#petmomma – Pet Momma

Pet Gear Special Edition No-Zip Stroller Review

Agility trials have become a bit of an addiction, and I realized this at my very first one. I also realized I haul an absurd amount of stuff: folding crate, treats, towel, leashes, toys, a book, snacks, drinks. I was considering a wagon so I could stop making five trips to the car, and then I spotted someone at a trial with a small dog in a stroller.

Brilliant. No folding crate needed, because Stan can rest in the stroller. With storage underneath, it keeps all my stuff in one spot.

I’ve used mine for one trial and one practice so far, and it’s been awesome. Stanley seems to prefer it to his crate, since he sits up higher and can supervise everything. The mesh makes it very breathable, and I add a blanket for coziness (or drape one partway over the top when we’re outside and it’s chilly).

Now I sling a folding chair over my shoulder, wheel Stan and all my gear in, and that’s it: one trip. Once we’re settled, I can take Stan out for a walk. Leaving is just as easy. Fold the chair, wheel everything to the car, and give Stan a last stroll before the ride home.

Strollers in general are great, but I really love this Pet Gear one. It wasn’t cheap at about $100 on Amazon, but here’s why it’s worth it:

No zippers. The top folds over and clips shut, which is much faster than zipping all the way around, and it feels durable.
Plenty of room. Stan is 11 lbs and can stretch out or curl up, with space for blankets and a toy. The sides are high enough to feel cozy.
Cool and breathable. Lots of mesh, plus I clip on a little battery-powered fan for hot days.
Big storage underneath. It’s about the size of the pet area, with plenty of room for toys and snacks.
Adjustable tether. It snaps to Stan’s harness, so I can leave the top open while I sit next to him and he still can’t launch himself out.
Three wheels. The two close together in front keep it stable, and it steers easily in tight spots. It rolls over grass and gravel, and I can push it one-handed through doorways.
Cup holder. On the handle, where it belongs.

Cupholder is missing in this picture, but it just clips on to the handle, very convenient.

My favorite perk is having Stan safely contained while I get settled in a new building, and I can stop and chat with friends without worrying about surprise dog introductions.

It does feel solid and well made. Folding it took me a minute and a couple of fumbles, but now it’s easy, and it fits in my trunk with room to spare.

I’m excited to use it at all my upcoming trials. It makes everything easier, and Stan gets a front-row seat!

Agility Diaries: Trial #2 – No Qs, But a Whole Lot of Progress

Trial #2 is in the books! We didn’t earn any Qs this time, but I honestly feel like we had a better day than at our first trial. Here’s how it went.

Standard

Standard was our first run of the morning, and Stanley did OK. He took a few detours and we ran over time, but he eventually completed every obstacle. We had one off-course when he took a jump from the wrong direction, but overall, not bad for an early start!

Colors

Next up was Colors, and there were about four hours between our two runs. That’s a long wait! We went for walks, ran around the fenced area, played some attention games, and I made a coffee run, but it still felt like starting the day all over again. Stanley was so excited to get back in the ring.

In Colors, you get to choose between courses (each one is a different color, hence the name). The course I picked had a pretty tight turn, and we actually nailed it! Our big issue was that Stan decided to stop and visit the ring crew, which ate up way too much time.

Jumpers

Jumpers was our last run of the day. Stan headed off to say hi to the ring crew again after just the first two obstacles, and we lost a lot of time. We did finish, though, and came home with a first place ribbon! No Q, and I’m pretty sure he was the only dog in his height class, but whatever 😉 We finished the course and got a ribbon, so that’s something.

Stan’s New Ride

This was our first trial using the new stroller, and it was great. It’s so nice to have one place to pile up all my stuff. Stan isn’t totally thrilled about being left alone and “crated” in the stroller, but he’s definitely happier in it than in his portable crate.

The best part was at the end of the day. I loaded Stan and all my gear into the stroller and just wheeled everything out. I could stop and say goodbye to my friends without worrying about Stan pestering the other dogs. Once we got outside, I let him walk while I wheeled our stuff back to the car. So easy!

What We’re Working On

Mostly, we need to keep working on Stan’s focus. He knows his job in the ring. Obstacles, dog walk, A-frame, tunnels: no problem. The trick is finding a way to curb his excitement without killing his enthusiasm. Once we get better at staying focused, he’s going to crush it!

I also need to remember to keep my eyes on him while we’re out there. I tend to get caught up worrying about the course and where we’re headed next, but if I can stay connected with Stan, I think it’ll help him focus too.

We’ll keep practicing, and we’re looking forward to our next trial next month!

Mini Review: New Leash

We don’t have a fenced yard, so Stan gets walked every time he needs to go out. For a long time, I kept a collar on him around the house for quick trips to the yard, then switched to a harness for longer walks around the neighborhood.

His agility leash is a martingale collar attached to a leash. I love the idea of it, but it’s a thick, fleecy thing I don’t want to use every day. So I went looking for something similar and found the BTINESFUL Long Slip Lead Dog Training Leash on Amazon. I LOVE IT.

Soft Rope – Thick Enough to Not Get Tangled

Collar has a stop so it can’t pull too tight

It’s well made and sturdy, and it’s a little reflective, which is nice at night. Because it works like a martingale, it can’t overtighten the way a choke collar can. I got the 10-foot one, which is long enough to give him some freedom in the yard. It’s a nice bright blue, and it slips on and off in seconds.

The best part? Stan can be naked in the house now, and I can still get him outside quickly and easily.

It was super reasonably priced (I think I paid about $10), and I may buy a spare!

Agility Diaries: Trial #2 & Stan’s New Ride!

Not sure what I was thinking, but I have another trial on Saturday! We’re only doing three runs: Standard, Colors, and Jumpers. We did well in Colors last time, so we don’t really need the points, but it’s all good experience right now. Hope it goes OK!

I also bought Stanley a stroller. I feel a little silly about it, but I think it’s going to make things so much easier. At the last trial, I had to leave Stan in the car while I brought in his folding crate, my chair, and two bags of my stuff and his stuff. This time, I’m hoping to throw my chair over my shoulder, put our bags in the bottom of the stroller, and just wheel right into the venue!

I’ll be trying it out for the first time this weekend, so we’ll see how it goes. I hope it works out as well as I think it will. So far, Stan really seems to like hanging out in it! And so does Puck! I’ll write a review of the stroller once we use it at Trial this weekend.

Agility Diaries: T-Minus 9 Days!

With our first agility trial about two weeks out, it hit me: I should be keeping a journal of our training journey. Probably should’ve started this back at day one, but hey, the next best time is now! I’ve mentioned agility here and there before, but from here on out, this is officially our agility journal.

We had a great class tonight. Only two dogs showed up instead of the usual six, which felt very strange, but it meant extra time in the outdoor ring and some one-on-one coaching.

Stan was fantastic tonight. Not perfect, no, but he was listening, and honestly, that’s all I can ask for. My biggest challenge with Stanley right now is his (non-existent) start line stay. We’ve been working on it in class and at home, setting up one or two jumps and practicing wait, jump, wait, jump. We’re also practicing “wait” without any jumps or obstacles at all. The trouble is, the second we’re in the ring with other dogs and people around, he gets so excited that all he wants to do is run. He forgets to listen and tears around the ring with the zoomies! Fun for him, not so fun for me when I’m trying to direct him through a course.

The thing is, he doesn’t have to have a Start Line Stay to be a good agility dog. Tonight we tried something new: I carried him into the ring, slipped off his collar, and set him down right in front of the first obstacle instead of letting him build up steam beforehand. For the most part, it worked! He took off and followed my direction through the second obstacle and beyond.

We also worked on treats. In training, Stanley gets rewarded constantly, first after every obstacle, then gradually less often. But in competition, no treats are allowed in the ring at all. Tonight, I gave him a treat outside the ring when I picked him up, and then we ran our whole course treat-free until he was done! The one exception: he got distracted and wandered off at one point, so when he came back to me, that earned a treat too, and then we finished the course.

I did some work of my own tonight, too, on handling skills. The big one is being intentional about where I’m pointing and guiding him: leaning down to his level and being crystal clear about where I want him to go, using my body to direct him instead of just my words.

Speaking of words, there are two things I need to work on there. First, being quicker to call out the next obstacle. The moment he commits to one, I need to give him a heads-up on what’s next, because the faster he knows where he’s headed, the faster he can run the course.

Second, my trainer suggested I trim down my commands. I’ve been saying “Go jump” or “Go tunnel,” but really, all Stan needs is “jump” or “tunnel.” Dropping the “go” gets the command to him that much faster. I gave it a try tonight, and it’s going to be a hard habit to break, but I could already tell how much it’ll help, especially once the obstacles get closer together.

We have another class tomorrow night, so our sessions are overlapping for two weeks straight. I’m looking forward to trying all of this again and seeing how it goes.

On Saturday, some of my agility friends are competing in Maine, and I’m planning to go watch. The weather looks great, so Stanley’s coming along too — he’ll get some car-crate practice, a chance to walk around amid all the excitement, and a fun car ride to boot. I can’t wait to watch a trial before we compete ourselves, especially since two of my trainers (and some other friends) will be out there running. Nine days until our first competition, yikes!

Stanley’s New Trial Gear Just Arrived!

Guess who’s got a brand new agility accessory and could not be more excited about it?! Stanley just got his very own custom fleece martingale collar and leash set from Dream Dog Designs, and I am obsessed.

We picked out custom colors just for him, and they even personalized it — so it’s 100% one-of-a-kind, just like my little guy. The fit is perfect (seriously, martingales can be so finicky to get right, but this one is exactly right), and it’s so soft and comfortable for him to wear. The quality is excellent. The fleece is soft, the buckles are smooth and everything is so well put together.

The timing could not be better either, because Stanley’s got his first CPE trial coming up soon, and now he’s going to look as good as he runs. We’ve been putting in the work on our sequences and reverse spins in class, and honestly having gear this cute just makes me even more pumped to get out there with him.

Fake it til you make it… whatever happens at our first trial, Stanley will be looking good!

Zomisia Pet Carrier/Booster Seat Review

I recently bought the ZOMISIA Dog Car Seat for Small Dogs, and after a bit of a bumpy start, I’m officially a fan.

At $29.99, the price was hard to beat, and right out of the box the outer covering felt well-made — rugged, durable, strong stitching, and not at all cheap-feeling. My only hiccup: the listing says the cushions need 24-72 hours to fully fluff up after being vacuum-packed, but mine just weren’t puffing up no matter how long I waited. I decided to take a chance and exchange it for a new one. Amazon customer service was great as usual. I had a new booster the day after I requested it.

Best decision ever. The replacement arrived and the cushions started fluffing up almost immediately — a totally different experience from the first one. So glad I gave it a second shot! I will say a review I read said to put the cushions in the booster when they have started plumping up, but not gotten to full size to make it easier, and that was really helpful when putting it together.

Size-wise, this thing is not small, but it will be great for Stan to have a little stretch room. It takes up the entire passenger seat, which is perfectly fine when it’s just me and Stan riding together. Now that the cushions have puffed up properly, it’s incredibly plush and looks so cozy.

One thing I really dug into before buying: safety. I’ve learned there are very few dog car seats on the market that are actually crash/safety tested (I found exactly one), so for this purchase I mostly had to go with my gut — and I really like how this one attaches. There are three points of attachment: canvas straps on the back of the booster for the seatbelt to run through, a strap that loops around the headrest and buckles back to the booster, and another strap that clips to two rings on the back of the booster and wraps around the back of the seat. There’s also a buckle inside the seat that clips right to Stanley’s harness, so he stays secured in his little bed even once he’s settled in.

I love that the two exterior straps have an easy-release buckle in the middle, which makes it simple to attach each side to the booster and then clip it behind the car seat or headrest. The buckles also make it easy to cinch the straps snug so everything stays put.

Installation was genuinely fast — about 3 minutes. I set it in place, buckled the two straps around the back, and ran the seatbelt through the loops on the booster. Done.

Oh, and I almost forgot — there’s a giant pocket on the front that’s perfect for stashing a leash, treats, and other essentials. It also has two handles so that it could be used as a pet carrier.

Stanley is trying it out for the first time tonight, so I’ll be back to update once I see how he takes to it. He had a booster seat as a tiny puppy, but once he outgrew it, he’s mostly just ridden in my lap or on a blanket on the passenger seat. He’s a pretty good passenger already, but if this booster is a hit — and we start taking more road trips — it’ll be great for him to have his own safe, cozy spot in the car.

Super excited to see how tonight goes!

Exciting News!

It’s time to declutter! I’ve been going through my house and selling off a bunch of books and other items. It all started a couple of months ago when I had to pay for two cat dentals in less than two months. Needed some extra cash, and selling off a bunch of stuff I wasn’t using seemed like a good ideaand, I discovered that I’m enjoying reselling!

Finding items, photographing, listing, packaging and mailing. It’s been fun, so I’m going to keep doing it!

I’m mentioning it here because the name of my business is now PetMomma’s Picks! You can find me on ebay.

Right now there is a huge variety of books out there, Stephen King, horse books, and just novels. Feel free to take a look!

Sales are going to help fund my pet expenses and new obsession with Agility, and I’m donating part of my sales to my local animal shelter 😉 Hoping to add more pet related products as time goes on. What would you like to see me selling?

Bean’s DIY Summer Haircut

Today started as one of those easy summer days where nothing in particular is happening, but everything feels just right. We were out on the deck eating lunch, soaking up the warm weather, and I was mentally running through the list of chores I’d been happily ignoring. Somewhere between “do the dishes” and “fold the laundry,” it hit me: I really needed to spend some time grooming Bean, our big fluffy Maine Coon.

Grooming Bean is not my favorite chore. He absolutely hates being brushed, and he has so much fur. Normally I can keep up by working on him in small batches a couple of times a week, but this year his coat has been especially bad. I’m not sure if it’s the weather, his age, or just a heavier shed season, but he’s been getting matted more than usual, especially in those tricky spots where it’s hard for him to groom himself.

For the past few weeks I’ve been slowly working away at the mats, a little at a time, trying not to stress him out too much. Even so, every time I thought I was making progress, I’d find another tangle hiding along his sides or under his belly.

While we were talking about it, my husband casually asked why I didn’t just shave him. I immediately said I was nervous about doing it myself, and the groomer I talked to wanted over $400 to shave him down. That’s a lot of money for one cat haircut, even a very large, very fluffy one.

My son, however, had a different attitude. He was sure we could handle it ourselves. Before I could overthink it, I decided to be brave. I grabbed all my grooming supplies, the clippers, and, of course, the cat. I started on my own and was able to get a little done, but Bean wasn’t thrilled with the process and I definitely needed an extra set of hands. My son jumped in and we took turns—one of us holding and reassuring Bean while the other worked carefully with the clippers.

I’m not going to pretend the end result is show-ring perfect. There are a few slightly choppy spots, and he definitely looks a little funny if you catch him from the wrong angle. But you know what? We got rid of the mats, and that’s what really matters. Bean seems so much happier and more comfortable already. All that heavy fur can’t feel great when it’s hot out, especially when it’s pulling on his skin in tight clumps.

Now that he’s lighter and smoother, he’s moving around more easily and seems more relaxed when we pet him. I’m hoping this new short “summer style” will also cut down on the number of hairballs I find around the house. With less loose fur for him to swallow while grooming, maybe we’ll all get a bit of a break.

In the end, I’m really glad we went for it. It was a little nerve‑wracking to do it ourselves, but it saved a lot of money and, most importantly, Bean is more comfortable. Sometimes the spur‑of‑the‑moment decisions turn out to be the best ones—for both pets and their people.

Warmer Weather and Wagging Tails

Warmer weather has officially arrived, and Stanley is very happy about it. If there is a patch of sunlight anywhere in the house or yard, he plans to be lying directly in it. Honestly, I get it.

We’ve also been taking LOTS of walks around the neighborhood lately, which has been really good for both of us. Stanley loves exploring, sniffing absolutely everything, and soaking up the sunshine. I love getting outside more and enjoying the longer days.

We are still taking agility classes and really enjoying them. Last week, I helped the agility club put together the outdoor agility course for the season. Stanley got to come along and wait in his crate while we built everything, and then he became the very first dog to practice on the course for the year.

Running outside on a full-size course is so different from indoor practice. The obstacles feel huge out there! I was honestly a little intimidated by the full-height dog walk, but Stanley didn’t hesitate for even a second. He marched right up like he owned the place. He also absolutely loves the full-size A-frame and seems very proud of the view from the top.

We went back earlier this week to practice again, and… well… it was not Stanley’s best night.

He was very distracted by all the smells in the ring, and keeping his attention was definitely a challenge. We did successfully do the dog walk a few times, and he even went up the teeter! Unfortunately, I think he thought the teeter was the dog walk and just ran straight up it. Thankfully I was close enough to grab it before it slammed down. The last thing I want is for him to get scared of it.
Eventually, I got tired of him ignoring me, clipped the leash back on, walked him over a few simple obstacles, and called it a day. It was hot, and honestly, that was enough for both of us.

The good news is that class last night went really well. Stanley was focused, listening, and working nicely. I was actually the slower half of the team this time with my handling! He’s really starting to understand things.

I think for the summer, I may pause formal classes for a bit and focus more on obedience work and a few small agility exercises at home. We still have access to the outdoor course for practice, and I’d also like to make some trips to the dog park to work around distractions.

As for the rest of the pets…

The dragon worried me a little recently. She was acting quiet, wasn’t eating much, and just seemed “off” for a few days. Then she disappeared into her little cave hide for basically an all-day nap, came back out, and suddenly seemed completely normal again. At this point, I honestly don’t know how old she is, but she definitely isn’t young anymore.

The foster birds are all still here too. They’re cute and everything, but I’m definitely ready for them to move on to their next homes. They’ve completely taken over my downstairs craft desk area, and I would really love my space back.
The little Senegal parrot is adorable, but having him out loose is complicated because Stanley gets jealous and wants to chase him around. Between dogs, birds, reptiles, agility equipment, and crates everywhere, the house really does feel like a zoo sometimes.

We’re planning to visit family over the 4th of July and bring Stanley along for the adventure. Hopefully he behaves himself and enjoys the outing.

What are your summer plans with your pets? Any trips, adventures, classes, or favorite warm-weather activities?