Whistle Blowers
What your pet's activity level can reveal about their health
These days, wearable tech is all the rage. Whether we’re talking basic fitness trackers that help us keep tabs on our daily step count or how long it took us to fall asleep last night, our obsession with the numbers all boils down to getting - and staying - healthy. But, fitness trackers aren’t just for humans anymore, Toto.
Two of our very own Kibble & Dribble paw-staffers volunteered to sport spiffy Whistle FIT collar fitness trackers for the sake of science. Their owner - and KB contributing writer, Pauline Campos - agreed to participate in a study done by Banfield Hospital, Whistle FIT, and the Pet Insight Project (all part of the Mars Petcare family), who partnered to analyze data from over 30,000 participating dogs and examine the correlation between activity and overall health.
Pauline fills us in on what these trackers revealed about her pets’ health and wellness and why corporate America thinks this information is so valuable for pet owners and the veterinary industry. (Note: study participants received free Whistle FIT trackers, as well as milestone rewards such as a canine DNA test.)
Lord Nibbler, age 4.
K&D: Fill us in from the beginning; how did you get involved with this study?
Pauline Campos: My dogs, Finnigan and (Lord) Nibbler, are patients with Banfield Pet Hospital. We received an email inviting us to participate. I’m all about using the data from my Apple Watch to meet my activity and sleep goals, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
K&D: What kind of data did they ask you to record?
PC: We were asked to record the pups’ basic daily activity total via their Whistle FITs, as well as monitoring their scratching, eating, and licking behaviors (a bit of extra work on my part).
K&D: OK, so were there any big revelations or surprises?
PC: It was really eye-opening to see that my dogs meet or exceed their activity goals on the days that I am most active. Deadline days crunching out assignments used to mean that they just got the bare minimum outside, but now that I have the visual with the Whistle Fit data shown in the app on my iPhone, I can proudly say that the trend these days is both dogs crushing their daily goals. And considering Finnigan is turning 17 in a few weeks, that’s saying something! Both of my dogs have a 30-minute daily activity goal, and my competitive nature means that I’m setting hourly timers to take a break, grab their leashes, and head outside just for the sake of earning the activity milestone badges.
K&D: What inspired the study?
David Allen (Product Manager, Pet Insight Project): Early on, the study was talked about as a “check engine light” for pet owners. Few of us really understand the workings of a car engine, so thankfully there is a check-engine light that lets us know when there is an issue with the vehicle. The same concept is true for managing dog health! Dogs can’t talk, and not many of us are equipped to diagnose canine health issues based on observation alone, so wouldn’t it be amazing if we could create a kind of “check engine” light for dog health based on wearable data?
K&D: How are researchers gathering information from participants?
DA: Our team distributes thousands of Whistle FIT devices each month to owners of patients at Banfield Pet Hospital who have given us permission to examine their dog’s Banfield health records. In addition to the wearable data and electronic health record data, our participants are constantly giving us feedback on our newest features. Wearable data, electronic health records, and participant feedback combined gives us an incredibly valuable database that we spend much of our time mining for insight.
K&D: Is the Whistle FIT tracker available to the public?
Kathy Sanders (CMO, Whistle): All the features of the Whistle Fit tracker are available in our Whistle GO trackers. The Whistle GO trackers also include GPS tracking to allow you to keep an eye on your pet during the day; if they make a sneaky escape you can use live GPS tracking in the Whistle app to quickly locate them anywhere in the US.
K&D: How did you know you were on the right “track” by introducing the Whistle FIT to the market?
KS: In April of this year, Whistle conducted a survey of 1,000 U.S. pet owners which outlined their concerns, priorities and attitudes towards tracking and monitoring their pets. First of all, this survey revealed just how important our pets are in our lives today, with nearly half (49%) of respondents ranking their dog as a top-three concern in their lives. The top-ranked concerns were running away, health, and safety. Almost half (43%) of respondents stated they worry about their dog getting enough exercise.
Whistle FIT offers pet owners and researchers a window into the daily lives of pets, anywhere they go. Whistle FIT tracks your dog's activity in a simple mobile application so you can ensure your best friend gets the regular exercise needed to stay happy and healthy.
K&D: How important is daily activity when it comes to a dog’s overall health?
Emi K. Saito (Veterinarian with Banfield Pet Hospital): Regular, lifelong exercise is a critical part of any well-rounded dog’s lifestyle. It is important not only for building and maintaining healthy muscle mass, but it can help maintain your dog’s quality of life – and strengthen your bond with your pet. Just like people, inadequate activity levels can lead to excess weight. This excess weight has been linked to other serious diseases in pets, including arthritis, diabetes, breathing (or respiratory) problems, and heart disease… If your pet is overweight, and your veterinarian has ruled out underlying conditions like thyroid disease or osteoarthritis, …small changes can have big long-term health benefits. For example, start walking your dog a few extra blocks each day, let your dog play at the dog park with the other dogs a little longer, or utilize dog walking services in your area to get your dog out for an extra walk during the day. Once your dog’s weight goals are met, your commitment is not over – maintaining that healthy weight and body condition are as important as the process to get there. This journey is a great opportunity to strengthen your relationship with your dog, while supporting their health and quality of life.
While initially focusing on activity and GPS tracking, Whistle’s latest lineup of trackers — the Whistle GO and Whistle GO Explore — can also monitor changes in health related behaviors like sleeping, scratching and licking, offering pet owners more data to inform preventive care. The new trackers have a health-monitoring platform based on research from the Pet Insight Project. What’s new with the Whistle GO and GO Explore is the ability to see a health report from your dog on a weekly basis. The tracker looks at licking, scratching, sleeping, and more, and then alerts pet owners if there are changes in these behaviors. If your dog is scratching or self-licking more than usual, it will alert you. You can then take the information-packed reports that are emailed to you and forward them to your veterinarian to identify the cause.
Whistle GO and GO explore are available via Whistle’s website and on Amazon. Whistle FIT is available to pets & their people who join the Pet Insight Project.
USPS Releases Working Dog Stamps
Three cheers for our nation’s military heroes
Last week the United States Postal Service issued their latest collection of Forever stamps, with a salute to our nation’s military and working dogs.
In honor of our nation’s brave and loyal canines, each booklet will contain an image of a German Shepherd, Dutch Shepherd, Labrador and Belgian Malinois. Dogs have been essential memnbers of our military armed forces and have served alongside soldiers since World War I. Today, the 341st Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base outside of San Antonio, TX, trains military dogs and their handlers.
You can purchase your own set at the USPS store.
The release was celebrated with an event at CHI Health Center in Omaha, NE
Skechers and Petco Team Up for Fashion Collab
Two major retailers team up to support animals in need
Popular sneaker brand Skechers has teamed up with pet retailer Petco to launch a new line of BOBS footwear and coordinating collars, leashes and harnesses at more than 600 participating Petco stores and online. For every purchase, the two companies will make a donation to the Petco Foundation.
“Having BOBS for Dogs and BOBS for Cats products available in Petco for the first time will introduce BOBS’ philanthropic movement to a new audience who may not be familiar with our efforts to help shelter animals....” ”
Since 2016, Skechers has donated more than $3.4 million to support shelter pets, funds which have helped more that half a million pets in the U.S. The PetCo Foundation is an indepedent, non-profit that has invested more than $250 million since it was created in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. They work with and support thoursands of local animal welfare groups across the country and through their in-store adoption events, help find homes for more than 400,000 animals each year.
“We’ve never sold human shoes at Petco before, but we think pet parents will love the ability to combine their own BOBS from Skechers styles, with matching collars, leashes and harnesses....”
If you’d like to learn more about how Skechers works to help animals and children around the world, you can read more here.
Beleaf in You
Natural skincare for pets
Rhonda Taassa’s Golden Retriever, Rocco, had been suffering from chronic skin issues since he was a puppy. For years they went to different vets and tried different solutions, only to be disappointed in the results each time.
Rhonda and Rocco. All Beleaf’s products are paraban and cruelty-free and vegan.
“We tried steroids and steroid shots. We went to holistic vets, you name it, nothing worked. For four years we went around and around.”
Rhonda decided to experiment with Moringa oil after hearing about how it had helped humans suffering from chronic skin problems like excema and psoriasis. To her delight, the oil seemed to calm the flare ups, and eventually, eliminated Rocco’s problem altogether. It’s been almost one year, and he is totally allergy-free.
Rhonda began researching how and where to source the highest quality oils (it turns out, Sri Lanka) and formulated a shampoo and conditioner first, working with a chemist.
“I’ve seen it clear up spider and insect bites, as well as have an amazing effect on their coats.”
The company stands by it’s product’s true label claim of having the highest quality available - cold-pressed, cultivated and produced without pesticides or radiation, and using a carrier oil (CBD) of similar distinction.
The team is currently working on developing a balm for the paws and nose, which will be availabe soon. In them meantime, you can find the products online, at Belaf in You, or - for those local to South Florida - at Greenlands market in DelRey Beach, FL, DelRey Shore Pharmacy, and Salon Bark. Additionally, they will soon be expanding and working with a co-op in Brooklyn.
Puppy Styled
A new book from Grace Chon
If you’re an animal lover or pet owner, it’s likely that you’ve seen Grace Chon’s work. If you’re also addicted to social media, then you’ve definitely seen her work.
As a popular pet photographer based in Los Angeles, Grace became well-known for capturing the intimate and joyful relationship between pets and their owners. By combining her unique ability to connect with animals, a well-crafted personal style, and an eye for good design, Grace created her own signature style that soon became sought after by celebrities and big name brands.
With a client list that includes Purina, Fancy Feast, and Jax and Bones, and celebrities like Chris Pratt and Chelsea Handler (see her full client list here), Grace had undoubtedly achieved success, but was not content to continue following the same path forever.
In order to evolve - yet stay true to her passions - Grace began to seek outside projects and partners who shared the same genuine love of animals and understanding of nuanced art and photography. This led to successful collaborations with Nintendo of America and Oh Joy! and eventually, book projects.
Her first book, “Waggish: Dogs Smiling for Dog Reasons” was published last year and gave her a taste of the publishing process. Grace knew that whatever came next, would have to come organically - as all her great ideas do.
A “Puppy” is Born
Cover boy Biggie Smalls
Her lastest work, “Puppy Styled: Japanese Grooming Before and After,” features pictures of dogs styled using the unique form of Japanese dog grooming - a relatively new sensation here in the US.
Grace worked with California retailer, Healthy Spot using some of their groomers trained in the specifics of the style, and their work space. The team started out with nine dogs and worked swiftly on a day the store was closed for regular business. Those initial shots were all Grace needed to confirm that her instincts were right. She posted the pics to her social media accounts and they quickly went viral. BoredPanda reached out. Once they featured the photos, things sort of exploded.
Ultimately, Grace held three more photoshoots and then spent months retouching the pictures, in order to achieve the final shots that appear in the book.
“I love this Japanese grooming style. It’s elevating the idea of dogs’ before-and-after pictures. Philosophically, this aligns exactly with what I was trying to do in my work. I pull out the things that make each dog unique. I try to capture that in a still frame. That’s what Japanese style dog grooming tries to do, too.”
“While Western grooming is done to breed standards, with the Japanese style, there are no rules, except to make the dog look as cute as possible.”
Groomer credits: Cindy Reyes, Alyson Ogimachi, Koko Fukaya, Cameron Adkins, Donna Owens, Patricia Sugihara, Rebecca Bradford.
B&B Kustom Kennels
As we scrolled through Instagram recently (one of our favorite hobbies), we spotted an ad for the most gorgeous dog kennels we’ve ever seen! So, we DM’d the company and asked if they’d be willing to chat with us for a few minutes and give us the skinny on these unique designs.
Since it’s part of our mission to share superior products with our readers, we knew they fit right in at K&B - especially after we learned the founders are a young couple who discovered a gap in the marketplace and worked dilligently to fill it. As young entrepreneurs, they re-prioritized their life and worked on building a future together based on something they were genuinely passionate about.
Who they are: Bethany and Brody Rathman, founders, B&B Kustom Kennels, based in Larkspur, CO.
The inspiration: In 2015, the couple adopted two 8 month old labradoodles - litter mates who they named Gracie and Pyper. “We realized very quickly that they could not be left out unattended. They ate the drywall.” So, off the couple went in search of crates or kennels that could contain their adorable beasts, AND leave their kitchen cabinets intact!
“Brody had just remodeled our house and after all that work we were upset that we now had these stupid kennels in our kitchen. So, I started looking for a piece of furniture that we could transform into a kennel.”
So, off they went to Home Depot to start improvising. Neither Bethany nor Brody had any professional design or carpentry experience - she was a school teacher and varsity volleyball coach and he had a successful career in healthcare IT. Not exactly the perfect recipe for a dynamic design duo.
But, they knew what they liked. And, they clearly have good taste. The first model was grey with white legs. Bethany’s cousin suggested they share a pic of it online. She recalls that they got somewhere around 200 likes, mostly from locals, and - lo and behold - one of them turned out to be their first customer. With the money from that first sale, they were able to build four more kennels and figured they’d sell one per month and help pay off their student loans.
Going viral: However, when their first happy customer posted her new kennel online, things really blew up. That post went viral and reached over 6 million people.
Coincidentally, all this happened right before the Christmas holidays. Bethany decided to use her holiday break to figure out all the logistics of what was clearly going to be a REAL business. They filed an LLC, built a website and figured out how to ship such hefty packages. By the new year, they were able to start taking orders and were soon selling 30 kennels a month.
“We weren’t afraid of hard work. We’re both college athletes and I think that helped, in the sense that it teaches you life skills.”
Entrepreuners at heart: In the Spring, Brody decided to quit his job and focus on building kennels full time. They acquired two employees - a college buddy and a cousin - and worked out of their 400 sq ft garage. Two and half years later, they have completed construction on a new warehouse, are still making each kennel by hand and have a 16 -18 week wait time. They established a parent company, Rothman & Co. and have recently made deals with both Overstock and Wayfair, who will sell slightly different product versions manufactured in China and shipped flat, ready to be assembled at your home within 3- 5 days.
Bonus tip: B&B is currently hiring. If you’re interested in working for them, go to the Careers section of their website.
Two weeks after we spoke, Bethany delivered their first baby, a boy, Emmitt Jay Rathman. We are so excited for them!
To order you own custom kennel, visit B&B Kustom Kennels.
Follow them on Instagram @bbkustomkennels, on Twitter @BBKustomKennels and Facebook at B&B Kustom Kennels.
Atomic Dog Apparel
Clothes for people who love dogs
Atomic Dog is one of our favorite lines of apparel (for humans), launched last year, by Sara Laskow who lives in LA with her husband, young daughter and two dogs – Maggie and Salty.
Inspired by a friend who runs t-shirt company Rescue Strong, Sara launched Atomic Dog as a way to be able to support rescue organizations after she had her daughter, Molly, and couldn’t be as hands-on. A portion of all proceeds go to various rescue organizations close to Sara’s heart.
“We donate 50% of all proceeds from the Corgi shirts to Queen’s Best Stumpy Dog Rescue. Not only am I obsessed with Corgis, but they really do amazing work and take in dogs with serious issues that don’t have a great chance at adoption. A lot of people purchase Corgis because they’re so cute, but they don’t do their research, and when they end up with a dog with behavioral, or severe medical issues, they dump or surrender them. QBSDR is always there to pick up the pieces; they do such an amazing
job with these dogs and they love them like they are their own." AWWW, who doesn't love Corgi butts?
“I’m a huge “Hamildork” (I love Hamilton, the musical) and when I saw the touring production in LA, I had come to find the person who plays Laurens/Phillip Hamilton. I knew he had a Golden Retriever so I waited for him after the show and gave him a Stay Golden shirt and told him what the company was working towards. He shared it on Instagram and I’ve seen him wearing the shirt on a few of his Insta-stories, which makes
me happy. Lin Manuel Miranda is my next goal!”
Atomic Dog also donates product to online auctions and rescue retail shops, so if you are interested in connecting, drop them a line at atomicdogapparel@gmail.com, or on Instagram and Facebook.