Like many other pet-loving people, I’m careful about selecting the right products for my pets – particularly the dog, who admittedly has more than she needs. Also, like me, you likely want to avoid making costly mistakes when purchasing pet products. Soliciting expert advice might be a good move.

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Fortunately, I also spend a lot of time at pet festivals and industry events such as SuperZoo learning about new toys, treats, and trends available for our furry family members. Therefore, I’ve been enlightened by some expert advice that’s helped me make informed choices.

Here are 8 surprising hints when purchasing pet products:

1. Buy Dog Boots in Pairs

Decades ago, dog boots were an oddity that had heads turning when people saw a noble Great Dane prancing down the road with little blue booties tightly wrapped around his ankles. Now, dog boots are ubiquitous thanks to chilly weather, salty roads, and over-heated pavements.

However, did you know that dog paws are bigger in the front than back? Yes, the front paws are usually bigger in most breeds than the back paws, according to Ruffwear, a dog toy and clothing brand distributed globally. That’s why Ruffwear (affiliate link) recently released two new types of dog botties sold in pairs: all-terrain Grip Trex™ Dog Boots and Polar Trex ™ insolated winter dog boots with top cuff to keep snow out.

To correctly fit dog booties, measure the front paws and back paws separately. Buy one pair that fits the front paws and likely a smaller size that fits the back paws. That way you won’t be walking down the trail, glance behind you and see your dog happily walking along wearing three boots. (See our previous dog boot review here).  

2. Look for dog life jackets with front floats

Advice about dog life jackets also comes from our friends at Ruffwear (affiliate link): search for a dog life jacket with a slightly thicker section along the chest. In other words, a canine life jacket should be thicker in the front than in the back. This keeps the head up and out of the water in an emergency.

Equally important, the larger front of a buoyant jacket keeps the dog’s body level with the water, which is particularly helpful when swimming for the first time or learning how to swim. According to Ruffwear, the dog’s hind end should not be sinking below water level. The dog should be gliding along parallel to the water. Ruffwear has a new line of reflective dog life jackets – called Float Coats™ – which are designed to be thicker in the front than the back for increased safety.

I’m not alone in recommending dog life jackets on boating adventures (like my dog’s first one-hour cruise in Killarney, Ontario here), because even the strongest swimmers can be pulled under by rough water and wake. Also, it makes it easier to pull dogs back into boats (as I had to do on a houseboat adventure here).

3. Find eye and ear wipes with dimples

There are many wipes on the market – and many specifically for pets. In fact, you shouldn’t use people wipes on pets because the formulations and often pH balance are different. One slight modification to the classic wet wipe that will tip the scales is dimples – that’s right, a bumpy rather than smooth surface actually increases efficiency. 

This insight into dimpled wet wipes comes from our friends at Earthbath (affiliate link – see previous product review here). Earthbath has recently introduced its new and improved eye wipes and ear wipes. What’s new and improved? The dimples on the wipes.

Earthbath ear wipes and Earthbath eye wipes are now dimpled. That’s it, but it’s a big advantage. These tiny, raised bumps significantly increase the surface area of the wipe thereby making that one swipe across the dog’s eye or inside the ear that much more efficient – and cost-effective.

4. Search out scented supplements

Scent matters to dogs, especially with supplements that can sometimes be hard to swallow. “Many companies spend a lot of research on flavour and palatability,” says Rob Kovler of Therapetixx, a division of Animal Nutritional Products® (ANP). While this is important, “scent is actually equally, if not more, important to dogs.” 

The belief is dogs are more likely to eat a desirable-smelling chew. That’s why Therapetixx® has spent much of their R&D time and effort perfecting supplements to help various canine issues AND make them smell good – to dogs. Therapetixx offers nine chewable supplements to assist with issues such as joint stiffness, gut health, and anxiety. All are clearly labeled – and the scent is evident when you rip open a package.

Therefore, next time you dole out money for pricey supplements – and there are many on the market – maybe consider scent as well as flavour encouraging your dog to eat them easily, avoid waste, and the extra step of hiding them in peanut butter. My dog ate her Therapetixx supplement with enthusiasm.

5. Choking hazards are real and size matters

When buying chews for dogs, especially round or spherical chews, look for two things: size and a hole in the centre. If the chews are the right size, you might not need a hole. But buy the correct size and monitor your dog while chewing.

For instance, Yummy Comb is a new dog chew product that’s been recently approved for sale in both the U.S. and Canada – a puck-shaped chew that looks like a honeycomb, Yummy Comb is designed to help clean a dog’s teeth as they chew. According to Yummy Comb, “the product is hard enough to loosen tartar, but not hard enough to break dog teeth.” 

The kicker is the size: purchase the size of the dog chew according to your dog’s weight. Again, according to the company, veterinarians have measured the size of many dogs’ esophagus based on the weight of the dog. Then Yummy Comb designed each size to be bigger than each esophagus to prevent the product from getting stuck and blocking the dog’s windpipe.

 6. Again, choking hazards are real … and holes help

However, our friends at Dog-O’s (see previous reviews of these cheese-based products here), addressed the dog chew choking hazard issue differently. Dog-O’s cheese dog chews come in two different sizes, and now four flavours. All have a hole in the middle.

 A hole in the middle of a disc-shaped chew is a simple choking prevention measure that does add a bit to the manufacturing of the product, but it’s worth it. If the Dog-O’s chew ever becomes stuck, especially as it disintegrates in size, air can still pass through allowing time for emergency intervention, if necessary.

7. Purchasing higher rubber content results in longer chews

While it’s tempting to purchase cheaper toys because the dog is just going to destroy them anyway, if you want something to last a bit longer look for higher rubber content. Dog toys made of thicker, denser rubber last longer, according to Jolly Pets, makers of Tuff Toys. 

Jolly Pets’ newest Jolly Tuff Flyer, a rubber disc designed for power chewers, is one such rubber toy (affiliate link) that’s designed to fly like a frisbee, float like a pool toy, and endure the jaws of the most active canine chewer. Fun fact: all Jolly Pets Tuff Toys have a rating system from 1 to 10 indicating the strength of the toy, which helps when making smart purchasing choices for your dog! 

8. Consider TSA-approved dog gear when traveling

If you’re taking your dog on a plane – hopefully, as carry-on rather than checked cargo – there’s such a thing as TSA-approved dog gear. Sherpa, a subsidiary company of WorldWise, offers an array of travel accessories from soft-sided carriers with wheels to backpacks with neck supports (affiliate link) for the dog.

Here’s what I didn’t know: Sherpa offers collars and leashes designed specifically for the airport. What’s unique about them? No, metal. That’s something I hadn’t thought of – it’ll make it easier to strut through airport security with your pup if there’s no metal on either their collar or leash. Also, this product is likely useful for any festival or event that includes a security check at the door.

In conclusion…

Here’s some good advice about purchasing pet products:

• Buy dog booties in pairs because front feet are bigger
• Dog life jackets should keep dogs parallel to the water
• Dog chews with a hole in the middle and/or bigger than the dog’s esophagus are safer
• Dimpled eye and ear wipes are more effective
• Higher rubber content makes for tougher chews
• Supplements that smell good to dogs are more likely to be eaten
• Dog leashes and collars without metal are preferable at the airport

Please check out some of these pet products, if they interest you, and subscribe to dogtrotting.net to receive weekly information about dog travel and products (if you haven’t already).

Writer bio: Sherri Telenko has been a professional writer for decades and a travel writer for the last two. She’s a member of TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) and Dog Writers Association of America and travels almost weekly with her canine companion, Victoria. Contact Sherri at dogtrotting.net here. All written content is original, written by a person, and based on experience and research. Please subscribe!