Is it just me?

[Bodee]

Hi everyone,

As many of you know I am about to bring my new companion into my home and I am so excited, I can hardly wait.

My long relationship with my departed friend Max taught me one thing above all others and it was the most precious gift you can give your schnauzer is your time. Now many will think that is obvious, however I have come to the conclusion that Schnauzers are not just like any other dogs. I don't mean this in a disparaging way and I don't think this because I think schnauzers are more intelligent, I actually don't believe they are.
However I think, from my time together with Max that they operate on a more human level than any other dog I have met or owned.

That said I have decided to spoil her/myself with a lot of new things Max never got. I am going to try to groom/hand strip her myself and the tools are on their way. However I have already taken delivery of good quality comb, rake, brush, as well as 4 different types of playtoys etc

AND IT IS ALL MADE IN CHINA!

Much of this stuff will end up in Milla's mouth and I am sorry to say I have read so many bad stories about Chinese made goods I am wondering if they are safe. We are talking about good makes like Kong Ferplast, Nylabone

The scary ones are the rope toys which were well reviewed and not particularly cheap but these colours will have been done with dyes - are the dyes toxic or carcinogenic. Have they even been tested? Dogs don't really need colours anyway so they are coloured to make them appeal and so they can cost more I suppose.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MR7O7TK/ ... E_AMZLdp_7" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There are so many dogs being affected by cancers these days (My Max got nylabones AND coloured ropes to play tug with and ended up with anal and rectal cancer.) Of course I also was silly enough to feed him on Bakers for the first few years of his life because the breeder recommended it. None of these things may have had anything to do with his problems but I will never know.

Does anyone else look at where their dogs toys or treats are made. Would seeing China as the country of manufacture trouble you?

[Robin black mini]

You are not alone.. I too am horrified by the made in China labels on seemingly all the dog products here..I bought rope toys and soaked them for two weeks,then washed them every day ,for a week,in my washing machine before I used them with my dogs..we had a news release here from the police saying they have confirmed the use of arsenic in many Chinese dyes..

The ploy here is also to use the tiniest initials on a label..prc..for the republic of China..
So many don't realise they are buying Chinese imported toys for their dogs.

If I was in uk I would look at natural alternatives..the Deer antlers etc instead of rawhide..

[Bodee]

You are not alone.. I too am horrified by the made in China labels on seemingly all the dog products here..I bought rope toys and soaked them for two weeks,then washed them every day ,for a week,in my washing machine before I used them with my dogs..we had a news release here from the police saying they have confirmed the use of arsenic in many Chinese dyes..

The ploy here is also to use the tiniest initials on a label..prc..for the republic of China..
So many don't realise they are buying Chinese imported toys for their dogs.

If I was in uk I would look at natural alternatives..the Deer antlers etc instead of rawhide..

Hi Robin, that is a great idea about washing them multiple times before giving them to my puppy, I will certainly do that ........you won't believe this but at this very point of replying to you, the postman has knocked at the door (more stuff for Milla) and look what arrived. No danger of missing where this came from...
You can see the raindrops still on it as it is chucking it down just now here in Fife.

I'm not sure what it is but I suspect it is the hair dryer I bought to use on Milla. I had no idea it was made in China too. Dear me, can we not even make these in the UK, it's not as if these things are cheap.
I can feel something "political" coming on so I will say no more.



The items in the black bag are puppy pads from my neighbour across the road. She had them left over from training her black mini Schnauzer, Lance (soon to be Milla's best doggy friend I hope) Nancy the lady I'm referring to said that Lance still sits at the door and looks across at my door wondering where Max is. They were great friends, although Max mostly treated him as a nuisance as he always paid more attention to Nancy .

The other items are her crate and on the RHS her bed which I hope is vacuum packed or I fear it will be too small. It is a top rated PetFusion Ultimate Dog bed and I just know it will be made in China too. We are importing all this stuff we could be making ourselves.

I was already ahead of you with the antlers by the way. Already stored in the drawer.
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[zeta1454]

I agree about having misgivings over products from China and certain other overseas countries in terms of manufacturing and use of toxic chemicals. There are British and European dog toys, treats and chews to be found online and in some shops but you may need to pay a little more for them.

We have the antlers for our dogs and the Anco roots for chewing on and the Beco company do a good range of ethically made and safe dog items. There are a few links here that you may find useful :

http://www.ethical-pets.co.uk/7_becothings" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.becopet.com/shop/fetch/beco-bone/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.thedogtreatcompany.co.uk/#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.ancodistributors.co.uk/roots" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


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[Bodee]

I agree about having misgivings over products from China and certain other overseas countries in terms of manufacturing and use of toxic chemicals. There are British and European dog toys, treats and chews to be found online and in some shops but you may need to pay a little more for them.

We have the antlers for our dogs and the Anco roots for chewing on and the Beco company do a good range of ethically made and safe dog items. There are a few links here that you may find useful :

http://www.ethical-pets.co.uk/7_becothings" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.becopet.com/shop/fetch/beco-bone/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.thedogtreatcompany.co.uk/#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.ancodistributors.co.uk/roots" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


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Hi Zeta,
Thanks for these sites, have ordered up some stuff from dogtreat and anco but disappointed to find out that becopet did not use PayPal so I had to leave the items in the basket.

Edit. Just managed to get all the Beco items I had wanted on another site that accepts PayPal.

http://www.ethical-pets.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Janer]

The other items are her crate and on the RHS her bed which I hope is vacuum packed or I fear it will be too small. It is a top rated PetFusion Ultimate Dog bed and I just know it will be made in China too. We are importing all this stuff we could be making ourselves.

I hope you are happy with the new bed you have bought but just in case can I recommend Baavet dog beds? They are made in Gwynedd from wool from UK sheep. You cannot get more British made than that!

And Meg loves hers, she now has 3, spoiled pooch that she is.....one for the kitchen, one for the lounge and one for the car. When I unpacked the first one she took one sniff at it (it smelled somewhat of lanolin, but not unpleasantly) and sat down on it with a definite air of 'this is mine!' Nearly three years down the line and the original one is still going strong and has none of the dog bed smell you so often get with synthetic fabrics, follow the airing instructions and there is no problem. I have washed the covers but not yet had occasion to wash the sheep wool duvet interior, but you can if needed.

[Bodee]

The other items are her crate and on the RHS her bed which I hope is vacuum packed or I fear it will be too small. It is a top rated PetFusion Ultimate Dog bed and I just know it will be made in China too. We are importing all this stuff we could be making ourselves.

I hope you are happy with the new bed you have bought but just in case can I recommend Baavet dog beds? They are made in Gwynedd from wool from UK sheep. You cannot get more British made than that!

And Meg loves hers, she now has 3, spoiled pooch that she is.....one for the kitchen, one for the lounge and one for the car. When I unpacked the first one she took one sniff at it (it smelled somewhat of lanolin, but not unpleasantly) and sat down on it with a definite air of 'this is mine!' Nearly three years down the line and the original one is still going strong and has none of the dog bed smell you so often get with synthetic fabrics, follow the airing instructions and there is no problem. I have washed the covers but not yet had occasion to wash the sheep wool duvet interior, but you can if needed.

I went to buy one because they offered PayPal but at the checkout there seemed only the credit card option which I don't use with small retailers. It was a good shout though Janer.

[Janer]

I take your point about small retailers. I have checked and I paid by PayPal in February for the lounge dog duvet. The people at Baavet are so helpful why not give them a call and ask why PayPal is not available. You never know it could be a website problem they are not aware of.

[Bodee]

I take your point about small retailers. I have checked and I paid by PayPal in February for the lounge dog duvet. The people at Baavet are so helpful why not give them a call and ask why PayPal is not available. You never know it could be a website problem they are not aware of.

Hi Janer, I emailed them and they have emailed me back and said I must have missed it, so I will look again later.

I am still on the toy safety thing and it seems even companies who don't use China as a manufacturing source and claim to make safe toys for dogs are not to be entirely trusted.

http://www.poisonedpets.com/toxic-toys/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I am going to make my own toys now I think and the bucket will get £25 of new toys to-night that I don't feel safe giving my wee girl when she comes home.

[Barbarauttley]

IT is lovely that you are going to spoil your new dog Boyd and you are obviously having a great time thinking about what is best and what to order.
It is a shame so much of the stuff is made in China, I hadn't really thought about it before and I am keen on Brittish produce.
When I look around at the dogs toys there is a highly coloured blue rope tug and a multi coloured one. Both very old now and hardly ever played with but I wouldn't have bought them had I realised about possible dye issues!

[Janer]

One of Meg's favourite toys as a puppy was an old sock with one of those balls with a bell inside (the kind that are a choke hazard for bigger dogs) and then tied with a knot. No doubt the ball was made in China (now you've made me think about it!) but she never chewed it, she ran around with the end of the sock in her mouth and the ball bouncing next to her.

Old socks tied inside another sock also made a great chew toy to 'kill'.

The best thing in the world though is an egg box to run around with as a prize and then to shred.

[Bodee]

One of Meg's favourite toys as a puppy was an old sock with one of those balls with a bell inside (the kind that are a choke hazard for bigger dogs) and then tied with a knot. No doubt the ball was made in China (now you've made me think about it!) but she never chewed it, she ran around with the end of the sock in her mouth and the ball bouncing next to her.

Old socks tied inside another sock also made a great chew toy to 'kill'.

The best thing in the world though is an egg box to run around with as a prize and then to shred.

Good idea Janer, I will give it a go.
By the way, give Baavet a call and collect your "commission" I bought a bed this evening. She is going to be spoiled.

[Bodee]

IT is lovely that you are going to spoil your new dog Boyd and you are obviously having a great time thinking about what is best and what to order.
It is a shame so much of the stuff is made in China, I hadn't really thought about it before and I am keen on Brittish produce.
When I look around at the dogs toys there is a highly coloured blue rope tug and a multi coloured one. Both very old now and hardly ever played with but I wouldn't have bought them had I realised about possible dye issues!

I feel the same way Barbara.
I actually stopped feeding Max Bakers about 6 years ago after another dog owner told me to look into their food. Believe me where I live Bakers was almost de riguer but I was surprised how many people were not that concerned when I told them.

I refused to give Max Tramadol (after his rectal op) after one night of watching him looking spaced out and staring all around him as if he was looking at something moving that I couldn't see.

My breeder has a degree in Animal behaviour and welfare (specialising in canine behaviour), the NCFE in dog grooming and qualified in pet first aid so I will consult her when in doubt about anything

[Barbarauttley]

When are you due to pick up your pup Boyd?

[Dawnspell]

Puppies are like kids, buy them toys and they prefer the box

Barneys favourite toys as a pup were empty 2L plastic bottles (still one of his favourites) plant pots, yoghurt pots, cardboard egg boxes with food in and closed up, tops from tubs of chocolates as Frisbees, empty kitchen roll tubes with food in and ends folded over. Of course all of these are FREE

If you have an old fleece jumper cut it into strips and plait into a rope pull/tug toy. Ball in a sock as already mentioned. Make a flirt pole for when they're older. I paid about £5 for materials that made 2 poles. They're £10 -£20 each on amazon and I think mine are stronger and are elasticated (no wrenching on the neck if they get over excited) not rigid rope.

As for treats it could be worth investing in a dehydrator to make your own dried meats etc