A Pretty Fluffy Giveaway!

Hello fellow anipals! We were almost quite tempted not to tell you about this giveaway (as we'd really like to win, hehe), but in the spirit of the holidays we realized we just had to share it. Our fabulous Aussie pals over at Pretty Fluffy are doing the most LUXE holiday giveaway EVER. EVER. Seriously. Check out some of these goods: toys, a Kate Spade coin purse, the cutest note cards, cookie cutters-- the chicest holiday picks for you and your pup!

To enter, head over to their website for more info-- tell them the Barkistas say g'day!

Gift Guide 2011: Custom Pet Portrait

This weekend we received the most wonderful gift we have ever been given-- this beautiful hand-drawn portrait of Paddington by New York City based artist Jordan Spilman. Hello!? Are you seeing this?! We can't get over how he managed to capture the essence of our chief Barkista on paper. 

A graduate of the Glasgow School of Art, Jordan hails originally from the UK.  He is a trained painter and sculptor but has a real love of portraiture (both people and pets).  Not being allowed to have animals as a child, has made him love them even more, and is probably why he is able to capture their character so well on paper. His pet portraits in particular have become sought after both in the United States and back home in the UK as essential collectibles for all animal lovers.

Okay, back to gushing about this incredible portrait of Paddington-- check out the detail of Jordan's work:

 
And now you can own your own beautiful piece of art! Head over to his website to check out more of breathtaking portfolio. What better gift to give this holiday than a portrait of your favorite pup? Just imagine the look of amazement you're going to see when your friend/parent/relative/sibbling opens up this package. Trust us-- you'll be the talk of the town. We seriously can't tell you how lucky we feel to own this drawing, and are very thankful for Jordan's generosity.

For information about commissioning your own puppy portrait, email info@jordanspilman.com.  He also have several other pet portraits available for purchase from Etsy.

*Samples were provided by PR for review. Please see our disclaimer for more information.

Doggone Sweet Pail

Here at Barkzilla, we've been kind of under the weather... which means our desire to snark has been greater than usual. However, we have only nice things to say about this new item bucket of doggy themed cookies for humans available from 1-800 Flowers. Customizable with three different phrases, including "Thanks For Watching Me," The Doggone Sweet Pail includes 5 hand-decorated sugar cookies.

It's actually kind of the perfect gift to give to anyone who's might be watching your furry friend over the holidays.*


Available from 1-800Flowers.com for $49.99 not including any additional delivery charges.

 

* Ha, we were so tempted to say, "conned into watching," but we didn't...

More Dogs For Decking the Hall!

Just in case you didn't get enough super-early holiday goodness, here are some more canine cuties for your Christmas tree from Paper Source!

1. Paper-mache Dachshund ($15.95)
2. Dalmation ($13.95)
3. Paper-mache Pug ($15.95)
4. Dog with Red Ribbon ($7.95)

Bocce's Bakery Truffle Mac & Cheese Biscuit Review

Have you entered our Bocce's Bakery Giveaway yet?

We were given the opportunity to do a little taste test of the Truffle Mac & Cheese Biscuits (don't worry-- the winner of our giveaway gets a full, unopened bag + a bag of Holiday Feast flavor!), and let me tell you-- if we hadn't sealed the bag, they would have been gone in a HOT minute.

Made from yummy (skim!) mozzarella, and lean turkey bacon, the folks over at Bocce's have added a sprinkle of truffle oil to make them even more mouth-watering.

Baked in small batches from fresh, human-grade ingredients, they include no chemicals or preservatives. For those with sensitive tummies, they're also wheat, and important for Paddy, liver, free. The perfect size for small mouths, they break easily (without making a messy crumble), which is great for those pups that are watching their waistlines this holiday season.

While we've only got one bag to giveaway, you can head over to Bocce's Bakery and pick yours up directly from their site. Why not pick up some for your furry friends as well? Seriously-- it's the ultimate affordable, luxury gift for the holidays.

Happy snacking!

*Samples were provided by PR for review. Please see our disclaimer for more information.

#Barkista of the Month: Bocce!

Introducing our very special November Barkista of the Month: Bocce!

Yes, the namesake of super-chic Greenwich Village bakery Bocce's Bakery, is this month's featured pup. New York's beset known culinary inspiration (seriously, think of Bocce as the Mario Batali of the dog-culinary scene), Bocce's taste is impeccable: when it comes to both treats and style!

Check out his Barkista-worthy picks and then make sure to enter our Bocce's Bakery giveaway!

Name:  Bocce

Hometown: West Village, NYC

Age: 4 ...well 4 1/2 now, but I'm still a puppy at heart

Breed: Supposedly a Shitzu-Poodle, but really I'm more of a scruffy mutt

Canine Style Inspiration: Hum, I would say 'downtown scruffy chic'. 

Favorite Accessory: ...is bacon an accessory?

Designer of Choice: The lovely team at Mulberry London sent me a very fancy cashmere coat as a gift last year. It's a navy blue peacoat. I love it, it keeps me very warm in the winter, and my friends say I look quite cute in it. I know my mom is jealous of it and wished it fit her, hehe. 

Signature Collar: Puppia! I got my first one at Zoomies NYC when I was just a little pup, and that's all I use.  I like it cause it doesn't hurt me when I pull.  Oh and yes, I pull alot, especially if there is a bird in sight!

Vacation Destination: Anywhere that involves a car! I loooove car rides.  Planes not so much

Ultimate Treat/Indulgence:  My own treats, of course!  They are yummy, and really healthy! I'm munching on a Fish & Chip biscuit right now.  It's my new fave flavor!

The Toy I Never Leave Home Without:  Oh, I never take my toys out, cause there's already so much to do when we go on walks. Like jumping on leaves, and playing w/other pups, and scaring the pigeons - that's my favorite!

Designer Dream Item: Carter Kustera's amazing doggie portraits.

Where You'll Most Likely Spot This Barkista: Waggin' my tail around the West Village or playing with my friends by our Biscuit Bike at the parks on weekends.  

Favorite Website: Twitter...I love to tweet with all of my puppy friends. I'm at twitter.com/BoccesBakery!

This holiday, I'm wishing for....: Shhh...don't tell anyone cause this is top secret - but I can't wait for our new Holiday biscuits to come out!  I heard its a roasted turkey, pumpkin, cranberry biscuit! It smells and tastes just like stuffing.  I hope I get lots of them this Holiday.  I'm gonna behave extra good from now until then, promise!

Favorite Pet Cause: This year we gave a portion of sales and donated auction items to help pups affected by the Tsunami in Japan, we also love the Humane Society NY (they are awesome!) as well as the Mayor's Alliance NYC.

Want to be our next Barkista of the month? Send your pup's answers to the above along with a headshot to barkzilla@gmail.com!

Ceramic Terrier Lamp

It's very rare that we get that excited about a light fixture-- but this Ceramic Terrier Lamp really takes the cake!

Featuring a fringed black lamp shade, it's the ultimate in kitschy-cool.

Available exclusively from Urban Outfitters online for $64.

Doggy Decorations

While we'd argue that the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" is still a little ways off, you wouldn't think so from all of the holiday marketing that's going on already. Though we're not quite ready to bust out the egg nog, we are counting down the days until it's time to deck the hall.

Here are our favorite ornament picks for trimming your tree this holiday season:

1. Sitting Yorkie ($44.50 at Frontgate)
2. Set of 4 Tweed Dogs ($31.95 at Crate and Barrel)
3. Blown Glass Bone ($40 at Agatha and Louise) 
4. Big-Eyed Beagle ($13.95 at Papersource)
5. Terrier Woody Wagon Friends Ornament ($39 at Fetchdog)
6. Running Gingerbread Dog ($2.99 at Amazon.com)
7. Balloon Dog ($10 at Urban Outfitters)
8. Westie Puppy ($39 at Nordstrom)
   

Bocce's Bakery Giveaway

This year, we've got a lot of things to be thankful for -- and we want to share the love we feel with all of our wonderful readers by hosting a giveaway with the awesome folks over at Bocce's Bakery! That's right, we got our paws on two bags of this season's hottest treats, Bocce's Biscuits in Holiday Feast and Truffle Mac & Cheese! In fact, we've been told that the Truffle Mac & Cheese has already been flying off the shelves! 

Made from wholesome, fresh, human-grade ingredients, all of Bocce's Bakery's treats are wheat-free and baked in small batches with lots of love. 

A Thanksgiving feast in biscuit form, Bocce's Holiday Feast biscuits feature slowly roasted hormone-free turkey, organic pumpkin and lots of healthy cranberries.

The ultimate in decadence, these Truffle Mac & Cheese treats are at the top of Paddy's list this holiday season. Seasoned with truffle oil (yes, you read that right), they also include skim mozzarella, and lean turkey bacon which are sure to please even the pickiest pup's palette.

So here's the deal-- we've got several ways that you can win these much-sought after treats-- simply enter below and we'll be picking a winner next week! Good luck and happy snacking!

Oh, and if your pup just MUST have their own bag (which I'm sure they will), head over to Bocce's website to snag your own holiday treats. We're definitely going to be picking some up for the "nice" doggies on our shopping list.

Lend a Helping Paw This Veteran's Day

This Veteran's Day, help those who have served by giving back to the organization America's VetDogs by participating in Bil-Jac's Facebook campaign! For every fan added to the Bil-Jac Facebook page through November 30th 2011, Bil-Jac will be donating a dollar to America's VetDogs.

This is an amazing non-profit which serves disabled veterans and military personnel across the country and overseas. Created by the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, it has been helping veterans since 1946 by providing guide and service dogs to those who have honorably and bravely served our country.

Joseph Worley, a Navy veteran who served in Iraq, with his dog Benjamin.

So, what are you waiting for? Head to Bil-Jac's Facebook page and help to spread the word-- don't forget to also check out VetDogs' Facebook page as well! You can also contribute by purchasing America's VetDogs Treats which are available online and at Petco stores nationwide.


 

Louis Vuitton Baxter Dog Leash

This past month, we got a very special birthday surprise -- that's right, Paddington became the proud owner of her very own Louis Vuitton leash. (Note: The dog is fast becoming the owner of the most designer items in this household... disturbing, we know).

The ultimate in luxury for any Barkista, the Louis Vuitton Baxter dog leash comes in two sizes, suitable for small or large dogs. Crafted from their iconic monogrammed canvas lined with leather, it is not only stylish-- but like all of Louis Vuitton's products, well-constructed. As you can see from the picture below, it also features a unique clip that opens by pinching the widest part and easily attaches onto a collar or d-ring.

A definite must for any dog that knows a thing or two about luxury, we feel incredibly lucky to have been given the opportunity to posses such an amazing dog accessories.

It doesn't look like the leash is currently available online (though you can check out the Baxter bag and collar on their website), so for pricing information and purchasing details, contact your local Louis Vuitton store.

M&J Doggy Spa Day!

After this weekend's freak winter weather, Miss. Morkie was badly in need for a bath after a rather wet stroll through Central Park. Fortunately, this was just the excuse we needed to try out some goodies from M&J Dog Essentials!

Paddy's afternoon at the Doggy Day Spa (aka our kitchen sink) started with a deep tissue massage and application of the Nutrient Fusion Pre-Bath Treatment. Designed to help relieve itchy skin, it's formulated to help break loose dirt and debris to make shampooing more effective. We applied it on Paddy's dry coat and massaged it into her hair while we warmed her bath water.

After 10 minutes of waiting patiently, she was ready to get into the tub! Next, we soaped her up with M&J's Natural Dog Shampoo which thanks to honeysuckle extract smells fabulous. This PH-balanced shampoo is low-sudsing and sulfate-free (so good for sensitive skin), and also contains plantain extract and camellia oil for fur that's soft and shiny. Ooh la la!

The finished product?

I'm so clean and cuddly!

Not only did Paddy smell great (without being overpoweringly perfumed), but her hair was super glossy and soft. We're also super pleased that the combo of the pre-bath treatment and the shampoo seemed to have helped with some early-winter itchiness. Yay!

For more information and to get the products used above, visit M&J's website. Our favorite and the best bang for your buck? The Dog Essential Pack ($50) which includes the pre-bath treatment, shampoo and an inbetween bath product (stay tuned-- we'll be reviewing that soon).

What's your pup's favorite spa routine?

Disclaimer: Samples were provided by PR for review. Please see our disclaimer for more information.