Barkonomics:Tips for Frugal Fidos Book Review

I love my dog.  He is seriously part of our family!  What would I do without him? I ask myself this now, but when my husband wanted to get the dog I was less than enthusiastic.  Dogs are expensive!  Vet bills, registration, food, toys....the list goes on and on.  Where can we go to find a way to take care of our furry friends without breaking the bank? For a frugal mama like me, this was an important question to answer!

I came across Barkonomics: tips for frugal fidos. This book has so many wonderful tips on where to get your pet supplies for less, how to save on adoption fees, vet fees and so much more!! I learned a lot that I didn't know before! You can get your pet's medications at the drug store, instead of paying the more expensive vet prices!  In some areas (including mine!) you get a discounted registration price when you have your dog spayed or neutered.  And of course it is so much cheaper to obtain a dog from a local shelter than to purchase a pure breed dog or even one at a pet store. And a bonus-a lot of shelters these days micro chip your pet, making it easy to identify your dog and contact you should it run away.


Barkonomics is organized into different chapters, and in the table of contents each chapter has a list of some of the types of tips for each category.  This makes it super quick and easy to find a quick tip whenever you need it! The authors Paris Permenter and John Bigley, did a wonderful job of carefully explaining the best process for choosing your dog, feeding it, caring for it and more, all with frugal living in mind!!

Paris and John love their dogs, and even have their own website, dogtipper.com.  This website is a great place to find dog tips, and to help you live a more frugal life with your Fido!  There are even great giveaways!!☺ There is a lot to see so make sure you stop by dogtipper.com to check it out!  Also find them on Twitter @DogTipper and click here for their Facebook page! 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com and the Tomoson weekly featured sponsor Favorite Wigs - Shop Name Brand Wigs at Low Prices! Large Wig Selection of Forever Young Wigs, and other Quality Wigs. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Puplight Review & Giveaway!

Walking your dog is a great way to exercise and to bond with your pooch! But sometimes by the time you are done with the day and ready to walk, it gets dark! Now you can walk your dog and have him be seen with the Puplight!! This collar has a light attached to it to help easily see your dog!


Here are the benefits of the PupLight!:

• Keeps Both You and Your Dog Safe Since It Allows Drivers to See You at Night
• Convenient, Provides Illumination So You Don't Need To Carry a Flashlight
• Allows You To See Where Your Stepping and What Your Dog's Getting Into
• Makes You Feel Safer At Night Since You Are More Visible
• Allows You to See Your Dog When He's Outside Your House at Night
• Helps You Locate Your Dog If It Runs Off and Keeps It Safe From Cars If It Does
• Extends the Amount of Time You and Your Dog Can Safely Walk
• Helps dogs with poor vision see better

I really like this light! We love to go camping, and at night this is a great way to easily see where your dog is at any time!  The light is attached to a collar and it is comfortable and works with a leash!  They come in a variety of sizes so you can get one that fits your dog the best.  This makes sure that the collar won't be too big or too small and you can get the best use out of your PupLight!

The PupLight has 3 super bright LED lights, so it really gives a powerful light!  The light is water resistant, so even if you get caught in the rain its okay! The lights are in a protected plastic covering to keep your dog safe!  The light even adjusts to various brightness so you can choose the setting that best fits your needs.


I really like how the light itself has a pivot angle, so you can choose how and where you want the light to shine, whether it is straight ahead or more to the ground! This makes it real easy to see where you are going! You don't even need a flashlight for nighttime walks, just use the PupLight! 

The PupLight comes in red, blue, silver and black! Choose the best color for your dog!  The collar is black with each light, so you are choosing the color of the actual light itself.  And they are only $19.95 each! The collar is sturdy and adjustable.  The PupLight is a necessity for any dog owner!


You can win your own PupLight! Here is how to win!!:

MANDATORY ENTRY 2 PARTS MUST BE DONE FOR THE ENTRY AND EXTRA ENTRIES TO COUNT:

PART 1:  Tell me about your dog!! What type do you have? What makes your pooch so special to you?   Leave your answer in your comment!

PART 2: Follow me via Google Friend Connect
You must put both parts in the SAME comment and include your GFC name for the entry to count. Also must include an email to contact you to win, unless it is visible on your blogger profile.
 No email=no prize!

For all other entries, leave a separate comment for each entry, and if it says more than entry for doing something, leave an individual comment for each of those entries and label them #1 #2 and so forth.
Have questions? Email Frugal Family Fun!

Extra Entries:

Like PupLight on Facebook and leave me your Facebook name in the comment

Like Frugal Family Fun on Facebook leave me your Facebook name in the Comment

If you get a friend to like us on Facebook, you get an extra entry! One entry per friend that likes my page!  THIS IS AN UNLIMITED ENTRY  Just say in your comment that you got a person to like and what their name is!

 

Follow @puplight on Twitter and leave your Twitter name in the comment

Follow @FrugalFamilyFun on Twitter and leave your twitter name in the comment

Tweet about this giveaway up to 5 times daily for entries. leave me the link to your tweet- Your Tweet Must include @FrugalFamilyFun @puplight and the link to this contest.  tweets must be at least 1 hour apart for entry. 1 extra entry for each tweet.

Subscribe to our email updates, via google reader, or via RSS feed , 1 extra entry for each

Put our button on your blog, leave me the link to the blog THIS WILL BE CHECKED. 3 extra entries

Blog about this contest, including a link back to this giveaway worth 5 extra entries. Leave me the link to the blog post in your comments

Enter any of our other giveaways! Gain an extra entry in this contest for each contest you enter! Leave the name of the contest in your comment!

Contest begins now and ends January 15, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be selected via Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner must respond within 48 hours or forfeits prize.  Open to US Only!

PupLight gave me a product to review on my blog. I was not obligated to give a positive review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post.

Furminator DeSheddingTool Review and Giveaway

As most of you dog  owners know,dog shedding can make lots of things dirty. It can be difficult to get your dog's hair off of couches and floors. But what if you could prevent the mess all together? Introducing the Furminator!!  This ingenious brush locks the hair in its teeth for a easy to use and mess free method of getting rid of excess pet hair!

They offer 4 different sizes, so you can find one perfect for your feline friend or pooch.  I usually can't get my dog to sit still for grooming.  He is a 3 year old American Pitbull.  Well when I used the Furminator on him, he absolutely loved it! He actually sat still and let me brush him!! He is white, and my furniture is dark, so it can make it difficult to clean up once in gets everywhere! Even on clothes it can be annoying to have to deal with dog hair.  This tool works so well, and when I ran my hands over his fur after using it about 20 minutes, no loose hair came off!! This made me so happy that I don't have to worry about a bunch of loose dog hair getting all over the place.

You can use this on cats too, so if you have a long haired cat this is one tool you are going to want to get! This tool will seriously change the way you groom your pet, and saves money compared to going to the groomer to take care of your pet! You have to try this if you have a pet that sheds (and most furry friends do!!)

One of you can win your own Furminator Shedding Tool! Here is how to win:

Mandatory Entry:

Go to Furminator.com and tell me something you would like to try! Leave me a comment below telling me what it is! Be sure I have your email in case you win!!

How about some extra entries? Leave separate comments for all that you do!

Follow via Google Friend Connect, leave the name you used, 3 extra entries

Follow @FURminator_Inc on Twitter. Leave me your twitter name.

Follow @frugalfamilyfun on Twitter. Leave me your twitter name.

Blog about this for 5 extra entries. Leave me the link to the post

Put our button on your blog for 1 extra entry. Leave me the link to your blog.

Tweet daily about this giveaway-up to 5 entries per day!! (1 entry per tweet, must be at least 1 hour apart)

Tweets must state that this is a contest and must include @frugalfamilyfun @FURminator_Inc and the link to this giveaway! Leave me the link to your tweet in the comment.

Contest begins now and ends August 31,2010. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be notified via email. Winner has 48 hours to claim their prize or forfeits the prize. In this case we will redraw for a new winner.

I was not monetarily compensated for this review. I was given the products mentioned from Furminator for review. These opinions are not affected by the products received. They are my honest opinions. The winner will also be receiving the dryer.

Bark Off Review and Giveaway

Whether you own a pet or not, chances are you have likely been annoyed by a dog barking. There is nothing worse than trying to sleep at night and a dog barking next door.  And in some cases you can get in trouble if your own dog is excessively barking. Maybe you just want the dog not to bark every time someone walks by the house.  Whatever the situation, Bark Off can help you fix the problem. 


 Bark Off is a training aid that emits a sound only audible to dogs.  It is triggered by the dog's bark. It is a painless and natural way to fix problem barking. The device is ultrasonic, and is pet friendly. It can be used indoors and outdoors, although you have to be careful of the weather if you have it outside.  The Bark Off device is portable, so no more annoying dogs anywhere you go!  Just switch on the BarkOff™ device and an ultrasonic signal, inaudible to human ears, instantly captures your dog's attention and immediately interrupts the barking pattern. 




BarkOff didn't completely stop the barking of my dog and my neighbor's dogs, but it significantly reduced it. There are no longer late night barking sprees where the little chiuaua next door barks for hours on end. (How his owner sleeps through it I will never know)  My dog only barks now when someone comes in that he doesn't know or when the little weiner dog next door tries to do his business in the yard. (And then of course I tell my dog he's a good boy for busting the dog hehe)


The point is that if you want to stop barking, or at least reduce the level of barking Bark Off actually works!  You will notice a change within about a week usually, and it will amaze you! The batteries do tend to go quickly if you use it all the time, so if it seems like the dogs are barking more, you likely need to change the battery.



Buy BarkOff™ for just $10 and only $6.99 S&H. But that's not all! When you order today, you'll also receive a second BONUS BarkOff™ for the car or to give as a gift for *just separate $6.99 S&H. BarkOff™ works so well because the ultrasonic signal actually teaches your dog the difference between nuisance barking and barking that protects your family and your home. Best of all, BarkOff™ is small enough to fit in your pocket so you can take it virtually anywhere your dog goes!


One of you will win your own Bark Off device! Here is how to win:  

*MANDATORY ENTRY* THIS MUST BE DONE FOR ALL OTHER ENTRIES TO COUNT. PLEASE BE SURE I HAVE YOUR EMAIL TO CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN!  

Tell me about your pet if you have one. If you don't, tell me if you have an annoying dog next door.  

Tell me in a comment below!  Be  sure I have your emailso I can contact you if you win!

Extra entries: (leave a separate comment for each:)
Follow us via Google Friend Connect, worth 3 extra entries and leave me the name you used.

Follow @FrugalFamilyFun on Twitter 1 extra entry leave me your twitter name

 Follow @buybarkoff on Twitter 1 extra entry leave me your twitter name

Tweet about this giveaway. Include the link to this giveaway, @buybarkoff and @FrugalFamilyFun Can be up to 5 times daily, tweets must be at least 1 hour apart for entry. 1 extra entry for each tweet.
leave me the link to your tweet

Subscribe to our email updates, via google reader, or via RSS feed , 1 extra entry for each

Put our button on your blog, leave me the link to the blog THIS WILL BE CHECKED. 3 extra entries

Blog about this contest, including a link back to this giveaway worth 5 extra entries.  Leave me the link in your comments to the post

Friend Bark Off on Facebook tell me your fb name

Contest begins now and ends August 20, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. Winners will be selected via Random.org and will be notified by email. Winners must respond within 48 hours or forfeits prize. Good luck!

Bark Off provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product

Licks & Giggles Review and Giveaway!!

I am a big time pet lover!! Even when my puppy ate my favorite pair of high heels, I still loved her! Pets are our companions, our friends no matter what. Who else would love you no matter what. They are loyal and are probably better than some people you know!! And so because our pets are so great to us, we need to be great to them.

I give you Licks and Giggles Boutique, the ultimate pet gift site!!!

They have everything you can imagine, from super cute Leather Heart CollarsTo keep your dog fashionable & to make it easy to return if your little Princess gets lost....

The Fling Thing for a great day at the park...

and these super cute Swarovski Cross Bones Tees to keep your dog warm and in style...


And now you can enter to win a goodie for your pooch!!


Yummy Zuke's Z Ridge Cranberry Chews! Here is a little info for the Cranberry chews from the Licks and Giggleswebsite:

Knowing toilets are a dog's water source of choice, it's no surprise their breath gets bad. So if you love your dog, but aren't quite ready to share your electric toothbrush with them, Z–Ridge can help. They support fresh breath and clean teeth — naturally, without gut-clogging wheat gluten, nasty corn starch or synthetic chlorophyll. Our potato-based chews maintain dental hygiene by scraping and polishing your dog's teeth. No more fake mints or unhealthy remedies for your furry friend. Fight doggie breath the natural way with Z-Ridge and Fuel the Love.

Sounds great, because I know my doggie seems to always have stinky breath and this is a great way to help fight it!!

So how do you enter??

***MANDATORY ENTRY***

YOU MUST DO THIS FOR ANY OTHER ENTRIES TO COUNT!!!

Go to Licks and Giggleswebsite and tell me which item you like for your pet!

Want to earn some extra entries?? Here's how!

1. Follow Licks and Giggles on twitter (For 1 bonus entry!)

2. Follow Frugal Family Fun on twitter (For 1 bonus entry!)

3.Sign up via email or RSS Feed through Google reader for our updates!(can do both, 2 entries for each!)

4. Follow me on google friend connect (For 3 bonus entries!)

5. Add my button to your blog (For 3 bonus entries!) (Leave me a link to the blog!)

6. Blog about this giveaway (For 5 bonus entries!) (Leave me a link to the blog!)

7. Tweet about this giveaway!! MUST include @FrugalFamilyFun AND @licksandgiggles to count!
THIS CAN BE DONE 3 TIMES DAILY FOR 1 ENTRY PER TWEET. THESE MUST BE SPACED OUT, NO MORE THAN AN HOUR TOGETHER!!

The contest will begin February 18,2010 and end March 18,2010 at 11:59 P.M. PST. One winner will be chosen via Random.org The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond or they forfeit their prize. In this case a new winner will be chosen! Good luck to all!

All photos courtesy of Licks and Giggles' Website I was not compensated for this review, and these are only my opinions.