When it comes to bagging a bargain, Aldi seems to have got it covered.
The budget-friendly supermarket is a favourite with us Brits and we do love a SpecialBuy, but they don't always get everything right. Their pet range has proved popular in the past with many shoppers giving the supermarket rave reviews for their various pet-friendly products, ranging from a slow-feeder gadget bowl to plush beds and even their very own tepee tents.
As summer is underway and hopefully the warm weather is here to stay, I sampled some of their pet range to try out on my Miniature Dachshund, Evie. I was impressed with one of the products but the other fell flat.
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Before I get started, it's worth noting that my little Evie is a sun worshipper. If there is sun anywhere in the house, albeit a patch in a dusty corner of a room, she is there, so I had high hopes for one particular product.
I tried the Pet Collection Sunshade Dog Bed, which is priced at £19.99. It's currently sold out online but is available to buy in selected stores. I also tried the Pet Collection Black Dog Car Seat, priced at £11.99.
Pet Collection Sunshade Dog Bed
The sunshade dog bed comes in a choice of two colours, khaki or grey, and features a waterproof and UV50 canopy, a durable steel frame and comes in a carry bag. I chose the Khaki colour. Setting up the bed was super easy, the long and short bars as well as the legs were simple to bend into place in the canopy and sling fabric.
Building took less than 20 minutes and Evie was very curious during the build stage. Once assembled Evie was a little hesitant at first but we coaxed her into it by placing it in her favourite sunny spot in the garden and she soon climbed in. She did her standard dig and sniff as she smelt the fabric and worked out that the bed was indeed hers.
It has solved the issue of overheating when I'm out in the garden, because of course she follows me wherever I go. However, the hardest part has been getting her to stay in the bed.
As previously mentioned she loves the sunshine, a little too much. I often get worried she's going to overheat, so I've had to get her to use the bed more by tempting her with treats but her relaxation never lasts long.
The only thing I've found that gets her to stay under the canopy is if it's originally in a sunny spot where the rays can just catch the bed underneath the canopy, and once she's asleep and settled I can slowly move it over to a shaded area until she wakes up.
Overall, the product is a great concept for those dogs who need that extra protection from the sun, especially for Evie with being a smooth-haired Dachshund. The only problem is getting her to stay in it. You can buy the dog shade bed here.
Rating: 4/5
Pet Collection Black Dog Car Seat
Next up is the Pet Collection Black Dog Car Seat. For something that is supposed to protect your dog and is required by law to have in the car, £11.99 is cheap, that's not to say it doesn't do its job though.
The car seat can be attached to the front or back seats and you attach your dog's harness or collar to the connectors in the seat. As well as keeping your dog safe and secure, it's also designed to help prevent distractions caused by your pet when you are driving.
It comes in sizes small, medium and large. We were given the small as Evie is only a miniature, but I was a little surprised to find that this was actually too small for her. Normally when we are taking Evie on car journeys she is buckled into the seatbelt on the back seat via a connection on her collar. She then sits in her bed, which is on the back seat.
When we introduced her to the Aldi car seat she absolutely hated it. Whether this was because it was something new and she wasn't used to it, I wasn't too sure. So we tried her in it on another occasion and she looked so uncomfortable.
The size has really put me off buying another car seat like this again, because it simply wasn't the correct size for her. Due to her being uncomfortable anyway, I would worry that the medium would be too big, forcing her to sway around in the car.
The strap that goes from the front of the basket to the headrest was in the way, too. It was a necessary strap but it was very restrictive.
The seat, which can house dogs up to 8kg, has been reviewed very well online, with most shoppers giving it five out of five stars. For Evie though, it was a no-go and unfortunately it has put her off car seats for the time being.
Rating: 2/5
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