenance for digestive system health and balance. Each chew contains 1.5 billion colony forming units with active cultures of six strains of bacteria.
  
• Seasonal Allergy Soft Chews for skin-related concerns associated with seasonal allergies. Contains Nettle Leaf, Quercetin, Perilla Leaf Extract, Biotin and Vitamin E.
  
• Skin & Coat Soft Chews contain essential fatty acids to maintain normal skin moisture and a soft, shiny coat. The chews are rich in omega fatty acids, minerals and antioxidants. 

The new line of Vet’s Best Soft Chews health supplements for dogs will be available online in April at www.vetsbest.com and in independent pet stores later this summer. 

For more information: 

Visit the Live the Pet Life blog

Follow on Twitter

• OUT! Pet Care
• Vet’s  Best
• Simple Solution

Back-to-School Tips for a Happy Pet

Rocco and his pal Sophie had plenty of fun times this summer

This post is sponsored by Purina. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about 
the Purina Back-to-School program and tips from Dr. Kurt Venator, but To Dog With Love only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Now that summer is winding down, many of us will be changing our routines. No more summer hours at work or summer vacations. Kids are back in school and soon the days will be (sadly) getting shorter. 

You may not realize it, but pets are deeply affected by changes in routine. Pets may feel lonely or experience separation anxiety as the kids head back to school and household activity levels change. 

We recently had the chance to chat with Purina veterinarian Dr. Kurt Venator about the signs of separation anxiety in pets and what you can do about it.

Dr. Kurt spoke with us and a few of our blogger pals on a recent Google hangout

The Signs of Separation Anxiety in Pets

Dr. Venator says that separation anxiety in pets is more common than you may think. 

"Separation anxiety is one of the more common conditions we see in pets," says Venator. "The pet is having distress due to the fact that their family members have separated from them for a period of time.  Some studies have shown up to 20 percent of the 80 million dogs in the U.S. can suffer from separation anxiety."

Common symptoms or behavior that may indicate separation anxiety

1. Improper urination or defection in the home
2. Excessive barking or howling
3. Excessive chewing or destructive behavior
4. Change in appetite
5. Pacing

While these are common indicators of separation anxiety, if you notice these changes in behavior and are unsure about them, talk to your veterinarian as it may be a sign of a medical issue. 

5 Tips to Address Separation Anxiety during Back-to-School Season

Dr. Venator offers these tips to help keep your pets happy during back-to-school season.

Get your pet into a routine

Pets love routine because it makes them feel secure. During the summer, kids are always around to make things entertaining and exciting for their pets. When they suddenly disappear, some cats and dogs will feel sad and confused while others may experience real separation anxiety.

Thus, it’s important that pet owners help get their pet acclimated to the change by replacing the old schedule with a new one, such as allocating time to play with them after work or keeping a consistent schedule when coming and going from the house.   

Burn off some energy

Some pets deal with separation anxiety by becoming destructive (e.g. howling, chewing on objects or other parts of the house). A great way to keep your dog from doing this is by taking them on a walk in the morning before you leave the house to help burn off some of that extra energy. For cats, consider playing with them at night as well – whether it’s making them chase a feather wand or play with a ball.  

Create an interactive environment

Back-to-school season is a great time to buy your pet a new, interactive toy to play with. This will help mentally stimulate them and keep them occupied during the day when the kids are away at school. For dogs, chew toys are a way for them to relieve their anxiety, frustration and boredom.

For cats, creating a play area where they can be entertained even when you’re not home, can help ease the separation anxiety. This can include having things like scratching posts or cat furniture in your home. 

Turn up the tunes and start with baby steps

Try leaving some soothing music on at your home while everyone is out of the house. The music will help drown out distracting noises that your dog may mistakenly associate with the kids coming home. 

Additionally, get your pets comfortable with noises that may indicate your departure. For example, jingle your car keys occasionally and practice opening and closing the door to get them accustomed to noises that could increase anxiety.

Spend time with your pet

And, by spend some time, Dr. Venator says to spend some quality time with your pet. Don't just pat them on the head when you come home from work. Remember, your pet's been home alone waiting for you all day. Get down on the floor and really play with them! Or take your pup out for a walk. It'll be good for both of you!

For more information, visit www.petcentric.com

First Look: Healthy Pet Simply Feed from PetSafe

We've been talking a lot lately about the steps you can take to make sure your pet is a healthy weight.  And with more than half the dogs and cats in the country classified as obese or overweight, healthy eating -- and in the correct amount -- is an important topic.

Paint your Pet at Painting With a Twist in Atlanta, and Nationwide

Good times at Painting with a Twist! 

I am not an artist.

I have no drawing abilities whatsoever.

So when I heard about Painting with a Twist, a new place in Atlanta where you and your friends get together to paint, drink wine and have a fun night out, I was intrigued... and yes, a wee bit nervous.

Jane Lynch, ASPCA and Febreze Join to Tackle Noseblindness

Does your house smell?

Have you  ever walked into someone else's house and you could smell the distinct odor of... oh... wet dog, or maybe something worse and indescribable?

Or, what really gets me... have you ever gotten into a friend's car and it smell's so bad you want to gag?!

The thing is, your friends (or you!) may not even be aware they suffer from...

NOSEBLINDNESS! 

It's a condition (and an epidemic, I hear) that occurs naturally over time when a person becomes accustomed to surrounding smells, whether it's a dog bed or kitty litter box, and can no longer detect those odors -- but their guests can.

Fido's Freebie Friday Goes #Noseblind!

Jane Lynch, non-smelly Rocco and me!

This week Rocco and I had the chance to take a quick trip to NYC to meet up with the folks at Febreze, the ASPCA and actress Jane Lynch to learn about noseblindness and how this nasty condition can be treated!

Nose blindness is a condition where you become accustomed to the smells in your home and you don't smell them anymore. Uh oh! If you notice your houseguests wrinkling up their noses, you might just be noseblind!

We'll tell you more about our trip in a future post, but what we will tell you now is that if you're concerned your house or car smells and you don't even know it, Febreze has products that can help you out AND they meet the standards for inclusion on the ASPCA's Pet Friendly Living products list.

Jane Lynch with members of the ASPCA and adoptable dogs

And, to take it a step further, Febreze is joining up with the ASPCA to help support and spread the word about pet adoption. To help new pet owners get guest ready, Febreze will be distributing Noseblind Prevention Kits to pet adopters through participating shelters in ASPCA partner communities nationwide.

We had a terrific time meeting with the folks at Febreze and the ASPCA and I can tell you that Jane Lynch is NOTHING like Sue Sylvester! She's absolutely lovely AND a huge pet person!

Now let's get to Fido's Freebie Friday (FFF), the weekly giveaway blog hop for all things pet!

While you're sniffing out your own home and determining whether you might be noseblind, take time out to check out the Fido's Freebie Friday Blog Hop! You'll find all sorts of goodies in the giveaways listed below. You can enter them all or add your own! We make it easy by linking them up all in one place.

Here's how to participate 

The rules for Fido's Freebie Friday are super simple. Here's all you need to know to link up:

• You have up to 45 characters to describe your prize and include an expiration date
• Fido's Freebie Friday Blog Hop is open to posts with prizes for pet products or services, including pet-related or pet-themed items for owners. Use your specific post url to link up.
• Or simply enter the giveaways that interest you for a chance to win some fabulous prizes!

Fido's Freebie Friday opens each Thursday afternoon for linkups at 4 p.m. ET, and renews each week at the same time with a new listing. Link up anytime during the week!

Your hosts are All Things Dog Blog, DogTipper and To Dog With Love.

Happy (s)hopping!

Individual rules of entry and guidelines for winning may apply to each listing. All Things Dog Blog, Doggies and Stuff, DogTipper and To Dog With Love take no responsibility for the legality of the rules governing the listings on other sites and giveaways that are posted here. We simply provide this forum as a gathering place for pet products to be offered. Fulfillment of each giveaway is done by the blog conducting the giveaway, not by the hosts of this giveaway hop; please contact the giveaway host with any questions regarding a giveaway or giveaway prize.

Solvit Stay-Put Bolstered Furniture Protector Giveaway

Rocco and his pal Nicky give the Solvit Furniture Protector a test run!

Rocco's a dog who like to dig in the dirt, roll in the leaves and then make himself at home on the sofa. He's really not all that dirty ALL the time, but when we saw the Solvit Sta-Put Bolstered Furniture Protector, it looked like the perfect option to help keep our sofa surface free of all the outdoor debris that Rocco drags in.

You Deserve a Neato Robot Vacuum! (& Giveaway) #neatobestpetvacuum

A few weeks back you may remember we told you all about the Neato Robot Vacuum, a really cool way to keep your house clean without ever lifting a finger!

Today we have an equally cool opportunity for you... a chance to win a Neato for your very own! That's like getting your own personal robot to do all your vacuuming for you. How cool is that?

Read all the way to enter for a chance to win a Neato Botvac 85, a $599 value! Wow!

Five Nifty Things That Make Neato Neat-o

1. Neato Robot Vacuums are recognized for their smart navigation, powerful suction, design features and brushes to clean hard to reach spots.
2. They work particularly well for pet hair and dirt across a variety of flooring surfaces.
3. Industry experts have consistently reviewed Neato Robot Vacuums as "Best for Pets".  See what the folks at CNET and DailyTekk have to say.
4. Neato Botvision navigation allows the vacuum to navigate around objects, into tight corners, under beds and across multi-surface areas (from carpet to hardwood). Cool fact: This laser-guided navigation is the same technology used in the Google driverless car.
5. Neato Robot Vacuums are automatic and can be scheduled by time to run daily, have no winding cords and are bagless. Cool fact: Neato Robot Vacuums can pick up dust and dirt particles up to .3 microns, which places them the top tier of performance for ALL vacuums that specialize in allergen and pet cleanup. 

Check out this Shed Solutions Guide

(We bet you'll learn something!)

Did you know that dogs have about 60,000 hairs per square inch and cats have 130,000 hairs per square inch? Even for a small pet that doesn't shed much, that's an awful lot of hair to keep up with. So the nice folks at Neato have made this handy Shed Solutions Guide available to you.  See if your dog or cat is one of the "notorious shedders" and find out what you can do about it!

Enter to Win a Neato Botvac 85 vacuum!

Here's your chance to win a Neato Botvac 85, valued at $599! The sweepstakes closes December 2, 2014 at 9 p.m.  EST.  Enter by adding your name and email address to the giveaway widget below. 

Then, tell us in the comments below why you deserve a Neato for the holidays! 

Good luck!

Want to learn more about Neato? Join #BlogPawsChat on Twitter on 12/2 from 8 - 10 p.m. ET to chat with the folks at Neato!

Live Like the Jetsons! #Neatobestpetvacuum

For some reason, when I'm short on time and my house is a mess, my thoughts turn to the Jetsons.

Remember Rosie the Robot? Remember the push button technology for just about everything on the Jetsons?

We might pass on the treadmill that George and Astro exercised on (only because it looked a little scary!), but we sure would like our own robot to clean up the mess!

We think Neato Robot Vacuums might be on to something!

Who me?

If you have furry pets in your home, you know how those dust bunnies can collect and multiply. Pretty soon the hair and debris is taking over your home and only the smartest robot will know how to take care of that mess!

Take a look at the Neato Botvac… you have to see it to believe it! So smart and so easy!

Here's why we think we need a Neato Robot Vacuum:

1. It's automatic and can be scheduled to run daily at a specific time with no cords and no bag (sounds like magic!)
2. Smart laser-guided navigation allows it to maneuver around objects, into tight corners, under beds (yay!) and from carpet to hardwood (perfect!)
3. The reviews for the Neato Botvac are glowing; read what the folks at CNET and DailyTekk have to say about it being "Best for Pets" and particularly good at tackling pet hair and backyard soil (we need one NOW!)
4. Sounds like it will save LOTS of time and has serious suction power for debris that a long-haired dog like Rocco drags in daily

Don't let this angelic face and the clean floors fool you. The leaves, dirt and dust bunnies will take over if we're not careful!

Want to win one of these brainy vacs for yourself? Read on! 

Coming soon, you'll have the chance to win a Neato Botvac 85  for your very own (MSRP $599) in the Neato Best for Pets Sweepstakes! Come back on Nov. 21 when we'll have more details. 

In the meantime, check out the Neato Pet Shedding guide and check out how your shedder stacks up!

because you can't keep your pet in a box forever…

Tell us why you need a Neato Botvac in the comments below!

DIY Dog Toys: How to Make a Rope Tug Toy #Paw2014

Today's post is inspired by Tractor Supply and its PAW in-store event, which is going on NOW through September 20!

PAW stands for Pet Appreciation Week and we love that Tractor Supply is dedicating this week to special in-store events that all culminate with a Main Event on September 20, featuring pet adoptions, giveaways, special deals on pet supplies and more!

What's REALLY cool, is that all year round the folks at Tractor Supply are involved in the well-being of all the animals in their neighborhoods.

And since you can always pick up the supplies you need at a great price, we went on a hunt at Tractor Supply to find the perfect supplies for a fun and inexpensive DIY dog toy project… one that we can use at home AND that we can share with local shelter pets to help enrich their lives.

How To Make a Simple Rope Tug Toy

Supplies you'll need

• Nylon braided rope (we found ours in the bargain bin at Tractor Supply for even more cost savings)
• Scissors
• Tape
• Optional: x-small tennis balls (we used Kong x-small squeaky balls from Tractor Supply)

Step 1 -- prepare your rope

Cut your rope to a 10-foot length. Tape the ends of the rope so that is doesn't fray while you're working with it.

Step 2 -- make a Monkey's Fist knot

Starting in the middle of the rope, start forming a Monkey's Fist knot.  This is the most difficult part of the project, but I can vouch that it's super easy to learn. I had NO previous knot-typing experience and now that I've learned how to make one, I can make this entire toy in about five minutes!

Start by wrapping three turns around your fingers.

Place the end through the middle, and make three more turns around the first ones.

At this point, you can insert the x-small tennis ball. This will help form the knot but it's not essential.

Make three more turns, passing the rope around the outside of the second set of turns and inside the first set of turns. This will help secure the knot.

Tighten up the knot by pulling the pieces of rope taut throughout the Monkey's Fist.

Here are a couple of links I found quite useful while learning how to tie a Monkey's Fist.
Instructions for tying a Monkey's Fist knot
Video for tying and tightening a Monkey's Fist knot

Step 3 -- braid the ends

Finish the toy by braiding the ends so that both you and your pup will have something to grab onto!

Take the extra rope on one end and loop it up so that there are three pieces to work with.

Start braiding from the top and finish it by looping the rope through the final braid. Repeat on the other end.

Voila! You're done and you have a fun rope toy, perfect for doggie play time.

NOTE: Play time with toys such as this rope toy should always be supervised. It's intended as an interactive toy that you can use to play WITH your dog -- whether it's your dog at home or a toy you provide for the play and enrichment of animal shelters dogs. This toy may not be suitable for dogs who like to eat rope, as ingesting rope can be harmful to your pet.

Take a look at Rocco, enjoying a good game of tug with me!

At Tractor Supply, it's always like a fun scavenger hunt for me, looking for the best items I can use in their bargain bins. The rope I used in this toy was a super find, so I was able to make each of these toys (without the tennis balls) for only 60 cents each! Add the tennis balls and you're still only looking at a price of about $1.90 per toy.

By shopping the dollar deals, we could buy plenty of supplies to make lots of toys
and get a little something extra  for Rocco!

Rocco says he's keeping this one!

In addition to the great assortment of products and great deals, I love shopping at Tractor Supply because Rocco gets to go with me, and the nice folks there give him yummy treats at the checkout counter!

Don't forget to head to your local Tractor Supply this Saturday for the special PAW Main Event! Each store is hosting its own activities so you might want to check the schedule at your local store before you head out.

Happy shopping!

This post is sponsored by Tractor Supply Company and the Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Tractor Supply Company, but To Dog With Love only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Tractor Supply Company is not responsible for the content of this article.