Pet Age

Aratana Therapeutics Adds to Management Team

Aratana Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the licensing, development and commercialization of innovative medications for pets, appointed Craig Tooman as chief financial officer and John C. Ayres as its general counsel.

“Aratana has grown considerably over the past year, having successfully completed our initial public offering in June and now, with the acquisition of Vet Therapeutics, becoming a commercial company,” Steven St. Peter, president and CEO, said. “The appointments of Craig Tooman and John Ayres, both highly experienced commercial biopharmaceutical executives, will substantially enhance our strategy to establish Aratana as the industry leader in pet therapeutics.”

Louise Mawhinney, former CFO of Aratana, will remain with the company.

Chuck & Don’s Names New CFO

Thomas Murphy was named chief financial officer and integrator at Chuck & Don’s, a destination pet supply store with locations in Minnesota and Colorado.

In this position, Murphy will oversee the Chuck & Don’s finance, information technology and human resources departments.

“Tom’s strength is in helping organizations understand their business model, creating a framework to improve the business process, and achieving established goals,” Bob Hartzell, chief executive officer said. “Tom has a great deal of experience working with mid-size companies who are experiencing emerging growth, like Chuck & Don’s. This experience will help Chuck & Don’s continue to grow and improve while ensuring we don’t lose sight of our core values and the qualities that make us unique.”

Prior to joining Chuck & Don’s, Murphy served as the vice president of finance at FMG Tsumura, CFO and vice president of administration at Everest Medical Corporation, executive vice president and CFO at Gyrus Group and most recently, CFO at Corval Group.

New Line of Luxury Pet Products

Renowned pet furniture designer, Corey Drew, introduced, Architect Pets, a new line of luxury pet items.

The Architect Pets line currently features luxury dog beds, pet feeders, cat scratchers and will later expand to include exclusive pet toys, carriers and other must-have accessories for the pet and home.

“Our goal is to revolutionize the pet industry with the staple pieces of our brand, which are designed to withstand the test of time through both their visual appeal and craftsmanship,” Drew, CEO and chief design officer of Architect Pets, said.

Drew was approached by his now invested manufacturing partner to develop a new brand of pet furniture and accessories. This ultimately led to the formation of The Urban Design Group. Over the next few months, Drew worked to gather a network of talented individuals within the creative and diverse city of Savannah to assist him in building The Urban Design Group’s first exclusive brand, Architect Pets.

Zuke’s Helps Beat Pet Cancer With Donation

Zuke’s donated more than $175,000 to the Dog and Cat Cancer Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to understanding, treating and preventing canine and feline cancer.

The DCCFund was created by Zuke’s founder, Patrick Meiering, and his brother Chris Meiering, director of marketing, in 2007, after their childhood dog and, more recently, Zuke, the namesake of Zuke’s dog and cat treats, died of canine cancer.

“Zuke’s donates a portion of all product sales to the Dog and Cat Cancer fund,” Chris Meiering said. “We invest in this organization because we passionately believe that the ability to pay one’s vet bills shouldn’t be a factor in giving pets a fighting chance against this terrible disease.”

With Zuke’s support, the DCCFund has been able to increase the annual grant amount per pet from $700 in 2007, to $1,200 in 2011 and most recently to $1,500 in 2013.

The DCCFund estimates they will be able to help a record 100 pets this year alone, up from 42 in 2011 and 69 in 2012.

Since its inception, the DCCFund has helped a total of 250 dogs and cats nationwide.

Reeling In the Big Sharks

Abe Geary, the founder of PetPaint, a high quality colored furspray that is specially formulated, dog safe and veterinarian approved, recently appeared on the hit ABC TV show “Shark Tank.”

Geary, who sought to change the way people celebrate occasions and holidays with their dog, spoke exclusively to Pet Age, about his appearance on the show, and his product.

Pet Age: First, tell us a little about Pet Paint, and why you started the company.

Geary: PetPaint is the world’s first temporary color spray designed for the use on dogs. “Why,” we say “Why not” the whole idea came when Billie the Giant Schnauzer my dog, and companion, wouldn’t wear dog clothes. I thought how can I make something she doesn’t know she’s wearing… “light bulb flicker.” I knew we would have a really fun novel product but I didn’t realize there is actually a demand for our high quality color sprays by groomers who have been looking for an easy to use bright color.

Pet Age: Why did you decided to go on “Shark Tank”?

Geary: This is where everybody goes who is excited about their idea and wants to let the world see them get grilled by these brilliant or bullish sharks right? Every idea
needs money and resources to make a real business, oh, and a great media bump never hurts either.

We got lucky here in that we submitted our investment package to a couple angel finance websites and one of the Shark Tank Producers contacted us.

Pet Age: What was going through your head when the Sharks were talking about your product?

Geary: When you are watching the show everything is condensed, what you don’t see is the 65 minutes the actual negotiation takes. Every one of the sharks tackle the situation differently. Depending on what they are firing at you is what is going through your head.

Some of the time it was “you guys don’t know my market like I do” and some of it was “oh yeah I should have thought of that.”

Pet Age: Why didn’t you accept the deal?

Geary: Barbara shot a deal out there in what I thought was a way to grab up a huge amount of equity, other sharks were out so she had an advantaged position. I like Barbara and would have loved to make a deal with her but not at the expense of the majority of my company. I had to turn it down as it would not have been fair to my vision

Pet Age: What was it like to be standing there in front of “the Sharks”?

Geary: This is a little shark tank secret, you actually walk down the intimidating hallway and into the tank then you have to stand and do a stare down for at least a minute before you can start your pitch. This is where the nerves start to kick in.

The time in the tank lasts over 60 minutes and it goes a hundred miles an hour. Imagine playing verbal ping pong against five amazing players all at once and when one of the balls falls off the table your chances of success drop by 20 percent.

Pet Age: How has appearing on the show impacted your company?

Geary: I think they call it the “Shark Tank Effect” all has been great. The positive benefits started long before the show was even slated to air. Once people find out you are going to be on the show they are at least willing to hear what you have to say, so long as you are not an idiot to begin with it opens doors.

As far as right now I don’t know what the total effects will be but as soon as I go through the 5,000 emails I just received I’ll give you a synopsis.

Pet Age: What’s next for PetPaint?

Geary: PetPaint is going to be a household name and I feel it will happen pretty quickly. Our groomers who use PetPaint to add revenue to their shop have been reordering, our distributors are reordering and I feel we have barely scratched the surface when it comes to awareness.

Every time you see a colored dog just think back to when you saw that crazy guy on “Shark Tank” making dog paint.

PetPaint to Appear on “Shark Tank”

Abe Geary, the founder of PetPaint, a high quality colored furspray that is specially formulated, dog safe and veterinarian approved, will appear on the hit ABC TV show “Shark Tank” tonight, Fri. Nov. 8, at 9 p.m.

Geary, who sought to change the way people celebrate occasions and holidays with their dog, spoke exclusively to Pet Age, about his appearance on the show, and his product.

Pet Age: First, tell us a little about Pet Paint, and why you started the company.

Geary: PetPaint is the world’s first temporary color spray designed for the use on dogs. “Why”, we say “Why not” the whole idea came when Billie the Giant Schnauzer my dog, and companion, wouldn’t wear dog clothes. I thought how can I make something she doesn’t know she’s wearing… “lightbulb flicker.”

I knew we would have a really fun novel product but I didn’t realize there is actually a demand for our high quality color sprays by groomers who have been looking for an easy to use bright color.

Pet Age: Why did you decided to go on “Shark Tank”?

Geary: This is where everybody goes who is excited about their idea and wants to let the world see them get grilled by these brilliant or bullish sharks right? Every idea needs money and resources to make a real business oh and a great media bump never hurts either.

We got lucky here in that we submitted our investment package to a couple angel finance websites and one of the Shark Tank Producers contacted us.

Pet Age: We know you can’t tell us what happened on the show, but what should we expect to see when the episode airs on Friday?

Geary: I don’t even know what to expect to see, literally. I know what happened in the “tank” but I don’t know what will happen in the editing booth, this will be news to all of us. What I can say is there was a funny fashion show, some good banter back and forth and a pretty dramatic end.

Pet Age: What was it like to be standing there in front of “the Sharks”?

Imagine playing verbal ping pong against five amazing players all at once and when one of the balls falls off the table your chances of success drop by 20 percent. There is no structure just drop the balls and start going for it, I’m no FGump but I think I held my own, we’ll all see Friday night.

Pet Age: Your dogs are a staple on the trade show floor, did they join you on the show?

Geary: They did, Monkey, Billie and London an English bulldog we borrowed from some friends. They did great other than the fact they had a little fight over a bone somewhere in the middle of the pitch.

Watch a preview clip from tonight’s show on TV Line, and look for another exclusive interview with Geary this weekend on Pet Age’s website, and in our December issue.

PBI-Gordon Buys PetAg

PBI-Gordon Corporation’s consumer animal products business unit led by Rick Blomquist, and known for its Lambert Kay pet healthcare brand line, acquired of companion pet healthcare product company, PetAg.

As the two brands merge, the company said all pet health care products will continue to feature the same quality ingredients consumers and retailers have come to trust for more than 70 years. In a release, PBI-Gordon said they are committed to building on the existing PetAg product line, developing a complete healthcare regimen for pets at every stage of life.

“This strategic expansion gives PBI-Gordon Corporation a more robust offering within the pet health care products sector,” Don Chew, president and CEO of PBI-Gordon Corporation, said. “These two long-standing, successful brands are joining to provide consumers with synergistic solutions to keep their pets healthy throughout their lives.”

With this acquisition, PBI-Gordon Corporation adds a broad portfolio of new nutritional supplements and health care products to its existing range, offering a more comprehensive line of health care solutions.

“We look forward to offering one of the most comprehensive portfolios of animal health care solutions in the industry,” Darlene Frudakis, former president and COO of PetAg, said. “Consumers can now get a very broad set of compatible quality solutions for their pet healthcare needs from one trusted company. PetAg’s current managers and staff will continue to provide our customers with the highest quality products and customer service. We are so enthusiastic about the future growth potential of PetAg and Lambert Kay as a strategic component of PBI Gordon’s consumer animal product group. We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support of our esteemed customer base that will now be able to benefit from the combined PetAg and Lambert Kay product lines.”

Frudakis will remain with the business as president of strategic trade development for the PetAg/Lambert Kay product lines.

PetAg umbrella brand includes Esbilac, KMR, Bene-Bac, Mirra-Coat, Foal-Lac, Multi-Milk, PetLac, Vive, Zoologic, Rawhide Brand, Chunky Chews, Pink Parrot, Fermactoand Bospro. PBI-Gordon Corporation’s current portfolio features other industry leading products now going to market under the Lambert Kay brand, including Fresh ’n Clean, Boundary and Prozyme.

Passing Down Evanger’s

After acquiring Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Company, the Sher family has come together to help improve the brand.

Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Company was established in 1935 and taken over by the Sher family 10 years ago. Holly and Joel Sher have five children, all of which are involved in the business in various capacities.

“As we move to our beautiful new, expanded and eco-friendly manufacturing facility in Markham, IL, we are starting to get the kids even more involved in the ownership role,” Holly Sher, owner of Evanger’s, said. “As we get older, we will be playing less of a role. It is amazing to Joel and I that five kids could be so different in their strengths, but also very much alike in their goals in working hard and focusing on delivering high-quality made in the USA dog and cat food. We are lucky that our children all get along and want to be a part of creating and driving the future of the pet industry.”

Sher said that on the job training is critical for the process they go through with passing their company down to their children.

“Every day is a learning experience for us, and it’s critical to have them all actively involved in the day to day business for many years as this is the best real world training they can get,” Sher said. “They are all building relationships within every phase and aspect of this industry … relationships that will build and strengthen year after year.”

For Sher, the hardest part would be stepping away for what you have been involved in every single day, seven days a week, for the past 12 years.

“My parents owned their own business, so based on their example is a big reason why I wanted to run and devote myself and our family to our own company,” Sher said. “As an independent business, we will continue to support independent business, and work hard every day to deliver.”

Innovative and Natural

We recently sat down with Eric Abbey of Loving Pets to talk about his company’s innovative dog products, including treats, bowls and slow feeders.

Q: Tell us about Loving Pets commitment to creating new and innovative dog products.

Abbey: Prior to the launch of Loving Pets Corp. in 2005, pet owners were very limited to the all-natural and affordable products on the market. I wanted to change that, and produce healthy, high quality, 100 percent all natural products available to the masses. I never want price to be a barrier for a pet owner to be able to offer their beloved pet the best quality ingredients and great tasting treats. With the launch of our hallmark bowls, the Bella Bowls, we set out to create a durable, easy to clean dish.
In a national search of growing entrepreneurs and small business owners, we are proud to announce that Loving Pets was featured in INC. magazine’s 500 to Watch in 2013 and Loving Pets’ growth will be recognized during an INC event in Washington DC.
I’m proud that staying true to our original mission is part of what we do every day, and we are excited to continue to innovate and create high-quality, healthy and affordable solutions for pet-parents and their pets.

Q: Loving Pets treats are tested at an independent U.S.-certified lab for both chemical and bacterial contaminants. Why was this important for you to do?

Abbey: In 2010, we made the decision to start sourcing USA meats, fruits and vegetables, and start manufacturing USA-made treats right here at our headquarters in New Jersey. Our treats are an example that made in the USA, delicious and healthy treats do not mean expensive and based on increased consumer demand to the made in the USA trend, we are excited to expand each year with new combinations for dogs and now for cats too.
Our treats do undergo rigorous quality control checks to ensure that quality is always maintained.

Q: In addition to treats, you also make a variety of bowls and canisters. Tell us about them?

Abbey: Loving Pets is a leader in the pet industry, dedicated to providing its customers with high-quality, all natural, innovative and affordable pet treats and feeding accessories. With U.S. and international distribution, Loving Pets offers retailers and end-consumers alike a strengthened commitment to quality.
Every product in our ever-growing assortment of patent-pending stainless steel pet feeding bowl collections as well as innovative pet feeding accessories exudes our commitment to quality and affordability.
Consistent with Loving Pets’ founding principles are the fashionable and functional Bella Bowls for dogs and cats. As Loving Pets’ flagship product, Bella Bowls offer pet-parents affordability, quality, function and designs that fit the personal style of pet-parents everywhere.
Loving Pets is excited to launch three new bowl collections: Milano Bowls, Silent Diners and eco-friendly BambùBowls and a new slow feeding accessory called the Gobble Stopper that conveniently fits inside an existing pet bowl.
Aesthetically, a number of Loving Pets’ printed exterior designs on our feeding dishes are copyrighted.
Loving Pets continues to remain at the forefront of innovation, quality and affordability with every product every day.

Q: Where does your inspiration for your designer collection of Bella Bowls and new Milano Bowls come from?

Abbey: We wanted to provide a range of very affordable bowls that are love inspired, breed inspired and travel inspired. With a goal of offering bowls to appeal to every pet owner, some bowl designs are playful and whimsical, while others are in colors and patterns to complement a range of home decor from exquisite fleur de lis, dragonflies, and classic argyles.

Sleeping In

When it comes to dog bedding, the two biggest trends that are important to consumers are comfort and style.

Dog owners want their pet to be comfortable when they sleep, but they also want the bedding to look good around the house.

Brands like Petmate have designed beds that are inviting, soft and luxurious.

“The new Petmate Fashion Bedding stylishly reflect the look and feel of current home décor,” Patricia McCune, bedding product manager for Petmate, said. “The line includes two lounger sizes, a knife-edge pillow bed and a gusseted pillow bed. The removable covers are machine washable and the insides have a high-loft, recycled polyester fiber fill making it cuddly for even the pickiest of pets.”

Petmate has beds that include their Aspen Pet Self-Warming Beds which are lined with a layer of material that generates warmth by reflecting a pet’s own body heat. The Arm & Hammer bedding line features built-in freshness and antimicrobial protection that inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria.

Sealy has come out with its own dog bed that creates not only a level of comfort for the dog, but also to support the dog.

“We have incorporated Cooling Energy Gel, Pet Rest Memory Foam, Bio Green Orthopedic Foam and an HD Pro Charcoal Base, to create the perfect sleeping conditions for your dog,” David Ezra, CEO of DogPacer, and a representative of Sealy, said. “This quad layer technology is the first of its kind to provide a restful night’s sleep, while helping to maintain healthy joints, increasing circulation and promoting a healthy lifestyle.”

Oster Animal Care has expanded its line of Heated Pet Beds and Heated Pet Pads that feature machine-washable Royal Mink cover and vet-recommended heat setting of 102 degrees.

“With new electronic heated beds and pads, pet owners seek premium comfort through gentle heat to either keep pets warm during the cooler months,” Justin Crout, group marketing manager at Jarden Consumer Solutions, parent company of Oster Animal Care, said. “Or offer comfort from sore muscles, arthritis, etc. as heat is both soothing and therapeutic for both cats and dogs.”

Taylor Beauchamp, president of Charlie & Me, said their customers look for quality dog beds that complement their interior design and home décor.

“Function is a must, but they also want a pet bed that coordinates with the color, style and general theme of their home,” Beauchamp said. “Dog owners also prefer materials with darker colors or busier prints, such as stripes, to hide the dirt that the dog may bring.

“Another trend is to buy multiple pet beds, to keep their dog comfortable indoors, outdoors and while traveling, without having to move the same dog bed throughout the house. Having multiple pet beds, in the living room, bedroom and home office, for instance, can also help deter our furry friends from being on our furniture.”

According to McCune, the number one issue they see with bedding aisles is a lack of organization.

“When a bedding department is in chaos sales can be lost,” McCune said. “This category has large pieces in many styles and it is a challenge to merchandise it well and maintain the planogram. Some tips for best practices are to merchandise by size then by the style of bed and lastly by color.

Trending

When looking at the pet bed market, Sealey said they didn’t find anything that was on the market that supported a dog during their sleep.

“More recently there has been a demand for orthopedic dog beds when we saw the introduction of chipped memory foam and orthopedic foam,” Ezra said. “A dog needs a combination of memory foam and orthopedic foam to eradicate pressure points completely. However, there was a lack of products on the market which provided this support, finding that most beds used shreds of foam instead of solid layers. We have designed a bed 5 years ahead of this current trend by creating four solid layers of essential comfort and support.”

When it came to design, Petmate saw three trends that were catching people’s eye.

“Over-scaled patterns are a big trend in home décor,” McCune said. “The Petmate Fashion Bedding line capitalizes on this hot new look to offer bedding that will look fashionable in your home as well as provide a comfy sleeping or resting spot for your pet.

“Neutrals are also very popular this season but the new twist is a pop of color. The contrast edge is a key trend in both the fashion and home décor arenas.”

Dog Gone Smart Beds have a variety of beds to fit the pickiest of sleepers.

Their designs feature hand-sewn upholstery-grade, durable cotton canvas fabrics and a classic color pallet, complementing any home décor.

Dog Gone Smart beds also uses a high density, AAA-grade, siliconized polyfill to maintain a high loft and eliminate fill bunching.

New Toys, New Tricks

Dog toys are one of the most purchased items, and while a classic tennis ball can sometimes still be an old favorite, manufacturers are upping the game.

Experts say most consumers look for something that is different and unique, a product that catches not only their eye, but also their dog’s.

Steve Luhrs, the founder of Bionic, certainly has a toy that stands out. Not only with its bright orange design, but they spent years of doing research on their Bionic Rubber material and combined everything they learned with real-world testing in shelters to find the best designs that could hold up to some of the toughest chewers they could find.

“We offer a safe toy for both your dog as well as the environment,” Luhrs said. “Our products are durable, enjoyable, entertaining and guaranteed to last. We will continue to push the envelope on our designs while always keeping our most important customers in mind, our dogs. We offer a match to any size or breed and can provide hours, days and months of playtime for you and your dog.”

Bionic offers a variety of products including the Bionic Ball, Bone, Urban Stick, Toss-N-Tug and Stuffer.

The Urban Stick was designed for throwing and fetching, and is specifically formulated to handle the most aggressive chewing and playing.

Careful attention was made to ensure their Bionic Bone fit naturally in the curvature of a dog’s mouth. The ridges across the top give a dog the feeling that they are chewing through the toy, keeping them interested in it for months.

“Bionic is the toy for the next generation of dogs,” he said. “We offer something for everyone, from the Stuffer that lets your dog work at getting his treats, to our new Urban Stick that allows you to play fetch with your dog and not worry about hurting him in the process. In a very short time, we’ve had overwhelmingly positive responses to our toys and we can’t wait to launch all of the amazing ideas we’re working on in the years to come.”

Most of Bionic’s toys have some combination of fetching, stuffing, floating and durability all wrapped into one, not as separate KSUs like other brands.

Stimulate Them

Susan McCann, the national marketing manager for Ethical Products, Inc., said trends in dog toys expanded beyond the traditional squeaker.

There are toys with new types of squeakers as well as various sound mechanisms that are enticing to dogs,” McCann said. “Combining different fabrics on plush toys and fusing multiple layers of fabric for durability are also popular. We’ve expanded our line of toys to include TPR, thermo-plastic rubber, which is a very durable new material.”

Mental stimulation has also become a large trend when it comes to pets.

“There is a huge trend in toys that promote mental stimulation to combat boredom and destructive behaviors,” McCann said. “Plus the side benefit of being able to confirm how smart the dog really is.”

Kyjen makes a full line of toys aimed at making a dog work for their treat or food. Their Dog Games Puzzle Toys challenges a dog and stimulates their senses, while also teaching them step-by=step problem solving skills and offer an appropriate outlet for natural behaviors.

This creates an interactive, positive and fun experience for a dog.

For example, when a tennis ball is dropped through the top of their Mystery Tree, it falls randomly into one of the three “root” chambers. Each root has a unique release mechanism in which the dog must figure out how to successfully retrieve the tennis ball. Each time the drop the ball into the toy, the owner provides a new mystery for the dog.

Plush

Quaker Pet Group said the trend in toys is fun characters but more importantly, long-lasting durability.

“Pet parents are willing to invest in toys that last,” Cristen Underwood, director of marketing for Quaker Pet Group, said. “Retailers are looking for eye-catching designs with unique features, technologies, or quality guarantees that stand out in the toy aisle.”

Because of this, it has led Quaker Pet Group to create the goDog toys.

“Quaker Pet Group’s collections of goDog durable plush toys are growing with adding fun new characters, featuring goDog’s proprietary ChewGuard Technology, a manufacturing process that features reinforced mesh lining and double stitched seams,” Underwood said. “New characters like Gatorz and Amphibianz are brightly colored, unique finds. goDog’s new spherical Furballz was designed so there are no parts to chew off. With a quality, one-time replacement guarantee not offered by any other manufacturer on the market, goDog continues to innovate and champion the durable plush category.”

Lifestyle Habits Drive Demand

Leashes and collars are a staple every pet owner needs.

But, with so many options out there, what is most important to the consumer when it comes to purchasing them?

Simplicity and ease of use.

Experts say owners want to easily get their dog into the harness, collar or leash, and they also want it to be easy to use with certain key features.

Phil Blizzard, the CEO and founder of ThunderWorks, said one of the biggest trends he has seen is stretch leashes to reduce jarring. ThunderLeash addresses one of the most common behavior problems, dogs who pull when on a leash.

“ThunderLeash is very unique in that it provides one of the most effective no-pull solutions ‘built into’ your leash without compromising the basic leash functionality,” Blizzard said. “When pulling isn’t an issue, just clip ThunderLeash onto your dog’s collar like any other leash. But as soon as pulling might become an issue, a quick wrap-around the torso using the patent-pending hardware and you have a well-mannered companion on leash.”

Blizzard said that ThunderLeash addresses three major things.

“ThunderLeash addresses one of the most common behavior problems with dogs – dogs who pull when on leash,” Blizzard said. “Over 50 percent of dog parents report that pulling on the leash is a problem for them.

“ThunderLeash is a positive based solution,” Blizzard said. “ThunderLeash is quick, easy-to-use and effective, a no-pull solution that works for even those of us that can’t find the time for extended behavior training programs.”

Thunderleash is also a no-pull solution in one.

“No complicated harnesses or head collars,” Blizzard said. “No extra equipment to lug around. Anytime you encouter a pull problem on leash, the ThunderLeash quickly converts to a no-pull configuration that works like a charm for most dogs.”

Moving On Up

Katie Pusateri, the communication manager of Coastal Pet Products, said leashes consistently perform well for them and harnesses have been on an upward trend.

“A leash can be used with a collar or harness, so it is always a big seller,” Pusateri said. “Working to combat pet obesity and become more active, an increased number of people are walking their pets. As a result, leash and harness sales are on the rise.”

According to Coastal Pet Products, since people are walking more with their pets, they want harnesses and leashes that are easy to use, effective and safe. Therefore, a harness and leash that allows the owner to take an enjoyable walk with their dog is desigred. Coastal Pet Products has responded with the Walk Right! Padded Front Harness that is designed to keep dogs from pulling while walking and ensure a pleasant walking experience. The harness itself is a step-in-style, making it simple to put on the dog.

“Coastal’s Loops 2 Double Handle Leash is two great leashes in one,” Pusateri said. “First, a traditional standard leash that allows the dog the appropriate, safe distance from the owner to explore on a walk. The second is a convenient traffic leash that allows the owner to keep the dog next to them in high traffic or congested areas, giving them the control to walk with ease in any situation.

“Lastly, Coastal’s Insta-Grip control handle leash allows the pet owner the ability to adjust the leash to any length without having to wrap the extra material around their hand. The flexible handle can be slid down the leash and slightly bent in the hand to prevent the dog from pulling the leash to a longer length, or bent back to stop the dog.”

Traveling With Dogs

Gordie Spater, president of Kurgo, said more people have become concerned with safety when dogs travel in vehicles.

“Dogs in the front seat are leading to distracted driving accidents and many states are considering legislation that requires dogs to stay in the back seat or be restrained,” Spater said. “According to a study from AAA and Kurgo, although only 26 percent of dogs owners use a vehicle restraint system while driving with their dog, 83 percent of them agree that it would be safer to restrain their dog during travel.

“The media has also been covering stories about pet travel safety, bringing awareness to the issue. Currently, no government agency has set standards for restraint products, like they do for child car seats. However, in the coming year we believe that there will be organizations that begin to set standards and monitor manufacturers leading to innovation in harnesses and other restraint products.”

As a result, consumers are becoming more interested in harnesses and leashes that also double as, or work with, a car restrain system.

For example, their Tru-Fit Smart Harness is designed both for walking and as a car restraint.

It has broad, padded chest plate for extra protection, can be used with any vehicle seat belt, functions as a auto or walking harness and has five adjustment points.

Pricing It Out

Yellow Dog Design’s Mike Dempsey said they have roughly 300 designs, giving retailers many options to offer their customers.

“I think what separates our product from others is our price points,” Dempsey said. “The way we keep the line fresh with new designs on a monthly basis and our product is produced here in the U.S.”

According to Dempsey, his best selling products are collars.

“Leads sell one for every three collars that sell and harnesses sell one for every five collars that sell,” Dempsey said. “We are seeing more attachments to the leads being produced either to hold keys, poop bags, etc. more bang for the buck for the customer.

“Here at Yellow Dog we try to keep the leads fresh by having the latest design trends that are out there or adding a handle to our existing line. One of our best sellers in leads are our rope leads that have a softer feel and are mainly in our solid colors that compliment all of our print collars we offer.”

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Month: November 2013