When I was pregnant with my first son, one of my biggest fears was how my dog Maggie would react when I brought my newborn home. As dogs are extremely sensitive to noise, I knew it would be a big transition from a normally quiet house to one with lots of crying and other baby sounds. Though Maggie did well after a period of time, I wish that Baby Sounds for Pets was around then to help me with this transition.
Baby Sounds for Pets is the first CD to help prepare your pets for a new baby. The CD features several different baby sounds including crying, cooing, gurgling, baby talk, laughing, and even temper tantrums! By playing this CD for your pets before you bring your new baby home, you help your pet to recognize and get used to these new sounds, easing their anxiety, encouraging acceptance, and helping your family adjust. Pets are typically curious and seek attention, and by helping them get used to these sounds you give them a head-start to helping your pet adapt.
Check out this great tool and listen to some samples online. You can purchase the CD or can download individual files (or the entire CD) on iTunes, too. To receive FREE shipping, email Baby Sounds and mention you heard about them on The Swanky Pup!
Ever wonder what your pet is really thinking about? If they could talk, what would your dog or cat tell you? Maybe they would say, "I'm hungry." Or, maybe they aren't feeling well and they would want to tell you to take them to the vet. I know for myself, I would love for my dog to speak to me. Then I could understand why he does what he does to try to get my attention.
On a website called Angelica's Cards, you can find where to buy a deck of cards that you use as if you were using a deck of tarot cards. Here's how it works. The deck of 55 beautiful cards were made by Angelica del Mar. You simply ask the deck of cards a question or a statement pertaining to your pet. An example might be "How are you feeling today?" You then shuffle the cards until your instinct tells you to stop. Just from then lifting up the top two cards of the deck that was just shuffled, you'll find the answer to your question using your own intuition.
So, the next time your dog is not acting like him or herself, grab these cards and you just might find out what is bothering them.
You’re probably thinking Kong toys? Old news. Every dog owner has one. They’ve been around since the 70’s. So why am I taking up space on this trendy dog site with yesterday’s news? Because the Kong toy has saved me from insanity on more than one occasion.
I have two high-energy dogs, one of which hasn’t yet reached her first birthday and whose puppy power oftentimes spins her way out of control. She can turn a quiet movie night into puppy-palooza, and if my boyfriend and I aren’t feeling her vibe she begins to bark and playfully-yet-painfully bite at any appendage she can get her little teeth on.
But these outbursts don’t always occur during leisure time. Sleep is a necessity, but my dog is up and ready to party at 5:00am, cutting at least 2 hours out of my beauty rest. Perhaps the biggest dilemma here is that, as a writer, I need a quiet workspace, but when my dog begins her rambunctious barking, jumping, nipping, biting etc., she scares my muse right back to her secret-muse hiding spot.
Then, one day, during a rare cleaning frenzy, I was sweeping under the couch and out rolled the little red Kong toy we used to coax our 1st dog into her crate. I filled it with peanut-butter and stuck it in the freezer in preparation for the next puppy explosion. When the opportunity presented itself, I surprised my dog with the stuffed, frozen Kong, which calmed her down and kept her occupied for at least an hour.
These toys are so versatile, and are practically indestructible (there’s always an exception, but mine have endured the jaws of Pit Bulls and are still intact). They can be used simply as chew-and-fetch toys, or work as a kind of dog treat dispenser. The Kong company makes many treats that fit snugly into the toy so that your dog has to really work to get them out, but there are also numerous ingredients and recipes you can make at home to keep your dog both occupied and interested (see end of blog for recipes).
Stuffed Kong toys, however, can be messy. Whatever ingredients you stuff them with can certainly get into carpets, furniture, etc. Here’s a tip: tie a piece of string through the Kong and loop it under the leg of a chair in an easy-clean-up location. This also keeps your dog within your sight and stabilizes the toy so that your dog doesn’t end up licking it around the house and into a hard-to-reach place (like under the couch).
Some of these recipes are runny, so tape up the top (small hole) of Kong to avoid leakage. Remove the tape before giving Kong to your dog.
RECIPES
Peanut Butter Crunch: Mix some peanut-butter with dry cereal and freeze.
Kong Mash: Mix instant mashed potatoes with your dog’s kibble and freeze
Banana Cream Kong: Mix mashed bananas with plain yogurt and freeze.
Tuna Delight: Mix canned tuna with yogurt and freeze.
Honey Nut: Mix honey and peanut butter and freeze. You can also add banana or cereal.
Cheese Pleaser:Melt some cheese and mix with your dog’s kibble. Pour mixture into Kong and freeze.
Cheesecake Kong:Mix together cream cheese and graham or animal crackers and freeze.
Meat & Potatoes:Take leftover meats and mix with mashed potatoes or rice. Add melted cheese and freeze.
Bagel with Lox:Mix cream cheese and salmon (or any other fish) and freeze.
Komelet:Mix scrambled eggs, bread, meat and cheese and freeze.
Where I live in Philadelphia there is a law regarding all pets: they must be registered and licensed. This entails filling out a form and paying a fee in return for another form to prove that, yes, your dog is legal (yawn). The folks at YappyHappy.com came up with a resourceful and fun interpretation of pet permits. At this site you can order a unique kind of dog tag that is, in fact, a license.
These tags are charming and highly functional. They provide your pet with a lot more information than the traditional metal ID tags, which usually only offer a name and phone number. These miniature “barking” licenses give all the facts—breed, first and last name, address and phone number, height and weight, and of course, like any other form of identification, your dog’s picture. And, because these tags are made of durable plastic, they don’t clang against the metal fixtures on your canine’s collar. This then eliminates that annoying noise that accompanies your pet’s every step, a noise that is most likely even more bothersome to the collar-wearer whose hearing tends to be super-sonic.
But unique and original dog tags are not the only items Yappyhappy.com has to offer. Following the layout of your state's driver's license are also water-resistant pet mats. These are perfect to place under your dog's food or water bowl, as they make clean-up easy while adding a sense of humor to your kitchen floor.
Yappyhappy.com can also create personalized tote bags, magnets, key chains and luggage tags.
Also, check out http://yappyhappy.etsy.com/ for other unique ideas like custom dog collages, hand-made bird houses, and, my personal favorite, the Fairy Dog Bottle-Cap necklace.
These pieces are one-of-a-kind, and you have the freedom to choose your favorite colors and backgrounds. A great gift idea.
To order a Yappy Happy barking license, pet mat, tote bag etc. you’ll need to upload the most flattering head-on mug shot of your dog. Select the state you reside in (all are available), fill out all the pertinent information and send it. Your new dog license will arrive in the mail in a few days.
Check out my Pearl sporting her Yappy Happy license.
Picture this: on your day off you wake to a clear, bright sky. Your first thought: beach day. To confirm, you hop online and click the weather report. Sunny. Temperatures reaching up into the 90's.
Surely this is a confirmed beach day. If you don't go you'll sit around wishing you did.
You proceed to gather all of the beach necessities (shades, a good read, sun oil and block), step into your swimsuit, and head out.
But here is where you meet your first obstacle. [Your dog's name here] is parked in front of the door, blocking your exit to paradise with the my-owner-is-leaving-it's-the-end-of-the-world face. For many pet owners this look doesn't just indicate a guilty walk to the car. It means a urine soaked carpet, complaints of a shrill and unending bark, and quite possibly a destroyed couch. You now must decide which is more important: your tan or your living room.
Unfortunately, our pets don't speak English, so attempting to tell your dog that you'll "only be gone for the day," offers him or her absolutely no comfort. Your pet has watched you gather up stuff and move throughout the house, and has deduced that you are leaving, but has no idea as to when you will return home. This provokes anxiety which in turn leads to destructive behavior: the cushion-less couch is quite simply an expression of your dog's fear and stress.
So it seems as though, until either dogs learn to speak English or humans begin to bark, there is really no solution to this very big problem. Not so. A few savvy veterinarians developed a product called Comfort Zone® which, believe it or not, creates an atmosphere of safety and security for your pet.
Comfort Zone® is a plug-in air diffuser that lasts 30 days and covers up to 650 square feet. You simply plug in the room where your animal spends most of his or her time. Here's how it works: humans and animals alike both produce and react to pheromones. Through research, veterinarians have discovered that there are specific pheromones secreted by the parent animal to help their young cope with fear and stress. Comfort Zone® ingeniously mimics these pheromones to help your dog feel safe and invulnerable, which in turn works to control your pet's destructive impulses.
This product is also available as a spray that can be used inside a crate, on your dog’s collar, in the car etc. You can find Comfort Zone® at most pet stores. Be sure to print the coupon good for $10.00 off your next purchase.
My Aunt stayed with me this past weekend from Florida. She has 4 dogs at home, and 1 cat. While she was away, we were able to watch them any time we wanted on her laptop. They were playing in their own playpen, lying in doggie beds, and getting taken out for walks. She sent them to a fabulous pet "country club" called Preppy Pet Suites.
This franchised organization, with locations throughout Florida and many of the southern and western states, offers climate-controlled indoor play areas. "The Country Club, The Yacht Club, and The Racquet Club," are designed for dogs of different sizes to play together. They are monitored by their staff and you can check on them through the internet with their Preppy Pet Cam. They play most of the day indoors except when they are on an outside walk, napping or eating. They also sleep well, night or day, with a TV playing in the background.
They offer 5 sizes of suites to choose from a Mini-Suite to Super Suite and many choices of our climate controlled play options.
Check to see if there is a location near you. If so, this is a great option for your pet should you be planning an upcoming vacation!
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!
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
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.
My daughter just celebrated her first birthday. We made a big deal of it by having a party, eating cake and we decorated our house. All for her. My dog doesn't get that much attention on his birthday... until now.
At Tailwagging.com you can find everything you need to throw a party for your dog. From invitations to party hats, Tailwagging.com has what you are looking for. They have balloons with adorable paw prints on them, as well as, treats for your party and tableware. They also carry gift items for dog owners such as, dog wine glass charm sets and bone necklaces.
Tailwagging.com is a website that you have to check out for yourself. Who knows, maybe you too, will be inspired to throw your dog a party, if not for any other reason than to let him know that you love him. Oh, by the way... they also carry party supplies for cats. At checkout, enter "Bday" for 10% off your order.
Does your dog have lots of hair that is constantly falling into her eyes and face? If so, then you need either very frequent trips to the groomer or hair bows to control the chaos. You will be hard pressed to find more stylish and functional hair bows than those made by Puppy Kisses.
Each hair bow is hand made in the USA featuring fun and beautiful prints and they are decorated with a stylish center rhinestone or coordinating accent. Unlike other hair bows, these are made with a metal barrette closure, so they will be easy to put on and take off without ripping any hair or hurting your pooch like a rubber band would. Also, they will stay in all types of fur including thin, thick, curly, smooth and wiry. My pooch Baxter has thin and wiry hair and the bow even held strong in his fur!
There are tons of prints and styles to choose from, so skip the groomer and buy these adorable hair bows from Puppy Kisses to help you manage your pup’s mane in style.
Tess Moody of Unleashed Pet Photography offers those of us obsessed with our dogs awesome artwork. Styles include dog pop art, traditional painting style and retro, which create a one of a kind pet portrait piece of your pet on canvas, fine art paper, or on clothing.
The Andy Warlhol-like print that I got of my dog Maggie (featured to the right here) is awesome. It is colorful, printed on a nice stock of photo paper, and very unique.
Ordering is easy. Just upload your photo and select the style and size that you want. The photos are affordable and make a great gift for a fellow pet lover.
One thing I love is that you can buy a help save animals by buying a piece of art from The "Adoptable" Dog Pop Art Collection -- a collection of different dog breed prints inspired by Dog Rescue Organizations. Purchase a print and $5.00 goes to the Rescue Organization represented by that print!
Make any purchase on the site and receive free shipping! Simply mention you heard of Tess through The Swanky Pup and you will be reimbursed shipping.
Looking for a great way to socialize with your dog-loving friends AND shop for your pampered pooch at the same time? Then Totally Pawsome, with home party demonstrations, is exactly what you are looking for! A Totally Pawsome rep will come to the host’s house with tons of trendy and tasty goodies for dogs so that you and your friends can enjoy shopping together for all of these products in one location.
I was invited to a Totally Pawsome party, hosted by a friend of mine at her house, and I was happy to find cool and stylish products out on display for us to touch, feel and try on our dogs. With everything from clothing, collars, toys, treats and spa products, it is going to be hard to leave a party empty handed. It is a very hands on and fun shopping experience that any shop-a-holic will enjoy.
Want free products? Host the party at your home and when your friends buy stuff you will earn free products for yourself!
When I was pregnant with my first son, one of my biggest fears was how my dog Maggie would react when I brought my newborn home. As dogs are extremely sensitive to noise, I knew it would be a big transition from a normally quiet house to one with lots of crying and other baby sounds. Though Maggie did well after a period of time, I wish that Baby Sounds for Pets was around then to help me with this transition.
My daughter just celebrated her first birthday. We made a big deal of it by having a party, eating cake and we decorated our house. All for her. My dog doesn't get that much attention on his birthday... until now.
Does your dog have lots of hair that is constantly falling into her eyes and face? If so, then you need either very frequent trips to the groomer or hair bows to control the chaos. You will be hard pressed to find more stylish and functional 
