Great Treats
Icelandic+ Mini Cod Fish Chips for $10: Open a bag of these cod fish chips, and your room will immediately be engulfed with a fishiness that will linger in your nostrils for hours. On the other hand, your pup will dart to your room and wolf these down instantly. At least mine did. These are imported from Iceland and are sustainably wild-caught. There are no other ingredients.
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Raw Treats for $11: Like the cod fish chips above, there’s only one ingredient in Vital Essentials’ freeze-dried raw treats. You can choose from several flavors—my dog loves beef tripe—and it’s high in protein.
Maev Human-Grade Freeze-Dried Treats for $19: I tried Maev’s raw dog food, but my pup didn’t love it (the pieces are huge, and you need freezer space to store the large bags). However, he does like the company’s freeze-dried treats, which have one ingredient: USDA-certified beef liver.
WagWell Treat Party Box for $35: These freeze-dried treats come in two flavors—beef and cheese—and my dog munched them down quickly as soon as I pulled them out of the bag. There are no other ingredients. You can also buy them separately.
Other Dog Accessories We’ve Tested
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Tavo Dupree II Pet Carrier for $175+: As anyone who’s driven with a pet in the car can attest, animals don’t always stay put. This can be a hazard for both pets and drivers under normal driving conditions, let alone in the event of an accident. There are pet seatbelts and restraints, but for maximum safety, a pet carrier that can attach to a vehicle’s car seat anchors might be a good option. The Tavo Dupree is from high-end baby car seat maker Nuna, and like its car seats, it meets the United Nations ECE child restraint standards. It can click into your vehicle’s anchor bars and is also airline-compliant as a carry-on that fits under the seat. It’s an extremely sturdy, structured bag with a removable memory foam bed and thoughtful details like an AirTag holder. However, be advised it is for very small pets under 20 pounds only—at 18.5 x 11.5 x 10.25 inches, it was even a tight fit for my small tortoiseshell cat. —Kat Merck
Molly Mutt Wool Dog Bed for $99+: I’m a fan of wool, pretty much wool anything, so when we got a new puppy, it made sense to me to get a wool dog bed. What makes the Molly Mutt wool bed special is the anti-microbial, anti-odor properties of wool. After six months of use, including many days of wet puppy flopping down on this thing to nap, it still doesn’t have the slightest bit of odor. I’ve followed Molly Mutt’s suggestion to pull the insert out once a month or so and leave it in direct sunshine, but otherwise, this has been a zero-maintenance bed. We were fortunately that our puppy was housebroken in about a week, but if yours does have an accident, fear not, just pour some water on the insert, leave it in the sun, and it will be dry and odor-free in no time. —Scott Gilbertson
Roverlund Ready-to-Roll Cabin Carry-On for $289: The idea behind this carry-on is that the horizontal shape will allow you to plop your dog’s carrier on top, making it easy to travel with them instead of carrying it separately. I tested the carry-on on a recent trip to Kentucky and paired it with Dagne Dover’s Kyoto Carrier, and while I like the carry-on itself, the experience wasn’t great. The carrier is wider than the carry-on, so my dog tipped over, and the whole thing toppled down. If your pup is smaller, this may work. Roverlund also recommends it with its own carrier, but I have an older version without the luggage strap, so I couldn’t use it. However, you can still see in pictures that its updated carrier is wider, so I don’t think the outcome would be any different. Still, I think this system works if your dog is 15 pounds or less. I love the bright orange accents inside the carry-on, and there are so many organizational pockets and pouches. It’s a great weekender; I was able to fit a whole suit on one side!
Grrreen Dog Toys for $18: My dog quickly grabbed Grrreen’s dog toys from my hand and particularly enjoyed Ellie the Elephant (it comes in multiple sizes). These toys are made entirely from recycled polyethylene (rPET), to hopefully reduce the amount of virgin plastics manufactured. The toys have held up decently well in his limited playtime, but my dog also isn’t super destructive to his toys, so your mileage may vary.
PetSmile Pet Toothpaste for $25: Every time I go to the vet, they give me a brochure on how to brush my dog’s teeth as a silent dig that I really need to brush them more. There are so many dog toothpastes out there, but my dog seems to like Petsmile, specifically the London Broil flavor. Well, he likes the toothpaste, but he hates the brushing part. Petsmile says you don’t have to brush, just put some on their teeth and let their tongue do the job, but I brush anyway. It’s approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council, but keep in mind that this organization doesn’t conduct testing—it reviews data from trials that adhere to VOHC protocols.
WagWell Paw Protector for $16: My dog hates wearing shoes, so we have to forgo them sometimes in the winter. That’s when I just apply this balm on his paws for extra protection. It’s difficult to say how well it works, but his paws aren’t crackly or rough. It’s also great for the summer months when the pavement is super hot. It’s easy to apply, and a little goes a long way.
WagWellies Mojave for $55: Snow and ice are the main cause of paw-related concerns, but so is hot pavement. We like the WagWellies Mojave, which are like little Crocs for your pups. They come in seven sizes, and the straps around the ankles help the shoe fit better, while the holes keep their toes fresh and breezy. Our tester’s dogs haven’t figured out how to walk in shoes, but these stayed on their paws.
RifRuf Caesar 1 Dog Sneakers for $75: Take the trendy, knitted mesh look many humans love, shrink it down, and offer it in six colors for your dog. The sturdy soles protect your dog from the elements, but the knitted body of the shoe can keep their paws cool enough on a regular walk. Our tester dog looked particularly cute in the Taro pair, even if she refused to walk in them.
PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Virtual Pet Fence for $240: Virtual dog fences aren’t a replacement for real fences. If your dog needs to be fully restrained, get a real fence. However, if your living situation permits a looser barrier, this wireless fence gives you a hassle-free way to partially restrain your dog. Despite the name, this is not really plug-and-play. The device itself is: Just plug it in, set the perimeter distance, and you’re done. But you’re still going to have to train your dog to acknowledge the perimeter and get them used to staying inside the permitted space. Once that’s done, this fence works really well. It’s also portable, so you can take it to a campground or to an Airbnb that permits dogs. PetSafe also makes a more permanent in-ground electronic fence we like even better because it’s cheaper, and setting the perimeter is easier. The trade-off is that you have to bury the wire. The key to success is to train your dog to the fence. Don’t install it and expect your dog to figure it out.
Ororo Koldpwoof Heated Dog Vest for $110: Ororo made a name for itself with its heated jackets, and now it’s trying to do the same for dogs. I think a heated dog vest is probably overkill for most people unless you live in exceptionally cold climates or have a short-haired dog that needs the protection. It worked reasonably well (it got warm!), and the battery is easy to operate, but unfortunately, I couldn’t properly test it as the smallest size was still too big for my dog. The whole jacket just kept flopping to one side. It’s odd because it should fit him OK, considering the size guide on the website. Make sure you check the measurements, and just know that it seems to come oversized.
Fable Magic Dog Leash for $70 and Waste Bag Holder for $35: I think the hands-free leash we recommend above is a better buy for most people (and it’s cheaper). I found Fable’s Magic Dog Leash a little clunky—the silicone material makes it a little hard to adjust, and the leash just felt a bit too short. Fable also sent me its Waste Bag Holder to test, and I do not think it’s anywhere near as easy to use as Earth Rated’s Dog Poop Bag Holder.
