My dog is a HUGE pig. I know that most dogs love food, but my puggle takes it to a new level. First of all, she starts begging for food hours before she is supposed to eat. Her once 5pm dinner time has moved to 4pm, then 3pm, and now she gets fed around 2pm. In addition to that, she scarfs down her food in a matter of seconds. Nothing can stand in her way once that food is put down in her bowl.
So I was pretty curious about the DogPause bowl when I first learned about it. In clinical tests run by professional vets, DogPause slowed down dogs by an average of 50% vs. standard dog bowls. And vets have found that when dogs eat slower, they are happier, healthier and have less risk of experiencing (or doing) things like vomiting, gas, belching, gagging, experiencing life-threatening bloat, etc.
Check out this video clip of Hank with both his regular dog bowl and his DogPause bowl. Like Hank, Maggie ate her food much more slowly than her traditional bowl. Though I didn't time it, the time she had to take when moving from quadrant to quadrant made her stop and breathe and move more slowly. I also noticed less of her "burp cough" after using the DogPause bowl, which I think I can attribute to the bowl.
The FAQ page is very helpful in learning more about the product and how it can help your dog. At an affordable $17.95, this dog bowl is well worth the money to help your dog slow down and enjoy his or her meal.
This adorable Miniature Dachshund is Elmer and our very last swanky pup of the week for the month of May. Elmer, hailing from New York City, can match any pitch you hum in his ear (if he is up to it) AND can give smooches on command. What a talented and handsome pooch!
Nicknames: Mero, Elmy
Likes: Green apples, carrots, napping, burrowing, smooching, chasing his brother Tooots
Dislikes: Walking, unidentified noises and Gossip Girl
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!
So, you take your favorite furry friend to the dog park and you realize you forgot to bring along a ball to play fetch with. I do it all the time and I feel horrible that my buddy has nothing to play with. Ok, to be honest, he doesn't have a clue. He loves playing with the other dogs anyway.
But, now he can be really upset with me when I forget the ultimate in ball fetching. I recently got the Chuckit Ball Launcher from Canine Hardware. Not only does my dog get a great workout from running after the ball, but my arm doesn't hurt after throwing it 40 or 50 times. With practice, you can consistently throw the ball 100 to 140 feet.
It is important to remind you that you should only play with Chuckit Ball Launcher in an area that is large. It's ideal for the beach, the park or a large backyard. Please be sure that you are not near any buildings, or windows. (Broken glass is not fun!)
Now that summer is here, baseball season is in high-gear. Around my house, we seem to watch a Phillies game almost every other night.
If you are a sports fan and like to get your dog in on the action, these Sports Jerseys from Sporty Dog are the perfect gear for your pet. With all of the Major League Baseball teams available, a 30-day return policy, and a 110% price protection guarantee, this is a great site to buy sports apparel for your dog.
Also available are MLB leads, collars, bandanas, caps, dog bowls, and more. And if your not into baseball, they also have NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA, Nascar, and soccer gear, too.
Many of the baseball jerseys are currently on sale for $14.97 (from $29.95!) so pick one up now while they are in stock. Also take advantage of their low $3.99 shipping.
We at The Swanky Pup would like to wish everyone and their patriotic pooches a very happy Memorial Day! Make the most of this beautiful 3-day weekend and don't forget to throw an extra steak on the grill for your favorite swanky pup.
A few months ago, I did a review on the E.B.D. Carry All Bag by Pupcentric.com. I have raved about this bag to all my friends and I just had to pass this along to everyone. With the holiday weekend upon us, here is a chance to sit back, relax and watch a movie featuring this fabulous bag. Have a great weekend.
PupCentric Products on TV TBS Movie and a Makeover
Service Dog and Owner Space Makeover Join expert Brian Patrick Flynn as he meets up with Matthew, a sweet 7 yr old living with autism, and his best friend (dog) Ajax, who helps Matthew deal with his illness on a day to day basis. Ajax and Matthew need a space that caters to both their needs and comfort, and Team Movie and a Makeover are there to help.
PupCentric products will be included in the items given to Matthew and Ajax! The E.B.D. Carry-all is the perfect travel bag for service/therapy dogs who are always on-the-go!
Check your local listing for the movie Elizabethtown on TBS Saturday, May 24th (10:10am EST)!
Celebrate Memorial Day and the Start of Summer with your Pet!
It's the start of Memorial Day weekend... the beginning of summer and host of upcoming patriotic holidays. Between this weekend, the 4th of July, and Labor Day, there is reason to celebrate being an American. And what a great excuse to dress your dog in some cute red, white, and blue!
I know I can count on Swanky Pet (great name, huh!? No relation to us!) for awesome collars and holiday prints. This American Star collar is a stylish way to wear red, white, and blue. There are a number of other cool-looking patriotic patterns as well, that can be made into collars, harnesses, or leads.
Check out their great selection and pick out something fab for your dog to wear this summer.
This weeks beautiful swanky pup is Pugsly, a 9 yr old former puppymill breeder and she was adopted in 9 months ago when her previous owner found out she was dying of cancer. Even with a multitude of allergies (that are being pretty well controlled at this point just by diet and supplements) she is still making the most of life! The poor girl has had a rough life and deserves all of the best things a pup can have.
Nicknames: Pugs, PugslyWugsly, The Old Lady, Chubbers
Likes: Food, her yorkie pal Einstein, sleeping as much as she can, chasing cats, car rides, and being pushed in her stroller
Dislikes: Having to go out in the rain, getting nail trims, and certain men
My dog is a warm weather dog. He loves being outside when the sun is shining. Any chance he gets to run around at the dog park or in the neighbors backyard, he takes. When the day is over, and he is physically exhausted from his workout, he comes back inside and crawls into his pillow for a nap. However, not before he is put into the tub for a good bath using products from Lani Dig Your Dog.
Lanidigyourdog.com is a company that makes bath and spa products for your furry friend. The smell of the product reminds you of the places you and your dog dig, the beach, the park and the woods. Yes, you and your pup can still be in those happy places, while you are scrubbing your pooch down and he is getting nice and clean.
All the Lanidigyourdog.com products come in a shampoo, conditioner and body spray -- for those times that your dog may need a quick spritz before hitting the town. All of the products are made from the purest of ingredients and are 100% natural. The shampoo lathers up really well, so you don't need to use very much of it at one time.
So, if you want to treat your pup to a luxurious bath experience while reminiscing of the great times you and your dog have had outdoors , try the products from Lanidigyourdog.com. There is free shipping available on all orders shipped within the United States.
Transform your furry friend's face into an amazing work of art!
I am absolutely blown away at the gorgeous, incredible, amazing (am I using enough adjectives?) portrait of my dog Maggie. This work of art was lovingly created by artist Janet Burt, who recently launched her website, Rainbowdog Pet Portraits.
These vibrant and colorful, contemporary, acrylic portraits are hand-painted by Janet, using a photo that you supply to her (either via email or by mail). The photo doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to well-lit, in-focus, and showing your dog's markings and coloring. I supplied a few photos to Janet, she recommended one, and then sent me a few variations of it cropped before she created the piece of art. (You can see the photo below that we selected for the portrait) And if you want a portrait of two animals, they don't need to be in the same shot for Janet to make an amazing creation.
Each portrait is painted on a 11/16 inch, back-stapled canvas with a staple-free, painted edge. They are beautiful as-is, or can be framed. Janet can create them in a variation of sizes in both square and rectangular canvases.
As beautiful as the picture is above, it doesn't do the real portrait justice. This work of art will be displayed in my home and enjoyed by my family and friends for many years to come. Cherish your pet by creating a work of art in their honor (or memory). Or gift one to someone special. They will be beyond thrilled with this amazing creation.
To learn more about Rainbowdog, check out the gallery of art that Janet has created, the FAQ page to learn more about the process and the photo tips page on how to best take your photo. If you place an order, make sure you mention to Janet that you heard of her through The Swanky Pup and receive a 10% discount on your portrait!
Since the massive pet food recall nightmare I have been paying more and more attention to what is in my puppy's food. I switched to an all-natural food right after the recall and was very conscious of what went into his food bowl, but I had forgotten all about the junk in his treat jar! Many of the treats I was feeding him were practically the equivalent to junk food for dogs, full of fillers and unhealthy, fattening ingredients. Now, I feed him all-natural and healthy treats from Dogswell and I am so glad I switched.
Baxter loves the Dogswell Veggie Life Vitality Sweet Potato Fries and wags his tail like a maniac when he sees the bag. They may be a tasty snack for him but with the only ingredients being pure sweet potato, flaxseed, Vitamin E supplement and Vitamin A acetate, I know they are good for him too!
These digestible and long lasting treats make a great alternative to rawhide and they are low in fat, calories and sodium but high in beta-carotene, fiber and minerals. This great mixture of vitamins and minerals provide much more than a tasty snack, they also help promote healthy eyes, skin and coats. What more could you ask for in a treat?!
Announing our first ever Swanky Pup of the Week contest winner!
This month we introduced our Swanky Pup of the Week contest, offering one lucky pooch a month the opportunity to pick a great prize from a list of products previously reviewed on our site.
This month's lucky winner is Monte! Who could resist that adorable face? Monte's owners selected The Swoop Pooper Scooper, a $30 value as their prize.
Want to enter your swanky pup into our contest? Just send us your dog's cutest picture along with nicknames, fun facts, likes and dislikes to allie@theswankypup.com and your dog could be our next winner!
Designed for the outdoors, these beds made by Orvis are perfect for the warmer weather. They look great (and come in a number of cute fabrics!), dry fast, and will not get mold or mildew.
The cover is made of upholstery-grade outdoor acrylic fabric, and the inner stuffing is bonded poly fiber, neither of which will absorb water or odors. The inner stuffing will not clump or break down.
I love that you can leave it outside all summer, you can get it personalized, and the rectangular bed fits perfectly on their outdoor bed platform.
Starting at $79, these beds are well worth the money for the comfort and cleanliness of your dog when outside.
Kicking off this month's Swanky Pup of the Week contest is the super cute Patrick. He is a curious and loving little guy whose family says he has the longest tongue they have ever seen and it stretches out for days when he yawns. What a cutie!
Nicknames: Patrique, Patricks, Silly Boy
Likes: Everyone and anyone and everything and anything, love, kisses, treats, toys, sleeping, playing, his brother Jackson
Dislikes: Being in trouble and when he can't be a part of things. He's pretty little so it upsets him when he can't jump up on the chair with Jack.
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!
We've all had bad hair days. I know when my hair is outta control, my baseball hat is the first thing I grab to cover up the mess on top of my head.
Dogs can sometimes have the same problem, especially long haired pups. Here's the solution. Check out Wigglesdogwigs.com. Yes, they can help your pooch's mangled mess out by providing a wig.
Wigglesdogwigs.com has so many different wigs to choose from. If you and your pup love listening to the Beatles, your dog can look like one of the Fab Four. Maybe you and your pooch wanna pretend that you are vacationing on the beaches of Jamaica. Your dog can sport dreadlocks. What is so great about the wigs from Wigglesdogwigs.com, is that some of the wigs can be made into other styles. Just use your imagination.
All the wigs are washable in lukewarm water and should be dried naturally. When the wigs are dried they are able to be brushed through or styled using your fingertips.
So, if your dog wakes up in the morning with "pillow perm", or you are looking for a neat costume idea for your pooch, stick on a wig from Wigglesdogwigs.com.
I love dressing my son's in Ralph Lauren, but until recently, I had no idea that they also make clothes for pups too!
Ralph Lauren sells their signature mesh polos and mesh rugbey's, along with cashmere sweaters, raincoats, and more. Currently all of their clothing is on sale, so this is a great time to pick up one of these classic pieces.
This striped mesh rugby is on sale from $45 down to $33.75 and is available in sizes extra small through large. A good deal for a classic shirt if you ask me!
I love having personalized products for my pup. From his dog bed to his ID tag, we have his name on everything! Now, with the personalized Jungle Dog Collar from Modern Tails he has a personalized and stylish collar too.
These collars are made from nylon webbing with a silver buckle and D ring and are available in leopard, denim and camo (my favorite). They are not just extremely cute, but comfortable for your dog and durable as well so that everyone is happy. The slide-on letters are sold separately and you can choose from plain chrome letters, which are good for boys, and the crystal letters which add some bling and looks great on female pups. Other slide on charms such as crowns, stars, paw prints and hearts are available to add some extra pizzaz too.
Baxter has this collar in camo print with chrome letters and we both love it! People are no longer constantly asking his name every time we go to the dog park and he gets lots of compliments too. Baxter gives this collar 4 paws up and highly recommends it to those other swanky pups out there who want to show off their style with a trendy personalized collar from Modern Tails.
These extremely unique, special homes for your dog are canine fine art caves.
Richard, of Scottie’s Fine Art Caves, individually creates each piece of art, designed for your dog's comfort and privacy, out of rock hard paper mache, with hand selected, naturally formed wood salvaged from the wilds of Vancouver Island. They are timeless pieces meant for the life of your dog, handcrafted in Richard and his dog Scottie's home/studio on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
With the belief that dogs descend from wolves, who love shelter and privacy, Canine Fine Art Caves are designed to maximize the level of comfort, security, privacy and peace of mind for your friend.
Check out the features, gallery and showroom, and more on this very interesting website! (Also, if you have a cat, check out the amazing feline art mountains!)
This week's very swanky pup and the last pooch entered into this months contest is Monte. He got his name because he was born in El Monte, CA on 12/20/2008 @ Beagles and Buddies rescue. Monte was one of seven pups born to a beagle mom and a daschund dad. He is cousin to Jackson - a previous swanky pup - by marriage! His lucky family has had him for only 5 weeks and his Auntie Sarah is taking care of him and training him while they are enjoying themselves in Hawaii!
Nicknames: Mellow Monte and Monster Monte
Likes: Playing Fetch, doggie parks, people in general and he likes to cuddle!
Dislikes: Being left alone, a messy area
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!
Ahhh... spring breezes through the air. I can feel it -- summer is right around the corner. Is your swanky pup sporting the latest in spring and summer bandana fashion?
You gotta check out a site called Bandabling.com. This site features really cool bandanas for your dog or cat. They come in all sizes to fit every dog and lots of patterns and designs to choose from.
There are two neat features about the bandanas from Bandabling.com. First, the bandanas have a very easy "snap on, snap off" closure to fasten the bandana around your pets neck. The snaps are also adjustable for the perfect fit. Secondly, hanging off of the bandana is a little "bling". My bandana that I received for my dog, is the one featured in the picture. As you can see, there is a little "surfer dude" hanging there. So cute. It's going to be perfect for the shore this summer.
All the Bandabling.com bandanas are made from 100% cotton fabric. Washing with care is recommended because of the elaborate embellishments. These bandanas are safe for your pet to wear. The charms have been sewn on securely and should not pose a chocking hazard.
I recently saw this adorable dog supply caddy on a favorite gift site, Mindy's Magic Touch. This is a great way to store all of your pet's grooming and medical supplies. With 3 compartments and an open-top design, it is decorated with lots of fun dog designs.
At a very affordable $20, this makes a great for any pet lover, or pick one up for yourself! It comes wrapped in clear cello with decorative ribbon ready to gift. Size: 11" L x 6" W x 6.25" H
Except in your own backyard, it is a widely known fact that you must pick up after your pup poops. There are pooper scoopers and a variety of products out there to help you do this, but the easiest, most portable and most popular method is a plain old plastic bag. All you need to do is remember to bring a bag out with you on your walks and you are good to go. But if you, like me, have trouble remembering a bag every time you go out you could be stuck empty handed and forced to leave the pile and keep walking. Thanks to the disposal pick up kit by Bon Ton, which attaches to your pup’s leash, you won’t have to worry about forgetting any longer!
This bone-shaped, plastic bag holder comes with a hook that allows you to attach it to the handle of your leash so that wherever you go, the bags go too. Not only are they extremely functional, but they also come in a variety of colors so that you can get one to match your dog’s leash. Each Bon Ton pick up kit comes with a roll of 10 bags already inside, but refilling is easy too. Just pop the end cap off, slide the new roll on and you are back in business.
I have the bright blue kit for my dog Baxter and I love that I no longer have to worry about remembering to bring bags with me all the time. Also, it is cute and simple so it doubles as an accessory that you won’t mind bringing along for your walks.
If remembering to bring a bag is a hassle you don’t want to deal with any longer, this adorable Bon Ton pick up kit is just what you need, and at $8.95 it is easy on your budget too.
I know, it sounds cheesy. Dressing like your dog can't be cool, right? Well, Urban Softwear makes custom clothes for you and your dog (and kids, too, if you have them) that are hip, cool, and fun to match.
Create your own custom dog shirt (and others for you and your family to match if you want) by choosing the emblem, color and style that you like. There are so many cute styles to choose from (hearts, flowers, crowns, and more for girls, peace signs, daggers, army/navy, stars, and skulls for boys). At only $23, this is a great custom piece for your dog.
Made of cotton in a baby rib knit, available in sizes small through 2xx, and in every single color choice out there! Check out these great dog shirts and make a bigger statement by creating a matching tee or tank for you or your kids!
Bloomingtails Dog Boutique Introduces Dog Photo Contest!
Looking for a way to win great prizes for your swanky pooch? Well good news...Bloomingtails Dog Boutique, one of our favorite shops for stylish stuff for your pup, is announcing the launch of their brand new photo contest.
Send in your favorite picture of your dog and if you are chosen by the monthly guest judge you will get a fabulous prize. Easy enough, right? Check out the Bloomingtails site for more contest details and rules and good luck swanky pups!
This adorable swanky pup is Jackson and he is the third lucky pup to be entered into our swanky pup contest. Jackson, named after his home town of Jackson, Mississippi is a loyal and super smart pooch and with a face like that he must get away with murder!
Nicknames: Jack
Likes: Playing Fetch, when daddy comes home from work, Carrots and his favorite of all BELLY RUBS!
Dislikes: Strangers, Sleeping alone, Being in trouble!
Is your pup a swanky pup? Send us the above information to allie@theswankypup.com and your dog could be lucky enough to be featured on our site next week!
My dog is a HUGE pig. I know that most dogs love food, but my puggle takes it to a new level. First of all, she starts begging for food hours before she is supposed to eat. Her once 5pm dinner time has moved to 4pm, then 3pm, and now she gets fed around 2pm. In addition to that, she scarfs down her food in a matter of seconds. Nothing can stand in her way once that food is put down in her bowl.
This weeks beautiful swanky pup is Pugsly, a 9 yr old former puppymill breeder and she was adopted in 9 months ago when her previous owner found out she was dying of cancer. Even with a multitude of allergies (that are being pretty well controlled at this point just by diet and supplements) she is still making the most of life! The poor girl has had a rough life and deserves all of the best things a pup can have.
