Do Your Pets Try to Stop You From Leaving Home?

Our oldest and largest dog Roscoe can't stand it when my husband has to leave for work in the morning. Harold will sit at the kitchen table to pull on his shoes...Roscoe butts his arms and legs with his head to interfere with the shoe-ing. Our other large dog Max usually joins in by ducking under Harold's thighs and lifting up with his head. I really should record a video of their antics.

Do your pets interfere when you attempt to leave home? What are some of the funny antics they do? Share your experiences in the comment section below.

Review: Jones Natural Chews Company Cow Hooves for Dogs

If you have large breed dogs like our German Shorthaired Pointer mix, Roscoe, and Pitbull mix, Max, you know it is a challenge to find long lasting chew toys that are safe and keep their interest.

On a recent trip to a farm and feed supply store, I found Jones Natural Chews Co. beef hooves in the chew toy section of the dog aisle. As a dog mom, I’m interested in natural and safe dog toys, and toys made and packaged in the U.S. The Jones Natural Chews cow hooves are made in the U.S. and are organic. The only processing is cleaning and baking the cow's toenail before it is ready for consumers.

Max and Roscoe excitedly play with the beef hooves. The boys give the Jones Natural Chews Company beef hooves 5 stars. Our small dogs Lucy and Shelby steal the hooves from their brothers and enjoy them as well. 

Beef hooves as chew toys provide a good source of protein. Each hoof has a low fat content, no salt and no calories. There are no artificial ingredients. They are suitable for dogs of all sizes. Best of all, the cow hooves provide hours of satisfying gnawing time.

Beef Hooves Facts

All of Jones' beef hooves are from cattle grown in the U.S. Each cow hoof is approximately 2 - 4 oz., 4 – 5 inches long and 2.5 inches wide.

Jones Natural Chews Cow Hooves Guaranteed Analysis

Here is the nutritional break down of the chew toy:

• Crude Protein Min. 86 percent
• Crude Fat Min. 1 percent
• Crude Fiber Max. 3 percent
• Moisture Max. 13 percent

Jones Natural Chews Co. is based in Rockford, IL. Their beef hooves retail for around $0.99 and can be found at farm and feed supply stores, retailers and online.

Does your dog enjoy chewing on beef hooves? Have you tried this brand? Share your dog's experience with cow hooves in the comment section below.

Review: Frontline Plus for Dogs Weighing 23 to 44 Pounds

Our Pitbull mix Max is a sensitive dog. He doesn't like to be given medicine. He doesn't like anyone to touch him except my husband and me, and only for wrestling, pets, hugs and kisses. As you will see in the video review below, Max wasn't too pleased about being the flea medicine recipient. He has to receive the flea treatment no matter what, and what better example of how easy or difficult a product is to use than testing it on a difficult pet?

We don't know Max's history. He literally walked up our front porch steps one summer day a year ago, made friends with our older and large dog Roscoe, and he's been in our family since. The veterinarian believes Max is 2-years-old. We cope with his fears and sensitivities like we would that of any family member, human or animal.


We treat our cat and dogs, wash pet and people bedding, vacuum and treat the environment on the same day. If the dogs continue to have fleas after these steps are done, we assume the Frontline Plus for Dogs has failed.

Frontline Plus for Dogs containing fipronil 9.8 percent and S-methoprene 8.8 percent should be used on dogs and puppies 8 weeks or older. The liquid insecticide for dogs 23-44 lbs is available as 1.34 ml applicators. The product is sold in with 3 doses, which lasts 3 months. The retail price for this product ranges from $38.99 to $53.74, depending where you purchase. The product is available at retail and online stores.

Hound and Home gives this product 3.5 stars based on past and current results, and because the same ingredients can be applied easier with the PetArmor Plus for Dogs applicator.

How to Apply Frontline Plus for Dogs

I like to shave a small section of fur so that the spot-on treatment is certain to be absorbed into my dog's skin. If the product is placed on dense fur, it will not be absorbed properly and more likely to fail.

Place the applicator tip through your dog's fur, to the skin, between his or her shoulder blades. Apply the entire contents of the applicator. Use only one applicator per treatment.

Frontline Plus for Dogs Ingredients

Frontline Plus for Dogs is made by the pharmaceutical company Merial. It contains an insect growth regulator called S-methoprene that kills flea eggs and larvae. It is also effective against all life stages of the brown dog tick, the American dog tick, the deer tick and the lone star tick.

Frontline Plus for Dogs Benefits

There are five key benefits to using this product:

1. Kills fleas on your pet within 12 hours
2. One dose provides protection for one month
3. It aids in the control of sarcoptic mange infections
4. It is waterproof
5. Kills ticks and chewing lice

How Frontline Plus for Dogs Works

Frontline Plus contains fipronil, an insecticide that disrupts the central nervous system of fleas and ticks. It causes paralysis and death. The product also contains S-Methoprene, an insect growth regulator that kills flea eggs and larvae. These active ingredients are applied as a spot-on and enter your pet's bloodstream via the skin. The active ingredients are stored in your pet's sebaceous glands, which are small skin glands that secrete a lubricating oil (sebum) into the hair follicles to lubricate the skin and fur.

Side Effects and Warnings

Your dog may experience temporary irritation at the site of the spot-on application. While our larger dogs don't, our small dogs do have redness and irritation after application. If the irritation becomes more severe following application, consult your veterinarian immediately.

Wait 24 hours to for the flea treatment to fully dry before allowing your dog to swim or bathe. Do not reapply for 30 days.

This product is for external use on dogs and puppies only. It will kill cats or kittens (Merial makes a separate flea treatment for felines). Frontline Plus is approved for use on breeding, pregnant, or nursing animals. Ask your veterinarian before using this product on dogs taking medication or dogs that are using other pesticide products, or on debilitated or aged animals.

Frontline Plus is harmful to humans if swallowed or absorbed through the skin. It can also cause eye injury. Call a physician or poison control center for advice. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling, or wear gloves.

To dispose of the used product, wrap original container in layers of newspaper and throw in the trash. Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

Flea Control Tips

It is important to treat all pets in your household for fleas at the same time, as well as vacuum carpets, wash pet and human bedding, and treat the outside of your home. It's a lot of work, but if everything is done the same day, you should be flea free within a day or two. Since the flea treatment lasts only 30 days, you will need to repeat these steps monthly.

Review: PetArmor Plus Flea, Tick Treatment for Dogs

In Georgia, where the fall and winter months are warmer than other parts of the U.S., the battle against fleas is year round. Our family has used many flea control products over the years. Our search for a superior, no-fail product continues.

Our Papillon Lucy and Shih Tzu mix Shelby help test PetArmor Plus for Dogs and puppies weighing 4 to 22 pounds. It is advertised to kill fleas, ticks and chewing lice for up to 30 days. It's waterproof. It contains the same squeeze-on active ingredients fipronil and (s)-methoprene found in more expensive products, such as Frontline Plus.

PetArmor Plus for Dogs cannot be used on cats; it will kill cats.

What I especially like about this flea treatment is the applicator. Each product package contains three doses, or three applicators. You clip off the top portion of the applicator with scissors, which is marked with a line, and simply apply the dose to your dog between his or her shoulder blades.

I use an electric shaver to shave a section of fur to ensure the liquid flea treatment reaches the skin. The product must be absorbed through the skin -- into your dog's bloodstream -- to work.

Hound and Home gives PetArmor Plus for Dogs 4 stars because it is more affordable than other brands, works just as well as more pricey brands, and is easy to use. The reason it did not earn 5 stars is because we've had failure with the product in the past, though infrequent.

What PetArmor Plus for Dogs Kills

The product's formula kills the following pests:

• Adult fleas, and flea eggs and larvae for up to 12 weeks
• Ticks that may transmit Lyme disease
• Mites that may cause sarcoptic mange
• Deer ticks
• Dog ticks, including American dog ticks and lone star ticks

PetArmor Plus for Dogs by Weight

The product comes in four different doses for the following dog weights:

1. 4-22 lbs
2. 23-44 lbs
3. 45-88 lbs
4. 89-132 lbs

Why Flea Treatments Fail

We have used this product in the past with varying results. It works most of the time, and I believe the success is because we treat all of our pets at the same time and the environment. We wash our dogs a day before, apply the flea treatment to all four dogs at the same time, and also buy a separate flea treatment product for cats to apply to our cat Cash. We vacuum the carpet, treat the carpet with a flea spray, and mop our hardwood floors. We wash pet bedding and our own bedding as the smaller dogs tend to sleep with us. It's a major chore, but if everything is done the same day, you'll have success.

The product has failed, though infrequently, and I believe the reason was that we did not follow all of the steps outlined in the paragraph above. Also, if you apply the spot-on liquid without making sure it reaches your dog's skin, it will not be absorbed and therefore not work. Dog breeds with thick coats, like Golden Retrievers and Alaskan Malamutes, are especially challenging. I recommend that you shave a small section of the fur between his or her shoulder blades and apply the flea treatment there so you know it is absorbed through the skin.   

Lastly, the flea medicine could be expired, causing it to fail. Be sure to check the expiration date on the flea control product.

Have you used PetArmor Plus for Dogs? What has been your experience? Share your thoughts and experience in the comment section below. 

Review: Pet Friendly Travelodge Inn and Suites Gatlinburg Tennessee

Photo credit: Travelodge Inn & Suites

My husband and I decided to stay in Gatlinburg, Tennessee November 13-15, 2015. Gatlinburg is a mountain town in eastern Tennessee, which borders the 520,000-acre Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's typical to see elk, wild turkeys and other wildlife during the drive through the majestic mountains. Gatlinburg's attractions include a 407-ft. Space Needle observation tower, a Sky Lift, a 2.1-mile aerial cable car that travels from downtown to the ski resort Ober Gatlinburg.

We married there in April at a quaint chapel in the mountains. We were distracted by all things wedding, so we thought it would be nice to return and explore the town.

We chose Travelodge Inn and Suites in Gatlinburg on the River because it welcomes pets. Our room rate was $99.99 a night. Our two small dogs Lucy and Shelby stayed for an additional $20.00 a night each. Roscoe, Max and Cash stayed home with visits from a pet sitter.

Shelby, 12, has traveled with me by car and plane over the years. She's a seasoned traveler. She is calm. She never gets car sick. She sleeps most of the time.

Lucy, 2, has ridden in the car briefly. I was pleasantly surprised that she handled the more than three hour car ride well. Both dogs enjoyed stopping at mountain overlooks and mountain areas for potty breaks.

The Travelodge Inn and Suites in Gatlinburg is an older hotel that set on the banks of the Little Pigeon River. Each guest room overlooks the river, which is nice. It's a short walk to fantastic restaurants and shops. It offers a free breakfast that is adequate; the coffee was delicious.

Check in was fast and easy. Our room was on the third floor. There is an old and drafty elevator, or you can take the stairs. Shelby had lived with me in an Atlanta high rise years ago -- taking the elevator was fun for her. Lucy, meanwhile, was spread eagle and flattened on the elevator floor the first couple of elevator rides as though she was expecting a bomb to go off.

The room was nicely decorated and clean. The A/C and heating unit thermostat did not work properly. The bathroom shower and tub unit was new. The ceiling of the shower and tub unit was low. If you are 6-foot or taller, chances are you will not be able to stand upright while you shower.

We laid out a couple of pee pads on the bathroom tile -- just in case. I'm happy to report that none were used. Our two girls had no issues going potty on the property so we had no accidents.

There is not a designated dog park or a lot of grass areas for dog potty breaks. The hotel didn't recommend where to take the dogs. The car parking lot beneath the hotel, which is open air, does have a patch of grass behind it next to the river. It is the best choice for a potty area. Otherwise, you have to use the landscaped area next to the pool, which other guests may frown upon, or go for a walk in town and poop scoop.

I laid out the dogs' favorite blanket and toys, which kept them busy while we were out and about.

One good thing about the hotel's age; the rooms seem well insulated. We could not hear our next door neighbors, which was wonderful because the dogs were not alarmed and inclined to bark.

The room balconies overlook the river. Unfortunately, we could not allow the dogs on the balcony because all of the rooms open to a shared balcony, which is our number one complaint about the hotel. It is important to remember to lock the door leading out the shared balcony or strangers could access your room.

There were many dogs of all sizes staying at Travelodge Inn and Suites at Gatlinburg the weekend we were there.

In conclusion, we were satisfied with our stay at Travelodge's pet friendly hotel. We felt it was a good value. In hindsight, we should've asked for a room switch since the A/C and heat unit was not working properly.

The dogs enjoyed their stay. There are no negative incidents to report at the hotel concerning the dogs. Hound and Home recommends this Travelodge Inn for dogs.

Travelodge Inn and Suites Pet Policy

View from the balcony.

The Travelodge in Gatlinburg website currently states that there is a maximum of two pets allowed for a fee of $25.00 per pet per night. The rate must have increased. We paid $20 a night.

Max weight of 20 lbs. or less per pet. I don't think the hotel staff observes this policy because we saw dogs weighing over 20 pounds while there. Ask the reservation clerk if they will allow your larger dog.

Additional fees may be charged if room is found damaged or dirty because of your pet. Please do not leave pets unattended.

ADA defined service animals are also welcome at this hotel.

Travelodge Inn and Suites on the River is located at 218 Ski Mountain Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. 1-865-325-1516. Check in is after 3:00 p.m. Check out is before 11:00 a.m.

Have you and your dog ever stayed at a Travelodge Inn & Suites? Were you satisfied with the experience? What is your favorite pet friendly hotel chain? Share your experience in the comment section below.