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🎤 🎶 “Who Let the Dogs Out!” 🎶🎤 THE PUPS’ FAV SPOTS, YUMS, AND TOYS 🐾

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Pup-parenting is quite the journey! Check out some of the things we discovered that make life with dogs at any age easier and/or more fulfilling. Even those sensitive and/or quirky pups who we love so very much, but are sometimes hard to navigate the...
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Four Paws Up: Best Gifts for the Puppos

Gifts our pups have LOVED over the years. For extra fun, wrap them up with treats inside and let your pup(s) sniff, shred, and zoom about with their special occasion toys and treats. Makes holidays like birthdays, Gotcha-Days, and seasonal holidays e... 

 
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Not only a great gift to fill with treats anytime, but great decompression and engagement toy too while I'm working or otherwise occupied. Wrap it up for a birthday, gotcha day, or holiday for extra shredding fun to start off.
MONTI - Enrichment and Interactive Dog Toy
 
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Not only a great gift to fill with treats on a special occasion, but great decompression and engagement toy too while I'm working or otherwise occupied. Wrap it up for a birthday, gotcha day, or holiday for extra shredding fun to start off. Goes in t...
Snuffle Ball
 
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OMG, can I just say that every pup that comes into our home through adoption or fostering gets a Lamby! They love to snuggle with them, nuzzle/softly chew, play tug and fetch, and play shake them around. 

Even when the squeakers and stuffing has been pulled out, they still carry around and snuggle with the soft fur remaining.

We are a household fine with shredding toys as that's what dog toys are for really! So it doesn't bother us when that happens, but we get lots of fulfillment and joy out of these Lambchops of all sizes before it's time to dispose of them. Our pups do...                                                                                                                                                                                      I always recommend supervising your pups the first time you give a new toy or treat/chew as every dog is different and you know your pup best. Safety first always.
Multipet® Lamb Chop Plush Dog Toy with Squeaker
 
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Freya carries these around with her and loves to flop over and slowly chomp the squeaker areas. She'll bring it over for a quick game of fetch or tug inside too and grabs these any time she gets over excited or wants to invite us to play. She especia...
Joyhound® Bite Shield™ Protection Plush Crocodile Dog Toy - Squeaker, Crinkle
 
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These keep our pups engaged and are great relaxing or decompression options. I save these for storms when the pups are frightened or after a reactivity episode or scary event. 

I clean them out and repurpose by filling like a Kong or Toppl with homemade meals or treats and freezing too. So we have a nice stockpile of these and the pups really enjoy eating out of them and getting their relaxing licks/chews in.
Dentley's® Nature's Chews Large Filled Femur Bone Dog Chew - 2 Count
 
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Finally some squirrels I can let them chase! Both pups love these. They love the puzzle of pulling the squirrels out and they love chasing and playing with the squeaky squirrels when I give them a toss. Banner loves to shake the whole thing while the...
Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel Plush Dog Toy XL
 
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My pups AND our rescue fosters loved these balls, but each had different favorites. The top favs were the glow-in-the dark ball and orange “hole-y” balls because they were squishy and they liked to not only chase and fetch them, but also chomp on the...
Chuckit! Dog Toys: Ball Launcher, Discs & Fetch Toys
 
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Our large Puppos favorite tug toys. Great for teaching “Drop” and “Get It” too. But really, we love to just have fun together with it too.
Faux Fur Bungee Chaser | Strong Dog Toys | Tug-E-Nuff
 
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Banner loves licking this-licking is soothing for him-and Freya loves trying to get the inside out and chewing it up. Both seem to love the flavor a lot. Refills can be a little tough to get back inside, but if you lightly wet the edges and slide in...
Starmark® Everlasting Treat Bento Ball Dog Toy - Chicken Flavor

Dog Family Essentials

Household products, grooming supplies, treats, supplements, and enrichment supplies that make life with pups easy and fun! (The pups say they make life with humans easy and fun too! :-P)

 
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Banner & Freya LOVE their Yeti bowls. Their 💦 stays cool and fresh. And WE love how easy it is to keep germies away: just pop them in the dishwasher for an EASY daily clean. So many colors to choose from and you can even add their names or a...
YETI Dog Bowls: Dishwasher-Safe, Scoot-Resistant
 
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Good for the pups neck/spine, easy to clean, easy to transport.
Elevated Dog Bowls, Feeders & Dog Food Stands
 
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We have a large one for the dogs’ kibble and a small one for the cats. Keeps kibble fresh and away from bugs! Pro-tip: We stick the whole bag inside to ensure freshness.
Gamma2 Vittles Vault Stackable Dog Food Container
 
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We have several of these around the house so I can check on the pups throughout the day. You can talk to the pups through them and even dispense treats for them! All cameras, treat dispensing, two-way communication controlled through the user frien...
Furbo
 
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Comforting to our sensitive-to-thunder-and-fireworks pups during those scary times. We use in combination with white noise machines, soothing music, a special licky treat, and sometimes a closet-fort with comfy blankets, dog beds, and mom.
Thundershirt For Dogs
 
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Joint health is super important for dogs. We started supplements after Freya tore her CCL’s and had surgery on her “knees” as an adolescent pup, but if I had it to do again we’d start both pups on these sooner.
Nutramax Cosequin Dog Joint Health 250 Ct
 
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These keep our pups engaged and are great relaxing or decompression options. I save these for storms when the pups are frightened or after a reactivity episode or scary event. 

I clean them out and repurpose by filling like a Kong or Toppl with homemade meals or treats and freezing too. So we have a nice stockpile of these and the pups really enjoy eating out of them and getting their relaxing licks/chews in.
Dentley's® Nature's Chews Large Filled Femur Bone Dog Chew - 2 Count
 
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Much easier to fill for me and to eat from for my pups than a Kong. Can fill with meals or special treats for puzzle feeding, play, or decompression time. Freeze for a longer experience and more challenging puzzle. Pop in the dishwasher for an easy c...
Toppl® Treat Toy | Viral Puzzle Enrichment Treat Dispenser
 
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Probably our favorite of the favorite puzzle toys/feeders. Our pups love eating their kibble out of snoops. Engages their foraging and sniffing instincts and slows down their mealtimes.

Our fosters have loved them too and it's often helped them decompress in our home. 

One of my go-to feeders/puzzle toys for Lady when she was going through heartworm treatment too; kept meal time interesting and gave her some movement/engagement time that was still low-key enough during the HW treatment.
Orbee-Tuff Snoop Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy, Small
 
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Our favorite training treats: healthy, small, and tasty! Order individual bags, or save with a favorites bundle or two. 

You can order a sampler to find out your pups favorite protein, set up subscriptions so you don't have to think about ordering refills every month, or add a toy or snuffle mat to the mix occasionally. Order a cute treat pouch with the treats for all ... 

They also have chews, jerky, supplements, grooming supplies, dental products to keep your pups in engaged and in good health.  

They have freeze-dried protein treat options, including options like rabbit and salmon for pups with allergies. Or freeze-dried fruits and veggies like sweet potatoes and blueberries.
Training Treats: Healthy and Delicious
 
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A high-value treat for our pups and easy for us to grab quickly or stick in our pocket and peel off pieces as needed throughout the day. They love the lamb ones especially and I love the short ingredient list with the main protein listed first! I t...
Plato Pet Treats Thinkers Lamb Meat Sticks 18oz
 
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I like having a variety of proteins, especially options without any chicken ingredients since a lot of dogs are allergic or develop allergies to it, including our Freya. These sticks have duck as their main ingredient and the ingredient list is fai...
DOG DELIGHTS Chewy Duck Sticks High-Protein Dog Treats, 44-oz bag
 
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Easy to fill, easy to clean, and air-tight storage. We have them around the house with the puppos treats and chews, including a treat bar in our living room! The Puppos love to lead me over to the treat bar when they want a special treat or chew af...
POP Containers
 
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Used on several doors to keep dogs out of the kitties litter boxes and food. Stopper helps ensure the cats always have access.
Neobay Adjustable Door Strap Latch for Pets
 
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We used these all over our house for management while maintaining home aesthetics. The pups respected the barrier, the cats could slip under. Note: An overexcited or overstimulated pup might be able to ram these down, but our pups learned to respec...
Veraste Retractable Baby Gate, Mesh, 33.6"x55"
 
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We got this for Freya when she tore both CCL’s, but used it the most with our senior staffy foster. She loved going for walks and outings, but would get tired in the Florida heat. This was also great for bringing her to vet visits. She always felt se...
kepptory Stroller for Large Dogs, Extra Large Pet Stroller for Medium 2 Dogs, Dog Wagon, Dog Carriage, Foldable Design, Adjustable Handle, Blue & Reviews | Wayfair

Our Favs: Fur-baby Home Decor

Our pups are a huge part of our lives and thus our home decor! Here are some of my favorite finds that fit our decor and proudly represent how much we love our pups. 

 
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Soooo cute and solid quality. Banner and Freya each have one by the back door for their collars and leashes.
Dog leash holder
 
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We love their canvas prints, photo prints in glossy or matte and all different sizes, holiday cards, and photo books. Our fur babies star in most everything we order from Shutterfly. 

Watch their website for special coupon codes for free shipping, 20% to 50% off select items, unlimited pages in photobooks, etc.
Shutterfly
 
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Attractive toy bin for the pups! I used to put their toys in beautiful baskets around the house, but Freya discovered she loved disassembling them. These bins have been indestructible and she doesn't try to chew on them at all. Just the stuff inside ...
Metal Indestructible Dog Toy Storage Bin
 
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Signs for the front door that help with sound sensitive pups/humans, and/or for management use while you’re training how to handle doorbells and guests.
Ring Doorbell Sign, Doorbell Sign, Please Don't Ring the Door Bell There's No Need To Get The Dogs Involved, No Soliciting Sign
 
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More exterior door signs that are helpful and make you giggle.
No Soliciting Door Sign, No Soliciting Signs Funny, Dogs Answer the Door, Do not Disturb, Front Door Hanger, Quirky Sign, Do not Ring Bell
 
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Helpful exterior door signs for sound sensitive pups or humans. Some cute, some silly, some both, all keeping it real. 😁
Please Do Not Knock Dog Warning Door Sign
 
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Exterior door sign for sound sensitive pups or humans. 🤗
Dont Knock Do Not Ring Doorbell Sign with Hook
 
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Exterior door signs for those who have dogs, babies, and a great sense of humor. Lol.
Sleeping Baby Doorbell Hang Sign | New Baby Front Door | Dogs will Bark Sign | Do Not Disturb Knock or Ring Bell | Shower Gift |
 
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Exterior door sign for those with babies and Puppos.
Do Not Ring the Door Bell Sign, Shhh baby sleeping sign and excited dog, baby door sign, front door sign, Do Not Knock or Ring Doorbell
 
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This would be super-cute for dog-lovers to hold their rings for wedding photographer photos of their rings/accessories and then use at home for years to come! We had a gold elephant one that had been gifted to us by a friend and people don’t often ...
Dog Ring Holder with Dog Bed Ring Dish - Unique Ring Holder for Ring Display - Engagement Gift Personalized Ring Holder - 3D printed plastic
 
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Too-cute must have to hold the rings we treasure at home.
Dog Ring holder, Cute Ring holder, Jewelry Cone, Engagement Ring, Wedding gift, Bride Gift, Engagement Gift, Dog Gift, Jewelry Storage Gift

Our Favs: Apps (or Adventures)

Best apps for pup parents: From private dog parks, and easy and accessible trick training, to grooming and shared care info and communications, these apps helped through puppyhood, adolescence, and into adulthood with our two adorable goobers.

 
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Like AirBnb for dogs! Rent a private dog park by the hour for reasonable prices. These are great for all pups, but especially nice for reactive or shy dogs. If your dog doesn't have a reliable recall, and/or you struggle together on leashed walks, fi... 

As a trainer I always recommend play dates with pups and guardians you know as opposed to public dog parks. Sniffspots are awesome places to have play dates on neutral ground.
Sniffspot
 
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So many fun tricks things to train for all levels, even beginners. Banner's “Tell me a secret” trick wins everyone over every time. :-)
Puppr
 
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Especially helpful to share pet care with a partner; easily see what has been done so far and what still needs to be done. Great for tracking grooming and any medical issues or needs for the vet too. I use it as my memory too when it comes to monthly...
Dog Assistant
 
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We love Pupford treats and chews, but also have found their training academy helpful for things like enrichment game ideas, learning first aid, grooming tips, and ideas on obediene or trick training too.
Pupford Academy
 
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Super inexpensive, extensive, and helpful sound library to work with your dogs on their sound phobias or triggers. You can control the volume and timing so they can get used to sounds in a humane way. 

You can even record your own sounds and save in the library so they have your specific doorbell, vacuum, or neighborhood dog they always react too.

The sounds library is an ad-on to the Pupford App where you can access your favorite treats and chews, training tips through the academy, and now sound library!
Guide to Sound Desensitization for Dogs, Including Loud Noises | Pupfo
 
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Our favorite training treats: healthy, small, and tasty! They also have chews, jerky, supplements, grooming supplies, dental products to keep your pups in engaged and in good health. 

They have freeze-dried proteins, including options like rabbit and salmon for pups with allergies. Or freeze-dried fruits and veggies like sweet potatoes and blueberries. 

The app gives you access to shop for treats and supplies as well as access your training academy and sound libraries if you've opted to purchase those.
Pupford App: Shop for treats, chews, and supplements
 
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We have several of these cameras around the house so I can check on the pups throughout the day. You can talk to the pups through them and even dispense treats for them all done through the App! Love seeing their daily reports at the end of the day ...
Furbo App
 
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App to order all the fun stuff (toys, chews, treats, yummy meals), and stuff to make the not-so-fun stuff better and/or easier (grooming supplies, household pet supplies, meds).
Chewy.com

Our Favs: Walkies! 🦮

The best dog-friendly trails and parks in Apopka, FL and surrounding areas! Where to go and what to pack for success-even with more sensitive or reactive puppos.
 
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Mostly shaded, wide-paved path with grassy sides easy on the paw pads and great for all the sniffs. A few water fountains along the way for refilling water bottles and travel bowls.
Seminole Wekiva Trail - San Sebastian Trailhead
 
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We love waking on earthy trail together; it’s miles long and beautiful. Great spot to come across wildlife too! Trail is more narrow here so may not be the best one for sensitive pups on busy days/times. Dogs not allowed in/near the water, but th...
Wekiwa Springs State Park
 
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Lots of space to explore with shady spots here and there. There is a small and large dog park nearby if that suits your pup. Far enough away from the park and “sidewalk trails” so as not upset sensitive pups. It’s easy to get space and keep dista...
Kit Land Nelson Park
 
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Beautiful lake, water fountains (bring travel bottle/bowl for the pups), and tons of room for sensitive pups to get space from others and still have a great time!
Apopka Amphitheater
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Most comfortable harnesses we've found that allow for shoulder movement, and fairly breathable in the Florida heat. There's a front clip when we need it, but mostly use the back clip, especially when using with a long line.
Rocky Mountain Dog
 
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Our favorite leashes with three strategically placed handles. Comfortable for mom, easy to adjust length for more or less freedom. Max and Neo donate one item to a rescue or shelter for every item purchased. 

They have long lines too and leashes with double or single handles. Love their products!
Triple Handle Heavy Duty Reflective Leash
 
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Treat pouches are outing staples in our house and I like comfortable, hands-free ones like the Pupford pouches. My favorite is the light pink one that has pockets for easily accessed poop bags and my smart phone. It's also big enough for me to car...
Dog Treat Pouch Perfect for Holding Training Treats
 
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Our favorite training treats: healthy, small, and tasty! High value for a lot of pups to use in more distracting environments like outdoor adventure. 

They have freeze-dried proteins, including options like rabbit and salmon for pups with allergies. Or freeze-dried fruits and veggies like sweet potatoes and blueberries. 

They also have chews, jerky, supplements, grooming supplies, dental products to keep your pups in engaged and in good health.
Collections
 
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We got this for Freya when she tore both CCL’s, but used it the most with our senior staffy foster. She loved going for walks and outings, but would get tired in the Florida heat. This was also great for bringing her to vet visits. She always felt se...
kepptory Stroller for Large Dogs, Extra Large Pet Stroller for Medium 2 Dogs, Dog Wagon, Dog Carriage, Foldable Design, Adjustable Handle, Blue & Reviews | Wayfair

Our Favs: Pet Friendly Dining

Our favorite Central Florida restaurants, shops, and coffee houses that welcome our puppos too!

 
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Has the best pizza and cappuccinos in town and really nice Italian-piazzo patio seating where the pups can join too. Sometimes the chef will come say hi and bring the pups a special treat too! Banner absolutely loves coming here to see all of his fri...
Caffe Positano
 
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Amazing large deck area with bar for coffee and/or cocktails where you can enjoy some time out with the pups. They have inside seating too for chatting with friends or remote working, etc. They have Banner's favorite pup cup there complete with bacon ears. 

Friday nights they host a Farmer's market, and often support local businesses with events on their outdoor deck. They support the community with live music, movie nights, etc. on the outdoor deck too! And they've supported local rescues by hosting fundraising and adoption events. 

Pick up a plant friend while you're there too. This is a wonderful place and quite the gem of Apopka! Really, they've become a foundational corner-stone of Apopka.
Propagate Social House
 
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Adorable, creative, and yummy coffee and tea drinks. There's usually a theme to the seasonal drinks, and the decor inside is fun and chic. Staff is super friendly and you can tell it's a family business. They love the puppos and make you feel a part ...

They are especially close to my heart because they hosted a special adoption event for one of our fosters and were amazing hosts.
Calypso Coffee Bar
 
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Cozy home-turned coffee house. Different rooms have different vibes and a couple of closed door spaces for private meetings. Lots of spaces for booking up a laptop to work remotely, or hang in a comfy space and catch up with a friend or two.
Canon Coffee

Dapper Doggos | Top Accessories

Dressing up the Puppos can be so much fun! Family Portrait Day, Holidays, and Special Outing Accessories we have loved.
 
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Good quality pj’s for all different sized dogs. I find it can be hard to find these for larger dogs and this site helps. They even have matching hooman pj’s for holiday family photos or just for fun. Or matching hoodies to be twinsies with your fur...
Dog Pajama - Pup Cup