The Earth Pup Reviews
A little first-paw experience with some Eco-friendly products we've tried thus far...
Harry Barker Chelsea Collar
Admittedly, we were just plain curious as to what exactly a collar made of recycled plastic was like. Would it be stiff and awkward? Melt in the sun? Irritate pup's skin? And so...we placed an order from Harry Barker for one of their stylish Chelsea Collars, made from 100% certified recycled plastics, also noted to be 100% petro-chemical free.
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Their website made it extremely easy to find the right size (we went with medium), and see the different color options up-close and personal with a handy zoom feature. The hardest part was selecting a color (finally settled on red & tan).
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The collar arrived within a week (+ for speedy shipping), and dashed all our doubts about recycled plastic for collars. It was soft and flexible (think traditional nylon), easily adjustable to get just the right fit for pup, and true to their website size measurements. The quick-release buckle was easy to use and made for easy on/off, and the large ring was just the right size for quickly snapping a leash on. It stood up well to pup baths as well as a thorough scrubbing on it's own. And...it wears like iron - another Eco-friendly benefit in that it's not headed for the landfill after a short period.
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Though we didn't get it monogrammed Harry Barker does offer that as an option - great to add a name and contact info for a safety feature (no, that's not the collar pictured, just a cute puppy picture). All-in-all, we're giving this collar a paws up, and it looks like other pup parents are in agreement, with most reviewers giving the collars five stars.
Hartz Dura Play Ball
Natural latex generally is considered Eco-friendly, derived from a sustainable resource (the rubber tree (Hevea Brasiliensis), and biodegradable. And, given The Earth Pup is about taking steps in the right direction, we decided to pick up a Hartz Dura Play Ball made of natural latex (though it does have a not-so-natural foam inner) to see if it could keep a four month old puppy entertained. (Neither of which is pictured with this review, just another cute puppy picture...)
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And, boy, did it ever keep him entertained - paws down, this is pup's favorite toy!
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A bright pink, so as not to be lost in yard-ball games, and just as easily spotted in the house, pup chases, catches, chews, tosses, licks, rolls on and just plain loves on that ball for what seems like hours each day.
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It could not have cost more than a few dollars, was easily picked up at Walmart (though also available via Amazon or Chewy), and has lasted several months. It scrubs up easily, should if find a not-so-savory place to land (much to pup's dismay), and quickly resumes it's role as pup's favorite toy.
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The latex appears to have just the right amount of chewiness, neither too hard nor too soft, and holds up extremely well to super-sharp puppy teeth. We're going to be on the lookout for what else we may be able to locate in the latex arena...
