Treat Tuesday: Loot Pets Questrips

The Loot Pets Questrips arrived in our April Pet Loot Crate. They are beefy, moist treats that smell meaty, but not in a bad way. These are easy to tear into small pieces for training treats, and they stay moist for a good long time. From Loot Crate Labs, Questrips are made in the USA out of beef, vegetable glycerin, salt, mixed tocopherols, and rosemary extract.

Good For: High value training treats. Picky dogs. Dogs that don't chew very well. Dogs with poultry or grain allergies, or stupid allergies like sweet potatoes.

Not Good For: Lasting longer than the .1 second it takes to inhale them.

How Much We Like Them: They are even more exciting than the Ziwi Peak dog food I usually use for training.

Product Review: Kurgo Muck Collar

The Kurgo Muck Collar is a waterproof flat buckle collar that is non-absorbent.It can be wiped clean and will not absorb odors. This collar is available in a variety of colors and patterns, and three sizes to fit dogs with necks 10-25" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is another stink-free type of collar, like our Dublin Dog and Fraggle Rock gear. It's not as thick and chunky as our Dublin Dog collar, but I have to say I'm not impressed.

See that leash ring? It also doubles as a bottle opener. This is a trend that I'm pretty sure CycleDog started. At least, I saw bottle openers on their dog gear years before anyone else started doing it. I guess it's a somewhat handy, but the one on this collar sticks straight out. Tucking the excess strap underneath it, as it was seemingly designed for, causes it to sit rigidly upright, sticking out perpendicular to the collar. It seems like it's just waiting to get caught on something.

The sizing of this collar also seems to have some issues, there's not a lot of overlap so if the medium is just a tiny bit too small, the large will be enormous. Fortunately the collar can be modified with heat, so extra holes can be punched with a heated nail, and excess strap can be cut off and the new end sealed with a lighter.

My personal issue with the Kurgo Muck collar is actually that it came, like many collars, zip-tied to a display card. It was the original packaging, and the collar was folded pretty tightly. When the zip ties were removed, the bends in the collar remained. I know the ones in the stock photos look properly round, but mine is all wavey and weird, and I have not been able to make it assume a round shape. It looks like the product has been through a redesign since I acquired mine, so maybe this issue has been resolved.

Pros: Waterproof and non-absorbent. Durable. Comes in lots of colors and patterns.

Cons: Pokey bottle opener leash ring. May require modification if your dog is in between sizes. Very stiff and remains in the shape in which it was packaged.

Bottom Line: I can imagine having all those random bits of collar poking into your neck feels good, so this collar has not become part of out adventuring gear. Hopefully the redesign has solved at least some of the product issues.

Product Review: Zack & Zoey Fleece Lined Hoodie

This Zack & Zoey (there is no official Zack and Zoey website) Fleece Lined Hoodie is basically the ultimate sweater for long skinny dogs. More than just a sweatshirt, it has a warm lining that makes it super thick, super warm, and super soft. This hoodie comes in plain colors that can easily be customized or embellished with paint or patches. It is available in a variety of colors and six sizes to fit dogs with chests 14-35" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

When I set out to write this review, I first went looking for the official Zack & Zoey website. I see this brand all over the place and associate it with high quality dog clothes. Obviously this must be one of those brands named for the creator's dogs, right? I was totally expecting pictures and tales of the real Zack and Zoey.

Sadly, I was disappointed, and the cute names are nothing but marketing. Zack & Zoey is actually just another Pet Edge brand. Their main website only lists hoodies by Casual Canine, Guardian Gear, and Kong, but Ru's Zack & Zoey sweatshirt had the name Alpha Key on it, which led me to this Pet Edge dealer page. It turns out that Zack & Zoey is a Pet Edge brand only available to certain sellers, along with Cruising Companion, Be Good, Grriggles, Savvy Tabby, Clear Quest, UGroom, and Wise Rewards. This is why there is no official Zack & Zoey website, and the brand's online presence is limited to assorted online stores.

Branding and marketing aside, I really love this sweater and Ru does too. Ru measures 13" around his chest, and 12? from the base of his neck to the base of his tail. He looks silly in a lot of short, wide clothes, and stays warmest in things that cover most of his back. This hoodie is a side small, with a chest measurement of 15" and a back length of 12", and it is absolutely perfect for Ru. I was worried he would be swimming in it but it's fluffy enough that the 3" difference between the sweater and his body works just fine. The extra large size would probably fit both Brisbane and Sisci comfortably.

Pros: Super warm, super soft, super comfortable. Sized for long backs rather than wide chests. Has velcro at the neck to make it easier to get on, this also prevents it from sliding down the shoulders.

Cons: It might be too warm for the impending record-setting California summer.

Bottom Line: This hoodie appears to have been designed by someone who actually used it on a regular basis on actual dogs. It's a simple but thoughtful product, and I appreciate that even if the brand is actually part of a giant faceless corporation.