My Review of Dream Baby Extra-Tall Swing Closed Security Gate with 2 Extensions - White

Toys R Us

Dream Baby® Extra-Tall Swing Closed Security Gate with 2 Extensions - White. This EXTRA TALL (39.4") gate is great for climbing toddlers and large pets! It is loaded with features such as auto close, double lock that can be easily opened (by adults) with one hand, curved gate top for a s...

Dream Baby Extra-Tall Swing Closed Security Gate with 2 Extensions - White

Baby Gate doubles as dog gate

Pooch Buddies Encino, CA 6/21/2009

 

4 5

Pros: Useful Application, Strong Construction, Easy Use

Best Uses: Dog gate

Describe Yourself: Pet Care Professional

I was looking for a product that could effectively barrier off part of my home for my boarding dogs. This is perfect. I had a very small doorway (28") and this did the trick. Easy to assemble and install. Solid and a good value for the price.

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Springtime in Los Angeles

I enjoy spring time walking dogs. My team and I are fortunate to work in the San Fernando Valley, where, when spring explodes, it really explodes!  Pet owners lament the fact that while they are at work, their pets are enjoying the great outdoors with a walker.  And, me?  Well, I love walking, love dogs and love watching the flowers develop their bloom every day.  

I wanted to share the beauty of the area, so a few weeks ago, I took some pics of the flowers starting to really bloom.  

To the top left is a row of rose bushes that will be just gorgeous in full bloom.  To the right is a California garden -- a mix of daisies, rocks and other flowering plants that do well in our arid climate.  Below, again, are my favorites -- roses.  Here in partial bloom.  The difference between my experiences as a business executive and as a small business owner, spending a great deal of time in the outdoors, is that I've reconnected with nature in a way I hadn't anticipated.  I was never much of a crunchy granola, but I've become extremely green-aware and I'm focused on conservation and being an active partner with nature, rather than a passive observer.

If you haven't taken the time lately to take off your shoes and curl up your toes in the grass, or sink your feet into the sand while absorbing the ocean breeze, then I highly recommend it.  And the next time you take your dog for a walk, forget about the next bush.  Look up at the trees, the sky and around at the flowers and birds and bees and remember your natural self.

A greener way to poop and scoop

If you deal with lots of dog poop (I do!) then you have to deal with what to do with the poop, too. For a long time I was a believer in the biodegradable bag -- a great option if your garbage goes to a landfill where the bag will come into contact with oxygen. But in many locales, the bags never get to air and therefore will not degrade.

At your home, you can put the pickin's in the green bins where they will compost. You can also look into a pet waste composter -- ridiculously easy to build and your garden will thank you (do NOT use near your vegetable garden and you cannot mix in your veggie scraps -- it has to be dedicated to pet waste).

But lately, I've gone even more green than green should be. Living in LA, there is lots of ivy. And due to the sunny climate, some of the ivy leaves grow into gigantic salad plate size affairs. Coincidentally the exact right size to use as a poop grabber. I just take a few leaves with me on my walks and, after picking up the poop, deposit it into someone's green bin.

No fuss, no mess, and no footprint.

A different kind of dog wheelchair

You love your pet, but he/she has lost mobility or use of their hind legs. Some folks will put their dogs down, others will care for them as they would a child. It can be heartbreaking to watch a dog try to readjust to loss of mobility. Dog wheelchairs can tend to be cumbersome. Here is one company that has designed a fairly versatile dog wheelchair. http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/handicapped-dog-chairs I haven't seen it in action, but it is appears to be highly portable and not too clumsy.