At PupLife.com, we believe that your dog deserves the best. We pride ourselves on only carrying the best dog toys, dog treats and collars available. For every item that we add to our selection, hundreds are turned down. For a dog product to make the cut, we think it has to be pretty special.

Product testing is a big part of our decision to choose or reject a new dog product. We test out all of our products, and our dogs are very tough product testers. Outside testers (Forrest, Bella, Truman, Bo and Bailey) also offer their expert opinions on product design. After testing, we ask ourselves "how much value will this product bring to our customers? Is it truly special?". If it's not unique, or best of its kind, we'll take a pass. If it meets our tough standards, it becomes a PupLife.com product.

We've completed a list of products from this past year that presented the best combination of style, performance and value for our customers. We feel that these selections represent the best of the best. Customer input, sales numbers and product consistency were all factors we looked at, but at the end of the day, our dogs made the final decisions. So, drum roll please... here are the PupLife.com Products of the Year!

PupLife.com Products of the Year for 2004

Category: Plush Dog Toys
Winner: Hide A Squirrel
A truly great toy designed for your dog's brain. This interactive dog toy consists of a plush tree stump, and three plush squirrels (with squeakers). Dogs love the plush squirrels (of course) and will play with them on their own. But when you hide the squirrels in the stump, right in front of your dog, they love trying to root them out. If your dog likes solving puzzles, then the Hide A Squirrel is a great choice. A clear cut winner in the category.

Category: Durable Dog Toys
Winner: Hurley
The Hurley is a bone shaped chew toy made of a recyclable material called Zogoflex. It bounces, it floats and the manufacturer will replace it for free if it's ever destroyed during normal play. For dogs that like to chew on rubber toys, the Hurley is quite possibly the most durable dog toy available. Comes in three bold colors and two sizes.

Category: Dog Collars, Leashes or Harnesses
Winner: Ruby Cube Collar & Leash Combo
We are big fans of great collar design, and the Ruby Cube collar from Lupine blew us away the minute we saw it. Bold colors and a mod design make this collar, leash (and harness!) pattern a winner. Lupine also backs up their collars, leashes and harnesses with a lifetime guarantee - even if chewed!

Category: Dog Training Supplies
Winner: SENSE-ation Harness/SENSE-ible Harness
Trainers around the U.S. have been raving about this wonderful training harness all year and for good reason: it works! The original SENSE-ation Harness has been improved and updated with a new name (the SENSE-ible Harness) but the results are the same: the harness effectively and humanely discourages your dog from pulling.

Category: Dog Safety
Winner: Illuminated Dog Safety Collar
We saw a prototype of this collar almost six months before it hit the market, and we couldn't wait to offer it to our customers. A stylish collar by all accounts, it has an added safety feature: simply press a button and it lights up with a warm neon glow that is visible up to 1000 feet. We live in the country where it's pitch black at night. Our dogs wear the Illuminated Dog Collar in the back yard when it gets dark, and we can keep an eye on them from the porch as they play. A wonderful safety collar worthy of any dog collar collection.

Category: Dog Equipment
Winner: Pet Flys Airline Approved Carriers
Fun yet tasteful, the Pet Flys line of dog carriers are a breath of fresh air. Funky designs, lots of extras and very solid construction make these airline approved carriers the best we've seen in a long tim. The Happy Pirates design is perfect for dogs that wish they were rock stars and the Paw Princess design is perfect for dogs that wish they were... well, princesses. A great carrier line, the best of the year.

Category: Health & Safety
Winner: Anxiety Wrap
The snug fitting Anxiety Wrap helps end a dog's fear of thunder by applying a constant gentle pressure, similar to a "hug vest" that autistic children wear. The maintained pressure helps produce a more normal response to stimulus and helps a dog cope with thunderstorms. Our dog Daisy used the Anxiety Wrap and it worked wonders.

Category: Odor Management
Winner: Fresh Wave
Is doggy odor getting the best of you and your house? Try these three great products: Fresh Wave Odor Neutralizing Spray, Fresh Wave Odor Neutralizing Continuous Release Gel or Fresh Wave Odor Neutralizing Soy Candles. Fresh Wave instantly eliminates odors without the need for harsh chemicals. Naturally earth-friendly, natural and safe for both humans and the environment. We use and trust this product every day.