Product Review: Dogo EasyGo Camo Harness

The Dogo EasyGo Camo Harness is a mesh step-in harness with a matching leash. It features a back design that uses a cinch instead of buckles. The mesh portion is breathable and the hardware is very light. This harness is available in two colors and five sizes to fit dogs with chests 9-27" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

This little harness was donated to a friend's rescue program, but it's much to small for any of the dogs she works with. I will be passing it along to one of my local small dog rescues, but thought we would review it first. I believe it is a size small, which would put it in the middle of the five sizes available.

This harness and leash set is clearly designed for itty bitty dogs. All of the metal parts are very light and don't flop around or bonk Ru in the head. We didn't include the matching leash in the photos, but it has a little swivel right below the handle. The design is similar to our Aibao harness, but the Dogo harness is larger and fits Ru better. I like the way the mesh contours to his chest and doesn't rub on his armpits.

It doesn't look quite as good from the side, though. Ru is just very long, so most vest-style harnesses end up looking like little belly shirts on him. He couldn't wear the Dogo harness over clothes easily, either.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Light and comfortable for tiny dogs. Cool and breathable. Wide chest absorbs force and protects sensitive throat area. Machine washable.

Cons: Step-in design positions the leash attachment over the dog's shoulders rather than behind them. May run across upper arm area and possibly restrict movement.

Bottom Line: This is a very nice little harness. It seems to have been well-used, and is still very functional.

Product Review: Outward Hound Poochpouch Dog Carrier

The Outward Hound Poochpouch Front Carrier is like a baby carrier for tiny dogs. It features crossed shoulder straps to help distribute weight, and an interior clip that attaches to the dog's harness to help keep them contained. The Poochpouch comes in two colors and two sizes, small fits dogs up to 10 pounds while the medium fits dogs up to 20 pounds.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is the carrier for dogs who want to be super close. When riding in a sling or a purse at your hip is just too far away for your tiny dog, the Poochpouch is the answer. When a shoulder bag just isn't secure enough, the Poochpouch has you covered. (Note: This is actually still a little too far for Ru, who would prefer a carrier that places him directly under my chin.)

Formerly named the Pet-a-roo, this carrier is styled after those things made for strapping your baby to your body. Outward Hound originally made a version that made the dog ride face-out with all four legs sticking out, that looked even more like a baby carrier. At some point somebody probably realized that suspending a dog from their crotch is going to put an uncomfortable amount of pressure on their spine, and the hard-bottom wearable pet carrier was born. (As it turns out, suspending babies like that is problematic for the same reason. Who knew?)

Photo by Erin Koski

Like most baby carriers, the Poochpouch is a mass of straps. There are two that cross over on your back, and a third that goes around your waist. This makes for a very secure ride, and prevents the pouch from swinging away from your body when you lean over. I've heard of people using the Poochpouch for a motorcycle dog carrier.

Ours is a size small, and I like the lower profile. Some of the earlier front pack carriers had a huge bib at the front that was basically the length of my torso and positioned the pet down at waist level.

An obvious potential issue I can see with this carrier is that it is not designed for larger people. I am an average-sized woman and you can see that I have the straps adjusted fairly close to their maximum length. The waist strap will fit up to a 50" waist, but could probably be modified to fit someone bigger with some extra strapping and buckle. Keep in mind that the carrier will also fit differently on different body shapes. My husband can wear the carrier with no adjustment to the shoulder straps, but it sits much higher on his chest. Also, he complains the entire time I am strapping a small dog to his body.

In addition to the size of the human wearing the Poochpouch, the size of the dog must be taken into consideration. The carriers have maximum pet weights listed, but they also have maximum heights and lengths. Ru is a very long-backed chihuahua, and although he is only six pounds, you can see in the top picture that he is very nearly too tall for the small Poochpouch when he is sitting down. We would probably also do well with the medium size, which would leave enough room for him to lay down or snuggle into a blanket.

Pros: Very securely attached to the human when straps are crossed over. Multiple buckles allow for multiple strap configurations and also allow the human to put on the carrier without being a contortionist. Two shoulder strap design distributed weight much better than single strap carriers and is much more comfortable for extended wear. Positions pet closer to my face that any other carrier I've tried.

Cons: Multiple buckles on multiple straps can make using this carrier difficult for the spatially-challenged. Elastic drawstring at top of pouch seems to be a weak point, with lots of reviewers mentioning it breaking. Pouch security relies partially on pet compliance, and will contain a dog/cat/ferret/possum that really wants to get out. Plastic harness clip may also be a weak point, and could be replaced with a carabiner or other sturdier piece of hardware. Many pets well under the listed maximum weights will exceed the maximum dimensions and be too big.

Bottom Line: This is not a secure carrier for a pet that does not want to be contained. It is not good for holding a wiggly puppy that wants to explore. The drawnstring is there for added comfort and security, not to prevent an unhappy dog from escaping. The inside clip needs to be attached to a harness and not a collar to avoid strangling dogs that decide to jump. Don't take this thing out hiking and expect your dog to adapt to it on the move. Take some time to figure out how to put it on and adjust it properly, and then spend some time lounging on the couch with your tiny dog while you teach them that this is another vehicle for snuggling.

What kind of carrier do you use for your dog?

Product Review: Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Raspberry

The Planet Dog Orbee Tuff Raspberry is an itty bitty durable, stuffable chew toy for itty bitty dogs. It is made in the USA of recyclable materials, and is part of Planet Dog's line of produce-shaped toys. The Orbee-Tuff Raspberry comes in one size: tiny.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is basically the cutest stuffable dog toy ever. It's slightly larger than an actual raspberry and it's pink. I can fill it with peanut butter or spray cheese-like-substance, and I can freeze it to make it last longer.

There aren't a whole lot of stuffable toys out there for toy breeds. We have an assortment of ridiculously tiny Kongs, but nearly everything else is made for real dogs. I've been avoiding bringing home toys that are way too small for Brisbane, but I've been crating Ru while we work on his housebreaking/UTI issues. Brisbane is also remarkably careful with tiny toys, so Ru gets his wee Kongs and Raspberry in his crate, and if Briz gets it later it's not the end of the world.

Photo by Erin Koski

Pros: Sized just right for under-ten-pounders. Maybe cats too. Made in the USA of recyclable materials by a very cool company. Way too cute.

Cons: Too tiny for real dogs, the much larger artichoke and eggplant just aren't as cute.

Bottom Line: I need a drawer full of peanut butter-stuffed raspberries in my freezer.

Product Review: Lovable Dog Sling Carrier

The Lovable Dog Sling Carrier is a sling carrier for toting around pursedogs. It comes in grey, blue, and pink. It is reversible, and the lining is brown with pink polka dots.

Photo by Erin Koski

This sling is on Ru's short list of approved chihuahua carriers. The fabric is a soft cotton jersey knit, it's basically a sweatshirt shaped like a sling. The strap is wide enough to distribute the weight of Ru's hefty six pounds nicely. It is machine washable and pretty cute. There is a removable strap with a leash clip for keeping the occupant tethered, but it attaches by clipping around the strap so it isn't particularly useful for keeping the dog in the pouch itself.

Ru likes the Lovable Dog sling because it isn't terribly deep, so he doesn't sink down and get lost in it. I like it because it is subtle and doesn't really draw attention to itself.

Pros: Light and comfy, but somewhat insulated for cold puppies. Casual and low-key. Machine washable, easy-care fabric. Inexpensive.

Cons: Made in China and imported, like pretty much everything else. Only comes in pastel colors. Tether will keep dog attached to the sling, but not actually inside.

Bottom Line: I like this better than any of the other sling carriers I've tried on, and it's the only one Ru will actually chill out and ride around in.

Many Shades of Brown

Source: Wikimedia Commons

This is a Maltese.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

So is this.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

This is also a Maltese.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

This is a Shih Tzu.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Source: Wikimedia Commons

This is another Shih Tzu.

This is a Yorkshire Terrier, also known as a Yorkie.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Here is another Yorkie.

When the Designer Dog fad started, I wasn't terribly concerned with breeders mashing up toy breeds. Unlike working and sporting dogs, toy breeds are pretty much all bred to be lap dogs. Therefore, indiscriminately mixing lapdogs wasn't too troubling. More recently, I had an interesting thought. 

Obviously, I love and adore mixed breed dogs. Rescue mutts are wonderful, and guessing breeds is a favorite hobby of mine. That said, there is a purpose behind purebred dogs. The point of purebreds is predictability. By getting a Shih Tzu, Maltese, Yorkie, Miniature Pinscher, Chihuahua, or Toy Poodle, a person can be reasonably confident that their dog will have a specific coat type, temperament, personality, and adult size. Obviously buying a dog from a truly good breeder helps a whole lot. A good breeder attempts to better the breed and work toward some goal, and the result is consistently similar dogs. Sure, there are marathon-running Shih Tzus and couch potato Yorkies, but the majority of well-bred purebred dogs tend towards a temperament and personality that is typical for the breed. Most Shih Tzus are happy couch lumps, most Yorkie are ready to run.

This is why there are breed clubs. This is why there are breed fans. This is why you can get coffee mugs and key chains and everything under the sun emblazoned with the image of your favorite dog breed. Owning a purebred dog is a bit like being the parent of a toddler; when your Beagle catches a whiff of the rabbits at the pet store and starts yodeling, other Beagle owners will smile and nod knowingly, or at least toss you a sympathetic shrug. "That's Beagles for ya!" Owners of other breeds haven't been there, and some of them probably wonder if you're torturing your dog over in the small animal department.

I like to think of dog breeds sort of like paint colors. All puppies start out sort of bland and potato-shaped, and its easy to assume that they will remain indiscriminately squishy and adorable. Purebred dogs are like specific colors, easily recognizable and predictably different from one another as they grow up. Mutt puppies are fun to watch grow because they are unpredictable, but when all the colors of paint are mixed together, they end up brown. There are many different shades of brown, from pale beige to dark chocolate to red rust. Sometimes it's easy to see a lot of one or two colors in a specific shade of brown. 

This is what I see happening when the various toy breeds are all mixed up. A dog may be a specific mix of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise, Toy Poodle and Cocker Speniel, Maltese and Shih Tzu, but they all end up looking the same. Designer dogs almost inevitably grow up into nondescript scruffy-looking mutts.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Each of these four dogs is a specific, known breed mix, but none of them are immediately recognizable the way actual breeds are. A few breeds are likely, the way a shade of brown can look reddish, but none are an easily definable hue with predictable characteristics and features.

There is nothing wrong with brown. Mutts are fantastic. However, I do have a problem with someone making mutts and claiming that they are something other than a specific way to make a slightly more predictable shade of brown. The ethics of breeding mutts aside, there is nothing ethical about selling brown as extra-special "purple-orange" or "plorange". There is nothing ethical about encouraging this behavior by paying hundreds of dollars for a "plorange" puppy. There is especially nothing ethical about correcting someone who just commented on a nice shade of brown with, "Excuse me, it's Plorange." Nobody is going to recognize "plorange" or "purple-orange" dog because, when mixed together, purple and orange make brown. They can make some lovely, wonderful shades of brown that are just as valid as any other colors, but they are still brown. The paint box is filled with many easily recognizable colors that have their own fans, aficionados, and victims, but a specific shade of brown isn't set apart from the others just because of the colors that went into it.

So that's my two cents of designer dogs. I just can't get behind homogenizing the small dog population and claiming to make it better somehow while losing the specific and reliable characteristics that make breed special. Even when making small companion dogs, we need to be breeding with loftier goals than just making more dogs, even cute dogs.

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.