A Rad Year In Review

Of course the beginning of every new year has so many great things to look forward to: so many trails to be broken, adventures to plan, and road trips to take in the year ahead! But we've had a great 2016--stellar in fact--and we don't want to cruise into the new year without taking a look as some of the new and incredible ways we've grown in the past year.

So, we thought we'd share these interesting little facts about our year at Rad Dog Pet Products. What color did our customers like the most? How far did our products travel? And, what breed is our smallest customer? Read on to find out!

A Rad Year In Review

• Top Instagram Posts From Other Contributors: 
• @crunch_adventures, @pawsonpeaks, @pawsforabeer, @kelpie_subaru and @outdoorrunning

  

  Our Dogstagrammers

• Number of New Color Combinations on the Release ’N Run:  
• Two; Olive Green and Turquoise/Red

Our New Olive Green Release 'N Run

• Most Popular Color:  
• Blaze Orange, followed by Red 

  

  Blaze Orange: Our customer's favorite color choice
  

• The Best Color Choice for the Release 'N Run (Based on Dog Fur Color):  
• Red-furred dogs look best in the Fuchsia
• Blonde dogs look great in Olive Green, Turquoise and Blue
• Brown-furred dogs look good in Olive Green and Blue
• Black and white dogs look great in bold colors like Fuchsia, Turquoise and Red

  

  Black dogs look great in bold colors

• Farthest Place an Order Was Shipped:  
• Perth, Australia (9,251 miles from our production in Bellingham, Washington)

• Most Interesting Places We've Shipped Our Products To:  
• Higashiyamatoshi, Japan
• Alvsio, Sweden
• Schalsum, The Netherlands
• Duisburg, Germany
• Bray, Ireland
• Dubai, UAE

  

  We've shipped our products to Dubai!

• Number of Instagram Likes: 
• 11,423

• Number of Instagram Comments: 
• 785

  

  You bark, we listen!

• Most Popular Day Online at myraddog.com:  
• Free Shipping Day, December 16th

  

  FREE is a very good price!

• Largest Audience Outside the US: 
• Russia

  

  We have a lot of Russian Rad Dogs!

• Most Popular Product:  
• Release 'N Run Retractable Leash ad Collar in One 

• Most Popular Time to Shop For Your Dog On Our Website: 
• 5pm PST

  

  Time to shop!

• Smallest Dog Featured On Our Website: 
• Aussie Shepherd (We need more! Follow us on Instagram and use #radwinterdog to make the connection with us!)  

To all our rad customers (four-legged and two) that contributed to these statistics, thank you!  It's been a RAD year and we look forward to another one!

6 Tips for Traveling Internationally with Your Dog

Jayla and her dogs in Sienna, Italy

Guest Blog by International Traveler and Dog Enthusiast, Jayla Rae Ardelean

I had an opportunity to move to Italy for ten months, but didn’t know the first thing about getting my two dachshunds over there to be with me. This, I believe, is a problem for many people who opt to travel with their dogs.

After listening to advice from a friend who was also able to move her dogs internationally—as well as doing countless hours of my own research—here is what I’ve gleaned about the process, so I can share it with international dog travelers all around:

Lessons Learned From International Travel With Dogs

1. Your vet/vet tech should conduct research on the health and safety requirements for the country you are traveling to. This will include necessary vaccines, other shots, microchips, and quarantine periods (if there are any). You’re in for about a two to three month-long ordeal, but think of it as an adventure! The timing of when your dog can get particular shots and when you can obtain a certificate of veterinary inspection (often from government office, such as the Department of Agriculture) is a major factor. You will need all of this paperwork to show to the airline and to representatives at your final destination.

2. Let’s say there’s not just one country, but multiple on your itinerary. Your dog needs a passport. Research regions thoroughly before hopping a plane to another country once you’re outside of the United States. For example, although the UK is currently a part of the European Union, it is not a part of the open borders Schengen area, and therefore has different requirements for your dog.

3. The most important distinction you need to know is that there are International Air Travel Association (IATA) guidelines and there are also guidelines specific to an airline. Although it is assumed that airlines follow IATA guidelines, that is not always the case. Choose a great airline and then compare both sets of guidelines to make sure they are complying with IATA. I found an airline that interpreted the IATA guidelines differently when it came to the number of dogs allowed in one kennel, and was almost not allowed to depart into Italy because of it.

4. Is your dog small enough to travel in the cabin below your seat, or are they big and heavy, thus needing to travel inside a kennel below the plane in cargo space? (Which, by the way, is pressure and temperature-controlled, so don’t worry!) I used this website for information and products because it was recommended to me, although I found the kennel size I needed there, and then found it cheaper and able to ship quicker on Amazon. You’ll need to know how many pieces of carry-on luggage and checked luggage the airline you have chosen allows; a dog kennel below the plane counts as one piece of checked luggage, and a dog kennel in the cabin with you counts as your main carry-on. Typically, it is cheaper to fly your dog in the cabin with you, but the size and weight of your dog is the deciding factor.

5. The time of year you are traveling is crucial. You may be hard-pressed to find an airline that will take a kenneled dog in the cargo hold between May-August because of high temperatures on the runway, but these restrictions do not apply when your dog flies below the seat in front of you.

6. Prepare to make a lot of phone calls to airlines/airports with your questions. Take the name of each person you speak with so you can refer to them later, in case there’s a problem.

Don’t forget your Release N Run Leash for airport convenience, and for when your dog climbs mountains alongside you during your travels!

Jayla Rae Ardelean is a crazy wiener dog lady with a ween team of two, currently living abroad. Follow Timmy and Autzen on Instagram @weenteamstrong

Must-Follow Instagrammers For Dog Owners

Instagram is starting to feel like...Dogstagram! We have so enjoyed joining the Instagram community (find us at @myraddog) and we've made some great online friends along the way.

We've followed people that camp with their dog, take their dog climbing, seen dogs who do incredible hikes up massive peaks, and met dogs that have just plain warmed our heart. So, we thought we'd share some of our favorite Dog Instagrammers, as well as some of our favorite hashtags.

Must-Follow Dog Instagrammers

@outdoorrunning
This avid outdoorswoman and her beautiful white dog are always on the move, impressing us with their breath of outdoor adventures and amazing ability to capture them on camera.

@savatgy
This combination of beautiful outdoor photography and heartwarming portraits of domestic animals will tease your eye and calm your soul. The photography is so beautiful, we hardly notice the feline pictures.

@campingwithdogs
There is seriously nothing that will make you feel more warm and fuzzy than this collaborations of dogs in the outdoors. #love

@our.monster.maya
For your Golden Retriever fix, follow this outdoor pup as she grows up to a full grown outdoor dog.

@west_coast_heeler_pack
This fun loving pack of Blue Heelers are always out adventuring, and getting into trouble along the way.

To make your dog famous on Instagram, follow our tips for photographing dogs, and then tag your photo with some of our favorite hashtags!

#traildog #offleash #liveunleashed #dogslife #trailbuds ##Dogadventures #runningwithyourdog #lovedogs #runningdog #besomedoggy #adventuredogs #instadogs #traildogs #dailydog #rescuedog #adventuredog #adventurecompanion #traildog #intents #letscamp #DogsRule #betterwithpets #dailydog #dogoftheday #dogsofinstagram #rescuedog #petstagram #lovedogs #thedailydog #instadog #Wagmorebarkless #petscorner #dogdailyfeaturesss #campvibes


Happy Dogstagramming!

Why Dog's are Great Life Partners

Photo via NaturalVibration

"Roses are red, violets are blue, I love you, but I love my dog too!"

Because February is the month when we declare our love for those who make our lives better, we thought it to be the perfect season to recognize a life partner who sometimes does not get credit for their contributions to our happiness: our canines.

Historically, dogs have been pets longer than fish, hampsters and other animals. And perhaps that's because dogs have an uncanny ability to provide companionship, friendship, loyalty and even compassion. Anyone with a dog will agree: dogs have soul. They are our friend, our trail buddy, our companion, our dinner guest. So we decided that this Valentine's Day, we want to recognize the reasons why dogs are more than just pets, but our life partners.

Why Dogs Are Great Life Partners

Dogs Are Loyal. People, they say, come for a season, a reason, or the rest of your life. But dogs, they come in our lives for all three. The only time they leave us, usually, is when their bodies can no longer keep up. Their friendship is loyal, beautiful, and monogamous (unless of course, someone else has a treat in their pocket).

Dogs Provide Companionship. No, dog's can't talk. But even if they could, do you think they would ever use the word "no"? Absolutely not. Whatever we're doing, our dogs are right there beside us, along for the ride and ready for any adventure. They may not be able to say no, but they sure can say "yes" to the next walk, hike, or ride in the car with a wag of a tail!

Dogs Love Their Owners. Dogs provide a no-strings-attached love. They rely on us, protect us, and love us even when we have a bad day, yell at them for chewing up the newspaper, or forget to give them their daily treat. They are never judging us, disappointed in us, or harboring resentment towards us.

Dogs Are Affectionate.  A dog always welcomes a good pat or belly rub, and if asked, will return that affection with a jump on the lap, a nose nuzzle, or a lick on the face. Any show of affection, any time, is appreciated, no strings or motivations attached. It's love in it's purest form.

Dogs Have Soul. Dogs have an uncanny ability to read our emotions and respond appropriately. They can sense when we are happy, blue, excited, or bored. When we are happy, their tail is wagging. When we're sad, they rest their head on our lap. When we are excited, they are jumping up and down with barking enthusiasm too. And, when we are bored, they will bring us a leash.

Happy Valentines Day to you and your dog(s)! Dog's truly are the best life partners, and they make our world--simply put--RAD!

Five Funny Misfortunes That Happen When Camping With Dogs

Once you've camped with your dog, you will never know any other way to do it. Providing both companionship and liveliness to you camping adventure, our four-legged adventurers are the perfect complement to the outdoor experience. During they day, they will trudge high and low without a word of complaint, and at night, they will literally howl at the moon beside you.

But part of what makes adventuring outdoors with your dog so much fun is the fact that they are, in fact, happy, clumsy, four-leggers who know nothing of social norms. They make adventuring an adventure!

Five Inevitable Misfortunes that WILL Happen When Camping With Your Dog

1. Your dog WILL wind up in the millimeters of extra room you have in your backpacking tent. You can buy your canine their own tent, bring their bed from home, or create the perfect mound of hay and leaves for them, but inevitably, they will end up in the small space between your feet and the bottom of tent. Save yourself the heartache of packing in their gear and just enjoy the foot warmer!

2. Your dog WILL eat something they are not suppose to: something dead, something gross, or something that belongs to you. If you're lucky, it will just be the last breakfast burrito, but if you're not, you might spend hours de-skunking your pup!

3. You WILL trip over your dog while making a tent exit for the bathroom. Whether making the dark journey from the camp fire, or from the tent when nature calls, your dog will inevitably be in the pathway between you and your destination, and it will inevitably surprise you every time.

4. Your dog WILL track mud, debris and water throughout your campsite. Bonus points if they also manage to get some hair-clad marshmallow mess on your tent and sleeping bag as well.

5. Your dog WILL NOT follow friendly social protocol. Most likely, they will do one of the following that will embarrass you: 1) stick their nose in at least one inappropriate place--another dog's backside, a stranger's crotch, or something smelly and dead, 2) whine like a child when you leave camp to shower in the morning, or 3) get distracted by a squirrel and leave you yelling after them for 20 minutes shortly after you just told the entire camp how well your dog listens.

While these all may seem like pitfalls to taking your dog camping with you, there truly is nothing better then a little open air wilderness and star gazing with your best friend!