We’re The Tops – says the Daily Mail

There’s been a flurry of excitement in the Country Mun office this week ….. after the Daily Mail chose two of our products to test for a  seaside feature on sand-busting products.

The top review of Country Mun in the Daily Mail

And our neoprene dog wetsuit coat and cool dog boots got a big thumbs up! Although we tend to sell them for everyday walking, the boots were used to keep sand out of the dog’s paws and apparently worked a treat. (They are also good to prevent your dog scorching its pads on hot sand or pavements but are just as suited to protecting your dog from ice and road grit in winter.)
Sandbusting rating from the Daily Mail was 8/10. Top score given.

They also tested out our dog wetsuit coat – which is great for everyday walks as well as swimming and the reviewer was pleased that it kept a lot of sand out of the dog’s coat – the model was a curly, heavy coated spaniel cross.

Although originally designed for swimming – to keep dogs warm and add buoyancy – the wetsuit coat is now popular with a wide range of  dog owners because it is great for walks and doesn’t restrict movement in the way that a normal coat would. It keeps your dog warm and dry without anything flapping about!

Currently, you can get 15% off the wetsuit – which starts at just £28.90. In plain or beige camo pattern, you can order it here  – and we are also offering a special weekend price-buster on the Ruffwear Float coat – the best dog life jacket you can buy.

 

 

*If you’d like to see how other items fared in the Daily Mail review – which tested everything from a sand repelling beach towel to an ipad holder – you can read the full article here.

Hot Weather – Bad News for Dogs

Most of us spent winter dreaming of warmer days ahead and many can’t wait to get out their shorts and enjoy the great outdoors. But although people generally enjoy the sun, few pets are as keen. (That said, we have a young rescue dog who will deliberately lie in the hot sun for as long as she can!) Of course, dogs doubtless enjoy the longer walks and occasional day trips added to their weekly routine in the summer months but it’s important to ensure they don’t over-heat. Remember, dogs have a fur coat on – so they get hot a lot faster than us – and they tend to run more so can become dehydrated quite quickly. That’s why it’s essential to keep an eye on your pet and make sure that there is always fresh water available. Here are some handy tips to keep them cooler in the sun:

Walk near water so your dog can cool off easily

• For dogs who like water, a small child’s paddling pool with an inch or two of water is a good idea in the garden
• If leaving your dogs in the house, choose a room that doesn’t get hot because of direct sunlight
• Always carry water for your dog on walks or day trips. Some bottles have a handy drinking trough attached and you can pick them up in bargain shops for under £5 – or you can carry a collapsible bowl.
• If you have a small sun-trap of a garden, try to give your dog a cool spot to relax. This doesn’t have to be anything expensive – just a well placed garden chair with a towel over it will provide some shade for smaller dogs.
• We all know it’s dangerous to leave a dog in a parked car – even for a short period of time. But even getting back into the car after a day out can feel like you are climbing into an oven. So try to park in a shaded spot – or better yet, buy one of our popular reflective car sheets to help keep the interior cooler. It’s multi-use so you can use it for other things throughout the year.
• Don’t over-do it on hot days. Dogs love to walk but they can get over hot and dehydrated in very hot weather. If you want a long walk, make sure there are shady places to rest along the way (or plan your walk to pass a country pub where you can enjoy some refreshment too!)

Dark coloured dogs feel the heat even more since their coats don’t reflect the sun as well as white haired dogs. All dogs will benefit from our reflective cooler coat – or even the budget Wet Wrap which can be soaked in water and then put over your dog.

Do you have tips for keeping dogs cool in summer? Share them with us here …

A cure for dogs with a tear-stained face? New trial underway

Light coloured dogs in particular can have unsightly “tear-staining” and over the years, owners and breeders have tried many different products in a bid to reduce it.

If your dog suffers from tear staining, you might want to take part in a new trial being run by manufacturer, Dog Rocks.

The company sells a special product (rocks!) which can reduce burn marks on your lawn from dog urine – but it says some owners have told them their dog’s tear stains have improved after using Dog Rocks.

So it has launched a trial to find out if this is actually the case and is looking for tear stained dogs to take part.

Carina Evans from Dog Rocks, says: “We now have strong reason to believe Dog Rocks also alleviate tear stains but we now need solid evidence so we are asking pet parents with dogs to take part in our trial.”

Owners taking part in the trial will need to email a picture of their pet suffering from tear stain and provide a little information about the dog’s breed, diet and lifestyle.

If you would like to take part, you need to email Dog Rocks ( info@dogrocks.co.uk ) or you can call them on 01628 822243.

If you already have a home grown remedy for tear stains, then let us know –  we would love to hear about it!  Leave a comment at the bottom of this article or email us ( sales@countrymun.com )

* Don’t forget – dogs can get very hot in the sun – our reflective Cooler coat or Wet Wrap can help to cool them down. See our sun products – including the popular vehicle reflective sheet – here.

 

Did you take your dog to work today?

Today was take your dog to work day in the UK – so we thought it would be interesting to find out how many people did take their four-legged friend into work with them.

 

If you did, we’re sure you will have taken pictures :)  Send them to us – and we’ll try to use some of them on our blog page.

 

Email your images to sales@countrymun.com (please use Dog at Work as your subject line.) By sending us your picture, you are giving us consent to use the image on our blog :)

Flash Sale – Get 30% OFF our neoprene dog wetsuit coats :)

Well, as it says …. the sun is finally out so we’re having a flash (or maybe that should be splash :) sale on our doggie wetsuit coats.

The wetsuit coat is ideal for swimming, hydrotherapy or just a wet walk (helps to keep the underside of your dog clean). It is great for dogs who love to run because it doesn’t restrict them in the way a normal coat would – and there’s no flapping fabric to worry about.

It is popular with lots of working dog owners because it helps to keep the dog warm on cold days – and of course, it’s a must-have for owners whose dogs love to swim.

Even when the sun is out in the UK, the water temperature in the sea or river is still pretty cold – this wonderful wetsuit will help to keep your four-legged friend warm.

Small and thin-coated dogs in particular can suffer from hypothermia if they spend too long in very cold water.  Made from neoprene – the same fabric used for human wetsuits – our wetsuit also adds buoyancy but please note that it is not a life preserver (although we sell those too).

Ready for the water – bring it on!

We’re currently offering an amazing 30% discount on our wetsuits –  which means you can buy at the best price you will find anywhere.

Sitting pretty – spaniel in camo pattern dog wetsuit

Spread the word – when they’re gone, they’re gone!!  See our website for how to measure and pricing information.

 

If you need a doggie lifejacket – try our RuffWear float coat

Still time to order for Mother’s Day … and get 10% OFF

Just in case you’ve forgotten …. it’s Mother’s Day next  Sunday, March 30.  If you are still trying to decide on a quality gift, then our luxury towelling rug coat is a great idea – assuming your mum has a dog of course :)

Popular with breeders and working dog owners alike, our rug is in a class of its own and will last for years. It dries a dog FAST and offers exceptional warmth. Ideal after swimming, hydrotherapy, bath – or a cold, wet walk.

It reduces drying time for heavy coated dogs literally by hours – and it’s great for keeping down the mud splatters in your coat if you pop it on the dog for the journey home from a country walk.

We wouldn’t be without ours for rescue dogs Mollie and Luna – but obviously we’re biased so don’t take our word for it – check out the amazing reviews on our website from satisfied customers.

There’s still time to order in time for Mother’s Day – and you can use discount code SPECIAL10 to get 10% OFF the price.

Certainly beats the usual chocolates and flowers.

Opening day at Crufts – good luck everyone!

Crufts 2014 opens today and we wanted to wish all competitors the best of luck – and remind everyone that our luxury towelling rug coat will be on sale at the show this year.

Preferred by many breeders and working dog owners for its speed of drying, our fast drying towelling rug coat is fully reversible and dries your dog fast – after a bath, swimming, hydrotherapy – or just a cold, wet walk.

Pop it on before you get in the car for the journey home after a muddy walk.  As well as helping to warm and dry your four-legged friend, it cuts down on the mud spatters inside your car.

The towelling rug coat will be on sale at Crufts on Stand 70 Hall 1 (under the stars from Hall 2) from Dog Books Online. You can also check out their amazing range of dog books – everything from dog encyclopedias to training books and DVDs.

Dries heavy coated dogs FAST