Subscribe to ListverseTop 10 Dumbest Pet Products
- Published December 28, 2007 - 140 Comments
Humans have kept animals as pets since the dawn of time. They make loyal and loving companions. But we’ve come far from the days when man and beast would sleep on the ground beneath the stars together. Our pets have recently become exceedingly pampered and fawned over. The products sold in specialty pet stores are evidence to this trend. Here are ten of the most ridiculous, useless, and just plain stupid pet products.
10. Clothing
There’s no better way to irritate your furry friend that to press them to the floor and forcibly clothe them. You’ll get the satisfaction of seeing your costumed pet stare perplexedly at you for a few seconds and then commence removing/ripping/soiling his or her new outfit.
9. Pet Stroller
“Hey do you wanna go for a walk around the neighborhood?”
“Yeah sure! But what about Mr. Whiskers?”
“He can come along! I’ve got a Pet Stroller!”
Does this situation seem familiar to you? Of course it doesn’t. Any reasonable pet owner knows that carrying your cat out into the noisy and unpredictable world with you in a small, confined space is a very, very bad idea.
8. Pawlish
This punny product is meant to give your pooch a fashionable manicure or pedicure. Just like people! (Hint: Dogs are not people.)
7. Babble Ball
The Babble Ball is a toy that either talks or emits various sounds when touched. This toy could provide for two very unfortunate scenarios:
Your dog is so intrigued by the Babble Ball that he plays with it all through the night. The sound of voices and strange animal sounds echo throughout the house. You, the owner, are kept awake for weeks on end and, consequentially, are driven insane.
Your pup listens to the sounds of voices emitting from an inanimate object and his perception of reality is distorted. He eventually snaps and goes Cujo on your ass.
6. Chuckit! Ball Launcher
Tired of the incredible arm strain it takes to throw a small ball a relatively short distance? Then thank the sweet lord for the Chuckit! Ball Launcher. (Note: Anyone I see using a Chuckit! will be laughed at/pushed into a ditch.)
5. Dog Poop Freeze
Although it is slightly embarrassing and nauseating to crouch down and pick up the steaming pile that Poochie just deposited, it is a necessary aspect of dog ownership; otherwise, there wouldn’t be a square foot of clean earth in Central Park. Dog Poop Freeze claims that with a simple spray doggy cleanup will be 100% easier. Here’s a hint: fire-extinguishing your pup’s poop isn’t going to make it a less embarrassing or disgusting task.
Bonus: My favorite product review from Amazon.com – “I reminisce about old days when a uncle and his born-again Christian nephew had to make poop sculptures out of WARM poop. Not anymore, Scooter. Now I can finally make that lifesize poop sculpture of Debbie Gibson in my basement.”
4. Kong Stuff’n Paste
A Kong is a rubbery, snowman-shaped toy that dogs apparently go nuts over. The primary reason for popularity is the fact that the Kong can be filled with food, treats, and practically anything else. Kong Paste is basically a can of doggie spray cheese in a variety of flavors that can be sprayed into the Kong. Alright, fine. But what happens when the Kong doesn’t get cleaned out completely? The chunks of meaty paste begin to fester in the corners of the rubbery snowman, creating bacteria and ultimately producing a small civilization; like that episode of The Simpsons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treehouse_of_Horror_VII).
3. Vibrating Massage Mitt
It’s the purrfect gift for any pet! Haha get it? But not really. This product is marketed as a massaging mitt that relaxes pets and strengthens the bond between pet and owner. I would imagine a different scenario unfolding: You walk over to Fluffy and turn on the massaging device that makes sounds similar to that of a vacuum cleaner. Fluffy reacts to the terrifying vacuum sound, engraving deep scratch marks on your arms. Fluffy has lost all trust in you as a dependable owner. You bastard.
2. Secure Outdoor Cat Run
Your cat will thoroughly enjoy being confined in a weird green tube…thing for hours on end, being taunted by small animals protected by the layer of fabric that separates your cat from the fun, vibrant world.
1. Doggles
Just look at the picture! I am not even going to bother to comment on the sheer stupidness of this product.
Contributor: kfinch90
December 28th, 2007 at 4:50 am
first yay
December 28th, 2007 at 6:08 am
I got a Christmas card from our friends with their Dog’s picture enclosed dressed as a princess. I had little bit of vomit come up into my throat.
December 28th, 2007 at 6:11 am
You left out Neuticles: http://www.neuticles.com/index1.html
December 28th, 2007 at 6:13 am
The pet clothing is bad enough, but nail polish?!?!?!
Great list! Very funny, as I can actually picture a few people I know with these products! Although, I too, would most likely push these people into ditches and laugh at them.
December 28th, 2007 at 6:33 am
Neuticles…. now that’s dumb!!
December 28th, 2007 at 6:38 am
Whatever the dumbest cat toy is, there’s probably one under our couch. (haha)
December 28th, 2007 at 8:07 am
Here’s a fun fact: Doggles made the creator a millionaire.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:14 am
Great list, j. But you forgot one item:
http://www.prosoundweb.com/fun/Photofun/38_cat_carrier.jpg
December 28th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Animal rights activists should seriously think of putting “humiliation” on their list as an act of cruelty.
No, just foolin.
but , I do get a big kick out of seeing what lengths people go through to personify their pets.
Instead of “poop freeze” why not create doggie parks that have a mechanical rake that runs over the terrain on a timer and rotates the poop into compost.
Actually, now that I remember, a friend with a cat had a self cleaning litter box, that rotated the poop into a bottom catch, which you pull out and dump.
I dont know, those look like normal goggles to me, exept for the “G” changed to “D”. I could be wrong.
And Dammit! This Is how people make millions today?
December 28th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Doggles do have one purpose, although I admit it’s not what they were created for. I foster dogs with eye problems and dogs with glaucoma and optic neuritis are much more comfortable with Doggles.
December 28th, 2007 at 9:11 am
LMAO! I sadly owned Chuckit! Ball Launcher. I don’t know why – but I used it once or twelve times.
It took awhile to realize it’s stupidity.
December 28th, 2007 at 9:37 am
people are animal crazy these days. i almost died from laughter when i saw that your pet could get a picture with santa.
December 28th, 2007 at 9:40 am
I made fun of this pet product a while back in one of my blog posts.
http://nonagendazone.blogspot.com/2007/01/new-product-with-no-agenda-zone_7634.html
December 28th, 2007 at 9:41 am
Hey…re number 6: I don’t own one, but have you ever had to handle an ubelivably salia/water soaked tennis ball? Yeah. That thing looks pretty good after 40 slobbering minutes of fetch.
December 28th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Number 10 reminds me of those people that think it’s cute to dress up their pets on Halloween.
December 28th, 2007 at 9:54 am
kfinch: you are right on for some of these but you have no friggin idea when it comes to the chuckit.
i have a 110 lb black lab. chasing things brings him more pleasure than most things in life, except maybe food or licking his balls. the chuckit offers two things that my arm doesn’t… 1)the ability to pick up the ball without soaking my hands in slobber and 2) the ability to throw a tennis ball DRASTICALLY farther.
throwing a ball 30-40 yards doesn’t offer the challenge or fun to my lab, but throwing it 60-70 does. and using this allows me to throw for a much longer time because of the relative ease of use. 10 minutes is no good for the pooch. half an hour is getting a little bit closer to his prefered time line.
by the way, come try to push me into a ditch while i’m using it and you will be glad that that enormous animal is 70 yards away.
December 28th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Oh, and as for the neuticals: “The 200 year-old traditional form of altering used on family pets includes the permanent removal of the pet’s testicles. Many caring pet owners hesitate or even to refuse to neuter their pets because of this.”
Actally, most caring pet owners neuter their pets BECAUSE of this, as it is not only an unessential part of the animal’s anatomy but also creates more problems than it solves. And the last time I checked, bulls and horses were not ‘family pets,’ they were expensive livestock that do not take well to being treated like ‘pets.’ These people are crazy.
Haha, and this:
“My vet said that my pet will reject any foreign object. Is this true?
Absolutely not.”
Yeah, because your vet knows shit about animals. They didn’t go to school for that or anything, you should DEFINATELY listen to this website instead of your vet.
“My vet said Neuticles are not ethical. Is that true?
We feel the removal of a God given body part – leaving a male pet looking unwhole after the traditional form of neutering is not only unethical but unnatural. With Neuticles it’s like nothing ever changed.”
Oh, now I get it. It’s about what GOD gave them. Right.
“What is scar tissue development?”
If you are asking this question, you should probably not own pets. God help them if you do.
“My vet said my dog wont know that he’s missing anything. Is that true?”
Yes, your vet knows these things. That’s not what the folks at Neuticles say though! Of course he’s going to know! “Would he know if his foot was cut off? Of course he would- its only common sense.” Yeah, because animals use their testicles to walk and perform other essential everyday functions.
“Can Neuticles be implanted in people?”
LMAO.
And on their, what the media is saying about them?
“The ASPCA implores pet owners to neuter- but what about the emasculated pet? Now there’s Neuticles!”
The Daily Show
Jon Stewart was making fun of you…you fools!
Aah, some people are just too much. Sorry, I got quite a kick out of that. =p Thanks for posting the link.
December 28th, 2007 at 10:05 am
It has already been mentioned but I must echo it: Neuticles. You must put on neuticles. I mean, come on! Fake testicles for your dog after he gets neutered so his “self-esteem doesn’t” go down.
December 28th, 2007 at 10:18 am
My dog, Bernie, has his own drawer in my dresser for his clothes. He has a raincoat that looks more like a hazmat suit and a Jayhawks football jersey (he’s gotta help support the team) and an AC/DC sweatshirt that says “For Those About to Bark We Salute You” and has a little cannon on it. Oh and he a turtleneck that I force him to wear sometimes. I like to emasculate my dog to show him whose boss. My boyfriend really hates it when I make Bernie wear his turtleneck but then I remind him that I have already had his balls removed and he should not underestimate my power of emasculation. That usually shuts him up, I think he may fear for his own balls.
December 28th, 2007 at 10:42 am
We used to put our clothes on our dogs for shits and giggles, but they’re pretty big so little poochie sweaters would never work. (I highly recommend socks held on with rubber bands and a pair of men’s shorts.
December 28th, 2007 at 10:55 am
Those ball launchers are REALLY popular with dog lovers! I swear! Go to any populated dog park and you’ll see 1/3 of the people using them, and a lot of people bring two for someone else to use. It’s great! I’ve never heard anyone make fun of them until now!
December 28th, 2007 at 11:09 am
I thought there might be some controversy over my decision to include the ball launcher in the list after I read mostly favorable reviews of the product online…but it just seems so unnecessary to me!
And just because it’s a good product doesn’t mean it’s not a stupid product
December 28th, 2007 at 11:15 am
chuckit is actually very useful.
December 28th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Thank you. I now have numerous gift ideas for my sister-in-law.
December 28th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
I have had this debate with my girlfriend over and over and I will stand by this steadfastly: No animal should be forced to wear clothing! They don’t even realise that they run around “buck naked” all the time anyway so what’s the point other than trying to humanise them even more!
December 28th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
kfinch: per your introduction you use the words “rediculous, useless and just plain stupid”…none of these describe the chuckit, just admit that you picked poorly on this one. don’t ocntinue to call it stupid just because you personally don’t use it.
if that were the litmus test for a product’s stupidity then birth control pills, heart medicine and brussel sprouts are stupid because i don’t personally use them.
December 28th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
forget the chuckit, get a hyperdog. Tennis ball slingshot, great for excessively energized dogs or waking you roommate during the daily never-ending alarm.
http://www.petgadgets.com/product_details.cfm?product_id=98&content_id=7
December 28th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
hahaha funny doggles,
December 28th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
The funny thing is that dogs neither know/care people are making all these bullshit products. Aside from the doggles and clothes (which I’m sure any real dog would tear your throat out for trying to put on him), they mean absolutely nothing to the dogs.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
I love the chuckit. I’m not a wimp, but I am a pretty small girl and I can’t really throw the ball far enough to make it exciting for an energetic golden retriever. Rufus is my parents dog, so now that I don’t live there I don’t get to play with him a lot, but he loves playing catch on the beach when I go down to visit!
That said, the cat run is HILARIOUS. I just love how the cat is just sitting and staring at the camera all pissed off. At least, I imagine he is pissed off, my cats would be.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Dude, chuckit is the greatest invention for dog owners EVER. I guess you like grabbing slobbery, mud covered tennis balls.
I took care of my friends Weimaraner for a week and that thing also prevented me from throwing out my shoulder.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
you guys are getting way too defensive over the chuckit. I have one, I love it. But seriously, way too denfensive over a dog toy.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Santiago, That is by far the best invention of all time right there. Although I would be led to believe that some feline owners should have one of those used on them as well.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
Good list, bleh descriptions. Too many “what if” scenarios and vain attempts at humour. Nice effort though, but definately trying too hard.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
santiago: holy crap!!! i didn’t click the link the first time through. that is amazingly hilarious. like most dog lovers, i don’t care for cats that much and that device is perfect. my whole family got a laugh out of that one. geez, the family pic really tops it off nice.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
I agree, dog clothes are STUPID! Although, I would make exceptions for small dogs or hairless dogs in very cold places. We brought one of my bulldogs camping one time, but he refused to walk in snow until we put some socks on his feet which were held up by rubber bands. Sad, I know, but I think the snow hurt his pads. After that we bought some dog boots for him to use whenever we went to the mountains or camping.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
No invisible pet fence ?
December 28th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
MImanic, those things are amazing, maybe not for dogs or cats but for other pets. My neighber has a few chickens and a rooster and each one has a little bracelet that doesnt allow them to leave the boundaries of the front yard. Its a pretty cool thing if you ask me.
December 28th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Instead of Neuticles use Ben Wa balls. That when when they walk they produce a relaxing sound.
December 28th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
my cats are perfectly fine with a feather on a stick toy….hours and hours of quiet fun
December 28th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
VikingBerserker: You are a GENIUS. Lord, that had me laughing!
December 28th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Here’s another one I just came across on Gizmodo. Its a doggy Treadmill kind of like the thing the Jetsons had.
http://gizmodo.com/338598/fit-fur-life-doggy-treadmill-walks-that-mutt-so-you-wont-have-to
December 28th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Hilarious list…Number 9 perplexed me; if you’re going somewhere and want to bring your dog, isn’t WALKING it a better option? Or are people too lazy these days to suffer the exertion of holding a leash?
I do actually use a Chuckit though. It throws the ball much further than a normal toss, which is good for my dog who loves to run
December 28th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Good list, but how could you leave off Bowlingual!?
http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20060623/the-bowlingual-canine-translator/
December 28th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
I sure hope the fad of anthropomorphizing pets ends soon; it’s making Americans look like idiots, not to mention the animals. Has anyone mentioned dog wigs yet? Two companies make wigs for dogs. True.
December 28th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
#6 Chuck-it actually rocks! Not for its throwing ability, but for the fact that you don’t have to touch a slobbery tennis ball with your hands. Very useful if you ask me!
December 28th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
viking: holy crap that was brilliant. still laughing as i type this.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
the ChuckIt! and Doggles are the absolute BEST dog products!
after 6 + years of tossing a slobbery, nasty, gloopy tennis ball a mediocre 10 feet or so, the ChuckIt! saved playtime for me and my dog! used properly. it will launch a regular tennis ball completely across the half-acre local dog park.it’s the best toy, and we have had many hours of quality playtime with it.
Now Doggles where a God-send for me and my ACD… he liked to hang his head out of the window while I drove, and as my constant companion, that meant a lot of time was spent with him “pimpin” my ride… (as well as alot of slobber on my second window and scratches on the paint under the passenger window)The Doggles looked cool, and he liked them… see this link to my DA page!
http://ringtailroxy.deviantart.com/art/Palm-Trees-43413175
roxy
December 28th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
here’s another one of my dog and his Doggles at a big fundraiser for my non-profit animal blood bank last March…
http://ringtailroxy.deviantart.com/art/Stylin-73219396
roxy
December 28th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
LOL @ “Note: Anyone I see using a Chuckit! will be laughed at/pushed into a ditch.”
December 28th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Have to put in a defense for doggles. I take my dog quading with me. He both runs beside the quad and rides on the back with me. Doggles protect his eyes while he runs through the grass, and from low lying tree branches when quading through the woods.
December 28th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Funny. chew toys for older dogs that promptly ignore it.
December 28th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Hah i got a pet joke.
A dogs diary:
8:07-woke up. The highlight of my day.
8:14-jumped on my owners bed. Highlight of my day.
9:36-went outside. Highlight of my day.
6:29 p.m.-came inside. Highlight of my day.
A cats diary:
Day 983 of my captivity.
December 28th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
yeah doggles and chuckits are actually a good idea- we had a dog who eyes popped out of place and the doggles would have prevented it, also chuckits are good when used for dogs that want to run considerably farther than you can throw the ball-it tires him out faster so you don’t have to spend all freakin day playing fetch
December 28th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
The chuckit is actually a pretty sweet invention. I can throw a ball plenty far but after an hour of playing fetch with my chocolate lab the ol’ arm gets tired. With the chuckit i can launch the heck out of a tennis ball and it gets my dog tired more quickly. It awesome and I’m surprised you put it on the list.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:11 am
Ha. Funny list. Dogs are cute. I heart JFrater.
-Andrea Carlena Beauman
December 29th, 2007 at 7:29 am
Well, as a pet owner, I was all set to object to something on this list, but I must say you nailed it. Nothing here qualifies as less than stupid!
December 29th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Oka, first of all the website is great. I got the link from the White Stripes site, so that gives you credibility. But after seeing this list, I have a problem. The only one of these products that is actually one of the best, you put in here. The ChuckIt (if you ever used it) is better for dogs than anything. They can run freakin’ football fields with that giving them a motive. Second of all, DOGGLES RULE!
That is all.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
I’m agreeing with Llamee. Chuck it is great. Doggles are a great idea. And I had a German Shepherd mix who used to love when we put any kind of garment or adornment on him. He’d waltz around like he thought he was hot stuff. It was great.
December 29th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
If I was a dog I would like the Babble Ball.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Why are people so defensive over dog toys? X_x;
Well, I have none of those things, and I have four dogs.
…
Ok, so maybe I bought a pair of shorts for my lab once.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:59 am
Dude, the chuckit isn’t stupid. It prevents me from picking up a slobbery tennis ball covered in dirt and shit.
December 30th, 2007 at 1:30 am
#6 can be useful =/ not because i’m too lazy to throw a ball… but i don’t like touching dog saliva.
December 30th, 2007 at 11:26 am
RE: Doggles
I’ve heard that K-9 units serving in Iraq use them. Apparently they’re useful in windy weather and keep sand out of the canine’s eyes.
That being said, they still look ridiculous.
December 30th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Oh, and by the way – Kongs are dishwasher safe.
December 30th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Yeah, about my comment… I was kidding about the doggles… funny but stupid, I think… the chuckit still is great…chinchillas are the best known mammal…yay.
December 31st, 2007 at 9:29 pm
haha you rock
“anyone i see using one of these will be laughed at/pushed into a ditch”
dog poop feeze?
whats up with people these days…
January 1st, 2008 at 10:29 am
#1 is just wow… I would have never thught of that. Ever.
January 1st, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Pet strollers
when I saw this list last night I read them all and I found myself busting out laughing cracking up to myself over pet strollers
CATS AREN’T SUPPOSED TO BE WALKED; THEY’RE CATS
And I’m laughing for a good I saw 20 minutes, thinking about how pissed off a cat wouyld be if they had to be walked around the block in a pet stroller and how mortified it would be to know that the owner would actually buy it
January 1st, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Poop Freeze is really weird. But Chuckit is runaway popular with pups in my ‘hood.
January 1st, 2008 at 7:29 pm
The Chuckit is also a great weapon. You may want to hide in a ditch and buddy up to the dog to quit bringing balls back for reloading. Try to tell yourself the dog is laughing with you, not at you.
January 1st, 2008 at 9:23 pm
okay 1 the ball launcher is GREAT when the ball is covered in slober and dirt,and the dog still wants to play. Also, i will admit to putting clothes on my dog when it’s cold out, he likes them too.
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:26 am
My wife and I run a web site that sells pet strollers. While the product is unusual, I’d like to briefly defend it! First of all, it isn’t for every dog or cat (or pet owner). Secondly, if it’s right for you–it’s a great and helpful product.
We get a lot of feedback from customers who use pet strollers for different reasons. These include older dogs, injured dogs, allowing cats to get some fresh air, taking long walks or jogs with small pets who get tired out quickly (and get rolled part of the distance), allowing pets onto balconies where they’ll be safely contained, and walking pets on busy city streets where some people don’t feel safe walking a pet on a leash. And some pet lovers just want to take their pets to places they might not be welcome on a leash, such as outdoor malls and festivals.
Just because a product isn’t right for you and your pet doesn’t mean it’s a dumb pet product!
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I agree about the Chuckit, I think it’s a great invention. I was just thinking the other day why it took so long for someone to come up with it and that I wished I had thought of it first! Not having to pick up my dog’s wet, sticky ball to throw again and again is wonderful!!
January 2nd, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I agree with CK about the Chuckit…it is so nasty having to pick up a nasty tennis ball. I think it was invented for that, not for the purpose of not the physical act of throwing it.
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
To all of you complaining about the inclusion of the ChuckIt!:
Here’s a fantastic idea for the “icky” slobber. Buy a $5 pair of gloves. Wear previously mentioned gloves. Fantastic!
January 5th, 2008 at 11:23 am
OMG my boyfriend’s neighbor walks the cat around in a cat stroller!!!! All over the neighborhood!!!! I thought it was something she had specially modified out of a baby stroller but knowing they are real products is WAY worse!!!!
January 5th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Jorgerl,
What is so weird about a person allowing their cat to get some fresh air?
We’ve sold almost 9000 pet strollers on our site and have gotten a lot of great feedback
Augie
January 7th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Chuckit Sticks are wonderful. We have four dogs, including a border collie, and I defy anyone other than a professional ball player to throw the ball as far or as often as a Chuckit can. With out one of those items, your arm will fall off long before the dogs (especially the border collie) are tired, believe me. Besides, it keeps that slimey ball at a nice distance from human hands. Watching several dogs go out after a ball and seeing the fun they have trying to catch it, is worth any amount of perceived humiliation. If you pick up a Chuckit around our house, you don’t even have to call the dogs, they’ll be at your side in a flash.
January 8th, 2008 at 12:39 am
I’m guessing you don’t like clay pigeon throwers, either, because you could just as easily throw a target with your hand, right?
The Chuckit is an excellent product that works great (I’m pretty sure they got the idea from clay throwers). I don’t know why it was included…
The rest of the list was good though
January 8th, 2008 at 1:02 am
the chuckit is pretty good. you get a lot more distance with it too. once you go to the dog park and hang out there for a few days, you’ll understand….
January 9th, 2008 at 12:40 am
You missed one great one out; The Kitty Wig.
January 9th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Opps, it didn’t let me post the images of that, but check out this website:
http://kittywigs.com/wigindex.html
January 20th, 2008 at 2:25 am
The Pet stroller looks really stuipd, but we had one for an injured cat of ours and it allowed him to be outside with us and the other animals when otherwise he’d have benn left alone inside. I think he appreciated the product
January 30th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Gotta agree with a lot of the posters about the Chuckit. Although I never owned one, I found my old lacrosse stick to be the perfect thing to get plenty of distance in my throws without straining my arms. Not having to touch the slobbery ball is a definite plus.
February 8th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Pet strollers, huh? So, like, a leash too expensive for you?
And the laugh at/pushed into a ditch shouldn’t just be reserved for one of these products-it should be law to laugh at someone using any of these.
February 18th, 2008 at 2:25 am
Ha ha ha! Nice list!
By the way, the dog in doggles looks hilarious!
February 19th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Great list. I’m with you on 9 out of 10. But if you have a ball-crazy dog (like my obsesso jack russell theo), and aren’t an HGH pumped Roger Clemens, something like a chuck it is really useful. If that is too dumb, there are some fun alternatives to throwing the long ball, like golf drivers and sling shots. Good selection of them here on FetchDog: http://www.fetchdog.com/shop/play-exercise-train/dog-toys/dog-toss-retrieve-toys
February 20th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
For anyone curious, the Hyperdog that I mentioned, IS the 4 ball slingshot.
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:44 pm
The kitty wigs are made by the same gal who does the subversive cross stitch, and it intended purely for humour.
BUT, the kitty walkway is a good idea! Pet cats do *not* belong outside running around, it’s completely irresponsible. Not only are there a bajillion things that can mess your cat up, but there’s also a lot of things your cat can do to piss other people off. We all know cats like to be outside where they can stalk and eat bugs though, so they seem like a good solution to me.
March 8th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Pet strollers have a perpose, I have a large breed of cat and bad hands, transporting a 20lb cat(hes not over weight just a ragdoll) in a cat crate to the vets is almost impossible for me. What is creepy are those that look like pushchairs or when peolpe take there cats for walks. If your cat has to be a house cat build a safe enclosure for it to play in, its not difficult.
March 13th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
i must respectfully disagree with you on the kong stuffing. i have a 1 year old corgi who is more hyper than an 8-year-old with ADHD who busted into the hidden sugar supply. this dog is INSANE and has never had an off day from that particular state of mind. he is constantly wanting to play, he’s hyper, he won’t calm down, you get the picture.
give him a kong ball with (shudder) liver paste, he is COMPLETELY distracted for a good 20 minutes. its like the vibrating chair for babies– a true God-send. and yes, they have the tendency to get very nasty (between sticky slobber and dog hair and food reside, YUCK!)i simply soak his after use in a vat of hot water and soap and then throw them in the dishwasher. they come out clean as a whistle and he whines until i make him another kong.
anyone with a hyper dog and a kong ball, i know you feel my pain.
that being said, yes, the rest of the shit on this page is dumb as fuck… doggles? poop freeze? if you’re gonna have a dog, picking up their shit is part of the job… i mean, parents of newborns don’t freeze their BABY’S doodies now do they?
and a cat run? oh don’t get me started…
March 17th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I am getting a pet stroller so that I can walk to the vets with my cat instead of using the car. It’s too far to carry her in a regular cat carrier, but if she has her own wheels it will be fine!
March 21st, 2008 at 12:45 am
I’m contemplating getting some of that poop freeze just for the sheer entertainment value. I’d like to try freezing cafeteria food with it. Maybe that way it wouldn’t fight back…
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:01 am
The poop freeze actually came up on documentaries. They interviewed the man who made it, whose nickname was Dr Poop. He turned out with a paperbag mask with two holes for him two see through, seriously.
April 30th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Hey!! You have a very NARROW outlook!
Lots of exhibitors use Pet Strollers to transport their cats/small dogs, from the car park to the show bench, very useful and SAFE!! AND much better than lugging them in heavy cages or carriers!!
April 30th, 2008 at 11:33 am
TABBYCAT: let me guess – you use one?
April 30th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Why not just use a wagon or a dolly to put their crates on? It’s what I’ve always seen people at the dog shows doing (a world I grew up in). Why would you create more work for yourself by having more than one contraption to cart around if you have more than one animal?
April 30th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Kirstin,
There are a lot of reasons to use a pet stroller and not a wagon, but it does depend on the needs of the pet and the human. A pet stroller isn’t right for every cat and dog, but here are some reasons not to use a wagon:
- A pet stroller can be zipped up to keep a pet safely inside the stroller.
- A pet stroller can collapse flat, making it easy to take with you in a car
- Pet strollers have additional storage, so you can take your cat or dog, plus have room for treats, toys, or water (not to mention the parent tray which provides rooms for a beverage, keys, etc.)
You mention you grew up going to dog shows, but if you went today, you’d see a lot of pet strollers!
Augie
JustPetStrollers.com
April 30th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I do still go to dog shows, and if you’d read my comment more closely you would understand that I meant wagons/dollies with the crates on them, not the free standing animal. They are not as useful as the dollies if you have more than two animals.
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:17 pm
jeje, here there are more clothing for dogs:
http://www.marulo.com/tags/divertidas/perros-disfrazados
greetings
May 7th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Pet strollers are helpful so it’s not a dumb product.
In fact, pet strollers are more than a recreational carrier but a helpful way of transporting your handicapped or small pets like puppies and kittens where long street walking is very strenuous for them.
-andrei
http://www.petstrollers-4less.com/
May 18th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Kong-Balls being indestructible is a bunch of bull shit. My Husky ate their largest one in less then a day. Biggest waste of money, EVER.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
The stroller is cute XD
June 16th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Don’t knock that poop freeze stuff, whereas I don’t own a dog, you can use that stuff to cut holes in chain link fences. Freezing the wire with it will make it brittle enough to break with your fingers.
June 17th, 2008 at 7:09 am
I liked the chuck-it though. It prevents me from getting dog slobber all over my hands:)
June 17th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I have tried the poop freezer but upon first glance, it seems like it should work. Tee doggles should be useful when a dog sticks its head outside the window or if he is riding in the back of an pen truck. If a product does not cause harm it is not a bad product.
” If your dog is fat, you aren’t getting enough exercise.” !!!
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:45 am
I wasn’t suprised to see pet clothing on the list. I’ve always been against it. Good list, though!
August 13th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
The thing for launching the tennis ball isn’t because you’re lazy. Its so you don’t have to pick up the dirty, drool covered ball
August 27th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Both of my dogs actually wear clothes because they have extremely short hair (it’s part of their breed) but only in the winter. Without clothes during the winter, whether they are inside or outside, they shiver like crazy. So, pet clothes for those with super short hair is not that dumb… but only during the winter.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
My cat had a run like that (because I want him to see outside without the dangers of running off) -and he does walk on a leash but he is often figuring out how to wiggle out of it when something scares him!
However, with the green outdoor run my cat figured out the velcro does to the cat run and got out anyway.
http://www.collectionsetc.com/Outdoor_Cat_Tunnel/product.aspx?Ntt=dog&productname=Outdoor_Cat_Tunnel&N=0&productid=323
The only time pets need clothes are hairless breeds like the Spynx (which does sunburn but then again the cats are so expensive taking them out is a chance you take and that any weather will have then too hot or too cold.) These cats have down fine hair and literally have to be bathed frequently because there are no oils in their skin (or very little)
The only time these pets should have any type of capping on their nails are for cats and if you can’t handle the scratching in the first place…don’t own one! -I don’t have my cats declawed and don’t plan on it!
Is THIS a bit extreme?
http://www.pawpalaceonline.com/dog-beds-furniture-wardrobe-cabinets-c-2_153.html
the dog has a better armoire then me!!
what’s even crazier is the price!!
As far as strollers-yea that looks crazy. You walk your dog to get exercise! As for a cat to be pushed in a stroller…um, looks unnatural! I must confess again I do walk my cat on a leash but I go where HE wants to go not where I want to go and he learned naturally -I didn’t force him.
http://www.pawpalaceonline.com/shoes-socks-c-75.html
Liking this?
LOL!!
Thanks for the laugh!
September 20th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Lol, my neighbors have a Chuckit. I used it once. It actually throws pretty high/far
September 20th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Can “Dog Poop Freeze” be used on diapers? That would be nice!
October 7th, 2008 at 3:13 am
I disagree with most things on the list, not to sound gross but i think poop freeze would be good for when your dog does a sloppy one LOL As for the pet stroller i used one when my dogs were puppies to get them used to being outside, i couldnt use a leash because they hadnt had all their vaccinations. I am actually considering getting another pet stroller, i have 2 yorkies and my female is terrified by anything outside, she tries to run into the road and jumps up my leg, whimpering to be carried. She is small and only weighs about 6lbs. And i do put clothes on both of my yorkies, they are both miniature and get cold, weather in UK is never great, they actually want to put the clothes on, i never force them, they come to me.
December 5th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
I own all but one of these products. I am dumb, therefore these products are dumb.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
soooo doggles shoudln’t be #1…no, I don’t own them, but they actually serve a really good purpose. For dogs who are always shoving their heads out the window or for crazies who put their dogs in sidecars on motorcycles…it protects their eyes…anyway…just sayin
December 10th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
#6 is actually great when you have a dog that can haul ass and you can actually challenge him. I have a border-collie mix that if i throw it with my arm, he can get it so fast. Basically you can probably get 100+ yards from that thing
January 4th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Doggles were developed to protect the eyes of dogs out in intense weather conditions. Mainly work dogs like snow rescue and desert use.
Things that protect dogs often start out that way. There are shoes for dogs that are for harsh conditions as well, several pairs were donated to the rescue dogs in NY after 911 when it was discovered the services didn’t have their own. Jackets can serve as safety items for the dogs as well, containing not just information but medical supplies, water, and even their own treats in case they get separated from their main handler.
That being said we have never gotten any of our’s (5) to use the one pair of doggles we have. But they all like the shoes when they have to search in hot sand or go through torn up construction.
January 6th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
doggles aint stupid. i have 3 great danes one of which is nearly totally white with pale blue eyes unfortunatly this means she is nearly blind in bright sunlight and i could only walk her at night or on cloudy days and she would keep her nose pressed against my leg a friend gave me a pair of doggles and since then she can go out anytime. in fact she takes her doggles off the shelf where i keep them with the leads and brings the to me when she wants out Lifesavers
We also had a chuckit but tennis balls dont last long with Danes so i used it to launch their kongs with but the weight of the kong broke it so i now use two kongs joined together with 18 inches of anchor cable great fun for 3 danes and you can throw them further together than you can 1.
January 14th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
My grandparents TOTALLY have items #9 and #2 for their cat. The cat fell into the neighbor’s pool ONE TIME, and they freaked out … so now the cat can go outside … but only in the stroller or the cat run. LAME.
January 17th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
I have a dog and a cat. And I admit we have gotten one or two of these products.
Clothing–we have so many doggy outfits…but she actually likes them (of course, she also jumped INTO the couch rather than ONTO it once…not the brightest thing on four legs…) My cat, however doesn’t even like COLLARS, let alone clothes. I have fond childhood memories of when we first got our cat, and my mom would put tank tops on her after she got spayed, as an attempt to deter her from chewing at her stitches. Did that work? Try asking the half-frayed tank top on the floor…
And the Babble Ball thing. My grandma ordered that online for the dog last Christmas…turns out, she was terrified of the thing (she was also afraid of her toy basket for a while…again, she’s not too smart). So it would just sit around the house, motionless. No sound, then, right? NOPE!!! Even the slightest of movements would set it off! Eventually it got so annoying I just said “Screw it” and took the batteries out.
January 17th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Oh and I just remembered these two things I saw in a pet catalog once (sorry if someone already mentioned these in a comment)
This wierd duffel-bag looking thing that you can put your cat in. There’s a hole where the head sticks out, and the purpose of said product is to “easily clip Fluffy’s claws” or to apply the other product I will mention. First of all, most cats, you wouldn’t even be able to get INTO the stupid thing, and second, I can just picture my cat squirming around with her paws sticking out of the little holes. Well, I guess if you want to teach your cat to do the worm, then that cat bag thing is for you after all.
Secondly I would like to mention…I can’t even remember what they’re called. But they remind me of pet nail polish. They’re these wierd plastic/rubber/I don’t even know what substance things to put on a cat’s (or dog’s) claws to lessen damage to furnature and what not…news flash, THEY HAVE TEETH TOO! THEY CAN CHEW THEM OFF!! Not only that, but the things came in the most random colors! Yes, I’m sure Molly (my cat) would just LOVE to have hot pink claws!
January 30th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Actually, the #1 product has some merit to it.
(But the use is rare)
Say, you are in a sandstorm or there is heavy mist in
the area.
That’s the only use I can think of them for
February 11th, 2009 at 1:43 am
my dog has sweaters, I think its adorable, but he hates me for it haha. I think the doggles are cute as well ^_^ but I’m a dog lover.
February 16th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I disagree with the pet stroller. My mom has an indoor cat. They live in the country with lots of fun things to smell and see outdoors and plenty ‘o’ danger. So she got a pet stroller. Kitty now loads herself up when its stroll time. We call it her Mars Rover. They rover through the yard, for the mail, to feed the barn cats, visit my dad in his shop, and kitty is loathe to leave her stroller when the walk is done. The leash failed as she was fearful of all the other critters about.
Depends on the pet.
February 17th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Pita, Great comments. We hear the same sorts of stories from our customers at JustPetStrollers.com. There are so many great uses for pet strollers. It’s not a product for every pet lover, but it can be SO helpful for certain dogs and cats and certain pet owner!
March 6th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Obviously, the author of this article never owned a dog. Otherwise, the author would have known how awesome the Chuckit is. I would actually rate it BEST pet product ever invented. The author is so far off on this one.
March 18th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Seriously? How could you forget kitty wigs….
http://www.kittywigs.com
coulda been #1
March 18th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
ThatGuy: I thought they called those Merkins.
March 18th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Crimanon: lol i guess ill thank family guy for getting that joke
March 18th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
My next halloween costume. I’m still not sure whether I will be [a] or wear a merkin. Not even sure on the color either.
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:55 am
Chuckit is actually a great product. I used to think it was stupid, but it helps my wife throw the ball much further for our dog so our dog enjoys it more. Also, your arm can get sore throwing a ball endlessly for a lab, just like throwing a baseball too much. Something like this really helps. You can also pick it up without getting the slober all over your hands, which I don’t really mind, but if I don’t have to, why not.
March 25th, 2009 at 3:54 am
my older sister dresses her chihuahua and paints the dog’s nails!insanity!plus, a Chuckit is awesome!
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:39 pm
One of my dogs used to have a kong, but I think we just put treats in it.
April 8th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Sad I know but I must defend both stroller and some dog clothing.
I have a small dog that was the runt of the litter and has a real problem with changes of temp. She has to wear some kind of clothing most of the time to help keep her regulated but this is usually sensible dog coats or dog t shirts/ hoodies and not novelty costumes. She actually brings me her hoodie or coat to put on her when she gets cold.
Similarly we use the pet stroller for her as she is terrified of traffic to the point the vet recommended we try a pet stroller as it is not always easy to carry a pet carrier along with other items. Also as we are not lucky enough to live on a country estate and are environmentally conscious enough not to drive places we can get to on foot we walk along roads to the woodland/field/park/pet store and vets. Without the stroller our dog would have a very limited world.
So while these may be dumb products they are not without their uses and I for one am glad they are around.
Rant over laugh away
April 11th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
hardest I’ve laughed in a while.
April 24th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
#6 (chuckit) – where can I get one? I as 76 year old female with two very large dogs. How embassing to heave a ball with all my strength, only to see it “sail” about 10 feet. This looks like a winner to me. Meanwhile I suggest that no one attempt to push me into a ditch, because they would be minus at least a arm and a leg after my “sweet babies” got through with them.
May 31st, 2009 at 4:39 pm
When i first saw the chuckit on the list i was not able to control myself cause of the laughing, then i read your comment and i collapsed literally. But when i read here that people actually support that product, well that was too much for me. I still can’t believe how someone finds that thing practical and useful, and actually gives money to acquire it. While the other products are embarassing for the animals themselves (dogs or cats or whatever) that one is embarassing and insults the intelligence of a human. Ok people you don’t want your dogs saliva (which by the way is dozens times cleaner than yours and that is scientifically proved) all over your hand and i know it is gross and feels nasty cause i ve been with dogs for the most part of my life but couldn’t a simple glove or mist do the same job?
According to that reason and logic you go to take a piss and “oh no, not again, i ve got urine in my fingers.. damn i wish they could make some plasting hands for the job)