SherBert Stuff began... ...when we wanted to find a way to keep our Chinese Shar-Pei dogs comfortable in the hot weather. Heat was a real problem for them with their broad muzzles and active life style. Having heard about the cool mats that people made with the plant crystals, we tried making them. These mats only stayed cool for a couple days and we felt that there had to be a better way. After much research and many, many phone calls, we found a company that made a different type of crystal that would hold the coolness for as long as four weeks. Many conversations finally convinced them to sell me the crystals in amounts smaller than a train car load and we were ready to go. Our dogs would be comfortable and safe in the hot summer months. As we used these mats, many friends asked us to make some for their dogs. Then we were faced with the problem that some of our Shar-Pei just wouldn't lie down to stay cool, they had to be up watching what was going on around them. The answer was to find a coat that would keep them cool, but not weigh as much as they did. After many samples and ideas that didn't work, we consulted with several vets and designed a coat that put the cooling crystals where the blood vessels were close to the surface of the skin. This would keep the dog's arterial system cool, and as a result, the coat would cool the dog, not just the skin. What a difference this made for our Mr. Magoo --- who just wouldn't be convinced that he had to lie down to be cool. Now he and his buddy Peppercorn can stand ringside in 90 degree weather and not even pant. As time went on, the number of requests grew until we were convinced to try selling them at the CSPCA National Specialty. That was the beginning of SherBert Stuff! This year we are starting our seventh year of manufacturing "Cool Stuff" for dogs. We have grown to the point that the five ladies who have helped me in the past are no longer able to keep up with the demand. We have now gone to having the coats and mats cut at a mill in lots of 1500. Each Cool Coat, Mat, Neck Roll, Wrist Wrap, Hat Mat and Handler Pouch is still hand sewn with care in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. It's such a thrill to stand ringside and see dogs waiting to go in the ring lying on their mats or wearing their coats and know that they are comfortable and safe in the hot summer months. We hope you will stop by our Vendor Booth at the many dog shows that we do to say hello, or contact us by email or phone. Materials SherBert Stuff Cool Products are all hand crafted with special care for your canine friend. We use synthetic fabrics, primarily nylon, for our entire product line. Our testing has shown that these fabrics are the most reliable for withstanding the continual soaking and drying that is necessary for our cool products to keep your canine companion comfortable and safe in the hot summer weather, and warm in the cold winter weather. These materials also have the advantage of drying quickly and keeping the moisture from the crystals inside the mat, coat or neck roll so that your dog's coat stays dry. We make every effort to use fabrics and components that are color-fast, but minerals or additives in your water supply may occasionally adversely affect these products. We suggest that you observe the products when soaking to determine if you need to put a neutral piece of fabric between the product and your dog. If you dry the product thoroughly, there should be no way that any color can fade on to your dog's body. The small coats use polyester grosgrain ribbon with hook and loop (velcro type) closures to hold the coat tightly against the dog's pulse points (major blood vessels). The hook side of the closure is always sewn to the exterior of the coat, with the soft loop side of the closure being sewn to the ribbon end where it may touch the dog's skin without injury. These small coats all have three to five inches of adjustment in the side straps and two to four inches on the front closures to allow them to be used on a variety of dogs of approximately the same size. The larger coats are held in place with strong polyester webbing and durable side snap buckles and slides. These coats have from six to ten inches of adjustment in the webbing on the sides and a pull strap on the front closure. This allows for multiple dogs of one breed or size to use the same coat. These larger coats also have a double tube of crystals on the side to allow a young dog to use the upper tube and then "grow" into using the lower tube. This saves you from having to buy a second coat when the dog is fully mature. Special Cooling Crystals All of the SherBert Stuff Cool Products use the same Special Cooling Crystals to keep your canine companion cool in the hot summer months and warm in the cold winter months. The crystals absorb over 400 times their size in water. As the water evaporates, the chemical reaction is to give off "coolness" of approximately 62 degrees Fahrenheit. A real plus for using them with dogs is they never need refrigeration. In fact, you should NEVER REFRIGERATE your products as they will become too cold and may cause your dog to go into shock. On an average, the products will stay cool from several days for the tiny products up to four weeks for the products like our large Cool Mat which has the larger tubes of crystals. The minerals in your water, air temperature, humidity and wind may affect the time the products stay cool. These Special Cooling Crystals are non-toxic to dogs and humans. Should your dog consume them, they are not harmful. Generally, when consumed, they just go through the dog's system and come out as tiny brown crystals in the stool. The motion and pressure from the stomach and intestines will cause the crystals to break down into smaller pieces so that they do not clog or block the digestive system. How They Work To activate the crystals, all that is necessary is to soak them in warm tap water. Do not use cold water or especially NOT ice water. This will ruin the product. The chemical reaction of the evaporation of the crystals makes the products cool, not the temperature of the water. Once the crystals start to swell (hydrate), spread the crystals down the entire length of the tubes. Continue to soak and spread the crystals until the tubes are full and soft with the hydrated crystals. The product may feel sticky when it first comes out of the water, but once it is dry that stickiness will go away. If you need to use the product while it is sticky, don't worry, it won't leave a residue on the dog's coat. The stickiness causes the crystals to attach to the inside of the crystal tubes so that after the first or second soaking, it will no longer be necessary to spread the crystals throughout the tubes. Hang the product in the sun or in front of a fan or air conditioning vent until the surface of the fabric is dry. The nylon fabric will keep the moisture inside the fabric so that your dog stays dry when you use the Coat, Mat or Neck Roll. The product is then ready to use to keep your dog cool. As the water evaporates from the crystals, the product will continue to cool the dog. As this happens, the tubes will gradually get smaller and smaller. The amount of coolness reduces as the size of the crystals reduce. To re-activate the product, simply soak it again in warm tap water until the tubes are fully hydrated, hang to dry and it is ready to go. When you are not using your cool product hang it over a fence or other location so that the air can circulate around it. Do not leave it in a plastic bag or folded on top of itself or it may become musty and soiled. If cared for properly, these products will give you many years of cool service. Warm Coat, Mat or Neck Roll To use the product as a "warm" Coat, Mat or Neck Roll, simply soak until the tubes are full and then put it in the microwave for five to ten minutes, depending on the size of the tubes. Be very careful when taking it out of the microwave as it will be extremely hot. Wait a few minutes until it is comfortably warm to the touch. The warmth is a moist heat that is very soothing. It will stay warm for 20 - 65 minutes depending on the size of the tubes in the product. This is enough to get a dog from a warm house to a warm car or to take a walk in the cold weather. Using this moist warmth on stressed muscles, arthritic joints or injuries often works well for dogs or people. The mats are great to keep puppies warm, and people too! As time passes, the products will start to feel cool again since the chemical reaction is to give off coolness. To re-use for warmth, put back in the microwave and start over again.