Ezydog & Rukka water dog must-haves!

 The perfect duo for any water loving dog!

It's been a few months since I've posted on here. We've been busy with our new rescue dog as well as with Noddy, we got married, went away and are in the middle of a house move but we're back with a double whammy review for all the water lovers out there.

As Podgy Paws Ambassadors, we were sent a life jacket by Ezydog in July and a drying robe by Rukka in August. We've tested them out and will share our honest thoughts on both below.

Ezydog DFD x2 Boost Bouyancy Aid

The Ezydog x2 Boost is the second generation of their best-selling dog life jacket. It claims to offer a high level of flotation, new features and a custom fit.

Noddy has always LOVED water. We live in the South Lakes and alongside a river with various beaches nearby too so we often encounter water on our walks which Nod loves to paddle in. He's a small 6kg dog so although he's fearless when it comes to jumping in and making a splash, we're very careful with where he actually swims as he could easily be swept away with the river current and his technique isn't the best either. His favourite thing to do is to splash and catch huge mouthfuls of water which is obviously not great and potentially very harmful so he actually went to hydrotherapy for a while to get some 'lessons' which did really help but the centre has since closed and his splashing habits have reappeared so we try to use toys to provide a suitable focus point. 

Although he's always supervised in the water, I've always felt it important for Noddy to have a life jacket so was excited to try this new & improved model when the opportunity came. Noddy has the smallest size, 2XS, in colour Yellow, this is a great fit on him which he is 100% happy to wear, walk, run and swim in. I like how adjustable this jacket is, with 2 belly straps and 1 over the shoulders/base of neck. I actually can't believe how much confidence this life jacket gave Noddy. He's generally confident but is usually careful in the river and does take caution when it's deep enough to actually swim but he was OFF, I actually had to send Andy running after him shouting "get him, get him" as he was swimming away at rocket speed, haha! The x2 Boost definitely gives a great amount of floatation and I'd say this aided Noddy's swimming technique, he was incredibly happy in the water with it on. The jacket has a sturdy neoprene grab handle on the back which is great for lifting in & out of the water, for catching in case of emergency and for helping beginner swimmers. It also has a high strength alloy D ring for lead attachment which is really handy for tethering near the water whilst getting ready or for walking to and from the water. We haven't needed to use it yet but there is an adventure light attachment which I really like and there's also reflective piping for low light adventuring. 

This bouyancy aid is well padded and feels durable whilst remaining streamlined and lightweight, it doesn't feel bulky and Noddy seems totally comfortable in it. I like that it comes in a whopping 8 sizes which with the amount of adjustability in each, should cater for most dog breeds. It also comes in 4 different colours. Although the front piece of the jacket goes horizontally across the chest, I found it was minimally restrictive, sitting high enough for the shoulders and front legs to move freely and extend fully when walking and swimming which is something I always look for. Out of the water, the jacket is easy to take off and naturally dried nice and quickly. I would absolutely recommend this life jacket from our experience, I like the look, the fit, the performance and Noddy is happy in it and had a great time too.

Rukka Medea Eco Green Dressing Gown

"This bathrobe containing recycled polyester is an ecological but also practical choice dog's daily lifestyle."

What better item to follow a life jacket than a drying robe? I honestly wish I had found this item sooner. A while ago I spent a lot of time trying to find the perfect drying robe for our Shepherd but the only one I found designed like this one was nearly £70 which I couldn't justify so we ended up with one of the most commonly seen drying coat brands which is great but like others have also mentioned, I'm not happy with how tight and restrictive it is around the shoulders and front legs despite being sized correctly. Rukka however have absolutely nailed this design, it gives free movement and also gives complete coverage, no bare, open chest area like a lot of other styles. 

Noddy wears the smallest size, XS and although he was below the minimum measurements on the size chart it actually fits really nicely (a close fit isn't essential in a robe like it is with a harness or coat). The robe is easy to put on, it's adjustable with a clip fastening which I personally prefer to velcro. It also has a high collar which fastens with press studs meaning it's easy to get on and off but can also give really good coverage. It's a really nice soft fabric, very absorbent, Noddy looked so cosy in it. He was actually shivering after coming out of the water but he was so snug inside this robe, it kept him warm and his muscles warm as well as drying him off. Noddy wore the robe as we walked home from the river and he was happy wearing it although I will say the fabric is a little like velcro for any loose leaves, sticky buds etc but they just brushed off once home. In most cases this wouldn't be an issue but the footpath back to our house is a little over grown at the moment.

This robe is available in 5 sizes and although this exact one comes in green, Rukka have a few style options available in different colours with slightly varying features but I'd say there should definitely be something for everyone. As well as being a great drying robe, it can also double as a cooling coat in the Summer by soaking in cold water, wringing out and putting on your dog. I genuinely really like the style of this robe and haven't seen many others that fit this nicely allowing free movement. I also think they're incredibly well priced for the quality when compared to other popular brands. This will definitely be my top choice to recommend to people in the future, without a doubt!

Podgy Paws Pet Shop
4-6 Tithebarn Street
Keswick
Cumbria

T: 017687 73737
W: podgypaws.co.uk
E: info@podgypaws.co.uk

More photos available on our Instagram @positively.wild (previously noddythepatt)

Non-Stop Dogwear Fjord Raincoat

 Our product from Podgy Paws in April had us ready for April showers however we've been very lucky weather wise and haven't actually had much rain since this item arrived. I'm talking about the Fjord raincoat by Non-Stop Dogwear.

This lightweight raincoat comes in 5 colours which all look really smart, there's something for everyone. Noddy went for the blue colour in size 30. Although we've not used the coat in wet weather quite as much as I'd have liked before reviewing, I'll share the overall product details and what I love about it so far. I'll then add to the blog as we use it more, we tend to have fairly wet Summers here in the Lakes so I'm sure it'll have lots more use soon.

The first thing I love about the Fjord raincoat is that it's so lightweight, making it suitable for most breeds including those who are fluffier and don't need the extra warmth. For those who do like to be cosy, a base layer or fleece could be worn underneath the coat. This coat is easy to put on and is highly adjustable. Very similar to the Hurtta Monsoon coat in fact, it provides good chest, belly and leg coverage and as well as the adjustable belly strap, it's also adjustable around the neck line and at the base of the tail to give the perfect fit. It also has really great elasticated leg straps. Also similar to the Monsoon, there is a high neck on the coat which gives protection right up to the dog's ears.

Another thing I really like about this coat is that it comes in a little pouch like a pac-a-mac so you can easily take it on all your travels, just in case. Although incredibly thing and lightweight, the Fjord is waterproof and windproof and provides excellent breathability. The coat has a small opening to attach a lead to a harness, if the dog was wearing one underneath which Noddy often is. It also has reflective detailing for safety on those low light adventures.

Noddy is totally happy in this coat and seems perfectly comfortable in it. Movement is minimally restricted, he can walk and run with ease and it's easy to put on and take off.

From what I've seen so far, this coat is up there with the other top brands. The quality, style, fit and coverage is great and I genuinely can't fault it at all. Although it's held up fine in lighter rain, I look forward to continuing to test it when the wilder weather returns. I'm confident it will not disappoint.

Podgy Paws Pet Shop
4-6 Tithebarn Street
Keswick
Cumbria

info@podgypaws.co.uk

KONG Wild Knots

 In March, Podgy Paws kindly sent Noddy a Kong Wild Knots toy and I'm glad to say it's still very much in one piece over a month later...

The Kong Wild Knots bear is super soft on the outside but on the inside is super strong, durable rope. Noddy does look after his soft toys quite well but he is a typical Terrier and gives them a good ragging. Our German Shepherd Nara has also had some short plays with this toy, she's less respectful to her toys and does like to chew and de-stuff them however as I said before, the bear is still in one piece.

For those who usually get fluff all over the place though, these toys have barely any stuffing meaning less mess. The dogs seem to love the toughness and the feel of the rope 'skeleton' and they absolutely love the squeakers.

Overall I really rate this toy. Whilst nothing is really indestructible, as far as soft toys go, this one is soft yet durable, it's well built as well as cute and the dogs really love it. It's also available in 3 sizes so there's something for everyone regardless of breed/type. I'd definitely recommend this toy to most and would certainly buy it myself in the future.

Podgy Paws Pet Shop

4-6 Tithebarn Street
Keswick
Cumbria
CA12 5ED

017687 73737

info@podgypaws.co.uk

DOG Copenhagen

 The Urban Rope Leash and Urban Style Collar by DOG Copenhagen is our latest matching set, courtesy of Podgy Paws as part of our 2022 ambassadorship. We received the collar towards the end of January so thought we'd double up for our February feature and show you the two items together. For reference we have the Small collar and lead, larger sizes are available, and we chose Hunting Green from the whopping 8 colour choices which all look amazing.

The Urban Explorer is another collar by Dog Copenhagen which looks great and is more in keeping with the style of the Comfort Walk Pro harness which Noddy has in Mocca Brown, size XS. This was his first 'big boy's harness' once he was pretty much fully grown. Before then he'd had second hand harnesses from Animal Rescue Cumbria's pre-loved shop in Kendal where all proceeds go to the shelter and outgrown items can be re-donated back in which I think is such a great option especially for fast growing puppies. Once he'd stopped growing though he had his first trip to Podgy Paws for his very own brand new wardrobe and after trying a couple of options we came out with the Dog Copenhagen which a few years on (Noddy turns 4 this month) is still in fantastic condition and is a great piece of adventure gear. 

Chris at Podgy Paws suggested the Style collar may suit Noddy a bit better than the Explorer just because he's so small and slim built, we had the choice but I agreed the Style was better suited to him for everyday use. I do love a chunky collar on Noddy and if he's walking on his collar I prefer it to be a wider one but this doesn't happen very often, we usually walk on a harness so the Style just felt more versatile for him. The Style still comes in the same colours as the above mentioned harness however it looks more like the Comfort Walk Air model with trendy, 3M reflector stripes which are great for low-light visibility.

The Urban Style collar has been worn daily by Noddy since it arrived, he never wears a collar for long as he doesn't wear one in the house or when crated/travelling but almost always has one on when he's out and about. The fact this collar has an easy clip fastening means it's very quick to take on and off so great for days when he's in and out of the van. Generally speaking I prefer a buckle fastening for walking on, although Noddy doesn't often pull on his lead I feel a greater sense of security with a buckle. Saying that though, I have walked Noddy on the collar at some point most days since we received the set and the clip fastening feels secure and hasn't failed us. The plastic clip takes away from the sophisticated look of the collar ever so slightly but a metal alternative would add weight to what is a nice, lightweight, comfy collar so I wouldn't change it and it looks great overall. The green we chose is so nice, I think it looks really smart against Noddy's colouring and would suit most dogs. I do really like that there is a fastener for an ID tag along the side of the collar which is separate to the D ring meant for leash attachment. The collar is made from soft but durable nylon webbing and is proving to be good in all weather conditions. It doesn't soak up water, is quick drying and is easily cleaned.

The lead is a perfect match colour wise and also looks really smart. It has a nice neoprene padded handle, is a really nice length at 160cm and has a swivel carabiner clip with locking mechanism which gives that added sense of security compared to standard trigger clips. Understandably, the rope width and clip size is increased for the large size lead but we chose the small as it was for Noddy. At first I thought the rope felt very thin, we'd previously been using a Hurtta rope lead most days which is chunkier so it was just a change at first but after setting off on our walk I was actually surprised how much I liked it. It's so lightweight and easy to handle, the length is great and the nylon rope is nice in your hands. Noddy doesn't often pull and he's only 6kg anyway but from what I could feel, I think it would be comfortable even with a stronger dog and less likely to give rope burn than some similar products. Like the collar, the lead also has 3M reflectors for low-light visibility and the metal hardware on both items is Aluminium so nothing will rust. For reference, the small lead that we have has 8mm rope and a 65mm carabiner where the large size has an 11mm rope diameter and an 85mm carabiner. These items can be hand washed in warm water with mild detergent or machine washed (in a laundry bag to avoid metal hardware damaging the machine) on a 30 degree cycle.

Overall I think the whole Dog Copenhagen collection looks really smart and trendy whilst suiting both urban and rural living. Everything is excellent quality, durable and very practical too. As always, Podgy Paws offers a free fitting service in store at their Keswick shop and they also have fantastic support available via email or telephone if you're looking to order with them online.

More photos and videos of all blog featured products being unboxed and in action can be found on our Instagram @positively.wild

Podgy Paws Pet Shop
4-6 Tithebarn Street
Keswick
Cumbria
CA12 5ED

T: 017687 73737
E: info@podgypaws.co.uk
W: podgypaws.co.uk