Monday, February 29, 2016

Sun Dogs & Happy Leap Day!


We actually got a few hours of sun this past Saturday! 

Zoe was really happy to lay in the sun while I worked with Phoenix. 


Phoenix was really happy, too! So happy, she forgot her toy!

 We were able to play a lot of fetch and get some training done! Yay for better weather!

Some of the trees are starting to bloom, too! I'm so excited and really looking forward to Spring!

Happy Leap Year everyone!


What's your pet's favorite season?



Sunday, February 28, 2016

The Red Nose!


The Red Nose they made me wear for the commercial was something else! LOL! 

I think it's really important to be able to laugh at ourselves and this was definitely one of those moments! I look very silly but it was so fun! 

Friday, February 26, 2016

More Frisbee Fun!


This week I am sad to report that we did a horrible job with exercise and I definitely need to get back into a routine. Most of this week was all leash walks with a few sessions of fetch and frisbee at the park that's closest to our apartment. We also had some play time in the little off leash area in our apartment too but no big adventures. Which I'm pretty sad about!


Phoenix is still afraid to catch the hard plastic discs so we are using the fabric ones. Fabric discs don't fly very well but she does love chasing a rolling one!

Hopefully we can get back into our fitness routine soon!

Did you go on any new adventures this week?

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Shake It Off! Trying Not To Be So Negative!


I love how dogs are able to just shake off their problems. Something worrying you? Shake it off! Did something embarrassing? Shake It Off. The other dog in the house bugging you? Shake it off! Mom calls you back from chasing bunnies? Yeah, shake that off, too! Does anyone else have that Taylor Swift song stuck in their head yet? You're Welcome.

I wish it was that easy for us humans! With my anxiety, I often find that it's hard to let things go or just shake them off. I tend to dwell sometimes on the bad things versus the positive things. It actually keeps me up at night and I will often run through the things I should of done or should of said. Unfortunately there are no do-overs and what is done is done. Too bad there are no time traveling devices yet!

The fact that I focus on the bad things sometimes was pointed out to me by one of my trainer friends who I happen to idolize. She said "focus on the good" and "you will create good". At the time this was said to me, I took it negatively. (Of course, I did! Right, because that's what I do to myself.) It hurt my feelings because the thing that I had posted about I didn't think it was that big of a deal. I wasn't being that negative, was I??? After thinking about it for a few days, she really made sense and she was totally right. Why is it that I can be a positive trainer and focus on all the great things my dogs are doing but I can't do that for myself? Then I realized that sometimes I really do dwell on the bad things my dogs do, too. (They are not bad that often but I still do it.) Holy crap. Is there no hope for me?

I think that my major problem happens to be that I've been let down so many times and so many crappy things that have happened that I just tend to expect bad things and so it's easy for me to not see any good. Which I definitely want to change. I've made some small steps to surround myself with people who are supportive and people who get me. 

This is one thing that came up when I was interviewing for my new job. How it's so important to positively reinforce the people who are attached to the leashes of the dogs. I've gone to a couple of classes at work so far (which I totally love!!!) and I've found it very easy to praise the pet parents. Being easier on myself is a lot harder! Whoever said we are our own worst critics was definitely right. I need to learn how to let things go and see the good in myself as well as others. I'm going to work on that.

How do you shake things off?

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

The Largest Puddle!


The other day we were out at the park and the girls found the largest puddle to play in! It was almost a small pond! It's funny because both of my dogs used to avoid putting their feet in water and now they just plow right through all the puddles! 

Do your dogs like playing in the water? 

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Natural Balance Dental Chews


We have a second chewy.com review this month! Chewy.com is an awesome company that ships all of your favorite pet products right to your door! They have amazing customer service and their shipping is incredibly fast. They are one of our favorite companies! We received our dental treats as part of the chewy.com blogger program in exchange for an honest review.

Since it's Dental health month and dental hygiene is so important I decided to add a second set of dental chews to our order! We got Natural Balance Dental Chews Fresh and Clean Formula Grain-Free Dog Treats. My dogs get dental chews in addition to their daily brushing to help keep their teeth clean.

Natural Balance Dental Chews have unique grooves that encourage healthy chewing, they help to remove tartar and freshen breath. These chews contain spearmint and parsley with the addition of vitamin C, a key antioxidant nutrient that supports immune function. The treats are available in three sizes including a mini bone size with even deeper grooves designed especially for toy breeds. Natural Balance Dental Chews are easy to digest and are grain-free.

Ingredients: Sweet potato, potato starch, vegetable glycerin, brewers dried yeast, spinach, yeast extract, lecithin, coconut oil, kale, dehydrated alfalfa meal, parsley, sorbic acid (preservative), spearmint, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin c)





Both Zoe and Phoenix really liked the Natural Balance Dental Chews! Their breath smelled great after chewing on them and they did not suffer from any digestive issues. These are a great treat and I would get them again. I would recommend checking them out!

Do you give your dogs dental chews?

ZoePhee was provided with a bag of Natural Balance Dental Chews in exchange for an honest review. We were not monetarily compensated. Chewy.com is not responsible for the content of this blog post. 

Monday, February 22, 2016

Commercial Shoot For Red Nose Day!


Last week we were told about an opportunity to be in a commercial by our friend Tenacious Little Terrier! I sent in a trick video to audition and I was so excited when I got the email that we were selected to attend the event! This was a shoot for Walgreens supporting Red Nose Day an organization that helps people in 3rd world countries. Unfortunately I heard about the event at the last minute and we weren't able to prepare very well. Despite that, I think the girls did really well.


We got there super early, I think we were there before the photographers showed up! It was a long day. We got there first and went almost last so there was 3 hours of waiting. The girls were a little nervous when we first got there! I sort of think they thought they were at the vet!


I kept the girls busy for a while by practicing their tricks and playing silly games!

Here's Phoenix practicing holding her bear and sitting pretty!


Practicing more silly things. The building was set up so well. They had barriers for all the dogs so we got our very own corner. The girls were off leash the whole time for the most part.


Zoe was kind of nervous so she needed a lot of cuddles and attention.


Our parrot friend and neighbor! His name is Tiny and he's 23 years old. Such a neat guy!


Phoenix was a super star for this entire thing and I am so proud of her. She was able to stay engaged with me the entire time we were there. She played tug, she did tricks. She didn't whine or have any reactivity. There were a ton of dogs and Tiny the parrot at this event and she did so well. It's just amazing to me that this dog went from a dog that no one wanted, that nobody could touch to a dog who's doing tricks for a commercial. She's amazing and she's the best dog ever.


Phoenix being a good girl while Zoe exits stage left.. LOL! 

Oh Zoe, what are we going to do with you?


Yep, they made me wear the red nose. It was silly but fun! We had a great day and I was so glad the event fell on my husband's day off. He took all the photos of me with the girls and he was so helpful! I have no idea if they will pick any of our clips for the final cut of the commercial but they seemed to really like the girls and like their tricks. I hope we can do something like this again some day!




Sunday, February 21, 2016

Anxious For Spring!


I am anxiously waiting for Spring. I'm so sick of the rain and mucky ground! I usually don't mind the rain so much but for some reason, this year it's getting to me! This is a throwback photo of  the girls and me when we went to the Tulip Farm last year! I hope everyone is having an awesome weekend!

Friday, February 19, 2016

She's Happiest When She's Running!


Whether it's running along the river, chasing a ball or playing in the woods, Phoenix is happiest when she's running! I love photographing her when she runs. I get the best shots!


Zoe is the same way! I catch the best photos of her when she's running and free. I love these ones so much better than posed shots!

What's your dog's favorite activity?

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Pamper your Pup with a Hurtta Lifeguard Padded Collar!


Both Zoe and Phoenix have a reputation for being rough and tumble. They love running through the woods and blackberry bushes, racing through the mud, chasing bunnies and deer through thick foliage. To say they are hard on their collars would be a massive understatement. These dogs need collars that are durable and built to last so I was super excited when I got the opportunity to review the Hurtta Lifeguard Padded Collars. We received our collars in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, I know it's not Fit Dog Friday, but still! Look at her!
Padded Neoprene underside with a spot for the owner's phone number.

The neoprene padded collar has been designed with comfort and visibility in mind. They are very bright, providing long range visibility and are made with 3M reflectors. The reflectors are very important to me as they provide extra safety when we walk at night. The collars are padded with high quality neoprene, making them super comfortable for the dogs to wear and they are machine washable.

The Hurtta Padded Collar is super reflective with 3M reflectors built in!

We've been testing these collars since the beginning of January and I really like them. They are so bright and pretty! I love the visibility they provide, you definitely can't miss my dogs out in the fields when they are wearing these collars! The neoprene underside is very soft and the dogs seem comfortable wearing them. We've even machine washed these collars a few times and they come out of the wash looking brand new every time. I can tell these collars were built to last and they seem very durable. My dogs have put them through their paces and they've definitely passed with flying colors!

I'm super impressed with these collars and I would recommend checking them out and getting one for your dog!

You can find retailers in North America by going here: Hurtta247 Stockists.

I would also highly recommend checking Hurtta out on Facebook and liking their page. They often look for product testers and run their own giveaways. The best way of finding out all the Hurtta news is by liking their page. 

ZoePhee was provided with Padded Collars from Hurtta in exchange for an honest review. We were not monetarily compensated and all opinions are my own. Hurtta is not responsible for the content of this blog post.







Wednesday, February 17, 2016

New Job!!!

Sorry, I know it's an old photo! I need new ones taken!

Those of you who are facebook friends with me will already know this but I am so excited that I had to announce it here, too! I got a new job as a dog training assistant at a positive reinforcement focused training facility in Portland! I'm starting tonight! I'm going to be assisting the dog trainers with their classes! I don't really have words for how excited I truly am but this is one step closer for me to be working my dream job.

The new job is part time so it won't be affecting my blogging schedule at all. I will continue to have 5-6 posts a week with an occasionally Saturday post, too! :D

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Z-Bones from Zuke's for Dental Health!


Happy Dental Health month everybody! 


It's Dental Health month and also time for our Chewy review! Chewy.com is an awesome company that ships all of your favorite pet products right to your door! They have amazing customer service and their shipping is incredibly fast. They are one of our favorite companies! We received our dental treats as part of the chewy.com blogger program in exchange for an honest review.

Clean Berry Crisp Z-Bones are from Zuke's, one of our favorite brands! These chews are a great way to fight doggie breath naturally! Dental health is so important and I like to supplement my dogs with chews like Z-Bones in addition to daily brushing.

Z-Bones help to freshen breath and clean teeth without having to use wheat gluten, cornstarch or synthetic chlorophyll. Z-Bones are potato based and they help to maintain your dog's dental health by scraping and polishing the teeth as they chew on them.

Key Benefits:
  • Potato and pea-based formula which is highly digestible
  • Alfalfa, parsley, rosemary, and fennel naturally freshen breath by supporting digestion
  • Helps polish teeth, freshen breath, and maintain healthy gums
  • Nutrient-rich cherries are a powerful source of antioxidants
  • This product is not suitable for dogs less than 10 pounds or less than 6 months of age
  • Made in the USA

Ingredients: Potato Flour, Peas, Tapioca, Vegetable Glycerine, Pea Protein, Cherries, Cranberries, Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Beet Powder, Citric Acid, Zinc Propionate, Alfalfa, Parsley, Rosemary, Turmeric, Fennel 
 
These treats come in three different flavors: Clean Apple Crisp, Clean Carrot Crisp, Clean Berry Crisp and four sizes: Mini, Regular, Large and Giant. 


Both of the girls really liked the Z-Bones and they didn't have any tummy upsets from having them. Their breath smelled great after they had them. They don't last very long but the girls really enjoyed chewing them. I would get these again and I would recommend checking them out!

What is your dog's dental hygiene routine?

ZoePhee was provided with a bag of Z-Bones in exchange for an honest review. We were not monetarily compensated and all opinions are my own. Chewy.com is not responsible for the content of this blog post.

Monday, February 15, 2016

Mani/Pedi Snuggles!

Snuggles!

The girls were due for a nail trim so I figured I'd share a photo of how I do Zoe's front nails. She's been trained to do an upside down settle in my lap and I give her an empty tub of peanut butter (the safe kind with no xylitol). Then when I'm done with her front ones, I let her get up and clip the back ones while she's standing. She's really good about it and she loves getting some snuggles between paws!


Phoenix does not like nail trims and thinks she's being tortured. I've been trying to work on it but I won't allow their nails to get long so I haven't gotten very far with trying to counter condition it. Mostly with Phoenix we just clip them as quickly as possible and have a treat party after it's over.

I'm hoping to eventually introduce the dremel back in but they both hate it and I need a new one.

How are your dogs with their nail trims?

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Friday, February 12, 2016

Frisbee Flip Blooper!


Phoenix, I'm not sure that's how this works!

We've only had a couple of bad landings since Phoenix started learning to frisbee flip. I managed to catch a photo of one of them! This is actually not too bad. She lands on her face sometimes out at the park, too! Silly girl!

We do frisbee training maybe two or three times a week and I make sure that I stretch her before and after. I also warm her up by having her fetching the ball first. I'm very careful how I train her so no need to worry. :)

Thursday, February 11, 2016

BZees! Light Feels Right!


My dogs love going for walks, they look forward to it every day. Dogs need walks and dog moms need comfortable shoes to walk them in. Walking the dogs is not fun when your shoes pinch or hurt your feet. I was pretty excited when I was asked to review some awesome boots by Bzees! Bzees is a wonderful company who have awesome apparel for humans and they are also dedicated to helping shelter animals. Over the holidays a portion of the proceeds of every sale went to shelter animals in need. We were sent our boots in exchange for an honest review.

One of Zoe's favorite tricks is to bring me my shoes!

Since we are in Oregon, I decided to go with the Luscious Water Resistant Boots.

Bzees shoes are made with molded, low density, EVA soles that have micro-cellular air bubbles trapped within. These shoes are made to be lightweight, extremely soft and bouncy resulting in great flexibility and cushioning!

Important things about the boots:


  • Stretch fabric upper in a cold-weather boot style with round toe
  • Dynamic Stretch Uppers: For Free and Natural Movement
  • Designed so you'll feel weightless, energized and free
  • Slide zip closure, faux fur lining
  • Free Foam Footbeds
  • Smooth lining, cushioning insole for all-day comfort
  • Air Infused Outsoles
  • Water-resistant and machine washable 


  • I wore these in Phoenix's Frisbee Flip Video!

    Having comfortable shoes that are also flexible is so important for when I'm out doing training or just regular walks! I really like these boots! We've walked all over the place with me wearing them and we even did a little hiking. Even though the boots are not designed for hiking, I didn't get any blisters and we did about 4 miles. They are super light, easy to put on and so comfortable. I really like that they are water resistant since it's always raining and muddy in Oregon. Also being machine washable is a huge plus!

    I would totally recommend checking Bzees out! I had a great experience with the company and the shoes are awesome!

    I received my boots in exchange for an honest review and I was not monetarily compensated. All opinions are my own.


    Wednesday, February 10, 2016

    Waiting on Wordless Wednesday!


    Phoenix demonstrates her "wait" cue, while I get photos of her and the dramatic sky! 

    She's such a good girl!

    Happy Nearly Wordless Wednesday!

    Tuesday, February 9, 2016

    Zuke's (2 calorie) Skinny Bakes Review & Giveaway!


    If you've been reading my blog for a while you will know that I do a lot of dog training. I'm always looking for new training treats! One of the things that's important to me is finding treats that are small and low in calories because we go through so many of them. I do not want my dogs getting fat from training so imagine how thrilled I was when I found out that Zuke's has a new line of training treats!

    Skinny Bakes are a crunchy low calorie training treat that packs a nutritious punch. You can get the Skinny Bakes in 2, 5, 10 or 20 calories and they would make the perfect gift for any dog for Valentine's Day!

    We decided to go with the 2 calorie ones and we got them in exchange for an honest review.


    There are three different flavors in the 2 calorie Skinny Bakes line: Yogurt & Vanilla, Yogurt & Honey, Yogurt & Maple Syrup.

    Brown rice, barley and rice bran plus the protein of yogurt baked into each of these treats. They are made in the USA and do not contain any wheat, corn or soy.


    The treats are tiny! Which I was super excited about. The smaller they are the better for training. Zoe demonstrates the small size by balancing one on her nose.

    Can we have more?

    The girls absolutely love the Skinny Bakes and they were so excited to have them. I really like that they are only 2 calories per treat which means I can use a lot of them without having to worry about the dogs gaining weight. The treats are not messy, although they can get a little sticky if they get moist. If you saw my video of Phoenix Frisbee Flipping the treat I was using after each flip was the Skinny Bakes! (I like to reward with both food and toys to keep things interesting.)

    I would definitely recommend checking out Zuke's Skinny Bakes and we will definitely be getting these again!

    ZoePhee was provided with treats from Zuke's in exchange for an honest review. We were not monetarily compensated and all opinions are my own. Zuke's is not responsible for the content of this blog post.

    Here's your chance to win some treats! We are hosting a giveaway and (1) one lucky winner will receive the three flavors in the 2 calorie Skinny Bakes line. So you will be getting (3) three bags of treats from Zuke's.  

    The giveaway is open to USA residents age 18 years or older. No purchase necessary and void where prohibited. Giveaway prizes are non-transferable and all entries will be verified. 

    Monday, February 8, 2016

    The Great Cat Food Caper. Management Is Easier Than Training!

    "I don't know what happened but remember I LOVE you so much."

    Let me set the stage for you. I spent the entire day cleaning my house and steam cleaning the carpets. Oh the joys of steam cleaning carpets. Hours on end of changing out the disgusting water and picking pet hair out of the machine. Fun times. So when the evening rolled around, my back was killing me, I was tired and maybe a little bit grouchy. I decided a nice hot bath was in order. So I run the water as hot as I can stand, my husband tells me he's off to bed and I start to relax.

    Cue a huge scary crashing noise and it didn't sound good. I jump out of the tub, grab a towel and race out of the bathroom to see what happened and what do I find? A really cute dog looking at me from the top of the cat tree with her brown eyes going, "I have no idea how the bowl of cat food ended up landing on the ground and I don't know how I got up here!" Sweet little Phoenix got up on the cat tree and helped herself to some deliciously disgusting kitty food.

    Oh Phoenix. :/ Cat food is so bad for you and it makes your tummy hurt. Why did you do this!?

    Phoenix just got into the cat food and she got to eat some of it, thereby reinforcing herself for getting into it. What happens when a dog is reinforced for doing something? The behavior will be repeated. So now I have to make sure she is not able to do that again and practice unwanted behavior because the more they practice the better they get at doing it. Prevention is huge! Neither of my dogs have ever gotten up on the cat trees before, they are pretty tall and they've never counter surfed so I thought I was doing enough management just keeping the cat food up on the trees. My dogs are great at making me feel humble.

    Phoenix also has another behavioral issue where she gets very stressed out when either of us shower or take baths. This behavior popped up out of nowhere when we were living with our inlaw's and we've been working on it. She's gotten better but these things take time. She does not like it when one of us turns the bath water on and she gets weird and stressed out. I always leave the door cracked for them and she had been coming in and stealing my clothes (not chewing them, just carrying them around). Often when dogs steal our clothes it's because they are stressed out and they want to be close to us. Our clothes have our smell and it can be comforting for them so I was letting her do it.

    So on the night of the great cat food caper, I decided to kill two birds with one stone. Management is easier than training but when they are paired together it works out even better. Phoenix has a blanket that we use for settling and relaxation protocol. I decided to see if she could generalize that while I take a bath. So I put the blanket down, put her on it and closed the bathroom door. Yay. I now have a bath time buddy who can't get into the cat food. Since she's not thrilled about the bath tub and the water she was a little confused at first as to what we were doing, as shown in the first photo above.


    Then after about 10 minutes something magical and amazing happened. She fell asleep. This is the first time I've ever tried this. She's never been able to come into the bathroom on her own before and just relax. She was always running back and forth, checking on me, poking me in the arm running back out. Grabbing a piece of my clothing (which I didn't care about) and running off with it. She would do this the entire time I was soaking. Sometimes working herself up so much that she'd bark at my husband if he came in to talk to me or whatever.

    Being able to fall asleep and into true sleep is wonderful. A friend of mine told me about someone she knows who has a reactive dog and every time she gave that dog her blue ball, the dog had the courage to do whatever she needed her to do. They call it the "blue ball of courage". So this is Phoenix's pink blanket of courage. Not as cute as the blue ball but just as effective.

    Now some "force free fanatics" could argue that I forced her into the bathroom and made her stay in there with me. Part of that would be true (the part about forcing her to stay in there, because I did shut the door) but I didn't drag her in there. She walked into the bathroom on her own with some coaxing and settled on her blanket easily. Her sleep was true sleep and she was not in shutdown. When she wasn't sleeping, she was watching me curiously but without that freaky nervous behavior she has been previously displaying. I think it would of been more cruel to lock her in the bedroom with my husband because all she wants to do is be with me. With her blanket she was a completely different dog. It was awesome. With Phoenix it's always been like this. She has always needed some sort of structure to things and I sort of forgot about it until that night.

    When I first got Phoenix we could not touch her but she was open to being guided by a leash. Being guided by me and having structured activities has always been hugely beneficial for her. Having her on a predictable schedule where she knows what is going to happen and when it's going to happen and how to behave in a certain situation was helpful, too. Phoenix probably just needed me to show her how she should be when I take a bath.

    I'm hoping that this is something I can continue using with her. If the blanket is able to help her relax and she can realize that the humans taking baths isn't a big deal then that's awesome and I will use it. I will keep everyone updated with how it goes. As for the cat food the next time Phoenix is unattended the cat food is being moved to higher ground or I am stuffing her in her crate! No more kitty food for you, Phee!


    Have your dogs ever gotten into something they shouldn't have? What did you do to manage them to prevent that behavior from happening again?


    Don't forget to enter our giveaway for the Ultimate Warmer!


    Sunday, February 7, 2016

    Storm Warning!


    We were playing ball at the park when these very ominous clouds appeared overhead. 

    I decided to leave the clouds colored and also the splashes of pink in Phee's fleece pajamas. 

    I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

    Friday, February 5, 2016

    Phoenix can Frisbee Flip!


    Over the past week or so, I was finally able to teach Phoenix to "frisbee flip"! This was a trick I've been hoping to get for a very long time! I'm really happy that Phoenix is enjoying it so much. In addition to playing some disc games, like flipping and vaulting we've also done quite a bit of fetch this week, too!




    I also managed to get some video so everyone can see what it looks like! 


    Phoenix is so fun! I just love working with her. She's always up for anything I want to do and she's the coolest dog ever. We had a very good week for canine fitness and tricks, too!

    Thursday, February 4, 2016

    Ultimate Warmer Dog Coat by Hurtta Review!

    Hurtta, Hurtta Ultimate Warmer Dog Coat

    Phoenix is the sort of dog who loves warmth. She loves warm sunny days! She loves running in the sun, sunning herself in sun spots and heat does not bother her. What does bother her is the cold. Phoenix hates the cold more than she dislikes other dogs and that's saying a lot! She would definitely rather wear her coat and be too warm than too cold. Unfortunately for Phoenix, we live in Oregon and it's more cold and rainy here than it is sunny. We were all really excited when Hurtta asked us to test out their Ultimate Warmer Dog Coat. We were sent our Ultimate Warmers in exchange for an honest review.

    Ultimate Warmer Dog Coat

    The Ultimate Warmer Coat is the warmest coat in the Hurtta line! This is a great coat because it has so much coverage. The coat features a high neck cover, a protective front and coverage of the back end. There is also a chest flap that keeps the dog's chest warm and protected. It comes in three colors: Raspberry (pink), Granite (black) and Birch (green).


    This coat has been specifically designed for active or working dogs but I think it would be a great coat for any dog who needs protection from the cold. The Houndtex material used in the Ultimate Warmer is waterproof yet breathable and it is designed to keep your pup dry and warm.


    Ultimate Warmer Dog Coat

    The Ultimate Warmer features two openings, one on the back so you can attach your leash to a harness and one right in the neckline for attaching a leash to a collar. The neckline attachment is not shown since I don't walk my dogs on their collars.  I like that this coat offers both openings, though! 


    Ultimate Warmer Dog Coat
    Phoenix plays at the seasonal pond.
    Ultimate Warmer Dog Coat
    Phoenix climbs a tree!

    The coat is made from smooth and noise-free material and allows for complete freedom of movement. My dogs have been testing these coats out since the middle of December and we've found that they are definitely able to move well while wearing their Ultimate Warmers. We've had many games of fetch and freezing treks along the river and they run and play like normal. 


    Ultimate Warmer Dog Coat
    Back End Covering with it buttoned under the tail.
    Ultimate Warmer Dog Coat
    Back End Covering buttoned up and under the coat.
    Ultimate Warmer Dog Coat
    Back End Covering unbuttoned.

    The Ultimate Warmer offers a "back end" covering that buttons under the tail for added protection from the cold. Now I know many of you are wondering how does a dog go potty with a back end covering? Well the answer is that I don't button it under the tail until after they've gone poop. They can pee just fine with it buttoned. The back end covering can either be buttoned under the tail, buttoned up into the jacket so that the back end is free or it can be left unbuttoned and loose. (Shown in the three pictures above.) We've tested these coats thoroughly and the dogs have not soiled their coats. The coat also has back leg elastic straps that help to keep the coat in place. Those are shown in the second photo in this series above.

    Ultimate Warmer Dog Coat

    The dogs and I both really love the neck covering. It's definitely a high neck covering and when left loose and not bungied down it can come over part of their heads like a hoodie. When it rains, the dogs are able to tuck their ears back under it themselves without my help. Their heads and ears stay much more dry when they wear their Ultimate Warmers.

    Ultimate Warmer Dog Coat

    The belly strap clasps underneath the coat between layers about half way up the coat. This is the only thing I would change about this coat. I really wish the belly strap was like the Summit Parka. The Summit Parka's belly strap comes up and over the back and clasps across the back. The Summit Parka is more adjustable and fits my dogs better in the chest/belly. My dogs have long backs but skinny chests so the belly strap on the Ultimate Warmer is looser than I would prefer. This is not really Hurtta's fault. My dogs are definitely hard to fit with clothes and because the most important part of this coat is the back measurement, Zoe in particular had to go with a bigger coat and it doesn't fit as well in the chest/belly. With the way the Summit Parka is designed, it is more versatile and fits better, in my opinion. So if your dogs have really long backs but skinny chests, I would recommend buying the Summit Parka instead.


    The chest/belly covering is very soft and did not cause any chaffing or irritation in either of my dog's armpits, even after running for several miles in the coats. The Ultimate Warmer is very comfortable for the dogs to wear.

    Ultimate Warmer Dog Coat
    Camera Flashed her so you can see how bright the reflectors are!

    The Ultimate Warmer comes with high visibility 3M reflectors so that your pup will be visible and safe when you walk them in the dark. This is a wonderful feature since I do like going on late night walks and it's often dark and gloomy in Oregon. The coat has reflectors on the front and also running along the back of the coat, too. The pink color we chose is also very bright and visible when they run in the fields and provides them with protection from hunters.

    Ultimate Warmer Dog Coat
    Phoenix loves playing at the river, especially when she's warm!

    The girls don't like running around in the cold without their jackets. They really love their Ultimate Warmers and despite the belly strap being a little loose, I really like them a lot, too! They are very stylish and they keep the dogs super warm, dry and comfortable. The difference in their attitudes about being out in the cold was noticeable. They were happy to go for their walks and didn't mind running along the river, even though it was freezing. The coat has excellent coverage and comes in a range of sizes. It's also machine washable but I would recommend either air drying it or drying it on low heat so the elastic leg straps don't get ruined.

    I would recommend checking the Ultimate Warmer out! We love ours!

    You can find retailers in North America by going here: Hurtta247 Stockists.

    I would also highly recommend checking Hurtta out on Facebook and liking their page. They often look for product testers and run their own giveaways. The best way of finding out all the Hurtta news is by liking their page. 


    ZoePhee received our Ultimate Warmers in exchange for an honest review. We were not monetarily compensated and all opinions are our own. Hurtta is not responsible for the content of this blog post.

    Giveaway CLOSED.