Henry's Supply Closet

I frequently am asked about what it takes to own Henry; specifically, people would like to know which supplies I have in my arsenal for taking care of my beast. This page will serve as a "product review" of sorts which allows us to communicate with you, the reader, the products we love best!

Products We Love #1 -

Appropriate leash walking is essential for not only Great Dane ownership or deaf dog ownership, but for owning any dog. The walk is a time of day in which you and your pup can bond, exercise, and focus together. I firmly believe that LOTS of behavioral problems can be resolved by controlled exercise and repetition of commands/tasks. In order to accomplish our walks, Henry and I needed some supplies:

1. Gentle Leader- The Gentle Leader is an "over-the-muzzle" head collar. Mr. Henry started pulling at 5 months--- when he was nearly 80 pounds. Seeing as he was never really all that little, we had to do something QUICKLY to control his pulling and ensure that he was a polite walker who was controllable in public. We purchased a Gentle Leader from Amazon for approximately $15.
   
   After figuring out how to size and apply the Gentle Leader, (there is a learning curve, although it comes with clear instructions and a DVD) Henry's pulling immediately stopped. Having his nose turned left or right as a result of his first two yanks was enough to put my giant pup in line. He wasn't very excited by having the collar over his nose, but that was quickly fixed with treats and repetition--- I put it on him for about an hour a day and let him chew on a bone while wearing the head collar.
   
   The Gentle Leader is, hands down, bar none the best purchase I've ever made for Henry. I regularly consider buying another one, just in case something happens to our first, because we wouldn't make it long without it. And these days, Henry loves it too--- when the Gentle Leader comes out, he can't wait to slip his big schnoz through the muzzle loop so he can go on an adventure.
   
2. Kong Collar and Leash- Petsmart recently started producing a line of Kong products which includes beds, leashes, and collars. Although I generally try to shop at a local pet store, on our way home from picking up Henry on December 3, 2012, a trip to the pet super-store seemed appropriate. That evening, we picked out a teal collar and leash for Henry--- and although I was picking the collar (don't judge me) because I loved the color, it turned out to be a very solid purchase.
   
   I purchased the Kong collar in medium, and was able to size it for Henry from 8.5 weeks to 10 months, when he finally broke the sucker--- my fault, not the collar's. (And I bought another one in Large to replace it although he still had room to grow into the medium.) It's durable, easy to clean, and brings out those beautiful baby blues! The only criticism (which I'll qualify) is the girth of the metal ring for tag attachments--- I love that it's a thick, solid ring for the sake of keeping all tags safely secured, but it makes it difficult to get those awful key-ring-esque attachment pieces onto the collar. I recommend using a coin to "open" your attachment ring large enough or buying s-hooks and attaching tags that way. Henry's bling includes a custom tag, a tag for his microchip, his rabies tag, his county license, and his insurance ID tag which all fit nicely on the collar.
   
   The leash is of similar quality. Although we don't have problems with pulling (see: #1 Gentle Leader) the leash has a rubbery grip handle which can slide up and down its length for extra control. The handle of the leash is well padded and is fashioned to clip and unclip so that you may loop the handle around a stable object to retrain the dog if needed--- when he was a puppy, I frequently would attach him to my waist while I was studying.
   
   Both products are highly recommended!
   
   
3. Vetri-Repel Insect Repellant- Henry is sensitive to mosquitoes--- and they just love decorating my big white and black dog with pink polka-dots. DEET being a very dangerous toxin to dogs, commercial insect repellants for humans (which I no longer feel all that comfortable applying to myself, in all honesty) are inappropriate for canine use. I was at a loss.
   
   Recently, a veterinarian friend of mine recommended Vetri-Repel Insect Repellant. The results have been noticeable. The product smells of the non-toxic essential oils that give it its repellant effects--- clove and cinnamon predominate. Before Henry and I go for a walk or he starts zooming around the back yard at dusk, he gets several spritzes. The welts on his limbs and abdomen have definitely declined, as has his scratching. I'm very happy with this product, knowing it's not only effective but safe--- and although Henry stays on year-round flea and heartworm preventive, it's an added peace of mind that less mosquitoes are biting and fleas are similarly repelled.
   
4.  Doggles- Henry started wearing Doggles as a joke; however, they have become and essential piece of apparel for Mr. Man. They have served two, very useful purposes for us: (1) sunglasses, (2) protective eye-wear for car rides.
   
   Now, Henry is more compliant than most dogs about me putting weird things on him--- hats, ears, Doggles, but if you can get your pet to wear them, they are great! He wears them on walks on excessively sunny days and I can feel good about knowing Henry's eyes are protected (which is important since he's already down a sense!) We also strap 'em on when we're in the car and I expect Henry to have his dome hanging out the window--- flying rocks are no joke! Remember that if you think it's important to wear sunglasses and avoid projectiles, it's also important for your pup! And boy are those suckers stylish!