Great Finds at the Super Pet Expo

By Jessica Shipman On March 26, 2013 · 1 Comment

Read Part 1 of my Super Pet Expo coverage here: What I Learned About Pet Expos

One of the great things about pet expos is the opportunity to support small businesses, many of which will even be local. As a pet parent, it is great to make connections to those small businesses. Pet expos are a great opportunity to find out about new and unique pet products and create a trusting relationship with a pet product retailer. At the Super Pet Expo, I found quite a few pet products to be interesting, useful, and unique and I wanted to share them with you.

Chillybuddy

Chillybuddy jackets

Have you ever thought about how hot your dog gets during warm summer days? Bob Stalick, the owner of Chillybuddy, did when his dog Buddy refused to go out in the shade. Chillybuddy is a light-weight mesh jacket that was designed to help beat hypothermia in dogs by cooling them during warm weather. The jacket works to lower dogs’ temperatures by reflecting the light away. You can also wet the jacket for cooling through evaporation. More detailed scientific information about the jacket’s benefits can be found on Chillybuddy’s website. After talking to Bob at the Super Pet Expo, I learned how important it is to monitor your dog’s temperature. According to Bob’s article in Animal Wellness Magazine, the average temperature for a dog is 101-102 degrees Fahrenheit, but a dog is considered hyperthermic only a few degrees hotter at 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, many times the symptoms of hypothermia do not show until it is too late. Chillybuddy is a great jacket that can help maintain your dogs temperature on hot days and makes them look a little like a astronaut. Chillybuddy is a Maryland based company and also sells winter jackets for dogs.

Luna tries on a Chillybuddy jacket

QuickSwitch Collar
If you are a pet parent who loves dressing your dogs up for special occasions, QuickSwitch Collars may be the collar for you! QuickSwitch Collars allow pet owners to easily switch the pattern that is displayed on their pet’s collar. The base collar is guaranteed for life and is machine washable. Collar covers come in a wide variety of colors and designs and are also machine washable. Your dog can celebrate the holidays in style or even support your favorite sports team. If you and your significant other do not agree on which team to support, do not worry the covers are really easy to switch. They are simply attached by velcro! Both the collars and covers are locally handmade in Virginia. A stater pack retails for $35.99 and it includes the base collar and two covers. QuickSwitch also offers a Puppy pack which includes a puppy base collar, two puppy covers, and a leash. When your puppy outgrows their puppy collar, QuickSwitch will send you an adult collar and covers and then donate the puppy collar to a local shelter. QuickSwitch is offering 10% off with the code HELLO1013 on their website.

Collar covers from QuickSwitch Collars

KaJo Pet’s
KaJo Pet’s is a Maryland pet store that sells all natural pet treats, both individually and wholesale. They sell everything from elk jerky to cookies to rawhide. Although KaJo Pet’s sells a wide variety of treats, they work hard to offer all natural and USA made treats. For the most part, the treats they sell are made in the USA. After talking to the owner, Jodi Kresel, I found out that she will not sell anything that her pets will not eat. KaJo Pet’s will also work to try to find any all natural treats you may be looking for that they do not already carry. I purchased a stick of elk jerky for a $1 and a box of cookies for $6 based on Jodi’s recommendation. Luna has so far enjoyed both! These items were also featured on my posts about Luna’s birthday: Luna Turns Two! and Luna Eats a Birthday Pupcake! You can buy from KaJo Pet’s in their Maryland store or online. Prices seem very reasonable for high quality dog treats and there may even be discounts if you buy in bulk. I would definitely suggest checking out KaJo Pet’s if you are looking for unique, all natural, and USA made pet treats.

Luna picks out her favorite treats from KaJo Pet’s

YaYa’s Yum Yums
Another source for all natural dog treats, YaYa’s Yum Yums is an organic dog treat bakery. I bought Luna a carob brownie (no chocolate!) for $3 from their booth at the expo. Their other treats ranged from $2-5 per item. Luna definitely enjoyed the brownie (see it featured on Luna Turns Two!) and would eat them all if she could. In addition to the carob brownie, they have a wide variety of other treats including pretzels, donuts, and muffins, which all come in many different flavors. You can order gift boxes of the Yum Yums on their website. Definitely consider YaYa’s Yum Yums for your dog’s birthday or another special holiday.

Carob brownie from YaYa’s Yum Yums

Paws 2 Pause Dog Bakery
A local dog bakery, the Paws 2 Pause Dog Bakery makes dog bone treats completely from scratch. The founder and CEO, Judy Birney, even makes her own peanut butter and carves her own pumpkins to be used in the dog treats. Judy also informed me that her treats do not need preservatives because she uses rosemary oil, which acts as a natural preservative. Paws 2 Pause was giving out samples of their pumpkin treats at the Super Pet Expo and Luna loved them. They were crunchy and delicious. If you are looking to support a local, small business who specializes in natural dog treats, check out Paws 2 Pause Dog Bakery!

Founder Judy Birney poses with her treats

Two more great pet products, Leash Locket and Walk Your Dog with Love Harness were also at the Super Pet Expo. I’ll be posting reviews for these soon!

What is your favorite local small pet business?

Disclaimer: I purchased treats from KaJo’s Pets and YaYa’s Yum Yums at full price. I purchased the Leash Locket at a discounted price. I received the Walk Your Dog with Love Harness for free to review. I received no compensation or additional benefits for mentioning these products in this post. The opinions and ideas in this post are my own and are uninfluenced by any other person or business.

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Jessica Shipman

Jessica Shipman is a bargain hunter, food lover, and software engineer figuring out how to be a pet parent for the first time. Jessica has been a long time lover of all animals (especially llamas and manatees) and is happy that she can finally combine that love with technology.

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