Natural Pet Blog

Cat etiquette - Meeting and greeting a cat

By Linda Brent on Feb 16, 2024

Not sure how to meet a cat? You might be a new cat parent, want to know how to get along with your friend’s cat, or maybe you are a “dog person” who just doesn’t "get" cats. There are some pointers to consid...

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Understanding the wagging tail of our dogs

By Linda Brent on Feb 02, 2024

All dog-lovers know the happy feeling of seeing their dog approach with a bouncing step and a wagging tail! No matter how long you were gone, your dog always greets you with exuberance and joy when you come ...

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Pets can improve our brain health as we age

By Linda Brent on Jan 05, 2024

Dogs, cats, and other pets are a great source of social and emotional support. And now there is proof that pets can even help our brain health as we age! A new study found that having a pet reduced cognitive...

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Cat contraception in a shot

By Linda Brent on Dec 05, 2023

Researchers have announced a new and effective method of long-lasting contraception for female cats. It doesn’t require surgery or pills and works with just a single shot. This breakthrough could be a game-c...

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Announcing the latest creation from Blue Toby - Cuddle Blankets

By Linda Brent on Nov 12, 2023

The wait is over - the new Blue Toby Cuddle Blankets are here! Linda and the Blue Toby team have been working on designs for ultra-cozy pet blankets for several months. We've reviewed and tested many differe...

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Sustainable textiles made from recycled plastic

By Linda Brent on Oct 14, 2023

Creating a more sustainable future At Blue Toby, sustainability is part of our business model. We have adopted a number of sustainble practices to protect the planet. For example, we use recycled plastic to ...

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The science of dog sleep - separating fact from fiction

By Linda Brent on Sep 17, 2023

Here are the facts about dog sleep patterns.

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Understanding dog facial expressions

By Linda Brent on Aug 20, 2023

Dogs communicate in many ways, including facial expressions. Researchers found that dogs with fewer markings on their face were more expressive and better understood by humans.

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Coming together to help the people (and animals) of Maui

By Linda Brent on Aug 14, 2023

The wildfires that scorched Maui have left an unimaginable scar on the beautiful island and its inhabitants. Our hearts go out to the communities affected. From the mainland, it is easy to feel overwhelmed a...

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The manufacturing team behind Blue Toby Pet Beds

By Linda Brent on Aug 01, 2023

Blue Toby's sustainability mission As a sustainable pet bed company, Blue Toby seeks to reduce our carbon footprint. One way to do this is to source contractors and suppliers from the local region. This help...

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Choosing the right size bed for your dog

By Linda Brent on Jul 24, 2023

Finding the perfect bed for your dog should be simple. Big dogs need a bigger bed, and small dogs need a smaller bed. That is a start, but there are a number of considerations when choosing the size of your ...

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Celebrate National Pet Fire Safety Day by protecting your pet!

By Linda Brent on Jul 14, 2023

July 15th is National Pet Fire Safety Day! Take a moment today to be sure you are doing everything you can to protect your pet if there is a house fire. Learn the steps you can take to keep your pets safe. P...

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Is your older dog walking more slowly?

By Linda Brent on Jul 11, 2023

It could be a sign of dog dementia As we age, we slow down. Dogs are no different. A new study found that in dogs – just as in humans – a slower walking speed was related to cognitive decline and dementia. B...

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How often should you wash your pet's bed?

By Linda Brent on Jul 02, 2023

I couldn't pass up a quiz asking how often you should clean common items in your house. I was not doing very well guessing the answers (who knew you had to clean out your dishwasher?). Then I got to the ques...

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Blue Toby makes a home in North Carolina

By Linda Brent on Jun 22, 2023

The last few months have been so busy here at Blue Toby, with lots of progress to show! First a bit of background to set the stage. We moved to beautiful North Carolina in January of 2022 and live just outsi...

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How to avoid losing your pet

By Linda Brent on Jun 21, 2023

Here are the six things to do to avoid losing your pet this summer: Identification, Using a Leash, Training to "come", Security of your yard, Travel Preparation, and Monitoring Behavior and Location.

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Why dogs and cats eat grass

By Linda Brent on Jun 06, 2023

Eating grass is very common in both dogs and cats as well as their wild relatives. It may be an adaptive behavior to reduce internal parasites.

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Dog personality depends on breed (and age and social environment)

By Linda Brent on May 29, 2023

A new study on 11,000 dogs reported that while the breed of the dog was the most important factor related to personality, there was a broad range of personalities across individuals in each breed. Thus, personality may be related to the genetic background of the dog but life experiences also play an important role.

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Every step forward is progress for Blue Toby

By Linda Brent on Feb 20, 2023

The last few months have been incredibly busy at Blue Toby as we prepare to make our first pet beds available. There may have been easier ways to start a pet product business, but our goals are much more ambitious than most: to make better pet beds with a focus on people, pets, and the planet.

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Dog photo shoot

By Linda Brent on Nov 29, 2022

It was a celebration of dogs and could not have been more fun! Local pet parents brought their dogs to be photographed on a Blue Toby Pet Bed and to be featured on our website and social media.

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Chicken Talk

By Linda Brent on Nov 04, 2022

Learn what your chickens are saying by decoding their vocalizations.

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What in the world is my pet doing?

By Linda Brent on Sep 30, 2022

You can learn what your dog or cat really mean through their vocalizations and body language.

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Amazing animal stories: "Guide Cat" for blind dog

By Linda Brent on Aug 05, 2022

Cat helps guide a dog that became blind.

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Is this a dog or a wolf?

By Linda Brent on Aug 02, 2022

The search for the common ancestor of dogs and wolves continues.

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