Hiking with your dog

No matter where you live in Northeast Ohio, chances are you are close to a Metropark.

We are really blessed to have such wonderful parks to enjoy with our dogs. Summer has officially begun (Hooray), and you may be thinking of heading out to the hiking trails with your best friend.  There are a few things to think about before you hit the trails to make sure that both you and your pup have a great experience.
The first thing to ask yourself is whether you and your dog are in shape for long hikes. Did you keep an active lifestyle all winter? Or did you hibernate? If your winter sport involves the couch and TV remote, plan to start with short walks on level ground and gradually build up to longer more strenuous trails.
Once you are ready to hike, make sure the park you are headed to allows dogs on the walking and hiking trails. While most of the Metroparks do there a a few exceptions, and some parks restrict dogs to certain trails.  Don’t forget to bring the poop bags, and also be keenly aware of the surfaces you will be walking on. Blacktop can heat up in the sun and burn your dogs paws. Gravel can cause abrasions to foot pads. Keep an eye on your dog and watch for any limping or change in gait. Musher’s Secret is an organic wax made to protect paws from rough conditions. Regular use prevents rough dry paw pads. We carry Musher’s in store.
The next thing you need to know is whether your hiking/walking destination has water available. If you are sure it does, a collapsible bowl is perfect for your pup to get a drink…..oh, and don’t forget water for yourself of course. (ha) 
If there isn’t water available plan to carry water with you, and always take more than you think you will need. Plan your walk or hike so you turn around when you reach the halfway point of your water supply. Try not to let your dog drink from ponds or streams along the way. A good rule to live by is if you wouldn’t drink the water don’t let your dog drink it either. Pesticides and other chemicals from lawn runoff could be in there along with parasites from animal feces. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Keep your dog on a leash at all times. Even if you are confident in your recall training a leash is a must! The Metroparks require dogs to be leashed at all times. If your dog takes off after a deer or rabbit he or she might not find their way back to you. Most of the parks are bordered by busy roads, which spells out disaster if your pup gets keyed in and focused on chasing the deer he saw.
Also, did you know that tick season is in full swing… and there is a higher tick population than usual this year. Several area vets have commented to us they are seeing ticks on dogs that use chemical flea and tick treatment. We have several types of all natural spray repellents available, using one on your dog prior to heading out to the park is a good idea!  Make sure you check your dog and yourself for ticks when you get home.
These few thoughts about planning a safe and enjoyable hike will keep you and your best friend moving all summer long.
Enjoy your hike and stay safe!

{Handcrafted Treat Feature} Nutter Butter Bones

Many people ask us what is our #1 seller and most PUPular handcrafted doggy treat?

….and Paws-down, it’s our

Nutter Butter Bones.

This treat was one of the originals when treats began emerging from our ovens, and pups all over are drooling for them again and again.  Our nutter butter bones feature our organic ingredient list and its primary ingredient is… you guessed it, peanut butter!
Why do pups like peanut butter so-very-much? Good question, one we’ve been asking our pups and still have yet to get an answer.
We hand dip these delectable snacks in yogurt and finish them off with a few seasonal embellishments.
**Please note: Grateful Dog Bakery is not responsible for the drool that will certainly land on your floor.
Does your pup have a wheat allergy?  Don’t worry, our nutter butter bones come in oat too so your pup can enjoy this hypoallergenic treat without worry!
Stop by and pick up a nutter butter bone today for your pup to try.   They are guaranteed to be lip-smackin’ good!
Or, of course, you can order them online. 

Get your pup licensed, Lorain County! No penalties the month of MAY!

Keep them outta the slammer!

May is amnesty month on dog licenses for Lorain Co!

The penalty fee is waived for this month, so take the opportunity to get your dog legal!
$14.75 for regular licenses
$19.75 for the heart shaped tags with $5 going to the Lorain Co Kennel for vet costs.
Senior citizens get a $2 break on either license!
We are a licensing agent for Lorain Co so come on in!

Discover the Ridge THIS WEEKEND! May 18, 2013

Join us for the first annual “Discover the Ridge” scavenger hunt put on by the Chamber of Commerce!

When: May 18th, 2013

The event is from 9 am – 5 pm

Pick up your clues and a map at

Aut-O-Rama Drive In

33395 Lorain Rd

Call 440-327-3737 for more details

Visit over 26 locations in the city. Visit the high places, the low places and everywhere in between. Have fun exploring the businesses, historical sites, parks and special places in the city. and visit as many locations as you can to be entered in a drawing for cash prizes.

Visit Facebook.com/discovertheridge

and the North Ridgeville Chamber or Commerce Site
for complete details and all sites.
This is a FREE family oriented event with many activities for children at various sites including check in. See a bubble man, race toy cars and visit the playground. Take home a balloon sculpture.

What's this Raw food thing all about?

What's this raw diet thing all about?

A lot of people think that pet food comes in two forms, either kibble or canned. You may have heard about the raw diet, made up entirely of raw meats and uncooked fruits and vegetables. Did you know that you can get a raw diet for your pet in either a frozen or dehydrated form?
Your pet gets all the health benefits of a raw diet with convenience for you! We carry Primal frozen raw for dogs and cats in a variety of flavors. For dehydrated foods we have SoJos, Grandma Lucys and the Honest Kitchen. These raw diets are dried at low temperatures to preserve all the nutrients. Mixed with warm water they are a healthy choice for your pet's food. We also stock Stella & Chewys dehydrated raw diet. These are in a biscuit shape and can either be re hydrated with water or crumbled as a topping to canned foods or kibble.
Curious about these diets?  Please stop in and talk to us about them!  We are happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have!

Buckle Up Those Pups! Seat belt Safety

Seatbelt Safety for your Dog

   A great deal of research has been done on seat belt safety for people. Now the Dept of Transportation is doing research using canine crash test dummies. Not so much to test the safety of restraint systems for the dogs, but what hazards an unrestrained dog poses to the human occupants in the car. Common sense should tell us that an unrestrained dog faces the same risks as an unrestrained child. Many decades of testing show that an unrestrained child will fly around the inside of the car if they are lucky and will be ejected from the car if they are not. Even the lucky ones that aren’t ejected incur serious injuries inside the car. Worse is holding a small dog or child on your lap, in a front end crash they are crushed between you and the dashboard or steering wheel. A dog that survives being ejected during a crash is likely to get hit by another car or run off and get lost. So, what can you do to keep your dog safe during a car crash?


Companies like Kurgi and Doggles are now designing harnesses that attach to your car’s restraint system. Both harnesses cover the dog’s chest with a sturdy fabric. In the event of a collision the dog would be secured in place and the harness would distribute the pressure across a broader area lessening the risk of trauma. Ezydog makes harness attachments out of seatbelt fabric. These go from an existing harness to the seatbelt, securing the dog in place.


Securing your dog with a restraint also prevents distraction while you are driving. Your dog is held in the back seat, the safest place in a car during a crash. Several states now have laws in place requiring dogs to be restrained while riding in a car. Ohio isn’t one of them yet, but it will be coming. Planning ahead will keep your dog safe during a crash and also prevent the driver distraction that could lead to one.

New Product in Store! The Planet Dog Wood Chuck!

Want to run that energy out of your pup, but you just don't have the arm of a major league baseball player?

You can throw that ball farther than ever with the Planet Dog Wood Chuck that is in our store and available online now!

Ain't science cool? 

The gang at Planet Dog engineered this Chuck with sustainable bamboo and reused cork scraps so it throws the distance naturally...and goes the distance every time.

We've priced them at a cool $19.99, providing an endless warm season of fun and fetch...and it will last for years of even more fun. 
**Please note, it does not come with a ball.  The best ones to use are the Orbee tough balls, that we do also carry.  They are durable and will last a long time too.
Match it with our Glow For Good Ball that glows in the dark for the party animals, and also our Orbee tough tennis ball.

Let's Talk Bugs. Volume 1

We know we’ve posted recently about those warm weather pests that tend to find our precious pups and attach themselves to them… yes….we’re talking fleas and ticks. You can read our original post here. We think we should feature some of the great products we carry. These punky pests are going to begin to emerge as enemy #1 for our best friends. Here at the Grateful Dog Bakery, there is nothing more we would like to do then help you rid yourselves of them with natural solutions to keep your pets healthy. You see, many of the main-line flea and tick repellants pose a great risk for your dog and your cat.

They are very strong chemicals, and many pet owners have experienced their pets getting very sick…and yes, some have even died due to the strength of the chemical. In the past few years, the EPA has begun a program to monitor these treatments because it has just gotten way out of hand. This link will take you to read more.We just want you to know that there are natural flea and tick repellants available…that work great and are much, much, much safer for your four-legged children.

This week, let’s check out Ark Naturals Flea Flicker! Tick Kicker! 

The short of it: This botanical formula was developed as a natural, botanical alternative to chemical pesticides in controlling fleas and ticks on your pet. It is easy to apply and leaves a mild, fresh smell. You simply spray on a light application, massage into pet’s coat, and it starts to work immediately to repel and kill fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. And, it’s Made in the USA! This product is available in store and online…

SHOP NOW

Looking for some reviews? Here’s what some folks had to say….
Beats the Competition by far! 5/5 paws 
Ticks are such a huge problem these days and a lot of people hesitate to use the topical treatments. I know I cut down on my own dog’s outdoor activities just because after every outing there were ticks, and locating them through a Portuguese Water Dog’s ample coat is not fun! My sister has 50+ acres around her house and her dogs get ticks pretty much every time they spend time out there. She tried one brand of flea and tick product on her dogs and her friend used Flea Flicker on her pack. My sister’s dogs were covered in ticks while the friend that used Flea Flicker found only one tick on her dogs. And that one tick was dead! Since the test, my sister switched to Flea Flicker and the number of ticks she finds has dropped considerably. I’m switching to Flea Flicker also and looking forward to my dog romping with me in the woods again!

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I bought 3 bottles of this spray last month when my 20 year old indoor cat surprised me with fleas. At first I wanted to treat him naturally, but due to dermatitis on his hind area, was forced to go to the vet for meds to treat him properly for his age. Here in Ohio, I hear that we are having a severe flea season—and the bugs near my home are worse as well. After reading other reviews about how well this product worked on PEOPLE as a natural repellent, I definitely wanted to give it a try as we spend a lot of time outside on our porch & in the yard. We had already gone thru several cans of the major brand of insect repellent, and my biggest problem with it is the stickiness & chemical residues—too strong for daily use. We LOVE this spray! It works extremely well! Just last night (first weekend in Oct!) we had a crazy attack of mosquitos—after spraying ourselves & the outdoor area, we were no longer being bombarded. The best part is that you don’t feel like you need to shower off any sticky residue before bed. (My boyfriend does feel this spray has a strong smell to him, but since the smell subsides quickly enough, he’s a fan now too) I have not used this ON my cat directly, but do spray his areas of rest & doorways, furniture, etc. Since we grill outside often, we also spray our legs & clothing, in case we ourselves brought in the fleas that my cat had gotten. Incidentally, last month we had seasonal midges come thru that cling to screens—spraying the screens alone kept them away. My mother grabbed one bottle from me for her gardening time protection–and I’m back to order more!

If your pet has had an adverse reaction to spot on treatments, you can report the incident here. 

 SHOP NOW to purchase online! Available in-store too!