Wildebeest Guides

Let’s be honest. Dental health is not the first thing we think about when getting a dog, especially a puppy… with those tiny perfect teeth and milky breath and all! However, it’s also really easy to neglect oral health and if you’ve been around dogs enough, you probably know what “not-so-great dog breath” can smell like.
With a lot of new dog parents lately and us getting to spend more time with our pups than ever, we wanted to share more info on the important topic of oral health and how you can start taking action.

The truth is, dental disease is quite prevalent in dogs. Signs of periodontal disease in dogs are commonly seen by the age of three, beginning with bad breath and tartar build up. It’s recommended that dogs get their first teeth cleaning right around 2-3 years of age. If not taken care of regularly or treated properly, these early signs can eventually lead to gum infections, tooth loss or more serious health issues that can cause prolonged pain and discomfort for your dog.

Here are a few different at-home dental disease prevention methods that you can practice to keep pup’s teeth healthy. Find a method or two that work best for you and your pup and build it into your routine.

Dental Chews

These are treats that can be given daily that helps stimulate the production of saliva to prevent plaque and tooth decay 

Teeth Cleaning Toys

A type of chew toys that help clean pup’s teeth and soothe their gums while entertaining them

Dental Wipes

An alternative to tooth brushing that helps prevent tooth decay by removing harmful oral bacteria in your pup’s mouth

Oral Care Solutions

Oral care additives can be mixed to your pup’s water to reduce plaque and provide fresh breath

Dental Supplements or Diets

Certain probiotics, fatty acids and antioxidants are beneficial for your dog's immunity and overall wellbeing as well as oral health

Tooth Brushing

This is the most effective method as daily tooth brushing keeps gums clean and plaque free. Here's how to brush your dog's teeth step-by-step. If it takes time moving on to the next step, be patient and don't force it. Keep it short and sweet

1. Introduce pup to a pet safe toothpaste by letting them smell and lick it. Most dog toothpastes are flavored to their liking.

2. Apply the toothpaste to pup's gums and teeth using your fingers while gently lifting their lips or keeping the mouth open.

3. Once pup gets used to step 1 & 2, introduce a tooth brush with toothpaste on it. Find a soft brush with the right size head for your pup or a rubber brush that fits around your finger.

4. Start brushing work your way from one side to the other in circular motion and with bristles angled up towards gum line. give any built-up tartar extra attention if possible.>

5. Praise and reward pup during brushing -- it's ok to stop to reward and resume -- and also when you're done!

After finding a method that works, the first step is getting your pup comfortable with it. Let them get used to being around it and practicing it by gradually and consistently exposing and desensitizing them to the chosen method. Develop a routine for it, for example brush their teeth in the morning before a morning walk or reward them with a dental chew after their afternoon potty break. As your dog ages, you may want to try out different methods to adapt best to their needs and conditions. 

Also consider scheduling regular teeth cleanings / examinations with your vet. At least one teeth cleaning a year is generally recommended. Note that most dental care by the vet requires anesthesia. The risk of anesthesia for dogs is low but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be concerned. Your vet should perform a thorough physical exam and review your dog’s medical history and discuss any risk factors. You can ask them about how they monitor their anesthetized patients and what their safety record is for reassurance. If you have an older dog or dogs with other health issues, talk to your vet about a plan that is specific and will work best for them in treating their dental concerns.

photo credit: @stormi_doodle

Whichever methods you decide to use for your pup’s dental health, the key is to keep them up by implementing them into your daily routine. If you are trying to introduce a new method to your routine, make sure to take a few minutes each day working towards desensitizing those tools until pup feels comfortable. And don’t forget to keep your Treat Pouch nearby as well to reward them easily during your training.

Your dog’s dental health is just as important as your own. And it’s never too late to start taking care of it. If you don't have a doggy dental routine already, use our guide to get one started or to further your research today. Remember, a healthy pup is a happy pup! :)

Wildebeest is committed to creating quality everyday products that keep you & your beest ready for all your adventures. Show us how you enjoy our gear — tag us on @wildebeest_co or use #mywildebeest!

Let’s talk about poop bags. We know it's a topic not a lot of people put a whole lot of thought into. Your dog needs to go out and you bring along a roll of poop bags to clean up after them, you pick it up, toss it and you don’t have to think about it again, simple right? Well being in the dog world as a dog products company, we started to see things a little differently. Taking into account things like where does your bag of poo end up after you throw it away, how does it affect our planet, does biodegradable really mean it breaks down all the way, and are most poop bags biodegradable? 

We did a little bit of research and found out that one regular plastic poop bag can take about 500 years to break down in a landfill. And in 2019, approximately 500 million plastic poop bags were used throughout the world. Let's just say a dog's life lasts 10 years and he poops 2 times a day (that's pretty conservative) -- do the math and you're looking at picking up and throwing away poop 7300 times in his lifetime -- which also gives you a bit of perspective on how many poop bags you're responsible for sending to the landfill.

We all know that plastic bags are not great for our planet, yet we still use and discard plastic poop bags daily, thinking that they will break down like compost. Truth is that poop bags that claim to be biodegradable may not be as biodegradable as you think. For a poop bag to actually decompose and be biodegradable it can’t have any plastic in it. Most of the biodegradable bags that a lot of dog owners purchase contain an oxo-biodegradable material, which actually can be more harmful than a plastic bag as it breaks down into smaller pieces that doesn’t completely degrade, making it more difficult to pick up. 

On a similar note, we also want to address the plastic holders that hold your plastic poop bags. The major change our planet is experiencing is the amount and accumulation of plastics. It’s a long-lived material and takes decades to breakdown, yet seconds to throw out. As of 2020, more than one-third of all plastic was disposable packaging like bottles and bags. So what kind of damage is plastic actually causing you may ask?

• Plastics in landfills can leak chemicals and spread into groundwater
• Chemicals that are in plastics can be absorbed into the bloodstream
• Plastic particles / debris can be ingested by marine animals and cause a lot of harm
• If made to the ocean, plastic can float into wildlife habitats and cause disruption

According to the Environmental Health News, “most of these (plastic) materials are unlikely to degrade quickly in natural habitats”. How does this tie into your plastic poop bag holder ? Well when you think about it, the average plastic poop bag holder lasts about 1-2 years depending on how it wears and tears. When it’s time to replace your plastic holder, most dog owners settle for the cheaper replacement… another plastic holder to last another year or so. As you start to add that up over your dog's lifetime, that’s a lot of plastic holders and poop bags that will take many years to break down or it might not even break down at all.

This is why we designed a solution to help lessen the impact on our planet as dog owners. Even though our 100% Biodegradable Poop Bags are not zero-impact, they're by far one of the most earth-friendly poop bag options out there. It’s made of a plant starch formula which breaks down completely and harmlessly, just like those compost bags you use for food waste (just don't put your dog's poop bag in the compost!). These poop bags are unscented and gentle on sensitive humans and rolled on a cardboard core which you can recycle when you get to the end of the poop bag roll. Combined with our Funston Baggie made from nylon fabric, which is far more compact and efficient than a bulky plastic poop bag dispenser, you can go about your doggy duties knowing that you’ve made solid purchasing decisions by choosing Wildebeest and won’t have to spend more money replacing under-serving gear over time.

As dog lovers, we believe that all of us can and should make the effort to minimize our impact on the planet as much as possible. Doing some research, educating ourselves, and choosing dog gear with more earth-friendly options are all it takes to start making a positive impact today.

Wildebeest creates everyday essentials that help you build that special bond, share adventures big & small and make amazing memories with your Beest. We'll be right there every step of the way, with our gear & Wild4Life Warranty in tow, supporting you & Beest all throughout the lifetime of your companionship!

We've put together some quick tips here that will help you & pup get acquainted with our Linden harness better. Some of you have been reaching out to us about pups experiencing discomfort and about chewed harnesses. These detailed fitting instruction and desensitizing tips can help alleviate some of the issues you're having with your Linden harness.

Linden Harness Fitting Tips

• Loosen all straps of the harness to it's longest setting to start your fitting.
• Put harness over pup's head and buckle up. Adjust top and bottom straps around the rib cage to a snug fit. Make sure harness sits along the center of your pup's chest and torso, not too high not too low. If too low, the harness can effect the range of motion of the front legs, if too high it can be in the way of pup's neck.
• Once top and bottom straps are fitted, adjust the front strap - working the left and right sides equally - just tight enough that it's not sagging. The front strap does NOT need to be super tight for the Linden Harness to be effective. If too tight, it can yank the harness forward / dig into pup's armpits, causing discomfort.
• If your Linden harness is digging into pup's armpits while the front strap is on its biggest setting, then you may want to try the next size up.

Linden Harness Desensitizing Tips

• Make sure the harness fits your pup well. Adjust all straps so there are no loose or sagging parts.
• Train pup inside the house to get desensitized to wearing the harness. Make sure you're supervising and treating all the way through -- put harness on for 3 minutes at a time, keeping pup's focus on you and not on the harness. Take off harness right after each session and break. Increase duration to 5 to 10 to 15 minutes as pup completes each session successfully and without biting the harness.
• Get pup outside in the harness for a short work, keeping focus (use treats, toys.. whatever works) for the entire walk. Increase walk duration from 5 to 10 to 15 and so on.
• Take harness off each time you come back from your walk -- this eliminates the chance of pup getting his teeth on it. Don't underestimate how quickly your pup can chew out of a harness!
• Most pups will grow out of the "chew phase", just train pup to keep his focus elsewhere. While they're teething / growing out of their chew phase, give him plenty of chew toys and snacks to satiate his needs.

We want to make sure that our gear makes you & pup's lives easier and better as intended by its design. For the Linden harness, our goal is to help you achieve beautiful dog walks with minimal pulling behavior.

>> Email us if you have any questions or need further assistance.
Wild4Life Warranty replaces worn/torn, chewed, outgrown gear at a discount.

Wildebeest is committed to creating quality everyday products that keep you & your beest ready for all your adventures. Show us how you enjoy our gear — tag us on @wildebeest_coor use  #mywildebeest!

The holidays are all about spending time together with your extended family. It’s been hard to do that under most of us being under the Stay-At-Home order this year. But our favorite holiday activity of course, is sharing a lot of yummy food with your loved ones. So why not keep that tradition going and cheer up a little? We thought that spending time in the kitchen with your immediate family or maybe virtually with friends & family who can’t be physically with you, while cooking and baking some treats for your pups, would be a great way to make the holidays feel like the proper holidays!

We listed some fun holiday AND non-holiday homemade treat ideas for you to make for your pups this season.

• 1 sweet potato.
• Preheat oven to 250.
• Wash sweet potato and cut lengthwise - think french fries.
• Place on cookie sheet in single layer.
• Bake for at 250 for 3 hours or until chewy

• 1 cup fresh Cranberries
• 1 cup Apple Sauce
• 2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
• 1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
• 1/4 cup Milk
• Preheat oven to 350 and line a baking sheet
• Puree cranberries and mix with apple sauce, combine milk, cinnamon and whole wheat flour until dough is well mixed.
• Knead dough into ball and roll onto a heavily floured surface 1/4 inch thick and cut with cookie cutter of your choice.
• Place on prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until browned at the edges.
• Cool and refrigerate.

• 1 cup diced chicken (or substitute other meat)
• ½ cup rice (cooked & mashed)
• 3 tablespoons rice flour
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• 1 egg
• Preheat oven to 350.
• Mix ingredients together and put into silicone molds.
• Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Keep refrigerated.

• 2 cups brown rice flour
• 1 cup of cheddar cheese
• ½ cup water
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Preheat oven to 250.
• Combine flour and cheese then add water and oil to make a stiff dough.
• Roll on floured surface to ⅜” thick. Stamp with your favorite cookie cutter and place on cookie sheet.
• Bake for 2-2 ½ hours until golden brown.  

• 1 cup molasses
• 4 tablespoons honey
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 6 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger or one tsp. of dried powder ginger
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine the molasses, honey, water, and oil in the medium bowl. In the large bowl mix the flour, the baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. 
• Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
• Divide this dough in four balls, wrap each ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 - 5 hours, or you can freeze them for 1 - 2 hours (just don't let them get solid).
• Lightly flour your surface and roll the dough out into about 1/4" thickness, cut the dough out into fun shapes, such as Gingerbread men, with a cookie cutter. 
• Bake for 20 - 25 Minutes, until the cookies start to get brown.

• 1 medium overripe banana
• 2 large eggs
• 3 tbsp. honey
• 3 tbsp. liquid coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp peppermint flavoring
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 1 /2 + 1/4 c. oat flour
• 1/4 c. roast carob powder
• Optional: Natural red food colour
• Preheat oven to 350.
• In a medium bowl, mash the banana. Beat together with eggs, coconut oil, honey, cinnamon & baking powder. Stir in 1 1/2 c. oat flour.
• Divide dough into 2 portions, approx. 1 cup each. Add 1/4 carob powder to one portion and 1/4 c. oat flour to the other.
• Roll out each dough separately to approx 3/8" thick, stack dough layers on top of one another. Roll up tightly jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Wrap in plastic wrap. 
• Place on cookie sheet. These will not spread much, so they can be placed fairly close together. Bake for 13 - 17 minutes.

Even though this holiday might not be with all the family and friends we want to celebrate with, we want to remind you that it is still about making memories and having fun. We wish you & beesties a happy, healthy, warm holiday!

Wildebeest is committed to creating quality everyday products that keep you & your beest happy and ready for all your adventures. Show us how you enjoy our gear — tag us on @wildebeest_co or use #mywildebeest!

@bmocorgi

Holiday season is quickly approaching and most of us didn’t expect to be spending this year’s holidays in a pandemic. Our yearly festivities this time around might look a little different, like staying home this year instead of traveling or celebrating locally with your small immediate family. So we thought of some fun indoor and outdoor activities to help you and your pup stay active and positive during the holidays.

• Walking / jogging around the neighborhood together. Try a different route to keep it fresh & take a stroll in an area you’ve never seen before.
  Gear to support you: Linden Harness / Funston Leash & Baggie)
• At home workout. Make a unique workout routine that works for you and your pup. Do some leg and foot work or some cardio going up and down the stairs, incorporate your beest by using their added weight for strength building.
• Nosework inside the house. Hide your pup’s favorite treat / toy around the house for them to “find it”. We suggest trying natural raw treats like Barkley’s Bag, they are perfect size for your beest’s to sniff out and delicious enough to make your pups drool over. Don’t forget to praise them! Make it more challenging by hiding one or more treats in multiple areas. Get creative with this one, try using old boxes, bags, or shoes to make it more challenging for them.
  Gear to support you: Alamo Treat Pouch
• Tug & Fetch. A classic that can be done inside or out and with your pups favorite ball or toy. If you plan on having family or friends around this is a plus to get them involved and bonding / interactive with your pup. Not to mention it will tire them out, keeping them calm and less likely to get into trouble.
• Doga. Lay out a mat and do some morning stretches with your Beest. You can do this in your living room or take it outside and get some fresh air together. This will start both of your day’s off positively and calm… ready for whatever comes your way.
• Holiday Sightseeing. Get into the spirit and walk around your neighborhood or take a trip to your favorite spot to gaze upon some lights and decorations. That always cheers us up :) You’ll get to enjoy some holiday festivities while taking beest on a nice long walk where you’ll both get some good exercise.
  Gear to support you: Montara Pop-Up Bowl / All Weather Jacket (for those wet or chilly days)

We hope you found these tips helpful and encourage everyone, whether you’re staying home or heading out of town this season, to try these activities and get you & your pack moving. Let’s face it, with all the holiday foods, snacks, treats. and desserts… keeping active will be a great way to balance it out.

Happy Holidays and if you plan on seeing family and friends make sure to continue to social distance and wear a face covering.

Wildebeest is committed to creating quality everyday products that keep you & your beest ready for all your adventures. Show us how you enjoy our gear — tag us on @wildebeest_co or use #mywildebeest!

@junipercattledog

2020 has been filled with a lot of uncertainties due to COVID-19 and harsh weather conditions and natural disasters. And having a kit of basic essentials on hand can make us pet parents feel much better prepared for any emergency situation.

You might be wondering where to start, what is and isn’t essential and how much to bring if you have multiple pets. We’ve put together a list of 15 items you should have in your pet’s emergency kit and you can customize the list based on your specific needs.

1. Action Plan

As pet parents we need to have a plan in case of any emergency. Prepare yourself and all family members in your home on where to meet, know what locations accept pets in case of home evacuations and have a print out map and list of animal emergency locations in your area. Have this information written down in your emergency kit for reference and remember to keep it up-to-date.

2. Backpack / Travel Bag

Keep everything together in a backpack or duffel. Depending on the size and needs of your pets we suggest to pack a bag for each pet or compartmentalize their supplies, and making a separate emergency pack for yourself and members of your home. Your animals should have their own backpack to ensure they are equipped with everything incase you and your animals need to separate.

3. Food & Water

Bottled water and canned / dry food to last up to 3-7 days. If you have multiple pets have enough food and water for each pet and Include tools for your food choice such as a can opener or measuring guides for food.

4. Medications

If your pet takes any medications pack a few days worth in a childproof container. Label it with name, what it is, what it’s for, dosage and strength. Also keep on hand medical records and any important information about your pets health if they have medical needs.

5. ID Tags

Keep your pet’s ID tags up-to-date with Name, phone number, address and if they require specific medications or are microchipped. Consider getting an extra ID tag for your pets harness, collar, or pack as a backup.

6. Pet First Aid Kit

Consider making your own first aid kit (specific to your animal) or get one that’s already equipped with the basics such as gauze, tweezers, an ice pack, hydrogen peroxide, and adhesive tape. Amazon or your local pet stores carry a variety of pre-assembled first aid kits. For DIY first aid kit, check out a list put together by we the Animal Health Foundation.

@prinsoliver

7. List of Emergency Contacts & Important Info

Write down your contact information and emergency contacts in case you are separated, as well as microchip numbers, veterinary information and any other medical information that is important. Keep this list along with any other medical documents you need to carry in a waterproof sleeve to keep safe and dry in your travel bag.

8. Pet Photo

Have a current printed out photo of each of your pets in your kit in case you get separated from them. Having photos on your phone is convenient but in an emergency situation where your phone dies or there is no signal you should have a physical print out to help identify them.

9. Basic Care Items

• WetWipes
• Sanitizer
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• garbage bags for clean up
• paper towels
• extra poop bag rolls

10. To-Go Bowl

We suggest having one or two bowls on hand that are collapsible and save space. Our Montara Pop-Up bowl is lightweight and compact enough to keep in your emergency kit. It can hold food or water, attaches to your leash or travel bag with velcro strap and is also easy to wipe clean or rinse out with water.

11. Treats & Treat Pouch

A bag of your pets favorite treats will help keep them calm and entertained during stressful situations. We suggest keeping a new bag of freeze dried or dry treats in your pack along with a pouch you can keep around your waist for easily accessing treats and other items like poop bags, keys, wallet, etc.

12. Extra Gear

You never know what might happen in an emergency and keeping an extra set of gear in your bag can prevent you and your pet from separating. Include a sturdy leash, collar and/or harness along with a soft muzzle in case your pets act out of anxiety or it's required by places you’d like to enter. Equip your backup gear with ID tags with your pets information.

@keepingfinn

1. Cleaning & Organizing

With more free time on our hands now than ever, we’re often finding ourselves feeling bored or just plain lost. Here’s a few simple cleaning routines to keep us busy and our live/work/play spaces tidy and sanitary while we practice Stay-At-Home with our beests.

• Wash out pup’s food bowls and wipe down any mess around their feeding area (daily)
  
  
• Sweep / vacuum around the kitchen floor to keep any food scraps away from pup (daily)
  
  
• Vacuum / mop the floors & rugs for fur & dust (daily or weekly)
  
  
• Tidy up pup’s lounge area, keep their nest fresh and comfy (daily or weekly)
  
  
• Organize pup’s pantry - make sure all foods & treats are sealed for freshness, labeled clearly and out of nose’s reach (weekly)
  
  
• Reorganize pup’s belongings - hang up their walking gear, tidy their bandanas and outfits(!), go through old toys and reintroduce or purge (monthly)
  
  
• Wash / wipe down / shake put pup’s gear - leash, collar, harness, treat pouch, blankets and bed / duvet, etc. (monthly or bi-monthly?)
  
  
• Provide safe & sanitary access to other spaces of your abode for beest - keep clean the porch, stoop, back yard (lucky you!), garage, car, etc. (monthly)
  

2. Beauty + Grooming

Anyone else noticing your Beests looking a little extra FLOOFY lately…. Shelter in Place has been tough especially when it comes to grooming the pups. Sharing a couple simple DO’s and DON’TS if you plan on giving Beest their at home self care day.

• Hair / fur - DO have patience and take your time. Trim with a dry and clean pup. Make sure to have proper grooming shear / clippers (No. 10 clipping blade is recommended).
  
  
• Nail - DO choose a place that is well lit to see properly. If your pup has white nails clip until you see pink (quick) if your pup has black nails, clip a little at a time until you see a solid black dot on the tip.

• Tooth brushing - DON’T use human toothpaste. Use pet-safe tooth paste and a soft bristle brush or a child’s toothbrush. Give your pup small samples of toothpaste to introduce the taste. Don’t forget to reward them with positive behavior with treats, play time, or petting.
  
  
• Paws - DO use moist wipes that are pet safe after each walk. Gently wipe in between toes and pads. If paws are too messy consider washing pups paws with a soapy washcloth and make sure to rinse thoroughly.

3. Exercising & Activity

Staying at home doesn’t necessarily mean we have to give up our activities. For us dog people, our beests are a good reason to stay active outdoors as well as indoors. Here are some easy exercise & activity ideas to keep us healthy in the body and mind.

• Walking / jogging around the neighborhood together. Go a different way to keep it fresh & stimulating. Don’t forget to bring your mask!
  
  
• Stairs - find some flights of stairs around your house, building, neighborhood and walk or jog ‘em up & down... get some cardio in (& butt lift yeah!) with pup in tow.
  
  
• Squats & Lunges - cradle that beest in your arms like a baby and go about your squat and lunge reps. 3 or 4 sets of 10? Use your discretion for larger/heavier dogs!
  
  
• Tug & Fetch (AKA good ol’ endless fun for beest!) - you all know this one and it’s still a good indoor activity for engaging and bonding with your pup.
  
  
• Nosework - hide pup’s favorite treat or toy in a box and have them “find it”. Praise them! Make it more challenging by hiding one or more treats in multiple boxes. A fun way to repurpose all those cardboard boxes or paper bags you’ve accumulated this month!
  
  
• Hide and seek - dare you to get this silly! Literally go hide when pup’s not looking and call them or give that squeaky toy a good squeeze. Give treats and praises when they find you.
  
  
• New tricks - why not use this time to teach pup that trick you always wanted to. Don't forget to bring your Alamo Treat Pouch to your training session! :)

4. Meditations

Shelter in place has got us going a little stir-crazy, so we can only imagine how your pup is doing with all this indoor time. Meditation is a great way for not only you but also for Beestie to relax and spend some quality time together. A few tips on how you can incorporate a simple 10 minute meditation to your daily routine:

• Find a cozy calming spot in the house and sit down with Beest. You can even lay out a yoga mat for you and Beest to share.
  
  
• Focus on your Breath, this is the key to meditation. Try to align your breath with your pup’s. Focusing on their inhale and exhale and do your best to sync them together.
  
  
• Put on some dog meditation music to help set the mood. Remember the most important step is making your pup feel comfortable and relaxed.
  
  
• Know that there will be times where you pup won’t want to meditate, that's okay you can do other forms of meditation together like on your morning walk
  
  
• Stay patient, this will take some time for you and pup to learn. Know your pup’s body language to know when is a good time to do a meditation moment
  
  
• Practice Practice Practice. Start with meditating for a couple minutes then slowly progress the time once your pup starts to get the hang of things.

5. Homemade Treats

We’ve been seeing a lot of home cooking and baking going on these days which we think is PAWSOME and encourage you to carry on FUREVER! When it comes to dog treats, home cooking is THE way to ensure the ingredients are healthy and catered to any dietary restrictions, and of course budget-friendly. Ok, here are some EASY delicious treat ideas to keep beest happy & healthy.

6. Homemade Toys

For those of you feeling up for some no-frills crafting, here’s a couple of homemade toy ideas to make out of scrap materials that'll keep pup entertained while social distancing! 

• Braided tug toy: cut three 3” wide by 12” long strips from an old T-shirt. Make a knot with the strips on one end, braid them and make another knot to finish. Add your own touch by using different colors or braiding techniques, letting the loose strips of fabric hang long on one side or attaching a tennis ball.
  
  
• Tennis ball treat dispenser: cut a slit in a tennis ball that will fit your pup's favorite treat. Make it challenging enough for pup to figure out how to get their favorite treats out!

• Crackly sock toy: only god knows where those socks disappear to from the laundry, but at least we can make a dog toy with what’s left. Put an extra crackly water bottle in an old sock and tie a knot at the opening. Crunchy crackly fun for hours!

7. Movies for Dog lovers

Let’s be honest here… a lot of us are spending more time on Netflix and Hulu than anything else these days (totally acceptable in times like this), so we wanted to share some all time favorite dog movies to watch for any dog lover / those who want to have a movie night with Beest.

• “Lady and The Tramp” - a Disney classic filled with romance and spaghetti.

• “Best In Show” - get ready for the obsession. This is US!

• “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale” - trust us and bring a box of tissues.
  
  
• “Marley & Me” - perfect for the whole fam, filled with lots of laughs and relatable “getting your first dog” moments.

• “101 Dalmations” - Mom & Dad to the rescue from the infamous Cruella De Vil.
  
  
• “Beethoven” - a rambunctious St. Bernard wins the heart of his new family, slobbers and all.
  
  
• “Frankenweenie” - a Tim Burton stop motion animation brings a quirky fantastical story of a boy and his dog.
  
  
• “Turner & Hooch” - young Tom Hanks & slobbery Hooch the dogue on a quest for love.
  
  
• “A Dog’s Purpose” followed with the sequel “A Dog’s Journey” - if you need a good cry, these won't let you down. :)

• “Isle of Dogs” - stop-motion animation of Japanese dogs on a trash island, with a touch of Wes Anderson quirk and humor.

Stay home and stay healthy everyone!

Wildebeest is committed to creating quality everyday products that keep you & your beest ready for all your adventures. Show us how you enjoy our gear — tag us on @wildebeest_co or use #mywildebeest!

Do you worry that your pup isn’t getting enough exercise? Because a dog’s energy threshold is determined by many things such as breed, age, and overall demeanor, it can be hard to know for sure whether or not they’re getting the physical exertion that’s optimal for their lifestyle.

While every dog is unique, there are some general guidelines for life stages to keep in mind. Small indicators such as behavioral problems or excessive destruction are a good sign that the pup might need some more activity — conversely, if they’re sleeping as much as your housecat, you’re probably doing something right!

If you’re unsure about how much energy your dog needs to burn off each day, check out these life-stage guidelines so you can ensure you’re doing enough of (and the right kind of!) exercising with your pup:

Puppies

Puppies are undoubtedly adorable, but they’re also full of playful energy they need to use up. Giving them plenty of opportunity for exercise will keep them well-behaved, help with potty training, and ensure they’re staying at an optimum weight as they grow into adulthood. A good rule of thumb is to do 5 minutes of exercise per month of age twice per day until the puppy is fully grown.

Since puppies’ joints are still developing, it’s important to choose exercises that won’t cause undue strain or set them up for future issues. In the beginning, avoid activities that involve lengthy runs, stairs, or steep inclines. Instead, use this time to teach pup to use puzzle toys, schedule puppy playdates, or begin working on fetch basics. Puppyhood is the perfect time to experiment with a lot of different activities to find out what your dog enjoys — just be sure to pick things that can be done in short bursts with lots of time to rest in between.

Young Adults

Larger than puppies with about the same threshold for activity, almost-grown dogs will certainly keep you on your toes. In the “teen years” of dog ownership, young dogs are still not fully matured but can do much more than they could as a puppy. Their joints are still at risk for straining but much less so, and they’ll be better at taking a break on their own when they get tired.

This is a great time to let them start exploring the world around them in more depth. If you’re near a safe body of water, swimming is a great, no-impact activity to try (and it will wear. them. out.)! This is also a great time to take field trips to a dog park, so you can start building socialization manners and give them time to explore off-leash in a controlled environment. Make sure to provide plenty of water and let their curiosity be your guide.

Adults

Fully grown pups will start to mellow out eventually, but they still need regular exercise to keep them happy, healthy, and out of trouble! Experts recommend a guideline of about 60 minutes per day, but that number should be customized based on any health restrictions (such as Brachycephalic breeds) and each individual pup’s needs.

To get the energy out of adult dogs, you can do whatever your pup prefers! Walks, jogs, and hikes will get their nose and legs working, and honing in on their fetch skills is a low-effort activity for you. Additionally, adulthood is the perfect time to try out an organized activity if you think your pup might be interested — dogs of all breeds can thrive in sports such as barn hunts, sporting agility, or flyball.

Senior Dogs

You can definitely teach an old dog new tricks! While senior pups shouldn’t be subjected to high-impact exercises, there are still plenty of things you can do to keep them active. Take things at their pace, but short, frequent walks and play sessions are great for maintaining their health.

Additionally, there are activities you can do with your senior dog that aren’t cardiovascularly straining at all. Teaching them new tricks, playing “find the treat”, and setting them up with puzzles or snuffle mats will keep their minds and bodies engaged for a long and happy life!

Wildebeest creates adventure-ready dog gear for the modern family. All products carry a Wild4Life guarantee, so you can exercise without worry! Show us how you get your beest’s activity in — tag us on Instagram or use #mywildebeest!