The most major purchase was three new travel crates for our new van, to keep the coven safe when we are on the road. I did a bunch of research (the options and price range for crates is truly mind-boggling) and decided that the Kennebec NG, made by Good Ideas, would work nicely for our needs. We purchased the Medium size for our three PWD girls and they are plenty roomy. We easily strapped them together by running heavy cargo straps around all three and through the handles on the top of each kennel. We then strapped them through the cargo rings on the side of the van using the same method.The girls took some time to get used to the idea of riding in something other than wire kennels, but frequent rewards for loading into the crates has overcome their objections. The Kennebec crates have lots of vent holes, which I think the dogs approve of.
We love our seat covers for the van which were made for us by Crazy H20 Dog Art. Kris' website is down right now, but you can find her on Facebook and by searching the internet. Jan has actually had people stop him in parking lots to ask where we got these. Kris based the silhouettes on our girls Ecko (passenger seat) and Delta (driver's seat). We love the fleece colors and they make the vinyl seats in the van much more cozy to sit on.
Another recent purchase was a new coat for our senior dog Stoker from Gold Paws which is not only made in the USA, but is also located in our home state of Oregon. We wanted a pullover type coat with no buckles or toggles so Stoker could safely wear it in her crate and also wanted something comfortable enough for her to wear on walks in cold weather. We chose the Portland Pullover style which is made of stretch fleece and also has a BionicECO Softshell back that is highly water resistant and dirt repellant.We really like Stoker's new coat and she is very comfortable in it.
The dogs thought it was a special day recently when a big box of dogs treats arrived on the door. We purchased these based on the recommendation of an acquaintance who also has PWDs. It's nice to have a supply of high value and good quality treats on hand for training and rewards. We ordered a sample pack from Carlson Morgan Premium Pet Products and are very pleased with them. The coven are not known for being picky eaters, but we are happy with the quality and they gulp them down enthusiastically.
Have you purchased something for your dog recently that was Made in the USA and that you love? We'd be happy to hear about such products and you could post them in a comment to this blog.
