Have you ever gotten a gift from someone and knew that you were going to have that gift forever? I got something like that recently from a company called Makebooksonline.com.
Makebooksonline.com is an online scrapbooking company that caterers to pets and their families. Online scrapbooking is a wonderful way to celebrate the love of your dog. I received a beautiful hardcover book, but you are also able to make posters, calendars or cards.
By just logging onto Makebookonline.com, you are able to get a Basic Studio account for FREE. You can also choose to upgrade your account to their amazing Premier Studio membership, which allows you to have access to over 30,000 pieces of digital artwork. There is a membership fee of $20 a month or $99 for 6 months for the Premier Studio upgrade.
With scrapbooking all the rage right now, you can't go wrong on this site. Online tutorials are available and if you have other questions, a simple email to the founder of the company will get you your answer right away. As a bonus, if you subscribe to the 6 months of Premier, the founder will transfer a pre-designed templated 8X8 book, "I Love My Dog". All you'll have to do is plug in your pictures and add whatever words you want. After you purchase the Premier, send an email to the founder through the Makebooksonline.com site, and tell her that you are a Swanky Pup reader. She will send over the template.
If you love to scrapbook or you think that this is something you could do, send an email through the Makebooksonline.com site. The founder is looking for other consultants to join her team.
I love my book and those who come to visit always pick it up and look through it. It has all my favorite pictures of my dog in it and I know that I will treasure it for a long time to come.
The comfy beds and blankets from Bella Creature Comforts will become your pets new favorite place to rest and sleep.
These veterinarian-endorsed products are not only soft and provide a nice, cave-like cozy environment for your pet to curl into, but their are eco-friendly too! The exterior is made from Eco2 recycled cotton fiber and the interior fiberfill is made from recycled PET.
Some other features we love: - All components for the Bella Bed and Bella Binky are made in the US, and the Bella Beds are hand sewn by skilled textile sewers in El Salvador, a CAFTA country. - the cozy baffled cave shape pet bed conforms to your pet's body and provides superior support. - the beds and bedding are 100% hypoallergenic and washable
Check out the great testimonials and cute pictures of dogs enjoying their Bella beds. And place an order and receive 20% off! Use code FFD to receive your discount.
As April showers are coming to an end and with the weather getting nicer by the day, you may find yourself enjoying the great outdoors more and more with your pup. If you and your pup enjoy long walks or hikes then a backpack from Ruff Wear is just what you need to start the season off right. Dog backpacks are great for tiring out that high-energy dog or for having your pup lend a hand when you have too much to carry on your next adventure and the Approach Pack has it all.
This backpack boasts attached saddlebags with a weight-forward design, meant to make load carrying easy on your pup, waterproof zippers, reflective trim, and a comfort-fit Web Master Harness to ensure structure, stability and load dispersion. Also, the bag is adjustable so you can make it fit your dog perfectly without affecting his range of motion and it is padded so that it will be very comfortable during both long and short walks.
Whether your dog is carrying a water bottle or some yummy treats for later, giving your dog the job of carrying something for you can be great exercise and can do wonders for a dog’s mental well-being. My dog Baxter has tried out this pack and he did not mind helping me with carrying some light weight supplies on our walk together and he was twice as tired after our short walk, making this perfect for the pup who just never seems to get tired out after a walk. Best of all, I was extremely impressed with the quality construction and thoughtfulness put into the trail-savvy design to make it a practical addition to any hike with your dog.
The Approach Pack has everything your dog will need to ruff it on your next outing together and will keep him comfortable and looking cute too! Available in blue and green and sizes xxsmall to large, this pack can work for dogs of all breeds and sizes. So put your pup to work with this high-quality Approach Pack from Ruff Wear!
For years one of my favorite places online for great gifts has been Red Envelope. Their items are well-made, classy, and unique.
They recently introduced a new pet collection which, like all of their other items, is filled with unique, beautiful, and classic items for you and your pet.
This pet desktop keepsake frame is a great gift or addition to your desk or home, and currently on sale for $25 (from $35). Made of pine and available in mahogany or black, the shadowbox keepsake frame holds a paw print alongside a favorite photo. The set includes no-mess, non-toxic impression material; white, acid-free mats; a tan background board for the print; and a glass-covered pine frame. It also includes a wooden rolling pin, shaping ruler and double-sided tape.
Last weekend, I spent time changing my closets. I put all of my sweaters away and pulled out my shorts and tank tops. Of course, I also had to get rid of stuff that I know I'm not going to wear anymore. So, now I'm left with an empty closet -- guess I have to go shopping.
My dog has a similar issue. Yes, he has clothes that he only wears in the winter, but it's not uncommon for the spring season to throw us in a tizy and give us cooler weather days. For those times, I am very glad that my dog will have something to keep the chill off of him. At Shanabe.com, I found the perfect light weight sweater for him. It's very colorful and, I have to admit, he looks very handsome in it. His sweater is the pocket polo, so he also looks like he is ready to hit the tennis courts.
All of the clothing from Shanabe.com are made with a combination of rayon and spandex for that perfect fit. So, if your dog could use a new spring wardrobe, be sure to check out Shanabe.com.
This weeks swanky pup is Meilly, a 15 month old Brittany Spaniel. Meilly loves all the attention she can get, and craves it quite often. She is a very loving and usually obedient dog, and her family could not be happier that she came into their lives over a month ago.
With the weather in the northeast becoming nice and warm, our days of being cooped up inside are over. We are either walking in the neighborhood or playing in our other dog friend's yards.
When out with my dog, I make sure now to never leave my house without my dog's newest water bowl from Itzadog.com. These nifty little bowls are called Zuka Bowls, and are just the perfect size for a quick drink or a little something to nibble on. The Zuka Bowls come in two sizes, small and large, and in a wide variety colors and patterns. What I like most about the Zuka Bowl, is that it comes with a handy dandy carabiner that can easily hook onto a belt loop or leash. It can't get much more convenient than that.
Just like us, our furry friends need to be well hydrated in the summer. Make life easy for yourself and your dog, and carry around a Zuka Bowl from Itzadog.com. Your dog will thank you for it.
These could possibly be the coolest dog shoes I have ever seen. Really. But beyond their rugged exterior, these bark 'n boots grip trex by Ruff Wear are extremely important, functional paw wear for your pooch.
These supportive shoes for your dog help protect their paws from extreme outdoor elements (heat, sharp objects, etc), have amazing traction (great for hiking!) and are comfortable and durable. They have an air mesh upper inspired by human shoes (that is breathable, durable, and drainable) and a high performance Vibram® sole. They also have a nonmarking sole which is perfect for taking your dog out on your boat or for wearing inside the house.
The boots are easy fit with an expansion gusset and a Sure Cinch closure strap to help them stay on their paws. They also have a reflective trim for added safety and nighttime visibility.
The bottom line... if you are active with your dog, protect their paws with the best boots out there, these grip trex. They are extremely well made, comfortable, and they look great too.
Available in sizes XXS to XXL and in red or blue, make sure you measure your dog according to their instructions. And learn more about the awesome benefits of these boots for your dog.
I know my pooch is a bit spoiled, but I just can’t resist buying cute ID tags to match each of his swanky collars. When I found the great selection of tags at Bling Bling 4 Pets I was excited to start shopping. Among my favorites of their styles are the bottle cap tags, which are distinctive and fun and the novelty tags, which have a whimsical twist, but there are many, many more to choose from.
Not only do they have a huge selection of adorable styles, they also have tags for dogs both extra small (for dogs 0-5 pounds) and extra large (for dogs 70 pounds and up) which can be very hard to find. People often take for granted the importance of getting a tag that is the appropriate size for your pup. If it is too big it could weigh them down and be uncomfortable, and if it is too small it won’t be easily seen and can get lost in all that fur. Now Bling Bling 4 Pets is making it easy by allowing you to shop by size.
I got the red sparkle paw print heart in medium for Baxter (he’s 20 pounds) and it was the perfect size for him. It is a beautiful, heart-shaped tag that is hand-made and features a paw print on top of an adorable red sparkly enamel. It is unique and trendy and brings the bling to his boring collar.
Bling Bling 4 Pets not only hand-makes all of their tags but they also include engraving on each tag and have free shipping on orders to US, UK, France and Canada. So treat your dog to a little bling this spring courtesy of Bling Bling 4 Pets.
On the side pocket of the bag is a place for waste disposal bags. Pupcentric.com recently came out with "CwickUP" (canine waste pick up) waste bags to match the interior of your E.B.D. Carry-All Bag. The "CwickUP" bags come in seven different colors, both with prints and without and there are 60 bags in a package. All of the bags are eco-friendly.
So if you are tired of using big, bulky shopping bags to pick up your dog's poop, try these great "CwickUp" bags from Pupcentric.com.
It's an inevitable part of walking your dog: picking up the poop. You scoop it up with your plastic bag, tie a knot, and then continue your walk, toting that bag 'o poop with you until you find the nearest garbage can - which, if you're on a trail, might not be til you get home.
That's why the K-9 Can Pet Waste and Travel Pack is such a convenience. It is a container that your dog wears around his neck. It has a zipper compartment for you to store the bag of poop so your dog is stylishly carrying it - not you - until you can find a place to dispose of it.
The K-9 Can also has other compartments for bags, wipes, your cell phone and keys, treats or anything else you might need for your walk.
We love that the product is also environmentally friendly. It's made in the USA out of fabric spun from 100 percent recycled soda cans. The surface is anti-microbial and it's also machine washable.
The K-9 can comes in four colors and is available for $34.95 at Planet Earth Pets. It's a light-weight, easy-to-use product that can make your outing with your dog more pleasant while keeping our earth a little cleaner.
This weeks swanky pup and the first pup entered into our new contest is Boone. Boone is a 16-month-old Papillon and a slightly high-strung boy with a sweet and loving personality. He's a very, very big Papillon--almost twice the size of the breed standard! His family thinks he's pretty much perfect anyway. He loves his people and spends a lot of time trying to figure out exactly what it is they want from him, and how he can do what they want without having to sit still for a moment.
Nicknames: Booners, Boonerisms, Boonesco
Likes: his doggie sister, the cats, his people, going for walks and rides, the dog park, being allowed on the bed, being a good dog, TREATS!
Dislikes: wet feet, being parted from his people, leaf blowers, excited strangers.
Remember, all pups that are selected as Swanky Pup of the Week are entered into our contest and one swanky pup a month will be selected to choose from fabulous prizes worth up to $100. Haven't entered yet? No problem, just email allie@theswankypup.com with the above information for your chance to win.
I don't know about you, but I could spend hours looking at greeting cards in the isle of a Hallmark store. It doesn't matter if I am looking for a birthday card or just a thank you note, I can always guarantee getting a laugh or two.
Recently, I needed to find cards to send to my dog's friends. I found a website called Teensytoons.com. They have everything you are looking for in greeting cards from holiday cards to new puppy announcements. Teensytoons.com even have cards for your dog-sitter. I especially like the fire rescue stickers and decals that you can hang up on a window to let the fire department know that there is a pet living inside. I have one for my daughter, and I think one for my dog is very important too.
All the drawings on the cards are cartoon like, and each one is unique. If you are looking for something different, but fun and whimsical check out Teensytoons.com. Who knows... you may never shop in a Hallmark store again.
In my house we have switched over to everything organic and green that we possibly can. With Earth Day coming up, now is a great time for you to take a look at all of the great earth-friendly dog products out there, like these Blue Dog Bakery Premium All Natural Low Fat Dog Biscuits (currently on sale!).
Some Green Pet tips, courtesy of Petco:
1. Buy a natural pet food made from pure protein sources raised without growth hormones or antibiotics, and that doesn’t contain any animal byproducts, rendered meat or chicken meals.
2. Use all natural cleaning products free of toxic chemicals.
3. Choose eco-friendly pet grooming products made without phosphates, sulfates and other chemicals.
4. Pick eco-friendly pet toys made from organic or recycled materials.
5. Purchase alternative forms of kitty litter made from recycled material such as newsprint and use biodegradeable poopbags for your daily walks.
Petco has a great section of their website devoted to Earth Day, earth-friendly products, a quiz to see how green your pet is, and a "Pet for the Planet" sweepstakes.
Tell Petco how you and your pet work together to take care of the environment. Enter your green pet tip for a chance to win the Grand Prize of a year’s supply of Pet Promise dog or cat food and $250 worth of pet products! (9 runner up prizes also available.)
I love hemp collars and leashes for my pooch. Not only are they environmentally friendly, but also over time they become softer and softer with wear, making them very comfortable for your dog. In the past, most hemp collars only came in plain, solid colors, but Earthdog has a great decorative line that takes hemp collars to a whole new level.
Earthdog has 19 decorative hemp styles to choose from in both regular quick release and martingale styles. They are soft, hypoallergenic and can be machine-washed and dried making it a stylish, low-maintenance choice for the earth-friendly dog owner.
My pup Baxter has the martingale collar in the Kody 2 print, but we also love the sage, indi and reilley prints for a unique, fun look. Not only are these collars stylish, comfortable for your dog and earth-friendly, but 10% of earthdog profits go to Kody's fund, a non-profit organization that funds spay and neuter programs too!
If I didn't see it for myself, I would not have believed it. But, yes, your puppy can be the next Van Gough, or Monet.
Pup-casso.com has put out a paint kit for your dog to create beautiful masterpieces. The kit includes, five colors of paint, art paper, paw protectors, a picture frame and a surprise gift (for your dog... not you). Everything you and your dog needs to get painting is in the box.
The kit from Pup-casso.com is a great gift idea and makes a fabulous project to do at your next dog party. Imagine what your friends will say when they are able to walk away from a party with an original piece of art -- made by their dog. On the Pup-casso.com website, you are also able to transform your dog's artwork into a variety of gift items such as t-shirts, coasters, mouse pads and coffee mugs. This could be the next great gift idea for your dog's grandparents. (I know that my dog's Zeyda and Bubbie would LOVE this!)
When ordering your art kit from Pup-casso.com, be sure to enter code number 1204215934 for 15% off your order. Who knows, maybe your dog's artwork will be displayed in the "Muttropolitan" Museum of Art.
P.S. There are also art kits available for your friends who have cats.
Enter our Swanky Pup of the Week contest to win great prizes!
We are excited to tell you about our new monthly contest and the opportunity for you to win great products for your pooch!
Here is how it works: Submit your swanky pup to be featured as our Swanky Pup of the Week and if your pup is selected as one of our lucky winners not only will they get featured on our site, but they will also be entered into a new monthly drawing.
At the end of each month we will randomly select one of the four featured Swanky Pups and they will get to pick from a selection of great prizes valued at up to $100!
Entering the contest is simple...just send us your dogs cutest picture along with the following information to allie@theswankypup.com: Dog's name, fun facts and personality traits, nicknames, likes and dislikes. If you are selected we will email you with the date your dog will be featured and the date of the drawing.
Please note: you will not be considered for the contest if you do not send in ALL of the necessary information!
This week's Swanky Pup is adorable little Zoe, a large toy fox terrier. She has the nicest personality and loves to chase her brother Chip around the pool while he swims. She also loves to cuddle and is everyone's favorite out of the 4 dogs in her house.
Likes: Running and barking around the perimeter of the pool, sleeping with her human friends and owners, giving kisses
My family does a lot of traveling back and forth to the Jersey shore in the summer. Of course, our dog comes along for the hour and half ride. He usually does pretty well in the car, but when we finally get to where we are going, he is so thirsty. This summer I'll be able to relieve his thirst while driving, thanks to the To Go Bowl from Furrytravelers.com.
This bowl is meant to go with your pet in the car. It fits directly into your car's cup holder and it comes with a splash guard so that water does not go all over the seats of your car. Another great thing about the To Go Bowl, is that the bottom of the bowl is also a storage container for food or treats. How much more convenient can this product get?!?!
The To Go Bowl comes in a variety of colors to match any car interior. With the summer months quickly approaching we should always be drinking water. Your dog is no exception to that rule. This is the perfect solution if your family is like my family and you do a lot of traveling in the summer. The To Go Bowl from FurryTravelers.com is a must have!
One of our favorite online boutiques, The Pampered Pup, is having an amazing sale that we just could not keep to ourselves!
All of their sale items are currently an additional 50% off so if you are looking for tees, collar, carriers and more don't miss out on the great prices they have available as part of their massive spring sale.
If your dog likes to play outside at night, or you walk or hike with your dog in the evening, the Beacon safety light, made by Ruff Wear, is a necessity.
This very cool looking, very sleek light clips on to your dogs collar (or coat, harness, etc) and emits a light with 1/2 mile visibility. You can choose from three light settings: a slow flashing light, a fast-pulsing red light, or continuous light (the three settings make it possible to keep track of 3 dogs). The four light-emitting diodes (LEDs) create a halo of high visibility red light around your dog in 4 directions (forward left, forward right, backward, and straight up).
The design is sturdy, compact, watertight, lightweight, and easy to use. I love that I can clip it on my dog, let her out at night, and know where she is based on the light. Should she somehow escape our electric fence, I feel better knowing she will be spotted with her Beacon light which will help her stay safe from cars and return home.
Not only appropriate for dogs, the Beacon is also a great tool for kids, adults who like to jog, hike, and bike, and more. At $12.95, it is an inexpensive safety tool necessary for your pets and family.
Having a cool id tag is a must for any swanky pup. It is more than just a way to have your dog identified should they ever get lost, but since it is hanging from their collar 24/7 it is also a fashion statement. You can’t have a swanky collar and a boring ID tag, right? Now with Lucky Pup id tags from Punk Rock Dogg you can spice up your dog’s tag with style.
Each Lucky Pup id tag features a shiny pop culture icon nestled into authentic aged pewter for a unique and punk rock look. Also, you can have up to three lines of information engraved on the back for a personal touch or just use it as a trendy charm for your pups collar.
My dog Baxter sports the Tattoo Heart and I love it because it is stylish and with Mom and Dad written on a banner in front of the heart, it also lets him show off his love for me. There are many other punk rock styles to choose from like the Devil, Glamour Girl, Buddha and the Evil Star and with so many great styles it is hard to pick a favorite. If you want a unique tag to match your dog’s personality and style then this Lucky Dog id tag from Punk Rock Dogg is a must-have for your pooch.
As always, we are adding great new sites to our comprehensive directory to make your online shopping as fun and easy as possible. Below are just a few standout sites we have recently added that we know you will enjoy!
Artful Pups Unique and stylish products specializing in designer accessories Check out their great selection of products from Pup Pup Designs
Paw Print Palace Specializing in helping you spoil your pampered pooch Don't miss their great selection of luxury dog beds
Caitlyn's K9 Boutique Specializing in hip urban and couture dog clothing Their stylish clothing can fit dogs up to 200 pounds!
If your dog is of the strong-jawed, sharp-teethed variety, as is my 55-pound pitbull/ridgeback mix, Rodney, then surely you’ve seen your fair share of supposedly “indestructible” chew toys fail to live up to their billing. Sometimes, these allegedly durable toys don’t last 15 minutes before Rodney tears them to shreds.
The Doggy Tug, however, stands apart from the rest and makes good on its promise. With two large spiked tires connected by industrial elastic interwoven with industrial rubber, this toy, which is great for solo chewing, for tugging with an owner, or for tugging with another dog, won’t be falling apart anytime soon. The terrycloth covering can fray a bit, but the rubber and elastic parts truly are indestructible as advertised.
There are a wide assortment of tugs to choose from, and they range in price from $3.99 to $19.99. And here’s a special offer for Swanky Pup readers: If you buy the Doggy Tug online, mention the “Swanky Pet” and you’ll get one free with the purchase of one of equal or lesser value.
This review was written by guest writer Eric Raskin, editor of ALL IN magazine and boxing writer for The Ring magazine and ESPN.com, and tested by his dog of 2 1/2 years, Rodney J.
This week we have two swanky sisters to feature, Star and Baby Doll. They are both 1.5 year old Yorkshire Terriers who love having their pictures taken and ham it up in front of their camera. They are both so cute it was too hard to pick just one to feature, so this week they will share the spotlight. They are both aspire to be clothing models and with photogenic faces like that we wouldn’t be surprised if they make it big!
Likes: Having their pictures taken, getting dressed up, being spoiled and getting lots of attention
Dislikes: Thunder
Do you have a swanky pup? Submit them to allie@theswankypup.com to see your dog featured on our site!
Many times when my dog comes home from the groomer, he is sporting a bandana around his neck. They usually last a few days and then they become scrunched up around his collar. I always thought that he looked so cute in them that I wanted to get him one that he could wear all the time.
I went to abcpetware.com and boy, was I in for a big surprise. I found that they had a selection of fabrics like no other store I have been to and the way they make the banadanas was very interesting. Abcpetware.com makes the bandanas so that you don't have to tie them around your pets neck. They simply slide though the collar. By doing this it prevents your dog's fur from becoming matted. All of the abcpetware.com bandanas are made from 100% cotton fabrics, are fully lined and can be washed in the washing machine.
Take your time on the abcpetware.com website. There are a lot of fabrics to check out. They have fabrics for all the holidays, ones for everyday, and if your dog is a sports fanatic like mine is, they have fabrics for that as well.
April is here... and that means lots of rain (around here, at least!) I discovered a unique (semi-odd) but practical product for your dog this spring, called the Pet Umbrella.
It's exactly what you would expect it to be... an umbrella to protect your dog from getting wet. This pet umbrella features a dog leash which easily attaches to your pet's collar. A clear umbrella body, trimmed in classic plaid, allows full view of your dog while walking.
On sale for $19.99, this could be a great product if you have a dog who hates the rain (like mine does!)
Have you ever gotten a gift from someone and knew that you were going to have that gift forever? I got something like that recently from a company called Makebooksonline.com.
For years one of my favorite places online for great gifts has been 
This weeks swanky pup is Meilly, a 15 month old Brittany Spaniel. Meilly loves all the attention she can get, and craves it quite often. She is a very loving and usually obedient dog, and her family could not be happier that she came into their lives over a month ago.
