I’m so excited to announce we teamed up with Noble Friends to give away one a custom pet portrait beach towel! No matter how you spend your summer, a giant beach towel with your dog’s portrait is sure to brighten your day! Photos courtesy of Alice G Patterson Photography.

These towels are jumbo-sized, (70″ by 35″) which means there will probably be room for you and your best friend.  (If you have a Great Dane, you might need one for you and one for her.)

The beach towels come in a variety of colors and styles, but the best part will be seeing your furry friend on your towel!

If you want to take your pet lover vibe to the next level, Noble Friends also offers flip flops, totes, swimsuits and more.

Enter To Win a Jumbo Custom Pet Portrait  Beach Towel From Noble Friends!

Open to residents of the USA and Canada. Must be 18 years of age to enter. No purchase necessary.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow Noble Friends Shop on Instagram to see the latest pet portraits and products.

About Alice G Patterson Photography:  Based in Syracuse, New York, Alice specializes in dog portraits and the photography needs of small businesswomen.

The post Win A Noble Friends Custom Pet Portrait Beach Towel appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

It is hard to believe that the holidays are almost here!  If you’re anything like me, you might be starting your list just about now.  I’m joining a bunch of awesome pet bloggers to share our ideas for the Four Gift Rule, plus a great giveaway!

If you aren’t familiar with the Four Gift Rule, it was originally intended to help parents keep holiday shopping under control.  Instead of random shopping, parents buy four gifts for a child:   one they want, one they need, one they wear, and one they read.  We’re switching up a bit and created this gift guide for pet parents.

However smart I think my dogs are, I know they would prefer to get something to eat than read.

These are my suggestions:

Want:  CleverPet is a fancy game console for dogs.  The game has 12 levels, each more difficult than the last.  While my dogs haven’t tried this out, it is on my wish list for them!

Get CleverPet for $20 off, use code at checkout: KOLCHAK-20

Wear:  Any dog would look good in a beautifully handmade collar from Mattie + Margot, but this cranberry one just says holiday.   Check out all the available styles on their website.

Need:  Every pet needs a water bowl!  I doubt you can find a cuter water bowl than one with a custom portrait from Noble Friends Shop.

Eat:  If you want to treat your dogs to something delicious and nutritious, switch them to NomNom.  My dogs LOVE this food, and they are thriving on it.

Will you be implementing the Four Gift Rule for your dog this holiday season?

The post 4 Gifts for Pets BlogHop And Giveaway appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

In 2014 PetHub established July as Lost Pet Prevention Month.  Losing a pet is scary for both the humans and often the pets.  Sadly many lost pets never make it back home.  

Here are a few of our strategies to prevent our dogs from getting lost.

Have A Routine When Visitors Arrive

With 3 small dogs, it is hard to keep track of all of them all of the time.  Once we added Theo to the family, we instituted a new routine.  When someone rings the doorbell, all the dogs go in their crates before we open the door.  At first,  I was reluctant to keep my guests waiting, but our dogs’ safety is really important to us.

Other people teach their dog to lie on a mat or bed.   Having a safe spot will cut down on chaos when someone is at the door and minimize the risk of a dog getting lost.

When my sister’s dog Lulu was a puppy, she was staying with friends for a weekend. They had a party and Lulu slipped out unnoticed as guests entered the house.

Photo credit: © Alice G Patterson Photography

Fortunately, a woman at a nearby bus stop noticed that Lulu was hanging around the front yard and rang the doorbell.   She could have easily been stolen or hit by a car.

Secure Fences

My mom and my sister both have strong, secure chain link fences, but they aren’t a good choice for Nelly.  She is small enough that she can squeeze through the gap between the gate and the fence post.   Nelly is always supervised if she is in either of their backyards. 

Fences can develop weak spots over time, check them regularly to make sure your dog can’t get out.   If your dogs love to dig, be on the lookout for holes under the fence.  Dogs can squeeze under the fence if the ground is uneven.

I dislike invisible fences for a number of reasons.  First of all, I don’t like aversive training. Secondly, invisible fences don’t protect against a thief, stray dog, or wildlife. If the power goes out, an invisible fence may no longer work.  Lastly, sometimes the temptation is just too great and a dog will risk the shock to greet someone or chase something.  If that happens, a dog can easily get lost.   Our neighbor relied on his invisible fence for his Boston Terrier.  Unfortunately, he put the dog out during fireworks and the poor little guy ran off.  He never made his way back home.

Teach and Practice A Strong Recall

This is something I am still working on with my dogs.   Jen Gabbard from Puppy Leaks offers these 13 Simple Steps to Improve Your Dog’s Recall.  I’ve had dogs all of my life, and I think everyone should read this post:  Loose Dog?  Don’t Chase! Throughout the years we’ve had the opportunity to try most of them  with good success.   When I was ten, our Yorkie slipped out of her collar at the vet’s office and ran away, towards a busy road.  I grabbed her leash, held it up and yelled, “Polly, do you want to go for a walk?”  Luckily she did!

Microchip and Tag Your Dog

Despite all the precautions, sometimes a dog is lost.   The simplest way to reunite a lost dog  with his family can be a tag with information to get him home again.  PetHub ID has a lot of style options as well a collar with ID information right on it.  

If someone finds your dog they can contact PetHub and help get your pet back home!   They have a 24 hour “Found Pet Hotline” so if someone finds your pet, they will talk to someone who can help in reunite you and your dog.  The premium subscription also notifies you if someone scans the tag as well as alerts shelters in the area that your pet is missing!

Microchips are an important part of keeping your dog safe.   Make sure it is registered and keep your contact information up to date!

We’ve partnered with PetHub to create a terrific giveaway.  One person will win $50 worth of PetHub merchandise (collar and/or tags) and two more people will receive $25 worth of PetHub merchandise.  Open to US residents over 18 years of age.

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway 

The post Lost Pet Prevention Month + A Giveaway from PetHub appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

• Grand Prize: a $300 Amazon Gift Card;

• 2nd Prize: Winner’s choice of ONE PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher ($199.99 value) or ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box ($179.99 value);

• 3rd Prize: Winner’s choice of ONE Sleepypod Harness or Carrier ($69.99 – $189.99 value).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Elizabeth at Chronicles of Cardigan

Amanda at Dog Mom Days

Carol at Fidose of Reality

Kevin & Rachael at My Dog Likes

Christina at The Lazy Pit Bull

Jessica at Beagles and Bargains

Sadie at Her & Her Dogs

Sandra at Dolly the Doxie

Jodi at Kol’s Notes

This contest ends on  Tuesday night, May 3rd, at 11:59pm EST.

One “finalist” will be randomly selected from each of the 10 participating blogs. All of the finalists’ names will go into a drawing, and 3 winners will be randomly selected to receive the prizes listed above. The winners will be announced on our facebook page as well as  The Lazy Pit Bull Facebook page next Friday, Wednesday, May 6th.  Good luck!

About the giveaway:

No purchase necessary. Giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents age 18 and older, except where prohibited by law. Giveaway will run from April 27 through May 3, 2016 at 11:59pm EST. Three (3) winners will be randomly selected and notified via email. Winners will have 48 hours to claim their prizes; failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the prize. Twitter and Pinterest do not sponsor, administer, or endorse this promotion. Participants must read and agree to Rafflecopter’s Privacy Policy before entering and participating in this promotion. By entering this contest, participants grant permission for their email address to be added to The Lazy Pit Bull newsletter list.

Each participating blogger paid an entry fee which will be used to fund the grand prize. The items in the 2nd and 3rd place prize packages were generously donated by the participating brands. Please be sure to visit their websites to see all the amazing pet products they have to offer.

The post Spring Fling Pet Blogger Giveaway appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

From Marian Snow, owner of Bone and Bow Tie:  “Kirstie Marie is as sweet as she is talented and is such a joy to know and work with.

Kirstie has captured wonderful images of Dion wearing his Bone & Bow Tie Collars that are featured front and center on our website. Dion is a pro when it comes to looking good and is definitely Top Dog to us.

Bone & Bow Tie is an online dog accessory studio dedicated to crafting beautifully designed and well-constructed products for your most loyal companion.   Our diverse collections of unique and stylish dog collars, bow tie collars, bloom collars, and leashes are sure to please a variety of tastes.

Whether your dog is a casual no-frills type or favors a bit more color and pattern, Bone & Bow Tie has just the perfect dog collar to match their style and personality.  Our products are timeless and refined, with a focus on dogs looking as well dressed and as fashion-forward as their owners.

All of our products are designed and created in our studio in Texas using the highest quality fabrics, materials, and hardware.

We take style seriously.”

I love what a pro Dion is, transitioning from smiling to “blue steel” in just three snaps.

From Kirstie:  “Dion wants to live in a world of infinite belly rubs and squirrels to chase.  As a two-year-old Australian Shepard, Dion mostly enjoys rolling in mud puddles and licking people’s faces.  When he is not modeling for Bone & Bow Tie, you can find Dion at agility competitions, snacking on Blue Bell ice cream, and snuggling with his sister Roxi. “

While I think bow ties look great on any dog, if you prefer a more feminine look, Bone & Bow Tie also offers adorable bloom dog collars.

Enter the rafflecopter to win a  bow tie collar or a bloom collar of your choice.  Open to residents of the US and Canada., 18 years or older.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The new collar will ship via USPS Priority Mail within one week of receiving the winner’s collar selection and neck measurement.  

About Kirstie Marie Photography:  Based in Dallas, Texas, Kirstie specializes in fine art equine photography.

The post Bone & Bow Tie Giveaway appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.