Typist: Bethany
Anyone who has ever read this blog before (and it is okay if you haven't- welcome!) or has met me while out on a pet adventure knows that I am a huge fan of hands free dog walking. In fact, I would go so far as to call myself a hands free dog leash addict. I never, ever go anywhere without my Umbilical Belt Hands Free Dog Leash. Ever. When I set out to find the best hands free dog leash, I put on The Umbilical Belt and never looked back. And after almost two years of wearing my first Umbilical Belt at least once a day, every day, it was time for a new one. Just like any well used and loved product, even the best made, highest quality hands free dog leash on the market is susceptible to wearing out. My 3" wide Umbilical Belt had never been uncomfortable but I opted for a new 2" wide belt. After a short adjustment period to get used to the thinner belt I love it. I expected to. All of The Umbilical Belt products are the same comfortable, strong, plastic free, high quality dog leashes and hands free belts I fell in love with over two years ago. The Umbilical Belt is made by a dog fitness enthusiasts for dog fitness enthusiasts. What's not to love? This is why I can't imagine a dog friendly hike, walk, snowshoe or other adventure without The Umbilical Belt.

Besides comfort and convenience, why be hands free? Wait. Seriously? Okay, I'll lay it out:

• Back support: My lumbar vertebrae were all fractured by a fall in 2011. Nothing I have put around my waist since then has been as comfortable as The Umbilical Belt. I wish it could hold up my pants!
• Style: Any leash can be attached to The Umbilical Belt. I regularly attach my bungee leashes to my belt, The Umbilical Belt Reflective Leash for night walks and I attach my favorite collar matching leashes or holiday leashes for special occasions.
• Hands Free: Oh the things free hands can do! Not holding a leash takes getting used to for both the dog and the dog walker but once hands free harmony is acquired the dog walker can hold a drink, push a stroller, swing their arms, click a clicker, clean up poop, carry a cockatoo... that last one may just be me.

Learning about K9 Bytes meant more to my multiple pet lifestyle than fulfilling a wacky dream of the dogs and cat in matching collars. Believe it or not, living with all these pets isn't just about me. Among other items for pets and pet lovers, K9 Bytes also carries dog and cat toys. Sharing my joy in shopping for affordable dog and cat toys on one convenient website is the last part of this review that is about me. The real reviewers were so excited about the K9 Bytes box I could barely get a clear photo. Playtime included tugging, fetching, squeaking and a human enjoying the brightly colored toys on a gray Seattle day. Clearly the dogs approved of their new dog toys. When Amelia tried out her K9 Bytes catnip toys, all the rolling, drooling and batting made it obvious she was pleased with her cat toy three pack. Even Leo found something in the box that a cockatoo could enjoy. K9 Bytes truly knows how to please multiple pets and their people.

To test the power of PURGGO, Jason and I twice left the dog's car beds, stinky from road trips that included off-leash parks and swimming, in the back of the car. The first time Jason sniffed the car after it sat unopened all week in the sun he exclaimed "oh wow, that stuff [PURGGO] really works!" When I climbed into the car during a downpour and was unable to roll the windows down without flooding the car, I didn't mind because the car didn't smell like dog or have a scent of stale, wet car. PURGGO had truly been neutralizing the air as the car sat waiting for the next Cascadian Nomads road trip to begin. Taking only seconds to install, from the easy tear package to the sliding hanger strings, PURGGO will be the first thing I put into my next rental car. No matter what car I am in, every road trip from now on is going to be full of all of the natural smells I want to enjoy on the journey and not nothing but whiffs of dusty camping gear or whoever rented the car before me.