Keeping with the spirit of New Years I decided I would weigh in with my list of things that you need for the upcoming year.

A 6 ft. Leash

• I still see a lot of you with these Flexi-Leashes, you know, the retractable ones. They’re not good. Not good for training, not good for walking your dog, not good for doing dishes…they’re just not good for anything! The dogs ability to pull on the leash and keep going gives your dog the impression that by pulling, it can go wherever it wants and because of the constant pressure, your leash signals become less and less meaningful to your dog. A good 6 ft. leash doesn’t promote pulling and will help you maintain a close proximity to your dog where it is easier to control him/her in any given situation.

Nature’s Variety

• Every year we hear about people making resolutions to go on a diet or exercise or just to lose weight in general, and these are good resolutions that I would never say a bad word about. Let’s get our dogs in shape this year! Start by adjusting their diet from McDonalds to Home-Cookin’. It’s time to make that switch from Beneful, Iams or Eukanuba to Nature’s Variety and see the difference in your dog. A fresh batch of samples will be in sometime in January, so keep checking in the office and try a small bag on the house. If your pup finds it palatable, grab a 7lb bag and watch the transformation take place! (You’ll be calling him an Autobot in no time, well maybe a Decepticon, but you get the point)

Muck Boots

• These things rule! When we first got them in I thought, “There’s no way I’m paying that for some rubber boots.” Then one day last winter I forgot to bring my winter boots and I had to shovel snow in my shoes, so Jeff let me borrow his Mucks for the day. It wasn’t lunch time before I took the plunge and bought my own pair of Edgewaters, and I haven’t got out of the pool yet! I wear them at work, at home, hunting, fishing, to walk the dog and any other time I want to make sure my feet stay warm and dry. This is one purchase that I will NEVER regret!

A (Dog) Vest

• Anyone know the number one way to keep your hands and feet warm? Yes…you in the back row there. *listens* No, I’m sorry. Sticking them in between your legs is a great way to warm them up, but not the best way. Actually the best way is to keep your core warm. If you keep your core body temperature at or above 98.6 then any excess heat gets pumped out to your extremities. Focus on your chest and overall trunk area and you’ll be warm as a cinnamon roll! Same goes for dogs, so be sure to stop in and see our selection of human and dog vests and you can both fight the winter and early spring chill in style.

How ’bout one more can’t live without item for 2010…

A Kong

• I know what you’re thinking and your wrong. I didn’t say Kong just because I couldn’t think of anything else, I truly love Kongs. Cammie’s Kong is the most used and abused toy we have have and not only has it stood up to her 2 hour lick sessions, it has also stood up to my wailing it down the hillside off of the front deck and bouncing it off of trees. You absolutely CANNOT go wrong with a Kong. And if you tell me that your dog doesn’t like it, well, that’s your fault. Go to their web site and learn to pack that thing like a pro and your dog will head to the courthouse for a marriage license. “Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of Cammie and Her Kong in Holy Matressmoney…” Trust me.

Amen.