Fetch the 4-Legger Blog

Saponification refers to the process by which a vegetable oil is turned into soap! It's a simple reaction that occurs when an oil, like coconut, olive or jojoba is mixed with an alkali and results in two products: soap and glycerin. 

Literally, saponification means "soap-making" and oils are chosen based on what final properties of soap is desired. For instance, if you saponify coconut oil, the result is a very bubbly and glycerin-rich soap. Glycerin is an important product for its usefulness in helping retain moisture and prevent dry, itchy skin. Olive oil creates a very creamy soap that is rich with antioxidants. 

Did you know that how often you bathe your dog and the shampoo you use plays a big role in the health of their skin? If you don't bathe your dog regularly, it allows dead skin and hair to buildup causing flaky skin. The frequency of bathing really depends on the dog. On average, a dog with normal skin should be bathed about once a month. If you blow dry your dog, don't set the blow dryer on "high heat" as it can also be drying.

The thyroid, a small butterfly like organ in the neck, is responsible for regulating the metabolism of your dog's cellular functions by producing hormones.  When the thyroid is unable to produce enough hormones, usually due to an autoimmune disorder, the result can be an itchy, biting, chewing, scratching dog.  

Years ago one of our own 4-Leggers was diagnosed with hypothyroidism; but not before it was late stage and over 70% of the thyroid was likely damaged.  Since the thyroid can't repair itself, it is important to catch it early.  

The greenwashing of products REALLY upsets us! Today, we look at something that just left me feeling like a cartoon with question marks in my head. Here is what I read: 

Let's break down this bullet. It is both without soap and without detergent yet it contains "naturally derived ingredients with a proprietary blend of cleaners" (blah blah blah). Soap and detergent are not the same thing. Soaps are produced from NATURAL products while detergents are SYNTHETIC (or man-made) cleaners.

There are an infinite number of ways you can "spoil" your dog.

Need some ideas?

Hemp seed oil may be added to any body care or cosmetic product, including creams, lotions, facial or body oils, massage oils, shampoo, conditioner, shaving products, lip balm, soap, and any other product. In hair care products, hemp seed oil increases elasticity, manageability, and shine. It is full of amino acids, fatty acids, omega-3, and omega-6. 

Some days all it takes is to see your dog sleeping and a smile will cross your face. Everything from laying on the back with the feet in the air to curled up in a tiny ball. Have you ever moved your dog in their sleeping position because you were worried about their neck in that position? 

What does their sleeping position tell us about the dog and how does that relate to their sleep cycle?

The average dog sleeps 12 - 18 hours a day and puppies sleep even longer than that! Dogs that are indoors sleep, on average, more hours a day than outdoor dogs. 

Dogs adapt better to changes in their sleeping cycles than humans.  So, they can sleep Monday - Friday from 8 am - 5 pm; but, on the weekend they can be awake from 8 am - 5 pm.  Their humans tend to do best when they go to bed at the same time every night and wake up around the same time while dogs can adapt their sleep cycle to whatever activity is happening; but, they do need to work off their energy each day to be happy dogs! 

Like many consumers, we believed if something said "natural" it was "safe". We learned that there are NO industry regulations for what can be labeled as "natural" and "organic". 

We read about "greenwashing" - making things sound healthy and natural when in reality they are far from what we have in our minds as "natural or organic". Unless a product is USDA certified to food grade standards, it is NOT organic. 

In case you wanted to know the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) of our ingredients, here they are:   Essential Oils Cedarwood Essentail Oil = Cedrus virginiana Sweet Orange Essential Oil = Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil Eucalyptus Essential Oil =...

We use organic - sustainable - fair trade certified - the highest grade, coconut oil.  As an organic oil, it was grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. 

Coconut oil is a great moisturizer and helps to provide a protective layer, retaining moisture in the skin. As a mild oil, it is very good for use with inflamed and irritated skin, or dogs with skin sensitivities. 

It is also the number one later-producing agent used in soaps. 

Name: 
Olea europaea (Olive) fruit oil 

About Our Olive Oil: 
We use organic, the highest grade, organic olive oil in our bases.  As an organic oil, it was grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. 

Olive oil is one of the most universal oils used for cosmetics, shampoo, and in cooking. It has a great conditioning effect and can be used in almost all applications due to its stable nature. 

Name: 
Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil 

Method of Extraction
Cold pressed and unrefined (no solvents or high heat)

About Our JoJoba Oil:
We use organic, the highest grade, jojoba oil.  As an organic oil, it was grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. 

Jojoba oil comes from the beans of a shrub-like plant that grows in Mexico and the Southern regions of the United States. It is actually a liquid plant wax, not an oil. 

In 2014, as we embarked on our mission to transform the pet grooming industry, we meticulously crafted a list of ingredients that would never be in any of our all natural dog shampoos. While this list originally took shape on a humble notepad, it remains the cornerstone of our commitment to developing safe dog shampoo.