The Best Dog Accessories to Enrich Your Pup’s Life

Two great delights

Mini Icelandic Cod Chips + for $10: Open a bag of these cod crisps and your room will immediately be invaded by a fishy flavor that will linger in your nostrils for hours. On the other hand, your puppy will rush into your room and devour them instantly. At least mine did. They are imported from Iceland and sustainably caught from the wild. There are literally no other ingredients.

Vital Essentials Freeze Dried Raw Delights For $12: Like the cod chips above, there’s only one ingredient in Vital Essentials’ freeze-dried raw delights. You can choose from several flavors (my dog ​​loves beef tripe) and it is high in protein.

Other great accessories

Casper dog bed for $126: Getting a dog bed from a mattress company may seem like too much, but investing in your pup’s care and comfort helps keep him happy and healthy. I purchased the Casper dog bed for my 18 pound dog in 2023 and it has held up well. The foam provides support without adding much height to the bed. The Casper dog bed comes in three sizes (small, medium, and large) and colors (blue, sand, and gray). The foam inserts are fully removable, so you can easily throw the cover in the washing machine. The downside? There are five foam inserts, which can sometimes be frustrating to put back into the case.

Molly Mutt Wool Dog Bed for $150: I’m a fan of wool, almost anything wool, so when we get a new puppy, it made sense to me to buy a wool dog bed. What makes the Molly Mutt wool bedding special is the antimicrobial and anti-odor properties of the wool. After six months of use, including many days where the wet pup plops down on this thing to take a nap, and it still doesn’t have the slightest smell. I followed Molly Mutt’s suggestion of removing the insert once a month or so and leaving it in direct sunlight, but otherwise this bed has been maintenance-free. Luckily our pup was housebroken in about a week, but if yours has an accident don’t fear, just pour some water into the insert, leave it in the sun and it will be dry and odor free in no time.—Scott Gilbertson

Roverlund cabin carry-on luggage ready to roll for $389: The idea behind this carry-on is that the horizontal shape will allow you to drop your dog’s carrier on top, making it easier to travel with it rather than carrying it separately. I tried the carry-on on a recent trip to Kentucky and paired it with Dagne Dover’s Kyoto Carrier, and while I like the carry-on itself, the experience wasn’t great. The carrier is wider than carry-on luggage, so my dog ​​tipped over and everything fell out. If your pup is smaller, this may work. Roverlund also recommends it with its own luggage rack, but I have an older version without a luggage strap so I couldn’t use it. However, you can still see in the pictures that it is updated operator It’s broader, so I don’t think the result will be different. Still, I think this system works if your dog weighs 15 pounds or less. I love the bright orange accents inside the carry-on and there are plenty of organizational pockets and pouches. It’s a great weekend; I was able to fit an entire suit on one side!

PetSmile Pet Toothpaste For $23: Every time I go to the vet, they give me a pamphlet on how to brush my dog’s teeth like a silent dig that I really need to brush them more.. There are tons of toothpastes for dogs, but my dog ​​seems to like it. pet smilespecifically the London Broil flavor. Well, he likes the toothpaste, but he hates the brushing part. Petsmile says you don’t need to brush, just put a little on your teeth and let your tongue do the work, but I brush anyway. It is approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Councilbut please note that this organization does not conduct testing: it reviews data from trials that comply with VOHC protocols.

Tavo Dupree II Pet Carrier for $300: As anyone who has driven with a pet in the car can attest, animals don’t always sit still. This can be a danger to both pets and drivers under normal driving conditions, let alone in the event of an accident. There are seat belts and pet restraint systems, but for maximum safety, a pet carrier that can attach to a vehicle’s car seat anchors might be a good option. The Tavo Dupree is high-end Nuna baby car seat manufacturerand like its car seats, it meets the United Nations ECE Child Restraint Standards. It can fit onto your vehicle’s tie down bars and also meets airline regulations as carry-on luggage that fits under the seat. It’s an extremely durable structured bag with a removable memory foam base and thoughtful details such as an Airtag holder. However, keep in mind that it is only for very small pets under 20 pounds; At 18.5 x 11.5 x 10.25 inches, it was even snug for my little tortoiseshell cat. —Kate Merck

WagWellies Mojave for $49: Snow and ice are the leading cause of paw-related concerns, but so is hot pavement. We like WagWellies Mojave, which are like little Crocs for your pups. They come in seven sizes and the straps around the ankles help the shoe fit better, while the holes keep your toes cool and ventilated. The dogs in our test team did not know how to walk in shoes, but they stayed on their paws.

RifRuf Caesar 1 Dog Slippers for $75: Take the trendy woven mesh style that many humans love, shrink it, and offer it in six colors for your dog. The sturdy soles protect your dog from the elements, but the shoe’s knitted body can keep his paws cool enough during a regular walk. Our test dog looked particularly cute with the Taro pair, even if she refused to walk with them.

PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Virtual Pet Fence for $320: Virtual dog fences are not a substitute for real fences. If your dog needs to be completely restrained, get a real fence. However, if your living situation allows for a more flexible barrier, this wireless fence gives you an easy way to partially restrain your dog. Despite the name, this is not really plug-and-play. The device itself is: Simply plug it in, set the perimeter distance, and you’re done. But you will still have to train your dog to recognize the perimeter and get him used to staying within the allowed space. Once this is done, this fence works very well. It’s also portable, so you can take it to a campground or an Airbnb that allows dogs. Petsafe also makes a more permanent buried electronic fence We like it even more because it is cheaper and it is easier to set the perimeter. The disadvantage is that you have to bury the cable. The key to success is training your dog to approach the fence. Don’t install it and expect your dog to figure it out.

Dog Accessories to Avoid

StitchLeash Coops Retractable Leash For $35: Most of the pet products they send me are pretty good. That’s not the case with StitchLeash. It is a simple retractable leash, but it has holes with carabiners. One carabiner has a poop bag holder, another has a poop bag dispenser, and you can put two other things in the gaps. Useful!

However, the metal carabiner rubs against the plastic and after a few days it started making horrible squeaking noises. Worst of all, the strap broke after a full week! My dog ​​ran after a squirrel and instead of stopping it at the end of the leash, it simply broke away from the StitchLeash. You had a job! I have owned the Classic Flexi Retractable Leash For years and I haven’t had this problem. (Update: It turns out that the model the company sent me was a beta prototype that was not intended to be used with… dogs. I will soon receive the final version to test and will revisit StitchLeash.)