Wishbone Flyers Winner Goes Long

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Tanner is NOT Excited at All

Tanner has a complaint to register with regard to the Wishbone Flyer. From the look in his eyes, he is apparently telling me "We did not play long enough. Can't we keep going?"  I see that plea often when we play Fetch in the pool, but the dog park is a much hotter place where the sweltering heat tends to wear Tanner out much faster. 

Thankfully, we did our first Wishbone Flyer shots during the cooler months of Winter. I can tell you, though, Tanner is not ready to leave the Wishbone Flyer at home when we head off to the park. Quite the opposite, this morning he lured me back to our supply shelf to indicate with his snout that I had forgotten his new favorite toy. Those imploring eyes made me feel guilty that we did not have time for a long dog park outing, but I took it along for a quickie. No more sore arms for me :)

Our arsenal of fetch toys is growing. The Wishbone Flyer is an exciting addition, making it

courtesy Wishbone Flyers

easier to throw the ball farther to give Tanner a better workout--over and over again. He seems to never tire of this game.

Our winner, Kelly T., will receive a Wishbone Flyer direct from the company. Made in the USA, this great implement will keep Artie in great shape for years to come. Congrats Kelly!

You can pick up your Wishbone Flyer on their website, or ask questions and follow the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Want to reread our review? Just click here. Best wishes for a safe and fun Memorial Day.

All Things Dog Blog reviewed the Wishbone Flyer and has provided this giveaway as a service to our readers. We were not paid to bring you our opinion of this product and the thoughts we shared are our own.

Fetching Fun Wishbone Flyer Giveaway

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

courtesy Wishbone Flyers
No More Sore Arms
 from Throwing

Is your dog ready? Calling all Fetch Fanatics; Tanner has a giveaway for you that is ideal for dogs who have a fence available and lots of space to run after balls. 

We're not talking about short flings like the ones I make when I throw. Yes, I do throw like a girl. But seriously, I'm talking about long flings of up to 75 feet! 

If you've got a dog that will love this sort of activity, check out my Wishbone Flyers review at this link. If your Fido is already wagging his tail, this is a giveaway for you. Chihuahuas need not apply. We're looking for fetchers, runners and ball-driven dogs. Step up and join the fun.

If a little Fetch training is needed, we can help with that also: Teaching Your Dog to Fetch. Need more help? I've got a series that helps when your dogs needs more intense work. Drop me a note at AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com and I'll send you the links to the whole series.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Tanner Returns the Ball
for Round 2

Meanwhile, want to learn more about Wishbone Flyers? Check out their website and then ask your questions at Facebook and Twitter. Tell them @AllThingsDog sent you :)

This giveaway will run the usual course. You can use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. If the form is not in place, it may have gone off to fetch a ball, so just click on the title above to shout the "Come" command. You'll soon see the form ready to roll again.

Entries to win our giveaway of a Wishbone Flyer will be open through midnight on Thursday, May 23. Winners will be announced on Friday evening, May 24. May the best fetcher win!

Wishbone Flyers provided a review sample to All Things Dog Blog for us to review the product. We were not paid to share our opinion and the thoughts here and in our review are completely our own.

Fetch Flings Soar with Wishbone Flyers

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Hurry Up Brent! Let's Fly!

A Wishbone Flyer arrived at All Things Dog Blog for review during Winter, the perfect time for outdoor fun in Florida. Without the cold or the heat, we were able to enjoy some Fetching fun with Tanner as our 'reviewer'. Needless to say, Tanner was very excited. Are you getting that impression from this photo?

As my son prepared the Flyer and took a few sample flings, we both were amazed at the distances that could be achieved. Before we actually played a real game of Fetch, I had to get Tanner calm and ready for the command. No taking off before the ball was released from the Wishbone Flyer.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Ready to Fly?

With Tanner settled and Brent ready to give this baby a real test, he loaded up the Flyer and gave the command. Tanner took off like a rocket, ready to reach the Moon in a matter of seconds. Powered by Natural Balance's Organic Formula, Tanner's energy and stamina is a sight to see. As one dog owner put it:

"D***! That dog is fast!"

I had an entire dog park group watching behind me as Tanner returned time after time, dropping the ball and taking chase once again,  

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Go Fetch!

with the ball easily flying 75 feet or more. Thankfully we chose a very large dog park for this expedition, or we probably would have been scaling the fence to retrieve lost balls. There's tip number one for Wishbone Flyers users. Choose a large area!

Tip number two is that you'll need to scout out a post with a flat top to strap the Wishbone Flyer snugly in place. We learned from experimentation that a square post works better than a round one; although, as you can see, we were able to successfully have a great time flying off a chain link fence.Before you purchase a Wishbone Flyer, do your homework. Know you have a spot to attach the flyer where there is plenty of space for Fido to run safely. The

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Tanner Returns the Ball for Round 2

actual flinging mechanism needs to stick out above the post, so a light pole or other very tall structure will simply not work. 

As you can see in my photos, we used a dog park fence for this shoot because we wanted a large, enclosed area to assure that Tanner would not be lured away while we were preoccupied with the photo shoot details. A chain link fence is not your ideal post; however the corner post seen here did work relatively well. 

The Wishbone Flyer folks are very clear to share that their product was designed to attach to the top of decking such as that seen in the video below. Enjoy the show that this German Shepherd puts on, but realize that your balls may go farther, so choose a location that will allow for the long balls to be retrieved safely.

courtesy Wishbone Flyers

The video tells the story for Tanner as well.Tanner got a great workout and it was easy to use the flyer, once an appropriate post was located. Once again, I will recommend that you try to find a square post that allows you to strap on the Wishbone Flyer at the top, exposing the flinging mechanism above it, as shown in this photo at left. This will get you the best possible action, and a terrific exercise session for your Fetch-crazed dog. Tanner gives this tool a 4 out of 5, merely because locating a useful post can be challenging, although it is well worth the effort. Enjoy!

Want to learn more about the Wishbone Flyer? Check out their website at the link above, or visit them on Facebook or Twitter. If your dog is anything like my Fetching fanatic, he'll love this great tool that won't wear out your arm. Tanner is always a willing subject. Watch for a giveaway to come shortly.


Tanner wishes to thank the folks at Wishbone Flyers for this sample we reviewed at no cost to us. We were not paid to share our thoughts, take these photos or run our fannies off, and these comments are completely our own. 

Natural Balance: Pet Nutrition + Fitness

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© L. Boese
First We Stay

© L. Boese
The Long Jump!

Tanner, our Fetch-crazed Retriever, is pulling out all the stops these days. We're noticing a sudden burst of energy that has us wondering, "What's different?" I look around and can only think of two things. Tanner's diet and the change of seasons, albeit a minimal change here in Central Florida where we enjoy a nearly year round version of hot and humid.

With my plans to take Tanner along to Blogpaws, I suppose I'll need to get a lot of Fetch in before departure. I'm guessing he won't be welcome in the hotel pool, no matter how dog-friendly the hotel is :)

That said, we've been adding in extra walks, playing more Fetch, swimming, biking and enjoying a good deal of family and company lately. Tanner's in heaven. After all, aren't they all coming to visit him?

Before my partnership with Natural Balance kicked in, I was asked by one of the organizers to share some of Tanner's skills in my posts. So here's our first installment on that request. There will be more.

© L. Boese
Back to Mom for Round 2

Swimming is an excellent exercise for you, me and our dogs. Without the weight of our bodies to support, our joints are under less stress, even as our muscles work to propel us. This is why it's an ideal exercise for dogs who are prone to hip dysplasia and arthritis.

Tanner, while being a rescue, still has that pure Golden possibility. My goal has been to do all I can to prevent it, especially now as he approaches the age of 7. Here are the strategies I employ:

• Exercise to keep the joints loose and muscles limber
• Swim to keep the cardiovascular system strong 
• Take supplemental glucosamine-chondroitin to support healthy joints
• Feed an organic, AAFCO-approved diet--Natural Balance Organic Formula--to avoid unnecessary toxins in the liver
• Maintain a slender weight to avoid stress on the hips and shoulders. Tanner is a long, tall dog, weighing in at a steady 70 lbs.
• Practice daily training and mentally-stimulating activities that keep his mind sharp and body busy and strong



© L. Boese
Thank You Tanner











• Play Fetch to give Tanner additional mental tasks. We have a variety of different Fetch games we play.

Enjoy the photos and please do give Natural Balance a try. You can receive free coupons by simply clicking the banner ad at the top of this column. Go for it!

All Things Dog Blog is an NB Insider, sharing Natural Balance information with you. We receive pet food and sponsored travel to pet industry events as a part of this program.

All Things Dog Blog Goes to Global

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Ready for a Fetch Game, Tanner?

As I write this, I'm preparing to head out for Global Pet Expo, the largest pet product expo in the country. It's an exciting time for pet product makers with new product announcements, awards for best new products and lots of demonstrations and samples to look at. 

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Good Fetch!

Walking into the convention center, I can always feel the excitement; the thrill of what's new is palpable. Come Saturday when I get home it will be time for this column, so I'm getting a head start. 

Today I'll be visited by one of my favorite people, Missy Johnson. Missy is the mastermind behind the Dogs for the PAWS project, as well as an amazing artist and the blogger behind the Bassett trio on Twitter, @RuffDogPlay. This week's convention will be her first and I'm excited to see her enthusiasm. Tanner and Oliver are planning a meeting during which Tanner intends to entice her into a good Fetch game. 

When Tanner requests a Fetch demo, it's always a compliment. He doesn't perform for just anybody--LOL!  As a result, bonding occurs even more deeply with him when I have the opportunity to share his skills with a good friend. Tanner and I can enjoy the game, not anxious about his performance, but rather simply enjoying the fun of it. We're in tune with one another and he stays focused better when he can see that I'm not nervous, anxious or worried.

Do you play Fetch with your dog? Any dog can learn to enjoy Fetch when given the right motivation. Even Oliver will fetch a toy that has a treat in the middle. He's very food motivated, so if I want his cooperation I need only bring out the snacks and I have his total and undivided attention.

Tanner is another story. He loves the game for what it is. I guess it's the Retriever in him--DNA in action. This is the job his breed was bred for and he demonstrates it well. I hear a car in the driveway and Tanner is preparing to open the door to our visitor; it's showtime!

This week's Weekly Wag is a memory refresher about bonding with your dog through the age-old game of Fetch. There's nothing like it for Woman and her dog!

Fetch training posts on All Things Dog Blog:

• Preparing for Fetch Training
• Sit and Stay: More Fetch Preparation
• The Most Important Fetch Skill
• Stringing Skills for Fetch
• Building the Fetch Cycle
• Extra Credit Fetch

Let me hear from you on how Fetch training is going with your dog. Any stellar competitors out there? Tanner wants to take you on! Name the time and place--hehe!

Join us each week for the Weekly Wag bonding series, held during the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop. The hop is hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers, and Confessions of the Plume. You are welcome to link up here, or check any of their sites for their rules of participation. Happy hopping!