Going for a run? Use the Buddy System!

I love going for long jogs when the weather is nice, but I often leave my dog at home because it is a hassle to hold his leash while trying to focus on getting a good work out. Now, with the Buddy System Hands Free Leash from The Loyal Dog, going for a run/jog with your dog will be easy and hassle free! The leash secures to your waist and attaches safely to your dog's collar so that he is attached to you and you don't have to worry about carrying the leash anymore.

The Buddy System is ideal for hikes, walks with a stroller, training your dog to walk right by your side or any time when carrying a leash just won't work. The leash is easy to put on and take off and is available to fit (human) waists from 27"-50". So free up your hands this summer and bring your pup along for your outdoor adventures with the Buddy System!

Stylish Harness from Wonderdog NYC

Looking for an awesome gift for the holidays? I know that it is cold here on the east coast, but have no fear, spring will be here before we know it.

How about a new harness for you furry friend from Wonderdog New York? All the harnesses come in great looking patterns made from the most advanced materials available. Each harness is adjustable for maximum comfort and all come with a ring to attach a leash. You could even purchase a matching leash to go with your new harness.

All the products from Wonderdog New York are hand made, so you can be sure that a lot of time and attention goes into making these products. Be sure to browse the website to see all the other fabulous products from Wonderdog New York.

Fashionable Harnesses

If your dog is like mine, and pulls away from you when you try to take him/her out for a walk, a harness rather than a collar might be best. I hate hearing that choking sound they make when they would rather pull you instead of walk beside you.

I recently found a website called Bowhausnyc.com. They sell beautiful harnesses for dogs to wear when walking around town. They cost a little bit more than your average harness, however, because they are made off genuine leather and they are lined with cozy sherpa lining. The harness attaches to your dog with buckles that are easy to adjust for the perfect fit. It also come with D-rings to hook your leash onto it.

Bowhausnyc.com also carries leashes (yes, you are able to coordinate the leash to match the harness), collars, collar charms, travel bags and bowls, and beds with matching crate covers. All of their things are very well made and are made from the highest quality materials.

When ordering directly off the Bowhausnyc.com website, be sure to enter Bow20 from now through December 25th and receive 20% off your order. Remember, Hanukkah and Christmas are right around the corner. Here's your chance to do some shopping and save a little too.

Found: The Perfect Harness

I was delighted to find Chloe's Custom Harnesses online a few weeks ago. Long have I been looking for a robust harness for Axel, my 30 plus pound wire fox terrier. Axel loves his walks, but he is a puller - and if you saw us walking down the street, you may very well ask yourself - who is taking who for a walk? I have never liked to restrain Axel by his collar out of fear of hurting his neck - hence my never-ending search for the perfect harness. My definition of a perfect harness is one that is easy to get into, fits well and doesn't come off easily until after you are safely at home.

The owner of Chloe's Custom Harnesses, Jane Callison, was inspired by her 3 pound Chihuahua Chloe who is so tiny, Jane could not find any harness to fit her. So being a "retired" seamstress Jane was forced out of retirement and Chloe's Custom Harnesses was born. Now any dog, of any size, can enjoy a great looking and fitting harness!

Jane sent me two custom harnesses (pictured left and below right) - a summer harness for Axel, and a beautiful girl harness for Axel's friend Lucy - a dachshund. The harnesses are extremely well made - Jane pre-washes and dries all her fabrics before cutting. She also uses heavy duty velcro to hold the neck and chest, with a 2-1/2" to 3" inch lap over. They are very secure! And each harness has a heavy D-ring to attach the leash.

Axel's harness fitted him perfectly and was a breeze to put on - you just slip the harness over the head and fasten it around the chest! What a win for a terrier who hates being fussed over! Plus it stayed on despite rough-housing with big dogs at the dog park. Lucy's Mom was crazy about her harness and it was a big hit at the rest homes where Lucy works as a therapy dog. Lucy's harness was lined with fleece to create a warm, snuggly coat and harness in one. A wonderful addition to any dog's winter wardrobe.

Summer harnesses range in price from $10-$12. Boy/Girl harnesses like Lucy's range in price from $20-$22. Shipping is included, so these are a great bargain, especially as they are all custom-fitted! Jane has generously offered all Swanky Pup readers a $2.00 discount - just mention Swanky Pup with your order.

Can a leash be stylish and durable?

Yes, if it’s the Lucky Brand Guitar Strap Leash! Since adopting Jax in May 2007, I have been on a mission to find a sturdy, yet stylish leash that withstands the elements while hiking in the Wissahickon Valley (part of the Fairmount Park System in Philadelphia). I hit the jackpot with the Lucky Brand Guitar Strap Leash. This leash is stylish—its intricate embroidery design in red, orange, yellow, white, black and a touch of green truly resembles a guitar strap. And this leash is durable. It features a rubber-lined hand grip that helps me keep a firm hold on Jax when he decides to chase a squirrel. We have been using this leash for six months and it still maintains its fashionable look. The leash is 1” wide and 60” long—perfect for medium to large size dogs. This leash is now on sale at Lucky Brand Jeans for $19 with $6 flat shipping!

* Please note: We just learned these collars are now sold out on the Lucky Site. We'll let you know if they get any more in, and will keep you posted on future Lucky dog sale items.

Grab the rope and go!

This time of year, my family and I spend a lot of time at the beach. It's the same thing every weekend. We load up the car with our bags, our kids (yes, that does include the dog) and we are off. Our dog has his own luggage (the E.B.D. Carry All Bag from Pupcentric.com) and we are always sure that we have his Rope-N-Go inside.

The Rope-N-Go, available at Ropengo.com, is a hardware free harness that can fit any pet from the smallest of dogs to the largest of dogs. The rope is made from strong material and will not catch on the hair of our furry friends. There are no buckles to have to play around with and no noisy metal that can clang when going for a walk or set off a metal detector at the airport.

What I like about the harness, is that my dog is a puller when he goes out for walks. When I use the Rope-N-Go, I never worry that he is hurting his throat when he pulls, because there is nothing around his neck . The harness sits nicely on his chest, and since it is adjustable, I can be sure that it is placed on him properly.

The Rope-N-Go, comes in a wide variety of colors and all come with a great removable leash with a comfort grip at the end. For our smaller, canine friends, the Rope-N-Go comes in an extra small toy size.

You can purchase the Rope-N-Go online at Ropengo.com or you can find a list of stores where they are sold.

Ruffin’ it? A must-have pack for your pooch!

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!

Cool duds for Spring!

Well spring has sprung, and more and more dogs are coming out of their winter hibernation and hitting the pavements for long walks again. It's a great time of year!

Just like many of you hit the stores to find what's hot in spring fashion, so should your dog. Wonderdognyc.com has fabulous collars, leads, and harnesses for your swanky pup that will, for sure, make heads turn.

The colors and fabrics for spring are great -- very eye catching. All of the designs at Wonderdognyc.com are handcrafted of the most advanced materials available. The spring line is full of fun, bright geometric patterns, stripes and even vegetables (like the ones shown in the picture). All collars have matching leashes to make the complete outfit.

So, if your dog is one that loves to be out and about, showing off the latest in pooch fashion, he/she will want to be sporting a new collar from Wonderdognyc.com. When you are ready to purchase your very cool items from Wonderdognyc.com, be sure to enter "the swanky pup" under the heading "How did you hear about us?". Wonderdognyc.com will send you a FREE Glow collar with your purchase.

Safety and style for your diva dog

As a swanky small dog owner safety and style are on the top of my list when it comes to my dog. Toy dog owners especially need to consider safety when walking their dogs because of the risk of trachea issues with pulling on their necks, making conventional collars an unsafe option. Most toy breeds are safest using a harness, and if you are using a harness don’t you want one that is both stylish, unique and well made?

My absolute favorite is the Diva Dog Harness Vest from Bloomingtails Dog Boutique, which is made with comfort and style in mind. It is much more than a simple walking harness, but it is an adorable outfit as well! Each vest is custom made so you won’t have to worry about seeing another dog wearing your pups outfit at the dog park or out on the town. Also they are fully lined so that they retain their shape and have a beautiful matching ribbon down the center with a D-ring where you can attach the leash. It has Velcro tabs, which close around the chest and tummy, so it is easy to put on and take off and it is double sewn for extra security.

All of the harness vests are embellished with matching ribbons and/or buttons, making each one stylish, unique and original. I tried the Breast Cancer awareness harness vest that had the signature breast cancer pink ribbons and adorable coordinating polka dot pink ribbons and bows for embellishments, and there are plenty of other great prints to chose from. Bloomingtails Dog Boutique also provides customer service above and beyond what you have experienced in the past, making this shopping experience extremely enjoyable.

Besides being safe, one-of-a-kind, and stylish, this harness vest is also extremely affordable, ranging from just $20-24! Best of all enter TSP10 at checkout for a generous 10% off discount.

Reduce leash pulling with the Sporn Training Halter

I see it every day: people being dragged around by their dogs on walks and dogs choking themselves on leash. Sound familiar? It is not a pretty sight walking down the street with your swanky pup pulling your arm out of the socket and/or choking himself and it makes it hard to enjoy taking your dog out and about. The Sporn Training Halter may be what you need to get control out on the walk so you can have those leisurely walks you dream of.

I have tried a lot of different harness and almost all of them just gave my dog more leverage so he could pull with his whole body. The Sporn halter actually gave my dog gentle feedback as he pulled, making it much more comfortable for him to walk at my side and discourage pulling.

The Sporn Training Halter goes around your dog’s neck and under the armpits, where the braided cord is covered by sherpa sleeves so it will not hurt or rub. When your dog pulls on the leash, the harness tightens under your dog’s armpits encouraging him to stop pulling. The Sporn is not a substitute for training your dog to heel but it is a great tool to have at your disposal and can make a big difference for those big pullers out there.

A better walk is priceless right? Well, the halter is only $25.95 and worth every penny. Check out the video on their site for exactly how the Sporn Training Halter works and see if it is right for your dog.