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If variety is the spice of life, then the past few weeks have been spicy indeed: rain, sun, wind, and, for good measure, sleet, have all made an appearance. While some may choose to postpone a transition to lighter clothes and longer walks - we make no judgment! - here at King Duke’s, we are determined to get out and about for it is officially SPRING. The clocks leapt forward and so did we…
Our human selves are thrilled to see daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths, and shop for delicious spring veggies, and if we have to risk getting soaked in the process, so be it. Similarly, the hounds in our lives are full of the joys of, yes, spring, finding the new smells it brings to be far more appealing than, say, seasonal artichokes, which Lucy in particular rejects as “utterly confounding” despite their many health benefits.
But enough about us, this is about you! Accordingly, we have scoured the earth for the things you need to enjoy all that spring has to offer so you and your pets can make the most of it, rain or shine.
1. Licks Dog Skin & Allergy + Shiny Coat Gummies
In common with their two-legged friends, many dogs suffer from seasonal sniffles, sneezes, and scratchings, thanks to increased pollen in the air. Happily, these amazing gummies - the strongest formulation on the market - are packed withactive ingredients including anti-inflammatories for itchy skin, seasonal allergies, and Omega 3s which moisturize from the inside out. So say hello to moisturized skin and a healthy coat, and goodbye to hot spots! We’ll spring for these for sure!
2. Skout’s Honor Itch Relief Spray
Another trooper in the fight against itching is this fantastic spray, made with oatmeal and aloe vera. We take it with us on spring walks to soothe scratchy spots, and use it in between baths to support our dogs’ natural biome. Gentle enough for daily use, we’d recommend this year round to keep a permanent spring in your pet’s step. Sorry, but you know we can’t resist a pun. Ever.
3. Spring Florals Collars by Cycle Dog
We love flowers and we love things with flowers on them. Obviously this extends to our dogs’ accessories, so we were thrilled when our friends at Cycle Dog added a floral option to their range. As with all their products, this collar doesn’t just look good, but does good too; it’s made from recycled bike tubes, reducing waste to landfill, AND since it’s rubber, it prevents the growth of stinky bacteria. Wow, double bubble! Hand sewn in Portland, OR, we never leave home without one, and we don’t think you should either. PS did we mention it has a bottle opener attached? Ideal for popping a beer or two in the spring sunshine …
4. RC Pets Delta Rain Slickers
... But since sunshine can’t always be relied upon, we would be remiss not to recommend a bright and cheery rain slicker for damper days. We love this lightweight coat that comes in 3 fabulous colors, and is made from super-soft and super 4-way stretchy fabric to allow for a close fit with freedom of movement. Plus, it’s machine washable, won’t shrink, and is easy to get on and off. All told, these dapper toppers are almost enough to make us long for April showers! Almost.
After the showers come the flowers, and this time, they’re chewable! Another awesome product from close to home, these gloriously bright blossoms that come in a variety of colors, and are “grown” in Portland. Filled with post-consumer recycled materials, they are made from tough Duraplush 2-ply bonded outer material, with Stitchguard internal seams. With no internal squeaker, we find our pack plays with them over and over again, which gives us plenty of time to prepare our next spring treat …
6. BIRTHDAY CAKE ICE CREAM MIX
… Sorry for shouting, but you know how deep our affection for doggy ice cream runs! One of our pack’s birthdays falls in April, which gives us the perfect excuse to whip up a batch or two (six) of Puppy Scoops’ Birthday Cake flavor.This shelf-stable ice cream mix is a powder that needs only hot water, a good stir and a few hours in the freezer - amazing! While you have a pint or two (six) of delicious creamy ice cream, your best pals get their own pint that is smooth and creamy, just like ice cream, but with a fraction of the fat and calories, and, most importantly of all, formulated for your dog’s digestion. Birthday or not, you don’t want to miss this!
And while we are on the subject of birthdays, allow us to share a secret - to honor Lucy’s big day, we got her one of these natty bandanas from Paisley Paw designs. These festive bandanas are handmade in the USA with attention to every detail. Lightweight and elegant, they simply tie around your dog's neck, and are made with quality fabrics using designer prints and sewn for durability. Plus, each has a rolled edge on all 3 sides for a finished look! Now whatever you do, don’t tell Lucy; it’s a surprise!
7. ZippyPaws Easter Egg and Friends Burrow.
Okay, where were we? Ah yes, spring. It so happens that Easter falls on April 17th this year, and we are more than ready to stock up on suitably cute themed toys! Top of our list is this precious animal-filled Easter egg, which comes with 3 squeaky characters - a chick, a bunny, and a lamb - that your dog will love to bring out from their burrows. Then, of course, they’ll beg you to put them back in the burrows again, and again, and again, and again! If veggies are more your thing, this toy also comes in carrot form with 3 bunnies inside the burrows. It may not offer quite the same benefits of real carrots, but in tests*, it was greeted with more joy and was declared “much tastier”.
*Lucy was offered a piece of real carrot and a carrot toy. She ignored the former and devoured the latter. She then came back for the former.
8. Apple Carrot Crown to Tail Treats
Speaking of carrots, our spring shopping list would not be complete without these delicious Crown to Tail organic treats, made from Washington carrots and apples blended with oats and peanut butter. Tasty and healthy, we keep a bag handy for snacks on spring walks, or for training new pups in the pack, and trust us, they love them.
9. Rinse Ace Retractable Brush
We’d be the first to admit spring cleaning is not our favorite part of the season, so we thought long and hard about how to interpret this time-honored tradition for inclusion in this list. Happily, help was at hand in the form of the amazing Rinse Ace Retractable Brush. Yes, dear reader, we’re spring cleaning our dogs! The brush has hundreds of soft, stainless steel bristles to untangle fur and bring luster to your dog's coat and best of all, it spring-cleans itself: just push the button and the bristles retract so hair is left on the brush face ready to wipe off and discard. Press the button to expose the bristles and you're ready to brush again. Now this is the kind of cleaning we can get into!
Whatever your plans for the season, we wish you a warm, bright, and happy spring. Until next month, folks! 🐣🐇🥕🥚💦☀️🌼
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There are various means by which eras are defined: the invention of the wheel, the start of the Renaissance, and above all, Taylor Swift albums, tours - so much so the current one is literally named Eras - and romantic partners. Basically, enough things change enough and that means we're in a new phase. Having said that, we have been thinking recently of a contrast: animals and pets are consistently dominant in pop culture - no changes please and thank you - and every single era celebrates and records them. In our current human-centric age, this seems at first, ahem, glance odd, but as we have previously noted, there are 6.5 BILLION cat pictures on the internet which is only slight fewer than the number of selfies on Kylie Jenner's phone (7 billion, allegedly). In our view, this is as it should be, but it set us thinking: why? Why are animals more enduring across cultures, eras, continents, and content than anything else? Step this way...
