Puzzle Toy Review: Cycle Dog 3 Play Hippo

The 3 Play Hippo toy by Cycle Dog is a remarkably appealing toy that can be used in several different ways. It doesn't just float, it floats high in the water so it's easier to spot from dog-paddling height. The head squeaks. and the belly has a slit for hiding treats. This toy is made from post-consumer recycled material. It comes in two colors and two sizes, the one pictured is the mini hippo.

Photo by Erin Koski

I don't know what it is about this pink hippo, but everybody loves it. Whether they are squeaking it, nose-punching it, or lovingly carrying it around the house, all three dogs thoroughly enjoy the happy hippo. Even after the nose cracked and the squeak diminished, they still love it.

I love this toy too. It's adorable! It also comes in blue, and there is a larger size that we probably need to acquire.

Photo by Erin Koski

Puzzle Toy Rating

Capacity: 3/5

I can fit Brisbane's entire meal of 1/4-cup kibble in here, the bigger one probably fits closer to a cup. The slit is also big enough to jam a larger biscuit or two inside.

Loading Speed: 2/5

I can cram a small handful of kibble in here at a time.

Unloading Speed (standard dog): 5/5

It usually still has a kibble or two in it when I find it around the house.

Unloading Speed (superdog): 4/5

Brisbane isn't a huge fan of flexible rubber flap puzzles, but this one is just the right size to be challenging without him finding it unpleasant for whatever reason.

Size: 5/5

The small one is small enough for Ru to play with, the bigger one is big enough for a giant dog.

Durability: 3/5

Most of our flexible rubber puzzles have held up very well, but the nose of our hippo split open pretty quickly and now it doesn't squeak like it used to.

Noise: 5/5

It's soft and it doesn't roll, so it's dead quiet on my hardwood floors.

Locatability: 3/5

Our mini hippo is a prized possession and is almost always being hoarded in a crate or bed somewhere, but at least it doesn't roll under the couch.

Washability: 3/5

I should be able to jam a bottle brush into the belly slit if it needs a good scrub. I subtracted a star though because our cracked toy tend to take on water and there's no cleaning the inside of the head.

Photo by Erin Koski

Versatility: 4/5

Our happy hippo was borrowed from Xhuuya the raven, who enjoys prying nuts out of the belly and pretending she's disemboweling the riverbeast. The size and type of puzzle makes it usable by a variety of critters.

Total: 37/50

Product Review: Kong Tuff N' Lite Pig

This Kong Tuff N' Lite Pig is definitely one of Sisci's new favorite toys. It's durable enough for tons of biting and squeaking fun, but weighs almost nothing. This toy is marketed for power chewers, is light enough to be tosses around indoors, and floats. We have a pink pig, there is also a blue octopus and a green frog available.

As advertised, this toy is incredibly lightweight and bounces harmlessly off most indoor surfaces. We don't really have winter here in California, but I'm sure it would be great for indoor playtime when it's seriously cold outside. Ours spends a lot of time laying around the yard.

 We haven't yet tested the seaworthiness of the pink pig, but I would be shocked if something this lightweight could possibly sink. I've heard that they can take on a bit of water, though.

Photo by Erin Koski

While this is advertised as being for power chewers, it isn't really a chew toy. The Kong Tuff N' Lite products are definitely for supervised, interactive play. They are, however, more durable than the average "indoor" dog toys. They are also lighter than the usual 2 lb. hunk of rubber toys for serious chewers.

Sisci loves to bite her pink pig. She insists on carrying a toy in her mouth every time she goes outside (but not when she comes back in) and the pig is the first thing she grabs if it isn't already laying out in the yard.

Pros: Really, really lightweight, as advertised. Squeak is not annoyingly loud. More durable than a tennis ball, and bigger than one so it's safer for larger dogs.

Cons: After one day ours was full of punctures. It hasn't taken any further damage, but it's not exactly pretty now.

Bottom Line: I'm kind of disappointed that Sisci hasn't torn it open yet, because I'd really like to see what's inside there. Maybe open-cell low-density foam? It doesn't feel empty.

Product Review: Kong Binkie

The Kong Binkie is a Puppy Kong shaped like a pacifier. Or binkie. Or paci. Or soother. Or sucky. Or dummy. Or bobo. Or boppy. Or nuk. Or bippy. Or chupi. Want to have a really weird conversation with any group of people? Hold up a pacifier and ask them what it's called. The Kong Binkie is made from Kong's softest rubber, and is intended for needle-sharp puppy teeth and not permanent adult teeth. It comes in two sizes for small puppies under 20 pounds and medium puppies under 35 pounds.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Kong Binkie is an almost entirely unnecessary iteration of the Puppy Kong. Made from especially soft rubber, it has an added disc and handle at the top to make it look like a pacifier. So cute!

The Original Binkie

This is a great improvement over the original design, which placed the handle at the bottom and eliminated the stuffable hole that is almost the entire purpose of Kongs. Seriously, what good is a solid hunk of rubber? Most dogs I know have little to no interest in a food-free Kong. Obviously Kong realized this, and the design was changed with little fanfare back when Puppy Kongs were still being made with white swirly rubber.

Sure, it's shaped more like a pacifier,
but at what cost?

Wait, do you even have a puppy?

At 10 months old, Sisci has all her permanent teeth so technically we should not be using puppy Kongs and do so at our own risk. However, none of my dogs are destructive chewers and they enjoy the softer rubber. I am, however, well aware that if one of them suddenly decides to shred the things I will be in no position to complain to Kong. Fortunately none of mine have problems with eating things that aren't food.

Plus the Kong Binkie is really, really cute. There's no reason not to add it to our extensive Kong collection.

Pros: Soft and appealing for sinking tiny, sharp little puppy teeth into. The handle part is especially fun to gnaw. Stuffable. Made in the USA.

Cons: The adorableness of the toy and general lack of informed consumers means a lot of people will let their puppy play with this until their permanent teeth allow them to demolish it. Hopefully their puppy doesn't eat enough pieces to cause issues.

Bottom Line: Puppies are cute little babies, so it's fun to get them cute little baby toys. The Kong Binkie also helps puppies learn to self soothe, settle down, and have a good gnaw on something safe.

What was your dog's favorite toy as a puppy?

Product Review: RC Pets Venture Shell

The RC Pets Venture Shell is a waterproof outerwear coat for dogs. It features a t-shaped chest panel for added protection and a better fit. this coat comes in five colors and twelve sizes to fit dogs with backs 8-30" from neck to tail.

Photo by Erin Koski

After his dramatic shavedown, and before the current horrid heat wave, Brisbane needed some extra warmth on cold mornings. I had been putting his RC Pets West Coast Rainwear jacket on, but I left it behind at a sheep herding trial.

I found this coat on Amazon in his size for super cheap, so I impulse-bought it. At the time I didn't realize that it was not the RC Pets Venture Outwear, which has a fleece liner. The Venture Shell is purely rain protection, it has a ripstop nylon lining and no insulation at all.

This is definitely a nice coat, RC Pets has some very well-designed products that fit extremely well. Briz doesn't really like wearing his Hurtta jackets, but does not complain about his RC Pets coats. The Venture Shell moves with him and stays in place to keep him dry.

Pros: Comfortable for active extended wear. Lightweight and reflective. Extensive range of sizes. Cut to fit well on long backs. Can be worn over a warm insulating layer.

Cons: A little bit rustly and loud.

Bottom Line: Does the same job as Brisbane's Ruffwear Sun Shower jacket, which is to keep dogs dry in rainy but not cold weather. Unfortunately it doesn't really rain here. I'm having a hard time justifying owning this many dog raincoats.

Product Review: Rok Straps Dog Leash

The ROK Straps leash is stretchy, shock absorbing, and incredibly tough. It has a solid elastic core covered with polyester fabric. It measures 54" long, and there is a non-stretching traffic handle located at the dog-end. This leash comes in ten colors and three sizes for use with dogs 10-150 pounds.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is, without a doubt, the most overbuilt leash I have ever used. I am absolutely certain that I am an average-sized person with an average-sized dog, but this leash makes me feel like a tiny person walking an Italian greyhound. Every single part of it is enormous.

Heavy leash hardware annoys me because I like to use very small finger twitches to communicate with the dog. Big clonky hardware weighs everything down and interferes with my precision. Our ROK Straps leash is a size medium, intended for dogs between 30 and 60 pounds. The clip on it could easily be used for a Saint Bernard, or possibly a small horse.

The handle on this leash is extremely stiff. With my thin leather leashes I usually flip the handle loop inside out so it sort of hugs my hand and stays on with minimal effort. There is no flipping the ROK Straps leash handle inside out. It doesn't do any hand-hugging. It's be hard-pressed to get it snug on anything smaller than my thigh. This means I either have to actively grip the outside of the loop, or stick my entire arm through it and then bend my wrist awkwardly in order to grab the stretchy part. My hands are not so great at gripping stuff well or for any length of time.

I got this leash specifically for foster puppy Xena because she would only walk on a stretchy leash at first. As soon as she hit the end of an unstretchy leash, she would drop down to the sidewalk on her belly and freeze. When I put my Ruffwear Roamer leash on her, there was no abrupt end of the line sensation so no reason for her to splat. The only problem with the Roamer is that it stretches to 7.5' long, and Xena spooks and bolts on a regular basis when we're near traffic. I had to hang onto the middle of the Roamer to keep her from running into traffic. The ROK Straps leash is only 4.5' long, and takes a lot more force to stretch. This gives Xena the shock absorption she needs to feel safe with the security I need to keep her on the sidewalk.

The big clunky clip isn't such a big deal with Xena because it is attached to a harness, and because she is pretty oblivious. Brisbane is not a ROK Straps fan at all. He walks on a loose leash 99% of the time, and is acutely aware of the tiniest movement on my part. Wearing this leash is sort of like sticking a huge pair of noise canceling headphones on my partner and then trying to talk to them. It basically deadens all communication.

Pros: Really super strong. Seriously. Can probably be used for resistance training, I am incapable of stretching this thing very far at all. Takes a fair amount of effort to stretch very far, and an enormous amount of effort to reach its 70" maximum. Absorbs the energy from a pulling dog and uses it to yank them back like a yo-yo. Eliminates shock from spooky bolting dogs and sudden movements from either dog or handler. Traffic handle is long enough to keep dog at my side without me bending over the whole time.

Cons: Extremely heavy handle and hardware feel oversized on the medium leash. Handle is very stiff and awkward to hold.

Bottom Line: I could probably use the small leash for dogs under 30 pounds on 40 pound Brisbane without worry. I seriously can't imagine breaking one of these things. It looks like I should be towing dirtbikes with it or something. I'm pretty sure this leash is made for pit bulls and similarly powerful dogs. For dogs that can rock a 2" wide collar, this leash rocks.

Product Review: AibaoPet Harness and Leash

This Aibao Pet harness and leash set is definitely from China. It is a step-in style harness with a sliding adjustment and a matching leash. This is sized for a very small dog.

Photo by Erin Koski

This little set is yet another thrift store find. It's well-made, a good design, and is actually a little small on Ru. I feel like I could stick it on a ferret or a guinea pig or something.

The adjustemnt slider on the back strap isn't really visible in the picture, it is decorated with six little crystals. The fabric part of the vest is made from breathable mesh. This is not a harness that unbuckles, it is similar to the Little Pals set where it goes on over the head and then the dog's feet are stepped through it.

While I'm really not a fan of products made in China, I think this one is pretty neat. It features a logo by the actual company in China that made it. A lot of products are produced in China for American companies, and that sort of feels like cheating. Aibao Pet is an actual Chinese company. They proudly state that they have been manufacturing pet products since 2002. It looks like their products are mostly exported to European markets. My theory is that this little harness and leash set arrived in my town with someone who was either traveling or moved here for school or business. I found it with another international dog item that is not readily available in the USA.

Pros: Cute, comfortable, and non-restrictive. Easy to put on. No buckles make for minimal rubbing of delicate coats. Very light construction for super-tiny dogs.

Cons: At 33" the leash is really, really short. Like, if I'm holding it and gesture or turn too fast Ru ends up flying.

Bottom Line: I love finding unique little things like this at the thrift store. It helps me keep in mind that there is a lot more dog stuff out there than what I see every day.

Product Review: Hurtta Padded Y-Harness

The Hurtta Padded Y-Harness is a Roman-style harness lined with neoprene. It features an adjustable girth strap that closes with a quick-release buckle. This harness is available in eight colors and seven sizes to fit dogs with chests 14-39".

Photo by Erin Koski

I really love the way these harnesses look, but I don't love the way they fit. While the chest strap is super adjustable, the neck does not adjust at all.

The harness pictured here is a 35", but this is just the size listed on the packaging. Unlike most nylon harnesses, the end of the adjustable strap is not fixed at the end. This allows the Hurtta Padded Y-Harness to adjust down to almost nothing. The neck may not fit him, but I can adjust the chest strap of this harness all the way down to fit Ru. It looks pretty silly.

Photo by Erin Koski

The 35" measurement refers to the maximum size of the chest strap. Brisbane's chest is 26" around, and the neck is big enough that the straps interfere with his shoulders. I also have a 28" harness which fits his neck fine but rubs his armpits.  There is a size 32" that might be just right for Briz, but I haven't yet had the opportunity to try it on him.

Pros: Padded, reflective, tough, comfortable. Looks fabulous. Won't interfere with movement when fitted properly. Comes in way more sizes than most harnesses.

Cons: With no adjustment in the neck, it either fits or it doesn't. Smallest size is too big for Ru. Neoprene may cause some dogs' fur to mat.

Bottom Line: I really wish this harness fit Brisbane. It's so pretty. All the cool dogs are wearing them.

What's your favorite type of dog harness?

Product Review: Top Paw Pink Leather Spiked Rhinestone Collar

The Top Paw Pink Leather Spiked Collar is a decorative flat buckle collar by Petsmart's house brand. Top Paw collars are available in a variety of sizes, colors, and styles.

Photo by Erin Koski

I'm not a terribly classy person, I tend to dress casual and comfortable. Sometimes I feel like putting on something fancy, though. Sometimes I wear a tiara just for the hell of it. This Top Paw collar is a lot like that. We have a lot of fun and functional collars, but this one is fancy. In between the stainless steel spikes are diamond-colored rhinestones. Also it's pink. Yes, my dogs are all boys. Boys can wear pink.

As far as leather collars go, this one is in the middle of the range. It's not high fashion like Coach. It's not an uber-fancy top-quality collar like the ones from Woof Wear. Still, it's a solid collar with reliable hardware and nice-quality leather. It's pretty and fancy and looks nice. The color will last a long time, and I expect the rhinestones will stay on through normal wear.

Pros: Made from durable, quality leather. Top Paw branded stainless steel hardware will stand up to just about anything. Spikes and rhinestones on the same collar are awesome.

Cons: Made from single-ply leather which can stretch over time.

Bottom Line: I wouldn't use this as a walking collar for a dog that pulls, but as a tag collar it's lovely. I wish they made one in Ru-size.

Chihuahua Fashion Moment: Waghearted Sooo Happy! Sweater

I found this sweater at a local thrift store and fell in love with it. It's bright, bubbly, colorful, and unique! It has printed lettering on the back, and an adorable applique felt heart on the chest. Ru's Waghearted sweater is a size small, and it fits perfectly. The neck shows no signs of stretching out, so it stays in place and he can't slither out of it.

Photo by Erin Koski

I was hoping to discover a new company when I read the tag on this sweater, but it appears that Waghearted may no longer be around. Their website is down, and their Facebook hasn't been updated since 2012. At one point they had products at Petsmart and on Fab.com. Active from 2009-2012, Waghearted was an eco-conscious company with a passion for animal welfare. They made some good products, and I hope the people behind it went on to find further success.

I also love the name. Waghearted.

Product Review: Boots and Barkley Skull and Crossbones Pet Tote

The Boots and Barkley Skull and Crossbones Pet Tote is a pet carrier designed to look like a messenger bag. It features a wide strap for comfortable carrying, multiple pockets for holding things other than tiny dogs, and a subtle design for stealthy dog-toting.

Photo by Erin Koski

This dog carrier is amazing, and probably out of production, though a few can be found online. I'm pretty sure it dates from the dog boutique fad of the late 90's/early 00's. Anyway, I found mine at a thrift store and if I designed a dog purse, this would be it. Ru still favors the Pet Flys Snuggle Bug because he is a total diva, but this one definitely my favorite.

I normally wear all black for a variety of reasons, including hiding stains and wanting to make some people vaguely uncomfortable. My hair is dyed bright fuchsia and the pink/black theme extends to my phone, keys, car interior, and various dog gear. Obviously this dog carrier was made just for me. It is predominantly black with a bright fuchsia trim and rainbow-colored zippers.

Photo by Erin Koski

A lot of dog purses have no storage built into them, which means I still have to carry an actual purse. Some generously provide a tiny, flat pocket, but most just seem to be designed with the assumption that I either don't carry a wallet, phone, keys, etc, or that I will stuff those things in there with my dog. This one has a nice big rainbow-zippered pocket on the flap, and a couple more on the side underneath.

Photo by Erin Koski

While it is intended to carry a small dog, this bag does not overtly scream "HEY THERE IS A DOG IN HERE!!!" like so many others. Ru isn't normally a fan of riding in purses, so the entire purpose off such an accessory is to sneak him into places where dogs are not welcome. I don't make this a habit or suggest anyone else do it, but once in a while on a road trip it is nice to be able to pee or get a drink without leaving my chihuahua to roast in the car. Brisbane doesn't fit in a bag, but he is also perfectly willing to devour would-be car thieves so I feel comfortable leaving the engine on and the air conditioning running when he's along for the ride. At a glance, the Boots and Barkley tote just looks like a messenger bag. It is rigid and has mesh in the back and on the sides, but is subtle enough that people don't seem to realize it is a pet carrier. Or maybe we're just all pretending I don't have a dog in there, I dunno. I'm really bad at people sometimes.

I am apparently a hipster of some sort because skulls lost a lot of their appeal for me when they got popular and began appearing on everything. They really compliment this bag though, there is a keychain on the zipper in front and another painted on the mesh in back. It's not flashy or overdone, and I like the skulls as an accent rather than slapped across the entire front of the thing.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Punky/gothy/edgy style that fits me perfectly. Tasteful and understated design. Smaller than most dog purses, six-pound Ru is slightly cramped. Has actual pockets for actual non-dog stuff. Solid front flap and subtle design make this tote look more like a messenger bag than a pet carrier. Fabulous hot pink lining with skulls and unicorns is pretty much the best thing ever.

Cons: Not currently in production, and I have yet to find anything nearly as functional and fabulous. The wider side of the strap is kind of loud.

Bottom Line: Dog? What dog? This is just my super awesome skull unicorn bag.

The Pinkening

Photo by Erin Koski

Ru is pink again.

Photo by Erin Koski

Photo by Erin Koski

In bright sunlight he's sort of an eye-watering, mind-bending pink. He is so pink that, when he is not moving, few people immediately recognize him as a dog.












Heck, even when he's moving, people don't recognize him as a dog. Nobody's brain is primed to see something that pink scamper past and automatically assign it a species. My husband still gets weirded out when he catches Ru out of the corner of his eye. Ru has been dyed for the last four summers, and his (my husband's) subconscious still goes "WTF?!" every now and then.

Kids like to ask "Is that a pink dog?" Usually I say yes, but I want to say "Of course not, there's no such thing as a pink dog." I enjoy making everyone's day a little more surreal.

Photo by Erin Koski

As per usual, Ru is dyed with Manic Panic's Fuschia Shock. It is a nontoxic vegetable-based dye that I use on my own hair. I've gotten it in my own eyes. My cats have licked it off themselves. I am confident that this dye is safe for babies and tiny dogs.

Photo by Erin Koski

Photo by Erin Koski

I think he likes being pink.

Product Review: Little Pals Adjustable Harness and Leash Combo

The Little Pals Adjustable Harness and Leash Combo by Coastal Pet Products is a step-in harness with an attached leash. It comes in two styles (daisy and bone) and each of those are available in two colors. This product fits dogs with chests 10-14" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is basically the harness version of a slip lead. It's not as fast or convenient as looping a leash over a dog's neck, but it is much safer for tiny tracheae. Normal step-in harnesses close at the back with a quick-release buckle and a D-ring extending from a strap on either side, the leash is clipped through both rings. The combo eliminates the buckle and rings and just has a big loop of strap connecting each side. The (tiny rat) dog's feet go through the harness, and then the long strap is pulled over the head and cinched down behind the shoulders. There is a swivel at the point where the leash attaches, preventing it from getting tangled.

This leash is totally freaking adorable, look at that daisy! It takes a moment to figure out how to put on the dog, but after that it's very easy to use. I love that it doesn't require me to manipulate tiny buckles or trigger snaps. The little metal slide that keeps the harness tight requires minimal effort to move, but performs its function fine.

When I first tried it on Ru, I noted how far the Y-shaped points of the harness were from meeting behind his shoulders. The large loop means that technically I could put this harness on a much larger dog, but the bigger the dog the more the small harness would restrict shoulder movement. Then I read what size dogs the harness is actually supposed to fit and remembered that Ru is actually quite large by Little Pals standards. This harness is intended for dogs with 10-14" chests, and Ru is 13". Still, this combo harness would probably be a better fit for a tiny dog.

Pros: Easy to put on for the spatially aware, requires minimal fiddling with tiny hardware. Fast and convenient, fit in pockets. Excessively cute. Sized for truly bitty dogs, the chest strap on mine actually measures 8" so I believe it would best fit a dog 8-12" around.

Cons: Whoever invented step-in harnesses has never actually tried to get a dog to step into anything on purpose. The leash is only 4' long, and that's not much for a 6" tall dog. I prefer 6' leashes for tiny dogs so I don't accidentally yank them off their feet by turning to fast while holding the leash at waist level.

Bottom Line: The Little Pals Harness and Leash Combo serves the same function for Ru as the Lone Wolf Martingale Slip Lead does for Brisbane. It's a great house-to-car leash, an emergency backup. An I'm-feeling-lazy leash. I would recommend this leash for people who have joint pain and want to use a harness but don't want to fiddle with tiny hardware.

So I Dyed My Dog Pink

I dye my hair pink with Manic Panic, a semi-permanent non-toxic hair dye. It doesn't contain anything caustic or damaging, and I can leave it on my hair for hours on end with no ill effects. The color varies, but usually I stick with Fuschia Shock.

Making everyone's day a little more surreal.

In 2011, while dying my hair, I dropped a big blob of dye on the floor. Ru has always loved eating art supplies, and the dye probably looked enough like fingerpaint to be appetizing because he dashed over and began licking it up. Horrified, I scooped him up with my dye-covered gloves, leaving a pair of bright pink handprints on his body. Frantic research revealed that the dye itself was harmless and wouldn't hurt him.

Next I researched methods of removing semi-permanent dye from a dog. I learned that time and repeated washing would remove it eventually, but anything that could take it off right away would involve peroxide, bleach, or something else I wouldn't want to put on a tiny dog. I asked some of my internet friends for suggestions, and they replied "Dye the whole dog!"

So I did.

Photo by Erin Koski

Dying a dog is incredibly messy, and some colors last longer than others. The label cautions against getting it in eyes, but I've gotten it in my own enough times to feel comfortable applying it to Ru's face. Manic Panic's Fuschia Shock goes really well over Ru's natural color, and blends well with the tone of his skin so his bald areas aren't quite so obvious. Enchanted Forest, on the other hand, ends up leaving him patchy even immediately after dying him.

I use the dye over my own natural hair color, but to get good results I must leave it on for hours. When I dye Ru, I pick a warm day, put on rubber gloves, slather it on, and then let him run around the yard for 10-15 minutes before rinsing him off in the tub. Ru hates baths, and the dying process is basically one big bath so I only do it once a year. I usually let my internet friends vote on a color.

So fabulous!

There are other ways to turn a dog unnatural colors. I don't know of any safe way to put color on a dark dog, mine is naturally light-colored. Washable markers are a great way to do patterns, polka dots, and eyebrows. The markers often rinse off with plain water so they are wonderfully temporary. Koolaid is a safe and nontoxic way to dye pets, but it takes an absurd number of packets to get more than pastel colors. Like, enough Koolaid powder to actually change the consistancy of the water. As an added bonus, Koolaid makes dogs smell fruity. Obviously a dog with longer hair, or an actual dog-sized dog, would take a lot more dye than little Ru.

Does Ru like being colorful? He certainly gets a lot more attention. When he is pink he's like a tiny celebrity, and everyone wants a picture with him.

Product Review: Midnight Pet Lite and E-Z Harness and Leash

The "Lite and E-Z" is a step-in style harness and leash by Midnight Pet, made from parachute-weight cord.

Photo by Erin Koski

Unlike the vast majority of paracord pet gear, these are made from a single strand of cord so they are incredibly light. The harness is super easy to adjust, and simple in design. It's significantly less confusing than the average step-in harness. They come in a variety of colors, and five different sizes. Midnight Pet recommends them for ferrets, rabbits, cats, iguanas, puppies, and of course tiny dogs. The leash comes in 3', 4' and 6' lengths.

I love this harness so much that I rarely use anything else on Ru. The leash is super thin and tiny and really enhances that rat-on-a-string look. It would probably also work well as a show lead, and is strong enough that I've used the loop end to make a slip lead for catching loose dogs.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Lite and E-Z harness is minimalist enough for fashionistas like Ru. When he isn't wearing his Yap Wrap coat, I like to have something fabulous on him. He is usually on a leash, and I love having a harness that lets his outfit shine. We had to do these pictures with him undressed because the harness blends so flawlessly with whatever he is wearing.

The hardware used on these products is so light, it's practically jewelry. The top of the harness stays centered and never slides to the side. The fit always seems perfect, whether Ru is wearing a thick puffy jacket or going au naturel. I bought these at the Pet House in Goleta, and I didn't realize that the metal slides under the rings adjusted until I saw the Midnight Pet website while writing this post.

We actually have two of these, the one shown is Grape, and the other is Raspberry colored. I bought the second when I had a chihuahua foster dog and found I couldn't live without it. The pink set was purchased a couple of years before the purple, and the leash was sometimes difficult to unclip from the harness. I was extremely pleased to see that the purple harness has slightly thinner rings, and the leash a slightly larger clip.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Super light, minimalist harness that is very easy to use and simple to adjust. Light enough to stay in place and not rotate around the dog. Works beautifully over clothes. Holds up well on hikes and other adventures, with no signs of wear to date. Totally comfortable, the dog barely notices it. Very affordable, I think I paid around $25 for a harness and 6' leash.

Cons: The super-thin leash could be uncomfortable to hold on a dog that generates any sort of pulling power. I'm not sure how well it would stand up to chewing. My pink one is starting to look a little dirty after a few years, I should probably try washing it.

Bottom Line: I use this every single day and constantly tell people where I got it. If it were to fail spectacularly tomorrow, I would immediately go out and buy another one.

Product Review: Yap Wrap Winter Wrap

The Yap Wrap is a vest-style velcro harness that allows you to lift your excessively tiny dog by the leash or attached handle. Comes in a variety of styles and colors, in four sizes to fit dogs 3-18 pounds.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is one of my favorite Ru jackets, it's especially good for layering over a sweater on extremely chilly days. This is the winter wrap, lined with cozy fleece. The regular Yap Wrap is a short vest harness that comes in a variety of colors.

I have a lot of trouble finding stuff that fits Ru because his back is unusually long. Many sweaters look silly on him because they barely cover his ribcage. This is a size Extra-Small, for 6-8 pound dogs, and it is actually long enough to cover the base of his tail and keep him really warm. The wide strap under his belly is also placed perfectly, I really can hoist him up by his leash or by the handle without worrying that he'll slip out.

Pros: Great fit on my long dog, should fit well on miniature dachshunds and miniature Italian greyhounds too. Designed to really keep the dog warm rather than just look cute. Great as an outer layer. Works as advertised, and comes in pink for my Princess Boy.

Cons: I do wish it covered a little more of his chest and naked underbelly. The company also makes a pullover winter harness with a bit more coverage. For a tiny harness it's a bit pricey, though I bought mine at a thrift store for $2 so I didn't realize that until recently.

Bottom Line: I love it and use it regularly. Having a handle on my dog is hilarious.