The Swanky Pup - Stylish dog blog, dog forums, dog chat and directory

Great patriotic clothing for your pet!

2009-07-03T07:42:00.003-04:00

I love dressing my dog up in red, white, and blue for the 4th. Granted, she isn't one for many frills, but she'll generally allow me to dress her in a cute collar or bandana.

If I had a smaller dog, though, I would totally get this adorable denim jacket, or one of the other awesome items from the Doggie Couture shop. From patriotic bikinis, to adorable ribbons, bows and jewelry, to great red, white, and blue collars and bandanas, they have a great selection. Browse the patriotic shop and enjoy dressing your dog up this weekend!

Good Dog Trixie

2009-07-02T08:47:00.003-04:00

If you haven't seen the Good Dog Trixie merchandise on author, Dean Koontz's Trixie area of his site then you're missing out. Trixie is a dog eternal, playing with angels and other dogs on the "other" side and she has a wonderful store full of items such as books, calendars and blinging collars. You can even start your Christmas shopping early!

Throughout July and August, PetSmart will be featuring a line of licensed Good Dog Trixie items in all of their stores. Now you can get pet bowls and journals, as well as toys and picture frames.

All income from any sales during this event goes to Canine Companions for Independence just as all royalties from Trixie's book. So not only can you get some great products, you can help out at the same time.

The perfect book for mixed breeds...

2009-06-29T09:57:00.000-04:00

As the mommy of a Puggle, I love finding cool mixed breed items that feature the fabulous new "mutt" dogs. I came across "A Breed Apart" by Amanda Jones, a sweet book featuring some of these fun new breeds.

From the Goldendoodle to the Sheprador, the Puggle to the Muggin, the Spollie to the Eskipoo, the American mutt is the most popular dog around. This book captures the faces, unique look and personalities of these dogs and also provides you a fun guessing game of what breeds make up the dog!

The author also has breed-specific books for Dachshunds, French Bulldogs, and Greyhounds. Check it out and happy reading!

Custom pet bowls

2009-06-25T03:46:00.002-04:00

FauxPaw Productions has the most gorgeous, custom designed products, including their gorgeous dog bowls. Each bowl is designed by artist Debby Carman with one of a kind original artwork. My favorite is Barnacle since I love seaside type art and trinkets. Not only do they have bowls though, they also carry trivets, treat jars, paintings, sculptures and even more. They also offer cat products as well. The dog bowls run about $45 for a large one but they are all hand made! So if you're looking for the perfect gift or just want something to spoil your pet with, check them out.

What can one do with a piece of driftwood?

2009-06-24T06:00:00.001-04:00

How about making a leash hanger out of it? That's what Diana from Carabella Studios does. She lives on the coast of Maine and often walks around looking for pieces of driftwood that she can then turn into beautiful pieces of functional artwork.

Since each piece of wood has been exposed to the sea and sand, it has natural characteristics of distress. Diana simply adds her artistic touch by custom painting on it whatever you want with non-toxic paints. In addition, she also adds as many hooks as you want to each piece.

My family has our driftwood leash hanger hanging up in our shore house. It's a perfect addition down there and we always know where the leashes are.

Diana and Carabella Studios can be found on Etsy.com.

Beautiful, Unique Gifts for the Dog Lover

2009-06-23T07:31:00.004-04:00

Behind this Collar is a new company based in Overland Park, Kansas. The company offers a very unique gift for us, dog-lovers: custom-made shadow boxes!

These beautiful boxes display mementos of your choosing such as a photo, a favorite toy or a collar. The shadow boxes are a wonderful way to celebrate your dog (or cat) and are available in three types: custom, standard and milestone.

The custom option lets you totally customize your box. The options are yours on the custom shadow box! You might like a custom portrait by Behind this Collar's artist or a custom poem that tells your dog's story created by the poet at Behind this Collar.

The standard option (shown left) provides you with choices for its creation such as the type of wood, items, nameplate color (plus many more options!). This shadow box arrives fully assembled and all you do to complete it is insert your favorite photo behind the mat and your pet's collar into the box.

The milestone box is a great way to celebrate the your pet's accomplishments. Do you have a super swimmer? Consider the Water Dog box (at right)!

Check out Behind this Collar for unique, custom gifts that celebrate your dog! And right now Sherri Shawgo, founder of Behind this Collar, is offering a $10 discount on any shadow box to all Swanky Pup readers!

Type "Swanky Pup" in the "referred by" option during checkout to get your discount $10 discount on any shadow box.

Help me win a trip to BlogHer 09!

2009-06-21T21:19:00.000-04:00

Eco-bags for your pup

2009-06-19T21:32:00.002-04:00

I am all about socially conscious, eco-friendly, yet still-hip products. And the PetPak, a hands-free small pet carrier, is exactly one of these products.

Your small pet (up to 10lbs) will enjoy snuggling with you in this colorful pouch made from repurposed mosquito netting. A removable inside lining is easy to wash and very durable. Your hands will be free with the PetPak, and it features adjustable shoulder straps with over-sized clips that are easy to fasten. It's also liquid resistant.

Check out this and other eco-friendly products at Little Green World.

Amazing Treat Machine

2009-06-18T02:59:00.002-04:00

I was recently the recipient of the Amazing Treat Machine. What this incredibly cool mechanism does is teach your dog how to drop the ball in to get a treat! Our dogs loved it and while I don't have video of them using it yet, we did get Donner to drop the ball in there and get his treat. Blitz is still obsessed with the ball but it's a work in progress. You can visit the site and even see a video if you scroll down a bit. This innovative dog toy is affordable yet ingenious in how it works. We put it together easily and was using it almost immediately. With just a little patience, your dog can figure out this "puzzle" and start using it.

Right now they also have some coupons you can use:
Coupon Value: $1 off purchase, 1 coupon per order. Unlimited number of purchases.
Coupon Claim Code: SWANKY09
Start Date: 6/17/09 at Midnight
End Date: 7/18/09 at 11:59pm PT

So not only can you get one for your furry friend, you can gift one to other dogs that you might know. They even have a convenient Amazon checkout so you know that their site is secure. Don't let your dog be the last one to get one of the Amazing Treat Machines! I promise to post a video link once we have one but for now, check out their site to see things in action.

Pet Medical Records-Online Storage!

2009-06-17T10:21:00.003-04:00

Our pet records are currently located in multiple manila folders in various bins in our house. We have several folders for all our dog, Jax, and three cats, Zora, Nola and Jasmine. Locating these folders can be tricky business. Especially if there is an emergency and we need to get our furry friends to the veterinarian quickly.

Now, I can store all the important medical information in a centralized electronic location with PetSummary.com. For a one-time subscription price of only $4.95, I can store all of the medical information for Jax, Zora, Nola and Jasmine!

This site has many cool features including the following:

PetSum Card--perfect for animal sitters, dog walkers and providing current information in an emergency. Click here to view a sample card.

PetSum ID Tag--Provides all the information you may find on a regular ID, plus the back side provides the pet's unique PetSum Code that when entered into PetSummary.com provides the pet's finder with contact information (you define how much information to include). This tag costs $15.

Vaccine Record Access--You or your vet may scan or fax the authentic vaccine record directly to your profile. This helps to save time if you move or change veterniarians.

Check out PetSummary.com and begin the process to simply store important information about your pet's health in one, easy accessible location!

Need some ideas for the perfect Father's Day Gift?

2009-06-15T15:43:00.002-04:00

Father's Day is coming up, and if you want to get something special for your dog to wear or use to recognize their daddy, then check out some of these cute ideas from Posh Puppy Boutique.

There are some adorable shirts you can dress your dog in, with sayings like "Daddy's girl" or "Daddy's boy," "My Dad is Single," "My Dad Rocks," and more. There are also some really cute Sugar Daddy squeaky toys, too! And we love the dog neck ties, if you want to dress up your pooch to look like dad ;)

Right now all orders get free shipping (use promo code "freeship"), so enjoy browsing this cute e-boutique!

Dog-On Television

2009-06-10T03:05:00.003-04:00

Dog-On Television is a great companion for your furry friends. It's an hour long DVD that continuously plays so you can have a babysitter of sorts for your dog while you're away. It's filmed from a dog's perspective with close up shots of dogs in front of the camera and at play. It's filled with barking, playing and just good ole dog fun that'll keep your dogs entertained for hours. I know my fur crew was enchanted by the other dogs barking and making noise. They seemed quite calm but were very alert to every noise. But don't take my word for it, you can go read testimonials of what others are saying like O Magazine, The Insider, Dateline NBC and the AKC. Right now you can even get it for free! All you have to do is pay shipping and handling and Dog-On Television can come right to your door. You can't get better than that. Go ahead and check out the testimonials and decide for yourself by getting this awesome video at no cost. You can even read about them on Entertainment Tonight. Your dogs will thank you for it.

Again, they are running the best deal they can right now which is FREE!!! You simply pay $4.95 S&H and that's it! This product typically retails from $9.95 to $19.95 plus S&H but for a VERY limited time they are giving it away for FREE! Get them while you can at this special price. Please use CCSP in the 2nd address
line when ordering.

Lasso Leash

2009-06-09T09:23:00.006-04:00

Th2 2009 Global Pet Expo--the pet industry's largest annual trade show--featured all kinds of innovative and stylish products for all types pets. Each year, the Expo awards "Best in Show" prizes for all types of categories including "dog."

This year's Best in Show winner for the dog category is the Lasso Leash from Dogmatic. The Lasso leash is a retractable leash that quickly and safely "parks" your dog while you run a quick errand or simply want to sit "hands-free" at a park bench. I am so excited to find this product because I often question my ability to safely secure Jax to a park bench.
To learn more about the lasso leash click here.

Want a chance to win a MILLION dollars?!

2009-06-05T21:36:00.003-04:00

All American Pet Company, makers of super premium dog food brands Bow Wow Breakfast Cereal and Grrr-nola Natural Dog Food, announces its first ever Bow Wow Million Dollar Look-a-Like Contest. Starting Monday, June 1st 2009, dog owners will have the opportunity to submit a picture of themselves and their dog to show the world how much they look alike. The finalists from these submissions will be given the chance to win the grand prize of $1 million dollars (plus lots of other runner-up cash prizes!). The deadline for submissions is Sunday, July 26th 2009. Visit www.bowwowmillion.com for all of the details! We hope a Swanky Pup reader wins!

A dog bed that heats and cools!

2009-06-04T02:57:00.003-04:00

If you have a dog that has sore joints or perhaps you just want to pamper your dog, now there's a dog bed that heats in the winter and cools in the summer. At Poochie Heaven they have a variety of designer beds, clothing, carriers and more and I found this fine bed called the All Season Snuggly Dog Sleeper. This bed has an interchangeable comfort system that allows you to keep your dog in the right temperature no matter what the season. The covers are machine washable and available in two sizes in both colors: sage and mocha. At under $115 and with free shipping, this is a bed that can help your dog stay comfortable in the most demanding temperatures. It'll make you feel good knowing that he or she doesn't have to worry about being too hot or too cold.

Stop Carrying the Poop! Let your leash do it for you.

2009-06-03T06:00:00.001-04:00

We all hate it, but every dog owner has to do it. Carrying the poop after your dog has done his or her business is just something that needs to be done. Or does it? Why not try the Port-A-Poo.

The writers at The Swanky Pup write many reviews about products that help in waste removal. I saw this product online and thought I have to tell our readers all about it. This is a hands free poop holder. You simply clip it to your dog's leash and after you have picked up the poop, you snap it open, place the bag inside and then snap it shut. It's that easy. The poop stays away from you and your dog.

The Port-A-Poo comes in two parts that are screwed together. Just unscrew the two parts, place the leash in the center, screw on the second part and you are in business. No muss, no fuss. The Port-A-Poo comes in a variety of colors to match your dogs leash or collar, and they even have a mini Port-A-Poo for retractable leashes. This is a must have if you are walking for a while and you just don't want to hold the poop.

Doggie Duvets

2009-06-02T09:06:00.004-04:00

Spring and summer cleaning revealed lots of old, worn towels, blankets and sheets. This year I've found multiple uses for these old textiles. I'm taking a few bags to the local SPCA to be used in the shelter. And I discovered a way to recycle these goods right in my own house---they can be Jax's new bed!

Molly Mutt makes stylish, durable 100% cotton dog duvets that can be filled with old blankets, pillows or sheets. These duvets are quite versatile. You can order the duvet alone and use over an existing dog bed OR order the stuff sack to fill the duvet with old textile products.

Molly Mutt offers six different patterns in the duvet and all are super cute and well-priced! The duvets range from $20 for small to $40 for huge. You can also get the DIY kit that includes two duvets and a stuff sack!

My favorites are Bird on a Wire (pictured above) and Your Hand in Mine (pictured below).
Check out Molly Mutt today and get free shipping with any order over $75.

Handmade, personalized "paw print" pet dog tags

2009-06-01T16:39:00.003-04:00

I recently got to try out a new Mom necklace from a great site called Baby Charmed. In addition to these beautiful necklaces and other jewelry, I noticed that they also make beautiful and classic looking dog tags.

I love the handmade look of the paw print and that it is made of pure silver and hand-crafted with your dog's name and your phone number centered around the paw print. The tag is (.999) pure silver and not sterling silver. All tags are antiqued to highlight the letters and numbers and then polished to a high shine, which makes it look very classic and unique. Each tag is attached to a ring ready to attach to your favorite collar. The tag size is 1-1/8" diameter. (Additionally, you can have more information, such as your address, stamped onto the back for an additional fee)

Available in both large and medium sizes, one is bound to fit your pet!

ps. Make sure you check out the pretty pet photo necklace, too.

Doggyspace

2009-05-28T03:19:00.003-04:00

I admit it, I spend far too much time on Facebook. But now there's a place for my dogs to meet and social network as well. It's called Doggyspace and in it your dog can meet new friends in the area, upload videos, take polls and trivia and even be featured on the front page in dog talk. It's free and there are tons of groups for your canine friend to be a part of. Whether your dog just likes meeting other dogs or showing off their latest picture or video, Doggyspace is the place that is all theirs. Browse by category, breed, region, general or special interest. Who knows, you might meet another dog lover who shares your interests as well.

Artsy Leash Holders

2009-05-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

Are you like me and have a large collection of leashes for your dog? Are they just hanging around? Mine used to hang from a hanging fruit basket. I'd simply clip them to the basket and there they would hang down getting in everyone's way whenever someone walked by.

I recently solved my problem and, in addition, found a beautiful piece of artwork to hang in my house too. Dreaming Giggles Designs is a website that was created by a woman who used to teach art classes in a middle school. She has since put her creative talents to work and now she creates these beautiful pieces of artwork that are also functional.

Her leash hangers are hand-painted on 12 X 12 pieces of canvas with acrylic paints. You can design what you would like to have on your painting. At the bottom are hooks for the leashes. These make awesome gifts for any animal lover.

So, if you are in need of something decorative, yet functional, be sure to stop by at the Dreaming Giggles Design blog or check them out on the Etsy website.

For the Dog Who Can't Get Enough--Colossal Fleece Bone

2009-05-26T18:11:00.003-04:00

Does your pup go through fleece toys like they are going out of style? Fortunately, Jax savors his toys for a looonnnngggg time, unlike his cousin, Riley, who has been known to devour a fleece toy within a weekend.

I typically avoid buying fleece for Riley for this reason. But now I found the Collosal Fleece Bone from Sundance and will be purchasing fleece again for his birthday this July!

I love the uniqueness of this product. This toy also has a squeaker to engage your dog and give him something to really bite into! The bone measures 22"W x 12"D x 6"H and retails for $18. You can get your colossal bone here.

Happy Memorial Day!

2009-05-25T07:18:00.000-04:00

The staff of the Swanky Pup (and our dogs too) would like to wish a happy memorial day to all of our wonderful readers and their pups! Enjoy the holiday and be sure to check back tomorrow for more fun and innovative products that you and your dog will enjoy!

Are you a Muttrosexual?

2009-05-22T10:31:00.003-04:00

According to Happytails, "inside every mutt there's a muttrosexual just dying to get out." To this end, the company has produced a wide array of doggie spa products. What is very impressive about Happytails Canine Spa Line Inc is their degree of community and social responsibility. They go out of their way to uphold the highest possible environmental, social and ethical standards from using recyclable materials, to donating some of their profits to Canine Companions for Independence to employing developmentally disabled adults to do their assembly work. Impressive and very worthwhile supporting! Animal Planet thought so too and recently featured their products on TV!

Their spa products are arranged into seven categories - problem areas commonly encountered by dogs such as tear stains, itchies, stink etc. In the stinky dogs and coat refreshment category is a wonderful product called Bubble n' Beads - a two in one shampoo and conditioner. It "contains exclusive micro-beads packed with conditioning vitamins. They penetrate the coat, burst against the skin, delivering their nutrients right where they’re needed; at the follicle. The result is a healthier, shinier more lustrous coat." It smells heavenly and when I washed Axel using the product after he rolled in goose poop - he was transformed from a stinky, dirty boy into a clean, fresh-smelling guy. A large bottle retails at $17 - it also comes in a gallon container for $110.

I will be reviewing more products in the Happytails range, so stay tuned for more...

Bow Wow Breakfast

2009-05-21T04:30:00.004-04:00

As pet owners continue to feed their dogs from the table, a drastic rise in the number of human illnesses in dogs is being seen.

More dogs than people (11%) suffer from heart disease. In fact, nearly 8 million dogs are afflicted with heart disease – 20 million more are overweight and millions more are diabetic.

It is a commonly accepted belief that dogs physically resemble their owners and, more and more, follow their every move…including diet. And, just as the "humanization" of pets continues to grow, some of the health problems that plague Americans—namely, obesity and diabetes—are trickling down to the canine world. As Americans gain more weight and the numbers of cases of heart disease and diabetes rises, so does it follow with their pets.

"Similar to dieticians, most veterinarians now recommend more frequent meals with smaller portions for pets," says Barry Schwartz, CEO and Director of All American Pet Brands, a California-based business that has made it its mission to make dog food healthy. "As people learn more about nutrition and the importance of healthy eating, and come to consider pets as part of the family, there's been an increased demand for better pet nutrition and wellness."

All American Pet Brands. has created the first and only dog food to be concocted and endorsed by Cardiac Veterinarians. With a premium blend of natural ingredients providing essential nutrients optimized to promote your dogs nutrition, health and vitality, All American Pet’s “Bow Wow Breakfast” is the paramount way to combat future health problems for your pet.

Bow Wow breakfast comes in a variety of flavors and textures, including: Chompions, Barkfast Squares, Chewa-Bunga, Fido Flakes, Pooch-Cheeze. Also, All American Pet Brands recently launched its newest product, Grrr-nola, heart healthy dog food. The first ever product to be endorsed by a Cardiac Veterinarian.

All American Pet Company Brands, Inc.
All American Pet Company produces healthy products for dogs, with the core product being super premium dog food. With the addition of chewable nutraceuticals, electrolyte and rehydration products, the core product categories are super premium dog food and pet wellness. All American Pet's products are manufactured in the U.S. under strict manufacturing guidelines and contain 100% American made ingredients. The expansion of the product offerings to include pet wellness products is targeted at taking advantage of a much wider approach to pet health trends which are being driven by the humanization of dogs. More than just the need for good nutrition, APPT is focused on complete “Pet Wellness”.

Right now you can get your own Bow Wow Breakfast and Grrr-Nola at All American Pet Brands.

Pamper Your Pooch With Quality Products from Mungo & Maud

2009-05-15T11:08:00.004-04:00

In May 2005, Mungo & Maud, an upmarket dog and cat store with an edgy new concept in the creation of elegant and well-designed accessories for the home, opened in London. The founders, husband and wife team Michael and Nicola Sacher, produce stylish, high-quality products with strong use of natural materials such as cotton, wool, leather etc. Their products include beautiful collars and leads, bowls, beds and special organic treats.

TheSwankyPup recieved a lovely box of Mungo & Maud products to review. First out the box was a most beautiful, red, leather poop bag holder. Now you may ask, how can a poop bag holder be beautiful? Well, the bag is made of soft red leather and has fastening inside that can be clipped onto a belt loop. The hand stitching and heart shaped fastener, make this the prettiest poop bag holder I've ever seen! It is on sale on their website right now reduced from £39.50 to £19.75 ($30*).

To accompany the holder, Mungo & Maud also sent us some biodegradable illustrated poop bags. There are 75 bags in a pack and the outer bag is resealable. I am always in favor of poop bags that do not harm our environment, so these bags are real winners. And they fold up easily into the poop bag holder. This product sells for £5.75 ($9*) which is a bargain!

And now for the piece de resistance...Mungo & Maud must have heard that my dog Axel loves to roll in stinky stuff - poop, charcoal, goose droppings...you name it, if it stinks, he rolls! Nestled in the package was Mungo & Maud's "Petite Amande" Dog Fragrance. Delicately made from a mixture of French blackcurrant, Tunisian neroli, mimosa, violet leaf, sweet vanilla bourbon with a little almond - this fragrance is to die for and can be used by humans too! Spray lightly onto your dog's coat. A 50ml. bottle is priced at £38.00 ($57*) - not cheap, but very worth it. This fragrance is so special, it has its own movie!

* Note: All prices converted from British Pound Sterling to US Dollars are approximate.