Those of you who have large dogs, especially ones that like to sleep in bed with you, know what a pain it is to bathe them on a regular basis.

With Bo, Copper and Logan it’s a two hour process to clean the combined 220 lbs of canine grunge. That includes the washing, the cleaning up and the changing of wet clothes. Predictably, this is not something I look forward to. If only there was a better way to make them sparkle-other than paying to get them cleaned by a professional, that is.

Enter the HydroSurge RapidBath Animal Bathing System. It touts that you’re able to give your dog a professional-quality bath at home in three minutes or less. It purports to make the bathing process faster and more comfortable than ever. Well, I’ve read marketing material before, and quite frankly, been parted from a dollar or two because of it. So color me suspicious.

Fortunately, I got to test drive the RapidBath system courtesy of the fine folks at HydroSurge.

I have to admit that if I saw this product at the local pet store, I would have walked right by it. I would think the claims are too good to be true, and at a retail price close to $70 (varies), I’d continue down the aisle to find the super size bottle of anti-flatulence tablets for Copper.

So how does it work. The system attaches to an outside nozzle/hose or to your shower head (via a diverter). The RapidBath unit uses shampoo cartridges to allow for the Exclusive InjectAir Technology to combine shampoo with the constant supply of fresh water and air to penetrate down to the skin. Dirt, loose hair, dead skin and dander are washed away. You don’t need to lather them up by hand, it’s all done by the wand.

Sounds good, right?

The amazing thing is…it works! It really does.

I washed the kids in under fifteen minutes, and that includes drying each of them off with towels. When they were fully dry, it was as if I had just spent two hours bathing them in a tub. I couldn’t tell the difference.

The only downside is that the shampoo is specially formulated and must be purchased from HydroSurge. Your favorite smelling shampoo can’t be used. The cartridges go for roughly $10 for a three pack. Each pack is said to b good for roughly two washes, depending on how dirty your dog is.

I can’t recommend this product highly enough for those of you tired of the mess and cleanup associated with washing your dog. I give it four out four paws.

And now for the good part…we are giving away one HydroSurge RapidBath Animal Bathing System. To enter leave a comment, in the comment section, sharing your dirtiest (as in dirt and filth) dog story. The winner will be chosen, on October 3rd, based on the best answer.  Time to get those paws typing, good luck.

So you’re a gadget geek and you’ve been wondering whether you want to drop some of your hard earned cash on a gps. No not for your car, but for your pet.

Well, I’ve been wondering about getting one too, however Bo can’t outrun a turtle these days so there’s really not much of a need in my household for one of these. Copper isn’t going anywhere, she knows how good she’s got it and Logan, well he’s too fond of our bathroom to be gallivanting around the neighborhood without human supervision. Alas, I don’t have an excuse for getting one these cgps devices.

But you, my friends, may have a few “runners” on your hands and need to know if purchasing one of these doodads is a viable option. Well, the LA Times did a review of two such devices a little ways back that will give you some insight on how these operate, the drawbacks and the cost.

Two companies are making collar-attached models that send a warning if a dog leaves its designated area. The gizmo then gives the animal’s location, allowing you to find it without driving endlessly around the neighborhood, shouting its name.

Looks like technology has solved another one of man’s great problems. Or has it?

In theory, it’s a cool idea. In practice, neither of the devices — Pocketfinder or Zoombak — is quite ready for puppy prime time. And both are rather expensive because of monthly fees

Both devices have a monthly fee of $15 with the Pocketfinder unit itself costing $130 and the Zoombak $200.

It’s a pretty cool idea and will no doubt only get better as the wrinkles are ironed out.

Read the full article to get the detailed the scoop on these devices.

I know I’ll be getting one, as soon as I adopt the next Hairy Houdini.

If you live in Massachusetts you probably already know there are an abundance of hiking trails.  The problem is that not all trails for humans are necessarily good for our furry friends.

If you want to find the best dog friendly hiking trails check out Best Hikes with Dogs: Boston & Beyond by Jenna Ringelheim, the only book devoted entirely to hiking with dogs.  The book has a great mix of urban and rural trails with trail descriptions that detail leash laws, directions, maps, distance (hike’s total mileage), and elevation levels.  It covers trails for active and senior dogs so no pup will feel left out.

The book also has some great tips on canine trail etiquette, hiking with dogs and their special needs, what to do when you meet other hikers, and unique skills for preparing your dog for the Massachusetts mainland and island terrain.

Win yourself a free copy of Best Hikes with Dogs: Boston & Beyond by simply leaving me a comment in the comment section on why you like hiking with your dog.  I will pick one winner at random on August 25th.  Happy trails to you.

Poor little Alfred has some confidence issues. Like many others in today’s body-conscious society, he’s a little obsessed with his appearance—specifically, his nose. He can’t rush off for plastic surgery, though, as he’s an adorable little French Bulldog.

A new book by Vivienne Flesher, Alfred’s Nose chronicles one doggie’s journey to find the perfect, true-dog nose. He tries costumes and masks, and ultimately comes to accept himself for the perfect pooch he is. The book will induce giggles and inspire children, but it’s plenty of fun for grown-ups too, with its homegrown photos of Flesher’s dog in a gaggle of fake noses (elephant, cow) and disguises.

This book is short and sweet. Take a peek at Alfred’s own website: alfredthebulldog.com.

For information on 300+ more dog breeds as well as the Frenchie, check out our exclusive Dog Breed Info pages.

The Ultimate Dog Treat Cookbook should come with a warning — don’t read while hungry! These recipes sound so good I couldn’t help but get hungry as I read through them.

Author Liz Palika has put together a collection of tasty treats for all kinds of events and dogs. Looking for cookie cutter treats or special goodies for special occasions. The Ultimate Dog Treat Cookbook has got it covered. Do you need recipes designed for dogs with special needs? You’ll find yummy meat-free, grain-free, wheat-free and reduced-fat treats here.

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Don’t you love it when non-fiction is so well written it reads like good fiction? Dogs: A Natural History is one of these books. It has lots of information written in an engaging flow. Author Jake Page has the uncommon ability to make history and science understandable and fascinating.

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101 Best Businesses for Pet Lovers is the book for all of us who’ve had some version of the following scenario —I’m sitting in a meeting with clients and as another client flunkie makes another inane comment about marketing all of a sudden I’m wondering if there isn’t something I could do that would keep me away from these kinds of humans and let me spend more time with dogs and other doggy humans. I bet you’ve been there too, haven’t you?

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Not only are Dogster’s great people and pawples, they’re talented too! Jackpot’s Tail: Lost in Las Vegas was written by one of our Dogsters (okay, she let her furmom get the credit). Not only that, but it’s really GOOD, too!

Are you looking for a well-written, fun book that helps kids understand what happens to dogs who go through the rescue systems? Have you recently adopted a furry family member and want to let your not-so-furry young ones know more about how their new furbrother or sister came to join your family? Then Jackpot’s Tail may be just the book for you!

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The Ward Pack and I have seen a LOT of dog beds. In fact, we’ve gone through a LOT of dog beds. The Lexie Lew bed we got to try out recently is definitely one of the best.

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There are MANY excellent training books for humans working with dogs but Tess of Helena (a four-footer herself) has penned a fun and helpful training guide for dogs trying to get the best from their humans. Training Humans combines a touch of satire with a large helping of canine insight into a literary recipe that offers useful information with a twist.

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