Why a Kong is a great investment for your dog

We all know how much energy dogs can have, and it can sometimes put a strain on your day to day life when you can't seem to expend all of it. Somehow, no matter how much playing or how many walks, dogs always seem to have an excess of energy left over. If you ever find yourself questioning why that is, it's probably because while your dog has exerted his physical energy, his mental energy hasn't peaked yet. So how do you expend mental energy? By giving your dog a job to do! Now, by a job I don't mean you need to train your dog to do some kind of task, although it would probably be a fun training experience! You can help your dog expend mental energy by giving your dogs puzzles and dispensers that he has to try and figure out in order to get the kibble inside. This will keep your dog from running around the house like a mad-man and will keep them from chewing on things they shouldn't. So what does this have to do with Kong? It's one of the greatest treat dispensing toys every created! Many trainers swear by them as they are the perfect tool to help train your dog. It's great for crate training, teaching what is appropriate to chew on, helping with separation anxiety, and calming down an excitable dog. So let's dive more into it!

What is Kong?

KONG founder, Joe Markham, loved his trained police dog, Fritz, but did not love his destructive chewing habits. Where other dogs might have chewed your shoes or favorite purse, Fritz loved to crunch on rocks, sticks and other harmful items. Fritz’s teeth were wearing down and his need for stimulation and play was not being met, and Joe was frustrated.

One day, while working on a VW Bus, Joe began throwing out car parts to Fritz to lure him away from those rocks. Fritz was immediately taken with a rubber suspension part and dropped it in Joe’s lap to play. The erratic bounce and toughness of the rubber inspired Joe.

They’ve been making KONGs from their own proprietary, pet-safe, built-to-chew rubber ever since. Dogs love KONG. The way it bounces keeps them engaged and ready to play. It has a soft mouth feel for a satisfying chew and, of course, it’s super durable. Owners love KONG too; they can stuff it, throw it, leave it out in the yard — KONG keeps coming back for more.

Dogs and their owners choose the original KONG and all of their other favorite toys because they’re fun. KONG toys are the best of the best in quality, originality, variety, safety, and value. Give a dog a KONG. They’ll be the first to show you: it’s not just a toy, it’s a KONG.

KONG 101

Most dogs need to learn to use a KONG Classic. Follow these steps to ensure your dog knows how to enjoy all the benefits of this popular toy.

1. SIZE FOR SAFETY

It’s important to use the right size KONG so that your dog can have the safest, most enjoyable experience. Not sure where to start on sizing? Each Kong has an estimated weight range that tells you what size Kong would be best for your dog. There are even Puppy Kongs for young dogs, Senior Kongs that are softer for the older dogs, and the Extreme Kongs for the dogs that are aggressive chewers.

2. ENGAGE TO ENSURE SUCCESS

Get your dog excited about their new KONG. Show it off and talk about it excitedly; maybe even play a little hard-to-get to pique their interest and show them what their new toy can do.

3. STUFF TO ENTICE AND EXTEND PLAYTIME

Many dogs are motivated by food and KONG toys are perfect for stuffing with treats or kibble to keep dogs busy. The key is to stuff loosely so that the food will come out of the toy easily. To entice your dog, try using a little bit of peanut butter or their favorite treat in the KONG.

4. FREEZE FOR GREATER CHALLENGE

Over time, your dog will learn how to get treats out of the KONG quickly. To increase the challenge, put together a mixture of wet and dry ingredients, stuff the KONG and freeze it. A frozen KONG heightens the experience by creating a long-lasting, mentally stimulating task.

What can you stuff in a Kong?
So many wonderful things! You can combine dozen's of healthy options to create hundreds of different experiences for your dog! We'll name just of a few of the many things you can stuff a Kong with!

• Peanut Butter
• Canned 100% Pure Pumpkin
• Canned Dog Food
• Cottage Cheese
• Yogurt (Greek or Plain)
• Apple Sauce
• Dog Treats
• Dog Kibble
• Carrots
• Cheerios (Plain)
• Cheese Slices (American or Cheddar)
• Freeze-dried Liver
• Peas
• Cooked Chicken or Turkey
• Apple Slices (make sure your dog doesn't eat the core)
• Bananas

Check out our Website for all your Kong needs! Plus take a look at all our other products you can stuff with treats!

Pet Nutrition (aka How to tell what food and treats have the best nutritional value for my pet)

We all know nutrition is important, but it’s not just important in our diets, it’s also important in our pets diets as well. Pet parents want the best for their pet, but it can be difficult to figure out what that may be. For best results, we recommend talking to your vet, but we’re going to go over a few things that may help the average pet owner understand their pets nutritional needs a little better, as well as guide them towards food and treats that have great sources of vitamins and nutrients your pet’s need.

But how do you know if your pet food is giving your pet the right diet they need? Every pet food is going to claim they are the best and that they offer the best nutrients and diet needs for your dog or cat, but not everyone can be on top. So what pet food has the best benefits for your pet? To know this, first take a look at the ingredient list on your dog food. Pet foods must list their ingredients by weight, starting with the heaviest. Some people claim that getting a dog or cat food where the first ingredient is meat means it is a great dog food, but keep in mind that meat is about 75% water, and without that water weight the meat probably would fall lower on the ingredient list.

Meat meals, such as chicken meal or meat and bone meal, have most of the water and fat removed which concentrates the animal protein. So, although real meat is a great ingredient, make sure you look for these meat meals to really get the protein your pet needs.

What about byproducts? Those can’t be good for my pet right? That’s not entirely true, and veterinarian’s say that it’s really a matter of personal choice to allow your pet to eat a food containing any. Liver, which is a byproduct, is rich in nutrients such as vitamin A. Meat byproducts also contain blood, bone, brains, stomach, udders, and cleaned intestines, according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Byproducts don’t include hair, horns, teeth, or hooves. Meat meal can also include esophagus, tongue, and diaphragm. Although these ingredients may sound really gross to you, your pets would disagree. So don’t necessarily turn a pet food away just because byproducts are on the list.

Next, look for a statement of nutritional adequacy on the label. Many pet food makers follow model regulations set by the AAFCO that establish the minimum amount of nutrients needed to provide a complete and balanced diet. The statement may say the food is formulated to meet AAFCO standards or that it has been tested in feeding trials and found to provide complete nutrition.

Now, a human should be getting 20% Protein, 50% Carbohydrates, and 25-30% Fats & Oils in their diet each day, but your dog and cat have a completely different set up for their diet. Dogs should be getting 40% Protein, 15-20% Carbohydrates, and only 10-15% Fats & Oils. Cats should by getting 40% Protein, only 5% Carbohydrates, and 30% Fats & Oils. We’ve included a lovely pyramid, just like the food pyramid a human has, that shows different sources of the things your dog needs (there isn't one for cats, their diet can be loosely based off this but they do require different things and it's best to ask your veterinarian) in their diet, water being the most important of course!

Another step in helping to figure out if your pet food as the right balance for your pet, check out the guaranteed analysis. This will list the minimum amount of protein and fat in food and the maximum percentage of fiber and moisture. Some pet food labels also list the percentage of other ingredients, such as calcium and phosphorous.

My dog food is labeled as “natural” or “holistic”, doesn’t that mean it’s better? No, not necessarily. Food labeled as natural should contain few, if any, synthetic ingredients. Holistic, along with premium and super-premium, are marketing terms and there is no rule that controls how they’re used.

So what are some good pet foods and treats that contain the kind of nutrients my dog or cat need for a healthy diet? Orijen, Ziwipeak, Fromm, Acana, and Evanger’s have a wonderful selection of food and treats for dogs and cats that are formulated for a healthy diet.

We hope this has been helpful in giving the best for your furry family member! Check out this website that has a Nutritional Calculator to help you with how much your four-legged pal should be eating each day to be the appropriate weight!
Visit Mickey's Pet Supplies and take $3 off your $25 order with coupon code BL316.

Kong Stuffing Ideas; Including one for Calming

Everyone knows the famous Kong toys and their amazing ability to keep our dogs entertained and out of trouble. But how many of us are aware of the many incredible ways you can stuff your dogs Kong to keep him from getting bored? Most of us are used to stuffing Kong's with our dogs kibble or canned dog food, maybe some of our dogs favorites treats, and then topping it off with some peanut butter, but did you know there are dozens of other yummy and healthy foods you can use as well? Let's go over just a few examples!

Apples, Bananas, Cheerios, Cheese, Baby Food, Cream Cheese, Tuna, Yogurt (plain, lowfat, unsweetened, unflavored), peaches, and so much more! We'll list a few fun and delicious Kong stuffing recipes to get you started!

Calming Kong
Ingredients: A portion of your dog's normal kibble, about a dessertspoon of cottage cheese, a chunk of banana (about an inch thick)

Method: Half fill the Kong with kibble, then spoon in most of the cottage cheese. Holding your hand over the large opening, shake the Kong to coat the kibble in the cottage cheese. Add some more kibble, packing it in well, then top with the remainder of the cottage cheese before plugging the large opening with the banana.

Food Fact: Cottage cheese contains a good source of the protein amino-acid 'casein' which the body converts into naturally occurring opioids that have a calming affect. This is especially useful to help separation distressed dogs to feel more relaxed when alone. Bananas are also thought to have a calming affect.

Fun Kong Stuffers

1. Combine bran cereal with some peanut butter for a good source of fiber.
2. Plain Yogurt and mashed bananas. (You can also add a little peanut butter or other fruits). Then freeze it.
3. Combine some plain yogurt, canned pumpkin, and cooked rice in a small baggie. Mix well inside the bag, then snip off a corner of the bag and squeeze it into the Kong toy. Freeze.
4. Combine applesauce with chunks of fruit. Freeze.
5. Soak some of your dog's regular food in water (or chicken/beef broth) for a brief time before placing it inside a Kong. Then freeze. (Great for dogs with allergies)

Stop by and see all the Kong products Mickey's has to offer plus all the other great toys and treats! We offer free shipping on orders of $75 and very low cost shipping on orders under $75.

Take $5 off $40 with coupon code KONGBLOG 

at checkout.

Made in USA dog treats

More Americans are looking for only Made in USA dog treats.

Our pets are members of our family and we only want the best, all natural treats that are made right here in the USA.

We support our companies that make their wholesome and all natural treats here in America.

All of our treats that we carry have been "Lab" approved by our Labrador Retriever, Nia.

They must meet all our criteria in order for us to carry them at our online pet store and we are very fussy about what should and should not be in a dog treat.  

Kona's Chips Chicken Jerky treats

Almost everyone is aware of the made in China chicken jerky problem.  We have the finest made in USA Chicken, Beef and Turkey jerky from Kona's Chips. The founders of this company started making their own chicken jerky after their dog fell ill after eating imported chicken jerky treats back in 2007.  Their jerky treats and chicken crunch treats are loved by dogs and cats too. They are made strictly of USDA certified meats with only salt added to their jerky. 

We carry Zuke's dog treats- Great company started by a man in Colorado that loves his dogs and wanted to create a line of all natural, healthy dog treats for his dogs. Almost everyone that has a dog is familiar with his Mini Naturals training treats.  

Sojos dog treats was created by two women originally baking their own original dog treat recipes from their kitchen.  They are known for great tasting baked dog treats such as their Lamb and Sweet Potato and Duck and Cherry grain free treats and of course their treats made specifically for small size dogs.

Sam's Yams sweet potato treats were created by a chef, named David that made a delicious sweet potato jerky treat with ridges. All of his treats are made from USA grown orange fleshed, sweet potatoes (yams).  

Evanger's Buffalo jerky dog treats

Evanger's dog food has a great line of freeze-dried dog treats and their Nothing but Natural Chicken or Buffalo jerky.  This family owned company has been making great dog food since 1935. 

Isle of Dog products have always been recognized in the show dog world as having the best grooming products.  Their new condition specific treats are so unique and full of only the best organic ingredients.

Skin, Vital, Weight, Smile, Breath, Joint and Chill Out are heart shaped baked dog treats that actually help with specific issues your dog may have.  

Mickey's Pet Supplies is dedicated to bringing pet parents only the finest made in USA dog treats and pet products.

Call us at 877-863-5431 or visit us at http://www.mickeyspetsupplies.com

New customers take 5% off your order with coupon code BL1055

Made in USA Dog Treats

We know how much your love your dog.  If you are like us, your pets are your family.
Finding the right all natural, healthy made in USA dog treats is not hard.

Mickey's Pet Supplies carries the finest made in USA chicken jerky treats, beef jerky treats and a great variety of only the best soft & chewy and baked made in USA treats for dogs and cats too.
Take $3 off your $30 order- enter coupon code BTR3 at checkout.

We are committed to researching every company to know that they are actually making their treats here and that their ingredients contain only the most basic of ingredients without adding anything artificial.

Here are our brands:

Wet Noses- Baked, Certified organic dog treats
Grandma Lucy's-  Certified organic dog treats

Arctic Paws- Great wild Alaskan salmon dog treats
Bravo- Duck feet & New training treats including nitrate free hot dogs (secret tool of trainers)
Cloud Star- All natural, healthy baked and chewy treats. Makers of the most popular Tricky trainers liver treats.
Fruitables-  Skinny minis Pumpkin & Mango and Yamberry are full of antioxidant rich pumpkin and sweet potato in a mini size chewy treat.
Isle of Dogs- Fantastic line of condition specific treats- Breath, Joint, Skin, Smile, Vital, Weight(Senior)

Kona's Chips- Made in USA chicken, turkey and beef jerky treats- Only USDA certified meat
A guaranteed meat only treat your dog will love.

K9 Granola Factory- Bakery oven baked crunchy treats. They have everything from Coconut and Banana crunchers to their soft bakes and new carrot chips (coming soon)
Overby Farms- Cherry dog treats available in junior and regular size-including their wonderful Hip Flex chews 

Plato- Made in USA chicken and duck jerky strips


Sam's Yams- All natural sliced sweet potato treats made in Wisconsin. They also have a great calming yam bone with chamomile that is wonderful to help calm your dog.

Sojos- (Sojourner Farms) Great selection of healthy treats including two completely grain free treats-Lamb and Sweet Potato & Duck and Cherry, plus great small dog treats from their Good Dog line.

Zuke's- As always, Zuke's out of Colorado has been dedicated to giving us healthy all natural treats.
Newest to their line up is the Super Berry soft treats, ZUKES Super Betas dog treats 6 oz. and the Lil Links Chicken and Apple and Pork and Apple treats. 

Visit Mickey's Pet Supplies natural pet store and take $3 off your $30 order with coupon code BTR3
or call us at 877-863-5431
Your $75 order ships for free!
We are always happy to hear from you and feel free to call with any questions.
Our orders ship out within 24 hours or you can choose in store pick up if you are located in Wilmington, NC

Pet Supplies-Made in USA

Mickey's Pet Supplies is a family owned, woman run company that supports American made pet products.
With so many companies out sourcing labor because of costs, it is very important to support the companies that have remained loyal in their commitment to keep Americans working.

We have a section dedicated to Made in USA Pet Supplies. 
We proudly carry a great selection of made in USA dog treats, Made in USA Rawhides, USA bully sticks and dog toys made with pride in the USA.

Visit us at http://www.mickeyspetsupplies.com
Enter coupon code USA for $5 off your $35 order.
Call 877-863-5431

If you have a product you think we should carry that it is made in the USA, please let us know by e-mail: sales@mickeyspetsupplies.com

Made in USA pet supplies

Let's face it, labor is cheap in China and so many companies here in the US have outsourced their production to China.  That doesn't mean we have to give up on supporting our companies here in the United States that DO make their pet products here.

Most are small, family owned businesses and we need to remember in order to keep jobs here, we must pay a little more for our dog treats and dog toys.  The cost of labor is definitely higher, so the price of products will cost more.  It is only logical.
Consumers must be willing to pay more for made in USA pet products.

At Mickey's Pet Supplies we proudly support those small companies.

You will find dog toys from Doggie Styles and Kitty too.  They are a small company based out of Vermont.  They hire home sewers that make all their toys.  The dog and cat toys are all very well made and we can attest, they are very durable too.

West Paw Design makes great dog toys and they are based in Montana.  They have durable rubber dog toys made from their Zogoflex material and plush stuffed and unstuffed toys.
Planet Dog Toys are also a US company.  They make very durable rubber toys for dogs.
We also carry a toy called Henry's Toy, which is made in North Carolina, our home state. 

All of the companies we choose to represent on our website are all generous supporters of animal rescue organizations.  They give back with foundations to national and local non-profits for animals.

Mickey's Pet Supplies has natural and healthy dog treats, dog bones and dog chews made in the USA.
You will find only the highest quality treats from companies like K9 Granola Factory, Plato, Zukes, Kona's Chips, Sojos, Arctic Paws, Cloud Star, Sam's Yams, Whole Life Pet, Cocotherapy, Overby Farms, Wholesome Hide rawhides, Jones Natural Chews, Merrick and Smokehouse Pet.

We also have our own brand of made in USA, odorless bully sticks with different thicknesses to choose from.  We are the only company that grades our bully sticks by weight.  That means that you get a dense chew, thus a longer lasting bully stick. Our Monster bully sticks are very popular with bigger, more aggressive chewers.


Visit us online at www.mickeyspetsupplies.com
Take $3 off your $30 order with coupon code GOUSA at checkout

Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Mickeyspetsupplies

Call 877-863-5431 to order by phone.  We are always available by phone or e-mail for our customers.
We are a natural pet store for cats and dogs, specializing in Made in USA pet supplies.
We are supporters of national and local rescue organizations. 

Hypoallergenic Dog Treats

Did you know that over 20% of dogs have allergies to specific meat and grains?
Ten percent of all allergy cases in dogs are food allergies. Dogs also can suffer from food intolerance, which is different from a food allergy.
The common signs of a food allergy in dogs is chronic ear infections, digestive problems, licking of paws and feed, diarrhea and an itchy rear end.
The most common allergens are beef, dairy, wheat, egg, chicken, lamb, soy, pork, rabbit, and fish. And, most dogs are usually allergic to more than one thing.

What Are the General Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs?

• Itchy, red, moist or scabbed skin
• Increased scratching
• Itchy, runny eyes
• Itchy back or base of tail (most commonly flea allergy)
• Itchy ears and ear infections
• Sneezing
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Snoring caused by an inflamed throat
• Paw chewing/swollen paws
• Constant licking 

Allergic dogs may also suffer from secondary bacterial or yeast skin infections, which may cause hair loss, scabs or crusts on the skin. 
The only way to diagnose a food allergy is to feed your dog a prescription or hydrolyzed protein diet exclusively for 12 weeks. The importance of not feeding your dog anything but the diet cannot be emphasized enough—that means no treats, table food or flavored medication. This diet will be free of potential allergy-causing ingredients and will ideally have ingredients your dog has never been exposed to. He’ll remain on the diet until his symptoms go away, at which time you’ll begin to reintroduce old foods to see which ones might be causing the allergic reaction. Most veterinarians take your dog off all the foods it's eating and then put him on a food that he's never had before. With all the exotic diets out there now, this can be pretty difficult. Once the dog has improved, you start reintroducing the old foods that may have caused the problems in the first place. If your dog has a reaction, which usually takes a few days to a few weeks, then you know he has a food allergy.

Dog can develop an allergy to a food that they have eaten for years.
Holistic veterinarians are recommending the use of probiotics at an early age for puppies and kittens.
Their feeling is that these help maintain the balance in the gut and maybe stave off the development of allergies later.

Once your veterinarian has determined what kind of allergies your dog has then you are now challenged to find treats that do not contain the meat source or grains your dog is allergic to.

K9 Granola Factory Grain Free Duck Crunchers

At Mickey's Pet Supplies, we have done an extensive amount of research to find the highest quality, made in USA treats and chews for your dogs. We carry grain free treats from Sojos, K9 Granola factory, Arctic Paws and a great selection of dog chews such as lamb ears, buffalo chews, Himalayan dog chews, venison and duck. 
Check out our Hypoallergenic dog treats section.

Don't give up hope, there are so many treats and healthy dog chews for your dog.

Visit us at http://www.mickeyspetsupplies.com
or Call 877-863-5431.  We are happy to help with recommendations of the right treat or chew for your "fur babies'.

Use coupon code BLGA724 at checkout for $3 off your $30 order.

Dog Treats on Sale

Mickey's Pet Supplies has only the highest quality treats for your cats and dogs.

Find Arctic Paws Yummy Chummies, Zukes, Sojos, Honest Kitchen, Whole Life pet products, Sam's Yams, Snook's sweet potato dog chews, Wet Noses organic dog treats, Jones Natural dog chews, and Free Range dog chews.

Take $5 off your $50 order or more with coupon code GR51

Tough Dog Toys for Outdoor Play

It's gorgeous outside and time to get outside and play with your dogs.

If you like playing frisbee- Check out the West Paw Zisc. It is made of recyclable Zogoflex material that is flexible and easy on your dog's mouth, unlike hard plastic frisbees that hurt your dog's mouth and have a limited life. These fly great!

Try a game of tug-o-war with the Bumi, also by West Paw.
This "S" shaped toy stretches to almost twice it's length and bounces right back.

The Bumi comes in small and large size. All West Paw Design toys are made in the USA.

Always tough and durable, are the Tuffy's Dog Toys. Take 20% Tuffy's today through Memorial Day. Enter Coupon Code TW20

The Sport Tug-O-War is great for medium to large size dogs. Dogs love tug of war and will love this toy. Rated No.9 on toughness so great for agressive chewers.Made with soft edges to not harm your dogs gums. Also has 3 squeakers.

The Bowmerang Jr. is great for small to medium size dogs. Measuring 5 3/4" it is shaped like a boomerang, but made of a soft outside but full of reinforced layers for durability. Loaded with squeakers, plus it floats. This works great for fetch and retrieval training-flies great.

If you are working on Fetch and Retrieval training, another great toy is the Kyjen Treat N Train Tubes- available in Small and Medium/Large.

These tubes are made of a super hard plastic, are see through and you simply put treats inside the top, throw them and then reward and praise your dog for a job well done with the treats.

Some really great training treats are the Canine Genius IQ treats- Made of 100% wild caught Norwegian Salmon. Or try the Cloudstar Soft and Chewy Buddy Biscuits or Zuke's Superfoods Organics Health Nutz or Mean Greenz. The Itty Bitty Buddy Biscuits are small and low calorie, so you can fill it up with these tasty snacks.

Take 20% off Tuffy's dog toys Today through Memorial Day.

Coupon Code TW20- Hurry this offer expires May 31st at Midnight E.S.T.

Mickey's Pet Supplies- Your natural pet store for holistic, organic, eco-friendly pet supplies, Free range dog chews, Vitamins, Supplements, Interactive dog and cat toys and pet bowls.

FREE shipping on $75 order. Call 877-863-5431

10% off All Dog Treats

Starting May 1st- for one week only- Take 10% off all dog treats with coupon code DOGS at checkout.

You will find organic, healthy, all natural treats as well as Bully sticks and dog chews.

We have treats from Zuke's, Sam's Yams, CloudStar, Sojos, Honest Kitchen, Stella & Chewy's, Snook's, Dr. Harvey's, Canine Genius, Plato, Premier and Free Range dog chews.

Mickey's Pet Supplies is a natural pet store for holistic, organic and eco-friendly pet supplies.

High quality, low prices and free shipping on $75 order --All with very personal service.

We care about our customers and their pets.

Call 877-863-5431 to order

Wholesome Hide Made in USA Rawhides on SALE

Mickey's Pet Supplies carries a huge selection of the Wholesome Hide Rawhides
Including the Super Thick Retriever Roll- available in 10 pack for only $59.95
Wholesome Hide rawhides are the only rawhide dog chew recommended by Whole Dog Journal.
They are made in Chicago- USA- from the highest quality USA cattle hides.
Made to maintain the most flavor for your dogs.
All of our Wholesome Hide rawhides are on sale this week starting at only $1.29
http://www.mickeyspetsupplies.com/
Call 877-863-5431 to order.

Wholesome Hide Retriever Rolls on SALE

Mickey's Pet Supplies carries the only rawhides recommended by Whole Dog Journal-The Wholesome Hide Rawhides.

Made in the USA! Once your dog has a Wholesome Hide rawhide you'll be hooked.

We have all our Wholesome Hide Retriever Rolls on sale. Sale ends Monday February 22nd- so hurry!

The small retriever rolls 4-5" are only $1.29

The medium retriever rolls in 8" are only $2.65

The 10-11" retriever rolls are $3.79

The 10 pack of 10-11" Super Thick Retriever Rolls are $59.95

Orders of $75 and over ship for free to the lower 48 states.

http://www.mickeyspetsupplies.com

Call 877-863-5431

What makes us different? We have the best in personal customer service. All our orders are hand packed by us with a note and paw print tissue paper. When your order arrives, it is like getting a gift!