Getting a new puppy? Having a doggie birthday party? Perhaps having a doggie wedding (gasp!)? Well, Barktalk.com is your one-stop doggie stationary and party supply store. BarkTalk offers a selection of New Puppy Announcements, Puppy Shower Invitations, Dog Birthday Party Invitations, Dog Thank You Cards, Dog Wedding Invitations, and Dog Holiday Cards.
Axel is turning four in a couple of months, perhaps we will have a party to celebrate the milestone! We could order cute paw-print balloons, party hats, birthday cake mix, and invitations from Barktalk.com.
Their products are brightly colored and cheerful. As set of eight invitations or cards will set you back $15.95, a package of 8 balloons, $8.50, a pack of 8 pawprint doggie hats, just $3.95. SwankyPup readers can save 10% now with COUPON CODE TY10 at check out.
If you love Mardi Gras celebrations like we do, it's not too late to get your dog's Mardi Gras costume that can be worn at Halloween or next year during the festivities. Value Pet Supplies has the cutest and most affordable jester costume. There's a guide to help you decide what size to buy and each costume includes: -Jester hat with gold jingle bells features elasticized ear and chin straps -Lightweight polyester with Velcro fasteners -Vest is machine-washable; hat can be spot-cleaned -Each is shipped on a hanger with a hangtag They're under $10 and would make your pet the king or queen of the ball!
It's a topic I love to discuss -- dreaded doggy breath! And my dog's got some bad breath! Perhaps it's because she fishes around in the litter box for some kitty treats, or maybe digging around in my trash can. Regardless, I am always THRILLED when I get the chance to try out some dog breath products with my puggle Maggie!
Recently Maggie got to sample DogToids Breath Mints by Bamboo. These bone-shaped mints come in an adorable and convenient travel tin and scored big with my dog. Made from human-grade ingredients with natural flavors including beef, liver, and fish (with some parsley to help freshen breath), your dog will love them too.
Five lucky readers will get to try these yummy treats with your dogs, too! Simply sign up for our email newsletter (we promise not to share your emails!) and you will be entered to win. Those who already receive our newsletter will automatically be entered.
Ok, so my weakness is clothing. I go into a clothing store and I feel compelled to get something. I can't help it. There are worse things, right? That's why I am so glad that I came across the website Dog Is Good. Not only can you find great apparel, but they also have awesome hats, stickers and greeting cards with writing on them that shows everyone your love for your furry friend.
I recently got a twofer shirt. Ya know, the shirts that are short sleeved on top, but have longer sleeves underneath. I love it. It's so soft, looks great on and shows that I love dogs. The price is right on too. Not much more than a shirt you would buy for yourself in a department store. With spring and summer right around the corner, how cool would you look in one of Dog Is Good tanks or shirt sleeved t-shirts? Wear something like that to the dog park and people will be talking.
So, check out all the products at Dog Is Good. There is something for everyone.
Considering my puppy Baxter wears his collar 24/7, finding stylish collars that will hold up long-term is a priority for me. That is why I am very excited about Baxter's newest collar from Daisy Couture Collars. Not only is the fabric cut and sewn by hand for each individual collar, there are also many adorable prints to choose from that are unique and fun. Baxter has the Eyelashes collar (as seen in the picture to the left) and I love the combination of chocolate brown with vibrant blues and greens.
Each Daisy Couture Collar is made of 100% cotton, with larger sizes reinforced by nylon so it will be sturdy and comfortable for long-term wear for your dog. Also, they are made with black side released buckle closures so it is easy to take on and off.
Available in sizes from teacup to extra large, there is a print, size and style for every dog and your pup will have this stylish and durable collar for years to come!
Returning to the topic of dog poop...it is still early enough in 2009 to purchase your "Monthly Doos - the 2009 Dog Poop Calendar." Talk about a unique gift for the not-so-discerning dog lover -- a calendar dedicated to the colorful achievements of man's best friend!!
Each month features beautiful full-color photos of majestic mountains, fields of flowers, rushing rivers and glorious oceanside settings -- but in every shot there's a pile of dog poop. The contrast between the beautiful photography and dog poop is quite remarkable! In some months, the poop is very obvious, in others more discrete and artistic. My favorite is December which has a lovely Christmas wreath with a pile of poop in the center. As an extra bonus, each month features the "hound that made the mound" and important dog poop trivia.
The calendar is now selling on Amazon.com for $13.95, but you can buy it at Stupid.com for half price - $6.50, while stocks last. A truly original gift idea!
Is your dog afraid of Storms? The patented Storm Defender works by reducing the static electricity build up in dogs before a storm and with a nice, comforting blanket too.
Dogs sense when a storm is coming and will naturally "ground" themselves by seeking out safe areas. When used correctly, the Storm Defender reduces your dog's anxiety by shielding them for the static buildup. Dogs can even sense an approaching storm long before we know about it and by using the Storm Defender they will learn not to fear the signs of a storm such as barometric pressure drops, rain and thunder.
Each cape is around the $50 range and they have a chart so you know what size to get your dog. There's testimonials of people who have used the Storm Defender and loved it. I think this is an awesome idea!
Continuing the theme of poo...check out the POO-PAK by Fashion Victim. This fashionable bag hides the unsightly plastic bags of poo. It also provides generous storage so that you can store extra bags, such as the Flush Doggy bags that Allie just reviewed. And right now these hand-crafted bags are a steal for only $10!
The Poo-Pak measures 10 1/2” hi x 9” wide (adequate for small or large breeds) and closes with a matching drawstring. The pocket easily holds 3 plastic grocery bags, 4 or 5 plastic newspaper bags or 2 full rolls of pick up bags sold at the large pet specialty stores. Both the bag and pocket are fully lined with attractive contrast fabrics. The pocket includes a hand painted paw print. All fabrics are heavy duty and all stress points are double stitched. POO-PAK can be hand washed and line dried. Check out the different Poo-Pak styles here.
Do you ever think about how many bags of poop you throw away each year and where it ends up? I used to toss 2 bags of poop in the trash each day without much thought, until I learned that those bags can take up to 1000 years to degrade. Even worse, dog poop takes up 3.4% of residential landfills and can pollute our waterways (yuck!). So if throwing the poop away is bad for the environment, then what should we do with it? Flush it, of course!
Flush Doggy has created a flushable, biodegradable poop bag that is the safest and most environmentally friendly way to dispose of dog waste. The bags are made of a water soluble material and all you need to do is pick up the poop as you do with a normal bag, bring it inside and flush the whole thing, bag and all. Don't worry, the bags are strong enough to pick up waste and soften when placed in the water of your toilet and eventually dissolve in the sewage system so they won't clog your toilet.
If you want to get rid of poop without harming the environment then Flush Doggy is the way to go. Give them a try by ordering 6 sample bags for only the cost of shipping and handling ($1.99) and see for yourself how easy it is to dispose of your pup's waste in the safest way possible for the environment. Also, 10% of proceeds go to the ASPCA for fighting against puppy mills so you can pat yourself on the back for making a difference in the world today by simply ordering these bags and flushing your swanky pup's poop.
Looking for a unique valentine for your four-legged friend? Check out the Strawberry with Treat Spot from Planet Dog. This toy is constructed with Planet Dog's signature material--Orbee-Tuff®. Planet Dog worked with chemists for over a year to develop this durable, eco-friendly, non-toxic material. The Orbee-Tuff® toys certainly are durable and will provide your dog with hours of fun (see Adena's review of Planet Dog's peppermint toy here).
As an added bonus, the Planet Dog is offering 15% off all merchandise through the end of the month! Now is a perfect time to stock up on all the great merchandise oferred at this wonderful store. To get the discount, enter the code DD29 at checkout.
Ever wondered what your dog is thinking or experiencing? How many times have you wished your dog could talk and tell you how s/he is feeling? Luckily for us, there are a few gifted people who have the unique ability to communicate with animals.
One such person is pet intuitive, Cherie Vergini. Cherie (pictured right with her dog Louie) became involved in rescue many years ago, and it was through her rescue efforts that she became aware of her ability to communicate with animals. While in the presence of an animal, she would receive messages and details about their past, present concerns, personality and exchange a telepathic dialogue with them. Cherie has made it her life’s mission to give all animals a voice, deepen the relationships we have with our pets and to help raise the compassion level for all living things.
A few weeks ago, Axel developed horrible hotspots on his tail and rump and a stomach upset. The skin was raw and bloody and we struggled to get him to leave them alone. The vet could find no underlying physical cause for either issue. I spoke to Cherie in order to gain an understanding into why Axel was doing this to himself. The conversation was via the phone - Cherie does not have to be in the presence of the animal to communicate with him/her. After communicating with Axel, Cherie told me that Axel was feeling very anxious and worried. During the time he'd developed the hotspots and tummy upsets, I had been ill and hospitalized for almost a week. It was his anxiety over my absence and illness that had precipitated his physical symptoms. This made perfect sense to me as Axel is very attached to me and had barely left my side since my return. Cherie was able to communicate to Axel that I was on the mend, that I was home for good and that all would be fine. She also made some short term, practical recommendations such as the use of Rescue Remedy to calm him and slippery elm powder for his stomach trouble.
It was such a relief to speak to Cherie. I really felt that she was exchanging information with Axel, she really conveyed his personality in her responses to me. It is now two weeks later and Axel's hotspots have cleared up totally and his stomach is back to normal. More evidence that Cherie made a real impact!
Cherie provides many valuable services including a history assessment (for rescues and fosters); transitional counselling (helping a rescue/foster adapt to a permanent home); animal communication parties for groups and private animal communications sessions. To find out more, please visit her website at http://www.cheriev.com/ or contact her at cherie@cheriev.com
I have dog toy stuffing all over my backyard. I admit it. I do clean it up but it's almost a daily chore. My dogs love to devour their toys, gut them, murder them and sling them around like a shark with chum. Now there's a new toy that I can feel comfortable with knowing that they are stuffing free! They're called Skinneez stuffing free dog toys. They're machine washable and have two squeakers that will delight your dog. Best of all, no cotton fluff all over your house or yard and they're shaped in a way that makes it easy for your dog to pick up no matter what size they are. I saw these recently at Pet Supermarket and started to purchase one at that time but my mind wanders more than that Del Shannon song and I forgot. However, you can also get them at other places such as Dr Fosters Smith. Don't worry, my yard will be fluff free by the weekend because I plan to pick a couple up ASAP.
I spend a lot of time sharing my experiences and thoughts about dog-related products and I am lucky to get to try out some of the best dog products out there. Yesterday though, I received a package in the mail that I could not be more excited to share with our readers. I am now the very lucky owner of a work of art by Michi Design featuring my dog Baxter.
I can truly say that working with Alina Kremer of Michi Design to coordinate this painting was an absolute pleasure and the end result is an amazing work of art that I am extremely proud to own. I just sent Alina some of my favorite pictures of my pooch, she helped me select the photo that would work best as a painting and then she went to work. A month later and I had a hand-painted portrait of Baxter that looks EXACTLY like him. Not only did she pick up on little details in his face, she was able to capture his expression and the emotion in his eyes. I also loved that she emailed me a picture of the painting to make sure I was 100% happy with it before sending it off to me (I loved it and didn't want her to change a thing).
This picture is now displayed in my kitchen, and every single person who sees it just stops to stare at how well Baxter is captured in this painting. The portrait is done with acrylic on archival quality canvas, and covered with a protective varnish so you can wipe it off if it gets dirty. It is also water resistant so it is made to last.
There are many portrait sizes to choose from that can fit in to your budget, and they make the most wonderful keepsakes that you will cherish for years to come. Also, these paintings make outstanding gifts for those of us who considers our pups(and kitties too!) very important members of our families. Alina Kremer of Michi Design is an extremely talented artist and you will be a very satisfied customer once you have your own masterpiece featuring your pup.
Did you ever wonder what your dog does all day? (and a GIVEAWAY!)
I often wondered what my dog did all day while I wasn't home. Did she just sleep on the couch? Did she go after my cat? Did she walk around aimlessly? Did she eat the cat's poop?! Well, recently, thanks to the help of a cool like pet's digital camera, I got to find out!
Uncle Milton's Pet's Eye View Camera is a neat, compact and lightweight item that clips onto your dog (or cat's) collar and captures what your pet sees throughout the day. It's built-in timer automatically snaps pictures every 1, 5, or 15 minutes (whatever you choose). The internal memory card stores over 40 pictures (and 640x480 resolution so you can print 4x6 photos).
This fun (yet practical) product is a lot like a "nanny cam" for your dog. My dog Maggie mostly slept during the day when I looked at her pictures, but I also saw her looking out the window (probably barking at somebody) and trying to get some of my cat's food (bad dog!).
Want a chance to try one of these fun camera's out with your pet? We have five to give away to some lucky newsletter subscribers! Simply sign up for our newsletter between now and Valentines Day and you will be entered to win. Already signed up? You will automatically be entered to win!
Over Christmas, my dog Axel received a holiday gift of a box of DoggieLicious Carob-dipped peanut butter* bones. I was immediately taken by not only the beautiful presentation of the treats, but the smell which was heavenly. And needless to say, Axel LOVED them.
Thinking about all the dog lovers on Swanky Pup, I wrote to the company asking whether they'd be willing to send me a sampler of their gourmet treats for me to review. A week later, a bag full of the most mouth-watering treats arrived, each one looking and smelling more delicious than the next. Their tail-wagging selection includes: Garlic Growlers; Molasses Almond Woofers; Carob-dipped pretzels; Classic Peanut Butter Bones; Peanut Butter and Oat Crunchers; Carob Chip Cookies; Pumpkin Twists; Grrrranola Squares, Pumpkin Squares; Breathbusters; Peanut Butter Carob Chip Cookies; Blueberry Mini Muffins; Carob Mini Muffins; Molasses Spice Drop Cookies; Pumpkin Poppers; Peanut Butter & Jelly Mini Bones and many more... Note, all DoggieLicious treats contain NO fillers or preservatives that are found in so many commercial treats. They do not use any sugars, salts or unhealthy fats in any of their products.
For such exceptional gourmet treats, they are very reasonably priced. Packages of 6oz treats sell for between $6-$7. As a special gift to Swanky Pup readers, DoggieLicious, are offering limited amounts of FREE 2 oz sample size of their Garlic Growlers, Peanut Butter & Oat Crunchers or Pumpkin Squares treats to try! Just click here to get yours now! Your pup will thank you!
Plus...can it get any better? Don't miss out on DoggieLicious's special Valentine selection of goodies which include Yogurt Dipped Peanut Butter Bones; Yogurt Dipped Molasses Hearts; Snowy Valentine Bones; and Molasses Almond Hearts.
For a limited time only, get 'em for 15% Off! Just add the code HEART at checkout!
* Note: all peanut butter used in DoggieLiciouis products is made by the J. M. Smucker Company. They are safe for consumption and are not part of any recall.
I love pet photo frames. I must have almost 100 by now but when I found the Forever in our Hearts photo frame I knew I had to have one for my beloved lab that we lost in 2007. You simply upload a photo of your pet and choose what you want the picture to read and that's it. Not to mention that the cost is very affordable, way cheaper than I'd have thought for such a personalized item. I plan to get one of my very own and memorialize our beloved Harley. The canvas measures 5 1/2 by 5 1/2 and comes with an easel for an extra fee. Personalization Mall also has an array of other unique items, all at affordable prices.
I often change my dog's collars. He has so many to choose from. We have our Philadelphia sports teams, a fancy leather one with bones on it, a cool geometric pattern one and a ribbon collar. Well, like his collars, we also like to change his tags too.
My dog has tags from Pets Who Affirm. These are tags that are in a puzzle piece shape. On one side of the tags it says, "I am"... and on the other side it says a positive affirmation phrase (i.e. adorable, a good kisser, a good boy, etc). So, why the puzzle piece shape? That is to remind you that your pet is the "piece of the puzzle" of your life. I know that my dog was definitely the missing piece in my life.
Pets Who Affirm tags are easy to attach to any collar and are made from lead-free pewter. A tag from Pets Who Affirm will look great on any dog.
I love American Apparel for its basics--cotton tees, dresses and leggings. And now I love it even more for the affordable, yet colorful leashes! The dog leashes for only $12 and available in three widths--small, medium and large. All of the leashes are 63" long. You can also choose your color-black/purple, dark grey/orange or light beige/white.
While at American Apparel, also check out the dog collars and ribbed dog-tee! Both are affordable at $15 and $14 respectively. Plus if you sign up to receive emails, you will receive a coupon for 10% off your on-line purchases. Get all of the American Apparel pet accessories here.
If you are looking for fun and stylish clothing for your pooch, then take some time to browse through the great clearance sale at Funnyfur.com. With 300+ products that are up to 80% off, you won't be able to resist these great deals!
Among our favorite Funny Fur sale items is this adorable purple wool sweater featuring a pale pink heart. This sweater from Kwigby-Bo retails for $52 but is currently on sale for $19.99.
So take advantage of this fabulous sale while supplies last and be sure to post on our message boards to share any great sales that you find with our other readers!
Not interested in the SuperBowl? Try the Puppy Bowl!!
This year I am not particularly interested in the SuperBowl. (Perhaps because my beloved Eagles should have been in it!)
So this year, as I have done in the past, I will be tuning in to the adorable Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet. Watch as the cutest little puppies run all over a little doggie football field and play together. And make sure you don't miss the Kitty halftime show, which is equally amusing.
