Rex the German Shepherd

Honest dog gear reviews

My dogs destroy.
Or approve.

Real reviews from a dad of four very honest dogs. The harnesses that actually work. The beds that survive a German Shepherd. The food that doesn't make your Dachshund throw up. No sponsored posts, ever.

Rex, 85 lb. Has destroyed eleven beds. We're working on twelve.

A few things I've learned the hard way

Five things that cost me money so they don't have to cost you.

  1. "Lifetime warranty" beds rarely have one.

    The fine print exempts "chewing damage." Which is the only way a bed gets damaged. Get a chew-proof bed instead and skip the warranty theater.

  2. No-pull harnesses don't stop pulling.

    They redirect pulling. Big difference. The ones that work share three features I write about in the harness review. The ones that don't, get returned.

  3. Tomato juice does nothing for skunk.

    I bought $40 of V8 at 11pm to learn this. The real recipe is hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap. Save the formula on your fridge.

  4. Most "indestructible" toys aren't.

    Out of 50+ toys Rex has met, three have survived. Here's the list. Save your money on the other 47.

  5. Bathing your dog more often makes them smell worse.

    Overbathing strips skin oils, which then over-produce. The fix is almost never more shampoo.

The testing crew

If it survives these four,
it'll survive yours.

85 to 15 pounds. Chewers, escape artists, sweethearts, and one pit bull who thinks he weighs 200.

Rex
Rex
German Shepherd · 85 lb
Luna
Luna
Golden Retriever · 70 lb
Milo
Milo
Dachshund · 15 lb
Tank
Tank
Pit Mix · 65 lb

"My wife says I spend more on the dogs than on our anniversary dinners.
She's right."

— from the about page

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